11226958
Constraining the cosmological parameters and transition redshift with gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
A new method of measuring cosmology with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) has been proposed by Liang and Zhang recently. In this method, only observable quantities including the rest-frame peak energy of the νF ν spectrum (E' p ), the isotropic energy of GRB (E γ,iso ) and the break time of the optical afterglow light curves in the rest frame (t' b ) are used. By considering this method, we constrain the cosmological parameters and the redshift at which the Universe expanded from the deceleration to acceleration phase. We add five recently detected GRBs to the sample and derive E γ,iso /10 52 erg = (0.93 ± 0.25) (E' p /100 keV) 1.91±0.32 (t'b/1d) -0.93±0.38 for a flat universe with Ω M = 0.28 and H 0 = 71.0km s -1 Mpc -1 . This relation is independent of the medium density around bursts and the efficiency of conversion of the explosion energy to gamma-ray energy. We consider the E γ,iso (E' p , t' b ) relationship as a standard candle and find 0.05 < Ω M < 0.48 and Ω Λ < 1.15 (at the la confidence level). In a flat universe with the cosmological constant, we obtain 0.25 < Ω M < 0.46 and 0.54 < Ω Λ < 0.78 at the la confidence level. The transition redshift is z T = 0.69 +0.11 -0.12 . Combining 20 GRBs with 157 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), we find Ω M = 0.29 ± 0.03 for a flat universe and the transition redshift is z T = 0.61 +0.06 -0.05 , which is slightly larger than the value found by considering SNe Ia alone. In particular, we also discuss several dark-energy models in which the equation of state w(z) is parametrized, and investigate constraints on the cosmological parameters in detail.
118854953
High-redshift star formation rate up to z~8.3 derived from gamma-ray bursts and influence of background cosmology
The high-redshift star formation rate (SFR) is difficult to measure directly even by modern approaches. Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) can be detected to the edge of the visible universe because of their high luminosities. The collapsar model of long GRBs indicates that they may trace the star formation history. So, long GRBs may be a useful tool of measuring the high-redshift SFR. Observations show that long GRBs prefer to form in a low-metallicity environment. We study the high-redshift SFR up to z∼ 8.3 considering the Swift GRBs tracing the star formation history and the cosmic metallicity evolution in different background cosmological models including Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM), quintessence, quintessence with a time-varying equation of state and brane-world model. We use latest Swift GRBs including two highest-z GRBs, GRB 080913 at z= 6.7 and GRB 090423 at z= 8.3. We find that the SFR at z > 4 shows a steep decay with a slope of ∼−5.0 in ΛCDM. In the other three models, the high-redshift SFR is slightly different from ΛCDM model and also shows a steep decay.
18159661
Constraining Dark Energy and Cosmological Transition Redshift with Type Ia Supernovae
The property of dark energy and the physical reason for the acceleration of the present universe are two of the most difficult problems in modern cosmology. The dark energy contributes about two-thirds of the critical density of the present universe from the observations of type-Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and anisotropy of cosmic microwave background (CMB). The SN Ia observations also suggest that the universe expanded from a deceleration to an acceleration phase at some redshift, implying the existence of a nearly uniform component of dark energy with negative pressure. We use the ``Gold'' sample containing 157 SNe Ia and two recent well-measured additions, SNe Ia 1994ae and 1998aq to explore the properties of dark energy and the transition redshift. For a flat universe with the cosmological constant, we measure Ω M = 0.28 −0.05 +0.04 , which is consistent with Riess et al. The transition redshift is z T = 0.60 −0.08 +0.06 . We also discuss several dark energy models that define w ( z ) of the parameterized equation of state of dark energy including one parameter and two parameters ( w ( z ) being the ratio of the pressure to energy density). Our calculations show that the accurately calculated transition redshift varies from z T = 0.29 −0.06 +0.07 to z T = 0.60 −0.08 +0.06 across these models. We also calculate the minimum redshift z c at which the current observations need the universe to accelerate.
124365356
Current constraints on early dark energy and growth index using latest observations
Aims. In this paper we study observational constraints on early dark energy model proposed by Doran & Robbers and growth index using the latest Union2 type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) in the large-scale correlation function of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Two-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey, cosmic microwave background (CMB) from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe seven-year data, the linear growth factors data and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Methods. By using the χ 2 statics method, we constrain the early dark energy model and growth factor from the above datasets. When including the GRB data, we use the cosmographic parameters to calibrate the GRB luminosity relations using SNe Ia. Results. At 2σ confidence level, we find that the fractional dark energy density at early times is Ω e < 0.05 using SNe Ia, CMB and BAO. When we include high-redshift probes, such as measurements of the linear growth factors and GRBs, the constraint is tightened considerably and becomes Ω e < 0.03 at 2σ confidence level. We also discuss the growth rate index γ .W e f indγ = 0.661 +0.302 −0.203 (1σ) using the SNe Ia, CMB, BAO and linear growth factor data. After including high-redshift GRB data, the growth index is γ = 0.653 +0.372 −0.363 .
119245048
An Evolving Stellar Initial Mass Function and the Gamma-ray Burst Redshift Distribution
Recent studies suggest that Swift gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) may not trace an ordinary star formation history (SFH). Here, we show that the GRB rate turns out to be consistent with the SFH with an evolving stellar initial mass function (IMF). We first show that the latest Swift sample of GRBs reveals an increasing evolution in the GRB rate relative to the ordinary star formation rate at high redshifts. We then assume only massive stars with masses greater than the critical value to produce GRBs and use an evolving stellar IMF suggested by Dave to fit the latest GRB redshift distribution. This evolving IMF would increase the relative number of massive stars, which could lead to more GRB explosions at high redshifts. We find that the evolving IMF can well reproduce the observed redshift distribution of Swift GRBs.
44994799
Internal shock model for the X-ray flares of Swift J1644+57
Swift J1644+57 is an unusual transient event, likely powered by the tidal disruption of a star by a massive black hole. Multiple short time-scale X-ray flares were seen over a span of several days. We propose that these flares could be produced by internal shocks. In the internal shock model, the forward and reverse shocks are produced by collisions between relativistic shells ejected from a central engine. The synchrotron emission from the forward and reverse shocks could dominate in two quite different energy bands; under some conditions, the relativistic reverse shock dominates the X-ray emission and the Newtonian forward shock dominates the infrared and optical emission. We show that the spectral energy distribution of Swift J1644+57 could be explained by an internal shock model.
14421267
Constraining the evolution of dark energy with type Ia supernovae and gamma-ray bursts
Aims. The behavior of the dark energy equation of state (EOS) is crucial in distinguishing different cosmological models. With a model independent approach, we constrain the possible evolution of the dark energy EOS. Methods. Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) of redshifts up to z > 6 are used, in addition to type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). We separate the redshifts into 4 bins and assume a constant EOS parameter for dark energy in each bin. The EOS parameters are decorrelated by diagonalizing the covariance matrix. And the evolution of dark energy is estimated out of the uncorrelated EOS parameters. Results. By including GRB luminosity data, we significantly reduce the confidence interval of the uncorrelated EOS parameter whose contribution mostly comes from the redshift bin of 0.5 < z < 1.8. At high redshift where we only have GRBs, the constraints on the dark energy EOS are still very weak. However, we can see an obvious cut at about zero in the probability plot of the EOS parameter, from which we can infer that the ratio of dark energy to matter most probably continues to decrease beyond redshift 1.8. We carried out analyses with and without including the latest BAO measurements, which themselves favor a dark energy EOS of w< −1. If they are included, the results show some evidence of an evolving dark energy EOS. If not included, however, the results are consistent with the cosmological constant within 1σ for redshift 0 < z 0. 5a nd 2σ for 0.5 z < 1.8.
13499411
Observation of cocurrent toroidal rotation in the EAST tokamak with lower-hybrid current drive.
Lower-hybrid waves have been shown to induce a cocurrent change in toroidal rotation of up to 40  km/s in the L-mode plasma core region and 20  km/s in the edge of the EAST tokamak. This modification of toroidal rotation develops on different time scales. For the edge, the time scale is no more than 100 ms, but for the core the time scale is around 1 s. A simple model based on turbulent equipartition and thermoelectric pinch predicts the experimental results.
122814293
Constraints on generalized Chaplygin gas model including gamma-ray bursts
Generalized Chaplygin gas (whose equation of state is p GCG = − A/ρ α G CG ) was proposed as a candidate for uni fi cation of dark energy and dark matter. We investigate constraints on this model with the latest observed data. We test the model with type-Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy, X-ray gas mass fractions in clusters, and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We calibrate the GRB luminosity relations without assuming any cosmological models using SNe Ia. We show that GRBs can extend the Hubble diagram to higher redshifts ( z > 6 ). The GRB Hubble diagram is well behaved and delineates the shape of the Hubble diagram well. We measure A s ≡ A /ρ α +1 GCG , 0 = 0 . 68 +0 . 04 − 0 . 08 (where ρ GCG , 0 is the energy density today) and α = − 0 . 22 +0 . 15 − 0 . 13 at the 1 σ con fi dence level using all the datasets. Our results rule out the standard Chaplygin gas model ( α = 1 ) at the 3 σ con fi dence level. The Λ CDM is allowed at the 2 σ con fi dence level. We fi nd that acceleration could have started at a redshift of z ∼ 0 . 70 . The concordance of the generalized Chaplygin gas model with the age estimate of an old high redshift quasar is found. In addition, we show that GRBs can break the degeneracy between the generalized Chaplygin gas model and the XCDM model.
199676816
Discovering the missing bright quasars at intermediate redshifts based on the optical/near-IR color selections
119266561
R-matrix electron-impact excitation data for astrophysically abundant sulphur ions
We present results for the electron-impact excitation of highly-charged sulphur ions (S 8+ –S 11+ ) obtained using the intermediatecoupling frame transformation R-matrix approach. A detailed comparison of the target structure has been made for the four ions to