No description available.

<p>Protostellar discs are generally thought to drive molecular outflows and jets observed in star forming regions, but there has been some debate as to how they form. The details of the driving and collimation of outflows help determine how much mass is cleared out and how much energy is fed back into the surroundings. Recently it has been argued that the magnetic brake is so strong that early protostellar disks cannot form.</p> <p>We have performed 3D ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of collapsing Bonnor–Ebert spheres, employing sink particles within an AMR grid and using a cooling function to model radiative cooling of the gas. This allows us to follow the formation and early evolution of the accretion disc (2−8)×10⁴ years further into the Class 0 phase of its evolution. We form a rotationally dominated disc with a radius of 100 AU embedded inside a transient, unstable, flattened, rotating structure extending out to 2000 AU. The inner disc becomes unstable to a warping instability due to the magnetic structure of the outflow, warping 30 deg with respect to the rotation–axis by the end of the simulation. The disc is unstable to a Parker instability and sheds magnetic loops, degrading the orientation of the mean threading field. This reduces and locally reverses the magnetic braking torque of the large scale field back upon the disc. The reduction of magnetic braking allows a nearly Keplerian disc to form and may be the key way in which low mass stellar systems produce rotationally dominated discs. We discuss the relevance of our disc misalignment concerning the formation of mis–aligned hot Jupiters.</p> <p>Protostellar outflows are implicated in clearing mass from collapsing cores, and limiting the final mass of newly formed stars. The details of the driving and collimation of outflows help determine how much mass is cleared out and how much energy is fed back into the surroundings. The simulations generate outflows which are precessing, kinked, contain internal shocks and extend to a scale of 0.1 pc end–to–end. Our disc–wind theory describes magneto–centrifugal driving throughout the outflow bubble. The bulk properties of the outflow agree well with observations. The outflow has two components, a larger low speed wind (v_r < 1.5 km/s) dominated by a toroidal magnetic field Bφ, and an inner centrifugally driven jet dominated by Bp with speeds up to 20 km/s. The ratio of mass flux from the disk surface com- pared to accretion in the disk is measured to be M_out/M_in ∼ 0.1 from the inner component, whereas in the outer component M_out/M_in ∼ 1.0. The jet is misaligned and precesses as the disc warps by 30 deg with respect to the z–axis. We measure star formation efficiencies of ε_core = 0.63 (and growing), higher than theoretical predictions of ε_core = 0.29−0.39 and observations ε_core = 0.33.</p> <p>These new results reported in this thesis, show that disks can form in strongly magnetized media, in agreement with the observations - and that outflows are not as efficient in clearing away collapsing gas as has been assumed in various theoretical models. Both of these results have important implications for disk formation, and the origin of the IMF, as described in this work.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Until recently, numerical modulation models for the solar modulation of cosmic rays have been based primarily on finite difference approaches; however, models based on the solution of an appropriate set of stochastic differential equations have become increasingly popular. This study utilises such a spatially three-dimensional and time-stationary model, based on that of Strauss et al. (2011b). The remarkable numerical stability and powerful illustrative capabilities of this model are utilised extensively and in a distinctly comparative fashion to enable new insights into the processes of modulation. The model is refined to provide for both the Smith-Bieber (Smith and Bieber, 1991) and Jokipii-Kota (Jokipii and Kota, 1989) modifcations to the Parker heliospheric magnetic field (Parker, 1958) and the implications for modulation are investigated. During this investigation it is conclusively illustrated that the Parker field is most conducive to drift dominated modulation, while the Jokipii-Kota and Smith-Bieber modifcations are seen to induce successively larger contributions from diffusive processes. A further refinement to the model is the incorporation of a different profile for the heliospheric current sheet. This profile is defined by its latitudinal extent given by Kota and Jokipii (1983), as opposed to the profile given by Jokipii and Thomas (1981). An extensive investigation into current sheet related matters is launched, illustrating the difference between these current sheet geometries, the associated drift velocity fields and the effect on modulation. At high levels of solar activity, such that the current sheet enters deep enough into the polar regions, the profile of Kota and Jokipii (1983) is found to significantly reduce the effective inward (outward) drifts of positively (negatively) charged particles during A > 0 polarity cycles. The analogous effect is true for A < 0 polarity cycles and the overall effect is of such an extent that the A > 0 and A < 0 solutions are found to coincide at the highest levels of solar activity to form a closed loop. This is a result that has never before been achieved without having to scale down the drift coefficient to zero at solar maximum, as was done by e.g. Ndiitwani et al. (2005). Furthermore, it is found that the drift velocity fields associated with these two current sheet profiles lead to significant differences in modulation even at such low levels of solar activity where no difference in the geometries of these profiles are yet in evidence. The model is finally applied to reproduce four observed galactic proton spectra, selected from PAMELA measurements (Adriani et al., 2013) during the atypical solar minimum of 2006 to 2009; a new proton local interstellar spectrum was employed. The results are found to be in accordance with that found by other authors and in particular Vos (2011), i.e. the diffusion was required to consistently increase from 2006 to 2009 and, in addition, the rigidity dependence below ~ 3 GV was required to change over this time so that the spectra became increasingly softer. / MSc (Space Physics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Until recently, numerical modulation models for the solar modulation of cosmic rays have been based primarily on finite difference approaches; however, models based on the solution of an appropriate set of stochastic differential equations have become increasingly popular. This study utilises such a spatially three-dimensional and time-stationary model, based on that of Strauss et al. (2011b). The remarkable numerical stability and powerful illustrative capabilities of this model are utilised extensively and in a distinctly comparative fashion to enable new insights into the processes of modulation. The model is refined to provide for both the Smith-Bieber (Smith and Bieber, 1991) and Jokipii-Kota (Jokipii and Kota, 1989) modifcations to the Parker heliospheric magnetic field (Parker, 1958) and the implications for modulation are investigated. During this investigation it is conclusively illustrated that the Parker field is most conducive to drift dominated modulation, while the Jokipii-Kota and Smith-Bieber modifcations are seen to induce successively larger contributions from diffusive processes. A further refinement to the model is the incorporation of a different profile for the heliospheric current sheet. This profile is defined by its latitudinal extent given by Kota and Jokipii (1983), as opposed to the profile given by Jokipii and Thomas (1981). An extensive investigation into current sheet related matters is launched, illustrating the difference between these current sheet geometries, the associated drift velocity fields and the effect on modulation. At high levels of solar activity, such that the current sheet enters deep enough into the polar regions, the profile of Kota and Jokipii (1983) is found to significantly reduce the effective inward (outward) drifts of positively (negatively) charged particles during A > 0 polarity cycles. The analogous effect is true for A < 0 polarity cycles and the overall effect is of such an extent that the A > 0 and A < 0 solutions are found to coincide at the highest levels of solar activity to form a closed loop. This is a result that has never before been achieved without having to scale down the drift coefficient to zero at solar maximum, as was done by e.g. Ndiitwani et al. (2005). Furthermore, it is found that the drift velocity fields associated with these two current sheet profiles lead to significant differences in modulation even at such low levels of solar activity where no difference in the geometries of these profiles are yet in evidence. The model is finally applied to reproduce four observed galactic proton spectra, selected from PAMELA measurements (Adriani et al., 2013) during the atypical solar minimum of 2006 to 2009; a new proton local interstellar spectrum was employed. The results are found to be in accordance with that found by other authors and in particular Vos (2011), i.e. the diffusion was required to consistently increase from 2006 to 2009 and, in addition, the rigidity dependence below ~ 3 GV was required to change over this time so that the spectra became increasingly softer. / MSc (Space Physics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Cette thèse présente le travail réalisé par l'auteur consacréà l'étude de l'influence des vents magnétosphériques des pulsars sur leur environnement. Le problème du vent magnétosphérique des pulsars est étudié dans le contexte des pulsars classiques, qui forment des nébuleuses de pulsar. L'observation de ces nébuleuses fournit des informations importantes sur leurs conditions physiques et dynamiques. Le vent magnétosphérique des pulsars milliseconde est également étudié. La contribution des pulsars millisecondeà l'émission gamma des amas globulaires est étudiée par des simulations numériques.Dans la première partie, les résultats des observations infrarouge du vestige de supernova G21.5-0.9 sont présentées. Les données utilisées comprennent des observations du Very Large Telescope de l'ESO, du télescope Canada-France-Hawaï (CFHT) et du télescope spatial Spitzer. La détection de la nébuleuse compacte autour du pulsar PSR J1833-1034, avec l'instrument CFHT/AOB-KIR (bande K') et la caméra IRAC/Spitzer (toutes les bandes), est présentée. La valeur moyenne de la fraction de polarisation linéaire de l'émission détectée est estiméeà $P_{rm L}^{avg} simeq 0.47$. Une oscillation du vecteur champ électrique dans la nébuleuse compacte peut être observée. Le spectre infrarouge de la nébuleuse compacte est bien décrit par une loi de puissance d'indice $alpha_{rm IR} = 0.7 pm 0.3$, et suggère un aplatissement spectral entre les domaines infrarouge et X. La détection de la raie d'émission [Fe II] à 1.64 $mu$m est présentée. La spectroscopieà moyenne résolution permet d'estimer l'extinction par le milieu interstellaire de l'émission infrarouge de l'objet, ainsi que la vitesse d'expansion de la matière émettant la raie du [Fe II], ce qui conduità une estimation de la distanceà G21.5-0.9 de $3.9 pm 1.2$ kpc.La deuxième partie présente une étude de l'activité magnétosphérique des pulsars milliseconde dans le contexte de l'émission gamma des amas globulaires. Une base de données des caractéristiques d'émission des pulsars milliseconde et des spectres d'éjection des électrons est créée sur la base du modèle pair starved polar cap de la magnétosphère des pulsars. Le concept de facteur de biais est introduit et étudié. Des spectres synthétiques d'amas globulaires sont simulés dans la gamme d'énergie allant du GeV au TeV. Ils consistent en une composante d'émission magnétosphérique des pulsars milliseconde résidant dans l'amas, et une composante Compton inverse résultant de la diffusion des photons ambiants (le champ stellaire des photons provenant des étoiles de l'amas, et le fond diffus cosmologique) par les leptons relativistes diffusant dans l'amas. Enfin, les spectres synthétiques des amas globulaires sont comparés et contrastés avec les observationsà haute et très haute énergie des amas globulaires sélectionnés: Terzan 5 et 47 Tucanae. / This PhD thesis presents the results of the studies on the influence of magnetospheric pulsar winds on the surroundings of these objects. The problem of the magnetospheric pulsar wind is studied in the context of classical pulsars, which power prominent pulsar wind nebulae. Observations of these nebulae yield important information on their physical and dynamical conditions. The magnetospheric winds of millisecond pulsars are also investigated. The contribution of millisecond pulsars to the gamma-ray emission of globular clusters is studied through numerical simulations. In the first part of the thesis, the results of infrared observations of the supernova remnant G21.5-0.9 are presented. The observational material includes data obtained with the ESO Very Large Telescope, the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and the Spitzer Space telescope. The detection of the compact nebula around the pulsar PSR J1833-1034, through imaging with both the CFHT/AOB-KIR instrument (K' band) and the IRAC/Spitzer camera (all bands), is reported. The average value of the linear polarisation fraction $P_{rm L}^{avg} simeq 0.47$ of the detected emission is estimated. A swing of the electric field vector across the compact nebula is observed. The infrared spectrum of the compact nebula is best described as a power law of index $alpha_{rm IR} = 0.7 pm 0.3$, and suggests its flattening between the infrared and X-ray bands. The detection of [Fe II] 1.64 $mu$m line emitting material is reported. Through medium resolution spectroscopy the infrared interstellar extinction to the object is estimated, and also the expansion velocity of the iron-line emitting material is determined, which in turn leads to estimating the distance of $d = 3.9 pm 1.2$ kpc to G21.5-0.9. The second part presents a study of the magnetospheric activity of millisecond pulsars in the context of the gamma-ray emission of globular clusters. Based on the pair starved polar cap model of the pulsar magnetosphere the database of the millisecond pulsar emission characteristics and the electron ejection spectra is created. The modelled electron ejection spectra are single-peaked for mildly inclined and fast rotating pulsars, while double-peaked for slowly rotating pulsars. The concept of the bias factor is introduced and studied. Synthetic spectra of globular clusters, stretching from MeV up to TeV energies, are simulated. They consist of the magnetospheric contribution from the millisecond pulsar population residing in the cluster, and an inverse Compton scattering (ICS) component resulting from up-scattering of the ambient photon fields (cosmic microwave background and optical photons from stellar population in the cluster) on the relativistic electrons diffusing through the cluster. The spectral characteristics of the ICS component depends on the composition of the ambient photon fields and also on the magnitude of the cluster magnetic field $B_{rm GC}$. For low $B_{rm GC} sim 1 mu$G the spectra are double-peaked. For the high $B_{rm GC} gtrsim 10 mu$G the ICS spectra are single-peaked. The level of ICS emission increases with the increase of $B_{rm GC}$, but it saturates for $B_{rm GC} sim 10 ~mu$G. Finally, the simulated synthetic spectra of globular clusters are confronted with the existing gamma-ray data for selected clusters: Terzan 5 and 47 Tucanae.

Le milieu interstellaire (MIS) est la matière presente dans l'espace au sein des galaxies.Cette matière est composée de gaz et de grains de poussière. Jusqu'à présent, les radioastronomes principalement ont identifié plus de 170 molécules différentes dans le MIS.La présence de la plupart de ces molécules est expliquée à travers des réactions dans la phase gazeuse, mais la synthèse de beaucoup de ces molécules (comme H2, H2O, CO2) nécessite l'intervention d'uncatalyseur, donc des réactions dans la phase solide, sur la surface des grains de poussière. Les objectifs de cette thèse sont de comprendre quels sont les processus physico-chimiques qui ont lieu (par exemple, la diffusion et désorption) sur la surface des grains de poussière interstellaire et comment ils conduisent à la synthèse de molécules de plus en plus complexes.En particulier, l'objet de ma thèse est d'étudier:- le rôle de la diffusion des atomes d'oxygène (noté « O ») et les processus d'oxydation dans la formation des glaces interstellaires;- le couplage thermique et non thermique entre la phase gaz et la phase solide.L'astrochimie ne tendait à considérer que la diffusion des atomes d'hydrogène et les réactions d'hydrogénation, ignorant souvent le rôle de l'oxygénation ainsi que l'importance des processus d'adsorption et de désorption, d'où mes recherches approfondies sur ces thématiques.Évidemment, une meilleure connaissance de ces processus physico-chimiques et des réactions de surface aiderait les astronomes à comprendre la formation des glaces interstellaires, l'augmentation de la complexité moléculaire, et l'équilibre entre le gaz et la phase solide.Pour répondre à ces questions, de nombreuses expériences ont été réalisées avec le dispositif FORMOLISM, situé à l'Université de Cergy-Pontoise dans le cadre du LERMA (Observatoire de Paris). Via deux jets de particules avec un pompage différentiel, les atomes et les molécules sont déposés sur un échantillon froid (> 6,5 K) dans une chambre ultravide. Les produits des réactions sont ensuite sondés en utilisant la spectroscopie de masse et la spectroscopie infrarouge.Pour simuler différents environnements astrophysiques, la physique-chimie de l'état solide a été étudiée dans différentes conditions expérimentales:- La morphologie de substrat (glace d'eau amorphe soit poreuse, soit compacte, glace d'eau cristalline, silicate amorphe ou graphite)- Les espèces déposées et leur rapport relatif- La couverture des espèces déposées, de 0,1 à 2 monocouches- La température du substrat, de 6,5 à 60 K.En ce qui concerne les processus d'oxydation, les résultats montrent que l'O est très réactif avec de nombreuses espèces ; la diffusion des atomes d'O semble être beaucoup plus rapide que prévu et peut se produire par effet tunnel à des températures aussi basses que 6,5 K. Nous avons comparé les valeurs expérimentales des coefficients de diffusion et constaté que les taux de diffusion sur chaque surface, basés sur les résultats de la modélisation, étaient considérablement plus élevés que ceux prévus pour les atomes lourds tels que l'O. Nos résultats montrent que les atomes O peuvent rencontrer tous les partenaires disponibles de réaction à un taux plus rapide que le taux d'accrétion. En particulier, dans les nuages interstellaires très denses, le rapport O/H est tel que O devient l'un des partenaires réactifs dominants avec H. Ceci a un impact sur la formation de certaines espèces et sur l'abondance relative des produits formés.En ce qui concerne les processus de couplage solide-gaz (c'est à dire, l'adsorption, désorption thermique, désorption chimique), les résultats montrent que chaque processus est influencé d'une manière différente par le substrat (glace d'eau, de silicate ou graphite). Enfin, nous fournissons une liste utile des énergies de liaison de plusieurs espèces et de l'efficacité de désorption chimique des différentes réactions sur ces substrats. / The interstellar medium is the matter that exists in the space between the star systems in a galaxy. It is composed of gas and elongated tiny dust grains. To date, plenty of molecules (> 170) are known to exist in the interstellar medium. The presence of most of them can be understood in terms of gas phase reactions but the synthesis of some key species (H2, H2O, CO2) need the intervention of solid-state reactions on dust grains surface. The aims of this thesis are to understand what are the relevant physical-chemical processes (i.e., diffusion and desorption) occurring on the surface of interstellar dust grains and how these processes influence synthesis of more and more complex molecules. In particular, the focus of my thesis is the investigation of:1) the role of O-atom diffusion and the oxidation processes in the formation of interstellar ices;2) the thermal and non-thermal processes coupling gas and solid phase.The reasons of these investigations lie on the realization that, up to now, only hydrogen diffusion and hydrogenation reactions are commonly considered in solid astrochemistry and the role of oxygenation as well as the importance of adsorption and desorption processes are often disregarded.Evidently, a better knowledge of such physical-chemical processes and, in general, of the solid state physical-chemistry could help astronomers to understand the formation of interstellar ices, the increase on molecular complexity, and the equilibrium between gas and solid phase.To answer these questions, many experiments have been performed with the FORMOLISM set-up, i.e., FORmation of MOLecules in the ISM, located in the Universitè de Cergy Pontoise, Observatoire de Paris. Via two triply differentially pumped beams, atoms and molecules were aimed at a cold (>6.5 K) sample held in a Ultra high vacuum chamber. The products were probed using Mass spectroscopy and Reflexion Absorption Infrared Spectroscopy.To simulate different astrophysical environments, the solid state physical-chemistry has been studied in different experimental conditions:-The substrate morphology (Amorphous water ice, porous (p) and compact (np), crystalline (c) ice, amorphous silicate, and graphite)-The species deposited and their relative ratio-The coverage of deposited species, from 0.1 to 2 ML-The substrate temperature, from 6.5 to 60 KConcerning oxidation processes and O-atom reactivity, the results show that oxygen is very reactive with many species (i.e., H, CO, NO, H2CO, HCOOH); O diffusion appears to be much faster than previously expected and can occur via quantum mechanical tunnelling at temperatures as low as 6.5 K. We compared the experimental values of the diffusion coefficients and found that the rates of diffusion on each surface, based on modelling results, were considerably higher than those expected for heavy atoms such as oxygen. Our findings show that O atoms can scan any available reaction partners (e.g., either another H atom, if available, or a surface radical like O, OH, CO) at a faster rate than that of accretion. In particular, in very dense interstellar clouds, the O/H ratio is such that O becomes one of the dominant reactive partners together with H. This has an impact on the chemistry occurring at the surface of dust grains as either the formation of some species may be enhanced, or at least the relative abundances of the final products will be affected. An important example of how O-atom mobility can modulate the abundances of key species of ices in the ISM is the case of the H2O/CO2 ratio via the CO+O and H2CO+O pathways.Concerning gas-solid coupling processes (i.e., adsorption, sticking, thermal desorption, chemical desorption), the results show that each processes is influenced in a different way by the substrate (i.e., water ice, silicate or graphite). Moreover, we provide a useful list of binding energies of several species and chemical desorption efficiency for different reactions on different subst

In this thesis, we aim to further elucidate the phenomenon of galaxy evolution in the environment of galaxy clusters using the methodology of numerical simulations. For that, we have developed hydrodynamic models in which idealized gas-rich galaxies move within the ICM of idealized galaxy clusters, allowing us to probe in a detailed and controlled manner their evolution in this extreme environment. The main code used in our simulations is RAMSES, and our results concern the changes in gas composition, star formation rate, luminosity and color of infalling galaxies. Additionally to processes taking place inside the galaxies themselves, we have also described the dynamics of the gas that is stripped from those galaxies with unprecedented resolution for simulations of this nature (122 pc in a box including an entire 1e14 Msun cluster), finding that clumps of molecular gas are formed within the tails of ram pressure stripped galaxies, which proceed to live in isolation within the ICM of a galaxy cluster for up to 300 Myr. Those molecular clumps possibly represent a new class of objects; similar objects have been observed in both galaxy clusters and groups, but no comprehensive description of them has been given until now. We additionally create a hydrodynamic model for the A901/2 multi-cluster system, and correlate the gas conditions in this model to the locations of a sample of candidate jellyfish galaxies in the system; this has allowed us to infer a possible mechanism for the generation of jellyfish morphologies in galaxy cluster collisions in general. / Nesta tese, nós visamos a contribuir para o entendimento do fenômeno da evolução de galáxias no ambiente de aglomerados de galáxias usando a metodologia de simulações numéricas. Para isso, desenvolvemos modelos hidrodinâmicos nos quais galáxias idealizadas ricas em gás movem-se em meio ao gás difuso de aglomerados de galáxias idealizados, permitindo um estudo detalhado e controlado da evolução destas galáxias neste ambiente extremo. O principal código usado em nossas simulações é o RAMSES, e nossos resultados tratam das mudanças em composição do gás, taxa de formação estelar, luminosidade e cor de galáxias caindo em aglomerados. Adicionalmente a processos acontecendo dentro das próprias galáxias, nós também descrevemos a dinâmica do gás que é varrido dessas galáxias com resolução sem precedentes para simulações dessa natureza (122 pc em uma caixa incluindo um aglomerado de 1e14 Msun inteiro), encontrando que aglomerados de gás molecular são formados nas caudas de galáxias que passaram por varrimento de gás por pressão de arraste, aglomerados estes que procedem a viver em isolamento em meio ao gás difuso de um aglomerado de galáxias por até 300 Myr. Esses aglomerados moleculares possivelmente representam uma nova classe de objetos; objetos similares foram previamente observados tanto em aglomerados quanto em grupos de galáxias, mas um tratamento compreensivo deles não foi apresentado até agora. Nós adicionalmente criamos um modelo hidrodinâmico para o sistema multi-aglomerado A901/2, e correlacionamos as condições do gás nesse modelo com a localização de uma amostra de galáxias jellyfish nesse sistema; isso nos permitiu inferir um possível mecanismo para a geração de morfologias jellyfish em colisões de aglomerados de galáxias em geral.

In this thesis, we aim to further elucidate the phenomenon of galaxy evolution in the environment of galaxy clusters using the methodology of numerical simulations. For that, we have developed hydrodynamic models in which idealized gas-rich galaxies move within the ICM of idealized galaxy clusters, allowing us to probe in a detailed and controlled manner their evolution in this extreme environment. The main code used in our simulations is RAMSES, and our results concern the changes in gas composition, star formation rate, luminosity and color of infalling galaxies. Additionally to processes taking place inside the galaxies themselves, we have also described the dynamics of the gas that is stripped from those galaxies with unprecedented resolution for simulations of this nature (122 pc in a box including an entire 1e14 Msun cluster), finding that clumps of molecular gas are formed within the tails of ram pressure stripped galaxies, which proceed to live in isolation within the ICM of a galaxy cluster for up to 300 Myr. Those molecular clumps possibly represent a new class of objects; similar objects have been observed in both galaxy clusters and groups, but no comprehensive description of them has been given until now. We additionally create a hydrodynamic model for the A901/2 multi-cluster system, and correlate the gas conditions in this model to the locations of a sample of candidate jellyfish galaxies in the system; this has allowed us to infer a possible mechanism for the generation of jellyfish morphologies in galaxy cluster collisions in general. / Nesta tese, nós visamos a contribuir para o entendimento do fenômeno da evolução de galáxias no ambiente de aglomerados de galáxias usando a metodologia de simulações numéricas. Para isso, desenvolvemos modelos hidrodinâmicos nos quais galáxias idealizadas ricas em gás movem-se em meio ao gás difuso de aglomerados de galáxias idealizados, permitindo um estudo detalhado e controlado da evolução destas galáxias neste ambiente extremo. O principal código usado em nossas simulações é o RAMSES, e nossos resultados tratam das mudanças em composição do gás, taxa de formação estelar, luminosidade e cor de galáxias caindo em aglomerados. Adicionalmente a processos acontecendo dentro das próprias galáxias, nós também descrevemos a dinâmica do gás que é varrido dessas galáxias com resolução sem precedentes para simulações dessa natureza (122 pc em uma caixa incluindo um aglomerado de 1e14 Msun inteiro), encontrando que aglomerados de gás molecular são formados nas caudas de galáxias que passaram por varrimento de gás por pressão de arraste, aglomerados estes que procedem a viver em isolamento em meio ao gás difuso de um aglomerado de galáxias por até 300 Myr. Esses aglomerados moleculares possivelmente representam uma nova classe de objetos; objetos similares foram previamente observados tanto em aglomerados quanto em grupos de galáxias, mas um tratamento compreensivo deles não foi apresentado até agora. Nós adicionalmente criamos um modelo hidrodinâmico para o sistema multi-aglomerado A901/2, e correlacionamos as condições do gás nesse modelo com a localização de uma amostra de galáxias jellyfish nesse sistema; isso nos permitiu inferir um possível mecanismo para a geração de morfologias jellyfish em colisões de aglomerados de galáxias em geral.

We show some preliminary 10-37 micron high-resolution spectra taken with the Spitzer Space Telescope in 2008-9 of Mira variables distributed across the M, S and C chemical subclasses. Our entire Spitzer sample of 25 galactic Miras was observed from two to several times during this observing campaign and all have simultaneously measured near-infrared interferometric diameters acquired using the Palomar Testbed Interferometer. Because our sources are very bright for Spitzer IRS (typically 5-100 Janskys), we have excellent signal to noise and for many sources see marked changes in overall flux levels as a function of phase. Further, we are able to identify many strong emission lines and emission features due to silicate and carbon dusts and molecular constituents. We introduce the sample and the design of our experiment, discuss the data reduction required for such bright sources using Spitzer, show several examples of spectra with phase and discuss some preliminary findings. Finally, we discuss future steps for Paper II, to be presented later in the year.

We present new radio/millimeter measurements of the hot magnetic star HR 5907 obtained with the VLA and ALMA interferometers. We find that HR 5907 is the most radio luminous early type star in the cm–mm band among those presently known. Its multi-wavelength radio light curves are strongly variable with an amplitude that increases with radio frequency. The radio emission can be explained by the populations of the non-thermal electrons accelerated in the current sheets on the outer border of the magnetosphere of this fast-rotating magnetic star. We classify HR 5907 as another member of the growing class of strongly magnetic fast-rotating hot stars where the gyro-synchrotron emission mechanism efficiently operates in their magnetospheres. The new radio observations of HR 5907 are combined with archival X-ray data to study the physical condition of its magnetosphere. The X-ray spectra of HR 5907 show tentative evidence for the presence of non-thermal spectral component. We suggest that non-thermal X-rays originate a stellar X-ray aurora due to streams of non-thermal electrons impacting on the stellar surface. Taking advantage of the relation between the spectral indices of the X-ray power-law spectrum and the non-thermal electron energy distributions, we perform 3-D modelling of the radio emission for HR 5907. The wavelength-dependent radio light curves probe magnetospheric layers at different heights above the stellar surface. A detailed comparison between simulated and observed radio light curves leads us to conclude that the stellar magnetic field of HR 5907 is likely non-dipolar, providing further indirect evidence of the complex magnetic field topology of HR 5907.