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Chao-Wei Tsai

Publications and source records attributed to Chao-Wei Tsai.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

FAST H I 21 cm study of blueberry galaxies

Green Peas (GPs) and blueberry galaxies (BBs) are thought to be local analogs ($z<$0.1) of high redshift Ly$α$ emitters. H I study of these can help us understand the star formation in the primordial Universe. In this Letter, we present the results of H I 21 cm study of 28 high specific star formation rate (sSFR $\gtrsim$10$^{-8}$ yr$^{-1}$) BBs at $z\lesssim$0.05 with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope. We report significant H I detection towards two BBs namely J1026+0426 and J1132+0809, and discuss possible H I contribution from neighboring galaxies. The median 3$σ$ upper limit of $\sim$2.0$\times$10$^{8}$ M$_{\odot}$ was obtained on H I mass for galaxies with nondetections. We find BBs tend to have lower H I-to-stellar mass ratio or gas fraction ($f_{\rm HI}$) than expected from $f_{\rm HI}$-sSFR and $f_{\rm HI}$-$M_{\ast}$ relations for main-sequence galaxies. The BBs also have a median 3$σ$ upper limit on H I gas depletion time scale ($τ_{\rm HI}$) $\sim$0.5 Gyr, about 1 order of magnitude lower than $τ_{\rm HI}$ for local main-sequence galaxies. We find a significantly low H I detection rate of 2/28 (7.1$^{+9.4}_{-4.6}$ \%) towards these galaxies, which is similar to previous H I studies of low redshift GPs of high ionization parameter indicator, O32 $\equiv$O[{\sc iii}]$λ$5007/O[{\sc ii}]$λ$3727 ratios $\gtrsim$10.

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Gleeok's Fire-breathing: Triple Flares of AT 2021aeuk within Five Years from the Active Galaxy SDSS J161259.83+421940.3

We present a noteworthy transient AT 2021aeuk exhibiting three distinct optical flares between 2018 and 2023. It is hosted in a radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1) galaxy, with an optical image showing a minor tidal morphology and a red mid-infrared color W1-W2=1.1. Flares II and III exhibit rapid rises, and long-term decays (around 1000 days) with recurring after-peak bumps. The g-r color after subtracting the reference magnitude exhibited a rapid drop and recovery during Flare II, followed by the minor after-peak evolution in blue colors. We applied a canonical tidal disruption event (TDE) fitting on the light curves which gives a decay index p of $-2.99_{-0.14}^{+0.13}$ for Flare II and $-1.61_{-0.65}^{+0.34}$ for Flare III. The blackbody fitting shows lower temperatures ($\sim 10^{3.8}$K) with minor after-peak evolution. The blackbody radius ($\gtrsim 10^{16}\ \rm cm$) and luminosity ($\sim 10^{45}\rm erg\ s^{-1}$) are larger than the typical TDE sample's. The time lag (in rest frame) between ZTF g- and r-band ($\rm τ_{g,r}=3.4^{+1.0}_{-0.9}$ days) significantly exceeds the prediction from the standard accretion disk. Pre-burst spectra reveal prominent Bowen fluorescence lines, indicating a vigorous or potentially long-lasting process that enriches the local metallicity. Additionally, we derived black hole masses of $\log\it{M}_{\bullet}\rm=7.09^{+0.18}_{-0.31}\ \it{M}_{\odot}$ and $\log\it{M}_{\bullet}\rm=7.52^{+0.08}_{-0.10}\ \it{M}_{\odot}$ using $\rm Hβ$ and $\rm Hα$ emission lines. The variation and recurring features of AT 2021aeuk are not likely induced by the radio-beaming effect or Type-II superluminous supernova (SLSN-II), however, we cannot rule out the possibility of TDE or enhanced active galactic nuclei (AGN) accretion process. The unusually high occurrence of three flares within five years may also induced by the complex local environment.

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Implications for galaxy property estimation revealed by CO luminosity-FWHM relations in local star-forming galaxies

This study explores a relationship between the CO luminosity-full width at half-maximum linewidth linear relation (i.e. the CO LFR) and mean galaxy property of the local star-forming galaxy sample in the xCOLDGASS data base, via a mathematical statement. The whole data base galaxies were separated into two subsamples based on their stellar masses and redshifts, being a help to examine the dependence issue of the CO LFR. Selecting the galaxy data with a stringent requirement was also implemented in order to assure the validly of the CO LFR. An algorithm of the linear regression was conducted with the data of the subsample. An assessment about the linear correlation manifested a valid CO LFR occurs in the selected galaxy of the subsample, and the intercept of the CO LFR may be related with the mean galaxy properties such as the molecular gas fraction and galaxy size. For the finding on the intercept of the CO LFR, we aligned that intercept with those galaxy properties via the involvement of a $ψ$ parameter. On evaluating the $ψ$ value with our local star-forming galaxy sample, we numerically determined a relationship between the statistical result and the galaxy property in a different stellar mass range. It also shows a possible method on estimating galaxy property.

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DRAFTS: A Deep Learning-Based Radio Fast Transient Search Pipeline

The detection of fast radio bursts (FRBs) in radio astronomy is a complex task due to the challenges posed by radio frequency interference (RFI) and signal dispersion in the interstellar medium. Traditional search algorithms are often inefficient, time-consuming, and generate a high number of false positives. In this paper, we present DRAFTS, a deep learning-based radio fast transient search pipeline. DRAFTS integrates object detection and binary classification techniques to accurately identify FRBs in radio data. We developed a large, real-world dataset of FRBs for training deep learning models. The search test on FAST real observation data demonstrates that DRAFTS performs exceptionally in terms of accuracy, completeness, and search speed. In the re-search of FRB 20190520B observation data, DRAFTS detected more than three times the number of bursts compared to Heimdall, highlighting the potential for future FRB detection and analysis.

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The Variability of Persistent Radio Sources of Fast Radio Bursts

Over 700 bright millisecond-duration radio transients, known as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), have been identified to date. Nevertheless, the origin of FRBs remains unknown. The two repeating FRBs (FRB 20121102A and FRB 20190520B) have been verified to be associated with persistent radio sources (PRSs), making them the best candidates to study the nature of FRBs. Monitoring the variability in PRSs is essential for understanding their physical nature. We conducted 22 observations of the PRSs linked to FRB 20121102A and FRB 20190520B using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), to study their variability. We have observed significant flux variability for the PRSs of FRB 20121102A and FRB 20190520B, with a confidence level exceeding 99.99%, based on the observations covering the longest timescale recorded to date. The observed variability of the two PRSs exhibits no significant difference in amplitude across both short and long timescales. We found that the radio-derived star formation rates of the two FRB hosts are significantly higher than those measured by the optical $H_α$ emissions, indicating that their host galaxies are highly obscured or most radio emissions are not from star formation processes. The observed timescale of PRS flux evolution constrained the magnetic field of FRB 20121102A with $B_\parallel\gtrsim1~{\rm mG}$ and FRB 20190520B with $B_\parallel\gtrsim0.1~{\rm mG}$.

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CO spectra of the ISM in the Host Galaxies of the Most Luminous WISE-Selected AGNs

We present observations of mid-J J=4-3 or J=5-4 carbon monoxide (CO) emission lines and continuum emission from a sample of ten of the most luminous log(L/L_solar)~14 Hot Dust-Obscured Galaxies (Hot DOGs) discovered by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) with redshifts up to 4.6. We uncover broad spectral lines (FWHM~400 km/s) in these objects, suggesting a turbulent molecular interstellar medium (ISM) may be ubiquitous in Hot DOGs. A halo of molecular gas, extending out to a radius of 5 kpc is observed in W2305-0039, likely supplied by 940 km/s molecular outflows. W0831+0140 is plausibly the host of a merger between at least two galaxies, consistent with observations made using ionized gas. These CO(4-3) observations contrast with previous CO(1-0) studies of the same sources: the CO(4-3) to CO(1-0) luminosity ratios exceed 300 in each source, suggesting that the lowest excited states of CO are underluminous. These findings show that the molecular gas in Hot DOGs is consistently turbulent, plausibly a consequence of AGN feedback, triggered by galactic mergers.

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An extremely active repeating fast radio burst source in a likely non-magneto-ionic environment

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are bright radio bursts originating at cosmological distances. Only three repeating FRBs FRB 20121102A, FRB 20190520B and FRB 20201124A among $\sim$ 60 known repeating FRBs have circular polarization. We observed the FRB 20220912A with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) at L-band on 24 October 2022 and detected 128 bursts in 1.4 hours, corresponding to a burst rate of about 90 hr$^{-1}$, which is the highest yet for FRBs observed by the GBT. The average rotation measure (RM) was $-$0.4$\pm$0.3$\,$rad$\,$m$^{-2}$ with negligible intraday RM change, indicating a likely non-magneto-ionic environment. 61% bursts have linear polarization fraction greater than 90%. Approximately 56% of the bright bursts have circular polarization. A downward drift in frequency and polarization angle swings were found in our sample. The characterization of FRB 20220912A indicates that the circular polarization is unlikely to be caused by the magneto-ionic environment for at least some of the repeating FRB population.

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FAST Observations of Four Comets to Search for the Molecular Line Emissions between 1.0 and 1.5 GHz Frequencies

We used the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) to search for the molecular emissions in the L-band between 1.0 and 1.5 GHz toward four comets, C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE), C/2020 R4 (ATLAS), C/2021 A1 (Leonard), and 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during or after their perihelion passages. Thousands of molecular transition lines fall in this low-frequency range, many attributed to complex organic or prebiotic molecules. We conducted a blind search for the possible molecular lines in this frequency range in those comets and could not identify clear signals of molecular emissions in the data. Although several molecules have been detected at high frequencies of great than 100 GHz in comets, our results confirm that it is challenging to detect molecular transitions in the L-band frequency ranges. The non-detection of L-band molecular lines in the cometary environment could rule out the possibility of unusually strong lines, which could be caused by the masers or non-LTE effects. Although the line strengths are predicted to be weak, for FAST, using the ultra-wide bandwidth receiver and improving the radio frequency interference environments would enhance the detectability of those molecular transitions at low frequencies in the future.

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JCMT 850 $\micron$ continuum observations of density structures in the G35 molecular complex

Filaments are believed to play a key role in high-mass star formation. We present a systematic study of the filaments and their hosting clumps in the G35 molecular complex using JCMT SCUBA-2 850 $\micron$ continuum data. We identified five clouds in the complex and 91 filaments within them, some of which form 10 hub-filament systems (HFSs), each with at least 3 hub-composing filaments. We also compiled a catalogue of 350 dense clumps, 183 of which are associated with the filaments. We investigated the physical properties of the filaments and clumps, such as mass, density, and size, and their relation to star formation. We find that the global mass-length trend of the filaments is consistent with a turbulent origin, while the hub-composing filaments of high line masses ($m_{\rm l}\,>$\,230\,$\mathrm{M_{\odot}~pc^{-1}}$) in HFSs deviate from this relation, possibly due to feedback from massive star formation. We also find that the most massive and densest clumps (R\,$>$\,0.2\,pc, M\,$>35\,\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$, $\mathrmΣ>\,0.05\,\mathrm{g~cm^{-2}}$) are located in the filaments and in the hubs of HFS with the latter bearing a higher probability of occurrence of high-mass star-forming signatures, highlighting the preferential sites of HFSs for high-mass star formation. We do not find significant variation in the clump mass surface density across different evolutionary environments of the clouds, which may reflect the balance between mass accretion and stellar feedback.

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FAST survey of H I and OH absorption towards extragalactic radio sources

Neutral atomic hydrogen and molecular gas in the host galaxies of radio active galactic nuclei (AGN) can be traced using H I 21-cm and OH-1667 MHz absorption lines to understand the fueling and feedback processes. We present the results of an H I and OH absorption survey with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) towards 40 radio sources of low-intermediate radio luminosity ($\sim$10$^{23}$-10$^{26}$ W Hz$^{-1}$ at 1.4 GHz), red mid-infrared color (W2[4.6 $μ$m]$-$W3[12 $μ$m] $>$ 2.5 mag) and redshift up to 0.35. From 13 sources with good data at H I observing frequencies, we report the detection of H I absorption towards 8 sources, 5 of which are new detections including 4 in the redshift range 0.25 to 0.35. Our detection rates are consistent with our previous results with dependence on the star-formation history of the host galaxy reflected in the mid-infrared \textit{WISE} W2$-$W3 colors and the compactness of the radio source. We find no significant dependence of detection rates on radio luminosity or redshift. We also find that H I column densities are anti-correlated with the low-frequency spectral indices ($α_{\rm 150 MHz}^{\rm 1.4 GHz}$, $S_ν\propto ν^{-α}$). We do not have any detection from 23 sources with good data at OH observing frequencies. However, by stacking the spectra we estimate the 3$σ$ upper limit of OH column density to be 2.27$\times$10$^{14}$$T_{\rm ex}$/10 K $\times$1/$f_{\rm c}$ cm$^{-2}$. By stacking the OH spectra for 7 associated H I absorbers, we get a 3$σ$ upper limit of 3.47$\times$10$^{14}$ $T_{\rm ex}$/10 K $\times$1/$f_{\rm c}$ cm$^{-2}$ on OH column density and 1.78$\times$10$^{-7}$ on [OH]/[H I] ratio.

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Black Hole Mass and Eddington Ratio Distribution of Hot Dust-Obscured Galaxies

Hot Dust-Obscured Galaxies (Hot DOGs) are a rare population of hyper-luminous infrared galaxies discovered by the WISE mission. Despite the significant obscuration of the AGN by dust in these systems, pronounced broad and blue-shifted emission lines are often observed. Previous work has shown that 8 Hot DOGs, referred to as Blue-excess Hot DOGs (BHDs), present a blue excess consistent with type 1 quasar emission in their UV-optical SEDs, which has been shown to originate from the light of the obscured central engine scattered into the line of sight. We present an analysis of the rest-frame optical emission characteristics for 172 Hot DOGs through UV-MIR SED modeling and spectroscopic details, with a particular focus on the identification of BHDs. We find that while the optical emission observed in Hot DOGs is in most cases dominated by a young stellar population, 26% of Hot DOGs show a significant enough blue excess emission to be classified as BHDs. Based on their broad CIV and MgII lines, we find that the $M_{\rm BH}$ in BHDs range from $10^{8.7}$ to $10^{10} \ M_{\odot}$. When using the same emission lines in regular Hot DOGs, we find the $M_{\rm BH}$ estimates cover the entire range found for BHDs while also extending to somewhat lower values. This agreement may imply that the broad lines in regular Hot DOGs also originate from scattered light from the central engine, just as in BHDs, although a more detailed study would be needed to rule out an outflow-driven nature. Similar to $z\sim 6$ quasars, we find that Hot DOGs sit above the local relation between stellar and black hole mass, suggesting either that AGN feedback has not yet significantly suppressed the stellar mass growth in the host galaxies, or that they will be outliers of the relation when reaching $z$=0.

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Optical Extinctions of Inter-Arm Molecular Clouds in M31: A Pilot Study for the Upcoming CSST Observations

Recent sub-millimeter dust thermal emission observations have unveiled a significant number of inter-arm massive molecular clouds in M31.However,the effectiveness of this technique is limited to its sensitivity,making it challenging to study more distant galaxies.This study introduces an alternative approach,utilizing optical extinctions derived from space-based telescopes,with a focus on the forthcoming China Space Station Telescope(CSST).We first demonstrate the capability of this method by constructing dust extinction maps for 17 inter-arm massive molecular clouds in M31 using the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury(PHAT) data.Our analysis reveals that inter-arm massive molecular clouds with an optical extinction(AV) greater than 1.6 mag exhibit a notable AV excess,facilitating their identification.The majority of these inter-arm massive molecular clouds show an AV around 1 mag,aligning with measurements from our JCMT data.Further validation using a mock CSST RGB star catalog confirms the method's effectiveness.We show that the derived AV values using CSST z and y photometries align more closely with the input values.Molecular clouds with AV>1.6 mag can also be identified using the CSST mock data.We thus claim that future CSST observation could provide an effective way for the detection of inter-arm massive molecular clouds with significant optical extinction in nearby galaxies.

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The ALMaQUEST Survey XV: The Dependence of the Molecular-to-Atomic Gas Ratios on Resolved Optical Diagnostics

The atomic-to-molecular gas conversion is a critical step in the baryon cycle of galaxies, which sets the initial conditions for subsequent star formation and influences the multi-phase interstellar medium. We compiled a sample of 94 nearby galaxies with observations of multi-phase gas contents by utilizing public H I, CO, and optical IFU data from the MaNGA survey together with new FAST H I observations. In agreement with previous results, our sample shows that the global molecular-to-atomic gas ratio ($R_{\rm mol} \equiv$ log $M_{\rm H_2}/M_{\rm H\ I}$) is correlated with the global stellar mass surface density $μ_*$ with a Kendall's $τ$ coefficient of 0.25 and $p < 10^{-3}$, less tightly but still correlated with stellar mass and NUV$-$ r color, and not related to the specific star formation rate (sSFR). The cold gas distribution and kinematics inferred from the H I and CO global profile asymmetry and shape do not significantly rely on $R_{\rm mol}$. Thanks to the availability of kpc-scale observations of MaNGA, we decompose galaxies into H II, composite, and AGN-dominated regions by using the BPT diagrams. With increasing $R_{\rm mol}$, the fraction of H II regions within 1.5 effective radius decreases slightly; the density distribution in the spatially resolved BPT diagram also changes significantly, suggesting changes in metallicity and ionization states. Galaxies with high $R_{\rm mol}$ tend to have high oxygen abundance, both at one effective radius with a Kendall's $τ$ coefficient of 0.37 ($p < 10^{-3}$) and their central regions. Among all parameters investigated here, the oxygen abundance at one effective radius has the strongest relation with global $R_{\rm mol}$, but the dependence of gas conversion on gas distribution and galaxy ionization states is weak.

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The arrival time and energy of FRBs traverse the time-energy bivariate space like a Brownian motion

The origin of fast radio bursts (FRBs), the brightest cosmic explosion in radio bands, remains unknown. We introduce here a novel method for a comprehensive analysis of active FRBs' behaviors in the time-energy domain. Using ``Pincus Index'' and ``Maximum Lyapunov Exponent'', we were able to quantify the randomness and chaoticity, respectively, of the bursting events and put FRBs in the context of common transient physical phenomena, such as pulsar, earthquakes, and solar flares. In the bivariate time-energy domain, repeated FRB bursts' behaviors deviate significantly (more random, less chaotic) from pulsars, earthquakes, and solar flares. The waiting times between FRB bursts and the corresponding energy changes exhibit no correlation and remain unpredictable, suggesting that the emission of FRBs does not exhibit the time and energy clustering observed in seismic events. The pronounced stochasticity may arise from a singular source with high entropy or the combination of diverse emission mechanisms/sites. Consequently, our methodology serves as a pragmatic tool for illustrating the congruities and distinctions among diverse physical processes.

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Detection of extragalactic anomalous microwave emission in NGC 2903 using KVN single-dish observations

We present the results of the single-dish observations using the Korean VLBI Network to search for anomalous microwave emission (AME) in nearby galaxies. The targets were selected from MApping the dense moLecular gAs in the sTrongest stAr-formiNg Galaxies (MALATANG), a legacy survey project of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. The MALATANG galaxies are good representatives of local galaxies with enhanced nuclear activity associated with star formation and/or AGN, providing IR-bright galaxy samples; thus, they are good candidates for AME hosts. Combining with the ancillary data, we investigated the radio-IR spectral energy distribution (SED), while searching for the AME signals in five galaxies. The AME in NGC 2903 was well detected at a significant confidence level, whereas that in NGC 2146 and M82 was marginal. NGC 1068 and Arp 299 indicated no significant hints, and we provided the upper limits for the AME. The best-fit SED exhibited local peaks of the AME components at higher frequencies and with stronger peak fluxes than those in the previous studies. This suggested the origin of AME being denser environments such as molecular clouds or photodissociation regions rather than warm neutral/ionized medium as commonly suggested by previous studies. Further, our AME-detected targets were observed to exhibit higher specific star-formation rates than the other extragalactic AME hosts. Furthermore, AME favored starburst galaxies among our sample rather than AGN hosts. Consequently, this might imply that AGNs are excessively harsh environments for tiny dust to survive.

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A benchmark for extreme conditions of the multiphase interstellar medium in the most luminous hot dust-obscured galaxy at z = 4.6

WISE J224607.6-052634.9 (W2246-0526) is a hot dust-obscured galaxy at $z$ = 4.601, and the most luminous obscured quasar known to date. W2246-0526 harbors a heavily obscured supermassive black hole that is most likely accreting above the Eddington limit. We present observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in seven bands, including band 10, of the brightest far-infrared (FIR) fine-structure emission lines of this galaxy: [OI]$_{63μm}$, [OIII]$_{88μm}$, [NII]$_{122μm}$, [OI]$_{145μm}$, [CII]$_{158μm}$, [NII]$_{205μm}$, [CI]$_{370μm}$, and [CI]$_{609μm}$. A comparison of the data to a large grid of Cloudy radiative transfer models reveals that a high hydrogen density ($n_{H}\sim3\times10^3$ cm$^{-3}$) and extinction ($A_{V}\sim300$ mag), together with extreme ionization ($log(U)=-0.5$) and a high X-ray to UV ratio ($α_{ox}\geq-0.8$) are required to reproduce the observed nuclear line ratios. The values of $α_{ox}$ and $U$ are among the largest found in the literature and imply the existence of an X-ray-dominated region (XDR). In fact, this component explains the a priori very surprising non-detection of the [OIII]$_{88μm}$ emission line, which is actually suppressed, instead of boosted, in XDR environments. Interestingly, the best-fitted model implies higher X-ray emission and lower CO content than what is detected observationally, suggesting the presence of a molecular gas component that should be further obscuring the X-ray emission over larger spatial scales than the central region that is being modeled. These results highlight the need for multiline infrared observations to characterize the multiphase gas in high redshift quasars and, in particular, W2246-0526 serves as an extreme benchmark for comparisons of interstellar medium conditions with other quasar populations at cosmic noon and beyond.

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Discovery and Timing of Millisecond Pulsars in the Globular Cluster M5 (NGC 5904) with FAST and Arecibo

We report on a comprehensive multi-wavelength study of the pulsars in the globular cluster (GC) M5, including the discovery of M5G, a new compact non-eclipsing "black widow" pulsar. Thanks to the analysis of 34 years of radio data taken with the FAST and Arecibo telescopes, we obtained new phase-connected timing solutions for four pulsars in the clusters and improved those of the other three known pulsars. These have resulted in, among other things: a) much improved proper motions for five pulsars, with transverse velocities that are smaller than their respective escape velocities; b) 3-sigma and 1.5-sigma detections of Shapiro delays in M5F and M5D, respectively; c) greatly improved measurement of the periastron advance in M5B, whose value of 0.01361(6) implies that M5B is still likely to be a heavy neutron star. The binary pulsars M5D, E and F are confirmed to be in low-eccentricity binary systems, the low-mass companions of which are newly identified to be He white dwarfs using Hubble Space Telescope data. Four pulsars are also found to be associated with X-ray sources. Similarly to the eclipsing pulsar M5C, M5G shows little or no non-thermal X-ray emission, indicative of weak synchrotron radiation produced by intra-binary shocks. All the seven pulsars known in M5 have short spin periods and five are in binary systems with low orbital eccentricities. These characteristics differ from the overall GC pulsar population, but confirm the expectations for the pulsar population in a cluster with a small rate of stellar encounters per binary system.

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The Initial Mass Function Based on the Full-sky 20-pc Census of $\sim$3,600 Stars and Brown Dwarfs

A complete accounting of nearby objects -- from the highest-mass white dwarf progenitors down to low-mass brown dwarfs -- is now possible, thanks to an almost complete set of trigonometric parallax determinations from Gaia, ground-based surveys, and Spitzer follow-up. We create a census of objects within a Sun-centered sphere of 20-pc radius and check published literature to decompose each binary or higher-order system into its separate components. The result is a volume-limited census of $\sim$3,600 individual star formation products useful in measuring the initial mass function across the stellar ($<8 M_\odot$) and substellar ($\gtrsim 5 M_{Jup}$) regimes. Comparing our resulting initial mass function to previous measurements shows good agreement above 0.8$M_\odot$ and a divergence at lower masses. Our 20-pc space densities are best fit with a quadripartite power law, $ξ(M) = dN/dM \propto M^{-α}$ with long-established values of $α= 2.3$ at high masses ($0.55 < M < 8.00 M_\odot$) and $α= 1.3$ at intermediate masses ($0.22 < M < 0.55 M_\odot$), but at lower masses we find $α= 0.25$ for $0.05 < M <0.22 M_\odot$ and $α= 0.6$ for $0.01 < M < 0.05 M_\odot$. This implies that the rate of production as a function of decreasing mass diminishes in the low-mass star/high-mass brown dwarf regime before increasing again in the low-mass brown dwarf regime. Correcting for completeness, we find a star to brown dwarf number ratio of, currently, 4:1, and an average mass per object of 0.41 $M_\odot$.

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