$\texttt{LIMpy}$: A Semi-analytic Approach to Simulating Multi-line Intensity Maps at Millimetre Wavelengths [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06748


Mapping of multiple lines such as the fine-structure emission from [CII] (157.7 $\mu \text{m}$), [OIII] (52 \& 88.4 $\mu \text{m}$), and rotational emission lines from CO are of particular interest for upcoming line intensity mapping (LIM) experiments at millimetre wavelengths, due to their brightness features. Several upcoming experiments aim to cover a broad range of scientific goals, from detecting signatures of the epoch of reionization to the physics of star formation and its role in galaxy evolution. In this paper, we develop a semi-analytic approach to modelling line strengths as functions of the star formation rate (SFR) or infrared (IR) luminosity based on observations of local and high-z galaxies. This package, $\texttt{LIMpy}$ (Line Intensity Mapping in Python), estimates the intensity and power spectra of [CII], [OIII], and CO rotational transition lines up to the $J$-levels (1-0) to (13-12) based both on analytic formalism and on simulations. We develop a relation among halo mass, SFR, and multi-line intensities that permits us to construct a generic formula for the evolution of several line strengths up to $z \sim 10$. We implement a variety of star formation models and multi-line luminosity relations to estimate the astrophysical uncertainties on the intensity power spectrum of these lines. As a demonstration, we predict the signal-to-noise ratio of [CII] detection for an EoR-Spec-like instrument on the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST). Furthermore, the ability to use any halo catalogue allows the $\texttt{LIMpy}$ code to be easily integrated into existing simulation pipelines, providing a flexible tool to study intensity mapping in the context of complex galaxy formation physics.

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A. Roy, D. Valentín-Martínez, K. Wang, et. al.
Mon, 17 Apr 23
29/51

Comments: 19 pages, 10 figures, comments are welcome

Iron-Peak Element Abundances in Warm Very Metal-Poor Stars [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06899


We have derived new detailed abundances of Mg, Ca, and the Fe-group elements Sc through Zn (Z = 21-30) for 37 main sequence turnoff very metal-poor stars ([Fe/H] <= -2.1). We analyzed Keck HIRES optical and near-UV high signal-to-noise spectra originally gathered for a beryllium abundance survey. Using typically about 400 Fe-group lines with accurate laboratory transition probabilities for each star, we have determined accurate LTE metallicities and abundance ratios for neutral and ionized species of the 10 Fe-group elements as well as alpha elements Mg and Ca. We find good neutral/ion abundance agreement for the 6 elements that have detectable transitions of both species in our stars in the 3100-5800 Angstrom range. Earlier reports of correlated Sc-Ti-V relative overabundances are confirmed, and appear to slowly increase with decreasing metallicity. To this element trio we add Zn; it also appears to be increasingly overabundant in the lowest metallicity regimes. Co appears to mimic the behavior of Zn, but issues surrounding its abundance reliability cloud its interpretation.

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C. Sneden, A. Boesgaard, J. Cowan, et. al.
Mon, 17 Apr 23
35/51

Comments: ApJ, in press

The distance to the Serpens South Cluster from H2O masers [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.07270


In this Letter, we report Very Long Baseline Array observations of 22 GHz water masers toward the protostar CARMA-6, located at the center of the Serpens South young cluster. From the astrometric fits to maser spots, we derive a distance of 440.7+/-3.5 pc for the protostar (1% error). This represents the best direct distance determination obtained so far for an object this young and deeply embedded in this highly obscured region. Taking into account depth effects, we obtain a distance to the cluster of 440.7+/-4.6 pc. Stars visible in the optical that have astrometric solutions in the Gaia Data Release 3 are, on the other hand, all located in the periphery of the cluster. Their mean distance of 437 (+51, -41) pc is consistent within 1-sigma with the value derived from maser astrometry. As the maser source is just at the center of Serpens South, we finally solve the ambiguity of the distance to this region that has prevailed over the years.

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G. Ortiz-Leon, S. Dzib, L. Loinard, et. al.
Mon, 17 Apr 23
39/51

Comments: Accepted to A&A Letters

A catalogue of cataclysmic variables from 20 years of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey with new classifications, periods, trends and oddities [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06749


We present a catalogue of 507 cataclysmic variables (CVs) observed in SDSS I to IV including 70 new classifications collated from multiple archival data sets. This represents the largest sample of CVs with high-quality and homogeneous optical spectroscopy. We have used this sample to derive unbiased space densities and period distributions for the major sub-types of CVs. We also report on some peculiar CVs, period bouncers and also CVs exhibiting large changes in accretion rates. We report 70 new CVs, 59 new periods, 178 unpublished spectra and 262 new or updated classifications. From the SDSS spectroscopy, we also identified 18 systems incorrectly identified as CVs in the literature. We discuss the observed properties of 13 peculiar CVS, and we identify a small set of eight CVs that defy the standard classification scheme. We use this sample to investigate the distribution of different CV sub-types, and we estimate their individual space densities, as well as that of the entire CV population. The SDSS I to IV sample includes 14 period bounce CVs or candidates. We discuss the variability of CVs across the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, highlighting selection biases of variability-based CV detection. Finally, we searched for, and found eight tertiary companions to the SDSS CVs. We anticipate that this catalogue and the extensive material included in the Supplementary Data will be useful for a range of observational population studies of CVs.

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K. Inight, B. Gänsicke, E. Breedt, et. al.
Mon, 17 Apr 23
43/51

Comments: Submitted to MNRAS. Supplementary information available at this https URL

Photometric activity of CQ Tau on the time interval of 125 years [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.07115


The star CQ Tau belongs to the family of UX Ori type stars. It has very complex photometric behavior and complex structure of the circumstellar environment. In our paper we constructed the historical 125 years light curve of this star basing on the published photometric observations. It follows that besides a random component characteristic of UX Ori type stars, the large amplitude periodic component with the 10 year period is also present. Its existence was suspected earlier in [11]. New observations confirm its reality. It points to an existence of the second component close to the star. The density waves and matter flows caused by the companion motion lead to periodic changes in the circumstellar extinction and brightness of the star. This result is discussed in context of the recent observations of CQ Tau with high angular resolution.

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V. Grinin, L. Tambovtseva, O. Barsunova, et. al.
Mon, 17 Apr 23
45/51

Comments: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted by Astrophysics

AutoTAB: Automatic Tracking Algorithm for Bipolar Magnetic Regions [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06615


Bipolar Magnetic Regions (BMRs) provide crucial information about solar magnetism. They exhibit varying morphology and magnetic properties throughout their lifetime, and studying these properties can provide valuable insights into the workings of the solar dynamo. The majority of previous studies have counted every detected BMR as a new one and have not been able to study the full life history of each BMRs. To address this issue, we have developed an Automatic Tracking Algorithm (AutoTAB) for BMRs, that tracks the BMRs for their entire lifetime or throughout their disk passage. AutoTAB uses the binary maps of detected BMRs to automatically track the regions. This is done by differentially rotating the binary maps of the detected regions and checking for overlaps between them. In this first article of this project, we provide a detailed description of the working of the algorithm and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses. We also compare its performance with other existing tracking techniques. AutoTAB excels in tracking even for the small features and it successfully tracks 9152 BMRs over the last two solar cycles (1996-2020), providing a comprehensive dataset that depicts the evolution of various properties for each tracked region. The tracked BMRs follow familiar properties of solar cycles except for these small BMRs that appear at all phases of the solar cycle and show weak latitudinal dependency, which is represented through the butterfly diagram. Finally, we discuss the possibility of adapting our algorithm to other datasets and expanding the technique to track other solar features in the future.

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A. Sreedevi, B. Jha, B. Karak, et. al.
Fri, 14 Apr 23
2/64

Comments: 14 pages including 9 figures; Submitted in ApJS; Comments are welcome

Post-red-giant-branch Planetary Nebulae [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06355


Common envelope events have been associated with the formation of a planetary nebulae since its proposition more than forty five years ago. However, until recently there have been doubts as to whether a common envelope while the donor is ascending the red giant branch, rather than the subsequent asymptotic red giant branch, would result in a planetary nebula. There is now strong theoretical and observational evidence to suggest that some planetary nebulae are, indeed, the products of common envelope phases which occurred while the nebular progenitor was on the red giant branch. The characterisation of these systems is challenging but has the potential to reveal much about the common envelope — a critical evolutionary phase in the formation of a plethora of interesting astrophysical phenomena.

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D. Jones, T. Hillwig and N. Reindl
Fri, 14 Apr 23
6/64

Comments: 6 pages, to appear in Highlights of Spanish Astrophysics XI, Proceedings of the XV Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society held on September 4 0 9, 2022, in La Laguna, Spain. M. Manteiga, L. Bellot, P. Benavidez, A. de Lorenzo-Caceres, M. A. Fuente, M. J. Martinez, M. Vazquez- Acosta, C. Dafonte (eds.), 2023

Radio timing constraints on the mass of the binary pulsar PSR J1528-3146 [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06578


PSR J1528-3146 is a 60.8 ms pulsar orbiting a heavy white dwarf (WD) companion, with an orbital period of 3.18 d. This work aimed at characterizing the pulsar’s astrometric, spin and orbital parameters by analyzing timing measurements conducted at the Parkes, MeerKAT and Nan\c{c}ay radio telescopes over almost two decades. The measurement of post-Keplerian perturbations to the pulsar’s orbit can be used to constrain the masses of the two component stars of the binary, and in turn inform us on the history of the system. We analyzed timing data from the Parkes, MeerKAT and Nan\c{c}ay radio telescopes collected over $\sim$16 yrs, obtaining a precise rotation ephemeris for PSR J1528-3146. A Bayesian analysis of the timing data was carried out to constrain the masses of the two components and the orientation of the orbit. We further analyzed the polarization properties of the pulsar, in order to constrain the orientations of the magnetic axis and of the line-of-sight with respect to the spin axis. We measured a significant rate of advance of periastron for the first time, and put constraints on the Shapiro delay in the system and on the rate of change of the projected semi-major axis of the pulsar’s orbit. The Bayesian analysis yielded measurements for the pulsar and companion masses of respectively $M_p = 1.61_{-0.13}^{+0.14}$ M$\odot$ and $M_c = 1.33{-0.07}^{+0.08}$ M$\odot$ (68\% C.L.), confirming that the companion is indeed massive. This companion mass as well as other characteristics of PSR J1528$-$3146 make this pulsar very similar to PSR J2222-0137, a 32.8 ms pulsar orbiting a WD whose heavy mass ($\sim 1.32$ M$\odot$) was unique among pulsar-WD systems until now. Our measurements therefore suggest common evolutionary scenarios for PSRs J1528-3146 and J2222-0137.

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A. Berthereau, L. Guillemot, P. Freire, et. al.
Fri, 14 Apr 23
31/64

Comments: 13 pages, 8 figures, abstract shortened to match astro-ph limit

Far-infrared Polarization of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A with SOFIA HAWC+ [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06291


We present polarization observations of the young supernova remnant (SNR) Cas A using the High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera-Plus (HAWC+) instrument onboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). The polarization map at 154 microns reveals dust grains with strong polarization fractions (5 – 30 percent), supporting previous measurements made over a smaller region of the remnant at 850 microns. The 154 microns emission and the polarization signal is coincident with a region of cold dust observed in the southeastern shell and in the unshocked central ejecta. The highly polarized far-IR emission implies the grains are large (greater than 0.14 microns) and silicate-dominated. The polarization level varies across the SNR, with an inverse correlation between the polarization degree and the intensity and smaller polarization angle dispersion for brighter SNR emission. Stronger polarization is detected between the bright structures. This may result from a higher collision rate between the gas and dust producing a lower grain alignment efficiency where the gas density is higher. We use the dust emission to provide an estimate of the magnetic field strength in Cas A using the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method. The high polarization level is direct evidence that grains are highly elongated and strongly aligned with the magnetic field of the SNR. The dust mass from the polarized region is 0.14+-0.04 Msun, a lower limit of the amount of dust present within the ejecta of Cas A. This result strengthens the hypothesis that core-collapse SNe are an important contributor to the dust mass in high redshift galaxies.

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J. Rho, A. Ravi, L. Tram, et. al.
Fri, 14 Apr 23
36/64

Comments: MNRAS, accepted (18 pages with 14 figures)

Full-frame data reduction method: a data mining tool to detect the potential variations in optical photometry [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06207


A Synchronous Photometry Data Extraction (SPDE) program, performing indiscriminate monitors of all stars appearing at the same field of view of astronomical image, is developed by integrating several Astropy affiliated packages to make full use of time series observed by the traditional small/medium aperture ground-based telescope. The complete full-frame stellar photometry data reductions implemented for the two time series of cataclysmic variables: RX J2102.0+3359 and Paloma J0524+4244 produce 363 and 641 optimal light curves, respectively. A cross-identification with the SIMBAD finds 23 known stars, of which 16 red giant-/horizontal-branch stars, 2 W UMa-type eclipsing variables, 2 program stars, a X-ray source and 2 Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System variables. Based on the data productions of the SPDE program, a followup Light Curve Analysis (LCA) program identifies 32 potential variable light curves, of which 18 are from the time series of RX J2102.0+3359, and 14 are from that of Paloma J0524+4244. They are preliminarily separated into periodical, transient, and peculiar types. By querying for the 58 VizieR online data catalogs, their physical parameters and multi-band brightness spanning from X-ray to radio are compiled for future analysis.

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Z. Dai, H. Zhou and J. Cao
Fri, 14 Apr 23
39/64

Comments: 35pages, 8 figures, accepted by RAA

Apocenter pile-up and arcs: a narrow dust ring around HD 129590 [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06074


Observations of debris disks have significantly improved over the past decades, both in terms of sensitivity and spatial resolution. At near-infrared wavelengths, new observing strategies and post-processing algorithms allow us to drastically improve the final images, revealing faint structures in the disks. These structures inform us about the properties and spatial distribution of the small dust particles. We present new $H$-band observations of the disk around HD 129590, which display an intriguing arc-like structure in total intensity but not in polarimetry, and propose an explanation for the origin of this arc. Assuming geometric parameters for the birth ring of planetesimals, our model provides the positions of millions of particles of different sizes to compute scattered light images. We demonstrate that if the grain size distribution is truncated or strongly peaks at a size larger than the radiation pressure blow-out size we are able to produce an arc quite similar to the observed one. If the birth ring is radially narrow, given that particles of a given size have similar eccentricities, they will have their apocenters at the same distance from the star. Since this is where the particles will spend most of their time, this results in a “apocenter pile-up” that can look like a ring. Due to more efficient forward scattering this arc only appears in total intensity observations and remains undetected in polarimetric data. This scenario requires sharp variations either in the grain size distribution or for the scattering efficiencies $Q_\mathrm{sca}$. Alternative possibilities such as a wavy size distribution and a size-dependent phase function are interesting candidates to strengthen the apocenter pile-up. We also discuss why such arcs are not commonly detected in other systems, which can mainly be explained by the fact that most parent belts are usually broad.

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J. Olofsson, P. Thébault, A. Bayo, et. al.
Fri, 14 Apr 23
47/64

Comments: Accepted for publication in A&A, abstract shortened

Age and convective core overshooting calibrations in CPD-54 810 binary system. Statistical investigation on the solution robustness [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06301


Relying on precise observations for the CPD-54 810 binary system, we investigate the robustness of the estimated age and convective core overshooting for a system with both stars on the main sequence (MS). […] We adopt the SCEPtER pipeline, based on grids of stellar models computed for a different initial chemical composition and convective core overshooting efficiency. The base fit suggests a common age of $3.02 \pm 0.15$ Gyr, in agreement with recent literature. This estimated convective core overshooting parameter is $\beta = 0.09 \pm 0.01$, with a corresponding convective core mass $M_c = 0.059^{+0.017}{-0.021}$ $M{\odot}$. The robustness of these estimates were tested assuming a narrow constraint on the helium-to-metal enrichment ratio. The chemical solution of the system changes, but the age and the overshooting parameter are almost unchanged ($3.08^{+0.17}_{-0.14}$ Gyr and $0.09 \pm 0.01$). In a further test, we halved the uncertainty as to the effective temperature of both stars and again the estimated parameter shows only small variations ($3.02 \pm 0.12$ Gyr and $0.09 \pm 0.01$). This low variability suggests that the age of the system with both stars in the MS can be reliably estimated at a 5\% level, but it also indicates that the power of the investigation is probably low. […] Despite the great increase in the observational constraints’ precision, the results support the conclusions of previous theoretical works on the stellar parameter calibration with double MS star binary systems.

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G. Valle, M. Dell’Omodarme, P. Moroni, et. al.
Fri, 14 Apr 23
51/64

Comments: Accepted for publication in A&A. Abstract abridged

Interaction of solar inertial modes with turbulent convection. A 2D model for the excitation of linearly stable modes [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05926


Inertial modes have been observed on the Sun at low longitudinal wavenumbers. These modes probe the dynamics and structure of the solar convection zone down to the tachocline. While linear analysis allows the complex eigenfrequencies and eigenfunctions of these modes to be computed, it gives no information about their excitation nor about their amplitudes.
We tested the hypothesis that solar inertial modes are stochastically excited by the turbulent motions entailed by convection. We have developed a theoretical formalism where the turbulent velocity fluctuations provide the mechanical work necessary to excite the modes. The modes are described by means of a 2D linear wave equation, relevant for the quasi-toroidal modes observed on the Sun, with a source term, under the beta plane approximation. Latitudinal differential rotation is included in the form of a parabolic profile that approximates the solar differential rotation at low and mid latitudes.
We obtain synthetic power spectra for the wave’s latitudinal velocity, longitudinal velocity, and radial vorticity, with azimuthal orders between 1 and 20. The synthetic power spectra contain the classical equatorial Rossby modes, as well as a rich spectrum of additional modes. The mode amplitudes are found to be of the same order of magnitude as observed on the Sun (~ 1 m/s). There is a qualitative transition between low and high azimuthal orders: the power spectra for m < 5 show modes that are clearly resolved in frequency space, while the power spectra for m > 5 display regions of excess power that consist of many overlapping modes.
The general agreement between the predicted and observed inertial mode amplitudes supports the assumption of stochastic excitation by turbulent convection. Our work shows that the power spectra are not easily separable into individual modes, thus complicated the interpretation of the observations.

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J. Philidet and L. Gizon
Thu, 13 Apr 23
5/59

Comments: 19 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Cold Jupiters and improved masses in 38 Kepler and K2 small-planet systems from 3661 high-precision HARPS-N radial velocities. No excess of cold Jupiters in small-planet systems [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05773


The exoplanet population with orbital periods $P<100$ d around solar-type stars is dominated by super-Earths and sub-Neptunes. These planets are, however, missing in our Solar System, and the reason for that is unknown. Two theoretical scenarios invoke the role of Jupiter as the possible culprit: Jupiter may have acted as a dynamical barrier to the inward migration of sub-Neptunes from beyond the water iceline or, alternatively, may have reduced considerably the inward flux of material (pebbles) required to form super-Earths inside that iceline. Both scenarios predict an anti-correlation between the presence of small planets (SPs) and that of cold Jupiters (CJs) in exoplanetary systems. To test that prediction, we homogeneously analyzed the radial-velocity (RV) measurements of 38 Kepler and K2 transiting SP systems gathered over almost 10 years with the HARPS-N spectrograph, as well as publicly available RVs collected with other facilities. We detected five CJs in three systems, two in Kepler-68, two in Kepler-454, and a very eccentric one in K2-312. We derived an occurrence rate of $9.3^{+7.7}{-2.9}\%$ for CJs with $0.3-13~M{Jup}$ and 1-10 au, which is lower but still compatible at $1.3\sigma$ with that measured from RV surveys for solar-type stars, regardless of SP presence. This does not allow us to draw a firm conclusion about the predicted anti-correlation between SPs and CJs, which would require a considerably larger sample. Nevertheless, we found no evidence of previous claims of an excess of CJs in SP systems. As an important by-product of our analyses, we homogeneously determined the masses of 64 Kepler and K2 small planets, reaching a precision better than 5, 7.5 and 10$\sigma$ for 25, 13 and 8 planets, respectively. Finally, we release to the scientific community the 3661 HARPS-N radial velocities used in this work. [Abridged]

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A. Bonomo, X. Dumusque, A. Massa, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
8/59

Comments: 21 pages, 10 figures, 10 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics on 6 April 2023

Long-term 4.6$μ$m Variability in Brown Dwarfs and a New Technique for Identifying Brown Dwarf Binary Candidates [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05630


Using a sample of 361 nearby brown dwarfs, we have searched for 4.6$\mu$m variability indicative of large-scale rotational modulations or large-scale long-term changes on timescales of over 10 years. Our findings show no statistically significant variability in \textit{Spitzer} ch2 or \textit{WISE} W2 photometry. For \textit{Spitzer} the ch2 1$\sigma$ limits are $\sim$8 mmag for objects at 11.5 mag and $\sim$22 mmag for objects at 16 mag. This corresponds to no variability above 4.5$\%$ at 11.5 mag and 12.5$\%$ at 16 mag. We conclude that highly variable brown dwarfs, at least two previously published examples of which have been shown to have 4.6$\mu$m variability above 80 mmag, are very rare. While analyzing the data, we also developed a new technique for identifying brown dwarfs binary candidates in \textit{Spitzer} data. We find that known binaries have IRAC ch2 PRF (point response function) flux measurements that are consistently dimmer than aperture flux measurements. We have identified 59 objects that exhibit such PRF versus apertures flux differences and are thus excellent binary brown dwarf candidates.

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H. Brooks, J. Kirkpatrick, A. Meisner, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
9/59

Comments: 18 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in AJ, and 1 figure set of 361 figures with the example being figure 8

A Seven-Day Multi-Wavelength Flare Campaign on AU Mic I: High-Time Resolution Light Curves and the Thermal Empirical Neupert Effect [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05692


We present light curves and flares from a seven day, multi-wavelength observational campaign of AU Mic, a young and active dM1e star with exoplanets and a debris disk. We report on 73 unique flares between the X-ray to optical data. We use high-time resolution NUV photometry and soft X-ray (SXR) data from XMM-Newton to study the empirical Neupert effect, which correlates the gradual and impulsive phase flaring emissions. We find that 65% (30 of 46) flares do not follow the Neupert effect, which is three times more excursions than seen in solar flares, and propose a four part Neupert effect classification (Neupert, Quasi-Neupert, Non-Neupert I & II) to explain the multi-wavelength responses. While the SXR emission generally lags behind the NUV as expected from the chromospheric evaporation flare models, the Neupert effect is more prevalent in larger, more impulsive flares. Preliminary flaring rate analysis with X-ray and U-band data suggests that previously estimated energy ratios hold for a collection of flares observed over the same time period, but not necessarily for an individual, multi-wavelength flare. These results imply that one model cannot explain all stellar flares and care should be taken when extrapolating between wavelength regimes. Future work will expand wavelength coverage using radio data to constrain the nonthermal empirical and theoretical Neupert effects to better refine models and bridge the gap between stellar and solar flare physics.

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I. Tristan, Y. Notsu, A. Kowalski, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
12/59

Comments: 46 pages, 18 figures, 15 tables. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

Statistical Analysis of Interplanetary Shocks from Mercury to Jupiter [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05733


In situ observations of interplanetary (IP) coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) and IP shocks are important to study as they are the main components of the solar activity. Hundreds of IP shocks have been detected by various space missions at different times and heliocentric distances. Some of these are followed by clearly identified drivers, while some others are not. In this study, we carry out a statistical analysis of the distributions of plasma and magnetic parameters of the IP shocks recorded at various distances to the Sun. We classify the shocks according to the heliocentric distance, namely from 0.29 to 0.99 AU (Helios-1/2); near 1 AU (Wind, ACE and STEREO-A/B); and from 1.35 to 5.4 AU (Ulysses). We also differentiate the IP shocks into two populations, those with a detected ICME and those without one. We find, as expected, that there are no significant differences in the results from spacecraft positioned at 1 AU. Moreover, the distributions of shock parameters, as well as the shock normal have no significant variations with the heliocentric distance. Additionally, we investigate how the number of shocks associated to stream-interaction regions (SIRs) increases with distance in proportion of ICME/shocks. From 1 to 5 AU, SIRs/ shock occurrence increases slightly from 21% to 34%, in contrast ICME/shocks occurrence decreases from 47% to 17%. We find also indication of an asymmetry induced by the Parker spiral for SIRs and none for ICMEs.

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C. Pérez-Alanis, M. Janvier, T. Nieves-Chinchilla, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
14/59

Comments: 29 Pages, 11 Figures. Accepted for Publication in Solar Physics

Binary asteroid dissociation and accretion around white dwarfs [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05579


About 25-50% of white dwarfs (WDs) show metal lines in their spectra. Among the widely accepted explanations for this effect is that the these WDs are accreting asteroids that are perhaps flung onto the WDs by a planet via resonance, for instance. A number of theoretical works have looked into the accretion of asteroids onto WDs and obtained a fair agreement with the observed accretion rate. However, it is solely a very recent study (referenced in this work) that has taken asteroid binarity into consideration, examining the scattering between an asteroid binary and planets and showing that a dissociation and ejection of the former might result and the effect on WD metal accretion is likely to be weak. Here, we investigate the close encounter between an asteroid binary and the central WD and consider how the binary’s dissociation may affect the WD’s accretion. We find that depending on the orbital and physical properties, the components may acquire orbits that are significantly different (even on the order of unity) from that of the parent binary. We assumed all the inner main belt asteroids are binaries and we studied their accretion onto the solar WD under the perturbation of the giant planets. We find that compared to the case without binaries, the components’ accretion may be postponed (or put forward) by millions of years or more, as the objects may be taken out of (or driven deeper into) the resonance due to the sudden orbital change upon dissociation. However, the overall influence of binary dissociation on the accretion rate is not very significant.

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Z. Jin, D. Li and Z. Zhu
Thu, 13 Apr 23
20/59

Comments: 10 pages, 9 figures

The neutron star to black hole mass gap in the frame of the jittering jets explosion mechanism (JJEM) [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05705


I build a toy model in the frame of the jittering jets explosion mechanism (JJEM) of core collapse supernovae (CCSNe) that incorporates both the stochastically varying angular momentum component of the material that the newly born neutron star (NS) accretes and the constant angular momentum component and show that the JJEM can account for the ~2.5-5Mo mass gap between NSs and black holes (BHs). The random component of the angular momentum results from pre-collapse core convection fluctuations that are amplified by post-collapse instabilities. The fixed angular momentum component results from pre-collapse core rotation. For slowly rotating pre-collapse cores the stochastic angular momentum fluctuations form intermittent accretion disks (or belts) around the NS with varying angular momentum axes in all directions. The intermittent accretion disk/belt launches jets in all directions that expel the core material in all directions early on, hence leaving a NS remnant. Rapidly rotating pre-collapse cores form an accretion disk with angular momentum axis that is about the same as the pre-collapse core rotation. The NS launches jets along this axis and hence the jets avoid the equatorial plane region. In-flowing core material continues to feed the central object from the equatorial plane increasing the NS mass to form a BH. The narrow transition from slow to rapid pre-collapse core rotation, i.e., from an efficient to inefficient jet feedback mechanism, accounts for the sparsely populated mass gap.

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N. Soker
Thu, 13 Apr 23
21/59

Comments: Will be submitted in two days to allow for comments

Survey of Orion Disks with ALMA (SODA) II: UV-driven disk mass loss in L1641 and L1647 [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05777


External FUV irradiation of protoplanetary disks has an important impact on their evolution and ability to form planets. However, nearby (<300 pc) star-forming regions lack sufficiently massive young stars, while the Trapezium Cluster and NGC 2024 have complicated star-formation histories and their O-type stars’ intense radiation fields ($>10^4\,G_0$) destroy disks too quickly to study this process in detail. We study disk mass loss driven by intermediate (10 – 1000 $G_0$) FUV radiation fields in L1641 and L1647, where it is driven by more common A0 and B-type stars. Using the large (N=873) sample size offered by the Survey of Orion Disks with ALMA (SODA), we search for trends in the median disk dust mass with FUV field strength across the region as a whole and in two separate regions containing a large number of irradiated disks. For radiation fields between 1 – 100 $G_0$, the median disk mass in the most irradiated disks drops by a factor $\sim 2$ over the lifetime of the region, while the 95th percentile of disk masses drops by a factor 4 over this range. This effect is present in multiple populations of stars, and localized in space, to within 2 pc of ionizing stars. We fit an empirical irradiation – disk mass relation for the first time: $M_{\rm{dust,median}} = -1.3^{+0.14}{-0.13} \log{10}(F_{\rm{FUV}} / G_0) + 5.2^{+0.18}_{-0.19}$. This work demonstrates that even intermediate FUV radiation fields have a significant impact on the evolution of protoplanetary disks.

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S. Terwisga and A. Hacar
Thu, 13 Apr 23
22/59

Comments: Accepted to A&A Letters. 5 pages, 4 figures

Investigating the IBEX Ribbon Structure a Solar Cycle Apart [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05499


A Ribbon of enhanced energetic neutral atom (ENA) emissions was discovered by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) in 2009, redefining our understanding of the heliosphere boundaries and the physical processes occurring at the interstellar interface. The Ribbon signal is intertwined with that of a globally distributed flux (GDF) that spans the entire sky. To a certain extent, Ribbon separation methods enabled examining its evolution independent of the underlying GDF. Observations over a full solar cycle revealed the Ribbon’s evolving nature, with intensity variations closely tracking those of the solar wind (SW) structure after a few years delay accounting for the SW-ENA recycling process. In this work, we examine the Ribbon structure, namely, its ENA fluxes, angular extent, width, and circularity properties for two years, 2009 and 2019, representative of the declining phases of two adjacent solar cycles. We find that, (i) the Ribbon ENA fluxes have recovered in the nose direction and south of it down to ~ 25{\deg} (for energies below 1.7 keV) and not at mid and high ecliptic latitudes; (ii) The Ribbon width exhibits significant variability as a function of azimuthal angle; (iii) Circularity analysis suggests that the 2019 Ribbon exhibits a statistically consistent radius with that in 2009. The Ribbon’s partial recovery is aligned with the consensus of a heliosphere with its closest point being southward of the nose region. The large variability of the Ribbon width as a function of Azimuth in 2019 compared to 2009 is likely indicative of small-scale processes within the Ribbon.

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M. Dayeh, E. Zirnstein, P. Swaczyna, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
25/59

Comments: 5 figures

Sensitivity study of chemistry in AGB outflows using chemical kinetics [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05924


Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars shed a significant amount of their mass in the form of a stellar wind, creating a vast circumstellar envelope (CSE). Owing to the ideal combination of relatively high densities and cool temperatures, CSEs serve as rich astrochemical laboratories. {While the chemical structure of AGB outflows has been modelled and analysed in detail for specific physical setups, there is a lack of understanding regarding the impact of changes in the physical environment on chemical abundances. A systematic sensitivity study is necessary to comprehend the nuances in the physical parameter space, given the complexity of the chemistry. This is crucial for estimating uncertainties associated with simulations and observations. In this work, we present the first sensitivity study of the impact of varying outflow densities and temperature profiles on the chemistry. With the use of a chemical kinetics model, we report on the uncertainty in abundances, given a specific uncertainty on the physical parameters. }Additionally, we analyse the molecular envelope extent of parent species and compare our findings to observational studies. Mapping the impact of differences in physical parameters throughout the CSE on the chemistry is a strong aid to observational studies.

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S. Maes, M. Sande, T. Danilovich, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
29/59

Comments: 21 pages, 25 figures

Photometric and Kinematic study of the open cluster NGC 1027 [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05762


We present photometric and kinematic analysis of an intermediate age open cluster NGC 1027 using $UBV(RI)c$ and Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3) data. Structural and fundamental parameters such as cluster center, cluster extent, reddening, age and distance are estimated in this study. Cluster center is found about 2 arcmin away from the center reported earlier. Radius has been estimated to be about 8.00 arcmin(2.65pc). Using proper motion Gaia EDR3 data, membership probabilities has been derived for the stars in the region of cluster radius. We find mean proper motion of the cluster to be $\sim$(-0.84, 2.04) mas yr$^{-1}$ in (RA, DEC). We find 217 most probable (P$\mu>$ 70\%) cluster members with mean parallax 0.892 $\pm$ 0.088 mas. Out of these, 160 members have counterparts in our optical observations. Few stars having P$_\mu>$ 70\% are found out of the cluster radius showing imprints of dynamical evolution. The color-color and color-magnitude diagrams for the cluster members found within 8.00 arcmin have been constructed using $UBV(RI)_c$ photometry and Gaia EDR3 data. This yields a reddening E($B$-$V$) $\sim$ 0.36 mag, age $\sim$ 130 Myr and distance $\sim$ 1.14 kpc. The mass function slope in the cluster region is $\Gamma$ $\sim$ -1.46 $\pm$ 0.15, which is similar to other Galactic open clusters. The dynamical study shows lack of faint stars in its inner region leading to mass segregation effect. A comparison of dynamical age with cluster age indicates that NGC 1027 is a dynamically relaxed cluster suggesting that mass segregation may be imprint of its dynamical relaxation.

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A. Tripathi, N. Panwar, S. Sharma, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
30/59

Comments: N/A

Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande. IV. Development of SPECIAL BLEND: a New Public Analysis Code for Supernova Neutrinos [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05437


Supernova neutrinos are invaluable signals that offer information about the interior of supernovae. Because a nearby supernova can occur at any time, preparing for future supernova neutrino observation is an urgent task. For the prompt analysis of supernova neutrinos, we have developed a new analysis code, “Supernova Parameter Estimation Code based on Insight on Analytic Late-time Burst Light curve at Earth Neutrino Detector (SPECIAL BLEND)”. This code estimates the parameters of supernova based on an analytic model of supernova neutrinos from the proto-neutron star cooling phase. For easy availability to the community, this code is public and easily runs on web environments. SPECIAL BLEND can estimate the parameters better than the analysis pipeline we developed in the previous paper. By using SPECIAL BLEND, we can estimate the supernova parameters within $10\%$ precision up to $\sim 20\,{\rm kpc}$ and $\sim 60\,{\rm kpc}$ (Large Magellanic Cloud contained) with Super Kamiokande and Hyper Kamiokande, respectively.

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A. Harada, Y. Suwa, M. Harada, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
34/59

Comments: 15 pages, 6 figures; submitted to ApJ; SPECIAL BLEND is available at this https URL

Multiple Stellar Populations in Metal-Poor Globular Clusters with JWST: a NIRCam view of M 92 [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.06026


Recent work on metal-intermediate globular clusters (GCs) with [Fe/H]=$-1.5$ and $-0.75$ has illustrated the theoretical behavior of multiple populations in photometric diagrams obtained with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). These results are confirmed by observations of multiple populations among M-dwarfs of 47 Tucanae. Here, we explore the multiple populations in metal-poor GCs with [Fe/H]=$-$2.3. We take advantage of synthetic spectra and isochrones that account for the chemical composition of multiple populations to identify photometric diagrams that separate the distinct stellar populations of GCs. We derived high-precision photometry and proper motion for main-sequence stars in the metal-poor GC M 92 from JWST and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images. We identified a first generation (1G) and two main groups of second-generation stars (2G${\rm A}$ and 2G${\rm B}$) and investigated their kinematics and chemical composition. We find isotropic motions with no differences among the distinct populations. The comparison between the observed colors of M 92 stars and the colors derived by synthetic spectra reveals that helium abundance of 2G${\rm A}$ and 2G${\rm B}$ stars are higher than that of the 1G by $\Delta Y \sim 0.01$ and $0.04$, respectively. The $m_{\rm F090W}$ vs. $m_{\rm F090W}-m_{\rm F277W}$ color-magnitude diagram shows that below the knee, MS stars exhibit a wide color broadening due to multiple populations. We constrain the amount of oxygen variation needed to reproduce the observed MS width, which is consistent with results on red-giant branch stars. We conclude that multiple populations with masses of $\sim$0.1-0.8$M_{\odot}$ share similar chemical compositions.

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T. Ziliotto, A. Milone, A. Marino, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
36/59

Comments: 15 pages, 9 figures. Submitted to ApJ on April 6th, 2023

Contamination in TESS light curves: The case of the Fast Yellow Pulsating Supergiants [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05706


Given its large plate scale of 21″ / pixel, analyses of data from the TESS space telescope must be wary of source confusion from blended light curves, which creates the potential to attribute observed photometric variability to the wrong astrophysical source. We explore the impact of light curve contamination on the detection of fast yellow pulsating supergiant (FYPS) stars as a case study to demonstrate the importance of confirming the source of detected signals in the TESS pixel data. While some of the FYPS signals have already been attributed to contamination from nearby eclipsing binaries, others are suggested to be intrinsic to the supergiant stars. In this work, we carry out a detailed analysis of the TESS pixel data to fit the source locations of the dominant signals reported for 17 FYPS stars with the Python package TESS_localize. We are able to reproduce the detections of these signals for 14 of these sources, obtaining consistent source locations for four. Three of these originate from contaminants, while the signal reported for BZ Tuc is likely a spurious frequency introduced to the light curve of this 127-day Cepheid by the data processing pipeline. Other signals are not significant enough to be localized with our methods, or have long periods that are difficult to analyze given other TESS systematics. Since no localizable signals hold up as intrinsic pulsation frequencies of the supergiant targets, we argue that unambiguous detection of pulsational variability should be obtained before FYPS are considered a new class of pulsator.

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M. Pedersen and K. Bell
Thu, 13 Apr 23
40/59

Comments: 16 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal

Modelling Neutron-Star Ocean Dynamics [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05413


We re-visit the calculation of mode oscillations in the ocean of a rotating neutron star, which may be excited during thermonuclear X-ray bursts. Our present theoretical understanding of ocean modes relies heavily on the traditional approximation, commonly employed in geophysics. The approximation elegantly decouples the radial and angular sectors of the perturbation problem by neglecting the vertical contribution from the Coriolis force. However, as the implicit assumptions underlying it are not as well understood as they ought to be, we examine the traditional approximation and discuss the associated mode solutions. The results demonstrate that, while the approximation may be appropriate in certain contexts, it may not be accurate for rapidly rotating neutron stars. In addition, using the shallow-water approximation, we show analytically how the solutions that resemble r-modes change their nature in neutron-star oceans to behave like gravity waves. We also outline a simple prescription for lifting Newtonian results in a shallow ocean to general relativity, making the result more realistic.

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F. Gittins, T. Celora, A. Beri, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
47/59

Comments: 16 pages, 2 figures

A rich hydrocarbon chemistry and high C to O ratio in the inner disk around a very low-mass star [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05954


Carbon is an essential element for life but how much can be delivered to young planets is still an open question. The chemical characterization of planet-forming disks is a crucial step in our understanding of the diversity and habitability of exoplanets. Very low-mass stars ($<0.2~M_{\odot}$) are interesting targets because they host a rich population of terrestrial planets. Here we present the JWST detection of abundant hydrocarbons in the disk of a very low-mass star obtained as part of the MIRI mid-INfrared Disk Survey (MINDS). In addition to very strong and broad emission from C$_2$H$_2$ and its $^{13}$C$^{12}$CH$_2$ isotopologue, C$_4$H$_2$, benzene, and possibly CH$_4$ are identified, but water, PAH and silicate features are weak or absent. The lack of small silicate grains implies that we can look deep down into this disk. These detections testify to an active warm hydrocarbon chemistry with a high C/O ratio in the inner 0.1 au of this disk, perhaps due to destruction of carbonaceous grains. The exceptionally high C$_2$H$_2$/CO$_2$ and C$_2$H$_2$/H$_2$O column density ratios suggest that oxygen is locked up in icy pebbles and planetesimals outside the water iceline. This, in turn, will have significant consequences for the composition of forming exoplanets.

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B. Tabone, G. Bettoni, E. Dishoeck, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
48/59

Comments: version submitted to Nature Astronomy

High-Resolution Spectroscopy of X-ray Binaries [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05412


X-ray binaries, as bright local sources with short variability timescales for a wide range of accretion processes, represent ideal targets for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy. In this chapter, we present a high-resolution X-ray spectral perspective on X-ray binaries, focusing on black holes and neutron stars. The majority of the chapter is devoted to observational and theoretical signatures of mass ejection via accretion disk winds: we discuss their appearance (including an overview of photoionization and thermodynamic processes that determine their visibility in X-ray spectra) and their life cycles (including efforts to constrain their time-dependent mass loss rates), and we provide a broad overview of the primary accretion disk wind driving mechanisms that have been considered in the literature: (1) radiation pressure, where radiation accelerates a wind by scattering off electrons or atoms in the disk or its atmosphere; (2) thermal driving, where Compton heating of the outer accretion disk causes gas thermal velocities to exceed the local escape speed; and (3) magnetohydrodynamic processes, where gas may be ejected from the disk via magnetic pressure gradients or magnetocentrifugal effects. We then turn to spectroscopic constraints on the geometry of accreting systems, from relativistically blurred emission lines to dipping sources, clumpy, structured stellar winds, and baryonic jets. We conclude with discussions of measurements of the interstellar medium and the potential of next-generation high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy for X-ray binaries.

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J. Neilsen and N. Degenaar
Thu, 13 Apr 23
50/59

Comments: 58 pages, 12 figures. Invited review chapter for the book High-Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy: Instrumentation, Data Analysis, and Science (Eds. C. Bambi and J. Jiang, Springer Singapore, expected in 2023)

Hydrogen-free Wolf-Rayet stars: Helium stars with envelope-inflation structure and rotation [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05897


Observations have shown that the effective temperature of hydrogen-free Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars is considerably lower than that of the standard model, which means that the radius of the observed H-free WR stars is several times larger than that estimated by the standard model. The envelope inflation structure (EIS) caused by the radiation luminosity being close to the Eddington luminosity in the iron opacity peak region of H-free WR stars may be the key to resolve the radius problem of H-free WR stars. We try to explain the H-free WR stars observed in the Milk Way (MW) and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) by the He stars. Using the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics code, we compute the evolution of He stars with and without MLT++ prescriptions and discuss their effects on the EIS. We have calculated the evolution of He stars using a new mass-loss rate formula and three different relative rotational velocity and compared our results with observations on Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams. The low luminosity (log$(L/L_{{\odot}})\leq5.2$) H-free WR stars in the MW and the LMC can be explained by the helium giant phase in low-mass He stars, the high $X_{C}$ and $X_{O}$ in WC stars can only evolve through low-mass He stars with a rapid rotation. High-mass He stars with the EIS can explain H-free WR stars with a luminosity exceeding $10^{5.7} L_{{\odot}}$ and an effective temperature above $10^{4.7}$ K in the MW. They can also explain H-free WR stars on the right-hand side of the He zero-age main sequence in the LMC. High-mass stars with the EIS evolve into WO stars at the final evolution stage, and the shorter lifetime fraction is consistent with the small number of observed WO stars.

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X. Lu, C. Zhu, H. Liu, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
51/59

Comments: 9 pages, 7 figures 1 tables, Accepted to A&A

Gap Opening in Protoplanetary Disks: Gas Dynamics from Global Non-ideal MHD Simulations with Consistent Thermochemistry [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05972


Recent high angular resolution ALMA observations have revealed numerous gaps in protoplanetary disks. A popular interpretation has been that planets open them. Most previous investigations of planet gap-opening have concentrated on viscous disks. Here, we carry out 2D (axisymmetric) global simulations of gap opening by a planet in a wind-launching non-ideal MHD disk with consistent thermochemistry. We find a strong concentration of poloidal magnetic flux in the planet-opened gap, where the gas dynamics are magnetically dominated. The magnetic field also drives a fast (nearly sonic) meridional gas circulation in the denser disk regions near the inner and outer edges of the gap, which may be observable through high-resolution molecular line observations. The gap is more ionized than its denser surrounding regions, with a better magnetic field-matter coupling. In particular, it has a much higher abundance of molecular ion HCO$^+$, consistent with ALMA observations of the well-studied AS 209 protoplanetary disk that has prominent gaps and fast meridional motions reaching the local sound speed. Finally, we provide fitting formulae for the ambipolar and Ohmic diffusivities as a function of the disk local density, which can be used for future 3D simulations of planet gap-opening in non-ideal MHD disks where thermochemistry is too computationally expensive to evolve self-consistently with the magneto-hydrodynamics.

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X. Hu, Z. Li, L. Wang, et. al.
Thu, 13 Apr 23
52/59

Comments: 12 pages, 13 figures, submitted to MNRAS. For animated figures, see: this https URL&list=PLPqbg5l-CV-t-TUePtpv7VtqPL1PHP1U5&ab_channel=FloridaKeys

Building an Equation of State Density Ladder [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05441


The confluence of major theoretical, experimental, and observational advances are providing a unique perspective on the equation of state of dense neutron-rich matter — particularly its symmetry energy — and its imprint on the mass-radius relation for neutron stars. In this contribution we organize these developments in an equation of state density ladder. Of particular relevance to this discussion is the impact of the various rungs on the equation of state and the identification of possible discrepancies among the various methods. A preliminary analysis identifies a possible tension between laboratory measurements and gravitational-wave detections that could indicate the emergence of a phase transition in the stellar core.

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M. Salinas and J. Piekarewicz
Thu, 13 Apr 23
54/59

Comments: N/A

Dynamo modelling for cycle variability and occurrence of grand minima in Sun-like stars: Rotation rate dependence [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05819


Like the solar cycle, stellar activity cycles are also irregular. Observations reveal that rapidly rotating (young) Sun-like stars exhibit a high level of activity with no Maunder-like grand minima and rarely display smooth regular activity cycles. On the other hand, slowly rotating old stars like the Sun have low activity levels and smooth cycles with occasional grand minima. We, for the first time, try to model these observational trends using flux transport dynamo models. Following previous works, we build kinematic dynamo models of one solar mass star with different rotation rates. Differential rotation and meridional circulation are specified with a mean-field hydrodynamic model. We include stochastic fluctuations in the Babcock-Leighton source of the poloidal field to capture the inherent fluctuations in the stellar convection. Based on extensive simulations, we find that rapidly rotating stars produce highly irregular cycles with strong magnetic fields and rarely produce Maunder-like grand minima, whereas the slowly-rotating stars (with a rotation period of 10 days and longer) produce smooth cycles of weaker strength, long-term modulation in the amplitude, and occasional extended grand minima. The average duration and the frequency of grand minima increase with decreasing rotation rate. These results can be understood as the tendency of less supercritical dynamo in slower rotating stars to be more prone to produce extended grand minima

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V. Vashishth, B. Karak and L. Kitchatinov
Thu, 13 Apr 23
58/59

Comments: Accepted in MNRAS

Deep-learning based measurement of planetary radial velocities in the presence of stellar variability [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04807


We present a deep-learning based approach for measuring small planetary radial velocities in the presence of stellar variability. We use neural networks to reduce stellar RV jitter in three years of HARPS-N sun-as-a-star spectra. We develop and compare dimensionality-reduction and data splitting methods, as well as various neural network architectures including single line CNNs, an ensemble of single line CNNs, and a multi-line CNN. We inject planet-like RVs into the spectra and use the network to recover them. We find that the multi-line CNN is able to recover planets with 0.2 m/s semi-amplitude, 50 day period, with 8.8% error in the amplitude and 0.7% in the period. This approach shows promise for mitigating stellar RV variability and enabling the detection of small planetary RVs with unprecedented precision.

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I. Colwell, V. Timmaraju and A. Wise
Wed, 12 Apr 23
5/45

Comments: Draft, unsubmitted, 10 pages, 8 figures

Differential reddening in the direction of 56 Galactic globular clusters [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05076


The presence of differential reddening in the direction of Galactic globular clusters (GCs) has proven to be a serious limitation in the traditional colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) analysis. Here, we estimate local reddening variations in the direction of 56 Galactic GCs. To do that, we use the public catalogs derived as part of the Hubble Space Telescope UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters, which include photometry in the F275W, F336W, F438W, F606W, and F814W filters. We correct photometry for differential reddening finding that for 21 out of 56 GCs the adopted correction procedure significantly improves the CMDs. Moreover, we measure the reddening law in the direction of these clusters finding that $R_{V}$ exhibits a high level of variability within the Galaxy, ranging from $\sim2.0$ to $\sim4.0$. The updated values of $R_{V}$ have been used to improve the determination of local reddening variations and derive high-resolution reddening maps in the direction of the 21 highly-reddened targets within our sample. To compare the results of the different clusters, we compute the 68$^{\rm th}$ percentile of the differential-reddening distribution, $\sigma_{\Delta A_{\rm F814W}}$. This quantity ranges from 0.003 mag to 0.030 mag and exhibits a significant anti-correlation with the absolute module of the Galactic latitude and a strong correlation with the average reddening in the direction of each cluster. Therefore, highly-reddened GCs located in the proximity of the Galactic plane typically show higher differential-reddening variations across their field of view.

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M. Legnardi, A. Milone, G. Cordoni, et. al.
Wed, 12 Apr 23
7/45

Comments: 14 pages, 14 figures, accepted for pubblication in MNRAS. The photometric catalogs corrected for differential reddening are publicly available at this website: this http URL

Spherical Harmonics for the 1D Radiative Transfer Equation II: Thermal Emission [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04830


Approximate methods to estimate solutions to the radiative transfer equation are essential for the understanding of atmospheres of exoplanets and brown dwarfs. The simplest and most popular choice is the “two-stream method” which is often used to produce simple yet effective models for radiative transfer in scattering and absorbing media. Toon et al. (1989) (Toon89) outlined a two-stream method for computing reflected light and thermal spectra and was later implemented in the open-source radiative transfer model PICASO. In Part~I of this series, we developed an analytical spherical harmonics method for solving the radiative transfer equation for reflected solar radiation (Rooney et al. 2023), which was implemented in PICASO to increase the accuracy of the code by offering a higher-order approximation. This work is an extension of this spherical harmonics derivation to study thermal emission spectroscopy. We highlight the model differences in the approach for thermal emission and benchmark the 4-term method (SH4) against Toon89 and a high-stream discrete-ordinates method, CDISORT. By comparing the spectra produced by each model we demonstrate that the SH4 method provides a significant increase in accuracy, compared to Toon89, which can be attributed to the increased order of approximation and to the choice of phase function. We also explore the trade-off between computational time and model accuracy. We find that our 4-term method is twice as slow as our 2-term method, but is up to five times more accurate, when compared with CDISORT. Therefore, SH4 provides excellent improvement in model accuracy with minimal sacrifice in numerical expense.

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C. Rooney, N. Batalha and M. Marley
Wed, 12 Apr 23
13/45

Comments: Submitted ApJ; 17 pages; 7 figures; Code available at this https URL; Zenodo release at this https URL; Tutorials/figure reproducibility at this https URL;

Nitrogen pollution by metal enriched supermassive stars [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05013


GN-z11 is an unusually luminous high redshift galaxy which was recently observed to have strong nitrogen lines while at the same time lacking traditional signatures of AGN activity. These observations have been interpreted as a super-solar nitrogen abundance which is challenging to explain with standard stellar evolution and supernovae enrichment. We present simulations of four models of metal enriched supermassive stars after the zero age main sequence which produce super-solar nitrogen consistent with the observations of GN-z11. We then show that the most massive model ends its life in a violent explosion which results in even greater nitrogen pollution.

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C. Nagele and H. Umeda
Wed, 12 Apr 23
16/45

Comments: Submitted to APJL Comments welcome!

Spherical Harmonics for the 1D Radiative Transfer Equation I: Reflected Light [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04829


A significant challenge in radiative transfer theory for atmospheres of exoplanets and brown dwarfs is the derivation of computationally efficient methods that have adequate fidelity to more precise, numerically demanding solutions. In this work, we extend the capability of the first open-source radiative transfer model for computing the reflected light of exoplanets at any phase geometry, PICASO: Planetary Intensity Code for Atmospheric Spectroscopy Observations. Until now, PICASO has implemented two-stream approaches to the solving the radiative transfer equation for reflected light, in particular following the derivations of Toon et al. (1989) (Toon89). In order to improve the model accuracy, we have considered higher-order approximations of the phase functions, namely, we have increased the order of approximation from 2 to 4, using spherical harmonics. The spherical harmonics approximation decouples spatial and directional dependencies by expanding the intensity and phase function into a series of spherical harmonics, or Legendre polynomials, allowing for analytical solutions for low-order approximations to optimize computational efficiency. We rigorously derive the spherical harmonics method for reflected light and benchmark the 4-term method (SH4) against Toon89 and two independent and higher-fidelity methods (CDISORT & doubling-method). On average, the SH4 method provides an order of magnitude increase in accuracy, compared to Toon89. Lastly, we implement SH4 within PICASO and observe only modest increase in computational time, compared to two-stream methods (20% increase).

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C. Rooney, N. Batalha and M. Marley
Wed, 12 Apr 23
19/45

Comments: Accepted ApJ; 27 pages; 5 figures; Code available at this https URL; Zenodo release at this https URL; Tutorials/figure reproducibility at this https URL

L1 and off Sun-Earth line visible-light imaging of Earth-directed CMEs: An analysis of inconsistent observations [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05264


The efficacy of coronal mass ejection (CME) observations as a key input to space weather forecasting is explored by comparing on and off Sun-Earth line observations from the ESA/NASA SOHO and NASA STEREO spacecraft. A comparison is made of CME catalogues based on L1 coronagraph imagery and off Sun-Earth line coronagraph and heliospheric imager (HI) observations, for the year 2011. Analysis reveals inconsistencies in the identification of a number of potentially Earth-directed CMEs. The catalogues reflect our ability to identify and characterise CMEs, so any discrepancies can impact our prediction of Earth-directed CMEs. We show that 15 CMEs, which were observed by STEREO, that had estimated directions compatible with Earth-directed events, had no identified halo/partial halo counterpart listed in the L1 coronagraph CME catalogue. In-situ data confirms that for 9 of these there was a consistent L1 Interplanetary CME (ICME). The number of such “discrepant” events is significant compared to the number of ICMEs recorded at L1 in 2011, stressing the need to address space weather monitoring capabilities, particularly with the inclusion of off Sun-Earth line observation. While the study provides evidence that some halo CMEs are simply not visible in near-Earth coronagraph imagery, there is evidence that some halo CMEs viewed from L1 are compromised by preceding CME remnants or the presence of multiple-CMEs. This underlines (1) the value of multiple vantage point CME observation, and (2) the benefit of off Sun-Earth line platform heliospheric imaging, and coronagraph imaging, for the efficient identification and tracking of Earth-directed events.

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R. Harrison, J. Davies, D. Barnes, et. al.
Wed, 12 Apr 23
27/45

Comments: 36 pages, 6 figures, in press at AGU Space Weather, 2023

Simulated observations of star formation regions: infrared evolution of globally collapsing clouds [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04864


The direct comparison between hydrodynamical simulations and observations is needed to improve the physics included in the former and test biases in the latter. Post-processing radiative transfer and synthetic observations are now the standard way to do this. We report on the first application of the \texttt{SKIRT} radiative transfer code to simulations of a star-forming cloud. The synthetic observations are then analyzed following traditional observational workflows. We find that in the early stages of the simulation, stellar radiation is inefficient in heating dust to the temperatures observed in Galactic clouds, thus the addition of an interstellar radiation field is necessary. The spectral energy distribution of the cloud settles rather quickly after $\sim3$ Myr of evolution from the onset of star formation, but its morphology continues to evolve for $\sim8$ Myr due to the expansion of \textsc{Hii} regions and the respective creation of cavities, filaments, and ridges. Modeling synthetic \textit{Herschel} fluxes with 1- or 2-component modified black bodies underestimates total dust masses by a factor of $\sim2$. Spatially-resolved fitting recovers up to about $70\%$ of the intrinsic value. This “missing mass” is located in a very cold dust component with temperatures below $10$ K, which does not contribute appreciably to the far-infrared flux. This effect could bias real observations if such dust exists in large amounts. Finally, we tested observational calibrations of the SFR based on infrared fluxes and concluded that they are in agreement when compared to the intrinsic SFR of the simulation averaged over $\sim100$ Myr.

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J. Jáquez-Domínguez, R. Galván-Madrid, J. Fritz, et. al.
Wed, 12 Apr 23
28/45

Comments: N/A

H$α$ emission line sources from VLT-MUSE in a low-metallicity star forming region — Dolidze 25 [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.05019


The process of accretion through circumstellar disks in young stellar objects is an integral part of star formation and the $H\alpha$ emission line is a prominent signature of accretion in low-mass stars. We present the detection and characterization of $H\alpha$ emission line sources in the central region of a distant, low-metallicity young stellar cluster – Dolidze 25 (at $\sim$ 4.5 kpc) – using medium-resolution optical spectra (4750-9350 \r{A} ) obtained with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at the VLT. We have identified 14 potential accreting sources within a rectangular region of (2$’$ x 1$’$) towards the center of the cluster based on the detection of strong and broad emissions in $H\alpha$ as well as the presence of other emission lines such as [OI] and $H\beta$. Based on their positions in both photometric color-magnitude and color-color diagrams, we have also confirmed that these objects belong to the pre-main sequence phase of star formation. Our results were compared with the disk and diskless members of the cluster previously identified by Guarcello et al. (2021) using near-IR colors, and all sources they had identified as disks were confirmed to be accreting based on the spectroscopic characteristics.

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M. Ashraf, J. Jose, G. Herczeg, et. al.
Wed, 12 Apr 23
31/45

Comments: N/A

CM Mic and other ER UMa stars showing standstills [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04973


We analyzed All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN), Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) observations of CM Mic and found that this object belongs to a small group of ER UMa stars showing standstills. In addition to typical ER UMa-type cycles, the object showed standstills between 2017 and 2019 July, and in 2022. The supercycles varied between 49 and 83 d. In 2015, the object showed outbursts with a cycle length of ~35 d. An analysis of TESS observations during the 2020 July outburst detected superhumps with a mean period of 0.080251(6) d (value after the full development of superhumps). We also studied other ER UMa stars showing standstills mainly using Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) data. DDE 48, MGAB-V728 and ZTF18abmpkbj mostly showed ER UMa-type supercycles but showed one or two standstills. MGAB-V3488 was mostly in ER UMa states with short (~25 d) supercycles in 2020-2022 similar to RZ LMi. This object also showed long standstills. PS1-3PI J181732.65+101954.6 showed ER UMa-type supercycles up to 2020 May and entered a long standstill. ZTF18abncpgs showed standstills most of the time, but also showed ER UMa-type supercycles occasionally between standstills. ZTF19aarsljl is a likely member of this group. MGAB-V284 showed a pattern similar to ER UMa stars showing standstills but with a longer time-scale of normal outbursts. This object seems to be an ER UMa star with standstills above the period gap. None of the objects we studied showed a superoutburst arising from a long standstill, as recorded in NY Ser in 2018, although the 2019 June-July superoutburst of PS1-3PI J181732.65+101954.6 might have been an exception.

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T. Kato and N. Kojiguchi
Wed, 12 Apr 23
40/45

Comments: 33 pages, 20 figures, VSOLJ Variable Star Bulletin No. 112

Transverse Velocity Field Measurement in High-Resolution Solar Images Based on Deep Learning [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03909


To address the problem of the low accuracy of transverse velocity field measurements for small targets in high-resolution solar images, we proposed a novel velocity field measurement method for high-resolution solar images based on PWCNet. This method transforms the transverse velocity field measurements into an optical flow field prediction problem. We evaluated the performance of the proposed method using the Ha and TiO datasets obtained from New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST) observations. The experimental results show that our method effectively predicts the optical flow of small targets in images compared with several typical machine- and deep-learning methods. On the Ha dataset, the proposed method improves the image structure similarity from 0.9182 to 0.9587 and reduces the mean of residuals from 24.9931 to 15.2818; on the TiO dataset, the proposed method improves the image structure similarity from 0.9289 to 0.9628 and reduces the mean of residuals from 25.9908 to 17.0194. The optical flow predicted using the proposed method can provide accurate data for the atmospheric motion information of solar images. The code implementing the proposed method is available on https://github.com/lygmsy123/transverse-velocity-field-measurement.

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Z. Shang, S. Mu, K. Ji, et. al.
Tue, 11 Apr 23
1/63

Comments: 14 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Catching a nova X-ray/UV flash in the visible? Early spectroscopy of the extremely slow Nova Velorum 2022 (Gaia22alz) [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04306


We present early spectral observations of the very slow Galactic nova Gaia22alz, over its gradual rise to peak brightness that lasted 180 days. During the first 50 days, when the nova was only 3–4 magnitudes above its normal brightness, the spectra showed narrow (FWHM $\approx$ 400 km s$^{-1}$) emission lines of H Balmer, He I, He II, and C IV, but no P Cygni absorption. A few weeks later, the high-excitation He II and C IV lines disappeared, and P Cygni profiles of Balmer, He I, and eventually Fe II lines emerged, yielding a spectrum typical of classical novae before peak. We propose that the early spectra of Gaia22alz are produced in the white dwarf’s envelope or accretion disk, reprocessing X-ray and ultraviolet emission from the white dwarf after a dramatic increase in the rate of thermonuclear reactions, during a phase known as the “early X-ray/UV flash”. If true, this would be one of the rare times that the optical signature of the early X-ray/UV flash has been detected. While this phase might last only a few hours in other novae and thus be easily missed, it was possible to detect in Gaia22alz due to its very slow and gradual rise and thanks to the efficiency of new all-sky surveys in detecting transients on their rise. We also consider alternative scenarios that could explain the early spectral features of Gaia22alz and its unusually slow rise.

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E. Aydi, L. Chomiuk, J. Mikołajewska, et. al.
Tue, 11 Apr 23
6/63

Comments: 20 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables. Submitted to MNRAS

Elemental Abundances of the Super-Neptune WASP-107b's Host Star Using High-resolution, Near-infrared Spectroscopy [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03808


We present the first elemental abundance measurements of the K dwarf (K7V) exoplanet-host star WASP-107 using high-resolution (R = 45,000), near-infrared (H- and K-band) spectra taken from Gemini-S/IGRINS. We use the previously determined physical parameters of the star from the literature and infer the abundances of 15 elements: C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Ni, all with precision < 0.1 dex, based on model fitting using MARCS model atmospheres and the spectral synthesis code Turbospectrum. Our results show near-solar abundances and a carbon-to-oxygen ratio (C/O) of 0.50 (+/-0.10), consistent with the solar value of 0.54 (+/-0.09). The orbiting planet, WASP-107b, is a super Neptune with a mass in the Neptune regime (= 1.8 M_Nep) and a radius close to Jupiter’s (= 0.94 R_Jup). This planet is also being targeted by four JWST Cycle 1 programs in transit and eclipse, which should provide highly precise measurements of atmospheric abundances. This will enable us to properly compare the planetary and stellar chemical abundances, which is essential in understanding the formation mechanisms, internal structure, and chemical composition of exoplanets. Our study is a proof-of-concept that will pave the way for such measurements to be made for all JWST’s cooler exoplanet-host stars.

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N. Hejazi, I. Crossfield, T. Nordlander, et. al.
Tue, 11 Apr 23
13/63

Comments: 19 pages, 8 figures, Accepted to ApJ

Prompt-to-afterglow transition of optical emission in a long gamma-ray burst consistent with a fireball [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04669


Long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which signify the end-life collapsing of very massive stars, are produced by extremely relativistic jets colliding into circumstellar medium. Huge energy is released both in the first few seconds, namely the internal dissipation phase that powers prompt emissions, and in the subsequent self-similar jet-deceleration phase that produces afterglows observed in broad-band electromagnetic spectrum. However, prompt optical emissions of GRBs have been rarely detected, seriously limiting our understanding of the transition between the two phases. Here we report detection of prompt optical emissions from a gamma-ray burst (i.e. GRB 201223A) using a dedicated telescope array with a high temporal resolution and a wide time coverage. The early phase coincident with prompt {\gamma}-ray emissions show a luminosity in great excess with respect to the extrapolation of {\gamma}-rays, while the later luminosity bump is consistent with onset of the afterglow. The clearly detected transition allows us to differentiate physical processes contributing to early optical emissions and to diagnose the composition of the jet

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L. Xin, X. Han, H. Li, et. al.
Tue, 11 Apr 23
17/63

Comments: Authors’ version of article published in Nature Astronomy, see their website for official version

A Solar Investigation of Multicomponent Dark Matter [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04721


If multiple thermal weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter candidates exist, then their capture and annihilation dynamics inside a massive stars such as Sun could change from conventional method of study. With a simple correction to time evolution of dark matter (DM) number abundance inside the Sun for multiple dark matter candidates, significant changes in DM annihilation flux depending on annihilation, direct detection cross-section, internal conversion and their contribution to relic abundance are reported in present work.

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A. Banik
Tue, 11 Apr 23
23/63

Comments: 12 pages, 8 figures

Wavelength-Dependent Extinction and Grain Sizes in Dippers [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04650


We have examined inter-night variability of K2-discovered Dippers that are not close to being viewed edge-on, as determined from previously-reported ALMA images, using the SpeX spectrograph and the NASA Infrared Telescope facility (IRTF). The three objects observed were EPIC 203850058, EPIC 205151387, and EPIC 204638512 (2MASS J16042165-2130284). Using the ratio of the fluxes between two successive nights, we find that for EPIC 204638512 and EPIC 205151387, we find that the properties of the dust differ from that seen in the diffuse interstellar medium and denser molecular clouds. However, the grain properties needed to explain the extinction does resemble those used to model the disks of many young stellar objects. The wavelength-dependent extinction models of both EPIC 204638512 and EPIC 205151387 includes grains at least 500 microns in size, but lacks grains smaller than 0.25 microns. The change in extinction during the dips, and the timescale for these variations to occur, imply obscuration by the surface layers of the inner disks. The recent discovery of a highly mis-inclined inner disk in EPIC 204638512 is suggests that the variations in this disk system may point to due to rapid changes in obscuration by the surface layers of its inner disk, and that other face-on Dippers might have similar geometries. The He I line at 1.083 microns in EPIC 205151387 and EPIC 20463851 were seen to change from night to night, suggesting that we are seeing He I gas mixed in with the surface dust.

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M. Sitko, R. Russell, Z. Long, et. al.
Tue, 11 Apr 23
24/63

Comments: 13 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables

The GAPS programme at TNG XLV. A massive brown dwarf orbiting the active M dwarf TOI-5375 [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04477


Context. Massive substellar companions orbiting active low-mass stars are rare. They, however, offer an excellent opportunity to study the main mechanisms involved in the formation and evolution of substellar objects. Aims. We aim to unravel the physical nature of the transit signal observed by the TESS space mission on the active M dwarf TOI-5375. Methods. We analysed the available TESS photometric data as well as high-resolution (R $\sim$ 115000) HARPS-N spectra. We combined these data to characterise the star TOI-5375 and to disentangle signals related to stellar activity from the companion transit signal in the light-curve data. We ran an MCMC analysis to derive the orbital solution and apply state-of-the-art Gaussian process regression to deal with the stellar activity signal. Results. We reveal the presence of a companion in the brown dwarf / very-low-mass star boundary orbiting around the star TOI-5375. The best-fit model corresponds to a companion with an orbital period of 1.721564 $\pm$ 10$^{\rm -6}$ d, a mass of 77 $\pm$ 8 $M_{\rm J}$ and a radius of 0.99 $\pm$ 0.16 $R_{\rm J}$. We derive a rotation period for the host star of 1.9692 $\pm$ 0.0004 d, and we conclude that the star is very close to synchronising its rotation with the orbital period of the companion.

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J. Maldonado, A. Petralia, G. Mantovan, et. al.
Tue, 11 Apr 23
25/63

Comments: Submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics (under review)

The Effect of Flow and Magnetic Twist on Resonant Absorption of Slow MHD Waves in Magnetic Flux Tubes [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04266


Observations show that there are twisted magnetic flux tubes and plasma flow throughout the solar atmosphere. The main purpose of this work is to obtain the damping rate of sausage modes in the presence of magnetic twist and plasma flow. We obtain the dispersion relation for sausage modes in slow continuity in an inhomogeneous layer under the conditions of magnetic pores, then we solve it numerically. For the selected density profile, the magnetic field, and the plasma flow as a function of radius across the inhomogeneous layer, we show that the effect of the twisted magnetic field on the resonance absorption at low speed of the plasma flow is greater than one at high speed.

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M. Sadeghi, K. Bahari and K. Karami
Tue, 11 Apr 23
32/63

Comments: N/A

Diagnosing The Ejecta Properties of Engine-Driven Supernovae from Observables in Their Initial Phase [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04146


Engine-driven explosions with continuous energy input from the central system have been suggested for supernovae (SNe) associated with a Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB), super-luminous SNe (SLSNe), and at least a fraction of broad-lined SNe Ic (SNe Ic-BL) even without an associated GRB. In the present work, we investigate observational consequences in this scenario, focusing on the case where the energy injection is sufficiently brief, which has been suggested for GRB-SNe. We construct a simplified, spherical ejecta model sequence taking into account the major effects of the central engine; composition mixing, density structure, and the outermost ejecta velocity. Unlike most of the previous works for GRB-SNe, we solve the formation of the photosphere self-consistently, with which we can predict the photometric and spectroscopic observables. We find that these ejecta properties strongly affect their observational appearance in the initial phase (~ a week since the explosion), highlighted by blended lines suffering from higher-velocity absorptions for the flatter density distribution and/or higher outermost ejeca velocity. This behaviour also affects the multi-band light curves in a non-monotonic way. Prompt follow-up observations starting immediately after the explosion thus provides key diagnostics to unveil the nature of the central engine behind GRB-SNe and SNe Ic-BL. For SN 2017iuk associated with GRB 171205A these diagnosing observational data are available, and we show that the expected structure from the engine-driven explosion, i.e., a flat power-law density structure extending up to >~ 100,000 km/s, can explain the observed spectral evolution reasonably well.

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K. Maeda, A. Suzuki and L. Izzo
Tue, 11 Apr 23
40/63

Comments: 12 pages, 7 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

The importance of live binary evolution in numerical simulations of binaries embedded in circumbinary discs [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03790


The shrinking of a binary orbit driven by the interaction with a gaseous circumbinary disc, initially advocated as a potential way to catalyze the binary merger, has been recently debated in the case of geometrically thick (i.e. with $H/R\gtrsim 0.1$) discs. However, a clear consensus is still missing mainly owing to numerical limitations, such as fixed orbit binaries or lack of resolution inside the cavity carved by the binary in its circumbinary disc. In this work, we asses the importance of evolving the binary orbit by means of hydrodynamic simulations performed with the code {\sc gizmo} in meshless-finite-mass mode. In order to model the interaction between equal mass circular binaries and their locally isothermal circumbinary discs, we enforce hyper-Lagrangian resolution inside the cavity. We find that fixing the binary orbit ultimately leads to an overestimate of the gravitational torque that the gas exerts on the binary, and in an underestimate of the torque due to the accretion of material onto the binary components. Furthermore, we find that the modulation of the accretion rate on the binary orbital period is strongly suppressed in the fixed orbit simulation, while it is clearly present in the live binary simulations. This has potential implications for the prediction of the observable periodicities in massive black hole binary candidates.

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A. Franchini, A. Lupi, A. Sesana, et. al.
Tue, 11 Apr 23
48/63

Comments: 7 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Bright X-ray pulsars as sources of MeV neutrinos in the sky [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04520


High mass accretion rate onto strongly magnetised neutron stars results in the appearance of accretion columns supported by the radiation pressure and confined by the strong magnetic field of a star. At mass accretion rates above $\sim 10^{19}\,{\rm g\,s^{-1}}$, accretion columns are expected to be advective. Under such conditions, a noticeable part of the total energy release can be carried away by neutrinos of a MeV energy range. Relying on a simple model of the neutrino luminosity of accreting strongly magnetised neutron stars, we estimate the neutrino energy fluxes expected from six ULX pulsars known up to date and three brightest Be X-ray transits hosting magnetised neutron stars. Despite the large neutrino luminosity expected in ULX pulsars, the neutrino energy flux from the Be X-ray transients of our Galaxy, SMC and LMC is dominant. However, the neutrino flux from the brightest X-ray transients is estimated to be below the isotropic background by two orders of magnitude at least, which makes impossible direct registration of neutrino emission from accreting strongly magnetised neutron stars nowadays.

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A. Asthana, A. Mushtukov, A. Dobrynina, et. al.
Tue, 11 Apr 23
55/63

Comments: 7 pages, 6 figures, submitted to MNRAS

Back to the Starting Point: on the Simulation of Initial Magnetic Fields and Spin Periods of Non-accretion Pulsars [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03530


Neutron stars (NSs) play essential roles in modern astrophysics. Magnetic fields and spin periods of newborn (zero age) NSs have large impact on the further evolution of NSs, which are however poorly explored in observation due to the difficulty of finding newborn NSs. In this work, we aim to infer the magnetic fields and spin periods (Bi and Pi) of zero-age NSs from the observed properties of NS population. We select non-accretion NSs (NANSs) whose evolution is solely determined by magnetic dipole radiation. We find that both Bi and Pi can be described by log-normal distribution and the fitting sensitively depends on our parameters.

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K. Xu, H. Yang, Y. Mao, et. al.
Mon, 10 Apr 23
3/36

Comments: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

The Landscape of Thermal Transients from Supernova Interacting with a Circumstellar Medium [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03360


The interaction of supernova ejecta with a surrounding circumstellar medium (CSM) generates a strong shock which can convert the ejecta kinetic energy into observable radiation. Given the diversity of potential CSM structures (arising from diverse mass loss processes such as late-stage stellar outbursts, binary interaction, and winds), the resulting transients can display a wide range of light curve morphologies. We provide a framework for classifying the transients arising from interaction with a spherical CSM shell. The light curves are decomposed into five consecutive phases, starting from the onset of interaction and extending through shock breakout and subsequent shock cooling. The relative prominence of each phase in the light curve is determined by two dimensionless quantities representing the CSM-to-ejecta mass ratio $\eta$, and a breakout parameter $\xi$. These two parameters define four light curve morphology classes, where each class is characterized by the location of shock breakout and the degree of deceleration as the shock sweeps up the CSM. We compile analytic scaling relations connecting the luminosity and duration of each light curve phase to the physical parameters. We then run a grid of radiation hydrodynamics simulations for a wide range of ejecta and CSM parameters to numerically explore the landscape of interaction light curves, and to calibrate and confirm the analytic scalings. We connect our theoretical framework to several case studies of observed transients, highlighting the relevance in explaining slow-rising and superluminous supernovae, fast blue optical transients, and double-peaked light curves.

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D. Khatami and D. Kasen
Mon, 10 Apr 23
4/36

Comments: 30 pages, 18 figures, submitted to ApJ

Ultraslow PSR J0901-4046 with an ultrahigh magnetic field of $3.2\times10^{16}$ G [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03702


The recent discovery of a radio-emitting neutron star with an ultralong spin period of 76 s, PSR J0901-4046, raises a fundamental question on how such a slowly rotating magnetized object can be active in the radio band. A canonical magnetic field of $1.3\times10^{14}$ G estimated from the pulsar period and its time derivative is wholly insufficient for PSR J0901-4046 to operate. Consideration of a magnetic inclination angle of $10^\circ$ estimated from the pulse width gives a higher magnetic field of $1.5\times10^{15}$ G, which is still an order of magnitude lower than the necessary minimum of $2.5\times10^{16}$ G following from the death line for radio pulsars with magnetic fields exceeding the critical value $4.4\times10^{13}$ G. We show that if the observed microstructure of single pulses reflects relativistic beaming, the inferred surface magnetic field appears to be $3.2\times10^{16}$ G, and without this assumption it is no less than $2.7\times10^{16}$ G, which explains the existence of radio emission from PSR J0901-4046. This estimation makes PSR J0901-4046 a radio pulsar with the strongest magnetic field known and is a sign that PSR J0901-4046 slows down not by magnetic-dipole radiation, but rather by an electric current of 56 MA, when rotational energy is expended in accelerating charged particles over the polar cap.

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D. Sob’yanin
Mon, 10 Apr 23
12/36

Comments: 6 pages

The Disc Miner II: Revealing Gas substructures and Kinematic signatures from Planet-disc interaction through line profile analysis [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03607


[Abridged] The aim of this work is to identify potential signatures from planet-disc interaction in the circumstellar discs around the young stars MWC 480, HD 163296, AS 209, IM Lup, and GM Aur, through the study of molecular lines observed as part of the ALMA large program MAPS. Extended and localised perturbations in velocity, line width, and intensity have been analysed jointly using the discminer framework, in three bright CO lines, 12CO, 13CO and C18O $J=2-1$, to provide a comprehensive summary of the kinematic and column density substructures that planets might be actively sculpting in these discs. We find convincing evidence for the presence of four giant planets located at wide orbits in three of the discs in the sample: two around HD 163296, one in MWC 480, and one in AS 209. One of the planet candidates in HD 163296, P94, originally proposed by Izquierdo et al. (2022) using lower velocity resolution 12CO data, is confirmed and linked to localised velocity and line width perturbations in 13CO and C18O too. We highlight that line widths are also powerful tracers of planet-forming sites as they are sensitive to turbulent motions triggered by planet-disc interactions. In MWC 480, we identified non-axisymmetric line width enhancements around the radial separation of candidate planet-driven buoyancy spirals proposed by Teague et al. (2021), which we used to narrow the location of the planet candidate to an orbital radius of $R=245$ au and $\rm{PA}=193^\circ$. In the disc of AS 209, we found excess 12CO line widths centred at $R=210$ au, $\rm{PA}=151^\circ$, spanning around the immediate vicinity of the circumplanetary disc candidate proposed by Bae et al. (2022), which further supports its presence. Our simultaneous analysis of multiple tracers and observables aims to lay the groundwork for robust studies of molecular line properties focused on the search for young planets in discs.

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A. Izquierdo, L. Testi, S. Facchini, et. al.
Mon, 10 Apr 23
13/36

Comments: Accepted for publication in A&A

Exact solution to the problem of slow oscillations in coronal loops and its diagnostic applications [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03632


Magnetoacoustic oscillations are nowadays routinely observed in various regions of the solar corona. This allows them to be used as means of diagnosing plasma parameters and processes occurring in it. Plasma diagnostics, in turn, requires a sufficiently reliable MHD model to describe the wave evolution. In our paper, we focus on obtaining the exact analytical solution to the problem of the linear evolution of standing slow magnetoacoustic (MA) waves in coronal loops. Our consideration of the properties of slow waves is conducted using the infinite magnetic field assumption. The main contribution to the wave dynamics in this assumption comes from such processes as thermal conduction, unspecified coronal heating, and optically thin radiation cooling. In our consideration, the wave periods are assumed to be short enough so that the thermal misbalance has a weak effect on them. Thus, the main non-adiabatic process affecting the wave dynamics remains thermal conduction. The exact solution of the evolutionary equation is obtained using the Fourier method. This means that it is possible to trace the evolution of any harmonic of the initial perturbation, regardless of whether it belongs to entropy or slow mode. We show that the fraction of energy between entropy and slow mode is defined by the thermal conduction and coronal loop parameters. It is shown for which parameters of coronal loops it is reasonable to associate the full solution with a slow wave, and when it is necessary to take into account the entropy wave. Furthermore, we obtain the relationships for the phase shifts of various plasma parameters applicable to any values of harmonic number and thermal condition coefficient. In particular, it is shown that the phase shifts between density and temperature perturbations for the second harmonic of the slow wave vary between $\pi/2$ to 0, but are larger than for the fundamental harmonic.

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D. Zavershinskii, N. Molevich, D. Riashchikov, et. al.
Mon, 10 Apr 23
14/36

Comments: N/A

Reaction kinetics of CN + toluene and its implication on the productions of aromatic nitriles in the Taurus molecular cloud and Titan's atmosphere [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03582


Reactions between cyano radical and aromatic hydrocarbons are believed to be important pathways for the formation of aromatic nitriles in the interstellar medium (ISM) including those identified in the Taurus molecular cloud (TMC-1). Aromatic nitriles might participate in the formation of polycyclic aromatic nitrogen containing hydrocarbons (PANHs) in Titan’s atmosphere. Here, ab initio kinetics simulations reveal a high efficiency of $\rm \sim10^{-10}~cm^{3}~s^{-1}$ and the competition of the different products of 30-1800 K and $10^{-7}$-100 atm of the CN + toluene reaction. In the star-forming region of TMC-1 environment, the product yields of benzonitrile and tolunitriles for CN reacting with toluene may be approximately 17$\%$ and 83$\%$, respectively. The detection of main products, tolunitriles, can serve as proxies for the undetected toluene in the ISM due to their much larger dipole moments. The competition between bimolecular and unimolecular products is extremely intense under the warmer and denser PANH forming region of Titan’s stratosphere. The computational results show that the fractions of tolunitriles, adducts, and benzonitrile are 19$\%$-68$\%$, 15$\%$-64$\%$ and 17$\%$, respectively, at 150-200 K and 0.0001-0.001 atm (Titan’s stratosphere). Then, benzonitrile and tolunitriles may contribute to the formation of PANHs by consecutive $\rm C_{2}H$ additions. Kinetic information of aromatic nitriles for the CN + toluene reaction calculated here helps to explain the formation mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or PANHs under different interstellar environments and constrains corresponding astrochemical models.

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M. Wu, X. Wu, Q. Hou, et. al.
Mon, 10 Apr 23
19/36

Comments: N/A

Two-temperature accretion flows around strongly magnetized stars and their spectral analysis [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03329


We investigate two-temperature accretion flows onto strongly magnetized compact stars. Matter is accreted in the form of an accretion disc upto the disc radius ($r_{\rm d}$), where, the magnetic pressure exceeds both the gas and ram pressure and thereafter the matter is channelled along the field lines onto the poles. We solve the equations of motion self-consistently along the field lines, incorporating radiative processes like bremsstrahlung, synchrotron and inverse-Comptonization. For a given set of constants of motion, the equations of motion do not produce unique transonic solution. Following the second law of thermodynamics the solution with the highest entropy is selected and thereby eliminating the degeneracy in solution. We study the properties of these solutions and obtain corresponding spectra as a function of the magnetic field ($B_$), spin period ($P$) and accretion rate of the star ($\dot{M}$). A primary shock is always formed just near the surface. The enhanced radiative processes in this post-shock region slows down the matter and it finally settles on the surface of the star. This post-shock region contributes to $\gtrsim 99.99\%$ of the total luminosity obtained from the accretion flow. It is still important to study the full accretion flow because secondary shocks may be present for some combination of $B_$, $P$ and ${\dot{M}}$ in addition to primary shocks. We find that secondary shocks, if present, produce an extended emission at higher energies in the spectra.

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S. Sarkar, K. Singh, I. Chattopadhyay, et. al.
Mon, 10 Apr 23
20/36

Comments: 18 pages, 17 figures and accepted for publication in MNRAS

Power-law Distribution of Solar-Cycle Modulated Coronal Jets [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03466


Power-law distributions have been studied as a significant characteristic of non-linear dissipative systems. Since discovering the power-law distribution of solar flares that was later extended to nano-flares and stellar flares, it has been widely accepted that different scales of flares share the same physical process. Here, we present the newly developed Semi-Automated Jet Identification Algorithm (SAJIA) and its application for detecting more than 1200 off-limb solar jets during Solar Cycle 24. Power-law distributions have been revealed between the intensity/energy and frequency of these events, with indices found to be analogous to those for flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These jets are also found to be spatially and temporally modulated by the solar cycle forming a butterfly diagram in their latitudinal-temporal evolution, experiencing quasi-annual oscillations in their analysed properties, and very likely gathering in certain active longitudinal belts. Our results show that coronal jets display the same nonlinear behaviour as that observed in flares and CMEs, in solar and stellar atmospheres, strongly suggesting that they result from the same nonlinear statistics of scale-free processes as their counterparts in different scales of eruptive events. Although these jets, like flares and other large-scale dynamic phenomena, are found to be significantly modulated by the solar cycle, their corresponding power-law indices still remain similar.

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J. Liu, A. Song, D. Jess, et. al.
Mon, 10 Apr 23
22/36

Comments: 10 figures, 1 table, to be published in ApJ Supplement

Non-thermal particle acceleration and power-law tails via relaxation to universal Lynden-Bell equilibria [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03715


Collisionless and weakly collisional plasmas often exhibit non-thermal quasi-equilibria. Among these quasi-equilibria, distributions with power-law tails are ubiquitous. It is shown that the statistical-mechanical approach originally suggested by Lynden-Bell (1967) can easily recover such power-law tails. Moreover, we show that, despite the apparent diversity of Lynden-Bell equilibria, a generic form of the equilibrium distribution at high energies is a hard' power-law tail $\propto \varepsilon^{-2}$, where $\varepsilon$ is the particle energy. The shape of thecore’ of the distribution, located at low energies, retains some dependence on the initial condition but it is the tail (or `halo’) that contains most of the energy. Thus, a degree of universality exists in collisionless plasmas.

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R. Ewart, M. Nastac and A. Schekochihin
Mon, 10 Apr 23
23/36

Comments: 28 pages, 5 figures

Atmospheric parameters of individual components of the visual triple stellar system HIP 32475 [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03604


We present a complete analysis of the individual components of the ABC visual triple system HIP 32475. AB pair was discovered during the Hipparcos mission, with a separation of 412 mas. Later, in 2015, a third component was added to the system by discovering it at a small angular distance from B. In our analysis, we follow Al-Wardat’s method for analyzing binary and multiple stellar systems, which is a computational spectrophotometric method. Using estimated parameters, the components’ positions on the H-R diagram, evolutionary tracks, and isochrones are defined. Depending on the analysis, we estimate the age of the system as 1.259 Gyr with a metallicity of $Z=0.019$. The results show that component A started to evolve from the main sequence to the sub-giants stage, while components B and C are still in the main sequence stage.

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A. Hussein, E. Abu-Alrob, F. Alkhateri, et. al.
Mon, 10 Apr 23
28/36

Comments: N/A

Revisiting proton-proton fusion in chiral effective field theory [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03327


We calculate the $S$-factor for proton-proton fusion using chiral effective field theory interactions and currents. By performing order-by-order calculations with a variety of chiral interactions that are regularized and calibrated in different ways, we assess the uncertainty in the $S$-factor from the truncation of the effective field theory expansion and from the sensitivity of the $S$-factor to the short-distance axial current determined from three- and four-nucleon observables. We find that $S(0)=(4.100\pm0.019\mathrm{(syst)}\pm0.013\mathrm{(stat)}\pm0.008(g_A))\times10^{-23}~\mathrm{MeV\,fm}^2\,,$ where the three uncertainties arise, respectively, from the truncation of the effective field theory expansion, use of the two-nucleon axial current fit to few-nucleon observables and variation of the axial coupling constant within the recommended range.

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B. Acharya, L. Marcucci and L. Platter
Mon, 10 Apr 23
31/36

Comments: N/A

Magnetic Tornado Properties: A Substantial Contribution to the Solar Coronal Heating via Efficient Energy Transfer [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03010


In solving the solar coronal heating problem, it is crucial to comprehend the mechanisms by which energy is conveyed from the photosphere to the corona. Recently, magnetic tornadoes, characterized as coherent, rotating magnetic field structures extending from the photosphere to the corona, have drawn growing interest as a possible means of efficient energy transfer. Despite its acknowledged importance, the underlying physics of magnetic tornadoes remains still elusive. In this study, we conduct a three-dimensional radiative magnetohydrodynamic simulation that encompasses the upper convective layer and extends into the corona, with a view to investigating how magnetic tornadoes are generated and efficiently transfer energy into the corona. We find that a single event of magnetic flux concentration merger on the photosphere gives rise to the formation of a single magnetic tornado. The Poynting flux transferred into the corona is found to be four times greater in the presence of the magnetic tornado, as compared to its absence. This increase is attributed to a reduction in energy loss in the chromosphere, resulting from the weakened magnetic energy cascade. Based on an evaluation of the fraction of the merging events, our results suggest that magnetic tornadoes contribute approximately 50% of the Poynting flux into the corona in regions where the coronal magnetic field strength is 10 G. Potentially, the contribution could be even greater in areas with a stronger coronal magnetic field.

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H. Kuniyoshi, M. Shoda, H. Iijima, et. al.
Fri, 7 Apr 23
15/50

Comments: submitted to the Astrophysical Journal. first referee report received. comments welcome

Hyades Member K2-136c: The Smallest Planet in an Open Cluster with a Precisely Measured Mass [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02779


K2-136 is a late-K dwarf ($0.742\pm0.039$ M$\odot$) in the Hyades open cluster with three known, transiting planets and an age of $650\pm70$ Myr. Analyzing K2 photometry, we found that planets K2-136b, c, and d have periods of $8.0$, $17.3$, and $25.6$ days and radii of $1.014\pm0.050$ R$\oplus$, $3.00\pm0.13$ R$\oplus$, and $1.565\pm0.077$ R$\oplus$, respectively. We collected 93 radial velocity measurements (RVs) with the HARPS-N spectrograph (TNG) and 22 RVs with the ESPRESSO spectrograph (VLT). Analyzing HARPS-N and ESPRESSO data jointly, we found K2-136c induced a semi-amplitude of $5.49\pm0.53$ m s$^{-1}$, corresponding to a mass of $18.1\pm1.9$ M$\oplus$. We also placed $95$% upper mass limits on K2-136b and d of $4.3$ and $3.0$ M$\oplus$, respectively. Further, we analyzed HST and XMM-Newton observations to establish the planetary high-energy environment and investigate possible atmospheric loss. K2-136c is now the smallest planet to have a measured mass in an open cluster and one of the youngest planets ever with a mass measurement. K2-136c has $\sim$75% the radius of Neptune but is similar in mass, yielding a density of $3.69^{+0.67}_{-0.56}$ g cm$^{-3}$ ($\sim$2-3 times denser than Neptune). Mass estimates for K2-136b (and possibly d) may be feasible with more RV observations, and insights into all three planets’ atmospheres through transmission spectroscopy would be challenging but potentially fruitful. This research and future mass measurements of young planets are critical for investigating the compositions and characteristics of small exoplanets at very early stages of their lives and providing insights into how exoplanets evolve with time.

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A. Mayo, C. Dressing, A. Vanderburg, et. al.
Fri, 7 Apr 23
29/50

Comments: Accepted in AJ, 25 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables

Asymptotic normalization coefficients of alpha-particle removal from $^{16}$O($3^-,2^+,1^-$) [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02821


Asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANC) determine the overall normalization of cross sections of peripheral radiative capture reactions. In a recent paper [Blokhintsev {\em et al.}, Eur. Phys. J. A {\bf 58}, 257 (2022)], we considered the ANC $C_0$ for the virtual decay $^{16}$O$(0^+; 6.05$ MeV)$\to \alpha+^{12}$C(g.s.). In the present paper, which can be regarded as a continuation of the previous, we treat the ANCs $C_l$ for the vertices $^{16}$O$(J^\pi)\to \alpha+^{12}$C(g.s.) corresponding to the other three bound excited states of $^{16}$O ($J^\pi=3^-$, $2^+$, $1^-$, $l=J$). ANCs $C_l$ ($l=3,\,2,\,1$) are found by analytic continuation in energy of the $\alpha^{12}$C $l$-wave partial scattering amplitudes, known from the phase-shift analysis of experimental data, to the pole corresponding to the $^{16}$O bound state and lying in the unphysical region of negative energies. To determine $C_l$, the scattering data are approximated by the sum of polynomials in energy in the physical region and then extrapolated to the pole. For a more reliable determination of the ANCs, various forms of functions expressed in terms of phase shifts were used in analytical approximation and subsequent extrapolation.

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L. Blokhintsev, A. Kadyrov, A. Mukhamedzhanov, et. al.
Fri, 7 Apr 23
30/50

Comments: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2208.09587

Exploring the Observability of Surviving Companions of Stripped-Envelope Supernovae: A Case Study of Type Ic SN 2020oi [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02662


Stripped-envelope supernovae (SE SNe) were considered as the explosions of single massive stars with strong stellar winds, while later observations favor binary origins. One direct evidence to support the binary origins is to find the surviving companions of SE SNe since previous numerical studies suggested that the binary companion should survive the supernova impact and could be detectable. Recently, Gagliano et al. (2022) reported that the nearby Type Ic SN 2020oi in M100 (~17.1 Mpc) resulted from a binary system based on the HST photometric and spectroscopic observation. Based on the suggested binary properties of SN 2020oi, we conduct two-dimensional hydrodynamics simulations of supernova-companion interactions and the subsequent post-impact evolution of the companion. Our results suggest that a surviving companion becomes brighter in two orders of magnitude and temporarily redder after the SN impact. The companion might be detectable with the JWST NIRCam short wavelength channel in a few years. Furthermore, the predicted magnitudes of surviving companions show a significant magnitude gradient around the peak. This could be another indicator to identify the surviving companion from a SE SN.

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H. Chen, S. Rau and K. Pan
Fri, 7 Apr 23
33/50

Comments: 14 pages, 9 figures, accepted by ApJ

The fastest hot subdwarfs revisited [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02969


Hyper-velocity stars (HVS) are enigmatic objects because they are travelling so fast that they escape from the Galaxy. Among hot subdwarfs, only one such star is known, the He-sdO US 708. The Hyper-MUCHFUSS collaboration provided additional HVS candidates. Here we revisit the fastest candidates including US 708 by analysing optical spectra and spectral energy distributions using a new grid of tailored model atmospheres and report preliminary results. The sample is dominated by H-rich subdwarfs and their distribution in the Kiel diagram appears to be bimodal for the sdB stars but otherwise fits canonical evolutionary models well. Gaia proper motion measurements allowed a precise kinematic investigation to be made. It turns out that all previously proposed HVS candidates are actually bound to the Galaxy, except US 708. The original candidate sample turns out to belong to an extreme halo population. The scarcity of available observations of US 708 calls for space-based UV and IR photometry as well as high precision radial velocity measurements.

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U. Heber
Fri, 7 Apr 23
35/50

Comments: 9 page, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Bulletin de la Societ Royale des Sciences de Liege, poceedings of the conference “10th Meeting on Hot Subdwarfs and Related Objects”

Impact of thermal misbalance on acoustic-gravity waves in the solar atmosphere [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03227


The joint effect of gravity and thermal misbalance on the dynamics of acoustic-gravity waves (AGW) in the solar atmosphere is considered. It is shown that the heating and cooling taken in the form of power functions lead to the linear dependence of stationary temperature profile. Estimates of the ratio of the characteristic length associated with thermal processes to the gravitational height show a predominant influence of thermal processes in the temperature range up to 2 MK and a comparable influence on the dynamics of AGW in the range from 2 to 10 MK. A study of the dispersion properties of AGW in an isothermal atmosphere showed that in regimes with an overwhelming influence of thermal processes, the acoustic cut-off frequency decreases up to $\sqrt{\gamma}$ times. At the same time, the maximum frequency of the gravitational mode (analog of the Brunt-Vaisala frequency in the medium without non-adiabatic heating and cooling) decreases with increasing power of thermal processes, and then the gravitational mode can become purely oscillatory.

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D. Riashchikov, N. Molevich and D. Zavershinskii
Fri, 7 Apr 23
36/50

Comments: N/A

On the nascent wind of nearby oxygen-rich AGB stars: a brief review [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02837


The commonly accepted mechanism governing the formation of the nascent wind in oxygen-rich AGB stars combines an initial boost above the photosphere, given by shock waves resulting from stellar pulsations and convective cell granulation, with a subsequent acceleration fuelled by the radiation pressure of the star on dust grains. We use six nearby stars, for which detailed studies of visible and infrared observations at the VLT and millimetre observations at ALMA are available, to assess the extent to which the validity of this picture is currently corroborated. We show that while providing a very useful guide to current research and having received general support and suffered no contradiction, it still requires many additional observations to be reliably validated. In particular, observations of the highest possible angular resolution at both millimetre and visible/infrared wavelengths, performed in conjunction with measurements of the light curve, are necessary to tell apart the respective roles played by convection and stellar pulsations. A major unanswered question is the lack of understanding of the apparent contradiction between the observed high variability near the photosphere and the persistence over decades, or even centuries, of the global anisotropy displayed by the CSE. New observations of the close neighbourhood of the star are required to elucidate the mechanism that governs rotation, in particular in the cases of R Dor, L2 Pup and EP Aqr. We argue that the presence of stellar or planetary companions does not seriously impact the formation of the nascent wind and only modifies its subsequent evolution.

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P. Darriulat, D. Hoai, P. Nhung, et. al.
Fri, 7 Apr 23
37/50

Comments: 22 pages,16 figures

Non-thermal motions and atmospheric heating of cool stars [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02667


The magnetic processes associated with the non-thermal broadening of optically thin emission lines appear to carry enough energy to heat the corona and accelerate the solar wind. We investigate whether non-thermal motions in cool stars exhibit the same behaviour as on the Sun by analysing archival stellar spectra taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, and full-disc Solar spectra taken by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. We determined the non-thermal velocities by measuring the excess broadening in optically thin emission lines formed in the stellar atmosphere; the chromosphere, the transition region and the corona. Assuming the non-thermal broadening is caused by the presence of Alfv\’en waves, we also determined the associated wave energy densities. Our results show that, with a non-thermal velocity of $\sim$23 kms$^{-1}$ the Sun-as-a-star results are in very good agreement with values obtained from spatially-resolved solar observations. The non-thermal broadening in our sample show correlation to stellar rotation, with the strength of the non-thermal velocity decreasing with decreasing rotation rate. Finally, the non-thermal velocity in cool Sun-like stars varies with atmospheric height or temperature of the emission lines, and peaks at transition region temperatures. This points towards a solar-like Alfv\’en wave driven heating in stellar atmospheres. However, the peak is at a lower temperature in some cool stars suggesting that, other magnetic process such as flaring events could also dominate.

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S. Saikia, T. Lueftinger, V. Airapetian, et. al.
Fri, 7 Apr 23
39/50

Comments: 13 pages, 8 Figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

Spectroscopic Orbits of Subsystems in Multiple Stars. X (Summary) [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02706


Results of a large program of spectroscopic monitoring of nearby solar-type stellar hierarchical systems using the CHIRON echelle spectrograph at the 1.5 m telescope are summarized. Ten papers of this series contain 102 spectroscopic orbits and substantially contribute to the knowledge of periods and eccentricties, providing input for the study of their formation and early evolution. Radial velocities of additional 91 targets without CHIRON orbits (members of wide physical pairs) are published here. Our results are compared to the recent Gaia Non-Single Star (NSS) catalog, revealing its strengths and weaknesses. The NSS provides orbital periods for 31 objects of the CHIRON sample (about one third). Of the 22 spectroscopic NSS orbits in common, 14 are in good agreement with CHIRON, the rest have reduced velocity amplitudes or other problems. Hence ground-based monitoring gives, so far, a more accurate and complete picture of nearby hierarchies than Gaia. The distribution of inner periods in hierarchical systems is non-monotonic, showing a shallow minimum in the 30-100 days bin and a strong excess at shorter periods, compared to the smooth distribution of simple binaries in the field. The period-eccentricity diagram of inner subsystems updated by this survey, recent literature, and Gaia, displays an interesting structure.

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A. Tokovinin
Fri, 7 Apr 23
42/50

Comments: 11 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables. Accepted by The Astronomical Journal

Temporal variation of the photometric magnetic activity for the Sun and Kepler solar-like stars [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03165


The photometric time series of solar-like stars can exhibit rotational modulation due to active regions co-rotating with the stellar surface, allowing us to constrain stellar rotation and magnetic activity. In this work we investigate the behavior, particularly the variability, of the photometric magnetic activity of Kepler solar-like stars and compare it with that of the Sun. We adopted the photometric magnetic activity proxy Sph, which was computed with a cadence of 5 x the rotation period, Prot. The average Sph was taken as the mean activity level, and the standard deviation was taken as a measure of the temporal variation of the magnetic activity over the observations. We also analyzed Sun-as-a-star photometric data from VIRGO. Sun-like stars were selected from a very narrow parameter space around the solar properties. We also looked into KIC 8006161 (HD 173701), an active metal-rich G dwarf, and we compared its magnetic activity to that of stars with similar stellar parameters. We find that the amplitude of Sph variability is strongly correlated with its mean value, independent of spectral type. An equivalent relationship has been found for ground-based observations of chromospheric activity emission and magnetic field strength, but in this work we show that photometric Kepler data also present the same behavior. While, depending on the cycle phase, the Sun is among the less active stars, we find that the solar Sph properties are consistent with those observed in Kepler Sun-like stars. KIC 8006161 is, however, among the most active of its peers, which tend to be metal-rich. This results from an underlying relationship between Prot and metallicity and supports the following interpretation of the magnetic activity of KIC 8006161: its strong activity is a consequence of its high metallicity, which affects the depth of the convection zone and, consequently, the efficiency of the dynamo.

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A. Santos, S. Mathur, R. García, et. al.
Fri, 7 Apr 23
45/50

Comments: Published in A&A; 12 pages including 11 figures and 3 tables (main text); 10 additional pages including 17 figures and 5 tables (appendix)

Eccentric Dust Ring in the IRS 48 Transition Disk [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02937


Crescent-shaped structures in transition disks hold the key to studying the putative companions to the central stars. The dust dynamics, especially that of different grain sizes, is important to understanding the role of pressure bumps in planet formation. In this work, we present deep dust continuum observation with high resolution towards the Oph IRS 48 system. For the first time, we are able to significantly trace and detect emission along $95\%$ of the ring crossing the crescent-shaped structure. The ring is highly eccentric with an eccentricity of $0.27$. The flux density contrast between the peak of the flux and its counter part along the ring is $\sim 270$. In addition, we detect a compact emission toward the central star. If the emission is an inner circumstellar disk inside the cavity, it has a radius of at most a couple of astronomical units with a dust mass of $1.5\times 10^{-8}\rm\, M_\odot$, or $0.005\rm\, M_\oplus$. We also discuss the implications of the potential eccentric orbit on the proper motion of the crescent, the putative secondary companion, and the asymmetry in velocity maps.

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H. Yang, M. Fernandez-Lopez, Z. Li, et. al.
Fri, 7 Apr 23
47/50

Comments: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication on AAS Journals

Understanding the Relationship between Solar Coronal Abundances and F10.7 cm Radio Emission [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02552


Sun-as-a-star coronal plasma composition, derived from full-Sun spectra, and the F10.7 radio flux (2.8 GHz) have been shown to be highly correlated (r = 0.88) during solar cycle 24. However, this correlation becomes nonlinear during increased solar magnetic activity. Here, we use co-temporal, high spatial resolution, multi-wavelength images of the Sun to investigate the underlying causes of the non-linearity between coronal composition (FIP bias) and F10.7 solar index correlation. Using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA), Hinode/EIS (EUV Imaging Spectrometer), and the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO), we observed a small active region, AR 12759, throughout the solar atmosphere from the photosphere to the corona. Results of this study show that the magnetic field strength (flux density) in active regions plays an important role in the variability of coronal abundances, and it is likely the main contributing factor to this non-linearity during increased solar activity. Coronal abundances above cool sunspots are lower than in dispersed magnetic plage regions. Strong magnetic concentrations are associated with stronger F10.7 cm gyroresonance emission. Considering that as the solar cycle moves from minimum to maximum, the size of sunspots and their field strength increase with gyroresonance component, the distinctly different tendencies of radio emission and coronal abundances in the vicinity of sunspots is the likely cause of saturation of Sun-as-a-star coronal abundances during solar maximum, while the F10.7 index remains well correlated with the sunspot number and other magnetic field proxies.

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A. To, A. James, T. Bastian, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
1/76

Comments: 15 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

Identifying and characterizing ultracool dwarfs ejected from post-encounter disintegrating systems [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02236


Disintegrating multiple systems have been previously discovered from kinematic studies of the $\it Hipparcos$ catalogue. They are presumably the result of dynamical encounters taking place in the Galactic disk between single/multiple systems. In this paper, we aim to expand the search for such systems, to study their properties, as well as to characterize possible low-mass ejecta (i.e. brown dwarfs and planets). We have assembled a list of 15 candidate systems using astrometry from the Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (later upgraded with $\it Gaia$ DR3), and here we present the discovery and follow-up of 5 of them. We have obtained DECam imaging for all 5 systems and by combining near-infrared photometry and proper motion, we searched for ultra-cool ejected components. We find that the system consisting of TYC 7731-1951-1, TYC 7731-2128 AB, and TYC 7731-1995-1ABC?, contains one very promising ultra-cool dwarf candidate. Using additional data from the literature, we have found that 3 out of 5 disintegrating system candidates are likely to be true disintegrating systems.

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A. Yip, R. Kurtev, D. Pinfield, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
10/76

Comments: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 17 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables

Searching for ejected supernova companions in the era of precise proper motion and radial velocity measurements [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02542


The majority of massive stars are born in binaries, and most unbind upon the first supernova. With precise proper motion surveys such as Gaia, it is possible to trace back the motion of stars in the vicinity of young remnants to search for ejected companions. Establishing the fraction of remnants with an ejected companion, and the photometric and kinematic properties of these stars, offers unique insight into supernova progenitor systems. In this paper, we employ binary population synthesis to produce kinematic and photometric predictions for ejected secondary stars. We demonstrate that the unbound neutron star velocity distribution from supernovae in binaries closely traces the input kicks. Therefore, the observed distribution of neutron star velocities should be representative of their natal kicks. We evaluate the probability for any given filter, magnitude limit, minimum measurable proper motion (as a function of magnitude), temporal baseline, distance and extinction that an unbound companion can be associated with a remnant. We compare our predictions with results from previous companion searches, and demonstrate that the current sample of stars ejected by the supernova of their companion can be increased by a factor of 5-10 with Gaia data release 3. Further progress in this area is achievable by leveraging the absolute astrometric precision of Gaia, and by obtaining multiple epochs of deep, high resolution near-infrared imaging with the Hubble Space Telescope, JWST and next-generation wide-field near-infrared observatories such as Euclid or the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

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A. Chrimes, A. Levan, J. Eldridge, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
14/76

Comments: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 19 pages, 17 figures

Formation and Destiny of White Dwarf and Be Star Binaries [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02615


The binary systems consisting of a Be star and a white dwarf (BeWDs) are very interesting.They can originate from the binaries composed of a Be star and a subdwarf O or B star (BesdOBs), and they can merge into red giants via luminous red nova or can evolve into double WD potentially detected by $LISA$ mission. Using the method of population synthesis, we investigate the formation and the destiny of BeWDs,and discuss the effects of the metallicity ($Z$) and the common envelope evolution parameters. We find that BesdOBs are significant progenitors of BeWDs. About 30\% ($Z=0.0001$)-50\% ($Z=0.02$) of BeWDs come from BesdOBs. About 60\% ($Z=0.0001$) -70\% ($Z=0.02$) of BeWDs turn into red giants via a merger between a WD and a non-degenerated star. About 30\% ($Z=0.0001$) -40\% ($Z=0.02$) of BeWDs evolve into double WDs which are potential gravitational waves of $LISA$ mission at a frequency band between about $3\times10^{-3}$ and $3\times10^{-2}$ Hz. The common envelope evolution parameter introduces an uncertainty with a factor of about 1.3 on BeWD populations in our simulations.

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C. Zhu, G. Lü, X. Lu, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
17/76

Comments: 17 pages, 12 figures, 2 table, accepted for publication in RAA

Contemporaneous Observations of $Hα$ Luminosities and Photometric Amplitudes for M Dwarfs [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02543


While many M dwarfs are known to have strong magnetic fields and high levels of magnetic activity, we are still unsure about the properties of their starspots and the origin of their magnetic dynamos. Both starspots and chromospheric heating are generated by the surface magnetic field; they produce photometric variability and Halpha emission, respectively. Connecting brightness variations to magnetic activity therefore provides a means to examine M dwarf magnetism. We survey 30 M dwarfs previously identified as fast rotating stars (Prot < 10 days). We present time-series optical photometry from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and contemporaneous optical spectra obtained using the Ohio State Multi-Object Spectrograph (OSMOS) on the 2.4m Hiltner telescope at MDM Observatory in Arizona. We measure rotation periods and photometric amplitudes from TESS light curves using Gaussian Processes. From the OSMOS spectra, we calculate the equivalent width of Halpha, and LHalpha/Lbol. We find a weak positive correlation between Halpha luminosity and the semi-amplitude, Rvar p=0.005_{-0.005}^{+0.075}. We also observe short-term variability (between 20-45 minutes) in Halpha equivalent widths and possible enhancement from flares consistent to recent literature.

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A. Soto, E. Newton, S. Douglas, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
20/76

Comments: 19 pages, 9 Figures, 2 Tables, Poster Presented at Cool Stars 21, Publication post-copy editing

Two-dimensional simulations of internal gravity waves in a 5 $M_{\odot}$ Zero-Age-Main-Sequence model [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02508


Main-sequence intermediate-mass stars present a radiative envelope that supports internal gravity waves (IGWs). Excited at the boundary with the convective core, IGWs propagate towards the stellar surface and are suspected to impact physical processes such as rotation and chemical mixing. Using the fully compressible time-implicit code MUSIC, we study IGWs in two-dimensional simulations of a zero-age-main-sequence 5 solar mass star model up to 91\% of the stellar radius with different luminosity and radiative diffusivity enhancements. Our results show that low frequency waves excited by core convection are strongly impacted by radiative effects as they propagate. This impact depends on the radial profile of radiative diffusivity which increases by almost 5 orders of magnitude between the centre of the star and the top of the simulation domain. In the upper layers of the simulation domain, we observe an increase of the temperature. Our study suggests that this is due to heat added in these layers by IGWs damped by radiative diffusion. We show that non-linear effects linked to large amplitude IGWs may be relevant just above the convective core. Both these effects are intensified by the artificial enhancement of the luminosity and radiative diffusivity, with enhancement factors up to $10^4$ times the realistic values. Our results also highlight that direct comparison between numerical simulations with enhanced luminosity and observations must be made with caution. Finally, our work suggests that thermal effects linked to the damping of IGWs could have a non-negligible impact on stellar structure.

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A. Saux, I. Baraffe, T. Guillet, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
31/76

Comments: 15 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

G 68-34: A Double-Lined M-Dwarf Eclipsing Binary in a Hierarchical Triple System [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02466


Using high-resolution spectra from the Tillinghast Reflector Echelle Spectrograph (TRES) and photometry from sector 56 of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), we report that the nearby M dwarf G 68-34 is a double-lined eclipsing binary. The pair is spin-orbit synchronized with a period of 0.655 days. The light curve shows significant spot modulation with a larger photometric amplitude than that of the grazing eclipses. We perform a joint fit to the spectroscopic and photometric data, obtaining masses of $0.3280\pm 0.0034$M$\odot$ and $0.3207\pm 0.0036$M$\odot$ and radii of $0.345\pm 0.014$R$\odot$ and $0.342\pm 0.014$R$\odot$ after marginalizing over unknowns in the starspot distribution. This system adds to the small but growing population of fully convective M dwarfs with precisely measured masses and radii that can be used to test models of stellar structure. The pair also has a white dwarf primary at 9″ separation, with the system known to be older than 5 Gyr from the white-dwarf cooling age. The binarity of G 68-34 confirms our hypothesis from Pass et al. (2022): in that work, we noted that G 68-34 was both rapidly rotating and old, highly unusual given our understanding of the spindown of M dwarfs, and that a close binary companion may be responsible.

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E. Pass and D. Charbonneau
Thu, 6 Apr 23
32/76

Comments: Accepted for publication in ApJ, 10 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables

Three long period transiting giant planets from TESS [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02139


We report the discovery and orbital characterization of three new transiting warm giant planets. These systems were initially identified as presenting single transit events in the light curves generated from the full frame images of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Follow-up radial velocity measurements and additional light curves were used to determine the orbital periods and confirm the planetary nature of the candidates. The planets orbit slightly metal-rich late F- and early G-type stars. We find that TOI 4406b has a mass of $M_P$= 0.30 $\pm$ 0.04 $M_J$ , a radius of $R_P$= 1.00 $\pm$ 0.02 $R_J$ , and a low eccentricity orbit (e=0.15 $\pm$ 0.05) with a period of P= 30.08364 $\pm$ 0.00005 d . TOI 2338b has a mass of $M_P$= 5.98 $\pm$ 0.20 $M_J$ , a radius of $R_P$= 1.00 $\pm$ 0.01 $R_J$ , and a highly eccentric orbit (e= 0.676 $\pm$ 0.002 ) with a period of P= 22.65398 $\pm$ 0.00002 d . Finally, TOI 2589b has a mass of $M_P$= 3.50 $\pm$ 0.10 $M_J$ , a radius of $R_P$= 1.08 $\pm$ 0.03 $R_J$ , and an eccentric orbit (e = 0.522 $\pm$ 0.006 ) with a period of P= 61.6277 $\pm$ 0.0002 d . TOI 4406b and TOI 2338b are enriched in metals compared to their host stars, while the structure of TOI 2589b is consistent with having similar metal enrichment to its host star.

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R. Brahm, S. Ulmer-Moll, M. Hobson, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
43/76

Comments: 24 pages, 16 figures, accepted in AJ

Temperature and Strong Magnetic Field Effects in Dense Matter [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02454


We study consistently the effects of magnetic field on hot and dense matter. In particular, we look for differences that arise due to assumptions that reproduce the conditions produced in particle collisions or astrophysical scenarios, such as in the core of fully evolved neutron stars. We assume the magnetic field to be either constant or follow a profile extracted from general relativity calculations of magnetars and make use of two realistic models that can consistently describe chiral symmetry restoration and deconfinement to quark matter, {the CMF and the PNJL models}. We find that net isospin, strangeness, and {weak} chemical equilibrium with leptons can considerably change the effects of temperature and magnetic fields on particle content and deconfinement in dense matter. We finish by discussing the possibility of experimentally detecting quark deconfinement in dense and/or hot matter and the possible role played by magnetic fields.

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J. Peterson, P. Costa, R. Kumar, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
47/76

Comments: N/A

On the origin of the split main sequences of the young massive cluster NGC 1856 [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02227


The detection of split main sequences (MSs) associated with young clusters ($\lesssim$600 Myr) has caught lots of attention. A prevailing scenario is that a bimodality of stellar rotation distribution drives the MS bifurcation. Nevertheless, the origin of the stellar rotation dichotomy remains unclear. Hypotheses involving tidally-locked binaries or blue straggler stars (BSSs) are proposed to explain the observed split MSs. This work examines if the long-term dynamical evolution of star clusters can produce the observed split MSs, through high-performance $N$-body simulation. As a prototype example, the young massive cluster NGC 1856 exhibits an apparent MS bifurcation. Our simulation reports that at the age of NGC 1856, tidally-locked binaries are fully mixed with single stars. This is consistent with the observation that there is no significant spatial difference between blue MS and red MS stars. However, we find that only high mass-ratio binaries can evolve to the tidally-locked phase at the age of the NGC 1856. These tidally-locked binaries will populate a much redder sequence than the MS of single stars rather than a blue MS, which is inconsistent with the hypothesis. The number of tidally-locked binaries cannot account for the observation. Our simulation shows that BSSs produced by binary interactions do populate the blue periphery in the color-magnitude diagram, and their spatial distribution shows a similar pattern of single stars. However, the number of BSSs does not fit the observation.

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L. Wang, C. Li, L. Wang, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
51/76

Comments: 14 pages, 7 figures, 1 table; accepted for publication in ApJ

The F-CHROMA grid of 1D RADYN flare models [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02618


Context: Solar flares are the result of the sudden release of magnetic energy in the corona. Much of this energy goes into accelerating charged particles to high velocity. These particles travel along the magnetic field and the energy is dissipated when the density gets high enough, primarily in the solar chromosphere. Modelling this region is difficult because the radiation energy balance is dominated by strong, optically thick spectral lines.
Aims: Our aim is to provide the community with realistic simulations of a flaring loop with an emphasis on the detailed treatment of the chromospheric energy balance. This will enable a detailed comparison of existing and upcoming observations with synthetic observables from the simulations, thereby elucidating the complex interactions in a flaring chromosphere.
Methods: We used the 1D radiation hydrodynamics code RADYN to perform simulations of the effect of a beam of electrons injected at the apex of a solar coronal loop. A grid of models was produced, varying the total energy input, the steepness, and low-energy cutoff of the beam energy spectrum.
Results: The full simulation results for a grid of models are made available online. Some general properties of the simulations are discussed.

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M. Carlsson, L. Fletcher, J. Allred, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
59/76

Comments: 11 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Removal Of Active Region Inflows Reveals a Weak Solar Cycle Scale Trend In Near-surface Meridional Flow [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02158


Using time-distance local helioseismology flow maps within 1 Mm of the solar photosphere, we detect inflows toward activity belts that contribute to solar cycle scale variations in near-surface meridional flow. These inflows stretch out as far as 30 degrees away from active region centroids. If active region neighborhoods are excluded, the solar cycle scale variation in background meridional flow diminishes to below 2~m~s$^{-1}$, but still shows systematic variations in the absence of active regions between Sunspot Cycles 24 and 25. We, therefore, propose that the near-surface meridional flow is a three component flow made up of: a constant baseline flow profile that can be derived from quiet Sun regions, variations due to inflows around active regions, and solar cycle scale variation of the order of 2~m~s$^{-1}$. Torsional oscillation, on the other hand, is found to be a global phenomenon i.e. exclusion of active region neighborhoods does not affect its magnitude or phase significantly. This non-variation of torsional oscillation with distance away from active regions and the three-component breakdown of the near-surface meridional flow serve as vital constraints for solar dynamo models and surface flux transport simulations.

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S. Mahajan, X. Sun and J. Zhao
Thu, 6 Apr 23
60/76

Comments: 14 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

Non-zero phase-shifts of acoustic waves in the lower solar atmosphere measured from realistic simulations and their role in local helioseismology [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02057


Previous studies analyzing the evanescent nature of acoustic waves in the lower solar atmosphere, up to 300\,km above the photosphere, have shown an unexpected phase shift of an order of 1\,s between different heights. Those studies investigated the spectral line \ion{Fe}{1} 6173.3\,\AA, commonly used for helioseismic measurements. Such phase-shifts can contribute to a misinterpretation of the measured travel times in local helioseismology, complicating inferences of, e.g., the deep meridional flow. In this study, we carry out phase-shift computations using a simulated, fully radiative, and convective atmosphere from which the \ion{Fe}{1} 6173.3\,\AA\ line is synthesized. The resulting phase-shifts as functions of frequency across multiple heights show non-zero values in evanescent waves, similar to what was found in observational data. Comparing the Doppler-velocities estimated from the synthesized absorption line with the true velocities directly obtained from the simulated plasma motions, we find substantial differences in phase-shifts between the two. This leads us to hypothesize that the non-adiabaticity of the solar atmosphere yields extra phase-shift contributions to Doppler velocities. Finally, computing phase-differences for different viewing angles reveals a systematic center-to-limb variation, similar to what is present in observations. Overall, this study helps to improve our understanding of the physical cause of the helioseismic center-to-limb effect.

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M. Waidele, J. Zhao and I. Kitiashvili
Thu, 6 Apr 23
67/76

Comments: N/A

Extended atomic data for oxygen abundance analyses [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02310


As the most abundant element in the universe after hydrogen and helium, oxygen plays a key role in planetary, stellar, and galactic astrophysics. Its abundance is especially influential on stellar structure and evolution, and as the dominant opacity contributor at the base of the Sun’s convection zone it is central to the discussion around the solar modelling problem. However, abundance analyses require complete and reliable sets of atomic data. We present extensive atomic data for O I, by using the multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock and relativistic configuration interaction methods. Lifetimes and transition probabilities for radiative electric dipole transitions are given and compared with results from previous calculations and available measurements. The accuracy of the computed transition rates is evaluated by the differences between the transition rates in Babushkin and Coulomb gauges, as well as by a cancellation factor analysis. Out of the 989 computed transitions in this work, 205 are assigned to the accuracy classes AA-B, that is, with uncertainties less than 10%, following the criteria defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology Atomic Spectra Database. We discuss the influence of the new log(gf) values on the solar oxygen abundance and ultimately advocate $\log\epsilon_{\mathrm{O}}=8.70\pm0.04$.

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W. Li, P. Jönsson, A. Amarsi, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
70/76

Comments: 13 pages, 5 figures; Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Enlightening the dynamical evolution of Galactic open clusters: an approach using Gaia DR3 and analytical descriptions [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02209


Most stars in our Galaxy form in stellar aggregates, which can become long-lived structures called open clusters (OCs). Along their dynamical evolution, their gradual depletion leave some imprints on their structure. In this work, we employed astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic data from the \textit{Gaia} DR3 catalogue to uniformly characterize a sample of 60 OCs. Structural parameters (tidal, core and half-light radii, respectively, $r_t$, $r_c$ and $r_h$), age, mass ($M_{\textrm{clu}}$), distance, reddening, besides Jacobi radius ($R_J$) and half-light relaxation time ($t_{rh}$), are derived from radial density profiles and astrometrically decontaminated colour-magnitude diagrams. Ages and Galactocentric distances ($R_G$) range from 7.2$\,\lesssim\,$log($t.$yr$^{-1}$)$\,\lesssim\,$9.8 and 6$\,\lesssim\,R_G$(kpc)$\,\lesssim\,$12. Analytical expressions derived from $N$-body simulations, taken from the literature, are also employed to estimate the OC initial mass ($M_{\textrm{ini}}$) and mass loss due to exclusively dynamical effects. Both $r_c$ and the tidal filling ratio, $r_h/R_J$, tend to decrease with the dynamical age (=$t/t_{rh}$), indicating the shrinking of the OCs’ internal structure as consequence of internal dynamical relaxation. This dependence seems differentially affected by the external tidal field, since OCs at smaller $R_G$ tend to be dynamically older and have smaller $M_{\textrm{clu}}/M_{\textrm{ini}}$ ratios. In this sense, for $R_G\lesssim8\,$kpc, the $r_h/R_J$ ratio presents a slight positive correlation with $R_G$. Beyond this limit, there is a dichotomy in which more massive OCs tend to be more compact and therefore less subject to tidal stripping in comparison to those less massive and looser OCs at similar $R_G$. Besides, the $r_t/R_J$ ratio also tends to correlate positively with $R_G$.

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M. Angelo, J. Jr., F. Maia, et. al.
Thu, 6 Apr 23
76/76

Comments: 21 pages, 15 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Gas and star kinematics in cloud-cloud collisions [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01255


We model the collision of molecular clouds to investigate the role of the initial properties on the remnants. Our clouds collide and evolve in a background medium that is approximately ten times less dense than the clouds, and we show that this relatively dense background is dynamically important for the evolution of the collision remnants. Given the motion of the clouds and the remnants through the background, we develop, implement, and introduce dynamic boundary conditions. We investigate the effect of the initial cloud mass, velocity, internal turbulence, and impact angle. The initial velocity and its velocity components have the largest affect on the remnant. This affects the spatial extent of the remnant, which affects the number of resulting star clusters and the distribution of their masses. The less extended remnants tend to have fewer, but more massive, clusters. Unlike the clusters, the gas distributions are relatively insensitive to the initial conditions, both the distribution of the bulk gas properties and the gas clumps. In general, cloud collisions are relatively insensitive to their initial conditions when modelled hydrodynamically in a dynamically important background medium.

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J. Wurster and I. Bonnell
Wed, 5 Apr 23
2/62

Comments: 22 pages, 23 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

The ALMA Survey of 70 $μ$m Dark High-mass Clumps in Early Stages (ASHES). IX. Physical Properties and Spatial Distribution of Cores in IRDCs [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01757


The initial conditions found in infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) provide insights on how high-mass stars and stellar clusters form. We have conducted high-angular resolution and high-sensitivity observations toward thirty-nine massive IRDC clumps, which have been mosaicked using the 12m and 7m arrays from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The targets are 70 $\mu$m dark massive (220-4900 $M_\odot$), dense ($>$10$^4$ cm$^{-3}$), and cold ($\sim$10-20K) clumps located at distances between 2 and 6 kpc. We identify an unprecedented number of 839 cores, with masses between 0.05 and 81 $M_\odot$ using 1.3 mm dust continuum emission. About 55% of the cores are low-mass ($<$1 $M_\odot$), whereas $\lesssim$1% (7/839) are high-mass ($\gtrsim$27 $M_\odot$). We detect no high-mass prestellar cores. The most massive cores (MMC) identified within individual clumps lack sufficient mass to form high-mass stars without additional mass feeding. We find that the mass of the MMCs is correlated with the clump surface density, implying denser clumps produce more massive cores and a larger number of cores. There is no significant mass segregation except for a few tentative detections. In contrast, most clumps show segregation once the clump density is considered instead of mass. Although the dust continuum emission resolves clumps in a network of filaments, some of which consist of hub-filament systems, the majority of the MMCs are not found in the hubs. Our analysis shows that high-mass cores and MMCs have no preferred location with respect to low-mass cores at the earliest stages of high-mass star formation.

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K. Morii, P. Sanhueza, F. Nakamura, et. al.
Wed, 5 Apr 23
6/62

Comments: Accepted for Publication in ApJ. 54 pages, 40 figures, 5 tables

Hybrid stars with reactive interfaces: analysis within the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01898


It has been shown recently that quark-hadron conversions at the interface of a hybrid star may have a key role on the dynamic stability of the compact object. In this work we perform a systematic study of hybrid stars with reactive interfaces using a model-agnostic piecewise-polytropic hadronic equation of state and the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model for three-flavor quark matter. For the hadronic phase we use a soft, an intermediate and a stiff parametrization that match at $1.1 n_0$ {with predictions} based on chiral effective field theory (cEFT) interactions. In the NJL Lagrangian we include scalar, vector and ‘t Hooft interactions. The vector coupling constant $g_{v}$ is treated as a free parameter. We also consider that there is a split between the deconfinement and the chiral phase transitions which is controlled by changing the conventional value of the vacuum pressure $-\Omega_{0}$ in the NJL thermodynamic potential by $-\left(\Omega_{0}+\delta \Omega_{0}\right)$, being $\delta \Omega_{0}$ a free parameter. We analyze the mass-radius ($M$-$R$) relation in the case of rapid ($\tau \ll 1 \, \mathrm{ms}$) and slow ($\tau \gg 1 \, \mathrm{ms}$) conversions, being $\tau$ the reaction timescale. In the case of slow interface reactions we find $M$-$R$ curves with a cusp at the maximum mass point where a pure hadronic branch and a slow-stable hybrid star (SSHS) branch coincide. We find that the length of the slow-stable branch grows with the increase of the transition density and the energy density jump at the hadron-quark interface. We calculate the tidal deformabilities of SSHSs and analyse them in the light of the GW170817 event.

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C. Lenzi, G. Lugones and C. Vasquez
Wed, 5 Apr 23
7/62

Comments: 12 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Physical Review D

EP Aquarii: a new picture of the circumstellar envelope [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01520


New analyses of earlier ALMA observations of oxygen-rich AGB star EP Aquarii are presented, which contribute major progress to our understanding of the morpho-kinematics of the circumstellar envelope (CSE). The birth of the equatorial density enhancement (EDE) is shown to occur very close to the star where evidence for rotation has been obtained. High Doppler velocity wings are seen to consist of two components, the front end of the global wind, reaching above $\pm$12 \kms, and an effective line broadening, confined within 200 mas from the centre of the star, reaching above $\pm$20 \kms\ and interpreted as caused by the pattern of shock waves resulting from the interaction between stellar pulsation and convective cell granulation. Close to the star, episodic and lumpy mass ejections are observed, and their interaction with the gas of the nascent EDE, first rotating and later slowly expanding, is seen to play an important role in the development of the wind and the evolution of its radial velocity from 8-10 \kms\ on the polar symmetry axis to $\sim$2 \kms\ at the equator. It implies a very complex morpho-kinematics, which prevents making reliable interpretations with reasonable confidence. In particular, it sheds serious doubts on an earlier interpretation implying the presence of a white dwarf companion orbiting the star at an angular distance of $\sim$0.4 arcsec from its centre and currently west of it.

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P. Nhung, D. Hoai, P. Darriulat, et. al.
Wed, 5 Apr 23
8/62

Comments: 17 pages, 22 figures

Spectroscopic Orbits of Subsystems in Multiple Stars. IX [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01861


New spectroscopic orbits of inner subsystems in 14 hierarchies are determined from long-term monitoring with the optical echelle spectrometer, CHIRON. Their main components are nearby solar-type stars belonging to nine triple systems (HIP 3645, 14307, 36165, 79980, 103735, 103814, 104440, 105879, 109443) and five quadruples of 2+2 hierarchy (HIP 41171, 49336, 75663, 78163, and 117666). The inner periods range from 254 days to 18 yr. Inner subsystems in HIP 3645, 14313, 79979, 103735, 104440, and 105879 are resolved by speckle interferometry, and their combined spectro-interferometric orbits are derived here. Astrometric orbits of HIP 49336 Aa,Ab and HIP 117666 Aa,Ab are determined from wobble in the observed motion of the outer pairs. Comparison with three spectroscopic orbits found in the Gaia DR3 archive reveals that Gaia under-estimated the amplitudes (except for HIP 109443), while the periods match approximately. This work contributes new data on the architecture of nearby hierarchical systems, complementing their statistics.

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A. Tokovinin
Wed, 5 Apr 23
11/62

Comments: 17 pages, 16 figures, 7 tables. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2202.04056

Dynamics of Four Triple Systems [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01863


Orbital motions in four hierarchical stellar systems discovered by speckle interferometry are studied. Their inner orbits are relatively well constrained, while the long outer orbits are less certain. The eccentric and misaligned inner orbits in the early-type hierarchies Epsilon Cha (B9V, central star of the 5 Myr old association, P=6.4 yr, e=0.73), and I~385 (A0V, P~300 yr, e~0.8) suggest past dynamical interactions. Their nearly equal masses could be explained by a dynamical decay of a 2+2 quadruple progenitor consisting of four similar stars. However, there is no evidence of the associated recoil, so similar masses could be just a consequence of accretion from the same core. The other two hierarchies, HIP 32475 (F0IV, inner period 12.2 yr) and HIP 42910 (K7V, inner period 6.8 yr), have smaller masses and are double twins where both inner and outer mass ratios are close to one. A double twin could either result from a merger of one inner pair in a 2+2 quadruple or can be formed by a successive fragmentation followed by accretion.

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A. Tokovinin
Wed, 5 Apr 23
18/62

Comments: 11 pages, 8 figures, 5 tables

Nucleosynthesis and observation of the heaviest elements [CL]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01850


The rapid neutron capture or ‘r process’ of nucleosynthesis is believed to be responsible for the production of approximately half the natural abundance of heavy elements found on the periodic table above iron (with proton number $Z=26$) and all of the heavy elements above bismuth ($Z=83$). In the course of creating the actinides and potentially superheavies, the r process must necessarily synthesize superheavy nuclei (those with extreme proton numbers, neutron numbers or both) far from isotopes accessible in the laboratory. Many questions about this process remain unanswered, such as ‘where in nature may this process occur?’ and ‘what are the heaviest species created by this process?’ In this review, we survey at a high level the nuclear properties relevant for the heaviest elements thought to be created in the r process. We provide a synopsis of the production and destruction mechanisms of these heavy species, in particular the actinides and superheavies, and discuss these heavy elements in relation to the astrophysical r process. We review the observational evidence of actinides found in the Solar system and in metal-poor stars and comment on the prospective of observing heavy-element production in explosive astrophysical events. Finally, we discuss the possibility that future observations and laboratory experiments will provide new information in understanding the production of the heaviest elements.

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E. Holmbeck, T. Sprouse and M. Mumpower
Wed, 5 Apr 23
19/62

Comments: 63 pages, 17 figures

An optimal envelope ejection efficiency for merging neutron stars [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01949


We use the rapid binary stellar evolution code $\texttt{binary_c}$ to estimate the rate of merging neutron stars with numerous combinations of envelope ejection efficiency and natal kick dispersion. We find a peak in the local rate of merging neutron stars around $\alpha \approx 0.3$$-$$0.4$, depending on the metallicity, where $\alpha$ is the efficiency of utilising orbital energy to unbind the envelope. The peak height decreases with increasing electron-capture supernova kick dispersion $\sigma_\mathrm{ECSN}$. We explain the peak as a competition between the total number of systems that survive the common-envelope phase increasing with $\alpha$ and their separation, which increases with $\alpha$ as well. Increasing $\alpha$ reduces the fraction of systems that merge within a time shorter than the age of the Universe and results in different mass distributions for merging and non-merging double neutron stars. This offers a possible explanation for the discrepancy between the Galactic double neutron star mass distribution and the observed massive merging neutron star event GW190425. Within the $\alpha$$-$$\sigma_\mathrm{ECSN}$ parameter space that we investigate, the rate of merging neutron stars spans several orders of magnitude up to more than $1\times 10^{3} \, \mathrm{Gpc}^{-3}\,\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$ and can be higher than the observed upper limit or lower than the observed lower limit inferred thus far from merging neutron stars detected by gravitational waves. Our results stress the importance of common-envelope physics for the quantitative prediction and interpretation of merging binary neutron star events in this new age of gravitational wave astronomy.

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A. Tanaka, A. Gilkis, R. Izzard, et. al.
Wed, 5 Apr 23
26/62

Comments: 16 pages, 10 figures, this is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in MNRAS

Dynamical Mass of the Young Brown Dwarf Companion PZ Tel B [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01302


Dynamical masses of giant planets and brown dwarfs are critical tools for empirically validating substellar evolutionary models and their underlying assumptions. We present a measurement of the dynamical mass and an updated orbit of PZ Tel B, a young brown dwarf companion orbiting a late-G member of the $\beta$ Pic moving group. PZ Tel A exhibits an astrometric acceleration between Hipparcos and Gaia EDR3, which enables the direct determination of the companion’s mass. We have also acquired new Keck/NIRC2 adaptive optics imaging of the system, which increases the total baseline of relative astrometry to 15 years. Our joint orbit fit yields a dynamical mass of $27^{+25}{-9} \, M{\mathrm{Jup}}$, semi-major axis of $27^{+14}{-4} \, \mathrm{au}$, eccentricity of $0.52^{+0.08}{-0.10}$, and inclination of $91.73^{+0.36}_{-0.32} {}^\circ$. The companion’s mass is consistent within $1.1\sigma$ of predictions from four grids of hot-start evolutionary models. The joint orbit fit also indicates a more modest eccentricity of PZ Tel B than previous results. PZ Tel joins a small number of young (${<}200 \, \mathrm{Myr}$) systems with benchmark substellar companions that have dynamical masses and precise ages from moving group membership.

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K. Franson and B. Bowler
Wed, 5 Apr 23
27/62

Comments: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted to AJ

Revisiting the Red-giant Branch Hosts KOI-3886 and $ι$ Draconis. Detailed Asteroseismic Modeling and Consolidated Stellar Parameters [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.01570


Asteroseismology is playing an increasingly important role in the characterization of red-giant host stars and their planetary systems. Here, we conduct detailed asteroseismic modeling of the evolved red-giant branch (RGB) hosts KOI-3886 and $\iota$ Draconis, making use of end-of-mission Kepler (KOI-3886) and multi-sector TESS ($\iota$ Draconis) time-series photometry. We also model the benchmark star KIC 8410637, a member of an eclipsing binary, thus providing a direct test to the seismic determination. We test the impact of adopting different sets of observed modes as seismic constraints. Inclusion of $\ell=1$ and 2 modes improves the precision on the stellar parameters, albeit marginally, compared to adopting radial modes alone, with $1.9$-$3.0\%$ (radius), $5$-$9\%$ (mass), and $19$-$25\%$ (age) reached when using all p-dominated modes as constraints. Given the very small spacing of adjacent dipole mixed modes in evolved RGB stars, the sparse set of observed g-dominated modes is not able to provide extra constraints, further leading to highly multimodal posteriors. Access to multi-year time-series photometry does not improve matters, with detailed modeling of evolved RGB stars based on (lower-resolution) TESS data sets attaining a precision commensurate with that based on end-of-mission Kepler data. Furthermore, we test the impact of varying the atmospheric boundary condition in our stellar models. We find mass and radius estimates to be insensitive to the description of the near-surface layers, at the expense of substantially changing both the near-surface structure of the best-fitting models and the values of associated parameters like the initial helium abundance, $Y_{\rm i}$. Attempts to measure $Y_{\rm i}$ from seismic modeling of red giants may thus be systematically dependent on the choice of atmospheric physics.

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T. Campante, T. Li, J. Ong, et. al.
Wed, 5 Apr 23
31/62

Comments: Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal (AJ)