scholarly journals Probing the physical properties of the intergalactic medium using blazars

2021 ◽  
Vol 508 (2) ◽  
pp. 1701-1718
Author(s):  
Tony Dalton ◽  
Simon L Morris ◽  
Michele Fumagalli ◽  
Efrain Gatuzz

ABSTRACT We use Swift blazar spectra to estimate the key intergalactic medium (IGM) properties of hydrogen column density ($\mathit {N}\small {\rm HXIGM}$), metallicity, and temperature over a redshift range of 0.03 ≤ z ≤ 4.7, using a collisional ionization equilibrium model for the ionized plasma. We adopted a conservative approach to the blazar continuum model given its intrinsic variability and use a range of power-law models. We subjected our results to a number of tests and found that the $\mathit {N}\small {\rm HXIGM}$ parameter was robust with respect to individual exposure data and co-added spectra for each source, and between Swift and XMM–Newton source data. We also found no relation between $\mathit {N}\small {\rm HXIGM}$ and variations in source flux or intrinsic power laws. Though some objects may have a bulk Comptonization component that could mimic absorption, it did not alter our overall results. The $\mathit {N}\small {\rm HXIGM}$ from the combined blazar sample scales as (1 + z)1.8 ± 0.2. The mean hydrogen density at z = 0 is n0 = (3.2 ± 0.5) × 10−7 cm−3. The mean IGM temperature over the full redshift range is log(T/K) =6.1 ± 0.1, and the mean metallicity is [X/H] = −1.62 ± 0.04(Z ∼ 0.02). When combining with the results with a gamma-ray burst (GRB) sample, we find the results are consistent over an extended redshift range of 0.03 ≤ z ≤ 6.3. Using our model for blazars and GRBs, we conclude that the IGM contributes substantially to the total absorption seen in both blazar and GRB spectra.

Author(s):  
Tony Dalton ◽  
Simon L Morris ◽  
Michele Fumagalli

Abstract We use Gamma-ray burst (GRB) spectra total continuum absorption to estimate the key intergalactic medium (IGM) properties of hydrogen column density ($\mathit {N}_{\mathrm{HXIGM}}$), metallicity, temperature and ionisation parameter over a redshift range of 1.6 ≤ z ≤ 6.3, using photo-ionisation (PIE) and collisional ionisation equilibrium (CIE) models for the ionised plasma. We use more realistic host metallicity, dust corrected where available, in generating the host absorption model, assuming that the host intrinsic hydrogen column density is equal to the measured ionisation corrected intrinsic neutral column from UV spectra (${\it N}_{\mathrm{H}\, \rm \small {I,IC}}$). We find that the IGM property results are similar, regardless of whether the model assumes all PIE or CIE. The $\mathit {N}_{\mathrm{HXIGM}}$ scales as (1 + z)1.0 − 1.9, with equivalent hydrogen mean density at z = 0 of $n_0 = 1.8^{+1.5}_{-1.2} \times 10^{-7}$ cm−3. The metallicity ranges from ∼0.1 Z⊙ at z ∼ 2 to ∼0.001 Z⊙ at redshift z > 4. The PIE model implies a less rapid decline in average metallicity with redshift compared to CIE. Under CIE, the temperature ranges between 5.0 < log (T/K) < 7.1. For PIE the ionisation parameter ranges between 0.1 < log (ξ) < 2.9. Using our model, we conclude that the IGM contributes substantially to the total absorption seen in GRB spectra and that this contribution rises with redshift, explaining why the hydrogen column density inferred from X-rays is substantially in excess of the intrinsic host contribution measured in UV.


2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (3) ◽  
pp. 4300-4310 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Sezer ◽  
T Ergin ◽  
R Yamazaki ◽  
H Sano ◽  
Y Fukui

ABSTRACT We present the results from the Suzaku X-ray Imaging Spectrometer observation of the mixed-morphology supernova remnant (SNR) HB9 (G160.9+2.6). We discovered recombining plasma (RP) in the western Suzaku observation region and the spectra here are well described by a model having collisional ionization equilibrium (CIE) and RP components. On the other hand, the X-ray spectra from the eastern Suzaku observation region are best reproduced by the CIE and non-equilibrium ionization model. We discuss possible scenarios to explain the origin of the RP emission based on the observational properties and concluded that the rarefaction scenario is a possible explanation for the existence of RP. In addition, the gamma-ray emission morphology and spectrum within the energy range of 0.2–300 GeV are investigated using 10 yr of data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). The gamma-ray morphology of HB9 is best described by the spatial template of radio continuum emission. The spectrum is well fit to a log-parabola function and its detection significance was found to be 25σ. Moreover, a new gamma-ray point source located just outside the south-east region of the SNR’s shell was detected with a significance of 6σ. We also investigated the archival H i and CO data and detected an expanding shell structure in the velocity range of $-10.5$ and $+1.8$ km s−1 that is coinciding with a region of gamma-ray enhancement at the southern rim of the HB9 shell.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S292) ◽  
pp. 190-190
Author(s):  
J. M. Chen ◽  
L. W. Jia ◽  
E. W. Liang

AbstractGRBs are the most luminous events in the Universe. They are detectable from local to high-z universe and may serve as probes for high-z galaxies (e.g., Savaglio et al. 2009; Kewley & Dopita 2002). We compile the observations for 61 GRB host galaxies from literature. Their redshifts range from 0.0085 to 6.295. We present the statistical properties of the GRB host galaxies, including the stellar mass (M*), star-forming rate (SFR), metallicity (Z), extinction (AV), and neutral hydrogen column density (NH). We explore possible correlations among the properties of gamma-ray burst host galaxies and their cosmic evolution with observations of 61 GRB host galaxies. Our results are shown in Figure 1. A clear Z-M* relation is found in our sample, which is Z ~ M0.4. The host galaxies of local GRBs with detection of accompanied supernovae also share the same relation with high-z GRB host galaxies. A trend that a more massive host galaxy tends to have a higher star-formation rate is found. The best linear fit gives a tentative relation, i.e, SFR ~ M0.75. No any correlation is found between AV and NH. A GRB host galaxy at a higher redshift also tends to have a higher SFR. Even in the same redshift, the SFR may vary over three orders of magnitude. The metallicity of the GRB host galaxies is statistically higher than that of the QSO DLAs. The full version of our results please refer to Chen et al. (2012).


2009 ◽  
Vol 697 (1) ◽  
pp. 328-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Branchini ◽  
E. Ursino ◽  
A. Corsi ◽  
D. Martizzi ◽  
L. Amati ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 557 ◽  
pp. A34 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Boissier ◽  
R. Salvaterra ◽  
E. Le Floc’h ◽  
S. Basa ◽  
V. Buat ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Luboš Střelec

The aim of this paper is to modify the classical Jarque-Bera test and the robust Jarque-Bera test of normality. We use the median as an estimator instead of the mean in the classical Jarque-Bera test and in the robust Jarque-Bera test. This leads to the modified Jarque-Bera test and the modified robust Jarque-Bera test. Paper also demonstrates results of simulation studies of power of such tests with the various alternatives – light tailed alternatives as exponential, lognormal and gamma distribution, heavy tailed alternatives as Cauchy, Laplace, t3, t5 and logistic distributions and short tailed alternatives as beta and uniform distributions. These tests of normality are also used for normality testing of selected datasets of financial time series. Source data include logarithmic returns of monthly ave­ra­ge prices of Prague stock exchange index PX and monthly average prices of CZK/EUR exchange rate in the period from 2000 to 2007.


2020 ◽  
Vol 635 ◽  
pp. A131 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. P. Israel

We present ground-based measurements of 126 nearby galaxy centers in 12CO and 92 in 13CO in various low-J transitions. More than 60 galaxies were measured in at least four lines. The average relative intensities of the first four J 12CO transitions are 1.00:0.92:0.70:0.57. In the first three J transitions, the average 12CO-to-13CO intensity ratios are 13.0, 11.6, and 12.8, with individual values in any transition ranging from 5 to 25. The sizes of central CO concentrations are well defined in maps, but poorly determined by multi-aperture photometry. On average, the J = 1−0 12CO fluxes increase linearly with the size of the observing beam. CO emission covers only a quarter of the HI galaxy disks. Using radiative transfer models (RADEX), we derived model gas parameters. The assumed carbon elemental abundances and carbon gas depletion onto dust are the main causes of uncertainty. The new CO data and published [CI] and [CII] data imply that CO, C°, and C+ each represent about one-third of the gas-phase carbon in the molecular interstellar medium. The mean beam-averaged molecular hydrogen column density is N(H2) = (1.5 ± 0.2)×1021 cm−2. Galaxy center CO-to-H2 conversion factors are typically ten times lower than the “standard” Milky Way X° disk value, with a mean X(CO) = (1.9 ± 0.2)×1019 cm−2/K km s−1 and a dispersion 1.7. The corresponding [CI]-H2 factor is five times higher than X(CO), with X[CI] = (9 ± 2)×1019 cm−2/K km s−1. No unique conversion factor can be determined for [CII]. The low molecular gas content of galaxy centers relative to their CO intensities is explained in roughly equal parts by high central gas-phase carbon abundances, elevated gas temperatures, and large gas velocity dispersions relative to the corresponding values in galaxy disks.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (S308) ◽  
pp. 217-218
Author(s):  
Dennis W. Just ◽  
H. K. C. Yee ◽  
Adam Muzzin ◽  
Gillian Wilson ◽  
David G. Gilbank ◽  
...  

AbstractWe present the first measurement of the evolution of the apparent projected shape of galaxy clusters from 0.2≲ z≲2. We measure the ellipticities (εcl) of homogeneously selected galaxy clusters over this wide redshift range. We confirm the predictions of N-body simulations that clusters are more elongated at higher redshift, finding the mean projected ellipticity changes linearly from 0.36±0.01 to 0.25±0.01 over that range. The fraction of relaxed clusters (defined as having εcl<0.2) is 9+5-3% at z∼1.8, steadily increasing to 42+7-6% by z∼0.3. Because more spherical clusters have a higher degree of virialization, our result shows significant evolution in the degree of cluster virialization over cosmic time.


2019 ◽  
Vol 322 (3) ◽  
pp. 1311-1321
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Gorzkiewicz ◽  
Jerzy Wojciech Mietelski ◽  
Renata Kierepko ◽  
Kamil Brudecki

Abstract This paper presents results of the development process of low-background, digital gamma-rays spectrometer equipped with Broad Energy Germanium detector (CANBERRA BE5030), multi-layer passive shield and cosmic veto system that consists of five plastic scintillators (SCIONIX EJ-200). Data acquisition is performed using digitizer CAEN DT5725 with CoMPASS software. Output data analysis is carried out with purposely written and developed code VETO. On the basis of conducted tests, acquisition parameters were set up and tuned as well as time delays between all detectors were established. As a result of the configuration process, the mean background counts reduction of 64% in the whole spectrum and 65% in annihilation peak were achieved. This procedure allowed diminishing detection limits of selected isotopes 37% on average.


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