| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Feroci, M., et al.
(author)
-
The Large Observatory for X-ray Timing (LOFT)
- 2012
-
In: Experimental Astronomy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508. ; 34:2, s. 415-444
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- High-time-resolution X-ray observations of compact objects provide direct access to strong-field gravity, to the equation of state of ultradense matter and to black hole masses and spins. A 10 m(2)-class instrument in combination with good spectral resolution is required to exploit the relevant diagnostics and answer two of the fundamental questions of the European Space Agency (ESA) Cosmic Vision Theme "Matter under extreme conditions", namely: does matter orbiting close to the event horizon follow the predictions of general relativity? What is the equation of state of matter in neutron stars? The Large Observatory For X-ray Timing (LOFT), selected by ESA as one of the four Cosmic Vision M3 candidate missions to undergo an assessment phase, will revolutionise the study of collapsed objects in our galaxy and of the brightest supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei. Thanks to an innovative design and the development of large-area monolithic silicon drift detectors, the Large Area Detector (LAD) on board LOFT will achieve an effective area of similar to 12 m(2) (more than an order of magnitude larger than any spaceborne predecessor) in the 2-30 keV range (up to 50 keV in expanded mode), yet still fits a conventional platform and small/medium-class launcher. With this large area and a spectral resolution of < 260 eV, LOFT will yield unprecedented information on strongly curved spacetimes and matter under extreme conditions of pressure and magnetic field strength.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Raiteri, C. M., et al.
(author)
-
WEBT and XMM-Newton observations of 3C 454.3 during the post-outburst phase - Detection of the little and big blue bumps
- 2007
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 473:3, s. 819-827
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. The quasar-type blazar 3C 454.3 was observed to undergo an unprecedented optical outburst in spring 2005, affecting the source brightness from the near-IR to the X-ray frequencies. This was first followed by a millimetric and then by a radio outburst, which peaked in February 2006. Aims. In this paper we report on follow-up observations to study the multiwavelength emission in the post-outburst phase. Methods. Radio, near-infrared, and optical monitoring was performed by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) collaboration in the 2006-2007 observing season. XMM-Newton observations on July 2-3 and December 18-19, 2006 added information on the X-ray and UV states of the source. Results. The source was in a faint state. The radio flux at the higher frequencies showed a fast decreasing trend, which represents the tail of the big radio outburst. It was followed by a quiescent state, common at all radio frequencies. In contrast, moderate activity characterized the near-IR and optical light curves, with a progressive increase of the variability amplitude with increasing wavelength. We ascribe this redder-when-brighter behaviour to the presence of a ""little blue bump"" due to line emission from the broad line region, which is clearly visible in the source spectral energy distribution (SED) during faint states. Moreover, the data from the XMM- Newton Optical Monitor reveal a rise of the SED in the ultraviolet, suggesting the existence of a "" big blue bump"" due to thermal emission from the accretion disc. The X-ray spectra are well fitted with a power- law model with photoelectric absorption, possibly larger than the Galactic one. However, the comparison with previous X-ray observations would imply that the amount of absorbing matter is variable. Alternatively, the intrinsic X-ray spectrum presents a curvature, which may depend on the X-ray brightness. In this case, two scenarios are possible. i) There is no extra absorption, and the X-ray spectrum hardens at low energies, the hardening being more evident in bright states; ii) there is a constant amount of extra absorption, likely in the quasar environment, and the X-ray spectrum softens at low energies, at least in faint X-ray states. This softening might be the result of a flux contribution by the high-frequency tail of the big blue bump.
|
|
| 7. |
- Willer, Cristen J., et al.
(author)
-
Six new loci associated with body mass index highlight a neuronal influence on body weight regulation
- 2009
-
In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 41:1, s. 25-34
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Common variants at only two loci, FTO and MC4R, have been reproducibly associated with body mass index (BMI) in humans. To identify additional loci, we conducted meta-analysis of 15 genome-wide association studies for BMI (n > 32,000) and followed up top signals in 14 additional cohorts (n > 59,000). We strongly confirm FTO and MC4R and identify six additional loci (P < 5 x 10(-8)): TMEM18, KCTD15, GNPDA2, SH2B1, MTCH2 and NEGR1 (where a 45-kb deletion polymorphism is a candidate causal variant). Several of the likely causal genes are highly expressed or known to act in the central nervous system (CNS), emphasizing, as in rare monogenic forms of obesity, the role of the CNS in predisposition to obesity.
|
|
| 8. |
- Illana, A., et al.
(author)
-
Coulomb excitation of 74,76Zn
- 2023
-
In: Physical Review C. - 2469-9985. ; 108:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The first experiment using radioactive beams post-accelerated by the HIE-ISOLDE facility has enabled to obtain a precise set of B(E2) transition probabilities in neutron-rich 74,76Zn isotopes. The resulting B(E2; 2+1→0+1) values are consistent with those determined in earlier REX-ISOLDE measurements. While the B(E2; 4+1→2+1) transition probability in 76Zn is also in agreement with earlier Coulomb-excitation results, the value obtained for 74Zn is considerably lower. For the first time, a spectroscopic quadrupole moment of the 2+1 state was measured for an exotic nucleus in this mass region. A detailed comparison is presented with large-scale shell-model and Monte Carlo shell-model calculations.
|
|
| 9. |
- Ertoprak, Aysegul, et al.
(author)
-
Evidence for octupole collectivity in 172Pt
- 2020
-
In: European Physical Journal A. - : Springer. - 1434-6001 .- 1434-601X. ; 56:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Excited states in the extremely neutron-deficient nucleus 172Pt were populated via 96Ru(78Kr,2p) and 92Mo(83Kr,3n) reactions. The level scheme has been extended up to an excitation energy of ~ 5 MeV and tentative spin-parity assignments up to Iπ = 18+. Linear polarization and angular distribution measurements were used to determine the electromagnetic E1 character of the dipole transitions connecting the positive-parity ground-state band with an excited side-band, firmly establishing it as a negative-parity band. The lowest member of this negative-parity structure was firmly assigned spin-parity 3-. In addition, we observed an E3 transition from this 3- state to the ground state, providing direct evidence for octupole collectivity in 172Pt. Large-scale shell model (LSSM) and total Routhian surface (TRS) calculations have been performed, supporting the interpretation of the 3- state as a collective octupole-vibrational state.
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
