A comparative analysis of gamma and hadron families at the superhigh energies recorded in experiment Pamir

A comparative analysis of hadron and gamma families which have undergone the decascading procedure is made. Results are compared with different models of interactions. In hadron families with energies Summary E sub H sup gamma 20 TeV as well as in gamma families with energies Summary E sub gamma 70 TeV, increasing azimuthal anisotropy is observed

Color Effects Associated with the 1999 Microlensing Brightness Peaks in Gravitationally Lensed Quasar Q2237+0305

Photometry of the Q2237+0305gravitational lens in VRI spectral bands with the 1.5-m telescope of the high-altitude Maidanak observatory in 1995-2000 is presented. Monitoring of Q2237+0305 in July-October 2000, made at nearly daily basis, did not reveal rapid (night-to-night and intranight) variations of brightness of the components during this time period. Rather slow changes of magnitudes of the components were observed, such as 0.08 mag fading of B and C components and 0.05 mag brightening of D in R band during July 23 - October 7, 2000. By good luck three nights in 1999 were almost at the time of the strong brightness peak of image C, and approximately in the middle of the ascending slope of the image A brightness peak. The C component was the most blue one in the system in 1998 and 1999, having changed its (V-I) color from 0.56 mag to 0.12 mag since August 1997, while its brightness increased almost 1.2 mag during this time period. The A component behaved similarly between August 1998 and August 2000, having become 0.47 mag brighter in R, and at the same time, 0.15 mag bluer. A correlation between the color variations and variations of magnitudes of the components is demonstrated to be significant and reaches 0.75, with a regression line slope of 0.33. A color (V-I) vrs color (V-R) plot shows the components settled in a cluster, stretched along a line with a slope of 1.31. Both slopes are noticeably smaller than those expected if a standard galactic interstellar reddening law were responsible for the differences between the colors of images and their variations over time. We attribute the brightness and color changes to microlensing of the quasar's structure, which we conclude is more compact at shorter wavelengths, as predicted by most quasar models featuring an energizing central source.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, LaTeX, submitted to A&

Microlensing in the double quasar SBS1520+530

We present the results of a monitoring campaign of the double quasar SBS1520+530 at Maidanak observatory from April 2003 to August 2004. We obtained light curves in V and R filters that show small-amplitude \Delta m~0.1 mag intrinsic variations of the quasar on time scales of about 100 days. The data set is consistent with the previously determined time delay of \Delta t=(130+-3) days by Burud et al. (2002). We find that the time delay corrected magnitude difference between the quasar images is now larger by (0.14+-0.03) mag than during the observations by Burud et al. (2002). This confirms the presence of gravitational microlensing variations in this system.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in A&

Time delays in PG1115+080: new estimates

We report new estimates of the time delays in the quadruple gravitationally lensed quasar PG1115+080, obtained from the monitoring data in filter R with the 1.5-m telescope at the Maidanak Mountain (Uzbekistan, Central Asia) in 2004-2006. The time delays are 16.4 days between images C and B, and 12 days between C and A1+A2, with image C being leading for both pairs. The only known estimates of the time delays in PG1115 are those based on observations by Schechter et al. (1997) -- 23.7 and 9.4 days between images C and B, C and A1+A2, respectively, as calculated by Schechter et al., and 25 and 13.3 days as revised by Barkana (1997) for the same image components with the use of another method. The new values of time delays in PG 1115+080 may be expected to provide larger estimates of the Hubble constant thus decreasing a diversity between the H_0 estimates taken from gravitationally lensed quasars and with other methods.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter

Time delay between images of the lensed quasar UM673

We study brightness variations in the double lensed quasar UM673 (Q0142-100) with the aim of measuring the time delay between its two images. In the paper we combine our previously published observational data of UM673 obtained during the 2003 - 2005 seasons at the Maidanak Observatory with archival and recently observed Maidanak and CTIO UM673 data. We analyze the V, R and I-band light curves of the A and B images of UM673, which cover ten observational seasons from August 2001 to November 2010. We also analyze the time evolution of the difference in magnitudes between images A and B of UM673 over more than ten years. We find that the quasar exhibits both short-term (with amplitude of \sim 0.1 mag in the R band) and high-amplitude (\sim 0.3 mag) long-term variability on timescales of about several months and several years, respectively. These brightness variations are used to constrain the time delay between the images of UM673. From cross-correlation analysis of the A and B quasar light curves and error analysis we measure the mean time delay and its error of 89 \pm11 days. Given the input time delay of 88 days, the most probable value of the delay that can be recovered from light curves with the same statistical properties as the observed R-band light curves of UM673 is 95{+5/-16}{+14/-29} days (68 and 95 % confidence intervals). Analysis of the V - I color variations and V, R and I-band magnitude differences of the quasar images does not show clear evidence of the microlensing variations between 1998 and 2010.Comment: Submitted to A&A, 11 pages, 9 figure

PG 1115+080: variations of the A2/A1 flux ratio and new values of the time delays

We report the results of our multicolor observations of PG 1115+080 with the 1.5-m telescope of the Maidanak Observatory (Uzbekistan, Central Asia) in 2001-2006. Monitoring data in filter R spanning the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons (76 data points) demonstrate distinct brightness variations of the source quasar with the total amplitude of almost 0.4 mag. Our R light curves have shown image C leading B by 16.4d and image (A1+A2) by 12d that is inconsistent with the previous estimates obtained by Schechter et al. in 1997 - 24.7d between B and C and 9.4d between (A1+A2) and C. The new values of time delays in PG 1115+080 must result in larger values for the Hubble constant, thus reducing difference between its estimates taken from the gravitational lenses and with other methods. Also, we analyzed variability of the A2/A1 flux ratio, as well as color changes in the archetypal "fold" lens PG 1115+080. We found the A1/A2 flux ratio to grow during 2001-2006 and to be larger at longer wavelengths. In particular, the A2/A1 flux ratio reached 0.85 in filter I in 2006. We also present evidence that both the A1 and A2 images might have undergone microlensing during 2001-2006, with the descending phase for A1 and initial phase for A2. We find that the A2/A1 flux ratio anomaly in PG 1115 can be well explained both by microlensing and by finite distance of the source quasar from the caustic fold.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, 8 tables, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Observation Of Very High Energy Cosmic-ray Families In Emulsion Chambers At High Mountain Altitudes (i)

Characteristics of cosmic-ray hadronic interactions in the 1015 - 1017 eV range are studied by observing a total of 429 cosmic-ray families of visible energy greater than 100 TeV found in emulsion chamber experiments at high mountain altitudes, Chacaltaya (5200 m above sea level) and the Pamirs (4300 m above sea level). Extensive comparisons were made with simulated families based on models so far proposed, concentrating on the relation between the observed family flux and the behaviour of high-energy showers in the families, hadronic and electromagnetic components. It is concluded that there must be global change in characteristics of hadronic interactions at around 1016 eV deviating from thise known in the accelerator energy range, specially in the forwardmost angular region of the collision. A detailed study of a new shower phenomenon of small-pT particle emissions, pT being of the order of 10 MeV/c, is carried out and its relation to the origin of huge "halo" phenomena associated with extremely high energy families is discussed as one of the possibilities. General characteristics of such super-families are surveyed. © 1992.3702365431Borisov, (1981) Nucl. Phys., 191 BBaybrina, (1984) Trudy FIAN 154, p. 1. , [in Russian], Nauka, MoscowLattes, Hadronic interactions of high energy cosmic-ray observed by emulsion chambers (1980) Physics Reports, 65, p. 151Hasegawa, ICR-Report-151-87-5 (1987) presented at FNAL CDF Seminar, , Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoCHACALTAYA Emulsion Chamber Experiment (1971) Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, 47, p. 1Yamashita, Ohsawa, Chinellato, (1984) Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics, p. 30. , Tokyo, 1984, Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of Tokyo(1984) Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics, p. 1. , Tokyo, 1984Baradzei, (1984) Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics, p. 136. , Tokyo, 1984Yamashita, (1985) J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., 54, p. 529Bolisov, (1984) Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Cosmic rays and Particle Physics, p. 248. , Tokyo, 1984, Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoTamada, Tomaszewski, (1988) Proc. 5th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, p. 324. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of Tokyo, PolandHasegawa, (1989) ICR-Report-197-89-14, , Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoCHACALTAYA Emulsion Chamber Experiment (1971) Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, 47, p. 1Okamoto, Shibata, (1987) Nucl. Instrum. Methods, 257 A, p. 155Zhdanov, (1980) FIAN preprint no. 45, , Lebedev Physical Institute, MoscowSemba, Gross Features of Nuclear Interactions around 1015eV through Observation of Gamma Ray Families (1983) Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, 76, p. 111Nikolsky, (1975) Izv. Akad. Nauk. USSR Ser. Fis., 39, p. 1160Burner, Energy spectra of cosmic rays above 1 TeV per nucleon (1990) The Astrophysical Journal, 349, p. 25Takahashi, (1990) 6th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-ray Interactions, , Tarbes, FranceRen, (1988) Phys. Rev., 38 D, p. 1404Alner, The UA5 high energy simulation program (1987) Nuclear Physics B, 291 B, p. 445Bozzo, Measurement of the proton-antiproton total and elastic cross sections at the CERN SPS collider (1984) Physics Letters B, 147 B, p. 392Wrotniak, (1985) Proc. 19th Cosmic-Ray Conf. La Jolla, 1985, 6, p. 56. , NASA Conference Publication, Washington, D.CWrotniak, (1985) Proc. 19th Cosmic-Ray Conf. La Jolla, 1985, 6, p. 328. , NASA Conference Publication, Washington, D.CMukhamedshin, (1984) Trudy FIAN, 154, p. 142. , Nauka, Moscow, [in Russian]Dunaevsky, Pluta, Slavatinsky, (1988) Proc. 5th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, p. 143. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. of Physics, Univ. of Lodz, PolandKaidalov, Ter-Martirosyan, (1987) Proc. 20th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Moscow, 1987, 5, p. 141. , Nauka, MoscowShabelsky, (1985) preprints LNPI-1113Shabelsky, (1986) preprints LNPI-1224, , Leningrad [in Russian]Hillas, (1979) Proc. 16th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Kyoto, 6, p. 13. , Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoBorisov, (1987) Phys. Lett., 190 B, p. 226Hasegawa, Tamada, (1990) 6th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, , Tarbes, FranceSemba, Gross Features of Nuclear Interactions around 1015eV through Observation of Gamma Ray Families (1983) Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, p. 111Ren, (1988) Phys. Rev., 38 D, p. 1404Dynaevsky, Zimin, (1988) Proc. 5th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interaction, p. 93. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. of Physics, Univ. of Lodz, PolandDynaevsky, (1990) Proc. 6th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, , Tarbes, France(1989) FIAN preprint no. 208, , Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow(1990) Proc. 21st Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Adelaide, 8, p. 259. , Dept. Physics and Mathematical Physics, Univ. of Adelaide, AustraliaHasegawa, (1990) ICR-Report-216-90-9, , Inst. for Cosmic-Ray Research, Univ. of TokyoTamada, (1990) Proc. 21st Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Adelaide, 1990, 8. , Dept. Physics and Mathematical Physics, Univ. of Adelaide, AustraliaTamada, (1990) ICR-Report-216-90-9(1981) Proc. 17th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Paris, 5, p. 291(1990) Proc. Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Adelaide, 1990, 8, p. 267. , Dept. Physics and Mathematical Physics, Univ. of Adelaide, Australia(1989) Inst. Nucl. Phys. 89-67/144, , preprint, Inst. Nucl. Phys., Moscow State UnivSmilnova, (1988) Proc. 5th Int. Sym. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, p. 42. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. of Physics, Univ. of Lodz, PolandGoulianos, (1986) Proc. Workshop of Particle Simulation at High Energies, , University of Wisconsin, Madison, USAIvanenko, (1983) Proc. 18th Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Bangalore, 1983, 5, p. 274. , Tata Inst. Fundamental Research, Bombay, IndiaIvanenko, (1984) Proc. Int. Symp. on Cosmic-Rays and Particle Physics, p. 101. , Tokyo, 1984, Inst. for Cosmic Ray Research, Univ. of Tokyo(1988) 5th Int. Symp. on Very High Energy Cosmic-Ray Interactions, p. 180. , Lodz, 1988, Inst. of Physics, Univ. of Lodz, Poland(1990) Proc. 21st Int. Cosmic-Ray Conf., Adelaide, 1990, 8, p. 251. , Dept. Physics and Mathematical Physics, Univ. of Adelaide, Australia(1991) Izv. AN USSR No. 4, , to be publishedNikolsky, Shaulov, Cherdyntseva, (1990) FIAN preprint no. 140, , Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow, [in Russian](1987) Proc. 20th Int. 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Observation Of A High-energy Cosmic-ray Family Caused By A Centauro-type Nuclear Interaction In The Joint Emulsion Chamber Experiment At The Pamirs

An exotic cosmic-ray family event is observed in the large emulsion chamber exposed by the joint at the Pamirs (4360 m above sea level). The family is composed of 120γ-ray-induced showers and 37 hadron-induced showers with individual visible energy exceeding 1 TeV. The decisive feature of the event is the hadron dominance: ΣEγ, ΣE(γ) h, 〈Eγ, 〈E(γ) h〉, 〈Eγ·Rγ〉 and 〈E(γ)·Rh〉 being 298 TeV, 476 TeV, 2.5 TeV, 12.9 TeV, 28.6 GeV m and 173 GeV m, respectively. Most probably the event is due to a Centauro interaction, which occured in the atmosphere at ∼700 m above the chamber. The event will constitute the second beautiful candidate for a Centauro observed at the Pamirs. © 1987.1901-2226233Bayburina, (1981) Nucl. Phys. B, 191, p. 1Lattes, Fujimoto, Hasegawa, Hadronic interactions of high energy cosmic-ray observed by emulsion chambers (1980) Physics Reports, 65, p. 151(1984) Trudy FIAN, 154, p. 1Borisov, (1984) Proc. Intern. Symp. on Cosmic rays and particle physics, p. 3. , TokyoRen, (1985) 19th Intern. Cosmic ray Conf., 6, p. 317. , La JollaYamashita, (1985) 19th Intern. Cosmic ray Conf., 6, p. 364. , La JollaTamada, (1977) Nuovo Cimento, 41 B, p. 245T. Shibata et al., to be publishedHillas, (1979) 16th Intern. Cosmic ray Conf., 6, p. 13. , KyotoBattiston, Measurement of the proton-antiproton elastic and total cross section at a centre-of-mass energy of 540 GeV (1982) Physics Letters B, 117, p. 126UA5 Collab., G.J. Alner et al., preprint CERN-EP/85-62Taylor, (1976) Phys. Rev. D, 14, p. 1217Burnett, (1984) Proc. Intern. Symp. on Cosmic rays and particle physics, p. 468. , Toky