Rate of Period Change as a Diagnostic of Cepheid Properties

Rate of period change $\dot{P}$ for a Cepheid is shown to be a parameter that is capable of indicating the instability strip crossing mode for individual objects, and, in conjunction with light amplitude, likely location within the instability strip. Observed rates of period change in over 200 Milky Way Cepheids are demonstrated to be in general agreement with predictions from stellar evolutionary models, although the sample also displays features that are inconsistent with some published models and indicative of the importance of additional factors not fully incorporated in models to date.Comment: Published in PASP (March 2006); TeX source & figures now provide

Stochastic Processes in Yellow and Red Pulsating Variables

Random changes in pulsation period are well established in cool pulsating stars, in particular the red giant variables: Miras, semi-regulars of types A and B, and RV Tau variables. Such effects are also observed in a handful of Cepheids, the SX Phe variable XX Cyg, and, most recently, the red supergiant variable, BC Cyg, a type C semi-regular. The nature of such fluctuations is seemingly random over a few pulsation cycles of the stars, yet the regularity of the primary pulsation mechanism dominates over the long term. The degree of stochasticity is linked to the dimensions of the stars, the randomness parameter 'e' appearing to correlate closely with mean stellar radius through the period 'P', with an average value of e/P = 0.0136+-0.0005. The physical processes responsible for such fluctuations are uncertain, but presumably originate in temporal modifications of envelope convection in such stars.Comment: Poster given at the "Stellar Pulsation: Challenges for Theory and Observation" conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico (2009

Heuristic Models of Two-Fermion Relativistic Systems with Field-Type Interaction

We use the chain of simple heuristic expedients to obtain perturbative and exactly solvable relativistic spectra for a family of two-fermionic bound systems with Coulomb-like interaction. In the case of electromagnetic interaction the spectrum coincides up to the second order in a coupling constant with that following from the quantum electrodynamics. Discrepancy occurs only for S-states which is the well-known difficulty in the bound-state problem. The confinement interaction is considered too. PACS number(s): 03.65.Pm, 03.65.Ge, 12.39.PnComment: 16 pages, LaTeX 2.0

Periodic Pattern in the Residual-Velocity Field of OB Associations

An analysis of the residual-velocity field of OB associations within 3 kpc of the Sun has revealed periodic variations in the radial residual velocities along the Galactic radius vector with a typical scale length of lambda=2.0(+/-0.2) kpc and a mean amplitude of fR=7(+/-1) km/s. The fact that the radial residual velocities of almost all OB-associations in rich stellar-gas complexes are directed toward the Galactic center suggests that the solar neighborhood under consideration is within the corotation radius. The azimuthal-velocity field exhibits a distinct periodic pattern in the region 0<l<180 degrees, where the mean azimuthal-velocity amplitude is ft=6(+/-2) km/s. There is no periodic pattern of the azimuthal-velocity field in the region 180<l<360 degrees. The locations of the Cygnus arm, as well as the Perseus arm, inferred from an analysis of the radial- and azimuthal-velocity fields coincide. The periodic patterns of the residual-velocity fields of Cepheids and OB associations share many common features.Comment: 21 page

The OmegaWhite Survey for Short-Period Variable Stars IV: Discovery of the warm DQ white dwarf OW J175358.85-310728.9

We present the discovery and follow-up observations of the second known variable warm DQ white dwarf OW J175358.85-310728.9 (OW J1753-3107). OW J1753-3107 is the brightest of any of the currently known warm or hot DQ and was discovered in the OmegaWhite Survey as exhibiting optical variations on a period of 35.5452 (2) mins, with no evidence for other periods in its light curves. This period has remained constant over the last two years and a single-period sinusoidal model provides a good fit for all follow-up light curves. The spectrum consists of a very blue continuum with strong absorption lines of neutral and ionised carbon, a broad He I 4471 A line, and possibly weaker hydrogen lines. The C I lines are Zeeman split, and indicate the presence of a strong magnetic field. Using spectral Paschen-Back model descriptions, we determine that OW J1753-3107 exhibits the following physical parameters: T_eff = 15430 K, log(g) = 9.0, log(N(C)/N(He)) = -1.2, and the mean magnetic field strength is B_z =2.1 MG. This relatively low temperature and carbon abundance (compared to the expected properties of hot DQs) is similar to that seen in the other warm DQ SDSS J1036+6522. Although OW J1753-3107 appears to be a twin of SDSS J1036+6522, it exhibits a modulation on a period slightly longer than the dominant period in SDSS J1036+6522 and has a higher carbon abundance. The source of variations is uncertain, but they are believed to originate from the rotation of the magnetic white dwarf.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 7 tables. Accepted for publication by MNRA

Anomalous Multiplicity Fluctuations from Phase Transitions in Heavy Ion Collisions

Event-by-event fluctuations and correlations between particles produced in relativistic nuclear collisions are studied. The fluctuations in positive, negative, total and net charge are closely related through correlations. In the event of a phase transitions to a quark-gluon plasma, fluctuations in total and net charge can be enhanced and reduced respectively which, however, is very sensitive to the acceptance and centrality. If the colliding system experiences strong density fluctuations due, e.g., to droplet formation in a first-order phase transition, all fluctuations can be enhanced substantially. The importance of fluctuations and correlations is exemplified by event-by-event measurement of the multiplicities of $J/\Psi$'s and charged particles since these observables should anti-correlate in the presence of co-mover or anomalous absorption.Comment: revised version to appear in Phys. Rev. C, 5 page