The outcome of the protoplanetary disk of very massive stars

We suggest that planets, brown dwarfs, and even low mass stars can be formed by fragmentation of protoplanetary disks around very massive stars (M ? 100 M_⊙). We discuss how fragmentation conditions make the formation of very massive planetary systems around very massive stars favorable. Such planetary systems are likely to be composed of brown dwarfs and low mass stars of ～0.1–0.3 M_⊙, at orbital separations of ～ few × 100–10⁴ AU. In particular, scaling from solar-like stars suggests that hundreds of Mercury-like planets might orbit very massive stars at ～10³ AU where conditions might favor liquid water. Such fragmentation objects can be excellent targets for the James Webb Space Telescope and other large telescopes working in the IR bands. We predict that deep observations of very massive stars would reveal these fragmentation objects, orbiting in the same orbital plane in cases where there are more than one object.     

Gamma–hadron separation methods for the VERITAS array of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

Ground-based arrays of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes have emerged as the most sensitive γ-ray detectors in the energy range of about 100 GeV and above. The strengths of these arrays are a very large effective collection area on the order of 10⁵ m², combined with excellent single photon angular and energy resolutions. The sensitivity of such detectors is limited by statistical fluctuations in the number of Cosmic-ray initiated air showers that resemble γ-ray air showers in many ways. In this paper, we study the performance of simple event reconstruction methods when applied to simulated data of the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) experiment. We review methods for reconstructing the arrival direction and the energy of the primary photons, and examine means to improve on their performance. For a software threshold energy of 300 GeV (100 GeV), the methods achieve point source angular and energy resolutions of σ_63% = 0.1° (0.2°) and σ_68% = 15% (22%), respectively. The main emphasis of the paper is the discussion of γ–hadron separation methods for the VERITAS experiment. We find that the information from several methods can be combined based on a likelihood ratio approach and the resulting algorithm achieves a γ–hadron suppression with a quality factor that is substantially higher than that achieved with the standard methods used so far.     

The major upgrade of the MAGIC telescopes,Part II: A performance study using observations of the Crab Nebula

MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes located in the Canary island of La Palma, Spain. During summer 2011 and 2012 it underwent a series of upgrades, involving the exchange of the MAGIC-I camera and its trigger system, as well as the upgrade of the readout system of both telescopes. We use observations of the Crab Nebula taken at low and medium zenith angles to assess the key performance parameters of the MAGIC stereo system. For low zenith angle observations, the standard trigger threshold of the MAGIC telescopes is ∼ 50  GeV. The integral sensitivity for point-like sources with Crab Nebula-like spectrum above 220 GeV is (0.66 ± 0.03)% of Crab Nebula flux in 50 h of observations. The angular resolution, defined as the σ of a 2-dimensional Gaussian distribution, at those energies is ≲ 0.07°, while the energy resolution is 16%. We also re-evaluate the effect of the systematic uncertainty on the data taken with the MAGIC telescopes after the upgrade. We estimate that the systematic uncertainties can be divided in the following components: < 15% in energy scale, 11%–18% in flux normalization and ± 0.15 for the energy spectrum power-law slope.     

Comparison of Fermi-LAT and CTA in the region between 10–100 GeV

The past decade has seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of data available at both high (HE: 100 MeV to 100 GeV) and very high (VHE: 100 GeV to 100 TeV) gamma-ray energies. With three years of data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and deep pointed observations with arrays of Cherenkov telescope, continuous spectral coverage from 100 MeV to ∼10 TeV exists for the first time for the brightest gamma-ray sources. The Fermi-LAT is likely to continue for several years, resulting in significant improvements in high energy sensitivity. On the same timescale, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be constructed providing unprecedented VHE capabilities. The optimisation of CTA must take into account competition and complementarity with Fermi, in particularly in the overlapping energy range 10–100 GeV. Here we compare the performance of Fermi-LAT and the current baseline CTA design for steady and transient, point-like and extended sources.     

Soft and supersoft X-ray sources in symbiotic stars

Assuming that soft X-ray sources in symbiotic stars result from strong thermonuclear runaways, and supersoft X-ray sources from weak thermonuclear runaways or steady hydrogen burning symbiotic stars, we investigate the Galactic soft and supersoft X-ray sources in symbiotic stars by means of population synthesis. The Galactic occurrence rates of soft X-ray sources and supersoft X-ray sources are from ～2 to 20 yr^?1, and ～2 to 17 yr^?1, respectively. The numbers of X-ray sources in symbiotic stars range from 2390 to 6120. We simulate the distribution of X-ray sources over orbital periods, masses and mass accretion rates of white dwarfs. The agreement with observations is reasonable.     

The detached eclipsing binary TX Her revisited

This paper presents new CCD Bessell BVRI light curves and photometric analysis of the Algol-type binary star TX Her. The CCD observations were carried out at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Observatory in 2010. New BVRI light curves from this study and radial velocity curves from Popper (1970) were solved simultaneously using modern light and radial velocity curves synthesis methods. The general results show that TX Her is a well-detached eclipsing binary, however, both component stars fill at least half of their Roche lobes. A significant third light contribution to the total light of the system could not be determined. Using O–C residuals formed by the updated minima times, an orbital period study of the system was performed. It was confirmed that the tilted sinusoidal O–C variation corresponds to an apparent period variation caused by the light travel time effect due to an unseen third body. The following absolute parameters of the components were derived: M₁ = 1.62 ± 0.04 M_⊙, M₂ = 1.45 ± 0.03 M_⊙, R₁ = 1.69 ± 0.03 R_⊙, R₂ = 1.43 ± 0.03 R_⊙, L₁ = 8.21 ± 0.90 L_⊙ and L₂ = 3.64 ± 0.60 L_⊙. The distance to TX Her was calculated as 155 ± 10 pc, taking into account interstellar extinction. The position of the components of TX Her in the HR diagram are also discussed. The components are young stars with an age of ～500 Myr.     

Milagro observations of potential TeV emitters

This paper reports the results from three targeted searches of Milagro TeV sky maps: two extragalactic point source lists and one pulsar source list. The first extragalactic candidate list consists of 709 candidates selected from the Fermi-LAT 2FGL catalog. The second extragalactic candidate list contains 31 candidates selected from the TeVCat source catalog that have been detected by imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs). In both extragalactic candidate lists Mkn 421 was the only source detected by Milagro. This paper presents the Milagro TeV flux for Mkn 421 and flux limits for the brighter Fermi-LAT extragalactic sources and for all TeVCat candidates. The pulsar list extends a previously published Milagro targeted search for Galactic sources. With the 32 new gamma-ray pulsars identified in 2FGL, the number of pulsars that are studied by both Fermi-LAT and Milagro is increased to 52. In this sample, we find that the probability of Milagro detecting a TeV emission coincident with a pulsar increases with the GeV flux observed by the Fermi-LAT in the energy range from 0.1 GeV to 100 GeV.     

Orbital period investigations of two short-period early-type overcontact binaries BH Cen and V701 Sco in two extremely young galactic clusters IC 2944 and NGC 6383

Both V701 Sco and BH Cen are two early-type short-period overcontact systems (P = 0.^d762 and P = 0.^d792, respectively). V701 Sco is a member of the young galactic cluster NGC 6383, while BH Cen is a component of a younger galactic cluster IC 2944 where star formation is in process. They provide good opportunity to understand the formation and evolution of binary stars. In the present paper, orbital period changes of the two binaries are investigated. It is discovered that the orbital period of BH Cen shows a long-term increase with a rate of dP/dt = +1.70(±0.39) × 10⁻⁷ days/year while it undergoes a cyclic oscillation with a period of 44.6 years and an amplitude of A₃ = 0.^d0216. For V701 Sco, its O-C curve reveals a periodic change with a period of 41.2 years and amplitude of A₃ = 0.^d0158. The mass ratio of BH Cen is 0.84, but V701 Sco contains twin B1-1.5V type stars with a mass ratio of unit. The continuous period increase of BH Cen is caused by the mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive one at a rate of dM₂/dt = 3.5 × 10⁻⁶ days/year.The cyclic period changes of both systems can be plausibly explained as the results of light-travel time effects suggesting that they are triple systems. The astrophysical parameters of the unseen tertiary components in the two systems have been determined. We think that the invisible tertiary components in both binaries played an important role in the formations and evolutions of the overcontact configurations by bringing angular momentum out from the central systems. For BH Cen, this process created the initial short period and will support its evolution into an overcontact configuration via a Case A mass transfer within the life time of the extremely young cluster IC 2944. For V701 Sco, two identical zero-age main-sequence components in an overcontact configuration suggest that it may have been formed by fission, possibly by the fission of the third body. The fact that no long-term continuous period variations were found for V701 Sco may suggest that an overcontact binary with the mass ratio of unity can be in an equilibrium revealing that the original configuration of the binary was overcontact as is its present state. It has been reported that faint stars in the two extremely young clusters are relatively scare. From the present study, it is shown that faint stars in young clusters are usually formed as companions of OB stars (including binaries). It is very difficult to detect them because of their low luminosity when compared with the more luminous OB stars.     

Galactic longitude dependent galactic model parameters

We present the Galactic model parameters for thin disc estimated by Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data of 14 940 stars with apparent magnitudes 16 < g₀ ⩽ 21 in six intermediate latitude fields in the first Galactic quadrant. Star/galaxy separation was performed by using the SDSS photometric pipeline and the isodensity contours in the (g − r)₀ − (r − i)₀ two colour diagram. The separation of thin disc stars is carried out by the bimodal distribution of stars in the (g − r)₀ histogram, and the absolute magnitudes were evaluated by a procedure presented in the literature (Bilir, S., Karaali, S., Tunçel, S. 2005. AN 326, 321). Exponential density law fits better to the derived density functions for the absolute magnitude intervals 8 < M(g) ⩽ 9 and 11 < M(g) ⩽ 12, whereas sech/sech² laws are more appropriate for absolute magnitude intervals 9 < M(g) ⩽ 10 and 10 < M(g) ⩽ 11. We showed that the scaleheight and scalelength are Galactic longitude dependent. The average values and ranges of the scaleheight and the scalelength are 〈H〉 = 220 pc (196 ⩽ H ⩽ 234 pc) and 〈H〉 = 1900 pc (1561 ⩽ h ⩽ 2280 pc) respectively. This result would be useful to explain different numerical values claimed for those parameters obtained by different authors for the fields in different directions of the Galaxy.     

The symbiotic system AG Draconis: Soft X-ray bremsstrahlung from the nebulae

The modeling of UV and optical spectra emitted from the symbiotic system AG Dra, adopting collision of the winds, predicts soft X-ray bremsstrahlung from nebulae downstream of the reverse shock with velocities > 150 km s^?1 and intensities comparable to those of the WD black body flux. At outbursts, the envelop of debris, which corresponds to the nebula downstream of the high velocity shocks (700–1000 km s^?1) accompanying the blast wave, absorbs the black body soft X-ray flux from the WD, explains the broad component of the H and He lines, and leads to low optical-UV–X-ray continuum fluxes. The high optical-UV flux observed at the outbursts is explained by bremsstrahlung downstream of the reverse shock between the stars. The depletion of C, N, O, and Mg relative to H indicates that they are trapped into dust grains and/or into diatomic molecules, suggesting that the collision of the wind from the WD with the dusty shells, ejected from the RG with a ～1 year periodicity, leads to the U-band fluctuations during the major bursts.     

The first high-precision radial velocity search for extra-solar planets

The reflex motion of a star induced by a planetary companion is too small to detect by photographic astrometry. The apparent discovery in the 1960s of planetary systems around certain nearby stars, in particular Barnard’s star, turned out to be spurious. Conventional stellar radial velocities determined from photographic spectra at that time were also too inaccurate to detect the expected reflex velocity changes. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the introduction of solid-state, signal-generating detectors and absorption cells to impose wavelength fiducials directly on the starlight, reduced radial velocity errors to the point where such a search became feasible. Beginning in 1980, our team from UBC introduced an absorption cell of hydrogen fluoride gas in front of the CFHT coudé spectrograph and, for 12 years, monitored the radial velocities of some 29 solar-type stars. Since it was assumed that extra-solar planets would most likely resemble Jupiter in mass and orbit, we were awarded only three or four two-night observing runs each year. Our survey highlighted three potential planet hosting stars, γ Cep (K1 IV), β Gem (K0 III), and ? Eri (K2 V). The putative planets all resembled Jovian systems with periods and masses of: 2.5 years and 1.4 M_J, 1.6 years and 2.6 M_J, and 6.9 years and 0.9 M_J, respectively. All three were subsequently confirmed from more extensive data by the Texas group led by Cochran and Hatzes who also derived the currently accepted orbital elements.None of these three systems is simple. All five giant stars and the supergiant in our survey proved to be intrinsic velocity variables. When we first drew attention to a possible planetary companion to γ Cep in 1988 it was classified as a giant, and there was the possibility that its radial velocity variations and those of β Gem (K0 III) were intrinsic to the stars. A further complication for γ Cep was the presence of an unseen secondary star in an orbit with a period initially estimated at some 30 years. The implication was that the planetary orbit might not be stable, and a Jovian planet surviving so close to a giant then seemed improbable. Later observations by others showed the stellar binary period was closer to 67 years, the primary was only a sub-giant and a weak, apparently synchronous chromospheric variation disappeared. Chromospheric activity was considered important because κ¹ Cet, one of our program stars, showed a significant correlation of its radial velocity curve with chromospheric activity.? Eri is a young, magnetically active star with spots making it a noisy target for radial velocities. While the signature of a highly elliptical orbit (e = 0.6) has persisted for more than three planetary orbits, some feel that even more extensive coverage is needed to confirm the identification despite an apparent complementary astrometric acceleration detected with the Hubble Space Telescope.We confined our initial analyses of the program stars to looking for circular orbits. In retrospect, it appears that some 10% of our sample did in fact have Jovian planetary companions in orbits with periods of years.     

A Theoretical Probe for Excitation Mechanisms of Sun-like and Mira-like Oscillations of Stars

The linear nonadiabatic oscillations for evolutionary models of 0.6- 3M8 stars are calculated by using a nonlocal and time-dependent convection theory. The results show that in the HR diagram the pulsation-unstable low- temperature stars on the right side of instability strip can be divided into two groups. One group indicates the Sun-like oscillation stars composed of the main- sequence dwarfs, sub-giants and red giants (RGs) of low and intermediate lu- minosities, which are unstable in the intermediate- and high-order (n ≥ 12) p- modes, and stable in the low-order (n ≤ 5) p-modes. Another group indicates the Mira-like stars composed of the bright RGs and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, which are just contrary to Sun-like stars, unstable in low-order (n ≤ 5) p-modes and stable in the intermediate- and high-order (n ≥ 12) p-modes. The oscillations for the red edge of Cepheid (δ Scuti) instability strip, Sun-like and Mira-like stars can be explained uniformly by the coupling between convection and oscillation (CCO). For the low-temperature stars on the right side of in- stability strip, CCO is the dominant excitation and damping mechanism of the oscillations of low- and intermediate-order p-modes, and the turbulent stochas- tic excitation becomes important only for the high-order p-modes of Sun-like oscillations.     

Optical constants from 370 nm to 900 nm of Titan tholins produced in a low pressure RF plasma discharge

Determining the optical constants of Titan aerosol analogues, or tholins, has been a major concern for the last three decades because they are essential to constrain the numerical models used to analyze Titan’s observational data (albedo, radiative transfer, haze vertical profile, surface contribution, etc.). Here we present the optical constant characterization of tholins produced with an RF plasma discharge in a (95%N₂–5%CH₄) gas mixture simulating Titan’s main atmospheric composition, and deposited as a thin film on an Al–SiO₂ substrate. The real and imaginary parts, n and k, of the tholin complex refractive index have been determined from 370 nm to 900 nm wavelength using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The values of n decrease from n = 1.64 (at 370 nm) to n = 1.57 (at 900 nm) as well as the values of k which feature two behaviors: an exponential decay from 370 nm to 500 nm, with k = 12.4 × e^?0.018λ (where λ is expressed in nm), followed by a plateau, with k = (1.8 ± 0.2) × 10^?3. The trends observed for the PAMPRE tholins optical constants are compared to those determined for other Titan tholins, as well as to the optical constants of Titan’s aerosols retrieved from observational data.     

Sources of stellar energy,Einstein–Eddington timescale of gravitational contraction and eternally collapsing objects

We point out that although conventional stars are primarily fed by burning of nuclear fuel at their cores, in a strict sense, the process of release of stored gravitational energy, known as, Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) process is either also operational albeit at an arbitrary slow rate, or lying in wait to take over at the disruption of the nuclear channel. In fact, the latter mode of energy release is the true feature of any self-gravity bound object including stars. We also highlight the almost forgotten fact that Eddington was the first physicist to introduce special relativity into the problem and correctly insist that, actually, total energy stored in a star is not the mere Newtonian energy but the total mass energy (E = Mc²). Accordingly, Eddington defined an “Einstein time scale” of Evolution where the maximum age of the Sun turned out to be t_E ≈ 1.4 × 10¹³ yr. This concept has a fundamental importance though we know now that Sun in its present form cannot survive for more than 10 billion years. We extend this concept by introducing general relativity and show that the minimum value of depletion of total mass–energy is t_E = ∞ not only for Sun but for and sufficiently massive or dense object. We propose that this time scale be known in the name of “Einstein–Eddington”. We also point out that, recently, it has been shown that as massive stars undergo continued collapse to become a Black Hole, first they become extremely relativistic radiation pressure supported stars. And the life time of such relativistic radiation pressure supported compact stars is indeed dictated by this Einstein–Eddington time scale whose concept is formally developed here. Since this observed time scale of this radiation pressure supported quasistatic state turns out to be infinite, such objects are called eternally collapsing objects (ECO). Further since ECOs are expected to have strong intrinsic magnetic field, they are also known as “Magnetospheric ECO” or MECO.     

Mercury’s radius change estimates revisited using MESSENGER data

Mapping tectonic features using MESSENGER data mainly acquired at high Sun incidence angle (>50°) reveals previously undetected structures. The analysis of the latter features determines an upward revision of measurements of density and spatial distribution of tectonism and thus of estimates of average contractional strain and planetary radius decrease. We calculated an average surface contraction of ～0.23–0.30% (～0.28% for fault dip angle θ = 30°) within an area corresponding to 21% of the planet. This strain, extrapolated to the entire surface, corresponds to a decrease in radius of about 2.4–3.6 km (～3.0 km for θ = 30°). These values are three–four times higher with respect to previous estimates and are compatible with results from thermomechanical models.     

Feasibility of an infrared parallax program using the Fan Mountain Tinsley reflector

Despite the continuing importance of ground-based parallax measurements, few active programs remain. Because new members of the solar neighborhood tend towards later spectral types, infrared parallax programs are particularly desirable. Therefore, the astrometric quality of the new infrared camera, FanCam, developed by the Virginia Astronomical Instrumentation Laboratory (VAIL) for the 31-in. (0.8 m) Tinsley reflector at Fan Mountain Observatory was assessed using 68 J-band exposures of an open cluster, NGC 2420, over a range of hour angles during 2005. Positions of 16 astrometric evaluation stars were measured and the repeatability of those positions was evaluated using the mean error in a single observation of unit weight. Overall, a precision of 1.3 ± 0.7 μm in x (RA) and 1.3 ± 0.8 μm in y (Dec) was attained, which corresponds to 0.04″ ± 0.02″ in each axis. Although greater precision is expected from CCDs in the visual and near-infrared, this instrument can achieve precision similar to that of the ESO NTT infrared parallax program. Therefore, measuring parallaxes in the infrared would be feasible using this equipment. If initiated, such a program could provide essential distances for brown dwarfs and very low mass stars that would contribute significantly to the solar neighborhood census.     

The 2009–2010 fade of Jupiter’s South Equatorial Belt: Vertical cloud structure models and zonal winds from visible imaging

The South Equatorial Belt (SEB) of Jupiter is known to alternate its appearance at visible wavelengths from a classical belt-like band most of the time to a short-lived zone-like aspect which is called a “fade” of the belt, hereafter SEBF. The albedo change of the SEB is due to a change in the structure and properties of the clouds and upper hazes. Recent works based on infrared observations of the last SEBF have shown that the aerosol density below 1 bar increased in parallel with the reflectivity change. However, the nature of the change in the upper clouds and hazes that produces the visible reflectivity change and whether or not this reflectivity change is accompanied by a change in the winds at the upper cloud level remained unknown. In this paper we focus in the near ultraviolet to near infrared reflected sunlight (255–953 nm) to address these two issues. We characterize the vertical cloud structure above the ammonia condensation level from Hubble Space Telescope images, and the zonal wind velocities from long-term high-quality images coming from the International Outer Planet Watch database, both during the SEB and SEBF phases. We show that reflectivity changes do not happen simultaneously in this wavelength range, but they start earlier in the most deep-sensing filters and end in 2010 with just minor changes in those sensing the highest particle layers. Our models require a substantial increase of the optical thickness of the cloud deck at 1.0 ± 0.4 bar from τ_cloud = 6 ± 2 in July 2009 (SEB phase) to semiinfinite at visual wavelengths in 2010 (SEBF). Upper tropospheric particles (～240–1400 mbar) are also required to become substantially reflectant and their single scattering albedo in the blue changes from ?₀ = 0.905 ± 0.005 in November 2009 to ?₀ = 0.95 ± 0.01 in June 2010. No significant changes were found in the cloud top heights or in the particle density of the tropospheric haze. The disturbance travels from the levels below ～3 bar to a level about 400 ± 100 mbar. We derive an upward velocity of 0.15 ± 0.05 cm/s, in agreement with a diffusive process in Jupiter’s upper troposphere requiring a mean eddy coefficient K ～ 8 × 10⁵ cm² s^?1. On the other hand, cloud tracking on the IOPW imaging showed no significant changes in the zonal wind profile between the SEB and SEBF stages. As in other visually huge changes in Jupiter’s cloud morphology and structure, the wind profile remains robust, possibly indicating a deeply rooted dynamical regime.     

Light curve analysis of Hipparcos data for the massive O-type eclipsing binary UW CMa

Hipparcos photometric data for the massive O-type binary UW CMa were analysed within the framework of the Roche model. Photometric solutions were obtained for five mass ratios in the q = M₂/M₁ = 0.5–1.5 range. The system is found to be in a contact configuration. Independently of q, the best-fitting model solutions correspond to the orbital inclination i ～ 71° and the temperature of the secondary component T₂ ～ 33500 K, at the fixed temperature of the primary T₁ = 33750 K. Considering that the spectrum of the secondary is very weak, photometric solutions corresponding to the contact configuration favor the mass ratio q smaller than unity (in which case the luminosity of the secondary is smaller than that of the primary). The absolute parameters of the system are estimated for different values of the mass ratio.     

Quasi-simultaneous two band optical micro-variability of luminous radio-quiet QSOs

We report the first results of quasi-simultaneous two passband optical monitoring of six quasi-stellar objects to search for micro-variability. We carried out photometric monitoring of these sources in an alternating sequence of R and V passbands, for five radio-quiet quasi-stellar objects (RQQSOs), 0748 + 291, 0824 + 098, 0832 + 251, 1101 + 319, 1225 + 317 and one radio-loud quasi-stellar object (RLQSO), 1410 + 429. No micro-variability was detected in any of the RQQSOs, but convincing micro-variability was detected in the RLQSO on two successive nights it was observed. Using the compiled data of optical micro-variability of RQQSOs till date, we got the duty cycle for micro-variability in RQQSOs is ～10%. The present investigation indicates that micro-variability is not a persistent property of RQQSOs but an occasional incident.