Investigation of the ^(121)Sb(α,γ)^(125)I reaction cross-section calculations at astrophysical energies

Proton-rich nuclei are synthesized via photodisintegration and reverse reactions.To examine this mechanism and reproduce the observed p-nucleus abundances,it is crucial to know the reaction rates and thereby the reaction cross sections of many isotopes.Given that the number of experiments on the reactions in astrophysical energy regions is very rare,the reaction cross sections are determined by theoretical methods whose accuracy should be tested.In this study,given that ^(121)Sb is a stable seed isotope located in the region of medium-mass p-nuclei,we investigated the cross sections and reaction rates of the ^(121)Sb(α,γ)^(125)I reaction using the TALYS computer code with 432 different combinations of input parameters(OMP,LDM,and SFM).The optimal model combinations were determined using the threshold logic unit method.The theoretical reaction cross-sectional results were compared with the experimental results reported in the literature.The reaction rates were determined using the two input parameter sets most compatible with the measurements,and they were compared with the reaction rate databases:STARLIB and REACLIB.

High-Resolution Broadband Millimeter-Wave Astrophysical Spectrometer with Triple Product Acousto-Optical Processor

An advanced conceptual design of a high-bit-rate triple product acousto-optical processor is presented that can be applied in a number of astrophysical problems. We briefly describe the Large Millimeter Telescope as one of the potential observational infrastructures where the acousto-optical spectrometer can be successfully used. A summary on the study of molecular gas in relatively old (age > 10 Myr) disks around main sequence stars is provided. We have identified this as one of the science cases in which the proposed processor can have a big impact. Then we put forward triple product acousto-optical processor is able to realize algorithm of the space-and-time integrating, which is desirable for a wideband spectrum analysis of radio-wave signals with an improved resolution providing the resolution power of about 105 - 106. It includes 1D-acousto-optic cells as the input devices for a 2D-optical data processing. The importance of this algorithm is based on exploiting the chirp Z-transform technique providing a 2D-Fourier transform of the input signals. The system produces the folded spectrum, accumulating advantages of both space and time integrating. Its frequency bandwidth is practically equal to the bandwidth of transducers inherent in acousto-optical cells. Then, similar processor is able to provide really high frequency resolution, which is practically equal to the reciprocal of the CCD-matrix photo-detector integration time. Here, the current state of developing the triple product acousto-optical processor in frames of the astrophysical instrumentation is shortly discussed.

Mass-to-Energy Conversion, the Astrophysical Mechanism

A new interpretation of the relativistic equation relating total-, momentum-, and mass-energies is presented. With the aid of the familiar energy-relationship triangle, old and new interpretations are compared. And the key difference is emphasized—apparent relativity versus intrinsic relativity. Mass-to-energy conversion is then brought about by adopting a three-part strategy: 1) Make the motion relative to the universal space medium. This allows the introduction of the concept of intrinsic energy (total, kinetic, and mass energies) as counterpart to the apparent version. 2) Recognize that a particle’s mass property diminishes with increase in speed. This means introducing the concept of intrinsic mass (which varies with intrinsic speed). 3) Impose a change in the particle’s gravitational environment. Instead of applying an electromagnetic accelerating force or energy in order to alter the particle’s total energy, there will simply be an environmental change. Thus, it is shown how to use relativity equations and relativistic motion—in a way that exploits the distinction between apparent and innate levels of reality—to explain the mass-to-energy-conversion mechanism. Moreover, the mechanism explains the 100-percent conversion of mass to energy;which, in turn, leads to an explanation of the mechanism driving astrophysical jets.

Useful Life of Astrophysical Scientific Facilities

Large-scale astrophysical facilities have become increasingly relevant in certain key areas of scientific research but typically require strong financial investments. It is, therefore, crucial to gain a deep understanding of what could be a foreseeable lifespan of a given instrument before providing the required fund to build it. In this paper, we intend to contribute to this understanding with a study of the lifespan of past, current and future observatories and telescopes. The methodology has been based on the compilation of relevant data from twenty telescopes, three of them mounted on space satellites and the other seventeen distributed worldwide. An analysis of the main limiting factors that affect the lifetime of an astrophysical facility is also presented.

Black Sun: Ocular Invisibility of Relativistic Luminous Astrophysical Bodies

Considered as a gedanken experiment are the conditions under which the relativistic Doppler shifting of visible electromagnetic radiation to beyond the human ocular range could reduce the incident radiance of the source, and render a luminous astrophysical body (LAB) invisible to a naked eye. This paper determines the proper distance as a function of relativistic velocity at which a luminous object attains ocular invisibility.

Chemical bonding in representative astrophysically relevant neutral,cation,and anion HC_(n)H chains

Most existing studies assign a polyynic and cumulenic character of chemical bonding in carbon-based chains relying on values of the bond lengths.Building on our recent work,in this paper we add further evidence on the limitations of such an analysis and demonstrate the significant insight gained via natural bond analysis.Presently reported results include atomic charges,natural bond order and valence indices obtained from ab initio computations for representative members of the astrophysically relevant neutral and charged HC_(2k/2k+1)H chain family.They unravel a series of counter-intuitive aspects and/or help naive intuition in properly understanding microscopic processes,e.g.,electron removal from or electron attachment to a neutral chain.Demonstrating that the Wiberg indices adequately quantify the chemical bonding structure of the HC_(2k/2k+1)H chains—while the often heavily advertised Mayer indices do not—represents an important message conveyed by the present study.

Final results of the first phase of the PROTO-SPHERA experiment: obtainment of the full current stable screw pinch and first evidences of the jet + torus combined plasma configuration

In astrophysics, the boundary conditions for plasma phenomena are provided by nature and the astronomer faces the problem of understanding them from a variety of observations [Hester J J et al 1996 Astrophys. J. 456 225], on the other hand, in laboratory plasma experiments the electromagnetic boundary conditions become a major problem in the set-up of the machine that produces the plasma, an issue that has to be investigated step by step and to be modified and adapted with great patience, in particular in the case of an innovative plasma confinement experiment. The PROTO-SPHERA machine [Alladio F et al 2006 Nucl. Fusion 46 S613] is a magnetic confinement experiment, that emulates in the laboratory the jet + torus plasma configurations often observed in astrophysics: an inner magnetized jet of plasma centered on the(approximate) axis of symmetry and surrounded by a magnetized plasma torus orthogonal to this jet. The PROTO-SPHERA plasma is simply connected, i.e., no metal current conducting rod is linked to the plasma torus, while instead it is the inner magnetized plasma jet(in the following always called the plasma centerpost) that is linked to the torus. It is mandatory that no spurious plasma current path modifies the optimal shape of the plasma centerpost. Moreover, as the plasma torus is produced and sustained, in absence of any applied inductive electric field, by the inner plasma centerpost through magnetic reconnections [Taylor J B and Turner M F 1989 Nucl.Fusion 29 219], it is required as well that spurious current paths do not surround the torus on its outboard, in order not to lower the efficiency of the magnetic reconnections that maintain the plasma torus at the expense of the plasma centerpost. Boundary conditions have been corrected,up to the point that the first sustainment in steady state has been achieved for the combined plasma.

Testing fundamental physics with astrophysical transients

Explosive astrophysical transients at cosmological distances can be used to place precision tests of the basic assumptions of relativity theory,such as Lorentz invariance,the photon zero-mass hypothesis,and the weak equivalence principle(WEP).Signatures of Lorentz invariance violations(LIV)include vacuum dispersion and vacuum birefringence.Sensitive searches for LIV using astrophysical sources such as gamma-ray bursts,active galactic nuclei,and pulsars are discussed.The most direct consequence of a nonzero photon rest mass is a frequency dependence in the velocity of light propagating in vacuum.A detailed representation of how to obtain a combined severe limit on the photon mass using fast radio bursts at different redshifts through the dispersion method is presented.The accuracy of the WEP has been well tested based on the Shapiro time delay of astrophysical messengers traveling through a gravitational field.Some caveats of Shapiro delay tests are discussed.In this article,we review and update the status of astrophysical tests of fundamental physics.

A Model for a Dual Universe

A model for a dual universe is proposed, based on the assumption that simultaneously with our universe an anti-matter counterpart was initiated immediately following the Big Bang. At the heart of the model is a primordial anti-particle that differentiates itself from its counterpart, a previously hypothesized S-particle responsible for the formation of our own universe, through its course of rotation. The angular rotation of the anti-particle, in accordance with space-time rotation, together with the counter rotation of the S-particle, resulted in a time difference in the formation processes of both universes and consequently led to a large distance between the spatial locations occupied by our universe and its dual counterpart in the same space-time continuum. The existence of this anti-matter universe might solve the present mystery of matter anti-matter asymmetry and thus explain why hardly any free anti-matter can be observed in our universe. Moreover, the model implicates the possibility of the presence of a repulsive gravitational force exerted by the clusters of anti-particles in the anti-matter universe upon our universe. The repulsive gravitational force from the clusters of antiparticles in the dual universe as a whole upon our universe is completely different from the electrostatic repulsive force between similarly charged particles. It is also different from that due to possible gravitational or anti-gravitational interaction between individual matter and antimatter or particle and its antiparticle that might violate the CPT invariance, the theory of general relativity or the law of energy conservation. It is rather, a kind of negative gravity that affects our universe as a whole, due to the opposite course of rotation of the dual anti-universe relative to ours. The effect of this opposite rotation of the dual universe can cause anti-gravitational waves that penetrate our universe interacting with the space-time mesh around the galaxies in our universe as a whole, resulting in a negative-like curvature in the shape of the space around them. This negative curvature pushes the galaxies outward, away from each other, leading to the accelerated expansion of our universe. The continuous anti-gravitational waves that permeate and fill our universe might cause a constant background ripples (space fluctuations) in the space of our solar system that can be experimentally observed. The repulsive force exerted by our dual universe could together with the expansion of space-time, influence our universe and might yield more insight on the origin of dark energy. .

Calculation of astrophysical reaction rate of ^(82)Ge(n,γ)^(83)Ge

The neutron capture reaction on a neutron-rich near closed-shell nucleus 82Ge may play an important role in the r-process following the fallout from nuclear statistical equilibrium in core-collapse supernovae. By carrying out a DWBA analysis for the experimental angular distribution of 82Ge(d, p)83Ge reaction we obtain the single particle spectroscopic factors, S2,5/2 and S0,1/2 for the ground and first excited states of 83Ge=82Gen, respectively. And then these spectroscopic factors are used to calculate the direct capture cross sections for the 82Ge(n, γ)83Ge reaction at energies of astrophysical interest. The optical potential for neutron scattering on unstable nucleus 82Ge is not known experimentally. We employed a real folding potential which was calculated by using the proper 82Ge density distribution and an effective nucleon-nucleon force DDM3Y. The neutron capture reactions on neutron-rich closed-shell nuclei are expected to be dominated by the direct capture to bound states. We will show that the direct capture rates on these nuclei are sensitive to the structure of the low-lying states.

Modified astrophysical S-factor of 12C+12C fusion reaction at sub-barrier energies

The 12C+12C fusion reaction plays a crucial role in stellar evolution and explosions.Its main open reaction channels includeα,p,n,and 8Be.Despite more than a half century of efforts,large differences remain among the experimental data of this reaction measured using various techniques.In this work,we analyze the existing data using a statistical model.Our calculation shows the following:1)the relative systematic uncertainties of the predicted branching ratios decrease as the predicted ratios increase;2)the total modified astrophysical S-factors(S^* factors)of the p andαchannels can be obtained by summing the S^* factors of their corresponding ground-state transitions and the characteristicγrays,while taking into account the contributions of the missing channels to the latter.After applying corrections based on branching ratios predicted by the statistical model,an agreement is achieved among the different data sets at Ecm>4 MeV,while some discrepancies remain at lower energies,suggesting the need for better measurements in the near future.We find that the S^* factor recently obtained from an indirect measurement is inconsistent with the direct measurement value at energies below 2.6 MeV.We recommend upper and lower limits for the 12C+12C S^* factor based on the existing models.A new 12C+12C reaction rate is also recommended.

Measurement of astrophysical S-factor for ^(9)Be(d, α_(0))^(7)Li and ^(9)Be(d, α_(1))^(7)Li^(*) reactions at low energies

The thick-target yield of the ^(9)Be(d,α0)7Li and ^(9)Be(d,α1)7Li*reactions has been first directly measured over deuteron energies from 66 to 94 keV.The obtained S(Ei)ofα0 andα1 have similar trends calculated by the thin-target yield,consistent with Yan’s report within the errors.Furthermore,the parametric expression of S(E)was obtained to calculate the theoretical thick target yield,and it roughly agrees with the experimental thick target yield.

The Mysterius Fate of Stars (Past, Present and Future of the Universe)

The research on the collapse of stars, due to Gravity, after the depletion of the fusion fuel, engaged a number of famous guys as Eddington, Chandrasekhar, Schwarzschild and Oppenheimer in the years around 1910-1050. During this period, Einstein was writing his field equation of general relativity (1923), Fermi, in a famous letter to Pauli, proposed the neutrino in beta decay theory (1930), Chadwick found the neutron, that granted him the Nobel price (1935) and Hubble (1929) proved that the Universe was expanding. As a result of that golden age, we remain with a lot of unsolved questions, due to the poor knowledge of the nature of the strong Nuclear Interaction of Gravity that controls the whole Universe. We have made an investigation on the nature of nuclear bond and gravitational attraction on the basis of available data and as a follow-up of Fermi famous research on Neutrino. Using this background, we hope to be able to explain or give some light to the evolution of stars, to the strange objects and phenomena captured or perceived by astronomers in the sky and speculated by theoretical physicists.

Physical Space Was Not Expanding

Plurality of characteristic peaks observed in number density distribution of galaxy redshift reveals that extent of physical space has been finite. Significant portion of observed celestial objects is found pair-wise associated, i.e., the observed lights were emitted from one and same luminescent source but seen at different sky directions of observer, which is a unique phenomenon that can occur but only in finite space. Cosmic microwave radiation has always been interpreted as afterglow of Big Bang event. However, such radiation is shown unobservable to current observer if Hubble-Lemaître Correlation is interpreted as caused by receding motion of celestial objects. On the other hand, cosmic radiation can be understood as a common and ordinary phenomenon due to space lens, a unique property only of finite space. From Sloan Digital Sky Survey data, internal diameter of physical space is measured as 2.0 billion light years. If celestial objects were receding, hence physical space was expanding, then characteristic peaks of finite physical space should not appear evenly in number density distribution of redshift of the objects but more sparsely with respect to redshift increase. However, as revealed by the data, locations of the characteristic peaks in the distributions are rather even that do not match the locations as required by receding motion of object. Therefore, as evidenced by the data, physical space was not expanding, at least during the recent 18 billion years. In addition, considerable portion of observed quasars is found sharing a common factor of ~1/2 for their respective gravitation redshifts.

Maser radiation from collisionless shocks: application to astrophysical jets

This paper describes a model of electron energization and cyclotron-maser emission applicable to astrophysical magnetized collisionless shocks. It is motivated by the work of Begelman, Ergun and Rees [Astrophys. J. 625, 51(2005)] who argued that the cyclotron-maser instability occurs in localized magnetized collisionless shocks such as those expected in blazar jets. We report on recent research carried out to investigate electron acceleration at collisionless shocks and maser radiation associated with the accelerated electrons. We describe how electrons accelerated by lower-hybrid waves at collisionless shocks generate cyclotron-maser radiation when the accelerated electrons move into regions of stronger magnetic fields. The electrons are accelerated along the magnetic field and magnetically compressed leading to the formation of an electron velocity distribution having a horseshoe shape due to conservation of the electron magnetic moment. Under certain conditions the horseshoe electron velocity distribution function is unstable to the cyclotron-maser instability [Bingham and Cairns, Phys. Plasmas 7, 3089(2000); Melrose, Rev. Mod. Plasma Phys. 1, 5(2017)].

Study of Proton Resonances in ^(22)Mg by Resonant Elastic Scattering of ^(21)Na+p and Its Astrophysical Implication in ^(18)Ne(α,p) ^(21)Na Reaction Rate

Proton resonant states in 22Mg have been investigated by the resonant elastic scattering of 21Na+p. The 21Na beam with a mean energy of 4.00 MeV/u was separated by the CNS radioactive ion beam separator(CRIB) and bombarded a thick(CH2)n target. The energy spectra of recoiled protons were measured at scattering angles of θcm ≈172° and 146°,respectively. A new state at 7.06 MeV has been observed clearly and another new one at 7.28 MeV is tentatively identified due to its low statistics. The proton resonant parameters were deduced from an R-matrix analysis of the differential cross section data. The astrophysical resonant reaction rate for the 18Ne(α,p)21Na reaction has been estimated,and it is about five times larger than that assumed before.

A Sub-element Adaptive Shock Capturing Approach for Discontinuous Galerkin Methods

In this paper,a new strategy for a sub-element-based shock capturing for discontinuous Galerkin(DG)approximations is presented.The idea is to interpret a DG element as a col-lection of data and construct a hierarchy of low-to-high-order discretizations on this set of data,including a first-order finite volume scheme up to the full-order DG scheme.The dif-ferent DG discretizations are then blended according to sub-element troubled cell indicators,resulting in a final discretization that adaptively blends from low to high order within a single DG element.The goal is to retain as much high-order accuracy as possible,even in simula-tions with very strong shocks,as,e.g.,presented in the Sedov test.The framework retains the locality of the standard DG scheme and is hence well suited for a combination with adaptive mesh refinement and parallel computing.The numerical tests demonstrate the sub-element adaptive behavior of the new shock capturing approach and its high accuracy.

The Nuclear Clock Correction for Universal Gravitation

Science is losing some fixed references shifting from universality to relativity: time and space become space time, the meter is related to the velocity of light and the second is fixed by the ticketing of a Cesium atom. In the case of Gravity, Nature was so friendly to Newton to allow him the writing of the Universal Gravitational Law, that changed the view of the Universe for the last three centuries. However, the way matter generates Gravity was unknown to Newton and the problem is still nowadays ignored by most scientists and remains the ultimate question mark of physics. We paid attention to the ticketing of all existing nuclides and found that the parameters of the neutronproton transformations are so precise, in describing these reactions, that can be considered universal constants. Instead, the emitted neutrino flux Fo is almost constant with a mean value of 6.668E20 neutrino per gram and second over the wide range of all nuclides with some deviation for lighter nuclei. This is the reason why Newton was able to find his Universal Gravitational Law and allows us today to state a relation of this flux with the Gauss constant G on the basis of nuclear properties. Moreover, it explains the mechanism that bodies use for their mutual attraction with a simplification of the three-body problem in celestial bodies computation. We have to remember that Newton model, with a fixed gravitational Gauss constant G, or the equivalent with a fixed neutrino flux Fo, have been used for the determination of the mass of the celestial bodies in motion with the implicit assumption that the gravitational and inertial mass are the same. In this paper we recognize the big difference in composition of the Sun and the gaseous planets compared to the terrestrial ones and show how the relatively small difference of the neutrino flux can change our vision of the Universe.

How Dark Energy Might Be Produced by Black Holes

If confirmed, the new galactic observations in support of rapidly growing supermassive black holes in association with their production of dark energy may provide for a quantum leap forward in our understanding of black holes, dark energy, and universal expansion. The primary implication of these observations is that growth of black holes may well be coupled with universal expansion (“cosmological coupling”). Study of the Flat Space Cosmology (FSC) model, in conjunction with these new observations, suggests a novel mechanism of “black hole dark energy radiation”. This brief note gives a rationale for how the high gravitational energy density vacuum within or adjacent to a black hole horizon could be sufficiently energetic to pull entangled pairs of positive matter energy particles and negative dark energy “particles” of equal magnitude out of the horizon vacuum and send them off in opposite directions (i.e., gravitationally-attractive matter inward and gravitationally-repelling dark energy outward). One effect would be that a black hole can rapidly grow in mass-energy without mergers or the usual accretion of pre-existing matter. A second effect would be continual production of dark energy within the cosmic vacuum, fueling a continuous and finely-tuned light-speed expansion of the universe.

From Black Holes to Information Erasure: Uniting Bekenstein’s Bound and Landauer’s Principle

This research aims to integrate Bekenstein’s bound and Landauer’s principle, providing a unified framework to understand the limits of information and energy in physical systems. By combining these principles, we explore the implications for black hole thermodynamics, astrophysics, astronomy, information theory, and the search for new laws of nature. The result includes an estimation of the number of bits stored in a black hole (less than 1.4 × 1030 bits/m3), enhancing our understanding of information storage in extreme gravitational environments. This integration offers valuable insights into the fundamental nature of information and energy, impacting scientific advancements in multiple disciplines.