119276511
Dependence of direct detection signals on the WIMP velocity distribution
The signals expected in WIMP direct detection experiments depend on the ultra-local dark matter distribution. Observations probe the local density, circular speed and escape speed, while simulations find velocity distributions that deviate significantly from the standard Maxwellian distribution. We calculate the energy, time and direction dependence of the event rate for a range of velocity distributions motivated by recent observations and simulations, and also investigate the uncertainty in the determination of WIMP parameters. The dominant uncertainties are the systematic error in the local circular speed and whether or not the MW has a high density dark disc. In both cases there are substantial changes in the mean differential event rate and the annual modulation signal, and hence exclusion limits and determinations of the WIMP mass. The uncertainty in the shape of the halo velocity distribution is less important, however it leads to a ~ 5% systematic error in the WIMP mass. The detailed direction dependence of the event rate is sensitive to the velocity distribution. However the numbers of events required to detect anisotropy and confirm the median recoil direction do not change substantially.
16034831
Probing the width of the MACHO mass function
The simplest interpretation of the microlensing events observed towards the Large Magellanic Cloud is that approximately half of the mass of the Milky Way halo is in the form of MAssive Compact Halo Objects with $M \sim 0.5 M_{\odot}$. This poses severe problems for stellar MACHO candidates, and leads to the consideration of more exotic objects such as primordial black holes (PBHs). Constraining the MACHO mass function will shed light on their nature. Using the current data we find, for four halo models, the best fit delta-function, power law and PBH mass functions. The best fit PBH mass functions, despite having significant finite width, have likelihoods which are similar to, and for one particular halo model greater than, those of the best fit delta functions. We also find that if the correct halo model is known then $\sim$ 500 events will be sufficient to determine whether the MACHO mass function has significant width, and will also allow determination of the mass function parameters to $\sim 5%$.
119021467
PRIMORDIAL BLACK HOLES AND EARLY COSMOLOGY
We describe the changes to the standard primordial black hole constraints on density perturbations if there are modifications to the standard cosmology between the time of formation and nucleosynthesis.
55672557
WIMP physics with ensembles of direct-detection experiments
if dierent classes of experiments see consistent signals and infer the same WIMP properties. In this work, we review the ideas, methods, and status of direct-detection searches. We focus in particular on extracting WIMP physics (WIMP interactions and phase-space distribution) from direct-detection data in the early discovery days when multiple experiments see of order dozens to hundreds of events. To demonstrate the essential complementarity of dierent direct-detection experiments in this context, we create mock data intended to represent the data from the near-future Generation 2 experiments. We consider both conventional supersymmetry-inspired benchmark points (with spin-independent and -dependent elastic cross sections just below current limits), as well as benchmark points for other classes of models (inelastic and eective-operator paradigms). We also investigate the eect on parameter estimation of loosening or dropping the assumptions about the local WIMP phase-space distribution. We arrive at two main conclusions. Firstly, teasing out WIMP physics with experiments depends critically on having a wide set of detector target materials, spanning a large range of target nuclear masses and spin-dependent sensitivity. It is also highly desirable to obtain data from low-threshold experiments. Secondly, a general reconstruction of the local WIMP velocity distribution, which will only be achieved if there are multiple experiments using dierent target materials, is critical to obtaining a robust and unbiased estimate of the WIMP mass.
117989592
Extracting Information about WIMP Properties from Direct Detection Experiments: Astrophysical Uncertainties
WIMP direct detection experiments probe the ultra-local dark matter density and velocity distribution. We review how uncertainties in these quantities affect the accuracy with which the WIMP mass and cross-section can be constrained or determined.
8787684
Determining the WIMP mass from a single direct detection experiment
The energy spectrum of nuclear recoils in Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) direct detection experiments depends on the underlying WIMP mass (strongly for light WIMPs, weakly for heavy WIMPs). We discuss how the accuracy with which the WIMP mass could be determined by a single direct detection experiment depends on the detector configuration and the WIMP properties. In particular we examine the effects of varying the underlying WIMP mass, the detector target nucleus, exposure, energy threshold and maximum energy, the local velocity distribution and the background event rate and spectrum.
123234385
Nonthermal X-Ray Emission from the Shell-Type Supernova Remnant G347.3-0.5
Recent ASCA observations of G347.3-0.5, a supernova remnant (SNR) discovered in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey, reveal nonthermal emission from a region along the northwestern shell. Here we report on new pointed ASCA observations of G347.3-0.5 that confirm this result for all the bright shell regions and also reveal similar emission, although with slightly different spectral properties, from the remainder of the SNR. Curiously, no thermal X-ray emission is detected anywhere in the remnant. We derive limits on the amount of thermal emitting material present in G347.3-0.5 and present new radio continuum, CO, and infrared results that indicate that the remnant is distant and of moderate age. We show that our observations are broadly consistent with a scenario that has most of the supernova remnant shock wave still within the stellar wind bubble of its progenitor star, while part of it appears to be interacting with denser material. A point source at the center of the remnant has spectral properties similar to those expected for a neutron star and may represent the compact relic of the supernova progenitor.
84177776
A multiwavelength study of the radio source G296.7−0.9: confirmation as a Galactic supernova remnant
We present a multi-wavelength study of the radio source G296.7-0.9. This source has a bilateral radio morphology, a radio spectral index of 0.5 ± 0.1, sparse patches of linear polarisation, and thermal X-rays with a bright arc near the radio boundary. Considering these characteristics, we conclude that G296.7-0.9 is a supernova remnant (SNR). The age and morphology of the SNR in the context of its environment suggest that the source is co-located with an Hii region, and that portions of the shock front have broken out into a lower density medium. We see no evidence for a neutron star or pulsar wind nebula associated with SNR G296.7-0.9.
14984275
SNR G320.4–01.2 and PSR B1509–58: new radio observations of a complex interacting system
We describe radio continuum and spectral-line observations of the source G320.4–01.2 (MSH 15–52) and the coincident young pulsar B1509–58 made with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. Based on a comparison between X-ray and radio observations, we argue that the two main radio components of G320.4–01.2 are a single supernova remnant (SNR), which H I absorption indicates is at a distance of 5.2 ± 1.4 kpc. A high-resolution correspondence between radio and X-rays argues that the pulsar is interacting with the SNR via an opposed pair of collimated outflows. The outflow itself is seen as an elongated X-ray feature surrounded by a highly polarized radio sheath, while the interaction with the SNR manifests itself as a ring of radio/X-ray knots within the optical nebula RCW 89. We reject the hypothesis that the pulsar outflow powers the entire RCW 89 region. 
 
 
 
SNR G320.4–01.2 and PSR B1509–58 agree in distance and in rotation measure, and appear to be interacting. We thus conclude that the two objects are associated and have an age of 1700 yr. We propose that the SNR resulted from a high-energy or low-mass supernova that occurred near the edge of an elongated cavity. Such a model can account for the bilateral appearance of the SNR, its large apparent age, the significant offset of the pulsar from the centre of the SNR and the faintness of the pulsar-powered nebula at radio wavelengths.
16871130
Observations of the neutral hydrogen surrounding the radio-quiet neutron star RX J0822-4300 in Puppis A
We have observed the H I distribution in an area 40 × 40 arcmin 2 around the neutron star candidate RX J0822-4300, which is located in the supernova remnant Puppis A. The observations of the λ21-cm line were obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array and were combined with single-dish data from the Southern Galactic Plane Survey. The spatial resolution is 90 arcsec, and the velocity resolution is 1 km s - 1 . A sensitivity of ∼0.7 K was achieved. The results revealed a double-lobed feature of reduced emission at +16 km s - 1 , centred on the central compact object (CCO), and aligned with an H I hole blueshifted by 13 km s - 1 . The H I depressions have probably been created by the sweeping up of ∼2 M O .. The alignment between the lobes and the optical expansion centre of Puppis A suggests that the CCO could be ejecting two opposite jets. The velocity at which the two lobes are best defined has allowed us to confirm that the distance to Puppis A is 2.2 kpc, based on a systemic velocity of +16 km s - 1 . The hydrogen column density computed using this systemic velocity is consistent with estimates from models for X-ray spectra, thus reinforcing our conclusion that the kinematic distance is 2.2 kpc.
17041309
Magnetically Dominated Strands of Cold Hydrogen in the Riegel-Crutcher Cloud
We present new high-resolution (100'') neutral hydrogen (H I) self-absorption images of the Riegel-Crutcher cloud obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array and the Parkes Radio Telescope. The Riegel-Crutcher cloud lies in the direction of the Galactic center at a distance of 125 ± 25 pc. Our observations resolve the very large, nearby sheet of cold hydrogen into a spectacular network of dozens of hairlike filaments. Individual filaments are remarkably elongated, being up to 17 pc long with widths of less than ~0.1 pc. The strands are reasonably cold, with spin temperatures of ~40 K and in many places appearing to have optical depths larger than 1. Comparing the H I images with observations of stellar polarization, we show that the filaments are very well aligned with the ambient magnetic field. We argue that the structure of the cloud has been determined by its magnetic field. In order for the cloud to be magnetically dominated the magnetic field strength must be >30 μG.