Probing the first stars and black holes in the early Universe with the Dark Ages Radio Explorer (DARE)

A concept for a new space-based cosmology mission called the Dark Ages Radio Explorer (DARE) is presented in this paper. DARE’s science objectives include: (1) When did the first stars form? (2) When did the first accreting black holes form? (3) When did Reionization begin? (4) What surprises does the end of the Dark Ages hold (e.g., Dark Matter decay)? DARE will use the highly-redshifted hyperfine 21-cm transition from neutral hydrogen to track the formation of the first luminous objects by their impact on the intergalactic medium during the end of the Dark Ages and during Cosmic Dawn (redshifts z = 11–35). It will measure the sky-averaged spin temperature of neutral hydrogen at the unexplored epoch 80–420 million years after the Big Bang, providing the first evidence of the earliest stars and galaxies to illuminate the cosmos and testing our models of galaxy formation. DARE’s approach is to measure the expected spectral features in the sky-averaged, redshifted 21-cm signal over a radio bandpass of 40–120 MHz. DARE orbits the Moon for a mission lifetime of 3 years and takes data above the lunar farside, the only location in the inner solar system proven to be free of human-generated radio frequency interference and any significant ionosphere. The science instrument is composed of a low frequency radiometer, including electrically-short, tapered, bi-conical dipole antennas, a receiver, and a digital spectrometer. The smooth frequency response of the antennas and the differential spectral calibration approach using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique will be applied to detect the weak cosmic 21-cm signal in the presence of the intense solar system and Galactic foreground emissions.     

The evolution of the central component in SN 1986J

The unusual core-collapse supernova 1986J, in the nearby spiral NGC 891, is the first modern supernova in which evidence of a compact remnant of the supernova has been seen. This evidence comes from recent VLBI images, which show the emergence of a new radio component in the center of the expanding radio shell. The new component shows an inverted radio spectrum contrasting with that of the shell. The new component is likely radio emission associated with the black-hole or neutron star compact remnant of the explosion, which would mark the first direct observational link between a modern supernova and such a compact remnant. We report here on our recent VLBI images at 22 and 5 GHz, as well as on our monitoring of the integrated radio spectrum of SN 1986J. In the 22 GHz image, the central component is marginally resolved.     

Formation of Giant Planets– An Attempt in Matching Observational Constraints

We present models of giant planet formation, taking into account migration and disk viscous evolution. We show that migration can significantly reduce the formation timescale bringing it in good agreement with typical observed disk lifetimes. We then present a model that produces a planet whose current location, core mass and total mass are comparable with the one of Jupiter. For this model, we calculate the enrichments in volatiles and compare them with the one measured by the Galileo probe. We show that our models can reproduce both the measured atmosphere enrichments and the constraints derived by Guillot et al. (2004), if we assume the accretion of planetesimals with ices/rocks ratio equal to 4, and that a substantial amount of CO₂ was present in vapor phase in the solar nebula, in agreement with ISM measurements.     

Stellar winds of massive stars in M31

We have obtained the first UV high resolution spectra of hot luminous stars in M31 with the FOS onHubble Space Telescope. The spectra, combined with optical spectroscopic and photometric observations, enable us to study their stellar winds and photospheric parameters. We derive mass-loss rates and velocity laws from the wind line profiles, with the SEI method, as well as information on abundances. The wind lines and photospheric spectra are compared with galactic stars of the same spectral type.The spectra analyzed so far indicate that the stars have mass-loss rates comparable or slightly lower than galactic stars of the same spectral type, but possibly different velocity laws in their winds. The spectra of two stars are discussed here.     

Overview of QPOs in neutron-star low-mass X-ray binaries

Some aspects of the rapid X-ray variability of low magnetic-field neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries are briefly summarized.     

Magnetar descendants in HMXBs?

We investigate the relation between the pulse and orbital periods in high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs), in order to find the candidates of magnetar descendants in HMXBs. We suggest that magnetar descendants can be found among the HMXBs with relatively shorter orbital periods and longer pulse periods.     

Radiation-driven diskons: An overview

The current status of the theory of a new astrophysical phenomenon, aradiation-driven diskon, is outlined.The cyclotron radiation pressure around sufficiently hot, strongly magnetized white dwarfs and neutron stars is shown to be able to drive a wind from the photosphere and support a plasma envelope in the closed part of the magnetosphere. The magnetohydrostatic configuration of an optically thin, radiatively supported plasma envelope is determined. It consists of an equatorial disk in the region where the cyclotron radiation force exceeds the local force of gravity and a closed shell near the equilibrium surface where the radiation pressure equals gravity. The effects of finite optical depth on the behaviour of the magnetospheric plasma and the influence of the envelope on the observed radiation are discussed.Classes of magnetic degenerate stars are pointed out in which radiation-driven diskons may be found. The best candidates are two individual stars, the strongly magnetized white dwarfs GD 229 and PG 1031+234. Both exhibit broad and deep depressions in the ultraviolet which are explained as a result of cyclotron scattering by an optically thick radiation-driven envelope in the inhomogeneous magnetic field of the star. We predict a temporal and spectral variability of these features due to non-stationary plasma motions in the envelope.     

Evolution of binaries with chemically peculiar primaries

The chemically peculiar (CP) stars are classified into subgroups based on the type of peculiarities. A significant fraction of these are known to be binaries. The faster evolution of the massive component leads to a white dwarf or a neutron star. Further evolution of the binary is analysed taking into consideration, the orbital parameters, effect of magnetic field, spectroscopic peculiarities and finally the statistics of CP binaries and Low Mass X-ray Binaries (LMXB).

The possible consequences of the evolution to lead to the formation of Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables (MCV) and LMXB are discussed.     

Near infrared studies of the massive X-ray binary 2S 0114+65

We present near-infrared spectroscopy of the massive X-ray binary 2S 0114+650. These observations covering the spectral range 1.08–2.35 μm span the region where Paschen and Brackett series recombination lines of hydrogen are expected to be seen, namely, Paβ , Brγ and Br 10–17 lines. The absence of any of these lines in emission supports earlier inferences that the optical component in 2S 0114+650 is unlikely to be a Be star but rather a B type supergiant. Near-IR photometry gives J = 8.78, H = 8.53 and K = 7.96; these values show marginal variations from earlier reported measurements.     

Neutron stars: Classification and evolution

The general aproach is considered which describs the evolution of neutron stars in terms of their interaction with surrounding matter. All possible states of neutron stars are classified from this point of view. Classification and evolution of binaries contaning neutron stars are also considered.