82 research outputs found
Observation of the first gravitational microlensing event in a sparse stellar field : the Tago event
We report the observation of the first gravitational microlensing event in a
sparse stellar field, involving the brightest (V=11.4 mag) andclosest (~ 1 kpc)
source star to date. This event was discovered by an amateurastronomer, A.
Tago, on 2006 October 31 as a transient brightening, by ~4.5 mag during a ~15
day period, of a normal A-type star (GSC 3656-1328) in the Cassiopeia
constellation. Analysis of both spectroscopic observations and the light curve
indicates that this event was caused by gravitational microlensing rather than
an intrinsically variable star. Discovery of this single event over a 30 year
period is roughly consistent with the expected microlensing rate for the whole
sky down to V = 12 mag stars. However, the probability for finding events with
such a high magnification (~ 50) is much smaller, by a factor ~1/50, which
implies that the true event rate may be higher than expected. This discovery
indicates the potential of all sky variability surveys, employing frequent
sampling by telescopes with small apertures and wide fields of view, for
finding such rare transient events, and using the observations to explore
galactic disk structure and search for exo-planets.Comment: 13 pages, 2 tables, 3 figures, accepted by Ap
Transition-metal interactions in aluminum-rich intermetallics
The extension of the first-principles generalized pseudopotential theory
(GPT) to transition-metal (TM) aluminides produces pair and many-body
interactions that allow efficient calculations of total energies. In
aluminum-rich systems treated at the pair-potential level, one practical
limitation is a transition-metal over-binding that creates an unrealistic TM-TM
attraction at short separations in the absence of balancing many-body
contributions. Even with this limitation, the GPT pair potentials have been
used effectively in total-energy calculations for Al-TM systems with TM atoms
at separations greater than 4 AA. An additional potential term may be added for
systems with shorter TM atom separations, formally folding repulsive
contributions of the three- and higher-body interactions into the pair
potentials, resulting in structure-dependent TM-TM potentials. Towards this
end, we have performed numerical ab-initio total-energy calculations using VASP
(Vienna Ab Initio Simulation Package) for an Al-Co-Ni compound in a particular
quasicrystalline approximant structure. The results allow us to fit a
short-ranged, many-body correction of the form a(r_0/r)^{b} to the GPT pair
potentials for Co-Co, Co-Ni, and Ni-Ni interactions.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Polarimetry and the Long Awaited Superoutburst of BZ UMa
BZ UMa is a cataclysmic variable star whose specific classification has
eluded researchers since its discovery in 1968. It has outburst and spectral
properties consistent with both U Gem class dwarf novae and intermediate
polars. We present new photometric and polarimetric measurements of recent
outbursts, including the first detected superoutburst of the system.
Statistical analysis of these and archival data from outbursts over the past 40
years present a case for BZ UMa as a non-magnetic, U Gem class, SU-UMa subclass
dwarf novae.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the November, 2009 issu
The helium-rich cataclysmic variable SBSS 1108+574
We present time-resolved spectroscopy and photometry of the dwarf nova SBSS 1108+574, obtained during the 2012 outburst. Its quiescent spectrum is unusually rich in helium, showing broad, double-peaked emission lines from the accretion disc. We measure a line flux ratio He I 5875/Hα = 0.81 ± 0.04, a much higher ratio than typically observed in cataclysmic variable stars (CVs). The outburst spectrum shows hydrogen and helium in absorption, with weak emission of Hα and He I 6678, as well as strong He II emission.
From our photometry, we find the superhump period to be 56.34 ± 0.18 min, in agreement with the previously published result. The spectroscopic period, derived from the radial velocities of the emission lines, is found to be 55.3 ± 0.8 min, consistent with a previously identified photometric orbital period, and significantly below the normal CV period minimum. This indicates that the donor in SBSS 1108+574 is highly evolved. The superhump excess derived from our photometry implies a mass ratio of q = 0.086 ± 0.014. Our spectroscopy reveals a grazing eclipse of the large outbursting disc. As the disc is significantly larger during outburst, it is unlikely that an eclipse will be detectable in quiescence. The relatively high accretion rate implied by the detection of outbursts, together with the large mass ratio, suggests that SBSS 1108+574 is still evolving towards its period minimum
Superhumps in Cataclysmic Binaries. XXV. q_crit, epsilon(q), and Mass-Radius
We report on successes and failures in searching for positive superhumps in
cataclysmic variables, and show the superhumping fraction as a function of
orbital period. Basically, all short-period systems do, all long-period systems
don't, and a 50% success rate is found at P_orb=3.1+-0.2 hr. We can use this to
measure the critical mass ratio for the creation of superhumps. With a
mass-radius relation appropriate for cataclysmic variables, and an assumed mean
white-dwarf mass of 0.75 M_sol, we find a mass ratio q_crit=0.35+-0.02.
We also report superhump studies of several stars of independently known mass
ratio: OU Virginis, XZ Eridani, UU Aquarii, and KV UMa (= XTE J1118+480). The
latter two are of special interest, because they represent the most extreme
mass ratios for which accurate superhump measurements have been made. We use
these to improve the epsilon(q) calibration, by which we can infer the elusive
q from the easy-to-measure epsilon (the fractional period excess of P_superhump
over P_orb). This relation allows mass and radius estimates for the secondary
star in any CV showing superhumps. The consequent mass-radius law shows an
apparent discontinuity in radius near 0.2 M_sol, as predicted by the disrupted
magnetic braking model for the 2.1-2.7 hour period gap. This is effectively the
"empirical main sequence" for CV secondaries.Comment: PDF, 45 pages, 9 tables, 12 figures; accepted, in press, to appear
November 2005, PASP; more info at http://cba.phys.columbia.edu
Late-Type Near-Contact Eclipsing Binary [HH97] FS Aur-79
The secondary photometric standard star #79 for the FS Aur field (Henden &
Honeycutt 1997) designated as [HH97] FS Aur-79 (GSC 1874 399) is a short period
(0.2508 days) eclipsing binary whose light curve is a combination of the
Lyr and BY Dra type variables. High signal-to-noise multi-color
photometry were obtained using the USNO 1-m telescope. These light curves show
asymmetry at quadrature phases (O'Connell effect), which can be modeled with
the presence of star spots. A low resolution spectrum obtained with the 3.5-m
WIYN telescope at orbital phase 0.76 is consistent with a spectral type of dK7e
and dM3e. A radial velocity curve for the primary star was constructed using
twenty-four high resolution spectra from the 9.2 m HET. Spectra show H-alpha
and H-beta in emission confirming chromospheric activity and possibly the
presence of circumstellar material. Binary star models that simultaneously fit
the U, B, V, R and RV curves are those with a primary star of mass 0.59+-0.02
Msun, temperature 4100+-25 K, mean radius of 0.67 Rsun, just filling its Roche
lobe and a secondary star of mass 0.31+-0.09 Msun, temperature 3425+-25 K, mean
radius of 0.48 Rsun, just within its Roche lobe. An inclination angle of 83+-2
degrees with a center of mass separation of 1.62 Rsun is also derived. Star
spots, expected for a rotation period of less than a day, had to be included in
the modeling to fit the O'Connell effect
Survey of Period Variations of Superhumps in SU UMa-Type Dwarf Novae. II: The Second Year (2009-2010)
As an extension of the project in Kato et al. (2009, arXiv:0905.1757), we
collected times of superhump maxima for 61 SU UMa-type dwarf novae mainly
observed during the 2009-2010 season. The newly obtained data confirmed the
basic findings reported in Kato et al. (2009): the presence of stages A-C, as
well as the predominance of positive period derivatives during stage B in
systems with superhump periods shorter than 0.07 d. There was a systematic
difference in period derivatives for systems with superhump periods longer than
0.075 d between this study and Kato et al. (2009). We suggest that this
difference is possibly caused by the relative lack of frequently outbursting SU
UMa-type dwarf novae in this period regime in the present study. We recorded a
strong beat phenomenon during the 2009 superoutburst of IY UMa. The close
correlation between the beat period and superhump period suggests that the
changing angular velocity of the apsidal motion of the elliptical disk is
responsible for the variation of superhump periods. We also described three new
WZ Sge-type objects with established early superhumps and one with likely early
superhumps. We also suggest that two systems, VX For and EL UMa, are WZ
Sge-type dwarf novae with multiple rebrightenings. The O-C variation in OT
J213806.6+261957 suggests that the frequent absence of rebrightenings in very
short-Porb objects can be a result of sustained superoutburst plateau at the
epoch when usual SU UMa-type dwarf novae return to quiescence preceding a
rebrightening. We also present a formulation for a variety of Bayesian
extension to traditional period analyses.Comment: 63 pages, 77 figures, 1 appendix, Accepted for publication in PASJ,
data correctio
SS Ari: a shallow-contact close binary system
Two CCD epochs of light minimum and a complete R light curve of SS Ari are
presented. The light curve obtained in 2007 was analyzed with the 2003 version
of the W-D code. It is shown that SS Ari is a shallow contact binary system
with a mass ratio and a degree of contact factor f=9.4(\pm0.8%). A
period investigation based on all available data shows that there may exist two
distinct solutions about the assumed third body. One, assuming eccentric orbit
of the third body and constant orbital period of the eclipsing pair results in
a massive third body with and P_3=87.00.278M_{\odot}$. Both of the cases
suggest the presence of an unseen third component in the system.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures and 5 table
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