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Curriculum Vitae - Piergiorgio Casella
Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Southampton,
Southampton, Hampshire
SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)23 8059 2089
Fax: +44 (0)23 8059 3910
Email: p.casella@soton.ac.uk
Web: www.astro.uva.nl/pgcasell/
Place & Date of Birth:
Rome, 13th October 1973
Nationality:
Italian
Education:
3 Mar 2005
Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Rome “Roma Tre”
Supervisors: Prof. L. Stella, Prof. G. Matt
Title: “Fast aperiodic variability of stellar-mass black holes in Xray bi-
naries”
11 May 2001
Laurea (M.Sc. equivalent) in Physics (marks: 110/110) at the University
of Rome “Tor Vergata”
Supervisors: Prof. A. Cavaliere, E. Costa.
Title: “Study of the spectral variability of microquasar
GRS 1915+105 with the satellite BeppoSAX”
Employment:
Jun 2009 -
Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Southampton (UK)
Jan 2009 - Feb 2009
Visiting Scientist at ESO, Santiago (Chile)
Jan 2006 - May 2009
Post-doc at the Astronomical Institute, UvA, Amsterdam (NL)
Apr 2006 - Mar 2007
NWO Rubicon Fellow at the API/UvA, Amsterdam (NL)
Jan 2005 - Dec 2005
Post-doc at the OAB/INAF, Milan (IT)
Jul 2004 - Dec 2004
Research Fellow at the OAB/INAF, Milan (IT)
Jan 2002 - Dec 2004
PhD Student at the University of Rome
Nov 2001 - Apr 2002
Visiting Student at the Harvard-Smithsonian CfA, Cambridge (US)
1992 - 2001
Studies in Physics at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” (IT)
Grants and Awards:
2006 - 2008
Several Dutch national traveling LKBF grants
1 Jul 2006
Young Researcher Grant from COSPAR
May 2002 - Apr 2003
National Scholarship Award from the Italian Research National Council
at the IASF/CNR, Rome
Research Interests:
•
Physics of accretion
•
Disk-jet connection
•
Multi-wavelength variability
•
Black-Hole X-ray Binaries
•
Neutron Star Low-Mass X-ray Binaries
•
Accreting Millisecond X-ray Pulsars
•
Ultraluminous X-ray Sources
Piergiorgio Casella - CV
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Languages:
•
Italian (mother tongue), English (professional), French (scholastic), Dutch (basics)
References:
•
Prof. Luigi Stella, stella@mporzio.astro.it
INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma
Via Frascati, 33 - 00040 Monteporzio Catone (Roma) - Italy
Tel: +39-06-94286436
•
Prof. Michiel van der Klis, m.b.m.vanderklis@uva.nl
Sterrenkunde Instituut “A. Panekoek”, Universiteit van Amsterdam
Kruislaan 403, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)205257498
•
Dr. Tom Maccarone, tjm@phys.soton.ac.uk
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton
Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)238059 7548
•
Dr. Tomaso Belloni, tomaso.belloni@brera.inaf.it
INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera
Via E. Bianchi 46, I-23807 Merate, Italy
Tel: +39-039-597-1026
Services to the community:
•
Referee for The Astrophysical Journal
•
NASA Peer Review panelist for SWIFT
•
Member of Scientific and Local Organizing Committee of the Workshop “A Decade of Accreting
Millisecond Pulsars”, Amsterdam, 2008
•
Member of the Local Organizing Committee of the VI Microquasar Workshop, Como, 2006
•
Member of the Local Organizing Committee of the Third Italian National Congress on Compatc
Objects, M. P. Catone, 2003
Books and Reviews:
•
Co-Editor of the book “Physics of Relativistic Objects in Compact Binaries: from Birth to Coales-
cence”, edited by M. Colpi, P. Casella, V. Gorini, U. Moschella, A. Possenti, Astrophysics and
Space Science Library, Vol. 359. Berlin: Springer, 2009
Invited talks, Seminars and Lectures:
•
Highligh talk “Multi-wavelength variability in X-ray binaries” at the Italian National Conference
on Astrophysics of Compact Objects, Cagliari, September 2009
•
Invited talk “Low-frequency QPOs in X-ray binaries: a key tool” at the Microquasar Workshop,
Agios Nikolaos, Crete, June 2007
•
Solicited talk “Low-frequency QPOs in X-ray binaries: fundamental physics at work” at the CO-
SPAR meeting, Beijing, July 2006
•
Lecture “Periodicita’ nel caos attorno ai Buchi Neri” at the University of Cagliari (Italy), June 2005
•
Colloquium seminar “Low-frequency QPOs in X-ray Binaries: fundamental Physics at work'' at
SRON, Utrecht (The Netherlands), August 2005
•
Lecture “QPO a bassa frequenza in Binarie X: fisica fondamentale in azione'' at the University of
Milano Bicocca (Italy), December 2005
Ongoing collaborations:
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X-ray/optical/IR/radio coordinated variability of BHs and NSs (NL/IT/UK/ESO/D/USA)
•
Theoretical modeling of timing and spectral properties of jets in XBs (NL/US)
•
Multiwavelength monitoring of BHs (NL/IT/UK/USA)
•
Optical/IR polarimetry of BHs and NSs (NL/IT/UK/ESO/D/USA)
•
Archival Searches for Millisecond X-ray Pulsars (NL/IT)
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Variability of Ultraluminous X-ray Sources (NL/IT)
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Cooling of NSs (NL)
Technical & Observational Experience
Timing analysis: Several timing techniques and softwares, for both aperiodic and periodic variability.
X-ray analysis: Data from the X-ray satellites RXTE, Swift, XMM, Chandra, and BeppoSAX.
IR analysis: Data from the ISAAC (VLT) and REMIR (REM) instruments.
UV analysis: Data from the UV satellite FUSE
Observing experience:
✓List of
approved
observing proposals:
As
Principal Investigator
:
•
XMM (X-rays)
(DDT)
“Multiwavelength fast timing of black hole X-ray binary Cyg X-1”
•
SPITZER (infrared)
“Rapid variability of jets in X-ray binaries: a new tool”
•
WSRT (radio)
“Radio timing analysis of black hole X-ray binary Cyg X-1”
•
RXTE (X-rays)
“Coordinated fast X-ray, optical and infrared variability of low-mass X-
ray binaries: ToO observations of black-hole transients during spectral
transitions”
•
RXTE (X-rays)
“Coordinated fast multiwavelength variability of neutron-star Low-
Mass X-ray Binaries”
•
SWIFT (X-rays)
“State transitions of black-hole transients during outburst”
•
VLT/ISAAC (infrared)
(DDT)
“Solving the puzzle of the jet contribution to the infrared/optical emis-
sion of Galactic black holes.”
•
VLT/ISAAC (infrared)
(DDT)
“Fast infrared variability from a black hole: measuring the speed, size
and geometry of a relativistic jet”
•
VLT/ISAAC (infrared) “Infrared polarization and rapid time variability in transient X-ray bi-
nary systems harboring black-hole candidates”
•
VLT/ISAAC (infrared) “Coordinated fast X-ray and infrared variability of low-mass X-ray bi-
naries: testing the jet power of neutron stars”
•
REM (infrared)
“A multiwavelength view of the evolving jet in black hole transients”
As
co-Investigator
:
•
Participation to several multi-wavelength (X/EUV/Optical/Infrared/Radio/Gamma) observational
campaigns of X-ray binaries with ground- and space-based telescopes.
•
Internal ESO proposal to the Paranal director, for the implementation of a High Time Resolution
Observing Mode on the VLT instrument HAWK-I (PI: V. Ivanov).
•
Observing proposals of X-ray binaries with the optical telescope WHT.
•
Observing proposals of X-ray binaries with SAX, RXTE, Integral, Chandra, XMM and Swift.
•
Observing proposals of X-ray binaries with VLT (IR fast photometry and polarization).
•
DDT proposals for X-ray binaries with VLT (IR fast photometry and polarization).
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Observing proposal of Active Galactic Nuclei with Chandra
✓Optical observations: Observations of the open cluster NGC 6649, and evaluation of the cluster age,
using the Cassegrain 42 cm telescope, at the Rome Astronomical Observatory, as part of the course
“Laboratory of Physics II” (tutor: Dr. G. Natali).
Software:
Programming languages: FORTRAN, IDL, Smongo, Matlab
Data Reduction and Analysis Packages: Use of standard analysis software tools (Ftools,
Xspec, Xronos, Saxdas, XAS, CIAO, etc..)
Operative Systems: Very good knowledge of Linux, Unix, Windows, Mac OS X Operating Systems
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
- as 1st author -
•
Casella P., Pe’er A.,, 2009, ApJL, in press (arXiv: 0908.2129)
On the role of the magnetic field on jet emission in X-ray binaries
•
Casella P., Ponti G., Patruno A., Belloni T., Miniutti G., & Zampieri L., 2008b, MNRAS, 387,1707
Weighing the black holes in ultraluminous X-ray sources through timing
•
Casella P., Altamirano D., Patruno A., Wijnands R., & v. d. Klis M., 2008a, ApJL, 674, L41
Discovery of coherent millisecond X-ray pulsations in Aql X-1
•
Casella P., Belloni T., & Stella L., 2006, A&A, 446, 579
A continuous Flaring- to Normal-branch transition in Sco X-1
•
Casella P., Belloni T., Stella L., 2005, ApJ, 629, 403
The ABC of low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in Black-Hole Candidates: analogies with Z-
sources
•
Casella P., Belloni T., Homan J., & Stella L., 2005, Advances in Space Research, 38, 1346
The timing history of the microquasar XTE J1859+226
•
Casella P., Belloni T., Homan J., & Stella L., 2004, A&A, 426, 587
A study of the low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in the X-ray light curves of the black hole
candidate XTE J1859+226
- as co-author -
•
A Model for Emission from Jets in X-ray Binaries: Consequences of a Single Acceleration Episode
Pe’er A., Casella P., 2009, ApJ, 699, 1919
•
Discovery of burst oscillations near the spin frequency in the intermittent accreting millisecond
pulsar HETE J1900.1-2455
Watts, A., Altamirano, D., Linares, M., Patruno, A., Casella P., Cavecchi, Y., Degenaar, N., Rea, N.,
Soleri, P., van der Klis, M., Wijnands, , 2009, ApJ, 698. 174
•
A parsec scale X-ray extended structure from the X-ray binary Circinus X-1
Soleri P., Heinz S., Fender R., Wijnands R., Tudose V., Altamirano D., Jonker P., van der Klis M.,
Kuiper L., Kaiser C., Casella P., 2009, MNRAS, 397, 1
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Broad-band X-ray spectral evolution of GX 339–4 during a state transition
del Santo M., Belloni T., Homan J., Bazzano A., Casella P., Fender R., Gallo E., Gehrels N., Lewin
W. H. G., Méndez M., van der Klis M. et al., 2009, MNRAS, 392, 992
•
Phase-coherent timing of the accreting millisecond pulsar SAX J1748.9-2021
Patruno A., Altamirano D., Hessels J., Casella P., Wijnands R., van der Klis M., 2009 ApJ,690,
1856
•
Intermittent millisecond X-ray pulsations from the neutron-star X-ray transient SAX J1748.9-2021
in the globular cluster NGC 6440
Altamirano D., Casella P., Patruno A., Wijnands R., & v. d. Klis M., 2008, ApJL, 674, L45
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A transient low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation from the black hole binary GRS 1915+105
Soleri P., Belloni T., Casella P., 2008, MNRAS, 383, 1089
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RXTE observations of the first transient Z source XTE J1701-462: shedding new light on mass ac-
cretion in luminous neutron star LMXBs
Homan J., van der Klis M., Wijnands R., Belloni T., Fender R., Klein-Wolt M., Casella P., Mendez
M., Gallo E., Lewin W. H. G., Gehrels N., 2006, ApJ, 656, 420
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High-frequency Quasi-Periodic Oscillations from GRS 1915+105 in its C state
Belloni T., Soleri P., Casella P., Mendez M., Migliari S., 2006, MNRAS, 369, 305
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INTEGRAL/RXTE high-energy observation of a state transition of GX 339-4
Belloni T., Parolin I., Del Santo M., Homan J., Casella P., Fender R. P., Lewin W. H. G., Méndez
M., Miller J. M., van der Klis M., 2006, MNRAS, 367, 1113
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A variable Quasi-Periodic Ocillation in M82 X-1. Timing and spectral analysis of XMM-Newton
and RossiXTE observations
Mucciarelli P., Casella P., Belloni T., Zampieri L., & Ranalli P., 2006, MNRAS, 365, 1123
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Discovery of rapid X-ray oscillations in the tail of the SGR 1806-20 hyperflare
Israel G.L., Belloni T., Stella L., Rephaeli Y., Gruber D. E., Casella P., Dall'Osso S., Rea N., Persic
M., Rothschild R. E., 2005, ApJL, 628, L53
•
The evolution of timing properties of GX 339-4 during its 2002/2003 outburst
Belloni T., Homan J., Casella P., van der Klis M., Nespoli E., Lewin W. H. G., Miller J. M., Men-
dez M., 2005, A&A, 440, 207
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A transient high coherence oscillation in 4U 1820-30
Belloni T., Parolin I., Casella P., 2004, A&A, 423, 969
•
The irregular ρ mode of GRS 1915+105 observed with BeppoSAX
Massaro E, Litterio M., Cusumano G., Mineo T., Casella P., Feroci M., 2004, NuPhS, 132, 408
•
The Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic picture of the Missing Baryons in the Local Group
Nicastro F., Zezas A., Elvis M., Mathur S., Fiore F., Cecchi-Pestellini C., Burke D., Drake J.,
Casella P., 2003, Nature, 421, 719
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Study of the Largest Multiwavelength Campaign of the Microquasar GRS 1915+105
Ueda Y., et al., 2002, ApJ, 571, 918
Conference Participation and Proceedings
•
VI Italian National Conference on Astrophysics of Compact Objects, Cagliari, 2009
•
8th Microquasar Workshop, Foca, Turkey, September 2008
•
COSPAR General Assembly, Montreal, 2008
•
V Italian National Conference on Astrophysics of Compact Objects, S.Vito lo Capo, 2007
•
7th Microquasar Workshop, Agios Nikolaos, Crete, 2007
•
6th Microquasar Workshop, Como, Italy, 2006
•
COSPAR General Assembly, Beijng, 2006
•
IV Italian National Conference on Astrophysics of Compact Objects, Padova, 2005
•
COSPAR General Assembly, Paris, 2004
•
Workshop on “Interacting Binaries”, Cefalu, 2004
•
III Italian, National Conference on Astrophysics of Compact Objects, M. P. Catone, 2003
•
American Physical Society, April Meeting, Jointly Sponsored with the High Energy Astrophysics
Division (HEAD) of the American Astronomical Society, Albuquerque, 2002
•
II Italian National Conference on Astrophysics of Compact Objects, Bologna, 2001
•
XLIV Italian National Congress, Societa’Astronomica Italiana, M.P. Catone, 2000
Schools Participation
•
Italian National Astrophysics School: VI Cycle, IV Course on “Cosmology and Relativistic Astro-
physics”, Asiago, Italy, 2001
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International School on “Black Holes in the Universe”, Cargese, France, 2003
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Time-Frequency Analysis Exellence Course by Prof. Leon Cohen (Hunter College of the City Uni-
versity of New York), Torino, Italy, 2003
•
Italian National Astrophysics School: VII Cycle, II Course on “Astrophysics of the Interstellar Me-
dium - Pulsars and Collapsed Objects”, Cagliari, Italy, 2003
•
NATO-Advanced Study Institute School on “The Electromagnetic Spectrum of Neutron Stars”,
Marmaris, Turkey, 2004
•
SIGRAV School, VI Edition on “A century from Einstein Relativity: probing gravity theories in
binary systems”, Como, Italy, 2005.
Astronomical Telegrams
•
#2004 Discovery of a205 Hz X-ray pulsar in the globular cluster NGC 6440. Altamirano,
D. et al.
•
#2004 Discovery of burst oscillations near the spin frequency in the intermittent accreting
millisecond pulsar HETE J1900.1-2455. Watts, A. et al.
•
#1979 Discovery of the shortest recurrence time between thermonuclear X-ray bursts. Li-
nares, M. et al.
•
#1962 Optical photometry and polarimetry of GX 339-4 during its outburst rise Russell. D.
M. et al.
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#1960 RFO: MOST Observations of GX 339-4. Hunstead, D. et al.
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#1954 Renewed activity from GX 399-4. Still, M. et al.
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#1748 Radio non-detection of SAX J1808.4-3658. Tudose, V. et al.
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#1733 Near-IR and Optical Observations of the Ongoing Outburst of SAX J1808.4-3658.
Maitra, D. et al.
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#1178 Following the neutron star transient XTE J1701-462 as it turns into quiescence.
Altamirano, D. et al.
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#748 Spectral evolution and kHz QPOs in the transient Z source XTE J1701-462. Homan,
J. et al.
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#725 Continuing RXTE observations of XTE J1701-462: a new "Z" in town? Homan, J. et
al.
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