arXiv subjects

Y. P. Xu

Publications and source records attributed to Y. P. Xu.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Hot disk of the Swift J0243.6+6124 revealed by Insight-HXMT

We report on analysis of observations of the bright transient X-ray pulsar \src obtained during its 2017-2018 giant outburst with Insight-HXMT, \emph{NuSTAR}, and \textit{Swift} observatories. We focus on the discovery of a sharp state transition of the timing and spectral properties of the source at super-Eddington accretion rates, which we associate with the transition of the accretion disk to a radiation pressure dominated (RPD) state, the first ever directly observed for magnetized neutron star. This transition occurs at slightly higher luminosity compared to already reported transition of the source from sub- to super-critical accretion regime associate with onset of an accretion column. We argue that this scenario can only be realized for comparatively weakly magnetized neutron star, not dissimilar to other ultra-luminous X-ray pulsars (ULPs), which accrete at similar rates. Further evidence for this conclusion is provided by the non-detection of the transition to the propeller state in quiescence which strongly implies compact magnetosphere and thus rules out magnetar-like fields.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

In-orbit demonstration of X-ray pulsar navigation with the Insight-HXMT satellite

In this work, we report the in-orbit demonstration of X-ray pulsar navigation with Insight-Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT), which was launched on Jun. 15th, 2017. The new pulsar navigation method 'Significance Enhancement of Pulse-profile with Orbit-dynamics' (SEPO) is adopted to determine the orbit with observations of only one pulsar. In this test, the Crab pulsar is chosen and observed by Insight-HXMT from Aug. 31th to Sept. 5th in 2017. Using the 5-day-long observation data, the orbit of Insight-HXMT is determined successfully with the three telescopes onboard - High Energy X-ray Telescope (HE), Medium Energy X-ray Telescope (ME) and Low Energy X-ray Telescope (LE) - respectively. Combining all the data, the position and velocity of the Insight-HXMT are pinpointed to within 10 km (3 sigma) and 10 m/s (3 sigma), respectively.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Final results for the neutron $β$-asymmetry parameter $A_0$ from the UCNA experiment

The UCNA experiment was designed to measure the neutron $β$-asymmetry parameter $A_0$ using polarized ultracold neutrons (UCN). UCN produced via downscattering in solid deuterium were polarized via transport through a 7 T magnetic field, and then directed to a 1 T solenoidal electron spectrometer, where the decay electrons were detected in electron detector packages located on the two ends of the spectrometer. A value for $A_0$ was then extracted from the asymmetry in the numbers of counts in the two detector packages. We summarize all of the results from the UCNA experiment, obtained during run periods in 2007, 2008--2009, 2010, and 2011--2013, which ultimately culminated in a 0.67\% precision result for $A_0$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Binding-energy independence of reduced single particle strengths derived from $(p,d)$ reactions

An overall reduction factor (ORF) is introduced for studying the quenching of single particle strengths through nucleon transfer reactions. The ORF includes contributions of all the probed bound states of the residual nucleus in a transfer reaction and permits a proper comparison with results of inclusive knockout reactions. A systematic analysis is made with 103 sets of angular distribution data of $(p,d)$ reactions on 21 even-even targets with atomic mass numbers from 8 to 56 using the consistent three-body model reaction methodology proposed in [J. Lee, J.A. Tostevin, B.A. Brown, et al., Phys. Rev. C 73, 044608 (2006)]. The extracted ORFs are found to be nearly independent on the nuclear isospin asymmetry, which is different from the systematics of inclusive knockout reactions but is consistent with the recent measurement of $(d,t)$, $(d,3He)$, $(p,2p)$, and $(p,pn)$ reactions on nitrogen and oxygen isotopes and \textit{ab initio} calculations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Possible determination of high-lying single particle components with (p,d) reactions

A detailed feasibility study on deducing the high-lying single-particle components (HLSPCs), which are important but used to be ignored, in the ground and low-lying excited states of even-even light nuclei is performed by analyses of $(p,d)$ reactions with \nuc{12}{C}, \nuc{24}{Mg}, \nuc{28}{Si}, and \nuc{40}{Ca} targets at 51.93 MeV. Coupled reaction channels (CRC) analyses have been made for $(p,d)$ transitions to the $j$-forbidden excited states in \nuc{11}{C} (${\tfrac{5}{2}}^-$, 4.32 MeV), \nuc{23}{Mg} (${\tfrac{7}{2}}^+$, 2.05 MeV), \nuc{27}{Si} (${\tfrac{7}{2}}^+$, 2.16 MeV) and \nuc{39}{Ca} (${\tfrac{9}{2}}^-$, 3.64 MeV), including the major allowed transition components together with direct components of HLSPCs. Spectroscopic amplitudes of the HLSPCs are deduced by fitting the angular distributions of the ground and the $j$-forbidden excited states simultaneously. The present analysis demonstrates for the first time that information about HLSPCs in atomic nuclei can be obtained from analysis of $(p,d)$ reactions.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2018

Insight-HXMT observations of the New Black Hole Candidate MAXI J1535-571: timing analysis

We present the X-ray timing results of the new black hole candidate (BHC) MAXI J1535-571 during its 2017 outburst from Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (\emph{Insight}-HXMT) observations taken from 2017 September 6 to 23. Following the definitions given by \citet{Belloni2010}, we find that the source exhibits state transitions from Low/Hard state (LHS) to Hard Intermediate state (HIMS) and eventually to Soft Intermediate state (SIMS). Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are found in the intermediate states, which suggest different types of QPOs. With the large effective area of \emph{Insight}-HXMT at high energies, we are able to present the energy dependence of the QPO amplitude and centroid frequency up to 100 keV which is rarely explored by previous satellites. We also find that the phase lag at the type-C QPOs centroid frequency is negative (soft lags) and strongly correlated with the centroid frequency. By assuming a geometrical origin of type-C QPOs, the source is consistent with being a high inclination system.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

The Wide Field Monitor onboard the eXTP mission

The eXTP (enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry) mission is a major project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and China National Space Administration (CNSA) currently performing an extended phase A study and proposed for a launch by 2025 in a low-earth orbit. The eXTP scientific payload envisages a suite of instruments (Spectroscopy Focusing Array, Polarimetry Focusing Array, Large Area Detector and Wide Field Monitor) offering unprecedented simultaneous wide-band X-ray timing and polarimetry sensitivity. A large European consortium is contributing to the eXTP study and it is expected to provide key hardware elements, including a Wide Field Monitor (WFM). The WFM instrument for eXTP is based on the design originally proposed for the LOFT mission within the ESA context. The eXTP/WFM envisages a wide field X-ray monitor system in the 2-50 keV energy range, achieved through the technology of the large-area Silicon Drift Detectors. The WFM will consist of 3 pairs of coded mask cameras with a total combined Field of View (FoV) of 90x180 degrees at zero response and a source localization accuracy of ~1 arcmin. In this paper we provide an overview of the WFM instrument design, including new elements with respect to the earlier LOFT configuration, and anticipated performance.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2017

Did the 2000 November 8 solar flare accelerate protons to >=40 GeV?

It has been reported that a 5.7sigma directional muon excess coincident with the 2000 July 14 solar flare was registered by the L3 precision muon spectrometer [Ruiguang Wang, Astroparticle Phys., 31(2009) 149]. Using a same analysis method and similar criteria of event selection, we have analyzed the L3 precision muon spectrometer data during November 2000. The result shows that a 4.7sigma muon excess appeared at a time coincident with the solar flare of 8 of November 2000. This muon excess corresponds to above 40 GeV primary protons which came from a sky cell of solid angle 0.048 sr. The probability of being a background fluctuation is estimated to be about 0.1%. It has been convinced that solar protons could be accelerated to tens of GeV in those Class X solar flares which usually arose solar cosmic ray ground level enhancement (GLE) events. However, whether a Class M solar flare like the non-GLE event of 8 November 2000 may also accelerate solar protons to such high energies? It is interesting and noteworthy.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

Measurement of the neutron $β$-asymmetry parameter $A_0$ with ultracold neutrons

We present a detailed report of a measurement of the neutron $β$-asymmetry parameter $A_0$, the parity-violating angular correlation between the neutron spin and the decay electron momentum, performed with polarized ultracold neutrons (UCN). UCN were extracted from a pulsed spallation solid deuterium source and polarized via transport through a 7-T magnetic field. The polarized UCN were then transported through an adiabatic-fast-passage spin-flipper field region, prior to storage in a cylindrical decay volume situated within a 1-T $2 \times 2π$ solenoidal spectrometer. The asymmetry was extracted from measurements of the decay electrons in multiwire proportional chamber and plastic scintillator detector packages located on both ends of the spectrometer. From an analysis of data acquired during runs in 2008 and 2009, we report $A_0 = -0.11966 \pm 0.00089_{-0.00140} ^{+0.00123}$, from which we extract a value for the ratio of the weak axial-vector and vector coupling constants of the nucleon, $λ= g_A/g_V = -1.27590 \pm 0.00239_{-0.00377}^{+0.00331}$. Complete details of the analysis are presented.

nucl-ex↗