Variable Stars in the 50BiN Open Cluster Survey.Ⅲ.NGC 884

Open clusters are the basic building blocks that serve as a laboratory for the study of young stellar populations in the Milky Way.Variable stars in open clusters provide a unique way to accurately probe the internal structure,temporal and dynamical evolutionary stages of individual stars and the host cluster.The most powerful tool for such studies is time-domain photometric observations.This paper follows the route of our previous work,concentrating on a photometric search for variable stars in NGC 884.The target cluster is the companion of NGC869,forming the well-known double cluster system that is gravitationally bound.From the observation run in 2016 November,a total of 9247 B-band CCD images and 8218Ⅴ-band CCD images were obtained.We detected a total of 15 stars with variability in visual brightness,including five Be stars,three eclipsing binaries,and seven of unknown types.Two new variable stars were discovered in this work.We also compared the variable star content of NGC 884 with its companion NGC 869.

The W UMa binaries USNO-A2.0 1350-17365531,V471 Cas,V479 Lac and V560 Lac:light curve solutions and global parameters based on Gaia distances

We present photometric observations in Sloan filters g′, i′of the eclipsing W UMa stars USNOA2.0 1350-17365531, V471 Cas, V479 Lac and V560 Lac. The sinusoidal-like O-C diagram of V471 Cas indicates the presence of a third body with mass 0.12 M_⊙(a red dwarf) at distance 897 R_⊙. The O-C diagram of V479 Lac reveals a period decrease of d P/dt =-1.69 × 10-6d yr-1. The results of the light curve solutions are:(i) the targets are overcontact binaries with small fill-out factors;(ii) their components are F–K stars, comparable in size, whose temperature differences are below 80 K;(iii) all targets undergo partial eclipses and to limit the possible mass ratios we carried out two-step q-search analysis. The target global parameters(luminosities, radii, masses) were obtained on the basis of their Gaia distances and the results of our light curve solutions. The obtained total mass of V560 Lac turns out to be smaller than the lower mass limit for presently known W UMa binaries of 1.0-1.2 M_⊙, i.e. this target is a peculiar overcontact system.

Searching forγ-ray counterparts to very faint X-ray transient neutron star binaries

Very faint X-ray transients （VFXTs） are a group of X-ray binaries with low luminosities, displaying peak X-ray luminosities during their outbursts of only 1034-1036 erg s^-1. Using γ-ray data obtained with the Large Area Telescope （LAT） onboard the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope （Fermi）, we investigate their possible nature of containing rotation-powered pulsars, or more specifically being transitional millisecond pulsars （MSPs）. Among more than 40 known VFXTs, we select 12 neutron star systems. We analyze the LAT data for the fields of 12 VFXTs in the energy range 0.2-300GeV, but do not find any counterparts likely detected by Fermi. We obtain luminosity upper limits for the 12 sources. While the distances to the sources are largely uncertain, the upper limits are comparable to the luminosities of two transitional systems, PSR J1023-0038 and XSS J12270-4859. From our study, we conclude that no evidence is found at γ-rays for the suggestion that some VFXTs could contain rotation-powered MSPs （or be transitional MSP systems）.

Light curve solutions of six eclipsing binaries at the lower limit of periods for W UMa stars

Photometric observations are presented in V and I bands of six eclipsing binaries at the lower limit of the orbital periods for W UMa stars. Three of them are newly discovered eclipsing systems. The light curve solutions reveal that all shortperiod targets are contact or overcontact binaries and six new binaries are added to the family of short-period systems with estimated parameters. Four binaries have com- ponents that are equal in size and a mass ratio near 1. The phase variability shown by the V-I colors of all targets may be explained by lower temperatures on their back surfaces than those on their side surfaces. Five systems exhibit the O＇Connell effect that can be modeled by cool spots on the side surfaces of their primary components. The light curves of V1067 Her in 2011 and 2012 are fitted by diametrically opposite spots. Applying the criteria for subdivision of W UMa stars to our targets leads to ambiguous results.

Jet-dominated quiescent state in black hole X-ray binaries: the cases of A0620–00 and XTE J1118+480

The radiative mechanism of black hole X-ray transients （BHXTs） in their quiescent states （defined as the 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity ≤ 10^34 erg s-1） remains unclear. In this work, we investigate the quasi-simultaneous quiescent state spectrum （including radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet and X-ray） of two BHXTs, A0620-00 and XTE J1118＋480. We find that these two sources can be well described by a coupled accretion - jet model. More specifically, most of the emission （radio up to infrared, and the X-ray waveband） comes from the collimated relativistic jet. Emission from hot accretion flow is totally insignificant, and it can only be observed in mid-infrared （the synchrotron peak）. Emission from the outer cold disk is only evident in the UV band. These results are consistent with our previous investigation on the quiescent state of V404 Cyg and confirm that the quiescent state is jet-dominated.

Quark-novae in neutron star - white dwarf binaries: a model for luminous (spin-down powered) sub-Chandrasekhar-mass Type Ia supernovae?

We show that, by appealing to a Quark-Nova （QN） in a tight binary system containing a massive neutron star and a CO white dwarf （WD）, a Type Ia explosion could occur. The QN ejecta collides with the WD, driving a shock that triggers carbon burning under degenerate conditions （the QN-Ia）. The conditions in the compressed low-mass WD （MwD 〈 0.9 M） in our model mimic those of a Chandrasekhar mass WD. The spin-down luminosity from the QN compact remnant （the quark star） pro- vides additional power that makes the QN-Ia light-curve brighter and broader than a standard SN-Ia with similar 56Ni yield. In QNe-Ia, photometry and spectroscopy are not necessarily linked since the kinetic energy of the ejecta has a contribution from spin-down power and nuclear decay. Although QNe-Ia may not obey the Phillips relationship, their brightness and their relatively ＂normal looking＂ light-curves mean they could be included in the cosmological sample. Light-curve fitters would be con- fused by the discrepancy between spectroscopy at peak and photometry and would correct for it by effectively brightening or dimming the QNe-Ia apparent magnitudes, thus over- or under-estimating the true magnitude of these spin-down powered SNe-Ia. Contamination of QNe-Ia in samples of SNe-Ia used for cosmological analyses could systematically bias measurements of cosmological parameters if QNe-Ia are numerous enough at high-redshift. The strong mixing induced by spin-down wind combined with the low 56Ni yields in QNe-Ia means that these would lack a secondary maximum in the/-band despite their luminous nature. We discuss possible QNe-Ia progenitors.

Flaring activity from quiescent states in neutron-star X-ray binaries

We examine systematically the observed X-ray luminosity jumps(or flares) from quiescent states in millisecond binary pulsars(MSBPs) and high-mass X-ray binary pulsars(HMXBPs). We rely on the published X-ray light curves of seven pulsars: four HMXBPs, two MSBPs and the ultraluminous X-ray pulsar M82 X-2. We discuss the physics of their flaring activities or lack thereof, paying special attention to their emission properties when they are found on the propeller line, inside the Corbet gap or near the light-cylinder barrier. We provide guiding principles for future interpretations of faint X-ray observations, as well as a method of constraining the propeller lines and the dipolar surface magnetic fields of pulsars using a variety of quiescent states. In the process, we clarify some disturbing inaccuracies that have made their way into the published literature.

Reciprocating Magnetic Fields in the Pulsar Wind Observed from the Black Widow Pulsar J1720-0534

We report the radio observations of the eclipsing black widow pulsar J1720-0534, a 3.26 ms pulsar in orbit with a low mass companion of mass 0.029 to 0.034 M⊙. We obtain the phase-connected timing ephemeris and polarization profile of this millisecond pulsar(MSP) using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST), the Green Bank Telescope(GBT), and the Parkes Telescope. For the first time from such a system, an oscillatory polarization angle change was observed from a particular eclipse egress with partial depolarization, indicating 10-milliGauss-level reciprocating magnetic fields oscillating in a length scale of 5 ×10^(3)km(assuming an orbital inclination angle of 90°) outside the companion's magnetosphere. The dispersion measure variation observed during the ingresses and egresses shows the rapid raising of the electron density in the shock boundary between the companion's magnetosphere and the surrounding pulsar wind. We suggest that the observed oscillatory magnetic fields originate from the pulsar wind outside the companion's magnetosphere.

Velocity Curve Analysis of Spectroscopic Binary Stars AI Phe,GM Dra,HD 93917 and V502 Oph by Nonlinear Regression

We introduce a new method to derive the orbital parameters of spectroscopic binary stars by nonlinear least squares of （o - c）. Using the measured radial velocity data of the four double lined spectroscopic binary systems, AI Phe, GM Dra, HD 93917 and V502 Oph, we derived both the orbital and combined spectroscopic elements of these systems. Our numerical results are in good agreement with the those obtained using the method of Lehmann-Filhés.

Investigations into the thermal non-equilibrium of W UMa-type contact binaries

Traditionally, some physical details（e.g., magnetic braking, energy transfer, angular momentum loss, etc.） have to be taken into consideration during investigations into the evolution of contact binaries. However, the real evolutionary processes which usually contain several of these physical mechanisms are very complicated as a result of strong interaction between components. To avoid dealing with these factors, a linear relationship is applied to the temperatures of components. It is found that the higher the mass ratio（M2/M1） of a contact system, the weaker the deviation from thermal equilibrium.On this basis, a variation trend of fill-out factor（f） changing with mass ratio can be inferred, which is consistent with observations. Moreover, if we stick to this point of view, it should be natural that the number of semi-detached binaries in the predicted broken-contact phase of relaxation oscillations is less than the number in the contact phase.

A catalog of early-type emission-line stars and Hα line profiles from LAMOST DR2

We present a catalog including 11 204 spectra of 10436 early-type emission-line stars from LAMOST DR2, among which 9752 early-type emission-line spectra are newly discovered. For these early- type emissionqine stars, we discuss the morphological and physical properties of their low-resolution spectra. In this spectral sample, the Hα emission profiles display a wide variety of shapes. Based on the Hα line profiles, these spectra are categorized into five distinct classes： single-peak emission, single-peak emission in absorption, double-peak emission, double-peak emission in absorption, and P-Cygni profiles. To better understand what causes the Hc~ line profiles, we divide these objects into four types from the perspective of physical classification, which include classical Be stars, Herbig Ae/Be stars, close binaries and spectra contaminated by H n regions. The majority of Herbig Ae/Be stars and classical Be stars are identified and separated using a （H-K, K-W1） color-color diagram. We also discuss 31 binary systems that are listed in the SIMBAD on-line catalog and identify 3600 spectra contaminated by HⅡ regions after cross-matching with positions in the Dubout-Crillon catalog. A statistical analysis of line profiles versus classifications is then conducted in order to understand the distribution of Hc~ profiles for each type in our sample. Finally, we also provide a table of 172 spectra with Fen emission lines and roughly calculate stellar wind velocities for seven spectra with P-Cygni profiles.

Effect of non-stationary accretion on spectral state transitions:An example of a persistent neutron star LMXB 4U 1636–536

Observations of black hole and neutron star X-ray binaries show that the luminosity of the hard-to-soft state transition is usually higher than that of the soft-to-hard state transition,indicating additional parameters other than mass accretion rate are required to interpret spectral state transitions.It has been found in some individual black hole or neutron star soft X-ray transients that the luminosity corresponding to the hard-to-soft state transition is positively correlated with the peak luminosity of the following soft state. In this work,we report the discovery of the same correlation in the single persistent neutron star low mass X-ray binary（LMXB） 4 U 1636–536 based on data from the All Sky Monitor（ASM） on board RXTE,the Gas Slit Camera（GSC） on board MAXI and the Burst Alert Telescope（BAT） on board Swift. We also found such a positive correlation holds in this persistent neutron star LMXB in a luminosity range spanning about a factor of four. Our results indicate that non-stationary accretion also plays an important role in driving X-ray spectral state transitions in persistent accreting systems with small accretion flares,which is much less dramatic compared with the bright outbursts seen in many Galactic LMXB transients.

Two particular EA-type binaries in the globular cluster ω Centauri

We analyzed the B and V light curves of two EA-type binaries V211 and NV358 for the first time using the Wilson-Devinney code. Our analysis shows that V211 is a typical Algol-type binary and NV358 is a well detached binary system. As the two binaries are definite members of ω Centauri due to their proper motion, we estimated their physical parameters, obtaining M1 = 1.13 4±0.03 M⊙, R1 = 0.98±0.01 R⊙, M2 = 0.33 ±0.01 M⊙ and R2 = 0.92 ±0.01 R⊙ forV211; M1 = 1.304-0.05 M⊙, R1 = 1.03±0.01 R⊙, M2 = 0.58±0.02 M⊙ and R2 = 0.78±0.01 R⊙ for NV358. On the color-magnitude diagram of ω Centauri, V211 is located in the faint blue straggler region and its primary component is more massive than a star at the main-sequence turnoff. Therefore, V211 is a blue straggler and was formed by mass transfer from the secondary component to the primary. The age of NV358 is less than 1.93 Gyr, indicating that it is much younger than the first generation of stars in ω Centaufi. Like NV364 in ω Centaufi, NV358 should be a second-generation binary.

GSC 4560–02157: a new long-period eclipsing cataclysmic variable star

We study the newly discovered variable star GSC 4560-02157. CCD photometry was performed in 2013-2014 at the Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory,and a spectrum was obtained with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory in June, 2014. GSC 4560-02157 is demonstrated to be an eclipsing variable star（P = 0.265359d）. All its flat-bottom primary minima are approximately at the same brightness level, but the star＇s out-of-eclipse brightness and brightness at secondary minima vary considerably（by up to 0.6m） from cycle to cycle. Moreover,there are short-term（time scale of 0.03-0.04 days） small-amplitude brightness variations out of eclipse. This behavior suggests a cataclysmic nature for the star, which is confirmed with a spectrum taken on 2014 June 5. The spectrum shows numerous emissions of the hydrogen Balmer series, He Ⅰ and He Ⅱ.

First photometric study of ultrashort-period contact binary 1SWASP J140533.33＋114639.1

In this paper,CCD photometric light curves for the short-period eclipsing binary 1 SWASP J140533.33＋114639.1（hereafter J1405） in the BV R bands are presented and analyzed using the 2013 version of the Wilson-Devinney（W-D） code. It is discovered that J1405 is a W-subtype shallow contact binary with a contact degree of f = 7.9±0.5% and a mass ratio of q = 1.55±0.02. In order to explain the asymmetric light curves of the system,a cool starspot on the more massive component is employed. This shallow contact eclipsing binary may have been formed from a short-period detached system through orbital shrinkage due to angular momentum loss. Based on the（O-C） method,the variation of orbital period is studied using all the available times of minimum light. The（O-C） diagram reveals that the period is increasing continuously at a rate of d P/dt = ＋2.09×10^-7 d yr^-1,which can be explained by mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive one.

New CCD photometric investigation of the early-type overcontact binary BH Cen in the young star-forming Galactic cluster IC 2944

BH Cen is a short-period early-type binary with a period of 0.792^d in the extremely young star-forming cluster IC 2944. New multi-color CCD photometric light curves in U, B, V, R and I bands are presented and are analyzed by using the Wilson-Devinney code. It is detected that BH Cen is a high-mass-ratio overcontact binary with a fill-out factor of 46.4% and a mass ratio of 0.89. The derived orbital inclination i is 88.9 degrees, indicating that it is a totally eclipsing binary and the photometric parameters can be determined reliably. By adding new eclipse times, the orbital period changes in the binary are analyzed. It is confirmed that the period of BH Cen shows a long-term increase while it undergoes a cyclic oscillation with an amplitude of A3 = 0.024 d and a period of P3 = 50.3 yr. The high mass ratio, overcontact configuration and long-term continuous increase in the orbital period all suggest that BH Cen is in the evolutionary state after the shortest-period stage of Case A mass transfer.The continuous increase in period can be explained by mass transfer from the secondary component to the primary one at a rate of˙M2 = 2.8×10^-6 M⊙per year. The cyclic change can be plausibly explained by the presence of a third body because both components in the BH Cen system are early-type stars. Its mass is determined to be no less than 2.2 M⊙ at an orbital separation of about 32.5 AU. Since no third light was found during the photometric solution, it is possible that the third body may be a candidate for a compact object.

X射线暂现源Aql X-1的2个历元VLBI探探测

天鹰座X-1 (Aquila X-1, Aql X-1)是一个低质量中子星X射线双星,在X射线和射电波段表现为暂现源。对该源的甚长基线干涉(very long baseline interferometry, VLBⅠ)观测不仅为中子星X射线双星的射电-X射线(或喷流-吸积盘)相关性研究提供了观测依据,而且VLBⅠ亚毫角秒级的定位精度还有助于实现对该源的天体测量(包括位置、视差和自行)。由于Aql X-1常伴随着光球层膨胀(photospheric radius expansion, PRE)特征的Ⅰ型X射线暴(X-ray burst),因此,独立于物理模型的视差测量可以用来估算这类X射线暴的本征光度,并有助于对该类X射线暴的理论研究。Aql X-1已在2009年11月和2013年6月的2个历元的VLBⅠ观测中被探测到,这使得它在其他历元的VLBⅠ观测中的搜寻范围显著变小,并大大降低了其他历元的VLBⅠ观测的探测阈值。处理并分析了观测时间为2010年1月和2010年7月的两组VLBA (Very Long Baseline Array)的历史数据,并证认了Aql X-1的2个新的亚毫秒级精度的VLBⅠ探测,其置信度分别达到99.998 6%和99.998 4%。此外,2010年7月Aql X-1出现在其2010年1月位置的西南面,这与之前发布的Aql X-1的自行方向大体一致,意味着Aql X-1在2个历元间的位移主要来源于自行。最后发现,这2个VLBⅠ观测的历元正对于X射线的软硬态转换窗口,这符合之前对该源的射电-X射线的相关性研究结果。

Timing in the Time Domain: Cygnus X-1

Quantities characterizing temporal property, e.g., power density, coherence, and time lag, can be defined and calculated directly in the time domain without using the Fourier transformation. Spectral hardness, variability duration, and correlation between different characteristic quamtities on different time scale can be studied in the time domain as well. The temporal analysis technique in the time domain is a powerful tool, particularly in studying rapid variability on short time scales (or in high frequencies). Results of studying variabilities of X-rays from Cyg X-1 with the analysis technique in the time domain and RXTE data reveal valuable clues to understanding production and propagation processes of X-rays and structure of accretion disk in the black hole system.

Binary star detection in the open cluster King 1 field

A rarely studied open cluster,King 1 is observed using the 1.3-m telescope equipped with a 2 k×4 k CCD at Vainu Bappu Observatory,India.We analyze the photometric data obtained from CCD observations in both B and V bands.Out of 132 detected stars in the open cluster King 1 field,we have identified four stellar variables,and two among them are reported as newly detected binary systems.The parallax values from Gaia DR2 suggest that the open cluster King 1 is in the background of these two detected binary systems,falling along the same line of sight,giving rise to different parallax values.Periodogram analysis was carried out using Phase Dispersion Minimization(PDM)and the Lomb-Scargle(LS)method for all the detected variables.PHysics Of Eclipsing Binari Es(PHOEBE)is extensively employed to model various stellar parameters of both the detected binary systems.Based on the modeling results obtained from this work,one of the binary systems is reported for the first time as an Eclipsing Detached(ED)and the other as an Eclipsing Contact(EC)binary of W-type W UMa.

Searching for Variable Stars in the Field of NGC 7789

We present the results of a time-series CCD photometric survey of variable stars in the field of the open cluster NGC 7789. In a field of about one degree centering on the cluster, a total of 28 new variable stars are discovered (14 W UMa systems, nine EA-type eclipsing binaries, one RR Lyr star, and four unclassified). In addition, we recovered 11 old variables previously discovered by other authors. Preliminary parameters are given for some of these variables.