5,684 research outputs found
Radio-loudness in black hole transients: evidence for an inclination effect
Accreting stellar-mass black holes appear to populate two branches in a
radio:X-ray luminosity plane. We have investigated the X-ray variability
properties of a large number of black hole low-mass X-ray binaries, with the
aim of unveiling the physical reasons underlying the radio-loud/radio-quiet
nature of these sources, in the context of the known accretion-ejection
connection. A reconsideration of the available radio and X-ray data from a
sample of black hole X-ray binaries confirms that being radio-quiet is the more
normal mode of behaviour for black hole binaries. In the light of this we chose
to test, once more, the hypothesis that radio loudness could be a consequence
of the inclination of the X-ray binary. We compared the slope of the
`hard-line' (an approximately linear correlation between X-ray count rate and
rms variability, visible in the hard states of active black holes), the orbital
inclination, and the radio-nature of the sources of our sample. We found that
high-inclination objects show steeper hard-lines than low-inclination objects,
and tend to display a radio-quiet nature (with the only exception of V404 Cyg),
as opposed to low-inclination objects, which appear to be radio-loud(er). While
in need of further confirmation, our results suggest that - contrary to what
has been believed for years - the radio-loud/quiet nature of black-hole low
mass X-ray binaries might be an inclination effect, rather than an intrinsic
source property. This would solve an important issue in the context of the
inflow-outflow connection, thus providing significant constraints to the models
for the launch of hard-state compact jets.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, accepted for pubblication on MNRA
The value function of an asymptotic exit-time optimal control problem
We consider a class of exit--time control problems for nonlinear systems with
a nonnegative vanishing Lagrangian. In general, the associated PDE may have
multiple solutions, and known regularity and stability properties do not hold.
In this paper we obtain such properties and a uniqueness result under some
explicit sufficient conditions. We briefly investigate also the infinite
horizon problem
Gravitational lensing and dynamics in SL2S\,J02140-0535: Probing the mass out to large radius
We aim to probe the mass of SL2S\,J02140-0535, a galaxy group at = 0.44
from the Strong Lensing Legacy Survey (SL2S). We combine strong lensing
modeling and dynamical constraints. The strong lensing analysis is based on
multi-band HST/ACS observations exhibiting strong lensing features that we have
followed-up spectroscopically with VLT/FORS2. To constrain the scale radius of
an NFW mass profile that cannot be constrained by strong lensing, we propose a
new method by taking advantage of the large-scale dynamical information
provided by VLT/FORS2 and KECK/LRIS spectroscopy of group members. In constrast
to other authors, we show that the observed lensing features in
SL2S\,J02140-0535 belong to different background sources: one at = 1.7
0.1 produces three images, while the other at = 1.023 0.001 has
only a single image. Our unimodal NFW mass model reproduces these images very
well. It is characterized by a concentration parameter = 6.0
0.6, which is slightly greater than the value expected from CDM
simulations for a mass of M 1 10 M_{\sun}.
The spectroscopic analysis of group members also reveals a unimodal structure
that exhibits no evidence of merging. We compare our dynamic mass estimate with
an independent weak-lensing based mass estimate finding that both are
consistent. Our combined lensing and dynamical analysis of SL2S\,J02140-0535
demonstrates the importance of spectroscopic information in reliably
identifying the lensing features. Our findings argue that the system is a
relaxed, massive galaxy group where mass is traced by light. This work shows a
potentially useful method for constraining large-scale properties inaccessible
to strong lensing, such as the scale radius of the NFW profile.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
SARCS strong lensing galaxy groups: I - optical, weak lensing, and scaling laws
We present the weak lensing and optical analysis of the SL2S-ARCS (SARCS)
sample of strong lens candidates. The sample is based on the Strong Lensing
Legacy Survey (SL2S), a systematic search of strong lensing systems in the
photometric Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey (CFHTLS). The SARCS
sample focuses on arc-like features and is designed to contain mostly galaxy
groups. We briefly present the weak lensing methodology that we use to estimate
the mass of the SARCS objects. Among 126 candidates, we obtain a weak lensing
detection for 89 objects with velocity dispersions of the Singular Isothermal
Sphere mass model ranging from 350 to 1000 km/s with an average value of
600km/s, corresponding to a rich galaxy group (or poor cluster). From the
galaxies belonging to the bright end of the group's red sequence (M_i<-21), we
derive the optical properties of the SARCS candidates. We obtain typical
richnesses of N=5-15 galaxies and optical luminosities of L=0.5-1.5e+12 Lsol
(within a radius of 0.5 Mpc). We use these galaxies to compute luminosity
density maps, from which a morphological classification reveals that a large
fraction of the sample are groups with a complex light distribution, either
elliptical or multimodal, suggesting that these objects are dynamically young
structures. We finally combine the lensing and optical analyses to draw a
sample of 80 most secure group candidates, i.e. weak lensing detection and
over-density at the lens position in the luminosity map, to remove false
detections and galaxy-scale systems from the initial sample. We use this
reduced sample to probe the optical scaling relations in combination with a
sample of massive galaxy clusters. We detect the expected correlations over the
probed range in mass with a typical scatter of 25% in the SIS velocity
dispersion at a given richness or luminosity, making these scaling laws
interesting mass proxie
A connection between accretion states and the formation of ultra-relativistic outflows in a neutron star X-ray binary
The nearby accreting neutron star binary Sco X-1 is the closest example of
ongoing relativistic jet production at high Eddington ratios. Previous radio
studies have revealed that alongside mildly relativistic, radio-emitting
ejecta, there is at times a much faster transfer of energy from the region of
the accretion flow along the jet. The nature of this ultrarelativistic flow
remains unclear and while there is some evidence for a similar phenomenon in
other systems which might contain neutron stars, it has never been observed in
a confirmed black hole system. We have compared these previous radio
observations with a new analysis of simultaneous X-ray observations which were
performed with the RXTE mission. We find that the ejection of the
ultra-relativistic flow seems to be associated with the simultaneous appearance
of two particular types of quasi-periodic oscillations in the X-ray power
spectrum. In contrast, the mildly relativistic, radio-emitting outflows may be
associated with flat-topped broad band noise in the X-ray power spectrum. This
is the first time a link, albeit tentative, has been found between these
mysterious unseen flows and the accretion flow from which they are launched.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
A complex state transition from the black hole candidate Swift J1753.5-0127
We present our monitoring campaign of the outburst of the black-hole
candidate Swift J1753.5-0127, observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer and
the Swift satellites. After ~4.5 years since its discovery, the source had a
transition to the hard intermediate state. We performed spectral and timing
studies of the transition showing that, unlike the majority of the transient
black holes, the system did not go to the soft states but it returned to the
hard state after a few months. During this transition Swift J1753.5-0127
features properties which are similar to those displayed by the black hole
Cygnus X-1. We compared Swift J1753.5-0127 to one dynamically confirmed black
hole and two neutron stars showing that its power spectra are in agreement with
the binary hosting a black hole. We also suggest that the prolonged period at
low flux that followed the initial flare is reminiscent of that observed in
other X-ray binaries, as well as in cataclysmic variables.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
Meteorological noise in wire strainmeter data from Parkfield, California
Four invar-wire strainmeters have been operated in shallow trench sites for 19 months beside the San Andreas Fault at Parkfield, California. Temperature and rainfall records were correlated with 1 yr of strainmeter data, and 90 per cent of the strain signal power at periods between 2 and 120 days was predicted entirely from these records, using a multi-channel, Wiener filtering technique. The residual strain series fluctuates with a peak-to-peak amplitude of nearly 10^(â6) strain. Anomalous strain signals taking place over several days would have to be larger than this to be identifiable. Previous work shows that signals of amplitude 10^(â7) strain are identifiable if they take place within hours. Deep creep events giving rise to such signals, which may occur as precursors to earthquakes, would need to be very large.
Other workers have shown that shallow, short-base line tiltmeters in California are also very sensitive to meteorological noise. Strainmeter and tiltmeter installations can be made less sensitive to meteorological noise, either by manufacturing instruments with long (âŒ1 km) base lines, or by using tunnel or borehole sites (âł100 m deep). Proven instruments of these types are costly, unless an underground site was already available. However, if networks of shallow, shortbase line strainmeters or tiltmeters are to be used for earthquake prediction, it is obviously desirable to invest in at least a few installations which are less sensitive to noise of meteorological origin
Stand and coarse woody debris dynamics in subalpine Norway spruce forests withdrawn from regular management
We studied structural characteristics, amount and quality of coarse woody debris (CWD), intensity of competition and mortality in two subalpine Norway spruce stands withdrawn from regular management. The stands, that we measured twice (in 1993 and 2005), have similar age and structure, but a different time has elapsed since the last silvicultural treatments (respectively 22 and about 55 y). The main purposes were to analyze the current stage of development as compared to the old-growth one and to highlight the legacies of past management. Although relatively old, the first plot (Valbona 1) was at the end of the pole stage. CWD was low in volume and was mainly of man-made origin (stumps). A recent thinning from below has reduced density-dependent competition and delayed the development of old-growth characteristics. The second plot (Valbona 2a) was at the beginning of the transition stage, with density-dependent and allogenic mortality both active at the same time. CWD volume was higher in plot Valbona 2a than in Valbona 1, but neither was comparable yet to the reference old-growth sites from Central Europe, both in quantity and in quality (e.g., decay rate continuity). The effects of the past management were: (1) reducing the quality and quantity of the CWD, (2) alleviating competition, (3) increasing resistance to minor disturbances and, as a consequence, (4) delaying the development processes. In mature or overmature subalpine Norway spruce stands withdrawn from regular management many decades are necessary to develop old-growth characteristics and a longer period of time is necessary to reach a true old-growth stage
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