Observing the Sun with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA): Fast-Scan Single-Dish Mapping

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescope has commenced science observations of the Sun starting in late 2016. Since the Sun is much larger than the field of view of individual ALMA dishes, the ALMA interferometer is unable to measure the background level of solar emission when observing the solar disk. The absolute temperature scale is a critical measurement for much of ALMA solar science, including the understanding of energy transfer through the solar atmosphere, the properties of prominences, and the study of shock heating in the chromosphere. In order to provide an absolute temperature scale, ALMA solar observing will take advantage of the remarkable fast-scanning capabilities of the ALMA 12 m dishes to make single-dish maps of the full Sun. This article reports on the results of an extensive commissioning effort to optimize the mapping procedure, and it describes the nature of the resulting data. Amplitude calibration is discussed in detail: a path that uses the two loads in the ALMA calibration system as well as sky measurements is described and applied to commissioning data. Inspection of a large number of single-dish datasets shows significant variation in the resulting temperatures, and based on the temperature distributions, we derive quiet-Sun values at disk center of 7300 K at \(\lambda = 3~\mbox{mm}\) and 5900 K at \(\lambda = 1.3~\mbox{mm}\). These values have statistical uncertainties of about 100 K, but systematic uncertainties in the temperature scale that may be significantly larger. Example images are presented from two periods with very different levels of solar activity. At a resolution of about \(25''\), the 1.3 mm wavelength images show temperatures on the disk that vary over about a 2000 K range. Active regions and plages are among the hotter features, while a large sunspot umbra shows up as a depression, and filament channels are relatively cool. Prominences above the solar limb are a common feature of the single-dish images.     

Rings in the Planetesimal Disk of beta Pictoris

The nearby main-sequence star beta Pictoris is surrounded by an edge-on disk of dust produced by the collisional erosion of larger planetesimals. Here we report the discovery of substructure within the northeast extension of the disk midplane that may represent an asymmetric ring system around beta Pic. We present a dynamical model showing that a close stellar flyby with a quiescent disk of planetesimals can create such rings, along with previously unexplained disk asymmetries. Thus we infer that beta Pic's planetesimal disk was highly disrupted by a stellar encounter in the last hundred thousand years.     

Rotation curves of luminous spiral galaxies

We have investigated the stellar light distribution and the rotation curves of high‐luminosity spiral galaxies in the local Universe. The sample contains 30 high‐quality extended Hα and H I rotation curves. The stellar disk scale‐length of these objects was measured or taken from the literature. We find that in the outermost parts of the stellar disks of these massive objects, the rotation curves agree with the Universal Rotation Curve (Salucci et al. 2007), however a few rotation curves of the sample show a divergence (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structure and Instabilities of Irradiated Protoplanetary Disks: Effects of Dust Particle Growth

We have constructed self-consistent temperature and density profiles of irradiated active protoplanetary disks, using a two-dimensional radiative transfer calculation. By means of these profiles we have studied the stabilization of the convective instability by radiative heating and the magnetorotational instability (MRI) via ohmic dissipation, taking into account the effect of dust particle growth. Simple chemistry such as ionization by cosmic rays and recombination on dust grains are used to calculate the ionization degree of gas in the disks. Our results show that the dust growth stabilizes the convective instability due to the 2D effect of radiative transfer, while it enhances the MRI through the decrease in the recombination of ions on the dust grains. In addition, the influences of the dust settling toward the midplane of the disks on the instabilities are discussed.     

Structure of the inner regions of the circumstellar gas envelopes around young hot stars. II. The new cycle of spectral activity of the Herbig Ae star HD 31648

The results of the high-resolution long-term spectral monitoring of the Herbig Ae star HD 31648 in the regions of emission Hα line, Na I D resonance lines and OI 7774 lines are presented. We confirmed the conclusion, made in previous papers, that the spectral variability of the star in the region of Hα line have a cyclic character. It is manifested itself as the changing of the equivalent width and intensity of Hα line of the time scale of about 1200d. It is shown, that the stellar wind is non-homogeneous and consists of several components, which are differed each other by their velocities. They are observed as in the H line as in Na I D resonance lines. The component’s parameters are changed during the cycle of stellar activity (in the maximum of activity the velocity and density of the wind are taken the largest values and then they are gradually decreased). The investigation of rapid variability of the He I 5876 line on the time scale of a few hours allows find the correlation between the variability of the blue and the red wings of the line. It points at the connection between the accretion and the outflows. Such connection, in particularly, is predicted by the modeling of the wind from young stars made in the frame of the magneto-centrifugal model, the accordance of which for the HD 31648 was shown in the previous papers. In the present work we confirmed this conclusion on the basis of the new data. We found the weak variability of the stellar brightness (about 0.2m), which is agree with the spectral variability (the brightness of the star becomes lower in the maximum of the activity). These changes are well explained by the process of the dust transfer from CS disk by the stellar wind. This process is likely to be more effective in the maximum of activity. An analysis of the variability of other spectral lines shows the agreement between the changing of the Hα line, the Na I D resonance doublet lines and KI 7698 line. The weak connection between the He I 5876 and the Na I D lines is also found. Since the formation regions of He I 5876 and Na I D lines are essentially different, we can conclude that the phenomena, responsible for the observed cyclic variability, take place in a spacious region of the CS envelope. We believe that the most plausible reason of found cyclic variability is the reconstruction of the inner structure of the CS gas envelope, caused by the presence around the star a low mass companion or planet. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 50, No. 4, pp. 565–588 (November 2007).     

An analytic approach to the connection between stellar structure parameters and the neutrino emission rate in a simple stellar model

In order to obtain the internal structure of a main-sequence star such as the Sun usually one has to solve the detailed structure equations numerically. This paper is an attempt to construct analytic models for the stellar nuclear energy generation. We give closed-form analytic results for the stellar luminosity and stellar neutrino emission rate when the radial matter density of the spherical star under consideration is linear. For the numerical estimation of the neutrino flux of a specified stellar nuclear reaction we take into account parameters of the standard solar model. The present paper gives for the first time the connection between stellar structure parameters and neutrino fluxes in an analytic stellar model.     

The stellar wind as a key to the understanding of the spectral activity of IN Com

We present long-term spectral observations (R = 20000) of IN Com in the region of the H_α, H_β, and He I 5876 lines. One distinguishing characteristic of the stellar spectrum is the presence in the H_α line of an extended two-component emission with limits up to ±400 km/s. Emission parameters show the rotation modulation with the stellar rotation period and a significant variability on the long-term scale. Similar emissions are also observed in the H_β and He I 5876 lines. Our results allow us to conclude that observational emission profiles are formed in an optically thin hot gas. This is a result of the presence of a circumstellar gas disk around IN Com. Its size does not exceed several stellar radii. The material for the disk is supported by the stellar wind from IN Com. The detected variability of H_α-emission parameters shows a clear connection with the photopolarimetric activity of the star. This fact allows us to associate the long-term spectral variability with cycles of stellar activity of IN Com.     

Spectroscopic analysis of sdB stars from the ESO Supernova Ia Progenitor Survey

We report on the analysis of high-resolution optical spectra for 77 subdwarf B (sdB) stars from the ESO Supernova Ia Progenitor Survey. Effective temperature, surface gravity, and photospheric helium abundance are determined simultaneously by spectral line profile fitting of hydrogen and helium lines, and are found to be in agreement with previous studies of sdB stars. Twenty four objects show spectral signs of a cool companion, being either companion absorption lines or a flux contribution at Hα. Five stars with relatively high luminosity show peculiar Hα profiles, possibly indicating stellar winds. Our results are compared to recent theoretical simulations by Han et al. [MNRAS, 341, 669] for the distribution in effective temperature and surface gravity, and are found to agree very well with these calculations. Finally, we present a binary system consisting of two helium-rich hot subdwarfs.     

Temperature distribution in the solar nebula at successive stages of its evolution

We have constructed a model of the solar nebula that allows for the temperature and pressure distributions at various stages of its evolution to be calculated. The mass flux from the accretion envelope to the disk and from the disk to the Sun, the turbulent viscosity parameter α, the opacity of the disk material, and the initial angular momentum of the protosun are the input model parameters that are varied. We also take into account the changes in the luminosity and radius of the young Sun. The input model parameters are based mostly on data obtained from observations of young solar-type stars with disks. To correct the input parameters, we use the mass and chemical composition of Jupiter, as well as models of its internal structure and formation that allow constraints to be imposed on the temperature and surface density of the protoplanetary disk in Jupiter’s formation zone. Given the derived constraints on the input parameters, we have calculated models of the solar nebula at successive stages of its evolution: the formation inside the accretion envelope, the evolution around the young Sun going through the T Tauri stage, and the formation and compaction of a thin dust layer (subdisk) in the disk midplane. We have found the following evolutionary trend: an increase in the temperature of the disk at the stage of its formation, cooling at the T Tauri stage, and the subsequent internal heating of the dust subdisk by turbulence dissipation that causes a temperature rise in the formation zone of the terrestrial planets at the high subdisk density and the opacity in this zone. We have obtained the probable ranges of temperatures in the disk midplane, i.e., the temperatures of the protoplanetary material in the formation region of the terrestrial planets at the initial stage of their formation.     

Studies of ultracompact H II regions – III. Near-infrared survey of selected regions

A survey towards a selection of 35 methanol maser and/or ultracompact (UC) H  ii regions, reported in Papers I and II and by Norris et al., has been conducted in the near-infrared (NIR). Out of 25 methanol maser sites surveyed, 12 are associated with a NIR counterpart. Out of 18 UC H  ii regions (8 of which overlap with maser emission), 12 are associated with a NIR counterpart. Counterparts can be confidently identified not only by the positional agreements, but also by their unusually red colours. Spectral types for the embedded stars can be unambiguously determined for six sources, all of which imply massive, ionizing stars. One of these infrared sources has methanol maser emission, but no UC H  ii region. It is possible that the maser emission associated with this source arises from a pre-UC H  ii phase of massive stellar evolution or it could be that nearly all the ultraviolet photons are absorbed by dust within the UC H  ii region. We have modelled the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for some sources and find that a single blackbody can be used to estimate the stellar luminosity, but cannot represent the whole infrared SED. A two-component blackbody model and a radiative transfer model were also used to derive essential parameters of the infrared sources. The radiative transfer model also indicates which infrared sources are relatively young and which are older. Both models show that silicate absorption at 9.7 μm must be a dominant feature of these SEDs.     

The Demarcation Point from E-AGB Stars to TP-AGB Stars in HR Diagram for Medium-mass Stars

Via a study of the evolutionary tracks of 3∼10 M stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, the variations of the energy, density, temperature at the peak of helium-shell burning, ratio of surface luminosity of helium shell to stellar surface luminosity as well as the stellar radius are analyzed. Then the demarcation point of medium-mass stars in the evolution from early AGB stars to thermally pulsing AGB stars on the HR diagram is determined, and for 119 carbon stars our analysis agrees rather well with observation. At the same time the following is suggested. After arriving at this demarcation point in stellar evolution, in the formula of the loss of stellar wind material it is probably needed to introduce a quantity which is not concerned with the surface luminosity, but it dominates the formation of super stellar wind. On this basis and via the analysis of the structure and evolution of 5 M stars as well as the rate of mass loss of stellar wind, it is found that the effect of turbulent pressure on the mass loss of stellar wind in the stage of thermally pulsing AGB stars is rather great, hence the turbulent pressure of thermally pulsing AGB stars cannot be overlooked. Furthermore, the physical factors which possibly affect the matter loss of the stellar winds of thermally pulsing AGB stars are suggested.     

The effect of rotation on the luminosity of magnetic stars

The effect of rotation and a general magnetic field on the luminosity, radius, and effective temperature of the upper Main-Sequence stars has been investigated using a perturbation analysis. The magnetic field profile prevailing inside the star is assumed to have both poloidal and toroidal components. The case of constant as well as differential rotation is admitted. Model calculations indicate that these stellar parameters modify considerably as a result of coupling between rotation and the magnetic field.     

High angular resolution millimeter observations of circumstellar disks

In this lecture, we review the properties of protoplanetary disks as derived from high angular resolution observations at millimeter wavelengths. We discuss how the combination of several different high angular resolution techniques allow us to probe different regions of the disk around young stellar objects and to derive the properties of the dust when combined with sophisticated disk models. The picture that emerges is that the dust in circumstellar disks surrounding pre-main sequence stars is in many cases significantly evolved compared to the dust in molecular clouds and the interstellar medium. It is however still difficult to derive a consistent picture and timeline for dust evolution in disks as the observations are still limited to small samples of objects.We also review the evidence for and properties of disks around high-mass young stellar objects and the implications on their formation mechanisms. The study of massive YSOs is complicated by their short lifetimes and larger average distances. In most cases high angular resolution data at millimeter wavelengths are the only method to probe the structure of disks in these objects.We provide a summary of the characteristics of available high angular resolution millimeter and submillimeter observatories. We also describe the characteristics of the ALMA observatory being constructed in the Chilean Andes. ALMA is going to be the world leading observatory at millimeter wavelengths in the coming decades, the project is now in its main construction phase with early science activities envisaged for 2010 and full science operations for 2012.     

The interaction of the stars with accretion disk around the massive black hole in the nuclei of active galaxies and quasars

We consider a passage of the stars through the accretion disk near the supermassive black hole in the nuclei of active galaxies and quasars. When a star penetrates the disk, a hydrodynamical track is formed behind it. The boundary of the track is a cylindric shock-wave. The region of the track is optically thick with respect to the true absorption. The transfer of the energy dissipated by the passage of the star with a radius ≈10¹² cm (the typical dimensions of a star in a galactic nucleus) across the disk provided by the radiative heat conduction. Each star passage through the intermediate region of the disk results in the appearance of a bright spot on its surface. The energy emitted by the spots lies inside the frequency range from visible to UV, exceeding the disk luminosity due to accretion in the range considered.     

Open clusters and the galactic disk

It is textbook knowledge that open clusters are conspicuous members of the thin disk of our Galaxy, but their role as contributors to the stellar population of the disk was regarded as minor. Starting from a homogenous stellar sky survey, the ASCC‐2.5, we revisited the population of open clusters in the solar neighbourhood from scratch. In the course of this enterprise we detected 130 formerly unknown open clusters, constructed volume‐ and magnitude‐limited samples of clusters, re‐determined distances, motions, sizes, ages, luminosities and masses of 650 open clusters. We derived the present‐day luminosity and mass functions of open clusters (not the stellar mass function in open clusters), the cluster initial mass function CIMF and the formation rate of open clusters. We find that open clusters contributed around 40 percent to the stellar content of the disk during the history of our Galaxy. Hence, open clusters are important building blocks of the Galactic disk (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

自转对恒星物理量的影响

自转本身是恒星的基本物理量之一，同时影响恒星的其它许多物物量，包括对恒星半径、形状和体积的影响；对光度、包指数、谱线轮廓、等值宽度、偏振度等观测量的影响；对引力加速度、元素丰度的影响；对恒星内部结构，如中心压力、温度、密度的影响。这些将会影响到恒星在Ｈ—Ｒ图上的位置，演化路径以及年龄和寿命等。因此，无论是理论模型还是实测研究，对自转快的恒星应该进行自转影响的修正。     

Dust ring formation due to ice sublimation of radially drifting dust particles under the Poynting-Robertson effect in debris disks

In a disk with a low optical depth, dust particles drift radially inward by the Poynting-Robertson (P-R) drag rather than are blown out by stellar radiation pressure following destructive collisions. We investigate the radial distribution of icy dust composed of pure ice and refractory materials in dust-debris disks taking into account the P-R drag and ice sublimation. We find that icy dust particles form a dust ring by their pile-ups at the edge of their sublimation zone, where they sublime substantially at the temperature 100-110 K. The distance of the dust ring is 20-35 AU from the central star with its luminosity L_??30L_⊙ and 65(L_?/100L_⊙)^1/2 AU for L_??30L_⊙, where L_⊙ is the solar luminosity. The effective optical depth is enhanced by a factor of 2 for L_??100L_⊙ and more than 10 for L_??100L_⊙. The optical depth of the outer icy dust disk exceeds that of the inner disk filled with refractory particles, namely, the residue of ice sublimation, which are further subjected to the P-R effect. As a result, an inner hole is formed inside the sublimation zone together with a dust ring along the outer edge of the hole.     

The Tilt between Acretion Disk and Stellar Disk

The orientations of the accretion disk of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and the stellar disk of its host galaxy are both determined by the angular momentum of their forming gas, but on very different physical environments and spatial scales. Here we show the evidence that the orientation of the stellar disk is correlated with the accretion disk by comparing the inclinations of the stellar disks of a large sample of Type 2 AGNs selected from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS, York et al. 2000) to a control galaxy sample. Given that the Type 2 AGN fraction is in the range of 70–90 percent for low luminosity AGNs as a priori, we find that the mean tilt between the accretion disk and stellar disk is ~ 30 degrees (Shen et al. 2010).     

On nonadiabatic waves in the photospheres of cool stars

The coupled set of equations of hydrodynamics and radiative transfer is derived for small disturbances in a plane, grey atmosphere. Only radiative transfer is taken into account in the energy equation; dynamical effects of radiation are ignored. A mean stationary radiative flux through the photosphere is taken into account. The radiative transfer equation is used by assuming the Eddington approximation, moreover, an exponential height profile of the temperature and an analytical opacity formula are supposed. For this model we obtained an asymptotic solution for plane nonadiabatic acoustic waves and radiation waves. The approach provides a detailed discussion of the interaction of nonadiabatic p‐modes and radiation waves in a realistic model of the photosphere of a solar‐like star.     

Variability of the Hα and Na I D line profiles in the spectrum of FU Ori

The variations of line profiles in the spectrum of FU Ori during several consecutive nights, from January 3 through January 8, 1999, have been traced for the first time in the entire history of studying this star. The variations of the Hα and Na I D line profiles are regular in pattern; at each time, the profiles of these lines were similar to a particular profile observed previously, suggesting that the phenomenon is periodic. We argue that the profile variations result from the axial rotation of the inner accretion-disk and disk-wind regions for which the temperature distribution and the wind-streamline orientation are not axisymmetric. The cause of the asymmetry could be the interaction of circumstellar matter with the stellar magnetic field if the magnetic axis is greatly inclined to the rotation axis. The possible binary nature of FU Ori seems a less likely cause of the asymmetry.