Shao Ming Hu

Discovery of the Broad-lined Type Ic SN 2013cq Associated with the Very Energetic GRB 130427A

Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) at z < 1 are found in most cases to be accompanied by bright, broad-lined Type Ic supernovae (SNe Ic-BL). The highest-energy GRBs are mostly located at higher redshifts, where the associated SNe are hard to detect observationally. Here, we present early and late observations of the optical counterpart of the very energetic GRB 130427A. Despite its moderate redshift, z = 0.3399 ± 0.0002, GRB 130427A is at the high end of the GRB energy distribution, with an isotropic-equivalent energy release of E iso ~ 9.6 × 1053 erg, more than an order of magnitude more energetic than other GRBs with spectroscopically confirmed SNe. In our dense photometric monitoring, we detect excess flux in the host-subtracted r-band light curve, consistent with that expected from an emerging SN, ~0.2 mag fainter than the prototypical SN 1998bw. A spectrum obtained around the time of the SN peak (16.7 days after the GRB) reveals broad undulations typical of SNe Ic-BL, confirming the presence of an SN, designated SN 2013cq. The spectral shape and early peak time are similar to those of the high expansion velocity SN 2010bh associated with GRB 100316D. Our findings demonstrate that high-energy, long-duration GRBs, commonly detected at high redshift, can also be associated with SNe Ic-BL, pointing to a common progenitor mechanism.

The 72-h WEBT microvariability observation of blazar S5 0716+714 in 2009

Context. The international Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) consortium planned and carried out three days of intensive micro-variability observations of S5 0716+714 from February 22, 2009 to February 25, 2009. This object was chosen due to its bright apparent magnitude range, its high declination, and its very large duty cycle for micro-variations. Aims. We report here on the long continuous optical micro-variability light curve of 0716+714 obtained during the multi-site observing campaign during which the Blazar showed almost constant variability over a 0.5 mag range. The resulting light curve is presented here for the first time. Observations from participating observatories were corrected for instrumental differences and combined to construct the overall smoothed light curve. Methods. Thirty-six observatories in sixteen countries participated in this continuous monitoring program and twenty of them submitted data for compilation into a continuous light curve. The light curve was analyzed using several techniques including Fourier transform, Wavelet and noise analysis techniques. Those results led us to model the light curve by attributing the variations to a series of synchrotron pulses. Results. We have interpreted the observed microvariations in this extended light curve in terms of a new model consisting of individual stochastic pulses due to cells in a turbulent jet which are energized by a passing shock and cool by means of synchrotron emission. We obtained an excellent fit to the 72-hour light curve with the synchrotron pulse model.

PHOTOMETRIC PROPERTIES FOR SELECTED ALGOL-TYPE BINARIES. II. AO SERPENTIS AND V338 HERCULIS

We present the first multiband photometry for the semidetached eclipsing binary AO Serpentis, observed on seven nights between 2009 April and July at the Weihai Observatory of Shandong University. By using the 2003 version of the Wilson–Devinney code, the photometric solutions of AO Ser and a similar object V338 Her were (re)deduced. The spectral types and orbital periods are A2 and P = 0.8793 days for AO Ser, F1V and P = 1.3057 days for V338 Her. The results reveal that two binaries are low mass ratio systems, whose secondary components fill their Roche lobes. The fill-out factors of the primary components are f = 58.6% for AO Ser and f = 54.2% for V338 Her, respectively. From the O − C curves of AO Ser and V338 Her, it is discovered that secular period changes with cyclic variations exist. The periods and semiamplitudes are 17.32(±0.01) yr and 0.0051(±0.0001) days for AO Ser, 29.07(±0.04) yr and 0.0116(±0.0015) days for V338 Her, respectively. This kind of cyclic oscillation may be attributed to either the light-time effect via an assumed third body or perhaps cyclic magnetic activity on the secondary component. For AO Ser, the long-term period decreases at a rate of dP /dt = −5.35(±0.03) × 10 −7 days yr −1 , which may be caused by mass and angular momentum loss from the system. Considering the period decreasing, the fill-out factor of the primary for AO Ser will increase and it will finally fill its Roche lobe. Meanwhile, the secular period increase rate for V338 Her is dP /dt = +1.44(±0.24) × 10 −7 days yr −1 , indicating that mass transfers from the less massive component to the more massive component. This will also cause the fill-out factor of the primary to increase. When the primaries fill their Roche lobes, AO Ser and V338 Her may evolve into contact stars, as predicted by the theory of thermal relaxation oscillations.

Optical multiband observations of BL Lacertae during the outburst of 2005

The aim of our observations is to investigate the intranight variability properties and the spectral variability of BL Lacertae. 799 optical multiband observations were intensively made with the Beijing‐Arizona‐Taiwan‐Connecticut (BATC) 60/90 cm Schmidt telescope during the outburst composed of two subsequent flares in 2005. The second flare, whose rising phase lasted at least 44 d, was observed with amplitudes of more than 1.1 mag in three BATC optical bands. In general, on intranight time-scale the amplitude of variability and the variation rate are larger at the shorter wavelength, and the variation rate is comparable in the rising and decaying phases within each band. A possible time-lag between the light curves in bands e and m, around 11.6 min, was obtained. Based on the analysis of the colour index variation with the source brightness, the variability of BL Lacertae can be interpreted as having two components: a ‘strongly chromatic’ intranight component and a ‘mildly chromatic’ internight component, which may be the results of both intrinsic physical mechanism and geometric effects.

Gaia17biu/SN 2017egm in NGC 3191: The Closest Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernova to Date Is in a “Normal,” Massive, Metal-rich Spiral Galaxy

Hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) have been predominantly found in low-metallicity, star-forming dwarf galaxies. Here we identify Gaia17biu/SN 2017egm as an SLSN-I occurring in a nor ...

CCD photometry and optical variability of the BL Lacertae object H0323+022

We present optical photometry (B, V, R, and I) of the BL Lac object H0323+022 (z = 0.147) for the years 2000-2003. These were observed in the high-luminosity state with the 1 m telescope at the Yunnan Astronomical Observatory and the 1.56 m telescope at the ShangHai Astronomical Observatory. Our results show significant rapid variation and exhibit a short time variability of 19 minutes in the I band. We find a strong correlation between the B − V color index and the magnitude in the V band. Our CCD photometry of H0323+022 show good agreement with Bai et al., who find optical variability in the I and R magnitudes of about ΔI = 0.80 mag and ΔR = 0.63 mag.

SILICON ABUNDANCES IN NEARBY STARS FROM THE Si I INFRARED LINES

We have used high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio infrared spectra from the Subaru Telescope atop Mauna Kea. Line formation calculations of Si I infrared lines in the atmospheres of nearby stars are presented. All abundance results of [Si/Fe] are derived from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and NLTE statistical equilibrium calculations and spectrum synthesis methods. We found that NLTE effects for Si I infrared lines are important even for metal-rich stars (>0.1 dex), and the NLTE effects may depend on the surface gravities. A good agreement of silicon abundances between the optical and infrared lines is obtained when the NLTE effects are included, while a large difference is found for the LTE results. The derived silicon abundances are overabundant for metal-poor stars.

CCD Photometry and Optical Variability of Gamma-Ray-loud BL Lacertae Object OJ 287 in a Low, Fainter State

We present optical photometry (V, R, and I) of the BL Lac object OJ 287 (0851+203, z = 0.306), which was observed in a low, fainter state with the 1 m telescope at Yunnan Astronomical Observatory. Our results show significant short-term variability in the R band over 31 minutes. We find a strong correlation between the V - R color index and the magnitude in the R band. Our CCD photometry of OJ 287 is in good agreement with the prediction of Sillanpaa and coworkers of an optical variability period of about 11.6 yr.

Pressure and temperature stabilization of an existing Echelle spectrograph

The Echelle spectrograph FOCES1 is currently located at the laboratories of Munich University Observatories under pressure and temperature stabilized conditions. It is being used as a test bed for a number of different stability issues related to high precision radial velocity spectroscopy. We utilize FOCES to study spectrograph stability, illumination stability and fiber transport stability. With this work we continue the series of papers that present our efforts to obtain temperature and pressure stabilization in the spectrograph environment. In particular we present first optical measurement results and compare them to simulations previously published. We show the movement of the image on the CCD with changes of pressure and temperature and the stability of the spot positions in the stabilized system using measurements done by a ThAr gas discharge source.

The Weihai Observatory search for close-in planets orbiting giant stars

Planets are known to orbit giant stars, yet there is a shortage of planets orbiting within ~0.5 AU (P<100 days). First-ascent giants have not expanded enough to engulf such planets, but tidal forces can bring planets to the surface of the star far beyond the stellar radius. So the question remains: are tidal forces strong enough in these stars to engulf all the missing planets? We describe a high-cadence observational program to obtain precise radial velocities of bright giants from Weihai Observatory of Shandong University. We present data on the planet host Beta Gem (HD 62509), confirming our ability to derive accurate and precise velocities; our data achieve an rms of 7.3 m/s about the Keplerian orbit fit. This planet-search programme currently receives ~100 nights per year, allowing us to aggressively pursue short-period planets to determine whether they are truly absent.