SI-BEARING MOLECULES TOWARD IRC+10216: ALMA UNVEILS THE MOLECULAR ENVELOPE OF CWLEO.

PubMed

Prieto, L Velilla; Cernicharo, J; Quintana-Lacaci, G; Agúndez, M; Castro-Carrizo, A; Fonfŕia, J P; Marcelino, N; Zúñiga, J; Requena, A; Bastida, A; Lique, F; Guélin, M

2015-06-01

We report the detection of SiS rotational lines in high-vibrational states as well as SiO and SiC 2 lines in their ground vibrational state toward IRC+10216 during the Atacama Large Millimeter Array Cycle 0. The spatial distribution of these molecules shows compact emission for SiS and a more extended emission for SiO and SiC 2 , and also proves the existence of an increase in the SiC 2 emission at the outer shells of the circumstellar envelope. We analyze the excitation conditions of the vibrationally excited SiS using the population diagram technique, and we use a large velocity gradient model to compare with the observations. We found moderate discrepancies between the observations and the models that could be explained if SiS lines detected are optically thick. Additionally, the line profiles of the detected rotational lines in the high energy vibrational states show a decreasing linewidth with increasing energy levels. This may be evidence that these lines could be excited only in the inner shells, i.e., the densest and hottest, of the circumstellar envelope of IRC+10216.

SI-BEARING MOLECULES TOWARD IRC+10216: ALMA UNVEILS THE MOLECULAR ENVELOPE OF CWLEO

PubMed Central

Prieto, L. Velilla; Cernicharo, J.; Quintana–Lacaci, G.; Agúndez, M.; Castro–Carrizo, A.; Fonfŕia, J. P.; Marcelino, N.; Zúñiga, J.; Requena, A.; Bastida, A.; Lique, F.; Guélin, M.

2015-01-01

We report the detection of SiS rotational lines in high-vibrational states as well as SiO and SiC2 lines in their ground vibrational state toward IRC+10216 during the Atacama Large Millimeter Array Cycle 0. The spatial distribution of these molecules shows compact emission for SiS and a more extended emission for SiO and SiC2, and also proves the existence of an increase in the SiC2 emission at the outer shells of the circumstellar envelope. We analyze the excitation conditions of the vibrationally excited SiS using the population diagram technique, and we use a large velocity gradient model to compare with the observations. We found moderate discrepancies between the observations and the models that could be explained if SiS lines detected are optically thick. Additionally, the line profiles of the detected rotational lines in the high energy vibrational states show a decreasing linewidth with increasing energy levels. This may be evidence that these lines could be excited only in the inner shells, i.e., the densest and hottest, of the circumstellar envelope of IRC+10216. PMID:26688711

Constraints on Circumstellar Dust Grain Sizes from High Spatial Resolution Observations in the Thermal Infrared

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bloemhof, E. E.; Danen, R. M.; Gwinn, C. R.

1996-01-01

We describe how high spatial resolution imaging of circumstellar dust at a wavelength of about 10 micron, combined with knowledge of the source spectral energy distribution, can yield useful information about the sizes of the individual dust grains responsible for the infrared emission. Much can be learned even when only upper limits to source size are available. In parallel with high-resolution single-telescope imaging that may resolve the more extended mid-infrared sources, we plan to apply these less direct techniques to interpretation of future observations from two-element optical interferometers, where quite general arguments may be made despite only crude imaging capability. Results to date indicate a tendency for circumstellar grain sizes to be rather large compared to the Mathis-Rumpl-Nordsieck size distribution traditionally thought to characterize dust in the general interstellar medium. This may mean that processing of grains after their initial formation and ejection from circumstellar atmospheres adjusts their size distribution to the ISM curve; further mid-infrared observations of grains in various environments would help to confirm this conjecture.

Energetics and Birth Rates of Supernova Remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leahy, D. A.

2017-03-01

Published X-ray emission properties for a sample of 50 supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) are used as input for SNR evolution modeling calculations. The forward shock emission is modeled to obtain the initial explosion energy, age, and circumstellar medium density for each SNR in the sample. The resulting age distribution yields a SNR birthrate of 1/(500 yr) for the LMC. The explosion energy distribution is well fit by a log-normal distribution, with a most-probable explosion energy of 0.5× {10}51 erg, with a 1σ dispersion by a factor of 3 in energy. The circumstellar medium density distribution is broader than the explosion energy distribution, with a most-probable density of ˜0.1 cm-3. The shape of the density distribution can be fit with a log-normal distribution, with incompleteness at high density caused by the shorter evolution times of SNRs.

GAS PHASE SYNTHESIS OF (ISO)QUINOLINE AND ITS ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF NUCLEOBASES IN THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Parker, Dorian S. N.; Kaiser, Ralf I.; Kostko, Oleg

Nitrogen-substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) have been proposed to play a key role in the astrochemical evolution of the interstellar medium, yet the formation mechanisms of even their simplest prototypes—quinoline and isoquinoline—remain elusive. Here, we reveal a novel concept that under high temperature conditions representing circumstellar envelopes of carbon stars, (iso)quinoline can be synthesized via the reaction of pyridyl radicals with two acetylene molecules. The facile gas phase formation of (iso)quinoline in circumstellar envelopes defines a hitherto elusive reaction class synthesizing aromatic structures with embedded nitrogen atoms that are essential building blocks in contemporary biological-structural motifs. Once ejected from circumstellarmore » shells and incorporated into icy interstellar grains in cold molecular clouds, these NPAHs can be functionalized by photo processing forming nucleobase-type structures as sampled in the Murchison meteorite.« less

Estado evolutivo de estrellas con fenómeno B[e

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aidelman, Y. J.; Cidale, L.; Borges Fernandes, M.; Kraus, M.

The B[e] phenomenon is related to certain peculiar features observed in the spectrum of some B stars, which are mainly linked to the physical conditions of their circumstellar medium. As these stars are embedded in dense and optically thick circumstellar media, the determination of the spectral type and luminosity class of the central objects is quite difficult. As a consequence, their evolutionary stage and distances present huge uncertainties. In this work we study 4 B[e] stars and discuss their stellar fundamental parameters and evolutionary stages using the BCD spectrophotometric system. FULL TEXT IN SPANISH

IUE investigations of SN 1987A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirshner, Robert P.

1989-01-01

IUE observations of the SN 1987A began shortly after the discovery and have been frequent through 1988 and 1989, using the fine error sensor for photometry, low dispersion spectra for the supernova spectrum, and high dispersion observations for the interstellar medium when the supernova was bright and for circumstellar gas surrounding the supernova as the initial event faded. The UV data were very useful in determining which star exploded, assessing the ionizing pulse produced as the shock hit the surface of the star, and in constraining the stellar evolution that preceded the explosion through observations of a circumstellar shell.

H i and CO in the circumstellar environment of the S-type star RS Cancri

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Libert, Y.; Winters, J. M.; Le Bertre, T.; Gérard, E.; Matthews, L. D.

2010-06-01

Context. The history of mass loss during the AGB phase is key to understanding the stellar evolution and the gas and dust replenishment of the interstellar medium. The mass-loss phenomenon presents fluctuations with a wide variety of timescales and spatial scales and requires combining data from multiple tracers. Aims: We study the respective contributions of the central source and of the external medium to the complex geometry of circumstellar ejecta. Methods: This paper presents Plateau de Bure Interferometer and IRAM 30-m telescope CO rotational line observations, along with H i data obtained with the Nançay Radio Telescope for the oxygen-rich semi-regular variable RS Cnc, in order to probe its circumstellar environment on different scales. Results: We detect both the CO(1-0) and the CO(2-1) rotational lines from RS Cnc. The line profiles are composite, comprising two components of half-width ~2 km s-1 and ~8 km s-1, respectively. Whereas the narrow velocity component seems to originate in an equatorial disk in the central part of the CO envelope, the broad component reveals a bipolar structure, with a north-south velocity gradient. In addition, we obtain new H i data on the source and around it in a field of almost 1 square degree. The H i line is centered on vLSR = 7 km s-1 in agreement with CO observations. A new reduction process reveals a complex extended structure in the northwest direction, of estimated size ~18', with a position angle (~310°) opposite the direction of the stellar proper motion (~140°). We derive an H i mass of ~3 × 10-2 M_⊙ for this structure. Based on a non spherical simulation, we find that this structure is consistent with arising from the interaction of the star undergoing mass loss at an average rate of ~10-7 M⊙ yr-1 over ~2-3 × 105 years with the interstellar medium. Conclusions: Using CO and H i lines, we show that the circumstellar environment around RS Cnc includes two related but well separated regions. With CO, we find a bipolar geometry that probably originates from the intrinsic behavior of recent mass-loss processes. With H i, we find a trail of gas, in a direction opposite to the proper motion of RS Cnc lending support to the hypothesis of an interaction with the interstellar medium. This work illustrates the powerful complementarity of CO and H i observations with regard to a more complete description of circumstellar environments around AGB stars. Based on observations carried out with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain).

WFIRST: CGI Detection and Characterization of Circumstellar Disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debes, John; Chen, Christine; Dawson, Bekki; Douglas, Ewan S.; Duchene, Gaspard; Jang-Condell, Hannah; hines, Dean C.; Lewis, Nikole K.; Macintosh, Bruce; Mazoyer, Johan; Meshkat, Tiffany; Nemati, Bijan; Patel, Rahul; Perrin, Marshall; Poteet, Charles; Pueyo, Laurent; Ren, Bin; Rizzo, Maxime; Roberge, Aki; Stark, Chris; Turnbull, Margaret

2018-01-01

The WFIRST Coronagraphic Instrument (CGI) will be capable of obtaining up to 5×10-9 contrast to an inner working angle of ~150 mas for a selection of medium band visible light filters using shaped pupil coronagraph and hybrid Lyot coronagraph designs. We present initial work at defining the scientific capabilities of the CGI with respect to different types of circumstellar disks, including warm exo-zodiacal disks, cold debris disks, and protoplanetary disks. With the above designs, CGI will be able to detect bright protoplanetary and debris disks with sizes of >100 AU beyond 500 pc. Additionally, it will be able to discover warm exozodiacal dust disks ten times more massive than that of the Solar System for over 100 nearby solar-type stars. Finally, it will be able to characterize resolved circumstellar dust disks in multiple filters of visible light, providing constraints on the size, shape, and composition of the dust.

Mass loss in red giants and supergiants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanner, F.

1975-01-01

The circumstellar envelopes surrounding late-type giants and supergiants were studied using high resolution, photoelectric scans of strong optical resonance lines. A method for extracting the circumstellar from the stellar components of the lines allowed a quantitative determination of the physical conditions in the envelopes and the rates of mass loss at various positions in the red giant region of the HR diagram. The observed strengthening of the circumstellar spectrum with increasing luminosity and later spectral type is probably caused by an increase in the mass of the envelopes. The mass loss rate for individual stars is proportional to the visual luminosity; high rates for the supergiants suggest that mass loss is important in their evolution. The bulk of the mass return to the interstellar medium in the red giant region comes from the normal giants, at a rate comparable to that of planetary nebulae.

Emission processes and dynamics of hot gases in astrophysics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chevalier, Roger A.; Sarazin, Craig L.

1991-01-01

A detailed model was developed for Kepler's supernova remnant (SNR). Observations of the SNR revealed a strong interaction with the surrounding circumstellar medium, which was studied through both analytical and numerical calculations. Effects were studied of electron thermal conduction on the structure of radiative interstellar shock waves. An explanation is sought for the observed line emission from metal rich ejecta in SNR, incorporating atomic data. Light echoes around SN 1987A was also studied. Analysis of infrared and scattered circumstellar light echoes was accomplished with early observations to set limits on the mass of circumstellar dust. Work was completed on the emission from heavy element gas ejected in the supernova explosion of massive stars. It was assumed that a radioactive energy source was present and calculated the detailed heating and ionization of the gas. The evolution was studied of SNR in the very high pressure environment of a starburst galaxy.

A hydrodynamical model of the circumstellar bubble created by two massive stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Marle, A. J.; Meliani, Z.; Marcowith, A.

2012-05-01

Context. Numerical models of the wind-blown bubble of massive stars usually only account for the wind of a single star. However, since massive stars are usually formed in clusters, it would be more realistic to follow the evolution of a bubble created by several stars. Aims: We develop a two-dimensional (2D) model of the circumstellar bubble created by two massive stars, a 40 M⊙ star and a 25 M⊙ star, and follow its evolution. The stars are separated by approximately 16 pc and surrounded by a cold medium with a density of 20 particles per cm3. Methods: We use the MPI-AMRVAC hydrodynamics code to solve the conservation equations of hydrodynamics on a 2D cylindrical grid using time-dependent models for the wind parameters of the two stars. At the end of the stellar evolution (4.5 and 7.0 million years for the 40 and 25 M⊙ stars, respectively), we simulate the supernova explosion of each star. Results: Each star initially creates its own bubble. However, as the bubbles expand they merge, creating a combined, aspherical bubble. The combined bubble evolves over time, influenced by the stellar winds and supernova explosions. Conclusions: The evolution of a wind-blown bubble created by two stars deviates from that of the bubbles around single stars. In particular, once one of the stars has exploded, the bubble is too large for the wind of the remaining star to maintain and the outer shell starts to disintegrate. The lack of thermal pressure inside the bubble also changes the behavior of circumstellar features close to the remaining star. The supernovae are contained inside the bubble, which reflects part of the energy back into the circumstellar medium. Movies are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

The circumstellar environment of the B[e] star GG Car: an interferometric modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Domiciano de Souza, A.; Borges Fernandes, M.; Carciofi, A. C.; Chesneau, O.

2015-01-01

The research of stars with the B[e] phenomenon is still in its infancy, with several unanswered questions. Physically realistic models that treat the formation and evolution of their complex circumstellar environments are rare. The code HDUST (developed by A. C. Carciofi and J. Bjorkman) is one of the few existing codes that provides a self-consistent treatment of the radiative transfer in a gaseous and dusty circumstellar environment seen around B[e] supergiant stars. In this work we used the HDUST code to study the circumstellar medium of the binary system GG Car, where the primary component is probably an evolved B[e] supergiant. This system also presents a disk (probably circumbinary), which is responsible for the molecular and dusty signatures seen in GG Car spectra. We obtained VLTI/MIDI data on GG~Car at eight baselines, which allowed to spatially resolve the gaseous and dusty circumstellar environment. From the interferometric visibilities and SED modeling with HDUST, we confirm the presence of a compact ring, where the hot dust lies. We also show that large grains can reproduce the lack of structure in the SED and visibilities across the silicate band. We conclude the dust condensation site is much closer to the star than previously thought. This result provides stringent constraints on future theories of grain formation and growth around hot stars.

VLTI Imaging of a High-Mass Protobinary System: Unveiling the Dynamical Processes in High-Mass Star Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraus, S.; Kluska, J.; Kreplin, A.; Bate, M.; Harries, T.; Hofmann, K.-H.; Hone, E.; Monnier, J.; Weigelt, G.; Anugu, N.; de Wit, W.-J..; Wittkowski, M.

2017-12-01

High-mass stars exhibit a significantly higher multiplicity frequency than low-mass stars, likely reflecting differences in how they formed. Theory suggests that high-mass binaries may form by the fragmentation of self-gravitational discs or by alternative scenarios such as disc-assisted capture. Near-infrared interferometric observations reveal the high-mass young stellar object IRAS 17216-3801 to be a close high-mass protobinary with a separation of 0.058 arcseconds ( 170 au). This is the closest high-mass protobinary system imaged to date. We also resolve near- infrared excess emission around the individual stars, which is associated with hot dust in circumstellar discs. These discs are strongly misaligned with respect to the binary separation vector, indicating that tidal forces have not yet had time to realign. We measure a higher accretion rate towards the circumsecondary disc, confirming a hydrodynamic effect where the secondary star disrupts the primary star’s accretion stream and effectively limits the mass that the primary star can accrete. NACO L'-band imaging may also have resolved the circumbinary disc that feeds the accretion onto the circumstellar discs. This discovery demonstrates the unique capabilities of the VLTI, creating exciting new opportunities to study the dynamical processes that govern the architecture of close multiple systems.

Shape and evolution of wind-blown bubbles of massive stars: on the effect of the interstellar magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Marle, A. J.; Meliani, Z.; Marcowith, A.

2015-12-01

Context. The winds of massive stars create large (>10 pc) bubbles around their progenitors. As these bubbles expand they encounter the interstellar coherent magnetic field which, depending on its strength, can influence the shape of the bubble. Aims: We wish to investigate if, and how much, the interstellar magnetic field can contribute to the shape of an expanding circumstellar bubble around a massive star. Methods: We use the MPI-AMRVAC code to make magneto-hydrodynamical simulations of bubbles, using a single star model, combined with several different field strengths: B = 5, 10, and 20 μG for the interstellar magnetic field. This covers the typical field strengths of the interstellar magnetic fields found in the galactic disk and bulge. Furthermore, we present two simulations that include both a 5 μG interstellar magnetic field and a warm (10 000 K) interstellar medium (ISM) and two different ISM densities to demonstrate how the magnetic field can combine with other external factors to influence the morphology of the circumstellar bubbles. Results: Our results show that low magnetic fields, as found in the galactic disk, inhibit the growth of the circumstellar bubbles in the direction perpendicular to the field. As a result, the bubbles become ovoid, rather than spherical. Strong interstellar fields, such as observed for the galactic bulge, can completely stop the expansion of the bubble in the direction perpendicular to the field, leading to the formation of a tube-like bubble. When combined with an ISM that is both warm and high density the bubble is greatly reduced in size, causing a dramatic change in the evolution of temporary features inside the bubble such as Wolf-Rayet ring nebulae. Conclusions: The magnetic field of the interstellar medium can affect the shape of circumstellar bubbles. This effect may have consequences for the shape and evolution of circumstellar nebulae and supernova remnants, which are formed within the main wind-blown bubble. Appendices and movies associated to Figs. A.1-A.12 are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Pulsational Pair-instability Model for Superluminous Supernova PTF12dam: Interaction and Radioactive Decay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tolstov, Alexey; Nomoto, Ken'ichi; Blinnikov, Sergei; Sorokina, Elena; Quimby, Robert; Baklanov, Petr

2017-02-01

Being a superluminous supernova, PTF12dam can be explained by a 56Ni-powered model, a magnetar-powered model, or an interaction model. We propose that PTF12dam is a pulsational pair-instability supernova, where the outer envelope of a progenitor is ejected during the pulsations. Thus, it is powered by a double energy source: radioactive decay of 56Ni and a radiative shock in a dense circumstellar medium. To describe multicolor light curves and spectra, we use radiation-hydrodynamics calculations of the STELLA code. We found that light curves are well described in the model with 40 M⊙ ejecta and 20-40 M⊙ circumstellar medium. The ejected 56Ni mass is about 6 M⊙, which results from explosive nucleosynthesis with large explosion energy (2-3) × 1052 erg. In comparison with alternative scenarios of pair-instability supernova and magnetar-powered supernova, in the interaction model, all the observed main photometric characteristics are well reproduced: multicolor light curves, color temperatures, and photospheric velocities.

Gas-Phase Ion Chemistry in Interstellar, Circumstellar, and Planetary Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demarais, Nicholas J.

In the last century, astronomers, physicists, and chemists have shown that the environments of space are complex. Although we have learned a great amount about the interstellar medium, circumstellar medium, and atmospheres of other planets and moons, many mysteries still remain unsolved. The cooperation of astronomers, modelers, and chemists has lead to the detection of over 180 molecules in the interstellar and circumstellar medium, and the evolution of the new scientific field of astrochemistry. Gas-phase ion chemistry can determine the stability of ions in these complex environments, provide chemical networks, and guide searches for new interstellar molecules. Using the flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube (FA-SIFT), we have characterized the reactions of positive and negative ions that are important in a variety of astrochemical environments. The detection of CF+ in photodissociation regions highlights the importance of fluorinated species in the interstellar medium. The viability of CF+ as a possible diffuse interstellar band (DIB) carrier is discussed as related to reactions with neutral molecules in various interstellar conditions; the reactions of CF+ with twenty-two molecules of interstellar relevance were investigated. The chemical reactions of HCNH+ with H2, CH 4, C2H2, and C2H4 were reexamined to provide insight into the overprediction of HCNH+ in Titan's ionosphere by current astrochemical models. In addition, this work suggests other chemical reactions that should be included in the current models to fully describe the destruction rates of HCNH+ in Titan's ionosphere. The reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) ions with H atoms and other small molecules were carried out to determine the stability of these species. In diffuse regions, where the photon flux is high, PAH cations are the dominant ionization state. This work continues our previous research to include PAHs of differing geometries as well as nitrogen-containing PAHs. Extension to larger PAH cations was made possible by the integration of the laser induced acoustic desorption (LIAD) source with the FA-SIFT. In addition, in dense environments, where the photon flux is low, anionic PAHs may exist. The detection of negative ions in the past 10 years has highlighted the importance of their inclusion in astrochemical models. We have investigated the chemistry of deprotonated PAHs with molecules of interstellar relevance to determine their chemical stability in dense regions of the interstellar and circumstellar medium. In addition to PAH anions, H- is an important species in dense interstellar environments. While the reaction of hydride anion has been recognized as a critical mechanism in the initial cooling immediately after the Big Bang, H- + H → H2 + e-, chemistry with neutral molecules was largely unknown. The chemistry of H- with various classes of organic molecules was investigated and conclusions are drawn based on reaction mechanisms.

Mapping Circumstellar Matter with Polarized Light: The Case of Supernova 2014J in M82

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yi; Wang, Lifan; Baade, Dietrich; Brown, Peter. J.; Cikota, Aleksandar; Cracraft, Misty; Höflich, Peter A.; Maund, Justyn R.; Patat, Ferdinando; Sparks, William B.; Spyromilio, Jason; Stevance, Heloise F.; Wang, Xiaofeng; Wheeler, J. Craig

2018-02-01

Optical polarimetry is an effective way of probing the environment of a supernova for dust. We acquired linear HST ACS/WFC polarimetry in bands F475W, F606W, and F775W of the supernova (SN) 2014J in M82 at six epochs from ∼277 days to ∼1181 days after the B-band maximum. The polarization measured at day 277 shows conspicuous deviations from other epochs. These differences can be attributed to at least ∼{10}-6 {M}ȯ of circumstellar dust located at a distance of ∼ 5× {10}17 {cm} from the SN. The scattering dust grains revealed by these observations seem to be aligned with the dust in the interstellar medium that is responsible for the large reddening toward the supernova. The presence of this circumstellar dust sets strong constraints on the progenitor system that led to the explosion of SN 2014J; however, it cannot discriminate between single- and double-degenerate models.

Point-source and diffuse high-energy neutrino emission from Type IIn supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petropoulou, M.; Coenders, S.; Vasilopoulos, G.; Kamble, A.; Sironi, L.

2017-09-01

Type IIn supernovae (SNe), a rare subclass of core collapse SNe, explode in dense circumstellar media that have been modified by the SNe progenitors at their last evolutionary stages. The interaction of the freely expanding SN ejecta with the circumstellar medium gives rise to a shock wave propagating in the dense SN environment, which may accelerate protons to multi-PeV energies. Inelastic proton-proton collisions between the shock-accelerated protons and those of the circumstellar medium lead to multimessenger signatures. Here, we evaluate the possible neutrino signal of Type IIn SNe and compare with IceCube observations. We employ a Monte Carlo method for the calculation of the diffuse neutrino emission from the SN IIn class to account for the spread in their properties. The cumulative neutrino emission is found to be ˜10 per cent of the observed IceCube neutrino flux above 60 TeV. Type IIn SNe would be the dominant component of the diffuse astrophysical flux, only if 4 per cent of all core collapse SNe were of this type and 20-30 per cent of the shock energy was channeled to accelerated protons. Lower values of the acceleration efficiency are accessible by the observation of a single Type IIn SN as a neutrino point source with IceCube using up-going muon neutrinos. Such an identification is possible in the first year following the SN shock breakout for sources within 20 Mpc.

HI emission from the red giant Y CVn with the VLA and FAST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoai, Do T.; Nhung, Pham T.; Matthews, Lynn D.; Gérard, Eric; Le Bertre, Thibaut

2017-07-01

Imaging studies with the Very Large Array (VLA) have revealed HI emission associated with the extended circumstellar shells of red giants. We analyze the spectral map obtained on Y CVn, a J-type carbon star on the Asymptotic Giant Branch. The HI line profiles can be interpreted with a model of a detached shell resulting from the interaction of a stellar outflow with the local interstellar medium. We reproduce the spectral map by introducing a distortion along a direction corresponding to the star’s motion in space. We then use this fitting to simulate observations expected from the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), and discuss its potential for improving our description of the outer regions of circumstellar shells.

Pulsational Pair-instability Model for Superluminous Supernova PTF12dam:Interaction and Radioactive Decay

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tolstov, Alexey; Nomoto, Ken’ichi; Blinnikov, Sergei

2017-02-01

Being a superluminous supernova, PTF12dam can be explained by a {sup 56}Ni-powered model, a magnetar-powered model, or an interaction model. We propose that PTF12dam is a pulsational pair-instability supernova, where the outer envelope of a progenitor is ejected during the pulsations. Thus, it is powered by a double energy source: radioactive decay of {sup 56}Ni and a radiative shock in a dense circumstellar medium. To describe multicolor light curves and spectra, we use radiation-hydrodynamics calculations of the STELLA code. We found that light curves are well described in the model with 40 M {sub ⊙} ejecta and 20–40 M {submore » ⊙} circumstellar medium. The ejected {sup 56}Ni mass is about 6 M {sub ⊙}, which results from explosive nucleosynthesis with large explosion energy (2–3)×10{sup 52} erg. In comparison with alternative scenarios of pair-instability supernova and magnetar-powered supernova, in the interaction model, all the observed main photometric characteristics are well reproduced: multicolor light curves, color temperatures, and photospheric velocities.« less

Interferometric observations of non-maser SiO emission from circumstellar envelopes of AGB stars - Acceleration regions and SiO depletion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sahai, Raghvendra; Bieging, John H.

1993-01-01

High- and medium-resolution images of SiO J = 2-1(V = 0) from the circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of three oxygen-rich stars, Chi Cyg, RX Boo, and IK Tau, were obtained. The SIO images were found to be roughly circular, implying that the CSEs are spherically symmetric on angular-size scales of about 3-9 arcsec. The observed angular half-maximum intensity source radius is nearly independent of the LSR velocity for all three CSEs. Chi Cyg and RX Boo are argued to be less than 450 pc distant, and have mass-loss rates larger than about 10 exp -6 solar mass/yr. In Chi Cyg and RX Boo, the line profiles at the peak of the brightness distribution are rounded, typical of optically-thick emission from a spherical envelope expanding with a constant velocity. In the IK Tau line profiles, an additional narrower central component is present, probably a result of emission from an inner circumstellar shell with a significantly smaller expansion velocity than the extended envelope.

Mass Accretion Processes in Young Stellar Objects: Role of Intense Flaring Activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orlando, Salvatore; Reale, Fabio; Peres, Giovanni; Mignone, Andrea

2014-11-01

According to the magnetospheric accretion scenario, young low-mass stars are surrounded by circumstellar disks which they interact with through accretion of mass. The accretion builds up the star to its final mass and is also believed to power the mass outflows, which may in turn have a signicant role in removing the excess angular momentum from the star-disk system. Although the process of mass accretion is a critical aspect of star formation, some of its mechanisms are still to be fully understood. On the other hand, strong flaring activity is a common feature of young stellar objects (YSOs). In the Sun, such events give rise to perturbations of the interplanetary medium. Similar but more energetic phenomena occur in YSOs and may influence the circumstellar environment. In fact, a recent study has shown that an intense flaring activity close to the disk may strongly perturb the stability of circumstellar disks, thus inducing mass accretion episodes (Orlando et al. 2011). Here we review the main results obtained in the field and the future perspectives.

Type IIP supernova light curves affected by the acceleration of red supergiant winds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moriya, Takashi J.; Förster, Francisco; Yoon, Sung-Chul; Gräfener, Götz; Blinnikov, Sergei I.

2018-05-01

We introduce the first synthetic light-curve model set of Type IIP supernovae exploded within circumstellar media in which the acceleration of the red supergiant winds is taken into account. Because wind acceleration makes the wind velocities near the progenitors low, the density of the immediate vicinity of the red supergiant supernova progenitors can be higher than that extrapolated by using a constant terminal wind velocity. Therefore, even if the mass-loss rate of the progenitor is relatively low, it can have a dense circumstellar medium at the immediate stellar vicinity and the early light curves of Type IIP supernovae are significantly affected by it. We adopt a simple β velocity law to formulate the wind acceleration. We provide bolometric and multicolour light curves of Type IIP supernovae exploding within such accelerated winds from the combinations of three progenitors, 12-16 M⊙; five β, 1-5; seven mass-loss rates, 10-5-10-2 M⊙ yr-1; and four explosion energies, (0.5-2) × 1051 erg. All the light-curve models are available at https://goo.gl/o5phYb. When the circumstellar density is sufficiently high, our models do not show a classical shock breakout as a consequence of the interaction with the dense and optically thick circumstellar media. Instead, they show a delayed `wind breakout', substantially affecting early light curves of Type IIP supernovae. We find that the mass-loss rates of the progenitors need to be 10-3-10-2 M⊙ yr-1 to explain typical rise times of 5-10 d in Type IIP supernovae assuming a dense circumstellar radius of 1015 cm.

Unveiling Deeply Embedded Sources by Near-Infrared Polarimetric Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Yongqiang; Ishii, Miki; Nagata, Tetsuya; Nakaya, Hidehiko; Sato, Shuji

2000-10-01

Near-infrared polarimetric images are presented for six molecular outflow sources: IRAS 20050+2720, IRAS 20126+4104, IRAS 20188+3928, S233, AFGL 5180, and AFGL 6366S. All the regions are found to exhibit reflection nebulae and to be associated with massive and clustered star formation. By inspecting polarimetric patterns in the nebulae, we have identified six deeply embedded sources (DESs) which illuminate circumstellar nebulosity but are not detectable in wavelengths shorter than 2 μm. While the DES in IRAS 20050 coincides with an infrared source in a previous, longer wavelength observation and the one in IRAS 20126 with a hot molecular core, the nature of the other newly discovered DESs is not known. From the compilation of the observations of DESs over a large wavelength range, we suspect that the DESs possess characteristics similar to hot molecular cores and are likely to be in the pre-ultracompact H II region phase of massive star formation.

X-ray emission from SN 2012ca: A Type Ia-CSM supernova explosion in a dense surrounding medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bochenek, Christopher D.; Dwarkadas, Vikram V.; Silverman, Jeffrey M.; Fox, Ori D.; Chevalier, Roger A.; Smith, Nathan; Filippenko, Alexei V.

2018-01-01

X-ray emission is one of the signposts of circumstellar interaction in supernovae (SNe), but until now, it has been observed only in core-collapse SNe. The level of thermal X-ray emission is a direct measure of the density of the circumstellar medium (CSM), and the absence of X-ray emission from Type Ia SNe has been interpreted as a sign of a very low density CSM. In this paper, we report late-time (500-800 d after discovery) X-ray detections of SN 2012ca in Chandra data. The presence of hydrogen in the initial spectrum led to a classification of Type Ia-CSM, ostensibly making it the first SN Ia detected with X-rays. Our analysis of the X-ray data favours an asymmetric medium, with a high-density component which supplies the X-ray emission. The data suggest a number density >108 cm-3 in the higher density medium, which is consistent with the large observed Balmer decrement if it arises from collisional excitation. This is high compared to most core-collapse SNe, but it may be consistent with densities suggested for some Type IIn or superluminous SNe. If SN 2012ca is a thermonuclear SN, the large CSM density could imply clumps in the wind, or a dense torus or disc, consistent with the single-degenerate channel. A remote possibility for a core-degenerate channel involves a white dwarf merging with the degenerate core of an asymptotic giant branch star shortly before the explosion, leading to a common envelope around the SN.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Heller, René; Albrecht, Simon, E-mail: rheller@physics.mcmaster.ca, E-mail: albrecht@phys.au.dk

We present two methods to determine an exomoon's sense of orbital motion (SOM), one with respect to the planet's circumstellar orbit and one with respect to the planetary rotation. Our simulations show that the required measurements will be possible with the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). The first method relies on mutual planet-moon events during stellar transits. Eclipses with the moon passing behind (in front of) the planet will be late (early) with regard to the moon's mean orbital period due to the finite speed of light. This ''transit timing dichotomy'' (TTD) determines an exomoon's SOM with respect to themore » circumstellar motion. For the 10 largest moons in the solar system, TTDs range between 2 and 12 s. The E-ELT will enable such measurements for Earth-sized moons around nearby Sun-like stars. The second method measures distortions in the IR spectrum of the rotating giant planet when it is transited by its moon. This Rossiter-McLaughlin effect (RME) in the planetary spectrum reveals the angle between the planetary equator and the moon's circumplanetary orbital plane, and therefore unveils the moon's SOM with respect to the planet's rotation. A reasonably large moon transiting a directly imaged planet like β Pic b causes an RME amplitude of almost 100 m s{sup –1}, about twice the stellar RME amplitude of the transiting exoplanet HD209458 b. Both new methods can be used to probe the origin of exomoons, that is, whether they are regular or irregular in nature.« less

ngVLA Key Science Goal 1: Unveiling the Formation of Solar System Analogues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shangfei; Ricci, Luca; Isella, Andrea; Li, Hui; Li, Shengtai

2018-01-01

The annular gaps and other substructures discovered in several protoplanetary disks by ALMA and optical/NIR telescopes are reminiscent of the interaction between newborn planets and the circumstellar material. The comparison with theoretical models indicates that these structures might indeed result from the gravitational interaction between the circumstellar disk and Saturn-mass planets orbiting at tens of AU from the parent star. The same observations also revealed that the submm-wave dust continuum emission arising within 10-30 AU from the star is optically thick. The large optical depth prevents us from accurately measuring the dust density and, therefore, image planet-driven density perturbations. A natural solution to this problem consists in imaging disks at wavelengths of 3mm and longer, where the dust continuum emission from the innermost disk regions is optically thin, but still bright enough to be detected. These wavelengths are covered by the VLA, which, however, lacks the angular resolution and sensitivity to efficiently search for signatures of planets orbiting in the innermost and densest disk regions. Thanks to its much larger collecting area, resolving power, and image quality the Next Generation VLA (ngVLA) will transform the study of planet formation. we present the results of a recent study aimed at investigating the potential of the ngVLA of discovering disk sub-structures, such as gaps and azimuthal asymmetries, generated by the interaction with low-mass forming planets at < 10 au from the star.

The highly luminous Type Ibn supernova ASASSN-14ms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vallely, P. J.; Prieto, J. L.; Stanek, K. Z.; Kochanek, C. S.; Sukhbold, T.; Bersier, D.; Brown, J. S.; Chen, P.; Dong, S.; Falco, E.; Berlind, P.; Calkins, M.; Koff, R. A.; Kiyota, S.; Brimacombe, J.; Shappee, B. J.; Holoien, T. W.-S.; Thompson, T. A.; Stritzinger, M. D.

2018-04-01

We present photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations of the highly luminous Type Ibn supernova ASASSN-14ms, which was discovered on UT 2014-12-26.61 at mV ˜ 16.5. With a peak absolute V-band magnitude brighter than -20.5, a peak bolometric luminosity of 1.7 × 1044 erg s-1, and a total radiated energy of 2.1 × 1050 erg, ASASSN-14ms is one of the most luminous Type Ibn supernovae yet discovered. In simple models, the most likely power source for this event is a combination of the radioactive decay of 56Ni and 56Co at late times and the interaction of supernova ejecta with the progenitor's circumstellar medium at early times, although we cannot rule out the possibility of a magnetar-powered light curve. The presence of a dense circumstellar medium is indicated by the intermediate-width He I features in the spectra. The faint (mg ˜ 21.6) host galaxy SDSS J130408.52+521846.4 has an oxygen abundance below 12 + log (O/H) ≲ 8.3, a stellar mass of M* ˜ 2.6 × 108 M⊙, and a star formation rate of SFR ˜ 0.02 M⊙ yr-1.

Explaining iPTF14hls as a common-envelope jets supernova

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soker, Noam; Gilkis, Avishai

2018-03-01

We propose a common-envelope jets supernova scenario for the enigmatic supernova iPTF14hls where a neutron star that spirals-in inside the envelope of a massive giant star accretes mass and launches jets that power the ejection of the circumstellar shell and a few weeks later the explosion itself. To account for the kinetic energy of the circumstellar gas and the explosion, the neutron star should accrete a mass of ≈0.3 M⊙. The tens× M⊙ of circumstellar gas that accounts for some absorption lines is ejected, while the neutron star orbits for about one to several weeks inside the envelope of the giant star. In the last hours of the interaction, the neutron star merges with the core, accretes mass, and launches jets that eject the core and the inner envelope to form the explosion itself and the medium where the supernova photosphere resides. The remaining neutron star accretes fallback gas and further powers the supernova. We attribute the 1954 pre-explosion outburst to an eccentric orbit and temporary mass accretion by the neutron star at periastron passage prior to the onset of the common envelope phase.

AN INFRARED DIFFUSE CIRCUMSTELLAR BAND? THE UNUSUAL 1.5272 μm DIB IN THE RED SQUARE NEBULA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zasowski, G.; Chojnowski, S. Drew; Whelan, D. G.

The molecular carriers of the ubiquitous absorption features called the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) have eluded identification for many decades, in part because of the enormous parameter space spanned by the candidates and the limited set of empirical constraints afforded by observations in the diffuse interstellar medium. Detection of these features in circumstellar regions, where the environmental properties are more easily measured, is thus a promising approach to understanding the chemical nature of the carriers themselves. Here, using high-resolution spectra from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment survey, we present an analysis of the unusually asymmetric 1.5272 μm DIBmore » feature along the sightline to the Red Square Nebula (RSN) and demonstrate the likely circumstellar origin of about half of the DIB absorption in this line of sight. This interpretation is supported both by the velocities of the feature components and by the ratio of foreground to total reddening along the line of sight. The RSN sightline offers the unique opportunity to study the behavior of DIB carriers in a constrained environment and thus to shed new light on the carriers themselves.« less

Modeling Type IIn Supernovae: Understanding How Shock Development Effects Light Curves Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De La Rosa, Janie

2016-06-01

Type IIn supernovae are produced when massive stars experience dramatic mass loss phases caused by opacity edges or violent explosions. Violent mass ejections occur quite often just prior to the collapse of the star. If the final episode happens just before collapse, the outward ejecta is sufficiently dense to alter the supernova light-curve, both by absorbing the initial supernova light and producing emission when the supernova shock hits the ejecta. Initially, the ejecta is driven by shock progating through the interior of the star, and eventually expands through the circumstellar medium, forming a cold dense shell. As the shock wave approaches the shell, there is an increase in UV and optical radiation at the location of the shock breakout. We have developed a suite of simple semi-analytical models in order to understand the relationship between our observations and the properties of the expanding SN ejecta. When we compare Type IIn observations to a set of modeled SNe, we begin to see the influence of initial explosion conditions on early UV light curve properties such as peak luminosities and decay rate.The fast rise and decay corresponds to the models representing a photosphere moving through the envelope, while the modeled light curves with a slower rise and decay rate are powered by 56Ni decay. However, in both of these cases, models that matched the luminosity were unable to match the low radii from the blackbody models. The effect of shock heating as the supernova material blasts through the circumstellar material can drastically alter the temperature and position of the photosphere. The new set of models redefine the initial modeling conditions to incorporate an outer shell-like structure, and include late-time shock heating from shocks produced as the supernova ejecta travels through the inhomogeneous circumstellar medium.

ASASSN-15no: the Supernova that plays hide-and-seek

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benetti, S.; Zampieri, L.; Pastorello, A.; Cappellaro, E.; Pumo, M. L.; Elias-Rosa, N.; Ochner, P.; Terreran, G.; Tomasella, L.; Taubenberger, S.; Turatto, M.; Morales-Garoffolo, A.; Harutyunyan, A.; Tartaglia, L.

2018-05-01

We report the results of our follow-up campaign of the peculiar supernova ASASSN-15no, based on optical data covering ˜300 d of its evolution. Initially the spectra show a pure blackbody continuum. After few days, the HeI λλ 5876 transition appears with a P-Cygni profile and an expansion velocity of about 8700 km s-1. Fifty days after maximum, the spectrum shows signs typically seen in interacting supernovae. A broad (FWHM ˜ 8000 km s-1) Hα becomes more prominent with time until ˜150 d after maximum and quickly declines later on. At these phases Hαstarts to show an intermediate component, which together with the blue pseudo-continuum are clues that the ejecta begin to interact with the circumstellar medium (CSM). The spectra at the latest phases look very similar to the nebular spectra of stripped-envelope SNe. The early part (the first 40 d after maximum) of the bolometric curve, which peaks at a luminosity intermediate between normal and superluminous supernovae, is well reproduced by a model in which the energy budget is essentially coming from ejecta recombination and 56Ni decay. From the model, we infer a mass of the ejecta Mej = 2.6 M⊙; an initial radius of the photosphere R0 = 2.1 × 1014 cm; and an explosion energy Eexpl = 0.8 × 1051 erg. A possible scenario involves a massive and extended H-poor shell lost by the progenitor star a few years before explosion. The shell is hit, heated, and accelerated by the supernova ejecta. The accelerated shell+ejecta rapidly dilutes, unveiling the unperturbed supernova spectrum below. The outer ejecta start to interact with a H-poor external CSM lost by the progenitor system about 9-90 yr before the explosion.

COMPUTING THE DUST DISTRIBUTION IN THE BOW SHOCK OF A FAST-MOVING, EVOLVED STAR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Van Marle, A. J.; Meliani, Z.; Keppens, R.

2011-06-20

We study the hydrodynamical behavior occurring in the turbulent interaction zone of a fast-moving red supergiant star, where the circumstellar and interstellar material collide. In this wind-interstellar-medium collision, the familiar bow shock, contact discontinuity, and wind termination shock morphology form, with localized instability development. Our model includes a detailed treatment of dust grains in the stellar wind and takes into account the drag forces between dust and gas. The dust is treated as pressureless gas components binned per grain size, for which we use 10 representative grain size bins. Our simulations allow us to deduce how dust grains of varyingmore » sizes become distributed throughout the circumstellar medium. We show that smaller dust grains (radius <0.045 {mu}m) tend to be strongly bound to the gas and therefore follow the gas density distribution closely, with intricate fine structure due to essentially hydrodynamical instabilities at the wind-related contact discontinuity. Larger grains which are more resistant to drag forces are shown to have their own unique dust distribution, with progressive deviations from the gas morphology. Specifically, small dust grains stay entirely within the zone bound by shocked wind material. The large grains are capable of leaving the shocked wind layer and can penetrate into the shocked or even unshocked interstellar medium. Depending on how the number of dust grains varies with grain size, this should leave a clear imprint in infrared observations of bow shocks of red supergiants and other evolved stars.« less

Millimeter wave studies of circumstellar chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tenenbaum, Emily Dale

2010-06-01

Millimeter wave studies of molecules in circumstellar envelopes and a planetary nebula have been conducted. Using the Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) of the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) on Mt. Graham, a comparative spectral survey from 215-285 GHz was carried out of the carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch star IRC +10216 and the oxygen-rich supergiant VY Canis Majoris. A total of 858 emission lines were observed in both objects, arising from 40 different molecules. In VY Canis Majoris, AlO, AlOH, and PO were detected for the first time in interstellar space. In IRC +10216, PH3 was detected for the first time beyond the solar system, and C3O, and CH2NH were found for the first time in a circumstellar envelope. Additionally, in the evolved planetary nebula, the Helix, H2CO, C2H, and cyclic-C3H2 were observed using the SMT and the Kitt Peak 12 m telescopes. The presence of these three molecules in the Helix suggests that relatively complex chemistry occurs in planetary nebulae, despite the harsh ultraviolet field. Overall, the research on molecules in circumstellar and planetary nebulae furthers our understanding of the nature of the material that is fed back into the interstellar medium from evolved stars. Besides telescope work, laboratory research was also conducted -- the rotational spectrum of ZnCl was measured and its bond length and rotational constants were determined. Lastly, in partial fulfillment of a graduate certificate in entrepreneurial chemistry, the commercial applications of terahertz spectroscopy were explored through literature research.

Circumstellar Interaction in Supernovae in Dense Environments—An Observational Perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandra, Poonam

2018-02-01

In a supernova explosion, the ejecta interacting with the surrounding circumstellar medium (CSM) give rise to variety of radiation. Since CSM is created from the mass loss from the progenitor, it carries footprints of the late time evolution of the star. This is one of the unique ways to get a handle on the nature of the progenitor system. Here, I will focus mainly on the supernovae (SNe) exploding in dense environments, a.k.a. Type IIn SNe. Radio and X-ray emission from this class of SNe have revealed important modifications in their radiation properties, due to the presence of high density CSM. Forward shock dominance in the X-ray emission, internal free-free absorption of the radio emission, episodic or non-steady mass loss rate, and asymmetry in the explosion seem to be common properties of this class of SNe.

DDT_ldecin_2: Unraveling the enigmatic nature of the turbulent interaction zone between the circumstellar and interstellar medium around the well-known supergiant Beteleuse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Decin, L.

2011-01-01

Evolved stars are the birthplaces of the interstellar gas and solid dust particles. Such stars lose mass through a stellar wind, which is slow and dusty for cool giants and supergiants, or through impressive supernova explo- sions. However, recent observations with the PACS and SPIRE photometers reveal that the encounter between these slow and dusty winds and the interstellar medium is as spectacular as supernova explosions: multiple arcs, bar-like structures and different kind of instabilities (Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz) are detected. The most outstanding example concerns the well-known supergiant Betelgeuse. However, with the current set of Herschel observations, it is impossible to dene the exact physical mechanism causing the observed infrared emission. We propose to obtain PACS [O I] and HIFI [C II] spectroscopic observations at different pointings in the turbulent wind interaction zone around Betelgeuse. The proposed DDT observations would only take 3.1 hr and would give the astronomical community the rst possibility to study spectroscopically the different dynam- ical and chemical processes partaking in the interaction zone between circumstellar and interstellar material. The derived spectroscopic information will be valuable to the whole community in preparation of OT2.

RADIO TRANSIENTS FROM ACCRETION-INDUCED COLLAPSE OF WHITE DWARFS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moriya, Takashi J., E-mail: takashi.moriya@nao.ac.jp

2016-10-20

We investigate observational properties of accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of white dwarfs (WDs) in radio frequencies. If AIC is triggered by accretion from a companion star, a dense circumstellar medium can be formed around the progenitor system. Then, the ejecta from AIC collide with the dense circumstellar medium, creating a strong shock. The strong shock can produce synchrotron emission that can be observed in radio frequencies. Even if AIC occurs as a result of WD mergers, we argue that AIC may cause fast radio bursts (FRBs) if a certain condition is satisfied. If AIC forms neutron stars (NSs) that are somore » massive that rotation is required to support themselves (i.e., supramassive NSs), the supramassive NSs may immediately lose their rotational energy by the r-mode instability and collapse to black holes. If the collapsing supramassive NSs are strongly magnetized, they may emit FRBs, as previously proposed. The AIC radio transients from single-degenerate systems may be detected in future radio transient surveys like the Very Large Array Sky Survey or the Square Kilometer Array transient survey. Because AIC has been proposed as a source of gravitational waves (GWs), GWs from AIC may be accompanied by radio-bright transients that can be used to confirm the AIC origin of observed GWs.« less

A search for circumstellar material around pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phillips, J. A.; Chandler, C. J.

1994-01-01

We have searched for thermal dust emission from circumstellar disks around five neutron stars using the Owens Valley millimeter array at 99 GHz and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope at 380 GHz. Two of the neutron stars (PSR 0950+08 and 1133+16) are nearby isolated pulsars with characteristic ages 106 to 107 yr. The remaining three (PSR 1257+12, 1534+12, and 1937+21) are old millisecond pulsars with ages in the range 108 to 109 yr. None of the pulsars was detected above the noise, giving 2 sigma limits on the mass of disk material of approximately 10-2 solar mass if their disks are similar to those around pre-main-sequence stars. We discuss mechanisms for clearing dust grains from circumpulsar disks. We show that dust particles orbiting a neutron star lose angular momentum due to the ram pressure of the interstellar medium, which is approximately 104 times stronger for pulsars than for normal stars because of their high space velocity. For a pulsar moving at 100 km/s through an ambient medium with number density n approximately 1/cu cm, dust grains 0.1 micrometer(s) in size spiral into the star in approximately 106 years. This mechanism is more effective at clearing grains than the Poynting-Robertson effect and may limit the detectability of disks around old neutron stars.

Hubble Space Telescope STIS Observations of the Wolf-Rayet Star HD 5980 in the Small Magellanic Cloud. II. The Interstellar Medium Components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koenigsberger, Gloria; Georgiev, Leonid; Peimbert, Manuel; Walborn, Nolan R.; Barbá, Rodolfo; Niemela, Virpi S.; Morrell, Nidia; Tsvetanov, Zlatan; Schulte-Ladbeck, Regina

2001-01-01

Observations of the interstellar and circumstellar absorption components obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) along the line of sight toward the Wolf-Rayet-luminous blue variable (LBV) system HD 5980 in the Small Magellanic Cloud are analyzed. Velocity components from C I, C I*, C II, C II*, C IV, N I, N V, O I, Mg II, Al II, Si II, Si II*, Si III, Si IV, S II, S III, Fe II, Ni II, Be I, Cl I, and CO are identified, and column densities estimated. The principal velocity systems in our data are (1) interstellar medium (ISM) components in the Galactic disk and halo (Vhel=1.1+/-3, 9+/-2 km s-1) (2) ISM components in the SMC (Vhel=+87+/-6, +110+/-6, +132+/-6, +158+/-8, +203+/-15 km s-1) (3) SMC supernova remnant SNR 0057-7226 components (Vhel=+312+/-3, +343+/-3, +33, +64 km s-1) (4) circumstellar (CS) velocity systems (Vhel=-1020, -840, -630, -530, -300 km s-1) and (5) a possible system at -53+/-5 km s-1 (seen only in some of the Si II lines and marginally in Fe II) of uncertain origin. The supernova remnant SNR 0057-7226 has a systemic velocity of +188 km s-1, suggesting that its progenitor was a member of the NGC 346 cluster. Our data allow estimates to be made of Te~40,000 K, ne~100 cm-3, N(H)~(4-12)×1018 cm-2 and a total mass between 400 and 1000 Msolar for the supernova remnant (SNR) shell. We detect C I absorption lines primarily in the +132 and +158 km s-1 SMC velocity systems. As a result of the LBV-type eruptions in HD 5980, a fast-wind/slow-wind circumstellar interaction region has appeared, constituting the earliest formation stages of a windblown H II bubble surrounding this system. Variations over a timescale of 1 year in this circumstellar structure are detected. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

Models of the circumstellar medium of evolving, massive runaway stars moving through the Galactic plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, D. M.-A.; Mackey, J.; Langer, N.; Gvaramadze, V. V.; Mignone, A.; Izzard, R. G.; Kaper, L.

2014-11-01

At least 5 per cent of the massive stars are moving supersonically through the interstellar medium (ISM) and are expected to produce a stellar wind bow shock. We explore how the mass-loss and space velocity of massive runaway stars affect the morphology of their bow shocks. We run two-dimensional axisymmetric hydrodynamical simulations following the evolution of the circumstellar medium of these stars in the Galactic plane from the main sequence to the red supergiant phase. We find that thermal conduction is an important process governing the shape, size and structure of the bow shocks around hot stars, and that they have an optical luminosity mainly produced by forbidden lines, e.g. [O III]. The Hα emission of the bow shocks around hot stars originates from near their contact discontinuity. The Hα emission of bow shocks around cool stars originates from their forward shock, and is too faint to be observed for the bow shocks that we simulate. The emission of optically thin radiation mainly comes from the shocked ISM material. All bow shock models are brighter in the infrared, i.e. the infrared is the most appropriate waveband to search for bow shocks. Our study suggests that the infrared emission comes from near the contact discontinuity for bow shocks of hot stars and from the inner region of shocked wind for bow shocks around cool stars. We predict that, in the Galactic plane, the brightest, i.e. the most easily detectable bow shocks are produced by high-mass stars moving with small space velocities.

Optical spectroscopy of the Be/X-ray binary V850 Centauri/GX 304-1 during faint X-ray periodical activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malacaria, C.; Kollatschny, W.; Whelan, E.; Santangelo, A.; Klochkov, D.; McBride, V.; Ducci, L.

2017-07-01

Context. Be/X-ray binaries (BeXRBs) are the most populous class of high-mass X-ray binaries. Their X-ray duty cycle is tightly related to the optical companion wind activity, which in turn can be studied through dedicated optical spectroscopic observations. Aims: We study optical spectral features of the Be circumstellar disk to test their long-term variability and their relation with the X-ray activity. Special attention has been given to the Hα emission line, one of the best tracers of the disk conditions. Methods: We obtained optical broadband medium resolution spectra from a dedicated campaign with the Anglo-Australian Telescope and the Southern African Large Telescope in 2014-2015. Data span over one entire binary orbit, and cover both X-ray quiescent and moderately active periods. We used Balmer emission lines to follow the evolution of the circumstellar disk. Results: We observe prominent spectral features, like double-peaked Hα and Hβ emission lines. The HαV/R ratio significantly changes over a timescale of about one year. Our observations are consistent with a system observed at a large inclination angle (I ≳ 60°). The derived circumstellar disk size shows that the disk evolves from a configuration that prevents accretion onto the neutron star, to one that allows only moderate accretion. This is in agreement with the contemporary observed X-ray activity. Our results are interpreted within the context of inefficient tidal truncation of the circumstellar disk, as expected for this source's binary configuration. We derived the Hβ-emitting region size, which is equal to about half of the corresponding Hα-emitting disk, and constrain the luminosity class of V850 Cen as III-V, consistent with the previously proposed class.

SN 2005ip: A Luminous Type IIn Supernova Emerging from a Dense Circumstellar Medium as Revealed by X-Ray Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katsuda, Satoru; Maeda, Keiichi; Nozawa, Takaya; Pooley, David; Immler, Stefan

2014-01-01

We report on the X-ray spectral evolution of the nearby Type IIn supernova (SN) 2005ip based on Chandra and Swift observations covering ~1-6 yr after explosion. X-ray spectra in all epochs are well fitted by a thermal emission model with kT >~ 7 keV. The somewhat high temperature suggests that the X-ray emission mainly arises from the circumstellar medium (CSM) heated by the forward shock. We find that the spectra taken two to three years after the explosion are heavily absorbed (N H ~ 5 × 1022 cm-2), but the absorption gradually decreases to the level of the Galactic absorption (N H ~ 4 × 1020 cm-2) at the final epoch. This indicates that the SN went off in a dense CSM and that the forward shock has overtaken it. The intrinsic X-ray luminosity stays constant until the final epoch, when it drops by a factor of ~2. The intrinsic 0.2-10 keV luminosity during the plateau phase is measured to be ~1.5 × 1041 erg s-1, ranking SN 2005ip as one of the brightest X-ray SNe. Based on the column density, we derive a lower limit of a mass-loss rate to be \\dot{M}˜ 1.5× 10-2 (Vw /100 km s-1) M ⊙ yr-1, which roughly agrees with that inferred from the X-ray luminosity, \\dot{M}˜ 2× 10-2 (Vw /100 km s-1) M ⊙ yr-1, where Vw is the circumstellar wind speed. Such a high mass-loss rate suggests that the progenitor star had eruptive mass ejections similar to a luminous blue variable star. The total mass ejected in the eruptive period is estimated to be ~15 M ⊙, indicating that the progenitor mass is >~ 25 M ⊙.

Diamonds in dense molecular clouds - A challenge to the standard interstellar medium paradigm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allamandola, L. J.; Sandford, S. A.; Tielens, A. G. G. M.; Herbst, T. M.

1993-01-01

Observations of a newly discovered infrared C-H stretching band indicate that interstellar diamond-like material appears to be characteristic of dense clouds. In sharp contrast, the spectral signature of dust in the diffuse interstellar medium is dominated by -CH2- and -CH3 groups. This dichotomy in the aliphatic organic component between the dense and diffuse media challenges standard assumptions about the processes occurring in, and interactions between, these two media. The ubiquity of this interstellar diamond-like material rules out models for meteoritic diamond formation in unusual circumstellar environments and implies that the formation of the diamond-like material is associated with common interstellar processes or stellar types.

Molecules as diagnostic tools in the interstellar medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spielfiedel, A.; Feautrier, N.; Balança, C.; Dayou, F.; Lique, F.; Senent, M.-L.

Analysis of light emission from different regions of the interstellar medium and circumstellar environments provides crucial information about the chemical composition and the physical conditions in these regions. Interpretation of the observed spectra requires the knowledge of collisional excitation rates as well as radiative rates participating to the line formation. In the first part, the paper focuses on collisional excitation rates of molecules relevant to the interstellar medium. It discusses currently available data and outlines new work carried out by the authors. Due to the use of accurate ab initio potential energy surfaces, the new rate coefficients differ significantly from previously published ones. In the second part, it is analysed from two examples how the use of the new rate coefficients could lead to important changes in the interpretation of molecular emission emerging from molecular clouds.

Interstellar and Planetary Analogs in the Laboratory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salama, Farid

2013-01-01

We present and discuss the unique capabilities of the laboratory facility, COSmIC, that was developed at NASA Ames to investigate the interaction of ionizing radiation (UV, charged particles) with molecular species (neutral molecules, radicals and ions) and carbonaceous grains in the Solar System and in the Interstellar Medium (ISM). COSmIC stands for Cosmic Simulation Chamber, a laboratory chamber where interstellar and planetary analogs are generated, processed and analyzed. It is composed of a pulsed discharge nozzle (PDN) expansion that generates a free jet supersonic expansion in a plasma cavity coupled to two ultrahigh-sensitivity, complementary in situ diagnostics: a cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) system for photonic detection and a Reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ReTOF-MS) for mass detection. This setup allows the study of molecules, ions and solids under the low temperature and high vacuum conditions that are required to simulate some interstellar, circumstellar and planetary physical environments providing new fundamental insights on the molecular level into the processes that are critical to the chemistry in the ISM, circumstellar and planet forming regions, and on icy objects in the Solar System. Recent laboratory results that were obtained using COSmIC will be discussed, in particular the progress that have been achieved in monitoring in the laboratory the formation of solid particles from their gas-phase molecular precursors in environments as varied as circumstellar outflow and planetary atmospheres.

A Multiple Ejecta-circumstellar Medium Interaction Model and Its Implications for Superluminous Supernovae iPTF15esb and iPTF13dcc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Liang-Duan; Wang, Ling-Jun; Wang, Shan-Qin; Dai, Zi-Gao

2018-03-01

In this paper, we investigate two hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe), iPTF15esb and iPTF13dcc, whose light curves (LCs) show significant deviation from the smooth rise and fall. The LC of iPTF15esb exhibits two peaks and a post-peak plateau, and furthermore the late-time spectrum of iPTF15esb shows a strong, broad Hα emission line. The early-time LC of iPTF13dcc shows a long-duration bump followed by the second peak. Here, we propose an ejecta-circumstellar medium interaction model involving multiple shells/winds and use it to explain the LCs of iPTF15esb and iPTF13dcc. We find that the theoretical LCs reproduced by this model can match observations of iPTF15esb and iPTF13dcc. Based on our results, we infer that the progenitors have undergone multiple violent mass-loss processes before the SN explosion. In addition, we find that the variation trend of our inferred densities of the shells is consistent with that predicted by the stellar mass-loss history before an SN explosion. Further investigations for other bumpy SLSNe/SNe would shed light on their nature and provide a probe for the mass-loss history of their progenitors.

Looking Forward: Rethinking the National Education Reform Blueprint with the Contributing Authors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Yimin; Ross, Heidi

2013-01-01

This article concludes the two issues on the College Entrance Examination (CEE) in which the contributing authors were invited to take part in a moderated discussion of their opinions on a newly unveiled national policy document titled "Blueprint for Medium and Long-Term National Education Reform and Development (2010-0)" (hereafter, the…

Purcell effect at the percolation transition

DOE PAGES

Szilard, Daniela; Kort-Kamp, Wilton Junior de Melo; Rosa, Felipe S. S.; ...

2016-10-01

Here, we investigate the spontaneous emission rate of a two-level quantum emitter next to a composite medium made of randomly distributed metallic inclusions embedded in a dielectric host matrix. In the near field, the Purcell factor can be enhanced by two orders of magnitude relative to the case of a homogeneous metallic medium and reaches its maximum precisely at the insulator-metal transition. By unveiling the role of the decay pathways in the emitter's lifetime, we demonstrate that, close to the percolation threshold, the radiation emission process is dictated by electromagnetic absorption in the heterogeneous medium. We show that our findingsmore » are robust against change in material properties and shape of inclusions and apply for different effective-medium theories as well as for a wide range of transition frequencies.« less

A high-resolution radio image of a young supernova

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bartel, N.; Rupen, M. P.; Shapiro, I. I.; Preston, R. A.; Rius, A.

1991-01-01

A VLBI radio images of the bright supernova 1986J, which occurred in the galaxy NGC891 at a distance of about 12 Mpc, is presented. No detailed image of any supernova or remnant has been obtained before so soon after the explosion. The image shows a shell of emission with jetlike protrusions. Analysis of the images should advance understanding of the dynamics of the expanding debris, the dissipation of energy into the surrounding circumstellar medium, and the evolution of the supernova into the remnant.

Near-infrared spectroscopy of the proto-planetary nebula CRL 618 and the origin of the hydrocarbon dust component in the interstellar medium.

PubMed

Chiar, J E; Pendleton, Y J; Geballe, T R; Tielens, A G

1998-11-01

A new 2.8-3.8 micrometers spectrum of the carbon-rich protoplanetary nebula CRL 618 confirms the previous detection of a circumstellar 3.4 micrometers absorption feature in this object (Lequeux & Jourdain de Muizon). The high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio of our spectrum allow us to derive the detailed profile of this absorption feature, which is very similar to that observed in the spectrum of the Galactic center and also resembles the strong 3.4 micrometers emission feature in some post-asymptotic giant branch stars. A weak 3.3 micrometers unidentified infrared band, marginally detected in the CRL 618 spectrum of Lequeux & Jourdain de Muizon, is present in our spectrum. The existence of the 3.4 micrometers feature implies the presence of relatively short-chained, aliphatic hydrocarbon materials (-CH2-/-CH3 approximately = 2-2.5) in the circumstellar environment around CRL 618. It also implies that the carriers of the interstellar 3.4 micrometers feature are produced at least in part in circumstellar material, and it calls into question whether any are produced by the processing of interstellar ices in dense interstellar clouds, as has been previously proposed. Other features in the spectrum are recombination lines of hydrogen, rotational and vibration-rotation lines of molecular hydrogen, and a broad absorption probably due to a blend of HCN and C2H2 bands.

Infrared Spectroscopy of the Dust in Comets and Relationships to Interstellar Dust

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanner, Martha S.

2003-01-01

Infrared spectroscopy of the dust in comets reveals a complex mix of silicate materials, including both crystalline and non-crystalline components of both olivine (forsterite) and pyroxene composition. These various components do not necessarily share a common origin. Since comets formed in cold regions of the solar nebula, pre-solar grains in the nebula could have been accreted into comets with little alteration. Some of the cometary silicates may be of circumstellar (formed in circumstellar outflows of evolved stars) or interstellar (formed in dense region of the interstellar medium) origin. Spectral similarities to both circumstellar and interstellar silicates are seen in comet spectra. the short-period Kuiper Belt comets) show weak or no spectral features. The lack of features is generally explained as a particle size effect: the small silicate grains are embedded in larger, optically thick particles. However, compositional differences cannot be ruled out. For example, no unambiguous signature of forsterite has yet been seen in the spectrum of a short-period comet. Thus, the Stardust sample from short-period comet P/Wild 2 will be extremely valuable. Not only grain by grain composition and isotopic ratios but also grain morphology, irradiation history, and evidence of organic refractory mantles are important for understanding their origin. The relative abundance and distinguishing characteristics of the various crystalline and non-crystalline silicate components needs to be established. While some comets, such as Hale-Bopp, display a rich infrared spectrum, others (particularly

Near-infrared spectroscopy of the proto-planetary nebula CRL 618 and the origin of the hydrocarbon dust component in the interstellar medium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chiar, J. E.; Pendleton, Y. J.; Geballe, T. R.; Tielens, A. G.

1998-01-01

A new 2.8-3.8 micrometers spectrum of the carbon-rich protoplanetary nebula CRL 618 confirms the previous detection of a circumstellar 3.4 micrometers absorption feature in this object (Lequeux & Jourdain de Muizon). The high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio of our spectrum allow us to derive the detailed profile of this absorption feature, which is very similar to that observed in the spectrum of the Galactic center and also resembles the strong 3.4 micrometers emission feature in some post-asymptotic giant branch stars. A weak 3.3 micrometers unidentified infrared band, marginally detected in the CRL 618 spectrum of Lequeux & Jourdain de Muizon, is present in our spectrum. The existence of the 3.4 micrometers feature implies the presence of relatively short-chained, aliphatic hydrocarbon materials (-CH2-/-CH3 approximately = 2-2.5) in the circumstellar environment around CRL 618. It also implies that the carriers of the interstellar 3.4 micrometers feature are produced at least in part in circumstellar material, and it calls into question whether any are produced by the processing of interstellar ices in dense interstellar clouds, as has been previously proposed. Other features in the spectrum are recombination lines of hydrogen, rotational and vibration-rotation lines of molecular hydrogen, and a broad absorption probably due to a blend of HCN and C2H2 bands.

SIMULATIONS OF THE SYMBIOTIC RECURRENT NOVA V407 CYG. I. ACCRETION AND SHOCK EVOLUTIONS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pan, Kuo-Chuan; Ricker, Paul M.; Taam, Ronald E., E-mail: kuo-chuan.pan@unibas.ch, E-mail: pmricker@illinois.edu, E-mail: r-taam@northwestern.edu, E-mail: taam@asiaa.sinica.edu.tw

2015-06-10

The shock interaction and evolution of nova ejecta with wind from a red giant (RG) star in a symbiotic binary system are investigated via three-dimensional hydrodynamics simulations. We specifically model the 2010 March outburst of the symbiotic recurrent nova V407 Cygni from its quiescent phase to its eruption phase. The circumstellar density enhancement due to wind–white-dwarf interaction is studied in detail. It is found that the density-enhancement efficiency depends on the ratio of the orbital speed to the RG wind speed. Unlike another recurrent nova, RS Ophiuchi, we do not observe a strong disk-like density enhancement, but instead observe anmore » aspherical density distribution with ∼20% higher density in the equatorial plane than at the poles. To model the 2010 outburst, we consider several physical parameters, including the RG mass-loss rate, nova eruption energy, and ejecta mass. A detailed study of the shock interaction and evolution reveals that the interaction of shocks with the RG wind generates strong Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities. In addition, the presence of the companion and circumstellar density enhancement greatly alter the shock evolution during the nova phase. Depending on the model, the ejecta speed after sweeping out most of the circumstellar medium decreases to ∼100–300 km s{sup −1}, which is consistent with the observed extended redward emission in [N ii] lines in 2011 April.« less

Constraining the Origin and Heating Mechanism of Dust in Type IIn Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, Ori; Skrutskie, Michael; Chevalier, Roger; Moseley, Samuel Harvey

2011-05-01

More than any other supernova subclass, Type IIn supernovae tend to exhibit late-time (>100 days) infrared emission from warm dust. Identifying the origin and heating mechanism of the dust provides an important probe of the supernova explosion, circumstellar environment, and progenitor system. Yet mid-infrared observations, which span the peak of the thermal emission, are rare. Two years ago, we executed a warm Spitzer survey (P60122) of sixty-eight Type IIn events from the past ten years. The survey uncovered nine supernovae with unreported late-time infrared excesses, in some cases more than 5 years post-explosion. From this single epoch of data, and ground-based optical data, we have determined the likely origin of the mid-infrared emission to be pre-existing dust that is continuously heated by optical emission generated by ongoing circumstellar interaction between the forward shock and circumstellar medium. Furthermore, we noticed an emerging trend suggests these supernovae ``turn off'' at ~1000-2000 days post-discovery once the forward shock overruns the dust shell. Now is the ideal time to build upon this work with a second epoch of observations, which will be necessary to constrain our models. If we catch even a single supernova turning off between the first and second epochs of observation, we will be able to both measure the size of the circumstellar dust shell and characterize of the supernova progenitor system. We can obtain all the necessary data in only 9.3 hours of observation. Our team has extensive experience in infrared supernovae observations. We have already published two papers on one Type IIn supernovae (SN 2005ip) and authored two successful proposal for Spitzer observations of this subclass. This is an ideal application for the Spitzer warm mission, as the 3.6 and 4.5 micron bands span the peak of the thermal emission and provide the necessary constraints on the dust temperature, mass, and luminosity.

New Evidence for Mass Loss from δ Cephei from H I 21 cm Line Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matthews, L. D.; Marengo, M.; Evans, N. R.; Bono, G.

2012-01-01

Recently published Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the classical Cepheid archetype δ Cephei revealed an extended dusty nebula surrounding this star and its hot companion HD 213307. At far-infrared wavelengths, the emission resembles a bow shock aligned with the direction of space motion of the star, indicating that δ Cephei is undergoing mass loss through a stellar wind. Here we report H I 21 cm line observations with the Very Large Array (VLA) to search for neutral atomic hydrogen associated with this wind. Our VLA data reveal a spatially extended H I nebula (~13' or 1 pc across) surrounding the position of δ Cephei. The nebula has a head-tail morphology, consistent with circumstellar ejecta shaped by the interaction between a stellar wind and the interstellar medium (ISM). We directly measure a mass of circumstellar atomic hydrogen M_H I ≈ 0.07 M_{⊙}, although the total H I mass may be larger, depending on the fraction of circumstellar material that is hidden by Galactic contamination within our band or that is present on angular scales too large to be detected by the VLA. It appears that the bulk of the circumstellar gas has originated directly from the star, although it may be augmented by material swept from the surrounding ISM. The H I data are consistent with a stellar wind with an outflow velocity V o = 35.6 ± 1.2 km s-1 and a mass-loss rate of {\\dot{M}}≈ (1.0+/- 0.8)× 10^{-6} M_{⊙} yr-1. We have computed theoretical evolutionary tracks that include mass loss across the instability strip and show that a mass-loss rate of this magnitude, sustained over the preceding Cepheid lifetime of δ Cephei, could be sufficient to resolve a significant fraction of the discrepancy between the pulsation and evolutionary masses for this star.

Mid-Infrared Signatures from Type Ia Supernovae Strongly Interacting with a Circumstellar Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, Ori

2015-10-01

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are well-known for their use as precise cosmological distance indicators due to a standardizable peak luminosity resulting from a thermonuclear explosion. A growing subset of SNe Ia, however, show evidence for interaction with a dense circumstellar medium during the first year post-explosion, and sometimes longer (SNe Ia-CSM). The origin of this dense CSM is unknown and suggests either a) the less typical single-degenerate progenitor scenario must be considered or b) the exploding star was not a thermonuclear explosion of a white dwarf at all (i.e., core-collapse). Mid-infrared (IR) observations, in particular, are critical for tracing the density profile of dust (and hence gas) in the surrounding CSM. Yet no Spitzer light curve exists for this subclass within the first year post-expolosion. Here we propose a 'low-impact' (>8 weeks) ToO to obtain 3 epochs of Spitzer imaging of a SN Ia-CSM within 100 Mpc over 1 year post-explosion. The strength of this program is that it will be in conjunction with pre-approved multi-wavelength programs on HST/STIS/UV (GO 13649), Chandra/ASIS-S (Num: 17500672), the Keck/LRIS optical spectrograph (Num: U037LA), and the RATIR visible/infrared robotic imager. Requiring only 2.1 hours of observation total, this program will not only distinguish between the SN explosion mechanisms, but also trace CSM interaction, constrain the progenitor mass loss history, and identify late-time heating mechanisms of warm dust.

EXTINCTION LAWS TOWARD STELLAR SOURCES WITHIN A DUSTY CIRCUMSTELLAR MEDIUM AND IMPLICATIONS FOR TYPE IA SUPERNOVAE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nagao, Takashi; Maeda, Keiichi; Nozawa, Takaya, E-mail: nagao@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Many astronomical objects are surrounded by dusty environments. In such dusty objects, multiple scattering processes of photons by circumstellar (CS) dust grains can effectively alter extinction properties. In this paper, we systematically investigate the effects of multiple scattering on extinction laws for steady-emission sources surrounded by the dusty CS medium using a radiation transfer simulation based on the Monte Carlo technique. In particular, we focus on whether and how the extinction properties are affected by properties of CS dust grains by adopting various dust grain models. We confirm that behaviors of the (effective) extinction laws are highly dependent on themore » properties of CS grains, especially the total-to-selective extinction ratio R{sub V}, which characterizes the extinction law and can be either increased or decreased and compared with the case without multiple scattering. We find that the criterion for this behavior is given by a ratio of albedos in the B and V bands. We also find that either small silicate grains or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are necessary for realizing a low value of R{sub V} as often measured toward SNe Ia if the multiple scattering by CS dust is responsible for their non-standard extinction laws. Using the derived relations between the properties of dust grains and the resulting effective extinction laws, we propose that the extinction laws toward dusty objects could be used to constrain the properties of dust grains in CS environments.« less

Recalescence during crystallization of stardust: Resolution of the amorphous interstellar medium paradox

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whittington, A. G.; Sehlke, A.; Speck, A. K.

2017-12-01

Dust that coalesces to form planetary systems originates around dying stars, before passing into the interstellar medium (ISM). Historically, observations of broad smooth features in the 10-µm region suggested that dust in circumstellar regions, and in the ISM, was mostly amorphous rather than crystalline. With improved space telescope capabilities, crystalline silicates were discovered in the circumstellar regions around both young and old stars, although they remain undetected in the ISM. Despite intensive study the precise conditions that lead to the formation of crystalline silicates are still unknown, and their absence in the ISM remains problematic. Here we show that recalescence (spontaneous reheating) of rapidly crystallizing dust can explain the formation and apparent disappearance of crystalline silicates in space. We have documented recalescence in rapidly crystallizing Mg-rich silicate melts, with local heating at the crystallization front exceeding 160˚C in some cases. In circumstellar dust shells, amorphous grains with similar compositions condense at temperatures near their glass transition, and if they crystallize, they will recalesce. The higher temperature (T) of newly crystallized dust allows crystalline spectral features to be seen, because flux emitted depends on T4. After cooling to ambient temperature, crystalline spectral features in the ISM are concealed by volumetrically dominant amorphous dust. Our results explain the existence of crystalline silicate pre-solar grains, which are older than the solar system, and have implications for radiative transfer modeling and hydrodynamics of dusty environments, which are sensitive to small variations in optical properties. Our observations of mm-scale temperature differences up to 100˚C in cooling lava suggest that thermal imaging of basaltic lava flows needs to be conducted with mm-scale spatial resolution (see figure; crucible is 5mm diameter). Temperatures recorded with low spatial resolution, which average cooler melt and hotter crystals in a single pixel, will systematically overestimate the temperature of the liquid phase. Only the surface of a lava flow is likely to cool quickly enough for recalescence to occur, but this is precisely the part of the lava that is monitored by thermal imaging.

SN 2009ip: CONSTRAINING THE LATEST EXPLOSION PROPERTIES BY ITS LATE-PHASE LIGHT CURVE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moriya, Takashi J., E-mail: moriyatk@astro.uni-bonn.de

We constrain the explosion and circumstellar properties at the 2012b event of SN 2009ip based on its recently reported late-phase bolometric light curve. The explosion energy and ejected mass at the 2012b event are estimated as 0.01 M{sub ⊙} and 2 × 10{sup 49} erg, respectively. The circumstellar medium is assumed to have two components: an inner shell and an outer wind. The inner shell, which is likely created at the 2012a event, has a mass of 0.2 M{sub ⊙}. The outer wind is created by the wind mass loss before the 2012a mass ejection, and the progenitor is estimatedmore » to have had a mass-loss rate of about 0.1 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} with a wind velocity of 550 km s{sup −1} before the 2012a event. The estimated explosion energy and ejected mass indicate that the 2012b event is not caused by a regular SN.« less

GAS in Protoplanetary Systems (GASPS). I. First results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathews, G. S.; Dent, W. R. F.; Williams, J. P.; Howard, C. D.; Meeus, G.; Riaz, B.; Roberge, A.; Sandell, G.; Vandenbussche, B.; Duchêne, G.; Kamp, I.; Ménard, F.; Montesinos, B.; Pinte, C.; Thi, W. F.; Woitke, P.; Alacid, J. M.; Andrews, S. M.; Ardila, D. R.; Aresu, G.; Augereau, J. C.; Barrado, D.; Brittain, S.; Ciardi, D. R.; Danchi, W.; Eiroa, C.; Fedele, D.; Grady, C. A.; de Gregorio-Monsalvo, I.; Heras, A.; Huelamo, N.; Krivov, A.; Lebreton, J.; Liseau, R.; Martin-Zaidi, C.; Mendigutía, I.; Mora, A.; Morales-Calderon, M.; Nomura, H.; Pantin, E.; Pascucci, I.; Phillips, N.; Podio, L.; Poelman, D. R.; Ramsay, S.; Rice, K.; Riviere-Marichalar, P.; Solano, E.; Tilling, I.; Walker, H.; White, G. J.; Wright, G.

2010-07-01

Context. Circumstellar discs are ubiquitous around young stars, but rapidly dissipate their gas and dust on timescales of a few Myr. The Herschel Space Observatory allows for the study of the warm disc atmosphere, using far-infrared spectroscopy to measure gas content and excitation conditions, and far-IR photometry to constrain the dust distribution. Aims: We aim to detect and characterize the gas content of circumstellar discs in four targets as part of the Herschel science demonstration phase. Methods: We carried out sensitive medium resolution spectroscopy and high sensitivity photometry at λ ~ 60-190 μm using the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory. Results: We detect [OI] 63 μm emission from the young stars HD 169142, TW Hydrae, and RECX 15, but not HD 181327. No other lines, including [CII] 158 and [OI] 145, are significantly detected. All four stars are detected in photometry at 70 and 160 μm. Extensive models are presented in associated papers. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.

[Petrological Analysis of Astrophysical Dust Analog Evolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rietmeijer, Frans J. M.

1997-01-01

This project "Petrological analysis of astrophysical dust analog evolution" was initiated to try to understand the vapor phase condensation, and the nature of the reaction products, in circumstellar environments, such as the solar nebula 4,500 Myrs ago, and in the interstellar medium. Telescope-based infrared [IR] spectroscopy offers a broad-scale inventory of the various types of dust in these environments but no details on small-scale variations in terms of chemistry and morphology and petrological phase relationships. Vapor phase condensation in these environments is almost certainly a non-equilibrium process. The main challenge to this research was to document the nature of this process that, based on astrophysical observations, seems to yield compositionally consistent materials. This observation may suggest a predictable character during non-equilibrium condensation. These astrophysical environments include two chemically distinct, that is, oxygen-rich and carbon-rich environments. The former is characterized by silicates the latter by carbon-bearing solids. According to cosmological models of stellar evolution circumstellar dust accreted into protoplanets wherein thermal and/or aqueous processes will alter the dust under initially, non-equilibrium conditions.

Cosmic Carbon Chemistry: From the Interstellar Medium to the Early Earth

PubMed Central

Ehrenfreund, Pascale; Cami, Jan

2010-01-01

Astronomical observations have shown that carbonaceous compounds in the gas and solid state, refractory and icy are ubiquitous in our and distant galaxies. Interstellar molecular clouds and circumstellar envelopes are factories of complex molecular synthesis. A surprisingly large number of molecules that are used in contemporary biochemistry on Earth are found in the interstellar medium, planetary atmospheres and surfaces, comets, asteroids and meteorites, and interplanetary dust particles. In this article we review the current knowledge of abundant organic material in different space environments and investigate the connection between presolar and solar system material, based on observations of interstellar dust and gas, cometary volatiles, simulation experiments, and the analysis of extraterrestrial matter. Current challenges in astrochemistry are discussed and future research directions are proposed. PMID:20554702

A Million-Second Chandra View of Cassiopeia A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hwang, Una; Laming, J. Martin; Badenes, Carles; Berendse, Fred; Blondin, John; Cioffi, Denis; DeLaney, Tracey; Dewey, Daniel; Fesen, Robert; Flanagan, Kathryn A.

2004-01-01

We introduce a million-second observation of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The bipolar structure of the Si-rich ejecta (NE jet and SW counterpart) is clearly evident in the new images, and their chemical similarity is confirmed by their spectra. These are most likely due to jets of ejecta as opposed to cavities in the circumstellar medium, since we can reject simple models for the latter. The properties of these jets and the Fe-rich ejecta will provide clues to the explosion of Cas A.

Unveiling the biotransformation mechanism of indole in a Cupriavidus sp. strain.

PubMed

Qu, Yuanyuan; Ma, Qiao; Liu, Ziyan; Wang, Weiwei; Tang, Hongzhi; Zhou, Jiti; Xu, Ping

2017-12-01

Indole, an important signaling molecule as well as a typical N-heterocyclic aromatic pollutant, is widespread in nature. However, the biotransformation mechanisms of indole are still poorly studied. Here, we sought to unlock the genetic determinants of indole biotransformation in strain Cupriavidus sp. SHE based on genomics, proteomics and functional studies. A total of 177 proteins were notably altered (118 up- and 59 downregulated) in cells grown in indole mineral salt medium when compared with that in sodium citrate medium. RT-qPCR and gene knockout assays demonstrated that an indole oxygenase gene cluster was responsible for the indole upstream metabolism. A functional indole oxygenase, termed IndA, was identified in the cluster, and its catalytic efficiency was higher than those of previously reported indole oxidation enzymes. Furthermore, the indole downstream metabolism was found to proceed via the atypical CoA-thioester pathway rather than conventional gentisate and salicylate pathways. This unusual pathway was catalyzed by a conserved 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA gene cluster, among which the 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA ligase initiated anthranilate transformation. This study unveils the genetic determinants of indole biotransformation and will provide new insights into our understanding of indole biodegradation in natural environments and its functional studies. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Collimation and Asymmetry of the Hot Blast Wave from the Recurrent Nova V745 Sco

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drake, Jeremy J.; Delgado, Laura; Laming, J. Martin; Starrfield, Sumner; Kashyap, Vinay; Orlando, Salvatore; Page, Kim L.; Hernanz, M.; Ness, J.-U.; Gehrz, R. D.; van Rossum, Daan; Woodward, Charles E.

2016-07-01

The recurrent symbiotic nova V745 Sco exploded on 2014 February 6 and was observed on February 22 and 23 by the Chandra X-ray Observatory Transmission Grating Spectrometers. By that time the supersoft source phase had already ended, and Chandra spectra are consistent with emission from a hot, shock-heated circumstellar medium with temperatures exceeding 107 K. X-ray line profiles are more sharply peaked than expected for a spherically symmetric blast wave, with a full width at zero intensity of approximately 2400 km s-1, an FWHM of 1200 ± 30 km s-1, and an average net blueshift of 165 ± 10 km s-1. The red wings of lines are increasingly absorbed toward longer wavelengths by material within the remnant. We conclude that the blast wave was sculpted by an aspherical circumstellar medium in which an equatorial density enhancement plays a role, as in earlier symbiotic nova explosions. Expansion of the dominant X-ray-emitting material is aligned close to the plane of the sky and is most consistent with an orbit seen close to face-on. Comparison of an analytical blast wave model with the X-ray spectra, Swift observations, and near-infrared line widths indicates that the explosion energy was approximately 1043 erg and confirms an ejected mass of approximately 10-7 M ⊙. The total mass lost is an order of magnitude lower than the accreted mass required to have initiated the explosion, indicating that the white dwarf is gaining mass and is a Type Ia supernova progenitor candidate.

Irradiation of FeS: Implications for the Lifecycle of Sulfur in the Interstellar Medium and Presolar FeS Grains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keller, Lindsay P.; Loeffler, M. J.; Christoffersen, R.; Dukes, C.; Rahman, Z.; Baragiola, R.

2010-01-01

Fe(Ni) sulfides are ubiquitous in chondritic meteorites and cometary samples where they are the dominant host of sulfur. Despite their abundance in these early solar system materials, their presence in interstellar and circumstellar environments is poorly understood. Fe-sulfides have been reported from astronomical observations of pre- and post-main sequence stars [1, 2] and occur as inclusions in bonafide circumstellar silicate grains [3, 4]. In cold, dense molecular cloud (MC) environments, sulfur is highly depleted from the gas phase [e.g. 5], yet observations of sulfur-bearing molecules in dense cores find a total abundance that is only a small fraction of the sulfur seen in diffuse regions [6], therefore the bulk of the depletion must reside in an abundant unobserved phase. In stark contrast, sulfur is essentially undepleted from the gas phase in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) [7-9], indicating that little sulfur is incorporated into solid grains in this environment. This is a rather puzzling observation unless Fe-sulfides are not produced in significant quantities in stellar outflows, or their lifetime in the ISM is very short due to rapid destruction. The main destruction mechanism is sputtering due to supernova shocks in the warm, diffuse ISM [10]. This process involves the reduction of Fe-sulfide with the production of Fe metal as a by-product and returning S to the gas phase. In order to test this hypothesis, we irradiated FeS and analyzed the resulting material using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

SO and SO2 in mass-loss envelopes of red giants - Probes of nonequilibrium circumstellar chemistry and mass-loss rates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sahai, Raghvendra; Wannier, Peter G.

1992-01-01

SO emission was searched for in one or more of four transitions toward 23 oxygen-rich red giant or supergiant stars and one S star, selected primarily on the basis of their nonmaser SiO emission. SO was detected in a total of 14 circumstellar envelopes, 13 of which are new detections. The circumstellar abundance of SO (and SO2) is significantly enhanced over the equilibrium value achieved in the photospheres of these stars. In general, the SO abundances are significantly larger than predicted by nonequilibrium circumstellar chemistry models. Sulfur cannot be significantly depleted onto circumstellar grains, and probably exists as H2S (and/or SH) in the inner regions of the envelopes. The SO rotational-level population in most circumstellar envelopes observed is characterized by excitation temperatures less than or approximately equal to 50 K. The circumstellar abundance of SO2 is comparable to, or larger than, that of SO, ruling out the 'large' value adopted for the unshielded photodissociation rate for SO2 in recent models.

A circumstellar molecular gas structure associated with the massive young star Cepheus A-HW 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Torrelles, Jose M.; Rodriguez, Luis F.; Canto, Jorge; Ho, Paul T. P.

1993-01-01

We report the detection via VLA-D observations of ammonia of a circumstellar high-density molecular gas structure toward the massive young star related to the object Cepheus A-HW 2, a firm candidate for the powering source of the high-velocity molecular outflow in the region. We suggest that the circumstellar molecular gas structure could be related to the circumstellar disk previously suggested from infrared, H2O, and OH maser observations. We consider as a plausible scenario that the double radio continuum source of HW 2 could represent the ionized inner part of the circumstellar disk, in the same way as proposed to explain the double radio source in L1551. The observed motions in the circumstellar molecular gas can be produced by bound motions (e.g., infall or rotation) around a central mass of about 10-20 solar masses (B0.5 V star or earlier).

Photochemical fractionation of O-16 in the space medium modeled by resonance excitation of CO by H-Lyman alpha

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arrhenius, G.; Corrigan, M. J.; Fitzgerald, R. W.

1988-01-01

Analyses of meteorite matter, the present structure of the solar system, and the evolution of matter in stellar systems are used to provide inferences concerning the formation of primordial matter in the solar system. Results indicate that molecular excitation processes similar to those observed today in circumstellar regions and dark interstellar clouds were operating in the early solar nebula. It is suggested that resonance excitation of broad isotopic bands by strong UV line sources may have resulted in the anomalous isotopic compositions noted in meteorites.

Circumstellar gas associated with HL Tauri - Evidence for a remnant infalling envelope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grasdalen, Gary L.; Sloan, Gregory; Stout, Natalie; Strom, Stephen E.; Welty, Alan D.

1989-01-01

Molecular carbon absorption lines in the spectrum of HL Tau has been discovered near 8775 A. These C2 lines have a heliocentric radial velocity of 43 + or - 3 km/s, redshifted by 23 + or - 3 km/s relative to the star and the associated molecular cloud. This velocity difference suggests that the molecular carbon absorption arises in an infalling envelope. Since KI and diffuse interstellar bands are much weaker than expected, the chemical composition and/or excitation conditions in the HL Tau envelope appear to differ substantially from those in the interstellar medium.

VLTI/GRAVITY observations of the young star βPictoris

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Defrère, D.

2017-12-01

The nearby young star β Pictoris is surrounded by the archetypal debris disc, which provides a unique window on the formation and early evolution of terrestrial planets. While the outer disc has been extensively studied since its discovery in 1984, very little is currently known about the inner planetary system (<4AU). Recently, accurate squared visibilities obtained with VLTI/PIONIER revealed the presence of resolved circumstellar emission with an integrated brightness amounting to approximately 1.4% of the stellar brightness in H band. However, it is not clear whether this excess emission originates from thermal emission, reflected light from hot dust grains located in the innermost regions of the planetary system, or is simply due to forward scattering by dust grains located further away (but still within the PIONIER field-of-view, i.e., close to the line of sight). In this paper, we present medium-resolution K-band observations of βPic obtained with VLTI/GRAVITY during science verification. The goals of these observations are to better constrain the temperature of the grains (and hence their location and chemical composition) and to showcase the high-precision capabilities of GRAVITY at detecting faint, close-in circumstellar emission.

Search for Hydrogenated C60 (Fulleranes) in Circumstellar Envelopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yong; Sadjadi, SeyedAbdolreza; Hsia, Chih-Hao; Kwok, Sun

2017-08-01

The recent detection of fullerene (C60) in space and the positive assignment of five diffuse interstellar bands to {{{C}}}60+ reinforce the notion that fullerene-related compounds can be efficiently formed in circumstellar envelopes and be present in significant quantities in the interstellar medium. Experimental studies have shown that C60 can be readily hydrogenated, raising the possibility that hydrogenated fullerenes (or fulleranes, C60H m , m = 1-60) may be abundant in space. In this paper, we present theoretical studies of the vibrational modes of isomers of C60H m . Our results show that the four mid-infrared bands from the C60 skeletal vibrations remain prominent in slightly hydrogenated C60, but their strengths diminish in different degrees with increasing hydrogenation. It is therefore possible that the observed infrared bands assigned to C60 could be due to a mixture of fullerenes and fulleranes. This provides a potential explanation for the observed scatter of the C60 band ratios. Our calculations suggest that a feature around 15 μm due to the breathing mode of heavily hydrogenated C60 may be detectable astronomically. A preliminary search for this feature in 35 C60 sources is reported.

Early dust formation and a massive progenitor for SN 2011ja?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrews, J. E.; Krafton, Kelsie M.; Clayton, Geoffrey C.; Montiel, E.; Wesson, R.; Sugerman, Ben E. K.; Barlow, M. J.; Matsuura, M.; Drass, H.

2016-04-01

SN 2011ja was a bright (I = -18.3) Type II supernova occurring in the nearby edge on spiral galaxy NGC 4945. Flat-topped and multipeaked H α and H β spectral emission lines appear between 64 and 84 d post-explosion, indicating interaction with a disc-like circumstellar medium inclined ˜45° from edge-on. After day 84, an increase in the H- and K-band flux along with heavy attenuation of the red wing of the emission lines are strong indications of early dust formation, likely located in the cool dense shell created between the forward shock of the SN ejecta and the reverse shock created as the ejecta plows into the existing circumstellar material. Radiative transfer modelling reveals both ≈1 × 10-5 M⊙ of pre-existing dust located ˜1016.7 cm away and up to ≈6 × 10-4 M⊙ of newly formed dust. Spectral observations after 1.5 yr reveal the possibility that the fading SN is located within a young (3-6 Myr) massive stellar cluster, which when combined with tentative 56Ni mass estimates of 0.2 M⊙ may indicate a massive (≥25 M⊙) progenitor for SN 2011ja.

Molecular studies of Planetary Nebulae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yong

2017-10-01

Circumstellar envelopes (CEs) around evolved stars are an active site for the production of molecules. After evolving through the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB), proto-planetary nebula (PPN), to planetary nebula (PN) phases, CEs ultimately merge with the interstellar medium (ISM). The study of molecules in PNe, therefore, is essential to understanding the transition from stellar to interstellar materials. So far, over 20 molecular species have been discovered in PNe. The molecular composition of PNe is rather different from those of AGB and PPNe, suggesting that the molecules synthesized in PN progenitors have been heavily processed by strong ultraviolet radiation from the central star. Intriguingly, fullerenes and complex organic compounds having aromatic and aliphatic structures can be rapidly formed and largely survive during the PPN/PN evolution. The similar molecular compositions in PNe and diffuse clouds as well as the detection of C60 + in the ISM reinforce the view that the mass-loss from PNe can significantly enrich the ISM with molecular species, some of which may be responsible for the diffuse interstellar bands. In this contribution, I briefly summarize some recent observations of molecules in PNe, with emphasis on their implications on circumstellar chemistry.

Carriers of the mid-IR emission bands in PNe reanalysed. Evidence of a link between circumstellar and interstellar aromatic dust

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joblin, C.; Szczerba, R.; Berné, O.; Szyszka, C.

2008-10-01

Context: It has been shown that the diversity of the aromatic emission features can be rationalized into different classes of objects, in which differences between circumstellar and interstellar matter are emphasised. Aims: We probe the links between the mid-IR emitters observed in planetary nebulae (PNe) and their counterparts in the interstellar medium in order to probe a scenario in which the latter have been formed in the circumstellar environment of evolved stars. Methods: The mid-IR (6-14 μm) emission spectra of PNe and compact H II regions were analysed on the basis of previous work on photodissociation regions (PDRs). Galactic, Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) objects were considered in our sample. Results: We show that the mid-IR emission of PNe can be decomposed as the sum of six components. Some components made of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and very small grain (VSG) populations are similar to those observed in PDRs. Others are fitted in an evolutionary scenario involving the destruction of the aliphatic component observed in the post-AGB stage, as well as strong processing of PAHs in the extreme conditions of PNe that leads to a population of very large ionized PAHs. This species called PAHx are proposed as the carriers of a characteristic band at 7.90 μm. This band can be used as part of diagnostics that identify PNe in nearby galaxies and is also observed in galactic compact H II regions. Conclusions: These results support the formation of the aromatic very small dust particles in the envelopes of evolved stars, in the Milky Way, as well as in the LMC and SMC, and their subsequent survival in the interstellar medium. This work is based on observations made with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under a contract with NASA. Based on observations with ISO, an ESA project with instruments funded by ESA Member States (especially the PI countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and with the participation of ISAS and NASA. Tables A.1 and A.2 are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

A Spitzer Survey for Dust in Type IIn Supernovae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fox, Ori D.; Chevalier, Roger A.; Skrutskie, Michael F.; Soderberg, Alicia M.; Filippenko, Alexei V.; Ganeshalingam, Mohan; Silverman, Jeffrey M.; Smith, Nathan; Steele, Thea N.

2011-01-01

Recent observations suggest that Type IIn supernovae (SNe IIn) may exhibit late-time (greater than 100 days) infrared (IR) emission from warm dust more than other types of core-collapse SNe. Mid-IR observations, which span the peak of the thermal spectral energy distribution, provide useful constraints on the properties of the dust and, ultimately, the circumstellar environment, explosion mechanism, and progenitor system. Due to the low SN IIn rate (less than 10% of all core-collapse SNe), few IR observations exist for this subclass. The handful of isolated studies, however, show late-time IR emission from warm dust that, in some cases, extends for five or six years post-discovery. While previous Spitzer/IRAC surveys have searched for dust in SNe, none have targeted the Type IIn subclass. This article presents results from a warm Spitzer/IRAC survey of the positions of all 68 known SNe IIn within a distance of 250 Mpc between 1999 and 2008 that have remained unobserved by Spitzer more than 100 days postdiscovery. The detection of late-time emission from ten targets (approximately 15%) nearly doubles the database of existing mid-IR observations of SNe IIn. Although optical spectra show evidence for new dust formation in some cases, the data show that in most cases the likely origin of the mid-IR emission is pre-existing dust, which is continuously heated by optical emission generated by ongoing circumstellar interaction between the forward shock and circumstellar medium. Furthermore, an emerging trend suggests that these SNe decline at approximately 1000-2000 days post-discovery once the forward shock overruns the dust shell. The mass-loss rates associated with these dust shells are consistent with luminous blue variable (LBV) progenitors.

On the source of the dust extinction in type Ia supernovae and the discovery of anomalously strong Na I absorption

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Phillips, M. M.; Morrell, Nidia; Hsiao, E. Y.

High-dispersion observations of the Na I D λλ5890, 5896 and K I λλ7665, 7699 interstellar lines, and the diffuse interstellar band at 5780 Å in the spectra of 32 Type Ia supernovae are used as an independent means of probing dust extinction. We show that the dust extinction of the objects where the diffuse interstellar band at 5780 Å is detected is consistent with the visual extinction derived from the supernova colors. This strongly suggests that the dust producing the extinction is predominantly located in the interstellar medium of the host galaxies and not in circumstellar material associated with themore » progenitor system. One quarter of the supernovae display anomalously large Na I column densities in comparison to the amount of dust extinction derived from their colors. Remarkably, all of the cases of unusually strong Na I D absorption correspond to 'Blueshifted' profiles in the classification scheme of Sternberg et al. This coincidence suggests that outflowing circumstellar gas is responsible for at least some of the cases of anomalously large Na I column densities. Two supernovae with unusually strong Na I D absorption showed essentially normal K I column densities for the dust extinction implied by their colors, but this does not appear to be a universal characteristic. Overall, we find the most accurate predictor of individual supernova extinction to be the equivalent width of the diffuse interstellar band at 5780 Å, and provide an empirical relation for its use. Finally, we identify ways of producing significant enhancements of the Na abundance of circumstellar material in both the single-degenerate and double-degenerate scenarios for the progenitor system.« less

A Spitzer Survey for Dust in Type IIn Supernovae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fox, Ori D.; Chevalier, Roger A.; Skrutskie, Michael F.; Soderberg, Alicia M.; Filippenko, Alexei V.; Ganeshalingam, Mohan; Silverman, Jeffrey M.; Smith, Nathan; Steele, Thea N

2011-01-01

Recent observations suggest that Type IIn supernovae (SNe IIn) may exhibit late-time (>100 days) infrared (IR) emission from warm dust more than other types of core-collapse SNe. Mid-IR observations, which span the peak of the thermal spectral energy distribution, provide useful constraints on the properties of the dust and, ultimately, the circumstellar environment, explosion mechanism, and progenitor system. Due to the low Type IIn rate (<10% of all core-collapse SNe), few IR observations exist for this subclass. The handful of isolated studies, however, show late-time IR emission from warm dust that, in some cases, extends for five or six years post-discovery. vVhile previous Spitzer/IRAC surveys have searched for dust in SNe, none have targeted the Type IIn subclass. This article presents results from a warm Spitzer/IRAC survey of the positions of all 68 known SNe IIn within a distance of 250 Mpc between 1999 and 2008 that have remained unobserved by Spitzer more than 100 days post-discovery. The detection of late-time emission from ten targets (approx. 15 %) nearly doubles the database of existing mid-IR observations of SNe IIn. Although optical spectra show evidence for new dust formation in some cases, the data show that in most cases the likely origin of the mid-IR emission is pre-existing dust, which is continuously heated by optical emission generated by ongoing circumstellar interaction between the forward shock and circumstellar medium. Furthermore, an emerging trend suggests these SNe "turn off" at " approx. 1000-2000 days post-discovery once the forward shock overruns the dust shell. The mass-loss rates associated with these dust shells are consistent with luminous blue variable (LBV) progenitors having similar mass-loss histories.

HYDRODYNAMICAL INTERACTION OF MILDLY RELATIVISTIC EJECTA WITH AN AMBIENT MEDIUM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Suzuki, Akihiro; Maeda, Keiichi; Shigeyama, Toshikazu

2017-01-01

The hydrodynamical interaction of spherical ejecta freely expanding at mildly relativistic speeds into an ambient cold medium is studied in semianalytical and numerical ways to investigate how ejecta produced in energetic stellar explosions dissipate their kinetic energy through the interaction with the surrounding medium. We especially focus on the case in which the circumstellar medium (CSM) is well represented by a steady wind at a constant mass-loss rate, having been ejected from the stellar surface prior to the explosion. As a result of the hydrodynamical interaction, the ejecta and CSM are swept by the reverse and forward shocks, leading tomore » the formation of a geometrically thin shell. We present a semianalytical model describing the dynamical evolution of the shell and compare the results with numerical simulations. The shell can give rise to bright emission as it gradually becomes transparent to photons. We develop an emission model for the expected emission from the optically thick shell, in which photons in the shell gradually diffuse out to the interstellar space. Then we investigate the possibility that radiation powered by the hydrodynamical interaction is the origin of an underluminous class of gamma-ray bursts.« less

Nanomechanical effects of light unveil photons momentum in medium

PubMed Central

Verma, Gopal; Chaudhary, Komal; Singh, Kamal P.

2017-01-01

Precision measurement on momentum transfer between light and fluid interface has many implications including resolving the intriguing nature of photons momentum in a medium. For example, the existence of Abraham pressure of light under specific experimental configuration and the predictions of Chau-Amperian formalism of optical momentum for TE and TM polarizations remain untested. Here, we quantitatively and cleanly measure nanomehanical dynamics of water surface excited by radiation pressure of a laser beam. We systematically scanned wide range of experimental parameters including long exposure times, angle of incidence, spot size and laser polarization, and used two independent pump-probe techniques to validate a nano- bump on the water surface under all the tested conditions, in quantitative agreement with the Minkowski’s momentum of light. With careful experiments, we demonstrate advantages and limitations of nanometer resolved optical probing techniques and narrow down actual manifestation of optical momentum in a medium. PMID:28198468

Effects of stellar evolution and ionizing radiation on the environments of massive stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mackey, J.; Langer, N.; Mohamed, S.; Gvaramadze, V. V.; Neilson, H. R.; Meyer, D. M.-A.

2014-09-01

We discuss two important effects for the astrospheres of runaway stars: the propagation of ionizing photons far beyond the astropause, and the rapid evolution of massive stars (and their winds) near the end of their lives. Hot stars emit ionizing photons with associated photoheating that has a significant dynamical effect on their surroundings. 3-D simulations show that H ii regions around runaway O stars drive expanding conical shells and leave underdense wakes in the medium they pass through. For late O stars this feedback to the interstellar medium is more important than that from stellar winds. Late in life, O stars evolve to cool red supergiants more rapidly than their environment can react, producing transient circumstellar structures such as double bow shocks. This provides an explanation for the bow shock and linear bar-shaped structure observed around Betelgeuse.

Simple Analytic Collisional Rates for non-LTE Vibrational Populations in Astrophysical Environments: the Cases of Circumstellar SiO Masers and Shocked H2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bieniek, Ronald

2008-05-01

Rates for collisionally induced transitions between molecular vibrational levels are important in modeling a variety of non-LTE processes in astrophysical environments. Two examples are SiO masering in circumstellar envelopes in certain late-type stars [1] and the vibrational populations of molecular hydrogen in shocked interstellar medium [cf 2]. A simple exponential-potential model of molecular collisions leads to a two-parameter analytic expression for state-to-state and thermally averaged rates for collisionally induced vibrational-translational (VT) transitions in diatomic molecules [3,4]. The thermally averaged rates predicted by this formula have been shown to be in excellent numerical agreement with absolute experimental and quantum mechanical rates over large temperature ranges and initial vibrational excitation levels in a variety of species, e.g., OH, O2, N2 [3] and even for the rate of H2(v=1)+H2, which changes by five orders of magnitude in the temperature range 50-2000 K [4]. Analogous analytic rates will be reported for vibrational transitions in SiO due to collisions with H2 and compared to the numerical fit of quantum-mechanical rates calculated by Bieniek and Green [5]. [1] Palov, A.P., Gray, M.D., Field, D., & Balint-Kurti, G.G. 2006, ApJ, 639, 204. [2] Flower, D. 2007, Molecular Collisions in the Interstellar Medium (Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press) [3] Bieniek, R.J. & Lipson, S.J. 1996, Chem. Phys. Lett. 263, 276. [4] Bieniek, R.J. 2006, Proc. NASA LAW (Lab. Astrophys. Workshop) 2006, 299; http://www.physics.unlv.edu/labastro/nasalaw2006proceedings.pdf. [5] Bieniek, R.J., & Green, S. 1983, ApJ, 265, L29 and 1983, ApJ, 270, L101.

COLLIMATION AND ASYMMETRY OF THE HOT BLAST WAVE FROM THE RECURRENT NOVA V745 Sco

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Drake, Jeremy J.; Kashyap, Vinay; Delgado, Laura

The recurrent symbiotic nova V745 Sco exploded on 2014 February 6 and was observed on February 22 and 23 by the Chandra X-ray Observatory Transmission Grating Spectrometers. By that time the supersoft source phase had already ended, and Chandra spectra are consistent with emission from a hot, shock-heated circumstellar medium with temperatures exceeding 10{sup 7} K. X-ray line profiles are more sharply peaked than expected for a spherically symmetric blast wave, with a full width at zero intensity of approximately 2400 km s{sup 1}, an FWHM of 1200 ± 30 km s{sup 1}, and an average net blueshift of 165more » ± 10 km s{sup 1}. The red wings of lines are increasingly absorbed toward longer wavelengths by material within the remnant. We conclude that the blast wave was sculpted by an aspherical circumstellar medium in which an equatorial density enhancement plays a role, as in earlier symbiotic nova explosions. Expansion of the dominant X-ray-emitting material is aligned close to the plane of the sky and is most consistent with an orbit seen close to face-on. Comparison of an analytical blast wave model with the X-ray spectra, Swift observations, and near-infrared line widths indicates that the explosion energy was approximately 10{sup 43} erg and confirms an ejected mass of approximately 10{sup 7} M {sub ⊙}. The total mass lost is an order of magnitude lower than the accreted mass required to have initiated the explosion, indicating that the white dwarf is gaining mass and is a Type Ia supernova progenitor candidate.« less

Search for early gamma-ray production in supernovae located in a dense circumstellar medium with the Fermi Lat

DOE PAGES

Ackermann, M.; Arcavi, I.; Baldini, L.; ...

2015-07-09

Supernovae (SNe) exploding in a dense circumstellar medium (CSM) are hypothesized to accelerate cosmic rays in collisionless shocks and emit GeV γ-rays and TeV neutrinos on a timescale of several months. We perform the first systematic search for γ-ray emission in Fermi Large Area Telescope data in the energy range frommore » $$100\\;\\mathrm{MeV}$$ to $$300\\;\\mathrm{GeV}$$ from the ensemble of 147 SNe Type IIn exploding in a dense CSM. Here, we search for a γ-ray excess at each SNe location in a one-year time window. In order to enhance a possible weak signal, we simultaneously study the closest and optically brightest sources of our sample in a joint-likelihood analysis in three different time windows (1 year, 6 months, and 3 months). For the most promising source of the sample, SN 2010jl (PTF 10aaxf), we repeat the analysis with an extended time window lasting 4.5 years. We do not find a significant excess in γ-rays for any individual source nor for the combined sources and provide model-independent flux upper limits for both cases. Additionally, we derive limits on the γ-ray luminosity and the ratio of γ-ray-to-optical luminosity ratio as a function of the index of the proton injection spectrum assuming a generic γ-ray production model. Furthermore, we present detailed flux predictions based on multi-wavelength observations and the corresponding flux upper limit at a 95% confidence level (CL) for the source SN 2010jl (PTF 10aaxf).« less

TWO DISTINCT-ABSORPTION X-RAY COMPONENTS FROM TYPE IIn SUPERNOVAE: EVIDENCE FOR ASPHERICITY IN THE CIRCUMSTELLAR MEDIUM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Katsuda, Satoru; Tsuboi, Yohko; Maeda, Keiichi

2016-12-01

We present multi-epoch X-ray spectral observations of three Type IIn supernovae (SNe), SN 2005kd, SN 2006jd, and SN 2010jl, acquired with Chandra , XMM-Newton , Suzaku , and Swift . Previous extensive X-ray studies of SN 2010jl have revealed that X-ray spectra are dominated by thermal emission, which likely arises from a hot plasma heated by a forward shock propagating into a massive circumstellar medium (CSM). Interestingly, an additional soft X-ray component was required to reproduce the spectra at a period of ∼1–2 years after the SN explosion. Although this component is likely associated with the SN, its origin remained an open question. Wemore » find a similar, additional soft X-ray component from the other two SNe IIn as well. Given this finding, we present a new interpretation for the origin of this component; it is thermal emission from a forward shock essentially identical to the hard X-ray component, but directly reaches us from a void of the dense CSM. Namely, the hard and soft components are responsible for the heavily and moderately absorbed components, respectively. The co-existence of the two components with distinct absorptions as well as the delayed emergence of the moderately absorbed X-ray component could be evidence for asphericity of the CSM. We show that the X-ray spectral evolution can be qualitatively explained by considering a torus-like geometry for the dense CSM. Based on our X-ray spectral analyses, we estimate the radius of the torus-like CSM to be on the order of ∼5 × 10{sup 16} cm.« less

TW HYA ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP AND NEW WISE-DETECTED CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schneider, Adam; Song, Inseok; Melis, Carl, E-mail: aschneid@physast.uga.edu, E-mail: song@physast.uga.edu, E-mail: cmelis@ucsd.edu

2012-07-20

We assess the current membership of the nearby, young TW Hydrae association and examine newly proposed members with the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) to search for infrared excess indicative of circumstellar disks. Newly proposed members TWA 30A, TWA 30B, TWA 31, and TWA 32 all show excess emission at 12 and 22 {mu}m providing clear evidence for substantial dusty circumstellar disks around these low-mass, {approx}8 Myr old stars that were previously shown to likely be accreting circumstellar material. TWA 30B shows large amounts of self-extinction, likely due to an edge-on disk geometry. We also confirm previously reported circumstellar disksmore » with WISE and determine a 22 {mu}m excess fraction of 42{sup +10}{sub -{sub 9}}% based on our results.« less

X-ray astrophysics: Constraining thermal conductivity in intracluster gas in clusters of galaxies and placing limits on progenitor systems of Type Ia supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Russell, Brock Richard

X-ray astrophysics provides a great many opportunities to study astronomical structures with large energies or high temperatures. This dissertation will describe two such applications: the use of Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT) data to analyze the interaction between a supernova shock and the circumstellar medium, and the use of a straightforward computer simulation to model the dynamics of intracluster gas in clusters of galaxies and constrain the thermal conduction coefficient. Stars emit stellar wind at varying rates throughout their lifetimes. This wind populates the circumstellar medium (CSM) with gas. When the supernova explodes, the shock wave propogates outward through this CSM and heats it to X-ray emitting temperatures. By analyzing X-ray observations of the immediate post-supernova environment, we are able to determine whether any significant CSM is present. By stacking a large number of Swift observations of SNe Ia, we increase the sensitivity. We find no X-rays, with an upper limit of 1.7 x 1038 erg s-1 and a 3 sigma upper limit on the mass loss rate of progenitor systems 1.1 x 10-6 solar masses per year x (vw)/(10 km s -1). This low upper limit precludes a massive progenitor as the binary companion in the supernova progenitor system, unless that star is in Roche lobe overflow. The hot Intracluster Medium (ICM) is composed of tenuous gas which is gravitationally-bound to the cluster of galaxies. This gas is not initially of uniform temperature, and experiences thermal conduction while maintaining hydrostatic equilibrium. However, magnetic field lines present in the ionized gas inhibit the full thermal conduction. In this dissertation, we present the results of a new one-dimensional simulation that models this conduction (and includes cooling while maintaining hydrostatic equilibrium). By comparing the results of this model with the observed gas temperature profiles and recent accurate constraints on the scatter of the gas fraction, we are able to constrain the thermal conductivity. Our results suggest that conduction factors are not higher than 10% of full Spitzer conduction for hot, relaxed clusters.

INVESTIGATING PLANET FORMATION IN CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS: CARMA OBSERVATIONS OF RY Tau AND DG Tau

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Isella, Andrea; Carpenter, John M.; Sargent, Anneila I., E-mail: isella@astro.caltech.ed

2010-05-10

We present CARMA observations of the thermal dust emission from the circumstellar disks around the young stars RY Tau and DG Tau at wavelengths of 1.3 mm and 2.8 mm. The angular resolution of the maps is as high as 0.''15, or 20 AU at the distance of the Taurus cloud, which is a factor of 2 higher than has been achieved to date at these wavelengths. The unprecedented detail of the resulting disk images enables us to address three important questions related to the formation of planets. (1) What is the radial distribution of the circumstellar dust? (2) Doesmore » the dust emission show any indication of gaps that might signify the presence of (proto-)planets? (3) Do the dust properties depend on the orbital radius? We find that modeling the disk surface density in terms of either a classical power law or the similarity solution for viscous disk evolution reproduces the observations well. Both models constrain the surface density between 15 and 50 AU to within 30% for a given dust opacity. Outside this range, the densities inferred from the two models differ by almost an order of magnitude. The 1.3 mm image from RY Tau shows two peaks separated by 0.''2 with a decline in the dust emission toward the stellar position, which is significant at about 2{sigma}-4{sigma}. For both RY Tau and DG Tau, the dust emission at radii larger than 15 AU displays no significant deviation from an unperturbed viscous disk model. In particular, no radial gaps in the dust distribution are detected. Under reasonable assumptions, we exclude the presence of planets more massive than 5 M{sub J} orbiting either star at distances between about 10 and 60 AU, unless such a planet is so young that there has been insufficient time to open a gap in the disk surface density. The radial variation of the dust opacity slope, {beta}, was investigated by comparing the 1.3 mm and 2.8 mm observations. We find mean values of {beta} of 0.5 and 0.7 for DG Tau and RY Tau, respectively. Variations in {beta} are smaller than {Delta}{beta} = 0.7 between 20 and 70 AU. These results confirm that the circumstellar dust throughout these disks differs significantly from dust in the interstellar medium.« less

GHRS observations of cool, low-gravity stars. 1: The far-ultraviolet spectrum of alpha Orionis (M2 Iab)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carpenter, Kenneth G.; Robinson, Richard D.; Wahlgren, Glenn M.; Linsky, Jeffrey L.; Brown, Alexander

1994-01-01

We present far-UV (1200-1930 A) observations of the prototypical red supergiant star alpha Ori, obtained with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The observations, obtained in both low- (G140L) and medium- (G160/200M) resolution modes, unamibiguously confirm that the UV 'continuum' tentatively seen with (IUE) is in fact a true continuum and is not due to a blend of numerous faint emission features or scattering inside the IUE spectrograph. This continuum appears to originate in the chromospheric of the star at temperatures ranging from 3000-5000 K, and we argue that it is not related to previously reported putative companions or to bright spots on the stellar disk. Its stellar origin is further confirmed by overlying atomic and molecular absorptions from the chromosphere and circumstellar shell. The dominant structure in this spectral region is due to nine strong, broad absorption bands of the fourth-positive A-X system of CO, superposed on this continuum in the 1300-1600 A region. Modeling of this CO absorption indicates that it originates in the circumstellar shell in material characterized by T = 500 K, N(CO) = 1.0 x 10(exp 18) per sq cm, and V(sub turb) = 5.0 km per sec. The numerous chromospheric emission features are attributed mostly to fluorescent lines of Fe II and Cr II (both pumped by Lyman Alpha) and S I lines, plus a few lines of O I, C I, and Si II. The O I and C I UV 2 multiplets are very deficient in flux, compared to both the flux observed in lines originating from common upper levels but with markedly weaker intrinsic strength (i.e., O I UV 146 and C I UV 32) and to the UV 2 line fluxes seen in other cool, less luminous stars. This deficiency appears to be caused by strong self-absorption of these resonance lines in the circumstellar shell and/or upper chromosphere of alpha Ori. Atomic absorption features, primarily due to C I and Fe II are clearly seen in the G160M spectrum centered near 1655 A. These Fe II features are formed at temperatures that can occur only in the chromosphere of the star and are clearly not photospheric or circumstellar in origin.

Chemistry of nitrile anions in the interstellar medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carles, S.; Le Garrec, J.-L.; Guillemin, J.-C.; Biennier, L.

2015-12-01

Despite the extreme conditions of temperature (down to 10K) and density (down to 100 molecules/cm3), the giant molecular clouds and the circumstellar envelopes present a rich and complex chemistry. To date, more than 180 molecules have been detected in the InterStellar Medium (ISM) with a large abundance of nitriles (RC≡N). In addition, several anions have been recently observed in this medium: C4H¯, C6H¯, C8H¯, CN¯, C3N¯ and C5N¯. These last species should play a key role in the molecular growth towards complexity. To explore this hypothesis, their reactivity must be studied in the laboratory. The FALP-MS and the CRESU experimental apparatuses of the Rennes University are able to measure absolute rate coefficient of various chemical reactions, including the ion - molecule reactions, in gas phase at low temperature (from 300K for the FALP-MS down to 15K for the CRESU). Therefore, these experimental tools are particularly adapted to the kinetic studies of reactions potentially involved in the Interstellar Medium. One of the difficulties encountered in experiments with anions is their generation. We describe here the formation of the CN¯ and C3N¯ anions by dissociative electron attachment on the molecular precursors BrCN and BrC3N.

Circumstellar Disks Around Rapidly Rotating Be-type Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Touhami, Yamina

2012-01-01

Be stars are rapidly rotating B-type stars that eject large amounts of gaseous material into a circumstellar equatorial disk. The existence of this disk has been confirmed through the presence of several observational signatures such as the strong hydrogen emission lines, the IR flux excess, and the linear polarization detected from these systems. Here we report simultaneous near-IR interferometric and spectroscopic observations of circumstellar disks around Be stars obtained with the CHARA Array long baseline interferometer and the Mimir spectrograph at Lowell observatory. The goal of this project was to measure precise angular sizes and to characterize the fundamental geometrical and physical properties of the circumstellar disks. We were able to determine spatial extensions, inclinations, and position angles, as well as the gas density profile of the circumstellar disks using an elliptical Gaussian model and a physical thick disk model, and we show that the K-band interferometric angular sizes of the circumstellar disks are correlated with the H-alpha angular sizes. By combining the projected rotational velocity of the Be star with the disk inclination derived from interferometry, we provide estimates of the equatorial rotational velocities of these rapidly rotating Be stars.

High Resolution Spectroscopy of Vega-like Stars: Abundances and Circumstellar Gas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunkin, S. K.; Barlow, M. J.; Ryan, Sean G.

1996-01-01

Vega-like stars are main-sequence stars exhibiting excess infrared emission. In an effort to improve the information available on this class of star, 13 stars have been analyzed which have been classed as Vega-like, or have an infra-red excess attributable to dust in their circumstellar environment. In a separate paper stellar properties such as effective temperature and log g have been derived and in this poster we highlight the results of the photospheric abundance analysis also carried out during this work. King recently drew attention to the possible link between Vega-like stars and the photospheric metal-depleted class of A-stars, the Lambda Bootis stars. Since Vega-like stars are thought to have disks of dust, it might be expected that accretion of depleted gas onto the surface of these stars may cause this same phenomenon. In the 6 stars studied for depletions, none showed the extreme underabundance patterns observed in Lambda Bootis stars. However, depletions of silicon and magnesium were found in two of the sample, suggesting that these elements are in silicate dust grains in the circumstellar environment of these stars. Absorption lines attributed to circumstellar gas have been positively identified in three stars in our sample. Individual cases show evidence either of high-velocity outflowing gas, variability in the circumstellar lines observed, or evidence of circumstellar gas in excited lines of Fe II. No previous identification of circumstellar material has been made for two of the stars in question.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tang, Ya-Wen; Dutrey, Anne; Guilloteau, Stéphane

We aim to unveil the observational imprint of physical mechanisms that govern planetary formation in the young, multiple system GG Tau A. We present ALMA observations of {sup 12}CO and {sup 13}CO 3–2 and 0.9 mm continuum emission with 0.″35 resolution. The {sup 12}CO 3–2 emission, found within the cavity of the circumternary dust ring (at radius <180 au) where no {sup 13}CO emission is detected, confirms the presence of CO gas near the circumstellar disk of GG Tau Aa. The outer disk and the recently detected hot spot lying at the outer edge of the dust ring are mappedmore » both in {sup 12}CO and {sup 13}CO. The gas emission in the outer disk can be radially decomposed as a series of slightly overlapping Gaussian rings, suggesting the presence of unresolved gaps or dips. The dip closest to the disk center lies at a radius very close to the hot spot location at ∼250–260 au. The CO excitation conditions indicate that the outer disk remains in the shadow of the ring. The hot spot probably results from local heating processes. The two latter points reinforce the hypothesis that the hot spot is created by an embedded proto-planet shepherding the outer disk.« less

Large Scale Variability Survey of Orion II: mapping the young, low-mass stellar populations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briceño, C.; Calvet, N.; Hartmann, L. W.; Vivas, A. K.

2000-12-01

We present further results of our ongoing large scale variability survey of the Orion OB1 Association, carried out with the 8k x 8k CCD Mosaic Camera on the 1m Schmidt telescope at the Venezuela National Observatory. In an area of over 60 square degrees we have unveiled new populations of low-mass young stars over a range of environments, from the dense molecular clouds of the Orion belt region, Ori OB 1b, to areas devoid of gas in Orion OB 1a. These new young stars span ages from 1-2 Myr in Ori OB 1b to roughly 10 Myr in Ori OB 1a, a likely scenario of sequential star formation triggered by the first generation of massive stars. Proxy indicators like Hα emission and near-IR excesses show that accretion from circumstellar disks in the 10 Myr stars of Ori OB 1a has mostly stopped. This population is a numerous analog of groups like TW Hya, making it an excellent laboratory to look for debris disks and study the epoch of planet formation in sparse, non-clustered environments. Research reported herein funded by NSF grant No. 9987367, and by CONICIT and Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Venezuela.

The M-type stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Hollis Ralph; Querci, Francois R.; Jordan, Stuart (Editor); Thomas, Richard (Editor); Goldberg, Leo; Pecker, Jean-Claude

1987-01-01

The papers in this volume cover the following topics: (1) basic properties and photometric variability of M and related stars; (2) spectroscopy and nonthermal processes; (3) circumstellar radio molecular lines; (4) circumstellar shells, the formation of grains, and radiation transfer; (5) mass loss; (6) circumstellar chemistry; (7) thermal atmospheric models; (8) quasi-thermal models; (9) observations on the atmospheres of M dwarfs; and (1) theoretical work on M dwarfs.

Spectroscopy and nonthermal processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Querci, Monique

1987-01-01

Stellar spectra are analyzed to determine nonthermal processes for cool stars. A shock wave crossing model is supported by a study of the behavior of absorption and emission spectra. The shock waves are attributed to atmospheric kinetics. Circumstellar spectral lines are studied for information about gaseous circumstellar layers. The description of stellar envelopes is carried on through circumstellar dust. Characteristic properties of polarization in the dust are described in the case of specific stars, emphasizing narrowband observations in Mira, semiregular, and supergiant stars. Finally, the direct approach to measuring the angular diameters of stars and mapping the distribution of circumstellar dust and gas by lunar occultation or interferometry is discussed, using two prototype stars, an M supergiant and a dusty carbon star.

Chemistry in the final stages of stellar evolution: Millimeter and submillimeter observations of supergiants and planetary nebulae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, Jessica Louise

High mass loss rates in evolved stars make them the major contributors to recycling processed material back into the interstellar medium. This mass loss creates large circumstellar shells, rich in molecular material. This dissertation presents millimeter and submillimeter studies of the end stages of low mass and high mass stars in order to probe their molecular content in more detail. In low mass stars, the molecular material is carried on into the planetary nebula (PN) stage. Observations of CS, HCO+, and CO in planetary nebulae (PNe) of various post-asymptotic giant branch ages have shown that molecular abundances in these objects do not significantly vary with age, as previously thought. More detailed observations of the slightly oxygen-rich PN NGC 6537 resulted in the detection of CN, HCN, HNC, CCH, CS, SO, H 2CO, HCO+ and N2H+, as well as numerous 13C isotopologues. Observations of the middle-aged PN M2-48 showed the presence of CN, HCN, HNC, CS, SO, SO2, SiO, HCO+, N2H+, and several 13C isotopologues. These observations represent the first detections of CS, SO, SO2, and SiO in any planetary nebula. The implications of these observations are discussed. A 1 mm spectral survey of the supergiant star NML Cygni has been carried out with the Arizona Radio Observatory Submillimeter Telescope resulting in the observation of 102 emission features arising from 17 different molecules and 4 unidentified features. The line profiles observed in this circumstellar shell are asymmetric and vary between different molecules, akin to what has been seen in another supergiant, VY Canis Majoris. The non-LTE radiative transfer code ESCAPADE has been used to model molecular abundances in the various asymmetric outflows of VY Canis Majoris, showing just how chemically and kinematically complex these supergiant circumstellar envelopes really are.

The ALMA early science view of FUor/EXor objects - I. Through the looking-glass of V2775 Ori

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zurlo, Alice; Cieza, Lucas A.; Williams, Jonathan P.; Canovas, Hector; Perez, Sebastian; Hales, Antonio; Mužić, Koraljka; Principe, David A.; Ruíz-Rodríguez, Dary; Tobin, John; Zhang, Yichen; Zhu, Zhaohuan; Casassus, Simon; Prieto, Jose L.

2017-02-01

As part of an Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimiter Array (ALMA) survey to study the origin of episodic accretion in young eruptive variables, we have observed the circum-stellar environment of the star V2775 Ori. This object is a very young, pre-main sequence object which displays a large amplitude outburst characteristic of the FUor class. We present Cycle-2 band 6 observations of V2775 Ori with a continuum and CO (2-1) isotopologue resolution of 0.25 arcsec (103 au). We report the detection of a marginally resolved circum-stellar disc in the ALMA continuum with an integrated flux of 106 ± 2 mJy, characteristic radius of ˜30 au, inclination of 14.0^{+7.8}_{-14.5} deg and is oriented nearly face-on with respect to the plane of the sky. The 12CO emission is separated into distinct blue and redshifted regions that appear to be rings or shells of expanding material from quasi-episodic outbursts. The system is oriented in such a way that the disc is seen through the outflow remnant of V2775 Ori, which has an axis along our line of sight. The 13CO emission displays similar structure to that of the 12CO, while the C18O line emission is very weak. We calculated the expansion velocities of the low- and medium-density material with respect to the disc to be of -2.85 (blue), 4.4 (red) and -1.35 and 1.15 km s-1 (for blue and red) and we derived the mass, momentum and kinetic energy of the expanding gas. The outflow has an hourglass shape where the cavities are not seen. We interpret the shapes that the gas traces as cavities excavated by an ancient outflow. We report a detection of line emission from the circumstellar disc and derive a lower limit of the gas mass of 3 MJup.

ON THE VIABILITY OF THE PAH MODEL AS AN EXPLANATION OF THE UNIDENTIFIED INFRARED EMISSION FEATURES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Yong; Kwok, Sun, E-mail: zhangy96@hku.hk, E-mail: sunkwok@hku.hk

2015-01-01

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules are widely considered the preferred candidate for the carrier of the unidentified infrared emission bands observed in the interstellar medium and circumstellar envelopes. In this paper, we report the results of fitting a variety of non-PAH spectra (silicates, hydrogenated amorphous carbon, coal, and even artificial spectra) using the theoretical infrared spectra of PAHs from the NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database. We show that these non-PAH spectra can be well fitted by PAH mixtures. This suggests that a general match between astronomical spectra and those of PAH mixtures does not necessarily provide definitive support formore » the PAH hypothesis.« less

Mass return to the interstellar medium from highly-evolved carbon stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Latter, W. B.; Thronson, H. A., Jr.; Hacking, P.; Bally, J.; Black, J.

1986-01-01

Data produced by the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) was surveyed at the mid- and far-infrared wavelengths. Visually-identified carbon stars in the 12/25/60 micron color-color diagram were plotted, along with the location of a number of mass-losing stars that lie near the location of the carbon stars, but are not carbon rich. The final sample consisted of 619 objects, which were estimated to be contaminated by 7 % noncarbon-rich objects. The mass return rate was estimated for all evolved circumstellar envelopes. The IRAS Point Source Catalog (PSC) was also searched for the entire class of stars with excess emission. Mass-loss rates, lifetimes, and birthrates for evolved stars were also estimated.

Catching Supernova Impostors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elias-Rosa, Nancy

2015-08-01

Given the heterogeneity of the type IIn SNe (SN that show strong interaction with the circumstellar medium), sometimes sneak cases of powerful eruptions of luminous blue variables (LBV) copy the true appearance of a SN explosion. These cases are commonly known as ``SN impostors". Although the mechanisms triggering these eruptions are still unknown, recently we had direct proofs of the connection between very massive stars, their eruptions and type IIn SNe, such as the case of the controversial SN 2009ip. Even if these objects are quite rare, their number has increased in the last couple of years. In this poster I will summarise my work on this topic, showing the most recent object of study and the conclusions from their analysis.

Models of Interacting Supernovae: Understanding the Physics and Probing the Circumstellar Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baron, Edward

"Interacting supernovae" are poorly understood astronomical events with great potential for expanding our understanding of how stars evolve and die, and could provide important clues about the early formation of large-scale structures such as galaxies in the universe. Interacting supernovae occur when a star explodes within a dense cloud of material shed from the star in the course of its evolution. The resulting violent interaction between the expanding supernova explosion and the cloud of circumstellar material can lead to an enormously bright visual display --- indeed, many of the brightest supernovae ever recorded are thought to arise from circumstellar interaction. In order to understand the properties of the progenitor star and the details of the circumstellar interaction, there is a need for theoretical models of interacting supernovae. These simulated computer spectra can be directly compared to the spectra observed by telescopes. These models allow us to probe the physical circumstances that underlie the observations. The spectra of interacting supernovae are dominated by strong, narrow emission lines of light elements such as hydrogen and helium. These narrow lines give Type IIn supernovae their designation. Similarly, objects of Type Ian, Ibn, Icn, and IIn are somewhat distinct, but are all defined by the narrow emission lines that result from the interaction of their expanding envelopes with their surroundings. The photosphere in these supernovae is formed in the material accreted during the coasting phase, and most of the luminosity has its origin from the conversion of kinetic explosion energy into luminosity. Both thermonuclear (Type Ia) and core-collapse (Types Ib/Ic and II) supernovae may be the inner engine. In fact, several Type IIn supernovae at early times have later been classified as Type Ia, Type Ib/c, or Type II as their spectra reveal more details about the nature of the central explosion. As a result of the dominance of the interaction, models of interacting supernovae must take into account descriptions of the hydrodynamical, ionization, and light fronts: a full radiation-hydrodynamical problem. The low densities imply strong departures from thermodynamic equilibrium and, thus, demand a non-LTE treatment in the radiative transfer calculation. We propose a collaboration between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Florida State University (FSU) to calculate hydrodynamical models, light curves, and NLTE spectra of circumstellar interacting supernovae. We will parameterize the explosion of a massive star, study the hydrodynamical impact onto a circumstellar medium and calculate light curves and spectra. Direct comparison with observed supernovae with give us detailed information on the progenitor star, its mass loss history, and the nature of binary stellar evolution. We will calculate explosion models for some of the stellar structures and the ongoing interaction with the circumstellar material using our radiation hydro code HYDRA and NLTE generalized model atmospheres code PHOENIX. We intend to focus on the physics of interacting supernovae, going beyond the regime where self-similar solutions and phenomenological approaches are valid. This will limit the parameter space that needs to be examined, while still allowing for direct comparison with observations. Since many interacting supernovae are extremely bright, they can be seen at the highest redshifts and are good probes of the darkages. These supernovae will be well observed by upcoming NASA mission JWST as well as ground based surveys such as LSST. The tools for this work are in place: FSU PI Peter Hoeflich has been developing and using the hydrodynamic code HYDRA for over two decades and PI Eddie Baron (OU) has been developing the generalized stellar atmosphere code PHOENIX over the same time period. Baron and Hoeflich have a good working relationship and have cross-compared our codes.

Grand-design Spiral Arms in a Young Forming Circumstellar Disk

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tomida, Kengo; Lin, Chia Hui; Machida, Masahiro N.

We study formation and long-term evolution of a circumstellar disk in a collapsing molecular cloud core using a resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulation. While the formed circumstellar disk is initially small, it grows as accretion continues, and its radius becomes as large as 200 au toward the end of the Class-I phase. A pair of grand-design spiral arms form due to gravitational instability in the disk, and they transfer angular momentum in the highly resistive disk. Although the spiral arms disappear in a few rotations as expected in a classical theory, new spiral arms form recurrently as the disk, soon becoming unstablemore » again by gas accretion. Such recurrent spiral arms persist throughout the Class-0 and I phases. We then perform synthetic observations and compare our model with a recent high-resolution observation of a young stellar object Elias 2–27, whose circumstellar disk has grand-design spiral arms. We find good agreement between our theoretical model and the observation. Our model suggests that the grand-design spiral arms around Elias 2–27 are consistent with material arms formed by gravitational instability. If such spiral arms commonly exist in young circumstellar disks, it implies that young circumstellar disks are considerably massive and gravitational instability is the key process of angular momentum transport.« less

A search for ultraviolet circumstellar gas absorption features in alpha Piscis Austrinus (Fomalhaut), a possible Beta Pictoris-like system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cheng, K.-P.; Bruhweiler, Fred C.; Kondo, Yoji

1994-01-01

Archival high-dispersion International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spectra have been used to search for circumstellar gas absorption features in alpha PsA (A3 V), a nearby (6.7 pc) proto-planetary system candidate. Recent sub-millimeter mapping observations around the region of alpha PsA indicate a spatially resolved dust disk like the one seen around Beta Pic. To determine how closely this putative disk resembles that of Beta Pic, we have searched for signatures of circumstellar gaseous absorption in all the available IUE high-dispersion data of alpha PsA. Examination of co-added IUE spectra shows weak circumstellar absorptions from excited levels in the resonance multiplet of Fe II near 2600 A. We also conclude that the sharp C I feature near 1657 A, previously identified as interstellar absorption toward alpha PsA, likely has a circumstellar origin. However, because the weakness of these absorption features, we will consider the presence of circumstellar gas as tentative and should be verified by using the Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. No corresponding circumstellar absorption is detected in higher ionization Fe III and Al III. Since the collisionally ionized nonphotospheric Al III resonance absorption seen in Beta Pic is likely formed close to the stellar surface, its absence in the UV spectra of alpha PsA could imply that, in contrast with Beta Pic, there is no active gaseous disk infall onto the central star. In the alpha PsA gaseous disk, if we assume a solar abundance for iron and all the iron is in the form of Fe II, plus a disk temperature of 5000 K, the Fe II UV1 absorption at 2611.8743 A infers a total hydrogen column density along the line of sight through the circumstellar disk of N(H) approximately equals 3.8 x 10(exp 17)/cm.

Radiative transfer calculations of ultra-relativistic shock breakout in circumstellar medium: Dependence on the central engine activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohtani, Yukari; Suzuki, Akihiro; Shigeyama, Toshikazu

2015-08-01

Core collapse supernovae radiate bright X-ray or UV flashes imediately after their explosion, because shock waves emerge on the surfaces of the progenitors. Due to their short duration, a very small number of such events (so called shock breakouts) have been observed, and the maximum shock velocities are likely to be significantly smaller than the speed of light. In principle, we can consider the shocks with ultra-relativistic velocities breakout stellar surfaces and generate gamma-ray photons. A recently popular theory of gamma-ray bursts argues that the thermal radiation produced in the jet may play important roles in the prompt emission. Therefore, for understanding of the relation between jets and the central engine, studying properties of breakouts in the relativistic limit will be interesting. To obtain some information concerning the temporal evolution of the photospheric emission from jets, we make a radiative transfer calculation of ultra-relativistic shock breakout in circumstellar medium by using a Monte Carlo method. We use a self-similar solution constructed by Blandford & McKee (1976), in which the shock Lorentz factor is assumed to follow a simple power law relation determined by the central engine activity. By comparing the calculation results of the accelerating shock and the decelerating shock, we find that influence of the beaming effect and the scattering angular distribution cause two apparent differences in light curves and temporal spectral evolution. One is that the ratio of the time between the onset and the peak to the duration is much smaller in light curves of decelerating shocks. The other one is that the spectral shape does not significantly change with time if the shock accelerates, otherwise the first half of the emerging photons contains much more high energy photons (above 1 MeV) than the second half.

Circumstellar chlorine chemistry and a search for AlCl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clegg, R. E. S.; Wootten, H. A.

1980-09-01

The J = 7-6 transition of AlCl has been sought in carbon-rich circumstellar shells, Orion A, and Sgr B-2. The upper limit for IRC + 10216 is 20 times less than the predicted value for fully associated AlCl. It is suggested that either the initial density in the circumstellar gas flow (not greater than 10 to the 10th per cu cm) or the gaseous Al and Cl are depleted by grains in this object.

Against the Wind: Radio Light Curves of Type IA Supernovae Interacting with Low-Density Circumstellar Shells

DOE PAGES

Harris, Chelsea E.; Nugent, Peter E.; Kasen, Daniel N.

2016-05-26

For decades a wide variety of observations spanning the radio through optical and on to the X-ray have attempted to uncover signs of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) interacting with a circumstellar medium (CSM). The goal of these studies is to constrain the nature of the hypothesized SN Ia mass-donor companion. A continuous CSM is typically assumed when interpreting observations of interaction. However, while such models have been successfully applied to core-collapse SNe, the assumption of continuity may not be accurate for SNe Ia, because shells of CSM could be formed by pre-supernova eruptions (novae). In this work, we modelmore » the interaction of SNe with a spherical, low-density, finite-extent CSM and create a suite of synthetic radio synchrotron light curves. We find that CSM shells produce sharply peaked light curves. We also identify a fiducial set of models that obey a common evolution and can be used to generate radio light curves for an interaction with an arbitrary shell. The relations obeyed by the fiducial models can be used to deduce CSM properties from radio observations; we demonstrate this by applying them to the nondetections of SN 2011fe and SN 2014J. Finally, we explore a multiple shell CSM configuration and describe its more complicated dynamics and the resultant radio light curves.« less

Cosmic-Ray Propagation in Turbulent Spiral Magnetic Fields Associated with Young Stellar Objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fatuzzo, Marco; Adams, Fred C.

2018-04-01

External cosmic rays impinging upon circumstellar disks associated with young stellar objects provide an important source of ionization, and, as such, play an important role in disk evolution and planet formation. However, these incoming cosmic rays are affected by a variety of physical processes internal to stellar/disk systems, including modulation by turbulent magnetic fields. Globally, these fields naturally provide both a funneling effect, where cosmic rays from larger volumes are focused into the disk region, and a magnetic mirroring effect, where cosmic rays are repelled due to the increasing field strength. This paper considers cosmic-ray propagation in the presence of a turbulent spiral magnetic field, analogous to that produced by the solar wind. The interaction of this wind with the interstellar medium defines a transition radius, analogous to the heliopause, which provides the outer boundary to this problem. We construct a new coordinate system where one coordinate follows the spiral magnetic field lines and consider magnetic perturbations to the field in the perpendicular directions. The presence of magnetic turbulence replaces the mirroring points with a distribution of values and moves the mean location outward. Our results thus help quantify the degree to which cosmic-ray fluxes are reduced in circumstellar disks by the presence of magnetic field structures that are shaped by stellar winds. The new coordinate system constructed herein should also be useful in other astronomical applications.

AGAINST THE WIND: RADIO LIGHT CURVES OF TYPE IA SUPERNOVAE INTERACTING WITH LOW-DENSITY CIRCUMSTELLAR SHELLS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harris, Chelsea E.; Nugent, Peter E.; Kasen, Daniel N., E-mail: chelseaharris@berkeley.edu

2016-06-01

For decades a wide variety of observations spanning the radio through optical and on to the X-ray have attempted to uncover signs of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) interacting with a circumstellar medium (CSM). The goal of these studies is to constrain the nature of the hypothesized SN Ia mass-donor companion. A continuous CSM is typically assumed when interpreting observations of interaction. However, while such models have been successfully applied to core-collapse SNe, the assumption of continuity may not be accurate for SNe Ia, because shells of CSM could be formed by pre-supernova eruptions (novae). In this work, we modelmore » the interaction of SNe with a spherical, low-density, finite-extent CSM and create a suite of synthetic radio synchrotron light curves. We find that CSM shells produce sharply peaked light curves. We also identify a fiducial set of models that obey a common evolution and can be used to generate radio light curves for an interaction with an arbitrary shell. The relations obeyed by the fiducial models can be used to deduce CSM properties from radio observations; we demonstrate this by applying them to the nondetections of SN 2011fe and SN 2014J. Finally, we explore a multiple shell CSM configuration and describe its more complicated dynamics and the resultant radio light curves.« less

Exploring the multifaceted circumstellar environment of the luminous blue variable HR Carinae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buemi, C. S.; Trigilio, C.; Leto, P.; Umana, G.; Ingallinera, A.; Cavallaro, F.; Cerrigone, L.; Agliozzo, C.; Bufano, F.; Riggi, S.; Molinari, S.; Schillirò, F.

2017-03-01

We present a multiwavelength study of the Galactic luminous blue variable HR Carinae, based on new high-resolution mid-infrared (IR) and radio images obtained with the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), which have been complemented by far-infrared Herschel-Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) observations and ATCA archive data. The Herschel images reveal the large-scale distribution of the dusty emitting nebula, which extends mainly to the north-east direction, up to 70 arcsec from the central star, and is oriented along the direction of the space motion of the star. In the mid-infrared images, the brightness distribution is characterized by two arc-shaped structures, tracing an inner envelope surrounding the central star more closely. At radio wavelengths, the ionized gas emission lies on the opposite side of the cold dust with respect to the position of the star, as if the ionized front were confined by the surrounding medium in the north-south direction. Comparison with previous data indicates significant changes in the radio nebula morphology and in the mass-loss rate from the central star, which has increased from 6.1 × 10-6 M⊙ yr-1 in 1994-1995 to 1.17 × 10-5 M⊙ yr-1 in 2014. We investigate possible scenarios that could have generated the complex circumstellar environment revealed by our multiwavelength data.

SNhunt151: an explosive event inside a dense cocoon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elias-Rosa, N.; Benetti, S.; Cappellaro, E.; Pastorello, A.; Terreran, G.; Morales-Garoffolo, A.; Howerton, S. C.; Valenti, S.; Kankare, E.; Drake, A. J.; Djorgovski, S. G.; Tomasella, L.; Tartaglia, L.; Kangas, T.; Ochner, P.; Filippenko, A. V.; Ciabattari, F.; Geier, S.; Howell, D. A.; Isern, J.; Leonini, S.; Pignata, G.; Turatto, M.

2018-04-01

SNhunt151 was initially classified as a supernova (SN) impostor (nonterminal outburst of a massive star). It exhibited a slow increase in luminosity, lasting about 450 d, followed by a major brightening that reaches MV ≈ -18 mag. No source is detected to MV ≳ -13 mag in archival images at the position of SNhunt151 before the slow rise. Low-to-mid-resolution optical spectra obtained during the pronounced brightening show very little evolution, being dominated at all times by multicomponent Balmer emission lines, a signature of interaction between the material ejected in the new outburst and the pre-existing circumstellar medium. We also analysed mid-infrared images from the Spitzer Space Telescope, detecting a source at the transient position in 2014 and 2015. Overall, SNhunt151 is spectroscopically a Type IIn SN, somewhat similar to SN 2009ip. However, there are also some differences, such as a slow pre-discovery rise, a relatively broad light-curve peak showing a longer rise time (˜50 d), and a slower decline, along with a negligible change in the temperature around the peak (T ≤ 104 K). We suggest that SNhunt151 is the result of an outburst, or an SN explosion, within a dense circumstellar nebula, similar to those embedding some luminous blue variables like η Carinae and originating from past mass-loss events.

The Copernicus observations - Interstellar or circumstellar material. [UV spectra of early stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steigman, G.; Strittmatter, P. A.; Williams, R. E.

1975-01-01

It is suggested that the sharp absorption lines observed in the ultraviolet spectra of early-type stars by the Copernicus satellite may be entirely accounted for by the circumstellar material in the H II regions and associated transition zones around the observed stars. If this interpretation is correct, the Copernicus results yield little information on the state of any interstellar (as opposed to circumstellar) gas and, in particular, shed little light on the degree of element depletion in interstellar space.

Ultraviolet Light Curves of Gaia16apd in Superluminous Supernova Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tolstov, Alexey; Zhiglo, Andrey; Nomoto, Ken'ichi; Sorokina, Elena; Kozyreva, Alexandra; Blinnikov, Sergei

2017-08-01

Observations of Gaia16apd revealed extremely luminous ultraviolet emission among superluminous supernovae (SLSNe). Using radiation hydrodynamics simulations, we perform a comparison of UV light curves, color temperatures, and photospheric velocities between the most popular SLSN models: pair-instability supernova, magnetar, and interaction with circumstellar medium. We find that the interaction model is the most promising to explain the extreme UV luminosity of Gaia16apd. The differences in late-time UV emission and in color evolution found between the models can be used to link an observed SLSN event to the most appropriate model. Observations at UV wavelengths can be used to clarify the nature of SLSNe and more attention should be paid to them in future follow-up observations.

Modeling the unidentified infrared emission with combinations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allamandola, L. J.; Hudgins, D. M.; Sandford, S. A.

1999-01-01

The infrared emission band spectrum associated with many different interstellar objects can be modeled successfully by using combined laboratory spectra of neutral and positively charged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These model spectra, shown here for the first time, alleviate the principal spectroscopic criticisms previously leveled at the PAH hypothesis and demonstrate that mixtures of free molecular PAHs can indeed account for the overall appearance of the widespread interstellar infrared emission spectrum. Furthermore, these models give us insight into the structures, stabilities, abundances, and ionization balance of the interstellar PAH population. These, in turn, reflect conditions in the emission zones and shed light on the microscopic processes involved in the carbon nucleation, growth, and evolution in circumstellar shells and the interstellar medium.

What predictions can be made on the nature of carbon and carbon-bearing compounds (hydrocarbons) in the interstellar medium based on studies of interplanetary dust particles?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rietmeijer, F. J. M.

1986-01-01

The nature of hydrocarbons and properties of elemental carbon in circumstellar, interstellar, and interplanetary dust is a long standing problem in astronomy and meteorite research. The textures and crystallographical properties of poorly graphitized carbon (PGC) from carbonaceous chondrites and Chondritic Porous Aggregates (CPAs) are comparable with PGCs formed by dehydrogenation and carbonization of hydrocarbon precursors under natural terrestrial and experimental conditions. A multistage model of hydrocarbon diagenesis in CPA and carbonaceous chondrite (proto-) planetary parent bodies was proposed in which hydrocarbons are subjected to low temperature hydrous pyrolysis. Continued efforts to recognize hydrocarbons and elemental phases in CPAs may allow understanding of the multistage hydrocarbon/elemental carbon model.

Radio emission from supernovae and gamma-ray bursters and the need for the SKA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiler, Kurt W.; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Sramek, Richard A.; Panagia, Nino

2004-12-01

Study of radio supernovae (SNe) over the past 25 years includes two dozen detected objects and more than 100 upper limits. From this work it is possible to identify classes of radio properties, demonstrate conformance to and deviations from existing models, estimate the density and structure of the circumstellar material and, by inference, the evolution of the presupernova stellar wind, and reveal the last stages of stellar evolution before explosion. It is also possible to detect ionized hydrogen along the line of sight, to demonstrate binary properties of the stellar system, and to show clumpiness of the circumstellar material. Since 1997 the afterglow of γ-ray bursting sources (GRBs) has occasionally been detected in the radio, as well in other wavelength bands. In particular, the interesting and unusual γ-ray burst GRB 980425, almost certainly related to the radio supernova SN 1998bw, and the more recent SN 2003dh/GRB 030329 are links between the two classes of objects. Analyzing the extensive radio emission data available for SN 1998bw, one can describe its time evolution within the well established framework available for the analysis of radio emission from supernovae. This then allows relatively detailed description of a number of physical properties of the object. The radio emission can best be explained as the interaction of a mildly relativistic ( Γ ˜ 1.6) shock with a dense pre-explosion stellar wind-established circumstellar medium that is highly structured both azimuthally, in clumps or filaments, and radially, with observed density enhancements. From this we can support the conclusion that at least some members of the slow-soft class of GRBs are related to type Ib/c SNe and can be attributed to the explosion of a massive star in a dense, highly structured CSM that was presumably established by the pre-explosion stellar system. However, due to the lack of sensitivity of current radio telescopes, most supernovae cannot be studied if they are more distant than the Virgo Cluster (˜20 Mpc) or, for exceptionally luminous Type IIn supernovae, beyond ˜100 Mpc. While the GRBs are up to 4 orders-of-magnitude more radio luminous, they are also generally much more distant because of their small probability of detection in smaller volumes of space and most are at z ˜ 1. Those which are radio detected rarely exceed peak flux densities of ˜100 - 300 μJy. Such low flux densities mean that detailed study of their radio "light curves" and, derived from those light curves, the energetics and dynamics of the explosions and the properties of their progenitors and the circumburst medium is very difficult and severely limited in scope. The increased capability of the SKA to attack these problems will significantly advance the field.

Circumplanetary discs around young giant planets: a comparison between core-accretion and disc instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szulágyi, J.; Mayer, L.; Quinn, T.

2017-01-01

Circumplanetary discs can be found around forming giant planets, regardless of whether core accretion or gravitational instability built the planet. We carried out state-of-the-art hydrodynamical simulations of the circumplanetary discs for both formation scenarios, using as similar initial conditions as possible to unveil possible intrinsic differences in the circumplanetary disc mass and temperature between the two formation mechanisms. We found that the circumplanetary discs' mass linearly scales with the circumstellar disc mass. Therefore, in an equally massive protoplanetary disc, the circumplanetary discs formed in the disc instability model can be only a factor of 8 more massive than their core-accretion counterparts. On the other hand, the bulk circumplanetary disc temperature differs by more than an order of magnitude between the two cases. The subdiscs around planets formed by gravitational instability have a characteristic temperature below 100 K, while the core-accretion circumplanetary discs are hot, with temperatures even greater than 1000 K when embedded in massive, optically thick protoplanetary discs. We explain how this difference can be understood as the natural result of the different formation mechanisms. We argue that the different temperatures should persist up to the point when a full-fledged gas giant forms via disc instability; hence, our result provides a convenient criterion for observations to distinguish between the two main formation scenarios by measuring the bulk temperature in the planet vicinity.

The Circumstellar Environment of VY CMa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, N.; Humphreys, R. M.; Krautter, J.; Gehrz, R. D.; Davidson, K.; Jones, T. J.; Hubrig, S.

1999-05-01

VY Canis Majoris is one of the most luminous known M supergiants. It is near the upper liminosity limit for cool stars on the HR Diagram. The optical star is partially obscured by its own circumstellar material. We present preliminary results of recent HST/WFPC2 optical imaging, and ground-based near-IR and mid-IR imaging of VY CMa and its circumstellar environment. We compare these results with previously obtained images of the related, but more evolved object IRC+10420 and discuss implications for their possible evolutionary and mass loss histories.

Infrared circumstellar shells - Origins, and clues to the evolution of massive stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stencel, Robert E.; Pesce, Joseph E.; Bauer, Wendy Hagen

1989-01-01

The infrared fluxes, spatial and spectral characteristics for a sample of 111 supergiant stars of spectral types F0 through M5 are tabulated, and correlations examined with respect to the nature of their circumstellar envelopes. One-fourth of these objects were spatialy resolved by IRAS at 60 microns and possess extended circumstellar shell material, with implied expansion ages of about 10 to the 5th yr. Inferences about the production of dust, mass loss, and the relation of these characteristics of the evolution of massive stars, are discussed.

Persistent X-Ray Emission from ASASSN-15lh: Massive Ejecta and Pre-SLSN Dense Wind?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yan; Li, Zhuo

2018-06-01

The persistent soft X-ray emission from the location of the most luminous supernova (SN) so far, ASASSN-15lh (or SN 2015L), with L∼ {10}42 {erg} {{{s}}}-1, is puzzling. We show that it can be explained by radiation from electrons accelerated by the SN shock inverse-Compton scattering the intense UV photons. The non-detection in radio requires strong free–free absorption in the dense medium. In these interpretations, the circumstellar medium is derived to be a wind (n ∝ R ‑2) with mass-loss rate of \\dot{{M}}≳ 3× {10}-3{{M}}ȯ ({{v}}{{w}}/{10}3 {{k}}{{m}} {{{s}}}-1) {{{y}}{{r}}}-1, and the initial velocity of the bulk SN ejecta is ≲ 0.02c. These constraints imply a massive ejecta mass of ≳ 60({E}0/2× {10}52 {erg}){M}ȯ in ASASSN-15lh, and a strong wind ejected by the progenitor star within ∼ 8{({v}{{w}}/{10}3{km}{{{s}}}-1)}-1 yr before explosion.

The circumstellar environment of evolved stars as traced by molecules and dust. The diagnostic power of Herschel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lombaert, Robin

2013-12-01

Low-to-intermediate mass stars end their life on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), an evolutionary phase in which the star sheds most of its mantle into the circumstellar environment through a stellar wind. This stellar wind expands at relatively low velocities and enriches the interstellar medium with elements newly made in the stellar interior. The physical processes controlling the gas and dust chemistry in the outflow, as well as the driving mechanism of the wind itself, are poorly understood and constitute the broader context of this thesis work. In a first chapter, we consider the thermodynamics of the high-density wind of the oxygen-rich star oh, using observations obtained with the PACS instrument onboard the Herschel Space Telescope. Being one of the most abundant molecules, water vapor can be dominant in the energy balance of the inner wind of these types of stars, but to date, its cooling contribution is poorly understood. We aim to improve the constraints on water properties by careful combination of both dust and gas radiative-transfer models. This unified treatment is needed due to the high sensitivity of water excitation to dust properties. A combination of three types of diagnostics reveals a positive radial gradient of the dust-to-gas ratio in oh. The second chapter deals with the dust chemistry of carbon-rich winds. The 30-mic dust emission feature is commonly identified as due to magnesium sulfide (MgS). However, the lack of short-wavelength measurements of the optical properties of this dust species prohibits the determination of the temperature profile of MgS, and hence its feature strength and shape, questioning whether this species is responsible for the 30-mic feature. By considering the very optically thick wind of the extreme carbon star LL Peg, this problem can be circumvented because in this case the short-wavelength optical properties are not important for the radial temperature distribution. We attribute the 30-mic feature to MgS, but require that the dust species is embedded in a heterogeneous composite grain structure together with carbonaceous compounds. The final chapter considers the circumstellar gas chemistry of carbon-rich AGB stars. The recent discovery of warm water vapor in carbon-rich winds challenges our understanding of chemical processes ongoing in the wind. Two mechanisms for producing warm water were proposed: water formation induced by interstellar ultraviolet photons penetrating into the inner region of a clumpy wind, and water formation induced by shocks passing through the atmospheric and inner-wind molecular gas. A sample of eighteen carbon-rich AGB stars has been observed with the Herschel Space Telescope and offers insights into the dependence of water properties on the stellar and circumstellar conditions. We suggest that both proposed water formation mechanisms must be at work to account for the following findings: 1) warm water is present in all observed carbon stars; 2) water formation efficiency decreases with higher circumstellar column density; 3) water properties strongly depend on the variability characteristics of the AGB stars; and 4) a positive water abundance gradient is present up to at most ˜ 50 rstar in individual stars.

Circumstellar Disks and Outflows in Turbulent Molecular Cloud Cores: Possible Formation Mechanism for Misaligned Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matsumoto, Tomoaki; Machida, Masahiro N.; Inutsuka, Shu-ichiro, E-mail: matsu@hosei.ac.jp

2017-04-10

We investigate the formation of circumstellar disks and outflows subsequent to the collapse of molecular cloud cores with the magnetic field and turbulence. Numerical simulations are performed by using an adaptive mesh refinement to follow the evolution up to ∼1000 years after the formation of a protostar. In the simulations, circumstellar disks are formed around the protostars; those in magnetized models are considerably smaller than those in nonmagnetized models, but their size increases with time. The models with stronger magnetic fields tend to produce smaller disks. During evolution in the magnetized models, the mass ratios of a disk to amore » protostar is approximately constant at ∼1%–10%. The circumstellar disks are aligned according to their angular momentum, and the outflows accelerate along the magnetic field on the 10–100 au scale; this produces a disk that is misaligned with the outflow. The outflows are classified into two types: a magnetocentrifugal wind and a spiral flow. In the latter, because of the geometry, the axis of rotation is misaligned with the magnetic field. The magnetic field has an internal structure in the cloud cores, which also causes misalignment between the outflows and the magnetic field on the scale of the cloud core. The distribution of the angular momentum vectors in a core also has a non-monotonic internal structure. This should create a time-dependent accretion of angular momenta onto the circumstellar disk. Therefore, the circumstellar disks are expected to change their orientation as well as their sizes in the long-term evolutions.« less

Radio and X-Ray Observations of SN 2006jd: Another Strongly Interacting Type IIn Supernova

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chandra, Poonam; Chevalier, Roger A.; Chugai, Nikolai; Fransson, Claes; Irwin, Christopher M.; Soderberg, Alicia M.; Chakraborti, Sayan; Immler, Stefan

2012-01-01

We report four years of radio and X-ray monitoring of the Type IIn supernova SN 2006jd at radio wavelengths with the Very Large Array, Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope and Expanded Very Large Array at X-ray wavelengths with Chandra, XMM-Newton and Swift-XRT. We assume that the radio and X-ray emitting particles are produced by shock interaction with a dense circumstellar medium. The radio emission shows an initial rise that can be attributed to free-free absorption by cool gas mixed into the nonthermal emitting region external free-free absorption is disfavored because of the shape of the rising light curves and the low gas column density inferred along the line of sight to the emission region. The X-ray luminosity implies a preshock circumstellar density approximately 10(exp 6) per cubic meter at a radius r approximately 2 x 10(exp 16) centimeter, but the column density inferred from the photoabsorption of X-rays along the line of sight suggests a significantly lower density. The implication may be an asymmetry in the interaction. The X-ray spectrum shows Fe line emission at 6.9 keV that is stronger than is expected for the conditions in the X-ray emitting gas. We suggest that cool gas mixed into the hot gas plays a role in the line emission. Our radio and X-ray data both suggest the density profile is flatter than r2 because of the slow evolution of the unabsorbed emission.

Unexpectedly large mass loss during the thermal pulse cycle of the red giant star R Sculptoris.

PubMed

Maercker, M; Mohamed, S; Vlemmings, W H T; Ramstedt, S; Groenewegen, M A T; Humphreys, E; Kerschbaum, F; Lindqvist, M; Olofsson, H; Paladini, C; Wittkowski, M; de Gregorio-Monsalvo, I; Nyman, L-A

2012-10-11

The asymptotic-giant-branch star R Sculptoris is surrounded by a detached shell of dust and gas. The shell originates from a thermal pulse during which the star underwent a brief period of increased mass loss. It has hitherto been impossible to constrain observationally the timescales and mass-loss properties during and after a thermal pulse--parameters that determine the lifetime of the asymptotic giant branch and the amount of elements returned by the star. Here we report observations of CO emission from the circumstellar envelope and shell around R Sculptoris with an angular resolution of 1.3″. What was previously thought to be only a thin, spherical shell with a clumpy structure is revealed to also contain a spiral structure. Spiral structures associated with circumstellar envelopes have been previously seen, leading to the conclusion that the systems must be binaries. Combining the observational data with hydrodynamic simulations, we conclude that R Sculptoris is a binary system that underwent a thermal pulse about 1,800 years ago, lasting approximately 200 years. About 3 × 10(-3) solar masses of material were ejected at a velocity of 14.3 km s(-1) and at a rate around 30 times higher than the pre-pulse mass-loss rate. This shows that about three times more mass was returned to the interstellar medium during and immediately after the pulse than previously thought.

Time-varying sodium absorption in the Type Ia supernova 2013gh

DOE PAGES

Ferretti, Raphael; Amanullah, R.; Goobar, A.; ...

2016-07-18

Context. Temporal variability of narrow absorption lines in high-resolution spectra of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) is studied to search for circumstellar matter. Time series which resolve the profiles of absorption lines such as Na I D or Ca II H&K are expected to reveal variations due to photoionisation and subsequent recombination of the gases. The presence, composition, and geometry of circumstellar matter may hint at the elusive progenitor system of SNe Ia and could also affect the observed reddening law. Aims. To date, there are few known cases of time-varying Na I D absorption in SNe Ia, all ofmore » which occurred during relatively late phases of the supernova (SN) evolution. Photoionisation, however, is predicted to occur during the early phases of SNe Ia, when the supernovae peak in the ultraviolet. We attempt, therefore, to observe early-time absorption-line variations by obtaining high-resolution spectra of SNe before maximum light. Methods. In this paper, we have obtained photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy of SNe Ia 2013gh and iPTF 13dge, to search for absorption-line variations. Furthermore, we study interstellar absorption features in relation to the observed photometric colours of the SNe. Results. Both SNe display deep Na I D and Ca II H&K absorption features. Furthermore, small but significant variations are detected in a feature of the Na I D profile of SN 2013gh. The variations are consistent with either geometric effects of rapidly moving or patchy gas clouds or photoionisation of Na I gas at R ≈ 10 19 cm from the explosion. Conclusions. Our analysis indicates that it is necessary to focus on early phases to detect photoionisation effects of gases in the circumstellar medium of SNe Ia. Different absorbers such as Na I and Ca II can be used to probe for matter at different distances from the SNe. Finally, the nondetection of variations during early phases makes it possible to put limits on the abundance of the species at those distances.« less

Probing for exoplanets hiding in dusty debris disks: Disk imaging, characterization, and exploration with HST/STIS multi-roll coronagraphy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schneider, Glenn; Hinz, Phillip M.; Grady, Carol A.

Spatially resolved scattered-light images of circumstellar debris in exoplanetary systems constrain the physical properties and orbits of the dust particles in these systems. They also inform on co-orbiting (but unseen) planets, the systemic architectures, and forces perturbing the starlight-scattering circumstellar material. Using Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) broadband optical coronagraphy, we have completed the observational phase of a program to study the spatial distribution of dust in a sample of 10 circumstellar debris systems and 1 'mature' protoplanetrary disk, all with HST pedigree, using point-spread-function-subtracted multi-roll coronagraphy. These observations probe stellocentric distances ≥5 AU for the nearestmore » systems, and simultaneously resolve disk substructures well beyond corresponding to the giant planet and Kuiper Belt regions within our own solar system. They also disclose diffuse very low-surface-brightness dust at larger stellocentric distances. Herein we present new results inclusive of fainter disks such as HD 92945 (F {sub disk}/F {sub star} = 5 × 10{sup –5}), confirming, and better revealing, the existence of a narrow inner debris ring within a larger diffuse dust disk. Other disks with ring-like substructures and significant asymmetries and complex morphologies include HD 181327, for which we posit a spray of ejecta from a recent massive collision in an exo-Kuiper Belt; HD 61005, suggested to be interacting with the local interstellar medium; and HD 15115 and HD 32297, also discussed in the context of putative environmental interactions. These disks and HD 15745 suggest that debris system evolution cannot be treated in isolation. For AU Mic's edge-on disk, we find out-of-plane surface brightness asymmetries at ≥5 AU that may implicate the existence of one or more planetary perturbers. Time-resolved images of the MP Mus protoplanetary disk provide spatially resolved temporal variability in the disk illumination. These and other new images from our HST/STIS GO/12228 program enable direct inter-comparison of the architectures of these exoplanetary debris systems in the context of our own solar system.« less

Exploring Asymmetries in Circumstellar Environments: Winds, Disks, and Things that Go Clump in the Light

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, Kenneth

1999-01-01

The aim of the NASA LTSA grant is to develop Monte Carlo radiation transfer techniques for use in the analysis of data from stellar systems that exhibit evidence for extended, non-spherical circumstellar environments.

Interferometric view of the circumstellar envelopes of northern FU Orionis-type stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fehér, O.; Kóspál, Á.; Ábrahám, P.; Hogerheijde, M. R.; Brinch, C.

2017-11-01

Context. FU Orionis-type objects are pre-main sequence, low-mass stars with large outbursts in visible light that last for several years or decades. They are thought to represent an evolutionary phase during the life of every young star when accretion from the circumstellar disk is enhanced during recurring time periods. These outbursts are able to rapidly build up the star while affecting the physical conditions inside the circumstellar disk and thus the ongoing or future planet formation. In many models, infall from a circumstellar envelope seems to be necessary to trigger the outbursts. Aims: We characterise the morphology and the physical parameters of the circumstellar material around FU Orionis-type stars using the emission of millimetre-wavelength molecular tracers. The high-spatial-resolution study provides insight into the evolutionary state of the objects, the distribution of parameters in the envelopes and the physical processes forming the environment of these stars. Methods: We observed the J = 1-0 rotational transition of 13CO and C18O towards eight northern FU Orionis-type stars (V1057 Cyg, V1515 Cyg, V2492 Cyg, V2493 Cyg, V1735 Cyg, V733 Cep, RNO 1B and RNO 1C) and determine the spatial and velocity structure of the circumstellar gas on a scale of a few thousand AU. We derive temperatures and envelope masses and discuss the kinematics of the circumstellar material. Results: We detected extended CO emission associated with all our targets. Smaller-scale CO clumps were found to be associated with five objects with radii of 2000-5000 AU and masses of 0.02-0.5 M⊙; these are clearly heated by the central stars. Three of these envelopes are also strongly detected in the 2.7 mm continuum. No central CO clumps were detected around V733 Cep and V710 Cas which can be interpreted as envelopes but there are many other clumps in their environments. Traces of outflow activity were observed towards V1735 Cyg, V733 Cep and V710 Cas. Conclusions: The diversity of the observed envelopes enables us to set up an evolutionary sequence between the objects. We find their evolutionary state to range from early, embedded Class I stage to late, Class II-type objects with very-low-mass circumstellar material. We also find evidence of larger-scale circumstellar material influencing the detected spectral features in the environment of our targets. These results reinforce the idea of FU Orionis-type stars as representatives of a transitory stage between embedded Class I young stellar objects and classical T Tauri stars.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Draco nebula Herschel 250um map (Miville-Deschenes+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miville-Deschenes, M.-A.; Salome, Q.; Martin, P. G.; Joncas, G.; Blagrave, K.; Dassas, K.; Abergel, A.; Beelen, A.; Boulanger, F.; Lagache, G.; Lockman, F. J.; Marshall, D. J.

2017-03-01

Draco was observed with Herschel PACS (110 and 170um) and SPIRE (250, 350 and 500um) as part of the open-time program "First steps toward star formation: unveiling the atomic to molecular transition in the diffuse interstellar medium" (P.I. M-A Miville-Deschenes). A field of 3.85x3.85 was observed in parallel mode. Unfortunately, an error occurred during the acquisition of the PACS data making them unusable. Therefore, the results presented here are solely based on SPIRE data, especially the 250um map that has the highest angular resolution. (2 data files).

Detailed modelling of the circumstellar molecular line emission of the S-type AGB star W Aquilae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danilovich, T.; Bergman, P.; Justtanont, K.; Lombaert, R.; Maercker, M.; Olofsson, H.; Ramstedt, S.; Royer, P.

2014-09-01

Context. S-type AGB stars have a C/O ratio which suggests that they are transition objects between oxygen-rich M-type stars and carbon-rich C-type stars. As such, their circumstellar compositions of gas and dust are thought to be sensitive to their precise C/O ratio, and it is therefore of particular interest to examine their circumstellar properties. Aims: We present new Herschel HIFI and PACS sub-millimetre and far-infrared line observations of several molecular species towards the S-type AGB star W Aql. We use these observations, which probe a wide range of gas temperatures, to constrain the circumstellar properties of W Aql, including mass-loss rate and molecular abundances. Methods: We used radiative transfer codes to model the circumstellar dust and molecular line emission to determine circumstellar properties and molecular abundances. We assumed a spherically symmetric envelope formed by a constant mass-loss rate driven by an accelerating wind. Our model includes fully integrated H2O line cooling as part of the solution of the energy balance. Results: We detect circumstellar molecular lines from CO, H2O, SiO, HCN, and, for the first time in an S-type AGB star, NH3. The radiative transfer calculations result in an estimated mass-loss rate for W Aql of 4.0 × 10-6 M⊙ yr-1 based on the 12CO lines. The estimated 12CO/13CO ratio is 29, which is in line with ratios previously derived for S-type AGB stars. We find an H2O abundance of 1.5 × 10-5, which is intermediate to the abundances expected for M and C stars, and an ortho/para ratio for H2O that is consistent with formation at warm temperatures. We find an HCN abundance of 3 × 10-6, and, although no CN lines are detected using HIFI, we are able to put some constraints on the abundance, 6 × 10-6, and distribution of CN in W Aql's circumstellar envelopeusing ground-based data. We find an SiO abundance of 3 × 10-6, and an NH3 abundance of 1.7 × 10-5, confined to a small envelope. If we include uncertainties in the adopted circumstellar model - in the adopted abundance distributions, etc. - the errors in the abundances are of the order of factors of a few. The data also suggest that, in terms of HCN, S-type and M-type AGB stars are similar, and in terms of H2O, S-type AGB stars are more like C-type than M-type AGB stars. We detect excess blue-shifted emission in several molecular lines, possibly due to an asymmetric outflow. Conclusions: The estimated abundances of circumstellar HCN, SiO and H2O place W Aql in between M- and C-type AGB stars, i.e., the abundances are consistent with an S-type classification. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.

Ultraviolet Light Curves of Gaia16apd in Superluminous Supernova Models

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tolstov, Alexey; Zhiglo, Andrey; Nomoto, Ken’ichi

2017-08-10

Observations of Gaia16apd revealed extremely luminous ultraviolet emission among superluminous supernovae (SLSNe). Using radiation hydrodynamics simulations, we perform a comparison of UV light curves, color temperatures, and photospheric velocities between the most popular SLSN models: pair-instability supernova, magnetar, and interaction with circumstellar medium. We find that the interaction model is the most promising to explain the extreme UV luminosity of Gaia16apd. The differences in late-time UV emission and in color evolution found between the models can be used to link an observed SLSN event to the most appropriate model. Observations at UV wavelengths can be used to clarify the naturemore » of SLSNe and more attention should be paid to them in future follow-up observations.« less

Fullerenes in Allende Meteorite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Becker, L.; Bada, J. L.; Winans, R. E.; Bunch, T. E.

1994-01-01

The detection of fullerenes in deposits from meteor impacts has led to renewed interest in the possibility that fullerenes are present in meteorites. Although fullerenes have not previously been detected in the Murchison and Allende meteorites, the Allende meteorite is known to contain several well-ordered graphite particles which are remarkably similar in size and appearance to the fullerene-related structures carbon onions and nanotubes. We report that fullerenes are in fact present in trace amounts in the Allende meteorite. In addition to fullerenes, we detected many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Allende meteorite, consistent with previous reports. In particular, we detected benzofluoranthene and corannulene (C20H10), five-membered ring structures which have been proposed as precursors to the formation of fullerene synthesis, perhaps within circumstellar envelopes or other sites in the interstellar medium.

Evidence for Pulsation-Driven Mass Loss from δ Cephei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marengo, M.; Evans, N. R.; Matthews, L. D.; Bono, G.; Barmby, P.; Welch, D. L.; Romaniello, M.; Su, K. Y. L.; Fazio, G. G.; Huelsman, D.

We found the first direct evidence that the Cepheid class namesake, δ Cephei, is currently losing mass. These observations are based on data obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope in the infrared, and with the Very Large Array in the radio. We found that δ Cephei is associated with a vast circumstellar structure, reminiscent of a bow shock. This structure is created as the wind from the star interacts with the local interstellar medium. We measure an outflow velocity of ≈ 35. 5 km s- 1 and a mass loss rate of ≈ 10- 7-10- 6 M ⊙ year- 1. The very low dust content of the outflow suggests that the wind is possibly pulsation-driven, rather than dust-driven as common for other classes of evolved stars.

LONG-TERM OPTICAL STUDIES OF THE BE/X-RAY BINARY RX J0440.9+4431/LS V+44 17

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yan, Jingzhi; Zhang, Peng; Liu, Wei

2016-04-15

We present the spectroscopic and photometric observations on the Be/X-ray binary RX J0440.9+4431 from 2001 to 2014. The short-term and long-term variability of the Hα line profile indicates that one-armed global oscillations existed in the circumstellar disk. Several positive and negative correlations between the V-band brightness and the Hα intensity were found from the long-term photometric and spectroscopic observations. We suggest that the monotonic increase of the V-band brightness and the Hα brightness between our 2005 and 2007 observations might be the result of a continuous mass ejection from the central Be star, while the negative correlation in 2007–2010 should bemore » caused by the cessation of mass loss from the Be star just before the decline in V-band brightness began (around our 2007 observations). With the extension of the ejection material, the largest circumstellar disk during the last two decades has been observed in our 2010 observations with an equivalent width of approximately −12.88 Å, which corresponds to a circumstellar disk with a size of 12.9 times the radius of the central Be star. Three consecutive X-ray outbursts peaking around MJD 55293, 55444, and 55591 might be connected with the largest circumstellar disk around the Be star. We also use the orbital motion of the neutron star as a probe to constrain the structure of the circumstellar disk and estimate the eccentricity of the binary system to be ≥0.4. After three years of the Hα intensity decline after the X-ray outbursts, a new circumstellar disk was being formed around the Be star after our 2013 observations.« less

Dissipation of circumstellar disks of Be stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabogal, B. E.; Ubaque, K. Y.; García-Varela, A.; álvarez, M.; Salas, L.

2017-07-01

Studies of L-band spectra of Be stars are useful to set constraints to the models of formation and evolution mechanisms of the circumstellar disks around these stars. Because few such studies have been performed, more of them are needed to confirm the characteristics reported about the optical depth and evolution of these disks. In this work, we studied new L-band spectra of 7 bright galactic Be stars that were obtained by using CID-InSb spectrograph at the 2.1-m telescope at OAN/UNAM San Pedro Martir Observatory, Baja California, Mexico. We used these data to locate these stars, and the Be stars previously studied in the IR, on a flux ratio diagram (log Hu14/Pfγ vs log Hu14/Brα). We found that 28 Cyg has moved significantly along this diagram implying strong changes of its disk from optically thick to an optically thin one between 2001 and 2014. On the base of the absence of emission lines in the spectra, the circumstellar disks of θ CrB and 66 Oph have been almost totally dissipated. These three stars have decaying circumstellar disks. The other stars: γ Cas, φ Per, 28 Tau and o Her have optically thin disks, that have been almost stable in time. It will be important monitoring these and other Be stars in the L-band to observe the changes on their circumstellar disks, and to observe also in this band, the building-up stars, i.e. stars that create a new disk, or that change it from a very tenuous one to an optically thick circumstellar disk. Our spectra contribute to enlarge the infrared spectroscopic database of Be stars.

The brightest high-latitude 12-micron IRAS sources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hacking, P.; Beichman, C.; Chester, T.; Neugebauer, G.; Emerson, J.

1985-01-01

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) Point Source catalog was searched for sources brighter than 28 Jy (0 mag) at 12 microns with absolute galactic latitude greater than 30 deg excluding the Large Magellanic Cloud. The search resulted in 269 sources, two of which are the galaxies NGC 1068 and M82. The remaining 267 sources are identified with, or have infrared color indices consistent with late-type stars some of which show evidence of circumstellar dust shells. Seven sources are previously uncataloged stars. K and M stars without circumstellar dust shells, M stars with circumstellar dust shells, and carbon stars occupy well-defined regions of infrared color-color diagrams.

On circumstellar molecules in the Pleiades.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hobbs, L. M.

1972-01-01

Consideration of both old and new observations of the interstellar 4232-A line of CH(+) for the brightest members of the Pleiades. These observations suggest that the molecules are circumstellar in some sense, perhaps resembling in this respect the micron-sized grains inferred to be present in this region.

First exploration of a single thermal interface between the two dominant phases of the interstellar medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gry, Cecile

2017-08-01

Two phases of the interstellar medium, the Warm Neutral Medium (WNM) and the Hot Ionized Medium (HIM) occupy most the volume of space in the plane of our Galaxy. Because the boundaries between these phases are important sources of energy loss for the hot gas, they are supposed to play an important role in the thermal structure and evolution of the ISM and of galaxies.Many theorists have created descriptions of the nature of such boundaries and have derived two fundamental concepts: (1) a conductive interface and (2) a turbulent mixing layer.We have yet to observe in detail either kind of boundary. This is achieved by using UV absorption lines of moderately high ionization stages of heavy elements. Yet, over most lines of sight the diagnostics are blurred out by the superposition of different regions with vastly different physical conditions, making them difficult to interpret. To characterize the nature of the physical processes at a boundary one must observe along a sight line that penetrates just one such region. The simplest configuration is the outer boundary of the Local Cloud, the WNM ((T 7000 K) that surrounds the Sun and which is embedded in a very low density, soft X-ray emitting hot medium ( 10^6 K) that fills a cavity ( 200 pc in diameter) called the Local Bubble.We propose to observe an ideal target: a nearby, bright B9V star (i.e. hot enough to provide a high-SNR continuum, but not enough to contaminate it with absorptions from circumstellar high-ionization species), located in a direction where the relative orientation of the magnetic field and the cloud boundary does not quench thermal conduction and thus favors a full extent of the interface.

Theoretical studies of the infrared emission from circumstellar dust shells: the infrared characteristics of circumstellar silicates and the mass-loss rate of oxygen-rich late-type giants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schutte, W. A.; Tielens, A. G.; Allamandola, L. J. (Principal Investigator)

1989-01-01

We have modeled the infrared emission of spherically symmetric, circumstellar dust shells with the aim of deriving the infrared absorption properties of circumstellar silicate grains and the mass-loss rates of the central stars. As a basis for our numerical studies, a simple semianalytical formula has been derived that illustrates the essential characteristics of the infrared emission of such dust shells. A numerical radiative transfer program has been developed and applied to dust shells around oxygen-rich late-type giants. Free parameters in such models include the absorption properties and density distribution of the dust. An approximate, analytical expression is derived for the density distribution of circumstellar dust driven outward by radiation pressure from a central source. A large grid of models has been calculated to study the influence of the free parameters on the emergent spectrum. These results form the basis for a comparison with near-infrared observations. Observational studies have revealed a correlation between the near-infrared color temperature, Tc, and the strength of the 10 micrometers emission or absorption feature, A10. This relationship, which essentially measures the near-infrared optical depth in terms of the 10 micrometers optical depth, is discussed. Theoretical A10-Tc relations have been calculated and compared to the observations. The results show that this relation is a sensitive way to determine the ratio of the near-infrared to 10 micrometers absorption efficiency of circumstellar silicates. These results as well as previous studies show that the near-infrared absorption efficiency of circumstellar silicate grains is much higher than expected from terrestrial minerals. We suggest that this enhanced absorption is due to the presence of ferrous iron (Fe2+) color centers dissolved in the circumstellar silicates. By using the derived value for the ratio of the near-infrared to 10 micrometers absorption efficiency, the observed A10-Tc relation can be calibrated in terms of the total dust column density of the circumstellar shell and thus the mass-loss rate of late-type giants can easily be derived. Detailed models have been made of the infrared emission of three well-studied Miras: R Cas, IRC 10011, and OH 26.5+0.6, with the emphasis on the shape of the 10 micrometers emission or absorption feature. The results show that the intrinsic shape of the 10 micrometers resonance varies from a very broad feature in R Cas to a relatively narrower feature in OH 26.5+0.6, with IRC 10011 somewhere in between. Possible origins of this variation are discussed. The mass-loss rates from these objects are calculated to be 3 x 10(-7), 2 x 10(-5), and 2 x 10(-4) M Sun yr-1 for R Cas, IRC 10011, and OH 26.5+0.6, respectively. These results are compared to other determinations in the literature.

Medium-Energy Particle experiments (MEPs) for the Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasahara, S.; Yokota, S.; Mitani, T.; Asamura, K.; Hirahara, M.; Shibano, Y.; Yamamoto, K.; Takashima, T.

2017-12-01

ERG (Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace) is the geospace exploration spacecraft, which was launched on 20 December 2016. The mission goal is to unveil the physics behind the drastic radiation belt variability during space storms. One of key observations is the measurement of ions and electrons in the medium-energy range (10-200 keV), since these particles excite EMIC, magnetosonic, and whistler waves, which are theoretically suggested to play significant roles in the relativistic electron acceleration and loss. Medium-Energy Particle experiments - electron analyser (MEP-e) measures the energy and the direction of each incoming electron in the range of 7 to 87 keV. The sensor covers 2π radian disk-like field-of-view with 16 detectors, and the solid angle coverage is achieved by using spacecraft spin motion. The electron energy is independently measured by an electrostatic analyser and avalanche photodiodes, enabling the significant background reduction. Medium-Energy Particle experiments - ion mass analyzer (MEP-i) measures the energy, mass, and charge state of the direction of each incoming ion in the medium-energy range (<10 to >180 keV/q). MEP-i thus provides the velocity distribution functions of medium-energy ions (e.g., protons and oxygens), from which we can obtain significant information on local ion energization and pitch angle scattering in the inner magnetosphere. Heavy ion measurements can also play an important role to restrict global mass transport including the ionosphere and the plasmasheet. Here we show the technical approaches, data output, and highlights of initial observations.

Pre-Biological Evolution of Organic Matter in the Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiebe, D. Z.

2017-05-01

Discovery of interstellar molecules has become one of the most prominent findings of 20th century. Initially (since late 1930-ies) only simple two-atom compounds have been known. However, the rapid development of radioastronomy during post-war years has allowed expanding this list significantly. Now, the number of known interstellar and circumstellar molecules approaches two hundred (not counting isomers and isotopologues). Among them we see both simple and quite complex molecules. The largest molecules with solid identification consist of 12 atoms (CH3OC2H5, C3H7CN). Nearly all molecules with more than five atoms represent are organic. More than once even discovery of the simplest amino acid (glycine) in the interstellar medium had been reported. While later all these reports has been refuted, there is no doubt that this is a purely technical problem, and there are no fundamental obstacles on a pathway to interstellar synthesis of simplest amino acids. Definitely, even more complex organic structures are present in the interstellar medium, like fullerenes and some kind of aromatic particles. Recently, this diversity quite often became an incentive to suggest that organic species might have arrived to Earth (and other forming planets) in a "ready-to-use" form. However, one has to remember that numerous factors causing effective molecule destruction are in action in the interstellar medium, in the vicinity of young stars, and in protoplanetary disks.

Gentle reenergization of electrons in merging galaxy clusters

PubMed Central

de Gasperin, Francesco; Intema, Huib T.; Shimwell, Timothy W.; Brunetti, Gianfranco; Brüggen, Marcus; Enßlin, Torsten A.; van Weeren, Reinout J.; Bonafede, Annalisa; Röttgering, Huub J. A.

2017-01-01

Galaxy clusters are the most massive constituents of the large-scale structure of the universe. Although the hot thermal gas that pervades galaxy clusters is relatively well understood through observations with x-ray satellites, our understanding of the nonthermal part of the intracluster medium (ICM) remains incomplete. With Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) and Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations, we have identified a phenomenon that can be unveiled only at extremely low radio frequencies and offers new insights into the nonthermal component. We propose that the interplay between radio-emitting plasma and the perturbed intracluster medium can gently reenergize relativistic particles initially injected by active galactic nuclei. Sources powered through this mechanism can maintain electrons at higher energies than radiative aging would allow. If this mechanism is common for aged plasma, a population of mildly relativistic electrons can be accumulated inside galaxy clusters providing the seed population for merger-induced reacceleration mechanisms on larger scales such as turbulence and shock waves. PMID:28983512

Unveiling the structural arrangements responsible for the atomic dynamics in metallic glasses during physical aging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giordano, V. M.; Ruta, B.

2016-01-01

Understanding and controlling physical aging, that is, the spontaneous temporal evolution of out-of-equilibrium systems, represents one of the greatest tasks in material science. Recent studies have revealed the existence of a complex atomic motion in metallic glasses, with different aging regimes in contrast with the typical continuous aging observed in macroscopic quantities. By combining dynamical and structural synchrotron techniques, here for the first time we directly connect previously identified microscopic structural mechanisms with the peculiar atomic motion, providing a broader unique view of their complexity. We show that the atomic scale is dominated by the interplay between two processes: rearrangements releasing residual stresses related to a cascade mechanism of relaxation, and medium range ordering processes, which do not affect the local density, likely due to localized relaxations of liquid-like regions. As temperature increases, a surprising additional secondary relaxation process sets in, together with a faster medium range ordering, likely precursors of crystallization.

Gentle reenergization of electrons in merging galaxy clusters.

PubMed

de Gasperin, Francesco; Intema, Huib T; Shimwell, Timothy W; Brunetti, Gianfranco; Brüggen, Marcus; Enßlin, Torsten A; van Weeren, Reinout J; Bonafede, Annalisa; Röttgering, Huub J A

2017-10-01

Galaxy clusters are the most massive constituents of the large-scale structure of the universe. Although the hot thermal gas that pervades galaxy clusters is relatively well understood through observations with x-ray satellites, our understanding of the nonthermal part of the intracluster medium (ICM) remains incomplete. With Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) and Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations, we have identified a phenomenon that can be unveiled only at extremely low radio frequencies and offers new insights into the nonthermal component. We propose that the interplay between radio-emitting plasma and the perturbed intracluster medium can gently reenergize relativistic particles initially injected by active galactic nuclei. Sources powered through this mechanism can maintain electrons at higher energies than radiative aging would allow. If this mechanism is common for aged plasma, a population of mildly relativistic electrons can be accumulated inside galaxy clusters providing the seed population for merger-induced reacceleration mechanisms on larger scales such as turbulence and shock waves.

Molecules in the transition disk orbiting T Chamaeleontis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sacco, G. G.; Kastner, J. H.; Forveille, T.; Principe, D.; Montez, R.; Zuckerman, B.; Hily-Blant, P.

2014-01-01

Aims: We seek to establish the presence and properties of gas in the circumstellar disk orbiting T Cha, a nearby (d ~ 110 pc), relatively evolved (age ~5-7 Myr) yet actively accreting 1.5 M⊙ T Tauri star. Methods: We used the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) 12 m radiotelescope to search for submillimeter molecular emission from the T Cha disk, and we reanalyzed archival XMM-Newton imaging spectroscopy of T Cha to ascertain the intervening absorption due to disk gas along the line of sight to the star (NH). Results: We detected submillimeter rotational transitions of 12CO, 13CO, HCN, CN, and HCO+ from the T Cha disk. The 12CO line (and possibly the 13CO line) appears to display a double-peaked line profile indicative of Keplerian rotation; hence, these molecular line observations constitute the first direct demonstration of the presence of cold molecular gas orbiting T Cha. Analysis of the CO emission line data indicates that the disk around T Cha has a mass (Mdisk,H2 = 80 M⊕) similar to, but more compact (Rdisk,CO ~ 80 AU) than other nearby, evolved molecular disks (e.g., V4046 Sgr, TW Hya, MP Mus) in which cold molecular gas has been previously detected. The HCO+/13CO and HCN/13CO line ratios measured for T Cha appear similar to those of other evolved circumstellar disks (i.e., TW Hya and V4046 Sgr). The CN/13CO ratio appears somewhat weaker, but due to the low signal-to-noise ratio of our detection, this discrepancy is not strongly significant. Analysis of the XMM-Newton X-ray spectroscopic data shows that the atomic absorption NH toward T Cha is one to two orders of magnitude larger than toward the other nearby T Tauri with evolved disks, which are seen at much lower inclination angles. Furthermore, the ratio between atomic absorption and optical extinction NH/AV toward T Cha is higher than the typical value observed for the interstellar medium and young stellar objects in the Orion nebula cluster. This may suggest that the fraction of metals in the disk gas is higher than in the interstellar medium. However, an X-ray absorption model appropriate for the physical and chemical conditions of a circumstellar disk is required to address this issue. Conclusions: Our results confirm that pre-main-sequence stars older than ~5 Myr retain cold molecular disks when accreting, and that those relatively evolved disks display similar physical and chemical properties. Based on submillimeter and X-ray observations. Submillimeter observations have been collected at the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile, with the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment APEX (Prog. ID 088.C-0441 and E-089.C-0518A). X-ray archival observations used in this paper have been obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA member states and NASA.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: MIPS 24um nebulae (Gvaramadze+, 2010)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gvaramadze, V. V.; Kniazev, A. Y.; Fabrika, S.

2011-03-01

Massive evolved stars lose a large fraction of their mass via copious stellar wind or instant outbursts. During certain evolutionary phases, they can be identified by the presence of their circumstellar nebulae. In this paper, we present the results of a search for compact nebulae (reminiscent of circumstellar nebulae around evolved massive stars) using archival 24um data obtained with the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer. We have discovered 115 nebulae, most of which bear a striking resemblance to the circumstellar nebulae associated with luminous blue variables (LBVs) and late WN-type (WNL) Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in the Milky Way and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). (1 data file).

Detection of circumstellar material in a normal type Ia supernova.

PubMed

Patat, F; Chandra, P; Chevalier, R; Justham, S; Podsiadlowski, Ph; Wolf, C; Gal-Yam, A; Pasquini, L; Crawford, I A; Mazzali, P A; Pauldrach, A W A; Nomoto, K; Benetti, S; Cappellaro, E; Elias-Rosa, N; Hillebrandt, W; Leonard, D C; Pastorello, A; Renzini, A; Sabbadin, F; Simon, J D; Turatto, M

2007-08-17

Type Ia supernovae are important cosmological distance indicators. Each of these bright supernovae supposedly results from the thermonuclear explosion of a white dwarf star that, after accreting material from a companion star, exceeds some mass limit, but the true nature of the progenitor star system remains controversial. Here we report the spectroscopic detection of circumstellar material in a normal type Ia supernova explosion. The expansion velocities, densities, and dimensions of the circumstellar envelope indicate that this material was ejected from the progenitor system. In particular, the relatively low expansion velocities suggest that the white dwarf was accreting material from a companion star that was in the red-giant phase at the time of the explosion.

Radio emission of SN1993J: the complete picture. II. Simultaneous fit of expansion and radio light curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martí-Vidal, I.; Marcaide, J. M.; Alberdi, A.; Guirado, J. C.; Pérez-Torres, M. A.; Ros, E.

2011-02-01

We report on a simultaneous modelling of the expansion and radio light curves of the supernova SN1993J. We developed a simulation code capable of generating synthetic expansion and radio light curves of supernovae by taking into consideration the evolution of the expanding shock, magnetic fields, and relativistic electrons, as well as the finite sensitivity of the interferometric arrays used in the observations. Our software successfully fits all the available radio data of SN 1993J with a standard emission model for supernovae, which is extended with some physical considerations, such as an evolution in the opacity of the ejecta material, a radial decline in the magnetic fields within the radiating region, and a changing radial density profile for the circumstellar medium starting from day 3100 after the explosion.

Single isotope fractionation of (16)O(-) implications for early history of solar system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arrhenius, G.

1980-01-01

Chemical fractionation processes are investigated with emphasis on selective single isotope fractionation in polyisotopic systems, particularly in oxygen. The related temperature parameters of meteoritic condensates and of their source medium are investigated by a thermometric method that is independent of assumptions regarding temperatures and pressures in the solar nebula. The crucial nonlinear chemical fractionation of O-16 was demonstrated experimentally. The effect was achieved in condensed CO2 formed from CO with C-12 O-16 selectively excited by H Ly alpha. The effect was verified by mass spectrometric measurements. The meteorite paleotemperature estimates were advanced from defining only thermal exposure to evaluating time and temperature independently. Grain temperatures at condensation of refractory inclusion materials are indicated to be less than 900 K in agreement with radiation temperature considerations and observations in circumstellar dust shells.

Why galactic gamma-ray bursts might depend on environment: Blast waves around neutron stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rees, Martin J.; Meszaros, Peter; Begelman, Mitchell C.

1994-01-01

Although galactic models for gamma-ray bursts are hard to reconcile with the isotropy data, the issue is still sufficiently open that both options should be explored. The most likely 'triggers' for bursts in our Galaxy would be violent disturbances in the magnetospheres of neutron stars. Any event of this kind is likely to expel magnetic flux and plasma at relativistic speed. Such ejecta would be braked by the interstellar medium (ISM), and a gamma-ray flash may result from this interaction. The radiative efficiency, of this mechanism would depend on the density of the circumstellar ISM. Therefore, even if neutron stars were uniformly distributed in space (at least within 1-2 kpc of the Sun), the observed locations of bursts would correlate with regions of above-average ISM density.

Phase portraits analysis of a barothropic system: The initial value problem

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuetche, Victor Kamgang, E-mail: vkuetche@yahoo.fr; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde; The Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste

2014-05-15

In this paper, we investigate the phase portraits features of a barothropic relaxing medium under pressure perturbations. In the starting point, we show within a third-order of accuracy that the previous system is modeled by a “dissipative” cubic nonlinear evolution equation. Paying particular attention to high-frequency perturbations of the system, we solve the initial value problem of the system both analytically and numerically while unveiling the existence of localized multivalued waveguide channels. Accordingly, we find that the “dissipative” term with a “dissipative” parameter less than some limit value does not destroy the ambiguous solutions. We address some physical implications ofmore » the results obtained previously.« less

Radiative Cooling of Warm Molecular Gas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neufeld, David A.; Kaufman, Michael J.

1993-01-01

We consider the radiative cooling of warm (T >= 100 K), fully molecular astrophysical gas by rotational and vibrational transitions of the molecules H2O, CO, and H2. Using an escape probability method to solve for the molecular level populations, we have obtained the cooling rate for each molecule as a function of temperature, density, and an optical depth parameter. A four-parameter expression proves useful in fitting the run of cooling rate with density for any fixed values of the temperature and optical depth parameter. We identify the various cooling mechanisms which are dominant in different regions of the astrophysically relevant parameter space. Given the assumption that water is very abundant in warm regions of the interstellar medium, H2O rotational transitions are found to dominate the cooling of warm interstellar gas over a wide portion of the parameter space considered. While chemical models for the interstellar medium make the strong prediction that water will be produced copiously at temperatures above a few hundred degrees, our assumption of a high water abundance has yet to be tested observationally. The Infrared Space Observatory and the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite will prove ideal instruments for testing whether water is indeed an important coolant of interstellar and circumstellar gas.

Delayed Shock-induced Dust Formation in the Dense Circumstellar Shell Surrounding the Type IIn Supernova SN 2010jl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarangi, Arkaprabha; Dwek, Eli; Arendt, Richard G.

2018-05-01

The light curves of Type IIn supernovae are dominated by the radiative energy released through the interaction of the supernova shock waves with their dense circumstellar medium (CSM). The ultraluminous Type IIn supernova SN 2010jl exhibits an infrared emission component that is in excess of the extrapolated UV–optical spectrum as early as few weeks postexplosion. This emission has been considered by some as evidence for the rapid formation of dust in the cooling postshock CSM. We investigate the physical processes that may inhibit or facilitate the formation of dust in the CSM. When only radiative cooling is considered, the temperature of the dense shocked gas rapidly drops below the dust condensation temperature. However, by accounting for the heating of the postshock gas by the downstream radiation from the shock, we show that dust formation is inhibited until the radiation from the shock weakens as it propagates into the less dense outer regions of the CSM. In SN 2010jl, dust formation can therefore only commence after day ∼380. Only the IR emission since that epoch can be attributed to the newly formed CSM dust. Observations on day 460 and later show that the IR luminosity exceeds the UV–optical luminosity. The postshock dust cannot extinct the radiation emitted by the expanding SN shock. Therefore, its IR emission must be powered by an interior source, which we identify as the reverse shock propagating through the SN ejecta. IR emission before day 380 must therefore be an IR echo from preexisting CSM dust.

Modeling Type II-P/II-L Supernovae Interacting with Recent Episodic Mass Ejections from Their Presupernova Stars with MESA and SNEC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Sanskriti; Ray, Alak

2017-12-01

We show how dense, compact, discrete shells of circumstellar gas immediately outside of red supergiants affect the optical light curves of Type II-P/II-L supernovae (SNe), using the example of SN 2013ej. Earlier efforts in the literature had used an artificial circumstellar medium (CSM) stitched to the surface of an evolved star that had not gone through a phase of late-stage heavy mass loss, which, in essence, is the original source of the CSM. In contrast, we allow enhanced mass-loss rate from the modeled star during the 16O and 28Si burning stages and construct the CSM from the resulting mass-loss history in a self-consistent way. Once such evolved pre-SN stars are exploded, we find that the models with early interaction between the shock and the dense CSM reproduce light curves far better than those without that mass loss and, hence, having no nearby dense CSM. The required explosion energy for the progenitors with a dense CSM is reduced by almost a factor of two compared to those without the CSM. Our model, with a more realistic CSM profile and presupernova and explosion parameters, fits observed data much better throughout the rise, plateau, and radioactive tail phases as compared to previous studies. This points to an intermediate class of supernovae between Type II-P/II-L and Type II-n SNe with the characteristics of simultaneous UV and optical peak, slow decline after peak, and a longer plateau.

TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS THAT METHANOL MASER RINGS TRACE CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS: HIGH-RESOLUTION NEAR-INFRARED AND MID-INFRARED IMAGING

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

De Buizer, James M.; Bartkiewicz, Anna; Szymczak, Marian, E-mail: jdebuizer@sofia.usra.edu

2012-08-01

Milliarcsecond very long baseline interferometry maps of regions containing 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission have lead to the recent discovery of ring-like distributions of maser spots and the plausible hypothesis that they may be tracing circumstellar disks around forming high-mass stars. We aimed to test this hypothesis by imaging these regions in the near- and mid-infrared at high spatial resolution and compare the observed emission to the expected infrared morphologies as inferred from the geometries of the maser rings. In the near-infrared we used the Gemini North adaptive optics system of ALTAIR/NIRI, while in the mid-infrared we used the combinationmore » of the Gemini South instrument T-ReCS and super-resolution techniques. Resultant images had a resolution of {approx}150 mas in both the near-infrared and mid-infrared. We discuss the expected distribution of circumstellar material around young and massive accreting (proto)stars and what infrared emission geometries would be expected for the different maser ring orientations under the assumption that the masers are coming from within circumstellar disks. Based upon the observed infrared emission geometries for the four targets in our sample and the results of spectral energy distribution modeling of the massive young stellar objects associated with the maser rings, we do not find compelling evidence in support of the hypothesis that methanol masers rings reside in circumstellar disks.« less

The IRS 1 circumstellar disk, and the origin of the jet and CO outflow in B5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Langer, W. D.; Velusamy, T.; Xie, T.; Levin, S. M. (Principal Investigator)

1996-01-01

We report the discovery of the inner edge of the high velocity CO outflow associated with the bipolar jet originating from IRS 1 in Barnard 5 and the first ever resolution of its circumstellar disk in the 2.6 mm dust continuum and C18O. From high spatial resolution observations made with the Owens Valley Millimeter Array we are able to locate the origin of the outflow to within approximately 500 AU on either side of IRS 1 and apparently at the edge of, or possibly within, its circumstellar disk. The orientation of the continuum disk is perpendicular to the highly collimated jet outflow recently seen in optical emission at much farther distances. The disk has been detected in C18O giving a disk mass approximately 0.16 M (solar). Our HCO+ and HCN maps indicate significant chemical differentiation in the circumstellar region on small scales with HCO+ tracing an extended disk of material. The 12CO interferometer maps of the outflow show two conelike features originating at IRS 1, the blue one fanning open to the northeast and the red one to the southwest. The vertices of the cones are on either side of the circumstellar disk and have a projected opening angle of about 90 degrees. The intrinsic opening angle is in the range of 60 degrees-90 degrees which leads to significant interaction between outflow and infall.

The gaseous component of the disk around Beta Pictoris

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hobbs, L. M.; Vidal-Madjar, A.; Ferlet, R.; Albert, C. E.; Gry, C.

1985-01-01

Optical spectra of alpha Lyr, alpha PsA, and beta Pic have been obtained at a velocity resolution of 3 km/s. No circumstellar absorption lines of Ca II or Na I are detected toward alpha Lyr or alpha PsA at sensitive limits. In the favorable case of beta Pic, where the circumstellar disk imaged by Smith and Terrile (1984) is seen nearly edge-on, a strong, narrow, circumstellar Ca II K absorption line previously reported by Slettebak (1982) and weaker, still narrower circumstellar Na I D lines are detected. Negative results of high sensitivity also are obtained for the Ca I 4226 A and CH(+) 4232 A lines, along with upper limits on the Zn II 2026, 2062 A doublet from archival IUE spectra. Under assumptions which agree with other well-established observations of the gaseous abundances of calcium and zinc, the total gaseous column density of hydrogen along a radius of the circumstellar disk is between 10 to the 18th and 4 x 10 to the 20th/sq cm. Within the boundaries of the dust disk detected by Smith and Terrile (1984) the total gaseous mass then is less than about 2, or less than 1 percent of the mass of the planetary system. A simplified model of the density distribution in the gaseous disk yields a characteristic total density n(H) of about 100,000/cu cm, which exceeds that of all interplanetary gas at earth's position by a factor of about 10,000.

Isothermal Circumstellar Dust Shell Model for Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, G.; Towers, I. N.; Jovanoski, Z.

2009-01-01

We introduce a model of radiative transfer in circumstellar dust shells. By assuming that the shell is both isothermal and its thickness is small compared to its radius, the model is simple enough for students to grasp and yet still provides a quantitative description of the relevant physical features. The isothermal model can be used in a…

Copernicus observations of Betelgeuse and Antares

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bernat, A.P.; Lambert, D.L.

1976-03-15

The possibility is explored that the k-line asymmetry is caused by overlying resonance lines of Mn i and Fe i formed in the cool circumstellar gas shells around these stars. Observations of the Mn i 4030--4033 A lines are used to show that circumstellar shell absorption is too weak to explain the asymmetry. However, the overlying lines of the Mn i and Fe i do appear to be responsible because selected Fe i lines in the visible spectrum appear weakened by fluorescent emission driven by the Mg ii emission line. It is suggested that the absorption occurs in a coolmore » turbulent region between the base of the circumstellar shell and the top of the chromosphere. (AIP)« less

New observations and models of circumstellar CO line emission of AGB stars in the Herschel SUCCESS programme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danilovich, T.; Teyssier, D.; Justtanont, K.; Olofsson, H.; Cerrigone, L.; Bujarrabal, V.; Alcolea, J.; Cernicharo, J.; Castro-Carrizo, A.; García-Lario, P.; Marston, A.

2015-09-01

Context. Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are in one of the latest evolutionary stages of low to intermediate-mass stars. Their vigorous mass loss has a significant effect on the stellar evolution, and is a significant source of heavy elements and dust grains for the interstellar medium. The mass-loss rate can be well traced by carbon monoxide (CO) line emission. Aims: We present new Herschel/HIFI and IRAM 30 m telescope CO line data for a sample of 53 galactic AGB stars. The lines cover a fairly large range of excitation energy from the J = 1 → 0 line to the J = 9 → 8 line, and even the J = 14 → 13 line in a few cases. We perform radiative transfer modelling for 38 of these sources to estimate their mass-loss rates. Methods: We used a radiative transfer code based on the Monte Carlo method to model the CO line emission. We assume spherically symmetric circumstellar envelopes that are formed by a constant mass-loss rate through a smoothly accelerating wind. Results: We find models that are consistent across a broad range of CO lines for most of the stars in our sample, i.e., a large number of the circumstellar envelopes can be described with a constant mass-loss rate. We also find that an accelerating wind is required to fit, in particular, the higher-J lines and that a velocity law will have a significant effect on the model line intensities. The results cover a wide range of mass-loss rates (~10-8 to 2 × 10-5 M⊙ yr-1) and gas expansion velocities (2 to 21.5 km s-1) , and include M-, S-, and C-type AGB stars. Our results generally agree with those of earlier studies, although we tend to find slightly lower mass-loss rates by about 40%, on average. We also present "bonus" lines detected during our CO observations. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.Based on observations carried out with the IRAM 30 m Telescope. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain).Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Time-varying sodium absorption in the Type Ia supernova 2013gh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferretti, R.; Amanullah, R.; Goobar, A.; Johansson, J.; Vreeswijk, P. M.; Butler, R. P.; Cao, Y.; Cenko, S. B.; Doran, G.; Filippenko, A. V.; Freeland, E.; Hosseinzadeh, G.; Howell, D. A.; Lundqvist, P.; Mattila, S.; Nordin, J.; Nugent, P. E.; Petrushevska, T.; Valenti, S.; Vogt, S.; Wozniak, P.

2016-07-01

Context. Temporal variability of narrow absorption lines in high-resolution spectra of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) is studied to search for circumstellar matter. Time series which resolve the profiles of absorption lines such as Na I D or Ca II H&K are expected to reveal variations due to photoionisation and subsequent recombination of the gases. The presence, composition, and geometry of circumstellar matter may hint at the elusive progenitor system of SNe Ia and could also affect the observed reddening law. Aims: To date, there are few known cases of time-varying Na I D absorption in SNe Ia, all of which occurred during relatively late phases of the supernova (SN) evolution. Photoionisation, however, is predicted to occur during the early phases of SNe Ia, when the supernovae peak in the ultraviolet. We attempt, therefore, to observe early-time absorption-line variations by obtaining high-resolution spectra of SNe before maximum light. Methods: We have obtained photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy of SNe Ia 2013gh and iPTF 13dge, to search for absorption-line variations. Furthermore, we study interstellar absorption features in relation to the observed photometric colours of the SNe. Results: Both SNe display deep Na I D and Ca II H&K absorption features. Furthermore, small but significant variations are detected in a feature of the Na I D profile of SN 2013gh. The variations are consistent with either geometric effects of rapidly moving or patchy gas clouds or photoionisation of Na I gas at R ≈ 1019 cm from the explosion. Conclusions: Our analysis indicates that it is necessary to focus on early phases to detect photoionisation effects of gases in the circumstellar medium of SNe Ia. Different absorbers such as Na I and Ca II can be used to probe for matter at different distances from the SNe. The nondetection of variations during early phases makes it possible to put limits on the abundance of the species at those distances. Full Tables 2 and 3 are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/592/A40

Dust in circumstellar disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodmann, Jens

2006-02-01

This thesis presents observational and theoretical studies of the size and spatial distribution of dust particles in circumstellar disks. Using millimetre interferometric observations of optically thick disks around T Tauri stars, I provide conclusive evidence for the presence of millimetre- to centimetre-sized dust aggregates. These findings demonstrate that dust grain growth to pebble-sized dust particles is completed within less than 1 Myr in the outer disks around low-mass pre-main-sequence stars. The modelling of the infrared spectral energy distributions of several solar-type main-sequence stars and their associated circumstellar debris disks reveals the ubiquity of inner gaps devoid of substantial amounts of dust among Vega-type infrared excess sources. It is argued that the absence of circumstellar material in the inner disks is most likely the result of the gravitational influence of a large planet and/or a lack of dust-producing minor bodies in the dust-free region. Finally, I describe a numerical model to simulate the dynamical evolution of dust particles in debris disks, taking into account the gravitational perturbations by planets, photon radiation pressure, and dissipative drag forces due to the Poynting-Robertson effect and stellar wind. The validity of the code it established by several tests and comparison to semi-analytic approximations. The debris disk model is applied to simulate the main structural features of a ring of circumstellar material around the main-sequence star HD 181327. The best agreement between model and observation is achieved for dust grains a few tens of microns in size locked in the 1:1 resonance with a Jupiter-mass planet (or above) on a circular orbit.

The Curators of the University of Missouri Modeling the Infrared Emission of C_60 in Space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Aigen

Fullerenes are cage-like molecules of pure carbon, such as C_60, C_70, C_76, and C_84. C_60, also known as buckminsterfullerene, is the most stable fullerene and has a soccer- ball like structure. The presence of fullerenes in space has been suggested and observationally explored since their first synthesis in the laboratory in 1985 by Harry Kroto and his colleagues which earned them the 1996 Nobel prize in chemistry. C_60 (as well as C_70) has recently been detected in reflection nebulae, post-AGB stars, protoplanetary nebulae, planetary nebulae, Herbig Ae/Be stars, and young stellar objects through their characteristic infrared emission bands. The formation of C_60 in interstellar and circumstellar environments is not firmly established. Experimental studies have shown that C_60 can be made by gas-phase condensation (e.g. through vaporization of graphite) in a hydrogen-poor environment. In view of the simultaneous detection of C_60 and PAHs in hydrogen-rich interstellar and circumstellar regions, it has also been suggested that C_60 could be generated by the decomposition of hydrogenated amorphous carbon, or the destruction of PAHs, both induced by shocks and/or UV photoprocessing. The phase (gas or solid) and excitation mechanism of C_60 in interstellar and circumstellar conditions are also hotly debated in the literature. One model suggests that C_60 is attached to dust and emits in solid-phase at the equilibrium temperature of the dust. Another model suggests that C_60 is stochastically excited by UV photons and emits in the gas-phase. We prefer the latter model as in interstellar and circumstellar conditions the energy content of a C_60 molecule is often smaller than the energy of a single starlight photon and C_60 is expected to undergo stochastical heating. We propose a two-year project to model the vibrational excitation of C_60 and calculate its infrared emission spectra in a wide variety of regions (e.g. reflection nebulae excited by stars of a range of effective temperatures, protoplanetary nebulae, planetary nebulae, the diffuse interstellar medium, and protoplanetary disks around Herbig Ae/Be stars), using the ``exact-statistical'' method developed by Draine & Li (2001) for modeling the photoexcitation of PAHs. We will calculate the intensity of each vibrational band of C_60 excited by a given-type radiation field of a given radiation strength. These results will be tabulated and made available to the community through the PI's website. We will use the calculated C_60 band intensities to analyze the observed C_60 spectra. This will allow us to derive the C_60 abundance and the emitting condition (e.g. starlight intensities) of the regions where C_60 is observed. Similarly, the same research will be applied to C_70 as well. This research supports the NASA Strategic Subgoal 3C: Discover the origin, structure, evolution, and destiny of the universe.

Circumstellar X-ray Emission from SN1978K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schlegel, Eric M.; Colbert, E.; Petre, R.

1995-02-01

We present the X-ray light curve in the 0.2 2.4 keV band based on fiveROSAT observations of SN1978K in NGC 1313. The X-ray emission is believed to arise from the interaction of the reverse shock and the expanding debris from the supernova. The reverse shock becomes established after the outgoing shock runs into circumstellar matter.

Constraining the Post-Thermal Pulse Mass-Loss History of R Scl with SOFIA/FORCAST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hankins, Matthew; Herter, Terry; maercker, matthias; Lau, Ryan M.; Sloan, Greg

2018-06-01

R Sculptoris (R Scl) is a nearby (~370 pc) carbon star with a massive circumstellar shell (Mshell∼7×10‑3 M⊙) which is thought to have been produced by a thermal pulse event ∼2200 years ago. We observed R Scl with the Faint Object InfraRed CAMera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST) at 19.7, 25.2, 31.5, 34.8, and 37.1 μm to study its circumstellar dust emission. Maps of the infrared emission were used to examine the morphology and temperature structure of the spatially extended dust emission. We used the radiative transfer code DUSTY to fit the radial density profile of the circumstellar material, and find that a geometrically thin dust shell cannot reproduce the observed emission. Instead, a second dust component is needed to model the emission. This component, which lies interior to the dust shell, traces the post-thermal pulse mass loss of R Scl and is indicative of a slow decline in the star’s mass loss over thousands of years. This result is at odds with 'classical' thermal pulse models but is consistent with earlier observations of molecular gas in R Scl’s circumstellar environment.

Origins Space Telescope: Nearby Galaxies, the Milky Way, and the Interstellar Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Battersby, Cara; Sandstrom, Karin; Origins Space Telescope Science and Technology Definition Team

2018-01-01

The Origins Space Telescope (OST) is the mission concept for the Far-Infrared Surveyor, one of the four science and technology definition studies of NASA Headquarters for the 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal survey. Origins will enable flagship-quality general observing programs led by the astronomical community in the 2030s. We welcome you to contact the Science and Technology Definition Team (STDT) with your science needs and ideas by emailing us at ost_info@lists.ipac.caltech.eduThis presentation will summarize the science case related to Nearby Galaxies, the Milky Way, and the Interstellar Medium (Interstellar Medium). The Origins Space Telescope will enable a wealth of unprecedented scientific advances in this area, both those we know to expect, and the discovery space that lies unexplored. Origins will enable a comprehensive view of magnetic fields, turbulence, and the multiphase ISM; connecting these physics across scales of galaxies to protostellar cores. With unprecedented sensitivity, Origins will measure and characterize the mechanisms of feedback from star formation and Active Galactic Nuclei, and their interplay, over cosmic time. Origins will unveil the abundance and availability of water for habitable planets by allowing us to trace the trail of water from interstellar clouds to protoplanetary disks, to Earth itself.

Copernicus observations of Betelgeuse and Antares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bernat, A. P.; Lambert, D. L.

1975-01-01

Copernicus observations of the M-supergiants, alpha Ori and alpha Sco, are presented. The MgII h and k resonance lines are strongly in emission in both stars. The k line is highly asymmetric in both stars but the h line is symmetric. Upper limits for several other resonance lines are given for alpha Ori. The possibility is explored that the k line asymmetry is caused by overlying resonance lines of MnI and FeI formed in the cool circumstellar gas shells around these stars. Observations of the MnI 4030-4033 A lines are used to show that circumstellar shell absorption is too weak to explain the asymmetry. It is suggested that the absorption occurs in a cool turbulent region between the base of the circumstellar shell and the top of the chromosphere.

Constraining Magnetic Field Amplification in SN Shocks Using Radio Observations of SNe 2011fe and 2014J

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kundu, E.; Lundqvist, P.; Pérez-Torres, M. A.; Herrero-Illana, R.; Alberdi, A.

2017-06-01

We modeled the radio non-detection of two Type Ia supernovae (SNe), SN 2011fe and SN 2014J, considering synchrotron emission from the interaction between SN ejecta and the circumstellar medium. For ejecta whose outer parts have a power-law density structure, we compare synchrotron emission with radio observations. Assuming that 20% of the bulk shock energy is being shared equally between electrons and magnetic fields, we found a very low-density medium around both the SNe. A less tenuous medium with particle density ˜1 cm-3, which could be expected around both SNe, can be estimated when the magnetic field amplification is less than that presumed for energy equipartition. This conclusion also holds if the progenitor of SN 2014J was a rigidly rotating white dwarf (WD) with a main-sequence (MS) or red giant companion. For a He star companion, or a MS for SN 2014J, with 10% and 1% of bulk kinetic energy in magnetic fields, we obtain mass-loss rates of < {10}-9 and < ˜ 4× {10}-9 {M}⊙ {{yr}}-1 for a wind velocity of 100 {km} {{{s}}}-1. The former requires a mass accretion efficiency of >99% onto the WD, but is less restricted for the latter case. However, if the tenuous medium is due to a recurrent nova, it is difficult from our model to predict synchrotron luminosities. Although the formation channels of SNe 2011fe and 2014J are not clear, the null detection in radio wavelengths could point toward a low amplification efficiency for magnetic fields in SN shocks.

ExoMol line lists XXV: a hot line list for silicon sulphide, SiS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Upadhyay, Apoorva; Conway, Eamon K.; Tennyson, Jonathan; Yurchenko, Sergei N.

2018-06-01

SiS has long been observed in the circumstellar medium of the carbon-rich star IRC+10216 CW Leo. Comprehensive and accurate rotation-vibrational line lists and partition functions are computed for 12 isotopologues of silicon sulphide (28Si32S, 28Si34S, 29Si32S, 28Si33S, 30Si32S, 29Si34S, 30Si34S, 28Si36S, 29Si33S, 29Si36S, 30Si33S, and 30Si36S) in its ground (X 1Σ+) electronic state. The calculations employ an existing spectroscopically accurate potential energy curve (PEC) derived from experimental measurements and a newly computed ab initio dipole moment curve (DMC). The 28Si32S line list includes 10 104 states and 91 715 transitions. These line lists are available from the ExoMol website (www.exomol.com) and the CDS data base.

The Problem of Spectral Mimicry of Supergiants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klochkova, V. G.; Chentsov, E. L.

2018-01-01

The phenomenon of spectral mimicry refers to the fact that hypergiants and post-AGB supergiants—stars of different masses in fundamentally different stages of their evolution—have similar optical spectra, and also share certain other characteristics (unstable extended atmospheres, expanding dust-gas envelopes, high IR excesses). As a consequence, it is not always possible to distinguish post-AGB stars from hypergiants based on individual spectral observations in the optical. Examples of spectral mimicry are analyzed using uniform, high-quality spectral material obtained on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory in the course of long-term monitoring of high-luminosity stars. It is shown that unambiguously resolving the mimicry problem for individual stars requires the determination of a whole set of parameters: luminosity, wind parameters, spectral energy distribution, spectral features, velocity field in the atmosphere and circumstellar medium, behavior of the parameters with time, and the chemical composition of the atmosphere.

GRAMS: A Grid of RSG and AGB Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srinivasan, S.; Sargent, B. A.; Meixner, M.

2011-09-01

We present a grid of oxygen- and carbon-rich circumstellar dust radiative transfer models for asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and red supergiant (RSG) stars. The grid samples a large region of the relevant parameter space, and it allows for a quick calculation of bolometric fluxes and dust mass-loss rates from multi-wavelength photometry. This method of fitting observed spectral energy distributions (SEDs) is preferred over detailed radiative transfer calculations, especially for large data sets such as the SAGE (Surveying the Agents of a Galaxy's Evolution) survey of the Magellanic Clouds. The mass-loss rates calculated for SAGE data will allow us to quantify the dust returned to the interstellar medium (ISM) by the entire AGB population. The total injection rate provides an important constraint for models of galactic chemical evolution. Here, we discuss our carbon star models and compare the results to SAGE observations in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC).

Mineralogical Characterization of Fe-Bearing AGB and Supernova Silicate Grains From the Queen Alexandra Range 99177 Meteorite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, A. N.; Keller, L. P.; Messenger, S.; Rahman, Z.

2017-01-01

Spectroscopic observations of the circumstellar envelopes of evolved O-rich stars indicate the dust is mostly amorphous silicate with olivine-like compositions. Spectral modeling suggests these grains are Fe-rich [Mg/(Mg+Fe) 0.5], but it is not known whether the Fe is distributed within the silicate matrix or exists as metal inclusions. In contrast, the crystalline silicates are inferred to be extremely Mg-rich [Mg/(Mg+Fe) > 0.95]. The mineralogies and chemical compositions of dust in supernova (SN) remnants are not as well constrained, but abundant silicates of olivine-like and enstatite-like compositions have been fit to the infrared emission features. Silicates in the interstellar medium (ISM) are >99% amor-phous and Fe-bearing. The dearth of crystalline silicates in the ISM requires that some amorphization or destruction mechanisms process these grains.

Grid of Supergiant B[e] Models from HDUST Radiative Transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Domiciano de Souza, A.; Carciofi, A. C.

2012-12-01

By using the Monte Carlo radiative transfer code HDUST (developed by A. C. Carciofi and J..E. Bjorkman) we have built a grid of models for stars presenting the B[e] phenomenon and a bimodal outflowing envelope. The models are particularly adapted to the study of B[e] supergiants and FS CMa type stars. The adopted physical parameters of the calculated models make the grid well adapted to interpret high angular and high spectral observations, in particular spectro-interferometric data from ESO-VLTI instruments AMBER (near-IR at low and medium spectral resolution) and MIDI (mid-IR at low spectral resolution). The grid models include, for example, a central B star with different effective temperatures, a gas (hydrogen) and silicate dust circumstellar envelope with a bimodal mass loss presenting dust in the denser equatorial regions. The HDUST grid models were pre-calculated using the high performance parallel computing facility Mésocentre SIGAMM, located at OCA, France.

Pinning by rare defects and effective mobility for elastic interfaces in high dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Xiangyu; Démery, Vincent; Rosso, Alberto

2018-06-01

The existence of a depinning transition for a high dimensional interface in a weakly disordered medium is controversial. Following Larkin arguments and a perturbative expansion, one expects a linear response with a renormalized mobility . In this paper, we compare these predictions with the exact solution of a fully connected model, which displays a finite critical force . At small disorder, we unveil an intermediary linear regime for characterized by the renormalized mobility . Our results suggest that in high dimension the critical force is always finite and determined by the effect of rare impurities that is missed by the perturbative expansion. However, the perturbative expansion correctly describes an intermediate regime that should be visible at small disorder.

Rapid variation in the circumstellar 10 micron emission of Alpha Orionis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bloemhof, E. E.; Danchi, W. C.; Townes, C. H.

1985-01-01

The spatial distribution of 10 micron continuum flux around the supergiant star Alpha Orionis was measured on two occasions separated by an interval of 1 yr. A significant change in the infrared radiation pattern on the subarcsecond scale was observed. This change cannot be explained plausibly by macroscopic motion but may be due to a change in the physical properties of the circumstellar dust.

The Structure of the Star-forming Cluster RCW 38

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winston, E.; Wolk, S. J.; Bourke, T. L.; Megeath, S. T.; Gutermuth, R.; Spitzbart, B.

2011-12-01

We present a study of the structure of the high-mass star-forming region RCW 38 and the spatial distribution of its young stellar population. Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) photometry (3-8 μm) is combined with Two Micron All Sky Survey near-IR data to identify young stellar objects (YSOs) by IR-excess emission from their circumstellar material. Chandra X-ray data are used to identify class III pre-main-sequence stars lacking circumstellar material. We identify 624 YSOs: 23 class 0/I and 90 flat spectrum protostars, 437 class II stars, and 74 class III stars. We also identify 29 (27 new) O star candidates over the IRAC field. Seventy-two stars exhibit IR-variability, including 7 class 0/I and 12 flat spectrum YSOs. A further 177 tentative candidates are identified by their location in the IRAC [3.6] versus [3.6]-[5.8] color-magnitude diagram. We find strong evidence of subclustering in the region. Three subclusters were identified surrounding the central cluster, with massive and variable stars in each subcluster. The central region shows evidence of distinct spatial distributions of the protostars and pre-main-sequence stars. A previously detected IR cluster, DB2001_Obj36, has been established as a subcluster of RCW 38. This suggests that star formation in RCW 38 occurs over a more extended area than previously thought. The gas-to-dust ratio is examined using the X-ray derived hydrogen column density, N H and the K-band extinction, and found to be consistent with the diffuse interstellar medium, in contrast with Serpens and NGC 1333. We posit that the high photoionizing flux of massive stars in RCW 38 affects the agglomeration of the dust grains.

Modelling and observations of molecules in discs around young stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilee, John David

2013-04-01

This thesis contains a study of molecules within circumstellar discs around young stars. Firstly, the chemistry of a disc around a young, Class 0 protostar is modelled. Such discs are thought to be massive, and thus experience gravitational instabilities, which produce spiral density waves. These affect the chemistry in three ways; by desorbing molecules from dust grains, by providing extra energy for new reactions to take place, and by mixing the internal structure of the disc to provide a rich chemistry near the midplane. Secondly, high resolution near-infrared spectra of 20 massive young stellar objects are presented. The objects display CO first overtone bandhead emission, which is excited in the conditions expected within circumstellar discs. The emission is modelled using a simple analytic model of a Keplerian disc, and good fits are found to all spectra. On average, the discs correspond to being geometrically thin, spread across a wide range of inclinations. The discs are located within the dust sublimation radius, providing strong evidence that the CO emission originates in small gaseous discs, supporting the scenario in which massive stars form via disc accretion. Finally, medium resolution near-infrared spectra of 5 Herbig Ae/Be stars are presented. The spectra cover both CO bandhead and Br gamma emission. Accretion rates are derived from the measuring the Br gamma emission and through modelling the CO emission, however these accretion rates are found to be inconsistent. High resolution archival data of one of the targets is presented, and it is shown that this CO disc model is unable to fit the high resolution data. Therefore, it is concluded that to properly fit CO spectra, high resolution data are needed, and that previously published information determined from low resolution spectra should be treated with caution.

Searching for the Expelled Hydrogen Envelope in Type I Supernovae via Late-Time H α Emission

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vinko, J.; Silverman, J. M.; Wheeler, J. C.

2017-03-01

We report the first results from our long-term observational survey aimed at discovering late-time interaction between the ejecta of hydrogen-poor Type I supernovae (SNe I) and the hydrogen-rich envelope expelled from the progenitor star several decades/centuries before explosion. The expelled envelope, moving with a velocity of ∼10–100 km s{sup −1}, is expected to be caught up by the fast-moving SN ejecta several years/decades after explosion, depending on the history of the mass-loss process acting in the progenitor star prior to explosion. The collision between the SN ejecta and the circumstellar envelope results in net emission in the Balmer lines, especiallymore » H α . We look for signs of late-time H α emission in older SNe Ia/Ibc/IIb with hydrogen-poor ejecta via narrowband imaging. Continuum-subtracted H α emission has been detected for 13 point sources: 9 SN Ibc, 1 SN IIb, and 3 SN Ia events. Thirty-eight SN sites were observed on at least two epochs, from which three objects (SN 1985F, SN 2005kl, and SN 2012fh) showed significant temporal variation in the strength of their H α emission in our Direct Imaging Auxiliary Functions Instrument (DIAFI) data. This suggests that the variable emission is probably not due to nearby H ii regions unassociated with the SN and hence is an important additional hint that ejecta–circumstellar medium interaction may take place in these systems. Moreover, we successfully detected the late-time H α emission from the Type Ib SN 2014C, which was recently discovered as a strongly interacting SN in various (radio, infrared, optical, and X-ray) bands.« less

Investigations of the Formation of Carbon Grains in Circumstellar Outflows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Contreras, Cesar; Salama, Farid

2013-01-01

The study of formation and destruction processes of cosmic dust is essential to understand and to quantify the budget of extraterrestrial organic molecules. Although dust with all its components plays an important role in the evolution of interstellar chemistry and in the formation of organic molecules, little is known on the formation and destruction processes of carbonaceous dust. PAHs are important chemical building blocks of interstellar dust. They are detected in interplanetary dust particles and in meteoritic samples. Additionally, observational, laboratory, and theoretical studies have shown that PAHs, in their neutral and ionized forms, are an important, ubiquitous component of the interstellar medium. Also, the formation of PAHs from smaller molecules has not been extensively studied. Therefore, it is imperative that laboratory experiments be conducted to study the dynamic processes of carbon grain formation from PAH precursors. Studies of interstellar dust analogs formed from a variety of PAH and hydrocarbon precursors as well as species that include the atoms O, N, and S, have recently been performed in our laboratory under conditions that simulate interstellar and circumstellar environments. The species formed in the pulsed discharge nozzle (PDN) plasma source are detected and characterized with a high-sensitivity cavity ringdown spectrometer (CRDS) coupled to a Reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ReTOF-MS), thus providing both spectroscopic and ion mass information in-situ. We report the first set of measurements obtained in these experiments and identify the species present in the experiments and the ions that are formed in the plasma process. From these unique measurements, we derive information on the size and the structure of interstellar dust grain particles, the growth and the destruction processes of interstellar dust and the resulting budget of extraterrestrial organic molecules.

Spectroscopic Evolution of Disintegrating Planetesimals: Minute to Month Variability in the Circumstellar Gas Associated with WD 1145+017

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Redfield, Seth; Cauley, P. Wilson; Duvvuri, Girish M.

With the recent discovery of transiting planetary material around WD 1145+017, a critical target has been identified that links the evolution of planetary systems with debris disks and their accretion onto the star. We present a series of observations, five epochs over a year, taken with Keck and the VLT, which for the first time show variability of circumstellar absorption in the gas disk surrounding WD 1145+017 on timescales of minutes to months. Circumstellar absorption is measured in more than 250 lines of 14 ions among 10 different elements associated with planetary composition, e.g., O, Mg, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn,more » Fe, and Ni. Broad circumstellar gas absorption with a velocity spread of 225 km s{sup −1} is detected, but over the course of a year blueshifted absorption disappears, while redshifted absorption systematically increases. A correlation of equivalent width and oscillator strength indicates that the gas is not highly optically thick (median τ ≈ 2). We discuss simple models of an eccentric disk coupled with magnetospheric accretion to explain the basic observed characteristics of these high-resolution and high signal-to-noise observations. Variability is detected on timescales of minutes in the two most recent observations, showing a loss of redshifted absorption for tens of minutes, coincident with major transit events and consistent with gas hidden behind opaque transiting material. This system currently presents a unique opportunity to learn how the gas causing the spectroscopic, circumstellar absorption is associated with the ongoing accretion evidenced by photospheric contamination, as well as the transiting planetary material detected in photometric observations.« less

Dust disks around Vega-type stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chini, R.; Kruegel, E.; Kreysa, E.; Shustov, B.; Tutukov, A.

1991-12-01

This study presents 1300-micron observations of the circumstellar dust around Vega-type stars. A comparison of the new data (24-arcsec HPBW) for Alpha PsA, Tau-1 Eri and Epsilon Eri with previous measurements made at an angular resolution of 11-arcsec shows that the dust emission is extended. From measurements at different positions it is concluded that the circumstellar dust around Beta Pic does not exceed the size of the optical disk of 500 AU. A model for Beta Pic that fits optical as well as IR data is discussed. Finally, a scenario for the evolution of circumstellar grains is suggested where, on one side, the Poynting-Robertson effect removes the small particles and, on the other side, collisions lead to the formation of larger bodies. Time-dependent IR spectra in reasonable agreement with observations are presented.

Atomic gas in debris discs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hales, Antonio S.; Barlow, M. J.; Crawford, I. A.; Casassus, S.

2017-04-01

We have conducted a search for optical circumstellar absorption lines in the spectra of 16 debris disc host stars. None of the stars in our sample showed signs of emission line activity in either Hα, Ca II or Na I, confirming their more evolved nature. Four stars were found to exhibit narrow absorption features near the cores of the photospheric Ca II and Na I D lines (when Na I D data were available). We analyse the characteristics of these spectral features to determine whether they are of circumstellar or interstellar origins. The strongest evidence for circumstellar gas is seen in the spectrum of HD 110058, which is known to host a debris disc observed close to edge-on. This is consistent with a recent ALMA detection of molecular gas in this debris disc, which shows many similarities to the β Pictoris system.

Copernicus observations of Betelgeuse and Antares

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bernat, A.P.; Lambert, D.L.

1975-01-01

Copernicus observations of the M-supergiants, ..cap alpha.. Ori and ..cap alpha.. Sco, are presented. The Mg II H and K resonance lines are strongly in emission in both stars. The K line is highly asymmetric in both stars but the H line is symmetric. Upper limits for several other resonance lines are given for ..cap alpha.. Ori. The possibility is explored that the K line asymmetry is caused by overlying resonance lines of Mn I and Fe I formed in the cool circumstellar gas shells around these stars. Observations of the Mn I 4030--4033 A lines are used to showmore » that circumstellar shell absorption is too weak to explain the asymmetry. It is suggested that the absorption occurs in a cool turbulent region between the base of the circumstellar shell and the top of the chromosphere. (auth)« less

The enigmatic nature of the circumstellar envelope and bow shock surrounding Betelgeuse as revealed by Herschel. I. Evidence of clumps, multiple arcs, and a linear bar-like structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Decin, L.; Cox, N. L. J.; Royer, P.; Van Marle, A. J.; Vandenbussche, B.; Ladjal, D.; Kerschbaum, F.; Ottensamer, R.; Barlow, M. J.; Blommaert, J. A. D. L.; Gomez, H. L.; Groenewegen, M. A. T.; Lim, T.; Swinyard, B. M.; Waelkens, C.; Tielens, A. G. G. M.

2012-12-01

Context. The interaction between stellar winds and the interstellar medium (ISM) can create complex bow shocks. The photometers on board the Herschel Space Observatory are ideally suited to studying the morphologies of these bow shocks. Aims: We aim to study the circumstellar environment and wind-ISM interaction of the nearest red supergiant, Betelgeuse. Methods.Herschel PACS images at 70, 100, and 160 μm and SPIRE images at 250, 350, and 500 μm were obtained by scanning the region around Betelgeuse. These data were complemented with ultraviolet GALEX data, near-infrared WISE data, and radio 21 cm GALFA-HI data. The observational properties of the bow shock structure were deduced from the data and compared with hydrodynamical simulations. Results: The infrared Herschel images of the environment around Betelgeuse are spectacular, showing the occurrence of multiple arcs at ~6-7' from the central target and the presence of a linear bar at ~9'. Remarkably, no large-scale instabilities are seen in the outer arcs and linear bar. The dust temperature in the outer arcs varies between 40 and 140 K, with the linear bar having the same colour temperature as the arcs. The inner envelope shows clear evidence of a non-homogeneous clumpy structure (beyond 15''), probably related to the giant convection cells of the outer atmosphere. The non-homogeneous distribution of the material even persists until the collision with the ISM. A strong variation in brightness of the inner clumps at a radius of ~2' suggests a drastic change in mean gas and dust density ~32 000 yr ago. Using hydrodynamical simulations, we try to explain the observed morphology of the bow shock around Betelgeuse. Conclusions: Different hypotheses, based on observational and theoretical constraints, are formulated to explain the origin of the multiple arcs and the linear bar and the fact that no large-scale instabilities are visible in the bow shock region. We infer that the two main ingredients for explaining these phenomena are a non-homogeneous mass-loss process and the influence of the Galactic magnetic field. The hydrodynamical simulations show that a warm interstellar medium, reflecting a warm neutral or partially ionized medium, or a higher temperature in the shocked wind also prevent the growth of strong instabilities. The linear bar is probably an interstellar structure illuminated by Betelgeuse itself. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.Appendices (including movies) are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

1051 Ergs: The Evolution of Shell Supernova Remnants

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-11-15

progress in these matters . For convenience, and also to avoid conventional labels (e.g., “Sedov”), most of the workshop was organized around chron...setting the stage,” so that many preliminary matters had been resolved or focused. The web site continues to be acces- sible for review of the...acting with circumstellar matter (Chevalier 1982b). The inter- action between the supernova ejecta and circumstellar matter generates a double-shock

Massive close binaries with early-type components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polushina, T. S.

A brief review of the study of massive close binaries system with the hot components carried out in Kourovka astronomical observatory is presented including such systems as CC Cas, SZ Cam, UU Cas, V368 Cas, BH Cen, SV Cen, LY Aur, V701 Sco. An attempt to explain the results of observations by the presence of circumstellar matter has been made. Some estimates of the circumstellar matter parameters are obtained.

Observations of Circumstellar Thermochemical Equilibrium: The Case of Phosphorus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Milam, Stefanie N.; Charnley, Steven B.

2011-01-01

We will present observations of phosphorus-bearing species in circumstellar envelopes, including carbon- and oxygen-rich shells 1. New models of thermochemical equilibrium chemistry have been developed to interpret, and constrained by these data. These calculations will also be presented and compared to the numerous P-bearing species already observed in evolved stars. Predictions for other viable species will be made for observations with Herschel and ALMA.

Near-Infrared Imaging Polarimetry of Inner Region of GG Tau A Disk

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Yi; Hashimoto, Jun; Hayashi, Saeko S.; Tamura, Motohide; Mayama, Satoshi; Rafikov, Roman; Akiyama, Eiji; Carson, Joseph C.; Janson, Markus; Kwon, Jungmi;

The (BETA) Pictoris Phenomenon Among Herbig Ae/Be Stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grady, C. A.; Perez, M. R.; Talavera, A.; Bjorkman, K. S.; deWinter, D.; The, P.-S.; Molster, F. J.; vandenAncker, M. E.; Sitko, M. L.; Morrison, N. D.;

SN 2017dio: A Type-Ic Supernova Exploding in a Hydrogen-rich Circumstellar Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuncarayakti, Hanindyo; Maeda, Keiichi; Ashall, Christopher J.; Prentice, Simon J.; Mattila, Seppo; Kankare, Erkki; Fransson, Claes; Lundqvist, Peter; Pastorello, Andrea; Leloudas, Giorgos; Anderson, Joseph P.; Benetti, Stefano; Bersten, Melina C.; Cappellaro, Enrico; Cartier, Régis; Denneau, Larry; Della Valle, Massimo; Elias-Rosa, Nancy; Folatelli, Gastón; Fraser, Morgan; Galbany, Lluís; Gall, Christa; Gal-Yam, Avishay; Gutiérrez, Claudia P.; Hamanowicz, Aleksandra; Heinze, Ari; Inserra, Cosimo; Kangas, Tuomas; Mazzali, Paolo; Melandri, Andrea; Pignata, Giuliano; Rest, Armin; Reynolds, Thomas; Roy, Rupak; Smartt, Stephen J.; Smith, Ken W.; Sollerman, Jesper; Somero, Auni; Stalder, Brian; Stritzinger, Maximilian; Taddia, Francesco; Tomasella, Lina; Tonry, John; Weiland, Henry; Young, David R.

2018-02-01

SN 2017dio shows both spectral characteristics of a type-Ic supernova (SN) and signs of a hydrogen-rich circumstellar medium (CSM). Prominent, narrow emission lines of H and He are superposed on the continuum. Subsequent evolution revealed that the SN ejecta are interacting with the CSM. The initial SN Ic identification was confirmed by removing the CSM interaction component from the spectrum and comparing with known SNe Ic and, reversely, adding a CSM interaction component to the spectra of known SNe Ic and comparing them to SN 2017dio. Excellent agreement was obtained with both procedures, reinforcing the SN Ic classification. The light curve constrains the pre-interaction SN Ic peak absolute magnitude to be around {M}g=-17.6 mag. No evidence of significant extinction is found, ruling out a brighter luminosity required by an SN Ia classification. These pieces of evidence support the view that SN 2017dio is an SN Ic, and therefore the first firm case of an SN Ic with signatures of hydrogen-rich CSM in the early spectrum. The CSM is unlikely to have been shaped by steady-state stellar winds. The mass loss of the progenitor star must have been intense, \\dot{M}∼ 0.02{({ε }{{H}α }/0.01)}-1 ({v}{wind}/500 km s‑1) ({v}{shock}/10,000 km s‑1)‑3 M ⊙ yr‑1, peaking at a few decades before the SN. Such a high mass-loss rate might have been experienced by the progenitor through eruptions or binary stripping. Based on observations made with the NOT, operated by the Nordic Optical Telescope Scientific Association at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma, Spain, of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias. This work is based (in part) on observations collected at the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile as part of PESSTO, (the Public ESO Spectroscopic Survey for Transient Objects Survey) ESO program 188.D-3003, 191.D-0935, 197.D-1075. Based on observations made with the Liverpool Telescope operated on the island of La Palma by Liverpool John Moores University in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias with financial support from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Body Covering and Body Image: A Comparison of Veiled and Unveiled Muslim Women, Christian Women, and Atheist Women Regarding Body Checking, Body Dissatisfaction, and Eating Disorder Symptoms.

PubMed

Wilhelm, Leonie; Hartmann, Andrea S; Becker, Julia C; Kişi, Melahat; Waldorf, Manuel; Vocks, Silja

2018-02-21

Although Islam is the fastest growing religion worldwide, only few studies have investigated body image in Muslim women, and no study has investigated body checking. Therefore, the present study examined whether body image, body checking, and disordered eating differ between veiled and unveiled Muslim women, Christian women, and atheist women. While the groups did not differ regarding body dissatisfaction, unveiled Muslim women reported more checking than veiled Muslim and Christian women, and higher bulimia scores than Christian. Thus, prevention against eating disorders should integrate all women, irrespective of religious affiliation or veiling, with a particular focus on unveiled Muslim women.

Impact of the Headscarf Ban Policy on the Identity Development of Part-Time Unveilers in Turkish Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seggie, Fatma Nevra; Austin, Ann E.

2010-01-01

This qualitative study examines the impact of the Turkish higher education headscarf ban policy on the plural self-identities (i.e., as Turkish citizens, as Muslims, and as females) of part-time unveilers, female students who cover their hair in their private life but who remove the headscarf (or conceal it to appear unveiled) while at a Turkish…

Probing Cosmic Infrared Sources: A Computer Modeling Approach

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-06-01

developed to study various physical phenomena involving dust grains, e.g., molecule formation on grains, grain formation in expanding circumstellar...EVALUATION OF METHODS OF ANALYSIS IN INFRARED ASTR9?NOMY 16 4.0 THEORETICAL STUDIES INVOLVING DUST GRAINS., 16 4.1 Theory of Molecule Formation on Dust Grains...17 4.2 Modeling Grain Formation in Stellar Outflows 7 18 4.3 Infrared Emission from Fractal Grains * 19 4.4 Photochemistry in Circumstellar Envelopes

Exploring Asymmetries in Circumstellar Environments: Winds, Disks, and Things That Go Clump in the Light

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, Kenneth; West, Kenneth K. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The aim of the NASA LTSA Grant NAG5-6039 was to develop Monte Carlo radiation transfer techniques for use in the analysis of data from stellar systems that exhibit evidence for extended, non-spherical circumstellar environments. The broad applicability of the codes I have developed has opened many new research areas to me, as is reflected by the range of topics covered in the bibliography.

The Mexican Oil Industry: Governance, Resource and Social Concerns

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-28

Baker Institute: Mexico could become oil importer by 2010”, Oil & Gas Journal 31 “Mexico unveils new deepwater drilling regulations”, energy-pedia...Efficiency: The Politics of Investment Policies in the Oil Industry”, 17. 56 Ibid 57 “Mexico unveils new deepwater drilling regulations”, energy...Bogan, “With Easy Oil Gone, Pemex Sobers Up” 60 “Mexico unveils new deepwater drilling regulations”, energy-pedia news 61 Jeremy Martin “Oil in

Asymmetric Expansion of the Youngest Galactic Supernova Remnant G1.9+0.3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Borkowski, Kazimerz J.; Gwynne, Peter; Reynolds, Stephen P.; Green, David A.; Hwang, Una; Petre, Robert; Willett, Rebecca

2017-01-01

The youngest Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) G1.9+0.3, produced by a (probable) SN Ia that exploded approximately 1900 CE, is strongly asymmetric at radio wavelengths, much brighter in the north, but bilaterally symmetric in X-rays. We present the results of X-ray expansion measurements that illuminate the origin of the radio asymmetry. We confirm the mean expansion rate (2011-2015) of 0.58% per yr, but large spatial variations are present. Using the nonparametric 'Demons' method, we measure the velocity field throughout the entire SNR, finding that motions vary by a factor of 5, from 0.''09 to 0.''44 per yr. The slowest shocks are at the outer boundary of the bright northern radio rim, with velocities v(sub s) as low as 3600 km per sec (for an assumed distance of 8.5 kpc), much less than v(sub s) = 12,000-13,000 km per sec along the X-ray-bright major axis. Such strong deceleration of the northern blast wave most likely arises from the collision of SN ejecta with a much denser than average ambient medium there. This asymmetric ambient medium naturally explains the radio asymmetry. In several locations, significant morphological changes and strongly nonradial motions are apparent. The spatially integrated X-ray flux continues to increase with time. Based on Chandra observations spanning 8.3 yr, we measure its increase at 1.3% +/- 0.8% per yr. The SN ejecta are likely colliding with the asymmetric circumstellar medium ejected by the SN progenitor prior to its explosion.

Asymmetric Expansion of the Youngest Galactic Supernova Remnant G1.9+0.3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borkowski, Kazimierz J.; Gwynne, Peter; Reynolds, Stephen P.; Green, David A.; Hwang, Una; Petre, Robert; Willett, Rebecca

2017-03-01

The youngest Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) G1.9+0.3, produced by a (probable) SN Ia that exploded ˜1900 CE, is strongly asymmetric at radio wavelengths, much brighter in the north, but bilaterally symmetric in X-rays. We present the results of X-ray expansion measurements that illuminate the origin of the radio asymmetry. We confirm the mean expansion rate (2011-2015) of 0.58% yr-1, but large spatial variations are present. Using the nonparametric “Demons” method, we measure the velocity field throughout the entire SNR, finding that motions vary by a factor of 5, from 0\\buildrel{\\prime\\prime}\\over{.} 09 to 0\\buildrel{\\prime\\prime}\\over{.} 44 yr-1. The slowest shocks are at the outer boundary of the bright northern radio rim, with velocities v s as low as 3600 km s-1 (for an assumed distance of 8.5 kpc), much less than v s = 12,000-13,000 km s-1 along the X-ray-bright major axis. Such strong deceleration of the northern blast wave most likely arises from the collision of SN ejecta with a much denser than average ambient medium there. This asymmetric ambient medium naturally explains the radio asymmetry. In several locations, significant morphological changes and strongly nonradial motions are apparent. The spatially integrated X-ray flux continues to increase with time. Based on Chandra observations spanning 8.3 yr, we measure its increase at 1.3 % +/- 0.8 % yr-1. The SN ejecta are likely colliding with the asymmetric circumstellar medium ejected by the SN progenitor prior to its explosion.

Circumstellar Matter Studied by Spectrally-Resolved Interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Millour, F.

2012-12-01

This paper describes some generalities about spectro-interferometry and the role it has played in the last decade for the better understanding of circumstellar matter. I provide a small history of the technique and its origins, and recall the basics of differential phase and its central role for the recent discoveries. I finally provide a small set of simple interpretations of differential phases for specific astrophysical cases, and intend to provide a "cookbook" for the other cases.

Infrared heterodyne spectroscopy of circumstellar molecules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Betz, A. L.; Mclaren, R. A.

1980-01-01

Ammonia has been detected in the circumstellar envelopes of IRC+10216, VY CMa, VX Sgr, and IRC+10420. A number of absorption lines of (N-14)H3 in the nu sub 2 vibration-rotation band around 28 THz (950 per cm) have been observed at a velocity resolution of 0.2 km/s. Typical linewidths are 1 to 4 km/s, and the details of the line profiles provide additional insights on the process of mass loss in these stars.

New Dust Features Observed with ISO

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tielens, Alexander G. G. M.; Young, Richard E. (Technical Monitor)

1997-01-01

This paper will review our current knowledge of circumstellar and interstellar dust with the emphasis on infrared spectroscopy with ISO. Objects embedded in or located behind molecular clouds show a wealth of absorption features due to simple molecules in an icy mantle. The SWS on ISO has provided us, for the first time, with complete 3-45 um spectra which allow an inventory of interstellar ice. Among the species identified are H2O, CH3OH, CH4, CO2, CO, and OCS. These species are formed through simple reactions among gas phase species accreted on grain surfaces, possibly modified by FUV photolysis and warm-up (ie., outgassing). The implications of the observations for our understanding of these processes will be reviewed. The IR spectra of many UV bright objects are dominated by strong emission features at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, and 11.3 micrometers. These are generally attributed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) molecules. The observational evidence will be reviewed. The emphasis will be on recent data which show widespread spectral variations, particularly among protoplanetary and planetary nebulae, and their implications. One of the most exciting, recent discoveries on interstellar and circumstellar dust has been the detection of spectral structure due to crystalline olivine and enstatite in a variety of objects surrounded by circumstellar silicates. These spectra will be reviewed and circumstellar silicate mineralogy will be discussed.

COS Observations of SN1987A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCray, Richard; France, K.; Kirshner, R. P.; SAINTS Collaboration

2012-01-01

We present the most sensitive ultraviolet observations of Supernova 1987A to date. Imaging spectroscopy from the Hubble Space Telescope-Cosmic Origins Spectrograph shows many narrow (v - 300 km/s) emission lines from the circumstellar ring, broad (v - 10 - 20 × 103 km/s) emission lines from the reverse shock, and ultraviolet continuum emission. The high signal-to-noise (> 40 per resolution element) broad Ly α emission is excited by soft X-ray and EUV heating of mostly neutral gas in the circumstellar ring and outer supernova debris. The ultraviolet continuum at - > 1350 A can be explained by H I 2-photon (2s 2S1/2 - 1s 2S1/2) emission from the same region. We confirm our earlier, tentative detection of N V -1240 emission from the reverse shock and we present the first detections of broad He II 1640, C IV -1550, and N IV] 1486 emission lines from the reverse shock. The helium abundance in the high velocity material is He/H = 0.14 +/- 0.06. The N V/H line ratio requires partial ion-electron equilibration (Te/Tp - 0.14 - 0.35). We find that the N/C abundance ratio in the gas crossing the reverse shock is significantly higher than that in the circumstellar ring, a result we attribute to continued CNO processing in the supernova progenitor subsequent to the expulsion of the circumstellar ring.

The Binary Central Star of the Planetary Nebula A35

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herald, J. E.; Bianchi, L.

2002-11-01

Using new Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) observations in conjunction with Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) and International Ultraviolet Explorer archive data, we have modeled both components of the binary central star of the planetary nebula A35. The white dwarf (the ionizing star) was modeled using the non-LTE, plane-parallel code TLUSTY. We find its parameters to be Teff=80+/-3 kK, logg=7.70+0.13-0.18 cm s-2, and [He/H]=-4+/-1 and C, N, O, Si, and Fe to be underabundant by 2 orders of magnitude with respect to their solar values. This confirms its classification as a DAO white dwarf, and using the Hipparcos distance D=163 pc, we derive a radius of RWD~=1.65×10-2 Rsolar and a mass of M~=0.5 Msolar. The modeling of the far-ultraviolet spectra also constrains the extinction value; EB-V=0.04+/-0.01. Furthermore, the FUSE and STIS data allow us to measure the molecular hydrogen (H2) and neutral hydrogen (H I) column densities along the sight line, the majority of which we believe is associated with the circumstellar material. The FUSE spectrum is best fitted with a two-component model for H2, consisting of a cool component (T=200 K) with logN(H2,cool)=19.6+0.1-0.2 cm-2 and a hot component (T~=1250 K) with logN(H2,hot)=17.4+0.3-0.4 cm-2. The H I column density is logN(HI)=20.9+/-0.1 cm-2. Assuming a typical gas/dust ratio for the interstellar medium, our value of EB-V implies that logN(HI)=20.8 cm-2 of this is circumstellar. Our low extinction value and the measured column densities imply that there is essentially no dust in the nebula. Assuming that the neutral and molecular hydrogen is contained in a sphere of comparable dimensions to the ionized shell, we derive the combined mass of the circumstellar H I and H2 to be ~2.7 Msolar. Other geometries, such as a shell surrounding the ionized region, can be excluded. The mass of the ionized hydrogen is <~1% that of the neutral material. From comparison with evolutionary calculations, we estimate the progenitor mass to be ~3.2 Msolar. Based on observations made with the NASA-CNES-CSA Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. FUSE is operated for NASA by Johns Hopkins University under NASA contract NAS5-32985.

Studies of Young, Star-forming Circumstellar Disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bae, Jaehan

2017-08-01

Disks of gas and dust around forming stars - circumstellar disks - last only a few million years. This is a very small fraction of the entire lifetime of Sun-like stars, several billion years. Nevertheless, by the time circumstellar disks dissipate stars complete building up their masses, giant planets finish accreting gas, and terrestrial bodies are nearly fully grown and ready for their final assembly to become planets. Understanding the evolution of circumstellar disks are thus crucial in many contexts. Using numerical simulations as the primary tool, my thesis has focused on the studies of various physical processes that can occur throughout the lifetime of circumstellar disks, from their formation to dispersal. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 emphasize the importance of early evolution, during which time a forming star-disk system obtains mass from its natal cloud: the infall phase. In Chapter 2 and 3, I have modeled episodic outbursts of accretion in protostellar systems resulting from disk instabilities - gravitational instability and magnetorotational instability. I showed that outbursts occur preferentially during the infall phase, because the mass addition provides more favorable conditions for gravitational instability to initiate the outburst cycle, and that forming stars build up a significant fraction of their masses through repeated short-lived, episodic outbursts. The infall phase can also be important for the formation of planets. Recent ALMA observations revealed sets of bright and dark rings in circumstellar disks of young, forming stars, potentially indicating early formation of planets. In Chapter 4, I showed that infall streams can create radial pressure bumps near the outer edge of the mass landing on the disk, from which vortices can form, collecting solid particles very efficiently to make initial seeds of planets. The next three chapters highlight the role of planets in setting the observational appearance and the evolution of circumstellar disks. When a planet forms in a disk, the gravitational interaction between the planet and disk can create structures, such as spiral arms and gaps. In Chapter 5, I compared the disk structures formed by planetary companions in numerical simulations with the observed structures in the disk surrounding an 8 Myr-old Herbig Ae star SAO 206462. Based on the experiments, I made predictions for the mass and position of a currently unrevealed planet, which can help guide future observations to search for more conclusive evidence for the existence of a planetary companion in the system. In Chapter 6, I showed for the first time in global simulation domains that spiral waves, driven for instance by planets or gravitational instability, can be unstable due to resonant interactions with inertial modes, breaking into turbulence. In Chapter 7, I showed that the spiral wave instability operates on the waves launched by planets and that the resulting turbulence can significantly stir up solid particles from the disk midplane. The stirring of solid particles can have influences on the observation appearance of the parent disk and on the subsequent assembly of planetary bodies in the disk. Finally, in Chapter 8, I investigated the dispersal of circumstellar disks via photoevaporative winds, finding that the photoevaporative loss alone, coupled with a range of initial angular momenta of protostellar clouds, can explain the observed decline of the disk frequency with increasing age. The findings and future possibilities are summarized in Chapter 9.

ARC-2012-ACD12-0016-004

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-01-25

Dr. Brauch Blumberg portrait unveiling ceremony held at the Syverston Auditorium (N-201) NASA Ames Researc Center, Moffett Field, CA. Lynn Harper and Estelle Dotson (of NASA Astrobilolgy Institute) unveil portrait.

The circumstellar envelopes of F- and G-type supergiants in the Large Magellanic Cloud

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagen, W.; Humphreys, R. M.; Stencel, R. E.

1981-01-01

The outer atmospheres of four F- and G-type supergiants in the LMC are compared with those of their Milky Way counterparts by means of 2.5 and 5.1 A/mm high dispersion Echelle spectra. Na I D line doubling indicates extensive circumstellar envelopes, mass loss rates greater than 0.00001 solar masses/year, and outflow velocities of 10-60 km/sec. The Ca II H and K lines yield new data on extragalactic star chromospheres.

Working Group on Circumstellar/Interstellar Relationships

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glassgold, A. E.

1986-01-01

Stars of various types are believed to be the main source of interstellar (IS) dust grans. The most important confirmed source is evolved giant and supergiant stars. Supernovae also contribute to the mass loss. The differences between circumstellar (CS) and IS dust were reviewed using the following topics: alteration of CS dust grains, size distribution, space observation of CS and IS dust, comparison of infrared spectra, isotopic signatures, Magellanic clouds and nearby galaxies, life cycles of dust grains, and physical and chemical data.

Archival Legacy Investigations of Circumstellar Environments (ALICE): Statistical assessment of point source detections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choquet, Élodie; Pueyo, Laurent; Soummer, Rémi; Perrin, Marshall D.; Hagan, J. Brendan; Gofas-Salas, Elena; Rajan, Abhijith; Aguilar, Jonathan

2015-09-01

The ALICE program, for Archival Legacy Investigation of Circumstellar Environment, is currently conducting a virtual survey of about 400 stars, by re-analyzing the HST-NICMOS coronagraphic archive with advanced post-processing techniques. We present here the strategy that we adopted to identify detections and potential candidates for follow-up observations, and we give a preliminary overview of our detections. We present a statistical analysis conducted to evaluate the confidence level on these detection and the completeness of our candidate search.

Kinematic Dynamo In Turbulent Circumstellar Disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stepinski, T.

1993-01-01

Many circumstellar disks associated with objects ranging from protoplanetary nebulae, to accretion disks around compact stars allow for the generation of magnetic fields by an (alpha)omega dynamo. We have applied kinematic dynamo formalism to geometrically thin accretion disks. We calculate, in the framework of an adiabatic approximation, the normal mode solutions for dynamos operating in disks around compact stars. We then describe the criteria for a viable dynamo in protoplanetary nebulae, and discuss the particular features that make accretion disk dynamos different from planetary, stellar, and galactic dynamos.

The Spectroscopic Evolution of the Symbiotic-like Recurrent Nova V407 Cygni During Its 2010 Outburst. 2. The Circumstellar Environment and the Aftermath

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shore, S. N.; Wahlgren, G. M.; Augusteijn, T.; Liimets, T.; Koubsky, P.; Slechta, M.; Votruba, V.

2011-01-01

The nova outburst of V407 Cyg in 2010 Mar. 10 was the first observed for this star but its close resemblance to the well known symbiotic-like recurrent nova RS Oph suggests that it is also a member of this rare type of Galactic novae. The nova was the first detected at gamma-ray energies and is the first known nova explosion for this system. The extensive multiwavelength coverage of this outburst makes it an ideal comparison with the few other outbursts known for similar systems. We extend our previous analysis of the Mira and the expanding shock from the explosion to detail the time development of the photoionized Mira wind, circumstellar medium, and shocked circumstellar environment to derive their physical parameters and how they relate to large scale structure of the environment, extending the previous coverage to more than 500 days after outburst. We use optical spectra obtained at high resolution with the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) (R approx. =.45000 to 65000) and medium resolution Ondrejov Observatory (R approx. = 12000) data and compare the line variations with publicly available archival measurements at 30 GHz OVNR and at X-rays with Swift during the first four months of the outburst, through the end of the epoch of strong XR emission. We use nebular diagnostics and high resolution profile variations to derive the densities and locations of the extended emission. We find that the higher the ionization and/or the higher the excitation energy, the more closely the profiles resemble the He II/Ca V-type high velocity shock profile discussed in Paper I. This also accounts for the comparative development of the [N II] and [O III] isoelectronic transitions: the [O III] 4363A profile does not show the low velocity peaks while the excited [N II] 5754A does. If nitrogen is mainly N(+3) or higher in the shock, the upper state of the [N II] nebular lines will contribute but if the oxygen is O(+2) then this line is formed by recombination, masking the nebular contributor, and the lower states are collisionally quenched but emit from the low density surroundings. Absorption lines of Fe-peak ions formed in the Mira wind were visible as P Cyg profiles at low velocity before Day 69, around the time of the X-ray peak and we identified many absorption transitions without accompanying emission for metal lines. The H Balmer lines showed strong P Cyg absorption troughs that weakened during the 2010 observing period, through Day 128. The Fe-peak line profiles and flux variations were different for permitted and forbidden transitions: the E1 transitions were not visible after Day 128 but had shown a narrow peak superimposed on an extended (200 km/s) blue wing, while the M1 and E2 transitions persisted to Day 529, the last observation, and showed extended redshifted wings up of the same velocity. We distinguish the components from the shock, the photoionized environment, and the chromosphere and inner Mira wind using spectra taken more than one year after outburst. The multiple shells and radiative excitation phenomenology are similar to those recently cited for GRBs and SNIa .

Unveiling the high-activity origin of single-atom iron catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction.

PubMed

Yang, Liu; Cheng, Daojian; Xu, Haoxiang; Zeng, Xiaofei; Wan, Xin; Shui, Jianglan; Xiang, Zhonghua; Cao, Dapeng

2018-06-26

It is still a grand challenge to develop a highly efficient nonprecious-metal electrocatalyst to replace the Pt-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we propose a surfactant-assisted method to synthesize single-atom iron catalysts (SA-Fe/NG). The half-wave potential of SA-Fe/NG is only 30 mV less than 20% Pt/C in acidic medium, while it is 30 mV superior to 20% Pt/C in alkaline medium. Moreover, SA-Fe/NG shows extremely high stability with only 12 mV and 15 mV negative shifts after 5,000 cycles in acidic and alkaline media, respectively. Impressively, the SA-Fe/NG-based acidic proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) exhibits a high power density of 823 mW cm -2 Combining experimental results and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations, we further reveal that the origin of high-ORR activity of SA-Fe/NG is from the Fe-pyrrolic-N species, because such molecular incorporation is the key, leading to the active site increase in an order of magnitude which successfully clarifies the bottleneck puzzle of why a small amount of iron in the SA-Fe catalysts can exhibit extremely superior ORR activity.

When Bad Masks Turn Good

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abraham, Roberto G.

In keeping with the spirit of a meeting on ‘masks,' this talk presents two short stories on the theme of dust. In the first, dust plays the familiar role of the evil obscurer, the enemy to bedefeated by the cunning observer in order to allow a key future technology (adaptive optics) to be exploited fully by heroic astronomers. In the second story, dust itself emerges as the improbable hero, in the form of a circumstellar debris disks. I will present evidence of a puzzling near-infrared excess in the continuum of high-redshift galaxies and will argue that the seemingly improbable origin of this IR excess is a population of young circumstellar disks formed around high-mass stars in distant galaxies. Assuming circumstellar disks extend down to lower masses,as they do in our own Galaxy, the excess emission presents us with an exciting opportunity to measure the formation rate of planetary systems in distant galaxies at cosmic epochs before our own solar system formed.

Atomic and molecular hydrogen in the circumstellar envelopes of late-type stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glassgold, A. E.; Huggins, P. J.

1983-01-01

The distribution of atomic and molecular hydrogen in the expanding circumstellar envelopes of cool evolved stars is discussed. The main concern is to evaluate the effects of photodestruction of H2 by galactic UV radiation, including shielding of the radiation by H2 itself and by dust in the envelope. One of the most important parameters is the H/H2 ratio which is frozen out in the upper atmosphere of the star. For stars with photospheric temperatures greater than about 2500 K, atmospheric models suggest that the outflowing hydrogen is mainly atomic, whereas cooler stars should be substantially molecular. In the latter case, photodissociation of H2 and heavy molecules contribute to the atomic hydrogen content of the outer envelope. The presented estimates indicate that atomic hydrogen is almost at the limit of detection in the C-rich star IRC + 10216, and may be detectable in warmer stars. Failure to detect it would have important implications for the general understanding of circumstellar envelopes.

IDENTIFYING NEARBY, YOUNG, LATE-TYPE STARS BY MEANS OF THEIR CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schneider, Adam; Song, Inseok; Melis, Carl

2012-10-01

It has recently been shown that a significant fraction of late-type members of nearby, very young associations (age {approx}<10 Myr) display excess emission at mid-IR wavelengths indicative of dusty circumstellar disks. We demonstrate that the detection of mid-IR excess emission can be utilized to identify new nearby, young, late-type stars including two definite new members ('TWA 33' and 'TWA 34') of the TW Hydrae Association (TWA). Both new TWA members display mid-IR excess emission in the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer catalog and they show proper motion and youthful spectroscopic characteristics-namely, H{alpha} emission, strong lithium absorption, and low surface gravity featuresmore » consistent with known TWA members. We also detect mid-IR excess-the first unambiguous evidence of a dusty circumstellar disk-around a previously identified UV-bright, young, accreting star (2M1337) that is a likely member of the Lower-Centaurus Crux region of the Scorpius-Centaurus Complex.« less

The Aro 1 mm Survey of the Oxygen-Rich Envelope of Supergiant Star NML Cygnus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, Jessica L.; Ziurys, L. M.; Woolf, N. J.

2011-06-01

Although a number of molecular line surveys of carbon-rich circumstellar envelopes (CSE) have been performed, only one oxygen-rich CSE, that of VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa), has been studied in depth. The Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) 1 mm survey of VY CMa showed a very different and interesting chemistry dominated by sulfur- and silicon-bearing compounds as well as a number of more exotic species. A similar survey of the oxygen rich star NML Cygnus (NML Cyg) from 215 to 285 GHz is currently under way using the ARO Sub-millimeter Telescope. Initial observations show that this circumstellar envelope appears to be as chemically rich as that of VY CMa. Molecules including 12CO, 13CO, 12CN, 13CN, HCN, HCO+, CS, SO{_2}, SiO and 30SiO have been observed in NML Cyg. Line profiles of this source also suggest that there may be multiple outflows and that the circumstellar envelope is not spherically symmetric. Current results will be presented.

Probing the dusty disk around the Herbig Ae star MWC 480

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamidouche, M.; Looney, L. W.; Shaw, J.

2004-12-01

It is already quite evident that some Herbig AeBe stars are surrounded by circumstellar dusty disk (e.g. Fuente et al 2003, Natta et al. 2004). We present sub-arcsecond resolution observations at λ = 1mm of dust continuum emission from circumstellar structures around the Herbig AeBe star MWC 480. We have detected a disk-like structure around the star. This is the first well resolved Herbig Ae disk at 1.3 mm. We deduced from the best fit Gaussian a FWHM of 100 AU. We deduce a disk mass of ˜ 0.017 M⊙ assuming optically thin emission. We focus the discussion upon the morphology of the disk and use models to infer the physical parameters (e.g. the density profile). In addition, we discuss a new method with which to fit the numerical model to interferometric data of circumstellar structures around Herbig AeBe stars and T Tauri stars. This method allows us to compare complete Fourier dataset to the Model.

A Classical and a Relativistic Law of Motion for Spherical Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaninetti, Lorenzo

2014-11-01

In this paper we derive some first order differential equations which model the classical and the relativistic thin layer approximations. The circumstellar medium is assumed to follow a density profile of the Plummer type, the Lane-Emden (n = 5) type, or a power law. The first order differential equations are solved analytically, numerically, by a series expansion, or by recursion. The initial conditions are chosen in order to model the temporal evolution of SN 1993J over 10 yr and a smaller chi-squared is obtained for the Plummer case with η = 6. The stellar mass ejected by the SN progenitor prior to the explosion, expressed in solar mass, is identified with the total mass associated with the selected density profile and varies from 0.217 to 0.402 when the central number density is 107 particles per cubic centimeter. The FWHM of the three density profiles, which can be identified with the size of the pre-SN 1993J envelope, varies from 0.0071 pc to 0.0092 pc.

How far is it? Distance measurements and their consequences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krełowski, Jacek

2017-08-01

Methods of measuring distances to objects in our Milky Way are briefly discussed. They generally base on three principles: of using a standard rod, of standard candle and of column density of interstellar matter. Weak and strong points of these methods are presented. The presence of gray extinction towards some objects is suggested which makes the most universal method of standard candle (spectroscopic parallax) very uncertain. Hard to say whether gray extinc-tion appears only in the form of circumstellar debris discs or is present also in the general interstellar medium. The application of the method of measuring column densities of interstellar gases suggests that the rotation curve of our Milky Way system is rather Keplerian than flat which creates doubts as to whether any Dark Matter halo is present around our Galaxy. It is emphasized that the most universal method, i.e. that of standard candle, used to estimate distances to cosmological objects, may suffer serious errors because of improper subtraction of extinction effects.

Coordinated Chemical and Isotopic Imaging of Bells (CM2) Meteorite Matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clemett, S. J.; Messenger, S.; Naklamura-Messenger, K.; Thomas-Keprta, K. L.

2014-01-01

Meteoritic organic matter is a complex conglomeration of species formed in distinct environments and processes in circumstellar space, the interstellar medium, the Solar Nebula and asteroids. Consequently meteorites constitute a unique record of primordial organic chemical evolution. While bulk chemical analysis has provided a detailed description of the range and diversity of organic species present in carbonaceous chondrites, there is little information as to how these species are spatially distributed and their relationship to the host mineral matrix. The distribution of organic phases is nevertheless critical to understanding parent body processes. The CM and CI chondrites all display evidence of low temperature (< 350K) aqueous alteration that may have led to aqueous geochromatographic separation of organics and synthesis of new organics coupled to aqueous mineral alteration. Here we present the results of the first coordinated in situ isotopic and chemical mapping study of the Bells meteorite using a newly developed two-step laser mass spectrometer (mu-L(sup 2)MS) capable of measuring a broad range of organic compounds.

X-ray studies of supernova remnants: A different view of supernova explosions

PubMed Central

Badenes, Carles

2010-01-01

The unprecedented spatial and spectral resolutions of Chandra have revolutionized our view of the X-ray emission from supernova remnants. The excellent datasets accumulated on young, ejecta-dominated objects like Cas A or Tycho present a unique opportunity to study at the same time the chemical and physical structure of the explosion debris and the characteristics of the circumstellar medium sculpted by the progenitor before the explosion. Supernova remnants can thus put strong constraints on fundamental aspects of both supernova explosion physics and stellar evolution scenarios for supernova progenitors. This view of the supernova phenomenon is completely independent of, and complementary to, the study of distant extragalactic supernovae at optical wavelengths. The calibration of these two techniques has recently become possible thanks to the detection and spectroscopic follow-up of supernova light echoes. In this paper, I review the most relevant results on supernova remnants obtained during the first decade of Chandra and the impact that these results have had on open issues in supernova research. PMID:20404206

Heterodyne Receiver for Laboratory Spectrosocpy of Molecules of Astrophysical Importance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wehres, Nadine; Lewen, Frank; Endres, Christian; Hermanns, Marius; Schlemmer, Stephan

2016-06-01

We present first results of a heterodyne receiver built for high-resolution emission laboratory spectroscopy of molecules of astrophysical interest. The room-temperature receiver operates at frequencies between 80 and 110 GHz, consistent with ALMA band 3. Many molecules have been identified in the interstellar and circumstellar medium at exactly these frequencies by comparing emission spectra obtained from telescopes to high-resolution laboratory absorption spectra. Taking advantage of the recent progresses in the field of mm/submm technology in the astronomy community, we have built a room-temperature emission spectrometer making use of heterodyne receiver technology at an instantaneous bandwidth of currently 2.5 GHz. The system performance, in particular the noise temperature and systematic errors, is presented. The proof-of-concept is demonstrated by comparing the emission spectrum of methyl cyanide to respective absorption spectra and to the literature. Future prospects as well as limitations of the new laboratory receiver for the spectroscopy of complex organic molecules or transient species in discharges will be discussed.

Low-temperature crystallization of silicate dust in circumstellar disks.

PubMed

Molster, F J; Yamamura, I; Waters, L B; Tielens, A G; de Graauw, T; de Jong, T; de Koter, A; Malfait, K; van den Ancker, M E; van Winckel, H; Voors, R H; Waelkens, C

1999-10-07

Silicate dust in the interstellar medium is observed to be amorphous, yet silicate dust in comets and interplanetary dust particles is sometimes partially crystalline. The dust in disks that are thought to be forming planets around some young stars also appears to be partially crystalline. These observations suggest that as the dust goes from the precursor clouds to a planetary system, it must undergo some processing, but the nature and extent of this processing remain unknown. Here we report observations of highly crystalline silicate dust in the disks surrounding binary red-giant stars. The dust was created in amorphous form in the outer atmospheres of the red giants, and therefore must be processed in the disks to become crystalline. The temperatures in these disks are too low for the grains to anneal; therefore, some low-temperature process must be responsible. As the physical properties of the disks around young stars and red giants are similar, our results suggest that low-temperature crystallization of silicate grains also can occur in protoplanetary systems.

Modelling of the solar/stellar wind two-jet structure induced by azimuthal stellar magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golikov, Evgeniy; Belov, Nickolai; Alexashov, Dmitry; Izmodenov, Vladislav

2016-07-01

Opher et al. (2015), Drake et al. (2015) have shown that the heliospheric magnetic field results in formation of two-jet structure of the solar wind flow in the inner heliosheath, i.e. in the subsonic region between the heliospheric termination shock and the heliopause. In this scenario the heliopause has tube-like topology as compared with sheet-like topology in the most models of the global heliosphere (e.g. Izmodenov and Alexashov, 2015). In this paper we explore the two-jet scenario for the simplified astrosphere with the star is at rest with respect to the circumstellar medium and radial magnetic field is neglected as compared with azimuthal component. Our work is further elaboration of Drake et al. (2015) paper. We performed parametric numerical analyses showing how the structure of the flow changes depending on the model parameters. Also, we present three first integrals of the ideal MHD equations for the considered problem and use them to get links between analytical and numerical considerations.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Siverd, Robert J.; Stassun, Keivan G.; Pepper, Joshua

We report observations of the bright M82 supernova 2014J serendipitously obtained with the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT). The supernova (SN) was observed at high cadence for over 100 days, from pre-explosion, to early rise and peak times, through the secondary bump. The high cadence KELT data with high signal-to-noise ratio is completely unique for SN 2014J and for any other SNIa, with the exception of the (yet) unpublished Kepler data. Here, we report determinations of the SN explosion time and peak time. We also report measures of the ''smoothness'' of the light curve on timescales of minutes/hours never before probed,more » and we use this to place limits on energy produced from short-lived isotopes or inhomogeneities in the explosion or the circumstellar medium. From the non-observation of significant perturbations of the light curves, we derive a 3σ upper limit corresponding to 8.7 × 10{sup 36} erg  s{sup –1} for any such extra sources of luminosity at optical wavelengths.« less

Relativistic Jets from Collapsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aloy, M. A.; Müller, E.; Ibáñez, J. M.; Martí, J. M.; MacFadyen, A.

2000-03-01

Using a collapsar progenitor model of MacFadyen & Woosley, we have simulated the propagation of an axisymmetric jet through a collapsing rotating massive star with the GENESIS multidimensional relativistic hydrodynamic code. The jet forms as a consequence of an assumed (constant or variable) energy deposition in the range of 1050-1051 ergs s-1 within a 30 deg cone around the rotation axis. The jet flow is strongly beamed (approximately less than a few degrees), spatially inhomogeneous, and time dependent. The jet reaches the surface of the stellar progenitor (R*=2.98x1010 cm) intact. At breakout, the maximum Lorentz factor of the jet flow is 33. After breakout, the jet accelerates into the circumstellar medium, whose density is assumed to decrease exponentially and then become constant, ρext=10-5 g cm-3. Outside the star, the flow begins to expand laterally also (v~c), but the beam remains very well collimated. At a distance of 2.54 R*, where the simulation ends, the Lorentz factor has increased to 44.

Magnesium replacement in formaldehyde: Theoretical rovibrational analysis of X ∼ 3B1 MgCH2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bassett, Matthew K.; Fortenberry, Ryan C.

2018-02-01

A full, anharmonic set of fundamental vibrational frequencies as well as spectrosocpic constants are provided at high-level for X ∼ 3B1 MgCH2 for the first time. The present data are in line with previous computational and Ar-matrix results, but the anharmonic data show that two brightest frequencies, ν4 and ν5 , are nearly coincident with one another at 560 cm-1. Hence, this area is the best spectral region to search for signatures of this molecule. The rotational constants are also provided indicating a near-prolate rotational progression which should aid in microwave/millimeter-wave analysis of this molecule. Magnesium is known to be a significant component of the Earth, and molecules containing it may be more common in the interstellar medium/circumstellar media than previously thought. More spectral characterization of such molecules like MgCH2 should be undertaken, and this work is a step in that direction.

Classification of Hot Stars by Disk Variability using Hα Line Emission Characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoyt Hannah, Christian; Glennon Fagan, W.; Tycner, Christopher

2018-06-01

The variability associated with circumstellar disks around hot and massive stars has been observed on time scales ranging from less than a day to decades. Variations detected in line emission from circumstellar disks on long time scales are typically attributed to disk-growth and disk-loss events. However, in order to fully describe and model such phenomena, adequate spectroscopic observations over long time scales are needed. In this project, we conduct a comprehensive study that is based on spectra recorded over a 14-year period (2005 to 2018) of roughly 100 B-type stars. Using results from a representative sample of over 20 targets, we illustrate how the Hα emission line, one of the most prominent emission features from circumstellar disks, can be used to monitor the variability associated with these systems. Using high-resolution spectra, we utilize line emission characteristics such as equivalent width, peak strength(s), and line-width to setup a classification scheme that describes different types of variabilities. This in turn can be used to divide the systems in disk-growth, disk-loss, variable and stable categories. With additional numerical disk modeling, the recorded variations based on emission line characteristics can also be used to describe changes in disk temperature and density structure. The aim is to develop a tool to help further our understanding of the processes behind the production and eventual dissipation of the circumstellar disks found in hot stars. This work has been supported by NSF grant AST-1614983.

The Formation of Solid Particles from their Gas-Phase Molecular Precursors in Cosmic Environments with NASA Ames' COSmIC Facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salama, Farid

2014-01-01

We present and discuss the unique characteristics and capabilities of the laboratory facility, COSmIC, that was developed at NASA Ames to generate, process and analyze interstellar, circumstellar and planetary analogs in the laboratory. COSmIC stands for Cosmic Simulation Chamber and is dedicated to the study of molecules and ions under the low temperature and high vacuum conditions that are required to simulate interstellar, circumstellar and planetary physical environments in space. COSmIC integrates a variety of state-of-the-art instruments that allow forming, processing and monitoring simulated space conditions for planetary, circumstellar and interstellar materials in the laboratory. COSmIC is composed of a Pulsed Discharge Nozzle (PDN) expansion that generates a free jet supersonic expansion coupled to two ultrahigh-sensitivity, complementary in situ diagnostics: a Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) system for photonic detection and a Reflectron Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ReTOF-MS) for mass detection. Recent, unique, laboratory astrophysics results that were obtained using the capabilities of COSmIC will be discussed, in particular the progress that have been achieved in monitoring in the laboratory the formation of solid gains from their gas-phase molecular precursors in environments as varied as stellar/circumstellar outflow and planetary atmospheres. Plans for future, next generation, laboratory experiments on cosmic molecules and grains in the growing field of laboratory astrophysics will also be addressed as well as the implications of these studies for current and upcoming space missions.

High-Resolution Near-Infrared Polarimetry of a Circumstellar Disk around UX Tau A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Serabyn, G.; Grady, C. A.; Currie, T.

2012-01-01

We present H-band polarimetric imagery of UX Tau A taken with HiCIAO/AO188 on the Subaru Telescope. UX Tau A has been classified as a pre-transitional disk object, with a gap structure separating its inner and outer disks. Our imagery taken with the 0.15" (21 AU) radius coronagraphic mask has revealed a strongly polarized circumstellar disk surrounding UX Tau A which extends to 120 AU, at a spatial resolution of 0.1" (14 AU). It is inclined by 46 degrees plus or minus 2 degrees as the west side is nearest. Although SED modeling and sub-millimeter imagery suggested the presence of a gap in the disk, with the inner edge of the outer disk estimated to be located at 25 - 30 AU, we detect no evidence of a gap at the limit of our inner working angle (23AU) at the near-infrared wavelength. We attribute the observed strong polarization (up to 66 %) to light scattering by dust grains in the disk. However, neither polarization models of the circumstellar disk based on Rayleigh scattering nor Mie scattering approximations were consistent with the observed azimuthal profile of the polarization degrees of the disk. Instead, a geometric optics model of the disk with nonspherical grains with the radii of 30 micrometers is consistent with the observed profile. We suggest that the dust grains have experienced frequent collisional coagulations and have grown in the circumstellar disk of UX Tau A.

High-Resolution Near-Infrared Polarimetry of a Circumstellar Disk around UX Tau A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanii, Ryoko; Itoh, Yoichi; Kudo, Tomoyuki; Hioki, Tomonori; Oasa, Yumiko; Gupta, Ranjan; Sen, Asoke K.; Wisniewski, John P.; Muto, Takayuki; Grady, Carol A.; Hashimoto, Jun; Fukagawa, Misato; Mayama, Satoshi; Hornbeck, Jeremy; Sitko, Michael L.; Russell, Ray W.; Werren, Chelsea; Curé, Michel; Currie, Thayne; Ohashi, Nagayoshi; Okamoto, Yoshiko; Momose, Munetake; Honda, Mitsuhiko; Inutsuka, Shu-ichi; Takeuchi, Taku; Dong, Ruobing; Abe, Lyu; Brandner, Wolfgang; Brandt, Timothy D.; Carson, Joseph; Egner, Sebastian E.; Feldt, Markus; Fukue, Tsubasa; Goto, Miwa; Guyon, Olivier; Hayano, Yutaka; Hayashi, Masahiko; Hayashi, Saeko S.; Henning, Thomas; Hodapp, Klaus W.; Ishii, Miki; Iye, Masanori; Janson, Markus; Kandori, Ryo; Knapp, Gillian R.; Kusakabe, Nobuhiko; Kuzuhara, Masayuki; Matsuo, Taro; McElwain, Michael W.; Miyama, Shoken; Morino, Jun-ichi; Moro-Martín, Amaya; Nishimura, Tetsuro; Pyo, Tae-Soo; Serabyn, Eugene; Suto, Hiroshi; Suzuki, Ryuji; Takami, Michihiro; Takato, Naruhisa; Terada, Hiroshi; Thalmann, Christian; Tomono, Daigo; Turner, Edwin L.; Watanabe, Makoto; Yamada, Toru; Takami, Hideki; Usuda, Tomonori; Tamura, Motohide

2012-12-01

We present H-band polarimetric imagery of UX Tau A taken with HiCIAO/AO188 on the Subaru Telescope. UX Tau A has been classified as a pre-transitional disk object, with a gap structure separating its inner and outer disks. Our imagery taken with the 0.''15 (21 AU) radius coronagraphic mask has revealed a strongly polarized circumstellar disk surrounding UX Tau A, which extends to 120 AU, at a spatial resolution of 0.''1 (14 AU). It is inclined by 46° ± 2°, since the west side is nearest. Although SED modeling and sub-millimeter imagery have suggested the presence of a gap in the disk, with the inner edge of the outer disk estimated to be located at 25-30 AU, we detect no evidence of a gap at the limit of our inner working angle (23 AU) at the near-infrared wavelength. We attribute the observed strong polarization (up to 66%) to light scattering by dust grains in the disk. However, neither polarization models of the circumstellar disk based on Rayleigh-scattering nor Mie-scattering approximations were consistent with the observed azimuthal profile of the polarization degrees of the disk. Instead, a geometric optics model of the disk with nonspherical grains with radii of 30μm is consistent with the observed profile. We suggest that the dust grains have experienced frequent collisional coagulations, and have grown in the circumstellar disk of UX Tau A.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barbosa, C. L.; Blum, R. D.; Damineli, A.

In this paper we present the results of a mid-infrared study of G49.5-0.4, or W51A, part of the massive starbirth complex W51. Combining public data from the Spitzer IRAC camera, and Gemini mid-infrared camera T-ReCS at 7.73, 9.69, 12.33, and 24.56 μ m, with a spatial resolution of ∼0.″5, we have identified the mid-infrared counterparts of eight ultracompact H ii regions, showing that two radio sources are deeply embedded in molecular clouds and another is a cloud of ionized gas. From the T-ReCS data we have unveiled the central core of the W51 region, revealing massive young stellar candidates. Wemore » modeled the spectral energy distribution of the detected sources. The results suggest that the embedded objects are sources with spectral types ranging from B3 to O5, but the majority of the fits indicate stellar objects with B1 spectral types. We also present an extinction map of IRS 2, showing that a region with lower extinction corresponds to the region where a proposed jet of gas has impacted the foreground cloud. From this map, we also derived the total extinction toward the enigmatic source IRS 2E, which amounts to ∼60 mag in the V band. We calculated the color temperature due to thermal emission of the circumstellar dust of the detected sources; the temperatures are in the interval of ∼100–150 K, which corresponds to the emission of dust located at 0.1 pc from the central source. Finally, we show a possible mid-infrared counterpart of a detected source at millimeter wavelengths that was found by Zapata et al. to be a massive young stellar object undergoing a high accretion rate.« less

Molecular gas in supernova local environments unveiled by EDGE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galbany, L.; Mora, L.; González-Gaitán, S.; Bolatto, A.; Dannerbauer, H.; López-Sánchez, Á. R.; Maeda, K.; Pérez, S.; Pérez-Torres, M. A.; Sánchez, S. F.; Wong, T.; Badenes, C.; Blitz, L.; Marino, R. A.; Utomo, D.; Van de Ven, G.

2017-06-01

CO observations allow estimation of the gas content of molecular clouds, which trace the reservoir of cold gas fuelling star formation, as well as determination of extinction via H2 column density, N(H2). Here, we study millimetric and optical properties at 26 supernovae (SNe) locations of different types in a sample of 23 nearby galaxies, by combining molecular 12C16O (J = 1 → 0) resolved maps from the Extragalactic Database for Galaxy Evolution (EDGE) survey and optical Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey. We found an even clearer separation between type II and type Ibc SNe in terms of molecular gas than is found in the optical using Hα emission as a proxy for the current star formation (SF) rate, which reinforces the fact that SNe Ibc are more associated with SF environments. While AV at SN locations is similar for SNe II and SNe Ibc and higher than for SNe Ia, N(H2) is significantly higher for SNe Ibc than for SNe II and Ia. When compared with alternative extinction estimations made directly from SN photometry and spectroscopy, we find that our SNe Ibc also have redder colour excess, but showed standard Na I D absorption pseudo-equivalent widths (˜1 Å). In some cases, we find no extinction when IT is estimated from the environment but high amounts of extinction when measured from SN observations, which suggests that circumstellar material or dust sublimation may be playing a role. This work serves as a benchmark for future studies combining last-generation millimetre and optical IFS instruments to reveal the local environmental properties of extragalactic SNe.

CSI in Supernova Remnants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, You-Hua

2017-02-01

Supernovae (SNe) explode in environments that have been significantly modified by the SN progenitors. For core-collapse SNe, the massive progenitors ionize the ambient interstellar medium (ISM) via UV radiation and sweep the ambient ISM via fast stellar winds during the main sequence phase, replenish the surroundings with stellar material via slow winds during the luminous blue variable (LBV) or red supergiant (RSG) phase, and sweep up the circumstellar medium (CSM) via fast winds during the Wolf-Rayet (WR) phase. If a massive progenitor was in a close binary system, the binary interaction could have caused mass ejection in certain preferred directions, such as the orbital plane, and even bipolar outflow/jet. As a massive star finally explodes, the SN ejecta interacts first with the CSM that was ejected and shaped by the star itself. As the newly formed supernova remnant (SNR) expands further, it encounters interstellar structures that were shaped by the progenitor from earlier times. Therefore, the structure and evolution of a SNR is largely dependent on the initial mass and close binarity of the SN progenitor. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has an excellent sample of over 50 confirmed SNRs that are well resolved by Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and Spitzer Space Telescope. These multi-wavelength observations allow us to conduct stellar forensics in SNRs and understand the wide variety of morphologies and physical properties of SNRs observed.

The Origin and Evolution of the Infrared Light Curve of SN2010jl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dwek, Eli; Sarangi, Arkaprabha; Arendt, Richard; Fox, Ori; Kallman, Timothy; Kazanas, Demosthenes

2018-01-01

SN2010jl is a luminous core-collapse supernova (CCSN) of Type IIn that is surrounded by a dense circumstellar medium (CSM). The supernova (SN) luminosity vastly exceeds the available power from radiactive elements in the ejecta, and is powered by the interaction of the SN shock wave with the ambient medium. Upper limits on the UV and near-IR (NIR) emission from pre-explosion images of the region suggest that any progenitor star was hidden by pre-existing CSM dust. After day ~80, the SN spectrum shows the development of an IR excess above the extrapolated UVO emission arising from the shocked CSM. This IR component is attributed to thermal emission from dust.After day ~300, the light curve exhibits a rise in the NIR luminosity, concurrent with a steep decline at UVO wavelengths. Ruling out any possible contribution of SN-condensed dust to the IR light curve, we show that the early IR emission arises from the pre-existing CSM dust that survived the flash of radiation from the shock breakout. The late IR emission arises from newly-formed CSM dust that condensed in the cooling dust-free postshock gas of the advancing SN shock wave. Our analysis presents the first detailed modeling of dust formation in a cooling postshock environment, and provides important insights into the interaction of the SN shock wave with the CSM.

MWC 297: a young high-mass star rotating at critical velocity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acke, B.; Verhoelst, T.; van den Ancker, M. E.; Deroo, P.; Waelkens, C.; Chesneau, O.; Tatulli, E.; Benisty, M.; Puga, E.; Waters, L. B. F. M.; Verhoeff, A.; de Koter, A.

2008-07-01

Context: MWC 297 is a nearby young massive B[e] star. The central star is attenuated by 8 mag in the optical and has a high projected rotational velocity of 350 km s-1. Despite the wealth of published observations, the nature of this object and its circumstellar environment is not understood very well. Aims: With the present paper, we intend to shed light on the geometrical structure of the circumstellar matter that is responsible for the near- to mid-infrared flux excess. Methods: The H-band (1.6-2.0 μm), K-band (2.0-2.5 μm), and N-band (8-13 μm) brightness distribution of MWC 297 was probed with the ESO interferometric spectrographs AMBER and MIDI, mounted on the VLTI in Paranal, Chile. We obtained visibility measurements on 3 AMBER and 12 MIDI baselines, covering a wide range of spatial frequencies. Different models (parametrized circumstellar disks, a dusty halo) were invoked to fit the data, all of which fail to do so in a satisfying way. We approximated the brightness distribution in H, K, and N with a geometric model consisting of three Gaussian disks with different extents and brightness temperatures. This model can account for the entire near- to mid-IR emission of MWC 297. Results: The circumstellar matter around MWC 297 is resolved on all baselines. The near- and mid-IR emission, including the silicate emission at 10 micron, emanates from a very compact region (FWHM < 1.5 AU) around the central star. Conclusions: We argue that the extinction towards the MWC 297 star+disk system is interstellar and most likely due to remnants of the natal cloud from which MWC 297 was formed. Furthermore, we argue that the circumstellar matter in the MWC 297 system is organized in a circumstellar disk, seen under moderate (i < 40°) inclination. The disk displays no inner emission-free gap at the resolution of our interferometric observations. The low inclination of the disk implies that the already high projected rotational velocity of the star corresponds to an actual rotational velocity that exceeds the critical velocity of the star. This result shows that stars can obtain such high rotation rates at birth. We discuss the impact of this result in terms of the formation of high-mass stars and the main-sequence evolution of classical Be stars. Based on observations made with ESO telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under program IDs 077.D-0071(B-C), 077.D-0095(C-F), 079.C-0012(A-H) and 079.C-0207(A).

SPHERE Sheds New Light on the Collisional History of Main-belt Asteroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marsset, M.; Carry, B.; Pajuelo, M.; Viikinkoski, M.; Hanuš, J.; Vernazza, P.; Dumas, C.; Yang, B.

2017-09-01

The Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) instrument has unveiled unprecedented details of the three-dimensional shape, surface topography and cratering record of four medium-sized ( 200 km) asteroids, opening the prospect of a new era of ground-based exploration of the asteroid belt. Although two of the targets, (130) Elektra and (107) Camilla, have been observed extensively for more than fifteen years by the first-generation adaptive optics imagers, two new moonlets were discovered around these targets, illustrating the unique power of SPHERE. In the next two years SPHERE will continue to collect high- angular-resolution and high-contrast measurements of about 40 asteroids. These observations of a large number of asteroids will provide a unique dataset to better understand the collisional history and multiplicity rate of the asteroid belt.

Coronal Properties of X-ray bright stars in young associations: abundances, temperatures and variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Argiroffi, Costanza

2006-03-01

In this work I have investigated open issues related to the X-ray radiation from young stars, including heating mechanisms of the emitting plasma, its chemical composition, and possible effects due to circumstellar accretion disks. To this aim, I have analyzed observations of young nearby stars taken with the X-ray observatories XMM-Newton and Chandra. For a detailed study of the characteristics of the X-ray emitting plasma, I have selected two X-ray bright young stars, TWA 5 and PZ Tel, for which high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy was achievable, and two regions of the young stellar association Upper Scorpius (USco), for which X-ray images and medium-resolution spectra of individual sources were obtained. TWA 5 is a 10 Myr old star in the TW Hydrae association, which is still accreting material from its circumstellar envelope, while PZ Tel is a ? 12 Myr star in the beta Pictoris moving group, which already dissipated its circumstellar disk. The different evolutionary stages of these two stars allow to probe whether X-ray emission is produced, or affected, by accretion processes. High-resolution X-ray spectra of TWA 5 and PZ Tel were gathered with the grating spectrometers on board XMM-Newton and Chandra, respectively. From the measurements of individual emission line fluxes in their X-ray spectra, I have derived emission measure distributions vs. temperature, abundances, and electron densities of the X-ray emitting plasma. I have found that, in spite of their different evolutionary status, hot (T ? 10 MK) plasma is the main responsible for the observed X-ray emission of both stars. The hot plasma on TWA 5 displays peculiar element abundances with respect to the solar photospheric composition with Ne/Fe ? 10(Ne/Fe), while the coronal plasma on PZ Tel shows Ne/Fe ? 3(Ne/Fe). To explain the strong Fe underabundance (? 0.1 Fe) and the extremely high Ne/Fe ratio of TWA 5 I have considered three different scenarios: (1) coronal plasma may be affected by selective element depletion dependent on the first ionization potential (FIP), similar to the inverse FIP effect usually observed in the coronae of very active stars; (2) the X-ray emitting plasma on TWA 5 may be partially heated by the shock produced by the infall accretion streams onto the stellar photosphere, and hence it may originate from the circumstellar disk, where grain depletion is a possible cause of the metal deficiency; (3) the peculiar abundances on TWA 5 are due to the local chemical composition of the original cloud from which the star formed, and this explains why TWA 5 shares the same abundances with TW Hydrae, another young star located in the same stellar association. The 5 Myr old USco association, due to its vicinity (145 pc) and low circumstellar extinction, is a good laboratory to perform a detailed study of PMS stars of this age. Here I present the results of the analysis of deep XMM-Newton observations of two USco regions covering an area of ?0.4 deg^2 . I have detected 224 X-ray sources among which 22 have been identified with probable USco members on the basis of near infrared and optical photometry. Among these 22 sources, I have recognized 13 sources as USco members for the first time. Except for the intermediate mass star HD 142578, all the detected USco sources are low mass stars of spectral type ranging from G to late M, and including at least one brown dwarf. The X-ray spectral analysis of the most intense USco sources indicates metal depleted plasma with temperature of ? 10 MK, resembling the typical case of active main sequence stars, as already found for TWA 5 and PZ Tel. Strong flares detected from 4 USco members have allowed me to derive coronal lengths of the flaring structures by performing time resolved spectroscopy during the flare decay phases. In all cases the flaring loops have sizes of 10^10 - 10^11 cm, hence smaller than the corresponding stellar radii. These results suggest that, in these very young stars coronal plasma is confined in compact loops. The coronal properties of PZ Tel, TWA 5, and of the USco members indicate that the coronae of pre-main sequence stars become similar to those of older active main-sequence stars on short time scales (? 5 Myr), in terms of average temperature, density, elemental abundances, and loop lengths, even if accretion processes from circumstellar disks are still at work.

Población de estrellas Be en cúmulos abiertos galácticos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aidelman, Y. J.; Cidale, L. S.; Panei, J. A.

2017-10-01

We study the population of Be stars in open clusters with the objective of finding relationships between the intrinsic properties of Be stars and the characteristics of their circumstellar envelopes. In this way, we can provide data for a better understanding of this phenomenon. With the spectrofotometric BCD system we determine fundamental parameters of these stars and analyze their spectra. We detect late B-type stars with circumstellar envelopes, but without H emission. These stars can be considered as the coldest counterpart of the Be stars.

Long-term optical and X-ray variability of the Be/X-ray binary H 1145-619: Discovery of an ongoing retrograde density wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alfonso-Garzón, J.; Fabregat, J.; Reig, P.; Kajava, J. J. E.; Sánchez-Fernández, C.; Townsend, L. J.; Mas-Hesse, J. M.; Crawford, S. M.; Kretschmar, P.; Coe, M. J.

2017-11-01

Context. Multiwavelength monitoring of Be/X-ray binaries is crucial to understand the mechanisms producing their outbursts. H 1145-619 is one of these systems, which has recently displayed X-ray activity. Aims: We investigate the correlation between the optical emission and X-ray activity to predict the occurrence of new X-ray outbursts from the inferred state of the circumstellar disc. Methods: We have performed a multiwavelength study of H 1145-619 from 1973 to 2017 and present here a global analysis of its variability over the last 40 yr. We used optical spectra from the SAAO, SMARTS, and SALT telescopes and optical photometry from the Optical Monitoring Camera (OMC) onboard INTEGRAL and from the All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS). We also used X-ray observations from INTEGRAL/JEM-X, and IBIS to generate the light curves and combined them with Swift/XRT to extract the X-ray spectra. In addition, we compiled archival observations and measurements from the literature to complement these data. Results: Comparing the evolution of the optical continuum emission with the Hα line variability, we identified three different patterns of optical variability: first, global increases and decreases of the optical brightness, observed from 1982 to 1994 and from 2009 to 2017, which can be explained by the dissipation and replenishment of the circumstellar disc; second, superorbital variations with a period of Psuperorb ≈ 590 days, observed in 2002-2009, which seems to be related to the circumstellar disc; and third, optical outbursts, observed in 1998-1999 and 2002-2005, which we interpret as mass ejections from the Be star. We discovered the presence of a retrograde one-armed density wave, which appeared in 2016 and is still present in the circumstellar disc. Conclusions: We carried out the most complete long-term optical study of the Be/X-ray binary H 1145-619 in correlation with its X-ray activity. For the first time, we found the presence of a retrograde density perturbation in the circumstellar disc of a Be/X-ray binary.

A SCUBA-2 850-micron Survey of Circumstellar Disks in the λ Orionis Cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ansdell, Megan; Williams, Jonathan P.; Cieza, Lucas A.

2015-06-01

We present results from an 850 μm survey of the ˜5 Myr old λ Orionis star-forming region. We used the SCUBA-2 camera on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope to survey a ˜0.°5-diameter circular region containing 36 (out of 59) cluster members with infrared excesses indicative of circumstellar disks. We detected only one object at \\gt 3σ significance, the Herbig Ae star HD 245185, with a flux density of ˜74 mJy beam-1 corresponding to a dust mass of ˜150 {M}\\oplus . Stacking the individually undetected sources did not produce a significant mean signal but gives an upper limit on the average dust mass for λ Orionis disks of ˜3 {M}\\oplus . Our follow-up observations of HD 245185 with the Submillimeter Array found weak CO 2-1 line emission with an integrated flux of ˜170 mJy km s-1 but no 13CO or C18O isotopologue emission at 30 mJy km s-1 sensitivity, suggesting a gas mass of ≲ 1 M{}{Jup}. The implied gas-to-dust ratio is thus ≳ 50 times lower than the canonical interstellar medium value, setting HD 245185 apart from other Herbig Ae disks of similar age, which have been found to be gas rich; as HD 245185 also shows signs of accretion, we may be catching it in the final phases of disk clearing. Our study of the λ Orionis cluster places quantitative constraints on planet formation timescales, indicating that at ˜5 Myr the average disk no longer has sufficient dust and gas to form giant planets and perhaps even super-Earths; the bulk material has been mostly dispersed or is locked in pebbles/planetesimals larger than a few mm in size.

Related Progenitor Models for Long-duration Gamma-Ray Bursts and Type Ic Superluminous Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguilera-Dena, David R.; Langer, Norbert; Moriya, Takashi J.; Schootemeijer, Abel

2018-05-01

We model the late evolution and mass loss history of rapidly rotating Wolf–Rayet stars in the mass range 5 M ⊙…100 M ⊙). We find that quasi-chemically homogeneously evolving single stars computed with enhanced mixing retain very little or no helium and are compatible with Type Ic supernovae. The more efficient removal of core angular momentum and the expected smaller compact object mass in our lower-mass models lead to core spins in the range suggested for magnetar-driven superluminous supernovae. Our higher-mass models retain larger specific core angular momenta, expected for long-duration gamma-ray bursts in the collapsar scenario. Due to the absence of a significant He envelope, the rapidly increasing neutrino emission after core helium exhaustion leads to an accelerated contraction of the whole star, inducing a strong spin-up and centrifugally driven mass loss at rates of up to {10}-2 {M}ȯ {yr}}-1 in the last years to decades before core collapse. Because the angular momentum transport in our lower-mass models enhances the envelope spin-up, they show the largest relative amounts of centrifugally enforced mass loss, i.e., up to 25% of the expected ejecta mass. Our most massive models evolve into the pulsational pair-instability regime. We would thus expect signatures of interaction with a C/O-rich circumstellar medium for Type Ic superluminous supernovae with ejecta masses below ∼10 M ⊙ as well as for the most massive engine-driven explosions with ejecta masses above ∼30 M ⊙. Signs of such interaction should be observable at early epochs of the supernova explosion; they may be related to bumps observed in the light curves of superluminous supernovae, or to the massive circumstellar CO-shell proposed for Type Ic superluminous supernova Gaia16apd.

An ultraviolet study of B[e] stars: evidence for pulsations, luminous blue variable type variations and processes in envelopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krtičková, I.; Krtička, J.

2018-06-01

Stars that exhibit a B[e] phenomenon comprise a very diverse group of objects in a different evolutionary status. These objects show common spectral characteristics, including the presence of Balmer lines in emission, forbidden lines and strong infrared excess due to dust. Observations of emission lines indicate illumination by an ultraviolet ionizing source, which is key to understanding the elusive nature of these objects. We study the ultraviolet variability of many B[e] stars to specify the geometry of the circumstellar environment and its variability. We analyse massive hot B[e] stars from our Galaxy and from the Magellanic Clouds. We study the ultraviolet broad-band variability derived from the flux-calibrated data. We determine variations of individual lines and the correlation with the total flux variability. We detected variability of the spectral energy distribution and of the line profiles. The variability has several sources of origin, including light absorption by the disc, pulsations, luminous blue variable type variations, and eclipses in the case of binaries. The stellar radiation of most of B[e] stars is heavily obscured by circumstellar material. This suggests that the circumstellar material is present not only in the disc but also above its plane. The flux and line variability is consistent with a two-component model of a circumstellar environment composed of a dense disc and an ionized envelope. Observations of B[e] supergiants show that many of these stars have nearly the same luminosity, about 1.9 × 105 L⊙, and similar effective temperatures.

The chemistry in circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars: following the origin of the elements to the origin of life.

PubMed

Ziurys, Lucy M

2006-08-15

Mass loss from evolved stars results in the formation of unusual chemical laboratories: circumstellar envelopes. Such envelopes are found around carbon- and oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch stars and red supergiants. As the gaseous material of the envelope flows from the star, the resulting temperature and density gradients create a complex chemical environment involving hot, thermodynamically controlled synthesis, molecule "freeze-out," shock-initiated reactions, and photochemistry governed by radical mechanisms. In the circumstellar envelope of the carbon-rich star IRC+10216, >50 different chemical compounds have been identified, including such exotic species as C(8)H, C(3)S, SiC(3), and AlNC. The chemistry here is dominated by molecules containing long carbon chains, silicon, and metals such as magnesium, sodium, and aluminum, which makes it quite distinct from that found in molecular clouds. The molecular composition of the oxygen-rich counterparts is not nearly as well explored, although recent studies of VY Canis Majoris have resulted in the identification of HCO(+), SO(2), and even NaCl in this object, suggesting chemical complexity here as well. As these envelopes evolve into planetary nebulae with a hot, exposed central star, synthesis of molecular ions becomes important, as indicated by studies of NGC 7027. Numerous species such as HCO(+), HCN, and CCH are found in old planetary nebulae such as the Helix. This "survivor" molecular material may be linked to the variety of compounds found recently in diffuse clouds. Organic molecules in dense interstellar clouds may ultimately be traced back to carbon-rich fragments originally formed in circumstellar shells.

R associations. VI - The reddening law in dust clouds and the nature of early-type emission stars in nebulosity from a study of five associations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herbst, W.; Warner, J. W.; Miller, D. P.; Herzog, A.

1982-01-01

Positions, identification charts, UBVRIKLMN photometry and spectral types are given for stars, illuminating reflection nebulae that are visible on the POSS prints, which have been identified in five associations. With a ratio of total to selective extinction of 4.2, the reddening law applicable to the dust clouds in which the stars are embedded is steeper than normal. The five associations exhibit 18 early-type stars with circumstellar shells, of which those with spectral types earlier than B5 characteristically have weak IR excesses, in contrast to the strong excesses indicative of circumstellar dust, of later-type stars. Color-magnitude charts show a distribution lying above the ZAMS by up to about 2 mag for both the circumstellar shell stars and those classified as rapid rotators. It is suggested that (1) rapid rotation accounts for the scatter in the color-magnitude diagram, and (2) many of the nebulous early-type emission-line stars are rapid rotators rather than pre-main sequence objects.

THE PDS 66 CIRCUMSTELLAR DISK AS SEEN IN POLARIZED LIGHT WITH THE GEMINI PLANET IMAGER

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wolff, Schuyler G.; Greenbaum, Alexandra Z.; Perrin, Marshall

2016-02-10

We present H- and K-band imaging polarimetry for the PDS 66 circumstellar disk obtained during the commissioning of the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI). Polarization images reveal a clear detection of the disk in to the 0.″12 inner working angle (IWA) in the H band, almost three times closer to the star than the previous Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations with NICMOS and STIS (0.″35 effective IWA). The centro-symmetric polarization vectors confirm that the bright inner disk detection is due to circumstellar scattered light. A more diffuse disk extends to a bright outer ring centered at 80 AU. We discuss several physicalmore » mechanisms capable of producing the observed ring + gap structure. GPI data confirm enhanced scattering on the east side of the disk that is inferred to be nearer to us. We also detect a lateral asymmetry in the south possibly due to shadowing from material within the IWA. This likely corresponds to a temporally variable azimuthal asymmetry observed in HST/STIS coronagraphic imaging.« less

Carbon stars with oxygen-rich circumstellar material

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jura, Michael; Hawkins, I.

1991-01-01

The IUE satellite was used to search for companions to two carbon-rich stars with oxygen-rich circumstellar envelopes, EU And and V778 Cyg. Depending upon the amount of interstellar extinction and distances (probably between 1 and 2 kpc from the Sun) to these two stars, upper limits were placed between approx. 1.5 and 6 solar mass to the mass of any main sequence companions. For the 'near' distance of 1 kpc, it seems unlikely that there are white dwarf companions because the detection would be expected of ultraviolet emission from accretion of red giant wind material onto the white dwarf. A new model is proposed to explain the oxygen-rich envelopes. If these stars have a high nitrogen abundance, the carbon that is in excess of the oxygen may be carried in the circumstellar envelopes in HCN rather than C2H2 which is a likely key seed molecule for the formation of carbon grains. Consequently, carbon particles may not form; instead, oxygen-rich silicate dust may nucleate from the SiO present in the outflow.

Variable Circumstellar Disks of “Classical” Be Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerhartz, Cody; Bjorkman, K. S.; Wisniewski, J. P.

2013-06-01

Circumstellar disks are common among many stars, all spectral types, and at different stages of their lifetimes. Among the near-main sequence “Classical” Be stars, there is growing evidence that these disks can form, dissipate, and reform, on timescales that are differ from case to case. We present data for a subset of cases where observations have been obtained throughout the different phases of the disk cycle. Using data obtained with the SpeX instrument at the NASA IRTF, we examine the IR spectral line variability of these stars to better understand the timescales and the physical mechanisms involved. The primary focus in this study are the V/R variations that are observed in the sample. The second stage of our project is to examine a sample of star clusters known to contain Be stars, with the goal to develop a more statistically significant sample of variable circumstellar disk systems. With a robust multi-epoch study we can determine whether these Be stars exhibit disk-loss or disk-renewal phases. The larger sample will enable a better understanding of the prevalence of these disk events.

Variable Circumstellar Disks of Classical Be Stars in Clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerhartz, C.; Bjorkman, K. S.; Bjorkman, J. E.; Wisniewski, J. P.

2016-11-01

Circumstellar disks are common among many stars, at most spectral types, and at different stages of their lifetimes. Among the near-main-sequence classical Be stars, there is growing evidence that these disks form, dissipate, and reform on timescales that differ from star to star. Using data obtained with the Large Monolithic Imager (LMI) at the Lowell Observatory Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT), along with additional complementary data obtained at the University of Toledo Ritter Observatory (RO), we have begun a long-term monitoring project of a well-studied set of galactic star clusters that are known to contain Be stars. Our goal is to develop a statistically significant sample of variable circumstellar disk systems over multiple timescales. With a robust multi-epoch study we can determine the relative fraction of Be stars that exhibit disk-loss or disk-renewal phases, and investigate the range of timescales over which these events occur. A larger sample will improve our understanding of the prevalence and nature of the disk variability, and may provide insight about underlying physical mechanisms.

NASA's Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) Project Unveils a New Geospatial Data Portal

Atmospheric Science Data Center

2018-03-16

NASA's Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) Project Unveils a New Geospatial Data Portal ... current POWER home page. The new POWER will include improved solar and meteorological data with all parameters available on a 0.5-degree ...

Kinematics of the CSE in VY CMa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Yoon Kyung

2009-07-01

We report on astrometric results of H2O and SiO masers in the circumstellar envelopes of VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa) carried out with VERA for 2 years. Absolute positions and proper motions of 3 different frequencies of masers were measured with phase-referencing analyses. Using the positions and the 3-dimensional velocities of the masers, we considered the 3-dimensional structures and kinematics of the circumstellar envelopes around VY CMa. The H2O masers show bipolar outflow along the line of sight, and the SiO masers have both expanding and contracting motions with less than 5 km/s.

Dust-forming molecules in VY Canis Majoris (and Betelgeuse)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamiński, T.; Gottlieb, C. A.; Schmidt, M. R.; Patel, N. A.; Young, K. H.; Menten, K. M.; Brünken, S.; Müller, H. S. P.; Winters, J. M.; McCarthy, M. C.

2013-05-01

The formation of inorganic dust in circumstellar environments of evolved stars is poorly understood. Spectra of molecules thought to be most important for the nucleation, i.e. AlO, TiO, and TiO2, have been recently detected in the red supergiant VY CMa. These molecules are effectively formed in VY CMa and the observations suggest that non-equilibrium chemistry must be involved in their formation and nucleation into dust. In addition to exploring the recent observations of VY CMa, we briefly discuss the possibility of detecting these molecules in the "dust-poor" circumstellar environment of Betelgeuse.

Evidence for dust grain growth in young circumstellar disks.

PubMed

Throop, H B; Bally, J; Esposito, L W; McCaughrean, M J

2001-06-01

Hundreds of circumstellar disks in the Orion nebula are being rapidly destroyed by the intense ultraviolet radiation produced by nearby bright stars. These young, million-year-old disks may not survive long enough to form planetary systems. Nevertheless, the first stage of planet formation-the growth of dust grains into larger particles-may have begun in these systems. Observational evidence for these large particles in Orion's disks is presented. A model of grain evolution in externally irradiated protoplanetary disks is developed and predicts rapid particle size evolution and sharp outer disk boundaries. We discuss implications for the formation rates of planetary systems.

Eight to 14 μm spectral monitoring of long period variable stars with GLADYS.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levan, P. D.; Sloan, G.; Grasdalen, G.

The authors describe an ongoing program of spectral monitoring of long period variable stars using GLADYS, a long slit prism spectrometer that employs a 58x62 pixel Si:Ga detector array. The goal is to compare the equivalent widths of the SiC emission features in carbon-rich circumstellar shells, and the silicate emission features in oxygen-rich circumstellar stars, obtained over different phases of the continuum variability cycle. Spectra of long period variables and low amplitude variables recently obtained on the Wyoming Infrared Observatory 2.3 m telescope are presented.

UV chromospheric and circumstellar diagnostic features among F supergiant stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stencel, R. E.; Worden, S. P.; Giampapa, M. S.

1981-01-01

A survey of F supergiant stars to evaluate the extension of chromospheric and circumstellar characteristics commonly observed in the slightly cooler G, K, and M supergiant is discussed. An ultraviolet survey was elected since UV features of Mg II and Fe II might persist in revealing outer atmosphere phenomena even among F supergiants. The encompassed spectral types F0 to G0, and luminosity classes Ib, Ia, and Ia-0. In addition, the usefulness of the emission line width-to-luminosity correlation for the G-M stars in both the Ca II and Mg II lines is examined.

From stars to dust: looking into a circumstellar disk through chondritic meteorites.

PubMed

Connolly, Harold C

2005-01-07

One of the most fundamental questions in planetary science is, How did the solar system form? In this special issue, astronomical observations and theories constraining circumstellar disks, their lifetimes, and the formation of planetary to subplanetary objects are reviewed. At present, it is difficult to observe what is happening within disks and to determine if another disk environment is comparable to the early solar system disk environment (called the protoplanetary disk). Fortunately, we have chondritic meteorites, which provide a record of the processes that operated and materials present within the protoplanetary disk.

An Interferometric Study of the Post-AGB Binary 89 Herculis. 1: Spatially Resolving the Continuum Circumstellar Environment at Optical and Near-IR Wavelengths with the VLTI, NPOI, IOTA, PTI, and the CHARA Array

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

evolution of binaries as well as the structure of circumstellar disks. Aims. A multiwavelength high angular resolution study of the prototypical object...optical to mid-IR wave- lengths. For YSOs this has led to the discovery of an empiri- cal size-luminosity relation (Millan-Gabet et al. 2001; Monnier...Millan-Gabet 2002), which in turn has led to the current paradigm (Dullemond & Monnier 2010) of a passive dusty disk with an optically thin cavity and the

Turbulence-induced persistence in laser beam wandering.

PubMed

Zunino, Luciano; Gulich, Damián; Funes, Gustavo; Pérez, Darío G

2015-07-01

We have experimentally confirmed the presence of long-memory correlations in the wandering of a thin Gaussian laser beam over a screen after propagating through a turbulent medium. A laboratory-controlled experiment was conducted in which coordinate fluctuations of the laser beam were recorded at a sufficiently high sampling rate for a wide range of turbulent conditions. Horizontal and vertical displacements of the laser beam centroid were subsequently analyzed by implementing detrended fluctuation analysis. This is a very well-known and widely used methodology to unveil memory effects from time series. Results obtained from this experimental analysis allow us to confirm that both coordinates behave as highly persistent signals for strong turbulent intensities. This finding is relevant for a better comprehension and modeling of the turbulence effects in free-space optical communication systems and other applications related to propagation of optical signals in the atmosphere.

Unveiling Extreme Anisotropy in Elastic Structured Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lefebvre, G.; Antonakakis, T.; Achaoui, Y.; Craster, R. V.; Guenneau, S.; Sebbah, P.

2017-06-01

Periodic structures can be engineered to exhibit unique properties observed at symmetry points, such as zero group velocity, Dirac cones, and saddle points; identifying these and the nature of the associated modes from a direct reading of the dispersion surfaces is not straightforward, especially in three dimensions or at high frequencies when several dispersion surfaces fold back in the Brillouin zone. A recently proposed asymptotic high-frequency homogenization theory is applied to a challenging time-domain experiment with elastic waves in a pinned metallic plate. The prediction of a narrow high-frequency spectral region where the effective medium tensor dramatically switches from positive definite to indefinite is confirmed experimentally; a small frequency shift of the pulse carrier results in two distinct types of highly anisotropic modes. The underlying effective equation mirrors this behavior with a change in form from elliptic to hyperbolic exemplifying the high degree of wave control available and the importance of a simple and effective predictive model.

Surface Plasmon-Mediated Nanoscale Localization of Laser-Driven sub-Terahertz Spin Dynamics in Magnetic Dielectrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chekhov, Alexander L.; Stognij, Alexander I.; Satoh, Takuya; Murzina, Tatiana V.; Razdolski, Ilya; Stupakiewicz, Andrzej

2018-05-01

Ultrafast all-optical control of spins with femtosecond laser pulses is one of the hot topics at the crossroads of photonics and magnetism with a direct impact on future magnetic recording. Unveiling light-assisted recording mechanisms for an increase of the bit density beyond the diffraction limit without excessive heating of the recording medium is an open challenge. Here we show that surface plasmon-polaritons in hybrid metal-dielectric structures can provide spatial confinement of the inverse Faraday effect, mediating the excitation of localized coherent spin precession with 0.41 THz frequency. We demonstrate a two orders of magnitude enhancement of the excitation efficiency at the surface plasmon resonance within the 100 nm layer in dielectric garnet. Our findings broaden the horizons of ultrafast spin-plasmonics and open pathways towards non-thermal opto-magnetic recording at the nano-scale.

Airy beam self-focusing in a photorefractive medium

PubMed Central

Wiersma, Noémi; Marsal, Nicolas; Sciamanna, Marc; Wolfersberger, Delphine

2016-01-01

The unique bending and shape-preserving properties of optical Airy beams offer a large range of applications in for example beam routing, optical waveguiding, particle manipulation and plasmonics. In these applications and others, the Airy beam may experience nonlinear light-matter interactions which in turn modify the Airy beam properties and propagation. A well-known example is light self-focusing that leads to the formation of spatial soliton. Here, we unveil experimentally the self-focusing properties of a 1D-Airy beam in a photorefractive crystal under focusing conditions. The transient evolution involves both self-bending and acceleration of the initially launched Airy beam due to the onset of an off-shooting soliton and the resulting nonlocal refractive index perturbation. Both the transient and stationary self-focusing properties can be tuned by varying the bias electric field, the injected Airy beam power and the background illumination. PMID:27731356

Unveiling Obscured AGN with X-ray Spectral Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

LaMassa, Stephanie M.; Yaqoob, Tahir; Ptak, Andrew; Jia, Jianjun; Heckman, Timothy M.; Gandhi, Poshak; Urry, C. Megan

2014-06-01

With the recent advent of physically motivated, self-consistent X-ray models, the circumnuclear medium enshrouding AGN can now be investigated in unprecedented detail. We applied these models to 19 SDSS [OIII] 5007 Angstrom selected Type 2 AGN, where 9 are local Seyfert 2 galaxies and 10 are more luminous and distant Type 2 quasars. For the first time in a sample of AGN, we constrained both the line-of-sight and global column densities, finding that over half (11/19) are heavily obscured or Compton-thick (NH > 10^23 cm^-2). Four objects have different global from line-of-sight column densities. When correcting the observed X-ray luminosities for obscuration, the L_x/L_[OIII] ratio for these Type 2 AGN is essentially identical to the Seyfert 1 (i.e., unabsorbed AGN) value, which is consistent with both parameters cleanly probing AGN emission.

Detection of abnormal extracellular matrix in the interstitium of regenerating renal tubules.

PubMed

Minuth, Will W; Denk, Lucia

2014-12-15

Stem/progenitor cells are promising candidates for the regeneration of parenchyma in acute and chronic renal failure. However, recent data exhibit that survival of stem/progenitor cells after implantation in diseased renal parenchyma is restricted. To elaborate basic parameters improving survival, cell seeding was simulated under advanced in vitro conditions. After isolation, renal stem/progenitor cells were mounted in a polyester interstitium for perfusion culture. During generation of tubules, chemically defined CO2 Independent Medium or Leibovitz's L-15 Medium was applied. Specimens were then fixed for transmission electron microscopy to analyze morphological features in generated tubules. Fixation in conventional glutaraldehyde (GA) solution shows development of tubules each exhibiting a polarized epithelium, an intact basal lamina and an inconspicuous interstitium. In contrast, special fixation of specimens in GA solution containing cupromeronic blue, ruthenium red or tannic acid unveils previously not visible extracellular matrix. Control experiments elucidate that a comparable extracellular matrix is not present in the interstitium of the matured kidney. Thus, generation of renal tubules in combination with advanced fixation of specimens for electron microscopy demonstrates that development of abnormal features in the newly developed interstitium has to be considered, when repair of renal parenchyma is performed by implantation of stem/progenitor cells.

Expression variability of co-regulated genes differentiates Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast) is found in diverse ecological niches and is characterized by high adaptive potential under challenging environments. In spite of recent advances on the study of yeast genome diversity, little is known about the underlying gene expression plasticity. In order to shed new light onto this biological question, we have compared transcriptome profiles of five environmental isolates, clinical and laboratorial strains at different time points of fermentation in synthetic must medium, during exponential and stationary growth phases. Results Our data unveiled diversity in both intensity and timing of gene expression. Genes involved in glucose metabolism and in the stress response elicited during fermentation were among the most variable. This gene expression diversity increased at the onset of stationary phase (diauxic shift). Environmental isolates showed lower average transcript abundance of genes involved in the stress response, assimilation of nitrogen and vitamins, and sulphur metabolism, than other strains. Nitrogen metabolism genes showed significant variation in expression among the environmental isolates. Conclusions Wild type yeast strains respond differentially to the stress imposed by nutrient depletion, ethanol accumulation and cell density increase, during fermentation of glucose in synthetic must medium. Our results support previous data showing that gene expression variability is a source of phenotypic diversity among closely related organisms. PMID:21507216

Extreme supernova models for the super-luminous transient ASASSN-15LH

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chatzopoulos, Emmanouil; Wheeler, John C.; Vinko, J.

The recent discovery of the unprecedentedly super-luminous transient ASASSN-15lh (or SN 2015L) with its UV-bright secondary peak challenges all the power-input models that have been proposed for super-luminous supernovae. Here we examine some of the few viable interpretations of ASASSN-15lh in the context of a stellar explosion, involving combinations of one or more power inputs. We model the light curve of ASASSN-15lh with a hybrid model that includes contributions from magnetar spin-down energy and hydrogen-poor circumstellar interaction. We also investigate models of pure circumstellar interaction with a massive hydrogen-deficient shell and discuss the lack of interaction features in the observedmore » spectra. We find that, as a supernova, ASASSN-15lh can be best modeled by the energetic core-collapse of an ~40 M ⊙ star interacting with a hydrogen-poor shell of ~20 M ⊙. The circumstellar shell and progenitor mass are consistent with a rapidly rotating pulsational pair-instability supernova progenitor as required for strong interaction following the final supernova explosion. Additional energy injection by a magnetar with an initial period of 1–2 ms and magnetic field of 0.1–1 × 10 14 G may supply the excess luminosity required to overcome the deficit in single-component models, but this requires more fine-tuning and extreme parameters for the magnetar, as well as the assumption of efficient conversion of magnetar energy into radiation. As a result, we thus favor a single-input model where the reverse shock formed in a strong SN ejecta–circumstellar matter interaction following a very powerful core-collapse SN explosion can supply the luminosity needed to reproduce the late-time UV-bright plateau.« less

The chemistry in circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars: Following the origin of the elements to the origin of life

PubMed Central

Ziurys, Lucy M.

2006-01-01

Mass loss from evolved stars results in the formation of unusual chemical laboratories: circumstellar envelopes. Such envelopes are found around carbon- and oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch stars and red supergiants. As the gaseous material of the envelope flows from the star, the resulting temperature and density gradients create a complex chemical environment involving hot, thermodynamically controlled synthesis, molecule “freeze-out,” shock-initiated reactions, and photochemistry governed by radical mechanisms. In the circumstellar envelope of the carbon-rich star IRC+10216, >50 different chemical compounds have been identified, including such exotic species as C8H, C3S, SiC3, and AlNC. The chemistry here is dominated by molecules containing long carbon chains, silicon, and metals such as magnesium, sodium, and aluminum, which makes it quite distinct from that found in molecular clouds. The molecular composition of the oxygen-rich counterparts is not nearly as well explored, although recent studies of VY Canis Majoris have resulted in the identification of HCO+, SO2, and even NaCl in this object, suggesting chemical complexity here as well. As these envelopes evolve into planetary nebulae with a hot, exposed central star, synthesis of molecular ions becomes important, as indicated by studies of NGC 7027. Numerous species such as HCO+, HCN, and CCH are found in old planetary nebulae such as the Helix. This “survivor” molecular material may be linked to the variety of compounds found recently in diffuse clouds. Organic molecules in dense interstellar clouds may ultimately be traced back to carbon-rich fragments originally formed in circumstellar shells. PMID:16894164

HST-COS Observations on Hydrogen, Helium, Carbon, and Nitrogen Emission from the SN 1987A Reverse Shock

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

France, Kevin; McCray, Richard; Penton, Steven V.; Kirshner, Robert P.; Challis, Peter; Laming, J. Martin; Bouchet, Patrice; Chevalier, Roger; Garnavich, Peter M.; Fransson, Claes;

Interstellar Chemistry Special Feature: The chemistry in circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars: Following the origin of the elements to the origin of life

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziurys, Lucy M.

2006-08-01

Mass loss from evolved stars results in the formation of unusual chemical laboratories: circumstellar envelopes. Such envelopes are found around carbon- and oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch stars and red supergiants. As the gaseous material of the envelope flows from the star, the resulting temperature and density gradients create a complex chemical environment involving hot, thermodynamically controlled synthesis, molecule "freeze-out," shock-initiated reactions, and photochemistry governed by radical mechanisms. In the circumstellar envelope of the carbon-rich star IRC+10216, >50 different chemical compounds have been identified, including such exotic species as C8H, C3S, SiC3, and AlNC. The chemistry here is dominated by molecules containing long carbon chains, silicon, and metals such as magnesium, sodium, and aluminum, which makes it quite distinct from that found in molecular clouds. The molecular composition of the oxygen-rich counterparts is not nearly as well explored, although recent studies of VY Canis Majoris have resulted in the identification of HCO+, SO2, and even NaCl in this object, suggesting chemical complexity here as well. As these envelopes evolve into planetary nebulae with a hot, exposed central star, synthesis of molecular ions becomes important, as indicated by studies of NGC 7027. Numerous species such as HCO+, HCN, and CCH are found in old planetary nebulae such as the Helix. This "survivor" molecular material may be linked to the variety of compounds found recently in diffuse clouds. Organic molecules in dense interstellar clouds may ultimately be traced back to carbon-rich fragments originally formed in circumstellar shells.

An Infrared Study of the Circumstellar Material Associated with the Carbon Star R Sculptoris

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hankins, M. J.; Herter, T. L.; Maercker, M.; Lau, R. M.; Sloan, G. C.

2018-01-01

The asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star R Sculptoris (R Scl) is one of the most extensively studied stars on the AGB. R Scl is a carbon star with a massive circumstellar shell (M shell ∼ 7.3 × 10‑3 M ⊙) that is thought to have been produced during a thermal pulse event ∼2200 years ago. To study the thermal dust emission associated with its circumstellar material, observations were taken with the Faint Object InfraRed CAMera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST) at 19.7, 25.2, 31.5, 34.8, and 37.1 μm. Maps of the infrared emission at these wavelengths were used to study the morphology and temperature structure of the spatially extended dust emission. Using the radiative-transfer code DUSTY, and fitting the spatial profile of the emission, we find that a geometrically thin dust shell cannot reproduce the observed spatially resolved emission. Instead, a second dust component in addition to the shell is needed to reproduce the observed emission. This component, which lies interior to the dust shell, traces the circumstellar envelope of R Scl. It is best fit by a density profile with n ∝ r α , where α ={0.75}-0.25+0.45 and a dust mass of {M}d={9.0}-4.1+2.3× {10}-6 {M}ȯ . The strong departure from an r ‑2 law indicates that the mass-loss rate of R Scl has not been constant. This result is consistent with a slow decline in the post-pulse mass loss that has been inferred from observations of the molecular gas.

Extreme supernova models for the super-luminous transient ASASSN-15LH

DOE PAGES

Chatzopoulos, Emmanouil; Wheeler, John C.; Vinko, J.; ...

2016-09-07

The recent discovery of the unprecedentedly super-luminous transient ASASSN-15lh (or SN 2015L) with its UV-bright secondary peak challenges all the power-input models that have been proposed for super-luminous supernovae. Here we examine some of the few viable interpretations of ASASSN-15lh in the context of a stellar explosion, involving combinations of one or more power inputs. We model the light curve of ASASSN-15lh with a hybrid model that includes contributions from magnetar spin-down energy and hydrogen-poor circumstellar interaction. We also investigate models of pure circumstellar interaction with a massive hydrogen-deficient shell and discuss the lack of interaction features in the observedmore » spectra. We find that, as a supernova, ASASSN-15lh can be best modeled by the energetic core-collapse of an ~40 M ⊙ star interacting with a hydrogen-poor shell of ~20 M ⊙. The circumstellar shell and progenitor mass are consistent with a rapidly rotating pulsational pair-instability supernova progenitor as required for strong interaction following the final supernova explosion. Additional energy injection by a magnetar with an initial period of 1–2 ms and magnetic field of 0.1–1 × 10 14 G may supply the excess luminosity required to overcome the deficit in single-component models, but this requires more fine-tuning and extreme parameters for the magnetar, as well as the assumption of efficient conversion of magnetar energy into radiation. As a result, we thus favor a single-input model where the reverse shock formed in a strong SN ejecta–circumstellar matter interaction following a very powerful core-collapse SN explosion can supply the luminosity needed to reproduce the late-time UV-bright plateau.« less

NICMOS Coronagraphic Imaging of a Circumstellar Disk around the T Tauri Star GM Aurigae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koerner, D. W.; Schneider, G.; Smith, B. A.; Becklin, E. E.; Hines, D. C.; Kirkpatrick, J. D.; Lowrance, P. J.; Meier, R.; Reike, M.; Terrile, R. J.; Thompson, R. I.; NICMOS/IDT EONS Teams

1998-12-01

We have carried out a coronagraphic imaging study of circumstellar disk candidates as part of NICMOS IDT investigations of the environments of nearby stars. Here we present images of circumstellar nebulosity around the classical T Tauri star, GM Aurigae, at lambda = 1.1 and 1.6 mu m. The emission extends beyond 2.8'' (450 AU) from the star with brightness falling off radially as R(-2.5) . The flux ratio between the two wavelengths differs little from that expected for a K5 star like GM Aur, suggesting that scattering grains include a substantial population with sizes larger than 1 mu m. Preliminary modeling of the emission confirms its origin in stellar light reflected off the surface of a flared circumstellar disk and indicates an inclination 60(deg) from face on. These results agree well with the appearance of CO(2->1) emission in aperture synthesis images from the Owens Valley Millimeter Array, and with the morphology of optical nebulosity in psf-subtracted exposures taken by the WFPC2 science team. Further, the high-resolution constraint on size and orientation enables a definitive interpretation of the velocity structure from kinematic modeling of CO(2->1) images at lower resolution: it is demonstrated unequivocally that the gas is centrifugally supported and in Keplerian rotation within the confines of a disk centered on the star. This work is supported by NASA grant NAG 5-3042, and based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salama, Farid

2010-01-01

Carbonaceous materials play an important role in space. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a ubiquitous component of the carbonaceous materials. PAHs are the best-known candidates to account for the IR emission bands. They are also thought to be among the carriers of the diffuse interstellar absorption bands (DIBs). PAH ionization states reflect the ionization balance of the medium while PAH size, composition, and structure reflect the energetic and chemical history of the medium. A major challenge is to reproduce in the laboratory the physical conditions that exist in the emission and absorption interstellar zones. The harsh physical conditions of the ISM -low temperature, collisionless, strong UV radiation fields- are simulated in the laboratory by associating a molecular beam with an ionizing discharge to generate a cold plasma expansion. PAH ions and radicals are formed from the neutral precursors in an isolated environment at low temperature and probed with high-sensitivity cavity ringdown spectroscopy in the NUV-NIR range. Carbon nanoparticles are also formed during the short residence time of the precursors in the plasma and are characterized with time-offlight mass spectrometry. These experiments provide unique information on the spectra of large carbonaceous molecules and ions in the gas phase that can now be directly compared to interstellar and circumstellar observations (IR emission bands, DIBs, extinction curve). These findings also hold great potential for understanding the formation process of interstellar carbonaceous grains. We will review recent progress in the experimental and theoretical studies of PAHs, compare the laboratory data with astronomical observations and discuss the global implications.

Towards a coherent view of mass loss in Betelgeuse from the photosphere to the interstellar medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montarges, Miguel; Kervella, Pierre; Perrin, Guy

2013-06-01

Massive evolved stars contribute to the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium (ISM), the Galaxy and ultimately the Universe through their mass loss. From the photosphere to the ISM, large convective motions, low surface gravity and high brightness combine to trigger an intense stellar wind. The released material evolves chemically as the distance from the star increases, and eventually forms dust particles. The involved physical and chemical processes are central to apprehend the cosmic impact of massive evolved stars, but they are poorly understood: the surface convection remains essentially uncharacterized, as the composition of the wind, and the role of the magnetic field is unknown. Betelgeuse is the closest red supergiant and therefore it stands out as the best candidate to obtain detailed observations of the close circumstellar environment of a massive evolved star. We are currently running a high angular resolution observations program to obtain a multi-wavelength and multi-epoch characterisation of this star. Using the IOTA interferometer, Haubois et al. reconstructed an image of the photosphere of the star. Within 1 to 100 stellar radii, the VLT and VLTI allowed us to probe the compact molecular envelope of Betelgeuse (the MOLsphere) in the near-infrared, and the extended dusty envelope in the thermal infrared domain. They were recently completed with HST/STIS observations of the chromosphere in the UV, whose location is surprisingly coincident with the MOLsphere. We will present a brief review of our recent results and of our ongoing work on Betelgeuse.

Detection of circumstellar gas associated with GG Tauri

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Skrutskie, M. F.; Snell, R. L.; Strom, K. M.; Strom, S. E.; Edwards, S.; Fukui, Y.; Mizuno, A.; Hayashi, M.; Ohashi, N.

1993-01-01

Double-peaked (C-12)O (1-0) emission centered on the young T Tauri star GG Tau possesses a line profile which may be modeled on the assumption that CO emission arises in an extended circumstellar disk. While bounds on the observed gas mass can be estimated on this basis, it is suggested that a large amount of mass could lie within a small and optically thick region, escaping detection due to beam-dilution effects. In addition, CO may no longer accurately trace the gas mass due to its dissociation, or freezing into grains, or due to the locking-up of carbon into more complex molecules.

Photometry and polarimetry of V 1057 Cygni.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rieke, G.; Lee, T.; Coyne, G.

1972-01-01

Evaluation of extensive photometric and polarimetric data over a six-month interval for V 1057 Cyg. The polarization appears to be constant and of interstellar origin; the photometry, which extends nearly six octaves from the ultraviolet to 22 microns in the infrared, indicates that the total observed luminosity is decreasing - having now declined about 10% from its earlier level. A model characterized by two circumstellar shells which absorb and reradiate short-wavelength stellar flux from an underlying A1-type star provides the best fit to the observational data. The present variability, however, cannot be due to circumstellar activity, but appears to originate in the star itself.

New Low-mass Accretors in the Scorpius-Centaurus OB Association

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murphy, Simon J.; Lawson, Warrick A.; Bento, Joao

2016-01-01

We describe the serendipitous discovery of two new lithium-rich M5 members of the Scorpius-Centaurus OB Association (Sco-Cen). Both stars exhibit large 12 and 22 μm excesses and strong, variable Hα emission which we attribute to accretion from circumstellar discs. Such stars are thought to be incredibly rare at the ~16 Myr median age of much of Sco-Cen. The serendipitous discovery of two accreting stars hosting large quantities of circumstellar material may be indicative of a sizeable age spread in Sco-Cen, or further evidence that disc dispersal and planet formation time-scales are longer around lower-mass stars.

A rigidly rotating magnetosphere model for circumstellar emission from magnetic OB stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Townsend, R. H. D.; Owocki, S. P.

2005-02-01

We present a semi-analytical approach for modelling circumstellar emission from rotating hot stars with a strong dipole magnetic field tilted at an arbitrary angle to the rotation axis. By assuming the rigid-field limit in which material driven (e.g. in a wind outflow) from the star is forced to remain in strict rigid-body corotation, we are able to solve for the effective centrifugal-plus-gravitational potential along each field line, and thereby identify the location of potential minima where material is prone to accumulate. Applying basic scalings for the surface mass flux of a radiatively driven stellar wind, we calculate the circumstellar density distribution that obtains once ejected plasma settles into hydrostatic stratification along field lines. The resulting accumulation surface resembles a rigidly rotating, warped disc, tilted such that its average surface normal lies between the rotation and magnetic axes. Using a simple model of the plasma emissivity, we calculate time-resolved synthetic line spectra for the disc. Initial comparisons show an encouraging level of correspondence with the observed rotational phase variations of Balmer-line emission profiles from magnetic Bp stars such as σ Ori E.

Radio Interferometric Detection of TiO and TiO_2 in VY Canis Majoris: "seeds" of Inorganic Dust Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brunken, S.; Muller, H. S. P.; Kaminski, T.; Menten, K. M.; Gott-Lieb, C. A.; Patel, N. A.; Young, K. H.; McCarthy, M. C.; Winters, J. M.; Decin, L.

2013-06-01

Circumstellar envelopes around late-type stars harbour a rich variety of molecular gas and copious amounts of dust, originating from the mass-loss of the central star during the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) or the red supergiant phase. The formation of dust in these objects, in particular the first nucleation stages out of gas phase molecules, is still poorly understood. Here we report the first detection of pure rotational transitions of the two simplest titanium oxides, TiO and TiO_2, towards the oxygen-rich red supergiant VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa). This actually represents the first secure identification of TiO_2 in space. Observations of several rotational emission lines of both species with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) in the 345 GHz-band and with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) around 220 GHz confirm the presence of these refractory species in the cool (<1000 K) circumstellar envelope in a region several times the size of the dust formation zone. The role of Ti oxides as "seeds" of inorganic dust formation in oxygen-rich circumstellar envelopes will be discussed in view of the present observations.

Disentangling the Origin and Heating Mechanism of Supernova Dust: Late-Time Spitzer Spectroscopy of the Type IIn SN 2005ip

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fox, Ori D.; Chevalier, Roger A.; Dwek, Eli; Skrutskie, Michael F.; Sugerman, Ben E. K.; Leisenring, Jarron M.

2010-01-01

This paper presents late-time near-infrared and Spitzer mid-infrared photometric and spectroscopic observations of warm dust in the Type IIn SN 2005ip in NGC 2906. The spectra show evidence for two dust components with different temperatures. Spanning the peak of the thermal emission, these observations provide strong constraints on the dust mass, temperature, and luminosity, which serve as critical diagnostics for disentangling the origin and heating mechanism of each component. The results suggest the warmer dust has a mass of approx. 5 x 10(exp -4) Solar Mass and originates from newly formed dust in the ejecta, continuously heated by the circumstellar interaction. By contrast, the cooler component likely originates from a circumstellar shock echo that forms from the heating of a large, pre-existing dust shell approx. 0.01 - 0.05 Solar Mass by the late-time circumstellar interaction. The progenitor wind velocity derived from the blue edge of the He I 1.083 micro P Cygni profile indicates a progenitor eruption likely formed this dust shell approx.100 years prior to the supernova explosion, which is consistent with a Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) progenitor star. Subject

Warm water vapour in the sooty outflow from a luminous carbon star.

PubMed

Decin, L; Agúndez, M; Barlow, M J; Daniel, F; Cernicharo, J; Lombaert, R; De Beck, E; Royer, P; Vandenbussche, B; Wesson, R; Polehampton, E T; Blommaert, J A D L; De Meester, W; Exter, K; Feuchtgruber, H; Gear, W K; Gomez, H L; Groenewegen, M A T; Guélin, M; Hargrave, P C; Huygen, R; Imhof, P; Ivison, R J; Jean, C; Kahane, C; Kerschbaum, F; Leeks, S J; Lim, T; Matsuura, M; Olofsson, G; Posch, T; Regibo, S; Savini, G; Sibthorpe, B; Swinyard, B M; Yates, J A; Waelkens, C

2010-09-02

The detection of circumstellar water vapour around the ageing carbon star IRC +10216 challenged the current understanding of chemistry in old stars, because water was predicted to be almost absent in carbon-rich stars. Several explanations for the water were postulated, including the vaporization of icy bodies (comets or dwarf planets) in orbit around the star, grain surface reactions, and photochemistry in the outer circumstellar envelope. With a single water line detected so far from this one carbon-rich evolved star, it is difficult to discriminate between the different mechanisms proposed. Here we report the detection of dozens of water vapour lines in the far-infrared and sub-millimetre spectrum of IRC +10216 using the Herschel satellite. This includes some high-excitation lines with energies corresponding to approximately 1,000 K, which can be explained only if water is present in the warm inner sooty region of the envelope. A plausible explanation for the warm water appears to be the penetration of ultraviolet photons deep into a clumpy circumstellar envelope. This mechanism also triggers the formation of other molecules, such as ammonia, whose observed abundances are much higher than hitherto predicted.

Nucleation of Hydrogen Deficient Carbon Clusters in Circumstellar Envelopes of Carbon Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiong, C. C.; Asvany, O.; Balucani, N.; Lee, Y. T.; Kaiser, R. I.

2001-04-01

Hydrogen deficient carbon clusters HCn and H2Cn are thought to resemble the crucial link between naked carbon clusters such as C2/C3, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and carbon rich interstellar/circumstellar grains. To fully understand the astrophysical significance of these grain nuclei condensation processes, it is of paramount significance to elucidate first detailed mechanism how these simple precursors are formed in outflow of carbon rich stars. Due to this importance, we initiated in our laboratory a systematic research program to investigate reactions of C2 and C3 clusters in their singlet X1Σg+ ground state with unsaturated hydrocarbons C2H2 and C2H4 employing the crossed molecular beam technique. These experiments yield the first doubly differential reactive cross section on the cluster versus H/H2 exchange and supply valuable information on the stepwise growth of carbon rich structures in extraterrestrial environments. Preliminary data analyses identify the CCCCH, CCCCH, and CCCCH2 isomers which were identified in the circumstellar shell of IRC+10216 together with hitherto unobserved interstellar n-C4H3, n-C5H3, and CCCCCH2 radicals.

Probing Pre-Supernova Mass Loss With Circumstellar Dust Shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, Ori; Filippenko, Alex; Skrutskie, Mike; van Dyk, Schuyler; Kelly, Pat

2014-12-01

Late-time (>100 day) mid-infrared (mid-IR) observations of supernovae (SNe) offer a valuable probe of the progenitor system's mass-loss. Already, this technique has been demonstrated with the Type IIn subclass, which often have large, dusty, pre-existing shells formed in pre-SN eruptions. While other SN subclasses are thought of having relatively low density circumstellar environments, a growing number of objects in other subclasses now show evidence for significant pre-SN mass loss and similar mid-IR characteristics. Long after the SN radioactive tail fades, warm dust can stay bright at mid-IR wavelengths due to alternative heating mechanisms, such as shocks. Here we propose a SNAPSHOT survey of a well-studied and high-profile SN sample, extending over a range of subclasses, including both recent and historical events with evidence of a dense CSM and/or dust. This program will (a) discover new SNe with warm dust and (b) monitor the evolution of warm dust in previously detected SNe. Harnessing the success of our previous Spitzer programs, these observations will expand upon that work by probing the similarities in and differences between the subclasses' circumstellar environments, pre-SN mass-loss, and ultimately, the progenitors themselves.

HET LRS2 Observations of Halpha in Old Hydrogen-deficient Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wheeler, J. Craig Craig; Pooley, David A.; Vinko, Jozsef; Szalai, Tamas; Marion, Howie H.; Sand, David J.; McQueen, Phillip; Silverman, Jeffrey M.

2017-06-01

For 3 years, we have been using narrow-band filters with the DIAFI imager on the HJS 2.7 m telescope to search for evidence that hydrogen-deficient supernovae undergo delayed collision with previously ejected circumstellar material and associated excitation of Halpha (see abstract by Pooley et al.). A powerful method to determine whether detected Halpha flux is from an HII region or a supernova is to obtain spectra; broad lines (> 1000 km/s) will be a certain indicator of a supernova. We have observed about 20 events that ranged in age from about 1000 days to nearly 80 years for which we have detected Halpha in the vicinity of the supernova. So far, only SN 2014C showed the broad H that is concrete evidence of ongoing circumstellar interaction. One interesting aspect revealed by the spectra is that we often pick up the two [N II] lines that typically accompany H in H II regions. Our spectra of SN 2008ha did not show these [N II] lines. The absence of the [N II] lines might be a clue to circumstellar interaction in conditions where the shock had slowed to a point where the H is not detectably broadened.

An Unusual Massive Be Star HD 53367: Circumstellar Activity and Evidence for Binarity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pogodin, M. A.; Malanushenko, V. P.; Kozlova, O. V.; Tarasova, T. N.; Franco, G. A. P.

2006-12-01

We present the results of high-resolution spectroscopy of the young B0e star HD 53367 obtained within the framework of a cooperative observing program in 1994--2005. We confirm that a long-term photometric variability of the object is indeed connected with the alternation of two states of the object when the gaseous circumstellar envelope disappears and arises again. Both these processes start near the star and then spread to remote parts of the envelope. We find that the radial velocities of He I and O II photospheric lines demonstrate a cyclic variability with the period P=183.7 days and the semi-amplitude K=19 km s-1. The radial velocity variation is interpreted in the framework of a model, in which the star is a companion of an eccentric binary system. An orbital solution is derived and the system's parameters are estimated. We find that the orbital eccentricity is e=0.28, the mean companion separation is 1.7 AU, and the secondary companion is most likely to be a 5 solar mass pre-main sequence object. The main part of circumstellar gas in the system is collected near the secondary companion.

Probing the Circumstellar Disks of Be Stars with Contemporaneous Optical and IR Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bjorkman, Karen S.; Hesselbach, E. N.; Wisniewski, J. P.; Bjorkman, J. E.

2006-12-01

Asymmetric double-peaked hydrogen emission line profiles in classical Be stars have been interpreted as evidence of one-armed density waves in the circumstellar disks. Contemporaneous optical and IR spectroscopy can aid in mapping the density structure of these one-armed waves as a function of radius. Furthermore, variability has been detected in these stars over both short (days to weeks) and longer (months) time-scales. We present preliminary results from contemporaneous Ritter Observatory (Hα) and IRTF SpeX (0.8-5.4 μm) spectroscopy of 16 classical Be stars observed in September 2005 and January 2006. The data illustrate a range of line profiles common in Be stars and show significant variability. These observations are the first of a larger project to utilize combined optical and IR data to investigate the physical details of these circumstellar disks. This research has been supported in part by a NASA GSRP fellowship to JPW, a NASA LTSA grant to KSB, and an NSF grant to JEB. We thank the NASA IRTF for observing time allocations and support. We thank the Ritter observing team, and especially Nancy Morrison, for crucial assistance with the supporting optical observations.

Variable Circumstellar Disks of “Classical” Be Stars, Part 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerhartz, Cody; Davidson, J. W.; Bjorkman, K. S.; Wisniewski, J. P.

2014-01-01

Circumstellar disks are common among many stars, all spectral types, and at different stages of their lifetimes. Among the near-main sequence “Classical” Be stars, there is growing evidence that these disks can form, dissipate, and reform, on timescales that are differ from case to case. We present data for a subset of cases where observations have been obtained throughout the different phases of the disk cycle. Using data obtained with the SpeX instrument at the NASA IRTF, we examine the IR spectral line variability of these stars to better understand the timescales and the physical mechanisms involved. The primary focus in this study are the V/R variations that are observed in the sample. A complete run of all double-peaked velocity profiles in the sample is now complete. The second stage of our project is to examine a sample of star clusters known to contain Be stars, with the goal to develop a more statistically significant sample of variable circumstellar disk systems. With a robust multi-epoch study we can determine whether these Be stars exhibit disk-loss or disk-renewal phases. The larger sample will enable an understanding of the prevalence of these disk events.

SN 1987A: A Unique Laboratory for Shock Physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sonneborn, George

2012-01-01

Supernova 1987 A is the brightest and nearest supernova observed since Kepler's SN1604, and is the only one close enough to resolve and directly observe the temporal growth of the ejecta. Over the past 25 years, intensive observations across the electromagnetic spectrum with observatories on the ground (Australia Telescope Compact Array, Gemini-S, Magellan, VLT) and in space (IUE, KAO, CGRO, Hubble, Chandra, Spitzer, Herschel) have given us an unprecedented view of the evolution of the debris of the supernova and of its shock interaction with circumstellar matter. The outer supernova debris, now expanding with velocities -8000 km/s, encountered the relatively dense circumstellar ring formed by presupernova mass loss starting in 1994. The resulting shock interaction has been manifested by: rapidly brightening UV-optical "hotspots", an expanding X-ray ring. an expanding ring of knotty non-thermal radio emission, and a ring of thermal IR emission from silicate dust. The recent evolution of these emissions reveal new details about the shock interaction, circumstellar material, and the star that exploded. Certain critical problems about SN 1987 A, such as the still undiscovered compact object formed in the explosion and the structure of the central debris, require the capabilities of JWST.

SO and SO2 in mass-loss envelopes of red giants: probes of nonequilibrium circumstellar chemistry and mass-loss rates.

PubMed

Sahai, R; Wannier, P G

1992-07-20

We have made a search for SO in the mass-loss envelopes of 24 mostly oxygen-rich red giants, using the 8(8)-7(7) (344.3 GHz), 6(5)-5(4) (219.9 GHz), 4(3)-3(2) (138.2 GHz), and 3(2)-2(1) (99.3 GHz) transitions. One or more of these transitions were detected toward 14 envelopes, including those of the supergiants VY CMa and IRC +10420. The SO envelope of IK Tau was measurably extended, and that of IRC +10420 marginally so, allowing us to determine the envelope sizes directly. The SiO (v = 0) J = 8-7, J = 5-4, and J = 3-2 lines at 347.3, 217.1, and 130.3 GHz were detected simultaneously with the 344.3, 219.9, and 138.2 GHz SO lines, respectively. From our SO data, as well as from SO2 data published elsewhere (for a few sources), we derive the circumstellar SO and SO2 abundances and compare them with theoretical predictions. We find that the photospheric abundances of SO and SO2 are insignificant, and that SO and SO2 must be produced in the circumstellar envelopes. However, the (average) SO abundances are larger than even the peak values predicted by nonequilibrium circumstellar chemistry models. The large SO abundances imply that S is not heavily depleted into grains in these envelopes, and further suggest that (i) the stellar mass-loss rates in these objects are substantially larger than accepted values, (ii) the circumstellar H/H2 abundance ratio is quite small, and (iii) the reaction of O and SH dominates over the reaction of S and OH in the production of SO. In the peculiar bipolar nebula OH 231.8+4.2, the combined SO and SO2 abundance exceeds the cosmic S abundance, if the mass-loss rate in this object is smaller than or equal to l0(-4) M solar yr-1. In IK Tau the data can only be fitted with models in which the SO is distributed in a hollow shell, as predicted by the nonequilibrium chemistry models. In another three, which have no measurable OH, the discovery of SO is difficult to explain by such models.

Resolving the dusty circumstellar environment of the A[e] supergiant HD 62623 with the VLTI/MIDI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meilland, A.; Kanaan, S.; Borges Fernandes, M.; Chesneau, O.; Millour, F.; Stee, Ph.; Lopez, B.

2010-03-01

Context. B[e] stars are hot stars surrounded by circumstellar gas and dust which is responsible for the presence of emission lines and IR-excess in their spectra. How dust can be formed in this highly illuminated and diluted environment remains an open issue. Aims: HD 62623 is one of the very few A-type supergiants showing the B[e] phenomenon. We studied the geometry of its circumstellar envelope in the mid-infrared using long-baseline interferometry, which is the only observing technique able to spatially resolve objects smaller than a few tens of milliarcseconds. Methods: We obtained nine calibrated visibility measurements between October 2006 and January 2008 using the VLTI/MIDI instrument in SCI-PHOT mode and PRISM spectral dispersion mode with projected baselines ranging from 13 to 71 m and with various position angles (PA). We used geometrical models and physical modeling with a radiative transfer code to analyze these data. Results: The dusty circumstellar environment of HD 62623 is partially resolved by the VLTI/MIDI, even with the shortest baselines. The environment is flattened (a/b~1.3±0.1) and can be separated into two components: a compact one whose extension grows from 17 mas at 8 μm to 30 mas at 9.6 μm and stays almost constant up to 13 μm, and a more extended one that is over-resolved even with the shortest baselines. Using the radiative transfer code MC3D, we managed to model HD 62623's circumstellar environment as a dusty disk with an inner radius of 3.85±0.6 AU, an inclination angle of 60±10°, and a mass of 2 × 10-7 M_⊙. Conclusions: It is the first time that the dusty disk inner rim of a supergiant star exhibiting the B[e] phenomenon is significantly constrained. The inner gaseous envelope likely contributes up to 20% to the total N band flux and acts like a reprocessing disk. Finally, the hypothesis of a stellar wind deceleration by the companion's gravitational effects remains the most probable case since the bi-stability mechanism does not seem to be efficient for this star. Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at Paranal Observatory under programs 078.D-O511 and 080.D.0181.

The interstellar C-H stretching band near 3.4 microns - Constraints on the composition of organic material in the diffuse interstellar medium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sandford, S. A.; Allamandola, L. J.; Tielens, A. G. G. M.; Pendleton, Y.; Sellgren, K.

1991-01-01

The composition and history of dust in the diffuse ISM was studied using 3600-2700/cm absorption spectra of objects which have widely varying amounts of visual extinctions along different lines of sight. The 3300/cm and 2950/cm features are attributed to O-H and C-H stretching vibrations, respectively. The O-H feature in OH 32.8-0.3 is suggestive of circumstellar water ice and is probably not due to material in the diffuse ISM. The features in the 3100-2700/cm region are attributed either to C-H vibrations or to M stars. The spectra of the latter show a series of narrow features in this region that are identified with photospheric OH. Objects in which these bands are seen include OH 01-477, T629-5, and the Galactic center source IRS 7. The C-H stretch feature of diffuse ISM dust has subpeaks which fall within 5/cm of C-H stretching vibrations in the -CH2- and -CH3 groups of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Electron molecular ion recombination: product excitation and fragmentation.

PubMed

Adams, Nigel G; Poterya, Viktoriya; Babcock, Lucia M

2006-01-01

Electron-ion dissociative recombination is an important ionization loss process in any ionized gas containing molecular ions. This includes the interstellar medium, circumstellar shells, cometary comae, planetary ionospheres, fusion plasma boundaries, combustion flames, laser plasmas and chemical deposition and etching plasmas. In addition to controlling the ionization density, the process generates many radical species, which can contribute to a parallel neutral chemistry. Techniques used to obtain rate data and product information (flowing afterglows and storage rings) are discussed and recent data are reviewed including diatomic to polyatomic ions and cluster ions. The data are divided into rate coefficients and cross sections, including their temperature/energy dependencies, and quantitative identification of neutral reaction products. The latter involve both ground and electronically excited states and including vibrational excitation. The data from the different techniques are compared and trends in the data are examined. The reactions are considered in terms of the basic mechanisms (direct and indirect processes including tunneling) and recent theoretical developments are discussed. Finally, new techniques are mentioned (for product identification; electrostatic storage rings, including single and double rings; Coulomb explosion) and new ways forward are suggested.

The role of phosphorus in chemical evolution.

PubMed

Maciá, Enrique

2005-08-01

In this tutorial review we consider the role of phosphorus and its compounds within the context of chemical evolution in galaxies. Following an interdisciplinary approach we first discuss the position of P among the main biogenic elements by considering its relevance in most essential biochemical functions as well as its peculiar chemistry under different physicochemical conditions. Then we review the phosphorus distribution in different cosmic sites, such as terrestrial planets, interplanetary dust particles, cometary dust, planetary atmospheres and the interstellar medium (ISM). In this way we realize that this element is both scarce and ubiquitous in the universe. These features can be related to the complex nucleosynthesis of P nuclide in the cores of massive stars under explosive conditions favouring a wide distribution of this element through the ISM, where it would be ready to react with other available atoms. A general tendency towards more oxidized phosphorus compounds is clearly appreciated as chemical evolution proceeds from circumstellar and ISM materials to protoplanetary and planetary condensed matter phases. To conclude we discuss some possible routes allowing for the incorporation of phosphorus compounds of prebiotic interest during the earlier stages of solar system formation.

30 years of cosmic fullerenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berné, O.; Montillaud, J.; Mulas, G.; Joblin, C.

2015-12-01

In 1985, ``During experiments aimed at understanding the mechanisms by which long-chain carbon molecules are formed in interstellar space and circumstellar shells'', Harry Kroto and his collaborators serendipitously discovered a new form of carbon: fullerenes. The most emblematic fullerene (i.e. C_{60} ``buckminsterfullerene''), contains exactly 60 carbon atoms organized in a cage-like structure similar to a soccer ball. Since their discovery impacted the field of nanotechnologies, Kroto and colleagues received the Nobel prize in 1996. The cage-like structure, common to all fullerene molecules, gives them unique properties, in particular an extraordinary stability. For this reason and since they were discovered in experiments aimed to reproduce conditions in space, fullerenes were sought after by astronomers for over two decades, and it is only recently that they have been firmly identified by spectroscopy, in evolved stars and in the interstellar medium. This identification offered the opportunity to study the molecular physics of fullerenes in the unique physical conditions provided by space, and to make the link with other large carbonaceous molecules thought to be present in space : polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The Multi-Scale Environment of RS Cnc from CO and HI Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoai, D. T.; Matthews, L. D.; Winters, J. M.; Nhung, P. T.; Gérard, E.; Libert, Y.; Le Bertre, T.

2015-08-01

We present a detailed study of the circumstellar gas distribution and kinematics of the semi-regular variable star RS Cnc on spatial scales ranging from ˜1″ (˜150 AU) to ˜6' (˜0.24 pc). The close environment of RS Cnc (from 1 to 20″) can be described with a model in which the density and velocity vary smoothly from the equatorial plane to the polar axis. In this model the mass loss rate is higher along the polar directions than in the equatorial plane, which does not favor current models invoking stellar rotation or a magnetic field as the cause of the axi-symmetry. Outside this region, the study of which is limited by the photo-dissociation of CO, HI data at 21 cm show that the flow is slowed down at a typical distance of 1' (˜0.04 pc). Further away (1 to 6', or 0.04 to 0.24 pc), the flow is distorted by the relative motion of the star with respect to the interstellar medium.

Probing the clumpy winds of giant stars with high mass X-ray binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grinberg, Victoria; Hell, Natalie; Hirsch, Maria; Garcia, Javier; Huenemoerder, David; Leutenegger, Maurice A.; Nowak, Michael; Pottschmidt, Katja; Schulz, Norbert S.; Sundqvists, Jon O.; Townsend, Richard D.; Wilms, Joern

2016-04-01

Line-driven winds from early type stars are structured, with small, overdense clumps embedded in tenuous hot gas. High mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs), systems where a neutron star or a black hole accretes from the line-driven stellar wind of an O/B-type companion, are ideal for studying such winds: the wind drives the accretion onto the compact object and thus the X-ray production. The radiation from close to the compact object is quasi-pointlike and effectively X-rays the wind.We used RXTE and Chandra-HETG observations of two of the brightest HMXBs, Cyg X-1 and Vela X-1, to decipher their wind structure. In Cyg X-1, we show that the orbital variability of absorption can be only explained by a clumpy wind model and constrain the porosity of the wind as well as the onion-like structure of the clumps. In Vela X-1 we show, using the newest reference energies for low ionization Si-lines obtained with LLNL’s EBIT-I, that the ionized phase of the circumstellar medium and the cold clumps have different velocities.

Radio transients from newborn black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashiyama, Kazumi; Hotokezaka, Kenta; Murase, Kohta

2018-05-01

We consider radio emission from a newborn black hole (BH), which is accompanied by a mini-disk with a mass of ≲ M⊙. Such a disk can be formed from an outer edge of the progenitor's envelope, especially for metal-poor massive stars and/or massive stars in close binaries. The disk accretion rate is typically super-Eddington and an ultrafast outflow with a velocity of ˜0.1-0.3 c will be launched into the circumstellar medium. The outflow forms a collisionless shock, and electrons are accelerated and emit synchrotron emission in radio bands with a flux of ˜ 10^{26-30} erg s^{-1} Hz^{-1} days to decades after the BH formation. The model predicts not only a fast UV/optical transient but also quasi-simultaneous inverse-Compton X-ray emission ˜ a few days after the BH formation, and the discovery of the radio counterpart with coordinated searches will enable us to identify this type of transients. The occurrence rate can be 0.1 - 10 % of the core-collapse supernova rate, which makes them a promising target of dedicated radio observations such as the Jansky VLA Sky Survey.

Formation of Nucleobases from the UV Photo-Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Astrophysical Ice Analogs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Milam, S. N.; Nuevo, M.; Sandford, S. A.; Elsila, J. E.; Dworkin, J. P.

2010-01-01

Astrochemistry laboratory simulations have shown that complex organic molecules including compounds of astrobiological interest can be formed under interstellarl/circumstellar conditions from the vacuum UV irradiation of astrophysical ice analogs containing H2O, CO, CO2, CH3OH, NH13, etc. Of all prebiotic compounds, the formation of amino acids under such experimental conditions has been the most extensively studied. Although the presence of amino acids in the interstellar medium (ISM) has yet to be confirmed, they have been detected in meteorites, indicating that biomolecules and/or their precursors can be formed under extraterrestrial, abiotic conditions. Nucleobases, the building blocks of DNA and RNA, as well as other 1V-heterocycles, have also been detected in meteorites, but like amino acids, they have yet to be observed in the ISM. In this work, we present an experimental study of the formation of pyrimidine-based compounds from the UV photo-irradiation of pyrimidine in ice mixtures containing H2O, NH3, and/or CH3OH at low temperature and pressure.

NIF laboratory astrophysics simulations investigating the effects of a radiative shock on hydrodynamic instabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angulo, A. A.; Kuranz, C. C.; Drake, R. P.; Huntington, C. M.; Park, H.-S.; Remington, B. A.; Kalantar, D.; MacLaren, S.; Raman, K.; Miles, A.; Trantham, Matthew; Kline, J. L.; Flippo, K.; Doss, F. W.; Shvarts, D.

2016-10-01

This poster will describe simulations based on results from ongoing laboratory astrophysics experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) relevant to the effects of radiative shock on hydrodynamically unstable surfaces. The experiments performed on NIF uniquely provide the necessary conditions required to emulate radiative shock that occurs in astrophysical systems. The core-collapse explosions of red supergiant stars is such an example wherein the interaction between the supernova ejecta and the circumstellar medium creates a region susceptible to Rayleigh-Taylor (R-T) instabilities. Radiative and nonradiative experiments were performed to show that R-T growth should be reduced by the effects of the radiative shocks that occur during this core-collapse. Simulations were performed using the radiation hydrodynamics code Hyades using the experimental conditions to find the mean interface acceleration of the instability and then further analyzed in the buoyancy drag model to observe how the material expansion contributes to the mix-layer growth. This work is funded by the NNSA-DS and SC-OFES Joint Program in High-Energy-Density Laboratory Plasmas under Grant Number DE-FG52-09NA29548.

Families of Plausible Solutions to the Puzzle of Boyajian’s Star

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wright, Jason T.; Sigurdsson, Steinn

2016-09-01

Good explanations for the unusual light curve of Boyajian's Star have been hard to find. Recent results by Montet & Simon lend strength and plausibility to the conclusion of Schaefer that in addition to short-term dimmings, the star also experiences large, secular decreases in brightness on decadal timescales. This, combined with a lack of long-wavelength excess in the star's spectral energy distribution, strongly constrains scenarios involving circumstellar material, including hypotheses invoking a spherical cloud of artifacts. We show that the timings of the deepest dimmings appear consistent with being randomly distributed, and that the star's reddening and narrow sodium absorption is consistent with the total, long-term dimming observed. Following Montet & Simon's encouragement to generate alternative hypotheses, we attempt to circumscribe the space of possible explanations with a range of plausibilities, including: a cloud in the outer solar system, structure in the interstellar medium (ISM), natural and artificial material orbiting Boyajian's Star, an intervening object with a large disk, and variations in Boyajian's Star itself. We find the ISM and intervening disk models more plausible than the other natural models.

Book review: Unveiling the Whale: Discourses on Whales and Whaling

Treesearch

John Schelhas

2012-01-01

Whaling represents one of the most internationally controversial and highly polarized environmental issues of recent times. Arne Kalland, in Unveiling the Whale: Discourses on Whales and Whaling, examines the whaling issue from the perspective of a pro-whaling country with an emphasis on analysis of discourse in international arenas, primarily the International Whaling...

(Sub)millimeter emission lines of molecules in born-again stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tafoya, D.; Toalá, J. A.; Vlemmings, W. H. T.; Guerrero, M. A.; De Beck, E.; González, M.; Kimeswenger, S.; Zijlstra, A. A.; Sánchez-Monge, Á.; Treviño-Morales, S. P.

2017-04-01

Context. Born-again stars provide a unique possibility to study the evolution of the circumstellar envelope of evolved stars in human timescales. Up until now, most of the observations of the circumstellar material in these stars have been limited to studying the relatively hot gas and dust. In other evolved stars, the emission from rotational transitions of molecules, such as CO, is commonly used to study the cool component of their circumstellar envelopes. Thus, the detection and study of molecular gas in born-again stars is of great importance when attempting to understand their composition and chemical evolution. In addition, the molecular emission is an invaluable tool for exploring the physical conditions, kinematics, and formation of asymmetric structures in the circumstellar envelopes of these evolved stars. However, up until now, all attempts to detect molecular emission from the cool material around born-again stars have failed. Aims: We searched for emission from rotational transitions of molecules in the hydrogen-deficient circumstellar envelopes of born-again stars to explore the chemical composition, kinematics, and physical parameters of the relatively cool gas. Methods: We carried out observations using the APEX and IRAM 30 m telescopes to search for molecular emission toward four well-studied born-again stars, V4334 Sgr, V605 Aql, A30, and A78, that are thought to represent an evolutionary sequence. Results: For the first time, we detected emission from HCN and H13CN molecules toward V4334 Sgr, and CO emission in V605 Aql. No molecular emission was detected above the noise level toward A30 and A78. The detected lines exhibit broad linewidths ≳150 km s-1, which indicates that the emission comes from gas ejected during the born-again event, rather than from the old planetary nebula. A first estimate of the H12CN/H13CN abundance ratio in the circumstellar environment of V4334 Sgr is ≈3, which is similar to the value of the 12C/13C ratio measured from other observations. We derived a rotational temperature of Trot = 13 ± 1 K, and a total column density of NHCN = 1.6 ± 0.1 × 1016 cm-2 for V4334 Sgr. This result sets a lower limit on the amount of hydrogen that was ejected into the wind during the born-again event of this source. For V605 Aql, we obtained a lower limit for the integrated line intensities I12CO/I13CO> 4. This publication is based on data acquired with the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) and IRAM 30 m telescopes. APEX is a collaboration between the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, the European Southern Observatory, and the Onsala Space Observatory. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain).

Open clusters. III. Fundamental parameters of B stars in NGC 6087, NGC 6250, NGC 6383, and NGC 6530 B-type stars with circumstellar envelopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aidelman, Y.; Cidale, L. S.; Zorec, J.; Panei, J. A.

2018-02-01

Context. Stellar physical properties of star clusters are poorly known and the cluster parameters are often very uncertain. Methods: Our goals are to perform a spectrophotometric study of the B star population in open clusters to derive accurate stellar parameters, search for the presence of circumstellar envelopes, and discuss the characteristics of these stars. The BCD spectrophotometric system is a powerful method to obtain stellar fundamental parameters from direct measurements of the Balmer discontinuity. To this end, we wrote the interactive code MIDE3700. The BCD parameters can also be used to infer the main properties of open clusters: distance modulus, color excess, and age. Furthermore, we inspected the Balmer discontinuity to provide evidence for the presence of circumstellar disks and identify Be star candidates. We used an additional set of high-resolution spectra in the Hα region to confirm the Be nature of these stars. Results: We provide Teff, log g, Mv, Mbol, and spectral types for a sample of 68 stars in the field of the open clusters NGC 6087, NGC 6250, NGC 6383, and NGC 6530, as well as the cluster distances, ages, and reddening. Then, based on a sample of 230 B stars in the direction of the 11 open clusters studied along this series of three papers, we report 6 new Be stars, 4 blue straggler candidates, and 15 B-type stars (called Bdd) with a double Balmer discontinuity, which indicates the presence of circumstellar envelopes. We discuss the distribution of the fraction of B, Be, and Bdd star cluster members per spectral subtype. The majority of the Be stars are dwarfs and present a maximum at the spectral type B2-B4 in young and intermediate-age open clusters (<40 Myr). Another maximum of Be stars is observed at the spectral type B6-B8 in open clusters older than 40 Myr, where the population of Bdd stars also becomes relevant. The Bdd stars seem to be in a passive emission phase. Conclusions: Our results support previous statements that the Be phenomenon is present along the whole main sequence band and occurs in very different evolutionary states. We find clear evidence of an increase of stars with circumstellar envelopes with cluster age. The Be phenomenon reaches its maximum in clusters of intermediate age (10-40 Myr) and the number of B stars with circumstellar envelopes (Be plus Bdd stars) is also high for the older clusters (40-100 Myr). Observations taken at CASLEO, operating under agreement of CONICET and the Universities of La Plata, Córdoba, and San Juan, Argentina.Tables 1, 2, 9-16 are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/610/A30

The Landscape Documentary: Unveiling the Face of "Wasteland."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Denton, Craig L.

This paper outlines the process of a photographic landscape documentary project which set out to unveil the face of Utah's West Desert (a 42,000 square-mile, sparsely-populated, broad, rugged land of salt bed "playas" and high mountain ranges) comprising one-third of the state and which hoped to make the West Desert, recently under…

Unveiling epimerization effects: a rotational study of α-D-galactose.

PubMed

Peña, Isabel; Cabezas, Carlos; Alonso, José L

2015-06-25

By studying its C4 epimer α-D-galactose, the effects of epimerization on the conformational behaviour of α-D-glucose have been unveiled. Using laser ablation of crystalline samples, four conformers of α-D-galactopyranose have been observed, for the first time, in a supersonic expansion by analyzing the Fourier transform rotational spectrum.

Unveiling EFL and Self-Contained Teachers' Discourses on Bilingualism within the Context of Professional Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Camargo Cely, Jennyfer Paola

2018-01-01

Throughout time, the predominant use of certain languages has allowed some nations to take control over others and assure for them a privileged position. This study unveiled how certain practices and ideologies in regard to bilingualism have influenced teachers' professional development. Data were collected through discussion group sessions,…

Infrared observations of circumstellar ammonia in OH/IR supergiants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mclaren, R. A.; Betz, A. L.

1980-01-01

Ammonia has been detected in the circumstellar envelopes of VY Canis Majoris, VX Sagittarii, and IRC +10420 by means of several absorption lines in the nu-2 vibration-rotation band near 950 kaysers. The line profiles are well resolved (0.2 km/sec resolution) and show the gas being accelerated to terminal expansion velocities near 30 km/sec. The observations reveal a method for determining the position of the central star on VLBI maps of OH maser emission to an accuracy of approximately 0.2 arcsec. A firm lower limit of 2 x 10 to the 15th/sq cm is obtained for the NH3 column density in VY Canis Majoris.

The Lack of Chemical Equilibrium does not Preclude the Use of the Classical Nucleation Theory in Circumstellar Outflows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paquette, John A.; Nuth, Joseph A., III

2011-01-01

Classical nucleation theory has been used in models of dust nucleation in circumstellar outflows around oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch stars. One objection to the application of classical nucleation theory (CNT) to astrophysical systems of this sort is that an equilibrium distribution of clusters (assumed by CNT) is unlikely to exist in such conditions due to a low collision rate of condensable species. A model of silicate grain nucleation and growth was modified to evaluate the effect of a nucleation flux orders of magnitUde below the equilibrium value. The results show that a lack of chemical equilibrium has only a small effect on the ultimate grain distribution.

THE GAS/DUST RATIO OF CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS: TESTING MODELS OF PLANETESIMAL FORMATION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horne, David; Gibb, Erika; Rettig, Terrence W.

2012-07-20

We present high-resolution, near-infrared NIRSPEC observations of CO absorption toward six class II T Tauri stars: AA Tau, DG Tau, IQ Tau, RY Tau, CW Tau, and Haro 6-5b. {sup 12}CO overtone absorption lines originating from the circumstellar disk of each object were used to calculate line-of-sight gas column densities toward each source. We measured the gas/dust ratio as a function of disk inclination, utilizing measured visual extinctions and inclinations for each star. The majority of our sources show further evidence for a correlation between the gas/dust column density ratio and disk inclination similar to that found by Rettig etmore » al.« less

Dust Around Herbig Ae Stars: Additional Constraints from their Photometric and Polarimetric Variability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krivova, N. A.; Ilin, V. B.; Fischer, O.

1996-01-01

For the Herbig Ae stars with Algol-like minima (UX Ori, WW Vul, etc), the effects of circumstellar dust include: excess infrared emission, anomalous ultraviolet extinction, the 'blueing' of the stars in minima accompanying by an increase of intrinsic polarization. Using a Monte-Carlo code for polarized radiation transfer we have simulated these effects and compared the results obtained for different models with the observational data available. We found that the photometric and polarimetric behavior of the stars provided essential additional constraints on the circumstellar dust models. The models with spheroidal shell geometry and compact (non-fluffy) dust grains do not appear to be able to explain all the data.

White House Unveils America's College Promise Proposal: Tuition-Free Community College for Responsible Students. Fact Sheet

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

The White House, 2015

2015-01-01

In January, 2015, the President unveiled the America's College Promise proposal, which would make two years of community college free for responsible students, letting students earn the first half of a bachelor's degree and earn skills needed in the workforce at no cost. This proposal will require everyone to do their part: community colleges must…

First National Picture of Trends in the Humanities Is Unveiled

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howard, Jennifer

2009-01-01

When it comes to hard data about what they do, policy makers and educators in the humanities have been mostly left out in the cold, forced to rely on isolated statistics that do not give an overview of the field. That changed this month, as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences unveiled the prototype of its long-awaited Humanities Indicators…

Germany unveils €18bn research plan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banks, Michael

2009-07-01

The German government has unveiled an ambitious plan to inject a total of €18bn into teaching and research over the next decade. The German chancellor Angela Merkel, who has a degree in physics, announced that she was releasing the funds despite concerns from her social-democrat coalition partners that financing the package could be difficult in the economic downturn.

Unveiling Reality of the Mind: Cultural Arbitrary of Consumerism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Choi, Su-Jin

2012-01-01

This paper discusses the cultural arbitrary of consumerism by focusing on a personal realm. That is, I discuss what consumerism appeals to and how it flourishes in relation to our minds. I argue that we need to unveil reality of the mind, be aware of ourselves in relation to the perpetuation of consumerism, in order to critically intervene in the…

Photographer: NASA Ames On 20 December 1989, Ames buried a time capsule and unveiled a sculpture at

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1989-01-01

Photographer: NASA Ames On 20 December 1989, Ames buried a time capsule and unveiled a sculpture at the spot where, fifty years earlier, Russel Robinson had turned the first spade of dirt for the Ames construction shack: Robinson (left) Ames Director Dale Compton (center) and Ames Deputy Director Sy Syvertson (right)

Arcsecond Resolution Mapping of Sulfur Dioxide Emission in the Circumstellar Envelope of VY Canis Majoris

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Roger R.; Moullet, Arielle; Patel, Nimesh A.; Biersteker, John; Derose, Kimberly L.; Young, Kenneth H.

2012-02-01

We report Submillimeter Array observations of SO2 emission in the circumstellar envelope (CSE) of the red supergiant VY Canis Majoris, with an angular resolution of ≈1''. SO2 emission appears in three distinct outflow regions surrounding the central continuum peak emission that is spatially unresolved. No bipolar structure is noted in the sources. A fourth source of SO2 is identified as a spherical wind centered at the systemic velocity. We estimate the SO2 column density and rotational temperature assuming local thermal equilibrium (LTE) as well as perform non-LTE radiative transfer analysis using RADEX. Column densities of SO2 are found to be ~1016 cm-2 in the outflows and in the spherical wind. Comparison with existing maps of the two parent species OH and SO shows the SO2 distribution to be consistent with that of OH. The abundance ratio f_{SO_{2}}/f_{SO} is greater than unity for all radii larger than 3 × 1016 cm. SO2 is distributed in fragmented clumps compared to SO, PN, and SiS molecules. These observations lend support to specific models of circumstellar chemistry that predict f_{SO_{2}}/f_{SO}>1 and may suggest the role of localized effects such as shocks in the production of SO2 in the CSE.

Ultraviolet Observations of M-Type Symbiotic Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michalitsianos, Andrew G.

The significant differences revealed in high dispersion short wavelength spectra of two M-type symbiotic stars RW Hya (gM2 + pec) and RX Pup (M5 + pec) observed previously with IUE emphasizes the need for high resolution observations of a wide range of similar objects. The anomalies observed in high excitation lines in RX Pup of He II, N III], N IV], O III], C III], C IV and Si III] that show split line profiles, multiple component Doppler displaced components, and broadened blue wing emission structure in N III] and N IV] suggest motion in circumstellar material. In contrast, high dispersion UV spectra of RW Hya reveal narrow high excitation emission lines that give no suggestion of macroscopic motions in the circumstellar gas. We wish to extend observations of a selected number of symbiotic stars observed previously but in low resolution, to high dispersion in order to determine if particular M-type symbiotic stars exhibit anomalies in their line profile. As such, symbiotic stars exhibiting velocity structure in emission lines may form a subset of objects that are characterized by mass motions in their circumstellar envelops that create high excitation emission. UV line and continuum emission from other M-type symbiotics may arise from mainly photo-excitation processes that results from the intense radiation field associated with the hot secondary companion.

High Contrast Imaging with NICMOS - I: Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks with Coronagraphic Polarimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, G.; Hines, D. C.

2007-06-01

HST's Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS), with its highly stable point spread function, very high imaging Strehl ratio (panchromatically > 98% over its entire 0.8 - 2.4 micron wavelength regime) and coronagraphic imaging capability, celebrated its tenth anniversary in space earlier this year. These combined instrumental attributes uniquely contribute to its capability as a high-contrast imager as demonstrated by its continuing production of new examples of spatially resolved scattered-light imagery of both optically thick and thin circumstellar disks and sub-stellar companions to young stars and brown dwarfs well into the (several) Jovian mass range. We review these capabilities, illustrating with observationally based results, including examples obtained since HST's entry into two gyro guiding mode in mid 2005. The advent of a recently introduced, and now commissioned and calibrated, coronagraphic polarimetry mode has enabled very-high contrast 2 micron imaging polarimetry with 0.2 spatial resolution. Such imagery provides important constraints in the interpretation of disk-scattered starlight in assessing circumstellar disk geometries and the physical properties of their constituent grains. We demonstrate this new capability with observational results from two currently-executing HST programs obtaining 2 micron coronagraphic polarimetric images of circumstellar T-Tauri and debris disks.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Spitzer solar-type stars list (Meyer+, 2006)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, M. R.; Hillenbrand, L. A.; Backman, D.; Beckwith, S.; Bouwman, J.; Brooke, T.; Carpenter, J.; Cohen, M.; Cortes, S.; Crockett, N.; Gorti, U.; Henning, T.; Hines, D.; Hollenbach, D.; Kim, J. S.; Lunine, J.; Malhotra, R.; Mamajek, E.; Metchev, S.; Moro-Martin, A.; Morris, P.; Najita, J.; Padgett, D.; Pascucci, I.; Rodmann, J.; Schlingman, W.; Silverstone, M.; Soderblom, D.; Stauffer, J.; Stobie, E.; Strom, S.; Watson, D.; Weidenschilling, S.; Wolf, S.; Young, E.

2008-01-01

We provide an overview of the Spitzer Legacy Program, Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems, that was proposed in 2000, begun in 2001, and executed aboard the Spitzer Space Telescope between 2003 and 2006. This program exploits the sensitivity of Spitzer to carry out mid-infrared spectrophotometric observations of solar-type stars. With a sample of 328 stars ranging in age from 3Myr to 3Gyr, we trace the evolution of circumstellar gas and dust from primordial planet-building stages in young circumstellar disks through to older collisionally generated debris disks. When completed, our program will help define the timescales over which terrestrial and gas giant planets are built, constrain the frequency of planetesimal collisions as a function of time, and establish the diversity of mature planetary architectures. In addition to the observational program, we have coordinated a concomitant theoretical effort aimed at understanding the dynamics of circumstellar dust with and without the effects of embedded planets, dust spectral energy distributions, and atomic and molecular gas line emission. Together with the observations, these efforts will provide an astronomical context for understanding whether our solar system and its habitable planets a common or a rare circumstance. Additional information about the FEPS project can be found on the team Web site. (4 data files).

The Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems: Placing Our Solar System in Context with Spitzer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, Michael R.; Hillenbrand, Lynne A.; Backman, Dana; Beckwith, Steve; Bouwman, Jeroen; Brooke, Tim; Carpenter, John; Cohen, Martin; Cortes, Stephanie; Crockett, Nathan; Gorti, Uma; Henning, Thomas; Hines, Dean; Hollenbach, David; Kim, Jinyoung Serena; Lunine, Jonathan; Malhotra, Renu; Mamajek, Eric; Metchev, Stanimir; Moro-Martin, Amaya; Morris, Pat; Najita, Joan; Padgett, Deborah; Pascucci, Ilaria; Rodmann, Jens; Schlingman, Wayne; Silverstone, Murray; Soderblom, David; Stauffer, John; Stobie, Elizabeth; Strom, Steve; Watson, Dan; Weidenschilling, Stuart; Wolf, Sebastian; Young, Erick

2006-12-01

We provide an overview of the Spitzer Legacy Program, Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems, that was proposed in 2000, begun in 2001, and executed aboard the Spitzer Space Telescope between 2003 and 2006. This program exploits the sensitivity of Spitzer to carry out mid-infrared spectrophotometric observations of solar-type stars. With a sample of ~328 stars ranging in age from ~3 Myr to ~3 Gyr, we trace the evolution of circumstellar gas and dust from primordial planet-building stages in young circumstellar disks through to older collisionally generated debris disks. When completed, our program will help define the timescales over which terrestrial and gas giant planets are built, constrain the frequency of planetesimal collisions as a function of time, and establish the diversity of mature planetary architectures. In addition to the observational program, we have coordinated a concomitant theoretical effort aimed at understanding the dynamics of circumstellar dust with and without the effects of embedded planets, dust spectral energy distributions, and atomic and molecular gas line emission. Together with the observations, these efforts will provide an astronomical context for understanding whether our solar system-and its habitable planet-is a common or a rare circumstance. Additional information about the FEPS project can be found on the team Web site.

A long-term study of H(alpha) line variations in FK Comae Berenices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Welty, Alan D.; Ramsey, Lawrence W.; Iyengar, Mrinal; Nations, Harold L.; Buzasi, Derek L.

1993-01-01

We present observations of H(alpha) V/R ratio variations in FK Comae Berencies obtained during several observing seasons from 1981 to 1992. The raw H(alpha) emission profile is always observed to be double peaked due to the stellar-absorption component. During the most years the V/R ratio varies regularly with the period of the photometric light curve. The V/R periodicity is most obvious when time spans no longer than several stellar rotations are considered. We propose that the bulk of the emission component of the H(alpha) line arises in corotating circumstellar material that may be similar to that of a quiescent solar prominence. The lifetime of these structures appears to be on the order of weeks. A weak contribution from a circumstellar disk is evident and chromospheric emission may also be present. The appearance or disappearance of circumstellar structures over periods longer than a few weeks, or the total absence of such structures, blurs the more regular variations in H(alpha) seen over short time scales. Other more stochastic activity, such as flares, also clearly occurs. Phase shifts of the V/R ratio from year to year rule out the hypothesis that mass tranfer in a close binary system is responsible for the V/R variations.

Signatures of Exo-Solar Planets in Dust Debris Disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ozernoy, Leonid M.; Gorkavyi, Nick N.; Mather, John C.; Taidakova, Tanya A.

1999-01-01

We have developed a new numerical approach to the dynamics of minor bodies and dust particles, which enables us to increase, without using a supercomputer, the number of employed particle positions in each model up to 10(exp 10) - 10(exp 11), a factor of 10(exp 6) - 10(exp 7) higher than existing numerical simulations. We apply this powerful approach to the high-resolution modeling of the structure and emission of circumstellar dust disks, incorporating all relevant physical processes. In this Letter, we examine the resonant structure of a dusty disk induced by the presence of one planet of mass in the range of (5 x 10(exp -5) - 5 x 10(exp -3))M. It is shown that the planet, via resonances and gravitational scattering, produces (i) a central cavity void of dust; (ii) a trailing (sometimes leading) off-center cavity; and (iii) an asymmetric resonant dust belt with one, two, or more clumps. These features can serve as indicators of planet(s) embedded in the circumstellar dust disk and, moreover, can be used to determine the mass of the planet and even some of its orbital parameters. The results of our study reveal a remarkable similarity with various types of highly asymmetric circumstellar disks observed with the JCMT around Epsilon Eridani and Vega.

Follow-up observations of SN 2010dn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Botticella, Maria Teresa; Kotak, Rubina; Meikle, Peter; Smartt, Stephen; Pastorello, Andrea; Benetti, Stefano

2010-06-01

A new intriguing transient, SN 2010dn in NGC 3184, was discovered ten days ago. The spectroscopic and photometric evolution make this transient similar to SN 2008S, the 2006 optical transient in M85 and the 2008 optical transient in NGC 300, members of a new class of transient events given the similar pre-explosion?and post-explosion properties. The nature of these transient is still debated?and our experience with SN 2008S proved that?Spitzer data are?invaluable to shed light on it providing a critical information in the understanding?the geometry of the circumstellar environment of these transients both for the dust enshrouded progenitor stars and after?their explosion. We would like to obtain a rapid follow-up of SN 2010dn with Spitzer to check if also this transient is producing an IR echo from substantial circumstellar material around the progenitor star. The modeling of the light echo will allow us to constrain the mass and?physical scale?of the circumstellar dust around this transient and as consequence to probe the mass loss history of the progenitor star. The proposed observations will be coordinated with an extensive optical follow up and?will be of interest to the broad scientific community. To obtain prompt observations after the discovery?is crucial.

Planet formation in transition disks: Modeling, spectroscopy, and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liskowsky, Joseph Paul

An important field of modern astronomy is the study of planets. Literally for millennia, careful observers of the night sky have tracked these 'wanderers', with their peculiar motions initiating avenues of inquiry not able to elucidated by a study of the stars alone: we have discovered that the planets (as well as Earth) orbit the sun and that the stars are so far away, even their relative positions do not seem to shift perceptibly when Earth's position moves hundreds of millions of miles. With the advent of the telescope, and subsequent improvements upon it over the course of centuries, accelerating to the dramatically immense telescopes available today and those on the horizon, we have been able to continuously probe farther and in more detail than the previous generation of scientists and telescopes allowed. Now, we are just entering the time when detection of planets outside of our own solar system has become possible, and we have found that planets are extraordinarily common in the galaxy (and by extrapolation, the universe). At the time of this document's composition, there are several thousand such examples of planets around other stars (being dubbed 'exoplanets'). We have discovered that planets are plentiful, but multiple open questions remain which are relevant to this work: How do planets form and, when a planet does form from its circumstellar envelope, what are the important processes that influence its formation? This work adds to the understanding of circumstellar disks, the intermediate stage between a cold collapsing cloud (of gas and dust) and a mature planetary system. Specifically, we study circumstellar disks in an evolved state termed 'transition disks'. This state corresponds to a time period where the dust in the disk has either undergone grain growth—where the microscopic grains have clumped together to form far fewer dust particles of much higher mass, or the inner portion (or an inner annulus) of the disk has lost a large amount of gas due to either a massive planet accreting the material onto it or via a photoevaporation process whereby the central star's radiation field ejects material from the inner disk out of the bound system in the the interstellar medium. It is presumed that this phase is the last gasp of the planetary disk's evolution before the debris disk stage and before a fully formed solar system evolves. Our work specifically focuses on one object of this transition disk class: HD100546. We add to the understanding of transition disks by showing that a model where ro-vibrational OH emission in the NIR is preferentially emitted along the 'wall' of the disk is consistent with observations, and furthermore that adding an eccentricity to this `wall' component is required to generate the necessary observed line shape. In conjunction with this observation we present supporting material which motivates the usage of such an eccentric wall component in light of predictions of the influence of giant planet formation occurring within the disk.

High-resolution molecular line observations of active galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-Burillo, S.; Combes, F.; Usero, A.; Graciá-Carpio, J.

2008-10-01

The study of the content, distribution and kinematics of interstellar gas is a key to understand the origin and maintenance of both starburst and nuclear (AGN) activity in galaxies. The processes involved in AGN fueling encompass a wide range of scales, both spatial and temporal, which have to be studied. Probing the gas flow from the outer disk down to the central engine of an AGN host, requires the use of specific tracers of the interstellar medium adapted to follow the change of phase of the gas as a function of radius. Current mm-interferometers can provide a sharp view of the distribution and kinematics of molecular gas in the circumnuclear disks of galaxies through extensive CO line mapping. As such, CO maps are an essential tool to study AGN feeding mechanisms in the local universe. This is the scientific driver of the NUclei of GAlaxies (NUGA) survey, whose latest results are here reviewed. On the other hand, the use of specific molecular tracers of the dense gas phase can probe the feedback influence of activity on the chemistry and energy balance/redistribution in the interstellar medium of nearby galaxies. Millimeter interferometers are able to unveil the strong chemical differentiation present in the molecular gas disks of nearby starbursts and AGNs. Nearby active galaxies can be used as local templates to address the study of more distant galaxies where both star formation and AGN activity are deeply embedded.

Spectroscopic and viscometric elucidation of the interaction between a potential chloride channel blocker and calf-thymus DNA: the effect of medium ionic strength on the binding mode.

PubMed

Ganguly, Aniruddha; Ghosh, Soumen; Guchhait, Nikhil

2015-01-07

The present study demonstrates a detailed characterization of the binding interaction of a potential chloride channel blocker 9-methyl anthroate (9-MA) with calf-thymus DNA. The modulated photophysical properties of the emissive molecule within the microheterogeneous bio-assembly have been spectroscopically exploited to monitor the drug-DNA binding interaction. Experimental results based on fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy aided with DNA-melting, viscometric and circular dichroism studies unambiguously establish the binding mode between the drug and DNA to be principally intercalative. Concomitantly, a discernible dependence of the mode of binding between the concerned moieties on the ionic strength of the medium is noteworthy. A dip-and-rise characteristic of the rotational relaxation profile of the drug within the DNA environment has been argued to be originating from a substantial difference in the lifetime as well as amplitude of the free and DNA bound drug molecule. In view of the prospective biological applications of the drug, the issue of facile dissociation of the intercalated drug from the DNA helix via a simple detergent-sequestration technique has also been unveiled. The utility of the present work resides in exploring the potential applicability of the fluorescence properties of 9-MA for studying its interactions with other relevant biological or biomimicking targets.

HST-COS Observations of Hydrogen, Helium, Carbon, and Nitrogen Emission from the SN 1987A Reverse Shock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

France, Kevin; McCray, Richard; Penton, Steven V.; Kirshner, Robert P.; Challis, Peter; Laming, J. Martin; Bouchet, Patrice; Chevalier, Roger; Garnavich, Peter M.; Fransson, Claes; Heng, Kevin; Larsson, Josefin; Lawrence, Stephen; Lundqvist, Peter; Panagia, Nino; Pun, Chun S. J.; Smith, Nathan; Sollerman, Jesper; Sonneborn, George; Sugerman, Ben; Wheeler, J. Craig

2011-12-01

We present the most sensitive ultraviolet observations of Supernova 1987A to date. Imaging spectroscopy from the Hubble Space Telescope-Cosmic Origins Spectrograph shows many narrow (Δv ~ 300 km s-1) emission lines from the circumstellar ring, broad (Δv ~ 10-20 × 103 km s-1) emission lines from the reverse shock, and ultraviolet continuum emission. The high signal-to-noise ratio (>40 per resolution element) broad Lyα emission is excited by soft X-ray and EUV heating of mostly neutral gas in the circumstellar ring and outer supernova debris. The ultraviolet continuum at λ > 1350 Å can be explained by H I two-photon (2s 2 S 1/2-1s 2 S 1/2) emission from the same region. We confirm our earlier, tentative detection of N V λ1240 emission from the reverse shock and present the first detections of broad He II λ1640, C IV λ1550, and N IV] λ1486 emission lines from the reverse shock. The helium abundance in the high-velocity material is He/H = 0.14 ± 0.06. The N V/Hα line ratio requires partial ion-electron equilibration (Te /Tp ≈ 0.14-0.35). We find that the N/C abundance ratio in the gas crossing the reverse shock is significantly higher than that in the circumstellar ring, a result that may be attributed to chemical stratification in the outer envelope of the supernova progenitor. The N/C abundance may have been stratified prior to the ring expulsion, or this result may indicate continued CNO processing in the progenitor subsequent to the expulsion of the circumstellar ring. Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained from the data archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, James C.; Froning, Cynthia S.; Osterman, Steve; Ebbets, Dennis; Heap, Sara H.; Leitherer, Claus; Linsky, Jeffrey L.; Savage, Blair D.; Sembach, Kenneth; Shull, J. Michael;

Prebiotic chemical evolution in the astrophysical context.

PubMed

Ziurys, L M; Adande, G R; Edwards, J L; Schmidt, D R; Halfen, D T; Woolf, N J

2015-06-01

An ever increasing amount of molecular material is being discovered in the interstellar medium, associated with the birth and death of stars and planetary systems. Radio and millimeter-wave astronomical observations, made possible by high-resolution laboratory spectroscopy, uniquely trace the history of gas-phase molecules with biogenic elements. Using a combination of both disciplines, the full extent of the cycling of molecular matter, from circumstellar ejecta of dying stars - objects which expel large amounts of carbon - to nascent solar systems, has been investigated. Such stellar ejecta have been found to exhibit a rich and varied chemical content. Observations demonstrate that this molecular material is passed onto planetary nebulae, the final phase of stellar evolution. Here the star sheds almost its entire original mass, becoming an ultraviolet-emitting white dwarf. Molecules such as H2CO, HCN, HCO(+), and CCH are present in significant concentrations across the entire age span of such nebulae. These data suggest that gas-phase polyatomic, carbon-containing molecules survive the planetary nebula phase and subsequently are transported into the interstellar medium, seeding the chemistry of diffuse and then dense clouds. The extent of the chemical complexity in dense clouds is unknown, hindered by the high spectral line density. Organic species such as acetamide and methyl amine are present in such objects, and NH2CHO has a wide Galactic distribution. However, organophosphorus compounds have not yet been detected in dense clouds. Based on carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, molecular material from the ISM appears to become incorporated into solar system planetesimals. It is therefore likely that interstellar synthesis influences prebiotic chemistry on planet surfaces.

Radio Observations Reveal a Smooth Circumstellar Environment Around the Extraordinary Type Ib Supernova 2012au

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamble, Atish; Soderberg, Alicia M.; Chomiuk, Laura; Margutti, Raffaella; Medvedev, Mikhail; Milisavljevic, Dan; Chakraborti, Sayan; Chevalier, Roger; Chugai, Nikolai; Dittmann, Jason; Drout, Maria; Fransson, Claes; Nakar, Ehud; Sanders, Nathan

2014-12-01

We present extensive radio and X-ray observations of SN 2012au, an energetic, radio-luminous supernova of Type Ib that exhibits multi-wavelength properties bridging subsets of hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae, hypernovae, and normal core-collapse supernovae. The observations closely follow models of synchrotron emission from a shock-heated circumburst medium that has a wind density profile (ρvpropr -2). We infer a sub-relativistic velocity for the shock wave v ≈ 0.2 c and a radius of r ≈ 1.4 × 1016cm at 25 days after the estimated date of explosion. For a wind velocity of 1000 km s-1, we determine the mass-loss rate of the progenitor to be \\dot{M} = 3.6 × 10-6 M⊙ yr-1, consistent with the estimates from X-ray observations. We estimate the total internal energy of the radio-emitting material to be E ≈ 1047 erg, which is intermediate to SN 1998bw and SN 2002ap. The evolution of the radio light curve of SN 2012au is in agreement with its interaction with a smoothly distributed circumburst medium and the absence of stellar shells ejected from previous outbursts out to r ≈ 1017 cm from the supernova site. We conclude that the bright radio emission from SN 2012au was not dissimilar from other core-collapse supernovae despite its extraordinary optical properties, and that the evolution of the SN 2012au progenitor star was relatively quiet, marked with a steady mass loss, during the final years preceding explosion.

The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, James C.; Froning, Cynthia S.; Osterman, Steve; Ebbets, Dennis; Heap, Sara H.; Leitherer, Claus; Linsky, Jeffrey L.; Savage, Blair D.; Sembach, Kenneth; Shull, J. Michael; Siegmund, Oswald H. W.; Snow, Theodore P.; Spencer, John; Stern, S. Alan; Stocke, John; Welsh, Barry; Béland, Stéphane; Burgh, Eric B.; Danforth, Charles; France, Kevin; Keeney, Brian; McPhate, Jason; Penton, Steven V.; Andrews, John; Brownsberger, Kenneth; Morse, Jon; Wilkinson, Erik

2012-01-01

The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) is a moderate-resolution spectrograph with unprecedented sensitivity that was installed into the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in 2009 May, during HST Servicing Mission 4 (STS-125). We present the design philosophy and summarize the key characteristics of the instrument that will be of interest to potential observers. For faint targets, with flux F λ ≈ 1.0 × 10-14 erg cm-2 s-1 Å-1, COS can achieve comparable signal to noise (when compared to Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph echelle modes) in 1%-2% of the observing time. This has led to a significant increase in the total data volume and data quality available to the community. For example, in the first 20 months of science operation (2009 September-2011 June) the cumulative redshift pathlength of extragalactic sight lines sampled by COS is nine times than sampled at moderate resolution in 19 previous years of Hubble observations. COS programs have observed 214 distinct lines of sight suitable for study of the intergalactic medium as of 2011 June. COS has measured, for the first time with high reliability, broad Lyα absorbers and Ne VIII in the intergalactic medium, and observed the He II reionization epoch along multiple sightlines. COS has detected the first CO emission and absorption in the UV spectra of low-mass circumstellar disks at the epoch of giant planet formation, and detected multiple ionization states of metals in extra-solar planetary atmospheres. In the coming years, COS will continue its census of intergalactic gas, probe galactic and cosmic structure, and explore physics in our solar system and Galaxy.

An explanation of the formation of the peculiar periphery of Tycho's supernova remnant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Jun; Yu, Huan; Zhang, Li

2018-02-01

Tycho's supernova remnant (SNR) has a periphery that clearly deviates from a spherical shape, based on X-ray and radio observations. The forward shock from the south-east to the north of the remnant has a deformed outline with a depression in the east, although in the west it is generally round and smooth. Moreover, at some locations in the shell, the supernova ejecta is located close to the forward shock, resulting in protrusions. Using 3D hydrodynamical simulations, we studied the dynamical evolution of the supernova ejecta in an inhomogeneous medium and the formation process of the profile of the forward shock. In order to reproduce the peculiar periphery of the remnant, we propose a model in which the supernova ejecta has evolved in a cavity blown by a latitude-dependent outflow. The results indicate that the depression to the east and the protrusion to the south-east on the observed periphery of the remnant can be generally reproduced if we assume a wind bubble driven by an anisotropic wind with a mass-loss rate of ˜10-7 M⊙ yr-1, a pole velocity of ˜100 km s-1, a duration of ˜105 yr prior to the supernova explosion, and a spatial velocity of ˜30 km s-1 of the progenitor with respect to the circumstellar medium. In conclusion, an explanation of the peculiar shape of the periphery of Tycho's SNR is that the supernova ejecta evolved in the cavity driven by a latitude-dependent wind.

ISM DUST GRAINS AND N-BAND SPECTRAL VARIABILITY IN THE SPATIALLY RESOLVED SUBARCSECOND BINARY UY Aur

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Skemer, Andrew J.; Close, Laird M.; Hinz, Philip M.

2010-03-10

The 10 {mu}m silicate feature is an essential diagnostic of dust-grain growth and planet formation in young circumstellar disks. The Spitzer Space Telescope has revolutionized the study of this feature, but due to its small (85 cm) aperture, it cannot spatially resolve small/medium-separation binaries ({approx}<3''; {approx}< 420 AU) at the distances of the nearest star-forming regions ({approx}140 pc). Large, 6-10 m ground-based telescopes with mid-infrared instruments can resolve these systems. In this paper, we spatially resolve the 0.''88 binary, UY Aur, with MMTAO/BLINC-MIRAC4 mid-infrared spectroscopy. We then compare our spectra to Spitzer/IRS (unresolved) spectroscopy, and resolved images from IRTF/MIRAC2, Keck/OSCIR,more » and Gemini/Michelle, which were taken over the past decade. We find that UY Aur A has extremely pristine, interstellar medium (ISM)-like grains and that UY Aur B has an unusually shaped silicate feature, which is probably the result of blended emission and absorption from foreground extinction in its disk. We also find evidence for variability in both UY Aur A and UY Aur B by comparing synthetic photometry from our spectra with resolved imaging from previous epochs. The photometric variability of UY Aur A could be an indication that the silicate emission itself is variable, as was recently found in EX Lupi. Otherwise, the thermal continuum is variable, and either the ISM-like dust has never evolved, or it is being replenished, perhaps by UY Aur's circumbinary disk.« less

Hot Dust! Late-Time Infrared Emission From Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, Ori; Skrutskie, M. F.; Chevalier, R. A.

2010-01-01

Supernovae light curves typically peak and fade in the course of several months. Some supernovae , however, exhibit late-time infrared emission that in some cases can last for several years. These supernovae tend to be of the Type IIn subclass, which is defined by narrow hydrogen and helium emission lines arising from a dense, pre-existing circumstellar medium excited by the supernova radiation. Such a late-time ``IR excess'' with respect to the optical blackbody counterpart typically indicates the presence of warm dust. The origin and heating mechanism of the dust is not, however, always well constrained. In this talk, I will explore several scenarios that explain the observed late-time emission. In particular, I will discuss the case of the Type IIn SN 2005ip, which has displayed an ``IR excess'' for over 3 years. The results allow us to interpret the progenitor system and better understand the late stages of stellar evolution. Much of the data used for this analysis were obtained with TripleSpec, a medium-resolution near-infrared spectrograph located at Apache Point Observatory, NM, and FanCam, a JHK imager located at Fan Mountain Observatory, just outside of Charlottesville, VA. These two instruments were designed, fabricated, built, and commissioned by our instrumentation group at the University of Virginia. I will also spend some time discussing these instruments. I would like to thank the following for financial support of this work throughout my graduate career: NASA GSRP, NSF AAG-0607737, Spitzer PID 50256, Achievement Reward for College Scientists (ARCS), and the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.

Mass loss of stars on the asymptotic giant branch. Mechanisms, models and measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Höfner, Susanne; Olofsson, Hans

2018-01-01

As low- and intermediate-mass stars reach the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), they have developed into intriguing and complex objects that are major players in the cosmic gas/dust cycle. At this stage, their appearance and evolution are strongly affected by a range of dynamical processes. Large-scale convective flows bring newly-formed chemical elements to the stellar surface and, together with pulsations, they trigger shock waves in the extended stellar atmosphere. There, massive outflows of gas and dust have their origin, which enrich the interstellar medium and, eventually, lead to a transformation of the cool luminous giants into white dwarfs. Dust grains forming in the upper atmospheric layers play a critical role in the wind acceleration process, by scattering and absorbing stellar photons and transferring their outward-directed momentum to the surrounding gas through collisions. Recent progress in high-angular-resolution instrumentation, from the visual to the radio regime, is leading to valuable new insights into the complex dynamical atmospheres of AGB stars and their wind-forming regions. Observations are revealing asymmetries and inhomogeneities in the photospheric and dust-forming layers which vary on time-scales of months, as well as more long-lived large-scale structures in the circumstellar envelopes. High-angular-resolution observations indicate at what distances from the stars dust condensation occurs, and they give information on the chemical composition and sizes of dust grains in the close vicinity of cool giants. These are essential constraints for building realistic models of wind acceleration and developing a predictive theory of mass loss for AGB stars, which is a crucial ingredient of stellar and galactic chemical evolution models. At present, it is still not fully possible to model all these phenomena from first principles, and to predict the mass-loss rate based on fundamental stellar parameters only. However, much progress has been made in recent years, which is described in this review. We complement this by discussing how observations of emission from circumstellar molecules and dust can be used to estimate the characteristics of the mass loss along the AGB, and in different environments. We also briefly touch upon the issue of binarity.

Absorbing Gas around the WASP-12 Planetary System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fossati, L.; Ayres, T. R.; Haswell, C. A.; Bohlender, D.; Kochukhov, O.; Flöer, L.

2013-04-01

Near-UV observations of the planet host star WASP-12 uncovered the apparent absence of the normally conspicuous core emission of the Mg II h and k resonance lines. This anomaly could be due either to (1) a lack of stellar activity, which would be unprecedented for a solar-like star of the imputed age of WASP-12 or (2) extrinsic absorption, from the intervening interstellar medium (ISM) or from material within the WASP-12 system itself, presumably ablated from the extreme hot Jupiter WASP-12 b. HIRES archival spectra of the Ca II H and K lines of WASP-12 show broad depressions in the line cores, deeper than those of other inactive and similarly distant stars and similar to WASP-12's Mg II h and k line profiles. We took high-resolution ESPaDOnS and FIES spectra of three early-type stars within 20' of WASP-12 and at similar distances, which show the ISM column is insufficient to produce the broad Ca II depression observed in WASP-12. The EBHIS H I column density map supports and strengthens this conclusion. Extrinsic absorption by material local to the WASP-12 system is therefore the most likely cause of the line core anomalies. Gas escaping from the heavily irradiated planet could form a stable and thick circumstellar disk/cloud. The anomalously low stellar activity index (log R^{{\\prime }}_{HK}) of WASP-12 is evidently a direct consequence of the extra core absorption, so similar HK index deficiencies might signal the presence of translucent circumstellar gas around other stars hosting evaporating planets. Based on observations obtained at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), which is operated by the National Research Council of Canada, the Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers of the Centre National de la Rechereche Scientifique of France, and the University of Hawaii. Based on observations made with the Nordic Optical Telescope, operated on the island of La Palma jointly by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.

Time Resolved X-Ray Spectral Analysis of Class II YSOs in NGC 2264 During Optical Dips and Bursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guarcello, Mario Giuseppe; Flaccomio, Ettore; Micela, Giuseppina; Argiroffi, Costanza; Venuti, Laura

2016-07-01

Pre-Main Sequence stars are variable sources. The main mechanisms responsible for their variability are variable extinction, unsteady accretion, and rotational modulation of both hot and dark photospheric spots and X-ray active regions. In stars with disks this variability is thus related to the morphology of the inner circumstellar region (<0.1 AU) and that of photosphere and corona, all impossible to be spatially resolved with present day techniques. This has been the main motivations of the Coordinated Synoptic Investigation of NGC2264, a set of simultaneous observations of NGC2264 with 15 different telescopes.We analyze the X-ray spectral properties of stars with disks extracted during optical bursts and dips in order to unveil the nature of these phenomena. Stars are analyzed in two different samples. In stars with variable extinction a simultaneous increase of optical extinction and X-ray absorption is searched during the optical dips; in stars with accretion bursts we search for soft X-ray emission and increasing X-ray absorption during the bursts. In 9/33 stars with variable extinction we observe simultaneous increase of X-ray absorption and optical extinction. In seven dips it is possible to calculate the NH/AV ratio in order to infer the composition of the obscuring material. In 5/27 stars with optical accretion bursts, we observe soft X-ray emission during the bursts that we associate to the emission of accreting gas. It is not surprising that these properties are not observed in all the stars with dips and bursts since favorable geometric configurations are required. The observed variable absorption during the dips is mainly due to dust-free material in accretion streams. In stars with accretion bursts we observe in average a larger soft X-ray spectral component not observed in non accreting stars. This indicates that this soft X-ray emission arises from the accretion shocks.

Circumstellar ammonia in oxygen-rich evolved stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, K. T.; Menten, K. M.; Kamiński, T.; Wyrowski, F.; Lacy, J. H.; Greathouse, T. K.

2018-04-01

Context. The circumstellar ammonia (NH3) chemistry in evolved stars is poorly understood. Previous observations and modelling showed that NH3 abundance in oxygen-rich stars is several orders of magnitude above that predicted by equilibrium chemistry. Aims: We would like to characterise the spatial distribution and excitation of NH3 in the oxygen-rich circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of four diverse targets: IK Tau, VY CMa, OH 231.8+4.2, and IRC +10420. Methods: We observed NH3 emission from the ground state in the inversion transitions near 1.3 cm with the Very Large Array (VLA) and submillimetre rotational transitions with the Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI) aboard Herschel Space Observatory from all four targets. For IK Tau and VY CMa, we observed NH3 rovibrational absorption lines in the ν2 band near 10.5 μm with the Texas Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph (TEXES) at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF). We also attempted to search for the rotational transition within the excited vibrational state (v2 = 1) near 2 mm with the IRAM 30m Telescope. Non-LTE radiative transfer modelling, including radiative pumping to the vibrational state, was carried out to derive the radial distribution of NH3 in the CSEs of these targets. Results: We detected NH3 inversion and rotational emission in all four targets. IK Tau and VY CMa show blueshifted absorption in the rovibrational spectra. We did not detect vibrationally excited rotational transition from IK Tau. Spatially resolved VLA images of IK Tau and IRC +10420 show clumpy emission structures; unresolved images of VY CMa and OH 231.8+4.2 indicate that the spatial-kinematic distribution of NH3 is similar to that of assorted molecules, such as SO and SO2, that exhibit localised and clumpy emission. Our modelling shows that the NH3 abundance relative to molecular hydrogen is generally of the order of 10-7, which is a few times lower than previous estimates that were made without considering radiative pumping and is at least ten times higher than that in the carbon-rich CSE of IRC +10216. NH3 in OH 231.8+4.2 and IRC +10420 is found to emit in gas denser than the ambient medium. Incidentally, we also derived a new period of IK Tau from its V-band light curve. Conclusions: NH3 is again detected in very high abundance in evolved stars, especially the oxygen-rich ones. Its emission mainly arises from localised spatial-kinematic structures that are probably denser than the ambient gas. Circumstellar shocks in the accelerated wind may contribute to the production of NH3. Future mid-infrared spectroscopy and radio imaging studies are necessary to constrain the radii and physical conditions of the formation regions of NH3. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.Based on observations carried out under project numbers 216-09, 212-10, and 052-15 with the IRAM 30m Telescope. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain).Based on observations with ISO, an ESA project with instruments funded by ESA Member States (especially the PI countries: France, Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and with the participation of ISAS and NASA.All the spectra used in the article are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/612/A48

Unveiling the Synchrotron Cosmic Web: Pilot Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Shea; Rudnick, Lawrence; Pfrommer, Christoph; Jones, Thomas

2011-10-01

The overall goal of this project is to challenge our current theoretical understanding of the relativistic particle populations in the inter-galactic medium (IGM) through deep 1.4 GHz observations of 13 massive, high-redshift clusters of galaxies. Designed to compliment/extend the GMRT radio halo survey (Venturi et al. 2007), these observations will attempt to detect the peaks of the purported synchrotron cosmic-web, and place serious limits on models of CR acceleration and magnetic field amplification during large-scale structure formation. The primary goals of this survey are: 1) Confirm the bi-modal nature of the radio halo population, which favors turbulent re-acceleration of cosmic-ray electrons (CRe) during cluster mergers as the source of the diffuse radio emission; 2) Directly test hadronic secondary models which predict the presence of cosmic-ray protons (CRp) in the cores of massive X-ray clusters; 3) Search in polarization for shock structures, a potential source of CR acceleration in the IGM.

Linear and nonlinear causal relationship between energy consumption and economic growth in China: New evidence based on wavelet analysis

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

The energy-growth nexus has important policy implications for economic development. The results from many past studies that investigated the causality direction of this nexus can lead to misleading policy guidance. Using data on China from 1953 to 2013, this study shows that an application of causality test on the time series of energy consumption and national output has masked a lot of information. The Toda-Yamamoto test with bootstrapped critical values and the newly proposed non-linear causality test reveal no causal relationship. However, a further application of these tests using series in different time-frequency domain obtained from wavelet decomposition indicates that while energy consumption Granger causes economic growth in the short run, the reverse is true in the medium term. A bidirectional causal relationship is found for the long run. This approach has proven to be superior in unveiling information on the energy-growth nexus that are useful for policy planning over different time horizons. PMID:29782534

Intracellular water - an overlooked drug target? Cisplatin impact in cancer cells probed by neutrons.

PubMed

Marques, M P M; Batista de Carvalho, A L M; Sakai, V Garcia; Hatter, L; Batista de Carvalho, L A E

2017-01-25

The first neutron scattering study on human nucleated cells is reported, addressing the subject of solvent-slaving to a drug by probing intracellular water upon drug exposure. Inelastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering spectroscopy with isotope labelling was applied for monitoring interfacial water response to the anticancer drug cisplatin, in the low prognosis human metastatic breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231. Optical vibrational data were also obtained for lyophilised cells. Concentration-dependent dynamical changes evidencing a progressive mobility reduction were unveiled between untreated and cisplatin-exposed samples, concurrent with variations in the native organisation of water molecules within the intracellular medium as a consequence of drug action. The results thus obtained yielded a clear picture of the intracellular water response to cisplatin and constitute the first reported experimental proof of a drug impact on the cytomatrix by neutron techniques. This is an innovative way of tackling a drug's pharmacodynamics, searching for alternative targets of drug action.

A Giant Warm Baryonic Halo for the Coma Cluster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bonamente, Max; Lieu, Richard; Joy, Marshall K.; Six, N. Frank (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Several deep PSPC observations of the Coma cluster unveil a very large-scale halo of soft X-ray emission, substantially in excess of the well know radiation from the hot intra-cluster medium. The excess emission, previously reported in the central cluster regions through lower-sensitivity EUVE and ROSAT data, is now evident out to a radius of 2.5 Mpc, demonstrating that the soft excess radiation from clusters is a phenomenon of cosmological significance. The spectrum at these large radii cannot be modeled non-thermally, but is consistent with the original scenario of thermal emission at warm temperatures. The mass of this plasma is at least on par with that of the hot X-ray emitting plasma, and significantly more massive if the plasma resides in low-density filamentary structures. Thus the data lend vital support to current theories of cosmic evolution, which predict greater than 50 percent by mass of today's baryons reside in warm-hot filaments converging at clusters of galaxies.

Nucleation Studies under the Conditions of Carbon-rich AGB Star Envelopes: TiC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patzer, A. B. C.; Wendt, M.; Chang, C.; Sülzle, D.

2011-09-01

Many studies of dust nucleation in winds of carbon-rich AGB stars consider primarily carbon as the dust forming material. But dust grains formed in such circumstellar envelopes are rather a mixture of several chemical elements such as titanium or silicon in addition to carbon, as verified by many investigations of pre-solar grains enclosed in meteorites, for example. In this contribution we focus on the study of the nucleation of titanium carbide particles from the gas phase. The necessary properties of molecular titanium carbide clusters have been estimated by the density functional approach, and the first implications for the homogeneous nucleation of TiC are studied for conditions representative of circumstellar dust shells around carbon-rich AGB stars.

A Nonlocal Calculation of Circumstellar OH Masers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collison, A. J.; Nedoluha, G. E.

1993-12-01

We present calculations for circumstellar OH masers which explicitly account for the nonlocal interaction throughout the masing region. Excitation temperatures and observed emission are calculated for all four ground state maser lines. All other transitions are treated using a modified Sobolev approximation. Calculations are performed within the context of a simplified dust/outflow model which provides the pumping conditions and their variation with radius. Total velocity relaxation is implicitly assumed in the calculations. We find general agreement with the qualitative results of earlier work (Collison & Nedoluha, ApJ, 10 Feb 94 issue) and agree with the conclusions of Alcock & Ross (1986, ApJ, 305, 837) who showed that observed profiles can not be produced by a smooth, spherically symmetric wind model of the outflow.

The Infrared Spectral Region of Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaschek, Carlos; Andrillat, Y.

1991-09-01

1. Stars in the infrared: results from IRAS H. J. G. L. M. Lamers and L. B. F. M. Watera; 2. What is expected from ISO J. P. Baluteau; 3. New infrared instrumentation S. Bensammar; 4. High resolution atomic spectroscopy in the infrared and its application to astrophysics S. Johansson; 5. Spectroscopy of early -type stars C. Jaschek; 6. Spectroscopy of late type stars U. F. Jøgensen; 7. Dust formation and evolution in circumstellar media J. P. J. Lafon; 8. The infrared solar spectrum N. Grevesse; 9. Symbiotic and related objects M. Hack; 10. Stellar photometry and spectrophotometry in the infrared R. F. Wing; 11. Stellar variability in the infrared A. Evans; 12. Circumstellar material in main sequence H. H. Aamann.

Actively Disintegrating Astroids around a White Dwarf

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Siyi

2017-08-01

Recent studies show that planetary systems can be widespread around white dwarfs. It has been proposed that planetary systems are responsible for the pollution observed in a white dwarf's atmosphere and the excess infrared radiation. This scenario is greatly strengthened by the recent discovery of actively disintegrating bodies orbiting around the white dwarf WD 1145+017. In addition, this system has a heavily polluted atmosphere, a dust disk, and circumstellar gas. Our team has been monitoring this system since its discovery and our recent COS data have revealed many new surprises. We propose to continue studying this system for the next two cycles and further constrain the evolution of the disintegrating bodies: what are the main mechanisms responsible for its destruction? How is circumstellar gas produced and maintained?

Dynamics of circumstellar disks. III. The case of GG Tau A

DOE PAGES

Nelson, Andrew F.; Marzari, Francesco

2016-08-11

Here, we present two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic code, VINE, to model a self-gravitating binary system. We model configurations in which a circumbinary torus+disk surrounds a pair of stars in orbit around each other and a circumstellar disk surrounds each star, similar to that observed for the GG Tau A system. We assume that the disks cool as blackbodies, using rates determined independently at each location in the disk by the time dependent temperature of the photosphere there. We assume heating due to hydrodynamical processes and to radiation from the two stars, using rates approximated from amore » measure of the radiation intercepted by the disk at its photosphere.« less

Circumstellar Dust in Symbiotic Novae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jurkic, T.; Kotnik-Karuza, D.

2015-12-01

We present a model of inner dust regions around the cool Mira component of the two symbiotic novae, RR Tel and HM Sge, based on the near-IR photometry, ISO spectra and mid-IR interferometry. The dust properties were determined using the DUSTY code. A compact circumstellar silicate dust shell with inner dust shell temperatures between 900 K and 1300 K and of moderate optical depth can explain all the observations. RR Tel shows the presence of an equatorially enhanced dust density during minimum obscuration. Obscuration events are explained by an increase in optical depth caused by the newly condensed dust. The mass loss rates are significantly higher than in intermediate-period single Miras but in agreement with longer-period O-rich AGB stars.

Narrow polarized components in the OH 1612-MHz maser emission from supergiant OH-IR sources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, R. J.; Downs, G.; Emerson, R.; Grimm, M.; Gulkis, S.; Stevens, G.

1987-01-01

High-resolution (300 Hz) OH 1612-MHz spectra of the supergiant OH-IR sources VY CMa, VX Sgr, IRC 10420, and NML Cyg are presented. Linewidths as small as 550 Hz (0.1 km/s) are found for narrow components in the spectra. The present results are consistent with current models for maser line-narrowing and for the physical properties in the OH maser regions. A significant degree of circular polarization is noted in many of the narrow components. The circular polarization suggests the presence of magnetic fields of about 1 mG in the circumstellar envelopes which would be strong enough to influence the outflow from the stars, and which may explain asymmetries found in the circumstellar envelopes.

Discovery of a New Wolf-Rayet Star Using SAGE-LMC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gvaramadze, V. V.; Chené, A.-N.; Kniazev, A. Y.; Schnurr, O.

2012-12-01

We report the first-ever discovery of an extragalactic Wolf-Rayet (WR) star with Spitzer. A new WR star in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) was revealed via detection of its circumstellar shell using 24 μm images obtained in the framework of the Spitzer Survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud (SAGE-LMC). Subsequent spectroscopic observations with the Gemini South resolved the central star in two components, one of which is a WN3b+abs star, while the second one is a B0 V star. We consider the lopsided brightness distribution over the circumstellar shell as an indication that the WR star is a runaway and use this interpretation to identify a possible parent cluster of the star.

Stellar occultation of polarized light from circumstellar electrons. I - Flat envelopes viewed edge on

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, John C.; Fox, Geoffrey K.

1989-01-01

The depolarizing and occultation effects of a finite spherical light source on the polarization of light Thomson-scattered from a flat circumstellar envelope seen edge-on are analyzed. The analysis shows that neglect of the finite size of the light source leads to a gross overestimate of the polarization for a given disk geometry. By including occultation and depolarization, it is found that B-star envelopes are necessarily highly flattened disk-type structures. For a disk viewed edge-on, the effect of occultation reduces the polarization more than the inclusion of the depolarization factor alone. Analysis of a one-dimensional plume leads to a powerful technique that permits the electron density distribution to be explicitly obtained from the polarimetric data.

China’s War by Other Means: Unveiling China’s Quest for Information Dominance

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-09

CHINA’S WAR BY OTHER MEANS: UNVEILING CHINA’S QUEST FOR INFORMATION DOMINANCE A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S...collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources...gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information . Send comments regarding this burden estimate

Unveiling the Veiled and Veiling the Unveiled: Revealing the Underlying Linguistic Ideologies and Their Impact on Persian Language Loss and Maintenance among Second-Generation Iranian-American College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramezanzadeh, Farah S.

2010-01-01

This study adopted an interpretive/qualitative methodology to explore the issues and challenges of developing and maintaining Persian/Farsi as a heritage language in homes and neighborhoods for second-generation Iranian-American youth living in a major US metropolitan area with a sizable concentration of Iranian immigrants. The purpose of the…

Unveiling Their Worlds: The Use of Dialogue as a Health-Promotion Tool for HIV/AIDS Education in a Poor Community in Kenya

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kiragu, Susan; McLaughlin, Colleen

2011-01-01

Three decades since the onset of HIV/AIDS, 33.2 million people worldwide are infected and prevalence in Kenya is on the rise. This paper contributes to discussions about HIV/AIDS education and draws on the health promotion approach and the emancipatory theory of Paulo Freire. Freire argued that through dialogue people unveil their world. The…

IUE observations of circumstellar emission from the late type variable R Aquarii /M7 + pec/

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Michalitsianos, A. G.; Hobbs, R. W.; Kafatos, M.

1980-01-01

IUE observations of R Aquarii (M7 + pec) have been obtained in low dispersion in order to study its circumstellar emission. Strong permitted, semiforbidden, and forbidden emission lines are identified that are superposed on a bright ultraviolet continuum. From the analysis it is deduced that the strong emission-line spectrum that involves semiforbidden C III, C IV, semiforbidden Si III, forbidden O II, and forbidden O III probably arises from a dense compact nebula the size of which is comparable to the binary system of which R Aqr is the primary star. Low-excitation emission lines of Fe II, Mg II, O I, and Si II suggest the presence of a warm chromosphere (T less than about 10,000 K) in the primary M7 late type giant. The secondary is identified as a white dwarf, comparable to or somewhat brighter than the sun, since such a star can produce enough ionizing photons to excite the continuum and emission-line spectrum and yet be sufficiently faint to escape detection by direct observation. The UV continuum observed is attributed to Balmer recombination and not to blackbody emission from the hot companion. The general spectral properties of R Aqr between 1200 A and 3200 A are discussed in the context of the model for the circumstellar nebula, the companion, and the mass-loss rate of the primary star.

Detecting Circumstellar ``Hydrogen Wall'' Emission Around a Nearby, Sun-like Star

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Brian

1999-07-01

Using the long-slit spectroscopy capabilities of STIS, we propose to try to detect for the first time nebular Lyman- Alpha emission surrounding a Sun-like star produced by the interaction of its stellar wind with the ISM. Such ``hydrogen walls'' have likely been detected in absorption around the Sun and several other nearby stars using GHRS Lyman-Alpha spectra. However, most of these detections are tentative due to the difficulty in separating the H-wall absorption from the interstellar H I absorption. Furthermore, even if one accepts the reality of the detected hot H I absorption components, it is impossible to prove that circumstellar material is in fact responsible. We propose to circumvent these difficulties by detecting a hydrogen wall in emission around 40 Eri A, which is one of the stars for which a tentative H-wall detection already exists. A successful detection of the expected circumstellar emission would validate the previous Lyman-Alpha aborption line studies, a nd the combined spectroscopic and spatial information provided by long-slit spectroscopy would contribute valuable new information on the stellar wind of 40 Eri A and how it interacts with the ISM, especially when compared with models that we will construct of 40 Eri A's ``astrosphere.'' This new information includes a direct measurement of the distance to the stellar bow shock, information that we do not possess for any other nearby star, including the Sun.

Models of bright nickel-free supernovae from stripped massive stars with circumstellar shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kleiser, Io K. W.; Kasen, Daniel; Duffell, Paul C.

2018-04-01

The nature of an emerging class of rapidly fading supernovae (RFSNe) - characterized by their short-lived light-curve duration, but varying widely in peak brightness - remains puzzling. Whether the RFSNe arise from low-mass thermonuclear eruptions on white dwarfs or from the core collapse of massive stars is still a matter of dispute. We explore the possibility that the explosion of hydrogen-free massive stars could produce bright but rapidly fading transients if the effective pre-supernova radii are large and if little or no radioactive nickel is ejected. The source of radiation is then purely due to shock cooling. We study this model of RFSNe using spherically symmetric hydrodynamics and radiation transport calculations of the explosion of stripped stars embedded in helium-dominated winds or shells of various masses and extent. We present a parameter study showing how the properties of the circumstellar envelopes affect the dynamics of the explosion and can lead to a diversity of light curves. We also explore the dynamics of the fallback of the innermost stellar layers, which might be able to remove radioactive nickel from the ejecta, making the rapid decline in the late-time light curve possible. We provide scaling relations that describe how the duration and luminosity of these events depend on the supernova kinetic energy and the mass and radius of the circumstellar material.

Analysis of photometric light curves solution for massive contact OB binary stars. LY Aurigae, BH Centauri, SV Centauri

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avvakumova, E. A.

2010-01-01

We searched for signs of the presence of circumstellar gaseous matter in photometric data for massive contact early-type binaries by analyzing residual curves (the dependence of the difference between the observed and theoretical brightness variations on the orbital-period phase) for three such stars. The residual curves make it possible to estimate the influence of gas in the common envelope on the observed light curves for different phase intervals and to qualitatively describe the character of the distortion of the light from the system’s components. Changes of the residual curves from filter to filter indicate varying conditions in the circumstellar matter. Changes of the residual curves from one observation epoch to another indicate varying conditions in the circumstellar matter. We compared the residual curves obtained for different photometric bands and epochs via a correlation analysis. The distortion of light from the components of LY Aurigae in the ultraviolet differs from that in the visual. The distortion of light from the components of SV Centauri is appreciable, but not selective, and does not vary in time, while the distortion of light from BH Centauri possesses a strong selective component. A comparison of the radii computed for the components of BH Centauri and SV Centauri shows that the gas distribution near these binaries varies in time.

INTERFEROMETRIC UPPER LIMITS ON MILLIMETER POLARIZATION OF THE DISKS AROUND DG Tau, GM Aur, AND MWC 480

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hughes, A. Meredith; Hull, Charles L. H.; Plambeck, Richard L.

2013-04-15

Millimeter-wavelength polarization measurements offer a promising method for probing the geometry of magnetic fields in circumstellar disks. Single dish observations and theoretical work have hinted that magnetic field geometries might be predominantly toroidal, and that disks should exhibit millimeter polarization fractions of 2%-3%. While subsequent work has not confirmed these high polarization fractions, either the wavelength of observation or the target sources differed from the original observations. Here we present new polarimetric observations of three nearby circumstellar disks at 2'' resolution with the Submillimeter Array and the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter Astronomy. We reobserve GM Aur and DGmore » Tau, the systems in which millimeter polarization detections have been claimed. Despite higher resolution and sensitivity at wavelengths similar to the previous observations, the new observations do not show significant polarization. We also add observations of a new HAeBe system, MWC 480. These observations demonstrate that a very low ({approx}<0.5%) polarization fraction is probably common at large ({approx}>100 AU) scales in bright circumstellar disks. We suggest that high-resolution observations may be worthwhile to probe magnetic field structure on linear distances smaller than the disk scale height, as well as in regions closer to the star that may have larger MRI-induced magnetic field strengths.« less

Optomechanical design of the vacuum compatible EXCEDE's mission testbed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bendek, Eduardo A.; Belikov, Ruslan; Lozi, Julien; Schneider, Glenn; Thomas, Sandrine; Pluzhnik, Eugene; Lynch, Dana

2014-08-01

In this paper we describe the opto-mechanical design, tolerance error budget an alignment strategies used to build the Starlight Suppression System (SSS) for the Exoplanetary Circumstellar Environments and Disk Explorer (EXCEDE) NASA's mission. EXCEDE is a highly efficient 0.7m space telescope concept designed to directly image and spatially resolve circumstellar disks with as little as 10 zodis of circumstellar dust, as well as large planets. The main focus of this work was the design of a vacuum compatible opto-mechanical system that allows remote alignment and operation of the main components of the EXCEDE. SSS, which are: a Phase Induced Amplitude Apodization (PIAA) coronagraph to provide high throughput and high contrast at an inner working angle (IWA) equal to the diffraction limit (IWA = 1.2 l/D), a wavefront (WF) control system based on a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System deformable mirror (MEMS DM), and low order wavefront sensor (LOWFS) for fine pointing and centering. We describe in strategy and tolerance error budget for this system, which is especially relevant to achieve the theoretical performance that PIAA coronagraph can offer. We also discuss the vacuum cabling design for the actuators, cameras and the Deformable Mirror. This design has been implemented at the vacuum chamber facility at Lockheed Martin (LM), which is based on successful technology development at the Ames Coronagraph Experiment (ACE) facility.

Circumstellar envelopes of Cepheids: a possible bias affecting the distance scale?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kervella, Pierre; Gallenne, Alexandre; Mérand, Antoine

2013-02-01

Circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) have been detected around many Cepheids, first based on long-baseline interferometry, and now also using other observing techniques. These envelopes are particularly interesting for two reasons: their presence could impact the Cepheid distance scale, and they may be valuable tracers of stellar mass loss. Here we focus on their potential impact on the calibration of the Cepheid distance scale. We consider the photometric contribution of the envelopes in the visible, near-, and thermal-infrared domains. We conclude that the impact of CSEs on the apparent luminosities of Cepheids is negligible at visible wavelengths and generally weak (<5%) in the near-infrared (λ ~ 2 μm). In the thermal-infrared domain (λ ~ 8 μm), the flux contribution of the CSEs differs depending on the pulsation period: it is relatively weak (<15%) for stars with periods shorter than P ~ 10 days, but can reach ~ 30% for long-period Cepheids. We specifically discuss the long-period Galactic Cepheid RS Puppis, which exhibits a very large circumstellar, dusty envelope, and we conclude that this is not a representative case. Overall, the contribution of CSEs to the usual period-luminosity relations (from the visible to the K band) is mostly negligible. They could affect calibrations at longer wavelengths, although the presence of envelopes may have been partially taken into account in the existing empirical calibrations.

First VLTI/MIDI observations of a Be star: Alpha Arae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chesneau, O.; Meilland, A.; Rivinius, T.; Stee, Ph.; Jankov, S.; Domiciano de Souza, A.; Graser, U.; Herbst, T.; Janot-Pacheco, E.; Koehler, R.; Leinert, C.; Morel, S.; Paresce, F.; Richichi, A.; Robbe-Dubois, S.

2005-05-01

We present the first VLTI/MIDI observations of the Be star alpha Ara (HD 158 427), showing a nearly unresolved circumstellar disk in the N band. The interferometric measurements made use of the UT1 and UT3 telescopes. The projected baselines were 102 and 74 meters with position angles of 7 ° and 55°, respectively. These measurements put an upper limit on the envelope size in the N band under the uniform disk approximation of φmax= 4±1.5 mas, corresponding to 14 R*, assuming R*=4.8 R⊙ and the Hipparcos distance of 74 pc. On the other hand the disk density must be large enough to produce the observed strong Balmer line emission. In order to estimate the possible circumstellar and stellar parameters we have used the SIMECA code developed by Stee et al. (1995, A&A, 300, 219) and Stee & Bittar (2001, A&A, 367, 532). Optical spectra taken with the échelle instrument Heros and the ESO-50 cm telescope, as well as infrared ones from the 1.6m Brazilian telescope were used together with the MIDI spectra and visibilities. These observations place complementary constraints on the density and geometry of the alpha Ara circumstellar disk. We discuss the potential truncation of the disk by a companion and we present spectroscopic indications of a periodic perturbation of some Balmer lines.

First detection of 3He+ in the planetary nebula IC 418

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guzman-Ramirez, L.; Rizzo, J. R.; Zijlstra, A. A.; García-Miró, C.; Morisset, C.; Gray, M. D.

2016-07-01

The 3He isotope is important to many fields of astrophysics, including stellar evolution, chemical evolution, and cosmology. The isotope is produced in low-mass stars which evolve through the planetary nebula (PN) phase. 3He abundances in PNe can help test models of the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. We present the detection of the 3He+ emission line using the single dish Deep Space Station 63, towards the PN IC 418. We derived a 3He/H abundance in the range 1.74 ± 0.8 × 10-3 to 5.8 ± 1.7 × 10-3, depending on whether part of the line arises in an outer ionized halo. The lower value for 3He/H ratio approaches values predicted by stellar models which include thermohaline mixing, but requires that large amounts of 3He are produced inside low-mass stars which enrich the interstellar medium (ISM). However, this overpredicts the 3He abundance in H II regions, the ISM, and protosolar grains, which is known to be of the order of 10-5. This discrepancy questions our understanding of the evolution of the 3He, from circumstellar environments to the ISM.

Type IA Supernovae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wheeler, J. Craig

1992-01-01

Spectral calculations show that a model based on the thermonuclear explosion of a degenerate carbon/oxygen white dwarf provides excellent agreement with observations of Type Ia supernovae. Identification of suitable evolutionary progenitors remains a severe problem. General problems with estimation of supernova rates are outlined and the origin of Type Ia supernovae from double degenerate systems are discussed in the context of new rates of explosion per H band luminosity, the lack of observed candidates, and the likely presence of H in the vicinity of some SN Ia events. Re-examination of the problems of triggering Type Ia by accretion of hydrogen from a companion shows that there may be an avenue involving cataclysmic variables, especially if extreme hibernation occurs. Novae may channel accreting white dwarfs to a unique locus in accretion rate/mass space. Systems that undergo secular evolution to higher mass transfer rates could lead to just the conditions necessary for a Type Ia explosion. Tests involving fluorescence or absorption in a surrounding circumstellar medium and the detection of hydrogen stripped from a companion, which should appear at low velocity inside the white dwarf ejecta, are suggested. Possible observational confirmation of the former is described.

Laboratory Studies Of Astrophysically-interesting Phosphorus-bearing Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziurys, Lucy M.; Halfen, D. T.; Sun, M.; Clouthier, D. J.

2009-05-01

Over the past year, there has been a renewed interest in the presence of phosphorus-containing molecules in the interstellar medium. Recent observations have increased the number of known interstellar phosphorus-bearing species from two (PN, CP) to six with the identification of HCP, CCP, and PH3 in the carbon-rich circumstellar shell of IRC+10216 and PO in the oxygen-rich envelope of VY Canis Majoris. More species of this type may be present in the ISM, but laboratory rest frequencies, necessary for such detections, are not generally known for many potential molecules. To fill in this gap, we have been conducting measurements of the pure rotational spectra of phosphorus-containing molecules of astrophysical interest, using both millimeter/submm direct absorption and Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy. We have developed a new phosphorus source for this purpose. These methods cover the frequency ranges 65-850 GHz and 4-40 GHz, respectively. Our recent study of the CCP radical (X2Πr) using both of these techniques has resulted in its identification in IRC+10216. Rotational spectra of other molecules such as PCN, HPS, and CH3PH2 have been recorded. We will report on these species and additional new laboratory developments

The evolution of organic matter in space.

PubMed

Ehrenfreund, Pascale; Spaans, Marco; Holm, Nils G

2011-02-13

Carbon, and molecules made from it, have already been observed in the early Universe. During cosmic time, many galaxies undergo intense periods of star formation, during which heavy elements like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, silicon and iron are produced. Also, many complex molecules, from carbon monoxide to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are detected in these systems, like they are for our own Galaxy. Interstellar molecular clouds and circumstellar envelopes are factories of complex molecular synthesis. A surprisingly high number of molecules that are used in contemporary biochemistry on the Earth are found in the interstellar medium, planetary atmospheres and surfaces, comets, asteroids and meteorites and interplanetary dust particles. Large quantities of extra-terrestrial material were delivered via comets and asteroids to young planetary surfaces during the heavy bombardment phase. Monitoring the formation and evolution of organic matter in space is crucial in order to determine the prebiotic reservoirs available to the early Earth. It is equally important to reveal abiotic routes to prebiotic molecules in the Earth environments. Materials from both carbon sources (extra-terrestrial and endogenous) may have contributed to biochemical pathways on the Earth leading to life's origin. The research avenues discussed also guide us to extend our knowledge to other habitable worlds.

Laboratory Measurements of Solar-Wind/Comet X-Ray Emission and Charge Exchange Cross Sections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chutjian, A.; Cadez, I.; Greenwood, J. B.; Mawhorter, R. J.; Smith, S. J.; Lozano, J.

2002-01-01

The detection of X-rays from comets such as Hyakutake, Hale-Bopp, d Arrest, and Linear as they approach the Sun has been unexpected and exciting. This phenomenon, moreover, should be quite general, occurring wherever a fast solar or stellar wind interacts with neutrals in a comet, a planetary atmosphere, or a circumstellar cloud. The process is, O(+8) + H2O --> O(+7*) + H2O(+), where the excited O(+7*) ions are the source of the X-ray emissions. Detailed modeling has been carried out of X-ray emissions in charge-transfer collisions of heavy solar-wind Highly Charged Ions (HCIs) and interstellar/interplanetary neutral clouds. In the interplanetary medium the solar wind ions, including protons, can charge exchange with interstellar H and He. This can give rise to a soft X-ray background that could be correlated with the long-term enhancements seen in the low-energy X-ray spectrum of ROSAT. Approximately 40% of the soft X-ray background detected by Exosat, ROSAT, Chandra, etc. is due to Charge Exchange (CXE): our whole heliosphere is glowing in the soft X-ray due to CXE.

Interacting supernovae from photoionization-confined shells around red supergiant stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mackey, Jonathan; Mohamed, Shazrene; Gvaramadze, Vasilii V.; Kotak, Rubina; Langer, Norbert; Meyer, Dominique M.-A.; Moriya, Takashi J.; Neilson, Hilding R.

2014-08-01

Betelgeuse, a nearby red supergiant, is a fast-moving star with a powerful stellar wind that drives a bow shock into its surroundings. This picture has been challenged by the discovery of a dense and almost static shell that is three times closer to the star than the bow shock and has been decelerated by some external force. The two physically distinct structures cannot both be formed by the hydrodynamic interaction of the wind with the interstellar medium. Here we report that a model in which Betelgeuse's wind is photoionized by radiation from external sources can explain the static shell without requiring a new understanding of the bow shock. Pressure from the photoionized wind generates a standing shock in the neutral part of the wind and forms an almost static, photoionization-confined shell. Other red supergiants should have much more massive shells than Betelgeuse, because the photoionization-confined shell traps up to 35 per cent of all mass lost during the red supergiant phase, confining this gas close to the star until it explodes. After the supernova explosion, massive shells dramatically affect the supernova light curve, providing a natural explanation for the many supernovae that have signatures of circumstellar interaction.

Interacting supernovae from photoionization-confined shells around red supergiant stars.

PubMed

Mackey, Jonathan; Mohamed, Shazrene; Gvaramadze, Vasilii V; Kotak, Rubina; Langer, Norbert; Meyer, Dominique M-A; Moriya, Takashi J; Neilson, Hilding R

2014-08-21

Betelgeuse, a nearby red supergiant, is a fast-moving star with a powerful stellar wind that drives a bow shock into its surroundings. This picture has been challenged by the discovery of a dense and almost static shell that is three times closer to the star than the bow shock and has been decelerated by some external force. The two physically distinct structures cannot both be formed by the hydrodynamic interaction of the wind with the interstellar medium. Here we report that a model in which Betelgeuse's wind is photoionized by radiation from external sources can explain the static shell without requiring a new understanding of the bow shock. Pressure from the photoionized wind generates a standing shock in the neutral part of the wind and forms an almost static, photoionization-confined shell. Other red supergiants should have much more massive shells than Betelgeuse, because the photoionization-confined shell traps up to 35 per cent of all mass lost during the red supergiant phase, confining this gas close to the star until it explodes. After the supernova explosion, massive shells dramatically affect the supernova light curve, providing a natural explanation for the many supernovae that have signatures of circumstellar interaction.

Measurements of Amplified Magnetic Field and Cosmic-Ray Content in Supernova Remnants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchiyama, Yasunobu

Supernova explosions drive collisionless shocks in the interstellar (or circumstellar) medium. Such shocks are mediated by plasma waves, resulting in the shock transition on a scale much smaller than the collisional mean free path. Galactic cosmic rays are widely considered to be accelerated at collisionless shocks in supernova remnants via diffusive shock acceleration. New high-energy data coming from the X-ray and gamma-ray satellites and from imaging air Cerenkov telescopes are making possible to study physics of particle acceleration at supernova shocks, such as magnetic field amplification which is considered to be realized as part of shock acceleration process and the energy content of cosmic-ray particles in the supernova shell. In particular, GeV observations with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope offer the prime means to establish the origin of the gamma-rays, and to measure the cosmic-ray content. Moreover they provide a new opportunity to learn about how particle acceleration responds to environ-mental effects. I will present recent observational results from the Chandra and Suzaku X-ray satellites and new results from the LAT onboard Fermi, and discuss their implications to the origin of galactic cosmic rays.

Dust in Supernovae and Supernova Remnants II: Processing and Survival

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micelotta, E. R.; Matsuura, M.; Sarangi, A.

2018-03-01

Observations have recently shown that supernovae are efficient dust factories, as predicted for a long time by theoretical models. The rapid evolution of their stellar progenitors combined with their efficiency in precipitating refractory elements from the gas phase into dust grains make supernovae the major potential suppliers of dust in the early Universe, where more conventional sources like Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars did not have time to evolve. However, dust yields inferred from observations of young supernovae or derived from models do not reflect the net amount of supernova-condensed dust able to be expelled from the remnants and reach the interstellar medium. The cavity where the dust is formed and initially resides is crossed by the high velocity reverse shock which is generated by the pressure of the circumstellar material shocked by the expanding supernova blast wave. Depending on grain composition and initial size, processing by the reverse shock may lead to substantial dust erosion and even complete destruction. The goal of this review is to present the state of the art about processing and survival of dust inside supernova remnants, in terms of theoretical modelling and comparison to observations.

A Search for Circumstellar Gas-Disk Variability in F-type Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adkins, Ally; Montgomery, Sharon Lynn; Welsh, Barry

2018-01-01

Over the past six years, short-term (night-to-night) variability in the CaII K-line (3933Å) absorption has been detected towards 22 rapidly-rotating A-type stars, all but four of them discovered by us. Most of these stars are young (age < 100 million years) and possess dusty debris disks as evidenced by their infrared excesses. The variability is thought to be due to kilometer-sized planetesimals (i.e., exocomets) that release gas during their catastrophic in-falls towards their central star. To expand the relatively small number of systems showing this type of variability, we conducted a search amongst nearby, rapidly-rotating, F-type stars. Here, we present high signal-to-noise, medium-resolution spectral observations of the CaII K-line absorption (R≈60,000) recorded towards seven F-type stars. Six of these stars were observed multiple times over the course of our seven-night run on the 2.1-meter Otto Struve Telescope (McDonald Observatory) during June 2017. The appearance or absence of similar short-lived, Doppler-shifted absorption in F-type stars serves as a test of our understanding of the underlying phenomena.

Upgraded Hubble Space Telescope Images

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-09-08

U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., left foreground, NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, center, and NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, right, along with members of the STS-125 and STS-31 space shuttle crews listen during a press conference where NASA unveiled new images from the Hubble Space Telescope Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The unveiled images were from four of the telescopes' six operating science instruments. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The universe unveiled : instruments and images through history

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stephenson, Bruce; Bolt, Marvin; Friedman, Anna Felicity

2000-11-01

The search for understanding creates more than answers; it also produces instruments, books, maps, and other tools made and used by those seeking knowledge. The Universe Unveiled uniquely focuses on these artifacts and devices resulting from the attempts to decipher the Universe from the late fifteenth to the early twentieth century. Beautiful, full-color photographs capture these extremely rare and sometimes unusual curios. Beginning with the discovery of ways to keep time, The Universe Unveiled depicts the shift from an Earth-centered understanding of the Universe to a Sun-centered view, the mapping of the stars, and the ever-expanding knowledge of the heavens using telescopes. It also examines the developing technologies of navigation and of the measuring and mapping of the Earth. In addition to rare European curios, the book is illustrated with non-Western and American works. With more than 250 full-color images, this unique volume will delight the inventive as well as the curious.

The possible nature of socket stars in H II regions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Castelaz, Michael W.

1990-01-01

Close inspection of faint stars (V of about 14 mag) in H II regions show that they appear to be surrounded by circumstellar envelopes of about 10 arcsecs in diameter (as reported by Feibelman in 1989). The present premise is that the sockets are envelopes of obscuring dust which should emit a measurable amount of infrared radiation based on a simple thermal equilibrium model. A search of literature shows that, of 36 socket stars listed by Feibelman, 17 have been measured in the infrared. Of the 17, 14 show excess IR emission. This is very strong evidence that the socket stars are really stars with circumstellar envelopes. Socket stars may be a new type of astronomical object or well-known astronomical objects in environments or evolutionary states not previously seen.

Creating Compositionally-Driven Debris Disk Dust Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmerman, Mara; Jang-Condell, Hannah; Schneider, Glenn; Chen, Christine; Stark, Chris

2018-06-01

Debris disks play a key role in exoplanet research; planetary formation and composition can be inferred from the nature of the circumstellar disk. In order to characterize the properties of the circumstellar dust, we create models of debris disks in order to find the composition. We apply Mie theory to calculate the dust absorption and emission within debris disks. We have data on nine targets from Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescope. The Spitzer data includes mid-IR spectroscopy and photometry. We have spatially-resolved optical and near-IR images of the disks from HST. Our goal is to compare this data to the model. By using a model that fits for photometric and mid-IR datasimultaneously, we gain a deeper understanding of the structure and composition of the debris disk systems.

Coronagraphic imaging of circumstellar material around evolved massive stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lomax, Jamie R.; Levesque, Emily; Wisniewski, John

2018-01-01

While many astronomical subfields (e.g. the solar, exoplanet, and disk communities) have been using coronagraphy to combat contrast ratio problems for years, the use of coronagraphic imaging techniques to probe the circumstellar environments of massive stars has been surprisingly underutilized. While current extreme adaptive optics coronagraphic imaging systems (e.g. GPI on Gemini South, SPHERE at the VLT, and SCExAO at Subaru) were built for the sole purpose of detecting exoplanets, their ability to provide large contrast ratios and small inner working angles means they can detect gas, dust, and companions that are closer to the central star than ever before. In this poster we present pilot studies of evolved massive stars using several coronagraphic imaging systems and summarize potential science gains this technique might provide.

The Spectropolarimetric Evolution of V838 Mon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wisniewski, John P.

2007-01-01

I review photo-polarimetric and spectropolarimetric observations of V838 Mon, which revealed that it had an asymmetrical inner circumstellar envelope following its 2nd photometric outburst. Electron scattering, modified by preor post-scattering H absorption, is the polarizing mechanism in V838 Mon's envelope. The simplest geometry implied by these observations is that of a spheroidal shell, flattened by at least 20% and having a projected position angle on the sky of approx. 37 degrees. Analysis of V838 Mon's polarized flux reveals that this electron scattering shell lies interior to the envelope region in which Halpha and Ca II triplet emission originates. To date, none of the theoretical models proposed for V838 Mon have demonstrated that they can reproduce the evolution of V838 Mon's inner circumstellar environment, as probed by spectropolarimetry.

Laboratory Rotational Spectroscopy in the Era of ALMA: Applications to Disks and Circumstellar Outflows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziurys, Lucy M.; McCarthy, Michael C.; Stancil, Phillip C.; Halfen, DeWayne; Burton, Mark; Gottlieb, Carl A.; Lee, Kelvin

2018-06-01

The enormous leap in sensitivity and angular resolution offered by the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) has revealed the presence of ever greater chemical complexity in astronomical sources, with an increasing number of unidentified lines. The need for supporting laboratory spectroscopy has become more urgent to fully exploit the scientific impact of ALMA. Rotational transition measurements are particularly important in this regard, as are the evaluation of line strengths, collisional cross sections, and dipole moments. Here we present new spectroscopic data concerning a wide range of potential interstellar and circumstellar molecules, including silicon and metal-bearing species, lines arising from vibrationally-excited molecules, and supporting theoretical calculations. Recent work concerning AlC2, KO, and vibrationally-excited AlO will be presented.

Recent results from the SIMECA code and VLTI observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meilland, A.; Stee, Ph.

We present recent results on active hot stars using the first VLTI/MIDI and VLTI/AMBER observations, and the SIMECA code developed by Stee (1994). α Arae was the first classical Be star observed with MIDI (June 2003) and AMBER (February 2005). The size of its circumstellar envelope was measured and thanks to the spectrally-resolved interferometric AMBER observations, we were able, for the first time to evidence the Keplerian rotation of the circumstellar disc. MWC 297 is one of the brightest Herbig Be star, and it was then observed during the first commissioning run of AMBER in May 2004. The data obtained were good enough to allow us to infer the accretion disc extension, as well as to put strong constraints on the stellar wind geometry and kinematics.

Peculiarities of the circumstellar envelopes of some Herbig Ae/Be stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pogodin, M. A.

1985-10-01

The results of a spectral and photometric investigation of nine Herbig Ae/Be stars in the visible region of the spectrum in the period from 1978 to 1982 are presented. Certain physical and kinematic parameters of the circumstellar envelopes of the investigated objects are determined on the basis of the observational material obtained and Sobolev's (1947) probabilistic method for moving envelopes. It is shown that the observed spectral characteristics of the envelopes of Herbig Ae/Be stars and their variability can be explained by using models of extended isothermal envelopes with varying structural-kinematic parameters. The existence of a correlation between the amount of dust IR excess and the presence of signs of H2O absorption in the spectra of the investigated objects is noted.

A Model of Silicate Grain Nucleation and Growth in Circumstellar Outflows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paquette, John A.; Ferguson, Frank T.; Nuth, Joseph A., III

2011-01-01

Based on its abundance, high bond energy, and recent measurements of its vapor pressure SiO is a natural candidate for dust nucleation in circumstellar outflows around asymptotic giant branch stars. In this paper, we describe a model of the nucleation and growth of silicate dust in such outflows. The sensitivity of the model to varying choices of poorly constrained chemical parameters is explored, and the merits of using scaled rather than classical nucleation theory are briefly considered, An elaboration of the model that includes magnesium and iron as growth species is then presented and discussed. The composition of the bulk of the grains derived from the model is consistent with olivines and pyroxenes, but somewhat metal-rich grains and very small, nearly pure SiO grains are also produced,

An interferometric study of the post-AGB binary 89 Herculis. I. Spatially resolving the continuum circumstellar environment at optical and near-IR wavelengths with the VLTI, NPOI, IOTA, PTI, and the CHARA Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hillen, M.; Verhoelst, T.; Van Winckel, H.; Chesneau, O.; Hummel, C. A.; Monnier, J. D.; Farrington, C.; Tycner, C.; Mourard, D.; ten Brummelaar, T.; Banerjee, D. P. K.; Zavala, R. T.

2013-11-01

Context. Binary post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) stars are interesting laboratories to study both the evolution of binaries as well as the structure of circumstellar disks. Aims: A multiwavelength high angular resolution study of the prototypical object 89 Herculis is performed with the aim of identifying and locating the different emission components seen in the spectral energy distribution. Methods: A large interferometric data set, collected over the past decade and covering optical and near-infrared wavelengths, is analyzed in combination with the spectral energy distribution and flux-calibrated optical spectra. In this first paper only simple geometric models are applied to fit the interferometric data. Combining the interferometric constraints with the photometry and the optical spectra, we re-assess the energy budget of the post-AGB star and its circumstellar environment. Results: We report the first (direct) detection of a large (35-40%) optical circumstellar flux contribution and spatially resolve its emission region. Given this large amount of reprocessed and/or redistributed optical light, the fitted size of the emission region is rather compact and fits with(in) the inner rim of the circumbinary dust disk. This rim dominates our K band data through thermal emission and is rather compact, emitting significantly already at a radius of twice the orbital separation. We interpret the circumstellar optical flux as due to a scattering process, with the scatterers located in the extremely puffed-up inner rim of the disk and possibly also in a bipolar outflow seen pole-on. A non-local thermodynamic equilibrium gaseous origin in an inner disk cannot be excluded but is considered highly unlikely. Conclusions: This direct detection of a significant amount of circumbinary light at optical wavelengths poses several significant questions regarding our understanding of both post-AGB binaries and the physics in their circumbinary disks. Although the identification of the source of emission/scattering remains inconclusive without further study on this and similar objects, the implications are manifold. Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under program ID 079.D-0013 and 089.D-0576.Figures 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and Table 5 are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.orgFITS files of the calibrated visibilities are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/559/A111

Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA

NASA Image and Video Library

2007-05-21

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of aviator Charles Lindbergh, unveiled a plaque commemorating his grandfather on the 80th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. The event was a dedication of the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory that is beginning test flights in preparation for conducting world-class airborne astronomy. The project is known as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA.

Massive Infrared-Quiet Dense Cores: Unveiling the Initial Conditions of High-Mass Star Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motte, F.; Bontemps, S.; Schneider, N.; Schilke, P.; Menten, K. M.

2008-05-01

As Th. Henning said at the conference, cold precursors of high-mass stars are now ``hot topics''. We here propose some observational criteria to identify massive infrared-quiet dense cores which can host the high-mass analogs of Class~0 protostars and pre-stellar condensations. We also show how far-infrared to millimeter imaging surveys of entire complexes forming OB stars are starting to unveil the initial conditions of high-mass star formation.

The circumstellar disk response to the motion of the host star

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Regály, Zs.; Vorobyov, E.

2017-05-01

Context. Grid-based hydrodynamics simulations of circumstellar disks are often performed in the curvilinear coordinate system, in which the center of the computational domain coincides with the motionless star. However, the center of mass may be shifted from the star due to the presence of any non-axisymmetric mass distribution. As a result, the system exerts a non-zero gravity force on the star, causing the star to move in response, which can in turn affect the evolution of the circumstellar disk. Aims: We aim at studying the effects of stellar motion on the evolution of protostellar and protoplanetary disks. In protostellar disks, a non-axisymmetric distribution of matter in the form of spiral arms and/or massive clumps can form due to gravitational instability. Protoplanetary disks can also feature non-axisymmetric structures caused by an embedded high-mass planet or a large-scale vortex formed at viscosity transitions. Methods: We use 2D grid-based numerical hydrodynamic simulations to explore the effect of stellar motion. We adopt a non-inertial polar coordinate system centered on the star, in which the stellar motion is taken into account by calculating the indirect potential caused by the non-axisymmetric disk, a high-mass planet, or a large-scale vortex. We compare the results of numerical simulations with and without stellar motion. Results: We found that the stellar motion has a moderate effect on the evolution history and the mass accretion rate in protostellar disks, reducing somewhat the disk size and mass, while having a profound effect on the collapsing envelope, changing its inner shape from an initially axisymmetric to a non-axisymmetric configuration. Protoplanetary disk simulations show that the stellar motion slightly reduces the width of the gap opened by a high-mass planet, decreases the planet migration rate, and strengthens the large-scale vortices formed at the viscosity transition. Conclusions: We conclude that the inclusion of the indirect potential is recommended in grid-based hydrodynamics simulations of circumstellar disks which use the curvilinear coordinate system.

INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY OF THE QUIESCENT MEDIUM OF NEARBY CLOUDS. I. ICE FORMATION AND GRAIN GROWTH IN LUPUS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boogert, A. C. A.; Chiar, J. E.; Knez, C.

2013-11-01

Infrared photometry and spectroscopy (1-25 μm) of background stars reddened by the Lupus molecular cloud complex are used to determine the properties of grains and the composition of ices before they are incorporated into circumstellar envelopes and disks. H{sub 2}O ices form at extinctions of A{sub K} = 0.25 ± 0.07 mag (A{sub V} = 2.1 ± 0.6). Such a low ice formation threshold is consistent with the absence of nearby hot stars. Overall, the Lupus clouds are in an early chemical phase. The abundance of H{sub 2}O ice (2.3 ± 0.1 × 10{sup –5} relative to N{sub H}) ismore » typical for quiescent regions, but lower by a factor of three to four compared to dense envelopes of young stellar objects. The low solid CH{sub 3}OH abundance (<3%-8% relative to H{sub 2}O) indicates a low gas phase H/CO ratio, which is consistent with the observed incomplete CO freeze out. Furthermore it is found that the grains in Lupus experienced growth by coagulation. The mid-infrared (>5 μm) continuum extinction relative to A{sub K} increases as a function of A{sub K}. Most Lupus lines of sight are well fitted with empirically derived extinction curves corresponding to R{sub V} ∼ 3.5 (A{sub K} = 0.71) and R{sub V} ∼ 5.0 (A{sub K} = 1.47). For lines of sight with A{sub K} > 1.0 mag, the τ{sub 9.7}/A{sub K} ratio is a factor of two lower compared to the diffuse medium. Below 1.0 mag, values scatter between the dense and diffuse medium ratios. The absence of a gradual transition between diffuse and dense medium-type dust indicates that local conditions matter in the process that sets the τ{sub 9.7}/A{sub K} ratio. This process is likely related to grain growth by coagulation, as traced by the A{sub 7.4}/A{sub K} continuum extinction ratio, but not to ice mantle formation. Conversely, grains acquire ice mantles before the process of coagulation starts.« less

Constraints on the Progenitor of SN 2010jl and Pre-existing Hot Dust in its Surrounding Medium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dwek, Eli; Arendt, Richard G.; Fox, Ori D.; Kelly, Patrick L.; Smith, Nathan; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Filippenko, Alexei, V.; Andrews, Jennifer; Shivvers, Isaac

2017-01-01

A search for the progenitor of SN 2010jl, an unusually luminous core-collapse supernova of Type IIn, using pre-explosion Hubble/WFPC2 and Spitzer/IRAC images of the region, yielded upper limits on the UV and near infrared (IR) fluxes from any candidate star. These upper limits constrain the luminosity and effective temperature of the progenitor, the mass of any pre-existing dust in its surrounding circumstellar medium (CSM), and dust proximity to the star. A lower limit on the CSM dust mass is required to hide a luminous progenitor from detection by Hubble. Upper limits on the CSM dust mass and constraints on its proximity to the star are set by requiring that the absorbed and reradiated IR emission not exceed the IRAC upper limits. Using the combined extinction-IR emission constraints, we present viable M(sub d)-R(sub 1) combinations, where M(sub d) and R(sub 1) are the CSM dust mass and its inner radius. These depend on the CSM outer radius, dust composition and grain size, and the properties of the progenitor. The results constrain the pre-supernova evolution of the progenitor, and the nature and origin of the observed post-explosion IR emission from SN 2010jl. In particular, an eta Car-type progenitor will require at least 4 mag of visual extinction to avoid detection by Hubble. This can be achieved with dust masses greater than approximately equal to 10(exp -3) solar mass (less than the estimated 0.2-0.5 solar mass around eta Car), which must be located at distances of greater than approximately equal to 10(exp 16) cm from the star to avoid detection by Spitzer.

Si K EDGE STRUCTURE AND VARIABILITY IN GALACTIC X-RAY BINARIES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schulz, Norbert S.; Corrales, Lia; Canizares, Claude R.

2016-08-10

We survey the Si K edge structure in various absorbed Galactic low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) to study states of silicon in the inter- and circum-stellar medium. The bulk of these LMXBs lie toward the Galactic bulge region and all have column densities above 10{sup 22} cm{sup −2}. The observations were performed using the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer. The Si K edge in all sources appears at an energy value of 1844 ± 0.001 eV. The edge exhibits significant substructure that can be described by a near edge absorption feature at 1849 ± 0.002 eV and a far edgemore » absorption feature at 1865 ± 0.002 eV. Both of these absorption features appear variable with equivalent widths up to several mÅ. We can describe the edge structure using several components: multiple edge functions, near edge absorption excesses from silicates in dust form, signatures from X-ray scattering optical depths, and a variable warm absorber from ionized atomic silicon. The measured optical depths of the edges indicate much higher values than expected from atomic silicon cross sections and interstellar medium abundances, and they appear consistent with predictions from silicate X-ray absorption and scattering. A comparison with models also indicates a preference for larger dust grain sizes. In many cases, we identify Si xiii resonance absorption and determine ionization parameters between log ξ = 1.8 and 2.8 and turbulent velocities between 300 and 1000 km s{sup −1}. This places the warm absorber in close vicinity of the X-ray binaries. In some data, we observe a weak edge at 1.840 keV, potentially from a lesser contribution of neutral atomic silicon.« less

Radio observations reveal a smooth circumstellar environment around the extraordinary type Ib supernova 2012au

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kamble, Atish; Soderberg, Alicia M.; Margutti, Raffaella

2014-12-10

We present extensive radio and X-ray observations of SN 2012au, an energetic, radio-luminous supernova of Type Ib that exhibits multi-wavelength properties bridging subsets of hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae, hypernovae, and normal core-collapse supernovae. The observations closely follow models of synchrotron emission from a shock-heated circumburst medium that has a wind density profile (ρ∝r {sup –2}). We infer a sub-relativistic velocity for the shock wave v ≈ 0.2 c and a radius of r ≈ 1.4 × 10{sup 16}cm at 25 days after the estimated date of explosion. For a wind velocity of 1000 km s{sup –1}, we determine the mass-loss ratemore » of the progenitor to be M-dot =3.6×10{sup −6} M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}, consistent with the estimates from X-ray observations. We estimate the total internal energy of the radio-emitting material to be E ≈ 10{sup 47} erg, which is intermediate to SN 1998bw and SN 2002ap. The evolution of the radio light curve of SN 2012au is in agreement with its interaction with a smoothly distributed circumburst medium and the absence of stellar shells ejected from previous outbursts out to r ≈ 10{sup 17} cm from the supernova site. We conclude that the bright radio emission from SN 2012au was not dissimilar from other core-collapse supernovae despite its extraordinary optical properties, and that the evolution of the SN 2012au progenitor star was relatively quiet, marked with a steady mass loss, during the final years preceding explosion.« less

Spectroscopy of neutral and ionized PAHs. From laboratory studies to astronomical observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salama, Farid

2005-01-01

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important and ubiquitous component of carbon-bearing materials in space. PAHs are the best-known candidates to account for the IR emission bands (UIR bands) and PAH spectral features are now being used as new probes of the ISM. PAHs are also thought to be among the carriers of the diffuse interstellar absorption bands (DIBs). In the model dealing with the interstellar spectral features, PAHs are present as a mixture of radicals, ions and neutral species. PAH ionization states reflect the ionization balance of the medium while PAH size, composition, and structure reflect the energetic and chemical history of the medium. A major challenge for laboratory astrochemistry is to reproduce (in a realistic way) the physical conditions that are associated with the emission and absorption interstellar zones. An extensive laboratory program has been developed at NASA Ames to assess the physical and chemical properties of PAHs in such environments and to describe how they influence the radiation and energy balance in space and the interstellar chemistry. PAHs, neutrals and ions, are expanded through a pulsed discharge nozzle (PDN) and probed with high-sensitivity cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS). These laboratory experiments provide unique information on the spectra of free, cold large carbon molecules and ions in the gas phase from the ultraviolet and visible range to the near-infrared range. Intrinsic band profiles and band positions of cold gas-phase PAHs can now be measured with high-sensitivity spectroscopy and directly compared to the astronomical data. Preliminary conclusions from the comparison of the laboratory data with astronomical observations of interstellar and circumstellar environments will also be discussed.

ISM Dust Grains and N-band Spectral Variability in the Spatially Resolved Subarcsecond Binary UY Aur

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skemer, Andrew J.; Close, Laird M.; Hinz, Philip M.; Hoffmann, William F.; Greene, Thomas P.; Males, Jared R.; Beck, Tracy L.

2010-03-01

The 10 μm silicate feature is an essential diagnostic of dust-grain growth and planet formation in young circumstellar disks. The Spitzer Space Telescope has revolutionized the study of this feature, but due to its small (85 cm) aperture, it cannot spatially resolve small/medium-separation binaries (lsim3''; <~ 420 AU) at the distances of the nearest star-forming regions (~140 pc). Large, 6-10 m ground-based telescopes with mid-infrared instruments can resolve these systems. In this paper, we spatially resolve the 0farcs88 binary, UY Aur, with MMTAO/BLINC-MIRAC4 mid-infrared spectroscopy. We then compare our spectra to Spitzer/IRS (unresolved) spectroscopy, and resolved images from IRTF/MIRAC2, Keck/OSCIR, and Gemini/Michelle, which were taken over the past decade. We find that UY Aur A has extremely pristine, interstellar medium (ISM)-like grains and that UY Aur B has an unusually shaped silicate feature, which is probably the result of blended emission and absorption from foreground extinction in its disk. We also find evidence for variability in both UY Aur A and UY Aur B by comparing synthetic photometry from our spectra with resolved imaging from previous epochs. The photometric variability of UY Aur A could be an indication that the silicate emission itself is variable, as was recently found in EX Lupi. Otherwise, the thermal continuum is variable, and either the ISM-like dust has never evolved, or it is being replenished, perhaps by UY Aur's circumbinary disk. The observations reported here were partially obtained at the Infrared Telescope Facility, which is operated by the University of Hawaii under Cooperative Agreement no. NCC 5-538 with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science Mission Directorate, Planetary Astronomy Program.

AirSAR 2004 plaque unveiling by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and Fernando Gutierrez, Costa Rican Minister of Science and Technology(MICIT)

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-03-03

AirSAR 2004 Mesoamerica plaque unveiling by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and Fernando Gutierrez, Costa Rican Minister of Science and Technology(MICIT). AirSAR 2004 Mesoamerica is a three-week expedition by an international team of scientists that will use an all-weather imaging tool, called the Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AirSAR), in a mission ranging from the tropical rain forests of Central America to frigid Antarctica.

Interrelationships between interstellar and interplanetary grains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clayton, D. D.

1986-01-01

The relationship between solar system dust (SSD) and interstellar dust particles (ISMD) is being reconsidered because of the discovery of isotopic anomalies in meteorites. Meteoritic, circumstellar/meteoritic, interstellar/meteoritic, planetary, and cometary data are reviewed.

Metastable Eutectic Equilibrium in Natural Environments: Recent Developments and Research Opportunities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rietmeijer, Fans J. M.; Nuth, Joseph A., II; Jablonska, Mariola; Karner, James M.

2000-01-01

Chemical ordering at metastable eutectics was recognized in non-equilibrium gas-to- solid condensation experiments to constrain 'silicate' dust formation in O-rich circumstellar environments. The predictable metastable eutectic behavior successfully predicted the observed ferromagnesiosilica, compositions of circumstellar dust, presolar and solar nebula grains in the matrix of the collected aggregate IDPs. Many of the experimentally determined metastable eutectic solids match the fundamental building blocks of common rock-forming layer silicates: this could have implications for the origin of Life. The physical conditions conducive to metastable eutectic behavior, i.e. high temperature and (ultra)fast quenching, lead to unique amorphous, typically nano- to micrometer-sized, materials. The new paradigm of metastable eutectic behavior opens the door to new and exciting research opportunities in uncovering the many implications of these unique amorphous and typically nano- to micrometer-sized, metastable eutectic materials.

The Spectropolarimetric Evolution of V838 Monocerotis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wisniewski, John P.

2006-01-01

I review photo-polarimetric and spectropolarimetric observations of V838 Mon, which revealed that it had an asymmetrical inner circumstellar envelope following its 2nd photometric outburst. Electron scattering, modified by pre- or post-scattering H absorption, is the polarizing mechanism in V838 Mon's envelope. The simplest geometry implied by these observations is that of a spheroidal shell, flattened by at least 10% and having a projected position angle on the sky of approx.37deg. Analysis of V838 Mon's polarized flux reveals that this electron scattering shell lies interior to the envelope region in which Ha and Ca I1 triplet emission originates. To date, none of the theoretical models proposed for V838 Mon have demonstrated that they can reproduce the evolution of V838 Mon's inner circumstellar environment, as probed by spectropolarimetry.

The possible nature of socket stars in H II regions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Castelaz, M.W.

1990-01-01

Close inspection of faint stars (V of about 14 mag) in H II regions show that they appear to be surrounded by circumstellar envelopes of about 10 arcsecs in diameter (as reported by Feibelman in 1989). The present premise is that the sockets are envelopes of obscuring dust which should emit a measurable amount of infrared radiation based on a simple thermal equilibrium model. A search of literature shows that, of 36 socket stars listed by Feibelman, 17 have been measured in the infrared. Of the 17, 14 show excess IR emission. This is very strong evidence that the socketmore » stars are really stars with circumstellar envelopes. Socket stars may be a new type of astronomical object or well-known astronomical objects in environments or evolutionary states not previously seen. 22 refs.« less

Estrellas asociadas con planetas extrasolares vs. estrellas de tipo β Pictoris

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chavero, C.; Gómez, M.

In this contribution we initially confront physical properties of two groups of stars: the Planet Host Stars and the Vega-like objects. The Planet Host Star group has one or more planet mass object associated and the Vega-like stars have circumstellar disks. We have compiled magnitudes, colors, parallaxes, spectral types, etc. for these objects from the literature and analyzed the distribution of both groups. We find that the samples are very similar in metallicities, ages, and spatial distributions. Our analysis suggests that the circumstellar environments are probably different while the central objects have similar physical properties. This difference may explain, at least in part, why the Planet Host Stars form extra-solar planetary objects such as those detected by the Doppler effect while the Vega-like objects are not commonly associated with these planet-mass bodies.

Modeling Spectral Variations of Dusty Circumstellar Envelopes During Microlensing Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bunker, Christina; Ignace, R.; Bjorkman, J. E.

2007-12-01

Microlensing surveys have proven to be tremendously fruitful in providing valuable data products for many fields of astrophysics, from eclipse lightcurves for substellar candidates to limb darkening in stellar atmospheres. We report on a program of modeling observables from microlensing of circumstellar envelopes, particularly those of red giant stars that are the most likely to show finite source effects. Recent modeling results for the time dependent spectral energy distributions from microlensing of dusty winds are presented. In effect, wavelength-dependent continuum variations that occur as the lens-star separation changes can provide information about the emissivity distribution of dust in the wind. This project was funded by a partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF AST-0552798), Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), and the Department of Defense (DoD) ASSURE (Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences) programs.

Heating the Primordial Soup: X-raying the Circumstellar Disk of RY Lupi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Principe, David

2015-09-01

X-ray irradiation of circumstellar disks plays a vital role in their chemical evolution yet few high resolution X-ray observations exist characterizing both the disk-illuminating radiation field and the soft energy spectrum absorbed by the disk. We propose HETG spectroscopic observations of RY Lupi, a rare example of a nearly edge-on, actively accreting star-disk system within 150 pc. We aim to take advantage of its unique viewing geometry with the goals of (a) determining the intrinsic X-ray spectrum of the central pre-MS star so as to establish whether its X-ray emission can be attributed to accretion shocks or coronal emission, and (b) model the spectrum of X-rays absorbed by its gaseous disk. These results will serve as essential input to models of irradiated, planet-forming disks.

High-Resolution Optical and Near-Infrared Imaging of Young Circumstellar Disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McCaughrean, Mark; Stapelfeldt, Karl; Close, Laird

2000-01-01

In the past five years, observations at optical and near-infrared wavelengths obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based adaptive optics have provided the first well-resolved images of young circumstellar disks which may form planetary systems. We review these two observational techniques and highlight their results by presenting prototype examples of disks imaged in the Taurus-Auriga and Orion star-forming regions. As appropriate, we discuss the disk parameters that may be typically derived from the observations, as well as the implications that the observations may have on our understanding of, for example, the role of the ambient environment in shaping the disk evolution. We end with a brief summary of the prospects for future improvements in space- and ground-based optical/IR imaging techniques, and how they may impact disk studies.

The polarization signature from the circumstellar disks of classical Be stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halonen, R. J.; Jones, C. E.

2012-05-01

The scattering of light in the nonspherical circumstellar envelopes of classical Be stars produces distinct polarimetric properties that can be used to investigate the physical nature of the scattering environment. Both the continuum and emission line polarization are potentially important diagnostic tools in the modeling of these systems. We combine the use of a new multiple scattering code with an established non-LTE radiative transfer code to study the characteristic wavelength-dependence of the intrinsic polarization of classical Be stars. We construct models using realistic chemical composition and self-consistent calculations of the thermal structure of the disk, and then determine the fraction of emergent polarized light. In particular, the aim of this theoretical research project is to investigate the effect of gas density and metallicity on the observed polarization properties of classical Be stars.

PAH formation in carbon-rich circumstellar envelopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feigelson, Eric D.; Frenklach, Michael

1989-01-01

While there is growing observational evidence that some fraction of interstellar carbon is in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's), the mechanisms by which these molecules might be formed have not been extensively studied. A detailed investigation of PAH production in the outflowing molecular envelopes of carbon-rich red giant star is presented. The gasphase kinetics of a chemical reaction mechanism developed to study soot production in hydrocarbon flames is modified to apply in circumstellar environments. It was found that astrophysically significant quantities of PAH's can be formed in carbon star envelopes provided the gas is sufficiently dense and resides for a long time in the temperature range of 900 to 1100 k. The precise yield of PAH's is very sensitive to astronomical parameters of the envelope (e.g., mass loss rate, outflow velocity, and acetylene abundance) and certain poorly determined chemical reaction rates.

Shifting of the resonance location for planets embedded in circumstellar disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marzari, F.

2018-03-01

Context. In the early evolution of a planetary system, a pair of planets may be captured in a mean motion resonance while still embedded in their nesting circumstellar disk. Aims: The goal is to estimate the direction and amount of shift in the semimajor axis of the resonance location due to the disk gravity as a function of the gas density and mass of the planets. The stability of the resonance lock when the disk dissipates is also tested. Methods: The orbital evolution of a large number of systems is numerically integrated within a three-body problem in which the disk potential is computed as a series of expansion. This is a good approximation, at least over a limited amount of time. Results: Two different resonances are studied: the 2:1 and the 3:2. In both cases the shift is inwards, even if by a different amount, when the planets are massive and carve a gap in the disk. For super-Earths, the shift is instead outwards. Different disk densities, Σ, are considered and the resonance shift depends almost linearly on Σ. The gas dissipation leads to destabilization of a significant number of resonant systems, in particular if it is fast. Conclusions: The presence of a massive circumstellar disk may significantly affect the resonant behavior of a pair of planets by shifting the resonant location and by decreasing the size of the stability region. The disk dissipation may explain some systems found close to a resonance but not locked in it.

The Arizona Radio Observatory 1 mm Spectral Survey of IRC +10216 and VY Canis Majoris (215-285 GHz)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tenenbaum, E. D.; Dodd, J. L.; Milam, S. N.; Woolf, N. J.; Ziurys, L. M.

2010-10-01

A low noise (1σ rms ~ 3 mK) 1 mm spectral survey (214.5-285.5 GHz) of the oxygen-rich supergiant VY Canis Majoris and the carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch star IRC +10216 has been conducted using the Arizona Radio Observatory's 10 m Submillimeter Telescope. Here the complete data set is presented. This study, carried out with a new ALMA-type receiver, marks the first continuous band scan of an O-rich circumstellar envelope, and the most sensitive survey to date of IRC +10216. In VY CMa, 130 distinct molecular lines were detected, 14 of which cannot be identified; in IRC +10216, 717 lines were observed, with 126 features remaining unidentified. In the 1 mm bands of VY CMa and IRC +10216, emission is present from 18 and 32 different chemical compounds, respectively, with 10 species common to both sources. Many narrow emission lines were observed in both circumstellar shells, arising from vibrationally excited molecules and from refractory-containing species. Line profiles in VY CMa also exhibit a variety of different shapes, caused by the complex, asymmetric outflow of this object. The survey highlights the fact that C-rich and O-rich circumstellar envelopes are chemically interesting, and both are sources of new interstellar molecules. The high number of unidentified lines and the unreliable rest frequencies for known species such as NaCN indicate the need for additional laboratory spectroscopy studies.

Transmission Electron Microscopy of Al-rich Silicate Stardust from Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vollmer, Christian; Hoppe, Peter; Brenker, Frank E.

2013-05-01

We report on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations of two mineralogically unusual stardust silicates to constrain their circumstellar condensation conditions. Both grains were identified by high spatial resolution nano secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) in the Acfer 094 meteorite, one of the most pristine carbonaceous chondrites available for study. One grain is a highly crystalline, highly refractory (Fe content < 0.5 at%), structurally undisturbed orthopyroxene (MgSiO3) with an unusually high Al content (1.8 ± 0.5 at%). This is the first TEM documentation of a single crystal pyroxene within the complete stardust silicate data set. We interpret the microstructure and chemistry of this grain as being a direct condensate from a gas of locally non-solar composition (i.e., with a higher-than-solar Al content and most likely also a lower-than-solar Mg/Si ratio) at (near)-equilibrium conditions. From the overabundance of crystalline olivine (six reported grains to date) compared to crystalline pyroxene (only documented as a single crystal in this work) we infer that formation of olivine over pyroxene is favored in circumstellar environments, in agreement with expectations from condensation theory and experiments. The second stardust silicate consists of an amorphous Ca-Si rich material which lacks any crystallinity based on TEM observations in which tiny (<20 nm) hibonite nanocrystallites are embedded. This complex assemblage therefore attests to the fast cooling and rapidly changing chemical environments under which dust grains in circumstellar shells form.

SiO maser emission as a density tracer of circumstellar envelopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stroh, Michael; Pihlstrom, Ylva; Sjouwerman, Lorant

2018-06-01

The circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of evolved stars offer a method to construct a sample of point-masses along the full Galactic plane, which can be used to test models of the gravitational potential. In the CSEs of red giants, SiO maser emission is frequently observed at 43 and 86 GHz, providing line-of-sight velocities. The Bulge Asymmetries and Dynamical Evolution (BAaDE) project aims to explore the complex structure of the inner Galaxy and Galactic Bulge, by observing 43 GHz SiO at the Very Large Array and 86 GHz SiO at the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, with an expected final sample of about 20,000 line-of-sight velocities and positions. We observed the 43 GHz and 86 GHz transitions near-simultaneously in a subsample of the sources using the Australia Telescope Compact Array and found that on average the 43 GHz v=1 line is 1.3 times stronger than the 86 GHz v=1 line. The presence of a detectable 43 GHz v=3 line alters the statistics, consistent with the SiO masers displaying 43 GHz v=3 emission arising in a denser regime in the circumstellar shell compared to those without. Comparing our results with radiative models implies that the 43 GHz v=3 line is a tracer of density variations caused by stellar pulsations. We will discuss these results in the context of the BAaDE project.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilson, T. L.; Nilsson, R.; Chen, C. H.

We have carried out two sets of observations to quantify the properties of SiO gas in the unusual HD 172555 debris disk: (1) a search for the J = 8–7 rotational transition from the vibrational ground state, carried out with the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) submillimeter telescope and heterodyne receiver at 863 μ m and (2) a search at 8.3 μ m for the P(17) ro-vibrational transition of gas phase SiO, carried out with the Very Large Telescope (VLT)/VISIR with a resolution, λ /Δ λ , of 30,000. The APEX measurement resulted in a 3.3 σ detection of an interstellarmore » feature, but only an upper limit to emission at the radial velocity and line width expected from HD 172555. The VLT/VISIR result was also an upper limit. These were used to provide limits for the abundance of gas phase SiO for a range of temperatures. The upper limit from our APEX detection, assuming an 8000 K primary star photospheric excitation, falls more than an order of magnitude below the self-shielding stability threshold derived by Johnson et al. (2012). Our results thus favor a solid-state origin for the 8.3 μ m feature seen in the Spitzer IRS spectrum of the circumstellar excess emission and the production of circumstellar O i and Si i by SiO UV photolysis. The implications of these estimates are explored in the framework of models of the HD 172555 circumstellar disk.« less

Is the Critical Rotation of Be Stars Really Critical for the Be Phenomenon?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stee, Ph.; Meilland, A.

We aim to study the effect of the fast rotation, stellar wind and circumstellar disks around active hot stars and their effects on the formation and evolution of these massive stars. For that purpose, we obtained, for the first time, interferometric measurements of three active hot stars, namely α Arae, κ CMa and Achernar, using the VLTI /AMBER and VLTI/MIDI instruments which allow us to study the kinematics of the central star and its surrounding circumstellar matter. These data coupled with our numerical code SIMECA (SIMulation pour Etoiles Chaudes Actives) seem to indicate that the presence of equatorial disks and polar stellar wind around Be stars are not correlated. A polar stellar wind was detected for α Arae and Achernar whereas κ CMa seems to exhibit no stellar wind. On the other hand, these two first Be stars are certainly nearly critical rotators whereas the last one seems to be far from the critical rotation. Thus a polar stellar wind may be due to the nearly critical rotation which induces a local effective temperature change following the von Zeipel theorem, producing a hotter polar region triggering a polar stellar wind. This critical rotation may also explain the formation of a circumstellar disk which is formed by the centrifugal force balancing the equatorial effective gravity of the central star. Following these results we try to investigate if critical rotation may be the clue for the Be phenomenon.

Circumstellar Material on and off the Main Sequence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steele, Amy; Debes, John H.; Deming, Drake

2017-06-01

There is evidence of circumstellar material around main sequence, giant, and white dwarf stars that originates from the small-body population of planetary systems. These bodies tell us something about the chemistry and evolution of protoplanetary disks and the planetary systems they form. What happens to this material as its host star evolves off the main sequence, and how does that inform our understanding of the typical chemistry of rocky bodies in planetary systems? In this talk, I will discuss the composition(s) of circumstellar material on and off the main sequence to begin to answer the question, “Is Earth normal?” In particular, I look at three types of debris disks to understand the typical chemistry of planetary systems—young debris disks, debris disks around giant stars, and dust around white dwarfs. I will review the current understanding on how to infer dust composition for each class of disk, and present new work on constraining dust composition from infrared excesses around main sequence and giant stars. Finally, dusty and polluted white dwarfs hold a unique key to our understanding of the composition of rocky bodies around other stars. In particular, I will discuss WD1145+017, which has a transiting, disintegrating planetesimal. I will review what we know about this system through high speed photometry and spectroscopy and present new work on understanding the complex interplay of physics that creates white dwarf pollution from the disintegration of rocky bodies.

The Arizona Radio Observatory 1 mm Spectral Survey of IRC (plus)10216 and VY Canis Majoris (215-285 GHz)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tenenbaum, E. D.; Dodd, J. L.; Milam, S. N.; Woolf, N. J.; Ziurys, L. M.

2010-01-01

A low noise (1(sigma) rms approx. 3 mK) 1. nun spectral survey (214.5-285.5 GHz) of the oxygen-rich supergiant VY Canis Majoris and the carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch star IRC +10216 has been conducted using the Arizona Radio Observatory's 10 m Submillimeter Telescope. Here the complete data set is presented. This study, carried out with a new ALMA-type receiver, marks the first continuous band scan of an O-rich circumstellar envelope, and the most sensitive survey to date of IRC +10216. In VY CMa, 130 distinct molecular lines were detected, 14 of which cannot be identified; in IRC +10216, 717 lines were observed, with 126 features remaining unidentified. In the 1 mm bands of VY CMa and IRC +10216, emission is present from 18 and 32 different chemical compounds, respectively, with 10 species common to both sources. Many narrow emission lines were observed in both circumstellar shells, arising from vibrationally excited molecules and from refractory-containing species. Line profiles in VY CMa also exhibit a variety of different shapes, caused by the complex, asymmetric outflow of this object. The survey highlights the fact that C-rich and O-rich circumstellar envelopes are chemically interesting, and both are sources of new interstellar molecules. The high number of unidentified lines and the unreliable, rest frequencies for known species such as NaCN indicate the need for additional laboratory spectroscopy studies.

SN 2014C: VLBI images of a supernova interacting with a circumstellar shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bietenholz, Michael F.; Kamble, Atish; Margutti, Raffaella; Milisavljevic, Danny; Soderberg, Alicia

2018-04-01

We report on very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) measurements of supernova 2014C at several epochs between t = 384 and 1057 d after the explosion. SN 2014C was an unusual supernova that initially had Type Ib optical spectrum, but after t = 130 d it developed a Type IIn spectrum with prominent Hα lines, suggesting the onset of strong circumstellar interaction. Our first VLBI observation was at t = 384 d, and we find that the outer radius of SN 2014C was (6.40 ± 0.26) × 1016 cm (for a distance of 15.1 Mpc), implying an average expansion velocity of 19 300 ± 790 km s-1 up to that time. At our last epoch, SN 2014C was moderately resolved and shows an approximately circular outline but with an enhancement of the brightness on the W side. The outer radius of the radio emission at t = 1057 d is (14.9 ± 0.6) × 1016 cm. We find that the expansion between t = 384 and 1057 d is well described by a constant velocity expansion with v = 13 600 ± 650 km s-1. SN 2014C had clearly been substantially decelerated by t = 384 d. Our measurements are compatible with a scenario where the expanding shock impacted upon a shell of dense circumstellar material during the first year, as suggested by the observations at other wavelengths, but had progressed through the dense shell by the time of the VLBI observations.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nelson, Andrew F.; Marzari, F., E-mail: andy.nelson@lanl.gov, E-mail: francesco.marzari@pd.infn.it

We present two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic code, VINE, to model a self-gravitating binary system. We model configurations in which a circumbinary torus+disk surrounds a pair of stars in orbit around each other and a circumstellar disk surrounds each star, similar to that observed for the GG Tau A system. We assume that the disks cool as blackbodies, using rates determined independently at each location in the disk by the time dependent temperature of the photosphere there. We assume heating due to hydrodynamical processes and to radiation from the two stars, using rates approximated from a measuremore » of the radiation intercepted by the disk at its photosphere. We simulate a suite of systems configured with semimajor axes of either a = 62 AU (“wide”) or a = 32 AU (“close”), and with assumed orbital eccentricity of either e = 0 or e = 0.3. Each simulation follows the evolution for ∼6500–7500 yr, corresponding to about three orbits of the torus around the center of mass. Our simulations show that strong, sharply defined spiral structures are generated from the stirring action of the binary and that, in some cases, these structures fragment into 1–2 massive clumps. The torus quickly fragments into several dozen such fragments in configurations in which either the binary is replaced by a single star of equal mass, or radiative heating is neglected. The spiral structures extend inwards to the circumstellar environment as large scale material streams for which most material is found on trajectories that return it to the torus on a timescale of 1–200 yr, with only a small fraction accreting into the circumstellar environment. The spiral structures also propagate outwards through the torus, generating net outwards mass flow, and eventually losing coherence at large distances from the stars. The torus becomes significantly eccentric in shape over most of its evolution. In all configurations, accretion onto the stars occurs at a steady rate of a few ×10{sup −8} M {sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}, with the net result that, without replenishment, the disk lifetimes would be shorter than ∼10{sup 4} yr. Our simulations show that only wide orbit configurations are able to retain circumstellar disks, by virtue of accretion driven from the robust material streams generated in wide configurations, which are very weak in close configurations. In wide, eccentric orbit configurations, accretion is episodic and occurs preferentially onto the secondary, with rates strongly peaked near the binary periapse. Based on our results, we conclude that the GG Tau A torus is strongly self gravitating and that a major contribution to its thermal energy input is the shock dissipation associated with spiral structures generated both by self gravitating disturbances and by the stirring action of the binary. We interpret the sharply defined features observed in the torus as manifestations of such spiral structures. We interpret the low density disk surrounding it as an excretion disk created by the outward mass flux generated by the spiral arms as they propagate outwards. Typical eccentricities calculated for the shape of the tori modeled in our simulations are large enough to account for the supposed ∼20° mutual inclination between the stellar orbit plane of GG Tau A and its surrounding torus through a degeneracy between the interpretation of inclination of the torus and its eccentricity. We therefore interpret the observations in favor of a coplanar system with an eccentric torus. Because accretion onto the disks occurs at rates sufficient to sustain them only in wide orbit configurations, we conclude that the gas currently resident in the circumstellar disks of the GG Tau A system has been accreted from the torus within the past few thousand years. Although circumstellar disks will persist over time spans long enough to permit planet formation, the overall environment remains unfavorable due to high temperatures and other conditions. Given the presence of circumstellar disks, robust accretion streams, and our interpretation of the GG Tau A stellar orbit plane as coplanar with the torus surrounding it, we conclude that the GG Tau A system is in an eccentric, a ∼ 62 AU orbit, resolving questions in the literature regarding its orbit parameters.« less

The circumstellar environments of dusty main sequence stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gebrim, Antonio S. Hales

Our current understanding of the formation of planetary systems is strongly linked to astronomical observations of gas and dust around young stars. This thesis is dedicated to studying the physical conditions acting in the circumstellar environments of pre-main sequence and early main sequence dusty stars. These early stellar ages correspond to the timescales over which planets are thought to be formed. The first part of this work is dedicated to a search for dusty early A-type stars in the northern galactic plane. Data from the IPHAS Ha survey is first used to select a sample of galactic A-type stars. This sample is then correlated with data from the Spitzer Space Telescope in order to search for 8 microns and 24 microns excesses associated with warm dust orbiting the stars. The improved photometric sensitivities of these new galactic surveys allow the list of known galactic 'Vega-like' sources to be extended to unexplored optical magnitude ranges (13.5 < r < 18.5 mags). Only 1.1% of a sample of 3062 A-type stars with available optical to mid-infrared spectral energy distributions showed detectable excesses at 8 microns. Searching over 1860 stars observed at 24 microns yielded similar statistical results (1.2%). Only 10 stars have both 8 and 24 micron excesses. These results support the idea that warm dust located relatively close to the stars is rare in main sequence systems. Follow-up observations of this new sample of dust-excess stars will provide better insights into the properties of the systems. Resolved images are crucial for understanding the dynamics and evolution of proto-planetary disks. Observing the detailed disk structure requires high-contrast, high-spatial resolution imaging very close to the bright central star. As a consequence, only a handful of these systems have yet been resolved. The second part of this work shows how near-infrared Polarimetric Imaging on the 3.8 meter United Kingdom Infrared Telescope can be used to obtain reflected-light images of dust-disks around dust excess stars. This technique allows one to automatically suppress the unpolarised light from the central star, increasing the dynamic range for detecting polarised light scattered by the dust present in circumstellar discs. The detections of extended disks around the classical T Tauri star TW Hya and the Herbig Ac star HD 169142 are reported, as well as the strong but spatially unresolved polarization signals measured toward two other Herbig Ae stars. Monte Carlo scattering simulations are used to fit the J-, H- and K-band polarization images of the disk around TW Hya, providing new constraints on the geometry of TW Hya's disk. The third part of this thesis is dedicated to studying the gas content and dynamics around dust-excess stars. The evolution of circumstellar gas is thought to be strongly linked to the formation of gaseous giant planets similar to Jupiter, Saturn and most currently known extra-solar planets. However, the timescales over which circumstellar gas discs dissipate remains poorly constrained, mainly due to the observational difficulties associated with detecting small amounts of circumstellar gas. An analysis of high-resolution (R 50 000) optical spectroscopic data of a sample of 'Vega-like' candidates from the catalogue of Mannings & Barlow (1998) is presented. Analysis of the stellar spectra allows one to search for narrow absorption features due to circumstellar gas and possible Falling Evaporating Bodies, similar to the ones seen in the (3 Pictoris system. None of the stars from this sample show emission line activity in either Ha, Ca II or Na I, indicating that accretion of material onto the stars has ceased and suggesting they are true main sequence Vega-like stars. Four stars were found to exhibit narrow absorption features near the cores of the photospheric Ca II and Na I D lines, with HD 110058 being the strongest candidate to host a (3 Pictoris-like gas disk. If confirmed, HD 110058 would represent the Vega-like star with the lowest Lir/L* value (3.7 x 10"4) around which a CS gas disk has been detected.

The influence of the hijab (Islamic head-cover) on perceptions of women's attractiveness and intelligence.

PubMed

Mahmud, Yusr; Swami, Viren

2010-01-01

This study examined the effects of wearing the hijab, or Islamic headwear, on men's perceptions of women's attractiveness and intelligence. A total of 57 non-Muslim men and 41 Muslim men rated a series of images of women, half of whom were unveiled and half of whom wore the hijab. For attractiveness and intelligence ratings, a mixed analysis of variance showed a significant effect of hijab status, with women wearing the hijab being rated more negatively than unveiled women. For attractiveness ratings, there was no significant effect of participant religion, although non-Muslim men rated unveiled women significantly higher than veiled women. For intelligence ratings, non-Muslim men provided significantly higher ratings than Muslim men for both conditions. In addition, Muslim men's ratings of the attractiveness and intelligence of women wearing the hijab was positively correlated with self-reported religiosity. These results are discussed in relation to religious stereotyping within increasingly multi-cultural societies. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interrelationships among Circumstellar, Interstellar and Interplanetary Dust

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nuth, J. A., III (Editor); Stencel, R. E. (Editor)

1986-01-01

Proceedings of a workshop held from February 27 to March 1, l985. The workshop was attended by 50 astronomers, astrophysicists, planetary scientists and meteoriticists; and emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of studies of cosmic dust.

Desired machines: cinema and the world in its own image.

PubMed

Canales, Jimena

2011-09-01

In 1895 when the Lumière brothers unveiled their cinematographic camera, many scientists were elated. Scientists hoped that the machine would fulfill a desire that had driven research for nearly half a century: that of capturing the world in its own image. But their elation was surprisingly short-lived, and many researchers quickly distanced themselves from the new medium. The cinematographic camera was soon split into two machines, one for recording and one for projecting, enabling it to further escape from the laboratory. The philosopher Henri Bergson joined scientists, such as Etienne-Jules Marey, who found problems with the new cinematographic order. Those who had worked to make the dream come true found that their efforts had been subverted. This essay focuses on the desire to build a cinematographic camera, with the purpose of elucidating how dreams and reality mix in the development of science and technology. It is about desired machines and their often unexpected results. The interplay between what "is" (the technical), what "ought" (the ethical), and what "could" be (the fantastical) drives scientific research.

Studies on hydrogenase

PubMed Central

YAGI, Tatsuhiko; HIGUCHI, Yoshiki

2013-01-01

Hydrogenases are microbial enzymes which catalyze uptake and production of H2. Hydrogenases are classified into 10 classes based on the electron carrier specificity, or into 3 families, [NiFe]-family (including [NiFeSe]-subfamily), [FeFe]-family and [Fe]-family, based on the metal composition of the active site. H2 is heterolytically cleaved on the enzyme (E) to produce EHaHb, where Ha and Hb have different rate constants for exchange with the medium hydron. X-ray crystallography unveiled the three-dimensional structures of hydrogenases. The simplest [NiFe]-hydrogenase is a heterodimer, in which the large subunit bears the Ni-Fe center buried deep in the protein, and the small subunit bears iron-sulfur clusters, which mediate electron transfer between the Ni-Fe center and the protein surface. Some hydrogenases have additional subunit(s) for interaction with their electron carriers. Various redox states of the enzyme were characterized by EPR, FTIR, etc. Based on the kinetic, structural and spectroscopic studies, the catalytic mechanism of [NiFe]-hydrogenase was proposed to explain H2-uptake, H2-production and isotopic exchange reactions. PMID:23318679

Structural origin underlying poor glass forming ability of Al metallic glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, F.; Liu, X. J.; Hou, H. Y.; Chen, G.; Chen, G. L.

2011-07-01

We performed molecular dynamics simulations to study the glass formation and local atomic structure of rapidly quenched Al. Both potential energy and structural parameters indicate that the glass transition temperature of amorphous Al is as low as 300 K, which may lead to the poor thermal stability of the amorphous Al as it is prone to crystallize even at room temperature. Voronoi polyhedra analysis reveals that the most popular polyhedron is the deformed body-centered cubic (bcc) cluster characterized by the index < 0, 3, 6, 4 > in the amorphous Al, while the icosahedron with the index < 0, 0, 12, 0 > is always predominant in bulk metallic glass formers with excellent glass forming ability (GFA). Moreover, these deformed-bcc short-range orders can make up medium-range orders via the linkage of vertex-, edge-, face-, intercrossed-shared atoms, which are believed to more easily transform into face-centered cubic (fcc) Al nanocrystal compared with the icosahedral clusters in terms of the symmetrical similarity between bcc and fcc structures. This finding could unveil the structural origin of poor GFA of Al-based alloys.

Unveiling N-protonation and anion-binding effects on Fe/N/C-catalysts for O2 reduction in PEM fuel cells

PubMed Central

Herranz, Juan; Jaouen, Frédéric; Lefèvre, Michel; Kramm, Ulrike I.; Proietti, Eric; Dodelet, Jean-Pol; Bogdanoff, Peter; Fiechter, Sebastian; Abs-Wurmbach, Irmgard; Bertrand, Patrick; Arruda, Thomas M.; Mukerjee, Sanjeev

2013-01-01

The high cost of proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells would be considerably reduced if platinumbased catalysts were replaced by iron-based substitutes, which have recently demonstrated comparable activity for oxygen reduction, but whose cause of activity decay in acidic medium has been elusive. Here, we reveal that the activity of Fe/N/C-catalysts prepared through a pyrolysis in NH3 is mostly imparted by acid-resistant FeN4-sites whose turnover frequency for the O2 reduction can be regulated by fine chemical changes of the catalyst surface. We show that surface N-groups protonate at pH 1 and subsequently bind anions. This results in decreased activity for the O2 reduction. The anions can be removed chemically or thermally, which restores the activity of acid-resistant FeN4-sites. These results are interpreted as an increased turnover frequency of FeN4-sites when specific surface N-groups protonate. These unprecedented findings provide new perspective for stabilizing the most active Fe/N/C-catalysts known to date. PMID:24179561

Behavioral Abnormalities and Circuit Defects in the Basal Ganglia of a Mouse Model of 16p11.2 Deletion Syndrome

PubMed Central

Portmann, Thomas; Ellegood, Jacob; Dolen, Gul; Bader, Patrick L.; Grueter, Brad A.; Goold, Carleton; Fisher, Elaine; Clifford, Katherine; Rengarajan, Pavitra; Kalikhman, David; Loureiro, Darren; Saw, Nay L.; Zhengqui, Zhou; Miller, Michael A.; Lerch, Jason P.; Henkelman, Mark; Shamloo, Mehrdad; Malenka, Robert C.; Crawley, Jacqueline N.; Dolmetsch, Ricardo E.

2014-01-01

Summary A deletion on human chromosome 16p11.2 is associated with autism spectrum disorders. We deleted the syntenic region on mouse chromosome 7F3. MRI and high-throughput single-cell transcriptomics revealed anatomical and cellular abnormalities, particularly in cortex and striatum of juvenile mutant mice (16p11+/−). We found elevated numbers of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) expressing the dopamine D2 receptor (Drd2+) and fewer dopamine-sensitive (Drd1+) neurons in deep layers of cortex. Electrophysiological recordings of Drd2+ MSN revealed synaptic defects, suggesting abnormal basal ganglia circuitry function in 16p11+/− mice. This is further supported by behavioral experiments showing hyperactivity, circling, and deficits in movement control. Strikingly, 16p11+/− mice showed a complete lack of habituation reminiscent of what is observed in some autistic individuals. Our findings unveil a fundamental role of genes affected by the 16p11.2 deletion in establishing the basal ganglia circuitry and provide insights in the pathophysiology of autism. PMID:24794428

Phototrophy and starvation-based induction of autophagy upon removal of Gcn5-catalyzed acetylation of Atg7 in Magnaporthe oryzae.

PubMed

Zhang, Shulin; Liang, Meiling; Naqvi, Naweed I; Lin, Chaoxiang; Qian, Wanqiang; Zhang, Lian-Hui; Deng, Yi Zhen

2017-08-03

Magnaporthe oryzae, the ascomycete fungus that causes rice blast disease, initiates conidiation in response to light when grown on Prune-Agar medium containing both carbon and nitrogen sources. Macroautophagy/autophagy was shown to be essential for M. oryzae conidiation and induced specifically upon exposure to light but is undetectable in the dark. Therefore, it is inferred that autophagy is naturally induced by light, rather than by starvation during M. oryzae conidiation. However, the signaling pathway(s) involved in such phototropic induction of autophagy remains unknown. We identified an M. oryzae ortholog of GCN5 (MGG_03677), encoding a histone acetyltransferase (HAT) that negatively regulates light- and nitrogen-starvation-induced autophagy, by acetylating the autophagy protein Atg7. Furthermore, we unveiled novel regulatory mechanisms on Gcn5 at both transcriptional and post-translational levels, governing its function associated with the unique phototropic response of autophagy in this pathogenic fungus. Thus, our study depicts a signaling network and regulatory mechanism underlying the autophagy induction by important environmental clues such as light and nutrients.

Unveiling N-protonation and anion-binding effects on Fe/N/C-catalysts for O2 reduction in PEM fuel cells.

PubMed

Herranz, Juan; Jaouen, Frédéric; Lefèvre, Michel; Kramm, Ulrike I; Proietti, Eric; Dodelet, Jean-Pol; Bogdanoff, Peter; Fiechter, Sebastian; Abs-Wurmbach, Irmgard; Bertrand, Patrick; Arruda, Thomas M; Mukerjee, Sanjeev

2011-11-18

The high cost of proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells would be considerably reduced if platinumbased catalysts were replaced by iron-based substitutes, which have recently demonstrated comparable activity for oxygen reduction, but whose cause of activity decay in acidic medium has been elusive. Here, we reveal that the activity of Fe/N/C-catalysts prepared through a pyrolysis in NH 3 is mostly imparted by acid-resistant FeN 4 -sites whose turnover frequency for the O 2 reduction can be regulated by fine chemical changes of the catalyst surface. We show that surface N-groups protonate at pH 1 and subsequently bind anions. This results in decreased activity for the O 2 reduction. The anions can be removed chemically or thermally, which restores the activity of acid-resistant FeN 4 -sites. These results are interpreted as an increased turnover frequency of FeN 4 -sites when specific surface N-groups protonate. These unprecedented findings provide new perspective for stabilizing the most active Fe/N/C-catalysts known to date.

The abundance of HCN in circumstellar envelopes of AGB stars of different chemical type

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schöier, F. L.; Ramstedt, S.; Olofsson, H.; Lindqvist, M.; Bieging, J. H.; Marvel, K. B.

2013-02-01

Aims: A multi-transition survey of HCN (sub-) millimeter line emission from a large sample of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars of different chemical type is presented. The data are analysed and circumstellar HCN abundances are estimated. The sample stars span a large range of properties such as mass-loss rate and photospheric C/O-ratio. The analysis of the new data allows for more accurate estimates of the circumstellar HCN abundances and puts new constraints on chemical models. Methods: In order to constrain the circumstellar HCN abundance distribution a detailed non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) excitation analysis, based on the Monte Carlo method, is performed. Effects of line overlaps and radiative excitation from dust grains are included. Results: The median values for the derived abundances of HCN (with respect to H2) are 3 × 10-5, 7 × 10-7 and 10-7 for carbon stars (25 stars), S-type AGB stars (19 stars) and M-type AGB stars (25 stars), respectively. The estimated sizes of the HCN envelopes are similar to those obtained in the case of SiO for the same sample of sources and agree well with previous results from interferometric observations, when these are available. Conclusions: We find that there is a clear dependence of the derived circumstellar HCN abundance on the C/O-ratio of the star, in that carbon stars have about two orders of magnitude higher abundances than M-type AGB stars, on average. The derived HCN abundances of the S-type AGB stars have a larger spread and typically fall in between those of the two other types, however, slightly closer to the values for the M-type AGB stars. For the M-type stars, the estimated abundances are much higher than what would be expected if HCN is formed in thermal equilibrium. However, the results are also in contrast to predictions from recent non-LTE chemical models, where very little difference is expected in the HCN abundances between the various types of AGB stars. This publication is based on data acquired with the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) telescope, the IRAM 30 m telescope, the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT), the Swedish-ESO Submillimeter Telescope (SEST), and the Onsala 20 m telescope. APEX is a collaboration between the Max-Planck-Institut fur Radioastronomie, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the Swedish National Facility for Radio Astronomy, Onsala Space Observatory (OSO). IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain). The JCMT is operated by the Joint Astronomy Centre on behalf of the Science and Technology Facilities Council of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, and the National Research Council of Canada. The Onsala 20 m telescope is operated by OSO. The SEST was operated jointly by ESO and OSO.Tables 3, 4, and Appendix A are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Photometric and spectroscopic variability of the B5IIIe star HD 171219

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrade, L.; Janot-Pacheco, E.; Emilio, M.; Frémat, Y.; Neiner, C.; Poretti, E.; Mathias, P.; Rainer, M.; Suárez, J. C.; Uytterhoeven, K.; Briquet, M.; Diago, P. D.; Fabregat, J.; Gutiérrez-Soto, J.

2017-07-01

We analyzed the star HD 171219, one of the relatively bright Be stars observed in the seismo field of the CoRoT satellite, in order to determine its physical and pulsation characteristics. Classical Be stars are main-sequence objects of mainly B-type, whose spectra show, or have shown at some epoch, Balmer lines in emission and an infrared excess. Both characteristics are attributed to an equatorially concentrated circumstellar disk fed by non-periodic mass-loss episodes (outbursts). Be stars often show nonradial pulsation gravity modes and, as more recently discovered, stochastically excited oscillations. Applying the CLEANEST algorithm to the high-cadence and highly photometrically precise measurements of the HD 171219 light curve led us to perform an unprecedented detailed analysis of its nonradial pulsations. Tens of frequencies have been detected in the object compatible with nonradial g-modes. Additional high-resolution ground-based spectroscopic observations were obtained at La Silla (HARPS) and Haute Provence (SOPHIE) observatories during the month preceding CoRoT observations. Additional information was obtained from low-resolution spectra from the BeSS database. From spectral line fitting we determined physical parameters of the star, which is seen equator-on (I = 90°). We also found in the ground data the same frequencies as in CoRoT data. Additionally, we analyzed the circumstellar activity through the traditional method of violet to red emission Hα line variation. A quintuplet was identified at approximately 1.113 c d-1 (12.88 μHz) with a separation of 0.017 c d-1 that can be attributed to a pulsation degree ℓ 2. The light curve shows six small- to medium-scale outbursts during the CoRoT observations. The intensity of the main frequencies varies after each outburst, suggesting a possible correlation between the nonradial pulsations regime and the feeding of the envelope. The CoRoT space mission was developed and operated by the French space agency CNES, with participation of ESA's RSSD and Science Programmes, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, and Spain. This work is partially based on observations made with the 3.6-m telescope at La Silla Observatory under the ESO Large Programme LP185.D-0056.

Observational and experimental astrochemistry: A high resolution gas phase study of metal containing species in the laboratory and circumstellar envelopes of stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pulliam, Robin Leigh

It was once thought that molecules in the interstellar medium (ISM) would be destroyed in the harsh surroundings and conditions of space, and therefore unobservable by radio techniques. However, it is now understood that the chemistry of the ISM is vast and complex. The question still remains as to just how complex is this chemistry? Much is clearly still not understood. This dissertation presents work on the study of metal compounds and cations in the circumstellar envelopes of oxygen- and carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and supergiant stars. Laboratory studies were also conducted on several transition metal compounds of interstellar interest, some of high spin and orbital angular momentum states. Work has been completed to confirm the detection of the debated metal cyanide KCN in the carbon-rich AGB star IRC+10216. KCN joins the list as the fifth interstellar metal cyanide/isocyanide detected in this source. In addition, preliminary results on the search for TiO are presented towards the oxygen-rich supergiant star, VY CMa. To further understand the evolutionary processes of carbon- and oxygen-rich stars, a survey of HCO+ was taken towards the carbon star IRC+10216, the oxygen-rich AGBs TX Cam, IK Tau, and W Hya and the oxygen-rich supergiant NML Cyg. While HCO+ was detected towards all of these sources, the results are vastly different. The outflow of NML Cyg proves to be asymmetric and further study is necessary. Interestingly, while TX Cam and IK Tau are thought to be virtually similar stars, the emission of HCO+ might state otherwise. Finally, the emission from W Hya is significantly narrower than the other sources. To understand species in space with more confidence, a laboratory search for several 3d transition metal species of astrochemical interest was conducted in the laboratory: HZnCl, ZnO, ZnCl, TiS and CrS. All of the molecules have been observed for the first time through high resolution gas phase rotational spectroscopy and the work on ZnO was the first gas-phase study of this molecule. Synthesis of the species required exotic production methods, a DC discharge being required to produce all the zinc species. By studying the rotational spectra, rest frequencies were determined that will be beneficial for figure astronomical searches.

The beta Pictoris circumstellar disk. XXIV. Clues to the origin of the stable gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lagrange, A.-M.; Beust, H.; Mouillet, D.; Deleuil, M.; Feldman, P. D.; Ferlet, R.; Hobbs, L.; Lecavelier Des Etangs, A.; Lissauer, J. J.; McGrath, M. A.; McPhate, J. B.; Spyromilio, J.; Tobin, W.; Vidal-Madjar, A.

1998-02-01

GHRS high resolution spectra of {beta \\:Pictoris} were obtained to study the stable gas around this star. Several elements are detected and their abundances measured. Upper limits to the abundances of others are also measured. The data permit improved chemical analysis of the stable gas around {beta \\:Pictoris}, and yield new and more accurate estimates of the radiation pressure acting on various elements. We first analyze the data in the framework of a closed-box model. The electron density is evaluated (Neion {S}imeq10(6) cm(-3) ), which in turn implies constraints on the ionization stages of the various elements. The refractory elements in the stable gas have then standard abundances. In contrast, in this model, the lighter elements sulfur and carbon, observed in their neutral form, seem to be depleted. However several arguments, especially the strong radiation pressure, argue against a closed-box hypothesis. We therefore develop hydrodynamical simulations, taking into account the radiation pressure, to reproduce the stable features under three different hypotheses for the origin of the stable gas: stellar ejection, comet evaporation and grain evaporation. They show that a permanent production of gas is needed in order to sustain a stable absorption. In order to reproduce the observed zero velocity of the absorption features a mechanism is also needed to slow down the radial flow of matter. We show that this could be achieved by a colliding ring of neutral hydrogen farther than 0.5AU from the star. Applied to the Fe Ii\\ lines, the simulations constrain the temperature (Tion {S}imeq1500-2000K) and the velocity dispersion (ion {S}imeq2kms(-1) ) in the gaseous medium. When applied to Ca Ii\\ and to other UV lines, they test the chemical composition of the parent source of gas, which is found to have standard abundances in refractory elements. The gas production rate is ion {S}imeq 10(-16}M_{sun) yr(-1) . This description is the first consistent explanation for these long-lived stable absorptions observed for a large number of lines arising from a variety of energy levels in different chemical elements. It raises the question of the origin of the parent material, together with its composition and dynamics. This realizes a link between this gaseous component and the whole circumstellar system. Based on observations collected with the Hubble Space Telescope

Problems of gaseous motion around stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, S.-S.

1973-01-01

A distinction is drawn between radial and tangential modes of ejection from stars, and the possible flow patterns are described. They are: expanding streams, falling streams, jet streams, circulatory streams, and gaseous envelopes. Motion around Be stars is discussed at some length, as a preliminary to studying more complicated flow in binary systems. The rotational velocity of the Be star is insufficient to form the ring. It appears likely that radial instability is temperature sensitive. Rings and disks in binary systems are discussed from the point of view of periodic orbits for particles within the gravitational field of such a system. The formation of these rings is discussed. The expected relation between rotational velocity of the ring and the orbital period is discussed. The relation of circumstellar streams to period changes is mentioned. Finally, the influence of magnetic fields on the circumstellar material and the system is discussed.

Metastable Eutectic Equilibrium in Natural Environments: Recent Development and Research Opportunities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rietmeijer, Frans J. M.; Nuth, Joseph A., III; Jablonska, Mariola; Karner, James M.

2000-01-01

Chemical ordering at metastable eutectics was recognized in non-equilibrium gas-to- solid condensation experiments to constrain 'silicate' dust formation in O-rich circumstellar environments. The predictable metastable eutectic behavior successfully predicted the observed ferromagnesiosilica compositions of circumstellar dust presolar and solar nebula grains in the matrix of the collected aggregate IDPs (Interplanetary Dust Particles). Many of the experimentally determined metastable eutectic solids match the fundamental building blocks of common rock-forming layer silicates: this could have implications for the origin of Life. The physical conditions conducive to metastable eutectic behavior, i.e. high temperature and (ultra) fast quenching, lead to unique amorphous, typically nano- to micrometer-sized, materials. The new paradigm of metastable eutectic behavior opens the door to new and exciting research opportunities in uncovering the many implications of these unique amorphous, and typically nano-to micrometer-sized, metastable eutectic materials.

The Physics of Molecular Shocks in Star-Forming Regions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hollenbach, David; Cuzzi, Jeffrey (Technical Monitor)

1996-01-01

Molecular shocks are produced by the impact of the supersonic infall of gas and dust onto protostars and by the interaction of the supersonic outflow from the protostar with the circumstellar material. Infalling gas creates an accretion shock around the circumstellar disk which emits a unique infrared spectrum and which processes the interstellar dust as it enters the disk. The winds and jets from protostars also impact the disk, the infalling material, and the ambient molecular cloud core creating shocks whose spectrum and morphology diagnose the mass loss processes of the protostar and the orientation and structure of the star forming system. We discuss the physics of these shocks, the model spectra derived from theoretical models, and comparisons with observations of H2O masers, H2 emission, as well as other shocks tracers. We show the strong effect of magnetic fields on molecular shock structure, and elucidate the chemical changes induced by the shock heating and compression.

Extended Millimeter Emission in the HD 141569 Circumstellar Disk Detected with ALMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Jacob Aaron; Boley, A. C.

2018-06-01

We present archival Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the HD 141569 circumstellar disk at 345, 230, and 100 GHz. These data detect extended millimeter emission that is exterior to the inner disk. We find through simultaneous visibility modeling of all three data sets that the system’s morphology is described well by a two-component disk model. The inner disk ranges from approximately 16–45 au with a spectral index of 1.81 (q = 2.95), and the outer disk ranges from 95 to 300 au with a spectral index of 2.28 (q = 3.21). Azimuthally averaged radial emission profiles derived from the continuum images at each frequency show potential emission that is consistent with the visibility modeling. The analysis presented here shows that at ∼5 Myr, HD 141569's grain size distribution is steeper and therefore possibly evolved in the outer disk than in the inner disk.

SPICES: Spectro-Polarimetric Imaging and Characterization of Exoplanetary Systems - From Planetary Disks To Nearby Super Earths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boccaletti, Anthony; Schneider, Jean; Traub, Wes; Lagage, Pierre-Olivier; Stam, Daphne; Gratton, Raffaele; Trauger, John; Cahoy, Kerri; Snik, Frans; Baudoz, Pierre;

VOLATILE-RICH CIRCUMSTELLAR GAS IN THE UNUSUAL 49 CETI DEBRIS DISK

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roberge, Aki; Grady, Carol A.; Welsh, Barry Y.

2014-11-20

We present Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph far-UV spectra of the edge-on disk around 49 Ceti, one of the very few debris disks showing submillimeter CO emission. Many atomic absorption lines are present in the spectra, most of which arise from circumstellar gas lying along the line-of-sight to the central star. We determined the line-of-sight C I column density, estimated the total carbon column density, and set limits on the O I column density. Surprisingly, no line-of-sight CO absorption was seen. We discuss possible explanations for this non-detection, and present preliminary estimates of the carbon abundances in themore » line-of-sight gas. The C/Fe ratio is much greater than the solar value, suggesting that 49 Cet harbors a volatile-rich gas disk similar to that of β Pictoris.« less

Physical properties and evolutionary time scales of disks around solar-type and intermediate mass stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strom, Stephen E.; Edwards, Suzan

1993-01-01

Recent observations of circumstellar disks and their evolutionary timescales are reviewed. It is concluded that disks appear to be a natural outcome of the star-formation process. The disks surrounding young stars initially are massive, with optically thick structures comprised of gas and micron-sized grains. Disk masses are found to range from 0.01 to 0.2 solar masses for solar-type PMS stars, and from 0.01 to 6 solar masses for young, intermediate mass stars. Massive, optically thick accretion disks have accretion rates between 10 exp -8 and 10 exp -6 solar masses/yr for solar type PMS stars and between 10 exp -6 and 10 exp -4 solar masses/yr for intermediate stars. The results suggest that a significant fraction of the mass comprising the star may have passed through a circumstellar accretion disk.

The influence of grain growth in circumstellar dust envelopes on observed colors and polarization of some eruptive stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Efimov, Yu. S.

1989-01-01

R CrB stars are classical examples of stars where dust envelope formation takes place. Dust envelope formation was detected around the Kuwano-Honda object (PU Vul) in 1980 to 1981 when the star's brightness fell to 8(sup m). Such envelopes are also formed at nova outbursts. The process of dust envelope formation leads to appreciable variations in optical characteristics, which are seen in specific color and polarization variations in the course of light fading and the appearance of IR radiation. It is shown that the model of a circumstellar dust envelope with aligned particles of changing size can be successfully applied to explain most phenomena observed at the time of light minima for a number of eruptive stars. The polarization may arise in a nonspherical dust envelope or be produced by alignment of nonspherical particles.

Submillimeter vibrationally excited water emission from the peculiar red supergiant VY Canis Majoris

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Menten, K. M.; Philipp, S. D.; Güsten, R.; Alcolea, J.; Polehampton, E. T.; Brünken, S.

2006-08-01

Context: .Vibrationally excited emission from the SiO and H2O molecules probes the innermost circumstellar envelopes of oxygen-rich red giant and supergiant stars. VY CMa is the most prolific known emission source in these molecules. Aims: .Observations were made to search for rotational lines in the lowest vibrationally excited state of H2O. Methods: .The APEX telescope was used for observations of H2O lines at frequencies around 300 GHz. Results: .Two vibrationally excited H2O lines were detected, a third one could not be found. In one of the lines we find evidence for weak maser action, similar to known (sub)millimeter ν2 = 1 lines. We find that the other line's intensity is consistent with thermal excitation by the circumstellar infrared radiation field. Several SiO lines were detected together with the H2O lines.

Distribution of SO_{2} and so in the Envelope of Vy-Canis Majoris: Insight Into Circumstellar Sulfur Chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adande, Gilles; Ziurys, L. M.

2013-06-01

Millimeter wave observations of SO_{2} and SO in the envelope of the O-rich supergiant VY-Canis Majoris have been conducted with the Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) of the Arizona Radio Observatory, between 210 and 290 GHz. A non LTE radiative transfer code has been written to fit the line profile of 22 lines of SO_{2} and 5 transitions of SO, and model their abundance and distribution within the circumstellar envelope. The rotational levels involved span a wide energy range, from 13 cm^{-1} to 104 cm^{-1} for SO_{2}, and 17 to 40 cm^{-1} for SO. The high number of transitions fitted provides strong constraints on the excitation conditions, hydrogen density and kinetic temperatures. The results will be discussed in relation to the formation processes and chemistry of these two species in O-rich molecular envelopes.

Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Matrix-isolated Amorphous Carbon Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schnaiter, M.; Mutschke, H.; Henning, Th.; Lindackers, D.; Strecker, M.; Roth, P.

1996-06-01

In view of the interstellar 217.5 nm and the circumstellar 230--250 nm extinction features, the UV extinction behavior of small matrix-isolated amorphous carbon grains is investigated experimentally. The particles were produced in a flame by burning acetylene with oxygen at low pressure. To prevent coagulation, the condensing primary soot grains (average diameter ~6 nm) were extracted by a molecular beam technique into a high-vacuum chamber. There they were deposited into a layer of solid argon, isolated from each other. The particle mass and size were controlled using a particle mass spectrometer. The measured UV extinction of the matrix-isolated particles is compared with measurements on samples produced in the conventional way by collecting carbon smoke on substrate as well as with scattering calculations for small spheres and ellipsoides. The laboratory data give a good representation of the circumstellar extinction feature observed in the spectrum of V348 Sgr.

Stellar and Circumstellar Properties of Low-Mass, Young, Subarcsecond Binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruhns, Sara; Prato, L. A.

2014-01-01

We present a study of the stellar and circumstellar characteristics of close (< 1''), young (< 2 to 3 Myr), low-mass (<1 solar mass) binary stars in the Taurus star forming region. Low-resolution (R ~ 2000) spectra were taken in the K-band using adaptive optics to separate the observations for each component and identify the individual spectral types, extinction, and K-band excess. Combining these data with stellar luminosities allows us to estimate the stellar masses and ages. We also measured equivalent widths of the hydrogen Brackett gamma line in order to estimate the strength of gas accretion. We obtained spectra for six binary systems with separations from 1'' down to 0.3''. In the CZ Tau binary we found that the fainter secondary star spectrum appears to be of earlier spectral type than the primary; we speculate on the origin of this inversion.

Spectroscopic Survey of Circumstellar Disks in Orion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Contreras, Maria; Hernandez, Jesus; Olguin, Lorenzo; Briceno, Cesar

2013-07-01

As a second stage of a project focused on characterizing candidate stars bearing a circumstellar disk in Orion, we present a spectroscopic follow-up of a set of about 170 bright stars. The present set of stars was selected by their optical (UBVRI) and infrared behavior in different color-color and color-magnitude diagrams. Observations were carried out at the Observatorio Astronomico Nacional located at the Sierra San Pedro Martir in B.C., Mexico and at the Observatorio Guillermo Haro in Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. Low-resolution spectra were obtained for all candidates in the sample. Using the SPTCLASS code, we have obtained spectral types and equivalent widths of the Li I 6707 and Halpha lines for each one of the stars. This project is a cornerstone of a large scale survey aimed to obtain stellar parameters in a homogeneous way using spectroscopic data. This work was partially supported by UNAM-PAPIIT grant IN-109311.

Astrobiological Effects of Stellar Radiation in Circumstellar Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cuntz, Manfred; Gurdemir, Levent; Guinan, Edward F.; Kurucz, Robert L.

2006-10-01

The centerpiece of all life on Earth is carbon-based biochemistry. Previous scientific research has suggested that biochemistry based on carbon may also play a decisive role in extraterrestrial life forms, i.e., alien life outside of Earth, if existent. In the following, we explore if carbon-based macromolecules (such as DNA) in the environments of stars other than the Sun are able to survive the effects of energetic stellar radiation, such as UV-C in the wavelength band between 200 and 290 nm. We focus on main-sequence stars akin to the Sun, but of hotter (F-type stars) and cooler (K- and M-type stars) surface temperature. Emphasis is placed on investigating the radiative environment in stellar habitable zones (HZs). Stellar habitable zones have an important relevance in astrobiology because they constitute circumstellar regions in which a planet of suitable size can have surface temperatures for water to exist in liquid form.

SED Modeling of 20 Massive Young Stellar Objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanti, Kamal Kumar

In this paper, we present the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) modeling of twenty massive young stellar objects (MYSOs) and subsequently estimated different physical and structural/geometrical parameters for each of the twenty central YSO outflow candidates, along with their associated circumstellar disks and infalling envelopes. The SEDs for each of the MYSOs been reconstructed by using 2MASS, MSX, IRAS, IRAC & MIPS, SCUBA, WISE, SPIRE and IRAM data, with the help of a SED Fitting Tool, that uses a grid of 2D radiative transfer models. Using the detailed analysis of SEDs and subsequent estimation of physical and geometrical parameters for the central YSO sources along with its circumstellar disks and envelopes, the cumulative distribution of the stellar, disk and envelope parameters can be analyzed. This leads to a better understanding of massive star formation processes in their respective star forming regions in different molecular clouds.

The infrared spectrum of M8 E - Evidence for circumstellar CO

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larson, H. P.; Fink, U.; Hofmann, R.

1986-01-01

High-resolution spectroscopic observations of the compact infrared source M8 E are reported in the region from 3 to 5 microns. Very prominent CO absorption lines are observed in the v = 1-0 band at 4.7 microns. The velocity width and rotational temperature suggest that this CO absorption occurs in a highly excited region. The high background continuum flux level and the prominent appearance of the CO features suggest that the CO line-forming region must be in front of the dust emission region. A blister model for M8 E, which places most of the dust continuum emission behind the source, satisfies this requirement. According to this picture, the observed circumstellar CO spectrum shows a high rotational temperature and a large velocity dispersion because of the combined effects of the strong stellar wind and possible shock heating near the dust zone as the wind encounters the ambient molecular cloud.

Extreme Radio-wave Scattering Associated with Hot Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walker, Mark A.; Tuntsov, Artem V.; Bignall, Hayley; Reynolds, Cormac; Bannister, Keith W.; Johnston, Simon; Stevens, Jamie; Ravi, Vikram

2017-07-01

We use data on extreme radio scintillation to demonstrate that this phenomenon is associated with hot stars in the solar neighborhood. The ionized gas responsible for the scattering is found at distances up to 1.75 {pc} from the host star, and on average must comprise ˜105 distinct structures per star. We detect azimuthal velocities of the plasma, relative to the host star, up to 9.7 {km} {{{s}}}-1, consistent with warm gas expanding at the sound speed. The circumstellar plasma structures that we infer are similar in several respects to the cometary knots seen in the Helix and in other planetary nebulae. There the ionized gas appears as a skin around tiny molecular clumps. Our analysis suggests that molecular clumps are ubiquitous circumstellar features, unrelated to the evolutionary state of the star. The total mass in such clumps is comparable to the stellar mass.

Resolving the dusty circumstellar environment of the A[e] supergiant HD 62623 with the VLTI/MIDI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meilland, Antony; Kanaan, Sameer; Fernandes, Marcelo Borges; Chesneau, Olivier; Millour, Florentin; Stee, Philippe; Lopez, Bruno

2011-07-01

HD 62623 is one of the very few A-type supergiants showing the B[e] phenomenon. We studied the geometry of its circumstellar envelope in the mid-infrared using the VLTI/MIDI instrument. Using the radiative transfer code MC3D, we managed to model it as a dusty disk with an inner radius of 3.85 AU, an inclination angle of 60°, and a mass of 2 × 10-7Msolar. It is the first time that the dusty disk inner rim of a supergiant star exhibiting the B[e] phenomenon is significantly constrained. The inner gaseous envelope likely contributes up to 20% to the total N band flux and acts like a reprocessing disk. Finally, the hypothesis of a stellar wind deceleration by the companion gravitational effect remains the most probable case since the bi-stability mechanism is not efficient for this star.

Spectral Identification of New Galactic cLBV and WR Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stringfellow, G. S.; Gvaramadze, V. V.; Beletsky, Y.; Kniazev, A. Y.

2012-12-01

We have undertaken a near-IR spectral survey of stars associated with compact nebulae recently revealed by the Spitzer and WISE imaging surveys. These circumstellar nebulae, produced by massive evolved stars, display a variety of symmetries and shapes and are often only evident at mid-IR wavelengths. Stars associated with ˜50 of these nebulae have been observed. We also obtained recent spectra of previously confirmed (known) luminous blue variables (LBVs) and candidate LBVs (cLBVs). The spectral similarity of the stars observed when compared directly to known LBVs and Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars indicate many are newly identified cLBVs, with a few being newly discovered WR stars, mostly of WN8-9h spectral type. These results suggest that a large population of previously unidentified cLBVs and related transitional stars reside in the Galaxy and confirm that circumstellar nebulae are inherent to most (c)LBVs.

Spitzer Characterization of Transients from the Palomar Transient Factory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasliwal, Mansi; Ofek, Eran; Corsi, Alessandra; Nugent, Peter; Kulkarni, Shri; Cao, Yi; Helou, George; Gal-Yam, Avishay; Arcavi, Iair; Ben-Ami, Sagi

2012-12-01

We propose to continue Spitzer/IRAC follow-up of optical transients discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory. Our goals are: (i) probe the mass loss history and characterize the circumstellar environment of supernovae. (ii) construct a late-time bolometric light curve; the mid-infrared observations complement our ground-based optical and near-infrared data and (iii) understand the physical origin of new classes of transients (specifically, intermediate luminosity red transients) where the mystery is literally enshrouded in dust. We select extremely nearby supernovae, both thermonuclear and core-collapse, where the thermal echo is easily detectable in the mid-infrared. We also select peculiar supernovae that show tell-tale signs of circumstellar interaction. We also select rare and red gap transients in the local universe for IRAC follow-up. Additionally, we request low-impact target of opportunity observations for new discoveries in 2013. Our total request is 24 hrs.

Spitzer Characterization of Transients from the Palomar Transient Factory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasliwal, Mansi; Goobar, Ariel; Johansson, Joel; Cenko, Brad; Ofek, Eran; Nugent, Peter; Kulkarni, Shri; Cao, Yi; Helou, George; Gal-Yam, Avishay; Arcavi, Iair; Ben-Ami, Sagi

2013-10-01

We propose to continue Spitzer/IRAC follow-up of optical transients discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory. Our goals are: (i) probe the mass loss history and characterize the circumstellar environment of supernovae. (ii) construct a late-time bolometric light curve; the mid-infrared observations complement our ground-based optical and near-infrared data and (iii) understand the physical origin of new classes of transients (specifically, intermediate luminosity red transients) where the mystery is literally enshrouded in dust. We select extremely nearby supernovae, both thermonuclear and core-collapse, where the thermal echo is easily detectable in the mid-infrared. We also select peculiar supernovae that show tell-tale signs of circumstellar interaction. We also select rare and red gap transients in the local universe. Additionally, we request low-impact target of opportunity observations for new discoveries in 2014. Our total request is 17 hrs.

A giant outburst two years before the core-collapse of a massive star.

PubMed

Pastorello, A; Smartt, S J; Mattila, S; Eldridge, J J; Young, D; Itagaki, K; Yamaoka, H; Navasardyan, H; Valenti, S; Patat, F; Agnoletto, I; Augusteijn, T; Benetti, S; Cappellaro, E; Boles, T; Bonnet-Bidaud, J-M; Botticella, M T; Bufano, F; Cao, C; Deng, J; Dennefeld, M; Elias-Rosa, N; Harutyunyan, A; Keenan, F P; Iijima, T; Lorenzi, V; Mazzali, P A; Meng, X; Nakano, S; Nielsen, T B; Smoker, J V; Stanishev, V; Turatto, M; Xu, D; Zampieri, L

2007-06-14

The death of massive stars produces a variety of supernovae, which are linked to the structure of the exploding stars. The detection of several precursor stars of type II supernovae has been reported (see, for example, ref. 3), but we do not yet have direct information on the progenitors of the hydrogen-deficient type Ib and Ic supernovae. Here we report that the peculiar type Ib supernova SN 2006jc is spatially coincident with a bright optical transient that occurred in 2004. Spectroscopic and photometric monitoring of the supernova leads us to suggest that the progenitor was a carbon-oxygen Wolf-Rayet star embedded within a helium-rich circumstellar medium. There are different possible explanations for this pre-explosion transient. It appears similar to the giant outbursts of luminous blue variable stars (LBVs) of 60-100 solar masses, but the progenitor of SN 2006jc was helium- and hydrogen-deficient (unlike LBVs). An LBV-like outburst of a Wolf-Rayet star could be invoked, but this would be the first observational evidence of such a phenomenon. Alternatively, a massive binary system composed of an LBV that erupted in 2004, and a Wolf-Rayet star exploding as SN 2006jc, could explain the observations.

The Synchrotron Spectrum of Fast Cooling Electrons Revisited.

PubMed

Granot; Piran; Sari

2000-05-10

We discuss the spectrum arising from synchrotron emission by fast cooling (FC) electrons, when fresh electrons are continually accelerated by a strong blast wave, into a power-law distribution of energies. The FC spectrum has so far been described by four power-law segments divided by three break frequencies nusa

The physical origin of the X-ray emission from SN 1987A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miceli, M.; Orlando, S.; Petruk, O.

2017-10-01

We revisit the spectral analysis of the set of archive XMM-Newton observations of SN 1987A through our 3-D hydrodynamic model describing the whole evolution from the onset of the supernova to the full remnant development. For the first time the spectral analysis accounts for the single observations and for the evolution of the system self-consistently. We adopt a forward modeling approach which allows us to directly synthesize, from the model, X-ray spectra and images in different energy bands. We fold the synthetic observables through the XMM-Newton instrumental response and directly compare models and actual data. We find that our simulation provides an excellent fit to the data, by reproducing simultaneously X-ray fluxes, spectral features, and morphology of SN 1987A at all evolutionary stages. Our analysis enables us to obtain a deep insight on the physical origin of the observed multi-thermal emission, by revealing the contribution of shocked surrounding medium, dense clumps of the circumstellar ring, and ejecta to the total emission. We finally provide predictions for future observations (to be performed with XMM-Newton in the next future and with the forthcoming Athena X-ray telescope in approximately 10 years), showing the growing contribution of the ejecta X-ray emission.

Chemical complexity in the winds of the oxygen-rich supergiant star VY Canis Majoris

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziurys, L. M.; Milam, S. N.; Apponi, A. J.; Woolf, N. J.

2007-06-01

The interstellar medium is enriched primarily by matter ejected from old, evolved stars. The outflows from these stars create spherical envelopes, which foster gas-phase chemistry. The chemical complexity in circumstellar shells was originally thought to be dominated by the elemental carbon to oxygen ratio. Observations have suggested that envelopes with more carbon than oxygen have a significantly greater abundance of molecules than their oxygen-rich analogues. Here we report observations of molecules in the oxygen-rich shell of the red supergiant star VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa). A variety of unexpected chemical compounds have been identified, including NaCl, PN, HNC and HCO+. From the spectral line profiles, the molecules can be distinguished as arising from three distinct kinematic regions: a spherical outflow, a tightly collimated, blue-shifted expansion, and a directed, red-shifted flow. Certain species (SiO, PN and NaCl) exclusively trace the spherical flow, whereas HNC and sulphur-bearing molecules (amongst others) are selectively created in the two expansions, perhaps arising from shock waves. CO, HCN, CS and HCO+ exist in all three components. Despite the oxygen-rich environment, HCN seems to be as abundant as CO. These results suggest that oxygen-rich shells may be as chemically diverse as their carbon counterparts.

Chemical complexity in the winds of the oxygen-rich supergiant star VY Canis Majoris.

PubMed

Ziurys, L M; Milam, S N; Apponi, A J; Woolf, N J

2007-06-28

The interstellar medium is enriched primarily by matter ejected from old, evolved stars. The outflows from these stars create spherical envelopes, which foster gas-phase chemistry. The chemical complexity in circumstellar shells was originally thought to be dominated by the elemental carbon to oxygen ratio. Observations have suggested that envelopes with more carbon than oxygen have a significantly greater abundance of molecules than their oxygen-rich analogues. Here we report observations of molecules in the oxygen-rich shell of the red supergiant star VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa). A variety of unexpected chemical compounds have been identified, including NaCl, PN, HNC and HCO+. From the spectral line profiles, the molecules can be distinguished as arising from three distinct kinematic regions: a spherical outflow, a tightly collimated, blue-shifted expansion, and a directed, red-shifted flow. Certain species (SiO, PN and NaCl) exclusively trace the spherical flow, whereas HNC and sulphur-bearing molecules (amongst others) are selectively created in the two expansions, perhaps arising from shock waves. CO, HCN, CS and HCO+ exist in all three components. Despite the oxygen-rich environment, HCN seems to be as abundant as CO. These results suggest that oxygen-rich shells may be as chemically diverse as their carbon counterparts.

SN 1986J VLBI. IV. The Nature of the Central Component

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bietenholz, Michael F.; Bartel, Norbert

2017-12-01

We report on Very Large Array measurements between 1 and 45 GHz of the evolving radio spectral energy distribution (SED) of SN 1986J, made in conjunction with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging. The SED of SN 1986J is unique among supernovae, and shows an inversion point and a high-frequency turnover. Both are due to the central component seen in the VLBI images, and both are progressing downward in frequency with time. The optically thin spectral index of the central component is almost the same as that of the shell. We fit a simple model to the evolving SED consisting of an optically thin shell and a partly absorbed central component. The evolution of the SED is consistent with that of a homologously expanding system. Both components are fading, but the shell is fading more rapidly. We conclude that the central component is physically inside the expanding shell, and not a surface hotspot central only in projection. Our observations are consistent with the central component being due to interaction of the shock with the dense and highly structured circumstellar medium that resulted from a period of common-envelope evolution of the progenitor. However, a young pulsar-wind nebula or emission from an accreting black hole can also not be ruled out at this point.

High-Resolution and Analytical TEM Investigation of Space Radiation Processing Effects in Primitive Solar System Materials and Airless Planetary Surface Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Christoffersen, R.; Rahman, Z.; Keller, L. P.; Dukes, C.; Baragiola, R.

2012-01-01

Energetic ions present in the diverse plasma conditions in space play a significant role in the formation and modification of solid phases found in environments ranging from the interstellar medium (ISM) to the surfaces of airless bodies such as asteroids and the Moon. These effects are often referred to as space radiation processing, a term that encompasses changes induced in natural space-exposed materials that may be only structural, such as in radiation-induced amorphization, or may involve ion-induced nanoscale to microscale chemical changes, as occurs in preferential sputtering and ion-beam mixing. Ion sputtering in general may also be responsible for partial or complete erosion of space exposed materials, in some instances possibly bringing about the complete destruction of free-floating solid grains in the ISM or in circumstellar nebular dust clouds. We report here on two examples of the application of high-resolution and analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to problems in space radiation processing. The first problem concerns the role of space radiation processing in controlling the overall fate of Fe sulfides as hosts for sulfur in the ISM. The second problem concerns the known, but as yet poorly quantified, role of space radiation processing in lunar space weathering.

Comet Pond II: Synergistic Intersection of Concentrated Extraterrestrial Materials and Planetary Environments to Form Procreative Darwinian Ponds.

PubMed

Clark, Benton C; Kolb, Vera M

2018-05-11

In the “comet pond” model, a rare combination of circumstances enables the entry and landing of pristine organic material onto a planetary surface with the creation of a pond by a soft impact and melting of entrained ices. Formation of the constituents of the comet in the cold interstellar medium and our circumstellar disk results in multiple constituents at disequilibrium which undergo rapid chemical reactions in the warmer, liquid environment. The planetary surface also provides minerals and atmospheric gases which chemically interact with the pond’s organic- and trace-element-rich constituents. Pond physical morphology and the heterogeneities imposed by gravitational forces (bottom sludge; surface scum) and weather result in a highly heterogeneous variety of macro- and microenvironments. Wet/dry, freeze/thaw, and natural chromatography processes further promote certain reaction sequences. Evaporation concentrates organics less volatile than water. Freezing concentrates all soluble organics into a residual liquid phase, including CH₃OH, HCN, etc. The pond’s evolutionary processes culminate in the creation of a Macrobiont with the metabolically equivalent capabilities of energy transduction and replication of RNA (or its progenitor informational macromolecule), from which smaller organisms can emerge. Planet-wide dispersal of microorganisms is achieved through wind transport, groundwater, and/or spillover from the pond into surface hydrologic networks.

The peculiar Type Ia supernova iPTF14atg: Chandrasekhar-mass explosion or violent merger?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kromer, M.; Fremling, C.; Pakmor, R.; Taubenberger, S.; Amanullah, R.; Cenko, S. B.; Fransson, C.; Goobar, A.; Leloudas, G.; Taddia, F.; Röpke, F. K.; Seitenzahl, I. R.; Sim, S. A.; Sollerman, J.

2016-07-01

iPTF14atg, a subluminous peculiar Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) similar to SN 2002es, is the first SN Ia for which a strong UV flash was observed in the early-time light curves. This has been interpreted as evidence for a single-degenerate (SD) progenitor system, where such a signal is expected from interactions between the SN ejecta and the non-degenerate companion star. Here, we compare synthetic observables of multidimensional state-of-the-art explosion models for different progenitor scenarios to the light curves and spectra of iPTF14atg. From our models, we have difficulties explaining the spectral evolution of iPTF14atg within the SD progenitor channel. In contrast, we find that a violent merger of two carbon-oxygen white dwarfs with 0.9 and 0.76 M⊙, respectively, provides an excellent match to the spectral evolution of iPTF14atg from 10 d before to several weeks after maximum light. Our merger model does not naturally explain the initial UV flash of iPTF14atg. We discuss several possibilities like interactions of the SN ejecta with the circumstellar medium and surface radioactivity from an He-ignited merger that may be able to account for the early UV emission in violent merger models.

Dust grains from the heart of supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bocchio, Marco; Marassi, Stefania; Schneider, Raffaella; Bianchi, Simone; Limongi, Marco; Chieffi, A.

2016-06-01

Dust grains are classically thought to form in the winds of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. However, there is increasing evidence today for dust formation in supernovae (SNe). To establish the relative importance of these two classes of stellar sources of dust, it is important to know the fraction of freshly formed dust in SN ejecta that is able to survive the passage of the reverse shock and be injected in the interstellar medium. We have developed a new code (GRASH_Rev) which follows the newly-formed dust evolution throughout the supernova explosion until the merging of the forward shock with the circumstellar ISM. We have considered four well studied SNe in the Milky Way and Large Magellanic Cloud: SN1987A, CasA, the Crab Nebula, and N49. For all the simulated models, we find good agreement with observations and estimate that between 1 and 8% of the observed mass will survive, leading to a SN dust production rate of (3.9± 3.7)×10^(-4) MM_{⊙})/yr in the Milky Way. This value is one order of magnitude larger than the dust production rate by AGB stars but insufficient to counterbalance the dust destruction by SNe, therefore requiring dust accretion in the gas phase.

Magnetar-powered Supernovae in Two Dimensions. II. Broad-line Supernovae Ic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Ke-Jung; Moriya, Takashi J.; Woosley, Stan; Sukhbold, Tuguldur; Whalen, Daniel J.; Suwa, Yudai; Bromm, Volker

2017-04-01

Nascent neutron stars (NSs) with millisecond periods and magnetic fields in excess of 1016 Gauss can drive highly energetic and asymmetric explosions known as magnetar-powered supernovae. These exotic explosions are one theoretical interpretation for supernovae Ic-BL, which are sometimes associated with long gamma-ray bursts. Twisted magnetic field lines extract the rotational energy of the NS and release it as a disk wind or a jet with energies greater than 1052 erg over ˜20 s. What fraction of the energy of the central engine go into the wind and the jet remain unclear. We have performed two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of magnetar-powered supernovae (SNe) driven by disk winds and jets with the CASTRO code to investigate the effect of the central engine on nucleosynthetic yields, mixing, and light curves. We find that these explosions synthesize less than 0.05 {M}⊙ of {}56{Ni} and that this mass is not very sensitive to central engine type. The morphology of the explosion can provide a powerful diagnostic of the properties of the central engine. In the absence of a circumstellar medium, these events are not very luminous, with peak bolometric magnitudes of {M}b˜ -16.5 due to low {}56{Ni} production.

Local protoplanetary disk ionisation by T Tauri star energetic particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fraschetti, F.; Drake, J.; Cohen, O.; Garraffo, C.

2017-10-01

The evolution of protoplanetary disks is believed to be driven largely by viscosity. The ionization of the disk that gives rise to viscosity is caused by X-rays from the central star or by energetic particles released by shock waves travelling into the circumstellar medium. We have performed test-particle numerical simulations of GeV-scale protons traversing a realistic magnetised wind of a young solar mass star with a superposed small-scale turbulence. The large-scale field is generated via an MHD model of a T Tauri wind, whereas the isotropic (Kolmogorov power spectrum) turbulent component is synthesised along the particles' trajectories. We have combined Chandra observations of T Tauri flares with solar flare scaling for describing the energetic particle spectrum. In contrast with previous models, we find that the disk ionization is dominated by X-rays except within narrow regions where the energetic particles are channelled onto the disk by the strongly tangled and turbulent field lines; the radial thickness of such regions broadens with the distance from the central star (5 stellar radii or more). In those regions, the disk ionization due to energetic particles can locally dominate the stellar X-rays, arguably, out to large distances (10, 100 AU) from the star.

Extraterrestrial Organic Compounds in Meteorites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Botta, Oliver; Bada, Jeffrey L.; Meyer, Michael (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

Many organic compounds or their precursors found in meteorites originated in the interstellar or circumstellar medium and were later incorporated into planetesimals during the formation of the solar system. There they either survived intact or underwent further processing to synthesize secondary products on the meteorite parent body. The most distinct feature of CI and CM carbonaceous chondrites, two types of stony meteorites, is their high carbon content (up to 3% of weight), either in the form of carbonates or of organic compounds. The bulk of the organic carbon consists of an insoluble macromolecular material with a complex structure. Also present is a soluble organic fraction, which has been analyzed by several separation and analytical procedures. Low detection limits can be achieved by derivatization of the organic molecules with reagents that allow for analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography. The CM meteorite Murchison has been found to contain more than 70 extraterrestrial amino acids and several other classes of compounds including carboxylic acids, hydroxy carboxylic acids, sulphonic and phosphonic acids, aliphatic, aromatic and polar hydrocarbons, fullerenes, heterocycles as well as carbonyl compounds, alcohols, amines and amides. The organic matter was found to be enriched in deuterium, and distinct organic compounds show isotopic enrichments of carbon and nitrogen relative to terrestrial matter.

Recent Progress in Laboratory Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Achieved with the COSmIC Facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salama, Farid; Sciamma-O'Brien, Ella; Bejaoui, Salma

2017-01-01

We describe the characteristics and the capabilities of the laboratory facility, COSmIC, that was developed at NASA Ames to generate, process and analyze interstellar, circumstellar and planetary analogs in the laboratory. COSmIC stands for "Cosmic Simulation Chamber" and is dedicated to the study of neutral and ionized molecules and nanoparticles under the low temperature and high vacuum conditions that are required to simulate various space environments such as diffuse interstellar clouds, circumstellar outflows and planetary atmospheres. COSmIC integrates a variety of state-of-the-art instruments that allow recreating simulated space conditions to generate, process and monitor cosmic analogs in the laboratory. The COSmIC experimental setup is composed of a Pulsed Discharge Nozzle (PDN) expansion, that generates a plasma in the stream of a free supersonic jet expansion, coupled to high-sensitivity, complementary in situ diagnostics: cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) systems for photonic detection, and Reflectron Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ReTOF-MS) for mass detection. Recent results obtained using COSmIC will be highlighted. In particular, the progress that has been achieved in the domain of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) and in monitoring, in the laboratory, the formation of circumstellar dust grains and planetary atmosphere aerosols from their gas-phase molecular precursors. Plans for future laboratory experiments on interstellar and planetary molecules and grains will also be addressed, as well as the implications of the studies underway for astronomical observations and past and future space mission data analysis.

Jet or Shock Breakout? The Low-Luminosity GRB 060218

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irwin, Christopher; Chevalier, Roger

2016-01-01

We consider a model for the long-duration, low-luminosity gamma-ray burst GRB 060218 that plausibly accounts for multiwavelength observations to day 20. The components of our model are: (1) a long-lived (tj ~ 3000 s) central engine and accompanying low-luminosity (Lj ~ 1045 erg s-1), mildly relativistic jet; (2) a low-mass (~ 10-2 Msun) envelope surrounding the progenitor star; and (3) a modest amount of dust (AV ~ 0.1) in the circumstellar or interstellar environment. Blackbody emission from the transparency radius in a low-power jet outflow can fit the prompt thermal X-ray emission, and the prompt nonthermal X-rays and γ-rays may be produced via Compton scattering of thermal photons from hot leptons in the jet interior or the external shocks. The later mildly relativistic phase of this outflow can produce the radio emission via synchrotron radiation from the forward shock. Meanwhile, interaction of the associated SN 2006aj with a circumstellar envelope extending to ~ 1013 cm can explain the early optical peak. The X-ray afterglow can be interpreted as a light echo of the prompt emission from dust at ~ 30 pc. Our model is a plausible alternative to that of Nakar, who recently proposed shock breakout of a jet smothered by an extended envelope as the source of prompt emission. Both our results and Nakar's suggest that ultra-long bursts such as GRB 060218 and GRB 100316D may originate from unusual progenitors with extended circumstellar envelopes, and that a jet is necessary to decouple the prompt high-energy emission from the supernova.

Beta Pic-like Circumstellar Gas Disk Around 2 And

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cheng, Patricia

2003-01-01

This grant was awarded to support the data analysis and publication of results from our project entitled P Pic-like Circumstellar Gas Disk Around 2 And . We proposed to obtain FUSE observations of 2 And and study the characteristics and origin of its circumstellar gas. We observed 2 Andromedae with FUSE on 3-4 July 2001 in 11 exposures with a total exposure time of 21,289 seconds through the LWRS aperture. Our data were calibrated with Version 1.8.7 of the CALFUSE pipeline processing software. We corrected the wavelength scale for the heliocentric velocity error in this version of the CALFUSE software. The relative accuracy of the calibrated wavelength scale is +/- 9 km/s . We produced a co-added spectrum in the LiF 1B and LiF 2A channels (covering the 1100 to 1180 A region) by cross-correlating the 11 individual exposures and doing an exposure-time weighted average flux. The final co-added spectra have a signal-to-noise ratio in the stellar continuum near 1150 A of about 20. To obtain an absolute wavelength calibration, we cross-correlated our observed spectra with a model spectrum to obtain the best fit for the photospheric C I lines. Because the photospheric lines are very broad, this yields an absolute accuracy for the wavelength scale of approx.+/- 15 km/s. We then rebinned 5 original pixels to yield the optimal sampling of .033 A for each new pixel, because the calibrated spectra oversample the spectral resolution for FUSE+LWRS (R = 20,000 +/- 2,000).

Jet or shock breakout? The low-luminosity GRB 060218

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irwin, Christopher M.; Chevalier, Roger A.

2016-08-01

We consider a model for the low-luminosity gamma-ray burst GRB 060218 that plausibly accounts for multiwavelength observations to day 20. The model components are: (1) a long-lived (tj ˜ 3000 s) central engine and accompanying low-luminosity (Lj ˜ 1047 erg s-1), mildly relativistic (γ ˜ 10) jet; (2) a low-mass (˜4 × 10-3 M⊙) envelope surrounding the progenitor star; and (3) a modest amount of dust (AV ˜ 0.1 mag) in the circumstellar or interstellar environment. Blackbody emission from the transparency radius in a low-power jet outflow can fit the prompt thermal X-ray emission, and the non-thermal X-rays and gamma-rays may be produced via Compton scattering of thermal photons from hot leptons in the jet interior or the external shocks. The later mildly relativistic phase of this outflow can produce the radio emission via synchrotron radiation from the forward shock. Meanwhile, interaction of the associated SN 2006aj with a circumstellar envelope extending to ˜1013 cm can explain the early optical emission. The X-ray afterglow can be interpreted as a light echo of the prompt emission from dust at ˜30 pc. Our model is a plausible alternative to that of Nakar, who recently proposed shock breakout of a jet smothered by an extended envelope as the source of prompt emission. Both our results and Nakar's suggest that bursts such as GRB 060218 may originate from unusual progenitors with extended circumstellar envelopes, and that a jet is necessary to decouple the prompt emission from the supernova.

Polarimetry with the Gemini Planet Imager. Methods, performance at first light, and the circumstellar ring around HR 4796A

DOE PAGES

Perrin, Marshall D.; Duchene, Gaspard; Millar-Blanchaer, Max; ...

2015-01-28

We report he first results from the polarimetry mode of the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), which uses a new integral field polarimetry architecture to provide high contrast linear polarimetry with minimal systematic biases between the orthogonal polarizations. We describe the design, data reduction methods, and performance of polarimetry with GPI. Point-spread function (PSF) subtraction via differential polarimetry suppresses unpolarized starlight by a factor of over 100, and provides sensitivity to circumstellar dust reaching the photon noise limit for these observations. In the case of the circumstellar disk around HR 4796A, GPI’s advanced adaptive optics system reveals the disk clearly evenmore » prior to PSF subtraction. In polarized light, the disk is seen all the way in to its semi-minor axis for the first time. The disk exhibits surprisingly strong asymmetry in polarized intensity, with the west side ≳9 times brighter than the east side despite the fact that the east side is slightly brighter in total intensity. Based on a synthesis of the total and polarized intensities, we now believe that the west side is closer to us, contrary to most prior interpretations. Forward scattering by relatively large silicate dust particles leads to the strong polarized intensity on the west side, and the ring must be slightly optically thick in order to explain the lower brightness in total intensity there. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the ring is geometrically narrow and dynamically cold, perhaps shepherded by larger bodies in the same manner as Saturn’s F ring.« less

Polarimetry with the Gemini Planet Imager: methods, performance at first light, and the circumstellar ring around HR 4796A

DOE PAGES

Perrin, Marshall D.; Duchene, Gaspard; Millar-Blanchaer, Max; ...

2015-01-28

We present the first results from the polarimetry mode of the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), which uses a new integral field polarimetry architecture to provide high contrast linear polarimetry with minimal systematic biases between the orthogonal polarizations. We describe the design, data reduction methods, and performance of polarimetry with GPI. Point spread function subtraction via di erential polarimetry suppresses unpolarized starlight by a factor of over 100, and provides sensitivity to circumstellar dust reaching the photon noise limit for these observations. In the case of the circumstellar disk around HR 4796A, GPI's advanced adaptive optics system reveals the disk clearlymore » even prior to PSF subtraction. In polarized light, the disk is seen all the way in to its semi-minor axis for the first time. The disk exhibits surprisingly strong asymmetry in polarized intensity, with the west side ≳ 9 times brighter than the east side despite the fact that the east side is slightly brighter in total intensity. Based on a synthesis of the total and polarized intensities, we now believe that the west side is closer to us, contrary to most prior interpretations. Forward scattering by relatively large silicate dust particles leads to the strong polarized intensity on the west side, and the ring must be slightly optically thick in order to explain the lower brightness in total intensity there. These findings suggest that the ring is geometrically narrow and dynamically cold, perhaps shepherded by larger bodies in the same manner as Saturn's F ring.« less

Photospheric, circumstellar, and interstellar features of HE, C, N. O, and Si in the HST spectra of four hot white dwarf stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shipman, Harry L.; Provencal, Judi; Roby, Scott W.; Barstow, Martin; Bond, Howard; Bruhweiler, Fred; Finley, David; Fontaine, Gilles; Holberg, Jay; Nousek, John

1995-01-01

This paper reports on the observations of four hot white dwarf stars with the spectrographs on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The higher resolving power and higher signal/noise, in comparison with IUE, reveals a very rich phenomomenology, including photospheric features from heavy elements, circumstellar features, and the first direct detection of accretion onto the white dwarf component of a binary system. Specific results include the following: Our observations of the ultrahot degenerate H1504+65 confirm that it has a photosphere which is depleted in both H and He, and reveals features of C IV and O VI. The spectrum fits previously published models extremely well. The intermediate-temperature DO star PG 1034+001 has an ultraviolet spectrum showing complex profiles of the well-known resonance doublets of C IV, N v, and Si IV. The O V 1371 line shows a clear separation into a photospheric and a circumstellar component, and it is likely that the same two components can explain the other lines as well. The cooler DA star GD 394 has an extensive system of heavy-element features, but their radial velocity is such that it is highly unlikely that they are formed in the stellar photosphere. Time-resolved spectra of the accreting white dwarf in the V 471 Tau binary system are briefly presented here; they do show the presence of C IV, Si IV, and He II. However, the C IV and He II lines are in emission, rather than in aborption as had been expected.

Genomic and functional analyses unveil the response to hyphal wall stress in Candida albicans cells lacking β(1,3)-glucan remodeling.

PubMed

Degani, Genny; Ragni, Enrico; Botias, Pedro; Ravasio, Davide; Calderon, Julia; Pianezzola, Elena; Rodriguez-Peña, Jose Manuel; Vanoni, Maria Antonietta; Arroyo, Javier; Fonzi, William A; Popolo, Laura

2016-07-02

The cell wall is essential for the yeast to hypha (Y-H) transition that enables Candida albicans to invade human tissues and evade the immune system. The main constituent, β(1,3)-glucan, is remodeled by glucanosyltransferases of the GH72 family. Phr1p is responsible of glucan remodeling at neutral-alkaline pH and is essential for morphogenesis and virulence. Due to the pH-regulated expression of PHR1, the phr1Δ phenotype is manifested at pH > 6 and its severity increases with the rise in pH. We exploited the pH-conditional nature of a PHR1 null mutant to analyze the impact of glucan remodeling on the hyphal transcriptional program and the role of chitin synthases in the hyphal wall stress (HWS) response. In hyphal growth inducing conditions, phr1Δ germ tubes are defective in elongation, accumulate chitin, and constitutively activate the signaling pathways mediated by the MAP kinases Mkc1p, Cek1p and Hog1p. The transcriptional profiles revealed an increase of transcript levels for genes involved in cell wall formation (CHS2 and CHS8, CRH11, PGA23, orf19.750, RBR1, RBT4, ECM331, PGA6, PGA13), protein N-glycosylation and sorting in the ER (CWH8 and CHS7), signaling (CPP1, SSK2), ion transport (FLC2, YVC1), stress response and metabolism and a reduced expression of adhesins. A transient up-regulation of DNA replication genes associated with entry into S-phase occurred whereas cell-cycle regulating genes (PCL1, PCL2, CCN1, GIN4, DUN1, CDC28) were persistently up-regulated. To test the physiological relevance of altered CHS gene expression, phr1Δ chsxΔ (x = 2,3,8) mutant phenotypes were analyzed during the Y-H transition. PHR1 deletion was synthetic lethal with CHS3 loss on solid M199 medium-pH 7.5 and with CHS8 deletion on solid M199-pH 8. On Spider medium, PHR1 was synthetic lethal with CHS3 or CHS8 at pH 8. The absence of Phr1p triggers an adaptive response aimed to reinforce the hyphal cell wall and restore homeostasis. Chs3p is essential in preserving phr1Δ cell integrity during the Y-H transition. Our findings also unveiled an unanticipated essential role of Chs8p during filamentation on solid media. These results highlight the flexibility of fungal cells in maintaining cell wall integrity and contribute to assessments of glucan remodeling as a target for therapy.

Recommended Rest Frequencies for Observed Interstellar Molecular Microwave Transitions - 2002 Revision

National Institute of Standards and Technology Data Gateway

SRD 116 NIST Recommended Rest Frequencies for Observed Interstellar Molecular Microwave Transitions - 2002 Revision (Web, free access)   Critically evaluated transition frequencies for the molecular transitions detected in interstellar and circumstellar clouds are presented.

Analyses at High Spatial Resolution of Organic Molecules in Extraterrestrial Samples: Two-Step Laser Mass Spectrometry: Search for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Antarctic Meteorite and Micrometeorite Samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zare, Richard N.

1998-01-01

Perhaps the best way to summarize the past three-year grant period is to cite the publications and present a brief synopsis of each: 1. "Indigenous Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Molecules in Circumstellar Graphite Grains." Bulk C-12/C-13 isotope ratios observed in some graphite grains extracted from primitive meteorites point strongly to a circumstellar origin. By applying our technique of microprobe two-step laser desorption laser ionization mass spectrometry ((mu)L(sup 2)MS) to individual circumstellar graphite grains we have measured the C-12/C-13 isotope ratio of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) found in these grains. 2. "Deuterium Enrichments in Cluster IDPS," Large enrichments in the D/H isotope ratios in IDPs likely arise from the preservation of presolar molecules. 3. "Evidence for thermalization of surface-disorder molecules at heating rates of 10(exp 8) K/s". A careful study of the ((mu)L(sup 2)MS) of aniline-d(sub 7) from a single-crystal surface (0001) of sapphire (al2O3) shows that all measured properties are consistent with a thermal mechanism for desorption. 4. "Search for past life on Mars; possible relic biogenic activity in Martian meteorite ALH 84001. The authors examined the Martian meteorite ALH 84001 and found several lines of evidence compatible with existence of past primitive (single-cell) life on early Mars. 5. "Microprobe two-step laser mass spectrometry as an analytical tool for meteorite samples". THis paper presents a comprehensive review of (mu)L(sup 2)MS and how this technique can be applied to meteoritic samples. 6. "Indigenous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in circumstellar graphite grains from primitive meteorites". The C-12/C-13 isotope ratios were measured for PAHs in a total of 89 spherical graphite grains. 7. "Observation of indigenous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in "Giant" carbonaceous antarctic micrometeorites." The (mu)L(sup 2)MS method was used to establish the nature and distribution of PAHs in fragments of fifteen (approx. 200 microns) carbonaceous antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs). 8. "Evidence for the extraterrestrial origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Martian meteorite ALH 84001" We have undertaken additional contamination studies of ALH 84001.

The Herbig B0e star HD 53367: circumstellar activity and evidence of binarity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pogodin, M. A.; Malanushenko, V. P.; Kozlova, O. V.; Tarasova, T. N.; Franco, G. A. P.

2006-06-01

Aims.We investigate the spectroscopic behaviour of the young B0e star HD 53367 within a cooperative observing programme conducted from 1994 to 2005. Methods: .The data include more than 100 high-resolution spectra collected at the Crimean Astronomical Observatory (CrAO) near Hα, Hβ, He i λ 5876, 6678 Å, DNa i, and O ii λ 6641 Å lines. Two spectra obtained at the Observatório do Pico dos Dias (LNA), in the spectral bands λλ 4575-4725 Å and λλ 5625-5775 Å, were used for spectral classification of HD 53367. The temporal behaviour of the circumstellar lines Hα and Hβ as well as the photospheric lines O ii λ 6641 Å and He i λ 6678 Å were investigated during different stages of the photometric activity of this object. Results: .We confirm that the long-term photometric variability of HD 53367 is related to the alternation of two states of this object when the gaseous circumstellar envelope disappears and rises again. Both these processes start near the star and spread to the outlying parts of the envelope. We find that the radial velocities of He i and O ii photospheric lines demonstrate a cyclic variability with a period of P=183.7 days and semi-amplitude K=19 km s-1. The radial velocity change is interpreted in the framework of a model in which the star is a component of an eccentric binary system. An orbital solution is derived and the system's parameters estimated. We find that the orbital eccentricity is e=0.28, and the mean companion separation is 1.7 AU. Conclusions: .Based on the estimated parameters, we conclude that the system consists of a massive (~20 M_⊙) main sequence primary B0e star, and a secondary which is most likely a 5 solar mass pre-main sequence object. We found evidence that the main part of the circumstellar gas in this system is concentrated near the secondary companion. Although the young age of HD 53367, its evolved primary B0e star seems to have already became a classical Be star exhibiting a specific alternation of the B-Be stages.

Spatially resolved mid-infrared observations of the triple system T Tauri

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratzka, Th.; Schegerer, A. A.; Leinert, Ch.; Ábrahám, P.; Henning, Th.; Herbst, T. M.; Köhler, R.; Wolf, S.; Zinnecker, H.

2009-08-01

Aims: The aim of this study is to enhance our knowledge of the characteristics and distribution of the circumstellar dust associated with the individual components of the young hierarchical triple system T Tau. Methods: To reach this goal, observations in the N-band (8-13 μm) with the two-telescope interferometric instrument MIDI at the VLTI were performed. For the northern component of the T Tau system, projected baseline lengths of 43 m, 62 m, and 85 m were used. For the southern binary projected baseline lengths of equivalent resolution could be utilised. Our study is based on both the interferometric and the spectrophotometric measurements and is supplemented by new visual and infrared photometry. Also, the phases were investigated to determine the dominating mid-infrared source in the close southern binary. The data were fit with the help of a sophisticated physical disc model. This model utilises the radiative transfer code MC3D that is based on the Monte-Carlo method. Results: Extended mid-infrared emission is found around all three components of the system. Simultaneous fits to the photometric and interferometric data confirm the picture of an almost face-on circumstellar disc around T Tau N. Towards this star, the silicate band is seen in emission. This emission feature is used to model the dust content of the circumstellar disc. Clear signs of dust processing are found. Towards T Tau S, the silicate band is seen in absorption. This absorption is strongly pronounced towards the infrared companion T Tau Sa as can be seen from the first individual N-band spectra for the two southern components. Our fits support the previous suggestion that an almost edge-on disc is present around T Tau Sa. This disc is thus misaligned with respect to the circumstellar disc around T Tau N. The interferometric data indicate that the disc around T Tau Sa is oriented in the north-south direction, which favours this source as launching site for the east-western jet. We further determine from the interferometric data the relative positions of the components of the southern binary in the N-band. We find good agreement with recent position measurements in the near-infrared. Based on observations with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI, proposal 074. C-0209(A) and 077.C-0176(C)).

Binary energy source of the HH 250 outflow and its circumstellar environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Comerón, Fernando; Reipurth, Bo; Yen, Hsi-Wei; Connelley, Michael S.

2018-04-01

Aims: Herbig-Haro flows are signposts of recent major accretion and outflow episodes. We aim to determine the nature and properties of the little-known outflow source HH 250-IRS, which is embedded in the Aquila clouds. Methods: We have obtained adaptive optics-assisted L-band images with the NACO instrument on the Very Large Telescope (VLT), together with N- and Q-band imaging with VISIR also on the VLT. Using the SINFONI instrument on the VLT we carried out H- and K-band integral field spectroscopy of HH 250-IRS, complemented with spectra obtained with the SpeX instrument at the InfraRed Telescope Facility (IRTF) in the JHKL bands. Finally, the SubMillimeter Array (SMA) interferometer was used to study the circumstellar environment of HH 250-IRS at 225 and 351 GHz with CO (2-1) and CO (3-2) maps and 0.9 mm and 1.3 mm continuum images. Results: The HH 250-IRS source is resolved into a binary with 0.''53 separation, corresponding to 120 AU at the adopted distance of 225 pc. The individual components show heavily veiled spectra with weak CO absorption indicative of late-type stars. Both are Class I sources, but their spectral energy distributions between 1.5 μm and 19 μm differ markedly and suggest the existence of a large cavity around one of the components. The millimeter interferometric observations indicate that the gas mainly traces a circumbinary envelope or disk, while the dust emission is dominated by one of the circumstellar envelopes. Conclusions: HH 250-IRS is a new addition to the handful of multiple systems where the individual stellar components, the circumstellar disks and a circumbinary disk can be studied in detail, and a rare case among those systems in which a Herbig-Haro flow is present. Based on observations obtained with the VLT (Cerro Paranal, Chile) in programs 089.C-0196(A), 095.C-0488(A), and 095.C-0488(B), as well as with IRTF (Mauna Kea, Hawaii), SMA (Mauna Kea, Hawaii), and the Nordic Optical Telescope (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain).Staff Astronomer at the Infrared Telescope Facility, which is operated by the University of Hawaii under contract NNH14CK55B with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

A mid-IR study of the circumstellar environment of Herbig Be stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verhoeff, A. P.; Waters, L. B. F. M.; van den Ancker, M. E.; Min, M.; Stap, F. A.; Pantin, E.; van Boekel, R.; Acke, B.; Tielens, A. G. G. M.; de Koter, A.

2012-02-01

Context. The study of the formation of massive stars is complicated because of the short times scales, large distances, and obscuring natal clouds. There are observational and theoretical indications that the circumstellar environment of Herbig Be (HBe) stars is substantially different from that of their lower mass counterparts, the T Tauri and Herbig Ae stars. Aims: We map the spatial distribution and mineralogy of the warm circumstellar dust of a sample of HBe stars. We compare our results to a sample of less massive Herbig Ae stars. Methods: We used literature photometry to obtain optical extinctions and stellar parameters of the targets. We obtained N-band imaging and long-slit spectroscopic data with the VISIR instrument at the VLT and we analyzed these data. We performed photometry of the images and extracted spatial information. We corrected the spectra for extinction and performed mineralogical fits. We fitted Gaussian profiles to characterize the spatial extent of the spectra along the VISIR slit. Results: We find that the mid-infrared (IR) emission of the HBe stars is typically characterized by a circumstellar disk that efficiently reprocesses a substantial portion of the stellar flux. The mid-IR flux levels, the spatial compactness, and the dust composition are quite similar to those of the Herbig Ae stars. We find upper limits to the full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) size of the mid-IR emission of ~500 AU. The main differences with the lower mass stars are the lower overall IR excess with a greater variety in shapes, the weaker PAH reprocessing power, and the lack of a silica-forsterite relation. The discrepancies between VISIR and IRAS photometry, the far-IR contributions and the large PAH sizes of HBe stars are attributed to natal clouds. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the Herbig Be disks are flatter than those around lower mass stars and they are likely truncated from the outside by photoevaporation. Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Chile. Under program IDs: 078.C-0750B, 078.C-0750C, 079.C-0207A, 079.C-0207B and 080.C-0410A.Tables 4 and 5 are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

A clumpy and anisotropic galaxy halo at redshift 1 from gravitational-arc tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez, Sebastian; Tejos, Nicolas; Ledoux, Cédric; Barrientos, L. Felipe; Sharon, Keren; Rigby, Jane R.; Gladders, Michael D.; Bayliss, Matthew B.; Pessa, Ismael

2018-02-01

Every star-forming galaxy has a halo of metal-enriched gas that extends out to at least 100 kiloparsecs, as revealed by the absorption lines that this gas imprints on the spectra of background quasars. However, quasars are sparse and typically probe only one narrow beam of emission through the intervening galaxy. Close quasar pairs and gravitationally lensed quasars have been used to circumvent this inherently one-dimensional technique, but these objects are rare and the structure of the circumgalactic medium remains poorly constrained. As a result, our understanding of the physical processes that drive the recycling of baryons across the lifetime of a galaxy is limited. Here we report integral-field (tomographic) spectroscopy of an extended background source—a bright, giant gravitational arc. We can thus coherently map the spatial and kinematic distribution of Mg ɪɪ absorption—a standard tracer of enriched gas—in an intervening galaxy system at redshift 0.98 (around 8 billion years ago). Our gravitational-arc tomography unveils a clumpy medium in which the absorption strength decreases with increasing distance from the galaxy system, in good agreement with results for quasars. Furthermore, we find strong evidence that the gas is not distributed isotropically. Interestingly, we detect little kinematic variation over a projected area of approximately 600 square kiloparsecs, with all line-of-sight velocities confined to within a few tens of kilometres per second of each other. These results suggest that the detected absorption originates from entrained recycled material, rather than in a galactic outflow.

A clumpy and anisotropic galaxy halo at redshift 1 from gravitational-arc tomography.

PubMed

Lopez, Sebastian; Tejos, Nicolas; Ledoux, Cédric; Barrientos, L Felipe; Sharon, Keren; Rigby, Jane R; Gladders, Michael D; Bayliss, Matthew B; Pessa, Ismael

2018-02-22

Every star-forming galaxy has a halo of metal-enriched gas that extends out to at least 100 kiloparsecs, as revealed by the absorption lines that this gas imprints on the spectra of background quasars. However, quasars are sparse and typically probe only one narrow beam of emission through the intervening galaxy. Close quasar pairs and gravitationally lensed quasars have been used to circumvent this inherently one-dimensional technique, but these objects are rare and the structure of the circumgalactic medium remains poorly constrained. As a result, our understanding of the physical processes that drive the recycling of baryons across the lifetime of a galaxy is limited. Here we report integral-field (tomographic) spectroscopy of an extended background source-a bright, giant gravitational arc. We can thus coherently map the spatial and kinematic distribution of Mg ɪɪ absorption-a standard tracer of enriched gas-in an intervening galaxy system at redshift 0.98 (around 8 billion years ago). Our gravitational-arc tomography unveils a clumpy medium in which the absorption strength decreases with increasing distance from the galaxy system, in good agreement with results for quasars. Furthermore, we find strong evidence that the gas is not distributed isotropically. Interestingly, we detect little kinematic variation over a projected area of approximately 600 square kiloparsecs, with all line-of-sight velocities confined to within a few tens of kilometres per second of each other. These results suggest that the detected absorption originates from entrained recycled material, rather than in a galactic outflow.

Expectations and satisfaction of pregnant women: unveiling prenatal care in primary care.

PubMed

Aparecida Maciel Cardelli, Alexandrina; Li Marrero, Tai; Aparecida Pimenta Ferrari, Rosângela; Trevisan Martins, Júlia; Serafim, Deise

2016-06-01

To analyze the perception of primiparous women about prenatal care in Basic Health Units in a municipality in southern Brazil. This is a qualitative research from the perspective of Social Representation Theory, from the following question: How has been the pre-natal care for you? Eighteen pregnant women were interviewed. The analysis resulted in three categories: Expectation representation about prenatal care; Rescuing the care offered in prenatal consultation; Unveiling the (dis) satisfaction with prenatal consultation. The prenatal care was apprehended as an essential moment for safe pregnancy, although centered on the doctor's figure and guarantee access to early laboratory and imaging tests. On the other hand, dissatisfaction was revealed from the reception at the entrance to the health unit to the consultations access, although some statements suggest timely satisfaction. Prenatal care did not meet the specific expectations of the study group and unveiled that the nurse did not supply it, as a member of the multidisciplinary team. The organization of the nursing work process in primary care, related to prenatal care, needs to be revisited to promote the effectiveness of its actions.

XMM-NEWTON MONITORING OF THE CLOSE PRE-MAIN-SEQUENCE BINARY AK SCO. EVIDENCE OF TIDE-DRIVEN FILLING OF THE INNER GAP IN THE CIRCUMBINARY DISK

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gomez de Castro, Ana Ines; Lopez-Santiago, Javier; Talavera, Antonio

2013-03-20

AK Sco stands out among pre-main-sequence binaries because of its prominent ultraviolet excess, the high eccentricity of its orbit, and the strong tides driven by it. AK Sco consists of two F5-type stars that get as close as 11 R{sub *} at periastron passage. The presence of a dense (n{sub e} {approx} 10{sup 11} cm{sup -3}) extended envelope has been unveiled recently. In this article, we report the results from an XMM-Newton-based monitoring of the system. We show that at periastron, X-ray and UV fluxes are enhanced by a factor of {approx}3 with respect to the apastron values. The X-raymore » radiation is produced in an optically thin plasma with T {approx} 6.4 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 6} K and it is found that the N{sub H} column density rises from 0.35 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 21} cm{sup -2} at periastron to 1.11 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 21} cm{sup -2} at apastron, in good agreement with previous polarimetric observations. The UV emission detected in the Optical Monitor band seems to be caused by the reprocessing of the high-energy magnetospheric radiation on the circumstellar material. Further evidence of the strong magnetospheric disturbances is provided by the detection of line broadening of 278.7 km s{sup -1} in the N V line with Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. Numerical simulations of the mass flow from the circumbinary disk to the components have been carried out. They provide a consistent scenario with which to interpret AK Sco observations. We show that the eccentric orbit acts like a gravitational piston. At apastron, matter is dragged efficiently from the inner disk border, filling the inner gap and producing accretion streams that end as ring-like structures around each component of the system. At periastron, the ring-like structures come into contact, leading to angular momentum loss, and thus producing an accretion outburst.« less

Synthesis of Organic Matter of Prebiotic Chemistry at the Protoplanetary Disc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snytnikov, Valeriy; Stoynovskaya, Olga; Rudina, Nina

We have carried out scanning electron microscopic examination of CM carbonaceous chondrites meteorites Migey, Murchison, Staroe Boriskino aged more than 4.56 billion years (about 50 million years from the beginning of the formation of the Solar system). Our study confirmed the conclusion of Rozanov, Hoover and other researchers about the presence of microfossils of bacterial origin in the matrix of all these meteorites. Since the time of the Solar system formation is 60 - 100 million years, the primary biocenosis emerged in the protoplanetary disc of the Solar system before meteorites or simultaneously with them. It means that prebiological processes and RNA world appeared even earlier in the circumsolar protoplanetary disc. Most likely, this appearance of prebiotic chemistry takes place nowday in massive and medium-massive discs of the observed young stellar objects (YSO) class 0 and I. The timescale of the transition from chemical to biological evolution took less than 50 million years for the Solar system. Further evolution of individual biocenosis in a protoplanetary disc associated with varying physico-chemical conditions during the formation of the Solar system bodies. Biocenosis on these bodies could remove or develop under the influence of many cosmic factors and geological processes in the case of Earth. To complete the primary biosphere formation in short evolution time - millions of years - requires highly efficient chemical syntheses. In industrial chemistry for the efficient synthesis of ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, methanol and other organic species, that are the precursors to obtain prebiotic compounds, catalytic reactors of high pressure are used. Thus (1) necessary amount of the proper catalyst in (2) high pressure areas of the disc can trigger these intense syntheses. The disc contains the solids with the size from nanoparticle to pebble. Iron and magnesium is catalytically active ingredient for such solids. The puzzle is a way to provide hydrogen pressure inside the disc from tens to hundred atmospheres. We simulated unsteady processes in massive circumstellar discs around YSO class O and I. In the computational experiments, we have shown that at a certain stage of its evolution the circumstellar discs of gas and solids produces local areas of high pressure. According to the classical heterogeneous catalysis, a wide range of organic and prebiotic compounds could have been synthesized in these areas. Can we capture these areas of high pressure synthesis in observation of circumstellar discs? Due to the small sizes of such areas they can be hardly ever resolved even with the modern telescopes such as ALMA. However, we can try to detect their signatures in the disc, since the gas of the disc keep the set of organic synthesis products. The idea is to define the signature of the process using laboratory experiments. Varying gas temperature and pressure in laboratory setup we can carry out the catalytic high pressure syntheses and specify the set of gaseous products. These sets of organic compounds observed in the discs may serve as indicators of the emergence of high-pressure areas of prebiotic chemistry. Thus, there is a special interest to the study of YSO class 0 and I by means of observational astronomy. For these objects, first data on the presence of individual organic compounds in massive hydrogen-helium component of the discs appear. The origin of the organic compounds that are associated with chemical reactions in the discs should be separated from the set of organic compounds of the initial molecular cloud.

From Structure to Function: A Comprehensive Compendium of Tools to Unveil Protein Domains and Understand Their Role in Cytokinesis.

PubMed

Rincon, Sergio A; Paoletti, Anne

2016-01-01

Unveiling the function of a novel protein is a challenging task that requires careful experimental design. Yeast cytokinesis is a conserved process that involves modular structural and regulatory proteins. For such proteins, an important step is to identify their domains and structural organization. Here we briefly discuss a collection of methods commonly used for sequence alignment and prediction of protein structure that represent powerful tools for the identification homologous domains and design of structure-function approaches to test experimentally the function of multi-domain proteins such as those implicated in yeast cytokinesis.

News Particle Physics: ATLAS unveils mural at CERN Prize: Corti Trust invites essay entries Astrophysics: CERN holds cosmic-ray conference Researchers in Residence: Lord Winston returns to school Music: ATLAS scientists record physics music Conference: Champagne flows at Reims event Competition: Students triumph at physics olympiad Teaching: Physics proves popular in Japanese schools Forthcoming Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2011-01-01

Particle Physics: ATLAS unveils mural at CERN Prize: Corti Trust invites essay entries Astrophysics: CERN holds cosmic-ray conference Researchers in Residence: Lord Winston returns to school Music: ATLAS scientists record physics music Conference: Champagne flows at Reims event Competition: Students triumph at physics olympiad Teaching: Physics proves popular in Japanese schools Forthcoming Events