Cosmic neutrinos from the sources of galactic and extragalactic cosmic rays

Although kilometer-scale neutrino detectors such as IceCube are discovery instruments, their conceptual design is very much anchored to the observational fact that Nature produces protons and photons with energies in excess of 10²⁰ eV and 10¹³ eV, respectively. The puzzle of where and how Nature accelerates the highest energy cosmic particles is unresolved almost a century after their discovery. From energetics considerations we anticipate on the order of 10–100 neutrino events per kilometer squared per year pointing back at the source(s) of both galactic and extragalactic cosmic rays. In this context, we discuss the results of the AMANDA and IceCube neutrino telescopes which will deliver a kilometer-square-year of data over the next 3 years.     

The continuum and line spectra of SGR 1806-20 bursts

The defining property of Soft Gamma Repeaters is the emission of short, bright bursts of X-rays and soft γ-rays. Here we present the continuum and line spectral properties of a large sample of bursts from SGR 1806-20, observed with the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) onboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). Using 10 trail spectral models (5 single and 5 two component models), we find that the burst continua are best fitted by the single component models: cutoff power-law, optically thin bremsstrahlung, and simple power-law. Time resolved spectroscopy show that there are two absorption lines at ∼5 keV and 20 keV in some bursts. The lines are relatively narrow with 90% upper limit on the line widths of 0.5–1.5 keV for the 5 keV feature and 1–3 keV for the 20 keV feature. Both lines have considerable equivalent width of 330–850 eV for the 5 keV feature and 780–2590 eV for the 20 keV feature. We examined whether theses spectral lines are dependent upon the choice of a particular continuum model and find no such dependence. Besides, we find that the 5 keV feature is pronounced with high confidence in the cumulative joint spectrum of the entire burst sample, both in the individual detectors of the PCA and in the co-added detectors spectrum. We confront the features against possible instrumental effects and find that none can account for the observed line properties. The two features do not seem to be connected to the same physical mechanism because (1) they do not always occur simultaneously, (2) while the 5 keV feature occurs at about the same energy, the 20 keV line centroid varies significantly from burst to burst over the range 18–22 keV, and (3) the centroid of the lines shows anti-correlated red/blue shifts. The transient appearance of the features in the individual bursts and in portions of the same burst, together with the spectral evolution seen in some bursts point to a complex emission mechanism that requires further investigation.      

X-ray spectral analysis of optically faint sources in the Chandra deep fields

We present the results of a detailed spectral analysis of optically faint hard X-ray sources in the Chandra deep fields selected on the basis of their high X-ray to optical flux ratio (X/O). The stacked spectra of high X/O sources in both Chandra deep fields, fitted with a single power-law model, are much harder than the spectrum of the X-ray background (XRB). The average slope is also insensitive to the 2–8 keV flux, being approximately constant around Γ≃ 1 over more than two decades, strongly indicating that high X/O sources represent the most obscured component of the XRB. For about half of the sample, a redshift estimate (in most of the cases a photometric redshift) is available from the literature. Individual fits of a few of the brightest objects and of stacked spectra in different redshift bins imply column densities in the range  10²²–10^23.5 cm⁻²  . A trend of increasing absorption towards higher redshifts is suggested.     

The anticorrelation between the hard X-ray photon index and the Eddington ratio in low-luminosity active galactic nuclei

We find a significant anticorrelation between the hard X-ray photon index Γ and the Eddington ratio   L _bol/ L _Edd  for a sample of low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions and local Seyfert galaxies, compiled from literature with Chandra or XMM–Newton observations. This result is in contrast with the positive correlation found in luminous active galactic nuclei (AGN), while it is similar to that of X-ray binaries (XRBs) in the low/hard state. Our result is qualitatively consistent with the spectra produced from advection-dominated accretion flows (ADAFs). It implies that the X-ray emission of low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGN) may originate from the Comptonization process in ADAF, and the accretion process in LLAGN may be similar to that of XRBs in the low/hard state, which is different from that in luminous AGN.     

A hard X-ray survey of the Galactic-Center region with the IBIS telescope of the INTEGRAL observatory: A catalog of sources

From August 23 through September 24, 2003, the INTEGRAL Observatory conducted a deep survey of the Galactic-Center region with a record-breaking sensitivity at energies above 20 keV. We have analyzed the images of the Galactic-Center region obtained with the ISGRI detector of the IBIS telescope (15–200 keV) and give a catalog of detected sources. We detected a total of 60 sources with fluxes above 1.5 mCrab, 44 and 3 of which were previously identified as binary systems of different classes in our Galaxy and as extragalactic objects, respectively. We discovered one new source.     

X-ray measurements of black hole X-ray binary source GRS 1915+105 and the evolution of hard X-ray spectrum

We report the spectral measurement of GRS 1915+105 in the hard X-ray energy band of 20–140keV. The observations were made on March 30th, 1997 during a quiescent phase of the source. We discuss the mechanism of emission of hard X-ray photons and the evolution of the spectrum by comparing the data with earlier measurements and an axiomatic model for the X-ray source.     

Atmospheric effects in astroparticle physics experiments and the challenge of ever greater precision in measurements

Astroparticle physics and cosmology allow us to scan the universe through multiple messengers. It is the combination of these probes that improves our understanding of the universe, both in its composition and its dynamics. Unlike other areas in science, research in astroparticle physics has a real originality in detection techniques, in infrastructure locations, and in the observed physical phenomenon that is not created directly by humans. It is these features that make the minimisation of statistical and systematic errors a perpetual challenge. In all these projects, the environment is turned into a detector medium or a target. The atmosphere is probably the environment component the most common in astroparticle physics and requires a continuous monitoring of its properties to minimise as much as possible the systematic uncertainties associated. This paper introduces the different atmospheric effects to take into account in astroparticle physics measurements and provides a non-exhaustive list of techniques and instruments to monitor the different elements composing the atmosphere. A discussion on the close link between astroparticle physics and Earth sciences ends this paper.     

X-ray irradiation in XTE J1817−330 and the inner radius of the truncated disc in the hard state

The key aspect of the very successful truncated disc model for the low/hard X-ray spectral state in black hole binaries is that the geometrically thin disc recedes from the last stable orbit at the transition to this state. This has recently been challenged by direct observations of the low/hard state disc from CCD data. We reanalyse the Swift and RXTE campaign covering the 2006 outburst of XTE J1817−330, and show that these data actually strongly support the truncated disc model as the transition spectra unambiguously show that the disc begins to recede as the source leaves the disc-dominated soft state. The disc radius inferred for the proper low/hard state is less clear-cut, but we show that the effect of irradiation from the energetically dominant hot plasma leads to an underestimate of the disc radius by a factor of 2–3 in this state. This may also produce the soft excess reported in some hard-state spectra. The inferred radius becomes still larger when the potential difference in stress at the inner boundary, increased colour temperature correction from incomplete thermalization of the irradiation, and loss of observable disc photons from Comptonization in the hot plasma is taken into account. We conclude that the inner disc radius in XTE J1817−330 in the low/hard spectral state is at least six to eight times that seen in the disc-dominated high/soft state, and that recession of the inner disc is the trigger for the soft-hard-state transition, as predicted by the truncated disc models.     

Fe xxv and Fe xxvi lines from low-velocity, photoionized gas in the X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei

We have calculated the equivalent widths of the absorption lines produced by Fe  xxv and Fe  xxvi in a Compton-thin, low-velocity photoionized material illuminated by the nuclear continuum in active galactic nuclei. The results, plotted against the ionization parameter and the column density of the gas, are a complement to those presented by Bianchi & Matt for the emission lines from the same ionic species. As an extension to the work by Bianchi & Matt, we also present a qualitative discussion on the different contributions to the He-like iron emission line complex in the regimes where recombination or resonant scattering dominates, providing a useful diagnostic tool to measure the column density of the gas. Future high-resolution missions (e.g. Astro-E2 ) will allow us to fully take advantage of these plasma diagnostics. In the meantime, we compare our results with an up-to-date list of Compton-thick and unobscured (at least at the iron line energy) Seyfert galaxies with emission and/or absorption lines from H- and He-like iron observed with Chandra and XMM–Newton .     

A low density of the extragalactic background light revealed by the H.E.S.S. spectra of the BL Lac objects 1ES 1101-232 and H 2356-309

The study of the TeV emission from extragalactic sources is hindered by the uncertainties on the diffuse Extragalactic Background Light (EBL). The recent H.E.S.S. results on the blazars 1ES 1101-232 and H 2356-309 represent a breakthrough on this issue. Their unexpectedly hard spectra allow an upper limit to be derived on the EBL in the optical/near-infrared range, which is very close to the lower limit given by the resolved galaxy counts. This result seems to exclude a large contribution to the EBL from other sources (e.g. Population III stars) and indicates that the intergalactic space is more transparent to γ-rays than previously thought. A discussion of EBL absorption effects and further observational tests with Cherenkov telescopes are presented. For the H.E.S.S. collaboration.     

A radio survey of supersoft, persistent and transient X-ray sources in the Magellanic Clouds

We present a radio survey of X-ray sources in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds with the Australia Telescope Compact Array at 6.3 and 3.5 cm. Specifically, we have observed the fields of five LMC and two SMC supersoft X-ray sources, the X-ray binaries LMC X-1, X-2, X-3 and X-4, the X-ray transient Nova SMC 1992, and the soft gamma-ray repeater SGR 0525-66. None of the targets are detected as point sources at their catalogued positions. In particular, the proposed supersoft jet source RXJ 0513-69 is not detected, placing constraints on its radio luminosity compared to Galactic jet sources. Limits on emission from the black hole candidate systems LMC X-1 and X-3 are consistent with the radio behaviour of persistent Galactic black hole X-ray binaries, and a previous possible radio detection of LMC X-1 is found to be almost certainly a result of nearby field sources. The SNR N49 in the field of SGR 0525-66 is mapped at higher resolution than it has been previously, but there is still no evidence for any enhanced emission or disruption of the SNR at the location of the X-ray source.     

X-ray source populations in the region of the open clusters NGC 6633 and IC 4756

Using deep exposures (∼10⁵ s) with the ROSAT High Resolution Imager, we have performed flux-limited surveys for X-ray sources in the vicinity of the Hyades-age open stellar clusters NGC 6633 and IC 4756, detecting 31 and 13 sources, respectively. Our primary aim is to search for so-far unrecognized cluster members. We propose identifications or classifications (cluster member, field star, extragalactic field object) for the X-ray sources, based on published membership lists, and on X-ray:optical flux ratios and optical colour–magnitude diagrams. Results of simulating the expected X-ray-emitting source populations are compared with the ROSAT measurements and with the expected capabilities of the XMM mission. The simulations provide a novel method of comparing the activity levels of NGC 6633 and IC 4756 with that of the Hyades. The measurements and simulations confirm that cluster members are the major class of X-ray emitter in these fields at flux levels     (0.1–2.4 keV), contributing ∼40 per cent of the total X-ray sources. We find six possible new members in NGC 6633 and four candidates in IC 4756; all require further observation to establish membership probability.     

星系团PKS 0745-191中射电气体与X射线气体的相互作用

利用星系团PKS 0745—191中心区域的Chandra数据,研究了在中心星系的西边且沿着射电结构而分布的一团明亮X射线气体的性质,发现这团气体是低温而高密的;另由射电观测计算发现射电气体在中心星系的西边压强梯度要大于东边,这说明那团 X射线冷气体与射电气体之间存在相互作用．该冷气体可能是由射电浮力泡从中心星系带出;或者是外围冷气体受到了射电气体的支撑及扰动而形成．进一步,假设气体处在压强重力平衡状态,计算了中心区域的X射线气体的体积占有率为b=0．69±0．28,并且讨论了射电气体所包含的相对论性粒子的性质以及射电气体膨胀对冷流的影响．