Gravitational Free-fall Research Articles

The cosmological simulation code OpenGadget3 – implementation of meshless finite mass

ABSTRACT Subsonic turbulence plays a major role in determining properties of the intracluster medium (ICM). We introduce a new meshless finite mass (MFM) implementation in OpenGadget3 and apply it to this specific problem. To this end, we present a set of test cases to validate our implementation of the MFM framework in our code. These include but are not limited to: the soundwave and Kepler disc as smooth situations to probe the stability, a Rayleigh–Taylor and Kelvin–Helmholtz instability as popular mixing instabilities, a blob test as more complex example including both mixing and shocks, shock tubes with various Mach numbers, a Sedov blast wave, different tests including self-gravity such as gravitational freefall, a hydrostatic sphere, the Zeldovich-pancake, and a 1015 M⊙ galaxy cluster as cosmological application. Advantages over smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) include increased mixing and a better convergence behaviour. We demonstrate that the MFM-solver is robust, also in a cosmological context. We show evidence that the solver preforms extraordinarily well when applied to decaying subsonic turbulence, a problem very difficult to handle for many methods. MFM captures the expected velocity power spectrum with high accuracy and shows a good convergence behaviour. Using MFM or SPH within OpenGadget3 leads to a comparable decay in turbulent energy due to numerical dissipation. When studying the energy decay for different initial turbulent energy fractions, we find that MFM performs well down to Mach numbers $\mathcal {M}\approx 0.01$. Finally, we show how important the slope limiter and the energy-entropy switch are to control the behaviour and the evolution of the fluids.

Gas Infalling Motions in the Envelopes of Very Low Luminosity Objects

Abstract We present the results of a single-dish survey toward 95 very low luminosity objects (VeLLOs) in optically thick (HCN 1−0) and thin (N2H+ 1−0) lines performed for the purpose of understanding the physical processes of inward motions in the envelopes of the VeLLOs and characterizing their true nature. The normalized velocity differences ( δ V HCN ) between the peak velocities of the two lines were derived for 41 VeLLOs detected in both lines. The δ V distribution of these VeLLOs is found to be significantly skewed to the blue, indicating the dominance of infalling motions in their envelopes. The infall speeds were derived for 15 infall candidates by using the HILL5 radiative transfer model. The speeds were in the range of 0.03−0.3 km s−1, with a median value of 0.16 km s−1, consistent with the gravitational freefall speeds from pressure-free envelopes. The mass infall rates calculated from the infall speeds are mostly of the order of 10−6 M ⊙ yr−1, with a median value of (3.4 ± 1.5) × 10−6 M ⊙ yr−1. These are found to be also consistent with the values predicted with the inside-out collapse model and show a fairly good correlation with the internal luminosities of the VeLLOs. This again indicates that the infall motions observed toward the VeLLOs are likely to be due to the gravitational infall motions in their envelopes. Our study suggests that most of the VeLLOs are potentially faint protostars, while two of the VeLLOs could possibly be proto−brown dwarf candidates.

Dynamic velocity and seismic characteristics of gravitational rockfalls at the Merapi lava dome

Gravitational instability of discrete lava lobes in an active dome-building volcano may generate rockfalls that travel up to hundreds of meters from the summit. Understanding the behaviour of rockfalls is important for volcanic hazard assessment as rockfalls can precede large dome collapses that generate pyroclastic flows. Here, we investigate the mechanisms, trajectory, velocity and seismic characteristic of rockfalls at the Merapi volcano through high-resolution video and seismic-spectrum frequency analysis. High-resolution videos of rockfall events were converted to images for every second and were scaled with a georeferenced 3D point cloud to convert pixels into scaled units on the order of a meter. The scaled images were analysed using pixel tracking to investigate the mechanism, trajectory, and velocity of rockfalls. Results illustrate that the rockfall mechanisms include gravitational free fall, rolling and bouncing, airborne rotation and rolling over high-friction basal surfaces. The dynamic mechanisms of gravitational rockfalls at Merapi are strongly controlled by the topography and the condition of the basal surface, which is responsible for the continuous fluctuations in rockfall velocity. Maximum rockfall velocity occurs when rocks become airborne while rotating over the steepest area with velocity up to ~90 m/s. Material rolling over gently sloping, high-friction basal surfaces can significantly reduce the rockfall velocity to 2 m/s, which then ceases the rock movement. Our high-resolution video documents the relatively short durations of gravitational rockfall events at Merapi in the range of 24–61 s and has different time duration with the short-period seismic signals as the movement of small rock fragments over sandy area is not detected by seismic signal. Spectral analysis of seismic frequencies indicates that gravitational rockfalls at Merapi are characterized by high frequencies, with a range of 4–17 Hz. This study provides new insights and improves our understanding of the dynamic mechanism of rockfall events at dome-building volcanoes.

The role of galactic dynamics in shaping the physical properties of giant molecular clouds in Milky Way-like galaxies

ABSTRACT We examine the role of the large-scale galactic-dynamical environment in setting the properties of giant molecular clouds in Milky Way-like galaxies. We perform three high-resolution simulations of Milky Way-like discs with the moving-mesh hydrodynamics code arepo, yielding a statistical sample of ${\sim}80\, 000$ giant molecular clouds and ${\sim}55\, 000$ H i clouds. We account for the self-gravity of the gas, momentum, and thermal energy injection from supernovae and H ii regions, mass injection from stellar winds, and the non-equilibrium chemistry of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. By varying the external gravitational potential, we probe galactic-dynamical environments spanning an order of magnitude in the orbital angular velocity, gravitational stability, mid-plane pressure, and the gradient of the galactic rotation curve. The simulated molecular clouds are highly overdense (∼100×) and overpressured (∼25×) relative to the ambient interstellar medium. Their gravoturbulent and star-forming properties are decoupled from the dynamics of the galactic mid-plane, so that the kpc-scale star formation rate surface density is related only to the number of molecular clouds per unit area of the galactic mid-plane. Despite this, the clouds display clear, statistically significant correlations of their rotational properties with the rates of galactic shearing and gravitational free-fall. We find that galactic rotation and gravitational instability can influence their elongation, angular momenta, and tangential velocity dispersions. The lower pressures and densities of the H i clouds allow for a greater range of significant dynamical correlations, mirroring the rotational properties of the molecular clouds, while also displaying a coupling of their gravitational and turbulent properties to the galactic-dynamical environment.

On modelling the kinematics and evolutionary properties of pressure-pulse-driven impulsive solar jets

Abstract. In this paper, we describe the kinematical and evolutionary properties of the impulsive cool jets in the solar atmosphere using numerical simulation by Godunov-type PLUTO code at two different quiet-Sun magnetic field strengths (B=56 gauss and B=112 gauss). These types of chromospheric jets originate due to a pressure pulse, which mimics the after-effects of the localized heating in the lower solar atmosphere. These jets may be responsible for the transport of mass and energy in the localized upper atmosphere (i.e. corona). The detection of the height–time profiles for the jets, which were developed by imposing different pressure pulses, exhibit asymmetric near-parabolic behaviour. This infers that the upward motion of the jet occurs under the influence of pressure perturbation. However, its downward motion is not only governed by the gravitational free fall, but also by the complex plasma motions near its base under the effect of counter-propagating pulses. The maximum height and lifetime of the jets with respect to the strength of the pressure pulse show a linear increasing trend. This suggests that if the extent of the heating and, thus, the pressure perturbations are longer, then more longer chromospheric jets can be triggered from the same location in the chromosphere. For a certain amplitude of pressure pulse, the strong magnetic field configuration (B=112 gauss) leads to more longer jets compared with the weaker field (B=56 gauss). This suggests that the strong magnetic field guides the pressure-pulse-driven jets more efficiency towards the higher corona. In conclusion, our model mimics the properties and evolution of the variety of the cool impulsive jets in the chromosphere (e.g. macrospicules, network jets, isolated repeated cool jets, confined and small surges, and so on.).

The Manifestations of Mass

The existence of visible and dark matter, and the continued direct undetectability of dark matter, necessitates a theoretical investigation into the nature of inertial mass that constitutes visible and dark matter. It is proposed that inertial mass is manifested dually: materially, as extrinsic inertial mass and immaterially, as intrinsic inertial mass. Visible matter experiences inertia when accelerated because the applied real force on the material extrinsic manifestation of inertial mass is not cancelled by the equal and opposite inertial pseudo force on the immaterial intrinsic manifestation of inertial mass. It is also proposed that all visible matter experience inertia all the time in cosmological acceleration, because spacetime real force on extrinsic inertial mass is not cancelled by the inertial pseudo force on intrinsic inertial mass. Visible matter in gravitational freefall does not experiencing inertia because inertial pseudo force associated with intrinsic inertial mass is cancelled by the pseudo-like gravitational force associated with gravitational mass. Immaterial intrinsic inertial mass also exists independently as intrinsic inertial mass objects, which are in cosmological freefall and do not experience inertia, because of cancellation between spacetime pseudo-like force and inertial pseudo force on intrinsic inertial mass. Immaterial intrinsic inertial mass objects in cosmological freefall are the dark matter in the universe.

On the physical mechanisms governing the cloud lifecycle in the Central Molecular Zone of the Milky Way

We apply an analytic theory for environmentally-dependent molecular cloud lifetimes to the Central Molecular Zone of the Milky Way. Within this theory, the cloud lifetime in the Galactic centre is obtained by combining the time-scales for gravitational instability, galactic shear, epicyclic perturbations and cloud-cloud collisions. We find that at galactocentric radii $\sim 45$-$120$ pc, corresponding to the location of the '100-pc stream', cloud evolution is primarily dominated by gravitational collapse, with median cloud lifetimes between 1.4 and 3.9 Myr. At all other galactocentric radii, galactic shear dominates the cloud lifecycle, and we predict that molecular clouds are dispersed on time-scales between 3 and 9 Myr, without a significant degree of star formation. Along the outer edge of the 100-pc stream, between radii of 100 and 120 pc, the time-scales for epicyclic perturbations and gravitational free-fall are similar. This similarity of time-scales lends support to the hypothesis that, depending on the orbital geometry and timing of the orbital phase, cloud collapse and star formation in the 100-pc stream may be triggered by a tidal compression at pericentre. Based on the derived time-scales, this should happen in approximately 20 per cent of all accretion events onto the 100-pc stream.

Isotope-selective high-order interferometry with large organic molecules in free fall

Interferometry in the time domain has proven valuable for matter-wave based measurements. This concept has recently been generalized to cold molecular clusters using short-pulse standing light waves which realized photo-depletion gratings, arranged in a time-domain Talbot–Lau interferometer (OTIMA). Here we extend this idea further to large organic molecules and demonstrate a new scheme to scan the emerging molecular interferogram in position space. The capability of analyzing different isotopes of the same monomer under identical conditions opens perspectives for studying the interference fringe shift as a function of time in gravitational free fall. The universality of OTIMA interferometry allows one to handle a large variety of particles. In our present work, quasi-continuous laser evaporation allows transferring fragile organic molecules into the gas phase, covering more than an order of magnitude in mass between 614 amu and 6509 amu, i.e. 300% more massive than in previous OTIMA experiments. For all masses, we find about 30% fringe visibility.

Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster

Abstract We report new ALMA observations of the CO(3-2) line emission from the molecular gas reservoir in the central galaxy of the Phoenix cluster. The cold molecular gas is fueling a vigorous starburst at a rate of and powerful black hole activity in the forms of both intense quasar radiation and radio jets. The radio jets have inflated huge bubbles filled with relativistic plasma into the hot, X-ray atmospheres surrounding the host galaxy. The ALMA observations show that extended filaments of molecular gas, each long with a mass of several billion solar masses, are located along the peripheries of the radio bubbles. The smooth velocity gradients and narrow line widths along each filament reveal massive, ordered molecular gas flows around each bubble, which are inconsistent with gravitational free-fall. The molecular clouds have been lifted directly by the radio bubbles, or formed via thermal instabilities induced in low-entropy gas lifted in the updraft of the bubbles. These new data provide compelling evidence for close coupling between the radio bubbles and the cold gas, which is essential to explain the self-regulation of feedback. The very feedback mechanism that heats hot atmospheres and suppresses star formation may also paradoxically stimulate production of the cold gas required to sustain feedback in massive galaxies.

ALMA observations of cold molecular gas filaments trailing rising radio bubbles in PKS 0745−191

We present ALMA observations of the CO(1-0) and CO(3-2) line emission tracing filaments of cold molecular gas in the central galaxy of the cluster PKS0745-191. The total molecular gas mass of 4.6 +/- 0.3 x 10^9 solar masses, assuming a Galactic X_{CO} factor, is divided roughly equally between three filaments each extending radially 3-5 kpc from the galaxy centre. The emission peak is located in the SE filament roughly 1 arcsec (2 kpc) from the nucleus. The velocities of the molecular clouds in the filaments are low, lying within +/-100 km/s of the galaxy's systemic velocity. Their FWHMs are less than 150 km/s, which is significantly below the stellar velocity dispersion. Although the molecular mass of each filament is comparable to a rich spiral galaxy, such low velocities show that the filaments are transient and the clouds would disperse on <10^7 yr timescales unless supported, likely by the indirect effect of magnetic fields. The velocity structure is inconsistent with a merger origin or gravitational free-fall of cooling gas in this massive central galaxy. If the molecular clouds originated in gas cooling even a few kpc from their current locations their velocities would exceed those observed. Instead, the projection of the N and SE filaments underneath X-ray cavities suggests they formed in the updraft behind bubbles buoyantly rising through the cluster atmosphere. Direct uplift of the dense gas by the radio bubbles appears to require an implausibly high coupling efficiency. The filaments are coincident with low temperature X-ray gas, bright optical line emission and dust lanes indicating that the molecular gas could have formed from lifted warmer gas that cooled in situ.

Radiative-condensation instability in gravitating strongly coupled dusty plasma with polarization force

The radiative-condensation instability (RCI) in self-gravitating strongly coupled dusty plasma (SCDP) is investigated considering the effects of dust thermal velocity and polarization force on the massive dust particulates. In particular, the outer core of the dense neutron star which is supposed to be strongly coupled in nature with temperature T∼107 K and number density n∼1.3×1030 cm−3 is analyzed. The modified generalized hydrodynamic (GH) equations and electron temperature perturbation equation with radiative effects are solved using the linear perturbation method. In the classical hydrodynamic limit, the modified condition of Jeans instability owing to radiative condensation, polarization force and dust thermal velocity is obtained. In the kinetic limit, velocity of compressional mode also modifies the condition of Jeans instability. The dust thermal velocity and viscoelastic effects have stabilizing whereas polarization force and radiative cooling have destabilizing influence on the growth rate of the Jeans instability. The radiative effects stabilize the growth rate of unstable radiative modes. In isobaric mode (short wavelength), the basic condition of radiative instability is obtained which is unaffected due to the presence of polarization force and viscoelastic effects. The radiative cooling time in the outer core of neutron star is estimated and compared with the gravitational free fall time, and it is found that the cooling takes place too fast for self-gravity to be important.

HαAND EUV OBSERVATIONS OF A PARTIAL CME

We have obtained H$\alpha$ high spatial and time resolution observations of the upper solar chromosphere and supplemented these with multi-wavelength observations from the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) and the {\it Hinode} ExtremeUltraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS). The H$\alpha$ observations were conducted on 11 February 2012 with the Hydrogen-Alpha Rapid Dynamics Camera (HARDcam) instrument at the National Solar Observatory's Dunn Solar Telescope. Our H$\alpha$ observations found large downflows of chromospheric material returning from coronal heights following a failed prominence eruption. We have detected several large condensations ("blobs") returning to the solar surface at velocities of $\approx$200 km s$^{-1}$ in both H$\alpha$ and several SDO AIA band passes. The average derived size of these "blobs" in H$\alpha$ is 500 by 3000 km$^2$ in the directions perpendicular and parallel to the direction of travel, respectively. A comparison of our "blob" widths to those found from coronal rain, indicate there are additional smaller, unresolved "blobs" in agreement with previous studies and recent numerical simulations. Our observed velocities and decelerations of the "blobs" in both H$\alpha$ and SDO bands are less than those expected for gravitational free-fall and imply additional magnetic or gas pressure impeding the flow. We derived a kinetic energy $\approx$2 orders of magnitude lower for the main eruption than a typical CME, which may explain its partial nature.

Formation and evolution of coronal rain observed by SDO/AIA on February 22, 2012

The formation and dynamics of coronal rain are currently not fully understood. Coronal rain is the fall of cool and dense blobs formed by thermal instability in the solar corona towards the solar surface with acceleration smaller than gravitational free fall. We aim to study the observational evidence of the formation of coronal rain and to trace the detailed dynamics of individual blobs. We used time series of the 171 \AA\, and 304 \AA\, spectral lines obtained by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) above active region AR 11420 on February 22, 2012. Observations show that a coronal loop disappeared in the 171 \AA\ channel and appeared in the 304 \AA\ line$\text{}\text{}$ more than one hour later, which indicates a rapid cooling of the coronal loop from 1 MK to 0.05 MK. An energy estimation shows that the radiation is higher than the heat input, which indicates so-called catastrophic cooling. The cooling was accompanied by the formation of coronal rain in the form of falling cold plasma. We studied two different sequences of falling blobs. The first sequence includes three different blobs. The mean velocities of the blobs were estimated to be 50 km s$^{-1}$, 60 km s$^{-1}$ and 40 km s$^{-1}$. A polynomial fit shows the different values of the acceleration for different blobs, which are lower than free-fall in the solar corona. The first and second blob move along the same path, but with and without acceleration, respectively. We performed simple numerical simulations for two consecutive blobs, which show that the second blob moves in a medium that is modified by the passage of the first blob. Therefore, the second blob has a relatively high speed and no acceleration, as is shown by observations. The second sequence includes two different blobs with mean velocities of 100 km s$^{-1}$ and 90 km s$^{-1}$, respectively.

The LISA Pathfinder Mission

LISA Pathfinder (LPF), the second of the European Space Agency's Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology (SMART), is a dedicated technology validation mission for future spaceborne gravitational wave detectors, such as the proposed eLISA mission. LISA Pathfinder, and its scientific payload - the LISA Technology Package - will test, in flight, the critical technologies required for low frequency gravitational wave detection: it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. This is achieved through technology comprising inertial sensors, high precision laser metrology, drag-free control and an ultra-precise micro-Newton propulsion system. LISA Pathfinder is due to be launched in mid-2015, with first results on the performance of the system being available 6 months thereafter.The paper introduces the LISA Pathfinder mission, followed by an explanation of the physical principles of measurement concept and associated hardware. We then provide a detailed discussion of the LISA Technology Package, including both the inertial sensor and interferometric readout. As we approach the launch of the LISA Pathfinder, the focus of the development is shifting towards the science operations and data analysis - this is described in the final section of the paper

Stability of Filaments in Star-Forming Clouds and the Formation of Prestellar Cores in Them

AbstractThe exact process(es) that generate(s) dense filaments which then form prestellar cores within them is unclear. Here we study the formation of a dense filament using a relatively simple set-up of a pressure-confined, uniform-density cylinder. We examine if its propensity to form a dense filament and further, to the formation of prestellar cores along this filament, bears on the gravitational state of the initial volume of gas. We report a radial collapse leading to the formation of a dense filamentary cloud is likely when the initial volume of gas is at least critically stable (characterised by the approximate equality between the mass line-density for this volume and its maximum value). Though self-gravitating, this volume of gas, however, is not seen to be in free-fall. This post-collapse filament then fragments along its length due to the growth of a Jeans-like instability to form prestellar cores. We suggest dense filaments in typical star-forming clouds classified as gravitationally super-critical under the assumption of: (i) isothermality when in fact, they are not, and (ii) extended radial profiles as against pressure-truncated, that significantly over-estimates their mass line-density, are unlikely to experience gravitational free-fall. The radial density and temperature profile derived for this post-collapse filament is consistent with that deduced for typical filamentary clouds mapped in recent surveys of nearby star-forming regions.

Doppler-corrected Balmer spectroscopy of Rydberg positronium

The production of long-lived Rydberg positronium (Ps) and correction for Doppler shifts in the excitation laser frequencies are crucial elements of proposed measurements of the gravitational freefall of antimatter and for precision measurements of the optical spectrum of Ps. Using a two-step optical transition via $2P$ levels, we have prepared Ps atoms in Rydberg states up to the term limit. The spectra are corrected for the first-order Doppler shift using measured velocities, and the Balmer transitions are resolved for $15\ensuremath{\le}n\ensuremath{\le}31$. The excitation signal amplitude begins to decrease for $ng50$, consistent with the onset of motional electric field ionization in the 3.5-mT magnetic field at the Ps formation target.

Measuring the gravitational free-fall of antihydrogen

Antihydrogen holds the promise to test, for the first time, the universality of free-fall with a system composed entirely of antiparticles. The AEgIS experiment at CERN’s antiproton decelerator aims to measure the gravitational interaction between matter and antimatter by measuring the deflection of a beam of antihydrogen in the Earths gravitational field (\(\overline {\textrm {g}}\)). The principle of the experiment is as follows: cold antihydrogen atoms are synthesized in a Penning-Malberg trap and are Stark accelerated towards a moire deflectometer, the classical counterpart of an atom interferometer, and annihilate on a position sensitive detector. Crucial to the success of the experiment is the spatial precision of the position sensitive detector. We propose a novel free-fall detector based on a hybrid of two technologies: emulsion detectors, which have an intrinsic spatial resolution of 50 nm but no temporal information, and a silicon strip / scintillating fiber tracker to provide timing and positional information. In 2012 we tested emulsion films in vacuum with antiprotons from CERN’s antiproton decelerator. The annihilation vertices could be observed directly on the emulsion surface using the microscope facility available at the University of Bern. The annihilation vertices were successfully reconstructed with a resolution of 1–2 μmon the impact parameter. If such a precision can be realized in the final detector, Monte Carlo simulations suggest of order 500 antihydrogen annihilations will be sufficient to determine \(\overline {\textrm {g}}\)with a 1 % accuracy. This paper presents current research towards the development of this technology for use in the AEgIS apparatus and prospects for the realization of the final detector.

Atom control and gravity measurements using Rydberg positronium

We consider some of the obstacles that will have to be overcome in order to perform a direct measurement of the gravitational free-fall of positronium atoms. Foremost among these are the production of positronium atoms in a cryogenic environment, efficient excitation of these atoms to suitably long-lived Rydberg states, and their subsequent control via the interaction of their large electric dipole moments with inhomogeneous electric fields. Recent developments in all of these areas can be directly applied to a positronium free-fall gravity measurement, making such an endeavour both timely and feasible.

Prospects for measuring the gravitational free-fall of antihydrogen with emulsion detectors

The main goal of the AEgIS experiment at CERN is to test the weak equivalence principle for antimatter. AEgIS will measure the free-fall of an antihydrogen beam traversing a moir'e deflectometer. The goal is to determine the gravitational acceleration ḡ with an initial relative accuracy of 1% by using an emulsion detector combined with a silicon μ-strip detector to measure the time of flight. Nuclear emulsions can measure the annihilation vertex of antihydrogen atoms with a precision of ∼ 1–2 μm r.m.s. We present here results for emulsion detectors operated in vacuum using low energy antiprotons from the CERN antiproton decelerator. We compare with Monte Carlo simulations, and discuss the impact on the AEgIS project.

THE LISA PATHFINDER MISSION

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder (formerly known as SMART-2) is a European Space Agency mission designed to pave the way for the joint ESA/NASA LISA mission by testing in flight the critical technologies required for space borne gravitational wave detection; it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. This is achieved through technology comprising inertial sensors, high precision laser metrology, drag-free control and an ultra precise micro-Newton propulsion system. LISA Pathfinder (LPF) essentially mimics one arm of space-borne gravitational wave detectors by shrinking the million kilometer scale armlengths down to a few tens of centimeters, giving up the sensitivity to gravitational waves, but keeping the measurement technology. The scientific objective of the LPF mission consists then of the first in-flight test of low frequency gravitational wave detection metrology.