111 research outputs found
The Lyot Project Direct Imaging Survey of Substellar Companions: Statistical Analysis and Information from Nondetections
The Lyot project used an optimized Lyot coronagraph with Extreme Adaptive
Optics at the 3.63m Advanced Electro-Optical System telescope (AEOS) to observe
86 stars from 2004 to 2007. In this paper we give an overview of the survey
results and a statistical analysis of the observed nondetections around 58 of
our targets to place constraints on the population of substellar companions to
nearby stars. The observations did not detect any companion in the substellar
regime. Since null results can be as important as detections, we analyzed each
observation to determine the characteristics of the companions that can be
ruled out. For this purpose we use a Monte Carlo approach to produce artificial
companions, and determine their detectability by comparison with the
sensitivity curve for each star. All the non-detection results are combined
using a Bayesian approach and we provide upper limits on the population of
giant exoplanets and brown dwarfs for this sample of stars. Our nondetections
confirm the rarity of brown dwarfs around solar-like stars and we constrain the
frequency of massive substellar companions (M>40Mjup) at orbital separation
between and 10 and 50 AU to be <20%.Comment: 32 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables. Published in the Astrophysical
Journa
How well do ecosystem-based planning units represent different componenets of biodiversity?
There are many proposals for managing biodiversity by using surrogates, such as umbrella, indicator, focal, and flagship species. We use the term biodiversity management unit for any ecosystem-based classificatory scheme for managing biodiversity. The sufficiency of biodiversity management unit classification schemes depends upon (1) whether different biotic elements (e.g., trees, birds, reptiles) distinguish between biodiversity management units within a classification (i.e., coherence within classes}; and (2) whether different biotic elements agree upon similarities and dissimilarities among biodiversity management unit classes (i.e., conformance among classes). Recent evaluations suggest that biodiversity surrogates based on few or single taxa are not useful. Ecological vegetation classes are an ecosystem-based classification scheme used as one component for biodiversity management in Victoria, Australia. Here we evaluated the potential for ecological vegetation classes to be used as biodiversity management units in the box-ironbark ecosystem of central Victoria, Australia. Eighty sites distributed among 14 ecological vegetation classes were surveyed in the same ways for tree species, birds, mammals, reptiles, terrestrial invertebrates, and nocturnal flying insects. Habitat structure and geographic separations also were measured, which, with the biotic elements, are collectively referred to as variables. Less than half of the biotic element-ecological vegetation class pairings were coherent. Generalized Mantel tests were used to examine conformance among variables with respect to ecological vegetation classes. While most tests were not significant, birds, mammals, tree species, and habitat structure together showed significant agreement on the rating of similarities among ecological vegetation classes. In this system, use of ecological vegetation classes as biodiversity management units may account reasonably well for birds, mammals, and trees; but reptiles and invertebrates would not be accommodated. We conclude that surrogates will usually have to be augmented or developed as hierarchies to provide general representativeness
Aperture Mask Interferometry with an Integral Field Spectrograph
A non-redundant pupil mask placed in front of a low-resolution integral field spectrograph (IFS) adds a spectral dimension to high angular resolution imaging behind adaptive optics systems. We demonstrate the first application of this technique, using the spectroscopic binary star system β CrB as our target. The mask and IFS combination enabled us to measure the first low-resolution spectrum of the F3-F5 dwarf secondary component of β CrB, at an angular separation 141 mas from its A5-A7Vp primary star. To record multi-wavelength closure phases, we collected interferograms simultaneously in 23 spectral channels spanning the J and H bands (1.1 μm-1.8 μm), using the Project 1640 IFS behind the 249-channel PalAO adaptive optics system on the Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory. In addition to providing physical information about the source, spectrally resolved mask fringes have the potential to enhance detection limits over single filter observations. While the overall dynamic range of our observation suffers from large systematic calibration errors, the information gleaned from the full channel range improves the dynamic range by a factor of 3 to 4 over the best single channel
The VAST Survey - I. Companions and the unexpected X-ray detection of B6-A7 stars
With an adaptive optics imaging survey of 148 B6-A7 stars, we have tested the
hypothesis that unresolved lower-mass companions are the source of the
unexpected X-ray detections of stars in this spectral type range. The sample is
composed of 63 stars detected in X-rays within the ROSAT All-Sky Survey and 85
stars that form a control sample; both subsets have the same restricted
distribution of spectral type, age, X-ray sensitivity and separation coverage.
A total of 68 companion candidates are resolved with separations ranging from
0.3" to 26.2", with 23 new detections. The multiple star frequency of the X-ray
sample based on companions resolved within the ROSAT error ellipse is found to
be 43 (+6,-6)%. The corresponding control sample multiple star frequency is
three times lower at 12 (+4,-3)% -- a difference of 31\pm7%. These results are
presented in the first of a series of papers based on our Volume-limited A-Star
(VAST) survey -- a comprehensive study of the multiplicity of A-type stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical
Societ
Discovery and Characterization of a Faint Stellar Companion to the A3V Star Zeta Virginis
Through the combination of high-order Adaptive Optics and coronagraphy, we
report the discovery of a faint stellar companion to the A3V star zeta
Virginis. This companion is ~7 magnitudes fainter than its host star in the
H-band, and infrared imaging spanning 4.75 years over five epochs indicates
this companion has common proper motion with its host star. Using evolutionary
models, we estimate its mass to be 0.168+/-.016 solar masses, giving a mass
ratio for this system q = 0.082. Assuming the two objects are coeval, this mass
suggests a M4V-M7V spectral type for the companion, which is confirmed through
integral field spectroscopic measurements. We see clear evidence for orbital
motion from this companion and are able to constrain the semi-major axis to be
greater than 24.9 AU, the period > 124$ yrs, and eccentricity > 0.16.
Multiplicity studies of higher mass stars are relatively rare, and binary
companions such as this one at the extreme low end of the mass ratio
distribution are useful additions to surveys incomplete at such a low mass
ratio. Moreover, the frequency of binary companions can help to discriminate
between binary formation scenarios that predict an abundance of low-mass
companions forming from the early fragmentation of a massive circumstellar
disk. A system such as this may provide insight into the anomalous X-ray
emission from A stars, hypothesized to be from unseen late-type stellar
companions. Indeed, we calculate that the presence of this M-dwarf companion
easily accounts for the X-ray emission from this star detected by ROSAT.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, Accepted to Ap
Increasing physical activity among young children from disadvantaged communities: Study protocol of a group randomised controlled effectiveness trial
Background: Participation in regular physical activity (PA) during the early years helps children achieve healthy body weight and can substantially improve motor development, bone health, psychosocial health and cognitive development. Despite common assumptions that young children are naturally active, evidence shows that they are insufficiently active for health and developmental benefits. Exploring strategies to increase physical activity in young children is a public health and research priority. Methods: Jump Start is a multi-component, multi-setting PA and gross motor skill intervention for young children aged 3–5 years in disadvantaged areas of New South Wales, Australia. The intervention will be evaluated using a two-arm, parallel group, randomised cluster trial. The Jump Start protocol was based on Social Cognitive Theory and includes five components: a structured gross motor skill lesson (Jump In); unstructured outdoor PA and gross motor skill time (Jump Out); energy breaks (Jump Up); activities connecting movement to learning experiences (Jump Through); and a home-based family component to promote PA and gross motor skill (Jump Home). Early childhood education and care centres will be demographically matched and randomised to Jump Start (intervention) or usual practice (comparison) group. The intervention group receive Jump Start professional development, program resources, monthly newsletters and ongoing intervention support. Outcomes include change in total PA (accelerometers) within centre hours, gross motor skill development (Test of Gross Motor Development-2), weight status (body mass index), bone strength (Sunlight MiniOmni Ultrasound Bone Sonometer), self-regulation (Heads-Toes-Knees-Shoulders, executive function tasks, and proxy-report Temperament and Approaches to learning scales), and educator and parent self-efficacy. Extensive quantitative and qualitative process evaluation and a cost-effectiveness evaluation will be conducted. Discussion: The Jump Start intervention is a unique program to address low levels of PA and gross motor skill proficiency, and support healthy lifestyle behaviours among young children in disadvantaged communities. If shown to be efficacious, the Jump Start approach can be expected to have implications for early childhood education and care policies and practices, and ultimately a positive effect on the health and development across the life course
\u27Jump start\u27 childcare-based intervention to promote physical activity in pre-schoolers: six-month findings from a cluster randomised trial
BACKGROUND: Participation in adequate levels of physical activity during the early years is important for health and development. We report the 6-month effects of an 18-month multicomponent intervention on physical activity in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings in low-income communities. METHODS: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in 43 ECEC settings in disadvantaged areas of New South Wales, Australia. Three-year-old children were recruited and assessed in the first half of 2015 with follow-up 6 months later. The intervention was guided by Social Cognitive Theory and included five components. The primary outcome was minutes per hour in total physical activity during ECEC hours measured using Actigraph accelerometers. Intention-to-treat analysis of the primary outcome was conducted using a generalized linear mixed model. RESULTS: A total of 658 children were assessed at baseline. Of these, 558 (85%) had valid accelerometer data (mean age 3.38y, 52% boys) and 508 (77%) had valid accelerometry data at 6-month follow-up. Implementation of the intervention components ranged from 38 to 72%. There were no significant intervention effects on mins/hr. spent in physical activity (adjusted difference = - 0.17 mins/hr., 95% CI (- 1.30 to 0.97), p = 0.78). A priori sub-group analyses showed a greater effect among overweight/obese children in the control group compared with the intervention group for mins/hr. of physical activity (2.35mins/hr., [0.28 to 4.43], p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: After six-months the Jump Start intervention had no effect on physical activity levels during ECEC. This was largely due to low levels of implementation. Increasing fidelity may result in higher levels of physical activity when outcomes are assessed at 18-months
High-Contrast NIR Polarization Imaging of MWC480
One of the key predictions of modeling from the IR excess of Herbig Ae stars
is that for protoplanetary disks, where significant grain growth and settling
has occurred, the dust disk has flattened to the point that it can be partially
or largely shadowed by the innermost material at or near the dust sublimation
radius. When the self-shadowing has already started, the outer disk is expected
to be detected in scattered light only in the exceptional cases that the scale
height of the dust disk at the sublimation radius is smaller than usual.
High-contrast imaging combined with the IR spectral energy distribution allow
us to measure the degree of flattening of the disk, as well as to determine the
properties of the outer disk. We present polarimetric differential imaging in
band obtained with Subaru/HiCIAO of one such system, MWC 480. The HiCIAO
data were obtained at a historic minimum of the NIR excess. The disk is
detected in scattered light from 0\farcs2-1\farcs0 (27.4-137AU). Together with
the marginal detection of the disk from 1998 February 24 by HST/NICMOS, our
data constrain the opening half angle for the disk to lie between
1.3. When compared with similar measures in CO for
the gas disk from the literature, the dust disk subtends only 30% of the
gas disk scale height (H/R0.03). Such a dust disk is a factor of 5-7
flatter than transitional disks, which have structural signatures that giant
planets have formed.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, ApJ accepted 2012-05-0
Aperture Mask Interferometry with an Integral Field Spectrograph
A non-redundant pupil mask placed in front of a low-resolution integral field spectrograph (IFS) adds a spectral dimension to high angular resolution imaging behind adaptive optics systems. We demonstrate the first application of this technique, using the spectroscopic binary star system β CrB as our target. The mask and IFS combination enabled us to measure the first low-resolution spectrum of the F3-F5 dwarf secondary component of β CrB, at an angular separation 141 mas from its A5-A7Vp primary star. To record multi-wavelength closure phases, we collected interferograms simultaneously in 23 spectral channels spanning the J and H bands (1.1 μm-1.8 μm), using the Project 1640 IFS behind the 249-channel PalAO adaptive optics system on the Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory. In addition to providing physical information about the source, spectrally resolved mask fringes have the potential to enhance detection limits over single filter observations. While the overall dynamic range of our observation suffers from large systematic calibration errors, the information gleaned from the full channel range improves the dynamic range by a factor of 3 to 4 over the best single channel
LkCa 15: A Young Exoplanet Caught at Formation?
Young and directly imaged exoplanets offer critical tests of planet-formation
models that are not matched by RV surveys of mature stars. These targets have
been extremely elusive to date, with no exoplanets younger than 10--20 Myr and
only a handful of direct-imaged exoplanets at all ages. We report the direct
imaging discovery of a likely (proto)planet around the young (~2 Myr) solar
analog LkCa 15, located inside a known gap in the protoplanetary disk (a
"transitional disk"). Our observations use non-redundant aperture masking
interferometry at 3 epochs to reveal a faint and relatively blue point source
($M_K'=9.1+/-0.2, K'-L'=0.98+/-0.22), flanked by approximately co-orbital
emission that is red and resolved into at least two sources (M_L'=7.5+/-0.2,
K'-L'=2.7+/-0.3; M_L'=7.4+/-0.2, K'-L'=1.94+/-0.16). We propose that the most
likely geometry consists of a newly-formed (proto)planet that is surrounded by
dusty material. The nominal estimated mass is ~6 M_{Jup} according to the 1 Myr
hot-start models. However, we argue based on its luminosity, color, and the
presence of circumplanetary material that the planet has likely been caught at
its epoch of assembly, and hence this mass is an upper limit due to its extreme
youth and flux contributed by accretion. The projected separations (71.9 +/-
1.6 mas, 100.7 +/- 1.9 mas, and 88.2 +/- 1.8 mas) and deprojected orbital radii
(16, 21, and 19 AU) correspond to the center of the disk gap, but are too close
to the primary star for a circular orbit to account for the observed inner edge
of the outer disk, so an alternate explanation (i.e., additional planets or an
eccentric orbit) is likely required. This discovery is the first direct
evidence that at least some transitional disks do indeed host newly-formed (or
forming) exoplanetary systems, and the observed properties provide crucial
insight into the gas giant formation process.Comment: Accepted to ApJ; 15 pages, 4 figures, 2 tabls in emulateapj forma
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