Multimodal Differential Emission Measure in the Solar Corona

The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) telescope on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) provides coronal EUV imaging over a broader temperature sensitivity range than the previous generations of instruments (EUVI, EIT, and TRACE). Differential emission measure tomography (DEMT) of the solar corona based on AIA data is presented here for the first time. The main product of DEMT is the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of the local differential emission measure (LDEM). While in previous studies, based on EIT or EUVI data, there were 3 available EUV bands, with a sensitivity range $\sim 0.60 - 2.70$ MK, the present study is based on the 4 cooler AIA bands (aimed at studying the quiet sun), sensitive to the range $\sim 0.55 - 3.75$ MK. The AIA filters allow exploration of new parametric LDEM models. Since DEMT is better suited for lower activity periods, we use data from Carrington Rotation 2099, when the Sun was in its most quiescent state during the AIA mission. Also, we validate the parametric LDEM inversion technique by applying it to standard bi-dimensional (2D) differential emission measure (DEM) analysis on sets of simultaneous AIA images, and comparing the results with DEM curves obtained using other methods. Our study reveals a ubiquitous bimodal LDEM distribution in the quiet diffuse corona, which is stronger for denser regions. We argue that the nanoflare heating scenario is less likely to explain these results, and that alternative mechanisms, such as wave dissipation appear better supported by our results.Comment: 52 pages, 18 figure

Chasing extreme blazars with INTEGRAL

Within the blazar population, hard X-ray selected objects are of particular interest as they tend to lie at each end of the blazar sequence. In particular, flat spectrum radio quasars located at high redshifts display the most powerful jets, the largest black hole masses and the most luminous accretion disks: their spectral energy distribution has a Compton peak in the sub-MeV region which favours their detection by instruments like INTEGRAL/IBIS and Swift/BAT. These sources are even more extreme than blazars selected in other wavebands, like, for example, the gamma-ray range explored by Fermi. Here we report on a sample of 12 high redshift blazars detected so far by INTEGRAL, including 3 newly identified objects. Some properties of the combined IBIS/BAT sample of high redshift blazars (z>2) are also compared to those of a similar similar sample obtained by Fermi.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Proceedings of "An INTEGRAL view of the high-energy sky (the first 10 years)" the 9th INTEGRAL Workshop, October 15-19, 2012, Paris, France, in Proceedings of Science (INTEGRAL 2012), Eds. A. Goldwurm, F. Lebrun and C. Winkler, (http://pos.sissa.it/cgi-bin/reader/conf.cgi?confid=176), id=05

Swift/XRT follow-up observations of unidentified INTEGRAL/IBIS sources

Many sources listed in the 4th IBIS/ISGRI survey are still unidentified, i.e. lacking an X-ray counterpart or simply not studied at lower energies (< 10 keV). The cross-correlation between the list of IBIS sources in the 4th catalogue and the Swift/XRT data archive is of key importance to search for the X-ray counterparts; in fact, the positional accuracy of few arcseconds obtained with XRT allows us to perform more efficient and reliable follow-up observations at other wavelengths (optical, UV, radio). In this work, we present the results of the XRT observations for four new gamma-ray sources: IGR J12123-5802, IGR J1248.2-5828, IGR J13107-5626 and IGR J14080-3023. For IGR J12123-5802 we find a likely counterpart, but further information are needed to classified this object, IGR J1248.2-5828 is found to be a Seyfert 1.9, for IGR J13107-5626 we suggest a possible AGN nature, while IGR J14080-3023 is classified as a Seyfert 1.5 galaxy.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure and 2 tables. Accepted for publication on PoS (contribution PoS(extremesky2009)018), proceedings of "The Extreme sky: Sampling the Universe above 10 keV", held in Otranto (Italy), 13-17 October 200

Broadband X-ray spectrum of the newly discovered broad line radio galaxy IGR J21247+5058

In this paper we present radio and high energy observations of the INTEGRAL source IGR J21247+5058, a broad line emitting galaxy obscured by the Galactic plane. Archival VLA radio data indicate that IGR J21247+5058 can be classified as an FRII Broad Line Radio Galaxy. The spectrum between 610 MHz and 15 GHz is typical of synchrotron self-absorbed radiation with a peak at 8 GHz and a low energy turnover; the core fraction is 0.1 suggestive of a moderate Doppler boosting of the base of the jet. The high energy broad-band spectrum was obtained by combining XMM-Newton and Swift/XRT observation with INTEGRAL/IBIS data. The 0.4-100 keV spectrum is well described by a power law, with slope $\Gamma$=1.5, characterised by complex absorption due to two layers of material partially covering the source and a high energy cut-off around 70-80 keV. Features such as a narrow iron line and a Compton reflection component, if present, are weak, suggesting that reprocessing of the power law photons in the accretion disk plays a negligible role in the source.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, accepted for pubblication on MNRA

A Method for the Measurement of Digitizers’ Absolute Phase Error

A lot of engineering applications, from telecommunications to power systems, require accurate measurement of phase angles. Some of them, like synchrophasor measurement and calibration of instrument transformers with digital output, in order to reach high phase measurement accuracy, require the knowledge of phase error of digitizers. Therefore, in this paper a method for the measurement of digitizers’ absolute phase errors is proposed. It adopts a sinewave and two square waves, that are the digitizer sample clock and a phase reference signal. Combining the measurements of the relative phase differences between the adopted signals it is possible to accurately evaluate the absolute phase error of a digitize

Combined risk factors for melanoma in a Mediterranean population

A case–control study of non-familial melanoma including 183 incident cases and 179 controls was conducted in North-Eastern Italy to identify important risk factors and determine how combination of these affects risk in a Mediterranean population. Presence of dysplastic nevi (OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 2.4–7.4), low propensity to tan (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.1–5.0), light eye (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.1–5.2), and light skin colour (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.4–12.1) were significantly associated with melanoma risk after adjustment for age, gender and pigmentation characteristics. A chart which identifies melanoma risk associated with combinations of these factors is presented; it can be used to identify subjects who would most benefit from preventive measures in Mediterranean populations. According to the combination of these factors, a relative risk range from 1 to 98.5 was found. Light skin colour, high number of sunburns with blistering, and low propensity to tan were significantly associated with melanoma thickness, possibly indicating that individuals with these characteristics underestimate their risk and seek attention when their lesion is already advanced. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaig

Nonthermal hard X-ray excess in the Coma cluster: resolving the discrepancy between the results of different PDS data analyses

The detection of a nonthermal excess in the Coma cluster spectrum by two BeppoSAX observations analyzed with the XAS package (Fusco-Femiano et al.) has been disavowed by an analysis (Rossetti & Molendi) performed with a different software package (SAXDAS) for the extraction of the spectrum. To resolve this discrepancy we reanalyze the PDS data considering the same software used by Rossetti & Molendi. A correct selection of the data and the exclusion of contaminating sources in the background determination show that also the SAXDAS analysis reports a nonthermal excess with respect to the thermal emission at about the same confidence level of that obtained with the XAS package (~4.8sigma). Besides, we report the lack of the systematic errors investigated by Rossetti & Molendi and Nevalainen et al. taking into account the whole sample of the PDS observations off the Galactic plane, as already shown in our data analysis of Abell 2256 (Fusco-Femiano, Landi & Orlandini). All this eliminates any ambiguity and confirms the presence of a hard tail in the spectrum of the Coma cluster.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Towards a Powerful Hardware‐in‐the‐Loop System for Virtual Calibration of an Off‐Road Diesel Engine

A common challenge among internal combustion engine (ICE) manufacturers is shorten-ing the development time while facing requirements and specifications that are becoming more complex and border in scope. Virtual simulation and calibration are effective instruments in the face of these demands. This article presents the development of zero‐dimensional (0D)—real‐time engine and exhaust after‐treatment system (EAS) models and their deployment on a Virtual test bench (VTB). The models are created using a series of measurements acquired in a real test bench, carefully performed in view of ensuring the highest reliability of the models themselves. A zero‐dimensional approach was chosen to guarantee that models could be run in real‐time and interfaced to the real engine Electronic Control Unit (ECU). Being physically based models, they react to changes in the ECU calibration parameters. Once the models are validated, they are then integrated into a Sim-ulink® based architecture with all the Inputs/Outputs connections to the ECU. This Simulink® model is then deployed on a Hardware in the Loop (HiL) machine for ECU testing and calibration. The results for engine and EAS performance and emissions align with both steady‐state and transient measurements. Finally, two different applications of the HiL system are presented to explain the opportunities and advantages of this tool integrated within the standard engine development. Ex-amples cited refer to altitude calibration activities and soot loading investigation on vehicle duty cycles. The cases described in this work are part of the actual development of one of the latest engines developed by Kohler Engines: the KDI 1903 TCR Stage V. The application of this methodology reveals a great potential for engine development and may become an essential tool for calibration engineers