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Full-Text Articles in Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy

Fast Radio Bursts And Long Period Radio Transients: Radiation Mechanisms And Propagation Effects, Yuanhong Qu May 2026

Fast Radio Bursts And Long Period Radio Transients: Radiation Mechanisms And Propagation Effects, Yuanhong Qu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are bright radio bursts with the highest brightness temperatures in the radio sky. In this thesis, we investigate the trigger mechanisms, radiation mechanisms, and propagation effects of FRBs. Two general classes of coherent radiation mechanisms are considered in two categories: pulsar-like models invoking emission originating within the magnetar magnetosphere, and GRB-like models, which attribute the emission to relativistic magnetized shocks occurring far away from the central engine. We use the general observed properties (polarization features and spectra bandwidths) of repeating FRBs to constrain the physical conditions needed for these two mechanisms. We propose that crust quakes …


The Analysis Of Radio And X-Ray Energetics Of Fast Radio Bursts, Emily Huerta Dec 2022

The Analysis Of Radio And X-Ray Energetics Of Fast Radio Bursts, Emily Huerta

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Here, we analyze the graphs and figures presented in Laha et al. (2022) and compare their slopes to our figures. Laha et al. (2022) includes two graphs, one that shows a comparison between radio fluence vs. x-ray fluence and radio energy vs. x-ray energy. In these graphs, the slopes are anywhere from 3.3e-14 to 2e-5, which are much less than unity. Our figures are consistent with these values, also providing slopes anywhere between the same range. Strong limits on this ratio between radio and x-ray energetics can either support the magnetar progenitor model, or completely dismiss it. Since we found …


Investigating The Future Potential Of An Upgraded Alma To Image Planet-Forming Disks At Sub-Astronomical-Unit Scales, Benjamin P. Burrill, Luca Ricci, Sarah K. Harter, Shangjia Zhang, Zhaohuan Zhu Mar 2022

Investigating The Future Potential Of An Upgraded Alma To Image Planet-Forming Disks At Sub-Astronomical-Unit Scales, Benjamin P. Burrill, Luca Ricci, Sarah K. Harter, Shangjia Zhang, Zhaohuan Zhu

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

In recent years, ALMA has been able to observe large-scale substructures within protoplanetary disks. Comparison with the predictions from models of planet–disk interactions has indicated that most of these disk substructures can be explained by the presence of planets with the mass of Neptune or larger at orbital radii of ≈5–100 au. Better resolution is needed to observe structures closer to the star, where terrestrial planets are expected to form, as well as structures opened by planets with masses lower than Neptune. We investigate the capabilities of a possible extension to ALMA that would double the longest baseline lengths in …


Circumbinary Disk Evolution In The Presence Of An Outer Companion Star, Rebecca G. Marin, Stephen Lepp, Stephen H. Lubow, Matthew A. Kenworthy, Grant M. Kennedy, David Vallet Mar 2022

Circumbinary Disk Evolution In The Presence Of An Outer Companion Star, Rebecca G. Marin, Stephen Lepp, Stephen H. Lubow, Matthew A. Kenworthy, Grant M. Kennedy, David Vallet

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

We consider a hierarchical triple system consisting of an inner eccentric binary with an outer companion. A highly misaligned circumbinary disk around the inner binary is subject to two competing effects: (i) nodal precession about the inner binary eccentricity vector that leads to an increase in misalignment (polar alignment) and (ii) Kozai–Lidov (KL) oscillations of eccentricity and inclination driven by the outer companion that leads to a reduction in the misalignment. The outcome depends upon the ratio of the timescales of these effects. If the inner binary torque dominates, then the disk aligns to a polar orientation. If the outer …


Misalignment Of Terrestrial Circumbinary Planets As An Indicator Of Their Formation Mechanism, Anna C. Childs, Rebecca G. Martin Mar 2022

Misalignment Of Terrestrial Circumbinary Planets As An Indicator Of Their Formation Mechanism, Anna C. Childs, Rebecca G. Martin

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Circumbinary gas disks are often observed to be misaligned with the binary orbit, suggesting that planet formation may proceed in a misaligned disk. With n-body simulations, we consider the formation of circumbinary terrestrial planets from a particle disk that is initially misaligned. We find that if terrestrial planets form in this way, in the absence of gas, they can only form close to coplanar or close to polar to the binary orbit. Planets around a circular binary form coplanar while planets around an eccentric binary can form coplanar or polar depending on the initial disk misalignment and the binary eccentricity. …


Asteroids And Life: How Special Is The Solar System?, Rebecca G. Martin, Mario Livio Feb 2022

Asteroids And Life: How Special Is The Solar System?, Rebecca G. Martin, Mario Livio

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Asteroid impacts with Earth may have played an essential role in the emergence of life on Earth through their creation of favorable niches for life, changes to the atmosphere, and delivery of water. Consequently, we suggest two potential requirements for life in an exoplanetary system: first, that the system has an asteroid belt, and second, that there is a mechanism to drive asteroids to impact the terrestrial habitable planet. Since in the solar system the ν6 secular resonance has been shown to have been important in driving these impacts, we explore how the masses and locations of two giant planets …


Eccentric Neutron Star Disk Driven Type Ii Outburst Pairs In Be/X-Ray Binaries, Alessia Franchini, Rebecca G. Martin Dec 2021

Eccentric Neutron Star Disk Driven Type Ii Outburst Pairs In Be/X-Ray Binaries, Alessia Franchini, Rebecca G. Martin

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Be star X-ray binaries are transient systems that show two different types of outbursts. Type I outbursts occur each orbital period while type II outbursts have a period and duration that are not related to any periodicity of the binary system. Type II outbursts may be caused by mass transfer to the neutron star from a highly eccentric Be star disk. A sufficiently misaligned Be star decretion disk undergoes secular Von Zeipel-Lidov-Kozai (ZLK) oscillations of eccentricity and inclination. Observations show that in some systems the type II outbursts come in pairs with the second being of lower luminosity. We use …


Global 3d Radiation Hydrodynamic Simulations Of Proto-Jupiter’S Convective Envelope, Zhaohuan Zhu, Yan-Fei Jiang, Hans Baehr, Andrew N. Youdin, Philip J. Armitage, Rebecca G. Martin Nov 2021

Global 3d Radiation Hydrodynamic Simulations Of Proto-Jupiter’S Convective Envelope, Zhaohuan Zhu, Yan-Fei Jiang, Hans Baehr, Andrew N. Youdin, Philip J. Armitage, Rebecca G. Martin

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

The core accretion model of giant planet formation has been challenged by the discovery of recycling flows between the planetary envelope and the disc that can slow or stall envelope accretion. We carry out 3D radiation hydrodynamic simulations with an updated opacity compilation to model the proto-Jupiter’s envelope. To isolate the 3D effects of convection and recycling, we simulate both isolated spherical envelopes and envelopes embedded in discs. The envelopes are heated at given rates to achieve steady states, enabling comparisons with 1D models. We vary envelope properties to obtain both radiative and convective solutions. Using a passive scalar, we …


Gw Ori: Circumtriple Rings And Planets, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Rebecca Nealon, Cheng Chen, Rebecca G. Martin, Jiaqing Bi, Ruobing Dong, Christophe Pinte Sep 2021

Gw Ori: Circumtriple Rings And Planets, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Rebecca Nealon, Cheng Chen, Rebecca G. Martin, Jiaqing Bi, Ruobing Dong, Christophe Pinte

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

GW Ori is a hierarchical triple star system with a misaligned circumtriple protoplanetary disc. Recent Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations have identified three dust rings with a prominent gap at 100 au and misalignments between each of the rings. A break in the gas disc may be driven by the torque from either the triple star system or a planet that is massive enough to carve a gap in the disc. Once the disc is broken, the rings nodally precess on different time-scales and become misaligned. We investigate the origins of the dust rings by means of N-body integrations and …


Terrestrial Planet Formation In A Circumbinary Disc Around A Coplanar Binary, Anna C. Childs, Rebecca G. Martin Aug 2021

Terrestrial Planet Formation In A Circumbinary Disc Around A Coplanar Binary, Anna C. Childs, Rebecca G. Martin

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

With N-body simulations, we model terrestrial circumbinary planet (CBP) formation with an initial surface density profile motivated by hydrodynamic circumbinary gas disc simulations. The binary plays an important role in shaping the initial distribution of bodies. After the gas disc has dissipated, the torque from the binary speeds up the planet formation process by promoting body-body interactions but also drives the ejection of planet building material from the system at an early time. Fewer but more massive planets form around a close binary compared to a single star system. A sufficiently wide or eccentric binary can prohibit terrestrial planet formation. …


On The Role Of Resonances In Polluting White Dwarfs By Asteroids, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Rebecca G. Martin, Mario Livio, Dimitri Veras Apr 2021

On The Role Of Resonances In Polluting White Dwarfs By Asteroids, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Rebecca G. Martin, Mario Livio, Dimitri Veras

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Pollution of white dwarf atmospheres may be caused by asteroids that originate from the locations of secular and mean-motion resonances in planetary systems. Asteroids in these locations experience increased eccentricity, leading to tidal disruption by the white dwarf. We examine how the ν6 secular resonance shifts outwards into a previously stable region of the asteroid belt, as the star evolves to a white dwarf. Analytic secular models require a planet to be engulfed in order to shift the resonance. We show with numerical simulations that as a planet gets engulfed by the evolving star, the secular resonance shifts and the …


Maximum Temperatures In Evolving Protoplanetary Discs And Composition Of Planetary Building Blocks, Min Li, Shichun Huang, Zhaohuan Zhu, Michael I. Petaev, Jason H. Steffen Mar 2021

Maximum Temperatures In Evolving Protoplanetary Discs And Composition Of Planetary Building Blocks, Min Li, Shichun Huang, Zhaohuan Zhu, Michael I. Petaev, Jason H. Steffen

Geoscience Faculty Research

The maximum temperature and radial temperature profile in a protoplanetary disc are important for the condensation of different elements in the disc. We simulate the evolution of a set of protoplanetary discs from the collapse of their progenitor molecular cloud cores as well as the dust decoupling within the discs as they evolve. We show how the initial properties of the cloud cores affect the thermal history of the protoplanetary discs using a simple viscous disc model. Our results show that the maximum mid-plane temperature in the disc occurs within 0.5 au. It increases with the initial cloud temperature and …


Kozai–Lidov Oscillations Triggered By A Tilt Instability Of Detached Circumplanetary Discs, Rebecca G. Martin, Zhaohuan Zhu, Philip J. Armitage, Chao-Chin Yang, Hans Baehr Jan 2021

Kozai–Lidov Oscillations Triggered By A Tilt Instability Of Detached Circumplanetary Discs, Rebecca G. Martin, Zhaohuan Zhu, Philip J. Armitage, Chao-Chin Yang, Hans Baehr

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Circumplanetary discs can be linearly unstable to the growth of disc tilt in the tidal potential of the star–planet system. We use 3D hydrodynamical simulations to characterize the disc conditions needed for instability, together with its long-term evolution. Tilt growth occurs for disc aspect ratios, evaluated near the disc outer edge, of H/r ≳ 0.05, with a weak dependence on viscosity in the wave-like regime of warp propagation. Lower mass giant planets are more likely to have circumplanetary discs that satisfy the conditions for instability. We show that the tilt instability can excite the inclination to above the threshold where …


The Occurrence Of Rocky Habitable-Zone Planets Around Solar-Like Stars From Kepler Data, Steve Bryson, Michelle Kunimoto, Ravi K. Kopparapu, Jeffrey L. Coughlin, William J. Borucki, David Koch, Victor Silva Aguirre, Christopher Allen, Geert Barentsen, Natalie M. Batalha, Travis Berger, Alan Boss, Lars A. Buchhave, Christopher J. Burke, Douglas A. Caldwell, Jennifer R. Campbell, Joseph Catanzarite, Hema Chandrasekaran, William J. Chaplin, Jessie L. Christiansen, Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard, David R. Ciardi, Bruce D. Clarke, William D. Cochran, Jessie L. Dotson, Laurance R. Doyle, Eduardo Seperuelo Duarte, Edward W. Dunham, Andrea K. Dupree, Michael Endl, James L. Fanson Dec 2020

The Occurrence Of Rocky Habitable-Zone Planets Around Solar-Like Stars From Kepler Data, Steve Bryson, Michelle Kunimoto, Ravi K. Kopparapu, Jeffrey L. Coughlin, William J. Borucki, David Koch, Victor Silva Aguirre, Christopher Allen, Geert Barentsen, Natalie M. Batalha, Travis Berger, Alan Boss, Lars A. Buchhave, Christopher J. Burke, Douglas A. Caldwell, Jennifer R. Campbell, Joseph Catanzarite, Hema Chandrasekaran, William J. Chaplin, Jessie L. Christiansen, Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard, David R. Ciardi, Bruce D. Clarke, William D. Cochran, Jessie L. Dotson, Laurance R. Doyle, Eduardo Seperuelo Duarte, Edward W. Dunham, Andrea K. Dupree, Michael Endl, James L. Fanson

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

We present the occurrence rates for rocky planets in the habitable zones (HZs) of main-sequence dwarf stars based on the Kepler DR25 planet candidate catalog and Gaia-based stellar properties. We provide the first analysis in terms of star-dependent instellation flux, which allows us to track HZ planets. We define η⊕ as the HZ occurrence of planets with radii between 0.5 and 1.5 R⊕ orbiting stars with effective temperatures between 4800 and 6300 K. We find that η⊕ for the conservative HZ is between... (See article for full abstract).


The Evolution Of A Circumplanetary Disc With A Dead Zone, Cheng Chen, Chao Chin Yang, Rebecca G. Martin, Zhaohuan Zhu Nov 2020

The Evolution Of A Circumplanetary Disc With A Dead Zone, Cheng Chen, Chao Chin Yang, Rebecca G. Martin, Zhaohuan Zhu

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

© 2021 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. We investigate whether the regular Galilean satellites could have formed in the dead zone of a circumplanetary disc. A dead zone is a region of weak turbulence in which the magnetorotational instability is suppressed, potentially an ideal environment for satellite formation. With the grid-based hydrodynamic code FARGO3D, we examine the evolution of a circumplanetary disc model with a dead zone. Material accumulates in the dead zone of the disc leading to a higher total mass and but a similar temperature profile compared to a fully turbulent disc model. The tidal torque increases …


A Thousand Days After The Merger: Continued X-Ray Emission From Gw170817, E. Troja, H. Van Eerten, Bing Zhang, G. Ryan, L. Piro, R. Ricci, B. O'Connor, M. H. Wieringa, S. B. Cenko, T. Sakamoto Oct 2020

A Thousand Days After The Merger: Continued X-Ray Emission From Gw170817, E. Troja, H. Van Eerten, Bing Zhang, G. Ryan, L. Piro, R. Ricci, B. O'Connor, M. H. Wieringa, S. B. Cenko, T. Sakamoto

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Recent observations with the Chandra X-ray telescope continue to detect X-ray emission from the transient GW170817. In a total exposure of 96.6 ks, performed between 2020 March 9 and 16 (935–942 d after the merger), a total of 8 photons are measured at the source position, corresponding to a significance of ≈5σ. Radio monitoring with the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) shows instead that the source has faded below our detection threshold... (See full abstract in article).


A Mildly Relativistic Outflow From The Energentic, Fast-Rising Blue Optical Transient Css161010 In A Dwarf Galaxy, Deanne L. Coppejans, R. Margutti, G. Terreran, A. J. Nayana, E. R. Coughlin, T. Laskar, K. D. Alexander, M. Bietenholz, D. Caprioli, P. Chandra, M. R. Drout, D. Frederiks, C. Frohmaier, K. H. Hurley, C. S. Kochanek, M. Macleod, A. Meisner, P. E. Nugent, A. Ridnaia, D. J. Sand, D. Svinkin, C. Ward, S. Yang, A. Baldeschi, I. V. Chilingarian, Y. Dong, C. Esquivia, W. Fong, C. Guidorzi, P. Lundqvist, D. Milisavljevic May 2020

A Mildly Relativistic Outflow From The Energentic, Fast-Rising Blue Optical Transient Css161010 In A Dwarf Galaxy, Deanne L. Coppejans, R. Margutti, G. Terreran, A. J. Nayana, E. R. Coughlin, T. Laskar, K. D. Alexander, M. Bietenholz, D. Caprioli, P. Chandra, M. R. Drout, D. Frederiks, C. Frohmaier, K. H. Hurley, C. S. Kochanek, M. Macleod, A. Meisner, P. E. Nugent, A. Ridnaia, D. J. Sand, D. Svinkin, C. Ward, S. Yang, A. Baldeschi, I. V. Chilingarian, Y. Dong, C. Esquivia, W. Fong, C. Guidorzi, P. Lundqvist, D. Milisavljevic

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

We present X-ray and radio observations of the Fast Blue Optical Transient CRTS-CSS161010 J045834−081803 (CSS161010 hereafter) at t = 69–531 days. CSS161010 shows luminous X-ray (L x ~ 5 × 1039 erg s−1) and radio (L ν ~ 1029 erg s−1 Hz−1) emission. The radio emission peaked at ~100 days post-transient explosion and rapidly decayed. We interpret these observations in the context of synchrotron emission from an expanding blast wave. CSS161010 launched a mildly relativistic outflow with velocity Γβc ≥ 0.55c at ~100 days. This is faster than the non-relativistic AT 2018cow (Γβc ~ 0.1c) and closer to ZTF18abvkwla (Γβc …


The Planetary Luminosity Problem: " Missing Planets" And The Observational Consequences Of Episodi Accretion, Sean D. Brittain, Joan R. Najita, Ruobing Dong, Zhaohuan Zhu May 2020

The Planetary Luminosity Problem: " Missing Planets" And The Observational Consequences Of Episodi Accretion, Sean D. Brittain, Joan R. Najita, Ruobing Dong, Zhaohuan Zhu

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

The high occurrence rates of spiral arms and large central clearings in protoplanetary disks, if interpreted as signposts of giant planets, indicate that gas giants commonly form as companions to young stars (Myr) at orbital separations of 10–300 au. However, attempts to directly image this giant planet population as companions to more mature stars (>10 Myr) have yielded few successes. This discrepancy could be explained if most giant planets form by "cold start," i.e., by radiating away much of their formation energy as they assemble their mass, rendering them faint enough to elude detection at later times. In that …


Gw Ori: Interactions Between A Triple-Star System And Its Circumtriple Disk In Action, Jiaquig Bi, Nienke Van Der Marel, Ruobing Dong, Takayuki Muto, Rebecca G. Martin, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Jun Hashimoto, Hauyu Baobab Liu, Hideko Nomura, Yasuhiro Hasegawa, Michihiro Takami, Mihoko Konishi, Munetake Momose, Kazuhiro D. Kanagawa, Akimasa Kataoka, Tomohiro Ono, Michael L. Sitko, Sanemichi Z. Takahashi, Kengo Tomida, Takashi Tsukagoshi May 2020

Gw Ori: Interactions Between A Triple-Star System And Its Circumtriple Disk In Action, Jiaquig Bi, Nienke Van Der Marel, Ruobing Dong, Takayuki Muto, Rebecca G. Martin, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Jun Hashimoto, Hauyu Baobab Liu, Hideko Nomura, Yasuhiro Hasegawa, Michihiro Takami, Mihoko Konishi, Munetake Momose, Kazuhiro D. Kanagawa, Akimasa Kataoka, Tomohiro Ono, Michael L. Sitko, Sanemichi Z. Takahashi, Kengo Tomida, Takashi Tsukagoshi

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

GW Ori is a hierarchical triple system with a rare circumtriple disk. We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of 1.3 mm dust continuum and 12CO J = 2 − 1 molecular gas emission of the disk. For the first time, we identify three dust rings in the GW Ori disk at ~46, 188, and 338 au, with estimated dust mass of 74, 168, and 245 Earth masses, respectively. To our knowledge, its outermost ring is the largest dust ring ever found in protoplanetary disks. We use visibility modeling of dust continuum to show that the disk has misaligned …


A Fast Radio Burst Discovered In Fast Drift Scan Survey, Weiwei Zhu, Di Li, Rui Luo, Chenchen Miao, Bing Zhang, Laura Spitler, Duncan Lorimer, Michael Kramer, David Champion, Youling Yue, Andrew Cameron, Marilyn Cruces, Ran Duan, Yi Feng, Jun Han, George Hobbs, Chenhui Niu, Jiarui Niu, Zhichen Pan, Lei Qian, Dai Shi, Ningyu Tang, Pei Wang, Hongfeng Wang, Mao Yuan, Lei Zhang, Xinxin Zhang, Shuyun Cao, Li Feng, Hengqian Gan, Long Gao May 2020

A Fast Radio Burst Discovered In Fast Drift Scan Survey, Weiwei Zhu, Di Li, Rui Luo, Chenchen Miao, Bing Zhang, Laura Spitler, Duncan Lorimer, Michael Kramer, David Champion, Youling Yue, Andrew Cameron, Marilyn Cruces, Ran Duan, Yi Feng, Jun Han, George Hobbs, Chenhui Niu, Jiarui Niu, Zhichen Pan, Lei Qian, Dai Shi, Ningyu Tang, Pei Wang, Hongfeng Wang, Mao Yuan, Lei Zhang, Xinxin Zhang, Shuyun Cao, Li Feng, Hengqian Gan, Long Gao

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

We report the discovery of a highly dispersed fast radio burst (FRB), FRB 181123, from an analysis of ~1500 hr of drift scan survey data taken using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The pulse has three distinct emission components, which vary with frequency across our 1.0–1.5 GHz observing band. We measure the peak flux density to be... (See full abstract in article).


Is Grb 110715a The Progenitor Of Frb 171209?, Xiang-Gao Wang, Long Li, Yuan-Pei Yang, Jia-Wei Luo, Bing Zhang, Da-Bin Lin, En-Wei Liang, Song-Mei Qin May 2020

Is Grb 110715a The Progenitor Of Frb 171209?, Xiang-Gao Wang, Long Li, Yuan-Pei Yang, Jia-Wei Luo, Bing Zhang, Da-Bin Lin, En-Wei Liang, Song-Mei Qin

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

The physical origin of fast radio bursts (FRBs) is unknown. Young magnetars born from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been suggested as a possible central engine of FRBs. We test such a hypothesis by systematically searching for GRB–FRB spatial associations from 110 FRBs and 1440 GRBs. We find that one FRB event discovered by the Parkes telescope, FRB 171209, is spatially coincident with a historical long-duration GRB 110715A at z = 0.82. The afterglow of GRB 110715A is consistent with being powered by a millisecond magnetar. The extragalactic dispersion measure of FRB 171209 is in excess of that contributed by the …


Dust Condensation In Evolving Discs And The Composition Of Planetary Building Blocks, Min Li, Shichun Huang, Michail I. Petaev, Zhaohuan Zhu, Jason H. Steffen May 2020

Dust Condensation In Evolving Discs And The Composition Of Planetary Building Blocks, Min Li, Shichun Huang, Michail I. Petaev, Zhaohuan Zhu, Jason H. Steffen

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Partial condensation of dust from the Solar nebula is likely responsible for the diverse chemical compositions of chondrites and rocky planets/planetesimals in the inner Solar system. We present a forward physical–chemical model of a protoplanetary disc to predict the chemical compositions of planetary building blocks that may form from such a disc. Our model includes the physical evolution of the disc and the condensation, partial advection, and decoupling of the dust within it. The chemical composition of the condensate changes with time and radius. We compare the results of two dust condensation models: one where an element condenses when the …


Swift Spectroscopy Of The Accretion Disk Wind In The Black Hole Gro J1655-40, M. Balakrishnan, J. M. Miller, N. Trueba, M. Reynolds, J. Raymond, Daniel Proga, A. C. Fabian, T. Kallman, J. Kaastra Apr 2020

Swift Spectroscopy Of The Accretion Disk Wind In The Black Hole Gro J1655-40, M. Balakrishnan, J. M. Miller, N. Trueba, M. Reynolds, J. Raymond, Daniel Proga, A. C. Fabian, T. Kallman, J. Kaastra

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Chandra obtained two High Energy Transmission Grating spectra of the stellar-mass black hole GRO J1655−40 during its 2005 outburst, revealing a rich and complex disk wind. Soon after its launch, the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory began monitoring the same outburst. Some X-ray Telescope (XRT) observations were obtained in a mode that makes it impossible to remove strong Mn calibration lines, so the Fe Kα line region in the spectra was previously neglected. However, these lines enable a precise calibration of the energy scale, facilitating studies of the absorption-dominated disk wind and its velocity shifts. Here we present fits to 15 …


Alma 0.88 Mm Survey Of Disks Around Planetary-Mass Companions, Ya-Lin Wu, Brendan P. Bowler, Patrick D. Sheehan, Sean M. Andrews, Gregory J. Herczeg, Adam L. Kraus, Luca Ricci, David J. Wilner, Zhaohuan Zhu Apr 2020

Alma 0.88 Mm Survey Of Disks Around Planetary-Mass Companions, Ya-Lin Wu, Brendan P. Bowler, Patrick D. Sheehan, Sean M. Andrews, Gregory J. Herczeg, Adam L. Kraus, Luca Ricci, David J. Wilner, Zhaohuan Zhu

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Characterizing the physical properties and compositions of circumplanetary disks can provide important insights into the formation of giant planets and satellites. We report Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array 0.88 mm (Band 7) continuum observations of six planetary-mass (10–20 M Jup) companions: CT Cha b, 1RXS 1609 b, ROXs 12 b, ROXs 42B b, DH Tau b, and FU Tau b. No continuum sources are detected at the locations of the companions down to 3σ limits of 120–210 μJy. Given these nondetections, it is not clear whether disks around planetary-mass companions indeed follow the disk-flux–host-mass trend in the stellar regime. The faint …


Global 3d Radiation Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations For Fu Ori's Accretion Disc And Observational Signatures Of Magnetic Fields, Zhaohuan Zhu, Yan-Fei Jiang, James M. Stone Apr 2020

Global 3d Radiation Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations For Fu Ori's Accretion Disc And Observational Signatures Of Magnetic Fields, Zhaohuan Zhu, Yan-Fei Jiang, James M. Stone

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

FU Ori is the prototype of FU Orionis systems that are outbursting protoplanetary discs. Magnetic fields in FU Ori’s accretion discs have previously been detected using spectropolarimetry observations for Zeeman effects. We carry out global radiation ideal MHD simulations to study FU Ori’s inner accretion disc. We find that (1) when the disc is threaded by vertical magnetic fields, most accretion occurs in the magnetically dominated atmosphere at z ∼ R, similar to the ‘surface accretion’ mechanism in previous locally isothermal MHD simulations. (2) A moderate disc wind is launched in the vertical field simulations with a terminal speed of …


Fast Radio Bursts As Strong Waves Interacting With The Ambient Medium, Yuan-Pei Yang, Bing Zhang Mar 2020

Fast Radio Bursts As Strong Waves Interacting With The Ambient Medium, Yuan-Pei Yang, Bing Zhang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are mysterious radio transients whose physical origin is still unknown. Within a few astronomical units near an FRB source, the electric field of the electromagnetic wave is so large that the electron oscillation velocity becomes relativistic, which makes the classical Thomson scattering theory and the linear plasma theory invalid. We discuss FRBs as strong waves interacting with the ambient medium, in terms of both electron motion properties and plasma properties. Several novel features are identified. (1) The cross section of Thomson scattering is significantly enhanced for the scattering photons. (2) On the other hand, because of …


On The Frb Luminosity Function – – Ii. Event Rate Density, Rui Luo, Yunpeng Men, Kejia Lee, Weiyang Wang, D. R. Lorimer, Bing Zhang Mar 2020

On The Frb Luminosity Function – – Ii. Event Rate Density, Rui Luo, Yunpeng Men, Kejia Lee, Weiyang Wang, D. R. Lorimer, Bing Zhang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

The luminosity function of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), defined as the event rate per unit cosmic co-moving volume per unit luminosity, may help to reveal the possible origins of FRBs and design the optimal searching strategy. With the Bayesian modelling, we measure the FRB luminosity function using 46 known FRBs. Our Bayesian framework self-consistently models the selection effects, including the survey sensitivity, the telescope beam response, and the electron distributions from Milky Way/ the host galaxy/ local environment of FRBs. Different from the previous companion paper, we pay attention to the FRB event rate density and model the event counts …


Fast Radio Bursts From Interacting Binary Neutron Star Systems, Bing Zhang Feb 2020

Fast Radio Bursts From Interacting Binary Neutron Star Systems, Bing Zhang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Recent observations of repeating fast radio bursts (FRBs) suggest that some FRBs reside in an environment consistent with that of binary neutron star (BNS) mergers. The bursting rate for repeaters could be very high and the emission site is likely from a magnetosphere. We discuss a hypothesis of producing abundant repeating FRBs in BNS systems. Decades to centuries before a BNS system coalesces, the magnetospheres of the two neutron stars start to interact relentlessly. Abrupt magnetic reconnection accelerates particles, which emit coherent radio waves in bunches via curvature radiation. FRBs are detected as these bright radiation beams point toward Earth. …


Asteroid Belt Survival Through Stellar Evolution: Dependence On The Stellar Mass, Rebecca G. Martin, Mario Livio, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Cheng Chen Feb 2020

Asteroid Belt Survival Through Stellar Evolution: Dependence On The Stellar Mass, Rebecca G. Martin, Mario Livio, Jeremy L. Smallwood, Cheng Chen

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Polluted white dwarfs are generally accreting terrestrial-like material that may originate from a debris belt like the asteroid belt in the Solar system. ... See full text for complete abstract.


The Effects Of Disc Self-Gravity And Radiative Cooling On The Formation Of Gaps And Spirals By Young Planets, Shangjia Zhang, Zhaohuan Zhu Feb 2020

The Effects Of Disc Self-Gravity And Radiative Cooling On The Formation Of Gaps And Spirals By Young Planets, Shangjia Zhang, Zhaohuan Zhu

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

We have carried out 2D hydrodynamical simulations to study the effects of disc self-gravity and radiative cooling on the formation of gaps and spirals. (1) With disc self-gravity included, we find stronger, more tightly wound spirals and deeper gaps in more massive discs. The deeper gaps are due to the larger Angular Momentum Flux (AMF) of the waves excited in more massive discs, as expected from the linear theory. The position of the secondary gap does not change, provided that the disc is not extremely massive (Q ≳ 2). (2) With radiative cooling included, the excited spirals become monotonically more …