3,673 research outputs found
Low mass star formation and subclustering in the HII regions RCW 32, 33 and 27 of the Vela Molecular Ridge. A photometric diagnostics to identify M-type stars
Most stars born in clusters and recent results suggest that star formation
(SF) preferentially occurs in subclusters. Studying the morphology and SF
history of young clusters is crucial to understanding early SF. We identify the
embedded clusters of young stellar objects (YSOs) down to M stars, in the HII
regions RCW33, RCW32 and RCW27 of the Vela Molecular Ridge. Our aim is to
characterise their properties, such as morphology and extent of the clusters in
the three HII regions, derive stellar ages and the connection of the SF history
with the environment. Through public photometric surveys such as Gaia, VPHAS,
2MASS and Spitzer/GLIMPSE, we identify YSOs with IR, Halpha and UV excesses, as
signature of circumstellar disks and accretion. In addition, we implement a
method to distinguish M dwarfs and giants, by comparing the reddening derived
in several optical/IR color-color diagrams, assuming suitable theoretical
models. Since this diagnostic is sensitive to stellar gravity, the procedure
allows us to identify pre-main sequence stars. We find a large population of
YSOs showing signatures of circumstellar disks with or without accretion. In
addition, with the new technique of M-type star selection, we find a rich
population of young M stars with a spatial distribution strongly correlated to
the more massive population. We find evidence of three young clusters, with
different morphology. In addition, we identify field stars falling in the same
region, by securely classifying them as giants and foreground MS stars. We
identify the embedded population of YSOs, down to about 0.1 Msun, associated
with the HII regions RCW33, RCW32 and RCW27 and the clusters Vela T2, Cr197 and
Vela T1, respectively, showing very different morphologies. Our results suggest
a decreasing SF rate in Vela T2 and triggered SF in Cr197 and Vela T1.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A; 20 pages, 22 figures, 6 table
Computation Against a Neighbour: Addressing Large-Scale Distribution and Adaptivity with Functional Programming and Scala
Recent works in contexts like the Internet of Things (IoT) and large-scale Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) propose the idea of programming distributed systems by focussing on their global behaviour across space and time. In this view, a potentially vast and heterogeneous set of devices is considered as an “aggregate” to be programmed as a whole, while abstracting away the details of individual behaviour and exchange of messages, which are expressed declaratively. One such a paradigm, known as aggregate programming, builds on computational models inspired by field-based coordination. Existing models such as the field calculus capture interaction with neighbours by a so-called “neighbouring field” (a map from neighbours to values). This requires ad-hoc mechanisms to smoothly compose with standard values, thus complicating programming and introducing clutter in aggregate programs, libraries and domain-specific languages (DSLs). To address this key issue we introduce the novel notion of “computation against a neighbour”, whereby the evaluation of certain subexpressions of the aggregate program are affected by recent corresponding evaluations in neighbours. We capture this notion in the neighbours calculus (NC), a new field calculus variant which is shown to smoothly support declarative specification of interaction with neighbours, and correspondingly facilitate the embedding of field computations as internal DSLs in common general-purpose programming languages—as exemplified by a Scala implementation, called ScaFi. This paper formalises NC, thoroughly compares it with respect to the classic field calculus, and shows its expressiveness by means of a case study in edge computing, developed in ScaFi
Cyclic response of masonry piers retrofitted with timber frames and boards
The quasi-static in-plane cyclic response of two single-leaf calcium silicate unreinforced masonry piers was investigated to show the effectiveness of an innovative timber retrofit solution. The aim of the intervention is to increase the pier in-plane and out-of-plane strength and displacement capacity, thus reducing the seismic vulnerability of this typology of unreinforced masonry construction with a light, cost-effective, sustainable and reversible approach. The retrofit technique consists of a timber frame mechanically connected by means of steel fasteners to the masonry pier and building floors. Oriented strand timber boards are then nailed to the frame. In-plane quasi-static shear-compression cyclic tests were performed on two single-leaf calcium silicate brick piers with identical geometry and masonry mechanical properties: one was tested unstrengthened while the other was tested in the retrofitted configuration. The experimental results showed evident improvements in the lateral force-displacement response of the retrofitted specimen. More specifically, compared with the bare masonry pier, the retrofitted pier exhibited slightly higher stiffness, larger strength and significantly greater displacement capacity
SOPHIE velocimetry of Kepler transit candidates VI. An additional companion in the KOI-13 system
We report the discovery of a new stellar companion in the KOI-13 system.
KOI-13 is composed by two fast-rotating A-type stars of similar magnitude. One
of these two stars hosts a transiting planet discovered by Kepler. We obtained
new radial velocity measurements using the SOPHIE spectrograph at the
Observatoire de Haute-Provence that revealed an additional companion in this
system. This companion has a mass between 0.4 and 1 Msun and orbits one of the
two main stars with a period of 65.831 \pm 0.029 days and an eccentricity of
0.52 \pm 0.02. The radial velocities of the two stars were derived using a
model of two fast-rotating line profiles. From the residuals, we found a hint
of the stellar variations seen in the Kepler light curve with an amplitude of
about 1.41 km/s and a period close to the rotational period. This signal
appears to be about three order of magnitude larger than expected for stellar
activity. From the analysis of the residuals, we also put a 3-sigma upper-limit
on the mass of the transiting planet KOI-13.01 of 14.8 Mjup and 9.4 Mjup,
depending on which star hosts the transit. We found that this new companion has
no significant impact on the photometric determination of the mass of KOI-13.01
but is expected to affect precise infrared photometry. Finally, using dynamical
simulations, we infer that the new companion is orbiting around KOI-13B while
the transiting planet candidate is expected to orbit KOI-13A. Thus, the
transiting planet candidate KOI-13.01 is orbiting the main component of a
hierarchical triple system.Comment: Accepted in A&A Letters. 4 pages including 4 figures and the RV tabl
AE Aurigae: first detection of non-thermal X-ray emission from a bow shock produced by a runaway star
Runaway stars produce shocks when passing through interstellar medium at
supersonic velocities. Bow shocks have been detected in the mid-infrared for
several high-mass runaway stars and in radio waves for one star. Theoretical
models predict the production of high-energy photons by non-thermal radiative
processes in a number sufficiently large to be detected in X-rays. To date, no
stellar bow shock has been detected at such energies. We present the first
detection of X-ray emission from a bow shock produced by a runaway star. The
star is AE Aur, which was likely expelled from its birthplace by the encounter
of two massive binary systems and now is passing through the dense nebula IC
405. The X-ray emission from the bow shock is detected at 30" to the northeast
of the star, coinciding with an enhancement in the density of the nebula. From
the analysis of the observed X-ray spectrum of the source and our theoretical
emission model, we confirm that the X-ray emission is produced mainly by
inverse Compton upscattering of infrared photons from dust in the shock front.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal with number
ApJ, 757, L6. Four figure
Correlation between the spatial distribution of circumstellar disks and massive stars in the young open cluster NGC 6611. II: Cluster members selected with Spitzer/IRAC
Context: the observations of the proplyds in the Orion Nebula Cluster,
showing clear evidence of ongoing photoevaporation, have provided a clear proof
about the role of the externally induced photoevaporation in the evolution of
circumstellar disks. NGC 6611 is an open cluster suitable to study disk
photoevaporation, thanks to its large population of massive members and of
stars with disk. In a previous work, we obtained evidence of the influence of
the strong UV field generated by the massive cluster members on the evolution
of disks around low-mass Pre-Main Sequence members. That work was based on a
multi-band BVIJHK and X-ray catalog purposely compiled to select the cluster
members with and without disk. Aims: in this paper we complete the list of
candidate cluster members, using data at longer wavelengths obtained with
Spitzer/IRAC, and we revisit the issue of the effects of UV radiation on the
evolution of disks in NGC 6611. Methods: we select the candidate members with
disks of NGC 6611, in a field of view of 33'x34' centered on the cluster, using
IRAC color-color diagrams and suitable reddening-free color indices. Besides,
using the X-ray data to select Class III cluster members, we estimate the disks
frequency vs. the intensity of the incident radiation emitted by massive
members. Results: we identify 458 candidate members with circumstellar disks,
among which 146 had not been revealed in our previous work. Comparing of the
various color indices we used to select the cluster members with disk, we claim
that they detect the excesses due to the emission of the same physical region
of the disk: the inner rim at the dust sublimation radius. Our new results
confirm that UV radiation from massive stars affects the evolution of nearby
circumstellar disks.Comment: Accepted for publication at Astronomy & Astrophysic
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