427 research outputs found
Fold Lens Flux Anomalies: A Geometric Approach
We develop a new approach for studying flux anomalies in quadruply-imaged
fold lens systems. We show that in the absence of substructure, microlensing,
or differential absorption, the expected flux ratios of a fold pair can be
tightly constrained using only geometric arguments. We apply this technique to
11 known quadruple lens systems in the radio and infrared, and compare our
estimates to the Monte Carlo based results of Keeton, Gaudi, and Petters. We
show that a robust estimate for a flux ratio from a smoothly varying potential
can be found, and at long wavelengths those lenses deviating from from this
ratio almost certainly contain significant substructure.Comment: 16 pages, including 8 figure
Formalism for testing theories of gravity using lensing by compact objects. III: Braneworld gravity
Braneworld gravity is a model that endows physical space with an extra
dimension. In the type II Randall-Sundrum braneworld gravity model, the extra
dimension modifies the spacetime geometry around black holes, and changes
predictions for the formation and survival of primordial black holes. We
develop a comprehensive analytical formalism for far-field black hole lensing
in this model, using invariant quantities to compute all geometric optics
lensing observables. We then make the first analysis of wave optics in
braneworld lensing, working in the semi-classical limit. We show that wave
optics offers the only realistic way to observe braneworld effects in black
hole lensing. We point out that if primordial braneworld black holes exist,
have mass M, and contribute a fraction f of the dark matter, then roughly 3e5 x
f (M/1e-18 Msun)^(-1) of them lie within our Solar System. These objects, which
we call "attolenses," would produce interference fringes in the energy spectra
of gamma-ray bursts at energies ~100 (M/1e-18 Msun)^(-1) MeV (which will soon
be accessible with the GLAST satellite). Primordial braneworld black holes
spread throughout the universe could produce similar interference effects; the
probability for "attolensing" may be non-negligible. If interference fringes
were observed, the fringe spacing would yield a simple upper limit on M.
Detection of a primordial black hole with M <~ 1e-19 Msun would challenge
general relativity and favor the braneworld model. Further work on lensing
tests of braneworld gravity must proceed into the physical optics regime, which
awaits a description of the full spacetime geometry around braneworld black
holes.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures; accepted in PRD; expanded discussion of
prospects for observing attolensing with GLAS
Probing dark matter substructure in the gravitational lens HE0435-1223 with the WFC3 grism
Strong gravitational lensing provides a powerful test of Cold Dark Matter
(CDM) as it enables the detection and mass measurement of low mass haloes even
if they do not contain baryons. Compact lensed sources such as Active Galactic
Nuclei (AGN) are particularly sensitive to perturbing subhalos, but their use
as a test of CDM has been limited by the small number of systems which have
significant radio emission which is extended enough avoid significant lensing
by stars in the plane of the lens galaxy, and red enough to be minimally
affected by differential dust extinction. Narrow-line emission is a promising
alternative as it is also extended and, unlike radio, detectable in virtually
all optically selected AGN lenses. We present first results from a WFC3 grism
narrow-line survey of lensed quasars, for the quadruply lensed AGN HE0435-1223.
Using a forward modelling pipeline which enables us to robustly account for
spatial blending, we measure the [OIII] 5007 \AA~ flux ratios of the four
images. We find that the [OIII] fluxes and positions are well fit by a simple
smooth mass model for the main lens. Our data rule out a NFW perturber projected within 1\farcs0 (0\farcs1)
arcseconds of each of the lensed images, where is the perturber mass
within its central 600 pc. The non-detection is broadly consistent with the
expectations of CDM for a single system. The sensitivity achieved
demonstrates that powerful limits on the nature of dark matter can be obtained
with the analysis of narrow-line lenses.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 15 pages, 8 figure
Examination of Communication Delays on Team Performance: Utilizing the International Space Station (ISS) as a Test Bed for Analog Research
Operational conjectures about space exploration missions of the future indicate that space crews will need to be more autonomous from mission control and operate independently. This is in part due to the expectation that communication quality between the ground and exploration crews will be more limited and delayed. Because of potential adverse effects on communication quality, both researchers and operational training and engineering experts have suggested that communication delays and the impact these delays have on the quality of communications to the crew will create performance decrements if crews are not given adequate training and tools to support more autonomous operations. This presentation will provide an overview of a research study led by the Behavioral Health and Performance Element (BHP) of the NASA Human Research Program that examines the impact of implementing a communication delay on ISS on individual and team factors and outcomes, including performance and related perceptions of autonomy. The methodological design, data collection efforts, and initial results of this study to date will be discussed . The results will focus on completed missions, DRATS and NEEMO15. Lessons learned from implementing this study within analog environments will also be discussed. One lesson learned is that the complexities of garnishing a successful data collection campaign from these high fidelity analogs requires perseverance and a strong relationship with operational experts. Results of this study will provide a preliminary understanding of the impact of communication delays on individual and team performance as well as an insight into how teams perform and interact in a space-like environment . This will help prepare for implementation of communication delay tests on the ISS, targeted for Increment 35/36
Substructures in lens galaxies: PG1115+080 and B1555+375, two fold configurations
We study the anomalous flux ratio which is observed in some four-image lens
systems, where the source lies close to a fold caustic. In this case two of the
images are close to the critical curve and their flux ratio should be equal to
unity, instead in several cases the observed value differs significantly. The
most plausible solution is to invoke the presence of substructures, as for
instance predicted by the Cold Dark Matter scenario, located near the two
images. In particular, we analyze the two fold lens systems PG1115+080 and
B1555+375, for which there are not yet satisfactory models which explain the
observed anomalous flux ratios. We add to a smooth lens model, which reproduces
well the positions of the images but not the anomalous fluxes, one or two
substructures described as singular isothermal spheres. For PG1115+080 we
consider a smooth model with the influence of the group of galaxies described
by a SIS and a substructure with mass as well as a
smooth model with an external shear and one substructure with mass . For B1555+375 either a strong external shear or two substructures
with mass reproduce the data quite well.Comment: 26 pages, updated bibliography, Accepted for publication in
Astrophysics & Space Scienc
The climate sensitivity of carbon, timber, and species richness covaries with forest age in boreal–temperate North America
Climate change threatens the provisioning of forest ecosystem services and biodiversity (ESB). The climate sensitivity of ESB may vary with forest development from young to old-growth conditions as structure and composition shift over time and space. This study addresses knowledge gaps hindering implementation of adaptive forest management strategies to sustain ESB. We focused on a number of ESB indicators to (a) analyze associations among carbon storage, timber growth rate, and species richness along a forest development gradient; (b) test the sensitivity of these associations to climatic changes; and (c) identify hotspots of climate sensitivity across the boreal–temperate forests of eastern North America. From pre-existing databases and literature, we compiled a unique dataset of 18,507 forest plots. We used a full Bayesian framework to quantify responses of nine ESB indicators. The Bayesian models were used to assess the sensitivity of these indicators and their associations to projected increases in temperature and precipitation. We found the strongest association among the investigated ESB indicators in old forests (\u3e170 years). These forests simultaneously support high levels of carbon storage, timber growth, and species richness. Older forests also exhibit low climate sensitivity of associations among ESB indicators as compared to younger forests. While regions with a currently low combined ESB performance benefitted from climate change, regions with a high ESB performance were particularly vulnerable to climate change. In particular, climate sensitivity was highest east and southeast of the Great Lakes, signaling potential priority areas for adaptive management. Our findings suggest that strategies aimed at enhancing the representation of older forest conditions at landscape scales will help sustain ESB in a changing world
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: CO(J = 3 - 2) mapping and lens modeling of an ACT-selected dusty star-forming galaxy
We report Northern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) CO()
observations of the dusty star-forming galaxy ACT-S\,J020941+001557 at , which was detected as an unresolved source in the Atacama Cosmology
Telescope (ACT) equatorial survey. Our spatially resolved spectral line data
support the derivation of a gravitational lens model from 37 independent
velocity channel maps using a pixel-based algorithm, from which we infer a
velocity-dependent magnification factor with a
luminosity-weighted mean \left\approx 13. The resulting
source-plane reconstruction is consistent with a rotating disk, although other
scenarios cannot be ruled out by our data. After correction for lensing, we
derive a line luminosity , a cold gas mass , a dynamical mass , and a gas mass
fraction . The line brightness
temperature ratio of relative to a Green Bank Telescope
CO() detection may be elevated by a combination of external heating of
molecular clouds, differential lensing, and/or pointing errors.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted to Ap
Prospects for CDM sub-halo detection using high angular resolution observations
In the CDM scenario, dark matter halos are assembled hierarchically from
smaller subunits. A long-standing problem with this picture is that the number
of sub-halos predicted by CDM simulations is orders of magnitudes higher than
the known number of satellite galaxies in the vicinity of the Milky Way. A
plausible way out of this problem could be that the majority of these sub-halos
somehow have so far evaded detection. If such "dark galaxies" do indeed exist,
gravitational lensing may offer one of the most promising ways to detect them.
Dark matter sub-halos in the 1e6 - 1e10 solar mass range should cause strong
gravitational lensing on (sub)milliarcsecond scales. We study the feasibility
of a strong lensing detection of dark sub-halos by deriving the image
separations expected for density profiles favoured by recent simulations and
comparing these to the angular resolution of both existing and upcoming
observational facilities. We find that there is a reasonable probability to
detect sub-halo lensing effects in high resolution observations at radio
wavelengths, such as produced by the upcoming VSOP-2 satellite, and thereby
test the existence of dark galaxies.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings for "The Universe under the
Microscope" (AHAR 2008), held in Bad Honnef (Germany) in April 2008, to be
published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series by Institute of Physics
Publishing, R. Schoedel, A. Eckart, S. Pfalzner, and E. Ros (eds.
Chandra Observations of SDSS J1004+4112: Constraints on the Lensing Cluster and Anomalous X-Ray Flux Ratios of the Quadruply Imaged Quasar
We present results from Chandra observations of SDSS J1004+4112, a strongly
lensed quasar system with a maximum image separation of 15". All four bright
images of the quasar, as well as resolved X-ray emission originating from the
lensing cluster, are clearly detected. The emission from the lensing cluster
extends out to approximately 1.5 arcmin. We measure the bolometric X-ray
luminosity and temperature of the lensing cluster to be 4.7e44 erg s^-1 and 6.4
keV, consistent with the luminosity-temperature relation for distant clusters.
The mass estimated from the X-ray observation shows excellent agreement with
the mass derived from gravitational lensing. The X-ray flux ratios of the
quasar images differ markedly from the optical flux ratios, and the combined
X-ray spectrum of the images possesses an unusually strong Fe Kalpha emission
line, both of which are indicative of microlensing.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Version with
high-quality color figures at
http://cosmic.riken.jp/ota/publications/index.htm
Examination of Communication Delays on Team Performance: Utilizing the ISS as a Testbed for Analog Research
No abstract availabl
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