arXiv subjects

V. F. Cardone

Publications and source records attributed to V. F. Cardone.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Statistical properties of the dark matter haloes of dwarf galaxies and correlations with the environment

According to the now strongly supported concordance $Λ$CDM model, galaxies may be grossly described as a luminous component embedded in a dark matter halo. The density profile of these mass dominating haloes may be determined by N - body simulations which mimic the evolution of the tiny initial density perturbations during the process leading to the structures we observe today. Unfortunately, when the effect of baryons is taken into account, the situation gets much more complicated due to the difficulties in simulating their physics. As a consequence, a definitive prediction of how dark matter haloes should presently look like is still missing. We revisit here this issue from an observational point of view devoting our attention to dwarf galaxies. Being likely dark matter dominated, these systems are ideal candidates to investigate the present day halo density profiles and check whether dark matter related quantities correlate with the stellar ones or the environment. By fitting a large sample of well measured rotation curves, we infer constraints on both halo structural parameters (such as the logarithmic slope of the density profile and its concentration) and derived quantities (e.g., the mass fraction and the Newtonian acceleration) which could then be used to constrain galaxy formation scenarios. Moreover, we investigate whether the halo properties correlates with the environment the galaxy lives in thus offering a new tool to deepen our understanding of galaxy formation.

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arXiv2011

Cosmography in f(T)-gravity

Being based on the only assumption that the universe is homogenous and isotropic on large scales, cosmography is an ideal tool to investigate the cosmic expansion history in a almost model-independent way. Fitting the data on the luminosity distance and Baryon Acoustic Oscillations allows to determine the confidence ranges for the cosmographic parameters hence giving some quantitative constraints that a whatever theory has to fulfill. As an application, we consider here the case of teleparallel gravity (TEGR) also referred to as f(T)-gravity. To this end, we first work out analytical expressions to express the present day values of f(T)-derivatives as a function of the cosmographic parameters which hold under quite general and physically motivated conditions. We then use the constraints coming from cosmography to find out the confidence ranges for f(T)-derivatives up to the fifth order and show how these can be used to check the viability of given TEGR models without the need to explicitly solve the second order dynamic equations.

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arXiv2011

Stellar mass-to-light ratio gradients in galaxies: correlations with mass

We analyze the stellar mass-to-light ratio (M/L) gradients in a large sample of local galaxies taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, spanning a wide range of stellar masses and morphological types. As suggested by the well known relationship between M/L ratios and colors, we show that M/L gradients are strongly correlated with colour gradients, which we trace to the effects of age variations. Stellar M/L gradients generally follow patterns of variation with stellar mass and galaxy type that were previous found for colour and metallicty gradients. In late-type galaxies M/L gradients are negative, steepening with increasing mass. In early-type galaxies M/L gradients are shallower while presenting a two-fold trend: they decrease with mass up to a characteristic mass of \M* \sim 10^10.3 M_sun and increase at larger masses. We compare our findings with other analyses and discuss some implications for galaxy formation and for dark matter estimates.

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arXiv2011

The Gamma Ray Bursts Hubble diagram

Thanks to their enormous energy release, Gamma Rays Bursts (GRBs) have recently attracted a lot of interest to probe the Hubble diagram (HD) deep into the matter dominated era and hence complement Type Ia Supernovae (SNeIa). We consider here three different calibration methods based on the use of a fiducial LCDM model, on cosmographic parameters and on the local regression on SNeIa to calibrate the scaling relations proposed as an equivalent to the Phillips law to standardize GRBs finding any significant dependence. We then investigate the evolution of these parameters with the redshift to obtain any statistical improvement. Under this assumption, we then consider possible systematics effects on the HDs introduced by the calibration method, the averaging procedure and the homogeneity of the sample arguing against any significant bias.

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arXiv2011

Secondary infall model and dark matter scaling relations in intermediate redshift early - type galaxies

Scaling relations among dark matter (DM) and stellar quantities are a valuable tool to constrain formation scenarios and the evolution of galactic structures. However, most of the DM properties are actually not directly measured, but derived through model dependent mass mapping procedures. It is therefore crucial to adopt theoretically and observationally well founded models. We use here an updated version of the secondary infall model (SIM) to predict the halo density profile, taking into account the effects of angular momentum, dissipative friction and baryons collapse. The resulting family of halo profiles depends on one parameter only, the virial mass, and nicely fits the projected mass and aperture velocity dispersion of a sample of intermediate redshift lens galaxies. We derive DM related quantities (namely the column density and the Newtonian acceleration) and investigate their correlations with stellar mass, luminosity, effective radius and virial mass.

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arXiv2011

Systematics in the Gamma Ray Bursts Hubble diagram

Thanks to their enormous energy release which allows to detect them up to very high redshift, Gamma Rays Bursts (GRBs) have recently attracted a lot of interest to probe the Hubble diagram (HD) deep into the matter dominated era and hence complement Type Ia Supernoave (SNeIa). However, lacking a local GRBs sample, calibrating the scaling relations proposed as an equivalent to the Phillips law to standardize GRBs is not an easy task because of the need to estimate the GRBs luminosity distance in a model independent way. We consider here three different calibration methods based on the use of a fiducial $Λ$CDM model, on cosmographic parameters and on the local regression on SNeIa. We find that the calibration coefficients and the intrinsic scatter do not significantly depend on the adopted calibration procedure. We then investigate the evolution of these parameters with the redshift finding no statistically motivated improvement in the likelihood so that the no evolution assumption is actually a well founded working hypothesis. Under this assumption, we then consider possible systematics effects on the HDs introduced by the calibration method, the averaging procedure and the homogeneity of the sample arguing against any significant bias. We nevertheless stress that a larger GRBs sample with smaller uncertainties is needed to definitely conclude that the different systematics considered here have indeed a negligible impact on the HDs thus strengthening the use of GRBs as cosmological tools.

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arXiv2011

Spherical galaxy models as equilibrium configurations in nonextensive statistics

Considering galaxies as self - gravitating systems of many collisionless particles allows to use methods of statistical mechanics inferring the distribution function of these stellar systems. Actually, the long range nature of the gravitational force contrasts with the underlying assumptions of Boltzmann statistics where the interactions among particles are assumed to be short ranged. A particular generalization of the classical Boltzmann formalism is available within the nonextensive context of Tsallis q -statistics, subject to non -additivity of the entropies of sub - systems. Assuming stationarity and isotropy in the velocity space, it is possible solving the generalized collsionless Boltzmann equation to derive the galaxy distribution function and density profile. We present a particular set of nonextensive models and investigate their dynamical and observable properties. As a test of the viability of this generalized context, we fit the rotation curve of M33 showing that the proposed approach leads to dark matter haloes in excellent agreement with the observed data.

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arXiv2011

Systematic biases on galaxy haloes parameters from Yukawa-like gravitational potentials

A viable alternative to the dark energy as a solution of the cosmic speed up problem is represented by Extended Theories of Gravity. Should this be indeed the case, there will be an impact not only on cosmological scales, but also at any scale, from the Solar System to extragalactic ones. In particular, the gravitational potential can be different from the Newtonian one commonly adopted when computing the circular velocity fitted to spiral galaxies rotation curves. Phenomenologically modelling the modified point mass potential as the sum of a Newtonian and a Yukawa like correction, we simulate observed rotation curves for a spiral galaxy described as the sum of an exponential disc and a NFW dark matter halo. We then fit these curves assuming parameterized halo models (either with an inner cusp or a core) and using the Newtonian potential to estimate the theoretical rotation curve. Such a study allows us to investigate the bias on the disc and halo model parameters induced by the systematic error induced by forcing the gravity theory to be Newtonian when it is not. As a general result, we find that both the halo scale length and virial mass are significantly overestimated, while the dark matter mass fraction within the disc optical radius is typically underestimated. Moreover, should the Yukawa scale length be smaller than the disc half mass radius, then the logarithmic slope of the halo density profile would turn out to be shallower than the NFW one. Finally, cored models are able to fit quite well the simulated rotation curves, provided the disc mass is biased high in agreement with the results in literature, favoring cored haloes and maximal discs. Such results make us argue that the cusp/core controversy could actually be the outcome of an incorrect assumption about which theory of gravity must actually be used in computing the theoretical circular velocity.

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arXiv2011

Study of possible systematics in the LX - Ta correlation of Gamma Ray Bursts

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are the most energetic sources in the universe and among the farthest known astrophysical sources. These features make them appealing candidates as standard candles for cosmological applications so that studying the physical mechanisms for the origin of the emission and correlations among their observable properties is an interesting task. We consider here the luminosity L*X - break time Ta* (hereafter LT) correlation and investigate whether there are systematics induced by selection effects or redshift dependent calibra- tion. We perform this analysis both for the full sample of 77 GRBs with known redshift and for the subsample of GRBs having canonical X-ray light curves, hereafter called U0095 sample. We do not find any systematic bias thus con- firming the existence of physical GRB subclasses revealed by tight correlations of their afterglow properties. Furthermore, we study the possibility of applying the LT correlation as a redshift estimator both for the full distribution and for the canonical lightcurves. The large uncertainties and the non negligible intrin- sic scatter make the results not so encouraging, but there are nevertheless some hints motivating a further analysis with an increased U0095 sample.

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arXiv2010

The MOND Fundamental Plane

Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) has been shown to be able to fit spiral galaxy rotation curves as well as giving a theoretical foundation for empirically determined scaling relations, such as the Tully - Fisher law, without the need for a dark matter halo. As a complementary analysis, one should investigate whether MOND can also reproduce the dynamics of early - type galaxies (ETGs) without dark matter. As a first step, we here show that MOND can indeed fit the observed central velocity dispersion $σ_0$ of a large sample of ETGs assuming a simple MOND interpolating functions and constant anisotropy. We also show that, under some assumptions on the luminosity dependence of the Sersic n parameter and the stellar M/L ratio, MOND predicts a fundamental plane for ETGs : a log - linear relation among the effective radius $R_{eff}$, $σ_0$ and the mean effective intensity $\langle I_e \rangle$. However, we predict a tilt between the observed and the MOND fundamental planes.

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arXiv2010

Colour and stellar population gradients in galaxies

We discuss the colour, age and metallicity gradients in a wide sample of local SDSS early- and late-type galaxies. From the fitting of stellar population models we find that metallicity is the main driver of colour gradients and the age in the central regions is a dominant parameter which rules the scatter in both metallicity and age gradients. We find a consistency with independent observations and a set of simulations. From the comparison with simulations and theoretical considerations we are able to depict a general picture of a formation scenario.

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arXiv2010

Discovery of a tight correlation for gamma ray burst afterglows with `canonical' light curves

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB) observed up to redshifts $z>8$ are fascinating objects to study due to their still unexplained relativistic outburst mechanisms and a possible use to test cosmological models. Our analysis of 77 GRB afterglows with known redshifts revealed a physical subsample of long GRBs with canonical {\it plateau breaking to power-law} light curves with a significant {\it luminosity $L^*_X$ - break time $T^*_a$} correlation in the GRB rest frame. This subsample forms approximately the {\it upper envelope} of the studied distribution. We have also found a similar relation for a small sample of GRB afterglows that belong to the intermediate class (IC) between the short and the long ones. It proves that within the full sample of afterglows there exist physical subclasses revealed here by tight correlations of their afterglow properties. The afterglows with regular (`canonical') light curves obey not only a mentioned tight physical scaling, but -- for a given $T^*_a$ -- the more regular progenitor explosions lead to preferentially brighter afterglows.

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arXiv2010

Dark matter scaling relations in intermediate z haloes

We investigate scaling relations between the dark matter (DM) halo model parameters for a sample of intermediate redshift early - type galaxies (ETGs) resorting to a combined analysis of Einstein radii and aperture velocity dispersions. Modeling the dark halo with a Navarro - Frenk - White profile and assuming a Salpeter initial mass function (IMF) to estimate stellar masses, we find that the column density ${\cal{S}}$ and the Newtonian acceleration within the halo characteristic radius $r_s$ and effective radius $R_{eff}$ are not universal quantities, but correlate with the luminosity $L_V$, the stellar mass $M_{\star}$ and the halo mass $M_{200}$, contrary to recent claims in the literature. We finally discuss a tight correlation among the DM mass $M_{DM}(R_{eff})$ within the effective radius $R_{eff}$, the stellar mass $M_{\star}(R_{eff})$ and $R_{eff}$ itself. The slopes of the scaling relations discussed here strongly depend, however, on the DM halo model and the IMF adopted so that these ingredients have to be better constrained in order to draw definitive conclusions on the DM scaling relations for ETGs.

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arXiv2010

Constraining cosmological parameters by Gamma Ray Burst X - ray afterglow lightcurves

We present the Hubble diagram (HD) of 66 Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) derived using only data from their X - ray afterglow lightcurve. To this end, we use the recently updated L_X - T_a correlation between the break time T_a and the X - ray luminosity L_X measured at T_a calibrated from a sample of Swift GRBs with lightcurves well fitted by the Willingale et al. (2007) model. We then investigate the use of this HD to constrain cosmological parameters when used alone or in combination with other data showing that the use of GRBs leads to constraints in agreement with previous results in literature. We finally argue that a larger sample of high luminosity GRBs can provide a valuable information in the search for the correct cosmological model.

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arXiv2010

Color and stellar population gradients in galaxies. Correlation with mass

We analyze the color gradients (CGs) of ~50000 nearby SDSS galaxies. From synthetic spectral models based on a simplified star formation recipe, we derive the mean spectral properties, and explain the observed radial trends of the color as gradients of the stellar population age and metallicity (Z). The most massive ETGs (M_* > 10^{11} Msun) have shallow CGs in correspondence of shallow (negative) Z gradients. In the stellar mass range 10^(10.3-10.5) < M_* < 10^(11) Msun, the Z gradients reach their minimum of ~ -0.5 dex^{-1}. At M_* ~ 10^{10.3-10.5} Msun, color and Z gradient slopes suddenly change. They turn out to anti-correlate with the mass, becoming highly positive at the very low masses. We have also found that age gradients anti-correlate with Z gradients, as predicted by hierarchical cosmological simulations for ETGs. On the other side, LTGs have gradients which systematically decrease with mass (and are always more negative than in ETGs), consistently with the expectation from gas infall and SN feedback scenarios. Z is found to be the main driver of the trend of color gradients, especially for LTGs, but age gradients are not negligible and seem to play a significant role too. We have been able to highlight that older galaxies have systematically shallower age and Z gradients than younger ones. Our results for high-mass galaxies are in perfect agreement with predictions based on the merging scenario, while the evolution of LTGs and younger and less massive ETGs seems to be mainly driven by infall and SN feedback. (Abridged)

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arXiv2010

The Milky Way rotation curve in Horava - Lifshitz theory

The Horava - Lifshitz (HL) theory has recently attracted a lot of interest as a viable solution to some quantum gravity related problems and the presence of an effective cosmological constant able to drive the cosmic speed up. We show here that, in the weak field limit, the HL proposal leads to a modification of the gravitational potential because of two additive terms (scaling respectively as $r^2$ and $r^{-4}$) to the Newtonian $1/r$ potential. We then derive a general expression to compute the rotation curve of an extended system under the assumption that the mass density only depends on the cylindrical coordinates $(R, z)$ showing that the HL modification induces a dependence of the circular velocity on the mass function which is a new feature of the theory. As a first exploratory analysis, we then try fitting the Milky Way rotation curve using its visible components only in order to see whether the HL modified potential can be an alternative to the dark matter framework. This turns out not to be the case so that we argue that dark matter is still needed, but the amount of dark matter and the dark halo density profile have to be revised according to the new HL potential.

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arXiv2009

An updated Gamma Ray Bursts Hubble diagram

Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) have recently attracted much attention as a possible way to extend the Hubble diagram to very high redshift. To this aim, the luminosity (or isotropic emitted energy) of a GRB at redshift z must be evaluated from a correlation with a distance independent quantity so that one can then solve for the luminosity distance D_L(z) and hence the distance modulus mu(z). Averaging over five different two parameters correlations and using a fiducial cosmological model to calibrate them, Schaefer (2007) has compiled a sample of 69 GRBs with measured mu(z) which has since then been widely used to constrain cosmological parameters. We update here that sample by many aspects. First, we add a recently found correlation for the X - ray afterglow and use a Bayesian inspired fitting method to calibrate the different GRBs correlations known insofar assuming a fiducial LCDM model in agreement with the recent WMAP5 data. Averaging over six correlations, we end with a new GRBs Hubble diagram comprising 83 objects. We also extensively explore the impact of varying the fiducial cosmological model considering how the estimated mu(z) change as a function of the $(Ω_M, w_0, w_a)$ parameters of the Chevallier - Polarski - Linder phenomenological dark energy equation of state. In order to avoid the need of assuming an {\it a priori} cosmological model, we present a new calibration procedure based on a model independent local regression estimate of mu(z) using the Union SNeIa sample to calibrate the GRBs correlations. This finally gives us a GRBs Hubble diagram made out of 69 GRBs whose estimated distance modulus mu(z) is almost independent on the underlying cosmological model.

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arXiv2009

Quinstant Dark Energy Predictions for Structure Formation

We explore the predictions of a class of dark energy models, quinstant dark energy, concerning the structure formation in the Universe, both in the linear and non-linear regimes. Quinstant dark energy is considered to be formed by quintessence and a negative cosmological constant. We conclude that these models give good predictions for structure formation in the linear regime, but fail to do so in the non-linear one, for redshifts larger than one.

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