adsabs/SciX_UAT_keywords huggingface dataset:
JWST Detects Neon Line Variability in a Protoplanetary Disk

We report the first detection of variability in the mid-infrared neon line emission of a protoplanetary disk by comparing a JWST Mid-InfraRed Instrument Medium Resolution Spectrometer spectrum of SZ Cha taken in 2023 with a Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph Short-High spectrum of this object from 2008. We measure the [Ne III]-to-[Ne II] line flux ratio, which is a diagnostic of the high-energy radiation field, to distinguish between the dominance of EUV- or X-ray-driven disk photoevaporation. We find that the [Ne III]-to-[Ne II] line flux ratio changes significantly from ~1.4 in 2008 to ~0.2 in 2023. This points to a switch from EUV-dominated to X-ray-dominated photoevaporation of the disk. We present contemporaneous ground-based optical spectra of the Hα emission line that show the presence of a strong wind in 2023. We propose that this strong wind prevents EUV radiation from reaching the disk surface while the X-rays permeate the wind and irradiate the disk. We speculate that at the time of the Spitzer observations, the wind was suppressed and EUV radiation reached the disk. These observations confirm that the MIR neon emission lines are sensitive to changes in high-energy radiation reaching the disk surface. This highlights the [Ne III]-to-[Ne II] line flux ratio as a tool to gauge the efficiency of disk photoevaporation in order to provide constraints on the planet formation timescale. However, multiwavelength observations are crucial to interpret the observations and properly consider the star-disk connection.

Keywords: protoplanetary disks; t tauri stars
The First AGILE Solar Flare Catalog

We report the Astro-rivelatore Gamma a Immagini LEggero (AGILE) observations of solar flares, detected by the onboard anticoincidence system in the 80-200 keV energy range, from 2007 May 1 to 2022 August 31. In more than 15 yr, AGILE detected 5003 X-ray, minute-lasting transients, compatible with a solar origin. A cross-correlation of these transients with the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) official solar flare database allowed us to associate an intensity class (i.e., B, C, M, or X) to 3572 of them, for which we investigated the main temporal and intensity parameters. The AGILE data clearly revealed the solar activity covering the last stages of the 23rd cycle, the whole 24th cycle, and the beginning of the current 25th cycle. In order to compare our results with other space missions operating in the high-energy range, we also analyzed the public lists of solar flares reported by RHESSI and Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. This catalog reports 1424 events not contained in the GOES official data set, which, after statistical comparisons, are compatible with low-intensity, short-duration solar flares. Besides providing a further data set of solar flares detected in the hard X-ray range, this study allowed to point out two main features: a longer persistence of the decay phase in the high-energy regime, with respect to the soft X-rays, and a tendency of the flare maximum to be reached earlier in the soft X-rays with respect to the hard X-rays. Both these aspects support a two-phase acceleration mechanism of electrons in the solar atmosphere.

Keywords: solar flares; high energy astrophysics
The Hubble PanCET Program: A Metal-rich Atmosphere for the Inflated Hot Jupiter HAT-P-41b

We present a comprehensive analysis of the 0.3-5 μm transit spectrum for the inflated hot Jupiter HAT-P-41b. The planet was observed in transit with Hubble STIS and WFC3 as part of the Hubble Panchromatic Comparative Exoplanet Treasury (PanCET) program, and we combine those data with warm Spitzer transit observations. We extract transit depths from each of the data sets, presenting the STIS transit spectrum (0.29-0.93 μm) for the first time. We retrieve the transit spectrum both with a free-chemistry retrieval suite (AURA) and a complementary chemical equilibrium retrieval suite (PLATON) to constrain the atmospheric properties at the day-night terminator. Both methods provide an excellent fit to the observed spectrum. Both AURA and PLATON retrieve a metal-rich atmosphere for almost all model assumptions (most likely O/H ratio of ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}Z/{Z}_{\odot }={1.46}_{-0.68}^{+0.53}$ and ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}Z/{Z}_{\odot }={2.33}_{-0.25}^{+0.23}$ , respectively); this is driven by a 4.9σ detection of H2O as well as evidence of gas absorption in the optical (>2.7σ detection) due to Na, AlO, and/or VO/TiO, though no individual species is strongly detected. Both retrievals determine the transit spectrum to be consistent with a clear atmosphere, with no evidence of haze or high-altitude clouds. Interior modeling constraints on the maximum atmospheric metallicity ( ${\mathrm{log}}_{10}Z/{Z}_{\odot }\lt 1.7$ ) favor the AURA results. The inferred elemental oxygen abundance suggests that HAT-P-41b has one of the most metal-rich atmospheres of any hot Jupiters known to date. Overall, the inferred high metallicity and high inflation make HAT-P-41b an interesting test case for planet formation theories.

Keywords: exoplanet atmospheric composition; exoplanet atmospheres
Constraining Black Hole Populations in Globular Clusters Using Microlensing: Application to Omega Centauri

We estimate the rate of gravitational microlensing events of cluster stars due to black holes (BHs) in the globular cluster NGC 5139 (ωCen). Theory and observations both indicate that ωCen may contain thousands of BHs, but their mass spectrum and exact distribution are not well constrained. In this Letter we show that one may observe microlensing events on a timescale of years in ωCen, and such an event sample can be used to infer the BH distribution. Direct detection of BHs will, in the near future, play a major role in distinguishing binary BH merger channels. Here we explore how gravitational microlensing can be used to put constraints on BH populations in globular clusters.

Keywords: black holes; globular star clusters; gravitational microlensing
A Deep CFHT Optical Search for a Counterpart to the Possible Neutron Star-Black Hole Merger GW190814

We present a wide-field optical imaging search for electromagnetic counterparts to the likely neutron star-black hole (NS-BH) merger GW190814/S190814bv. This compact binary merger was detected through gravitational waves by the LIGO/Virgo interferometers, with masses suggestive of an NS-BH merger. We imaged the LIGO/Virgo localization region using the MegaCam instrument on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). We describe our hybrid observing strategy of both tiling and galaxy-targeted observations, as well as our image differencing and transient detection pipeline. Our observing campaign produced some of the deepest multiband images of the region between 1.7 and 8.7 days post-merger, reaching a 5σ depth of g > 22.8 (AB mag) at 1.7 days and I > 23.1 and I > 23.9 at 3.7 and 8.7 days, respectively. These observations cover a mean total integrated probability of 67.0% of the localization region. We find no compelling candidate transient counterparts to this merger in our images, which suggests that the lighter object was tidally disrupted inside of the BH's innermost stable circular orbit, the transient lies outside of the observed sky footprint, or the lighter object is a low-mass BH. We use 5σ source detection upper limits from our images in the NS-BH interpretation of this merger to constrain the mass of the kilonova ejecta to be Mej ≲ 0. 015M⊙ for a "blue" ( $\kappa =0.5\,{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}\ {{\rm{g}}}^{-1}$ ) kilonova and Mej ≲ 0. 04M⊙ for a "red" ( $\kappa =5\mbox{--}10\,{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}\ {{\rm{g}}}^{-1}$ ) kilonova. Our observations emphasize the key role of large-aperture telescopes and wide-field imagers such as CFHT MegaCam in enabling deep searches for electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational-wave events.

Keywords: gravitational waves; neutron stars; black holes
First Detection of CO Isotopologues in a High-redshift Main-sequence Galaxy: Evidence of a Top-heavy Stellar Initial Mass Function

Recent observations and theories have presented a strong challenge to the universality of the stellar initial mass function (IMF) in extreme environments. A notable example has been found for starburst conditions, where evidence favors a top-heavy IMF, i.e., there is a bias toward massive stars compared to the IMF that is responsible for the stellar mass function and elemental abundances observed in the Milky Way. Local starburst galaxies have star formation rates similar to those in high-redshift main-sequence galaxies, which appear to dominate the stellar mass budget at early epochs. However, the IMF of high-redshift main-sequence galaxies is yet to be probed. Since 13CO and C18O isotopologues are sensitive to the IMF, we have observed these lines toward four strongly lensed high-redshift main-sequence galaxies using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. Of our four targets, SDSS J0901+1814, at z ≈ 2.26, is seen clearly in 13CO and C18O, the first detection of CO isotopologues in the high-redshift main-sequence galaxy population. The observed 13C/18O ratio, 2.4 ± 0.8, is significantly lower than that of local main-sequence galaxies. We estimate the isotope ratio, oxygen abundance, and stellar mass using a series of chemical evolution models with varying star formation histories and IMFs. All models favor an IMF that is more top-heavy than that of the Milky Way. Thus, as with starburst galaxies, main-sequence galaxies in the high-redshift Universe have a greater fraction of massive stars than a Milky Way IMF would imply.

Keywords: isotopic abundances; initial mass function; radio spectroscopy; high-redshift galaxies
Statistical Properties of the Nebular Spectra of 103 Stripped-envelope Core-collapse Supernovae

We present an analysis of the nebular spectra of 103 stripped-envelope (SE) supernovae (SNe) collected from the literature and observed with the Subaru Telescope from 2002 to 2012, focusing on [O I] λλ6300, 6363. The line profile and width of [O I] are employed to infer the ejecta geometry and the expansion velocity of the inner core; these two measurements are then compared with the SN subtypes, and further with the [O I]/[Ca II] ratio, which is used as an indicator of the progenitor CO core mass. Based on the best-fit results of the [O I] profile, the objects are classified into different morphological groups, and we conclude that the deviation from spherical symmetry is a common feature for all types of SESNe. There is a hint (at the ~1σ level) that the distributions of the line profile fractions are different between canonical SESNe and broad-line SNe Ic. A correlation between [O I] width and [O I]/[Ca II] is discerned, indicating that the oxygen-rich material tends to expand faster for objects with a more massive CO core. Such a correlation can be utilized to constrain the relation between the progenitor mass and the kinetic energy of the explosion. Further, when [O I]/[Ca II] increases, the fraction of objects with Gaussian [O I] profile increases, while those with double-peaked profile decreases. This phenomenon connects ejecta geometry and the progenitor CO core mass. * This research is based (in part) on data collected at Subaru Telescope, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

Keywords: core-collapse supernovae; transient sources
Using Non-negative Matrix Factorization to Improve Calibration of the Keck OSIRIS Integral Field Spectrograph

Integral Field Spectrographs (IFS) often require non-trivial calibration techniques to process raw data. The OH Suppressing InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph at the W. M. Keck Observatory is a lenslet-based IFS that requires precise methods to associate the flux on the detector with both a wavelength and a position on the detector. During calibration scans, a single column lenslet mask is utilized to keep light from adjacent lenslet columns separate from the primary lenslet column, in order to uniquely determine spectral response of individual lenslets on the detector. Despite employing a single column lenslet mask, an issue associated with such calibration schemes may occur when light from adjacent masked lenslet columns leaks into the primary lenslet column. Incorrectly characterizing the flux due to additional light in the primary lenslet column results in one form of crosstalk between lenslet columns, which most clearly manifest as non-physical artifacts in the spectral dimension of the reduced data. We treat the problem of potentially blended calibration scans as a source separation problem and implement Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) as a way to separate blended calibration scan spectra. After applying NMF to calibration scan data, extracted spectra from calibration scans show reduced crosstalk of up to 26.7% ± 0.5% while not adversely impacting the signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, we determined the optimal number of calibration scans per lenslet column needed to create NMF factors, finding that greatest reduction crosstalk occurs when NMF factors are created using one calibration scan per lenslet column.

Keywords: flux calibration; astronomical instrumentation
The Eruption of a Magnetic Flux Rope Observed by Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe

Magnetic flux ropes are a key component of coronal mass ejections, forming the core of these eruptive phenomena. However, determining whether a flux rope is present prior to eruption onset and, if so, the rope's handedness and the number of turns that any helical field lines make is difficult without magnetic field modeling or in situ detection of the flux rope. We present two distinct observations of plasma flows along a filament channel on 2022 September 4 and 5 made using the Solar Orbiter spacecraft. Each plasma flow exhibited helical motions in a right-handed sense as the plasma moved from the source active region across the solar disk to the quiet Sun, suggesting that the magnetic configuration of the filament channel contains a flux rope with positive chirality and at least one turn. The length and velocity of the plasma flow increased from the first to the second observation, suggesting evolution of the flux rope, with the flux rope subsequently erupting within ~5 hr of the second plasma flow. The erupting flux rope then passed over the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft during its encounter (13), enabling in situ diagnostics of the structure. Although complex and consistent with the flux rope erupting from underneath the heliospheric current sheet, the in situ measurements support the inference of a right-handed flux rope from remote-sensing observations. These observations provide a unique insight into the eruption and evolution of a magnetic flux rope near the Sun.

Keywords: solar flares; solar magnetic fields; solar physics; solar magnetic flux emergence
Multi-epoch Submillimeter Array Observations of the L1448C(N) Protostellar SiO Jet

L1448C(N) is a young protostar in Perseus, driving an outflow and an extremely high-velocity molecular jet. We present multi-epoch observations of SiO J = 8 - 7 and CO J = 3 - 2 lines, and the 345 GHz dust continuum toward L1448C(N) in 2006, 2010, and 2017 with the Submillimeter Array. The knots traced by the SiO line show the averaged proper motion of ∼0"06 yr-1 and ∼0"04 yr-1 for the blue- and redshifted jet, respectively. The corresponding transverse velocities are ∼78 km s-1 (blueshifted) and ∼52 km s-1 (redshifted). Together with the radial velocity, we found the inclination angles of the jets from the plane of the sky to be ∼34° for the blueshifted jet and ∼46° for the redshifted jet. Given the new inclination angles, the mass-loss rate and mechanical power were refined to be ∼1.8 × 10-6 M⊙ and ∼1.3 L⊙, respectively. In the epoch of 2017, a new knot was detected at the base of the redshifted jet. We found that the mass-loss rate of the new knot is three times higher than the averaged mass-loss rate of the redshifted jet. Besides, the continuum flux has been enhanced by ∼37% between 2010 and 2017. These imply that a variation of the mass-accretion rate by a factor of ∼3 has occurred in a short timescale of ∼10-20 yr. In addition, a knot in the downstream of the redshifted jet is found to be dimming over the three epochs.

Keywords: stellar jets; star formation; protostars; interstellar medium; stellar winds
An Extremely Massive Quiescent Galaxy at z = 3.493: Evidence of Insufficiently Rapid Quenching Mechanisms in Theoretical Models

We present spectra of the most massive quiescent galaxy yet spectroscopically confirmed at z > 3, verified via the detection of Balmer absorption features in the H- and K-bands of Keck/MOSFIRE. The spectra confirm a galaxy with no significant ongoing star formation, consistent with the lack of rest-frame UV flux and overall photometric spectral energy distribution. With a stellar mass of ${3.1}_{-0.2}^{+0.1}\times {10}^{11}\,{M}_{\odot }$ at z = 3.493, this galaxy is nearly three times more massive than the highest redshift spectroscopically confirmed absorption-line-identified galaxy known. The star formation history of this quiescent galaxy implies that it formed >1000 M⊙ yr-1 for almost 0.5 Gyr beginning at z ∼ 7.2, strongly suggestive that it is the descendant of massive dusty star-forming galaxies at 5 < z < 7 recently observed with ALMA. While galaxies with similarly extreme stellar masses are reproduced in some simulations at early times, such a lack of ongoing star formation is not seen there. This suggests the need for a quenching process that either starts earlier or is more rapid than that currently prescribed, challenging our current understanding of how ultra-massive galaxies form and evolve in the early universe.

Keywords: extragalactic astronomy; galaxy evolution; galaxy formation; high-redshift galaxies
Common Envelope Shaping of Planetary Nebulae. II. Magnetic Solutions and Self-collimated Outflows

Magnetic fields of order 101-102 Gauss that are present in the envelopes of red giant stars are ejected in common envelope scenarios. These fields could be responsible for the launching of magnetically driven winds in protoplanetary nebulae. Using 2D simulations of magnetized winds interacting with an envelope drawn from a 3D simulation of the common envelope phase, we study the confinement, heating, and magnetic field development of post-common envelope winds. We find that the ejected magnetic field can be enhanced via compression by factors up to ∼104 in circumbinary disks during the self-regulated phases. We find values for the kinetic energy of the order of 1046 erg that explain the large values inferred in protoplanetary nebula outflows. We show that the interaction of the formed circumbinary disk with a spherical, stellar wind produces a "tapered" flow that is almost indistinguishable from an imposed tapered flow. This increases the uncertainty of the origin of protoplanetary nebula winds, which could be either stellar, circumstellar (stellar accretion disk), circumbinary (circumbinary accretion disk), or a combination of all three. Within this framework, a scenario for self-collimation of weakly magnetized winds is discussed, which can explain the two objects where the collimation process is observationally resolved, HD 101584 and Hen 3-1475. An explanation for the equatorial, molecular hydrogen emission in CRL 2688 is also presented.

Keywords: planetary nebulae; protoplanetary disks; common envelope evolution; common envelope binary stars; hydrodynamical simulations; magnetohydrodynamical simulations; circumstellar disks
LIMFAST. I. A Seminumerical Tool for Line Intensity Mapping

We present LIMFAST, a seminumerical code for simulating high-redshift galaxy formation and cosmic reionization as revealed by multitracer line intensity mapping (LIM) signals. LIMFAST builds upon and extends the 21cmFAST code widely used for 21 cm cosmology by implementing state-of-the-art models of galaxy formation and evolution. The metagalactic radiation background, including the production of various star formation lines, together with the 21 cm line signal tracing the neutral intergalactic medium (IGM), is self-consistently described by photoionization modeling and stellar population synthesis coupled to the galaxy formation model. We introduce basic structure and functionalities of the code, and demonstrate its validity and capabilities by showing broad agreements between the predicted and observed evolution of cosmic star formation, IGM neutral fraction, and metal enrichment. We also present the LIM signals of 21 cm, Lyα, Hα, Hβ, [O II], and [O III] lines simulated by LIMFAST, and compare them with results from the literature. We elaborate on how several major aspects of our modeling framework, including models of star formation, chemical enrichment, and photoionization, may impact different LIM observables and thus become testable once applied to observational data. LIMFAST aims at being an efficient and resourceful tool for intensity mapping studies in general, exploring a wide range of scenarios of galaxy evolution and reionization and frequencies over which useful cosmological signals can be measured.

Keywords: reionization; galaxy formation; large-scale structure of the universe; observational cosmology; cosmic background radiation; galaxy evolution
2021 Census of Interstellar, Circumstellar, Extragalactic, Protoplanetary Disk, and Exoplanetary Molecules

To date, 241 individual molecular species, composed of 19 different elements, have been detected in the interstellar and circumstellar medium by astronomical observations. These molecules range in size from two atoms to 70 and have been detected across the electromagnetic spectrum from centimeter wavelengths to the ultraviolet. This census presents a summary of the first detection of each molecular species, including the observational facility, wavelength range, transitions, and enabling laboratory spectroscopic work, as well as listing tentative and disputed detections. Tables of molecules detected in interstellar ices, external galaxies, protoplanetary disks, and exoplanetary atmospheres are provided. A number of visual representations of these aggregate data are presented and briefly discussed in context.

Keywords: astrochemistry; interstellar molecules
Star Formation History and Transition Epoch of Cluster Galaxies Based on the Horizon-AGN Simulation

Cluster galaxies exhibit substantially lower star formation rates than field galaxies today, but it is conceivable that clusters were sites of more active star formation in the early universe. Herein, we present an interpretation of the star formation history (SFH) of group/cluster galaxies based on the large-scale cosmological hydrodynamic simulation, Horizon-AGN. We find that massive galaxies in general have small values of e-folding timescales of star formation decay (i.e., "mass quenching") regardless of their environment, while low-mass galaxies exhibit prominent environmental dependence. In massive host halos (i.e., clusters), the e-folding timescales of low-mass galaxies are further decreased if they reside in such halos for a longer period of time. This "environmental quenching" trend is consistent with the theoretical expectation from ram pressure stripping. Furthermore, we define a "transition epoch" as where cluster galaxies become less star-forming than field galaxies. The transition epoch of group/cluster galaxies varies according to their stellar and host-cluster halo masses. Low-mass galaxies in massive clusters show the earliest transition epoch of ~7.6 Gyr ago in lookback time. However, this decreases to ~5.2 Gyr for massive galaxies in low-mass clusters. Based on our findings, we can describe a cluster galaxy's SFH with regard to the cluster halo-to-stellar mass ratio.

Keywords: galaxy evolution; galaxy clusters; galaxy quenching