1,402 research outputs found
Probabilistic evaluation of n traces with no putative source: A likelihood ratio based approach in an investigative framework
Analysis of marks recovered from different crime scenes can be useful to detect a linkage between criminal cases, even though a putative source for the recovered traces is not available. This particular circumstance is often encountered in the early stage of investigations and thus, the evaluation of evidence association may provide useful information for the investigators. This association is evaluated here from a probabilistic point of view: a likelihood ratio based approach is suggested in order to quantify the strength of the evidence of trace association in the light of two mutually exclusive propositions, namely that the n traces come from a common source or from an unspecified number of sources. To deal with this kind of problem, probabilistic graphical models are used, in form of Bayesian networks and object-oriented Bayesian networks, allowing users to intuitively handle with uncertainty related to the inferential problem
Reconnection-driven particle acceleration in relativistic shear flows
Particle energization in shear flows is invoked to explain non-thermal
emission from the boundaries of relativistic astrophysical jets. Yet, the
physics of particle injection, i.e., the mechanism that allows thermal
particles to participate in shear-driven acceleration, remains unknown. With
particle-in-cell simulations, we study the development of Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH)
instabilities seeded by the velocity shear between a relativistic
magnetically-dominated electron-positron jet and a weakly magnetized
electron-ion ambient plasma. We show that, in their nonlinear stages, KH
vortices generate kinetic-scale reconnection layers, which efficiently energize
the jet particles, thus providing a first-principles mechanism for particle
injection into shear-driven acceleration. Our work lends support to
spine-sheath models of jet emission - with a fast core/spine surrounded by a
slower sheath - and can explain the origin of radio-emitting electrons at the
boundaries of relativistic jets.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 1 appendi
First optical validation of a Schwarzschild Couder telescope: the ASTRI SST-2M Cherenkov telescope
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) represents the most advanced facility
designed for Cherenkov Astronomy. ASTRI SST-2M has been developed as a
demonstrator for the Small Size Telescope in the context of the upcoming CTA.
Its main innovation consists in the optical layout which implements the
Schwarzschild-Couder configuration and is fully validated for the first time.
The ASTRI SST-2M optical system represents the first qualified example for two
mirrors telescope for Cherenkov Astronomy.
This configuration permits to (i) maintain a high optical quality across a
large FoV (ii) de-magnify the plate scale, (iii) exploit new technological
solutions for focal plane sensors. The goal of the paper is to present the
optical qualification of the ASTRI SST-2M telescope. The qualification has been
obtained measuring the PSF sizes generated in the focal plane at various
distance from the optical axis. These values have been compared with the
performances expected by design.
After an introduction on the Gamma Astronomy from the ground, the optical
design and how it has been implemented for ASTRI SST-2M is discussed. Moreover
the description of the setup used to qualify the telescope over the full field
of view is shown.
We report the results of the first--light optical qualification. The required
specification of a flat PSF of arcmin in a large field of view ~10
deg has been demonstrated. These results validate the design specifications,
opening a new scenario for Cherenkov Gamma ray Astronomy and, in particular,
for the detection of high energy (5 - 300 TeV) gamma rays and wide-field
observations with CTA.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Spectral Index of the Diffuse Radio Background Measured From 100 to 200 MHz
The mean absolute brightness temperature of the diffuse radio background was
measured as a function of frequency in a continuous band between 100 and 200
MHz over an effective solid angle of ~pi str at high Galactic latitude. A
spectral brightness temperature index of beta = 2.5 +/- 0.1 (alpha_s = 0.5) was
derived from the observations, where the error limits are 3-sigma and include
estimates of the instrumental systematics. Zenith drift scans with central
declinations of -26.5 degrees and spanning right ascensions 0 to 10 hours
yielded little variation in the mean spectral index. The mean absolute
brightness temperature at 150 MHz was found to reach a minimum of T = 237 +/-
10 K at a right ascension of 2.5 hours. Combining these measurements with those
of Haslam et al. 1982 yields a spectral index of beta = 2.52 +/- 0.04 between
150 and 408 MHz.Comment: 8 pages including 7 figures and 4 tables. Accepted by A
Particle Acceleration in Pulsar Wind Nebulae: PIC modelling
We discuss the role of particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations in unveiling the
origin of the emitting particles in PWNe. After describing the basics of the
PIC technique, we summarize its implications for the quiescent and the flaring
emission of the Crab Nebula, as a prototype of PWNe. A consensus seems to be
emerging that, in addition to the standard scenario of particle acceleration
via the Fermi process at the termination shock of the pulsar wind, magnetic
reconnection in the wind, at the termination shock and in the Nebula plays a
major role in powering the multi-wavelength signatures of PWNe.Comment: 32 pages, 16 figures, to appear in the book "Modelling Nebulae"
edited by D. Torres for Springer, based on the invited contributions to the
workshop held in Sant Cugat (Barcelona), June 14-17, 201
Sulphur Compounds: Comparison of Different Sorbent Tubes for their Detection
Different techniques have been developed for the analysis of gaseous sulphur pollutants, to maximize the analytical signals. In a complex matrix, such as odorous emissions, the detection of sulphur compounds can be critical in GC analysis, due to the lower concentration of these pollutants and the disturbing effect of co-eluting hydrocarbons. However, their detection is fundamental because they have a non-negligible odour impact. In the field of gaseous emissions analytics, it is common to use sorbent tubes for the sampling step. This technology uses different adsorbent materials, with different selectivity depending on the nature of the gas to be analysed. This work aims to evaluate the ability of three different sorbent tubes to collect different sulphur compounds, belonging to the classes of mercaptans, thioethers and aromatic heterocyclic compounds. A standard solution of 10 sulphur compounds was prepared by diluting in methanol 50 µL of each liquid standard into a 10 mL flask. Subsequently, this solution was diluted in methanol to obtain sulphur standards at five different concentrations (approximately 5-500 ng/µL). The tubes were loaded with the standard solutions with an aliquot of each solution, using a gas chromatograph packed column injector and subsequently analysed by TD-GC-MS. By the results obtained - average Response Factor (RF) and its Relative Standard Deviation (% RSD), it is possible to conduct a comparison among these tubes and evaluate their performance. From the comparison of the tubes, discussing % RSD, it is possible to highlight a slightly better performance, in terms of the number of compounds with % RSD ≤ 30%, for tubes specific for sulphur compounds. Focusing on RF values, multi-sorbent bed tubes show slightly higher RFs for very volatile sulphur compounds, but Sulphur tubes present higher RF values for 6 compounds out of 10 compounds considered. The performance of Tenax TA tubes, instead, appears strictly correlated with the compound’s volatility and therefore they don’t appear useful for sorption of very volatile compounds
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