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ABSTRACT Near IR spectroscopic reverberation of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) potentially allows the infrared (IR) broad line region (BLR) to be reverberated alongside the disc and dust continua, while the spectra can also reveal details of dust astro-chemistry. Here, we describe results of a short pilot study (17 near-IR spectra over a 183 d period) for Mrk 509. The spectra give a luminosity-weighted dust radius of 〈Rd,lum〉 = 186 ± 4 light-days for blackbody (large grain dust), consistent with previous (photometric) reverberation campaigns, whereas carbon and silicate dust give much larger radii. We develop a method of calibrating spectral data in objects where the narrow lines are extended beyond the slit width. We demonstrate this by showing our resultant photometric band light curves are consistent with previous results, with a hot dust lag at >40 d in the K band, clearly different from the accretion disc response at <20 d in the z band. We place this limit of 40 d by demonstrating clearly that the modest variability that we do detect in the H and K band does not reverberate on time-scales of less than 40 d. We also extract the Pa β line light curve, and find a lag which is consistent with the optical BLR H β line of ∼70–90 d. This is important as direct imaging of the near-IR BLR is now possible in a few objects, so we need to understand its relation to the better studied optical BLR. 

Abstract Contact binary star systems represent the long-lived penultimate phase of binary evolution. Population statistics of their physical parameters inform an understanding of binary evolutionary pathways and end products. We use light curves and new optical spectroscopy to conduct a pilot study of ten (near) contact systems in the long-period ( P > 0.5 days) tail of close binaries in the Kepler field. We use PHOEBE light-curve models to compute Bayesian probabilities on five principal system parameters. Mass ratios and third-light contributions measured from spectra agree well with those inferred from the light curves. Pilot study systems have extreme mass ratios q < 0.32. Most are triples. Analysis of the unbiased sample of 783 0.15 d < P < 2 days (near) contact binaries results in 178 probable contact systems, 114 probable detached systems, and 491 ambiguous systems for which we report best-fitting and 16th-/50th-/84th-percentile parameters. Contact systems are rare at periods P > 0.5 days, as are systems with q > 0.8. There exists an empirical mass ratio lower limit q min ( P ) ≈ 0.05–0.15 below which contact systems are absent, supporting a new set of theoretical predictions obtained by modeling the evolution of contact systems under the constraints of mass and angular momentum conservation. Premerger systems should lie at long periods and near this mass ratio lower limit, which rises from q = 0.044 for P = 0.74 days to q = 0.15 at P = 2.0 days. These findings support a scenario whereby nuclear evolution of the primary (more massive) star drives mass transfer to the primary, thus moving systems toward extreme q and larger P until the onset of the Darwin instability at q min precipitates a merger. 

Abstract A scaling law is demonstrated in the conductivity of gated two-dimensional (2D) materials with tunable concentrations of ionized impurity scatterers. Experimental data is shown to collapse onto a single 2D conductivity scaling (2DCS) curve when the mobility is scaled by r , the relative impurity-induced scattering, and the gate voltage is shifted by V s , a consequence of impurity-induced doping. This 2DCS analysis is demonstrated first in an encapsulated 2D black phosphorus multilayer at T = 100 K with charge trap densities programmed by a gate bias upon cooldown, and next in a Bi 2 Se 3 2D monolayer at room temperature exposed to varying concentrations of gas adsorbates. The observed scaling can be explained using a conductivity model with screened ionized impurity scatterers. The slope of the r  vs.  V s plot defines a disorder-charge specific scattering rate Γ q = d r / d V s equivalent to a scattering strength per unit impurity charge density: Γ q > 0 indicates a preponderance of positively charged impurities with Γ q < 0 for negatively charged. This 2DCS analysis is expected to be applicable in arbitrary 2D materials systems with tunable impurity density, which will advance 2D materials characterization and improve performance of 2D sensors and transistors.