Non-local Thermal Equilibrium Research Articles

High resolved Optical Emission Spectroscopy as accurate physics methodology for plasma freestream temperature characterization

In this work the hypersonic plasma flow generated by SCIROCCO hypersonic facility has been experimentally characterized as test case, using a high resolved Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) during a high enthalpy test campaign. The CIRA methodology to measure roto-translational and NO vibrational temperatures of a free jet via analyses performed in the Ultra Violet spectral range has been improved and a comparison between experimental data and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations has been carried out. The revised methodology estimates the roto-translational and vibrational temperatures using high definition spectroscopy carried out at conditions of high values of pressure and enthalpy.In particular, attention is mainly focused on the NO emission band at Non-Local Thermal Equilibrium (NLTE) conditions in the hypersonic flight regime which means equilibrium between the molecular rotational and translational degrees of freedom but not between the roto-translational and vibrational degrees of freedom. Three tests at high enthalpy hypersonic conditions (23.8, 24.0 and 26.0 MJ/kg at a total pressure of about 2.5 bars) have been investigated and experimental data have been compared with numerical simulations in order to verify sensitivity of the method in estimating the small variation in NO roto-translational and vibrational temperatures by changing slightly the total enthalpy fluid-dynamic conditions. The current work presents a high definition spectral method which can be used to determine the temperature of NLTE hypersonic free jets, and may serve as a benchmark in determining the accuracy of various numerical models dedicated to these flow regimes.

The bands method for tabulating NLTE material properties

The use of Non-Local Thermal Equilibrium (NLTE) material properties within radiation-hydrodynamic simulations remains a major challenge. The plasma radiative and EOS properties in NLTE can depend on the detailed local radiation field and electron energy distribution. Fully characterizing each of these quantities may require 10’s to 100’s of parameters, making tabulation effectively impossible and requiring expensive calculations for each set of conditions within the simulation. In this work we present a new method that characterizes the local radiation field with a limited number of parameters. This permits pre-calculation and tabulation of the material properties, allowing codes to perform NLTE radiation-hydrodynamic simulations which would otherwise be computationally prohibitive.

The Extremely Buried Nucleus of IRAS 17208–0014 Observed at Submillimeter and Near-infrared Wavelengths

Abstract The ultraluminous infrared galaxy IRAS 17208−0014 is a late-stage merger that hosts a buried active galactic nucleus (AGN). To investigate its nuclear structure, we performed high-spatial-resolution ( ∼ 0.″04 ∼ 32 pc) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations in Band 9 (∼450 μm or ∼660 GHz), along with near-infrared AKARI spectroscopy in 2.5–5.0 μm. The Band 9 dust continuum peaks at the AGN location, and toward this position CO(J = 6 − 5) and CS(J = 14 − 13) are detected in absorption. Comparison with nonlocal thermal equilibrium calculations indicates that, within the central beam (r ∼ 20 pc), there exists a concentrated component that is dense (107 cm−3) and warm (>200 K) and has a large column density ( N H 2 > 10 23 cm − 2 ). The AKARI spectrum shows deep and broad CO rovibrational absorption at 4.67 μm. Its band profile is well reproduced with a similarly dense and large column but hotter (∼1000 K) gas. The region observed through absorption in the near-infrared is highly likely in the nuclear direction, as in the submillimeter, but with a narrower beam including a region closer to the nucleus. The central component is considered to possess a hot structure where vibrationally excited HCN emission originates. The most plausible heating source for the gas is X-rays from the AGN. The AKARI spectrum does not show other AGN signs in 2.5–4 μm, but this absence may be usual for AGNs buried in a hot mid-infrared core. Further, based on our ALMA observations, we relate the various nuclear structures of IRAS 17208−0014 that have been proposed in the literature.

The Early-type Stars from the LAMOST Survey: Atmospheric Parameters

Abstract Massive stars play key roles in many astrophysical processes. Deriving the atmospheric parameters of massive stars is important to understanding their physical properties, and thus the atmospheric parameters are key inputs to trace the evolution of massive stars. Here we report our work on adopting the data-driven technique called stellar label machine (SLAM) with the nonlocal thermal equilibrium TLUSTY synthetic spectra as the training data set to estimate the stellar parameters of Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) optical spectra for early-type stars. We apply two consistency tests to verify this machine-learning method and compare stellar labels given by SLAM with the labels in the literature for several objects having high-resolution spectra. We provide the stellar labels of effective temperature (T eff), surface gravity ( log g ), metallicity ([M/H]), and projected rotational velocity ( v sin i ) for 3931 and 578 early-type stars from the LAMOST low-resolution survey (LRS) and medium-resolution survey (MRS), respectively. To estimate the average statistical uncertainties of our results, we calculated the standard deviation between the predicted stellar label and the prelabeled published values from the high-resolution spectra. The uncertainties of the four parameters are σ(T eff) = 2185 K, σ ( log g ) = 0.29 dex, and σ ( v sin i ) = 11 km s − 1 for MRS, and σ(T eff) = 1642 K, σ ( log g ) = 0.25 dex, and σ ( v sin i ) = 42 km s − 1 for LRS spectra, respectively. We note that the parameters of T eff, log g , and [M/H] can be better constrained using LRS spectra than using MRS spectra, most likely due to their broad wavelength coverage, while v sin i is constrained better by MRS spectra than by LRS spectra, probably due to the relatively accurate line profiles of MRS spectra.

Line formation of He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å in a small-scale reconnection event

Context. Ellerman bombs (EBs) and UV bursts are small-scale reconnection events that occur in the region of the upper photosphere to the chromosphere. It has recently been discovered that these events can have emission signatures in the He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å lines, suggesting that their temperatures are higher than previously expected. Aims. We aim to explain the line formation of He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å in small-scale reconnection events. Methods. We used a simulated EB in a Bifrost-generated radiative magnetohydrodynamics snapshot. The resulting He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å line intensities were synthesized in 3D using the non-local thermal equilibrium (non-LTE) Multi3D code. The presence of coronal extreme UV (EUV) radiation was included self-consistently. We compared the synthetic helium spectra with observed raster scans of EBs in He I 10 830 Å and He I D3 obtained at the Swedish Solar Telescope with the TRI-Port Polarimetric Echelle-Littrow Spectrograph. Results. Emission in He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å is formed in a thin shell around the EB at a height of ∼0.8 Mm, while the He I D3 absorption is formed above the EB at ∼4 Mm. The height at which the emission is formed corresponds to the lower boundary of the EB, where the temperature increases rapidly from 6 × 103 K to 106 K. The synthetic line profiles at a heliocentric angle of μ = 0.27 are qualitatively similar to the observed profiles at the same μ-angle in dynamics, broadening, and line shape: emission in the wing and absorption in the line core. The opacity in He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å is generated through photoionization-recombination driven by EUV radiation that is locally generated in the EB at temperatures in the range of 2 × 104 − 2 × 106 K and electron densities between 1011 and 1013 cm−3. The synthetic emission signals are a result of coupling to local conditions in a thin shell around the EB, with temperatures between 7 × 103 and 104 K and electron densities ranging from ∼1012 to 1013 cm−3. This shows that both strong non-LTE and thermal processes play a role in the formation of He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å in the synthetic EB/UV burst that we studied. Conclusions. In conclusion, the synthetic He I D3 and He I 10 830 Å emission signatures are an indicator of temperatures of at least 2 × 104 K; in this case, as high as ∼106 K.

The Lightweaver Framework for Nonlocal Thermal Equilibrium Radiative Transfer in Python

Abstract Tools for computing detailed optically thick spectral line profiles out of local thermodynamic equilibrium have always been focused on speed, due to the large computational effort involved. With the Lightweaver framework, we have produced a more flexible, modular toolkit for building custom tools in a high-level language, Python, without sacrificing speed against the current state of the art. The goal of providing a more flexible method for constructing these complex simulations is to decrease the barrier to entry and allow more rapid exploration of the field. In this paper we present an overview of the theory of optically thick nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium radiative transfer, the numerical methods implemented in Lightweaver including the problems of time-dependent populations and charge-conservation, as well as an overview of the components most users will interact with, to demonstrate their flexibility.

Evidence for sub-Chandrasekhar Type Ia supernovae from the last major merger

ABSTRACT We investigate the contribution of sub-Chandrasekhar mass Type Ia supernovae to the chemical enrichment of the Gaia Sausage galaxy, the progenitor of a significant merger event in the early life of the Milky Way. Using a combination of data from Nissen & Schuster, the GALactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) Data Release 3 [with 1D non-local thermal equilibrium (NLTE) abundance corrections], and the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) Data Release 16, we fit analytic chemical evolution models to a nine-dimensional chemical abundance space (Fe, Mg, Si, Ca, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in particular focusing on the iron-peak elements, Mn and Ni. We find that low [Mn/Fe] $\sim -0.15\, \mathrm{dex}$ and low [Ni/Fe] $\sim -0.3\, \mathrm{dex}$ Type Ia yields are required to explain the observed trends beyond the [α/Fe] knee of the Gaia Sausage (approximately at [Fe/H] $=-1.4\, \mathrm{dex}$). Comparison to theoretical yield calculations indicates a significant contribution from sub-Chandrasekhar mass Type Ia supernovae in this system (from ${\sim} 60\, \mathrm{per\, cent}$ to $100\, \mathrm{per\, cent}$ depending on the theoretical model with an additional ${\pm} 10\, \mathrm{per\, cent}$ systematic from NLTE corrections). We compare to results from other Local Group environments including dwarf spheroidal galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds, and the Milky Way’s bulge, finding the Type Ia [Mn/Fe] yield must be metallicity dependent. Our results suggest that sub-Chandrasekhar mass channels are a significant, perhaps even dominant, contribution to Type Ia supernovae in metal-poor systems, whilst more metal-rich systems could be explained by metallicity-dependent sub-Chandrasekhar mass yields, possibly with additional progenitor mass variation related to star formation history, or an increased contribution from Chandrasekhar mass channels at higher metallicity.

Hubble spectroscopy of LB-1: Comparison with B+black-hole and Be+stripped-star models

Context. LB-1 (alias ALS 8775) has been proposed as either an X-ray dim B-type star plus black hole (B+BH) binary or a Be star plus an inflated stripped star (Be+Bstr) binary. The latter hypothesis contingent upon the detection and characterization of the hidden broad-lined star in a composite optical spectrum. Aims. Our study is aimed at testing the published B+BH (single star) and Be+Bstr (binary star) models using a flux-calibrated UV-optical-IR spectrum. Methods. The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was used to obtain a flux-calibrated spectrum with an accuracy of ∼1%. We compared these data with non-local thermal equilibrium (non-LTE) spectral energy distributions (SED) and line profiles for the proposed models. The Hubble data, together with the Gaia EDR3 parallax and a well-determined extinction, were used to provide tight constraints on the properties and stellar luminosities of the LB-1 system. In the case of the Be+Bstr model we adopted the published flux ratio for the Be and Bstr stars, re-determined the Teff of the Bstr using the silicon ionization balance, and inferred Teff for the Be star from the fit to the SED. Results. The UV data strongly constrain the microturbulence velocity to ≲2 km s−1 for the stellar components of both models. We also find stellar parameters consistent with previous results, but with greater precision enabled by the Hubble SED. For the B+BH single-star model, we find the parameters (Teff, log(L/L⊙), Mspec/M⊙) of the B-type star to be (15 300 ± 300 K, 3.23−0.10+0.09, 5.2−1.4+1.8). For the Bstr star we obtain (12 500 ± 100 K, 2.70−0.09+0.09, 0.8−0.3+0.5), and for the Be star (18 900 ± 200 K, 3.04−0.09+0.09, 3.4−1.8+3.5). While the Be+Bstr model is a better fit to the He I lines and cores of the Balmer lines in the optical, the B+BH model provides a better fit to the Si IV resonance lines in the UV. The analysis also implies that the Bstr star has roughly twice the solar silicon abundance, which is difficult to reconcile with a stripped star origin. The Be star, on the other hand, has a rather low luminosity and a spectroscopic mass that is inconsistent with its possible dynamical mass. Conclusions. We provide tight constraints on the stellar luminosities of the Be+Bstr and B+BH models. For the former, the Bstr star appears to be silicon-rich, while the notional Be star appears to be sub-luminous for a classical Be star of its temperature and the predicted UV spectrum is inconsistent with the data. This latter issue can be significantly improved by reducing the Teff and radius of the Be star, at the cost, however, of a different mass ratio as a result. In the B+BH model, the single B-type spectrum is a good match to the UV spectrum. Adopting a mass ratio of 5.1 ± 0.1, from the literature, implies a BH mass of ∼21−8+9 M⊙.

Properties of Highly Rotationally Excited H2 in Photodissociation Regions

Abstract Molecular hydrogen (H2) is the dominant molecular species in the vast majority of interstellar environments and it plays a crucial role as a radiative coolant. In photodissociation regions (PDRs), it is one of the primary emitters in the near- to mid-infrared, which is due to lines originating from highly excited levels. The sparseness of H2 collisional data for rotational levels J ≥ 9, particularly for H2–H2 collisions, has limited nonlocal thermal equilibrium (NLTE) studies in ultraviolet-irradiated regions. Utilizing new calculations for para- and ortho-H2 high rotational collisional rate coefficients colliding with H2 (up to the maximum value for v = 0: J = 31), existing data for H2–H and H2–He collisions, and approximate scaling relations for missing collisional data, we investigate the excitation properties of H2 in a range of astrophysical environments, with the focus on PDRs (including benchmark PDR models and the Orion Bar). In these NLTE models, H2 emission is illustrated and shown as a diagnostic for physical conditions, such as temperature and density. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effect of updates in the collisional rates on the modeling results of H2 excitation. The resulting data sets of H2 collisional data should find wide application to other molecular environments.

A general model for rapid simulation of hot dense plasmas under non-local thermal equilibrium conditions

Aiming at the requirement of the on-line detailed atomic model in radiation hydrodynamic simulations, we propose a general model, multi-average ion collisional-radiative model (MAICRM), to rapidly simulate the ionization and charge state distribution of hot dense plasma under non-local thermal equilibrium (NLTE) conditions. In this model, an average ion is used to characterize the features of all the atomic states at one single charge state, including the average orbital occupation and the total population of the atomic states. The rate equations for the orbital occupations and the population are derived from the rate equations of the detailed configurations and separated into two sets under the two assumptions: one is the single orbital rate coefficients (including no occupation nor hole number of the relative orbital) that are only dependent on the charge state, and the other is the coupling of the excitation/de-excitation process and ionization/recombination process, which are weak. Namely, the orbital occupation of an average ion is mainly determined by the excitation/de-excitation process under a certain density and temperature; the population of the average ions is determined by the ionization/recombination process with the fixed orbital occupation. The two sets of rate equations are solved sequentially and iteratively until a set of converged orbital occupation and population values is obtained. The interplay between the occupation and the population is implicit in the excitation/de-excitation rate coefficient and ionization/recombination rate coefficient, each of which is a function of electron density and temperature as well as occupation. In this work, using the newly developed method and codes, the mean ionizations and charge state distributions of Fe, Xe and Au plasmas under different plasma conditions are calculated and in good agreement with the experimental results and DCA/SCA calculations. Meanwhile, compared with the DCA/SCA calculations, in which hundreds or thousands of detailed atomic states at each charge state are considered to obtain a converged ionization balance, MAICRM only considers one kind of ion at one single charge state, thus the computational cost of MAICRM is much reduced and lower than that of DCA/SCA. Due to its good degree of accuracy for ionization balance and its low computational cost, MAICRM is expected to be incorporated into the radiation hydrodynamic program to realize the online calculation of detailed nonequilibrium atomic models in the future.

Nebular Models of Sub-Chandrasekhar Mass Type Ia Supernovae: Clues to the Origin of Ca-rich Transients

Abstract We use non-local thermal equilibrium radiative transport modeling to examine observational signatures of sub-Chandrasekhar mass double detonation explosions in the nebular phase. Results range from spectra that look like typical and subluminous Type Ia supernovae (SNe) for higher mass progenitors to spectra that look like Ca-rich transients for lower mass progenitors. This ignition mechanism produces an inherent relationship between emission features and the progenitor mass as the ratio of the nebular [Ca ii]/[Fe iii] emission lines increases with decreasing white dwarf mass. Examining the [Ca ii]/[Fe iii] nebular line ratio in a sample of observed SNe we find further evidence for the two distinct classes of SNe Ia identified in Polin et al. by their relationship between Si ii velocity and B-band magnitude, both at time of peak brightness. This suggests that SNe Ia arise from more than one progenitor channel, and provides an empirical method for classifying events based on their physical origin. Furthermore, we provide insight to the mysterious origin of Ca-rich transients. Low-mass double detonation models with only a small mass fraction of Ca (1%) produce nebular spectra that cool primarily through forbidden [Ca ii] emission.

Hydrodynamic escape of mineral atmosphere from hot rocky exoplanet. I. Model description

ABSTRACT Recent exoplanet statistics indicate that photo-evaporation has a great impact on the mass and bulk composition of close-in low-mass planets. While there are many studies addressing photo-evaporation of hydrogen- or water-rich atmospheres, no detailed investigation regarding rocky vapour atmospheres (or mineral atmospheres) has been conducted. Here, we develop a new 1D hydrodynamic model of the ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated mineral atmosphere composed of Na, Mg, O, Si, their ions and electrons, including molecular diffusion, thermal conduction, photo-/thermochemistry, X–ray and UV heating, and radiative line cooling (i.e. the effects of the optical thickness and non-local thermal equilibrium). The focus of this paper is on describing our methodology but presents some new findings. Our hydrodynamic simulations demonstrate that almost all of the incident X-ray and UV energy from the host star is converted into and lost by the radiative emission of the coolant gas species such as Na, Mg, Mg+, Si2+, Na3+, and Si3+. For an Earth-size planet orbiting 0.02 au around a young solar-type star, we find that the X-ray and UV heating efficiency is as small as 1 × 10−3, which corresponds to 0.3 M⊕ Gyr−1 of the mass-loss rate simply integrated over all the directions. Because of such efficient cooling, the photo-evaporation of the mineral atmosphere on hot rocky exoplanets with masses of 1 M⊕ is not massive enough to exert a great influence on the planetary mass and bulk composition. This suggests that close-in high-density exoplanets with sizes larger than the Earth radius survive in the high-UV environments.

AstroSat soft X-ray observations of the symbiotic recurrent nova V3890 Sgr during its 2019 outburst

ABSTRACT Two long AstroSat Soft X-ray Telescope observations were taken of the third recorded outburst of the symbiotic recurrent nova V3890 Sgr. The first observing run, 8.1–9.9 d after the outburst, initially showed a stable intensity level with a hard X-ray spectrum that we attribute to shocks between the nova ejecta and the pre-existing stellar companion. On day 8.57, the first, weak, signs appeared of supersoft source (SSS) emission powered by residual burning on the surface of the white dwarf. The SSS emission was observed to be highly variable on time-scales of hours. After day 8.9, the SSS component was more stable and brighter. In the second observing run, on days 15.9–19.6 after the outburst, the SSS component was even brighter but still highly variable. The SSS emission was observed to fade significantly during days 16.8–17.8 followed by re-brightening. Meanwhile, the shock component was stable, leading to increase in hardness ratio during the period of fading. AstroSat and XMM–Newton observations have been used to study the spectral properties of V3890 Sgr to draw quantitative conclusions even if their drawback is model dependent. We used the xspec to fit spectral models of plasma emission, and the best fits are consistent with the elemental abundances being lower during the second observing run compared to the first for spectra ≥1 keV. The SSS emission is well fitted by non-local thermal equilibrium model atmosphere used for white dwarfs. The resulting spectral parameters, however, are subject to systematic uncertainties such as completeness of atomic data.

Dayside thermal inversion in the atmosphere of WASP-19b

Context. Observations of ultra-hot Jupiters indicate the existence of thermal inversion in their atmospheres, with dayside temperatures greater than 2200 K. Various physical mechanisms such as non-local thermal equilibrium, cloud formation, disequilibrium chemistry, ionisation, hydrodynamic waves, and associated energy have been omitted in previous spectral retrievals, while they play an important role in the thermal structure of their upper atmospheres. Aims. We aim to explore the atmospheric properties of WASP-19b to understand its largely featureless thermal spectra using a state-of-the-art atmosphere code that includes a detailed treatment of the most important physical and chemical processes at play in such atmospheres. Methods. We used the one-dimensional line-by-line radiative transfer code PHOENIX in its spherical symmetry configuration including the BT-Settl cloud model and C/O disequilibrium chemistry to analyse the observed thermal spectrum of WASP-19b. Results. We find evidence for a thermal inversion in the dayside atmosphere of the highly irradiated ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-19b, with Teq ~ 2700 K. At these high temperatures we find that H2O dissociates thermally at pressures below 10−2 bar. The inverted temperature-pressure profiles of WASP-19b show evidence of CO emission features at 4.5 μm in its secondary eclipse spectra. Conclusions. We find that the atmosphere of WASP-19b is thermally inverted. We infer that the thermal inversion is due to the strong impinging radiation. We show that H2O is partially dissociated in the upper atmosphere above about τ = 10−2, but is still a significant contributor to the infrared opacity, dominated by CO. The high-temperature and low-density conditions cause H2O to have a flatter opacity profile than in non-irradiated brown dwarfs. Altogether these factors make H2O more difficult to identify in WASP-19b. We suggest that the state-of-the-art PHOENIX model atmosphere code is well suited to the study of this new class of extrasolar planets, ultra-hot Jupiters.

On the Formation of Lyman β and the O i 1027 and 1028 Å Spectral Lines

Abstract We study the potential of Lyman β and the O i 1027 and 1028 Å spectral lines to help in understanding the properties of the chromosphere and transition region (TR). The oxygen transitions are located in the wing of Lyman β, which is a candidate spectral line for the solar missions Solar Orbiter/Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment and Solar-C (EUVST). We examine the general spectroscopic properties of the three transitions in the quiet Sun by synthesizing them assuming nonlocal thermal equilibrium and taking into account partial redistribution effects. We estimate the heights where the spectral lines are sensitive to the physical parameters, computing the response functions to temperature and velocity using a 1D semiempirical atmospheric model. We also synthesize the intensity spectrum using the 3D enhanced network simulation computed with the Bifrost code. The results indicate that Lyman β is sensitive to the temperature from the middle chromosphere to the TR, while it is mainly sensitive to the line-of-sight (LOS) velocity at the lower atmospheric layers, around 2000 km above the optical surface. The O i lines form lower in the middle chromosphere, being sensitive to the LOS velocities at heights lower than those covered by Lyman β. The spatial distribution of the intensity signals computed with the Bifrost atmosphere, as well as the inferred velocities from the line core Doppler shift, confirms the previous results. Therefore, these results indicate that the spectral window at 1025 Å contains several spectral lines that complement each other to seamlessly trace the thermal structure and gas dynamics from the middle chromosphere to the lower TR.

Rotational relaxation of HCO+ and DCO+ by collision with H2

ABSTRACT The HCO+ and DCO+ molecules are commonly used as tracers in the interstellar medium. Therefore, accurate rotational rate coefficients of these systems with He and H2 are crucial in non-local thermal equilibrium models. We determine in this work the rotational de-excitation rate coefficients of HCO+ in collision with both para- and ortho-H2, and also analyse the isotopic effects by studying the case of DCO+. A new four-dimensional potential energy surface from ab initio calculations was developed for the HCO+–H2 system, and adapted to the DCO+–H2 case. These surfaces are then employed in close-coupling calculations to determine the rotational de-excitation cross-sections and rate coefficients for the lower rotational states of HCO+ and DCO+. The new rate coefficients for HCO+ + para-H2 were compared with the available data, and a set of rate coefficients for HCO+ + ortho-H2 is also reported. The difference between the collision rates with ortho- and para-H2 is found to be small. These calculations confirm that the use of the rate coefficients for HCO+ + para-H2 for estimating those for HCO+ + ortho-H2 as well as for DCO+ + para-H2 is a good approximation.

Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS)

Context. Contrary to what is expected from models of Galactic chemical evolution, the isotopic fractionation of silicon (Si) in the Galaxy has recently been found to be constant. This finding calls for new observations, also at core scales, to re-evaluate the fractionation of Si. Aims. L1157-B1 is one of the outflow-shocked regions along the blue-shifted outflow that is driven by the Class 0 protostar L1157-mm. It is an ideal laboratory for studying the material ejected from the grains on very short timescales because its chemical composition is representative of the composition of the grains. Methods. We imaged 28SiO, 29SiO, and 30SiO J = 2–1 emission towards L1157-B1 and B0 with the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometer as part of the Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) large project. We present here a study of the isotopic fractionation of SiO towards L1157-B1. Furthermore, we used the high spectral resolution observations on the main isotopologue, 28SiO, to study the jet impact on the dense gas. We here also present single-dish observations obtained with the IRAM 30 m telescope and Herschel-HIFI. We carried out a non-local thermal equilibrium analysis using a large velocity gradient code to model the single-dish observations. Results. From our observations we can show that (i) the 2–1 transition of the main isotopologue is optically thick in L1157-B1 even at high velocities, and (ii) the [29SiO/30SiO] ratio is constant across the source, and consistent with the solar value of 1.5. Conclusions. We report the first isotopic fractionation maps of SiO in a shocked region and show the absence of a mass-dependent fractionation in 29Si and 30Si across L1157-B1. A high-velocity bullet in 28SiO has been identified, showing the signature of a jet impacting on the dense gas. With the dataset presented in this paper, both interferometric and single-dish, we were able to study the gas that is shocked at the B1a position and its surrounding gas in great detail.

Global Well Posedness for the Thermally Radiative Magnetohydrodynamic Equations in 3D

In this paper, we study the thermally radiative magnetohydrodynamic equations in 3D, which describe the dynamical behaviors of magnetized fluids that have nonignorable energy and momentum exchange with radiation under the nonlocal thermal equilibrium case. By using exquisite energy estimate, global existence and uniqueness of classical solutions to Cauchy problem in ℝ3 or T3 are established when initial data is a small perturbation of some given equilibrium. We can further prove that the rates of convergence of solution toward the equilibrium state are algebraic in ℝ3 and exponential in T3 under some additional conditions on initial data. The proof is based on the Fourier multiplier technique.

Preliminary estimation of the detection possibilities of Ganymede’s water vapor environment with MAJIS

The exosphere of Ganymede is the interface region linking the moon’s icy surface to Jupiter’s magnetospheric environment. Its characterization is of key importance to achieve a full understanding of the ice alteration processes induced by the radiation environment. Several scientific instruments that will operate on board the upcoming Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, selected by ESA in the context of its Cosmic Vision programme, have the potential to study Ganymede’s exosphere. Among them, the Moons And Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer (MAJIS) will have the chance to investigate the composition of the moon’s exospheric components and the emission of water molecules. The exospheric water density profile, as obtained from current models, is a crucial parameter for the estimation of the expected signal to noise ratio related to the actual measurement. In lack of an adequate number of Ganymede’s observations from past missions, there is a general difficulty in constraining current exosphere models which are based, in general, on different scenarios and considerations and often show large discrepancies in the estimated spatial distribution of the neutral environment. In this work, we make a preliminary estimation of the expected IR emission from exospheric water molecules, using different modelled density profiles, and we speculate on the possibility of JUICE/MAJIS to detect it. An exercise on the potential plume detection capabilities of MAJIS is also performed. The first necessary step for performing these calculations is a rough comparison of the existing models of Ganymede’s water vapor exosphere. We discuss the characteristics of the neutral environment as derived from different exospheric models available in literature, the role of the ion-surface interactions in the H2O exosphere generation, and the related implications also in view of future observations. We then use the model outputs to estimate different scenarios for the expected non-Local Thermal Equilibrium (non-LTE) emission from these molecules. The results of this study can be of help during the JUICE observation planning phase.

Hydrodynamic conditions in laser irradiated buried layer experiments

The calculation of open shell ionization level and radiative properties of materials in Non-Local Thermal Equilibrium (NLTE) is currently still a major challenge for any atomic model. The predictions of various NLTE atomic codes at these conditions still differ significantly. In recent years, a new buried layer platform was developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. This platform is used to measure ionization distribution and emission of open L-shell, mid-Z ions and open M-shell, high-Z ions at NLTE conditions that are relevant in many laser plasma applications. These experiments offer a unique chance for benchmarking the atomic models. In order to perform these experiments, a uniform well characterized plasma source is required. In this work, we present one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional simulations of the experimental platform. These simulations were used for both the design and the analysis of the experiments. The simulations demonstrate the different phases of hydrodynamic evolution of the target and identify the time windows in which uniform conditions can be achieved. A 1D expansion of the target was found to be adequate to describe the target's evolution for most of the experiment duration. The fast 1D simulations were compared with recent experimental results from the Omega laser facility. The sensitivity of the results to several modeling parameters such as the electron flux limiter and laser resonant absorption is reported.