Astrophysical S-factor and reaction rate for 15N(p,γ)16O within the modified potential cluster model

We study radiative p^(15)N capture on the ground state of ^(16)O at stellar energies within the framework of a modified potential cluster model(MPCM)with forbidden states,including low-lying resonances.The investigation of the ^(15)N(p,γ0)^(16)O reaction includes the consideration of ^(3)S_(1) resonances due to E1 transitions and the contribution of the ^(3)P_(1) scattering wave in the p+^(15)N channel due to the ^(3)P_(1)→^(3)P_(0)M1 transition.We calculated the astrophysical low-energy S-factor,and the extrapolated S(0)turned out to be within 34.7−40.4 keV·b.The important role of the asymptotic constant(AC)for the ^(15)N(p,γ0)16O process with interfering ^(3)S_(1)(312)and ^(3)S_(1)(962)resonances is elucidated.A comparison of our calculation for the S-factor with existing experimental and theoretical data is addressed,and a reasonable agreement is found.The reaction rate is calculated and compared with the existing rates.It has negligible dependence on the variation of AC but shows a strong impact of the interference of ^(3)S_(1)(312)and ^(3)S_(1)(962)resonances in reference to the CNO Gamow windows,especially at low temperatures.We estimate the contribution of cascade transitions to the reaction rate based on the exclusive experimental data from Phys.Rev.C.85,065810(2012).The reaction rate enhancement due to the cascade transitions is observed from T_(9)>0.3 and reaches the maximum factor~1.3 at T_(9)=1.3.We present the Gamow energy window and a comparison of rates for radiative proton capture reactions ^(12)N(p,γ)^(13)O,^(13)N(p,γ)^(14)O,^(14)N(p,γ)^(15)O,and ^(15)N(p,γ)^(16)O obtained in the framework of the MPCM and provide the temperature windows,prevalence,and significance of each process.

Investigation of the ^(121)Sb(α,γ)^(125)I reaction cross-section calculations at astrophysical energies

Proton-rich nuclei are synthesized via photodisintegration and reverse reactions.To examine this mechanism and reproduce the observed p-nucleus abundances,it is crucial to know the reaction rates and thereby the reaction cross sections of many isotopes.Given that the number of experiments on the reactions in astrophysical energy regions is very rare,the reaction cross sections are determined by theoretical methods whose accuracy should be tested.In this study,given that ^(121)Sb is a stable seed isotope located in the region of medium-mass p-nuclei,we investigated the cross sections and reaction rates of the ^(121)Sb(α,γ)^(125)I reaction using the TALYS computer code with 432 different combinations of input parameters(OMP,LDM,and SFM).The optimal model combinations were determined using the threshold logic unit method.The theoretical reaction cross-sectional results were compared with the experimental results reported in the literature.The reaction rates were determined using the two input parameter sets most compatible with the measurements,and they were compared with the reaction rate databases:STARLIB and REACLIB.

Modified astrophysical S-factor of 12C+12C fusion reaction at sub-barrier energies

The 12C+12C fusion reaction plays a crucial role in stellar evolution and explosions.Its main open reaction channels includeα,p,n,and 8Be.Despite more than a half century of efforts,large differences remain among the experimental data of this reaction measured using various techniques.In this work,we analyze the existing data using a statistical model.Our calculation shows the following:1)the relative systematic uncertainties of the predicted branching ratios decrease as the predicted ratios increase;2)the total modified astrophysical S-factors(S^* factors)of the p andαchannels can be obtained by summing the S^* factors of their corresponding ground-state transitions and the characteristicγrays,while taking into account the contributions of the missing channels to the latter.After applying corrections based on branching ratios predicted by the statistical model,an agreement is achieved among the different data sets at Ecm>4 MeV,while some discrepancies remain at lower energies,suggesting the need for better measurements in the near future.We find that the S^* factor recently obtained from an indirect measurement is inconsistent with the direct measurement value at energies below 2.6 MeV.We recommend upper and lower limits for the 12C+12C S^* factor based on the existing models.A new 12C+12C reaction rate is also recommended.

Astrophysical S-factor of the d（p,γ）~3 He process by effective field theory

We summarize the recent effective field theory （EFT） studies of low-energy electroweak reactions of astrophysical interest, relevant to big-bang nucleosynthesis. The zero energy astrophysical S（0） factor for the thermal proton radiative capture by deuteron is calculated with pionless EFT. The astrophysical S（0） factor is accurately determined to be S（0）=0.243 eV·b up to the leading order （LO）. At zero energies, magnetic transition M1 gives the dominant contribution. The M1 amplitude is calculated up to the LO. A good, quantitative agreement between theoretical and experimental results is found for all observables. The demonstrations of cutoff independent calculation have also been presented.

Astrophysical S-factor of the ^(12)C(α, γ)^(16)O reaction at solar energies

The astrophysical S-factor of the 4He＋12C radiative capture is calculated in the potential model at the energy range 0.1-2.0 MeV. Radiative capture 12C（α,γ） 16O is extremely relevant for the fate of massive stars and determines if the remnant of a supernova explosion becomes a black hole or a neutron star. Because this reaction occurs at low energies, the experimental measurements are very difficult and perhaps impossible. In this paper, radiative capture of the 12C（α,γ） 16O reaction at very low energies is taken as a case study. In comparison with other theoretical methods and available experimental data, good agreement is achieved for the astrophysical S-factor of this process.

Measurement of astrophysical S-factor for ^(9)Be(d, α_(0))^(7)Li and ^(9)Be(d, α_(1))^(7)Li^(*) reactions at low energies

The thick-target yield of the ^(9)Be(d,α0)7Li and ^(9)Be(d,α1)7Li*reactions has been first directly measured over deuteron energies from 66 to 94 keV.The obtained S(Ei)ofα0 andα1 have similar trends calculated by the thin-target yield,consistent with Yan’s report within the errors.Furthermore,the parametric expression of S(E)was obtained to calculate the theoretical thick target yield,and it roughly agrees with the experimental thick target yield.

High-Resolution Broadband Millimeter-Wave Astrophysical Spectrometer with Triple Product Acousto-Optical Processor

An advanced conceptual design of a high-bit-rate triple product acousto-optical processor is presented that can be applied in a number of astrophysical problems. We briefly describe the Large Millimeter Telescope as one of the potential observational infrastructures where the acousto-optical spectrometer can be successfully used. A summary on the study of molecular gas in relatively old (age > 10 Myr) disks around main sequence stars is provided. We have identified this as one of the science cases in which the proposed processor can have a big impact. Then we put forward triple product acousto-optical processor is able to realize algorithm of the space-and-time integrating, which is desirable for a wideband spectrum analysis of radio-wave signals with an improved resolution providing the resolution power of about 105 - 106. It includes 1D-acousto-optic cells as the input devices for a 2D-optical data processing. The importance of this algorithm is based on exploiting the chirp Z-transform technique providing a 2D-Fourier transform of the input signals. The system produces the folded spectrum, accumulating advantages of both space and time integrating. Its frequency bandwidth is practically equal to the bandwidth of transducers inherent in acousto-optical cells. Then, similar processor is able to provide really high frequency resolution, which is practically equal to the reciprocal of the CCD-matrix photo-detector integration time. Here, the current state of developing the triple product acousto-optical processor in frames of the astrophysical instrumentation is shortly discussed.

Mass-to-Energy Conversion, the Astrophysical Mechanism

A new interpretation of the relativistic equation relating total-, momentum-, and mass-energies is presented. With the aid of the familiar energy-relationship triangle, old and new interpretations are compared. And the key difference is emphasized—apparent relativity versus intrinsic relativity. Mass-to-energy conversion is then brought about by adopting a three-part strategy: 1) Make the motion relative to the universal space medium. This allows the introduction of the concept of intrinsic energy (total, kinetic, and mass energies) as counterpart to the apparent version. 2) Recognize that a particle’s mass property diminishes with increase in speed. This means introducing the concept of intrinsic mass (which varies with intrinsic speed). 3) Impose a change in the particle’s gravitational environment. Instead of applying an electromagnetic accelerating force or energy in order to alter the particle’s total energy, there will simply be an environmental change. Thus, it is shown how to use relativity equations and relativistic motion—in a way that exploits the distinction between apparent and innate levels of reality—to explain the mass-to-energy-conversion mechanism. Moreover, the mechanism explains the 100-percent conversion of mass to energy;which, in turn, leads to an explanation of the mechanism driving astrophysical jets.

The cross section calculation of 112Sn(α,γ)116Te reaction with different nuclear models at the astrophysical energy range

The theoretical cross section calculations for the astrophysical p process are needed because most of the related reactions are technically very difficult to be measured in the laboratory. Even if the reaction was measured,most of the measured reactions have been carried out at the higher energy range from the astrophysical energies.Therefore, almost all cross sections needed for p process simulation have to be theoretically calculated or extrapolated to the astrophysical energies.^(112)Sn(α,γ)^(116)Te is an important reaction for the p process nucleosynthesis. The theoretical cross section of ^(112)Sn(α,γ)^(116)Te reaction was investigated for different global optical model potentials,level density, and strength function models at the astrophysically interested energies. Astrophysical S factors were calculated and compared with experimental data available in the EXFOR database. The calculation with the optical model potential of the dispersive model by Demetriou et al., and the back-shifted Fermi gas level density model and Brink-Axel Lorentzian strength function model best served to reproduce experimental results at an astrophysically relevant energy region. The reaction rates were calculated with these model parameters at the p process temperature and compared with the current version of the reaction rate library Reaclib and Starlib.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THE XZ TAURI SUPERSONIC ASTROPHYSICAL JET

Computational gas dynamical simulations using the WENO-LF method are applied to modeling the high Mach number astrophysical jet XZ Tauri, including the effects of radiative cooling. Mach 55 simulations of the pulsed proto-jet are presented and analyzed in terms of interacting nonlinear waves： terminal Mach disks, bow shocks, and Meshkov-Richtmyer instabilities of the leading jet contact boundary.

Useful Life of Astrophysical Scientific Facilities

Large-scale astrophysical facilities have become increasingly relevant in certain key areas of scientific research but typically require strong financial investments. It is, therefore, crucial to gain a deep understanding of what could be a foreseeable lifespan of a given instrument before providing the required fund to build it. In this paper, we intend to contribute to this understanding with a study of the lifespan of past, current and future observatories and telescopes. The methodology has been based on the compilation of relevant data from twenty telescopes, three of them mounted on space satellites and the other seventeen distributed worldwide. An analysis of the main limiting factors that affect the lifetime of an astrophysical facility is also presented.

Chemical bonding in representative astrophysically relevant neutral,cation,and anion HC_(n)H chains

Most existing studies assign a polyynic and cumulenic character of chemical bonding in carbon-based chains relying on values of the bond lengths.Building on our recent work,in this paper we add further evidence on the limitations of such an analysis and demonstrate the significant insight gained via natural bond analysis.Presently reported results include atomic charges,natural bond order and valence indices obtained from ab initio computations for representative members of the astrophysically relevant neutral and charged HC_(2k/2k+1)H chain family.They unravel a series of counter-intuitive aspects and/or help naive intuition in properly understanding microscopic processes,e.g.,electron removal from or electron attachment to a neutral chain.Demonstrating that the Wiberg indices adequately quantify the chemical bonding structure of the HC_(2k/2k+1)H chains—while the often heavily advertised Mayer indices do not—represents an important message conveyed by the present study.

Hierarchical Visual Analysis and Steering Framework for Astrophysical Simulations

A framework for accelerating modern long-running astrophysical simulations is presented, which is based on a hierarchical architecture where computational steering in the high-resolution run is performed under the guide of knowledge obtained in the gradually refined ensemble analyses. Several visualization schemes for facilitating ensemble management, error analysis, parameter grouping and tuning are also integrated owing to the pluggable modular design. The proposed approach is prototyped based on the Flash code, and it can be extended by introducing userdefined visualization for specific requirements. Two real-world simulations, i.e., stellar wind and supernova remnant, are carried out to verify the proposed approach.

Black Sun: Ocular Invisibility of Relativistic Luminous Astrophysical Bodies

Considered as a gedanken experiment are the conditions under which the relativistic Doppler shifting of visible electromagnetic radiation to beyond the human ocular range could reduce the incident radiance of the source, and render a luminous astrophysical body (LAB) invisible to a naked eye. This paper determines the proper distance as a function of relativistic velocity at which a luminous object attains ocular invisibility.

揭秘宇宙线起源:LHAASO的使命、挑战与展望

高海拔宇宙线观测站(LHAASO)是人类研究宇宙线最大的实验装置之一,其核心科学目标是寻找宇宙线的起源,不但要探测超高能伽马射线源,也致力于精确测量地球附近带电宇宙线的成分和能谱,系统地研究宇宙线的加速过程及传播机制。从发现12个超高能伽马源(标志着超高能伽马天文学领域的开启),到第一个星表的发布(展现出银河系丰富多彩的宇宙线加速源的候选天体),LHAASO已经为发现宇宙线起源奠定了良好的基础。此外,这些成果为后续的宇宙线加速机理和传播效应的研究指明了方向,同时也为现有理论与模型提供了精确检验的机会与挑战。文章概述了LHAASO项目的开展背景、望远镜主要结构及其在宇宙线物理学中的重大意义,并对其未来的研究方向进行了展望。

Final results of the first phase of the PROTO-SPHERA experiment: obtainment of the full current stable screw pinch and first evidences of the jet + torus combined plasma configuration

In astrophysics, the boundary conditions for plasma phenomena are provided by nature and the astronomer faces the problem of understanding them from a variety of observations [Hester J J et al 1996 Astrophys. J. 456 225], on the other hand, in laboratory plasma experiments the electromagnetic boundary conditions become a major problem in the set-up of the machine that produces the plasma, an issue that has to be investigated step by step and to be modified and adapted with great patience, in particular in the case of an innovative plasma confinement experiment. The PROTO-SPHERA machine [Alladio F et al 2006 Nucl. Fusion 46 S613] is a magnetic confinement experiment, that emulates in the laboratory the jet + torus plasma configurations often observed in astrophysics: an inner magnetized jet of plasma centered on the(approximate) axis of symmetry and surrounded by a magnetized plasma torus orthogonal to this jet. The PROTO-SPHERA plasma is simply connected, i.e., no metal current conducting rod is linked to the plasma torus, while instead it is the inner magnetized plasma jet(in the following always called the plasma centerpost) that is linked to the torus. It is mandatory that no spurious plasma current path modifies the optimal shape of the plasma centerpost. Moreover, as the plasma torus is produced and sustained, in absence of any applied inductive electric field, by the inner plasma centerpost through magnetic reconnections [Taylor J B and Turner M F 1989 Nucl.Fusion 29 219], it is required as well that spurious current paths do not surround the torus on its outboard, in order not to lower the efficiency of the magnetic reconnections that maintain the plasma torus at the expense of the plasma centerpost. Boundary conditions have been corrected,up to the point that the first sustainment in steady state has been achieved for the combined plasma.

A Model for a Dual Universe

A model for a dual universe is proposed, based on the assumption that simultaneously with our universe an anti-matter counterpart was initiated immediately following the Big Bang. At the heart of the model is a primordial anti-particle that differentiates itself from its counterpart, a previously hypothesized S-particle responsible for the formation of our own universe, through its course of rotation. The angular rotation of the anti-particle, in accordance with space-time rotation, together with the counter rotation of the S-particle, resulted in a time difference in the formation processes of both universes and consequently led to a large distance between the spatial locations occupied by our universe and its dual counterpart in the same space-time continuum. The existence of this anti-matter universe might solve the present mystery of matter anti-matter asymmetry and thus explain why hardly any free anti-matter can be observed in our universe. Moreover, the model implicates the possibility of the presence of a repulsive gravitational force exerted by the clusters of anti-particles in the anti-matter universe upon our universe. The repulsive gravitational force from the clusters of antiparticles in the dual universe as a whole upon our universe is completely different from the electrostatic repulsive force between similarly charged particles. It is also different from that due to possible gravitational or anti-gravitational interaction between individual matter and antimatter or particle and its antiparticle that might violate the CPT invariance, the theory of general relativity or the law of energy conservation. It is rather, a kind of negative gravity that affects our universe as a whole, due to the opposite course of rotation of the dual anti-universe relative to ours. The effect of this opposite rotation of the dual universe can cause anti-gravitational waves that penetrate our universe interacting with the space-time mesh around the galaxies in our universe as a whole, resulting in a negative-like curvature in the shape of the space around them. This negative curvature pushes the galaxies outward, away from each other, leading to the accelerated expansion of our universe. The continuous anti-gravitational waves that permeate and fill our universe might cause a constant background ripples (space fluctuations) in the space of our solar system that can be experimentally observed. The repulsive force exerted by our dual universe could together with the expansion of space-time, influence our universe and might yield more insight on the origin of dark energy. .

The Mysterius Fate of Stars (Past, Present and Future of the Universe)

The research on the collapse of stars, due to Gravity, after the depletion of the fusion fuel, engaged a number of famous guys as Eddington, Chandrasekhar, Schwarzschild and Oppenheimer in the years around 1910-1050. During this period, Einstein was writing his field equation of general relativity (1923), Fermi, in a famous letter to Pauli, proposed the neutrino in beta decay theory (1930), Chadwick found the neutron, that granted him the Nobel price (1935) and Hubble (1929) proved that the Universe was expanding. As a result of that golden age, we remain with a lot of unsolved questions, due to the poor knowledge of the nature of the strong Nuclear Interaction of Gravity that controls the whole Universe. We have made an investigation on the nature of nuclear bond and gravitational attraction on the basis of available data and as a follow-up of Fermi famous research on Neutrino. Using this background, we hope to be able to explain or give some light to the evolution of stars, to the strange objects and phenomena captured or perceived by astronomers in the sky and speculated by theoretical physicists.

Physical Space Was Not Expanding

Plurality of characteristic peaks observed in number density distribution of galaxy redshift reveals that extent of physical space has been finite. Significant portion of observed celestial objects is found pair-wise associated, i.e., the observed lights were emitted from one and same luminescent source but seen at different sky directions of observer, which is a unique phenomenon that can occur but only in finite space. Cosmic microwave radiation has always been interpreted as afterglow of Big Bang event. However, such radiation is shown unobservable to current observer if Hubble-Lemaître Correlation is interpreted as caused by receding motion of celestial objects. On the other hand, cosmic radiation can be understood as a common and ordinary phenomenon due to space lens, a unique property only of finite space. From Sloan Digital Sky Survey data, internal diameter of physical space is measured as 2.0 billion light years. If celestial objects were receding, hence physical space was expanding, then characteristic peaks of finite physical space should not appear evenly in number density distribution of redshift of the objects but more sparsely with respect to redshift increase. However, as revealed by the data, locations of the characteristic peaks in the distributions are rather even that do not match the locations as required by receding motion of object. Therefore, as evidenced by the data, physical space was not expanding, at least during the recent 18 billion years. In addition, considerable portion of observed quasars is found sharing a common factor of ~1/2 for their respective gravitation redshifts.