541 research outputs found
Deflection of jets induced by jet-cloud & jet-galaxy interactions
The model first introduced by Raga & Canto (1996) in which astrophysical jets
are deflected on passing through an isothermal high density region is
generalised by taking into account gravitational effects on the motion of the
jet as it crosses the high density cloud. The problem is also generalised for
relativistic jets in which gravitational effects induced by the cloud are
neglected. Two further cases, classical and relativistic, are discussed for the
cases in which the jet is deflected on passing through the interstellar gas of
a galaxy in which a dark matter halo dominates the gravitational potential.
The criteria for the stability of jets due to the formation of internal
shocks are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA
Synchrotron Radiation from the Galactic Center in Decaying Dark Matter Scenario
We discuss the synchrotron radiation flux from the Galactic center in
unstable dark matter scenario. Motivated by the anomalous excess of the
positron fraction recently reported by the PAMELA collaboration, we consider
the case that the dark matter particle is unstable (and long-lived), and that
energetic electron and positron are produced by the decay of dark matter. Then,
the emitted electron and positron becomes the source of the synchrotron
radiation. We calculate the synchrotron radiation flux for models of decaying
dark matter, which can explain the PAMELA positron excess. Taking the lifetime
of the dark matter of O(10^26 sec), which is the suggested value to explain the
PAMELA anomaly, the synchrotron radiation flux is found to be O(1 kJy/str) or
smaller, depending on the particle-physics and cosmological parameters.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure
Is space really expanding? A counterexample
In all Friedman models, the cosmological redshift is widely interpreted as a
consequence of the general-relativistic phenomenon of EXPANSION OF SPACE. Other
commonly believed consequences of this phenomenon are superluminal recession
velocities of distant galaxies and the distance to the particle horizon greater
than c*t (where t is the age of the Universe), in apparent conflict with
special relativity. Here, we study a particular Friedman model: empty universe.
This model exhibits both cosmological redshift, superluminal velocities and
infinite distance to the horizon. However, we show that the cosmological
redshift is there simply a relativistic Doppler shift. Moreover, apparently
superluminal velocities and `acausal' distance to the horizon are in fact a
direct consequence of special-relativistic phenomenon of time dilation, as well
as of the adopted definition of distance in cosmology. There is no conflict
with special relativity, whatsoever. In particular, INERTIAL recession
velocities are subluminal. Since in the real Universe, sufficiently distant
galaxies recede with relativistic velocities, these special-relativistic
effects must be at least partly responsible for the cosmological redshift and
the aforementioned `superluminalities', commonly attributed to the expansion of
space. Let us finish with a question resembling a Buddhism-Zen `koan': in an
empty universe, what is expanding?Comment: 12 pages, no figures; added Appendix with a calculation of the
cosmological redshift in `private space
Radio constraints on dark matter annihilation in the galactic halo and its substructures
Annihilation of Dark Matter usually produces together with gamma rays
comparable amounts of electrons and positrons. The e+e- gyrating in the
galactic magnetic field then produce secondary synchrotron radiation which thus
provides an indirect mean to constrain the DM signal itself. To this purpose,
we calculate the radio emission from the galactic halo as well as from its
expected substructures and we then compare it with the measured diffuse radio
background. We employ a multi-frequency approach using data in the relevant
frequency range 100 MHz-100 GHz, as well as the WMAP Haze data at 23 GHz. The
derived constraints are of the order =10^{-24} cm3 s^{-1} for a DM
mass m_chi=100 GeV sensibly depending however on the astrophysical
uncertainties, in particular on the assumption on the galactic magnetic field
model. The signal from single bright clumps is instead largely attenuated by
diffusion effects and offers only poor detection perspectives.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures; v2: some references added, some discussions
enlarged; matches journal versio
A jet-cloud interaction in 3C34 at redshift z = 0.69
We report the detection of a strong jet-cloud interaction at a distance of
120 kpc from the nucleus of the radio galaxy 3C34, which has redshift z=0.69.
Hubble Space Telescope images of the radio galaxy show a long narrow region of
blue emission orientated along the radio axis and directed towards a radio
hotspot. The William Herschel Telescope has been used to provide long-slit
spectroscopic data of this object, and infrared observations made with the
United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope have enabled its spectral energy distribution
to be modelled. We propose that the aligned emission is associated with a
region of massive star-formation, induced by the passage of the radio jet
through a galaxy within the cluster surrounding 3C34. A star-formation rate of
about 100 solar masses per year is required, similar to the values necessary to
produce the alignment effect in high-redshift radio galaxies. The consequences
of this result for models of star formation in distant radio galaxies are
discussed.Comment: 12 pages including 11 figures, LaTeX. To appear in MNRA
Deep Spectroscopy in the Field of 3C 212
We present the results of longslit and multiaperture spectroscopy of faint
galaxies in the field of the z=1.049 quasar 3C212. We show that an apparently
aligned optical feature beyond the NW radio lobe has a redshift z=0.928, and a
similarly aligned feature just beyond the SE radio lobe has a redshift z=1.053,
quite close to that of the quasar. While the NW optical component is extremely
well aligned with the radio jet and has a morphology that is very similar to
that of the radio lobe lying 3" interior to it, the fact that we find three
other field galaxies with closely similar redshifts indicates that it is most
likely a member of an intervening group rather than an unusual example of true
alignment with the radio structure. In addition, we have found two galaxies
(besides the one near the SE radio lobe) having redshifts close to that of
3C212. We have firm or probable redshifts for 66 out of 82 galaxies we have
observed in this field. Comparison with the redshift distribution of faint
field galaxies indicates that a large fraction of the remaining 16 galaxies are
likely to be at redshifts >1.4. There are at least two low-redshift dwarf
starburst galaxies showing low metal abundance and high ionization in our
sample; such galaxies are likely to be relatively common in very faint samples,
and, under certain conditions, they could be confused with high-redshift
objects.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, one of which is a separate JPEG plate. To be
published in the April 1998 issue of The Astronomical Journa
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