| 1. |
- Abdo, A. A., et al.
(författare)
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Fermi LAT Observation of Diffuse Gamma Rays Produced Through Interactions Between Local Interstellar Matter and High-energy Cosmic Rays
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. - 0067-0049 .- 1538-4365. ; 703:2, s. 1249-1256
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Observations by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi mission of diffuse γ-rays in a mid-latitude region in the third quadrant (Galactic longitude l from 200° to 260° and latitude |b| from 22° to 60°) are reported. The region contains no known large molecular cloud and most of the atomic hydrogen is within 1 kpc of the solar system. The contributions of γ-ray point sources and inverse Compton scattering are estimated and subtracted. The residual γ-ray intensity exhibits a linear correlation with the atomic gas column density in energy from 100 MeV to 10 GeV. The measured integrated γ-ray emissivity is (1.63 ± 0.05) × 10-26 photons s-1sr-1 H-atom-1 and (0.66 ± 0.02) × 10-26 photons s-1sr-1 H-atom-1 above 100 MeV and above 300 MeV, respectively, with an additional systematic error of ~10%. The differential emissivity from 100 MeV to 10 GeV agrees with calculations based on cosmic ray spectra consistent with those directly measured, at the 10% level. The results obtained indicate that cosmic ray nuclei spectra within 1 kpc from the solar system in regions studied are close to the local interstellar spectra inferred from direct measurements at the Earth within ~10%.
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| 2. |
- Abe, K., et al.
(författare)
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Supernova Model Discrimination with Hyper-Kamiokande
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 916:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Core-collapse supernovae are among the most magnificent events in the observable universe. They produce many of the chemical elements necessary for life to exist and their remnants-neutron stars and black holes-are interesting astrophysical objects in their own right. However, despite millennia of observations and almost a century of astrophysical study, the explosion mechanism of core-collapse supernovae is not yet well understood. Hyper-Kamiokande is a next-generation neutrino detector that will be able to observe the neutrino flux from the next galactic core-collapse supernova in unprecedented detail. We focus on the first 500 ms of the neutrino burst, corresponding to the accretion phase, and use a newly-developed, high-precision supernova event generator to simulate Hyper-Kamiokande's response to five different supernova models. We show that Hyper-Kamiokande will be able to distinguish between these models with high accuracy for a supernova at a distance of up to 100 kpc. Once the next galactic supernova happens, this ability will be a powerful tool for guiding simulations toward a precise reproduction of the explosion mechanism observed in nature.
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| 3. |
- Cedenblad, Lukas, et al.
(författare)
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Planetesimals on Eccentric Orbits Erode Rapidly
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 921:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigate the possibility of erosion of planetesimals in a protoplanetary disk. We use theory and direct numerical simulations (lattice Boltzmann method) to calculate the erosion of large-much larger than the mean-free path of gas molecules-bodies of different shapes in flows. We find that erosion follows a universal power law in time, at intermediate times, independent of the Reynolds number of the flow and the initial shape of the body. Consequently, we estimate that planetesimals in eccentric orbits, of even very small eccentricity, rapidly (in about 100 yr) erodes away if the semimajor axis of their orbit lies in the inner disk-less than about 10 au. Even planetesimals in circular orbits erode away in approximately 10,000 yr if the semimajor axis of their orbits are <0.6 au.
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| 4. |
- Ahlgren, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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A Search for Lensed Gamma-Ray Bursts in 11 yr of Observations by Fermi GBM
- 2020
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 897:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Macrolensing of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is expected to manifest as a GRB recurring with the same light curve and spectrum as a previous one, but with a different flux and a slightly offset position. Identifying such lensed GRBs may give important information about the lenses, the cosmology, and the GRBs themselves. Here we present a search for lensed GRBs among similar to 2700 GRBs observed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor during 11 yr of operations. To identify lensed GRBs, we perform initial cuts on position, time-averaged spectral properties, and relative duration. We then use the cross-correlation function to assess the similarity of light curves, and finally we analyze the time-resolved spectra of the most promising candidates. We find no convincing lens candidates. The most similar pairs are single-pulsed GRBs with relatively few time bins for the spectral analysis. This is best explained by similarities within the GRB population rather than lensing. However, the null result does not rule out the presence of macrolensed GRBs in the sample. In particular, we find that observational uncertainties and Poisson fluctuations can lead to significant differences within a pair of lensed GRBs.
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| 5. |
- Ajello, M., et al.
(författare)
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Gamma Rays from Fast Black-hole Winds
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 921:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Massive black holes at the centers of galaxies can launch powerful wide-angle winds that, if sustained over time, can unbind the gas from the stellar bulges of galaxies. These winds may be responsible for the observed scaling relation between the masses of the central black holes and the velocity dispersion of stars in galactic bulges. Propagating through the galaxy, the wind should interact with the interstellar medium creating a strong shock, similar to those observed in supernovae explosions, which is able to accelerate charged particles to high energies. In this work we use data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope to search for the gamma-ray emission from galaxies with an ultrafast outflow (UFO): a fast (v similar to 0.1 c), highly ionized outflow, detected in absorption at hard X-rays in several nearby active galactic nuclei (AGN). Adopting a sensitive stacking analysis we are able to detect the average gamma-ray emission from these galaxies and exclude that it is due to processes other than UFOs. Moreover, our analysis shows that the gamma-ray luminosity scales with the AGN bolometric luminosity and that these outflows transfer similar to 0.04% of their mechanical power to gamma-rays. Interpreting the observed gamma-ray emission as produced by cosmic rays (CRs) accelerated at the shock front, we find that the gamma-ray emission may attest to the onset of the wind-host interaction and that these outflows can energize charged particles up to the transition region between galactic and extragalactic CRs.
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| 6. |
- Alp, Dennis, MSc, 1992-, et al.
(författare)
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Blasts from the Past : Supernova Shock Breakouts among X-Ray Transients in the XMM-Newton Archive
- 2020
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 896:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The first electromagnetic signal from a supernova (SN) is released when the shock crosses the progenitor surface. This shock breakout (SBO) emission provides constraints on progenitor and explosion properties. Observationally, SBOs appear as minute- to hour-long extragalactic X-ray transients. They are challenging to detect and only one SBO has been observed to date. Here, we search the XMM-Newton archive and find 12 new SN SBO candidates. We identify host galaxies to nine of these at estimated redshifts of 0.1-1. The SBO candidates have energies of similar to 10(46)erg, timescales of 30-3000 s, and temperatures of 0.1-1 keV. They are all consistent with being SN SBOs, but some may be misidentified Galactic foreground sources or other extragalactic objects. SBOs from blue supergiants agree well with most of the candidates. However, a few could be SBOs from Wolf-Rayet stars surrounded by dense circumstellar media, whereas two are more naturally explained as SBOs from red supergiants. The observations tentatively support non-spherical SBOs and are in agreement with asymmetries predicted by recent three-dimensional SN explosion simulations. eROSITA may detect similar to 2 SBOs per year, which could be detected in live analyses and promptly followed up.
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| 7. |
- Alp, Dennis, PhD, 1992-, et al.
(författare)
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Thermal Emission and Radioactive Lines, but No Pulsar, in the Broadband X-Ray Spectrum of Supernova 1987A
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 916:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Supernova 1987A offers a unique opportunity to study an evolving supernova in unprecedented detail over several decades. The X-ray emission is dominated by interactions between the ejecta and the circumstellar medium, primarily the equatorial ring (ER). We analyze 3.3.Ms of NuSTAR data obtained between 2012 and 2020, and two decades of XMM-Newton data. Since similar to 2013, the flux below 2.keV has declined, the 3-8.keV flux has increased but has started to flatten, and the emission above 10.keV has remained nearly constant. The spectra are well described by a model with three thermal shock components. Two components at 0.3 and 0.9.keV are associated with dense clumps in the ER, and a 4.keV component may be a combination of emission from diffuse gas in the ER and the surrounding low-density H II region. We disfavor models that involve nonthermal X-ray emission and place constraints on nonthermal components, but cannot firmly exclude an underlying power law. Radioactive lines show a Ti-44 redshift of 670(+520) (-380) km s(-1), Ti-44 mass of ' 1.73(-0.29)(+0.27) 10(-4) M-circle dot, and Fe-55Y mass of <4.2 10(-4) M-circle dot. The 35-65.keV luminosity limit on the compact object is 2 ' 1034.erg.s-1, and < 15% of the 10-20.keV flux is pulsed. Considering previous limits, we conclude that there are currently no indications of a compact object, aside from a possible hint of dust heated by a neutron star in recent ALMA images.
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| 8. |
- Andreoni, Igor, et al.
(författare)
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GROWTH on S190814bv : Deep Synoptic Limits on the Optical/Near-infrared Counterpart to a Neutron Star-Black Hole Merger
- 2020
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 890:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- On 2019 August 14, the Advanced LIGO and Virgo interferometers detected the high-significance gravitational wave (GW) signal S190814bv. The GW data indicated that the event resulted from a neutron star-black hole (NSBH) merger, or potentially a low-mass binary BH merger. Due to the low false-alarm rate and the precise localization (23 deg(2) at 90%), S190814bv presented the community with the best opportunity yet to directly observe an optical/near-infrared counterpart to an NSBH merger. To search for potential counterparts, the GROWTH Collaboration performed real-time image subtraction on six nights of public Dark Energy Camera images acquired in the 3 weeks following the merger, covering >98% of the localization probability. Using a worldwide network of follow-up facilities, we systematically undertook spectroscopy and imaging of optical counterpart candidates. Combining these data with a photometric redshift catalog, we ruled out each candidate as the counterpart to S190814bv and placed deep, uniform limits on the optical emission associated with S190814bv. For the nearest consistent GW distance, radiative transfer simulations of NSBH mergers constrain the ejecta mass of S190814bv to be M-ej < 0.04 M-circle dot at polar viewing angles, or M-ej < 0.03 M-circle dot if the opacity is kappa < 2 cm(2)g(-1). Assuming a tidal deformability for the NS at the high end of the range compatible with GW170817 results, our limits would constrain the BH spin component aligned with the orbital momentum to be chi < 0.7 for mass ratios Q < 6, with weaker constraints for more compact NSs.
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| 9. |
- Asplund, Julia, et al.
(författare)
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On the Measurement of Handedness in Fermi Large Area Telescope Data
- 2020
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : IOP Publishing. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 898:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A handedness in the arrival directions of high-energy photons from outside our Galaxy can be related to the helicity of an intergalactic magnetic field. Previous estimates by Tashiro et al. and Chen et al. showed a hint of a signal present in the photons observed by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). An update on the measurement of handedness in Fermi-LAT data is presented using more than 10 yr of observations. Simulations are performed to study the uncertainty of the measurements, taking into account the structure of the exposure caused by the energy-dependent instrument response and its observing profile, as well as the background from the interstellar medium. The simulations are required to accurately estimate the uncertainty and to show that previously the uncertainty was significantly underestimated. The apparent signal in the earlier analysis of Fermi-LAT data is rendered nonsignificant.
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| 10. |
- Catapano, Filomena, et al.
(författare)
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In Situ Evidence of Ion Acceleration between Consecutive Reconnection Jet Fronts
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 908:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Processes driven by unsteady reconnection can efficiently accelerate particles in many astrophysical plasmas. An example is the reconnection jet fronts in an outflow region. We present evidence of suprathermal ion acceleration between two consecutive reconnection jet fronts observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the terrestrial magnetotail. An earthward propagating jet is approached by a second faster jet. Between the jets, the thermal ions are mostly perpendicular to magnetic field, are trapped, and are gradually accelerated in the parallel direction up to 150 keV. Observations suggest that ions are predominantly accelerated by a Fermi-like mechanism in the contracting magnetic bottle formed between the two jet fronts. The ion acceleration mechanism is presumably efficient in other environments where jet fronts produced by variable rates of reconnection are common and where the interaction of multiple jet fronts can also develop a turbulent environment, e.g., in stellar and solar eruptions.
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