Examinando por Autor "Israel, G.L."

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    Multiband study of RX J0838-2827 and XMM J083850.4-282759: A new asynchronous magnetic cataclysmic variable and a candidate transitional millisecond pulsar
    (Oxford University Press, 2017-11) Rea, N.; Coti Zelati, F.; Esposito, P.; D'Avanzo, P.; de Martino, D.; Israel, G.L.; Torres, D.F.; Campana, S.; Belloni, T.M.; Papitto, A.; Masetti, N.; Carrasco, L.; Possenti, A.; Wieringa, M.; De Oña Wilhelmi, E.; Li, J.; Bozzo, E.; Ferrigno, C.; Linares, M.; Tauris, T.M.; Hernanz, M.; Ribas, I.; Monelli, M.; Borghese, A.; Baglio, M.C.; Casares, J.
    In a search for the counterpart to the Fermi-LAT source 3FGL J0838.8-2829, we performed a multiwavelength campaign: in the X-ray band with Swift and XMM-Newton; in the infrared and optical with OAGH, ESO-NTT and IAC80; and in the radio with ATCA observations. We also used archival hard X-ray data obtained by INTEGRAL. We report on three X-ray sources consistent with the position of the Fermi-LAT source.We confirm the identification of the brightest object, RX J0838-2827, as a magnetic cataclysmic variable that we recognize as an asynchronous system (not associated with the Fermi-LAT source). RX J0838-2827 is extremely variable in the X-ray and optical bands, and timing analysis reveals the presence of several periodicities modulating its X-ray and optical emission. The most evident modulations are interpreted as being caused by the binary system orbital period of ~1.64 h and the white dwarf spin period of ~1.47 h. A strong flux modulation at ~15 h is observed at all energy bands, consistent with the beat frequency between spin and orbital periods. Optical spectra show prominent Hß, He I and He II emission lines that are Doppler-modulated at the orbital period and at the beat period. Therefore, RX J0838-2827 accretes through a disc-less configuration and could be either a strongly asynchronous polar or a rare example of a pre-polar system on its way to reaching synchronism. Regarding the other two X-ray sources, XMM J083850.4-282759 showed a variable X-ray emission, with a powerful flare lasting for ~600 s, similar to what is observed in transitional millisecond pulsars during the subluminous disc state: this observation possibly means that this source can be associated with the Fermi-LAT source. © 2017 The Authors.
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    Spectroscopic identification of r-process nucleosynthesis in a double neutron-star merger
    (Nature Publishing Group, 2017-11) Pian, E.; D'Avanzo, P.; Benetti, S.; Branchesi, M.; Brocato, Campana S.; Cappellaro, E.; Covino, S.; D'Elia, V.; Fynbo, J.P.U.; Getman, F.; Ghirlanda, G.; Ghisellini, G.; Grado, A.; Greco, G.; Hjorth, J.; Kouveliotou, C.; Levan, A.; Limatola, L.; Malesani, D.; Mazzali, P.A.; Melandri, A.; Møller, P.; Nicastro, L.; Palazzi, E.; Piranomonte, S.; Rossi, A.; Salafia, O.S.; Selsing, J.; Stratta, G.; Tanaka, M.; Tanvir, N.R.; Tomasella, L.; Watson, D.; Yang, S.; Amati, L.; Antonelli, L.A.; Ascenzi, S.; Bernardini, M.G.; Boër, M.; Bufano, F.; Bulgarelli, A.; Capaccioli, M.; Casella, P.; Castro-Tirado, A.J.; Chassande-Mottin, E.; Ciolfi, R.; Copperwheat, C.M.; Dadina, M.; De Cesare, G.; Di Paola, A.; Fan, Y.Z.; Gendre, B.; Giuffrida, G.; Giunta, A.; Hunt, L.K.; Israel, G.L.; Jin, Z.-P.; Kasliwal, M.M.; Klose, S.; Lisi, M.; Longo, F.; Maiorano, E.; Mapelli, M.; Masetti, N.; Nava, L.; Patricelli, B.; Perley, D.; Pescalli, A.; Piran, T.; Possenti, A.; Pulone, L.; Razzano, M.; Salvaterra, R.; Schipani, P.; Spera, M.; Stamerra, A.; Stella, L.; Tagliaferri, G.; Testa, V.; Troja, E.; Turatto, M.; Vergani, S.D.; Vergani, D.
    The merger of two neutron stars is predicted to give rise to three major detectable phenomena: a short burst of γ-rays, a gravitational-wave signal, and a transient optical-near-infrared source powered by the synthesis of large amounts of very heavy elements via rapid neutron capture (the r-process)1-3. Such transients, named 'macronovae' or 'kilonovae'4-7, are believed to be centres of production of rare elements such as gold and platinum8. The most compelling evidence so far for a kilonova was a very faint near-infrared rebrightening in the afterglow of a short γ-ray burst9,10 at redshift z = 0.356, although findings indicating bluer events have been reported11. Here we report the spectral identification and describe the physical properties of a bright kilonova associated with the gravitational-wave source12 GW170817 and γ-ray burst13,14 GRB 170817A associated with a galaxy at a distance of 40 megaparsecs from Earth. Using a series of spectra from ground-based observatories covering the wavelength range from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared, we find that the kilonova is characterized by rapidly expanding ejecta with spectral features similar to those predicted by current models15,16. The ejecta is optically thick early on, with a velocity of about 0.2 times light speed, and reaches a radius of about 50 astronomical units in only 1.5 days. As the ejecta expands, broad absorption-like lines appear on the spectral continuum, indicating atomic species produced by nucleosynthesis that occurs in the post-merger fast-moving dynamical ejecta and in two slower (0.05 times light speed) wind regions. Comparison with spectral models suggests that the merger ejected 0.03 to 0.05 solar masses of material, including high-opacity lanthanides. © 2017 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature.