arXiv subjects

Xiang-dong Shi

Publications and source records attributed to Xiang-dong Shi.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A unified framework for hot accretion flows with finite angular momentum: from Bondi-like to disc-like regimes

Observations of X-ray luminous elliptical galaxies suggest that the accretion rate onto the central supermassive black hole can reach a substantial fraction of the Bondi rate. However, classical accretion theory applicable to such hot accretion flows treats spherically symmetric Bondi accretion and disc-like advection-dominated accretion flows (ADAFs) as two distinct limiting cases, lacking a unified framework for flows with finite angular momentum. In this work, we develop such a framework that continuously connects these two regimes. Our model naturally recovers the Bondi solution in the limit of vanishing angular momentum and approaches the properties of classical ADAFs at high angular momentum, while providing a physically well-defined description of the intermediate regime where neither limiting case is strictly applicable. We further demonstrate that the accretion rate is jointly regulated by the angular momentum of the ambient gas and the gas viscosity. For sufficiently large but physically reasonable viscosity, the accretion rate can remain at a significant fraction of the Bondi rate even in the presence of substantial gas rotation. These results offer a natural explanation for how such accretion rates can be sustained despite finite angular momentum in realistic galactic environments.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Observational Properties of $β$ Cephei Stars: 88 new samples discovered Based on TESS and Gaia Data

We present a systematic investigation of $β$ Cephei (BCEP) stars by integrating photometric data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) with astrometric parameters from Gaia Data Release 3. Utilizing TESS's short-cadence (SC) and full-frame image (FFI) photometry, along with Gaia parallaxes and temperatures derived from the Extended Stellar Parametrizer for Hot Stars (ESP-HS) pipeline, we identify 88 new BCEP stars and candidates--85 from SC data and 3 from SPOC-processed FFI observations. These targets exhibit visual magnitudes ranging from 8.0 to 12.0 mag, parallaxes between 0.11 and 1.74 mas, effective temperatures of 18,000 to 30,000 K, and luminosities from 1,500--38,000 $L_\odot$, consistent with previously cataloged BCEP populations, thereby demonstrating the robustness of our classification criteria. Key findings include: (1) a significant detection disparity between SC and FFI datasets, with 30\% of SC targets exceeding 18,000 K compared to only 0.7\% in FFI, reflecting observational biases toward high-luminosity, hotter stars in SC data; (2) four samples near the red edge of the theoretical instability strip, exhibiting sparse pulsation modes that are important samples for testing pulsation models under low-mass, low-temperature conditions; and (3) spatial clustering within the Galactic disk ($|b| < 20^\circ$), with two high-latitude outliers likely representing runaway stars ejected from disk environments. Our analysis underscores the critical role of space-based photometry in detecting low-amplitude pulsators and the transformative potential of multi-survey integration in the era of time-domain astronomy. These results provide new samples to constrain stellar pulsation theories of massive stars and to study Galactic dynamics.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Spherically Symmetric Accretion with Self-Gravity: Analytical Formulae and Numerical Validation

Spherically symmetric accretion incorporating self-gravity constitutes a three-point boundary value problem (TPBVP) governed by constraints at the outer boundary, sonic point, and accretor surface. Previous studies have two limitations: either employing an incorrect formula for self-gravity potential in analytical treatments, or introducing additional input parameters in numerical implementations to circumvent solving the full TPBVP. To address these issues, we present a self-consistent TPBVP formulation, solved using the relaxation method. We also derive approximate analytical formulae that enable rapid estimates of self-gravity effects. Our analysis identifies a dimensionless parameter $β\equiv 2G \barρ r_\mathrm{out}^2/a_\mathrm{out}^2$ that characterizes the strength of self-gravity, where $\barρ$ and $r_\mathrm{out}$ are the mean density and outer radius of the flow, respectively, and $a_\mathrm{out}$ is the adiabatic sound speed of the external medium. For practical estimation, $\barρ$ may be approximated by the external medium density $ρ_\mathrm{out}$. We identify an upper limit for $β$, beyond which steady accretion becomes unsustainable -- a behavior consistent with classical gravitational instability that previous studies failed to capture. The accretion rate enhancement decreases monotonically as the adiabatic index $γ$ increases. For $γ=5/3$, self-gravity ceases to augment the accretion rate. These theoretical predictions are validated by our numerical solutions. We further apply our results to two astrophysical scenarios: hyper-Eddington accretion onto supermassive black hole seeds in the early Universe, where self-gravity is significant; and accretion onto stellar-mass objects embedded in active galactic nuclei (AGN) disks, where self-gravity is non-negligible under certain conditions and should be evaluated using $β$.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Observational properties of 155 O- and B-type massive pulsating stars

The O- and B-type (OB-type) pulsating stars are important objects to study the structure and evolution of massive stars through asteroseismology. A large amount of data from various sky surveys provide an unprecedented opportunity to search for and study this kind of variable star. We identify 155 OB-type pulsating stars or candidates, including 38 Oe/Be stars or candidates, from the data observed by TESS, LAMOST, and GAIA, which are almost new. Among the 155 objects, 87 samples are identified as SPB stars including 37 objects with pure low-frequency and 50 objects with both low- and high-frequency pulsation, and 14 samples are identified as BCEP stars with both low- and high-frequency pulsation. The H-R diagram shows that these SPB and BCEP stars are mainly located in their instability regions and in the evolutionary stage of the main-sequence with a mass range of 2.5-20 $M_{\odot}$ and 7-20 $M_{\odot}$. Two special objects show fourier spectra similar to BCEP stars but with different positions in H-R, Period-Temperature (P-T), and Period-Luminosity (P-L) diagrams. Meanwhile, 52 other targets are identified as candidates of OB-type pulsating stars. We also derive the preliminary results of the P-L relation for SPB and BCEP stars, respectively. This work also indicates that in addition to the H-R diagram, P-T and P-L diagrams are also very useful for the classification of SPB and BCEP. Further detailed analysis of these objects can dramatically increase our understanding of theories of evolution and structure for massive OB-type pulsating stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

A catalog of new slowly pulsating B-type stars

This paper reports the discovery of new slowly pulsating B-type stars. Based on the photometric, spectral, and astrometric data of TESS, LAMOST, and Gaia surveys, we have found 286 new slowly pulsating B-type stars (SPB stars) and 21 candidates. Among these, 20 are Be stars or candidates with emission line profiles. It is shown that these SPB stars have luminosities between 40 and 2850 $L_{\odot}$ and effective temperatures ranging from 10000K to 21000K. Their pulsation periods are from 0.14 to 6.5 days with amplitude ranges of 0.2-20 mmag in TESS band. It is indicated that these targets follow the distribution of the SPB stars in the period-luminosity (P-L) and the period-temperature (P-T) diagrams. Their positions on the H-R diagram reveal that most of these pulsators are distributed in the instability region of SPB stars, in the main-sequence evolutionary stage, and with mass ranges of 2.5-7 $M_{\odot}$. However, there are some targets beyond the red edge of the theoretical instability region, which should be caused by the rapid rotation reducing the measured effective temperature. The discovery of these new SPB stars increases the total number by over 60\%, which are significant samples for further investigating the structure and evolution of intermediate-mass and even massive stars by asteroseismology.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

Observational Properties of 155 $β$ Cephei pulsating variable stars

$β$ Cephei pulsating variable (BCEP) stars are the most massive pulsating variable stars in the main sequence, exhibiting both p- and g-mode pulsations. In this study, we identified 155 BCEP stars or candidates using data from TESS and Gaia, of which 83 were first confirmed as BCEP stars. They have visual magnitudes ranging from 8 to 12 mag and effective temperatures between approximately 20,000 and 30,000 K, while the parallaxes of most targets are between 0.2 and 0.6 mas. The study indicates that these BCEP stars have pulsation periods ranging from 0.06 to 0.31 days, with amplitudes ranging from 0.1 to 55.8 mmag in the TESS band. Additionally, the number of BCEP stars increases as the pulsation amplitude decreases. These targets align with the distribution region of BCEP stars in the luminosity-period (L-P) and temperature-period (T-P) diagrams. We have updated the L-P relation of BCEP stars. The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram indicates that these targets are in the main-sequence evolutionary phase, with masses ranging from 7 to 20 $M_{\odot}$ and luminosities between 2800 and 71,000 $L_{\odot}$. They are almost in the theoretical instability region of BCEP stars but as previously reported, this region at the low-mass end (red) is not filled. The distribution of the pulsation constant indicates that the dominant pulsation periods of BCEP stars consist mainly of low-order p-mode pulsations with a high proportion of radial fundamental modes. These BCEP stars are excellent objects for enhancing our understanding of the structure and evolution of massive stars through asteroseismology.

astro-ph.SR↗