15140780
Eclipses by circumstellar material in the T Tauri star AA Tau II. Evidence for non-stationary magnetospheric accretion ?
We report the results of a synoptic study of the photometric and spectroscopic variability of the classical T Tauri star AA Tau on timescales ranging from a few hours to several weeks. The AA Tau light curve had been previously shown to vary with a 8.2 d period, exhibiting a roughly constant brightness level, interrupted by quasi-cyclic fading episodes, which we interpreted as recurrent eclipses of the central star by the warped inner edge of its accretion disk (Bouvier et al. 1999). Our observations show the system is dynamic and presents non-stationary variability both in the photometry and spectroscopy. The star exhibits strong emission lines that show substantial variety and variability in their profile shapes and fluxes. Emission lines such as H and H show both infall and outflow signatures and are well reproduced by magnetospheric accretion models with moderate mass accretion rates (10 8 10 9 M yr 1 ) and high inclinations (i 60). The veiling shows variations that indicate the presence of 2 rotationally modulated hot spots corresponding to the two magnetosphere poles. It correlates well with the Hei line flux, with B V and the V excess flux. We have indications of a time delay between the main emission lines (H ,H and Hei) and veiling, the lines formed farther away preceding the veiling changes. The time delay we measure is consistent with accreted material propagating downwards the accretion columns at free fall velocity from a distance of about 8 R?. In addition, we report periodic radial velocity variations of the photospheric spectrum which might point to the existence of a 0.02 M object orbiting the star at a distance of 0.08 AU. During a few days, the eclipses disappeared, the variability of the system was strongly reduced and the line fluxes and veiling severely depressed. We argue that this episode of quiescence corresponds to the temporary disruption of the magnetic con- figuration at the disk inner edge. The smooth radial velocity variations of inflow and outflow diagnostics in the H profile yield further evidence for large scale variations of the magnetic configuration on a timescale of a month. These results may provide the first clear evidence for large scale instabilities developping in T Tauri magnetospheres as the magnetic field lines are twisted by dierential rotation between the star and the inner disk.The interaction between the inner accretion disk and the stellar magnetosphere thus appears to be a highly dynamical and time dependent process.
17464041
The T Tauri star RX J1608.6-3922 -not an eclipsing binary but a spotted single star
High-resolution spectroscopy and photometric monitoring of the pre-main sequence star RX J1608.6-3922 shows that it is not an eclipsing binary, as previously claimed. Radial velocity measurements covering suitable time spans in order to detect a spectroscopic binary with the claimed period of about 7 days have been performed. The scatter of the radial velocity does not exceed 2.4 km s -1 , defining an upper mass limit of 24 $M_{{\tiny Jupiter}}$ for any eclipsing companion orbiting this star with the claimed period. Photometric observations of RX J1608.6-3922 in 7 consecutive nights (i.e. as long as the claimed orbital period) reveal brightness variations of the order of 0.2 mag with a period of 3.6 days. The shape of the detected light curve differs from a light curve of the star recorded in 1996. The small variations of the radial velocity, the variable shape of the light curve, as well as ($B-V$) color variations suggest that the flux of RX J1608.6-3922 is modulated by spots on the stellar surface with a rotational period of 3.6 days. The stellar activity of this star seems to be highly variable, taking into account the variable shape of the light curve, with an amplitude varying from 0.5 to 0.2 mag in a few years, as well as hints for a variable H α equivalent width.
118032689
The Variable Star One-shot Project, and its little child: Wikimbad
The Variable Star One-shot Project (VSOP) aimed at providing to the world-wide stellar community the necessary one-shot spectrum of unstudied variable stars, too often classified as such by an analysis of photometric data only. The VSOP has established an new kind of observational model, where all steps from observations to spectral analysis, are automatized (or are underway to be fully automatized). The project is centralized on a collaborative wiki website. The VSOP operational model is very successful, data is continously flowing and being analyszed, and VSOP is now a worldwide open collaboration of people with very different and complementary skills and expertise. The idea of a central wiki website has been extended by one of us to propose a new service to the whole astronomical community, called Wikimbad. Wikimbad is an open wiki website aimed at collecting, organizing and making publicly available all kind of reduced and published astronomical data. Its strengths and a comparison with the Virtual Observatory are discussed. See: this http URL and this http URL
118472064
Coordinated Multiwavelength Observations of V410Tau
In November 2001 we undertook a coordinated observing campaign to study the connection between X-ray and optical variability in the weak-line T Tauri star V410Tau. The observing plan included three 15 ksec observations with Chandra using the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer for Spectroscopy scheduled for different phases of the known 1.87 d starspot cycle. Photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of V410Tau involving telescopes on three different continents was scheduled simultaneously with the Chandra exposures.
10656237
Rotation periods of Post-T Tauri stars in Lindroos systems
We present a rotational study of Post-T Tauri stars (PTTSs) in Lindroos systems, defined as binaries with early type primaries on the main-sequence (MS) and late-type secondaries on the pre-main-sequence (PMS) phase. The importance of this study in comparison with previous ones is that the Lindroos sample is not X-ray selected so we avoid a possible bias towards fast rotators. In this preliminary study we have monitored eleven stars in the UBVRI bands during two campaigns of ten consecutive nights each. Eight of the observed PTTSs show periodic modulations in their lightcurves and the derived periods range from 1.9 d to 8.0 d. The comparison of these results with theoretical rotational tracks based on disk-star locking theory shows that star-disk decoupling times of 1−20 Myr could reproduce the rotational properties of the targets, assuming an initial rotation period of ∼ 8d and a mass of 1M� . We have studied the rotation-activity relations of Lindroos PTTSs and compared them with those found in other groups of PMS and zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) ∼1 Mstars. The Lindroos sample displays activity-rotation relations very similar to those found in TTSs. It contains a mixture of very active stars, with LX/Lbol ratios close to the saturation level of -3, and less active (unsaturated) stars. This could be the result of different star-disk decoupling times. Future monitoring of a larger and unbiased sample of PTTS will be important to confirm the significance of these results.
118040393
A Search for Wide (Sub)Stellar Companions Around Extrasolar Planet Host Stars
We present an overview of our ongoing systematic search for wide (sub)stellar companions around the stars known to host rad‐vel planets. By using a relatively large field of view and going very deep, our survey can find all directly detectable stellar and massive brown dwarf companions (m>40 MJup) within a 1000 AU orbit.
121731391
Revised and extended level scheme of the doubly-odd nucleus 188Ir
High-spin states in the doubly odd $Z=77$ nucleus $^{188}\mathrm{Ir}$ were studied using the reaction $^{186}\mathrm{W}$($^{7}\mathrm{Li}$, $5n$) at 59 MeV and the GASP spectrometer for \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray detection. The level structures recently suggested to be built on the known 4.1(3) ms isomeric state of this nucleus have been considerably revised and extended and an isomer with a lifetime of 17.7(2) ns has been identified within the main decay sequence. In addition two rotational bands built on low spin states below the ms isomer have been observed for the first time. The basic features of the excitation scheme of $^{188}\mathrm{Ir}$ are discussed within the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory within the Lipkin-Nogami approach with the finite-range density-dependent Gogny force.
120425236
Effect of neutron and gamma-ray irradiation on the transmittance power of glasses and glues
Abstract LHC, working at the expected nominal luminosity, will induce an extremely high irradiation in the CMS experiment. The CMS alignment system uses optical elements to build the laser beams paths. Optical properties of basic components such as glasses and glues may result affected and their transmission power may degrade significantly. We have proceeded to a first test of various glasses and glues and identified some of them that can stand up to 150 kGy of gamma-rays plus 5×10 14 neutrons / cm 2 .
26141595
First investigation of a novel 2D position-sensitive semiconductor detector concept
This paper presents a first study of the performance of a novel 2D position-sensitive microstrip detector, where the resistive charge division method was implemented by replacing the metallic electrodes with resistive electrodes made of polycrystalline silicon. A characterization of two proof-of-concept prototypes with different values of the electrode resistivity was carried out using a pulsed Near Infra-Red laser. The experimental data were compared with the electrical simulation of the sensor equivalent circuit coupled to simple electronics readout circuits. The good agreement between experimental and simulation results establishes the soundness of resistive charge division method in silicon microstrip sensors and validates the developed simulation as a tool for the optimization of future sensor prototypes. Spatial resolution in the strip length direction depends on the ionizing event position. The average value obtained from the protype analysis is close to 1.2% of the strip length for a 6 MIP signal.
120520890
Silicon microstrip detectors for future tracker alignment systems
Abstract The next experiments at particles colliders will demand stability of the tracking systems to the level of few microns. The available technology cannot provide a supporting structure able to guarantee this degree of stability in working condition, when environmental changes will misalign the detectors out of their nominal position. Based on the successful experience of AMS and CMS tracker systems, we propose to use infrared laser beams traversing consecutive layers of silicon detectors to align them with respect to the beams. For such a laser track to reach the last sensor, high transmittance of microstrip sensors to infrared (IR) light is needed. We simulated the passage of a coherent beam of light through a microstrips detector and we identified the minimum set of changes to the design and technology that boost its transmittance while still respecting its tracking capabilities. The first prototypes are in process at IMB-CNM clean room facilities. We held the fabrication process at an intermediate step and we performed the first measurements of transmittance and reflectance on the sensors.
122590032
First test of tiltmeters for the alignment system of CMS
Abstract In this note we present first tests done with the tiltmeters proposed as the key elements of the Laser Level systems to be used in the CMS alignment system. The response of the sensors under moderated longitudinal and transverse tilts is studied and intrinsic performance is extracted.