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R. Sagar

Publications and source records attributed to R. Sagar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A comparative analysis of the active galactic nucleus and star formation characteristics of broad and narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies

We report here our comparative analysis of active galactic nucleus (AGN) and star formation (SF) characteristics of a sample of narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) and broad-line Seyfert 1 (BLS1) galaxies. Our sample consisted of 373 BLS1 and 240 NLS1 galaxies spanning the redshift 0.02 to 0.8. The broad-band spectral energy distribution, constructed using data from the ultra-violet to the far-infrared, was modelled using CIGALE to derive the basic properties of our sample. We searched for differences in stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and AGN luminosity in the two populations. We also estimated new radiation-pressure corrected black hole masses for our sample of BLS1 and NLS1 galaxies. While the virial black hole mass (MBH) of BLS1 galaxies is similar to their radiation-pressure corrected MBH values, the virial MBH values of NLS1 galaxies are underestimated. We found that NLS1 galaxies have a lower MBH of log (MBH) = 7.45 +/- 0.27 and a higher log (Eddington ratio) of -0.72 +/- 0.22 than BLS1 galaxies, which have log (MBH) and log (Eddington ratio) of 8.04 +/- 0.26 and -1.08 +/- 0.24, respectively. The distributions of stellar mass, SFR, and specific star formation (sSFR = SFR/stellar mass) for the two populations are indistinguishable. This analysis is based on an independent approach and contradicts reports in the literature that NLS1 galaxies have a higher SF than BLS1 galaxies. While we found that AGN luminosity increases with stellar mass, luminosity of SF flattens at high stellar mass for both BLS1 and NLS1 galaxies. The reason may be that SF is suppressed by AGN feedback at stellar mass higher than 10^11 solar mass or that the AGN fuelling mechanism is decoupled from SF. Separating the sample into radio-detected and radio-undetected subsamples, we found no difference in their SF properties suggesting that the effect of AGN jets on SF is negligible.

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Star formation in the dwarf Seyfert galaxy NGC 4395: Evidence for both AGN and SNe feedback?

We present a detailed multi-wavelength study of star formation in the dwarf galaxy NGC 4395 which hosts an active galactic nucleus (AGN). From our observations with the Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope, we have compiled a catalogue of 284 star forming (SF) regions, out of which we could detect 120 SF regions in H$\alpha$ observations. Across the entire galaxy, we found the extinction corrected star formation rate (SFR) in the far ultra-violet (FUV) to range from 2.0 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ M$_\odot$yr$^{-1}$ to 1.5 $\times$ 10$^{-2}$ M$_\odot$yr$^{-1}$ with a median of 3.0 $\times$ 10$^{-4}$ M$_\odot$yr$^{-1}$ and age to lie in the range of $\sim$ 1 to 98 Myr with a median of 14 Myr. In H$\alpha$ we found the SFR to range from 7.2 $\times$ 10$^{-6}$ M$_\odot$yr$^{-1}$ to 2.7 $\times$ 10$^{-2}$ M$_\odot$yr$^{-1}$ with a median of 1.7 $\times$ 10$^{-4}$ M$_\odot$yr$^{-1}$ and age to lie between 3 to 6 Myr with a median of 5 Myr. The stellar ages derived from H$\alpha$ show a gradual decline with galactocentric distance. We found three SF regions close to the center of NGC~4395 with high SFR both from H$\alpha$ and UV which could be attributed to feedback effects from the AGN. We also found six other SF regions in one of the spiral arms having higher SFR. These are very close to supernovae remnants which could have enhanced the SFR locally. We obtained a specific SFR (SFR per unit mass) for the whole galaxy 4.64 $\times$ 10$^{-10}$ yr$^{-1}$.

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The 72-Hour WEBT Microvariability Observation of Blazar S5 0716+714 in 2009

Context. The international whole earth blazar telescope (WEBT) consortium planned and carried out three days of intensive micro-variability observations of S5 0716+714 from February 22, 2009 to February 25, 2009. This object was chosen due to its bright apparent magnitude range, its high declination, and its very large duty cycle for micro-variations. Aims. We report here on the long continuous optical micro-variability light curve of 0716+714 obtained during the multi-site observing campaign during which the Blazar showed almost constant variability over a 0.5 magnitude range. The resulting light curve is presented here for the first time. Observations from participating observatories were corrected for instrumental differences and combined to construct the overall smoothed light curve. Methods. Thirty-six observatories in sixteen countries participated in this continuous monitoring program and twenty of them submitted data for compilation into a continuous light curve. The light curve was analyzed using several techniques including Fourier transform, Wavelet and noise analysis techniques. Those results led us to model the light curve by attributing the variations to a series of synchrotron pulses. Results. We have interpreted the observed microvariations in this extended light curve in terms of a new model consisting of individual stochastic pulses due to cells in a turbulent jet which are energized by a passing shock and cool by means of synchrotron emission. We obtained an excellent fit to the 72-hour light curve with the synchrotron pulse model.

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Proper motions and membership probabilities of stars in the region of open cluster NGC 3766

Relative proper motions and cluster membership probabilities have been derived for ~ 2500 stars in the field of the open star cluster NGC 3766. The cluster has been observed in $B$ and $V$ broadband filters at two epochs separated by ~ 6 years using a wide-field imager mounted on the WFI@ESO2.2m telescope. All CCD frames were reduced using the astrometric techniques described in Anderson et al. (2006). The proper motion r.m.s. error for stars brighter than $V$ ~ 15 mag is 2.0 mas/yr but it gradually increases up to ~4 mas/yr at $V$ ~20 mag. Using proper motion data, membership probabilities have been derived for the stars in the region of the cluster. They indicate that three Be and one Ap stars are member of the cluster. The reddening $E(B-V)=0.22\pm0.05$ mag, a distance 2.5$\pm$0.5 kpc and an age of ~ 20 Myr are derived using stars of $P_μ>70%$. Mass function slope $x=1.60\pm0.10$ is derived for the cluster and cluster was found to be dynamically relaxed. Finally, we provide positions, calibrated $B$ and $V$ magnitudes, relative proper motions and membership probabilities for the stars in the field of NGC 3766. We have produced a catalog that is electronically available to the astronomical community.

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Comprehensive multi-wavelength modelling of the afterglow of GRB050525A

The Swift era has posed a challenge to the standard blast-wave model of Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) afterglows. The key observational features expected within the model are rarely observed, such as the achromatic steepening (`jet-break') of the light curves. The observed afterglow light curves showcase additional complex features requiring modifications within the standard model. Here we present optical/NIR observations, millimeter upper limits and comprehensive broadband modelling of the afterglow of the bright GRB 0505025A, detected by Swift. This afterglow cannot be explained by the simplistic form of the standard blast-wave model. We attempt modelling the multi-wavelength light curves using (i) a forward-reverse shock model, (ii) a two-component outflow model and (iii) blast-wave model with a wind termination shock. The forward-reverse shock model cannot explain the evolution of the afterglow. The two component model is able to explain the average behaviour of the afterglow very well but cannot reproduce the fluctuations in the early X-ray light curve. The wind termination shock model reproduces the early light curves well but deviates from the global behaviour of the late-time afterglow.

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Intra-night optical variability of core dominated radio quasars: the role of optical polarization

{Abridged} Rapid variations in optical flux are seen in many quasars and all blazars. The amount of variability in different classes of Active Galactic Nuclei has been studied extensively but many questions remain unanswered. We present the results of a long-term programme to investigate the intra-night optical variability (INOV) of powerful flat spectrum radio core-dominated quasars (CDQs), with a focus on probing the relationship of INOV to the degree of optical polarization. We observed a sample of 16 bright CDQs showing strong broad optical emission lines and consisting of both high and low optical polarization quasars (HPCDQs and LPCDQs). We employed ARIES, IIA, IGO telescopes, to carry out {\it R}-band monitoring on a total of 47 nights. Combining these INOV data with those taken from the literature, we were able to increase the sample size to 21 CDQs(12 LPCDQs and 9 HPCDQs) monitored on a total of 73 nights. As the existence of a prominent flat-spectrum radio core signifies that strong relativistic beaming is present in all these CDQs, the definitions of the two sets differ primarily in fractional optical polarization, the LPCDQs showing a very low median$ P_{op} \simeq$ 0.4 per cent. Our study yields an INOV duty cycle (DC) of $\sim$28 per cent for the LPCDQs and $\sim 68$ percent for HPCDQs. If only strong INOV with fractional amplitude above 3 per cent is considered, the corresponding DCs are $\sim$ 7 per cent and $\sim$ 40 per cent, respectively.From this strong contrast between the two classes of luminous, relativistically beamed quasars, it is apparent that relativistic beaming is normally not a sufficient condition for strong INOV and a high optical polarization is the other necessary condition.

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Rapid optical variability of TeV blazars

In this first systematic attempt to characterise the intranight optical variability (INOV) of TeV detected blazars, we have monitored a well defined set of 9 TeV blazars on total 26 nights during 2004-2010. In this R (or V)-band monitoring programme only one blazar was monitored per night for a minimum duration of 4 hours. Using the CCD, an INOV detection threshold of ~ 1-2 % was achieved in the densely sampled DLCs. We have further expanded the sample by including another 13 TeV blazars from literature. This enlarged sample of 22 TeV blazars, monitored on a total of 116 nights (including 55 nights newly reported here), has enabled us to arrive at the first estimate of the INOV duty cycle of TeV detected blazars. Applying the C-test, the INOV DC is found to be 59 %, which decreases to 47 % if only INOV fractional amplitudes above 3 % are considered. These observations also permit, for the first time, a comparison of the INOV characteristics of the two major subclasses of TeV detected BL Lacs, namely LBLs and HBLs, for which we find the INOV DCs to be ~ 63 % and ~ 38 %, respectively. This demonstrates that the INOV differential between LBLs and HBLs persists even when only their TeV detected subsets are considered. Despite dense sampling, the intranight light curves of the 22 TeV blazars have not revealed even a single feature on time scale substantially shorter than 1 hour, even though the inner jets of TeV blazars are believed to have exceptionally large bulk Lorentz factors (and correspondingly stronger time compression). An intriguing feature, clearly detected in the light curve of the HBL J1555+1111, is a 4 per cent `dip' on a 1 hour timescale. This unique feature could have arisen from absorption in a dusty gas cloud, occulting a superluminally moving optical knot in the parsec scale jet of this relatively luminous BL Lacs object.

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A multiwavelength study of star formation in the vicinity of Galactic HII region Sh2-100

We present multiwavelength investigation of morphology, physical-environment, stellar contents and star formation activity in the vicinity of star-forming region Sh 2-100. It is found that the Sh 2-100 region contains seven HII regions of ultracompact and compact nature. The present estimation of distance for three HII regions, along with the kinematic distance for others, suggests that all of them belong to the same molecular cloud complex. Using NIR photometry, we identified the most probable ionizing sources of six HII regions. Their approximate photometric spectral type estimates suggest that they are massive early-B to mid-O ZAMS stars and agree well with radio continuum observations at 1280 MHz. The morphology of the complex shows a non-uniform distribution of warm and hot dust, well mixed with the ionized gas, which correlates well with the variation of average visual extinction (~ 4.2 - 97 mag) across the region. We estimated the physical parameters of ionized gas with the help of radio continuum observations. We detected an optically visible compact nebula located to the south of the 850 micron emission associated with one of the HII regions and the diagnostic of the optical emission line ratios gives electron density and electron temperature of ~ 0.67 x 10^3 cm^-3 and ~ 10^4 K, respectively. The physical parameters suggest that all the HII regions are in different stages of evolution, which correlate well with the probable ages in the range ~ 0.01 - 2 Myr of the ionizing sources. The positions of IR excess stars, ultracompact and compact HII regions at the periphery of an HI shell, possibly created by a WR star, indicate that star formation in Sh 2-100 region might have been induced by an expanding HI shell.

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Integrated parameters of star clusters: A comparison of theory and observations

(Abridged) This paper presents integrated magnitude and colours for synthetic clusters. The integrated parameters have been obtained for the whole cluster population as well as for the main-sequence (MS) population of star clusters. We have also estimated observed integrated magnitudes and colours of MS population of galactic open clusters, LMC and SMC star clusters. It is found that the colour evolution of MS population of star clusters is not affected by the stochastic fluctuations, however these fluctuations significantly affect the colour evolution of the whole cluster population. The fluctuations are maximum in $(V-I)$ colour in the age range 6.7 $<$ log (age) $<$ 7.5. Evolution of integrated colours of MS population of the clusters in the Milky Way, LMC and SMC, obtained in the present study are well explained by the present synthetic cluster model. The observed integrated $(B-V)$ colours of MS population of LMC star clusters having age $\geq$ 500 Myr seem to be distributed around $Z=$ 0.004 model, whereas $(V-I)$ colours are found to be more bluer than those predicted by the $Z=$ 0.004 model. $(V-I)$ vs $(B-V)$ two-colour diagram for the MS population of the Milky Way star clusters shows a fair agreement between the observations and present model, however the diagrams for LMC and SMC clusters indicate that observed $(V-I)$ colours are relatively bluer. Possible reasons for this anomaly have been discussed.

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Nainital Microlensing Survey -- detection of short period Cepheids in the disk of M31

The discovery of large number of Cepheid variables in far-off galaxies offers a unique opportunity to determine the accurate distance of the host galaxy through their period-luminosity relation. The main aim of the present study is to identify short-period and relatively faint Cepheids in the crowded field of M31 disk which was observed as part of the Nainital Microlensing Survey. The Cousins R and I-band photometric observations were obtained with a 1-m telescope on more than 150 nights over the period between November 1998 to January 2002. The data was analysed using the pixel technique and the mean magnitudes of the Cepheids were determined by correlating their pixel fluxes with the corresponding PSF-fitted photometric magnitudes. Here, we report identification of 39 short-period Cepheid variables in the M31 disk. Most of the Cepheids are found with R (mean) ~ 20-21 mag and the dense phase coverage of our observations enabled us to identify Cepheids with periods as short as 3.4 days The frequency-period distribution of these Cepheids peaks at logP ~ 0.9 and 1.1 days.

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Optical variability of radio-intermediate quasars

We report the results of our intensive intranight optical monitoring of 8 `radio-intermediate quasars' (RIQs) having flat or inverted radio spectra. The monitoring was carried out in {\it R-} band on 25 nights during 2005-09. An intranight optical variability (INOV) detection threshold of $\sim$ 1--2% was achieved for the densely sampled differential light curves (DLCs). These observations amount to a large increase over those reported hitherto for this rare and sparsely studied class of quasars which can, however, play an important role in understanding the link between the dominant varieties of powerful AGN, namely the radio-quiet quasars (RQQs), radio-loud quasars (RLQs) and blazars. Despite the probable presence of relativistically boosted nuclear jets, clear evidence for INOV in our extensive observations was detected only on one night. These results demonstrate that as a class, RIQs are much less extreme in nuclear activity compared to blazars. The availability in the literature of INOV data for another 2 RIQs conforming to our selection criteria allowed us to enlarge the sample to 10 RIQs (monitored on a total of 42 nights for a minimum duration of $\sim 4$ hours per night). The absence of large amplitude INOV $(ψ> 3%)$ persists in this enlarged sample. This extensive database has enabled us to arrive at the first estimate for the INOV Duty Cycle (DC) of RIQs. The DC is found to be small ($\sim$ 9%). The corresponding value is known to be $\sim 60%$ for BL Lacs and $\approx 15%$ for RLQs and RQQs. On longer-term, the RIQs are found to be fairly variable with typical amplitudes of $\approx$ 0.1-mag. The light curves of these RIQs are briefly discussed in the context of a theoretical framework proposed earlier for linking this rare kind of quasars to the much better studied dominant classes of quasars.

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Unusual optical quiescence of the classical BL Lac object PKS 0735+178 on intranight time scale

We present the result of our extensive intranight optical monitoring of the well known low-energy peaked BL Lac (LBL) object PKS 0735+178. This long-term follow-up consists of $R$-band monitoring for a minimum duration of $\sim 4$ hours, on 17 nights spanning 11 years (1998-2008). Using the CCD as an N-star photometer, a detection limit of around 1% was attained for the intra-night optical variability (INOV). Remarkably, an INOV amplitude of $\geq 3%$ on hour-like time scale was not observed on any of the 17 nights, even though the likelihood of a typical LBL showing such INOV levels in a single session of $\ga 4$ hours duration is known to be high ($\sim50%$). Our observations have thus established a peculiar long-term INOV quiescence of this radio-selected BL Lac object. Moreover, the access to unpublished optical monitoring data of similarly high sensitivity, acquired in another programme, has allowed us to confirm the same anomalous INOV quiescence of this LBL all the way back to 1989, the epoch of its historically largest radio outburst. Here, we present observational evidence revealing the very unusual INOV behaviour of this classical BL Lac object and discuss this briefly in the context of its other known exceptional properties.

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Mass functions and photometric binaries in nine open clusters

Using homogeneous CCD photometric data from the 105-cm Kiso Schmidt telescope covering a 50' x 50' field, we study the mass functions (MFs) of nine open clusters. The ages and Galactocentric distances of the target clusters vary from 16 - 2000 Myr and 9-10.8 kpc, respectively. The values of MF slopes vary from -1.1 to -2.1. The classical value derived by Salpeter (1955) for the slope of the IMF is Γ= -1.35. The MFs in the outer regions of the clusters are found to be steeper than in the inner regions, indicating the presence of mass segregation in the clusters.The MF slopes (in the outer region as well as the whole cluster) undergo an exponential decay with the evolutionary parameter τ(= age/ relaxation time). It seems that the evaporation of low-mass members from outer regions of the clusters is not significant at larger Galactocentric distances. It is concluded that the initial mass function (IMF) in the anticentre direction of the Galaxy might have been steeper than the IMF in the opposite direction. A comparison of the observed CMDs of the clusters with synthetic CMDs gives a photometric binary content of ~40%.

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Ground-based CCD astrometry with wide field imagers. II. A star catalogue for M67: WFI@2.2m MPG/ESO astrometry, FLAMES@VLT radial velocities

The solar-age open cluster M67 (C0847+120, NGC2682) is a touchstone in studies of the old Galactic disk. Despite its outstanding role, the census of cluster membership for M67 at fainter magnitudes and their properties are not well-established. Using the proprietary and archival ESO data, we have obtained astrometric, photometric, and radial velocities of stars in a 34'x 33' field centered on the old open cluster M67. The two-epoch archival observations separated by 4 years and acquired with the Wide Field Imager at the 2.2m MPG/ESO telescope have been reduced with our new astrometric techniques, as described in the first paper of this series. The same observations served to derive calibrated BVI photometry in M67. Radial velocities were measured using the archival and new spectroscopic data obtained at VLT. We have determined relative proper motions and membership probabilities for ~2,400 stars. The precision of proper motions for optimally exposed stars is ~2 mas/yr, gradually degrading down to ~5 mas/yr at V= 20. Our relatively precise proper motions at V>16 are first obtained in this magnitude range for M67. Radial velocities are measured for 211 stars in the same field. We also present a detailed comparison with recent theoretical isochrones from several independent groups. For M67 area we provide positions, calibrated BVI photometry, relative proper motions, membership probabilities, and radial velocities. We demonstrate that the ground-based CCD mosaic observations just a few years apart are producing proper motions, allowing a reliable membership determination. We produced a catalogue that is made electronically available to the astronomical community.

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CLOUDS search for variability in brown dwarf atmospheres

Context: L-type ultra-cool dwarfs and brown dwarfs have cloudy atmospheres that could host weather-like phenomena. The detection of photometric or spectral variability would provide insight into unresolved atmospheric heterogeneities, such as holes in a global cloud deck. Aims: It has been proposed that growth of heterogeneities in the global cloud deck may account for the L- to T-type transition as brown dwarf photospheres evolve from cloudy to clear conditions. Such a mechanism is compatible with variability. We searched for variability in the spectra of five L6 to T6 brown dwarfs in order to test this hypothesis. Methods: We obtained spectroscopic time series using VLT/ISAAC, over 0.99-1.13um, and IRTF/SpeX for two of our targets, in J, H and K bands. We search for statistically variable lines and correlation between those. Results: High spectral-frequency variations are seen in some objects, but these detections are marginal and need to be confirmed. We find no evidence for large amplitude variations in spectral morphology and we place firm upper limits of 2 to 3% on broad-band variability, on the time scale of a few hours. The T2 transition brown dwarf SDSS J1254-0122 shows numerous variable features, but a secure variability diagnosis would require further observations. Conclusions: Assuming that any variability arises from the rotation of patterns of large-scale clear and cloudy regions across the surface, we find that the typical physical scale of cloud cover disruption should be smaller than 5-8% of the disk area for four of our targets. The possible variations seen in SDSS J1254-0122 are not strong enough to allow us to confirm the cloud breaking hypothesis.

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CCD photometric and mass function study of 9 young Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters

We present CCD photometric and mass function study of 9 young Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters namely NGC 1767, NGC 1994, NGC 2002, NGC 2003, NGC 2006, SL 538, NGC 2011, NGC 2098 and NGC 2136. The BVRI data reaching down to V ~ 21 mag, are collected from 3.5-meter NTT/EFOSC2 in sub-arcsec seeing conditions. For NGC 1767, NGC 1994, NGC 2002, NGC 2003, NGC 2011 and NGC 2136, broad band photometric CCD data are presented for the first time. Seven of the 9 clusters have ages between 16 to 25 Myr while remaining two clusters have ages $32\pm4$ Myr (NGC 2098) and $90\pm10$ Myr (NGC 2136). For 7 younger clusters, the age estimates based on a recent model and the integrated spectra are found to be systematically lower ($\sim$ 10 Myr) from the present estimate. In the mass range of $\sim 2 - 12$ $M_{\odot}$, the MF slopes for 8 out of nine clusters were found to be similar with the value of $γ$ ranging from $-1.90\pm0.16$ to $-2.28\pm0.21$. For NGC 1767 it is flatter with $γ= -1.23\pm0.27$. Mass segregation effects are observed for NGC 2002, NGC 2006, NGC 2136 and NGC 2098. This is consistent with the findings of Kontizas et al. for NGC 2098. Presence of mass segregation in these clusters could be an imprint of star formation process as their ages are significantly smaller than their dynamical evolution time. Mean MF slope of $γ= -2.22\pm0.16$ derived for a sample of 25 young ($\le 100$ Myr) dynamically unevolved LMC stellar systems provide support for the universality of IMF in the intermediate mass range $\sim 2-12 M_{\odot}$.

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The dark nature of GRB 051022 and its host galaxy

We present multiwavelength (X-ray/optical/near-infrared/millimetre) observations of GRB 051022 between 2.5 hours and ~1.15 yr after the event. It is the most intense gamma-ray burst (~ 10^-4 erg cm^-2) detected by HETE-2, with the exception of the nearby GRB 030329. Optical and near infrared observations did not detect the afterglow despite a strong afterglow at X-ray wavelengths. Millimetre observations at Plateau de Bure (PdB) detected a source and a flare, confirming the association of this event with a moderately bright (R = 21.5) galaxy. Spectroscopic observations of this galaxy show strong [O II], Hbeta and [O III] emission lines at a redshift of 0.809. The spectral energy distribution of the galaxy implies Av (rest frame) = 1.0 and a starburst occuring ~ 25 Myr ago, during which the star-forming-rate reached >= 25 Msun/yr. In conjunction with the spatial extent (~ 1'') it suggests a very luminous (Mv = - 21.8) blue compact galaxy, for which we also find with Z Zsun. The X-ray spectrum shows evidence of considerable absorption by neutral gas with NH, X-ray = 3.47(+0.48/-0.47) x 10^22 cm^-2 (rest frame). Absorption by dust in the host galaxy at z = 0.809 certainly cannot account for the non-detection of the optical afterglow, unless the dust-to-gas ratio is quite different than that seen in our Galaxy (i.e. large dust grains). It is likely that the afterglow of the dark GRB 051022 was extinguished along the line of sight by an obscured, dense star forming region in a molecular cloud within the parent host galaxy. This galaxy is different from most GRB hosts being brighter than L* by a factor of 3. We have also derived a SFR ~ 50 Msun/yr and predict that this host galaxy will be detected at sub-mm wavelengths.

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Wide Field CCD photometry around nine open clusters

In this paper we study the evolution of core and corona of nine open clusters using the projected radial density profiles derived from homogeneous CCD photometric data obtained through the 105-cm Kiso Schmidt telescope. The age and galactocentric distance of the target clusters varies from 16 Myr to 2000 Myr and 9 kpcto 10.8 kpc respectively. Barring Be 62, which is young open cluster, other clusters show a uniform reddening across the cluster region. The reddening in Be 62varies from $E(B-V)_{min}$= 0.70 mag to $E(B-V)_{max}$= 1.00 mag. The corona of six of the clusters in the present sample is found to be elongated, however on the basis of the present sample it is not possible to establish any correlation between the age and shape of the core. The elongated core in the case of young cluster Be 62 may reflect the initial conditions in the parental molecular cloud. The other results of the present study are (i) Core radius `$r_c$' and corona size $`r_{cn}$'/cluster radius $`r_{cl}$' are linearly correlated. (ii) The $r_c/r_{cn}/r_{cl}$ are linearly correlated with the number of stars in that region. (iii) In the age range 10-1000 Myr, the core and corona shrink with age. (iv) We find that in the galactocentric distance range 9 - 10 kpc, the core and corona/cluster extent of the clusters increase with the galactocentric distance.

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