Papers for Friday, Oct 15 2021

Non-standard modeling of KIC 11145123, a possible blue straggler star, has been asteroseismically carried out based on a scheme to compute stellar models with the chemical compositions in their envelopes arbitrarily modified, mimicking effects of some interactions with other stars through which blue straggler stars are thought to be born. We have constructed a non-standard model of the star with the following parameters: $M=1.36M_{\odot}$, $Y_{\mathrm{init}}=0.26$, $Z_{\mathrm{init}}=0.002$, and $f_{\mathrm{ovs}}=0.027$, where $f_{\mathrm{ovs}}$ is the extent of overshooting described as an exponentially decaying diffusive process. The modification is down to the depth of $r/R\sim0.6$ and the extent $\Delta X$, which is a difference in surface hydrogen abundance between the envelope-modified and unmodified models, is $0.06$. The residuals between the model and the observed frequencies are comparable with those for the previous models computed assuming standard single-star evolution, suggesting that it is possible that the star was born with an relatively ordinary initial helium abundance of $\sim0.26$ compared with that of the previous models ($\sim0.30$--$0.40$), then experienced some modification of the chemical compositions, and gained helium in the envelope. Detailed analyses of the non-standard model have implied that the elemental diffusion in the deep radiative region of the star might be much weaker than that assumed in current stellar evolutionary calculations; we need some extra mechanisms inside the star, rendering the star a much more intriguing target to be further investigated.

We present the characteristics of 2mm-selected sources from the largest Atacama Large Millimeter and submillimeter Array (ALMA) blank-field contiguous survey conducted to-date, the Mapping Obscuration to Reionization with ALMA (MORA) survey covering 184arcmin$^2$ at 2mm. Twelve of the thirteen detections above 5$\sigma$ are attributed to emission from galaxies, eleven of which are dominated by cold dust emission. These sources have a median redshift of $\langle z_{\rm 2mm}\rangle=3.6^{+0.4}_{-0.3}$ primarily based on optical/near-infrared (OIR) photometric redshifts with some spectroscopic redshifts, with 77$\pm$11% of sources at $z>3$ and 38$\pm$12% of sources at $z>4$. This implies that 2mm selection is an efficient method for identifying the highest redshift dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs). Lower redshift DSFGs ($z<3$) are far more numerous than those at $z>3$ yet likely to drop out at 2mm. MORA shows that DSFGs with star-formation rates in excess of 300M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ and relative rarity of $\sim$10$^{-5}$ Mpc$^{-3}$ contribute $\sim$30% to the integrated star-formation rate density between $3<z<6$. The volume density of 2mm-selected DSFGs is consistent with predictions from some cosmological simulations and is similar to the volume density of their hypothesized descendants: massive, quiescent galaxies at $z>2$. Analysis of MORA sources' spectral energy distributions hint at steeper empirically-measured dust emissivity indices than typical literature studies, with $\langle\beta\rangle=2.2^{+0.5}_{-0.4}$. The MORA survey represents an important step in taking census of obscured star-formation in the Universe's first few billion years, but larger area 2mm surveys are needed to more fully characterize this rare population and push to the detection of the Universe's first dusty galaxies.

The nature of the Fermi gamma-ray Galactic Center Excess (GCE) has remained a persistent mystery for over a decade. Although the excess is broadly compatible with emission expected due to dark matter annihilation, an explanation in terms of a population of unresolved astrophysical point sources e.g., millisecond pulsars, remains viable. The effort to uncover the origin of the GCE is hampered in particular by an incomplete understanding of diffuse emission of Galactic origin. This can lead to spurious features that make it difficult to robustly differentiate smooth emission, as expected for a dark matter origin, from more "clumpy" emission expected for a population of relatively bright, unresolved point sources. We use recent advancements in the field of simulation-based inference, in particular density estimation techniques using normalizing flows, in order to characterize the contribution of modeled components, including unresolved point source populations, to the GCE. Compared to traditional techniques based on the statistical distribution of photon counts, our machine learning-based method is able to utilize more of the information contained in a given model of the Galactic Center emission, and in particular can perform posterior parameter estimation while accounting for pixel-to-pixel spatial correlations in the gamma-ray map. This makes the method demonstrably more resilient to certain forms of model misspecification. On application to Fermi data, the method generically attributes a smaller fraction of the GCE flux to unresolved point sources when compared to traditional approaches. We nevertheless infer such a contribution to make up a non-negligible fraction of the GCE across all analysis variations considered, with at least $38^{+9}_{-19}\%$ of the excess attributed to unresolved points sources in our baseline analysis.

Astronomical observations reveal a major deficiency in our understanding of physics $-$ the detectable mass is insufficient to explain the observed motions in a huge variety of systems given our current understanding of gravity, Einstein's General theory of Relativity (GR). This missing gravity problem may indicate a breakdown of GR at low accelerations, as posited by Milgromian dynamics (MOND). We review the MOND theory and its consequences, including in a cosmological context where we advocate a hybrid approach involving light sterile neutrinos to address MOND's cluster-scale issues. We then test the novel predictions of MOND using evidence from galaxies, galaxy groups, galaxy clusters, and the large scale structure of the Universe. We also consider whether the standard cosmological paradigm ($\Lambda$CDM) can explain the observations, and review several previously published highly significant falsifications of it. Our overall assessment considers both the extent to which the data agree with each theory and how much flexibility each has when accommodating the data, with the gold standard being a clear a priori prediction not informed by the data in question. We also consider some future tests. Our conclusion is that MOND is favoured by a wealth of data across a huge range of astrophysical scales, ranging from the kpc scales of galactic bars to the Gpc scale of the local supervoid and the Hubble tension, which is alleviated in MOND through enhanced cosmic variance.

Improving our understanding of the nuclear properties of high-Eddington ratio ($\lambda_\mathrm{Edd}$) active galactic nuclei (AGN) is necessary since the bulk of X-ray spectroscopic studies have been focused on low-Eddington AGN. We present here the X-ray spectral analysis of 14 radio-quiet, $\lambda_\mathrm{Edd}\gtrsim1$ AGN at $0.4\leq z \leq 0.75$, observed with XMM-Newton. Optical/UV data from simultaneous Optical Monitor observations have been also considered. These AGN have been selected to have relatively high values of black hole mass ($M_\mathrm{BH}\sim10^{8-8.5}M_\odot$) and bolometric luminosity ($L_\mathrm{bol} \sim 10^{46}$ erg s$^{-1}$), in order to complement previous studies of high-Eddington AGN at lower $M_\mathrm{BH}$ and $L_\mathrm{bol}$. We studied the relation between $\lambda_\mathrm{Edd}$ and other key X-ray spectral parameters, such as the photon index of the power-law continuum $\Gamma$, the X-ray bolometric correction $k_\mathrm{bol,X}$ and $\alpha_\mathrm{ox}$. Despite the homogeneous optical and SMBH accretion properties, the X-ray properties of these high-Eddington AGN are quite heterogeneous. We measured values of $\Gamma$ comprised between 1.3 and 2.5, at odds with the expectations based on previously reported $\Gamma-\lambda_\mathrm{Edd}$ relations, by which $\Gamma\geq2$ would be an ubiquitous hallmark of AGN with $\lambda_\mathrm{Edd}\sim1$. We found that $\sim30\%$ of the sources are X-ray weak, with an X-ray emission about a factor of $\sim10-80$ fainter than that of typical AGN at similar UV luminosities. The X-ray weakness seems to be intrinsic and not due to intervening obscuration. This may indicate that high-Eddington AGN commonly undergo periods of intrinsic X-ray weakness. Furthermore, results from a follow-up monitoring with Swift of one of these X-ray weak AGN suggest that these periods can last for several years.

The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) follow-up campaign of alerts released by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory has led to the likely identification of the transient AT2019fdr as the source of the neutrino event IC200530A. AT2019fdr was initially suggested to be a tidal disruption event in a Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy. However, the combination of its spectral properties, color evolution, and feature-rich light curve suggests that AT2019fdr may be a Type IIn superluminous supernova. In the latter scenario, IC200530A may have been produced via inelastic proton-proton collisions between the relativistic protons accelerated at the forward shock and the cold protons of the circumstellar medium. Here, we investigate this possibility and find that at most $9 \times 10^{-4}$ muon neutrino and antineutrino events are expected to be detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory within 394 days of discovery in the case of excellent discrimination of the atmospheric background. By taking into account the Eddington bias on neutrino observations, our results may be compatible with the detection of IC200530A from AT2019fdr.

Star-forming galaxies are the sources likely to have reionized the universe. As we cannot observe them directly due to the opacity of the intergalactic medium at $z\gtrsim5$, we study $z\sim3\text{--}5$ galaxies as proxies to place observational constraints on cosmic reionization. Using new deep \textit{Hubble Space Telescope} rest-frame UV F336W and F435W imaging (30-orbit, $\sim40$~arcmin$^2$, $\sim29\text{--}30$~mag depth at 5$\sigma$), we attempt to identify a sample of Lyman continuum (LyC) galaxies (LCGs). These are individual sources that emit ionizing flux below the Lyman break ($<912~\text{\AA}$). This population would allow us to constrain cosmic reionization parameters such as the number density and escape fraction ($f_{\rm esc}$) of ionizing sources. We compile a comprehensive parent sample that does not rely on the Lyman-break technique for redshifts. We present three new spectroscopic candidates at $z\sim3.7\text{--}4.4$, and 32 new photometric candidates. The high-resolution multi-band HST imaging and new Keck/Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS) redshifts make these promising spectroscopic LCG candidates. Using both a traditional and probabilistic approach, we find the most likely $f_{\rm esc}$ values for the three spectroscopic LCG candidates are $>100\%$, and therefore not physical. We are unable to confirm the true nature of these sources with the best available imaging and direct blue Keck/LRIS spectroscopy. More spectra, especially from the new class of 30 m telescopes, will be required to build a statistical sample of LCGs to place firm observational constraints on cosmic reionization.

Gas accretion and stellar feedback processes link metal content, star formation, and gas and stellar mass (and the potential depth) in star-forming galaxies. Constraining this hypersurface has been challenging because of the need for measurements of HI and HII gas masses spanning a broad parameter space. A recent step forward has been achieved through the "Metallicity And Gas for Mass Assembly" (MAGMA) sample of local star-forming galaxies, which consists of homogeneously-determined parameters and a significant quantity of dwarf galaxies, with stellar masses as low as $\sim 10^5 - 10^{6}\, M_{\odot}$. Here, we adopt a "standard" galactic chemical evolution model, with which we can quantify stellar-driven outflows. In particular, we constrain the difference between the mass-loading in accretion and outflows and the wind metal-loading factor. The resulting model reproduces very well the local mass-metallicity relation, and the observed trends of metallicity with gas fraction. Although the difference in mass loading between accreted and expelled gas is extremely difficult to constrain, we find indications that, on average, the amount of gas acquired through accretion is roughly the same as the gas lost through bulk stellar outflows, corresponding to a "gas equilibrium" scenario. In agreement with previous work, the wind metal-loading factor shows a steep increase toward lower mass and circular velocity, indicating that low-mass galaxies are more efficient at expelling metals, thus shaping the mass-metallicity relation. Effective yields are found to increase with mass up to an inflection mass threshold, with a mild decline at larger masses and circular velocities. A comparison of our results for metal loading in outflows with the expectations for their mass loading favors momentum-driven winds at low masses, rather than energy-driven ones. (abridged)

We report the kinematic, orbital, and chemical properties of 12 stellar streams with no evident progenitors, using line-of-sight velocities and metallicities from the Southern Stellar Stream Spectroscopic Survey ($S^5$), proper motions from Gaia EDR3, and distances derived from distance tracers or the literature. This data set provides the largest homogeneously analyzed set of streams with full 6D kinematics and metallicities. All streams have heliocentric distances between ${\sim}10-50$ kpc. The velocity and metallicity dispersions show that half of the stream progenitors were dwarf galaxies (DGs), while the other half originated from disrupted globular clusters (GCs). Based on the mean metallicities of the streams and the mass-metallicity relation, the luminosities of the progenitors of the DG streams range between Ursa Major I and Carina ($-9.5\lesssim M_V\lesssim-5.5$). Four of the six GC streams have mean metallicities of [Fe/H] $< -2$, more metal-poor than typical Milky Way (MW) GCs at similar distances. Interestingly, the 300S and Jet GC streams are the only streams on retrograde orbits in our dozen stream sample. Finally, we compare the orbital properties of the streams with known DGs and GCs in the MW, finding several possible associations. Some streams appear to have been accreted with the recently discovered Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage system, and others suggest that GCs were formed in and accreted together with the progenitors of DG streams whose stellar masses are similar to Draco to Carina ($\sim10^5-10^6 M_\odot$).

The observations of external galaxies are projected to the 2D sky plane. Reconstructing the 3D intrinsic density distribution of a galaxy from the 2D image is challenging, especially for barred galaxies, but is a critical step for constructing galactic dynamical models. Here we present a method for deprojecting barred galaxies and we validate the method by testing against mock images created from an N-body simulation with a peanut-shaped bar. We decompose a galaxy image into a bulge (including a bar) and a disk. By subtracting the disk from the original image a barred bulge remains. We perform multi-Gaussian expansion (MGE) fit to each component, then we deproject them separately by considering the barred bulge is triaxial while the disk is axisymmetric. We restrict the barred bulge to be aligned in the disk plane and has a similar thickness to the disk in the outer regions. The 3D density distribution is thus constructed by combining the barred bulge and the disk. Our model can generally recover the 3D density distribution of disk and inner barred bulge regions, although not a perfect match to the peanut-shaped structure. By using the same initial conditions, we integrate the orbits in our model-inferred potential and the true potential by freezing the N-body simulation. We find that 85% of all these orbits have similar morphologies in these two potentials, and our model supports the orbits that generate a boxy/peanut-shaped structure and an elongated bar similar to these in the true potential.

We present the results obtained from the full-shape cosmology analysis of the redshift-space power spectra for 4 galaxy samples of the SDSS-III BOSS DR12 galaxy catalog over $0.2 < z < 0.75$. For the theoretical template, we use an emulator that was built from an ensemble set of $N$-body simulations, which enables fast and accurate computation of the redshift-space power spectrum of halos. Combining with the halo occupation distribution to model the halo-galaxy connection, we can compute the redshift-space power spectrum of BOSS-like galaxies in the flat $\Lambda$CDM cosmology. In our cosmology inference, we use the power spectrum monopole, quadrupole and hexadecapole and include 7 nuisance parameters to model uncertainties in the halo-galaxy connection for each galaxy sample, but do not use any information on the abundance of galaxies. We demonstrate a validation of our analysis pipeline using the mock catalogs of BOSS-like galaxies, generated using different recipes of the halo-galaxy connection and including the assembly bias effect. Assuming weak priors on cosmological parameters, except for $\Omega_{\rm b}h^2$ and $n_{\rm s}$, we show that our model well reproduces the BOSS power spectra. Including the power spectrum information up to $k_{\rm max}=0.25\,h{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$, we find $\Omega_{\rm m}=0.300\pm0.011$, $H_0=68.35^{+1.21}_{-1.39}{\rm km\,s}^{-1}{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$, and $\sigma_8=0.742^{+0.035}_{-0.036}$, for the mode and 68\% credible interval, after marginalization over nuisance parameters. We find little improvement in the cosmological parameters beyond a maximum wavelength $k_{\rm max}\simeq 0.2\,h\,{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$ due to the shot noise domination and marginalization of the halo-galaxy connection parameters. Our results show a nice agreement with the {\it Planck} CMB results for $\Omega_{\rm m}$ and $H_0$, but indicate a slight tension for $\sigma_8$.

We use the \textsc{astraeus} framework, that couples an N-body simulation with a semi-analytic model for galaxy formation and a semi-numerical model for reionization, to quantify the star formation histories (SFHs) of galaxies in the first billion years. Exploring four models of radiative feedback, we fit the SFH of each galaxy at $z>5$ as $\mathrm{log}(\mathrm{SFR}(z))=-\alpha(1 + z)+\beta$; star formation is deemed stochastic if it deviates from this fit by more than $\Delta_\mathrm{SFR}=0.6\,$dex. Our key findings are: (i) The fraction of stellar mass formed and time spent in the stochastic phase decrease with increasing stellar mass and redshift $z$. While galaxies with stellar masses of $M_\star\sim10^7M_\odot$ at $z\sim5~(10)$ form $\sim70\%~(20\%)$ of their stellar mass in the stochastic phase, this reduces to $<10\%$ at all redshifts for galaxies with $M_\star > 10^{10}M_\odot$; (ii) the fractional mass assembled and lifetime spent in the stochastic phase do not significantly change with the radiative feedback model used; (iii) at all redshifts, $\alpha$ increases (decreases for the strongest radiative feedback model) with stellar mass for galaxies with $M_\star\lesssim 10^{8.5}M_\odot$ and converges to $\sim0.18$ for more massive galaxies; $\beta$ always increases with stellar mass. Our proposed fits can reliably recover the stellar masses and mass-to-light ratios for galaxies with $M_\star\sim10^{8-10.5}M_\odot$ and $M_{UV}\sim-17~{\rm to}~-23$ at $z\sim 5-9$. This physical model can therefore be used to derive the SFHs for galaxies observed by a number of forthcoming instruments.

It is widely believed that galaxy formation and evolution is regulated by stellar mechanical feedback in forms of fast stellar winds and supernova explosions. However, the coupling of this feedback with the interstellar medium remains poorly understood. We examine how the coupling may be traced by diffuse soft X-ray emission in M83 -- a nearby face-on spiral galaxy undergoing active star formation, based chiefly on 729~ks Chandra observations. Our main findings are 1) the X-ray emission is enhanced not only along the galaxy's grand spiral arms, but also clearly in their downstreams; 2) the spectrum of the emission can be well characterized by a super-solar metallicity plasma with a lognormal temperature distribution, plus an X-ray absorption of a lognormal column density distribution; 3) the intensity of the emission is strongly anti-correlated with the dust obscuration seen in optical images of the galaxy. These findings suggest A) the morphology of the X-ray emission is likely due to the convolution of the feedback heating of the plasma with its thermal and dynamical evolution; B) the X-ray emission, accounting for ~10% of the feedback energy input rate, probably traces only the high-energy tail of the radiation from the plasma; C) a good fraction of the recent star forming regions seems sufficiently energetic to produce multi-phased outflows, likely responsible for much of the dust obscuration and X-ray absorption. Direct confrontation of the findings with theories/simulations could help to understand the underlying astrophysics of the coupling and how the hot plasma shapes the interstellar medium.

We present three new Chandra X-ray epochs along with new ground-based optical-UV observations as the third installment in a time-series analysis of four high-redshift ($z\sim4.1-4.4$) radio-quiet quasars (RQQs). In total, we present nine epochs for these sources with rest-frame temporal baselines of $\sim1300-2000$ days. We utilize the X-ray data to determine basic variability properties, as well as produce mean spectra and stacked images based on effective exposure times of $\sim40-70$ ks per source. We perform time-series analyses in the soft and hard bands, separately, and compare variability properties to those of sources at lower redshifts and luminosities. The magnitude of X-ray variability of our sources remains consistent with or lower than that of similar sources at lower redshifts, in agreement with the variability-luminosity anti-correlation. The mean power-law photon indices in the stacked Chandra spectra of our sources are consistent with the values measured from their archival XMM-Newton spectra separated by about three years in the rest frame. Along with the X-ray observations we provide near-simultaneous optical monitoring of the sources in the optical-UV regime. The overall variability in the optical-to-X-ray spectral slope is consistent with sources at lower redshifts and the optical-UV observations display mild variability on monthly timescales.

The China Space Station Telescope (CSST) photometric survey aims to perform a high spatial resolution (~0.15'') photometric imaging for the targets that cover a large sky area (~17,500 deg^2) and wide wavelength range (from NUV to NIR). It expects to explore the properties of dark matter, dark energy, and other important cosmological and astronomical areas. In this work, we evaluate whether the filter design of the Multi-channel Imager (MCI), one of the five instruments of the CSST, can provide accurate photometric redshift (photo-z) measurements with its nine medium-band filters to meet the relevant scientific objectives. We generate the mock data based on the COSMOS photometric redshift catalog with astrophysical and instrumental effects. The application of upper limit information of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) data is adopted in the estimation of photo-z. We investigate the dependency of photo-z accuracy on the filter parameters, such as band position and width. We find that the current MCI filter design can achieve good photo-z measurements with accuracy sigma_z~0.017 and outlier fraction f_c~2.2%. It can effectively improve the photo-z measurements of the main CSST survey using the Survey Camera (SC) to an accuracy sigma_z~0.015 and outlier fraction f_c~1.5%.

Assuming that the shallow-decaying phase in the early X-ray lightcurves of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is attributed to the dipole radiations (DRs) of a newborn magnetar, we present a comparative analysis for the magnetars born in death of massive stars and merger of compact binaries with long and short GRB (lGRB and sGRB) data observed with the {\em Swift} mission. We show that the typical braking index ($n$) of the magnetars is $\sim 3$ in the sGRB sample, and it is $\sim 4$ for the magnetars in the lGRB sample. Selecting a sub-sample of the magnetars whose spin-down is dominated by DRs ($n\lesssim 3$) and adopting a universal radiation efficiency of $0.3$, we find that the typical magnetic field strength ($B_p$) is $10^{16}$ G {\em vs.} $10^{15}$ G and the typical initial period ($P_0$) is $\sim 20$ ms {\em vs.} $2$ ms for the magnetars in the sGRBs {\em vs.} lGRBs. They follow the same relation between $P_0$ and the isotropic GRB energy as $ P_0\propto E_{\rm jet}^{-0.4}$. We also extend our comparison analysis to superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) and stable pulsars. Our results show that a magnetar born in merger of compact stars tends to have a stronger $B_p$ and a longer $P_0$ by about one order of magnitude than that born in collapse of massive stars. Its spin-down is dominated by the magnetic DRs as old pulsars, being due to its strong magnetic field strength, whereas the early spin-down of magnetars born in massive star collapse is governed by both the DRs and gravitational wave (GW) emission. A magnetar with a faster rotation speed should power a more energetic jet, being independent of its formation approach.

Compact radio sources have been observed to undergo large, frequency dependent changes in intensity due to lensing by structures in the interstellar medium, in so-called "extreme scattering events" (ESEs). While the study of astrophysical plasma lensing has primarily focused on the geometric limit of optics, coherent radio sources such as pulsars exhibit wave effects when lensed. The additional phase information provided by interference effects in the wave regime may yield more information about the lens than could be obtained in the geometric regime. In this paper, we show that, using wave effects, one can potentially distinguish a one-dimensional lens (where "one-dimensional" includes both highly elongated lenses, as well as perfectly axisymmetric lenses) from a fully two-dimensional lens, with minimal assumptions on the form of the lensing potential.

Recently an intriguing transient AT 2018lqh, with only a day-scale duration and a high luminosity of $7\times 10^{42}\ {\rm erg\ s^{-1}}$, has been discovered. While several possibilities are raised on its origin, the nature of this transient is yet to be unveiled. We propose that a black hole (BH) with $\sim 30\, M_\odot$ forming from a rotating blue supergiant can generate a transient like AT 2018lqh. We find that this scenario can consistently explain the optical/UV emission and the tentative late-time X-ray detection, as well as the radio upper limits. If super-Eddington accretion onto the nascent BH powers the X-ray emission, continued X-ray observations may be able to test the presence of an accretion disk around the BH.

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) recently released the first horizon-scale images of the black hole in M87. Combined with other astronomical data, these images constrain the mass and spin of the hole as well as the accretion rate and magnetic flux trapped on the hole. An important question for the EHT is how well key parameters, such as trapped magnetic flux and the associated disk models, can be extracted from present and future EHT VLBI data products. The process of modeling visibilities and analyzing them is complicated by the fact that the data are sparsely sampled in the Fourier domain while most of the theory/simulation is constructed in the image domain. Here we propose a data-driven approach to analyze complex visibilities and closure quantities for radio interferometric data with neural networks. Using mock interferometric data, we show that our neural networks are able to infer the accretion state as either high magnetic flux (MAD) or low magnetic flux (SANE), suggesting that it is possible to perform parameter extraction directly in the visibility domain without image reconstruction. We have applied VLBInet to real M87 EHT data taken on four different days in 2017 (April 5, 6, 10, 11), and our neural networks give a score prediction 0.52, 0.4, 0.43, 0.76 for each day, with an average score 0.53, which shows no significant indication for the data to lean toward either the MAD or SANE state.

We collect 133 Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), including 110 non-repeating and 23 repeating ones, and systematically investigate their observational properties. To check the frequency dependence of FRB classifications, we define our samples with a central frequency below/above 1GHz as subsample I/II. We find that there is a clear bimodal distribution of pulse width for the subsample I. And If we classify FRBs into short FRBs (\emph{s}FRBs) ($<$100 ms) and long FRBs (\emph{l}FRBs) ($>$100 ms) as done for short and long Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), the \emph{s}FRBs at higher central frequency are commonly shorter than those at lower central frequency not only for non-repeating but also repeating \emph{s}FRBs. Secondly, we find that fluence and peak flux density are correlated with a power law relation of $F \varpropto S{^{\gamma}_{p,obs}}$ for both \emph{s}FRBs and \emph{l}FRBs whose distributions are obviously different. Thirdly, the \emph{l}FRBs with isotropic energies ranging from $10^{42}$ to $10^{44}$ erg are more energetic than the \emph{s}FRBs in the $F- DM_{EX}$ plane, indicating that they are two representative types. Finally, it is interestingly note that the peak flux density behaves an independence on the redshift when the distance of the FRBs becomes far enough, which is similar to the scenario of peak flux evolving with redshift in the field of GRBs. We predict that fainter FRBs at higher redshift of $z>2$ can be successfully detected by FAST and SKA in the near future.

This study aims to assess the properties and classification of 55 variable stars in Scutum, little studied since their discovery and reported in the Information Bulletin on Variable Stars (IBVS) 985 and update. Using data from previous studies and several astronomical databases, we performed our analysis mainly utilizing a period analysis software and comparing the photometric characteristics of the variables in a Colour-Absolute Magnitude Diagram. For all stars, the variability is confirmed. We discovered new significant results for the period and/or type of 17 variables and highlighted incorrect cross-reference names on astronomical databases for 3 stars. This assessment also identifies 12 cases for which the results from the ASAS-SN Catalog of Variable Stars are systematically not consistent with the original light curves.

It is believed that there is a preshock neutronization burst of $\nu_e$ before the shock-breakout burst in a core-collapse supernova (CCSN). The preshock burst essentially consists of only $\nu_e$ produced from the electron capture of nuclei in the early stage of the core collapse and is sensitive to the low-energy coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$\nu$NS) which dominates the neutrino opacity and significantly influences the early $\nu_e$ emission in the CCSN. Since the CE$\nu$NS depends strongly on the largely uncertain non-standard neutrino interactions (NSI), the detection of the preshock burst thus provides a clean way to extract the NSI information. Within the spherically symmetric general-relativistic hydrodynamic simulation for the CCSN, we investigate the NSI effects on the preshock burst. We find that the NSI can maximally enhance the peak luminosity of the preshock burst almost by a factor of three, reaching a value to be comparable with that of the shock-breakout burst. The future detection of the preshock burst will have critical implications on astrophysics, neutrino physics and physics beyond the standard model.

Jupiter's atmosphere is dominated by multiple jet streams which are strongly tied to its 3D atmospheric circulation. Lacking a rigid bottom boundary, several models exist for how the meridional circulation extends into the planetary interior. Here we show, collecting evidence from multiple instruments of the Juno mission, the existence of mid-latitudinal meridional circulation cells which are driven by turbulence, similar to the Ferrel cells on Earth. Different than Earth, which contains only one such cell in each hemisphere, the larger, faster rotating Jupiter can incorporate multiple cells. The cells form regions of upwelling and downwelling, which we show are clearly evident in Juno's microwave data between latitude 60S and 60N. The existence of these cells is confirmed by reproducing the ammonia observations using a simplistic model. This study solves a long-standing puzzle regarding the nature of Jupiter's sub-cloud dynamics and provides evidence for 8 cells in each Jovian hemisphere.

Type Ia supernovae (SNe~Ia) in the nearby Hubble flow are excellent distance indicators in cosmology. The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) has observed a large sample of supernovae from an untargeted, rolling survey, reaching $20.8, 20.6, 20.3$ mag in $g$ $r$, and $i$-band, respectively. With a FoV of 47 sq.deg, ZTF discovered $>$ 3000 SNe~Ia in a little over 2.5 years. Here, we report on the sample of 761 spectroscopically classified SNe~Ia from the first year of operations (DR1). The sample has a median redshift $\bar z =$ 0.057, nearly a factor of two higher than the current low-$z$ sample. Our sample has a total of 934 spectra, of which 632 were obtained with the robotic SEDm on Palomar P60. We assess the potential for precision cosmology for a total of 305 SNe with redshifts from host galaxy spectra. The sample is already comparable in size to the entire combined literature low-$z$ anchor sample. The median first detection is 13.5 days before maximum light, about 10 days earlier than the median in the literature. Furthermore, six SNe from our sample are at $D_L < 80$ Mpc, for which host galaxy distances can be obtained in the JWST era, such that we have calibrator and Hubble flow SNe observed with the same instrument. In the entire duration of ZTF-I, we have observed nearly fifty SNe for which we can obtain calibrator distances, key for percent level distance scale measurements.

We identify a sample of spectroscopically measured emission line galaxy (ELG) pairs up to z=1.6 from the WFC3 Infrared Spectroscopic Parallels (WISP) survey. WISP obtained slitless, near-infrared grism spectroscopy along with direct imaging in the J and H bands by observing in the pure-parallel mode with the Wide Field Camera Three (WFC3) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). From our search of 419 WISP fields covering an area of ~0.5 deg$^{2}$, we find 413 ELG pair systems, mostly Halpha emitters. We then derive reliable star formation rates (SFRs) based on the attenuation-corrected Halpha fluxes. Compared to isolated galaxies, we find an average SFR enhancement of 40%-65%, which is stronger for major pairs and pairs with smaller velocity separations (Delta_v < 300 km/s). Based on the stacked spectra from various subsamples, we study the trends of emission line ratios in pairs, and find a general consistency with enhanced lower-ionization lines. We study the pair fraction among ELGs, and find a marginally significant increase with redshift $f \propto (1+z)^\alpha$, where the power-law index \alpha=0.58$\pm$0.17 from $z\sim$0.2 to $z\sim$1.6. The fraction of Active galactic Nuclei (AGNs), is found to be the same in the ELG pairs as compared to isolated ELGs.

The use of galaxy clusters as cosmological probes often relies on understanding the properties and evolution of the intracluster medium (ICM). However, the ICM is a complex plasma, regularly stirred by mergers and feedback, with non-negligible bulk and turbulent motions and a non-thermal pressure component, making it difficult to construct a coherent and comprehensive picture. To this end, we use the FABLE simulations to investigate how the hydrostatic mass bias is affected by cluster dynamical state, mergers, AGN feedback and turbulence. Following in detail a single, massive cluster we find the bias varies significantly over cosmic time, rarely staying at the average value found at a particular epoch. Variations of the bias at a given radius are contemporaneous with periods where outflows dominate the mass flux, either due to mergers or AGN feedback. The $z=0$ ensemble median mass bias in FABLE is $\sim13$ per cent at $R_\mathrm{500}$ and $\sim15$ per cent at $R_\mathrm{200}$, but with a large scatter in individual values. In halo centres, we see an increase in temperature and a decrease in non-thermal pressure support with cosmic time as turbulence thermalises, leading to a reduction in the mass bias within $\sim0.2 R_\mathrm{200}$. When using a fitted pressure profile, instead of the `raw' simulation data, to estimate the bias, we find there can be significant differences, particularly at larger radii and higher redshift. We therefore caution over the use of such fits in future work with the next generation of X-ray and SZ observations.

We determined effective temperatures, surface gravities, and metallicities for a sample of 343 M dwarfs observed with CARMENES, the double-channel, high-resolution spectrograph installed at the 3.5 m telescope at Calar Alto Observatory. We employed SteParSyn, a Bayesian spectral synthesis implementation particularly designed to infer the stellar atmospheric parameters of late-type stars following a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach. We made use of the BT-Settl model atmospheres and the radiative transfer code turbospectrum to compute a grid of synthetic spectra around 75 magnetically insensitive Fe I and Ti I lines plus the TiO $\gamma$ and $\epsilon$ bands. To avoid any potential degeneracy in the parameter space, we imposed Bayesian priors on Teff and log g based on the comprehensive, multi-band photometric data available for the sample. We find that this methodology is suitable down to M7.0 V, where refractory metals such as Ti are expected to condense in the stellar photospheres. The derived $T_{\rm eff}$, $\log{g}$, and [Fe/H] range from 3000 to 4200 K, 4.5 to 5.3 dex, and -0.7 to 0.2 dex, respectively. Although our $T_{\rm eff}$ scale is in good agreement with the literature, we report large discrepancies in the [Fe/H] scales, which might arise from the different methodologies and sets of lines considered. However, our [Fe/H] is in agreement with the metallicity distribution of FGK-type stars in the solar neighbourhood and correlates well with the kinematic membership of the targets in the Galactic populations. Lastly, excellent agreement in $T_{\rm eff}$ is found for M dwarfs with interferometric angular diameter measurements, as well as in the [Fe/H] between the components in the wide physical FGK+M and M+M systems included in our sample.

During the lifetime of AR 12673, its magnetic field evolved drastically and produced numerous large flares. In this study, using full maps of the Sun observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, we identified that AR 12673 emerged in decayed AR 12665, which had survived for two solar rotations. Although both ARs emerged at the same location, they possessed different characteristics and different flare productivities. Therefore, it is important to study the long-term magnetic evolution of both ARs to identify the distinguishing characteristics of an AR that can produce large solar flares. We used the Spaceweather Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager Active Region Patch data to investigate the evolution of the photospheric magnetic field and other physical properties of the recurring ARs during five Carrington rotations. All these investigated parameters dynamically evolved through a series of solar rotations. We compared the long-term evolution of AR 12665 and AR 12673 to understand the differences in their flare-producing properties. We also studied the relation of the long-term evolution of these ARs with the presence of active longitude. We found that the magnetic flux and complexity of AR 12673 developed much faster than those of AR 12665. Our results confirmed that a strong emerging flux that emerged in the pre-existing AR near the active longitude created a very strong and complex AR that produced large flares.

We present the results of a systematic analysis of the XMM-Newton spectra of nearby optically bright QSOs. The objects have been selected from X-ray Galaxy Catalog Xgal20. It is a catalog of 1172 manually identified and classified galaxies, obtained as a cross-correlation between the 4XMM-DR9 catalog and the Hyper-Linked Extragalactic Databases and Archives (HyperLeda) with an X-ray flux greater than 1E-13 erg/cm^2/s. The goal of this work is to characterize the X-ray spectral properties of selected QSOs in the 0.1 - 10 keV energy band. The majority of the sources (6 out of 11), are classified as radio-quiet QSOs. We studied optical spectra, hardness ratios and performed X-ray spectral fits for the 10 brighter sources. In most cases, the power law model with absorption is good enough to simulate observed continua. Although the details of the spectrum in some sources significantly complicate the model for fitting. The majority of sources have steep spectra Gamma > 2.1. Extremely steep photon index 2.4 - 2.5 in our sample occurs for three radio-loud type I quasars. We detected Fe K-alpha line for two radio-loud type II quasars. We find no strong evidence for spectral hardening above 2 keV neither for quasars of type I nor for obscured type II. For each quasar its type was established both based on the features and details of observed X-ray spectrum and previous data.

Molecular cloud Sgr B2 is a natural Compton mirror in the Central Molecular Zone. An observed fading of the Sgr B2 X-ray emission in continuum and Fe K$\alpha$ 6.4 keV line indicates, as believed, a past X-ray flare activity of the supermassive black hole Sgr A$^{\star}$. The Sgr B2 was investigated by the INTEGRAL observatory at hard X-rays in 2003-2009, showing a clear decay of its hard X-ray emission. In this work, we present a long-term time evolution of the Sgr B2 hard X-ray continuum after 2009, associated with the hard X-ray source IGR J17475-2822 as observed by INTEGRAL. The 30-80 keV sky maps, obtained in 2009-2019, demonstrate a significant excess spatially consistent with IGR J17475-2822. The observed 2003-2019 light curve of IGR J17475-2822 is characterized by a linear decrease by a factor of $\sim2$ until 2011, after which it reaches a constant level of $\sim1$ mCrab. The source spectrum above 17 keV is consistent with a power-law model with $\Gamma=1.4$ and a high-energy cut-off at $\sim43$ keV. The Sgr B2 residual emission after $\sim2011$ shows a good correspondence with models of the X-ray emission due to the irradiation of the molecular gas by hard X-rays and low-energy cosmic ray ions. We discuss the possible origin of the residual Sgr B2 emission after 2011 within these models, including theoretically predicted multiply-scattered emission.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are the most energetic radio transients in the Universe, the central engines of which remain unknown and could be diverse. The dispersion sweeps of FRBs provide a unique probe of the ionized baryon content of the intergalactic medium as well as FRBs natal environments. Here we report the discovery and localization of a new active repeater, FRB 190520B, which is co-located with a compact, persistent radio source (PRS) and identified with a dwarf host galaxy of high specific star formation rate at a redshift $z=0.241$. The estimated host galaxy dispersion measure (DM) $\rm DM_{\rm host} \approx 902^{+88}_{-128}$~pc~cm$^{-3}$ is nearly an order of magnitude higher than the average of FRB host galaxies and much larger than those of the intergalactic medium, suggesting caution in inferring redshifts for FRBs without accurate host galaxy identifications. This represents the second source after FRB 121102 with a confirmed association between a FRB and a compact PRS. The dense, complex host galaxy environment and the associated persistent radio source may point to a distinctive origin or an earlier evolutionary stage for active repeating FRBs.

We study the small-scale asymptotic behaviour of the cosmic density-fluctuation power spectrum in the Zel'dovich approximation. For doing so, we extend Laplace's method in arbitrary dimensions and use it to prove that this power spectrum necessarily develops an asymptotic tail proportional to $k^{-3}$ , irrespective of the cosmological model and the power spectrum of the initial matter distribution. The exponent $-3$ is set only by the number of spatial dimensions. We derive the complete asymptotic series of the power spectrum and compare the leading- and next-to-leading-order terms to derive characteristic scales for the onset of non-linear structure formation, independent of the cosmological model and the type of dark matter. Combined with earlier results on the mean-field approximation for including particle interactions, this asymptotic behaviour is likely to remain valid beyond the Zel'dovich approximation. Due to their insensitivity to cosmological assumptions, our results are generally applicable to particle distributions with positions and momenta drawn from a Gaussian random field. We discuss an analytically solvable toy model to further illustrate the formation of the $k^{-3}$ asymptotic tail.

A prototype Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (pSCT) has been constructed at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory as a candidate for the medium-sized telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). CTAO is currently entering early construction phase of the project and once completed it will vastly improve very high energy gamma-ray detection component in multi-wavelength and multi-messenger observations due to significantly improved sensitivity, angular resolution and field of view comparing to the current generation of the ground-based gamma-ray observatories H.E.S.S., MAGIC and VERITAS. The pSCT uses a dual aspheric mirror design with a $9.7$ m primary mirror and $5.4$ m secondary mirror, both of which are segmented. The Schwarzschild-Couder (SC) optical system (OS) selected for the prototype telescope achieves wide field of view of $8$ degrees and simultaneously reduces the focal plane plate scale allowing an unprecedented compact ($0.78$m diameter) implementation of the high-resolution camera ($6$mm/ $0.067$deg per imaging pixel with $11,328$ pixels) based on the silicon photo-multipliers (SiPMs). The OS of the telescope is designed to eliminate spherical and comatic aberrations and minimize astigmatism to radically improve off-axis imaging and consequently angular resolution across all the field of view with respect to the conventional single-mirror telescopes. Fast and high imaging resolution OS of the pSCT comes with the challenging submillimeter-precision custom alignment system, which was successfully demonstrated with an on-axis point spread function (PSF) of $2.9$ arcmin prior to the first-light detection of the Crab Nebula in 2020. Ongoing and future commissioning activities are reported.

In this paper, we use Bayesian methods to disentangle periodic supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) signals from intrinsic damped random walk (DRW) variability in AGN light curves. We simulated a wide variety of realistic DRW and DRW+sine light curves. Their observed properties (cadence, gaps, photometric uncertaintly) are modeled after the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey (CRTS) and expected properties of the upcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Through a careful analysis of parameter estimation and Bayesian model selection, we investigate the range of parameter space for which binary systems can be detected. We also examine which DRW signals can mimic periodicity and be falsely classified as binary candidates. We found that periodic signals are more easily detectable if the period is short, the amplitude of the signal is large, and the contribution of the DRW noise is weak. We saw similar detection rates both in the CRTS and LSST-like simulations. On the other hand, the false detection rate depends on the quality of the data and is minimal in LSST, with every set of DRW parameters being equally capable of producing false positives in CRTS. Our idealized simulations provide an excellent way to uncover the intrinsic limitations in quasar periodicity searches and set the stage for future searches for supermassive black hole binaries.

We conducted time-resolved optical spectroscopy and/or photometry of ten cataclysmic binaries that were discovered in hard X-ray surveys, with the goal of measuring their orbital periods and searching for evidence that they are magnetic. Four of the objects in this study are new optical identifications: IGR J18017$-$3542, PBC J1841.1+0138, IGR J18434$-$0508, and Swift J1909.3+0124. A 311.8 s, coherent optical pulsation is detected from PBC J1841.1+0138, as well as eclipses with a period of 0.221909 days. A 152.49 s coherent period is detected from IGR J18434$-$0508. A probable period of 389 s is seen in IGR J18151$-$1052, in agreement with a known X-ray spin period. We also detect a period of 803.5 s in an archival X-ray observation of Swift J0717.8$-$2156. The latter four objects are thus confirmed magnetic CVs of the intermediate polar class. An optical period of 1554 s in AX J1832.3$-$0840 also confirms the known X-ray spin period, but a stronger signal at 2303 s is present whose interpretation is not obvious. We also studied the candidate intermediate polar Swift J0820.6$-$2805, which has low and high states differing by $\approx4$ mag, and optical periods or QPOs not in agreement with proposed X-ray periods. Of note is an unusually long 2.06 day orbital period for Swift J1909.3+0124, manifest in the radial velocity variation of photospheric absorption lines of an early K-type companion star. The star must be somewhat evolved if it is to fill its Roche lobe.

Primordial black holes (PBHs) with a wide mass distribution imprinted by the thermal history of the Universe, which naturally produces a high peak at the solar mass scale, could explain the gravitational-wave events seen by LIGO/Virgo and up to the totality of the dark matter. We show that compared to monochromatic or log-normal mass functions, the gravitational wave backgrounds (GWBs) from early PBH binaries and from late binaries in clusters are strongly enhanced at low frequency and could even explain the NANOGrav observations. This enhancement comes from binaries with very low mass ratios, involving solar-mass and intermediate-mass PBHs at low frequency, solar-mass and subsolar-mass at higher frequency. LISA could distinguish the various models, while in the frequency band of ground-based detectors, we find that the GWB from early binaries is just below the current LIGO/Virgo limits and above the astrophysical background, if they also explain black hole mergers. The GWB from binaries in clusters is less boosted but has a different spectral index than for neutron stars, astrophysical black holes or early PBH binaries. It is detectable with Einstein Telescope or even with the LIGO/Virgo design sensitivity.

The mass distribution of Primordial Black Holes (PBHs) is affected by drops in the pressure of the early Universe plasma. For example, events in the standard model of particle physics, such as the $W^\pm/Z^0$ decoupling, the quark-hadron transition, the muon and pion becoming non-relativistic, and the annihilation of electrons and positrons, cause a suppression in the Equation of State parameter and leave peaks in the PBH mass function around $10^{-6},\,2,\,60$, and $10^6\, M_\odot$, respectively, in the case of a nearly scale-invariant primordial power spectrum. The superposition of unresolved mergers of such PBHs results in a stochastic gravitational-wave background (SGWB) that covers a wide range of frequencies and can be tested with future gravitational wave (GW) detectors. In this paper, we discuss how its spectral shape can be used to infer properties about inflation, the thermal history of the Universe, and the dynamics of binary formation in dense halos encoded in their merger rate formula. Although many of these physical effects are degenerate within the sensitivity of a single detector, they can be disentangled by the simultaneous observation of the SGWB at different frequencies, highlighting the importance of multi-frequency observations of GWs to characterize the physics of PBHs from the early to the late time Universe.

After calibrating the predictions of the Effective Field Theory of Large-Scale Structure against several sets of simulations, as well as implementing a new method to assert the scale cut of the theory without the use of any simulation, we analyze the Full Shape of the BOSS Correlation Function. Imposing a prior from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis on the baryon density, we are able to measure all the parameters in $\Lambda$CDM + massive neutrinos in normal hierarchy, except for the total neutrino mass, which is just bounded. When combining the BOSS Full Shape with the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation measurements from BOSS, 6DF/MGS and eBOSS, we determine the present day Hubble constant, $H_0$, the present matter fraction, $\Omega_m$, the amplitude of the primordial power spectrum, $A_s$, and the tilt of the primordial power spectrum, $n_s$, to $1.4 \%, 4.5 \%, 23.5\%$ and $7.6\%$ precision, respectively, at $68 \%$-confidence level, finding $H_0=68.19 \pm 0.99$ (km/s)/Mpc, $\Omega_m=0.309\pm 0.014$, $\ln (10^{10}A_{s })=3.12^{+0.21}_{-0.26}$ and $n_s=0.963^{+0.062}_{-0.085}$, and we bound the total neutrino mass to $0.87 \, \textrm{eV}$ at $95 \%$-confidence level. These constraints are fully consistent with Planck results and the ones obtained from BOSS power spectrum analysis. In particular, we find no tension in $H_0$ or $\sigma_8$ with Planck measurements, finding consistency at $1.2\sigma$ and $0.6\sigma$, respectively.

We present a practical and effective method of planetary defense that allows for extremely short mitigation time scales. The method involves an array of small hypervelocity non-nuclear kinetic penetrators that pulverize and disassemble an asteroid or small comet. This mitigates the threat using the Earth's atmosphere to dissipate the energy in the fragment cloud. The system allows a planetary defense solution using existing technologies. This approach will work in extended time scale modes where there is a large warning time, as well as in short interdiction time scenarios with intercepts of minutes to days before impact. In longer time intercept scenarios, the disassembled asteroid fragments largely miss the Earth. In short intercept scenarios, the asteroid fragments of maximum $\sim$10-meter diameter allow the Earth's atmosphere to act as a "beam dump" where the fragments either burn up in the atmosphere and/or air burst, with the primary channel of energy going into spatially and temporally de-correlated shock waves. It is the de-correlated blast waves that are the key to why PI works so well. The effectiveness of the approach depends on the intercept time and size of the asteroid, but allows for effective defense against asteroids in the 20-1000m diameter class and could virtually eliminate the threat of mass destruction posed by these threats with very short warning times even in a terminal defense mode. A 20m diameter asteroid ($\sim$0.5Mt, similar to Chelyabinsk) can be mitigated with a 100s prior to impact intercept with a 10m/s disruption. With a 1m/s internal disruption, a 5 hours prior to impact intercept of a 50m diameter asteroid ($\sim$10Mt yield, similar to Tunguska), a 1 day prior to impact intercept of 100m diameter asteroid ($\sim$100Mt yield), or a 10 day prior to impact intercept of Apophis ($\sim$370m diameter, $\sim$4 Gt yield) would mitigate these threats.

We present an analysis of the Brans-Dicke cosmological model with a cosmological constant and cold dark matter (BD-$\Lambda$CDM). We find that the BD-$\Lambda$CDM is favored by the overall cosmological data (SNIa+BAO+$H(z)$+LSS+CMB) when it is compared with the standard model of cosmology. The BD-$\Lambda$CDM model can be viewed from the GR perspective as a Running Vacuum Model (RVM) with a time evolving vacuum energy density. Due to this fact and also to its time evolving effective gravitational coupling, the model can alleviate the $\sigma_8$ and the $H_0$ tensions at a time. We also present the results for different types of RVM's when they are tested in the light of the cosmological data and we show that a mild dynamics for the vacuum energy density can help to smooth out the aforementioned tensions, thus improving the performance of $\Lambda$CDM model.

We derive constraints on a coupled quintessence model with pure momentum exchange from the public $\sim$1000 deg$^2$ cosmic shear measurements from the Kilo-Degree Survey and the $\it{Planck}$ 2018 Cosmic Microwave Background data. We compare this model with $\Lambda$CDM and find similar $\chi^2$ and log-evidence values. We accelerate parameter estimation by sourcing cosmological power spectra from the neural network emulator $\it{CosmoPower}$. We highlight the necessity of such emulator-based approaches to reduce the computational runtime of future similar analyses, particularly from Stage IV surveys. As an example, we present MCMC forecasts on the same coupled quintessence model for a $\it{Euclid}$-like survey, revealing degeneracies between the coupled quintessence parameters and the baryonic feedback and intrinsic alignment parameters, but also highlighting the large increase in constraining power Stage IV surveys will achieve. The contours are obtained in a few hours with $\it{CosmoPower}$, as opposed to the few months required with a Boltzmann code.

We present our investigation of the Extended Ultraviolet (XUV) disk galaxy, NGC 3344, conducted as part of Deciphering the Interplay between the Interstellar medium, Stars, and the Circumgalactic medium (DIISC) survey. We use surface and aperture photometry of individual young stellar complexes to study star formation and its effect on the physical properties of the interstellar medium. We measure the specific star-formation rate (sSFR) and find it to increase from $\rm10^{-10} yr^{-1}$ in the inner disk to $\rm>10^{-8} yr^{-1}$ in the extended disk. This provides evidence for inside-out disk growth. If these sSFRs are maintained, the XUV disk stellar mass can double in $\sim$0.5 Gyr, suggesting a burst of star formation. The XUV disk will continue forming stars for a long time due to the high gas depletion times ($\tau_{dep}$). The stellar complexes in the XUV disk have high-$\Sigma_{HI}$ and low-$\Sigma_{SFR}$ with $\tau_{dep}\sim$10 Gyrs, marking the onset of a deviation from the traditional Kennicutt-Schmidt law. We find that both far-ultraviolet (FUV) and a combination of FUV and 24$\mu$m effectively trace star formation in the XUV disk. H$\alpha$ is weaker in general and prone to stochasticities in the formation of massive stars. Investigation of the circumgalactic medium at 29.5 kpc resulted in the detection of two absorbing systems with metal-line species: the stronger absorption component is consistent with gas flows around the disk, most likely tracing inflow, while the weaker component is likely tracing corotating circumgalactic gas.

A significant fraction of white dwarfs show metal lines indicative of pollution with planetary material but the accretion process remains poorly understood. The main aim of this paper is to produce a road-map illustrating several potential routes for white dwarf pollution and to link these paths to observational outcomes. Our proposed main road begins with the tidal disruption of a scattered asteroid and the formation of a highly eccentric tidal disc with a wide range of fragment sizes. Accretion of these fragments by Poynting-Robertson (PR) drag alone is too slow to explain the observed rates. Instead, in the second stage, several processes including differential apsidal precession cause high-velocity collisions between the eccentric fragments. Large asteroids produce more fragments when they disrupt, causing rapid grind-down and generating short and intense bursts of dust production, whereas smaller asteroids grind down over longer periods of time. In the final stage, the collisionally produced dust circularises and accretes onto the white dwarf via drag forces. We show that optically thin dust accretion by PR drag produces large infrared (IR) excesses when the accretion rate exceeds 10^7 g/s. We hypothesise that around white dwarfs accreting at a high rate, but with no detected infrared excess, dust circularisation requires enhanced drag - for instance due to the presence of gas near the disc's pericentre.

The behavior of fundamental fields in strong gravity or nontrivial environments is important for our understanding of nature. This problem has interesting applications in the context of dark matter, of dark energy physics or of quantum field theory. The dynamics of fundamental fields has been studied mainly in static or stationary backgrounds, whereas most of our Universe is dynamic. In this paper we investigate "blueshift" and parametric instabilities of scalar fields in dynamical backgrounds, which can be triggered (for instance) by oscillating stars in scalar-tensor theories of gravity. We discuss possible implications of our results, which include constraints on an otherwise hard-to-access parameter space of scalar-tensor theories.

Using data from 289 numerical relativity simulations of merging binary neutron stars, we identify, for the first time, a robust quasi-universal relation connecting the postmerger peak gravitational-wave frequency and the value of the density at the center of the maximum mass nonrotating neutron star. This relation offers a new possibility for precision equation-of-state constraints with next-generation ground-based gravitational-wave interferometers. Mock Einstein Telescope observations of fiducial events indicate that Bayesian inferences can constrain the maximum density to ${\sim}15\%$ ($90\%$ confidence level) for a single signal at the minimum sensitivity threshold for a detection. If the postmerger signal is included in a full-spectrum (inspiral-merger-postmerger) analysis of such signal, the pressure-density function can be tightly constrained up to the maximum density, and the maximum neutron star mass can be measured with an accuracy better than $12\%$ ($90\%$ confidence level).

We present a deep-learning artificial intelligence model that is capable of learning and forecasting the late-inspiral, merger and ringdown of numerical relativity waveforms that describe quasi-circular, spinning, non-precessing binary black hole mergers. We used the NRHybSur3dq8 surrogate model to produce train, validation and test sets of $\ell=|m|=2$ waveforms that cover the parameter space of binary black hole mergers with mass-ratios $q\leq8$ and individual spins $|s^z_{\{1,2\}}| \leq 0.8$. These waveforms cover the time range $t\in[-5000\textrm{M}, 130\textrm{M}]$, where $t=0M$ marks the merger event, defined as the maximum value of the waveform amplitude. We harnessed the ThetaGPU supercomputer at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility to train our AI model using a training set of 1.5 million waveforms. We used 16 NVIDIA DGX A100 nodes, each consisting of 8 NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs and 2 AMD Rome CPUs, to fully train our model within 3.5 hours. Our findings show that artificial intelligence can accurately forecast the dynamical evolution of numerical relativity waveforms in the time range $t\in[-100\textrm{M}, 130\textrm{M}]$. Sampling a test set of 190,000 waveforms, we find that the average overlap between target and predicted waveforms is $\gtrsim99\%$ over the entire parameter space under consideration. We also combined scientific visualization and accelerated computing to identify what components of our model take in knowledge from the early and late-time waveform evolution to accurately forecast the latter part of numerical relativity waveforms. This work aims to accelerate the creation of scalable, computationally efficient and interpretable artificial intelligence models for gravitational wave astrophysics.

We discuss the cosmological evolution of the Weyl conformal geometry and its associated Weyl quadratic gravity. The Einstein gravity (with a positive cosmological constant) is recovered in the spontaneously broken phase of Weyl gravity; this happens after the Weyl gauge field ($\omega_\mu$) of scale symmetry, that is part of the Weyl geometry, becomes massive by Stueckelberg mechanism and decouples. This breaking is a natural result of the cosmological evolution of Weyl geometry, in the absence of matter. The Weyl quadratic gravity provides an accelerated expansion of the Universe controlled by the scalar mode of the $\tilde R^2$ term in the action and by $\omega_0$. The comparison to the $\Lambda$CDM model shows a very good agreement between these two models for the (dimensionless) Hubble function $h(z)$ and the deceleration $q(z)$ for redshifts $z\leq 3$. Therefore, the Weyl conformal geometry and its associated Weyl quadratic gravity provide an interesting alternative to the $\Lambda$CDM model and to the Einstein gravity.

Electrostatic two-stream instabilities play essential roles in an electrostatic collisionless shock formation. They are a key dissipation mechanism and result in ion heating and acceleration. Since the number and energy of the shock-accelerated ions depend on the instabilities, precise identification of the active instabilities is important. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations in a multicomponent plasma reveal ion reflection and acceleration at the shock front, excitation of a longitudinally propagating electrostatic instability due to a non-oscillating component of the electrostatic field in the upstream region of the shock, and generation of up- and down-shifted velocity components within the expanding-ion components. A linear analysis of the instabilities for a C2H3Cl plasma using the one-dimensional electrostatic plasma dispersion function, which includes electron and ion temperature effects, shows that the most unstable mode is the electrostatic ion-beam two-stream instability (IBTI), which is weakly dependent on the existence of electrons. The IBTI is excited by velocity differences between the expanding protons and carbon-ion populations. There is an electrostatic electron-ion two-stream instability with a much smaller growth rate associated with a population of protons reflecting at the shock. The excitation of the fast-growing IBTI associated with laser-driven collisionless shock increases the brightness of a quasi-monoenergetic ion beam.

We first revisit the possibility of preserving the original flavor ratio of high energy cosmic neutrino flux by turning on a coupling between these neutrinos and ultra-light dark matter. We discuss the bound that can be set on such a coupling from the recent $\nu_\tau$ observation by ICECUBE and outline the implications of the coupling for the EeV range cosmic neutrino flux to be observed by upcoming neutrino detectors. We then focus on the $3+1$ scheme when the active sterile oscillation length is of order of 1000~km for EeV range cosmic neutrinos. We show that within this scenario, the probability of survival of an active neutrino passing through the Earth can be sizable, despite the fact that the mean free path of the EeV neutrinos is much smaller than the Earth radius. This opens up the possibility to have neutrino events similar to the two anomalous events reported by ANITA.

We use data from M87* central black hole shadow, as well as from the S2 star observations, in order to extract constraints on Barrow entropy. The latter is a modified entropy arising from quantum-gravitational effects on the black hole horizon, quantified by the new parameter $\Delta$. Such a change in entropy leads to a change in temperature, as well as to the properties of the black hole and its shadow. We investigate the photon sphere and the shadow of a black hole with Barrow entropy, and assuming a simple model for infalling and radiating gas we estimate the corresponding intensity. Furthermore, we use the radius in order to extract the real part of the quasinormal modes, and for completeness we investigate the spherical accretion of matter onto the black hole, focusing on isothermal and polytropic test fluids. We extract the allowed parameter region, and by applying a Monte-Carlo-Markov Chains analysis we find that $ \Delta \simeq 0.0036^{+0.0792}_{-0.0145}$. Hence, our results place the upper bound $\Delta\lesssim0.0828$ at 1$\sigma$, a constraint that is less strong than the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis one, but significantly stronger than the late-time cosmological constraints.

We investigate the timelike geodesics and the periapsis precession of orbits in the Fisher/Janis-Newman-Winicour-Wyman (F/JNWW) spacetime. This spacetime represents the naked singularity spacetime in the Einstein-massless scalar system. We revisit the results in the previous studies and relax the assumptions about the eccentricity of a bound orbit and the size of a semi-latus. We find that the negative periapsis precession occurs when the spacetime sufficiently deviates from the Schwarzschild spacetime. In particular, for the small eccentric orbits, we show the negative periapsis precession occurs for $\gamma < 1/2$, where $\gamma$ is the deviation parameter from the Schwarzschild spacetime. We also obtain the analytical solutions for the special cases of $\gamma=0,1/2,1/4$. Then, we show that the negative precession never occurs for $\gamma=1/2$.