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Li-Chin Yeh

Publications and source records attributed to Li-Chin Yeh.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Galaxies with Supermassive Binary Black Holes: (III) The Roche Lobes and Jiang-Yeh Lobe in a Core System

Three-dimensional equi-potential surfaces of a galactic system with supermassive binary black holes are discussed herein. The conditions of topological transitions for the important surfaces, i.e. Roche Lobes and Jiang-Yeh Lobe, are studied in this paper. In addition, the mathematical properties of the Jacobi surfaces are investigated analytically. Finally, a numerical procedure for determining the regions of the Roche Lobes and Jiang-Yeh Lobe is suggested.

astro-ph.GA↗

The Possible Orbital Decay and Transit Timing Variations of the Planet WASP-43b

Motivated by the previously reported high orbital decay rate of the planet WASP-43b, eight newly transit light curves are obtained and presented. Together with other data in literature, we perform a self-consistent timing analysis with data covering a timescale of 1849 epochs. The results give an orbital decay rate dP/dt = -0.02890795\pm 0.00772547 sec/year, which is one order smaller than previous values. This slow decay rate corresponds to a normally assumed theoretical value of stellar tidal dissipation factor. In addition, through the frequency analysis, the transit timing variations presented here are unlikely to be periodic, but could be signals of a slow orbital decay.

astro-ph.EP↗

The Period-Ratio and Mass-Ratio Correlation in Extra-Solar Multiple Planetary Systems

Employing the data from orbital periods and masses of extra-solar planets in 166 multiple planetary systems, the period-ratio and mass-ratio of adjacent planet pairs are studied. The correlation between the period-ratio and mass-ratio is confirmed and found to have a correlation coefficient of 0.5303 with a 99% confidence interval (0.3807, 0.6528). A comparison with the distribution of synthetic samples from a Monte Carlo simulation reveals the imprint of planet-planet interactions on the formation of adjacent planet pairs in multiple planetary systems.

astro-ph.EP↗

Galaxies with Supermassive Binary Black Holes: (II) A Model with Cuspy Galactic Density Profiles

The existence and uniqueness of equilibrium points, including Lagrange Points and Jiang-Yeh Points, of a galactic system with supermassive binary black holes embedded in a centrally cuspy galactic halo are investigated herein. Differing from the previous results of non-cuspy galactic profiles that Jiang-Yeh Points only exist under a particular condition, it is found here that the Lagrange Points, L2, L3, L4 and L5, Jiang-Yeh Points, JY1 and JY2, exist under general conditions. The stability analysis shows that L2, L3, JY1 and JY2 are unstable. However, L4 and L5 are only unstable when the galactic total mass is smaller than a critical mass; otherwise they become neutrally stable centers. These results will be important for further studies on the cores of early-type galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

Galaxies with Supermassive Binary Black Holes: (I) A Possible Model for the Centers of Core Galaxies

The dynamics of galactic systems with central binary black holes is studied. The model is a modification from the restricted three body problem, in which a galactic potential is added as an external potential. Considering the case with an equal mass binary black holes, the conditions of existence of equilibrium points, including Lagrange Points and additional new equilibrium points, i.e. Jiang-Yeh Points, are investigated. A critical mass is discovered to be fundamentally important. That is, Jiang-Yeh Points exist if and only if the galactic mass is larger than the critical mass. The stability analysis is performed for all equilibrium points. The results that Jiang-Yeh Points are unstable could lead to the core formation in the centers of galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

Possible Transit Timing Variations of the TrES-3 Planetary System

Five newly observed transit light curves of the TrES-3 planetary system are presented. Together with other light curve data from literature, 23 transit light curves in total, which cover an overall timescale of 911 epochs, have been analyzed through a standard procedure. From these observational data, the system's orbital parameters are determined and possible transit timing variations are investigated. Given that a null transit-timing-variation produces a fit with reduced chi^2=1.52, our results agree with previous work, that transit timing variations might not exist in these data. However, a 1-frequency oscillating transit-timing-variation model, giving a fit with a reduced chi^2=0.93, does possess a statistically higher probability. It is, thus, concluded that future observations and dynamical simulations for this planetary system will be very important.

astro-ph.EP↗

Clumps and Axisymmetric Features in Debris Discs

This paper studied the structures of debris discs, focusing on the conditions that can form an axisymmetric-looking outer disc from systems with inner clumps. The main conclusion was that as long as the dominated dust grains are smaller than the blowout size, it is easy to form an axisymmetric-looking outer debris disc, which is part of a quasi-steady state of the whole system. This quasi-steady state is established through the balance between grain generations and a continuous out-going grain flow. Assuming there is an event that starts planetesimal collisions and the corresponding grain generations, this balance can be approached in a few thousand years. This result suggested that a quasi-steady-state picture could solve the possible mass budget problem of Vega's outer debris disc.

astro-ph.EP↗

Modeling the Migration of Neptune and the Corresponding Resonant Captures

Due to the angular momentum exchange with planetesimals, Neptune might have migrated outward to the current position, and captured many Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) into resonances. We set up a semi-analytic model to simulate the outward migration of Neptune, and the processes of resonant captures. Our model can naturally explain Neptune's currently observed semi-major axis and eccentricity. The results show that the current population ratio between 3:2 and 2:1 is mainly due to the original density distribution of KBOs, which might be related to drag-induced inward migrations of proto-KBOs.

astro-ph.EP↗

Investigating Close-in Exoplanets through Transit Observations

Through the international collaborators, we recently established a network of existing and working meter-class telescopes to look for planetary transit events. As a first step, we focus on the TrES3 system, and conclude that there could be some level of transit timing variations.

astro-ph.EP↗

On the Fundamental Mass-Period Functions of Extrasolar Planets

Employing a catalog of 175 extrasolar planets (exoplanets) detected by the Doppler-shift method, we constructed the independent and coupled mass-period functions. It is the first time in this field that the selection effect is considered in the coupled mass-period functions. Our results are consistent with those in Tabachnik and Tremaine (2002) with the major differences that we obtain a flatter mass function but a steeper period function. Moreover, our coupled mass-period functions show that about 2.5 percent of stars would have a planet with mass between Earth Mass and Neptune Mass, and about 3 percent of stars would have a planet with mass between Neptune Mass and Jupiter Mass.

astro-ph.EP↗

On the Period-Mass Functions of Extrasolar Planets

Using the period and mass data of two hundred and seventy-nine extrasolar planets, we have constructed a coupled period-mass function through the non-parametric approach. This analytic expression of the coupled period-mass function has been obtained for the first time in this field. Moreover, due to a moderate period-mass correlation, the shapes of mass/period functions vary as a function of period/mass. These results of mass and period functions give way to two important implications: (1) the deficit of massive close-in planets is confirmed, and (2) the more massive planets have larger ranges of possible semi-major axes. These interesting statistical results will provide important clues into the theories of planetary formation.

astro-ph.EP↗

On the Vega Debris Disc's Dust Grains: Short-Lived or Long-Lived ?

Through Spitzer Space Telescope's observations, Su et al. (2005) show that the Vega debris disc is dominated by grains which are small enough to be blown out by radiation pressure. This implies the lifetime of Vega debris disc's grains is relatively short, about 1000 years, and a continuous dust production is necessary to maintain the observed debris disc. However, Krivov et al. (2006)'s theoretical calculations show that the Vega debris disc is dominated by 10 micro-meter grains, which would be in bound orbits and thus long-lived, provided that the disc is in a steady state. In order to solve the above contradiction, through dynamical simulations, we determine the grains' orbital evolutions and density profiles and seek a model of size distribution which can reproduce the observed surface brightness. Our results show that a self-consistent dynamical model with a 1/R disc density profile can be constructed when the grains have a power-law size distribution. Moreover, both types of models, dominated by short-lived and long-lived grains, are consistent with the observational data.

astro-ph.SR↗

On Grain Dynamics in Debris Discs: Continuous Outward Flows and Embedded Planets

This study employed grain dynamic models to examine the density distribution of debris discs, and discussed the effects of the collisional time-intervals of asteroidal bodies, the maximum grain sizes, and the chemical compositions of the dust grains of the models, in order to find out whether a steady out-moving flow with an 1/R profile could be formed. The results showed that a model with new grains every 100 years, a smaller maximum grain size, and a composition C400 has the best fit to the 1/R profile because: (1) the grains have larger values of beta on average,therefore, they can be blown out easily; (2) the new grains are generated frequently enough to replace those have been blown out. With the above two conditions, some other models can have a steady out-moving flow with an approximate 1/R profile. However, those models in which new grains are generated every 1000 years have density distributions far from the profile of a continuous out-moving flow. Moreover, the analysis on the signatures of planets in debris discs showed that there are no indications when a planet is in a continuous out-moving flow, however, the signatures are obvious in a debris disc with long-lived grains.

astro-ph.SR↗

Construction of Coupled Period-Mass Functions in Extrasolar Planets through the Nonparametric Approach

Using the period and mass data of two hundred and seventy-nine extrasolar planets, we have constructed a coupled period-mass function through the non-parametric approach. This analytic expression of the coupled period-mass function has been obtained for the first time in this field. Moreover, due to a moderate period-mass correlation, the shapes of mass/period functions vary as a function of period/mass. These results of mass and period functions give way to two important implications: (1) the deficit of massive close-in planets is confirmed, and (2) the more massive planets have larger ranges of possible semi-major axes. These interesting statistical results will provide important clues into the theories of planetary formation.

astro-ph.IM↗

On the Mass-Period Distributions and Correlations of Extrasolar Planets

In addition to fitting the data of 233 extra-solar planets with power laws, we construct a correlated mass-period distribution function of extrasolar planets, as the first time in this field. The algorithm to generate a pair of positively correlated beta-distributed random variables is introduced and used for the construction of correlated distribution functions. We investigate the mass-period correlations of extrasolar planets both in the linear and logarithm spaces, determine the confidence intervals of the correlation coefficients, and confirm that there is a positive mass-period correlation for the extrasolar planets. In addition to the paucity of massive close-in planets, which makes the main contribution on this correlation, there are other fine structures for the data in the mass-period plane.

astro-ph↗

The Roles of Discs for Planetary Systems

It is known that the discs are detected for some of the extra-solar planetary systems. It is also likely that there was a disc mixing with planets and small bodies while our Solar System was forming. From our recent results, we conclude that the discs play two roles: the gravity makes planetary systems more chaotic and the drag makes planetary systems more resonant.

astro-ph↗

On the Dynamics of Resonant Kuiper Belt Objects

We propose a new mechanism of drag-induced resonant capture, which can explain the resonant Kuiper Belt Objects in a natural way. A review and comparison with the traditional mechanism of sweeping capture by the migrating Neptune will be given.

astro-ph↗

The Modified Restricted Three Body Problems

The restricted three body problem is well-known and very important for dynamics of binary, multiple stars and also planetary systems. We extend the classical version of this problem to the situation that there are some external forces from the belt. We find that both the equilibrium points and solution curves become quite different from the classical case. We also determine the values of Lyapunov Exponent for some important orbits.

astro-ph↗