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.

Relations between the Fractional Variation of the Ionizing Continuum and CⅣBroad Absorption Lines with Different Ionization Levels

This paper explores the correlation between the fractional variation of the ionizing continuum and CⅣbroad absorption lines(BALs)with different ionization levels.Our results reveal anti-correlations between fractional variation of the continuum and fractional equivalency width(EW)variation of the CⅣB ALs without AlⅢB AL/mini-BALs at corresponding velocities,providing evidence for the widespread influence of the ionizing continuum variability on the variation of HiBALs.Conversely,for CⅣBALs accompanied by AlⅢBAL/mini-BALs(LoBAL groups),no significant correction is detected.The absence of such a correlation does not rule out the possibility that variations in these low-ionization lines are caused by ionizing continuum variability,but rather suggests the influence of B AL saturation to some extent.This saturation effect is reflected in the distribution of the fractional EW variation,where the CⅣBAL group accompanied by AlⅢBAL has a smaller standard deviation for the best-fitting Gaussian component than the two BAL groups without AlⅢB AL.However,the distribution of fractional variation of their continuum does not show any significant difference.Besides the saturation influence,another potential explanation for the lack of correlations in the LoBAL groups may be the effects of other variability mechanisms besides the ionization change,such as clouds transiting across the line of sight.

The Fundamental Plane of GRBs

Gamma-ray bursts(GRBs)exhibit powerful radiation and relativistic jets similar to blazars.However,the central engine of GRBs remains unknown.In this paper,we use the fundamental plane to analyze a sample of GRBs with measured mass.We extend,over~12 orders of magnitude,the correlation analysis and fundamental plane with a sample of X-ray binaries,active galactic nuclei(AGNs)including blazars,and brightest cluster galaxies.The fundamental plane of our de-beamed sample,with a measured mass(logL_(R)=(0.60±0.03)logL_(X)+(0.78±0.02)logM+7.23±0.95),closely aligns with the findings of previous work on AGNs.This finding suggests that GRBs adhere to the fundamental plane of AGNs and supports the theory proposed in previous work that the central engine of GRBs may be black holes.This observation provides a plausible explanation for the striking similarities between GRBs and AGNs.

Possible Streams of the Globular Clusters in the Galaxy

We aim to retrieve ghost streams under the assumption that all the globular clusters in our Galaxy were formed in very early merge events. Our results are based on two speculations： that the specific energy and angular momentum of the globular clusters after merge are not changed in the course of evolution and that the globular clusters with a common origin would stay in the same orbit plane as the parent galaxy. After taking into account the apogalacticum distance of the orbits, we suggest with some Confidence five possible streams. The number of streams is consistent with the previous results. Three of the four well established members of the Sagittadus stream were found to be in one of our streams. Several other globular clusters in our result were also thought to come from accretion by previous researchers. The orbital parameters of the streams are derived, which provide a way to test whether these streams are true with the help of more accurate measurement of proper motions of the globular clusters.

Accretion and jet power in active galactic nuclei

The classical diagrams of radio loudness and jet power as a function of mass and accretion rate of the central spacetime singularity in active galactic nuclei are reanalyzed by including the data of the recently discovered powerful relativistic jets in Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies. The results are studied in the light of the known theories of relativistic jets, indicating that, although the Blandford-Znajek mechanism is sufficient to explain the power radiated by BL Lac Objects, it falls to completely account for the power from quasars and Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies. This favors the scenario outlined by Cavaliere ＆ D＇Elia of a composite jet, with a magnetospheric core plus a hydromagnetic component emerging when the accretion power increases and the disk becomes radiation-pressure dominated. A comparison with Galactic compact objects is also made, finding some striking similarities, indicating that since neutron stars are low-mass jet systems analogous to black holes, Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies are low-mass counterparts of blazars.

Effects of Redshift on the Classifying Criteria of BL Lacertae Objects

We have collected a sample of 70 BL Lacs （33 radio-selected BL Lacs and 37 X-ray selected BL Lacs） with multi-waveband data for investigating the classifying criteria of BL Lacertae Objects. For each source, we estimate its luminosities in radio, optical and X-ray, the broad-band spectral index from radio to X-ray and the peak frequency of the synchrotron emission, and make a statistical analysis of the data obtained. Our main results are as follows： （1） The broad-band spectral index and the peak frequency have no correlation with the redshift, while they are inversely correlated with each other and they could be regarded as equivalent classifying criteria of BL Lac objects. （2） There are significant effects of the luminosity/redshift relation on the observed luminosity distribution in our sample, hence, if the radio luminosity is to be used as a classifying criterion of BL Lac objects, it should not be regarded as equivalent to the broad-band spectral index or the peak frequency. （3） Our resuits supply a specific piece of evidence for the suggestion that the use of luminosities always introduces a redshift bias to the data and show that the location of the peak frequency is not always linked to the luminosity of any wave band.

Decomposing the host galaxy from high-z QSOs using principal component analysis

High resolution deep imaging from space and adaptive optics techniques with large ground-based facilities have enabled studies examining faint host galaxies of high redshift quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). However, the related image processing techniques, especially for a precise point-spread function (PSF) reconstruction and characterization of the host galaxy light profiles, have yet to be optimized. We present here the scientific performance of a principal component analysis (PCA) based PSF subtraction of the central bright point source of high redshift QSO images, as well as further characterization of the host galaxy profile by directly fitting a Sèrsic model to the residual image using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. With a set of reference PSF star images which represent interleaving exposures between the QSO imaging, we can create an orthogonal basis of eigen-images and restore the PSF of QSO images by projecting the QSO images onto the basis. In this way, we can quantify the modes in which the PSF varies with time by a basis function that characterizes the temporal variations of the reference star as well as the QSO images. To verify the algorithm, we performed a simulation and applied this method to one of the high-z QSO targets from Mechtley et al. We demonstrate that the PCA-based PSF subtraction and further modeling of the galaxy’s light profile using MCMC fitting would sufficiently remove the effects from central dominating point sources, and improve characterization ability for the host galaxies of high-z QSOs to the background noise level which is much better than previous two-component fitting procedures.

Evolution of Galaxy Types and HI Gas in Hickson Compact Groups

Compact groups have high galaxy densities and low velocity dispersions,and their group members have experienced numerous and frequent interactions during their lifetimes.They provide a unique environment to study the evolution of galaxies.We examined the galaxies types and H I contents in groups to make a study on the galaxy evolution in compact groups.We used the group crossing time as an age indicator for galaxy groups.Our sample is derived from the Hickson Compact Group catalog.We obtained group morphology data from the Hyper-Leda database and the IR classification based on Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer fluxes from Zucker et al.By cross-matching the latest released ALFALFA 100%H I source catalog with supplement by data found in literature,we obtained 40 galaxy groups with H I data available.We confirmed that the weak correlation between H I mass fraction and group crossing time found by Ai&Zhu in SDSS groups also exists in compact groups.We also found that the group spiral galaxy fraction is correlated with the group crossing time,but the actively star-forming galaxy fraction is not correlated with the group crossing time.These results seem to fit with the hypothesis that the sequential acquisition of neighbors from surrounding larger-scale structures has affected the morphology transition and star formation efficiency in compact groups.

Constraints on axion-like particles with different magnetic field models from the PKS 2155–304 energy spectrum

Axion-like particles(ALPs) are a promising kind of dark matter candidate particle that are predicted to couple with photons in the presence of magnetic fields. The oscillations between photons and ALPs traveling in the magnetic fields have been used to constrain ALP properties. In this work, we obtain some new constraints on the ALP mass ma and the photon-ALP coupling constant g with two different magnetic field models through TeV photons from PKS 2155–304. The first is the discrete-Φ model in which the magnetic field has the orientation angle Φ that changes discretely and randomly from one coherent domain to the next, and the second is the linearly-continuous-Φ model in which the magnetic field orientation angle Φ varies continuously across neighboring coherent domains. For the discrete-Φ model, we can obtain the best constraints on the ALP mass m1 = ma/(1 neV)= 0.1 and on the photon-ALP coupling constant g11= g/(10^-11 GeV^-1)= 5. The reasonable range of the ALP mass m1 is 0.08 ~ 0.2 when g11 = 5,and the only reasonable value of the photon-ALP coupling constant is g11 = 5 when m1 = 0.1. For the linearly-continuous-Φ model, we can obtain the best constraints on the ALP mass m1 = 0.1 and on the photon-ALP coupling constant g11 = 0.7. The reasonable range of the ALP mass m1 is 0.05 ~ 0.4 when g11= 0.7, and the reasonable range of the photon-ALP coupling constant g11 is 0.5 ~ 1 when m1 = 0.1.All of the results are consistent with the upper bound(g < 6.6 × 10^-11 GeV^-1, i.e., g11 < 6.6) set by the CAST experiment.

Photometric Redshifts and Galaxy Clusters for DES DR2, DESI DR9, and HSC-SSP PDR3 Data

Photometric redshift(photoz)is a fundamental parameter for multi-wavelength photometric surveys,while galaxy clusters are important cosmological probes and ideal objects for exploring the dense environmental impact on galaxy evolution.We extend our previous work on estimating photoz and detecting galaxy clusters to the latest data releases of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument(DESI)imaging surveys,Dark Energy Survey(DES)and Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program(HSC-SSP)imaging surveys and make corresponding catalogs publicly available for more extensive scientific applications.The photoz catalogs include accurate measurements of photoz and stellar mass for about 320,293and 134 million galaxies with r<23,i<24 and i<25 in DESI DR9,DES DR2 and HSC-SSP PDR3 data,respectively.The photoz accuracy is about 0.017,0.024 and 0.029 and the general redshift coverage is z<1,z<1.2 and z<1.6,respectively for those three surveys.The uncertainty of the logarithmic stellar mass that is inferred from stellar population synthesis fitting is about 0.2 dex.With the above photoz catalogs,galaxy clusters are detected using a fast cluster-finding algorithm.A total of 532,810,86,963 and 36,566 galaxy clusters with the number of members larger than 10 is discovered for DESI,DES and HSC-SSP,respectively.Their photoz accuracy is at the level of 0.01.The total mass of our clusters is also estimated by using the calibration relations between the optical richness and the mass measurement from X-ray and radio observations.The photoz and cluster catalogs are available at Science DB(https://www.doi.org/10.11922/sciencedb.o00069.00003)and Paper Data Repository(https://doi.org/10.12149/101089).

Central black hole mass determination for blazars

In this paper, we use a method to dctermine some basic parameters for the γ-ray loud blazars. The parameters include the central black mass （M）, the boosting factor （δ）, the propagation angle （Ф）, the distance along the axis to the site of the γ-ray production （d）. A sample including 32 γ-ray loud blazars with available variability time scales has been used to discuss the above properties. In this method, the γ-ray energy, the emission size and the property of the accretion disc determine the absorption effect. If we take the intrinsic γ-ray luminosity to be λ times the Eddington luminosity, i.e. Lγ^in =λLEdd, then we have the following results： the mass of the black hole is in the range of （0.59 - 67.99） ×10^7M⊙ （λ = 1.0） or （0.90 - 104.13） × 10^7M⊙ （λ = 0.1）; the boosting factor （5） in the range of 0.16 - 2.09（λ = 1.0） or 0.24 - 2.86 （λ = 0.1）; the angle （Ф） in the range of 9.53°- 73.85° （λ =1.0） or 7.36° - 68.89° （λ = 0.1）; and the distance （d/Rg） in the range of 22.39 - 609.36 （λ = 1.0） or 17.54 - 541.88 （λ = 0.1）.

Binary Population Synthesis

Binary interactions lead to the formation of intriguing objects,such as compact binaries,supernovae,gamma ray bursts,X-ray binaries,pulsars,novae,cataclysmic variables,hot subdwarf stars,barium stars and blue stragglers.To study the evolution of binary populations and the consequent formation of these objects,many methods have been developed over the years,for which a robust approach named binary population synthesis(BPS)warrants special attention.This approach has seen widespread application in many areas of astrophysics,including but not limited to analyses of the stellar content of galaxies,research on galactic chemical evolution and studies concerning star formation and cosmic re-ionization.In this review,we discuss the role of BPS,its general picture and the various components that comprise it.We pay special attention to the stability criteria for mass transfer in binaries,as this stability largely determines the fate of binary systems.We conclude with our perspectives regarding the future of this field.

Rapid variability in S5 0716+714

S5 0716＋714 is one of the targets in our long term blazar monitoring program carried out with the 1.56-m telescope at Sheshan Station of Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, China. We report a very rapid variability of △I=0.611±0.102 mag over 3.6 min detected in our monitoring program during the period from December 2000 to March 2007. The rapid variability suggests that the mass for the central black hole is log（M/M⊙） = 7.68 - 8.38.

Model-Synthesized Rate of Type Ia Supernovae and its Influence on the Chemical Enrichment of the ISM

Using Hurley＇s rapid binary stellar evolution code, we have studied the model-synthesized rate of Type Ia Supernovae （SNe Ia） and its influence on the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium ejected by stellar populations. We adopt two popular scenarios, i.e., single degenerate scenario （SD） and double degenerate scenario （DD）, for the progenitors of SNe Ia to calculate the rates of SNe Ia. Rates calculated in this work agree with that of Hachisu et al. and Han ＆ Podsiadlowski, but are different from that usually adopted in chemical evolution models of galaxies. We apply the rates of SNe Ia to the chemical enrichment （especially Fe enrichment）, then compare the results with previous studies. As known SNe Ia slightly affect the enrichment of C, N, O and Mg elements, while significantly affect the enrichment of Fe. We find that the occurrence and the value of the Fe enrichment in our models are earlier and smaller than that commonly adopted in chemical evolution models. We also study the evolution of [Mg/Fe] ratios, which are almost reciprocals of the Fe enrichment. The study may provide constraints on the free parameters of chemical evolution models of galaxies and evolutionary population synthesis.

New Aspects of Extragalactic Globular Clusters

I present a review on the new aspects of extragalactic globular clusters revealed from recent observations with ground-based telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope.Extragalactic globular clusters are ideal targets to study with large telescopes and space telescopes.