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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Search for X-ray bursts in the INTEGRAL/IBIS data of 2003-2005 and discovery of the new X-ray burster IGR J17364-2711/17380-3749

All the observations performed with the IBIS telescope aboard the INTEGRAL observatory during the first 2.5 years of its in-orbit operation have been analyzed to find X-ray bursts. There were 1788 statistically confident events with a duration from 5 to 500 s revealed in time records of the 15-25 keV count rate of the IBIS/ISGRI detector, 319 of them were localized and, with one exception, identified with persistent X-ray sources. The known bursters were responsible for 215 of the localized events. One burst was detected from AXJ1754.2-2754, the source previously unknown as a burster, and another burst - from a new source. There was duality in determining its position - its name could be either IGR J17364-2711 or IGR J17380-3749. Curiously enough, the 138 bursts were detected from one X-ray burster - GX 354-0.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Morphological Studies of the PWN Candidate HESS J1809-193

The source HESS J1809-193 was discovered in 2006 in data of the Galactic Plane survey, followed by several re-observations. It shows a hard gamma-ray spectrum and the emission is clearly extended. Its vicinity to PSR J1809-1917, a high spin-down luminosity pulsar powerful enough to drive the observed gamma-ray emission, makes it a plausible candidate for a TeV Pulsar Wind Nebula (PWN). On the other hand, in this region of the sky a number of faint, radio-emitting supernova remnants can be found, making a firm conclusion on the source type difficult. Here we present a detailed morphological study of recent H.E.S.S. data and compare the result with X-ray measurements taken with Chandra and radio data. The association with a PWN is likely, but contributions from supernova remnants cannot be ruled out.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The Pierre Auger Observatory: status, results and perspective

While the completion of the Pierre Auger Observatory (or simply ``Auger'') is still underway, the 5165 km^2.sr.yr integrated acceptance accumulated since the January 1st, 2004 is now significantly larger than what was gathered by the previous experiments dedicated to the detection of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). We report on the development status of Auger and present some results related to the cosmic-ray energy spectrum, composition and anisotropies, and the photon fraction at ultra-high energy. We briefly discuss the importance of the ankle region to understand the overall phenomenology of cosmic-rays, and mention future enhancements of Auger focusing on this energy range.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The Monoceros very-high-energy gamma-ray source

The H.E.S.S. telescope array has observed the complex Monoceros Loop SNR/Rosette Nebula region which contains unidentified high energy EGRET sources and potential very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray source. We announce the discovery of a new point-like VHE gamma-ray sources, HESS J0632+057. It is located close to the rim of the Monoceros SNR and has no clear counterpart at other wavelengths. Data from the NANTEN telescope have been used to investigate hadronic interactions with nearby molecular clouds. We found no evidence for a clear association. The VHE gamma-ray emission is possibly associated with the lower energy gamma-ray source 3EG J0634+0521, a weak X-ray source 1RXS J063258.3+054857 and the Be-star MWC 148.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Search for very high energy gamma rays from possible ultra-high energy cosmic ray sources by the MAGIC Telescope

The origin of ultra-high energy (UHE) cosmic rays is still an open question. In the present work, we searched the possible UHE cosmic ray sources using the MAGIC telescope for the associated very high energy (VHE) gamma ray emission. Due to constrained propagation distance of such cosmic rays, we selected nearby galaxies in vicinity of the direction of the AGASA triplet and a HiRes UHE cosmic ray event: NGC 3610 and NGC 3613 (quasar remnants); Arp 299 (a system of colliding galaxies). No significant excess in the VHE region was found found from these objects or their surrounding region. At multi-100 GeV regime, the upper limits on fluxes were given against gamma ray sources in surrounding region. The presented limits constrain the flux of a new hypothetical source in the region, provided the cosmic rays are emitted from a single point-like origin.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

44Ti nucleosynthesis gamma-ray lines with SIMBOL-X

In this contribution we discuss the 44Ti nucleosynthesis gamma-ray lines and their visibility with SIMBOL-X from simulations based on its expected sensitivity and spectro-imaging capabilities. The 44Ti radioactive nucleus can provide invaluable information on the details of supernova explosions. Its lifetime of about 85 yrs makes it the best indicator of the youth of these stellar explosions through its three gamma-ray lines at 67.9, 78.4 keV and 1.157 MeV. We focus on the youngest Galactic supernova remnants, namely: Cassiopeia A, for which the location and Doppler-velocity estimates of the 44Ti-emitting regions in the remnant would offer for the first time a unique view of nucleosynthesis processes which occurred in the innermost layers of the supernova; SN 1987A, in the Large Magellanic Cloud, whose progenitor is known, and for which the expected measurement of these lines would greatly constrain the stellar evolution models; Tycho and Kepler SNRs for which 44Ti lines have never been detected so far. The issue of the "young, missing and hidden" supernova remnants in the Galaxy will also be addressed using SIMBOL-X observations at the position of the 44Ti excesses that wide-field instruments like those onboard INTEGRAL and SWIFT/BAT should be able to reveal.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

A search for Very High Energy gamma-ray emission from Passive Super-massive Black Holes

Jets of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are established emitters of very high energy (VHE; >100 GeV) gamma-rays. VHE radiation is also expected to be emitted from the vicinity of super-massive black holes (SMBH), irrespective of their activity state. Accreting SMBH rotate and generate a dipolar magnetic field. In the magnetosphere of the spinning black hole, acceleration of particles can take place in the field gaps. VHE emission from these particles is feasible via leptonic or hadronic processes. Therefore quiescent systems, where the lack of a strong photon field allows the VHE emission to escape, are candidates for emission. The H.E.S.S. experiment has observed the passive SMBH in the nearby galaxy NGC 1399. No VHE gamma-ray signal is observed from the galactic nucleus. Constraints set by the NGC 1399 observations are discussed in the context of different mechanisms for the production of VHE gamma-ray emission.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Observations of VHE gamma-Ray Sources with the MAGIC Telescope

The MAGIC telescope with its 17m diameter mirror is today the largest operating single-dish Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescope (IACT). It is located on the Canary Island La Palma, at an altitude of 2200m above sea level, as part of the Roque de los Muchachos European Northern Observatory. The MAGIC telescope detects celestial very high energy gamma-radiation in the energy band between about 50 GeV and 10 TeV. Since Autumn of 2004 MAGIC has been taking data routinely, observing various objects like supernova remnants (SNRs), gamma-ray binaries, Pulsars, Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and Gamma-ray Bursts (GRB). We briefly describe the observational strategy, the procedure implemented for the data analysis, and discuss the results for individual sources. An outlook to the construction of the second MAGIC telescope is given.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Developing A Chemical Evolutionary Sequence for Low-mass Starless Cores

I review the basic processes that may be used to develop a chemical evolutionary sequence for low-mass starless cores. I highlight observational results from the Arizona Radio Observatory-Green Bank Survey. Observations were performed with the SMT 10-m, ARO 12-m, and GBT 100-m toward a sample of 25 nearby (D < 400 pc) low-mass starless cores which have radiative transfer models of the 850 $μ$m emission and observed SED (160 - 1300 um). The cores were observed in the lines of NH3 (1,1) and (2,2), o-NH2D 1_{11} - 1_{01}, C2S 1_2 - 2_1, C3S 4 - 3, HCN 1 - 0, HC5N 9 - 8, HC7N 21 - 20, C18O and C17O 2 - 1, and p-H2CO 1_{01} - 0_{00}.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Monte Carlo Simulation for the MAGIC-II System

Within the year 2007, MAGIC will be upgraded to a two telescope system at La Palma. Its main goal is to improve the sensitivity in the stereoscopic/coincident operational mode. At the same time it will lower the analysis threshold of the currently running single MAGIC telescope. Results from the Monte Carlo simulations of this system will be discussed. A comparison of the two telescope system with the performance of one single telescope will be shown in terms of sensitivity, angular resolution and energy resolution.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

On the deduction of galaxy abundances with evolutionary neural networks

A growing number of indicators are now being used with some confidence to measure the metallicity(Z) of photoionisation regions in planetary nebulae, galactic HII regions(GHIIRs), extra-galactic HII regions(EGHIIRs) and HII galaxies(HIIGs). However, a universal indicator valid also at high metallicities has yet to be found. Here, we report on a new artificial intelligence-based approach to determine metallicity indicators that shows promise for the provision of improved empirical fits. The method hinges on the application of an evolutionary neural network to observational emission line data. The network's DNA, encoded in its architecture, weights and neuron transfer functions, is evolved using a genetic algorithm. Furthermore, selection, operating on a set of 10 distinct neuron transfer functions, means that the empirical relation encoded in the network solution architecture is in functional rather than numerical form. Thus the network solutions provide an equation for the metallicity in terms of line ratios without a priori assumptions. Tapping into the mathematical power offered by this approach, we applied the network to detailed observations of both nebula and auroral emission lines in the optical for a sample of 96 HII-type regions and we were able to obtain an empirical relation between Z and S23 with a dispersion of only 0.16 dex. We show how the method can be used to identify new diagnostics as well as the nonlinear relationship supposed to exist between the metallicity Z, ionisation parameter U and effective (or equivalent) temperature T*.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Magnetic flux emergence in fast rotating stars

Fast rotating cool stars are characterised by high magnetic activity levels and frequently show dark spots up to polar latitudes. Their distinctive surface distributions of magnetic flux are investigated in the context of the solar-stellar connection by applying the solar flux eruption and surface flux transport models to stars with different rotation rates, mass, and evolutionary stage. The rise of magnetic flux tubes through the convection zone is primarily buoyancy-driven, though their evolution can be strongly affected by the Coriolis force. The poleward deflection of the tube's trajectory increases with the stellar rotation rate, which provides an explanation for magnetic flux eruption at high latitudes. The formation of proper polar spots likely requires the assistance of meridional flows both before and after the eruption of magnetic flux on the stellar surface. Since small radiative cores support the eruption of flux tubes at high latitudes, low-mass pre-main sequence stars are predicted to show high mean latitudes of flux emergence. In addition to flux eruption at high latitudes, main sequence components of close binary systems show spot distributions which are non-uniform in longitude. Yet these `preferred longitudes' of flux eruption are expected to vanish beyond a certain post-main sequence evolutionary stage.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Heavily obscured AGN with BeppoSAX, INTEGRAL, SWIFT, XMM and Chandra: prospects for Simbol-X

According to the latest versions of synthesis modeling of the Cosmic X-ray Background, Compton Thick AGN should represent ~50% of the total absorbed AGN population. However, despite their importance in the cosmological context, only a few dozens of Compton Thick AGN have been found and studied so far. We will briefly review this topic and discuss the improvement in this field offered by the Simbol-X mission with its leap in sensitivity (E>10 keV) of more than a factor 500 with respect to previous X-ray missions.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Energy Dependent Morphology in the PWN candidate HESS J1825-137

Observations with H.E.S.S. revealed a new source of very high-energy (VHE) gamma-rays above 100 GeV - HESS J1825-137 - extending mainly to the south of the energetic pulsar PSR B1823-13. A detailed spectral and morphological analysis of HESS J1825-137 reveals for the first time in VHE gamma-ray astronomy a steepening of the energy spectrum with increasing distance from the pulsar. This behaviour can be understood by invoking radiative cooling of the IC-Compton gamma-ray emitting electrons during their propagation. In this scenario the vastly different sizes between the VHE gamma-ray emitting region and the X-ray PWN associated with PSR B1823-13 can be naturally explained by different cooling timescales for the radiating electron populations. If this scenario is correct, HESS J1825-137 can serve as a prototype for a whole class of asymmetric PWN in which the X-rays are extended over a much smaller angular scales than the gamma-rays and can help understanding recent detections of X-ray PWN in systems such as HESS J1640-465 and HESS J1813-178. The future GLAST satellite will probe lower electron energies shedding further light on cooling and diffusion processes in this source.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

An impact of the metrics probabilistic distributions on the spatial geometry of the universe in quantum model

It is shown that the homogeneous and isotropic Universe is spatially flat in the limit which takes into account the moments of infinitely large orders of probabilistic distribution of a scale factor with respect to its mean value in the state with large quantum numbers. The quantum mechanism of fine tuning of the total energy density in the Universe to the critical value at the early stage of its evolution is proposed and the reason of possible small difference between these densities during the subsequent expansion is indicated. A comparison of the predictions of the quantum model with the real Universe is given.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

FERO (Finding Extreme Relativistic Objects): statistics of relativistic broad Fe K alpha lines in AGN

The properties of the relativistically broadened Fe K alpha line emitted in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are still debated among the AGN community. Recent works seem to exclude that the broad Fe line is a common feature of AGN. The analysis of a large sample composed by 157 XMM-Newton archival observations of radio quiet AGN is presented here. This ongoing project is a development of the work reported in Guainazzi et al. 2006.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Perihelion precession and deflection of light in gravitational field of wormholes

Quite exotic relativistic objects known as wormholes are hypothetical candidates for central machine of active galactic nuclei as well as black holes. We find the magnitude of the perihelion precession and the deflection of light in gravitational field of a wormhole and compare them with those for a black hole. The impact parameter is taken to be much larger than the wormhole throat size. We show that the relative difference between results for a black hole and a wormhole may be significant and amount to tens of percent.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

VERITAS: Status and Latest Results

VERITAS is an atmospheric Cherenkov telescope array designed to study astrophysi cal sources of very-high-energy gamma radiation. Located in southern Arizona, USA, the array consists of four 12m-diameter imaging Cherenkov telescopes. All four telescopes have been deployed at the basecamp of the Whipple Observatory and began full operation in early 2007. This paper describes the operational status of VERITAS, outlines the initial performance parameters of the instrument, and presents the latest results that have been obtained.

astro-ph↗