RR Lyrae variables in Galactic globular clusters: IV. Synthetic HB and RR Lyrae predictions

We present theoretical predictions concerning horizontal branch stars in globular clusters, including RR Lyrae variables, as derived from synthetic procedures collating evolutionary and pulsational constraints. On this basis, we explore the predicted behavior of the pulsators as a function of the horizontal branch morphology and over the metallicity range Z=0.0001 to 0.006, revealing an encouraging concordance with the observed distribution of fundamentalised periods with metallicity. Theoretical relations connecting periods to K magnitudes and BV or VI Wesenheit functions are presented, both appearing quite independent of the horizontal branch morphology only with Z greater or equal than 0.001. Predictions concerning the parameter R are also discussed and compared under various assumptions about the horizontal branch reference luminosity level.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in "Astronomy and Astrophysics

Stellar populations in the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo I

We present a detailed study of the color magnitude diagram (CMD) of the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo I, based on archival Hubble Space Telescope data. Our photometric analysis, confirming previous results on the brighter portion of the CMD, allow us to obtain an accurate sampling of the stellar populations also at the faint magnitudes corresponding to the Main Sequence. By adopting a homogeneous and consistent theoretical scenario for both hydrogen and central helium-burning evolutionary phases, the various features observed in the CMD are interpreted and reliable estimations for both the distance modulus and the age(s) for the main stellar components of Leo I are derived. More in details, from the upper luminosity of the Red Giant Branch and the lower luminosity of the Subgiant Branch we simultaneously constrain the galaxy distance and the age of the oldest stellar population in Leo I. In this way we obtain a distance modulus (m-M)_V=22.00$\pm$0.15 mag and an age of 10--15 Gyr or 9--13 Gyr, adopting a metallicity Z=0.0001 and 0.0004, respectively. The reliability of this distance modulus has been tested by comparing the observed distribution of the Leo I anomalous Cepheids in the period-magnitude diagram with the predicted boundaries of the instability strip, as given by convective pulsating models.Comment: 19 pages, 3 tables, 14 figures To be published in A

Fourier mode dynamics for the nonlinear Schroedinger equation in one-dimensional bounded domains

We analyze the 1D focusing nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation in a finite interval with homogeneous Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions. There are two main dynamics, the collapse which is very fast and a slow cascade of Fourier modes. For the cubic nonlinearity the calculations show no long term energy exchange between Fourier modes as opposed to higher nonlinearities. This slow dynamics is explained by fairly simple amplitude equations for the resonant Fourier modes. Their solutions are well behaved so filtering high frequencies prevents collapse. Finally these equations elucidate the unique role of the zero mode for the Neumann boundary conditions

RR LYRAE VARIABLE STARS: PULSATIONAL CONSTRAINTS RELEVANT TO THE OOSTERHOFF CONTROVERSY

A solution to the old Oosterhoff controversy is proposed on the basis of a new theoretical pulsational scenario concerning RR Lyrae cluster variables (Bono and coworkers). We show that the observed constancy of the lowest pulsation period in both Oosterhoff type I (OoI) and Oosterhoff type II (OoII) prototypes (M3, M15) can be easily reproduced only by assuming the canonical evolutionary horizontal-branch luminosity levels of these Galactic globular clusters and therefore by rejecting the Sandage period shift effect (SPSE).Comment: postscript file of 7 pages and 2 figures; one non postcript figure is available upon request; for any problem please write to [email protected]

Search for Gamma-Ray Lines towards Galaxy Clusters with the Fermi-LAT

We report on a search for monochromatic $\gamma$-ray features in the spectra of galaxy clusters observed by the \emph{Fermi} Large Area Telescope. Galaxy clusters are the largest structures in the Universe that are bound by dark matter (DM), making them an important testing ground for possible self-interactions or decays of the DM particles. Monochromatic $\gamma$-ray lines provide a unique signature due to the absence of astrophysical backgrounds and are as such considered a smoking-gun signature for new physics. An unbinned joint likelihood analysis of the sixteen most promising clusters using five years of data at energies between 10 and 400 GeV revealed no significant features. For the case of self-annihilation, we set upper limits on the monochromatic velocity-averaged interaction cross section. These limits are compatible with those obtained from observations of the Galactic Center, albeit weaker due to the larger distance to the studied clusters.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, 1 table; minor changes to match version to appear in JCAP, corresponding authors: B. Anderson & S. Zimme

On the helium content of Galactic globular clusters via the R parameter

We estimate the empirical R parameter in 26 Galactic Globular Clusters covering a wide metallicity range, imaged by WFPC2 on board the HST. The improved spatial resolution permits a large fraction of the evolved stars to be measured and permits accurate assessment of radial populaton gradients and completeness corrections. In order to evaluate both the He abundance and the He to metal enrichment ratio, we construct a large set of evolutionary models by adopting similar metallicities and different He contents. We find an absolute He abundance which is lower than that estimated from spectroscopic measurements in HII regions and from primordial nucleosynthesis models. This discrepancy could be removed by adopting a C12O16 nuclear cross section about a factor of two smaller than the canonical value, although also different assumptions for mixing processes can introduce systematical effects. The trend in the R parameter toward solar metallicity is consistent with an upper limit to the He to metal enrichment ratio of the order of 2.5.Comment: accepted for pubblication on Ap

Detecting the Stimulated Decay of Axions at Radio Frequencies

Assuming axion-like particles account for the entirety of the dark matter in the Universe, we study the possibility of detecting their decay into photons at radio frequencies. We discuss different astrophysical targets, such as dwarf spheroidal galaxies, the Galactic Center and halo, and galaxy clusters. The presence of an ambient radiation field leads to a stimulated enhancement of the decay rate; depending on the environment and the mass of the axion, the effect of stimulated emission may amplify the photon flux by serval orders of magnitude. For axion-photon couplings allowed by astrophysical and laboratory constraints(and possibly favored by stellar cooling), we find the signal to be within the reach of next-generation radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometer Array.Comment: Minor changes, references added, matches published versio

Designing arrays of Josephson junctions for specific static responses

We consider the inverse problem of designing an array of superconducting Josephson junctions that has a given maximum static current pattern as function of the applied magnetic field. Such devices are used for magnetometry and as Terahertz oscillators. The model is a 2D semilinear elliptic operator with Neuman boundary conditions so the direct problem is difficult to solve because of the multiplicity of solutions. For an array of small junctions in a passive region, the model can be reduced to a 1D linear partial differential equation with Dirac distribution sine nonlinearities. For small junctions and a symmetric device, the maximum current is the absolute value of a cosine Fourier series whose coefficients (resp. frequencies) are proportional to the areas (resp. the positions) of the junctions. The inverse problem is solved by inverse cosine Fourier transform after choosing the area of the central junction. We show several examples using combinations of simple three junction circuits. These new devices could then be tailored to meet specific applications.Comment: The article was submitted to Inverse Problem

Synthetic properties of bright metal-poor variables. II. BL Her stars

We investigate the properties of the so-called BL Her stars, i.e., Population II Cepheids with periods shorter than 8 days, using updated pulsation models and evolutionary tracks computed adopting a metal abundance in the range of Z=0.0001 to Z=0.004. We derive the predicted Period-Magnitude (PM) and Period-Wesenheit (PW) relations at the various photometric bands and we show that the slopes of these relations are in good agreement with the slopes determined by observed variables in Galactic globular clusters, independently of the adopted M_V(RR)-[Fe/H] relation to get the cluster RR Lyrae-based distance. Moreover, we show that also the distances provided by the predicted PM and PW relations for BL Her stars agree within the errors with the RR Lyrae based values. The use of the predicted relations with W Vir stars, which are Population II Cepheids with periods longer than 8 days, provides no clear evidence for or against a change in the PM and PW slopes around P~10 days.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in A&A on date 16/05/200

Experimental Critical Current Patterns in Josephson Junction Ladders

We present an experimental and theoretical study of the magnetic field dependence of the critical current of Josephson junction ladders. At variance with the well-known case of a one-dimensional (1D) parallel array of Josephson junctions the magnetic field patterns display a single minimum even for very low values of the self-inductance parameter $\beta_{\rm L}$. Experiments performed changing both the geometrical value of the inductance and the critical current of the junctions show a good agreement with numerical simulations. We argue that the observed magnetic field patterns are due to a peculiar mapping between the isotropic Josephson ladder and the 1D parallel array with the self-inductance parameter $\beta_{\rm L}^{\rm eff}=\beta_{\rm L}+2$.Comment: 4 pages, 4 picture