Summary of a Life in Observational Ultraviolet/Optical Astronomy

I reminisce on my early life in Section 1;on my education in Sections 2 and 3;on the years at Princeton as a research astronomer in Section 4;on the years on the faculty at Chicago in Section 5;on research on Diffuse Interstellar Bands(DIBs) in Section 6;on construction of the 3.5 m telescope at Apache Point Observatory(APO)in Section 7;on work on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey(SDSS) in Section 8;on work in public education in Chicago in Section 9;and on my travels in Section 10. My main science research is of an observational nature,concerning Galactic and intergalactic interstellar gas. Highlights for me included my work on the orbiting telescope Copernicus, including the discovery of interstellar deuterium;early observations of absorption associated with fivetimes ionized oxygen;and discoveries concerning the phases of gas in the local interstellar medium, based on previously unobservable interstellar UV spectral lines. With other instruments and collaborations, I extended interstellar UV studies to the intergalactic cool gas using quasi-stellar object QSO absorption lines redshifted to the optical part of the spectrum;provided a better definition of the emission and morphological character of the source of absorption lines in QSO spectra;and pursued the identification of the unidentified DIBs. For several of these topics, extensive collaborations with many scientists were essential over many years. The conclusions developed slowly, as I moved from being a graduate student at Chicago, to a research scientist position at Princeton and then to a faculty position at Chicago. At each stage of life, I was exposed to new technologies adaptable to my science and to subsequent projects. From high school days, I encountered several management opportunities which were formative. I have been extremely fortunate both in scientific mentors I had and in experimental opportunities I encountered.

Free Energy of Anisotropic Strangeon Stars

Can pulsar-like compact objects release further huge free energy besides the kinematic energy of rotation?This is actually relevant to the equation of state of cold supra-nuclear matter,which is still under hot debate.Enormous energy is surely needed to understand various observations,such asγ-ray bursts,fast radio bursts and softγ-ray repeaters.In this paper,the elastic/gravitational free energy of solid strangeon stars is revisited for strangeon stars,with two anisotropic models to calculate in general relativity.It is found that huge free energy(>10^(46)erg)could be released via starquakes,given an extremely small anisotropy((p_(t)-p_(r))/p_(r)~10^(-4),with pt/pr the tangential/radial pressure),implying that pulsar-like stars could have great potential of free energy release without extremely strong magnetic fields in the solid strangeon star model.

Design and assembly of a nested imaging X-ray telescope for the Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor mission

The Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor (HUBS) mission will carry a nested X-ray telescope capable of observing an energy range from 0.5 keV to 2 keV to study hot baryon evolution. In this paper, we report the latest progress in the design and construction of nested X-ray telescopes which were designed to use a three-stage conic-approximation type assembly to simplify the manufacturing process. The mirror substrate is made using the thermal glass slumping method, with mirrors characterized by a root-mean-square roughness of 0.3 nm, with expected high reflectivity and good thermal stability. We also discuss methods of telescope construction and conduct a deformation analysis of the manufactured mirror. The in situ measurement system program is developed to guide the telescope assembly process.

Mshpy23:a user-friendly,parameterized model of magnetosheath conditions

Lunar Environment heliospheric X-ray Imager(LEXI)and Solar wind−Magnetosphere−Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE)will observe magnetosheath and its boundary motion in soft X-rays for understanding magnetopause reconnection modes under various solar wind conditions after their respective launches in 2024 and 2025.Magnetosheath conditions,namely,plasma density,velocity,and temperature,are key parameters for predicting and analyzing soft X-ray images from the LEXI and SMILE missions.We developed a userfriendly model of magnetosheath that parameterizes number density,velocity,temperature,and magnetic field by utilizing the global Magnetohydrodynamics(MHD)model as well as the pre-existing gas-dynamic and analytic models.Using this parameterized magnetosheath model,scientists can easily reconstruct expected soft X-ray images and utilize them for analysis of observed images of LEXI and SMILE without simulating the complicated global magnetosphere models.First,we created an MHD-based magnetosheath model by running a total of 14 OpenGGCM global MHD simulations under 7 solar wind densities(1,5,10,15,20,25,and 30 cm)and 2 interplanetary magnetic field Bz components(±4 nT),and then parameterizing the results in new magnetosheath conditions.We compared the magnetosheath model result with THEMIS statistical data and it showed good agreement with a weighted Pearson correlation coefficient greater than 0.77,especially for plasma density and plasma velocity.Second,we compiled a suite of magnetosheath models incorporating previous magnetosheath models(gas-dynamic,analytic),and did two case studies to test the performance.The MHD-based model was comparable to or better than the previous models while providing self-consistency among the magnetosheath parameters.Third,we constructed a tool to calculate a soft X-ray image from any given vantage point,which can support the planning and data analysis of the aforementioned LEXI and SMILE missions.A release of the code has been uploaded to a Github repository.

Analysis of Bright Source Hardness Ratios in the 4 yr Insight-HXMT Galactic Plane Scanning Survey Catalog

We conduct a statistical analysis of the hardness ratio(HR)for bright sources in the 4 yr Galactic Plane Scanning Survey catalog of Insight-HXMT.Depending on the stable(variable)flux F_(s)(F_(v))or spectrum S_(s)(S_(v))of each source,the bright sources are classified into three groups:F_(v)&S_(v),F_(v)&S_(s),and F_(s)&_(s).Our study of the HR characteristics in different types of sources reveals that accretion-powered neutron star(NS)low-mass X-ray binaries(LMXBs)exhibit softer energy spectra than NS high-mass X-ray binaries(HMXBs),but harder energy spectra than black hole binaries in most cases.This difference is probably due to their different magnetic field strengths.Additionally,Fv&Sv LMXBs tend to be harder than Fv&Ss LMXBs below 7 keV,while the opposite is true for HMXBs.Our results suggest that LMXBs may dominate unclassified sources,and NS binaries are likely to be the primary type of X-ray binaries with ambiguous compact stars.By comparing the HR of transient sources in their outburst and low-flux states,it is found that the averaged HR of four sources in the two states are roughly comparable within uncertainties.We also investigate the spatial properties of the three groups and find that Fv&Sv sources are mainly located in the longitude of-20°<l<9°,Fv&Ss sources cross the Galactic Plane,and Fs&Ss sources are predominantly concentrated in 19°<l<42°.In addition,analyzing the HR spatial distributions shows the absorption of soft X-rays(primarily below 2 keV)in the Galactic Plane.

Formation of Superthin Galaxies in IllustrisTNG

Superthin galaxies are observed to have stellar disks with extremely small minor-to-major axis ratios.In this work,we investigate the formation of superthin galaxies in the TNG100 simulation.We trace the merger history and investigate the evolution of galaxy properties of a selected sample of superthin galaxies and a control sample of galaxies that share the same joint probability distribution in the stellar-mass and color diagram.Through making comparisons between the two galaxy samples,we find that present-day superthin galaxies had similar morphologies as the control sample counterparts at higher redshifts,but have developed extended flat“superthin”morphologies since z~1.During this latter evolution stage,superthin galaxies undergo an overwhelmingly higher frequency of prograde mergers(with orbit-spin angleθ_(orb)≤40°).Accordingly the spins of their dark matter halos have grown significantly and become noticeably higher than those of their normal disk counterparts.This further results in the buildup of their stellar disks at larger distances much beyond the regimes of normal disk galaxies.We also discuss the formation scenario of those superthin galaxies that live in larger dark matter halos as satellite galaxies therein.

Photometric Studies of EV Cnc and AH Cnc in the Open Cluster M67

Contact binaries at various stages of evolution unveil various operating mechanisms that drive them.We report the photometric and period variation analysis of two contact binaries EV Cnc and AH Cnc in open cluster M67.We observed the cluster from the JCBT 1.3 m telescope and utilized TESS and Kepler observations.The photometric solutions of EV Cnc and AH Cnc revealed a mass ratio of q~0.41 and~0.15 with an inclination of i=42°and87°respectively.These solutions suggest that EV Cnc is probably a semi-detached and AH Cnc is a deep low-mass ratio contact binary.The study of O-C variation analysis indicates that for both systems,the period is increasing which suggests the mass transfer is occurring from secondary to primary.In the case of AH Cnc and based on simulations by randomly varying the time of minima to fit the LITE solution,we noted the third body orbital period to be around P_(3)=26.82±2.54 yr,which is different from earlier reported values and conclude that future observations are required to confirm this scenario.We compare these two systems with other similar contact binaries to get an estimate of the final configuration of the respective systems.

A Fermi-LAT Study of Globular Cluster Dynamical Evolution in the Milky Way:Millisecond Pulsars as the Probe

Using archival Fermi-LAT data with a time span of~12 yr,we study the population of Millisecond Pulsars(MSPs)in Globular Clusters(GlCs)and investigate their dependence on cluster dynamical evolution in the Milky Way.We show that theγ-ray luminosity(L_(γ))and emissivity(i.e.,ε_(γ)=L_(γ)/M,with M the cluster mass)are good indicators of the population and abundance of MSPs in GlCs,and they are highly dependent on the dynamical evolution history of the host clusters.Specifically speaking,the dynamically older GlCs with more compact structures are more likely to have larger L_(γ)andε_(γ),and these trends can be summarized as strong correlations with cluster stellar encounter rateΓand the specific encounter rate(Λ=Γ/M),with L_(γ)∝Γ^(0.7±0.11)andε_(γ)∝Λ^(0.73±0.13)for dynamically normal GlCs.However,as GlCs evolve into deep core collapse,these trends are found to be reversed,implying that strong encounters may have lead to the disruption of Low-Mass X-ray Binaries and ejection of MSPs from core-collapsed systems.Besides,the GlCs are found to exhibit largerε_(γ)with increasing stellar mass function slope(ε_(γ)∝10^((0.52±0.1)α)),decreasing tidal radius(ε_(γ)∝R_(t)^(-10±0.22))and distances from the Galactic Center(GC,ε_(γ)∝R_(gc)^(-1.13±0.21)).These correlations indicate that,as GlCs losing kinetic energy and spiral in toward the GC,tidal stripping and mass segregation have a preference in leading to the loss of normal stars from GlCs,while MSPs are more likely to concentrate to cluster center and be deposited into the GC.Moreover,we gaugeε_(γ)of GlCs is~10-1000 times larger than the Galactic bulge,the latter is thought to reside thousands of unresolved MSPs and may be responsible for the GC 7-ray excess,which supports that GlCs are generous contributors to the population of MSPs in the GC.

Weak Merging Scenario of CLASH Cluster A209

We study the structural and dynamical properties of A209 based on Chandra and XMM-Newton observations.We obtain detailed temperature,pressure,and entropy maps with the contour binning method,and find a hot region in the NW direction.The X-ray brightness residual map and corresponding temperature profiles reveal a possible shock front in the NW direction and a cold front feature in the SE direction.Combined with the galaxy luminosity density map we propose a weak merger scenario.A young sub-cluster passing from the SE to NW direction could explain the optical subpeak,the intracluster medium temperature map,the X-ray surface brightness excess,and the X-ray peak offset together.

Spectroscopic Observations of Ten Galactic Wolf-Rayet Stars at Bosscha Observatory:Determination of Stellar Parameters and Mass-loss Rates

We present optical spectra of 10 Galactic Wolf-Rayet(WR)stars that consist of five WN and five WC stars.The optical observation was conducted using a low-resolution spectrograph NEO-R1000(λ/Δλ~1000)at GAO-ITB RTS(27.94 cm,F/10.0),Bosscha Observatory,Lembang.We implemented stellar atmosphere Postdam Wolf-Rayet(PoWR)grid modeling to derive stellar parameters.The normalized optical spectrum can be used to find the best model from the available PoWR grid,then we could derive stellar temperature and transformation radius.To derive luminosity,stellar radius and color excess,we conducted a Spectral Energy Distribution(SED)analysis with additional data on the near-ultraviolet spectrum from the International Ultraviolet Explorer(IUE)database,and UBV and 2MASS JHK broadband filter data.Additional analysis to derive asymptotic terminal wind velocity was conducted from the P-Cygni profile analysis of the high-resolution IUE ultraviolet spectrum.With previously derived parameters,we could determine the mass loss rate of the WR stars.Furthermore,we compared our results with previous work that used PoWR code and the differences are not more than 20%.We conclude that the PoWR spectral grid is sufficient to derive WR stellar parameters quickly and could provide more accurate initial parameter input to the PoWR program code.

The Metallicity Dimension of the Super Earth-cold Jupiter Correlation

The correlation between close-in super Earths and distant cold Jupiters in planetary systems has important implications for their formation and evolution.Contrary to some earlier findings,a recent study conducted by Bonomo et al.suggests that the occurrence of cold Jupiter companions is not excessive in super-Earth systems.Here we show that this discrepancy can be seen as a Simpson’s paradox and is resolved once the metallicity dependence of the super-Earth-cold Jupiter relation is taken into account.A common feature is noticed that almost all the cold Jupiter detections with inner super-Earth companions are found around metal-rich stars.Focusing on the Sun-like hosts with super-solar metallicities,we show that the frequency of cold Jupiters conditioned on the presence of inner super Earths is 39_(-11)^(+12)%,whereas the frequency of cold Jupiters in the same metallicity range is no more than 20%.Therefore,the occurrences of close-in super Earths and distant cold Jupiters appear correlated around metal-rich hosts.The relation between the two types of planets remains unclear for stars with metal-poor hosts due to the limited sample size and the much lower occurrence rate of cold Jupiters,but a correlation between the two cannot be ruled out.

On joint analysing XMM-NuSTAR spectra of active galactic nuclei

A recently released XMM-Newton note revealed a significant calibration issue between nuclear spectroscopic telescope array(NuSTAR)and XMM-Newton European Photon Imaging Camera(EPIC)and provided an empirical correction to the EPIC effective area.To quantify the bias caused by the calibration issue in the joint analysis of XMM-NuSTAR spectra and verify the effectiveness of the correction,in this work,we perform joint-fitting of the NuSTAR and EPIC-pn spectra for a large sample of 104 observation pairs of 44 X-ray bright active galactic nuclei(AGN).The spectra were extracted after requiring perfect simultaneity between the XMM-Newton and NuSTAR exposures(merging good time intervals(GTIs)from two missions)to avoid bias due to the rapid spectral variability of the AGN.Before the correction,the EPIC-pn spectra are systematically harder than the corresponding NuSTAR spectra by■subsequently yielding significantly underestimated cutoff energy E_(cut)and the strength of reflection component R when performing joint-fitting.We confirm that the correction is highly effective and can commendably erase the discrepancy in best-fitΓ,E_(cut),and R.We thus urge the community to apply the correction when joint-fitting XMM-NuSTAR spectra,but note that the correction is limited to 3–12 keV and therefore not applicable when the soft X-ray band data are included.Besides,we show that as merging GTIs from two missions would cause severe loss of NuSTAR net exposure time,in many cases,joint-fitting yields no advantage compared with utilizing NuSTAR data alone.Finally,We present a technical note on filtering periods of high background flares for XMM-Newton EPIC-pn exposures in the small window(SW)mode.

Feedback of Efficient Shock Acceleration on Magnetic-field Structure Inside Young Type Ia Supernova Remnants

Using an effective adiabatic index γ_(eff) to mimic the feedback of efficient shock acceleration,we simulate the temporal evolution of a young type Ia supernova remnant (SNR) with two different background magnetic field(BMF) topologies:a uniform and a turbulent BMF.The density distribution and magnetic-field characteristics of our benchmark SNR are studied with two-dimensional cylindrical magnetohydrodynamic simulations.When γ_(eff)is considered,we find that:(1) the two-shock structure shrinks and the downstream magnetic-field orientation is dominated by the Rayleigh–Taylor instability structures;(2) there exists more quasi-radial magnetic fields inside the shocked region;and (3) inside the intershock region,both the quasi-radial magnetic energy density and the total magnetic energy density are enhanced:in the radial direction,with γ_(eff)=1.1,they are amplified about 10–26 times more than those with γ_(eff)=5/3.While in the angular direction,the total magnetic energy densities could be amplified about 350 times more than those with γ_(eff)=5/3,and there are more grid cells within the intershock region where the magnetic energy density is amplified by a factor greater than 100.

GRB 210323A:Signature of Long-lasting Lifetime of Supra-massive Magnetar as the Central Engine from the Merger of Binary Neutron Star

Theoretically,a supra-massive neutron star or magnetar may be formed after the merger of binary neutron stars.GRB210323A is a short-duration gamma-ray burst(GRB)with a duration of lasting~1 s.The light curve of the prompt emission of GRB 210323A shows a signal-peaked structure and a cutoff power-law model can adequately fit the spectra with E_p=1826±747.More interestingly,it has an extremely long-lasting plateau emission in the X-ray afterglow with a duration of~10^(4)s,and then follows a rapid decay with a decay slope~3.2.This temporal feature is challenging by invoking the external shock mode.In this paper,we suggest that the observed long-lasting X-ray plateau emission is caused by the energy injection of dipole radiation from supra-massive magnetar,and the abrupt decay following the longlasting X-ray plateau emission is explained by supra-massive magnetar collapsing into a black hole.It is the short GRB(SGRB)with the longest X-ray internal plateau emission powered by a supra-massive neutron star.If this is the case,one can estimate the physical parameters of a supra-massive magnetar,and compare with other SGRBs.We also discuss the possible gravitational-wave emission,which is powered by a supra-massive magnetar and its detectability,and the possible kilonova emission,which is powered by r-process and magnetar spin-down to compare with the observed data.

Observations of Fast Radio Variations in Microquasars by FAST

Microquasars are the compact objects generally including accreting black holes which produce relativistic jets.The physical mechanisms of jet launching,collimation,and acceleration are poorly understood.Microquasars show strong variability in multi-wavelength observations.In x-rays,the sources show the fast variation features down to millisecond time scales,with the prominent quasiperiodic oscillations(QPOs)around 0.1 Hz–tens of Hz in light curves,however,physical origin of QPOs is still uncertain.FAST as the largest radio telescope provides the opportunity to study fast variability of both radio flux and polarization in microquasars.In the FAST observations from 2020–2022,we reported the first evidence of radio subsecond quasi-periodic oscillations of GRS 1915+105,providing the direct link between QPOs and the dynamics of relativistic jets.These QPOs with the centroid frequency around 5 Hz are transient,accompanied with strong evolution of the spectral index.Combined with multiwavelength observations,we discuss the possible physical models to produce radio QPOs in BH systems:the helical motion of jet knots or precession of the jet base.In near future,high time resolution radio monitoring of microquasars based on FAST is expected to discover more new phenomena in black hole systems,which will be important for understanding the physics in strong gravity.

Quantitative Analysis of Seeing with Height and Time at Muztagh-Ata Site Based on ERA5 Database

Seeing is an important index to evaluate the quality of an astronomical site.To estimate seeing at the Muztagh-Ata site with height and time quantitatively,the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis database(ERA5)is used.Seeing calculated from ERA5 is compared consistently with the Differential Image Motion Monitor seeing at the height of 12 m.Results show that seeing decays exponentially with height at the Muztagh-Ata site.Seeing decays the fastest in fall in 2021 and most slowly with height in summer.The seeing condition is better in fall than in summer.The median value of seeing at 12 m is 0.89 arcsec,the maximum value is1.21 arcsec in August and the minimum is 0.66 arcsec in October.The median value of seeing at 12 m is 0.72arcsec in the nighttime and 1.08 arcsec in the daytime.Seeing is a combination of annual and about biannual variations with the same phase as temperature and wind speed indicating that seeing variation with time is influenced by temperature and wind speed.The Richardson number Ri is used to analyze the atmospheric stability and the variations of seeing are consistent with Ri between layers.These quantitative results can provide an important reference for a telescopic observation strategy.

The Energy Sources and the Explosion Mechanism of Ca-rich Supernova PTF 10iuv

In this paper,we perform the detailed modeling for the light curves(LCs)of PTF 10iuv which is a calcium-rich(Ca-rich)supernova(SN)to constrain the physical properties of its ejecta and the energy sources,as well as the explosion mechanism.We find that the^(56)Ni model and the56Ni plus circumstellar interaction model fail to explain the LCs,while the four-element(^(56)Ni,^(48)Cr,^(52)Fe,and^(44)Ti)model can account for the LCs.The ejecta mass of PTF10iuv derived by the model(1.52_(-0.25)^(+0.34)M_(⊙))is consistent with that of the merger of a sub-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarf.The early-time LCs were mainly powered by^(56)Ni whose mass is~0.03 M_(⊙),while the contributions of^(48)Cr and^(52)Fe can be neglected.The derived^(44)Ti mass(~0.25 M_(⊙))is~1.8 times the upper limit of the derived^(44)Ti mass of Ca-rich SN 2005E.We suggest that subtracting the contributions of the host-galaxy,which are unknown,and including the flux from other long-lived elements(e.g.,^(57)Co,^(55)Fe,^(60)Co)can reduce the amount of^(44)Ti,and that this value can be regarded as an upper limit.

Time-resolved Spectral Properties of Fermi-GBM Bright Long Gamma-Ray Bursts

The prompt emission mechanism of gamma-ray bursts(GRBs)is still unclear,and the time-resolved spectral analysis of GRBs is a powerful tool for studying their underlying physical processes.We performed a detailed time-resolved spectral analysis of 78 bright long GRB samples detected by Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor.A total of 1490 spectra were obtained and their properties were studied using a typical Band-shape model.First,the parameter distributions of the time-resolved spectrum are given as follows:the low-energy spectral indexα~-0.72,high-energy spectral indexβ~2.42,the peak energy E_(p)~221.69 keV,and the energy flux F~7.49×10^(-6)erg cm^(-2)s^(-1).More than 80%of the bursts exhibit the hardest low-energy spectral indexα_(max),exceeding the synchrotron limit(-2/3).Second,the evolution patterns of a and E_(p)were statistically analyzed.The results show that for multi-pulse GRBs the intensity-tracking pattern is more common than the hard-to-soft pattern in the evolution of both E_(p)andα.The hard-to-soft pattern is generally shown in single-pulse GRBs or in the initial pulse of multi-pulse GRBs.Finally,we found a significant positive correlation between F and E_(p),with half of the samples exhibiting a positive correlation between F andα.We discussed the spectral evolution of different radiation models.The diversity of spectral evolution patterns indicates that there may be more than one radiation mechanism occurring in the GRB radiation process,including photo spheric radiation and synchrotron radiation.However,it may also involve only one radiation mechanism,but more complicated physical details need to be considered.

On the Formation of the Double Neutron Star Binary PSR J1846-0513

The double neutron star PSR J1846-0513 is discovered by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST)in Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST Survey.The pulsar is revealed to be harbored in an eccentric orbit with e=0.208 and an orbital period of 0.613 day.The total mass of the system is constrained to b2.6287(35)M_(⊙),with a mass upper limit of 1.3455 M_(⊙)for the pulsar and a mass lower limit of 1.2845 M_(⊙)for th companion star.To reproduce its evolution history,we perform a 1D model for the formation of PSR J1846-0513whose progenitor is assumed to be neutron star—helium(He)star system via MESA code.Since the larg eccentricity is widely believed to originate from an asymmetric supernova explosion,we also investigate th dynamical effects of the supernova explosion.Our simulated results show that the progenitor of PSR J1846-0513could be a binary system consisting of a He star of 3.3-4.0 M_(⊙)and a neutron star in a circular orbit with an initia period of~0.5 day.

Recent Developments on the H_(I)Gas of Low-Redshift Galaxies Seen by the 21 cm Emission Lines

As a major interstellar medium,the atomic neutral hydrogen(H_(I))plays an important role in the galaxy evolution.It provides the ingredient for star formation,and sensitively traces the internal processes and external perturbations influencing the galaxy.With the beginning of many new radio telescopes and surveys,H_(I)may make a more significant contribution to the understanding of galaxies in the near future.This review discusses the major development of the 21 cm emission-line H_(I)observations and studies in the past few years,including its scaling relations with other galaxy properties,its kinematics and structures,its role in environmental studies,and its constraints on hydrodynamical simulations.The local-Universe H_(I)scaling relations of stellar-massselected samples extend smoothly to 10^(9)M⊙stellar mass,with a tentative evolution to the redshift of∼0.1.The development of measurement techniques enables better estimations of H_(I)non-circular motion,dispersion,and thickness,and new observations revealed extended or extra-planar H_(I)structures,both helpfully constraining the gas accretion,stellar feedback,and star formation processes of galaxy evolution models.H_(I)is very useful for tracing the satellite evolution in dense environments,the studies of which would benefit from ongoing blind H_(I)surveys.Though simulations still cannot fully reproduce H_(I)gas properties,they help to understand the role of possible factors in regulating H_(I)properties.