13,541 research outputs found
Three-dimensional simulations of the orientation and structure of reconnection X-lines
This work employs Hall magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations to study the
X-lines formed during the reconnection of magnetic fields with differing
strengths and orientations embedded in plasmas of differing densities. Although
random initial perturbations trigger the growth of X-lines with many
orientations, at late time a few robust X-lines sharing an orientation
reasonably consistent with the direction that maximizes the outflow speed, as
predicted by Swisdak and Drake [Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L11106, (2007)],
dominate the system. The existence of reconnection in the geometry examined
here contradicts the suggestion of Sonnerup [J. Geophys. Res., 79, 1546 (1974)]
that reconnection occurs in a plane normal to the equilibrium current. At late
time the growth of the X-lines stagnates, leaving them shorter than the
simulation domain.Comment: Accepted by Physics of Plasma
Chemical analysis of giant stars in the young open cluster NGC 3114
Context: Open clusters are very useful targets for examining possible trends
in galactocentric distance and age, especially when young and old open clusters
are compared. Aims: We carried out a detailed spectroscopic analysis to derive
the chemical composition of seven red giants in the young open cluster NGC
3114. Abundances of C, N, O, Li, Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Si, Ti, Ni, Cr, Y, Zr, La, Ce,
and Nd were obtained, as well as the carbon isotopic ratio. Methods: The
atmospheric parameters of the studied stars and their chemical abundances were
determined using high-resolution optical spectroscopy. We employed the
local-thermodynamic-equilibrium model atmospheres of Kurucz and the spectral
analysis code MOOG. The abundances of the light elements were derived using the
spectral synthesis technique. Results: We found that NGC 3114 has a mean
metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.01+/-0.03. The isochrone fit yielded a turn-off mass
of 4.2 Msun. The [N/C] ratio is in good agreement with the models predicted by
first dredge-up. We found that two stars, HD 87479 and HD 304864, have high
rotational velocities of 15.0 km/s and 11.0 km/s; HD 87526 is a halo star and
is not a member of NGC 3114. Conclusions: The carbon and nitrogen abundance in
NGC 3114 agree with the field and cluster giants. The oxygen abundance in NGC
3114 is lower compared to the field giants. The [O/Fe] ratio is similar to the
giants in young clusters. We detected sodium enrichment in the analyzed cluster
giants. As far as the other elements are concerned, their [X/Fe] ratios follow
the same trend seen in giants with the same metallicity.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, 10 tables; accepted for publication in A&
New RR Lyrae variables in binary systems
Despite their importance, very few RR Lyrae (RRL) stars have been known to
reside in binary systems. We report on a search for binary RRL in the OGLE-III
Galactic bulge data. Our approach consists in the search for evidence of the
light-travel time effect in so-called observed minus calculated ()
diagrams. Analysis of 1952 well-observed fundamental-mode RRL in the OGLE-III
data revealed an initial sample of 29 candidates. We used the recently released
OGLE-IV data to extend the baselines up to 17 years, leading to a final sample
of 12 firm binary candidates. We provide diagrams and binary parameters
for this final sample, and also discuss the properties of 8 additional
candidate binaries whose parameters cannot be firmly determined at present. We
also estimate that per cent of the RRL reside in binary systems.Comment: MNRAS Letters, in pres
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