4,295 research outputs found
OB stars at the lowest Local Group metallicity: GTC-OSIRIS observations of Sextans A
Our aim is to find and classify OB stars in Sextans A, to later determine
accurate stellar parameters of these blue massive stars in this low metallicity
region .
Using UBV photometry, the reddening-free index Q and GALEX imaging, we built
a list of blue massive star candidates in Sextans A. We obtained low resolution
(R 1000) GTC-OSIRIS spectra for a fraction of them and carried out
spectral classification. For the confirmed O-stars we derive preliminary
stellar parameters.
The target selection criteria and observations were successful and have
produced the first spectroscopic atlas of OB-type stars in Sextans A. From the
whole sample of 18 observed stars, 12 were classified as early OB-types,
including 5 O-stars. The radial velocities of all target stars are in agreement
with their Sextans A membership, although three of them show significant
deviations. We determined the stellar parameters of the O-type stars using the
stellar atmosphere code FASTWIND, and revisited the sub-SMC temperature scale.
Two of the O-stars are consistent with relatively strong winds and enhanced
helium abundances, although results are not conclusive. We discuss the position
of the OB stars in the HRD. Initial stellar masses run from slightly below 20
up to 40 solar masses.
The target selection method worked well for Sextans A, confirming the
procedure developed in Garcia \& Herrero (2013). The stellar temperatures are
consistent with findings in other galaxies. Some of the targets deserve
follow-up spectroscopy because of indications of a runaway nature, an enhanced
helium abundance or a relatively strong wind. We observe a correlation between
HI and OB associations similar to the irregular galaxy IC1613, confirming the
previous result that the most recent star formation of Sextans A is currently
on-going near the rim of the H\,{\sc I} cavity
A possible black hole in the gamma-ray microquasar LS 5039
The population of high energy and very high energy gamma-ray sources,
detected with EGRET and the new generation of ground-based Cherenkov
telescopes, conforms a reduced but physically important sample. Most of these
sources are extragalactic (e.g., blazars), while among the galactic ones there
are pulsars and SN remnants. The microquasar LS 5039, previously proposed to be
associated with an EGRET source by Paredes et al. (2000), has recently been
detected at TeV energies, confirming that microquasars should be regarded as a
class of high energy gamma-ray sources. To model and understand how the
energetic photons are produced and escape from LS 5039 it is crucial to unveil
the nature of the compact object, which remains unknown. Here we present new
intermediate-dispersion spectroscopy of this source which, combined with values
reported in the literature, provides an orbital period of 3.90603+/-0.00017 d,
a mass function f(M)=0.0053+/-0.0009 M_sun, and an eccentricity e=0.35+/-0.04.
Atmosphere model fitting to the spectrum of the optical companion, together
with our new distance estimate of d=2.5+/-0.1 kpc, yields R_opt=9.3+0.7-0.6
R_sun, log (L_opt/L_sun)=5.26+/-0.06, and M_opt=22.9+3.4-2.9 M_sun. These,
combined with our dynamical solution and the assumption of
pseudo-synchronization, yield an inclination i=24.9+/-2.8 degree and a compact
object mass M_X=3.7+1.3-1.0 M_sun. This is above neutron star masses for most
of the standard equations of state and, therefore, we propose that the compact
object in LS 5039 is a black hole. We finally discuss about the implications of
our orbital solution and new parameters of the binary system on the CNO
products, the accretion/ejection energetic balance, the SN explosion scenario,
and the behaviour of the TeV emission with the new orbital period.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Minor changes
according to referee repor
A Method of Mass Measurement in Black Hole Binaries Using Timing and High Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy
In X-ray binaries, several percent of the compact object luminosity is
intercepted by the surface of the normal companion and re-radiated through
Compton reflection and the K-fluorescence. This reflected emission follows the
variability of the compact object with a delay approximately equal to the
orbital radius divided by the speed of light. This provides the possibility of
measuring the orbital radius and thus substantially refining the compact object
mass determination compared to using optical data alone. We demonstrate that it
may be feasible to measure the time delay between the direct and reflected
emission using cross-correlation of the light curves observed near the Kalpha
line and above the K-edge of neutral iron. In the case of Cyg X-1, the time
delay measurement is feasible with a 300--1000 ksec observation by a telescope
with a 1000 cm^2 effective area near 6.4 keV and with a ~5eV energy resolution.
With longer exposures, it may be possible to obtain mass constraints even if an
X-ray source in the binary system lacks an optical counterpart.Comment: ApJ Letters, in press. 4 pages, 3 figures, uses emulateapj.st
New accurate measurement of 36ArH+ and 38ArH+ ro-vibrational transitions by high resolution IR absorption spectroscopy
The protonated Argon ion, ArH, has been identified recently in
the Crab Nebula (Barlow et al. 2013) from Herschel spectra. Given the
atmospheric opacity at the frequency of its =1-0 and =2-1 rotational
transitions (617.5 and 1234.6 GHz, respectively), and the current lack of
appropriate space observatories after the recent end of the Herschel mission,
future studies on this molecule will rely on mid-infrared observations. We
report on accurate wavenumber measurements of ArH and
ArH rotation-vibration transitions in the =1-0 band in the
range 4.1-3.7 m (2450-2715 cm). The wavenumbers of the (0)
transitions of the =1-0 band are 2612.501350.00033 and
2610.701770.00042 cm () for ArH and
ArH, respectively. The calculated opacity for a gas thermalized at
a temperature of 100 K and a linewidth of 1 km.s of the (0) line is
(ArH). For column densities of
ArH larger than cm, significant absorption
by the (0) line can be expected against bright mid-IR sources
Universality in Blow-Up for Nonlinear Heat Equations
We consider the classical problem of the blowing-up of solutions of the
nonlinear heat equation. We show that there exist infinitely many profiles
around the blow-up point, and for each integer , we construct a set of
codimension in the space of initial data giving rise to solutions that
blow-up according to the given profile.Comment: 38 page
Analyzing the external social capital of family firms
We examine an important yet overlooked aspect in research on social capital: the familial bonding that interorganizational relations may hold. We argue that the social identity of a family member is likely to reframe how they behave within social relations and towards actors outside the firm that are within or not within the family, changing the conditions for trust, knowledge exchange, and value creation. Drawing on a family and nonfamily classification of interorganizational relations, we examine: 1) theoretically and empirically the extent to which relationships with family members located in other related firms, which we define as external family social capital (EFSC), affect firm performance; (2) its interaction with relationships with members of other firms not bearing a family connection, referred to as external organizational social capital (EOSC); and (3) the varying levels of trust required to extract value from EFSC and EOSC
Nota sobre la composición mineralógica de unos piroxenos monoclÃnicos de Peñas de Haya (Guipúzcoa, Navarra)
Clinopyroxenes from Peñas de Haya (Guipúzcoa, Navarra) have been studied by X-ray single crystal diffraction. From chemical and crystal structure refinement it is shown that these pyroxenes are almost pure hedenbergite. The unitiell dimensions are: a = 9.867(3), b = 9.052(4), c = 5.253(0) A, p = 104.89(2)"
On the formation and evolution of the first Be star in a black hole binary MWC 656
We find that the formation of MWC 656 (the first Be binary containing a black
hole) involves a common envelope phase and a supernova explosion. This result
supports the idea that a rapidly rotating Be star can emerge out of a common
envelope phase, which is very intriguing because this evolutionary stage is
thought to be too fast to lead to significant accretion and spin up of the B
star.
We predict of B BH binaries to currently reside in the Galactic
disk, among which around contain a Be star, but there is only a small
chance to observe a system with parameters resembling MWC 656. If MWC 656 is
representative of intrinsic Galactic Be BH binary population, it may indicate
that standard evolutionary theory needs to be revised. This would pose another
evolutionary problem in understanding BH binaries, with BH X-ray Novae
formation issue being the prime example.
The future evolution of MWC 656 with a M black hole and
with a M main sequence companion on a day orbit
may lead to the formation of a coalescing BH-NS system. The estimated Advanced
LIGO/Virgo detection rate of such systems is up to yr. This
empirical estimate is a lower limit as it is obtained with only one particular
evolutionary scenario, the MWC 656 binary. This is only a third such estimate
available (after Cyg X-1 and Cyg X-3), and it lends additional support to the
existence of so far undetected BH--NS binaries.Comment: revised and extended version after MNRAS review 17 pages, 10 figure
Warm temperatures at bloom reduce fruit set in sweet cherry
Warm springs have often been assumed as a prelude of a good fruit set in temperate fruit tree species. However, recently, evidences have accumulated on erratic fruit set under apparently good and warm springs in Mediterranean conditions. The fact that these observations mainly occurred in sweet cherry (Prunus avium), a species adapted to high latitudes and cold climates raised the question of whether warm temperatures at flowering could have a detrimental effect on fruit set. To evaluate this hypothesis two different sweet cherry cultivars were subjected under field conditions to a slight increase in temperature at bloom over two different years. While the minimum temperature remained stable, the maximum temperature increased 5-7ºC, resulting in a moderate increase of the average temperature of 1-3ºC. This was sufficient to drastically reduce fruit set in both years and cultivars. To know the vulnerable phase to warm temperatures the process was timed back: final fruit set differences were established in the first three weeks following pollination, but the onset of fruiting – when these differences appeared – was tracked back to one week after pollination. The process from pollination to fertilization was examined under both conditions. Fertilization occurred six days after pollination. Higher temperatures accelerated pollen tube growth rate but also reduced the number of growing pollen tubes along the style. In the ovary, the warm treatment accelerated ovule degeneration. These findings alert on the potential negative effect of even slight increases in temperature during cherry blooming, which nowadays – due to global warming trends – is a plausible and realistic scenario under Mediterranean climatic conditions
Improved determination of the 1(0)-0(0) rotational frequency of NH3D+ from the high resolution spectrum of the v4 infrared band
The high resolution spectrum of the v4 band of NH3D+ has been measured by
difference frequency IR laser spectroscopy in a multipass hollow cathode
discharge cell. From the set of molecular constants obtained from the analysis
of the spectrum, a value of 262817(6) MHz (3sigma) has been derived for the
frequency of the 1(0)-0(0) rotational transition. This value supports the
assignment to NH3D+ of lines at 262816.7 MHz recorded in radio astronomy
observations in Orion-IRc2 and the cold prestellar core B1-bS.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters 04 June
201
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