Relation between Starlight and Nebular Emission Lines of Star-Forming Galaxies

We present an exercise that intends to establish a relationship between the strength of nebular emission lines and optical stellar features in the spectrum of a galaxy. After accurately subtracting the stellar continuum and the underlying stellar absorption, we made reliable measurements of the emission lines of all the galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 2 (SDSS DR2). More than 4000 star-forming galaxies with high S/N ratio of both the stellar spectrum and the emission lines are selected. These galaxy spectra are fitted with the 10 PCs of Yip et al., after all the emission line regions have been filtered out. We find that the flux of hydrogen Balmer emission lines, Hα and Hβ can be well recovered from the PCs, while the metal lines are not well reproduced. The fluxes of Hα and Hβ measured from the PC-reconstructed spectra and from the observed spectra agree well with an rms scatter of only - 0.1 dex. This result suggests that, with moderate spectral resolution and S/N ratio, the optical stellar spectrum of a galaxy can serve as an indicator of star formation rate.     

On the reality of broad iron L lines from the narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies 1H0707–495 and IRAS 13224–3809

We performed time resolved spectroscopy of 1H0707–495 and IRAS 13224–3809 using long XMM-Newton observations. These are strongly variable narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies and show broad features around 1 ke V that have been interpreted as relativistically broad Fe Lα lines. Such features are not clearly observed in other active galactic nuclei despite sometimes having high iron abundance required by the best fitted blurred reflection models. Given the importance of these lines, we explore whether the rapid variability of spectral parameters may introduce broad bumps/dips artificially in the time averaged spectrum, which may then be mistaken as broadened lines. We tested this hypothesis by performing time resolved spectroscopy using long(100 ks) XMM-Newton observations and by dividing them into segments with typical exposures of a few ks. We extracted spectra from each such segment and modeled them using a two component phenomenological model consisting of a power law to represent the hard component and a black body to represent the soft emission. As expected, both the sources showed variations in the spectral parameters. Using these variation trends, we simulated model spectra for each segment and then co-added to get a combined simulated spectrum. In the simulated spectra, we found no broad features below 1 ke V and in particular no deviation near 0.9 ke V as seen in the real averaged spectra. This implies that the broad Fe Lα line that is seen in the spectra of these sources is not an artifact of the variation of spectral components and, hence, provides evidence that the line is indeed genuine.     

The Chemical Composition of the Field Zero-Age Star HD77407

High-resolution optical spectra of the zero age star HD77407 are analysed and its Li, C, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Co, Ni and Ba contents are determined using spectral synthesis method. The temperature of the star is determined by fitting the H α line wings. The parameters derived for this star are Teff=5900K, log g=4.47 and [Fe/H] = 0.07. It is found that the derived iron content is slightly higher than what is given in the published literature. This star shows a relative overabundances of Ca and Ba, and underabundances of Na, V and Ni with respect to the solar mix. Activity of the star is indicated by the filled in Hα and Ca II triplet line cores. It has been confirmed that our spectroscopic approach yields fairly reliable and consistent results for active stars.     

Chromospheric activity on the late-type star V1355 Ori using Lijiang 1.8-m and 2.4-m telescopes

We obtained new high-resolution spectra using the Lijiang 1.8-m and 2.4-m telescopes to investigate the chromospheric activities of VI355 Ori as indicated in the behaviors of Ca Ⅱ HK,Hδ,Hγ,Hβ,Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2,Hα and Ca Ⅱ infrared triplet(IRT) lines.The observed spectra show obvious emissions above the continuum in Ca II HK lines,absorptions in the Hδ,Hγ,Hβ and Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2 lines,variable behavior(filled-in absorption,partial emission with a core absorption component or emission above the continuum)in the Hα line,and weak self-reversal emissions in the strong filled-in absorptions of the Ca Ⅱ IRT lines.We used a spectral subtraction technique to analyze our data.The results show no excess emission in the Hδ and Hγ lines,very weak excess emissions in the Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2 lines,excess emission in the Hβ line,clear excess emission in the Hα line,and excess emissions in the Ca Ⅱ IRT lines.The value of the ratio of EW_(8542)/EW_(8498) is in the range 0.9 to 1.7,which implies that chromospheric activity might have been caused by plage events.The value of the ratio E_(Hα)/E_(Hβ) is above 3,indicating that the Balmer lines would arise from prominence-like material.We also found time variations in light curves associated with equivalent widths of chromospheric activity lines in the Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2,Ca Ⅱ IRT and Hα lines in particular.These phenomena can be explained by plage events,which are consistent with the behavior of chromospheric activity indicators.     

A catalogue of Hα emission-line point sources in the vicinity fields of M31 and M33 from the LAMOST survey

We present a catalogue of 3305 Hα emission-line point sources observed with the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope(LAMOST) in the vicinity fields of M31 and M33 during September 2011 and January 2016.The catalogue contains 1487 emission-line stars,532 emission-line nebulae including 377 likely planetary nebulae(PNe),83 H Ⅱ region candidates and 20 possible supernova remnants(SNRs) and 1286 unknown objects.Among them,24 PN candidates,19 H Ⅱ region candidates,10 SNR candidates and one symbiotic star candidate are new discoveries.Radial velocities and fluxes estimated from the Hα line and those quantities of seven other major emission lines including Hβ,[O Ⅲ] A4959,[O Ⅲ] A5007,[N Ⅱ] A6548,[N Ⅱ] A6583,[S Ⅱ] A6717 and [S Ⅱ] A6731 lines of all the catalogued sources yielded from the LAMOST spectra are also presented in our catalogue.Our catalogue is an ideal starting point to study the chemistry properties and kinematics of M 31 and M 33.     

Variability of emission lines in the optical spectra of the Herbig Be binary system HD 200775

In our previous papers we have improved the value of the orbital period of the binary Herbig Be star HD 200775 and showed that the [O I] and Si II 6347 and 6371 ?A emission lines displayed variations which correlate with the orbital period. In this paper we provide evidences that other broad emission lines of metals in the spectra of HD 200775 also exhibit variability, which is probably related to the orbital cycle of the binary. Analysis was performed based on the high-resolution spectral data collected over a time span of 6 years at the Kourovka Astronomical Observatory of the Ural Federal University(Russia) and the Three College Observatory of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro(USA) as well as archival spectral data compiled since 1994. We report new data points in the radial velocity curve of the He I 5876 ?A line near the extremal values of the radial velocity.     

Optical flare events on the RS Canum Venaticorum star UX Arietis

Based on long-term high-resolution spectroscopic observations obtained during five observing runs from 2001 to 2004,we study optical flare events and chromospheric activity variability of the very active RS CVn star UX Ari.By means of the spectral subtraction technique,several optical chromospheric activity indicators(including the He I D_3,Na I D_1,D_2 doublet,Hα and Ca II IRT lines) covered in our echelle spectra were analyzed.Four large optical flare events were detected on UX Ari during our observations,which show prominent He I D_3 line emission together with great enhancement in emission of the Hα and Ca II IRT lines and strong filled-in or emission reversal features in the Na I D_1,D_2 doublet lines.The newly detected flares are much more energetic than previous discoveries,especially for the flare identified during the 2002 December observing run.Optical flare events on UX Ari are more likely to be observed around two quadratures of the system,except for our optical flares detected during the 2004 November observing run.Moreover,we have found rotational modulation of chromospheric activity in the Hα and Ca II IRT lines,which suggests the presence of chromospherically active longitudes over the surface of UX Ari.The change in chromospherically active longitudes among our observing runs,as well as the variation in chromospheric activity level from 2001 to 2004,indicates a long-term evolution of active regions.     

Temporal variations and spectral properties of the Be/X-ray pulsar GRO J1008–57 studied by INTEGRAL

The spin period variations and hard X-ray spectral properties of the Be/Xray pulsar GRO J1008–57 are studied with INTEGRAL observations during two outbursts in 2004 June and 2009 March.The pulsation periods of～93.66 s in 2004and～93.73 s in 2009 are determined.Pulse profiles of GRO J1008–57 during outbursts are strongly energy dependent with a double-peaked profile from 3–7 keV and a single-peaked profile in hard X-rays above 7 keV.Combined with previous measurements,we find that GRO J1008–57 has undergone a spin-down trend from 1993–2009 with a rate of～4.1×10-5s d-1,and could have changed into a spin-up trend after 2009.We find a relatively soft spectrum in the early phase of the 2009 outburst with cutoff energy～13 keV.Above a hard X-ray flux of～10-9erg cm-2s-1,the spectra of GRO J1008–57 during outbursts need an enhanced hydrogen absorption with column density～6×1022cm-2.The observed dip-like pulse profile of GRO J1008–57 in soft X-ray bands could be caused by this intrinsic absorption.Around the outburst peaks,a possible cyclotron resonance scattering feature at～74 keV is detected in the spectra of GRO J1008–57 which is consistent with the feature that was reported in MAXI/GSC observations,making the source a neutron star with the highest known magnetic field(～6.6×1012G)among accreting X-ray pulsars.This marginal feature is supported by the present detections in GRO J1008–57 following the correlation between the fundamental line energies and cutoff energies in accreting X-ray pulsars.Finally we discovered two modulation periods at～124.38 d and～248.78 d using RXTE/ASM light curves of GRO J1008–57.Two flare peaks appearing in the folded light curve had different spectral properties.The normal outburst lasting 0.1 of an orbital phase had a hard spectrum and could not be significantly detected below 3 keV.The second flare lasting ten days showed a very soft spectrum without significant detections above 5 keV.GRO J1008–57 is a good candidate of an accreting system with an equatorial circumstellar disk around the companion star.The neutron star passing the disk of the Be star near periastron and apastron produces two X-ray flares.The soft spectral properties in the secondary flares still need further detailed studies with soft X-ray spectroscopy.     

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

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

The first data release of LAMOST low-resolution single-epoch spectra

LAMOST Data Release 5,covering~17 000 deg~2from-10?to 80?in declination,contains 9million co-added low-resolution spectra of celestial objects,each spectrum combined from repeat exposure of two to tens of times during Oct 2011 to Jun 2017.In this paper,we present the spectra of individual exposures for all the objects in LAMOST Data Release 5.For each spectrum,the equivalent width of 60lines from 11 different elements are calculated with a new method combining the actual line core and fitted line wings.For stars earlier than F type,the Balmer lines are fitted with both emission and absorption profiles once two components are detected.Radial velocity of each individual exposure is measured by minimizingχ~2between the spectrum and its best template.The database for equivalent widths of spectral lines and radial velocities of individual spectra are available online.Radial velocity uncertainties with different stellar type and signal-to-noise ratio are quantified by comparing different exposure of the same objects.We notice that the radial velocity uncertainty depends on the time lag between observations.For stars observed in the same day and with signal-to-noise ratio higher than 20,the radial velocity uncertainty is below 5 km s~(-1),and increases to 10 km s~(-1)for stars observed in different nights.     

A catalog of early-type emission-line stars and Hα line profiles from LAMOST DR2

We present a catalog including 11 204 spectra of 10 436 early-type emission-line stars from LAMOST DR2, among which 9752 early-type emission-line spectra are newly discovered. For these earlytype emission-line stars, we discuss the morphological and physical properties of their low-resolution spectra. In this spectral sample, the Hα emission profiles display a wide variety of shapes. Based on the Hα line profiles, these spectra are categorized into five distinct classes: single-peak emission, single-peak emission in absorption, double-peak emission, double-peak emission in absorption, and P-Cygni profiles. To better understand what causes the Hα line profiles, we divide these objects into four types from the perspective of physical classification, which include classical Be stars, Herbig Ae/Be stars, close binaries and spectra contaminated by H II regions. The majority of Herbig Ae/Be stars and classical Be stars are identified and separated using a(H-K, K-W1) color-color diagram. We also discuss 31 binary systems that are listed in the SIMBAD on-line catalog and identify 3600 spectra contaminated by H II regions after cross-matching with positions in the Dubout-Crillon catalog. A statistical analysis of line profiles versus classifications is then conducted in order to understand the distribution of Hα profiles for each type in our sample. Finally, we also provide a table of 172 spectra with Fe II emission lines and roughly calculate stellar wind velocities for seven spectra with P-Cygni profiles.     

Collapsing index: a new method to identify star-forming cores based on ALMA images

Stars form through the gravitational collapse of molecular cloud cores.Before collapsing,the cores are supported by thermal pressure and turbulent motions.A question of critical importance for the understanding of star formation is how to observationally discern whether a core has already initiated gravitational collapse or is still in hydrostatic balance.The canonical method to identify gravitational collapse is based on the observed radial density profile,which would change from Bonnor-Ebert type toward power laws as the core collapses.In practice,due to the projection effect,the resolution limit and other caveats,it has been difficult to directly reveal the dynamical status of cores,particularly in massive star forming regions.We here propose a novel,straightforward diagnostic,namely,the collapsing index(CI),which can be modeled and calculated based on the radial profile of the line width of dense gas.A meaningful measurement of CI requires spatially and spectrally resolved images of optically thin and chemically stable dense gas tracers.ALMA observations are making such data sets increasingly available for massive star forming regions.Applying our method to one of the deepest dense-gas spectral images ever taken toward such a region,namely,the Orion molecular cloud,we detect the dynamical status of selected cores.We observationally distinguished a collapsing core in a massive star forming region from a hydrostatical one.Our approach would help significantly improve our understanding of the interaction between gravity and turbulence within molecular cloud cores in the process of star formation.     

Photometric and spectroscopic study of flares on Ross 15

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

Measurements for the Performance of the Digital Autocorrelation Spectrometer

Injecting phase calibration (PCAL) signals to the feed horn of the observation sys- tem and analyzing the output response signals of the spectrometer, we measured the working performance of a 4096-channel digital autocalibration spectrometer. The results demonstrate that the spectrometer has a fine working performance: (1) the channels are distributed uni- formly in the spectrometer; (2) line drift produces little effect on the observation results; (3) spectral resolution shows little changes with observation time. The distribution of the fre- quency resolution in an 80 MHz bandwidth was measured. A trial observation on the two molecular spectral lines of H2CO and H110α taken with this spectrometer is described.     

Can the temperature of Ellerman Bombs be more than 10000 K?

Ellerman bombs(EBs) are small brightening events in the solar lower atmosphere.By their original definition,the main characteristic of EBs is the two emission bumps in both wings of chromospheric lines,such as Hα and CaII 8542  lines.Up to now,most authors have found that the temperature increase of EBs around the temperature minimum region is in the range of 600–3000 K.However,with recent IRIS observations,some authors proposed that the temperature increase of EBs could be more than 10000 K.Using non-LTE semi-empirical modeling,we investigate the line profiles,continuum emission and radiative losses for EB models with different temperature increases,and compare them with observations.Our result indicates that if the EB maximum temperature reaches more than 10000 K around the temperature minimum region,then the resulting Hα and CaII 8542  line profiles and the continuum emission would be much stronger than those of EB observations.Moreover,due to the high radiative losses,a high temperature EB would have a very short lifetime,which is not compatible with observations.Thus,our study does not support the proposal that EB temperatures are higher than 10000 K.     

Planetary nebulae in the circumnuclear region of M31: a spectroscopic sample

Planetary nebulae(PNe) are an important tool for studying the dynamics and chemical evolution of galaxies in the Local Universe, given their characteristic bright emission line spectra. The Andromeda Galaxy(M31) provides a unique laboratory for studying PNe in the circumnuclear region,thanks to its proximity and almost uniformly low line-of-sight extinction that ensures observations with high resolution and sensitivity. Using the WIYN/Hydra multi-fiber spectrograph, we have obtained optical(4119–6882 A?) spectra of 77 PN candidates selected from Hubble Space Telescope narrow-band imaging, which are located within the central ~500 pc region of M31. Among these candidates, 49(64%) are spectroscopically observed for the first time. The spectra of 300 previously known PNe and H Ⅱ regions, which primarily reside in the disk, are also taken for comparison. All 77 circumnuclear PN candidates exhibit prominent emission lines, including [O Ⅲ]λ5007, [N Ⅱ]λ6583, Hα and Hβ,strongly suggesting that they are genuine PNe. We measured the line fluxes, radial velocities and line widths for all objects, and found that the radial velocities of the circumnuclear PNe generally trace rotation of the inner bulge. We also estimated a dynamical mass of ~6.4±0.5×10~9 M_⊙ enclosed within an effective galactocentric radius of 340 pc, which is compatible with the previously estimated total stellar mass in this region.     

Synthetic analysis of a two-ribbon microflare

High-resolution Stokes spectral data of Hα,Ca II 8542 ,and Fe I 6302.5  lines for a two-ribbon microflare (TRMF) were simultaneously obtained by the THEMIS telescope on 2002 September 5.We derive the intensity,velocity,and longitudinal magnetic field maps.The hard X-ray emission observed by RHESSI provides evidence of nonthermal particle acceleration in the TRMF.Using Hα and Ca II 8542  line profiles and a non-LTE calculation,we obtain semi-empirical atmospheric models for the two brightest kernels of th...     

Infall and Outflow Activities in the Be star FY CMa

Unusual activity of outflow mass motion connected with infail events was recorded for the B0.5 IVe star FY CMa in February 1987 from both archival IUE spectrograms of cixcumstellar Nv resonance hnes and optical spectra of Hα and He I λ5876A emission lines which showed inverse P Cygni-type profiles. We estimate the mass loss rate using ultraviolet SiIvresonance lines with expanding atmosphere modeling calculations, and describe how the radial pressure performs the dominant role in accelerating the stellar wind. We attempt to give a qualitative explanation for the activity observed for FY CMa in terms of circumstellar matter raining down to the star.