Search results for "OPTICAL DEPTH"
showing 10 items of 77 documents
Was there an early reionization component in our universe?
2017
A deep understanding of the Epoch of Reionization is still missing in our knowledge of the universe. While future probes will allow us to test the precise evolution of the free electron fraction from redshifts between $z\simeq 6$ and $z\simeq 20$, at present one could ask what kind of reionization processes are allowed by present Cosmic Microwave Background temperature and polarization measurements. An early contribution to reionization could imply a departure from the standard picture where star formation determines the reionization onset. BBy considering a broad class of possible reionization parameterizations, we find that current data do not require an early reionization component in ou…
Warm dark matter and the ionization history of the Universe
2017
In warm dark matter scenarios structure formation is suppressed on small scales with respect to the cold dark matter case, reducing the number of low-mass halos and the fraction of ionized gas at high redshifts and thus, delaying reionization. This has an impact on the ionization history of the Universe and measurements of the optical depth to reionization, of the evolution of the global fraction of ionized gas and of the thermal history of the intergalactic medium, can be used to set constraints on the mass of the dark matter particle. However, the suppression of the fraction of ionized medium in these scenarios can be partly compensated by varying other parameters, as the ionization effic…
The Influence of the Size of the Sun on the Sky Light Distribution
1968
A Hard Tail in the Broad Band Spectrum of the Dipper XB 1254-690
2001
We report on the results of spectral analysis of the dipping source XB 1254-690 observed by the BeppoSAX satellite. We find that the X-ray dips are not present during the BeppoSAX observation, in line with recent RXTE results. The broad band (0.1-100 keV) energy spectrum is well fitted by a three-component model consisting of a multicolor disk blackbody with an inner disk temperature of ~0.85 keV, a comptonized spectrum with an electron temperature of ~2 keV, and a bremsstrahlung at a temperature of ~20 keV. Adopting a distance of 10 kpc and taking into account a spectral hardening factor of ~1.7 (because of electron scattering which modifies the blackbody spectrum emitted by the disk) we e…
The Nature of Soft Excess in ESO 362-G18 Revealed by XMM-Newton and NuSTAR Spectroscopy
2021
We present a detailed spectral analysis of the joint XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations of the active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the Seyfert 1.5 Galaxy ESO 362-G18. The broadband ($0.3\mbox{--}79$ keV) spectrum shows the presence of a power-law continuum with a soft excess below $2$ keV, iron K$\alpha$ emission ($\sim 6.4$ keV), and a Compton hump (peaking at $\sim 20$ keV). We find that the soft excess can be modeled by two different possible scenarios: a warm ($kT_\mathrm{e}\sim0.2$ keV) and optically thick ($\tau\sim34$) Comptonizing corona; or with relativistically-blurred reflection off a high-density ($\log{[n_\mathrm{e}/\mathrm{cm}^{-3}]}>18.3$) inner disk. These two models cannot be e…
Impact of Crystal Habit on Cirrus Radiative Properties
2007
The impact of assumed ice crystal morphology of subtropical cirrus on the solar and thermal infrared (IR) radiative field above, within, and below the cirrus is quantified. For this purpose airborne measurements of ice crystal size distribution from the CRYSTAL-FACE campaign and a library of optical properties of nonspherical ice crystal habits are implemented into radiative transfer simulations.Two cirrus cases are studied in detail: a high (cold) cirrus cloud with small visible optical thickness (τ≈1), and a lower (warmer) cirrus cloud of relatively large visible optical thickness (τ≈7). For t+he solar wavelength range the impact of shape characteristics of the crystals was important for …
On X-ray Optical Depth in the Coronae of Active Stars
2007
We have investigated the optical thickness of the coronal plasma through the analysis of high-resolution X-ray spectra of a large sample of active stars observed with the High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer on Chandra. In particular, we probed for the presence of significant resonant scattering in the strong Lyman series lines arising from hydrogen-like oxygen and neon ions. The active RS CVn-type binaries II Peg and IM Peg and the single M dwarf EV Lac show significant optical depth. For these active coronae, the Lya/Lyb ratios are significantly depleted as compared with theoretical predictions and with the same ratios observed in similar active stars. Interpreting these decremen…
A new BeppoSAX observation of the Z Source GX 349+2
2004
Abstract We report on the results from two BeppoSAX observations of the Z source GX 349+2 performed in February 2001 and covering the broad energy range 0.12–200 keV. The average spectrum is well described by a soft blackbody (kTBB∼0.5 keV) and a Comptonized component having a seed-photon temperature of kT0∼1 keV, an electron temperature of kTe∼2.7 keV, and optical depth τ∼11. To well fit the energy spectrum three gaussian lines are needed at 1.2 keV, 2.6 keV, and 6.7 keV with corresponding equivalent widths of 13 eV, 10 eV, and 39 eV, probably associated to L-shell emission of Fe XXIV, Lyα S XVI, and Fe XXV, respectively. These lines may be produced at different distances from the neutron …
The X-ray spectrum of the newly discovered accreting millisecond pulsar IGR J17511−3057
2010
We report on an XMM-Newton observation of the accreting millisecond pulsar, IGR J17511-3057. Pulsations at 244.8339512(1) Hz are observed with an RMS pulsed fraction of 14.4(3)%. A precise solution for the P_orb=12487.51(2)s binary system is derived. The measured mass function indicates a main sequence companion with a mass between 0.15 and 0.44 Msun. The XMM-Newton spectrum of the source can be modelled by at least three components, multicoloured disc emission, thermal emission from the NS surface and thermal Comptonization emission. Spectral fit of the XMM-Newton data and of the RXTE data, taken in a simultaneous temporal window, constrain the Comptonization parameters: the electron tempe…
Effects of Higher-Order Scattering in a Molecular Atmosphere
1964
The effects of higher-order scattering on intensity, degree of polarization, and direction of the plane of polarization in a molecular atmosphere have been calculated.Inclusion of higher-order scattering changes these parameters strongly. Particularly, consideration of higher-order scattering is essential in the blue wavelength range (large optical thickness). The influence increases with decreasing zenith distance of the sun. The earth albedo augments the effect, except for direction of the polarization, which is independent of higher-order scattering.