1,334 research outputs found
Wavelets: a powerful tool for studying rotation, activity, and pulsation in Kepler and CoRoT stellar light curves
Aims. The wavelet transform has been used as a powerful tool for treating
several problems in astrophysics. In this work, we show that the time-frequency
analysis of stellar light curves using the wavelet transform is a practical
tool for identifying rotation, magnetic activity, and pulsation signatures. We
present the wavelet spectral composition and multiscale variations of the time
series for four classes of stars: targets dominated by magnetic activity, stars
with transiting planets, those with binary transits, and pulsating stars.
Methods. We applied the Morlet wavelet (6th order), which offers high time and
frequency resolution. By applying the wavelet transform to the signal, we
obtain the wavelet local and global power spectra. The first is interpreted as
energy distribution of the signal in time-frequency space, and the second is
obtained by time integration of the local map. Results. Since the wavelet
transform is a useful mathematical tool for nonstationary signals, this
technique applied to Kepler and CoRoT light curves allows us to clearly
identify particular signatures for different phenomena. In particular, patterns
were identified for the temporal evolution of the rotation period and other
periodicity due to active regions affecting these light curves. In addition, a
beat-pattern signature in the local wavelet map of pulsating stars over the
entire time span was also detected.Comment: Accepted for publication on A&
The WFCAM Multi-wavelength Variable Star Catalog
Stellar variability in the near-infrared (NIR) remains largely unexplored.
The exploitation of public science archives with data-mining methods offers a
perspective for the time-domain exploration of the NIR sky. We perform a
comprehensive search for stellar variability using the optical-NIR multi-band
photometric data in the public Calibration Database of the WFCAM Science
Archive (WSA), with the aim of contributing to the general census of variable
stars, and to extend the current scarce inventory of accurate NIR light curves
for a number of variable star classes. We introduce new variability indices
designed for multi-band data with correlated sampling, and apply them for
pre-selecting variable star candidates, i.e., light curves that are dominated
by correlated variations, from noise-dominated ones. Pre-selection criteria are
established by robust numerical tests for evaluating the response of
variability indices to colored noise characteristic to the data. We find 275
periodic variable stars and an additional 44 objects with suspected variability
with uncertain periods or apparently aperiodic variation. Only 44 of these
objects had been previously known, including 11 RR~Lyrae stars in the outskirts
of the globular cluster M3 (NGC~5272). We provide a preliminary classification
of the new variable stars that have well-measured light curves, but the
variability types of a large number of objects remain ambiguous. We classify
most of the new variables as contact binary stars, but we also find several
pulsating stars, among which 34 are probably new field RR~Lyrae and 3 are
likely Cepheids. We also identify 32 highly reddened variable objects close to
previously known dark nebulae, suggesting that these are embedded young stellar
objects. We publish our results and all light-curve data as the WFCAM Variable
Star Catalog.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figure
Static and dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in the alkali metal fulleride salts A4C60 (A = K, Rb, Cs)
We report the temperature dependent mid- and near-infrared spectra of K4C60,
Rb4C60 and Cs4C60. The splitting of the vibrational and electronic transitions
indicates a molecular symmetry change of C604- which brings the fulleride anion
from D2h to either a D3d or a D5d distortion. In contrast to Cs4C60, low
temperature neutron diffraction measurements did not reveal a structural phase
transition in either K4C60 and Rb4C60. This proves that the molecular
transition is driven by the molecular Jahn-Teller effect, which overrides the
distorting potential field of the surrounding cations at high temperature. In
K4C60 and Rb4C60 we suggest a transition from a static to a dynamic Jahn-Teller
state without changing the average structure. We studied the librations of
these two fullerides by temperature dependent inelastic neutron scattering and
conclude that both pseudorotation and jump reorientation are present in the
dynamic Jahn-Teller state.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Gapped Excitations in the High-Pressure Antiferromagnetic Phase of URuSi
We report a neutron scattering study of the magnetic excitation spectrum in
each of the three temperature and pressure driven phases of URuSi. We
find qualitatively similar excitations throughout the (H0L) scattering plane in
the hidden order and large moment phases, with no changes in the
-widths of the excitations at the = (1.407,0,0) and =
(1,0,0) points, within our experimental resolution. There is, however, an
increase in the gap at the point from 4.2(2) meV to 5.5(3) meV,
consistent with other indicators of enhanced antiferromagnetism under pressure.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
Stellar parameters for stars of the CoRoT exoplanet field
Aims:To support the computation and evolutionary interpretation of periods
associated with the rotational modulation, oscillations, and variability of
stars located in the CoRoT fields, we are conducting a spectroscopic survey for
stars located in the fields already observed by the satellite. These
observations allow us to compute physical and chemical parameters for our
stellar sample. Method: Using spectroscopic observations obtained with UVES/VLT
and Hydra/Blanco, and based on standard analysis techniques, we computed
physical and chemical parameters (, , ,
, , , and ) for a large
sample of CoRoT targets. Results: We provide physical and chemical parameters
for a sample comprised of 138 CoRoT targets. Our analysis shows the stars in
our sample are located in different evolutionary stages, ranging from the main
sequence to the red giant branch, and range in spectral type from F to K. The
physical and chemical properties for the stellar sample are in agreement with
typical values reported for FGK stars. However, we report three stars
presenting abnormal lithium behavior in the CoRoT fields. These parameters
allow us to properly characterize the intrinsic properties of the stars in
these fields. Our results reveal important differences in the distributions of
metallicity, , and evolutionary status for stars belonging to
different CoRoT fields, in agreement with results obtained independently from
ground-based photometric surveys. Conclusions: Our spectroscopic catalog, by
providing much-needed spectroscopic information for a large sample of CoRoT
targets, will be of key importance for the successful accomplishment of several
different programs related to the CoRoT mission, thus it will help further
boost the scientific return associated with this space mission.Comment: 43 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Identificação de carotenoides em polpa de goiaba microencapsulada utilizando cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência.
Título: goaiba [i.e. goiaba]
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