SDSS J012119.10 001949.9:a very short period M dwarf contact binary from SDSS stripe 82

We present the first multicolor photometric observations of the short period low-mass eclipsing binary SDSS J012119.10–001949.9.By using the 2013 version of the Wilson-Devinney code,the photometric solutions are derived.It is found that the system is in a contact configuration(f=18.9±6.0%)with a moderate mass ratio of 0.5±0.01.A third light contributing about 6.1±1.3%of the total luminosity in the V band was found,which may come from a cool tertiary component.The derived high orbital inclination(i=83.9?±0.5?)and the almost symmetric three light curves suggest that the determined parameters are reliable.Both the color class and spectral class of the system correspond to a spectral type of M0,which may indicate that SDSS J012119.10–001949.9 belongs to a very rare class of M dwarf contact binaries that are below the theoretical short period limit.     

Long-term photometric behavior of the eclipsing Z Cam-type dwarf nova AY Psc

New eclipse timings of the Z Cam-type dwarf nova AY Psc were measured and the orbital ephemeris was revised.In addition,based on long-term AAVSO data,the outburst behaviors were also explored.Our analysis suggests that normal outbursts are quasi-periodic,with an amplitude of~2.5(±0.1) mag and a period of ~ 18.3(±0.7) d.The amplitude vs.recurrence-time relation of AY Psc is discussed,and we conclude that this relation may represent general properties of dwarf nova outbursts.The observed standstill ends with an outburst,which is inconsistent with the general picture of Z Camtype stars.This unusual behavior was considered to be related to mass-transfer outbursts.Moreover,the average luminosity is brighter during standstills than during outburst cycles.The changes in brightness mark variations in M_2 due to the fact that the disk of AY Psc is nearly steady state.M_2 value was limited to the range from 6.35×10~(-9) to 1.18×10~(-8) M1⊙yr~(-1).More detailed examination shows that there are a few small outbursts present during standstills.These events with amplitudes of~0.5-0.9 mag are very similar to the stunted outbursts reported in some nova-like cataclysmic variables.We discussed several possible mechanisms and suggested that the most reasonable mechanism for these stunted outbursts is a changing mass-transfer rate.     

A low-mass-ratio and deep contact binary as the progenitor of the merger V1309 Sco

Nova Sco 2008(=V1309 Sco) is an example of a V838 Mon type eruption rather than a typical classical nova. This enigmatic object was recently shown to have resulted from the merger of two stars in a contact binary. It is the first stellar merger that was identified to be undergoing a common envelope transient. To understand the properties of its binary progenitor, the pre-outburst light curves were analyzed by using the W-D method. The photometric solution of the 2002 light curve shows that it is a deep contact binary(f = 89.5(±40.5)%) with a mass ratio of 0.094. The asymmetry of the light curve is explained by the presence of a dark spot on the more massive component. The extremely high fill-out factor suggests that the merging of the contact binary is driven by dynamical mass loss from the outer Lagrange point. However,the analysis of the 2004 light curve indicates that no solutions were obtained even at an extremely low mass ratio of q = 0.03. This suggests that the common convective envelope of the binary system disappeared and the secondary component spiraled into the envelope of the primary in 2004. Finally, the ejection of the envelope of the primary produced the outburst.     

First photometric study of the eclipsing binary PS Persei

CCD photometric observations of the eclipsing binary PS Persei (PS Per) were obtained on two consecutive days in 2009.The 2003 version of the WilsonDevinney code was used to analyze the first complete light curves in the V and R bands.It is found that PS Per is a short-period Algol-type binary with the less massive component completely filling its inner critical Roche lobe.The mass ratio of q=0.518 and the orbital inclination of i=89.86° are obtained.In addition,based on all available times of primary light...     

A multiwavelength view of a classical T Tauri star CV Cha

Using long-term optical, ultraviolet(UV) and X-ray data, we present a study of a classical T Tauri star CV Cha. The V-band light curve obtained from the All Sky Automated Survey(ASAS) shows short as well as long-term variability. The short-term variability could be due to rotational modulation of CV Cha. We derive the rotational period of 3.714 ± 0.001 d for CV Cha. UV light curves obtained from Swift also show the variations. X-ray light curves from XMM-Newton and Swift do not show any significant short as well as long-term variability. However, the light curve from Chandra appears to be variable, which could be due to the emergence of flaring activities. X-ray spectra from all observations are explained well by the single temperature plasma of 0.95 keV with X-ray luminosity of 1030.4erg s-1in the 0.5–7.5 keV energy band. It appears that variability in optical and UV bands could be due to the presence of both hot and cool spots on the surface, while X-ray emission is dominated by magnetic processes.     

Optical observations of the broad-lined type Ic supernova SN 2012ap

The optical observations of the type Ic supernova(SN Ic) SN 2012 ap in NGC 1729 are presented. A comparison with other SNe Ic indicates that SN 2012 ap is highly reddened(with E(B- V)host～0.8 mag) and may represent one of the most luminous SNe Ic ever observed, with an absolute V-band peak magnitude of ～-19.3±0.5 mag after extinction correction. The near-maximum-light spectrum shows wide spectral features that are typical of broad-lined SNe Ic. One interesting feature in the spectrum is the appearance of some narrow absorption features that can be attributed to the diffuse interstellar bands, consistent with the large reddening inferred from the photometric method. Based on the light curves and the spectral data, we estimate that SN 2012 ap produced a56 Ni mass of ～ 0.3 ± 0.1M in the explosion, with an ejecta mass of 2.4+0.7-0.7M and a kinetic energy of E5K= 1.1+0.4-0.4× 102 erg. The properties of its progenitor are also briefly discussed.     

Magnetic activity and orbital parameters of CC Com based on photometric data,LAMOST low-and medium-resolution spectra

In this paper,we present four sets of photometric VRI light curves,and several LAMOST low and medium resolution spectra of contact binary CC Com.We revised the orbital parameters by simultaneously combining with previously published radial velocity measurements using the WilsonDevinney program.We used light curves at different observational times to obtain the starspot parameters.The values of the starspot radius are variable in short-and long-term scales,and their longitudes are stable.We updated the orbital period change of CC Com,and analyzed the periodic variation.The period of CC Com decreases at a rate of 4.66(±0.20)× 10~(-11) d yr~(-1),which may be due to mass transfer from the secondary component to the primary component.The oscillation of its orbital period with a period of17.18(0.08) years and amplitude of 0.0018(1) d may be caused by the light time effect(LITE) via a third body of 0.06 M_☉ dwarf or magnetic activity cycle.Furthermore,we obtained one optical spectrum from the LAMOST survey,which gives the spectral type of CC Com as K7±2 V.Strong emissions exist in the Ha,and Ca 11 HK lines in the observed spectrum,indicating strong chromospheric activity on CC Com.In the 12 LAMOST medium-resolution spectra,the EWs of Ha line are variable along the phase and time,which may be a plage or flare event.     

Spectroscopic and photometric studies of a candidate pulsating star in an eclipsing binary:V948 Her

Eclipsing binary stars with a pulsating component are powerful tools that allow us to probe the stellar interior structure and the evolutionary statuses with a good accuracy. Therefore, in this study,spectroscopic and photometric examinations of an eclipsing binary system V948 Her are presented. The primary component of the system is classified to be a candidate δ Scuti variable in the literature. The fundamental stellar, atmospheric and orbital parameters, and the surface abundance of the star were determined and the pulsation behaviour was investigated in this study. The orbital parameters were derived by the analysis of radial velocity and Super WASP light curves. The spectral classification was found to be F2V. The initial atmospheric parameters of the primary component were derived by analysis of the spectral energy distribution and hydrogen lines. The final atmospheric parameters and chemical abundances of the primary component were obtained by using the method of spectrum synthesis. As a result, the final atmospheric parameters were determined as T_(eff)= 7100±200 K, log g= 4.3±0.1 cgs and ξ = 2.2 ± 0.2 km s~(-1). The surface abundance was found to be similar to solar. The fundamental stellar parameters of both components were also obtained to be M = 1.722 ± 0.123, 0.762 ± 0.020 M⊙, R =1.655 ± 0.034, 0.689 ± 0.016 R⊙for primary and secondary components, respectively. The pulsation characteristic of the primary component was examined using Super WASP data and the pulsation period was found to be ~0.038 d. The position of the primary pulsating component was also obtained inside the instability strip of δ Sct stars. The primary component of V948 Her was defined to be a δ Sct variable.     

Prompt optical emission from gamma-ray bursts with multiple timescale variability of central engine activities

Complete high-resolution light curves of GRB 080319B observed by Swift present an opportunity for detailed temporal analysis of prompt optical emission. With a two-component distribution of initial Lorentz factors, we simulate the dynamical process of shells being ejected from the central engine in the framework of the in- ternal shock model. The emitted radiations are decomposed into different frequency ranges for a temporal correlation analysis between the light curves in different energy bands. The resulting prompt optical and gamma-ray emissions show similar tempo- ral profiles, with both showing a superposition of a component with slow variability and a component with fast variability, except that the gamma-ray light curve is much more variable than its optical counterpart. The variability in the simulated light curves and the strong correlation with a time lag between the optical and gamma-ray emis- sions are in good agreement with observations of GRB 080319B. Our simulations suggest that the variations seen in the light curves stem from the temporal structure of the shells injected from the central engine of gamma-ray bursts. Future observations with high temporal resolution of prompt optical emission from GRBs, e.g., by UFFO- Pathfinder and SVOM-GWAC, will provide a useful tool for investigating the central engine activity.     

Broad-band spectroscopy of the transient X-ray binary pulsar KS 1947+300 during 2013 giant outburst: Detection of pulsating soft X-ray excess component

We present the results obtained from detailed timing and spectral studies of the Be/X-ray binary pulsar KS 1947+300 during its 2013 giant outburst. We used data from Suzaku observations of the pulsar at two epochs, i.e. on 2013 October 22(close to the peak of the outburst) and 2013 November 22. Xray pulsations at ~18.81 s were clearly detected in the light curves obtained from both observations. Pulse periods estimated during the outburst showed that the pulsar was spinning up. The pulse profile was found to be single-peaked up to ~10 ke V beyond which a sharp peak followed by a dip-like feature appeared at hard X-rays. The dip-like feature has been observed up to ~70 keV. The 1–110 ke V broad-band spectroscopy of both observations revealed that the best-fit model was comprised of a partially absorbed Negative and Positive power law with EXponential cutoff(NPEX) continuum model along with a blackbody component for the soft X-ray excess and two Gaussian functions at 6.4 and 6.7 ke V for emission lines. Both the lines were identified as emission from neutral and He-like iron atoms. To fit the spectra, we included the previously reported cyclotron absorption line at 12.2 keV. From the spin-up rate, the magnetic field of the pulsar was estimated to be ~1.2×10~(12)G and found to be comparable to that obtained from the detection of the cyclotron absorption feature. Pulse-phase resolved spectroscopy revealed the pulsating nature of the soft X-ray excess component in phase with the continuum flux. This confirms that the accretion column and/or accretion stream are the most probable regions of the soft X-ray excess emission in KS1947+300.The presence of the pulsating soft X-ray excess in phase with continuum emission may be the possible reason for not observing the dip at soft X-rays.     

Near-infrared studies of nova V5584 Sgr in the pre-maximum and early decline phase

We present near-infrared spectroscopic and photometric observations of nova V5584 Sgr taken during the first 12 d following its discovery on Oct. 26.439 UT2009. The evolution of the spectra is shown from the initial P Cygni phase to an emission line phase. The prominent carbon lines seen in the JHK spectra closely match those observed in an Fe II class nova outburst. The spectra show first-overtone CO bands in emission between 2.29–2.40 μm. By examining WISE and other publicly available data, we show that the nova underwent a pronounced dust formation phase between February- April 2010.     

Photometric Calibration of the Lunar-based Ultraviolet Telescope for Its First Six Months of Operation on the Lunar Surface

We describe the photometric calibration of the Lunar-based Ultraviolet Telescope(LUT), the first robotic astronomical telescope working on the lunar surface, for its first six months of operation on the lunar surface. Two spectral datasets(set A and B) from near-ultraviolet(NUV) to the optical band were constructed with 44 International Ultraviolet Explorer(IUE) standards, because of the LUT's relatively wide wavelength coverage. Set A was obtained by extrapolating the IUE NUV spectra(λ 3200 ) to the optical band based upon the theoretical spectra of stellar atmosphere models. Set B was composed of theoretical spectra from 2000  to 8000 extracted from the same model grid. In total, seven standards have been observed in15 observational runs until May 2014. The calibration results show that the photometric performance of LUT is highly stable in its first six months of operation. The magnitude zero points obtained from the two spectral datasets are also consistent with each other, i.e., zp = 17.54 ± 0.09 mag(set A) and zp = 17.52 ± 0.07 mag(set B).     

New CCD photometric investigation of the early-type overcontact binary BH Cen in the young star-forming Galactic cluster IC 2944

BH Cen is a short-period early-type binary with a period of 0.792 din the extremely young star-forming cluster IC 2944. New multi-color CCD photometric light curves in U, B, V, R and I bands are presented and are analyzed by using the Wilson-Devinney code. It is detected that BH Cen is a high-mass-ratio overcontact binary with a fill-out factor of 46.4% and a mass ratio of 0.89. The derived orbital inclination i is 88.9 degrees, indicating that it is a totally eclipsing binary and the photometric parameters can be determined reliably. By adding new eclipse times, the orbital period changes in the binary are analyzed. It is confirmed that the period of BH Cen shows a long-term increase while it undergoes a cyclic oscillation with an amplitude of A_3 = 0.024 d and a period of P_3 = 50.3 yr. The high mass ratio, overcontact configuration and long-term continuous increase in the orbital period all suggest that BH Cen is in the evolutionary state after the shortest-period stage of Case A mass transfer.The continuous increase in period can be explained by mass transfer from the secondary component to the primary one at a rate of˙M_2 = 2.8×10~(-6) M_⊙per year. The cyclic change can be plausibly explained by the presence of a third body because both components in the BH Cen system are early-type stars. Its mass is determined to be no less than 2.2 M_⊙at an orbital separation of about 32.5 AU. Since no third light was found during the photometric solution, it is possible that the third body may be a candidate for a compact object.     

First photometric study of ultrashort-period contact binary 1SWASP J140533.33+114639.1

In this paper,CCD photometric light curves for the short-period eclipsing binary 1 SWASP J140533.33+114639.1(hereafter J1405) in the BV R bands are presented and analyzed using the 2013 version of the Wilson-Devinney(W-D) code. It is discovered that J1405 is a W-subtype shallow contact binary with a contact degree of f = 7.9±0.5% and a mass ratio of q = 1.55±0.02. In order to explain the asymmetric light curves of the system,a cool starspot on the more massive component is employed. This shallow contact eclipsing binary may have been formed from a short-period detached system through orbital shrinkage due to angular momentum loss. Based on the(O-C) method,the variation of orbital period is studied using all the available times of minimum light. The(O-C) diagram reveals that the period is increasing continuously at a rate of d P/dt = +2.09×10~(-7) d yr~(-1),which can be explained by mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive one.     

A Photometry Campaign for IR Geminorum in Quiescence

We report a V band photometry of the SU UMa star IR Gem at quiescence in January 2002. The observations were made with two telescopes spaced - 160° apart in longitude. Several photometric modulations have been found. One gives a period of 98.50(13) min, exactly equal to the orbital period determined spectroscopically. Two others occasionally strengthen and seem to be positive and negative superhumps with periods of 103.6(4) and 95.4(4) min, 5.2% longer and 3.1% shorter than the orbital period, respectively. A signal at - 0.6 c/d in the power spectrum is roughly consistent with the expected period of nodal precession of the disk. There is a puzzling peak at 0.21(3) c/d corresponding to the - 4.3 d sine wave seen in the raw light curve. We suspect it to be a beat frequency between the frequencies of apsidal and nodal precessions of the disk. Quasi-periodic cycles with amplitudes 0.15-0.6 mag can be seen in the light curve. The mechanism underlying this modulation is not clear.     

A synchrotron self-Compton scenario for the very high energy γ-ray emission of the intermediate BL Lacertae object W Comae

W Comae has significant variability in multi-wavelengthes, from radio to gamma-ray bands. A bright outburst in optical and X-ray bands was observed in 1998, and most recently, a strong TeV flare was detected by VERITAS in 2008. It is the first TeV intermediate-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae source. I find that both the broadband spectral energy distributions （SEDs） which were quasi-simultaneously obtained during the TeV flare and during the optical/X-ray outburst are well fit by using a single-zone synchrotron ＋ synchrotron-self-Compton model. The satisfactory fitting requires a large beaming factor, i.e., δ- 25 and δ- 20 for the TeV flare and the optical/X-ray outburst, respectively, suggesting that both the optical/X-ray outburst and the TeV flare are from a relativistic jet. The size of the emission region of the TeV flare is three times larger than that of the optical/X-ray outburst, and the strength of the magnetic field for the TeV flare is - 14 times smaller than that of the X-ray/optical outburst, likely indicating that the region of the TeV flare is more distant from the core than that of the X-ray/optical outburst. The inverse Compton component of the TeV flare peaks around 1.3 GeV, but it is around 20 MeV for the X-ray/optical outburst, lower than that for the TeV flare by two orders of magnitude. The model predicts that the optical/X-ray outburst might be accompanied by a strong MeV/GeV emission, but the TeV flare may be not associated with the X-ray/optical outburst. The GeV emission is critical for characterizing the SEDs of the optical/X-ray outburst and the TeV flare. The predicted GeV flux is above the sensitivity of Fermi/LAT, and it could be verified with the observations by Fermi/LAT in the near future.     

The first photometric analysis of the totally eclipsing contact binary V811 Cep

The first photometric analysis of V811 Cep was carried out.The first complete light curves of V,R and I bands are given.The analysis was carried out by the Wilson-Devinney(W-D) program,and the results show that V811 Cep is a median-contact binary(f=33.9(±4.9) %) with a mass ratio of 0.285.It is a W-subtype contact binary,that is,the component with less mass is hotter than the component with more mass,and the light curves are asymmetric(O' Connell effect),which can be explained by the existence of a hot spot on the component with less mass.The orbital inclination is i=88.3°,indicating that it is a totally eclipsing binary,so the parameters obtained are reliable.Through the O-C analyzing,it is found that the orbital period decreases at the rate of ■=-3.90(±0.06) × 10~(-7)d yr~(-1),which indicates that the mass transfer occurs from the more massive component to the less massive one.     

Long-term multi-wavelength variations of Fermi blazar 3C 279

Long-term optical, X-ray and γ-ray data of blazar 3 C 279 have been compiled from Swift-XRT,RXTE-PCA, Fermi-LAT, SMARTS and literature. The source exhibits strong variability on long timescales.From the 1980 s until now, the optical R band light curve spans more than 32 yr, and a possible 5.6-yr-long quasi-periodic variation component has been found in it. The optical spectral behavior has been investigated. In the optical band, the mean spectral index is –1.71. The source exhibits an obvious special spectral behavior. In the low state, the source manifests a clear bluer-when-brighter behavior in the sense that the optical spectrum turns harder(flatter) when the brightness increases. While in the high state, the optical spectrum is stable, which means the source spectral index does not vary with brightness. The correlation analysis has been performed among optical, X-ray and γ-ray energy bands. The result indicates that the variations of γ-ray and X-ray bands are well correlated without time delay on the timescale of days, and their variations exhibit weak correlations with those of the optical band. The variations, especially outbursts,are simultaneous, but the magnitude of variations is disproportionate. The detailed analysis reveals that the main outbursts exhibit strong correlations in different γ-ray, X-ray and optical bands.     

Temporal variations and spectral properties of the Be/X-ray pulsar GRO J1008–57 studied by INTEGRAL

The spin period variations and hard X-ray spectral properties of the Be/Xray pulsar GRO J1008–57 are studied with INTEGRAL observations during two outbursts in 2004 June and 2009 March.The pulsation periods of～93.66 s in 2004and～93.73 s in 2009 are determined.Pulse profiles of GRO J1008–57 during outbursts are strongly energy dependent with a double-peaked profile from 3–7 keV and a single-peaked profile in hard X-rays above 7 keV.Combined with previous measurements,we find that GRO J1008–57 has undergone a spin-down trend from 1993–2009 with a rate of～4.1×10-5s d-1,and could have changed into a spin-up trend after 2009.We find a relatively soft spectrum in the early phase of the 2009 outburst with cutoff energy～13 keV.Above a hard X-ray flux of～10-9erg cm-2s-1,the spectra of GRO J1008–57 during outbursts need an enhanced hydrogen absorption with column density～6×1022cm-2.The observed dip-like pulse profile of GRO J1008–57 in soft X-ray bands could be caused by this intrinsic absorption.Around the outburst peaks,a possible cyclotron resonance scattering feature at～74 keV is detected in the spectra of GRO J1008–57 which is consistent with the feature that was reported in MAXI/GSC observations,making the source a neutron star with the highest known magnetic field(～6.6×1012G)among accreting X-ray pulsars.This marginal feature is supported by the present detections in GRO J1008–57 following the correlation between the fundamental line energies and cutoff energies in accreting X-ray pulsars.Finally we discovered two modulation periods at～124.38 d and～248.78 d using RXTE/ASM light curves of GRO J1008–57.Two flare peaks appearing in the folded light curve had different spectral properties.The normal outburst lasting 0.1 of an orbital phase had a hard spectrum and could not be significantly detected below 3 keV.The second flare lasting ten days showed a very soft spectrum without significant detections above 5 keV.GRO J1008–57 is a good candidate of an accreting system with an equatorial circumstellar disk around the companion star.The neutron star passing the disk of the Be star near periastron and apastron produces two X-ray flares.The soft spectral properties in the secondary flares still need further detailed studies with soft X-ray spectroscopy.     

盾牌座δ型星的混沌现象的测定与研究

Chaos is universal phenomenon in the nature. Some scientists think that chaos theory is the third revolution in physics of this century, following relativity theory and quantum mechanics. The δSct type stars are pulsating variable stars with light amplitudes in Ⅴ from 0~m.003to 0~m.9 and periods from 0~d.01 to 0~d.2. The spectral types are A0-F5Ⅲ-Ⅴ. Some stars such as ρ Puppis and AD CMi show light curves which repeat beautifully from cycle to cycle.The light curves of many stars, especially the small-amplitude variables, often appear vari-