No Arabic abstract
Peculiar groups of X-ray emitting isolated neutron stars, which include magnetars, the Magnificent Seven, and central compact objects in supernova remnants, escape detection in standard pulsar surveys. Yet, they constitute a key element in understanding the neutron star evolution and phenomenology. Their use in population studies in the galactic scale has been hindered by the scarcity of their detection. The all-sky survey of eROSITA on-board the forthcoming Spectrum-RG mission has the unique potential to unveil the X-ray faint part of the population and constrain evolutionary models. To create a forecast for the four-year all-sky survey, we perform Monte Carlo simulations of a population synthesis model, where we follow the evolutionary tracks of thermally emitting neutron stars in the Milky Way and test their detectability. In this work, we discuss strategies for pinpointing the most promising candidates for follow-up observing campaigns using current and future facilities.
Motivated by the recent discovery of the binary neutron-star (BNS) merger GW170817, we determine the optimal observational setup for detecting and characterizing radio counterparts of nearby ($d_Lsim40$,Mpc) BNS mergers. We simulate GW170817-like radio transients, and radio afterglows generated by fast jets with isotropic energy $E_{rm iso}sim 10^{50}$,erg, expanding in a low-density interstellar medium (ISM; $n_{rm ISM}=10^{-4}-10^{-2}$,cm$^{-3}$), observed from different viewing angles (from slightly off-axis to largely off-axis). We then determine the optimal timing of GHz radio observations following the precise localization of the BNS radio counterpart candidate, assuming a sensitivity comparable to that of the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. The optimization is done so as to ensure that properties such as viewing angle and circumstellar density can be correctly reconstructed with the minimum number of observations. We show that radio is the optimal band to explore the fastest ejecta from BNSs in low-density ISM, since the optical emission is likelyto be dominated by the so-called `kilonova component, while X-rays from the jet are detectable only for a small subset of the BNS models considered here. Finally, we discuss how future radio arrays like the next generation VLA (ngVLA) would improve the detectability of BNS mergers with physical parameters similar to the ones here explored.
We present results from an observing campaign to identify low-metallicity stars in the Best & Brightest Survey. From medium-resolution (R ~ 1, 200 - 2, 000) spectroscopy of 857 candidates, we estimate the stellar atmospheric parameters (Teff, log g, and [Fe/H]), as well as carbon and alpha-element abundances. We find that 69% of the observed stars have [Fe/H] <= -1.0, 39% have [Fe/H] <= -2.0, and 2% have [Fe/H] <= -3.0. There are also 133 carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars in this sample, with 97 CEMP Group I and 36 CEMP Group II stars identified in the A(C) versus [Fe/H] diagram. A subset of the confirmed low-metallicity stars were followed-up with high-resolution spectroscopy, as part of the R-process Alliance, with the goal of identifying new highly and moderately r-process-enhanced stars. Comparison between the stellar atmospheric parameters estimated in this work and from high-resolution spectroscopy exhibit good agreement, confirming our expectation that medium-resolution observing campaigns are an effective way of selecting interesting stars for further, more targeted, efforts.
We are conducting a large program to classify newly discovered Milky Way star cluster candidates from the list of Froebrich, Scholz & Raftery (2007). Here we present deep NIR follow-up observations from ESO/NTT of 14 star cluster candidates. We show that the combined analysis of star density maps and colour-colour/magnitude diagrams derived from deep near-infrared imaging is a viable tool to reliably classify new stellar clusters. This allowed us to identify two young clusters with massive stars, three intermediate age open clusters, and two globular cluster candidates among our targets. The remaining seven objects are unlikely to be stellar clusters. Among them is the object FSR1767 which has previously been identified as a globular cluster using 2MASS data by Bonatto et al. (2007). Our new analysis shows that FSR1767 is not a star cluster. We also summarise the currently available follow-up analysis of the FSR candidates and conclude that this catalogue may contain a large number of new stellar clusters, probably dominated by old open clusters.
LIGO and Virgos third observing run (O3) revealed the first neutron star-black hole (NSBH) merger candidates in gravitational waves. These events are predicted to synthesize r-process elements creating optical/near-IR kilonova (KN) emission. The joint gravitational-wave (GW) and electromagnetic detection of an NSBH merger could be used to constrain the equation of state of dense nuclear matter, and independently measure the local expansion rate of the universe. Here, we present the optical follow-up and analysis of two of the only three high-significance NSBH merger candidates detected to date, S200105ae and S200115j, with the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). ZTF observed $sim$,48% of S200105ae and $sim$,22% of S200115js localization probabilities, with observations sensitive to KNe brighter than $-$17.5,mag fading at 0.5,mag/day in g- and r-bands; extensive searches and systematic follow-up of candidates did not yield a viable counterpart. We present state-of-the-art KN models tailored to NSBH systems that place constraints on the ejecta properties of these NSBH mergers. We show that with depths of $rm m_{rm AB}approx 22$ mag, attainable in meter-class, wide field-of-view survey instruments, strong constraints on ejecta mass are possible, with the potential to rule out low mass ratios, high BH spins, and large neutron star radii.
The electromagnetic (EM) emission associated with a gravitational wave (GW) signal is one of the main goal of future astronomy. Merger of neutron stars and/or black holes and core-collapse of massive stars are expected to cause rapid transient electromagnetic signals. The EM follow-up of GW signals will have to deal with large position uncertainties. The gravitational sky localization is expected to be tens to hundreds of square degrees. Wide-field cameras and rapid follow-up observations will be crucial to characterize the EM candidates for the first EM counterpart identification. We present some of the activities that we are currently carrying on to optimize the response of the INAF network of facilities to expected GW triggers. The INAF network will represent an efficient operational framework capable of fast reaction on large error box triggers and direct identification and characterization of the candidates.