Pulsation Models Research Articles

Is the Cessation of Blood Flow Faster than the Polymerization of an n-Butyl Cyanoacrylate-Lipiodol Mixture? An In Vitro Phantom Study.

To compare the polymerization time of n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and lipiodol mixture in a static model and a pulsating flow model simulating embolization procedure of small caliber arteries. The polymerization time of NBCA-lipiodol mixture was measured by the morphological changes of a glue droplet in a petri dish. For the flow model, we used a 2-mm-inner-diameter polyvinyl alcohol tube connected to a pulsation pump. Bovine serum was supplied from the pump and circulated into the system at 30ml/min and 60bpm. A 0.64-mm-inner-diameter silicon microcatheter was inserted into this system, and then, 0.5ml of glue was injected into the tube. The flow cessation time was defined as the time it took to stop the serum draining from the end of the tube. Six samples of 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, and 20 vol% NBCA were assessed. The median polymerization times for each concentration were 0.12, 3.72, 12.30, 27.41, 57.68, and 63.67s, respectively. The median flow cessation times were 0.28, 0.78, 1.43, 3.75, 4.50, and 9.29s, respectively. The flow cessation time was significantly shorter than the polymerization time for all samples except for 100 vol% cyanoacrylate (p < 0.05). The flow cessation time of cyanoacrylate glue was significantly shorter than the polymerization time in an in vitro experiment. The injected glue possibly stops the blood flow before the completion of polymerization in the vascular system.

When a period is not a full stop: Light-curve structure reveals fundamental parameters of Cepheid and RR Lyrae stars

ABSTRACT The period of pulsation and the structure of the light curve for Cepheid and RR Lyrae variables depend on the fundamental parameters of the star: mass, radius, luminosity, and effective temperature. Here, we train artificial neural networks on theoretical pulsation models to predict the fundamental parameters of these stars based on their period and light-curve structure. We find significant improvements to estimates of these parameters made using light-curve structure and period over estimates made using only the period. Given that the models are able to reproduce most observables, we find that the fundamental parameters of these stars can be estimated up to 60 per cent more accurately when light-curve structure is taken into consideration. We quantify which aspects of light-curve structure are most important in determining fundamental parameters, and find, for example, that the second Fourier amplitude component of RR Lyrae light curves is even more important than period in determining the effective temperature of the star. We apply this analysis to observations of hundreds Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud and thousands of RR Lyrae in the Magellanic Clouds and Galactic bulge to produce catalogues of estimated masses, radii, luminosities, and other parameters of these stars. As an example application, we estimate Wesenheit indices and use those to derive distance moduli to the Magellanic Clouds of μLMC,CEP = 18.688 ± 0.093, μLMC,RRL = 18.52 ± 0.14, and μSMC,RRL = 18.88 ± 0.17 mag.

The first view of δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars with the TESS mission

ABSTRACT We present the first asteroseismic results for δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars observed in Sectors 1 and 2 of the TESS mission. We utilize the 2-min cadence TESS data for a sample of 117 stars to classify their behaviour regarding variability and place them in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram using Gaia DR2 data. Included within our sample are the eponymous members of two pulsator classes, γ Doradus and SX Phoenicis. Our sample of pulsating intermediate-mass stars observed by TESS also allows us to confront theoretical models of pulsation driving in the classical instability strip for the first time and show that mixing processes in the outer envelope play an important role. We derive an empirical estimate of 74 per cent for the relative amplitude suppression factor as a result of the redder TESS passband compared to the Kepler mission using a pulsating eclipsing binary system. Furthermore, our sample contains many high-frequency pulsators, allowing us to probe the frequency variability of hot young δ Scuti stars, which were lacking in the Kepler mission data set, and identify promising targets for future asteroseismic modelling. The TESS data also allow us to refine the stellar parameters of SX Phoenicis, which is believed to be a blue straggler.

Stellar Evolution in Real Time: Models Consistent with the Direct Observation of a Thermal Pulse in T Ursae Minoris

Abstract Most aspects of stellar evolution proceed far too slowly to be directly observable in a single star on human timescales. The thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (AGB) is one exception. The combination of state-of-the-art modeling techniques with data assimilated from observations collected by amateur astronomers over many decades provide, for the first time, the opportunity to identify a star occupying this precise evolutionary stage. In this study, we show that the rapid pulsation period change and the associated reduction in radius in the bright, northern variable star T Ursae Minoris are caused by the recent onset of a thermal pulse (TP). We demonstrate that T UMi transitioned into a double-mode pulsation state, and we exploit its asteroseismic features to constrain its fundamental stellar parameters. We use evolutionary models from MESA and linear pulsation models from GYRE to track simultaneously the structural and oscillatory evolution of models with varying mass, and we apply a sophisticated iterative sampling scheme to achieve time resolution ≤10 yr at the onset of the relevant TPs. We report an initial mass of 2.0 ± 0.15 M ⊙ and an age of 1.17 ± 0.21 Gyr for T UMi. This is the most precise mass and age determination for a single AGB star ever obtained. The ultimate test of our models will be the continued observation of its evolution in real time: we predict that the pulsation periods in T UMi will continue shortening for a few decades before they rebound and begin to lengthen again, as the star expands in radius.

Coupling Dynamics of Flexible Spacecraft Filled with Liquid Propellant

AbstractThis paper discusses the coupling dynamics behavior of spacecraft equipped with flexible appendages and liquid propellant tanks. The moving pulsating ball model (MPBM) is used to imitate la...

Six new rapidly oscillating Ap stars in the Kepler long-cadence data using super-Nyquist asteroseismology

ABSTRACTWe perform a search for rapidly oscillating Ap stars in the Kepler long-cadence data, where true oscillations above the Nyquist limit of 283.21 $\mu$Hz can be reliably distinguished from aliases as a consequence of the barycentric time corrections applied to the Kepler data. We find evidence for rapid oscillations in six stars: KIC 6631188, KIC 7018170, KIC 10685175, KIC 11031749, KIC 11296437, and KIC 11409673, and identify each star as chemically peculiar through either pre-existing classifications or spectroscopic measurements. For each star, we identify the principal pulsation mode, and are able to observe several additional pulsation modes in KIC 7018170. We find that KIC 7018170 and KIC 11409673 both oscillate above their theoretical acoustic cut-off frequency, whilst KIC 11031749 oscillates at the cut-off frequency within uncertainty. All but KIC 11031749 exhibit strong amplitude modulation consistent with the oblique pulsator model, confirming their mode geometry and periods of rotation.

Rotation and pulsation in Ap stars: first light results from TESS sectors 1 and 2

We present the first results from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) on the rotational and pulsational variability of magnetic chemically peculiar A-type stars. We analyse TESS 2-min cadence data from sectors 1 and 2 on a sample of 83 stars. Five new rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars are announced. One of these pulsates with periods around 4.7 min, making it the shortest period roAp star known to date. Four out of the five new roAp stars are multiperiodic. Three of these, and the singly-periodic one show the presence of rotational mode splitting. Individual frequencies are provided in all cases. In addition, seven previously known roAp stars are analysed. Additional modes of oscillation are found in some stars, while in others we are able to distinguish the true pulsations from possible aliases present in the ground-based data. We find that the pulsation amplitude in the TESS filter is typically a factor 6 smaller than that in the $B$ filter which is usually used for ground-based observations. For four roAp stars we set constraints on the inclination angle and magnetic obliquity, through the application of the oblique pulsator model. We also confirm the absence of roAp-type pulsations down to amplitude limits of 6 and 13 micromag, respectively, in two of the best characterised non-oscillating Ap (noAp) stars. We announce 27 new rotational variables along with their rotation periods, and provide different rotation periods for seven other stars. Finally, we discuss how these results challenge state-of-the-art pulsation models for roAp stars.

Static and dynamic flame model effects on thermal buckling: Fixed-roof tanks adjacent to an ethanol pool-fire

Storage tank fires (such as pool-fires) often occur in the petrochemical tank farms. Flame pulsation is an important characteristic of the turbulent flames observed in pool-fires. Current cylindrical solid flame models inadequately predict the thermal radiation of pool-fires because of the ignorance of the flame pulsation effect. In this study, the thermal buckling behavior and fire resistance of a fixed-roof Q345 steel tank with a stepped thickness exposed to a neighboring ethanol pool-fire based on the flame pulsation model is numerically investigated. The influence of smoke generated by the combustion process which can reduce thermal radiation fluxes is taken into account. Geometric and material nonlinearity which considers nonlinear strain-displacement and stress-strain relation respectively is used on finite element analysis. Results show that the thermal buckling mode of the cylindrical tank wall is elastic buckling, and the thermal buckling behavior is non-linear. The fire resistance of the fixed-roof steel tank increases significantly as the vertical fire location increases, and the fire resistance decreases with the burning tank diameter increasing. Moreover, the fire resistance of the fixed-roof steel tank for a cylinder-cone combined flame based on the flame pulsation model is larger than that for a cylindrical flame. The study can be used to optimize the steel structure design of oil tanks for resisting pool-fires, and thus reduce the loss caused by fire accidents in tank farms.

Health Monitoring of Centrifugal Pumps Using Digital Models

The area of predictive maintenance (PM) has received growing research interest in the past few years. Diagnostic capabilities of PM technologies have increased due to advances made in sensor technologies, signal processing algorithms, and the rapid development of computational power and data handling algorithms. Conventional PM programs are mostly built around analyzing sensors' data collected from physical systems. Incorporating simulation data collected from digital models replicating the physical system with sensors' data can lead to more optimization for operation and maintenance. This paper demonstrates the role of using digital models in implementing effective condition monitoring on centrifugal pumps. Two digital models are used to study the dynamic performance of a centrifugal pump experiencing cavitation condition. The first model is a three-dimensional fully turbulent computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model. Based on the pressure distribution obtained from the CFD, a novel analytical pressure pulsation model is developed and used to simulate the exciting forces affecting the pump. The second digital model is a pump casing dynamic model which is used to predict the casing vibration response to exciting forces due to faulty operating conditions. Results obtained from the digital models are validated using an experimental test rig of a small centrifugal pump. Using this concept, a pump faulty operation can be simulated to provide complete understanding of the root cause of the fault. Additionally, digital models can be used to simulate different corrective actions that would restore the normal operation of the pump.

Asteroseismology of Massive Stars with the TESS Mission: The Runaway β Cep Pulsator PHL 346 = HN Aqr

Abstract We report an analysis of the first known β Cep pulsator observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, the runaway star PHL 346 = HN Aqr. The star, previously known as a singly periodic pulsator, has at least 34 oscillation modes excited, 12 of those in the g-mode domain and 22 p modes. Analysis of archival data implies that the amplitude and frequency of the dominant mode and the stellar radial velocity were variable over time. A binary nature would be inconsistent with the inferred ejection velocity from the Galactic disk of 420 km s−1, which is too large to be survivable by a runaway binary system. A kinematic analysis of the star results in an age constraint (23 ± 1 Myr) that can be imposed on asteroseismic modeling and that can be used to remove degeneracies in the modeling process. Our attempts to match the excitation of the observed frequency spectrum resulted in pulsation models that were too young. Hence, asteroseismic studies of runaway pulsators can become vital not only in tracing the evolutionary history of such objects, but to understand the interior structure of massive stars in general. TESS is now opening up these stars for detailed asteroseismic investigation.

A revisit to the enigmatic variable star 21 Comae

The magnetic chemically peculiar (Ap/CP2) star 21 Com has been extensively studied in the past, albeit with widely differing and sometimes contradictory results, in particular concerning the occurrence of short term variability between about 5 to 90 minutes. We have performed a new investigation of 21 Com using MOST satellite and high-cadence ground-based photometry, time series spectroscopy, and evolutionary and pulsational modeling. Our analysis confirms that 21 Com is a classical CP2 star showing increased abundances of, in particular, Cr and Sr. From spectroscopic analysis, we have derived Teff = 8900(200) K, log g = 3.9(2), and vsini = 63(2) km/s. Our modeling efforts suggest that 21 Com is a main sequence (MS) star seen equator-on with a mass of 2.29(10) M(Sun) and a radius of R = 2.6(2) R(Sun). Our extensive photometric data confirm the existence of rotational light variability with a period of 2.05219(2) d. However, no significant frequencies with a semi-amplitude exceeding 0.2 mmag were found in the frequency range from 5 to 399 c/d. Our RV data also do not indicate short-term variability. We calculated pulsational models assuming different metallicities and ages, which do not predict the occurrence of unstable modes. The star 18 Com, often employed as comparison star for 21 Com in the past, has been identified as a periodic variable (P = 1.41645 d). While it is impossible to assess whether 21 Com has exhibited short-term variability in the past, the new observational data and several issues/inconsistencies identified in previous studies strongly suggest that 21 Com is neither a delta Scuti nor a roAp pulsator but a "well-behaved" CP2 star exhibiting its trademark rotational variability.

On the Oosterhoff dichotomy in the Galactic bulge: I. spatial distribution

We present a study of the Oosterhoff (Oo) dichotomy in the Galactic bulge using 8\,141 fundamental mode RR~Lyrae stars. We used public photometric data from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) and the Vista Variables in the V\'ia L\'actea survey (VVV). We carefully selected fundamental mode stars without modulation and without association with any globular cluster located toward the Galactic bulge. Subsequently, we identified and separated the Oosterhoff groups I and II on the basis of their period-amplitude distribution and using a relation fitted to the Oosterhoff I locus. Both Oosterhoff groups were then compared to observations of two bulge globular clusters and with models of stellar pulsation and evolution. We found that some of the variables classified as Oo\,II belong to a third Oo group. The Oosterhoff II variables are more metal-poor on average, more massive, and cooler than their Oosterhoff I counterparts. The analysis of their spatial distribution shows a systematic difference between \textit{foreground}, central and \textit{background} regions in the occurrence of the Oosterhoff II group. The difference between the Oo\,I and II groups is also seen in their distance distributions with respect to the Galactic bar, but neither group is associated with the bar.

Non-stationary process characteristics of the gas outflow into a liquid

A numerical simulation of the process of the outflow of gas under pressure into a closed container partially filled with liquid was carried out. For comparative theoretical analysis, an asymptotic model was used with assumptions about the adiabaticity of the gas outflow process and the ideality of the liquid during the oscillatory one-dimensional motion of the liquid column. In this case, the motion of the liquid column and the evolution of pressure in the gas are determined by the equation of dynamics and the balance of enthalpy. Numerical simulation was performed in the OpenFOAM package using the fluid volume method (VOF method) and the standard k-e turbulence model. The evolution of the fields of volumetric gas content, velocity, and pressure during the flow of gas from the high-pressure chamber into a closed channel filled with liquid in the presence of a ”gas blanket“ at the upper end of the channel is obtained. It was shown that the dynamics of pulsations in the gas cavity that occurs when the gas flows into the closed region substantially depends on the physical properties of the liquid in the volume, especially the density. Numerical modeling showed that the injection of gas into water occurs in the form of a jet outflow of gas, and for the outflow into liquid lead, a gas slug is formed at the bottom of the channel. Satisfactory agreement was obtained between the numerical calculation and the calculation according to the asymptotic model for pressure pulsations in a gas projectile in liquid lead. For water, the results of calculations using the asymptotic model give a significant difference from the results of numerical calculations. In all cases, the velocity of the medium obtained by numerical simulation and when using the asymptotic model differ by an order of magnitude or more.

Light Curve Parameters of Cepheid and RR Lyrae Variables at Multiple Wavelengths − Models vs. Observations

We present results from a comparative study of light curves of Cepheid and RR Lyrae stars in the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds with their theoretical models generated from the stellar pulsation codes. Fourier decomposition method is used to analyse the theoretical and the observed light curves at multiple wavelengths. In case of RR Lyrae stars, the amplitude and Fourier parameters from the models are consistent with observations in most period bins except for low metal-abundances (Z &lt; 0.004). In case of Cepheid variables, we observe a greater offset between models and observations for both the amplitude and Fourier parameters. The theoretical amplitude parameters are typically larger than those from observations, except close to the period of 10 days. We find that these discrepancies between models and observations can be reduced if a higher convective efficiency is adopted in the pulsation codes. Our results suggest that a quantitative comparison of light curve structure is very useful to provide constraints for the input physics to the stellar pulsation models.

Variability in Proto-planetary Nebulae. V. Velocity and Light Curve Analysis of IRAS 17436+5003, 18095+2704, and 19475+3119

Abstract We have obtained contemporaneous light, color, and radial velocity data for three proto-planetary nebulae (PPNe) over the years 2007 to 2015. The light and velocity curves of each show similar periods of pulsation, with photometric periods of 42 and 50 days for IRAS 17436+5003, 102 days for IRAS 18095+2704, and 35 days for IRAS 19475+3119. The light and velocity curves are complex with multiple periods and small, variable amplitudes. Nevertheless, at least over limited time intervals, we were able to identify dominant periods in the light, color, and velocity curves and compare the phasing of each. The color curves appear to peak with or slightly after the light curves while the radial velocity curves peak about a quarter of a cycle before the light curves. Similar results were found previously for two other PPNe, although for them the light and color appeared to be in phase. Thus, it appears that PPNe are brightest when smallest and hottest. These phase results differ from those found for classical Cepheid variables, where the light and velocity differ by half a cycle, and are hottest at about average size and expanding. However, they do appear to have similar phasing to the larger-amplitude pulsations seen in RV Tauri variables. Presently, few pulsation models exist for PPNe, and these do not fit the observations well, especially the longer periods observed. Model fits to these new light and velocity curves would allow masses to be determined for these post-AGB objects, and thereby provide important constraints to post-AGB stellar evolution models of low- and intermediate-mass stars.

Modelling long-period variables – I. A new grid of O-rich and C-rich pulsation models

We present a new grid of non-adiabatic, linear pulsation models of Long-Period Variables (LPVs), including periods and growth rates for radial modes from the fundamental to the fourth overtone. The models span a wide range in mass, luminosity, metallicity, C/O ratio and helium abundance, effectively covering the whole thermally-pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) evolution, and representing a significant update with respect to previous works. The main improvement is the inclusion of detailed atomic and molecular opacities, consistent with the models chemical mixture, that makes the present set of models the first to systematically account for variability in C-stars. We examine periods and growth rates in the models, and find that, while the fundamental mode is affected by the structure of the envelope, overtones are less sensitive to the interior and largely determined by the global properties. In the models, the frequency of the overtone with the largest degree of excitation is found to scale with the acoustic cut-off frequency at the stellar surface, a behaviour similar to that observed for the frequency of maximum oscillation power for solar-like oscillations in less evolved red giants. This allows us to provide a simple analytic prescription to predict the most-likely dominant mode as a function of stellar parameters. Best-fit relations for periods are also provided. By applying results of pulsation models to evolutionary tracks, we present a general picture of the evolution of long-period variability during the TP-AGB, that we find consistent with observations. Models are made public through a dedicated web interface.

The search for roAp stars: null results and new candidates from Strömgren-Crawford photometry

The rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars exhibit pulsational photometric and/or radial velocity variations on time scales of several minutes, which are essential to test current pulsation models as well as our assumptions of atmospheric structure characteristics. In addition, their chemical peculiarity makes them very interesting for probing stellar formation and evolution in the presence of a global magnetic field. To date, a limited number of only 61 roAp stars is known to show photometric variability. On the other hand, a literature survey yields 619 unique stars that have unsuccessfully been searched for variability of this kind. Strömgren-Crawford uvbyβ photometry of stars from both subgroups was used to investigate whether there is a selection bias for the investigated stars. We also present new photometric measurements (202 hours on 59 different nights) of 55 roAp candidates. We did not detect any new roAp star. Although our detection limits are comparable to other surveys, we also did not find pulsations in the known roAp star HD 12098, which may be a consequence of temporal amplitude changes. On the other hand, we do find some evidence for photometric variability of beta CrB at its spectroscopically derived pulsation period. From the uvbyβ photometry we conclude that the blue border of the roAp instability strip appears observationally well defined, whereas the red border is rather poorly known and studied. Within these boundaries, a total of 4646 candidates were identified which appear worth investigating for short-term pulsational variability.

On the variation of light-curve parameters of RR Lyrae variables at multiple wavelengths

We present a detailed light-curve analysis of RR Lyrae variables at multiple wavelengths using Fourier decomposition method. The time-series data for RR Lyrae variables in the Galactic bulge and the Magellanic Clouds are taken from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment survey while the infrared light curves are compiled from the literature. We also analyse the multiband theoretical light curves that are generated from the stellar pulsation models of RR Lyrae stars for a wide range of metal abundances. We find that the theoretical light-curve parameters with different metal abundances are consistent with observed parameters in most period bins at both optical and infrared wavelengths. The theoretical and observed Fourier amplitude parameters decrease with increase in wavelength while the Fourier phase parameters increase with wavelength at a given period. We use absolute magnitudes for a subset of theoretical models that fit the observed optical RR Lyrae light curves in the Large Magellanic Cloud to estimate a distance modulus, μLMC = 18.51 ± 0.07, independent of the metallicity. We also use Fourier analysis to study the period–colour and amplitude–colour relations for RR Lyrae stars in the Magellanic Clouds using optical data and find that the slope of period–colour relation at minimum light is very shallow or flat and becomes increasingly significant at the maximum light for RRab stars. We also find that the metallicity dependence of the period–colour relations increases as we go from minimum to maximum light, suggesting that the mean light results are indeed an average of the various pulsational phases. We summarize that the average variation in these relations is consistent between theory and observations and supports the theory of the interaction of the stellar photosphere and the hydrogen ionization front.

Third Harmonic Current Injection in Fault-Tolerant Five-Phase Permanent-Magnet Motor Drive

This paper presents a third harmonic current injection method for a five-phase permanent-magnet (PM) motor with trapezoidal back electromotive force (EMF) under postfault field oriented control (FOC). The key of the proposed method is the third harmonic current online calculation and injection under postfault FOC. The postfault FOC lies in the fundamental decoupled model based on the concept of maintaining spatial circular rotation of fundamental PM flux linkage vector and magnetic motive force under open-circuit fault. Based on the mathematical model of torque pulsations caused by third harmonics of air-gap flux, the injected third harmonic current can be calculated by the radio of the amplitude of third harmonic EMF and fundamental EMF easily. The presented fault-tolerant control strategy can achieve the real time optimal current reference generation and third harmonic current injection under postfault FOC while reducing the torque pulsations. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by experimental results under various operation conditions.

Characterisation of long-period variables in the Magellanic Clouds

AbstractVariability due to stellar pulsation on the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) has a great potential for applications such as distance measurements, the study the evolution of stars and galaxies, and the estimate of global stellar parameters, as well as to constrain stellar evolutionary models. Given the importance of long-period variables (LPVs) in this sense, and given the lack of recent, updated sets of pulsation models, we computed an extended grid of pulsation models widely covering the space of AGB stellar parameters, including up-to-date opacities and accounting for the chemical evolution associated with third dredge-up events. We present the relevant properties of this grid and discuss the main results it allowed to obtain in terms of the interpretation of the observed properties of LPVs in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC).