# Posts Tagged mass ratio

## Recent Postings from mass ratio

### Be discs in binary systems I. Coplanar orbits

Be stars are surrounded by outflowing circumstellar matter structured in the form of decretion discs. They are often members of binary systems, where it is expected that the decretion disc interacts both radiatively and gravitationally with the companion. In this work we study how various orbital (period, mass ratio, eccentricity) and disc (viscosity) parameters affect the disc structure in coplanar systems. We simulate such binaries with the use of a smoothed particle hydrodynamics code. The main effects of the secondary on the disc are its truncation and the accumulation of material inwards of truncation. In circular or nearly circular prograde orbits, the disc maintains a rotating, constant in shape, configuration, which is locked to the orbital phase. The disc is smaller in size, more elongated and more massive for low viscosity parameter, small orbital separation and/or high mass ratio. Highly eccentric orbits are more complex, with the disc structure and total mass strongly dependent on the orbital phase. We also studied the effects of binarity in the disc continuum emission. Since the infrared and radio SED are sensitive to the disc size and density slope, the truncation and matter accumulation result in considerable modifications in the emergent spectrum. The decretion disc in circular binaries remains constant in shape and phase-locked. Eccentric binaries exhibit strong dependence on the distance to the secondary. We conclude that binarity can serve as an explanation for the variability exhibited in observations of Be stars, and that our model can be used to detect invisible companions.

### Matching asteroid population characteristics with a model constructed from the YORP-induced rotational fission hypothesis

From the results of a comprehensive asteroid population evolution model, we conclude that the YORP-induced rotational fission hypothesis can be consistent with the observed population statistics of small asteroids in the main belt including binaries and contact binaries. The foundation of this model is the asteroid rotation model of Marzari et al. (2011), which incorporates both the YORP effect and collisional evolution. This work adds to that model the rotational fission hypothesis and the binary evolution model of Jacobson & Scheeres (2011). The asteroid population evolution model is highly constrained by these and other previous works, and therefore it has only two significant free parameters: the ratio of low to high mass ratio binaries formed after rotational fission events and the mean strength of the binary YORP (BYORP) effect. We successfully reproduce characteristic statistics of the small asteroid population: the binary fraction, the fast binary fraction, steady-state mass ratio fraction and the contact binary fraction. We find that in order for the model to best match observations, rotational fission produces high mass ratio ($> 0.2$) binary components with four to eight times the frequency as low mass ratio ($< 0.2$) components, where the mass ratio is the mass of the secondary component divided by the mass of the primary component. This is consistent with post-rotational fission binary system mass ratio being drawn from either a flat or a positive and shallow distribution, since the high mass ratio bin is four times the size of the low mass ratio bin; this is in contrast to the observed steady-state binary mass ratio, which has a negative and steep distribution. This can be understood in the context of the BYORP-tidal equilibrium hypothesis, which predicts that low mass ratio binaries survive for a significantly longer period of time than high mass ratio systems.

### Superoutburst of CR Bootis: Estimation of Mass Ratio of a typical AM CVn star by Stage A Superhumps

We report on two superoutbursts of the AM CVn-type object CR Boo in 2014 April--March and 2015 May--June. A precursor outburst acompanied both of these superoutbursts. During the rising branch of the main superoutburst in 2014, we detected growing superhumps (stage A superhumps) whose period was $0.017669(24)$ d. Assuming that this period reflects the dynamical precession rate at the radius of the 3:1 resonance, we could estimate the mass ratio ($q=M_2/M_1$) of 0.101(4) by using the stage A superhump period and the orbital one of 0.0170290(6) d. This mass ratio is consistent with that expected by the theoretical evolutionary model of AM CVn-type objects. The detection of precursor outbursts and stage A superhumps is the second case in AM CVn-type objects. There are two interpretations of the outbursts of AM CVn-type objects. One is a dwarf nova (DN) outbursts analogy, which is caused by thermal and tidal instabilities. Another is the VY Scl-type variation, which is caused by the variation of the mass-transfer rate of the secondary. This detection of the superhump variations strongly suggests the former interpretation.

### Large mass hierarchies from strongly-coupled dynamics

Besides the Higgs particle discovered in 2012, with mass 125 GeV, recent LHC data show tentative signals for new resonances in diboson as well as diphoton searches at high center-of-mass energies (2 TeV and 750 GeV, respectively). If these signals are confirmed (or other new resonances are discovered at the TeV scale), the large hierarchies between masses of new bosons require a dynamical explanation. Motivated by these tentative signals of new physics, we investigate the theoretical possibility that large hierarchies in the masses of glueballs could arise dynamically in new strongly-coupled gauge theories extending the standard model of particle physics. We study lattice data on non-Abelian gauge theories in the (near-)conformal regime as well as a simple toy model in the context of gauge/gravity dualities. We focus our attention on the ratio $R$ between the mass of the lightest spin-2 and spin-0 resonances, that for technical reasons is a particularly convenient and clean observable to study. For models in which (non-perturbative) large anomalous dimensions arise dynamically, we show indications that this mass ratio can be large, with $R>5$. Moreover, our results suggest that $R$ might be related to universal properties of the IR fixed point. Our findings provide an interesting step towards understanding large mass ratios in the non-perturbative regime of quantum field theories with (near) IR conformal behaviour.

### Large mass hierarchies from strongly-coupled dynamics [Cross-Listing]

Besides the Higgs particle discovered in 2012, with mass 125 GeV, recent LHC data show tentative signals for new resonances in diboson as well as diphoton searches at high center-of-mass energies (2 TeV and 750 GeV, respectively). If these signals are confirmed (or other new resonances are discovered at the TeV scale), the large hierarchies between masses of new bosons require a dynamical explanation. Motivated by these tentative signals of new physics, we investigate the theoretical possibility that large hierarchies in the masses of glueballs could arise dynamically in new strongly-coupled gauge theories extending the standard model of particle physics. We study lattice data on non-Abelian gauge theories in the (near-)conformal regime as well as a simple toy model in the context of gauge/gravity dualities. We focus our attention on the ratio $R$ between the mass of the lightest spin-2 and spin-0 resonances, that for technical reasons is a particularly convenient and clean observable to study. For models in which (non-perturbative) large anomalous dimensions arise dynamically, we show indications that this mass ratio can be large, with $R>5$. Moreover, our results suggest that $R$ might be related to universal properties of the IR fixed point. Our findings provide an interesting step towards understanding large mass ratios in the non-perturbative regime of quantum field theories with (near) IR conformal behaviour.

### Large mass hierarchies from strongly-coupled dynamics [Cross-Listing]

Besides the Higgs particle discovered in 2012, with mass 125 GeV, recent LHC data show tentative signals for new resonances in diboson as well as diphoton searches at high center-of-mass energies (2 TeV and 750 GeV, respectively). If these signals are confirmed (or other new resonances are discovered at the TeV scale), the large hierarchies between masses of new bosons require a dynamical explanation. Motivated by these tentative signals of new physics, we investigate the theoretical possibility that large hierarchies in the masses of glueballs could arise dynamically in new strongly-coupled gauge theories extending the standard model of particle physics. We study lattice data on non-Abelian gauge theories in the (near-)conformal regime as well as a simple toy model in the context of gauge/gravity dualities. We focus our attention on the ratio $R$ between the mass of the lightest spin-2 and spin-0 resonances, that for technical reasons is a particularly convenient and clean observable to study. For models in which (non-perturbative) large anomalous dimensions arise dynamically, we show indications that this mass ratio can be large, with $R>5$. Moreover, our results suggest that $R$ might be related to universal properties of the IR fixed point. Our findings provide an interesting step towards understanding large mass ratios in the non-perturbative regime of quantum field theories with (near) IR conformal behaviour.

### The realm of the Galactic globular clusters and the mass of their primordial clouds

By adopting the empirical constraints related to the estimates of Helium enhancement ($\Delta Y$), present mass ratio between first and second stellar generations ($M_{1G}/M_{2G}$) and the actual mass of Galactic globular clusters ($M_{GC}$), we envisage a possible scenario for the formation of these stellar systems. Our approach allows for the possible loss of stars through evaporation or tidal interactions and different star formation efficiencies. In our approach the star formation efficiency of the first generation ($\epsilon_{1G}$) is the central factor that links the stellar generations as it not only defines both the mass in stars of the first generation and the remaining mass available for further star formation, but it also fixes the amount of matter required to contaminate the second stellar generation. In this way, $\epsilon_{1G}$ is fully defined by the He enhancement between successive generations in a GC. We also show that globular clusters fit well within a $\Delta Y$ {\it vs} $M_{1G}/M_{2G}$ diagram which indicates three different evolutionary paths. The central one is for clusters that have not loss stars, through tidal interactions, from either of their stellar generations, and thus their present $M_{GC}$ value is identical to the amount of low mass stars ($M_* \le$ 1 M$_\odot$) that resulted from both stellar generations. Other possible evolutions imply either the loss of first generation stars or the combination of a low star formation efficiency in the second stellar generation and/or a loss of stars from the second generation. From these considerations we derive a lower limit to the mass ($M_{tot}$) of the individual primordial clouds that gave origin to globular clusters.

### Comprehensive Analysis of Yukawa Hierarchies on $T^2/Z_N$ with Magnetic Fluxes

Based on the result of classification in our previous work, we exhaustively investigate Yukawa sector of $U(8)$ model on magnetized orbifolds $T^{2}/Z_{2}$, $T^{2}/Z_{3}$, $T^{2}/Z_{4}$ and $T^{2}/Z_{6}$ by evaluating ratios of the mass eigenvalues of the three states in all the possible configurations with one and two Higgs pairs where three generations are realized in fermions. Because of smearing effect via kinetic mixing, one can realize a hierarchy such as $10^{-2}$-$10^{-3}$, but it is very difficult to achieve the mass ratio between the up and top quarks ($m_{\text{up}}/m_{\text{top}} \sim 10^{-5}$) on the complicated magnetized orbifolds $T^{2}/Z_{N}\,(N=3,4,6)$.

### Secular models and Kozai resonance for planets in coorbital non-coplanar motion

In this work, we construct and test an analytical and a semianalytical secular models for two planets locked in a coorbital non-coplanar motion, comparing some results with the case of restricted three body problem. The analytical average model replicates the numerical N-body integrations, even for moderate eccentricities ($\lesssim$ 0.3) and inclinations ($\lesssim10^\circ$), except for the regions corresponding to quasi-satellite and Lidov-Kozai configurations. Furthermore, this model is also useful in the restricted three body problem, assuming very low mass ratio between the planets. We also describe a four-degree-of-freedom semianalytical model valid for any type of coorbital configuration in a wide range of eccentricities and inclinations. {Using a N-body integrator, we have found that the phase space of the General Three Body Problem is different to the restricted case for inclined systems, and establish the location of the Lidov-Kozai equilibrium configurations depending on mass ratio. We study the stability of periodic orbits in the inclined systems, and find that apart from the robust configurations $L_4$, $AL_4$, and $QS$ is possible to harbour two Earth-like planets in orbits previously identified as unstable $U$ and also in Euler $L_3$ configurations, with bounded chaos.

### ASASSN-15jd: WZ Sge-type star with intermediate superoutburst between single and double ones

We present optical photometry of a WZ Sge-type dwarf nova (DN), ASASSN-15jd. Its light curve showed a small dip in the middle of the superoutburst in 2015 for the first time among WZ Sge-type DNe. The unusual light curve implies a delay in the growth of the 3:1 resonance tidal instability. Also, the light curve is similar to those of other two WZ Sge-type stars, SSS J122221.7$-$311523 and OT J184228.1$+$483742, which are believed to be the best candidates for a period bouncer on the basis of their small values of the mass ratio ($q \equiv M_{2}/M_{1}$). Additionally, the small mean superhump amplitude ($<$ 0.1 mag) and the long duration of no ordinary superhumps at the early stage of the superoutburst are common to the best candidates for a period bouncer. The average superhump period was $P_{\rm sh}$ = 0.0649810(78) d and no early superhumps were detected. Although we could not estimate the mass ratio of ASASSN-15jd with high accuracy, this object is expected to be a candidate for a period bouncer, a binary accounting for the missing population of post-period minimum cataclysmic variables, based on the above characteristics.

### OGLE-2012-BLG-0724Lb: A Saturn-mass Planet around an M-dwarf

We report the discovery of a planet by the microlensing method, OGLE-2012-BLG-0724Lb. Although the duration of the planetary signal for this event was one of the shortest seen for a planetary event, the anomaly was well covered thanks to high cadence observations taken by the survey groups OGLE and MOA. By analyzing the light curve, this planetary system is found to have a mass ratio $q=(1.58\pm0.15)\times10^{-3}$. By conducting a Bayesian analysis, we estimate that the host star is an M-dwarf star with a mass of $M_{\rm L}=0.29_{-0.16}^{+0.33} \ M_{\odot}$ located at $D_{\rm L}=6.7_{-1.2}^{+1.1} \ {\rm kpc}$ away from the Earth and the companion's mass is $m_{\rm P}=0.47_{-0.26}^{+0.54} \ M_{\rm Jup}$. The projected planet-host separation is $a_{\perp}=1.6_{-0.3}^{+0.4} \ {\rm AU}$. Because the lens-source relative proper motion is relatively high, future high resolution images would detect the lens host star and determine the lens properties uniquely. This system is likely a Saturn-mass exoplanet around an M-dwarf and such systems are commonly detected by gravitational microlensing. This adds an another example of a possible pileup of sub-Jupiters $(0.2 < m_{\rm P}/M_{\rm Jup} < 1)$ in contrast to a lack of Jupiters ($\sim 1 - 2 \ M_{\rm Jup}$) around M-dwarfs, supporting the prediction by core accretion models that Jupiter-mass or more massive planets are unlikely to form around M-dwarfs.

### The ELM Survey. VII. Orbital Properties of Low Mass White Dwarf Binaries

We present the discovery of 15 extremely low mass (5 < log{g} < 7) white dwarf candidates, 9 of which are in ultra-compact double-degenerate binaries. Our targeted ELM Survey sample now includes 76 binaries. The sample has a lognormal distribution of orbital periods with a median period of 5.4 hr. The velocity amplitudes imply that the binary companions have a normal distribution of mass with 0.76 Msun mean and 0.25 Msun dispersion. Thus extremely low mass white dwarfs are found in binaries with a typical mass ratio of 1:4. Statistically speaking, 95% of the white dwarf binaries have a total mass below the Chandrasekhar mass and thus are not Type Ia supernova progenitors. Yet half of the observed binaries will merge in less than 6 Gyr due to gravitational wave radiation; probable outcomes include single massive white dwarfs and stable mass transfer AM CVn binaries.

### From perturbative calculations of the QCD static potential towards four-loop pole-running heavy quarks masses relation

The summary of the available semi-analytical results for the three-loop corrections to the QCD static potential and for the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^4)$ contributions to the ratio of the running and pole heavy quark masses are presented. The procedure of the determination of the dependence of the four-loop contribution to the pole-running heavy quarks mass ratio on the number of quarks flavours, based on application of the least squares method is described. The necessity of clarifying the reason of discrepancy between the numerical uncertainties of the $\alpha_s^4$ coefficients in the mass ratio, obtained by this mathematical method by the direct numerical calculations is emphasised.

### The selective effect of environment on the atomic and molecular gas-to-dust ratio of nearby galaxies in the Herschel Reference Survey

We combine dust, atomic (HI) and molecular (H$_{2}$) hydrogen mass measurements for 176 galaxies in the Herschel Reference Survey to investigate the effect of environment on the gas-to-dust mass ($M_{\rm gas}/M_{\rm dust}$) ratio of nearby galaxies. We find that, at fixed stellar mass, the average $M_{\rm gas}/M_{\rm dust}$ ratio varies by no more than a factor of $\sim$2 when moving from field to cluster galaxies, with Virgo galaxies being slightly more dust rich (per unit of gas) than isolated systems. Remarkably, once the molecular and atomic hydrogen phases are investigated separately, we find that \hi-deficient galaxies have at the same time lower $M_{\rm HI}/M_{\rm dust}$ ratio but higher $M_{\rm H_{2}}/M_{\rm dust}$ ratio than \hi-normal systems. In other words, they are poorer in atomic but richer in molecular hydrogen if normalized to their dust content. By comparing our findings with the predictions of theoretical models, we show that the opposite behavior observed in the $M_{\rm HI}/M_{\rm dust}$ and $M_{\rm H_{2}}/M_{\rm dust}$ ratios is fully consistent with outside-in stripping of the interstellar medium (ISM), and is simply a consequence of the different distribution of dust, \hi\ and H$_{2}$ across the disk. Our results demonstrate that the small environmental variations in the total $M_{\rm gas}/M_{\rm dust}$ ratio, as well as in the gas-phase metallicity, do not automatically imply that environmental mechanisms are not able to affect the dust and metal content of the ISM in galaxies.

### PM J03338+3320: Long-Period Superhumps in Growing Phase Following a Separate Precursor Outburst

We observed the first-ever recorded outburst of PM J03338+3320, the cataclysmic variable selected by proper-motion survey. The outburst was composed of a precursor and the main superoutburst. The precursor outburst occurred at least 5 d before the maximum of the main superoutburst. Despite this separation, long-period superhumps were continuously seen between the precursor and main superoutburst. The period of these superhumps is longer than the orbital period by 6.0(1)% and can be interpreted to reflect the dynamical precession rate at the 3:1 resonance for a mass ratio of 0.172(4). These superhumps smoothly evolved into those in the main superoutburst. These observations provide the clearest evidence that the 3:1 resonance is triggered by the precursor outburst, even if it is well separated, and the resonance eventually causes the main superoutburst as predicted by the thermal-tidal instability model. The presence of superhumps well before the superoutburst cannot be explained by alternative models (the enhanced mass-transfer model and the pure thermal instability model) and the present observations give a clear support to the thermal-tidal instability model.

### The evolution of a supermassive retrograde binary embedded in an accretion disk

In this note we discuss the main results of a study of a massive binary with unequal mass ratio, q, embedded in an accretion disk, with its orbital rotation being opposed to that of the disk. When the mass ratio is sufficiently large, a gap opens in the disk, but the mechanism of gap formation is very different from the prograde case. Inward migration occurs on a timescale of t_ev ~ M_p/(dot M), where M_p is the mass of the less massive component (the perturber), and dot M is the accretion rate. When q<< 1, the accretion takes place mostly onto the more massive component, with the accretion rate onto the perturber being smaller than, or of order of, q^(1/3)M. However, this rate increases when supermassive binary black holes are considered and gravitational wave emission is important. We estimate a typical duration of time for which the accretion onto the perturber and gravitational waves could be detected.

### Mass ratio determination from Halpha lines in Black-Hole X-ray transients

We find that the mass ratio q in quiescent black hole (BH) X-ray transients is tightly correlated with the ratio of the double peak separation (DP) to the full-width-half maximum (FWHM) of the Halpha emission line, log q = -6.88 -23.2 log (DP/FWHM). The correlation is explained through the efficient truncation of the outer disc radius by the 3:1 resonance with the companion star. This is the dominant tidal interaction for extreme mass ratios q=M2/M1<~0.25, the realm of BH (and some neutron star) X-ray transients. Mass ratios can thus be estimated with a typical uncertainty of ~32%, provided that the Halpha profile used to measure DP/FWHM is an orbital phase average. We apply the DP/FWHM-q relation to the three faint BH transients XTE J1650-500, XTE J1859+226 and Swift J1357-0933 and predict q=0.026 (+0.038-0.007), 0.049 (+0.023-0.012) and 0.040 (+0.003-0.005), respectively. This new relation, together with the FWHM-K2 correlation presented in Paper I (casares 2015) allows the extraction of fundamental parameters from very faint targets and, therefore, the extension of dynamical BH studies to much deeper limits than was previously possible. As an example, we combine our mass ratio determination for Swift J1357-0922 with previous results to yield a BH mass of 12.4+-3.6 Msun. This confirms Swift J1357-0922 as one of the most massive BH low-mass X-ray binaries in the Galaxy.

### Mass ratio determination from Halpha lines in Black-Hole X-ray transients [Replacement]

We find that the mass ratio q in quiescent black hole (BH) X-ray transients is tightly correlated with the ratio of the double peak separation (DP) to the full-width-half maximum (FWHM) of the Halpha emission line, log q = -6.88 -23.2 log (DP/FWHM). The correlation is explained through the efficient truncation of the outer disc radius by the 3:1 resonance with the companion star. This is the dominant tidal interaction for extreme mass ratios q=M2/M1<~0.25, the realm of BH (and some neutron star) X-ray transients. Mass ratios can thus be estimated with a typical uncertainty of ~32%, provided that the Halpha profile used to measure DP/FWHM is an orbital phase average. We apply the DP/FWHM-q relation to the three faint BH transients XTE J1650-500, XTE J1859+226 and Swift J1357-0933 and predict q=0.026 (+0.038-0.007), 0.049 (+0.023-0.012) and 0.040 (+0.003-0.005), respectively. This new relation, together with the FWHM-K2 correlation presented in Paper I (casares 2015) allows the extraction of fundamental parameters from very faint targets and, therefore, the extension of dynamical BH studies to much deeper limits than was previously possible. As an example, we combine our mass ratio determination for Swift J1357-0933 with previous results to yield a BH mass of 12.4+-3.6 Msun. This confirms Swift J1357-0933 as one of the most massive BH low-mass X-ray binaries in the Galaxy.

### Secular resonances between bodies on close orbits: a case study of the Himalia prograde group of jovian irregular satellites

The gravitational interaction between two objects on similar orbits can effect noticeable changes in the orbital evolution even if the ratio of their masses to that of the central body is vanishingly small. Christou (2005) observed an occasional resonant lock in the differential node $\Delta \Omega$ between two members in the Himalia irregular satellite group of Jupiter in the $N$-body simulations (corresponding mass ratio $\sim 10^{-9}$). Using a semianalytical approach, we have reproduced this phenomenon. We also demonstrate the existence of two additional types of resonance, involving angle differences $\Delta\omega$ and $\Delta (\Omega+\varpi)$ between two group members. These resonances cause secular oscillations in eccentricity and/or inclination on timescales $\sim$ 1 Myr. We locate these resonances in $(a,e,i)$ space and analyse their topological structure. In subsequent $N$-body simulations, we confirm these three resonances and find a fourth one involving $\Delta \varpi$. In addition, we study the occurrence rates and the stability of the four resonances from a statistical perspective by integrating 1000 test particles for 100 Myr. We find $\sim 10-30$ librators for each of the resonances. Particularly, the nodal resonance found by Christou is the most stable: 2 particles are observed to stay in libration for the entire integration.

### Dynamical mass ejection from the merger of asymmetric binary neutron stars: Radiation-hydrodynamics study in general relativity [Cross-Listing]

We perform neutrino radiation-hydrodynamics simulations for the merger of asymmetric binary neutron stars in numerical relativity. Neutron stars are modeled by soft and moderately stiff finite-temperature equations of state (EOS). We find that the properties of the dynamical ejecta such as the total mass, neutron richness profile, and specific entropy profile depend on the mass ratio of the binary systems for a given EOS in a unique manner. For the soft EOS (SFHo), the total ejecta mass depends weakly on the mass ratio, but the average of electron number per baryon ($Y_e$) and specific entropy ($s$) of the ejecta decreases significantly with the increase of the degree of mass asymmetry. For the stiff EOS (DD2), with the increase of the mass asymmetry degree, the total ejecta mass significantly increases while the average of $Y_e$ and $s$ moderately decreases. We find again that only for the soft EOS (SFHo), the total ejecta mass exceeds $0.01M_\odot$ irrespective of the mass ratio chosen in this paper. The ejecta have a variety of electron number per baryon with its average approximately between $Y_e \sim 0.2$ and $\sim 0.3$ irrespective of the EOS employed, which is well-suited for the production of the r-process heavy elements (second and third peaks), although its averaged value decreases with the increase of the degree of mass asymmetry.

### Dynamical mass ejection from the merger of asymmetric binary neutron stars: Radiation-hydrodynamics study in general relativity

We perform neutrino radiation-hydrodynamics simulations for the merger of asymmetric binary neutron stars in numerical relativity. Neutron stars are modeled by soft and moderately stiff finite-temperature equations of state (EOS). We find that the properties of the dynamical ejecta such as the total mass, neutron richness profile, and specific entropy profile depend on the mass ratio of the binary systems for a given EOS in a unique manner. For the soft EOS (SFHo), the total ejecta mass depends weakly on the mass ratio, but the average of electron number per baryon ($Y_e$) and specific entropy ($s$) of the ejecta decreases significantly with the increase of the degree of mass asymmetry. For the stiff EOS (DD2), with the increase of the mass asymmetry degree, the total ejecta mass significantly increases while the average of $Y_e$ and $s$ moderately decreases. We find again that only for the soft EOS (SFHo), the total ejecta mass exceeds $0.01M_\odot$ irrespective of the mass ratio chosen in this paper. The ejecta have a variety of electron number per baryon with its average approximately between $Y_e \sim 0.2$ and $\sim 0.3$ irrespective of the EOS employed, which is well-suited for the production of the r-process heavy elements (second and third peaks), although its averaged value decreases with the increase of the degree of mass asymmetry.

### Particle Acceleration in Relativistic Electron-Ion Outlfows

We use the Los Alamos VPIC code to investigate particle acceleration in relativistic, unmagnetized, collisionless electron-ion plasmas. We run our simulations both with a realistic proton-to-electron mass ratio m_p/m_e = 1836, as well as commonly employed mass ratios of m_p/m_e =100 and 25, and show that results differ among the different cases. In particular, for the physically accurate mass ratio, electron acceleration occurs efficiently in a narrow region of a few hundred inertial lengths near the flow front, producing a power law dN/dgamma ~ gamma^(-p) with p ~ -2 developing over a few decades in energy, while acceleration is weak in the region far downstream. We find 20%, 10%, and 0.2% of the total energy given to the electrons for mass ratios of 25, 100, and 1836 respectively at a time of 2500 (w_p)^-1. Our simulations also show significant magnetic field generation just ahead of and behind the the flow front, with about 1% of the total energy going into the magnetic field for a mass ratio of 25 and 100, and 0.1% for a mass ratio of and 1836. In addition, lower mass ratios show significant fields much further downstream than in the realistic mass ratio case. Our results suggest the region and energetic extent of particle acceleration is directly related to the presence of magnetic field generation. Our work sheds light on the understanding of particle acceleration and emission in gamma-ray bursts, among other relativistic astrophysical outflows, but also underscores the necessity of optimizing numerical and physical parameters, as well as comparing among PIC codes before firm conclusions are drawn from these types of simulations.

### The critical mass ratio of double white dwarf binaries for violent merger-induced Type Ia supernova explosions

Mergers of carbon-oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs) are considered as one of the potential progenitors of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Recent hydrodynamical simulations showed that the less massive (secondary) WD violently accretes onto the more massive (primary) one, carbon detonation occurs, the detonation wave propagates through the primary, and the primary finally explodes as a sub-Chandrasekhar mass SN Ia. Such an explosion mechanism is called the violent merger scenario. Based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of merging CO WDs, we derived more stringent critical mass ratio (qcr) leading to the violent merger scenario than the previous results. We conclude that this difference mainly comes from the differences in the initial condition, synchronously spinning of WDs or not. Using our new results, we estimated the brightness distribution of SNe Ia in the violent merger scenario and compared it with previous studies. We found that our new qcr does not significantly affect the brightness distribution. We present the direct outcome immediately following CO WD mergers for various primary masses and mass ratios. We also discussed the final fate of the central system of the bipolar planetary nebula Henize 2-428, which was recently suggested to be a double CO WD system whose total mass exceeds the Chandrasekhar-limiting mass, merging within the Hubble time. Even considering the uncertainties in the proposed binary parameters, we concluded that the final fate of this system is almost certainly a sub-Chandrasekhar mass SN Ia in the violent merger scenario.

### The Carnegie-Irvine Galaxy Survey. IV. A Method to Determine the Average Mass Ratio of Mergers That Built Massive Elliptical Galaxies

Many recent observations and numerical simulations suggest that nearby massive, early-type galaxies were formed through a "two-phase" process. In the proposed second phase, the extended stellar envelope was accumulated through many dry mergers. However, details of the past merger history of present-day ellipticals, such as the typical merger mass ratio, are difficult to constrain observationally. Within the context and assumptions of the two-phase formation scenario, we propose a straightforward method, using photometric data alone, to estimate the average mass ratio of mergers that contributed to the build-up of massive elliptical galaxies. We study a sample of nearby massive elliptical galaxies selected from the Carnegie-Irvine Galaxy Survey, using two-dimensional analysis to decompose their light distribution into an inner, denser component plus an extended, outer envelope, each having a different optical color. The combination of these two substructures accurately recovers the negative color gradient exhibited by the galaxy as whole. The color difference between the two components (<\Delta(B-V)> ~ 0.10 mag; <\Delta(B-R)> ~ 0.14 mag), based on the slope of the M_stellar-color relation for nearby early-type galaxies, can be translated into an estimate of the average mass ratio of the mergers. The rough estimate, 1:5 to 1:10, is consistent with the expectation of the two-phase formation scenario, suggesting that minor mergers were largely responsible for building up to the outer stellar envelope of present-day massive ellipticals. With the help of accurate photometry, large sample size, and more choices of colors promised by ongoing and future surveys, the approach proposed here can reveal more insights into the growth of massive galaxies during the last few Gyr.

### Mass transfer between debris discs during close stellar encounters

We study mass transfers between debris discs during stellar encounters. We carried out numerical simulations of close flybys of two stars, one of which has a disc of planetesimals represented by test particles. We explored the parameter space of the encounters, varying the mass ratio of the two stars, their pericentre and eccentricity of the encounter, and its geometry. We find that particles are transferred to the other star from a restricted radial range in the disc and the limiting radii of this transfer region depend on the parameters of the encounter. We derive an approximate analytic description of the inner radius of the region. The efficiency of the mass transfer generally decreases with increasing encounter pericentre and increasing mass of the star initially possessing the disc. Depending on the parameters of the encounter, the transfer particles have a specific distributions in the space of orbital elements (semimajor axis, eccentricity, inclination, and argument of pericentre) around their new host star. The population of the transferred particles can be used to constrain the encounter through which it was delivered. We expect that many stars experienced transfer among their debris discs and planetary systems in their birth environment. This mechanism presents a formation channel for objects on wide orbits of arbitrary inclinations, typically having high eccentricity but possibly also close-to-circular (eccentricities of about 0.1). Depending on the geometry, such orbital elements can be distinct from those of the objects formed around the star.

### Comet formation in collapsing pebble clouds. What cometary bulk density implies for the cloud mass and dust-to-ice ratio

Comets are remnants of the icy planetesimals that formed beyond the ice line in the Solar Nebula. Growing from micrometre-sized dust and ice particles to km-sized objects is, however, difficult because of growth barriers and time scale constraints. The gravitational collapse of pebble clouds that formed through the streaming instability may provide a suitable mechanism for comet formation. We study the collisional compression of cm-sized porous ice/dust-mixed pebbles in collapsing pebble clouds. For this, we developed a collision model for pebbles consisting of a mixture of ice and dust, characterised by their dust-to-ice mass ratio. Using the final compression of the pebbles, we constrain combinations of initial cloud mass, initial pepple porosity, and dust-to-ice ratio that lead to cometesimals which are consistent with observed bulk properties of cometary nuclei. We find that observed high porosity and low density of ~0.5 g/cc of comet nuclei can only be explained if comets formed in clouds with mass approximately M>1e18 g. Lower mass clouds would only work if the pebbles were initially very compact. Furthermore, the dust-to-ice ratio must be in the range of between 3 and 9 to match the observed bulk properties of comet nuclei. (abridged version)

### Unstable flip-flopping spinning binary black holes [Cross-Listing]

We give a unified description of the flip-flop effect in spinning binary black holes and the anti-alignment instability in terms of real and imaginary flip-flop frequencies. We find that this instability is only effective for mass ratios $0.5<q<1$. We provide analytic expressions that determine the region of parameter space for which the instability occurs in terms of maps of the mass ratio and spin magnitudes $(q,\alpha_1,\alpha_2)$. This restricts the priors of parameter estimation techniques for the observation of gravitational waves from binary black holes and it is relevant for astrophysical modeling and final recoil computations of such binary systems.

### Unstable flip-flopping spinning binary black holes [Cross-Listing]

We give a unified description of the flip-flop effect in spinning binary black holes and the anti-alignment instability in terms of real and imaginary flip-flop frequencies. We find that this instability is only effective for mass ratios $0.5<q<1$. We provide analytic expressions that determine the region of parameter space for which the instability occurs in terms of maps of the mass ratio and spin magnitudes $(q,\alpha_1,\alpha_2)$. This restricts the priors of parameter estimation techniques for the observation of gravitational waves from binary black holes and it is relevant for astrophysical modeling and final recoil computations of such binary systems.

### Unstable flip-flopping spinning binary black holes

We give a unified description of the flip-flop effect in spinning binary black holes and the anti-alignment instability in terms of real and imaginary flip-flop frequencies. We find that this instability is only effective for mass ratios $0.5<q<1$. We provide analytic expressions that determine the region of parameter space for which the instability occurs in terms of maps of the mass ratio and spin magnitudes $(q,\alpha_1,\alpha_2)$. This restricts the priors of parameter estimation techniques for the observation of gravitational waves from binary black holes and it is relevant for astrophysical modeling and final recoil computations of such binary systems.

### Analytical high-order post-Newtonian expansions for spinning extreme mass ratio binaries [Replacement]

We present an analytic computation of Detweiler's redshift invariant for a point mass in a circular orbit around a Kerr black hole, giving results up to 8.5 post-Newtonian order while making no assumptions on the magnitude of the spin of the black hole. Our calculation is based on the functional series method of Mano, Suzuki and Takasugi, and employs a rigorous mode-sum regularization prescription based on the Detweiler-Whiting singular-regular decomposition. The approximations used in our approach are minimal; we use the standard self-force expansion to linear order in the mass ratio, and the standard post-Newtonian expansion in the separation of the binary. A key advantage of this approach is that it produces expressions that include contributions at all orders in the spin of the Kerr black hole. While this work applies the method to the specific case of Detweiler's redshift invariant, it can be readily extended to other gauge invariant quantities and to higher post-Newtonian orders.

### Analytical high-order post-Newtonian expansions for spinning extreme mass ratio binaries

We present an analytic computation of Detweiler's redshift invariant for a point mass in a circular orbit around a Kerr black hole, giving results up to 8.5 post-Newtonian order while making no assumptions on the magnitude of the spin of the black hole. Our calculation is based on the functional series method of Mano, Suzuki and Takasugi, and employs a rigorous mode-sum regularization prescription based on the Detweiler-Whiting singular-regular decomposition. The approximations used in our approach are minimal; we use the standard self-force expansion to linear order in the mass ratio, and the standard post-Newtonian expansion in the separation of the binary. A key advantage of this approach is that it produces expressions that include contributions at all orders in the spin of the Kerr black hole. While this work applies the method to the specific case of Detweiler's redshift invariant, it can be readily extended to other gauge invariant quantities and to higher post-Newtonian orders.

### Fragmentation functions of the pion, kaon, and proton in the NLO approximation: Laplace transform approach

Using repeated Laplace transform, We find an analytical solution for DGLAP evolution equations for extracting the pion, kaon and proton Fragmentation Functions (FFs) at NLO approximation. We also study the symmetry breaking of the sea quarks Fragmentation Functions, $D_{\bar q}^h (z,Q^2)$ and simply separated them according to their mass ratio. Finally, we calculate the total Fragmentation Functions of these hadrons and compare them with experimental data and those from global fits. Our results show a good agreement with the FFs obtained from global parameterizations as well as with the experimental data.

Extreme mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs) show a strong separation of timescales, with the time characterizing inspiral, $T_{\rm i}$, much longer than any time $T_{\rm o}$ characterizing orbital motions. The ratio of these timescales (which is essentially an EMRI's mass ratio) can be regarded as a parameter that controls a perturbative expansion. Here we describe the value and limitations of an "adiabatic" description of these binaries, which uses only the leading terms arising from such a two-timescale expansion. An adiabatic approach breaks down when orbits evolve through resonances, with important dynamical and observational consequences. We describe the shortfalls of an approach that only includes the adiabatic contributions to EMRI evolution, and outline what must be done to evolve these systems through resonance and to improve our ability to model EMRI systems more generally.

Extreme mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs) show a strong separation of timescales, with the time characterizing inspiral, $T_{\rm i}$, much longer than any time $T_{\rm o}$ characterizing orbital motions. The ratio of these timescales (which is essentially an EMRI's mass ratio) can be regarded as a parameter that controls a perturbative expansion. Here we describe the value and limitations of an "adiabatic" description of these binaries, which uses only the leading terms arising from such a two-timescale expansion. An adiabatic approach breaks down when orbits evolve through resonances, with important dynamical and observational consequences. We describe the shortfalls of an approach that only includes the adiabatic contributions to EMRI evolution, and outline what must be done to evolve these systems through resonance and to improve our ability to model EMRI systems more generally.

### Mass transfer and magnetic braking in Sco X-1

Sco X-1 is a low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) that has one of the most precisely determined set of binary parameters such as the mass accretion rate, companions mass ratio and the orbital period. For this system, as well as for a large fraction of other well-studied LMXBs, the observationally-inferred mass accretion rate is known to strongly exceed the theoretically expected mass transfer rate. We suggest that this discrepancy can be solved by applying a modified magnetic braking prescription, which accounts for increased wind mass loss in evolved stars compared to main sequence stars. Using our mass transfer framework based on {\tt MESA}, we explore a large range of binaries at the onset of the mass transfer. We identify the subset of binaries for which the mass transfer tracks cross the Sco X-1 values for the mass ratio and the orbital period. We confirm that no solution can be found for which the standard magnetic braking can provide the observed accretion rates, while wind-boosted magnetic braking can provide the observed accretion rates for many progenitor binaries that evolve to the observed orbital period and mass ratio.