| 1. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Measurements of psi(3686) -> K-Lambda(Xi)over-bar(+) + c.c. and psi(3686) -> gamma K-Lambda(Xi)over-bar(+) + c.c.
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 91:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a sample of 1.06 x 10(8) psi(3686) events produced in e(+)e(-) collisions at root s = 3.686 GeV and collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we present studies of the decays psi(3686) -> K-Lambda(Xi) over bar (+) + c.c. and psi(3686) -> gamma K-Lambda(Xi) over bar (+) + c.c. We observe two hyperons, Xi(1690)(-) and Xi(1820)(-), in the K-Lambda invariant mass distribution in the decay psi(3686) -> K-Lambda(Xi) over bar (+) + c.c. with significances of 4.9 sigma and 6.2 sigma, respectively. The branching fractions of psi(3686) -> K-Lambda(Xi) over bar (+) + c.c., psi(3686) -> K-Sigma(0)(Xi) over bar (+) + c.c, psi(3686) -> gamma chi cJ -> gamma K-Lambda(Xi) over bar (+) + c.c (J = 0, 1, 2), and psi(3686) -> Xi(1690/1820)(-)(Xi) over bar (+) + c.c with sub-sequent decay Xi(1690/1820)(-) -> K-Lambda are measured for the first time.
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| 2. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Search for D-0 -> gamma gamma and improved measurement of the branching fraction for D-0 -> pi(0)pi(0)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 91:11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using 2.92 fb(-1) of electron-positron annihilation data collected at root s = 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, we report the results of a search for the flavor-changing neutral current process D-0 -> gamma gamma using a double-tag technique. We find no signal and set an upper limit at 90% confidence level for the branching fraction of B(D-0 -> gamma gamma < 3.8 x 10(-6). We also investigate D-0-meson decay into two neutral pions, obtaining a branching fraction of B(D-0 -> pi(0)pi(0)) = (8.24 +/- 0.21(stat) +/- 0.30(syst)) x 10(-4), the most precise measurement to date and consistent with the current world average.
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| 3. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Amplitude analysis of the pi(0)pi(0) system produced in radiative J/psi decays
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 92:5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- An amplitude analysis of the pi(0)pi(0) system produced in radiative J/psi decays is presented. In particular, a piecewise function that describes the dynamics of the pi(0)pi(0) system is determined as a function of M pi(0)pi(0) from an analysis of the (1.311 +/- 0.011) x 10(9) J/psi decays collected by the BESIII detector. The goal of this analysis is to provide a description of the scalar and tensor components of the pi(0)pi(0) system while making minimal assumptions about the properties or number of poles in the amplitude. Such a model-independent description allows one to integrate these results with other related results from complementary reactions in the development of phenomenological models, which can then be used to directly fit experimental data to obtain parameters of interest. The branching fraction of J/psi -> pi(0)pi(0) is determined to be (1.15 +/- 0.05) x 10(-3), where the uncertainty is systematic only and the statistical uncertainty is negligible.
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| 4. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
An improved limit for Gamma(ee) of X(3872) and Gamma(ee) measurement of psi(3686)
- 2015
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 749, s. 414-420
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using the data sets taken at center-of-mass energies above 4 GeV by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII storage ring, we search for the reaction e(+)e(-) -> gamma(ISR) X(3872) -> gamma(ISR)pi(+)pi(-) J/psi via the Initial State Radiation technique. The production of a resonance with quantum numbers J(PC) = 1(++) such as the X(3872) via single photon e(+)e(-) annihilation is forbidden, but is allowed by a next-to-leading order box diagram. We do not observe a significant signal of X(3872), and therefore give an upper limit for the electronic width times the branching fraction Gamma B-X(3872)(ee)(X(3872) -> pi(+)pi(-) J/psi) < 0.13 eVat the 90% confidence level. This measurement improves upon existing limits by a factor of 46. Using the same final state, we also measure the electronic width of the psi(3686) to be Gamma(psi)(ee)(3686) ee = 2213 +/- 18(stat) +/- 99(sys) eV.
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| 5. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Dark photon search in the mass range between 1.5 and 3.4 GeV/c
- 2017
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 774, s. 252-257
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a data set of 2.93 fb taken at a center-of-mass energy root s = 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we perform a search for an extra U(1) gauge boson, also denoted as a dark photon. We examine the initial state radiation reactions e(+)e(-) -> e(+)e(-) gamma(ISR) and e(+)e(-) -> mu(+)mu(-) gamma(ISR) for this search, where the dark photon would appear as an enhancement in the invariant mass distribution of the leptonic pairs. We observe no obvious enhancement in the mass range between 1.5 and 3.4 GeV/c(2) and set a 90% confidence level upper limit on the mixing strength of the dark photon and the Standard Model photon. We obtain a competitive limit in the tested mass range.
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| 6. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Evidence for e(+)e(-)->gamma chi c1,2 at center-of-mass energies from 4.009 to 4.360 GeV
- 2015
-
In: Chinese Physics C. - : IOP Publishing. - 1674-1137 .- 2058-6132. ; 39:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using data samples collected at center-of-mass energies of root s=4.009, 4.230, 4.260, and 4.360 GeV with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, we perform a search for the process e(+)e(-)->gamma chi(cJ) (J=0, 1, 2) and find evidence for e(+)e(-)->gamma chi(c1) and e(+)e(-)->gamma chi(c2) with statistical significances of 3.0 sigma and 3.4 sigma, respectively. The Born cross sections sigma(B)(e(+)e(-)->gamma chi(cJ)), as well as their upper limits at the 90% confidence level (C.L.) are determined at each center-of-mass energy.
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| 7. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of B(psi(3770) -> gamma chi(c1)) and search for psi(3770) -> gamma chi(c2)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 91:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report a measurement of the branching fraction for psi(3770) -> gamma chi(c1) and search for the transition psi(3770) -> gamma chi(c2) based on 2.92 fb(-1) of e(+)e(-) data accumulated at root s = 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. We measure B(psi(3770) -> gamma chi(c1)) = (2.48 +/- 0.15 +/- 0.23) x 10(-3), which is the most precise measurement to date. The upper limit on the branching fraction of psi(3770) -> gamma chi(c2) at a 90% confidence level is B(psi(3770) -> gamma chi(c2)) < 0.64 x 10(-3). The corresponding partial widths are Gamma(psi(3770) -> gamma chi(c1)) = (67.5 +/- 4.1 +/- 6.7)keV and Gamma(psi(3770) -> gamma chi(c2)) < 17.4 keV.
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| 8. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of the branching fractions of D-s(+) -> eta ' X and D-s(+) -> eta 'rho(+) in e(+)e(-) -> Ds+Ds-
- 2015
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 750, s. 466-474
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We study D-s(+) decays to final states involving the eta' with a 482 pb(-1) data sample collected at root s = 4.009 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. We measure the branching fractions B(D-s(+) -> eta'X) = (8.8 +/- 1.8 +/- 0.5)% and B(D-s(+) > eta'rho(+)) = (5.8 +/- 1.4 +/- 0.4)% where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. In addition, we estimate an upper limit on the non-resonant branching ratio B(D-s(+) -> eta'pi(+)pi(0)) < 5.1% at the 90% confidence level. Our results are consistent with CLEO's recent measurements and help to resolve the disagreement between the theoretical prediction and CLEO's previous measurement of B(D-s(+) -> eta'rho(+)).
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of the leptonic decay width of J/psi using initial state radiation
- 2016
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 761, s. 98-103
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a data set of 2.93 fb(-1) taken at a center-of-mass energy of root s = 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we measure the process e(+) e(-) -> J/psi gamma -> mu(+)mu(-)gamma and determine the product of the branching fraction and the electronic width B-mu mu . Gamma(ee) = (333.4 +/- 2.5(stat) +/- 4.4(sys)) eV. Using the earlier-published BESIII result for B-mu mu = (5.973 +/- 0.007(stat) +/- 0.037(sys))%, we derive the J/psi electronic width Gamma(ee) = (5.58 +/- 0.05(stat) +/- 0.08(sys)) keV. (C) 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 11. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of the matrix elements for the decays eta -> pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) and eta/eta ' -> pi(0)pi(0)pi(0)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 92:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Based on a sample of 1.31 x 10(9) J/psi events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, Dalitz plot analyses of selected 79,625 eta -> pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) events, 33,908 eta -> pi(0)pi(0)pi(0) events, and 1,888 eta' -> pi(0)pi(0)pi(0) events are performed. The measured matrix elements of eta -> pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) are in reasonable agreement with previous measurements. The Dalitz plot slope parameters of eta -> pi(0)pi(0)pi(0) and eta' -> pi(0)pi(0)pi(0) are determined to be -0.055 +/- 0.014 +/- 0.004 and -0.640 +/- 0.046 +/- 0.047, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. Both values are consistent with previous measurements, while the precision of the latter one is improved by a factor of 3. Final state interactions are found to have an important role in those decays.
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| 12. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of the proton form factor by studying e(+)e(-) -> p(p)over-tilde
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 91:11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using data samples collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we measure the Born cross section of e(+)e(-) -> p (p) over tilde at 12 center-of-mass energies from 2232.4 to 3671.0 MeV. The corresponding effective electromagnetic form factor of the proton is deduced under the assumption that the electric and magnetic form factors are equal (vertical bar G(E)vertical bar = vertical bar G(M)vertical bar). In addition, the ratio of electric to magnetic form factors, vertical bar G(E)/G(M)vertical bar, and vertical bar G(M)vertical bar are extracted by fitting the polar angle distribution of the proton for the data samples with larger statistics, namely at root s = 2232.4 and 2400.0 MeV and a combined sample at root s = 3050.0, 3060.0 and 3080.0 MeV, respectively. The measured cross sections are in agreement with recent results from BABAR, improving the overall uncertainty by about 30%. The vertical bar G(E)/G(M)vertical bar ratios are close to unity and consistent with BABAR results in the same q(2) region, which indicates the data are consistent with the assumption that vertical bar G(E)vertical bar = vertical bar G(M)vertical bar within uncertainties.
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| 13. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of y(CP) in D-0-(D)over-bar(0) oscillation using quantum correlations in e(+)e(-) -> D-0(D)over-bar(0) at root s=3.773 GeV
- 2015
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 744, s. 339-346
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report a measurement of the parameter y(CP) in D-0-(D) over bar (0) oscillations performed by taking advantage of quantum coherence between pairs of D-0(D) over bar (0) mesons produced in e(+)e(-) annihilations near threshold. In this work, doubly-tagged D-0(D) over bar (0) events, where one D decays to a CP eigenstate and the other D decays in a semileptonic mode, are reconstructed using a data sample of 2.92 fb(-1) collected with the BESIII detector at the center-of-mass energy of root s = 3.773 GeV. We obtain y(CP) = (-2.0 +/- 1.3 +/- 0.7)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This result is compatible with the current world average.
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| 14. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Observation and Spin-Parity Determination of the X(1835) in J/psi -> gamma(KSKS0)-K-0 eta
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 115:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report an observation of the process J/psi -> gamma X(1835) -> gamma(KSKS0)-K-0 eta at low (KSKS0)-K-0 mass with a statistical significance larger than 12.9s using a data sample of 1.31 x 109 J/psi events collected with the BESIII detector. In this region of phase space the (KSKS0)-K-0 system is dominantly produced through the f (0)(980). By performing a partial wave analysis, we determine the spin parity of the Xd1835_ to be J(PC) = 0(-+). The mass and width of the observed X(1835) are 1844 +/- 9(stat)(-25)(+16)(syst) MeV/c(2) and 192(-17)(+20)(sta)(-43)(+62)(syst) MeV, respectively, which are consistent with the results obtained by BESIII in the channel J/psi -> gamma pi(+)pi(-)eta'.
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| 15. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Observation of a Neutral Charmoniumlike State Z(c)(4025)(0) in e(+)e(-) -> (D*(D)over-bar*)(0)pi(0)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 115:18
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report a study of the process e(+)e(-) -> (D*(D) over bar*)(0)pi(0) using e(+)e(-) collision data samples with integrated luminosities of 1092 pb(-1) at root s = 4.23 GeV and 826 pb(-1) at root s = 4.26 GeV collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII storage ring. We observe a new neutral structure near the (D*(D) over bar*)(0) mass threshold in the pi(0) recoil mass spectrum, which we denote as Z(c)(4025)(0). Assuming a Breit-Wigner line shape, its pole mass and pole width are determined to be (4025.5(-4.7)(+2.0) +/- 3.1) MeV/c(2) and (23.0 +/- 6.0 +/- 1.0) MeV, respectively. The Born cross sections of e(+)e(-) -> Z(c)(4025)(0)pi(0) -> (D*(D) over bar*)(0)pi(0) are measured to be (61.6 +/- 8.2 +/- 9.0) pb at root s = 4.23 GeV and (43.4 +/- 8.0 +/- 5.4) pb at root s = 4.26 GeV. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.
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| 16. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Observation of e(+)e(-) -> pi(0)pi(0)h(c) and a Neutral Charmoniumlike Structure Z(c)(4020)(0)
- 2014
-
In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 113:21, s. 212002-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider at center-of-mass energies of root s = 4.23, 4.26, and 4.36 GeV, we observe e(+)e(-) -> pi(0)pi(0)h(c) for the first time. The Born cross sections are measured and found to be about half of those of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-)h(c) within less than 2 sigma. In the pi(0)h(c) mass spectrum, a structure at 4.02 GeV/c(2) is found. It is most likely to be the neutral isospin partner of the Z(c)(4020)(+/-) observed in the process of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-)h(c) being found. A fit to the pi(0)h(c) invariant mass spectrum, with the width of the Z(c)(4020)(0) fixed to that of its charged isospin partner and possible interferences with non-Z(c)(4020)(0) amplitudes neglected, gives a mass of (4023.9 +/- 2.2 +/- 3.8) MeV/c(2) for the Z(c)(4020)(0), where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.
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| 17. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Observation of the Dalitz decay eta ' -> gamma e(+)e(-)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 92:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the first observation of the Dalitz decay eta' -> gamma e(+)e(-), based on a data sample of 1.31 billion J/psi events collected with the BESIII detector. The eta' mesons are produced via the J/psi -> gamma eta' decay process. The ratio (eta' -> gamma e(+)e(-))/Gamma (eta' -> gamma gamma) is measured to be (2.13 +/- 0.09(stat) +/- 0.07(sys)) x 10(-2). This corresponds to a branching fraction B(eta' -> gamma e(+)e(-)) = (4.69 +/- 0.20(stat) +/- 0.23(sys)) x 10(-4). The transition form factor is extracted and different expressions are compared to the measured dependence on the e(+)e(-) invariant mass. The results are consistent with the prediction of the vector meson dominance model.
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| 18. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Observation of the electromagnetic doubly OZI-suppressed decay J/psi -> phi pi(0)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 91:11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a sample of 1.31 billion J/psi events accumulated with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we report the observation of the decay J/psi -> phi pi(0), which is the first evidence for a doubly Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka suppressed electromagnetic J/psi decay. A clear structure is observed in the K+K- mass spectrum around 1.02 GeV/c(2), which can be attributed to interference between J/psi -> phi pi(0) and J/psi -> K+K- pi(0) decays. Due to this interference, two possible solutions are found. The corresponding measured values of the branching fraction of J/psi -> phi pi(0) are [2.94 +/- 0.16(stat) +/- 0.16(syst)] x 10(-6) and [1.24 +/- 0.33(stat) +/- 0.30(syst)] x 10(-7).
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| 19. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Observation of the isospin-violating decay J/psi -> phi pi(0)f(0) (980)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 92:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a sample of 1.31 x 10(9) J/psi events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, the decays J/psi -> phi pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) and J/psi -> phi pi(0)pi(0)pi(0) are investigated. The isospin- violating decay J/psi -> phi pi(0)f(0)(980) with f(0)(980)-> pi pi is observed for the first time. The width of the f(0)(980) obtained from the dipion mass spectrum is found to be much smaller than the world average value. In the pi(0)f(0)(980) mass spectrum, there is evidence of f(1)(1285) production. By studying the decay J/psi ->eta', the branching fractions of eta' -> pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) and eta' -> pi(0)pi(0)pi(0), as well as their ratio, are also measured.
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| 20. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Observation of the Psi(1(3)D(2)) State in e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-)gamma chi(c1) at BESIII
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 115:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the observation of the X(3823) state in the process e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-) X(3823) pi(+)pi(-)gamma chi(c1) with a statistical significance of 6.2 sigma, in data samples at center-of-mass energies root s = 4.230, 4.260, 4.360, 4.420, and 4.600 GeV collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII electron positron collider. The measured mass of the X(3823) state is (3821.7 +/- 1.3 +/- 0.7) MeV/c(2), where the first error is statistical and the second systematic, and the width is less than 16 MeV at the 90% confidence level. The products of the Born cross sections for e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-) X(3823) and the branching ratio B [X(3823) -> gamma X-c1c2] are also measured. These measurements are in good agreement with the assignment of the X(3823) state as the Psi(1(3)D(2)) charmonium state.
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| 21. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Observation of Z(c)(3900)(0) in e(+)e(-) -> pi(0)pi(0) J/Psi
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 115:11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a data sample collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring, we observe a new neutral state Z(c)(3900)(0) with a significance of 10.4 sigma. The mass and width are measured to be 3894.8 +/- 2.3 +/- 3.2 MeV/c(2) and 29.6 +/- 8.2 +/- 8.2 MeV, respectively, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The Born cross section for e(+)e(-) -> pi(0)pi(0) J/Psi and the fraction of it attributable to pi(0)Z(c)(3900)(0) -> pi(0)pi(0) J/Psi in the range E-c.m. = 4.19-4.42 GeV are also determined. We interpret this state as the neutral partner of the four-quark candidate Z(c)(3900)(+/-).
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| 22. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Precision measurement of the D*(0) decay branching fractions
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368 .- 2470-0010. ; 91:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using 482 pb(-1) of data taken at root s = 4.009 GeV, we measure the branching fractions of the decays of D*(0) into D-0 pi(0) and D-0 gamma to be B(D*(0) -> D-0 pi(0)) = (65.5 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.5)% and B(D*(0) -> D0 gamma) = (34.5 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.5)%, respectively, by assuming that the D*(0) decays only into these two modes. The ratio of the two branching fractions is B(D*(0) -> D-0 pi(0))/B(D*(0) -> D-0 gamma) = 1.90 +/- 0.07 +/- 0.05, which is independent of the assumption made above. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones systematic. The precision is improved by a factor of 3 compared to the present world average values.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Search for the isospin violating decay Y(4260)-> J/psi eta pi(0)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 92:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using data samples collected at center-of-mass energies of root s = 4.009, 4.226, 4.257, 4.358, 4.416, and 4.599 GeV with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring, we search for the isospin violating decay Y(4260)-> J/psi eta pi(0). No signal is observed, and upper limits on the cross section sigma(e(+)e(-) -> J/psi eta pi(0)) at the 90% confidence level are determined to be 3.6, 1.7, 2.4, 1.4, 0.9, and 1.9 pb, respectively.
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| 25. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Search for the weak decays J/psi -> D-s(()*()-) e(+)nu(e) + c.c.
- 2014
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 90:11, s. 112014-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a sample of 2.25 x 10(8) J/psi events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we search for the J/psi semileptonic weak decay J/psi -> D-s(-) e(+)nu(e) +c.c. with a much higher sensitivity than previous searches. We also perform the first search for J/psi -> D-s(*-) e(+) nu(e) + c.c. No significant excess of a signal above background is observed in either channel. At the 90% confidence level, the upper limits are determined to be B(J/psi -> D-s(-) e(+) nu(e) + c.c.) < 1.3 x 10(-6) and B(J/psi -> D-s*(-) e(+) nu(e) + c.c.) < 1.8 x 10(-6), respectively. Both are consistent with Standard Model predictions.
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| 26. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Search for the Y(4140) via e(+)e(-) -> gamma phi J/psi at root s=4.23, 4.26 and 4.36 GeV
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 91:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using data samples collected at center-of-mass energies root s = 4.23, 4.26, and 4.36 GeV with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring, we search for the production of the charmoniumlike state Y(4140) through a radiative transition followed by its decay to phi J/psi. No significant signal is observed and upper limits on sigma[e(+)e(-) -> gamma Y(4140)] . B(Y(4140) -> phi J/psi at the 90% confidence level are estimated as 0.35, 0.28, and 0.33 pb at root s = 4.23, 4.26, and 4.36 GeV, respectively.
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| 27. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Search for Z(c)(3900)(+/-) -> omega pi(+/-)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 92:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The decay Z(c)(3900)(+/-) -> omega pi(+/-) is searched for using data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring at center-of-mass energies root s = 4.23 and 4.26 GeV. No significant signal for the Z(c)(3900)(+/-) is found, and upper limits at the 90% confidence level on the Born cross section for the process e(+)e(-) -> Z(c)(3900)(+/-) pi(-/+) -> omega pi(+)pi(-) are determined to be 0.26 and 0.18 pb at root s = 4.23 and 4.26 GeV, respectively.
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| 28. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Searches for isospin-violating transitions chi(c0,2) -> pi(0)eta(c)
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 91:11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the first upper-limit measurement of the branching fractions of the isospin-violating transitions chi(c0,2) -> pi(0)eta(c). The measurements are performed using 106 x 10(6) psi(3686) events accumulated with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII e(+)e(-) collider at a center-of-mass energy corresponding to the psi(3686) mass. We obtained upper limits on the branching fractions at a 90% confidence level of B(chi(c0) -> pi(0)eta(c)) < 1.6 x 10(-3) and B(chi(c2) -> pi(0)eta(c)) < 3.2 x 10(-3).
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| 29. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Study of chi(cJ) decaying into phi K*(892)(K)over-bar
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 91:11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a data sample of 106 million psi(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector operated at the BEPCII storage ring, we study for the first time the decays chi(cJ) -> phi(KSK +/-)-K-0 pi(-/+) and chi(cJ) -> phi K+K-pi(0) in the E1 radiative transition psi(3686) -> gamma chi(cJ). The decays are dominated by the three-body decay chi(cJ) -> phi K*(892)(K) over bar. We measure branching fractions for this reaction via the neutral and charged K*(892) and find them consistent with each other within the expectation of isospin symmetry. In the K (K) over bar pi invariant mass distribution, a structure near the K*(892)(K) over bar mass threshold is observed, and the corresponding mass and width are measured to be 1412 +/- 4(stat) +/- 8(sys) MeV/c(2) and Gamma = 84 +/- 12(stat) +/- 40(sys) MeV, respectively. The observed state favors an assignment to the h(1)(1380), considering its possible J(PC) and comparing its mass, width and decay mode to those reported in the Particle Data Group.
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| 30. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Study of e(+)e(-) -> omega chi(cJ) at Center of Mass Energies from 4.21 to 4.42 GeV
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 114:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Based on data samples collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at nine center of mass energies from 4.21 to 4.42 GeV, we search for the production of e(+)e(-) -> omega chi(cJ) (J = 0, 1, 2). The process e(+)e(-) -> omega chi(c0) is observed for the first time, and the Born cross sections at root s = 4.23 and 4.26 GeV are measured to be (55.4 +/- 6.0 +/- 5.9) and (23.7 +/- 5.3 +/- 3.5) pb, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. The omega chi(c0) signals at the other seven energies and the e(+)e(-) -> omega chi(c1) and omega chi(c2) signals are not significant, and the upper limits on the cross sections are determined. By examining the omega chi(c0) cross section as a function of center of mass energy, we find that it is inconsistent with the line shape of the Y(4260) observed in e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-) J/psi Assuming the omega chi(c0) signals come from a single resonance, we extract the mass and width of the resonance to be (4230 +/- 8 +/- 6) MeV/c(2) and (38 +/- 12 +/- 2) MeV, respectively, and the statistical significance is more than 9 sigma.
|
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| 31. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Study of J/psi -> eta phi pi(+)pi(-) at BESIII
- 2015
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 91:5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- invariant mass spectrum of phi f(0)(980) with a statistical significance of greater than 10 sigma. The corresponding mass and width are determined to be M = 2200 +/- 6(stat) +/- 5(syst) MeV/c(2) and Gamma = 104 +/- 15(stat) +/- 15(syst) MeV, respectively, and the product branching fraction is measured to be B(J/psi ->eta Y(2175), Y(2175)->phi f(0)(980), f(0)(980)->pi(+)pi(-)) = (1.20 +/- 0.14(stat)+/- 0.37(syst))x10(-4). The results are consistent within errors with those of previous experiments. We also measure the branching fraction of J/psi ->phi f(1)(1285) with f(1)(1285)->eta pi(+)pi(-) and set upper limits on the branching fractions for J/psi ->phi eta(1405)/phi X(1835)/phi X(1870) with eta(1405)/X(1835)/X(1870)->eta pi(+)pi(-) at the 90% confidence level.
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| 32. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
-
Search for C-parity violation in J/psi -> gamma gamma and gamma phi
- 2014
-
In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 90:9, s. 092002-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using 1.06 x 10(8) psi(3686) events recorded in e(+)e(-) collisions at root s = 3.686 GeV with the BESIII at the BEPCII collider, we present searches for C-parity violation in J/psi -> gamma gamma and gamma phi decays via psi(3686) -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-). No significant signals are observed in either channel. Upper limits on the branching fractions are set to be B(J/psi -> gamma gamma) < 2.7 x 10(-7) and B(J/psi -> gamma phi) < 1.4 x 10(-6) at the 90% confidence level. The former is one order of magnitude more stringent than the previous upper limit, and the latter represents the first limit on this decay channel.
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| 33. |
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| 34. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(author)
-
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
- 2012
-
In: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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| 35. |
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| 36. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. IV. Imaging the Central Supermassive Black Hole
- 2019
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 875:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the first Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) images of M87, using observations from April 2017 at 1.3 mm wavelength. These images show a prominent ring with a diameter of similar to 40 mu as, consistent with the size and shape of the lensed photon orbit encircling the "shadow" of a supermassive black hole. The ring is persistent across four observing nights and shows enhanced brightness in the south. To assess the reliability of these results, we implemented a two-stage imaging procedure. In the first stage, four teams, each blind to the others' work, produced images of M87 using both an established method (CLEAN) and a newer technique (regularized maximum likelihood). This stage allowed us to avoid shared human bias and to assess common features among independent reconstructions. In the second stage, we reconstructed synthetic data from a large survey of imaging parameters and then compared the results with the corresponding ground truth images. This stage allowed us to select parameters objectively to use when reconstructing images of M87. Across all tests in both stages, the ring diameter and asymmetry remained stable, insensitive to the choice of imaging technique. We describe the EHT imaging procedures, the primary image features in M87, and the dependence of these features on imaging assumptions.
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| 37. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. V. Physical Origin of the Asymmetric Ring
- 2019
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 875:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has mapped the central compact radio source of the elliptical galaxy M87 at 1.3 mm with unprecedented angular resolution. Here we consider the physical implications of the asymmetric ring seen in the 2017 EHT data. To this end, we construct a large library of models based on general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations and synthetic images produced by general relativistic ray tracing. We compare the observed visibilities with this library and confirm that the asymmetric ring is consistent with earlier predictions of strong gravitational lensing of synchrotron emission from a hot plasma orbiting near the black hole event horizon. The ring radius and ring asymmetry depend on black hole mass and spin, respectively, and both are therefore expected to be stable when observed in future EHT campaigns. Overall, the observed image is consistent with expectations for the shadow of a spinning Kerr black hole as predicted by general relativity. If the black hole spin and M87's large scale jet are aligned, then the black hole spin vector is pointed away from Earth. Models in our library of non-spinning black holes are inconsistent with the observations as they do not produce sufficiently powerful jets. At the same time, in those models that produce a sufficiently powerful jet, the latter is powered by extraction of black hole spin energy through mechanisms akin to the Blandford-Znajek process. We briefly consider alternatives to a black hole for the central compact object. Analysis of existing EHT polarization data and data taken simultaneously at other wavelengths will soon enable new tests of the GRMHD models, as will future EHT campaigns at 230 and 345 GHz.
|
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| 38. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. VI. The Shadow and Mass of the Central Black Hole
- 2019
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 875:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present measurements of the properties of the central radio source in M87 using Event Horizon Telescope data obtained during the 2017 campaign. We develop and fit geometric crescent models (asymmetric rings with interior brightness depressions) using two independent sampling algorithms that consider distinct representations of the visibility data. We show that the crescent family of models is statistically preferred over other comparably complex geometric models that we explore. We calibrate the geometric model parameters using general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) models of the emission region and estimate physical properties of the source. We further fit images generated from GRMHD models directly to the data. We compare the derived emission region and black hole parameters from these analyses with those recovered from reconstructed images. There is a remarkable consistency among all methods and data sets. We find that >50% of the total flux at arcsecond scales comes from near the horizon, and that the emission is dramatically suppressed interior to this region by a factor >10, providing direct evidence of the predicted shadow of a black hole. Across all methods, we measure a crescent diameter of 42 +/- 3 mu as and constrain its fractional width to be
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| 39. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First Sagittarius A* Event Horizon Telescope Results. II. EHT and Multiwavelength Observations, Data Processing, and Calibration
- 2022
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 930:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) 1.3 mm measurements of the radio source located at the position of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), collected during the 2017 April 5-11 campaign. The observations were carried out with eight facilities at six locations across the globe. Novel calibration methods are employed to account for Sgr A*'s flux variability. The majority of the 1.3 mm emission arises from horizon scales, where intrinsic structural source variability is detected on timescales of minutes to hours. The effects of interstellar scattering on the image and its variability are found to be subdominant to intrinsic source structure. The calibrated visibility amplitudes, particularly the locations of the visibility minima, are broadly consistent with a blurred ring with a diameter of similar to 50 mu as, as determined in later works in this series. Contemporaneous multiwavelength monitoring of Sgr A* was performed at 22, 43, and 86 GHz and at near-infrared and X-ray wavelengths. Several X-ray flares from Sgr A* are detected by Chandra, one at low significance jointly with Swift on 2017 April 7 and the other at higher significance jointly with NuSTAR on 2017 April 11. The brighter April 11 flare is not observed simultaneously by the EHT but is followed by a significant increase in millimeter flux variability immediately after the X-ray outburst, indicating a likely connection in the emission physics near the event horizon. We compare Sgr A*'s broadband flux during the EHT campaign to its historical spectral energy distribution and find that both the quiescent emission and flare emission are consistent with its long-term behavior.
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| 40. |
- Kim, Jae-Young, et al.
(author)
-
Event Horizon Telescope imaging of the archetypal blazar 3C 279 at an extreme 20 microarcsecond resolution
- 2020
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 640
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 3C 279 is an archetypal blazar with a prominent radio jet that show broadband flux density variability across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. We use an ultra-high angular resolution technique - global Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at 1.3mm (230 GHz) - to resolve the innermost jet of 3C 279 in order to study its fine-scale morphology close to the jet base where highly variable-ray emission is thought to originate, according to various models. The source was observed during four days in April 2017 with the Event Horizon Telescope at 230 GHz, including the phased Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, at an angular resolution of ∼20 μas (at a redshift of z = 0:536 this corresponds to ∼0:13 pc ∼ 1700 Schwarzschild radii with a black hole mass MBH = 8 × 108 M⊙). Imaging and model-fitting techniques were applied to the data to parameterize the fine-scale source structure and its variation.We find a multicomponent inner jet morphology with the northernmost component elongated perpendicular to the direction of the jet, as imaged at longer wavelengths. The elongated nuclear structure is consistent on all four observing days and across diffierent imaging methods and model-fitting techniques, and therefore appears robust. Owing to its compactness and brightness, we associate the northern nuclear structure as the VLBI "core". This morphology can be interpreted as either a broad resolved jet base or a spatially bent jet.We also find significant day-to-day variations in the closure phases, which appear most pronounced on the triangles with the longest baselines. Our analysis shows that this variation is related to a systematic change of the source structure. Two inner jet components move non-radially at apparent speeds of ∼15 c and ∼20 c (∼1:3 and ∼1:7 μas day-1, respectively), which more strongly supports the scenario of traveling shocks or instabilities in a bent, possibly rotating jet. The observed apparent speeds are also coincident with the 3C 279 large-scale jet kinematics observed at longer (cm) wavelengths, suggesting no significant jet acceleration between the 1.3mm core and the outer jet. The intrinsic brightness temperature of the jet components are ≤1010 K, a magnitude or more lower than typical values seen at ≥7mm wavelengths. The low brightness temperature and morphological complexity suggest that the core region of 3C 279 becomes optically thin at short (mm) wavelengths.
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| 41. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. IX. Detection of Near-horizon Circular Polarization
- 2023
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 957:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations have revealed a bright ring of emission around the supermassive black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy. EHT images in linear polarization have further identified a coherent spiral pattern around the black hole, produced from ordered magnetic fields threading the emitting plasma. Here we present the first analysis of circular polarization using EHT data, acquired in 2017, which can potentially provide additional insights into the magnetic fields and plasma composition near the black hole. Interferometric closure quantities provide convincing evidence for the presence of circularly polarized emission on event-horizon scales. We produce images of the circular polarization using both traditional and newly developed methods. All methods find a moderate level of resolved circular polarization across the image (〈|v|〉 < 3.7%), consistent with the low image-integrated circular polarization fraction measured by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (|vint| < 1%). Despite this broad agreement, the methods show substantial variation in the morphology of the circularly polarized emission, indicating that our conclusions are strongly dependent on the imaging assumptions because of the limited baseline coverage, uncertain telescope gain calibration, and weakly polarized signal. We include this upper limit in an updated comparison to general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulation models. This analysis reinforces the previously reported preference for magnetically arrested accretion flow models. We find that most simulations naturally produce a low level of circular polarization consistent with our upper limit and that Faraday conversion is likely the dominant production mechanism for circular polarization at 230 GHz in M87*
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| 42. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. VII. Polarization of the Ring
- 2021
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 910:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2017 April, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observed the near-horizon region around the supermassive black hole at the core of the M87 galaxy. These 1.3 mm wavelength observations revealed a compact asymmetric ring-like source morphology. This structure originates from synchrotron emission produced by relativistic plasma located in the immediate vicinity of the black hole. Here we present the corresponding linear-polarimetric EHT images of the center of M87. We find that only a part of the ring is significantly polarized. The resolved fractional linear polarization has a maximum located in the southwest part of the ring, where it rises to the level of similar to 15%. The polarization position angles are arranged in a nearly azimuthal pattern. We perform quantitative measurements of relevant polarimetric properties of the compact emission and find evidence for the temporal evolution of the polarized source structure over one week of EHT observations. The details of the polarimetric data reduction and calibration methodology are provided. We carry out the data analysis using multiple independent imaging and modeling techniques, each of which is validated against a suite of synthetic data sets. The gross polarimetric structure and its apparent evolution with time are insensitive to the method used to reconstruct the image. These polarimetric images carry information about the structure of the magnetic fields responsible for the synchrotron emission. Their physical interpretation is discussed in an accompanying publication.
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| 43. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. VIII. Magnetic Field Structure near The Event Horizon
- 2021
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 910:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations at 230 GHz have now imaged polarized emission around the supermassive black hole in M87 on event-horizon scales. This polarized synchrotron radiation probes the structure of magnetic fields and the plasma properties near the black hole. Here we compare the resolved polarization structure observed by the EHT, along with simultaneous unresolved observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, to expectations from theoretical models. The low fractional linear polarization in the resolved image suggests that the polarization is scrambled on scales smaller than the EHT beam, which we attribute to Faraday rotation internal to the emission region. We estimate the average density n(e) similar to 10(4-7) cm(-3), magnetic field strength B similar to 1-30 G, and electron temperature T-e similar to (1-12) x 10(10) K of the radiating plasma in a simple one-zone emission model. We show that the net azimuthal linear polarization pattern may result from organized, poloidal magnetic fields in the emission region. In a quantitative comparison with a large library of simulated polarimetric images from general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations, we identify a subset of physical models that can explain critical features of the polarimetric EHT observations while producing a relativistic jet of sufficient power. The consistent GRMHD models are all of magnetically arrested accretion disks, where near-horizon magnetic fields are dynamically important. We use the models to infer a mass accretion rate onto the black hole in M87 of (3-20) x 10(-4) M yr(-1).
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| 44. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First Sagittarius A* Event Horizon Telescope Results. III. Imaging of the Galactic Center Supermassive Black Hole
- 2022
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 930:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the first event-horizon-scale images and spatiotemporal analysis of Sgr A* taken with the Event Horizon Telescope in 2017 April at a wavelength of 1.3 mm. Imaging of Sgr A* has been conducted through surveys over a wide range of imaging assumptions using the classical CLEAN algorithm, regularized maximum likelihood methods, and a Bayesian posterior sampling method. Different prescriptions have been used to account for scattering effects by the interstellar medium toward the Galactic center. Mitigation of the rapid intraday variability that characterizes Sgr A* has been carried out through the addition of a "variability noise budget" in the observed visibilities, facilitating the reconstruction of static full-track images. Our static reconstructions of Sgr A* can be clustered into four representative morphologies that correspond to ring images with three different azimuthal brightness distributions and a small cluster that contains diverse nonring morphologies. Based on our extensive analysis of the effects of sparse (u, v)-coverage, source variability, and interstellar scattering, as well as studies of simulated visibility data, we conclude that the Event Horizon Telescope Sgr A* data show compelling evidence for an image that is dominated by a bright ring of emission with a ring diameter of similar to 50 mu as, consistent with the expected "shadow" of a 4 x 10(6) M (circle dot) black hole in the Galactic center located at a distance of 8 kpc.
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| 45. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First Sagittarius A* Event Horizon Telescope Results. IV. Variability, Morphology, and Black Hole Mass
- 2022
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 930:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper we quantify the temporal variability and image morphology of the horizon-scale emission from Sgr A*, as observed by the EHT in 2017 April at a wavelength of 1.3 mm. We find that the Sgr A* data exhibit variability that exceeds what can be explained by the uncertainties in the data or by the effects of interstellar scattering. The magnitude of this variability can be a substantial fraction of the correlated flux density, reaching similar to 100% on some baselines. Through an exploration of simple geometric source models, we demonstrate that ring-like morphologies provide better fits to the Sgr A* data than do other morphologies with comparable complexity. We develop two strategies for fitting static geometric ring models to the time-variable Sgr A* data; one strategy fits models to short segments of data over which the source is static and averages these independent fits, while the other fits models to the full data set using a parametric model for the structural variability power spectrum around the average source structure. Both geometric modeling and image-domain feature extraction techniques determine the ring diameter to be 51.8 +/- 2.3 mu as (68% credible intervals), with the ring thickness constrained to have an FWHM between similar to 30% and 50% of the ring diameter. To bring the diameter measurements to a common physical scale, we calibrate them using synthetic data generated from GRMHD simulations. This calibration constrains the angular size of the gravitational radius to be 4.8(-0.7)(+1.4) mu as, which we combine with an independent distance measurement from maser parallaxes to determine the mass of Sgr A* to be 4.0(-0.6)(+1.1) x 10(6) M-circle dot.
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| 46. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First Sagittarius A* Event Horizon Telescope Results. V. Testing Astrophysical Models of the Galactic Center Black Hole
- 2022
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 930:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper we provide a first physical interpretation for the Event Horizon Telescope's (EHT) 2017 observations of Sgr A*. Our main approach is to compare resolved EHT data at 230 GHz and unresolved non-EHT observations from radio to X-ray wavelengths to predictions from a library of models based on time-dependent general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics simulations, including aligned, tilted, and stellar-wind-fed simulations; radiative transfer is performed assuming both thermal and nonthermal electron distribution functions. We test the models against 11 constraints drawn from EHT 230 GHz data and observations at 86 GHz, 2.2 mu m, and in the X-ray. All models fail at least one constraint. Light-curve variability provides a particularly severe constraint, failing nearly all strongly magnetized (magnetically arrested disk (MAD)) models and a large fraction of weakly magnetized models. A number of models fail only the variability constraints. We identify a promising cluster of these models, which are MAD and have inclination i <= 30 degrees. They have accretion rate (5.2-9.5) x 10(-9) M (circle dot) yr(-1), bolometric luminosity (6.8-9.2) x 10(35) erg s(-1), and outflow power (1.3-4.8) x 10(38) erg s(-1). We also find that all models with i >= 70 degrees fail at least two constraints, as do all models with equal ion and electron temperature; exploratory, nonthermal model sets tend to have higher 2.2 mu m flux density; and the population of cold electrons is limited by X-ray constraints due to the risk of bremsstrahlung overproduction. Finally, we discuss physical and numerical limitations of the models, highlighting the possible importance of kinetic effects and duration of the simulations.
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| 47. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First Sagittarius A* Event Horizon Telescope Results. VI. Testing the Black Hole Metric
- 2022
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 930:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Astrophysical black holes are expected to be described by the Kerr metric. This is the only stationary, vacuum, axisymmetric metric, without electromagnetic charge, that satisfies Einstein's equations and does not have pathologies outside of the event horizon. We present new constraints on potential deviations from the Kerr prediction based on 2017 EHT observations of Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). We calibrate the relationship between the geometrically defined black hole shadow and the observed size of the ring-like images using a library that includes both Kerr and non-Kerr simulations. We use the exquisite prior constraints on the mass-to-distance ratio for Sgr A* to show that the observed image size is within similar to 10% of the Kerr predictions. We use these bounds to constrain metrics that are parametrically different from Kerr, as well as the charges of several known spacetimes. To consider alternatives to the presence of an event horizon, we explore the possibility that Sgr A* is a compact object with a surface that either absorbs and thermally reemits incident radiation or partially reflects it. Using the observed image size and the broadband spectrum of Sgr A*, we conclude that a thermal surface can be ruled out and a fully reflective one is unlikely. We compare our results to the broader landscape of gravitational tests. Together with the bounds found for stellar-mass black holes and the M87 black hole, our observations provide further support that the external spacetimes of all black holes are described by the Kerr metric, independent of their mass.
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| 48. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First Sagittarius A∗ Event Horizon Telescope Results. VII. Polarization of the Ring
- 2024
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 964:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Event Horizon Telescope observed the horizon-scale synchrotron emission region around the Galactic center supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A∗ (Sgr A∗), in 2017. These observations revealed a bright, thick ring morphology with a diameter of 51.8 ± 2.3 μas and modest azimuthal brightness asymmetry, consistent with the expected appearance of a black hole with mass M≈ 4 × 106 M⊙. From these observations, we present the first resolved linear and circular polarimetric images of Sgr A∗. The linear polarization images demonstrate that the emission ring is highly polarized, exhibiting a prominent spiral electric vector polarization angle pattern with a peak fractional polarization of ∼40% in the western portion of the ring. The circular polarization images feature a modestly (∼5%°-10%) polarized dipole structure along the emission ring, with negative circular polarization in the western region and positive circular polarization in the eastern region, although our methods exhibit stronger disagreement than for linear polarization. We analyze the data using multiple independent imaging and modeling methods, each of which is validated using a standardized suite of synthetic data sets. While the detailed spatial distribution of the linear polarization along the ring remains uncertain owing to the intrinsic variability of the source, the spiraling polarization structure is robust to methodological choices. The degree and orientation of the linear polarization provide stringent constraints for the black hole and its surrounding magnetic fields, which we discuss in an accompanying publication.
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| 49. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
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First Sagittarius A∗ Event Horizon Telescope Results. VIII. Physical Interpretation of the Polarized Ring
- 2024
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 964:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In a companion paper, we present the first spatially resolved polarized image of Sagittarius A∗ on event horizon scales, captured using the Event Horizon Telescope, a global very long baseline interferometric array operating at a wavelength of 1.3 mm. Here we interpret this image using both simple analytic models and numerical general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations. The large spatially resolved linear polarization fraction (24%-28%, peaking at ∼40%) is the most stringent constraint on parameter space, disfavoring models that are too Faraday depolarized. Similar to our studies of M87∗, polarimetric constraints reinforce a preference for GRMHD models with dynamically important magnetic fields. Although the spiral morphology of the polarization pattern is known to constrain the spin and inclination angle, the time-variable rotation measure (RM) of Sgr A∗ (equivalent to ≈ 46° ± 12° rotation at 228 GHz) limits its present utility as a constraint. If we attribute the RM to internal Faraday rotation, then the motion of accreting material is inferred to be counterclockwise, contrary to inferences based on historical polarized flares, and no model satisfies all polarimetric and total intensity constraints. On the other hand, if we attribute the mean RM to an external Faraday screen, then the motion of accreting material is inferred to be clockwise, and one model passes all applied total intensity and polarimetric constraints: a model with strong magnetic fields, a spin parameter of 0.94, and an inclination of 150°. We discuss how future 345 GHz and dynamical imaging will mitigate our present uncertainties and provide additional constraints on the black hole and its accretion flow.
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| 50. |
- Algaba, Juan-Carlos, et al.
(author)
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Broadband Multi-wavelength Properties of M87 during the 2017 Event Horizon Telescope Campaign
- 2021
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 911:1
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2017, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration succeeded in capturing the first direct image of the center of the M87 galaxy. The asymmetric ring morphology and size are consistent with theoretical expectations for a weakly accreting supermassive black hole of mass ∼6.5 × 109 M o˙. The EHTC also partnered with several international facilities in space and on the ground, to arrange an extensive, quasi-simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign. This Letter presents the results and analysis of this campaign, as well as the multi-wavelength data as a legacy data repository. We captured M87 in a historically low state, and the core flux dominates over HST-1 at high energies, making it possible to combine core flux constraints with the more spatially precise very long baseline interferometry data. We present the most complete simultaneous multi-wavelength spectrum of the active nucleus to date, and discuss the complexity and caveats of combining data from different spatial scales into one broadband spectrum. We apply two heuristic, isotropic leptonic single-zone models to provide insight into the basic source properties, but conclude that a structured jet is necessary to explain M87's spectrum. We can exclude that the simultaneous γ-ray emission is produced via inverse Compton emission in the same region producing the EHT mm-band emission, and further conclude that the γ-rays can only be produced in the inner jets (inward of HST-1) if there are strongly particle-dominated regions. Direct synchrotron emission from accelerated protons and secondaries cannot yet be excluded.
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