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At least 217 records · Page 12

Comparison of AlF 3 thin films grown by thermal and plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition

Films of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ) deposited by thermal and plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) have been compared using in situ multiwavelength ellipsometry (MWE) and monochromatic x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The AlF 3 films were grown using cyclic exposures of trimethylaluminum, hydrogen fluoride, and H radicals from a remote H 2 inductively coupled plasma. Films were characterized in situ using MWE and XPS for growth rate, film composition, and impurity incorporation. The MWE showed a growth rate of 1.1 and 0.7 Å per cycle, at 100 °C, for thermal and plasma enhanced ALD AlF 3 films, respectively. Carbon incorporation was below the XPS detection limit. The plasma enhanced ALD AlF 3 film showed the presence of Al-Al chemical states, in the Al 2p scans, suggesting the presence of Al-rich clusters with a concentration of 14%. The Al-rich clusters are thought to originate during the hydrogen plasma step of the PEALD process. Finally, the Al-rich clusters were not detected in thermal ALD AlF 3 films using the same precursors and substrate temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Discovery of 0.5 million K gas in the center of galaxy clusters

An observation of M 87, the central galaxy of the Virgo cluster, was performed in the 0.065 to 0.245 keV energy band by the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE). A central source and an extended emission halo are visible which represent the first detection of a cluster gas emission in the extreme ultraviolet. A gas component with a temperature of between 5 x 10(exp 5) and 10(exp 6) K has to be introduced in order to explain this emission. The rapid cooling of plasmas at such temperatures implies a mass accretion rate of greater than 300 solar mass/yr. Data from Rosat observations provide evidence of an extended central emission at 10(exp 6) K.

Lieu, R.↗

A 4 MPC X-Ray Filament Falling into the Cluster A85

We have completed a first paper confirming the ROSAT observation of a merging filamentary structure associated with the rich cluster A85. We detected a portion of the extended 4 Mpc filament first seen by the ROSAT PSPC. We confirm that there is an extended feature, aligned at the same position angle as the major axis of the central cD, the bright cluster galaxies, and nearby groups and clusters. We find that the X-ray emission from the filament is best described by thermal emission with a temperature of approx. 2 keV, which is significantly lower than the ambient cluster medium, but is significantly higher than anticipated for a gas in a weakly bound extended filament. It is not clear whether this is a filament of diffuse emission, a chain of several groups of galaxies, or stripped gas from the infalling south blob. In conclusion, the XMM-Newton observations confirmed that there really is a highly elongated filamentary like structure extending from the the merging south clump to the south east of Abell-85 along the direction defined by all the structures pointed out by Durret et al. (1998b). The fact that the spatial structure of the X-ray filament detected by XMM-Newton cannot be exactly superimposed to that obtained from ROSAT data shows that it is still difficult to determine exactly its nature. However, the X-ray spectrum from this structure is most likely thermal and its temperature is about 2.0 keV, consistent with that of groups. This value is notably cooler than that of the main cluster: the temperature map by Markevitch et al. (1998) shows the presence of gas at about 3-4 keV in the region at a distance from the cluster center at least as far as the northern part of the ellipse. So, we appear to be seeing cool gas as it enters the cluster core. Another possibility is that the filament is associated with the wake of cool stripped gas left behind by the south blob as it falls onto the cluster. In this case, the 'filament', whether it is diffuse or made of groups, would not really be a filament in the large scale structure formation sense. Besides X-ray observations with a much better signal to noise ratio, which probably will have to wait for the next generation of X-ray satellites, optical data can shed light on this question. With this purpose, we intend to perform wide field imaging in various bands to estimate galaxy photometric redshifts and determine how galaxies are distributed in the 'filament' area.

Forman, William↗

Measurement of the mean central optical depth of galaxy clusters via the pairwise kinematic Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect with SPT-3G and DES

Here, we infer the mean optical depth of a sample of optically selected galaxy clusters from the Dark Energy Survey via the pairwise kinematic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (KSZ) effect. The pairwise KSZ signal between pairs of clusters drawn from the Dark Energy Survey Year-3 cluster catalog is detected at 4.1σ in cosmic microwave background temperature maps from two years of observations with the SPT-3G camera on the South Pole Telescope. After cuts, there are 24,580 clusters in the similar to ~1,400 deg 2 of the southern sky observed by both experiments. We infer the mean optical depth of the cluster sample with two techniques. The optical depth inferred from the pairwise KSZ signal is $\overline{τ}$ e = (2.97 ± 0.73) x 10 -3 , while that inferred from the thermal SZ signal is $\overline{τ}$ e = (2.51 ± 0.55 stat ± 0.15 syst ) x 10 -3 . The two measures agree at 0.6 sigma. We perform a suite of systematic checks to test the robustness of the analysis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The detection of extended X-ray emission surrounding cD galaxies in poor clusters

The paper presents some preliminary results of a survey, performed with an imaging proportional counter, to detect X-ray emission from poor clusters which nevertheless contain dominant D or cD galaxies and could, therefore, be classified as Bautz-Morgan Type I. The data suggest that poor clusters can collect enough gas to become detectable X-ray sources if they are relatively compact, which the presence of dominant galaxies indicates.

Kriss, G. A.↗

Dark energy survey year 3 results: miscentring calibration and X-ray-richness scaling relations in redMaPPer clusters

ABSTRACT We use Dark Energy Survey Year 3 (DES Y3) clusters with archival XMM–Newton and Chandra X-ray data to assess the centring performance of the redMaPPer cluster finder and to measure key richness observable scaling relations. We find that 10–20 per cent of redMaPPer clusters are miscentred, both when comparing to the X-ray peak position and to the visually identified central cluster galaxy. We find no significant difference in miscentring in bins of low versus high richness or redshift. The dominant reasons for miscentring include masked or missing data and the presence of other bright galaxies in the cluster. For half of the miscentred clusters, the correct central was one of the possible centrals identified by redMaPPer, while for ∼40 per cent of miscentred clusters, the correct central is not a redMaPPer member mostly due to masking. Additionally, we fit scaling relations of X-ray temperature and luminosity with richness. We find a TX–λ scatter of $0.21\pm 0.01$. While the scatter in TX–λ is consistent in redshift bins, we find modestly different slopes, with high-redshift clusters displaying a somewhat shallower relation. Splitting based on richness, we find a marginally larger scatter for our lowest richness bin, 20 < λ < 40. We note that the robustness of the scaling relations at lower richnesses is limited by the unknown selection function, but at λ > 75, we detect nearly all of the clusters falling within existing X-ray pointings. The X-ray properties of detected, serendipitous clusters are generally consistent with those of targeted clusters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A measurement of the mean central optical depth of galaxy clusters via the pairwise kinematic Sunyaev-Zel&#x27;dovich effect with SPT-3G and DES

We infer the mean optical depth of a sample of optically-selected galaxy clusters from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) via the pairwise kinematic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (kSZ) effect. The pairwise kSZ signal between pairs of clusters drawn from the DES Year-3 cluster catalog is detected at $4.1 \sigma$ in cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature maps from two years of observations with the SPT-3G camera on the South Pole Telescope. After cuts, there are 24,580 clusters in the $\sim 1,400$ deg$^2$ of the southern sky observed by both experiments. We infer the mean optical depth of the cluster sample with two techniques. The optical depth inferred from the pairwise kSZ signal is $\bar{\tau}_e = (2.97 \pm 0.73) \times 10^{-3}$, while that inferred from the thermal SZ signal is $\bar{\tau}_e = (2.51 \pm 0.55) \times 10^{-3}$. The two measures agree at $0.6 \sigma$. We perform a suite of systematic checks to test the robustness of the analysis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The X-ray morphology of Abell 1367

X-ray observations of the nearby cluster Abell 1367 were made with the Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) and High Resolution Imager (HRI) aboard the Einstein Observatory. The IPC is used to study the diffuse cluster emission. With the HRI, eight point sources are detected above the diffuse cluster emission, three of which are apparently associated with cluster galaxies. In addition, the HRI observations have resolved 13 extended features with characteristic radii of order arcmin, eight of which are associated with cluster galaxies. These extended sources have luminosities of 1.5-6.5 x 10 to the 41st per (H0)50)-squared ergs per sec in the 0.5-4.5 keV band and constitute about 60% of the total cluster emission. The ways in which these hot galactic coronae can be maintained are discussed.

Bechtold, J.↗

Continuous observations of long-term variations in cosmic X-ray sources

Results are reported for the Charged Particle Measurements Experiment which was conducted on board IMP-7 to detect X-ray fluxes from the sun, the galactic center, Tau X-1, and Sco X-1 over a nine-month period. Autocorrelation analysis of the data indicates a probable 80-day periodicity in the flux from Sco X-1, a 110-day periodicity in the flux from the galactic center, no periodicities in the flux from Tau X-1, and a strong 27-day periodicity in the solar X-ray flux. A transient event detected within the cluster of sources constituting the galactic center is reported which lasted about two months and had a flux roughly equal to the regular flux from this area. It is noted that this was the only transient event detected in the whole area under continuous observation for the duration of the experiment.

Wende, C. D.↗

Strong chemical tagging with APOGEE: 21 candidate star clusters that have dissolved across the Milky Way disc

ABSTRACT Chemically tagging groups of stars born in the same birth cluster is a major goal of spectroscopic surveys. To investigate the feasibility of such strong chemical tagging, we perform a blind chemical tagging experiment on abundances measured from APOGEE survey spectra. We apply a density-based clustering algorithm to the 8D chemical space defined by [Mg/Fe], [Al/Fe], [Si/Fe], [K/Fe], [Ti/Fe], [Mn/Fe], [Fe/H], and [Ni/Fe], abundances ratios which together span multiple nucleosynthetic channels. In a high-quality sample of 182 538 giant stars, we detect 21 candidate clusters with more than 15 members. Our candidate clusters are more chemically homogeneous than a population of non-member stars with similar [Mg/Fe] and [Fe/H], even in abundances not used for tagging. Group members are consistent with having the same age and fall along a single stellar-population track in log g versus Teff space. Each group’s members are distributed over multiple kpc, and the spread in their radial and azimuthal actions increases with age. We qualitatively reproduce this increase using N-body simulations of cluster dissolution in Galactic potentials that include transient winding spiral arms. Observing our candidate birth clusters with high-resolution spectroscopy in other wavebands to investigate their chemical homogeneity in other nucleosynthetic groups will be essential to confirming the efficacy of strong chemical tagging. Our initially spatially compact but now widely dispersed candidate clusters will provide novel limits on chemical evolution and orbital diffusion in the Galactic disc, and constraints on star formation in loosely bound groups.

Price-Jones, Natalie↗

Tennessee Valley Total and Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Climatology Comparison

The North Alabama Lightning Mapping Array (NALMA) has been in operation since 2001 and consists often VHF receivers deployed across northern Alabama. The NALMA locates sources of impulsive VHF radio signals from total lightning by accurately measuring the time that the signals arrive at the different receiving stations. The sources detected are then clustered into flashes by applying spatially and temporally constraints. This study examines the total lightning climatology of the region derived from NALMA and compares it to the cloud-to-ground (CG) climatology derived from the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) The presentation compares the total and CG lightning trends for monthly, daily, and hourly periods.

Buechler, Dennis↗

X-ray study of superclusters

The Batuski-Burns list of candidate superclusters was searched for X-ray emission in the HEAO 1 A-2 data base. No significant flux in excess of integrated member cluster emission was detected in directions associated with estimated supercluster centroids; a 3 sigma upper limit to the mean individual excess flux is 5 x 10 to the -12th ergs/sq cm/s. Implications of this bound are discussed in terms of fainter member clusters, hot diffuse gas, and active and normal galaxies. Prospects of supercluster observations related to future X-ray missions are also outlined.

Persic, M.↗

Detection of the significant impact of source clustering on higher order statistics with DES Year 3 weak gravitational lensing data

We measure the impact of source galaxy clustering on higher order summary statistics of weak gravitational lensing data. By comparing simulated data with galaxies that either trace or do not trace the underlying density field, we show that this effect can exceed measurement uncertainties for common higher order statistics for certain analysis choices. We evaluate the impact on different weak lensing observables, finding that third moments and wavelet phase harmonics are more affected than peak count statistics. Using Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year 3 (Y3) data, we construct null tests for the source-clustering-free case, finding a p-value of p = 4 × 10 −3 (2.6σ) using third-order map moments and p = 3 × 10 −11 (6.5σ) using wavelet phase harmonics. The impact of source clustering on cosmological inference can be either included in the model or minimized through ad hoc procedures (e.g. scale cuts). We verify that the procedures adopted in existing DES Y3 cosmological analyses were sufficient to render this effect negligible. Failing to account for source clustering can significantly impact cosmological inference from higher order gravitational lensing statistics, e.g. higher order N-point functions, wavelet-moment observables, and deep learning or field-level summary statistics of weak lensing maps.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Do blue galaxy-clusters have hot intracluster gas?

Abstract We present herein a systematic X-ray analysis of blue galaxy clusters at z = 0.84 discovered by the Subaru telescope. The sample consisted of 43 clusters identified by combining red-sequence and blue-cloud surveys, covering a wide range of emitter fractions (i.e., 0.3–0.8). The spatial extent of the over-density region of emitter galaxies was approximately 1 Mpc in radius. The average cluster mass was estimated as 0.6(<1.5) × 1014 M⊙ from the stacked weak-lensing measurement. We analyzed the XMM-Newton archival data, and measured the X-ray luminosity of the hot intracluster medium. As a result, diffuse X-ray emission was marginally detected in 14 clusters, yielding an average luminosity of 5 × 1042 erg s−1. To the contrary, it was not significant in 29 clusters. The blue clusters were significantly fainter than the red-dominated clusters, and the X-ray luminosity did not show any meaningful correlation either with emitter fraction or richness. The X-ray surface brightness was low, but the amount of gas mass was estimated to be comparable to that observed in the 1013–1014 M⊙ cluster. Based on the results, we suggest that the blue clusters are at the early formation stage, and the gas is yet to be compressed and heated up to produce appreciable X-rays. Follow-up spectroscopic measurements are essential to clarify the dynamical status and co-evolution of galaxies and hot gas in the blue clusters.

Misato, Rana↗

Space telescope observations of globular clusters

Six proposed Space Telescope programs involving globular clusters are described. The projects appropriate for galactic clusters are: the detection of white dwarfs, the study of the faint end of the Population II luminosity function, the measurement of mass segregation, and the search for a cusp in the density distribution caused by core collapse or by a massive black hole. The two programs that involve extragalactic globular clusters are: the determination of the luminosity function of clusters around different galaxies and the measurement of tidal radii of clusters surrounding elliptical galaxies.

Bahcall, J. N.↗

A Radar Investigation of Precipitation Properties During Discrepancies Between GOES-16 GLM and LMA Observed Flash Rates in the Skyline Alabama Supercell of 22 April 2017

Conclusions: GLM (Geostationary Lightning Mapper) flash rates were 2 to 5 times lower than LMA (Lightning Mapping Array) in an Alabama supercell that was tracked using a combination of GLM flash initiation density and VIL (Vertically Integrated Liquid); Since most lightning was initiating at 8-9 kilometers (and not at low levels) according to LMA, flash height does not appear to be a primary factor in low GLM flash rates; When (LMA-GLM) flash rate differences were largest, the LMA observed flash areas were relatively small (and vice versa); Flash size may be a primary factor in low GLM flash rates due to detectability and/or flash clustering issues with small flashes within the coarse 8 kilometers by 8 kilometers resolution; High cloud liquid water droplet concentrations were inferred indirectly from riming necessary for large radar MESH (Maximum Expected Size of Hail), VIL and hail/graupel volumes. High cloud water droplet concentrations in supercells may decrease GLM detection efficiency due to optical extinction of near IR (near Infrared) emitted by lightning as it moves through cloud; Despite large flash rate differences, GLM & LMA lightning jumps during robust supercell generally agreed with each other and radar trends in HID (Radar Reflectivity and Hydrometeor Identification), MESH and VIL.However, more LMA jumps (than GLM) in developing supercell and more GLM jumps (than LMA) in weak to decaying supercell. Future work: improve GLM tracking.

GLM↗

The cosmic web around the Coma cluster from constrained cosmological simulations

Galaxy clusters in the Universe occupy the important position of nodes of the cosmic web. They are connected among them by filaments, elongated structures composed of dark matter, galaxies, and gas. The connection of galaxy clusters to filaments is important, as it is related to the process of matter accretion onto the former. For this reason, investigating the connections to the cosmic web of massive clusters, especially well-known ones for which a lot of information is available, is a hot topic in astrophysics. In a previous work, we performed an analysis of the filament connections of the Coma cluster of galaxies, as detected from the observed galaxy distribution. In this work we resort to a numerical simulation whose initial conditions are constrained to reproduce the local Universe, including the region of the Coma cluster to interpret our observations in an evolutionary context. We detect the filaments connected to the simulated Coma cluster and perform an accurate comparison with the cosmic web configuration we detect in observations. We perform an analysis of the halos’ spatial and velocity distributions close to the filaments in the cluster outskirts. We conclude that, although not significantly larger than the average, the flux of accreting matter on the simulated Coma cluster is significantly more collimated close to the filaments with respect to the general isotropic accretion flux. This paper is the first example of such a result and the first installment in a series of publications which will explore the build-up of the Coma cluster system in connection to the filaments of the cosmic web as a function of redshift.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗