Search results for "Instrumentation"
showing 10 items of 4914 documents
Gaussianizing the Earth: Multidimensional Information Measures for Earth Data Analysis
2021
Information theory is an excellent framework for analyzing Earth system data because it allows us to characterize uncertainty and redundancy, and is universally interpretable. However, accurately estimating information content is challenging because spatio-temporal data is high-dimensional, heterogeneous and has non-linear characteristics. In this paper, we apply multivariate Gaussianization for probability density estimation which is robust to dimensionality, comes with statistical guarantees, and is easy to apply. In addition, this methodology allows us to estimate information-theoretic measures to characterize multivariate densities: information, entropy, total correlation, and mutual in…
Simulation-based marginal likelihood for cluster strong lensing cosmology
2015
Comparisons between observed and predicted strong lensing properties of galaxy clusters have been routinely used to claim either tension or consistency with $\Lambda$CDM cosmology. However, standard approaches to such cosmological tests are unable to quantify the preference for one cosmology over another. We advocate approximating the relevant Bayes factor using a marginal likelihood that is based on the following summary statistic: the posterior probability distribution function for the parameters of the scaling relation between Einstein radii and cluster mass, $\alpha$ and $\beta$. We demonstrate, for the first time, a method of estimating the marginal likelihood using the X-ray selected …
iLocater: a diffraction-limited Doppler spectrometer for the Large Binocular Telescope
2016
We are developing a stable and precise spectrograph for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) named "iLocater." The instrument comprises three principal components: a cross-dispersed echelle spectrograph that operates in the YJ-bands (0.97-1.30 microns), a fiber-injection acquisition camera system, and a wavelength calibration unit. iLocater will deliver high spectral resolution (R~150,000-240,000) measurements that permit novel studies of stellar and substellar objects in the solar neighborhood including extrasolar planets. Unlike previous planet-finding instruments, which are seeing-limited, iLocater operates at the diffraction limit and uses single mode fibers to eliminate the effects of m…
Hierarchical Gompertzian growth maps with application in astrophysics
2010
The Gompertz model describes the growth in time of the size of significant quantities associated to a large number of systems, taking into account nonlinearity features by a linear equation satisfied by a nonlinear function of the size. Following this scheme, we introduce a class of hierarchical maps which describe discrete sequences of intermediate characteristic scales. We find the general solutions of the maps, which account for a rich set of possible phenomena. Eventually, we provide an important application, by showing that a map belonging to the class so introduced generates all the observed astrophysical length and mass scales.
Deep learning for multimessenger core-collapse supernova detection
2020
The detection of gravitational waves from core-collapse supernova (CCSN) explosions is a challenging task, yet to be achieved, in which it is key the connection between multiple messengers, including neutrinos and electromagnetic signals. In this work, we present a method for detecting these kind of signals based on machine learning techniques. We tested its robustness by injecting signals in the real noise data taken by the Advanced LIGO-Virgo network during the second observation run, O2. We trained a newly developed Mini-Inception Resnet neural network using time-frequency images corresponding to injections of simulated phenomenological signals, which mimic the waveforms obtained in 3D n…
Using the transit of Venus to probe the upper planetary atmosphere
2015
The atmosphere of a transiting planet shields the stellar radiation providing us with a powerful method to estimate its size and density. In particular, because of their high ionization energy, atoms with high atomic number (Z) absorb short-wavelength radiation in the upper atmosphere, undetectable with observations in visible light. One implication is that the planet should appear larger during a primary transit observed in high energy bands than in the optical band. The last Venus transit in 2012 offered a unique opportunity to study this effect. The transit has been monitored by solar space observations from Hinode and Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We measure the radius of Venus duri…
Relativistic Positioning Systems: current status
2009
A {\em relativistic positioning system} consists in a set of four clocks broadcasting their respective proper time by means of light signals. Among them, the more important ones are the {\em auto-located positioning systems,} in which every clock broadcasts not only its proper time but also the proper times that it receives from the other three. At this level, no reference to any exterior system (the Earth surface, for example) and no synchronization are needed. The current status of the theory of relativistic positioning systems is sketched.
Non-linear cosmological collapse of quintessence
2015
We present a study of the fully relativistic spherical collapse in presence of quintessence using on Numerical Relativity, following the method proposed by the authors in a previous article [arXiv:1409.3476]. We ascertain the validity of the method by studying the evolution of a spherically symmetric quintessence inhomogeneity on a de Sitter background and we find that it has an impact on the local expansion around the centre of coordinates. We then proceed to compare the results of our method to those of the more largely adopted top-hat model. We find that quintessence inhomogeneities do build up under the effect that matter inhomogeneities have on the local space-time yet remain very smal…
Denoising of gravitational-wave signal GW150914 via total-variation methods
2016
We apply a regularized Rudin-Osher-Fatemi total variation (TV) method to denoise the transient gravitational wave signal GW150914. We have previously applied TV techniques to denoise numerically generated grav- itational waves embedded in additive Gaussian noise, obtaining satisfactory results irrespective of the signal morphology or astrophysical origin. We find that the non-Gaussian, non-stationary noise from the gravitational wave event GW150914 can also be successfully removed with TV-denoising methods. The quality of the de- noised waveform is comparable to that obtained with the Bayesian approach used in the discovery paper [1]. TV-denoising techniques may thus offer an additional via…
The thermal neutron capture cross section of the radioactive isotope $^{60}$Fe
2015
50% of the heavy element abundances are produced via slow neutron capture reactions in different stellar scenarios. The underlying nucleosynthesis models need the input of neutron capture cross sections. One of the fundamental signatures for active nucleosynthesis in our galaxy is the observation of long-lived radioactive isotopes, such as $^{60}$Fe with a half-life of $2.60\times10^6$ yr. To reproduce this $\gamma$-activity in the universe, the nucleosynthesis of $^{60}$Fe has to be understood reliably. A $^{60}$Fe sample produced at the Paul-Scherrer-Institut was activated with thermal and epithermal neutrons at the research reactor at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universit\"at Mainz. The therm…