2,595 research outputs found
The Mass-Radius(-Rotation?) Relation for Low-Mass Stars
The fundamental properties of low-mass stars are not as well understood as
those of their more massive counterparts. The best method for constraining
these properties, especially masses and radii, is to study eclipsing binary
systems, but only a small number of late-type (M0 or later) systems have been
identified and well-characterized to date. We present the discovery and
characterization of six new M dwarf eclipsing binary systems. The twelve stars
in these eclipsing systems have masses spanning 0.38-0.59 Msun and orbital
periods of 0.6--1.7 days, with typical uncertainties of ~0.3% in mass and
0.5--2.0% in radius. Combined with six known systems with high-precision
measurements, our results reveal an intriguing trend in the low-mass regime.
For stars with M=0.35-0.80 Msun, components in short-period binary systems (P<1
day; 12 stars) have radii which are inflated by up to 10% (mean=4.8+/-1.0%)
with respect to evolutionary models for low-mass main-sequence stars, whereas
components in longer-period systems (>1.5 days; 12 stars) tend to have smaller
radii (mean=1.7+/-0.7%). This trend supports the hypothesis that short-period
systems are inflated by the influence of the close companion, most likely
because they are tidally locked into very high rotation speeds that enhance
activity and inhibit convection. In summary, very close binary systems are not
representative of typical M dwarfs, but our results for longer-period systems
indicate that the evolutionary models are broadly valid in the M~0.35-0.80 Msun
regime.Comment: Accepted to ApJ; 21 pages, 10 figures, 8 tables in emulateapj format.
The full contents of Table 4 are included in the submission as tab4.tx
Limits to Transits of the Neptune-mass planet orbiting Gl 581
We have monitored the Neptune-mass exoplanet-hosting M-dwarf Gl 581 with the
1m Swope Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory over two predicted transit
epochs. A neutral density filter centered at 550nm was used during the first
epoch, yielding 6.33 hours of continuous light curve coverage with an average
photometric precision of 1.6 mmags and a cadence of 2.85 min. The second epoch
was monitored in B-band over 5.85 hours, with an average photometric precision
of 1.2 mmags and 4.28 min cadence. No transits are apparent on either night,
indicating that the orbital inclination is less than 88.1 deg for all planets
with radius larger than 0.38 R_Nep = 1.48 R_Earth. Because planets of most
reasonable interior composition have radii larger than 1.55 R_Earth we place an
inclination limit for the system of 88.1 deg. The corresponding minimum mass of
Gl 581b remains 0.97 M_Nep = 16.6 M_Earth.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, to appear in PAS
A refined analysis of the low-mass eclipsing binary system T-Cyg1-12664
The observational mass-radius relation of main sequence stars with masses
between ~0.3 and 1.0 Msun reveals deviations between the stellar radii
predicted by models and the observed radii of stars in detached binaries. We
generate an accurate physical model of the low-mass eclipsing binary
T-Cyg1-12664 in the Kepler mission field to measure the physical parameters of
its components and to compare them with the prediction of theoretical stellar
evolution models. We analyze the Kepler mission light curve of T-Cyg1-12664 to
accurately measure the times and phases of the primary and secondary eclipse.
In addition, we measure the rotational period of the primary component by
analyzing the out-of-eclipse oscillations that are due to spots. We accurately
constrain the effective temperature of the system using ground-based absolute
photometry in B, V, Rc, and Ic. We also obtain and analyze V, Rc, Ic
differential light curves to measure the eccentricity and the orbital
inclination of the system, and a precise Teff ratio. From the joint analysis of
new radial velocities and those in the literature we measure the individual
masses of the stars. Finally, we use the PHOEBE code to generate a physical
model of the system. T-Cyg1-12664 is a low eccentricity system, located
d=360+/-22 pc away from us, with an orbital period of P=4.1287955(4) days, and
an orbital inclination i=86.969+/-0.056 degrees. It is composed of two very
different stars with an active G6 primary with Teff1=5560+/-160 K,
M1=0.680+/-0.045 Msun, R1=0.799+/-0.017 Rsun, and a M3V secondary star with
Teff2=3460+/-210 K, M2=0.376+/-0.017 Msun, and R2=0.3475+/-0.0081 Rsun. The
primary star is an oversized and spotted active star, hotter than the stars in
its mass range. The secondary is a cool star near the mass boundary for fully
convective stars (M~0.35 Msun), whose parameters appear to be in agreement with
low-mass stellar model.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, 15 table
Lanczos Spintensor via the Andersson-Edgar’s Generator
For arbitrary geometries with Petrov types O, N, III, and D (empty), we construct the Andersson-Edgar’s generator for the Lanczos spinor
Habitat use, feeding, and reproduction of the Mayan Cichlid, Cichlosoma urophthalmus Günther, in the Alvarado Lagoonal System, Veracruz, Mexico [abstract of poster presentation]
HSV-1 and endogenous retroviruses as risk factors in demyelination
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic alphaherpesvirus that can infect the peripheral and central nervous systems, and it has been implicated in demyelinating and neurodegenerative processes. Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences that can move from one genomic location to another. TEs have been linked to several diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS), including multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating disease of unknown etiology influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Exogenous viral transactivators may activate certain retrotransposons or class I TEs. In this context, several herpesviruses have been linked to MS, and one of them, HSV-1, might act as a risk factor by mediating processes such as molecular mimicry, remyelination, and activity of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Several herpesviruses have been involved in the regulation of human ERVs (HERVs), and HSV-1 in particular can modulate HERVs in cells involved in MS pathogenesis. This review exposes current knowledge about the relationship between HSV-1 and human ERVs, focusing on their contribution as a risk factor for MS
Fractionation and fluxes of metals and radionuclides during the recycling process of phosphogypsum wastes applied to mineral CO2 sequestration
The industry of phosphoric acid produces a calcium-rich by-product known as phosphogypsum, which is usually stored in large stacks of millions of tons. Up to now, no commercial application has been widely implemented for its reuse because of the significant presence of potentially toxic contaminants. This work confirmed that up to 96% of the calcium of phosphogypsum could be recycled for CO2 mineral sequestration by a simple two-step process: alkaline dissolution and aqueous carbonation, under ambient pressure and temperature. This CO2 sequestration process based on recycling phosphogypsum wastes would help to mitigate greenhouse gasses emissions. Yet this work goes beyond the validation of the sequestration procedure; it tracks the contaminants, such as trace metals or radionuclides, during the recycling process in the phosphogypsum. Thus, most of the contaminants were transferred from raw phosphogypsum to portlandite, obtained by dissolution of the phosphogypsum in soda, and from portlandite to calcite during aqueous carbonation. These findings provide valuable information for managing phosphogypsum wastes and designing potential technological applications of the by-products of this environmentally-friendly proposal.Junta de Andalucía P10-RNM-6300, P12- RNM-226
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