6,943 research outputs found
Gravitational lensing statistics with extragalactic surveys. II. Analysis of the Jodrell Bank-VLA Astrometric Survey
We present constraints on the cosmological constant from
gravitational lensing statistics of the Jodrell Bank-VLA Astrometric Survey
(JVAS). Although this is the largest gravitational lens survey which has been
analysed, cosmological constraints are only comparable to those from optical
surveys. This is due to the fact that the median source redshifts of JVAS are
lower, which leads to both relatively fewer lenses in the survey and a weaker
dependence on the cosmological parameters. Although more approximations have to
be made than is the case for optical surveys, the consistency of the results
with those from optical gravitational lens surveys and other cosmological tests
indicate that this is not a major source of uncertainty in the results.
However, joint constraints from a combination of radio and optical data are
much tighter. Thus, a similar analysis of the much larger Cosmic Lens All-Sky
Survey should provide even tighter constraints on the cosmological constant,
especially when combined with data from optical lens surveys.
At 95% confidence, our lower and upper limits on ,
using the JVAS lensing statistics information alone, are respectively -2.69 and
0.68. For a flat universe, these correspond to lower and upper limits on
\lambda_{0} of respectively -0.85 and 0.84. Using the combination of JVAS
lensing statistics and lensing statistics from the literature as discussed in
Quast & Helbig (Paper I) the corresponding values are
-1.78 and 0.27. For a flat universe, these correspond to lower and upper limits
on of respectively -0.39 and 0.64.Comment: LaTeX, 9 pages, 18 PostScript files in 6 figures. Paper version
available on request. Data available from
http://gladia.astro.rug.nl:8000/ceres/data_from_papers/papers.htm
Search for associations containing young stars (SACY). V. Is multiplicity universal? Tight multiple systems
Context: Dynamically undisrupted, young populations of stars are crucial to
study the role of multiplicity in relation to star formation. Loose nearby
associations provide us with a great sample of close (150 pc) Pre-Main
Sequence (PMS) stars across the very important age range (5-70 Myr) to
conduct such research.
Aims: We characterize the short period multiplicity fraction of the SACY
(Search for Associations Containing Young stars) accounting for any
identifiable bias in our techniques and present the role of multiplicity
fractions of the SACY sample in the context of star formation.
Methods: Using the cross-correlation technique we identified double-lined
spectroscopic systems (SB2), in addition to this we computed Radial Velocity
(RV) values for our subsample of SACY targets using several epochs of FEROS and
UVES data. These values were used to revise the membership of each association
then combined with archival data to determine significant RV variations across
different data epochs characteristic of multiplicity; single-lined multiple
systems (SB1).
Results: We identified 7 new multiple systems (SB1s: 5, SB2s: 2). We find no
significant difference between the short period multiplicity fraction
() of the SACY sample and that of nearby star forming regions
(1-2 Myr) and the field (10%) both as a function of
age and as a function of primary mass, , in the ranges [1:200 day] and
[0.08 -].
Conclusions: Our results are consistent with the picture of universal star
formation, when compared to the field and nearby star forming regions (SFRs).
We comment on the implications of the relationship between increasing
multiplicity fraction with primary mass, within the close companion range, in
relation to star formation.Comment: 14 pages, 18 figures, published, A&A
http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/20142385
Varying Alpha Monopoles
We study static magnetic monopoles in the context of varying alpha theories
and show that there is a group of models for which the t'Hooft-Polyakov
solution is still valid. Nevertheless, in general static magnetic monopole
solutions in varying alpha theories depart from the classical t'Hooft-Polyakov
solution with the electromagnetic energy concentrated inside the core seeding
spatial variations of the fine structure constant. We show that Equivalence
Principle constraints impose tight limits on the allowed variations of alpha
induced by magnetic monopoles which confirms the difficulty to generate
significant large-scale spatial variation of the fine structure constant found
in previous works. This is true even in the most favorable case where magnetic
monopoles are the source for these variations.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures; Version to be published in Phys. Rev.
An Upper Limit on Omega_matter Using Lensed Arcs
We use current observations on the number statistics of gravitationally
lensed optical arcs towards galaxy clusters to derive an upper limit on the
cosmological mass density of the Universe. The gravitational lensing statistics
due to foreground clusters combine properties of both cluster evolution, which
is sensitive to the matter density, and volume change, which is sensitive to
the cosmological constant. The uncertainties associated with the predicted
number of lensing events, however, currently do not allow one to distinguish
between flat and open cosmological models with and without a cosmological
constant. Still, after accounting for known errors, and assuming that clusters
in general have dark matter core radii of the order ~ 35 h^-1 kpc, we find that
the cosmological mass density, Omega_m, is less than 0.56 at the 95%
confidence. Such a dark matter core radius is consistent with cluster
potentials determined recently by detailed numerical inversions of strong and
weak lensing imaging data. If no core radius is present, the upper limit on
Omega_m increases to 0.62 (95% confidence level). The estimated upper limit on
Omega_m is consistent with various cosmological probes that suggest a low
matter density for the Universe.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Accepted version (ApJ in press
Search for associations containing young stars (SACY) VII. New stellar and substellar candidate members in the young associations
The young associations offer us one of the best opportunities to study the
properties of young stellar and substellar objects and to directly image
planets thanks to their proximity (200 pc) and age (5-150 Myr).
However, many previous works have been limited to identifying the brighter,
more active members (1 M) owing to photometric survey
sensitivities limiting the detections of lower mass objects. We search the
field of view of 542 previously identified members of the young associations to
identify wide or extremely wide (1000-100,000 au in physical separation)
companions. We combined 2MASS near-infrared photometry (, , ) with
proper motion values (from UCAC4, PPMXL, NOMAD) to identify companions in the
field of view of known members. We collated further photometry and spectroscopy
from the literature and conducted our own high-resolution spectroscopic
observations for a subsample of candidate members. This complementary
information allowed us to assess the efficiency of our method. We identified 84
targets (45: 0.2-1.3 M, 17: 0.08-0.2 M, 22: 0.08 M)
in our analysis, ten of which have been identified from spectroscopic analysis
in previous young association works. For 33 of these 84, we were able to
further assess their membership using a variety of properties (X-ray emission,
UV excess, H, lithium and K I equivalent widths, radial velocities,
and CaH indices). We derive a success rate of 76-88% for this technique based
on the consistency of these properties. Once confirmed, the targets identified
in this work would significantly improve our knowledge of the lower mass end of
the young associations. Additionally, these targets would make an ideal new
sample for the identification and study of planets around nearby young stars.Comment: 28 pages, 24 figures, accepted in A&
Antisymmetric-Tensor and Electromagnetic effects in an alpha'-non-perturbative Four-Dimensional String Cosmology
Starting from an exact (in the Regge slope alpha') functional method for a
bosonic stringy sigma-model, we investigate four-dimensional cosmological
string solutions in graviton, dilaton and antisymmetric tensor backgrounds,
compatible with world-sheet conformal invariance, and valid beyond perturbative
expansions in powers of alpha'. The antisymmetric tensor field, playing the
role of an axion in the four-dimensional target space time, leads to spatial
anisotropies of the emergent Robertson-Walker expanding Universe, and, upon
coupling the system to the electromagnetic field, it results in non-trivial
optical activity. Some estimates of the corresponding effects are made and
their relevance to current cosmology is briefly discussed
Search for associations containing young stars (SACY). VI. Is multiplicity universal? Stellar multiplicity in the range 3-1000 au from adaptive-optics observations
Context. Young loose nearby associations are unique samples of close (<150
pc), young (approx 5-100 Myr) pre-main sequence (PMS) stars. A significant
number of members of these associations have been identified in the SACY
collaboration. We can use the proximity and youth of these members to
investigate key ingredients in star formation processes, such as multiplicity.
Aims. We present the statistics of identified multiple systems from 113
confirmed SACY members. We derive multiplicity frequencies, mass-ratio, and
physical separation distributions in a consistent parameter space, and compare
our results to other PMS populations and the field.
Methods. We have obtained adaptive-optics assisted near-infrared observations
with NACO (ESO/VLT) and IRCAL (Lick Observatory) for at least one epoch of all
113 SACY members. We have identified multiple systems using co-moving
proper-motion analysis and using contamination estimates. We have explored
ranges in projected separation and mass-ratio of a [3-1000 au], and q [0.1-1],
respectively.
Results. We have identified 31 multiple systems (28 binaries and 3 triples).
We derive a multiplicity frequency (MF) of MF_(3-1000au)=28.4 +4.7, -3.9% and a
triple frequency (TF) of TF_(3-1000au)=2.8 +2.5, -0.8% in the separation range
of 3-1000 au. We do not find any evidence for an increase in the MF with
primary mass. The estimated mass-ratio of our statistical sample (with
power-law index gamma=-0.04 +/- 0.14) is consistent with a flat distribution
(gamma = 0).
Conclusions. We show further similarities (but also hints of discrepancies)
between SACY and the Taurus region: flat mass-ratio distributions and
statistically similar MF and TF values. We also compared the SACY sample to the
field (in the separation range of 19-100 au), finding that the two
distributions are indistinguishable, suggesting a similar formation mechanism.Comment: 16 Pages, accepted in A&A 28 May 201
Physics Analysis Expert PAX: First Applications
PAX (Physics Analysis Expert) is a novel, C++ based toolkit designed to
assist teams in particle physics data analysis issues. The core of PAX are
event interpretation containers, holding relevant information about and
possible interpretations of a physics event. Providing this new level of
abstraction beyond the results of the detector reconstruction programs, PAX
facilitates the buildup and use of modern analysis factories. Class structure
and user command syntax of PAX are set up to support expert teams as well as
newcomers in preparing for the challenges expected to arise in the data
analysis at future hadron colliders.Comment: Talk from the 2003 Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics
(CHEP03), La Jolla, Ca, USA, March 2003, 7 pages, LaTeX, 10 eps figures. PSN
THLT00
Discovery of a Luminous Quasar in the Nearby Universe
In the course of the Pico dos Dias survey (PDS), we identified the stellar
like object PDS456 at coordinates alpha = 17h 28m 19.796s, delta = -14deg 15'
55.87'' (epoch 2000), with a relatively nearby (z = 0.184) and bright (B =
14.69) quasar. Its position at Galactic coordinates l_II = 10.4deg, b_II =
+11.2deg, near the bulge of the Galaxy, may explain why it was not detected
before. The optical spectrum of PDS456 is typical of a luminous quasar, showing
a broad (FWHM ~ 4000 km/s) H_\beta line, very intense FeII lines and a weak
[OIII]\lambda5007 line. PDS456 is associated to the infrared source IRAS
17254-1413 with a 60 \mum infrared luminosity L_{60} = 3.8 x 10^{45} erg/s. The
relatively flat slopes in the infrared (\alpha(25,60) = -0.33 and \alpha(12,25)
= -0.78) and a flat power index in the optical (F_{\nu} \propto \nu^{-0.72})
may indicate a low dust content. A good match between the position of PDS456
and the position of the X-ray source RXS J172819.3-141600 implies an X-ray
luminosity L_x = 2.8 x 10^{44} erg/s. The good correlation between the strength
of the emission lines in the optical and the X-ray luminosity, as well as the
steep optical to X-ray index estimated (\alpha_{ox} = -1.64) suggest that
PDS456 is radio quiet. A radio survey previously performed in this region
yields an upper limit for radio power at ~ 5 GHz of ~ 2.6 x 10^{30} erg/s/Hz.
We estimate the Galactic reddening in this line-of-sight to be A_B \simeq 2.0,
implying an absolute magnitude M_B = -26.7 (using H_0 = 75 km s^{-1} Mpc^{-1}
and q_0 = 0). In the optical, PDS456 is therefore 1.3 times more luminous than
3C 273 and the most luminous quasar in the nearby (z \leq 0.3) Universe.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX (aasms4.sty) + 3 figures; accepted for publication in
the Astrophysical Journal Letter
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