184 research outputs found
Probing the Inner Disk Emission of the Herbig Ae Stars HD 163296 and HD 190073
The physical processes occurring within the inner few astronomical units of
proto-planetary disks surrounding Herbig Ae stars are crucial to setting the
environment in which the outer planet-forming disk evolves and put critical
constraints on the processes of accretion and planet migration. We present the
most complete published sample of high angular resolution H- and K-band
observations of the stars HD 163296 and HD 190073, including 30 previously
unpublished nights of observations of the former and 45 nights of the latter
with the CHARA long-baseline interferometer, in addition to archival VLTI data.
We confirm previous observations suggesting significant near-infrared emission
originates within the putative dust evaporation front of HD 163296 and show
this is the case for HD 190073 as well. The H- and K-band sizes are the same
within for HD 163296 and within for HD 190073. The
radial surface brightness profiles for both disks are remarkably Gaussian-like
with little or no sign of the sharp edge expected for a dust evaporation front.
Coupled with spectral energy distribution analysis, our direct measurements of
the stellar flux component at H and K bands suggest that HD 190073 is much
younger (<400 kyr) and more massive (~5.6 M) than previously thought,
mainly as a consequence of the new Gaia distance (891 pc).Comment: 19 pages, 6 figure
Low thrust propulsion in a coplanar circular restricted four body problem
This paper formulates a circular restricted four body problem (CRFBP), where the three primaries are set in the stable Lagrangian equilateral triangle configuration and the fourth body is massless. The analysis of this autonomous coplanar CRFBP is undertaken, which identies eight natural equilibria; four of which are close to the smaller body, two stable and two unstable, when considering the primaries to be the Sun and two smaller bodies of the solar system. Following this, the model incorporates `near term' low-thrust propulsion capabilities to generate surfaces of articial equilibrium points close to the smaller primary, both in and out of the plane containing the celestial bodies. A stability analysis of these points is carried out and a stable subset of them is identied. Throughout the analysis the Sun-Jupiter-Asteroid-Spacecraft system is used, for conceivable masses of a hypothetical asteroid set at the libration point L4. It is shown that eight bounded orbits exist, which can be maintained with a constant thrust less than 1:5 10􀀀4N for a 1000kg spacecraft. This illustrates that, by exploiting low-thrust technologies, it would be possible to maintain an observation point more than 66% closer to the asteroid than that of a stable natural equilibrium point. The analysis then focusses on a major Jupiter Trojan: the 624-Hektor asteroid. The thrust required to enable close asteroid observation is determined in the simplied CRFBP model. Finally, a numerical simulation of the real Sun-Jupiter-624 Hektor-Spacecraft is undertaken, which tests the validity of the stability analysis of the simplied model
Simultaneous spectral energy distribution and near-infrared interferometry modeling of HD 142666
This is the final version. Available from American Astronomical Society via the DOI in this recordWe present comprehensive models of Herbig Ae star, HD 142666, which aim to simultaneously explain its spectral energy distribution (SED) and near-infrared (NIR) interferometry. Our new sub-milliarcsecond resolution CHARA (CLASSIC and CLIMB) interferometric observations, supplemented with archival shorter baseline data from VLTI/PIONIER and the Keck Interferometer, are modeled using centro-symmetric geometric models and an axisymmetric radiative transfer code. CHARA's 330 m baselines enable us to place strong constraints on the viewing geometry, revealing a disk inclined at 58 degrees from face-on with a 160 degree major axis position angle. Disk models imposing vertical hydrostatic equilibrium provide poor fits to the SED. Models accounting for disk scale height inflation, possibly induced by turbulence associated with magneto-rotational instabilities, and invoking grain growth to >1 micron size in the disk rim are required to simultaneously reproduce the SED and measured visibility profile. However, visibility residuals for our best model fits to the SED indicate the presence of unexplained NIR emission, particularly along the apparent disk minor axis, while closure phase residuals indicate a more centro-symmetric emitting region. In addition, our inferred 58 degree disk inclination is inconsistent with a disk-based origin for the UX Ori-type variability exhibited by HD 142666. Additional complexity, unaccounted for in our models, is clearly present in the NIR-emitting region. We propose the disk is likely inclined toward a more edge-on orientation and/or an optically thick outflow component also contributes to the NIR circumstellar flux.C.L.D., S.K., A.K. and A.L. acknowledge support
from the ERC Starting Grant \ImagePlanetFormDiscs"
(Grant Agreement No. 639889), STFC Rutherford
fellowship/grant (ST/J004030/1, ST/K003445/1) and
Philip Leverhulme Prize (PLP-2013-110). J.D.M., F.B.,
and B.K. acknowledge support from NSF grants AST-
1210972 and AST-1506540. We would like to thank
Bernard Lazareff, Jean-Baptiste Le Bouquin and Rachel
Akeson for their assistance in acquiring archival data
for HD142666. This work is based upon observations
obtained with the Georgia State University Center for
High Angular Resolution Astronomy Array at Mount
Wilson Observatory. The CHARA Array is supported
by the National Science Foundation under Grant No.
AST-1211929. Institutional support has been provided
from the GSU College of Arts and Sciences and the GSU
Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic
Development. The calculations for this paper were performed
on the University of Exeter Supercomputer, a
DiRAC Facility jointly funded by STFC, the Large Facilities
Capital Fund of BIS, and the University of Exeter
Probing the Inner Disk Emission of the Herbig Ae Stars HD 163296 and HD 190073
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from American Astronomical Society / IOP Publishing via the DOI in this record.The physical processes occurring within the inner few astronomical units of proto-planetary disks surrounding Herbig Ae stars are crucial to setting the environment in which the outer planet-forming disk evolves and put critical constraints on the processes of accretion and planet migration. We present the most complete published sample of high angular resolution H- and K-band observations of the stars HD 163296 and HD 190073, including 30 previously unpublished nights of observations of the former and 45 nights of the latter with the CHARA long-baseline interferometer, in addition to archival VLTI data. We confirm previous observations suggesting significant near-infrared emission originates within the putative dust evaporation front of HD 163296 and show this is the case for HD 190073 as well. The H- and K-band sizes are the same within (3±3)% for HD 163296 and within (6±10)% for HD 190073. The radial surface brightness profiles for both disks are remarkably Gaussian-like with little or no sign of the sharp edge expected for a dust evaporation front. Coupled with spectral energy distribution analysis, our direct measurements of the stellar flux component at H and K bands suggest that HD 190073 is much younger (<400 kyr) and more massive (~5.6 Mâ) than previously thought, mainly as a consequence of the new Gaia distance (891 pc).JDM and BRS acknowledge support from NSF-AST 1506540 and AA acknowledges support from NSF-AST 1311698.
CLD, AK, and SK acknowledge support from the ERC Starting Grant âImagePlanetFormDiscsâ (Grant Agreement
No. 639889), STFC Rutherford fellowship/grant (ST/J004030/1, ST/K003445/1) and Philip Leverhulme Prize (PLP2013-110).
FB acknowledges support from NSF-AST 1210972 and 1445935. MS acknowledges support by the NASA
Origins of Solar Systems grant NAG5-9475, and NASA Astrophysics Data Program contract NNH05CD30C. The CHARA Array is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. AST-1211929, AST-1636624,
and AST-1715788. Institutional support has been provided from the GSU College of Arts and Sciences and the GSU
Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development
An adult-based insulin resistance genetic risk score associates with insulin resistance, metabolic traits and altered fat distribution in Danish children and adolescents who are overweight or obese
The 2014 interferometric imaging beauty contest
This is the final version of the article. Available from SPIE via the DOI in this record.From Conference Volume 9146: Optical and Infrared Interferometry IV. Jayadev K. Rajagopal; Michelle J. Creech-Eakman; Fabien Malbet. Montréal, Quebec, Canada, June 22, 2014Here we present the results of the 6th biennial optical interferometry imaging beauty contest. Taking advantage of a unique opportunity, the red supergiant VY CMa and the Mira variable R Car were observed in the astronomical H-band with three 4-telescope configurations of the VLTI-AT array using the PIONIER instrument. The community was invited to participate in the subsequent image reconstruction and interpretation phases of the project. Ten groups submitted entries to the beauty contest, and we found reasonable consistency between images obtained from independent workers using quite different algorithms. We also found that significant differences existed between the submitted images, much greater than in past beauty contests that were all based on simulated data. A novel crowd-sourcing" method allowed consensus median images to be constructed, filtering likely artifacts and retaining real features." We definitively detect strong spots on the surfaces of both stars as well as distinct circumstellar shells of emission (likely water/CO) around R Car. In a close contest, Joel Sanchez (IAA-CSIC/Spain) was named the winner of the 2014 interferometric imaging beauty contest. This process has shown that new comers" can use publicly-available imaging software to interpret VLTI/PIONIER imaging data, as long as sufficient observations are taken to have complete uv coverage { a luxury that is often missing. We urge proposers to request adequate observing nights to collect sufficient data for imaging and for time allocation committees to recognise the importance of uv coverage for reliable interpretation of interferometric data. We believe that the result of the proposed broad international project will contribute to inspiring trust in the image reconstruction processes in optical interferometry
The Expanding Fireball of Nova Delphini 2013
A classical nova occurs when material accreting onto the surface of a white
dwarf in a close binary system ignites in a thermonuclear runaway. Complex
structures observed in the ejecta at late stages could result from interactions
with the companion during the common envelope phase. Alternatively, the
explosion could be intrinsically bipolar, resulting from a localized ignition
on the surface of the white dwarf or as a consequence of rotational distortion.
Studying the structure of novae during the earliest phases is challenging
because of the high spatial resolution needed to measure their small sizes.
Here we report near-infrared interferometric measurements of the angular size
of Nova Delphini 2013, starting from one day after the explosion and continuing
with extensive time coverage during the first 43 days. Changes in the apparent
expansion rate can be explained by an explosion model consisting of an
optically thick core surrounded by a diffuse envelope. The optical depth of the
ejected material changes as it expands. We detect an ellipticity in the light
distribution, suggesting a prolate or bipolar structure that develops as early
as the second day. Combining the angular expansion rate with radial velocity
measurements, we derive a geometric distance to the nova of 4.54 +/- 0.59 kpc
from the Sun.Comment: Published in Nature. 32 pages. Final version available at
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v515/n7526/full/nature13834.htm
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