| 1. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
-
The MACRO detector at Gran Sasso
- 2002
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 486:3, s. 663-707
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- MACRO was an experiment that ran in the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso from 1988 to 2000. Its principal goal was to observe magnetic monopoles or set significantly lower experimental flux limits than had been previously available in the velocity range from about beta = 10(-4) to unity. In addition it made a variety of other observations. Examples are: setting flux limits on other so far unobserved particles such as nuclearites and lightly ionizing particles, searching for WIMP annihilations in the Earth and the Sun and for neutrino bursts from stellar collapses in or near our Galaxy, and making measurements relevant to high energy muon and neutrino astronomy and of the flux of up-going muons as a function of nadir angle showing evidence for neutrino oscillations. The apparatus consisted of three principal types of detectors: liquid scintillator counters, limited streamer tubes, and nuclear track etch detectors. In addition, over part of its area it contained a transition radiation detector. The general design philosophy emphasized redundancy and complementarity. This paper describes the technical aspects of the complete MACRO detector, its operational performance, and the techniques used to calibrate it and verify its proper operation. It supplements a previously published paper which described the first portion of the detector that was built and operated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
-
Atmospheric neutrino oscillations from upward throughgoing muon multiple scattering in MACRO
- 2003
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In: Physics Letters B. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 566:1-2, s. 35-44
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The energy of atmospheric neutrinos detected by MACRO was estimated using multiple Coulomb scattering of upward throughgoing muons. This analysis allows a test of atmospheric neutrino oscillations, relying on the distortion of the muon energy distribution. These results have been combined with those coming from the upward throughgoing muon angular distribution only. Both analyses are independent of the neutrino flux normalization and provide strong evidence, above the for level, in favour of neutrino oscillations. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 3. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
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Muon energy estimate through multiple scattering with the MACRO detector
- 2002
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 492:3, s. 376-386
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Muon energy measurement represents an important issue for any experiment addressing neutrino-induced up-going muon studies. Since the neutrino oscillation probability depends on the neutrino energy, a measurement of the muon energy adds an important piece of information concerning the neutrino system. We show in this paper how the MACRO limited streamer tube system can be operated in drift mode by using the TDCs included in the QTPs, an electronics designed for magnetic monopole search. An improvement of the space resolution is obtained, through an analysis of the multiple scattering of muon tracks as they pass through our detector. This information can be used further to obtain an estimate of the energy of muons crossing the detector. Here we present the results of two dedicated tests, performed at CERN PS-T9 and SPS-X7 beam lines, to provide a full check of the electronics and to exploit the feasibility of such a multiple scattering analysis. We show that by using a neural network approach, we are able to reconstruct the muon energy for E-mu < 40 GeV. The test beam data provide an absolute energy calibration, which allows us to apply this method to MACRO data. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 4. |
- Aglietta, M, et al.
(author)
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The cosmic ray primary composition between 10(15) and 10(16) eV from Extensive Air Showers electromagnetic and TeV muon data
- 2004
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In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 20:6, s. 641-652
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The cosmic ray primary composition in the energy range between 10(15) and 10(16) eV, i.e., around the "knee" of the primary spectrum, has been studied through the combined measurements of the EAS-TOP air shower array (2005 m a. s.l., 10(5) m(2) collecting area) and the MACRO underground detector (963 m.a.s.l., 3100 m w.e. of minimum rock overburden, 920 m(2) effective area) at the National Gran Sasso Laboratories. The used observables are the air shower size (N-c) measured by EAS-TOP and the muon number (N-mu) recorded by MACRO. The two detectors are separated on average by 1200 m of rock, and located at a respective zenith angle of about 30degrees. The energy threshold at the surface for muons reaching the MACRO depth is approximately 1.3 TeV. Such muons are produced in the early stages of the shower development and in a kinematic region quite different from the one relevant for the usual N-mu - N-e studies. The measurement leads to a primary composition becoming heavier at the knee of the primary spectrum, the knee itself resulting from the steepening of the spectrum of a primary light component (p, He) of Deltay = 0.7 +/- 0.4 at E-0 similar to 4 x 10(15) eV. The result confirms the ones reported from the observation of the low energy muons at the surface (typically in the GeV energy range), showing that the conclusions do not depend on the production region kinematics. Thus, the hadronic interaction model used (CORSIKA/QGSJET) provides consistent composition results from data related to secondaries produced in a rapidity region exceeding the central one. Such an evolution of the composition in the knee region supports the "standard" galactic acceleration/propagation models that imply rigidity dependent breaks of the different components.. and therefore breaks occurring at lower energies in the spectra of the light nuclei. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
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A combined analysis technique for the search for fast magnetic monopoles with the MACRO detector
- 2002
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In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 18:1, s. 27-41
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We describe a search method for fast moving (beta = v/c > 5 x 10(-3)) magnetic monopoles using simultaneously the scintillator, streamer tube and track-etch subdetectors of the MACRO apparatus. The first two subdetectors are used primarily for the identification of candidates while the track-etch one is used as the final tool for their rejection or confirmation. Using this technique, a first sample of more than two-years of data has been analyzed without any evidence of a magnetic monopole. We set a 90% CL upper limit to the local monopole flux of 1.5 x 10(-15) cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) in the velocity range 5 x 10(-3) less than or equal to beta less than or equal to 0.99 and for nucleon decay catalysis cross-section smaller than similar to1 mb (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
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Final results of magnetic monopole searches with the MACRO experiment
- 2002
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In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 25:4, s. 511-522
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the final results obtained by the MACRO experiment in the search for GUT magnetic monopoles in the penetrating cosmic radiation, for the range 4 x 10(-5) < 3 < 1. Several searches with all the MACRO sub-detectors (i.e. scintillation counters, limited streamer tubes and nuclear track detectors) were performed, both in stand alone and combined ways. No candidates were detected and a 90% Confidence Level (C.L.) upper limit to the local magnetic monopole flux was set at the level of 1.4 x 10(-16) cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1). This result is the first experimental limit obtained in direct searches which is well below the Parker bound in the whole 3 range in which GUT magnetic monopoles are,expected.
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| 7. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
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Matter effects in upward-going muons and sterile neutrino oscillations
- 2001
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In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 517:1-2, s. 59-66
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The angular distribution of upward-going muons produced by atmospheric neutrinos in the rock below the MACRO detector shows anomalies in good agreement with two flavor nu (mu) --> nu (tau) oscillations with maximum mixing and Deltam(2) around 0.0024 eV(2). Exploiting the dependence of magnitude of the matter effect on oscillation channel, and using a set of 809 upward-going muons observed in MACRO, we show that the two flavor nu (mu) --> nu (s) oscillation is disfavored with 99% C.L. with respect to nu (mu) --> nu (tau). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
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Measurement of the residual energy of muons in the Gran Sasso underground laboratories
- 2003
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In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 19:3, s. 313-328
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The MACRO detector was located in the Hall B of the Gran Sasso underground laboratories under an average rock overburden of 3700 hg/cm(2). A transition radiation detector composed of three identical modules, covering a total horizontal area of 36 m(2), was installed inside the empty upper part of the detector in order to measure the residual energy of muons. This paper presents the measurement of the residual energy of single and double muons crossing the apparatus. Our data show that double muons are more energetic than single ones. This measurement is performed over a standard rock depth range from 3000 to 6500 hg/cm(2). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
-
Search for cosmic ray sources using muons detected by the MACRO experiment
- 2003
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In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 18:6, s. 615-627
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The MACRO underground detector at Gran Sasso Laboratory recorded 60 million secondary cosmic ray muons from February 1989 until December 2000. Different techniques were used to analyze this sample in search for density excesses from astrophysical point-like sources. No evidence for DC excesses for any source in an all-sky survey is reported. In addition, searches for muon excess correlated with the known binary periods of Cygnus X-3 and Hercules X-1, and searches for statistically significant bursting episodes from known gamma-ray sources are also proved negative. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 10. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
-
Search for diffuse neutrino flux from astrophysical sources with MACRO
- 2003
-
In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 19:1, s. 1-13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many galactic and extragalactic astrophysical sources are currently considered promising candidates as high-energy neutrino emitters. Astrophysical neutrinos can be detected as upward-going muons produced in charged-current interactions with the medium surrounding the detector. The expected neutrino fluxes from various models start to dominate on the atmospheric neutrino background at neutrino energies above some tens of TeV. We present the results of a search for an excess of high-energy upward-going muons among the sample of data collected by MACRO during similar to5.8 years of effective running time. No significant evidence for this signal was found. As a consequence, an upper limit on the flux of upward-going muons from high-energy neutrinos was set at the level of 1.7 x 10(-14) cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1). The corresponding upper limit for the diffuse neutrino flux was evaluated assuming a neutrino power law spectrum. Our result was compared with theoretical predictions and upper limits from other experiments. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 11. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
-
Search for nucleon decays induced by GUT magnetic monopoles with the MACRO experiment
- 2002
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 26:2, s. 163-172
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The interaction of a Grand Unification Magnetic Monopole with a nucleon can lead to a barion-number violating process in which the nucleon decays into a lepton and one or more mesons (catalysis of nucleon decay). In this paper we report an experimental study of the effects of a catalysis process in the MACRO detector. Using a dedicated analysis we obtain new magnetic monopole (MM) flux upper limits at the level of similar to 3 (.) 10(-16) cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) for 1.1(.) 10(-4) less than or equal to \beta\ less than or equal to 5 (.) 10(-3), based on the search for catalysis events in the MACRO data. We also analyze the dependence of the MM flux limit on the catalysis cross section.
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| 12. |
- Togo, V, et al.
(author)
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Calibrations of CR39 and Makrofol nuclear track detectors and search for exotic particles
- 2003
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In: Nuclear physics B, Proceedings supplements. - : Elsevier. - 0920-5632 .- 1873-3832. ; 125, s. 217-221
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the final results of the search for exotic massive particles in the cosmic radiation performed with the MACRO underground experiment. Magnetic monopoles and nuclearites flux upper limits obtained with the CR39 nuclear track subdetector, the scintillation and streamer tube subdetectors are given. Searches at high altitude with the SLIM experiment are in progress.
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| 13. |
- Ambrosio, M, et al.
(author)
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Search for the sidereal and solar diurnal modulations in the total MACRO muon data set
- 2003
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In: Physical Review D. Particles and fields. - : American Physical Society. - 0556-2821 .- 1089-4918. ; 67:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have analyzed 44.3M single muons collected by MACRO from 1991 through 2000 in 2145 live days of operation. We have searched for the solar diurnal, apparent sidereal, and pseudosidereal modulation of the underground muon rate by computing hourly deviations of the muon rate from 6 month averages. We find evidence for statistically significant modulations with the solar diurnal and the sidereal periods. The amplitudes of these modulations are <0.1%, and are at the limit of the detector statistics. The pseudosidereal modulation is not statistically significant. The solar diurnal modulation is due to the daily atmospheric temperature variations at 20 km, the altitude of primary cosmic ray interactions with the atmosphere; MACRO is the deepest experiment to report this result. The sidereal modulation is in addition to the expected Compton-Getting modulation due to solar system motion relative to the local standard of rest; it represents motion of the solar system with respect to the galactic cosmic rays toward the galactic plane.
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| 14. |
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Highlights from the first year of Odin observations
- 2003
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 402, s. L39-L46
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Key Odin operational and instrumental features and highlights from our sub-millimetre and millimetre wave observations of H2O, H218O, NH3, 15NH3 and O2 are presented, with some insights into accompanying Odin Letters in this A&A issue. We focus on new results where Odin's high angular resolution, high frequency resolution, large spectrometer bandwidths, high sensitivity or/and frequency tuning capability are crucial: H2O mapping of the Orion KL, W3, DR21, S140 regions, and four comets; H2O observations of Galactic Centre sources, of shock enhanced H2O towards the SNR IC443, and of the candidate infall source IRAS 16293-2422; H218O detections in Orion KL and in comet Ikeya-Zhang; sub-mm detections of NH3 in Orion KL (outflow, ambient cloud and bar) and ρ Oph, and very recently, of 15NH3 in~Orion KL. Simultaneous sensitive searches for the 119 GHz line of O2 have resulted in very low abundance limits, which are difficult to accomodate in chemical models. We also demonstrate, by means of a quantitative comparison of Orion KL H2O results, that the Odin and SWAS observational data sets are very consistently calibrated. Odin is a Swedish-led satellite project funded jointly by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes), and the Centre National d'études Spatiales (CNES, France). The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has been the prime industrial contractor, and is also responsible for the satellite operation from its Odin Mission Control Centre at SSC in Solna and its Odin Control Centre at ESRANGE near Kiruna in northern Sweden. See also the SNSB Odin web page: http://www.snsb.se/eng_odin_intro.shtml
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| 15. |
- Olofsson, Henrik, 1972, et al.
(author)
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Odin water mapping in the Orion KL region
- 2003
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 402, s. L47-L54
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- New results from water mapping observations of the Orion KL region using the submm/mm wave satellite Odin (2.1\arcmin beam size at 557 GHz), are presented. The ortho-H2O \jkktrans{1}{1}{0}{1}{0}{1} ground state transition was observed in a 7arcminx 7arcmin rectangular grid with a spacing of 1\arcmin, while the same line of H218O was measured in two positions, Orion KL itself and 2\arcmin south of Orion KL. In the main water species, the KL molecular outflow is largely resolved from the ambient cloud and it is found to have an extension of 60\arcsec-110\arcsec. The H2O outflow profile exhibits a rather striking absorption-like asymmetry at the line centre. Self-absorption in the near (or ``blue'') part of the outflow (and possibly in foreground quiescent halo gas) is tentatively suggested to play a role here. We argue that the dominant part of the KL H218O outflow emission emanates from the compact (size ~ 15\arcsec) low-velocity flow and here estimate an H2O abundance of circa 10-5 compared to all H2 in the flow - an order of magnitude below earlier estimates of the H2O abundance in the shocked gas of the high-velocity flow. The narrow ambient cloud lines show weak velocity trends, both in the N-S and E-W directions. H218O is detected for the first time in the southern position at a level of ~ 0.15 K and we here estimate an H2O abundance of (1-8) x 10-8. Odin is a Swedish-led satellite project funded jointly by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes), and the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES, France). The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) was the industrial prime contractor and is also responsible for the satellite operation.
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| 16. |
- Pagani, L., et al.
(author)
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Low upper limits on the O2 abundance from the Odin satellite
- 2003
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 402, s. L77-L81
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- For the first time, a search has been conducted in our Galaxy for the 119 GHz transition connecting to the ground state of O2, using the Odin satellite. Equipped with a sensitive 3 mm receiver (Tsys(SSB) = 600 K), Odin has reached unprecedented upper limits on the abundance of O2, especially in cold dark clouds where the excited state levels involved in the 487 GHz transition are not expected to be significantly populated. Here we report upper limits for a dozen sources. In cold dark clouds we improve upon the published SWAS upper limits by more than an order of magnitude, reaching N(O2)/N(H2) <= 10-7 in half of the sources. While standard chemical models are definitively ruled out by these new limits, our results are compatible with several recent studies that derive lower O2 abundances. Goldsmith et al. (\cite{SWAS2002}) recently reported a SWAS tentative detection of the 487 GHz transition of O2 in an outflow wing towards rho Oph A in a combination of 7 beams covering approximately 10arcmin x 14arcmin . In a brief (1.3 hour integration time) and partial covering of the SWAS region (~65% if we exclude their central position), we did not detect the corresponding 119 GHz line. Our 3 sigma upper limit on the O2 column density is 7.3x 1015 cm-2. We presently cannot exclude the possibility that the SWAS signal lies mostly outside of the 9\arcmin Odin beam and has escaped our sensitive detector. Based on observations with Odin, a Swedish-led satellite project funded jointly by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes) and Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES). The Swedish Space Corporation was the industrial prime contractor and is operating Odin.
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| 17. |
- Sandqvist, Aa., et al.
(author)
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Odin observations of H2O in the Galactic Centre
- 2003
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 402, s. L63-L67
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Odin satellite has been used to detect emission and absorption in the 557-GHz H216O line in the Galactic Centre towards the Sgr Astar Circumnuclear Disk (CND), and the Sgr A +20 km s-1 and +50 km s-1 molecular clouds. Strong broad H2O emission lines have been detected in all three objects. Narrow H2O absorption lines are present at all three positions and originate along the lines of sight in the 3-kpc Spiral Arm, the -30 km s-1 Spiral Arm and the Local Sgr Spiral Arm. Broad H2O absorption lines near -130 km s-1 are also observed, originating in the Expanding Molecular Ring. A new molecular feature (the ``High Positive Velocity Gas'' - HPVG) has been identified in the positive velocity range of ~+120 to +220 km s-1, seen definitely in absorption against the stronger dust continuum emission from the +20 km s-1 and +50 km s-1 clouds and possibly in emission towards the position of Sgr Astar CND. The 548-GHz H218O isotope line towards the CND is not detected at the 0.02 K (rms) level. Based on observations with Odin, a Swedish-led satellite project funded jointly by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes) and Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES). The Swedish Space Corporation was the industrial prime contractor and is also responsible for the satellite operation.
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| 18. |
- Frisk, U., et al.
(author)
-
The Odin satellite - I. Radiometer design and test
- 2003
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 402:3, s. L27-L34
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Sub-millimetre and Millimetre Radiometer (SMR) is the main instrument on the Swedish, Canadian, Finnish and French spacecraft Odin. It consists of a 1.1 metre diameter telescope with four tuneable heterodyne receivers covering the ranges 486-504 GHz and 541-581 GHz, and one fixed at 118.75 GHz together with backends that provide spectral resolution from 150 kHz to 1 MHz. This Letter describes the Odin radiometer, its operation and performance with the data processing and calibration described in Paper II.
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| 19. |
- Liseau, R., et al.
(author)
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First detection of NH3 (10 -> 00) from a low mass cloud core. On the low ammonia abundance of the rho Oph A core
- 2003
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 402, s. L73-L76
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Odin has successfully observed the molecular core rho Oph A in the 572.5 GHz rotational ground state line of ammonia, NH3 (JK = 10 -> 00). The interpretation of this result makes use of complementary molecular line data obtained from the ground (C17O and CH3OH) as part of the Odin preparatory work. Comparison of these observations with theoretical model calculations of line excitation and transfer yields a quite ordinary abundance of methanol, X(CH3OH)= 3 x 10-9. Unless NH3 is not entirely segregated from C17O and CH3OH, ammonia is found to be significantly underabundant with respect to typical dense core values, viz. X(NH3) = 8 x 10-10. Based on observations with Odin, a Swedish-led satellite project funded jointly by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes) and Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES). The Swedish Space Corporation has been the industrial prime contractor. and based on observations collected with the Swedish ESO Submillimeter Telescope, SEST, in La Silla, Chile.
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| 20. |
- Wilson, C. D., et al.
(author)
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Submillimeter emission from water in the W3 region
- 2003
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 402, s. L59-L62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using the Odin satellite, we have mapped the submillimeter emission from the 110-101 transition of ortho-water in the W3 star-forming region. A 5arcminx 5arcmin map of the W3 IRS4 and W3 IRS5 region reveals strong water lines at half the positions in the map. The relative strength of the Odin lines compared to previous observations by SWAS suggests that we are seeing water emission from an extended region. Across much of the map the lines are double-peaked, with an absorption feature at -39 km s-1; however, some positions in the map show a single strong line at -43 km s-1. We interpret the double-peaked lines as arising from optically thick, self-absorbed water emission near the W3 IRS5, while the narrower blue-shifted lines originate in emission near W3 IRS4. In this model, the unusual appearance of the spectral lines across the map results from a coincidental agreement in velocity between the emission near W3 IRS4 and the blue peak of the more complex lines near W3 IRS5. The strength of the water lines near W3 IRS4 suggests we may be seeing water emission enhanced in a photon-dominated region. Based on observations with Odin, a Swedish-led satellite project funded jointly by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes), and Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES). The Swedish Space Corporation was the industrial prime contractor and is also responsible for the satellite operation.
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| 21. |
- Serra, J, et al.
(author)
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Multicentre evaluation of IL Test (TM) Free PS: A fully automated assay to quantify Free Protein S
- 2002
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In: Thrombosis and Haemostasis. - 0340-6245. ; 88:6, s. 975-983
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Deficiency of the anticoagulant vitamin K-dependent protein S (PS) is associated with increased risk of venous thrombosis. In human plasma, PS circulates in two forms: as free protein (free PS) and PS bound to C4b-binding protein (C4BP), a regulator of the complement system. Assays for free PS have higher sensitivity and specificity for protein S deficiency than assays for total protein S. We have extensively evaluated the analytical performance of a novel assay for free PS, the IL Test(TM) Free Protein S, which takes advantage of the affinity of C4BP for free PS, and compared its performance to existing methods. IL Test(TM) Free Protein S is a rapid, fully automated turbidimetric assay consisting of two reagents: a C4BP coated latex and an anti-PS monoclonal antibody coated latex. The test range, precision and linearity were adequate and the assay tolerated high concentrations of interfering substances of clinical significance. The reference range agreed with previously published studies. The analysis of 903 patient samples belonging to 20 different clinical. categories with the new assay yielded free PS results that agreed well with those obtained using the assays established in the participating laboratories. The study demonstrated the IL Test(TM) Free Protein S to be rapid, reliable and easy to perform.
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