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We used the OGLE data to search for binary central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Nine binary CSPNe with periods between 0.24 and 23.6 days were discovered. The obtained fraction of binary CSPNe for the LMC PNe is without correcting for incompleteness.
We use nearly two decades of helioseismic data obtained from the GONG (2002–2020) and HMI (2010–2020) ring-diagram pipelines to examine the temporal variations of the properties of individual equatorial Rossby modes with azimuthal orders in the range 6 ≤ m ≤ 10. We find that the mode parameters obtained from GONG and HMI are consistent during the data overlapping period of 2010–2020. The power and the frequency of each mode exhibit significant temporal variations over the full observing period. Using the GONG data during solar cycles 23 and 24, we find that the mode power averaged over 6 ≤ m ≤ 10 shows a positive correlation with the sunspot number (0.42), while the averaged frequency shift is anti-correlated (–0.91). The anti-correlation between the average mode power and frequency shift is –0.44.
The connection between X-ray weakness and powerful X-ray outflows is both expected in a scenario where outflows are connected with radiation-driven winds, and observed in several sources, both in the local Universe and at high redshift. Here I present the first results of a new study of this possible connection based on a search for SDSS quasars with weak X-ray emission in serendipitous XMM-Newton observations. The selected objects have a “normal” optical/UV blue continuum, but a flat and extraordinarily weak X-ray spectrum. The availability of rest-frame optical/UV spectra allows to check for the signature of outflows in the absorption lines and/or in the profiles of the emission lines. This method could reveal the presence of a population of so-far overlooked outflowing quasars and confirm the connection between winds and X-ray weakness in quasars.
The newly discovered inertial modes in the Sun offer the opportunity to probe the solar convective zone down to the tachocline. While linear analysis predicts the frequencies and eigenfunctions of the modes, it gives no information about their excitation or their amplitudes. We present here a theoretical formalism for the stochastic excitation of the solar inertial modes by turbulent convection. The amplitudes predicted by our model are in complete agreement with observations, thus supporting the assumption that they are stochastically excited. Our work also uncovers a qualitative transition in the shape of the inertial mode spectrum, between m ≲ 5 where the modes are clearly resolved in frequency, and m ≳ 5 where the modes overlap. This complicates the interpretation of the high-m data, and suggests that a model for the whole shape of the power spectrum is necessary to exploit the full seismic potential of solar inertial modes.
As is well known, low-mass stars constitute the most abundant class of stars in our galaxy. In stars less massive than the Sun, the density within stellar interiors increases as the stellar mass decreases. Therefore, for low-mass stars, the significance of electrostatic effects in stellar interiors cannot be neglected, as these interactions can alter the properties of matter.
In our study, we focus on exploring the outer layers of stars less massive than the Sun. We have computed a range of stellar models, ranging from 0.4 to 0.9 solar masses, to investigate the effects of two physical processes on the acoustic oscillations in the envelopes of these stars: partial ionization of chemical elements and electrostatic interactions between particles in the outer layers. In addition to partial ionization, we demonstrate that Coulomb effects also influence the acoustic oscillation spectrum. Our investigation reveals the following findings:
1. Coulomb effects can indeed influence the acoustic oscillations in low-mass stars.
2. The model with a mass of inline1 serves as a transition point. For models less massive than inline1, their acoustic spectrum is more affected by electrostatic interactions, whereas models more massive than inline1 have their acoustic spectrum more impacted by partial ionization processes.
Our work unveils the promising possibilities that future discoveries related to the detection of solar-like oscillations in stars less massive than the Sun could offer in terms of understanding the connections between the internal structure of low-mass stars and their observable characteristics.
The solar dynamo is a physical process of magnetic field generation due to conversion of kinetic energy of plasma flows into magnetic energy. However, in the mean-field dynamo theory, one needs to segregate scales and consider separately large-scale dynamo and small-scale dynamo. The large-scale dynamo produces the large-scale mean field and unavoidable fluctuations of the mean field. Both are cycle-dependent. The small-scale dynamo is supposed to produce only the small-scale field, and this field is cycle-independent. There is no sharp boundary between the intervals of the large-scale and small-scale dynamos. An unavoidable presence of a smooth transition implies that there is a region where the properties of the large-scale global dynamo and fluctuations inherent to small-scale dynamo co-exist on some intermediate scales. Recent achievements in observations of the small-scale dynamo operation on the smallest observable scales and on the intermediate scales of typical active regions are discussed in the review.
. An outflow, from the hot inner flow, in black-hole X-ray binaries is always expected due to the positive Bernoulli integral in the hot inner flow. We have demonstrated that, if one considers this outflow as the place where not only Comptonization occurs, but also radio emission, many observed correlations, including the long-standing one between radio and X-rays, can be explained with one simple model.
Dynamics in the atmospheres of central stars of cool protoplanetary nebulae can contribute to shaping of the subsequent planetary nebulae by giving rise to stellar wind. We have investigated variation in high-resolution spectra of three relatively cool post-asymptotic giant branch stars that are surrounded by non-spherical nebulae. Spectra of HD 161796 show variability in blue wings of weak and medium strength absorption lines while red wings remain unchanged. This could be caused by warm variable outflow. An episode of infall of matter is revealed in spectra of IRAS 22272+5435. Also, episodes of molecular lines in emission are detected for this star. The emissions appear to be related to the star’s brightness changes. Qualitatively the same molecular line variability is observed in the spectrum of IRAS Z02229+6208. Possibly, the observed spectral variations are a consequence of similar dynamics as in the atmospheres of asymptotic giant branch stars.
We study high energy processes that occur during the merger of a neutron star (NS) or a black hole (BH) with the core of a red supergaint (RSG). The merger powers a luminous event termed common envelope jets supernova (CEJSN), that might account for lightcurves of peculiar transients. In the CEJSN scenario the NS/BH accretes mass from its surroundings through an accretion disk as it spirals-in inside the RSG’s envelope and core. The compact object launches part of this mass as narrow jets that interact with their environment by depositing their kinetic energy in the envelope and core gas. These jets can serve as production sites of high energy neutrinos and r-process elements.
The Magellanic Stream is a lengthy, ribbon-like gas structure stretching 200 degrees across the sky and surrounding the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These two galaxies are the brightest dwarf galaxies orbiting the Milky Way (MW). The Stream is a major subject of study in galactic dynamics because it provides insights into the evolution of galaxies, including the MW and the Magellanic Clouds, its companion dwarf satellites, and the interstellar medium. Gas flows play a key role in galaxies’ growth, evolution, and sustainability, but many questions related to the Stream remain unanswered. Here, I will review the main advance in this subject of the last decade and posit new questions that need to be addressed.
More than three decades after the pioneering imaging catalog by Balick (1987), where the small-scale and low-ionization structures (LISs) in planetary nebulae (PNe) became evident, the present study conducts a comprehensive statistical analysis of LISs’ physical-chemical and excitation properties. Gathering the largest dataset to date, we compare LISs with high-ionization components (rims/shells) across a diverse sample of PNe. Key findings include lower electron densities (NeS ii) in LISs than in adjacent rims/shells and comparable electron temperatures (Te N ii and O iii) between these two nebular componets. Various optical diagnostic diagrams, while revealing a clear excitation stratification between these groups of components, are not good enough to clearly pinpoint the main excitation mechanism behind the LISs line-emission. Photoionization and shock models highlight a notable overlap between mechanisms, emphasizing the coexistence of both excitation processes. Contrary to expectations, shocks are unlikely to be the primary excitation source for most of LISs in PNe.
The Triangulum Extended (TREX) Survey is a spectroscopic survey† that targets resolved stars of all ages throughout the disk of Triangulum (M33). We summarize the first results from the TREX Survey, including the discovery of a kinematically hot, halo-like population throughout M33’s inner disk in both the old and intermediate-age populations and evidence that the youngest stars have been dynamically heated. We also discuss the implications for our understanding of M33’s dynamical history in the context of recent results from the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury: Triangulum Extended Region (PHATTER) Survey.
Time–distance helioseismology uses solar surface Doppler observations to measure areas that are not directly observable, such as solar interior, far side, and sunquake sources. In this work, we briefly review recent advancements in time–distance helioseismology, focusing on meridional circulation measurements, far-side imaging, and sunquakes. Solar deep meridional flows are crucial for understanding the dynamics of the solar interior, but precise measurements of these flows are challenging. This review explores recent developments in this area, particularly highlighting new findings related to systematic effects that have long challenged meridional circulation determination. We also review recent progress in solar far-side imaging, which is useful in improving space weather forecasting. Recent developments in far-side imaging using time–distance techniques and Deep Learning are introduced. Additionally, we review a new approach in sunquake reconstruction by incorporating observation-based Green’s functions constructed by time–distance helioseismology.
The study of the differential rotation in the chromosphere of the Sun is of significant importance as it provides valuable insights into the rotational behaviour of the solar atmosphere at higher altitudes and the coupling mechanism between the various layers of the solar atmosphere. In this work, we employed the image correlation technique, explicitly focusing on plages, intending to estimate the chromospheric differential rotation. For this purpose, we have utilized Ca ii K spectroheliograms (1907 – 2007) from the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO), recently calibrated with a better technique to ensure accuracy. Our analysis indicates that plages in the chromosphere exhibit faster rotation and a smaller latitudinal gradient when compared to the rotation rate obtained through sunspot tracking. Furthermore, we investigate the temporal analysis of the chromospheric differential rotation parameters across various solar cycles.
Cosmological simulations fail to reproduce realistic galaxy populations without energy injection from active galactic nuclei (AGN) into the interstellar medium (ISM) and circumgalactic medium (CGM); a process called ‘AGN feedback’. Consequently, observational work searches for evidence that luminous AGN impact their host galaxies. Here, we review some of this work. Multi-phase AGN outflows are common, some with potential for significant impact. Additionally, multiple feedback channels can be observed simultaneously; e.g., radio jets from ‘radio quiet’ quasars can inject turbulence on ISM scales, and displace CGM-scale molecular gas. However, caution must be taken comparing outflows to simulations (e.g., kinetic coupling efficiencies) to infer feedback potential, due to a lack of comparable predictions. Furthermore, some work claims limited evidence for feedback because AGN live in gas-rich, star-forming galaxies. However, simulations do not predict instantaneous, global impact on molecular gas or star formation. The impact is expected to be cumulative, over multiple episodes.
Helioseismology has discovered a thin layer beneath the solar surface where the rotation rate increases rapidly with depth. The normalized rotational shear in the upper 10 Mm of the layer is constant with latitude. Differential rotation theory explains such a rotational state by a radial-type anisotropy of the near-surface convection and a short correlation time of convective turbulence compared to the rotation period. The shear layer is the main driver of the global meridional circulation.
We discuss recent results from high-resolution Magellan/MIKE spectroscopy of five stars in the outskirts (up to ∼ 1 kpc) of the Tucana II ultra-faint dwarf galaxy (UFD), complemented by prior observations of seven stars closer to the galaxy’s center. These outer stars were identified via their low SkyMapper photometric metallicities and consistent Gaia DR2 proper motions, and their membership was confirmed through follow-up medium-resolution spectroscopy. The high-resolution spectroscopy presented here provides detailed chemical abundances and more precise velocities, facilitating a revised dynamical analysis for signs of tidal disruption and a collective analysis of the detailed chemistry to evaluate astrophysical scenarios for the origin of the spatially extended feature. We discuss these signatures here and assess the evidence for several formation scenarios for the extended feature of Tucana II, highlighting how such studies of the outskirts of the UFD population as a whole can inform which scenarios may be preferred.
The origin of the sub-terahertz (sub-THz) component of radio emission from solar flares, which is characterized by the increase flux with frequency in the 100-400 GHz range, is considered. On the basis of equations of 1D non-LTE radiation hydrodynamics we simulated the altitude distribution of the plasma density and temperature inside the flare loop caused by the interaction of non-stationary beam of accelerated electrons in the form of a triangular pulse with the chromospheric plasma. The FLARIX numerical code was used to calculate the dynamics of the flare plasma parameters at different heights which are compared with the RADYN numerical code. We found that the characteristic heights of the formation of sub-THz emission vary over a wide range with time for both codes. The main contribution to the sub-THz emission comes from the chromospheric and transition region plasma with temperatures of 104–105K.
Almost 30 years have passed since not only the universal density distribution of dark matter (DM) halos in cosmological N-body simulations, but also the scalings between properties of DM halos represented by concentration-mass (c-M) relations are proposed. We derive the c-M relation for sub galactic halos (subhalos) of Milky Way (MW)-sized host halo using the result of the ultra-high resolution cosmological N-body simulation, Phi-4096, with a particle mass of 5.13 × 103h−1M⊙. This c-M relation is confirmed to be consistent with a c-M relation from near the free streaming scale to the galactic scale proposed in a literature. One of our main findings is that the c-M relation can reproduce observational properties of DM halos from dwarf galaxies to clusters of galaxies. In addition, we provide a testable prediction of the density distributions of MW subhalos for future observations.
We have found strong evidence that an extended bipolar planetary nebula (PN), lying in the line-of-sight of the Galactic open cluster M37, is actually its physical member. We estimated both the PN physical properties and the properties of its progenitor from cluster studies. The progenitor mass has been found to be around 2.8 M⊙. There are only a handful of such confirmed associations and each of them provides valuable additional data to the initial-to-final-mass relation. The nebula has a major axis of 445 arcsec and a kinematical age of around 80 kyrs -the largest ever determined for a PN- suggesting that PNe in clusters do not dissipate as fast as field PNe.