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At least 1,243 records · Page 69

Surface Gravities for 228 M, L, and T Dwarfs in the NIRSPEC Brown Dwarf Spectroscopic Survey

We combine 131 new medium-resolution ( R ∼ 2000) J -band spectra of M, L, and T dwarfs from the Keck NIRSPEC Brown Dwarf Spectroscopic Survey (BDSS) with 97 previously published BDSS spectra to study surface-gravity-sensitive indices for 228 low-mass stars and brown dwarfs spanning spectral types M5–T9. Specifically, we use an established set of spectral indices to determine surface gravity classifications for all of the M6–L7 objects in our sample by measuring the equivalent widths (EW) of the K i lines at 1.1692, 1.1778, and 1.2529 μ m, and the 1.2 μ m FeH{sub J} absorption index. Our results are consistent with previous surface gravity measurements, showing a distinct double peak—at ∼L5 and T5—in K i EW as a function of spectral type. We analyze the K i EWs of 73 objects of known ages and find a linear trend between log(Age) and EW. From this relationship, we assign age ranges to the very low gravity, intermediate gravity, and field gravity designations for spectral types M6–L0. Interestingly, the ages probed by these designations remain broad, change with spectral type, and depend on the gravity-sensitive index used. Gravity designations are useful indicators of the possibility of youth, but current data sets cannot be used to provide a precise age estimate.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A computer program to automate residual gas analysis

A computer program for automatic determination of gases found in an environmental chamber during spacecraft testing is discussed. Program testing is reviewed. The program is being used for the solution of experimental spectra, where the mass spectrometer is used as a contamination monitor by an untrained spectroscopist.

Shapiro, H.↗

The anomalous X-ray absorption spectrum of Vela X-1

The HEAO 2 satellite's Solid State Spectrometer and Monitor Proportional Counter was used to observe one orbit of the massive X-ray binary Vela X-1. Using spectral fits to the data as a function of orbital phase, the column density and state of the material along the line of sight to the X-ray source has been inferred. The spectrum near orbital phase 0.2 compares favorably with absorption by neutral material with a column density corresponding to plausible values of stellar wind velocity law and total primary mass loss rate. Spectra at later orbital phases, which show unexpected strong absorption features near 2.0 and 2.5 keV, are interpreted as due to absorption by material with suppressed opacity below 2.0 keV. The opacity required to produce the observed features implies either the presence of an intense soft X-ray flux, or altered elemental abundances in the gas near Vela X-1.

Kallman, T. R.↗

Sandqvist 187 - A dense molecular cloud in Norma

Observations of Sandqvist 187, an elongated dust cloud in the southern constellation Norma are presented and discussed. The cloud contains two Herbig-Haro objects, HH 56 and HH 57. HH 57 currently displays on its NE edge a 17th mag variable star of the FU Ori type. Using the Columbia University 1.2 m millimeter-wave telescope at Cerro Tololo, the region is mapped and an extended CO cloud which envelops and is elongated along the optical dust cloud is found. The position of maximum CO emission coincides with HH 56 and HH 57. Assuming a distance of 0.7 kpc, the total mass of the cloud is found to be close to 500 solar masses. The CO spectra show evidence of a molecular flow. Photographs and CCD images obtained mostly with the CTIO 4 m telescope show the detailed optical structure of the dark cloud's core region. The Herbig-Haro object HH 56 appears to be related to an emission-line star embedded in the small nebula Reipurth 13, not to the FU Ori star in HH 57.

Alvarez, H.↗

Turbulent magnetohydrodynamic density fluctuations

A spectral-method numerical code is used to compute mass-density fluctuation spectra in turbulent magnetofluids. The computations are used to test and extend the analytical theory of density variations in slightly compressible magnetofluids given by Montgomery, et al. (1987) and used to infer inertial-range density-fluctuation spectra for the nearby interstellar medium and solar wind. A local equation of state is assumed, relating density to pressure. Constant, scalar resistivities and viscosities are used. In the limit of low Mach numbers and high mechanical-to-magnetic pressure ratios, the fit of the computations to the analytical theory is seen to be close.

Shebalin, John V.↗

Structural comparison of nickel electrodes and precursor phases

Researchers summarize previous Raman spectroscopic results and discuss important structural differences in the various phases of active mass and active mass precursors. Raman spectra provide unique signatures for these phases, and allow one to distinguish each phase, even when the compound is amorphous to x rays (i.e., does not scatter x rays because of a lack of order and/or small particle size). The structural changes incurred during formation, charge and discharge, cobalt addition, and aging are discussed. The oxidation states and dopant contents are explained in terms of the nonstoichiometric structures.

Cornilsen, Bahne C.↗

XMM-Newton Archival Study of the ULX Population in Nearby Galaxies

We present the results of an archival XMM-Newton study of the bright X-ray point sources (L(sub X) greater than 10(exp 38 erg per second)) in 32 nearby galaxies. From our list of approximately 100 point sources, we attempt to determine if there is a low-state counterpart to the Ultraluminous X-ray (ULX) population, searching for a soft-hard state dichotomy similar to that known for Galactic X-ray binaries and testing the specific predictions of the IMBH hypothesis. To this end, we searched for low-state objects, which we defined as objects within our sample which had a spectrum well fit by a simple absorbed power law, and high-state objects, which we defined as objects better fit by a combined blackbody and a power law. Assuming that low-state)) objects accrete at approximately 10% of the Eddington luminosity (Done & Gierlinski 2003) and that high-state objects accrete near the Eddington luminosity we further divided our sample of sources into low and high state ULX sources. We classify 16 sources as low-state ULXs and 26 objects as high-state ULXs. As in Galactic black hole systems, the spectral indices, GAMMA, of the lowstate objects, as well as the luminosities, tend to be lower than those of the high-state objects. The observed range of blackbody temperatures for the high state is 0.1-1 keV, with the most luminous systems tending toward the lowest temperatures. We therefore divide our high-state ULXs into candidate IMBHs (with blackbody temperatures of approximately 0.1 keV) and candidate stellar mass BHs (with blackbody temperatures of approximately 1.0 keV). A subset of the candidate stellar mass BHs have spectra that are well-fit by a Comptonization model, a property similar of Galactic BHs radiating in the very-high state near the Eddington limit.

Winter, Lisa M.↗

Major Constituents Analysis for the Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor

Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor (VCAM) can provide a means for monitoring the air within enclosed environments such as the International Space Station, the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), a Lunar habitat, or another vehicle traveling to Mars. The software processes a sum total spectra (counts vs. mass channel) with the intention of computing abundance ratios for N2, O2, CO2, Ar2, and H2O. A brute-force powerset expansion compares a library of expected mass lines with those found within the data. Least squares error is combined with a penalty term for using small peaks.

Mandrake, Lukas↗

Communication: Protonation process of formic acid from the ionization and fragmentation of dimers induced by synchrotron radiation in the valence region

The ionization and fragmentation of monomers of organic molecules have been extensively studied in the gas phase using mass spectroscopy. In the spectra of these molecules it is possible to identify the presence of protonated cations, which have a mass-to-charge ratio one unit larger than the parent ion. In this work, we investigate this protonation process as a result of dimers photofragmentation. Experimental photoionization and photofragmentation results of doubly deuterated formic acid (DCOOD) in the gas phase by photons in the vacuum ultraviolet region are presented. The experiment was performed by using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer installed at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory and spectra for different pressure values in the experimental chamber were obtained. The coupled cluster approach with single and double substitutions was employed to assist the experimental analysis. Results indicate that protonated formic acid ions are originated from dimer dissociation, and the threshold photoionization of (DCOOD)⋅D{sup +} is also determined.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

ON THE MASSES OF GALAXIES IN THE LOCAL UNIVERSE

We compare estimates of stellar mass, M{sub *}, and dynamical mass, M{sub d}, for a sample of galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Under the assumption of dynamical homology (i.e., M-tilde{sub d{approx}{sigma}0}{sup 2} R{sub e}, where {sigma}{sub 0} is the central velocity dispersion and R{sub e} is the effective radius), we find a tight but strongly nonlinear relation between the two mass estimates: the best-fit relation is M{sub *{proportional_to}} M-tilde{sub d}{sup 0.73}, with an observed scatter of 0.15 dex. We also find that, at fixed M{sub *}, the ratio M{sub *}/ M-tilde{sub d} depends strongly on galaxy structure, as parameterized by the Sersic index, n. The size of the differential effect is on the order of 0.6 dex across 2 < n < 10. The apparent n-dependence of M{sub *}/ M-tilde{sub d} is qualitatively and quantitatively similar to expectations from simple, spherical and isotropic dynamical models, indicating that assuming homology gives the wrong dynamical mass. To explore this possibility, we have also derived dynamical mass estimates that explicitly account for differences in galaxies' structures. Using this 'structure-corrected' dynamical mass estimator, M{sub d,n}, the best-fit relation is M{sub *} {proportional_to} M {sup 0.92{+-}0.01({+-}0.08)}{sub d,n} with an observed scatter of 0.13 dex. While the data are thus consistent with a linear relation, they do prefer a slightly shallower slope. Further, we see only a small residual trend in M{sub *}/M{sub d,n} with n. We find no statistically significant systematic trends in M{sub *}/M{sub d,n} as a function of observed quantities (e.g., apparent magnitude, redshift), or as a function of tracers of stellar populations (e.g., H{alpha} equivalent width, mean stellar age), nor do we find significantly different behavior for different kinds of galaxies (i.e.,central versus satellite galaxies, emission versus non-emission galaxies). At 99% confidence, the net differential bias in M{sub *}/M{sub d,n} across a wide range of stellar populations and star formation activities is {approx}<0.12 dex ({approx}40%). The very good agreement between stellar mass and structure-corrected dynamical mass strongly suggests, but does not unambiguously prove, that (1) galaxy non-homology has a major impact on dynamical mass estimates, and (2) there are no strong systematic biases in the stellar mass-to-light ratios derived from broadband optical spectral energy distributions. Further, accepting the validity of both our stellar and dynamical mass estimates, these results suggest that the central dark-to-luminous mass ratio has a relatively weak mass dependence, but a very small scatter at fixed mass.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

AGE AND MASS CONSTRAINTS FOR A YOUNG MASSIVE CLUSTER IN M31 BASED ON SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION FITTING

VDB0-B195D is a massive, blue star cluster in M31. It was observed as part of the Beijing-Arizona-Taiwan-Connecticut (BATC) Multicolor Sky Survey using 15 intermediate-band filters covering a wavelength range of 3000-10000 A. Based on aperture photometry, we obtain its spectral energy distribution (SED) as defined by the 15 BATC filters. We apply previously established relations between the BATC intermediate-band and the Johnson-Cousins UBVRI broadband systems to convert our BATC photometry to the standard system. A detailed comparison shows that our newly derived VRI magnitudes are fully consistent with previous results, while our new B magnitude agrees to within 2{sigma}. In addition, we determine the cluster's age and mass by comparing its SED (from 3000 to 20000 A, comprising photometric data in the 15 BATC intermediate bands, optical broadband BVRI, and Two Micron All Sky Survey near-infrared JHK{sub s} data) with theoretical stellar population synthesis models, resulting in age and mass determinations of 60.0 {+-} 8.0 Myr and (1.1-1.6) x 10{sup 5} M{sub sun}, respectively. This age and mass confirms previous suggestions that VDB0-B195D is a young massive cluster in M31.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Structural and optical properties of dilute InAsN grown by molecular beam epitaxy

We perform a structural and optical characterization of InAs{sub 1-x}N{sub x} epilayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on InAs substrates (x < or approx. 2.2%). High-resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD) is used to obtain information about the crystal quality and the strain state of the samples and to determine the N content of the films. The composition of two of the samples investigated is also obtained with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) measurements. The combined analysis of the HRXRD and ToF-SIMS data suggests that the lattice parameter of InAsN might significantly deviate from Vegard's law. Raman scattering and far-infrared reflectivity measurements have been carried out to investigate the incorporation of N into the InAsN alloy. N-related local vibrational modes are detected in the samples with higher N content. The origin of the observed features is discussed. We study the compositional dependence of the room-temperature band gap energy of the InAsN alloy. For this purpose, photoluminescence and optical absorption measurements are presented. The results are analyzed in terms of the band-anticrossing (BAC) model. We find that the room-temperature coupling parameter for InAsN within the BAC model is C{sub NM}=2.0{+-}0.1 eV.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Copernicus ultraviolet observations of mass-loss effects in O and B stars

Far-UV spectra of 47 O, B, and A stars obtained with the Copernicus satellite are examined for P Cygni profiles. For all 40 stars with displaced absorption lines, values are given for the velocities of the short-wavelength edge, the line center, and the emission peak (if present). Parts of the spectra of 42 stars are reproduced, evidence for mass motions in ground-based spectra is discussed, and the best available data are summarized on the wavelengths and oscillator strengths of most lines likely to show mass-loss effects in either visual or UV spectra. The main conclusions are that: (1) the far-UV transitions, especially resonance lines, show that mass flow is present over a much wider group of stars than revealed by visible data on subordinate lines; (2) most of the line shifts imply mass motion away from the stars; (3) mass flow occurs in all but one star brighter than a bolometric magnitude of -6.0; and (4) the observed terminal velocities generally exhibit no significant correlation with temperature, luminosity, gravity, rotational velocity, or line strength.

Snow, T. P., Jr.↗

Physical properties of the interstellar medium using high-resolution Chandra spectra: O K-edge absorption

Chandra high-resolution spectra toward eight low-mass Galactic binaries have been analyzed with a photoionization model that is capable of determining the physical state of the interstellar medium. Particular attention is given to the accuracy of the atomic data. Hydrogen column densities are derived with a broadband fit that takes into account pileup effects, and in general are in good agreement with previous results. The dominant features in the oxygen-edge region are O I and O II Kα absorption lines whose simultaneous fits lead to average values of the ionization parameter of log ξ = –2.90 and oxygen abundance of A{sub O} = 0.70. The latter is given relative to the standard by Grevesse and Sauval, but rescaling with the revision by Asplund et al. would lead to an average abundance value fairly close to solar. The low average oxygen column density (N{sub O} = 9.2 × 10{sup 17} cm{sup –2}) suggests a correlation with the low ionization parameters, the latter also being in evidence in the column density ratios N(O II)/N(O I) and N(O III)/N(O I) that are estimated to be less than 0.1. We do not find conclusive evidence for absorption by any other compound but atomic oxygen in our oxygen-edge region analysis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The K2 M67 Study: A Curiously Young Star in an Eclipsing Binary in an Old Open Cluster

We present an analysis of a slightly eccentric (e = 0.05), partially eclipsing, long-period (P = 69.73 days) main-sequence binary system (WOCS 12009, Sanders 1247) in the benchmark old open cluster M67. Using Kepler K2 and ground-based photometry, along with a large set of new and reanalyzed spectra, we derived highly precise masses (1.111 ± 0.015 and 0.748 ± 0.005 M {sub ⊙}) and radii (1.071 ± 0.008 ± 0.003 and 0.713 ± 0.019 ± 0.026 R {sub ⊙}, with statistical and systematic error estimates) for the stars. The radius of the secondary star is in agreement with theory. The primary, however, is approximately 15% smaller than reasonable isochrones for the cluster predict. Our best explanation is that the primary star was produced from the merger of two stars, as this can also account for the nondetection of photospheric lithium and its higher temperature relative to other cluster main-sequence stars at the same V magnitude. To understand the dynamical characteristics (low measured rotational line broadening of the primary star and low eccentricity of the current binary orbit), we believe that the most probable (but not the only) explanation is the tidal evolution of a close binary within a primordial triple system (possibly after a period of Kozai–Lidov oscillations), leading to merger approximately 1 Gyr ago. This star appears to be a future blue straggler that is being revealed as the cluster ages and the most massive main-sequence stars die out.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗