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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

A Joint Search for the Electromagnetic Counterpart to the Gravitational-Wave Binary Black-Hole Merger Candidate S250328ae with the Dark Energy Camera and the Prime Focus Spectrograph

The first detection of an optical counterpart to a gravitational wave signal revealed that collaborative efforts between instruments with different specializations provide a unique opportunity to acquire impactful multi-messenger data. We present results of such a joint search with the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) and Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) for the optical counterpart of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA event S250328ae, a binary black hole merger candidate of high significance detected at a distance of 511$\pm$82 Mpc and localized within an area of 3 (15) square degrees at 50% (90%) confidence. We observed the 90% confidence area with DECam and identified 36 high-confidence transient candidates after image processing, candidate selection, and candidate vetting. We observed with PFS to obtain optical spectra of DECam candidates, Swift-XRT candidates, and potential host galaxies of S250328ae. In total, 3897 targets were observed by seven pointings covering ~50% of the 90% confidence area. After template fitting and visual inspection, we identified 12 SNe, 159 QSOs, 2975 galaxies, and 131 stars. With the joint observations of DECam and PFS, we found variability in 12 SNe, 139 QSOs, 37 galaxies, and 2 stars. We do not identify any confident optical counterparts, though the association is not ruled out for three variable candidates that are not observed by PFS and 6 QSO candidates without clear variability if the optical counterpart of S250328ae is faint. Despite the lack of confident optical counterparts, this paper serves as a framework for future collaborations between wide-field imagers and multi-object spectrographs to maximize multi-messenger analyses.

Zhang, Haibin [Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan] (OR↗
DOE OSTI2012

THE HAWAII INFRARED PARALLAX PROGRAM. I. ULTRACOOL BINARIES AND THE L/T TRANSITION

We present the first results from our high-precision infrared (IR) astrometry program at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. We measure parallaxes for 83 ultracool dwarfs (spectral types M6-T9) in 49 systems, with a median uncertainty of 1.1 mas (2.3%) and as good as 0.7 mas (0.8%). We provide the first parallaxes for 48 objects in 29 systems, and for another 27 objects in 17 systems, we significantly improve upon published results, with a median (best) improvement of 1.7 times (5 times). Three systems show astrometric perturbations indicative of orbital motion; two are known binaries (2MASS J0518-2828AB and 2MASS J1404-3159AB) and one is spectrally peculiar (SDSS J0805+4812). In addition, we present here a large set of Keck adaptive optics imaging that more than triples the number of binaries with L6-T5 components that have both multi-band photometry and distances. Our data enable an unprecedented look at the photometric properties of brown dwarfs as they cool through the L/T transition. Going from Almost-Equal-To L8 to Almost-Equal-To T4.5, flux in the Y and J bands increases by Almost-Equal-To 0.7 mag and Almost-Equal-To 0.5 mag, respectively (the Y- and J-band 'bumps'), while flux in the H, K, and L' bands declines monotonically. This wavelength dependence is consistent with cloud clearing over a narrow range of temperature, since condensate opacity is expected to dominate at 1.0-1.3 {mu}m. Interestingly, despite more than doubling the near-IR census of L/T transition objects, we find a conspicuous paucity of objects on the color-magnitude diagram just blueward of the late-L/early-T sequence. This 'L/T gap' occurs at (J - H){sub MKO} 0.1-0.3 mag, (J - K){sub MKO} = 0.0-0.4 mag, and implies that the last phases of cloud evolution occur rapidly. Finally, we provide a comprehensive update to the absolute magnitudes of ultracool dwarfs as a function of spectral type using a combined sample of 314 objects.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

EXPLORING THE VARIABLE SKY WITH LINEAR. I. PHOTOMETRIC RECALIBRATION WITH THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY

We describe photometric recalibration of data obtained by the asteroid survey LINEAR. Although LINEAR was designed for astrometric discovery of moving objects, the data set described here contains over 5 billion photometric measurements for about 25 million objects, mostly stars. We use Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data from the overlapping {approx}10,000 deg{sup 2} of sky to recalibrate LINEAR photometry and achieve errors of 0.03 mag for sources not limited by photon statistics with errors of 0.2 mag at r {approx} 18. With its 200 observations per object on average, LINEAR data provide time domain information for the brightest four magnitudes of the SDSS survey. At the same time, LINEAR extends the deepest similar wide-area variability survey, the Northern Sky Variability Survey, by 3 mag. We briefly discuss the properties of about 7000 visually confirmed periodic variables, dominated by roughly equal fractions of RR Lyrae stars and eclipsing binary stars, and analyze their distribution in optical and infrared color-color diagrams. The LINEAR data set is publicly available from the SkyDOT Web site.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

IDENTIFICATION OF THE HIGH-ENERGY GAMMA-RAY SOURCE 3FGL J1544.6–1125 AS A TRANSITIONAL MILLISECOND PULSAR BINARY IN AN ACCRETING STATE

We present X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical observations of 1RXS J154439.4–112820, the most probable counterpart of the unassociated Fermi-LAT source 3FGL J1544.6–1125. The optical data reveal rapid variability, which is a feature of accreting systems. The X-rays exhibit large-amplitude variations in the form of fast switching (within ∼10 s) between two distinct flux levels that differ by a factor of ≈10. The detailed optical and X-ray behavior is virtually identical to that seen in the accretion-disk-dominated states of the transitional millisecond pulsar (MSP) binaries PSR J1023+0038 and XSS J12270–4859, which are also associated with γ-ray sources. Based on the available observational evidence, we conclude that 1RXS J154439.4–112820 and 3FGL J1544.6–1125 are the same object, with the X-rays arising from intermittent low-luminosity accretion onto an MSP and the γ-rays originating from an accretion-driven outflow. 1RXS J154439.4–112820 is only the fourth γ-ray-emitting low-mass X-ray binary system to be identified and is likely to sporadically undergo transformations to a non-accreting rotation-powered pulsar system.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

A NUMERICAL METHOD FOR STUDYING SUPER-EDDINGTON MASS TRANSFER IN DOUBLE WHITE DWARF BINARIES

We present a numerical method for the study of double white dwarf (DWD) binary systems at the onset of super-Eddington mass transfer. We incorporate the physics of ideal inviscid hydrodynamical flow, Newtonian self-gravity, and radiation transport on a three-dimensional uniformly rotating cylindrical Eulerian grid. Care has been taken to conserve the key physical quantities such as angular momentum and energy. Our new method conserves total energy to a higher degree of accuracy than other codes that are presently being used to model mass transfer in DWD systems. We present the results of verification tests and simulate the first 20 + orbits of a binary system of mass ratio q 0.7 at the onset of dynamically unstable direct impact mass transfer. The mass transfer rate quickly exceeds the critical Eddington limit by many orders of magnitude, and thus we are unable to model a trans-Eddington phase. It appears that radiation pressure does not significantly affect the accretion flow in the highly super-Eddington regime. An optically thick common envelope forms around the binary within a few orbits. Although this envelope quickly exceeds the spatial domain of the computational grid, the fraction of the common envelope that exceeds zero gravitational binding energy is extremely small, suggesting that radiation-driven mass loss is insignificant in this regime. It remains to be seen whether simulations that capture the trans-Eddington phase of such flows will lead to the same conclusion or show that substantial material gets expelled.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

The Young L Dwarf 2MASS J11193254−1137466 Is a Planetary-mass Binary

We have discovered that the extremely red, low-gravity L7 dwarf 2MASS J11193254−1137466 is a 0.″14 (3.6 au) binary using Keck laser guide star adaptive optics imaging. 2MASS J11193254−1137466 has previously been identified as a likely member of the TW Hydrae Association (TWA). Using our updated photometric distance and proper motion, a kinematic analysis based on the BANYAN II model gives an 82% probability of TWA membership. At TWA’s 10 ± 3 Myr age and using hot-start evolutionary models, 2MASS J11193254−1137466AB is a pair of 3.7{sub −0.9}{sup +1.2} M{sub Jup} brown dwarfs, making it the lowest-mass binary discovered to date. We estimate an orbital period of 90{sub −50}{sup +80} years. One component is marginally brighter in K band but fainter in J band, making this a probable flux-reversal binary, the first discovered with such a young age. We also imaged the spectrally similar TWA L7 dwarf WISEA J114724.10−204021.3 with Keck and found no sign of binarity. Our evolutionary model-derived T{sub eff} estimate for WISEA J114724.10−204021.3 is ≈230 K higher than for 2MASS J11193254−1137466AB, at odds with the spectral similarity of the two objects. This discrepancy suggests that WISEA J114724.10−204021.3 may actually be a tight binary with masses and temperatures very similar to 2MASS J11193254−1137466AB, or further supporting the idea that near-infrared spectra of young ultracool dwarfs are shaped by factors other than temperature and gravity. 2MASS J11193254−1137466AB will be an essential benchmark for testing evolutionary and atmospheric models in the young planetary-mass regime.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

CFBDSIR J1458+1013B: A VERY COLD (>T10) BROWN DWARF IN A BINARY SYSTEM , ,

We have identified CFBDSIR J1458+1013 as a 0.''11 (2.6 AU) physical binary using Keck laser guide star adaptive optics imaging and have measured a distance of 23.1 {+-} 2.4 pc to the system based on near-IR parallax data from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. The integrated-light near-IR spectrum indicates a spectral type of T9.5, and model atmospheres suggest a slightly higher temperature and surface gravity than the T10 dwarf UGPS J0722-05. Thus, CFBDSIR J1458+1013AB is the coolest brown dwarf binary found to date. Its secondary component has an absolute H-band magnitude that is 1.9 {+-} 0.3 mag fainter than UGPS J0722-05, giving an inferred spectral type of >T10. The secondary's bolometric luminosity of {approx}2 x 10{sup -7} L{sub sun} makes it the least luminous known brown dwarf by a factor of 4-5. By comparing to evolutionary models and T9-T10 objects, we estimate a temperature of 370 {+-} 40 K and a mass of 6-15 M{sub Jup} for CFBDSIR J1458+1013B. At such extremes, atmospheric models predict the onset of novel photospheric processes, namely, the appearance of water clouds and the removal of strong alkali lines, but their impact on the emergent spectrum is highly uncertain. Our photometry shows that strong CH{sub 4} absorption persists in the H band, the J - K color is bluer than the latest known T dwarfs but not as blue as predicted by current models, and the J - H color delineates a possible inflection in the blueward trend for the latest T dwarfs. Given its low luminosity, atypical colors, and cold temperature, CFBDSIR J1458+1013B is a promising candidate for the hypothesized Y spectral class. However, regardless of its ultimate classification, CFBDSIR J1458+1013AB provides a new benchmark for measuring the properties of brown dwarfs and gas-giant planets, testing substellar models, and constraining the low-mass limit for star formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The case for a low mass black hole in the low mass X-ray binary V1408 Aquilae (= 4U 1957+115)

There are few confirmed black holes with a mass of less ∼4 M{sub ⊙} and no neutron stars with masses greater than ∼2 M{sub ⊙}, creating a gap in the observed distribution of compact star masses. We present new optical photometry of the Low mass X-ray binary V1408 Aql, which is a persistent X-ray source thought to contain a black hole. The optical light curve of V1408 Aql shows nearly sinusoidal modulations at the orbital period, superimposed on large night-to-night variations. We combined this photometry with previously published photometry to derive a more precise orbital period of P=0.388893(3) days. The orbital light curve agrees with a model in which the modulation is caused by the changing aspect of the heated face of the secondary. The lack of eclipses rules out orbital inclinations >65{sup ∘}. Our best models favor inclinations near 13{sup ∘} and black hole masses near 3 M{sub ⊙} with a 90% upper bound of 6.2 M{sub ⊙}, and a lower bound of 2.0 M{sub ⊙} imposed solely by the maximum mass of neutron stars. We favor a black hole primary over a neutron star based on evidence from the X-ray spectra, the high spin of the compact object, and the lack of any observed type I X-ray bursts. Although uncertainties in the data allow for higher masses, the compact star in V1408 Aql is a candidate for a black hole lying in the mass gap.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Phase-wrapping method for beam steering in optical phased arrays

A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the phase shifts produced in a binary corporate tree network of the kind, e.g., that can drive a phased array for steering an optical beam. The method employs a novel phase-wrapping technique in which an entire layer of the binary tree is disabled when the phase added in that layer reaches 2π. With that technique, it is possible to economize on electrical control lines and on the use of electric power, while still maintaining the ability to produce arbitrary phases at the output of the tree network.

Gehl, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2012

THREE NEW ECLIPSING WHITE-DWARF-M-DWARF BINARIES DISCOVERED IN A SEARCH FOR TRANSITING PLANETS AROUND M-DWARFS

We present three new eclipsing white-dwarf/M-dwarf binary systems discovered during a search for transiting planets around M-dwarfs. Unlike most known eclipsing systems of this type, the optical and infrared emission is dominated by the M-dwarf components, and the systems have optical colors and discovery light curves consistent with being Jupiter-radius transiting planets around early M-dwarfs. We detail the PTF/M-dwarf transiting planet survey, part of the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF). We present a graphics processing unit (GPU)-based box-least-squares search for transits that runs approximately 8 Multiplication-Sign faster than similar algorithms implemented on general purpose systems. For the discovered systems, we decompose low-resolution spectra of the systems into white-dwarf and M-dwarf components, and use radial velocity measurements and cooling models to estimate masses and radii for the white dwarfs. The systems are compact, with periods between 0.35 and 0.45 days and semimajor axes of approximately 2 R{sub Sun} (0.01 AU). The M-dwarfs have masses of approximately 0.35 M{sub Sun }, and the white dwarfs have hydrogen-rich atmospheres with temperatures of around 8000 K and have masses of approximately 0.5 M{sub Sun }. We use the Robo-AO laser guide star adaptive optics system to tentatively identify one of the objects as a triple system. We also use high-cadence photometry to put an upper limit on the white-dwarf radius of 0.025 R{sub Sun} (95% confidence) in one of the systems. Accounting for our detection efficiency and geometric factors, we estimate that 0.08%{sub -0.05%}{sup +0.10%} (90% confidence) of M-dwarfs are in these short-period, post-common-envelope white-dwarf/M-dwarf binaries where the optical light is dominated by the M-dwarf. The lack of detections at shorter periods, despite near-100% detection efficiency for such systems, suggests that binaries including these relatively low-temperature white dwarfs are preferentially found at relatively large orbital radii. Similar eclipsing binary systems can have arbitrarily small eclipse depths in red bands and generate plausible small-planet-transit light curves. As such, these systems are a source of false positives for M-dwarf transiting planet searches. We present several ways to rapidly distinguish these binaries from transiting planet systems.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

TIME-SERIES SPECTROSCOPY OF THE ECLIPSING BINARY Y CAM WITH A PULSATING COMPONENT

We present the physical properties of the semi-detached Algol-type eclipsing binary Y Cam based on high resolution spectra obtained using the Bohyunsan Optical Echelle Spectrograph. This is the first spectroscopic monitoring data obtained for this interesting binary system, which has a δ Sct-type pulsating component. We obtained a total of 59 spectra over 14 nights from 2009 December to 2011 March. Double-lined spectral features from the hot primary and cool secondary components were well identified. We determined the effective temperatures of the two stars to be T{sub eff,1} = 8000 ± 250 K and T{sub eff,2} = 4629 ± 150 K. The projected rotational velocities are v{sub 1}sin i{sub 1} = 51 ± 4 km s{sup −1} and v{sub 2}sin i{sub 2} = 50 ± 10 km s{sup −1}, which are very similar to a synchronous rotation with the orbital motion. Physical parameters of each component were derived by analyzing our radial velocity data together with previous photometric light curves from the literature. The masses and radii are M{sub 1} = 2.08 ± 0.09 M{sub ⊙}, M{sub 2} = 0.48 ± 0.03 M{sub ⊙}, R{sub 1} = 3.14 ± 0.05 R{sub ⊙}, and R{sub 2} = 3.33 ± 0.05 R{sub ⊙}, respectively. A comparison of these parameters with the theoretical evolution tracks showed that the primary component is located between the zero-age main sequence and the terminal-age main sequence, while the low-mass secondary is noticeably evolved. This indicates that the two components have experienced mass exchange with each other and the primary has undergone an evolution process different from that of single δ Sct-type pulsators.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Novel High Temperature and Radiation Resistant Infrared Glasses and Optical Fibers for Sensing in Advanced Small Modular Reactors

One binary and three series of ternary non-oxide pure sulfide glasses compositions were investigated with the goal of synthesizing new glasses that exhibit high glass transition (Tg) and crystallization (Tc) temperatures, infrared transparency, and reliable glass formability. The binary glass series consisted of Ges 2 and La 2 S 3 and the three glass series in the x(nBaS + mLa2S3) + (1-2x)GeS2 ternary system have BaS:La2S3 modifier ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 with . With these glasses, new insights were realized as to how ionic glasses form and how glass modifiers affect both structure and glass formability. All synthesized compositions were characterized by Infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopies and differential thermal analysis (DTA) to better understand the fundamental structure, optical, and thermal characteristics of the glasses. After a range of these glasses were synthesized, optimal compositions were formed into glass disks and subjected to gamma irradiation. Glass disks were characterized both before and after irradiation by microscope imaging, measuring the refractive index, density, and UV-VIS-IR transmission spectra. The final total dose the samples were subjected to was ~2.5 MGy. Ternary samples showed a less than 0.4% change in density and refractive index and minimal change in transmission window. The glasses also resisted cracking as seen in microscope images. Overall, many glass compositions were developed that possess operating temperatures above 500 °C, where conventional chalcogenide glasses such as As2S3 and have T g s from ~200-300 °C, and these glasses have a greater than Tc – Tg values larger than 100 °C and this shows that these glasses have good thermal stability of Tg such that they can be fabricated into optical fibers and as such can be considered candidates for high temperature infrared fiber optics. Initial fiber fabrication efforts showed that selected glasses could be drawn but larger samples would be needed for further development and optimization

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Phase-resolved XMM-Newton and swift observations of WR 25

We present an analysis of long-term X-ray and optical observations of the Wolf-Rayet binary, WR 25. Using archival data from observations with the XMM-Newton and the Swift observatories, spanning over ∼10 yr, we show that WR 25 is a periodic variable in X-rays with a period of 208 ± 3 days. X-ray light curves in the 0.5-10.0 keV energy band show phase-locked variability, where the flux increased by a factor of ∼2 from minimum to maximum, being maximum near periastron passage. The light curve in the soft energy band (0.5-2.0 keV) shows two minima indicating the presence of two eclipses. However, the light curve in the hard energy band (2.0-10.0 keV) shows only one minimum during the apastron passage. The X-ray spectra of WR 25 were explained by a two-temperature plasma model. Both the cool and the hot plasmas were constant at 0.628 ± 0.008 and 2.75 ± 0.06 keV throughout an orbital cycle, where the cooler plasma could be due to small scale shocks in a radiation-driven outflow and the high temperature plasma could be due to the collision of winds. The column density varied with the orbital phase and was found to be maximum after the periastron passage, when the WN star is in front of the O star. The abundances of WR 25 were found to be non-solar. Optical V-band data of WR 25 also show the phase-locked variability, being at maximum near periastron passage. The results based on the present analysis indicate that WR 25 is a colliding wind binary where the presence of soft X-rays is attributed to individual components; however, hard X-rays are due to the collision of winds.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dynamic Excitonic Beam Switching with Atomically‐Thin Binary Blazed Gratings

Abstract Beam steering metasurfaces are ultra‐compact optical coatings that offer on‐demand redirection of optical power to specific diffraction orders. To achieve this, spatial gradients are commonly introduced in the phase of light scattered by plasmon or Mie resonant nanoparticles within the metasurface grating's unit cell. However, these phase gradients are oftentimes difficult to tune post‐fabrication. Recently, excitons in monolayer 2D semiconductors have emerged as a new metasurface building block, due to their strong and electrically‐tunable resonant light‐matter interaction. These 2D excitonic metasurfaces offer the tantalizing prospect of beam switching within a single monolayer. Here, it is demonstrated how the 2D analog of binary blazed gratings enables such beam switching by mere nanopatterning of a large monolayer WS 2 , even though nanoscale ribbons of WS 2 do not support geometrical resonances. By introducing a gradient in the nanoribbon width within the metasurface unit cell, an amplitude gradient combined with a small phase gradient in the scattered fields results in asymmetric diffraction efficiencies. Using a scattered‐field analysis, it is shown that these gradients can be further engineered via interference effects with the substrate reflection. Finally, the electrical tunability of the exciton resonance is leveraged to achieve selective and dynamic beam switching with an atomically‐thin metasurface.

Guarneri, Ludovica [Van der Waals‐Zeeman Institute↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Mystery in Chamaeleon: Serendipitous Discovery of a Galactic Symbiotic Nova

We present the serendipitous discovery of a low optical-luminosity nova occurring in a D-type symbiotic binary star system in the Milky Way. We lay out the extensive archival data alongside new follow-up observations related to the stellar object CN Cha in the constellation of Chamaeleon. The object had long period (250 days), high amplitude (3 mag) optical variability in its recent past, preceding an increase in optical brightness by 8 magnitudes and a persistence at this brightness for about 3 yr, followed by a period of 1.4 mag yr{sup −1} dimming. The object’s current optical luminosity seems to be dominated by Hα emission, which also exhibits blueshifted absorption (a P-Cygni-like profile). After consideration of a number of theories to explain these myriad observations, we determine that CN Cha is most likely a symbiotic (an evolved-star–white-dwarf binary) system that has undergone a long-duration, low optical brightness, nova, placing it squarely in the class of so-called “slow novae,” of which there are only a few known examples. The duration of the optical plateau in CN Cha would make it the shortest timescale plateau of any known slow symbiotic novae.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The mass–luminosity relation in the L/T transition: Individual dynamical masses for the new J-band flux reversal binary SDSS J105213.51+442255.7AB

We have discovered that SDSS J105213.51+442255.7 (T0.5 ± 1.0) is a binary in Keck laser guide star adaptive optics imaging, displaying a large J- to K-band flux reversal (ΔJ=−0.45±0.09 mag, ΔK=0.52±0.05 mag). We determine a total dynamical mass from Keck orbital monitoring (88 ± 5 M{sub Jup}) and a mass ratio by measuring the photocenter orbit from CFHT/WIRCam absolute astrometry (M{sub B}/M{sub A}=0.78±0.07). Combining these provides the first individual dynamical masses for any field L or T dwarfs, 49 ± 3 M{sub Jup} for the L6.5±1.5 primary and 39 ± 3 M{sub Jup} for the T1.5±1.0 secondary. Such a low mass ratio for a nearly equal luminosity binary implies a shallow mass–luminosity relation over the L/T transition (Δlog L{sub bol}/Δlog M=0.6{sub −0.8}{sup +0.6}). This provides the first observational support that cloud dispersal plays a significant role in the luminosity evolution of substellar objects. Fully cloudy models fail our coevality test for this binary, giving ages for the two components that disagree by 0.2 dex (2.0σ). In contrast, our observed masses and luminosities can be reproduced at a single age by “hybrid” evolutionary tracks where a smooth change from a cloudy to cloudless photosphere around 1300 K causes slowing of luminosity evolution. Remarkably, such models also match our observed JHK flux ratios and colors well. Overall, it seems that the distinguishing features SDSS J1052+4422AB, like a J-band flux reversal and high-amplitude variability, are normal for a field L/T binary caught during the process of cloud dispersal, given that the age (1.11{sub −0.20}{sup +0.17} Gyr) and surface gravity (log g = 5.0–5.2) of SDSS J1052+4422AB are typical for field ultracool dwarfs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

CONSTRAINING THE TRUE NATURE OF AN EXOTIC BINARY IN THE CORE OF NGC 6624

We report on the identification of the optical counterpart to Star1, the exotic object serendipitously discovered by Deutsch et al. in the core of the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6624. Star1 has been classified by Deutsch et al. as either a quiescent cataclysmic variable or a low-mass X-ray binary. Deutsch et al. proposed StarA as a possible optical counterpart to this object. We used high-resolution images obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope to perform a variability analysis of the stars close to the nominal position of Star1. While no variability was detected for StarA, we found another star, referred to here as COM{sub S}tar1, showing a clear sinusoidal light modulation with amplitude Δm {sub F435W} ∼ 0.7 mag and an orbital period of P {sub orb} ∼ 98 minutes. The shape of the light curve is likely caused by strong irradiation by the primary heating of one hemisphere of the companion, thus suggesting a quite hot primary.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

KNOW THE STAR, KNOW THE PLANET. I. ADAPTIVE OPTICS OF EXOPLANET HOST STARS

The results of an adaptive optics survey of exoplanet host stars for stellar companions are presented. We used the Advanced Electro-Optical System telescope and its adaptive optics system to collect deep images of the stars in the I band. Sixty-two exoplanet host stars were observed and fifteen multiple star systems were resolved. Of these eight are known multiples, while seven are new candidate binaries. For all binaries, we measured the relative astrometry of the pair and the differential magnitude in the I band. We improved the orbits of HD 19994 and {tau} Boo. These observations will provide improved statistics on the duplicity of exoplanet host stars and provide an increased understanding of the dynamics of known binary star exoplanet hosts.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗