1. Detecting and characterizing pulsar halos with the Cherenkov Telescope Array ObservatoryChristopher Eckner, Saptashwa BHATTACHARYYA, Judit PÉREZ ROMERO, Samo STANIČ, Veronika VODEB, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo ZAVRTANIK, Marko ZAVRTANIK, Miha ŽIVEC, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The recently identified source class of pulsar halos may be populated and bright enough at TeV energies to constitute a large fraction of the sources that will be observed with the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), especially in the context of the planned Galactic Plane Survey (GPS). In this study, we examine the prospects offered by CTA for the detection and characterization of such objects. CTA will cover energies from 20 GeV to 300 TeV, bridging the ranges already probed with the Fermi Large Area Telescope and High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory, and will also have a better angular resolution than the latter instruments, thus providing a complementary look at the phenomenon. From simple models for individual pulsar halos and their population in the Milky Way, we examine under which conditions such sources can be detected and studied from the GPS observations. In the framework of a full spatial-spectral likelihood analysis, using the most recent estimates for the instrument response function and prototypes for the science tools, we derive the spectral and morphological sensitivity of the CTA GPS to the specific intensity distribution of pulsar halos. From these, we quantify the physical parameters for which pulsar halos can be detected, identified, and characterized, and what fraction of the Galactic population could be accessible. We also discuss the effect of interstellar emission and data analysis systematics on these prospects. Keywords: Cherenkov Telescope Array, CTA, Galactic Plane Survey, pulsar halos Published in RUNG: 26.09.2023; Views: 28; Downloads: 0
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2. Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to a dark matter signal from the Galactic centreChristopher Eckner, Saptashwa BHATTACHARYYA, Barbara MARČUN, Judit PÉREZ ROMERO, Samo STANIČ, Veronika VODEB, Serguei Vorobiov, Gabrijela ZAHARIJAS, Marko ZAVRTANIK, Danilo ZAVRTANIK, Miha ŽIVEC, 2021, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: High-energy gamma rays are promising tools to constrain or reveal the nature of dark matter, in particular Weakly Interacting Massive Particles. Being well into its pre-construction phase, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will soon probe the sky in the 20 GeV - 300 TeV energy range. Thanks to its improved energy and angular resolutions as well as significantly larger e˙ective area when compared to the current generation of Cherenkov telescopes, CTA is expected to probe heavier dark matter, with unprecedented sensitivity, reaching the thermal annihilation cross-section at 1 TeV.
This talk will summarise the planned dark matter search strategies with CTA, focusing on the signal from the Galactic centre. As observed with the Fermi LAT at lower energies, this region is rather complex and CTA will be the first ground-based observatory sensitive to the large scale di˙use astrophysical emission from that region. We report on the collaboration e˙ort to study the impact of such extended astrophysical backgrounds on the dark matter search, based on Fermi-LAT data in order to guide our observational strategies, taking into account various sources of systematic uncertainty. Keywords: high-energy gamma rays, Cherenkov Telescope Array, dark matter, galactic centre Published in RUNG: 18.09.2023; Views: 70; Downloads: 2
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3. Dark Matter science in the era of LSST : Astro2020 science white paperKeith Bechtol, Alex Drlica-Wagner, Kevork N. Abazajian, Muntazir Abidi, Susmita Adhikari, Yacine Ali-Haïmoud, James Annis, Behzad Ansarinejad, Christopher Eckner, Gabrijela Zaharijas, 2019, project documentation (preliminary design, working design) Keywords: cosmology, nongalactic astrophysics, high energy astrophysical phenomena, high energy physics, experiments Published in RUNG: 03.05.2022; Views: 1001; Downloads: 34
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4. Probing the fundamental nature of Dark Matter with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope : v1.1Alex Drlica-Wagner, Yao-Yuan Mao, Susmita Adhikari, Robert Armstrong, Arka Banerjee, Nilanjan Banik, Keith Bechtol, Simeon Bird, Christopher Eckner, Gabrijela Zaharijas, 2019, project documentation (preliminary design, working design) Keywords: dark matter, high energy physics, astrophysical observations, cosmological observations, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) Published in RUNG: 03.05.2022; Views: 993; Downloads: 39
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5. Identification of point sources in gamma rays using U-shaped convolutional neural networks and a data challengeBoris Panes, Christopher Eckner, Luc Hendriks, Sascha Caron, Klaas Dijkstra, Gudlaugur Johannesson, Roberto Ruiz de Austri, Gabrijela Zaharijas, 2021, original scientific article Keywords: gamma rays, astroparticle physics, data analysis Published in RUNG: 17.02.2022; Views: 1079; Downloads: 6
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7. Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array for probing cosmology and fundamental physics with gamma-ray propagationH. Abdalla, H. Abe, F. Acero, A. Acharyya, R. Adam, Christopher Eckner, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Gabrijela Zaharijas, Marko Zavrtanik, Danilo Zavrtanik, Miha Živec, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), the new-generation ground-based observatory for γ astronomy, provides unique capabilities to address significant open questions in astrophysics, cosmology, and fundamental physics. We study some of the salient areas of γ cosmology that can be explored as part of the Key Science Projects of CTA, through simulated observations of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and of their relativistic jets. Observations of AGN with CTA will enable a measurement of γ absorption on the extragalactic background light with a statistical uncertainty below 15% up to a redshift z=2 and to constrain or detect γ halos up to intergalactic-magnetic-field strengths of at least 0.3 pG . Extragalactic observations with CTA also show promising potential to probe physics beyond the Standard Model. The best limits on Lorentz invariance violation from γ astronomy will be improved by a factor of at least two to three. CTA will also probe the parameter space in which axion-like particles could constitute a significant fraction, if not all, of dark matter. We conclude on the synergies between CTA and other upcoming facilities that will foster the growth of γ cosmology. Keywords: Cherenkov Telescope Array, active galactic nuclei, gamma-ray experiments, axions, extragalactic magnetic fields Published in RUNG: 02.03.2021; Views: 1836; Downloads: 70
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8. Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to a dark matter signal from the Galactic centreA. Acharyya, R. Adam, C. Adams, I. Agudo, A. Aguirre-Santaella, Christopher Eckner, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Gabrijela Zaharijas, Marko Zavrtanik, Danilo Zavrtanik, Miha Živec, 2021, original scientific article Keywords: dark matter, gamma ray, astrophysics Published in RUNG: 26.02.2021; Views: 1921; Downloads: 139
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10. Black holes, gravitational waves and fundamental physics: a roadmapLeor Barack, Tanja Petrushevska, Andreja Gomboc, Katja Bricman, Aurora Clerici, Christopher Eckner, Nada Ihanec, Gabrijela Zaharijas, 2019, review article Abstract: The grand challenges of contemporary fundamental physics—dark matter, dark energy, vacuum energy, inflation and early universe cosmology, singularities and the hierarchy problem—all involve gravity as a key component. And of all gravitational phenomena, black holes stand out in their elegant simplicity, while harbouring some of the most remarkable predictions of General Relativity: event horizons, singularities and ergoregions.
The hitherto invisible landscape of the gravitational Universe is being unveiled before our eyes: the historical direct detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration marks the dawn of a new era of scientific exploration. Gravitational-wave astronomy will allow us to test models of black hole formation, growth and evolution, as well as models of gravitational-wave generation and propagation. It will provide evidence for event horizons and ergoregions, test the theory of General Relativity itself, and may reveal the existence of new fundamental fields. The synthesis of these results has the potential to radically reshape our understanding of the cosmos and of the laws of Nature.
The purpose of this work is to present a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the relevant fields of research, summarize important open problems, and lay out a roadmap for future progress. This write-up is an initiative taken within the framework of the European Action on 'Black holes, Gravitational waves and Fundamental Physics. Keywords: black holes, gwverse Published in RUNG: 24.06.2019; Views: 3035; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |