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R. Rebolo

Publications and source records attributed to R. Rebolo.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

A new L-dwarf member of the moderately metal-poor triple system HD 221356

We report on the discovery of a fourth component in the HD 221356 star system, previously known to be formed by an F8V, slightly metal-poor primary ([Fe/H]=-0.26), and a distant M8V+L3V pair. In our ongoing common proper motion search based on VISTA Hemisphere Survey (VHS) and 2MASS catalogues, we have detected a faint (J=13.76+/-0.04 mag) co-moving companion of the F8 star located at angular separation of 12.13+/-0.18 arcsec (position angle of 221.8+/-1.7), corresponding to a projected distance of ~312 AU at 26 pc. Near-infrared spectroscopy of the new companion, covering the 1.5-2.4 micron wavelength range with a resolving power of R~600, indicates an L1+/-1 spectral type. Using evolutionary models the mass of the new companion is estimated at ~0.08 solar masses, which places the object close to the stellar-substellar borderline. This multiple system provides an interesting example of objects with masses slightly above and below the hydrogen burning mass limit. The low mass companions of HD 221356 have slightly bluer colours than field dwarfs with similar spectral type, which is likely a consequence of the sub-solar metallicity of the system.

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The clustering of galaxies in the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: constraints on the time variation of fundamental constants from the large-scale two-point correlation function

We obtain constraints on the variation of the fundamental constants from the full shape of the redshift-space correlation function of a sample of luminous galaxies drawn from the Data Release 9 of the Baryonic Oscillations Spectroscopic Survey. We combine this information with data from recent CMB, BAO and H_0 measurements. We focus on possible variations of the fine structure constant αand the electron mass m_e in the early universe, and study the degeneracies between these constants and other cosmological parameters, such as the dark energy equation of state parameter w_DE, the massive neutrinos fraction f_ν, the effective number of relativistic species N_eff, and the primordial helium abundance Y_He. When only one of the fundamental constants is varied, our final bounds are α/ α_0 = 0.9957_{-0.0042}^{+0.0041} and m_e /(m_e)_0 = 1.006_{-0.013}^{+0.014}. For their joint variation, our results are α/ α_0 = 0.9901_{-0.0054}^{+0.0055} and m_e /(m_e)_0 = 1.028 +/- 0.019. Although when m_e is allowed to vary our constraints on w_DE are consistent with a cosmological constant, when αis treated as a free parameter we find w_DE = -1.20 +/- 0.13; more than 1 σaway from its standard value. When f_νand αare allowed to vary simultaneously, we find f_ν< 0.043 (95% CL), implying a limit of \sum m_ν< 0.46 eV (95% CL), while for m_e variation, we obtain f_nu < 0.086 (95% CL), which implies \sum m_ν< 1.1 eV (95% CL). When N_eff or Y_He are considered as free parameters, their simultaneous variation with αprovides constraints close to their standard values (when the H_0 prior is not included in the analysis), while when m_e is allowed to vary, their preferred values are significantly higher. In all cases, our results are consistent with no variations of αor m_e at the 1 or 2 σlevel.

astro-ph.CO↗

Be abundances in cool main-sequence stars with exoplanets

We present new UVES spectra of a sample of 15 cool unevolved stars with and without detected planetary companions. Together with previous determinations, we study Be depletion and possible differences in Be abundances between both groups of stars. We obtain a final sample of 89 and 40 stars with and without planets, respectively, which covers a wide range of effective temperatures, from 4700 K to 6400 K, and includes several cool dwarf stars for the first time. We determine Be abundances for these stars and find that for most of them (the coolest ones) the BeII resonance lines are often undetectable, implying significant Be depletion. While for hot stars Be abundances are aproximately constant, with a slight fall as Teff decreases and the Li-Be gap around 6300 K, we find a steep drop of Be content as Teff decreases for Teff < 5500 K, confirming the results of previous papers. Therefore, for these stars there is an unknown mechanism destroying Be that is not reflected in current models of Be depletion. Moreover, this strong Be depletion in cool objects takes place for all the stars regardless of the presence of planets, thus, the effect of extra Li depletion in solar-type stars with planets when compared with stars without detected planets does not seem to be present for Be, although the number of stars at those temperatures is still small to reach a final conclusion.

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Detection of Anomalous Microwave Emission in the Pleiades Reflection Nebula with WMAP and the COSMOSOMAS Experiment

We present evidence for anomalous microwave emission (AME) in the Pleiades reflection nebula, using data from the seven-year release of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and from the COSMOSOMAS experiment. The flux integrated in a 1-degree radius around R.A.=56.24^{\circ}, Dec.=23.78^{\circ} (J2000) is 2.15 +/- 0.12 Jy at 22.8 GHz, where AME is dominant. COSMOSOMAS data show no significant emission, but allow to set upper limits of 0.94 and 1.58 Jy (99.7% C.L.) respectively at 10.9 and 14.7 GHz, which are crucial to pin down the AME spectrum at these frequencies, and to discard any other emission mechanisms which could have an important contribution to the signal detected at 22.8 GHz. We estimate the expected level of free-free emission from an extinction-corrected H-alpha template, while the thermal dust emission is characterized from infrared DIRBE data and extrapolated to microwave frequencies. When we deduct the contribution from these two components at 22.8 GHz the residual flux, associated with AME, is 2.12 +/- 0.12 Jy (17.7-sigma). The spectral energy distribution from 10 to 60 GHz can be accurately fitted with a model of electric dipole emission from small spinning dust grains distributed in two separated phases of molecular and atomic gas, respectively. The dust emissivity, calculated by correlating the 22.8 GHz data with 100-micron data, is found to be 4.36+/-0.17 muK/MJy/sr, a value that is rather low compared with typical values in dust clouds. The physical properties of the Pleiades nebula indicate that this is indeed a much less opaque object than others were AME has usually been detected. This fact, together with the broad knowledge of the stellar content of this region, provides an excellent testbed for AME characterization in physical conditions different from those generally explored up to now.

astro-ph.GA↗

The substellar population of Sigma Orionis: A deep wide survey

We present a deep I,Z photometric survey covering a total area of 1.12 deg^{2} of the Sigma Orionis cluster (Icompl=22 and Zcompl=21.5mag). From I, I-Z color-magnitude diagrams we have selected 153 candidates that fit the previously known sequence of the cluster. Using J-band photometry, we find that 124 of the 151 candidates follow the previously known infrared photometric sequence of the cluster and are probably members. We have studied the spatial distribution of these candidates and found that there are objects located at distances greater than 30 arcmin to the north and west of Sigma Orionis that probably belong to different populations of the Orion's Belt. For the 102 bona fide Sigma Orionis cluster member candidates, we find that the radial surface density can be represented by a decreasing exponential function (sigma = sigma_0 e^{-r/r_0}) with a central density of sigma_0=0.23+/-0.03 object/arcmin^{2} and a characteristic radius of r_0=9.5+/-0.7 arcmin. From a statistical comparison with Monte Carlo simulations, we conclude that the spatial distribution of the cluster member candidates is compatible with a Poissonian distribution and, hence, they are not mainly forming aggregations or sub-clustering. Using near-infrared JHK-band data from 2MASS and UKIDSS and mid-infrared data from IRAC/Spitzer, we find that 5-9 % of the brown dwarf candidates in the Sigma Orionis cluster have K-band excesses and 31+/-7 % of them show mid-infrared excesses at wavelengths longer than 5.8 microns, which are probably related to the presence of disks. We have also calculated the initial mass spectrum (dN/dm) of Sigma Orionis from very low mass stars (0.10 Msol) to the deuterium-burning mass limit (0.012-0.013 Msol). This is a rising function toward lower masses and can be represented by a power-law distribution (dN/dm = m^{-alpha}) with an exponent alpha of 0.7+/-0.3 for an age of 3 Myr.

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Near-infrared Linear Polarization of Ultracool Dwarfs

We report on near-infrared J- and H-band linear polarimetric photometry of eight ultracool dwarfs (two late-M, five L0-L7.5, and one T2.5) with known evidence for photometric variability due to dust clouds, anomalous red infrared colors, or low-gravity atmospheres. The polarimetric data were acquired with the LIRIS instrument on the William Herschel Telescope. We also provide mid-infrared photometry in the interval 3.4-24 micron for some targets obtained with Spitzer and WISE, which has allowed us to confirm the peculiar red colors of five sources in the sample. We can impose modest upper limits of 0.9% and 1.8% on the linear polarization degree for seven targets with a confidence of 99%. Only one source, 2MAS, J02411151-0326587 (L0), appears to be strongly polarized (P ~ 3%) in the J-band with a significance level of P/sigma_P ~ 10. The likely origin of its linearly polarized light and rather red infrared colors may reside in a surrounding disk with an asymmetric distribution of grains. Given its proximity (66 +/- 8 pc), this object becomes an excellent target for the direct detection of the disk.

astro-ph.SR↗

Search and characterization of T-type planetary mass candidates in the sigma Orionis cluster

(Abridged) We aim to: i) confirm the presence of methane absorption in S Ori 73 (a T-type member candidate of the sig Orionis cluster, 3 Myr, 352 pc) through methane imaging; ii) study S Ori 70 and 73 cluster membership via photometric colors and accurate proper motion analysis; iii) perform a new search to identify additional T-type sig Orionis member candidates with likely masses below 7 Mjup. We obtained HAWK-I (VLT) J, H, and CH4off photometry of an area of 119.15 sq. arcmin in sig Orionis down to Jcomp = 21.7 and Hcomp = 21 mag. Near-infrared data were complemented with optical photometry using images acquired with OSIRIS (GTC) and VISTA as part of the VISTA Orion survey. We derived proper motions by comparison of the new HAWK-I and VISTA images with published near-infrared data taken 3.4 - 7.9 yr ago. S Ori 73 has a red H-CH4off color indicating methane absorption in the H-band and a spectral type of T4 +/- 1. S Ori 70 displays a redder methane color than S Ori 73 in agreement with its latter spectral classification. Our proper motion measurements are larger than the motion of sig Orionis, rendering S Ori 70 and 73 cluster membership uncertain. We identified one new photometric candidate with J = 21.69 +/- 0.12 mag and methane color consistent with spectral type greater than T8. S Ori 73 has colors similar to those of T3-T5 field dwarfs, which in addition to its high proper motion suggests that it is probably a field dwarf located at 170-200 pc. The origin of S Ori 70 remains unclear: it can be a field, foreground mid- to late-T free-floating dwarf with peculiar colors, or an orphan planet ejected through strong dynamical interactions from sig Orionis or from a nearby star-forming region in Orion.

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Beryllium abundances in stars with planets:Extending the sample

Context: Chemical abundances of light elements as beryllium in planet-host stars allow us to study the planet formation scenarios and/or investigate possible surface pollution processes. Aims: We present here an extension of previous beryllium abundance studies. The complete sample consists of 70 stars hosting planets and 30 stars without known planetary companions. The aim of this paper is to further assess the trends found in previous studies with less number of objects. This will provide more information on the processes of depletion and mixing of light elements in the interior of late type stars, and will provide possible explanations for the abundance differences between stars that host planets and "single" stars. Methods: Using high resolution UVES spectra, we measure beryllium abundances of 26 stars that host planets and 1 "single" star mainly using the lambda 3131.065 A Be II line, by fitting synthetic spectra to the observational data. We also compile beryllium abundance measurements of 44 stars hosting planets and 29 "single" stars from the literature, resulting in a final sample of 100 objects. Results: We confirm that the beryllium content is roughly the same in stars hosting planets and in "single" stars at temperatures Teff > 5700K. The sample is still small for Teff < 5500K, but it seems that the scatter in Be abundances of dwarf stars is slightly higher at these cooler temperatures. Conclusions: We search for distinctive characteristics of planet hosts through correlations of Be abundance versus Li abundance, age, metallicity and oxygen abundance. These could provide some insight in the formation and evolution of planetary systems, but we did not find any clear correlation.

astro-ph.SR↗

A Planet of an A-Star: HD15082b

Most of the known transiting extrasolar planets orbit slowly rotating F, G or K stars. In here we report on the detection of a transiting planet orbiting the bright, rapidly rotating A5 star HD15082 (WASP-33b, V=8.3, m sin i = 86 km s-1), recently made by SuperWASP. Time resolved spectroscopic observations taken during transit show a hump caused by the planet crossing the line profile. From the analysis of the spectra, we derive the radius of the planet and find that it is orbiting retrograde in respect to the spin of the star. Because of its small distance from an A5 star (the orbital period of only 1.22 days), the equilibrium temperature of the planet is estimated to be 2700 K. The planet thus is one of the hottest planets known, which makes it relatively easy to detect it in the IR. We thus tried to detect it using the TNG but did not succeed.

astro-ph.EP↗

Lucky Imaging Adaptive Optics of the brown dwarf binary GJ569Bab

The potential of combining Adaptive Optics (AO) and Lucky Imaging (LI) to achieve high precision astrometry and differential photometry in the optical is investigated by conducting observations of the close 0\farcs1 brown dwarf binary GJ569Bab. We took 50000 $I$-band images with our LI instrument FastCam attached to NAOMI, the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) AO facility. In order to extract the most of the astrometry and photometry of the GJ569Bab system we have resorted to a PSF fitting technique using the primary star GJ569A as a suitable PSF reference which exhibits an $I$-band magnitude of $7.78\pm0.03$. The AO+LI observations at WHT were able to resolve the binary system GJ569Bab located at $4\farcs 92 \pm 0\farcs05$ from GJ569A. We measure a separation of $98.4 \pm 1.1$ mas and $I$-band magnitudes of $13.86 \pm 0.03$ and $14.48 \pm 0.03$ and $I-J$ colors of 2.72$\pm$0.08 and 2.83$\pm$0.08 for the Ba and Bb components, respectively. Our study rules out the presence of any other companion to GJ569A down to magnitude I$\sim$ 17 at distances larger than 1\arcsec. The $I-J$ colors measured are consistent with M8.5-M9 spectral types for the Ba and Bb components. The available dynamical, photometric and spectroscopic data are consistent with a binary system with Ba being slightly (10-20%) more massive than Bb. We obtain new orbital parameters which are in good agreement with those in the literature.

astro-ph.IM↗

Constraints on the Polarization of the Anomalous Microwave Emission in the Perseus Molecular Complex from 7-year WMAP data

We have used the seven year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) data in order to update the measurements of the intensity signal in the G159.6-18.5 region within the Perseus Molecular Complex, and to set constraints on the polarization level of the anomalous microwave emission in the frequency range where this emission is dominant. At 23, 33 and 41 GHz, we obtain upper limits on the fractional linear polarization of 1.0, 1.8 and 2.7% respectively (with a 95 per cent confidence level). These measurements rule out a significant number of models based on magnetic dipole emission of grains that consist of a simple domain (Draine & Lazarian 1999) as responsible of the anomalous emission. When combining our results with the measurement obtained with the COSMOSOMAS experiment at 11 GHz (Battistelli et al. 2006), we find consistency with the predictions of the electric dipole and resonance relaxation theory (Lazarian & Draine 2000) at this frequency range.

astro-ph.CO↗

High contrast optical imaging of companions: the case of the brown dwarf binary HD-130948BC

High contrast imaging at optical wavelengths is limited by the modest correction of conventional near-IR optimized AO systems.We take advantage of new fast and low-readout-noise detectors to explore the potential of fast imaging coupled to post-processing techniques to detect faint companions to stars at small separations. We have focused on I-band direct imaging of the previously detected brown dwarf binary HD130948BC,attempting to spatially resolve the L2+L2 benchmark system. We used the Lucky-Imaging instrument FastCam at the 2.5-m Nordic Telescope to obtain quasi diffraction-limited images of HD130948 with ~0.1" resolution.In order to improve the detectability of the faint binary in the vicinity of a bright (I=5.19 \pm 0.03) solar-type star,we implemented a post-processing technique based on wavelet transform filtering of the image which allows us to strongly enhance the presence of point-like sources in regions where the primary halo dominates. We detect for the first time the BD binary HD130948BC in the optical band I with a SNR~9 at 2.561"\pm 0.007" (46.5 AU) from HD130948A and confirm in two independent dataset that the object is real,as opposed to time-varying residual speckles.We do not resolve the binary, which can be explained by astrometric results posterior to our observations that predict a separation below the NOT resolution.We reach at this distance a contrast of dI = 11.30 \pm 0.11, and estimate a combined magnitude for this binary to I = 16.49 \pm 0.11 and a I-J colour 3.29 \pm 0.13. At 1", we reach a detectability 10.5 mag fainter than the primary after image post-processing. We obtain on-sky validation of a technique based on speckle imaging and wavelet-transform processing,which improves the high contrast capabilities of speckle imaging.The I-J colour measured for the BD companion is slightly bluer, but still consistent with what typically found for L2 dwarfs(~3.4-3.6).

astro-ph.IM↗

High spatial resolution and high contrast optical speckle imaging with FASTCAM at the ORM

In this paper, we present an original observational approach, which combines, for the first time, traditional speckle imaging with image post-processing to obtain in the optical domain diffraction-limited images with high contrast (1e-5) within 0.5 to 2 arcseconds around a bright star. The post-processing step is based on wavelet filtering an has analogy with edge enhancement and high-pass filtering. Our I-band on-sky results with the 2.5-m Nordic Telescope (NOT) and the lucky imaging instrument FASTCAM show that we are able to detect L-type brown dwarf companions around a solar-type star with a contrast DI~12 at 2" and with no use of any coronographic capability, which greatly simplifies the instrumental and hardware approach. This object has been detected from the ground in J and H bands so far only with AO-assisted 8-10 m class telescopes (Gemini, Keck), although more recently detected with small-class telescopes in the K band. Discussing the advantage and disadvantage of the optical regime for the detection of faint intrinsic fluxes close to bright stars, we develop some perspectives for other fields, including the study of dense cores in globular clusters. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that high contrast considerations are included in optical speckle imaging approach.

astro-ph.IM↗

A 33 GHz VSA survey of the Galactic plane from 27 to 46 degrees

The Very Small Array (VSA) has been used to survey the l = 27 to 46 deg, |b|<4 deg region of the Galactic plane at a resolution of 13 arcmin. The survey consists of 44 pointings of the VSA, each with a r.m.s. sensitivity of ~90 mJy/beam. These data are combined in a mosaic to produce a map of the area. The majority of the sources within the map are HII regions. We investigated anomalous radio emission from the warm dust in 9 HII regions of the survey by making spectra extending from GHz frequencies to the FIR IRAS frequencies. Acillary radio data at 1.4, 2.7, 4.85, 8.35, 10.55, 14.35 and 94 GHz in addition to the 100, 60, 25 and 12 micron IRAS bands were used to construct the spectra. From each spectrum the free-free, thermal dust and anomalous dust emission were determined for each HII region. The mean ratio of 33 GHz anomalous flux density to FIR 100 micron flux density for the 9 selected HII regions was 1.10 +/-0.21x10^(-4). When combined with 6 HII regions previously observed with the VSA and the CBI, the anomalous emission from warm dust in HII regions is detected with a 33 GHz emissivity of 4.65 +/- 0.4 micro K/ (MJy/sr) at 11.5σ. The anomalous radio emission in HII regions is on average 41+/-10 per cent of the radio continuum at 33 GHz.

astro-ph.GA↗

A search for interstellar anthracene toward the Perseus anomalous microwave emission region

We report the discovery of a new broad interstellar (or circumstellar) band at 7088.8 +- 2.0 Åcoincident to within the measurement uncertainties with the strongest band of the anthracene cation (C$_{14}$H$_{10}$$^+$) as measured in gas-phase laboratory spectroscopy at low temperatures (Sukhorukov et al.2004). The band is detected in the line of sight of star Cernis 52, a likely member of the very young star cluster IC 348, and is probably associated with cold absorbing material in a intervening molecular cloud of the Perseus star forming region where various experiments have recently detected anomalous microwave emission. From the measured intensity and available oscillator strength we find a column density of N$_{an^+}$= 1.1(+-0.4) x 10$^{13}$ cm$^{-2}$ implying that ~0.008% of the carbon in the cloud could be in the form of C$_{14}$H$_{10}$$^+$. A similar abundance has been recently claimed for the naphthalene cation (Iglesias-Groth et al. 2008) in this cloud. This is the first location outside the Solar System where specific PAHs are identified. We report observations of interstellar lines of CH and CH$^+$ that support a rather high column density for these species and for molecular hydrogen. The strength ratio of the two prominent diffuse interstellar bands at 5780 and 5797 Åsuggests the presence of a ``zeta'' type cloud in the line of sight (consistent with steep far-UV extinction and high molecular content). The presence of PAH cations and other related hydrogenated carbon molecules which are likely to occur in this type of clouds reinforce the suggestion that electric dipole radiation from fast spinning PAHs is responsible of the anomalous microwave emission detected toward Perseus.

astro-ph.GA↗

Near-infrared low-resolution spectroscopy of Pleiades L-type brown dwarfs

The fundamental properties of brown dwarfs evolve with age. Models describing the evolution of luminosities and effective temperatures, among other physical parameters, can be empirically constrained using brown dwarfs of various masses in star clusters of well determined age and metallicity. We aim to carry out a spectroscopic and photometric characterization of low-mass brown dwarfs of the ~120 Myr old Pleiades open cluster. We obtained low-resolution near-infrared spectra of the J=17.4-18.8 mag candidate L-type brown dwarfs PLIZ 28 and 35, BRB 17, 21, 23, and 29, which are Pleiades members by photometry and proper motion. We also obtained spectra of the well-known J=15.4-16.1 mag late M-type cluster members PPl 1, Teide 1, and Calar 3. We find that the former six objects have early- to mid-L spectral types and confirm previously reported M-types for the other three objects. The spectra of the L0-type BRB 17 and PLIZ 28 present a triangular H-band continuum shape, indicating that this peculiar spectral feature persists until at least the age of the Pleiades. We add to our sample 36 reported M5-L0-type cluster members, collecting their I_c - and UKIDSS ZYJHK-band photometry. We confirm a possible interleaving of the Pleiades and field L-type sequences in the JHK absolute magnitude versus spectral type diagrams, and quantify marginally redder Pleiades J-K colours, by 0.12+-0.20 mag, possibly related to both reddening and youth. Using field dwarf bolometric correction - and effective temperature - spectral type relations, we obtain the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of the Pleiades sample. Theoretical models reproduce well the spectral sequence at M5.5-9, but appear to overestimate the luminosity or underestimate the effective temperature at L0-5. For the Pleiades early- to mid L-type brown dwarfs, we estimate theoretical masses to be in the range 0.025-0.035 M_Sol.

astro-ph.SR↗

Infrared and kinematic properties of the substellar object G 196-3B

We report unusual near- and mid-infrared photometric properties of G 196-3 B, the young substellar companion at 16 arcsec from the active M2.5-type star G 196-3 A, using data taken with the IRAC and MIPS instruments onboard Spitzer. G 196-3 B shows markedly redder colors at all wavelengths from 1.6 up to 24 micron than expected for its spectral type, which is determined at L3 from optical and near-infrared spectra. We discuss various physical scenarios to account for its reddish nature, and conclude that a low-gravity atmosphere with enshrouded upper atmospheric layers and/or a warm dusty disk/envelope provides the most likely explanations, the two of them consistent with an age in the interval 20-300 Myr. We also present new and accurate separate proper motion measurements for G 196-3 A and B confirming that both objects are gravitationally linked and share the same motion within a few mas/yr. After integration of the combined spectrophotometric spectral energy distributions, we obtain that the difference in the bolometric magnitudes of G 196-3 A and B is 6.15 +/- 0.10 mag. Kinematic consideration of the Galactic space motions of the system for distances in the interval 15-30 pc suggests that the pair is a likely member of the Local Association, and that it lay near the past positions of young star clusters like alpha Persei less than 85 Myr ago, where the binary might have originated. At these young ages, the mass of G 196-3 B would be in the range 12-25 Mjup, close to the frontier between planets and brown dwarfs.

astro-ph.SR↗

Light elements in stars with exoplanets

It is well known that stars orbited by giant planets have higher abundances of heavy elements when compared with average field dwarfs. A number of studies have also addressed the possibility that light element abundances are different in these stars. In this paper we will review the present status of these studies. The most significant trends will be discussed.

astro-ph.SR↗