41 research outputs found
The SSS phase of RS Ophiuchi observed with Chandra and XMM-Newton I.: Data and preliminary Modeling
The phase of Super-Soft-Source (SSS) emission of the sixth recorded outburst
of the recurrent nova RS Oph was observed twice with Chandra and once with
XMM-Newton. The observations were taken on days 39.7, 54.0, and 66.9 after
outburst. We confirm a 35-sec period on day 54.0 and found that it originates
from the SSS emission and not from the shock. We discus the bound-free
absorption by neutral elements in the line of sight, resonance absorption lines
plus self-absorbed emission line components, collisionally excited emission
lines from the shock, He-like intersystem lines, and spectral changes during an
episode of high-amplitude variability. We find a decrease of the oxygen K-shell
absorption edge that can be explained by photoionization of oxygen. The
absorption component has average velocities of -1286+-267 km/s on day 39.7 and
of -771+-65 km/s on day 66.9. The wavelengths of the emission line components
are consistent with their rest wavelengths as confirmed by measurements of
non-self absorbed He-like intersystem lines. We have evidence that these lines
originate from the shock rather than the outer layers of the outflow and may be
photoexcited in addition to collisional excitations. We found collisionally
excited emission lines that are fading at wavelengths shorter than 15A that
originate from the radiatively cooling shock. On day 39.5 we find a systematic
blue shift of -526+-114 km/s from these lines. We found anomalous He-like f/i
ratios which indicates either high densities or significant UV radiation near
the plasma where the emission lines are formed. During the phase of strong
variability the spectral hardness light curve overlies the total light curve
when shifted by 1000sec. This can be explained by photoionization of neutral
oxygen in the line of sight if the densities of order 10^{10}-10^{11} cm^{-3}.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables. Accepted by ApJ; v2: Co-author
Woodward adde
The K2 Galactic Archaeology Program Data Release 2: Asteroseismic Results from Campaigns 4, 6, and 7
Studies of Galactic structure and evolution have benefited enormously from Gaia kinematic information, though additional, intrinsic stellar parameters like age are required to best constrain Galactic models. Asteroseismology is the most precise method of providing such information for field star populations en masse, but existing samples for the most part have been limited to a few narrow fields of view by the CoRoT and Kepler missions. In an effort to provide well-characterized stellar parameters across a wide range in Galactic position, we present the second data release of red giant asteroseismic parameters for the K2 Galactic Archaeology Program (GAP). We provide V_{max} and Delta_{v} based on six independent pipeline analyses; first-ascent red giant branch (RGB) and red clump (RC) evolutionary state classifications from machine learning; and ready-to-use radius and mass coefficients, K_{R} and K_{M}, which, when appropriately multiplied by a solar-scaled effective temperature factor, yield physical stellar radii and masses. In total, we report 4395 radius and mass coefficients, with typical uncertainties of 3.3% (stat.) ± 1% (syst.) for K_{R} and 7.7% (stat.) ± 2% (syst.) for ÎșM among RGB stars, and 5.0% (stat.) ± 1% (syst.) for K_{R} nd 10.5% (stat.) ± 2% (syst.) for ÎșM among RC stars. We verify that the sample is nearly completeâexcept for a dearth of stars with V_{max} \leqslant 10-20 mHz-by comparing to Galactic models and visual inspection. Our asteroseismic radii agree with radii derived from Gaia Data Release 2 parallaxes to within 2.2% ± 0.3% for RGB stars and 2.0% ± 0.6% for RC stars
The Dark Matter halo of the Milky Way, AD 2013
We derive the mass model of the Milky Way (MW) using a cored dark matter (DM) halo profile and recent data. The method used consists in fitting a spherically symmetric model of the Galaxy with a Burkert DM halo profile to available data: MW terminal velocities in the region inside the solar circle, circular velocity as recently estimated from maser star forming regions at intermediate radii, and velocity dispersions of stellar halo tracers for the outermost Galactic region. The latter are reproduced by integrating the Jeans equation for every modeled mass distribution, and by allowing for different velocity anisotropies for different tracer populations. For comparison we also consider a Navarro-Frenk-White profile. We find that the cored profile is the preferred one, with a shallow central density of rho_H~4x10^7M_s/kpc^3 and a large core radius R_H~10 kpc, as observed in external spirals and in agreement with the mass model underlying the Universal Rotation Curve of spirals. We describe also the derived model uncertainties, which are crucially driven by the poorly constrained velocity dispersion anisotropies of halo tracers. The emerging cored DM distribution has implications for the DM annihilation angular profile, which is much less boosted in the Galactic center direction with respect to the case of the standard \Lambda CDM, NFW profile. Using the derived uncertainties we discuss finally the limitations and prospects to discriminate between cored and cusped DM profile with a possible observed diffuse DM annihilation signal. The present mass model aims to characterize the present-day description of the distribution of matter in our Galaxy, which is needed to frame current crucial issues of Cosmology, Astrophysics and Elementary Particles
Chemical tagging with APOGEE: discovery of a large population of N-rich stars in the inner Galaxy
Formation of globular clusters (GCs), the Galactic bulge, or galaxy bulges in general is an important unsolved problem in Galactic astronomy. Homogeneous infrared observations of large samples of stars belonging to GCs and the Galactic bulge field are one of the best ways to study these problems. We report the discovery by APOGEE (Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment) of a population of field stars in the inner Galaxy with abundances of N, C, and Al that are typically found in GC stars. The newly discovered stars have high [N/Fe], which is correlated with [Al/Fe] and anticorrelated with [C/Fe]. They are homogeneously distributed across, and kinematically indistinguishable from, other field stars within the same volume. Their metallicity distribution is seemingly unimodal, peaking at [Fe/H] ⌠â1, thus being in disagreement with that of the Galactic GC system. Our results can be understood in terms of different scenarios. N-rich stars could be former members of dissolved GCs, in which case the mass in destroyed GCs exceeds that of the surviving GC system by a factor of âŒ8. In that scenario, the total mass contained in so-called âfirst-generationâ stars cannot be larger than that in âsecond-generationâ stars by more than a factor of âŒ9 and was certainly smaller. Conversely, our results may imply the absence of a mandatory genetic link between âsecond-generationâ stars and GCs. Last, but not least, N-rich stars could be the oldest stars in the Galaxy, the by-products of chemical enrichment by the first stellar generations formed in the heart of the Galaxy
The 13th Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the SDSS-IV Survey Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory
The fourth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV) began observations in July 2014. It pursues three core programs: APOGEE-2,MaNGA, and eBOSS. In addition, eBOSS contains two major subprograms: TDSS and SPIDERS. This paper describes the first data release from SDSS-IV, Data Release 13 (DR13), which contains new data, reanalysis of existing data sets and, like all SDSS data releases, is inclusive of previously released data. DR13 makes publicly available 1390 spatially resolved integral field unit observations of nearby galaxies from MaNGA,the first data released from this survey. It includes new observations from eBOSS, completing SEQUELS. In addition to targeting galaxies and quasars, SEQUELS also targeted variability-selected objects from TDSS and X-ray selected objects from SPIDERS. DR13 includes new reductions ofthe SDSS-III BOSS data, improving the spectrophotometric calibration and redshift classification. DR13 releases new reductions of the APOGEE-1data from SDSS-III, with abundances of elements not previously included and improved stellar parameters for dwarf stars and cooler stars. For the SDSS imaging data, DR13 provides new, more robust and precise photometric calibrations. Several value-added catalogs are being released in tandem with DR13, in particular target catalogs relevant for eBOSS, TDSS, and SPIDERS, and an updated red-clump catalog for APOGEE.This paper describes the location and format of the data now publicly available, as well as providing references to the important technical papers that describe the targeting, observing, and data reduction. The SDSS website, http://www.sdss.org, provides links to the data, tutorials and examples of data access, and extensive documentation of the reduction and analysis procedures. DR13 is the first of a scheduled set that will contain new data and analyses from the planned ~6-year operations of SDSS-IV.PostprintPeer reviewe
Helper T cells down-regulate CD4 expression upon chronic stimulation giving rise to double-negative T cells
Constructing a one-solar-mass evolutionary sequence using asteroseismic data from Kepler
Asteroseismology of solar-type stars has entered a new era of large surveys with the success of the NASA Kepler mission, which is providing exquisite data on oscillations of stars across the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. From the time-series photometry, the two seismic parameters that can be most readily extracted are the large frequency separation (ÎÎœ) and the frequency of maximum oscillation power (Îœmax). After the survey phase, these quantities are available for hundreds of solar-type stars. By scaling from solar values, we use these two asteroseismic observables to identify for the first time an evolutionary sequence of 1 M â field stars, without the need for further information from stellar models. Comparison of our determinations with the few available spectroscopic results shows an excellent level of agreement. We discuss the potential of the method for differential analysis throughout the main-sequence evolution and the possibility of detecting twins of very well-known stars. © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved