Página 1 dos resultados de 8190 itens digitais encontrados em 0.393 segundos

## Dark Matter Evidence, Particle Physics Candidates and Detection Methods

Bergström, Lars
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Português
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.29%
The problem of the dark matter in the universe is reviewed. A short history of the subject is given, and several of the most obvious particle candidates for dark matter are identified. Particular focus is given to weakly interacting, massive particles (WIMPs) of which the lightest supersymmetric particle is an interesting special case and a usful template. The three detection methods: in particle accelerators, by direct detection of scattering in terrestrial detectors, and indirect detection of products from dark matter particle annihilation in the galactic halo, are discussed and their complementarity is explained. Direct detection experiments have revealed some possible indications of a dark matter signal, but the situation is quite confusing at the moment. Very recently, also indirect detection has entered a sensitivity region where some particle candidates could be detectable. Indeed, also here there are some (presently non-conclusive) indications of possible dark matter signals, like an interesting structure at 130 GeV gamma-ray energy found in publicly available data from the Fermi-LAT space detector. The future of the field will depend on whether WIMPs are indeed the dark matter, something that may realistically be probed in the next few years. If this exciting scenario turns out to be true...

## Spectroscopic characterization of a sample of metal-poor solar-type stars from the HARPS planet search program. Precise spectroscopic parameters and mass estimation

Sousa, Sérgio G.; Santos, Nuno C.; Israelian, Garik; Lovis, C.; Mayor, Michel; Silva, Pedro B.; Udry, Stephane
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Português
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.27%
Stellar metallicity strongly correlates with the presence of planets and their properties. To check for new correlations between stars and the existence of an orbiting planet, we determine precise stellar parameters for a sample of metal-poor solar-type stars. This sample was observed with the HARPS spectrograph and is part of a program to search for new extrasolar planets. The stellar parameters were determined using an LTE analysis based on equivalent widths (EW) of iron lines and by imposing excitation and ionization equilibrium. The ARES code was used to allow automatic and systematic derivation of the stellar parameters. Precise stellar parameters and metallicities were obtained for 97 low metal-content stars. We also present the derived masses, luminosities, and new parallaxes estimations based on the derived parameters, and compare our spectroscopic parameters with an infra-red flux method calibration to check the consistency of our method in metal poor stars. Both methods seems to give the same effective temperature scale. Finally we present a new calibration for the temperature as a function of \textit{B-V} and [Fe/H]. This was obtained by adding these new metal poor stars in order to increase the range in metallicity for the calibration. The standard deviation of this new calibration is $\sim$ 50 K.; Comment: 10 pages...

## Modelling realistic horizontal branch morphologies and their impact on spectroscopic ages of unresolved stellar systems

Percival, Susan M.; Salaris, Maurizio
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.27%
The presence of an extended blue horizontal branch (HB) in a stellar population is known to affect the age inferred from spectral fitting to stellar population synthesis models. However, most population synthesis models still rely on theoretical isochrones which do not include realistic modelling of extended HBs. In this work, we create detailed models for a range of old simple stellar populations (SSPs), to create a variety of realistic HB morphologies, from extended red clumps, to extreme blue HBs. We achieve this by utilising stellar tracks from the BaSTI database and implementing a different mass loss prescription for each SSP created, resulting in different HB morphologies. We find that, for each metallicity, there is some HB morphology which maximises Hbeta, making an underlying 14Gyr population look ~5-6Gyr old for the low and intermediate metallicity cases, and as young as 2Gyr for a solar metallicity SSP. We explore whether there are any spectral indices capable of breaking the degeneracy between an old SSP with extended blue HB and a truly young or intermediate age SSP, and find that the CaII index of Rose(1984) and the strength of the MgII doublet at 2800A are promising candidates, in combination with Hbeta and other metallicity indicators such as Mgb and Fe5406. We also run Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the level of statistical fluctuations in the spectra of typical stellar clusters. We find that fluctuations in spectral indices are significant even for average to large globular clusters...

## Hybrid methods in planetesimal dynamics: Formation of protoplanetary systems and the mill condition

Amaro-Seoane, Pau; Glaschke, Patrick; Spurzem, Rainer
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.28%
The formation and evolution of protoplanetary discs remains a challenge from both a theoretical and numerical standpoint. In this work we first perform a series of tests of our new hybrid algorithm presented in Glaschke, Amaro-Seoane and Spurzem 2011 (henceforth Paper I) that combines the advantages of high accuracy of direct-summation N-body methods with a statistical description for the planetesimal disc based on Fokker-Planck techniques. We then address the formation of planets, with a focus on the formation of protoplanets out of planetesimals. We find that the evolution of the system is driven by encounters as well as direct collisions and requires a careful modelling of the evolution of the velocity dispersion and the size distribution over a large range of sizes. The simulations show no termination of the protoplanetary accretion due to gap formation, since the distribution of the planetesimals is only subjected to small fluctuations. We also show that these features are weakly correlated with the positions of the protoplanets. The exploration of different impact strengths indicates that fragmentation mainly controls the overall mass loss, which is less pronounced during the early runaway growth. We prove that the fragmentation in combination with the effective removal of collisional fragments by gas drag sets an universal upper limit of the protoplanetary mass as a function of the distance to the host star...

## Atomic data and spectral model for Fe III

Bautista, Manuel A.; Ballance, Connor P.; Quinet, Pascal
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.27%
We present new atomic data (radiative transitions rates and collision strengths) from large scale calculations and a non-LTE spectral model for Fe III. This model is in very good agreement with observed astronomical emission spectra, in contrast with previous models that yield large discrepancies with observations. The present atomic computations employ a combination of atomic physics methods, e.g. relativistic Hatree-Fock, the Thomas-Fermi-Dirac potential, and Dirac-Fock computation of A-values and R-matrix with intermediate coupling frame transformation and Dirac R-matrix. We study the advantages and shortcomings of each method. It is found that the Dirac R-matrix collision strengths yield excellent agreement with observations, much improved over previously available models. By contrast, the transformation of LS-coupling R-matrix fails to yield accurate effective collision strengths at around 10^4 K, despite using very large configuration expansions, due to the limited treatment of spin-orbit effects in the near threshold resonances of the collision strengths. The present work demonstrates that accurate atomic data for low ionization iron-peak species is now within reach.; Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures. ApJ Letters (in press)

## Prospecting in late-type dwarfs: a calibration of infrared and visible spectroscopic metallicities of late-K and M dwarfs spanning 1.5 dex

Mann, Andrew W.; Brewer, John M.; Gaidos, Eric; Lepine, Sebastien; Hilton, Eric J.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Português
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.29%
Knowledge of late K and M dwarf metallicities can be used to guide planet searches and constrain planet formation models. However, the determination of metallicities of late-type stars is difficult because visible wavelength spectra of their cool atmospheres contain many overlapping absorption lines, preventing the measurement of equivalent widths. We present new methods, and improved calibrations of existing methods, to determine metallicities of late-K and M dwarfs from moderate resolution (1300 < R < 2000) visible and infrared spectra. We select a sample of 112 wide binary systems that contain a late-type companion to a solar-type primary star. Our sample includes 62 primary stars with previously published metallicities, as well as 50 stars with metallicities determined from our own observations. We use our sample to empirically determine which features in the spectrum of the companion are best correlated with the metallicity of the primary. We derive metallicity calibrations for different wavelength ranges, and show that it is possible to get metallicities reliable to < 0.10 dex using either visible, J, H, or K band spectra. Our calibrations are applicable to dwarfs with metallicities of -1.04 < [Fe/H]< +0.56 and spectral types from K7 to M5. Lastly...

## Hydrostatic Gas Constraints on Supermassive Black Hole Masses: Implications for Hydrostatic Equilibrium and Dynamical Modelling in a Sample of Early-Type Galaxies

Humphrey, Philip J.; Buote, David A.; Brighenti, Fabrizio; Gebhardt, Karl; Mathews, William G.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Português
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.28%
We present new mass measurements for the supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the centres of three early-type galaxies. The gas pressure in the surrounding, hot interstellar medium (ISM) is measured through spatially resolved spectroscopy with the Chandra X-ray observatory, allowing the SMBH mass (Mbh) to be inferred directly under the hydrostatic approximation. This technique does not require calibration against other SMBH measurement methods and its accuracy depends only on the ISM being close to hydrostatic, which is supported by the smooth X-ray isophotes of the galaxies. Combined with results from our recent study of the elliptical galaxy NGC4649, this brings to four the number of galaxies with SMBHs measured in this way. Of these, three already have mass determinations from the kinematics of either the stars or a central gas disc, and hence join only a handful of galaxies with Mbh measured by more than one technique. We find good agreement between the different methods, providing support for the assumptions implicit in both the hydrostatic and the dynamical models. The stellar mass-to-light ratios for each galaxy inferred by our technique are in agreement with the predictions of stellar population synthesis models assuming a Kroupa initial mass function (IMF). This concurrence implies that no more than ~10-20% of the ISM pressure is nonthermal...

## Detecting relic gravitational waves in the CMB: Comparison of different methods

Zhao, W.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Português
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.28%
In this paper, we discuss the constraint on the relic gravitational waves by both temperature and polarization anisotropies power spectra of cosmic microwave background radiation. Taking into account the instrumental noises of Planck satellite, we calculate the signal-to-noise ratio $S/N$ by the simulation and the analytic approximation methods. We find that, comparing with the $BB$ channel, the value of $S/N$ is much improved in the case where all the power spectra, $TT$, $TE$, $EE$ and $BB$, are considered. If the noise power spectra of Planck satellite increase for some reasons, the value of $S/N$ in $BB$ channel is much reduced. However, in the latter case where all the power spectra of cosmic microwave background radiation are considered, the value of $S/N$ is less influenced. We also find that the free parameters $A_s$, $n_s$ and $n_t$ have little influence on the value of $S/N$ in both cases.; Comment: 37 pages, 7 figures, published version

## A Model for (Non-Lognormal) Density Distributions in Isothermal Turbulence

Hopkins, Philip F.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Português
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.27%
We propose a new, physically motivated fitting function for density PDFs in turbulent gas. Although it is known that when gas is isothermal, the PDF is approximately lognormal in the core, high-resolution simulations show large deviations from exact log-normality. The proposed function provides an extraordinarily accurate description of the density PDFs in simulations with Mach numbers ~0.1-15 and dispersion in log(rho) from ~0.01-4 dex. Compared to a lognormal or lognormal-skew-kurtosis model, the fits are improved by orders of magnitude in the wings of the distribution (with fewer free parameters). This is true in simulations using distinct numerical methods, including or excluding magnetic fields. Deviations from lognormality are represented by a parameter T that increases with the compressive Mach number. The proposed distribution can be derived from intermittent cascade models of the longitudinal (compressive) velocity differences, which should be directly related to density fluctuations, and we provide a simple interpretation of the density PDF as the product of a continuous-time relaxation process. As such the parameter T is consistent with the same parameter needed to explain the (intermittent) velocity structure functions; its behavior is consistent with turbulence becoming more intermittent as it becomes more dominated by strong shocks. It provides a new and unique probe of the role of intermittency in the density (not just velocity) structure of turbulence. We show that this naturally explains some apparent contradictory results in the literature based on use of different moments of the density PDF...

## Zooming into the broad line region of the gravitationally lensed quasar Q2237+0305 = the Einstein Cross: III. Determination of the size and structure of the CIV and CIII] emitting regions using microlensing

Sluse, D.; Schmidt, R.; Courbin, F.; Hutsemékers, D.; Meylan, G.; Eigenbrod, A.; Anguita, T.; Agol, E.; Wambsganss, J.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Português
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.27%
We aim to use microlensing taking place in the lensed quasar Q2237+0305 to study the structure of the broad line region and measure the size of the region emitting the CIV and CIII] lines. Methods: Based on 39 spectrophotometric monitoring data points obtained between Oct. 2004 and Dec. 2007, we derived lightcurves for the CIV and CIII] emission lines. We used three different techniques to analyse the microlensing signal. Different components of the lines (narrow, broad and very broad) are identified and studied. We built a library of simulated microlensing lightcurves that reproduce the signal observed in the continuum and in the lines provided only the source size is changed. A Bayesian analysis scheme is then developed to derive the size of the various components of the BLR. Results: 1. The half-light radius of the region emitting the CIV line is found to be R_CIV ~ 66^{+110}_{-46} lt-days = 0.06$^{+0.09}_{-0.04}$ pc = 1.7$^{+2.8}_{-1.1}$\,10$^{17}$ cm (at 68.3% CI). Similar values are obtained for CIII]. Relative sizes of the carbon-line and V-band continuum emitting-regions are also derived with median values of R(line)/R(cont) in the range 4 to 29, depending of the FWHM of the line component. 2. The size of the CIV emitting region agrees with the Radius-Luminosity relationship derived from reverberation mapping. Using the virial theorem we derive the mass of the black hole in Q2237+0305 to be M_BH ~ 10^{8.3+/-0.3} M_sun. 3. We find that the CIV and CIII] lines are produced in at least 2 spatially distinct regions...

## Line-profile variations in radial-velocity measurements: Two alternative indicators for planetary searches

Figueira, P.; Santos, N. C.; Pepe, F.; Lovis, C.; Nardetto, N.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.31%
Aims. We introduce two methods to identify false-positive planetary signals in the context of radial-velocity exoplanet searches. The first is the bi-Gaussian cross-correlation function fitting, and the second is the measurement of asymmetry in radial-velocity spectral line information content, Vasy. Methods. We make a systematic analysis of the most used common line profile diagnosis, Bisector Inverse Slope and Velocity Span, along with the two proposed ones. We evaluate all these diagnosis methods following a set of well-defined common criteria and using both simulated and real data. We apply them to simulated cross-correlation functions created with the program SOAP and which are affected by the presence of stellar spots, and to real cross-correlation functions, calculated from HARPS spectra, for stars with a signal originating both in activity and created by a planet. Results. We demonstrate that the bi-Gaussian method allows a more precise characterization of the deformation of line profiles than the standard bisector inverse slope. The calculation of the deformation indicator is simpler and its interpretation more straightforward. More importantly, its amplitude can be up to 30% larger than that of the bisector span, allowing the detection of smaller-amplitude correlations with radial-velocity variations. However...

## New and updated stellar parameters for 90 transit hosts. The effect of the surface gravity

Mortier, A.; Santos, N. C.; Sousa, S. G.; Fernandes, J. M.; Adibekyan, V. Zh.; Mena, E. Delgado; Montalto, M.; Israelian, G.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.29%
Context. Precise stellar parameters are crucial in exoplanet research for correctly determining of the planetary parameters. For stars hosting a transiting planet, determining of the planetary mass and radius depends on the stellar mass and radius, which in turn depend on the atmospheric stellar parameters. Different methods can provide different results, which leads to different planet characteristics.}%Spectroscopic surface gravities have shown to be poorly constrained, but the photometry of the transiting planet can provide an independent measurement of the surface gravity. Aims. In this paper, we use a uniform method to spectroscopically derive stellar atmospheric parameters, chemical abundances, stellar masses, and stellar radii for a sample of 90 transit hosts. Surface gravities are also derived photometrically using the stellar density as derived from the light curve. We study the effect of using these different surface gravities on the determination of the chemical abundances and the stellar mass and radius. Methods. A spectroscopic analysis based on Kurucz models in LTE was performed through the MOOG code to derive the atmospheric parameters and the chemical abundances. The photometric surface gravity was determined through isochrone fitting and the use of the stellar density...

## Gas- and dust evolution in protoplanetary disks

Birnstiel, T.; Dullemond, C. P.; Brauer, F.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.28%
Context. Current models of the size- and radial evolution of dust in protoplanetary disks generally oversimplify either the radial evolution of the disk (by focussing at one single radius or by using steady state disk models) or they assume particle growth to proceed monodispersely or without fragmentation. Further studies of protoplanetary disks - such as observations, disk chemistry and structure calculations or planet population synthesis models - depend on the distribution of dust as a function of grain size and radial position in the disk. Aims. We attempt to improve upon current models to be able to investigate how the initial conditions, the build-up phase, and the evolution of the protoplanetary disk influence growth and transport of dust. Methods. We introduce a new version of the model of Brauer et al. (2008) in which we now include the time-dependent viscous evolution of the gas disk, and in which more advanced input physics and numerical integration methods are implemented. Results. We show that grain properties, the gas pressure gradient, and the amount of turbulence are much more influencing the evolution of dust than the initial conditions or the build-up phase of the protoplanetary disk. We quantify which conditions or environments are favorable for growth beyond the meter size barrier. High gas surface densities or zonal flows may help to overcome the problem of radial drift...

## Galaxy Cluster Mass Reconstruction Project: II. Quantifying scatter and bias using contrasting mock catalogues

Old, L.; Wojtak, R.; Mamon, G. A.; Skibba, R. A.; Pearce, F. R.; Croton, D.; Bamford, S.; Behroozi, P.; de Carvalho, R.; Muñoz-Cuartas, J. C.; Gifford, D.; Gray, M. E.; von der Linden, A.; Merrifield, M. R.; Muldrew, S. I.; Müller, V.; Pearson, R. J.; P
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.33%
This article is the second in a series in which we perform an extensive comparison of various galaxy-based cluster mass estimation techniques that utilise the positions, velocities and colours of galaxies. Our aim is to quantify the scatter, systematic bias and completeness of cluster masses derived from a diverse set of 25 galaxy-based methods using two contrasting mock galaxy catalogues based on a sophisticated halo occupation model and a semi-analytic model. Analysing 968 clusters, we find a wide range in the RMS errors in log M200c delivered by the different methods (0.18 to 1.08 dex, i.e., a factor of ~1.5 to 12), with abundance matching and richness methods providing the best results, irrespective of the input model assumptions. In addition, certain methods produce a significant number of catastrophic cases where the mass is under- or over-estimated by a factor greater than 10. Given the steeply falling high-mass end of the cluster mass function, we recommend that richness or abundance matching-based methods are used in conjunction with these methods as a sanity check for studies selecting high mass clusters. We see a stronger correlation of the recovered to input number of galaxies for both catalogues in comparison with the group/cluster mass...

## LSST's DC Bias Against Planets and Galactic-Plane Science

Gould, Andrew
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.3%
An LSST-like survey of the Galactic plane (deep images every 3-4 days) could probe the Galactic distribution of planets by two distinct methods: gravitational microlensing of planets beyond the snow line and transits by planets very close to their hosts. The survey would identify over 250 disk-lens/disk-source microlensing events per year that peak at r<19, including 10% reaching the high magnification A>100 that makes them especially sensitive to planets. Intensive followup of these events would be required to find planets, similar to what is done presently for Galactic bulge microlensing. The same data would enable a wealth of other science, including detection of isolated black holes, systematic study of brown-dwarf binaries, a pre-explosion lightcurve of the next Galactic supernova, pre-explosion lightcurves of stellar mergers, early nova lightcurves, proper motions of many more stars than can be reached by GAIA, and probably much more. As usual, the most exciting discoveries from probing the huge parameter space encompassed by Galactic-plane stellar populations might well be serendipitous. Unfortunately, the LSST collaboration plans to exclude the first and fourth quadrants of the Galactic plane from their "synoptic" observations because the DC image that resulted from repeated observations would be limited by crowding. I demonstrate that the majority of this science can be recovered by employing well-developed image subtraction analysis methods...

## Astrometric and photometric initial mass functions from the UKIDSS Galactic Clusters Survey: II The Alpha Persei open cluster

Lodieu, N.; Deacon, N. R.; Hambly, N. C.; Boudreault, S.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.28%
We present the results of a deep (J=19.1 mag) infrared (ZYJHK) survey over the full Alpha Persei open cluster extracted from the Data Release 9 of the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey Galactic Clusters Survey. We have selected ~700 cluster member candidates in ~56 square degrees in \APer{} by combining photometry in five near-infrared passbands and proper motions derived from the multiple epochs provided by the UKIDSS GCS DR9. We also provide revised membership for all previously published APer low-mass stars and brown dwarfs recovered in GCS based on the new photometry and astrometry provided by DR9. We find no evidence of $K$-band variability in members of APer with dispersion less than 0.06-0.09 mag. We employed two independent but complementary methods to derive the cluster luminosity and mass functions: a probabilistic analysis and a more standard approach consisting of stricter astrometric and photometric cuts. We find that the resulting luminosity and mass functions obtained from both methods are consistent. We find that the shape of the APer mass function is similar to that of the Pleiades although the characteristic mass may be higher after including higher mass data from earlier studies (the dispersion is comparable). We conclude that the mass functions of APer...

## A Deep, Wide-Field, and Panchromatic View of 47 Tuc and the SMC with HST: Observations and Data Analysis Methods

Kalirai, Jason S.; Richer, Harvey B.; Anderson, Jay; Dotter, Aaron; Fahlman, Gregory G.; Hansen, Brad M. S.; Hurley, Jarrod; King, Ivan R.; Reitzel, David; Rich, R. Michael; Shara, Michael M.; Stetson, Peter B.; Woodley, Kristin A.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.28%
In HST Cycle 17, we imaged the well known globular star cluster 47 Tucanae for 121 orbits using ACS and both the UVIS and IR channels of WFC3 (GO-11677, PI - H. Richer). This unique data set was obtained to address many scientific questions that demand a very deep, panchromatic, and panoramic view of the cluster's stellar populations. In total, the program obtained over 0.75 Ms of imaging exposure time with the three HST cameras, over a time span of 9 months in 2010. The primary ACS field was imaged in the two broadband filters F606W and F814W filters, at 13 orientations, for all 121 orbits. The parallel WFC3 imaging provides a panchromatic (0.4 - 1.7 micron) and contiguous imaging swath over a 250 degree azimuthal range at impact radii of 6.5 -- 17.9 pc in 47 Tuc. This imaging totals over 60 arcmin^2 in area and utilizes the F390W and F606W broadband filters on WFC3/UVIS and the F110W and F160W broadband filters on WFC3/IR. In this paper, we describe the observational design of the new survey and one of the methods used to analyze all of the imaging data. This analysis combines over 700 full-frame images taken with the three HST cameras into a handful of ultra-deep, well-sampled combined images in each of the six filters. The results reveal unprecedented color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the cluster extending to >30th magnitude in the optical...

## Oscillator models of the solar cycle: Towards the development of inversion methods

Lopes, Ilídio; Passos, Dário; Nagy, Melinda; Petrovay, Kristof
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica
Relevância na Pesquisa
55.31%
This article reviews some of the leading results obtained in solar dynamo physics by using temporal oscillator models as a tool to interpret observational data and dynamo model predictions. We discuss how solar observational data such as the sunspot number is used to infer the leading quantities responsible for the solar variability during the last few centuries. Moreover, we discuss the advantages and difficulties of using inversion methods (or backward methods) over forward methods to interpret the solar dynamo data. We argue that this approach could help us to have a better insight about the leading physical processes responsible for solar dynamo, in a similar manner as helioseismology has helped to achieve a better insight on the thermodynamic structure and flow dynamics in the Sun's interior.; Comment: 28 pages; 16 figures, ISSI Workshop 11-15 November 2013 - The Solar Cycle, http://www.issibern.ch/program/workshops.html

## A comparison of spectral element and finite difference methods using statically refined nonconforming grids for the MHD island coalescence instability problem

Ng, C. S.; Rosenberg, D.; Germaschewski, K.; Pouquet, A.; Bhattacharjee, A.
Tipo: Artigo de Revista Científica