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At least 1,009 records · Page 56

An Optical/Near-infrared Investigation of HD 100546 b with the Gemini Planet Imager and MagAO

In this paper, we present H band spectroscopic and Hα photometric observations of HD 100546 obtained with the Gemini Planet Imager and the Magellan Visible AO camera. We detect H band emission at the location of the protoplanet HD 100546 b, but show that the choice of data processing parameters strongly affects the morphology of this source. It appears point-like in some aggressive reductions, but rejoins an extended disk structure in the majority of the others. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this emission appears stationary on a timescale of 4.6 years, inconsistent at the 2σ level with a Keplerian clockwise orbit at 59 au in the disk plane. The H band spectrum of the emission is inconsistent with any type of low effective temperature object or accreting protoplanetary disk. It strongly suggests a scattered-light origin, as this is consistent with the spectrum of the star and the spectra extracted at other locations in the disk. A non-detection at the 5σ level of HD 100546 b in differential Hα imaging places an upper limit, assuming the protoplanet lies in a gap free of extinction, on the accretion luminosity of 1.7 × 10 -4 L ⊙ and $M\dot{M}\lt 6.3\times {10}^{-7}\,{M}_{\mathrm{Jup}}^{2}\,{\mathrm{yr}}^{-1}$ for 1 R Jup . These limits are comparable to the accretion luminosity and accretion rate of T-Tauri stars or LkCa 15 b. Taken together, these lines of evidence suggest that the H band source at the location of HD 100546 b is not emitted by a planetary photosphere or an accreting circumplanetary disk but is a disk feature enhanced by the point-spread function subtraction process. Lastly, this non-detection is consistent with the non-detection in the K band reported in an earlier study but does not exclude the possibility that HD 100546 b is deeply embedded.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Evidence for COMPTEL detections of low-energy gamma rays from HVC complexes

Observational evidence of extended MeV emissions that may be associated with high velocity clouds (HVCs) is reported on. Based on observations acquired between 1991 and 1996 with the Compton telescope (COMPTEL), evidence is found for intense gamma ray radiation at 0.75 to 3 MeV from the general direction of two HVC regions. One bright gamma ray excess is located between the HVC complexes M and A, adjacent to the Lockman hole and is seen to approximately cover a sky area of exceptionally low H I column densities. A second source is detected at the high velocity end of complex C near the Draco Nebula. Both gamma ray excesses appear to consist of a time variable source and a diffuse emission component. The enhanced diffuse soft X-rays seen by Rosat from both HVC regions may be closely related to the gamma ray emission in terms of bremsstrahlung arising from HVC interactions with the galactic disk or lower halo.

Blom, J. J.↗

A solution of the monoenergetic neutral particle transport equation for adjacent half-spaces with anisotropic scattering

We present highly accurate solutions to the neutral particle transport equation in a half-space. While our initial motivation was in response to a recently published solution based on Chandrasekhar's H-function, the presentation to follow has taken on a more comprehensive tone. The solution by H-functions certainly did achieved high accuracy but was limited to isotropic scattering and emission from spatially uniform and linear sources. Moreover, the overly complicated nature of the H-function approach strongly suggests that its extension to anisotropic scattering and general sources is not at all practical. For this reason, an all encompassing theory for the determination of highly precise benchmarks, including anisotropic scattering for a variety of spatial source distributions, is presented for particle transport in a half-space. We illustrate the approach via a collection of cases including tables of 7-place flux benchmarks to guide transport methods developers. The solution presented can be applied to a considerable number of one and two half-space transport problems with variable sources and represents a state-of-the-art benchmark solution.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

New Homogeneous Chromophore/Catalyst Concepts for the Solar-Driven Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

One of the major scientific and technical challenges of this century is to develop chemical means to store solar energy in the form of fuels. This can be accomplished by developing light-absorbing and catalytic compounds that function cooperatively to rearrange the chemical bonds of feedstocks in a way that allows solar energy to be stored and released on demand. The research conducted during this project was directed toward addressing fundamental questions that underlie the conversion of CO 2 to a solar fuel using homogeneous molecular systems. The research focused particularly on developing methods for extracting the reducing equivalents for these photochemical conversions from H 2 , which is a renewable molecule sourced to water. The research followed two main lines. One effort focused on understanding the general principles that govern how light-absorbing molecules interact with independent H 2 oxidation and CO 2 reduction catalysts to produce a functional cycle for driving the energy-storing reverse water-gas-shift reaction with light. The second effort centered on developing the excited-state properties and H 2 activation chemistry of tungsten–alkylidyne complexes. These chromophores were found to be powerful excited-state reducing agents, which could be incorporated into light-light-harvesting assemblies, and to hold the potential to be regenerated using H 2 .

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

HIGH-VELOCITY H I IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE TeV SUPERNOVA REMNANT W51C

The recently detected TeV {gamma}-ray source HESS J1923+141 coincides with supernova remnant (SNR) W51C and the star-forming region W51B of the W51 complex. We construct H I absorption spectra of SNR W51C, H II regions G49.2-0.35 and G49.1-0.38 in W51B, and a nearby compact extragalactic source. Our study detects high-velocity (HV) H I clouds (above 83 km s{sup -1}) that coincide with W51B, but finds that the clouds are behind W51B. Both W51C and G49.2-0.35 have similar highest velocity absorption features at {approx}70 km s{sup -1}. The H II region G49.1-0.38 is behind the SNR because its H I absorption spectrum has a feature at 83 km s{sup -1}. These new results argue against previous claims that the SNR has shocked the HV H I clouds. Therefore, the TeV emission from the complex should not be associated with the HV H I clouds. W51C has a distance of about 4.3 kpc, smaller than the tangent point distance of 5.5 kpc in that direction, but still in the Sagittarius spiral arm.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

PHOTOIONIZATION MODELING OF THE LOW-LUMINOSITY SEYFERT 1 NUCLEUS IN NGC 3516

Spectroscopic observations of the low-luminosity Seyfert 1 nucleus in NGC 3516 obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope show that the visible spectrum is dominated by Balmer emission lines of hydrogen (H) and a continuum luminosity that rises into the UV. The anomalous Hα/Hβ emission line ratio, the Balmer emission line luminosity, and the distinctive shape observed for the Hα emission line profile serve as important constraints for any photoionization model aimed at explaining the visible emission line spectrum of NGC 3516. Photoionization modeling using Cloudy demonstrates that the central UV–X-ray source is able to completely ionize the H gas in between the Balmer and dust reverberation radii if the electron density is ⩽3 × 10{sup 7} cm{sup −3} throughout. Thus, according to this model the region responsible for producing the visible H lines is a dust-free shell of ionized H gas. Interestingly, the model predicts a rapid rise in the electron temperature as the central UV–X-ray source is approached, mirrored by an equally precipitous decrease in the Balmer line emissivity that coincides with the Balmer reverberation radius, providing a natural explanation for the finite width observed for H Balmer lines. Collectively, the merit of the model is that it explains the relative intensities of the three brightest Balmer lines and the shape of the Hα emission line profile. However, questions remain concerning the unusually weak forbidden lines that cannot be addressed using Cloudy due to limitations with the code.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The isotopic composition of hydrogen and helium in low-energy cosmic rays

The isotopes H-2 and He-3 have been identified in low-energy cosmic rays during solar-quiet periods from 1973 January to 1974 October. These observations, made with the electron/isotope spectrometer on IMP-7, cover the energy intervals 5-29 MeV per nucleon for H-2 and 7-50 MeV per nucleon for He-3. The energy spectra of H-1, H-2, and He-3 fall rapidly with decreasing energy, giving H-2/H-1 and He-3/H-1 ratios which are essentially independent of energy as expected from current theories of the solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays. The measured He-4 spectrum, however, is essentially flat below 40 MeV per nucleon, suggesting that there may be contributions from a local, nonsolar source of He-4. Comparisons of the H-1, H-2, and He-3 observations with calculated spectra at 1 AU imply a mean interstellar path length of 7 plus or minus 2 g/sq cm. However, present low-energy measurements of H and He isotopes at 1 AU do not discriminate between possible cosmic-ray source spectra.

Mewaldt, R. A.↗

THE CHROMOSPHERIC SOLAR LIMB BRIGHTENING AT RADIO, MILLIMETER, SUB-MILLIMETER, AND INFRARED WAVELENGTHS

Observations of the emission at radio, millimeter, sub-millimeter, and infrared wavelengths in the center of the solar disk validate the autoconsistence of semi-empirical models of the chromosphere. Theoretically, these models must reproduce the emission at the solar limb. In this work, we tested both the VALC and C7 semi-empirical models by computing their emission spectrum in the frequency range from 2 GHz to 10 THz at solar limb altitudes. We calculate the Sun's theoretical radii as well as their limb brightening. Non-local thermodynamic equilibrium was computed for hydrogen, electron density, and H{sup −}. In order to solve the radiative transfer equation, a three-dimensional (3D) geometry was employed to determine the ray paths, and Bremsstrahlung, H{sup −}, and inverse Bremsstrahlung opacity sources were integrated in the optical depth. We compared the computed solar radii with high-resolution observations at the limb obtained by Clark. We found that there are differences between the observed and computed solar radii of 12,000 km at 20 GHz, 5000 km at 100 GHz, and 1000 km at 3 THz for both semi-empirical models. A difference of 8000 km in the solar radii was found when comparing our results against the heights obtained from H α observations of spicules-off at the solar limb. We conclude that the solar radii cannot be reproduced by VALC and C7 semi-empirical models at radio—infrared wavelengths. Therefore, the structures in the high chromosphere provide a better measurement of the solar radii and their limb brightening as shown in previous investigations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The energetics of molecular clouds. III - The S235 molecular cloud

The molecular cloud associated with the S235 H II region has been studied by means of molecular lines and near-infrared observations. The cloud consists of two components, one of which partly surrounds the S235 H II region. The other component contains a dense, hot region of active star formation, marked by self-reversed CO profiles, compact H II regions, masers, and infrared sources. From the molecular line data, the size and mass of the two components are estimated to be 6-8 pc and 3000-4000 solar masses. More detailed studies near the region of active star formation yield estimates of density (approximately 200,000-500,000/cu cm) and the abundances of H2CO, HCO(+), HCN, and (C-13)O. Analysis of the energetics suggests that the cloud is heated by the exciting star of S235 and by the exciting stars of the compact H II regions. Assuming that the gas is heated by collisions with warm dust grains, the far-infrared luminosity has been predicted. The observations of far-infrared emission are in reasonable agreement with predictions.

Evans, N. J., II↗

Near-infrared imaging of FSC 10214+4724 with the W. M. Keck Telescope

Near-infrared observations of the z = 2.286 IRAS source FSC 10214+4724, made with the near-infrared camera on the W. M. Keck Telescope, are reported. Deep broad-band images at 2.15 and 1.27 micrometers, and narrow-band images at 2.165 and 2.125 micrometers with 0.6 sec to 0.9 sec seeing show that FSC 10214+4724 consists of at least three distinct components in a compact group of galaxies. The source of the infrared luminosity appears to be in a strongly interacting galaxy that has a luminosity of approximately 100 times that of a present-day L* galaxy. The interaction suggests and 'age' of this galaxy of approximately equal to 10(exp 9) yr. The H-alpha emission is resolved as a source of diameter approximately equal to 5 kpc, suggesting that a starburst contributes to the observed H-alpha emission. There is an excess of objects in the FSC 10214+4724 field that could represent galaxies in an associated cluster.

Matthews, K.↗

The Herschel-ATLAS: Extragalatic Number Counts from 250 to 500 Microns

Aims.The Herschel-ATLAS survey (H-ATLAS) will be the largest area survey to be undertaken by the Herschel Space Observatory. It will cover 550 sq. deg. of extragalactic sky at wavelengths of 100, 160, 250, 350 and 500 microns when completed, reaching flux limits (50-) from 32 to 145mJy. We here present galaxy number counts obtained for SPIRE observations of the first -14 sq. deg. observed at 250, 350 and 500 m. Methods. Number counts are a fundamental tool in constraining models of galaxy evolution. We use source catalogs extracted from the H-ATLAS maps as the basis for such an analysis. Correction factors for completeness and flux boosting are derived by applying our extraction method to model catalogs and then applied to the raw observational counts. Results. We find a steep rise in the number counts at flux levels of 100-200mJy in all three SPIRE bands, consistent with results from BLAST. The counts are compared to a range of galaxy evolution models. None of the current models is an ideal fit to the data but all ascribe the steep rise to a population of luminous, rapidly evolving dusty galaxies at moderate to high redshift.

Clements, D. L.↗

PHOTOMETRIC CONSTRAINTS ON THE REDSHIFT OF z {approx} 10 CANDIDATE UDFj-39546284 FROM DEEPER WFC3/IR+ACS+IRAC OBSERVATIONS OVER THE HUDF

Ultra-deep WFC3/IR observations on the HUDF from the HUDF09 program revealed just one plausible z {approx} 10 candidate, UDFj-39546284. UDFj-39546284 had all the properties expected of a galaxy at z {approx} 10 showing (1) no detection in the deep ACS+WFC3 imaging data blueward of the F160W band, exhibiting (2) a blue spectral slope redward of the break, and showing (3) no prominent detection in deep IRAC observations. The new, similarly deep WFC3/IR HUDF12 F160W observations over the HUDF09/XDF allow us to further assess this candidate. These observations show that this candidate, previously only detected at {approx}5.9{sigma} in a single band, clearly corresponds to a real source. It is detected at {approx}5.3{sigma} in the new H{sub 160}-band data and at {approx}7.8{sigma} in the full 85-orbit H{sub 160}-band stack. Interestingly, the non-detection of the source (<1{sigma}) in the new F140W observations suggests a higher redshift. Formally, the best-fit redshift of the source utilizing all the WFC3+ACS (and IRAC+K{sub s} -band) observations is 11.8 {+-} 0.3. However, we consider the z {approx} 12 interpretation somewhat unlikely, since the source would either need to be {approx}20 Multiplication-Sign more luminous than expected or show very high-EW Ly{alpha} emission (which seems improbable given the extensive neutral gas prevalent early in the reionization epoch). Lower-redshift solutions fail if only continuum models are allowed. Plausible lower-redshift solutions require that the H{sub 160}-band flux be dominated by line emission such as H{alpha} or [O III] with extreme EWs. The tentative detection of line emission at 1.6 {mu}m in UDFj-39546284 in a companion paper suggests that such emission may have already been found.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

THE IMPACT OF POINT-SOURCE SUBTRACTION RESIDUALS ON 21 cm EPOCH OF REIONIZATION ESTIMATION

Precise subtraction of foreground sources is crucial for detecting and estimating 21 cm H I signals from the Epoch of Reionization (EoR). We quantify how imperfect point-source subtraction due to limitations of the measurement data set yields structured residual signal in the data set. We use the Cramer-Rao lower bound, as a metric for quantifying the precision with which a parameter may be measured, to estimate the residual signal in a visibility data set due to imperfect point-source subtraction. We then propagate these residuals into two metrics of interest for 21 cm EoR experiments-the angular power spectrum and two-dimensional power spectrum-using a combination of full analytic covariant derivation, analytic variant derivation, and covariant Monte Carlo simulations. This methodology differs from previous work in two ways: (1) it uses information theory to set the point-source position error, rather than assuming a global rms error, and (2) it describes a method for propagating the errors analytically, thereby obtaining the full correlation structure of the power spectra. The methods are applied to two upcoming low-frequency instruments that are proposing to perform statistical EoR experiments: the Murchison Widefield Array and the Precision Array for Probing the Epoch of Reionization. In addition to the actual antenna configurations, we apply the methods to minimally redundant and maximally redundant configurations. We find that for peeling sources above 1 Jy, the amplitude of the residual signal, and its variance, will be smaller than the contribution from thermal noise for the observing parameters proposed for upcoming EoR experiments, and that optimal subtraction of bright point sources will not be a limiting factor for EoR parameter estimation. We then use the formalism to provide an ab initio analytic derivation motivating the 'wedge' feature in the two-dimensional power spectrum, complementing previous discussion in the literature.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A molecular line scan in the Hubble deep field north: Constraints on the co luminosity function and the cosmic H{sub 2} density

We present direct constraints on the CO luminosity function at high redshift and the resulting cosmic evolution of the molecular gas density, ρ{sub H{sub 2}}(z), based on a blind molecular line scan in the Hubble Deep Field North (HDF-N) using the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer. Our line scan of the entire 3 mm window (79-115 GHz) covers a cosmic volume of ∼7000 Mpc{sup 3}, and redshift ranges z < 0.45, 1.01 < z < 1.89 and z > 2. We use the rich multiwavelength and spectroscopic database of the HDF-N to derive some of the best constraints on CO luminosities in high redshift galaxies to date. We combine the blind CO detections in our molecular line scan (presented in a companion paper) with stacked CO limits from galaxies with available spectroscopic redshifts (slit or mask spectroscopy from Keck and grism spectroscopy from the Hubble Space Telescope) to give first blind constraints on high-z CO luminosity functions and the cosmic evolution of the H{sub 2} mass density ρ{sub H{sub 2}}(z) out to redshifts z ∼ 3. A comparison to empirical predictions of ρ{sub H{sub 2}}(z) shows that the securely detected sources in our molecular line scan already provide significant contributions to the predicted ρ{sub H{sub 2}}(z) in the redshift bins (z) ∼ 1.5 and (z) ∼ 2.7. Accounting for galaxies with CO luminosities that are not probed by our observations results in cosmic molecular gas densities ρ{sub H{sub 2}}(z) that are higher than current predictions. We note, however, that the current uncertainties (in particular the luminosity limits, number of detections, as well as cosmic volume probed) are significant, a situation that is about to change with the emerging ALMA observatory.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Ground-based Detection of Deuterated Water in Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) at IR Wavelengths

We conducted a deep search for deuterated water (HDO) in the Oort Cloud comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy), through infrared (IR) spectroscopy with NIRSPEC at the Keck Observatory. In this Letter, we present our detections of HDO and water (H{sub 2}O) in comet Lovejoy on 2015 February 4 (post-perihelion) after 1 hr integration on source. The IR observations allowed simultaneous detection of H{sub 2}O and HDO, yielding production rates of 5.9 ± 0.13 × 10{sup 29} and 3.6 ± 1.0 × 10{sup 26} molecules s{sup −1}, respectively. The simultaneous detection permitted accurate determination of the isotopic ratio (D/H) in water of 3.02 ± 0.87 × 10{sup −4}, i.e., larger than the value for water in terrestrial oceans (or Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water, VSMOW) by a factor of 1.94 ± 0.56. This D/H ratio in water exceeds the value obtained independently at millimeter wavelengths (0.89 ± 0.25 VSMOW; pre-perihelion). We discuss these parameters in the context of origins and emphasize the need for contemporaneous measurements of HDO and H{sub 2}O.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The broad emission line and continuum variations of Seyfert galaxies. 2: Broad-line region structure and kinematics

Spectroscopic observations of 13 Seyfert 1 galaxies made from 1979 to 1984 at Palomar and Steward Observatories were analyzed for H beta line profile variations. Significant profile changes were detected in five galaxies. These variations are often associated with changes in continuum and/or H beta strength, suggesting a causal connection between variations in the continuum source and changes in emission-line profiles. Moreover, the overall strength of H beta line flux variations is strongly correlated with line width in the far wings, whereas no such correlation was found in the line core. This finding is consistent with previous observations (Shuder 1982) which suggest that higher velocity gas lies closer to the central continuum source, since this inner gas would be expected to track variations more closely. In each of the five galaxies in which H beta line profile variations were detected, particularly NGC 5548 and Mrk 6, only two distinct line profile shapes were observed. Since intermediate profile types were not detected, the transition from one type to the other must occur rapidly (within a few months). These rapid line profile variations are thus consistent with numerous other studies which strongly point to a small broad-line region (BLR) size in Seyfert galaxies. Observational models of BLR kinematics and structure for each of the galaxies in the present sample are presented. Line asymmetries suggest that radial motions exist in the BLRs of most of these objects. Chaotic motions also appear to be quite common. However, evidence for rotational motion was observed in only one case. A model that is consistent with the majority of this sample incorporates both radial and chaotic motions combined with some form of external obscuration such as an optically and geometrically thick torus.

Rosenblatt, Edward I.↗

EPIC Study of Two Enigmatic Sources: The Mouse and SNR 359.1-0.5

The objective of the original proposal was to observe the Mouse pulsar wind nebula (associated with PSR J1744-2958) and the nearby supernova remnant G359.1-0.5, where the pulsar was probably born, with the XMM-Newton observatory to study the properties of these objects. SNR G359.1-0.5 was accepted as a Category C target and has not been observed. The Mouse was observed on April 27,2003 for 52 ks. The image analysis has shown that the Mouse is extended in the East-West direction, possibly along the direction of the pulsar's proper motion. The spectrum of this pulsar wind nebula can be described as an absorbed power law with the photon index GAMMA = 1.9 plus or minus 0.1, effective hydrogen column density n(sub H) = (2.6 plus or minus 0.1) x 10(exp 22) per square centimeter, and flux F = 1.8 x 10(exp -11) erg per square centimeter per second in the 1-10 keV energy range. Based on the n(sub H) value, the distance to the source is about 5 kpc, which results in the luminosity 3.7 x 10(exp 34) erg per second. We conclude that PSR J1744-2958 and the Mouse are not physically associated with G359.1-0.5, which lies at a larger distance. In addition to the Mouse, we also detected two Low-Mass X-ray Binaries, SLX 1744-299 and 1744-300, in the EPIC MOS and PN fields of view. The latter of these objects showed a Type I X-ray burst during our observation, with a rise time of 5 s and decay time of 60 s. A very strong pileup during the burst made the analysis of the burst properties unreliable. The spectral analysis of the persistent radiation from SLX 1744-299 and 1744-300 yields the hydrogen column densities of 3.2 plus or minus 0.1 and (3.6 plus or minus 0.2) x 10(exp 22) per square centimeter, respectively, which suggests that the sources are close to the Galactic center (d = 8-9 kpc). The spectra can be reasonably well fitted with a blackbody plus thin disk model, with the blackbody temperatures of 1.7 plus or minus 0.2 and 1.8 plus or minus 0.2 keV, respectively.

Pavlov, George↗