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Physics Astrophysics

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Wednesday 3 December

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Cross-listed from gr-qc

A theory-agnostic hierarchical Bayesian framework for black-hole spectroscopy: a case study on GW250114 in Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity

Black-hole spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful probe of strong-field gravity in the era of gravitational-wave astronomy. In this context, many current tests of modified or extended gravity are implemented by searching for predicted signatures modeled as perturbative corrections to general-relativistic waveforms; however, this approach may introduce model-dependent systematics and limit applicability to broader classes of theories. To complement such methods, we develop a theory-agnostic hierarchical Bayesian framework that connects ringdown observations – modeled as damped sinusoids – directly with theoretical quasinormal mode spectra, performing the comparison at the spectral level rather than through theory-specific waveform matching. The framework incorporates a soft-truncation module to account for the finite domain of validity in the theory's parameter space and is equipped with quantitative diagnostics that identify stable analysis time windows. As an illustrative application, we implement the framework within Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity and apply it to the gravitational-wave event GW250114, finding that the resulting posterior for the dimensionless coupling $\zeta$ is robust against prior assumptions yet remains only weakly informative over the range considered in this work. We further perform controlled ringdown injection studies across different values of $\zeta$, confirming that nonzero couplings can be recovered while also indicating a potential systematic effect: Kerr-based priors in the $\zeta$ inference may partially absorb spectral deviations arising in alternative theories of gravity. This work establishes a transparent and extensible foundation for future strong-field gravity tests, naturally compatible with the growing precision and modal resolution of next-generation gravitational-wave detectors.
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High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Trapped fireshell (halo) of photons and pairs around black-hole horizon: source for ultra-high-energy particles

We study the Compton-rocket effect of strong radiation force accelerating electrons in an opaque fireshell (or fire spot) of dense photons and electron-positron pairs, whose temperature is spatially inhomogeneous and exceeds the electron mass. We find the possibility of the charged-particle acceleration and the avalanche runaway process, leading to a non-trivial probability of ultra-high-energy (UHE) electrons and protons, which subsequently produce very-high-energy (VHE) photons and neutrinos. In a simplified one-dimensional model, we qualitatively show such peculiar dynamics using the fireball, Gamma-Ray Burst central engine, whose inner part inflows and forms a gravitationally trapped fireshell (halo) around the horizon of a black hole. The fireshell is metastable, cooling via UHE particle emissions and blackbody radiation. We calculate the UHE particle luminosity varying in time, and discuss the peculiar features of such produced UHE particles, which lead to VHE particles, in connection with possible numerical simulations, observations and experiments.
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Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics

Lightweight design and analysis of optical cover plate for exoplanet imaging coronagraph

In order to reduce the load mass and solve the problem that the aluminum alloy optical cover plate of exoplanet imaging coronagraph was easy to deform, based on the equal generation design method, this paper designed and determined the configuration of the carbon fiber optical cover plate. Through the simulation of layup by finite element analysis, this paper researched the influence of different layering angles and sequences on the stiffness of optical cover plate. Finally, the carbon fiber layup method was determined as [15/-75/-15/75]s. The dynamic response analysis show that all the indexes satisfy the system requirements, and verify the feasibility of carbon fiber optical cover plate.
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All authors Lingyi Kong, Mingming Xu, Wei Guo, Jiangpei Dou, Bo Chen, Shu Jiang

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

The ANDICAM-SOFI Near-infrared and Optical type Ia Supernova (ASNOS) sample: Description and data release

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) provide the most robust means of measuring extragalactic distances. While most of the effort has focused on increasing the number of SNe Ia observed in the optical, near-infrared (NIR) observations remain scarce despite their advantages, that is, reduced dust extinction and a more intrinsic standard candle behavior, requiring little to no empirical corrections. Here, we present ASNOS (ANDICAM-SOFI Near-infrared and Optical type Ia Supernova), a dataset with sample size of 1,482 epochs in the $BVRIYJH$ filters from the ANDICAM instrument on the 1.3-meter SMARTS telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, along with 125 $JHK$ epochs from the SOFI instrument on the 3.58-meter New Technology Telescope on the La Silla Observatory. Additionally, we incorporate optical forced photometry from the Zwicky Transient Facility and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System. The sample comprises 41 SNe Ia in total, including 29 normal events, eight 1991T-like objects, and four peculiar subtypes, all located at redshifts $z < 0.085$. This paper provides a detailed overview of the ASNOS sample selection, data reduction, SN photometry, host-galaxy spectral energy distribution construction, both global and local, and SN light-curve fitting using three methods: SALT3-NIR, SNooPy, and BayeSN. A companion paper will present the cosmological analysis.
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All authors Kim Phan, Lluís Galbany, Tomás E. Müller-Bravo, Subhash Bose, Christopher R. Burns, Maximilian D. Stritzinger, Camilla T. G. Sørensen, Chris Ashall, Francisco J. Castander, Cristina Jiménez Palau, Joel Johansson, Joseph P. Anderson, Ken. C. Chambers, Mariusz Gromadzki, Priscila J. Pessi, Ting-Wan Chen

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics

Long-term calibration and validation of stability of the Auger Engineering Radio Array using the diffuse Galactic radio emission

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) measures radio emission from high-energy extensive air showers. Consisting of 153 autonomous radio-detector stations spread over $17$\,km$^2$, it detects radio waves in the frequency range of $30$ to $80$\,MHz. Accurate characterization of the detector response is crucial for proper interpretation of the collected data. Previously, this was achieved through laboratory measurements of the analog chain and simulations and measurements of the antenna's directional response. In this paper, we perform an absolute calibration using the continuously monitored sidereal modulation of the diffuse Galactic radio emission. Calibration is done by comparing the average frequency spectra recorded by the stations with predictions from seven different models of the full radio sky, accounting for the system response, which includes the antenna, filters, and amplifiers. The analysis of the calibration constants over a period of seven years shows no relevant and no significant ageing effect in the AERA antennas. This result confirms the long-term stability of the detector stations and demonstrates the possibility for a radio detector to effectively monitor ageing effects of other detectors operating over extended periods.
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All authors The Pierre Auger Collaboration: A. Abdul Halim, P. Abreu, M. Aglietta, I. Allekotte, K. Almeida Cheminant, R. Aloisio, J. Alvarez-Muñiz, A. Ambrosone, J. Ammerman Yebra, L. Anchordoqui, B. Andrada, L. Andrade Dourado, L. Apollonio, C. Aramo, E. Arnone, J.C. Arteaga Velázquez, P. Assis, G. Avila, E. Avocone, A. Bakalova, Y. Balibrea, A. Baluta, F. Barbato, A. Bartz Mocellin, J.P. Behler, C. Berat, M.E. Bertaina, M. Bianciotto, P.L. Biermann, V. Binet, K. Bismark, T. Bister, J. Biteau, J. Blazek, J. Blümer, M. Boháčová, D. Boncioli, C. Bonifazi, N. Borodai, J. Brack, P.G. Brichetto Orquera, A. Bueno, S. Buitink, M. Büsken, A. Bwembya, K.S. Caballero-Mora, S. Cabana-Freire, L. Caccianiga, J. Caraça-Valente, R. Caruso, A. Castellina, F. Catalani, G. Cataldi, L. Cazon, M. Cerda, B. Čermáková, A. Cermenati, K. Cerny, J.A. Chinellato, J. Chudoba, L. Chytka, R.W. Clay, A.C. Cobos Cerutti, R. Colalillo, R. Conceição, G. Consolati, M. Conte, F. Convenga, D. Correia dos Santos, P.J. Costa, C.E. Covault, M. Cristinziani, C.S. Cruz Sanchez, S. Dasso, K. Daumiller, B.R. Dawson, R.M. de Almeida, E.-T. de Boone, B. de Errico, J. de Jesús, S.J. de Jong, J.R.T. de Mello Neto, I. De Mitri, D. de Oliveira Franco, F. de Palma, V. de Souza, E. De Vito, A. Del Popolo, O. Deligny, N. Denner, K. Denner Syrokvas, L. Deval, A. di Matteo, C. Dobrigkeit, J.C. D'Olivo, L.M. Domingues Mendes, Y. Dominguez Ballesteros, Q. Dorosti, R.C. dos Anjos, J. Ebr, F. Ellwanger, R. Engel, I. Epicoco, M. Erdmann, A. Etchegoyen, C. Evoli, H. Falcke, G. Farrar, A.C. Fauth, T. Fehler, F. Feldbusch, A. Fernandes, M. Fernández Alonso, B. Fick, J.M. Figueira, P. Filip, A. Filipčič, T. Fitoussi, B. Flaggs, A. Franco, M. Freitas, T. Fujii, A. Fuster, C. Galea, B. García, C. Gaudu, P.L. Ghia, U. Giaccari, C. Glaser, F. Gobbi, F. Gollan, G. Golup, P.F. Gómez Vitale, J.P. Gongora, J.M. González, N. González, D. Góra, A. Gorgi, M. Gottowik, F. Guarino, G.P. Guedes, Y.C. Guerra, L. Gülzow, S. Hahn, P. Hamal, M.R. Hampel, P. Hansen, V.M. Harvey, A. Haungs, T. Hebbeker, C. Hojvat, J.R. Hörandel, P. Horvath, M. Hrabovský, T. Huege, A. Insolia, P.G. Isar, M. Ismaiel, P. Janecek, V. Jilek, K.-H. Kampert, B. Keilhauer, A. Khakurdikar, V.V. Kizakke Covilakam, H.O. Klages, M. Kleifges, J. Köhler, F. Krieger, M. Kubatova, N. Kunka, B.L. Lago, N. Langner, N. Leal, M.A. Leigui de Oliveira, Y. Lema-Capeans, A. Letessier-Selvon, I. Lhenry-Yvon, L. Lopes, J.P. Lundquist, M. Mallamaci, S. Mancuso, D. Mandat, P. Mantsch, A.G. Mariazzi, I.C. Mariş, G. Marsella, D. Martello, S. Martinelli, O. Martínez Bravo, M.A. Martins, H.-J. Mathes, J. Matthews, G. Matthiae, E. Mayotte, S. Mayotte, P.O. Mazur, G. Medina-Tanco, J. Meinert, D. Melo, A. Menshikov, C. Merx, S. Michal, M.I. Micheletti, L. Miramonti, M. Mogarkar, S. Mollerach, F. Montanet, L. Morejon, K. Mulrey, R. Mussa, W.M. Namasaka, S. Negi, L. Nellen, K. Nguyen, G. Nicora, M. Niechciol, D. Nitz, D. Nosek, A. Novikov, V. Novotny, L. Nožka, A. Nucita, L.A. Núñez, S.E. Nuza, J. Ochoa, M. Olegario, C. Oliveira, L. Östman, M. Palatka, J. Pallotta, S. Panja, G. Parente, T. Paulsen, J. Pawlowsky, M. Pech, J. Pękala, R. Pelayo, V. Pelgrims, E.E. Pereira Martins, C. Pérez Bertolli, L. Perrone, S. Petrera, C. Petrucci, T. Pierog, M. Pimenta, B. Pont, M. Pourmohammad Shahvar, P. Privitera, C. Priyadarshi, M. Prouza, K. Pytel, S. Querchfeld, J. Rautenberg, D. Ravignani, J.V. Reginatto Akim, A. Reuzki, J. Ridky, F. Riehn, M. Risse, V. Rizi, E. Rodriguez, G. Rodriguez Fernandez, J. Rodriguez Rojo, S. Rossoni, M. Roth, E. Roulet, A.C. Rovero, A. Saftoiu, M. Saharan, F. Salamida, H. Salazar, G. Salina, P. Sampathkumar, N. San Martin, J.D. Sanabria Gomez, F. Sánchez, F.M. Sánchez Rodriguez, E. Santos, F. Sarazin, R. Sarmento, R. Sato, P. Savina, V. Scherini, H. Schieler, M. Schimassek, M. Schimp, D. Schmidt, O. Scholten, H. Schoorlemmer, P. Schovánek, F.G. Schröder, J. Schulte, T. Schulz, S.J. Sciutto, M. Scornavacche, A. Sedoski, S. Sehgal, S.U. Shivashankara, G. Sigl, K. Simkova, F. Simon, R. Šmída, S. Soares Sippert, P. Sommers, R. Squartini, M. Stadelmaier, S. Stanič, J. Stasielak, P. Stassi, S. Strähnz, M. Straub, T. Suomijärvi, A.D. Supanitsky, Z. Svozilikova, Z. Szadkowski, F. Tairli, M. Tambone, A. Tapia, C. Taricco, C. Timmermans, O. Tkachenko, P. Tobiska, C.J. Todero Peixoto, B. Tomé, A. Travaini, P. Travnicek, C. Trimarelli, M. Tueros, M. Unger, R. Uzeiroska, L. Vaclavek, M. Vacula, I. Vaiman, J.F. Valdés Galicia, L. Valore, P. van Dillen, E. Varela, V. Vašíčková, A. Vásquez-Ramírez, D. Veberič, I.D. Vergara Quispe, S. Verpoest, V. Verzi, J. Vicha, S. Vorobiov, J.B. Vuta, C. Watanabe, A.A. Watson, A. Weindl, M. Weitz, L. Wiencke, H. Wilczyński, B. Wundheiler, B. Yue, A. Yushkov, E. Zas, D. Zavrtanik, M. Zavrtanik

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Cross-listed from hep-ph

Gravitational Decays of Secluded Scalars and Graviton Dark Radiation

We discuss graviton dark radiation produced by the decay of a secluded scalar field that couples to the Standard Model (SM) only through gravity. Such scalar fields are long-lived, and their decay channels generically include gravitons. If such particles existed and dominated the early universe, a sizable branching ratio into gravitons would yield non-negligible dark radiation that significantly alters the subsequent thermal history of the universe. In this work, we focus on the dark glueball as a representative secluded hidden scalar and compare the decay rates into SM particles via a non-minimal coupling to gravity with those into gravitons, paying attention to how the breaking of conformal invariance affects the amount of graviton dark radiation. We find that decays into the SM are dominated by two-body decay channels into Higgs bosons and gluons. In particular, when the Higgs field has a large non-minimal coupling to gravity, the production of graviton dark radiation is naturally suppressed in the metric formalism, and the SM sector is preferentially reheated and energy transfer to other hidden sectors is suppressed. Finally, we present the expected gravitational-wave spectrum resulting from dark glueball domination.
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Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

The first out-of-ecliptic observations of the polar magnetic field of the Sun

Direct remote-sensing observations of the solar poles have been hindered by the restricted view obtained from the ecliptic plane. For the first time ever, Solar Orbiter with its remote-sensing instruments observed the poles of the Sun from out of the ecliptic in the Spring of 2025. Here we report the first measurements of the magnetic field of the solar poles taken when Solar Orbiter was at heliographic latitudes ranging between 14.9$^\circ$ and 16.7$^\circ$. The data-sets were collected by the High Resolution Telescope of the Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (SO/PHI-HRT) on board Solar Orbiter. Two sets of observations, approximately one month apart, for the south and north pole are considered in this work. The magnetic flux and flux density measured during these campaigns are reported as a function of the heliographic latitude observed by SO/PHI-HRT. The net fluxes show a different latitudinal distribution for the two polar caps. We also discuss the observed dependence of the measured fluxes on the viewing angle. These first results highlight the importance of high-resolution direct measurements of the polar field, paving the way to the high-latitude observations planned for SO/PHI-HRT in the coming years.
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All authors D. Calchetti, S. K. Solanki, J. Hirzberger, G. Valori, L. P. Chitta, J. Blanco Blanco Rodríguez, A. Giunta, T. Grundy, K. Albert, T. Appourchaux, F. J. Bailén, L. R. Bellot Rubio, A. Feller, A. Gandorfer, L. Gizon, A. Korpi-Lagg, X. Li, A. Moreno Vacas, T. Oba, D. Orozco Suárez, J. Schou, U. Schühle, J. Sinjan, H. Strecker, J. C. del Toro Iniesta, A. Ulyanov, R. Volkmer, J. Woch

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Statistical and Temporal Analysis of Multi-component Burst-clusters from the Repeating FRB 20190520B

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are bright, millisecond-duration extragalactic radio transients that probe extreme astrophysical environments. Many FRBs exhibit multi-component structures, which encode information about their emission mechanisms or progenitor systems and thus provide important clues to their origins. In this work, we systematically analyze the burst morphology of FRB 20190520B and compare component distributions across four active FRBs observed with FAST: FRB 20121102A, FRB 20190520B, FRB 20201124A, and FRB 20240114A. We find that multi-component burst-clusters show spectral properties similar to single-peak bursts, and no periodicity is detected in their temporal behavior. The component-count distributions follow a power law, revealing scale-free behavior consistent with self-organized criticality (SOC) processes. Multi-component clusters account for 12-30% of all detected bursts, regardless of source activity, providing new insights into burst-to-burst variability and the physical processes driving FRB emission.
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All authors Jia-heng Zhang, Chen-Hui Niu, Yu-hao Zhu, Di Li, Yu Wang, Wei-yang Wang, Yi Feng, Xin-ming Li, Jia-rui Niu, Pei Wang, Yun-wei Yu, Yong-kun Zhang, Xiao-ping Zheng

Astrophysics of Galaxies

Dynamical and Photometric Analysis of NGC 146 and King 14: Evidence for a Co-Moving, Unbound Cluster Pair

To understand the nature of the NGC 146-King 14 cluster pair, we conducted a detailed photometric, astrometric, and dynamical study using multiwavelength data from Gaia DR3, Pan-STARRS1, WISE, and TESS. Using a probabilistic approach, we identified 770 and 690 high-probability members of NGC 146 and King 14, respectively. Both clusters exhibit well-defined radial density profiles consistent with King models. We estimate the cluster ages as 20 $\pm$ 5 Myr and 50 $\pm$ 10 Myr from isochrone fitting, and distances of 2.98 $\pm$ 0.33 kpc and 2.51 $\pm$ 0.23 kpc from parallaxes after applying the Bailer-Jones criteria. The clusters show consistent mean proper motions. The mass function slopes (1.51 $\pm$ 0.18 and 1.50 $\pm$ 0.15) are close to the Salpeter value, and the extinction follows a normal Galactic reddening law (RV ~ 3.1). Three-dimensional mapping gives a projected separation of ~ 9 pc. Orbit integration using the galpy MWPotential2014 model shows that NGC 146 and King 14 move in nearly circular, disk-like orbits with similar mean orbital radii (Rm ~ 9 kpc) and orbital periods of roughly 255 Myr. A dynamical separation of ~ 32 pc indicates that both clusters share a common spatial and kinematic association, consistent with a co-moving pair. However, their relative velocity exceeds the escape velocity set by their combined mass, indicating they are not gravitationally bound. TESS light curves reveal seven variable stars, including $\gamma$ Doradus, SPB stars, and eclipsing binaries, though only one is a likely member. Overall, the clusters likely formed within the same giant molecular cloud and now exist as an unbound co-moving pair.
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All authors D. Bisht, Ing-Guey Jiang, W. H. Elsanhoury, K. Belwal, D. C. C{\i}nar, A. Raj, Shraddha Biswas, Arvind K. Dattatrey, Geeta Rangwal, Devesh P. Sariya, Mohit Singh Bisht, Alok Durgapal

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Genetic Algorithm for Inferring Model Parameters for Flux Transport Dynamo Simulation

The Sun exhibits an 11-year cyclic variation, maintained by dynamo action in the solar interior. Mean-field flux transport dynamo models have successfully reproduced most of the features observed in solar cycles, while the model includes many free parameters, such as the speed of the meridional flow and the amplitude of the poloidal field generation. Inferring these free parameters is on demand because they correspond to the solar interior condition. We suggest a novel method for inferring the free parameters using a genetic algorithm. At each generation, we evaluate the fitness of our simulation against the observational data and optimize the parameters. We apply our method to the observed solar cycle data from 1723 to 2024 and successfully reproduce the observations from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. We expect our method to be applicable to sunspot numbers, even those obtained from isotope data and historical documents, in the future, to better understand past solar interior dynamics.
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High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Resolving the Multiple Component Outflows in PG 1211+143: I. The Fe-K Absorption Structure and UFO Forest

We present the initial high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic observations of the Fe-K absorption structure in the luminous nearby quasar PG 1211+143, utilizing the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM). The primary objective is to characterize the Fe-K absorption features due to Ultra-Fast Outflow (UFO) in this Eddington-luminosity source. Observations were conducted with XRISM's Resolve and Xtend instruments, complemented by simultaneous data from XMM-Newton and NuSTAR. A historically bright phase was captured. The Resolve spectra clearly reveal a prominent P Cygni profile and resolves the Fe-K absorption into six distinct velocity components, ranging from $v = -0.074c$ to $-0.405c$. A similar superposition of multiple UFOs has been reported in PDS~456, suggesting that such a “UFO forest” structure may be a common feature of near Eddington-luminosity sources. Some UFO components exhibit narrow line widths of approximately $\sigma \sim 200\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$, which may indicate that the outflows have reached their terminal velocities, thereby resulting in a smaller velocity shear. The mass outflow rate is estimated to be $\dot{M}_\mathrm{out} \sim 1~M_{\odot}~\text{yr}^{-1}$, which is of the order of the Eddington accretion rate. This suggests a physically plausible scenario where the outflow is a significant channel for mass ejection.
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All authors Misaki Mizumoto, James N. Reeves, Valentina Braito, Ehud Behar, Chris Done, Kouichi Hagino, Steven B. Kraemer, Gabriele A. Matzeu, Hirofumi Noda, Mariko Nomura, Shoji Ogawa, Ken Ohsuga, Atsushi Tanimoto, Tracey J. Turner, Yoshihiro Ueda, Satoshi Yamada, Sreeparna Ganguly, Paolo Somenzi

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

The helium common-envelope wind scenario for SN 2020eyj

SN 2020eyj is the first type Ia supernova (SN Ia) showing the signature of a compact helium-rich circumstellar material (CSM). Such a large CSM is difficult to explain in a single-degenerate scenario where the donor star is a helium star. Here we show that, under certain conditions, it is possible that the transfer of helium leads to a common envelope (CE) engulfing the system, similar to the common-envelope wind model proposed by Meng & Podsiadlowski (2017). If in such a helium common-envelope wind (HeCEW) model the initial white dwarf (WD) mass is larger than 1.1 $M_{\rm \odot}$ and the helium star more massive than 1.8 $M_{\rm \odot}$, the mass of a helium CE can be larger than 0.3 $M_{\rm \odot}$ prior to supernova explosion. The CE mass heavily depends on the initial parameters of the binary system. A dynamical CE ejection event could occur shortly before the supernova, and then our model may naturally explain the properties of SN 2020eyj, specifically the massive He-rich CSM, its dim peak brightness, low ejecta velocity and low birth rate.
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Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Multi-probe analysis of strong-field effects in $f(Q)$ gravity

Covariant $f(Q)$ gravity is a viable extension of General Relativity, however its strong-field predictions remain largely untested. Using the static, spherically symmetric black-hole solutions of the theory, we confront it with the most stringent probes available: black-hole shadows, Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) measurements, S2-star precession, and strong gravitational lensing. We show that the two admissible solution branches behave very differently: Case~I produces negligible deviations from Schwarzschild solution, whereas Case~II yields significant, potentially observable corrections to the photon sphere and shadow size. From the EHT shadow diameters of M87* and Sgr~A*, we obtain tight bounds, which are further strengthened by strong-lensing coefficients. These results provide the sharpest strong-field constraints on covariant $f(Q)$ gravity to date, and point toward future tests using next-generation horizon-scale imaging and precision Galactic-center astrometry.
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Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

A 7 Day Multiwavelength Flare Campaign on AU Mic. IV: Quiescent Gyrosynchrotron and Gyroresonance Radiation from 12 to 25 GHz

We present an analysis of the radio quiescent data from a multiwavelength campaign of the active M-dwarf flare star AU Mic (dM1e) that occurred in October 2018. Using Ku-band data (12 to 18 GHz) from the Very Large Array and K-band data (17 to 25 GHz) from the Australia Telescope Compact Array, we find that the quiescent spectrum can be decomposed into two components: one falling with frequency and one that remains flat. The flat component has a relatively steady flux density of 0.64 $\pm$ 0.14 mJy. The falling component varies in strength, but exhibits a spectral index of $\alpha$ = $-0.88 \pm 0.10$. The falling component is thus consistent with nonthermal, optically thin gyrosynchrotron radiation with a corresponding power-law index similar to flares from AU Mic. While a flat component may arise from thermal, optically thin free-free emission, the observed flux density and inferred mass-loss rate are both too large compared to previous stellar wind and X-ray emission theory and models, necessitating an alternative explanation. This flat component instead matches well with an optically thick gyroresonance component integrated over multiple source regions such that the composite spectra are reasonably flat. The persistence of these components across the rotational period suggests multiple source regions, which may help explain changes in flux density and persistent high-energy electrons.
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All authors Isaiah I. Tristan, Rachel A. Osten, Yuta Notsu, Adam F. Kowalski, Steven R. Cranmer

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Motion of a charged test particle around a static black hole in a monopole magnetic field

We study the motion of a charged test particle in the spacetime with a spherically symmetric black hole which is immersed in a monopole magnetic field. We show that the radial motion of the charged test particle is governed by completely the same equation as that in the case of no magnetic field. This result implies that the black hole will acquire the electric charge if it is surrounded by the collisionless plasma composed of protons and electrons which obey the Maxwell velocity distribution. The drastically different situation appears in the tangential motions of charged test particles due to the magnetic field. The trajectory of a charged test particle in the black hole with the magnetic field of the order of 10 Gauss near the black hole, is confined on a very thin cone as long as the specific angular momentum of the particle is not much larger than the gravitational radius of the black hole times the speed of light. This result leads to a possibility that a plasma lump can hover over the black hole and is very hot, in the monopole magnetic field.
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All authors Ken-ichi Nakao, Yota Endo, Hideki Ishihara, Kenta Matsuo, Kensuke Sueto, Koudai Ueda, Hirotaka Yoshino

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Quasi-linear theory of perpendicular ion heating by critically balanced turbulence

In collisionless astrophysical plasmas, turbulence mediates the partitioning of free energy among cascade channels and its dissipation into ion and electron heat. The resulting ion heating is often anisotropic, with ions observed to be preferentially heated perpendicular to the local magnetic field; understanding the mechanisms responsible for this heating is a key step in understanding the evolution of such plasmas. In this paper, we use the framework of quasi-linear theory to compute analytically the heating rates of ions interacting with turbulent, large-scale Alfvénic fluctuations. We show how the imbalance of the turbulence (the difference in energies between Alfvénic fluctuations travelling parallel and antiparallel to the magnetic field) modifies the spatiotemporal spectrum of these fluctuations, allowing the heating mechanism to smoothly transition between stochastic heating in balanced turbulence and cyclotron-resonant heating in imbalanced turbulence. The resultant heating rate is found to have a general form regardless of the level of imbalance, exhibiting a suppression related to the conservation of the ions' magnetic moment at small turbulent amplitudes and recovering previous empirical results in a formal calculation. The results of this work help to consolidate our qualitative understanding of ion heating within astrophysical plasmas, as well as yielding specific quantitative predictions to analyse simulations and observations.
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Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Improving Accretion Diagnostics for Young Stellar Objects with Mid-infrared Hydrogen lines from JWST/MIRI

We present a comprehensive study of mid-infrared neutral hydrogen (H~i) emission lines in 79 nearby (d $<$ 200 $pc$) young stars using JWST/MIRI. We aim to identify mid-infrared H~i transitions that can serve as reliable accretion diagnostics in young stars, and evaluate their utility in deriving physical conditions of the accreting gas. We identify and measure 22 H~i transitions in the MIRI wavelength regime (5-28 $\mu m$) and perform LTE slab modelling to remove the H\textsubscript{2}O contribution from selected H~i transitions. We find that mid-IR H~i line emission is spatially compact, even for sources with spatially extended [Ne~ii] and [Fe~ii] jets, suggesting minimal contamination from extended jet. Although Pfund~$\alpha$ (H~i~6–5) and Humphreys~$\alpha$ (H~i~7–6) are the strongest lines, they are blended with H$_2$O transitions. This blending necessitates additional processing to remove molecular contamination, thereby limiting their use as accretion diagnostics. Instead, we identify the H~i~(8–6) at 7.502 $\mu m$ and H~i~(10–7) at 8.760 $\mu m$ transitions as better alternatives, as they are largely unaffected by molecular contamination and offer a more reliable means of measuring accretion rates from MIRI spectra. We provide updated empirical relations for converting mid-IR H~i line luminosities into accretion luminosity for 6 different H~i lines in the MIRI wavelength range. Moreover, comparison of observed line ratios with theoretical models shows that MIR H~i lines offer robust constraints on the hydrogen gas density in accretion columns, $n_\mathrm{H} = $10$^{10.6}$ to 10$^{11.2}$ cm$^{-3}$ in most stars, with some stars exhibiting lower densities ($<10^{10}$~cm$^{-3}$), approaching the optically thin regime.
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All authors B Shridharan, P Manoj, Vinod Chandra Pathak, Alessio Caratti O Garatti, Bihan Banerjee, Th. Henning, I. Kamp, E. van Dishoeck, H. Tyagi, R. Arun, B. Mathew, M. Güdel, P.-O. Lagage

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Neutrino-dominated relativistic shocked accretion flow around rotating black hole: implications for short gamma-ray bursts

We investigate the physical properties of the central engine powering gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), modelled as a stellar-mass black hole accreting via a neutrino-dominated accretion flow (NDAF). By solving the governing hydrodynamic equations, we obtain global transonic NDAF solutions featuring shock transitions and examine their role in powering GRB energetics. The NDAF solutions are explored over a broad range of black hole parameters, including its mass ($M_{\rm BH}$) and spin ($a_{\rm k}$), and accretion rate ($\dot{M}$). We find that shocked NDAFs can naturally account for the observed diversity in GRB energy output. Incorporating results from numerical simulations of binary neutron star and black hole-neutron star mergers, we estimate the remnant black hole mass and spin parameters for the predicted range of post-merger disk mass ($M_{\rm disk}$). Our analysis reveals that small-mass black holes with relatively low spin values can adequately reproduce the luminosities of short GRBs (SGRBs), whereas identical GRB luminosities can also be achieved for more massive black holes possessing higher spin values. Finally, we uncover a robust correlation between the black hole spin and disk mass such that $M_{\rm disk}$ decreases with increasing $a_{\rm k}$, remaining largely independent of the black hole mass ($M_{\rm BH}$) powering GRBs.
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High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Subgrid Mean-field Dynamo Model with Dynamical Quenching in General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations

Large-scale magnetic fields are relevant for a number of dynamical processes in accretion disks, including driving turbulence, reconnection events, and launching outflows. Numerical simulations have indicated that the initial strengths and configurations of the large-scale magnetic fields have a direct imprint on the outcome of an accretion disk evolution. To facilitate future self-consistent simulations that include intrinsic dynamo processes, we derive and implement a subgrid model of a helical large-scale dynamo with dynamical quenching in general-relativistic resistive magnetohydrodynamical simulations of geometrically thin accretion disks. By incorporating previous numerical and analytical results of helical dynamos, our model features only one input parameter, the viscosity parameter $\alpha_\text{SS}$. We demonstrate that our model can reproduce butterfly diagrams seen in previous local and global simulations. With rather aggressive parameter choice of $\alpha_\text{SS}=0.02$ and black hole spin $a_\text{BH}=0.9375$, our thin-disk model launches weak collimated polar outflows with Lorentz factor $\simeq 1.2$, but no polar outflow is present with less vigorous turbulence or less positive $a_\text{BH}$. With negative $a_\text{BH}$, we find the field configurations to appear more similar to Newtonian cases, whereas for positive $a_\text{BH}$, the poloidal field loops become distorted and the cycle period becomes sporadic or even disappears. Moreover, we demonstrate how $\alpha_\text{SS}$ can avoid to be prescribed and instead be determined by the local plasma beta. Such a fully dynamical subgrid dynamo allows for self-consistent amplification of the large-scale magnetic fields.
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Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics

An Analysis of LIGO Glitches Using t-SNE During the First Part of the Fourth LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Observing Run

This paper presents an analysis of noise transients observed in LIGO data during the first part of the fourth observing run, using the unsupervised machine learning technique t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE) to examine the behavior of glitch groups. Based on the t-SNE output, we apply Agglomerative Clustering in combination with the Silhouette Score to determine the optimal number of groups. We then track these groups over time and investigate correlations between their occurrence and environmental or instrumental conditions. At the Livingston observatory, the most common glitches during O4a were seasonal and associated with ground motion, whereas at Hanford, the most prevalent glitches were related to instrumental conditions.
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High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

A Deep Chandra X-ray Survey of a Luminous Quasar Sample at $z\sim$ 7

We present new Chandra observations of seven luminous quasars at $z>6.5$. Combined with archival Chandra observations of all other known quasars, they form nearly complete X-ray observations of all currently known $z\sim7$ quasars with $M_{1450}<-26.5$, except for J0313$-$1806 at $z=7.642$ and J0910$-$0414 at $z=6.636$. Together with existing ground-based NIR spectroscopy and ALMA observations, we investigate the correlations between X-ray emission (the X-ray luminosity $L_{\rm X}$ and the optical/UV-to-X-ray spectral slope $\alpha_{\rm OX}$) and various quasar properties (rest-UV luminosity $L_{\mathrm{2500\ \mathring{A}}}$, bolometric luminosity $L_{\rm bol}$, C IV blueshift, and infrared luminosity $L_{\rm IR}$). We find most $z>6.5$ quasars follow a similar $\alpha_{\rm OX}-L_{\mathrm{2500\ \mathring{A}}}$ relation as $z\sim1-6$ quasars, but also display a large scatter. We find a potential correlation between $\alpha_{\rm OX}$ and the C IV blueshift, suggesting a soft optical/UV-to-X-ray SED shape is frequently associated with fast disk winds. Furthermore, we analyze the X-ray spectrum of 11 quasars at $z>6.5$ with Chandra detection, and find the best-fit photon index $\Gamma$ is $2.41\pm0.27$, which is likely driven by high accretion rates of $z>6.5$ quasars. In addition, we find there are no significant correlations between either $L_{\rm X}$ and $L_{\rm IR}$, nor $L_{\rm bol}$ and $L_{\rm IR}$, suggesting no strong correlations between quasar luminosity and star formation luminosity for the most luminous quasars at $z>6.5$.
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All authors Xiangyu Jin, Feige Wang, Jinyi Yang, Xiaohui Fan, Fuyan Bian, Jiang-Tao Li, Weizhe Liu, Yichen Liu, Jianwei Lyu, Maria Pudoka, Wei Leong Tee, Yunjing Wu, Haowen Zhang, Yongda Zhu

Astrophysics of Galaxies

Building a Radio AGN Sample from Cosmic Morning – The Radio High-Redshift Quasar Catalog (RHzQCat): I. Catalog from SDSS Quasars and Radio Surveys at $z > 3$

Radio-loud high-redshift quasars (RHRQs) provide crucial insights into the evolution of relativistic jets and their connection to the growth of supermassive black holes. Beyond the extensively studied population at $z \ge 5$, the cosmic morning epoch ($3 \lesssim z \lesssim 5$) marks the peak of active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity and black hole accretion, yet remains relatively unexplored. In this work, we compiled the radio high-redshift quasar catalog (RHzQCat) by cross-matching the SDSS DR16Q catalog with four major radio surveys – FIRST,NVSS, RACS, and GLEAM. Our tier-based cross-matching framework and visual validation ensured reliable source identification across surveys with diverse beam sizes. The catalog included 1629 reliable and 315 candidate RHRQs, with radio luminosities uniformly spanning $10^{25.5}$ – $10^{29.3}$ W Hz$^{-1}$. About 95% of the confirmed sources exhibited compact morphologies, consistent with Doppler-boosted or young AGN populations at high redshifts. Our catalog increases the number of known RHRQs at $z\ge3$ by an order of magnitude, representing the largest and most homogeneous catalog of radio quasars at cosmic morning, filling the observational gap between the early ($z>6$) and local Universe. It provides a robust reference for future statistical studies of jet evolution, AGN feedback, and cosmic magnetism with next-generation facilities such as the Square Kilometer Array (SKA).
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All authors Yingkang Zhang, Ruqiu Lin, Krisztina Perger, Sándor Frey, Tao An, Xiang Ji, Qiqi Wu, Shilong Liao

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

Conformal Holographic Dark Energy

Recent results from the DESI collaboration suggest a preference for an evolving dark energy (DE) component rather than a cosmological constant, motivating the exploration of alternative models for the background expansion. These data also reveal tension in the inferred matter density parameter – lower in DESI and higher in Planck – as well as a neutrino mass posterior that approaches the lower bounds permitted by oscillation experiments. In this work, we propose and test a conformal holographic DE (CHDE) model in which the DE density depends on a power law of the conformal time, characterized by an exponent (n). This formulation introduces a single additional parameter relative to LambdaCDM and reduces to it in the limit n = 0. We confront the CHDE model with BAO, CMB, and supernova datasets, following the same combinations used by DESI, and perform parameter inference under both flat and non-flat cosmologies. Our analyses show that LambdaCDM is not favored as the best-fit model when using CMB data alone or in joint analyses including BAO and SNla, and it is disfavored at the 4.4 sigma level for non-flat model and 4.5 sigma for the flat model. We obtain consistent values of n= -0.28 to -0.32 with uncertainties less than +-0.1 across multiple data combinations. Similar to LambdaCDM, the CHDE model predicts a lower matter density when employing DESI data instead of Planck data. This, in turn, influences the neutrino mass constraints, yielding values close to the minimal allowed range. Despite these dataset-dependent tensions, both the flat and curved CHDE models remain compatible with neutrino mass constraints from terrestrial experiments and yield posterior distributions that peaks at positive values. This behavior avoids the issue encountered in the LambdaCDM model, where the posterior peaks at negative mass values.
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Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Modeling Binary Lenses and Sources with the BAGLE Python Package

Gravitational microlensing is a powerful tool that can be used to find and measure the mass of isolated and dark compact objects. In many microlensing events, the lens, the source, or both may be a binary system. In this work, we introduce binary source and lens models into the gravitational lensing formalism encoded in the Bayesian Analysis of Gravitational Lensing Events (BAGLE) Python software package. These new binary models in BAGLE account for Keplerian orbits. We also add binary models with fewer parameters that describe the binary orbital motion as acceleration, linear, or stationary motion of the secondary companion; these are useful when the orbit has a very low eccentricity or the orbital period is much longer than the microlensing timescale. The model parameterizations based on these binary lensing equations enable joint-fitting of photometric and astrometric datasets. These binary models will be used to fit microlensing event data from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope, and other surveys.
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All authors T. Dex Bhadra, J.R. Lu, Natasha S. Abrams, Andrew Scharf, Edward Broadberry, Casey Lam, Macy J. Huston

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Voyager 1 Data Reveals Signatures of the Local Gas and Cosmic-Ray Source Distributions

We investigate the effects of the nearby interstellar medium (ISM) on the locally measured cosmic-ray (CR) spectra. Using the GALPROP code we explore how variations in the local gas and source distributions affect spectral features at low energies. Comparing with recent Voyager 1 measurements taken in the local ISM, we show that for a realistic interstellar gas distribution the data favour models in which there are no significant CR sources with ~150-200 pc of the Solar system, implying that the nearest dominant contributors to the low-energy CR flux are located at distances beyond this range. We find that the modelling supports the conclusions of Cummings et al. (2025) that there is a significant fraction of primary Boron in its observed spectrum at low energies. Our study shows that detailed modelling of the immediate Galactic environment is required to robustly infer Galactic CR propagation parameters from local measurements, and that accounting for nearby ISM structure can alleviate tensions between direct CR data and global propagation models.
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All authors Troy A. Porter, Igor V. Moskalenko, Alan C. Cummings, Gudlaugur Johannesson

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

The BAGLE Python Package for Bayesian Analysis of Gravitational Lensing Events

We present the open-source Python package, BAGLE (Bayesian Analysis of Gravitational Lensing Events), which enables modeling and joint fitting of photometric and astrometric data sets. We describe the model parameterizations and present the equations for microlensing events containing either a point-source, point-lens or a finite-source, point-lens geometry both with and without microlensing parallax due to the motion of the Earth or a satellite around the Sun. Conversions between different coordinate reference frames are also derived. We compare our model light curves to those from other papers and microlens modeling software, finding good agreement, although with some differences in finite-source models at a ~1% level detectable with upcoming observations from space-based facilities. We also use BAGLE to demonstrate the impact of changing lens mass, lens distance, and blended source flux fraction on photometric lightcurves and astrometric trajectories in preparation for upcoming Gaia data releases and the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and its Galactic Bulge Time Domain Survey (GBTDS). In particular, we show that Roman GBTDS will detect significant microlensing parallax signals for events that are 2x shorter in duration than from ground-based surveys. Additionally, long-duration events with durations of $\t_{E,\odot} >$ 100 days will yield microlensing parallax uncertainties of ${\sigma}_{\pi_E} <$ 0.01 with Roman, enabling confident identification of isolated stellar-mass black holes that can be modeled both astrometrically and photometrically with BAGLE for precise mass determinations. BAGLE is an open-source code and community development is encouraged.
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All authors J. R. Lu, M. Medford, C.Y. Lam, T.D. Bhadra, M.J. Huston, N.S. Abrams, E. Broadberry, J. Chen, S.K. Terry, N. Arredondo, A. Scharf

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

BEC vortices as an observational signature of ultra-light bosonic dark matter

Ultra-light bosonic dark matter (ULDM) is an interesting and promising dark matter candidate. While the wave-like nature of ULDM has been widely studied in the literature, we explore another distinctive feature of ULDM as Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) in this paper: the emergence of vortices in a rotating BEC-ULDM halos. Using numerical solution of the GPP equation, we demonstrate that a lattice of vortices ,underdensity columns that carry angular momentum, naturally forms in a ULDM halo under conditions similar to those of the Milky Way. Furthermore, we study the gravitational lensing by these vortices as a possible observational signature of BEC-ULDM. If the vortices are large enough and the halo's rotational axis align with the line of sight, regularly separated brightness anomalies can be produced, providing strong evidence for BEC-ULDM.
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All authors Rongzi Zhou, Dylan M. H. Leung, Jason S. C. Poon, Ming-Chung Chu

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

Forecasts for lifetime and fraction of Decaying Dark Matter based on redshift distortions from Euclid and BOSS

In this work we forecast constraints on models of decaying dark matter (DCDM) by using redshift-space-distortion (RSD) measurements implemented in a Fisher information matrix. In particular, we focus on the fraction of unstable dark matter, $\alpha_{\mathrm{dcdm}}$ respect to the ordinary CDM component, and the decay rate, $\Gamma_{\mathrm{dcdm}}$ as the key parameters of the model. Fiducial values are derived from a MontePython MCMC analysis. The derivatives of the growth-related observable, $f\sigma_8(z)$ with respect to the parameters are numerically around the fiducial model. For the Fisher analysis, we employ mock data designed for upcoming surveys, particularly Euclid and BOSS, where RSD measurements yield constraints on $f\sigma_8.$ Our results show that when both stable and unstable components are allowed, constrains on the DCDM lifetime remain weak, with $\tau_{\mathrm{dcdm}}>1.18$ Gyr. In the limiting case of fully unstable dark matter ($\alpha_{\mathrm{dcdm}}=1$), the uncertainty improves to $\tau_{\mathrm{dcdm}}>235.89$ Gyr. Our findings highlight the potential of RSD probes in testing and complementing decaying dark matter scenarios.
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Astrophysics of Galaxies

A three-dimensional model for the reversal in the local large-scale interstellar magnetic field

We probe the three-dimensional geometry of the large-scale Galactic magnetic field within 1 kpc of the Sun using the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) Global Magneto-Ionic Medium Survey (GMIMS) of the Northern Sky (DRAGONS). DRAGONS is a new full polarization survey of the Northern sky from 350 to 1030 MHz covering declinations -20{\deg} < $\delta$ < 90{\deg} and a component of GMIMS. The first moment of the Faraday depth spectra produced from DRAGONS above 500 MHz reveals large-angular-scale Faraday depth structures with signs that alternate only once in the Southern Galactic hemisphere and twice in the Northern hemisphere, patterns shared by other Faraday rotation datasets. DRAGONS is the first survey to achieve high Faraday depth resolution while maintaining sensitivity to broad Faraday depth structures, enabling the first use of Galactic longitude-Faraday depth plots. These plots reveal Faraday-complex structures across the sky, indicating a slab-like scenario in which emission and Faraday rotation are mixed. This complexity is overlaid on the same large-scale Faraday depth patterns that appear in the first moment map. We model these patterns as a magnetic reversal slicing through the disk on a diagonal and passing above the Sun in Galactic coordinates. We describe this reversal as a plane with a normal vector parallel to the line directed along ($\ell$, b) = (168.5{\deg}, -60{\deg}) and estimate its distance to be between 0.25 and 0.55 kpc. Our results show that much of the observed Faraday sky may be dominated by the local magnetic field configuration.
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All authors Rebecca A. Booth, Anna Ordog, Jo-Anne Brown, T. L. Landecker, Alex S. Hill, Jennifer L. West, Minjie Lei, S. E. Clark, Andrea Bracco, John M. Dickey, Ettore Carretti

Astrophysics of Galaxies

Radio Detection of a Local Little Red Dot

Context. One of the most important discoveries by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the unexpected existence in the Early Universe (z > 4) of very large quantities of "Little Red Dots" (LRDs), compact luminous red galaxies of intriguing physical properties. One of those intriguing properties is the absence of radio detections in high redshift LRDs. Aims. We wish to know if LRDs have radio emission that may be produced by accreting Intermediate/Supermassive Black Holes (IMBHs/SMBHs) or by frequent supernovae (SNe) from a cluster of massive stars. Methods. Assuming LRDs at high redshifts have not been detected at radio wavelengths due to their large distances and/or present limitations of observational capabilities, we analyse here archive Very Large Array radio observations of J1047+0739 and J1025+1402, two analog candidates of LRDs in the Local Universe (LLRDs) at redshifts z = 0.1 - 0.2. Results. The LLRD source J1047+0739 at z = 0.1682 is detected at 6.0 GHz in 2018 with the VLA-A (Very Large Array) as a compact source with radius less than 0.2 arcsec ($<$700 pc at d = 750 Mpc). Its flux density was 117$\pm$8 $\mu$Jy and its in-band spectral index was -0.85$\pm$0.24, which is typical of optically-thin synchrotron emission. It was also detected at 5.0 GHz in 2010 with the VLA-C, showing a flux density of 130$\pm$9 $\mu$Jy. Conclusions. The observed flux densities can be provided by either a radio luminous supernova or an accreting IMBH/SMBH. However, the lack of important variation in flux density over eight years favors the IMBH/SMBH hypothesis. Radio time monitoring of this and other LLRDs could help clarify the mystery of the radio silence of its cosmological counterparts.
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