Vulcano Workshop 2012

28 May 2012, 08:50 → 2 Jun 2012, 12:50 Europe/Rome

Vulcano Island, Sicily

Monday, 28 May

08:50 → 09:00 Welcome address

09:00 → 18:10 Opening Remarks

09:00 Old and News from Astroparticle Physics

News from Astroparticle Physics

Speaker: Franco Giovannelli

Slides Giovannelli.pdf

09:25 The first century of Cosmic Rays: An historical review

The first century of Cosmic Rays: An historical review

Speaker: Lawrence Jones

Slides Jones.pdf

09:50 The discovery of the Chandrasekhar mass and the Chandrasekhar-Eddington controversy

The discovery of the Chandrasekhar mass and the Chandrasekhar-Eddington controversy

Speaker: Giora Shaviv

Slides Shaviv-Chandra-Eddington.pdf

10:15 Our Galactic Center, the nearest Burning Disk

Our Galactic Center, the nearest Burning Disk

Speaker: Wolfgang Kundt

Slides Kundt.pdf

10:40 Highlights from the Opera Experiment

The Opera Experiment (Oscillation Project with Emulsion tRacking Apparatus) is a long baseline neutrino experiment in the CERN Neutrino to Gran Sasso (CNGS) beamline. The muon neutrino beam produced at CERN is directed to the LNGS (Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso) and after a flight of 730km detected in the Opera detector, situated underground in Hall C of the laboratory. The goal of the Opera experiment is to detect the muon to tau neutrino oscillation in appearance mode, i.e. by detecting tau decays. The technique used for this is the so-called emulsion cloud chamber (ECC) together with an electronic detector. This talk will give an update on the neutrino oscillation studies, the statistics of the year 2008/09 with an outlook on the results for 2010 and on possible new tau candidates. Finally the issues on the neutrino speed measurement will be presented and discussed.

Speaker: Dr Thomas Strauss (LHEP Universitaet Bern)

Slides Strauss_Opera.pdf

11:05 coffee break

11:35 Ultra High energy cosmic rays and hadronic interactions

Ultra High energy cosmic rays and hadronic interactions

Speaker: Paolo Lipari

Slides vulc_lipari.pdf

12:00 Highlights from the LHC and ATLAS+CMS

Highlights from the LHC and ATLAS+CMS

Speaker: Arno Straessner

Slides Straessner_Vulcano2012.pdf

12:25 Study of the time dependence of radioactivity

In the last years many papers have been published on the time dependence of the decay constant. In particular, its annual modulation with amplitude of about 0.1% has been claimed, with the maximum in February and the minimum in August. In the talk we will give the results of a dedicated experiment performed underground in Gran Sasso with a 137Cs source and a germanium detector. The experiment is sensitive to an effect smaller than 0.01% on the time dependence of the 137Cs decay constant.

Speaker: Dr Carlo Broggini (PD)

Slides broggini_vul12_web_edition.pdf

12:45 interval

17:00 CP Violation research with LHCb detector at the LHC

CP Violation research with LHCb detector at the LHC

Speaker: Giulio Auriemma

Slides Auriemma_-_Vulcano2012.pdf

17:25 The 2H (alpha, gamma) 6Li reaction at LUNA and Big Bang nucleosynthesis

The 2H (alpha, gamma) 6Li reaction at LUNA and Big Bang nucleosynthesis

Speaker: Carlo Gustavino

Slides gustavino_vulc2012.pdf

17:45 The s-process and its fundamental problem in stellar evolution

The s-process and its fundamental problem in stellar evolution

Speaker: Giora Shaviv

Slides shaviv_-_The-s-process-Vulcano.pdf

18:10 → 21:45 Cosmology

18:10 Search for Dark Matter with Gamma-rays: A Review

Search for Dark Matter with Gamma-rays: A Review

Speaker: Aldo Morselli

Slides Morselli_Vulcano_2rr.pdf

18:35 Dark energy and key physical parameters of clusters of galaxies

Dark energy and key physical parameters of clusters of galaxies

Speaker: Guennadi Bisnovatyi-Kogan

Slides Bisnovatyi_DE_Vul12.pdf

18:55 Dark Matter: Results from XENON

Dark Matter: Results from XENON

Speaker: Rino Persiani

Slides persiani_VulcanoWorkshop12_v1.pdf

19:15 interval

21:45 → 22:30 Special Night Session

21:45 Which ball? Which box? Where did the ball stop ? A playful approach to Bayesian reasoning

Which ball? Which box? Where did the ball stop ? A playful approach to Bayesian reasoning

Speaker: Giulio D'Agostini

Slides vulcano_dagostini.pdf

Tuesday, 29 May

09:00 → 11:55 Cosmology

09:00 Sz effect in the PLANK Era

Sz effect in the PLANK Era

Speaker: Sergio Colafrancesco

Slides Colafrancesco_Vulcano2012.pdf

09:25 The first stars and galixies: Cosmological implications

The first stars and galixies: Cosmological implications

Speaker: Daniel Whalen

Slides whalen_vulcano.pdf

11:55 → 21:45 Astrophysics of High Energy Cosmic Sources

11:55 Cataclysmic Variables: Their Impact on Astroparticle Physics

We review the processes and conditions that lead to the production of non-thermal radiation in cataclysmic variables (CVs). We focus on the cases when such emission was really observed in various spectral bands, from gamma rays including TeV emission to radio. Detection of this radiation suggests the presence of highly energetic particles in these CV systems. Synchrotron and cyclotron emissions also suggest the presence of strong magnetic fields in CV. The propeller effect in the case of the rapidly rotating magnetized white dwarf (WD) or a shock in the case of a strongly magnetized WD can lead to the strong acceleration of the particles; even Cherenkov radiation is possible in the extreme cases. In some CVs, e.g. during some dwarf nova outbursts, the magnetic field generated in the accretion disk leads to the synchrotron jets. Even gamma-ray production via $\pi^{\rm o}$ decay was observed in the ejecta of an explosion of a symbiotic classical nova (CN). Nuclear reactions during thermonuclear runaway in the outer layer of the WD undergoing CN explosion lead to the production of radioactive isotopes; they are the sources of gamma-ray emission.

Speaker: Dr Vojtech Simon (Astronomical Institute AS CR)

Slides simon-vulcano2012.pdf

12:20 Astronomical Plate Archivies and Binary Blazars Studies

Astronomical Plate Archivies and Binary Blazars Studies

Speaker: Hudec Rene

Slides Hudec.pdf

12:40 The Zoo of AGNs: experimental tests of General Relativity Teories

The Zoo of AGNs: experimental tests of General Relativity Teories

Speaker: Thomas Boller

Slides Boller_Zoo_of_AGN.pdf

13:05 interval

17:00 Supernova 1987A: Celebrating a Silver Jubilee

Supernova 1987A: Celebrating a Silver Jubilee

Speaker: Nino Panagia

Slides Panagia1_Vulcano_2012_HST_Cosmology_May_29_final_final.pdf

17:35 Galactic and Extragalactic SNRs as Sites of Particle Acceleration

Supernova remnants, owing to their strong shock waves, are likely sources of Galactic cosmic rays. Studies of supernova remnants in X-rays and gamma rays provide us with new insights into acceleration of particles to high energies. I will review the basic physics of supernova remnant shocks and associated particle acceleration and radiation processes. In addition, the study of supernova remnant populations in nearby galaxies and the implication on the Galactic cosmic ray distribution will be discussed.

Speaker: Dr Manami Sasaki (Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics Tuebingen)

Slides sasaki.pdf

18:00 RX J0852.0-4622 - the nearest historical supernova remnant

The supernova remnant RX J0852.0-4622, also called by its nickname Vela Jr., was discovered in X-rays by ROSAT. Gamma-rays from the radioactive decay have been reported as well. The combination of the X-ray and gamma-ray measurements allows a fairly precise determination of distance (200 pc) and age (680 yrs). However, later on, the gamma-ray measurements were heavily disputed, so that doubts arise about the distance and age values. Meanwhile, the expansion rate of the SNR has been measured, which, in angular terms, is the fastest of all known SNRs, but less than expexted, so that the age could be 1000 yrs - 3000 yrs and the distance 1 kpc. Even then, RX J0852.0-4622 would be the nearest historical SNR known. But I will show that a hydrodynamical evolution slightly more complex than the straight application of the Sedov relations predict, could bring age and distance back to the originally reported values.

Speaker: Dr Bernd Aschenbach (PRV)

Slides aschenbach_vulc2012.pdf

18:20 The impact of SUZAKU measurements on Astroparticle Physics

Results from Suzaku observations of clusters of galaxies are reviewed, particularly from the point of view of gas heating and constraint on non-thermal emission from merging clusters.

Speaker: Dr Naomi Ota (Nara Women's University)

Slides ota_vulcano_120529.pdf

18:45 XMM Highligths (X-ray Spectroscopy of AGNs)

XMM Highligths (X-ray Spectroscopy of AGNs)

Speaker: Matteo Guainazzi

Slides Guainazzi.pdf

19:10 A search for Blazars among the unidentified EGRET gamma-ray source

A search for Blazars among the unidentified EGRET gamma-ray source

Speaker: Pieter Meintjes

Slides Meintjes-Vulcano-2012.pdf

19:30 interval

21:45 → 22:15 Special Night Session

21:45 Digital Pulse Processing for Physics Applications

Digital Pulse Processing for Physics Applications

Speaker: Giuliano Mini

Slides DPP_for_Physics_Application_Vulcano.pdf

Wednesday, 30 May

09:00 → 12:05 Astrophysics of High Energy Cosmic Sources

09:00 From microquasars to quasars

From microquasars to quasars

Speaker: Bozena Czerny

Slides czerny_-_microquasars.pdf

09:25 TeV Astronomy: Observations versus Theory

TeV Astronomy: Observations versus Theory

Speaker: Frank Krennrich

Slides Krennrich-Vulcano-2012.pdf

09:50 Integral Highlights

Integral Highlights

Speaker: Pietro Ubertini

Slides Ubertini_-_VULCANO_Integral_presented2012.pdf

10:15 AGILE Highlights

AGILE Highlights

Speaker: Carlotta Pittori

Slides pittori_Vulcano_2012_web.pdf

10:40 ARGO-YBJ Highights

ARGO-YBJ Highights

Speaker: Giuseppe Di Sciascio

Slides Wednesday-DiSciascio-Vulcano12.pdf

11:05 official photo and coffee break

11:40 VERITAS Highlights

VERITAS Highlights

Speaker: Andy Smith

Slides AWSmith_Vulcanotalk.pdf

12:05 → 16:55 Direction for next generation experiments

12:05 Future of Space Astronomy (A Global Road Map for the next decades)

Future of Space Astronomy (A Global Road Map for the next decades)

Speaker: Pietro Ubertini

Slides Ubertini_-_VULCANO_Report_CWG_Presented.pdf

12:30 interval

Thursday, 31 May

09:00 → 11:10 Astrophysics of High Energy Cosmic Sources

09:00 Black Hole Spin in AGN and its Implications for Galaxy Evolution

The angular momentum of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) is a vitally important quantity in astrophysics. Measuring the spins of SMBHs in active galactic nuclei (AGN) can inform us about the relative role of gas accretion vs. mergers in recent epochs of the life of the host galaxy and its AGN. Black hole spin is also thought to play a pivotal role in triggering relativistic jets, enabling the SMBH to influence its surroundings out to scales much larger than its gravity allows. Advances in theoretical modeling as well as observational sensitivity in the Chandra/XMM-Newton/Suzaku era are finally producing robust constraints on the spins of a handful of SMBHs, but this science is still very much in its infancy. I will discuss our current knowledge of the distribution of SMBH spins in the local universe. I will also address prospects for improving the accuracy, precision and quantity of these spin constraints in the next decade and beyond with instruments such as NuSTAR, Astro-H and ATHENA.

Speaker: Dr Laura Brenneman (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

Slides brenneman_vulcano2012.pdf

09:25 Winds and jets in X-ray binaries: A Review

Winds and jets in X-ray binaries: A Review

Speaker: Maria Diaz Trigo

Slides trigo.pdf

09:50 Population of Black Holes in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds

Population of Black Holes in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds

Speaker: Janusz Ziolkowski

Slides ziolkowski_vulcano_2012.pdf

10:15 Cyclotron Lines in HMXBs

Cyclotron Lines in HMXBs

Speaker: Ingo Kreykenbohm

Slides Kreykenbohm_Cyclotron_Lines.pdf

10:40 coffee break

11:10 → 13:10 Jet Sources and Gamma-Ray Bursts

11:10 From Galactic to Extragalactic Jets: A Review

From Galactic to Extragalactic Jets: A Review

Speaker: James H. Beall

Slides beall-vulcano-2012-01.pdf

11:35 Accreditation disks with a large scale magnetic field around black holes, and magnetic jet collimation

Accreditation disks with a large scale magnetic field around black holes, and magnetic jet collimation

Speaker: Guennadi Bisnovatyi-Kogan

Slides BK_Ac_Jet_Vul12.pdf

12:00 Modeling Jet Interactions with te Ambient Medium

Modeling Jet Interactions with te Ambient Medium

Speaker: James H. Beall

Slides beall-vulcano-2012-02.pdf

12:20 Emission of jets in Cyg X-1 and Cyg X-3

Emission of jets in Cyg X-1 and Cyg X-3

Speaker: Andrzej Zdziarski

Slides zdziarski_-_cygx1_cygx3_short.pdf

12:45 Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Fermi era

The Fermi observatory carries two complementary instruments for the observation of the gamma-ray sky, which allow for joint analyses of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRB) over seven decades of energy. The Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) covers the entire unocculted sky and is designed for gamma-ray transients' detection, monitoring and spectroscopy between 8 keV and 40 MeV. The Large Area Telescope (LAT) is a pair-conversion detector of high-energy gamma rays of energies ranging from 20 MeV to more than 300 GeV. Since July 2008, the GBM detected over 800 GRB, of which 36 had a significant emission in LAT data. I will present GRB observations provided by Fermi and discuss how these fit in with both current and future space- and ground-based multi-messenger experiments: catalogs and population studies, some spectral and temporal characteristics including additional spectral components, searches for spectral cutoffs at high energies, delays between low- and high-energy gamma-ray emissions, long-lived emissions at GeV energies. Theoretical implications of these observations will be discussed: emission mechanisms, limits on the jet's bulk Lorentz factor from opacity constraints, limits on Lorentz invariance violation models.

Speaker: Dr Veronique Pelassa (University of Alabama in Huntsville)

Slides pelassa_Vulcano2012_v2.pdf

13:10 → 17:00 interval

17:00 → 19:20 The Challenge of Cosmic Ray Production

17:25 Pierre Auger UHE CRs and Composition

Pierre Auger UHE CRs and Composition

Speaker: Aurelio Grillo

Slides grillo_-_mascomp.pdf

17:50 Theoretical Models for the Propagation Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays and the Auger observations

Theoretical Models for the Propagation Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays and the Auger observations

Speaker: Roberto Aloisio

Slides Aloisio.pdf

18:10 The Influence of Results of UHE-CR Detection on LHC Experiments

The Influence of Results of UHE-CR Detection on LHC Experiments

Speaker: Anatoly Petrukhin

Slides Petrukhin_Vulc_2012_5.pdf

18:35 Precise cosmic rays measurements with PAMELA

The PAMELA experiment was launched on board of the Resurs-DK1 satellite on 15th of June 2006. The apparatus was designed to conduct precision studies of the charged cosmic radiation over a wide energy range, from tens of MeV up to several hundred GeV, with unprecedented statistics. In five years of continuous data taking in space, PAMELA accurately measured the energy spectra of cosmic ray antiprotons and positrons, as well as protons, electrons and light nuclei, sometimes providing data in unexplored energetic regions. These important results have shed new light in several astrophysical fields like: indirect search for Dark Matter, search for cosmological antimatter (anti-Helium), and the validation of acceleration, transport and secondary production models of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. Some of the most important items of the Solar and Magnetospheric physics were also investigated. Here we present the most recent results obtained by the PAMELA experiment.

Speaker: Dr Alessandro Bruno (INFN sezione di Bari, Bari, Italy)

Slides A.Bruno_Vulcano_Workshop_2012.pdf

19:00 UHECR event map and multiplets made by Lightest and Heaviest radioactive nuclei

The puzzle of UHECR origination is related to their composition, spectra and maps. The main signal that srvived in last AUGER data is a clustering along Cen A. Very recent multiplet ar 20 EeV do cluster also along Cen A. These events fit a UHECR Lignt nuclei for extragalactic sources. Most of remanents UHECR may be heavy nuclei radioactive originated mostly by nearby SN-GRB whose traces are found in correlated gamma TeV-MeV-UHECR maps. We show that recent ARGO-ICECUBE data do hint for Vela, Magellanic stream and even Crab connection with UHECR. Tau Netrino at PeVs energy may shine similar anisotropies in the sky.

Speaker: Dr Daniele Fargion (ROMA1)

Slides LAST-4--FARGION-VULCANO-30-5-2012.pdf

Friday, 1 June

09:00 → 10:00 The Challenge of Cosmic Ray Production

09:00 Iron Peak in CRs

Recent measurements of the cosmic ray (CR) energy spectrum in the PeV region and above have confirmed the remarkable sharpness of the knee and revealed another structure at about 70 PeV which we call 'an Iron Peak'. The position and the shape of this structure lead us to associate its likely origin with the same single source responsible for the formation of the knee. We have analysed the shape of the CR energy spectrum from the single source and concluded that their mass composition may be rather similar to the composition of sources for the bulk of CR in the TeV-PeV region. Since it is generally accepted that these CR originate mainly in supernova explosions, the similarity of the mass composition gives an additional argument in favour of our single source being a supernova remnant. Although we cannot exclude that yet another nearby recent source, viz. a pulsar may contribute, it is argued that at the knee at $\sim$3-4 PeV less than about 10\% of the CR intensity is due to just a few sources rather than a single source.

Speaker: Prof. Anatoly Erlykin (P.N.Lebedev Physical Institute)

Slides Erlykin_-_Iron_Peak.pdf

09:20 Air shower measurements above the knee of the CR Energy Spectrum

Air shower measurements above the knee of the CR Energy Spectrum

Speaker: Andrea Chiavassa

Slides Chiavassa-Vulcano2012.pdf

09:40 LHCf Results

LHCf Results

Speaker: Alessia Tricomi

Slides Tricomi_Vulcano2012.pdf

10:00 → 11:55 Gravitational Waves

10:00 Search for Gravitational Waves From Supernovae and long GRBs

Search for Gravitational Waves From Supernovae and long GRBs

Speaker: Maurice van Putten

Slides Van-Putten_GWBs8.pdf

10:25 The past and future of direct search of GW from pulsars in the interferometric GW antennas era

The past and future of direct search of GW from pulsars in the interferometric GW antennas era

Speaker: Leopoldo Milano

Slides TMilano_on_1_6_2012.pdf

10:45 Search for Gravitational Waves From Cosmic Sources

Search for Gravitational Waves From Cosmic Sources

Speaker: Dorota Rosinska

Slides Rosinska_Vulcano12new.pdf

11:05 coffee break

11:35 Apollo Lunar Laser Ranging data and the measurement of the Lunar Geodetic Procession

Apollo Lunar Laser Ranging data and the measurement of the Lunar Geodetic Procession

Speaker: Manuele Martini

Slides Martini_Vulcano.pdf

11:55 → 18:55 Neutrino Astronomy

11:55 Recent Developments in Neutrino Astronomy

Recent Developments in Neutrino Astronomy

Speaker: Peter Grieder

Slides GriederVulcano.pdf

12:20 UHE neutrino fluxes from the Pierre Auger Observatory

UHE neutrino fluxes from the Pierre Auger Observatory

Speaker: Simone Maldera

Slides Maldera_-_nu_auger.pdf

12:40 Analysis of the past MACRO data to compare multiple muon times.

The arrival times of muons in a bundle produced by one cosmic ray interaction in the atmosphere should return a value compatible with the time resolution, while if neutrinos have larger velocity than muons some of the muons may arrive slightly earlier in a bundle of particles than others. There are strong theoretical arguments against this possibility, however this measurement could verify the OPERA hints on the possibility that neutrinos have a velocity larger than the speed of light.

Speaker: Dr Francesco Ronga (LNF)

Slides GriederVulcano.pdf

13:00 interval

17:00 Neutrinos as Cosmic Messengers in the Era of IceCube, ANTARES, and KM3NeT

Neutrinos as Cosmic Messengers in the Era of IceCube, ANTARES, and KM3NeT

Speaker: Ulrich Katz

Slides Vulcano12_UKatz+.pdf

17:25 ICECUBE Highlights

ICECUBE Highlights

Speaker: Paolo Desiati

Slides Desiati_IceCube.pdf

17:50 Neutrinos from ICARUS

Neutrinos from ICARUS

Speaker: Christian Farnese

Slides Vulcano_2012_Farnese.pdf

18:15 Status of the CUORE Experiment

Status of the CUORE Experiment

Speaker: Claudia Tomei

Slides CUORE_tomei.pdf

18:35 The GERDA esperiment: status and future plans

The GERDA esperiment: status and future plans

Speaker: Paolo Zavarise

18:55 → 19:15 Direction for Next Generation Experiment

18:55 eROSITA (extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array)

eROSITA (extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array)

Speaker: Thomas Boller

Slides Boller_eROSITA.pdf

21:45 → 22:30 Special Night Session

21:45 A general stability theory of planetary atmosphere

A general stability theory of planetary atmosphere

Speaker: Smadar Bressler

Slides Planetary_radiative_transfer_1.6.12_-_final_version.pdf

Saturday, 2 June

09:00 → 09:25 Neutrino Astronomy

09:00 Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

Speaker: Fernando Ferroni

Slides Ferroni_-_Vulcano-2012-FF.pdf

09:25 → 12:25 Direction for Next Generation Experiments

09:40 The ASTRO-H Mission

The ASTRO-H Mission

Speaker: Maeda Yoshimoto

Slides ymaeda_20120602_AstroH.pdf

09:55 LOFT (Large Observatory For X-ray Timing)

LOFT (Large Observatory For X-ray Timing)

Speaker: Luigi Stella

Slides stella.pdf

10:10 Large Area Scintillation Muon Hodoscope

Large Area Scintillation Muon Hodoscope

Speaker: Igor Yashin

Slides Yashin_Vulcano_12_4.pdf

10:25 The JEM- EUSO mission

The JEM- EUSO mission

Speaker: Piero Galeotti

Slides Galeotti_-_JemEuso_Vulcano_2012.pdf

10:40 NA62 Experiment

NA62 Experiment

Speaker: Antonella Antonelli

Slides antonelli_antonella_vulcano.pdf

10:55 coffee break

11:25 LAGEOS (LAser GEOdynamics Satellites): Constraining spacetime torsion

LAGEOS (LAser GEOdynamics Satellites): Constraining spacetime torsion

Speaker: Giovanni Bellettini

Slides bellettini_vulcano.pdf

11:40 MoonLIGHT: a new Lunar Laser Ranging Retroreflector instrument

MoonLIGHT: a new Lunar Laser Ranging Retroreflector instrument

Speaker: Marco Garattini

Slides GarattiniVulcano2012.pdf

11:55 AERA - The Auger Engineering Radio Array

AERA - The Auger Engineering Radio Array

Speaker: Klaus Weidenhaupt

Slides Klaus_-_Vulcano2012WeidenhauptFinal.pdf

12:10 A Computer Cluster System efficiently supporting the Pseudo-Parallel execution of Geant4 serial application

A Computer Cluster System efficiently supporting the Pseudo-Parallel execution of Geant4 serial application

Speakers: Bruno Martino, Memmo Federici

Slides Federici_-_Vulcano_2012_3_def.pdf