More Like this

1. Creating a CLOUDY-Compatible Database with CHIANTI Version 10 Data

   https://doi.org/10.3390/astronomy1030015  

   Gunasekera, Chamani M.; Chatzikos, Marios; Ferland, Gary J. (December 2022, Astronomy)

   Atomic and molecular data are required to conduct the detailed calculations of microphysical processes performed by cloudy to predict the spectra of a theoretical model. cloudy now utilizes three atomic and molecular databases, one of which is CHIANTI version 7.1. CHIANTI version 10.0.1 is available, but its format has changed. cloudy is incompatible with the newer version. We have developed a script to convert the version 10.0.1 database into its version 7.1 format so that cloudy does not have to change every time there is a new CHIANTI version with an evolved format. This study outlines the steps taken by the script for this version format change. We have also found a modest number of significant changes to spectral line intensities/luminosities calculated by cloudy with the adoption of CHIANTI version 10.0.1. These changes are a result of improvements to collision strength data. 

   more » « less
2. MINES thermodynamic database, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, version 23

   https://doi.org/10.58799/mines-tdb  

   Gysi, Alexander P; Hurtig, Nicole C; Pan, Ruiguang; Miron, Dan G; Kulik, Dmitrii A (June 2023, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources)

   The MINES thermodynamic database (version 23) is a revised internally consistent thermodynamic dataset for minerals, aqueous species, and gases for simulating geochemical processes at hydrothermal conditions (≤5 kbar and ≤600 °C) with a focus on ore forming processes. The database follows a rolling release approach with new file versions becoming available once updated. The version number corresponds to the year of the most recent file creation and the number after the decimal separator indicates an upgrade during the year of release. The database is currently intended to be used with the GEMS geochemical modeling program ( http://gems.web.psi.ch/ ). Future versions will include human-readable data in .xlsx, .csv, and JSON files with all the data values, units, and references. 

   more » « less
3. Elemental Abundances in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium from Joint Far-ultraviolet and X-Ray Spectroscopy: Iron, Oxygen, Carbon, and Sulfur

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ad306b  

   Psaradaki, I; Corrales, L; Werk, J; Jensen, A G; Costantini, E; Mehdipour, M; Cilley, R; Schulz, N; Kaastra, J; García, J A; et al (April 2024, The Astronomical Journal)

   Abstract In this study, we investigate interstellar absorption lines along the line of sight toward the galactic low-mass X-ray binary Cygnus X-2. We combine absorption line data obtained from high-resolution X-ray spectra collected with the Chandra and XMM-Newton satellites, along with far-UV absorption lines observed by the Hubble Space Telescope’s (HST) Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) instrument. Our primary objective is to understand the abundance and depletion of oxygen, iron, sulfur, and carbon. To achieve this, we have developed an analysis pipeline that simultaneously fits both the UV and X-ray data sets. This novel approach takes into account the line-spread function of HST/COS, enhancing the precision of our results. We examine the absorption lines of Feii, Sii, Cii, and Cipresent in the far-UV spectrum of Cygnus X-2, revealing the presence of at least two distinct absorbers characterized by different velocities. Additionally, we employCloudysimulations to compare our findings concerning the ionic ratios for the studied elements. We find that gaseous iron and sulfur exist in their singly ionized forms, Feiiand Sii, respectively, while the abundances of Ciiand Cido not agree with the Cloudy simulations of the neutral ISM. Finally, we explore discrepancies in the X-ray atomic data of iron and discuss their impact on the overall abundance and depletion of iron. 

   more » « less
4. Recent Updates to the Gas-phase Chemical Reactions and Molecular Lines in CLOUDY: Their Effects on Millimeter and Submillimeter Molecular Line Predictions

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac7789  

   Shaw, Gargi; Ferland, G. J.; Chatzikos, M. (July 2022, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract Here, we present our current updates to the gas-phase chemical reaction rates and molecular lines in the spectral synthesis codecloudy, and its implications in spectroscopic modeling of various astrophysical environments. We include energy levels, and radiative and collisional rates for HF, CF⁺, HC₃N, ArH⁺, HCl, HCN, CN, CH, and CH₂. Simultaneously, we expand our molecular network involving these molecules. For this purpose, we have added 561 new reactions and have updated the existing 165 molecular reaction rates involving these molecules. As a result,cloudynow predicts all the lines arising from these nine molecules. In addition, we also update H₂–H₂collisional data up to rotational levelsJ= 31 forv= 0. We demonstrate spectroscopic simulations of these molecules for a few astrophysical environments. Our existing model for globules in the Crab Nebula successfully predicts the observed column density of ArH⁺. Our model predicts a detectable amount of HeH⁺, OH⁺, and CH⁺for the Crab Nebula. We also model the interstellar medium toward HD185418, W31C, and NGC 253, and our predictions match with most of the observed column densities within the observed error bars. Very often molecular lines trace various physical conditions. Hence, this update will be very supportive for spectroscopic modeling of various astrophysical environments, particularly involving submillimeter and mid-infrared observations using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array and the James Webb Space Telescope, respectively. 

   more » « less
5. The pace of modern life, revisited

   https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16299  

   Sanderson, Sarah; Beausoleil, Marc‐Olivier; O’Dea, Rose E.; Wood, Zachary T.; Correa, Cristian; Frankel, Victor; Gorné, Lucas D.; Haines, Grant E.; Kinnison, Michael T.; Oke, Krista B.; et al (December 2021, Molecular Ecology)

   Abstract Wild populations must continuously respond to environmental changes or they risk extinction. Those responses can be measured as phenotypic rates of change, which can allow us to predict contemporary adaptive responses, some of which are evolutionary. About two decades ago, a database of phenotypic rates of change in wild populations was compiled. Since then, researchers have used (and expanded) this database to examine phenotypic responses to specific types of human disturbance. Here, we update the database by adding 5675 new estimates of phenotypic change. Using this newer version of the data base, now containing 7338 estimates of phenotypic change, we revisit the conclusions of four published articles. We then synthesize the expanded database to compare rates of change across different types of human disturbance. Analyses of this expanded database suggest that: (i) a small absolute difference in rates of change exists between human disturbed and natural populations, (ii) harvesting by humans results in higher rates of change than other types of disturbance, (iii) introduced populations have increased rates of change, and (iv) body size does not increase through time. Thus, findings from earlier analyses have largely held‐up in analyses of our new database that encompass a much larger breadth of species, traits, and human disturbances. Lastly, we use new analyses to explore how various types of human disturbances affect rates of phenotypic change, and we call for this database to serve as a steppingstone for further analyses to understand patterns of contemporary phenotypic change. 

   more » « less