adsabs/SciX_UAT_keywords huggingface dataset:
High-precision Nuclear Chronometer for the Cosmos

Nuclear chronometers, which predict the ages of the oldest stars by comparing the present and initial abundances of long-lived radioactive nuclides, provide an independent dating technique for the cosmos. The idea of synchronizing Th/X, U/X, and Th/U chronometers can impose stringent constraints on the astrophysical conditions in the r-process simulations, giving rise to the Th-U-X chronometer. It is found that the astrophysical uncertainties of nuclear cosmochronology are significantly reduced from more than ±2 billion years to about 0.3 billion years. The Th-U-X chronometer is then applied to estimate the ages of the six metal-poor stars with observed uranium abundances, and the predicted ages are compatible with the cosmic age of 13.8 billion years predicted from the cosmic microwave background radiation but contradict the cosmic age of 11.4 billion years from the gravitational lens measurement.

Keywords: nucleosynthesis; nuclear astrophysics; r-process; stellar ages; cosmochronology
Constraining Orbital Periods from Nonconsecutive Observations: Period Estimates for Long-period Planets in Six Systems Observed by K2 During Multiple Campaigns

Most planetary discoveries with the K2 and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) missions are restricted to short periods because of the limited duration of observation. However, the re-observation of sky area allows for the detection of longer period planets. We describe new transits detected in six candidate planetary systems that were observed by multiple K2 mission campaigns. One of these systems is a multiplanet system with four candidate planets; we present new period constraints for two planets in this system. In the other five systems, only one transit is observed in each campaign, and we derive period constraints from this new data. The period distributions are highly multimodal resulting from missed potential transits in the gap between observations. Each peak in the distribution corresponds to transits at an integer harmonic of the two observed transits. We further detail a generalized procedure to constrain the period for planets with multiple observations with intervening gaps. Because long-period photometrically discovered planets are rare, these systems are interesting targets for follow-up observations and confirmation. Specifically, all six systems are bright enough (V = 10.4-12.7) to be amenable to radial velocity follow-up. This work serves as a template for period constraints in a host of similar yet-to-be-discovered planets in long baseline, temporally gapped observations conducted by the TESS mission.

Keywords: exoplanets; exoplanet detection methods; exoplanet astronomy; exoplanet dynamics; period determination; transit photometry; transits
Phase Modeling of the TRAPPIST-1 Planetary Atmospheres

Transiting compact multiplanet systems provide many unique opportunities to characterize the planets, including studies of size distributions, mean densities, orbital dynamics, and atmospheric compositions. The relatively short orbital periods in these systems ensure that events requiring specific orbital locations of the planets (such as primary transit and secondary eclipse points) occur with high frequency. The orbital motion and associated phase variations of the planets provide a means to constrain the atmospheric compositions through measurement of their albedos. Here we describe the expected phase variations of the TRAPPIST-1 system and times of superior conjunction when the summation of phase effects produce maximum amplitudes. We also describe the infrared flux emitted by the TRAPPIST-1 planets and the influence on the overall phase amplitudes. We further present the results from using the global circulation model ROCKE-3D to model the atmospheres of TRAPPIST-1e and TRAPPIST-1f assuming modern Earth and Archean atmospheric compositions. These simulations are used to calculate predicted phase curves for both reflected light and thermal emission components. We discuss the detectability of these signatures and the future prospects for similar studies of phase variations for relatively faint M stars.

Keywords: exoplanet atmospheres; exoplanets; photometry; habitable planets; theoretical models
Shock-Cloud Interaction in the Southwestern Rim of RX J1713.7-3946 Evidenced by Chandra X-Ray Observations

We report on results of Chandra X-ray observations of the southwestern part of the supernova remnant (SNR) RX J1713.7-3946. We measure proper motions of two X-ray bright blobs, named Blobs A and B, in regions presumably corresponding to the forward shock of the SNR. The measured velocities are 3800 ± 100 km s-1 and 2300 ± 200 km s-1 for Blobs A and B, respectively. Since a dense molecular clump is located close to Blob B, its slower velocity is attributed to shock deceleration as a result of a shock-cloud interaction. This result provides solid evidence that the forward shock of RX J1713.7-3946 is indeed colliding with dense gas discovered through radio observations reported in the literature. The locations and velocity differences of the two blobs lead to an estimate that the shock encountered with the dense gas ∼100 yr ago. The shock velocities, together with cutoff energies of the synchrotron X-ray spectra of the blobs, indicate that particle acceleration in these regions is close to the Bohm limit. Blob B, in particular, is almost at the limit, accelerating particles at the fastest possible rate. We discuss possible influence of the shock-cloud interaction on the efficiency of particle acceleration.

Keywords: supernova remnants; interstellar medium; x-ray sources; cosmic ray sources; galactic cosmic rays; molecular clouds
Difference in Chemical Composition between the Bright and Faint Red Clump Stars in the Milky Way Bulge

The double red clump (RC) observed in color-magnitude diagrams of the Milky Way bulge is at the heart of the current debate on the structure and formation origin of the bulge. This feature can be explained by the difference between the two RCs either in distance ("X-shaped scenario") or in chemical composition ("multiple-population scenario"). Here we report our high-resolution spectroscopy for the RC and red giant branch stars in a high-latitude field (b ∼ -8.5°) of the bulge. We find a difference in [Fe/H] between the stars in the bright and faint RC regimes, in the sense that the bright stars are enhanced in [Fe/H] with respect to the faint stars by 0.149 ± 0.036 dex. The stars on the bright RC are also enhanced in [Na/Fe] but appear to be depleted in [Al/Fe] and [O/Fe], although more observations are required to confirm the significance of these differences. Interestingly, these chemical patterns are similar to those observed among multiple stellar populations in the metal-rich bulge globular cluster Terzan 5. In addition, we find a number of Na-rich stars, which would corroborate the presence of multiple populations in the bulge. Our results support an origin of the double RC from dissolved globular clusters that harbor multiple stellar populations. Thus, our study suggests that a substantial fraction of the outer bulge stars would have originated from the assembly of such stellar systems in the early phase of the Milky Way formation.

Keywords: galaxy formation; globular star clusters; galaxy bulges; red giant clump; stellar abundances; spectroscopy
Broadening and Redward Asymmetry of Hα Line Profiles Observed by LAMOST during a Stellar Flare on an M-type Star

Stellar flares are characterized by sudden enhancement of electromagnetic radiation in stellar atmospheres. So far, much of our understanding of stellar flares has come from photometric observations, from which plasma motions in flare regions could not be detected. From the spectroscopic data of LAMOST DR7, we have found one stellar flare that is characterized by an impulsive increase followed by a gradual decrease in the Hα line intensity on an M4-type star, and the total energy radiated through Hα is estimated to be of the order of 1033 erg. The Hα line appears to have a Voigt profile during the flare, which is likely caused by Stark pressure broadening due to the dramatic increase in electron density and/or opacity broadening due to the occurrence of strong nonthermal heating. Obvious enhancement has been identified in the red wing of the Hα line profile after the impulsive increase in the Hα line intensity. The red-wing enhancement corresponds to plasma moving away from the Earth at a velocity of 100-200 km s-1. According to our current knowledge of solar flares, this red-wing enhancement may originate from: (1) flare-driven coronal rain, (2) chromospheric condensation, or (3) a filament/prominence eruption either with nonradial backward propagation or with strong magnetic suppression. The total mass of the moving plasma is estimated to be of the order of 1015 kg.

Keywords: stellar flares; stellar coronal mass ejections; late-type dwarf stars; time domain astronomy; spectroscopy
Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows: Time-varying Extinction, Polarization, and Colors due to Rotational Disruption of Dust Grains

Prompt optical emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is known to have important effects on the surrounding environment. In this paper, we study rotational disruption and alignment of dust grains by radiative torques (RATs) induced by GRB afterglows and predict their signatures on the observational properties. We first show that large grains (size >0.1 μm) within a distance d < 40 pc from the source can be disrupted into smaller grains by the RAdiative Torque Disruption (RATD) mechanism. We then model the extinction curve of GRB afterglows and find that optical-near-infrared extinction decreases, and ultraviolet (UV) extinction increases due to the enhancement of small grains. The total-to-selective visual extinction ratio, RV, is found to decrease from the standard value of ∼3.1 to ∼1.5 after disruption time tdisr ≲ 104 s. Next, we study grain alignment by RATs induced by GRB afterglows and model the wavelength-dependence polarization produced by grains aligned with magnetic fields. We find that optical-NIR polarization degree first increases due to enhanced alignment of small grains and then decreases when RATD begins. The maximum polarization wavelength, λmax, decreases rapidly from the standard value of ∼0.55 μm to ∼0.15 μm over alignment time of talign ≲ 30 s due to enhanced alignment of small grains. Our theoretical predictions can explain various observational properties of GRB afterglows, including steep extinction curves, time-variability of colors, and optical rebrightening of GRB afterglows.

Keywords: gamma-ray bursts; interstellar dust extinction; interstellar dust; starlight polarization; light curves; supernovae
High-resolution VLBI Observations of and Modeling the Radio Emission from the Tidal Disruption Event AT2019dsg

A tidal disruption event (TDE) involves the shredding of a star in the proximity of a supermassive black hole (SMBH). The nearby (≈230 Mpc) relatively radio-quiet, thermal-emission-dominated source AT2019dsg is the first TDE with a potential neutrino association. The origin of nonthermal emission remains inconclusive; possibilities include a relativistic jet or a subrelativistic outflow. Distinguishing between them can address neutrino production mechanisms. High-resolution very long baseline interferometry 5 GHz observations provide a proper motion of 0.94 ± 0.65 mas yr-1 (3.2 ± 2.2 c; 1σ). Modeling the radio emission favors an origin from the interaction between a decelerating outflow (velocity ≈0.1 c) and a dense circumnuclear medium. The transition of the synchrotron self-absorption frequency through the observation band marks a peak flux density of 1.19 ± 0.18 mJy at 152.8 ± 16.2 days. An equipartition analysis indicates an emission-region distance of ≥ 4.7 × 1016 cm, magnetic field strength ≥ 0.17 G, and number density ≥ 5.7 × 103 cm-3. The disruption involves a ≈2 M ⊙ star with a penetration factor ≈1 and a total energy output of ≤ 1.5 × 1052 erg. The outflow is radiatively driven by the accretion of stellar debris onto the SMBH. Neutrino production is likely related to the acceleration of protons to peta-electron-volt energies and the availability of a suitable cross section at the outflow base. The present study thus helps exclude jet-related origins for nonthermal emission and neutrino production, and constrains nonjetted scenarios.

Keywords: tidal disruption; neutrino astronomy; radio astronomy; very long baseline interferometry; supermassive black holes; transient sources
Revealing the Local Cosmic Web from Galaxies by Deep Learning

A total of 80% of the matter in the universe is in the form of dark matter that composes the skeleton of the large-scale structure called the cosmic web. As the cosmic web dictates the motion of all matter in galaxies and intergalactic media through gravity, knowing the distribution of dark matter is essential for studying the large-scale structure. However, the cosmic web's detailed structure is unknown because it is dominated by dark matter and warm-hot intergalactic media, both of which are hard to trace. Here we show that we can reconstruct the cosmic web from the galaxy distribution using the convolutional-neural-network-based deep-learning algorithm. We find the mapping between the position and velocity of galaxies and the cosmic web using the results of the state-of-the-art cosmological galaxy simulations of Illustris-TNG. We confirm the mapping by applying it to the EAGLE simulation. Finally, using the local galaxy sample from Cosmicflows-3, we find the dark matter map in the local universe. We anticipate that the local dark matter map will illuminate the studies of the nature of dark matter and the formation and evolution of the Local Group. High-resolution simulations and precise distance measurements to local galaxies will improve the accuracy of the dark matter map.

Keywords: dark matter distribution; cosmology; large-scale structure of the universe; local group
The Star Formation Rate of the Milky Way as Seen by Herschel

We present a new derivation of the Milky Way's current star formation rate (SFR) based on the data of the Herschel InfraRed Galactic Plane Survey (Hi-GAL). We estimate the distribution of the SFR across the Galactic plane from the star-forming clumps identified in the Hi-GAL survey and calculate the total SFR from the sum of their contributions. The estimate of the global SFR amounts to 2.0 ± 0.7 M ⊙ yr-1, of which 1.7 ± 0.6 M ⊙ yr-1 coming from clumps with reliable heliocentric distance assignment. This value is in general agreement with estimates found in the literature of last decades. The profile of SFR density averaged in Galactocentric rings is found to be qualitatively similar to others previously computed, with a peak corresponding to the Central Molecular Zone and another one around Galactocentric radius R gal ~ 5 kpc, followed by an exponential decrease as $\mathrm{log}({{\rm{\Sigma }}}_{\mathrm{SFR}}/[{M}_{\odot }\,{\mathrm{yr}}^{-1}\,{\mathrm{kpc}}^{-2}])=a\,{R}_{\mathrm{gal}}/[\mathrm{kpc}]+b$ , with a = -0.28 ± 0.01. In this regard, the fraction of SFR produced within and outside the solar circle is 84% and 16%, respectively; the fraction corresponding to the far outer Galaxy (R gal > 13.5 kpc) is only 1%. We also find that, for R gal > 3 kpc, our data follow a power law as a function of density, similarly to the Kennicutt-Schmidt relation. Finally, we compare the distribution of the SFR density across the face-on Galactic plane and those of median parameters, such as temperature, luminosity/mass ratio, and bolometric temperature, describing the evolutionary stage of Hi-GAL clumps. We found no clear correlation between the SFR and the clump evolutionary stage.

Keywords: star formation; milky way galaxy; far infrared astronomy; galaxy structure
Ultra-High-energy Cosmic Rays from beyond the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min Horizon

Ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic rays (CRs) of energies ~(1018-1020) eV, accelerated in violent astrophysical environments, interact with cosmic background radiation fields via photo-hadronic processes, leading to strong attenuation. Typically, the Universe would become "opaque" to UHE CRs after several tens of megaparsecs, setting the boundary of the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min (GZK) horizon. In this work, we investigate the contribution of sources beyond the conventional GZK horizon to the UHE CR flux observed on Earth, when photospallation of the heavy nuclear CRs is taken into account. We demonstrate that this contribution is substantial, despite the strong attenuation of UHE CRs. A significant consequence is the emergence of an isotropic background component in the observed flux of UHE CRs, coexisting with the anisotropic foreground component that is associated with nearby sources. Multi-particle CR horizons, which evolve over redshift, are determined by the CR nuclear composition. Thus, they are dependent on the source populations and source evolutionary histories.

Keywords: cosmic ray sources; ultra-high-energy cosmic radiation; secondary cosmic rays; astronomical radiation sources; extragalactic astronomy
The Origins of Calcium-rich Supernovae From Disruptions of CO White Dwarfs by Hybrid He-CO White Dwarfs

Calcium-rich explosions are very faint (M B ~ -15.5), type I supernovae (SNe) showing strong Ca lines, mostly observed in old stellar environments. Several models for such SNe have been explored and debated, but none were able to reproduce consistently the observed properties of Ca-rich SNe, nor their rates and host-galaxy distributions. Here we show that the disruptions of low-mass carbon-oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs) by hybrid helium-CO (HeCO) WDs during their merger could explain the origin and properties of such SNe. We make use of detailed multidimensional hydrodynamical-thermonuclear (FLASH) simulations to characterize such explosions. We find that the accretion of CO material onto an HeCO-WD heats its He shell and eventually leads to its "weak" detonation and ejection and the production of a sub-energetic ~1049 erg Ca-rich SN, while leaving the CO core of the HeCO-WD intact as a hot remnant WD, possibly giving rise to X-ray emission as it cools down. We model the detailed light curves and spectra of such explosions and find excellent agreement with the observations of Ia/c Ca-rich, and potentially Ib Ca-rich, SNe. We thereby provide a viable, consistent model for the origins of Ca-rich SNe. These findings can shed new light on the role of Ca-rich SNe in the chemical evolution of galaxies and the intracluster medium, and their contribution to the observed 511 Kev signal in the galaxy originating from positrons produced from 44Ti decay. Finally, the origins of such SNe points to the key role of HeCO-WDs as SN progenitors and their potential role as progenitors of other thermonuclear SNe including normal Ia.

Keywords: type ia supernovae; white dwarf stars; hydrodynamical simulations
Polarization of Intrabinary Shock Emission in Spider Pulsars

In so-called spider pulsars, the X-ray band is dominated by intrabinary shock (IBS) synchrotron emission. While the double-peaked X-ray light curves from these shocks have been well characterized in several spider systems (both black widows and redbacks), the polarization of this emission is yet to be studied. Motivated by the new polarization capability of the Imaging X-ray Polarization Explorer and the confirmation of highly ordered magnetic fields in pulsar wind nebulae, we model the IBS polarization by employing two potential magnetic field configurations: toroidal magnetic fields imposed by the preshock pulsar wind, and tangential shock-generated fields that follow the postshock flow. We find that if IBSs host ordered magnetic fields, the synchrotron X-rays from spider binaries can display a high degree of polarization (≳50%), while the variation in polarization angle provides a good probe of the binary geometry and the magnetic field structure. Our results encourage observational polarization studies of spider pulsars that can distinguish the proposed magnetic models and that constrain the unique properties of these systems better.

Keywords: binary pulsars; pulsars
AstroSat/UVIT Cluster Photometry in the Northern Disk of M31

The Andromeda galaxy (M31) is an object of ongoing study with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) on AstroSat. UVIT far-UV (FUV) and near-UV (NUV) photometry is carried out here for a set of 239 clusters in the NE disk and bulge of M31 that overlap with the HST/PHAT survey. Padova stellar models were applied to derive ages, masses, metallicities, and extinctions for 170 clusters. The ages show a narrow peak at ~4 Myr and a broad peak around 100 Myr. log(Z/Z ⊙) values are mostly between -0.3 and +0.3. The 7 clusters in the bulge have a low metallicity and high mass. Most clusters are in the spiral arms and have metallicities in the range noted above. The youngest clusters mostly have high metallicity and are concentrated along the brightest parts of the spiral arms. The UVIT FUV and NUV data are sensitive to young stars and detect a new metal-rich peak in star formation in the disk at age ~4 Myr.

Keywords: andromeda galaxy; star formation; photometry
A Multiwavelength, Multiepoch Monitoring Campaign of Accretion Variability in T Tauri Stars from the ODYSSEUS Survey. I. HST Far-UV and Near-UV Spectra

The classical T Tauri star (CTTS) stage is a critical phase of the star and planet formation process. In an effort to better understand the mass accretion processes, which can dictate future stellar evolution and planet formation, a multiepoch, multiwavelength photometric and spectroscopic monitoring campaign of four CTTSs (TW Hya, RU Lup, BP Tau, and GM Aur) was carried out in 2021 and 2022/2023 as part of the Outflows and Disks around Young Stars: Synergies for the Exploration of ULLYSES Spectra program. Here we focus on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) UV spectra obtained by the HST Director's Discretionary Time UV Legacy Library of Young Stars as Essential Standards (ULLYSES) program. Using accretion shock modeling, we find that all targets exhibit accretion variability, varying from short increases in accretion rate by up to a factor of 3 within 48 hr to longer decreases in accretion rate by a factor of 2.5 over the course of 1 yr. This is despite the generally consistent accretion morphology within each target. Additionally, we test empirical relationships between accretion rate and UV luminosity and find stark differences, showing that these relationships should not be used to estimate the accretion rate for an individual target. Our work reinforces that future multiepoch and simultaneous multiwavelength studies are critical in our understanding of the accretion process in low-mass star formation.

Keywords: star formation; stellar accretion; ultraviolet spectroscopy; t tauri stars
The Origin of the Nuclear Star-forming Ring in NGC 3182

We investigate the stellar and ionized gas kinematics, and stellar populations of NGC 3182 galaxy using integral field spectrograph data from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area survey. We try to clarify the nature of the ring structure in NGC 3182. We find a negative stellar age gradient out to the ring, while [α/Fe] considerably enhanced in the ring. The stellar metallicity shows a smooth negative gradient. From the line-ratio diagnostic diagrams, we confirm that NGC 3182 is a Seyfert galaxy from emission-line flux ratio, while the gas in the inner ring is ionized mostly by young stars. However, any obvious feature of outflows is not found in its gas kinematics. In the ring, star formation seems to have recently occurred and the gas metallicity is slightly enhanced compared to the center. From our results, we conclude that star formation has occurred in the circumnuclear region within a short period and this may result from a positive feedback by active galactic nucleus radiation pressure.

Keywords: galaxy stellar content; galaxy abundances; galaxy chemical evolution