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At least 1,009 records · Page 56

PBjam: A Python Package for Automating Asteroseismology of Solar-like Oscillators

Asteroseismology is an exceptional tool for studying stars using the properties of observed modes of oscillation. So far the process of performing an asteroseismic analysis of a star has remained somewhat esoteric and inaccessible to nonexperts. In this software paper we describe PBjam, an open-source Python package for analyzing the frequency spectra of solar-like oscillators in a simple but principled and automated way. The aim of PBjam is to provide a set of easy-to-use tools to extract information about the radial and quadropole oscillations in stars that oscillate like the Sun, which may then be used to infer bulk properties such as stellar mass, radius, age, or even structure. Asteroseismology and its data analysis methods are becoming increasingly important as space-based photometric observatories are producing a wealth of new data, allowing asteroseismology to be applied in a wide range of contexts such as exoplanet, stellar structure and evolution, and Galactic population studies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Solar Neighborhood. XLVII. Comparing M-dwarf Models with Hubble Space Telescope Dynamical Masses and Spectroscopy

We use HST/STIS optical spectroscopy of 10 M dwarfs in five closely separated binary systems to test models of M-dwarf structure and evolution. Individual dynamical masses ranging from 0.083 to 0.405 M {sub ⊙} for all stars are known from previous work. We first derive temperature, radius, luminosity, surface gravity, and metallicity by fitting the BT-Settl atmospheric models. We verify that our methodology agrees with empirical results from long-baseline optical interferometry for stars of similar spectral types. We then test whether or not evolutionary models can predict those quantities given the stars’ known dynamical masses and the conditions of coevality and equal metallicity within each binary system. We apply this test to five different evolutionary model sets: the Dartmouth models, the MESA/MIST models, the models of Baraffe et al., the PARSEC models, and the YaPSI models. We find marginal agreement between evolutionary model predictions and observations, with few cases where the models respect the condition of coevality in a self-consistent manner. We discuss the pros and cons of each family of models and compare their predictive power.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The White Dwarfs of the Old, Solar-metallicity Open Star Cluster Messier 67: Properties and Progenitors

The old, solar-metallicity open cluster Messier 67 has long been considered a lynchpin in the study and understanding of the structure and evolution of solar-type stars. The same is arguably true for stellar remnants; the white dwarf population of M67 provides crucial observational data for understanding and interpreting white dwarf populations and evolution. In this work, we determine the white dwarf masses and derive their progenitor star masses using high signal-to-noise spectroscopy of warm (≳10,000 K) DA white dwarfs in the cluster. From this, we are able to derive each white dwarf’s position on the initial–final mass relation (IFMR), with an average M {sub WD} = 0.60 ± 0.01 M {sub ⊙} and progenitor mass M {sub i} = 1.52 ± 0.04 M {sub ⊙}. These values are fully consistent with recently published linear and piecewise linear fits to the semiempirical IFMR and provide a crucial, precise anchor point for the IFMR for solar-metallicity, low-mass stars. The mean mass of M67 white dwarfs is also consistent with the sharp narrow peak in the local field white dwarf mass distribution, indicating that a majority of recently formed field white dwarfs come from stars with progenitor masses of ≈1.5 M {sub ⊙}. Our results enable more precise modeling of the Galactic star formation rate encoded in the field white dwarf mass distribution.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Fast, High-fidelity Lyα Forests with Convolutional Neural Networks

Full-physics cosmological simulations are powerful tools for studying the formation and evolution of structure in the universe but require extreme computational resources. Here, we train a convolutional neural network to use a cheaper N-body-only simulation to reconstruct the baryon hydrodynamic variables (density, temperature, and velocity) on scales relevant to the Lyα forest, using data from Nyx simulations. We show that our method enables rapid estimation of these fields at a resolution of ~20 kpc, and captures the statistics of the Lyα forest with much greater accuracy than existing approximations. Because our model is fully convolutional, we can train on smaller simulation boxes and deploy on much larger ones, enabling substantial computational savings. Furthermore, as our method produces an approximation for the hydrodynamic fields instead of Lyα flux directly, it is not limited to a particular choice of ionizing background or mean transmitted flux.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A Reanalysis of Public Galactic Bulge Gravitational Microlensing Events from OGLE-III and -IV

Abstract Modern surveys of gravitational microlensing events have progressed to detecting thousands per year, and surveys are capable of probing Galactic structure, stellar evolution, lens populations, black hole physics, and the nature of dark matter. One of the key avenues for doing this is the microlensing Einstein radius crossing time (t E) distribution. However, systematics in individual light curves as well as oversimplistic modeling can lead to biased results. To address this, we developed a model to simultaneously handle the microlensing parallax due to Earth's motion, systematic instrumental effects, and unlensed stellar variability with a Gaussian process model. We used light curves for nearly 10,000 OGLE-III and -IV Milky Way bulge microlensing events and fit each with our model. We also developed a forward model approach to infer the t E distribution by forward modeling from the data rather than using point estimates from individual events. We find that modeling the variability in the baseline removes a source of significant bias in individual events, and the previous analyses overestimated the number of t E > 100 day events due to their oversimplistic model ignoring parallax effects. We use our fits to identify the hundreds filling a regime in the microlensing parameter space that are 50% pure of black holes. Finally, we have released the largest-ever catalog of Markov Chain Monte Carlo parameter estimates for microlensing events.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Report of geology working group

Lunar geological explorations to determine evolution, composition, structure, and processes of moon - training of astronauts for mission

LUNAR EXPLORATION↗

Research reports, July 1, 1964 - June 30, 1965

Compilation of research reports in astronomy, geophysics, nucleosynthesis, stellar structure and evolution, solar system origin, and atmospheric dynamics and turbulence

STELLAR EVOLUTION↗

Cosmology of our universe

Physical laws of universe, structure and evolution of universe, and cosmological theories of universe

Chiu, H.-Y.↗

Lunar gravimetry and mascons.

Lunar gravitational field data from Lunar Orbiter spacecraft reprocessed, discussing mascon effects on moon structure and evolution theories

Muller, P. M.↗

The gravitational field of the moon

Lunar structure and evolution based on satellite measurements of mass distribution, radius moments of inertia, gravity anomalies and topographic irregularities

Kaula, W. M.↗

Numerical study of strong plasma shock waves produced in an electromagnetic shock tube.

A set of two-fluid Navier-Stokes equations with classical physical transport coefficients is used to compute the evolution and structure of collisional plasma shock waves in an electromagnetic shock tube. Shock speeds up to 200 cm/microsec and shocked-plasma temperatures of the order of kilovolts are studied. A strong transverse bias magnetic field is employed, which significantly alters the size and shape of the shock profiles, when compared with the zero bias field case. The wave structure is different from that of a two-fluid gasdynamic shock without transverse magnetic field. Especially significant is the effect of the small ion Larmor radius in reducing the gasdynamic shock thickness by at least an order of magnitude in the transverse shock case, which permits collisional shocks to have thicknesses much smaller than the post-shock mean free path. These collisional shock waves produce very hot ions, the ion temperature increasing with shock speed, although the formation time and distances also increase substantially with shock speed.

Schneider, S. H.↗

Comet Kohoutek

A compilation of scientific observations (workshop) is presented. Topics discussed are: (1) tail form, structure, and evolution; (2) hydroxyl related observations; (3) molecules and atoms in the coma and tail; (4) photometry and radiometry; and (5) spacecraft and ground based observation data. Color photographs are shown.

Gary, Gilmer A.↗

A numerical investigation of severe thunderstorm gust fronts

A numerical model was developed to simulate the evolution and structure of severe thunderstorm gust fronts. The model is a non-hydrostatic, fine resolution, cross-sectional primitive equation model. Two-dimensional horizontal and vertical equations of motion, the continuity equation, and the thermodynamic energy equation were utilized. It was shown that two dominant factors influencing gust front configuration are surface friction and the solenoidal field coincident with the front. It is suggested that solenoidal accelerations oppose the deceleration of surface friction. After a downdraft is initiated in the model, these opposing tendencies soon reach a balance and the gust front achieves a quasi-steady configuration. Thus, the experiments indicate that surface friction does not induce a cycle of front formation and collapse. In addition, the effect of evaporative cooling in producing a vigorous downdraft was parameterized by a local cooling function. Greater cooling in the downdraft results in a more intense gust front that exhibits stronger wind maximums and greater shears. The ambient air stability was shown to be an important factor influencing the depth of the cold outflow.

Mitchell, K. E.↗

ATM observations - X-ray results

Preliminary results of the solar X-ray observations from Skylab are reviewed which indicate a highly structured nature for the corona, with closed magnetic-loop structures over a wide range of size scales. A description of the S-054 experiments is provided, and values are given for the parameters - including size, density, and temperature - describing a variety of typical coronal features. The structure and evolution of active regions, coronal holes, and bright points are discussed.

Vaiana, G. S.↗

Lunar surface gravimeter experiment

The lunar surface gravimeter used the moon as an instrumented antenna to search for gravitational waves predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity. Tidal deformation of the moon was measured. Gravitational radiation is a channel that is capable of giving information about the structure and evolution of the universe.

Giganti, J. J.↗

Lunar mascons

Large positive anomalies have been discovered in the moon's gravitational field. The concept of mascons as the source of these anomalies was reviewed. Ideas set forth in the literature and related in some manner to mascons are summarized. Lunar structure and evolution are emphasized and it is concluded that more detailed studies of the moon by spacecraft are needed to solve remaining uncertainties.

Zharkov, V. N.↗