arXiv subjects

V. Bozza

Publications and source records attributed to V. Bozza.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

High-precision photometry by telescope defocussing. III. The transiting planetary system WASP-2

We present high-precision photometry of three transits of the extrasolar planetary system WASP-2, obtained by defocussing the telescope, and achieving point-to-point scatters of between 0.42 and 0.73 mmag. These data are modelled using the JKTEBOP code, and taking into account the light from the recently-discovered faint star close to the system. The physical properties of the WASP-2 system are derived using tabulated predictions from five different sets of stellar evolutionary models, allowing both statistical and systematic errorbars to be specified. We find the mass and radius of the planet to be M_b = 0.847 +/- 0.038 +/- 0.024 Mjup and R_b = 1.044 +/- 0.029 +/- 0.015 Rjup. It has a low equilibrium temperature of 1280 +/- 21 K, in agreement with a recent finding that it does not have an atmospheric temperature inversion. The first of our transit datasets has a scatter of only 0.42 mmag with respect to the best-fitting light curve model, which to our knowledge is a record for ground-based observations of a transiting extrasolar planet.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2010

M31 pixel lensing event OAB-N2: a study of the lens proper motion

We present an updated analysis of the M31 pixel lensing candidate event OAB-N2 previously reported in Calchi Novati et al. (2009). Here we take advantage of new data both astrometric and photometric. Astrometry: using archival 4m-KPNO and HST/WFPC2 data we perform a detailed analysis on the event source whose result, although not fully conclusive on the source magnitude determination, is confirmed by the following light curve photometry analysis. Photometry: first, unpublished WeCAPP data allows us to confirm OAB-N2, previously reported only as a viable candidate, as a well constrained pixel lensing event. Second, this photometry enables a detailed analysis in the event parameter space including the effects due to finite source size. The combined results of these analyses allow us to put a strong lower limit on the lens proper motion. This outcome favors the MACHO lensing hypothesis over self lensing for this individual event and points the way toward distinguishing between the MACHO and self-lensing hypotheses from larger data sets.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2010

Microlensing with advanced contour integration algorithm: Green's theorem to third order, error control, optimal sampling and limb darkening

Microlensing light curves are typically computed either by ray-shooting maps or by contour integration via Green's theorem. We present an improved version of the second method that includes a parabolic correction in Green's line integral. In addition, we present an accurate analytical estimate of the residual errors, which allows the implementation of an optimal strategy for the contour sampling. Finally, we give a prescription for dealing with limb-darkened sources reaching arbitrary accuracy. These optimizations lead to a substantial speed-up of contour integration codes along with a full mastery of the errors.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2010

Gravitational Lensing by Black Holes

We review the theoretical aspects of gravitational lensing by black holes, and discuss the perspectives for realistic observations. We will first treat lensing by spherically symmetric black holes, in which the formation of infinite sequences of higher order images emerges in the clearest way. We will then consider the effects of the spin of the black hole, with the formation of giant higher order caustics and multiple images. Finally, we will consider the perspectives for observations of black hole lensing, from the detection of secondary images of stellar sources and spots on the accretion disk to the interpretation of iron K-lines and direct imaging of the shadow of the black hole.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

Physical properties of the 0.94-day period transiting planetary system WASP-18

We present high-precision photometry of five consecutive transits of WASP-18, an extrasolar planetary system with one of the shortest orbital periods known. Through the use of telescope defocussing we achieve a photometric precision of 0.47 to 0.83 mmag per observation over complete transit events. The data are analysed using the JKTEBOP code and three different sets of stellar evolutionary models. We find the mass and radius of the planet to be M_b = 10.43 +/- 0.30 +/- 0.24 Mjup R_b = 1.165 +/- 0.055 +/- 0.014 Rjup (statistical and systematic errors) respectively. The systematic errors in the orbital separation and the stellar and planetary masses, arising from the use of theoretical predictions, are of a similar size to the statistical errors and set a limit on our understanding of the WASP-18 system. We point out that seven of the nine known massive transiting planets (M_b > 3 Mjup) have eccentric orbits, whereas significant orbital eccentricity has been detected for only four of the 46 less massive planets. This may indicate that there are two different populations of transiting planets, but could also be explained by observational biases. Further radial velocity observations of low-mass planets will make it possible to choose between these two scenarios.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2009

A solution to the anisotropy problem in bouncing cosmologies

Bouncing cosmologies are often proposed as alternatives to standard inflation for the explanation of the homogeneity and flatness of the universe. In such scenarios, the present cosmological expansion is preceded by a contraction phase. However, during the contraction, in general the anisotropy of the universe grows and eventually leads to a chaotic mixmaster behavior. This would either be hard to reconcile with observations or even lead to a singularity instead of the bounce. In order to preserve a smooth and isotropic bounce, the source for the contraction must have a super-stiff equation of state with $P/ρ=w>1$. In this letter we propose a new mechanism to solve the anisotropy problem for any low-energy value of $w$ by arguing that high energy physics leads to a modification of the equation of state, with the introduction of non-linear terms. In such a scenario, the anisotropy is strongly suppressed during the high energy phase, allowing for a graceful isotropic bounce, even when the low-energy value of $w$ is smaller than unity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

High-precision photometry by telescope defocussing. II. The transiting planetary system WASP-4

We present and analyse light curves of four transits of the Southern hemisphere extrasolar planetary system WASP-4, obtained with a telescope defocussed so the radius of each point spread function was 17 arcsec (44 pixels). This approach minimises both random and systematic errors, allowing us to achieve scatters of between 0.60 and 0.88 mmag per observation over complete transit events. The light curves are augmented by published observations and analysed using the JKTEBOP code. The results of this process are combined with theoretical stellar model predictions to derive the physical properties of the WASP-4 system. We find that the mass and radius of the planet are M_b = 1.289 {+0.090 -0.090} {+0.039 -0.000} MJup and R_b = 1.371 {+0.032 -0.035} {+0.021 -0.000} RJup, respectively (statistical and systematic uncertainties). These quantities give a surface gravity and density of g_b = 17.03 +0.97 -0.54 m/s2 and rho_b = 0.500 {+0.032 -0.021} {+0.000 -0.008} rhoJup, and fit the trends for short-period extrasolar planets to have relatively high masses and surface gravities. WASP-4 is now one of the best-quantified transiting extrasolar planetary systems, and significant further progress requires improvements to our understanding of the physical properties of low-mass stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2009

High-precision photometry by telescope defocussing. I. The transiting planetary system WASP-5

We present high-precision photometry of two transit events of the extrasolar planetary system WASP-5, obtained with the Danish 1.54m telescope at ESO La Silla. In order to minimise both random and flat-fielding errors, we defocussed the telescope so its point spread function approximated an annulus of diameter 40 pixels (16 arcsec). Data reduction was undertaken using standard aperture photometry plus an algorithm for optimally combining the ensemble of comparison stars. The resulting light curves have point-to-point scatters of 0.50 mmag for the first transit and 0.59 mmag for the second. We construct detailed signal to noise calculations for defocussed photometry, and apply them to our observations. We model the light curves with the JKTEBOP code and combine the results with tabulated predictions from theoretical stellar evolutionary models to derive the physical properties of the WASP-5 system. We find that the planet has a mass of M_b = 1.637 +/- 0.075 +/- 0.033 Mjup, a radius of R_b = 1.171 +/- 0.056 +/- 0.012 Rjup, a large surface gravity of g_b = 29.6 +/- 2.8 m/s2 and a density of rho_b = 1.02 +/- 0.14 +/- 0.01 rhojup (statistical and systematic uncertainties). The planet's high equilibrium temperature of T_eq = 1732 +/- 80 K makes it a good candidate for detecting secondary eclipses.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2009

Candidate microlensing events from M31 observations with the Loiano telescope

Microlensing observations towards M31 are a powerful tool for the study of the dark matter population in the form of MACHOs both in the Galaxy and the M31 halos, a still unresolved issue, as well as for the analysis of the characteristics of the M31 luminous populations. In this work we present the second year results of our pixel lensing campaign carried out towards M31 using the 152 cm Cassini telescope in Loiano. We have established an automatic pipeline for the detection and the characterisation of microlensing variations. We have carried out a complete simulation of the experiment and evaluated the expected signal, including an analysis of the efficiency of our pipeline. As a result, we select 1-2 candidate microlensing events (according to different selection criteria). This output is in agreement with the expected rate of M31 self-lensing events. However, the statistics are still too low to draw definitive conclusions on MACHO lensing.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2008

A comparison of approximate gravitational lens equations and a proposal for an improved new one

Keeping the exact general relativistic treatment of light bending as a reference, we compare the accuracy of commonly used approximate lens equations. We conclude that the best approximate lens equation is the Ohanian lens equation, for which we present a new expression in terms of distances between observer, lens and source planes. We also examine a realistic gravitational lensing case, showing that the precision of the Ohanian lens equation might be required for a reliable treatment of gravitational lensing and a correct extraction of the full information about gravitational physics.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Optical caustics of Kerr spacetime: the full structure

We present an exhaustive numerical investigation of the optical caustics in gravitational lensing by a spinning black hole for an observer at infinity. Besides the primary caustic, we examine higher order caustics, formed by photons performing one or several loops around the black hole. Our investigation covers the whole parameter space, including the black hole spin, its inclination with respect to the line of sight, the source distance, and the caustic order. By comparing our results with the available analytical approximations, we find perfect agreement in their respective domains of validity. We then prove that all caustics maintain their shape (a tube with astroidal cross-section) in the entire parameter space without suffering any transitions to different caustic shapes. For nearly extremal spin, however, higher order caustics grow so large that their cross-sections at fixed radii wind several times around the black hole. As a consequence, for each caustic order, the number of images ranges from 2 to 2(n+1), where n is the number of loops spanned by the caustic. As for the critical curves, we note that for high values of the spin they develop a small dip on the side corresponding to prograde orbits.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Inferring statistics of planet populations by means of automated microlensing searches

(abridged) The study of other worlds is key to understanding our own, and not only provides clues to the origin of our civilization, but also looks into its future. Rather than in identifying nearby systems and learning about their individual properties, the main value of the technique of gravitational microlensing is in obtaining the statistics of planetary populations within the Milky Way and beyond. Only the complementarity of different techniques currently employed promises to yield a complete picture of planet formation that has sufficient predictive power to let us understand how habitable worlds like ours evolve, and how abundant such systems are in the Universe. A cooperative three-step strategy of survey, follow-up, and anomaly monitoring of microlensing targets, realized by means of an automated expert system and a network of ground-based telescopes is ready right now to be used to obtain a first census of cool planets with masses reaching even below that of Earth orbiting K and M dwarfs in two distinct stellar populations, namely the Galactic bulge and disk. The hunt for extra-solar planets acts as a principal science driver for time-domain astronomy with robotic-telescope networks adopting fully-automated strategies. Several initiatives, both into facilities as well as into advanced software and strategies, are supposed to see the capabilities of gravitational microlensing programmes step-wise increasing over the next 10 years. New opportunities will show up with high-precision astrometry becoming available and studying the abundance of planets around stars in neighbouring galaxies becoming possible. Finally, we should not miss out on sharing the vision with the general public, and make its realization to profit not only the scientists but all the wider society.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Gravitational lensing by the supermassive black hole in the center of M31

We examine the possibility of observing gravitational lensing in the weak deflection regime by the supermassive black hole in the center of the galaxy M31. This black hole is significantly more massive than the black hole in the center of our Galaxy qualifying itself as a more effective lens. However, it is also more distant and the candidate stellar sources appear consequently fainter. As potential sources we separately consider stars belonging to the bulge, to the disk, to the triple nucleus formed by P1+P2 and by the recently discovered inner cluster P3. We calculate the number of simultaneously lensed stars at a given time as a function of the threshold magnitude required for the secondary image. For observations in the K-band we find 1.4 expected stars having secondary images brighter than K=24 and 182 brighter than K=30. For observations in the V-band we expect 1.3 secondary images brighter than V=27 and 271 brighter than V=33. The bulge stars have the highest chance to be lensed by the supermassive black hole, whereas the disk and the composite nucleus stars contribute by 10% each. The typical angular separation of the secondary images from the black hole range from 1 mas to 0.1''. For each population we also show the distribution of the lensed sources as a function of their distance and absolute magnitude, the expected angular positions and velocities of the generated secondary images, the rate and the typical duration of the lensing events.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Extreme gravitational lensing by supermassive black holes

Extreme gravitational lensing refers to the bending of photon trajectories that pass very close to supermassive black holes and that cannot be described in the conventional weak deflection limit. A complete analytical description of the whole expected phenomenology has been achieved in the recent years using the strong deflection limit. These progresses and possible directions for new investigations are reviewed in this paper at a basic level. We also discuss the requirements for future facilities aimed at detecting higher order gravitational lensing images generated by the supermassive black hole in the Galactic center.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

Strong deflection limit of black hole gravitational lensing with arbitrary source distances

The gravitational field of supermassive black holes is able to strongly bend light rays emitted by nearby sources. When the deflection angle exceeds $π$, gravitational lensing can be analytically approximated by the so-called strong deflection limit. In this paper we remove the conventional assumption of sources very far from the black hole, considering the distance of the source as an additional parameter in the lensing problem to be treated exactly. We find expressions for critical curves, caustics and all lensing observables valid for any position of the source up to the horizon. After analyzing the spherically symmetric case we focus on the Kerr black hole, for which we present an analytical 3-dimensional description of the higher order caustic tubes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

Kerr black hole lensing for generic observers in the strong deflection limit

We generalize our previous work on gravitational lensing by a Kerr black hole in the strong deflection limit, removing the restriction to observers on the equatorial plane. Starting from the Schwarzschild solution and adding corrections up to the second order in the black hole spin, we perform a complete analytical study of the lens equation for relativistic images created by photons passing very close to a Kerr black hole. We find out that, to the lowest order, all observables (including shape and shift of the black hole shadow, caustic drift and size, images position and magnification) depend on the projection of the spin on a plane orthogonal to the line of sight. In order to break the degeneracy between the black hole spin and its inclination relative to the observer, it is necessary to push the expansion to higher orders. In terms of future VLBI observations, this implies that very accurate measures are needed to determine these two parameters separately.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

The weakly perturbed Schwarzschild lens in the strong deflection limit

We investigate the strong deflection limit of gravitational lensing by a Schwarzschild black hole embedded in an external gravitational field. The study of this model, analogous to the Chang & Refsdal lens in the weak deflection limit, is important to evaluate the gravitational perturbations on the relativistic images that appear in proximity of supermassive black holes hosted in galactic centers. By a simple dimensional argument, we prove that the tidal effect on the light ray propagation mainly occurs in the weak field region far away from the black hole and that the external perturbation can be treated as a weak field quadrupole term. We provide a description of relativistic critical curves and caustics and discuss the inversion of the lens mapping. Relativistic caustics are shifted and acquire a finite diamond shape. Sources inside the caustics produce four sequences of relativistic images. On the other hand, retro-lensing caustics are only shifted while remaining point-like to the lowest order.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

General solution for scalar perturbations in bouncing cosmologies

Bouncing cosmologies, suggested by String/M-theory, may provide an alternative to standard inflation to account for the origin of inhomogeneities in our universe. The fundamental question regards the correct way to evolve the scalar perturbations through the bounce. In this work, we determine the evolution of perturbations and the final spectrum for an arbitrary (spatially flat) bouncing cosmology, with the only assumption that the bounce is governed by a single physical scale. In particular, we find that the spectrum of the pre-bounce growing mode of the Bardeen potential (which is scale-invariant in some limit, and thus compatible with observations) survives unaltered in the post-bounce only if the comoving pressure perturbation is directly proportional to the Bardeen potential rather than its Laplacian, as for any known form of ordinary matter. If some new physics acting at the bounce justifies such relation, then bouncing cosmologies are entitled to become a real viable alternative for the generation of the observed inhomogeneities. Our treatment also includes some class of models with extra-dimensions, whereas we show that bounces induced by positive spatial curvature are structurally different from all bounces in spatially flat universes, requiring a distinct analysis.

hep-th↗