分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
摘要： Long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been discussed as a potential tool to probe the cosmic star formation rate (SFR) for a long time. Some studies found an enhancement in the GRB rate relative to the galaxy-inferred SFR at high redshifts, which indicates that GRBs may not be good tracers of star formation. However, in these studies, the GRB rate measured at any redshift is an average over all galaxies at that epoch. A deep understanding of the connection between GRB production and environment also needs to characterize the population of GRB host galaxies directly. Based on a complete sample of GRB hosts, we constrain the stellar-mass function (SMF) of GRB hosts, and examine redshift evolution in the GRB host population. Our results confirm that a strong redshift evolution in energy (with an evolution index of $\delta=2.47^{+0.73}_{-0.89}$) or in density ($\delta=1.82^{+0.22}_{-0.59}$) is needed in order to account for the observations. The GRB host SMF can be well described by the Schechter function with a power-law index $\xi\approx-1.10$ and a break mass $M_{b,0}\approx4.9\times10^{10}$ ${\rm M}_\odot$, independent of the assumed evolutionary effects. This is the first formulation of the GRB host SMF. The observed discrepancy between the GRB rate and the galaxy-inferred SFR may also be explained by an evolving SMF.
分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
摘要： The dispersion measure (DM)--redshift relation of fast radio bursts (FRBs) has been proposed as a potential new tool for probing intergalactic medium (IGM) and for studying cosmology. However, the poor knowledge of the baryon fraction in the IGM ($f_{\mathrm{IGM}}$) and its degeneracy with cosmological parameters impose restrictions on the cosmological applications of FRBs. Furthermore, DMs contributed by the IGM ($\mathrm{DM_{IGM}}$) and host galaxy ($\mathrm{DM_{host}}$), important cosmological quantities, cannot be exactly extracted from observations, which would bring uncontrolled systematic uncertainties in FRB cosmology. In this work, we use seventeen localized FRBs to constrain $f_{\mathrm{IGM}}$ and its possible redshift evolution. Other cosmological probes such as type Ia supernovae, baryon acoustic oscillations, and cosmic microwave background radiation are combined to break parameter degeneracy. Taking into account the probability distributions of $\mathrm{DM_{IGM}}$ and $\mathrm{DM_{host}}$ derived from the the IllustrisTNG simulation, we obtain a robust measurement of $f_{\mathrm{IGM}}=0.927\pm0.075$, representing a precision of 8.0\%. We find that there is no strong evidence for the redshift dependence of $f_{\mathrm{IGM}}$ at the current observational data level. The rapid progress in localizing FRBs will significantly improve the constraints on $f_{\mathrm{IGM}}$.
分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
摘要： Combining the `time-delay distance' ($D_{\Delta t}$) measurements from galaxy lenses and other distance indicators provides model-independent determinations of the Hubble constant ($H_0$) and spatial curvature ($\Omega_{K,0}$), only based on the validity of the Friedmann-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric and geometrical optics. To take the full merit of combining $D_{\Delta t}$ measurements in constraining $H_0$, we use gamma-ray burst (GRB) distances to extend the redshift coverage of lensing systems much higher than that of Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) and even higher than quasars, whilst the general cosmography with a curvature component is implemented for the GRB distance parametrizations. Combining Lensing+GRB yields $H_0=71.5^{+4.4}_{-3.0}$~km s$^{-1}$Mpc$^{-1}$ and $\Omega_{K,0} = -0.07^{+0.13}_{-0.06}$ (1$\sigma$). A flat-universe prior gives slightly an improved $H_0 = 70.9^{+4.2}_{-2.9}$~km s$^{-1}$Mpc$^{-1}$. When combining Lensing+GRB+SN Ia, the error bar $\Delta H_0$ falls by 25\%, whereas $\Omega_{K,0}$ is not improved due to the degeneracy between SN Ia absolute magnitude, $M_B$, and $H_0$ along with the mismatch between the SN Ia and GRB Hubble diagrams at $z\gtrsim 1.4$. Future increment of GRB observations can help to moderately eliminate the $M_B-H_0$ degeneracy in SN Ia distances and ameliorate the restrictions on cosmographic parameters along with $\Omega_{K,0}$ when combining Lensing+SN Ia+GRB. We conclude that there is no evidence of significant deviation from a (an) flat (accelerating) universe and $H_0$ is currently determined at 3\% precision. The measurements show great potential to arbitrate the $H_0$ tension between the local distance ladder and cosmic microwave background measurements and provide a relevant consistency test of the FLRW metric.
分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
摘要： Einstein's theory of general relativity (GR) has been precisely tested on solar system scales, but extragalactic tests are still poorly performed. In this work, we use a newly compiled sample of galaxy-scale strong gravitational lenses to test the validity of GR on kiloparsec scales. In order to solve the circularity problem caused by the preassumption of a specific cosmological model based on GR, we employ the distance sum rule in the Friedmann-Lema\^{\i}tre-Robertson-Walker metric to directly estimate the parameterized post-Newtonian (PPN) parameter $\gamma_{\rm PPN}$ and the cosmic curvature $\Omega_k$ by combining observations of strong lensing and Type Ia supernovae. This is the first simultaneous measurement of $\gamma_{\rm PPN}$ and $\Omega_k$ without any assumptions about the contents of the universe or the theory of gravity. Our results show that $\gamma_{\rm PPN}=1.11^{+0.11}_{-0.09}$ and $\Omega_{k}=0.48^{+1.09}_{-0.71}$, indicating a strong degeneracy between the two quantities. The measured $\gamma_{\rm PPN}$, which is consistent with the prediction of 1 from GR, provides a precise extragalactic test of GR with a fractional accuracy better than 9.0\%. If a prior of the spatial flatness (i.e., $\Omega_{k}=0$) is adopted, the PPN parameter constraint can be further improved to $\gamma_{\rm PPN}=1.07^{+0.07}_{-0.07}$, representing a precision of 6.5\%. On the other hand, in the framework of GR (i.e., $\gamma_{\rm PPN}=1$), our results are still marginally compatible with zero curvature ($\Omega_k=-0.12^{+0.48}_{-0.36}$), supporting no significant deviation from a flat universe.
分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
摘要： Combining the `time-delay distance' ($D_{\Delta t}$) measurements from galaxy lenses and other distance indicators provides model-independent determinations of the Hubble constant ($H_0$) and spatial curvature ($\Omega_{K,0}$), only based on the validity of the Friedmann-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric and geometrical optics. To take the full merit of combining $D_{\Delta t}$ measurements in constraining $H_0$, we use gamma-ray burst (GRB) distances to extend the redshift coverage of lensing systems much higher than that of Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) and even higher than quasars, whilst the general cosmography with a curvature component is implemented for the GRB distance parametrizations. Combining Lensing+GRB yields $H_0=71.5^{+4.4}_{-3.0}$~km s$^{-1}$Mpc$^{-1}$ and $\Omega_{K,0} = -0.07^{+0.13}_{-0.06}$ (1$\sigma$). A flat-universe prior gives slightly an improved $H_0 = 70.9^{+4.2}_{-2.9}$~km s$^{-1}$Mpc$^{-1}$. When combining Lensing+GRB+SN Ia, the error bar $\Delta H_0$ falls by 25\%, whereas $\Omega_{K,0}$ is not improved due to the degeneracy between SN Ia absolute magnitude, $M_B$, and $H_0$ along with the mismatch between the SN Ia and GRB Hubble diagrams at $z\gtrsim 1.4$. Future increment of GRB observations can help to moderately eliminate the $M_B-H_0$ degeneracy in SN Ia distances and ameliorate the restrictions on cosmographic parameters along with $\Omega_{K,0}$ when combining Lensing+SN Ia+GRB. We conclude that there is no evidence of significant deviation from a (an) flat (accelerating) universe and $H_0$ is currently determined at 3\% precision. The measurements show great potential to arbitrate the $H_0$ tension between the local distance ladder and cosmic microwave background measurements and provide a relevant consistency test of the FLRW metric.
分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
摘要： The dispersion measure (DM)--redshift relation of fast radio bursts (FRBs) has been proposed as a potential new tool for probing intergalactic medium (IGM) and for studying cosmology. However, the poor knowledge of the baryon fraction in the IGM ($f_{\mathrm{IGM}}$) and its degeneracy with cosmological parameters impose restrictions on the cosmological applications of FRBs. Furthermore, DMs contributed by the IGM ($\mathrm{DM_{IGM}}$) and host galaxy ($\mathrm{DM_{host}}$), important cosmological quantities, cannot be exactly extracted from observations, which would bring uncontrolled systematic uncertainties in FRB cosmology. In this work, we use seventeen localized FRBs to constrain $f_{\mathrm{IGM}}$ and its possible redshift evolution. Other cosmological probes such as type Ia supernovae, baryon acoustic oscillations, and cosmic microwave background radiation are combined to break parameter degeneracy. Taking into account the probability distributions of $\mathrm{DM_{IGM}}$ and $\mathrm{DM_{host}}$ derived from the the IllustrisTNG simulation, we obtain a robust measurement of $f_{\mathrm{IGM}}=0.927\pm0.075$, representing a precision of 8.0\%. We find that there is no strong evidence for the redshift dependence of $f_{\mathrm{IGM}}$ at the current observational data level. The rapid progress in localizing FRBs will significantly improve the constraints on $f_{\mathrm{IGM}}$.
分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
摘要： The sample of time-delay gravitational lenses appropriate for studying the geometry of the Universe continues to grow as dedicated campaigns, such as the Dark Energy Survey, the VST ATLAS survey, and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, complete their census of high-redshift sources. This catalog now includes hundreds of strong lensing systems, at least 31 of which have reasonably accurate time delay measurements. In this paper, we use them to compare the predictions of two competing Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker models: flat LCDM, characterized by two adjustable parameters (H_0 and Omega_m), and the R_h=ct universe (with H_0 as the single free variable). Over the past decade, the latter has accounted for the data better than the standard model, most recently the emergence of well-formed galaxies discovered by JWST at cosmic dawn. Here we show that the current sample of time-delay lenses favours R_h=ct with a likelihood of ~84% versus ~16% for the standard model. This level of accuracy will greatly improve as the ongoing surveys uncover many thousands additional lens systems over the next several years.
分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
摘要： Long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been discussed as a potential tool to probe the cosmic star formation rate (SFR) for a long time. Some studies found an enhancement in the GRB rate relative to the galaxy-inferred SFR at high redshifts, which indicates that GRBs may not be good tracers of star formation. However, in these studies, the GRB rate measured at any redshift is an average over all galaxies at that epoch. A deep understanding of the connection between GRB production and environment also needs to characterize the population of GRB host galaxies directly. Based on a complete sample of GRB hosts, we constrain the stellar-mass function (SMF) of GRB hosts, and examine redshift evolution in the GRB host population. Our results confirm that a strong redshift evolution in energy (with an evolution index of $\delta=2.47^{+0.73}_{-0.89}$) or in density ($\delta=1.82^{+0.22}_{-0.59}$) is needed in order to account for the observations. The GRB host SMF can be well described by the Schechter function with a power-law index $\xi\approx-1.10$ and a break mass $M_{b,0}\approx4.9\times10^{10}$ ${\rm M}_\odot$, independent of the assumed evolutionary effects. This is the first formulation of the GRB host SMF. The observed discrepancy between the GRB rate and the galaxy-inferred SFR may also be explained by an evolving SMF.
分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
摘要： We use the age measurements of 114 old astrophysical objects (OAO) in the redshift range $0\lesssim z\lesssim 8$ to explore the Hubble tension. The age of the Universe at any $z$ is inversely proportional to the Hubble constant, $H_0$, so requiring the Universe to be older than the OAO it contains at any $z$ will lead to an upper limit on $H_0$. Assuming flat $\Lambda$CDM and setting a Gaussian prior on the matter density parameter $\Omega_{\rm m}=0.315\pm0.007$ informed by {\it Planck}, we obtain a 95\% confidence-level upper limit of $H_0<70.6 \rm{~km} \rm{~s}^{-1} \rm{~Mpc}^{-1}$, representing a $2\sigma$ tension with the measurement using the local distance ladder. We find, however, that the inferred upper limit on $H_{0}$ depends quite sensitively on the prior for $\Omega_{\rm m}$, and the Hubble tension between early-time and local measurements of $H_{0}$ may be due in part to the inference of both $\Omega_{\rm m}$ and $H_0$ in {\it Planck}, while the local measurement uses only $H_{0}$. The age-redshift data may also be used for cosmological model comparisons. We find that the $R_{\rm h}=ct$ universe accounts well for the data, with a reasonable upper limit on $H_{0}$, while Einstein-de Sitter fails to pass the cosmic-age test. Finally, we present a model-independent estimate of the spatial curvature using the ages of 61 galaxies and the luminosity distances of 1,048 Pantheon Type Ia supernovae. This analysis suggests that the geometry of the Universe is marginally consistent with spatial flatness at a confidence level of $1.6\sigma$, characterized as $\Omega_{k}=0.43^{+0.27}_{-0.27}$.
分类： 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间： 2023-02-19
Jian Ge
Hui Zhang
Weicheng Zang
Hongping Deng
Shude Mao
Ji-Wei Xie
Hui-Gen Liu
Ji-Lin Zhou
Kevin Willis
Chelsea Huang
Steve B. Howell
Fabo Feng
Jiapeng Zhu
Xinyu Yao
Beibei Liu
Masataka Aizawa
Wei Zhu
Ya-Ping Li
Bo Ma
Quanzhi Ye
摘要： We propose to develop a wide-field and ultra-high-precision photometric survey mission, temporarily named "Earth 2.0 (ET)". This mission is designed to measure, for the first time, the occurrence rate and the orbital distributions of Earth-sized planets. ET consists of seven 30cm telescopes, to be launched to the Earth-Sun's L2 point. Six of these are transit telescopes with a field of view of 500 square degrees. Staring in the direction that encompasses the original Kepler field for four continuous years, this monitoring will return tens of thousands of transiting planets, including the elusive Earth twins orbiting solar-type stars. The seventh telescope is a 30cm microlensing telescope that will monitor an area of 4 square degrees toward the galactic bulge. This, combined with simultaneous ground-based KMTNet observations, will measure masses for hundreds of long-period and free-floating planets. Together, the transit and the microlensing telescopes will revolutionize our understandings of terrestrial planets across a large swath of orbital distances and free space. In addition, the survey data will also facilitate studies in the fields of asteroseismology, Galactic archeology, time-domain sciences, and black holes in binaries.
分类： 物理学 >> 核物理学 提交时间： 2016-08-30
Xue-Feng Wu
He Gao
Jun-Jie Wei
Xi-Long Fan
Peter M´esz´aros
Bing Zhang
Zi-Gao Dai
Shuang-Nan Zhang
Zong-Hong Zhu
摘要： A conservative constraint on the Einstein Equivalence Principle (EEP) can be obtained under the assumption that the observed time delay between correlated particles from astronomical sources is dominated by the gravitational fields through which they move. Current limits on the EEP are mainly based on the observed time delays of photons with different energies, and it is highly desirable to develop more accurate tests involving different types of particles. The detection by the advanced LIGO/VIRGO systems of gravitational waves (GWs) will provide attractive candidates for constraining the EEP, which would further extend the tested particle species to the gravitons, with potentially higher accuracy. Considering the capabilities of the advanced LIGO/VIRGO network and the source direction uncertainty, we show that the joint detection of GWs and electromagnetic signals can potentially probe the EEP to an accuracy of 10−11, which is several orders of magnitude tighter than previous limits.
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