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DOE OSTI2024

Examining a hadronic γ-ray scenario for the radiative shell and molecular clouds of the old GeV supernova remnant G298.6−0.0

Abstract Based on the 13.7 yr Fermi-LAT data, Yeung, Bamba, and Sano (2023, PASJ, 75, 384) claimed detection of two γ-ray sources (namely Src-NE and Src-NW) associated with the supernova remnant (SNR) G298.6−0.0, and interpreted it as an old GeV SNR interacting with molecular clouds (MCs). In this follow-up study, we refine the flux measurements below 2 GeV with Fermi-LAT event types of better angular reconstruction. Then, we report our γ-ray spectral fittings and cosmic-ray phenomenology in a hadronic scenario, considering both the shell and MC regions of SNR G298.6−0.0. We confirm that the γ-ray spectra of both Src-NE and Src-NW exhibit spectral breaks, at $1.50_{-0.50}^{+0.60}$ and $0.68_{-0.11}^{+0.32}\:$GeV, respectively. Src-NW has a harder broad-band photon index than Src-NE, suggesting an appreciable difference between the physical separations of their respective emission sites from SNR G298.6−0.0. The cosmic-ray spectrum responsible for Src-NE starts with a minimum energy $E_\mathrm{CR,min}=1.38_{-0.16}^{+0.47}\:$GeV, and has a proton index $\Gamma _\mathrm{CR}=2.57_{-0.21}^{+0.18}$ below the exponential cutoff energy $E_\mathrm{CR,max}=240_{-150}^{+240}\:$GeV. Accordingly, we argue that Src-NE is dominated by the SNR shell, while only a minor portion of lower-energy emission is contributed by the MCs interacting with the SNR. The cosmic-ray population for Src-NW starts at a higher energy such that the ECR, min ratio of Src-NW to Src-NE is ≳2. The high ECR, min, as well as the high cosmic-ray energy density required (∼26 eV cm−3), supports the interpretation that Src-NW is predominantly the γ-ray emission from the farther MCs being bombarded by protons that had earlier escaped from SNR G298.6−0.0. By comparing the high-energy features of G298.6−0.0 with those of analogical SNRs, especially SNR W 28 and SNR W 44, we further constrain the age of SNR G298.6−0.0 to be 10–30 kyr, under the assumption of a purely hadronic scenario.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

NASA NTRS2019

Analysis of Broad-Lined Type Ic Supernovae From the (Intermediate) Palomar Transient Factory

We study 34 Type Ic supernovae that have broad spectral features (SNe Ic-BL). This is the only SN type found in association with long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).We obtained our photometric data with the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) and its continuation, the intermediate PTF (iPTF). This is the first large, homogeneous sample of SNe Ic-BL from an untargeted survey. Furthermore, given the high observational cadence of iPTF, most of these SNe Ic-BL were discovered soon after explosion. We present K-corrected Bgriz light curves of these SNe, obtained through photometry on template-subtracted images. We analyzed the shape of the r-band light curves, finding a correlation between the decline parameter delta m15 and the rise parameter delta m-10. We studied the SN colors and, based on g - r, we estimated the host-galaxy extinction for each event. Peak r-band absolute magnitudes have an average of -18:6 +- 0:5 mag. We fit each r-band light curve with that of SN 1998bw (scaled and stretched) to derive the explosion epochs. We computed the bolometric light curves using bolometric corrections, r-band data, and g - r colors. Expansion velocities from Fe ii were obtained by fitting spectral templates of SNe Ic. Bolometric light curves and velocities at peak were fitted using the semianalytic Arnett model to estimate ejecta mass Mej, explosion energy EK and 56Ni mass M(56Ni) for each SN. We find average values of Mej = 4 +- 3 M sun, EK = (7 +- 6) x 1051 erg, and M(56Ni) = 0:31 +- 0:16 M . The parameter distributions were compared to those presented in the literature and are overall in agreement with them. We also estimated the degree of 56Ni mixing using scaling relations derived from hydrodynamical models and we find that all the SNe are strongly mixed. The derived explosion parameters imply that at least 21% of the progenitors of SNe Ic-BL are compatible with massive (>28 M ), possibly single stars, whereas at least 64% might come from less massive stars in close binary systems.

Supernovae↗

NASA NTRS1993

Multi-filter spectrophotometry of quasar environments

A many-filter photometric technique for determining redshifts and morphological types, by fitting spectral templates to spectral energy distributions, has good potential for application in surveys. Despite success in studies performed on simulated data, the results have not been fully reliable when applied to real, low signal-to-noise data. We are investigating techniques to improve the fitting process.

Craven, Sally E.↗

NASA NTRS1994

ROSAT X-ray observations of late-type evolved stars: On the relationship between coronal temperatures and luminosities

We present ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counters (PSPC) X-ray observations of three near-solar-mass stars, in different evolutionary phases beyond the main sequence: eta Sco (F3 III-IV), iota Vir (F6 III), and HD 74772 (G5 III). All three of these nearby, presumably single stars have been detected, and we have collected enough counts to perform a detailed analysis of their soft X-ray spectra. While the X-ray spectra of eta Sco and HD 74772 can be fitted with Raymond-Smith thermal models with temperatures around 2 x 10(exp 6) K, the high signal-to-noise spectrum of iota Vir provides unambiguous evidence of a multitemperature plasma, with a two-temperature best-fit model with components at approximately 2 x 10(exp 6) K and 8 x 10(exp 6) K. Evidence of some hot plasma (T approximately 10(exp 7) K) has been also found for HD 74772. The present data, compared with spectral fitting results for other late-type stars observed with the Einstein Observatory, indicate that the low X-ray luminosity giants (L(sub x) is less than 5 x 10(exp 28) ergs/s) do not share with the higher X-ray luminosity stars of the same class the property of having substantial amount of 10(exp 7) K plasma. Moreover, our results confirm the trend of increasing X-ray luminosities with increasing coronal temperatures.

Maggio, A.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Laboratory IR Studies and Astrophysical Implications of C2H2-Containing Binary Ices

Studies of molecular hot cores and protostellar environments have shown that the observed abundance of gas-phase acetylene (C2H2) cannot be matched by chemical models without the inclusion of C2H2 molecules subliming from icy grain mantles. Searches for infrared (IR) spectral features of solid-phase acetylene are under way, but few laboratory reference spectra of C2H2 in icy mixtures, which are needed for spectral fits to observational data, have been published. Here, we report a systematic study of the IR spectra of condensed-phase pure acetylene and acetylene in ices dominated by carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water (H2O). We present new spectral data for these ices, including band positions and intrinsic band strengths. For each ice mixture and concentration, we also explore the dependence of acetylene's nu5-band position (743 cm-1, 13.46 micrometers) and FWHM on temperature. Our results show that the nu5 feature is much more cleanly resolved in ices dominated by non-polar and low-polarity molecules, specifically CO, CO2, and CH4, than in mixtures dominated by H2O-ice. We compare our laboratory ice spectra with observations of a quiescent region in Serpens.

Knez, C.↗

NASA NTRS2003

The Origin and Distribution of Heavy Elements in the CD Groups MKW 4 and AWM 4

At this point, data for MKW4 have been received and those for AWM4 are still awaited. The MKW4 data have been fully analyzed and a complete manuscript is available and in final review by co-authors before submission for refereed publication. The following is a summary of our principal findings: We examined the distribution and properties of the hot gas which makes up the group halo. The inner halo shows some signs of structure, with circular or elliptical beta-models providing a poor fit to the surface brightness profile. This may be evidence of large-scale motion in the inner halo, but we do not find evidence of sharp fronts or edges in the emission. The temperature of the halo declines in the core, with deprojected spectral fits showing a central temperature of approximately 1.3keV compared to approximately 3keV at 250 arcsec. However, cooling flow models provide poor fits to the inner regions of the group and the estimated cooling time of the gas is long except within the central dominant galaxy, NGC4073. Abundance profiles show a sharp increase in the core of the group. We conclude that MKW4 is a fairly relaxed group, which has developed a strong central temperature gradient but not a large-scale cooling flow.

Vrtilek, Jan↗

DOE OSTI2023

Fantastic Fits with fantasy of Active Galactic Nuclei Spectra: Exploring the Fe II Emission near the Hα Line

In this study, a refined approach for multicomponent fitting of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) spectra is presented utilizing the newly developed Python code Fully Automated pythoN Tool for AGN Spectra analYsis (fantasy). AGN spectra are modeled by simultaneously considering the underlying broken power-law continuum, predefined emission line lists, and an Fe II model, which is here extended to cover the wavelength range 3700–11000 Å. The Fe II model, founded solely on atomic data, effectively describes the extensive emission of the complex iron ion in the vicinity of the Hγ and Hβ lines, as well as near the Hα line, which was previously rarely studied. The proposed spectral fitting approach is tested on a sample of high-quality AGN spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 17. The results indicate that when Fe II emission is present near Hβ, it is also detected redward from Hα, potentially contaminating the broad Hα line wings and thus affecting the measurements of its flux and width. The production of Fe II emission is found to be strongly correlated with Eddington luminosity and appears to be controlled by a similar mechanism as the hydrogen Balmer lines. The study highlights the benefits of fitting type 1 AGN spectra with the fantasy code, pointing that it may be used as a robust tool for analyzing a large number of AGN spectra in the coming spectral surveys.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1994

X-ray emission from near-main-sequence B stars

Results of a Roengten Satellite (ROSAT) X-ray survey of 12 nearby near-main-sequence B stars are presented. Objects with very low interstellar hydrogen column density were chosen to study the soft X-ray emission properties of the stars. All of the stars were detected at the 3 sigma level. Spectral fits to seven of the stars are presented, and temperatures and source emission measures are derived. The spectra and characterized by emission from gas at a temperature of about 2 x 10(exp 6) K, which is lower than that typically observed for O stars. The ratio L(sub x)/L(sub Bol) decreases sharply with spectral types later than B1, reaching values of about 10(exp -9) at B3 V; much less than the value of 10(exp -7) that holds for O stars and early-B stars. The survey includes four beta Cephei stars and two Be stars. Our observations are consistent with the finding that beta Cephei variables have softer spectra than other stars of the same spectral type. The X-ray emission measures for the stars are compared with upper and lower limits derived using mass loss rates and terminal velocities from line-driven wind theory. It is concluded that if shocks embedded in the winds are the source of the X-ray emission then a significant fraction of the winds in B stars must be hot. One to a few shocks can account for the observed emission measures. As a function of spectral type, there appears to be a transition in X-ray emission properties at about B1 to B1.5, with later type stars having a smaller L(sub x)/L(sub Bol) ratio. Coronal and shock models are discussed in regards to the BO V star tau Sco which has an anomalously high source temperature.

Cassinelli, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Space-Based Near-Infrared CO2 Measurements: Testing the Orbiting Carbon Observatory Retrieval Algorithm and Validation Concept Using SCIAMACHY Observations over Park Falls, Wisconsin

Space-based measurements of reflected sunlight in the near-infrared (NIR) region promise to yield accurate and precise observations of the global distribution of atmospheric CO2. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) is a future NASA mission, which will use this technique to measure the column-averaged dry air mole fraction of CO2 (XCO2) with the precision and accuracy needed to quantify CO2 sources and sinks on regional scales (approx.1000 x 1000 sq km and to characterize their variability on seasonal timescales. Here, we have used the OCO retrieval algorithm to retrieve XCO2 and surface pressure from space-based Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) measurements and from coincident ground-based Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) measurements of the O2 A band at 0.76 mm and the 1.58 mm CO2 band for Park Falls,Wisconsin. Even after accounting for a systematic error in our representation of the O2 absorption cross sections, we still obtained a positive bias between SCIAMACHY and FTS XCO2 retrievals of approx.3.5%. Additionally, the retrieved surface pressures from SCIAMACHY systematically underestimate measurements of a calibrated pressure sensor at the FTS site. These findings lead us to speculate about inadequacies in the forward model of our retrieval algorithm. By assuming a 1% intensity offset in the O2 A band region for the SCIAMACHY XCO2 retrieval, we significantly improved the spectral fit and achieved better consistency between SCIAMACHY and FTS XCO2 retrievals. We compared the seasonal cycle of XCO2 at Park Falls from SCIAMACHY and FTS retrievals with calculations of the Model of Atmospheric Transport and Chemistry/Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (MATCH/CASA) and found a good qualitative agreement but with MATCH/CASA underestimating the measured seasonal amplitude. Furthermore, since SCIAMACHY observations are similar in viewing geometry and spectral range to those of OCO, this study represents an important test of the OCO retrieval algorithm and validation concept using NIR spectra measured from space. Finally, we argue that significant improvements in precision and accuracy could be obtained from a dedicated CO2 instrument such as OCO, which has much higher spectral and spatial resolutions than SCIAMACHY. These measurements would then provide critical data for improving our understanding of the carbon cycle and carbon sources and sinks.

carbon dioxide↗

NASA NTRS1999

ROSAT PSPC and HRI Observations of Supernova Remnant G292.0+1.8

The supernova remnant G292.0+1.8 was observed by the ROSAT PSPC for 18 ksec as part of this grant. Considerable effort was put into the analysis of the PSPC spectra. The major work went into nonequilibrium ionization joint spectral fits with the Einstein SSS and EXOSAT ME data which indicated that the two spatial regions of this remnant (a central bar and a plateau region covering a larger extent) had similar abundances, but different excitation conditions (temperature and ionization state), an important conclusion, if true. Unfortunately as this work was being finished, new ASCA data revealed the presence of a previously unknown, spectrally hard X-ray source near the center of the remnant which contaminated the SSS and ME data and as a consequence made our detailed spectral analysis done up until then un-publishable. We searched for evidence of this hard source in the PSPC data both spectrally and using timing searches (for a pulsar), but found nothing significant. ROSAT HRI data were also obtained on this remnant. These data were compared to the Einstein HRI data to search for evidence of spectral variations with position and possible expansion of the X-ray remnant. One feature in the remnant appears to have changed in brightness although it is not clear what is the cause of the change. No evidence for the hard ASCA source was apparent in the HRI data.

Hughes, John P.↗

DOE OSTI2026

Calibration-free analysis of Li isotope ratios using laser ablation and laser absorption spectroscopy

We introduce a rapid, calibration-free, all-optical method for high-precision lithium isotope ratio measurements in solid materials using laser ablation combined with tunable laser absorption spectroscopy. A new asynchronous acquisition method is used to acquire time-resolved, high-resolution spectra of the 6Li and 7Li D1 and D2 transitions near 671 nm. Isotope ratios and atomic column densities are extracted from measured spectra via a physics-based fitting model including hyperfine structure. Under 1 Torr air, spectra recorded = 0.75 ms after plasma onset exhibit narrow linewidths corresponding to Doppler temperatures = 400 K, enabling resolution of the isotope peaks with high signal-to-noise ratios. Analysis of LiAlO2 samples with varying 6Li:7Li ratios demonstrates isotopic precisions of 0.6–1.7% for spectra acquired in 30 s. Isotope ratios determined from the spectral fits show accuracy within –0.3% to –1.7% of reference ICP-MS measurements without requiring calibration to external standards. By eliminating sample preparation and enabling spatially resolved isotopic mapping, this method offers a rapid analysis approach to lithium isotope determination in solid materials relevant to nuclear energy, safeguards, and geochemistry.

Phillips, Mark C.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Capella: Structure and Abundances

This grant covers the analysis of ASCA spectra of the cool star binary system Capella. This project has also required the analysis of simultaneous EUVE data. The ASCA spectrum of Capella could not be fit with standard models; by imposing models based on strong lines observed with EUVE, a problem wavelength region was identified. Correcting the problem required calculations of atomic collision strengths of higher principal quantum number than had ever been calculated, resulting in a paper in process by Liedahl and Brickhouse. With these new models applied to the ASCA spectrum, better fits were obtained. While solar abundance ratios are generally consistent with the ASCA data, the ratio of Ne/Fe is three to four times lower than solar photospheric values. Whether there is a general First Ionization Potential (FIP) effect or a specific neon anomaly cannot be determined from these data. Detailed discussion has been provided to NASA in the most recent annual report (1997). Two poster presentations have been made regarding modeling requirements. A substantial paper is in the final revision form, following review by six co-authors. The results of this work have wide implications, since the newly calculated emission lines almost certainly contribute to other problems in fitting not only other stellar spectra, but also composite supernova remnants, galaxies, and cooling flow clusters of galaxies. Furthermore, Liedahl and Brickhouse have identified other species for which lines of a similar nature (high principal quantum number) will contribute significant flux. For moderate resolution X-ray spectra, lines left out of the models in relatively isolated bands, will be attributed to continuum flux by spectral fitting engines, causing errors in line-to-continuum ratios. Thus addressing the general theoretical problem is of crucial importance.

Brickhouse, Nancy S.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

New Features of the NEQAIR Radiation Code

The longest-lived code for predicting shock layer radiation, NEQAIR, is now in its 5th decade of service. Substantial changes to the code have been made over the previous decade, the most recent report of which was at the 5th Workshop on Radiation in High Temperature Gases in 2014, for the version referred to as NEQAIR14. This paper will review some of the improvements made to the NEQAIR code since then, which is now at v15.2. Some of these features are discussed briefly below. NEQAIR15 and subsequent versions have enabled parallel evaluation of multiple lines of sight. This is accomplished by utilizing the HDF5 file format and placing multiple lines into a single file, LOS.h5, which is used for both input and output. This approach enables straightforward parallel execution both over the number of lines of sight and the number of points per line. For large problems, runtime reduces linearly with the number of nodes deployed since each line is processed independently by a subset of MPI ranks. Three applications of the multi-line solver are discussed. The first has to do with performing loosely coupled radiation-flowfield solutions. In this case the computed absorption and emission coefficients are used to evaluate the total energy absorbed or emitted at each point, allowing evaluation of the volumetric source term in the flowfield. The second computation is for obtaining heat flux from nonuniform flows, which require integration over spherical co-ordinates. These are of particular interest for evaluating radiation on the vehicle backshell. This 3D option improves the angular integration scheme and allows adaptive line selection that together reduce the number of lines required by about an order of magnitude. The final application is for remote observation, which is essentially the 3D integration problem over a small solid angle. For all three of these computations, data can be stored in the HDF5 file which allows a NEQAIR run to be restarted when it times out, or to add atmospheric absorption or instrument scan functions. An additional level of parallelism is enabled in NEQAIR15.2 using GPU routines. The GPU parallelism has realized up to 8x speed-up when running on a single core but diminishes as CPU parallelism is increased. For running multi-line simulations, it may be easier to reserve a large number of CPU nodes than to obtain the number of GPU nodes required for similar performance. A GUI, known as NEQTPY, allows for reading and creating input files, running NEQAIR, and displaying results. A significant feature of NEQTPY is the ability to perform spectral fits to data. The fits can operate on a single line spectrum (radiance vs. wavelength) or a 3D input file with multiple columns of data. Other new features include improved constants, additional species, more detailed non-Boltzmann modelling, advanced user controls, the ability to read and calculate spectra from HITRAN datafiles, photodissociation and photoionization cross-sections. A “fast” automatic grid option may reduce the size and time of spectral calculations while still maintaining good accuracy for total heat flux.

Brett A Cruden↗

NASA NTRS2021

A NICER Look at Thermonuclear X-ray Bursts from Aql X-1

We present spectral and temporal properties of all the thermonuclear X-ray bursts observed from Aql X-1 by the Neutron StarInterior and Composition Explorer (NICER) between 2017 July and 2021 April. This is the first systematic investigation of alarge sample of type I X-ray bursts from Aql X-1 with improved sensitivity at low energies. We detect 22 X-ray bursts includingtwo short recurrence burst events in which the separation was only 451 s and 496 s. We perform time resolved spectroscopy of thebursts using the fixed and scaled background (fa method) approaches. We show that the use of a scaling factor to the pre-burstemission is the statistically preferred model in about 68% of all the spectra compared to the fixed background approach. Typically the fa values are clustered around 1–3, but can reach up to 11 in a burst where photospheric radius expansion is observed. Such fa values indicate a very significant increase in the pre-burst emission especially at around the peak flux moments of the bursts.We show that the use of the fa factor alters the best fit spectral parameters of the burst emission. Finally, we employed a reflectionmodel instead of scaling the pre-burst emission. We show that reflection models also do fit the spectra and improve the goodnessof the fits. In all cases we see that the disc is highly ionized by the burst emission and the fraction of the reprocessed emission tothe incident burst flux is typically clustered around 20%

Tolga Güver↗

NASA NTRS1994

An X-ray study of five supernova remnants in the Carina spiral arm

The ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) is used to perform an exploratory study of four fields in the Carina spiral arm containing five radio supernova remnants, only one of which has previously been studied in X-rays. We present upper limits for the detection in X-rays of G298.5 - 0.3, G298.6 - 0.0, and G299.0+0.2, and report a 4 sigma detection of G296.8-0.3. In addition, we present detailed spatial and spectral analysis of the bright X-ray remnant G296.1-0.7, which has previously been studied by both the Einstein IPC and EXOSAT LE/CMA. We detect relatively slight, but statistically significant, variations in the spectrum across the remnant via spatially resolved spectral fits and a study of the spatial variation of hardness ratios. In general, the spectrum is characteristic of a thermal plasma with kT about 0.2 keV and N(sub H) about 1.5 x 10(exp 21/sq. cm). The total X-ray emitting mass is estimated to be about 250 solar mass for an optically estimated distance of 4 kpc to the remnant. At this distance, the linear dimensions of the remnant are roughly 35 - 50 pc, implying an age on the order of 20,000 yr. Assuming that X-ray and radio brightnesses are related by SIGMA(sub R) proportional to SIGMA(exp 0.69)(sub X) and that the four radio remnants have X-ray spectral characteristics similar to G296.1-0.7, we find that the column densities to these sources must be several times 10(exp 22)/sq cm in order to explain their low X-ray count rates. This column density is considerably in excess of the X-ray fitted column density to G296.1-0.7, but is comparable to the total column densities in H I measured via the 21 cm line in the directions to all five remnants. This implies that G296.1 - 0.7 is at a significantly smaller distance than the other remnants.

Hwang, Una↗

NASA NTRS1992

ASpect: A new spectrum and line analysis package for IRAF

We examined several publicly available spectral analysis software packages looking for one with enough functionality and versatility to meet the analysis needs of astronomers during the next decade. None of those examined can satisfactorily support the wide variety of panchromatic science programs that are now becoming possible. Furthermore, we concluded that none of these packages can be simply modified to include critical functions because of their original (limited) designs. During the next two years we will write a new spectral analysis package, ASpect, that will incorporate the latest analysis techniques for astronomical spectra in all wavelength domains. The ASpect package has several functional requirements. It must operate on spectra from a wide variety of ground-based and space-based instruments spanning wavelengths from radio to gamma rays. It must accommodate non-linear dispersion relations. It must provide a variety of functions, individually or in combination, with which to fit spectral features and the continuum. It is vitally important that known bad data be masked and that, uncertainties be propagated throughout the calculations in order for astronomers to evaluate the reliability of results. Finally, this new package must provide a powerful, intuitive graphical user interface to handle the burden of data input/output (I/O), on-line 'help,' selection of relevant features for analysis, plotting and graphical interaction, and data base management--all in a comprehensible environment. We anticipate that ASpect will take the form of an external package in IRAF (such as the NOAO and STSDAS packages) and will be layered upon the IRAF virtual Operating System to make it available on as many platforms as possible, while making it resistant to changes in operating systems and compilers. Our choice of IRAF is motivated by its portability, its wide use within the astronomical community, and its rich set of existing user applications.

Hulbert, S. J.↗

DOE OSTI2022

The MaNGA firefly Value-Added-Catalogue: resolved stellar populations of 10,010 nearby galaxies

We present the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory survey (MaNGA) FIREFLY Value Added Catalogue (VAC) – a catalogue of ~3.7 million spatially resolved stellar population properties across 10 010 nearby galaxies from the final data release of the MaNGA survey. The full spectral fitting code FIREFLY is employed to derive parameters such as stellar ages, metallicities, stellar and remnant masses, star formation histories, star formation rates, and dust attenuation. In addition to Voronoi-binned measurements, our VAC also provides global properties, such as central values and radial gradients. Two variants of the VAC are available: presenting the results from fits using the M11-MILES and the novel MaStar stellar population models. MaStar allows to constrain the fit over the whole MaNGA wavelength range, extends the age-metallicity parameter space, and uses empirical spectra from the same instrument as MaNGA. The fits employing MaStar models find, on average, slightly younger ages, higher mass-weighted metallicities, and smaller colour excesses. These differences are reduced when matching the wavelength range and converging template grids. We further report that FIREFLY stellar masses are systematically lower by ~0.3 dex than masses from the MaNGA PCA and Pipe3D VACs, but match masses from the NSA best with only ~0.1-dex difference. Finally, we show that FIREFLY stellar ages correlate with spectral index age indicators H δ A and D n (4000), though with a clear additional metallicity dependence.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1999

Capella: Structure and Abundances

This grant covers the analysis of EUVE spectra of the cool star binary system Capella. This project has also required the analysis of simultaneous Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA) data. The ASCA spectrum of Capella could not be fit with standard models; by imposing models based on strong lines observed with EUVE, a problem wavelength region was identified. Correcting the problem required calculations of atomic collision strengths of higher principal quantum number than had ever been calculated. With these new models applied to the ASCA spectrum, better fits were obtained. Findings are that: (1) ASCA and EUVE spectra are both dominated by a region at 6 x 10(exp 6) K. (2) The high energy cut-off of the ASCA spectrum is consistent with emission from the highest ionization stages of EUVE, namely Fe XXIV. (3) EUVE requires a continuous emission measure distribution with more than two temperatures. (4) The ASCA spectra are of such high statistical significance that systematic uncertainties dominate, including atomic physics issues and calibration issues. (5) While the ASCA spectral fits achieve lower Chi(exp 2 with two-temperature fits, the EUVE-derived emission measure distribution models are also consistent with the spectra. (6) The Fe/H ratio obtained from the ASCA fit is within 20 % of the Fe/H abundance obtained from the summed spectra of Capella over 5 EUVE pointings, as well as the 1996 EUVE data. This result confirms our claims that quasi-continua composed of weak emission lines in the short wavelength spectrometer of EUVE are not major contributors to the measured Capella continuum. Other abundance ratios are also determined from the ASCA data, using models derived with EUVE. Si, Si, and Mg appear to be close to solar photospheric values, while the ratio of Ne/Fe is three to four times lower than solar photospheric values. Whether there is a general First Ionization Potential (FIP) effect or a specific neon anomaly cannot be determined from these data. (8) EUVE line ratios indicating low optical depth place limits on the extent to which the X-ray lines are optically, thick. While the brightest lines may be marginally thick, the ASCA spectrum is not of sufficient resolution to determine the optical depth in these lines.

Brickhouse, Nancy S.↗