Theoretical and experimental lifetime and oscillator strength determination in singly ionized neodymium (Nd ii)

Radiative lifetime measurements were performed with time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence techniques for 24 levels of Nd  ii in the energy range 20 500–32 500 cm⁻¹. For 17 levels, no previous experimental data exist. These results have allowed the testing of new theoretical calculations with the relativistic Hartree–Fock method taking configuration interactions and core-polarization effects into account, and a satisfying agreement has been found for this complex ion. A new set of calculated oscillator strengths, accurate within a few per cent for the strongest transitions, is presented for 107 lines of astrophysical interest appearing in the wavelength range 358.0–1100.0 nm. These results will be useful to evaluate abundance values of neodymium in chemically peculiar stars in relation with cosmochronology.     

A Time Evolution Study of the Superhumps of the Dwarf Nova 1RXS J232953.9+062814 by Wavelet Transform

The time evolution behaviour of the superhumps of the dwarf nova1RXS J232953.9+ 062814 is investigated with the wavelet analysis method. On the basis of two nights CCD photometry performed during its first superoutburst as well as other published brightness data, we reveal the superhump's time-dependence as a function of periods and time. Our light curves, which phased in the rapid decay ending portion of the superoutburst and in the dawn of a following normal outburst, are important to help trace the superhump evolution for the star. Both the superhump period and the orbital period of the binary system are detected in the present data. We obtain P _sh=0.0458±0.0002d and P _orb=0.0450±0.0002d. They agree with those existing values. The two periods exchanged their roles during the superhump evolution. The general profile of brightness fading over the outbursts roughly followed an exponential decay law or a form of a five-order polynomial. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

X-ray and ultraviolet observations of the dwarf nova VW Hyi in quiescence

We present an analysis of X-ray and ultraviolet (UV) data of the dwarf nova VW Hyi that were obtained with XMM–Newton during the quiescent state. The X-ray spectrum indicates the presence of an optically thin plasma in the boundary layer that cools as it settles on to the white dwarf. The plasma has a continuous temperature distribution that is well described by a power law or a cooling flow model with a maximum temperature of 6–8 keV. We estimate from the X-ray spectrum a boundary layer luminosity of  8 × 10³⁰ erg s^-1  , which is only 20 per cent of the disc luminosity. The rate of accretion on to the white dwarf is  5 × 10⁻¹² M_⊙ yr⁻¹  , about half of the rate in the disc. From the high-resolution X-ray spectra, we estimate that the X-ray emitting part of the boundary layer is rotating with a velocity of 540 km s⁻¹, which is close to the rotation velocity of the white dwarf but is significantly smaller than the Keplerian velocity. We detect a 60-s quasi-periodic oscillation of the X-ray flux, which is likely to be due to the rotation of the boundary layer. The X-ray and the UV flux show strong variability on a time-scale of ∼1500 s. We find that the variability in the two bands is correlated and that the X-ray fluctuations are delayed by ∼100 s. The correlation indicates that the variable UV flux is emitted near the transition region between the disc and the boundary layer and that accretion rate fluctuations in this region are propagated to the X-ray emitting part of the boundary layer within ∼100 s. An orbital modulation of the X-ray flux suggests that the inner accretion disc is tilted with respect to the orbital plane. The elemental abundances in the boundary layer are close to their solar values.     

Dust-enshrouded super star-clusters

With the advent of either sensitive space-born infrared cameras, or their high-resolution ground-based siblings, we are uncovering a new category of star clusters: the dust-enshrouded super-star clusters. These manifest themselves only beyond a few microns, as their shroud of dust is able to block all light emitted by the stars themselves. Here we present our results on the spectacular cluster in SBS 0335-052, a very metal-poor galaxy. We also point to the growing number of galaxy analogs to SBS 0335-052, revealing the possibility that these clusters signal a major mode of star formation in starbursts. We conclude by listing a number of open points these clusters raise, in particular with respect to high-redshift counterparts. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of the star limb darkening law on the probabilities of discovering detached close binary stars as eclipsing variables

The probabilities of discovering detached close binary (type DM) stars as eclipsing variables are calculated as a function of the mass of the main component, mass ratio, major semiaxis, and angle of inclination of the orbit. The case of total limb darkening (hypothesis “D”) is examined. This is compared with earlier results for uniformly bright stellar disks (hypothesis “U”). Based on data from Svechnikov and Kuznetsova’s Catalog of Approximate Photometric and Absolute Elements of Eclipsing Variables, the spatial density of stars of this type in the neighborhood of the sun is estimated to be ≈ 460 · 10 ⁻⁶ pc⁻³. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 151–169 (February 2006).     

测定天琴RR变星金属丰度的方法

银晕中天琴RR变星金属丰度的测定对于研究银河系晕的形成和演化具有重要的意义．在当前的技术条件下,高分辨光谱的方法难以测量银晕中较暗的天琴RR变星的金属丰度．高分辨光谱测定金属丰度的方法对恒星大气模型的依赖性较高,而恒星脉动引起的复杂大气状况对于建立正确的大气模型本身就是挑战．△S光谱方法、Caby测光方法和光变曲线的参数方法则弥补了高分辨光谱方法的不足,将能测量更远距离上的天琴RR变星的金属丰度．着重介绍了这3种方法发展的历史、具体的观测流程以及需要注意的问题。通过比较这3种方法的优劣,为实际观测时方法的选用提供借鉴。