6,762 research outputs found
Abell 370: A Cluster with a Pronounced Triaxial Morphology
We here combine Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, X-ray observations and
spectroscopic redshifts of member galaxies, to constrain the intrinsic
three-dimensional shape of the galaxy cluster: Abell 370. The cluster turns out
to be strongly elongated along the l.o.s., with two (or more) substructures in
the process of merging. Spectroscopy further suggests that the process must be
taking place at a small angle respect to the l.o.s.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. Contribution to the Proceedings of the COSPAR
Scientific Assembly, E1.2 "Clusters of Galaxies: New Insights from
XMM-Newton, Chandra and INTEGRAL", Paris (France), July 19-20, 2004. Accepted
for publication in Advances in Space Researc
Characterizing the nature of Fossil Groups with XMM
We present an X-ray follow-up, based on XMM plus Chandra, of six Fossil Group
(FG) candidates identified in our previous work using SDSS and RASS data. Four
candidates (out of six) exhibit extended X-ray emission, confirming them as
true FGs. For the other two groups, the RASS emission has its origin as either
an optically dull/X-ray bright AGN, or the blending of distinct X-ray sources.
Using SDSS-DR7 data, we confirm, for all groups, the presence of an r-band
magnitude gap between the seed elliptical and the second-rank galaxy. However,
the gap value depends, up to 0.5mag, on how one estimates the seed galaxy total
flux, which is greatly underestimated when using SDSS (relative to Sersic)
magnitudes. This implies that many FGs may be actually missed when using SDSS
data, a fact that should be carefully taken into account when comparing the
observed number densities of FGs to the expectations from cosmological
simulations. The similarity in the properties of seed--FG and non-fossil
ellipticals, found in our previous study, extends to the sample of X-ray
confirmed FGs, indicating that bright ellipticals in FGs do not represent a
distinct population of galaxies. For one system, we also find that the velocity
distribution of faint galaxies is bimodal, possibly showing that the system
formed through the merging of two groups. This undermines the idea that all
selected FGs form a population of true fossils.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. Submitted 01/12/2011 to MNRAS, referee report
received 21/02/2012, accepted 22/02/201
Steps toward a classifier for the Virtual Observatory. I. Classifying the SDSS photometric archive
Modern photometric multiband digital surveys produce large amounts of data
that, in order to be effectively exploited, need automatic tools capable to
extract from photometric data an objective classification. We present here a
new method for classifying objects in large multi-parametric photometric data
bases, consisting of a combination of a clustering algorithm and a cluster
agglomeration tool. The generalization capabilities and the potentialities of
this approach are tested against the complexity of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
archive, for which an example of application is reported.Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the "1st Workshop of Astronomy and
Astrophysics for Students" - Naples, 19-20 April 200
Topological quantum transition driven by charge-phonon coupling in the Haldane Chern insulator
In condensed matter physics many features can be understood in terms of their
topological properties. Here we report evidence of a topological quantum
transition driven by the charge-phonon coupling in the spinless Haldane model
on a honeycomb lattice, a well-known prototypical model of Chern insulator.
Starting from parameters describing the topological phase in the bare Haldane
model, we show that the increasing of the strength of the charge lattice
coupling drives the system towards a trivial insulator. The average number of
fermions in the Dirac point, characterized by the lowest gap, exhibits a finite
discontinuity at the transition point and can be used as direct indicator of
the topological quantum transition. Numerical simulations show, also, that the
renormalized phonon propagator exhibits a two peak structure across the quantum
transition, whereas, in absence of the mass term in the bare Hadane model,
there is indication of a complete softening of the effective vibrational mode
signaling a charge density wave instability.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Two channel model for optical conductivity of high mobility organic crystals
We show that the temperature dependence of conductivity of high mobility
organic crystals Pentacene and Rubrene can be quantitatively described in the
framework of the model where carriers are scattered by quenched local
impurities and interact with phonons by Su-Schrieffer-Hegger (SSH) coupling.
Within this model, we present approximation free results for mobility and
optical conductivity obtained by world line Monte Carlo, which we generalize to
the case of coupling both to phonons and impurities. We find fingerprints of
carrier dynamics in these compounds which differ from conventional metals and
show that the dynamics of carriers can be described as a superposition of a
Drude term representing diffusive mobile particles and a Lorentz term
associated with dynamics of localized charges.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
The dynamical state of RX J1347.5â1145 from a combined strong lensing and X-ray analysis
We perform a combined X-ray and strong lensing analysis of RX J1347.5â1145, one of the most luminous galaxy clusters at X-ray wavelengths. We show that evidence from strong lensing alone, based on published Very Large Telescope (VLT) and new Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data, strongly argues in favour of a complex structure. The analysis takes into account arc positions, shapes and orientations, and is done thoroughly in the image plane. The cluster inner regions are well fitted by a bimodal mass distribution, with a total projected mass of Mtot= (9.9 ± 0.3) Ă 1014Mâ hâ1 within a radius of 360 kpc hâ1 (1.5 arcmin). Such a complex structure could be a signature of a recent major merger as further supported by X-ray data. A temperature map of the cluster, based on deep Chandra observations, reveals a hot front located between the first main component and an X-ray emitting south-eastern subclump. The map also unveils a filament of cold gas in the innermost regions of the cluster, most probably a cooling wake caused by the motion of the cD inside the cool core region. A merger scenario in the plane of the sky between two dark matter subclumps is consistent with both our lensing and X-ray analyses, and can explain previous discrepancies with mass estimates based on the virial theore
Steps towards a map of the nearby universe
We present a new analysis of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data aimed at
producing a detailed map of the nearby (z < 0.5) universe. Using neural
networks trained on the available spectroscopic base of knowledge we derived
distance estimates for about 30 million galaxies distributed over ca. 8,000 sq.
deg. We also used unsupervised clustering tools developed in the framework of
the VO-Tech project, to investigate the possibility to understand the nature of
each object present in the field and, in particular, to produce a list of
candidate AGNs and QSOs.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. To appear in Nucl Phys. B, in the proceedings of
the NOW-2006 (Neutrino Oscillation Workshop - 2006), R. Fogli et al. ed
Steam reforming of model compounds from biomass fermentation over nanometric ruthenium modified nickel-lanthanum perovskites catalysts
Nanometric ruthenium-modified LaNiO3 perovskites prepared by coprecipitation method in aqueous and non-aqueous solvents were tested as catalysts in the steam reforming of butanol, acetone and ethanol and their mixture, named ABE, usually produced by fermentation. ABE is potentially of great interest for hydrogen production, notwithstanding the strong tendency of this mixture of oxygenated compounds to produce coke in the steam reforming conditions. The tested catalyst showed high feed conversions with improved stability
Detection of Zak phases and topological invariants in a chiral quantum walk of twisted photons
Topological insulators are fascinating states of matter exhibiting protected
edge states and robust quantized features in their bulk. Here, we propose and
validate experimentally a method to detect topological properties in the bulk
of one-dimensional chiral systems. We first introduce the mean chiral
displacement, and we show that it rapidly approaches a multiple of the Zak
phase in the long time limit. Then we measure the Zak phase in a photonic
quantum walk, by direct observation of the mean chiral displacement in its
bulk. Next, we measure the Zak phase in an alternative, inequivalent timeframe,
and combine the two windings to characterize the full phase diagram of this
Floquet system. Finally, we prove the robustness of the measure by introducing
dynamical disorder in the system. This detection method is extremely general,
as it can be applied to all one-dimensional platforms simulating static or
Floquet chiral systems.Comment: 10 pages, 7 color figures (incl. appendices) Close to the published
versio
An X-ray investigation of Hickson 62
We studied the X-ray properties of the Hickson Compact Group HCG62, in order
to determine the properties and dynamic and evolutionary state of its hot
gaseous halo. Our analysis reveals that the X-ray diffuse halo has an extremely
complex morphological, thermal and chemical structure. Two deep cavities, due
to the presence of the AGN hosted by the central galaxy NGC 4778, are clearly
visible in the group X-ray halo. The cavities appear to be surrounded by ridges
of cool gas. The group shows a cool core associated with the dominant galaxy.
In the outer regions the temperature structure is quite regular, while the
metal abundance shows a more patchy distribution, with large Si/O and Si/Fe
ratios.Comment: Published in the Proceedings of the "I Workshop of Astronomy and
Astrophysics for Students", Eds. N.R. Napolitano & M. Paolillo, Naples, 19-20
April 2006 (astro-ph/0701577
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