• Gravitational capture of magnetic monopoles by primordial black holes in the early universe

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: It is intriguing to ask whether the existence of primordial black holes (PBHs) in the early universe could significantly reduce the abundance of certain stable massive particles (SMP) via gravitational capture, after which the PBHs evaporate before BBN to avoid conflict with stringent bounds. For example, this mechanism is relevant to an alternative solution of the monopole problem proposed by Stojkovic and Freese, in which magnetic monopoles produced in the early universe are captured by PBHs, thus freeing inflation from having to occur during or after the corresponding phase transitions that produced the monopoles. In this work, we reanalyze the solution by modelling the capture process in the same way as the coexisting monopole annihilation, which exhibits typical features of a diffusive capture. A monochromatic PBH mass function and a radiation-dominated era before PBH evaporation are assumed. We found that for Pati-Salam monopoles corresponding to a symmetry breaking scale between $10^{10}\,\text{GeV}$ and $10^{15}\,\text{GeV}$, the capture rate is many orders of magnitude below what is needed to cause a significant reduction of the monopole density. The difference with respect to previous literature can be attributed to both the modelling of the capture process and also the assumption on the PBH mass function. Within our assumptions, we also found that the magnetic charge that is large enough to make an extremal magnetic black hole cosmologically stable cannot be obtained from magnetic charge fluctuation via monopole capture. The large magnetic charged required by cosmological stability can nevertheless be obtained from magnetic charge fluctuation at PBH formation, and if later the monopole abundance can be reduced significantly by some non-inflationary mechanism, long-lived near-extremal magnetic black holes of observational relevance might result.

  • Gravitational capture of magnetic monopoles by primordial black holes in the early universe

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: It is intriguing to ask whether the existence of primordial black holes (PBHs) in the early universe could significantly reduce the abundance of certain stable massive particles (SMP) via gravitational capture, after which the PBHs evaporate before BBN to avoid conflict with stringent bounds. For example, this mechanism is relevant to an alternative solution of the monopole problem proposed by Stojkovic and Freese, in which magnetic monopoles produced in the early universe are captured by PBHs, thus freeing inflation from having to occur during or after the corresponding phase transitions that produced the monopoles. In this work, we reanalyze the solution by modelling the capture process in the same way as the coexisting monopole annihilation, which exhibits typical features of a diffusive capture. A monochromatic PBH mass function and a radiation-dominated era before PBH evaporation are assumed. We found that for Pati-Salam monopoles corresponding to a symmetry breaking scale between $10^{10}\,\text{GeV}$ and $10^{15}\,\text{GeV}$, the capture rate is many orders of magnitude below what is needed to cause a significant reduction of the monopole density. The difference with respect to previous literature can be attributed to both the modelling of the capture process and also the assumption on the PBH mass function. Within our assumptions, we also found that the magnetic charge that is large enough to make an extremal magnetic black hole cosmologically stable cannot be obtained from magnetic charge fluctuation via monopole capture. The large magnetic charged required by cosmological stability can nevertheless be obtained from magnetic charge fluctuation at PBH formation, and if later the monopole abundance can be reduced significantly by some non-inflationary mechanism, long-lived near-extremal magnetic black holes of observational relevance might result.

  • Model-independent reconstruction of the cosmological scale factor as a function of lookback time

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We present a model-independent method of reconstructing scale factor against lookback time from the Observational Hubble parameter Data (OHD). The reconstruction method is independent of dynamical models and is only based on the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric. We also calculate the propagation of error in the reconstruction process. The reconstruction data errors mainly come from trapezoidal rule approximation and the uncertainty from OHD. Furthermore, the model discrimination ability of original OHD and reconstructed a-t data is discussed under a dimensionless standard method. a-t data can present the differences between cosmology models more clearly than H-z data by comparing their coefficients of variations. Finally, we add fifty simulated H(z) data to estimate the influence of future observation. More Hubble measurements in the future will help constrain cosmological parameters more accurately.

  • Improving the X-ray energy resolution of a scientific CMOS detector by pixel-level gain correction

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: Scientific Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (sCMOS) sensors are finding increasingly more applications in astronomical observations, thanks to their advantages over charge-coupled devices (CCDs) such as a higher readout frame rate, higher radiation tolerance, and higher working temperature. In this work, we investigate the performance at the individual pixel level of a large-format sCMOS sensor, GSENSE1516BSI, which has 4096 * 4096 pixels, each of 15 {\mu}m in size. To achieve this, three areas on the sCMOS sensor, each consisting of 99 * 99 pixels, are chosen for the experiment. The readout noise, conversion gain and energy resolutions of the individual pixels in these areas are measured from a large number (more than 25,000) of X-ray events accumulated for each of the pixels through long time exposures. The energy resolution of these pixels can reach 140 eV at 6.4 keV at room temperature and shows a significant positive correlation with the readout noise. The accurate gain can also be derived individually for each of the pixels from its X-ray spectrum obtained. Variations of the gain values are found at a level of 0.56% statistically among the 30 thousand pixels in the areas studied. With the gain of each pixel determined accurately, a precise gain correction is performed pixel by pixel in these areas, in contrast to the standardized ensemble gain used in the conventional method. In this way, we could almost completely eliminate the degradation of energy resolutions caused by gain variations among pixels. As a result, the energy resolution at room temperature can be significantly improved to 124.6 eV at 4.5 keV and 140.7 eV at 6.4 keV. This pixel-by-pixel gain correction method can be applied to all kinds of CMOS sensors, and is expected to find interesting applications in X-ray spectroscopic observations in the future.

  • X-ray performance of a customized large-format scientifc CMOS detector

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: In recent years, the performance of Scientifc Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (sCMOS) sensors has been improved signifcantly. Compared with CCD sensors, sCMOS sensors have various advantages, making them potentially better devices for optical and X-ray detection, especially in time-domain astronomy. After a series of tests of sCMOS sensors, we proposed a new dedicated high-speed, large-format X-ray detector in 2016 cooperating with Gpixel Inc. This new sCMOS sensor has a physical size of 6 cm by 6 cm, with an array of 4096 by 4096 pixels and a pixel size of 15 um. The frame rate is 20.1 fps under current condition and can be boosted to a maximum value around 100 fps. The epitaxial thickness is increased to 10 um compared to the previous sCMOS product. We show the results of its frst taped-out product in this work. The dark current of this sCMOS is lower than 10 e/pixel/s at 20C, and lower than 0.02 e/pixel/s at -30C. The Fixed Pattern Noise (FPN) and the readout noise are lower than 5 e in high-gain situation and show a small increase at low temperature. The energy resolution reaches 180.1 eV (3.1%) at 5.90 keV for single-pixel events and 212.3 eV (3.6%) for all split events. The continuous X-ray spectrum measurement shows that this sensor is able to response to X-ray photons from 500 eV to 37 keV. The excellent performance, as demonstrated from these test results, makes sCMOS sensor an ideal detector for X-ray imaging and spectroscopic application.

  • Improving the X-ray energy resolution of a scientific CMOS detector by pixel-level gain correction

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: Scientific Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (sCMOS) sensors are finding increasingly more applications in astronomical observations, thanks to their advantages over charge-coupled devices (CCDs) such as a higher readout frame rate, higher radiation tolerance, and higher working temperature. In this work, we investigate the performance at the individual pixel level of a large-format sCMOS sensor, GSENSE1516BSI, which has 4096 * 4096 pixels, each of 15 {\mu}m in size. To achieve this, three areas on the sCMOS sensor, each consisting of 99 * 99 pixels, are chosen for the experiment. The readout noise, conversion gain and energy resolutions of the individual pixels in these areas are measured from a large number (more than 25,000) of X-ray events accumulated for each of the pixels through long time exposures. The energy resolution of these pixels can reach 140 eV at 6.4 keV at room temperature and shows a significant positive correlation with the readout noise. The accurate gain can also be derived individually for each of the pixels from its X-ray spectrum obtained. Variations of the gain values are found at a level of 0.56% statistically among the 30 thousand pixels in the areas studied. With the gain of each pixel determined accurately, a precise gain correction is performed pixel by pixel in these areas, in contrast to the standardized ensemble gain used in the conventional method. In this way, we could almost completely eliminate the degradation of energy resolutions caused by gain variations among pixels. As a result, the energy resolution at room temperature can be significantly improved to 124.6 eV at 4.5 keV and 140.7 eV at 6.4 keV. This pixel-by-pixel gain correction method can be applied to all kinds of CMOS sensors, and is expected to find interesting applications in X-ray spectroscopic observations in the future.

  • X-ray performance of a customized large-format scientifc CMOS detector

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: In recent years, the performance of Scientifc Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (sCMOS) sensors has been improved signifcantly. Compared with CCD sensors, sCMOS sensors have various advantages, making them potentially better devices for optical and X-ray detection, especially in time-domain astronomy. After a series of tests of sCMOS sensors, we proposed a new dedicated high-speed, large-format X-ray detector in 2016 cooperating with Gpixel Inc. This new sCMOS sensor has a physical size of 6 cm by 6 cm, with an array of 4096 by 4096 pixels and a pixel size of 15 um. The frame rate is 20.1 fps under current condition and can be boosted to a maximum value around 100 fps. The epitaxial thickness is increased to 10 um compared to the previous sCMOS product. We show the results of its frst taped-out product in this work. The dark current of this sCMOS is lower than 10 e/pixel/s at 20C, and lower than 0.02 e/pixel/s at -30C. The Fixed Pattern Noise (FPN) and the readout noise are lower than 5 e in high-gain situation and show a small increase at low temperature. The energy resolution reaches 180.1 eV (3.1%) at 5.90 keV for single-pixel events and 212.3 eV (3.6%) for all split events. The continuous X-ray spectrum measurement shows that this sensor is able to response to X-ray photons from 500 eV to 37 keV. The excellent performance, as demonstrated from these test results, makes sCMOS sensor an ideal detector for X-ray imaging and spectroscopic application.

  • A Reliable Calibration of HII Galaxies Hubble Diagram with Cosmic Chronometers and Artificial Neural Network

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: The $L-\sigma$ relation of HII galaxies (HIIGx) calibrated by a distance indicator is a reliable standard candle for measuring the Hubble constant $H_0$. The most straightforward calibration technique anchors them with the first tier of distance ladders from the same galaxies. Recently another promising method that uses the cosmological model-independent Cosmic Chronometers (CC) as a calibrator has been proposed. We promote this technique by removing the assumptions about the cosmic flatness and using a non-parametric Artificial Neural Network for the data reconstruction process. We observe a correlation between the cosmic curvature density parameter and the slope of the $L-\sigma$ relation, thereby improving the reliability of the calibration. Using the calibrated HIIGx Hubble diagram, we obtain a Type Ia Supernovae Hubble diagram free of the conventional assumption about $H_0$. Finally we get a value of $H_0=65.9_{-2.9}^{+3.0} \mathrm{km s^{-1} Mpc^{-1}}$, which is compatible with latest Planck18 measurement.

  • X-ray Performance of a Small Pixel Size sCMOS Sensor and the Effect of Depletion Depth

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: In recent years, scientific Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (sCMOS) devices have been increasingly applied in X-ray detection, thanks to their attributes such as high frame rate, low dark current, high radiation tolerance and low readout noise. We tested the basic performance of a backside-illuminated (BSI) sCMOS sensor, which has a small pixel size of 6.5 um * 6.5 um. At a temperature of -20C, The readout noise is 1.6 e, the dark current is 0.5 e/pixel/s, and the energy resolution reaches 204.6 eV for single-pixel events. The effect of depletion depth on the sensor's performance was also examined, using three versions of the sensors with different deletion depths. We found that the sensor with a deeper depletion region can achieve a better energy resolution for events of all types of pixel splitting patterns, and has a higher efficiency in collecting photoelectrons produced by X-ray photons. We further study the effect of depletion depth on charge diffusion with a center-of-gravity (CG) model. Based on this work, a highly depleted sCMOS is recommended for applications of soft X-ray spectroscop.

  • X-ray Performance of a Small Pixel Size sCMOS Sensor and the Effect of Depletion Depth

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: In recent years, scientific Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (sCMOS) devices have been increasingly applied in X-ray detection, thanks to their attributes such as high frame rate, low dark current, high radiation tolerance and low readout noise. We tested the basic performance of a backside-illuminated (BSI) sCMOS sensor, which has a small pixel size of 6.5 um * 6.5 um. At a temperature of -20C, The readout noise is 1.6 e, the dark current is 0.5 e/pixel/s, and the energy resolution reaches 204.6 eV for single-pixel events. The effect of depletion depth on the sensor's performance was also examined, using three versions of the sensors with different deletion depths. We found that the sensor with a deeper depletion region can achieve a better energy resolution for events of all types of pixel splitting patterns, and has a higher efficiency in collecting photoelectrons produced by X-ray photons. We further study the effect of depletion depth on charge diffusion with a center-of-gravity (CG) model. Based on this work, a highly depleted sCMOS is recommended for applications of soft X-ray spectroscop.

  • Sensitive Multi-beam Targeted SETI Observations towards 33 Exoplanet Systems with FAST

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: As a major approach to looking for life beyond the Earth, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) is committed to detecting technosignatures such as engineered radio signals that are indicative of technologically capable life. In this paper, we report a targeted SETI campaign employing an observation strategy named multi-beam coincidence matching (MBCM) at the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) towards 33 known exoplanet systems, searching for ETI narrow-band drifting signals across 1.05-1.45 GHz in two orthogonal linear polarization directions separately. A signal at 1140.604 MHz detected from the observation towards Kepler-438 originally peaked our interest because its features are roughly consistent with assumed ETI technosignatures. However, evidences such as its polarization characteristics are almost able to eliminate the possibility of an extraterrestrial origin. Our observations achieve an unprecedented sensitivity since the minimum equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) we are able to detect reaches 1.48 x10^9 W.

  • CATCH: Chasing All Transients Constellation Hunters Space Mission

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: In time-domain astronomy, a substantial number of transients will be discovered by multi-wavelength and multi-messenger observatories, posing a great challenge for follow-up capabilities. We have thus proposed an intelligent X-ray constellation, the Chasing All Transients Constellation Hunters (CATCH) space mission. Consisting of 126 micro-satellites in three types, CATCH will have the capability to perform follow-up observations for a large number of different types of transients simultaneously. Each satellite in the constellation will carry lightweight X-ray optics and use a deployable mast to increase the focal length. The combination of different optics and detector systems enables different types of satellites to have multiform observation capabilities, including timing, spectroscopy, imaging, and polarization. Controlled by the intelligent system, different satellites can cooperate to perform uninterrupted monitoring, all-sky follow-up observations, and scanning observations with a flexible field of view (FOV) and multi-dimensional observations. Therefore, CATCH will be a powerful mission to study the dynamic universe. Here, we present the current design of the spacecraft, optics, detector system, constellation configuration and observing modes, as well as the development plan.

  • CATCH: Chasing All Transients Constellation Hunters Space Mission

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: In time-domain astronomy, a substantial number of transients will be discovered by multi-wavelength and multi-messenger observatories, posing a great challenge for follow-up capabilities. We have thus proposed an intelligent X-ray constellation, the Chasing All Transients Constellation Hunters (CATCH) space mission. Consisting of 126 micro-satellites in three types, CATCH will have the capability to perform follow-up observations for a large number of different types of transients simultaneously. Each satellite in the constellation will carry lightweight X-ray optics and use a deployable mast to increase the focal length. The combination of different optics and detector systems enables different types of satellites to have multiform observation capabilities, including timing, spectroscopy, imaging, and polarization. Controlled by the intelligent system, different satellites can cooperate to perform uninterrupted monitoring, all-sky follow-up observations, and scanning observations with a flexible field of view (FOV) and multi-dimensional observations. Therefore, CATCH will be a powerful mission to study the dynamic universe. Here, we present the current design of the spacecraft, optics, detector system, constellation configuration and observing modes, as well as the development plan.