Astrophysical Results Research Articles

Supervised machine learning on Galactic filaments. II. Encoding the position to optimize the detection of filaments over a wide range of column density and contrast

Filaments host star formation and are fundamental structures of galaxies. Their diversity, as observed in the interstellar medium, from very low-density structures to very dense hubs, and their complex life cycles make their complete detection challenging over this large diversity range. Using 2D H$_2$ column density images obtained as part of the Herschel Hi-GAL survey of the Galactic plane (Gp), we want to detect, simultaneously and using a single model, filaments over a large range of column density and contrast over the whole Gp. In particular, we target low-contrast and low-density structures that are particularly difficult to detect with classical algorithms. The whole H$_2$ column density image of the Gp was subdivided into individual patches of 32times 32 pixels. Following our proof of concept study aimed at exploring the potential of supervised learning for the detection of filaments, we propose an innovative supervised learning method based on adding information by encoding the position of these patches in the Gp. To allow the segmentation of the whole Gp, we introduced a random procedure that preserves the balance within the model training and testing datasets over the Gp plane. Four architectures and six models were tested and compared using different metrics. For the first time, a segmentation of the whole Gp has been obtained using supervised deep learning. A comparison of the models based on metrics and astrophysical results shows that one of the architectures (PE-UNet-Latent), where the position encoding was done in the latent space gives the best performance to detect filaments over the whole range of density and contrast observed in the Gp. A normalized map of the whole Gp was also produced and reveals the highly filamentary structure of the Gp in all density regimes. We successfully tested the generalization of our best model by applying it to the 2D 12CO COHRS molecular data obtained on a 52 portion (in longitude) of the plane. We demonstrate the interest of position encoding to allow the detection of filaments over the wide range of density and contrast observed in the Gp. The produced maps (both normalized and segmented) offer a unique opportunity for follow-up studies of the life cycle of Galactic filaments. The promising generalization possibility tested on a molecular dataset of the Gp opens new opportunities for systematic detection of filamentary structures in the big data context available for the Gp.

Imprints of dark matter on the structural properties of minimally deformed compact stars

In this manuscript, we investigate the possibility of constructing anisotropic dark matter compact stars motivated by the Einasto density profile. This work develops analytical solutions for an anisotropic fluid sphere within the framework of the well-known Adler–Finch–Skea metric. This toy model incorporates an anisotropic fluid distribution that includes a dark matter component. We use the minimal geometric deformation scheme within the framework of gravitational decoupling to incorporate anisotropy into the pressure profile of the stellar system. In this context, we model the temporal constituent of the Θ-field sector to characterize the contribution of dark matter within the gravitational matter source. We present an alternative approach to studying anisotropic self-gravitating structures. This approach incorporates additional field sources arising from gravitational decoupling, which act as the dark component. We explicitly verify whether the proposed model satisfies all the requirements for describing realistic compact structures in detail. We conclude that the modeling of the Einasto density model with the Adler–Finch–Skea metric gives rise to the formation of well-behaved and viable astrophysical results that can be employed to model the dark matter stellar configurations.

Quantum Astronomy at the University and INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padova, Italy

Twenty years ago, we started to apply quantum optics to the astronomical research carried out inside the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the INAF Astronomical Observatory in Padova, Italy. The initial activities were stimulated by the project of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) to build a 100 m diameter telescope, the Overwhelmingly Large (OWL) telescope. The enormous photon flux expected from such an aperture suggested that quantum optics concepts be utilized in order to obtain novel astrophysical results. Following initial successful attempts to utilize the orbital angular momentum of the light beam to enhance the visibility of faint companions to bright stars, the Padova team concentrated its efforts on very high time resolution, in order to measure and store the arrival time of celestial photons to better than one nanosecond. To obtain observational results, we built two photon counting photometers (AquEye and IquEye) to be used with our telescopes of the Asiago Observatory and with 4 m class telescopes such as the ESO New Technology Telescope (NTT) in Chile. This paper firstly describes these two instruments and then expounds the results obtained on pulsar light curves, lunar occultations and the first photon counting intensity interferometry measurements of the bright star Vega. Indeed, the correlation of photon arrival times on two or more apertures can lead to extremely high angular resolutions, as shown around 1970 by Hanbury Brown and Twiss. Prospects for quantum intensity interferometry with arrays of Cherenkov light telescopes will also be described.

Three-layered super dense star with charged anisotropic fluid

We generate a three-layered super dense charged star with Van der Waals equation of state at the intermediate layer of stellar spheres. Our model comprises of three interior layers: the core, the intermediate, and the envelope described by linear, Van der Waals, and Chaplygin equations of state, respectively. The plots for the physical variables such as energy density, radial and tangential pressures, mass, anisotropy, and metric potentials are well behaved and agree with the astrophysical results. The stability and equilibrium factors are continuous and defined at some values of the parameters. We have also generated new stellar masses and radii which are in acceptable ranges. We have also regained previous masses and radii for the stars like PSRJ1903+0327, PSRJ1614-2230, SAXJ1808.4-3658, EXO1745-248, and EXO1785-248.

The linear and nonlinear inverse Compton scattering between microwaves and electrons in a resonant cavity

The new scheme of the energy measurement of the extremely high energy electron beam with the inverse Compton scattering between electrons and microwave photons requires the precise calculation of the interaction cross section of electrons and microwave photons in a resonant cavity. In the local space of the cavity, the electromagnetic field is expressed by Bessel functions. Although Bessel functions can form a complete set of orthogonal basis, it is difficult to quantify them directly as fundamental wave functions. Fortunately, with the Fourier expansion of Bessel functions, the local electromagnetic field can be considered as the superposition of a series of plane waves. Therefore, with corresponding corrections of the cross section formula of the classical Compton scattering, the cross section of the linear or nonlinear microwave Compton scattering in the local space can be described accurately. As an important application of our results in astrophysics, corresponding ground verification devices can be designed to perform experimental verifications on the prediction of the Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) effect of the cosmic microwave background radiation. Our results could also provide a new way to generate wave sources with strong practical value, such as the terahertz waves, the ultra-violet (EUV) waves, or the mid-infrared beams.

МІЖЗОРЯНЕ СЕРЕДОВИЩЕ ТА ДЕКАМЕТРОВА РАДІОСПЕКТРОСКОПІЯ

Purpose: The analytical review of the main results of research in the new direction of the low-frequency radio astronomy, the interstellar medium radio spectroscopy at decameter waves, which had led to astrophysical discovery, recording of the radio recombination lines in absorption for highly excited states of interstellar carbon atoms (more than 600). Design/methodology/approach: The UTR-2 world-largest broadband radio telescope of decameter waves optimally connected with the digital correlation spectrum analyzers has been used. Continuous modernization of antenna system and devices allowed increasing the analysis band from 100 kHzto 24 MHz and a number of channels from 32 to 8192. The radio telescope and receiving equipment with appropriate software allowed to have a long efficient integration time enough for a large line series simultaneously with high resolution, noise immunity and relative sensitivity. Findings: A new type of interstellar spectral lines has been discovered and studied, the interstellar carbon radio recombination lines in absorption for the record high excited atoms with principal quantum numbers greater than 1000. The line parameters (intensity, shape, width, radial velocity) and their relation ship with the interstellar medium physical parameters have been determined. The temperature of line forming regions is about 100 K, the electron concentration up to 0.1 cm–3 and the size of a line forming region is about 10 pc. For the first time, radio recombination lines were observed in absorption. They have significant broadening and are amplified by the dielectronic-like recombination mechanism and are also the lowest frequency lines in atomic spectroscopy. Conclusions: The detected low-frequency carbon radio recombination lines and their observations have become a new highly effective tool for the cold partially ionized interstellar plasma diagnostics. Using them allows obtaining the information which is not available with the other astrophysical methods. For almost half a century of their research, a large amount of hardware-methodical and astrophysical results have been obtained including a record number of Galaxy objects, where there levant lines have been recorded. The domestic achievements have stimulated many theoretical and experimental studies in other countries, but the scientific achievements of Ukrainian scientists prove the best prospects for further development of this very important area of astronomical science. Key words: low-frequency radio astronomy; radio telescope; interstellar medium; radio recombination lines; carbon; hydrogen; spectral analyzer

Improving the diameters of interferometric calibrators with MATISSE

ABSTRACT A good knowledge of the angular diameters of stars used to calibrate the observables in stellar interferometry is fundamental. As the available precision for giant stars is worse than the required per cent level, we aim to improve the knowledge of many diameters using MATISSE (Multiple AperTure mid-Infrared SpectroScopic Experiment) data in its different instrumental configurations. Using the squared visibility MATISSE observable, we compute the angular diameter value, which ensures the best-fitting curves, assuming an intensity distribution of a uniform disc. We take into account that the transfer function varies over the wavelength and is different from one instrumental configuration to another. The uncertainties on the diameters are estimated using the residual bootstrap method. Using the low spectral resolution mode in the Lband, we observed a set of 35 potential calibrators selected in the Mid-infrared stellar Diameter and Flux Compilation Catalogue with diameters ranging from about 1 to 3 mas. We reach a precision on the diameter estimates in the range 0.6 per cent to 4.1 per cent. The study of the stability of the transfer function in visibility over two nights makes us confident in our results. In addition, we identify one star, 75 Vir initially present in the calibrator lists, for which our method does not converge, and prove to be a binary star. This leads us to the conclusion that our method is actually necessary to improve the quality of the astrophysical results obtained with MATISSE, and that it can be used as a useful tool for ‘bad calibrator’ detection.

Accretion of matter onto black holes in massive gravity with Lorentz symmetry breaking

In this paper we study the accretion of matter onto the black holes and the shadow images obtained by an infalling accretion flow of gas in a theory of massive gravity (MG) with a spontaneously breaking Lorentz symmetry. This black hole solution is characterized by mass $M$, scalar charge $S$ and the parameter $\lambda$. In order to extract the astrophysical results of our analyses, firstly, we have assumed a specific range for the parameter $\lambda$ to constrain the scalar charge $S$ using the EHT result. To this end, we have studied the effect of the scalar charge on the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation from the black hole. Moreover, we investigate the behavior of polytropic as well as the isothermal fluid flow onto massive gravity black hole and notice that accretion starts from supersonic/subsonic flow, passes through the critical point using particular model parameter and ends near the horizon. We also analyzed the mass accretion rate in the presence of various fluids which indicates important signatures. We also elaborate on the possibility to analyze the phase transition and the stability of the black hole using the shadow formalism.

Advanced Virgo: Status of the Detector, Latest Results and Future Prospects

The Virgo detector, based at the EGO (European Gravitational Observatory) and located in Cascina (Pisa), played a significant role in the development of the gravitational-wave astronomy. From its first scientific run in 2007, the Virgo detector has constantly been upgraded over the years; since 2017, with the Advanced Virgo project, the detector reached a high sensitivity that allowed the detection of several classes of sources and to investigate new physics. This work reports the main hardware upgrades of the detector and the main astrophysical results from the latest five years; future prospects for the Virgo detector are also presented.

Recent Progress of the Trojan Horse Method and Its Application

The Trojan Horse Method(THM) is an important indirect method in experimental nuclear astrophysics. The S(E) factor of a two-body reaction in Gammow energy range related to astrophysics can be extracted from an appropriate three-body reaction measurement above the Coulomb barrier, under the quasi-free reaction condition. The method can overcome the difficulties caused by the Coulomb barrier suppression and the electron screening effect in direct measurement. While no extrapolation is needed, the method can also avoid the uncertainty in the extrapolation process. THM has a wide application in the experimental nuclear astrophysical study, low-energy fusion data measurement, neutron-induced reaction, electron screening effect and other important research fields. After a short introduction of the THM, this paper will focus on some of the most important experimental results in nuclear astrophysics measured by THM recently and the prospect of its future applications. The following key reactions will mainly be discussed: the indirect measurement of the key neutron source reaction \begin{document}$ ^{{\rm{13}}}{\rm{C(\alpha ,n}}{{\rm{)}}^{{\rm{16}}}}{\rm{O}}$\end{document} in the s-process of AGB stars, the indirect measurement of the nuclear reaction related to the fluorine abundance anomaly in AGB stars, as well as the recent hot spot, the indirect measurement results of the carbon burning reaction in medium or massive stars.

Conformally symmetric traversable wormholes in [formula omitted] gravity

To find more deliberate f(R,T) astrophysical solutions, we proceed by studying wormhole geometries under the assumption of spherical symmetry and the existence of a conformal Killing symmetry to attain the more acceptable astrophysical results. To do this, we consider a more plausible and simple model f(R,T)=R+2χT, where R is the Ricci scalar and T=−ρ+pr+2pt denotes the trace of the energy–momentum tensor of the matter content. We explore and analyze two cases separately. In the first part, wormhole solutions are constructed for the matter sources with isotropic pressure. However, the obtained solution does not satisfy the required wormhole conditions. In the second part, we introduce an EoS relating to pressure (radial and lateral) and density. We constrain the models with phantom energy EoS i.e. ω=pr∕ρ<−1, consequently violating the null energy condition. Next, we analyze the model via pt=npr. Several physical properties and characteristics of these solutions are investigated which are consistent with previous references about wormholes. We mainly focus on energy conditions (NEC, WEC and SEC) and consequently for supporting the respective wormhole geometries in detail. In both cases it is found that the energy density is positive as seen by any static observer. To support the theoretical results, we also plotted several figures for different parameter values of the model that helps us to confirm the predictions. Finally, the volume integral quantifier, which provides useful information about the total amount of exotic matter required to maintain a traversable wormhole is discussed briefly.

Two Flavors of Hydrogen Atoms: A Possible Explanation of Dark Matter

In one of our previous papers, it was shown that for the ground state of hydrogenic atoms/ions, it is possible to match the interior (inside the nucleus) solution of the Dirac equation with the singular exterior solution of the Dirac equation, so that the singular solution should not be rejected for the ground state of hydrogenic atoms/ions. In that paper, there was presented also the first experimental proof of the existence of this Alternative Kind of Hydrogen Atoms (AKHA)—by showing that the presence of the AKHA solves a long-standing mystery of the huge discrepancy between the experimental and previous theoretical results concerning the high-energy tail of the linear momentum distribution in the ground state of hydrogen atoms. In another paper, we showed that for hydrogen atoms, the singular solution of the Dirac equation outside the proton is legitimate not just for the ground state 12S1/2, but also for the states 22S1/2, 32S1/2 and so on: it is legitimate for all the discrete states n2S1/2. Moreover, the singular exterior solution is legitimate also for the l = 0 states of the continuous spectrum. In that paper, we demonstrated that the AKHA can be the basis for explaining the recent puzzling astrophysical observational results concerning the redshifted radio line 21 cm from the early Universe. Thus, there seems to be the astrophysical evidence of the existence of the AKHA—in addition to the already available observational proof of their existence from atomic experiments. In the present paper, we point out that the AKHA provide an alternative view on dark matter—without resorting to new subatomic particles or dramatically changing the existing physical laws. This is because due to the selection rules, the AKHA do not have state that can be coupled by the electric dipole radiation. We also reformulate the above theoretical results in terms that hydrogen atoms can have two flavors: one flavor corresponding to the regular solution outside the proton, another—to the singular solution outside the proton, both solutions corresponding to the same energy. Since this means the additional degeneracy, then according to the fundamental theorem of quantum mechanics, there should be an additional conserved quantity, which we call isohydrogen spin (isohyspin). Further atomic experiments for accurately measuring the high-energy tail of the linear momentum distribution in the ground state of hydrogen atoms, as well as further observational studies of the redshifted 21 cm radio line from the early Universe, could provide a further proof that dark matter or a part of it is the AKHA.

Alternative kind of hydrogen atoms as a possible explanation for the latest puzzling observation of the 21 cm radio line from the early Universe

There is a puzzling astrophysical result concerning the latest observation of the absorption profile of the redshifted radio line 21 cm from the early Universe (as described in Bowman et al.). The amplitude of the profile was more than a factor of two greater than the largest predictions. This could mean that the primordial hydrogen gas was much cooler than expected. Some explanations in the literature suggested a possible cooling of baryons either by unspecified dark matter particles or by some exotic dark matter particles with a charge a million times smaller than the electron charge. Other explanations required an additional radio background. In the present paper, we entertain a possible different explanation for the above puzzling observational result: the explanation is based on the alternative kind of hydrogen atoms (AKHA), whose existence was previously demonstrated theoretically, as well as by the analysis of atomic experiments. Namely, the AKHA are expected to decouple from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) much earlier (in the course of the Universe expansion) than usual hydrogen atoms, so that the AKHA temperature is significantly lower than that of usual hydrogen atoms. This seems to lower the excitation (spin) temperature of the hyperfine doublet (responsible for the 21 cm line) sufficiently enough for explaining the above puzzling observational result. This possible explanation appears to be more specific and natural than the previous possible explanations. Further observational studies of the redshifted 21 cm radio line from the early Universe could help to verify which explanation is the most relevant.

Charged spherically symmetric Taub–NUT black hole solutions in $f(R)$ gravity

Abstract $f(R)$ theory is a modification of Einstein’s general relativity which has provided many interesting results in cosmology and astrophysics. To derive a black hole solution in this theory is difficult due to the fact that it contains fourth-order differential equations. In this study, we use the first reliable deviation from general relativity which is given by the quadratic form of $f(R)=R+\beta R^2$, where $\beta$ is a dimensional parameter. We calculate the energy conditions of charged black holes and show that they are all satisfied for the Taub–NUT spacetime. Finally, we study some thermodynamic quantities such as entropy, temperature, specific heat, and Gibbs free energy. The calculations of heat capacity and free energy show that the charged Taub–NUT black hole has positive values, which means that it has thermal stability.

Few-body reactions investigated with the Trojan Horse Method

The Trojan Horse Method is an indirect method to measure reaction cross sections at energies of interest for nuclear astrophysics, exploiting the nuclei clustering properties. Here it is presented with its general features and detailed for the case of the ^22H(d,p)^33H and ^22H(d,n)^33He measurements, where interesting results for astrophysics and energy fusion power plants have been obtained.

Energy Conservation in the Thin Layer Approximation: III. The Spherical Relativistic Case for Supernovae

The theory of the conservation of energy in the thin layer approximation has been extended to special relativity. Four models for the density of the circumstellar medium are analyzed, which are represented by constant, power law, exponential and Emden (n = 5) profile for density. The astrophysical results are presented in a numerical way, except for a Taylor expansion of the four trajectories in the surrounding of the origin. The free parameters of the models are particularized for SN1993j, for which the radius versus time is known. Some evaluations on the time dilation are presented.

Aspects of Approximation in Modeling of the Asymmetric Nuclear Matter

Quality of approximations is an important issue in modelling nuclear matter. It is shown that the Pad{\' e} approximation provides a useful tool for describing the symmetry energy in highly asymmetric systems. The focus is on the symmetry energy constraints. Some implications of the obtained results for astrophysics are also discussed.

The First Astrophysical Result of Hisaki: A Search for the EUV He Lines in a Massive Cool Core Cluster at z = 0.7

Abstract Molecular cold gas and star formation have been observed at centers of cool core clusters, albeit at a level much smaller than expected from the classic cooling model. Feedback from the supermassive black hole is likely to have prevented hot gas from cooling. However, the exact cooling and heating processes are poorly understood. The missing key piece is the link between the hot gas (107 K) and cold gas (103 K). Using the extreme ultraviolet spectrometer on board Hisaki, we explore a distant galaxy cluster, RCS2 J232727.6-020437, one of the most massive cool core clusters with a cooling rate of 400 M ⊙ yr−1. We aim to detect gas at intermediate temperatures (3×104 K) emitting He i α and He i β at rest wavelengths of 58.4 nm and 53.7 nm, respectively. Our target resides at z = 0.6986, for which these He i lines shift away from the absorption of the Galaxy. Our findings show that the amount of 104–5 K gas at the center of this cluster is smaller than expected if cooling there was uninhibited, which demonstrates that feedback both operates and is efficient for massive clusters at these epochs.

Symmetry energy constraints from GW170817 and laboratory experiments

The LIGO-Virgo collaboration detection of the binary neutron-star merger event, GW170817, has expanded efforts to understand the Equation of State (EoS) of nuclear matter. These measurements provide new constraints on the overall pressure, but do not elucidate its origins, by not distinguishing the contribution to the pressure from symmetry energy which governs much of the internal structure of a neutron star. By combining the neutron star EoS extracted from the GW170817 event and the EoS of symmetric matter from nucleus-nucleus collision experiments, we extract the symmetry pressure, which is the difference in pressure between neutron and nuclear matter over the density region from 1.2ρ0 to 4.5ρ0. While the uncertainties in the symmetry pressure are large, they can be reduced with new experimental and astrophysical results.

Black hole space-time in dark matter halo

For the first time, we obtain the analytical form of a stationary black hole space-time metric in dark matter halos. First, using the relation between the rotational velocity (in the equatorial plane) and the spherically symmetric space-time metric coefficients, we obtain the space-time metric for pure dark matter. By considering the dark matter halo in spherically symmetric space-time as part of the energy-momentum tensors in the Einstein field equation, we then obtain the spherically symmetric black hole solutions with a dark matter halo. Finally, utilizing the Newman-Janis method, we further generalize to rotational black holes. As examples, we obtain the space-time metric of black holes surrounded by Cold Dark Matter and Scalar Field Dark Matter halos, respectively. Our main results regarding the interaction between black holes and dark matter halos are as follows: (i) for both dark matter models, the density profile always produces a “cusp” phenomenon at small scales; (ii) the dark matter halo increases the black hole horizon but shrinks the ergosphere, while the magnitude is small; (iii) dark matter does not change the singularity of black holes. These results are useful to study the interaction of a stationary black hole and dark matter halo system. Particularly, the “cusp” produced at the 0 ∼ 1 kpc scale would be observable in the Milky Way. Perspectives on future work regarding the applications of our results in astrophysics are also briefly discussed.