Abstract. The Resolve instrument onboard the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) consists of an array of 6×6 silicon-thermistor microcalorimeters cooled down to 50 mK and a high-throughput X-ray mirror assembly (XMA) with a focal length of 5.6 m. XRISM is a recovery mission of ASTRO-H/Hitomi, and the Resolve instrument is a rebuild of the ASTRO-H Soft X-ray spectrometer (SXS) and the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) that achieved energy resolution of ∼5 eV FWHM on orbit, with several important changes based on lessons learned from ASTRO-H. The flight models of the Dewar and the electronics boxes were fabricated, and the instrument test and calibration were conducted in 2021. By tuning the cryocooler frequencies, energy resolution better than 4.9 eV FWHM at 6 keV was demonstrated for all 36 pixels and high-resolution grade events, as well as energy-scale accuracy better than 2 eV up to 30 keV. The immunity of the detectors to microvibration, electrical conduction, and radiation was evaluated. The instrument was delivered to the spacecraft system in April 2022. The XMA was tested and calibrated separately. Its angular resolution is 1.27′, and the effective area of the mirror itself is 570 cm2 at 1 keV and 424 cm2 at 6 keV. We report the design and the major changes from the ASTRO-H SXS, the integration, and the results of the instrument test.
Several pulsar timing array (PTA) collaborations, including NANOGrav, EPTA, PPTA, and CPTA, have announced the evidence for a stochastic signal consistent with a stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB). Supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) are supposed to be the most promising gravitational-wave (GW) sources for this signal. In this paper, we use the NANOGrav 15-year data set to constrain the parameter space in an astro-informed formation model for SMBHBs. Our results prefer a large turn-over eccentricity of the SMBHB orbit when GWs begin to dominate the SMBHB evolution. Furthermore, the SGWB spectrum is extrapolated to the space-borne GW detector frequency band by including inspiral-merge-cutoff phases of SMBHBs, indicating that the SGWB from SMBHBs should be detected by LISA, Taiji and TianQin in the near future.
The ongoing discussion about the atomic chemical composition of the Sun is commented on. The main focus in this review is on the deviation of the solar composition from that of most other solar-type stars in that its ratio of volatiles (like the elements C, N, O, S, P and Zn) to the refractories (most metals, like Ba, Ca, Ti, Y, Al, Sc and Zr) tends to be higher in the Sun by 10 to 20%. What does this tell about the formation and evolution of the Solar System? Scenarios in terms of galactic evolution, formation of the pre-solar nebula, of the evolution of the protoplanetary disk, of the engulfing of planets, and of other processes within the Solar System are considered, as well as the evolution of binary stars with similarly different chemical composition. Finally, implications, if any, on the habitability of the Solar System are commented on.
The Mars Life Explorer (MLE) mission concept offers a critical opportunity to investigate whether extant life exists within the mid-latitude ice deposits of Mars. However, MLE's current science traceability matrix emphasizes habitability assessment and organic chemistry over direct life detection. As crewed missions to Mars may occur as early as 2040, the window for uncontaminated robotic exploration is rapidly closing. A high-confidence determination of Martian life must be achieved before irreversible anthropogenic contamination compromises scientific integrity. This paper evaluates the scientific, technical, and policy limitations of the current MLE architecture and recommends specific instrumentation upgrades and governance measures necessary to enable definitive and agnostic life detection while safeguarding planetary protection.
I present an analysis of archival spectra of 200 sources toward the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC) that were obtained with the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on board the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). I have used these data to assess cluster membership and measure spectral types for the targets. Fifty-three sources are classified as likely cluster members, 24 of which have spectral types that are suggestive of brown dwarfs ($>$M6). Seven of the NIRSpec targets were previously identified as "Jupiter-mass binary objects" (JuMBOs), all of which are background sources rather than brown dwarfs based on the NIRSpec data. The spectral classifications of those objects are consistent with the results of my recent study of the JWST photometry in the ONC, which found that only a few JuMBO components have the colors expected for brown dwarfs, none of which form pairs that have uniquely wide separations or low masses relative to known binary brown dwarfs.
Nearly all of the previous gravitational wave (GW) searches in the LIGO-Virgo data included GW waveforms with only the dominant quadrupole harmonic, i.e., omitting higher-order harmonics which are predicted by general relativity. We improved the IAS pipeline by efficiently introducing higher harmonics in the GW templates using the techniques in Wadekar et al. [1, 2]. Using the IAS-HM pipeline on the public LIGO-Virgo data from the O3 run, we find 11 new candidate BBH mergers with $0.52\leq p_\mathrm{astro}\leq 0.88$ (we use the detection threshold as the astrophysical probability, $p_\mathrm{astro}$, being over 0.5, following the approach of other pipelines). We broadly recover the high-significance events from earlier catalogs, except a few which were vetoed. We also find that including higher harmonics in our search raises the significance of a few previously reported marginal events (e.g., GW190711_030756). A few notable properties of our new candidate events are as follows. At $>95$% credibility, 4 candidates have primary masses in the intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) range (i.e., above $\sim$100 $M_\odot$). 5 candidates have median mass ratio $q \leq 0.5$. 5 candidates have median redshift $z \geq 0.8$. 3 candidates have non-zero $\chi_{\rm eff}$ at $>95\%$ credibility. While our new candidate events have modest false alarm rates ($\gtrsim 1.5 $/yr), a population inference study including these can better inform the parameter space of BHs corresponding to the pair instability mass gap, high redshifts and asymmetric mass ratios.
HR 8799 is an A5/F0 V star where exoplanets were first directly imaged. Four exoplanets were found within $\simeq 2\rlap.{''}0$ from the star. Here we report the VLA detection of a faint (19.1$\pm$2.7 $μ$Jy) radio continuum (3.0 GHz) source projected at $\simeq 2\rlap.{''}2$ from the star. The \sl a priori \rm probability of finding a background source with this flux density within a radius of $2\rlap.{''}2$ is only 0.0046. However, the astrometry made with the VLA and ALMA images, separated by 5.5 years, indicates no significant proper motions and rules out the association of the radio source with the HR 8799 system and suggests it is a background millimeter galaxy with dust emission in the millimeter and partially thick synchrotron emission in the centimeter.
The high resolution rovibronic line list of MgH+ molecular cation are presented in our work. The potential energy curves are calculated by the method of multireference configuration interaction plus Davidson correction (MRCI+Q) and spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effect. Spectroscopy constants are fitted and the results are in good agreement with the experiment, ensuring the accuracy of the electronic structure. On account of potential energy curves and transition dipole moments, the Franck - Condon factors and Einstein coefficients of transition are obtained. These calculations are used to obtain an accurate partition functions and line list for the molecule. Using the data obtained from the ab initio calculation, the absorption cross-sections under different temperatures and pressures were simulated. Our work could provide some theoretical insights into solar and cold planet spectrum.
O objetivo deste artigo é mostrar o motivo de se considerar a matéria escura como ingrediente fundamental para o Universo. A existência da matéria escura é indispensável para formar as estruturas cósmicas que observamos como galáxias e aglomerados de galáxias. Apesar de ainda desconhecermos a natureza desta componente cósmica, pois ainda não a detectamos diretamente, o aspecto discutido neste trabalho é considerado um dos principais argumentos a favor da existência da matéria escura.
Desde tempos imemoriais que os seres humanos olham e tentam perceber o céu. Não sabiam bem o que eram aquelas luzes a brilhar e que se movimentavam de forma repetida. Hoje em dia parece muito fácil, mas demorou muito tempo a consolidar-se a imagem que atualmente temos do céu. E sobretudo, a sabermos qual era a sua composição química. Este artigo pretende fazer uma revisão de divulgação do conhecimento químico que temos do céu e mostrar que as informações químicas são indissociáveis do entendimento que temos hoje do universo.
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, supports a dense atmosphere, numerous bodies of liquid on its surface, and as a richly organic world is a primary focus for understanding the processes that support the development of life. In-situ exploration to follow that of the Huygens probe is intended in the form of the coming NASA Dragonfly mission, acting as a demonstrator for powered flight on the moon and aiming to answer some key questions about the atmosphere, surface, and potential for habitability. While a quadcopter presents one of the most ambitious outer Solar System mission profiles to date, this paper aims to present the case for an aerial vehicle also capable of in-situ liquid sampling and show some of the attempts currently being made to model the behaviour of this spacecraft.
KIC 5773205 is the least luminous eclipsing M dwarf found in the Villanova catalog of eclipsing binaries detected by the {\it Kepler} mission. We processed and analyzed the three available quarters of mission data for this star and discovered a persistent periodic variation of the light curve with a period, which is in exact 4:5 commensurability to the orbital period. Three routes of interpretation are considered: 1) non-radial pulsations excited by the tidal interaction at a specific eigenfrequency; 2) a high-order spin-orbit resonance caused by the tides; 3) an ellipsoidal deformation caused by an outer orbiting companion in a mean motion resonance. All three explanations meet considerable difficulties, but the available facts seem to favor the tidally driven pulsation scenario. The star may represent a new type of heartbeat binary with tidally excited pulsations that are close to the orbital motion in frequency.
Sandy K. Leggett, Daniel Apai, Adam Burgasser
et al.
This White Paper describes the opportunities for discovery of Jupiter-mass objects with 300K atmospheres. The discovery and characterization of such cold objects is vital for understanding the low-mass terminus of the initial mass function and for optimizing the study of exoplanets by the next generation of large telescopes, space probes and space missions.
By solving Laplace's tidal equations with friction terms we study the surface tide on a rapidly rotating body. When $ε=Ω^2 R/g$, the square of the ratio of dynamical timescale to rotational timescale, is very small for the Earth the asymptotic result was derived. When it is not so small, e.g. a rapidly rotating star or planet, we perform numerical calculations. It is found that when rotation is sufficiently fast ($ε$ reaches $0.1$) a great amount of tidal resonances appear. To generate the same level of tide, a faster rotation corresponds to a lower tidal frequency. Friction suppresses tidal resonances but cannot completely suppress them at fast rotation. The thickness of fluid layer can change tidal resonances but this change becomes weaker at faster rotation. This result is of help to understanding the tides in the atmosphere of a rapidly rotating star or planet or in the ocean of a neutron star.
Over 54 years of hourly mean value of solar wind velocity from 27 Nov. 1963 to 31 Dec. 2017 are used to investigate characteristics of the rotation period of solar wind through auto-correlation analysis. Solar wind of high velocity is found to rotate faster than low-velocity wind, while its rotation rate increases with velocity increasing, but in contrast for solar wind of low velocity, its rotation rate decreases with velocity increasing. Our analysis shows that solar wind of a higher velocity statistically possesses a faster rotation rate for the entire solar wind. The yearly rotation rate of solar wind velocity does not follow the Schwable cycle, but it is significantly negatively correlated to yearly sunspot number when it leads by 3 years. Physical explanations are proposed to these findings.
The application of computer algebra system Piranha to the investigation of the planetary problem is described in this work. Piranha is an echeloned Poisson series processor authored by F. Biscani from Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg. Using Piranha the averaged semi-analytical motion theory of four-planetary system is constructed up to the second degree of planetary masses. In this work we use the algorithm of the Hamiltonian expansion into the Poisson series in only orbital elements without other variables. The motion equations are obtained analytically in time-averaged elements by Hori-Deprit method. Piranha showed high-performance of analytical manipulations. Different properties of obtained series are discussed. The numerical integration of the motion equations is performed by Everhart method for the Solar system's giant-planets and some exoplanetary systems.
Atmospheric retrievals on exoplanets usually involve computationally intensive Bayesian sampling methods. Large parameter spaces and increasingly complex atmospheric models create a computational bottleneck forcing a trade-off between statistical sampling accuracy and model complexity. It is especially true for upcoming JWST and ARIEL observations. We introduce ExoGAN, the Exoplanet Generative Adversarial Network, a new deep learning algorithm able to recognise molecular features, atmospheric trace-gas abundances and planetary parameters using unsupervised learning. Once trained, ExoGAN is widely applicable to a large number of instruments and planetary types. The ExoGAN retrievals constitute a significant speed improvement over traditional retrievals and can be used either as a final atmospheric analysis or provide prior constraints to subsequent retrieval.