The Impact of Massive Stars on the Formation of Young Stellar Clusters

Massive OB stars play an important role in the evolution of molecular clouds and star forming regions. The OB stars both photo--ionize molecular gas as well as sweep up and compress interstellar gas through winds, ionization fronts, and supernovae. In this contribution, we examine the effect massive stars have on the formation of young stellar clusters. We first discuss the processes by which OB stars destroy cluster--forming molecular cores, and hence terminate star formation. We overview observational evidence that OB stars forming in young stellar clusters destroy their parental cores on a timescale of 0.1 Myr, and we discuss some of the implications of this result. We then summarize extensive observations of the NGC 281 molecular cloud complex, and present evidence that two types of triggered star formation are occurring in this complex. Our goal is to underscore the impact massive stars have on cluster formation over distances ranging from 0.1 pc to 300 pc.Comment: 8 pages, Latex, to appear in "Hot Star Workshop III: The Earliest Phases of Massive Star Birth" (ed. P.A. Crowther

Hot Gas Structure in the Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4472

We present X-ray spectroscopic and morphological analyses using Chandra ACIS and ROSAT observations of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4472 in the Virgo cluster. We discuss previously unobserved X-ray structures within the extended galactic corona. In the inner 2' of the galaxy, we find X-ray holes or cavities with radii of ~2 kpc, corresponding to the position of radio lobes. These holes were produced during a period of nuclear activity that began 1.2 x 10^7 years ago and may be ongoing. We also find an asymmetrical edge in the galaxy X-ray emission 3' (14 kpc) northeast of the core and an ~8' tail (36 kpc) extending southwest of the galaxy. These two features probably result from the interaction of NGC 4472 gas with the Virgo gas, which produces compression in the direction of NGC 4472's infall and an extended tail from ram pressure stripping. Assuming the tail is in pressure equilibrium with the surrounding gas, we compute its angle to our line of sight and estimate that its true extent exceeds 100 kpc. Finally, in addition to emission from the nucleus (first detected by Soldatenkov, Vikhlinin & Pavlinsky), we detect two small extended sources within 10'' of the nucleus of the galaxy, both of which have luminosities of ~7 x 10^38 erg/s.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures, accepted by Ap

Direct detection of a substellar companion to the young nearby star PZ Telescopii

Aims: We study the formation of substellar objects (exoplanets and brown dwarfs) as companions to young nearby stars. Methods: With high contrast AO imaging obtained with NACO at ESO's VLT we search for faint companion-candidates around our targets, whose companionship can be confirmed with astrometry. Results: In the course of our imaging campaign we found a faint substellar companion of the nearby pre-main sequence star PZ Tel, a member of the beta Pic moving group. The companion is 5-6 mag fainter than its host star in JHK and is located at a separation of only 0.3 arcsec (or 15 AU of projected separation) north-east of PZ Tel. Within three NACO observing epochs we could confirm common proper motion (>39 sigma) and detected orbital motion of PZ Tel B around its primary (>37 sigma). The photometry of the newly found companion is consistent with a brown dwarf with a mass of 24 to 40 MJup, at the distance (50 pc) and age (8-20 Myr) of PZ Tel. The effective temperature of the companion, derived from its photometry, ranges between 2500 and 2700 K, which corresponds to a spectral type between M6 and M8. After beta Pic b, PZ Tel B is the second closest substellar companion imaged directly around a young star.Comment: accepted for publication in A&A Letter

Characterization of the Benchmark Binary NLTT 33370

We report the confirmation of the binary nature of the nearby, very low-mass system NLTT 33370 with adaptive optics imaging and present resolved near-infrared photometry and integrated light optical and near-infrared spectroscopy to characterize the system. VLT-NaCo and LBTI-LMIRCam images show significant orbital motion between 2013 February and 2013 April. Optical spectra reveal weak, gravity sensitive alkali lines and strong lithium 6708 Angstrom absorption that indicate the system is younger than field age. VLT-SINFONI near-IR spectra also show weak, gravity sensitive features and spectral morphology that is consistent with other young, very low-mass dwarfs. We combine the constraints from all age diagnostics to estimate a system age of ~30-200 Myr. The 1.2-4.7 micron spectral energy distribution of the components point toward T_eff=3200 +/- 500 K and T_eff=3100 +/- 500 K for NLTT 33370 A and B, respectively. The observed spectra, derived temperatures, and estimated age combine to constrain the component spectral types to the range M6-M8. Evolutionary models predict masses of 113 +/- 8 M_Jup and 106 +/- 7 M_Jup from the estimated luminosities of the components. KPNO-Phoenix spectra allow us to estimate the systemic radial velocity of the binary. The Galactic kinematics of NLTT 33370AB are broadly consistent with other young stars in the Solar neighborhood. However, definitive membership in a young, kinematic group cannot be assigned at this time and further follow-up observations are necessary to fully constrain the system's kinematics. The proximity, age, and late-spectral type of this binary make it very novel and an ideal target for rapid, complete orbit determination. The system is one of only a few model calibration benchmarks at young ages and very low-masses.Comment: 25 pages, 3 tables, 13 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

How Neutrinos Get Mass and What Other Things May Happen Besides Oscillations

In this talk I address the theoretical issue of what new physics is required to make $m_\nu \neq 0$. I then discuss what other things may happen besides neutrino oscillations. In particular I consider a possible new scenario of leptogenesis in R parity nonconserving supersymmetry.Comment: 7 pages including 1 figure, talk at WHEPP-

A global cloud map of the nearest known brown dwarf

Brown dwarfs -- substellar bodies more massive than planets but not massive enough to initiate the sustained hydrogen fusion that powers self-luminous stars -- are born hot and slowly cool as they age. As they cool below about 2,300 K, liquid or crystalline particles composed of calcium aluminates, silicates and iron condense into atmospheric 'dust', which disappears at still cooler temperatures (around 1,300 K). Models to explain this dust dispersal include both an abrupt sinking of the entire cloud deck into the deep, unob- servable atmosphere and breakup of the cloud into scattered patches (as seen on Jupiter and Saturn). Thus far, observations of brown dwarfs have been limited to globally integrated measurements, which can reveal surface inhomogeneities but cannot unambiguously resolve surface features. Here we report a two-dimensional map of a brown dwarf's surface that allows identification of large-scale bright and dark features, indicative of patchy clouds.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures. Spectra and map available upon reques

Orbital characterization of GJ1108A system, and comparison of dynamical mass with model-derived mass for resolved binaries

We report an orbital characterization of GJ1108Aab that is a low-mass binary system in pre-main-sequence phase. Via the combination of astrometry using adaptive optics and radial velocity measurements, an eccentric orbital solution of $e$=0.63 is obtained, which might be induced by the Kozai-Lidov mechanism with a widely separated GJ1108B system. Combined with several observed properties, we confirm the system is indeed young. Columba is the most probable moving group, to which the GJ1108A system belongs, although its membership to the group has not been established. If the age of Columba is assumed for GJ1108A, the dynamical masses of both GJ1108Aa and GJ1108Ab ($M_{\rm dynamical,GJ1108Aa}=0.72\pm0.04 M_{\odot}$ and $M_{\rm dynamical,GJ1108Ab}=0.30\pm0.03 M_{\odot}$) are more massive than what an evolutionary model predicts based on the age and luminosities. We consider the discrepancy in mass comparison can attribute to an age uncertainty; the system is likely older than stars in Columba, and effects that are not implemented in classical models such as accretion history and magnetic activity are not preferred to explain the mass discrepancy. We also discuss the performance of the evolutionary model by compiling similar low-mass objects in evolutionary state based on the literature. Consequently, it is suggested that the current model on average reproduces the mass of resolved low-mass binaries without any significant offsets.Comment: Accepted in Ap

Direct Imaging of a Cold Jovian Exoplanet in Orbit around the Sun-like Star GJ 504

Several exoplanets have recently been imaged at wide separations of >10 AU from their parent stars. These span a limited range of ages (<50 Myr) and atmospheric properties, with temperatures of 800--1800 K and very red colors (J - H > 0.5 mag), implying thick cloud covers. Furthermore, substantial model uncertainties exist at these young ages due to the unknown initial conditions at formation, which can lead to an order of magnitude of uncertainty in the modeled planet mass. Here, we report the direct imaging discovery of a Jovian exoplanet around the Sun-like star GJ 504, detected as part of the SEEDS survey. The system is older than all other known directly-imaged planets; as a result, its estimated mass remains in the planetary regime independent of uncertainties related to choices of initial conditions in the exoplanet modeling. Using the most common exoplanet cooling model, and given the system age of 160 [+350, -60] Myr, GJ 504 b has an estimated mass of 4 [+4.5, -1.0] Jupiter masses, among the lowest of directly imaged planets. Its projected separation of 43.5 AU exceeds the typical outer boundary of ~30 AU predicted for the core accretion mechanism. GJ 504 b is also significantly cooler (510 [+30, -20] K) and has a bluer color (J-H = -0.23 mag) than previously imaged exoplanets, suggesting a largely cloud-free atmosphere accessible to spectroscopic characterization. Thus, it has the potential of providing novel insights into the origins of giant planets, as well as their atmospheric properties.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ. Minor updates from the version