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At least 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

A complete catalogue of broad-line AGNs and double-peaked emission lines from MaNGA integral-field spectroscopy of 10K galaxies: stellar population of AGNs, supermassive black holes, and dual AGNs

We analyse the integral field spectroscopy data for the ≈10 000 galaxies in final data release of the MaNGA survey. We identify 188 galaxies for which the emission lines cannot be described by single Gaussian components. These galaxies can be classified into (1) 38 galaxies with broad $\rm H\alpha$ and [O III] $\rm \lambda$5007 lines, (2) 101 galaxies with broad $\rm H\alpha$ lines but no broad [O III] $\rm \lambda$5007 lines, and (3) 49 galaxies with double-peaked narrow emission lines. Most of the broad-line galaxies are classified as active galactic nuclei (AGNs) from their line ratios. The catalogue helps us further understand the AGN-galaxy coevolution through the stellar population of broad-line region host galaxies and the relation between broad lines’ properties and the host galaxies’ dynamical properties. The stellar population properties (including mass, age, and metallicity) of broad-line host galaxies suggest there is no significant difference between narrow-line Seyfert-2 galaxies and Type-1 AGNs with broad $\rm H\alpha$ lines. We use the broad-$\rm H\alpha$ line width and luminosity to estimate masses of black hole in these galaxies, and test the MBH–σe relation in Type-1 AGN host galaxies. Furthermore, we find three dual AGN candidates supported by radio images from the VLA FIRST survey. This sample may be useful for further studies on AGN activities and feedback processes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

CO and [C ii] line emission of molecular clouds: the impact of stellar feedback and non-equilibrium chemistry

We analyse synthetic 12 CO, 13 CO, and [C ii] emission maps of molecular cloud (MC) simulations from the SILCC-Zoom project. We present radiation, magnetohydrodynamic zoom-in simulations of individual clouds, both with and without radiative stellar feedback, forming in a turbulent multiphase interstellar medium following on-the-fly the evolution of e.g. H 2 , CO, and C + . We introduce a novel post-processing routine based on cloudy which accounts for higher ionization states of carbon due to stellar radiation in H ii regions. Synthetic emission maps of [C ii] in and around feedback bubbles show that the bubbles are largely devoid of [C ii], as recently found in observations, which we attribute to the further ionization of C+ into C 2+ . For both 12 CO and 13 CO, the cloud-averaged luminosity ratio, $L_\rm {CO}/L_\rm {[C\, \small {II}]}$, can neither be used as a reliable measure of the H 2 mass fraction nor of the evolutionary stage of the clouds. We note a relation between the $I_\rm {CO}/I_\rm {[C\, \small {II}]}$ intensity ratio and the H 2 mass fraction for individual pixels of our synthetic maps. The scatter, however, is too large to reliably infer the H 2 mass fraction. Finally, the assumption of chemical equilibrium overestimates H2 and CO masses by up to 150 and 50 per cent, respectively, and $L_\rm {CO}$ by up to 60 per cent. The masses of H and C + would be underestimated by 65 and 30 per cent, respectively, and $L_\rm {[C\, \small {II}]}$ by up to 35 per cent. Hence, the assumption of chemical equilibrium in MC simulations introduces intrinsic errors of a factor of 2 in chemical abundances, luminosities, and luminosity ratios.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Robust clustering of the local Milky Way stellar kinematic substructures with Gaia eDR3

Understanding local stellar kinematic substructures in the solar neighbourhood helps build a complete picture of the formation of the Milky Way, as well as an empirical phase space distribution of dark matter that would inform detection experiments. We apply the clustering algorithm HDBSCAN on the Gaia early third data release to identify a list of stable clusters in velocity space and action-angle space by taking into account the measurement uncertainties and studying the stability of the clustering results. We find 1405 (497) stars in 23 (6) robust clusters in velocity space (action-angle space) that are consistently not associated with noise. We discuss the kinematic properties of these structures and study whether many of the small clusters belong to a similar larger cluster based on their chemical abundances. They are attributed to the known structures: the Gaia Sausage-Enceladus, the Helmi Stream, and globular cluster NGC 3201 are found in both spaces, while NGC 104 and the thick disc (Sequoia) are identified in velocity space (action-angle space). Although we do not identify any new structures, we find that the HDBSCAN member selection of already known structures is unstable to input kinematics of the stars when resampled within their uncertainties. We therefore present the stable subset of local kinematic structures, which are consistently identified by the clustering algorithm, and emphasize the need to take into account error propagation during both the manual and automated identification of stellar structures, both for existing ones as well as future discoveries.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Repainting the colour–mass diagrams by unearthing the green mountain: dust-rich S0 galaxies in the colour–(galaxy stellar mass) diagram, and the colour–(black hole mass) relations for dust-poor versus dust-rich galaxies

ABSTRACT Lenticular galaxies are notoriously misclassified as elliptical galaxies and, as such, a (disc inclination)-dependent correction for dust is often not applied to the magnitudes of dusty lenticular galaxies. This results in overly red galaxy colours, impacting their distribution in the colour–magnitude diagram. It is revealed how this has led to an underpopulation of the ‘green valley’ by hiding a ‘green mountain’ of massive dust-rich lenticular galaxies – known to be built from gas-rich major mergers – within the ‘red sequence’ of colour–(stellar mass) diagrams. Correcting for dust, a ‘green mountain’ appears at M*,gal ∼ 1011 M⊙, along with signs of an extension to lower masses producing a ‘green range’ or ‘green ridge’ on the green side of the ‘red sequence’ and ‘blue cloud.’ The ‘red sequence’ is shown to be comprised of two components: a red plateau defined by elliptical galaxies with a near-constant colour and by lower-mass dust-poor lenticular galaxies, which are mostly a primordial population but may include faded/transformed spiral galaxies. The presence of the quasi-triangular-shaped galaxy evolution sequence, previously called the ‘Triangal’, is revealed in the galaxy colour–(stellar mass) diagram. It tracks the speciation of galaxies and their associated migration through the diagram. The connection of the ‘Triangal’ to previous galaxy morphology sequences (Fork, Trident, and Comb) is also shown herein. Finally, the colour–(black hole mass) diagram is revisited, revealing how the dust correction generates a blue–green sequence for the spiral and dust-rich lenticular galaxies that is offset from a green–red sequence defined by the dust-poor lenticular and elliptical galaxies.

Graham, Alister W. (ORCID:0000000264969414)↗
DOE OSTI2024

The hyperplane of early-type galaxies: using stellar population properties to increase the precision and accuracy of the fundamental plane as a distance indicator

ABSTRACT We use deep spectroscopy from the SAMI (Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral) Galaxy Survey to explore the precision of the fundamental plane (FP) of early-type galaxies as a distance indicator for future single-fibre spectroscopy surveys. We study the optimal trade-off between sample size and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and investigate which additional observables can be used to construct hyperplanes with smaller intrinsic scatter than the FP. We add increasing levels of random noise (parametrized as effective exposure time) to the SAMI spectra to study the effect of increasing measurement uncertainties on the FP- and hyperplane-inferred distances. We find that, using direct-fit methods, the values of the FP and hyperplane best-fitting coefficients depend on the spectral SNR, and reach asymptotic values for a mean $\langle \mathrm{ SNR} \rangle =40\, \mathrm{\mathring{\rm A}}^{-1}$. As additional variables for the FP we consider three stellar-population observables: light-weighted age, stellar mass-to-light ratio, and a novel combination of Lick indices ($I_\mathrm{age}$). For an $\langle \mathrm{ SNR} \rangle =45~\mathrm{\mathring{\rm A}}^{-1}$ (equivalent to 1-h exposure on a 4-m telescope), all three hyperplanes outperform the FP as distance indicators. Being an empirical spectral index, $I_\mathrm{age}$ avoids the model-dependent uncertainties and bias underlying age and mass-to-light ratio measurements, yet yields a 10 per cent reduction of the median distance uncertainty compared to the FP. We also find that, as a by-product, the $I_\mathrm{age}$ hyperplane removes most of the reported environment bias of the FP. After accounting for the different SNR, these conclusions also apply to a 50 times larger sample from SDSS-III (Sloan Digital Sky Survey). However, in this case, only $\mathrm{ age}$ removes the environment bias.

D’Eugenio, Francesco (ORCID:0000000323888172)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Spectroscopic diagnostics of high-temperature plasma in stellar coronae using Fe XXIV-XXIV K-shell lines with XRISM

The RS CVn type binary star GT Muscae was observed during its quiescence using the Resolve X-ray microcalorimeter spectrometer onboard XRISM. The main and satellite lines of the Fe XXIV-XXIV K-shell transitions were resolved for the first time from stellar sources. We conducted line ratio analysis to investigate any deviations from collisional ionization equilibrium and Maxwell electron energy distribution with a single temperature. By using five combinations of direct excitation lines and dielectronic recombination satellite lines in three line complexes (Fe He$\alpha$, Ly$\alpha$, and He$\beta$), we found that the plasma is well characterized by two-temperature thermal plasmas with temperatures of 1.7 and 4.3 keV, which is consistent with thermal broadening of Fe xxv, and the broad-band fitting results in the 1.7–10 keV band. Other forms of deviation from a single-temperature plasma, such as different ionization and electron temperatures or the $\kappa$ distribution for the electron energy distributions, are not favored, which is reasonable for stellar coronae at quiescence. This study demonstrates the utility of the Fe K-shell line ratio diagnostics to probe plasma conditions using X-ray microcalorimeters.

X-rays: stars↗
DOE OSTI2025

XRISM view of a stellar flare: High-resolution Fe K spectra of HR 1099, an RS CVn-type star

A high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic observation was made of the RS CVn-type binary star HR 1099 using the Resolve instrument onboard XRISM for its calibration purposes. During the $\sim$400 ks telescope time covering 1.5 binary orbit, a flare lasting for $\sim$100 ks was observed with a released X-ray radiation energy of ${\sim }10^{34}$ erg, making it the first stellar flare ever observed with an X-ray microcalorimeter spectrometer. The flare peak count rate is 6.4 times higher than that in quiescence and is distinguished clearly in time thanks to the long telescope time. Many emission lines were detected in the 1.7–10 keV range both in the flare and quiescent phases. Using the high spectral resolution of Resolve in the Fe K band (6.5–7.0 keV), we resolved the inner-shell lines of Fe XIX-XXVI as well as the outer-shell lines of Fe XXV-XXVI . These lines have peaks in the contribution functions at different temperatures over a wide range, allowing us to construct the differential emission measure (DEM) distribution over the electron temperature of 1–10 keV (roughly 10–100 MK) based only on Fe lines, thus without an assumption of the elemental abundance. The reconstructed DEM has a bimodal distribution, and only the hotter component increased during the flare. The elemental abundance was derived based on the DEM distribution thus constructed. A significant abundance increase was observed during the flare for Ca and Fe, which are some of the elements with the lowest first ionization potential among those analyzed, but not for Si, S, and Ar. This behavior is seen in some giant solar flares and the present result is a clear example in stellar flares.

Astronomy and AstroPhysics↗
DOE OSTI2024

tonalli : an asexual genetic code to characterize APOGEE-2 stellar spectra. I. Validation with synthetic and solar spectra

ABSTRACT We present tonalli, a spectroscopic analysis python code that efficiently predicts effective temperature, stellar surface gravity, metallicity, $\alpha$-element abundance, and rotational and radial velocities for stars with effective temperatures between 3200 and 6250 K, observed with the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2). tonalli implements an asexual genetic algorithm to optimize the finding of the best comparison between a target spectrum and the continuum-normalized synthetic spectra library from the Model Atmospheres with a Radiative and Convective Scheme (MARCS), which is interpolated in each generation. Using simulated observed spectra and the APOGEE-2 solar spectrum of Vesta, we study the performance, limitations, accuracy, and precision of our tool. Finally, a Monte Carlo realization was implemented to estimate the uncertainties of each derived stellar parameter.

Adame, Lucía (ORCID:0000000263286099)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Improving galaxy cluster selection with the outskirt stellar mass of galaxies

The number density and redshift evolution of optically selected galaxy clusters offer an independent measurement of the amplitude of matter fluctuations, 𝑆 8 . However, recent results have shown that clusters chosen by the redMaPPer algorithm show richness-dependent biases that affect the weak lensing signals and number densities of clusters, increasing uncertainty in the cluster mass calibration and reducing their constraining power. Here, in this work, we evaluate an alternative cluster proxy, outskirt stellar mass, 𝑀 out , defined as the total stellar mass within a [50, 100] kpc envelope centered on a massive galaxy. This proxy exhibits scatter comparable to redMaPPer richness, 𝜆, but is less likely to be subject to projection effects. We compare the Dark Energy Survey Year 3 redMaPPer cluster catalog with a 𝑀 out selected cluster sample from the Hyper-Suprime Camera survey. We use weak lensing measurements to quantify and compare the scatter of 𝑀 out and 𝜆 with halo mass. Our results show 𝑀 out has a scatter consistent with 𝜆, with a similar halo mass dependence, and that both proxies contain unique information about the underlying halo mass. We find 𝜆-selected samples introduce features into the measured Δ⁢Σ signal that are not well fit by a log-normal scatter only model, absent in 𝑀 out selected samples. Our findings suggest that 𝑀 out offers an alternative for cluster selection with more easily calibrated selection biases, at least at the generally lower richnesses probed here. Combining both proxies may yield a mass proxy with a lower scatter and more tractable selection biases, enabling the use of lower mass clusters in cosmology. Finally, we find the scatter and slope in the 𝜆 −𝑀 out scaling relation to be 0.49 ±0.02 and 0.38 ±0.09.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measurements of Gamow-Teller transitions from 59 Co via the 59 Co ⁢(𝑡, 3 He +𝛾) charge-exchange reaction and its application to the stellar electron-capture rates

Electron-capture reactions on iron-group nuclei play a crucial role in the late stages of massive star evolution. Since stellar evolution simulations depend on accurate electron-capture rates—which are highly sensitive to the detailed Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions—reliable theoretical models are essential. However, experimental data on GT strength distributions are scarce. High-resolution measurements are therefore vital for benchmarking and improving these theoretical calculations. To provide high-resolution data on Gamow-Teller strength distributions of iron-group nuclei and to compare these results with theoretical calculations within this mass region. Differential cross sections for the 59 Co ⁢(𝑡, 3 He)⁢ 59 Fe charge-exchange reaction at 115 MeV/u were measured using the S800 spectrometer. Furthermore, to resolve individual levels that are not distinguishable in the S800 particle singles data, coincident 𝛾 rays from the 59 Fe residual nucleus were detected by using the Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking In-beam Nuclear Array 𝛾-ray tracking array. Here, the Gamow-Teller transition strength distribution from the ground state of 59 Co to 59 Fe was extracted up to an excitation energy of 10 MeV. Additionally, transition strengths for several low-lying states were determined from coincident 𝛾-ray measurements. Electron-capture rates calculated using the present data indicate that these low-lying states contribute significantly to the overall rates in relevant stellar environments. The experimental results show reasonable agreement with theoretical predictions based on both shell-model and projected shell-model calculations. High-resolution data on Gamow-Teller strength distributions—particularly for individual low-lying states—are essential for accurately determining electron-capture rates in iron-group nuclei. Coincident 𝛾-ray measurements provide a powerful tool for obtaining such detailed information. While the present work demonstrates that shell-model calculations successfully reproduce the experimental results, such comparisons are scarce and more experimental data are desirable.

59 ≤ A ≤ 89↗
DOE OSTI2022

Astrometric gravitational-wave detection via stellar interferometry

Here, we evaluate the potential for gravitational-wave (GW) detection in the frequency band from 10 nHz to 1 μ Hz using extremely high-precision astrometry of a small number of stars. In particular, we argue that nonmagnetic, photometrically stable, hot white dwarfs (WD) located at ~kpc distances may be optimal targets for this approach. Previous studies of astrometric GW detection have focused on the potential for less precise surveys of large numbers of stars; our work provides an alternative optimization approach to this problem. Interesting GW sources in this band are expected at characteristic strains around h c ~10 -17 × (μHz/ $f$ GW ). The astrometric angular precision required to see these sources is Δθ~h c after integrating for a time T~1/$f$GW. We show that jitter in the photometric center of WD of this type due to starspots is bounded to be small enough to permit this high-precision, small-N approach. We discuss possible noise arising from stellar reflex motion induced by orbiting objects and show how it can be mitigated. The only plausible technology able to achieve the requisite astrometric precision is a space-based stellar interferometer. Such a future mission with few-meter-scale collecting dishes and baselines of $\mathscr{O}$(100 km ) is sufficient to achieve the target precision. This collector size is broadly in line with the collectors proposed for some formation-flown, space-based astrometer or optical synthetic-aperture imaging-array concepts proposed for other science reasons. The proposed baseline is however somewhat larger than the km-scale baselines discussed for those concepts, but we see no fundamental technical obstacle to utilizing such baselines. A mission of this type thus also holds the promise of being one of the few ways to access interesting GW sources in this band.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Stellarators with Permanent Magnets

It is shown that the magnetic-field coils of a stellarator can, at least in principle, be substantially simplified by the use of permanent magnets. Such magnets cannot create toroidal magnetic flux but they can be used to shape the plasma and thus to create poloidal flux and rotational transform, thereby easing the requirements on the magnetic-field coils. As an example, a quasiaxisymmetric stellarator configuration is constructed with only 8 circular coils (all identical) and permanent magnets.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Galactic Potential and Dark Matter Density from Angular Stellar Accelerations

Here, we present an approach to measure the Milky Way (MW) potential using the angular accelerations of stars in aggregate as measured by astrometric surveys like Gaia. Accelerations directly probe the gradient of the MW potential, as opposed to indirect methods using, e.g., stellar velocities. We show that end-of-mission Gaia stellar acceleration data may be used to measure the potential of the MW disk at approximately 3σ significance and, if recent measurements of the solar acceleration are included, the local dark matter density at ~2σ significance. Since the significance of detection scales steeply as t 5/2 for observing time t, future surveys that include angular accelerations in the astrometric solutions may be combined with Gaia to precisely measure the local dark matter density and shape of the density profile.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

High-Field Ignition-Capable Stellarator i-ASTER: Initial Structural Evaluation

i-ASTER is a preliminary conceptual design of a high-field pulsed experimental stellarator aimed essentially at achieving and understanding plasma ignition. The averaged magnetic field on the axis of i-ASTER.v1 is B ~ 10 T and the plasma volume is 30 m 3 . A toroidal monolithic support structure, which is located externally to the modular coils, is defined to accurately arrange the coils and withstand the magnetic Lorentz forces from the high magnetic fields. The magnetic field in the coils and the resulting Lorentz forces on the coils were calculated and utilized for the stress calculation in monolithic support of constant thickness. Subsequently, a monolithic support of variable thickness is proposed and studied. The thickness of the structure is variable and adjusted to the magnitude of the mechanical stress in each area of the toroidal structure so as to smooth the stresses while minimizing the quantity of material used. A fabrication method for the monolithic structure has been tested. For that, a scaled-down mock-up of one period of stellarator has been additively manufactured and strengthened with fiber-reinforced resin. Unsurmountable difficulties have not been found for this fabrication method.

Queral, Vicente↗
DOE OSTI2022

Design of an arrangement of cubic magnets for a quasi-axisymmetric stellarator experiment

The usage of permanent magnets to shape the confining field of a stellarator has the potential to reduce or eliminate the need for non-planar coils. As a proof-of-concept for this idea, we have developed a procedure for designing an array of cubic permanent magnets that works in tandem with a set of toroidal-field coils to confine a stellarator plasma. All of the magnets in the design are constrained to have identical geometry and one of three polarization types in order to simplify fabrication while still producing sufficient field accuracy. We present some of the key steps leading to the design, including the geometric arrangement of the magnets around the device, the procedure for optimizing the polarizations according to three allowable magnet types, and the choice of magnet types to be used. We apply these methods to design an array of rare-Earth permanent magnets that can be paired with a set of planar toroidal-field coils to confine a quasi-axisymmetric plasma with a toroidal magnetic field strength of about 0.5 T on axis.

Hammond, Kenneth↗
DOE OSTI2020

SOAR TESS Survey. I. Sculpting of TESS Planetary Systems by Stellar Companions

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is finding transiting planet candidates around bright, nearby stars across the entire sky. The large field of view, however, results in low spatial resolution; therefore, multiple stars contribute to almost every TESS light curve. High angular resolution imaging can detect the previously unknown companions to planetary candidate hosts that dilute the transit depths, lead to host star ambiguity, and, in some cases, are the source of false-positive transit signals. We use speckle imaging on the Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope to search for companions to 542 TESS planet candidate hosts in the southern sky. We provide correction factors for the 117 systems with resolved companions due to photometric contamination. The contamination in TESS due to close binaries is similar to that found in surveys of Kepler planet candidates. For the solar-type population, we find a deep deficit of close binary systems with projected stellar separations less than 100 au among planet candidate hosts (44 observed binaries compared to 124 expected based on field binary statistics). The close binary suppression among TESS planet candidate hosts is similar to that seen for the more distant Kepler population. We also find a large surplus of TESS planet candidates in wide binary systems detected in both SOAR and Gaia DR2 (119 observed binaries compared to 77 expected). These wide binaries almost exclusively host giant planets, however, suggesting that orbital migration caused by perturbations from the stellar companion may lead to planet–planet scattering and suppress the population of small planets in wide binaries. Both trends are also apparent in the M dwarf planet candidate hosts.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Self-consistent Color–Stellar Mass-to-light Ratio Relations for Low Surface Brightness Galaxies

The color–stellar mass-to-light ratio relation (CMLR) is a widely accepted tool for estimating the stellar mass (M {sub *}) of a galaxy. However, an individual CMLR tends to give distinct M {sub *} for a same galaxy when it is applied in different bands. Examining five representative CMLRs from the literature, we find that the difference in M {sub *} predicted in different bands from optical to near-infrared by a CMLR is 0.1 ∼ 0.3 dex. Based on a sample of low surface brightness galaxies that covers a wide range of color and luminosity, we therefore recalibrated each original CMLR in r, i, z, J, H, and K bands to give internally self-consistent M {sub *} for a same galaxy. The g–r is the primary color indicator in the recalibrated relations, which show little dependence on red (r–z) or near-infrared (J–K) colors. Additionally, the external discrepancies in the originally predicted γ {sub *} by the five independent CMLRs have been greatly reduced after recalibration, especially in the near-infrared bands, implying that the near-infrared luminosities are more robust in predicting γ {sub *}. For each CMLR, the recalibrated relations provided in this work could produce internally self-consistent M {sub *} from divergent photometric bands, and are extensions of the recalibrations from the Johnson–Cousin filter system by the pioneering work of McGaugh & Schombert to the filter system of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗