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At least 793 records · Page 44
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2013

Multi-wavelength observations of PKS 2142–75 during active and quiescent gamma-ray states

PKS 2142–75 (a.k.a. 2FGL J2147.4–7534) is a flat-spectrum radio quasar that was observed quasi-simultaneously by a suite of instruments across the electromagnetic spectrum during two flaring states in 2010 April and 2011 August as well as a quiescent state from 2011 December through 2012 January. The results of these campaigns and model spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from the active and quiescent states are presented. The SED model parameters of PKS 2142–75 indicate that the two flares of the source are created by unique physical conditions. SED studies of flat-spectrum radio quasars are beginning to indicate that there might be two types of flares, those that can be described purely by changes in the electron distribution and those that require changes in other parameters, such as the magnetic field strength or the size of the emitting region.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Multiband Observations of the Quasar PKS 2326–502 during Active and Quiescent Gamma-Ray States in 2010–2012

Quasi-simultaneous observations of the Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar PKS 2326−502 were carried out in the γ -ray, X-ray, UV, optical, near-infrared, and radio bands. Using these observations, we are able to characterize the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the source during two flaring and one quiescent γ -ray states. These data were used to constrain one-zone leptonic models of the SEDs of each flare and investigate the physical conditions giving rise to them. While modeling one flare required only changes in the electron spectrum compared to the quiescent state, modeling the other flare required changes in both the electron spectrum and the size of the emitting region. These results are consistent with an emerging pattern of two broad classes of flaring states seen in blazars. Type 1 flares are explained by changes solely in the electron distribution, whereas type 2 flares require a change in an additional parameter. This suggests that different flares, even in the same source, may result from different physical conditions or different regions in the jet.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Radiation-Induced Electrical Conductivity of Nanocomposite Materials

The radiation-induced conductivity of a nanocomposite with the inclusion of spherical nanoparticles as a function of intensity and time of action of gamma-radiation and the concentration and size of inclusions has been studied using the Rose–Fowler–Weisberg model. The energy spectrum of localized states associated with the nanoparticle inclusion has been determined. The numerical experiments have been made for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanocomposites with inclusion of CdS and α-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles as well as SrO nanoparticles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Toward a better understanding of the GRB phenomenon: A new model for GRB PROMPT emission and its effects on the new L{sub i}{sup NT}– E{sub peak,i}{sup rest,NT} relation

Gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission spectra in the keV–MeV energy range are usually considered to be adequately fitted with the empirical Band function. Recent observations with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) revealed deviations from the Band function, sometimes in the form of an additional blackbody (BB) component, while on other occasions in the form of an additional power law (PL) component extending to high energies. In this article we investigate the possibility that the three components may be present simultaneously in the prompt emission spectra of two very bright GRBs (080916C and 090926A) observed with Fermi, and how the three components may affect the overall shape of the spectra. While the two GRBs are very different when fitted to a single Band function, they look like “twins” in the three-component scenario. Through fine-time spectroscopy down to the 100 ms timescale, we follow the evolution of the various components. We succeed in reducing the number of free parameters in the three-component model, which results in a new semi-empirical model—but with physical motivations—to be competitive with the Band function in terms of number of degrees of freedom. From this analysis using multiple components, the Band function is globally the most intense component, although the additional PL can overpower the others in sharp time structures. The Band function and the BB component are the most intense at early times and globally fade across the burst duration. The additional PL is the most intense component at late time and may be correlated with the extended high-energy emission observed thousands of seconds after the burst with Fermi/Large Area Telescope. Unexpectedly, this analysis also shows that the additional PL may be present from the very beginning of the burst, where it may even overpower the other components at low energy. We investigate the effect of the three components on the new time-resolved luminosity–hardness relation in both the observer and rest frames and show that a strong correlation exists between the flux of the non-thermal Band function and its E{sub peak} only when the three components are fitted simultaneously to the data (i.e., F{sub i}{sup NT}–E{sub peak,i}{sup NT} relation). In addition, this result points toward a universal relation between those two quantities when transposed to the central engine rest frame for all GRBs (i.e., L{sub i}{sup NT}–E{sub peak,i}{sup rest,NT} relation). We discuss a possible theoretical interpretation of the three spectral components within this new empirical model. We suggest that (i) the BB component may be interpreted as the photosphere emission of a magnetized relativistic outflow, (ii) the Band component has synchrotron radiation in an optically thin region above the photosphere, either from internal shocks or magnetic field dissipation, and (iii) the extra PL component extending to high energies likely has an inverse Compton origin of some sort, even though its extension to a much lower energy remains a mystery.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

VERY HIGH ENERGY γ-RAYS FROM THE UNIVERSE’S MIDDLE AGE: DETECTION OF THE z = 0.940 BLAZAR PKS 1441+25 WITH MAGIC

The flat-spectrum radio quasar PKS 1441+25 at a redshift of z = 0.940 is detected between 40 and 250 GeV with a significance of 25.5σ using the MAGIC telescopes. Together with the gravitationally lensed blazar QSO B0218+357 (z = 0.944), PKS 1441+25 is the most distant very high energy (VHE) blazar detected to date. The observations were triggered by an outburst in 2015 April seen at GeV energies with the Large Area Telescope on board Fermi. Multi-wavelength observations suggest a subdivision of the high state into two distinct flux states. In the band covered by MAGIC, the variability timescale is estimated to be 6.4 ± 1.9 days. Modeling the broadband spectral energy distribution with an external Compton model, the location of the emitting region is understood as originating in the jet outside the broad-line region (BLR) during the period of high activity, while being partially within the BLR during the period of low (typical) activity. The observed VHE spectrum during the highest activity is used to probe the extragalactic background light at an unprecedented distance scale for ground-based gamma-ray astronomy.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1984

Magnetic flare model of gamma-ray bursts

The thermal synchrotron (TS) interpretation of gamma-ray burst continuum spectra requires an emission region which is hot, optically thin, and possessed of a super-Eddington flux of 10 to the 30 ergs/sq cm per sec for a 10-km neutron star. In order to maintain a pair population close to the Maxwellian, the collision excitation rate into higher Landau levels must exceed the cyclotron decay rates. Even if collective processes whose rates are close to the electron plasma frequency, or scattering by heavy ions, are invoked, a particle density of 10 to the 25th/cu cm is still needed. Both hypotheses point in the direction of a dense but thin emitting sheet, to whose structure attention is presently given together with the generation, propagation and coupling of the electromagnetic energy fluxes. A flare-like model can account for most of gamma ray bursts' general features.

Liang, E. P.↗
NASA NTRS2011

High Energy Astrophysics Tests of Lorentz Invariance and Quantum Gravity Models

High-energy astrophysics observations provide the best possibilities to detect a very small violation of Lorentz invariance such as may be related to the structure of space-time near the Planck scale of approximately 10-35 m. I will discuss here the possible signatures of Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) from observations of the spectra, polarization, and timing of gamma-rays from active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts. Other sensitive tests are provided by observations ofthe spectra of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and neutrinos. Using the latest data from the Pierre Auger Observatory one can already derive an upper limit of 4.5 x 10(exp -23) to the amount of LIV at a proton Lorentz factor of -2 x 10(exp 11). This result has fundamental implications for quantum gravity models. I will also discuss the possibilities of using more sensitive space based detection techniques to improve searches for LIV in the future.

Stecker, Floyd W.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Low-mass neutralino dark matter in supergravity scenarios: phenomenology and naturalness

The latest experimental results from the LHC and dark matter (DM) searches suggest that the parameter space allowed in supersymmetric theories is subject to strong reductions. These bounds are especially constraining for scenarios entailing light DM particles. Previous studies have shown that light neutralino DM in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), with parameters defined at the electroweak scale, is still viable when the low energy spectrum of the model features light sleptons, in which case, the relic density constraint can be fulfilled. In view of this, we have investigated the viability of light neutralinos as DM candidates in the MSSM, with parameters defined at the grand unification scale. We have analysed the optimal choices of non-universalities in the soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters for both, gauginos and scalars, in order to avoid the stringent experimental constraints. We show that light neutralinos, with a mass as low as 25 GeV, are viable in supergravity scenarios if the gaugino mass parameters at high energy are very non universal, while the scalar masses can remain of the same order. These scenarios typically predict a very small cross section of neutralinos off protons and neutrons, thereby being very challenging for direct detection experiments. However, a potential detection of smuons and selectrons at the LHC, together with a hypothetical discovery of a gamma-ray signal from neutralino annihilations in dwarf spheroidal galaxies could shed light on this kind of solutions. Finally, we have investigated the naturalness of these scenarios, taking into account all the potential sources of tuning. Besides the electroweak fine-tuning, we have found that the tuning to reproduce the correct DM relic abundance and that to match the measured Higgs mass can also be important when estimating the total degree of naturalness.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1996

Hard Gamma Ray Emission from the Starburst Galaxy NGC 253

We have completed the study to search for hard gamma ray emission from the starburst galaxy NGC 253. Since supernovae are thought to provide the hard gamma ray emission from the Milky Way, starburst galaxies, with their extraordinarily high supernova rates, are prime targets to search for hard gamma ray emission. We conducted a careful search for hard gamma ray emission from NGC 253 using the archival data from the EGRET experiment aboard the CGRO. Because this starburst galaxy happens to lie near the South Galactic Pole, the Galactic gamma ray background is minimal. We found no significant hard gamma ray signal toward NGC 253, although a marginal signal of about 1.5 sigma was found. Because of the low Galactic background, we obtained a very sensitive upper limit to the emission of greater than 100 MeV gamma-rays of 8 x 10(exp -8) photons/sq cm s. Since we expected to detect hard gamma ray emission, we investigated the theory of gamma ray production in a dense molecular medium. We used a leaky-box model to simulate diffusive transport in a starburst region. Since starburst galaxies have high infrared radiation fields, we included the effects of self-Compton scattering, which are usually ignored. By modelling the expected gamma-ray and synchrotron spectra from NGC 253, we find that roughly 5 - 15% of the energy from supernovae is transferred to cosmic rays in the starburst. This result is consistent with supernova acceleration models, and is somewhat larger than the value derived for the Galaxy (3 - 10%). Our calculations match the EGRET and radio data very well with a supernova rate of 0.08/ yr, a magnetic field B approx. greater than 5 x 10(exp -5) G, a density n approx. less than 100/sq cm, a photon density U(sub ph) approx. 200 eV/sq cm, and an escape time scale tau(sub 0) approx. less than 10 Myr. The models also suggest that NGC 253 should be detectable with only a factor of 2 - 3 improvement in sensitivity. Our results are consistent with the standard picture of gamma-ray acceleration by supernovae.

Jackson, James M.↗
DOE OSTI2015

GAMMA-RAY FLARING ACTIVITY FROM THE GRAVITATIONALLY LENSED BLAZAR PKS 1830–211 OBSERVED BY Fermi LAT

The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope routinely detects the MeV-peaked flat-spectrum radio quasar PKS 1830–211 (z = 2.507). Its apparent isotropic γ-ray luminosity (E > 100 MeV), averaged over ∼3 years of observations and peaking on 2010 October 14/15 at 2.9 × 10{sup 50} erg s{sup –1}, makes it among the brightest high-redshift Fermi blazars. No published model with a single lens can account for all of the observed characteristics of this complex system. Based on radio observations, one expects time-delayed variability to follow about 25 days after a primary flare, with flux about a factor of 1.5 less. Two large γ-ray flares of PKS 1830–211 have been detected by the LAT in the considered period, and no substantial evidence for such a delayed activity was found. This allows us to place a lower limit of about 6 on the γ-ray flux ratio between the two lensed images. Swift XRT observations from a dedicated Target of Opportunity program indicate a hard spectrum with no significant correlation of X-ray flux with the γ-ray variability. The spectral energy distribution can be modeled with inverse Compton scattering of thermal photons from the dusty torus. The implications of the LAT data in terms of variability, the lack of evident delayed flare events, and different radio and γ-ray flux ratios are discussed. Microlensing effects, absorption, size and location of the emitting regions, the complex mass distribution of the system, an energy-dependent inner structure of the source, and flux suppression by the lens galaxy for one image path may be considered as hypotheses for understanding our results.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Statistical measurement of the gamma-ray source-count distribution as a function of energy

Statistical properties of photon count maps have recently been proven as a new tool to study the composition of the gamma-ray sky with high precision. We employ the 1-point probability distribution function of six years of Fermi-LAT data to measure the source-count distribution dN/dS and the diffuse components of the high-latitude gamma-ray sky as a function of energy. To that aim, we analyze the gamma-ray emission in five adjacent energy bands between 1 and 171 GeV. It is demonstrated that the source-count distribution as a function of flux is compatible with a broken power law up to energies of ∼50 GeV. The index below the break is between 1.95 and 2.0. For higher energies, a simple power-law fits the data, with an index of 2.2{sub −0.3}{sup +0.7} in the energy band between 50 and 171 GeV. Upper limits on further possible breaks as well as the angular power of unresolved sources are derived. We find that point-source populations probed by this method can explain 83{sub −13}{sup +7}% (81{sub −19}{sup +52}%) of the extragalactic gamma-ray background between 1.04 and 1.99 GeV (50 and 171 GeV). The method has excellent capabilities for constraining the gamma-ray luminosity function and the spectra of unresolved blazars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

A NOVEL APPROACH IN THE WEAKLY INTERACTING MASSIVE PARTICLE QUEST: CROSS-CORRELATION OF GAMMA-RAY ANISOTROPIES AND COSMIC SHEAR

Both cosmic shear and cosmological gamma-ray emission stem from the presence of dark matter (DM) in the universe: DM structures are responsible for the bending of light in the weak-lensing regime and those same objects can emit gamma rays, either because they host astrophysical sources (active galactic nuclei or star-forming galaxies) or directly by DM annihilations (or decays, depending on the properties of the DM particle). Such gamma rays should therefore exhibit strong correlation with the cosmic shear signal. In this Letter, we compute the cross-correlation angular power spectrum of cosmic shear and gamma rays produced by the annihilation/decay of weakly interacting massive particle DM, as well as by astrophysical sources. We show that this observable provides novel information on the composition of the extragalactic gamma-ray background (EGB), since the amplitude and shape of the cross-correlation signal strongly depend on which class of sources is responsible for the gamma-ray emission. If the DM contribution to the EGB is significant (at least in a definite energy range), although compatible with current observational bounds, its strong correlation with the cosmic shear makes such signal potentially detectable by combining Fermi Large Area Telescope data with forthcoming galaxy surveys, like the Dark Energy Survey and Euclid. At the same time, the same signal would demonstrate that the weak-lensing observables are indeed due to particle DM matter and not to possible modifications of general relativity.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1978

Gamma-ray line emission above 8 MeV

The spectra of energetic nuclei within astrophysical sources may be determined by studying gamma-ray line emissions above 8 MeV. Excited states which can be produced by inelastic scattering, charge exchange, and spallation reactions in the abundant nuclear species were considered in order to identify nuclear lines which may contribute to the gamma spectrum. The cross sections for production of most high-energy states are sparsely measured. Those which were determined are comparable to the cross section for production of the 15.11 MeV level in C-12 with few exceptions. The branching ratios for gamma-ray and particle emission are, however, better known. Of those states considered, 44 measured branching ratios greater than 40% for emission of a gamma-ray with energy above 8 MeV. For twelve more states the branching ratios, although not yet determined, are expected to be small. The gamma-ray emission from other individual nuclear states is not likely to be as great as that that for the 15.11 MeV state in C-12.

Crannell, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Anisotropies in the Diffuse Gamma-Ray Background Measured by the Fermi LAT

The contribution of unresolved sources to the diffuse gamma-ray background could induce anisotropies in this emission on small angular scales. We analyze the angular power spectrum of the diffuse emission measured by the Fermi LAT at Galactic latitudes absolute value of b > 30 deg in four energy bins spanning 1 to 50 GeV. At multipoles l >= 155, corresponding to angular scales approx < 2 deg, angular power above the photon noise level is detected at > 99.99% CL in the 1-2 GeV, 2- 5 GeV, and 5- 10 GeV energy bins, and at > 99% CL at 10-50 GeV. Within each energy bin the measured angular power takes approximately the same value at all multipoles l >= 155, suggesting that it originates from the contribution of one or more unclustered source populations. The amplitude of the angular power normalized to the mean intensity in each energy bin is consistent with a constant value at all energies, C(sub p) / (I)(exp 2) = 9.05 +/- 0.84 x 10(exp -6) sr, while the energy dependence of C(sub p) is consistent with the anisotropy arising from one or more source populations with power-law photon spectra with spectral index Gamma (sub s) = 2.40 +/- 0.07. We discuss the implications of the measured angular power for gamma-ray source populations that may provide a contribution to the diffuse gamma-ray background.

Ferrara, E. C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

SHEEP: The Search for the High Energy Extragalactic Population

We present the SHEEP survey for serendipitously-detected hard X-ray sources in ASCA GIS images. In a survey area of approx. 40 sq deg, 69 sources were detected in the 5-10 keV band to a limiting flux of approx. 10(exp -13) erg/sq cm/s. The number counts agree with those obtained by the similar BeppoSAX HELLAS survey, and both are in close agreement with ASCA and BeppoSAX 2-10 keV surveys. Spectral analysis of the SHEEP sample reveals that the 2-10 and 5-10 keV surveys do not sample the same populations, however, as we find considerably harder spectra, with an average Gamma approx. 1.0 assuming no absorption. The implication is that the agreement in the number counts is coincidental, with the 5-10 keV surveys gaining approximately as many hard sources as they lose soft ones, when compared to the 2-10 keV surveys. This is hard to reconcile with standard AGN "population synthesis" models for the X-ray background, which posit the existence of a large population of absorbed sources. We find no evidence of the population hardening at faint fluxes, with the exception that the few very brightest objects are anomalously soft. 53 of the SHEEP sources have been covered by ROSAT in the pointed phase. Of these 32 were detected. An additional 3 were detected in the RASS. As expected the sources detected with ROSAT are systematically softer than those detected with ASCA alone, and of the sample as a whole. Although they represent a biased subsample, the ROSAT positions allow relatively secure catalog identifications to be made. We find associations with a wide variety of AGN and a few clusters and groups. At least two X-ray sources identified with high-z QSOs present very hard X-ray spectra indicative of absorption, despite the presence of broad optical lines. A possible explanation for this is that we are seeing relatively dust-free "warm absorbers" in high luminosity/redshift objects. Our analysis defines a new, hard X-ray selected sample of objects - mostly active galactic nuclei - which is less prone to bias due to obscuration than previous optical or soft X-ray samples. They are therefore more representative of the population of AGN in the universe in general, and the SHEEP survey should produce bright examples of the sources that make up the hard X-ray background, the majority of which has recently been resolved by Chandra. This should help elucidate the nature of the new populations.

Nandra, K.↗
DOE OSTI2013

GAMMA-RAY BLAZARS NEAR EQUIPARTITION AND THE ORIGIN OF THE GeV SPECTRAL BREAK IN 3C 454.3

Observations performed with the Fermi-LAT telescope have revealed the presence of a spectral break in the GeV spectrum of flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and other low- and intermediate-synchrotron peaked blazars. We propose that this feature can be explained by Compton scattering of broad-line region photons by a non-thermal population of electrons described by a log-parabolic function. We consider in particular a scenario in which the energy densities of particles, magnetic field, and soft photons in the emitting region are close to equipartition. We show that this model can satisfactorily account for the overall spectral energy distribution of the FSRQ 3C 454.3, reproducing the GeV spectral cutoff due to Klein-Nishina effects and a curving electron distribution.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

AWAKENING OF THE HIGH-REDSHIFT BLAZAR CGRaBS J0809+5341

CGRaBS J0809+5341, a high-redshift blazar at z = 2.144, underwent a giant optical outburst on 2014 April 19 when it brightened by ∼5 mag and reached an unfiltered apparent magnitude of 15.7 mag. This implies an absolute magnitude of −30.5 mag, making it one of the brightest quasars in the universe. This optical flaring triggered us to carry out observations during the decaying part of the flare covering a wide energy range using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, Swift, and ground-based optical facilities. For the first time, the source is detected in γ-rays by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. A high optical polarization of ∼10% is also observed. Using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectrum, the accretion disk luminosity and black hole mass are estimated as 1.5 × 10{sup 45} erg s{sup −1} and 10{sup 8.4} M{sub ⊙}, respectively. Using a single zone leptonic emission model, we reproduce the spectral energy distribution of the source during the flaring activity. This analysis suggests that the emission region is probably located outside the broad-line region, and the jet becomes radiatively efficient. We also show that the overall properties of CGRaBS J0809+5341 seem to not be in agreement with the general properties observed in high-redshift blazars up to now.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗