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At least 235 records · Page 13

Extended dark energy analysis using DESI DR2 BAO measurements

We conduct an extended analysis of dark energy constraints, in support of the findings of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) second data release cosmology key paper, including DESI data, Planck cosmic microwave background observations, and three different supernova compilations. Using a broad range of parametric and nonparametric methods, we explore the dark energy phenomenology and find consistent trends across all approaches, in good agreement with the 𝑤 0⁢ 𝑤 𝑎⁢ CDM (cold dark matter) key paper results. Even with the additional flexibility introduced by nonparametric approaches, such as binning and Gaussian processes, we find that extending Λ⁢ CDM to include a two-parameter 𝑤⁡(𝑧) is sufficient to capture the trends present in the data. Finally, we examine three dark energy classes with distinct dynamics, including quintessence scenarios satisfying 𝑤 ≥ −1, to explore what underlying physics can explain such deviations. The current data indicate a clear preference for models that feature a phantom crossing; although alternatives lacking this feature are disfavored, they cannot yet be ruled out. Our analysis confirms that the evidence for dynamical dark energy, particularly at low redshift (𝑧 ≲ 0.3), is robust and stable under different modeling choices.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Recent Progress in Low-Energy Neutrino-Nucleus Interactions Physics

Tens of MeV neutrinos, such as those from stopped pion or core-collapse supernova sources, interact with target nuclei in detectors through either coherent elastic or inelastic scattering processes. These interactions provide valuable insights into various Standard Model and Beyond the Standard Model phenomena, with significant implications for nuclear physics, particle physics, and astrophysics.The precision of coherent elastic scattering, where the nucleus remains in its ground state, depends on the accuracy of the underlying weak form factor of the nucleus. In contrast, inelastic scattering, where neutrinos excite the target nucleus to low-lying nuclear states, involves complex nuclear structures and dynamics and are quite poorly constrained. Moreover, these low-energy processes also have implications for neutrino-nucleus scattering of GeV energy neutrino beams. In this talk, I will present an overview of the field, highlight recent advancements, and outline future directions.

Pandey, Vishvas↗

Neutrino Physics Opportunities with Pion and Kaon Decay-at-Rest Neutrino Source

Low-energy neutrino sources, such as those from stopped-pion, stopped-kaon or core-collapse supernova, interact with target nuclei in detectors through either coherent elastic or inelastic scattering processes. These interactions provide valuable insights into various Standard Model and Beyond the Standard Model phenomena, with significant implications for nuclear physics, particle physics, and astrophysics. The precision of coherent elastic scattering, where the nucleus remains in its ground state, depends on the accuracy of the underlying weak form factor of the nucleus. In contrast, inelastic scattering, where neutrinos excite the target nucleus to low-lying nuclear states, involves complex nuclear structures and dynamics and are quite poorly constrained. In this talk, I will present the physics opportunities offered by these neutrino sources, produced as secondary beams in an electron beam dump configuration at Jefferson Lab, and discuss their synergy with global neutrino experiments.

Pandey, Vishvas [Fermilab]↗

Interplay of Nuclear and New Physics with Low-Energy Neutrino Sources

Low-energy neutrino sources, such as those from stopped pion or core-collapse supernova, interact with target nuclei in detectors through either coherent elastic or inelastic scattering processes. These interactions provide valuable insights into various Standard Model and Beyond the Standard Model phenomena, with significant implications for nuclear physics, particle physics, and astrophysics. The precision of coherent elastic scattering, where the nucleus remains in its ground state, depends on the accuracy of the underlying weak form factor of the nucleus. In contrast, inelastic scattering, where neutrinos excite the target nucleus to low-lying nuclear states, involves complex nuclear structures and dynamics and are quite poorly constrained. In this talk, I will present an overview of the field, highlight recent advancements, and outline future directions.

Pandey, Vishvas [Fermilab] (ORCID:0000000230827987↗

Cosmology of dark energy radiation

In this work, we quantify the cosmological signatures of dark energy radiation—a novel description of dark energy, which proposes that the dynamical component of dark energy is comprised of a thermal bath of relativistic particles sourced by thermal friction from a slowly rolling scalar field. For a minimal model with particle production emerging from first principles, we find that the abundance of radiation sourced by dark energy can be as large as Ω DER = 0.03, exceeding the bounds on relic dark radiation by three orders of magnitude. Although the background and perturbative evolution of dark energy radiation are distinct from Quintessence, we find that current and near-future cosmic microwave background and supernova data will not distinguish these models of dark energy. We also find that our constraints on all models are dominated by their impact on the expansion rate of the Universe. Considering extensions that allow the dark radiation to populate neutrinos, axions, and dark photons, we evaluate the direct detection prospects of a thermal background comprised of these candidates consistent with cosmological constraints on dark energy radiation. Our study indicates that a resolution of ~6 meV is required to achieve sensitivity to relativistic neutrinos compatible with dark energy radiation in a neutrino capture experiment on tritium. We also find that dark matter axion experiments lack sensitivity to a relativistic thermal axion background, even if enhanced by dark energy radiation, and dedicated search strategies are required to probe new parameter space. We derive constraints arising from a dark photon background from oscillations into visible photons, and find that viable parameter space can be explored with the late dark energy radiation experiment.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Line Emission Mapper Probing Physics of Cosmic Ecosystems

The Line Emission Mapper (LEM) is an X-ray Probe for the 2030s that will answer the outstanding questions of the Universe’s structure formation. It will also provide transformative new observing capabilities for every area of astrophysics, and to heliophysics and planetary physics as well. LEM’s main goal is a comprehensive look at the physics of galaxy formation, including stellar and black-hole feedback and flows of baryonic matter into and out of galaxies. These processes are best studied in X-rays; as emphasized by the 2020 Decadal Survey, emission-line mapping is the pressing need in this area. LEM will use a large microcalorimeter array/IFU (that builds on Athena XIFU technology developments), covering a 30 × 300 field with 1000 angular resolution, to map the soft Xray line emission from objects that constitute galactic ecosystems. These include supernova remnants, star-forming regions, superbubbles, galactic outflows (such as the Fermi/eROSITA bubbles in the Milky Way and their analogs in other galaxies), the Circumgalactic Medium in the Milky Way and other galaxies, and the Intergalactic Medium at the outskirts and beyond the confines of galaxies and clusters. LEM’s 1–2 eV spectral resolution in the 0.2–2 keV band will make it possible to disentangle the faintest emission lines in those objects from the bright Milky Way foreground, providing groundbreaking measurements of the physics of these plasmas, from temperatures, densities, chemical composition to gas dynamics. While the mission is optimized to provide critical observations that will push our understanding of galaxy formation, LEM will provide transformative capability for all classes of astrophysical objects, from the Earth’s magnetosphere, planets and comets to the interstellar medium and X-ray binaries in nearby galaxies, AGN, and cooling gas in galaxy clusters. In addition to pointed observations, LEM will perform a shallow all-sky survey that will dramatically expand the discovery space.

Ralph Kraft↗

Chromium Nucleosynthesis and Silicon–Carbon Shell Mergers in Massive Stars

In this work, we analyze the production of the element Cr in galactic chemical evolution (GCE) models using the NuGrid nucleosynthesis yields set. We show that the unusually large [Cr/Fe] abundance at [Fe/H] ≈ 0 reported by previous studies using those yields and predicted by our Milky Way model originates from the merging of convective Si-burning and C-burning shells in a 20 ${M}_{\odot }$ model at metallicity Z = 0.01, about an hour before the star explodes. This merger mixes the incomplete burning material in the Si shell, including 51 V and 52 Cr, out to the edge of the carbon/oxygen (CO) core. The adopted supernova model ejects the outer 2 ${M}_{\odot }$ of the CO core, which includes a significant fraction of the Cr-rich material. When including this 20 M⊙ model at Z = 0.01 in the yields interpolation scheme of our GCE model for stars between 15 and 25 ${M}_{\odot }$, we overestimate [Cr/Fe] by an order of magnitude at [Fe/H] ≈ 0 relative to observations in the Galactic disk. This raises a number of questions regarding the occurrence of Si–C shell mergers in nature, the accuracy of different simulation approaches, and the impact of such mergers on the presupernova structure and explosion dynamics. According to the conditions in this 1D stellar model, the substantial penetration of C-shell material into the Si shell could launch a convective–reactive global oscillation if a merger does take place. In any case, GCE provides stringent constraints on the outcome of this stellar evolution phase.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Do not forget the electrons: Extending moderately-sized nuclear networks for multidimensional hydrodynamic codes

Context.Nuclear networks are widely used coupled with hydrodynamical simulations of explosive scenarios to account for the change of nuclear species and energy generation rate due to nuclear reactions. In this way, there is a feedback mechanism between the hydrodynamical state and the nuclear processes. Unfortunately, the timescale of nuclear reactions is orders of magnitude smaller than the dynamical timescale that drives hydrodynamical simulations. Therefore, these nuclear networks are usually very small, reduced in most cases to a dozen elements, especially when simulations are carried out in more than one dimension. Aims.We present here an extended nuclear network, with 90 species, designed for being coupled with hydrodynamic simulations, which includes neutrons, protons, electrons, positrons, and the corresponding neutrino and anti-neutrino emission. This network is also coupled with temperature, making it extremely robust and, together with its size, unique of its kind. The inclusion of electron captures on free protons makes the network very appropriate for multidimensional studies of Type Ia supernova explosions, especially when the exploding object is a massive white dwarf. Methods.We perform several tests that are relevant to simulate explosive scenarios, such as Type Ia supernovae and core-collapse supernovae. We compare the results of the 90 nuclei network with a standardα-chain network with 14 elements to evaluate the differences in the energy generation rate. We also evaluate the relevance of including the electrons in the network in terms of generated yields and how it affects the pressure of a degenerate fluid such as that of white dwarfs. The results obtained with the 90-nuclei network have been verified with a much larger 2000-nuclei network built from REACLIB (WinNet), in terms of nuclear energy generation rate, pressure, and produced yields. Results.The results obtained with the proposed medium-sized network compare fairly well, to a few percent, with those computed withWinNetin scenarios reproducing the gross physical conditions of current Type Ia supernova explosion models. In those cases where the carbon and oxygen fuel ignites at high density, the high-temperature plateau typical of the nuclear statistical equilibrium regime is well defined and stable, allowing large integration time steps. We show that the inclusion of electron captures on free protons substantially improves the estimation of the electron fraction of the mixture. Therefore, the pressure is better determined than in networks where electron captures are excluded, which will ultimately lead to more reliable hydrodynamic models. Explosive combustion of helium at low density, occurring near the surface layer of a white dwarf, is also better described with the proposed network, which gives nuclear energy generation rates much closer toWinNetthan typical reduced alpha networks. Conclusions.A nuclear network withN= 90 species, including electrons, aimed at multidimensional calculations of supernova explosions is described and verified. The proposed network is suitable for the study of Type Ia supernova explosions because it provides better values of pressure and electron abundance than other existing networks with smaller or even a similar size but without including electron capture processes.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Galaxy distances and deviations from universal expansion; Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Kona, HI, Jan. 13-17, 1986

A collection of papers on galaxy distances and deviations from universal expansion is presented. Individual topics addressed include: new results on the distance scale and the Hubble constant, Magellanic Clouds and the distance scale, CCD observations of Cepheids in nearby galaxies, distances using A supergiant stars, infrared calibration of the Cepheid distance scale, two stepping stones to the Hubble constant, physical models of supernovae and the distance scale, 21 cm line widths and distances of spiral galaxies, infrared color-luminosity relations for field galaxies, minimizing the scatter in the Tully-Fisher relation, photometry of galaxies and the local peculiar motion, elliptical galaxies and nonuniformities in the Hubble flow, and large-scale anisotropy in the Hubble flow. Also discussed are: improved distance indicator for elliptical galaxies, anisotropy of galaxies detected by IRAS, the local gravitational field, measurements of the CBR, measure of cosmological times, ages from nuclear cosmochronology, extragalactic gas at high redshift, supercluster infall models, Virgo infall and the mass density of the universe, dynamics of superclusters and Omega(0), distribution of galaxies versus dark matter, peculiar velocities and galaxy formation, cosmological shells and blast waves.

Madore, Barry F.↗

Two-moment Neutrino Flavor Transformation with Applications to the Fast Flavor Instability in Neutron Star Mergers

Abstract Multi-messenger astrophysics has produced a wealth of data with much more to come in the future. This enormous data set will reveal new insights into the physics of core-collapse supernovae, neutron star mergers, and many other objects where it is actually possible, if not probable, that new physics is in operation. To tease out different possibilities, we will need to analyze signals from photons, neutrinos, gravitational waves, and chemical elements. This task is made all the more difficult when it is necessary to evolve the neutrino component of the radiation field and associated quantum-mechanical property of flavor in order to model the astrophysical system of interest—a numerical challenge that has not been addressed to this day. In this work, we take a step in this direction by adopting the technique of angular-integrated moments with a truncated tower of dynamical equations and a closure, convolving the flavor-transformation with spatial transport to evolve the neutrino radiation quantum field. We show that moments capture the dynamical features of fast flavor instabilities in a variety of systems, although our technique is by no means a universal blueprint for solving fast flavor transformation. To evaluate the effectiveness of our moment results, we compare to a more precise particle-in-cell method. Based on our results, we propose areas for improvement and application to complementary techniques in the future.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Black Hole to Photosphere: 3D GRMHD Simulations of Collapsars Reveal Wobbling and Hybrid Composition Jets

Long-duration γ-ray bursts (GRBs) accompany the collapse of massive stars and carry information about the central engine. However, no 3D models have been able to follow these jets from their birth via black hole (BH) to the photosphere. We present the first such 3D general-relativity magnetohydrodynamic simulations, which span over six orders of magnitude in space and time. The collapsing stellar envelope forms an accretion disk, which drags inwardly the magnetic flux that accumulates around the BH, becomes dynamically important, and launches bipolar jets. The jets reach the photosphere at ~10 12 cm with an opening angle θ j ~ 6° and a Lorentz factor Γ j ≲ 30, unbinding ≳90% of the star. We find that (i) the disk–jet system spontaneously develops misalignment relative to the BH rotational axis. As a result, the jet wobbles with an angle θ t ~ 12°, which can naturally explain quiescent times in GRB lightcurves. The effective opening angle for detection θ j + θ t suggests that the intrinsic GRB rate is lower by an order of magnitude than standard estimates. This suggests that successful GRBs are rarer than currently thought and emerge in only ~0.1% of supernovae Ib/c, implying that jets are either not launched or choked inside most supernova Ib/c progenitors. (ii) The magnetic energy in the jet decreases due to mixing with the star, resulting in jets with a hybrid composition of magnetic and thermal components at the photosphere, where ~10% of the gas maintains magnetization σ ≳ 0.1. This indicates that both a photospheric component and reconnection may play a role in the prompt emission.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Using lower-redshift, non-CMB, data to constrain the Hubble constant and other cosmological parameters

Here we use updated Hubble parameter and baryon acoustic oscillation data, as well as other lower-redshift Type Ia supernova, Mg ii reverberation-measured quasar, quasar angular size, H ii starburst galaxy, and Amati-correlated gamma-ray burst data, to jointly constrain cosmological parameters in six cosmological models. The joint analysis provides model-independent determinations of the Hubble constant, H 0 = 69.7 ± 1.2 km s -1 Mpc -1 , and the current non-relativistic matter density parameter, Ω m0 = 0.295 ± 0.017. These error bars are factors of 2.2 and 2.3 larger than the corresponding error bars in the flat ΛCDM model from Planck TT,TE,EE+lowE+lensing cosmic microwave background anisotropy data. Based on the deviance information criterion (DIC), the flat ΛCDM model is most favored but mild dark energy dynamics and a little spatial curvature are not ruled out.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Star-forming instabilities of a decelerating plane-parallel slab of finite thickness

In order to study how supernova blast waves might catalyze star formation, the stability of a slab of decelerating gas of finite thickness is explored. Previous analyses are extended by applying shock-like boundary conditions to the leading edge of the slab and by studying the effects of arbitrary deceleration. Contrary to some earlier claims, it is found that blast waves can indeed accelerate the rate of star formation in the interstellar medium by compressing the interstellar gas and enabling it to cool. Also, it is demonstrated that in an incompressible fluid, the symmetric and antisymmetric modes in the case of zero acceleration transform continuously into Rayleigh-Taylor and gravity-wave modes as acceleration grows more important. The dynamical overstability of an isothermal shock wave and its implications for star formation are discussed.

Voit, G. Mark↗

The Stellar Imager (SI)"Vision Mission"

The Stellar Imager (SI) is a "Vision" mission in the Sun-Earth Connection (SEC) Roadmap, conceived for the purpose of understanding the effects of stellar magnetic fields, the dynamos that generate them, and the internal structure and dynamics of the stars in which they exist. The ultimate goal is to achieve the best possible forecasting of solar/stellar magnetic activity and its impact on life in the Universe. The science goals of SI require an ultra-high angular resolution, at ultraviolet wavelengths, on the order of 100 micro-arcsec and thus baselines on the order of 0.5 km. These requirements call for a large, multi-spacecraft (less than 20) imaging interferometer, utilizing precision formation flying in a stable environment, such as in a Lissajous orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. SI's resolution will make it an invaluable resource for many other areas of astrophysics, including studies of AGN s, supernovae, cataclysmic variables, young stellar objects, QSO's, and stellar black holes. ongoing mission concept and technology development studies for SI. These studies are designed to refine the mission requirements for the science goals, define a Design Reference Mission, perform trade studies of selected major technical and architectural issues, improve the existing technology roadmap, and explore the details of deployment and operations, as well as the possible roles of astronauts and/or robots in construction and servicing of the facility.

Carpenter, Ken↗

Origin of spin–orbit misalignments: the microblazar V4641 Sgr

ABSTRACT Of the known microquasars, V4641 Sgr boasts the most severe lower limit (>52°) on the misalignment angle between the relativistic jet axis and the binary orbital angular momentum. Assuming the jet and black hole spin axes coincide, we attempt to explain the origin of this extreme spin–orbit misalignment with a natal kick model, whereby an aligned binary system becomes misaligned by a supernova kick imparted to the newborn black hole. The model inputs are the kick velocity distribution, which we measure customized to V4641 Sgr, and the immediate pre/post-supernova binary system parameters. Using a grid of binary stellar evolution models, we determine post-supernova configurations that evolve to become consistent with V4641 Sgr today and obtain the corresponding pre-supernova configurations by using standard prescriptions for common envelope evolution. Using each of these potential progenitor system parameter sets as inputs, we find that a natal kick struggles to explain the origin of the V4641 Sgr spin–orbit misalignment. Consequently, we conclude that evolutionary pathways involving a standard common envelope phase followed by a supernova kick are highly unlikely for V4641 Sgr. An alternative interpretation is that the jet axis does not reliably trace the black hole spin axis. Our results raise concerns about compact object merger statistics gleaned from binary population synthesis models, which rely on unverified prescriptions for common envelope evolution and natal kicks. We also challenge the spin–orbit alignment assumption routinely invoked to measure black hole spin magnitudes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Probing the early Milky Way with GHOST spectra of an extremely metal-poor star in the Galactic disc

ABSTRACT Pristine_183.6849 + 04.8619 (P1836849) is an extremely metal-poor ([Fe/H] = −3.3 ± 0.1) star on a prograde orbit confined to the Galactic disc. Such stars are rare and may have their origins in protogalactic fragments that formed the early Milky Way, in low-mass satellites accreted later, or forming in situ in the Galactic plane. Here, we present a chemo-dynamical analysis of the spectral features between 3700−11 000 Å from a high-resolution spectrum taken during Science Verification of the new Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph. Spectral features for many chemical elements are analysed (Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni), and valuable upper limits are determined for others (C, Na, Sr, Ba). This main sequence star exhibits several rare chemical signatures, including (i) extremely low metallicity for a star in the Galactic disc, (ii) very low abundances of the light α-elements (Na, Mg, Si) compared to other metal-poor stars, and (iii) unusually large abundances of Cr and Mn, where [Cr, Mn/Fe]NLTE > +0.5. A comparison to theoretical yields from supernova models suggests that two low-mass Population III objects (one 10 M⊙ supernova and one 17 M⊙ hypernova) can reproduce the abundance pattern well (reduced χ2 < 1). When this star is compared to other extremely metal-poor stars on quasi-circular, prograde planar orbits, differences in both chemistry and kinematics imply there is little evidence for a common origin. The unique chemistry of P1836849 is discussed in terms of the earliest stages in the formation of the Milky Way.

Dovgal, Anya↗

An In-Depth Study of the Abundance Pattern in the Hot Interstellar Medium in NGC 4649

We present our X-ray imaging spectroscopic analysis of data from deep Suzaku and XMM-Newton Observatory exposures of the Virgo Cluster elliptical galaxy NGC 4649 (M60), focusing on the abundance pattern in the hot interstellar medium (ISM). All measured elements show a radial decline in abundance, with the possible exception of Oxygen. We construct steady state solutions to the chemical evolution equations that include infall in addition to stellar mass return and Type Ia supernovae (SNIa) enrichment, and consider recently published SNIa yields. By adjusting a single model parameter to obtain a match to the global abundance pattern in NGC 4649 we infer that introduction of subsolar metallicity external gas has reduced the overall ISM metallicity and diluted the effectiveness of SNIa to skew the pattern towards low alpha/Fe ratios, and estimate the combination of SNIa rate and level of dilution. Evidently, newly-introduced gas is heated as it is integrated into, and interacts with, the hot gas that is already present. These results indicate a complex flow and enrichment history for NGC 4649, reflecting the continual evolution of elliptical galaxies beyond the formation epoch. The heating and circulation of accreted gas may help reconcile this dynamic history with the mostly passive evolution of elliptical stellar populations. In an appendix we examine the effects of the recent updated atomic database AtomDB in spectral fitting of thermal plasmas with hot ISM temperatures in the elliptical galaxy range.

Loewenstein, Michael↗

Understanding Structure in Line-Driven Stellar Winds Using Ultraviolet Spectropolarimetry in the Time Domain

The most massive stars are thought to lose a significant fraction of their mass in a steady wind during the main-sequence and blue supergiant phases. This in turn sets the stage for their further evolution and eventual supernova, and preconditions the surrounding medium for all following events, with consequences for ISM energization, chemical enrichment, and dust formation. Understanding these processes requires accurate observational constraints on the mass-loss rates of the most luminous stars, which can also be used to test theories of stellar wind driving. In the past, mass-loss rates have been characterized via collisional emission processes such as optical Hα and free-free radio emission, but these so-called “density squared” diagnostics require correction in the presence of widespread clumping. Recent observational and theoretical evidence points to the likelihood of a ubiquitously high level of such clumping in hot-star winds, but quantifying its effects requires a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of radiatively driven winds and their stochastic instabilities. Furthermore, large-scale structures initiating in surface anisotropies and propagating throughout the wind can also affect wind driving and alter mass-loss diagnostics. Time series spectroscopy of high resonance-line opacity in the UV, capable of high resolution and high signal-to-noise, are required to better understand these complex dynamics, and more accurately determine mass-loss rates. The proposed Polstar mission (Scowen et al. 2022, this volume) provides the necessary resolution at the Sobolev (∼10 km s −1 ) or sound-speed (∼20 km s −1 ) scale, for over three dozen bright galactic massive stars with signal-to noise an order of magnitude above that of the celebrated MEGA campaign (Massa et al. 1995) of the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), via continuous observations that track propagating structures through the winds in real time. Supporting geometric constraints are provided by the polarimetric capabilities present in all the datasets of such a mission.

Polstar – NASA MIDEX↗