15203093
G332.5−5.6, a new Galactic supernova remnant
We present radio observations of the source G332.5–5.6, a candidate supernova remnant (SNR). Observations have been performed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at two frequencies, at 1.4 and 2.4 GHz. Our results confirm that G332.5–5.6 is an SNR, with a spectral index α = 0.7±0.2 for the whole source and an average fractional polarization of � 35% at 2.4 GHz. The central component is coincident with extended X-ray emission and the distance to the SNR is estimated to be � 3.4 kpc. Based on its radio and X-ray morphology, this SNR should be classified as a composite, and we suggest that it belongs to a trident-shaped subclass like G291.0–0.1.
16776986
The Southern Galactic Plane Survey: the test region
The Southern Galactic Plane Survey (SGPS) is a project to image the H I line emission and 1.4 GHz continuum in the fourth quadrant of the Milky Way at high resolution using the Australia Telescope Compact Array and the Parkes Radio Telescope. This paper describes the survey details and goals, presents 21 cm continuum data, and discusses H I absorption and emission characteristics of the SGPS test region (325.5d<=l<=333.5d -0.5d<=b<=+3.5d). We explore the effects of massive stars on the interstellar medium through a study of H I shells and the H I environments of H II regions and supernova remnants (SNRs). We find an H I shell surrounding the H II region RCW 94, which indicates that the region is embedded in a molecular cloud. We give lower limits for the kinematic distances to SNRs G327.4+0.4 and G330.2+1.0 of 4.3 and 4.9 kpc, respectively. We find evidence of interaction with the surrounding H I for both of these remnants. We also present images of a possible new SNR G328.6-0.0. Additionally, we have discovered two small H I shells with no counterparts in continuum emission.
16815360
H I-bright Galaxies in the Southern Zone of Avoidance
A blind survey for H I–bright galaxies in the southern zone of avoidance (212° ≤ l ≤ 36°, |b| ≤ 5°) has been made with the 21 cm multibeam receiver on the Parkes 64 m radio telescope. The survey, sensitive to normal spiral galaxies to a distance of ~40 Mpc and more nearby dwarfs, detected 110 galaxies. Of these, 67 have no counterparts cataloged in the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. In general, the uncataloged galaxies lie behind thicker obscuration than do the cataloged objects. All the newly discovered galaxies have H I flux integrals that are more than an order of magnitude lower than those of the Circinus galaxy. The survey recovers the Puppis Cluster and foreground group, and the Local Void remains empty. The H I mass function derived for the sample is satisfactorily fitted by a Schechter function with parameters α = 1.51 ± 0.12, Φ* = 0.006 ± 0.003, and log M* = 9.7 ± 0.10.
7431869
Magnetic fields and ionized gas in the inner galaxy: An outer scale for turbulence and the possible role of H II regions
We present an analysis of rotation measure (RM) fluctuations from the test region of the Southern Galactic Plane Survey (SGPS), along with emission measure (EM) fluctuations in the same field taken from the Southern H? Sky Survey Atlas. The structure function of RM fluctuations shows a relatively steep slope at small scales (1'-5'), a break in slope to a flatter structure function at intermediate scales (5'-60'), and a systematic variation of the strength of fluctuations as a function of position angle on the sky at the largest scales (60'-200'). The structure function of EM fluctuations shows similar behavior, although the lower resolution of the data prevents detection of a possible break in the spectrum. We interpret the anisotropy in RM/EM structure on large scales as resulting from a large-scale gradient in electron density (and possibly magnetic field) across the region. The break in the slope of the RM structure function at scales of ~5' can be explained by contributions from two spatially distinct magnetoionized screens, most likely in the Local and Carina spiral arms. The observed structure function then implies that the outer scale of RM fluctuations in these screens is ~2 pc. Such behavior is in striking contrast to the expectation that interstellar turbulence forms an unbroken spectrum from kiloparsec down to AU scales. We conclude that we have identified an additional source of enhanced turbulence, injected on scales of a few pc, possibly seen only in the Galactic plane. The most likely source of such turbulence is individual H II regions from relatively low mass stars, whose characteristic scale size is similar to the outer scale of turbulence inferred here. These sources may be the dominant source of density and velocity fluctuations in warm ionized gas in the Galactic plane.
117355245
Radio Observations of Masers in Post-AGB Stars
We present observations of 86 post-Asymptotic Giant Branch (post-AGB) stars of OH maser transitions, taken with the Parkes Telescope between September 2002 and August 2003. Post-AGB stars are the precursors of planetary nebulae, which have a wide range of morphologies that are not well explained. By studying the circumstellar envelopes of post-AGB stars through the masers produced in them, we hope to shed light on the origin of planetary nebula morphologies.
118984034
The Molonglo Galactic Plane Survey. I. Overview and Images
The first-epoch Molonglo Galactic Plane Survey is a radio continuum survey made using the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope at 843 MHz with a resolution of 43''×43'' csc|δ|. The region surveyed is 245°≤l≤355°, |b|≤1.5°. The 13 9°×3° mosaic images presented here are the superposition of over 450 complete synthesis observations, each taking 12 h and covering a field of 70'×70' csc|δ|. The root-mean-square sensitivity over much of the mosaicked survey is 1-2 mJy beam-1 (1 σ), and the positional accuracy is ≈ 1''×1'' csc|δ| for sources brighter than 20 mJy. The dynamic range is no better than 250:1, and this also constrains the sensitivity in some parts of the images. The survey area of 330 deg2 contains well over 1.2×104 unresolved or barely resolved objects, almost all of which are extragalactic sources lying in the zone of avoidance. In addition, a significant fraction of this area is covered by extended, diffuse emission associated with thermal complexes, discrete H II regions, supernova remnants, and other structures in the Galactic interstellar medium.
117822403
The first WIMPy halos
The dark matter distribution on small scales may depend on the properties of the first generation of dark matter halos to form, which is in turn determined by the microphysics of the dark matter particles. We overview the microphysics of WIMPs and the calculation of the collisional damping and free streaming scales. We then present the resulting density perturbation power spectrum and the red‐shift at which typical halos form, taking into account the effect of uncertainties in the WIMP properties (mass and interaction channel) and the primordial power spectrum. Finally we review simulations of the formation of the first WIMPy halos and discuss their subsequent evolution, in particular disruption due to encounters with stars.
118428911
Gamma rays from ultracompact minihalos: Potential constraints on the primordial curvature perturbation
Ultracompact minihalos (UCMHs) are dense dark matter structures, which can form from large density perturbations shortly after matter-radiation equality. If dark matter is in the form of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), then UCMHs may be detected via their gamma-ray emission. We investigate how the Fermi satellite could constrain the abundance of UCMHs and place limits on the power spectrum of the primordial curvature perturbation. Detection by Fermi would put a lower limit on the UCMH halo fraction. The smallest detectable halo fraction f{sub UCMH} > or approx. 10{sup -7} is for M{sub UCMH{approx}}10{sup 3}M{sub {center_dot}}. If gamma-ray emission from UCMHs is not detected, an upper limit can be placed on the halo fraction. The bound is tightest f{sub UCMH} < or approx. 10{sup -5} for M{sub UCMH{approx}}10{sup 5}M{sub {center_dot}}. The resulting upper limit on the power spectrum of the primordial curvature perturbation in the event of nondetection is in the range P{sub R} < or approx. 10{sup -6.5}-10{sup -6} on scales k{approx}10{sup 1}-10{sup 6} Mpc{sup -1}. This is substantially tighter than the existing constraints from primordial black hole formation on these scales; however, it assumes that dark matter is in the form of WIMPs, and UCMHs are not disruptedmore » during the formation of the Milky Way halo.« less
14076551
On mini‐halo encounters with stars
We study, analytically and numerically, the energy input into dark matter mini-haloes by interactions with stars. We find that the fractional energy input in simulations of Plummer spheres agrees well with the impulse approximation for small and large impact parameters, with a rapid transition between these two regimes. Using the impulse approximation, the fractional energy input at large impact parameters is fairly independent of the mass and density profiles of the mini-halo; however, low-mass mini-haloes experience a greater fractional energy input in close encounters. We formulate a fitting function which encodes these results and use it to estimate the disruption time-scales of mini-haloes, taking into account the stellar velocity dispersion and mass distribution. For mini-haloes with mass formula on typical orbits which pass through the disc, we find that the estimated disruption time-scales are independent of mini-halo mass, and are of the order of the age of the Milky Way. For more massive mini-haloes, the estimated disruption time-scales increase rapidly with increasing mass.
119401808
SPHERICAL STATISTICS FOR WIMP DIRECT DETECTION
9431739
New calculation of the mass fraction of primordial black holes
We revisit the calculation of the abundance of primordial black holes (PBHs) formed from primordial density perturbations, using a formation criterion derived by Shibata and Sasaki which refers to a metric perturbation variable rather than the usual density contrast. We implement a derivation of the PBH abundance which uses peaks theory, and compare it to the standard calculation based on a Press-Schechter-like approach. We find that the two are in reasonable agreement if the Press-Schechter threshold is in the range Δth≃0.3 to 0.5, but advocate use of the peaks theory expression which is based on a sounder theoretical footing.