AX J0049.4-7323 - a close look at a neutron star interacting with a circumstellar disk

Detailed evidence on the system AX J0049.4-7323 is presented here to show how the passage of the neutron star in the binary system disrupts the circumstellar disk of the mass donor Be star. A similar effect is noted in three other Be/X-ray binary systems. Together the observational data should provide valuable tools for modelling these complex interactions.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in MNRA

Guidelines for the Provision of Garbage Reception Facilities at Ports Under MARPOL Annex V

This report offers guidelines for the provision of adequate port reception facilities for vessel-generated garbage under the requirements of Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL 73/78), Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships. MARPOL Annex V prohibits at-sea disposal of plastic materials from vessels, and specifies the distance from shore at which other materials may be dumped. Annex V also requires the provision of port reception facilities for garbage, but it does not specify these facilities or how they are to be provided. Since the at-sea dumping restrictions apply to all vessels, the reception facility requirement applies to all ports, terminals, and marinas that serve vessels. These guidelines were prepared to assist port owners and operators in meeting their obligation to provide adequate reception facilities for garbage. The report synthesizes available information and draws upon experience from the first years ofimplementation of MARPOL Annex V. (PDF file contains 55 pages.

Catalogue of Be/X-ray binary systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud: X-ray, optical & IR properties

This is a catalogue of approximately 70 X-ray emitting binary systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) that contain a Be star as the mass donor in the system and a clear X-ray pulse signature from a neutron star. The systems are generally referred to as Be/Xray binaries. It lists all their known binary characteristics (orbital period, eccentricity), the measured spin period of the compact object, plus the characteristics of the Be star (spectral type, size of the circumstellar disk, evidence for NRP behaviour). For the first time data from the Spitzer Observatory are combined with ground-based data to provide a view of these systems out into the far-IR. Many of the observational parameters are presented as statistical distributions and compared to other similar similar populations (eg isolated Be & B stars) in the SMC, and to other Be/X-ray systems in the Milky Way. In addition previous important results are re-investigated using this excellently homogeneous sample. In particular, the evidence for a bi-modality in the spin period distribution is shown to be even stronger than first proposed, and the correlation between orbital period and circumstellar disk size seen in galactic sources is shown to be clearly present in the SMC systems and quantised for the first time.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Does Retirement Kill You? Evidence from Early Retirement Windows

The effect that health has on the retirement decision has long been studied. We examine the reverse relationship, whether retirement has a direct impact on later-life health. To identify the causal relationship, we use early retirement window offers to instrument for retirement. We find no negative effects of early retirement on men’s health, and if anything, a temporary increase in self-reported health and improvements in health of highly educated workers. While this is consistent with previous literature using Social Security ages as instruments, we also find that anticipation of retirement might be important, and bias the previous estimates downwards.retirement;depression;self-reported health;heart attack;cancer;diabetes;instrumental variables

OGLE observations of four X-ray binary pulsars in the SMC

This paper presents analysis and interpretation of OGLE photometric data of four X-ray binary pulsar systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud: 1WGA J0054.9-7226, RX J0050.7-7316, RX J0049.1-7250, and 1SAX J0103.2-7209. In each case, the probable optical counterpart is identified on the basis of its optical colours. In the case of RX J0050.7-7316 the regular modulation of its optical light curve appears to reveal an ellipsoidal modulation with a period of 1.416 days. Using reasonable masses for the neutron star and the B star, we show that the amplitude and relative depths of the minima of the I-band light curve of RX J0050.7-7316 can be matched with an ellipsoidal model where the B star nearly fills its Roche lobe. For mass ratios in the range of 0.12 to 0.20, the corresponding best-fitting inclinations are about 55 degrees or larger. The neutron star would be eclipsed by the B star at inclinations larger than 60 degrees for this particular mass ratio range. Thus RX J0050.7-7316 is a good candidate system for further study. In particular, we would need additional photometry in several colours, and most importantly, radial velocity data for the B star before we could draw more quantitative conclusions about the component masses

Characterizing a configuration interaction excited state using natural transition geminals

We introduce natural transition geminals as a means to qualitatively understand a transition where double excitations are important. The first two $A_{1}$ singlet states of the CH cation are used as an initial example. We calculate these states with configuration interaction singles (CIS) and state-averaged Monte Carlo configuration interaction (SA-MCCI). For each method we compare the important natural transition geminals with the dominant natural transition orbitals. We then compare SA-MCCI and full configuration interaction (FCI) with regards to the natural transition geminals using the beryllium atom. We compare using the natural transition geminals with analyzing the important configurations in the CI expansion to give the dominant transition for the beryllium atom and the carbon dimer. Finally we calculate the natural transition geminals for two electronic excitations of formamide.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures. Mol. Phys. (2013

Approaching exact hyperpolarizabilities via sum-over-states Monte Carlo configuration interaction

We propose using sum-over-states calculations with the compact wavefunctions of Monte Carlo configuration interaction to approach accurate values for higher-order dipole properties up to second hyperpolarizabilities in a controlled way. We apply the approach to small systems that can generally be compared with full configuration interaction (FCI) results. We consider hydrogen fluoride with a 6-31g basis and then look at results, including frequency dependent properties, in an aug-cc-pVDZ basis. We extend one calculation beyond FCI by using an aug-cc-pVTZ basis. The properties of an H$_{4}$ molecule with multireference character are calculated in an aug-cc-pVDZ basis. We then investigate this method on a strongly multireference system with a larger FCI space by modelling the properties of carbon monoxide with a stretched geometry. The behavior of the approach with increasing basis size is considered by calculating results for the neon atom using aug-cc-pVDZ to aug-cc-pVQZ. We finally test if the unusual change in polarizability between the first two states of molecular oxygen can be reproduced by this method in a 6-31g basis.Comment: 11 pages, 14 figure

SXP 323 - an unusual X-ray binary system in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Spectroscopic observations taken with the VLT/UVES telescope/instrument are presented of the unusual Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) X-ray binary system SXP 323 = AX J0051-733. This system shows a clear modulation at 0.71d in long term optical photometry which has been proposed as the binary period of this system. The high resolution optical spectra, taken at a range of phases during the 0.71d cycle, rule out this possibility. Instead it is suggested that this long-term effect is due to Non Radial Pulsations (NRP) in the Be star companion to SXP 323. In addition, the spectra show clear evidence for major changes in the (V/R) ratio of the double peaks of the Balmer lines indicative of asymmetries in the circumstellar disk. The complex structure of the interstellar lines are also discussed in the context of the SMC structure.Comment: Accepted in MNRA