Numerical Simulations of the ICM Radiative MHD using the MACH Family of Codes
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intercluster medium↗
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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Astrophysics & cosmology from line intensity mapping vs galaxy surveys
Line intensity mapping (LIM) proposes to efficiently observe distant faint galaxies and map the matter density field at high redshift. Building upon the formalism in a companion paper, we first highlight the degeneracies between cosmology and astrophysics in LIM. We discuss what can be constrained from measurements of the mean intensity and redshift-space power spectra. With a sufficient spectral resolution, the large-scale redshift-space distortions of the 2-halo term can be measured, helping to break the degeneracy between bias and mean intensity. With a higher spectral resolution, measuring the small-scale redshift-space distortions disentangles the 1-halo and shot noise terms. Additionally, cross-correlations with external galaxy catalogs or lensing surveys further break degeneracies. We derive requirements for experiments similar to SPHEREx, HETDEX, CDIM, COMAP and CONCERTO. We then revisit the question of the optimality of the LIM observables, compared to galaxy detection, for astrophysics and cosmology. We use a matched filter to compute the luminosity detection threshold for individual sources. We show that LIM contains information about galaxies too faint to detect, in the high-noise or high-confusion regimes. We quantify the sparsity and clustering bias of the detected sources and compare them to LIM, showing in which cases LIM is a better tracer of the matter density. We extend previous work by answering these questions as a function of Fourier scale, including for the first time the effect of cosmic variance, pixel-to-pixel correlations, luminosity-dependent clustering bias and redshift-space distortions.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Galaxy Mergers from the Largest to the Smallest Scales: Introduction and Overview
Galaxy mergers encompass a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, including cosmological considerations, gas and stellar dynamics, AGN evolution, and mergers of the central SMBHs. Astrophysical signatures of galaxy mergers can be observed across most of the electromagnetic spectrum and through gravitational radiation. This talk provides an introduction and overview of the meeting, highlighting the key aspects of galaxy mergers from large to small scales.
Centrella, Joan↗
Doppler Boosted Dust Emission and Cosmic Infrared Background–Galaxy Cross-Correlations: A New Probe of Cosmology and Astrophysics
We identify a new cosmological signal, the Doppler-boosted Cosmic Infrared Background (DB-CIB), arising from the peculiar motion of the galaxies whose thermal dust emission source the cosmic infrared background (CIB). This new observable is an independent probe of the cosmic velocity field, highly analogous to the well-known kinematic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (KSZ) effect. Interestingly, DB-CIB does not suffer from the "KSZ optical depth degeneracy", making it immune from the complex astrophysics of galaxy formation. We forecast that the DB CIB effect is detectable in the cross-correlation of CCAT-Prime and DESI-like experiments. Here,we show that it also acts as a new CMB foreground which can bias future KSZ cross-correlations, if not properly accounted for.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Imaging Polarization of the Blue-excess Hot Dust-obscured Galaxy WISE J011601.41–050504.0
We report on VLT/FORS2 imaging polarimetry observations in the R Special band of WISE J011601.41–050504.0 (W0116–0505), a heavily obscured hyperluminous quasar at z = 3.173 classified as a Hot Dust-obscured Galaxy (Hot DOG) based on its mid-IR colors. Recently, Assef et al. identified W0116–0505 as having excess rest-frame optical/UV emission and concluded that this excess emission is most likely scattered light from the heavily obscured AGN. We find that the broadband rest-frame UV flux is strongly linearly polarized (10.8% ± 1.9%, with a polarization angle of 74° ± 9°), confirming this conclusion. We analyze these observations in the context of a simple model based on scattering either by free electrons or by optically thin dust, assuming a classical dust torus with polar openings. Both can replicate the degree of polarization and the luminosity of the scattered component for a range of geometries and column densities, but we argue that optically thin dust in the ISM is the more likely scenario. We also explore the possibility that the scattering medium corresponds to an outflow recently identified for W0116–0505. This is a feasible option if the outflow component is biconical with most of the scattering occurring at the base of the receding outflow. In this scenario, the quasar would still be obscured even if viewed face-on but might appear as a reddened type 1 quasar once the outflow has expanded. We discuss a possible connection between blue-excess Hot DOGs, extremely red quasars, reddened type 1 quasars, and unreddened quasars that depends on a combination of evolution and viewing geometry.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
A long-term space astrophysics research program: An x-ray perspective of the components and structure of galaxies
X-ray studies of galaxies by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and MIT are described. Activities at SAO include ROSAT PSPC x-ray data reduction and analysis pipeline; x-ray sources in nearby Sc galaxies; optical, x-ray, and radio study of ongoing galactic merger; a radio, far infrared, optical, and x-ray study of the Sc galaxy NGC247; and a multiparametric analysis of the Einstein sample of early-type galaxies. Activities at MIT included continued analysis of observations with ROSAT and ASCA, and continued development of new approaches to spectral analysis with ASCA and AXAF. Also, a new method for characterizing structure in galactic clusters was developed and applied to ROSAT images of a large sample of clusters. An appendix contains preprints generated by the research.
Fabbiano, G.↗
Precision Astrometry with SIM PlanetQuest: Science and Mission Update
This viewgraph presentation gives a science and mission update of precision Astrometry with the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) PlanetQuest. The topics include: 1) SIM PlanetQuest - the World s First Long- Baseline Optical Interferometer in Space; 2) National Academy of Sciences / NRC endorses SIM PlanetQuest; 3) Astrometry with an Interferometer; 4) Overall Configuration (deployed); 5) SIM Planet Finding Capabilities; 6) Planet detection with SIM - minimum masses; 7) Searching for Terrestrial Planets with SIM; 8) Planets around Young Stars; 9) SIM PlanetQuest Science Team; 10) SIM Astrophysics; 11) SIM's Reach Extends Across our Entire Galaxy to do Precision Astrophysics; 12) Dynamics of Galaxy Groups within 5 Mpc; 13) Galactic tidal tails; 14) Dark Halo of our Galaxy; 15) Probing Active Galactic Nuclei with Astrometry; 16) Sample tile for relative astrometry; 17) Astrometric signatures of AGN; 18) Snapshot Observing Mode: Astrometry for the masses; and 19) SIM Technology Development is Complete.
space interferometry mission (SIM)↗
The Binary–Host Connection: Astrophysics of Gravitational-Wave Binaries from Host Galaxy Properties
Gravitational waves from the merger of binary neutron stars (BNSs) are accompanied by electromagnetic counterparts, making it possible to identify the associated host galaxy. In this work, we explore how properties of the hosts relate to the astrophysical processes leading to the mergers. It is thought that the BNS merger rate within a galaxy at a given epoch depends primarily on the galaxy's star formation history, as well as the underlying merger time-delay distribution of the binary systems. The stellar history of a galaxy, meanwhile, depends on the cosmological evolution of the galaxy through time, and is tied to the growth of structure in the universe. We study the hosts of BNS mergers in the context of structure formation by populating the UniverseMachine simulations with gravitational wave (GW) events, based on a simple time-delay model. We find that different time-delay distributions predict different properties of the associated host galaxies, including the distributions of stellar mass, star formation rate, halo mass, and local and large-scale clustering of hosts. Moreover, BNSs merging today with short delay times occur preferentially in hosts with high star formation rates, while those with long delay times live in dense regions within massive halos that have low star formation. Here, we show that with ${ \mathcal O }(10)$ events from current GW detector networks, it is possible to make preliminary distinctions between formation channels which trace stellar mass, halo mass, or star formation rate. We also find that strategies to follow-up GW events with electromagnetic telescopes can be significantly optimized using the clustering properties of their hosts.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Dependence of Narrow-line Region Sizes on [O III ] Luminosity in Low-redshift Active Galactic Nuclei with Double-peaked Broad Balmer Emission Lines
In this paper, simple but interesting results are reported on the upper limits of narrow-line region (NLR) sizes of a small sample of 38 low-redshift (z < 0.1) active galactic nuclei (AGN) with double-peaked broad emission lines (double-peaked BLAGN), in order to check whether the NLR sizes in type-1 AGN (broad line) and type-2 AGN (narrow line) obey a similar empirical dependence on [O III ] luminosity. In order to correct the inclination effects on projected NLR sizes of type-1 AGN, the accretion disk origin is commonly applied to describe the double-peaked broad Hα line, leading to the determined inclination angles of central disk-like broad-line regions of 38 double-peaked BLAGN. Then, considering the fixed Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) fiber radius, the upper limits of the NLR sizes of the 38 double-peaked BLAGN can be estimated. Meanwhile, a strong linear correlation between continuum luminosity and [O III ] luminosity is applied to confirm that the [O III ] emissions of the 38 double-peaked BLAGN are totally covered in the SDSS fibers. Considering the reddening-corrected measured [O III ] luminosity, the upper limits of the NLR sizes of the 38 double-peaked BLAGN are within a 99.9999% confidence interval of the expected results from the empirical relation between NLR size and [O III ] luminosity in type-2 AGN. In the current understanding, there are no challenges to the unified model of AGN through the space properties of NLRs.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
On the relation of host properties and environment of AGN galaxies across the standard optical diagnostic diagram
ABSTRACT We study the host properties and environment of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) galaxies, taken from SDSS-DR12, across the [O iii]/H β versus [N ii]/H α diagnostic diagram. We select AGN subsamples defined as parallel and perpendicular to the star-forming locus on the BPT diagram based on the Kauffmann et al. and Schawinski et al. criteria. For parallel subsamples we find that AGN host properties exhibit a morphological evolution as they become more distant to the star-forming sequence. The local density environment shows a more evident morphology–density relationship for subsamples mainly formed by Composite and Spiral galaxies than those containing LINERs and Seyferts, where the AGN emission is the dominant source. We also analyse the properties of the five closest AGN neighbours observing no significant differences in the environment, although the AGN host properties of every subsample have noticeable variations. The AGNs belonging to perpendicular subsamples show clear differences on their host properties from left top to right bottom on the diagram. However, the analysis of the local density environment do not reflect strong dependency with the host AGN properties. This result is reinforced by the characteristics of the AGN neighbouring galaxies. These findings suggest that mixed AGN/star-forming galaxies present environmental features more similar to that of non-active galaxies. However, as AGNs at the centre of the more evolved galaxies become the dominant source, the environment tends to provide suitable conditions for the central black hole feeding with an increasing content of gas and likelihood of a higher merger rate.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Continuous Filament Network of the Local Universe
Simulated galaxy distributions are suitable for developing filament detection algorithms. However, samples of observed galaxies, being of limited size, cause difficulties that lead to a discontinuous distribution of filaments. We created a new galaxy filament catalog composed of a continuous cosmic web with no lone filaments. The core of our approach is a ridge filter used within the framework of image analysis. We considered galaxies from the HyperLeda database with redshifts 0.02 ≤ z ≤ 0.1, and in the solid angle 120° ≤ R.A. ≤ 240°, 0° ≤ decl. ≤ 60°. We divided the sample into 16 two-dimensional celestial projections with redshift bin Δ z = 0.005, and compared our continuous filament network with a similar recent catalog covering the same region of the sky. We tested our catalog on two application scenarios. First, we compared the distributions of the distances to the nearest filament of various astrophysical sources (Seyfert galaxies and other active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, low-surface-brightness galaxies, and dwarf galaxies), and found that all source types trace the filaments well, with no systematic differences. Next, among the HyperLeda galaxies, we investigated the dependence of the g - r color distribution on the distance to the nearest filament, and confirmed that early-type galaxies are located on average further from the filaments than late-type ones.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Dependency of optical/UV parameters on X-ray spectral index in AGNs
The study of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) is vital in order to understand their respective nuclei bounded activity primarily triggered by the accretion disk and the associated corona. The hard X-ray emission characterised by the spectral index Γ emitted by these sources in 2-10 keV band ionizes the nearby physical features like disk, BLR, NLR and provides a radiative configuration. However, based on previous studies, there is degeneracy in the evolution of Γ across the redshift, wherein few studies display a systematic trend in the evolution and others rule out the systematic variation. Here, in the present work, we study the evolution of Γ across the redshift for a very large sample and perform further studies on the variation of Γ with optical parameters using SDSS data viz. H β & Mg II and their luminosities. Based on analysis we find that there is no change in Γ across the redshift and it does not show any correlation with the optical parameters. This strongly suggests that the Γ is influenced by the soft excess and/or reflection component and is affecting the disk and BLR region at the same strength across the redshift.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
The Rapid X-Ray and UV Evolution of ASASSN-14ko
Abstract ASASSN-14ko is a recently discovered periodically flaring transient at the center of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) ESO 253−G003 with a slowly decreasing period. Here, we show that the flares originate from the northern, brighter nucleus in this dual-AGN, post-merger system. The light curves for the two flares that occurred in 2020 May and September are nearly identical over all wavelengths. For both events, Swift observations showed that the UV and optical wavelengths brightened in unison. The effective temperature of the UV/optical emission rises and falls with the increase and subsequent decline in the luminosity. The X-ray flux, by contrast, first rapidly drops over ∼2.6 days, rises for ∼5.8 days, drops again over ∼4.3 days, and then recovers. The X-ray spectral evolution of the two flares differ, however. During the 2020 May peak the spectrum softened with increases in the X-ray luminosity, while we observed the reverse for the 2020 September peak. We found a small change in the period derivative, which seems to indicate that the system does not have a static period derivative and there is some stochasticity in its evolution.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
VERITAS and Multiwavelength Observations of the Blazar B3 2247+381 in Response to an IceCube Neutrino Alert
While the sources of the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory are still largely unknown, one of the promising methods to improve our understanding of them is investigating the potential temporal and spatial correlations between neutrino alerts and the electromagnetic radiation from blazars. We report on the multiwavelength target-of-opportunity observations of the blazar B3 2247+381, taken in response to an IceCube multiplet alert for a cluster of muon neutrino events compatible with the source location between 2022 May 20 and 2022 November 10. B3 2247+381 was not detected with VERITAS during this time period. The source was found to be in a low-flux state in the optical, ultraviolet, and gamma-ray bands for the time interval corresponding to the neutrino event, but was detected in the hard X-ray band with NuSTAR during this period. We find the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution is described well using a simple one-zone leptonic synchrotron self-Compton radiation model. Moreover, assuming the neutrinos originate from hadronic processes within the jet, the neutrino flux would be accompanied by a photon flux from the cascade emission, and the integrated photon flux required in such a case would significantly exceed the total multiwavelength fluxes and the VERITAS upper limits presented here. The lack of flaring activity observed with VERITAS, combined with the low multiwavelength flux levels, as well as the significance of the neutrino excess being at a 3σ level (uncorrected for trials), makes B3 2247+381 an unlikely source of the IceCube multiplet. We conclude that the neutrino excess is likely a background fluctuation.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Debiasing with Diffusion: Probabilistic Reconstruction of Dark Matter Fields from Galaxies with CAMELS
Abstract Galaxies are biased tracers of the underlying cosmic web, which is dominated by dark matter (DM) components that cannot be directly observed. Galaxy formation simulations can be used to study the relationship between DM density fields and galaxy distributions. However, this relationship can be sensitive to assumptions in cosmology and astrophysical processes embedded in galaxy formation models, which remain uncertain in many aspects. In this work, we develop a diffusion generative model to reconstruct DM fields from galaxies. The diffusion model is trained on the CAMELS simulation suite that contains thousands of state-of-the-art galaxy formation simulations with varying cosmological parameters and subgrid astrophysics. We demonstrate that the diffusion model can predict the unbiased posterior distribution of the underlying DM fields from the given stellar density fields while being able to marginalize over uncertainties in cosmological and astrophysical models. Interestingly, the model generalizes to simulation volumes ≈500 times larger than those it was trained on and across different galaxy formation models. The code for reproducing these results can be found athttps://github.com/victoriaono/variational-diffusion-cdm✎.
Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
Tracing Magnetic Field in Super-Alfvénic Turbulence with Gradient Technique
Super-Alfvénic turbulence is important for many astrophysical objects, particularly galaxy clusters. In this paper, we explore the accuracy of synchrotron intensity gradients and X-ray intensity gradients to map magnetic fields in super-Alfvénic turbulence for a set of astrophysically relevant parameters of turbulent driving. Analyzing our synthetic observations, we report a good accuracy for both techniques. Our results are suggestive that other types of gradient technique can be successfully employed to trace magnetic fields within super-Alfvénic subsonic turbulence.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Predictions for the Detectability of Milky Way Satellite Galaxies and Outer-Halo Star Clusters with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory
We predict the sensitivity of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) to faint, resolved Milky Way satellite galaxies and outer-halo star clusters. We characterize the expected sensitivity using simulated LSST data from the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC) Data Challenge 2 (DC2) accessed and analyzed with the Rubin Science Platform as part of the Rubin Early Science Program. We simulate resolved stellar populations of Milky Way satellite galaxies and outer-halo star clusters over a wide range of sizes, luminosities, and heliocentric distances, which are broadly consistent with expectations for the Milky Way satellite system. We inject simulated stars into the DC2 catalog with realistic photometric uncertainties and star/galaxy separation derived from the DC2 data itself. We assess the probability that each simulated system would be detected by LSST using a conventional isochrone matched-filter technique. We find that assuming perfect star/galaxy separation enables the detection of resolved stellar systems with $M_V$ = 0 mag and $r_{1/2}$ = 10 pc with >50% efficiency out to a heliocentric distance of ~250 kpc. Similar detection efficiency is possible with a simple star/galaxy separation criterion based on measured quantities, although the false positive rate is higher due to leakage of background galaxies into the stellar sample. When assuming perfect star/galaxy classification and a model for the galaxy-halo connection fit to current data, we predict that 89 +/- 20 Milky Way satellite galaxies will be detectable with a simple matched-filter algorithm applied to the LSST wide-fast-deep data set. Different assumptions about the performance of star/galaxy classification efficiency can decrease this estimate by ~7%-25%, which emphasizes the importance of high-quality star/galaxy separation for studies of the Milky Way satellite population with LSST.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Redshifts for a sample of fainter galaxies in the first CfA survey slice
Redshifts were measured for 93 of the 94 galaxies in the Zwicky-Nilson merged catalog with the value of m(B/01) between 15.5 and 15.7 and with right ascension alpha between 8(h) and 17(h) and declination delta between 29 and 30 deg. This region is within the one covered by the first slice of the CfA (Center for Astrophysics) survey. The galaxies reinforce features already visible in the earlier survey.
Thorstensen, J. R.↗