The origin of lithium (Li) and its production process have long been uncertain. Li could be produced by Big Bang nucleosynthesis, interactions of energetic cosmic rays with interstellar matter, ...evolved low-mass stars, novae, and supernova explosions. Chemical evolution models and observed stellar Li abundances suggest that at least half the Li may have been produced in red giants, asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, and novae. No direct evidence, however, for the supply of Li from evolved stellar objects to the Galactic medium has hitherto been found. Here we report the detection of highly blue-shifted resonance lines of the singly ionized radioactive isotope of beryllium, (7)Be, in the near-ultraviolet spectra of the classical nova V339 Del (Nova Delphini 2013) 38 to 48 days after the explosion. (7)Be decays to form (7)Li within a short time (half-life of 53.22 days). The (7)Be was created during the nova explosion via the alpha-capture reaction (3)He(α,γ)(7)Be (ref. 5). This result supports the theoretical prediction that a significant amount of (7)Li is produced in classical nova explosions.
We report high-resolution spectroscopic detection of TiO molecular signature in the day-side spectra of WASP-33b, the second hottest known hot Jupiter. We used the High Dispersion Spectrograph (HDS; ...R ∼ 165,000) on the Subaru telescope in the wavelength range of 0.62-0.88 m to obtain the day-side spectra of WASP-33b. We suppress and correct the systematic effects of the instrument and the telluric and stellar lines using the SYSREM algorithm after the selection of good orders based on Barnard's star and other M-type stars. We detect a 4.8 signal at an orbital velocity of km s−1 and systemic velocity of km s−1, which agree with the derived values from a previous analysis of the primary transit. Our detection with the temperature inversion model implies the existence of a stratosphere in its atmosphere; however, we were unable to constrain the volume mixing ratio of the detected TiO. We also measure the stellar radial velocity and use it to obtain a more stringent constraint on the orbital velocity, km s−1. Our results demonstrate that high-dispersion spectroscopy is a powerful tool to characterize the atmosphere of an exoplanet, even in the optical wavelength range, and shows a promising potential in using and developing similar techniques with high-dispersion spectrograph on current 10 m class and future extremely large telescopes.
We report the new detection of 7Be ii in the ultraviolet spectra of V5669 Sgr during its early decline phase (+24 and +28 d). We identified three blueshifted absorption systems in our spectra. The ...first two, referred to as low- and high-velocity components, were noticeably identified among H i Balmer, Na i D, and Fe ii whose lower energies of transients are low (<4 eV). The third absorption component was identified among N ii, He i, and C ii lines whose lower energy levels are relatively high (9–21 eV). The absorption lines of 7Be ii at 3130.583 Å and 3132.228 Å were identified as the first and second components in our observations. No evidence suggested the existence of Li i at 6708 Å in any velocity components. The estimated number density ratio of lithium relative to hydrogen, which was finally produced by this object using the equivalent widths of 7Be and Ca ii K, \(N{(}^{7}\mathrm{Li})/N{\left({\rm{H}}\right)}_{\mathrm{final}}\), is 4.0 ± 0.7 × 10−6. This value is an order of magnitude lower than the average observed values for classical novae wherein 7Be has been detected, and is comparable to the most optimistic value of theoretical predictions.
Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is a peculiar comet from the viewpoints of the chemical and physical properties of its dust grains. We conduct optical high-resolution spectroscopic observations of the ...comet. The intensity ratios of forbidden oxygen lines (at 557.7, 630.0, and 636.4 nm) and ortho-to-para abundance ratios (OPRs) of water cations (H2O+) and amidogen radicals (NH2) are obtained while only the upper limit for 14N/15N in the amidogen radical is restricted. The OPRs of H2O+ and NH2 are similar to those of other comets, although the real meaning of these OPRs is still debated. Based on the observation of the forbidden emission lines of oxygen atoms, it can be concluded that the comet is depleted in CO2. In consideration with the depletion in other highly volatile species found in the near-infrared region and the presence of complex organics in comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, this comet might form in a warmer region in the solar nebula compared with other comets.
We performed detailed chemical abundance analysis of the extremely metal-poor (Ar/H ~ -2) halo planetary nebula (PN) H4-1 based on the multi-wavelength spectra from Subaru/HDS, GALEX, SDSS, and ...Spitzer/IRS and determined the abundances of 10 elements. The C and O abundances were derived from collisionally excited lines (CELs) and are almost consistent with abundances from recombination lines (RLs). We demonstrated that the large discrepancy in the C abundance between CEL and RL in H4-1 can be solved using the temperature fluctuation model. We reported the first detection of the XeIII lambda5846 line in H4-1 and determination of its elemental abundance (Xe/H > +0.48). H4-1 is the most Xe-rich PN among the Xe-detected PNe. The observed abundances are close to the theoretical prediction by a 2.0 M sub(middot in circle) single star model with an initially element rich (r/Fe = +2.0 dex) rapid neutron-capture process (r-process). The observed Xe abundance would be a product of the r-process in primordial supernovae. The C/O-Ba/(Eu or Xe) diagram suggests that the progenitor of H4-1 shares the evolution with carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP)-r/s and CEMP-no stars. The progenitor of H4-1 is presumably a binary formed in an r-process-rich environment.
Abstract
Recent detection of gravitational waves from a neutron star (NS) merger event GW170817 and identification of an electromagnetic counterpart provide a unique opportunity to study the physical ...processes in NS mergers. To derive properties of ejected material from the NS merger, we perform radiative transfer simulations of kilonova, optical and near-infrared emissions powered by radioactive decays of r-process nuclei synthesized in the merger. We find that the observed near-infrared emission lasting for >10 d is explained by 0.03 M⊙ of ejecta containing lanthanide elements. However, the blue optical component observed at the initial phases requires an ejecta component with a relatively high electron fraction (Ye). We show that both optical and near-infrared emissions are simultaneously reproduced by the ejecta with a medium Ye of ∼0.25. We suggest that a dominant component powering the emission is post-merger ejecta, which exhibits that the mass ejection after the first dynamical ejection is quite efficient. Our results indicate that NS mergers synthesize a wide range of r-process elements and strengthen the hypothesis that NS mergers are the origin of r-process elements in the Universe.
Abstract
We have developed an automated quick data analysis system for data quality assurance (QA) for Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC). The system was commissioned in 2012–2014, and has been offered for ...general observations, including the HSC Subaru Strategic Program, since 2014 March. The system provides observers with data quality information, such as seeing, sky background level, and sky transparency, based on quick analysis as data are acquired. Quick-look images and validation of image focus are also provided through an interactive web application. The system is responsible for the automatic extraction of QA information from acquired raw data into a database, to assist with observation planning, assess progress of all observing programs, and monitor long-term efficiency variations of the instrument and telescope. Enhancements of the system are being planned to facilitate final data analysis, to improve the HSC archive, and to provide legacy products for astronomical communities.
ABSTRACT We report on an investigation of the extremely metal-poor and C-rich planetary nebula (PN) K648 in M15 using the UV to far-infrared data obtained using Subaru, the Hubble Space Telescope, ...the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer, Spitzer, and Herschel. We determined the nebular abundances of 10 elements. The enhancement of F (F/H = +0.96) is comparable to that of the halo PN BoBn1. The central stellar abundances of seven elements are determined. The stellar C/O ratio is similar to the nebular C/O ratios from recombination lines and from collisionally excited lines (CELs) within error, and the stellar Ne/O ratio is also close to the nebular CEL Ne/O ratio. We found evidence of carbonaceous dust grains and molecules including Class B 6-9 and 11.3 m polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the broad 11 m feature. The profiles of these bands are similar to those of the C-rich halo PNe H4-1 and BoBn1. Based on the theoretical model, we determined the physical conditions of the gas and dust and their masses, i.e., 0.048 and 4.95 × 10−7 , respectively. The observed chemical abundances and gas mass are in good agreement with an asymptotic giant branch nucleosynthesis model prediction for stars with an initial 1.25 plus a 2.0 × 10−3 partial mixing zone (PMZ) and stars with an initial mass of 1.5 without a PMZ. The core mass of the central star is approximately 0.61-0.63 . K648 is therefore likely to have evolved from a progenitor that experienced coalescence or tidal disruption during the early stages of evolution, and became a ∼1.25-1.5 blue straggler.
Abstract
The lowest possible mass of ONeMg white dwarfs (WDs) has not been clarified despite its importance in the formation and evolution of WDs. We tackle this issue by studying the properties of ...V1405 Cas (Nova Cassiopeiae 2021), which is an outlier given a combination of its very slow light-curve evolution and the recently reported neon-nova identification. We report its rapid spectral evolution in the initial phase, covering 9.88, 23.77, 33.94, 53.53, 71.79, and 81.90 hr after the discovery. The first spectrum is characterized by lines from highly ionized species, most noticeably He
ii
and N
iii
. These lines are quickly replaced by lower-ionization lines, e.g., N
ii
, Si
ii
, and O
i
. In addition, Al
ii
(6237 Å) starts emerging as an emission line at the second epoch. We perform emission-line strength diagnostics, showing that the density and temperature quickly decrease toward later epochs. This behavior, together with the decreasing velocity seen in H
α
, H
β
, and He
i
, indicates that the initial nova dynamics is reasonably well described by an expanding fireball on top of an expanding photosphere. Interestingly, the strengths of the N
iii
and Al
ii
indicate large enhancement in abundance, pointing to a ONeMg WD progenitor as is consistent with its neon-nova classification. Given its low-mass nature inferred by the slow light-curve evolution and relatively narrow emission lines, it provides a challenge to the stellar evolution theory that predicts the lower limit of the ONeMg WD mass being ∼1.1
M
⊙
.
Abstract
Knowledge of the morphology of nova ejecta is essential for fully understanding the physical processes involved in nova eruptions. We studied the 3D morphology of the expanding ejecta of the ...extremely slow nova V1280 Sco with a unique light curve. Synthetic line profile spectra were compared to the observed O
iii
λλ
4959, 5007 and N
ii
λ
5755 emission line profiles in order to find the best-fit morphology, inclination angle, and maximum expansion velocity of the ejected shell. We derive the best-fitting expansion velocity, inclination, and squeeze as
V
exp
=
2100
−
100
+
100
km s
−1
,
i
=
80
−
3
+
1
deg, and
squ
=
1.0
−
0.1
+
0.0
using O
iii
line profiles, and
V
exp
=
1600
−
100
+
100
km s
−1
,
i
=
81
−
4
+
2
deg, and
squ
=
1.0
−
0.1
+
0.0
using the N
ii
λ
5755 line profile. A high inclination angle is consistent with the observational results showing multiple absorption lines originating from clumpy gases, which are produced in dense and slow equatorially focused outflows. Based on additional observational features such as optical flares near the maximum light and dust formation on V1280 Sco, a model of internal shock interaction between slow ejecta and fast wind proposed for the
γ
-ray emission detected in other novae seems to be applicable to this extremely slow and peculiar nova. Increasing the sample size of novae whose morphology is studied will be helpful in addressing long-standing mysteries in novae such as the dominant energy source to power the optical light at the maximum, optical flares near the maximum, clumpiness of the ejecta, and dust formation.