Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “bright F dwarf”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2

The HST/ACS Coma Cluster Survey. II. Data Description and Source Catalogs

The Coma cluster, Abell 1656, was the target of a HST-ACS Treasury program designed for deep imaging in the F475W and F814W passbands. Although our survey was interrupted by the ACS instrument failure in early 2007, the partially-completed survey still covers approximately 50% of the core high density region in Coma. Observations were performed for twenty-five fields with a total coverage area of 274 aremin(sup 2), and extend over a wide range of cluster-centric radii (approximately 1.75 Mpe or 1 deg). The majority of the fields are located near the core region of Coma (19/25 pointings) with six additional fields in the south-west region of the cluster. In this paper we present SEXTRACTOR source catalogs generated from the processed images, including a detailed description of the methodology used for object detection and photometry, the subtraction of bright galaxies to measure faint underlying objects, and the use of simulations to assess the photometric accuracy and completeness of our catalogs. We also use simulations to perform aperture corrections for the SEXTRACTOR Kron magnitudes based only on the measured source flux and its half-light radius. We have performed photometry for 76,000 objects that consist of roughly equal numbers of extended galaxies and unresolved objects. Approximately two-thirds of all detections are brighter than F814W=26.5 mag (AB), which corresponds to the 10sigma, point-source detection limit. We estimate that Coma members are 5-10% of the source detections, including a large population of compact objects (primarily GCs, but also cEs and UCDs), and a wide variety of extended galaxies from cD galaxies to dwarf low surface brightness galaxies. The initial data release for the HST-ACS Coma Treasury program was made available to the public in August 2008. The images and catalogs described in this study relate to our second data release.

Hammer, Derek↗

Eclipse mapping of the accreting magnetic white dwarf in DP Leonis with HST

We present time-resolved ultraviolet spectrophotometry of the AM Her system DP Leo (E1114+182), obtained with the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in 1991 October. During this period, the binary was in a low-activity state. Complementary optical spectrophotometry and spectopolarimetry were obtained in 1991 October and December, as well as in 1992 April when the object had entered a high-accretion state. The HST spectrophotometry reveals two UV-emitting components-a hot 'spot' (T approximately 50,000 K, very approximately) near the magnetic pole into which most material is accreted, and the white dwarf photosphere (T approximately 16,000 K), which dominates when the spot is not in view. Both components appear as rapid and gradual components in the ingress and egress of secondary eclipse, the latter indicating a normal white dwarf radius of 0.8 x 10(exp 9) cm. The fractional area of the spot (f approximately 0.006) implied by the eclipse data is consistent with the observed UV flux and a minimum distance of 380 pc is similar to those found in other AM Her systems. The nearly identical eclipse light curves from the HST and earlier optical observations imply that the UV-emitting reprocessing area is not more extended than the cyclotron source of optical radiation in the accretion funnel. The timing of the onset of the bright phase indicated that the spot leads the secondary in orbital azimuth by approximately 3 deg.

Stockman, H. S.↗

High-resolution study of luminous infrared galaxies. I - The composite nature of the Seyfert 1 galaxy IRAS 20044-6114 (NGC 6860)

The physical conditions in the ionized gas, the stellar population, and the kinematics of the Seyfert 1 galaxy IRAS 20044-6114 (NGC 6860) are studied by high spatial resolution optical imaging and optical and near-IR spectroscopy of this luminous IR source. The broadband images show a compact nucleus, two weak spiral arms, a bar, a bulge, an inner ring, and a possible outer ring. The I-alpha image reveals bright emission-line regions associated with the Seyfert nucleus and an inner ring of intense star formation. The forbidden O III 5007-A image shows that the high-excitation gas is elongated perpendicularly to the direction of the bar, and reveals a bright compact object at about 40 arcsec NE of the nucleus which is undetectable in the broadband images. This object is interpreted as a dwarf young H II galaxy. The optical, near-IR, and FIR results show clear evidence that the nuclear and circumnuclear regions have composite and complex structure: a variable Seyfert 1 nucleus embedded in an intense and dusty star formation. environment.

Lipari, Sebastian↗

On the evolutionary status of bright, low-mass X-ray sources

A model of bright, low-mass X-ray binaries is proposed which features a lower giant-branch star losing mass on a nuclear time scale to an accreting compact companion. Simple numerical models show that mass transfer rates equal to or greater than 10 to the -9th solar masses per yr are sustained at very nearly a constant rate until the envelope of the donor star is exhausted. The model predicts orbital periods in the range 1-200 days and X-ray to optical luminosity ratios Lx/Lopt = 200-1000 for these sources. It accounts in a natural way for the large fraction of the total galactic bulge luminosity emitted by a few bright (10 to the 37th erg/s or greater) sources. It also accords very well with the observed X-ray and optical properties of the halo source Cyg X-2 and also with those of 2S 0921-63, provided this latter system contains a massive accreting white dwarf rather than a neutron star. Problems of the prior evolution of low-mass X-ray sources are also briefly delineated.

Webbink, R. F.↗

Rotation periods of open-cluster stars, 2

We present the results from a photometric monitoring program of 21 stars observed during 1992 in the Pleiades and Alpha Persei open clusters. Period determinations for 16 stars are given, 13 of which are the first periods reported for these stars. Brightness variations for an additional five cluster stars are also given. One K dwarf member of the alpha Per cluster is observed to have a period of rotation of only 4.39 hr. perhaps the shortest period currently known among BY Draconis variables. The individual photometric measurements have been deposited with the NSSDC. Combining current X-ray flux determinations with known photometric periods, we illustrate the X-ray activity/rotation relation among Pleiades K dwarfs based on available data.

Prosser, Charles F.↗

Digging a little deeper: characterizing three new extreme ULX candidates

ABSTRACT A prime motivation for compiling catalogues of any celestial X-ray source is to increase our numbers of rare subclasses. In this work, we take a recent multimission catalogue of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) and look for hitherto poorly-studied ULX candidates that are luminous ($L_{\rm X} \ge 10^{40}\,{\rm erg\,s}^{-1}$), bright ($f_{\rm X} \ge 5 \times 10^{-13}\,{\rm erg\,cm}^{-2}\,{\rm s}^{-1}$), and have archival XMM–Newton data. We speculate that this luminosity regime may be ideal for identifying new pulsating ULXs (PULXs), given that the majority of known PULXs reach similar high luminosities. We find three sources that match our criteria and study them using archival data. We find 4XMM J165251.5−591503 to possess a bright and variable Galactic optical/IR counterpart, and so conclude it is very likely to be a foreground interloper. 4XMM J091948.8−121429 does appear to be an excellent ULX candidate associated with the dwarf irregular galaxy PGC 26378, but has only one detection to date with low data quality. The best data set belongs to 4XMM J112054.3+531040 which we find to be a moderately variable, spectrally hard (Γ ≈ 1.4) X-ray source located in a spiral arm of NGC 3631. Its spectral hardness is similar to known PULXs, but no pulsations are detected by accelerated pulsation searches in the available data. We discuss whether other missions provide objects for similar studies and compare this method to others suggested for identifying good PULX candidates.

Roberts, T. P. (ORCID:0000000182526337)↗

Pointed soft X-ray observations of AM Herculis from HEAO 1

Extensive soft X-ray (0.1-1.5 keV) observations of AM Herculis are reported. The data, acquired during two pointed observations by HEAO 1 in 1978, span four binary cycles and reveal considerable detail in the 3.09 hour light curve. Rapid X-ray flickering is evident throughout the bright section of the light curve and is characterized by an average e-folding autocorrelation time of about 10 s. Analysis of the spectral data indicates a 30% variability; on occasion the X-ray spectrum becomes softer as the source intensity decreases. The current understanding of AM Her as an accreting magnetic white dwarf is discussed, and various models are related to the present HEAO-1 data.

Tuohy, I. R.↗

Radial Star Formation Histories in 32 Nearby Galaxies

The spatially resolved star formation histories are studied for 32 normal star-forming galaxies drawn from the Spitzer Extended Disk Galaxy Exploration Science survey. At surface brightness sensitivities fainter than 28 mag arcsec{sup −2}, the new optical photometry is deep enough to complement archival ultraviolet and infrared imaging and to explore the properties of the emission well beyond the traditional optical extents of these nearby galaxies. Fits to the spectral energy distributions using a delayed star formation history model indicate a subtle but interesting average radial trend for the spiral galaxies: the inner stellar systems decrease in age with increasing radius, consistent with inside-out disk formation, but the trend reverses in the outermost regions with the stellar age nearly as old as the innermost stars. These results suggest an old stellar outer disk population formed through radial migration and/or the cumulative history of minor mergers and accretions of satellite dwarf galaxies. The subset of S0 galaxies studied here show the opposite trend compared to what is inferred for spirals: characteristic stellar ages that are increasingly older with radius for the inner portions of the galaxies, and increasingly younger stellar ages for the outer portions. This result suggests that either S0 galaxies are not well modeled by a delayed-τ model, and/or that S0 galaxies have a more complicated formation history than spiral galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Einstein X-ray survey of the Pleiades - The dependence of X-ray emission on stellar age

The data obtained with two pointed observations of 1 deg by 1 deg fields of the Pleiades region have been analyzed, and the results are presented. The maximum-likelihood X-ray luminosity functions for the Pleiades G and K stars in the cluster are derived, and it is shown that, for the G stars, the Pleiades X-ray luminosity function is significantly brighter than the corresponding function for Hyades G dwarf stars. This finding indicates a dependence of X-ray luminosity on stellar age, which is confirmed by comparison of the same data with median X-ray luminosities of pre-main sequence and local disk population dwarf G stars. It is suggested that the significantly larger number of bright X-ray sources associated with G stars than with K stars, the lack of detection of M stars, and the relatively rapid rotation of the Pleiades K stars can be explained in terms of the onset of internal differential rotation near the convective envelope-radidative core interface after the spin-up phase during evolution to the main sequence.

Micela, G.↗

KELT-24b: A 5M(J) Planet on a 5.6 day Well-aligned Orbit around the Young V=8.3 F-star HD 93148

We present the discovery of KELT-24 b, a massive hot Jupiter orbiting a bright (V=8.3 mag, K=7.2 mag) young F-star with a period of 5.6 days. The host star, KELT-24 (HD 93148), has a Teff=-+65094950K, a mass of M*=+1.4600.0590.055Me, a radius of R*=1.506±0.022Re, and an age of +0.780.420.61Gyr. Its planetary companion (KELT-24 b) has a radius of RP=1.272±0.021RJ and a mass of MP=-+5.180.220.21MJ, and from Doppler tomographic observations, we find that the planet’s orbit is well aligned to its host star’s projected spin axis (l=-+2.63.65.1). The young age estimated for KELT-24 suggests that it only recently started to evolve from the zero-age main sequence. KELT-24 is the brightest star known to host a transiting giant planet with a period between 5 and 10 days. Although the circularization timescale is much longer than the age of the system, we do not detect a large eccentricity or significant misalignment that is expected from dynamical migration. The brightness of its host star and its moderate surface gravity make KELT-24b an intriguing target for detailed atmospheric characterization through spectroscopic emission measurements since it would bridge the current literature results that have primarily focused on lower mass hot Jupiters and a few brown dwarfs.

Transit photometry↗

Hidden depths in the local Universe: The Stellar Stream Legacy Survey

Context. Mergers and tidal interactions between massive galaxies and their dwarf satellites are a fundamental prediction of the Lambda-cold dark matter cosmology. These events are thought to provide important observational diagnostics of non-linear structure formation. Stellar streams in the Milky Way and Andromeda are spectacular evidence for ongoing satellite disruption. However, constructing a statistically meaningful sample of tidal streams beyond the Local Group has proven a daunting observational challenge, and the full potential for deepening our understanding of galaxy assembly using stellar streams has yet to be realised. Aims. Here we introduce the Stellar Stream Legacy Survey, a systematic imaging survey of tidal features associated with dwarf galaxy accretion around a sample of ~3100 nearby galaxies within z~0.02, including about 940 Milky Way analogues. Methods. Our survey exploits public deep imaging data from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys, which reach surface brightness as faint as ~29 mag arcsec –2 in the r band. As a proof of concept of our survey, we report the detection and broad-band photometry of 24 new stellar streams in the local Universe. Results. We discuss how these observations can yield new constraints on galaxy formation theory through comparison to mock observations from cosmological galaxy simulations. These tests will probe the present-day mass assembly rate of galaxies, the stellar populations and orbits of satellites, the growth of stellar halos, and the resilience of stellar disks to satellite bombardment.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Chandra Discovery of Luminous Supersoft X-Ray Sources in M81

A Chandra ACIS-S imaging observation of the nearby galaxy M81 (NGC 3031) reveals 9 luminous soft X-ray sources. The local environments, X-ray spectral properties, and X-ray light curves of the sources are presented and discussed in the context of prevailing physical models for supersoft sources. It is shown that the sample falls within expectations based on population synthesis models taken from the literature though the high observed luminosities (L approx.2e36 to approx.3e38 ergs in the 0.2--2.0-keV band) and equivalent blackbody temperatures (T approx.40 to 80 eV) place the brightest detected M81 objects at the high luminosity end of the class of supersoft sources defined by previous ROSAT and Einstein studies of nearby galaxies. This is interpreted as a natural consequence of the higher sensitivity of Chandra to hotter and more luminous systems. Most of the sources can be explained as canonical supersoft sources, secreting white dwarfs powered by steady surface nuclear burning, with X-ray spectra well-fit by hot white dwarf local thermodynamic equilibrium atmosphere models. An exceptionally bright source is scrutinized in greater detail as its estimated barometric luminosity, L approx. 1.5e39 ergs, greatly exceeds theoretical estimates for supersoft sources. This source may be beyond the stability limit and undergoing a phase of mass outflow under extreme conditions. Alternatively, a model in which the observed X-ray spectrum arises from an accretion disk around a blacklists of mass approx.1200/sqrt(cosi) solar masses (viewed at an inclination angle 1) cannot be excluded.

Swartz, Douglas A.↗

The long-period binary AL Velorum - The atmospheric eclipse of a bright K0 giant

The properties of the AL Vel binary system, a Zeta Aur system containing a B dwarf and a bright K0 giant, are reviewed with reference to IUE observations of its atmospheric eclipse and eclipse of the accretion disk around the B-dwarf component. It is found that the conditions in the chromosphere are rather similar to those in the Zeta Aur supergiants, once allowance is made for the different sizes and scale heights involved. The conditions for Mg II suppression in the wind through ionization by the B star is discussed, and it is found that radiative excitation and subsequent ionization will suffice for the conditions encountered in the AL Vel system.

Eaton, Joel A.↗

The cool DC white dwarf Stein 2051B

Visual scans from the Kitt-Peak 2.1-m telescope and UV spectra from the IUE satellite are combined in a spectroscopic study of the bright DC white dwarf, Stein 2051B. With a cooling age near 2 billion years, and a resulting atmospheric mass of hydrogen of the order of 6 x 10 to the 17th g, the accretion rate over the star's lifetime is less than 2 x 10 to the -25th solar masses/year. This is far below the predictions of standard accretion theories, and requires unreasonably strong suppression of hydrogen accretion in this star if the accretion-diffusion theory is to account for the carbon abundance found. It is suggested that the carbon may have been brought to the surface by convective mixing.

Wegner, G.↗

An analysis of the bright white dwarf CD - 38 deg 10980

The bright DA white dwarf CD - 38 deg 10980 is comprehensively analyzed using all available data. Detailed comparisons of the overall energy distribution and Lyman-alpha and Balmer profiles are made with theoretical predictions based on a homogeneous grid of model atmospheres. These comparisons yield a consistent, well-defined effective temperature and surface gravity for this star of 24,700 + or - 250 K and log g = 7.95 + or - 0.15, respectively. A new gravitational redshift of 28.4 + or - 4.8 km/s is derived from an IUE high-dispersion spectrum. Conclusions regarding the mass and radius of CD - 38 deg 10980 are also presented.

Holberg, J. B.↗

Ultraviolet light curves of U Geminorum and VW Hydri

Ultraviolet light curves were obtained for the quiescent dwarf novae U Gem and VW Hyi. The amplitude of the hump associated with the accretion hot spot is much smaller in the UV than in the visible. This implies that the bright spot temperature is roughly 12000 K if it is optically thick. The flux distribution of U Gem in quiescence cannot be fitted by model spectra of steady state, viscous accretion disks. The absolute luminosity, the flux distribution, and the far UV spectrum suggest that the primary star is visible in the far UV. The optical UV flux distribution of VW Hyi can be matched roughly by the model accretion disks.

Wu, C. C.↗

Stellar populations in the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 185

The study presents BVRI CCD photometry of about 5300 stars in the central area of the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 185 in the Local Group. The color-magnitude diagram shows three distinct stellar populations: a dominant RGB population, AGB stars located above the tip of the RGB stars, and a small number of young stars having blue to yellow colors. The foreground reddening is estimated to be 0.19 +/- 0.03 mag using the (B - V) - (V - I) diagram for the bright foreground stars with good photometry. Surface photometry of the central area of NGC 185 is presented; it shows that the colors become rapidly bluer inside R of about 10 arcsec. Structural parameters indicate that the mass-to-luminosity ratio ranges from 3 to 5.

Lee, Myung G.↗

Stellar chromospheres and coronae in the Ursa Major Cluster stars

IUE spectra of 18 proposed members of the Ursa Major Cluster and Einstein X-ray images of 11 of these stars are discussed. Thirteen stars, six in the nucleus and seven in the extended comoving stream, are probably true members of the UMa Cluster in that their bright ultraviolet and X-ray surface fluxes indicate youth. Four stars, one in the nucleus and three in the stream, exhibit weak ultraviolet and/or X-ray emission suggesting that they are old field stars that have the same space motion as the UMa Cluster. The X-ray surface fluxes of the UMa Cluster stars appear to be brighter than those of the Hyades Cluster stars, consistent with their relative ages. It is argued that chromospheres and transition regions could be present in dwarf stars hotter than B-V of about 0.30, but are unobservable in IUE spectra due to the rapid increase in photospheric flux in hotter stars.

Simon, T.↗