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We report JWST Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) Medium Resolution Spectrograph (MRS) observations of the β Pic moving-group member, η Tel A, along with its brown dwarf binary companion, η Tel B. Following point-spread-function subtraction, we recover the spatially resolved flux from the debris disk around η Tel A, along with the position of the companion exterior to the disk. We present a new 5–26 μ m epoch of spectroscopy for the disk, in which we discover a 20 μ m silicate feature, and the first ever 11–21 μ m spectrum of η Tel B, which indicates a bare photosphere. We derive a new epoch of relative astrometry for the companion, extending the baseline of measurements to 25 yr, and find that it is currently located near the apocenter of an eccentric long-period orbit. The companion's orbit is close enough to the disk that it should significantly perturb the planetesimals within it, resulting in a detectable mid-IR pericenter glow and near alignment with the companion. Contrary to expectations, however, we find that the disk appears to be axisymmetric and potentially misaligned with the companion in the MIRI MRS data. We posit that this may be due to the presence of an additional, as-yet-undetected ∼0.7–30 M J planet orbiting interior to the disk, with a semimajor axis of ∼3–19 au. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angular and spectral differential imaging is an observational technique of choice to investigate the immediate vicinity of stars. By leveraging the relative angular motion and spectral scaling between on-axis and off-axis sources, post-processing techniques can separate residual star light from light emitted by surrounding objects such as circumstellar discs or point-like objects. This paper introduces a new algorithm that jointly unmixes these components and deconvolves disc images. The proposed algorithm is based on a statistical model of the residual star light, accounting for its spatial and spectral correlations. These correlations are crucial yet remain inadequately modelled by existing reconstruction algorithms. We employ dedicated shrinkage techniques to estimate the large number of parameters of our correlation model in a data-driven fashion. We show that the resulting separable model of the spatial and spectral covariances captures very accurately the star light, enabling its efficient suppression. We apply our method to data sets from the Very Large Telescope/Spectro-Polarimetry High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch instrument and compare its performance with standard algorithms (median subtraction, PCA, PACO). We demonstrate that considering the multiple correlations within the data significantly improves reconstruction quality, resulting in better preservation of both disc morphology and photometry. With its unique joint spectral modelling, the proposed algorithm can reconstruct discs with circular symmetry (e.g. rings, spirals) at intensities one million times fainter than the star, without needing additional reference data sets free from off-axis objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present our analysis of supernovae serendipitously found to be radio-bright several years after their optical discovery. We used recent observations from the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) taken as part of the pilot Variables and Slow Transients and Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey programmes. We identified 29 objects by cross-matching sources from these ASKAP observations with known core-collapse supernovae below a declination of |$+40^{\circ }$| and with a redshift of |$z\le 0.15$|⁠. Our results focus on eight cases that show potential late-time radio emission. These supernovae exhibit significantly greater amounts of radio emission than expected from the standard model of a single shockwave propagating through a spherical circumstellar medium, with a constant density structure produced by regular stellar mass-loss. We also discuss how we can learn from future ASKAP surveys about the circumstellar environments and emission mechanisms of supernovae that undergo late-time radio re-brightening. This pilot work tested and confirmed the potential of the Variables and Slow Transients survey to discover and study late-time supernova emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used the multiobject mode of the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on board the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to obtain low-resolution 1–5 μ m spectra of 22 brown dwarf candidates in the Orion Nebula Cluster, which were selected with archival images from the Hubble Space Telescope. One of the targets was previously classified as a Herbig–Haro (HH) object and exhibits strong emission in H i, H2, and the fundamental band of CO, further demonstrating that HH objects can have bright emission in that CO band. The remaining targets have late spectral types (M6.5 to early L) and are young based on gravity-sensitive features, as expected for low-mass members of the cluster. According to theoretical evolutionary models, these objects should have masses that range from the hydrogen burning limit to 0.003–0.007 M ⊙. Two of the NIRSpec targets were identified as proplyds in earlier analysis of Hubble images. They have spectral types of M6.5 and M7.5, making them two of the coolest and least massive known proplyds. Another brown dwarf shows absorption bands at 3–5 μ m from ices containing H2O, CO2, OCN−, and CO, indicating that it is either an edge-on class II system or a class I protostar. It is the coolest and least massive object that has detections of these ice features. In addition, it appears to be the first candidate for a protostellar brown dwarf that has spectroscopy confirming its late spectral type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of global, resonant oscillation modes in red giant stars offers valuable insights into their internal structures. In this study, we investigate in detail the information we can recover on the structural properties of core-helium burning (CHeB) stars by examining how the coupling between gravity- and pressure-mode cavities depends on several stellar properties, including mass, chemical composition, and evolutionary state. Using the structure of models computed with the stellar evolution code MESA, we calculate the coupling coefficient implementing analytical expressions, which are appropriate for the strong coupling regime and the structure of the evanescent region in CHeB stars. Our analysis reveals a notable anti-correlation between the coupling coefficient and both the mass and metallicity of stars in the regime M ≲ 1.8 M⊙, in agreement with Kepler data. We attribute this correlation primarily to variations in the density contrast between the stellar envelope and core. The strongest coupling is expected thus for red-horizontal branch stars, partially stripped stars, and stars in the higher-mass range exhibiting solar-like oscillations (M ≳ 1.8 M⊙). While our investigation emphasises some limitations of current analytical expressions, it also presents promising avenues. The frequency dependence of the coupling coefficient emerges as a potential tool for reconstructing the detailed stratification of the evanescent region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present optical and near-infrared observations of two Type Ibn supernovae (SNe), SN 2018jmt and SN 2019cj. Their light curves have rise times of about ten days, reaching an absolute peak magnitude of Mg(SN 2018jmt) = −19.07 ± 0.37 and MV(SN 2019cj) = −18.94 ± 0.19 mag, respectively. The early-time spectra of SN 2018jmt are dominated by a blue continuum, accompanied by narrow (600−1000 km s−1) He I lines with the P-Cygni profile. At later epochs, the spectra become more similar to those of the prototypical SN Ibn 2006jc. At early phases, the spectra of SN 2019cj show flash ionisation emission lines of C III, N III, and He II superposed on a blue continuum. These features disappear after a few days, and then the spectra of SN 2019cj evolve similarly to those of SN 2018jmt. The spectra indicate that the two SNe exploded within a He-rich circumstellar medium (CSM) lost by the progenitors a short time before the explosion. We modelled the light curves of the two SNe Ibn to constrain the progenitor and the explosion parameters. The ejecta masses are consistent with either what is expected for a canonical SN Ib (∼2 M⊙) or for a massive Wolf Rayet star (> ∼4 M⊙), with the kinetic energy on the order of 1051 erg. The lower limit on the ejecta mass (> ∼2 M⊙) argues against a scenario involving a relatively low-mass progenitor (e.g. MZAMS ∼ 10 M⊙). We set a conservative upper limit of ∼0.1 M⊙ for the 56Ni masses in both SNe. From the light curve modelling, we determined a two-zone CSM distribution, with an inner, flat CSM component and an outer CSM with a steeper density profile. The physical properties of SN 2018jmt and SN 2019cj are consistent with those expected from the core collapse of relatively massive envelope-stripped stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Stars and planets form in regions of enhanced stellar density, subjecting protoplanetary discs to gravitational perturbations from neighbouring stars. Observations in the Taurus star-forming region have uncovered evidence of at least three recent, star-disc encounters that have truncated discs (HV/DO Tau, RW Aurigae, and UX Tau), raising questions about the frequency of such events. Aims. We aim to assess the probability of observing truncating star-disc encounters in Taurus. Methods. We generated a physically motivated dynamical model including binaries and a spatial-kinematic substructure to follow the historical dynamical evolution of the Taurus star-forming region. We used this model to track star-disc encounters and the resulting outer disc truncation over the lifetime of Taurus. Results. A quarter of discs are truncated below 30 au by dynamical encounters, but this truncation mostly occurs in binaries over the course of a few orbital periods, on a timescale ≲0.1 Myr. Nonetheless, some truncating encounters still occur up to the present age of Taurus. Strongly truncating encounters (ejecting ≳10 percent of the disc mass) occur at a rate ∼10 Myr−1, sufficient to explain the encounter between HV and DO Tau ∼0.1 Myr ago. If encounters that eject only ∼1 percent of the disc mass are responsible for RW Aurigae and UX Tau, then they are also expected with encounter rate Γenc ∼ 100–200 Myr−1. However, the observed sample of recent encounters is probably incomplete, since these examples occurred in systems that are not consistent with a random drawing from the mass function. One more observed example would statistically imply additional physics, such as replenishment of the outer disc material. Conclusions. The marginal consistency of the frequency of observed recent star-disc encounters with theoretical expectations underlines the value of future large surveys searching for external structures associated with recent encounters. The outcome of such a survey offers a highly constraining, novel probe of protoplanetary disc physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an analysis of the Be star HD 212044 that reveals intriguing correlations between photometric variations, circumstellar disk emission, and frequencies. Our findings, based on data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, show an unexpectedly strong negative correlation between photometric brightness and Hα equivalent width, challenging the established understanding of the behavior of Be star seen at low inclination angles. Notably, beating episodes precede brightening events. This study suggests that the variability of HD 212044 may be due to additional mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We present contemporaneous high-angular-resolution millimeter imaging and visible polarimetric imaging of the nearby asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star W Hya to better understand the dynamics and dust formation within a few stellar radii. Methods. The star W Hya was observed in two vibrationally excited H2O lines at 268 and 251 GHz with Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) at a spatial resolution of 16 × 20 mas and at 748 and 820 nm at a resolution of 26 × 27 mas with the Very Large Telescope (VLT)/Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE)-Zurich Imaging Polarimeter (ZIMPOL). Results. ALMA's high spatial resolution allowed us to image strong emission of the vibrationally excited H2O line at 268 GHz (v2 = 2, JKa, Kc = 65, 2–74, 3) over the stellar surface instead of absorption against the continuum, which is expected for thermal excitation. Strong, spotty emission was also detected along and just outside the stellar disk limb at an angular distance of ∼40 mas (∼1.9 R⋆), extending to ∼60 mas (∼2.9 R⋆). Another H2O line (v2 = 2, JKa, Kc = 92, 8–83, 5) at 251 GHz with a similar upper-level energy was tentatively identified, which shows absorption over the stellar surface. This suggests that the emission over the surface seen in the 268 GHz H2O line is suprathermal or even maser emission. The estimated gas temperature and H2O density are consistent with the radiatively pumped masers. The 268 GHz H2O line reveals global infall at up to ∼15 km s−1 within 2–3 R⋆, but outflows at up to ∼8 km s−1 are also present. The polarized intensity maps obtained in the visible reveal clumpy dust clouds forming within ∼40 mas (∼1.9 R⋆) with a particularly prominent cloud in the SW quadrant and a weaker cloud in the east. The 268 GHz H2O emission overlaps very well with the visible polarized intensity maps, which suggests that both the nonthermal and likely maser H2O emission and the dust originate from dense, cool pockets in the inhomogeneous atmosphere within ∼2–3 R⋆. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three black holes (BHs) in wide binaries – Gaia BH1, BH2, and BH3 – were recently discovered. The likely progenitors of the BHs were massive stars that experienced a supergiant phase, reaching radii of |$\sim\!\! 1000 \ \mathrm{ R}_{\odot }$|⁠ , before collapsing to form the BH. Such radii are difficult to accommodate with the present-day orbits of BH1 and BH2 – with semimajor axes of 1.4 and 3.7 au, respectively. In this letter, we show that the maximal radii of the supergiants are not necessarily so large, and realistic stellar evolution models, with some assumed overshooting above the convective core into the radiative stellar envelope, produce substantially smaller maximal radii. The limited expansion of supergiants is consistent with the empirical Humphreys–Davidson limit – the absence of red supergiants above an upper luminosity limit, notably lower than the highest luminosity of main-sequence stars. We propose that the evolution that led to the formation of Gaia BH1 and BH2 simply did not involve an expansion to the cool supergiant phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results obtained from X-ray and optical analysis of the Be/X-ray binary IGR J06074+2205, focusing on before, during, and after the X-ray outbursts in 2023 October and December. The properties of the neutron star in the binary are investigated using NICER and NuSTAR observations during the X-ray outbursts. The pulse profiles across a broad energy range, are found to be strongly dependent on luminosity and energy, revealing the complex nature of the emitting region. An absorbed power law can describe each NICER spectrum in the 1–7 keV band. The 3–79 keV NuSTAR spectrum can be well described by a negative and positive power law with an exponential cut-off model. Utilizing the MAXI/GSC long-term light curve, we estimate the probable orbital period to be 80 or 80/n (n = 2, 3, 4) d. We investigate the evolution of the circumstellar disc around the Be star by using optical spectroscopic observations of the system between 2022 and 2024. We observe variable H  |$\alpha$| and Fe  ii emission lines with an increase in equivalent width, indicating the presence of a dynamic circumstellar disc. A distinct variation in the V/R value for H  |$\alpha$| and Fe  ii lines is also observed. The appearance of additional emission lines, such as He  i (5875.72 Å), He  i (6678 Å), and He  i (7065 Å), during the post-outburst observation in 2024 February suggests the growing of a larger or denser circumstellar disc. The disc continues to grow without any noticeable mass-loss, even during the 2023 X-ray outbursts, which may lead to a future giant X-ray outburst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinematic studies of protoplanetary discs are a valuable method for uncovering hidden companions. In the first paper of this series, we presented five morphological and kinematic criteria that aid in asserting the binary nature of a protoplanetary disc. In this work, we study the kinematic signatures of circumbinary discs in the residuals of their velocity maps. We show that Doppler-flips, spiral arms, eccentric gas motion, fast flows inside of the cavity, and vortex-like kinematic signatures are commonly observed. Unlike in the planetary mass companion case, Doppler-flips in circumbinary discs are not necessarily centred on a companion, and can extend towards the cavity edge. We then compare the kinematic signatures in our simulations with observations and see similarities to the Doppler-flip signal in HD 100546 and the vortex-like kinematic signatures in HD 142527. Our analysis also reveals kinematic evidence for binarity in several protoplantary discs typically regarded as circumstellar rather than circumbinary, including AB Aurigae and HD 100546. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify potential exoplanet signals from nearby stars with resolved debris discs. However, the high activity of many stars with debris discs limits the detection of periodic signals. Our study is constrained to a sample of 29 stars that have appropriate radial velocity data and debris disc measurements sufficient to resolve their inclination. Our results confirm and update previous findings for exoplanets around HD 10647, HD 115617, HD 69830, GJ 581, HD 22049, and HD 142091, and we identify long-term activity signals around HD 207129 and HD 202628. We utilize the inclination angles of the debris discs, assuming co-planarity between debris disc and exoplanet orbit, to determine the 'disc-aligned' masses of radial velocity exoplanets in this study. The 'disc-aligned' masses of HD 69830 b, HD 69830 c, and 61 Vir b suggests that they may be classified as 'hot' or 'warm' Jupiters and so might be nearby examples of planets that have undergone recent type-II disc migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of X-ray outbursts in Be X-ray binaries remains a mystery, and understanding their circumstellar discs is crucial for a solution of the mass-transfer problem. In particular, it is important to identify the Be star activities (e.g. pulsations) that cause mass ejection and, hence, disc formation. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between optical flux oscillations and the infrared (IR) excess in a sample of five Be X-ray binaries. Applying the Lomb–Scargle technique to high-cadence optical light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (⁠|${\it TESS}$|⁠), we detected several significant oscillation modes in the 3–24 h period range for each source. We also measured the IR excess (a proxy for disc growth) of those five sources, using J -band light curves from Palomar Gattini-IR. In four of the five sources, we found anticorrelations between the IR excess and the amplitude of the main flux oscillation modes. This result is inconsistent with the conventional idea that non-radial pulsations drive mass ejections. We propose an alternative scenario where internal temperature variations in the Be star cause transitions between pulsation-active and mass-ejection-active states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

V745 Sco is a Galactic symbiotic recurrent nova with nova eruptions in 1937, 1989, and 2014. We study the behaviour of V745 Sco at radio wavelengths (0.6–37 GHz), covering both its 1989 and 2014 eruptions and informed by optical, X-ray, and |$\gamma$| -ray data. The radio light curves are synchrotron-dominated. Surprisingly, compared to expectations for synchrotron emission from explosive transients such as radio supernovae, the light curves spanning 0.6–37 GHz all peak around the same time (⁠|$\sim$| 18–26 d after eruption) and with similar flux densities (5–9 mJy). We model the synchrotron light curves as interaction of the nova ejecta with the red giant wind, but find that simple spherically symmetric models with wind-like circumstellar material (CSM) cannot explain the radio light curve. Instead, we conclude that the shock suddenly breaks out of a dense CSM absorbing screen around 20 d after eruption, and then expands into a relatively low-density wind (⁠|$\dot{M}_{out} \approx 10^{-9}\!-\!10^{-8}$|  M |$_{\odot }$|  yr |$^{-1}$| for |$v_w = 10$|  km s |$^{-1}$|⁠) out to |$\sim$| 1 yr post-eruption. The dense, close-in CSM may be an equatorial density enhancement or a more spherical red giant wind with |$\dot{M}_{in} \approx [5\!-\!10] \times 10^{-7}$| M |$_{\odot }$| yr |$^{-1}$|⁠ , truncated beyond several |$\times 10^{14}$|  cm. The outer lower-density CSM would not be visible in typical radio observations of Type Ia supernovae: V745 Sco cannot be ruled out as a Type Ia progenitor based on CSM constraints alone. Complementary constraints from the free–free radio optical depth and the synchrotron luminosity imply the shock is efficient at accelerating relativistic electrons and amplifying magnetic fields, with |$\epsilon _e$| and |$\epsilon _B \approx 0.01\!-\!0.1$|⁠. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of SiO, SiS, H2O, NaCl, and SO line emission at ∼30–50 mas resolution. These images map the molecular outflow and disk of Orion Source I (SrcI) on ∼12–20 au scales. Our observations show that the flow of material around SrcI creates a turbulent boundary layer in the outflow from SrcI, which may dissipate angular momentum in the rotating molecular outflow into the surrounding medium. Additionally, the data suggest that the proper motion of SrcI may have a significant effect on the structure and evolution of SrcI and its molecular outflow. As the motion of SrcI funnels material between the disk and the outflow, some material may be entrained into the outflow and accrete onto the disk, creating shocks that excite the NaCl close to the disk surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the binary Class 0 protostellar system BHR 71 IRS1 and IRS2 as part of the Early Planet Formation in Embedded Disks (eDisk) ALMA Large Program. We describe the 12CO (J = 2–1), 13CO (J = 2–1), C18O (J = 2–1), H2CO (J = 32,1–22,0), and SiO (J = 5–4) molecular lines along with the 1.3 mm continuum at high spatial resolution (∼0.″08 or ∼5 au). Dust continuum emission is detected toward BHR 71 IRS1 and IRS2, with a central compact component and extended continuum emission. The compact components are smooth and show no sign of substructures such as spirals, rings, or gaps. However, there is a brightness asymmetry along the minor axis of the presumed disk in IRS1, possibly indicative of an inclined geometrically and optically thick disk-like component. Using a position–velocity diagram analysis of the C18O line, clear Keplerian motions were not detected toward either source. If Keplerian rotationally supported disks are present, they are likely deeply embedded in their envelope. However, we can set upper limits of the central protostellar mass of 0.46 M ⊙ and 0.26 M ⊙ for BHR 71 IRS1 and BHR 71 IRS2, respectively. Outflows traced by 12CO and SiO are detected in both sources. The outflows can be divided into two components, a wide-angle outflow and a jet. In IRS1, the jet exhibits a double helical structure, reflecting the removal of angular momentum from the system. In IRS2, the jet is very collimated and shows a chain of knots, suggesting episodic accretion events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astrophysical accretion discs that carry a significant mass compared with their central object are subject to the effect of self‐gravity. In the context of circumstellar discs, this can, for instance, cause fragmentation of the disc gas, and—under suitable conditions—lead to the direct formation of gas‐giant planets. If one wants to study these phenomena, the disc's gravitational potential needs to be obtained by solving the Poisson equation. This requires to specify suitable boundary conditions. In the case of a spherical‐polar computational mesh, a standard multipole expansion for obtaining boundary values is not practicable. We hence compare two alternative methods for overcoming this limitation. The first method is based on a known Green's function expansion (termed "CCGF") of the potential, while the second (termed "James' method") uses a surface screening mass approach with a suitable discrete Green's function. We demonstrate second‐order convergence for both methods and test the weak scaling behavior when using thousands of computational cores. Overall, James' method is found superior owing to its favorable algorithmic complexity of ∼On3$$ \sim \mathcal{O}\left({n}^3\right) $$ compared with the ∼On4$$ \sim \mathcal{O}\left({n}^4\right) $$ scaling of the CCGF method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimate the progenitor and explosion properties of the nearby Type II SN 2023ixf using a synthetic model grid of Type II supernova light curves. By comparing the light curves of SN 2023ixf with the pre-existing grid of Type II supernovae containing about 228000 models with different combinations of the progenitor and explosion properties, we obtain the |$\chi ^2$| value for every model and evaluate the properties of the models providing small values of |$\chi ^2$|⁠. We found that the light-curve models with a progenitor zero-age main-sequence mass of |$10\, {M}_\odot$|⁠ , explosion energy of |$(2\\!-\\!3) \times 10^{51}\:\mbox{erg}$|⁠ , |$^{56}\mbox{Ni}$| mass of 0.04– |$0.06\, {M}_\odot$|⁠ , mass-loss rate of |$10^{-3}$| – |$10^{-2}\, {M}_\odot \:\mbox{yr}^{-1}$| with wind velocity of |$10\:\mbox{km}\:\mbox{s}^{-1}$|⁠ , and dense, confined circumstellar matter radius of |$(6\\!-\\!10) \times 10^{14}\:\mbox{cm}$| match well to the observed light curves of SN 2023ixf. The photospheric velocity evolution of these models is also consistent with the observed velocity evolution. We note that the progenitor mass estimate could be affected by the adopted progenitor models. Although our parameter estimation is based on a pre-existing model grid and we do not perform any additional computations, the estimated parameters are consistent with those obtained by the detailed modeling of SN 2023ixf previously reported. This result shows that comparing the pre-existing model grid is a reasonable way to obtain a rough estimate for the properties of Type II supernovae. This simple way to estimate the properties of Type II supernovae will be essential in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) era when thousands of Type II supernovae are expected to be discovered yearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of low-mass protostellar systems show evidence of rich, complex organic chemistry. Their low luminosity, however, makes determining abundance distributions of complex organic molecules within the water snowline challenging. However, the excitation conditions sampled by differing molecular distributions may produce substantive changes in the resulting emission. Thus, molecular excitation may recover spatial information from spatially unresolved data. By analyzing spatially unresolved NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array observations of CH3OH and CH3CN, we aim to determine if CH3OH and CH3CN are distributed differently in the protostellar disk around HOPS-370, a highly luminous intermediate-mass protostar. Rotational diagram analysis of CH3OH and CH3CN yields rotational temperatures of 198 ± 1.2 K and 448 ± 19 K, respectively, suggesting the two molecules have different spatial distributions. Source-specific 3D LTE radiative transfer models are used to constrain the spatial distribution of CH3OH and CH3CN within the disk. A uniform distribution with an abundance of 4 × 10−8 reproduces the CH3OH observations. In contrast, the spatial distribution of CH3CN needs to be either more compact (within ∼120 au versus ∼240 au for CH3OH) or exhibit a factor of ≳15 increase in abundance in the inner ∼55 au. A possible explanation for the difference in spatial abundance distributions of CH3OH and CH3CN is carbon-grain sublimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proto- and young planetary nebulae comprise dense circumstellar envelopes made of molecular gas and dust, some of which hide compact ionized cores that host stellar systems with hot objects, and show high-velocity bipolar outflows launched from inside their cores by means of still unknown mechanisms. We present high-angular-resolution Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations (HPBW ≃ 30–50 mas) of CRL 618 at 1.35 mm covering the H30 α recombination line as well as ≃150 molecular lines. The ionized core is resolved, showing a size of ≃0 . ″ 8 × 0. ″ 5 and is elongated along the east–west direction. This region exhibits a remarkable incomplete ring-like structure with two bright spots to the north and south that are separated by ≃ 0. ″ 2 and shows deprojected velocity gradients ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 km s − 1 au − 1 . The 1 mm wavelength continuum emission is mostly produced by free–free emission with a small contribution from dust with an average spectral index of 0.28 ( S ν ∝ ν α ). The ionized core can roughly be modeled as a tilted hollow cylinder with a denser, incomplete equatorial band lacking its back side. Molecular emission traces the neutral component of the same structures enclosing the ionized matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Medium-Resolution Spectrometer on the Mid-Infrared Instrument on the JWST obtained spectra of three carbon stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Two of the spectra differ significantly from spectra obtained ∼16–19 years earlier with the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope. The one semi-regular variable among the three has changed little. The long-period Mira variable in the sample shows changes consistent with its pulsation cycle. The short-period Mira shows dramatic changes in the strength of its molecular absorption bands, with some bands growing weaker and some stronger. Whether these variations result from its pulsation cycle or its evolution is not clear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precessing jets of microquasar SS 433 have punched through the supernova remnant W 50 from the explosion forming the compact object. The jets collimate before reaching beyond the shell, some 40 pc downstream, just the region of origin of TeV gamma radiation. Collimation could be effected by ambient pressure in the SNR cavity; I investigate conditions under which the W 50 morphology and the sites of TeV gamma radiation can be explained in terms of collimation, with associated shocks, induced by ambient pressure. The SNR is now ~105 years after the supernova; with the present pressure, collimation and associated shocks would indeed occur ~40 pc downstream. Modeling of the evolution of binary systems indicates that the Roche lobe overflow and the initiation of the jets may be recent rather than early; present day collimation would still occur ~40 pc downstream, but the cone angle of the precession must then have increased with time—driven by the Roche lobe overflow. The morphology of W 50 and the site of the origin of TeV radiation are readily explained in terms of the collimation of the jets by internal SNR pressure.

The viscous decretion disc (VDD) scenario has been used to model the observables of the Be stars. Its capability to predict individual observables has been confirmed for several Be stars. Here, we simultaneously analyse the spectroscopic and |$BVI$| -band photometric data for the Be star MT91-213 with the Monte Carlo radiative-transfer code hdust to determine the stellar parameters, geometry, and physical conditions for its circumstellar disc. MT91-213 is the primary component of a binary system whose companion is the pulsar PSR J2032+4127. We find that the VDD model can simultaneously reproduce the multiple observables qualitatively, but not quantitatively. We determine the mass of the primary star to be 13.1  |${\rm M}_{\odot }$| which is smaller than reported in the literature. We present a dynamical scenario for the evolving disc density from a diffuse to a dense phase. Also, we determine that the inclination of the disc is about 40 |$^{\circ }$| which means it is 20 |$^{\circ }$| tilted from the orbit of the secondary star. Our results indicate that the mass loss rate for MT91-213 is |$\sim 10^{-7}$| to |$10^{-6} {\rm M}_{\odot }\,\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$| which is in agreement with the suggested values in the literature, required to explain the observed X-ray synchrotron luminosity, |$L_\mathrm{x}$|⁠ , for PSR J2032+4127. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water ice plays a crucial role throughout the different stages of planetary evolution and is abundant in the Universe. However, its presence and nature in debris discs of exoplanetary systems are not yet strongly established observationally. In this study, we quantify and discuss the impact of ice parameters such as volume fraction |${\mathcal {F}}_{\rm ice}$|⁠ , blow-out grain size, size distribution, and its phase on the observational appearance of debris discs, considering the diverse nature of these systems around stellar spectral types ranging from A to M. Our findings reveal that the prominent ice features at approximately 2.7 and 3.3  μ m depend on both the water ice fraction |${\mathcal {F}}_{\rm ice}$| and the scattering angle, with backscattering geometries yielding the most prominent signatures. When the phase function is considered and data are not background limited, strong forward and backward scattering (near edge-on discs) are expected to yield the strongest detections in images/spectra for A or F-type stars, while scattering angle matters less for later type stars. The Fresnel peak at 3.1  μ m serves as a viable discriminant for the transitional phase (crystalline/amorphous), while simultaneously constraining the water ice temperature. For JWST imaging, we find that the F 356 W and F 444 W filter combination is most effective for constraining the grain size distribution, while the F 356 W and F 277 W filter combination provides better constraints on the ice fraction |${\mathcal {F}}_{\rm ice}$| in debris discs. However, degeneracy between the grain size distribution and ice fraction when using photometric flux ratios means that obtaining robust constraints will likely require more than two filters, or spectroscopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. It is well established that classical T Tauri stars accrete material from a circumstellar disk through magnetic fields. However, the physics regulating the processes in the inner (0.1 AU) disk is still not well understood. Aims. Our aim is to characterize the accretion process of the classical T Tauri Star RU Lup. Methods. Optical high-resolution spectroscopic observations with CHIRON and ESPRESSO were obtained simultaneously with photometric data from AAVSO and TESS. Results. We detected a periodic modulation in the narrow component of the He I 5876 line with a period that is compatible with the stellar rotation period, indicating the presence of a compact region on the stellar surface that we identified as the footprint of the accretion shock. We show that this region is responsible for the veiling spectrum, which is made up of a continuum component plus narrow line emission that fills in the photospheric lines. An analysis of the high-cadence TESS light curve reveals quasi-periodic oscillations on timescales shorter than the stellar rotation period, suggesting that the accretion disk in RU Lup extends inward of the corotation radius, with a truncation radius at ~2 R*. This is compatible with predictions from three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic models of accretion through a magnetic boundary layer (MBL). In this scenario, the photometric variability of RU Lup is produced by a nonsta-tionary hot spot on the stellar surface that rotates with the Keplerian period at the truncation radius. We also qualitatively discuss how more complex hot spot shapes may generate the same variability pattern. The analysis of the broad components of selected emission lines reveals the existence of a non-axisymmetric, temperature-stratified flow around the star, in which the gas leaves the accretion disk at the truncation radius and accretes onto the star channeled by the magnetic field lines. The unusually rich metallic emission line spectrum of RU Lup might be characteristic of the MBL regime of accretion. Conclusions. Our extensive multiwavelength database of RU Lup reveals many similarities to predictions from the scenario of accretion through a magnetic boundary layer. Alternative explanations would require the existence of a hot spot with a complex shape, perhaps made of two brighter knots, or a warped structure in the inner disk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The evolution and fate of massive stars are thought to be affected by rotationally induced internal mixing. The surface boron abundance is a sensitive tracer of this in early B-type main sequence stars. Aims. We test current stellar evolution models of massive main sequence stars which include rotational mixing through a systematic study of their predicted surface boron depletion. Methods. We construct a dense grid of rotating single star models using MESA, for which we employ a new nuclear network which follows all the stable isotopes up to silicon, including lithium, beryllium, boron, as well as the radioactive isotope aluminium-26. We also compile the measured physical parameters of the 90 Galactic early B-type stars with boron abundance information. We then compare each observed stars with our models through a Bayesian analysis, which yields the mixing efficiency parameter with which the star is reproduced the best, and the probability that it is represented by the stellar models. Results. We find that about two-thirds of the sample stars are well represented by the stellar models, with the best agreement achieved for a rotational mixing efficiency of ∼50% compared to the widely adopted value. The remaining one third of the stars, of which many are strongly boron depleted slow rotators, are largely incompatible with our models, for any rotational mixing efficiency. We investigate the observational incidence of binary companions and surface magnetic fields, and discuss their evolutionary implications. Conclusions. Our results confirm the concept of rotational mixing in radiative stellar envelopes. On the other hand, we find that a different boron depletion mechanism, and likely a different formation path, is required to explain about one-third of the sample stars. The large spread in the surface boron abundances of these stars may hold a clue to understanding their origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the serendipitous discovery of a new radio-continuum ring-like object nicknamed Kýklos (J1802–3353), with MeerKAT UHF and L-band observations. The radio ring, which resembles the recently discovered odd radio circles (ORCs), has a diameter of ∼80″ and is located just ∼6° from the Galactic plane. However, Kýklos exhibits an atypical thermal radio-continuum spectrum (α = −0.1 ± 0.3), which led us to explore different possible formation scenarios. We concluded that a circumstellar shell around an evolved massive star, possibly a Wolf-Rayet, is the most convincing explanation with the present data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The nature of the close-in rocky planet 55 Cnce is puzzling, despite it having been observed extensively. Its optical and infrared occultation depths show temporal variability, in addition to a phase curve variability observed in the optical. Aims. We wish to explore the possibility that the variability originates from the planet being in a 3:2 spin–orbit resonance, and thus showing different sides during occultations. We proposed and were awarded Cycle 1 time at the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to test this hypothesis. Methods. JWST/NIRCam (Near Infrared Camera) observed five occultations (secondary eclipses) of the planet – of which four were observed within a week – simultaneously at 2.1 and 4.5 µm. While the former gives band-integrated photometry, the latter provides a spectrum between 3.9–5.0 µm. Results. We find that the occultation depths in both bandpasses are highly variable and change between a non-detection (−5 ± 6 ppm and 7 ± 9 ppm) to 96 ± 8 ppm and 119−19+34 ppm at 2.1 µm and 4.5 µm, respectively. Interestingly, the variations in both bandpasses are not correlated and do not support the 3:2 spin-orbit resonance explanation. The measured brightness temperature at 4.5 µm varies between 873–2256 K and is lower than the expected day-side temperature of bare rock with no heat redistribution (2500 K), which is indicative of an atmosphere. Our atmospheric retrieval analysis of occultation depth spectra at 4.5 µm finds that different visits statistically favour various atmospheric scenarios including a thin outgassed CO/CO2 atmosphere and a silicate rock vapour atmosphere. Some visits even support a flat line model. Conclusions. The observed variability could be explained by stochastic outgassing of CO/CO2, which is also hinted at by retrievals. Alternatively, the variability observed at both 2.1 and 4.5 µm could be the result of a circumstellar patchy dust torus generated by volcanism on the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Many fast-rotating stars (rotation periods of < 2 days) are found to be unresolved binaries with separations of tens of AU. This correlation between fast rotators and binarity leads to the question of whether the formation of binary stars inherently produces fast rotators. Aims. Our goal is to understand the spin evolution of protostars and whether the formation of companions plays a role in spinning up stars. Methods. We used magneto-hydrodynamic simulations to study the formation of multiple star systems from turbulent and non-turbulent protostellar cores. We tracked the angular momentum accreted by individual star and inner disc systems by using a sink (star) particle technique. We ran a resolution study to extrapolate protostellar properties. Results. We find in all simulations that the primary star can experience a spin-up event correlated with the formation of companions, namely fragmentation into binaries or higher-order systems. The primary star can spin up by up to 84% of its pre-fragmentation angular momentum and by up to 18% of its pre-fragmentation mass-specific angular momentum. The mechanism for the spin-up is gravitational disc instabilities in the circumstellar disc around the primary star, which leads to the accretion of material with high specific angular momentum. The simulations that experience the strongest disc instabilities fragment to form companions. Simulations with weaker spin-up events experience disc instabilities triggered by a companion flyby, and the disc instability in these cases typically does not produce further fragments (i.e. they remain binary systems). Conclusions. The primary star in multiple star systems can end up with a higher spin than single stars. This is because gravitational instabilities in the circumstellar disc around the primary star can trigger a spin-up event. In the strongest spin-up events, the instability is likely to cause disc fragmentation and the formation of companions. This spin-up mechanism, coupled with shorter disc lifetimes due to truncated circumstellar discs (and thus short spin-down times), may help produce fast rotators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The outcome of the formation of massive stars is an important anchor point in the formation and evolution process of these stars. It provides insight into the physics of the assembly process, and sets the conditions for stellar evolution. For massive stars, the outcome of formation is rarely observed because the processes involved unfold deep down in highly extincted molecular clouds. Aims. We characterize a population of highly reddened stars in the very young massive star-forming region M17. The group of 18 O4.5 to B9 stars constitutes one of the best samples of almost zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) high- and intermediate-mass stars. Their properties allow us to identify the empirical location of the ZAMS of massive stars, and the rotation and mass-loss rate of stars close to or at the onset of core-hydrogen burning. Methods. We performed quantitative spectroscopic modeling of a uniform set of over 100 spectral features in optical VLT/X-shooter spectra using the nonlocal thermal equilibrium stellar atmosphere code FASTWIND and a fitting approach based on a genetic algorithm, KIWI-GA. The spectral energy distributions of photometric observations were used to determine the line-of-sight extinction. From a comparison of their positions in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram with MIST evolutionary tracks, we inferred the stellar masses and ages. Results. We find an age of 0.4−0.2+0.6 Myr for our sample, however we also identify a strong relation between the age and the mass of the stars. All sources are highly reddened, with AV ranging from 3.6 to 10.6 mag. The sample can be subdivided into two groups. Stars more massive than 10 M⊙ have reached the ZAMS. Their projected ZAMS spin rate distribution extends to 0.3 of the critical velocity; their mass-loss rates agree with those of other main-sequence O and early-B stars. Stars with a mass in the range 3 < M/M⊙ < 7 are still on the pre-main sequence (PMS), and some of them have circumstellar disks. Evolving their υ sin i to the ZAMS assuming angular momentum conservation yields values up to ~0.6 υcrit. For PMS stars without disks, we find tentative mass-loss rates up to 10−8.5 M⊙ yr−1. The total-to-selective extinction RV is higher for PMS stars with disks than for the remainder of the sample. Conclusions. We constrain the empirical location of the ZAMS for massive (10 < M/M⊙ < 50) stars and find it to agree with its location in MIST evolutionary tracks. The ZAMS rotation rates for intermediate-mass stars are twice as high as for massive stars, suggesting that the angular momentum gain processes differ between the two groups. The relation between the age and mass of the stars suggests a lag in the formation of more massive stars relative to lower mass stars. Taking the derived mass-loss rates at face value, stellar winds are already initiated in the PMS phase. The PMS-star winds are found to be substantially more powerful than indicated by predictions for line-driven outflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A consensus prevails with regard to star-disk systems accreting most of their mass and angular momentum during the collapse of a prestellar core. However, recent results have indicated that stars experience post-collapse or late infall, during which the star and its disk are refreshed with material from the protostellar environment through accretion streamers. Apart from adding mass to the star-disk system, infall potentially supplies a substantial amount of angular momentum, as the infalling material is initially not bound to the collapsing prestellar core. We investigate the orientation of infall on star-disk systems by analyzing the properties of accreting tracer particles in three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamical (3D MHD) simulations of a molecular cloud that is (4 pc)3 in volume. In contrast to the traditional picture, where the rotational axis is inherited from the collapse of a coherent pre-stellar core, the orientation of star-disk systems changes substantially throughout the accretion process, thereby extending the possibility of primordial misalignment as the source of large obliquities. In agreement with previous results that show larger contributions of late infall for increasing stellar masses, a misaligned infall is more likely to lead to a prolonged change in orientation for stars of higher final mass. On average, brown dwarfs and very low mass stars are more likely to form and accrete all of their mass as part of a multiple system, while stars with final masses above a few 0.1 M⊙ are more likely to accrete part of their mass as single stars. Finally, we find an overall trend among our sample: the post-collapse accretion phase is more anisotropic than the early collapse phase. This result is consistent with a scenario of Bondi-Hoyle-Littletlon accretion during the post-collapse phase, while the initial collapse is less anisotropic – despite the fact that material is funneled through accretion channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Over the past decade, choked jets have attracted particular attention as potential sources of high-energy cosmic neutrinos. It is challenging to test this hypothesis because of the missing gamma-ray counterpart. An identification of other electromagnetic signatures is therefore crucial. Extended H envelopes surrounding collapsing massive stars might choke launched jets. In addition, the same progenitors are expected to produce a shock-breakout signal in the ultraviolet (UV) and optical that lasts several days. Early UV radiation in particular carries important information about the presence and nature of choked jets. Aims. While UV observations of core-collapse supernovae have so far been limited, the full potential of observations in this spectral band will soon be transformed by the ULTRASAT satellite mission with its unprecedented field of view. We investigated the detection prospects of choked jet progenitors by ULTRASAT in relation to their visibility in the optical band by the currently operating telescope ZTF. In addition, as choked jets can produce neutrinos via hadronic and photohadronic interactions in choked jets, we also investigated how neutrino observations by existing Cherenkov high-energy neutrino telescopes (e.g. IceCube and KM3NeT) can be used in association with electromagnetic signals from shock-breakout events. Methods. By considering fiducial parameters of the source population and instrument performances, we estimated the maximum redshift up to which ULTRASAT and ZTF are able to detect ultraviolet and optical signals from these explosions, respectively. Furthermore, we discuss coordinated multi-messenger observations using ULTRASAT, ZTF, and high-energy neutrino telescopes. Results. We find that ULTRASAT will double the volume of the sky that is currently visible by ZTF for the same emitting sources. This will enlarge the sample of observed Type II supernovae by ∼60%. For optimised multi-messenger detections, the delay between neutrinos produced at the shock breakout (during the jet propagation inside the stellar envelope) and ULTRASAT observations should be of ∼4 (5) days, with subsequent follow-up by instruments such as ZTF about one week later. We estimate that fewer than 1% of the core-collapse supernovae from red supergiant stars that are detectable in UV with ULTRASAT might host a choked jet and release TeV neutrinos. Electromagnetic and neutrino detections, if accompanied by additional photometric and spectroscopic follow-up with compelling evidence for a relativistic jet launched by the central engine of the source, would suggest that core-collapse supernovae harbouring choked jets are the main contributors to the diffuse astrophysical high-energy neutrino flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are significant contributors to the metal enrichment of the interstellar medium. They have strong dust-driven winds that have their origin in regions close to the AGB star's surface, where dense dust clouds form. Aims. In this methods paper, we adapted models from advanced radiation-hydrodynamical (RHD) simulations as input for radiative transfer software to create synthetic observables. A major goal is to describe an AGB star's non-sphericity and to simulate its effects on the surrounding dusty envelope. Methods. We developed tools in Python to translate models of an AGB star and its dust-driven wind from 3D RHD simulations with CO5BOLD into the format used for radiative transfer with RADMC-3D. We preserved the asymmetric shape of the AGB star by including the star as a 'dust species' and by using temperature data computed in CO5BOLD. The circumstellar silicate dust from the 3D RHD simulation is included using Mg2SiO4 opacity data in RADMC-3D with spatially dependent grain sizes. We compared images and spectral energy distributions (SEDs) created with RADMC-3D of a model snapshot with similar output made with a spherically symmetric stellar atmosphere from the 1D program DARWIN and with a point source star in RADMC-3D. Results. Our CO5BOLD model features substantial and clumpy dust formation just above 3.4 au from the grid centre (∼1 R⋆ above the star), and large-scale structures due to giant convection cells are visible on the stellar surface. With the properties of VLTI as a basis, we have created simple synthetic observables where the dust clouds close to the star and features on the stellar surface are resolved. The flux density and the contrast to the star are high enough that optical interferometers, such as the VLTI, should be able to detect these dust clouds. We find that it is important to include asymmetric stellar models since their irregular shapes, radiation fields, and their dusty envelopes even put their marks on spatially unresolved observables and affect the flux levels and shapes of the SEDs. The effects on flux levels can mostly be linked to the clumpiness of the circumstellar dust. In contrast, the angle-dependent illumination resulting from temperature variations on the stellar surface causes shifts in the wavelengths of the flux maximum, as shown by replacing the asymmetric star with a spherical one. Conclusions. The methods presented here are an important step towards producing realistic synthetic observables and testing predictions of advanced 3D RHD models. With the model used here, we find that optical interferometers should be able to resolve thermal emission from dense clouds in the dust-formation zone close to an AGB star. Taking the angle-dependence of SEDs as a proxy for temporal variations in unresolved data, we conclude that not all variability observed in AGB stars should be interpreted as global changes in the sense of spherical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of the observations made within the ALMA Large Program called Early Planet Formation in Embedded disks of the Class 0 protostar GSS30 IRS3. Our observations included the 1.3 mm continuum with a resolution of 0″.05 (7.8 au) and several molecular species, including 12CO, 13CO, C18O, H2CO, and c-C3H2. The dust continuum analysis unveiled a disk-shaped structure with a major axis of ~200 au. We observed an asymmetry in the minor axis of the continuum emission suggesting that the emission is optically thick and the disk is flared. On the other hand, we identified two prominent bumps along the major axis located at distances of 26 and 50 au from the central protostar. The origin of the bumps remains uncertain and might be an embedded substructure within the disk or the temperature distribution and not the surface density because the continuum emission is optically thick. The 12CO emission reveals a molecular outflow consisting of three distinct components: a collimated component, an intermediate-velocity component exhibiting an hourglass shape, and a wider angle low-velocity component. We associate these components with the coexistence of a jet and a disk wind. The C18O emission traces both a circumstellar disk in Keplerian rotation and the infall of the rotating envelope. We measured a stellar dynamical mass of 0.35 ±0.09 M⊙. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cen X-3 is a compact, high-mass X-ray binary (HMXRB), likely powered by Roche lobe overflow. We present a phase-resolved X-ray spectral and timing analysis of a target of opportunity Chandra observation made during a low-flux to high-flux transition. The high-resolution spectra allow us to delve into the events that occurred during this episode. The spectrum is described by a single black body absorbed by a local column density of the order of 1023 − 24 cm−2, which is one to two orders of magnitude higher than found for previous analyses of data taken at similar orbital phases. Such a large column produces a Compton shoulder in the Fe Kα line. The transition appears to be caused by the onset of efficient cooling, which cools the plasma by 10 million degrees in just 10 ks, allowing matter to enter the magnetosphere. This happens after a major disturbance, probably the arrival of a train of wind clumps with individual masses in the range 1019 − 20 g. This train moves ballistically in an eccentric orbit around the NS, producing a distinctive Doppler modulation in the Fe XXV line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We aim to study chemically peculiar Am and Fm stars, distinguished by their unique abundance patterns, which are crucial for studying mixing processes in intermediate-mass stars. These stars provide a window into the atomic diffusion in their stellar envelopes, the evolution-dependent changes in mixing, and the resulting effects on pulsation mechanisms. Methods. This study examines the pulsation characteristics of the Am and Fm star group. Our analysis encompasses 1276 stars (available as catalogues on GitHub), utilising data from TESS and Gaia and focussing on stars from the Renson catalogue. Results. In our sample, 51% of stars (649) display no variability, and are thus categorised as constant stars. Among those that remain, 25% (318 stars) are pulsating Am, Fm, and ρ Puppis stars, including 20% (261 stars) that are exclusively Am and Fm stars. Additionally, 17% of stars (210) show variability indicative of binarity and/or rotational modulation and 7% (93 stars) are eclipsing binaries. Of the pulsating stars, 10% (32 stars) are γ Doradus type, 54% (172 stars) δ Scuti type, and 36% (114 stars) are hybrids, underlining a diverse pulsational behaviour of Am and Fm stars. Conclusions. Our findings indicate that pulsating stars predominantly occupy positions near the red edge of the classical instability strip, allowing us to ascertain the incidence of pulsations in this stellar population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SN 2021adxl is a slowly evolving, luminous, Type IIn supernova with asymmetric emission line profiles, similar to the well-studied SN 2010jl. We present extensive optical, near-ultraviolet, and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy covering ∼1.5 years post discovery. SN 2021adxl occurred in an unusual environment, atop a vigorously star-forming region that is offset from its host galaxy core. The appearance of Lyα and O II, as well as the compact core, would classify the host of SN 2021adxl as a "Blueberry" galaxy, analogous to higher redshift, low-metallicity, star-forming dwarf "Green Pea" galaxies. Using several abundance indicators, we find a metallicity of the explosion environment of only ∼0.1 Z⊙, the lowest reported metallicity for a Type IIn SN environment. SN 2021adxl reaches a peak magnitude of Mr ≈ −20.2 mag and since discovery, SN 2021adxl has faded by only ∼4 magnitudes in the r band with a cumulative radiated energy of ∼1.5 × 1050 erg over 18 months. SN 2021adxl shows strong signs of interaction with a complex circumstellar medium, seen by the detection of X-rays, revealed by the detection of coronal emission lines, and through multi-component hydrogen and helium profiles. In order to further understand this interaction, we model the Hα profile using a Monte Carlo electron scattering code. The blueshifted high-velocity component is consistent with emission from a radially thin spherical shell resulting in the broad emission components due to electron scattering. Using the velocity evolution of this emitting shell, we find that the SN ejecta collide with circumstellar material of at least ∼5 M⊙ assuming a steady-state mass-loss rate of ∼4 − 6 × 10−3 M⊙ yr−1 for the first ∼200 days of evolution. SN 2021adxl was last observed to be slowly declining at ∼0.01 mag d−1, and if this trend continues, SN 2021adxl will remain observable after its current solar conjunction. Continuing the observations of SN 2021adxl may reveal signatures of dust formation or an infrared excess, similar to that seen for SN 2010jl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The transition zone between the white dwarf (WD) envelope and a circumstellar accretion disk in classical novae, the boundary layer, is a region of strong dissipation and intense vorticity. In this strongly sheared layer, the hydrogen-rich accreted gas is expected to mix with the underlying WD outermost layers so the conditions for the onset of the thermonuclear runaway (TNR) in classical nova will be different from the standard treatment of the onset and subsequent mixing. Aims. We applied the critical layer instability (CLI) to the boundary between a disk-accreted H/He zone and the C/O- or O/Ne – rich outer layers of a mass-accreting WD in a cataclysmic binary and then used the resulting structure as input to one-dimensional nuclear-hydrodynamic simulations of the nova outburst. Methods. We simulated the subsonic mixing process in two dimensions for conditions appropriate for the inner disk and a CO 0.8 M⊙ and CO and ONe 1.25 M⊙ WDs using the compressible hydrodynamics code PLUTO. The resulting compositional profile was then imported into the one-dimensional nuclear-hydrodynamics code SHIVA to simulate the triggering and growth rate for the TNR and subsequent envelope ejection. Results. We find that the deep shear driven mixing changes the triggering and development of the TNR. In particular, the time to reach peak temperature is significantly shorter, and the ejected mass and maximum velocity of the ejecta substantially greater, than the current treatment. The 7Li yield is reduced by about an order of magnitude relative to the current treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. HR 10 has only recently been identified as a binary system. Previously thought to be an A-type shell star, it appears that both components are fast-rotating A-type stars, each presenting a circumstellar envelope. Although showing complex photometric variability, spectroscopic observations of the metallic absorption lines reveal variation explained by the binarity, but not indicative of debris-disc inhomogeneities or sublimating exocomets. On the other hand, the properties of the two stars make them potential δ Scuti pulsators. Aims. The system has been observed in two sectors by the TESS satellite, and was the target of three observing visits by CHEOPS. Thanks to these new data, we aim to further characterise the stellar properties of the two components. In particular, we aim to decipher the extent to which the photometric variability can be attributed to a stellar origin. In complement, we searched in the lightcurves for transient-type events that could reveal debris discs or exocomets. Methods. We analysed the photometric variability of both the TESS and CHEOPS datasets in detail. We first performed a frequency analysis to identify and list all the periodic signals that may be related to stellar oscillations or surface variability. The signals identified as resulting from the stellar variability were then removed from the lightcurves in order to search for transient events in the residuals. Results. We report the detection of δ Scuti pulsations in both the TESS and CHEOPS data, but we cannot definitively identify which of the components is the pulsating star. In both datasets, we find flicker noise with the characteristics of a stellar granulation signal. However, it remains difficult to firmly attribute it to actual stellar granulation from convection, given the very thin surface convective zones predicted for both stars. Finally, we report probable detection of transient events in the CHEOPS data, without clear evidence of their origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The study of the continuum radiative transfer problem inside circumstellar envelopes is both a theoretical and numerical challenge, especially in the frequency-dependent and multi-dimensional case. While approximate methods are easier to handle numerically, they often fail to accurately describe the radiation field inside complex geometries. For these cases, it is necessary to directly solve the radiative transfer equation numerically. Aims. We investigate the accuracy of the discontinuous Galerkin finite element method (DGFEM hereafter) applied to the frequency-dependent two-dimensional radiative transfer problem, and coupled with the radiative equilibrium equation. We next used this method in the context of axis-symmetric circumstellar envelopes. Methods. The DGFEM is a variant of finite element methods. It employs discontinuous elements and flux integrals along their boundaries, ensuring local flux conservation. However, as opposed to the classical finite element methods, the solution is discontinuous across element edges. We implemented this approach in a code and tested its accuracy by comparing our results with the benchmarks from the literature. Results. For all the tested cases, the temperatures profiles agree within one percent. Additionally, the emerging spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and images, obtained by ray-tracing techniques from the DGFEM emissivity, agree on average within 5% and 10%, respectively. Conclusions. We show that the DGFEM can accurately describe the continuum radiative transfer problem inside axis-symmetric circumstellar envelopes. Consecutively the emerging SEDs and images are also well reproduced. The DGFEM provides an alternative method (other than Monte-Carlo methods for instance) for solving the radiative transfer equation, and it could be used in cases that are more difficult to handle with the other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the frequency of transiting planetary systems around metal-polluted white dwarfs using high-cadence photometry from ULTRACAM and ULTRASPEC on the ground and space-based observations with TESS. Within a sample of 313 metal-polluted white dwarfs with available TESS light curves, two systems known to have irregular transits are blindly recovered by box-least-squares and Lomb–Scargle analyses, with no new detections, yielding a transit fraction of |$0.8_{-0.4}^{+0.6}$|  per cent. Planet detection sensitivities are determined using simulated transit injection and recovery for all light curves, producing upper limit occurrences over radii from dwarf to Kronian planets, with periods from 1 h to 27 d. The dearth of short-period, transiting planets orbiting polluted white dwarfs is consistent with engulfment during the giant phases of stellar evolution, and modestly constrains dynamical re-injection of planets to the shortest orbital periods. Based on simple predictions of transit probability, where |$(R_* + R_{\rm p})/a\simeq 0.01$|⁠ , the findings here are nominally consistent with a model where 100 per cent of polluted white dwarfs have circumstellar debris near the Roche limit; however, the small sample size precludes statistical confidence in this result. Single transits are also ruled out in all light curves using a search for correlated outliers, providing weak constraints on the role of Oort-like comet clouds in white dwarf pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PDS 70 is a protoplanetary system that hosts two actively accreting gas giants, namely, PDS 70b and PDS 70 c. The system has a ∼60–100 au dusty ring that has been resolved by the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), along with circumplanetary disks around the two gas giants. Here, we report the first Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) Q - (40–48 GHz), Ka - (29–37 GHz), K - (18–26 GHz), and X - (8–12 GHz) bands' continuum observations, and the complementary ALMA Bands 3 (∼98 GHz) and 4 (∼145 GHz) observations towards PDS 70. The dusty ring appears azimuthally asymmetric in our ALMA images. We obtained firm detections at Ka and K bands without spatially resolving the source; we obtained a marginal detection at Q band, and no detection at X band. The spectral indices (α) are 5 ± 1 at 33–44 GHz and 0.6 ± 0.2 at 22–33 GHz. At 10–22 GHz, the conservative lower limit of α is 1.7. The 33–44 GHz flux density is likely dominated by the optically thin thermal emission of grown dust with ≳1 mm maximum grain sizes, which may be associated with the azimuthally asymmetric substructure induced by planet–disk interaction. Since PDS 70 was not detected at X band, we found it hard to explain the low spectral index at 22–33 GHz only with free–free emission. Hence, we attribute the dominant emission at 22–33 GHz to the emission of spinning nano-meter-sized dust particles, while free–free emission may partly contribute to emission at this frequency range. In some protoplanetary disks, the emission of spinning nano-meter-sized dust particles may resemble the 20–50 GHz excess in the spectra of millimeter-sized dust. The finding of strong continuum emission of spinning nano-meter-sized particles can complicate the procedure of constraining the properties of grown dust. Future high resolution, multifrequency JVLA/Next Generation Very Large Array and Square Kilometer Array observations may shed light on this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent observations have demonstrated that some subsets of even moderately wide-separation planet-hosting binaries are preferentially configured such that planetary and binary orbits appear to lie within the same plane. In this work, we explore dissipation during the protoplanetary disk phase, induced by disk warping as the system is forced into nodal recession by an inclined binary companion as a possible avenue of achieving orbit–orbit alignment. We analytically model the coupled evolution of the disk angular momentum vector and stellar spin vector under the influence of a distant binary companion. We find that a population of systems with random initial orientations can appear detectably more aligned after undergoing dissipative precession, and that this process can simultaneously produce an obliquity distribution that is consistent with observations. While dissipative precession proceeds efficiently in close binaries, favorable system properties (e.g., r out ≳ 100 au, α ≳ 0.05, and/or M b / M * ≳ 1) are required to reproduce observed alignment trends at wider binary separations a b ≳ 450 au. Our framework further predicts that circum-primary planets in systems with high stellar mass ratios should be preferentially less aligned than planets in equal mass stellar binary systems. We discover tentative evidence for this trend in Gaia DR3 and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite data. Our findings suggest that dissipative precession may play a significant role in sculpting orbital configurations in a subset of moderately wide planet-hosting binaries, but is likely not solely responsible for their observed population-level alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the spectral characteristics of the Be/X-ray binary system, EXO 051910+3737.7, in which Be/X-ray systems are the largest sub-class of high-mass X-ray binaries. Spectroscopic observations are taken by the Thai National Telescope (TNT) with a Medium-RESolution spectrograph (MRES) instrument for seven nights spanning from 2020 to 2021. Our primary focus is directed towards the analysis of two Balmer lines, namely Hα and Hβ, given that Be stars typically exhibit emission features in at least one of these hydrogen Balmer lines during certain phases. Our observations reveal split Balmer emission lines throughout the entire duration of our monitoring. Double Gaussian profiles were employed for line fitting to characterize these lines. The presence of double peaks in the Balmer lines indicates the presence of asymmetries within the circumstellar disc. We then analyze V/R variations and the changes in Hβ spectra. Our analysis of V/R variation which Violet (V) and Red (R) peak intensity components, revealed rapid fluctuations occurring within a single day, although determining the precise periodicity was constrained by instrumental limitations and the duration of observability. Furthermore, employing observed the wavelength differences (Δλ) in conjunction with typical Be star parameters allowed us to estimate the radius (rβ) of the Hβ emitting envelope. The average value was calculated to be 2.585r*, with a standard deviation of 0.050r*. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, advancement of observational capabilities, specifically the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) instruments, alongside theoretical innovations like pebble accretion, have reshaped our understanding of planet formation and the physics of protoplanetary disks. Despite this progress, mysteries persist along the winded path of micrometer-sized dust, from the interstellar medium, through transport and growth in the protoplanetary disk, to becoming gravitationally bound bodies. This review outlines our current knowledge of dust evolution in circumstellar disks, yielding the following insights: Theoretical and laboratory studies have accurately predicted the growth of dust particles to sizes that are susceptible to accumulation through transport processes like radial drift and settling. Critical uncertainties in that process remain the level of turbulence, the threshold collision velocities at which dust growth stalls, and the evolution of dust porosity. Symmetric and asymmetric substructures are widespread. Dust traps appear to be solving several long-standing issues in planet formation models, and they are observationally consistent with being sites of active planetesimal formation. In some instances, planets have been identified as the causes behind substructures. This underlines the need to study earlier stages of disks to understand how planets can form so rapidly. In the future, better probes of the physical conditions in optically thick regions, including densities, turbulence strength, kinematics, and particle properties, will be essential for unraveling the physical processes at play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on Chandra X-ray observations of SN 2016jae and SN 2018cqj, both low-luminosity Type Ia supernova (SN) that showed the presence of an H line in their early optical spectrum. No X-ray emission is detected at the location of either SN. Upper limits to the luminosity of up to 2 |$\times 10^{40}$|  erg s |$^{-1}$| are calculated for each SN, depending on the assumed spectral model, temperature, and column density. This luminosity is comparable to that of another low-luminosity Type Ia SN, SN 2018fhw, that was observed with Chandra. It is generally lower than upper limits calculated for Type Ia-CSM SNe observed in X-rays, and also below that of SN 2012ca, the only Type Ia-CSM SN to have been detected in X-rays. Comparisons are made to other Type Ia SN with an H line observed in X-rays. The observations suggest that while the density into which the SN is expanding may have been high at the time the H |$\alpha$| line was detected, it had decreased considerably by the time of X-ray observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present deep 1.4–4.8 μ m JWST-NIRCam imaging of the Serpens Main star-forming region and identify 20 candidate protostellar outflows, most with bipolar structure and identified driving sources. The outflow position angles (PAs) are strongly correlated, and they are aligned within ±24° of the major axis of the Serpens filament. These orientations are further aligned with the angular momentum vectors of the two disk shadows in this region. We estimate that the probability of this number of young stars being coaligned if sampled from a uniform PA distribution is 10−4. This in turn suggests that the aligned protostars, which seem to be at similar evolutionary stages based on their outflow dynamics, formed at similar times with a similar spin inherited from a local cloud filament. Further, there is tentative evidence for a systematic change in average PA between the northwestern and southeastern cluster, as well as increased scatter in the PAs of the southeastern protostars. SOFIA-HAWC+ archival dust polarization observations of Serpens Main at 154 and 214 μ m are perpendicular to the dominant jet orientation in the northwestern region in particular. We measure and locate shock knots and edges for all of the outflows and provide an identifying catalog. We suggest that Serpens main is a cluster that formed from an isolated filament and due to its youth retains its primordial outflow alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precessing jets of microquasar SS 433 have punched through the supernova remnant W 50 from the explosion forming the compact object. The jets collimate before reaching beyond the shell, some 40 pc downstream, just the region of origin of TeV gamma radiation. Collimation could be effected by ambient pressure in the SNR cavity; I investigate conditions under which the W 50 morphology and the sites of TeV gamma radiation can be explained in terms of collimation, with associated shocks, induced by ambient pressure. The SNR is now ~ 10 5 years after the supernova; with the present pressure, collimation and associated shocks would indeed occur ~40 pc downstream. Modeling of the evolution of binary systems indicates that the Roche lobe overflow and the initiation of the jets may be recent rather than early; present day collimation would still occur ~40 pc downstream, but the cone angle of the precession must then have increased with time—driven by the Roche lobe overflow. The morphology of W 50 and the site of the origin of TeV radiation are readily explained in terms of the collimation of the jets by internal SNR pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This second paper presents an in-depth analysis of the composition of the planetary material that has been accreted on to seven white dwarfs with circumstellar dust and gas emission discs with abundances reported in Rogers et al. The white dwarfs are accreting planetary bodies with a wide range of oxygen, carbon, and sulphur volatile contents, including one white dwarf that shows the most enhanced sulphur abundance seen to date. Three white dwarfs show tentative evidence (2–3 |$\sigma$|⁠) of accreting oxygen-rich material, potentially from water-rich bodies, whilst two others are accreting dry, rocky material. One white dwarf is accreting a mantle-rich fragment of a larger differentiated body, whilst two white dwarfs show an enhancement in their iron abundance and could be accreting core-rich fragments. Whilst most planetary material accreted by white dwarfs display chondritic or bulk Earth-like compositions, these observations demonstrate that core-mantle differentiation, disruptive collisions, and the accretion of core-mantle differentiated material are important. Less than 1 per cent of polluted white dwarfs host both observable circumstellar gas and dust. It is unknown whether these systems are experiencing an early phase in the disruption and accretion of planetary bodies, or alternatively if they are accreting larger planetary bodies. From this work there is no substantial evidence for significant differences in the accreted refractory abundance ratios for those white dwarfs with or without circumstellar gas, but there is tentative evidence for those with circumstellar gas discs to be accreting more water rich material which may suggest that volatiles accrete earlier in a gas-rich phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]