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At least 1,135 records · Page 63

Automatic detection of low surface brightness galaxies from Sloan Digital Sky Survey images

ABSTRACT Low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies are galaxies with central surface brightness fainter than the night sky. Due to the faint nature of LSB galaxies and the comparable sky background, it is difficult to search LSB galaxies automatically and efficiently from large sky survey. In this study, we established the low surface brightness galaxies autodetect (LSBG-AD) model, which is a data-driven model for end-to-end detection of LSB galaxies from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) images. Object-detection techniques based on deep learning are applied to the SDSS field images to identify LSB galaxies and estimate their coordinates at the same time. Applying LSBG-AD to 1120 SDSS images, we detected 1197 LSB galaxy candidates, of which 1081 samples are already known and 116 samples are newly found candidates. The B-band central surface brightness of the candidates searched by the model ranges from 22 to 24 mag arcsec−2, quite consistent with the surface brightness distribution of the standard sample. A total of 96.46 per cent of LSB galaxy candidates have an axial ratio (b/a) greater than 0.3, and 92.04 per cent of them have $fracDev\_r$ < 0.4, which is also consistent with the standard sample. The results show that the LSBG-AD model learns the features of LSB galaxies of the training samples well, and can be used to search LSB galaxies without using photometric parameters. Next, this method will be used to develop efficient algorithms to detect LSB galaxies from massive images of the next-generation observatories.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Illustrating galaxy–halo connection in the DESI era with illustrisTNG

ABSTRACT We employ the hydrodynamical simulation illustrisTNG to inform the galaxy–halo connection of the Luminous Red Galaxy (LRG) and Emission Line Galaxy (ELG) samples of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey at redshift z ∼ 0.8. Specifically, we model the galaxy colours of illustrisTNG and apply sliding DESI colour–magnitude cuts, matching the DESI target densities. We study the halo occupation distribution (HOD) model of the selected samples by matching them to their corresponding dark matter haloes in the illustrisTNG dark matter run. We find the HOD of both the LRG and ELG samples to be consistent with their respective baseline models, but also we find important deviations from common assumptions about the satellite distribution, velocity bias, and galaxy secondary biases. We identify strong evidence for concentration-based and environment-based occupational variance in both samples, an effect known as ‘galaxy assembly bias’. The central and satellite galaxies have distinct dependencies on secondary halo properties, showing that centrals and satellites have distinct evolutionary trajectories and should be modelled separately. These results serve to inform the necessary complexities in modelling galaxy–halo connection for DESI analyses and also prepare for building high-fidelity mock galaxies. Finally, we present a shuffling-based clustering analysis that reveals a 10–15 ${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ excess in the LRG clustering of modest statistical significance due to secondary galaxy biases. We also find a similar excess signature for the ELGs, but with much lower statistical significance. When a larger hydrodynamical simulation volume becomes available, we expect our analysis pipeline to pinpoint the exact sources of such excess clustering signatures.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Star-forming S0 Galaxies in SDSS-MaNGA: fading spirals or rejuvenated S0s?

ABSTRACT We investigate the origin of rare star formation in an otherwise red-and-dead population of S0 galaxies, using spatially resolved spectroscopy. Our sample consists of 120 low redshift (z < 0.1) star-forming S0 (SF-S0) galaxies from the SDSS-IV MaNGA DR15. We have selected this sample after a visual inspection of deep images from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys DR9 and the Subaru/HSC-SSP survey PDR3 to remove contamination from spiral galaxies. We also construct two control samples of star-forming spirals (SF-Sps) and quenched S0s (Q-S0s) to explore their evolutionary link with the star-forming S0s. To study star formation at resolved scales, we use dust-corrected H α luminosity and stellar density (Σ⋆) maps to construct radial profiles of star formation rate (SFR) surface density (ΣSFR) and specific SFR (sSFR). Examining these radial profiles, we find that star formation in SF-S0s is centrally dominated as opposed to disc-dominated star formation in spirals. We also compared various global (size–mass relation, bulge-to-total luminosity ratio) and local (central stellar velocity dispersion) properties of SF-S0s to those of the control sample galaxies. We find that SF-S0s are structurally similar to the quenched S0s and are different from star-forming spirals. We infer that SF-S0s are unlikely to be fading spirals. Inspecting stellar and gas velocity maps, we find that more than $50{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the SF-S0 sample shows signs of recent galaxy interactions such as kinematic misalignment, counter-rotation, and unsettled kinematics. Based on these results, we conclude that in our sample of SF-S0s, star formation has been rejuvenated, with minor mergers likely to be a major driver.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Observational signatures of circumbinary discs – I. Kinematics

We present five morphological and kinematic criteria to aid in asserting the binary nature of a protoplanetary disc, based on 3D hydrodynamical simulations of circumbinary discs post-processed with Monte Carlo radiative transfer. We find that circumbinary discs may be identified by (i) a central cavity, (ii) spiral arms both in and outside of their central cavities, (iii) non-localized perturbations in their iso-velocity curves, (iv) asymmetry between the lines of maximum speed of the blue shifted and redshifted wings, and (v) asymmetry between the area of the blue shifted and redshifted wings. In this study, we provide quantitative metrics for the last two criteria that can be used, in conjunction with the morphological criteria, to signal whether a protoplanetary disc is likely to be a circumbinary disc.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Discovery of compact disc galaxies with high-surface brightness in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Compact disc galaxies (CDGs) with high-surface brightness were identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data. We determined the surface profiles of the CDGs and compared them to those of normal-sized disc galaxies (NDGs). The CDGs have higher central brightness and older stellar age than the NDGs. Furthermore, the brightness profiles of the CDGs fit a Sérsic model with n ≈ 2.11 and have a zero g′ − r′ colour gradient on average. By contrast, the NDGs fit an exponential profile and have a negative colour gradient on average. These results indicate that the structure and stellar population of the CDGs and NDGs differ. We suggest that the CDGs are ancient galaxies in the quenching phase following the initial central starburst.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The impact of baryonic potentials on the gravothermal evolution of self-interacting dark matter haloes

The presence of a central baryonic potential can have a significant impact on the gravothermal evolution of self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) haloes. We extend a semi-analytical fluid model to incorporate the influence of a static baryonic potential and calibrate it using controlled N-body simulations. We construct benchmark scenarios with varying baryon concentrations and different SIDM models, including constant and velocity-dependent self-interacting cross-sections. The presence of the baryonic potential induces changes in SIDM halo properties, including central density, core size, and velocity dispersion, and it accelerates the halo’s evolution in both expansion and collapse phases. Furthermore, we observe a quasi-universality in the gravothermal evolution of SIDM haloes with the baryonic potential, resembling a previously known feature in the absence of the baryons. By appropriately rescaling the physical quantities that characterize the SIDM haloes, the evolution of all our benchmark cases exhibits remarkable similarity. In conclusion, our findings offer a framework for testing SIDM predictions using observations of galactic systems where baryons play a significant dynamical role.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Evidence for a luminosity–decay correlation in GRB GeV light curves

ABSTRACT Correlations between intrinsic properties of gamma-ray burst (GRB) light curves provide clues to the nature of the central engine, the jet, and a possible means to standardize GRBs for cosmological use. Here, we report on the discovery of a correlation between the intrinsic early-time luminosity, LG,10 s, measured at rest frame 10 s, and the average decay rate measured from rest frame 10 s onward, $\alpha _{\mathrm{G,avg\gt 10\, s}}$, in a sample of 13 Fermi Large Area Telescope long GRB light curves. We note that our selection criteria, in particular the requirement for a redshift to construct luminosity light curves, naturally limits our sample to energetic GRBs. A Spearman’s rank correlation gives a coefficient of –0.74, corresponding to a confidence level of 99.6 per cent, indicating that brighter afterglows decay faster than less luminous ones. Assuming a linear relation with log(LG,10s), we find $\alpha _{\mathrm{G,avg\gt 10\, s}}$$= -0.31_{-0.09}^{+0.12}\log ($LG,10s$) + 14.43_{-5.97}^{+4.55}$. The slope of −0.31 is consistent at 1σ with previously identified correlations in the optical/ultraviolet and X-ray light curves. We speculate that differences in the rate at which energy is released by the central engine or differences in observer viewing angle may be responsible for the correlation.

Hinds, K. R. (ORCID:000000020129806X)↗

High-energy neutrino emission from magnetized jets of rapidly rotating protomagnetars

ABSTRACT Relativistic jets originating from protomagnetar central engines can lead to long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and are considered potential sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and secondary neutrinos. We explore the propagation of such jets through a broad range of progenitors, from stars which have shed their envelopes to supergiants which have not. We use a semi-analytical spin-down model for the strongly magnetized and rapidly rotating protoneutron star (PNS) to investigate the role of central engine properties such as the surface dipole field strength, initial rotation period, and jet opening angle on the interactions and dynamical evolution of the jet-cocoon system. With this model, we determine the properties of the relativistic jet, the mildly relativistic cocoon, and the collimation shock in terms of system parameters such as the time-dependent jet luminosity, injection angle, and density profile of the stellar medium. We also analyse the criteria for a successful jet breakout, the maximum energy that can be deposited into the cocoon by the relativistic jet, and structural stability of the magnetized outflow relative to local instabilities. Lastly, we compute the high-energy neutrino emission as these magnetized outflows burrow through their progenitors. Precursor neutrinos from successful GRB jets are unlikely to be detected by IceCube, which is consistent with the results of previous works. On the other hand, we find that high-energy neutrinos may be produced for extended progenitors like blue and red supergiants, and we estimate the detectability of neutrinos with next generation detectors such as IceCube-Gen2.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Search for brown dwarfs in IC 1396 with Subaru HSC: interpreting the impact of environmental factors on substellar population

ABSTRACT Young stellar clusters are predominantly the hub of star formation and hence, ideal to perform comprehensive studies over the least explored substellar regime. Various unanswered questions like the mass distribution in brown dwarf regime and the effect of diverse cluster environment on brown dwarf formation efficiency still plague the scientific community. The nearby young cluster, IC 1396 with its feedback-driven environment, is ideal to conduct such study. In this paper, we adopt a multiwavelength approach, using deep Subaru HSC along with other data sets and machine learning techniques to identify the cluster members complete down to ∼ 0.03 M⊙ in the central 22 arcmin area of IC 1396. We identify 458 cluster members including 62 brown dwarfs which are used to determine mass distribution in the region. We obtain a star-to-brown dwarf ratio of ∼ 6 for a stellar mass range 0.03–1 M⊙ in the studied cluster. The brown dwarf fraction is observed to increase across the cluster as radial distance from the central OB-stars increases. This study also compiles 15 young stellar clusters to check the variation of star-to-brown dwarf ratio relative to stellar density and ultraviolet (UV) flux ranging within 4–2500 stars pc−2 and 0.7–7.3 G0, respectively. The brown dwarf fraction is observed to increase with stellar density but the results about the influence of incident UV flux are inconclusive within this range. This is the deepest study of IC 1396 as of yet and it will pave the way to understand various aspects of brown dwarfs using spectroscopic observations in future.

Gupta, Saumya (ORCID:0000000161843958)↗

Towards quantifying the impact of triaxiality on optical signatures of galaxy clusters: weak lensing and galaxy distributions

ABSTRACT We present observational evidence of the impact of triaxiality on radial profiles that extend to 40 Mpc from galaxy cluster centres in optical measurements. We perform a stacked profile analysis from a sample of thousands of nearly relaxed galaxy clusters from public data releases of the Dark Energy Survey and the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey. Using the central galaxy elliptical orientation angle as a proxy for galaxy cluster orientation, we measure cluster weak lensing and excess galaxy density axis-aligned profiles, extracted along the central galaxy’s major or minor axes on the plane of the sky. Our measurements show a ≳ 2σ–3σ difference per radial bin between the normalized axis-aligned profiles. The profile difference between each axis-aligned profile and the azimuthally averaged profile ($\sim \pm 10\,\rm per\ cent-20~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ along major/minor axis) appears inside the clusters (∼0.4 Mpc) and extends to the large-scale structure regime (∼10–20 Mpc). The magnitude of the difference appears to be relatively insensitive to cluster richness and redshift, and extends further out in the weak lensing surface mass density than in the galaxy overdensity. Looking forward, this measurement can easily be applied to other observational or simulation data sets and can inform the systematics in cluster mass modelling related to triaxiality. We expect imminent upcoming wide-area deep surveys, such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time, to improve our quantification of optical signatures of cluster triaxiality.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

PAC in DESI. II. Galaxy-halo connection into the $10^{6}{\rm M}_{\odot}$ frontier

Understanding dwarf galaxy formation is crucial for testing dark matter models and reionization physics. However, constructing stellar-mass complete spectroscopic samples at low masses is increasingly difficult, and the potential existence of a local void complicates studies in an average environment. The Photometric object Around Cosmic webs (PAC) method, which combines deep photometric and spectroscopic data to measure the excess surface density $\bar{n}_2w_{\rm{p}}(r_{\rm{p}})$ of photometric objects around spectroscopic tracers, offers a promising path forward. We model 349 $\bar{n}_2w_{\rm{p}}(r_{\rm{p}})$ measurements from DESI Y1 BGS and DECaLS, reaching $M_*=10^{6.4}\,{\rm M}_{\odot}$, using a stellar mass-halo mass relation (SHMR)-based subhalo abundance matching framework applied to two high-resolution $N$-body simulations from the Jiutian suite. The resulting SHMR is constrained down to $M_{\rm h}\simeq10^{8.0}\,h^{-1}{\rm M}_{\odot}$, revealing a clear upturn at $\sim10^{10.0}\,h^{-1}{\rm M}_{\odot}$ toward lower masses, indicating rising star-formation efficiency (SFE) in small haloes. This feature persists under extensions of the model that allow mass-dependent scatter, reionization-induced suppression of the halo occupation fraction, galaxy assembly bias, and alternative cosmologies. Combining with the results from Paper I, we find that central red galaxies dominate the low-mass regime. Our results motivate a hypothesis in which SFE is significantly higher than previously thought prior to reionization, enabling relatively massive galaxies to form in small haloes. These systems are subsequently quenched by the UV background, producing the central red dwarf galaxies observed. Finally, we obtain $3σ$ and $5σ$ upper mass bounds of $10^{8.80}\,h^{-1}{\rm M}_{\odot}$ and $10^{10.24}\,h^{-1}{\rm M}_{\odot}$ on the smallest haloes required to exist.

Xu, Kun [Pennsylvania U.; Durham U., ICC; Tsung-Da↗

TBDB: a database of structurally annotated T-box riboswitch:tRNA pairs

Abstract T-box riboswitches constitute a large family of tRNA-binding leader sequences that play a central role in gene regulation in many gram-positive bacteria. Accurate inference of the tRNA binding to T-box riboswitches is critical to predict their cis-regulatory activity. However, there is no central repository of information on the tRNA binding specificities of T-box riboswitches, and de novo prediction of binding specificities requires advanced knowledge of computational tools to annotate riboswitch secondary structure features. Here, we present the T-box Riboswitch Annotation Database (TBDB, https://tbdb.io), an open-access database with a collection of 23,535 T-box riboswitch sequences, spanning the major phyla of 3,632 bacterial species. Among structural predictions, the TBDB also identifies specifier sequences, cognate tRNA binding partners, and downstream regulatory targets. To our knowledge, the TBDB presents the largest collection of feature, sequence, and structural annotations carried out on this important family of regulatory RNA.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Singlet Oxygen Leads to Structural Changes to Chloroplasts during their Degradation in the Arabidopsis thaliana plastid ferrochelatase two Mutant

Abstract During stress, chloroplasts produce large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Chloroplasts also contain many nutrients, including 80% of a leaf’s nitrogen supply. Therefore, to protect cells from photo-oxidative damage and to redistribute nutrients to sink tissues, chloroplasts are prime targets for degradation. Multiple chloroplast degradation pathways are induced by photo-oxidative stress or nutrient starvation, but the mechanisms by which damaged or senescing chloroplasts are identified, transported to the central vacuole and degraded are poorly defined. Here, we investigated the structures involved with degrading chloroplasts induced by the ROS singlet oxygen (1O2) in the Arabidopsis thaliana plastid ferrochelatase two (fc2) mutant. Under mild 1O2 stress, most fc2 chloroplasts appeared normal, but had reduced starch content. A subset of chloroplasts was degrading, and some protruded into the central vacuole via ‘blebbing’ structures. A 3D electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that up to 35% of degrading chloroplasts contained such structures. While the location of a chloroplast within a cell did not affect the likelihood of its degradation, chloroplasts in spongy mesophyll cells were degraded at a higher rate than those in palisade mesophyll cells. To determine if degrading chloroplasts have unique structural characteristics, allowing them to be distinguished from healthy chloroplasts, we analyzed fc2 seedlings grown under different levels of photo-oxidative stress. A correlation was observed among chloroplast swelling, 1O2 signaling and the state of degradation. Finally, plastoglobule (PG) enzymes involved in chloroplast disassembly were upregulated while PGs increased their association with the thylakoid grana, implicating an interaction between 1O2-induced chloroplast degradation and senescence pathways.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

StarDICE III: characterization of the photometric instrument with a collimated beam projector

The measurement of Type Ia supernovae magnitudes provides cosmological distances, which constrain dark energy parameters. Current and upcoming large photometric surveys require improved photometric calibration precision to reduce systematic uncertainties in cosmological constraints. The StarDICE experiment aims to establish accurate broad-band flux references for these surveys, targeting sub-percent precision in magnitude measurements. Achieving this requires precise filter bandpass measurements for both StarDICE and survey instruments with sub-nanometre accuracy. To this end, we developed the Collimated Beam Projector (CBP), an optical device for calibrating the throughput of astronomical telescopes and their filters. The CBP uses a tunable laser source and a reversed telescope to emit a parallel monochromatic light beam, continuously monitored in flux and wavelength. The CBP output flux is measured with a large-area photodiode calibrated relative to a NIST photodiode. Using CBP measurements, we derive the StarDICE telescope throughput and filter transmissions, anchoring them to NIST’s absolute calibration. After analysing systematic uncertainties, we achieved sub-nanometre accuracy for filter central wavelengths, measured filter transmission with ~0.5 per cent precision per 1 nm bin, and detected out-of-band leakages at a relative level of 10 –4 ⁠. Furthermore, we synthesized equivalent transmission for full pupil illumination from four sampled positions in the StarDICE telescope mirror, with ~0.2 nm accuracy for central wavelengths and 7 mmag for broad-band fluxes. This demonstrates our ability to characterize telescope throughput down to the millimagnitude, paving the way for future developments, such as the Rubin-CBP for measuring the LSST at Vera Rubin Observatory, and a portable CBP version for in-situ transmission monitoring.

Calibration↗

Universality of scaled particle spectra in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions

We study the transverse momentum spectra of identified particles in ultrarelativistic collisions of large and small collision systems. In order to isolate information contained in the momentum dependence, we propose to scale the spectra by the total particle number and mean transverse momentum, global quantities which are already well studied. We observe an interesting, nearly universal, centrality-independent shape in the scaled spectra, similar to scalings that have been studied previously. This scaling behavior breaks down at large transverse momentum and for very small systems, such as those produced in p − p collisions. We perform hybrid hydrodynamic simulations and show that, in these simulations, a centrality-independent shape is a consequence of an event-by-event independence. Here, our results motivate further theoretical and experimental investigations of the regime of validity of this scaling phenomenon and their physical interpretation at different collision energies and systems.

Collective flow↗

Azimuthal anisotropies of charged particles with high transverse momentum in Pb + Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A measurement is presented of elliptic (𝑣 2 ) and triangular (𝑣 3 ) azimuthal anisotropy coefficients for charged particles produced in Pb + Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.44nb −1 collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2018. The values of 𝑣 2 and 𝑣 3 are measured for charged particles over a wide range of transverse momentum (𝑝 T ), 1–400 GeV, and Pb + Pb collision centrality, 0–60%, using the scalar-product and multiparticle cumulant methods. These methods are sensitive to event-by-event fluctuations and nonflow effects in the measurements of azimuthal anisotropies. Positive values of 𝑣 2 are observed up to a 𝑝 T of approximately 100 GeV from both methods across all centrality intervals. Positive values of 𝑣 3 are observed up to approximately 25 GeV using both methods, though the application of the three-subevent technique to the multiparticle cumulant method leads to significant changes at the highest 𝑝 T . At high 𝑝 T (𝑝 T ⪆ 10 GeV), charged particles are dominantly from jet fragmentation. These jets, and hence the measurements presented here, are sensitive to the path-length dependence of parton energy loss in the quark-gluon plasma produced in Pb + Pb collisions.

Collective flow↗

Small-𝑥 behavior in QCD from maximal entanglement and conformal invariance

Recent evidence suggests that, at small Bjorken 𝑥, QCD evolution drives the proton into a state of maximal entanglement. If the evolution kernel is assumed to be conformally invariant—as is the case for the Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov equation—we can describe it by a conformal field theory. Moreover, the central charge 𝑐 of the corresponding conformal field theory emerges as the key parameter governing the 𝑥 dependence of both the entanglement entropy and the structure function. Here we apply the exact Bethe ansatz methods to the quantum spin chain dual to Lipatov’s high energy effective action to extract the central charge of the theory, and find that 𝑐 = 1. This implies the ∼𝑥 −1/3 small 𝑥 behavior for the structure function—the prediction that can be tested at the forthcoming Electron-Ion Collider.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Witnessing Spin-Orbital Entanglement Using Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering

Entanglement plays a central role in quantum technologies, yet its characterization and control in materials remain challenging. Recent developments in spectrum-based entanglement witnesses have enabled new strategies for quantifying many-body entanglement in macroscopic materials. Here, in this work, we develop a protocol for detecting spin-orbital entanglement using experiment-accessible resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. Central to our approach is the construction of a Hermitian generator from measurable spectra, which allows us to compute the quantum Fisher information (QFI) available in spin-orbital systems. The resulting QFI provides upper bounds for 𝑘-producible states and thus serves as a robust witness of spin-orbital entanglement. To account for realistic experimental limitations, we further extend our framework to include relaxed QFI bounds applicable to measurements lacking full polarization resolution.

entanglement detection↗