scholarly journals Gamma-ray and X-ray constraints on non-thermal processes in η Carinae

2020 ◽  
Vol 635 ◽  
pp. A144 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. White ◽  
M. Breuhaus ◽  
R. Konno ◽  
S. Ohm ◽  
B. Reville ◽  
...  

The binary system η Carinae is a unique laboratory that facilitates the study of particle acceleration to high energies under a wide range of conditions, including extremely high densities around periastron. To date, no consensus has emerged as to the origin of the gigaelectronvolt γ-ray emission in this important system. With a re-analysis of the full Fermi-LAT data set for η Carinae, we show that the spectrum is consistent with a pion decay origin. A single population leptonic model connecting X-ray to γ-ray emission can be ruled out. We revisit our physical model from 2015, based on two acceleration zones associated with the termination shocks in the winds of both stars. We conclude that inverse Compton emission from in-situ accelerated electrons dominates the hard X-ray emission detected with NuSTAR at all phases away from periastron and that pion-decay from shock accelerated protons is the source of γ-ray emission. Very close to periastron there is a pronounced dip in hard X-ray emission, concomitant with the repeated disappearance of the thermal X-ray emission, which we interpret as due to the suppression of significant electron acceleration in the system. Within our model, the residual emission seen by NuSTAR at this phase can be accounted for with secondary electrons produced in interactions of accelerated protons, which agrees with the variation in pion-decay γ-ray emission. Future observations with H.E.S.S., CTA, and NuSTAR should confirm or refute this scenario.

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C1138-C1138
Author(s):  
Chiaki Tsuboi ◽  
Kazuki Aburaya ◽  
Shingo Higuchi ◽  
Fumiko Kimura ◽  
Masataka Maeyama ◽  
...  

We have developed magnetically oriented microcrystal array (MOMA) technique that enables single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses from microcrystalline powder. In this method, microcrystals suspended in a UV-curable monomer matrix are there-dimensionally aligned by special rotating magnetic field, followed by consolidation of the matrix by photopolymerization. From thus achieved MOMAs, we have been succeeded in crystal structure analysis for some substances [1, 2]. Though MOMA method is an effective technique, it has some problems as follows: in a MOMA, the alignment is deteriorated during the consolidation process. In addition, the sample microcrystals cannot be recovered from a MOMA. To overcome these problems, we performed an in-situ X-ray diffraction measurement using a three-dimensional magnetically oriented microcrystal suspension (3D MOMS) of L-alanine. An experimental setting of the in-situ X-ray measurement of MOMS is schematically shown in the figure. L-alanine microcrystal suspension was poured into a glass capillary and placed on the rotating unit equipped with a pair of neodymium magnets. Rotating X-ray chopper with 10°-slits was placed between the collimator and the suspension. By using this chopper, it was possible to expose the X-ray only when the rotating MOMS makes a specific direction with respect to the impinging X-ray. This has the same effect as the omega oscillation in conventional single crystal measurement. A total of 22 XRD images of 10° increments from 0° to 220° were obtained. The data set was processed by using conventional software to obtain three-dimensional molecular structure of L-alanine. The structure is in good agreement with that reported for the single crystal. R1 and wR2 were 6.53 and 17.4 %, respectively. RMSD value between the determined molecular structure and the reported one was 0.0045 Å. From this result, we conclude that this method can be effective and practical to be used widely for crystal structure analyses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Karydas ◽  
T. Pantazis ◽  
C. Doumas ◽  
A. Vlachopoulos ◽  
P. Nomikos ◽  
...  

In-situ X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) of ancient artifacts from the excavation area was performed using a novel X-ray instrumentation, composed of a portable silicon PIN thermoelectrically cooled X-ray detector, a miniature X-ray source, and portable data acquisition devices. The main objective of the analyses in Akrotiri was to explore the potential of the technique to provide answers to a wide range of archaeometric questions regarding the bulk composition of metal alloys, especially of gold, the characterization of corrosion products in bronze artifacts, identification of inorganic elements which are fingerprints of the minerals used in wall-painting pigments, and of the painting materials and techniques used for the decoration of clay vase surfaces. Among the analysed artifacts are a unique gold ibex, a bronze dagger and blade, various pigments from the wall paintings of room 3 in Xeste 3, decoration pigments from rosettes of faience, a bichrome jug, and other clay vases. The results of the in-situ XRF survey, primarily those of the bulk composition and soldering technology of the gold ibex, are discussed and compared with literature.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Shearan ◽  
Jannick Jacobsen ◽  
Ferdinando Costantino ◽  
Roberto D’Amato ◽  
Dmitri Novikov ◽  
...  

We report on the results of a thorough <i>in situ</i> synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction study of the crystallisation in aqueous medium of two recently discovered perfluorinated Ce(IV)-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), analogues of the already well investigated Zr(IV)-based UiO-66 and MIL-140A, namely, F4_UiO-66(Ce) and F4_MIL-140A(Ce). The two MOFs were originally obtained in pure form in similar conditions, using ammonium cerium nitrate and tetrafluoroterephthalic acid as building blocks, and small variations of the reaction parameters were found to yield mixed phases. Here, we investigate the crystallisation of these compounds <i>in situ</i> in a wide range of conditions, varying parameters such as temperature, amount of the protonation modulator nitric acid (HNO<sub>3</sub>) and amount of the coordination modulator acetic acid (AcOH). When only HNO<sub>3</sub> is present in the reaction environment, F4_MIL-140A(Ce) is obtained as a pure phase. Heating preferentially accelerates nucleation, which becomes rate determining below 57 °C, whereas the modulator influences nucleation and crystal growth to a similar extent. Upon addition of AcOH to the system, alongside HNO<sub>3</sub>, mixed-phased products, consisting of F4_MIL-140A(Ce) and F4_UiO-66(Ce), are obtained. In these conditions, F4_UiO-66(Ce) is always formed faster and no interconversion between the two phases occurs. In the case of F4_UiO-66(Ce), crystal growth is always the rate determining step. An increase in the amount of HNO<sub>3</sub> slows down both nucleation and growth rates for F4_MIL-140A(Ce), whereas nucleation is mainly affected for F4_UiO-66(Ce). In addition, a higher amount HNO<sub>3</sub> favours the formation of F4_MIL-140A(Ce). Similarly, increasing the amount of AcOH leads to slowing down of the nucleation and growth rate, but favours the formation of F4_UiO-66(Ce). The pure F4_UiO-66(Ce) phase could also be obtained when using larger amounts of AcOH in the presence of minimal HNO<sub>3</sub>. Based on these <i>in situ</i> results, a new optimised route to achieving a pure, high quality F4_MIL-140A(Ce) phase in mild conditions (60 °C, 1 h) is also identified.


2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (1) ◽  
pp. 974-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Zhang ◽  
I M Christie ◽  
M Petropoulou ◽  
J M Rueda-Becerril ◽  
D Giannios

ABSTRACT The afterglow emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is believed to originate from a relativistic blast wave driven into the circumburst medium. Although the afterglow emission from radio up to X-ray frequencies is thought to originate from synchrotron radiation emitted by relativistic, non-thermal electrons accelerated by the blast wave, the origin of the emission at high energies (HE; ≳GeV) remains uncertain. The recent detection of sub-TeV emission from GRB 190114C by the Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes (MAGIC) raises further debate on what powers the very high energy (VHE; ≳300 GeV) emission. Here, we explore the inverse Compton scenario as a candidate for the HE and VHE emissions, considering two sources of seed photons for scattering: synchrotron photons from the blast wave (synchrotron self-Compton or SSC) and isotropic photon fields external to the blast wave (external Compton). For each case, we compute the multiwavelength afterglow spectra and light curves. We find that SSC will dominate particle cooling and the GeV emission, unless a dense ambient infrared photon field, typical of star-forming regions, is present. Additionally, considering the extragalactic background light attenuation, we discuss the detectability of VHE afterglows by existing and future gamma-ray instruments for a wide range of model parameters. Studying GRB 190114C, we find that its afterglow emission in the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) band is synchrotron dominated. The late-time Fermi-LAT measurement (i.e. t ∼ 104 s), and the MAGIC observation also set an upper limit on the energy density of a putative external infrared photon field (i.e. ${\lesssim} 3\times 10^{-9}\, {\rm erg\, cm^{-3}}$), making the inverse Compton dominant in the sub-TeV energies.


1998 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 159-162
Author(s):  
Gerald J. Fishman

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) will be recorded as one of the outstanding new phenomena discovered in astronomy this century. About once per day, a burst of gamma rays appears from a random direction on the sky. Often, the burst outshines all other sources of gamma-rays in the sky, combined. This paper reviews some of the key observed phenomenon of bursts in the hard x-ray/gamma-ray region, as observed with the BATSE experiment on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. The observed time profiles, spectral properties and durations of gamma-ray bursts cover a wide range. Recent breakthroughs in the observation of gamma-ray burst counterparts and afterglows in other wavelength regions have marked the beginning of a new era in gamma-ray burst research. Those observations are described in following papers in these proceedings.


1981 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Vandenberg ◽  
F. J. A. Den Broeder ◽  
R. A. Hamm

An in situ annealing X-ray study was applied to Cu-Al thin film couples over a wide range of copper-to-aluminum film ratios. This new technique, which has been previously described for a study on the Au-Al thin film system, enables us to make a temperature-dependent photographic X-ray analysis. The present study indicated that only a limited number of the wide variety of bulk phases form in the Cu-Al thin film interface, while some of these phases in the interface are transient. In the transient stages of the interface reaction, the f.c.c.-ordered phase β-Cu3A1 grows over the entire range of copper-to-aluminum film ratios after the first nucleation of CuA12, indicating a two-step nucleation reaction. On the aluminum-rich side, this phase transforms to a new ordered hexagonal phase β′. It could be interpreted as a superlattice of the metastable hexagonal ω phase occurring in zirconium-based alloys. The end phases are CuA1 and CuAl2.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C1734-C1734
Author(s):  
Zoltan Gal ◽  
Tadeusz Skarzynski ◽  
Fraser White ◽  
Oliver Presly ◽  
Adrian Jones ◽  
...  

Agilent Technologies develop and supply X-ray systems for single-crystal diffraction research, including the SuperNova; a compact, highly reliable and very low maintenance instrument providing X-ray data of the highest quality; and the PX Scanner for testing and characterization of protein crystals in their original crystallization drops (in-situ). The SuperNova and PX Scanner are constantly improving, with recent enhancements including a new range of detectors using an Intelligent Measurement System. The Eos S2, Atlas S2 and Titan S2 detector range employs a smart sensitivity control of the electronic gain and is capable of instantaneously switching its binning modes thus providing unprecedented flexibility in tuning every exposure to provide the highest data quality for a wide range of experiments. We have also developed a completely new micro-focus X-ray source based on Gradient Vacuum technology, with novel filament and target designs. This novel source is an integral part of the new Agilent GV1000 X-ray diffractometer, which has been designed for applications that require even higher brightness of the X-ray beam.


2018 ◽  
Vol 614 ◽  
pp. A29 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Greiner ◽  
J. Bolmer ◽  
M. Wieringa ◽  
A. J. van der Horst ◽  
D. Petry ◽  
...  

Context. Deriving physical parameters from gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow observations remains a challenge, even 20 years after the discovery of afterglows. The main reason for the lack of progress is that the peak of the synchrotron emission is in the sub-mm range, thus requiring radio observations in conjunction with X-ray/optical/near-infrared data in order to measure the corresponding spectral slopes and consequently remove the ambiguity with respect to slow vs. fast cooling and the ordering of the characteristic frequencies. Aims. We have embarked on a multifrequency, multi-epoch observing campaign to obtain sufficient data for a given GRB that allows us to test the simplest version of the fireball afterglow model. Methods. We observed GRB 151027B, the 1000th Swift-detected GRB, with GROND in the optical–near-IR, ALMA in the sub-millimeter, ATCA in the radio band; we combined this with public Swift/XRT X-ray data. Results. While some observations at crucial times only return upper limits or surprising features, the fireball model is narrowly constrained by our data set, and allows us to draw a consistent picture with a fully determined parameter set. Surprisingly, we find rapid, large-amplitude flux density variations in the radio band which are extreme not only for GRBs, but generally for any radio source. We interpret them as scintillation effects, though their extreme nature requires the scattering screen to be at a much smaller distance than usually assumed, multiple screens, or a combination of the two. Conclusions. The data are consistent with the simplest fireball scenario for a blast wave moving into a constant-density medium, and slow-cooling electrons. All fireball parameters are constrained at or better than a factor of 2, except for the density and the fraction of the energy in the magnetic field which has a factor of 10 uncertainty in both directions.


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