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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Polarization Radiation with Turbulent Magnetic Fields from X-Ray Binaries

We study the properties of polarized radiation in turbulent magnetic fields from X-ray binary jets. These turbulent magnetic fields are composed of large- and small-scale configurations, which result in the polarized jitter radiation when the characteristic length of turbulence is less than the non-relativistic Larmor radius. On the contrary, the polarized synchrotron emission occurs, corresponding to a large-scale turbulent environment. We calculate the spectral energy distributions and the degree of polarization for a general microquasar. Numerical results show that turbulent magnetic field configurations can indeed provide a high degree of polarization, which does not mean that a uniform, large-scale magnetic field structure exists. The model is applied to investigate the properties of polarized radiation of the black-hole X-ray binary Cygnus X-1. Under the constraint of multiband observations of this source, our studies demonstrate that the model can explain the high polarization degree at the MeV tail and predict the highly polarized properties at the high-energy γ -ray region, and that the dominant small-scale turbulent magnetic field plays an important role for explaining the highly polarized observation at hard X-ray/soft γ -ray bands. This model can be tested by polarization observations of upcoming polarimeters at high-energy γ -ray bands.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

GAS KINEMATICS AND THE DRAGGED MAGNETIC FIELD IN THE HIGH-MASS MOLECULAR OUTFLOW SOURCE G192.16-3.84: AN SMA VIEW

We report Submillimeter Array (SMA) observations of polarized 0.88 mm thermal dust emission and various molecular line transitions toward the early B-type (L{sub *} {approx} 2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 3} L{sub Sun }) star-forming region G192.16-3.84 (IRAS 05553+1631). The peak of the continuum Stokes-I emission coincides with a hot rotating disk/envelope (SO{sub 2} rotational temperature T{sub rot}{sup SO{sub 2}}{approx}84{sup +18}{sub -13} K), with a north-south velocity gradient. Joint analysis of the rotation curve traced by HCO{sup +} 4-3 and SO{sub 2} 19{sub 1,19}-18{sub 0,18} suggests that the dense molecular gas is undergoing a spinning-up rotation, marginally bound by the gravitational force of an enclosed mass M{sub *+gas+dust} {approx} 11.2-25.2 M{sub Sun }. Perpendicular to the rotational plane, a {approx}>100/cos (i) km s{sup -1} (i {approx} 63 Degree-Sign ) high velocity molecular jet and a {approx}15-20 km s{sup -1} expanding biconical cavity were revealed in the CO 3-2 emission. The polarization percentage of the 0.88 mm continuum emission decreases toward the central rotating disk/envelope. The polarization angle in the inner {approx}2'' (0.015 pc) disk/envelope is perpendicular to the plane of the rotation. The magnetic field lines, which are predominantly in the toroidal direction along the disk plane, are likely to be dragged by the gravitationally accelerated rotation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

A multishock model for the density variance of anisotropic, highly magnetized, supersonic turbulence

ABSTRACT Shocks form the basis of our understanding for the density and velocity statistics of supersonic turbulent flows, such as those found in the cool interstellar medium (ISM). The variance of the density field, $\sigma ^2_{\rho /\rho _0}$, is of particular interest for molecular clouds (MCs), the birthplaces of stars in the Universe. The density variance may be used to infer underlying physical processes in an MC, and parametrizes the star formation (SF) rate of a cloud. However, models for $\sigma ^2_{\rho /\rho _0}$ all share a common feature – the variance is assumed to be isotropic. This assumption does not hold when a trans-/sub-Alfvénic mean magnetic field, ${B}_0$, is present in the cloud, which observations suggest is relevant for some MCs. We develop an anisotropic model for $\sigma _{\rho /\rho _0}^2$, using contributions from hydrodynamical and fast magnetosonic shocks that propagate orthogonal to each other. Our model predicts an upper bound for $\sigma _{\rho /\rho _0}^2$ in the high Mach number $(\mathcal {M})$ limit as small-scale density fluctuations become suppressed by the strong ${B}_0$. The model reduces to the isotropic $\sigma _{\rho /\rho _0}^2\!-\!\mathcal {M}$ relation in the hydrodynamical limit. To validate our model, we calculate $\sigma _{\rho /\rho _0}^2$ from 12 high-resolution, three-dimensional, supersonic, sub-Alfvénic magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) turbulence simulations and find good agreement with our theory. We discuss how the two MHD shocks may be the bimodally oriented overdensities observed in some MCs and the implications for SF theory in the presence of a sub-Alfvénic ${B}_0$. By creating an anisotropic, supersonic density fluctuation model, this study paves the way for SF theory in the highly anisotropic regime of interstellar turbulence.

Beattie, James R.↗
DOE OSTI2013

CHANG-ES. III. UGC 10288—An edge-on galaxy with a background double-lobed radio source

This third paper in the Continuum Halos in Nearby Galaxies—an EVLA Survey (CHANG-ES) series shows the first results from our regular data taken with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. The edge-on galaxy, UGC 10288, has been observed in the B, C, and D configurations at L band (1.5 GHz) and in the C and D configurations at C band (6 GHz) in all polarization products. We show the first spatially resolved images of this galaxy in these bands, the first polarization images, and the first composed image at an intermediate frequency (4.1 GHz) which has been formed from a combination of all data sets. A surprising new result is the presence of a strong, polarized, double-lobed extragalactic radio source (CHANG-ES A) almost immediately behind the galaxy and perpendicular to its disk. The core of CHANG-ES A has an optical counterpart (SDSS J161423.28–001211.8) at a photometric redshift of z {sub phot} = 0.39; the southern radio lobe is behind the disk of UGC 10288 and the northern lobe is behind the halo region. This background ''probe'' has allowed us to do a preliminary Faraday rotation analysis of the foreground galaxy, putting limits on the regular magnetic field and electron density in the halo of UGC 10288 in regions in which there is no direct detection of a radio continuum halo. We have revised the flux densities of the two sources individually as well as the star formation rate (SFR) for UGC 10288. The SFR is low (0.4-0.5 M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1}) and the galaxy has a high thermal fraction (44% at 6 GHz), as estimated using both the thermal and non-thermal SFR calibrations of Murphy et al. UGC 10288 would have fallen well below the CHANG-ES flux density cutoff, had it been considered without the brighter contribution of the background source. UGC 10288 shows discrete high-latitude radio continuum features, but it does not have a global radio continuum halo (exponential scale heights are typically ≈1 kpc averaged over regions with and without extensions). One prominent feature appears to form a large arc to the north of the galaxy on its east side, extending to 3.5 kpc above the plane. The total minimum magnetic field strength at a sample position in the arc is ∼10 μG. Thus, this galaxy still appears to be able to form substantial high latitude, localized features in spite of its relatively low SFR.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Spectral analysis of ultra-cool white dwarfs polluted by planetary debris

ABSTRACT We identify two ultra-cool (${T_\mathrm{eff}}\lt 4000$ K) metal-polluted (DZ) white dwarfs WD J2147−4035 and WD J1922+0233 as the coolest and second coolest DZ stars known to date with ${T_\mathrm{eff}}\approx 3050$ K and ${T_\mathrm{eff}}\approx 3340$ K, respectively. Strong atmospheric collision-induced absorption (CIA) causes the suppression of red optical and infrared flux in WD J1922+0233, resulting in an unusually blue colour given its low temperature. WD J2147−4035 has moderate infrared CIA yet has the reddest optical colours known for a DZ white dwarf. Microphysics improvements to the non-ideal effects and CIA opacities in our model atmosphere code yields reasonable solutions to observations of these ultra-cool stars. WD J2147−4035 has a cooling age of over 10 Gyr which is the largest known for a DZ white dwarf, whereas WD J1922+0233 is slightly younger with a cooling age of 9 Gyr. Galactic kinematics calculations from precise Gaia EDR3 astrometry reveal these ultra-cool DZ stars as likely members of the Galactic disc thus they could be pivotal objects in future studies constraining an upper age limit for the disc of the Milky Way. We present intermediate-resolution spectroscopy for both objects, which provides the first spectroscopic observations of WD J2147−4035. Detections of sodium and potassium are made in both white dwarfs, in addition to calcium in WD J1922+0233 and lithium in WD J2147−4035. We identify the magnetic nature of WD J2147−4035 from Zeeman splitting in the lithium line and also make a tentative detection of carbon, so we classify this star as DZQH. WD J1922+0233 likely accreted planetary crust debris, while the debris composition that polluted WD J2147−4035 remains unconstrained.

Elms, Abbigail K. (ORCID:0000000176667416)↗
DOE OSTI2013

DYNAMICS OF STRONGLY TWISTED RELATIVISTIC MAGNETOSPHERES

Magnetar magnetospheres are believed to be strongly twisted due to shearing of the stellar crust by internal magnetic stresses. We present time-dependent axisymmetric simulations showing in detail the evolution of relativistic force-free magnetospheres subjected to slow twisting through large angles. When the twist amplitude is small, the magnetosphere moves quasi-statically through a sequence of equilibria of increasing free energy. At some twist amplitude the magnetosphere becomes tearing-mode unstable to forming a resistive current sheet, initiating large-scale magnetic reconnection in which a significant fraction of the magnetic free energy can be dissipated. This ''critical'' twist angle is insensitive to the resistive length scale. Rapid shearing temporarily stabilizes the magnetosphere beyond the critical angle, allowing the magnetosphere of a rapidly differentially rotating star to store and dissipate more free energy. In addition to these effects, shearing the surface of a rotating star increases the spindown torque applied to the star. If shearing is much slower than rotation, the resulting spikes in spindown rate can occur on timescales anywhere from the long twisting timescale to the stellar spin period or shorter, depending both on the stellar shear distribution and the existing distribution of magnetospheric twists. A model in which energy is stored in the magnetosphere and released by a magnetospheric instability therefore predicts large changes in the measured spindown rate before soft gamma repeater giant flares.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Radius-to-frequency Mapping and FRB Frequency Drifts

We build a model of radius-to-frequency mapping in magnetospheres of neutron stars and apply it to frequency drifts observed in fast radio bursts (FRBs). We assume that an emission patch propagates along the dipolar magnetic field lines, producing coherent emission with frequency, direction, and polarization defined by the local magnetic field. The observed temporal evolution of the frequency depends on the relativistic effects of time contraction and the curvature of the magnetic field lines. The model generically produces linear scaling of the drift rate, $\dot{\omega}$ ∝-${\omega}$, matching both numerically and parametrically the rates observed in FBRs; a more complicated behavior of $\dot{\omega}$ is also possible. Fast rotating magnetospheres produce higher drifts rates for similar viewing parameters than the slowly rotating ones. In the case of repeaters, the same source may show variable drift patterns depending on the observing phase. We expect rotational of polarization position angle through a burst, though by smaller amount than in radio pulsars. All of these findings compare favorably with properties of FBRs, strengthening their possible loci in the magnetospheres of neutron stars.

Magnetars↗
DOE OSTI2013

THE SUBMILLIMETER POLARIZATION SPECTRUM OF M17

We present 450 {mu}m polarimetric observations of the M17 molecular cloud obtained with the SHARP polarimeter at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. Across the observed region, the magnetic field orientation is consistent with previous submillimeter and far-infrared polarization measurements. Our observations are centered on a region of the molecular cloud that has been compressed by stellar winds from a cluster of OB stars. We have compared these new data with previous 350 {mu}m polarimetry and find an anti-correlation between the 450 and 350 {mu}m polarization magnitude ratio and the ratio of 21 cm to 450 {mu}m intensity. The polarization ratio is lower near the east end of the studied region where the cloud is exposed to stellar winds and radiation. At the west end of the region, the polarization ratio is higher. We interpret the varying polarization spectrum as evidence supporting the radiative alignment torque model for grain alignment, implying higher alignment efficiency in the region that is exposed to a higher anisotropic radiation field.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

NGC 2207/IC 2163: A GRAZING ENCOUNTER WITH LARGE-SCALE SHOCKS

Radio continuum, Spitzer infrared, optical, and XMM-Newton X-ray and ultraviolet observations (UVW1 and UVM2) are used to study large-scale shock fronts, young star complexes, and the galactic nuclei in the interacting galaxies NGC 2207/IC 2163. There are two types of large-scale shock fronts in this galaxy pair. The large-scale shock front along the rim of the ocular oval in IC 2163 has produced vigorous star formation in a dusty environment, bright in the Spitzer 8 {mu}m and 24 {mu}m images. In the outer part of the companion side of NGC 2207, a large-scale front attributed to halo scraping is particularly bright in the {lambda}6 cm and {lambda}20 cm radio continuum but not in any tracers of recent star formation (H{alpha}, 8 {mu}m, 24 {mu}m, or ultraviolet emission) or in X-rays. This radio-continuum front may be from compression of the halo magnetic field on the back side of NGC 2207, between the two galaxies. The X-ray emission sets an upper limit to the gas density in the halo. Values of the flux density ratio S{sub {nu}}(8 {mu}m)/S{sub {nu}}(6 cm) of prominent, kiloparsec-size, Spitzer/IRAC star-forming clumps in NGC 2207/IC 2163 are compared with those of giant radio H II regions in M81. For the bright clumps in NGC 2207, the mean value of this ratio is the same as for the M81 H II regions, whereas for the bright clumps on the rim of the IC 2163 ocular oval, the mean value is nearly a factor of two greater. Possible explanations for this are discussed. The galaxy pair has global values of the ratios of infrared-to-radio continuum flux density in the Spitzer 8 {mu}m, 24 {mu}m, and 70 {mu}m bands, and the IRAS FIR significantly below the medians/means for large samples of galaxies. Feature i, a mini-starburst on an outer arm of NGC 2207 on its anti-companion side, is the most luminous 8 {mu}m, 24 {mu}m, 70 {mu}m, radio continuum, and H{alpha} source in the galaxy pair. We find evidence that a radio supernova was present in the core of feature i in 2001. X-ray emission is detected from the nucleus of NGC 2207 and from nine discrete sources whose X-ray luminosities make them possible candidates for Ultraluminous X-ray sources. One of these corresponds with the Type Ib SN 1999ec, which is also bright in the ultraviolet, and another may be a radio supernova or a background quasar. The X-ray luminosity of the NGC 2207 nucleus is log L{sub 0.3-10.0keV} = 40.6 erg s{sup -1}, which, together with its X-ray spectrum, suggests that this is a highly absorbed, low-luminosity, active galactic nucleus.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Implications of the isobar-run results for the chiral magnetic effect in heavy-ion collisions

The chiral magnetic effect (CME) is a macroscopic transport phenomenon induced by a quantum anomaly in the presence of chiral imbalance and an external magnetic field. Relativistic heavy ion collisions provide the unique opportunity to look for CME in a non-Abelian plasma, where the chiral imbalance is created by topological transitions similar to those occurring in the early universe. The isobar run at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider was proposed as a way to separate the possible CME signal driven by magnetic field from the background. The first blind analysis results from this important experiment were recently released by the STAR Collaboration. Notably, under the pre-defined assumption of identical background in RuRu and ZrZr, the results are inconsistent with the presence of CME, as well as with all existing theoretical models (whether including CME or not). However the observed difference of backgrounds must be taken into account before any physical conclusion is drawn. In this paper, we show that once the observed difference in hadron multiplicity and collective flow are quantitatively taken into account, the STAR results could be consistent with a finite CME signal contribution of about (6.8 ± 2.6)%.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

PERIODIC VARIATIONS IN THE O - C DIAGRAMS OF FIVE PULSATION FREQUENCIES OF THE DB WHITE DWARF EC 20058-5234

Variations in the pulsation arrival time of five independent pulsation frequencies of the DB white dwarf EC 20058-5234 individually imitate the effects of reflex motion induced by a planet or companion but are inconsistent when considered in unison. The pulsation frequencies vary periodically in a 12.9 year cycle and undergo secular changes that are inconsistent with simple neutrino plus photon-cooling models. The magnitude of the periodic and secular variations increases with the period of the pulsations, possibly hinting that the corresponding physical mechanism is located near the surface of the star. The phase of the periodic variations appears coupled to the sign of the secular variations. The standards for pulsation-timing-based detection of planetary companions around pulsating white dwarfs, and possibly other variables such as subdwarf B stars, should be re-evaluated. The physical mechanism responsible for this surprising result may involve a redistribution of angular momentum or a magnetic cycle. Additionally, variations in a supposed combination frequency are shown to match the sum of the variations of the parent frequencies to remarkable precision, an expected but unprecedented confirmation of theoretical predictions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SIMULATIONS OF ROTATING PAIR-INSTABILITY SUPERNOVAE

We study the effects of rotation on the dynamics, energetics, and {sup 56}Ni production of pair instability supernova (PISN) explosions by performing rotating two-dimensional ({sup 2}.5D{sup )} hydrodynamics simulations. We calculate the evolution of eight low-metallicity (Z = 10{sup –3}, 10{sup –4} Z{sub ☉}) massive (135-245 M{sub ☉}) PISN progenitors with initial surface rotational velocities of 50% of the critical Keplerian value using the stellar evolution code MESA. We allow for both the inclusion and the omission of the effects of magnetic fields in the angular momentum transport and in chemical mixing, resulting in slowly rotating and rapidly rotating final carbon-oxygen cores, respectively. Increased rotation for carbon-oxygen cores of the same mass and chemical stratification leads to less energetic PISN explosions that produce smaller amounts of {sup 56}Ni due to the effect of the angular momentum barrier that develops and slows the dynamical collapse. We find a non-monotonic dependence of {sup 56}Ni production on rotational velocity in situations when smoother composition gradients form at the outer edge of the rotating cores. In these cases, the PISN energetics are determined by the competition of two factors: the extent of chemical mixing in the outer layers of the core due to the effects of rotation in the progenitor evolution and the development of angular momentum support against collapse. Our 2.5D PISN simulations with rotation are the first presented in the literature. They reveal hydrodynamic instabilities in several regions of the exploding star and increased explosion asymmetries with higher core rotational velocity.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Can very massive population III stars produce a super-collapsar?

A fraction of the first generation of stars in the early universe may be very massive (≳300 M{sub ⊙}) as they form in metal-free environments. Formation of black holes from these stars can be accompanied by supermassive collapsars to produce long gamma-ray bursts of a unique type having a very high total energy (∼10{sup 54} erg) as recently suggested by several authors. We present new stellar evolution models of very massive Population III stars including the effect of rotation to provide theoretical constraints on super-collapsar progenitors. We find that the angular momentum condition for a super-collapsar can be fulfilled if magnetic torques are ignored, in which case Eddington–Sweet circulations play the dominant role for the transport of angular momentum. We further find that the initial mass range for super-collapsar progenitors would be limited to 300 M{sub ⊙}≲M≲700 M{sub ⊙}. However, all of our very massive star models of this mass range end their lives as red supergiants rather than blue supergiants, in good agreement with most of the previous studies. The predicted final fate of these stars is either a jet-powered type IIP supernova or an ultra-long, relatively faint gamma-ray transient, depending on the initial amount of angular momentum.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

The dynamics of massive starless cores with ALMA

How do stars that are more massive than the Sun form, and thus how is the stellar initial mass function (IMF) established? Such intermediate- and high-mass stars may be born from relatively massive pre-stellar gas cores, which are more massive than the thermal Jeans mass. The turbulent core accretion model invokes such cores as being in approximate virial equilibrium and in approximate pressure equilibrium with their surrounding clump medium. Their internal pressure is provided by a combination of turbulence and magnetic fields. Alternatively, the competitive accretion model requires strongly sub-virial initial conditions that then lead to extensive fragmentation to the thermal Jeans scale, with intermediate- and high-mass stars later forming by competitive Bondi-Hoyle accretion. To test these models, we have identified four prime examples of massive (∼100 M {sub ☉}) clumps from mid-infrared extinction mapping of infrared dark clouds. Fontani et al. found high deuteration fractions of N{sub 2}H{sup +} in these objects, which are consistent with them being starless. Here we present ALMA observations of these four clumps that probe the N{sub 2}D{sup +} (3-2) line at 2.''3 resolution. We find six N{sub 2}D{sup +} cores and determine their dynamical state. Their observed velocity dispersions and sizes are broadly consistent with the predictions of the turbulent core model of self-gravitating, magnetized (with Alfvén Mach number m{sub A} ∼ 1) and virialized cores that are bounded by the high pressures of their surrounding clumps. However, in the most massive cores, with masses up to ∼60 M {sub ☉}, our results suggest that moderately enhanced magnetic fields (so that m{sub A} ≅ 0.3) may be needed for the structures to be in virial and pressure equilibrium. Magnetically regulated core formation may thus be important in controlling the formation of massive cores, inhibiting their fragmentation, and thus helping to establish the stellar IMF.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

A DEEP SEARCH FOR EXTENDED RADIO CONTINUUM EMISSION FROM DWARF SPHEROIDAL GALAXIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR PARTICLE DARK MATTER

We present deep radio observations of four nearby dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxies, designed to detect extended synchrotron emission resulting from weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter annihilations in their halos. Models by Colafrancesco et al. (CPU07) predict the existence of angularly large, smoothly distributed radio halos in such systems, which stem from electron and positron annihilation products spiraling in a turbulent magnetic field. We map a total of 40.5 deg{sup 2} around the Draco, Ursa Major II, Coma Berenices, and Willman 1 dSphs with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) at 1.4 GHz to detect this annihilation signature, greatly reducing discrete-source confusion using the NVSS catalog. We achieve a sensitivity of {sigma}{sub sub} {approx}< 7 mJy beam{sup -1} in our discrete source-subtracted maps, implying that the NVSS is highly effective at removing background sources from GBT maps. For Draco we obtained approximately concurrent Very Large Array observations to quantify the variability of the discrete source background, and find it to have a negligible effect on our results. We construct radial surface brightness profiles from each of the subtracted maps, and jackknife the data to quantify the significance of the features therein. At the {approx}10' resolution of our observations, foregrounds contribute a standard deviation of 1.8 mJy beam{sup -1} {<=} {sigma}{sub ast} {<=} 5.7 mJy beam{sup -1} to our high-latitude maps, with the emission in Draco and Coma dominated by foregrounds. On the other hand, we find no significant emission in the Ursa Major II and Willman 1 fields, and explore the implications of non-detections in these fields for particle dark matter using the fiducial models of CPU07. For a WIMP mass M{sub {chi}} = 100 GeV annihilating into b b-bar final states and B = 1 {mu}G, upper limits on the annihilation cross-section for Ursa Major II and Willman I are log (({sigma}v){sub {chi}}, cm{sup 3} s{sup -1}) {approx}< -25 for the preferred set of charged particle propagation parameters adopted by CPU07; this is comparable to that inferred at {gamma}-ray energies from the two-year Fermi Large Area Telescope data. We discuss three avenues for improving the constraints on ({sigma}v){sub {chi}} presented here, and conclude that deep radio observations of dSphs are highly complementary to indirect WIMP searches at higher energies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF Z-PINCH EXPERIMENTS TO CREATE SUPERSONIC DIFFERENTIALLY ROTATING PLASMA FLOWS

The physics of accretion disks is of fundamental importance for understanding of a wide variety of astrophysical sources that includes protostars, X-ray binaries, and active galactic nuclei. The interplay between hydrodynamic flows and magnetic fields and the potential for turbulence-producing instabilities is a topic of active research that would benefit from the support of dedicated experimental studies. Such efforts are in their infancy, but in an effort to push the enterprise forward we propose an experimental configuration which employs a modified cylindrical wire array Z-pinch to produce a rotating plasma flow relevant to accretion disks. We present three-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations which show how this approach can be implemented. In the simulations, a rotating plasma cylinder or ring is formed, with typical rotation velocity {approx}30 km s{sup -1}, Mach number {approx}4, and Reynolds number in excess of 10{sup 7}. The plasma is also differentially rotating. Implementation of different external magnetic field configurations is discussed. It is found that a modest uniform vertical field of 1 T can affect the dynamics of the system and could be used to study magnetic field entrainment and amplification through differential rotation. A dipolar field potentially relevant to the study of accretion columns is also considered.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

ABSOLUTE PROPERTIES OF THE PRE-MAIN-SEQUENCE ECLIPSING BINARY STAR NP PERSEI

NP Per is a well-detached, 2.2 day eclipsing binary whose components are both pre-main-sequence stars that are still contracting toward the main-sequence phase of evolution. We report extensive photometric and spectroscopic observations with which we have determined their properties accurately. Their surface temperatures are quite different: 6420 ± 90 K for the larger F5 primary star and 4540 ± 160 K for the smaller K5e star. Their masses and radii are 1.3207 ± 0.0087 solar masses and 1.372 ± 0.013 solar radii for the primary, and 1.0456 ± 0.0046 solar masses and 1.229 ± 0.013 solar radii for the secondary. The orbital period is variable over long periods of time. A comparison of the observations with current stellar evolution models from MESA indicates that the stars cannot be fit at a single age: the secondary appears significantly younger than the primary. If the stars are assumed to be coeval and to have the age of the primary (17 Myr), then the secondary is larger and cooler than predicted by current models. The H α spectral line of the secondary component is completely filled by, presumably, chromospheric emission due to a magnetic activity cycle.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Variable radio emission from the young stellar host of a hot jupiter

We report the discovery of variable radio emission associated with the T Tauri star, V830 Tau, which was recently shown to host a hot Jupiter companion. Very Large Array observations at a frequency of 6 GHz reveal a detection on 2011 May 1 with a flux density 919 ± 26 μJy, along with non-detections in two other epochs at <66 and <150 μJy. Additionally, Very Long Baseline Array observations include one detection and one non-detection at comparable sensitivity, demonstrating that the emission is nonthermal in origin. The emission is consistent with the gyro-synchrotron or synchrotron mechanism from a region with a magnetic field ≳30 G and is likely driven by an energetic event such as magnetic reconnection that accelerated electrons. With the limited data we have, we are not able to place any constraint on the relationship between the radio emission and the rotational or orbital properties of V830 Tau. This is the first detection of radio emission from a non-degenerate star known to host an exoplanet.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗