Observing molecular clouds in halo dark clusters through absorption lines

In addition to Massive Astrophysical Compact Halo Objects (MACHOs), as detected by microlensing, cold molecular clouds (mainly ofH ₂) may well contribute substantially to the galactic halo dark matter. Here, we argue that the existence of such halo clouds can be inferred from the observation of absorption lines (due to heavy molecules located in the clouds themselves) towards stars of the Large Magellanic Cloud, which lie very close, within 1, to a previously microlensed one.The possibility of clusters of MACHOs has been investigated by several authors (see e.g. Carr and Lacey, 1987; Ashman, 1990; Eichler and Silk, 1992 and Wasserman and Salpeter, 1994).     

Shadows as a tool to evaluate black hole parameters and a dimension of spacetime

Shadow formation around supermassive black holes were simulated. Due to enormous progress in observational facilities and techniques of data analysis researchers approach to opportunity to measure shapes and sizes of the shadows at least for the closest supermassive black hole at the Galactic Center. Measurements of the shadow sizes around the black holes can help to evaluate parameters of black hole metric. Theories with extra dimensions (Randall–Sundrum II braneworld approach, for instance) admit astrophysical objects (supermassive black holes, in particular) which are rather different from standard ones. Different tests were proposed to discover signatures of extra dimensions in supermassive black holes since the gravitational field may be different from the standard one in the general relativity (GR) approach. In particular, gravitational lensing features are different for alternative gravity theories with extra dimensions and general relativity. Therefore, there is an opportunity to find signatures of extra dimensions in supermassive black holes. We show how measurements of the shadow sizes can put constraints on parameters of black hole in spacetime with extra dimensions.     

Pixel lensing as a way to detect extrasolar planets in M31

We study the possibility to detect extrasolar planets in M31 through pixel-lensing observations. Using a Monte Carlo approach, we select the physical parameters of the binary lens system, a star hosting a planet, and we calculate the pixel-lensing light curve taking into account the finite source effects. Indeed, their inclusion is crucial since the sources in M31 microlensing events are mainly giant stars. Light curves with detectable planetary features are selected by looking for significant deviations from the corresponding Paczyński shapes. We find that the time-scale of planetary deviations in light curves increase (up to 3–4 d) as the source size increases. This means that only few exposures per day, depending also on the required accuracy, may be sufficient to reveal in the light curve a planetary companion. Although the mean planet mass for the selected events is about     , even small mass planets  ( M _P < 20 M_⊕)  can cause significant deviations, at least in the observations with large telescopes. However, even in the former case, the probability to find detectable planetary features in pixel-lensing light curves is at most a few per cent of the detectable events, and therefore many events have to be collected in order to detect an extrasolar planet in M31. Our analysis also supports the claim that the anomaly found in the candidate event PA-99-N2 towards M31 can be explained by a companion object orbiting the lens star.     

A serendipitous XMM-Newton observation of MACHO 104.20906.960: A dwarf nova candidate with a 2 h period

The binaries known as cataclysmic variables are particular binary systems in which the primary star (a white dwarf) accretes material from a secondary via Roche-lobe mechanism. Usually, these objects have orbital period of a few hours so that a detailed temporal analysis can be performed. Here, we present Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of a dwarf nova candidate identified in the past by optical observations towards the galactic Bulge and labeled as MACHO 104.20906.960. After a spectral analysis, we used the Lomb-Scargle technique for the period search and evaluated the confidence level using Monte-Carlo simulations. In this case, we found that the X-ray source shows a period of ${2.03}_{-0.07}^{+0.09}$ h ($3\sigma$ error) so that it is most likely a system of interacting objects. The modulation of the signal was found with a confidence level of $>99\%$. The spectrum can be described by a two thermal plasma components with X-ray flux in the 0.3–10 keV energy band of ${1.77}_{-0.19}^{+0.16}\times {10}^{-13}\text{erg}{\text{s}}^{-1}{\text{cm}}^{-2}$. We find that the distance of the source is approximately 1 kpc thus corresponding to a luminosity $L_X?2\times {10}^{31}{\text{erg s}}^{-1}$.     

The multipole expansion of the radiation field from a relativistically rotating oblique magnetic dipole

Using the methods of Haxton and Ruffini the multipole expansion of the radiation field of an arbitrarily fast rotating magnetic dipole, with its axis inclined relative to the rotation axis, is obtained. This result is compared with the Fourier decomposition of the radiation emitted by the rotating dipole, obtained by Belinskyet al.     

Collapsed white dwarfs as gamma-ray burst sources

It has been suggested by Usov (1992) that accreting white dwarfs, collapsing to neutron stars may be the sources of the gamma-ray bursts observed at cosmological distances, provided they rotate very fast and have enormously high magnetic fields. In this model the burst's duration is given by the ratio of pulsar kinetic energy and magneticdipole luminosity, so that in order to account for the shortest ( 0.1 s) bursts, the pulsars must rotate very fast (with periodP 0.5 ms) and have magnetic fields of 10¹⁶ - 10¹⁷ G. Though the high pulsar frequency was anticipated (Qadir and Rafique, 1986) and has been shown to be plausible (Abramowicz, 1990), the extremely high magnetic fields seem anomalous as observed neutron stars have fields below 10¹³ G.The problem with Usov's proposal is reduced by incorporating the relativistic corrections for fast rotating magnetic dipoles (Belinskyet al., 1994) or magnetic stars (De Paolis and Qadir, 1994). These corrections substantially enhance the radiation efficiency due to the existence of a magnetic synchrotron effect so that the magnetic field required for the explanation of the shortest gamma-ray bursts is strongly reduced. As such the model becomes much more plausible.     

Biogenic stalactites in submarine caves at the Cape of Otranto (SE Italy): dating and hypothesis on their formation

Submarine caves at the Cape of Otranto (SE, Italy) host pseudostalactites. Only recently have they been recognised as originating mainly from the marine tube worm Protula tubularia (Serpulidae, Polychaeta). Their formation depends on the adaptability, life history and behaviour of that species in the cave habitat. The dating of calcareous tubes in the pseudostalactite core represents the first attempt to describe the formation of such bio-construction, and the gregarious behaviour of the species. Calcareous tubes along the core axis of three pseudostalactites removed from the cave lu Lampiùne (Otranto, South East Italy) have been dated using the ¹⁴C method. Measures established ages from 2600 to 5000 years for the three structures. This extremely long period (when compared with the life span of each worm) suggests that each tube aggregation is the result of punctuated growth periods alternated with long standstill phases. At the end of a growth period, each tube aggregation was covered with a brownish concretion, completing the pseudostalactite.     

Binary brown dwarfs in the Galactic halo?

Microlensing events towards the Large Magellanic Cloud imply that a sizeable fraction of dark matter is in the form of MACHOs (Massive Astrophysical Compact Halo Objects), presumably located in the halo of the Galaxy. Within the present uncertainties, brown dwarfs are viable candidates for MACHOs. Various considerations strongly suggest that a large number of MACHOs should actually consist of binary brown dwarfs. Yet this circumstance appears to be in flat contradiction with the fact that MACHOs have been detected as unresolved objects so far. We show that such an apparent paradox does not exist within a model in which MACHOs are clumped into dark clusters along with cold molecular clouds, since dynamical friction on these clouds makes binary brown dwarfs very close. Moreover, we argue that future microlensing experiments with more accurate photometric observations can resolve binary brown dwarfs.