Photometric and spectroscopic study of flares on Ross 15

We conducted photometric and spectroscopic observations of Ross 15 in order to further study the flare properties of this less observed flare star.A total of 28 B-band flares are detected in 128 hr of photometric observations,leading to a total flare rate of 0.22-0.040.04 h-1,more accurate than that provided by previous work.We give the energy range of the B-band flare(1029.5-1031.5 erg) and the flare frequency distribution(FFD) for the star.Within the same energy range,the FFD is lower than that of GJ 1243(M4)and YZ CMi(M4.5),roughly in the middle of those of three M5-type stars and higher than the average FFDs of spectral types> M6.We performed,for the first time for Ross 15,simultaneous high-cadence spectroscopic and photometric observations,resulting in detection of the most energetic flare in our sample.The intensity enhancements of the continuum and Balmer lines with significant correlations between them are detected during the flare,which is the same as those of other deeply studied flare stars with similar spectral type.     

An active M star with X-ray double flares disguised as an ultra-luminous X-ray source

Here we present research on an ultra-luminous X-ray source(ULX) candidate 2XMM J140229.91+542118.8. The X-ray light curves of this ULX candidate in M101 exhibit features of a flare star.More importantly, the Chandra light curve displays unusual X-ray double flares, which is comprised of two close peaks. The X-ray(0.3–11.0 ke V) flux of the first peak was derived from the two-temperature APEC model as ～ 1.1 ± 0.1 × 10-12 erg cm-2s-1. The observed flux at its first peak increased by about two orders of magnitude in X-ray as compared to quiescence. The slope of the second fast decay phase is steeper than the slope of the first fast decay phase, indicating that the appearance of a second flare accelerated the cooling of the first flare in a way we do not understand yet. We also observed its optical counterpart using a 2.16 m telescope administered by National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences.By optical spectral fitting, it is confirmed to be a late type d Me2.5 star. According to the spectral type and apparent magnitude of its optical counterpart, we estimate the photometric distance to be ～ 133.4 ± 14.2pc. According to the X-ray spectral fitting, a possible explanation is provided. However, more similar close double flares are needed to confirm whether this accelerated cooling event is a unique coincidence or a common physical process during double flaring.     

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.     

dMe耀星的X射线的辐射

From Einstein Observatory, we know most nearby dM flare stars have X-ray emissions. X-ray flare energy of dM stars is far larger than that of large flares of sun. The corona temperature of dM stars is higher than that of sun. The X-ray flare time scales are several minutes to hours. Star corona heating model for X-ray flares is loop model, which provide a mechanism to convert magnetic energy to heat energy in star corona.Within identification of ROSAT X-ray sources, we found that X-ray source: RX1102.0 4347 corresponds to WX UMa, a dM5e flare star, which is in a nearby visual binary: Gliese 412A B. The binary is very near to earth, 5.38pc, and has high proper motion, 4".54/ year. The binary is also an Einstein X-ray source: 1 E1103.0 4346.In March 27, 1993, we observed WX UMa by CCD BVRI photometry at BAO 2.16m telescope. Magnitudes of the star are: V = 14.56, B-V = 1.95, V-R = 0.97, R-I = 2.06, which are similar to previous observations.From the ROSAT X-ray survey data in November 7-17, 1990, average X     

Identifying Carbon stars from the LAMOST pilot survey with the efficient manifold ranking algorithm

Carbon stars are excellent kinematic tracers of galaxies and can serve as a viable standard candle,so it is worthwhile to automatically search for them in a large amount of spectra.In this paper,we apply the efficient manifold ranking algorithm to search for carbon stars from the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope(LAMOST) pilot survey,whose performance and robustness are verified comprehensively with four test experiments.Using this algorithm,we find a total of183 carbon stars,and 158 of them are new findings.According to different spectral features,our carbon stars are classified as 58 C-H stars,11 C-H star candidates,56C-R stars,ten C-R star candidates,30 C-N stars,three C-N star candidates,and four C-J stars.There are also ten objects which have no spectral type because of low spectral quality,and a composite spectrum consisting of a white dwarf and a carbon star.Applying the support vector machine algorithm,we obtain the linear optimum classification plane in the J — H versus H — K_s color diagram which can be used to distinguish C-H from C-N stars with their J — H and H — K_s colors.In addition,we identify 18 dwarf carbon stars with their relatively high proper motions,and find three carbon stars with FUV detections likely have optical invisible companions by cross matching with data from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer.In the end,we detect four variable carbon stars with the Northern Sky Variability Survey,the Catalina Sky Survey and the LINEAR variability databases.According to their periods and amplitudes derived by fitting light curves with a sinusoidal function,three of them are likely semiregular variable stars and one is likely a Mira variable star.     

Physical properties of γ Doradus pulsating stars and their relationship with long-period δ Scuti variables

We present LAMOST data on 168 γ Doradus(γ Dor) pulsating stars including stellar atmospheric parameters of 137 variables and spectral types for all of the samples. The distributions of period(P), temperature(T), gravitational acceleration(log(g)) and metallicity [Fe/H] are shown. It is found that most γ Dor variables are main-sequence stars with early F spectral types and temperatures from 6880 K to7280 K. They are slightly more metal poor than the Sun with a metallicity range from-0.4 to 0. On the H-R and log g-T diagrams, both the γ Dor and δ Scuti(δ Sct) stars occupy in the same region and some are beyond the borders predicted by current stellar pulsation theories. It is discovered that the physical properties of γ Dor stars are similar to those of long-period δ Sct(P 0.3 d) stars. The stellar atmospheric parameters are all correlated with the pulsation period for short-period δ Sct variables(P 0.3 d), but there are no such relations for γ Dor or long-period δ Sct stars. These results reveal that γ Dor and long-period δ Sct are the same group of pulsating stars and they are different from short-period δ Sct variables. Meanwhile, 33γ Dor stars are identified as candidates of binary or multiple systems.     

Search for age pattern across spiral arms of the Milky Way

The age pattern across spiral arms is one of the key observational features utilised to study the dynamic nature of the Galaxy’s spiral structure.With the most updated samples of high-mass star formation region(HMSFR)masers,O stars and open clusters,we investigated their distributions and kinematic properties in the vicinity of the Sun.We found that the Sagittarius-Carina Arm traced by HMSFRs,O stars((?)10 Myr)and young open clusters(<30 Myr)seem to deviate gradually towards the Galactic Anticenter(GAC)direction.The Local Arm traced by HMSFRs,O stars,young clusters and also mediumyoung clusters(30-100 Myr)are inclined to gradually deviate toward the Galactic Center(GC)direction.The properties for the Local Arm are supported by a simplified simulation of cluster motions in the Galaxy.Indications of systematic motions in the circular and radial velocities are noticed for the old open clusters(>200 Myr).These results are consistent with the idea that star formation can be triggered by spiral shocks of density waves,and indicate that the corotation radius of the Galaxy is located between the SagittariusCarina Arm and the Local Arm,close to the Solar circle.     

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.     

The two promising scenarios to explode core collapse supernovae

I compare to each other what I consider to be the two most promising scenarios to explode core-collapse supernovae(CCSNe). Both are based on the negative jet feedback mechanism(JFM). In the jittering jets scenario a collapsing core of a single slowly-rotating star can launch jets. The accretion disk or belt(a sub-Keplerian accretion flow concentrated toward the equatorial plane) that launches the jets is intermittent with varying directions of the axis. Instabilities, such as the standing accretion shock instability(SASI), lead to stochastic angular momentum variations that allow the formation of the intermittent accretion disks/belts. According to this scenario no failed CCSNe exist. According to the fixed axis scenario, the core of the progenitor star must be spun up during its late evolutionary phases, and hence all CCSNe are descendants of strongly interacting binary systems, most likely through a common envelope evolution(whether the companion survives or not). Due to the strong binary interaction, the axis of the accretion disk that is formed around the newly born neutron star has a more or less fixed direction. According to the fixed axis scenario, accretion disks/belts are not formed around the newly born neutron star of single stars; they rather end in failed CCSNe. I also raise the possibility that the jittering jets scenario operates for progenitors with initial mass of 8 M_☉≤M_(ZAMS)≤18 M_⊙, while the fixed axis scenario operates for M_(ZAMS)≤18 M_⊙. For the first time these two scenarios are compared to each other, as well as to some aspects of the neutrino-driven explosion mechanism. These new comparisons further suggest that the JFM plays a major role in exploding massive stars.     

Variable stars in the field of open cluster NGC 2126

We report the results of a time-series CCD photometric survey of variable stars in the field of open cluster NGC 2126. In about a one square degree field covering the cluster, a total of 21 variable candidates are detected during this survey, of which 16 are newly found. The periods, classifications and spectral types of 14 newly discovered variables are discussed, which consist of six eclipsing binary systems, three pulsating variable stars, three long period variables, one RS CVn star, and one W UMa or δ Scuff star. In addition, there are two variable candidates, the properties of which cannot be determined. By a method based on fitting observed spectral energy distributions of stars with theoretical ones, the membership probabilities and the fundamental parameters of this cluster are determined. As a result, five variables are probably members of NGC 2126. The fundamental parameters of this cluster are determined as： metallicity to be 0.008 Z, age log（t） = 8.95, distance modulus （m - M）0 = 10.34 and reddening value E（B - V） = 0.55 mag.     

Spectral study of V565 Mon: probable FU Ori-like or chemically peculiar star

We present a detailed spectroscopic study of pre-main sequence star V565 Mon,which is the illuminating star of the Parsamian 17 cometary nebula.Observations were performed with the 2.6 m telescope in Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory on 2018 February 15.Radial velocities and equivalent widths of the most prominent lines of V565 Mon are presented.We build the spectral energy distribution and estimate the main parameters of the star,for example the obtained bolometric luminosity of V565 Mon is L_V565≈130 L_⊙.Considering all features of V565 Mon,we come to the conclusion that this young intermediate-mass star belongs to some intermediate class between T Tau and HAeBe stars.Very unusual for a young star is the presence of strong absorption BaⅡlines in the spectrum.Possible explanations on this issue are discussed.Hence,we think that V565 Mon is a unique example,which can help to understand some open questions involved in the problem of nucleosynthesis in young stars.     

Variable Star Status of Two Stars： V204 and I-I-39 in M3

The star 1-1-42 （=vZ1390）, a cluster member in M3, located near the red edge of the instability strip of the horizontal branch, was discovered by Roberts and Sandage as a low amplitude variable, it was designated as V204 in the ＂second catalogue of variable stars in globular clusters＂, but its coordinates given in all versions of this catalogue are wrong since 1955. We argue that V204 is indeed a low amplitude HB variable star, located near to the red edge of the instability strip, with a period of 0.74785d and an amplitude of about 0.04 mag in V. We also find that the red cluster member star 1-1-39 is a low amplitude variable with a period of 1.16^d and amplitude of about 0.03 mag in V which might be pulsating at the second overtone.     

Variable Star Status of Two Stars:V204 and I-I-39 in M3

The star I-I-42 (=vZ1390),a cluster member in M3,located near the red edge of the instability strip of the horizontal branch,was discovered by Roberts and Sandage as a low amplitude variable,it was designated as V204 in the "second catalogue of variable stars in globular clusters",but its coordinates given in all versions of this catalogue are wrong since 1955. We argue that V204 is indeed a low amplitude HB variable star,located near to the red edge of the instability strip,with a period of 0.74785d and an amplitude of about 0.04mag in V . We also find that the red cluster member star I-I-39 is a low amplitude variable with a period of 1.16d and amplitude of about 0.03mag in V which might be pulsating at the second overtone.     

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.     

An infrared study of Be stars based on ISO SWS01 spectra

The Infrared Space Observatory （ISO） Short-Wavelength Spectrometer （SWS） spectra of 10 Be stars are presented. It can be seen that the Be stars show a diversity in their ISO SWS01 spectral classifications by Kraemer et al., from naked stars, stars associated with dust, stars with warm dust shells, stars with cool dust shells to very red sources. In addition, the Brα/HI（14-6） line flux ratio derived for the sample stars is compared with that of P Cyg, and it is found that the line ratio of Be stars which were investigated show not only lower values as suggested by Waters et al., but also larger values. Therefore, the line ratio cannot be used to judge whether a star is a Be star or not.     

Investigating variable stars in the open cluster NGC 1912 and its surrounding field

In this work,we studied the variable stars in the open cluster NGC 1912 based on the photometric observations and Gaia DR2 data.More than 3600 CCD frames in B,V,R filters were reduced,and we obtained the light curves that span about 63 hours.By analyzing these light curves,we detected 24 variable stars,including 16 periodic variable stars,seven eclipsing binaries and one star whose type is unclear.Among these 24 variable stars,11 are newly discovered,which are classified as sixγDoradus stars,oneδScuti star,three detached binaries and one contact binary.We also confirmed 13 previously known variable stars.Based on cluster members identified by Cantat-Gaudin et al.(2018),we inferred cluster memberships for these detected variable stars.Using Gaia DR2 data,we plotted a new color-magnitude diagram for NGC1912,and showed the nature of variable cluster members in kinematical properties and heliocentric distance.Among the 24 variable stars,seven variables are probable cluster members,which show homogeneity in kinematic characters and space position with the established cluster members.Four of the seven variable cluster members are the previously discovered stars,consisting of twoγDor stars and twoδSct stars.The remaining three variable cluster members,which are allγDor stars,are firstly detected in this work.The main physical parameters of these variable cluster members estimated from the color-magnitude diagram are log(age/yr)=8.75,[Fe/H]=-0.1,m-M=10.03 mag,and E(B-V)=0.307.     

The GeV emission of PSR B1259–63 during its last three periastron passages observed by Fermi-LAT

PSR B1259–63 is a γ-ray emitting high mass X-ray binary system, in which the compact object is a millisecond pulsar.The system has an orbital period of 1236.7 d and shows peculiar γ-ray flares when the neutron star moves out of the stellar disk of the companion star.The γ-ray flare events were firstly discovered by using Fermi-LAT around the 2010 periastron passage, which was repeated for the 2014 and 2017 periastron passages.We analyze the Fermi-LAT data for all the three periastron passages and found that in each flare the energy spectrum can be represented well by a simple power law.The γ-ray light curves show that in 2010 and 2014 after each periastron there are two main flares,but in 2017 there are four flares including one precursor about 10 d after the periastron passage.The first main flares in 2010 and 2014 are located at around 35 d after the periastron passage, and the main flare in 2014 is delayed by roughly 1.7 d with respect to that in 2010.In the 2017 flare, the source shows a precursor about 10 d after the periastron passage, but the following two flares become weaker and lag behind those in 2010 by roughly 5 d.The strongest flares in 2017 occurred 58 d and 70 d after the periastron passage.These results challenge the previous models.     

Spectroscopic study of Be-shell stars: 4 Her and 88 Her

We present an optical spectroscopic study based on 41 spectra of 4 Her and 32 spectra of 88 Her,obtained over a period of 6 months.We estimate the rotational velocity of these stars from Hel lines in the blue spectral region(4000-4500 ?).We find that these stars are likely to be rotating at a fractional critical rotation of~0.80.We measure the average I_p/I_c ratio to quantify the strength of the Hα line and obtain1.63 for 4 Her and 2.06 for 88 Her.The radius of the Ha emission region is estimated to be R_d/R_*~5.0,assuming a Keplerian disk.These stars are thus found to be fast rotators with a relatively small Ha emission region.We detect V/R variation of the Ha spectral line during the observed period.We re-estimate the periods for both stars and obtain a period of ~46 d and its harmonic of 23.095 d for 4 Her,and a period of~86 d for 88 Her.As these two cases are shell stars with binaries and have low Ha EW with the emission region closer to the central star,the V/R variation and a change in period may be an effect of the binary on the circumstellar disk.     

The nature of the γ-ray flare associated with blazar 3C 454.3

We have studied the simultaneous spectral energy distributions(SEDs) of the 2009 December flare and those of the quiescent state of blazar 3C 454.3 by constructing a multi-component model. We find that all six SEDs can be explained by a one-zone leptonic model involving synchrotron self-Compton(SSC) plus external Compton emission from an accretion disk(ECD) and that from a broad-line region(ECC). X-ray emission is dominated by the SSC mechanism, and the γ-ray spectrum is well represented by a combination of ECD and ECC processes. Our results indicate that the energy density of the magnetic field and electrons decrease with distance from the central engine, and the Doppler factor increases with the blob moving outward in the development of the 2009 December flare. The increase in the observed flux density is possibly due to the increase in the Doppler factor of the blob. The relation between the Doppler factor δb and the distance from the central black hole suggests the magnetically driven jets span a sub-pc scale, and the relation between the magnetic field B′ and the dimension of the emission region R′b is in good agreement with what is required by conservation of magnetic flux. The weak "harder-when-brighter" behavior of the γ-ray spectrum could be a result of the increase in Doppler factor during the outward motion of the blob. The parameters during the quiescent state obviously deviate from those during the flare state. We propose that the flare was likely caused by the ejection of a new blob. The gamma-ray emissions in different states are associated with the evolution of the blob.