Luminosity functions of globular clusters in five nearby spiral galaxies using HST/ACS images

We here present the luminosity function (LF) of globular clusters (GCs) in five nearby spiral galaxies using the samples of GC candidates selected in Hubble Space Telescope mosaic images in F435W, F555W and F814W filters. Our search, which surpasses the fractional area covered by all previous searches in these galaxies, has resulted in the detection of 158 GC candidates in M81, 1123 in M101, 226 in NGC 4258, 293 in M51 and 173 in NGC 628. The LFs constructed from this dataset, after correcting for relatively small contamination from reddened young clusters, are lognormal in nature, which was hitherto established only for the Milky Way (MW) and Andromeda among spiral galaxies. The magnitude at the turn-over (TO) corresponds to MV0(TO)=-7.41±0.14 in four of the galaxies with Hubble types Sc or earlier, in excellent agreement with MV(TO) = −7.40 ± 0.10 for the MW. The TO magnitude is equivalent to a mass of ∼3 × 105 M⊙ for an old, metal-poor population. MV0(TO) is fainter by ∼1.16 magnitude for the fifth galaxy, M 101, which is of Hubble type Scd. The TO dependence on Hubble type implies that the GCs in early-type spirals are classical GCs, which have a universal TO, whereas the GC population in late-type galaxies is dominated by old disk clusters, which are in general less massive. The radial density distribution of GCs in our sample galaxies follows the Sérsic function with exponential power-law indices, and effective radii of 4.0–9.5 kpc. GCs in the sample galaxies have a mean specific frequency of 1.10 ± 0.24, after correcting for magnitude and radial incompleteness factors

Study of the Nuclear Structure for 38Ar, 59Co, 124Sn, 146Nd, 153Eu and 203Tl Target Nuclei Used in Fabrication the Nuclear Batteries

The nuclear structure of 38Ar, 59Co, 124Sn, 146Nd, 153Eu and 203Tl target nuclei used in technology for nuclear batteries have been investigation, in order that, these nuclei are very interesting for radioisotope thermo-electric generator (RTG) space studies and for betavoltaic battery microelectronic systems. The single particle radial density distribution, the corresponding root mean square radii (rms), neutron skin thicknesses and binding energies have been investigated within the framework of Hartree-Fock Approximation with Skyrme interaction. The bremsstrahlung spectrums produced by absorption of beta particles in betavoltaic process and backscattered photons spectrum have also been calculated. All obtained results compared with available experimental data.

Different evolutionary pathways for the two subtypes of contact binaries

ABSTRACT Secondary components of W UMa-type contact binaries (CBs) have many special properties, two of them are excess in radius and luminosity. In order to make these specialties clear, we propose radial density distribution to roughly detect the interior structure of the secondaries in CBs. By comparing the radial density distribution between secondary components of CBs and main-sequence stars, we find the radial density distribution of secondaries in A-subtype CBs are similar to main-sequence stars whose masses higher than 1.8 Msun, which suggests that these two kinds of stars may have some evolutionary relationship. While secondary components of W-subtype CBs are closely connected with stars whose masses lower than 1.8 Msun. Then, we investigate the mass–luminosity relation of secondaries in CBs, the big differences between two subtypes suggests that the overluminosity of secondaries in these two subtypes are caused by two different reasons. Overluminosity in A-subtype is because the secondary components are evolved from initial more massive stars, while in W-subtype is due to energy transfer.

Comparison of the photoionisation modelling results for planetary nebulae with the observed data

The grid of new photoionisation models for planetary nebulae (PNe) along the evolutionary tracks of their nuclei was calculated, taking into account the dust presence with abundances that correspond to the averaged ones for Milky Way and Large Magellanic Cloud. The calculations were performed by the last version of G. Ferland's code Cloudy v17.01 using the semi-empirical law derived by Golovatyy-Mal'kov to describe the radial density distribution of matter in the nebular envelope of PN. Resulting modelling spectra were compared with the corresponding observed emission line spectra of PNe in optical range, obtained previously by other authors. Also the database of observations by the Infrared Space Observatory and Spitzer have been used to compare the results of synthetic photometry with the observed photometric data. It was shown that the intensities of strong emission lines in optical range as well as the observed color-color diagrams obtained using total fluxes in the 3.6 μm, 4.5μm, 8.0μm and 24.0 μm bands are reproduced very well by our models, while the results of synthetic IR-photometry based on total fluxes in the band 5.8 μm show discrepancies with corresponding observed data.

Exploring the role of X-ray reprocessing and irradiation in the anomalous bright optical outbursts of A0538−66

Context. In 1981, the Be/X-ray binary A0538−66 showed outbursts characterized by high peak luminosities in the X-ray (Lx ≈ 1039 erg s−1) and optical (Lopt ≈ 3 × 1038 erg s−1) bands. The bright optical outbursts were qualitatively explained as X-ray reprocessing in a gas cloud surrounding the binary system. Aims. Since then, further important information about the properties of A0538−66 have been obtained, and sophisticated photoionization codes have been developed to calculate the radiation emerging from a gas nebula illuminated by a central X-ray source. In the light of the new information and tools available, we considered it was worth studying again the enhanced optical emission displayed by A0538−66 to understand the mechanisms responsible for these unique events among the class of Be/X-ray binaries. Methods. We performed about 105 simulations of a gas envelope surrounding the binary system photoionized by an X-ray source. We assumed for the shape of the gas cloud either a sphere or a circumstellar disc observed edge-on. We studied the effects of varying the main properties of the envelope (shape, density, slope of the power law density profile, size) and the influence of different input X-ray spectra and X-ray luminosity on the optical/UV emission emerging from the photoionized cloud. We determined the properties of the cloud and the input X-ray emission by comparing the computed spectra with the IUE spectrum and photometric UBV measurements obtained during the outburst of 29 April 1981. We also explored the role played by the X-ray heating of the surface of the donor star and the accretion disc irradiated by the X-ray emission of the neutron star. Results. We found that reprocessing in a spherical cloud with a shallow radial density distribution and size of about 3 × 1012 cm can reproduce the optical/UV emission observed on 29 April 1981. To our knowledge, this configuration has never been observed either in A0538−66 during other epochs or in other Be/X-ray binaries. We found, contrary to the case of most other Be/X-ray binaries, that the optical/UV radiation produced by the X-ray heating of the surface of the donor star irradiated by the neutron star is non-negligible, due to the particular orbital parameters of this system that bring the neutron star very close to its companion.

Fragmentation of a Filamentary Cloud Threaded by Perpendicular Magnetic Field

Filamentary molecular clouds are thought to fragment to form clumps and cores. However, the fragmentation may be suppressed by magnetic force if the magnetic fields run perpendicularly to the cloud axis. We evaluate the effect using a simple model. Our model cloud is assumed to have a Plummer like radial density distribution, $\rho = {\rho _{\rm{c}}}{\left[ {1 + {r^2}/(2p{H^2})} \right]^{2p}}$ , where r and H denote the radial distance from the cloud axis and the scale length, respectively. The symbols, ρc and p denote the density on the axis and radial density index, respectively. The initial magnetic field is assumed to be uniform and perpendicular to the cloud axis. The model cloud is assumed to be supported against the self gravity by gas pressure and turbulence. We have obtained the growth rate of the fragmentation instability as a function of the wavelength, according to the method of Hanawa, Kudoh & Tomisaka (2017). The instability depends crucially on the outer boundary. If the displacement vanishes in regions very far from the cloud axis, cloud fragmentation is suppressed by a moderate magnetic field. If the displacement is constant along the magnetic field in regions very far from the cloud, the cloud is unstable even when the magnetic field is infinitely strong. The wavelength of the most unstable mode is longer for smaller index, p.