Dark matter annihilation in the milky way galaxy: effects of baryonic compression

If the dark matter (DM), which is considered to constitute most of the mass of galaxies, is made of supersymmetric particles, the central region of our Galaxy should emit gamma rays produced by their annihilation. We use detailed models of the Milky Way to make accurate estimates of continuum gamma-ray fluxes. We argue that the most important effect, which was previously neglected, is the compression of the dark matter due to the infall of baryons to the galactic center: it boosts the expected signal by a factor 1000. To illustrate this effect, we computed the expected gamma fluxes in the minimal supergravity scenario. Our models predict that the signal could be detected at high confidence levels by imaging atmospheric C erenkov telescopes assuming that neutralinos make up most of the DM in the Universe.     

Extragalactic background light: inventory of light throughout the cosmic history

The Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) stands for the mean surface brightness of the sky as we would see it from a representative vantage point in the intergalactic space outside of our Milky Way Galaxy. Averaged over the whole 4π solid angle it represents the collective light from all luminous matter radiated throughout the cosmic history. Part of the EBL is resolved into galaxies that, with the increasing detecting power of giant telescopes and sensitive detectors, are seen to deeper and deeper limiting magnitudes. This resolved part is now known to contribute a substantial or even the major part of the EBL. There still remains, however, the challenge of finding out to what extent galaxies too faint or too diffuse to be discerned individually, individual stars or emission by gas outside the galaxies, or – more speculatively – some hitherto unknown light sources such as decaying elementary particles are accounting for the remaining EBL. We review the recent progress that has been made in the measurement of EBL. The current photometric results suggest that there is, beyond the resolved galaxies, an EBL component that cannot be explained by diffuse galaxy halos or intergalactic stars.     

Phantom energy: dark energy with w <--1 causes a cosmic doomsday

We explore the consequences that follow if the dark energy is phantom energy, in which the sum of the pressure and energy density is negative. The positive phantom-energy density becomes infinite in finite time, overcoming all other forms of matter, such that the gravitational repulsion rapidly brings our brief epoch of cosmic structure to a close. The phantom energy rips apart the Milky Way, solar system, Earth, and ultimately the molecules, atoms, nuclei, and nucleons of which we are composed, before the death of the Universe in a "big rip."     

Radio emission from interstellar neutral hydrogen

The emission line for neutral hydrogen at 1420 Mc/s is the only line so far discovered in radioastronomy. Since its mechanism of origin is completely understood, observations of this line provide direct information about conditions in interstellar space such as temperatures, densities and velocities. Extensive investigations of our own Milky Way system have shown clearly that it is a spiral galaxy similar to, but rather smaller than, the great spiral nebula in Andromeda. Our knowledge of the spiral structure of galaxies is far from complete; hydrogen-line measures of high-speed expansions in the centre of the Milky Way system may provide a clue to the understanding of this problem. In addition, determinations of the hydrogen content of different types of galaxy reinforce current theories which suggest that irregular galaxies evolve through the spiral form to elliptical galaxies.     

The Kepler Problem with Allowance for Modification of the Gravitational Potential in the Expanding Universe with a Collisionless Gas

The paper deals with the solution to the Kepler problem for the gravitational potential of a point mass with allowance for the presence of collisionless particles in the Universe [3]. The estimates are reported for the Solar System planets and for the Sqr A object which is assumed to be a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way [1]. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 26–28, August, 2005.     

Dark energy in systems of galaxies

The precise observational data of the Hubble Space Telescope have been used to study nearby galaxy systems. The main result is the detection of dark energy in groups, clusters, and flows of galaxies on a spatial scale of about 1–10 Mpc. The local density of dark energy in these systems, which is determined by various methods, is close to the global value or even coincides with it. A theoretical model of the nearby Universe has been constructed, which describes the Local Group of galaxies with the flow of dwarf galaxies receding from this system. The key physical parameter of the group-flow system is zero gravity radius, which is the distance at which the gravity of dark matter is compensated by dark-energy antigravity. The model predicts the existence of local regions of space where Einstein antigravity is stronger than Newton gravity. Six such regions have been revealed in the data of the Hubble space telescope. The nearest of these regions is at a distance of 1–3 Mpc from the center of the Milky Way. Antigravity in this region is several times stronger than gravity. Quasiregular flows of receding galaxies, which are accelerated by the dark-energy antigravity, exist in these regions. The model of the nearby Universe at the scale of groups of galaxies (～1 Mpc) can be extended to the scale of clusters (～10 Mpc). The systems of galaxies with accelerated receding flows constitute a new and probably widespread class of metagalactic populations. Strong dynamic effects of local dark energy constitute the main characteristic feature of these systems.     

The mass of our Milky Way

We perform an extensive review of the numerous studies and methods used to determine the total mass of the Milky Way. We group the various studies into seven broad classes according to their modeling approaches. The classes include: i) estimating Galactic escape velocity using high velocity objects; ii) measuring the rotation curve through terminal and circular velocities; iii)modeling halo stars, globular clusters and satellite galaxies with the spherical Jeans equation and iv) with phase-space distribution functions; v) simulating and modeling the dynamics of stellar streams and their progenitors; vi) modeling the motion of the Milky Way, M31 and other distant satellites under the framework of Local Group timing argument; and vii) measurements made by linking the brightest Galactic satellites to their counterparts in simulations. For each class of methods, we introduce their theoretical and observational background, the method itself, the sample of available tracer objects, model assumptions,uncertainties, limits and the corresponding measurements that have been achieved in the past. Both the measured total masses within the radial range probed by tracer objects and the extrapolated virial masses are discussed and quoted. We also discuss the role of modern numerical simulations in terms of helping to validate model assumptions, understanding systematic uncertainties and calibrating the measurements. While measurements in the last two decades show a factor of two scatters, recent measurements using Gaia DR2 data are approaching a higher precision. We end with a detailed discussion of future developments in the field,especially as the size and quality of the observational data will increase tremendously with current and future surveys. In such cases, the systematic uncertainties will be dominant and thus will necessitate a much more rigorous testing and characterization of the various mass determination methods.     

Detactability of Dark Matter Subhalos by Means of the GAMMA-400 Telescope

The potential of the planned GAMMA-400 gamma-ray telescope for detecting subhalos of mass between 10⁶M_⊙ and 10⁹M_⊙ in the Milky Way Galaxy that consist of annihilating dark matter in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) is studied. The inner structure of dark matter subhalos and their distribution in the Milky Way Galaxy are obtained on the basis of respective theoretical models. Our present analysis shows that the expected gamma-ray flux from subhalos depends strongly on the WIMP mass and on the subhalo concentration, but that it depends less strongly on the subhalo mass. Optimistically, a flux of 10 to 100 ph per year in the energy range above 100 MeV can be expected from the closest and most massive subhalos, which can therefore be thought to be detectable sources for GAMMA-400. Because of the smallness of fluxes, however, only via a joint analysis of future GAMMA-400 data and data from other telescopes would it become possible to resolve the inner structure of the subhalos. Also, the recent subhalo candidates 3FGL J2212.5+0703 and J1924.8–1034 are considered within our model. Our conclusion is that these sources hardly belong to the subhalo population.     

Studying planet populations by gravitational microlensing

The ‘most curious’ effect of the bending of light by the gravity of stars has evolved into a successful technique unlike any other for studying planets within the Milky Way and even other galaxies. With a sensitivity to cool planets around low-mass stars even below the mass of Earth, gravitational microlensing fits in between other planet search techniques to form a complete picture of planet parameter space, which is required to understand their origin in general, that of habitable planets more particularly, and that of planet Earth especially. Current campaigns need to evolve from first detections to obtaining a sample with well-understood selection bias that allows to draw firm conclusions about the planet populations. With planetary signals being a transient phenomenon, gravitational microlensing is a driver for new technologies in scheduling and management of non-proprietary heterogeneous telescope networks, and can serve to demonstrate forefront science live to the general public.     

Cores in dwarf galaxies from dark matter with a Yukawa potential

We show that cold dark matter particles interacting through a Yukawa potential could naturally explain the recently observed cores in dwarf galaxies without affecting the dynamics of objects with a much larger velocity dispersion, such as clusters of galaxies. The velocity dependence of the associated cross section as well as the possible exothermic nature of the interaction alleviates earlier concerns about strongly interacting dark matter. Dark matter evaporation in low-mass objects might explain the observed deficit of satellite galaxies in the Milky Way halo and have important implications for the first galaxies and reionization.     

采用负折射率材料提高空间望远镜分辨率的理论研究

传统的空间望远镜是根据分辨率衍射极限公式,通过增大系统的通光口径来提高分辨率的,但这样系统的体积和重量相应增大,增加了空间运载的难度。负折射率材料(Negative Index Materials,NIMs)的出现,为高分辨率空间望远镜的发展提供了新的思路。NIMs对含有物体精细结构信息但在真空中随距离指数衰减传播的渐失场有增益放大作用,从而使渐失场能够参与成像,实现光学系统传统分辨率衍射极限的突破。本文介绍了NIMs的研究历史,分析了由负折射产生的负群速度、逆Doppler频移、反常Cerenkov辐射、负折射等各种效应,重点讨论了采用NIMs实现望远系统传统分辨率突破的内涵和意义以及今后研究工作的重点。     

Star formation and chemical complexity in the Orion nebula: A new view with the IRAM and ALMA interferometers

The Orion nebula is one of the most observed celestial regions in the Milky Way. It is an active massive star-forming region, especially well studied in the millimeter and submillimeter domains that allow us to unveil the cool and obscured regions in which stars are being formed. After a brief introduction to the main properties of a radio telescope, we recall that the most sensitive radio interferometers, the IRAM mm array and, especially, the recently built ALMA millimeter/submillimeter array, offer an outstanding spatial resolution reaching the sub-arcsecond scale, or even about 10 milli-arcseconds for ALMA (about four times the Earth's orbit radius at the Orion distance). These interferometers can reveal the fine spatial details of the Orion clouds of gas and dust within which new stars and associated planetary systems are being formed. The high spectral resolution and sensitivity of both interferometers and the broad instantaneous bandwidth offered by ALMA allowed us to map the emission from a number of complex organic molecules, to estimate the molecular abundances, and to address some important aspects of the molecular complexity in Orion. Our observations do not lead to a unique molecular formation and excitation scheme, but the chemistry at work in the proto-stellar ‘fragments’ at the center of the Orion nebula can be compared with the chemistry prevailing in comets of the Solar system. We have underlined the possible links between the prebiotic molecules observed in space and the chemistry leading to the early terrestrial life.     

The quantum stellar interferometer

In this paper we propose a new interferometric scheme using photon entanglement. The two main limitations of stellar interferometry are (a) the small sensitivity and (b) the need for long delay-lines to compensate the path difference between the telescopes during observing runs. Entangled-photon pairs, generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion, open the way to measuring quantum states correlation in the near infrared between two spatially separated telescopes and at very high sensitivities (down to a few stellar photons), thanks to a new interferometric layout which does not make use of complex long delay-lines. A femtosecond laser coupled to a nonlinear crystal is used as a local oscillator to perform the double homodyne measurements. This new quantum interferometer allows to measure astronomical objet sizes with very high angular resolution down to μas level.     

The future of gamma-ray astronomy

The field of gamma-ray astronomy has experienced impressive progress over the last decade. Thanks to the advent of a new generation of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes (H.E.S.S., MAGIC, VERITAS) and thanks to the launch of the Fermi-LAT satellite, several thousand gamma-ray sources are known today, revealing an unexpected ubiquity of particle acceleration processes in the Universe. Major scientific challenges are still ahead, such as the identification of the nature of Dark Matter, the discovery and understanding of the sources of cosmic rays, or the comprehension of the particle acceleration processes that are at work in the various objects. This paper presents some of the instruments and mission concepts that will address these challenges over the next decades.     

一种复合型空间软X射线--极紫外波段望远镜设计

根据空间对日观测的需要,提出了一种复合型宽波段范围的软X射线———极紫外望远镜的设计方案。该望远镜是把小结构尺寸的卡塞格林型极紫外波段正入射望远镜放置在软X射线波段,并由常用的Wolter Ⅰ型掠入射望远镜的中心部分组成。在软X射线和极紫外波段具有相同的焦距和视场角,共同使用同一个探测器,外形尺寸与相同指标的掠入射型望远镜一致,且在极紫外波段具有较高的角分辨率和光谱分辨率,适合于在空间进行对日观测使用。     

Investigating halo substructures with annual modulation signature

Galaxy hierarchical formation theories, numerical simulations, the discovery of the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy (SagDEG) in 1994 and more recent investigations suggest that the dark halo of the Milky Way can have a rich phenomenology containing non-thermalized substructures. In the present preliminary study, we investigate the case of the SagDEG (the best known satellite galaxy in the Milky Way crossing the solar neighborhood) analyzing the consequences of its dark matter stream contribution to the galactic halo on the basis of the DAMA/NaI annual modulation data. The present analysis is restricted to some WIMP candidates and to some of the astrophysical, nuclear and particle physics scenarios. Other candidates such as e.g. the light bosonic ones we discussed elsewhere, and other non-thermalized substructures are not yet addressed here. PACS 95.35.+d     

不同光谱型的低分辨率恒星光谱在不同信噪比条件下视向速度测量精度的分析

恒星的视向速度对于研究银河系的演化结构和动力学有很重要的意义,同时也是寻找变源和特殊天体的一种手段。不同的研究对其测量精度有不一样的要求。使用模板匹配的方法计算不同类型的低分辨率可见光波段恒星光谱的视向速度精度,从而为不同方面的科学研究提供有效可靠的参考。分别选取不同光谱型高信噪比的美国斯隆巡天恒星光谱,并加以噪声来模拟不同信噪比条件下的恒星光谱。通过分别计算这些恒星样本的视向速度,定量分析了各种类型的恒星在不同信噪比条件下能达到的视向速度测量精度。同时,还就白矮星的视向速度测量精度进行了分析。结果显示,对于相同信噪比的早型恒星的视向速度测量精度远没有晚型恒星的测量精度高,尤其是A型星的视向速度测量标准误差是K型星和M型星的5~8倍。分析其原因,主要是由于不同类型恒星的具有不同宽度的谱线所导致的。因此对于具有更宽谱线的白矮星光谱的视向速度测量误差更大,可达50 km·s-1。以上结论将为恒星科学研究提供很好的参考。     

Design of a space borne optical aperture synthesis system for high resolution astronomy

This paper proposes a design for a space borne demonstrator interferometer with imaging capabilities. This demonstrator would be a first step in the development of an operational astronomical instrument using aperture synthesis.Multiple aperture interferometry is a promising technique for high resolution imaging in space. Indeed the use of modular elements based on optical fibres represents an attractive low cost approach.The instrument is based on the use of independent triplets of telescope linked with optical fibres. For each triplet, only the phase closure of the system is measured. This does not require an accurate cophasing of the apertures and leads to realistic stability and control specifications. The complete instrument is then built by adding the desired number of such triplet modules. The detailed design of one module is described starting at level of the receiving telescopes down to the focal plane where the control of the stability of the optical path differences is performed as well as the scientific observations. The global operation of the system will also be described.We also briefly recall the technology validation activities which have shown on the ground the feasibility and performance of all components of such a systems as well as its end to end validation.     

中低分辨率光谱的恒星Mg元素丰度估计方法研究

主要研究了一种新的基于ELM算法的中低分辨光谱的恒星Mg元素丰度估计方法。大科学工程郭守敬望远镜（LAMOST）为我们提供了海量的中低分辨率的光谱,确定这些光谱的Mg元素丰度将有助于我们深入了解银河系的形成历史和演化过程。目前从中低分辨率光谱中确定Mg元素丰度的方法主要是模板匹配法,但该方法算法复杂,优化参数较为困难且对噪声敏感,因此有必要研究新的方法。实验结果显示,ELM算法对MILES光谱的Mg丰度的估计的精度为0.009 9（0.15）dex,而对信噪比大于50的LAMOST光谱的精度为0.002 7（0.11）dex。通过与其他算法进行对比,证实ELM算法是一种能精确估计中低分辨率光谱的Mg元素丰度的算法,能够应用于LAMOST后期的光谱数据中。     

Cosmology versus standard model

I will discuss a proposal for a unified solution of the problems of neutrino masses, dark matter, baryon asymmetry of the Universe and inflation, which does not require introduction of any new energy scale besides already known, namely the electroweak and the Planck scales. This point of view, supplemented by a requirement of simplicity, has a number of experimental predictions which can be tested, at least partially, with the use of existing accelerators and the LHC, with current and future X-ray telescopes, and with the Planck mission.