arXiv subjects

Ji Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Ji Yang.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Optical Sky Brightness and Transparency During the Winter Season at Dome A Antarctica From the Gattini-Allsky Camera

The summit of the Antarctic plateau, Dome A, is proving to be an excellent site for optical, NIR, and THz astronomical observations. GATTINI was a wide-field camera installed on the PLATO instrument module as part of the Chinese-led traverse to Dome A in January, 2009. We present here the measurements of sky brightness with the Gattini ultra-large field of view (90 deg x 90 deg) in the photometric B-, V-, and R-bands, cloud cover statistics measured during the 2009 winter season, and an estimate of the sky transparency. A cumulative probability distribution indicates that the darkest 10% of the nights at Dome A have sky brightness of S_B = 22.98, S_V = 21.86, and S_R = 21.68 mag arcsec^{-2}. These values were obtained around the year 2009 with minimum aurora, and they are comparable to the faintest sky brightness at Mauna Kea and the best sites of northern Chile. Since every filter includes strong auroral lines that effectively contaminate the sky brightness measurements, for instruments working around the auroral lines, either with custom filters or with high spectral resolution instruments, these values could be easily obtained on a more routine basis. In addition, we present example light curves for bright targets to emphasize the unprecedented observational window function available from this ground-based site. These light curves will be published in a future paper.

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arXiv2017

CO~($J = 1-0$) Observations of a Filamentary Molecular Cloud in the Galactic Region Centered at $l = 150\arcdeg, b = 3.5\arcdeg$

We present large-field (4.25~$\times$~3.75 deg$^2$) mapping observations toward the Galactic region centered at $l = 150\arcdeg, b = 3.5\arcdeg$ in the $J = 1-0$ emission line of CO isotopologues ($^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO, and C$^{18}$O), using the 13.7 m millimeter-wavelength telescope of the Purple Mountain Observatory. Based on the $^{13}$CO observations, we reveal a filamentary cloud in the Local Arm at a velocity range of $-$0.5 to 6.5~km~s$^{-1}$. This molecular cloud contains 1 main filament and 11 sub-filaments, showing the so-called "ridge-nest" structure. The main filament and three sub-filaments are also detected in the C$^{18}$O line. The velocity structures of most identified filaments display continuous distribution with slight velocity gradients. The measured median excitation temperature, line width, length, width, and linear mass of the filaments are $\sim$9.28~K, 0.85~km~s$^{-1}$, 7.30~pc, 0.79~pc, and 17.92~$M_\sun$~pc$^{-1}$, respectively, assuming a distance of 400~pc. We find that the four filaments detected in the C$^{18}$O line are thermally supercritical, and two of them are in the virialized state, and thus tend to be gravitationally bound. We identify in total 146 $^{13}$CO clumps in the cloud, about 77$\%$ of the clumps are distributed along the filaments. About 56$\%$ of the virialized clumps are found to be associated with the supercritical filaments. Three young stellar object (YSO) candidates are also identified in the supercritical filaments, based on the complementary infrared (IR) data. These results indicate that the supercritical filaments, especially the virialized filaments, may contain star-forming activities.

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arXiv2017

Molecular clouds in the extreme outer Galaxy between $l=34.75^{\circ}$ to $45.25^{\circ}$

We present the result of an unbiased CO survey in Galactic range of 34.75$^{\circ}\leq$l$\leq$ 45.25$^{\circ}$ and -5.25$^{\circ}\leq$b$\leq$ 5.25$^{\circ}$, and velocity range beyond the Outer arm. A total of 168 molecular clouds (MCs) are identified within the Extreme Outer Galaxy~(EOG) region, and 31 of these MCs are associated with 13CO emission. However, none of them show significant C18O emission under current detection limit. The typical size and mass of these MCs are 5~pc and 3$\times$10$^{3}M_{\sun}$, implying the lack of large and massive MCs in the EOG region. Similar to MCs in the outer Galaxy, the velocity dispersions of EOG clouds are also correlated with their sizes, however, are well displaced below the scaling relationship defined by the inner Galaxy MCs. These MCs with a median Galactocentric radius of 12.6 kpc, show very different distributions from those of the MCs in the Outer arm published in our previous paper, while roughly follow the Outer Scutum-Centaurus arm defined by Dame & Thaddeus 2011. This result may provide a robust evidence for the existence of the Outer Scutum-Centaurus arm. The lower limit of the total mass of this segment is about 2.7$\times$10$^5$ $M_{\sun}$, which is about one magnitude lower than that of the Outer arm. The mean thickness of gaseous disk is about 1.45$^{\circ}$ or 450~pc, and the scale height is about 1.27$^{\circ}$ or 400~pc above the $b=0^{\circ}$ plane. The warp traced by CO emission is very obvious in the EOG region and its amplitude is consistent with the predictions by other warp models using different tracers, such as dust, HI and stellar components of our Galaxy.

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arXiv2017

Molecular Environments of Three Large Supernova Remnants in the Third Galactic Quadrant: G205.5+0.5, G206.9+2.3, and G213.0-0.6

We present CO observations toward three large supernova remnants (SNRs) in the third Galactic quadrant using the Purple Mountain Observatory Delingha 13.7m radio telescope. The observations are part of the high-resolution CO survey of the Galactic plane between Galactic longitudes l=-10deg to 250deg and latitudes b=-5deg to 5d. CO emission was detected toward the three SNRs: G205.5+0.5 (Monoceros Nebula), G206.9+2.3 (PKS 0646+06), and G213.0-0.6. Both of SNRs G205.5+0.5 and G213.0-0.6 exhibit the morphological agreement (or spatial correspondences) between the remnant and the surrounding molecular clouds (MCs), as well as kinematic signatures of shock perturbation in the molecular gas. We confirm that the two SNRs are physically associated with their ambient MCs and the shock of SNRs is interacting with the dense, clumpy molecular gas. SNR G206.9+2.3, which is close to the northeastern edge of the Monoceros Nebula, displays the spatial coincidence with molecular partial shell structures at VLSR~15km/s. While no significant line broadening has been detected within or near the remnant, the strong morphological correspondence between the SNR and the molecular cavity implies that SNR G206.9+2.3 is probably associated with these CO gas and is evolving in the low-density environment. The physical features of individual SNRs, together with the relationship between SNRs and their nearby objects, are also discussed.

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arXiv2017

L1188: a promising candidate of cloud-cloud collision triggering the formation of the low- and intermediate-mass stars

We present a new large-scale (4 square degrees) simultaneous $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO, and C$^{18}$O ($J$=1$-$0) mapping of L1188 with the PMO 13.7-m telescope. Our observations have revealed that L1188 consists of two nearly orthogonal filamentary molecular clouds at two clearly separated velocities. Toward the intersection showing large velocity spreads, we find several bridging features connecting the two clouds in velocity, and an open arc structure which exhibits high excitation temperatures, enhanced $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO emission, and broad $^{12}$CO line wings. This agrees with the scenario that the two clouds are colliding with each other. The distribution of young stellar object (YSO) candidates implies an enhancement of star formation in the intersection of the two clouds. We suggest that a cloud-cloud collision happened in L1188 about 1~Myr ago, possibly triggering the formation of low- and intermediate-mass YSOs in the intersection.

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arXiv2016

Terahertz and Far-Infrared Windows Opened at Dome A, Antarctica

The terahertz and far-infrared (FIR) band, from approximately 0.3 THz to 15 THz (1 mm to 20 micron), is important for astrophysics as the thermal radiation of much of the universe peaks at these wavelengths and many spectral lines that trace the cycle of interstellar matter also lie within this band. However, water vapor renders the terrestrial atmosphere opaque to this frequency band over nearly all of the Earth's surface. Early radiometric measurements below 1 THz at Dome A, the highest point of the cold and dry Antarctic ice sheet, suggest that it may offer the best possible access for ground-based astronomical observations in the terahertz and FIR band. To address uncertainty in radiative transfer modelling, we carried out measurements of atmospheric radiation from Dome A spanning the entire water vapor pure rotation band from 20 micron to 350 micron wavelength by a Fourier transform spectrometer. Our measurements expose atmospheric windows having significant transmission throughout this band. Furthermore, by combining our broadband spectra with auxiliary data on the atmospheric state over Dome A, we set new constraints on the spectral absorption of water vapor at upper tropospheric temperatures important for accurately modeling the terrestrial climate. In particular, we find that current spectral models significantly underestimate the H2O continuum absorption.

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arXiv2016

Interaction between the Supernova Remnant HB 3 and the Nearby Star-Forming Region W3

We performed millimeter observations in CO lines toward the supernova remnant (SNR) HB 3. Substantial molecular gas around -45 km s^-1 is detected in the conjunction region between the SNR HB 3 and the nearby W3 complex. This molecular gas is distributed along the radio continuum shell of the remnant. Furthermore, the shocked molecular gas indicated by line wing broadening features is also distributed along the radio shell and inside it. By both morphological correspondence and dynamical evidence, we confirm that the SNR HB 3 is interacting with the -45 km s^-1 molecular cloud (MC), in essence, with the nearby H II region/MC complex W3. The red-shifted line wing broadening features indicate that the remnant is located at the nearside of the MC. With this association, we could place the remnant at the same distance as the W3/W4 complex, which is 1.95 +- 0.04 kpc. The spatial distribution of aggregated young stellar object candidates (YSOc) shows a correlation to the shocked molecular strip associated with the remnant. We also find a binary clump of CO at (l = 132.94 deg, b = 1.12 deg) around -51.5 km s^-1 inside the projected extent of the remnant, and it is associated with significant mid-infrared (mid-IR) emission. The binary system also has a tail structure resembling the tidal tails of interacting galaxies. According to the analysis of CO emission lines, the larger clump in this binary system is about stable, and the smaller clump is significantly disturbed.

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arXiv2016

The Distant Outer Gas Arm Between l=35d and l=45d

The Galactic plane has been mapped from l=34.75d to 45.25d and b=-5.25d to 5.25d in the CO (J=1-0) emission with the 13.7 m telescope of the Purple Mountain Observatory. The unbiased survey covers a large area of 100 square degrees sampled every 30" with a velocity resolution of ~0.2km/s. In this paper, we present the result of an unbiased CO survey of this longitude and latitude range in the velocity range from -60km/s to -10km/s. Over 500 molecular clouds (MCs) are picked out from the 12CO emission, and 131 of these MCs are associated with 13CO emission.The distant MCs, which lie beyond the solar circle and are mostly concentrated in the Galactic plane, trace the large-scale molecular gas structure over 10 degrees of Galactic azimuth. We suggest that the CO emission of the segment is from the Outer Arm. The physical mid-plane traced by the Outer Arm seems to be slightly displaced from the IAU-defined plane on a large scale, which could be explained by the warped plane at large Galactocentric distances of >~10 kpc and the apparent tilted mid-plane to the projected IAU-defined plane caused by the Sun's z-height above the disk for distances near and within the Solar circle. If the inner plane of our Galaxy is flat, we can derive an upper limit of the Sun's offset of ~17.1 pc above the physical mid-plane of the Milky Way. We also discuss the correlations between the physical parameters of the distant MCs, which is quite consistent with the result of other studies of this parameter.

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arXiv2016

An Outer Arm in the Second Galactic Quadrant: Structure

The lack of arm tracers, especially the remote tracers, is one of the most difficult problems preventing us from studying the structure of the Milky Way. Fortunately, with its high-sensitivity CO survey, the Milky Way Imaging Scroll Painting (MWISP) project offers such an opportunity. Since completing about one-third of its mission, an area of l=[100,150] deg, b=[-3,5] deg has nearly been covered. The Outer arm of the Milky Way first clearly revealed its shape in the second galactic quadrant in the form of molecular gas --- this is the first time that the Outer arm has been reported in such a large-scale mapping of molecular gas. Using the 115 GHz 12CO(1-0) data of MWISP at the LSR velocity ~= [-100,-60] km s^-1 and in the area mentioned above, we have detected 481 molecular clouds in total, and among them 332 (about 69\%) are newly detected and 457 probably belong to the Outer arm. The total mass of the detected Outer arm clouds is ~ 3.1*10^6 M_sun. Assuming that the spiral arm is a logarithmic spiral, the pitch angle is fitted as ~ 13.1 deg. Besides combining both the CO data from MWISP and the 21 cm HI data from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey (CGPS), the gas distribution, warp, and thickness of the Outer arm are also studied.

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arXiv2015

Planck cold clumps in the $λ$ Orionis complex: I. Discovery of an extremely young Class 0 protostellar object and a proto-brown dwarf candidate in a bright rimmed clump PGCC G192.32-11.88

We are performing a series of observations with ground-based telescopes toward Planck Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) in the $λ$ Orionis complex in order to systematically investigate the effects of stellar feedback. In the particular case of PGCC G192.32-11.88, we discovered an extremely young Class 0 protostellar object (G192N) and a proto-brown dwarf candidate (G192S). G192N and G192S are located in a gravitationally bound bright-rimmed clump. The velocity and temperature gradients seen in line emission of CO isotopologues indicate that PGCC G192.32-11.88 is externally heated and compressed. G192N probably has the lowest bolometric luminosity ($\sim0.8$ L$_{\sun}$) and accretion rate (6.3$\times10^{-7}$ M$_{\sun}$~yr$^{-1}$) when compared with other young Class 0 sources (e.g. PACS Bright Red sources (PBRs)) in the Orion complex. It has slightly larger internal luminosity ($0.21\pm0.01$ L$_{\sun}$) and outflow velocity ($\sim$14 km~s$^{-1}$) than the predictions of first hydrostatic cores (FHSCs). G192N might be among the youngest Class 0 sources, which are slightly more evolved than a FHSC. Considering its low internal luminosity ($0.08\pm0.01$ L$_{\odot}$) and accretion rate (2.8$\times10^{-8}$ M$_{\sun}$~yr$^{-1}$), G192S is an ideal proto-brown dwarf candidate. The star formation efficiency ($\sim$0.3\%-0.4\%) and core formation efficiency ($\sim$1\%) in PGCC G192.32-11.88 are significantly smaller than in other giant molecular clouds or filaments, indicating that the star formation therein is greatly suppressed due to stellar feedback.

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arXiv2015

The Dense Filamentary Giant Molecular Cloud G23.0-0.4: Birthplace of Ongoing Massive Star Formation

We present observations of 1.5 square degree maps of the 12CO, 13CO, and C18O (J=1-0) emission toward the complex region of the supernova remnant (SNR) W41 and SNR G22.7-0.2. A massive (~5E5Msun), large (~84x15 pc), and dense (~10E3 cm^-3) giant molecular cloud (GMC), G23.0-0.4 with VLSR~77 km/s, is found to be adjacent to the two SNRs. The GMC displays a filamentary structure approximately along the Galactic plane. The filamentary structure of the dense molecular gas, traced by C18O (J=1-0) emission, is also coincident well with the distribution of the dust-continuum emission in the direction. Two dense massive MC clumps, two 6.7 GHz methanol masers, and one HII/SNR complex, associated with the 77 km/s GMC G23.0-0.4, are aligned along the filamentary structure, indicating the star forming activity within the GMC. These sources have periodic projected spacing of 0.18-0.26degree along the giant filament, which is consistent well with the theoretical predictions of 0.22degree. It indicates that the turbulence seems to dominate the fragmentation process of the dense gaseous filament on large scale. The established 4.4 kpc distance of the GMC and the long dense filament traced by C18O emission, together with the rich massive star formation groups in the nearby region, suggest that G23.0-0.4 is probably located at the near side of the Scutum-Centaurus arm in the first quadrant. Considering the large scale and the elongation structure along the Galactic plane, we speculate that the dense filamentary GMC has relation to the spiral density wave of the Milky Way.

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arXiv2015

CO Core Candidates in the Gemini Molecular Cloud

We present observations of a 4 squared degree area toward the Gemini cloud obtained using J = 1-0 transitions of $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O. No C$^{18}$O emission was detected. This region is composed of 36 core candidates of $^{13}$CO. These core candidates have a characteristic diameter of 0.25 pc, excitation temperatures of 7.9 K, line width of 0.54 km s$^{-1}$ and a mean mass of 1.4 M$_{\sun}$. They are likely to be starless core candidates, or transient structures, which probably disperse after $\sim$10$^6$ yr.

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arXiv2015

Photometric Variability in the CSTAR Field: Results From the 2008 Data Set

The Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR) is the first telescope facility built at Dome A, Antarctica. During the 2008 observing season, the installation provided long-baseline and high-cadence photometric observations in the i-band for 18,145 targets within 20 deg2 CSTAR field around the South Celestial Pole for the purpose of monitoring the astronomical observing quality of Dome A and detecting various types of photometric variability. Using sensitive and robust detection methods, we discover 274 potential variables from this data set, 83 of which are new discoveries. We characterize most of them, providing the periods, amplitudes and classes of variability. The catalog of all these variables is presented along with the discussion of their statistical properties.

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arXiv2015

Eclipsing Binaries From the CSTAR Project at Dome A, Antarctica

The Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR) has observed an area around the Celestial South Pole at Dome A since 2008. About $20,000$ light curves in the i band were obtained lasting from March to July, 2008. The photometric precision achieves about 4 mmag at i = 7.5 and 20 mmag at i = 12 within a 30 s exposure time. These light curves are analyzed using Lomb--Scargle, Phase Dispersion Minimization, and Box Least Squares methods to search for periodic signals. False positives may appear as a variable signature caused by contaminating stars and the observation mode of CSTAR. Therefore the period and position of each variable candidate are checked to eliminate false positives. Eclipsing binaries are removed by visual inspection, frequency spectrum analysis and locally linear embedding technique. We identify 53 eclipsing binaries in the field of view of CSTAR, containing 24 detached binaries, 8 semi-detached binaries, 18 contact binaries, and 3 ellipsoidal variables. To derive the parameters of these binaries, we use the Eclipsing Binaries via Artificial Intelligence (EBAI) method. The primary and the secondary eclipse timing variations (ETVs) for semi-detached and contact systems are analyzed. Correlated primary and secondary ETVs confirmed by false alarm tests may indicate an unseen perturbing companion. Through ETV analysis, we identify two triple systems (CSTAR J084612.64-883342.9 and CSTAR J220502.55-895206.7). The orbital parameters of the third body in CSTAR J220502.55-895206.7 are derived using a simple dynamical model.

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arXiv2014

A Possible Extension of the Scutum-Centaurus Arm into the Outer Second Quadrant

Combining HI data from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey~(CGPS) and CO data from the Milky Way Imaging Scroll Painting (MWISP) project, we have identified a new segment of a spiral arm between Galactocentric radii of 15 and 19~kpc that apparently lies beyond the Outer Arm in the second Galactic quadrant. Over most of its length, the arm is 400-600 pc thick in $z$. The new arm appears to be the extension of the distant arm recently discovered by Dame & Thaddeus (2011) as well as the Scutum-Centaurus Arm into the outer second quadrant. Our current survey identified a total of 72 molecular clouds with masses on the order of 10$^2$-10$^4$M$_{\sun}$ that probably lie in the new arm. When all of the available data from the CO molecular clouds are fit, the best$-$fitting spiral model gives a pitch angle of 9.3$^{\circ}$ $\pm$0.7$^{\circ}$.

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arXiv2014

Interaction Between Supernova Remnant G22.7-0.2 And The Ambient Molecular Clouds

We have carried out 12CO (J=1-0 and 2-1), 13CO (J=1-0), and C18O (J=1-0) observations in the direction of the supernova remnant (SNR) G22.7-0.2. A filamentary molecular gas structure, which is likely part of a larger molecular complex with VLSR~75-79 km/s, is detected and is found to surround the southern boundary of the remnant. In particular, the high-velocity wing (77-110 km/s) in the 12CO (J=1-0 and J=2-1) emission shows convincing evidence of the interaction between SNR G22.7-0.2 and the 75-79 km/s molecular clouds (MCs). Spectra with redshifted profiles, a signature of shocked molecular gas, are seen in the southeastern boundary of the remnant. The association between the remnant and the 77 km/s MCs places the remnant at the near distance of 4.0-4.8 kpc, which agrees with a location on the Scutum-Crux arm. We suggest that SNR G22.7-0.2, SNR W41, and HII region G022.760-0.485 are at the same distance and are associated with GMC G23.0-0.4.

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arXiv2014

Discovery of a pre-existing molecular filament associated with supernova remnant G127.1+0.5

We performed millimeter observations in CO lines toward the supernova remnant (SNR) G127.1+0.5. We found a molecular filament at 4--13 km s$^{-1}$ consisting of two distinct parts: a straight part coming out of the remnant region and a curved part in the remnant region. The curved part is coincides well with the bright SNR shell detected in 1420 MHz radio continuum and mid-infrared observations in the northeastern region. In addition, redshifted line wing broadening is found only in the curved part of the molecular filament, which indicates a physical interaction. These provide strong evidences, for the first time, to confirm the association between an SNR and a pre-existing long molecular filament. Multi-band observations in the northeastern remnant shell could be explained by the interaction between the remnant shock and the dense molecular filament. RADEX radiative transfer modeling of the quiet and shocked components yield physical conditions consistent with the passage of a non-dissociative J-type shock. We argue that the curved part of the filament is fully engulfed by the remnant's forward shock. A spatial correlation between aggregated young stellar objects (YSOs) and the adjacent molecular filament close to the SNR is also found, which could be related to the progenitor's activity.

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arXiv2014

Molecular Environment of the Supernova Remnant IC 443: Discovery of the Molecular Shells Surrounding the Remnant

We have carried out 12CO, 13CO, and C18O observations toward the mixed morphology supernova remnant (SNR) IC 443. The observations cover a 1.5*1.5 deg^2 area and allow us to investigate the overall molecular environment of the remnant. Some northern and northeastern partial shell structure of CO gas is around the remnant. One of the partial shells, about 5' extending beyond the northeastern border of the remnant's bright radio shell, seems to just confine the faint radio halo. On the other hand, some faint CO clumps can be discerned along the eastern boundary of the faint remnant's radio halo. Connecting the eastern CO clumps, the northeastern partial shell structures, and the northern CO partial shell, we can see that a half molecular ring structure appears to surround the remnant. The LSR velocity of the half-ring structure is in the range of -5 km/s to -2 km/s, which is consistent with that of the -4 km/s molecular clouds. We suggest that the half-ring structure of the CO emission at V_LSR -4 km/s is associated with the SNR. The structures are possibly swept up by the stellar winds of SNR IC 443's massive progenitor. Based on the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and the Two Micron All Sky Survey near-IR database, 62 young stellar object (YSO) candidates are selected within the radio halo of the remnant. These YSO candidates concentrated along the boundary of the remnant's bright radio shell are likely to be triggered by the stellar winds from the massive progenitor of SNR IC 443.

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