Meridional Circulations of the Solar Magnetic Fields of Different Strength

Abstract: The meridional circulation of the solar magnetic fields in Solar Cycles 21-24 was considered. Data from both ground-based and space observatories were used. Three types of time-latitude distributions of photospheric magnetic fields and their meridional circulations were identified depending on the magnetic field intensity. (i) low-strength magnetic fields. They were distributed evenly across latitude and weakly depended on the magnetic fields of active regions and their cycle variation; (ii) medium-strength magnetic fields. For these fields a wave-like, pole-to-pole, antiphase meridional circulation with a period of approximately 22 years was revealed. The velocities of meridional flows were slower at the minima of solar activity, when they were at high latitudes in the opposite hemispheres, and maximal at the solar maxima, when the positive- and negative-polarity waves crossed the equator. The meridional circulation of these fields reflects the solar global magnetic field dynamics and determines the solar polar field reversal; (iii) high-strength (active region) magnetic fields. They were distributed symmetrically in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Magnetic fields of both leading and following sunspot polarity migrated from high to low latitudes. The meridional-flow velocities of high-strength magnetic fields were higher at the rising and maxima phases than at the minima. Some of the high-latitude active region magnetic fields were captured by the second type meridional circulation flows and transported along with them to the appropriate pole. But the magnetic fields of active regions are not the main ones in the solar polar field reversal. The results indicate that high-strength magnetic fields were not the main source of weak ones.

magnetic fields
latitudinal drifts
meridional flow
solar cycle


Dancing with the stars: a review on stellar multiplicity

Abstract: Stars like company. They are mostly formed in clusters and their lives are often altered by the presence of one or more companions. Interaction processes between components may lead to complex outcomes like Algols, blue stragglers, chemically altered stars, type Ia supernovae, as well as progenitors of gravitational wave sources, to cite a few. Observational astronomy has entered the era of big data, and thanks to large surveys like spatial missions Kepler, TESS, Gaia, and ground-based spectroscopic surveys like RAVE, Gaia-ESO, APOGEE, LAMOST, GALAH (to name a few) the field is going through a true revolution, as illustrated by the recent detection of stellar black holes and neutron stars as companions of massive but also low-mass stars. In this review, I will present why it is important to care about stellar multiples, what are the main large surveys in which many binaries are harvested, and finally present some features related to the largest catalogue of astrometric, spectroscopic and eclipsing binaries provided by the Non-Single Star catalogue of Gaia, which is, to date, the largest homogeneous catalogue of stellar binaries.

binary stars
stellar multiplicity
spectroscopic binaries
eclipsing binaries
astrometric binaries


The Metallicities of Five Small High-Velocity Clouds

Abstract: High-velocity clouds (HVCs) are multi-phase gas structures whose velocities (|v_LSR|>100 km/s) are too high to be explained by Galactic disk rotation. While large HVCs are well characterized, compact and small HVCs (with HI angular sizes of a few degrees) are poorly understood. Possible origins for such small clouds include Milky Way halo gas or fragments of the Magellanic System, but neither their origin nor their connection to the Milky Way halo has been confirmed. We use new Hubble Space Telescope/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph UV spectra and Green Bank Telescope HI spectra to measure the metallicities of five small HVCs in the southern Galactic sky projected near the Magellanic System. We build a set of distance-dependent Cloudy photoionization models for each cloud and calculate their ionization-corrected metallicities. All five small HVCs have oxygen metallicities <0.17 Z_sun, indicating they do not originate in the disk of the Milky Way. Two of the five have metallicities of 0.16-0.17 Z_sun, similar to the Magellanic Stream, suggesting these clouds are fragments of the Magellanic System. The remaining three clouds have much lower metallicities of 0.02-0.04 Z_sun. While the origin of these low-metallicity clouds is unclear, they could be gaseous mini-halos or gas stripped from dwarf galaxies by ram pressure or tidal interactions. These results suggest that small HVCs do not all reside in the inner Milky Way halo or the Magellanic System, but instead can trace more distant structures.

milky way galaxy
galactic halo
ultraviolet astronomy
high-velocity clouds
chemical abundances


Delayed X-ray brightening accompanied by variable ionized absorption following a tidal disruption event

Abstract: Supermassive black holes can experience super-Eddington peak mass fallback rates following the tidal disruption of a star. The theoretical expectation is that part of the infalling material is expelled by means of an accretion disk wind, whose observational signature includes blueshifted absorption lines of highly ionized species in X-ray spectra. To date, however, only one such ultra-fast outflow (UFO) has been reported in the tidal disruption event (TDE) ASASSN-14li. Here we report on the discovery of transient absorption-like signatures in X-ray spectra of the TDE AT2020ksf/Gaia20cjk (at a redshift of z=0.092), following an X-ray brightening ∼230 days after UV/optical peak. We find that while no statistically significant absorption features are present initially, they appear on a timescale of several days, and remain detected up to 770 days after peak. Simple thermal continuum models, combined with a power-law or neutral absorber, do not describe these features well. Adding a partial covering, low velocity ionized absorber improves the fit at early times, but fails at late times. A high velocity (vw ∼ 42000 km s−1, or -0.15c), ionized absorber (ultra-fast outflow) provides a good fit to all data. The few day timescale of variability is consistent with expectations for a clumpy wind. We discuss several scenarios that could explain the X-ray delay, as well as the potential for larger scale wind feedback. The serendipitous nature of the discovery could suggest a high incidence of UFOs in TDEs, alleviating some of the tension with theoretical expectations.

tidal disruption events
black holes
accretion disks


From Feast to Famine: A Systematic Study of Accretion onto Oblique Pulsars with 3D GRMHD Simulations

Abstract: Disk-fed accretion onto neutron stars can power a wide range of astrophysical sources ranging from X-ray binaries, to accretion powered millisecond pulsars, ultra-luminous X-ray sources, and gamma-ray bursts. A crucial parameter controlling the gas-magnetosphere interaction is the strength of the stellar dipole. In addition, coherent X-ray pulsations in many neutron star systems indicate that the star's dipole moment is oblique relative to its rotation axis. Therefore, it is critical to systematically explore the 2D parameter space of the star's magnetic field strength and obliquity, which is what this work does, for the first time, in the framework of 3D general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamics. If the accretion disk carries its own vertical magnetic field, this introduces an additional factor: the relative polarity of the disk and stellar magnetic fields. We find that depending on the strength of the stellar dipole and the star-disk relative polarity, the neutron star's jet power can either increase or decrease with increasing obliquity. For weak dipole strength (equivalently, high accretion rate), the parallel polarity results in a positive correlation between jet power and obliquity, whereas the anti-parallel orientation displays the opposite trend. For stronger dipoles, the relative polarity effect disappears, and jet power always decreases with increasing obliquity. The influence of the relative polarity gradually disappears as obliquity increases. Highly oblique pulsars tend to have an increased magnetospheric radius, a lower mass accretion rate, and enter the propeller regime at lower magnetic moments than aligned stars.

accretion
pulsars
neutron stars
magnetohydrodynamics
relativistic jets
general relativity


Origin of an Orbiting Star Around the Galactic Supermassive Black Hole

Abstract: The tremendous tidal force that is linked to the supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center of our galaxy is expected to strongly subdue star formation in its vicinity. Stars within 1" from the SMBH thus likely formed further from the SMBH and migrated to their current positions. In this study, spectroscopic observations of the star S0-6/S10, one of the closest (projected distance from the SMBH of about 0.3") late-type stars were conducted. Using metal absorption lines in the spectra of S0-6, the radial velocity of S0-6 from 2014 to 2021 was measured, and a marginal acceleration was detected, which indicated that S0-6 is close to the SMBH. The S0-6 spectra were employed to determine its stellar parameters including temperature, chemical abundances ([M/H], [Fe/H], [alpha/Fe], [Ca/Fe], [Mg/Fe], [Ti/Fe]), and age. As suggested by the results of this study, S0-6 is very old (>  10 Gyr) and has an origin different from that of stars born in the central pc region.

astrophysics
infrared astronomy
black hole
spectroscopy


Simultaneous detection of flare-associated kink oscillations and extreme-ultraviolet waves

Abstract: Kink oscillations, which are frequently observed in coronal loops and prominences, are often accompanied by extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) waves. However, much more needs to be explored regarding the causal relationships between kink oscillations and EUV waves. In this article, we report the simultaneous detection of kink oscillations and EUV waves that are both associated with an X2.1 flare on 2023 March 03 (SOL2023-03-03T17:39). The kink oscillations, which are almost perpendicular to the axes of loop-like structures, are observed in three coronal loops and one prominence. One short loop shows in-phase oscillation within the same period of 5.2 minutes at three positions. This oscillation could be triggered by the pushing of an expanding loop and interpreted as the standing kink wave. Time lags are found between the kink oscillations of the short loop and two long loops, suggesting that the kink wave travels in different loops. The kink oscillations of one long loop and the prominence are possibly driven by the disturbance of the CME, and that of another long loop might be attributed to the interaction of the EUV wave. The onset time of the kink oscillation of the short loop is nearly same as the beginning of an EUV wave. This fact demonstrates that they are almost simultaneous. The EUV wave is most likely excited by the expanding loop structure and shows two components. The leading component is a fast coronal wave, and the trailing one could be due to the stretching magnetic field lines.

coronal loops
solar flares
solar prominence
solar oscillations
euv wave
magnetohydrodynamic (mhd)


The study of x-ray spectrum of the Coma cluster

Abstract: The X-ray spectrum of the Coma galaxy cluster was studied using the data from the XMM-Newton observatory. We combined 7 observations performed with the MOS camera of XMM-Newton in the 40'x 40' region centered at the Coma cluster. The analyzed observations were performed in 2000-2005 and have a total duration of 196 ksec.We focus on the analysis of the MOS camera spectra due to their lower affection by strong instrumental line-like background. The obtained spectrum was fitted with a model including contributions from the Solar system/Milky Way hot plasma and a power law X-ray background. The contribution of the instrumental background was modeled as a power law (not convolved with the effective area) and a number of Gaussian lines. The contribution from the Coma cluster was modeled with a single-temperature hot plasma emission. In addition, we searched for possible non-thermal radiation present in the vicinity of the center of the Coma cluster, originating e.g. from synchrotron emission of relativistic electrons on a turbulent magnetic field. We compared the results with previous works by other authors and spectra obtained from other instruments that operate in the similar energy range of 1-10 keV. Careful and detailed spectrum analysis shall be a necessary contribution to our future work - searching for axion-like particles' manifestations in the Coma cluster.

clusters of galaxies
intergalactic plasma
non-thermal radiation
xmm-newton
x-ray radiation


Isolated Neutron Stars

Abstract: Non-accreting neutron stars display diverse characteristics, leading us to classify them into several groups. This chapter is an observational driven review in which we survey the properties of the different classes of isolated neutron stars: from the 'normal' rotation-powered pulsars, to magnetars, the most magnetic neutron stars in the Universe we know of; from central compact objects (sometimes called also anti-magnetars) in supernova remnants, to the X-ray dim isolated neutron stars. We also highlight a few sources that have exhibited features straddling those of different sub-groups, blurring the apparent diversity of the neutron star zoo and pointing to a gran unification.

isolated neutron stars
rotation-powered pulsars
magnetars
x-ray dim isolated neutron stars
central compact objects


Research on the X-Ray Polarization Deconstruction Method Based on Hexagonal Convolutional Neural Network

Abstract: Track reconstruction algorithms are critical for polarization measurements. In addition to traditional moment-based track reconstruction approaches, convolutional neural networks (CNN) are a promising alternative. However, hexagonal grid track images in gas pixel detectors (GPD) for better anisotropy do not match the classical rectangle-based CNN, and converting the track images from hexagonal to square results in loss of information. We developed a new hexagonal CNN algorithm for track reconstruction and polarization estimation in X-ray polarimeters, which was used to extract emission angles and absorption points from photoelectron track images and predict the uncertainty of the predicted emission angles. The simulated data of PolarLight test were used to train and test the hexagonal CNN models. For individual energies, the hexagonal CNN algorithm produced 15-30

x-ray polarization
track reconstruction
deep learning
hexagonal conventional neural network


Retrievals Applied To A Decision Tree Framework Can Characterize Earth-like Exoplanet Analogs

Abstract: Exoplanet characterization missions planned for the future will soon enable searches for life beyond our solar system. Critical to the search will be the development of life detection strategies that can search for biosignatures while maintaining observational efficiency. In this work, we adopted a newly developed biosignature decision tree strategy for remote characterization of Earth-like exoplanets. The decision tree offers a step-by-step roadmap for detecting exoplanet biosignatures and excluding false positives based on Earth's biosphere and its evolution over time. We followed the pathways for characterizing a modern Earth-like planet and an Archean Earth-like planet and evaluated the observational trades associated with coronagraph bandpass combinations of designs consistent with The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) precursor studies. With retrieval analyses of each bandpass (or combination), we demonstrate the utility of the decision tree and evaluated the uncertainty on a suite of biosignature chemical species and habitability indicators (i.e., the gas abundances of H2O, O2, O3, CH4, and CO2). Notably for modern Earth, less than an order of magnitude spread in the 1-σ uncertainties were achieved for the abundances of H2O and O2, planetary surface pressure, and atmospheric temperature with three strategically placed bandpasses (two in the visible and one in the near-infrared). For the Archean, CH4 and H2O were detectable in the visible with a single bandpass.

exoplanets
biosignatures
direct imaging
spectral retrievals


The galaxies missed by Hubble and ALMA: the contribution of extremely red galaxies to the cosmic census at 3<z<8

Abstract: Using deep JWST imaging from JADES, JEMS and SMILES, we characterize optically-faint and extremely red galaxies at z>3 that were previously missing from galaxy census estimates. The data indicate the existence of abundant, dusty and post-starburst-like galaxies down to 108M⊙, below the sensitivity limit of Spitzer and ALMA. Modeling the NIRCam and HST photometry of these red sources can result in extreme, high values for both stellar mass and star formation rate (SFR); however, including 7 MIRI filters out to 21μm results in decreased mass (median 0.6 dex for log10M∗/M⊙>10), and SFR (median 10× for SFR>100 M⊙/yr). At z>6, our sample includes a high fraction of little red dots (LRDs; NIRCam-selected dust-reddened AGN candidates). We significantly measure older stellar populations in the LRDs out to rest-frame 3μm (the stellar bump) and rule out a dominant contribution from hot dust emission, a signature of AGN contamination to stellar population measurements. This allows us to measure their contribution to the cosmic census at z>3, below the typical detection limits of ALMA (LIR<1012L⊙). We find that these sources, which are overwhelmingly missed by HST and ALMA, could effectively double the obscured fraction of the star formation rate density at 4<z<6 compared to some estimates, showing that prior to JWST, the obscured contribution from fainter sources could be underestimated. Finally, we identify five sources with evidence for Balmer breaks and high stellar masses at 5.5<z<7.7. While spectroscopy is required to determine their nature, we discuss possible measurement systematics to explore with future data.

high-redshift galaxies
active galaxies
agn host galaxies


The effects of the antenna power pattern uncertainty within a global 21 cm experiment

Abstract: Experimental 21 cm cosmology aims to detect the formation of the first stars during the cosmic dawn and the subsequent epoch of reionization by utilizing the 21 cm hydrogen line transition. While several experiments have published results that begin to constrain the shape of this signal, a definitive detection has yet to be achieved. In this paper, we investigate the influence of uncertain antenna-sky interactions on the possibility of detecting the signal. This paper aims to define the level of accuracy to which a simulated antenna beam pattern is required to agree with the actual observing beam pattern of the antenna to allow for a confident detection of the global 21 cm signal. By utilising singular value decomposition, we construct a set of antenna power patterns that incorporate minor, physically motivated variations. We take the absolute mean averaged difference between the original beam and the perturbed beam averaged over frequency (ΔD) to quantifying this difference, identifying the correlation between ΔD and antenna temperature. To analyse the impact of ΔD on making a confident detection, we utilize the REACH Bayesian analysis pipeline and compare the Bayesian evidence log and root-mean-square error for antenna beams of different ΔD values. Our calculations suggest that achieving an agreement between the original and perturbed antenna power pattern with ΔD better than -35 dB is necessary for confident detection of the global 21 cm signal. Furthermore, we discuss potential methods to achieve the required high level of accuracy within a global 21 cm experiment.

21 cm cosmology
systematic uncertainties
computational modelling


An Empirical Model For Intrinsic Alignments: Insights From Cosmological Simulations

Abstract: We extend current models of the halo occupation distribution (HOD) to include a flexible, empirical framework for the forward modeling of the intrinsic alignment (IA) of galaxies. A primary goal of this work is to produce mock galaxy catalogs for the purpose of validating existing models and methods for the mitigation of IA in weak lensing measurements. This technique can also be used to produce new, simulation-based predictions for IA and galaxy clustering. Our model is probabilistically formulated, and rests upon the assumption that the orientations of galaxies exhibit a correlation with their host dark matter (sub)halo orientation or with their position within the halo. We examine the necessary components and phenomenology of such a model by considering the alignments between (sub)halos in a cosmological dark matter only simulation. We then validate this model for a realistic galaxy population in a set of simulations in the Illustris-TNG suite. We create an HOD mock with Illustris-like correlations using our method, constraining the associated IA model parameters, with the χ2dof between our model's correlations and those of Illustris matching as closely as 1.4 and 1.1 for orientation–position and orientation–orientation correlation functions, respectively. By modeling the misalignment between galaxies and their host halo, we show that the 3-dimensional two-point position and orientation correlation functions of simulated (sub)halos and galaxies can be accurately reproduced from quasi-linear scales down to 0.1 h−1Mpc. We also find evidence for environmental influence on IA within a halo. Our publicly-available software provides a key component enabling efficient determination of Bayesian posteriors on IA model parameters using observational measurements of galaxy-orientation correlation functions in the highly nonlinear regime.

cosmology
weak gravitational lensing
intrinsic alignments


Star-forming Main Sequence of Giant Low Surface Brightness Galaxies

Abstract: Giant Low Surface Brightness Galaxies (GLSBGs) are fundamentally distinct from normal galaxies (LSBGs) in star formation and evolution. In this work, we collected 27 local GLSBGs. They have high stellar masses (M*>10^10 Msolar) and low SFRs. With the specific SFRs lower than the characteristic value of the local star-forming (SF) galaxies of M*=10^10 Msolar(sSFR < 0.1 Gyr^-1), GLSBGs deviate from the SF main sequence (MS) defined for local SFGs respectively by E07 and S16 at the high M* regime. They are HI-rich systems with HI gas mass fractions (fHI) higher than the S16 MS galaxies, but have little molecular gas (H2), implying a low efficiency of HI-to-H2 transition due to the low HI surface densities that are far lower than the minimum of 6 - 8 Msolar pc^-2 required for shielding the formed H2 from photodissociation. For GLSBGs, the inner, bulge-dominated part with lower SFRs and higher M* is the main force pulling the entire GLSBG off from the MS, while the outer, disk-dominated part with relatively higher SFRs and lower M* reduces the deviations from the MS. For some cases, the outer, disk-dominated parts even tend to follow the MS. In the aspect of NUV - r versus g - r colors, the outer, disk-dominated parts are blue and behave similarly to the normal star-forming galaxies while the inner, bulge-dominated parts are in statistics red, indicating an inside-out star formation mechanism for the GLSBGs. They show few signs of external interactions in morphology, excluding the recent major merger scenario.

low surface brightness galaxies
star formation rate
stellar mass
star formation mechanism
hi
h2
gas surface density


Further Evidence for the   9 s Pulsation in LS 5039 from NuSTAR and ASCA

Abstract: The present study aims to reinforce the evidence for the  9 s pulsation in the gamma-ray binary LS 5039, derived with a Suzaku observation in 2007 and that with NuSTAR in 2016 (Yoneda et al 2000). Through a reanalysis of the NuSTAR data incorporating the orbital Doppler correction, the 9.0538 s pulsation was confirmed successfully even in the 3–10 keV range, where it was undetectable previously. This was attained by perceiving an energy-dependent drift in the pulse phase below 10 keV, and correcting the pulse timing of individual photons for that effect. Similarly, an archival 0.7–12 keV data set of LS 5039, taken with the ASCA GIS in 1999 October, was analyzed. The data showed possible periodicity at about 8.882 s, but again the energy-dependent phase drift was noticed below 10 keV. By correcting for this effect, and for the orbital Doppler delays in the LS 5039 system, the 2.8–12 keV periodicity became statistically significant at 8.891+- 0.001 s. The periods measured with ASCA, Suzaku, and NuSTAR approximately follow an average period derivative of dP/dt = 3.0 e-10 s/s. These results provide further evidence for the pulsation in this object, and strengthen the scenario by (Yoneda et al 2000), that the compact object in LS 5039 is a strongly magnetized neutron star.

astrophysical magnetism
gamma-ray sources
magnetars
neutron stars
pulsars


Crosstalk effects in microwave SQUID multiplexed TES bolometer readout

Abstract: Transition-edge sensor (TES) bolometers are broadly used for background-limited astrophysical measurements from the far-infrared to mm-waves. Many planned future instruments require increasingly large detector arrays, but their scalability is limited by their cryogenic readout electronics. Microwave SQUID multiplexing offers a highly capable scaling solution through the use of inherently broadband circuitry, enabling readout of hundreds to thousands of channels per microwave line. As with any multiplexing technique, the channelization mechanism gives rise to electrical crosstalk which must be understood and controlled so as to not degrade the instrument sensitivity. Here, we explore implications relevant for TES bolometer array applications, focusing in particular on upcoming mm-wave observatories such as the Simons Observatory and AliCPT. We model the relative contributions of the various underlying crosstalk mechanisms, evaluate the difference between fixed-tone and tone-tracking readout systems, and discuss ways in which crosstalk nonlinearity will complicate on-sky measurements.

crosstalk
multiplexing
microwave squid
tes


The Case for Hot-Mode Accretion in Abell 2029

Abstract: Radiative cooling and AGN heating are thought to form a feedback loop that regulates the evolution of low redshift cool-core galaxy clusters. Numerical simulations suggest that formation of multiphase gas in the cluster core imposes a floor on the ratio of cooling time (tcool) to free-fall time (tff) at min(tcool/tff)≈10. Observations of galaxy clusters show evidence for such a floor, and usually the cluster cores with min(tcool/tff)≲30 contain abundant multiphase gas. However, there are important outliers. One of them is Abell 2029, a massive galaxy cluster (M200≳1015 M⊙) with min(tcool/tff)∼20, but little apparent multiphase gas. In this paper, we present high resolution 3D hydrodynamic AMR simulations of a cluster similar to A2029 and study how it evolves over a period of 1-2 Gyr. Those simulations suggest that Abell 2029 self-regulates without producing multiphase gas because the mass of its central black hole (∼5×1010M⊙) is great enough for Bondi accretion of hot ambient gas to produce enough feedback energy to compensate for radiative cooling.

galaxy clusters
cooling flow
black hole
agn feedback
intracluster medium


Linking circumstellar disk lifetimes to the rotational evolution of low-mass stars

Abstract: The high-energy radiation emitted by young stars can have a strong influence on their rotational evolution at later stages. This is because internal photoevaporation is one of the major drivers of the dispersal of circumstellar disks, which surround all newly born low-mass stars during the first few million years of their evolution. Employing an internal EUV/X-ray photoevaporation model, we have derived a simple recipe for calculating realistic inner disk lifetimes of protoplanetary disks. This prescription was implemented into a magnetic morphology-driven rotational evolution model and is used to investigate the impact of disk-locking on the spin evolution of low-mass stars. We find that the length of the disk-locking phase has a profound impact on the subsequent rotational evolution of a young star, and the implementation of realistic disk lifetimes leads to an improved agreement of model outcomes with observed rotation period distributions for open clusters of various ages. However, for both young star-forming regions tested in our model, the strong bimodality in rotation periods that is observed in hPer could not be recovered. hPer is only successfully recovered, if the model is started from a double-peaked distribution with an initial disk fraction of 65

stellar rotation
protoplanetary disks
star-disk interactions
low-mass stars


Simulation of high-contrast polarimetric observations of debris disks with the Roman Coronagraph Instrument

Abstract: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Coronagraph Instrument will enable the polarimetric imaging of debris disks and inner dust belts in the optical and near-infrared wavelengths, in addition to the high-contrast polarimetric imaging and spectroscopy of exoplanets. The Coronagraph uses two Wollaston prisms to produce four orthogonally polarized images and is expected to measure the polarization fraction with measurement errors < 3

debris disks
high contrast imaging
polarization observations
coronagraphs
exozodis


Note concerning a high spectral resolution slicer for imaging spectro-polarimetry with the new generation Multichannel Subtractive Double Pass (MSDP) onboard the future EST telescope

Abstract: Imaging spectroscopy is intended to be coupled with adaptive optics (AO) on large telescopes, such as EST, in order to produce high spatial and temporal resolution measurements of velocities and magnetic fields upon a 2D FOV. We propose a high spectral resolution slicer (30 mÅ typical) for the Multichannel Subtractive Double Pass (MSDP) of the future European Solar Telescope (EST), using a new generation slicer for thin photospheric lines such as FeI (56 channels, 0.13 mm step) which will benefit of AO and existing polarimeters. The aim is to reconstitute cubes of instantaneous data (X, Y, lambda) at high cadence, allowing the study of the photospheric dynamics and magnetic fields.

imaging spectroscopy
polarimetry
msdp
solar physics
photosphere
chromosphere


The High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P): The Future of Hard X-ray Dual AGN Science

Abstract: A fundamental goal of modern-day astrophysics is to understand the connection between supermassive black hole (SMBH) growth and galaxy evolution. Merging galaxies offer one of the most dramatic channels for galaxy evolution known, capable of driving inflows of gas into galactic nuclei, potentially fueling both star formation and central SMBH activity. Dual active galactic nuclei (dual AGNs) in late-stage mergers with nuclear pair separations <10 kpc are thus ideal candidates to study SMBH growth along the merger sequence since they coincide with the most transformative period for galaxies. However, dual AGNs can be extremely difficult to confirm and study. Hard X-ray (>10 keV) studies offer a relatively contamination-free tool for probing the dense obscuring environments predicted to surround the majority of dual AGN in late-stage mergers. To date, only a handful of the brightest and closest systems have been studied at these energies due to the demanding instrumental requirements involved. We demonstrate the unique capabilities of HEX-P to spatially resolve the soft and - for the first time - hard X-ray counterparts of closely-separated (∼2″−5″) dual AGNs in the local Universe. By incorporating state-of-the-art physical torus models, we reproduce realistic broadband X-ray spectra expected for deeply embedded accreting SMBHs. Hard X-ray spatially resolved observations of dual AGNs - accessible only to HEX-P - will hence transform our understanding of dual AGN in the nearby Universe.

dual agn
galaxy merger
x-ray astronomy
active galactic nucleus
galaxy interaction


Rapid Evolution of the White Dwarf Pulsar AR Scorpii

Abstract: Analysis of AR Sco optical light curves spanning nine years show a secular change in the relative amplitudes of the beat pulse pairs generated by the two magnetic poles of its rotating white dwarf. Recent photometry now shows that the primary and secondary beat pulses have similar amplitudes, while in 2015 the primary pulse was approximately twice that of the secondary peak. The equalization in the beat pulse amplitudes is also seen in the linearly polarized flux. This rapid evolution is consistent with precession of the white dwarf spin axis. The observations imply that the pulse amplitudes cycle over a period of ≳40 yrs, but that the upper limit is currently poorly constrained. If precession is the mechanism driving the evolution, then over the next 10 years the ratio of the beat pulse amplitudes will reach a maximum followed by a return to asymmetric beat pulses.

cataclysmic variable stars
intermediate polars
white dwarf stars
magnetic poles
rotation powered pulsars


The High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P): Supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, and nuclear astrophysics

Abstract: HEX-P is a probe-class mission concept that will combine high spatial resolution X-ray imaging (<10" full width at half maximum) and broad spectral coverage (0.2–80 keV) with an effective area far superior to current facilities (including XMM-Newton and NuSTAR) to enable revolutionary new insights into a variety of important astrophysical problems. HEX-P is ideally suited to address important problems in the physics and astrophysics of supernova remnants (SNRs) and pulsar-wind nebulae (PWNe). For shell SNRs, HEX-P can greatly improve our understanding via more accurate spectral characterization and localization of non-thermal X-ray emission from both non-thermal-dominated SNRs and those containing both thermal and non-thermal components, and can discover previously unknown non-thermal components in SNRs. Multi-epoch HEX-P observations of several young SNRs (e.g., Cas A and Tycho) are expected to detect year-scale variabilities of X-ray filaments and knots, thus enabling us to determine fundamental parameters related to diffusive shock acceleration, such as local magnetic field strengths and maximum electron energies. For PWNe, HEX-P will provide spatially-resolved, broadband X-ray spectral data separately from their pulsar emission, allowing us to study how particle acceleration, cooling, and propagation operate in different evolution stages of PWNe. HEX-P is also poised to make unique and significant contributions to nuclear astrophysics of Galactic radioactive sources by improving detections of, or limits on, 44Ti in the youngest SNRs and by potentially discovering rare nuclear lines as evidence of double neutron star mergers. Throughout the paper, we present simulations of each class of objects, demonstrating the power of both the imaging and spectral capabilities of HEX-P to advance our knowledge of SNRs, PWNe, and nuclear astrophysics.

supernova remnants
pulsar wind nebulae
nuclear astrophysics
x-ray astrophysics
future missions


The High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P): The Circum-nuclear Environment of Growing Supermassive Black Holes

Abstract: Ever since the discovery of the first Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), substantial observational and theoretical effort has been invested into understanding how massive black holes have evolved across cosmic time. Circum-nuclear obscuration is now established as a crucial component, with almost every AGN observed known to display signatures of some level of obscuration in their X-ray spectra. But despite more than six decades of effort, substantial open questions remain: How does the accretion power impact the structure of the circum-nuclear obscurer? What are the dynamical properties of the obscurer? Can dense circum-nuclear obscuration exist around intrinsically weak AGN? How many intermediate mass black holes occupy the centers of dwarf galaxies? In this paper, we showcase a number of next-generation prospects attainable with the High Energy X-ray Probe (this https URL) to contribute towards solving these questions in the 2030s. The uniquely broad (0.2–80 keV) and strictly simultaneous X-ray passband of HEX-P makes it ideally suited for studying the temporal co-evolution between the central engine and circum-nuclear obscurer. Improved sensitivities and reduced background will enable the development of spectroscopic models complemented by current and future multi-wavelength observations. We show that the angular resolution of HEX-P both below and above 10 keV will enable the discovery and confirmation of accreting massive black holes at both low accretion power and low black hole masses even when concealed by thick obscuration. In combination with other next-generation observations of the dusty hearts of nearby galaxies, HEX-P will hence be pivotal in paving the way towards a complete picture of black hole growth and galaxy co-evolution.

x-ray
agn
obscuration
black hole
galaxies
compton-thick
high energy
spectral modelling


Modeling of cosmic rays and near-IR photons in aluminum KIDs

Abstract: The PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) is working to develop kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) that can meet the sensitivity targets of a far-infrared spectrometer on a cryogenically cooled space telescope. An important ingredient for achieving high sensitivity is increasing the fractional-frequency responsivity. Here we present a study of the responsivity of aluminum KIDs fabricated at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Specifically, we model the KID's temporal response to pair-breaking excitations in the framework of the Mattis-Bardeen theory, incorporating quasiparticle recombination dynamics and the pair-breaking efficiency. Using a near-IR laser, we measure time-resolved photon pulses and fit them to our model, extracting the time-resolved quasiparticle density and the quasiparticle recombination lifetime. Comparing the fit to the known energy of the laser provides a measurement of the pair-breaking efficiency. In addition to photon-sourced excitations, it is important to understand the KID's response to phonon-sourced excitations from cosmic rays. We measure the rate of secondary cosmic rays detected by our devices, and predict the dead time due to cosmic rays for an array in L2 orbit. This work provides confidence in KIDs' robustness to cosmic ray events in the space environment.

far-infrared
kinetic inductance detectors
cosmic rays
quasiparticle lifetime
pair-breaking efficiency


The High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P): Galactic PeVatrons, star clusters, superbubbles, microquasar jets, and gamma-ray binaries

Abstract: HEX-P is a probe-class mission concept that will combine high spatial resolution X-ray imaging (<10" FWHM) and broad spectral coverage (0.2-80 keV) with an effective area far superior to current facilities (including XMM-Newton and NuSTAR) to enable revolutionary new insights into a variety of important astrophysical problems. With the recent discoveries of over 40 ultra-high-energy gamma-ray sources (detected above 100 TeV) and neutrino emission in the Galactic Plane, we have entered a new era of multi-messenger astrophysics facing the exciting reality of Galactic PeVatrons. In the next decade, as more Galactic PeVatrons and TeV gamma-ray sources are expected to be discovered, the identification of their acceleration and emission mechanisms will be the most pressing issue in both particle and high-energy astrophysics. In this paper, along with its companion papers (Reynolds et al. 2023, Mori et al. 2023), we will present that HEX-P is uniquely suited to address important problems in various cosmic-ray accelerators, including Galactic PeVatrons, through investigating synchrotron X-ray emission of TeV-PeV electrons produced by both leptonic and hadronic processes.

particle accelerators
galactic pevatrons
star clusters
superbubbles
microquasars
gamma-ray binaries
x-ray telescopes
multimessenger astronomy


Impact of Cosmic Rays on Atmospheric Ion Chemistry and Spectral Transmission Features of TRAPPIST-1e

Abstract: Ongoing observing projects like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and future missions offer the chance to characterize Earth-like exoplanetary atmospheres. Thereby, M-dwarfs are preferred targets for transit observations, for example, due to their favorable planet-star contrast ratio. However, the radiation and particle environment of these cool stars could be far more extreme than what we know from the Sun. Thus, knowing the stellar radiation and particle environment and its possible influence on detectable biosignatures - particularly signs of life like ozone and methane - is crucial to understanding upcoming transit spectra. In this study, with the help of our unique model suite INCREASE, we investigate the impact of a strong stellar energetic particle event on the atmospheric ionization, neutral and ion chemistry, and atmospheric biosignatures of TRAPPIST-1e. Therefore, transit spectra for six scenarios are simulated. We find that a Carrington-like event drastically increases atmospheric ionization and induces substantial changes in ion chemistry and spectral transmission features: all scenarios show high event-induced amounts of nitrogen dioxide (i.e., at 6.2 μm), a reduction of the atmospheric transit depth in all water bands (i.e., at 5.5 – 7.0 μm), a decrease of the methane bands (i.e., at 3.0 – 3.5 μm), and depletion of ozone (i.e., at ∼ 9.6 μm). Therefore, it is essential to include high-energy particle effects to correctly assign biosignature signals from, e.g., ozone and methane. We further show that the nitric acid feature at 11.0 - 12.0 μm, discussed as a proxy for stellar particle contamination, is absent in wet-dead atmospheres.

exoplanets
cosmic rays
exoplanet atmospheres
photoionization
exoplanet atmospheric composition
biosignatures


The Near-surface Shear Layer (NSSL) of the Sun: A Theoretical Model

Abstract: We present a theoretical model of the near-surface shear layer (NSSL) of the Sun. Convection cells deeper down are affected by the Sun's rotation, but this is not the case in a layer just below the solar surface due to the smallness of the convection cells there. Based on this idea, we show that the thermal wind balance equation (the basic equation in the theory of the meridional circulation which holds inside the convection zone) can be solved to obtain the structure of the NSSL, matching observational data remarkably well.

differential rotation
meridional circulation
convection
near-surface shear layer


Constraints on the interaction of quintessence dark energy with dark matter and the evolution of its equation of state parameter

Abstract: The cosmological model with an interaction between dynamical quintessence dark energy and cold dark matter is considered. Evolution of a dark energy equation of state parameter is defined by a dark energy adiabatic sound speed and a dark sector interaction parameter, which must be more physically correct model then a previously used in which such evolution was given by some fixed dependence on scale factor. The constraints on interaction parameter and other parameters of the model was obtained using a cosmic microwave background, baryon acoustic oscillations and supernova SN Ia data.

interacting dark energy
dark matter
cosmological perturbations


From an amateur PN candidate to the Rosetta Stone of SN Iax research

Abstract: On August 25th 2013 Dana Patchick from the "Deep Sky Hunters" (DSH) amateur astronomer group discovered a diffuse nebulosity in the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mid-IR image archive that had no optical counterpart but appeared similar to many Planetary Nebulae (PNe) in WISE. As his 30th discovery he named it Pa 30 and it was added to the HASH PN database as a new PN candidate. Little did he know how important his discovery would become. 10 years later this object is the only known bound remnant of a violent double WD merger accompanied by a rare Type Iax SN, observed and recorded by the ancient Chinese and Japanese in 1181 AD. This makes Pa 30 and its central star IRAS 00500+6713 (WD J005311) the only SN Iax remnant in our Galaxy, the only known bound remnant of any SN, and based on the central star's spectrum the only Wolf-Rayet star known that neither has a massive progenitor nor is the central star of a Planetary Nebula. We cover this story and our key role in it.

emission nebulae
supernova remnants
type ia supernovae
wolf-rayet stars


Characterization of a Far-Infrared Kinetic Inductance Detector Prototype for PRIMA

Abstract: The PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) is under study as a potential far-IR space mission, featuring actively cooled optics, and both imaging and spectroscopic instrumentation. To fully take advantage of the low background afforded by a cold telescope, spectroscopy with PRIMA requires detectors with a noise equivalent power (NEP) better than 1×10−19 W Hz−1/2. To meet this goal we are developing large format arrays of kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) to work across the 25−250 micron range. Here we present the design and characterization of a single pixel prototype detector optimized for 210 micron. The KID consists of a lens-coupled aluminum inductor-absorber connected to a niobium interdigitated capacitor to form a 2 GHz resonator. We measure the performance of this detector with optical loading in the 0.01−300 aW range. At low loading the detector achieves an NEP of 9×10−20 W Hz−1/2 at a 10 Hz readout frequency, and the lens-absorber system achieves a good optical efficiency. An extrapolation of these measurements suggest this detector may remain photon noise limited at up to 20 fW of loading, offering a high dynamic range for PRIMA observations of bright astronomical sources.

kinetic inductance detectors
prima
far-infrared
ultra-low nep


Pulsar timing array results sheds light on Hubble tension during the end of inflation

Abstract: Recently, pulsar timing array (PTA) collaborations, including NANOGrav, have reported evidence of a stochastic gravitational wave background within the nHz frequency range. It can be interpreted by gravitational waves from preheating era. In this context, we demonstrate that the emission of this stochastic gravitational wave background can be attributed to fluctuations occurring at the end of inflation, thus giving rise to the Hubble tension issue. At the onset of inflation, the value of the frequency of the gravitational wave signal stood at f=0.08nHz, but it rapidly transitioned to f=1nHz precisely at the end of inflation. However, just before the end of inflation, a phase characterized by curvature perturbation is known to occur, causing a swift increase in the frequency.

pulsar timing array
gravitational wave
inflation
hubble tension


The separate-universe approach and sudden transitions during inflation

Abstract: The separate-universe approach gives an intuitive way to understand the evolution of cosmological perturbations in the long-wavelength limit. It uses solutions of the spatially-homogeneous equations of motion to model the evolution of the inhomogeneous universe on large scales. We show that the separate-universe approach fails on a finite range of super-Hubble scales at a sudden transition from slow roll to ultra-slow roll during inflation in the very early universe. Such transitions are a feature of inflation models giving a large enhancement in the primordial power spectrum on small scales, necessary to produce primordial black holes after inflation. We show that the separate-universe approach still works in a piece-wise fashion, before and after the transition, but spatial gradients on finite scales require a discontinuity in the homogeneous solution at the transition. We discuss the implications for the δN formalism and stochastic inflation, which employ the separate-universe approximation.

cosmological perturbation theory
inflation
physics of the early universe
primordial black holes


Photometry of the Didymos system across the DART impact apparition

Abstract: On 26 September 2022, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft impacted Dimorphos, the satellite of binary near-Earth asteroid (65803) Didymos. This demonstrated the efficacy of a kinetic impactor for planetary defense by changing the orbital period of Dimorphos by 33 minutes (Thomas et al. 2023). Measuring the period change relied heavily on a coordinated campaign of lightcurve photometry designed to detect mutual events (occultations and eclipses) as a direct probe of the satellite's orbital period. A total of 28 telescopes contributed 224 individual lightcurves during the impact apparition from July 2022 to February 2023. We focus here on decomposable lightcurves, i.e. those from which mutual events could be extracted. We describe our process of lightcurve decomposition and use that to release the full data set for future analysis. We leverage these data to place constraints on the post-impact evolution of ejecta. The measured depths of mutual events relative to models showed that the ejecta became optically thin within the first  1 day after impact, and then faded with a decay time of about 25 days. The bulk magnitude of the system showed that ejecta no longer contributed measurable brightness enhancement after about 20 days post-impact. This bulk photometric behavior was not well represented by an HG photometric model. An HG1G2 model did fit the data well across a wide range of phase angles. Lastly, we note the presence of an ejecta tail through at least March 2023. Its persistence implied ongoing escape of ejecta from the system many months after DART impact.

asteroids
impact
dart
lightcurve photometry


Optical properties of two complementary samples of intermediate Seyfert galaxies

Abstract: We present preliminary results of the analysis of optical spectra of two complementary samples of Seyfert galaxies. The first sample was extracted from a selection of the 4th Fermi Gamma-ray Large Area Telescope (4FGL) catalog, and consists of 9 γ-ray emitting jetted Seyfert galaxies. The second one was extracted from the Swift-BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS), and is composed of 38 hard-X ray selected Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). These two samples are complementary, with the former expected to have smaller viewing angles, while the latter may include objects with larger viewing angles. We measured emission line ratios to investigate whether the behavior of these Seyferts can be explained in terms of obscuration, as suggested by the well-known Unified Model (UM) of AGN, or if there are intrinsic differences due to the presence of jets, outflows, or the evolution. We found no indications of intrinsic differences. The UM remains the most plausible interpretation for these classes of objects even if some results can be challenging for this model.

seyfert galaxies
intermediate seyfert
agn
optical spectroscopy


pyC^2Ray: A flexible and GPU-accelerated Radiative Transfer Framework for Simulating the Cosmic Epoch of Reionization

Abstract: Detailed modelling of the evolution of neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium during the Epoch of Reionization, 5≤z≤20, is critical in interpreting the cosmological signals from current and upcoming 21-cm experiments such as Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Numerical radiative transfer codes offer the most physically motivated approach for simulating the reionization process. However, they are computationally expensive as they must encompass enormous cosmological volumes while accurately capturing astrophysical processes occurring at small scales (≲Mpc). Here, we present pyC2Ray, an updated version of the massively parallel ray-tracing and chemistry code, C2Ray, which has been extensively employed in reionization simulations. The most time-consuming part of the code is calculating the hydrogen column density along the path of the ionizing photons. Here, we present the Accelerated Short-characteristics Octhaedral RAytracing (ASORA) method, a ray-tracing algorithm specifically designed to run on graphical processing units (GPUs). We include a modern Python interface, allowing easy and customized use of the code without compromising computational efficiency. We test pyC2Ray on a series of standard ray-tracing tests and a complete cosmological simulation with volume size (349Mpc)3, mesh size of 2503 and approximately 106 sources. Compared to the original code, pyC2Ray achieves the same results with negligible fractional differences, ∼10−5, and a speedup factor of two orders of magnitude. Benchmark analysis shows that ASORA takes a few nanoseconds per source per voxel and scales linearly for an increasing number of sources and voxels within the ray-tracing radii.

radiative transfer
epoch of reionization
raytracing
gpu methods
21-cm
cosmology
intergalactic medium


21 cm Intensity Mapping with the DSA-2000

Abstract: Line intensity mapping is a promising probe of the universe's large-scale structure. We explore the sensitivity of the DSA-2000, a forthcoming array consisting of over 2000 dishes, to the statistical power spectrum of neutral hydrogen's 21 cm emission line. These measurements would reveal the distribution of neutral hydrogen throughout the near-redshift universe without necessitating resolving individual sources. The success of these measurements relies on the instrument's sensitivity and resilience to systematics. We show that the DSA-2000 will have the sensitivity needed to detect the 21 cm power spectrum at z=0.5 and across power spectrum modes of 0.03-31.32 h/Mpc with 0.1 h/Mpc resolution. We find that supplementing the nominal array design with a dense core of 200 antennas will expand its sensitivity at low power spectrum modes and enable measurement of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs). Finally, we present a qualitative discussion of the DSA-2000's unique resilience to sources of systematic error that can preclude 21 cm intensity mapping.

cosmology
h i line emission
interferometry
radio interferometry


Estimating distances from parallaxes. VI: A method for inferring distances and transverse velocities from parallaxes and proper motions demonstrated on Gaia Data Release 3

Abstract: The accuracy of stellar distances inferred purely from parallaxes degrades rapidly with distance. Proper motion measurements, when combined with some idea of typical velocities, provide independent information on stellar distances. Here I build a direction- and distance-dependent model of the distribution of stellar velocities in the Galaxy, then use this together with parallaxes and proper motions to infer kinegeometric distances and transverse velocities for stars in Gaia DR3. Using noisy simulations I assess the performance of the method and compare its accuracy to purely parallax-based (geometric) distances. Over the whole Gaia catalogue, kinegeometric distances are on average 1.25 times more accurate than geometric ones. This average masks a large variation in the relative performance, however. Kinegeometric distances are considerably better than geometric ones beyond several kpc, for example. On average, kinegeometric distances can be measured to an accuracy of 19

catalogs
bayesian statistics
distance indicators
stellar distances
stellar motion
astrometry
parallax
proper motions


Constraining primordial black hole masses through f(R) gravity scalarons in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

Abstract: Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) is a strong probe for constraining new physics including gravitation. f(R) gravity theory is an interesting alternative to general relativity which introduces additional degrees of freedom known as scalarons. In this work we demonstrate the existence of black hole solutions in f(R) gravity and develop a relation between scalaron mass and black hole mass. We have used observed bound on the freezeout temperature to constrain scalaron mass range by modifying the cosmic expansion rate at the BBN epoch. The mass range of primordial black holes (PBHs) which are astrophysical dark matter candidates is deduced. The range of scalaron mass which does not spoil the BBN era is found to be 10−16−104 eV. The scalaron mass window 10−16−10−14 eV is consistent with the f(R) gravity PPN parameter derived from solar system experiments. The PBH mass range is obtained as 106−10−14 M⊙. Scalarons constrained by BBN are also eligible to accommodate axion like dark matter particles. Estimation of deuterium (D) fraction and relative D+3He abundance in the f(R) gravity scenario shows that the BBN history mimics that of general relativity. While the PBH mass range is eligible for non-baryonic dark matter, the BBN bounded scalarons provide with an independent strong field test of f(R) gravity.

modified gravity
primordial black holes
big bang nucleosynthesis
dark matter theory


Collisional Shaping of Nuclear Star Cluster Density Profiles

Abstract: A supermassive black hole (SMBH) surrounded by a dense, nuclear star cluster resides at the center of many galaxies. In this dense environment, high-velocity collisions frequently occur between stars. About 10

stellar dynamics
galactic center
star clusters
stellar mergers


Inviscid protostellar disc ring formation and high density ring edges due to the ejection and subsequent infall of material onto a protostellar disc

Abstract: Discs of gas and dust are ubiquitous around protostars. Hypothetical disc viscosity is thought to cause the gas and dust to accrete onto the star. Turbulence within the disc might be the source of this disc viscosity. However, observed protostellar disc turbulence often appears to be small and not always conducive to disc accretion. In addition, theories for disc and planet evolution have difficulty in explaining the observed disc rings/gaps which form much earlier than expected. Protostellar accretion discs are observed to contain significant quantities of dust and pebbles. Observations show that some of this material is ejected from near the protostar, where it travels to the outer regions of the disc. Such solid infalling material has a relatively small amount of angular momentum compared to the material in the disc. This infalling material lowers the angular momentum of the disc and should drive a radial flow towards the protostar. We show that the local radial speed of the disc is proportional to the mass rate of infalling material onto the disc. Higher rates of infall onto the disc implies higher radial accretion disc speeds. As such, regions with high rates of infall will produce gaps on relatively short timescales in the disc, while regions associated with relative low rates of infalling material will produce disc rings. As such, the inner edge of a disc gap will tend to have a higher surface density, which may enhance the probability of planet formation. In addition, the outer edge of a disc gap will act as a dust trap and may become a site for planet formation. For the early Solar System, such a process may have collected O16-poor forsterite dust from the inner regions of the protosolar disc and O16-rich CAIs and AOAs from the inner edge regions of the protosolar disc, thereby constructing a region favourable to the formation of prechondritic planetesimals.


SVR Algorithm as a Tool for More Optimal Intergalactic Medium Simulation in the Epoch of Reionization

Abstract: All kinds of simulations of the intergalactic medium, such as hydrodynamic simulation, N-body simulation, numerical and semi-numerical simulation, etc., have been used to realize the history of this medium. One of these simulations is 21SSD, which is specifically focused on the epoch of reionization. This simulation deepens our understanding of the physics behind the intergalactic medium by considering the free parameters related to the Wouthuysen-Field coupling fluctuations and X-ray and Lyman line transfers in the intergalactic medium, and by presenting the plots of the power spectrum, brightness temperature, etc. in different redshifts. However, due to many physical phenomena that play significant roles in this epoch, simulations of the intergalactic medium are usually extremely complex, time-consuming, and require very powerful hardware. In this work, by using the Support Vector Regression algorithm and based on the 21SSD simulation datasets, we have tried to make the machine fully understand the brightness temperature changes in terms of redshift for different astrophysical free parameters values. At first, we trained the machine with the results of the 21SSD simulation. Then, the machine was able to predict the brightness temperature in terms of redshift with very high accuracy for other interval coefficients. Although we have used this algorithm to estimate the brightness temperature, it seems that this algorithm can be easily used for other parts of cosmology and astrophysics. With its help, it is possible to save time and obtain results with extraordinary accuracy similar to complex simulations, even with normal hardware.

hydrodynamic simulation
21ssd simulation
intergalactic medium thermal history
epoch of reionization
machine learning


Disk Evolution Study Through Imaging of Nearby Young Stars (DESTINYS): HD 34700 A unveils an inner ring

Abstract: Context. The study of protoplanetary disks is fundamental to understand their evolution and interaction with the surrounding environment, and to constrain planet formation mechanisms. Aims. We aim at characterising the young binary system HD 34700 A, which shows a wealth of structures. Methods. Taking advantage of the high-contrast imaging instruments SPHERE at the VLT, LMIRCam at the LBT, and of ALMA observations, we analyse this system at multiple wavelengths. We study the rings and spiral arms morphology and the scattering properties of the dust. We discuss the possible causes of all the observed features. Results. We detect for the first time, in the Hα band, a ring extending from ∼65 au to ∼120 au, inside the ring already known from recent studies. These two have different physical and geometrical properties. Based on the scattering properties, the outer ring may consist of grains of typical size aout>4μm, while the inner ring of smaller grains (ain<=0.4μm). Two extended logarithmic spiral arms stem from opposite sides of the disk. The outer ring appears as a spiral arm itself, with a variable radial distance from the centre and extended substructures. ALMA data confirm the presence of a millimetric dust substructure centred just outside the outer ring, and detect misaligned gas rotation patterns for HD 34700 A and B. Conclusions. The complexity of HD 34700 A, revealed by the variety of observed features, suggests the existence of one or more disk-shaping physical mechanisms. Possible scenarios, compatible with our findings, involve the presence inside the disk of a yet undetected planet of several Jupiter masses and the system interaction with the surroundings by means of gas cloudlet capture or flybys. Further observations with JWST/MIRI or ALMA (gas kinematics) could shed more light on these.

protoplanetary disks
intermediate-mass stars
planet formation
multiple systems
direct imaging


How can the optical variation properties of active galactic nuclei be unbiasedly measured?

Abstract: The variability of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is ubiquitous but has not yet been understood. Measuring the optical variation properties of AGNs, such as variation timescale and amplitude, and then correlating them with their fundamental physical parameters, have long served as a critical way of exploring the origin of AGN variability and the associated physics of the accretion process in AGNs. Obtaining accurate variation properties of AGNs is thus essential. It has been found that the damped random walk (DRW) process can well describe the AGN optical variation, however, there is a controversy over how long a minimal monitoring baseline is required to obtain unbiased variation properties. In this work, we settle the controversy by exhaustively scrutinizing the complex combination of assumed priors, adopted best-fit values, ensemble averaging methods, and fitting methods. Then, the newly proposed is an optimized solution where unbiased variation properties of an AGN sample possessing the same variation timescale can be obtained with a minimal baseline of about 10 times their variation timescale. Finally, the new optimized solution is used to demonstrate the positive role of time domain surveys to be conducted by the Wide Field Survey Telescope in improving constraints on AGN variation properties.

active galactic nuclei
time domain
optical variability


A modified lognormal approximation of the Lyman-α forest: comparison with full hydrodynamic simulations at 2≤ z≤ 2.7

Abstract: Observations of the Lyman-α forest in distant quasar spectra with upcoming surveys are expected to provide significantly larger and higher-quality datasets. To interpret these datasets, it is imperative to develop efficient simulations. One such approach is based on the assumption that baryonic densities in the intergalactic medium (IGM) follow a lognormal distribution. We extend our earlier work to assess the robustness of the lognormal model of the Lyman-α forest in recovering the parameters characterizing IGM state, namely, the mean-density IGM temperature (T_0), the slope of the temperature-density relation (γ), and the hydrogen photoionization rate (Γ_12), by comparing with high-resolution Sherwood SPH simulations across the redshift range 2 ≤ z ≤ 2.7. These parameters are estimated through a Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique, using the mean and power spectrum of the transmitted flux. We find that the usual lognormal distribution of IGM densities cannot recover the parameters of the SPH simulations. This limitation arises from the fact that the SPH baryonic density distribution cannot be described by a simple lognormal form. To address this, we extend the model by scaling the linear density contrast by a parameter ν. While the resulting baryonic density is still lognormal, the additional parameter gives us extra freedom in setting the variance of density fluctuations. With this extension, values of T_0 and γ implied in the SPH simulations are recovered at ∼ 1-σ (≲ 10

intergalactic media
lyman-α forest
power spectrum


Quasi-2D Weak Lensing Cosmological Constraints Using the PDF-SYM method

Abstract: Cosmic shear statistics, such as the two-point correlation function (2PCF), can be evaluated with the PDF-SYM method instead of the traditional weighted-sum approach. It makes use of the full PDF information of the shear estimators, and does not require weightings on the shear estimators, which can in principle introduce additional systematic biases. This work presents our constraints on S_8 and Ω_m from the shear-shear correlations using the PDF-SYM method. The data we use is from the z-band images of the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS), which covers about 10000 deg^2 with more than 100 million galaxies. The shear catalog is produced by the FQ method, and well tested on the real data itself with the field-distortion effect. Our main approach is called quasi-2D as we do use the photo-z information of each individual galaxy, but without dividing the galaxies into redshift bins. We mainly use galaxy pairs within the redshift interval between 0.2 and 1.3, and the angular range from 4.7 to 180 arcmin. Our analysis yields S_8=0.762 ± 0.026 and Ω_m=0.234 ± 0.075, with the baryon effects and the intrinsic alignments included. The results are robust against redshift uncertainties. We check the consistency of our results by deriving the cosmological constaints from auto-correlations of γ_1 and γ_2 separately, and find that they are consistent with each other, but the constraints from the γ_1 component is much weaker than that from γ_2. It implies a much worse data quality of γ_1, which is likely due to additional shear uncertainties caused by CCD electronics (according to the survey strategy of DECaLS). We also perform a pure 2D analysis, which gives S_8=0.81^+0.03_-0.04 and Ω_m=0.25^+0.06_-0.05. Our findings demonstrate the potential of the PDF-SYM method for precision cosmology.

weak lensing
shear-shear correlations
cosmological parameters
observations
analysis


Ejecta Evolution Following a Planned Impact into an Asteroid: The First Five Weeks

Abstract: The impact of the DART spacecraft into Dimorphos, moon of the asteroid Didymos, changed Dimorphos' orbit substantially, largely from the ejection of material. We present results from twelve Earth-based facilities involved in a world-wide campaign to monitor the brightness and morphology of the ejecta in the first 35 days after impact. After an initial brightening of  1.4 magnitudes, we find consistent dimming rates of 0.11-0.12 magnitudes/day in the first week, and 0.08-0.09 magnitudes/day over the entire study period. The system returned to its pre-impact brightness 24.3-25.3 days after impact through the primary ejecta tail remained. The dimming paused briefly eight days after impact, near in time to the appearance of the second tail. This was likely due to a secondary release of material after re-impact of a boulder released in the initial impact, through movement of the primary ejecta through the aperture likely played a role.


A planetary collision afterglow and transit of the resultant debris cloud

Abstract: Planets grow in rotating disks of dust and gas around forming stars, some of which can subsequently collide in giant impacts after the gas component is removed from the disk. Monitoring programs with the warm Spitzer mission have recorded significant and rapid changes in mid-infrared output for several stars, interpreted as variations in the surface area of warm dusty material ejected by planetary-scale collisions and heated by the central star: e.g., NGC 2354-ID8, HD 166191 and V844 Persei. Here we report combined observations of the young (about 300 Myr), solar-like star ASASSN-21qj: an infrared brightening consistent with a blackbody temperature of 1000 K and a luminosity of 4 percent of that of the star lasting for about 1000 days, partially overlapping in time with a complex and deep wavelength-dependent optical eclipse that lasted for about 500 days. The optical eclipse started 2.5 years after the infrared brightening, implying an orbital period of at least that duration. These observations are consistent with a collision between two exoplanets of several to tens of Earth masses at 2 to 16 au from the central star. Such an impact produces a hot, highly-extended post-impact remnant with sufficient luminosity to explain the infrared observations. Transit of the impact debris, sheared by orbital motion into a long cloud, causes the subsequent complex eclipse of the host star.

exoplanets
planet formation
debris disks


Floating binary planets from ejections during close stellar encounters

Abstract: The discovery of planetary systems beyond our solar system has posed challenges to established theories of planetary formation. Planetary orbits display a variety of architectures not predicted by first principles, and free-floating planets appear ubiquitous. The recent discovery of candidate Jupiter Mass Binary Objects (JuMBOs) by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) further expanded this enigma. Here, by means of high-accuracy, direct N-body simulations, we evaluate the possibility that JuMBOs may form as a result of ejection after a close stellar flyby. We consider a system of two Jupiter-like planets moving in circular orbits with velocities v_1 and v_2 at distances a_1 and a_2 around a Sun-like star. The interloper is another Sun-like star approaching with asymptotic velocity v_∞. We find that JuMBOs can indeed be formed upon ejection if the two planets are nearly aligned as the interloper reaches the closest approach. The ratio of the cross section of JuMBOs production to that of single ejected free-floating planets can approach ∼ 20% for v_∞/v_2 ∼ 0.1 - 0.2 and a_1/a_2∼ 0.75-0.8. JuMBOs formed via this channel are expected to have an average semi-major axis comparable to Δ a = (a_2-a_1) and high eccentricity, with a distinctive superthermal distribution which can help to observationally identify this formation channel and distinguish it from primordial formation. If the ejection channel is confirmed for these or future JWST observations, these JuMBOs will directly inform us of the conditions where these giant planets formed in protoplanetary disks, putting stringent constraints on the giant planet formation theory.


Rapid Dust Growth During Hydrodynamic Clumping Due to Streaming Instability

Abstract: Streaming instability is considered to be one of the dominant processes to promote planetesimal formation by gravitational collapse of dust clumps. The development of streaming instability is expected to form dust clumps in which the local dust density is strongly enhanced and even greater than the Roche density. The resulting clumps can collapse to form planetesimals. Recent simulations conducted long-term simulations and showed that such strong clumping occurs in a wider parameter space than previously expected. However, the indicated timescale for strong clumping can be on the order of tens to hundreds Keplerian periods. In this paper, we estimate the growth time of dust grains during the pre-clumping phase. We find that the dust growth considerably proceeds before the strong clumping because even the moderate clumping due to streaming instability increases the local dust-to-gas ratio ≳10. Depending on the gas sound speed, the dust collision velocity can be kept below ∼ 1 m/s once sufficiently strong dust clumping occurs. Thus, even silicate grains might have the potential to grow safely toward the size whose Stokes number is unity during the clumping. Our results demonstrate the importance of local dust coagulation during the dust clumping due to streaming instability.

hydrodynamics
instabilities
protoplanetary disks


Hydrocarbon chemistry in inner regions of planet forming disks

Abstract: The analysis of the mid-infrared spectra helps understanding the composition of the gas in the inner, dense and warm terrestrial planet forming region of disks around young stars. ALMA has detected hydrocarbons in the outer regions of the planet forming disk and Spitzer detected C2H2 in the inner regions. JWST- MIRI provides high spectral resolution observations of C2H2 and a suite of more complex hydrocarbons are now reported. Interpreting the fluxes observed in the spectra is challenging and radiation thermo-chemical codes are needed to properly take into account the disk structure, radiative transfer, chemistry and thermal balance. Various disk physical parameters like the gas-to-dust ratio, dust evolution including radial drift, dust growth and settling can affect the fluxes observed in the mid-IR. Still, thermo-chemical disk models were not always successful in matching all observed molecular emission bands simultaneously. The goal of this project is two-fold. We analyse the warm carbon chemistry in the inner regions of the disk, i.e. within 10 au to find pathways forming C2H2 potentially missing from the existing chemical networks. Second, we analyse the effect of the new chemistry on the line fluxes of acetylene. We use radiative thermo-chemical disk code PRODIMO to expand the hydrocarbon chemistry that occurs in a typical standard T Tauri disks. We used the UMIST and the KIDA rate databases for collecting reactions for the species. We include a number of three-body and thermal decomposition reactions from STAND2020 network. We included isotopomers for the species that were present in the databases. The chemistry is then analysed in the regions that produce observable features in the mid-infrared spectra. The effect of expanding the hydrocarbon chemistry on the mid-infrared spectra is studied. Acetylene is formed via two ....

astrochemistry
inner disk
hydrocarbons
mid-ir spectra
jwst-miri


The reaction rate of radiative n 8Li capture in the range from 0.01 to 10 T 9

Abstract: Within the modified potential cluster model (MPCM) with forbidden states, the total cross sections are calculated for capture in the ground and first excited states of the 9Li nucleus in the n8Li channel in the energy range from 10−5 eV to 5 MeV based on Е1 and M1 transitions. The experimentally proved resonance at Ec.m. = 0.232 MeV in the 4P5/2 wave and ab initio-predicted 4P3/2 resonance at 1.32 MeV [Phys. Rev. C 103, 035801 (2021)] are considered. The strong impact of the asymptotic constant and channel spectroscopic factors on the total capture cross sections are responsible for the variation in the absolute values within factor two. As a consequence, the thermal cross sections are (Formula presented.) 24–46.8 mb. The evaluation of (Formula presented.) based on the extrapolation of ab initio cross sections yields ∼85 mb. The reaction rate is calculated in the temperature range from 0.01 to 10 T9. The reported reaction rates are compared at the benchmark point 1 T9. The comparison of two datasets [Phys. Rev. C 103, 035801 (2021) and Phys. Rev. C 105, 064608 (2022)] on reaction rates recently calculated in microscopic models in extended temperature intervals shows the essential quantitative and qualitative differences. The comparative joint analysis of the reaction rates of radiative neutron capture on the lithium isotopes 6,7,8Li is suggested for the choice of an optimal interval for the asymptotic constants.

cluster model
n8li system
nuclear astrophysics
reaction rate
thermal and astrophysical energies
total cross sections


How catching the interstellar wind in the inner solar system led the way on a road to interdisciplinary research between heliophysics and astrophysics

Abstract: Combined in situ observations of the interstellar wind through the solar system and of its pickup ions (PUIs), implanted after ionization in the solar wind, explain, in comparison with interstellar absorption lines of nearby stars, that the Sun is in an interaction region of the two nearest interstellar clouds. This new finding disrupts the long-held understanding that we are inside the local interstellar cloud (LIC). We discuss how space physics evolved toward such interdisciplinary studies between heliophysics and astrophysics. In 1984, the discovery of interstellar He+ PUIs exposed the very local interstellar medium to in situ diagnostics at 1AU. These PUIs provide the interstellar gas composition and form a stepping stone for the acceleration of ions, especially into anomalous cosmic rays. Using the Sun as a gravitational spectrograph, direct imaging of the neutral interstellar wind, first for He and then for H, O, and Ne, provides the interstellar gas velocity vector and temperature at the heliopause. Combining the interstellar gas flow vectors, those of secondary neutral He and O, and the interstellar magnetic field direction deduced from the interstellar H deflection and termination shock anisotropy seen by the Voyagers provides synergistically the heliosphere’s shape, its interaction with the interstellar medium, and constrains our radiation environment. This ISMF organizes the bright Ribbon seen in all-sky images of energetic neutral atoms with the potential to provide its precision determination. The elemental and isotopic composition from PUI and neutral gas observations constrains the galactic evolution and Big Bang cosmology, opening additional interdisciplinary opportunities.

energetic neutral atoms
heliosphere boundary
interstellar gas composition
interstellar gas flow
interstellar magnetic field
pickup ions


A mechanism of the auroral substorm expansion onset: electric discharge in the double layer

Abstract: Magnetospheric substorms often occur when a significant amount of energy from the solar wind is deposited and stored in the magnetotail during the growth phase and release explosively in the expansion phase, which accelerates charged particles causing the rapid auroral intensification. A physical mechanism is needed to release the energy explosively. The formation of double layers is a likely mechanism for the energy release and the acceleration of particles and triggers the onset of the expansion phase. We suggest that the localized parallel electric field that forms the double layer results from the displacement current complying with Ampere’s law for the dynamic case. The double layers are embedded in low density cavities surrounded by enhanced magnetic stresses. Positive feedback in the electric field generation may cause rapid release of the accumulated energy. The Poynting flux carried by Alfven waves continuously supplies the energy to maintain strong electric fields during the rapid development of auroral substorms.

auroral substorm
displacement current
double layer
parallel electric field
substorm onset


Counter-rotating black holes from FRII lifetimes

Abstract: Estimates suggest that while FRII jets appear to have lifetimes constrained to hundreds of millions of years, radio galaxies with FRI jets appear to be longer lived. We illustrate the nature of this time constraint from model perspectives, showing how compatibility between theory and data match in a way suggesting a key difference between active galaxies whose engines are characterized by accretion onto co-rotating versus counter-rotating black holes. We calculate a range of timescales for counter-rotating black holes for a range of accretion rates compatible with theory which we then compare to data. The validity of these timescales constitutes the most powerful recent piece of evidence for considering counter-rotation between black holes and accretion disks in high energy astrophysics.

black holes
counter-rotating black holes
fri/frii dichotomy
jets from active galaxies
radio galaxies and quasars


Solar activities associated with 3He-rich solar energetic particle events observed by Solar Orbiter

Abstract: A series of 3He-rich solar energetic particle (SEP) events was observed by Solar Orbiter in May 2021 at a radial distance of 0.95 AU. An isolated active region AR 12824 was likely the ultimate source of these SEP events. The period of the enhanced flux of 3He was also a period of frequent type III bursts in the decametric-hectometric range, confirming their close relationship. As in past studies, we try to find the solar activities possibly responsible for 3He-rich SEP events, using the type III bursts close to the particle injection times estimated from the velocity dispersion. But this exercise is not as straightforward as in many of the past studies since the region produced many more type III bursts and jet-like eruptions than the SEP injections. We may generalize the solar activities for the 3He-rich SEP events in question as coronal jets, but their appearances do not necessarily conform to classic jets that consist of a footpoint and a spire. Conversely, such jets often did not accompany type III bursts. The areas that produced jet-like eruptions changed within the active region from the first to the second set of 3He-rich SEP events, which may be related to the extended coronal mass ejection that launched stealthily.

elemental abundances
radio emission
solar energetic particles
solar jets
sun
uv radiation


Gravitational orbits in the expanding Universe revisited

Abstract: Modified Newtonian equations for gravitational orbits in the expanding Universe indicate that local gravitationally bounded systems like galaxies and planetary systems are unaffected by the expansion of the Universe. This result is derived for the space expansion described by the standard FLRW metric. In this paper, the modified Newtonian equations are derived for the space expansion described by the conformal cosmology (CC) metric. In this metric, the comoving and proper times are different similarly as the comoving and proper distances. As shown by Vavryčuk (Front. Phys. 2022), this metric is advantageous, because it properly predicts the cosmic time dilation, and fits the Type Ia supernova luminosity observations with no need to introduce dark energy. Surprisingly, the solution of the equations for gravitational orbits based on the CC metric behaves quite differently than that based on the FLRW metric. In contrast to the common opinion that local systems resist the space expansion, they expand according to the Hubble flow in the CC metric. The evolution of the local systems with cosmic time is exemplified on numerical modelling of spiral galaxies. The size of the spiral galaxies grows consistently with observations and a typical spiral pattern is well reproduced. The theory predicts flat rotation curves without an assumption of dark matter surrounding the galaxy. The theory resolves challenges to the ΛCDM model such as the problem of faint satellite galaxies, baryonic Tully-Fisher relation or the radial acceleration relation. Furthermore, puzzles in the solar system are successfully explained such as the Faint young Sun paradox or the Moon’s and Titan’s orbit anomalies.

conformal metric
cosmic time dilation
cosmological redshift
dark energy
dark matter
galaxy expansion
rotation curves
winding problem


EXOSpy: A python package to investigate the terrestrial exosphere and its FUV emission

Abstract: The exosphere is the uppermost layer of the terrestrial atmosphere, mainly composed of atomic hydrogen (H) that resonantly scatters solar far-ultraviolet (FUV) photons at 121.56 nm, also referred to as Lyman-Alpha (Ly-α) emission. Analysis of this emission has been used to determine the global, three-dimensional, and time-dependent exospheric H density structure, which is essential to assess the permanent escape of H to space as well as to determine their role in governing the transient response of terrestrial plasma environment to space weather. Thus, Ly-α emission and its by-product, the H density, are highly desirable to the magnetospheric community. On the other hand, this emission can also be regarded as a significant source of contamination during studies of FUV targets such as O/B-type stars, planetary and exoplanetary atmospheres, and the circumgalactic medium, especially when observations are acquired from Earth-orbiting instruments. In this case, accurate specification of exospheric Ly-α photon flux and its subsequent removal is required by the planetary and astrophysics community studying solar/extra-solar system objects. This work introduces EXOSpy, an open-source python-based package that provides several models of terrestrial exospheric H density and calculates exospheric Ly-α emission with a high potential to contribute to investigations in both communities. We present several examples to demonstrate how EXOSpy can be used to (i) validate current and new exospheric models based on actual Ly-α radiance data, (ii) estimate exospheric contamination for a given instrument’s line-of-sight and spatial location, and (iii) provide support for new space-based FUV instrument design.

atomic hydrogen
fuv
lyman-alpha
python
terrestrial exosphere


Turbulent dipolarization regions in the Earth’s magnetotail: ion fluxes and magnetic field changes

Abstract: In this work, we consider the dynamics of ion fluxes and magnetic field changes in turbulent regions of magnetotail dipolarizations. The data from the Cluster-II mission (magnetic field measurements from fluxgate magnetometers and energetic charged particle observations from RAPID spectrometers) were used for the analysis. We study individual events and investigate statistically the changes of charged particle fluxes during magnetic field dipolarizations observed during 2001–2015. Received changes in the spectral index indicate that CNO+ ions undergo stronger acceleration during dipolarization than protons and helium ions. Before dipolarization front monotonic growth the ions flux is observed (the maximum of flux is observed at 1–1,5 min after the start of dipolarization) in the range of ∼ 92–374 keV for proton; in the energy range ∼ 138–235 keV for He+ and in the energy range of 414–638 keV for CNO+ ions. Flux increase before arriving dipolarization front may result from the reflection of plasma sheet ions at the dipolarization front and the result of the resonant interactions of ions with low-frequency electromagnetic waves.

charged particles
differential fluxes
dipolarization fronts
superimposed epoch analysis
waves


Precision and systematic errors in global helioseismology mode fitting and inversions: Leveraging some 25 years of nearly uninterrupted observations

Abstract: We have on hand some 25 years of nearly uninterrupted high-quality and high-cadence global helioseismic data. The Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) project has been producing science quality data since 1995, the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) started in 1996, and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) took over in 2010. Fundamental new constraints have been imposed by helioseismic inferences, yet global helioseismology data processing seems somewhat frozen in time for some of its methodologies. I review and discuss some specific aspects of global helioseismology data analysis, with an emphasis on the issues and challenges presented by mode fitting and inversion techniques. I compare and contrast results derived by different fitting methods, whether using different techniques, different lengths of time series, or different fitting parameters, like leakage matrices or the inclusion or omission of the mode profile asymmetry, leading to our current best handle on the residual systematic errors.

inverse modeling
mode fitting
sun
sun—helioseismology
sun—interior


The burst observer and optical transient exploring system in the multi-messenger astronomy era

Abstract: The Burst Observer and Optical Transient Exploring System (BOOTES) was first designed as an asset of autonomous telescopes that started to be deployed in 1998, taking 24 years to be fully developed around the earth. Nowadays BOOTES has became a global network of robotic telescopes, being the first one present in all continents, as of 2022. Here we present the details of the network and review its achievements over the last 2 decades regarding follow-up observations of high-energy transient events. Moreover, considering the recent operations of neutrino and gravitational wave detectors, some hot-topic expectations related to robotic astronomy are discussed within the framework of multi-wavelength astrophysics.

bootes network
multi-messenger
optical observations
robotic astronomy
telescopes


Constraining cosmological parameters from N-body simulations with variational Bayesian neural networks

Abstract: Introduction: Methods based on deep learning have recently been applied to recover astrophysical parameters, thanks to the ability of these techniques to capture information from complex data. One of these schemes is the approximate Bayesian neural network (BNN), which has demonstrated to yield a posterior distribution into the parameter space that is extremely helpful for uncertainty quantification. However, modern neural networks tend to produce overly confident uncertainty estimates and introduce bias when applying BNNs to data. Method: In this work, we implement multiplicative normalizing flows (MNFs), a family of approximate posteriors for the parameters of BNNs with the purpose of enhancing the flexibility of the variational posterior distribution, to extract Ωm, h, and σ8 from the QUIJOTE simulations. We compared the latter method with the standard BNNs and the Flipout estimator. Results: We have found that the use of MNFs consistently outperforms the standard BNNs with a percent difference in the mean squared error of 21

artificial intelligence
cosmology
deep neural networks
n-body simulations
parameter estimation


Collapsing cylindrically symmetric filamentary stellar object

Abstract: This work investigates the collapsing behavior of filamentary objects under the influence of dark matter. For this purpose, we use f(R, T) gravity as a candidate for dark matter. The collapse equation is obtained by imposing the Darmois junction condition at the collapsing boundary. At the collapsing boundary, it is observed that the radial pressure is non-zero and is proportional to the field time-dependent component. Finally, we check the relationship between gravitational waves and dark source terms. It is concluded that the dark source terms disrupt the propagation of gravitational waves.

compact stellar filament
dark matter
f(r
t) gravity
gravitational collapse
gravitational waves


On particle scattering in Gross-Pitaevskii theory and implications for dark matter halos

Abstract: Bose-Einstein-condensed dark matter (BEC-DM), also called scalar field dark matter (SFDM), has become a popular alternative to the standard, collisionless cold dark matter (CDM) model, due to its long-held potential to resolve the small-scale crisis of CDM. Halos made of BEC-DM have been modelled using the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation coupled to the Poisson equation; the so-called GPP equations of motion. These equations are based on fundamental microphysical conditions that need to be fulfilled in order for the equations to be valid in the first place, related to the diluteness of the DM gas and the nature of the particle scattering model. We use these conditions in order to derive the implications for the BEC-DM parameters, the 2-particle self-interaction coupling strength g and the particle mass m. We compare the derived bounds with the constraint that results from the assumption of virial equilibrium of the central cores of halos, deriving a relationship that connects g and m. We find that the GPP conditions are greatly fulfilled, for BEC-DM particle masses of interest, if such models also obey the virial condition that turns out to be the strongest constraint. We also derive the implications for the elastic scattering cross section (per particle mass) in BEC-DM halos, based on the scattering model of GPP, and find a huge range of possible values, depending on the self-interaction regime. We put our results into context to recent literature which predicts sub-kpc core size in BEC-DM halos.

bose-einstein-condensed dark matter
cosmology
galactic halos
gross-pitaevskii theory
particle scattering


A future interstellar probe on the dynamic heliosphere and its interaction with the very local interstellar medium: In-situ particle and fields measurements and remotely sensed ENAs

Abstract: The recently published Interstellar Probe (ISP) study report describes a pragmatic mission concept with a launch window that starts in 2036 and is expected to reach several hundreds of astronomical units past the heliopause within a time frame of ≥50 years (https://interstellarprobe.jhuapl.edu/Interstellar-Probe-MCR.pdf). Following the ISP report, this paper, that will also be accessible from the Bulletin of the AAS (BAAS) in the framework of the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024–2033 (Dialynas et al., A future Interstellar Probe on the dynamic heliosphere and its interaction with the very local interstellar medium: In-situ particle and fields measurements and remotely sensed ENAs, 2022a), aims to highlight the importance of studying the physics of the interactions pertaining to the expanding solar wind that meets the plasma, gas and dust flows of the very local interstellar medium, forming the complex and vast region of our astrosphere. We focus on three fundamental open science questions that reveal the dynamical nature of the heliosphere A) Where are the heliosphere boundaries and how thick is the heliosheath B) Is there a “missing” pressure component towards exploring the dynamics of the global heliosheath and its interaction with the very local interstellar medium C) Why does the shape and size of the global heliosphere appear different in different Energetic Neutral Atom energies? We argue that these questions can only be addressed by exploiting a combination of in-situ charged particle, plasma waves and fields measurements with remotely sensed Energetic Neutral Atoms that can be measured simultaneously from the instruments of a future Interstellar Probe mission, along its trajectory from interplanetary space through the heliosheath and out to the very local interstellar medium.

cassini
energetic neutral atoms
heliosheath
heliosphere
interstellar probe
solar wind
very local interstellar medium
voyager


Abstract: In the present decade and beyond, now 51 years after the last Apollo landing, the NASA Artemis human exploration program will offer abundant opportunities for heliophysics investigations from, by, and of the Moon from the vantage points of the lunar orbit and the surface. The Lunar Solar Occultation Explorer (LunaSOX) concept uses the lunar limb to occult the solar disk for high-resolution coronal observations at hourly, daily, to biweekly cadences from spacecraft either in the lunar orbit or at the surface. A 0.2 m diameter solar telescope in orbit with white light and narrow-band visible filters would provide arcsecond spectroscopic imaging of the low-to-high corona (1–10 R☉) with an upper limit of 10–12 B☉ on the local scattered light background from lunar atmospheric dust, as compared to 10–9 B☉ for Earth ground-based solar eclipse observations looking up through the atmosphere at totality. For eclipse observations from and by the Moon, there would be no significant atmospheric disturbances that otherwise limit seeing to arcsec resolution from Earth’s surface. The present eccentric orbits of the ARTEMIS P1 and P2 spacecraft are used as models for a 1 × 10 Rm orbit of LunaSOX to compute the times of solar eclipse intervals, up to 2 hours in duration between the east and west solar hemispheres at a daily cadence for coronal observations at 1–16 R☉ when the orbital aposelene is in anti-sunward directions. In a low-altitude circular orbit and from the surface, the observational cadences would, respectively, be hourly and biweekly. LunaSOX satellites also carrying in situ space environment instruments could integrate into a network of orbital platforms for space weather monitoring and communications relay to far-side surface lander and permanent base sites, e.g., for low-frequency radio cosmology and detection of exoplanet magnetospheres.

heliophysics
moon
solar corona
solar eclipse
solar wind