3,277 research outputs found
A bibliography on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence
This report presents a uniform compilation of works dealing with the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Entries are by first author, with cross-reference by topic index and by periodical index. This bibliography updates earlier bibliographies on this general topic while concentrating on research related to listening for signals from extraterrestrial intelligence
Bayesian multiscale deconvolution applied to gamma-ray spectroscopy
A common task in gamma-ray astronomy is to extract spectral information, such as model constraints and incident photon spectrum estimates, given the measured energy deposited in a detector and the detector response. This is the classic problem of spectral “deconvolution” or spectral inversion. The methods of forward folding (i.e., parameter fitting) and maximum entropy “deconvolution” (i.e., estimating independent input photon rates for each individual energy bin) have been used successfully for gamma-ray solar flares (e.g., Rank, 1997; Share and Murphy, 1995). These methods have worked well under certain conditions but there are situations were they don’t apply. These are: 1) when no reasonable model (e.g., fewer parameters than data bins) is yet known, for forward folding; 2) when one expects a mixture of broad and narrow features (e.g., solar flares), for the maximum entropy method; and 3) low count rates and low signal-to-noise, for both. Low count rates are a problem because these methods (as they have been implemented) assume Gaussian statistics but Poisson are applicable. Background subtraction techniques often lead to negative count rates. For Poisson data the Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE) with a Poisson likelihood is appropriate. Without a regularization term, trying to estimate the “true” individual input photon rates per bin can be an ill-posed problem, even without including both broad and narrow features in the spectrum (i.e., amultiscale approach). One way to implement this regularization is through the use of a suitable Bayesian prior. Nowak and Kolaczyk (1999) have developed a fast, robust, technique using a Bayesian multiscale framework that addresses these problems with added algorithmic advantages. We outline this new approach and demonstrate its use with time resolved solar flare gamma-ray spectroscopy
A study of omega bands and Ps6 pulsations on the ground, at low altitude and at geostationary orbit
We investigate the electrodynamic coupling between auroral omega bands and the inner magnetosphere. The goal of this study is to determine the features to which omega bands map in the magnetosphere. To establish the auroral-magnetosphere connection, we appeal to the case study analysis of the data rich event of September 26, 1989. At 6 magnetic local time (MLT), two trains of Ps6 pulsations (ground magnetic signatures of omega bands) were observed to drift over the Canadian Auroral Network For the OPEN Program Unified Study (CANOPUS) chain. At the same time periodic ionospheric flow patterns moved through the collocated Bistatic Auroral Radar System (BARS) field of view. Similar coincident magnetic variations were observed by GOES 6, GOES 7 and SCATHA, all of which had magnetic foot points near the CANOPUS/BARS stations. SCATHA, which was located at 6 MLT, 0.5 RE earthward of GOES 7 observed the 10 min period pulsations, whereas GOES 7 did not. In addition, DMSP F6 and F8 were over-flying the region and observed characteristic precipitation and flow signatures. From this fortunate constellation of ground and space observations, we conclude that auroral omega bands are the electrodynamic signature of a corrugated current sheet (or some similar spatially localized magnetic structure) in the near-Earth geostationary magnetosphere
The Locations of Gamma-Ray Bursts Measured by COMPTEL
The COMPTEL instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory is used to
measure the locations of gamma-ray bursts through direct imaging of MeV
photons. In a comprehensive search, we have detected and localized 29 bursts
observed between 1991 April 19 and 1995 May 31. The average location accuracy
of these events is 1.25\arcdeg (1), including a systematic error of
\sim0.5\arcdeg, which is verified through comparison with Interplanetary
Network (IPN) timing annuli. The combination of COMPTEL and IPN measurements
results in locations for 26 of the bursts with an average ``error box'' area of
only 0.3 deg (1). We find that the angular distribution of
COMPTEL burst locations is consistent with large-scale isotropy and that there
is no statistically significant evidence of small-angle auto-correlations. We
conclude that there is no compelling evidence for burst repetition since no
more than two of the events (or 7% of the 29 bursts) could possibly have
come from the same source. We also find that there is no significant
correlation between the burst locations and either Abell clusters of galaxies
or radio-quiet quasars. Agreement between individual COMPTEL locations and IPN
annuli places a lower limit of 100~AU (95% confidence) on the distance to
the stronger bursts.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal, 1998 Jan. 1,
Vol. 492. 33 pages, 9 figures, 5 table
Spectra of a recent bright burst measured by CGRO-COMPTEL: GRB 990123
CGRO-COMPTEL measures gamma-ray burst positions, time-histories and spectra in the 0.1–30 MeV energy range, in both imaging “telescope” and single detector “burst spectroscopy” mode. GRB 990123, one of the most recent bright bursts seen by COMPTEL, was caught in the optical while the gamma-ray emission was ongoing. The burst spectral shape can be characterized by a peak in ν−Fν just below 1 MeV and a power-law tail above(photon index∼−2.4,) and flattening below. There is also spectral evolution by downward movement of the peak and/or softening of the power laws. We present light-curves, time resolved spectra and an image map for this burst
A Map of the Universe
We have produced a new conformal map of the universe illustrating recent
discoveries, ranging from Kuiper belt objects in the Solar system, to the
galaxies and quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. This map projection,
based on the logarithm map of the complex plane, preserves shapes locally, and
yet is able to display the entire range of astronomical scales from the Earth's
neighborhood to the cosmic microwave background. The conformal nature of the
projection, preserving shapes locally, may be of particular use for analyzing
large scale structure. Prominent in the map is a Sloan Great Wall of galaxies
1.37 billion light years long, 80% longer than the Great Wall discovered by
Geller and Huchra and therefore the largest observed structure in the universe.Comment: Figure 8, and additional material accessible on the web at:
http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~mjuric/universe
Gauge Theory for the Rate Equations: Electrodynamics on a Network
Systems of coupled rate equations are ubiquitous in many areas of science,
for example in the description of electronic transport through quantum dots and
molecules. They can be understood as a continuity equation expressing the
conservation of probability. It is shown that this conservation law can be
implemented by constructing a gauge theory akin to classical electrodynamics on
the network of possible states described by the rate equations. The properties
of this gauge theory are analyzed. It turns out that the network is maximally
connected with respect to the electromagnetic fields even if the allowed
transitions form a sparse network. It is found that the numbers of degrees of
freedom of the electric and magnetic fields are equal. The results shed light
on the structure of classical abelian gauge theory beyond the particular
motivation in terms of rate equations.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures included, v2: minor revision, as publishe
Trace identities and their semiclassical implications
The compatibility of the semiclassical quantization of area-preserving maps
with some exact identities which follow from the unitarity of the quantum
evolution operator is discussed. The quantum identities involve relations
between traces of powers of the evolution operator. For classically {\it
integrable} maps, the semiclassical approximation is shown to be compatible
with the trace identities. This is done by the identification of stationary
phase manifolds which give the main contributions to the result. The same
technique is not applicable for {\it chaotic} maps, and the compatibility of
the semiclassical theory in this case remains unsettled. The compatibility of
the semiclassical quantization with the trace identities demonstrates the
crucial importance of non-diagonal contributions.Comment: LaTeX - IOP styl
Low energy polarization sensitivity of the Gas Pixel Detector
An X-ray photoelectric polarimeter based on the Gas Pixel Detector has been
proposed to be included in many upcoming space missions to fill the gap of
about 30 years from the first (and to date only) positive measurement of
polarized X-ray emission from an astrophysical source. The estimated
sensitivity of the current prototype peaks at an energy of about 3 keV, but the
lack of readily available polarized sources in this energy range has prevented
the measurement of detector polarimetric performances.
In this paper we present the measurement of the Gas Pixel Detector
polarimetric sensitivity at energies of a few keV and the new, light, compact
and transportable polarized source that was devised and built to this aim.
Polarized photons are produced, from unpolarized radiation generated with an
X-ray tube, by means of Bragg diffraction at nearly 45 degrees.
The employment of mosaic graphite and flat aluminum crystals allow the
production of nearly completely polarized photons at 2.6, 3.7 and 5.2 keV from
the diffraction of unpolarized continuum or line emission. The measured
modulation factor of the Gas Pixel Detector at these energies is in good
agreement with the estimates derived from a Monte Carlo software, which was up
to now employed for driving the development of the instrument and for
estimating its low energy sensitivity. In this paper we present the excellent
polarimetric performance of the Gas Pixel Detector at energies where the peak
sensitivity is expected. These measurements not only support our previous
claims of high sensitivity but confirm the feasibility of astrophysical X-ray
photoelectric polarimetry.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in NIM
- …