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We briefly discuss the history of pumping schemes for the common 22-GHz maser transition in o-H2O, and note that radiative mechanisms have been considered in the past, as well as the better known collisional pumping mechanisms associated with shock waves. Substantial IR irradiation is indeed destructive to inversion at 22-GHz under a wide range of physical conditions. We identify a small number of transitions, including 22 GHz, that can be pumped by both collisional and radiative schemes, and, through radiative transfer modelling over a grid of values in kinetic temperature, number density, and dust temperature, identify loci in density-kinetic temperature space where these schemes lead to strong inversions. The radiative pumping scheme generally operates at higher dust temperature, and lower kinetic temperature, than the collisional scheme. We identify a small network of transitions that form a radiative pumping scheme for the 22-GHz maser, involving radiative transitions of wavelength approximately 6  |$\mu$| m. This network is capable of supplying more than 50 per cent of the 22-GHz inversion under typical radiative pumping conditions, and it is consistent with the need for high dust and low kinetic temperatures determined from the modelling. We identify a probable case of radiative pumping in a massive star-forming region from the observation of a positive correlation between the flux densities of 22-GHz H2O masers and 6.7-GHz methanol masers. We discuss possibilities for finding radiatively pumped H2O maser lines in other source types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of the 2 s -level of hydrogen formed in the early Universe is studied within a standard and a non-standard quasi-molecular mechanism of recombination. We demonstrate that, if hydrogen molecular ion |$H_2^+$| temporarily formed during a collision directly dissociates into a hydrogen atom and a proton, both mechanisms of recombination lead to the same probabilities of population. These probabilities differ significantly, however, when attractive quasi-molecular channels are uninvolved and only repulsive channels remain in the treatment. The probabilities of the direct and indirect radiative transitions into the 2 s -level of hydrogen are evaluated. The dominant process in the population of 2 s -level of hydrogen is the direct free–bound radiative transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our recent papers, a non-standard quasi-molecular mechanism was suggested and applied to treat the cosmological recombination. It was assumed that, in the pre-recombination stage of evolution of the Universe, an electron combined with two neighbouring protons and created a hydrogen molecular ion, |$\mathrm{ H}_2^+$| in a highly excited state, which then descended into the lower lying state or dissociated. In this work, we implement a quantitative analysis of this quasi-molecular mechanism of recombination; namely, we elaborate the scheme of calculation for a free–bound radiative transition. We show that the quasi-molecular mechanism played a significant role in the pre-recombination and recombination stages of evolution of the early Universe, and hence must be included into the consideration of the description of a thermal history of the Universe. Together with the earlier developed treatment of bound–bound radiative transitions in |$\mathrm{ H}_2^+$|⁠ , the elaborated scheme of calculation can be used for the design of a rapid and complete cosmological recombination code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new method aimed at improving the efficiency of component by component ionization modelling of intervening quasar absorption-line systems. We carry out cloud-by-cloud, multiphase modelling making use of cloudy and Bayesian methods to extract physical properties from an ensemble of absorption profiles. Here, as a demonstration of method, we focus on four weak, low-ionization absorbers at low redshift, because they are multiphase but relatively simple to constrain. We place errors on the inferred metallicities and ionization parameters for individual clouds, and show that the values differ from component to component across the absorption profile. Our method requires user input on the number of phases and relies on an optimized transition for each phase, one observed with high resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. The measured Doppler parameter of the optimized transition provides a constraint on the Doppler parameter of H  i , thus providing leverage in metallicity measurements even when hydrogen lines are saturated. We present several tests of our methodology, demonstrating that we can recover the input parameters from simulated profiles. We also consider how our model results are affected by which radiative transitions are covered by observations (for example, how many H  i transitions) and by uncertainties in the b parameters of optimized transitions. We discuss the successes and limitations of the method, and consider its potential for large statistical studies. This improved methodology will help to establish direct connections between the diverse properties derived from characterizing the absorbers and the multiple physical processes at play in the circumgalactic medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of a quasi-molecular approach, the formation of hydrogen atom in the pre-recombination period of evolution of the Universe is analysed quantitatively. Calculations in an adiabatic multilevel representation enable estimates of probabilities of radiative transitions. The quasi-molecular mechanism of recombination allows the formation of hydrogen molecular ion, |${\mathrm{ H}_2}^+$|⁠ , in its ground state. The probability of this process is comparable with the probability of the creation of atomic hydrogen. The participation of a second proton in the recombination increases the binding energy of an electron and decreases the rate of recombination of hydrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report a list of 91 strong Th  ii spectral lines in the visible wavelength region that could be used as cosmochronometers in future investigations to determine stellar ages from thorium radioactive decay. This list was established on the basis of a pseudo-relativistic Hartree–Fock model including core-polarization corrections (HFR+CPOL) allowing us to compute the corresponding radiative decay parameters, the latter being found to be in good overall agreement with the most accurate experimental data when available. Besides this semi-empirical approach, the fully relativistic ab initio multiconfiguration Dirac–Hartree–Fock (MCDHF) method was attempted, showing large discrepancies with both the present HFR+CPOL and the most recent experimental oscillator strengths, although the calculated wavelengths from theoretical energy levels agreed with observed spectral line wavelengths within 2.4  per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inner parsec of our Galaxy contains tens of Wolf–Rayet stars whose powerful outflows are constantly interacting while filling the region with hot, diffuse plasma. Theoretical models have shown that, in some cases, the collision of stellar winds can generate cold, dense material in the form of clumps. However, their formation process and properties are not well understood yet. In this work, we present, for the first time, a statistical study of the clump formation process in unstable wind collisions. We study systems with dense outflows (⁠|${\sim }10^{-5}\rm \ M_{\odot }\ yr^{-1}$|⁠), wind speeds of 500– |$1500\rm \ km\ s^{-1}$|⁠ , and stellar separations of ∼20– |$200\rm \ au$|⁠. We develop three-dimensional high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations of stellar wind collisions with the adaptive-mesh refinement grid-based code ramses. We aim at characterizing the initial properties of clumps that form through hydrodynamic instabilities, mostly via the non-linear thin-shell instability (NTSI). Our results confirm that more massive clumps are formed in systems whose winds are close to the transition between the radiative and adiabatic regimes. Increasing either the wind speed or the degree of asymmetry increases the dispersion of the clump mass and ejection speed distributions. Nevertheless, the most massive clumps are very light (∼10−3– |$10^{-2}\rm \ M_{\oplus }$|⁠), about three orders of magnitude less massive than theoretical upper limits. Applying these results to the Galactic Centre, we find that clumps formed through the NTSI should not be heavy enough either to affect the thermodynamic state of the region or to survive for long enough to fall on to the central supermassive black hole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the structure of mildly relativistic shocks in dense media, taking into account the radiation and pair loading, and diffusive radiation energy transfer within the flow. For increasing shock velocity (increasing post-shock temperature), the first important effect is the efficient energy redistribution by radiation within the shock that leads to the appearance of an isothermal jump, whereby the flow reaches the final state through a discontinuous isothermal transition. The isothermal jump, on scales much smaller than the photon diffusion length, consists of a weak shock and a quick relaxation to the isothermal conditions. Highly radiation-dominated shocks do not form isothermal jump. Pair production can mildly increase the overall shock compression ratio to ≈10 (4 for matter-dominated shocks and 7 of the radiation-dominated shocks). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate coefficient for the formation of aluminium monochloride, AlCl, from the radiative association of aluminium and chlorine atoms is estimated as a function of temperature. The coupling of the Al and Cl atoms through the A1Π molecular electronic state, which undergoes radiative transition to the X1Σ+ ground state, is the most efficient transition to form AlCl. The rate constant was found to vary with temperature according to the expressions k(T) = 1.22 × 10-16(T/300)0.40exp (-748/T) cm3 s-1 for temperatures between 300 and 1000 K, and k(T) = 2.20 × 10-16(T/300)0.175exp (-1067/T) cm3 s-1 for temperatures between 1000 and 14 000 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present simultaneous optical and near-infrared (IR) photometry of the millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038 during its low-mass X-ray binary phase. The r'- and Ks-band light curves show rectangular, flat-bottomed dips, similar to the X-ray mode-switching (active-passive state transitions) behaviour observed previously. The cross-correlation function (CCF) of the optical and near-IR data reveals a strong, broad negative anticorrelation at negative lags, a broad positive correlation at positive lags, with a strong, positive narrow correlation superimposed. The shape of the CCF resembles the CCF of black hole X-ray binaries but the time-scales are different. The features can be explained by reprocessing and a hot accretion flow close to the neutron star's magnetospheric radius. The optical emission is dominated by the reprocessed component, whereas the near-IR emission contains the emission from plasmoids in the hot accretion flow and a reprocessed component. The rapid active-passive state transition occurs when the hot accretion flowmaterial is channelled on to the neutron star and is expelled from its magnetosphere. During the transition the optical reprocessing component decreases resulting in the removal of a blue spectral component. The accretion of clumpy material through the magnetic barrier of the neutron star produces the observed near-IR/optical CCF and variability. The dip at negative lags corresponds to the suppression of the near-IR synchrotron component in the hot flow, whereas the broad positive correlation at positive lags is driven by the increased synchrotron emission of the outflowing plasmoids. The narrow peak in the CCF is due to the delayed reprocessed component, enhanced by the increased X-ray emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiative lifetime measurements by the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique are reported for 24 levels of Co I with the energy range of 283 45.86-55 922.3 cm-1, amongst which the lifetimes of 20 levels are reported for the first time. The branching fraction measurements by the emission spectrum of a hollow cathode lamp were performed for 11 levels of them together with other two levels reported in the literature, and branching fractions of 39 transitions were obtained. By combining them with lifetime values, the transition probabilities and absolute oscillator strengths of these lines were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of radiative transition probabilities or oscillator strengths is of common interest in astrophysics. The analysis of the high-resolution stellar spectra is now available in order to estimate the stellar abundances. In this paper, 93 experimentally obtained transition probability values (Aki) for singly ionized krypton spectral lines belonging to the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength region (208-360) nm are presented. These data, expressed in absolute units, were derived from the measurements of relative spectral line intensities and the values of transition probability data taken from the literature. The results obtained extend considerably the transition probability data base. As a light source, a plasma from a low-pressure pulsed arc was used. Its electron density was in the range of (1.5-3.4) × 1022 m-3, while the temperature was between 28 000 and 35 000 K. A detailed analysis of the results is also given. Only a few relative and a few absolute transition probabilities from other authors, for the mentioned spectral region, are available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent quantum mechanical calculations of rate coefficients for collisional transfer of population between the hyperfine states of 13CN enable their population densities to be determined. We have computed the relative populations of the hyperfine states of the N = 0, 1, 2 rotational states for kinetic temperatures 5 ≤ T ≤ 20 K and molecular hydrogen densities 1 ≤ n(H2) ≤1010 cm-3. Spontaneous and induced radiative transitions were taken into account. Our calculations show that, if the lines are optically thin, the populations of the hyperfine states, F, within a given rotational manifold are proportional to their statistical weights, (2F + 1) - i.e. in local thermodynamic equilibrium - over the entire range of densities. We have re-analysed IRAM 30 m telescope observations of 13CN hyperfine transitions (N = 1 → 0) in four starless cores. A comparison of these observations with our calculations confirms that the hyperfine states are statistically populated in these sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron emission lines at 6.4-6.97 keV, identified with Ka radiative transitions, are among the strongest discrete features in the X-ray band. These are one of the most powerful probes to infer the properties of the plasma in the innermost part of the accretion disc around a compact object. In this paper, we present a recent Suzaku observation, 100-ks effective exposure, of the atoll source and X-ray burster 4U 1705-44, where we clearly detect signatures of a reflection component which is distorted by the high-velocity motion in the accretion disc. The reflection component consists of a broad iron line at about 6.4 keV and a Compton bump at high X-ray energies, around 20 keV. All these features are consistently fitted with a reflection model, and we find that in the hard state the smearing parameters are remarkably similar to those found in a previous XMM-Newton observation performed in the soft state. In particular, we find that the inner disc radius is Rin = 17 ± 5Rg (where Rg is the gravitational radius, GM/c²), the emissivity dependence from the disc radius is r-2.5 ± 0.5, the inclination angle with respect to the line of sight is i = 43° ± 5°, and the outer radius of the emitting region in the disc is Rout > 200Rg. We note that the accretion disc does not appear to be truncated at large radii, although the source is in a hard state at ~3 percent of the Eddington luminosity for a neutron star. We also find evidence of a broad emission line at low energies, at 3.03 ± 0.03 keV, compatible with emission from mildly ionized argon (Ar XVI-XVII). Argon transitions are not included in the self-consistent reflection models that we used and we therefore added an extra component to our model to fit this feature. The low-energy line appears compatible with being smeared by the same inner disc parameters found for the reflection component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a large-scale survey of the very dense (n > 106 cm−3) gas in the Perseus molecular cloud using HCO+ and HCN (J = 4 → 3) transitions. We have used this emission to trace the structure and kinematics of gas found in pre- and protostellar cores, as well as in outflows. We compare the HCO+/HCN data, highlighting regions where there is a marked discrepancy in the spectra of the two emission lines. We use the HCO+ to identify positively protostellar outflows and their driving sources, and present a statistical analysis of the outflow properties that we derive from this tracer. We find that the relations we calculate between the HCO+ outflow driving force and the Menv and Lbol of the driving source are comparable to those obtained from similar outflow analyses using 12CO, indicating that the two molecules give reliable estimates of outflow properties. We also compare the HCO+ and the HCN in the outflows, and find that the HCN traces only the most energetic outflows, the majority of which are driven by young Class 0 sources. We analyse the abundances of HCN and HCO+ in the particular case of the IRAS 2A outflows, and find that the HCN is much more enhanced than the HCO+ in the outflow lobes. We suggest that this is indicative of shock enhancement of HCN along the length of the outflow; this process is not so evident for HCO+, which is largely confined to the outflow base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]