126 research outputs found
Evaluating GAIA performances on eclipsing binaries. I. Orbits and stellar parameters for V505 Per, V570 Per and OO Peg
The orbits and physical parameters of three detached, double-lined A-F
eclipsing binaries have been derived combining H_P, V_T, B_T photometry from
the Hipparcos/Tycho mission with 8500-8750 Ang ground-based spectroscopy,
mimicking the photometric+spectroscopic observations that should be obtained by
GAIA, the approved Cornerstone 6 mission by ESA. This study has two main
objectives, namely (a) to derive reasonable orbits for a number of new
eclipsing binaries and (b) to evaluate the expected performances by GAIA on
eclipsing binaries and the accuracy achievable on the determination of
fundamental stellar parameters like masses and radii. It is shown that a 1%
precision in the basic stellar parameters can be achieved by GAIA on well
observed detached eclipsing binaries provided that the spectroscopic
observations are performed at high enough resolution. Other types of eclipsing
binaries (including semi-detached and contact types) and different spectral
types will be investigated in following papers along this series.Comment: A&A, 11 pages, 5 figures, 5 table
GRB 021004: A Possible Shell Nebula around a Wolf-Rayet Star Gamma-Ray Burst Progenitor
The rapid localization of GRB 021004 by the HETE-2 satellite allowed nearly
continuous monitoring of its early optical afterglow decay, as well as
high-quality optical spectra that determined a redshift of z3=2.328 for its
host galaxy, an active starburst galaxy with strong Lyman-alpha emission and
several absorption lines. Spectral observations show multiple absorbers at
z3A=2.323, z3B= 2.317, and z3C= 2.293 blueshifted by 450, 990, and 3,155 km/s
respectively relative to the host galaxy Lyman-alpha emission. We argue that
these correspond to a fragmented shell nebula that has been radiatively
accelerated by the gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow at a distance greater than
0.3 pc from a Wolf-Rayet star progenitor. The chemical abundance ratios
indicate that the nebula is overabundant in carbon and silicon. The high level
of carbon and silicon is consistent with a swept-up shell nebula gradually
enriched by a WCL progenitor wind over the lifetime of the nebula prior to the
GRB onset. The detection of statistically significant fluctuations and color
changes about the jet-like optical decay further supports this interpretation
since fluctuations must be present at some level due to inhomogeneities in a
clumpy stellar wind medium or if the progenitor has undergone massive ejection
prior to the GRB onset. This evidence suggests that the mass-loss process in a
Wolf-Rayet star might lead naturally to an iron-core collapse with sufficient
angular momentum that could serve as a suitable GRB progenitor.Comment: Replaced with version accepted by ApJ; 40 pages, 9 figure
Evaluating Gaia performances on eclipsing binaries. IV. Orbits and stellar parameters for SV Cam, BS Dra and HP Dra
This is the fourth in a series of papers that aim both to provide reasonable
orbits for a number of eclipsing binaries and to evaluate the expected
performance of Gaia of these objects and the accuracy that is achievable in the
determination of such fundamental stellar parameters as mass and radius. In
this paper, we attempt to derive the orbits and physical parameters for three
eclipsing binaries in the mid-F to mid-G spectral range. As for previous
papers, only the Hp, Vt, Bt photometry from the Hipparcos/Tycho mission and
ground-based radial velocities from spectroscopy in the region 8480-8740 A are
used in the analyses. These data sets simulate the photometric and
spectroscopic data that are expected to be obtained by Gaia, the approved ESA
Cornerstone mission to be launched in 2011. The systems targeted in this paper
are SV Cam, BS Dra and HP Dra. SV Cam and BS Dra have been studied previously,
allowing comparisons of the derived parameters with those from full scale and
devoted ground-based investigations. HP Dra has no published orbital solution.
SV Cam has a beta Lyrae type light curve and the others have Algol-like light
curves. SV Cam has the complication of light curve anomalies, usually
attributed to spots; BS Dra has non-solar metallicity, and HP Dra appears to
have a small eccentricity and a sizeable time derivative in the argument of the
periastron. Thus all three provide interesting and different test cases.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 5 tables, A&A accepte
Kepler Cycle 1 Observations of Low Mass Stars: New Eclipsing Binaries, Single Star Rotation Rates, and the Nature and Frequency of Starspots
We have analyzed Kepler light curves for 849 stars with T_eff < 5200 K from
our Cycle 1 Guest Observer program. We identify six new eclipsing binaries, one
of which has an orbital period of 29.91 d, and two of which are probably W UMa
variables. In addition, we identify a candidate "warm Jupiter" exoplanet. We
further examine a subset of 670 sources for variability. Of these objects, 265
stars clearly show periodic variability that we assign to rotation of the
low-mass star. At the photometric precision level provided by Kepler, 251 of
our objects showed no evidence for variability. We were unable to determine
periods for 154 variable objects. We find that 79% of stars with T_eff < 5200 K
are variable. The rotation periods we derive for the periodic variables span
the range 0.31 < P_rot < 126.5 d. A considerable number of stars with rotation
periods similar to the solar value show activity levels that are 100 times
higher than the Sun. This is consistent with results for solar-like field
stars. As has been found in previous studies, stars with shorter rotation
periods generally exhibit larger modulations. This trend flattens beyond P_rot
= 25 d, demonstrating that even long period binaries may still have components
with high levels of activity and investigating whether the masses and radii of
the stellar components in these systems are consistent with stellar models
could remain problematic. Surprisingly, our modeling of the light curves
suggests that the active regions on these cool stars are either preferentially
located near the rotational poles, or that there are two spot groups located at
lower latitudes, but in opposing hemispheres.Comment: 48 pages, 11 figure
HST/WFPC2 and VLT/ISAAC observations of PROPLYDS in the giant HII region NGC 3603
We report the discovery of three proplyd-like structures in the giant HII
region NGC 3603. The emission nebulae are clearly resolved in narrow-band and
broad-band HST/WFPC2 observations in the optical and broad-band VLT/ISAAC
observations in the near-infrared. All three nebulae are tadpole shaped, with
the bright ionization front at the head facing the central cluster and a
fainter ionization front around the tail pointing away from the cluster.
Typical sizes are 6,000 A.U. x 20,000 A.U. The nebulae share the overall
morphology of the proplyds (``PROto PLanetarY DiskS'') in Orion, but are 20 to
30 times larger in size. Additional faint filaments located between the nebulae
and the central ionizing cluster can be interpreted as bow shocks resulting
from the interaction of the fast winds from the high-mass stars in the cluster
with the evaporation flow from the proplyds. The striking similarity of the
tadpole shaped emission nebulae in NGC 3603 to the proplyds in Orion suggests
that the physical structure of both types of objects might be the same. We
present 2D radiation hydrodynamical simulations of an externally illuminated
star-disk-envelope system, which was still in its main accretion phase when
first exposed to ionizing radiation from the central cluster. The simulations
reproduce the overall morphology of the proplyds in NGC 3603 very well, but
also indicate that mass-loss rates of up to 10^-5 Mo/yr are required in order
to explain the size of the proplyds. (abbreviated)Comment: 10 pages, 4 Postscript figures, uses emulateapj.sty and psfig.tex.
Astronomical Journal, in press (January 2000 issue
A simple model of the reflection effect for the interacting binaries and extrasolar planets
Extrasolar planets are a natural extension of the interacting binaries
towards the companions with very small masses and similar tools might be used
to study them. Unfortunately, the generally accepted treatment of the
reflection effect in interacting binaries is not very suitable to study cold
objects irradiated by hot objects or extrasolar planets. Our simple model of
the reflection effect takes into account the reflection (scattering), heating
and heat redistribution over the surface of the irradiated object. The shape of
the objects is described by the Roche potential and limb and gravity darkening
can be taken into account. The orbital revolution and rotation of the planet
with proper Doppler shifts for the scattered and thermal radiation are also
accounted for. Subsequently, light-curves and/or spectra of exoplanets were
modeled and the effects of the heat redistribution, limb darkening/brightening,
(non-)grey albedo, and non-spherical shape were studied. Recent observations of
HD189733b, WASP12b, and Wasp-19b were reproduced reasonably well. HD189733b has
low Bond albedo and intense heat redistribution. Wasp-19b has low Bond albedo
and low heat redistribution. We also calculate the exact Roche shapes and
temperature distribution over the surface of all 78 transiting extrasolar
planets known so far. It is found that the departures from the sphere vary
considerably within the sample. Departures of about 1% are common. In some
cases: WASP-12b, WASP-19b, WASP-33b departures can reach about 14, 12, and 8%,
respectively. The mean temperatures of these planets also vary considerably
from 300 K to 2600 K. The extreme cases are WASP-33b, WASP-12b, and WASP-18b
with mean temperatures of about 2600, 2430, and 2330 K, respectively.Comment: Any comments or suggestions will be appreciate
Scenario trees and policy selection for multistage stochastic programming using machine learning
We propose a hybrid algorithmic strategy for complex stochastic optimization
problems, which combines the use of scenario trees from multistage stochastic
programming with machine learning techniques for learning a policy in the form
of a statistical model, in the context of constrained vector-valued decisions.
Such a policy allows one to run out-of-sample simulations over a large number
of independent scenarios, and obtain a signal on the quality of the
approximation scheme used to solve the multistage stochastic program. We
propose to apply this fast simulation technique to choose the best tree from a
set of scenario trees. A solution scheme is introduced, where several scenario
trees with random branching structure are solved in parallel, and where the
tree from which the best policy for the true problem could be learned is
ultimately retained. Numerical tests show that excellent trade-offs can be
achieved between run times and solution quality
A Polynomial Case of the Batch Presorting Problem
This paper presents new theoretical results for a special case of the batch presorting problem (BPSP). We will show tht this case can be solved in polynomial time. Offline and online algorithms are presented for solving the BPSP. Competetive analysis is used for comparing the algorithms
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