3,518 research outputs found
K-H_2 Quasi-molecular absorption detected in the T-dwarf epsilon Indi Ba
T-type dwarfs present a broad and shallow absorption feature centred around
6950 A in the blue wing of the K doublet at 0.77 micron which resembles in
depth and shape the satellite absorption predicted by detailed collisional
broadening profiles. In our previous work, the predicted line satellite
position was however somewhat too blue compared to the observed feature. In
this paper we investigate whether new calculations of the energy surfaces of
the potentials in the K-H_2 system, including spin-orbit coupling, result in a
closer coincidence of the satellite with the observed position. We also
investigate the extent to which CaH absorption bands contribute to the feature.
We present model atmospheres and synthetic spectra, including gravitational
settling for an improved description of depth-dependent abundances of
refractory elements, and based on new K-H_2 line profiles using improved
interaction potentials. By comparison with a high signal-to-noise optical
spectrum of the T1 dwarf epsilon Indi Ba, we find that these new models do
reproduce the observed feature, while CaH does not contribute for the
atmospheric parameters considered. We also find that CaH is settled out so deep
into the atmosphere that even turbulent vertical mixing would appear
insufficient to bring significant amounts of CaH to the photosphere in dwarfs
later than ~L5. We conclude that previous identification of the feature at this
location in T and late L dwarf spectra with CaH was erroneous, as expected on
physical grounds: calcium condenses onto grains in early L dwarfs and thus
should have settled out of the photosphere in cooler brown dwarfs. This finding
revokes one observational verification for the cloud-clearing theory: a gradual
clearing of the cloud cover in early T dwarfs.Comment: accepted for publication by Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters, 4
pages, 3 colour figure
FUSE observations of G226-29: First detection of the H_2 quasi-molecular satellite at 1150A
We present new FUV observations of the pulsating DA white dwarf G226-29
obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE). This ZZ Ceti
star is the brightest one of its class and the coolest white dwarf observed by
FUSE. We report the first detection of the broad quasi-molecular
collision-induced satellite of Ly-beta at 1150 A, an absorption feature that is
due to transitions which take place during close collisions of hydrogen atoms.
The physical interpretation of this feature is based on recent progress of the
line broadening theory of the far wing of Ly-beta. This predicted feature had
never been observed before, even in laboratory spectra.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters; 6 pages, 3 figure
Star formation in the central regions of galaxies
Massive star formation in the central regions of spiral galaxies plays an
important role in the dynamical and secular evolution of their hosts. Here, we
summarise a number of recent investigations of the star formation history and
the physical conditions of the gas in circumnuclear regions, to illustrate not
only the detailed results one can achieve, but also the potential of using
state-of-the-art spectroscopic and analysis techniques in researching the
central regions of galaxies in general. We review how the star formation
history of nuclear rings confirms that they are long-lived and stable
configurations. Gas flows in from the disk, through the bar, and into the ring,
where successive episodes of massive star formation occur. Analysing the ring
in NGC 7742 in particular, we determine the physical conditions of the line
emitting gas using a combination of ionisation and stellar population
modelling, concluding that the origin of the nuclear ring in this non-barred
galaxy lies in a recent minor merger with a small gas-rich galaxy.Comment: Invited contribution, to appear in "Mapping the Galaxy and other
galaxies", Eds. K. Wada and F. Combes, Springer, in pres
Spectral Energy Distributions for Disk and Halo M--Dwarfs
We have obtained infrared (1 to 2.5 micron) spectroscopy for 42 halo and disk
dwarfs with spectral type M1 to M6.5. These data are compared to synthetic
spectra generated by the latest model atmospheres of Allard & Hauschildt.
Photospheric parameters metallicity, effective temperature and radius are
determined for the sample. We find good agreement between observation and
theory except for known problems due to incomplete molecular data for metal
hydrides and water. The metal-poor M subdwarfs are well matched by the models
as oxide opacity sources are less important in this case. The derived effective
temperatures for the sample range from 3600K to 2600K; at these temperatures
grain formation and extinction are not significant in the photosphere. The
derived metallicities range from solar to one-tenth solar. The radii and
effective temperatures derived agree well with recent models of low mass stars.Comment: 24 pages including 13 figures, 4 Tables; accepted by Ap
Quasi-molecular Satellites of Lyman Beta in the Spectrum of the DA White Dwarf WOLF 1346
We present new FUV/UV observations of the DA white dwarf Wolf 1346 obtained
with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope. The atmospheric parameters of this
object are estimated from a fit of model atmospheres to several optical spectra
to be Teff = 20000 K, log g = 7.90. From the optical spectrum this star is a
normal DA without any indications for chemical elements other than hydrogen.
The hydrogen line L beta, however, shows a very unusual shape, with a steep red
wing and two absorption features on this wing. The shape is reminiscent of the
effects of quasi-molecular line broadening, as observed in L alpha in cooler DA
white dwarfs. We show that this is indeed the correct explanation, by
identifying 4 quasi-molecular satellites caused through perturbations by the H+
ion (H2+ quasi-molecule). The steep red wing is caused by the exponential
decline of the line profile beyond the satellite most distant from the line
center at 1078 A.Comment: 11 pages Latex with aaspp4 style, 4 postscript figures, as compressed
tar file, ApJ Letters, in pres
Modeling of the Lyman gamma satellites in FUSE spectra of DA white dwarfs
We present new theoretical calculations of the line profile of Lyman gamma
that include transitions in which a photon is absorbed by a neutral hydrogen
atom while it interacts with a proton. Models show that two absorption features
located near 992 A and 996 A are due to H-H^+ collisions. These quasi-molecular
satellites are similar to those that were identified in the wings of Lyman
alpha and Lyman beta lines of hydrogen-rich white dwarfs. We compute synthetic
spectra that take account of these new theoretical profiles and compare them to
the spectra of four DA white dwarfs that were observed with FUSE. The models
predict the absorption features that are observed in the wing of Lyman gamma
near 995 A, and confirm that these features are quasi-molecular satellites.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
LP 400-22, A very low-mass and high-velocity white dwarf
We report the identification of LP 400-22 (WD 2234+222) as a very low-mass
and high-velocity white dwarf. The ultraviolet GALEX and optical photometric
colors and a spectral line analysis of LP 400-22 show this star to have an
effective temperature of 11080+/-140 K and a surface gravity of log g =
6.32+/-0.08. Therefore, this is a helium core white dwarf with a mass of 0.17
M_solar. The tangential velocity of this white dwarf is 414+/-43 km/s, making
it one of the fastest moving white dwarfs known. We discuss probable
evolutionary scenarios for this remarkable object.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ Letters, made minor correction
Steady-state MreB helices inside bacteria: dynamics without motors
Within individual bacteria, we combine force-dependent polymerization
dynamics of individual MreB protofilaments with an elastic model of
protofilament bundles buckled into helical configurations. We use variational
techniques and stochastic simulations to relate the pitch of the MreB helix,
the total abundance of MreB, and the number of protofilaments. By comparing our
simulations with mean-field calculations, we find that stochastic fluctuations
are significant. We examine the quasi-static evolution of the helical pitch
with cell growth, as well as timescales of helix turnover and denovo
establishment. We find that while the body of a polarized MreB helix treadmills
towards its slow-growing end, the fast-growing tips of laterally associated
protofilaments move towards the opposite fast-growing end of the MreB helix.
This offers a possible mechanism for targeted polar localization without
cytoplasmic motor proteins.Comment: 7 figures, 1 tabl
Primeval very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs - VI. Population properties of metal-poor degenerate brown dwarfs
© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.We presented 15 new T dwarfs that were selected from UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey, Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy, and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer surveys, and confirmed with optical to near infrared spectra obtained with the Very Large Telescope and the Gran Telescopio Canarias. One of these new T dwarfs is mildly metal-poor with slightly suppressed -band flux. We presented a new X-shooter spectrum of a known benchmark sdT5.5 subdwarf, HIP 73786B. To better understand observational properties of brown dwarfs, we discussed transition zones (mass ranges) with low-rate hydrogen, lithium, and deuterium burning in brown dwarf population. The hydrogen burning transition zone is also the substellar transition zone that separates very low-mass stars, transitional, and degenerate brown dwarfs. Transitional brown dwarfs have been discussed in previous works of the Primeval series. Degenerate brown dwarfs without hydrogen fusion are the majority of brown dwarfs. Metal-poor degenerate brown dwarfs of the Galactic thick disc and halo have become T5+ subdwarfs. We selected 41 T5+ subdwarfs from the literature by their suppressed -band flux. We studied the spectral-type - colour correlations, spectral-type - absolute magnitude correlations, colour-colour plots, and HR diagrams of T5+ subdwarfs, in comparison to these of L-T dwarfs and L subdwarfs. We discussed the T5+ subdwarf discovery capability of deep sky surveys in the 2020s.Peer reviewe
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