From multicolor-photometric observations to a guaranteed mass of AL Cas

We utilize the PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code(PARSEC) combined with photometric observations to determine a guaranteed mass of AL Cas and re-examine its related physical parameters.Multicolor-photometric observations of AL Cas have been performed in 2016 and 2017. We use the WilsonDevinney(W-D) code to analyze the light curves and find that AL Cas is probably an A-subtype contact binary(f = 35.7±0.9%) with a mass ratio q = 0.6399±0.0230 and an effective temperature difference?T = 78 K. The mass-radius relation of a higher luminosity component for AL Cas is obtained by two methods: depending on calculation of the Roche lobe(DCRL method) and depending on calculation of the W-D code(DCWD method). Using this relationship with the PARSEC model, we investigate the component masses of AL Cas as M1 = 1.19±0.23 M⊙ with M2 = 0.76±0.18 M⊙ by the DCRL method and M1 = 1.22±0.26 M⊙ with M2 = 0.78±0.20 M ⊙ by the DCWD method. By means of the photometric studies, we examine the related physical properties of AL Cas with the latest findings. We update the orbital period(Porb = 0.50055593 d) of AL Cas according to six new times of light minimum together with those collected from the literature. Meanwhile, the(O-C)2 curve analysis suggests that the orbital period of AL Cas has a cyclic variation with a period of 81.25 yr and an amplitude of 0.01415 d. This cyclic change would be caused by the light-travel time effect from a third body. A similar mass of the third body(M3 sin i′= 0.279 M⊙) is derived from our two methods.

Hints of a second explosion(a quark nova) in Cassiopeia A supernova

We show that the explosive transition of the neutron star （NS） to a quark star （QS） （a Quark Nova） in Cassiopeia A （Cas A） a few days following the supernova （SN） proper can account for several of the puzzling kinematic and nucleosynthetic features that are observed. The observed decoupling between Fe and 44Ti and the lack of Fe emission within 44Ti regions is expected in the QN model owing to the spallation of the inner SN ejecta by relativistic QN neutrons. Our model predicts the 44Ti to be more prominent to the NW of the central compact object （CCO） than in the SE and little of it along the NE-SW jets, in agreement with NuStar observations. Other intriguing features of Cas A are addressed, such as the lack of a pulsar wind nebula and the reported few percent drop in the CCO temperature over a period of 10 yr.