Narrow Results

We review the general properties of the intracluster medium (ICM) in clusters that host a cooling flow, and in particular the effects on the ICM of the injection of hot plasma by a powerful active galactic nucleus (AGN). It is observed that, in some cases, the hot plasma produces cavities in the ICM that finally detach and rise, perhaps buoyantly. The gas dynamics induced by the rising bubbles can help in explaining the absence of a cooled gas component in clusters with a cooling flow. This scenario is explored using numerical simulations.

We studied the dependence of morphology and luminosity of the SDSS galaxies on the environmental factors. The environmental factors considered include the local density due to the nearest neighbor galaxy ρ_n, morphology of the nearest neighbor, and the large-scale background density. We found the local environment set up by the nearest neighbor galaxy gives strong effects on the galaxy morphology. The probability for a galaxy to have an early morphological type critically depends on whether or not ρ_n is above the virialization density. We conclude that the well-known morphology-density relation is basically due to the interactions between galaxy pairs. Dependence of galaxy morphology on the large-scale density is found only because there is a statistical correlation between the average pair separation and the large-scale background density. We also found that galaxy luminosity depends on ρ_n, and that, when the large-scale density is fixed, more isolated galaxies are more likely to be recent merger products. We propose a scenario that a series of morphology and luminosity transformation occur through a series of distant/close interactions and mergers, which results in the morphology-luminosity-local density relation.

Using the deepest and most complete observations of distant galaxies, we investigate the progenitors of present-day large spirals. Observations include spatially-resolved kinematics, detailed morphologies and photometry from UV to mid-IR. Six billion years ago, half of the present-day spirals were starbursts experiencing major mergers, evidenced by their anomalous kinematics and morphologies. They are consequently modeled using hydrodynamic models of mergers and it perfectly matches with merger rate predictions by state-of-the-art-ΛCDM semi-empirical models. Furthermore imprints in the halo of local galaxies such as M31 or NGC5907 are likely caused by major merger relics. This suggests that the hierarchical scenario has played a major role in shaping the massive galaxies of the Hubble sequence. Linking galaxy properties at different epochs is the best way to fully understand galaxy formation processes and we have tested such a link through generated series of simulations of gas-rich mergers. Mergers have expelled material in galactic haloes and beyond, possibly explaining 60% of the missing baryons in Milky-Way (MW) mass galaxies. A past major merger in M31 might affect drastically our understanding of Local Group galaxies, including MW dwarves. We also propose future directions to observationally constrain the necessary ingredients in galaxy simulations.

The radiative transfer equations for multiple inverse Compton scattering of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) by the hot intra-cluster electrons are solved numerically. The spherical isothermal and inhomogeneous β model has been considered for the electron distribution. The anisotropy of the CMBR caused by scattering, known as thermal Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect, along the radial axis of the medium is compared with the analytical solution of Kompaneets equation. The X-ray data of several clusters of galaxies at low redshifts provide an estimation of the central electron density n₀ to be of the order 10^-3. It is found that for this value of n₀ the effect of multiple scattering is negligible. The numerically calculated anisotropy along the radial axis matches well with the analytical solution that describes single scattering. The result incorporating multiple scattering is fitted with the recent observation of Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect in the cluster Abell 2163. It is shown that if n₀ is greater by an order of magnitude, which could be possible for cluster of galaxies at comparatively higher redshift, multiple scattering would play a significant role at the Wien region of the anisotropy spectrum. A fitting formula for the correction to the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect due to multiple scattering is provided.

Dark Energy is the dominant constituent of the universe and we have little understanding of it. We describe a new project aimed at measuring the dark energy equation of state parameter, w, to a statistical precision of ~5% with four separate techniques. The survey will image 5000 deg² in the southern sky and collect 300 million galaxies, 30,000 galaxy clusters, and 2000 Type Ia supernovae. The survey will be carried out using a new 3 deg² mosaic camera mounted at the prime focus of the 4m Blanco telescope at CTIO.

The observational data for the Galactic source Cygnus X-3 collected with the SHALON mirror Cherenkov telescope are presented. The Cygnus X-3 binary have been regularly observed since 1995 with the average γ-ray flux F (E > 0.8 TeV) = (6.8 ± 0.7) × 10^-13cm^-2s^-1. The flux in year 2003 was (1.79 ± 0.33) × 10^-12cm^-2s^-1. Earlier, in 1997, an increase of the flux was also observed.

The BL Lac object 3C 66A was the target of an intensive multiwavelength monitoring campaign organized in 2003–2004. During the campaign, its spectral energy distribution (SED) was measured and flux measurements from radio to X-ray frequencies as well as upper limits in the very high energy (VHE) γ-ray regime were obtained. Here, we reproduce the SED and optical spectral variability pattern observed during our multiwavelength campaign using a time-dependent leptonic jet model. Our model could successfully simulate the observed SED and optical light curves and predict an intrinsic cutoff value for the VHE γ-ray emission at ~4 GeV implying the effect of the optical depth due to the intergalactic infrared background radiation (IIBR) to be negligible. Also, the contribution of external Comptonization (EIC), due to the presence of a broad-line region (BLR), in the emission of γ-ray photons could be significant early-on when the emission region is very close to the central engine but as it travels farther out, the production mechanism of hard X-ray and γ-ray photons becomes dominated by synchrotron self-Compton mechanism (SSC).

We study the diffusion of chaotic orbits in an N-body model simulating a barred spiral galaxy. Chaotic orbits with initial conditions outside corotation support the spiral structure of the galaxy due to the phenomenon of stickiness close and along the unstable asymptotic manifolds of the unstable periodic orbits. These orbits are diffused outwards after about 13 rotations of the bar. During this time, the spiral structure is clearly visible and then it fades out gradually. The diffusion time for the majority of the chaotic orbits with initial conditions inside corotation is much longer than the age of the Universe. These orbits support mainly the outer parts of the bar. However, a part of the chaotic orbits inside corotation are diffused outwards fast and support the spiral structure.

The Lambda-Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) model describes successfully our Universe on large scales, as has been verified by a wide range of observations. A number of apparent inconsistencies have arisen between observations and ΛCDM predictions on small scales. In this work, the current status of observations on galactic and subgalactic scales is reviewed. Theoretical predictions and recent observations are brought together in order to reveal the nature and severity of the inconsistencies. Lastly, the progress towards the resolution of each one of these conflicts is briefly reviewed.

In this paper, we have collected the available observation data of BL Lac S5 0716+714 in I-band from published literature during 1994 to 2000. The light curve shows S5 0716+714 is very active and very complicated non-sinusoidal variations. We studied its medium-timescale periodicity using the Jurkevich and power spectrum method to search for the possible medium-timescale periods and found that one possible medium-timescale periodic with a period of around 14±0.1 day is obtained for S5 0716+714. It is interesting to note that these results are in good agreement with the previous results by Impey et al. (2000) and Qian et al. (2002), and this work provides a new analysis and evidence of the medium-timescale periodicity in BL Lac S5 0716+714. The helical jet model seems to be more reasonable for explaining our results than other models.

A generalization of the Press–Schechter (PS) formalism yielding the mass function of bound structures in the Universe is given. The extended formula is based on a power law distribution which encompasses the Gaussian PS formula as a special case. The new method keeps the original analytical simplicity of the PS approach and also solves naturally its main difficult (the missing factor 2) for a given value of the free parameter.

We study the Doppler factors for a group blazars at soft X-ray band. In our estimates, we have made the assumptions that (i) blazars can be divided into high-energy-peaked (HEP) objects whose synchrotron peak frequencies ν_p > 10^14.7Hz, and the low-energy-peaked (LEP) objects whose synchrotron peak frequencies ν_p≤10^14.7Hz, and (ii) the intrinsic radiation from a blazar in the energy range from radio to soft X-ray bands is the synchrotron radiation for HEP objects and the soft X-ray emission comes from inverse Compton scattering for LEP objects. Under the above assumptions, we estimate Doppler factors at optical (δ_O) and X-rays (δ_x) for 54 blazars by using the known radio Doppler factors and the observed flux densities in radio, optical and X-ray bands, and Doppler factors at X-ray band in which X-rays are assumed to be produced only by the synchrotron radiation. We get . The Doppler factors are different in various wavebands, and on average, the Doppler factor decreases with frequency from radio to X-ray bands.

We compile all the available optical B band data for the quasar 3C 273 from 1887 to 2001 from the literature, and obtain 1,890 data points. Using these data, we analyze the light curve properties by means of the Jurkevich method and the discrete correlation function (DCF) method. The analysis results of the two methods are self consistent; the cross-checked variability period is 13.51 years. The 13.51-year period variation in the optical band is in good agreement with the previous results in the optical and X-ray bands. However, the other claimed periods of the quasar 3C 273 are not confirmed in our work.

In a previous paper, we determined the statistical distributions for various classes of QSO absorption systems in the framework of the CDM model of the universe with a mass distribution of dark matter halos as given by the Press Schechter mechanism. These were shown to be consistent with the observed distributions for reasonable choices of model parameters. In this paper, we generate Voigt profiles of C IV lines associated with Damped Lyman Alpha systems in the framework of this model, taking into account rotation of disks and random motion of clouds embedded in galactic halos. We compare these with the profiles for a sample of 32 Damped Lyman Alpha systems collected from the literature by performing several statistical tests. These tests compare the width and the degree of asymmetry in the line profiles produced by the rotation of randomly inclined disks and the random velocity of clouds in the galactic halos, with the corresponding quantities in the observed profiles. We find that the kinematic properties predicted by the model are in good agreement with observations provided the disk thickness is about ten thousand times smaller than its radius, which indicates that the material in the disks is concentrated in dense clouds with roughly unit covering factor.

We extend the statistical mechanical theory of cosmological many-body problem to a system consisting of two kinds of galaxies with different masses. The general partition function for such a two-component system, in the grand canonical ensemble, is developed. From this partition function various thermodynamical quantities and distribution functions are evaluated. A quantity b_m, called the clustering parameter for the two-component system, which inherently takes into account the ratio of the number of particles (galaxies) of each kind and their masses, emerges directly from the calculations. Various clustering phenomena can be explained on the basis of this parameter. We find these results in agreement with the available N-body simulation results as well as the observational distribution function determined from the 2MASS survey. Besides, our distribution function, for the two-component system, makes these comparisons more objective and easily comprehensible.

The nonperturbative renormalization group flow of quantum Einstein gravity (QEG) is reviewed. It is argued that at large distances there could be strong renormalization effects, including a scale dependence of Newton's constant, which mimic the presence of dark matter at galactic and cosmological scales.

The generally-accepted scheme distinguishes two main classes of supernovae (SNe): Ia resulting from the old stellar population (deflagration of a white dwarf in close binary systems), and SNe of type II and Ib/c whose ancestors are young massive stars (died in a core-collapse explosion). Concerning the latter, there are suggestions that the SNe II are connected to early B stars, and SNe Ib/c to isolated O or Wolf–Rayet (W–R) stars. However, little or no effort was made to further separate SNe Ib from Ic. We have used assumed SN rates for different SN types in spiral galaxies in an attempt to perform this task. If the isolated progenitor hypothesis is correct, our analysis indicates that SNe Ib result from stars of main-sequence mass , while the progenitors of SNe Ic are more massive stars with . Alternatively, if the majority of SNe Ib/c appear in close binary systems (CBs) then they would result from the same progenitor population as most of the SNe II, i.e. early B stars with initial masses of order . Future observations of SNe at high-redshift (z) and their rate will provide us with unique information on SN progenitors and the star-formation history of galaxies. At higher-z (deeper in the cosmic past), we expect to see the lack of type Ia events, i.e. the dominance of core-collapse SNe. Better understanding of the stripped-envelope SNe (Ib/c), and their potential use as distance indicators at high-z, would therefore be of great practical importance.

We support, with new fitting instruments and the analysis of more recent experimental data, the proposal of a relationship between the mass of a Supermassive Black Hole (SMBH) and the kinetic energy of random motions in the host elliptical galaxy. The first results obtained in a previous paper with 13 elliptical galaxies are now confirmed by the new data and an enlarged sample. We find M_BH ∝ (M_Gσ²/c²)^β with 0.8 ≤ β ≤ 1 depending on the different fitting methods and samples used. The meaningful case β = 1 is carefully analyzed. Furthermore, we test the robustness of our relationship, including in the sample also lenticular and spiral galaxies and we show that the result does not change. Finally, we find a stronger correlation between the mass of the galaxy and the corresponding velocity dispersion that allows us to connect our relationship to the M_BH ∝ σ^α law. With respect to this law, our relationship has the advantage of having a smaller scatter.

We present a new non-parametric deprojection algorithm, DOPING (Deprojection of Observed Photometry using an INverse Gambit), which is designed to extract the three-dimensional luminosity density distribution ρ, from the observed surface brightness profile of an astrophysical system such as a galaxy or a galaxy cluster, in a generalised geometry, while taking into account changes in the intrinsic shape of the system. The observable is the 2D surface brightness distribution of the system. While the deprojection schemes presented hitherto have always worked within the limits of an assumed intrinsic geometry, in DOPING, geometry and inclination can be provided as inputs. The ρ that is most likely to project to the observed brightness data is sought; the maximisation of the likelihood is performed with the Metropolis algorithm. Unless the likelihood function is maximised, ρ is tweaked in shape and amplitude, while maintaining positivity, but otherwise the luminosity distribution is allowed to be completely free-form. Tests and applications of the algorithm are discussed.

The evidence is reviewed that the primary form of energy that escapes to infinity from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is gamma-rays, and/or Poynting flux, and that the kinetic energy in ultrarelativistic baryons is a secondary component resulting from acceleration of baryons by radiation pressure near or beyond the photosphere. This could account for several observed characteristics of observed GRB spectra and light curves, such as the typical peak photon energy, the correlation of this peak with apparent GRB energy, and the profiles and spectral lagging of GRB subpulses.