208 research outputs found
Spinning particles in Schwarzschild-de Sitter space-time
After considering the reference case of the motion of spinning test bodies in
the equatorial plane of the Schwarzschild space-time, we generalize the results
to the case of the motion of a spinning particle in the equatorial plane of the
Schwarzschild-de Sitter space-time. Specifically, we obtain the loci of turning
points of the particle in this plane. We show that the cosmological constant
affect the particle motion when the particle distance from the black hole is of
the order of the inverse square root of the cosmological constant.Comment: 8 pages, 5 eps figures, submitted to Gen.Rel.Gra
Black hole spin inferred from 3:2 epicyclic resonance model of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations
Estimations of black hole spin in the three Galactic microquasars GRS
1915+105, GRO J1655-40, and XTE J1550-564 have been carried out based on
spectral and timing X-ray measurements and various theoretical concepts. Among
others, a non-linear resonance between axisymmetric epicyclic oscillation modes
of an accretion disc around a Kerr black hole has been considered as a model
for the observed high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs).
Estimates of spin predicted by this model have been derived based on the
geodesic approximation of the accreted fluid motion. Here we assume accretion
flow described by the model of a pressure-supported torus and carry out related
corrections to the mass-spin estimates. We find that for dimensionless black
hole spin a<0.9, the resonant eigenfrequencies are very close to those
calculated for the geodesic motion. Their values slightly grow with increasing
torus thickness. These findings agree well with results of a previous study
carried out in the pseudo-Newtonian approximation. The situation becomes
different for a>0.9, in which case the resonant eigenfrequencies rapidly
decrease as the torus thickness increases. We conclude that the assumed
non-geodesic effects shift the lower limit of the spin, implied for the three
microquasars by the epicyclic model and independently measured masses, from
a~0.7 to a~0.6. Their consideration furthermore confirms compatibility of the
model with the rapid spin of GRS 1915+105 and provides highly testable
predictions of the QPO frequencies. Individual sources with a moderate spin
(a<0.9) should exhibit a smaller spread of the measured 3:2 QPO frequencies
than sources with a near-extreme spin (a~1). This should be further examined
using the large amount of high-resolution data expected to become available
with the next generation of X-ray instruments, such as the proposed Large
Observatory for X-ray Timing (LOFT).Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysic
Coupling a Point-Like Mass to Quantum Gravity with Causal Dynamical Triangulations
We present a possibility of coupling a point-like, non-singular, mass
distribution to four-dimensional quantum gravity in the nonperturbative setting
of causal dynamical triangulations (CDT). In order to provide a point of
comparison for the classical limit of the matter-coupled CDT model, we derive
the spatial volume profile of the Euclidean Schwarzschild-de Sitter space glued
to an interior matter solution. The volume profile is calculated with respect
to a specific proper-time foliation matching the global time slicing present in
CDT. It deviates in a characteristic manner from that of the pure-gravity
model. The appearance of coordinate caustics and the compactness of the mass
distribution in lattice units put an upper bound on the total mass for which
these calculations are expected to be valid. We also discuss some of the
implementation details for numerically measuring the expectation value of the
volume profiles in the framework of CDT when coupled appropriately to the
matter source.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures, updated published versio
A two-mass expanding exact space-time solution
In order to understand how locally static configurations around
gravitationally bound bodies can be embedded in an expanding universe, we
investigate the solutions of general relativity describing a space-time whose
spatial sections have the topology of a 3-sphere with two identical masses at
the poles. We show that Israel junction conditions imply that two spherically
symmetric static regions around the masses cannot be glued together. If one is
interested in an exterior solution, this prevents the geometry around the
masses to be of the Schwarzschild type and leads to the introduction of a
cosmological constant. The study of the extension of the Kottler space-time
shows that there exists a non-static solution consisting of two static regions
surrounding the masses that match a Kantowski-Sachs expanding region on the
cosmological horizon. The comparison with a Swiss-Cheese construction is also
discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures. Replaced to match the published versio
Planetary Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Recoverable Experiment-Coronagraph (PICTURE C)
An exoplanet mission based on a high-altitude balloon is a next logical step in humanity's quest to explore Earthlike planets in Earthlike orbits orbiting Sunlike stars. The mission described here is capable of spectrally imaging debris disks and exozodiacal light around a number of stars spanning a range of infrared excesses, stellar types, and ages. The mission is designed to characterize the background near those stars, to study the disks themselves, and to look for planets in those systems. The background light scattered and emitted from the disk is a key uncertainty in the mission design of any exoplanet direct imaging mission, thus, its characterization is critically important for future imaging of exoplanets
Particle motion in the field of a five-dimensional charged black hole
In this paper, we have investigated the geodesics of neutral particles near a
five-dimensional charged black hole using a comparative approach. The effective
potential method is used to determine the location of the horizons and to study
radial and circular trajectories. This also helps us to analyze the stability
of radial and circular orbits. The radius of the innermost stable circular
orbits have also been determined. Contrary to the case of massive particles for
which, the circular orbits may have up to eight possible values of specific
radius, we find that the photons will only have two distinct values for the
specific radii of circular trajectories. Finally we have used the dynamical
systems analysis to determine the critical points and the nature of the
trajectories for the timelike and null geodesics.Comment: 15 pages, accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Scienc
Magnetized Particle Capture Cross Section for Braneworld Black Hole
Capture cross section of magnetized particle (with nonzero magnetic moment)
by braneworld black hole in uniform magnetic field is considered. The magnetic
moment of particle was chosen as it was done by \citet{rs99} and for the
simplicity particle with zero electric charge is chosen. It is shown that the
spin of particle as well as the brane parameter are to sustain the stability of
particles circularly orbiting around the black hole in braneworld i.e. spin of
particles and brane parameter try to prevent the capture by black hole.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space
Scienc
Subanesthetic ketamine treatment promotes abnormal interactions between neural subsystems and alters the properties of functional brain networks
Acute treatment with subanesthetic ketamine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist, is widely utilized as a translational model for schizophrenia. However, how acute NMDA receptor blockade impacts on brain functioning at a systems level, to elicit translationally relevant symptomatology and behavioral deficits, has not yet been determined. Here, for the first time, we apply established and recently validated topological measures from network science to brain imaging data gained from ketamine-treated mice to elucidate how acute NMDA receptor blockade impacts on the properties of functional brain networks. We show that the effects of acute ketamine treatment on the global properties of these networks are divergent from those widely reported in schizophrenia. Where acute NMDA receptor blockade promotes hyperconnectivity in functional brain networks, pronounced dysconnectivity is found in schizophrenia. We also show that acute ketamine treatment increases the connectivity and importance of prefrontal and thalamic brain regions in brain networks, a finding also divergent to alterations seen in schizophrenia. In addition, we characterize how ketamine impacts on bipartite functional interactions between neural subsystems. A key feature includes the enhancement of prefrontal cortex (PFC)-neuromodulatory subsystem connectivity in ketamine-treated animals, a finding consistent with the known effects of ketamine on PFC neurotransmitter levels. Overall, our data suggest that, at a systems level, acute ketamine-induced alterations in brain network connectivity do not parallel those seen in chronic schizophrenia. Hence, the mechanisms through which acute ketamine treatment induces translationally relevant symptomatology may differ from those in chronic schizophrenia. Future effort should therefore be dedicated to resolve the conflicting observations between this putative translational model and schizophrenia
Performance of the X-Calibur Hard X-Ray Polarimetry Mission during its 2018/19 Long-Duration Balloon Flight
X-Calibur is a balloon-borne telescope that measures the polarization of
high-energy X-rays in the 15--50keV energy range. The instrument makes use of
the fact that X-rays scatter preferentially perpendicular to the polarization
direction. A beryllium scattering element surrounded by pixellated CZT
detectors is located at the focal point of the InFOC{\mu}S hard X-ray mirror.
The instrument was launched for a long-duration balloon (LDB) flight from
McMurdo (Antarctica) on December 29, 2018, and obtained the first constraints
of the hard X-ray polarization of an accretion-powered pulsar. Here, we
describe the characterization and calibration of the instrument on the ground
and its performance during the flight, as well as simulations of particle
backgrounds and a comparison to measured rates. The pointing system and
polarimeter achieved the excellent projected performance. The energy detection
threshold for the anticoincidence system was found to be higher than expected
and it exhibited unanticipated dead time. Both issues will be remedied for
future flights. Overall, the mission performance was nominal, and results will
inform the design of the follow-up mission XL-Calibur, which is scheduled to be
launched in summer 2022.Comment: 19 pages, 31 figures, submitted to Astropart. Phy
- …