Academic literature on the topic 'Sub-Solar mass search'

A possible detection of sub-solar mass ultra-compact objects would lead to new perspectives on the existence of black holes that are not of astrophysical origin and/or pertain to formation scenarios of exotic ultra-compact objects. Both possibilities open new perspectives for better understanding of our universe. In this work, we investigate the significance of detection of sub-solar mass binaries with components mass in the range: 10−2M⊙ up to 1M⊙, within the expected sensitivity of the ground-based gravitational waves detectors of third generation, viz., the Einstein Telescope (ET) and the Cosmic Explorer (CE). Assuming a minimum of amplitude signal-to-noise ratio for detection, viz., ρ=8, we find that the maximum horizon distances for an ultra-compact binary system with components mass 10−2M⊙ and 1M⊙ are 40 Mpc and 1.89 Gpc, respectively, for ET, and 125 Mpc and 5.8 Gpc, respectively, for CE. Other cases are also presented in the text. We derive the merger rate and discuss consequences on the abundances of primordial black hole (PBH), fPBH. Considering the entire mass range [10−2–1]M⊙, we find fPBH<0.70 (<0.06) for ET (CE), respectively.

Baryonic Dark Matter (BDM) candidates are segregated into two main mass ranges: (i) sub-solar mass dwarf stars (MACHOS) and (ii) ∼ 104–106M⊙ Very Massive Objects (VMOs). The lower mass range has been the target of the various micro-lensing programs but the first, tentative conclusions (see Stubbs et al. these proceedings) seem to suggest that MACHOs are unlikely to provide the bulk of the dark matter in the galactic halo. Meanwhile the upper mass range (104–106M⊙) remains largely unexplored. However, Wambsganss & Paczynski 1992 (hereafter WP92), have shown that this mass range is perfectly tuned to a straightforward and direct test: gravitational milli-lensing of macro-lensed images (Fig 1).

AbstractThe HARPS search for low-mass extrasolar planets has been ongoing for more than 4 years, targeting originally about 400 bright FGK dwarfs in the solar neighbourhood. The published low-mass planetary systems coming from this survey are fully confirmed by subsequent observations, which demonstrate the sub-m/s long-term stability reached by HARPS. The complex RV curves of these systems have led us to focus on a smaller sample of stars, accumulating more data points per star. We perform a global search in our data to assess the existence of the large population of ice giants and super-Earths predicted by numerical simulations of planet formation. We indeed detect about 45 candidates having minimum masses below 30 M⊕ and orbital periods below 50 days. These numbers are preliminary since the existence of these objects has to be confirmed by subsequent observations. However, they indicate that about 30% of solar-type stars may have such close-in, low-mass planets. Some emerging properties of this low-mass population are presented. We finally discuss the prospects for finding transiting objects among these candidates, which may possibly yield the first nearby, transiting super-Earth.

We present the detection of a warm Neptune orbiting the M dwarf Gl 378, using radial velocity measurements obtained with the SOPHIE spectrograph at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence. The star was observed in the context of the SOPHIE exoplanet consortium’s sub-programme dedicated to finding planets around M dwarfs. Gl 378 is an M1 star, of solar metallicity, at a distance of 14.96 pc. The single planet detected, Gl 378 b, has a minimum mass of 13.02 MEarth and an orbital period of 3.82 days, which place it at the lower boundary of the hot Neptune desert. As one of only a few such planets around M dwarfs, Gl 378 b provides important clues to the evolutionary history of these close-in planets. In particular, the eccentricity of 0.1 may point to a high-eccentricity migration. The planet may also have lost part of its envelope due to irradiation.

Context. We present precise radial-velocity measurements of five solar-type stars observed with the HARPS Echelle spectrograph mounted on the 3.6-m telescope in La Silla (ESO, Chile). With a time span of more than 10 yr and a fairly dense sampling, the survey is sensitive to low mass planets down to super-Earths on orbital periods up to 100 days. Aims. Our goal was to search for planetary companions around the stars HD 39194, HD 93385, HD 96700, HD 154088, and HD 189567 and use Bayesian model comparison to make an informed choice on the number of planets present in the systems based on the radial velocity observations. These findings will contribute to the pool of known exoplanets and better constrain their orbital parameters. Methods. A first analysis was performed using the Data & Analysis Center for Exoplanets online tools to assess the activity level of the star and the potential planetary content of each system. We then used Bayesian model comparison on all targets to get a robust estimate on the number of planets per star. We did this using the nested sampling algorithm POLYCHORD. For some targets, we also compared different noise models to disentangle planetary signatures from stellar activity. Lastly, we ran an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for each target to get reliable estimates for the planets’ orbital parameters. Results. We identify 12 planets within several multiplanet systems. These planets are all in the super-Earth and sub-Neptune mass regime with minimum masses ranging between 4 and 13 M⊕ and orbital periods between 5 and 103 days. Three of these planets are new, namely HD 93385 b, HD 96700 c, and HD 189567 c.

Nuclear double beta decay provides an extraordinarily broad potential to search for beyond Standard Model physics, probing already now the TeV scale, on which new physics should manifest itself. These possibilities are reviewed here. First, the results of present generation experiments are presented. The most sensitive one of them - the Heidelberg-Moscow experiment in the Gran Sasso - probes the electron mass now in the sub eV region and has reached recently a limit of ~ 0.1 eV. This limit has striking influence on presently discussed neutrino mass scenarios. Basing to a large extent on the theoretical work of the Heidelberg Double Beta Group in the last two years, results are obtained also for SUSY models (R-parity breaking, sneutrino mass), leptoquarks (leptoquark-Higgs coupling), compositeness, right-handed W boson mass, test of special relativity and equivalence principle in the neutrino sector and others. These results are comfortably competitive to corresponding results from high-energy accelerators like TEVATRON, HERA, etc. One of the enriched 7Ge detectors also yields the most stringent limits for cold dark matter (WIMPs) to date by using raw data. Second, future perspectives of ßß research are discussed. A new Heidelberg experimental proposal (GENIUS) will allow to increase the sensitivity for Majorana neutrino masses from the present level of at best 0.1 eV down to 0.01 or even 0.001 eV. Its physical potential would be a breakthrough into the multi-TeV range for many beyond standard models. Its sensitivity for neutrino oscillation parameters would be larger than of all present terrestrial neutrino oscillation experiments and of those planned for the future. It could probe directly the large angle, and for almost degenerate neutrino mass scenarios even the small angle solution of the solar neutrino problem. It would further, already in a first step using only 100 kg of natural Ge detectors, cover almost the full MSSM parameter space for prediction of neutralinos as cold dark matter, making the experiment competitive to LHC in the search for supersymmetry. Finally GENIUS could be used as the first real time detector of solar pp neutrinos.

In 2011, hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) was observed for the first time outside the solar system (Bergman et al., Astron. Astrophys., 2011, 531, L8). This detection appeared a posteriori to be quite natural, as HOOH is an intermediate product in the formation of water on the surface of dust grains. Following up on this detection, we present a search for HOOH in a diverse sample of sources in different environments, including low-mass protostars and regions with very high column densities, such as Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs). We do not detect the molecule in any other source than Oph A, and derive 3σ upper limits for the abundance of HOOH relative to H₂ lower than that in Oph A for most sources. This result sheds a different light on our understanding of the detection of HOOH in Oph A, and shifts the question of why this source seems to be special. Therefore we rediscuss the detection of HOOH in Oph A, as well as the implications of the low abundance of HOOH, and its similarity with the case of O₂. Our chemical models show that the production of HOOH is extremely sensitive to temperature, and is favored only in the range 20–30 K. The relatively high abundance of HOOH observed in Oph A suggests that the bulk of the material lies at a temperature in the range 20–30 K.

6 new extra-solar planet candidates (HD 6434 b, HD 19994 b, HD 83443c, HD 92788b, HD 121504b, HD 190228b) are announced as part of our planet-search programmes in the northern and southern hemispheres. HD 83443 c is member of a 2-planet system with Saturnian and sub-Saturnian masses. Another system including a planet + a very low-mass brown dwarf orbiting HD 168443 is also presented. These 2 new systems and the new planetary detections rise to 25 the number of ELODIE and CORALIE candidates with minimum masses ≤20MJup. The orbital element distributions of giant-planet candidates, like the secondary mass function, the eccentricity and period distributions, compared to the equivalent distributions for spectroscopic binaries, strongly suggest different formation mechanisms for the two populations.

AbstractOver 600 pulsars are now known, almost all of which lie in our Galaxy. Most pulsars have periods between 0 · 1 and a few seconds, but a very important sub-class, the ‘millisecond’ pulsars, have much shorter periods. Millisecond pulsars are often in a binary orbit with another star, suggesting that their short periods are a result of accreting mass from the companion star. They are also extraordinarily good clocks, with a stability comparable to that of the best atomic clocks. This combination of extreme period stability and binary motion has led to some very important results, including the first observational evidence for gravitational radiation and the first evidence for extra-solar planetary systems. It is probable that pulsars will be used to define the long-term standard of terrestrial time. A search of the southern sky using the Parkes radio telescope has found several millisecond pulsars which will make an important contribution to these precision-timing programs.

Cette thèse de doctorat présente une enquête approfondie sur la détection des signaux d'ondes gravitationnelles provenant de fusions binaires compactes, en mettant l'accent particulier sur l'analyse des données de la troisième campagne d'observation de la Collaboration LIGO-Virgo. Le manuscrit commence par fournir une introduction aux principes fondamentaux de la théorie de la relativité générale, y compris la prédiction de l'existence des ondes gravitationnelles et un aperçu des sources astrophysiques qui génèrent ces ondes. Il fournit également une description détaillée des interféromètres, les instruments utilisés dans les observatoires d'ondes gravitationnelles, ainsi que leur fonctionnement de base. Ensuite, le manuscrit se concentre sur les techniques avancées d'analyse des données développées pour extraire les signaux d'ondes gravitationnelles du bruit du détecteur. Une attention particulière est accordée au pipeline d'analyse MBTA (Multi-Band Template Analysis), auquel l'auteur contribue activement en tant que membre de l'équipe MBTA. Le fonctionnement et la méthodologie du pipeline MBTA sont décrits en détail, mettant en évidence son rôle dans la détection et l'analyse des signaux d'ondes gravitationnelles. Ensuite, le manuscrit présente les résultats obtenus à partir de l'analyse standard réalisée pour rechercher des signaux provenant de trous noirs binaires, d'étoiles à neutrons binaires et de binaires trou noir-étoile à neutrons dans les données recueillies lors de la troisième campagne d'observation. L'analyse comprend un examen approfondi des signaux observés, de leurs propriétés et des implications astrophysiques des fusions détectées. De plus, le manuscrit explore les dernières avancées dans la recherche des ondes gravitationnelles émises par des binaires de masse sub-solaire, qui impliquent des systèmes binaires comprenant au moins un objet ayant une masse inférieure à celle du Soleil, offrant une enquête approfondie sur la méthodologie et les résultats de la recherche de masse sub-solaire lors de la troisième campagne d'observation. Grâce à cette enquête approfondie, le manuscrit vise à contribuer à l'avancement de l'astronomie des ondes gravitationnelles, offrant une exploration complète de la recherche sur les ondes gravitationnelles, couvrant les principales réalisations de la troisième campagne d'observation dans les recherches standard et de masse sub-solaire
This PhD thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the detection of gravitational wave signals from compact binary mergers, with a specific focus on the analysis of data from the third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration. The manuscript begins by providing an introduction to the fundamental principles of the theory of General Relativity, including the prediction of the existence of gravitational waves and an overview of the astrophysical sources that generate these waves. It also provides a detailed description of interferometers, the instruments used in gravitational wave observatories, and their basic functioning. Subsequently, the manuscript focuses on advanced data analysis techniques developed to extract gravitational wave signals from the detector noise. Special attention is given to the Multi-Band Template Analysis (MBTA) pipeline, which the author actively contributes to as part of the MBTA team. The functioning and methodology of the MBTA pipeline are described in detail, highlighting its role in the detection and analysis of gravitational wave signals. The manuscript then proceeds to present the results obtained from the standard analysis conducted to search for signals originating from the coalescence of binary black holes, binary neutron stars, and black hole-neutron star binaries in the data collected during the third observing run. The analysis includes a comprehensive examination of the observed signals, their properties, and the astrophysical implications of the detected mergers. Additionally, the manuscript explores the latest advancements in the search for gravitational waves emitted by sub-solar mass binaries, which involve binary systems comprising at east one object with a mass below the threshold of the mass of the Sun, providing an in-depth investigation into the methodology and results of the sub-solar mass search during the third observing run. Through this comprehensive investigation, the manuscript aims at contributing to the advancement of gravitational wave astronomy, offering a comprehensive exploration of gravitational wave research, encompassing the main achievement of the third observing run in both standard and sub-solar mass searches