Aims. We present a new upgraded version of ARES. The new version includes a series of interesting new features such as automatic radial velocity correction, a fully automatic continuum determination, ...and an estimation of the errors for the equivalent widths. Methods. The automatic correction of the radial velocity is achieved with a simple cross-correlation function, and the automatic continuum determination, as well as the estimation of the errors, relies on a new approach to evaluating the spectral noise at the continuum level. Results. ARES v2 is totally compatible with its predecessor. We show that the fully automatic continuum determination is consistent with the previous methods applied for this task. It also presents a significant improvement on its performance thanks to the implementation of a parallel computation using the OpenMP library.
A cosmic string network created during an inflationary stage in the early Universe-defined here as an i-string network-is expected to enter a transient stretching regime during inflation, in which ...its characteristic length is stretched to scales much larger than the Hubble radius, before attaining a standard evolution once the network reenters the Hubble volume after inflation. During the stretching regime, the production of cosmic string loops and the consequent emission of gravitational radiation are significantly suppressed. Here, we compute the power spectrum of the stochastic gravitational wave background generated by i-string networks using the velocity-dependent one-scale model to describe the network dynamics, and we demonstrate that this regime introduces a high-frequency signature on an otherwise standard spectrum of the stochastic gravitational wave background generated by cosmic strings. We argue that, if observed by current or forthcoming experiments, this signature would provide strong evidence for i-strings and, therefore, for (primordial) inflation. We also develop a simple single-parameter algorithm for the computation of the stochastic gravitational wave background generated by i-strings from that of a standard cosmic string network, which may be useful in the determination of the observational constraints to be obtained by current and forthcoming gravitational wave experiments.
The ovary is perhaps the most dynamic organ in the human body, only rivaled by the uterus. The molecular mechanisms that regulate follicular growth and regression, ensuring ovarian tissue ...homeostasis, remain elusive. We have performed single-cell RNA-sequencing using human adult ovaries to provide a map of the molecular signature of growing and regressing follicular populations. We have identified different types of granulosa and theca cells and detected local production of components of the complement system by (atretic) theca cells and stromal cells. We also have detected a mixture of adaptive and innate immune cells, as well as several types of endothelial and smooth muscle cells to aid the remodeling process. Our results highlight the relevance of mapping whole adult organs at the single-cell level and reflect ongoing efforts to map the human body. The association between complement system and follicular remodeling may provide key insights in reproductive biology and (in)fertility.
Context.
Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the Sun. This small, low-mass, mid M dwarf is known to host an Earth-mass exoplanet with an orbital period of 11.2 days within the habitable zone, as ...well as a long-period planet candidate with an orbital period of close to 5 yr.
Aims.
We report on the analysis of a large set of observations taken with the ESPRESSO spectrograph at the VLT aimed at a thorough evaluation of the presence of a third low-mass planetary companion, which started emerging during a previous campaign.
Methods.
Radial velocities (RVs) were calculated using both a cross-correlation function (CCF) and a template matching approach. The RV analysis includes a component to model Proxima’s activity using a Gaussian process (GP). We use the CCF’s full width at half maximum to help constrain the GP, and we study other simultaneous observables as activity indicators in order to assess the nature of any potential RV signals.
Results.
We detect a signal at 5.12 ± 0.04 days with a semi-amplitude of 39 ± 7 cm s
−1
. The analysis of subsets of the ESPRESSO data, the activity indicators, and chromatic RVs suggest that this signal is not caused by stellar variability but instead by a planetary companion with a minimum mass of 0.26 ± 0.05
M
⊕
(about twice the mass of Mars) orbiting at 0.029 au from the star. The orbital eccentricity is well constrained and compatible with a circular orbit.
Aims. We report 20 new lithium-rich giants discovered within the Gaia-ESO Survey, including the first Li-rich giant with an evolutionary stage confirmed by CoRoT (Convection, Rotation and planetary ...Transits) data. We present a detailed overview of the properties of these 20 stars. Methods. Atmospheric parameters and abundances were derived in model atmosphere analyses using medium-resolution GIRAFFE or high-resolution UVES (Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph) spectra. These results are part of the fifth internal data release of the Gaia-ESO Survey. The Li abundances were corrected for non-local thermodynamical equilibrium effects. Other stellar properties were investigated for additional peculiarities (the core of strong lines for signs of magnetic activity, infrared magnitudes, rotational velocities, chemical abundances, and Galactic velocities). We used Gaia DR2 parallaxes to estimate distances and luminosities. Results. The giants have A(Li) > 2.2 dex. The majority of them (14 of 20 stars) are in the CoRoT fields. Four giants are located in the field of three open clusters, but are not members. Two giants were observed in fields towards the Galactic bulge, but likely lie in the inner disc. One of the bulge field giants is super Li-rich with A(Li) = 4.0 dex. Conclusions. We identified one giant with infrared excess at 22 μm. Two other giants, with large v sin i, might be Li-rich because of planet engulfment. Another giant is found to be barium enhanced and thus could have accreted material from a former asymptotic giant branch companion. Otherwise, in addition to the Li enrichment, the evolutionary stages are the only other connection between these new Li-rich giants. The CoRoT data confirm that one Li-rich giant is at the core-He burning stage. The other giants are concentrated in close proximity to the red giant branch luminosity bump, the core-He burning stages, or the early-asymptotic giant branch. This is very clear from the Gaia-based luminosities of the Li-rich giants. This is also seen when the CoRoT Li-rich giants are compared to a larger sample of 2252 giants observed in the CoRoT fields by the Gaia-ESO Survey, which are distributed throughout the red giant branch in the Teff-log g diagram. These observations show that the evolutionary stage is a major factor for the Li enrichment in giants. Other processes, such as planet accretion, contribute at a smaller scale.
Aims.
The derivation of spectroscopic parameters for M dwarf stars is very important in the fields of stellar and exoplanet characterization. The goal of this work is the creation of an automatic ...computational tool able to quickly and reliably derive the
T
eff
and Fe/H of M dwarfs using optical spectra obtained by different spectrographs with different resolutions.
Methods.
ODUSSEAS (Observing Dwarfs Using Stellar Spectroscopic Energy-Absorption Shapes) is based on the measurement of the pseudo equivalent widths for more than 4000 stellar absorption lines and on the use of the machine learning Python package “scikit-learn” for predicting the stellar parameters.
Results.
We show that our tool is able to derive parameters accurately and with high precision, having precision errors of ~30 K for
T
eff
and ~0.04 dex for Fe/H. The results are consistent for spectra with resolutions of between 48 000 and 115 000 and a signal-to-noise ratio above 20.
To understand the formation and evolution of solar-type stars in the solar neighborhood, we need to measure their stellar parameters to high accuracy. We present a catalogue of accurate stellar ...parameters for 451 stars that represent the HARPS Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO) "high precision" sample. Spectroscopic stellar parameters were measured using high signal-to-noise (S / N) spectra acquired with the HARPS spectrograph. The spectroscopic analysis was completed assuming LTE with a grid of Kurucz atmosphere models and the recent ARES code for measuring line equivalent widths. We show that our results agree well with those ones presented in the literature (for stars in common). We present a useful calibration for the effective temperature as a function of the index color B-V and Fe/H. We use our results to study the metallicity-planet correlation, namely for very low mass planets. The results presented here suggest that in contrast to their jovian couterparts, neptune-like planets do not form preferentially around metal- rich stars. The ratio of jupiter-to-neptunes is also an increasing function of stellar metallicity. These results are discussed in the context of the core-accretion model for planet formation.
Context. The chemical composition of stars that have orbiting planets provides important clues about the frequency, architecture, and composition of exoplanet systems. Aims. We explore the ...possibility that stars from different galactic populations that have different intrinsic abundance ratios may produce planets with a different overall composition. Methods. We compiled abundances for Fe, O, C, Mg, and Si in a large sample of solar neighbourhood stars that belong to different galactic populations. We then used a simple stoichiometric model to predict the expected iron-to-silicate mass fraction and water mass fraction of the planet building blocks, as well as the summed mass percentage of all heavy elements in the disc. Results. Assuming that overall the chemical composition of the planet building blocks will be reflected in the composition of the formed planets, we show that according to our model, discs around stars from different galactic populations, as well as around stars from different regions in the Galaxy, are expected to form rocky planets with significantly different iron-to-silicate mass fractions. The available water mass fraction also changes significantly from one galactic population to another. Conclusions. The results may be used to set constraints for models of planet formation and chemical composition. Furthermore, the results may have impact on our understanding of the frequency of planets in the Galaxy, as well as on the existence of conditions for habitability.
CO2 adsorption in amine-grafted zeolite 13X Bezerra, Diôgo P.; Silva, Francisco W.M. da; Moura, Pedro A.S. de ...
Applied surface science,
09/2014, Letnik:
314
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
•CO2 adsorption mechanism in amine-grafted zeolite 13X was investigated.•The loaded amine tends to fill zeolite micropores and most of it is unaccessible to react with CO2.•Part of loaded MEA binds ...covalently to the zeolitic structure and will not detach from the surface even at low pressures.•Chemisorption is likely to lead to CO2 higher uptakes upon a rise in temperature for solids with the highest amine load.
The adsorption of CO2 on Zeolite 13X functionalized with amino groups was studied. Adsorbent functionalization was carried out by grafting with different loads of monoethanolamine (MEA). The adsorbents were characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms at 77K, x-ray diffraction, TGA, in situ FTIR, XPS and adsorption microcalorimetry. CO2 isotherms were studied in a gravimetric device up to 10bar at 298 and 348K. It was found that increasing loads of amine to the adsorbent tend to reduce micropore volume of the resulting adsorbents by pore blocking with MEA. There is experimental evidence that part of the loaded MEA is effectively covalently bonded to the zeolitic structure, whereas there is also physisorbed excess MEA which will eventually be desorbed by raising the temperature beyond MEA boiling point. Heats of adsorption at nearly zero coverage indicate that some of the adsorbed CO2 reacts with available amino groups, which agrees with the finding that the adsorption capacity increases with increasing temperature for the modified zeolite with the highest MEA load.
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