Interesting evidence for a low-level oscillation superimposed on the local Hubble flow

Historically the velocity scatter seen on local Hubble plots has been attributed to the peculiar velocities of individual galaxies. Although most galaxies also have uncertainties in their distances, when galaxies with accurate distances are used recent studies have found that these supposed peculiar velocities may have preferred, or discrete, values. Here we report the interesting result that when these discrete components are identified and removed from the radial velocities of the SNeIa galaxies studied in the Hubble Key Project, there is evidence for a residual oscillation, or ripple, superimposed on the Hubble flow. This oscillation has a wavelength near 40 Mpc and, because its amplitude is small compared to that of the scatter in velocities, it becomes visible only after the discrete components are removed. This result is interesting because even if this ripple has been produced by a selection effect, the fact that it is only revealed after the discrete velocities are removed implies that the discrete velocities are real. Alternatively, if no selection effect can be identified to explain the ripple, then both the discrete velocities and the ripple together become very difficult to explain by chance and these results could then have interesting cosmological consequences.     

The Hubble flow around the Local Group

We use updated data on distances and velocities of galaxies in the proximity of the Local Group (LG) in order to establish properties of the local Hubble flow. For 30 neighbouring galaxies with distances  0.7 < D _LG < 3.0  Mpc, the local flow is characterized by the Hubble parameter   H _loc= (78 ± 2) km s⁻¹ Mpc⁻¹  , the mean-square peculiar velocity  σ_v= 25 km s⁻¹  , corrected for errors of radial velocity measurements  (∼4 km s⁻¹)  and distance measurements  (∼10 km s⁻¹)  , as well as the radius of the zero-velocity surface   R ₀= (0.96 ± 0.03)  Mpc. The minimum value for σ_v is achieved when the barycentre of the LG is located at the distance   D_c = (0.55 ± 0.05) D _M31  towards Andromeda galaxy (M31) corresponding to the Milky Way (MW)-to-M31 mass ratio   M _MW/ M _M31≃ 4/5  . In the reference frame of the 30 galaxies at 0.7–3.0 Mpc, the LG barycentre has a small peculiar velocity  ∼(24 ± 4) km s⁻¹  towards the Sculptor constellation. The derived value of R ₀ corresponds to the total mass   M _T(LG) = (1.9 ± 0.2) 10¹² M_⊙  with  Ω_m= 0.24  and a topologically flat universe, a value in good agreement with the sum of virial mass estimates for the MW and M31.     

The signature of dark energy on the local Hubble flow

Using N -body simulations of flat, dark energy-dominated cosmologies, we show that galaxies around simulated binary systems resembling the Local Group (LG) have low peculiar velocities, in good agreement with observational data. We have compared results for LG-like systems selected from large, high-resolution simulations of three cosmologies: a ΛCDM model, a ΛWDM model with a 2-keV warm dark matter candidate, and a quintessence (QCDM) model with an equation-of-state parameter   w =−0.6  . The Hubble flow is significantly colder around LGs selected in a flat, Λ-dominated cosmology than around LGs in open or critical models, showing that a dark energy component manifests itself on the scales of nearby galaxies, cooling galaxy peculiar motions. Flows in the ΛWDM and QCDM models are marginally colder than in the ΛCDM one.
The results of our simulations have been compared to existing data and to a new data set of 28 nearby galaxies with robust distance measures (Cepheids and surface brightness fluctuations). The measured line-of-sight velocity dispersion is given by  σ_H= (88 ± 20  km s⁻¹) × ( R /7 Mpc)  . The best agreement with observations is found for LGs selected in the ΛCDM cosmology in environments with  −0.1 < δρ/ρ < 0.6  on scales of 7 Mpc, in agreement with existing observational estimates on the local matter density. These results provide new, independent evidence for the presence of dark energy on scales of a few megaparsecs, corroborating the evidence gathered from observations of distant objects and the early Universe.     

The isolated dSph galaxy KKs3 in the local Hubble flow

We present SALT spectroscopy of a globular cluster in the center of the nearby isolated dSph galaxy KKs3 situated at a distance of 2.12 Mpc. Its heliocentric radial velocity is 316 ± 7 km s^–1 that corresponds to V_LG = 112 km s^–1 in the Local Group (LG) reference frame. We use its distance and velocity along with the data on other 35 field galaxies in the proximity of the LG to trace the local Hubble flow. The following basic properties of the local field galaxies are briefly discusse: morphology, absolute magnitudes, average surface brightnesses, specific star formation rates, and hydrogen mass‐to‐stellar mass ratios. Surprisingly, the sample of the neighboring isolated galaxies displays no signs of compression under the influence of the expanding Local Void. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Ultra long period Cepheids: a primary standard candle out to the Hubble flow

The cosmological distance ladder crucially depends on classical Cepheids (with P=3–80 days), which are primary distance indicators up to 33 Mpc. Within this volume, very few SNe Ia have been calibrated through classical Cepheids, with uncertainty related to the non-linearity and the metallicity dependence of their period–luminosity (PL) relation. Although a general consensus on these effects is still not achieved, classical Cepheids remain the most used primary distance indicators. A possible extension of these standard candles to further distances would be important. In this context, a very promising new tool is represented by the ultra-long period (ULP) Cepheids (P≳80 days), recently identified in star-forming galaxies. Only a small number of ULP Cepheids have been discovered so far. Here we present and analyse the properties of an updated sample of 37 ULP Cepheids observed in galaxies within a very large metallicity range of 12+log(O/H) from ∼7.2 to 9.2 dex. We find that their location in the colour-magnitude (V−I,V) diagram as well as their Wesenheit (V−I) index-period (WP) relation suggests that they are the counterparts at high luminosity of the shorter-period (P≲80 days) classical Cepheids. However, a complete pulsation and evolutionary theoretical scenario is needed to properly interpret the true nature of these objects. We do not confirm the flattening in the studied WP relation suggested by Bird et al. (Astrophys. J. 695:874, 2009). Using the whole sample, we find that ULP Cepheids lie around a WP relation similar to that of the LMC, although with a large spread (∼ 0.4 mag).     

A robust method for measuring the Hubble parameter

We obtain a robust, non-parametric, estimate of the Hubble constant from the linear diameters and rotation velocities of galaxies in the recent KLUN sample, calibrated using Cepheid distances to Hubble Space Telescope Key Project galaxies. There are two key features that make our analysis considerably more robust than previous work. First, the method is independent of the spatial distribution of galaxies and is insensitive to Malmquist bias. It may, therefore, be applied to more distant samples than so-called 'plateau' methods – making it much less vulnerable to the impact of peculiar motions in the Local Supercluster. Secondly, we include information on the galaxy rotation velocities in a fully non-parametric manner: unlike the conventional Tully–Fisher relation we reconstruct a robust estimate of the cumulative distribution function of galaxy diameter at given rotation velocity, without requiring the assumption of, for example, a linear Tully–Fisher relation with symmetric Gaussian residuals.
Using this robust method we find H ₀=65±6 km s⁻¹ Mpc⁻¹ from our analysis – in excellent agreement with many recent determinations of the Hubble parameter, although somewhat larger than previous results using galaxy diameters.     

Recent Results on the Hubble Deep Field

A brief summary of some recent research on the Hubble Deep Field is presented. Particular attention is paid to the incidence of strong gravitational lensing and it is argued that the optical depth is nearly ten times smaller than average. Preliminary estimates of the incidence of galaxy-galaxy lensing are consistent with the presence of a large population of faint galaxies at large redshift. An estimate of the galaxy luminosity function is consistent with the local version undergoing passive evolution out to z ∼ 1. The OII luminosity function shows more rapid evolution to this redshift. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Why we study the geological record for evidence of the solar oscillation about the galactic midplane

The Solar System oscillates about the plane defined by the disk of matter in our Galaxy. This oscillatory motion gives rise to a substantial modulation in the tidally induced flux of Oort cloud comets. An observational determination of the quasi-periodicity of this motion carries with it significant information about the population, distributions, dynamics and origins of short-period and long-period comets. An additional incentive for emphasizing such a study is the information about dark disk matter that a period can yield. If dark disk matter is completely negligible, the amplitude of the solar motion will be sufficiently large that the peak-to-trough flux ratio will be ≈ 2.5 and the plane-crossing period will exceed 40 Myr. Dark disk matter comparable in mass to bright disk matter and distributed in any manner is inconsistent with K-dwarf distributions and can be rejected as a working hypothesis. But if a modest fraction of the disk matter is dark and distributed like the interstellar medium, as is consistent with limits deduced from K-giant and K-dwarf velocity distributions, the peak-to-trough flux ratio can increase to a factor of 4 even though the solar z amplitude is decreased. In that case the period can be as little as 30 Myr and the implied Oort population is smaller by a factor of 3. We should carefully reconsider the geological record as a potential discriminator of these options.     

Why we study the geological record for evidence of the solar oscillation about the galactic midplane

The Solar System oscillates about the plane defined by the disk of matter in our Galaxy. This oscillatory motion gives rise to a substantial modulation in the tidally induced flux of Oort cloud comets. An observational determination of the quasi-periodicity of this motion carries with it significant information about the population, distributions, dynamics and origins of short-period and long-period comets. An additional incentive for emphasizing such a study is the information about dark disk matter that a period can yield. If dark disk matter is completely negligible, the amplitude of the solar motion will be sufficiently large that the peak-to-trough flux ratio will be 2.5 and the plane-crossing period will exceed 40 Myr. Dark disk matter comparable in mass to bright disk matter and distributed in any manner is inconsistent with K-dwarf distributions and can be rejected as a working hypothesis. But if a modest fraction of the disk matter is dark and distributed like the interstellar medium, as is consistent with limits deduced from K-giant and K-dwarf velocity distributions, the peak-to-trough flux ratio can increase to a factor of 4 even though the solar z amplitude is decreased. In that case the period can be as little as 30 Myr and the implied Oort population is smaller by a factor of 3. We should carefully reconsider the geological record as a potential discriminator of these options.     

Prospects for astrometry with the Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST), a large optical telescope having an aperture of 2.4 meters and a length of 8.8 meters, is being developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This telescope will be placed into earth orbit by the space shuttle. Astrometric observations with the HST are made using a Fine Guidance Sensor which is capable of measuring the position of one object relative to another with an accuracy of ±0.002 arcseconds. The astrometric user of HST will be provided with an Astrometric Data Reduction Software package (ADRS). The variety of astrometric problems to be investigated with HST is discussed.     

Constrained simulations of the local universe – II. The nature of the local Hubble flow

Using a suite of N -body simulations in different cold dark matter (CDM) scenarios, with cosmological constant (ΛCDM) and without (OCDM, SCDM), we study the Hubble flow (σ_H) in Local Volumes (LV) around Local Group (LG) like objects found in these simulations, and compare the numerical results with the most recent observations. We show that ΛCDM and OCDM models exhibit the same behaviour of σ_H. Hence, we demonstrate that the observed coldness of the Hubble flow is not likely to be a manifestation of the dark energy, contrary to previous claims. The coldness does not constitute a problem by itself but it poses a problem to the standard ΛCDM model only if the mean density within the LV is greater than twice the mean matter cosmic density. The lack of blueshifted galaxies in the LV, outside of the LG can be considered as another manifestation of the coldness of the flow. Finally, we show that the main dynamical parameter that affects the coldness of the flow is the relative isolation of the LG, and the absence of nearby Milky Way like objects within a distance of about  3 Mpc  .     

Progressive alteration in CV3 chondrites: More evidence for asteroidal alteration

Abstract— The oxidized CV3 chondrites can be divided into two major subgroups or lithologies, Bali-like (CV3_oxB) and Allende-like (CV3_oxA), in which chondrules, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) and matrices show characteristic alteration features (Weisberg et al, 1997; Krot et al, 1997d; Kimura and Ikeda, 1997). The CV3_oxB lithology is present in Bali, Kaba, parts of the Mokoia breccia and, possibly, in Grosnaja and Allan Hills (ALH) 85006. It is characterized by the presence of the secondary low-Ca phyllosilicates (saponite and sodium phlogopite), magnetite, Ni-rich sulfides, fayalite (Fa>₉₀), Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes (Fs_10–50Wo_45–50) and andradite. Phyllosilicates replace primary Ca-rich minerals in chondrules and CAIs, which suggests mobilization of Ca during aqueous alteration. Magnetite nodules are replaced to various degrees by fayalite, Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes and minor andradite. Fayalite veins crosscut fine-grained rims around chondrules and extend into the matrix. Thermodynamic analysis of the observed reactions indicates that they could have occurred at relatively low temperatures (<300 °C) in the presence of aqueous solutions. Oxygen isotopic compositions of the coexisting magnetite and fayalite plot close to the terrestrial fractionation line with large Δ¹⁸O_{fayalite-magnetite} fractionation (～20%). We infer that phyllosilicates, magnetite, fayalite, Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes and andradite formed at relatively low temperatures (<300 °C) by fluid-rock interaction in an asteroidal environment. Secondary fayalite and phyllosilicates are virtually absent in chondrules and CAIs in the CV3_oxA lithology, which is present in Allende and its dark inclusions, Axtell, ALHA81258, ALH 84028, Lewis Cliff (LEW) 86006, and parts of the Mokoia and Vigarano breccias. Instead secondary nepheline, sodalite, and fayalitic olivine are common. Fayalitic olivine in chondrules replaces low-Ca pyroxenes and rims and veins forsterite grains; it also forms coarse lath-shaped grains in matrix. Secondary Ca-Fe-rich pyroxenes are abundant. We infer that the CV3_oxA lithology experienced alteration at higher temperatures than the CV3_oxB lithology. The presence of the reduced and CV3_oxA lithologies in the Vigarano breccia and CV3_oxA and CV3_oXB lithologies in the Mokoia breccia indicates that all CV3 chondrites came from one heterogeneously altered asteroid. The metamorphosed clasts in Mokoia (Krot and Hutcheon, 1997) may be rare samples of the hotter interior of the CV asteroid. We conclude that the alteration features observed in the oxidized CV3 chondrites resulted from the fluid-rock interaction in an asteroid during progressive metamorphism of a heterogeneous mixture of ices and anhydrous materials mineralogically similar to the reduced CV3 chondrites.     

Anisotropy in the Hubble relation for the brightest galaxies in clusters

The sky distribution of deviations from the mean Hubble relation for the brightest galaxies in clusters is non-random for the velocity range 4000<V _r<25 000 km s^–1. Deviations in visual magnitude are mainly positive in one large region of the sky and mainly negative in another region; the difference between the regions is 0.37±0.08 ^m and is independent of colour. Various explanations are discussed briefly, and galactic or intergalactic absorption may be excluded.     

Orbital period changes of contact binary systems: direct evidence for thermal relaxation oscillation theory

Orbital period changes of ten contact binary systems (S Ant, ε CrA, EF Dra, UZ Leo, XZ Leo, TY Men, V566 Oph, TY Pup, RZ Tau and AG Vir) are studied based on the analysis of their     curves. It is discovered that the periods of the six systems, S Ant, ε CrA, EF Dra, XZ Leo, TY Men and TY Pup, show secular increases. For UZ Leo, its secular period increase rate is revised. For the three systems, V566 Oph, RZ Tau and AG Vir, weak evidence is presented that a periodic oscillation (with periods of 20.4, 28.5 and 40.9 yr respectively) is superimposed on a secular period increase. The cyclic period changes can be explained by the presence of an unseen third body in the three systems. All the sample stars studied are contact binaries with     .
Furthermore, orbital period changes of 27 hot contact binaries have been checked. It is found that, apart from AW UMa with the lowest mass ratio     , none shows an orbital period decrease. The relatively weak magnetic activity in the hotter contact binaries means little angular momentum loss (AML) from the systems via magnetic stellar winds. The period increases of these W UMa binaries can be explained by mass transfer from the secondary to the primary components, which is in agreement with the prediction of the thermal relaxation oscillation (TRO) models. This suggests that the evolution of a hotter W UMa star is mainly controlled by TRO. On the other hand, for a cooler W UMa star     , its evolution may be TRO plus AML, which coincides with the recent results of Qian.     

Clues on the Hubble sequence formation from self-consistent hydrodynamical simulations

We report on two fully self-consistent hydrodynamical simulations run, in the context of a ΛCDM cosmological model, with the DEVA code. Galaxy-like-objects of different morphologies form. The assembly patterns identified in these simulations give support to the ab initio scenario to explain morphological differentiation, even if violent events at lower z could also have played a role. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Classical cosmological tests for galaxies of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field

Images of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field are analyzed to obtain a catalog of galaxies for which the angular sizes, surface brightness, photometric redshifts, and absolute magnitudes are found. The catalog contains a total of about 4000 galaxies identified at a high signal-to-noise ratio, which allows the cosmological relations angular size—redshift and surface brightness-redshift to be analyzed. The parameters of the evolution of linear sizes and surface brightness of distant galaxies in the redshift interval 0.5–6.5 are estimated in terms of a grid of cosmological models with different density parameters (Ω _V ; Ω _m ). The distribution of photometric redshifts of galaxies is analyzed and possible superlarge inhomogeneities in the radial distribution of galaxies are found with scale lengths as large as 2000 Mpc.     

Quark-Novae Ia in the Hubble diagram: implications for dark energy

The accelerated expansion of the Universe was proposed through the use of Type-Ia supernovae （SNe） as standard candles. The standardization depends on an empirical correlation between the stretch/color and peak luminosity of the light curves. The use of Type-Ia SNe as standard candles rests on the assumption that their properties （and this correlation） do not vary with redshift. We consider the possibility that the majority of Type-Ia SNe are in fact caused by a Quark-Nova detonation in a tight neutron-star-CO-white-dwarf binary system, which forms a Quark-Nova Ia （QN-Ia）. The spin-down energy injected by the Quark-Nova remnant （the quark star） contributes to the post-peak light curve and neatly explains the observed correlation between peak luminosity and light curve shape. We demonstrate that the parameters describing QN-Ia are NOT constant in redshift. Simulated QN-Ia light curves provide a test of the stretch/color correlation by comparing the true distance modulus with that determined using SN light curve fitters. We determine a correction between the true and fitted distance moduli, which when applied to Type-Ia SNe in the Hubble diagram recovers the ΩM = 1 cosmology. We conclude that Type-Ia SNe observations do not necessitate the need for an accelerating expansion of the Universe （if the observed SNe Ia are dominated by QNe Ia） and by association the need for dark energy.     

A survey searching for the epoch of assembling of Hubble types

We have started a survey of galaxies at intermediate redshifts using the HST-STIS parallel fields. Our main goal is to analyse the morphology of faint galaxies in order to estimate the epoch of formation of the Hubble classification sequence. The high resolution of STIS images (0.05″) is ideal for this work and enables us to perform a morphological classification and to analyse the internal structures of galaxies. We find that 40% of the 290 galaxies are early types and that there are more irregulars and ellipticals at the fainter magnitudes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Testing the Models for Jet Generation with Hubble Space Telescope Observations

Many magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) models have been developed to describe the acceleration and collimation of stellar jets, in the framework of an infall/outflow process. Thanks to high angular resolution instrumentation, such as the one on-board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), we are finally able to test observationally the proposed ideas. We present the results obtained by us from the first 0”.1 resolution spectra of the initial portion (within 100–200 AU from the source) of the outflows from visible T Tauri stars, taken with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). We obtain the jet morphology, kinematics and excitation in different velocity intervals, and we derive the jet mass and momentum fluxes. These results confirm the predictions of magneto-centrifugal models for the jet launch. Recently we have also found indications for rotation in the peripheral regions of several flows. The derived rotational motions appear to be in agreement with the expected extraction of angular momentum from the star/disk system caused by the jet, which in turn allows the star to accrete up to its final mass. Improvements to resolution are expected from observations with STIS in the ultraviolet, and with the forthcoming AMBER spectrometer to be mounted at the VLTI.