Sequences in the Hardness Ratio-Peak Energy Plane of Gamma-Ray Bursts

The narrowness of the distribution of the peak energy of the νFν spectrum of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and the unification of GRB populations are great puzzles yet to be solved. We investigate the two puzzles based on the global spectral behaviors of different GRB populations, the long GRBs, the short GRBs, and the X-ray flashes (XRFs), in the HR?Ep plane (HR the spectral hardness ratio) with BATSE and HETE-2 observations. It is found that the long GRBs and the XRFs observed by HETE-2 seem to follow the same sequence in the HR?Ep plane, with the XRFs at the low end of this sequence. We fit the sequence by a universal Band function, and find that this sequence is mainly defined by the low energy index α, and is insensitive to the high energy index, β. With fixed β = ?5, a best fit is given by α = ?1.00 with χ2min/dof = 2.2. The long and short GRBs observed by BATSE follow significantly different sequences in the HR?Ep plane, with most of the short GRBs having a larger hardness ratio than the long GRBs at a given Ep. For the long GRBs a best-fit yields α = ?0.30 and β = ?2.05. For the short GRBs, a best fit gives α = ?0.60 with χ2min = 1.1 (with β fixed at -2.0 because it is numerically unstable). The α value for the short GRBs is significantly greater than that for the long GRBs. These results indicate that the global spectral behaviors of the long GRB sample and the XRF sample are similar, while that of the short GRBs is different. The short GRBs seem to be a unique subclass of GRBs, and they are not the higher energy extension of the long GRBs.

A time series of filament eruptions observed by three eyes from space:from failed to successful eruptions

We present stereoscopic observations of six sequential eruptions of a filament in the active region NOAA 11045 on 2010 Feb 8, with the advantage of the STEREO twin viewpoints in combination with Earth＇s viewpoint from SOHO instruments and ground-based telescopes. The last one of the six eruptions is a coronal mass ejection, but the others are not. The flare in this successful one is more intense than in the others. Moreover, the velocity of filament material in the successful one is also the largest among them. Interestingly, all the filament velocities are found to be proportional to the power of their flares. We calculate magnetic field intensity at low altitude, the decay indexes of the external field above the filament, and the asymmetry properties of the overlying fields before and after the failed eruptions and find little difference between them, indicating the same coronal confinement exists for both the failed and successful eruptions. The results suggest that, besides the confinement of the coronal magnetic field, the energy released in the low corona should be another crucial element affecting a failed or successful filament eruption. That is, a coronal mass ejection can only be launched if the energy released exceeds some critical value, given the same initial coronal conditions.

Variability Analysis of EGRET Gamma-Ray Sources

The variability of γ-ray sources listed in the third EGRET catalog is studied using three variability indices. These indices are found to be statistically equivalent if the observed data are sufficiently accurate. Using the three indices, 30 EGRET point sources which are positionally coincident with pulsars and 40 persistent unidentified sources at low latitudes are analyzed for their variability status. It is found that 14 of the 30 point sources may have genuine or plausible associations with pulsars, and 16 of the 40 persistent unidentified sources are possible pulsar candidates.

Absolute parameters and physical nature of two W-UMa type binaries:V1123 Tau and V1128 Tau

We present high-precision, multi-band CCD photometry of two less-studied close binaries V1123 Tau and V1128 Tau. Complete covered light curves and a number of new times of light minima of the two eclipsing systems were obtained, based on which, revised orbital elements and new ephemerides were given. By adopting the Wilson-Devinney method, the light curves were analyzed. The photometric solutions confirm the W UMa-type nature of the binary systems. With the less-massive secondary slightly cooler than the primary, V1123 Tau could be classified as an A- type contact system. While V1128 Tau is typically considered a W-type W UMa star, the surface temperature of its secondary component is determined to be absolutely higher than the primary by about 270 K. Combining with the results of radial-velocity solutions, we determined absolute parameters of the two systems. The mass, radius and luminosity for each component of V1123 Tau were derived as： 1.36 ±0.05M⊙, 1.37 ± 0.02R⊙, and 2.01± O.07L⊙ and 0.40±0.02M⊙, 0.80±0.01R⊙, and 0.67±0.04L⊙, respectively. For V1128 Tau, the absolute parameters were computed to be 1.09±0.03M⊙, 1.01±0.01R⊙, and 1.34±0.06Le and 0.58 ± 0.01M⊙, 0.76±0.01R⊙, and 0.91±0.05L⊙, respectively. Based on these results, the evolutionary status and the physical nature of the two binary systems are discussed, while also connecting with the theoretical models.

A Model of the Circumstellar Envelope of Luminous Blue Variables

The continuum energy distributions of the luminous blue variables R127 and R110 in the outburst phase are fitted with a circumstellar envelope model. Both stars show two peaks in their continuum, one near 1250? and the other in the optical band. We suggest that their UV and optical fluxes may have different origins: the UV flux comes from the central star while the optical flux comes from an expanding circumstellar envelope. We construct a model for LBVs consisting of two LTE atmosphere models with different temperatures, and find it to be in agreement with the observed spectral energy distributions of R127 and R110. According to our numerical experiments, R127's continuum is composed of fluxes from a circumstellar envelope of Teff = 8000 K, R = 485R⊙, and log g = 1, and from a central star of Teff = 17?000 K, R = 135R⊙, and log g = 2.5 with a permeating factor f = 0.5; while R110's continuum can be fitted by a circumstellar envelope of Teff = 7000 K, R = 350R⊙, and log g = 0.5, and a central star of Teff = 25?000 K, R = 27R⊙, and log g = 3.0 with a permeating factor f = 0.65. Both models show that the non-spherically symmetric, optically thick regions are formed surrounding the central star in the outburst phase. The light of the central star is shielded by the circumstellar envelope so that the visual brightness increases with the decrease/increase of the temperature/radius of the optically thick regions.

A Photometric Study of the W UMa-type Eclipsing Binary System GSC 0445-1993

Several new light minimum times for the eclipsing binary GSC 0445-1993 have been determined from the observations by Koppelman et al. and the orbital period of this system was revised. A photometric analysis was carried out using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. The results reveal that GSC 0445-1993 is a W-type eclipsing binary with a mass ratio of q = 0.323(±0.002) and an over-contact degree of f = 22.8%(±4.2%). A small temperature difference between the components of △T = 135 K and an orbital inclination of i = 65.7°(±0.3°) were obtained. The asymmetry of its light curve (i.e., the O'Connell effect) for this binary star is explained by the presence of a dark spot on the more massive component.