Estimation of the Ephemerides and Gravity Fields of the Galilean Moons Through Orbit Determination of the JUICE Mission

Jupiter and its moons are a complex dynamical system that include several phenomena like tides interactions, moon’s librations and resonances. One of the most interesting characteristics of the Jovian system is the presence of the Laplace resonance, where the orbital periods of Ganymede, Europa and Io maintain a 4:2:1 ratio, respectively. It is interesting to study the role of the Laplace resonance in the dynamic of the system, especially regarding the dissipative nature of the tidal interaction between Jupiter and its closest moon, Io. The secular orbital evolution of the Galilean satellites, and so the Laplace resonance, is strongly influenced by the tidal interaction between Jupiter and its moons, especially with Io. Numerous theories have been proposed regarding this topic, but they disagree about the amount of dissipation of the system, therefore about the magnitude and the direction of the evolution of the system, mainly because of the lack of experimental data. The future ESA JUICE space mission is a great opportunity to solve this dispute. The data that will be collect during the mission will have an exceptional accuracy, allowing to investigate several aspects of the dynamics the system and possibly the evolution of Laplace Resonance of the Galilean moons. This work will focus on the gravity estimation and orbit reconstruction of the Galilean satellites by precise orbit determination of the JUICE mission during the Jovian orbital phase using radiometric data.

The orbital evolution of resonant chains of exoplanets incorporating circularisation produced by tidal interaction with the central star with application to the HD 158259 and EPIC 245950175 systems

We study orbital evolution of multi-planet systems that form a resonant chain, with nearest neighbours close to first order commensurabilities, incorporating orbital circularisation produced by tidal interaction with the central star. We develop a semi-analytic model applicable when the relative proximities to commensurability, though small, are large compared to $$\epsilon ^{2/3},$$ ϵ 2 / 3 , with $$\epsilon $$ ϵ being a measure of the characteristic planet to central star mass ratio. This enables determination of forced eccentricities as well as which resonant angles enter libration. When there are no active linked three body Laplace resonances, the rate of evolution of the semi-major axes may also be determined. We perform numerical simulations of the HD 158259 and EPIC 245950175 systems finding that the semi-analytic approach works well in the former case but not so well in the latter case on account of the effects of three active three body Laplace resonances which persist during the evolution. For both systems we estimate that if the tidal parameter, $$Q',$$ Q ′ , significantly exceeds 1000, tidal effects are unlikely to have influenced period ratios significantly since formation. On the other hand if $$Q' < \sim 100$$ Q ′ < ∼ 100 tidal effects may have produced significant changes including the formation of three body Laplace resonances in the case of the EPIC 245950175 system.

On the Modeling of Algol-Type Binaries

In earlier papers, we presented a binary evolutionary code for the purpose of reproducing the orbital parameters, masses, radii, and location in the Hertzsprung Russell diagram (abbreviated as HRD) of well-observed Algol systems. In subsequent versions, the effects of mass and angular momentum losses and tidal coupling were included in order to produce the observed distributions of orbital periods and mass ratios of Algol-type binaries. The mass loss includes stellar wind and possible liberal evolution, when the gainer star is not capable to absorb all of the matter during mass transfer from the donor star. We added magnetic braking to our code to better reproduce the observed equatorial velocities. Large equatorial velocities of mass-gaining stars are now lowered by tidal interaction and magnetic braking. Tides are mainly at work at short orbital periods, leaving magnetic braking alone at work during longer orbital periods. The observed values of the equatorial velocities of mass gainers in Algol-type binaries are mostly well reproduced by our code. According to our models, Algols have short periods with a strong magnetic field.

Resolved HI in two ultra–diffuse galaxies from contrasting non-cluster environments

We report on the first resolved H i observations of two blue ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). These observations add to the so-far limited number of UDGs with resolved H i data. The targets are from contrasting non–cluster environments: UDG–B1 is projected in the outskirts of Hickson Compact Group 25 and Secco–dI–2 (SdI–2) is an isolated UDG. These UDGs also have contrasting effective radii with Re of 3.7 kpc (similar to the Milky Way) and 1.3 kpc respectively. SdI–2 has an unusually large $\frac{M_{\rm H\, \rm \small {I}}}{M_*}$ ratio =28.9, confirming a previous single dish H i observation. Both galaxies display H i morphological and kinematic signatures consistent with a recent tidal interaction, which is also supported by observations from other wavelengths, including optical spectroscopy. Within the limits of the observations’ resolution our analysis indicates that SdI–2 is dark matter-dominated within its H i radius and this is also likely to be the case for UDG–B1.Our study highlights the importance of high spatial and spectral resolution H i observations for the study of the dark matter properties of UDGs.

A Photometric and Kinematic Analysis of UDG1137+16: Probing Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy Formation in a Group Environment

The dominant physical formation mechanism(s) for ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) is still poorly understood. Here, we combine new, deep imaging from the Jeanne Rich Telescope with deep integral field spectroscopy from the Keck II telescope to investigate the formation of UDG1137+16. Our new analyses confirm both its environmental association with the low density UGC 6594 group, along with its large size of 3.3 kpc and status as a UDG. The new imaging reveals two distinct stellar components for UDG1137+16, indicating that a central stellar body is surrounded by an outer stellar envelope undergoing tidal interaction. Both the components have approximately similar stellar masses. From our integral field spectroscopy we measure a stellar velocity dispersion within the half-light radius (15 ± 4 km s−1) and find that UDG1137+16 is similar to some other UDGs in that it is likely dark matter dominated. Incorporating literature measurements, we also examine the current state of UDG observational kinematics. Placing these data on the central stellar velocity dispersion – stellar mass relation, we suggest there is little evidence for UDG1137+16 being created through a strong tidal interaction. Finally, we investigate the constraining power current dynamical mass estimates (from stellar and globular cluster velocity dispersions) have on the total halo mass of UDGs. As most are measured within the half-light radius, they are unable to accurately constrain UDG total halo masses.

The influence of planetary engulfment on stellar rotation in metal-poor main-sequence stars

Context. The method of gyrochronology relates the age of its star to its rotation period. However, recent evidence of deviations from gyrochronology relations has been reported in the literature. Aims. We study the influence of tidal interaction between a star and its companion on the rotation velocity of the star to explain peculiar stellar rotation velocities. Methods. We followed the interaction of a star and its planet using a comprehensive numerical framework that combines tidal friction, magnetic braking, planet migration, and detailed stellar evolution models from the GARSTEC grid. We focus on close-in companions from 1 to 20 MJup orbiting low-mass (0.8 − 1 M⊙) main-sequence stars with a broad metallicity of [Fe/H] = − 1 up to solar. Results. Our simulations suggest that the dynamical interaction between a star and its companion can have different outcomes that depend on the initial semi-major axis and the mass of the planet, as well as on the mass and metallicity of its host star. In most cases, especially in the case of planet engulfment, we find a catastrophic increase in stellar rotation velocity from 1 kms−1 to over 40 kms−1 while the star is still on the main-sequence. The main prediction of our model is that low-mass main-sequence stars with abnormal rotation velocities should be more common at low-metallicity, as lower [Fe/H] favours faster planet engulfment, based on the assumption that the occurrence rate of close-in massive planets is similar at all metallicities. Conclusions. Our scenario explains peculiar rotation velocities of low-mass main-sequence stars by the tidal interaction between the star and its companion. Current observational samples are too narrow and incomplete, and, thus, they are not sufficient for our model to be tested.

The effect of cooling on the accretion of circumprimary discs in merging supermassive black hole binaries

ABSTRACT At the final stages of a supermassive black hole coalescence, the emission of gravitational waves will efficiently remove energy, and angular momentum from the binary orbit, allowing the separation between the compact objects to shrink. In the scenario where a circumprimary disc is present, a squeezing phase will develop, in which the tidal interaction between the disc and the secondary black hole could push the gas inwards, enhancing the accretion rate on to the primary and producing what is known as an electromagnetic precursor. In this context, using 3D hydrodynamic simulations, we study how an adiabatic circumprimary accretion disc responds to the varying gravitational potential as the secondary falls on to the more massive object. We included a cooling prescription controlled by the parameter β = Ωtcool, which will determine how strong the final accretion rate is: a hotter disc is thicker, and the tidal interaction is suppressed for the gas outside the binary plane. Our main results are that for scenarios where the gas cannot cool fast enough (β ≥ 30), the disc becomes thick and renders the system invisible, while for β ≤ 10 the strong cooling blocks any leakage on to the secondary’s orbit, allowing an enhancement in the accretion rate of two orders of magnitude stronger than the average through the rest of the simulation.

Magnetic braking at work in binaries

Context. In earlier papers, we aimed to reconstruct the progenitor systems of Algol-type semi-detached binaries. To this end, we developed a binary evolutionary code for the purpose of reproducing the orbital parameters, masses, and location in the HRD of well-observed Algol systems. In this code, the effects of mass and angular momentum losses and tidal coupling were included, but not magnetic braking at that point. In the present paper, we study the effects of magnetic braking on the rotation of the mass gainers in these systems. Aims. Equatorial velocities have been measured for a number of mass-gaining stars in interacting binaries. Tides tend to synchronize the rotation of the gainer, but many observed low equatorial velocities cannot be explained by tidal interactions alone. Methods. We added magnetic braking to our code to better reproduce the observed equatorial velocities. Results. Large equatorial velocities of mass-gaining stars are lowered by tidal interaction and magnetic braking. Tides are mainly at work at short orbital periods, leaving magnetic braking alone at work during longer orbital periods. Conclusions. Slow rotation of mass gainers in Algol-type binaries is mostly well reproduced by our code. However, (not observed) critical rotation of the gainer in some systems cannot be avoided by our calculations.

Disc-binary interactions in depleted post-AGB binaries

Binary post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) stars have orbital periods in the range of 100−2500 days in eccentric orbits. They are surrounded by circumbinary dusty discs. They are the immediate result of unconstrained binary interaction processes. Their observed orbital properties do not correspond to model predictions: Neither the periods nor the high eccentricities are expected. Indeed, many orbits are eccentric despite the strong tidal interaction when the primary had giant dimensions on the red giant branch and AGB. Our goal is to investigate if interactions between a binary and its circumbinary disc during the post-AGB phase can result in their eccentric orbits, while simultaneously explaining the chemical anomaly known as depletion. For this paper, we selected three binaries (EP Lyr, RU Cen, HD 46703) with well-constrained orbits, luminosities, and chemical abundances. We used the MESA code to evolve post-AGB models, while including the accretion of metal-poor gas. This allows us to constrain the evolution of the stars and study the impact of circumbinary discs on the orbital properties of the models. We investigate the effect of torques produced by gas inside the binary cavity and the effect of Lindblad resonances on the orbit, while also including the tidal interaction following the equilibrium tide model. We find that none of our models are able to explain the high orbital eccentricities of the binaries in our sample. The accretion torque does not significantly impact the binary orbit, while Lindblad resonances can pump the eccentricity up to only e ≈ 0.2. At higher eccentricities, the tidal interaction becomes too strong, so the high observed eccentricities cannot be reproduced. However, even if we assume tides to be ineffective, the eccentricities in our models do not exceed ≈0.25. Finally, the orbit of RU Cen is too wide to reproduce with disc-binary interactions by starting from a circular orbit. We conclude that either our knowledge of disc-binary interactions is still incomplete, or the binaries must have left their phase of strong interaction in an eccentric orbit.