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M. Flores

Publications and source records attributed to M. Flores.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Stable levitation of ring magnets: A low-cost, 3D-printed experiment on the magnetic force-distance law

Magnetic levitation is one of the most captivating phenomena in physics, combining a striking visual appeal with the rich underlying physics of forces and interactions in equilibrium. Bringing it into undergraduate laboratories in a quantitative way is nevertheless often hindered by the intrinsic instability of static magnetic systems and by the high cost of active control systems. Here we present a simple, safe, and very low-cost experiment that uses ring-shaped ferrite magnets together with a mechanical stabilization system fabricated by 3D printing in a male--female configuration. The apparatus lets undergraduate students explore directly and quantitatively the relationship between the magnitude of the magnetic force and the separation distance. We assess the robustness of the device through experimental tests, whose results show excellent quantitative agreement with the equivalent current-loop model. Furthermore, we validate this model through a complementary, independent first-principles-based methodology based on axial magnetic field profiling. To support reproducibility, the 3D design files are made available in a public, open-access repository.

physics.ed-ph

A search for new symbiotic stars in the Milky Way: Using machine learning techniques applied to photometric databases

Symbiotic stars (SySts) are interacting binaries composed of a red giant transferring material to a hot compact star, typically a white dwarf. Although only about 300 systems are confirmed, the Galactic population is estimated at 1.2 x 10^3 - 1.5 x 10^4, indicating that most remain undiscovered. We identify new SySts using a machine-learning approach that combines Gaia DR3, 2MASS, and WISE photometry, parallaxes, and the pseudo-equivalent width of H alpha. A Random Forest model was trained on 166 confirmed S-type SySts and 1600 non-symbiotic stars, applying SMOTE to mitigate class imbalance. The model achieved an F1-score of 89% for the symbiotic class. Applied to 2.5 x 10^6 color-selected sources, it identified 990 candidates with probabilities more than 70%. We further refined the sample using physically motivated cuts on effective temperature, surface gravity, metallicity, and SkyMapper photometry, yielding 12 high-confidence candidates. These objects show cool temperatures, low surface gravities, near-solar metallicity, H alpha emission, moderate-to-high luminosities, and UV excess consistent with S-type SySts. Validation on recently confirmed systems recovered 92.3%, demonstrating the robustness and generalizability of our method.

astro-ph.SR

Quantum computation of molecular geometry via many-body nuclear spin echoes

Quantum-information-inspired experiments in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy may yield a pathway towards determining molecular structure and properties that are otherwise challenging to learn. We measure out-of-time-ordered correlators (OTOCs) [1-4] on two organic molecules suspended in a nematic liquid crystal, and investigate the utility of this data in performing structural learning tasks. We use OTOC measurements to augment molecular dynamics models, and to correct for known approximations in the underlying force fields. We demonstrate the utility of OTOCs in these models by estimating the mean ortho-meta H-H distance of toluene and the mean dihedral angle of 3',5'-dimethylbiphenyl, achieving similar accuracy and precision to independent spectroscopic measurements of both quantities. To ameliorate the apparent exponential classical cost of interpreting the above OTOC data, we simulate the molecular OTOCs on a Willow superconducting quantum processor, using AlphaEvolve-optimized [5] quantum circuits and arbitrary-angle fermionic simulation gates. We implement novel zero-noise extrapolation techniques based on the Pauli pathing model of operator dynamics [6], to repeat the learning experiments with root-mean-square error $0.05$ over all circuits used. Our work highlights a computational protocol to interpret many-body echoes from nuclear magnetic systems using low resource quantum computation.

quant-ph

PLATOSpec: a precise spectrograph in support of space missions

The upcoming space missions that will characterize exoplanets, such as PLATO and Ariel, will collect huge amounts of data that will need to be complemented with ground-based observations. The aim of the PLATOSpec project is to perform science with an echelle spectrograph capable of measuring precise radial velocities. The main focus of the spectrograph will be to perform the initial screening and validation of exoplanetary candidates, in addition to study stellar variability. It will be possible to determine the physical properties of large exoplanets. The PLATOSpec blue-sensitive spectrograph, with a spectral range of 380 to 700\,nm and a resolving power of R=70,000, is installed on the 1.5-m telescope at the ESO La Silla Observatory in Chile. Initial results show that the radial-velocity limit given by the wavelength calibration is about 2-3 m/s. Tests on bright F-K main-sequence standard stars reveal a scatter of about 5 m/s over a few hours. The scatter over a few months is slightly higher. We demonstrate the capabilities of PLATOSpec on the mass determination of WASP-79 b and the spin-orbit alignment of WASP-62\,b via the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect. We show its possible usage on variable star research as demonstrated on the false-positive exoplanetary candidate TIC 238060327, which is proven a binary star. Investigation of line-profile variations of the roAp star alpha Cir shows that PLATOSpec can also be used for the surface mapping. Finally, we present new results on the active star UY Pic in the PLATO southern field. Our results show that PLATOSpec is a versatile spectrograph with great precision.

astro-ph.IM

Discovery of lambda Boo stars in open clusters

The origin of lambda Boo stars is currently unknown. After several efforts by many authors, no bona fide lambda Boo stars have been confirmed as members of open clusters. Their detection could provide an important test bed for a detailed study of lambda Boo stars. Results. For the first time, we present the surprising finding of two lambda Boo stars as members of open clusters: HD 28548 belongs to the cluster HSC 1640 and HD 36726 belongs to the cluster Theia 139. This was confirmed using a detailed abundance analysis, while the cluster membership was independently analyzed using Gaia DR3 data and radial velocities. We compared the lambda Boo star HD 36726 with other cluster members and showed that the lambda Boo star was originally born with a near-solar composition. This also implies one of the highest chemical differences detected between two cluster members (0.5 dex). In addition, we suggest that the lambda Boo peculiarity strongly depletes heavier metals, but could also slightly modify lighter abundances such as C and O. We also found that both lambda Boo stars belong to the periphery of their respective clusters. This would suggest that lambda Boo stars avoid the strong photoevaporation by UV radiation from massive stars in the central regions of the cluster. We preliminarily suggest that peripheral location appears to be a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for the development of lambda Boo peculiarity. We also obtained a precise age determination for the lambda Boo stars HD 28548 (26.3 Myr) and HD 36726 (33.1 Myr). Conclusions. We have confirmed, for the first time, that two lambda Boo stars belong to open clusters. This remarkable finding could make open clusters excellent laboratories for studying the origin of lambda Boo stars.

astro-ph.SR

Searching for lambda Boo stars in binary systems

Our goal is to find new candidate lambda Boo stars that belong to binary systems. A detailed abundance determination of some candidates could confirm their true lambda Boo nature, while the composition of eventual late-type companions could be used as a proxy for the initial composition of the lambda Boo stars. Results. We obtained a group of 19 newly identified binary systems which contain a candidate lambda Boo star, allowing to duplicate the number of lambda Boo stars currently known in multiple systems. This important group could be used in further studies of lambda Boo stars. For the first time, we performed a detailed abundance analysis of three of these binary systems which includes a candidate lambda Boo star and a late-type companion. We confirmed the true lambda Boo nature of the three early-type stars (HD 87304, HD 98069 and HD 153747), and obtained mostly a solar-like composition for their late-type components. Adopting as a proxy the late-type stars, we showed that the three lambda Boo stars were initially born with a solar-like composition. This is an important constraint for any scenario trying to explain the origin of lambda Boo stars. Also, the solar-like composition of the late-type stars supports the idea that lambda Boo stars are Population I objects, however, we caution that other explanations are also possible. Conclusions. We performed, for the first time, a detailed abundance analysis of binary systems including a lambda Boo star and a late-type companion. We obtained a solid indication that lambda Boo stars born from a solar-like composition and established an important constraint to test formation models of lambda Boo stars.[abridged]

astro-ph.SR

Characterisation of magnetic activity of M dwarfs. Possible impact on the surface brightness

Context. M dwarfs are an ideal laboratory for hunting Earth-like planets, and the study of chromospheric activity is an important part of this task. On the one hand, its short-term activity show high levels of magnetic activity that can affect habitability and make it difficult to detect exoplanets orbiting around them. But on the other hand, long-term activity studies can show whether these stars exhibit cyclical behavior or not in their activity, facilitating the detection of planets in those periods of low magnetic activity. Aims. The long-term cyclical behavior of magnetic activity can be detected studying several spectral lines and explained by different stellar dynamo models. In this work, we studied the Mount Wilson $S$-index to search for evidence of activity cycles possibly driven by a solar-type dynamo. Methods. We studied a sample of 35 dM with spectral classes ranging from dM0 to dM6. To perform this, we used 2965 spectra in the optical range to build time series with extensions of up to 21 years. We have analysed thesm with different time-domain techniques to detect cyclical patterns. In addition, we have also studied the potential impact of chromospheric activity on the surface brightness. Results. Using the color index (V-Ks), we have computed the chromospheric emission levels and we found that the majority of the stars in the sample have low emission levels. In this work, we have detected 13 potential activity cycles with a duration between 3 and 19 years and with false alarm probabilities (FAPs) less than 0.1%. For stars with non-cyclic behaviour, we have found that the mean value of the $S$-Index varies between 0.350 and 1.765 and its mean variability and chromospheric emission level are around 12% and -5.110 dex, respectively. We do not find any impact of chromospheric activity on the surface brightness in the domain of -5.6 < log $R'_{HK}$ < -4.5.

astro-ph.SR

The largest metallicity difference in twin systems: high-precision abundance analysis of the benchmark pair Krios & Kronos

Aims.We conduct a high-precision differential abundance analysis of the remarkable binary system HD 240429/30 (Krios and Kronos, respectively), whose difference in metallicity is one of the highest detected in systems with similar components to date (approximately 0.20 dex). A condensation temperature TC trend study was performed to search for possible chemical signatures of planet formation. In addition, other potential scenarios have been proposed to explain this disparity. Methods. Fundamental atmospheric parameters (Te f f , log g, [Fe/H], vturb) were calculated using the latest version of the FUNDPAR code employing high resolution MAROON-X spectra. We applied a full line-by-line differential technique to measure the abundances of 26 elements in both stars with equivalent widths and spectral synthesis taking advantage of the non-solar scaled opacities. Results.We found a difference in metallicity of approximately 0.230 dex, being Kronos more metal rich than Krios. The analysis encompassed the examination of the diffusion effect and primordial chemical differences, concluding that the observed chemical discrepancies in the binary system cannot be solely attributed to any of these processes. The results also shown a noticeable excess of Li by approximately 0.56 dex in Kronos, and an enhancement of refractories with respect to Krios. A photometric study with TESS data was carried out, without finding any signal of possible transiting planets around the stars. Several potential planet formation scenarios were also explored to account for the observed excess in both metallicity and lithium in Kronos. Planetary engulfment is a plausible explanation, considering the ingestion of an exceptionally large mass, approximately approximately 27.8M_Earth, but no scenario is definitively ruled out.

astro-ph.EP

Characterization of Isometric Words based on Swap and Mismatch Distance

In this paper we consider an edit distance with swap and mismatch operations, called tilde-distance, and introduce the corresponding definition of tilde-isometric word. Isometric words are classically defined with respect to Hamming distance and combine the notion of edit distance with the property that a word does not appear as factor in other words. A word f is said tilde-isometric if, for any pair of f-free words u and v, there exists a transformation from u to v via the related edit operations such that all the intermediate words are also f -free. This new setting is here studied giving a full characterization of the tilde-isometric words in terms of overlaps with errors.

cs.FL

Disentangling the origin of chemical differences using GHOST

Aims. We explore different scenarios to explain the chemical difference found in the remarkable giant-giant binary system HD 138202 + CD-30 12303. For the first time, we suggest how to distinguish these scenarios by taking advantage of the extensive convective envelopes of giant stars. Methods. We carried out a high-precision determination of stellar parameters and abundances by applying a full line-by-line differential analysis on GHOST high-resolution spectra. Results. We found a significant chemical difference between the two stars (0.08 dex), which is largely unexpected considering the insensitivity of giant stars to planetary ingestion and diffusion effects. We tested the possibility of engulfment events by using several different combinations of stellar mass, ingested mass, metallicity of the engulfed object and different convective envelopes. However, the planetary ingestion scenario does not seem to explain the observed differences. For the first time, we distinguished the source of chemical differences using a giant-giant binary system. By ruling out other possible scenarios such as planet formation and evolutionary effects between the two stars, we suggest that primordial inhomogeneities might explain the observed differences. This remarkable result implies that the metallicity differences that were observed in at least some main-sequence binary systems might be related to primordial inhomogeneities rather than engulfment events. We also discuss the important implications of finding primordial inhomogeneities, which affect chemical tagging and other fields such as planet formation. We strongly encourage the use of giant-giant pairs. They are a relevant complement to main-sequence pairs for determining the origin of the observed chemical differences in multiple systems. [abridged]

astro-ph.SR

Elemental abundances differences in the massive planet-hosting wide binary HD 196067-68

It has been suggested that small chemical anomalies observed in planet-hosting wide binary systems could be due to planet signatures, where the role of the planetary mass is still unknown. We search for a possible planet signature by analyzing the Tc trends in the remarkable binary system HD196067-HD196068. At the moment, only HD196067 is known to host a planet which is near the brown dwarf regime. We take advantage of the strong physical similarity between both stars, which is crucial to achieving the highest possible precision in stellar parameters and elemental chemical abundances. This system gives us a unique opportunity to explore if a possible depletion of refractories in a binary system could be inhibited by the presence of a massive planet. We performed a line-by-line chemical differential study, employing the non-solar-scaled opacities, in order to reach the highest precision in the calculations. After differentially comparing both stars, HD196067 displays a clear deficiency in refractory elements in the Tc plane, a lower iron content (0.051 dex) and also a lower Li I content (0.14 dex) than its companion. In addition, the differential abundances reveal a Tc trend. These targets represent the first cases of an abundance difference around a binary system hosting a super-Jupiter. Although we explored several scenarios to explain the chemical anomalies, none of them can be entirely ruled out. Additional monitoring of the system as well as studies of larger sample of wide binary systems hosting massive planets, are needed to better understand the chemical abundance trend observed in HD196067-68.

astro-ph.SR

Correlation between activity indicators: H$\alpha$ and Ca II lines in M-dwarf stars

Different approaches have been adopted to study short- and long-term stellar magnetic activity, and although the mechanisms by which low-mass stars generate large-scale magnetic fields are not well understood, it is known that stellar rotation plays a key role. There are stars that show a cyclical behaviour in their activity which can be explained by solar dynamo or $\alpha\Omega$ dynamo models. However, when studying late-type dwarf stars, it is necessary to implement other indicators to analyse their magnetic activity. In the present work, we perform a comparative study between the best-known activity indicators so far defined from the Ca II and H$\alpha$ lines to analyse M-dwarf stars. We studied a sample of 29 M stars with different chromospheric activity levels and spectral classes ranging from dM0 to dM6. To do so, we employed 1796 wide range spectra from different instruments with a median time span of observations of 21 yr. In addition, we complemented our data with photometric observations from the TESS space mission for better stellar characterisation and short-term analysis. We obtained a good and significant correlation ($rho = 0.91$) between the indexes defined from the two lines for the whole set of stars in the sample. However, we found that there is a deviation for faster rotators (with $P_{rot} < 4$ days) and higher flare activity (at least one flare per day). There is an overall positive correlation between Ca II and H$\alpha$ emission in dM stars, except during flare events. In particular, we found that low-energy high-frequency flares could be responsible for the deviation in the linear trend in fast-rotator M dwarfs. This implies that the rotation period could be a fundamental parameter to study the stellar activity and that the rotation could drive the magnetic dynamo in low-mass active stars.

astro-ph.SR

Are Am stars and hot-Jupiter planets related?

Am stars are often components of short-period binary systems, where tidal interactions would result in low rotational velocities and help to develop the chemical peculiarities observed. However, the origin of single Am stars and Am stars that belong to wide binary systems is unclear. There is very recent evidence of an Am star hosting a hot-brown dwarf likely synchronized and other possible Am stars hosting hot-Jupiter planets. We wonder if these hot-low mass companions could play a role in the development of an Am star, that is to say, if they could help to mitigate the "single Am" problem. We studied a sample of 19 early-type stars, 7 of them hosting hot-brown dwarfs and 12 of them hosting hot-Jupiter planets. We detected 4 Am stars in our sample (KELT-19A, KELT-17, HATS-70 and TOI-503) and 2 possible Am stars (TOI-681 and HAT-P-69). In particular, we detected the new Am star HATS-70 which hosts a hot-brown dwarf, and rule out this class for the hot-Jupiter host WASP-189, both showing different composition than previously reported. We estimated the incidence of Am stars within stars hosting hot-brown dwarfs (50-75%) and within stars hosting hot-Jupiters (20-42%). The incidence of Am stars hosting hot-brown dwarfs resulted higher than the frequency of Am stars in general. This would imply that the presence of hot-brown dwarfs could play a role in the development of Am stars and possibly help to mitigate the "single Am" problem, different to the case of hot-Jupiter planets. Notably, these results would also indicate that the search for hot-brown dwarfs may be benefited by targeting single Am stars or Am stars in wide binary systems. We encourage the analysis off additional early-type stars hosting hot-companions in order to improve the significance of the initial trends found here. [abridged]

astro-ph.SR

Testing the accretion scenario of lambda Boo stars

Our aim is to test the accretion scenario of lambda Boo stars. This model predicts that a binary system with two early-type stars passing through a diffuse cloud should both display the same superficial peculiarity. We carried out a detailed abundance determination of three multiple systems hosting a candidate lambda Boo star: the remarkable triple system HD 15164/65/65C and the binary systems HD 193256/281 and HD 198160/161. The abundance analysis of HD 15164/65/65C shows a clear lambda Boo object (HD 15165) and two objects with near solar composition (HD 15164 and 15165C). Notably, the presence of a lambda Boo star (HD 15165) together with a near solar early-type object (HD 15164) is difficult to explain under the accretion scenario. Also, the solar-like composition derived for the late-type star of the system (HD 15165C) could be used, for the first time, as a proxy for the initial composition of the lambda Boo stars. Then, by reviewing abundance analysis of all known binary systems with candidate lambda Boo stars from literature and including the systems analyzed here, we find no binary/multiple system having two clear "bonafide" lambda Boo stars, as expected from the accretion scenario. The closer candidates to show two lambda Boo-like stars are HD 84948, HD 171948 and HD 198160; however, in our opinion they show mild rather than clear lambda Boo patterns. Our results brings little support to the accretion scenario. Then, there is an urgent need of additional binary and multiple systemsto be analyzed through a detailed abundance analysis.[abridged]

astro-ph.SR

Searching for new solar twins: The Inti survey for the Northern Sky

Solar twins are key in different areas of astrophysics, however only just over a hundred were identified and well-studied in the last two decades. In this work, we take advantage of the very precise \textit{Gaia} (DR2/EDR3), Tycho and 2MASS photometric systems to create the Inti survey of new solar twins in the Northern Hemisphere. The spectra of our targets were initially obtained with spectrographs of moderate resolution (ARCES and Goodman spectrographs with $R$ = 31500 and 11930, respectively) to find the best solar twin candidates and then observed at McDonald Observatory with higher resolving power (TS23, $R$ = 60000) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR $\sim$ 300-500). The stellar parameters were estimated through the differential spectroscopic equilibrium relative to the Sun, which allow us to achieve a high internal precision ($σ(T_{\rm{eff}})$ = 15 K, $σ(\log g)$ = 0.03 dex, $σ$([Fe/H]) = 0.01 dex, and $σ(v_{t})$ = 0.03 km s$^{-1}$). We propose a new class of stars with evolution similar to the Sun: \textit{solar proxy}, which is useful to perform studies related to the evolution of the Sun, such as its rotational and magnetic evolution. Its definition is based on metallicity ($-$0.15 dex $\leq$ [Fe/H] $\leq$ +0.15 dex) and mass (0.95 M$_{\odot}$ $\leq$ M $\leq$ 1.05 M$_{\odot}$) constraints, thus assuring that the star follows a similar evolutionary path as the Sun along the main sequence. Based on this new definition, we report 70 newly identified solar proxies, 46 solar analogs and 13 solar-type stars. In addition, we identified 9 \textit{close solar twins} whose stellar parameters are the most similar to those of the Sun.

astro-ph.SR

Chemical analysis of early-type stars with planets

Aims. To explore the chemical pattern of early-type stars with planets, searching for a possible signature of planet formation. In particular, we study a likely relation between the lambda Bootis chemical pattern and the presence of giant planets. Methods. We performed a detailed abundance determination in a sample of early-type stars with and without planets via spectral synthesis. Results. We compared the chemical pattern of the stars in our sample (13 stars with planets and 24 stars without detected planets) with those of lambda Bootis and other chemically peculiar stars. We have found four lambda Bootis stars in our sample, two of which present planets and circumstellar disks (HR 8799 and HD 169142) and one without planets detected (HD 110058). We have also identified the first lambda Bootis star orbited by a brown dwarf (zeta Del). This interesting pair lambda Bootis star + brown dwarf could help to test stellar formation scenarios. We found no unique chemical pattern for the group of early-type stars bearing giant planets. However, our results support, in principle, a suggested scenario in which giant planets orbiting pre-main-sequence stars possibly block the dust of the disk and result in a lambda Bootis-like pattern. On the other hand, we do not find a lambda Bootis pattern in different hot-Jupiter planet host stars, which do not support the idea of possible accretion from the winds of hot-Jupiters, recently proposed in the literature. Then, other mechanisms should account for the presence of the lambda Bootis pattern between main-sequence stars. Finally, we suggest that the formation of planets around lambda Bootis stars such as HR 8799 and HD 169142 is also possible through the core accretion process and not only gravitational instability [abridged]

astro-ph.SR

Detecting prolonged activity minima in binary stars. The case of $ζ^{2}$ Ret

Context. It is well known that from 1645 to 1715 solar activity was notably low and the number of sunspots was extremely reduced. This epoch is known as the Maunder Minimum (MM). The study of stars in prolonged activity minima like the MM could help to shed light on this enigmatic epoch. Aims. To explore if the star $ζ^{2}$ Ret, which belongs to a binary system, is in a state similar to the MM. We have collected more than 430 spectra acquired between 2000 and 2019 with the HARPS, REOSC, UVES, and FEROS spectrographs. Methods. We performed a detailed long-term activity study of both components using the Mount Wilson index, which is obtained from the Ca II H\&K lines. To search for signs of an activity cycle, we analyzed the resulting time-series with the Generalized Lomb-Scargle and CLEAN periodograms. Results. Our spectroscopic analysis shows a high activity level for zet01 Ret and a significant decrease in the magnetic activity cycle amplitude of $ζ^{2}$ Ret. Thus, the activity difference between both components has been slightly increased ($Δ$log (RHK) $\sim$0.24 dex), when compared to the previously reported value. The long series analyzed here allowed us to recalculate and constrain the period of $ζ^{2}$ Ret to $\sim$7.9 yr. We also detected a long-term activity cycle of $\sim$4.2 yr in $ζ^{1}$ Ret. Conclusions. By analogy with the scenario that proposes a weak solar cycle during the MM, we suggest that activity signatures showed by $ζ^{2}$ Ret, i.e., a very low activity level when compared to its stellar companion, a notably decreasing amplitude ($\sim$47%), and a cyclic behaviour, are possible evidence that this star could be in a MM state. It is, to our knowledge, the first MM candidate star detected through a highly discrepant activity behaviour in a binary system.

astro-ph.SR

TARdYS: Design and Prototype of an Exoplanet Hunter for TAO using a R6 Echelle Grating

One limitation in characterizing exoplanet candidates is the availability of infrared, high-resolution spectrographs. An important factor in the scarcity of high precision IR spectrographs is the high cost of these instruments. We present a new optical design, which leads to a cost-effective solution. Our instrument is a high-resolution (R=60,000) infrared spectrograph with a R6 Echelle grating and an image slicer. We compare the best possible performance of quasi-Littrow and White Pupil setups, and prefer the latter because it achieves higher image quality. The instrument is proposed for the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) 6.5 m telescope in Chile. The Tao Aiuc high Resolution (d) Y band Spectrograph (TARdYS) covers 0.843-1.117 um. To reduce the cost, we squeeze 42 spectral orders onto a 1K detector with a semi-cryogenic solution. We obtain excellent resolution even when taking realistic manufacturing and alignment tolerances as well as thermal variations into account. In this paper, we present early results from the prototype of this spectrograph at ambient temperature.

astro-ph.IM