1,536 research outputs found
Pair extended coupled cluster doubles
The accurate and efficient description of strongly correlated systems remains
an important challenge for computational methods. Doubly occupied configuration
interaction (DOCI), in which all electrons are paired and no correlations which
break these pairs are permitted, can in many cases provide an accurate account
of strong correlations, albeit at combinatorial computational cost. Recently,
there has been significant interest in a method we refer to as pair coupled
cluster doubles (pCCD), a variant of coupled cluster doubles in which the
electrons are paired. This is simply because pCCD provides energies nearly
identical to those of DOCI, but at mean-field computational cost (disregarding
the cost of the two-electron integral transformation). Here, we introduce the
more complete pair extended coupled cluster doubles (pECCD) approach which,
like pCCD, has mean-field cost and reproduces DOCI energetically. We show that
unlike pCCD, pECCD also reproduces the DOCI wave function with high accuracy.
Moreoever, pECCD yields sensible albeit inexact results even for attractive
interactions where pCCD breaks down.Comment: submitted manuscrip
Study of the cyclotron feature in MXB 0656-072
We have monitored a type II outburst of the Be/X-ray binary MXB 0656−072 in a series of pointed RXTE observations during October through December 2003. The source spectrum shows a cyclotron resonance scattering feature at 32.8 +0.5
−0.4 keV, corresponding to a magnetic field strength of 3.67
+0.06 −0.04 × 10 12 G and is stable through the outburst and over the pulsar spin phase. The pulsar, with an average pulse period of 160.4 ± 0.4s,shows a spin-up of 0.45 s over the duration of the outburst. From optical data, the source distance is estimated to be 3.9 ± 0.1 kpc and this is used to estimate the X-ray luminosity and a theoretical prediction of the pulsar spin-up during the outburst
A model for cyclotron resonance scattering features
(abbreviated version of the abstract) We study the physics of cyclotron line
formation in the high-energy spectra of accreting X-ray pulsars using Monte
Carlo methods, assuming that the line-forming region is a low-density electron
plasma in a sub-critical magnetic field. We investigate the dependence of the
shape of the fundamental line on angle, geometry, optical depth and
temperature. We also discuss variations of the line ratios for non-uniform
magnetic fields. These numerical predictions for the line profiles are linked
to results from observational data analysis using an XSPEC model based on the
Monte Carlo simulations. We apply this model to observational data from RXTE
and INTEGRAL. The predicted strong emission wings of the fundamental cyclotron
feature are not found in observational data, hinting at a bottom illuminated
slab geometry for line formation.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figures, Astron. Astrophys. (in press
Magnetic Photon Splitting: the S-Matrix Formulation in the Landau Representation
Calculations of reaction rates for the third-order QED process of photon
splitting in strong magnetic fields traditionally have employed either the
effective Lagrangian method or variants of Schwinger's proper-time technique.
Recently, Mentzel, Berg and Wunner (1994) presented an alternative derivation
via an S-matrix formulation in the Landau representation. Advantages of such a
formulation include the ability to compute rates near pair resonances above
pair threshold. This paper presents new developments of the Landau
representation formalism as applied to photon splitting, providing significant
advances beyond the work of Mentzel et al. by summing over the spin quantum
numbers of the electron propagators, and analytically integrating over the
component of momentum of the intermediate states that is parallel to field. The
ensuing tractable expressions for the scattering amplitudes are satisfyingly
compact, and of an appearance familiar to S-matrix theory applications. Such
developments can facilitate numerical computations of splitting considerably
both below and above pair threshold. Specializations to two regimes of interest
are obtained, namely the limit of highly supercritical fields and the domain
where photon energies are far inferior to that for the threshold of
single-photon pair creation. In particular, for the first time the
low-frequency amplitudes are simply expressed in terms of the Gamma function,
its integral and its derivatives. In addition, the equivalence of the
asymptotic forms in these two domains to extant results from effective
Lagrangian/proper-time formulations is demonstrated.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, REVTeX; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Gamma-rays from millisecond pulsars in Globular Clusters
Globular clusters (GCs) with their ages of the order of several billion years
contain many final products of evolution of stars such as: neutron stars, white
dwarfs and probably also black holes. These compact objects can be at present
responsible for the acceleration of particles to relativistic energies.
Therefore, gamma-ray emission is expected from GCs as a result of radiation
processes occurring either in the inner magnetosperes of millisecond pulsars or
in the vicinity of accreting neutron stars and white dwarfs or as a result of
interaction of particles leaving the compact objects with the strong radiation
field within the GC. Recently, GeV gamma-ray emission has been detected from
several GCs by the new satellite observatory Fermi. Also Cherenkov telescopes
reported interesting upper limits at the TeV energies which start to constrain
the content of GCs. We review the results of these gamma-ray observations in
the context of recent scenarios for their origin.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, will be published in Astrophysics and Space
Science Series (Springer), eds. N. Rea and D.F. Torre
Compact Binary Coalescences in the Band of Ground-based Gravitational-Wave Detectors
As the ground-based gravitational-wave telescopes LIGO, Virgo, and GEO 600
approach the era of first detections, we review the current knowledge of the
coalescence rates and the mass and spin distributions of merging neutron-star
and black-hole binaries. We emphasize the bi-directional connection between
gravitational-wave astronomy and conventional astrophysics. Astrophysical input
will make possible informed decisions about optimal detector configurations and
search techniques. Meanwhile, rate upper limits, detected merger rates, and the
distribution of masses and spins measured by gravitational-wave searches will
constrain astrophysical parameters through comparisons with astrophysical
models. Future developments necessary to the success of gravitational-wave
astronomy are discussed.Comment: Replaced with version accepted by CQG
Control Software for the SST-1M Small-Size Telescope prototype for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
The SST-1M is a 4-m Davies--Cotton atmospheric Cherenkov telescope optimized
to provide gamma-ray sensitivity above a few TeV. The SST-1M is proposed as
part of the Small-Size Telescope array for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA),
the first prototype has already been deployed. The SST-1M control software of
all subsystems (active mirror control, drive system, safety system,
photo-detection plane, DigiCam, CCD cameras) and the whole telescope itself
(master controller) uses the standard software design proposed for all CTA
telescopes based on the ALMA Common Software (ACS) developed to control the
Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). Each subsystem is represented by a
separate ACS component, which handles the communication to and the operation of
the subsystem. Interfacing with the actual hardware is performed via the OPC UA
communication protocol, supported either natively by dedicated industrial
standard servers (PLCs) or separate service applications developed to wrap
lower level protocols (e.g. CAN bus, camera slow control) into OPC UA. Early
operations of the telescope without the camera were already carried out. The
camera is fully assembled and is capable to perform data acquisition using
artificial light source.Comment: In Proceedings of the 35th International Cosmic Ray Conference
(ICRC2017), Busan, Korea. All CTA contributions at arXiv:1709.0348
Using muon rings for the optical throughput calibration of the SST-1M prototype for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) are ground-based instruments
devoted to the study of very high energy gamma-rays coming from space. The
detection technique consists of observing images created by the Cherenkov light
emitted when gamma rays, or more generally cosmic rays, propagate through the
atmosphere. While in the case of protons or gamma-rays the images present a
filled and more or less elongated shape, energetic muons penetrating the
atmosphere are visualised as characteristic circular rings or arcs. A
relatively simple analysis of the ring images allows the reconstruction of all
the relevant parameters of the detected muons, such as the energy, the impact
parameter, and the incoming direction, with the final aim to use them to
calibrate the total optical throughput of the given IACT telescope. We present
the results of preliminary studies on the use of images created by muons as
optical throughput calibrators of the single mirror small size telescope
prototype SST-1M proposed for the Cherenkov Telescope Array.Comment: In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference
(ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. All CTA contributions at
arXiv:1508.0589
DigiCam - Fully Digital Compact Read-out and Trigger Electronics for the SST-1M Telescope proposed for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
The SST-1M is one of three prototype small-sized telescope designs proposed
for the Cherenkov Telescope Array, and is built by a consortium of Polish and
Swiss institutions. The SST-1M will operate with DigiCam - an innovative,
compact camera with fully digital read-out and trigger electronics. A high
level of integration will be achieved by massively deploying state-of-the-art
multi-gigabit transmission channels, beginning from the ADC flash converters,
through the internal data and trigger signals transmission over backplanes and
cables, to the camera's server link. Such an approach makes it possible to
design the camera to fit the size and weight requirements of the SST-1M
exactly, and provide low power consumption, high reliability and long lifetime.
The structure of the digital electronics will be presented, along with main
physical building blocks and the internal architecture of FPGA functional
subsystems.Comment: In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference
(ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. All CTA contributions at
arXiv:1508.0589
Software design for the control system for Small-Size Telescopes with single-mirror of the Cherenkov Telescope Array
The Small-Size Telescope with single-mirror (SST-1M) is a 4 m Davies-Cotton
telescope and is among the proposed telescope designs for the Cherenkov
Telescope Array (CTA). It is conceived to provide the high-energy ( few TeV)
coverage. The SST-1M contains proven technology for the telescope structure and
innovative electronics and photosensors for the camera. Its design is meant to
be simple, low-budget and easy-to-build industrially.
Each device subsystem of an SST-1M telescope is made visible to CTA through a
dedicated industrial standard server. The software is being developed in
collaboration with the CTA Medium-Size Telescopes to ensure compatibility and
uniformity of the array control. Early operations of the SST-1M prototype will
be performed with a subset of the CTA central array control system based on the
Alma Common Software (ACS). The triggered event data are time stamped,
formatted and finally transmitted to the CTA data acquisition.
The software system developed to control the devices of an SST-1M telescope
is described, as well as the interface between the telescope abstraction to the
CTA central control and the data acquisition system.Comment: In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference
(ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. All CTA contributions at
arXiv:1508.0589
- …