10,503 research outputs found
Measuring the star formation rate with gravitational waves from binary black holes
A measurement of the history of cosmic star formation is central to
understand the origin and evolution of galaxies. The measurement is extremely
challenging using electromagnetic radiation: significant modeling is required
to convert luminosity to mass, and to properly account for dust attenuation,
for example. Here we show how detections of gravitational waves from
inspiraling binary black holes made by proposed third-generation detectors can
be used to measure the star formation rate of massive stars with high precision
up to redshifts of ~10. Depending on the time-delay model, the predicted
detection rates ranges from ~1400 to ~16000 per month with the current
measurement of local merger rate density. With three months of observations,
parameters describing the volumetric star formation rate can be constrained at
the few percent level, and the volumetric merger rate can be directly measured
to 3% at z~2. Given a parameterized star formation rate, the characteristic
delay time between binary formation and merger can be measured to ~60%.Comment: 7 pages, 1 table, 4 fig
Galaxy evolution across the optical emission-line diagnostic diagrams?
The discovery of the M-sigma relation, the local galaxy bimodality, and the
link between black-hole and host-galaxy properties, have raised the question
whether AGN play a role in galaxy evolution. Several theoretical models
implement AGN feedback to explain the observed galaxy luminosity function, and
possibly the color and morphological transformation of spiral galaxies into
passive ellipticals. To understand the importance of AGN feedback, a study of
the AGN populations in the radio-optical domain is crucial. A mass sequence
linking star-forming galaxies and AGN has been already noted in previous works,
and it is now investigated as possible evolutionary sequence. We observed a
sample of 119 intermediate-redshift (0.04<z<0.4) SDSS-FIRST radio emitters with
the Effelsberg 100-m telescope at 4.85 and 10.45 GHz and obtained spectral
indices. We find indications of spectral index flattening in high-metallicity
star-forming galaxies, composite galaxies, and Seyferts. This "flattening
sequence" along the [NII]-based emission-line diagnostic diagram is consistent
with the hardening of galaxy ionizing field, due to nuclear activity. After
combining our data with FIRST measurements at 1.4 GHz, we find that the
three-point radio spectra of Seyferts and LINERs show substantial differences,
attributable to small radio core components and larger (arcsecond sized)
jet/lobe components, respectively. A visual inspection of FIRST images seems to
confirm this hypothesis. Galaxies along this sequence are hypothesized to be
transitioning from the active star-forming galaxies (blue cloud) to the passive
elliptical galaxies (red sequence). This supports the suggestion that AGN play
a role in shutting down star-formation, and allow the transition from one
galaxy class to the other.Comment: 20 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Measuring the LISA test mass magnetic proprieties with a torsion pendulum
Achieving the low frequency LISA sensitivity requires that the test masses
acting as the interferometer end mirrors are free-falling with an unprecedented
small degree of deviation. Magnetic disturbances, originating in the
interaction of the test mass with the environmental magnetic field, can
significantly deteriorate the LISA performance and can be parameterized through
the test mass remnant dipole moment and the magnetic susceptibility
. While the LISA test flight precursor LTP will investigate these effects
during the preliminary phases of the mission, the very stringent requirements
on the test mass magnetic cleanliness make ground-based characterization of its
magnetic proprieties paramount. We propose a torsion pendulum technique to
accurately measure on ground the magnetic proprieties of the LISA/LTP test
masses.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Thermal gradient-induced forces on geodetic reference masses for LISA
The low frequency sensitivity of space-borne gravitational wave observatories
will depend critically on the geodetic purity of the trajectories of orbiting
test masses. Fluctuations in the temperature difference across the enclosure
surrounding the free-falling test mass can produce noisy forces through several
processes, including the radiometric effect, radiation pressure, and
outgassing. We present here a detailed experimental investigation of thermal
gradient-induced forces for the LISA gravitational wave mission and the LISA
Pathfinder, employing high resolution torsion pendulum measurements of the
torque on a LISA-like test mass suspended inside a prototype of the LISA
gravitational reference sensor that will surround the test mass in orbit. The
measurement campaign, accompanied by numerical simulations of the radiometric
and radiation pressure effects, allows a more accurate and representative
characterization of thermal-gradient forces in the specific geometry and
environment relevant to LISA free-fall. The pressure dependence of the measured
torques allows clear identification of the radiometric effect, in quantitative
agreement with the model developed. In the limit of zero gas pressure, the
measurements are most likely dominated by outgassing, but at a low level that
does not threaten the LISA sensitivity goals.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures, submitted to Physical Review
Improved Torsion Pendulum for Ground Testing of LISA Displacement Sensors
We discuss a new torsion pendulum design for ground testing of prototype LISA
(Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) displacement sensors. This new design is
directly sensitive to net forces and therefore provides a more representative
test of the noisy forces and parasitic stiffnesses acting on the test mass as
compared to previous ground-based experiments. We also discuss a specific
application to the measurement of thermal gradient effects.Comment: 4 pages 1 figure, to appear in the Proceedings of the 10th Marcel
Grossmann Meeting on General Relativit
On-ground tests of LISA PathFinder thermal diagnostics system
Thermal conditions in the LTP, the LISA Technology Package, are required to
be very stable, and in such environment precision temperature measurements are
also required for various diagnostics objectives. A sensitive temperature
gauging system for the LTP is being developed at IEEC, which includes a set of
thermistors and associated electronics. In this paper we discuss the derived
requirements applying to the temperature sensing system, and address the
problem of how to create in the laboratory a thermally quiet environment,
suitable to perform meaningful on-ground tests of the system. The concept is a
two layer spherical body, with a central aluminium core for sensor implantation
surrounded by a layer of polyurethane. We construct the insulator transfer
function, which relates the temperature at the core with the laboratory ambient
temperature, and evaluate the losses caused by heat leakage through connecting
wires. The results of the analysis indicate that, in spite of the very
demanding stability conditions, a sphere of outer diameter of the order one
metre is sufficient. We provide experimental evidence confirming the model
predictions.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, LaTeX2e (compile with pdflatex), sumbitted to
CQG. This paper is a significant extension of gr-qc/060109
Torsion pendulum facility for direct force measurements of LISA GRS related disturbances
A four mass torsion pendulum facility for testing of the LISA GRS is under
development in Trento. With a LISA-like test mass suspended off-axis with
respect to the pendulum fiber, the facility allows for a direct measurement of
surface force disturbances arising in the GRS. We present here results with a
prototype pendulum integrated with very large-gap sensors, which allows an
estimate of the intrinsic pendulum noise floor in the absence of sensor related
force noise. The apparatus has shown a torque noise near to its mechanical
thermal noise limit, and would allow to place upper limits on GRS related
disturbances with a best sensitivity of 300 fN/Hz^(1/2) at 1mHz, a factor 50
from the LISA goal. Also, we discuss the characterization of the gravity
gradient noise, one environmental noise source that could limit the apparatus
performances, and report on the status of development of the facility.Comment: Submitted to Proceedings of the 6th International LISA Symposium, AIP
Conference Proceedings 200
On the Absence of Continuous Symmetries for Noncommutative 3-Spheres
A large class of noncommutative spherical manifolds was obtained recently
from cohomology considerations. A one-parameter family of twisted 3-spheres was
discovered by Connes and Landi, and later generalized to a three-parameter
family by Connes and Dubois-Violette. The spheres of Connes and Landi were
shown to be homogeneous spaces for certain compact quantum groups. Here we
investigate whether or not this property can be extended to the noncommutative
three-spheres of Connes and Dubois-Violette. Upon restricting to quantum groups
which are continuous deformations of Spin(4) and SO(4) with standard
co-actions, our results suggest that this is not the case.Comment: 15 pages, no figure
Myocardial infarction marker levels are influenced by prothrombin and tumor necrosis factor-\u3b1 gene polymorphisms in young patients.
Polymorphisms of genes encoding key factors for the control and activation of inflammatory response and coagulation cascade regulation may play a role in genetic susceptibility to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study sought to analyze the effect of TNF - 308G/A and pro-thrombin (FII) 20210G/A polymorphisms on the laboratory parameters of young patients affected by AMI. Results indicated that TNF - 308A positive genotype frequencies were increased in these patients and that a genetically determined higher production of TNF-alpha is associated in young subjects to a more severe cardiac damage as depicted by higher levels of troponin, Creatine kinase-MB Isoenzyme (mCK-MB) and a significant increased plasma fibrinogen levels. Similar and probably additive effects on might have a genetically determined increased production of pro-thrombin even if no significant differences in genotype frequencies of pro-thrombin (FII) 20210G/A polymorphisms were observed in this study. All together these results, indicating the relationship among genetically determined TNF alpha and FII production and increased levels of tissue damage markers of AMI, suggest that a complex genetic background, might be involved in susceptibility to AMI in young men influencing the extension and severity of the disease
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