Possibility of measuring spin precession of the nearest supermassive black hole by using S stars

The supermassive black hole(SMBH) with a mass of 4 million M inside the radio source Sgr A* in our Galactic center is the nearest SMBH. Once S stars with a shorter period are observed, relativistic precessions especially the Lense-Thirring effect can be measured by astronomical observations at the 10 μas level in the future.An interesting but so far unaddressed problem is that the SMBH not only has spin but also spin precession like similar objects. We study the effect of such spin precession on the orbital precessions of orbiting stars. Our results show that the spin precession can produce a periodic oscillation in the precession of the star's orbital plane, but has no obvious effect on the periapse shift. For stars with an orbital period of O(0.1) yr or less, such visible oscillations occur when the SMBH's spin-precession period ranges from about a few tens of years to hundreds of years. The period of oscillation is the same as the one of the spin precession. In principle, the precession of this oscillating orbital plane can be observed and then the spin and spin precession of the nearest SMBH can be determined.     

A comparison of stellar atmospheric parameters from the LAMOST and APOGEE datasets

We have compared stellar parameters, including temperature, gravity and metallicity, for common stars in the LAMOST DR2 and SDSS DR12/APOGEE datasets. It is found that the LAMOST dataset provides a more well-defined red clump feature than the APOGEE dataset in the Teff versus log g diagram. With this advantage, we have separated red clump stars from red giant stars, and attempt to establish calibrations between the two datasets for the two groups of stars. The results show that there is a good consistency in temperature with a calibration close to the one-to-one line, and we can establish a satisfactory metallicity calibration of[Fe/H]APOGEE= 1.18[Fe/H]LAMOST + 0.11 with a scatter of ～ 0.08 dex for both the red clump and red giant branch samples. For gravity, there is no correlation for red clump stars between the two datasets, and scatters around the calibrations of red giant stars are substantial. We found two main sources of scatter in log g for red giant stars. One is a group of stars with 0.00253 × Teff- 8.67 log g 2.6 located in the forbidden region, and the other is the contaminated red clump stars, which could be picked out from the unmatched region where stellar metallicity is not consistent with position in the Teff versus log g diagram. After excluding stars in these two regions,we have established two calibrations for red giant stars, log g APOGEE = 0.000615 ×Teff,LAMOST+ 0.697 × log g LAMOST- 2.208(σ = 0.150) for [Fe/H] -1 and log gAPOGEE= 0.000874×Teff,LAMOST+0.588×log g LAMOST-3.117(σ = 0.167)for [Fe/H] -1. The calibrations are valid for stars with Teff = 3800- 5400 K and log g = 0- 3.8 dex, and are useful in work aiming to combine the LAMOST and APOGEE datasets in a future study. In addition, we find that an SVM method based on asteroseismic log g is a good way to greatly improve the accuracy of gravity for these two regions, at least in the LAMOST dataset.     

Information from the Kinematics of F and G Stars in the Solar Neighborhood

We have calculated the orbital parameters for 90 stars in Chen et al. and updated the kinematic data for stars in Edvardsson et al. by using the accurate Hipparcos parallaxes and proper motions, and recalculated the \\\\\\\\\\\\-element abundances in Edvardsson et al. in a way consistent with Chen et al. The two sets of data are combined in a study of stellar populations and characteristics of F & G stars in the solar neighborhood. We confirm the result of Chen et al. that a distinguishable group of stars may belong to the thick disk rather than the thin disk. The ages for the stars are determined using the theoretical isochrones of VandenBerg et al. The age-metallicity relation is investigated for different subgroups according to distance from the sun and galactic orbital parameters. It is found that a mixing of stars with different orbital parameters significantly affect the age-metallicity relation for the disk. Stars with orbits confined to the solar circle all have metallicities [Fe/H] > -0.3 irresp     

Be星光谱和近红外光度观测

Equivalent widths (EW) of Hα emission lines and JHK magnitudes for 24 Be Stars were measured. Spectroscopic and near infrared photometric Observations were made with 216 cm telescope and 126 cm telescope separately at Beijing Astronomical Observatory in the autumn of 1992. Some additional apectra were obtained with 100 cm telescope at Yunnan Astronomical Observatory in January 1993.As a preliminary analysis of the data, the correlation between EW of Hαand colour index J-K of Be Stars was investigated. The EW as a function of J-K were plotted. It is shown that the EW of Hα emission line is proportional to J-K quite well for Be Stars we observed, except two stars: KX And and LSI 61 °303, of which the infrared excess are too large, ΔEW /Δ(J-K) is equal to 100 A / magnitude, this correlation indicates that both infrared excess and Hα emission originate in a commom region of envelope around Be stars.     

Asteroseismology of DAV white dwarf stars and G29-38

Asteroseismology is a powerful tool used for detecting the inner structure of stars, which is also widely used to study white dwarfs. We discuss the asteroseismology of DAV stars. The period-to-period fitting method is discussed in detail, including its reliability in detecting the inner structure of DAV stars. If we assume that all observed modes of some DAV stars are the l = I cases, the errors associated with model fitting will be always large. If we assume that the observed modes are com- posed of I = 1 and 2 modes, the errors associated with model fitting in this case will be small. However, there will be modes identified as l = 2 that do not have ob- served quintuplets. G29-38 has been observed spectroscopically and photometrically for many years. Thompson et al. made 1 modes identifications in the star through the limb darkening effect. With 11 known I modes, we also study the asteroseismology of G29-38, which reduces the blind l fittings and is a fair choice. Unfortunately, our two best-fitting models are not in line with the previous atmospheric results. Based on factors like only a few observed modes, stability and identification of eigenmodes, identification of spherical degrees, construction of physical and realistic models and so on, detecting the inner structure of DAV stars by asteroseismology needs further development.     

Numerical analysis of modal tomography for solar multi-conjugate adaptive optics

Multi-conjugate adaptive optics (MCAO) can considerably extend the corrected field of view with respect to classical adaptive optics, which will benefit solar observation in many aspects. In solar MCAO, the Sun structure is utilized to provide multiple guide stars and a modal tomography approach is adopted to implement threedimensional wavefront restorations. The principle of modal tomography is briefly reviewed and a numerical simulation model is built with three equivalent turbulent layers and a different number of guide stars. Our simulation results show that at least six guide stars are required for an accurate wavefront reconstruction in the case of three layers, and only three guide stars are needed in the two layer case. Finally, eigenmode analysis results are given to reveal the singular modes that cannot be precisely retrieved in the tomography process.     

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 YNEV stellar evolution and oscillation code

We have developed a new stellar evolution and oscillation code YNEV,which calculates the structures and evolutions of stars,taking into account hydrogen and helium burning.A nonlocal turbulent convection theory and an updated overshoot mixing model are optional in this code.The YNEV code can evolve low-and intermediate-mass stars from the pre-main sequence to a thermally pulsing asymptotic branch giant or white dwarf.The YNEV oscillation code calculates the eigenfrequencies and eigenfunctions of the adiabatic oscillations for a given stellar structure.The input physics and numerical scheme adopted in the code are introduced.Examples of solar models,stellar evolutionary tracks of low-and intermediate-mass stars with different convection theories(i.e.mixing-length theory and nonlocal turbulent convection theory),and stellar oscillations are shown.     

The evolution of stellar metallicity gradients of the Milky Way disk from LSS-GAC main sequence turn-off stars: a two-phase disk formation history?

Accurate measurements of stellar metallicity gradients in the radial and vertical directions of the disk and their temporal variations provide important constraints on the formation and evolution of the Milky Way disk. We use 297 042 main sequence turn-off stars selected from the LAMOST Spectroscopic Survey of the Galactic Anticenter(LSS-GAC) to determine the radial and vertical gradients of stellar metallicity,△[Fe/H]/△R and △[Fe/H]/△|Z | of the Milky Way disk in the direction of the anticenter. We determine ages of those turn-off stars by isochrone fitting and measure the temporal variations of metallicity gradients. We have carried out a detailed analysis of the selection effects resulting from the selection, observation and data reduction of LSS-GAC targets and the potential biases of a magnitude limited sample on the determinations of metallicity gradients. Our results show that the gradients, both in the radial and vertical directions, exhibit significant spatial and temporal variations. The radial gradients yielded by stars with the oldest ages( 11 Gyr) are essentially zero at all heights from the disk midplane, while those given by younger stars are always negative. The vertical gradients deduced from stars with the oldest ages( 11 Gyr)are negative and only show very weak variations with Galactocentric distance in the disk plane, R, while those yielded by younger stars show strong variations with R.After being essentially flat at the earliest epochs of disk formation, the radial gradients steepen as age decreases, reaching a maximum(steepest) at age 7–8 Gyr, and then they flatten again. Similar temporal trends are also found for the vertical gradients. We infer that the assembly of the Milky Way disk may have experienced at least two distinct phases. The earlier phase is probably related to a slow, pressure-supported collapse of gas, when the gas settles down to the disk mainly in the vertical direction. In the later phase, there are significant radial flows of gas in the disk, and the rate of gas inflow near the solar neighborhood reaches a maximum around a lookback time of 7–8 Gyr.The transition between the two phases occurs around a lookback time between 8 and11 Gyr. The two phases may be responsible for the formation of the Milky Way's thick and thin disks, respectively. Also, as a consequence, we recommend that stellar age is a natural, physical criterion to distinguish stars from the thin and thick disks. From an epoch earlier than 11 Gyr to one between 8 and 11 Gyr, there is an abrupt, significant change in magnitude of both the radial and vertical metallicity gradients, suggesting that stellar radial migration is unlikely to play an important role in the formation of the thick disk.     

The origin of the high-velocity circumstellar gas around SN 1998S

Modelling of high-resolution Balmer line profiles in the early-time spectra of SN 1998S shows that the inferred fast (≈400 km s⁻¹) circumstellar (CS) gas on days 23 and 42 post-explosion is confined to a narrow, negative velocity gradient shell just above the photosphere. This gas may be identified with a slow  (v<40 km s⁻¹)  progenitor wind accelerated at the ejecta–wind interface. In this scenario, the photosphere coincides with a cool dense shell formed in the reverse shock. Acceleration by radiation from the supernova or by a shock-accelerated relativistic particle precursor are both possible explanations for the observed fast CS gas. An alternative, equally plausible scenario is that the fast CS gas is accelerated within shocked clouds engulfed by the outer shock, as it propagates through the intercloud wind.     

The circumstellar envelope of S persei

We present MERLIN observations of OH and H₂O masers in the circumstellar envelope of S Per. The results are consistent with a model of a thick shell of H₂O masers in a region which is still accelerating.     

Molecular Gas and Dust in the Massive Star Forming Region S 233 IR

The massive star forming region S 233 IR is observed in the molecular lines CO J = 2-1, 3-2, NH3 (1,1), (2,2) and the 870#m dust continuum. Four submillimeter continuum sources, labelled SMM 1-4, are revealed in the 870μm dust emission. The main core, SMM1, is found to be associated with a deeply embedded near infrared cluster in the northeast; while the weaker source SMM2 coincides with a more evolved cluster in the southwest. The best fit spectral energy distribution of SMM1 gives an emissivity of β = 1.6, and temperatures of 32 K and 92 K for the cold- and hot-dust components. An SMM1 core mass of 246 M⊙ and a total mass of 445 M⊙ are estimated from the 870μm dust continuum emission.SMM1 is found to have a temperature gradient decreasing from inside out, indicative of the presence of interior heating sources. The total outflow gas mass as traced by the CO J = 3-2 emission is estimated to be 35 M⊙. Low velocity outflows are also found in the NH3 (1,1) emission. The non-thermal dominant NH3 line width as well as the substantial core mass suggest that the SMM1 core is a “turbulent,massive dense core”, in the process of forming a group or a cluster of stars. The much higher star formation efficiency found in the southwest cluster supports the suggestion that this cluster is more evolved than the northeast one. Large near infrared photometric variations found in the source PCS-IR93, a previously found highly polarized nebulosity, indicate an underlying star showing the FU Orionis type of behavior.     

Calculating the Light Period of BL Lac Object S5 0716+714 by Wavelet Analysis Method

A kind of wavelet analysis method for identifying the light period of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714 is introduced. The rather complete observed data in the four optical wavebands B, V, R, I are collected, and the long-term light curves based on 10-day averaging are obtained. On these light curves, the periodicity analysis is performed by using a wavelet analysis method. The result demonstrates that the wavelet analysis method is preferable for searching and identifying the light periods of BL Lac objects. From the contour map of the real part of the wavelet transform coefficient, the periodical light variations of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714 can be precisely identified. By analyzing the wavelet variance curves at the 4 wavebands, it is found that the BL Lac Object S5 0716+174 has a stable light period of 1160 days. This result is consistent with the 3.3-year period given by Raiteri et al. It is predicted that the next outburst in this object will happen around the August of 2011.     

Deep echelle spectrophotometry of S 311, a Galactic H ii region located outside the solar circle

We present echelle spectrophotometry of the Galactic H  ii region S 311. The data have been taken with the Very Large Telescope Ultraviolet-Visual Echelle Spectrograph in the 3100–10 400 Å range. We have measured the intensities of 263 emission lines; 178 are permitted lines of H⁰, D⁰ (deuterium), He⁰, C⁰, C⁺, N⁰, N⁺, O⁰, O⁺, S⁺, Si⁰, Si⁺, Ar⁰ and Fe⁰; some of them are produced by recombination and others mainly by fluorescence. Physical conditions have been derived using different continuum- and line-intensity ratios. We have derived He⁺, C⁺⁺ and O⁺⁺ ionic abundances from pure recombination lines as well as abundances from collisionally excited lines for a large number of ions of different elements. We have obtained consistent estimations of t ² applying different methods. We have found that the temperature fluctuations paradigm is consistent with the T _e(He  i ) versus T _e(H  i ) relation for H  ii regions, in contrast with what has been found for planetary nebulae. We report the detection of deuterium Balmer lines up to Dδ in the blue wings of the hydrogen lines, whose excitation mechanism seems to be continuum fluorescence.     

S5 2007+777的射电性质研究

S5 2007+777是一个典型的低峰值频率的蝎虎天体,该天体具有kpc尺度的X射线喷流,文献中利用模型估算的方法,得出X射线波段的多普勒因子达到13.0,从而喷流尺度可以达到Mpc量级.在此,搜集了有关S5 2007+777的欧洲甚长基线射电干涉网(European VLBI Network, EVN)高分辨率档案数据、美国甚长基线射电干涉网(Very Long Baseline Array, VLBA) 15 GHz观测数据等,研究了喷流的射电结构、亮温度、自行等方面的性质,发现该源的甚长基线干涉测量(Very Long Baseline Interferometry,VLBI)不同波段的喷流方向一致,但与文献中给出的kpc尺度的X射线喷流和甚大阵(Very Large Array, VLA)射电喷流方向存在一定的差异,说明该源的喷流辐射存在多普勒增亮效应.由VLBI观测得到的亮温度,估算了该源的射电多普勒因子的平均值及中值均为5.0,此值小于文献中X射线波段的多普勒因子,但与文献中利用其他方法得到的射电波段多普勒因子是一致的;另外,对多历元观测数据的拟合发现此源相同波段的各个成分在长历元上没有明显的自行,短历元上的自行甚至是视超光速运动.这可能是由低表面亮度成分中心位置的转移造成的.这同时也验证了之前估算的射电多普勒因子不是很大,小于X射线波段多普勒因子的结论.利用所得到的射电多普勒因子,发现该源具有较大尺度的本征射电喷流,可达到0.5 Mpc,由于这里使用的是均值,因此说明该源也有可能具有接近巨射电星系尺度的喷流.