• Title/Summary/Keyword: cosmic-ray

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Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy of Active Galactic Nuclei

  • Doikov, Dmytry N.;Yushchenko, Alexander V.;Jeong, Yeuncheol
    • Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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    • v.36 no.1
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    • pp.21-33
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    • 2019
  • This paper focuses on the interpretation of radiation fluxes from active galactic nuclei. The advantage of positron annihilation spectroscopy over other methods of spectral diagnostics of active galactic nuclei (therefore AGN) is demonstrated. A relationship between regular and random components in both bolometric and spectral composition of fluxes of quanta and particles generated in AGN is found. We consider their diffuse component separately and also detect radiative feedback after the passage of high-velocity cosmic rays and hard quanta through gas-and-dust aggregates surrounding massive black holes in AGN. The motion of relativistic positrons and electrons in such complex systems produces secondary radiation throughout the whole investigated region of active galactic nuclei in form of cylinder with radius R= 400-1000 pc and height H=200-400 pc, thus causing their visible luminescence across all spectral bands. We obtain radiation and electron energy distribution functions depending on the spatial distribution of the investigated bulk of matter in AGN. Radiation luminescence of the non-central part of AGN is a response to the effects of particles and quanta falling from its center created by atoms, molecules and dust of its diffuse component. The cross-sections for the single-photon annihilation of positrons of different energies with atoms in these active galactic nuclei are determined. For the first time we use the data on the change in chemical composition due to spallation reactions induced by high-energy particles. We establish or define more accurately how the energies of the incident positron, emitted ${\gamma}-quantum$ and recoiling nucleus correlate with the atomic number and weight of the target nucleus. For light elements, we provide detailed tables of all indicated parameters. A new criterion is proposed, based on the use of the ratio of the fluxes of ${\gamma}-quanta$ formed in one- and two-photon annihilation of positrons in a diffuse medium. It is concluded that, as is the case in young supernova remnants, the two-photon annihilation tends to occur in solid-state grains as a result of active loss of kinetic energy of positrons due to ionisation down to thermal energy of free electrons. The single-photon annihilation of positrons manifests itself in the gas component of active galactic nuclei. Such annihilation occurs as interaction between positrons and K-shell electrons; hence, it is suitable for identification of the chemical state of substances comprising the gas component of the investigated media. Specific physical media producing high fluxes of positrons are discussed; it allowed a significant reduction in the number of reaction channels generating positrons. We estimate the brightness distribution in the ${\gamma}-ray$ spectra of the gas-and-dust media through which positron fluxes travel with the energy range similar to that recorded by the Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA) research module. Based on the results of our calculations, we analyse the reasons for such a high power of positrons to penetrate through gas-and-dust aggregates. The energy loss of positrons by ionisation is compared to the production of secondary positrons by high-energy cosmic rays in order to determine the depth of their penetration into gas-and-dust aggregations clustered in active galactic nuclei. The relationship between the energy of ${\gamma}-quanta$ emitted upon the single-photon annihilation and the energy of incident electrons is established. The obtained cross sections for positron interactions with bound electrons of the diffuse component of the non-central, peripheral AGN regions allowed us to obtain new spectroscopic characteristics of the atoms involved in single-photon annihilation.

AUTOMATED STREAK DETECTION FOR HIGH VELOCITY OBJECTS: TEST WITH YSTAR-NEOPAT IMAGES (고속이동천체 검출을 위한 궤적탐지 알고리즘 및 YSTAR-NEOPAT 영상 분석 결과)

  • Kim, Dae-Won;Byun, Yong-Ik;Kim, Su-Yong;Kang, Yong-Woo;Han, Won-Yong;Moon, Hong-Kyu;Yim, Hong-Suh
    • Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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    • v.22 no.4
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    • pp.385-392
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    • 2005
  • We developed an algorithm to efficiently detect streaks in survey images and made a performance test with YSTAR-NEOPAT images obtained by the 0.5m telescope stationed in South Africa. Fast moving objects whose apparent speeds exceed 10 arcsec/min are the main target of our algorithm; these include artificial satellites, space debris, and very fast Near-Earth Objects. Our algorithm, based on the outline shape of elongated sources employs a step of image subtraction in order to reduce the confusion caused by dense distribution of faint stars. It takes less than a second to find and characterize streaks present in normal astronomical images of 2K format. Comparison with visual inspection proves the efficiency and completeness of our automated detection algorithm. When applied to about 7,000 time-series images from YSTAR telescope, nearly 700 incidents of streaks are detected. Fast moving objects are identified by the presence of matching streaks in adjoining frames. Nearly all of confirmed fast moving objects turn out to be artificial satellites or space debris. Majority of streaks are however meteors and cosmic ray hits, whose identity is often difficult to classify.

Type and Characteristics of Debris Landform in Mt. Mudeung (무등산 암설지형의 유형과 특징)

  • Oh, Jong-Joo;Park, Seoung-Phill;Seong, Yeong-Bae
    • Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.253-267
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    • 2012
  • The study looked into the type and characteristics of debris landforms in Mt. Mudeung. By focusing on the representative area, we aimed to categorize the debris landforms based on the morphologic and genetic characteristcis. The types of debris areas in Mt. Mudeung can be divided into the exposed debris type, mixed type of matrix, and the boulder-hidden type. Supply of block in the debris slope area displays different features depending on types of rocks. For the stony slopes of andesite, the block must be moved from the columnar joint or cliff in the upper part. The andesite debris slopes display dominant edge shape while displaying no round shape. The granite stony slopes display dominant round shape and the present exposed slope was assumed to be formed as the core stone which was deep weathered moved along slope during the periglacial era and the matrix was removed after post-glacial era. The movements of blocks are assumed to be caused by solifluction process. The joint area where granite and andesite areas meet, granite is located beneath andesite area, and this implies that blocks were actively freezing and creeping by solifluction and freezing and thawing at that time. It can be assumes that the granite matrix formed plain slope and then andesite boulder covered up the slope. Currently, the blocks in the stony slopes of Mt. Mudeung shows almost no mobility and the stony slopes created under periglacial climate can be considered to be fossil landform.

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