New Neighbors from 2MASS: Activity and Kinematics at the Bottom of the Main Sequence
We have combined 2MASS and POSS II data in a search for nearby ultracool dwarfs.
2MASS activity kinematics main sequence solar neig↗
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Results for “Luminosity function”
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.
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Radio Point Sources Toward Galaxy Clusters at 30 GHz
Extra-galactic point sources are a significant contaminant in cosmic microwave background and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect experiments. Deep interferometric observations with the BIMA and OVRO arrays are used to characterize the spatial, spectral, and flux distributions of radio point sources toward galaxy clusters at 28.5 GHz. We compute counts of mJy point source fluxes from 90 fields centered on known massive galaxy clusters and 8 non-cluster fields. Counts in the non-cluster fields are consistent with extrapolations from the results of other surveys. We also compute counts towards clusters as a function of luminosity in three redshift bins out to z = 1.0 and see no clear evidence for evolution with redshift. We compute spectral indices of mJy sources in cluster fields between 1.4 and 28.5 GHz. The distribution is skewed, with a median spectral index of 0.76 and 25th and 75th percentiles of 0.55 and 0.95, respectively. This is steeper than the spectral indices of brighter field point sources measured by other surveys.
Coble, K.↗
Stellar Photon Archaeology with Gamma-Rays
Ongoing deep surveys of galaxy luminosity distribution functions, spectral energy distributions and backwards evolution models of star formation rates can be used to calculate the past history of intergalactic photon densities and, from them, the present and past optical depth of the Universe to gamma-rays from pair production interactions with these photons. The energy-redshift dependence of the optical depth of the Universe to gamma-rays has become known as the Fazio-Stecker relation (Fazio & Stecker 1970). Stecker, Malkan & Scully have calculated the densities of intergalactic background light (IBL) photons of energies from 0.03 eV to the Lyman limit at 13.6 eV and for 0$ < z < $6, using deep survey galaxy observations from Spitzer, Hubble and GALEX and have consequently predicted spectral absorption features for extragalactic gamma-ray sources. This procedure can also be reversed. Determining the cutoff energies of gamma-ray sources with known redshifts using the recently launched Fermi gamma-ray space telescope may enable a more precise determination of the IBL photon densities in the past, i.e., the "archaeo-IBL.", and therefore allow a better measure of the past history of the total star formation rate, including that from galaxies too faint to be observed.
Stecker, Floyd W.↗
Enabling the Direct Detection of Earth-Sized Exoplanets with the LBTI HOSTS Project: A Progress Report
NASA has funded a project called the Hunt for Observable Signatures of Terrestrial Systems (HOSTS) to survey nearby solar type stars to determine the amount of warm zodiacal dust in their habitable zones. The goal is not only to determine the luminosity distribution function but also to know which individual stars have the least amount of zodiacal dust. It is important to have this information for future missions that directly image exoplanets as this dust is the main source of astrophysical noise for them. The HOSTS project utilizes the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI), which consists of two 8.4-m apertures separated by a 14.4-m baseline on Mt. Graham, Arizona. The LBTI operates in a nulling mode in the mid-infrared spectral window (8-13 micrometers), in which light from the two telescopes is coherently combined with a 180 degree phase shift between them, producing a dark fringe at the location of the target star. In doing so the starlight is greatly reduced, increasing the contrast, analogous to a coronagraph operating at shorter wavelengths. The LBTI is a unique instrument, having only three warm reflections before the starlight reaches cold mirrors, giving it the best photometric sensitivity of any interferometer operating in the mid-infrared. It also has a superb Adaptive Optics (AO) system giving it Strehl ratios greater than 98% at 10 micrometers. In 2014 into early 2015 LBTI was undergoing commissioning. The HOSTS. project team passed its Operational Readiness Review (ORR) in April 2015. The team recently published papers on the target sample, modeling of the nulled disk images, and initial results such as the detection of warm dust around eta Corvi. Recently a paper was published on the data pipeline and on-sky performance. An additional paper is in preparation on Beta Leo. We will discuss the scientific and programmatic context for the LBTI project, and we will report recent progress, new results, and plans for the science verification phase that started in February 2016, and for the survey.
Hunt for Observable Signatures of Terrestrial Syst↗
The Discovery of a Low Redshift, Red Quasar in the 2MASS Prototype Survey
The 2 Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) will catalog over 100,000,000 individual objects, the vast majority of which will be stars of spectral type K and later. For many projects it will be important to develop techniques to identify interesting objects within this dataset.
large-scale↗
New Determination of Fundamental Properties of Palomar 5 Using Deep DESI Imaging Data
The legacy imaging surveys for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument project provides multiple-color photometric data, which are about 2 mag deeper than those from the SDSS. In this study, we redetermine the fundamental properties for an old halo globular cluster of Palomar 5 based on these new imaging data, including structure parameters, stellar population parameters, and luminosity and mass functions. These characteristics, together with its tidal tails, are key for dynamical studies of the cluster and constraining the mass model of the Milky Way. By fitting the King model to the radial surface density profile of Palomar 5, we derive the core radius of [[Formula]], tidal radius of [[Formula]], and concentration parameter of c = 0.78 ± 0.04. We apply a Bayesian analysis method to derive the stellar population properties and get an age of 11.508 ± 0.027 Gyr, metallicity of [Fe/H] = −1.798 ± 0.014, reddening of E(B − V) = 0.0552 ± 0.0005, and distance modulus of (m−M){sub 0} = 16.835±0.006. The main-sequence luminosity and mass functions for both the cluster center and tidal tails are investigated. The luminosity and mass functions at different distances from the cluster center suggest that there is obvious spatial mass segregation. Many faint low-mass stars have been evaporated at the cluster center, and the tidal tails are enhanced by low-mass stars. Both the concentration and relaxation times suggest that Palomar 5 is a totally relaxed system.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Multiple interaction points in ghost collisions
The Ghost Collider makes use of unique “ghost” bunches, which are electrically neutral combinations of electrons and positrons within the same RF bucket, eliminates the beam-beam effects typically present at the interaction point (IP) in conventional colliders. This allows for the novel possibility of placing multiple interaction regions in series, achieving additive luminosity without introducing significant disruption. However, to get higher luminosity, the beta functions at the IP reaches millimeter scale, which in turn adds significant chromatic contribution to the collider. Correcting these chromatic effects is essential to maintain beam stability and ensure high luminosity during collider operation. By carefully adjusting the phase advance between two IRs that are placed in series, it becomes possible to cancel chromaticity globally, enabling stable collider operation while preserving high luminosity. In this paper we discuss the design of such IR/IRs to be used in a ghost collider.
Accelerator Physics↗
The faintest stars
A determination of the luminosity and mass functions is given for field stars at the bottom of the main sequence as the first results from a 320 sq deg survey based on both optical and near-infrared photometry. The luminosity and mass functions are determined with an order of magnitude higher precision than previous studies achieve. No evidence is found for a mass function steepening toward the H-burning limit.
Tinney, C. G.↗
Galactic X-ray emission from pulsars
The contribution of pulsars to the gamma-ray flux from the galactic plane is examined using data from the most recent pulsar surveys. It is assumed that pulsar gamma-rays are produced by curvature radiation from relativistic particles above the polar cap and attenuated by pair production in the strong magnetic and electric fields. Assuming that all pulsars produce gamma-rays in this way, their luminosities can be predicted as a function of period and magnetic field strength. Using the distribution of pulsars in the galaxy as determined from data on 328 pulsars detected in three surveys, the local gamma-ray production spectrum, the longitude profile, and the latitude profile of pulsar gamma-ray flux are calculated. The largest sources of uncertainty in the size of the pulsar contribution are the value of the mean interstellar electron density, the turnover in the pulsar radio luminosity function, and the average pulsar magnetic field strength. A present estimate is that pulsars contribute from 15 to 20 % of the total flux of gamma-rays from the galactic plane.
Harding, A. K.↗
Colors and color gradients in bulges of galaxies
We have obtained surface photometry in U, B, R, and I for a complete optically selected sample of 45 early-type spiral galaxies, to investigate the colors and color gradients of spiral bulges. Color profiles in U-R, B-R, U-B, and R-I have been determined in wedges opening on the semiminor axes. Based on several criteria, like the smoothness of the color profiles, the absence of dust lanes, and the central colors, we have defined a subsample of 18 objects whose colors are largely unaffected by dust. We believe such colors are suitable for inferring properties of the stellar populations of bulges. We find that the colors of bulges are predominantly bluer than those of ellipticals. This result holds even when bulges are compared to ellipticals of the same luminosity, and indicates that bulges are younger and/or more metal poor than old elliptical galaxies. Most bulges do not reach solar metallicities. Bulges show predominantly negative color gradients (bluer outward). For bright bulges (M(sup Bulge sub R) is less than -20.0), the magnitude of the gradient increases with bulge luminosity. For fainter bulges, gradients scatter around large negative values. The behavior of color gradients as a function of bulge luminosity suggests different formation mechanisms for faint and bright spheroids. For bright bulges, the scaling of gradients with luminosity suggests a formation process involving dissipation. The similarity with ellipticals suggests that the formation of the disk did not affect the stellar populations of the bulge in a major way. For small bulges (M(sub R) is greater than -20), the existence of pronounced color gradients suggests a different formation mechanism. For these objects, the presence of the disk may have severely affected the radial population distribution in the bulge.
Balcells, Marc↗
A measurement of the mass fluctuation spectrum from the cluster X-ray temperature function
A statistically complete sample of galaxy clusters is presented which also has complete X-ray temperature information. Using this sample, the cluster bolometric luminosity and temperature functions are derived. The temperature function constrains the shape and amplitude of the mass fluctuation power spectrum. For a power law, i.e., with the fluctuation power spectrum proportional to k exp n, n = -(1.7 + 0.65, - 0.35), and an amplitude is obtained which implies that the rms value of delta-M/M is 0.59 + or - 0.02 on a scale of 8/h Mpc at the present epoch.
Henry, J. Patrick↗
An X-Ray Survey of the Open Cluster NGC 6475 (M7) with ROSAT
A ROSAT x-ray survey, with complimentary optical photometry, of the open cluster NGC 6475 has enabled the detection of approx. 50 late-F to K0 and approx. 70 K/M dwarf new candidate members, providing the first reliable detection of low-mass stars in this low. galactic latitude, 220 Myr old cluster. The x-ray observations reported here have a typical limiting sensitivity of L(sub x) approx. equal to 10(exp 29) erg/s. The detection frequency of early type cluster members is consistent with the hypothesis that the x-ray emitting early type stars are binary systems with an unseen, low-mass secondary producing the x rays. The ratio between x-ray and bolometric luminosity among NGC 6475 members saturates at a spectral-type/color which is intermediate between that in much younger and in much older clusters, consistent with rotational spindown of solar-type stars upon their arrival on the ZAMS. The upper envelope of x-ray luminosity as a function of spectral type is comparable to that of the Pleiades, with the observed spread in x-ray luminosity among low-mass members being likely due to the presence of binaries and relatively rapid rotators. However, the list of x-ray selected candidate members is likely biased against low-mass, slowly rotating single stars. While some preliminary spectroscopic information is given in an appendix, further spectroscopic observations of the new candidate members will aid in interpreting the coronal activity among solar-type NGC 6475 members and their relation to similar stars in older and younger open clusters.
Prosser, Charles F.↗
Accretion disk boundary layers in cataclysmic variables. 1: Optically thick boundary layers
We develop numerical models of accretions disks in cataclysmic variables (CVs), including and emphasizing the boundary layer region where the accretion disk meets the accreting white dwarf. We confine ourselves to solutions where the boundary layer region is vertically optically thick, and find that these solutions share several common features. The angular and radial velocities of the accreting material drop rapidly in a dynamical boundary layer, which has a radial width approximately 1%-3% of the white dwarf radius. The energy dissipated in this region diffuses through the inner part of the disk and is radiated from the disk surface in a thermal boundary layer, which has a radial width comparable to the disk thickness, approximately 5%-15% of the white dwarf radius. We examine the dependence of the boundary layer structure on the mass accretion rate, the white dwarf mass and rotation rate, and the viscosity parameter alpha. We delineate the boundary between optically thick and optically thin boundary layer solutions as a function of these parameters and suggest that by means of a careful comparison with observations it may be possible to estimate alpha in CVs. We derive an expression for the total boundary layer luminosities as a function of the parameters and show that it agrees well with the luminosites of our numerical solutions. Finally, we calcuate simple blackbody continuum spectra of the boundary layer and disk emission for our solutions and compare these to soft X-ray, EUV, and He II emission-line observations of CVs. We show that, through such comparisons, it may be possible to determine the rotation rates of the accreting stars in CVs, and perhaps also the white dwarf masses and the accretion rates. The spectra are quite insensitive to alpha, so the uncertainty in this parameter does not affect such comparisons.
Popham, Robert↗
The richness of the globular cluster system of NGC 3923: Clues to elliptical galaxy formation
We present new data on the globular cluster system of the elliptical galaxy NGC 3923 which show that it has the most globular clusters per unit luminosity of any noncluster elliptical yet observed, with S(sub N) = 6.4 +/- 1.4. NGC 3923 is also among the brightest ellipticals outside of a galaxy cluster for which the number of globular clusters has been determined. Our observation of a large number of clusters per unit luminosity (high S(sub N)-value) for a bright elliptical in a sparse environment is consistent with the suggestion of Djorgovski and Santiago that the number of globular clusters is a power-law function of the luminosity with an exponent greater than 1. We relate this higher specific frequency of globular clusters in more luminous galaxies to other observations which indicate that the physical conditions within elliptical galaxies at the time of their formation were dependent on galaxy mass.
Zepf, Stephen E.↗
Morphology, near-infrared luminosity, and mass of the Galactic bulge from COBE DIRBE observations
Near-infrared images of the Galactic bulge at 1.25, 2.2, 3.5, and 4.9 microns obtained by the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) onboard the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite are used to characterize its morphology and to determine its infrared luminosity and mass. Earlier analysis of the DIRBE observations (Weiland et al. 1994) provided supporting evidence for the claim made by Blitz & Spergel (1991) that the bulge is bar-shaped with its near end in the first Galactic quadrant. Adopting various triaxial analytical functions to represent the volume emissivity of the source, we confirm the barlike nature of the bulge and show that triaxial Gaussian-type functions provide a better fit to the data than other classes of functions, including an axisymmetric spheroid. The introduction of a `boxy' geometry, such as the one used by Kent, Dame, & Fazio (1991) improves the fit to the data. Our results show that the bar is rotated in the plane with its near side in the first Galactic quadrant creating an angle of 20 deg +/- 10 deg between its major axis and the line of sight to the Galactic center. Typical axis ratios of the bar are (1:0.33 +/- 0.11:0.23 +/- 0.08), resembling the geometry of prolate spheroids. There is no statistically significant evidence for an out-of-plane tilt of the bar at 2.2 microns, and marginal evidence for a tilt of approximately equal 2 deg at 4.9 microns. The introduction of a roll around the intrinsic major axis of the bulge improves the `boxy' appearance of some functions. A simple integration of the observed projected intensity of the bulge gives a bulge luminosity of 1.2 x 10(exp 9), 4.1 x 10(exp 8), 2.3 x 10(exp 8), and 4.3 x 10(exp 7) solar luminosity, respectively, at 1.25, 2.2, 3.5, and 4.9 microns wavelength for a Galactocentric distance of 8.5 kpc. The 2.2 microns luminosity function of the bulge population in the direction of Baade's window yields a bolometric luminosity of L(sub bol) = 5.3 x 10(exp 9) solar luminosity. Stellar evolutionary models relate this luminosity to the number of main-sequence progenitor stars that currently populate the red giant branch. Combined with the recent determination of the main-sequence turnoff mass for the bulge by the Hubble Space Telescope (Holtzman et al. 1993) we derive a photometrically determined bulge mass of approximately equal to 1.3 x 10(exp 10) solar mass for a Salpeter initial mass function extended down to 0.1 solar mass.
Dwek, E.↗
The Second Most Distant Cluster of Galaxies in the Extended Medium Sensitivity Survey
We report on our ASCA, Keck, and ROSAT observations of MS 1137.5+6625, the second most distant cluster of galaxies in the Einstein Extended Medium Sensitivity Survey (EMSS), at redshift 0.78. We now have a full set of X-ray temperatures, optical velocity dispersions, and X-ray images for a complete, high-redshift sample of clusters of galaxies drawn from the EMSS. Our ASCA observations of MS 1137.5 +6625 yield a temperature of 5.7 (+2.1)(-1.1) keV and a metallicity of 0.43 (+40)(-3.7) solar, with 90% confidence limits. Keck II spectroscopy of 22 cluster members reveals a velocity dispersion of 884 (+185)(-124) km 24/s. This cluster is the most distant in the sample with a detected iron line. We also derive a mean abundance at z = 0.8 by simultaneously fitting X-ray data for the two z = 0.8 clusters, and obtain an abundance of Z(sub Fe) = 0.33 (+.26)(-.23). Our ROSAT observations show that MS 1137.5+6625 is regular and highly centrally concentrated. Fitting of a Beta model to the X-ray surface brightness yields a core radius of only 71/h kpc (q(sub o) = 0.1) with Beta = 0.70(+.45)(-.15) The gas mass interior to 0.5/h Mpc is thus 1.2 (+0.2)(-0.3) X 10(exp 13) h(exp - 5/2) Solar Mass (q(sub o) = 0.1). If the cluster's gas is nearly isothermal and in hydrostatic equilibrium with the cluster potential, the total mass of the cluster within this same region is 2.1(+1.5)(-0.8) X 10exp 14)/h Solar Mass, giving a gas fraction of 0.06 +/-0.04 h (exp -3/2). This cluster is the highest redshift EMSS cluster showing evidence for a possible cooling flow (about 20-400 Solar Mass/yr). The velocity dispersion, temperature, gas fraction, and iron abundance of MS 1137.5+6625 are all statistically the same as those properties in lower red- shift clusters of similar luminosity. With this cluster's temperature now in hand, we derive a high-redshift temperature function for EMSS clusters at 0.5 < z < 0.9 and compare it with temperature functions at lower redshifts, showing that the evolution of the temperature function is relatively modest. Supplementing our high-redshift sample with other data from the literature, we demonstrate that neither the cluster luminosity-temperature relation, nor cluster metallicities, nor the cluster gas evolved with redshift. The very modest degree of evolution in the luminosity-temperature relation inferred from these data is inconsistent with the absence of evolution in the X-ray luminosity functions derived from ROSAT cluster surveys if a critical density structure formation model is assumed.
Donahue, Megan↗
Cluster evolution as a probe of primordial density fluctuations
Although COBE's detection of large angle microwave background anisotropies fixes the amplitude of density fluctuations on length scales k exp -1 approximately = (300-6000) h(exp -1)Mpc, what is crucial for the level of large scale clustering is the amplitude of density fluctuations on scales (5-50) h(exp -1)Mpc. The level of dynamical clustering is usually parameterized by the size of the mass fluctuations in 8 h exp -1 Mpc spheres, sigma sub 8. For the cold dark matter model, COBE gives sigma sub 8 approximately = 1, while models with extra large scale power give sigma sub 8 approximately = 1/2. The most massive clusters of galaxies (greater than or approximately = 10 exp 15 solar mass) form from rare 'peak patches' found in the initial mass density distribution. Their abundance as a function of redshift is a sensitive probe of the wave number band k(exp -1) approx. (3-8) h(exp -1)Mpc, hence of sigma sub 8, and so cluster evolution can discriminate among models allowed by the COBE results. We use our Hierarchical Peaks Method, which accurately reproduces the results of P3M N-body simulations, to calculate the evolution of cluster x-ray flux counts, luminosity, and temperature functions as a function of sigma sub 8 for CDM models and those with more large scale power. We find that the EMSS and Edge et al. cluster samples support sigma sub 8 in the range from approx. 0.6-0.9, and that models with more large scale power (and hence flatter fluctuation spectra in the cluster regime) fit the x-ray bright end better.
Bond, J. Richard↗
Optically thin broad-line clouds in active galactic nuclei
The broad-line region (BLR) in Seyfert galaxy nuclei exhibits correlated variations in continuum and emission-line luminosity that are qualitatively consistent with photoionization of ionization-bounded (optically thick) clouds. However, evidence is growing that a nonnegligible fraction of the BLR cloud population is optically thin to the Lyman continuum and fully ionized in hydrogen. We consider the implications of this nebular component for observed line emission and find that inclusion of thin clouds in photoionization calculations can resolve several outstanding puzzles of Seyfert variability, notably the behavior of the C IV lambda 1549/Ly-alpha ratio as a function of continuum luminosity. A similar population of thin clouds located along our line of sight can account for observed ultraviolet absorption features and 'warm absorber' behavior at X-ray energies. The Baldwin effect for active galaxies, a negative correlation between ultraviolet emission-line equivalent width and continuum luminosity, can also be explained in detail by a decrease in the covering factor of an optically thin component with increasing source luminosity. The luminosity dependence of covering factor may result from outflows of thin clouds that proceed more efficiently in intrinsically brighter sources. The presence of absorption features in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) that are blueshifted and attain the highest velocities in broad absorption line features associated with luminous QSOs would be consistent with this interpretation.
Shields, Joseph C.↗