1. |
- Adrian-Martinez, S., et al.
(author)
-
A first search for coincident gravitational waves and high energy neutrinos using LIGO, Virgo and ANTARES data from 2007
- 2013
-
In: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. - : IOP Publishing. - 1475-7516. ; :6
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the results of the first search for gravitational wave bursts associated with high energy neutrinos. Together, these messengers could reveal new, hidden sources that are not observed by conventional photon astronomy, particularly at high energy. Our search uses neutrinos detected by the underwater neutrino telescope ANTARES in its 5 line configuration during the period January - September 2007, which coincided with the fifth and first science runs of LIGO and Virgo, respectively. The LIGO-Virgo data were analysed for candidate gravitational-wave signals coincident in time and direction with the neutrino events. No significant coincident events were observed. We place limits on the density of joint high energy neutrino - gravitational wave emission events in the local universe, and compare them with densities of merger and core-collapse events.
|
|
2. |
- Abdalla, H., et al.
(author)
-
Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array for probing cosmology and fundamental physics with gamma-ray propagation
- 2021
-
In: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 1475-7516. ; :2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), the new-generation ground-based observatory for gamma-ray astronomy, provides unique capabilities to address significant open questions in astrophysics, cosmology, and fundamental physics. We study some of the salient areas of gamma-ray cosmology that can be explored as part of the Key Science Projects of CTA, through simulated observations of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and of their relativistic jets. Observations of AGN with CTA will enable a measurement of gamma-ray absorption on the extragalactic background light with a statistical uncertainty below 15% up to a redshift z = 2 and to constrain or detect gamma-ray halos up to intergalactic-magnetic-field strengths of at least 0.3 pG. Extragalactic observations with CTA also show promising potential to probe physics beyond the Standard Model. The best limits on Lorentz invariance violation from gamma-ray astronomy will be improved by a factor of at least two to three. CTA will also probe the parameter space in which axion-like particles could constitute a significant fraction, if not all, of dark matter. We conclude on the synergies between CTA and other upcoming facilities that will foster the growth of gamma-ray cosmology.
|
|
3. |
- Abe, H., et al.
(author)
-
Gamma-ray observations of MAXI J1820+070 during the 2018 outburst
- 2022
-
In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 517:4, s. 4736-4751
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- MAXIJ1820+070 is a low-mass X-ray binary with a black hole (BH) as a compact object. This binary underwent an exceptionally bright X-ray outburst from 2018 March to October, showing evidence of a non-thermal particle population through its radio emission during this whole period. The combined results of 59.5 h of observations of the MAXI J1820+070 outburst with the H.E.S.S., MAGIC and VERITAS experiments at energies above 200 GeV are presented, together with Fermi-LAT data between 0.1 and 500 GeV, and multiwavelength observations from radio to X-rays. Gamma-ray emission is not detected from MAXI J1820+070, but the obtained upper limits and the multiwavelength data allow us to put meaningful constraints on the source properties under reasonable assumptions regarding the non-thermal particle population and the jet synchrotron spectrum. In particular, it is possible to show that, if a high-energy (HE) gamma-ray emitting region is present during the hard state of the source, its predicted flux should be at most a factor of 20 below the obtained Fermi-LAT upper limits, and closer to them for magnetic fields significantly below equipartition. During the state transitions, under the plausible assumption that electrons are accelerated up to similar to 500 GeV, the multiwavelength data and the gamma-ray upper limits lead consistently to the conclusion that a potential HE and very-HE gamma-ray emitting region should be located at a distance from the BH ranging between 10(11) and 10(13) cm. Similar outbursts from low-mass X-ray binaries might be detectable in the near future with upcoming instruments such as CTA.
|
|
4. |
- Acero, F., et al.
(author)
-
Prospects for Cherenkov Telescope Array Observations of the Young Supernova Remnant RX J1713.7-3946
- 2017
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 840:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We perform simulations for future Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) observations of RX J1713.7-3946, a young supernova remnant (SNR) and one of the brightest sources ever discovered in very high energy (VHE) gamma rays. Special attention is paid to exploring possible spatial (anti) correlations of gamma rays with emission at other wavelengths, in particular X-rays and CO/H I emission. We present a series of simulated images of RX J1713.7-3946 for CTA based on a set of observationally motivated models for the gamma-ray emission. In these models, VHE gamma rays produced by high-energy electrons are assumed to trace the nonthermal X-ray emission observed by XMM-Newton, whereas those originating from relativistic protons delineate the local gas distributions. The local atomic and molecular gas distributions are deduced by the NANTEN team from CO and H I observations. Our primary goal is to show how one can distinguish the emission mechanism(s) of the gamma rays (i.e., hadronic versus leptonic, or a mixture of the two) through information provided by their spatial distribution, spectra, and time variation. This work is the first attempt to quantitatively evaluate the capabilities of CTA to achieve various proposed scientific goals by observing this important cosmic particle accelerator.
|
|
5. |
- Ageron, M., et al.
(author)
-
ANTARES : The first undersea neutrino telescope
- 2011
-
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 656:1, s. 11-38
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The ANTARES Neutrino Telescope was completed in May 2008 and is the first operational Neutrino Telescope in the Mediterranean Sea. The main purpose of the detector is to perform neutrino astronomy and the apparatus also offers facilities for marine and Earth sciences. This paper describes the design, the construction and the installation of the telescope in the deep sea, offshore from Toulon in France. An illustration of the detector performance is given. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
|
|
6. |
- Acharyya, A., et al.
(author)
-
Multiwavelength Observations of the Blazar PKS 0735+178 in Spatial and Temporal Coincidence with an Astrophysical Neutrino Candidate IceCube-211208A
- 2023
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 954:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report on multiwavelength target-of-opportunity observations of the blazar PKS 0735+178, located 2 degrees .2 away from the best -fit position of the IceCube neutrino event IceCube-211208A detected on 2021 December 8. The source was in a high -flux state in the optical, ultraviolet, X-ray, and GeV ?-ray bands around the time of the neutrino event, exhibiting daily variability in the soft X-ray flux. The X-ray data from Swift-XRT and NuSTAR characterize the transition between the low-energy and high-energy components of the broadband spectral energy distribution (SED), and the ?-ray data from Fermi-LAT, VERITAS, and H.E.S.S. require a spectral cutoff near 100 GeV. Both the X-ray and ?-ray measurements provide strong constraints on the leptonic and hadronic models. We analytically explore a synchrotron self-Compton model, an external Compton model, and a lepto-hadronic model. Models that are entirely based on internal photon fields face serious difficulties in matching the observed SED. The existence of an external photon field in the source would instead explain the observed ?-ray spectral cutoff in both the leptonic and lepto-hadronic models and allow a proton jet power that marginally agrees with the Eddington limit in the lepto-hadronic model. We show a numerical lepto-hadronic model with external target photons that reproduces the observed SED and is reasonably consistent with the neutrino event despite requiring a high jet power.
|
|
7. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
Discovery of a radiation component from the Vela pulsar reaching 20 teraelectronvolts
- 2023
-
In: Nature Astronomy. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2397-3366. ; 7:11, s. 1341-1350
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gamma-ray observations have established energetic isolated pulsars as outstanding particle accelerators and antimatter factories. However, many questions are still open regarding the acceleration and radiation processes involved, as well as the locations where they occur. The radiation spectra of all gamma-ray pulsars observed to date show strong cutoffs or a break above energies of a few gigaelectronvolts. Using the High Energy Stereoscopic System's Cherenkov telescopes, we discovered a radiation component from the Vela pulsar which emerges beyond this generic cutoff and extends up to energies of at least 20 teraelectronvolts. This is an order of magnitude larger than in the case of the Crab pulsar, the only other pulsar detected in the teraelectronvolt energy range. Our results challenge the state-of-the-art models for the high-energy emission of pulsars. Furthermore, they pave the way for investigating other pulsars through their multiteraelectronvolt emission, thereby imposing additional constraints on the acceleration and emission processes in their extreme energy limit. The H.E.S.S. gamma-ray observatory has observed gamma rays with energies of at least 20 TeV from a pulsar, an energy regime that is hard to reconcile with the existing theories of gamma-ray production for such objects.
|
|
8. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
Unveiling extended gamma-ray emission around HESS J1813-178
- 2024
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 686
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. HESS J1813-178 is a very-high-energy gamma-ray source spatially coincident with the young and energetic pulsar PSR J1813-1749 and thought to be associated with its pulsar wind nebula (PWN). Recently, evidence for extended high-energy emission in the vicinity of the pulsar has been revealed in the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data. This motivates revisiting the HESS J1813-178 region, taking advantage of improved analysis methods and an extended dataset. Aims. Using data taken by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) experiment and the Fermi-LAT, we aim to describe the gamma-ray emission in the region with a consistent model, to provide insights into its origin. Methods. We performed a likelihood-based analysis on 32 hours of H.E.S.S. data and 12 yr of Fermi-LAT data and we fitted a spectromorphological model to the combined datasets. These results allowed us to develop a physical model for the origin of the observed.-ray emission in the region. Results. In addition to the compact very-high-energy gamma-ray emission centred on the pulsar, we find a significant yet previously undetected component along the Galactic plane. With Fermi-LAT data, we confirm extended high-energy emission consistent with the position and elongation of the extended emission observed with H.E.S.S. These results establish a consistent description of the emission in the region from GeV energies to several tens of TeV. Conclusions. This study suggests that HESS J1813-178 is associated with a gamma-ray PWN powered by PSR J1813-1749. A possible origin of the extended emission component is inverse Compton emission from electrons and positrons that have escaped the confines of the pulsar and form a halo around the PWN.
|
|
9. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
A deep spectromorphological study of the ϒ-ray emission surrounding the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1
- 2022
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EPD Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 666
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Young massive stellar clusters are extreme environments and potentially provide the means for efficient particle acceleration. Indeed, they are increasingly considered as being responsible for a significant fraction of cosmic rays (CRs) that are accelerated within the Milky Way. Westerlund 1, the most massive known young stellar cluster in our Galaxy, is a prime candidate for studying this hypothesis. While the very-high-energy gamma-ray source HESS J1646-458 has been detected in the vicinity of Westerlund 1 in the past, its association could not be firmly identified. Aims. We aim to identify the physical processes responsible for the gamma-ray emission around Westerlund 1 and thus to understand the role of massive stellar clusters in the acceleration of Galactic CRs better. Methods. Using 164 h of data recorded with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.), we carried out a deep spectromorphological study of the gamma-ray emission of HESS J1646-458. We furthermore employed H I and CO observations of the region to infer the presence of gas that could serve as target material for interactions of accelerated CRs. Results. We detected large-scale (similar to 2 degrees diameter) gamma-ray emission with a complex morphology, exhibiting a shell-like structure and showing no significant variation with gamma-ray energy. The combined energy spectrum of the emission extends to several tens of TeV, and it is uniform across the entire source region. We did not find a clear correlation of the gamma-ray emission with gas clouds as identified through H I and CO observations. Conclusions. We conclude that, of the known objects within the region, only Westerlund 1 can explain the majority of the gamma-ray emission. Several CR acceleration sites and mechanisms are conceivable and discussed in detail. While it seems clear that Westerlund 1 acts as a powerful particle accelerator, no firm conclusions on the contribution of massive stellar clusters to the flux of Galactic CRs in general can be drawn at this point.
|
|
10. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
Detection of extended gamma-ray emission around the Geminga pulsar with HESS
- 2023
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 673
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Geminga is an enigmatic radio-quiet gamma-ray pulsar located at a mere 250 pc distance from Earth. Extended very-high-energy gamma-ray emission around the pulsar was discovered by Milagro and later confirmed by HAWC, which are both water Cherenkov detector-based experiments. However, evidence for the Geminga pulsar wind nebula in gamma rays has long evaded detection by imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) despite targeted observations. The detection of gamma-ray emission on angular scales greater than or similar to 2 degrees poses a considerable challenge for the background estimation in IACT data analysis. With recent developments in understanding the complementary background estimation techniques of water Cherenkov and atmospheric Cherenkov instruments, the H.E.S.S. IACT array can now confirm the detection of highly extended gamma-ray emission around the Geminga pulsar with a radius of at least 3 degrees in the energy range 0.5-40 TeV. We find no indications for statistically significant asymmetries or energy-dependent morphology. A flux normalisation of (2.8 +/- 0.7) x 10-12 cm-2 s-1 TeV-1 at 1 TeV is obtained within a 1 degrees radius region around the pulsar. To investigate the particle transport within the halo of energetic leptons around the pulsar, we fitted an electron diffusion model to the data. The normalisation of the diffusion coefficient obtained of D-0 = 7.6-1.2+1.5 x 1027 cm2 s-1, at an electron energy of 100 TeV, is compatible with values previously reported for the pulsar halo around Geminga, which is considerably below the Galactic average.
|
|
11. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
HESS Follow-up Observations of GRB 221009A
- 2023
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 946:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- GRB 221009A is the brightest gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever detected. To probe the very-high-energy (VHE; >100 GeV) emission, the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) began observations 53 hr after the triggering event, when the brightness of the moonlight no longer precluded observations. We derive differential and integral upper limits using H.E.S.S. data from the third, fourth, and ninth nights after the initial GRB detection, after applying atmospheric corrections. The combined observations yield an integral energy flux upper limit of f(UL)(95%)=9.7x10(-12)ergcm(-2)s(-1) E-thr = 650 GeV. The constraints derived from the H.E.S.S. observations complement the available multiwavelength data. The radio to X-ray data are consistent with synchrotron emission from a single electron population, with the peak in the spectral energy distribution occurring above the X-ray band. Compared to the VHE-bright GRB 190829A, the upper limits for GRB 221009A imply a smaller gamma-ray to X-ray flux ratio in the afterglow. Even in the absence of a detection, the H.E.S.S. upper limits thus contribute to the multiwavelength picture of GRB 221009A, effectively ruling out an IC-dominated scenario.
|
|
12. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
HESS J1809-193 : A halo of escaped electrons around a pulsar wind nebula?
- 2023
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 672
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. HESS J1809-193 is an unassociated very-high-energy gamma-ray source located on the Galactic plane. While it has been connected to the nebula of the energetic pulsar PSR J1809-1917, supernova remnants and molecular clouds present in the vicinity also constitute possible associations. Recently, the detection of gamma-ray emission up to energies of similar to 100 TeV with the HAWC observatory has led to renewed interest in HESS J1809-193.Aims. We aim to understand the origin of the gamma-ray emission of HESS J1809-193.Methods. We analysed 93.2 h of data taken on HESS J1809-193 above 0.27 TeV with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.), using a multi-component, three-dimensional likelihood analysis. In addition, we provide a new analysis of 12.5 yr of Fermi-LAT data above 1 GeV within the region of HESS J1809-193. The obtained results are interpreted in a time-dependent modelling framework.Results. For the first time, we were able to resolve the emission detected with H.E.S.S. into two components: an extended component (modelled as an elongated Gaussian with a 1-sigma semi-major and semi-minor axis of similar to 0.62 degrees and similar to 0.35 degrees, respectively) that exhibits a spectral cutoff at similar to 13 TeV, and a compact component (modelled as a symmetric Gaussian with a 1-sigma radius of similar to 0.1 degrees) that is located close to PSR J1809-1917 and shows no clear spectral cutoff. The Fermi-LAT analysis also revealed extended gamma-ray emission, on scales similar to that of the extended H.E.S.S. component.Conclusions. Our modelling indicates that based on its spectrum and spatial extent, the extended H.E.S.S. component is likely caused by inverse Compton emission from old electrons that form a halo around the pulsar wind nebula. The compact component could be connected to either the pulsar wind nebula or the supernova remnant and molecular clouds. Due to its comparatively steep spectrum, modelling the Fermi-LAT emission together with the H.E.S.S. components is not straightforward.
|
|
13. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
Constraining the cosmic-ray pressure in the inner Virgo Cluster using HESS observations of M 87
- 2023
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 675
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The origin of the gamma-ray emission from M 87 is currently a matter of debate. This work aims to localize the very high-energy (VHE; 100 GeV - 100 TeV) gamma-ray emission from M 87 and probe a potential extended hadronic emission component in the inner Virgo Cluster. The search for a steady and extended gamma-ray signal around M 87 can constrain the cosmic-ray energy density and the pressure exerted by the cosmic rays onto the intracluster medium and allow us to investigate the role of cosmic rays in the active galactic nucleus feedback as a heating mechanism in the Virgo Cluster. The High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) telescopes are sensitive to VHE gamma rays and have been used to observe M 87 since 2004. We utilized a Bayesian block analysis to identify M 87 emission states with H.E.S.S. observations from 2004 to 2021, dividing them into low, intermediate, and high states. Because of the causality argument, an extended (≳1 kpc) signal is allowed only in steady emission states. Hence, we fitted the morphology of the 120 h low-state data and find no significant gamma-ray extension. Therefore, we derive for the low state an upper limit of 58″(corresponding to ≈4.6 kpc) in the extension of a single-component morphological model described by a rotationally symmetric 2D Gaussian model at the 99.7% confidence level. Our results exclude the radio lobes (≈30 kpc) as the principal component of the VHE gamma-ray emission from the low state of M 87. The gamma-ray emission is compatible with a single emission region at the radio core of M 87. These results, with the help of two multiple-component models, constrain the maximum cosmic-ray to thermal pressure ratio to XCR, max. ≲ 0.32 and the total energy in cosmic-ray protons to UCR ≲ 5 × 1058 erg in the inner 20 kpc of the Virgo Cluster for an assumed cosmic-ray proton power-law distribution in momentum with spectral index αp = 2.1
|
|
14. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
HESS observations of the 2021 periastron passage of PSR B1259-63/LS 2883
- 2024
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 687
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 is a gamma-ray binary system that hosts a pulsar in an eccentric orbit, with a 3.4 yr period, around an O9.5Ve star (LS 2883). At orbital phases close to periastron passages, the system radiates bright and variable non-thermal emission, for which the temporal and spectral properties of this emission are, for now, poorly understood. In this regard, very high-energy (VHE) emission is especially useful to study and constrain radiation processes and particle acceleration in the system. We report on an extensive VHE observation campaign conducted with the High Energy Stereoscopic System, comprised of approximately 100 h of data taken over five months, from t(p) - 24 days to t(p) + 127 days around the system's 2021 periastron passage (where t(p) is the time of periastron). We also present the timing and spectral analyses of the source. The VHE light curve in 2021 is consistent overall with the stacked light curve of all previous observations. Within the light curve, we report a VHE maximum at times coincident with the third X-ray peak first detected in the 2021 X-ray light curve. In the light curve - although sparsely sampled in this time period - we see no VHE enhancement during the second disc crossing. In addition, we see no correspondence to the 2021 GeV flare in the VHE light curve. The VHE spectrum obtained from the analysis of the 2021 dataset is best described by a power law of spectral index Gamma = 2.65 +/- 0.04(stat) +/- 0.04(sys), a value consistent with the spectral index obtained from the analysis of data collected with H.E.S.S. during the previous observations of the source. We report spectral variability with a difference of Delta Gamma = 0.56 +/- 0.18(stat) +/- 0.10(sys) at 95% confidence intervals, between sub-periods of the 2021 dataset. We also detail our investigation into X-ray/TeV and GeV/TeV flux correlations in the 2021 periastron passage. We find a linear correlation between contemporaneous flux values of X-ray and TeV datasets, detected mainly after t(p) + 25 days, suggesting a change in the available energy for non-thermal radiation processes. We detect no significant correlation between GeV and TeV flux points, within the uncertainties of the measurements, from similar to t(p) - 23 days to similar to t(p) + 126 days. This suggests that the GeV and TeV emission originate from different electron populations.
|
|
15. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
The Vanishing of the Primary Emission Region in PKS 1510-089
- 2023
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 952:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2021 July, PKS 1510-089 exhibited a significant flux drop in the high-energy & gamma;-ray (by a factor 10) and optical (by a factor 5) bands and remained in this low state throughout 2022. Similarly, the optical polarization in the source vanished, resulting in the optical spectrum being fully explained through the steady flux of the accretion disk and the broad-line region. Unlike the aforementioned bands, the very-high-energy & gamma;-ray and X-ray fluxes did not exhibit a significant flux drop from year to year. This suggests that the steady-state very-high-energy & gamma;-ray and X-ray fluxes originate from a different emission region than the vanished parts of the high-energy & gamma;-ray and optical jet fluxes. The latter component has disappeared through either a swing of the jet away from the line of sight or a significant drop in the photon production efficiency of the jet close to the black hole. Either change could become visible in high-resolution radio images.
|
|
16. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
Search for the evaporation of primordial black holes with HESS
- 2023
-
In: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 1475-7516. ; :4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Primordial Black Holes (PBHs) are hypothetical black holes predicted to have been formed from density fluctuations in the early Universe. PBHs with an initial mass around 1014-1015 g are expected to end their evaporation at present times in a burst of particles and very-high-energy (VHE) gamma rays. Those gamma rays may be detectable by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.), an array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. This paper reports on the search for evaporation bursts of VHE gamma rays with H.E.S.S., ranging from 10 to 120 seconds, as expected from the final stage of PBH evaporation and using a total of 4816 hours of observations. The most constraining upper limit on the burst rate of local PBHs is 2000 pc-3 yr-1 for a burst interval of 120 seconds, at the 95% confidence level. The implication of these measurements for PBH dark matter are also discussed.
|
|
17. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
-
TeV flaring activity of the AGN PKS 0625-354 in November 2018
- 2024
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 683
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Most gamma-ray detected active galactic nuclei are blazars with one of their relativistic jets pointing towards the Earth. Only a few objects belong to the class of radio galaxies or misaligned blazars. Here, we investigate the nature of the object PKS 0625-354, its gamma-ray flux and spectral variability and its broad-band spectral emission with observations from H.E.S.S., Fermi-LAT, Swift-XRT, and UVOT taken in November 2018. The H.E.S.S. light curve above 200 GeV shows an outburst in the first night of observations followed by a declining flux with a halving time scale of 5.9 h. The gamma gamma-opacity constrains the upper limit of the angle between the jet and the line of sight to similar to 10 degrees. The broad-band spectral energy distribution shows two humps and can be well fitted with a single-zone synchrotron self Compton emission model. We conclude that PKS 0625-354, as an object showing clear features of both blazars and radio galaxies, can be classified as an intermediate active galactic nuclei. Multi-wavelength studies of such intermediate objects exhibiting features of both blazars and radio galaxies are sparse but crucial for the understanding of the broad-band emission of gamma-ray detected active galactic nuclei in general.
|
|
18. |
- Ageron, M., et al.
(author)
-
Performance of the first ANTARES detector line
- 2009
-
In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 31:4, s. 277-283
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper we report on the data recorded with the first Antares detector line. The line was deployed on the 14th of February 2006 and was connected to the readout 2 weeks later. Environmental data for one and a half years of running are shown. Measurements of atmospheric muons from data taken from selected runs during the first 6 months of operation are presented. Performance figures in terms of time residuals and angular resolution are given. Finally the angular distribution of atmospheric muons is presented and from this the depth profile of the muon intensity is derived. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
|
|
19. |
- von Doetinchem, P., et al.
(author)
-
Cosmic-ray antinuclei as messengers of new physics : status and outlook for the new decade
- 2020
-
In: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. - : IOP Publishing. - 1475-7516. ; :8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The precise measurement of cosmic-ray antinuclei serves as an important means for identifying the nature of dark matter and other new astrophysical phenomena, and could be used with other cosmic-ray species to understand cosmic-ray production and propagation in the Galaxy. For instance, low-energy antideuterons would provide a "smoking gun" signature of dark matter annihilation or decay, essentially free of astrophysical background. Studies in recent years have emphasized that models for cosmic-ray antideuterons must be considered together with the abundant cosmic antiprotons and any potential observation of antihelium. Therefore, a second dedicated Antideuteron Workshop was organized at UCLA in March 2019, bringing together a community of theorists and experimentalists to review the status of current observations of cosmic-ray antinuclei, the theoretical work towards understanding these signatures, and the potential of upcoming measurements to illuminate ongoing controversies. This review aims to synthesize this recent work and present implications for the upcoming decade of antinuclei observations and searches. This includes discussion of a possible dark matter signature in the AMS-02 antiproton spectrum, the most recent limits from BESS Polar-II on the cosmic antideuteron flux, and reports of candidate antihelium events by AMS-02; recent collider and cosmic-ray measurements relevant for antinuclei production models; the state of cosmic-ray transport models in light of AMS-02 and Voyager data; and the prospects for upcoming experiments, such as GAPS. This provides a roadmap for progress on cosmic antinuclei signatures of dark matter in the coming years.
|
|
20. |
|
|
21. |
- Bauer, J. M., et al.
(author)
-
Rewarding behavior with a sweet food strengthens its valuation
- 2021
-
In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 16:4 April
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sweet foods are commonly used as rewards for desirable behavior, specifically among children. This study examines whether such practice may contribute to reinforce the valuation of these foods. Two experiments were conducted, one with children, the other with rats. The first study, conducted with first graders (n = 214), shows that children who receive a food reward for performing a cognitive task subsequently value the food more compared to a control group who received the same food without performing any task. The second study, conducted on rats (n = 64), shows that rewarding with food also translates into higher calorie intake over a 24-hour period. These results suggest that the common practice of rewarding children with calorie-dense sweet foods is a plausible contributing factor to obesity and might therefore be ill advised. © 2021 This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
|
|
22. |
- Szidat, S., et al.
(author)
-
Intercomparison of 14C Analysis of Carbonaceous Aerosols : Exercise 2009
- 2013
-
In: Radiocarbon. - : Cambridge University Press (CUP). - 0033-8222 .- 1945-5755. ; 55:2-3, s. 1496-1509
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Radiocarbon analysis of the carbonaceous aerosol allows an apportionment of fossil and non-fossil sources of airborne particulate matter (PM). A chemical separation of total carbon (TC) into its subfractions organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) refines this powerful technique, as OC and EC originate from different sources and undergo different processes in the atmosphere. Although C-14 analysis of TC, EC, and OC has recently gained increasing attention, interlaboratory quality assurance measures have largely been missing, especially for the isolation of EC and OC. In this work, we present results from an intercomparison of 9 laboratories for C-14 analysis of carbonaceous aerosol samples on quartz fiber filters. Two ambient PM samples and 1 reference material (RM 8785) were provided with representative filter blanks. All laboratories performed C-14 determinations of TC and a subset of isolated EC and OC for isotopic measurement. In general, C-14 measurements of TC and OC agreed acceptably well between the laboratories, i.e. for TC within 0.015-0.025 (FC)-C-14 for the ambient filters and within 0.041 (FC)-C-14 for RM 8785. Due to inhomogeneous filter loading, RM 8785 demonstrated only limited applicability as a reference material for C-14 analysis of carbonaceous aerosols. C-14 analysis of EC revealed a large deviation between the laboratories of 28-79% as a consequence of different separation techniques. This result indicates a need for further discussion on optimal methods of EC isolation for C-14 analysis and a second stage of this intercomparison.
|
|
23. |
- Baumgardner, D., et al.
(author)
-
Soot reference materials for instrument calibration and intercomparisons: a workshop summary with recommendations
- 2012
-
In: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1867-1381 .- 1867-8548. ; 5:8, s. 1869-1887
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Soot, which is produced from biomass burning and the incomplete combustion of fossil and biomass fuels, has been linked to regional and global climate change and to negative health problems. Scientists measure the properties of soot using a variety of methods in order to quantify source emissions and understand its atmospheric chemistry, reactivity under emission conditions, interaction with solar radiation, influence on clouds, and health impacts. A major obstacle currently limiting progress is the absence of established standards or reference materials for calibrating the many instruments used to measure the various properties of soot. The current state of availability and practicability of soot standard reference materials (SRMs) was reviewed by a group of 50 international experts during a workshop in June of 2011. The workshop was convened to summarize the current knowledge on soot measurement techniques, identify the measurement uncertainties and limitations related to the lack of soot SRMs, and identify attributes of SRMs that, if developed, would reduce measurement uncertainties. The workshop established that suitable SRMs are available for calibrating some, but not all, measurement methods. The community of users of the single-particle soot-photometer (SP2), an instrument using laser-induced incandescence, identified a suitable SRM, fullerene soot, but users of instruments that measure light absorption by soot collected on filters did not. Similarly, those who use thermal optical analysis (TOA) to analyze the organic and elemental carbon components of soot were not satisfied with current SRMs. The workshop, and subsequent, interactive discussions, produced a number of recommendations for the development of new SRMs, and their implementation, that would be suitable for the different soot measurement methods.
|
|
24. |
- Schweiker, Marcel, et al.
(author)
-
Evaluating assumptions of scales for subjective assessment of thermal environments – Do laypersons perceive them the way, we researchers believe?
- 2020
-
In: Energy and Buildings. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-7788. ; 211
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- People's subjective response to any thermal environment is commonly investigated by using rating scales describing the degree of thermal sensation, comfort, and acceptability. Subsequent analyses of results collected in this way rely on the assumption that specific distances between verbal anchors placed on the scale exist and that relationships between verbal anchors from different dimensions that are assessed (e.g. thermal sensation and comfort) do not change. Another inherent assumption is that such scales are independent of the context in which they are used (climate zone, season, etc.). Despite their use worldwide, there is indication that contextual differences influence the way the scales are perceived and therefore question the reliability of the scales’ interpretation. To address this issue, a large international collaborative questionnaire study was conducted in 26 countries, using 21 different languages, which led to a dataset of 8225 questionnaires. Results, analysed by means of robust statistical techniques, revealed that only a subset of the responses are in accordance with the mentioned assumptions. Significant differences appeared between groups of participants in their perception of the scales, both in relation to distances of the anchors and relationships between scales. It was also found that respondents’ interpretations of scales changed with contextual factors, such as climate, season, and language. These findings highlight the need to carefully consider context-dependent factors in interpreting and reporting results from thermal comfort studies or post-occupancy evaluations, as well as to revisit the use of rating scales and the analysis methods used in thermal comfort studies to improve their reliability.
|
|
25. |
- Schweiker, Marcel, et al.
(author)
-
The Scales Project, a cross-national dataset on the interpretation of thermal perception scales
- 2019
-
In: Scientific data. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2052-4463. ; 6:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Thermal discomfort is one of the main triggers for occupants' interactions with components of the built environment such as adjustments of thermostats and/or opening windows and strongly related to the energy use in buildings. Understanding causes for thermal (dis-)comfort is crucial for design and operation of any type of building. The assessment of human thermal perception through rating scales, for example in post-occupancy studies, has been applied for several decades; however, long-existing assumptions related to these rating scales had been questioned by several researchers. The aim of this study was to gain deeper knowledge on contextual influences on the interpretation of thermal perception scales and their verbal anchors by survey participants. A questionnaire was designed and consequently applied in 21 language versions. These surveys were conducted in 57 cities in 30 countries resulting in a dataset containing responses from 8225 participants. The database offers potential for further analysis in the areas of building design and operation, psycho-physical relationships between human perception and the built environment, and linguistic analyses.
|
|
26. |
- Albani, M, et al.
(author)
-
Concepts for polarising sheets & “dual-gridded” reflectors for circular polarisation
- 2011
-
In: 2010 Conference Proceedings ICECom, 20th International Conference on Applied Electromagnetics and Communications. - 9789536037582 - 9781612849980 ; , s. 1-4
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- C-, Ku- and Ka-band communications and broadcast satellites use so-called dual-gridded reflector antennas for linear polarisation to provide independent reflector surfaces and/or independent feeds for the two orthogonal polarisations. This paper describes initial work to extend this concept to circular polarisation. First we set up preliminary specifications and identify several antenna concepts based upon planar transmission sheet polarisers. Next we identify a number of polarisers of which the most promising is the meander-line, the L+C strip-grids and the parallel-plate polariser. Finally we review the conclusions of the analyses and preliminary designs of the sheet polarisers - on the antenna level as part of a reflector antenna system, on the polariser level, and on the sheet level inside the polariser.
|
|
27. |
|
|
28. |
- Arpaia, Riccardo, 1985, et al.
(author)
-
Dynamical charge density fluctuations pervading the phase diagram of a Cu-based high-Tc superconductor
- 2019
-
In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 365:6456, s. 906-910
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Charge density modulations have been observed in all families of high–critical temperature (Tc) superconducting cuprates. Although they are consistently found in the underdoped region of the phase diagram and at relatively low temperatures, it is still unclear to what extent they influence the unusual properties of these systems. Using resonant x-ray scattering, we carefully determined the temperature dependence of charge density modulations in YBa2Cu3O7–d and Nd1+xBa2–xCu3O7–d for several doping levels. We isolated short-range dynamical charge density fluctuations in addition to the previously known quasi-critical charge density waves. They persist up to well above the pseudogap temperature T*, are characterized by energies of a few milli–electron volts, and pervade a large area of the phase diagram.
|
|
29. |
- Aschersleben, J., et al.
(author)
-
Application of pattern spectra and convolutional neural networks to the analysis of simulated Cherenkov Telescope Array data
- 2022
-
In: 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2021) - GAI - Gamma Ray Indirect. - Trieste, Italy : Sissa Medialab. - 1824-8039. ; 395
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be the next generation gamma-ray observatory and will be the major global instrument for very-high-energy astronomy over the next decade, offering 5 − 10 × better flux sensitivity than current generation gamma-ray telescopes. Each telescope will provide a snapshot of gamma-ray induced particle showers by capturing the induced Cherenkov emission at ground level. The simulation of such events provides images that can be used as training data for convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to determine the energy of the initial gamma rays. Compared to other state-of-the-art algorithms, analyses based on CNNs promise to further enhance the performance to be achieved by CTA. Pattern spectra are commonly used tools for image classification and provide the distributions of the shapes and sizes of various objects comprising an image. The use of relatively shallow CNNs on pattern spectra would automatically select relevant combinations of features within an image, taking advantage of the 2D nature of pattern spectra. In this work, we generate pattern spectra from simulated gamma-ray events instead of using the raw images themselves in order to train our CNN for energy reconstruction. This is different from other relevant learning and feature selection methods that have been tried in the past. Thereby, we aim to obtain a significantly faster and less computationally intensive algorithm, with minimal loss of performance. © Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
|
|
30. |
|
|
31. |
|
|
32. |
|
|
33. |
|
|
34. |
- Volski, V., et al.
(author)
-
Overview of the software integration activities within ACE
- 2006
-
In: First European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), 2006, Nice, France, 6 - 10 November 2006. - : IEEE. - 0379-6566. - 9789290929376 ; 626 SP
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The ACE project initiated the start of several integration activities between European institutions involved in electromagnetic modeling of antennas with planar or conformal topologies. The goal of the integration activities was / is not to create a global software package that integrates the software of all partners, but to initiate a long term process for antenna software integration activities within the European antenna community. During the first two years of ACE the integration activities were performed in several groups with a rather small number of partners in each group. The groups were formed by partners who wanted to integrate a specific approach developed by one partner into the software code of another partner. This allows increasing the capability and efficiency of a software code. In this paper a short overview of all integration activities is given.
|
|
35. |
|
|
36. |
- Fabrizi, F, et al.
(author)
-
Gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activity and viral hepatitis in dialysis population
- 2007
-
In: The International journal of artificial organs. - : SAGE Publications. - 0391-3988 .- 1724-6040. ; 30:1, s. 6-15
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Numerous investigations have reported that viral hepatitis is associated with significant hepatocellular damage, as expressed by raised aminotransferases in serum, in dialysis population. However, scarce information exists on the activity of gamma glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP) in dialysis patients with infection by hepatotropic viruses. Objectives We measured serum GGTP values in a large cohort (n=757) of patients receiving long-term dialysis; healthy controls were also included. The relationship between GGTP values and a series of demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters was analyzed. Methods Serum GGTP levels were tested by spectrophotometry. A subset (n=333) of dialysis patients was tested by molecular technology (branched-chain DNA (bDNA) assay) to evaluate the relationship between serum GGTP and HCV viremia. A subgroup (n=78) of dialysis patients was analyzed by an ultrasound scan of gallbladder and biliary tract to assess the presence of gallstone disease. Multivariate analyses were made using regression models; serum GGTP values were included as a dependent variable. The usefulness of serum GGTP levels in detecting HBsAg and anti-HCV positivity was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. Results Univariate analysis showed that serum GGTP levels were significantly higher in HBsAg positive and/or anti-HCV positive patients than in HBsAg negative/anti-HCV negative patients on dialysis; 85.1±184.1 versus 25.86±23.9 IU/l (P=0.0001). The frequency of raised GGTP levels was 22.2% (41/184) among dialysis patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Multivariate analysis showed a significant and independent association between serum GGTP values and positive HBsAg (P=0.005) and anti-HCV antibody (P=0.0001) status. Mean GGTP values were significantly higher in study patients than controls, 32.32±60.02 versus 23.5±16.92 IU/L (P=0.01); however, no significant difference with regard to GGTP between study and healthy cohorts persisted after correction for age, gender, race, and viral markers. No relationship between gallstone disease and serum GGTP was found (NS). An independent and significant association (P=0.0291) between raised GGTP levels and detectable HCV RNA in serum was noted among patients tested by biology molecular techniques. ROC technology demonstrated that GGTP was equally useful for detecting HBV (P=0.0004) and HCV (P=0.0005) among dialysis patients. Conclusions We found an independent and significant association between serum GGTP values and HBsAg and/or anti-HCV antibody in dialysis population. Twenty-two percent of dialysis patients with chronic viral hepatitis had elevated GGTP. No difference in GGTP between HBsAg- negative/anti-HCV-negative dialysis patients and healthy individuals was found. Routine testing for serum GGTP levels to assess liver disease induced by hepatotropic viruses or other agents in dialysis population is suggested.
|
|
37. |
|
|
38. |
|
|