444 research outputs found
Gemini/GMOS Transmission Spectral Survey: Complete Optical Transmission Spectrum of the hot Jupiter WASP-4b
We present the complete optical transmission spectrum of the hot Jupiter
WASP-4b from 440-940 nm at R ~ 400-1500 obtained with the Gemini Multi-Object
Spectrometers (GMOS); this is the first result from a comparative
exoplanetology survey program of close-in gas giants conducted with GMOS.
WASP-4b has an equilibrium temperature of 1700 K and is favorable to study in
transmission due to a large scale height (370 km). We derive the transmission
spectrum of WASP-4b using 4 transits observed with the MOS technique. We
demonstrate repeatable results across multiple epochs with GMOS, and derive a
combined transmission spectrum at a precision about twice above photon noise,
which is roughly equal to to one atmospheric scale height. The transmission
spectrum is well fitted with a uniform opacity as a function of wavelength. The
uniform opacity and absence of a Rayleigh slope from molecular hydrogen suggest
that the atmosphere is dominated by clouds with condensate grain size of ~1 um.
This result is consistent with previous observations of hot Jupiters since
clouds have been seen in planets with similar equilibrium temperatures to
WASP-4b. We describe a custom pipeline that we have written to reduce GMOS
time-series data of exoplanet transits, and present a thorough analysis of the
dominant noise sources in GMOS, which primarily consist of wavelength- and
time- dependent displacements of the spectra on the detector, mainly due to a
lack of atmospheric dispersion correction.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in AJ, 2017 July
Morphological analysis of the cm-wave continuum in the dark cloud LDN1622
The spectral energy distribution of the dark cloud LDN1622, as measured by
Finkbeiner using WMAP data, drops above 30GHz and is suggestive of a Boltzmann
cutoff in grain rotation frequencies, characteristic of spinning dust emission.
LDN1622 is conspicuous in the 31 GHz image we obtained with the Cosmic
Background Imager, which is the first cm-wave resolved image of a dark cloud.
The 31GHz emission follows the emission traced by the four IRAS bands. The
normalised cross-correlation of the 31 GHz image with the IRAS images is higher
by 6.6sigma for the 12um and 25um bands than for the 60um and 100um bands:
C(12+25) = 0.76+/-0.02 and C(60+100) = 0.64+/-0.01.
The mid-IR -- cm-wave correlation in LDN 1622 is evidence for very small
grain (VSG) or continuum emission at 26-36GHz from a hot molecular phase. In
dark clouds and their photon-dominated regions (PDRs) the 12um and 25um
emission is attributed to stochastic heating of the VSGs. The mid-IR and
cm-wave dust emissions arise in a limb-brightened shell coincident with the PDR
of LDN1622, where the incident UV radiation from the Ori OB1b association heats
and charges the grains, as required for spinning dust.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ - the complete article with
uncompressed figures may be downloaded from
http://www.das.uchile.cl/~simon/ftp/l1622.pd
On Measuring the Infrared Luminosity of Distant Galaxies with the Space Infrared Telescope Facility
The Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) will revolutionize the study of
dust-obscured star formation in distant galaxies. Although deep images from the
Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF (MIPS) will provide coverage at 24, 70,
and 160 micron, the bulk of MIPS-detected objects may only have accurate
photometry in the shorter wavelength bands due to the confusion noise.
Therefore, we have explored the potential for constraining the total infrared
(IR) fluxes of distant galaxies with solely the 24 micron flux density, and for
the combination of 24 micron and 70 micron data. We also discuss the inherent
systematic uncertainties in making these transitions. Under the assumption that
distant star-forming galaxies have IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) that
are represented somewhere in the local Universe, the 24 micron data (plus
optical and X-ray data to allow redshift estimation and AGN rejection)
constrains the total IR luminosity to within a factor of 2.5 for galaxies with
0.4 < z < 1.6. Incorporating the 70 micron data substantially improves this
constraint by a factor < 6. Lastly, we argue that if the shape of the IR SED is
known (or well constrained; e.g., because of high IR luminosity, or low
ultraviolet/IR flux ratio), then the IR luminosity can be estimated with more
certainty.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures (2 in color). Accepted for Publication in the
Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2002 Nov
On Ultrasmall Silicate Grains in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium
The abundance of both amorphous and crystalline silicates in very small
grains is limited by the fact that the 10 micron silicate emission feature is
not detected in the diffuse ISM. On the basis of the observed IR emission
spectrum for the diffuse ISM, the observed ultraviolet extinction curve, and
the 10 micron silicate absorption profile, we obtain upper limits on the
abundances of ultrasmall (a < 15 Angstrom) amorphous and crystalline silicate
grains.
Contrary to previous work, as much as ~20% of interstellar Si could be in a <
15 Angstrom silicate grains without violating observational constraints. Not
more than ~5% of the Si can be in crystalline silicates (of any size).Comment: Submitted to ApJ Letters, 11 pages, 4 figures, Late
Deuterium toward the WD0621-376 sight line: Results from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) Mission
Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer observations are presented for
WD0621-376, a DA white dwarf star in the local interstellar medium (LISM) at a
distance of about 78 pc. The data have a signal-to-noise ratio of about 20-40
per 20 km/s resolution element and cover the wavelength range 905-1187 \AA.
LISM absorption is detected in the lines of D I, C II, C II*, C III, N I, N II,
N III, O I, Ar I, and Fe II. This sight line is partially ionized, with an
ionized nitrogen fraction of > 0.23. We determine the ratio (2). Assuming a standard interstellar
oxygen abundance, we derive . Using the
value of N(H I) derived from EUVE data gives a similar D/H ratio. The D I/N I
ratio is (2).Comment: accepted for publication in the ApJ
The Relationship between the Optical Depth of the 9.7 micron Silicate Absorption Feature and Infrared Differential Extinction in Dense Clouds
We have examined the relationship between the optical depth of the 9.7 micron
silicate absorption feature (tau_9.7) and the near-infrared color excess,
E(J-Ks) in the Serpens, Taurus, IC 5146, Chameleon I, Barnard 59, and Barnard
68 dense clouds/cores. Our data set, based largely on Spitzer IRS spectra,
spans E(J-Ks)=0.3 to 10 mag (corresponding to visual extinction between about 2
and 60 mag.). All lines of sight show the 9.7 micron silicate feature. Unlike
in the diffuse ISM where a tight linear correlation between the 9.7 micron
silicate feature optical depth and the extinction (Av) is observed, we find
that the silicate feature in dense clouds does not show a monotonic increase
with extinction. Thus, in dense clouds, tau_9.7 is not a good measure of total
dust column density. With few exceptions, the measured tau_9.7 values fall well
below the diffuse ISM correlation line for E(J-Ks) > 2 mag (Av >12 mag). Grain
growth via coagulation is a likely cause of this effect.Comment: 11 pages including 2 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in
ApJ Letters, 23 July 200
Phase curves of WASP-33b and HD 149026b and a New Correlation Between Phase Curve Offset and Irradiation Temperature
We present new 3.6 and 4.5 Spitzer phase curves for the highly
irradiated hot Jupiter WASP-33b and the unusually dense Saturn-mass planet HD
149026b. As part of this analysis, we develop a new variant of pixel level
decorrelation that is effective at removing intrapixel sensitivity variations
for long observations (>10 hours) where the position of the star can vary by a
significant fraction of a pixel. Using this algorithm, we measure eclipse
depths, phase amplitudes, and phase offsets for both planets at 3.6 and
4.5 . We use a simple toy model to show that WASP-33b's phase offset,
albedo, and heat recirculation efficiency are largely similar to those of other
hot Jupiters despite its very high irradiation. On the other hand, our fits for
HD 149026b prefer a very high albedo and an unusually high recirculation
efficiency. We also compare our results to predictions from general circulation
models, and find that while neither are a good match to the data, the
discrepancies for HD 149026b are especially large. We speculate that this may
be related to its high bulk metallicity, which could lead to enhanced
atmospheric opacities and the formation of reflective cloud layers in localized
regions of the atmosphere. We then place these two planets in a broader context
by exploring relationships between the temperatures, albedos, heat transport
efficiencies, and phase offsets of all planets with published thermal phase
curves. We find a striking relationship between phase offset and irradiation
temperature--the former drops with increasing temperature until around 3400 K,
and rises thereafter. Although some aspects of this trend are mirrored in the
circulation models, there are notable differences that provide important clues
for future modeling efforts
The Anomalous Infrared Emission of Abell 58
We present a new model to explain the excess in mid and near infrared
emission of the central, hydrogen poor dust knot in the planetary nebula (PN)
Abell 58. Current models disagree with ISO measurement because they apply an
average grain size and equilibrium conditions only. We investigate grain size
distributions and temperature fluctuations affecting infrared emission using a
new radiative transfer code and discuss in detail the conditions requiring an
extension of the classical description. The peculiar infrared emission of V605
Aql, the central dust knot in Abell 58, has been modeled with our code. V605
Aql is of special interest as it is one of only three stars ever observed to
move from the evolutionary track of a central PN star back to the post-AGB
state.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures; accepted and to be published in Ap
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