Papers for Tuesday, Nov 23 2021

In 2017, the first image of the center of the M87 galaxy was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). It revealed a ring morphology and a size consistent with theoretical expectations for the light pattern around a weakly accreting supermassive black hole of ~6.5 billion solar masses. In parallel to the EHT measurements, an extensive multi-wavelength (MWL) campaign with ground- and space-based facilities from radio all the way up to the TeV energy range was organized. In this note we will give an overview of the results from this campaign. M87 was found to be in a historically low state. At X-ray energies the emission from the core dominates over HST-1. We present the most complete simultaneous, MWL spectrum of the active nucleus to date.

Recent observational evidence has demonstrated that white dwarf (WD) mergers are a highly efficient mechanism for mass accretion onto WDs in the galaxy. In this paper, we show that WD mergers naturally produce highly-magnetized, uniformly-rotating WDs, including a substantial population within a narrow mass range close to the Chandrasekhar mass ($M_{\rm Ch}$). These near-$M_{\rm Ch}$ WD mergers subsequently undergo rapid spin up and compression on a $\sim 10^2$ yr timescale, either leading to central ignition and a normal SN Ia via the DDT mechanism, or alternatively to a failed detonation and SN Iax through pure deflagration. The resulting SNe Ia and SNe Iax will have spectra, light curves, polarimetry, and nucleosynthetic yields similar to those predicted to arise through the canonical near-$M_{\rm Ch}$ single degenerate (SD) channel, but with a $t^{-1}$ delay time distribution characteristic of the double-degenerate (DD) channel. Furthermore, in contrast to the SD channel, WD merger near-$M_{\rm Ch}$ SNe Ia and SNe Iax will not produce observable companion signatures. We discuss a range of implications of these findings, from SNe Ia explosion mechanisms, to galactic nucleosynthesis of iron peak elements including manganese.

The nearest region of massive star formation - the Scorpius-Centaurus OB2 association (Sco-Cen) - is a local laboratory ideally suited to the study of a wide range of astrophysical phenomena. Precision astrometry from the Gaia mission has expanded the census of this region by an order of magnitude. However, Sco-Cen's vastness and complex substructure make kinematic analysis of its traditional three regions, Upper Scorpius, Upper Centaurus-Lupus and Lower Centaurus-Crux, challenging. Here we use Chronostar, a Bayesian tool for kinematic age determination, to carry out a new kinematic decomposition of Sco-Cen using full 6-dimensional kinematic data. Our model identifies 8 kinematically distinct components consisting of 8,185 stars distributed in dense and diffuse groups, each with an independently-fit kinematic age; we verify that these kinematic estimates are consistent with isochronal ages. Both Upper Centaurus-Lupus and Lower Centaurus-Crux are split into two parts. The kinematic age of the component that includes PDS 70, one of the most well studied systems currently forming planets, is 15$\pm$3 Myr.

We use luminous red galaxies selected from the imaging surveys that are being used for targeting by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) in combination with CMB lensing maps from the Planck collaboration to probe the amplitude of large-scale structure over $0.4\le z\le 1$. Our galaxy sample, with an angular number density of approximately $500\,\mathrm{deg}^{-2}$ over 18,000 sq.deg., is divided into 4 tomographic bins by photometric redshift and the redshift distributions are calibrated using spectroscopy from DESI. We fit the galaxy autospectra and galaxy-convergence cross-spectra using models based on cosmological perturbation theory, restricting to large scales that are expected to be well described by such models. Within the context of $\Lambda$CDM, combining all 4 samples and using priors on the background cosmology from supernova and baryon acoustic oscillation measurements, we find $S_8=\sigma_8(\Omega_m/0.3)^{0.5}=0.73\pm 0.03$. This result is lower than the prediction of the $\Lambda$CDM model conditioned on the Planck data. Our data prefer a slower growth of structure at low redshift than the model predictions, though at only modest significance.

We present the results from high-resolution observations carried out with the eMERLIN UK-array and the European VLBI network (EVN) for a sample of 15 FR0s, i.e. compact core-dominated radio sources associated with nearby early-type galaxies (ETGs) which represent the bulk of the local radio galaxy population. The 5-GHz eMERLIN observations available for 5 objects exhibit sub-mJy core components, and reveal pc-scale twin jets for 4 out of 5 FR0s once the eMERLIN and JVLA archival visibilities data are combined. The 1.66-GHz EVN observations available for 10 FR0s display one- and two-sided jetted morphologies and compact cores. The pc-scale core emission contributes, on average, to about one tenth of the total extended radio emission, although we note a increasing core contribution for flat/inverted-spectrum sources. We found an unprecedented linear correlation between the pc-scale core luminosity ($\sim$10$^{21.3}$-10$^{23.6}$ W Hz$^{-1}$) and [O III] line luminosity, generally considered as proxy of the accretion power, for a large sample of LINER-type radio-loud low-luminosity active nuclei, all hosted in massive ETGs, which include FR0s and FRIs. This result represents further evidence of a common jet-disc coupling in FR0s and FRIs, despite they differ in kpc-scale radio structure. For our objects and for other FR0 samples reported in the literature, we estimate the jet brightness sidedness ratios, which typically range between 1 and 3. This parameter roughly gauges the jet bulk Lorentz factor $\Gamma$, which turns out to range between 1 and 2.5 for most of the sample. This corroborates the scenario that FR0s are characterized by mildly-relativistic jets, possibly as a result of lower spinning black holes (BHs) than the highly-spinning BHs of relativistic-jetted radio galaxies, FRIs.

We describe active asteroid 331P/Gibbs (2012 F5) using archival Hubble Space Telescope data taken between 2015 and 2018. 331P is an outer main-belt active asteroid with a long-lived debris trail that formed in 2011. Embedded in the debris trail we identify 19 fragments with radii between 0.04 and 0.11 km (albedo 0.05 assumed) containing about 1 percent of the mass of the primary nucleus. The largest shows a photometric range (1.5 magnitudes), a V-shaped minimum and a two-peaked lightcurve period near 9 hours, consistent with a symmetric contact binary (Drahus and Waniak 2016). Less convincing explanations are that 331P-A is a monolithic, elongated splinter or that its surface shows hemispheric 4:1 albedo variations. The debris trail is composed of centimeter sized and larger particles ejected with characteristic 10 cm s$^{-1}$ speeds following a size distribution with index q = 3.7+/-0.1 to 4.1+/-0.2. The HST data show that earlier, ground-based measurements of the nucleus were contaminated by near-nucleus debris, which cleared by 2015. We find that the primary nucleus has effective radius 0.8+/-0.1 km and is in rapid rotation (3.26+/-0.01 hour, range 0.25 magnitudes, minimum density 1600 kg/m3 if strengthless. The properties of 331P are consistent with a) formation about 1.5 Myr ago by impact shattering of a precursor body (Novakovic et al. 2014) b) spin-up by radiation torques to critical rotation c) ejection of about 1 percent of the nucleus mass in mid-2011 by rotational instability and d) subsequent evolution of the fragments and dispersal of the debris by radiation pressure.

Image sensors with nondestructive charge readout provide single-photon or single-electron sensitivity, but at the cost of long readout times. We present a smart readout technique to allow the use of these sensors in visible-light and other applications that require faster readout times. The method optimizes the readout noise and time by changing the number of times pixels are read out either statically, by defining an arbitrary number of regions of interest (ROI) in the array, or dynamically, depending on the charge or energy of interest (EOI) in the pixel. This technique is tested in a Skipper CCD showing that it is possible to obtain deep sub-electron noise, and therefore, high resolution of quantized charge, while dynamically changing the readout noise of the sensor. These faster, low noise readout techniques show that the skipper CCD is a competitive technology even where other technologies such as Electron Multiplier Charge Coupled Devices (EMCCD), silicon photo multipliers, etc. are currently used. This technique could allow skipper CCDs to benefit new astronomical instruments, quantum imaging, exoplanet search and study, and quantum metrology.

Ultra-hot Jupiters are gas giants which orbit so close to their host star that they are tidally locked, causing a permanent hot dayside and a cooler nightside. Signatures of their non-uniform atmospheres can be observed with high-resolution transit transmission spectroscopy by resolving time-dependent velocity shifts as the planet rotates and varying areas of the evening and morning terminator are probed. These asymmetric shifts were seen for the first time in iron absorption in WASP-76b. Here, we search for other atoms/ions in the planet's transmission spectrum and study the asymmetries in their signals. We detect Li I, Na I, Mg I, Ca II, V I, Cr I, Mn I, Fe I, Ni I, and Sr II, and tentatively detect H I, K I, and Co I, of which V, Cr, Ni, Sr II and Co have not been reported before. We notably do not detect Ti or Al, even though these species should be readily observable, and hypothesize this could be due to condensation or cold trapping. We find that the observed signal asymmetries in the detected species can be explained in different ways. We find a relation between the expected condensation or ionization temperatures and the strength of the observed asymmetry, which could indicate rain-out or recombination on the nightside. However, we also find a dependence on the signal broadening, which could imply a two-zoned atmosphere model, in which the lower atmosphere is dominated by a day-to-night wind, while the upper atmosphere is dominated by a vertical wind or outflow. These observations provide a new level of modeling constraint and will aid our understanding of atmospheric dynamics in highly-irradiated planets.

Energy spectra of the most energetic hadrons in the core region of extensive air showers (EAS) were studied in dependence on the EAS energy $E_0$ in the hybrid experiment HADRON at the Tien Shan mountain cosmic ray station. For the first time by direct measurement it was found in this experiment that the slope of the power energy spectrum of EAS hadrons diminishes itself locally, and the average hadron energy, correspondingly, increases between the $E_0$ borders 3PeV and 20PeV. Such behavior agrees with threshold appearance in EAS, in the same energy range, of a long-flying penetrative component which was earlier revealed at the Tien Shan station. Now we reconsider this Tien Shan result in comparison with the new data of modern collider experiments. The analysis permits to state unambiguously an astrophysical nature of the penetrative EAS component, and to discuss its probable connection with the origin of the famous knee in the energy spectrum of cosmic rays at $E_0\simeq 3$ PeV.

In a recent paper \cite{Artymowski:2020zwy} we suggested the possibility that the present acceleration of the Universe is due to thermodynamical behavior of unparticles. The model is free of scalar fields, modified gravity, coincidence problem, initial conditions problem and possesses interesting distinct predictions regarding the equation of state of Dark Energy, the growth rate and the number of relativistic degrees of freedom at BBN and CMB decoupling. We further suggested that the model can remove some of the Hubble tension. A recent paper mostly considering a different range of parameter space criticized the idea, claiming the model is unstable and does not fit the data \cite{Abchouyeh:2021wey}. We demonstrate that these claims are due to incorrect use of approximations and initial conditions and that the model stands tall. We further suggest a consistency condition of the model in terms of observables. We then fit publicly available supernovae data to derive the expected Hubble parameter and constrain the parameters of the model.

We present the first observation by the Telescope Array Surface Detector (TASD) of the effect of thunderstorms on the development of cosmic ray single count rate intensity over a 700 km$^{2}$ area. Observations of variations in the secondary low-energy cosmic ray counting rate, using the TASD, allow us to study the electric field inside thunderstorms, on a large scale, as it progresses on top of the 700 km$^{2}$ detector, without dealing with the limitation of narrow exposure in time and space using balloons and aircraft detectors. In this work, variations in the cosmic ray intensity (single count rate) using the TASD, were studied and found to be on average at the $\sim(0.5-1)\%$ and up to 2\% level. These observations were found to be both in excess and in deficit. They were also found to be correlated with lightning in addition to thunderstorms. These variations lasted for tens of minutes; their footprint on the ground ranged from 6 to 24 km in diameter and moved in the same direction as the thunderstorm. With the use of simple electric field models inside the cloud and between cloud to ground, the observed variations in the cosmic ray single count rate were recreated using CORSIKA simulations. Depending on the electric field model used and the direction of the electric field in that model, the electric field magnitude that reproduces the observed low-energy cosmic ray single count rate variations was found to be approximately between 0.2-0.4 GV. This in turn allows us to get a reasonable insight on the electric field and its effect on cosmic ray air showers inside thunderstorms.

The Sun provides an excellent target for studying spin-dependent dark matter-proton scattering due to its high matter density and abundant hydrogen content. Dark matter particles from the Galactic halo can elastically interact with Solar nuclei, resulting in their capture and thermalization in the Sun. The captured dark matter can annihilate into Standard Model particles including an observable flux of neutrinos. We present the results of a search for low-energy ($<$ 500 GeV) neutrinos correlated with the direction of the Sun using 7 years of IceCube data. This work utilizes, for the first time, new optimized cuts to extend IceCube's sensitivity to dark matter mass down to 5 GeV. We find no significant detection of neutrinos from the Sun. Our observations exclude capture by spin-dependent dark matter-proton scattering with cross-section down to a few times $10^{-41}$ cm$^2$, assuming there is equilibrium with annihilation into neutrinos/anti-neutrinos for dark matter masses between 5 GeV and 100 GeV. These are the strongest constraints at GeV energies for dark matter annihilation directly to neutrinos.

To understand structure formation in the universe and impose stronger constraints on the cluster mass function and cosmological models, it is important to have large galaxy cluster catalogs. The Swift AGN and Cluster Survey is a serendipitous X-ray survey aimed at building a large statistically selected X-ray cluster catalog with 442 cluster candidates in its first release. Our initial SDSS follow-up study confirmed $50\%$ of clusters in the SDSS footprint as z $<$ 0.5 clusters. Here, we present further optical follow-up analysis of 248 (out of 442) cluster candidates from the Swift cluster catalog using multi-band imaging from the MDM $2.4m$ telescope and the Pan-STARRS survey. We report the optical confirmation of 55 clusters with $> 3\sigma$ galaxy overdensities and detectable red sequences in the color-magnitude space. The majority of these confirmed clusters have redshifts z $<$ 0.6. The remaining candidates are potentially higher redshift clusters that are excellent targets for infrared observations. We report the X-ray luminosity and the optical richness for these confirmed clusters. We also discuss the distinction between X-ray and optical observables for the detected and non-detected cluster candidates.

The Magellanic Clouds are the only external galaxies known to host radio pulsars. The dispersion and rotation measures of pulsars in the Clouds can aid in understanding their structure, and studies of the pulsars themselves can point to potential differences between them and their Galactic counterparts. We use the high sensitivity of the MeerKAT telescope to observe 17 pulsars in the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds in addition to five foreground (Galactic) pulsars. We provide polarization profiles for 18 of these pulsars, improved measurements of their dispersion and rotation measures, and derive the mean parallel magnetic field along the lines of sight. The results are broadly in agreement with expectations for the structure and strength of the magnetic field in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. The Magellanic Cloud pulsars have profiles which are narrower than expected from the period-width relationship and we show this is due to selection effects in pulsar surveys rather than any intrinsic difference between the population of Galactic and Magellanic objects.

Biologically relevant abiotic extraterrestrial soluble organic matter (SOM) has been widely investigated to study the origin of life and the chemical evolution of protoplanetary disks. Synthesis of biologically relevant organics, in particular, seems to require aqueous environments in the early solar system. However, SOM in primitive meteorites includes numerous chemical species besides the biologically relevant ones, and the reaction mechanisms that comprehensively explain the complex nature of SOM are unknown. Besides, the initial reactants, which formed before asteroid accretion, were uncharacterized. We examined the mass distribution of SOM extracted from three distinct Tagish Lake meteorite fragments, which exhibit different degrees of aqueous alteration though they originated from a single asteroid. We report that mass distributions of SOM in the primordial fragments are well fit by the SchulzZimm (SZ) model for the molecular weight distribution patterns found in chain growth polymerization experiments. Also, the distribution patterns diverge further from SZ with increasing degrees of aqueous alteration. These observations imply that the complex nature of the primordial SOM (1) was established before severe alteration on the asteroid, (2) possibly existed before parent-body accretion, and (3) later became simplified on the asteroid. Therefore, aqueous reactions on asteroids are not required conditions for cultivating complex SOM. Furthermore, we found that overall H over C ratios of SOM decrease with increasing aqueous alteration, and the estimate of H loss from the SOM is 10% to 30%. Organics seem to be a significant H2 source that may have caused subsequent chemical reactions in the Tagish Lake meteorite parent body.

The kepler and TESS missions have generated over 100,000 potential transit signals that must be processed in order to create a catalog of planet candidates. During the last few years, there has been a growing interest in using machine learning to analyze these data in search of new exoplanets. Different from the existing machine learning works, ExoMiner, the proposed deep learning classifier in this work, mimics how domain experts examine diagnostic tests to vet a transit signal. ExoMiner is a highly accurate, explainable, and robust classifier that 1) allows us to validate 301 new exoplanets from the MAST Kepler Archive and 2) is general enough to be applied across missions such as the on-going TESS mission. We perform an extensive experimental study to verify that ExoMiner is more reliable and accurate than the existing transit signal classifiers in terms of different classification and ranking metrics. For example, for a fixed precision value of 99%, ExoMiner retrieves 93.6% of all exoplanets in the test set (i.e., recall=0.936) while this rate is 76.3% for the best existing classifier. Furthermore, the modular design of ExoMiner favors its explainability. We introduce a simple explainability framework that provides experts with feedback on why ExoMiner classifies a transit signal into a specific class label (e.g., planet candidate or not planet candidate).

Atmospheric modeling and dynamical analysis of the components of the visually close binary system (VCBS) HD6009 were used to estimate their individual physical and geometrical parameters. Model atmospheres were constructed using a grid of Kurucz solar metalicity blanketed models and used to compute the individual synthetic spectral energy distribution (SED) for each component separately. These SEDs were combined together to compute the entire SED for the system from the net luminosities of the components $a$ and $b$ located at a distance $d$ from the Earth. %The entire observational SED of the system was used as a reference for the comparison with the synthetic ones. We used the feedback modified parameters and iteration method to get the best fit between synthetic and observational entire SEDs. The physical and geometrical parameters of the system's components were derived as: $T_{\rm eff}^{a} =5625\pm75$\,K, $T_{\rm eff}^{b} =5575\pm75$\,K, log $g_{a}=3.75\pm0.25$, log $g_{b}=3.75\pm0.25$, $R_{a}=2.75\pm0.30 R_\odot$, $R_{b}=2.65\pm0.30 R_\odot$, $M_v^{a}= 2\fm80\pm0.30$, $M_v^{b}=2\fm93\pm0.30$, $M_a= 1.42\pm0.15 M_{\odot}$, $M_b=1.40\pm0.15 M_{\odot}$, $L_a=6.80\pm0.75 L_\odot$, $L_b=6.09\pm0.75 L_\odot$ and $\pi=14.43$mas dynamical parallax. The system is shown to be consist of G6 IV primary and G6 IV secondary components.

The primordial black hole (PBH) is an effective candidate for dark matter. In this work, the PBH abundance $f$ is calculated in peak theory, with one or two perturbations in the inflaton potential. We construct an antisymmetric perturbation that can create a perfect plateau in the inflaton potential, leading inflation to the ultra-slow-roll stage. During this stage, the power spectrum of primordial curvature perturbation is remarkably enhanced on small scales, generating abundant PBHs. The PBH abundance $f\sim 0.1$ can be achieved in one or two typical mass windows at $10^{-17}M_\odot$, $10^{-13}M_\odot$, and $30M_\odot$, without spoiling the nearly scale-invariant power spectrum on large scales. For comparison, $f$ is calculated in two approximate methods of peak theory (with different spectral moments) and also in the Press--Schechter theory. It is found that the Press--Schechter theory systematically underestimates $f$ by two or three orders of magnitude compared with peak theory.

In modern models and simulations of galactic evolution, the star formation in massive galaxies is regulated by an ad hoc active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback process. However, the physics and the extension of such effects on the star formation history of galaxies is matter of vivid debate. In order to shed some light in the AGN effects over the star formation, we analyzed the inner 500$\times$500pc of a sample of 14 Seyfert galaxies using GMOS and MUSE integral field spectroscopy. We fitted the continuum spectra in order to derive stellar age, metallicity, velocity and velocity dispersion maps in each source. After stacking our sample and averaging their properties, we found that the contribution of young SP, as well as that of AGN featureless continuum both peak at the nucleus. The fraction of intermediate-age SPs is smaller in the nucleus if compared to outer regions, and the contribution of old SPs vary very little within our field of view (FoV). We also found no variation of velocity dispersion or metallicity within our FoV. Lastly, we detected an increase in the dust reddening towards the center of the galaxies. These results lead us to conclude that AGN phenomenon is usually related to a recent star formation episode in the circumnuclear region.

We report Spitzer 3.6 and 4.5 $\mu$m photometry of 11 bright stars relative to Sirius, exploiting the unique optical stability of the Spitzer Space Telescope point spread function (PSF). Spitzer's extremely stable beryllium optics in its isothermal environment enables precise comparisons in the wings of the PSF from heavily saturated stars. These bright stars stand as the primary sample to improve stellar models, and to transfer the absolute flux calibration of bright standard stars to a sample of fainter standards useful for missions like JWST and for large groundbased telescopes. We demonstrate that better than 1% relative photometry can be achieved using the PSF wing technique in the radial range of 20--100\arcsec\ for stars that are fainter than Sirius by 8 mag (from outside the saturated core to a large radius where a high signal-to-noise profile can still be obtained). We test our results by (1) comparing the [3.6]$-$[4.5] color with that expected between the WISE W1 and W2 bands, (2) comparing with stars where there is accurate $K_{\text{S}}$ photometry, and (3) also comparing with relative fluxes obtained with the DIRBE instrument on COBE. These tests confirm that relative photometry is achieved to better than 1%.

Brown dwarfs can serve as both clocks and chemical tracers of the evolutionary history of the Milky Way due to their continuous cooling and high sensitivity of spectra to composition. We focus on brown dwarfs in globular clusters that host some of the oldest coeval populations in the galaxy. Currently, no brown dwarfs in globular clusters have been confirmed, but they are expected to be uncovered with advanced observational facilities such as \textit{JWST}. In this paper we present a new set of stellar models specifically designed to investigate low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in $\omega$\,Centauri -- the largest known globular cluster. The parameters of our models were derived from iterative fits to \textit{HST} photometry of the Main Sequence members of the cluster. Despite the complex distribution of abundances and the presence of multiple Main Sequences in $\omega$\,Centauri, we find that the modal colour-magnitude distribution can be represented by a single stellar population with parameters determined in this study. The observed luminosity function is well-represented by two distinct stellar populations having solar and enhanced helium mass fractions and a common initial mass function, in agreement with previous studies. Our analysis confirms that the abundances of individual chemical elements play a key role in determining the physical properties of low-mass cluster members. We use our models to draw predictions of brown dwarf colours and magnitudes in anticipated \textit{JWST} \textit{NIRCam} data, confirming that the beginning of the substellar sequence should be detected in $\omega$\,Centauri in forthcoming observations.

Double white dwarf (DWD) binaries are important for studies of common-envelope (CE) evolution, Type Ia supernova progenitors and Galactic sources of low-frequency gravitational waves (GWs). PTF J0533+0209 is a DWD system with a short orbital period of Porb ~ 20 min and thus a so-called LISA verification source. The formation of this system and other DWDs is still under debate. In this paper, we discuss the possible formation scenarios of this binary and argue that it is not likely to have formed through CE evolution. Applying a new magnetic braking prescription, we use the MESA code to model the formation of this system through stable mass transfer. We find a model which can well reproduce the observed WD masses and orbital period but not the effective temperature and hydrogen abundance of the low-mass He WD component. We discuss the possibility of using H flashes to mitigate this discrepancy. Finally, we discuss the future evolution of this system into a AM CVn binary such as those that will be detected by space-borne GW observatories like LISA, TianQin and Taiji.

In this work we report the discovery and analysis of three new triply eclipsing triple star systems found with the TESS mission during its observations of the northern skies: TICs 193993801, 388459317, and 52041148. We utilized the TESS precision photometry of the binary eclipses and third-body eclipsing events, ground-based archival and follow-up photometric data, eclipse timing variations, archival spectral energy distributions, as well as theoretical evolution tracks in a joint photodynamical analysis to deduce the system masses and orbital parameters of both the inner and outer orbits. In one case (TIC 193993801) we also obtained radial velocity measurements of all three stars. This enabled us to `calibrate' our analysis approach with and without `truth' (i.e., RV) data. We find that the masses are good to 1-3% accuracy with RV data and 3-10% without the use of RV data. In all three systems we were able to find the outer orbital period before doing any detailed analysis by searching for a longer-term periodicity in the ASAS-SN archival photometry data -- just a few thousand ASAS-SN points enabled us to find the outer periods of 49.28 d, 89.86 d, and 177.0 d, respectively. From our full photodynamical analysis we find that all three systems are coplanar to within $1^\circ - 3^\circ$. The outer eccentricities of the three systems are 0.003, 0.10, and 0.62, respectively (i.e., spanning a factor of 200). The masses of the three stars {Aa, Ab, and B} in the three systems are: {1.31, 1.19, 1.34}, {1.82, 1.73, 2.19}, and {1.62, 1.48, 2.74} M$_\odot$, respectively.

We present our determination of the baryon budget for an X-ray-selected XXL sample of 136 galaxy groups and clusters spanning nearly two orders of magnitude in mass ($M_{500}\sim 10^{13}-10^{15}M_\odot$) and the redshift range $0< z < 1$. Our joint analysis is based on the combination of HSC-SSP weak-lensing mass measurements, XXL X-ray gas mass measurements, and HSC and SDSS multiband photometry. We carry out a Bayesian analysis of multivariate mass-scaling relations of gas mass, galaxy stellar mass, stellar mass of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), and soft-band X-ray luminosity, by taking into account the intrinsic covariance between cluster properties, selection effect, weak-lensing mass calibration, and observational error covariance matrix. The mass-dependent slope of the gas mass--total mass ($M_{500}$) relation is found to be $1.29_{-0.10}^{+0.16}$, which is steeper than the self-similar prediction of unity, whereas the slope of the stellar mass--total mass relation is shallower than unity, $0.85_{-0.09}^{+0.12}$. The BCG stellar mass weakly depends on cluster mass with a slope of $0.49_{-0.10}^{+0.11}$. The baryon, gas mass, and stellar mass fractions as a function of $M_{500}$ agree with the results from numerical simulations and previous observations. We successfully constrain the full intrinsic covariance of the baryonic contents. The BCG stellar mass shows the larger intrinsic scatter at a given halo total mass, followed in order by stellar mass and gas mass. We find a significant positive intrinsic correlation coefficient between total (and satellite) stellar mass and BCG stellar mass and no evidence for intrinsic correlation between gas mass and stellar mass. All the baryonic components show no redshift evolution.

We study the formation and gravitational collapse of supersonically induced gas objects (SIGOs) in the early Universe. We run cosmological hydrodynamics simulations of SIGOs, including relative streaming motions between baryons and dark matter. Our simulations also follow non-equilibrium chemistry and molecular hydrogen cooling in primordial gas clouds. A number of SIGOs are formed in the run with fast streaming motions of 2 times the root-mean-square of the cosmological velocity fluctuations. We identify a particular gas cloud that condensates by H$_2$ cooling without being hosted by a dark matter halo. The SIGO remains outside the virial radius of its closest halo, and it becomes Jeans unstable when the central gas particle density reaches $\sim 100~{\rm cm}^{-3}$ with temperature $\sim$ 200 K. The corresponding Jeans mass is $\sim 10^5 M_{\odot}$, and thus the formation of primordial stars or a star cluster is expected in the SIGO.

A projectile impact onto a granular target produces an ejecta curtain with the heterogeneous material distribution. Understanding how the heterogeneous pattern forms is potentially important for understanding how crater rays form. Previous studies predicted that the pattern formation is induced by inelastic collisions of ejecta particles in the early stages of crater formation and is terminated by the ejecta's expanding motion. In this study, we test this prediction based on a hyper-velocity impact experiment together with N-body simulations where the trajectories of inelastically colliding granular particles are calculated. Our laboratory experiment suggests that pattern formation is already completed on a timescale comparable to the geometrical expansion of the ejecta curtain, which is ~ 10 microseconds in our experiment. Our simulations confirm the previous prediction that the heterogeneous pattern grows through initial inelastic collisions of particle clusters and subsequent geometric expansion with no further cluster collisions. Furthermore, to better understand the two-stage evolution of the mesh pattern, we construct a simple analytical model that assumes perfect coalescence of particle clusters upon collision. The model shows that the pattern formation is completed on the timescale of the system's expansion independently of the initial conditions. The model also reproduces the final size of the clusters observed in our simulations as a function of the initial conditions. It is known that particles in the target are ejected at lower speeds with increased distance to the impact point. The difference in the ejection speed of the particles may result in the evolution of the mesh pattern into rays.

The goal of the present paper is to develop a simplified model to describe the gravitational fields of elongated asteroids. The proposed model consists of representing an elongated asteroid using a triple-particle-linkage system distributed in the three-dimensional space. It is an extension of previous models that focused only on planar models. A non-linear optimization method is used to determine the parameters of our model, minimizing the errors of all the external equilibrium points with respect to the solutions calculated with a more realistic model, the polyhedron model, which are assumed to be the real values of the system. The model considered in this article is then applied to three real irregular asteroids 1620 Geographos, 433 Eros and 243, Ida. The results show that the current triple-particle-linkage three-dimensional model gives better accuracy when compared to the axisymmetric triple-particle-linkage model available in the literature, and provides an advantage in terms of accuracy over the mass point model, while keeping computational time low. Also, this model is used to carry out simulations to characterize regions with solutions that remain bounded or that escape from around each asteroid under analysis. We investigated an initial inclination of 0 degree (direct orbits) and 180 degrees (retrograde orbits). We considered the gravitational field of the asteroid, the gravitational attraction of the Sun, and the solar radiation pressure Our results are then compared to the results obtained using the Mascon gravitational model based on the polyhedral shape source. We found good agreement between the two models.

The evolution of protoplanetary discs and the related process of planet formation is regulated by angular momentum transport and mass-loss processes. Over the past decade, the paradigm of viscosity has been challenged and MHD disc winds appear as a compelling scenario to account for disc accretion. In this work, we aim to construct the equivalent of the widely used analytical description of viscous evolution for the MHD wind case. The transport of angular momentum and mass induced by the wind is parameterized by an $\alpha$-like parameter and by the magnetic lever arm parameter $\lambda$. Extensions of the paradigmatic Lynden-Bell and Pringle similarity solutions to the wind case are presented. We show that wind-driven accretion leads to a steeper decrease in the disc mass and accretion rate than in viscous models due to the absence of disc spreading. If the decline of the magnetic field strength is slower than that of the gas surface density, the disc is dispersed after a finite time. The evolution of the disc in the $\dot{M}_*-M_D$ plane is sensitive to the wind and turbulence parameters. A disc population evolving under the action of winds can exhibit a correlation between $\dot{M}_*$ and $M_D$ depending on the initial conditions. The simplified framework proposed in this work opens to a new avenue to test the effectiveness of wind-driven accretion from the observed disc demographics and constitutes an important step to include wind-driven accretion in planet population synthesis models.

Vela X-1 is a runaway X-ray binary system hosting a massive donor star, whose strong stellar wind creates a bow shock as it interacts with the interstellar medium. This bow shock has previously been detected in H$\alpha$ and IR, but, similar to all but one bow shock from a massive runaway star (BD+43$^{\rm o}$3654), has escaped detection in other wavebands. We report on the discovery of $1.3$ GHz radio emission from the Vela X-1 bow shock with the MeerKAT telescope. The MeerKAT observations reveal how the radio emission closely traces the H$\alpha$ line emission, both in the bow shock and in the larger-scale diffuse structures known from existing H$\alpha$ surveys. The Vela X-1 bow shock is the first stellar-wind-driven radio bow shock detected around an X-ray binary. In the absence of a radio spectral index measurement, we explore other avenues to constrain the radio emission mechanism. We find that thermal/free-free emission can account for the radio and H$\alpha$ properties, for a combination of electron temperature and density consistent with earlier estimates of ISM density and the shock enhancement. In this explanation, the presence of a local ISM over-density is essential for the detection of radio emission. Alternatively, we consider a non-thermal/synchrotron scenario, evaluating the magnetic field and broad-band spectrum of the shock. However, we find that exceptionally high fractions ($\gtrsim 13$%) of the kinetic wind power would need to be injected into the relativistic electron population to explain the radio emission. Assuming lower fractions implies a hybrid scenario, dominated by free-free radio emission. Finally, we speculate about the detectability of radio bow shocks and whether it requires exceptional ISM or stellar wind properties.

The sources of the majority of the high-energy astrophysical neutrinos observed with the IceCube neutrino telescope at the South Pole are unknown. So far, only a gamma-ray blazar was compellingly associated with the emission of high-energy neutrinos. In addition, several studies suggest that the neutrino emission from the gamma-ray blazar population only accounts for a small fraction of the total astrophysical neutrino flux. In this work we probe the production of high-energy neutrinos in the cores of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), induced by accelerated cosmic rays in the accretion disk region. We present a likelihood analysis based on eight years of IceCube data, searching for a cumulative neutrino signal from three AGN samples created for this work. The neutrino emission is assumed to be proportional to the accretion disk luminosity estimated from the soft X-ray flux. Next to the observed soft X-ray flux, the objects for the three samples have been selected based on their radio emission and infrared color properties. For the largest sample in this search, an excess of high-energy neutrino events with respect to an isotropic background of atmospheric and astrophysical neutrinos is found, corresponding to a post-trial significance of 2.60$\sigma$. Assuming a power-law spectrum, the best-fit spectral index is $2.03^{+0.14}_{-0.11}$, consistent with expectations from particle acceleration in astrophysical sources. If interpreted as a genuine signal with the assumptions of a proportionality of X-ray and neutrino fluxes and a model for the sub-threshold flux distribution, this observation implies that at 100 TeV, 27$\%$ - 100$\%$ of the observed neutrinos arise from particle acceleration in the core of AGN.

With their emission mainly coming from a relativistic jet pointing towards us, blazars are fundamental sources to study extragalactic jets and their central engines, consisting of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) fed by accretion discs. They are also candidate sources of high-energy neutrinos and cosmic rays. Because of the jet orientation, the non-thermal blazar emission is Doppler beamed; its variability is unpredictable and occurs on time-scales from less than one hour to years. The comprehension of the diverse mechanisms producing the flux and spectral changes requires well-sampled multiband light curves on long time periods. In particular, outbursts are the best test bench to shed light on the underlying physics, especially when studied in a multiwavelength context. The Vera C. Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time (Rubin-LSST) will monitor the southern sky for ten years in six photometric bands, offering a formidable tool to study blazar variability features in a statistical way. The alert system will allow us to trigger follow-up observations of outstanding events, especially at high (keV-to-GeV) and very high (TeV) energies. We here examine the simulated Rubin-LSST survey strategies with the aim of understanding which cadences are more suitable for the blazar variability science. Our metrics include light curve and colour sampling. We also investigate the problem of saturation, which will affect the brightest and many flaring sources, and will have a detrimental impact on follow-up observations.

The detection of sulphur species in the Martian atmosphere would be a strong indicator of volcanic outgassing from the surface of Mars. We wish to establish the presence of SO2, H2S, or OCS in the Martian atmosphere or determine upper limits on their concentration in the absence of a detection. We perform a comprehensive analysis of solar occultation data from the mid-infrared channel of the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite instrument, on board the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, obtained during Martian years 34 and 35. For the most optimal sensitivity conditions, we determine 1-sigma upper limits of SO2 at 20 ppbv, H2S at 15 ppbv, and OCS at 0.4 ppbv; the last value is lower than any previous upper limits imposed on OCS in the literature. We find no evidence of any of these species above a 3-sigma confidence threshold. We therefore infer that passive volcanic outgassing of SO2 must be below 2 ktons/day.

Damped Lyman-{\alpha} Absorber(DLA) of HI 21cm system is an ideal probe to directly measure cosmic acceleration in real-time cosmology via Sandage-Loeb(SL) test. During short observations toward two DLAs in the commissioning progress of FAST, we manage to exhibit an HI 21cm absorption feature from PKS1413+135 spectrum with our highest resolution up to 100Hz, validating the frequency consistency under different resolutions and bandwidths. We make a Gaussian fitting to extract the spectral features, employ relativistic receding velocity in high-precision velocity measurement, introduce two indicators to describe the fitted velocity uncertainty, and ultimately give a redshift constraint of z = 0.24671595 {\pm} 0.00000015 in accord with most literature. But our redshift error is still three magnitudes larger than theoretical cosmic acceleration over a decade. Though our first attempt has some flaws in time recording and diode settings, it still proves the correctness of our data process. For a higher-resolution radio observation, we propose five main challenges: (1) an accurate astrometric method to optimize Doppler correction; (2) a precise timing standard in data recording; (3) a statistical sample set of DLAs with prominent absorptions; (4) a widely accepted standard of velocity uncertainty; (5) an improved baseline fitting to detect faint macro changes from sharp noisy interference. With close corporation among the community, our quest for cosmic acceleration would advance firmly in the thorny path.

We report the SOFIA/HAWC+ band D (154$\,\mu$m) and E (214$\,\mu$m) polarimetric observations of the filamentary structure OMC-3 that is part of the Orion molecular cloud. The polarization pattern is uniform for both bands and parallel to the filament structure. The polarization degree decreases toward regions with high intensity for both bands, revealing a so called "polarization hole." We identified an optical depth effect in which polarized emission and extinction act as counteracting mechanisms as a potential contributor to this phenomenon. Assuming that the detected polarization is caused by the emission of magnetically aligned non-spherical dust grains, the inferred magnetic field is uniform and oriented perpendicular to the filament. The magnetic field strength derived from the polarization patterns at 154$\,\mu$m and 214$\,\mu$m amounts to 202$\,\mu$G and 261$\,\mu$G, respectively. The derived magnetic field direction is consistent with that derived from previous polarimetric observations in the far infrared and submillimeter (submm) wavelength range. Investigating the far-infrared polarization spectrum derived from the SOFIA/HAWC+ observations, we do not find a clear correlation between the polarization spectrum and cloud properties, namely, the column density, $N(H_2$), and temperature, $T$.

Superclusters are the largest structures formed due to the gravitational collapse and thus their geometrical information can shed light on the structure formation process on cosmological scales, hence on the fundamental properties of gravity itself. In this work we study the distributions of the shape, topology and morphology of the superclusters, defined in two different ways -- using constant and individual density threshold on a luminosity weighted density field constructed from SDSS DR 12 main galaxy sample. For this purpose, we employ Minkowski functionals and Shapefinders, precisely calculated by the shape diagnostic tool SURFGEN2. We notice a striking similarity in the shape distributions of the supercluster samples those are obtained following these two distinct techniques. Not surprisingly, most of them are spherical in shape with trivial topology. But there are a significant number of superclusters that are quite filamentary and statistically tend to be large in size with non-zero genus values. The shape distribution results (catalogues) along with the modified SURFGEN2 code have been made publicly available.

Analyses that connect astrophysical observations of neutron stars with nuclear matter properties sometimes rely on equation-of-state insensitive relations. We show that the slope of the binary Love relations (i.e.~between the tidal deformabilities of binary neutron stars) encodes the rate of change of the nuclear matter speed of sound below three times nuclear saturation density. Twin stars lead to relations that present a signature ''hill'', ''drop'', and ''swoosh'' due to the second (mass-radius) stable branch, requiring a new description of the binary love relations.

Stable mass transfer from a massive post-main sequence (post-MS) donor is thought to be a short-lived event of thermal-timescale mass transfer which strips the donor star of nearly its entire H-rich envelope, producing a hot helium star. This long-standing picture is based on stellar models with Hertzprung gap (HG) donors. Motivated by a finding that in low-metallicity binaries, post-MS mass transfer may instead be initiated by core-helium burning (CHeB) donors, we use the MESA code to compute grids of detailed massive binary models at three metallicities: Solar and that of the Large and the Small Magellanic Cloud (LMC, SMC). We find that metallicity strongly influences the course and outcome of mass transfer. We identify two novel types of post-MS mass transfer: (a) mass exchange on the long nuclear timescale that continues until the end of the CHeB phase, and (b) rapid mass transfer leading to detached binaries with mass-losers that are only partially stripped of their envelopes. In neither (a) or (b) does the donor become a fully stripped helium star by the end of CHeB. Boundaries between the different types of post-MS mass transfer are associated with the degree of rapid post-MS expansion and, for a given metallicity, are sensitive to the assumptions about internal mixing. At low metallicity, we predict fewer hot fully stripped stars formed through binary interactions and higher compactness of pre-supernova cores. Nuclear-timescale post-MS mass transfer suggests a strong preference for metal-poor host galaxies of ultra-luminous X-ray sources with black-hole (BH) accretors and massive donors, some of which might be the immediate progenitors of binary BH mergers. It also implies a population of interacting binaries with blue and yellow supergiant donors. Partially-stripped stars could potentially explain the puzzling nitrogen-enriched slowly-rotating (super)giants in the LMC.

The Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) are a selection of well-studied galaxy clusters used to probe dense environments and distant gravitationally lensed galaxies. We explore the 21cm neutral hydrogen (HI) content of galaxies in three of the HFF clusters, Abell 2744 ($z = 0.308$), Abell S1063 ($z = 0.346$) and Abell 370 ($z = 0.375$), to investigate the evolution of gas in galaxies within intermediate redshift clusters. Using Early Science MeerKAT observations, we perform spectral-line stacking with HI cubes and make a 3$\sigma$ stacked detection for blue galaxies in Abell S1063 ($M_\mathrm{HI} = 1.22^{+0.38}_{-0.36}\times 10^{10} \mathrm{M}_\odot$). We determine the 3$\sigma$ HI mass detection limits of Abell 2744 and Abell 370 to be at the knee of the HI Mass Function. A final, more ambitious objective of this work is to search for gravitationally lensed HI emission behind these clusters, enabled by MeerKAT's wide instantaneous bandwidth. We find no evidence of highly magnified HI emission at $0.33<z<0.58$. The low thermal noise levels achieved in these pilot observations, despite short integration times, highlights the enormous potential of future MeerKAT HI observations of dense environments and the intermediate-redshift Universe.

We present a measurement of the high-energy astrophysical muon-neutrino flux with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The measurement uses a high-purity selection of ~650k neutrino-induced muon tracks from the Northern celestial hemisphere, corresponding to 9.5 years of experimental data. With respect to previous publications, the measurement is improved by the increased size of the event sample and the extended model testing beyond simple power-law hypotheses. An updated treatment of systematic uncertainties and atmospheric background fluxes has been implemented based on recent models. The best-fit single power-law parameterization for the astrophysical energy spectrum results in a normalization of $\phi_{\mathrm{@100TeV}}^{\nu_\mu+\bar{\nu}_\mu} = 1.44_{-0.26}^{+0.25} \times 10^{-18}\,\mathrm{GeV}^{-1}\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\mathrm{s}^{-1}\mathrm{sr}^{-1}$ and a spectral index $\gamma_{\mathrm{SPL}} = 2.37_{-0.09}^{+0.09}$, constrained in the energy range from $15\,\mathrm{TeV}$ to $5\,\mathrm{PeV}$. The model tests include a single power law with a spectral cutoff at high energies, a log-parabola model, several source-class specific flux predictions from the literature and a model-independent spectral unfolding. The data is well consistent with a single power law hypothesis, however, spectra with softening above one PeV are statistically more favorable at a two sigma level.

The nearby elliptical galaxy Cen A is surrounded by a flattened system of dwarf satellite galaxies with coherent motions. Using a novel Bayesian approach, we measure the mean rotation velocity $v_{\rm rot}$ and velocity dispersion $\sigma_{\rm int}$ of the satellite system. We find $v_{\rm rot}/\sigma_{\rm int} \simeq 0.7$ indicating that the satellite system has non-negligible rotational support. Using Jeans' equations, we measure a circular velocity of 258 km s$^{-1}$ and a dynamical mass of $1.2\times 10^{13}$ M$_\odot$ within 800 kpc. In a $\Lambda$CDM cosmological context, we find that the Cen A group has a baryon fraction $M_{\rm b}/M_{200}\simeq0.035$ and is missing $\sim$77$\%$ of the cosmologically available baryons. Consequently, Cen A should have a hot intergalactic medium with a mass of $\sim$8$\times$10$^{11}$ M$_\odot$, which is more than $\sim$20 times larger than current X-ray estimates. Intriguingly, The whole Cen A group lies on the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation defined by individual rotationally supported galaxies, as expected in Milgromian dynamics (MOND) with no need of missing baryons.

Magnetic fields occupying the voids of the large scale structure may be a relic from the Early Universe originating from either Inflation or from cosmological phase transitions. We explore the possibility of identifying the inflationary origin of the void magnetic fields and measuring its parameters with gamma-ray astronomy methods. The large correlation length inflationary field is expected to impose a characteristic asymmetry of extended gamma-ray emission that is correlated between different sources on the sky. We show that a set of nearby blazars for which the extended emission is observable in the 0.1-1 TeV band with CTA can be used for the test of inflationary origin of the void magnetic fields.

Ground-based photometry of bright stars is expected to be limited by atmospheric scintillation, although in practice observations are often limited by other sources of systematic noise. We analyse 122 nights of bright star ($G_{mag} < 11.5$) photometry using the 20-cm telescopes of the Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. We compare the noise properties to theoretical noise models and we demonstrate that NGTS photometry of bright stars is indeed limited by atmospheric scintillation. We determine a median scintillation coefficient at the Paranal Observatory of $C_Y = 1.54$, which is in good agreement with previous results derived from turbulence profiling measurements at the observatory. We find that separate NGTS telescopes make consistent measurements of scintillation when simultaneously monitoring the same field. Using contemporaneous meteorological data, we find that higher wind speeds at the tropopause correlate with a decrease in long-exposure ($t=10$ s) scintillation. Hence the winter months between June and August provide the best conditions for high precision photometry of bright stars at the Paranal Observatory. This work demonstrates that NGTS photometric data, collected for searching for exoplanets, contains within it a record of the scintillation conditions at Paranal.

The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS) is a 6U CubeSat under development to monitor the flaring and chromospheric activity of M dwarfs at near-ultraviolet (NUV) and far-ultraviolet (FUV) wavelengths. The spacecraft hosts two UV-optimized delta-doped charge-coupled devices fed by a 9-cm telescope and a dichroic beam splitter. A dedicated science payload processor performs near real-time onboard science image processing to dynamically change detector integration times and gains to reduce the occurrence of pixel saturation during strong M dwarf flaring events and provide adequate flare light curve structure resolution while enabling the detection of low-amplitude rotational modulation. The processor independently controls the NUV and FUV detectors. For each detector, it derives control updates from the most recent completed exposure and applies them to the next exposure. The detection of a flare event in the NUV channel resets the exposure in the FUV channel with new exposure parameters. Implementation testing of the control algorithm using simulated light curves and full-frame images demonstrates a robust response to the quiescent and flaring levels expected for the stars to be monitored by the mission. The SPARCS onboard autonomous exposure control algorithm is adaptable for operation in future point source-targeting space-based and ground-based observatories geared towards the monitoring of extreme transient astrophysics phenomena.

We report photometric follow-up observations of thirteen exoplanets (HATS-1 b, HATS2 b, HATS-3 b, HAT-P-18 b, HAT-P-27 b, HAT-P-30 b, HAT-P-55 b, KELT-4A b, WASP-25 b, WASP-42 b, WASP-57 b, WASP-61 b and WASP-123 b), as part of the Original Research By Young Twinkle Students (ORBYTS) programme. All these planets are potentially viable targets for atmospheric characterisation and our data, which were taken using the LCOGT network of ground-based telescopes, will be combined with observations from other users of ExoClock to ensure that the transit times of these planets continue to be well-known, far into the future.

The Fermi Bubbles (FB) are a pair of large-scale ellipsoidal structures extending above and below the Galactic plane almost symmetrically aligned with the Galactic Center. After more than 10 years since their discovery, their nature and origin remain unclear. Unveiling the primary emission mechanisms, whether hadronic or leptonic, is considered the main tool to shed light on the topic. We explore the potential key role of MeV observations of the FB and we provide a recipe to determine the sensitivity of Compton and Compton-pair telescopes to the extended emission of the FB. We illustrate the capabilities of the Imaging Compton Telescope COMPTEL, the newly selected NASA MeV mission COSI (Compton Spectrometer and Imager), as well as the expectations for a potential future Compton-pair telescope such as AMEGO-X (All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory eXplorer).

We investigate the bounce realization in the framework of DHOST cosmology, focusing on the relation with observables. We perform a detailed analysis of the scalar and tensor perturbations during the Ekpyrotic contraction phase, the bounce phase, and the fast-roll expansion phase, calculating the power spectra, the spectral indices, and the tensor to-scalar ratio. Furthermore, we study the initial conditions, incorporating perturbations generated by Ekpyrotic vacuum fluctuations, by matter vacuum fluctuations, and by thermal fluctuations. The scale invariance of the scalar power spectrum can be acquired by introducing a matter contraction phase before the Ekpyrotic phase or invoking a thermal gas as the source. The DHOST bounce scenario with cosmological perturbations generated by thermal fluctuations proves to be the most efficient one, and the corresponding predictions are in perfect agreement with observational bounds. Especially the tensor-to-scalar ratio is many orders of magnitude within the allowed region since it is suppressed by the Hubble parameter at the beginning of the bounce phase.

From time to time, different observations suggest that Einstein's theory of general relativity (GR) may not be the ultimate theory of gravity. Various researchers have suggested that the $f(R)$ theory of gravity is the best alternative to replace GR. Using $f(R)$ gravity, one can elucidate the various unexplained physics of compact objects, such as black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs. Researchers have already put effort into finding the vacuum solution around a black hole in $f(R)$ gravity. However, for a long time, they could not find an asymptotically flat vacuum solution. In this article, we show that the asymptotically flat vacuum solution of $f(R)$ gravity is possible and thereby use it to explain the spherical accretion flow around the black hole.

Noncommutative geometry is one of the quantum gravity theories, which various researchers have been using to describe different physical and astrophysical systems. However, so far, no direct observations can justify its existence, and this theory remains a hypothesis. On the other hand, over the past two decades, more than a dozen over-luminous type Ia supernovae have been observed, which indirectly predict that they originate from white dwarfs with super-Chandrasekhar masses $2.1-2.8 \rm\,M_\odot$. In this article, we discuss that considering white dwarfs as squashed fuzzy spheres, a class of noncommutative geometry, helps in accumulating more mass than the Chandrasekhar mass-limit. The length-scale beyond which the effect of noncommutativity becomes prominent is an emergent phenomenon, which depends only on the inter-electron separations in the white dwarf.

The quantum chromodynamics (QCD) axion may modify the cooling rates of neutron stars (NSs). The axions are produced within the NS cores from nucleon bremsstrahlung and, when the nucleons are in superfluid states, Cooper pair breaking and formation processes. We show that four of the nearby isolated Magnificent Seven NSs along with PSR J0659 are prime candidates for axion cooling studies because they are coeval, with ages of a few hundred thousand years known from kinematic considerations, and they have well-measured surface luminosities. We compare these data to dedicated NS cooling simulations incorporating axions, profiling over uncertainties related to the equation of state, NS masses, surface compositions, and superfluidity. Our calculations of the axion and neutrino emissivities include high-density suppression factors that also affect SN 1987A and previous NS cooling limits on axions. We find no evidence for axions in the isolated NS data, and within the context of the KSVZ QCD axion model we constrain $m_a \lesssim 16$ meV at 95% confidence. An improved understanding of NS cooling and nucleon superfluidity could further improve these limits or lead to the discovery of the axion at weaker couplings.

We have studied the polarized image of an equatorial emitting ring around a 4D Gauss-Bonnet black hole. Our results show that the effects of Gauss-Bonnet parameter on the polarized image depends on the magnetic field configuration, the observation inclination angle, and the fluid velocity in the disk. For the case with pure equatorial magnetic field, the observed polarization intensity increases with Gauss-Bonnet parameter as the observation inclination angle is small, but this monotonicity gradually disappears with the increase of the inclination angle. However, in the case where the magnetic field is vertical to the equatorial plane, the polarization intensity is an increasing function of Gauss-Bonnet parameter as the inclination angle is large. The changes of the electric vector position angle (EVPA) with Gauss-Bonnet parameter in both cases are more complicated. We also probe the effects of Gauss-Bonnet parameter on the Strokes $Q$-$U$ loops.

Many astrophysical phenomena are time-varying, in the sense that their brightness change over time. In the case of periodic stars, previous approaches assumed that changes in period, amplitude, and phase are well described by either parametric or piecewise-constant functions. With this paper, we introduce a new mathematical model for the description of the so-called modulated light curves, as found in periodic variable stars that exhibit smoothly time-varying parameters such as amplitude, frequency, and/or phase. Our model accounts for a smoothly time-varying trend, and a harmonic sum with smoothly time-varying weights. In this sense, our approach is flexible because it avoids restrictive assumptions (parametric or piecewise-constant) about the functional form of trend and amplitudes. We apply our methodology to the light curve of a pulsating RR Lyrae star characterised by the Blazhko effect. To estimate the time-varying parameters of our model, we develop a semi-parametric method for unequally spaced time series. The estimation of our time-varying curves translates into the estimation of time-invariant parameters that can be performed by ordinary least-squares, with the following two advantages: modeling and forecasting can be implemented in a parametric fashion, and we are able to cope with missing observations. To detect serial correlation in the residuals of our fitted model, we derive the mathematical definition of the spectral density for unequally spaced time series. The proposed method is designed to estimate smoothly time-varying trend and amplitudes, as well as the spectral density function of the errors. We provide simulation results and applications to real data.

A new generation of neutrino experiments is testing the $4.7\sigma$ anomalous excess of electron-like events observed in MiniBooNE. This is of huge importance for particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology, not only because of the potential discovery of physics beyond the Standard Model, but also because the lessons we will learn about neutrino-nucleus interactions will be crucial for the worldwide neutrino program. MicroBooNE has recently released results that appear to disfavor several explanations of the MiniBooNE anomaly. Here, we show quantitatively that MicroBooNE results, while a promising start, unquestionably do not probe the full parameter space of sterile neutrino models hinted at by MiniBooNE and other data, nor do they probe the $\nu_e$ interpretation of the MiniBooNE excess in a model-independent way.