Search

In the vast expanse of our galaxy, white dwarfs (WDs) are natural sentinels, capturing the enigmatic dark matter (DM) particles that incessantly traverse their interiors. These celestial bodies provide a unique vantage point for probing interactions between DM particles and their constituents-nuclei or electrons-should such interactions exist. The captured DM particles may accumulate, undergo mutual annihilation, or be evaporated by the WD's own nuclei or electrons, thereby perturbing the standard cooling sequence predicted by stellar evolution theory. This letter reports pioneering constraints on DM-electron interactions derived from an in-depth analysis of four pulsating WDs. By leveraging the period variation rates of their pulsation modes, we delineate the following constraints: for a form factor $F(q) = 1$, in the DM mass range $20 \mathrm{MeV}/c^{2} \lesssim m_{\chi} \lesssim 80 \mathrm{MeV}/c^{2}$ with a cross-section limit of $\sigma_{\chi,e} \lesssim 10^{-56} \mathrm{cm}^{2}$; for a form factor $F(q) = (\alpha m_{e})^{2}/q^{2}$, in a the DM mass range $20\mathrm{MeV}/c^{2} \lesssim m_{\chi} \lesssim 70 \mathrm{MeV}/c^{2}$ with a limit of $\sigma_{\chi,e} \lesssim 10^{-52} \mathrm{cm}^{2}$. These newly established constraints surpass current direct detection experiments by over fifteen orders of magnitude, forging a path into the uncharted territories of the DM parameter space. This work not only advances our understanding of light dark matter-electron interactions but also exemplifies the potential of WDs as important astrophysical laboratories for probing the elusive nature of DM., Comment: 8 pages (including Supplementary Material), 1 figure, 1 table. Comments are welcomed

Harmonics are a ubiquitous feature across various pulsating stars. They are traditionally viewed as mere replicas of the independent primary pulsation modes and have thus been excluded from asteroseismological models. Recent research, however, has uncovered a significant discrepancy: in high-amplitude $\delta$ Scuti (HADS) stars, harmonics exhibit uncorrelated variations in amplitude and frequency relative to their independent primary pulsation modes. The nature of these disharmonized harmonics is a question of critical importance. In our study we analysed five triple-mode HADS stars observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and discovered some pervasive patterns of disharmonized harmonics in both the fundamental ($f_0$) and first overtone ($f_1$) pulsation modes. Intriguingly, through an in-depth frequency interaction analysis of V1393 Cen, we identified $2f_1$ as an independent pulsation mode, distinct from $f_1$, and identified it as the progenitor of the frequency variations observed in $3f_1$, $4f_1$, $5f_1$, and $6f_1$. Similar behaviour can be found in DO CMi and GSC 06047-00749, in which $2f_1$ and $3f_1$ are the independent pulsation modes, respectively. Notably, we found an interesting pattern when decomposing the harmonics that might suggest a generation process of harmonics. These findings serve as a new window on the research of harmonics, which remains a hidden corner of contemporary asteroseismology., Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures, 1 table. A&A Letter published

Possible light bosonic dark matter interactions with the Standard Model photon have been searched by microwave resonant cavities. In this paper, we demonstrate the cryogenic readout system calibration of a 7.138 GHz copper cavity with a loaded quality factor $Q_l=10^4$, operated at 22 mK temperature based on a dilution refrigerator. Our readout system consists of High Electron Mobility Transistors as cryogenic amplifiers at 4 K, plus room-temperature amplifiers and a spectrum analyzer for signal power detection. We test the system with a superconducting two-level system as a single-photon source in the microwave frequency regime and report an overall 95.6 dB system gain and -71.4 dB attenuation in the cavity's input channel. The effective noise temperature of the measurement system is 7.5 K., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, version to appear in CPC

The dark photon is a promising candidate for the dark matter which comprises most of the matter in our visible Universe. Via kinetic mixing with the Standard Model it can also be resonantly converted to photons in an electromagnetic cavity, offering novel experimental possibilities for the discovery and study of dark matter. We report the results of a pathfinder dark photon dark matter cavity search experiment performed at Hunan Normal University and the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, representing the first stage of the APEX (Axion and dark Photon EXperiment) program. Finding no statistically significant excess, we place an upper limit on the kinetic mixing parameter $|\chi|<3.7\times 10^{-13}$ around $m_A\simeq 29.5$ $\mu$eV at 90% confidence level. This result exceeds other constraints on dark photon dark matter in this frequency range by roughly an order of magnitude., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Updated to match journal version

In our galaxy, the white dwarfs (WDs) will inevitably capture the dark matter (DM) particles streaming through them, if there exist interactions between DM particles and nuclei/electrons. At the same time, these DM particles can also be evaporated by the nuclei/electrons in a WD if they have proper mass and the WD is not too cold. The evaporation of DM particles will lead to a faster cooling evolution than that predicted by the stellar evolution theory. In this work, we ascribe the faster cooling evolution of three observed WDs to the capture and evaporation of DM particles, and get the possible DM particle's mass and DM-electron cross section as follows: for $F(q) = 1$, $40\ \mathrm{MeV}/c^{2} \lesssim m_{\chi} \lesssim 70\ \mathrm{MeV}/c^{2}$ and $10^{-57} \mathrm{cm}^{2} \lesssim \sigma_{\chi,e} \lesssim 10^{-55} \mathrm{cm}^{2}$; for $F(q) = (\alpha m_{e})^{2}/q^{2}$, $30\ \mathrm{MeV}/c^{2} \lesssim m_{\chi} \lesssim 60\ \mathrm{MeV}/c^{2}$ and $10^{-53} \mathrm{cm}^{2} \lesssim \sigma_{\chi,e} \lesssim 10^{-51} \mathrm{cm}^{2}$. These results are beyond the detection capabilities of current direct detection experiments and should be cross checked by more novel scenarios in the future., Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Corrected typo errors and added references

People can diagnose the interiors of stars by sensing their pulsations. Pulsation modes, which are determined by the internal state and structure of a star, are typically considered stable over short timescales. These independent pulsation modes have been used in asteroseismology to reconstruct the interior structure of stars. Here, we report the discovery of peculiar pulsation mode interaction details in the high-amplitude $\delta$ Scuti star KIC 6382916 (J19480292+4146558), challenging the reliability of independent pulsation modes as indicators of the star's internal structure. Through analysis of archival data, we found distinct variations in amplitudes and frequencies of three independent pulsation modes and their harmonics/combinations over approximately 20 days. These variations can reach amplitudes of about 140% and frequency variations of about 12%. Correlation analysis of amplitude and frequency variations revealed additional pulsation mode interaction details and patterns. Notably, our findings regarding the phenomena related to harmonics of independent pulsation modes challenge the traditional understanding in this area. These discoveries serve as cornerstones for future research and advance nonlinear asteroseismology., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, 1 table

In this work, the pulsation analysis is performed on 83 high-amplitude $\delta$ Scuti stars, which have been observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The results show that 49 of these HADS show single-mode pulsation, 27 of them show radial double-modes pulsation (in which 22 of them pulsate with the fundamental and first overtone modes and 5 of them pulsate with the first and second overtone modes), and 7 of them show radial triple-modes pulsation (3 of which are newly confirmed triple-mode HADS). The histogram of the fundamental periods and the ratios between the fundamental and first overtone periods show bimodal structures, which might be caused by the stellar evolution in this specific phase. Most of the radial triple-mode HADS have a fundamental amplitude of 41-54 mmag, and 50% of them have similar amplitudes of the fundamental and first overtone pulsation modes. All these hints require further confirmation not only in observations with more HADS samples, but also in theoretical models with suitable treatments of stellar evolution and pulsation., Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. RAA published

Harmonics are quite common in pulsating stars, and they are always considered to mimic the behaviors of their independent parent pulsation modes and not taken as the key information for asteroseismology. Here, we report an SX Phoenicis star XX Cygni, whose periodogram is dominated by the fundamental frequency $f_{0} = 7.41481 \pm 0.00004\ \mathrm{cd}^{-1}$ and its 19 harmonics. According to the analysis of the archival data from \TESS, we find that both the amplitudes and frequencies of the fundamental mode and the harmonics vary within TESS Sectors 14-17 and 54-57, which might be caused by the contamination by neighbouring stars. What is more interesting is that, the harmonics show significantly uncorrelated amplitude and frequency variations over time. Some possible origins and interesting issues are proposed to scheme the further research of this hidden corner in current asteroseismology., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables. AJ published

The most significant feature in the cosmic-ray (CR) nuclei spectra is the spectral hardening at a few hundred GV. It is important to know whether the hardening of different nuclei species is the same or not for constructing CR sources and propagation models. In this work, we collect the recently released AMS-02 CR nuclei spectra of primary species (proton, helium, carbon, oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon, and iron), secondary species (lithium, beryllium, boron, and fluorine), and hybrid species (nitrogen, sodium, and aluminum) and study the break positions and the spectral index differences (less and greater than the break rigidity) of the spectral hardening quantitatively. The results show us that the CR nuclei spectral hardening at a few hundred GV has hybrid origins. In detail, the dominating factors of the spectral hardening for primary and secondary CR nuclei species are different: the former comes from the superposition of different kinds of CR sources, while the latter comes from the propagation process. Both of these factors influence all kinds of CR nuclei spectra, just with different weights., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

Stellar structure and evolution theory is one of the basis in modern astronomy. Stellar inner structures and their evolutionary states can be precisely tested by asteroseismology, since the inner information is brought to the stellar surface by the global oscillating waves and becomes observable. For stellar evolutionary speed (i.e. how long time scale does a star stay at a special evolution phase?), because of the insurmountable gap between the time scales of the evolutionary history of human civilization and a star, it can only be roughly tested by ensemble of stars in different evolutionary stages in most cases, and all the snapshots of these stars make up our global view of stellar evolution. The effect of stellar evolution on the structure and the corresponding global size of a pulsating star will lead to tiny period variations of its pulsation modes, which are the most valuable indicators of its evolutionary state and can be used to test the stellar evolution theory by a single star rather than ensemble of stars. Here, we report a High-Amplitude $\delta$ Scuti star AE Ursae Majoris, who locates in the post main-sequence (MS) evolutionary stage and its observed linear period variation rate can be practically ascribed to its evolutionary effect. The result tests the stellar evolution theory from the pre-MS to post-MS with an unprecedented precision by a single star, and the framework can be extended to other type of pulsating stars to perform precise evolutionary asteroseismology, which aims to test the current stellar evolution theory in different evolutionary stages, discover the discrepancies between the theory and observations, and ultimately build a complete and precise stellar evolution theory to backtrack the history of each of these stars., Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables

We propose to develop a wide-field and ultra-high-precision photometric survey mission, temporarily named "Earth 2.0 (ET)". This mission is designed to measure, for the first time, the occurrence rate and the orbital distributions of Earth-sized planets. ET consists of seven 30cm telescopes, to be launched to the Earth-Sun's L2 point. Six of these are transit telescopes with a field of view of 500 square degrees. Staring in the direction that encompasses the original Kepler field for four continuous years, this monitoring will return tens of thousands of transiting planets, including the elusive Earth twins orbiting solar-type stars. The seventh telescope is a 30cm microlensing telescope that will monitor an area of 4 square degrees toward the galactic bulge. This, combined with simultaneous ground-based KMTNet observations, will measure masses for hundreds of long-period and free-floating planets. Together, the transit and the microlensing telescopes will revolutionize our understandings of terrestrial planets across a large swath of orbital distances and free space. In addition, the survey data will also facilitate studies in the fields of asteroseismology, Galactic archeology, time-domain sciences, and black holes in binaries., Comment: 116 pages,79 figures

Many experiments have confirmed the spectral hardening at a few hundred GV of cosmic-ray (CR) nuclei spectra, and three general different origins have been proposed: the primary source acceleration, the propagation, and the superposition of different kinds of sources. The AMS-02 CR nuclei spectra of He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Si, and B (which including B and its dominating parents species) are collected to study the necessity of employing a break in diffusion coefficient and independent breaks in primary source injection spectra to reproduce the spectral hardening at a few hundred GV. For comparison, three different schemes are introduced to do the global fitting. The fitting results show that both the break in diffusion coefficient and the independent breaks in primary source injection spectra are needed, which are corresponding to the spatial dependent propagation and the superposition of different kinds of sources, respectively. Consequently, the nuclei spectral hardening in a few hundred GV should have hybrid origins. Moreover, the CR spectral indices of He and Ne show large deviations to other species in low-rigidity region, which indicates their different CR origins., Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables. Accepted by ApJ

In this work, we report the discovery of the rapidly evolving high-amplitude $\delta$ Scuti star KIC 6382916 (J19480292+4146558) which is crossing the Hertzsprung gap. According to the analysis of the archival data, we find three independent pulsation modes, whose amplitudes and frequencies vary distinctly in 4 years. The linear period variation rates of the first two modes are about 3-4 times larger than the best seismic model constructed by the standard evolution theory, while that of the third one is about 8 times larger than the first two modes. What is more interesting is that, almost all the combinations of the third mode have frequency peaks $0.0815\ \mathrm{c\ d}^{-1}$ away from them in the frequency domain. A framework is proposed to interpret the markedly large frequency and amplitude variation rates of the third mode, in which we employ a new pulsation mode (resonating integration mode) generated by the resonance between a radial p-mode and a nonradial mixed mode. Moreover, a global analysis of the interactions between the three independent pulsation modes and their harmonics/combinations is performed based on the interaction diagrams of their amplitudes and phases, which would be a useful tool for the future asteroseismology research., Comment: 34 pages, 17 figures, 6 tables. ApJL published

Many experiments have confirmed the spectral hardening in a few hundred GV of cosmic ray (CR) nuclei spectra, and 3 different origins have been proposed: the primary source acceleration, the propagation, and the superposition of different kinds of sources. In this work, the break power law has been employed to fit each of the AMS-02 nuclei spectra directly when the rigidity greater than 45 GV. The fitting results of the break rigidity and the spectral index differences less and greater than the break rigidity show complicated relationships among different nuclei species, which could not been reproduced naturally by a simple primary source scenario or a propagation scenario. However, with a natural and simple assumption, the superposition of different kinds of sources could have the potential to explain the fitting results successfully. CR nuclei spectra from one single experiment in future (such as DAMPE) will provide us the opportunity to do cross checks and reveal the properties of the different kinds of sources., Comment: 8 pages, 1 table, 5 figures

In this work, the photometric data from the American Association of Variable Star Observers are collected and analyzed on the SX Phoenicis star DY Pegasi (DY Peg). From the frequency analysis, we get three independent frequencies: $f_0 = 13.71249\ \rm{c\ days^{-1}}$, $f_1 = 17.7000\ \rm{c\ days^{-1}}$, and $f_2 =18.138\ \rm{c\ days^{-1}}$, in which $f_0$ and $f_1$ are the radial fundamental and first overtone mode, respectively, while $f_2$ is detected for the first time and should belong to a nonradial mode. The $O-C$ diagram of the times of maximum light shows that DY Peg has a period change rate $(1/P_0)(\mathrm{d} P_0/\mathrm{d} t) = -(5.87 \pm 0.03) \times 10^{-8} \ \mathrm{yr^{-1}}$ for its fundamental pulsation mode, and should belong to a binary system that has an orbital period $P_{\mathrm{orb}} = 15425.0 \pm 205.7 \ \mathrm{days}$. Based on the spectroscopic information, single star evolutionary models are constructed to fit the observed frequencies. However, some important parameters of the fitted models are not consistent with that from observations. Combing with the information from observation and theoretical calculation, we conclude that DY Peg should be an SX Phoenicis star in a binary system and accreting mass from a dust disk, which was the residue of its evolved companion (most probably a hot white dwarf at the present stage) produced in the asymptotic giant branch phase. Further observations are needed to confirm this inference, and it might be potentially a universal formation mechanism and evolutionary history for SX Phoenicis stars., Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures and 7 tables. Appendix added

In Phys. Rev. D 98, 103023 (2018), a novel scenario was proposed to probe the interactions between dark matter (DM) particles and electrons, via hydrogen-atmosphere pulsating white dwarfs (DAVs) in globular clusters. The estimation showed that the scenario could hopefully test the parameter space: $5 \mathrm{GeV} \le m_{\chi} \le 10^{4} \mathrm{GeV}$ and $\sigma_{\chi,e} \ge 10^{-40} \mathrm{cm}^{2}$, where $m_{\chi}$ is the DM particle's mass and $\sigma_{\chi,e}$ is the elastic scattering cross section between DM and electron. In this comment, we have determined the exact lower limit of the testable DM particle mass $\sim 1.38 - 1.58 \mathrm{GeV}$, which depends on $\sigma_{\chi,e}$. This gives us a credible lower limit of the testable DM particle mass in above scenario, and provide a clear upper limit of the DM particle mass which we should consider in future research., Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure

In this work, we considered 2 schemes (a high-rigidity break in primary source injections and a high-rigidity break in diffusion coefficient) to reproduce the newly released AMS-02 nuclei spectra (He, C, N, O, Li, Be, and B) when the rigidity larger than 50 GV. The fitting results show that current data set favors a high-rigidity break at $\sim 325 \mathrm{GV}$ in diffusion coefficient rather than a break at $\sim 365 \mathrm{GV}$ in primary source injections. Meanwhile, the fitted values of the factors to rescale the cosmic-ray (CR) flux of secondary species/components after propagation show us that the secondary flux are underestimated in current propagation model. It implies that we might locate in a slow diffusion zone, in which the CRs propagate with a small value of diffusion coefficient compared with the averaged value in the galaxy. Another hint from the fitting results show that extra secondary CR nuclei injection may be needed in current data set. All these new hints should be paid more attention in future research., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, and 2 tables. Discussions added. JCAP version

Based on the precise nuclei data released by AMS-02, we study the spectra hardening of both the primary (proton, helium, carbon, oxygen, and the primary component of nitrogen) and the secondary (anti-proton, lithium, beryllium, boron and the secondary component of nitrogen) cosmic ray (CR) nuclei. With the diffusion-reacceleration model, we consider two schemes to reproduce the hardening in the spectra: (i) A high-rigidity break in primary source injection; (ii) A high-rigidity break in diffusion coefficient. The global fitting results show that both schemes could reproduce the spectra hardening in current status. More precise multi-TV data (especially the data of secondary CR species) is needed if one wants to distinguish these two schemes. In our global fitting, each of the nuclei species is allocated an independent solar modulation potential and a re-scale factor (which accounts for the isotopic abundance for primary nuclei species and uncertainties of production cross section or inhomogeneity of CR sources and propagation for secondary nuclei species). The fitting values of these two parameter classes show us some hints on some new directions in CR physics. All the fitted re-scale factors of primary nuclei species have values that systematically smaller than 1.0, while that of secondary nuclei species are systematically larger than 1.0. Moreover, both the re-scale factor and solar modulation potential of beryllium have values which are obviously different from other species. This might indicate that beryllium has the specificity not only on its propagation in the heliosphere, but also on its production cross section. All these new results should be seriously studied in the future., Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures, 6 tables. Fitting data updated and discussions added

In this work, we have studied the variable stars in the young open cluster NGC 1893 based on a multi-year photometric survey covering a sky area around the cluster up to $31' \times 31'$ wide. More than 23\,000 images in the $V$ band taken from January 2008 to February 2017 with different telescopes, complemented with 90 images in the $B$ band in 2014 and 2017, were reduced, and light curves were derived in $V$ for 5653 stars. By analyzing these light curves, we detected 147 variable stars (85 of them being new discoveries), including 110 periodic variables, 15 eclipsing binaries and 22 non-periodic variables. Proper motions, radial velocities, color-magnitude and two-color diagrams were used to identify the cluster membership of these variable stars, resulting in 84 members. Periodic variable members were then classified into different variability types, mainly according to their magnitudes and to their periods of variability, as well as to their positions in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram for the early-type stars. As a result, among main-sequence periodic variable members, we identified five $\beta$ Cep candidates, seven slowly pulsating B-type candidates, and thirteen fast-rotating pulsating B-type (FaRPB) candidates (one of which is a confirmed classical Be star). While most of the FaRPB stars display properties similar to the ones discovered in NGC 3766 by Mowlavi et al. (2013), five of them have periods below 0.1~d, contrary to expectations. Additional observations, including spectroscopic, are called for to further characterize these stars. We also find a binary candidate harboring a $\delta$-Scuti candidate., Comment: 45 pages, multi-figures

Bi-site time-series photometric and high-resolution spectroscopic observations were made for the double-mode high-amplitude $\delta$ Scuti star VX\ Hya. The fundamental frequency $f_{0}=4.4763\ \rm{c\ days^{-1}}$, the first overtone $f_{1}=5.7897\ \rm{c\ days^{-1}}$ and 23 harmonics and linear combinations of $f_{0}$ and $f_{1}$ are detected by pulsation analysis. From the spectroscopic data, we get $\rm{[Fe/H] = -0.2\pm0.1\ dex}$. The period change rate of the fundamental mode is obtained by using the Fourier-phase diagram method, which gives the value of $(1/P_{0})(dP_{0}/dt)=(1.81\pm0.09) \times 10^{-7}\ \rm{yr}^{-1}$. With these results from the observations, we perform theoretical explorations with the stellar evolution code MESA, and constrain the models by fitting $f_{0}$, $f_{1}$, and $(1/P_{0})(dP_{0}/dt)$ within $3\sigma$ deviations. The results show that the period change of VX\ Hya could be ascribed to the evolutionary effect. The stellar parameters of VX\ Hya could be derived as: the mass $2.385\pm0.025\ M_{\odot}$, the luminosity $\log(L/L_{\odot})=1.93\pm0.02$ and the age $(4.43\pm0.13)\times 10^8$ years. VX\ Hya is found to locate at the post-main-sequence stage with a helium core and a hydrogen-burning shell on the H${-}$R diagram., Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, 12 tables. ApJ version

The DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) experiment has recently announced the first results for the measurement of total electron plus positron fluxes between 25 GeV and 4.6 TeV. A spectral break at about 0.9 TeV and a tentative peak excess around 1.4 TeV have been found. However, it is very difficult to reproduce both the peak signal and the smooth background including spectral break simultaneously. We point out that the numbers of events in the two energy ranges (bins) close to the 1.4 TeV excess have $1\sigma$ deficits. With the basic physics principles such as simplicity and naturalness, we consider the $-2\sigma$, $+2\sigma$, and $-1\sigma$ deviations due to statistical fluctuations for the 1229.3~GeV bin, 1411.4~GeV bin, and 1620.5~GeV bin. Interestingly, we show that all the DAMPE data can be explained consistently via both the continuous distributed pulsar and dark matter interpretations, which have $\chi^{2} \simeq 17.2 $ and $\chi^{2} \simeq 13.9$ (for all the 38 points in DAMPE electron/positron spectrum with 3 of them revised), respectively. These results are different from the previous analyses by neglecting the 1.4 TeV excess. At the same time, we do a similar global fitting on the newly released CALET lepton data, which could also be interpreted by such configurations. Moreover, we present a $U(1)_D$ dark matter model with Breit-Wigner mechanism, which can provide the proper dark matter annihilation cross section and escape the CMB constraint. Furthermore, we suggest a few ways to test our proposal., Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables. Figures and Bibs updated

Recently, DAMPE has released its first results on the high-energy cosmic-ray electrons and positrons (CREs) from about $25$ GeV to $4.6$ TeV, which directly detect a break at $\sim 1$ TeV. This result gives us an excellent opportunity to study the source of the CREs excess. In this work, we used the data fo proton and helium flux (from AMS-02 and CREAM), $\bar{\mathrm{p}}/\mathrm{p}$ ratio (from AMS-02), positron flux (from AMS-02) and CREs flux (from DAMPE without the peak signal point at $\sim 1.4$ TeV) to do global fitting simultaneously, which can account the influence from the propagation model, the nuclei and electron primary source injection and the secondary lepton production precisely. For extra source to interpret the excess in lepton spectrum, we consider two separate scenarios (pulsar and dark matter annihilation via leptonic channels) to construct the bump ($\gtrsim 100$ GeV) and the break at $\sim 1$ TeV. The result shows: (i) in pulsar scenario, the spectral index of the injection should be $\nu_{\mathrm{psr}} \sim 0.65$ and the cut-off should be $R_{c} \sim 650$ GV; (ii) in dark matter scenario, the dark matter particle's mass is $m_{\chi} \sim 1208$ GeV and the cross section is $\langle \sigma v \rangle \sim 1.48 \times 10^{-23} \mathrm{cm}^{3} \mathrm{s}^{-1}$. Moreover, in the dark matter scenario, the $\tau \bar{\tau}$ annihilation channel is highly suppressed, and a DM model is built to satisfy the fitting results., Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures. PRD version

We revisit a three-family Pati-Salam model with a realistic phenomenology from intersecting D6-branes in Type IIA string theory compactified on a $\mathbf{T}^6/(\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2)$ orientifold, and study its naturalness in view of the current LHC and dark matter searches. We discuss spectrum and phenomenological features of this scenario demanding fine tuning better than 1\%. This requirement restricts the lightest neutralino to have mass less than about 600 GeV. We observe that the viable parameter space is tightly constrained by the requirements of naturalness and consistency with the observed dark matter relic density, so that it is fully testable at current and future dark matter searches, unless a non-thermal production mechanism of dark matter is at work. We find that $Z$-resonance, $h$-resonance, $A$-funnel and light stau/stop-neutralino coannihilation solutions are consistent with current LHC and dark matter constraints while the "well-tempered" neutralino scenario is ruled out in our model. Moreover, we observe that only Bino, Higgsinos, right-handed staus and stops can have mass below 1 TeV., Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

In this work, we propose a novel scenario to probe the interactions between dark matter (DM) particles and electrons, via hydrogen-atmosphere pulsating white dwarfs (DAVs) in globular clusters. In this special configuration, the DM particles, which are predominantly captured by multiple scattering with the electrons in a DAV, would annihilate by pairs and provide extra energy source to the DAV. This mechanism slows down the natural cooling evolution which can be presented by the period variation rates of pulsation modes. The differences between the secular rates predicted by the precise asteroseismology and the secular rates obtained from observation can reveal the DM-electron interactions. An important observable has been proposed and corresponding estimations have been made. According to the estimation, if this scenario could be implemented in the near future, the potential sensitivity on $m_{\chi}$ (DM particle's mass) and $\sigma_{\chi,e}$ (elastic scattering cross section between DM and electron) could be hopefully extended to a region $5 \mathrm{GeV} \lesssim m_{\chi} \lesssim 10^{4} \mathrm{GeV}$ and $\sigma_{\chi,e} \gtrsim 10^{-40} \mathrm{cm}^{2}$. Combining with indirect DM detection results, this could give us a cross check on the existence of such leptonphilic DM particles to some extent., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, PRD version

We study natural supersymmetry in the Generalized Minimal Supergravity (GmSUGRA). For the parameter space with low energy electroweak fine-tuning measures less than 50, we are left with only the $Z$-pole, Higgs-pole and Higgsino LSP scenarios for dark matter (DM). We perform the focused scans for such parameter space and find that it satisfies various phenomenological constraints and is compatible with the current direct detection bound on neutralino DM reported by the LUX experiment. Such parameter space also has solutions with correct DM relic density besides the solutions with DM relic density smaller or larger than 5$\sigma$ WMAP9 bounds. We present five benchmark points as examples. In these benchmark points, gluino and the first two generations of squarks are heavier than 2 TeV, stop $\tilde t_{1,2}$ are in the mass range $[1,2]$ TeV, while sleptons are lighter than 1 TeV. Some part of the parameter space can explain the muon anomalous magnetic moment within 3$\sigma$ as well. We also perform the collider study of such solutions by implementing and comparing with relevant studies done by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations. We find that the points with Higgsino dominant $\tilde{\chi}_2^0/\tilde{\chi_1}^\pm$ mass up to $300$ GeV are excluded in $Z$-pole scenario while for Higgs-pole scenario, the points with $\tilde{\chi}_2^0$ mass up to $460$ GeV are excluded. We also notice that the Higgsino LSP points in our present scans are beyond the reach of present LHC searches. Next, we show that for both the $Z$-pole and Higgs-pole scenarios, the points with electroweak fine-tuning measure around 20 do still survive., Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures

Cosmic ray (CR) physics has entered a precision-driven era. With the latest AMS-02 nuclei data (boron-to-carbon ratio, proton flux, helium flux and antiproton-to-proton ratio), we perform a global fitting and constrain the primary source and propagation parameters of cosmic rays in the Milky Way by considering 3 schemes with different data sets (with and without $\bar{\mathrm{p}}/\mathrm{p}$ data) and different propagation models (diffusion-reacceleration and diffusion-reacceleration-convection models). We find that the data set with $\bar{\mathrm{p}}/\mathrm{p}$ data can remove the degeneracy between the propagation parameters effectively and it favors the model with a very small value of convection (or disfavors the model with convection). The separated injection spectrum parameters are used for proton and other nucleus species, which reveal the different breaks and slopes among them. Moreover, the helium abundance, antiproton production cross sections and solar modulation are parametrized in our global fitting. Benefited from the self-consistence of the new data set, the fitting results show a little bias, and thus the disadvantages and limitations of the existed propagation models appear. Comparing to the best fit results for the local interstellar spectra ($\phi = 0$) with the VOYAGER-1 data, we find that the primary sources or propagation mechanisms should be different between proton and helium (or other heavier nucleus species). Thus, how to explain these results properly is an interesting and challenging question., Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures. PRD version

We propose a novel and feasible method to detect dark matter (DM) electron interaction via pulsating white dwarfs (WDs) in the central region of globular clusters. Annihilation of the DM particles captured by those WDs can provide additional energy source along the natural cooling evolution of WDs and the cooling print can be well offered by precise asteroseismology. The measurement of the long time scale physical quantity -- the rates of period variation of pulsation modes -- could be used to constrain the cross section between DM particles and electrons ($\sigma_{e}$), when DM particle mass $m_{\chi} \gtrsim 5 \mathrm{GeV}$. We construct estimations to prove that this original method is feasible and can be implemented in the challenging time-series photometry in the near future., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures

O-C diagram is a useful technique to analyse the period changes of a pulsator by using the maximum (or minimum) value points which have been obtained from the historical data. But if an object is a double-mode or multi-mode pulsator, the extreme value points are the results of all the modes other than just the fundamental mode. We discussed these situations and give out some criteria to judge whether the O-C diagram can be used in these situations., Comment: 12 pages

We analyze the photometric data and spectroscopic data that collect on the $\delta$ Scuti star AE UMa. The fundamental and the first overtone frequencies are confirmed as $f_{0} = 11.62560$\,c\,d$^{-1}$ and $f_{1} = 15.03124$\,c\,d$^{-1}$, respectively, from the frequency content by analyzing of the 40 nights light curve spanning from 2009 to 2012. Additionally, another 37 frequencies are identified as either the harmonics or the linear combinations of the fundamental and the first overtone frequencies, among which 25 are newly detected. The rate of period change of the fundamental mode is determined as $(1/P_{0})(dP_{0}/dt) = 5.4(\pm 1.9) \times 10^{-9}$\,yr$^{-1}$ as revealed from the $O-C$ diagram based on the 84 newly determined times of maximum light combined with those derived from the literature. The spectroscopic data suggests that AE UMa is a population\,I $\delta$ Scuti star. With these physical properties, we perform theoretical explorations based on the stellar evolution code MESA on this target, considering that the variation of pulsation period is caused by secular evolutionary effects. We finally constraint the AE UMa with the physical parameters as: the mass of $1.805 \pm 0.055\ M_{\odot}$, the radius of $1.647 \pm 0.032 \times 10^{11}$\,cm, the luminosity of $1.381 \pm 0.048~(\log L/L_{\odot})$ and the age of $1.055 \pm 0.095 \times 10^{9}$\,yr. AE UMa can be the (Pop. I) $\delta$ Scuti star that locates just after the second turn-off of its evolutional track leaving the main sequence, a star in the phase of the Hertzsprung Gap with a helium core and a hydrogen-burning shell., Comment: 36 pages, 12 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1301.0319 by other authors

Time-series photometric observations were made for the High Amplitude $\delta$ Scuti star CW Ser between 2011 and 2012 at the Xinglong Station of National Astronomical Observatories of China. After the frequency analysis of the light curves, we confirmed the fundamental frequency of $f = 5.28677\ cd^{-1}$, together with 8 harmonics of the fundamental frequency, 7 of which are newly detected. No additional frequencies were detected. The O-C diagram, produced with the 21 newly determined times of maximum light combined with those provided in the literature, helps to obtain a new ephemeris formula of the times of maximum light with the pulsation period of $0.189150355 \pm 0.000000003\ days$., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures