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At least 1,549 records · Page 86

THE UNIFICATION OF ASYMMETRY SIGNATURES OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE

We present a compilation of the geometry measures acquired using optical and IR spectroscopy and optical spectropolarimetry to probe the explosion geometry of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Polarization measurements are sensitive to asymmetries in the plane of the sky, whereas line profiles in nebular phase spectra are expected to trace asymmetries perpendicular to the plane of the sky. The combination of these two measures can overcome their respective projection effects, completely probing the structures of these events. For nine normal SNe Ia, we find that the polarization of Si II {lambda}6355 at 5 days before maximum (p{sub Si{sub II}}) is well correlated with its velocity evolution (v-dot{sub Si{sub ii}}), implying that v-dot{sub Si{sub ii}} is predominantly due to the asymmetry of the SNe. We find only a weak correlation between the polarization of Si II and the reported velocities (v{sub neb}) for peak emission of optical Fe II and Ni II lines in nebular spectra. Our sample is biased, with polarization measurements being only available for normal SNe that subsequently exhibited positive (i.e., redshifted) v{sub neb}. In unison these indicators are consistent with an explosion in which the outer layers are dominated by a spherical oxygen layer, mixed with an asymmetric distribution of intermediate-mass elements. The combination of spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric indicators suggests a single geometric configuration for normal SNe Ia, with some of the diversity of observed properties arising from orientation effects.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

COSMOLOGICAL-MODEL-INDEPENDENT TESTS FOR THE DISTANCE-DUALITY RELATION FROM GALAXY CLUSTERS AND TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA

We perform a cosmological-model-independent test for the distance-duality (DD) relation {eta}(z) = D{sub L} (z)(1 + z){sup -2}/D{sub A} (z), where D{sub L} and D{sub A} are the luminosity distance and angular diameter distance, respectively, with a combination of observational data for D{sub L} taken from the latest Union2 SNe Ia and that for D{sub A} provided by two galaxy cluster samples compiled by De Filippis et al. and Bonamente et al. Two parameterizations for {eta}(z), i.e., {eta}(z) = 1 + {eta}{sub 0} z and {eta}(z) = 1 + {eta}{sub 0} z/(1 + z), are used. We find that the DD relation can be accommodated at 1{sigma} confidence level (CL) for the De Filippis et al. sample and at 3{sigma} CL for the Bonamente et al. sample. We also examine the DD relation by postulating two more general parameterizations: {eta}(z) = {eta}{sub 0} + {eta}{sub 1} z and {eta}(z) = {eta}{sub 0} + {eta}{sub 1} z/(1 + z), and find that the DD relation is compatible with the results from the De Filippis et al. and the Bonamente et al. samples at 1{sigma} and 2{sigma} CLs, respectively. Thus, we conclude that the DD relation is compatible with present observations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A CONSTANT MOLECULAR GAS DEPLETION TIME IN NEARBY DISK GALAXIES

We combine new sensitive, wide-field CO data from the HERACLES survey with ultraviolet and infrared data from GALEX and Spitzer to compare the surface densities of H{sub 2}, {Sigma}{sub H2}, and the recent star formation rate, {Sigma}{sub SFR}, over many thousands of positions in 30 nearby disk galaxies. We more than quadruple the size of the galaxy sample compared to previous work and include targets with a wide range of galaxy properties. Even though the disk galaxies in this study span a wide range of properties, we find a strong, and approximately linear correlation between {Sigma}{sub SFR} and {Sigma}{sub H2} at our common resolution of 1 kpc. This implies a roughly constant median H{sub 2} consumption time, {tau}{sup H2}{sub Dep} = {Sigma}{sub H2}/{Sigma}{sub SFR}, of {approx}2.35 Gyr (including heavy elements) across our sample. At 1 kpc resolution, there is only a weak correlation between {Sigma}{sub H2} and {tau}{sup H2}{sub Dep} over the range {Sigma}{sub H2} {approx} 5-100 M{sub sun} pc{sup -2}, which is probed by our data. We compile a broad set of literature measurements that have been obtained using a variety of star formation tracers, sampling schemes, and physical scales and show that overall, these data yield almost exactly the same results, although with more scatter. We interpret these results as strong, albeit indirect evidence that star formation proceeds in a uniform way in giant molecular clouds in the disks of spiral galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A UNIFORM CORRELATION BETWEEN SYNCHROTRON LUMINOSITY AND DOPPLER FACTOR IN GAMMA-RAY BURSTS AND BLAZARS: A HINT OF SIMILAR INTRINSIC LUMINOSITIES?

We compile 23 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and 21 blazars with estimated Doppler factors, and the Doppler factors of GRBs are estimated from their Lorentz factors by assuming their jet viewing angles {theta} {yields} 0{sup 0}. Using the conventional assumption that the prompt emission of GRBs is dominated by the synchrotron radiation, we calculate the synchrotron luminosity of GRBs from their total isotropic energy and burst duration. Intriguingly, we discover a uniform correlation between the synchrotron luminosity and Doppler factor, L{sub syn}{proportional_to}D{sup 3.1}, for GRBs and blazars, which suggests that they may share some similar jet physics. One possible reason is that GRBs and blazars have, more or less, similar intrinsic synchrotron luminosities and both of them are strongly enhanced by the beaming effect. After Doppler and redshift correction, we find that the intrinsic peak energy of the GRBs ranges from 0.1 to 3 keV with a typical value of 1 keV. We further correct the beaming effect for the observed luminosity of GRBs and find that a positive correlation exists between the intrinsic synchrotron luminosity and peak energy for GRBs, which is similar to that of blazars. Our results suggest that both the intrinsic positive correlation and the beaming effect may be responsible for the observed tight correlation between the isotropic energy and the peak energy in GRBs (the so-called Amati relation).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DO BARYONS ALTER THE HALOS OF LOW SURFACE BRIGHTNESS GALAXIES?

High-quality observations of dark-matter-dominated low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies indicate that, in contrast to the triaxial, centrally concentrated cuspy halos formed in collisionless simulations of halo assembly, these galaxies reside in round, roughly constant density cored halos. In order to reconcile these data with galaxy formation in the context of {Lambda}CDM, processes that alter the shape and density structure of the inner halo are required. We compile observational properties of LSB galaxies to evaluate the plausibility that a previously higher baryonic mass content and feedback from star formation can modify the dark matter halos of these galaxies. We also compare the properties of bulgeless disk galaxies formed in recent simulations to the LSB galaxy sample. We find that observational constraints on LSB galaxy star formation histories, structure, and kinematics make it difficult for baryonic physics to sphericalize and decrease the central density of the dark matter halos of LSB galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

V900 MON AND THOMMES' NEBULA: A NEW FUor IN MONOCEROS

Detailed observations of a recently recognized eruptive variable, V900 Mon, are presented. The star is located in the small cloud L1656, a little-studied region of modest star formation activity in Monoceros, and is presently at a magnitude of r {approx} 16, surrounded by a bright compact reflection nebula, where only a 20th magnitude star was seen on the red first-epoch POSS plate. Optical spectra show a red absorption-line spectrum not later than mid-K, and the H{alpha} line and the Na I D{sub 12} doublet display prominent P Cygni profiles with massive absorption troughs indicating a cool outflowing wind. Near-infrared spectra show deep CO bandhead absorption and pronounced molecular bands of water vapor indicative of a much cooler object. This spectral appearance is very similar to that of FU Orionis, except that V900 Mon has a much higher reddening of A{sub V} {approx} 13 mag. The energy distribution of V900 Mon, compiled from non-simultaneous observations and thus dependent on possible luminosity changes, shows that V900 Mon is a Class I protostar with a massive cool envelope. At a distance of about 1100 pc, V900 Mon has a luminosity of 106 L{sub Sun} in the range of 0.55-160 {mu}m. These data identify V900 Mon as a new member of the rare class of FU Orionis variables.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NO EVIDENCE FOR A SYSTEMATIC Fe II EMISSION LINE REDSHIFT IN TYPE 1 ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

We test the recent claim by Hu et al. that Fe II emission in type 1 active galactic nuclei shows a systematic redshift relative to the local source rest frame and broad-line H{beta}. We compile high signal-to-noise median composites using Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectra from both the Hu et al. sample and our own sample of the 469 brightest DR5 spectra. Our composites are generated in bins of FWHM H{beta} and Fe II strength as defined in our 4D Eigenvector 1 formalism. We find no evidence for a systematic Fe II redshift and consistency with previous assumptions that Fe II shift and width (FWHM) follow H{beta} shift and FWHM in virtually all sources. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that Fe II emission (quasi-ubiquitous in type 1 sources) arises from a broad-line region with geometry and kinematics the same as that producing the Balmer lines.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

EXPLAINING THE Sr AND Ba SCATTER IN EXTREMELY METAL-POOR STARS

Compilations of abundances of strontium and barium in extremely metal-poor stars show that an apparent cutoff is observed for [Sr/Ba] at [Fe/H] < -3.6 and large fluctuations for [Fe/H] > -3.6 with a clear upper bound depending on metallicity. We study the factors that place upper limits on the logarithmic ratio [Sr/Ba]. A model is developed in which the collapses of type II supernovae are found to reproduce many of the features seen in the data. This model is consistent with galactic chemical evolution constraints of light-element enrichment in metal-poor stars. Effects of turbulence in an explosive site have also been simulated, and are found to be important in explaining the large scatter observed in the [Sr/Ba] data.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

HUBBLE PARAMETER MEASUREMENT CONSTRAINTS ON THE COSMOLOGICAL DECELERATION-ACCELERATION TRANSITION REDSHIFT

We compile a list of 28 independent measurements of the Hubble parameter between redshifts 0.07 {<=} z {<=} 2.3 and use this to place constraints on model parameters of constant and time-evolving dark energy cosmologies. These H(z) measurements by themselves require a currently accelerating cosmological expansion at about, or better than, 3{sigma} confidence. The mean and standard deviation of the six best-fit model deceleration-acceleration transition redshifts (for the three cosmological models and two Hubble constant priors we consider) are z{sub da} = 0.74 {+-} 0.05, in good agreement with the recent Busca et al. determination of z{sub da} = 0.82 {+-} 0.08 based on 11 H(z) measurements between redshifts 0.2 {<=} z {<=} 2.3, almost entirely from baryon-acoustic-oscillation-like data.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

EVIDENCE FOR A RECEDING DUST SUBLIMATION REGION AROUND A SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE

The near-IR emission in Type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is thought to be dominated by the thermal radiation from dust grains that are heated by the central engine in the UV/optical and are almost at the sublimation temperature. A brightening of the central source can thus further sublimate the innermost dust, leading to an increase in the radius of the near-IR emitting region. Such changes in radius have been indirectly probed by the measurements of the changes in the time lag between the near-IR and UV/optical light variation. Here we report direct evidence for such a receding sublimation region through the near-IR interferometry of the brightest Type 1 AGN in NGC 4151. The increase in radius follows a significant brightening of the central engine with a delay of at least a few years, which is thus the implied destruction timescale of the innermost dust distribution. Compiling historic flux variations and radius measurements, we also infer the reformation timescale for the inner dust distribution to be several years in this galactic nucleus. More specifically and quantitatively, we find that the radius at a given time seems to be correlated with a long-term average of the flux over the previous several (∼6) years, instead of the instantaneous flux. Finally, we also report measurements of three more Type 1 AGNs newly observed with the Keck interferometer, as well as the second epoch measurements for three other AGNs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

THE INNER DYNAMICAL MASS ACROSS GALAXY MORPHOLOGY: A WEAK SCALING WITH TOTAL STELLAR MASS

We compile a sample of dispersion-supported and rotation-supported galaxies for which the dynamical mass enclosed at 500 pc can be measured. We find that this dynamical quantity increases only slowly with stellar mass (M{sub total}(<500 pc)∝M{sub stars}{sup 0.16}) over ∼9 decades in baryonic mass and ∼3 in length scale, with a sudden upturn at the highest masses (M {sub stars} ≳ 10{sup 10} M {sub ☉}). This upturn occurs for the earliest types (S0 and Sa) of disk galaxies, and is consistent with the ''extra'' mass within 500 pc being predominantly stellar. This sudden change may be indicative of different bulge formation mechanisms between early- and late-type disks. We also compare the data to the results of recent galaxy formation simulations. These broadly track the observed trend, with some tendency to put too much mass in the inner 500 pc, depending on the details of each simulation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A NEW FUNDAMENTAL PLANE FOR RADIATIVELY EFFICIENT BLACK-HOLE SOURCES

In recent years, it has been found that several low/hard states of X-ray binaries (XRBs) follow an ''outliers'' track in the radio-X-ray correlation (L{sub R}∝L{sub X}{sup b} and b ∼ 1.4), which is much steeper than the former universal track with b ∼ 0.6. In this work, we compile a sample of bright radio-quiet active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and find that their hard X-ray photon indices and Eddington ratios are positively correlated, which is similar to that of XRB outliers, where both bright AGNs and XRB outliers have bolometric Eddington ratios ≳ 1%L {sub Edd} (L {sub Edd} is Eddington luminosity). The Eddington-scaled radio-X-ray correlation of these AGNs is also similar to that of XRB outliers, which has the form of L {sub 5} {sub GHz}/L {sub Edd}∝(L {sub 2-10} {sub keV}/L {sub Edd}) {sup c} with c ≅ 1.59 and 1.53 for AGNs and XRBs, respectively. Both the positively correlated X-ray spectral evolution and the steeper radio-X-ray correlation can be regulated by a radiatively efficient accretion flow (e.g., disk-corona). Based on these similarities, we further present a new fundamental plane for XRB outliers and bright AGNs in black-hole (BH) mass, radio, and X-ray luminosity space: log L{sub R}=1.59{sub −0.22}{sup +0.28}log L{sub X}−0.22{sub −0.20}{sup +0.19}log M{sub BH}−28.97{sub −0.45}{sup +0.45} with a scatter of σ{sub R} = 0.51 dex. This fundamental plane is suitable for radiatively efficient BH sources, while the former plane proposed by Merloni et al. and Falcke et al. may be most suitable for radiatively inefficient sources.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

OBSERVATIONS OF THE INTERPLANETARY HYDROGEN DURING SOLAR CYCLES 23 AND 24. WHAT CAN WE DEDUCE ABOUT THE LOCAL INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM?

Observations of interstellar helium atoms by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft in 2009 reported a local interstellar medium (LISM) velocity vector different from the results of the Ulysses spacecraft between 1991 and 2002. The interplanetary hydrogen (IPH), a population of neutrals that fills the space between planets inside the heliosphere, carries the signatures of the LISM and its interaction with the solar wind. More than 40 yr of space-based studies of the backscattered solar Lyα emission from the IPH provided limited access to the velocity distribution, with the first temporal evolution map of the IPH line-shift during solar cycle 23. This work presents the results of the latest IPH observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph during solar cycle 24. These results have been compiled with previous measurements, including data from the Solar Wind Anisotropies instrument on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. The whole set has been compared to physically realistic models to test both sets of LISM physical parameters as measured by Ulysses and IBEX, respectively. This comparison shows that the LISM velocity vector has not changed significantly since Ulysses measurements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

THE DEARTH OF NEUTRAL HYDROGEN IN GALACTIC DWARF SPHEROIDAL GALAXIES

We present new upper limits on the neutral hydrogen (H I) content within the stellar half-light ellipses of 15 Galactic dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs), derived from pointed observations with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) as well as Arecibo L-band Fast ALFA survey and Galactic All-Sky Survey data. All of the limits M{sub H} {sub I}{sup lim} are more stringent than previously reported values, and those from the GBT improve upon constraints in the literature by a median factor of 23. Normalizing by V-band luminosity L{sub V} and dynamical mass M {sub dyn}, we find M{sub H} {sub I}{sup lim}/L{sub V}∼10{sup −3} M{sub ⊙}/L{sub ⊙} and M{sub H} {sub I}{sup lim}/M{sub dyn}∼5×10{sup −5}, irrespective of location in the Galactic halo. Comparing these relative H I contents to those of the Local Group and nearby neighbor dwarfs compiled by McConnachie, we find that the Galactic dSphs are extremely gas-poor. Our H I upper limits therefore provide the clearest picture yet of the environmental dependence of the H I content in Local Volume dwarfs. If ram pressure stripping explains the dearth of H I in these systems, then orbits in a relatively massive Milky Way are favored for the outer halo dSph Leo I, while Leo II and Canes Venatici I have had a pericentric passage in the past. For Draco and Ursa Minor, the interstellar medium mass that should accumulate through stellar mass loss in between pericentric passages exceeds M{sub H} {sub I}{sup lim} by a factor of ∼30. In Ursa Minor, this implies that either this material is not in the atomic phase, or that another mechanism clears the recycled gas on shorter timescales.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

COMPARING THE OBSERVABLE PROPERTIES OF DWARF GALAXIES ON AND OFF THE ANDROMEDA PLANE

The thin, extended planes of satellite galaxies detected around both the Milky Way and Andromeda are not a natural prediction of the Λ-cold dark matter paradigm. Galaxies in these distinct planes may have formed and evolved in a different way (e.g., tidally) from their off-plane neighbors. If this were the case, one would expect the on- and off-plane dwarf galaxies in Andromeda to have experienced different evolutionary histories, which should be reflected by the chemistries, dynamics, and star formation histories of the two populations. In this work, we present new, robust kinematic observations for two on-plane M31 dwarf spheroidal galaxies (And XVI and XVII) and compile and compare all available observational metrics for the on- and off-plane dwarfs to search for a signal that would corroborate such a hypothesis. We find that, barring their spatial alignment, the on- and off-plane Andromeda dwarf galaxies are indistinguishable from one another, arguing against vastly different formative and evolutionary histories for these two populations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DETECTION OF OH{sup +} IN TRANSLUCENT INTERSTELLAR CLOUDS: NEW ELECTRONIC TRANSITIONS AND PROBING THE PRIMARY COSMIC RAY IONIZATION RATE

We present the detection of rotationally resolved electronic transitions in the OH{sup +} A{sup 3}Π–X{sup 3}Σ{sup −} (0, 0) and (1, 0) bands toward CD-32 4348, HD 63804, HD 78344, and HD 80077. These four translucent clouds have been studied in a recent Very Large Telescope/Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph observational run. In total, seven absorption features of OH{sup +} are detected, and six of them are identified here for the first time, providing a precise tool to trace OH{sup +} in translucent interstellar clouds. An improved set of line positions and oscillator strengths is compiled to support our data interpretation. A dedicated analysis of the observed features in individual targets yields an accurate determination of OH{sup +} column densities. The results are applied to estimate the primary cosmic ray ionization rate in the investigated translucent clouds, which yields a typical value of ∼1.0 × 10{sup −16} s{sup −1}. In addition, following this work, two of the new interstellar features recently reported by Bhatt and Cami, at ∼3572.65 and 3346.96 Å, can be identified as OH{sup +} absorption lines now.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

TEQUILA: a platform for rapid development of quantum algorithms

Variational quantum algorithms are currently the most promising class of algorithms for deployment on near-term quantum computers. In contrast to classical algorithms, there are almost no standardized methods in quantum algorithmic development yet, and the field continues to evolve rapidly. As in classical computing, heuristics play a crucial role in the development of new quantum algorithms, resulting in a high demand for flexible and reliable ways to implement, test, and share new ideas. In this paper, inspired by this demand, we introduce TEQUILA, a development package for quantum algorithms in PYTHON, designed for fast and flexible implementation, prototyping and deployment of novel quantum algorithms in electronic structure and other fields. TEQUILA operates with abstract expectation values which can be combined, transformed, differentiated, and optimized. On evaluation, the abstract data structures are compiled to run on state of the art quantum simulators or interfaces.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Quantum error mitigation by hidden inverses protocol in superconducting quantum devices

We present a method to improve the convergence of variational algorithms based on hidden inverses (HIs) to mitigate coherent errors. In the context of error mitigation, this means replacing the hardware implementation of certain Hermitian gates with their inverses. Doing so results in noise cancellation and a more resilient quantum circuit. This approach improves performance in a variety of two-qubit error models where the noise operator also inverts with the gate inversion. We apply the mitigation scheme on superconducting quantum processors running the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) algorithm to find the H 2 ground-state energy. When implemented on superconducting hardware we find that the mitigation scheme effectively reduces the energy fluctuations in the parameter learning path in VQE, reducing the number of iterations for a converged value. We also provide a detailed numerical simulation of VQE performance under different noise models and explore how HIs and randomized compiling affect the underlying loss landscape of the learning problem. These simulations help explain our experimental hardware outcomes, helping to connect lower-level gate performance to application-specific behavior in contrast to metrics like fidelity which often do not provide an intuitive insight into observed high level performance.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗