445 research outputs found
On the accuracy of the Perturbative Approach for Strong Lensing: Local Distortion for Pseudo-Elliptical Models
The Perturbative Approach (PA) introduced by \citet{alard07} provides
analytic solutions for gravitational arcs by solving the lens equation
linearized around the Einstein ring solution. This is a powerful method for
lens inversion and simulations in that it can be used, in principle, for
generic lens models. In this paper we aim to quantify the domain of validity of
this method for three quantities derived from the linearized mapping: caustics,
critical curves, and the deformation cross section (i.e. the arc cross section
in the infinitesimal circular source approximation). We consider lens models
with elliptical potentials, in particular the Singular Isothermal Elliptic
Potential and Pseudo-Elliptical Navarro--Frenk--White models. We show that the
PA is exact for this first model. For the second, we obtain constraints on the
model parameter space (given by the potential ellipticity parameter
and characteristic convergence ) such that the PA is
accurate for the aforementioned quantities. In this process we obtain analytic
expressions for several lensing functions, which are valid for the PA in
general. The determination of this domain of validity could have significant
implications for the use of the PA, but it still needs to be probed with
extended sources.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
Analytic Solutions for Navarro--Frenk--White Lens Models for Low Characteristic Convergences
The Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) density profile is often used to model
gravitational lenses. For low values of the characteristic convergence
() of this model - corresponding to galaxy and galaxy group
mass scales - a high numerical precision is required in order to accurately
compute several quantities in the strong lensing regime. An alternative for
fast and accurate computations is to derive analytic approximations in this
limit. In this work we obtain analytic solutions for several lensing quantities
for elliptical (ENFW) and pseudo-elliptical (PNFW) NFW lens models on the
typical scales where gravitational arcs are expected to be formed, in the
limit, establishing their domain of validity. We derive
analytic solutions for the convergence and shear for these models, obtaining
explicit expressions for the iso-convergence contours and constant distortion
curves (including the tangential critical curve). We also compute the
deformation cross section, which is given in closed form for the circular NFW
model and in terms of a one-dimensional integral for the elliptical ones. In
addition, we provide a simple expression for the ellipticity of the
iso-convergence contours of the pseudo-elliptical models and the connection of
characteristic convergences among the PNFW and ENFW models. We conclude that
the set of solutions derived here is generally accurate for . For low ellipticities, values up to are allowed.
On the other hand, the mapping between PNFW and the ENFW models is valid up to
. The solutions derived in this work can be used to speed
up numerical codes and ensure their accuracy in the low regime,
including applications to arc statistics and other strong lensing observables.
(Abridged)Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Tuning a Resonance in the Fock Space: Optimization of Phonon Emission in a Resonant Tunneling Device
Phonon-assisted tunneling in a double barrier resonant tunneling device can
be seen as a resonance in the electron-phonon Fock space which is tuned by the
applied voltage. We show that the geometrical parameters can induce a symmetry
condition in this space that can strongly enhance the emission of longitudinal
optical phonons. For devices with thin emitter barriers this is achieved by a
wider collector's barrier.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Figure 1 changed, typos correcte
When two worlds collide: A story about collaboration, witnessing and life story research with soldiers returning from war
The story we share here stems from our research with British military personnel who are adapting to life with a physical and/or psychological disability after serving in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. Throughout our research, we have struggled to answer the kinds of questions that plague qualitative researchers: How might we gain insights into intense, traumatic, even life-changing experiences? Should we be inviting individuals to recount or revisit such potent moments from their lives? What interpretive framework might we draw on to make sense of what are sometimes senseless experiences? How can we share any ensuing understanding with others without diluting, diminishing or disrespecting the lives of soldiers or their families? The story we share here â which responds to Denzinâs (2003) challenge to reanimate life and Ericksonâs (2010) provocation to do so with greater modesty, visibility, and reflexivity â offers one answer to these questions
The Mass-Concentration Relation and the Stellar-to-Halo Mass Ratio in the CFHT Stripe 82 Survey
We present a new measurement of the mass-concentration relation and the
stellar-to-halo mass ratio over the halo mass range to
. To achieve this, we use weak lensing measurements
from the CFHT Stripe 82 Survey (CS82), combined with the central galaxies from
the redMaPPer cluster catalogue and the LOWZ/CMASS galaxy sample of the Sloan
Digital Sky Survey-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey Tenth Data
Release. The stacked lensing signals around these samples are modelled as a sum
of contributions from the central galaxy, its dark matter halo, and the
neighboring halos, as well as a term for possible centering errors. We measure
the mass-concentration relation: with
for and for . These amplitudes and slopes are completely
consistent with predictions from recent simulations. We also measure the
stellar-to-halo mass ratio for our samples, and find results consistent with
previous measurements from lensing and other techniques.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, 3 table
A Systematic Search for High Surface Brightness Giant Arcs in a Sloan Digital Sky Survey Cluster Sample
We present the results of a search for gravitationally-lensed giant arcs
conducted on a sample of 825 SDSS galaxy clusters. Both a visual inspection of
the images and an automated search were performed and no arcs were found. This
result is used to set an upper limit on the arc probability per cluster. We
present selection functions for our survey, in the form of arc detection
efficiency curves plotted as functions of arc parameters, both for the visual
inspection and the automated search. The selection function is such that we are
sensitive only to long, high surface brightness arcs with g-band surface
brightness mu_g 10. Our upper limits on
the arc probability are compatible with previous arc searches. Lastly, we
report on a serendipitous discovery of a giant arc in the SDSS data, known
inside the SDSS Collaboration as Hall's arc.Comment: 34 pages,8 Fig. Accepted ApJ:Jan-200
Weak-lensing calibration of a stellar mass-based mass proxy for redMaPPer and Voronoi Tessellation clusters in SDSS Stripe 82
We present the first weak lensing calibration of , a new galaxy
cluster mass proxy corresponding to the total stellar mass of red and blue
members, in two cluster samples selected from the SDSS Stripe 82 data: 230
redMaPPer clusters at redshift and 136 Voronoi Tessellation
(VT) clusters at . We use the CS82 shear catalog and stack
the clusters in bins to measure a mass-observable power law
relation. For redMaPPer clusters we obtain , . For VT clusters, we find
, and , for a low and a high redshift bin, respectively. Our results are
consistent, internally and with the literature, indicating that our method can
be applied to any cluster finding algorithm. In particular, we recommend that
be used as the mass proxy for VT clusters. Catalogs including
measurements will enable its use in studies of galaxy evolution
in clusters and cluster cosmology.Comment: Updated to be consistent with the published versio
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