Search Publications

Are the strengths of solar cycles determined by converging flows towards the activity belts?
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201219914 Bibcode: 2012A&A...548A..57C

Schüssler, M.; Cameron, R. H.

It is proposed that the observed near-surface inflows towards the active regions and sunspot zones provide a nonlinear feedback mechanism that limits the amplitude of a Babcock-Leighton-type solar dynamo and determines the variation of the cycle strength. This hypothesis is tested with surface flux transport simulations including converging latitu…

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
SOHO 67
Nanostructuration of carbonaceous dust as seen through the positions of the 6.2 and 7.7 µm AIBs
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201118700 Bibcode: 2012A&A...548A..40C

Dartois, E.; d'Hendecourt, L.; Brunetto, R. +7 more

Context. Carbonaceous cosmic dust is observed through infrared spectroscopy either in absorption or in emission. The details of the spectral features are believed to shed some light on its structure and finally enable the study of its life cycle.
Aims: The goal is to combine several analytical tools in order to decipher the intimate nanostruc…

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
ISO 66
Nitrogen hydrides in interstellar gas. II. Analysis of Herschel/HIFI observations towards W49N and G10.6 - 0.4 (W31C)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201118686 Bibcode: 2012A&A...543A.145P

Menten, K. M.; Godard, B.; Persson, C. M. +14 more

As a part of the Herschel key programme PRISMAS, we have used the Herschel/HIFI instrument to observe interstellar nitrogen hydrides along the sight-lines towards eight high-mass star-forming regions in order to elucidate the production pathways leading to nitrogen-bearing species in diffuse gas. Here, we report observations towards W49N of the NH…

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Herschel 66
Dust and gas power spectrum in M 33 (HERM33ES)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201118282 Bibcode: 2012A&A...539A..67C

Boquien, M.; Braine, J.; Calzetti, D. +18 more

Power spectra of deprojected images of late-type galaxies in gas or dust emission are very useful diagnostics of the dynamics and stability of their interstellar medium. Previous studies have shown that the power spectra can be approximated as two power laws, a shallow one on large scales (larger than 500 pc) and a steeper one on small scales, wit…

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Herschel 66
Characterization of new hard X-ray cataclysmic variables
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201219233 Bibcode: 2012A&A...542A..22B

Mukai, K.; de Martino, D.; Masetti, N. +5 more


Aims: We aim at characterizing a sample of nine new hard X-ray selected cataclysmic variable (CVs), to unambiguously identify them as magnetic systems of the intermediate polar (IP) type.
Methods: We performed detailed timing and spectral analysis by using X-ray, and simultaneous UV and optical data collected by XMM-Newton, complemented …

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
INTEGRAL XMM-Newton 66
Nonthermal X-rays from low-energy cosmic rays: application to the 6.4 keV line emission from the Arches cluster region
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201219016 Bibcode: 2012A&A...546A..88T

Decourchelle, A.; Maurin, G.; Tatischeff, V.

Context. The iron Kα line at 6.4 keV provides a valuable spectral diagnostic in several fields of X-ray astronomy. The line often results from the reprocessing of external hard X-rays by a neutral or low-ionized medium, but it can also be excited by impacts of low-energy cosmic rays.
Aims: This paper aims to provide signatures allowing identi…

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
XMM-Newton 65
Benchmarking atomic data for the CHIANTI atomic database: coronal lines observed by Hinode EIS
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201117592 Bibcode: 2012A&A...537A..38D

Del Zanna, G.

The coronal lines that are observable in the Hinode EUV Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) wavelengths are assessed with new atomic data that have recently become available for a range of important ions. EIS spectral lines are identified based on their spatial variation across different solar regions, their wavelengths, and their intensities. Two off-limb…

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Hinode 65
Herschel/HIFI observations of O-rich AGB stars: molecular inventory
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201117524 Bibcode: 2012A&A...537A.144J

Menten, K. M.; Olofsson, H.; Marston, A. P. +17 more


Aims: Spectra, taken with the heterodyne instrument, HIFI, aboard the Herschel Space Observatory, of O-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars which form part of the guaranteed time key program HIFISTARS are presented. The aim of this program is to study the dynamical structure, mass-loss driving mechanism, and chemistry of the outflows from…

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Herschel 65
A quantitative study of O stars in NGC 2244 and the Monoceros OB2 association
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201117458 Bibcode: 2012A&A...538A..39M

Martins, F.; Hillier, D. J.; Rauw, G. +1 more


Aims: Our goal is to determine the stellar and wind properties of seven O stars in the cluster NGC 2244 and three O stars in the OB association Mon OB2. These properties give us insight into the mass loss rates of O stars. They allow us to both check the validity of rotational mixing in massive stars and to better understand the effects of th…

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
IUE 65
The evolution of the star formation activity per halo mass up to redshift ~1.6 as seen by Herschel
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201117973 Bibcode: 2012A&A...537A..58P

Finoguenov, A.; Berta, S.; Magnelli, B. +40 more


Aims: Star formation in massive galaxies is quenched at some point during hierarchical mass assembly. To understand where and when the quenching processes takes place, we study the evolution of the total star formation rate per unit total halo mass (Σ(SFR)/M) in three different mass scales: low mass halos (field galaxies), groups, and cluster…

2012 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Herschel 64