Possible ring material around centaur (2060) Chiron

We propose that several short duration events observed in past stellar occultations by Chiron were produced by rings material. From a reanalysis of the stellar occultation data in the literature we determined two possible orientations of the pole of Chiron's rings, with ecliptic coordinates l=(352+/-10) deg, b=(37+/-10) deg or l=(144+/-10) deg, b=(24+/-10) deg . The mean radius of the rings is (324 +/- 10) km. One can use the rotational lightcurve amplitude of Chiron at different epochs to distinguish between the two solutions for the pole. Both imply lower lightcurve amplitude in 2013 than in 1988, when the rotational lightcurve was first determined. We derived Chiron's rotational lightcurve in 2013 from observations at the 1.23-m CAHA telescope and indeed its amplitude is smaller than in 1988. We also present a rotational lightcurve in 2000 from images taken at CASLEO 2.15-m telescope that is consistent with our predictions. Out of the two poles the l=(144+/-10) deg, b=(24+/-10) deg solution provides a better match to a compilation of rotational lightcurve amplitudes from the literature and those presented here. We also show that using this preferred pole, Chiron's long term brightness variations are compatible with a simple model that incorporates the changing brightness of the rings as the tilt angle with respect to the Earth changes with time. Also, the variability of the water ice band in Chiron's spectra in the literature can be explained to a large degree by an icy ring system whose tilt angle changes with time and whose composition includes water ice, analogously to the case of Chariklo. We present several possible formation scenarios for the rings from qualitative points of view and speculate on the reasons why rings might be common in centaurs. We speculate on whether the known bimodal color distribution of centaurs could be due to presence of rings and lack of them

Visible spectroscopy of the new ESO Large Program on trans-Neptunian objects and Centaurs: final results

A second large programme (LP) for the physical studies of TNOs and Centaurs, started at ESO Cerro Paranal on October 2006 to obtain high-quality data, has recently been concluded. In this paper we present the spectra of these pristine bodies obtained in the visible range during the last two semesters of the LP. We investigate the spectral behaviour of the TNOs and Centaurs observed, and we analyse the spectral slopes distribution of the full data set coming from this LP and from the literature. We computed the spectral slope for each observed object, and searched for possible weak absorption features. A statistical analysis was performed on a total sample of 73 TNOs and Centaurs to look for possible correlations between dynamical classes, orbital parameters, and spectral gradient. We obtained new spectra for 28 bodies, 15 of which were observed for the first time. All the new presented spectra are featureless, including 2003 AZ84, for which a faint and broad absorption band possibly attributed to hydrated silicates on its surface has been reported. The data confirm a wide variety of spectral behaviours, with neutral--grey to very red gradients. An analysis of the spectral slopes available from this LP and in the literature for a total sample of 73 Centaurs and TNOs shows that there is a lack of very red objects in the classical population. We present the results of the statistical analysis of the spectral slope distribution versus orbital parameters. In particular, we confirm a strong anticorrelation between spectral slope and orbital inclination for the classical population. A strong correlation is also found between the spectral slope and orbital eccentricity for resonant TNOs, with objects having higher spectral slope values with increasing eccentricity.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Mid-infrared imaging- and spectro-polarimetric subarcsecond observations of NGC 1068

We present sub-arcsecond 7.5$-$13 $\mu$m imaging- and spectro-polarimetric observations of NGC 1068 using CanariCam on the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio CANARIAS. At all wavelengths, we find: (1) A 90 $\times$ 60 pc extended polarized feature in the northern ionization cone, with a uniform $\sim$44$^{\circ}$ polarization angle. Its polarization arises from dust and gas emission in the ionization cone, heated by the active nucleus and jet, and further extinguished by aligned dust grains in the host galaxy. The polarization spectrum of the jet-molecular cloud interaction at $\sim$24 pc from the core is highly polarized, and does not show a silicate feature, suggesting that the dust grains are different from those in the interstellar medium. (2) A southern polarized feature at $\sim$9.6 pc from the core. Its polarization arises from a dust emission component extinguished by a large concentration of dust in the galaxy disc. We cannot distinguish between dust emission from magnetically aligned dust grains directly heated by the jet close to the core, and aligned dust grains in the dusty obscuring material surrounding the central engine. Silicate-like grains reproduce the polarized dust emission in this feature, suggesting different dust compositions in both ionization cones. (3) An upper limit of polarization degree of 0.3 per cent in the core. Based on our polarization model, the expected polarization of the obscuring dusty material is $\lesssim$0.1 per cent in the 8$-$13 $\mu$m wavelength range. This low polarization may be arising from the passage of radiation through aligned dust grains in the shielded edges of the clumps.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication at MNRA

Parámetros, correlaciones y tendencias genéticas de caracteres reproductivos en ganado Holstein de México

The objective was to calculate the parameters, correlations and describe the genetic trends of reproductive traits in Holstein cattle from Mexico in three different periods of time, in females born between 2006 and 2019, using records of the Mexican Holstein association. The reproductive parameters calculated were: calving to first insemination interval (CFI), number of services per conception (NSC), days open (DO), interval between calving (IBC), and age at first calving (AFC). The components of variance were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood in an animal model, to calculate genetic parameters (narrow-sense heritability (h2), repeatability (r) and genetic correlations) and phenotypic correlations. Additive genetic variances and genetic values were also estimated in three periods of time (P1: 2006-2009, P2: 2010-2013 and P3: 2014-2017). The calculated heritabilities were from 4 to 9 % and the repeatabilities from 8 to 9 %, values close to previous reports for fertility traits. Phenotypic correlations were positive for almost all reproductive parameters and genetic correlations were positive over a wide range (0.13-0.99). Analyses by period showed changes, possibly derived from the influence of the import and use of germplasm from foreign bulls (mainly from the United States of America and Canada) which implement genomic selection and include fertility traits. The present research has made it possible to update the information on reproductive and genetic parameters in fertility traits that can be incorporated into national genetic evaluations.El objetivo fue calcular los parámetros, correlaciones y describir las tendencias genéticas de caracteres reproductivos en ganado Holstein de México en tres periodos diferentes de tiempo, en hembras nacidas entre 2006 y 2019, usando registros de la asociación Holstein de México. Los parámetros reproductivos calculados fueron: intervalo parto a primer servicio (IPPS), el número de servicios por concepción (NSC), los días abiertos (DAB), el intervalo entre partos (IEP) y la edad al primer parto (EPP). Los componentes de la varianza fueron estimados utilizando máxima verosimilitud restringida en un modelo animal, para calcular parámetros genéticos (heredabilidad en sentido estricto (h2), repetibilidad (r) y correlaciones genéticas) y correlaciones fenotípicas. También se estimaron varianzas genéticas aditivas y valores genéticos en tres periodos de tiempo (P1: 2006-2009, P2: 2010-2013 y P3: 2014-2017). Las heredabilidades calculadas fueron de 4 a 9 % y las repetibilidades del 8 al 9 %, valores cercanos a reportes previos para características de fertilidad. Las correlaciones fenotípicas fueron positivas para casi todos los parámetros reproductivos y las genéticas fueron positivas en un rango amplio (0.13-0.99). Los análisis por periodos mostraron cambios, posiblemente derivados de la influencia de la importación y uso de germoplasma de toros extranjeros (principalmente de los Estados Unido de América y Canadá) que implementan selección genómica e incluyen características fertilidad. La presente investigación ha permitido actualizar la información de parámetros reproductivos y genéticos en caracteres de fertilidad que podrán ser incorporados a las evaluaciones genéticas nacionales

The Moduli Space of BPS Domain Walls

N=2 SQED with several flavors admits multiple, static BPS domain wall solutions. We determine the explicit two-kink metric and examine the dynamics of colliding domain walls. The multi-kink metric has a toric Kahler structure and we reduce the Kahler potential to quadrature. In the second part of this paper, we consider semi-local vortices compactified on circle. We argue that, in the presence of a suitable Wilson line, the vortices separate into domain wall constituents. These play the role of fractional instantons in two-dimensional gauge theories and sigma-models.Comment: 16 pages, LaTex, 2 figures; factors of zeta corrected, meaning of cross-terms elucidated, further clarifying comments; (more) references adde

The trade project (trans-regional radars for environmental applications). a contribution to the preservation of the environment based in radar hf

Peer Reviewe

A High-Resolution Spectrum of the Highly Magnified Bulge G-Dwarf MOA-2006-BLG-099S

We analyze a high-resolution spectrum of a microlensed G-dwarf in the Galactic bulge, acquired when the star was magnified by a factor of 110. We measure a spectroscopic temperature, derived from the wings of the Balmer lines, that is the same as the photometric temperature, derived using the color determined by standard microlensing techniques. We measure [Fe/H]=0.36 +/-0.18, which places this star at the upper end of the Bulge giant metallicity distribution. In particular, this star is more metal-rich than any bulge M giant with high-resolution abundances. We find that the abundance ratios of alpha and iron-peak elements are similar to those of Bulge giants with the same metallicity. For the first time, we measure the abundances of K and Zn for a star in the Bulge. The [K/Mg] ratio is similar to the value measured in the halo and the disk, suggesting that K production closely tracks alpha production. The [Cu/Fe] and [Zn/Fe] ratios support the theory that those elements are produced in Type II SNe, rather than Type Ia SNe. We also measured the first C and N abundances in the Bulge that have not been affected by first dredge-up. The [C/Fe] and [N/Fe] ratios are close to solar, in agreement with the hypothesis that giants experience only canonical mixing.Comment: 42 pages, 14 figures, submitted to Ap

Контрастный градиент метаморфизма: Барровенский тип относительно высокобарических преобразований на примере северной окраины Гондваны (СЗ Иберия)

Контрастный метаморфизм в соседних террейнах характерен для крупномасштабных тектонических событий, которые включают сценарии как коллизии, так и рифтинга, когда один из этих террейнов характеризуется наличием пород высокого давления. Он, скорее всего, будет связан обычно в местах, близких к сутурным зонам. Примером этих комплексов в геодинамическо