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Sunday 21 December

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Optical appearance, Hawking radiation, and Barrow thermodynamics of Letelier black hole in electromagnetic universe

We present an investigation of a static, spherically symmetric Letelier black hole (BH) immersed in an electromagnetic universe (EMU), characterized by the cloud of strings (CoS) parameter $\alpha$ and the EMU parameter $a$. The photon sphere and shadow radius are derived analytically, revealing how both parameters modify the apparent BH silhouette compared to the Schwarzschild case. We extend the shadow analysis to homogeneous and inhomogeneous plasma environments, demonstrating systematic reductions in the observed shadow size, and compute the weak gravitational lensing deflection angle in plasma using the Gauss-Bonnet theorem. The perturbative dynamics are investigated for scalar, electromagnetic, and Dirac fields, with quasinormal mode frequencies obtained via the sixth-order WKB approximation and greybody factors calculated using the rigorous bounds method. The resulting Hawking radiation spectra reveal distinct signatures for bosonic and fermionic emission channels. We further analyze quasi-periodic oscillations by deriving the fundamental orbital frequencies and applying both parametric resonance and relativistic precession models, obtaining constraints from observations.
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All authors İzzet Sakall{\i}, Erdem Sucu, Ahmad Al-Badawi, Faizuddin Ahmed

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Solar Vortex Detection With Velocity Field Normalisation: Eliminating False Positives

Small-scale vortices in the solar photosphere play a central role in transporting mass, energy, and momentum into the upper solar atmosphere, yet reliably detecting these structures remains rather challenging. We address this problem by introducing a simple preprocessing step that normalises the velocity field by its magnitude. Our method preserves flow topology while suppressing shear-induced artefacts that lead to spurious detections in non-uniform, high-rotation environments. For validation, we apply this approach to high-resolution Bifrost simulations and evaluate vortex detection using four commonly employed methods: IVD, the $\lambda_2$-criterion, the Q-criterion, and the $\Gamma$ method. We assess which structures exhibit physically consistent rotation by using the $d$-criterion to automatically detect rotational plasma-flow features, which we use as an approximate ground truth. We find that, in the unnormalised field, a substantial fraction of detections made by the first three methods are false positive detections. Normalisation removes most of these. The $\Gamma$ method detects true vortices but misses a large number of vortical flows. The normalisation step yields better-defined and more realistic vortex boundaries. As the $\Gamma$ method underpins most observational analyses, current studies likely capture only a subset of vortical flows. By comparison, the other three methods detect four to five times more vortices after normalisation, suggesting that the true photospheric vortex coverage may be underestimated by a similar factor. Overall, this physically motivated preprocessing step enhances the accuracy and physical realism of vortex detection and offers a practical enhancement for analysing vortical flows in turbulent flows.
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All authors Lauren McClure, Suzana Silva, Gary Verth, Istvan Ballai, Viktor Fedun

Astrophysics of Galaxies

Orbital classification in rotating bar potentials using an empirical proxy of the second integral of motion

We present a novel method for classifying two-dimensional orbits in rotating bar potentials, based on an empirical proxy for the second integral of motion, Calibrated Angular Momentum (CAM), which is defined as the ratio of the time-averaged angular momentum ($\overline{L_z}$) to its temporal dispersion ($\sigma_{L_z}$) in the corotating frame. We show that CAM is determined by the ratio of the azimuthal to radial actions (${J_\phi}^\prime / {J_r}^\prime$) in the analytical Freeman bar model. We then construct a new parameter space defined by CAM versus the root-mean-square radius ($R_{RMS}$), and apply this framework to orbits in several representative rotating bar potentials. In the CAM-$R_{RMS}$ plane, periodic orbits generate well-defined branches separating distinct regions corresponding to different orbital families. Several of these branches enclose isolated areas that can be associated with specific orbital families, such as the the $x_2$ orbital family. We further validate the method using orbits from test-particle simulations, which show a well-ordered and non-overlapping distribution of orbital families in the CAM-$R_{RMS}$ plane. Since CAM is fundamentally linked to intrinsic orbital properties and readily applied to three-dimensional orbits in N-body simulations, our results establish the CAM-$R_{RMS}$ plane as a robust and efficient framework for orbit classification in rotating bars that complements conventional methods.
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All authors Tian-ye Xia, Juntai Shen, John Magorrian, Yu-jing Qin

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Detecting false positives with PLATO using double-aperture photometry and centroid shifts

PLATO will discover exoplanets around Sun-like stars through transit photometry and characterize their host stars using asteroseismology. Since photometry for most PLATO targets will be extracted on board, an efficient strategy to detect false positives (FPs), defined as transit-like signals not caused by planets, is required. Centroid shifts are a standard FP diagnostic, but only 5% to 20% of PLATO's largest stellar sample (P5) will have centroids computed on board, motivating the need for an alternative strategy. We propose a double-aperture photometry approach to detect FPs, testing two mask types: extended masks, which enlarge the nominal aperture, and secondary masks, centered on the main contaminant. For each mask type, we derive flux and centroid-shift metrics and evaluate their ability to discriminate FPs. Using Gaia DR3, we define P5 targets and their background stars, which are assumed to be eclipsing binaries with transit depths and durations drawn from observed distributions. From simulated photometry and centroid shifts, we compute extended and secondary fluxes as well as extended, secondary, and nominal centroids, and compare their FP detection efficiency. Under these assumptions, approximately 35% of P5 targets have a single FP-producing contaminant and about 22% have two or more. Secondary flux achieves the highest detection efficiency (92%), followed by extended centroid shifts (87%) and nominal centroids (84%). Owing to its lower computational and telemetry cost, double-aperture photometry provides an efficient solution for rejecting a large fraction of FP signals caused by eclipsing binaries.
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All authors F. Gutiérrez-Canales, R. Samadi, A. Birch, J. Cabrera, C. Damiani, P. Guterman, C. Paproth, M. Pertenais, A. Santerne

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Accretion geometry in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries during the hard spectral state

We investigate the accretion geometry in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) in the hard spectral state. It is commonly accepted that, for low mass transfer rates, an advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) is present in the inner region. But the observed relativistically broadened emission lines in the reflection spectra clearly indicate the existence of discs near the innermost stable circular orbit $(R_{\rm{ISCO}})$. We investigate the interaction between the coronal flow and the disc in neutron star LMXBs, and find that gas condensation from the dominant, coronal accretion flow to an inner disc is enhanced as compared to that in black hole LMXBs as a consequence of irradiation of the corona by the neutron star surface. Computations show that for low mass transfer rates ($\sim 0.005-0.02$ Eddington rate) a persistent weak disc can coexist with a coronal flow in the innermost region, where a pure ADAF would have been expected. The inner disc extends outwards from $R_{\rm{ISCO}}$ to $\sim 10 R_{\rm{ISCO}}$ for Eddington ratios ($L/L_{\rm{Edd}}$) as low as $\sim 0.002$, covers a larger region for higher Eddington ratios, and eventually connects to the outer disc at $L/L_{\rm{Edd}} \sim 0.02$, thereby transiting to a soft state. We demonstrate that the observationally inferred region of the broad iron lines in the hard-state sources generally lies within the extension of the inner discs predicted by the condensation model. Disappearance of the broad iron lines is predicted at very low luminosities, either caused by very low accretion rates or disc truncation by strong magnetic fields.
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Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

Nanohertz Gravitational Waves

Evidence of a gravitational wave (GW) signal has emerged in pulsar timing array (PTA) data, opening a new window into the nanoHz GW Universe. We explore the physics of GW signals potentially explaining the data, with a primary focus on GW backgrounds (GWBs), considering both astrophysical and cosmological origins. We describe how: (i) An astrophysical nanoHz GWB emerges as the superposition of individual signals from inspiralling massive black-hole binaries (MBHBs); (ii) Environment coupling, eccentricity, and sparse sampling, affect the MBHB signal spectrum and statistical properties, causing great uncertainty in theoretical predictions, but simultaneously offering a handle to discriminate a potential astrophysical origin; (iii) PTA data offers unprecedented opportunities to constrain high-energy physics beyond the standard model, by probing early Universe GWBs, originated during or after inflation; (iv) Different early Universe GWBs, typically created by non-linear and out-of-equilibrium dynamics, can explain the PTA data, as e.g. from inflation scenarios, first order phase transitions, or topological defects; (v) The PTA detection of GWs opens a new window to explore the Universe, with profound implications for astrophysics and particle physics, probing e.g. the equation of state of the early Universe, the origin of the cosmological perturbations, the nature of the dark matter, or whether exotic objects like primordial black holes or cosmic strings exist.
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Earth and Planetary Astrophysics · Cross-listed from physics.space-ph

Energetically-dominant Sunward-Propagating Alfvén Waves Near 1 au and Their Relation to Large-scale Magnetic Switchbacks

In this letter, we investigate the population of energetically-dominant sunward-propagating Alfvén waves (SAWs) using more than 20 years of data provided by the Wind spacecraft near 1 au. We refer to SAWs as energetically-dominant sunward-propagating Alfvén waves within inertial range scales. Key parameters such as normalized cross helicity, plasma incompressibility, and magnetic incompressibility are used to determine the SAWs. Incorporating the polarity of the heliospheric magnetic field, AW modes are identified, which enables the determination of the propagation direction. Occurrence rates of SAWs vary from 1% to 14% depending on the time scale and solar wind stream type considered. Particularly, the relationship between large-scale magnetic field switchbacks (SBs) and SAWs (for a 1-hour long time scale) is investigated. A methodology utilizing pitch angle distributions of suprathermal electron strahl is employed to identify inverted magnetic field topology. The intervals containing SAWs are cross-referenced and examined with intervals identified as SBs. For a sample of 1636 1-hour SAW intervals, 17.5% are associated with magnetic field switchbacks occurring at scales larger than one hour. The analysis lends support to the idea of switchbacks as one of the candidate sources for a portion of the SAW population.
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Astrophysics of Galaxies

Spider-Webb: Spatially-Resolved Evidence of Inside-Out Quenching in the Spiderweb Protocluster at $z \sim 2$

We present a spatially-resolved analysis of galaxy quenching within the Spiderweb Protocluster at $z \sim 2.16$, combining deep imaging from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Utilizing pixel-by-pixel spectral energy distribution fitting, we derive maps of stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), specific SFR (sSFR), and rest-frame UVJ colors. Quiescent galaxies, predominantly found at $\log(M_*/M_{\odot}) \geq 10.5$, exhibit clear mass-dependent inside-out quenching, with central sSFR approximately an order of magnitude lower than outer regions, while lower-mass star-forming galaxies show flat sSFR profiles. Central star formation activity fundamentally anti-correlates with Sérsic index, indicating reduced activity in bulge-dominated systems. Spatially resolved UVJ colors reveal heterogeneous internal star formation, distinguishing star-forming regions in quiescent hosts from those in globally star-forming systems. These findings demonstrate that quenching mechanisms were effectively operating by $z \sim 2$, with the observed inside-out patterns and morphological correlations consistent with AGN-driven feedback processes. Our study provides key observational constraints on galaxy evolution during this critical epoch.
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All authors Ronaldo Laishram, Yusei Koyama, Abdurrahman Naufal, Tadayuki Kodama, Rhythm Shimakawa, Kazuki Daikuhara, Helmut Dannerbauer, Jose Manuel Pérez-Martínez, Pablo G. Pérez-González

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Physical properties of compact star-like systems harboring traversable wormholes: Effects of chaotic magnetic fields and anisotropic matter

We formulate exotic compact objects in form of compact star-like systems harboring traversable wormhole (CSSTW) with chaotic magnetic field and pressure anisotropy of the neutron fluid. The wormhole is traversable regardless of whether anisotropy of the neutron fluid and/or magnetic fields are included. For magnetized configurations, the resulting CSSTW can become extremely massive, with ADM masses exceeding $8\,M_\odot$, and can exhibit large surface redshifts exceeding $\mathcal{Z} \simeq 1.5$. The system can also reach the ultracompact regime, which allows us to calculate echo time that might be produced by the systems. Echo times of considered CSSTW vary depending on the chaotic magnetic field configuration and fluid anisotropy. For non-magnetized configurations, the gravitational-wave echo time is of the order of $10^{-2}-10^{-1}$ ms. For the magnetized configurations, however, it ranges from the order of $10^{-1}$ $\mu$s $-10^{-1}$ ms Moreover, we derive an explicit expression for the echo time as a function of uniform magnetic field. The resulting relation shows that the echo time decreases as the magnetic field strength increases. The stability analysis of radial perturbations shows that the ultracompact non-magneized CSSTW are prone to be unstable. For magnetized CSSTW, all considered configurations with a surface magnetic field of $B_s=10^{15}$ G are stable.
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All authors Muhammad Lawrence Pattersons, Freddy Permana Zen, Hadyan Luthfan Prihadi, Muhammad F. A. R. Sakti

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Recurrence plot analysis of blazar gamma-ray light curves: Exploiting the time-domain capabilities of Fermi-LAT

Variability studies of jetted AGN, in particular blazars, have been used to gain a better understanding of the particle acceleration mechanisms in jets. However, statistical methods used for the characterization of variability often rely on stationary time series data, which is not fulfilled for most blazar light curves. We introduce the recurrence plot method for long-term $\gamma$-ray light curves sampled by Fermi-LAT and present our results for the BL Lac object Mkn 421 and the FSRQ PKS 1424-41. Using surrogates to determine the significance of our findings, we conclude that Mkn 421 exhibits more determinism than PKS 1424-41, and that both sources potentially show nonlinearity. However, the latter has to be tested against more advanced surrogates that are able to replicate the nonstationarity of the original light curves. In future work, we will extend our recurrence analysis to a sample of $\sim50$ $\gamma$-ray bright sources to probe the jet dynamics of different blazar classes.
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High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Cygnus X-3 as a PeVatron and the LHAASO 2025 data

We have recently argued that the high-mass X-ray binary Cygnus X-3 can accelerate cosmic rays (CR) beyond PeV energies. Meanwhile, the LHAASO collaboration published the measurement of an orbitally modulated photon flux from Cygnus X-3 extending up to 4 PeV. In this short extension of our previous work, we argue that these observations point towards CR acceleration in the jet, and secondary production in CRs scattering on gas from the wind and on stellar UV photons from the companion star. The latter channel leads naturally to a contribution to the photon flux peaking around PeV energies which is strongly orbitally modulated. The fast drop in the flux of these photons below PeV energies may be caused by absorption on an increased density of background photons in a line-driven stellar wind.
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Astrophysics of Galaxies

Towards Unveiling the Origins of the Milky Way Bulge through Multi-band-Messenger Sky Surveys

We analyze the structure and chemo-dynamical properties of the Galactic bulge using ab-type RR Lyrae stars (RRabs) from OGLE-IV and giant stars from APOGEE and Gaia. Orbital integration of 1,879 RRab variables reveals three populations: central bulge, inner bulge, and halo/disk contaminants. Inner bulge RRabs display bar-like kinematics, whereas central bulge stars show slower rotation and lower dispersion. APOGEE data for 28,188 stars confirm these kinematic trends and reveal a bimodal chemical distribution, indicating distinct formation pathways. Our results support a pseudo-bulge origin of the inner bulge through disk instability, with the overall morphology better described as boxy rather than X-shaped. Through the integration of multi-messenger, multi-band data, our collaboration aims to provide deeper insights into the physical properties and evolutionary history of the Galactic bulge.
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All authors Hai-Feng Wang, Xiao Han, Giovanni Carraro, Martin Lopez-Corredoira, Yuan-Sen Ting, Guan-Yu Wang

Astrophysics of Galaxies

Towards Understanding the Milky Way's Matter Field and Dynamical Accretion History based on AI-GS3 Hunter

We present GS3 Hunter (Galactic-Seismology Substructures and Streams Hunter), a novel deep-learning method that combines Siamese Neural Networks and K-means clustering to identify substructures and streams in stellar kinematic data. Applied to Gaia EDR3 and GALAH DR3, it recovers known groups (e.g., Thamnos, Helmi, GSE, Sequoia) and, with DESI dataset, reveals that GSE consists of four distinct components (GSH-GSH1 through GSE-GSH4), implying a multi-event accretion origin. Tests on LAMOST K-giants recover Sagittarius, Hercules-Aquila, and Virgo Overdensity, while also uncovering new substructures. Validation with FIRE simulations shows good agreement with previous results. GS3 Hunter thus offers a powerful tool to understand the Milky Way's halo assembly and tidal history.
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All authors Hai-Feng Wang, Guan-Yu Wang, Giovanni Carraro, Yuan-Sen Ting, Thor Tepper-Garcia, Joss Bland-Hawthorn, Jeffrey Carlin, Yang-Ping Luo

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Photospheric horizontal magnetic field decrease preceding a major solar eruption

Significant photospheric magnetic field changes during major solar eruptions – interpreted as coronal feedback from eruptions to the photosphere – are well-observed. However, analogous short-time scale field changes preceding eruptions are rarely reported. In this study, we present the first detailed analysis of a pre-flare decrease in the photospheric horizontal magnetic field ($B_h$) associated with an X1.8 class flare, using high-cadence vector magnetic field data from Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager onboard Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We identify a region of gradual, spatially coherent $B_h$ decrease of about 100 G along the flaring polarity inversion line (PIL) during 30 minutes preceding the flare. This decrease is accompanied by a decrease in the force-free parameter $\alpha_w$, with no significant flux emergence or cancellation observed. After the flare onset, $B_h$ exhibited contrasting behaviors in different sub-regions: a step-like increase near the PIL and a continued decrease in surrounding regions, suggesting that the pre-flare $B_h$ decrease may also have a coronal origin, like its post-flare counterparts. Coronal imaging from Atmospheric Imaging Assembly onboard SDO reveals that the associated erupting filament underwent a slow-rise phase before the flare, whose timing and location closely matches the occurrence of the pre-flare $B_h$ decrease. We propose that the slow-rise of the pre-eruptive filament stretched overlying coronal loops, increasing their verticality and thereby reducing $B_h$ at their photospheric footpoints. The results present the first detailed analysis of a pre-flare $B_h$ decrease and suggest it as a precursor to solar eruptions, causally linked to early filament activation and its impact on the photosphere.
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Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Solar jet-induced perturbation propagating through coronal loops and in-loop electron beam transport indicated by type II and type N radio bursts

Solar type II radio bursts are commonly attributed to coronal shocks driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs). However, some metric type II bursts have occasionally been reported to occur in the absence of a CME and to be associated with weak solar activities. This study aims to identify the driver of the coronal shock in this kind of type II event. We investigate a high-frequency metric type II burst with clear band splitting, observed simultaneously by the Chashan Broadband Solar radio spectrograph and the Nançay Radioheliograph. It is associated with a C3.1-class flare and a small-scale jet, but without a detectable CME in the coronagraphs. The type II burst is preceded by multiple type III bursts, one of which exhibits characteristics of a type N burst. The type II burst source is associated with the jet-induced perturbation front propagating through nearby closed loops at a speed of $\sim$880 km s$^{-1}$, rather than the much slower jet front. This suggests that the disturbance initiated by the jet can convert to a shock wave within low Alfvénic coronal loops, providing the necessary conditions for electron acceleration and subsequent radio emission. Our findings offer new insights into the formation mechanism of high-frequency type II bursts associated with weak flares and jets.
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All authors Yingli Cui, Xiangliang Kong, Zhentong Li, Bing Wang, Yadan Duan, Ze Zhong, Hao Ning, Zhao Wu, Manqing Wang, Yang Liu, Feiyu Yu, Zelong Jiang, Wei Chen, Yang Su, Yao Chen

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Post-Newtonian Dynamics of Radiating Charges: Canonical Formulation and Binary Inspiral Laws

We revisit an explicit electromagnetic analogue of the Post Newtonian Hamiltonian framework widely used in gravitational wave physics. Starting from the Lorentz Dirac equation, we implement the Landau-Lifshitz order reduction to cast the 1.5PN radiation reaction force in terms of a double sum in canonical variables and incorporate this into the well known 1PN Darwin Hamiltonian system. The resulting phase space is strictly conservative when dissipation is switched off, while in presence of dissipation, it exhibits monotonic energy loss during the inspiral, accompanied by orbit circularization and eccentric bursts in the evolution of the Darwin Hamiltonian. Using this phase space framework we compute the circular and eccentric inspiral laws, including $1$PN conservative corrections. Extending to charged compact binaries in Einstein-Maxwell theory, we combine the known $2$PN ADM-type conservative Hamiltonian with leading $1.5$PN dipole dissipation and $2.5$PN gravitational quadrupole flux, obtaining gauge-invariant energy-frequency relations, closed-form inspiral laws, and a dipole-quadrupole crossover scale that separates electromagnetic and gravitational flux dominated inspirals.
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All authors Suhani Verma, Siddarth Mediratta, Nanditha Kilari, Prakhar Nigam, Ishaan Singh, Daksh Tamoli, Aakash Palakurthi, Valluru Ishaan, Tanmay Golchha, Sanjay Raghav R, Sugapriyan S, Yash Narayan, Pasupuleti Devi, Prathamesh Kapase, G Prudhvi Raj, Lakshya Sachdeva, Shreya Meher, K Nanda Kishore, G Keshav, Jetain Chetan, Rickmoy Samanta

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics · Cross-listed from physics.space-ph

Revisiting Mars' Induced Magnetic Field and Clock Angle Departures under Real-Time Upstream Solar Wind Conditions

Mars lacks a global intrinsic dipole magnetic field, but its interaction with the solar wind generates a global induced magnetosphere. Until now, most studies have relied on single-spacecraft measurements, which could not simultaneously capture upstream solar wind conditions and the induced magnetic fields, thereby limiting our understanding of the system. Here, we statistically re-examine the properties of Mars' induced magnetic field by incorporating, for the first time, real-time upstream solar wind conditions from the coordinated MAVEN and Tianwen-1 observations. Our results are show that both solar wind dynamic pressure and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) magnitude enhance the strength of the induced magnetic field, but they exert opposite effects on the compression ratio: higher dynamic pressure strengthens compression, while stronger IMF weakens it. The induced field is stronger under quasi-perpendicular IMF conditions compared with quasi-parallel IMF, reflecting a stronger mass-loading effect. We further investigate the clock angle departures of the induced fields. They remain relatively small in the magnetosheath near the bow shock, increase gradually toward the induced magnetosphere, and become significantly larger within the induced magnetosphere. In addition, clock angle departures are strongly enhanced under quasi-parallel IMF conditions. Their dependence on upstream drivers further shows that, within the magnetosheath, clock angle departures are minimized under low dynamic pressure, high IMF magnitude, and low Alfven Mach number conditions. These results may enhance our understanding of solar wind interaction with Mars, and highlight the critical role of multi-point observations.
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All authors Zhihao Cheng, Chi Zhang, Chuanfei Dong, Hongyang Zhou, Jiawei Gao, Abigail Tadlock, Xinmin Li, Liang Wang

Astrophysics of Galaxies

Linear Analyses of Thermal Instability in Stratified Medium

Thermal instability in the circum-galactic medium (CGM) can be responsible for the existence of cold clouds (e.g., high-velocity clouds) embedded in a hot diffuse medium (e.g., X-ray emitting gas). While many previous studies have analyzed thermal instability in uniform medium, the instability mechanism in gravitationally stratified medium like CGM has not been fully analyzed. This study investigates how gravity affects the behavior of thermal instability through linear perturbation analyses.We find that in stratified medium, thermal instability can drive over-stable modes, a behavior distinctly different from the monotonic growth of thermal instability in a uniformmedium. Furthermore, we find that the combination of buoyancy and thermal instability drives other two unstable modes. Applying our results to a simplified model of the CGM, we estimate the gas accretion rate from the CGM to the Galactic disk and the typical size of high-velocity cloud driven by thermal instability to be a few solar masses per year. This gas accretion rate is comparable to the observed star formation rate, and hence, the mass in the Galactic disk can be maintained. Our results provide a theoretical framework for understanding the formation of multi-phase gas, particularly in the CGM.
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Astrophysics of Galaxies

The Extended Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation for SDSS MaNGA Galaxies

The baryonic Tully-Fisher relation (BTFR), a relationship between rotational velocity and baryonic mass in spiral galaxies, probes the relative content of baryonic and dark matter in galaxies and thus provides a good test of Lambda CDM. Using H-alpha kinematics to model the rotation curves of spiral galaxies, we construct the BTFR for 5743 SDSS MaNGA DR17 galaxies. To extend the BTFR to higher masses using elliptical galaxies, we estimate their total masses from their stellar velocity dispersions using the virial theorem and define the effective rotational velocity as the velocity a rotation-supported galaxy would exhibit given this mass. The baryonic mass of spiral galaxies is composed of stellar, HI, H2, and He mass, while only the stellar mass is used for the baryonic content of ellipticals. We construct and fit the BTFR for a matched subsample of spiral and elliptical MaNGA and IllustrisTNG 100-1 (TNG100) galaxies, finding BTFR slopes between 3.2 and 4.0. We fit a joint BTFR for the 5743 MaNGA spiral and elliptical galaxies and find a BTFR slope of 3.54 (+0.65/-0.48), which is in good agreement with TNG100 galaxies with baryonic masses greater than 10^9 Msun for which we find a BTFR slope of 3.57 (+0.48/-0.37). Within this mass range, the MaNGA galaxies are consistent with both the Lambda CDM simulation and the prediction from MOND; a sample of lower mass galaxies is necessary to differentiate between the two models.
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Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Formation of Be stars via wind accretion: Case study on Black hole + Be star binaries

Be stars are rapidly rotating main-sequence (MS) stars that play a crucial role in understanding stellar evolution and binary interactions. In this letter, we propose a new formation scenario for black hole (BH) + Be star binaries (hereafter BHBe binaries), where the Be star is produced through the Wind Roche Lobe Overflow (WRLOF) mechanism. Our analysis is based on numerical simulations of the WRLOF process in massive binaries, building upon recent theoretical work. We demonstrate that the WRLOF model can efficiently form BHBe binaries under reasonable assumptions on stellar wind velocities. Using rapid binary population synthesis, we estimate the population of such systems in the Milky Way, predicting approximately $\sim$ {1800-3200} currently existing BHBe binaries originating from the WRLOF channel. These systems are characterized by high eccentricities and exceptionally wide orbits, with typical orbital periods exceeding 1000 days and a peak distribution around $\sim$10000 days. Due to their long orbital separations, these BHBe binaries are promising targets for future detection via astrometric {and interferometric} observations.
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All authors Zhenwei Li, Shi Jia, Dandan Wei, Hongwei Ge, Hailiang Chen, Yangyang Zhang, Xuefei Chen, Zhanwen Han

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Detecting stellar flares in the presence of a deterministic trend and stochastic volatility

We develop a new and powerful method to analyze time series to rigorously detect flares in the presence of an irregularly oscillatory baseline, and apply it to stellar light curves observed with TESS. First, we remove the underlying non-stochastic trend using a time-varying amplitude harmonic model. We then model the stochastic component of the light curves in a manner analogous to financial time series, as an ARMA+GARCH process, allowing us to detect and characterize impulsive flares as large deviations inconsistent with the correlation structure in the light curve. We apply the method to exemplar light curves from TIC13955147 (a G5V eruptive variable), TIC269797536 (an M4 high-proper motion star), and TIC441420236 (AU Mic, an active dMe flare star), detecting up to $145$, $460$, and $403$ flares respectively, at rates ranging from ${\approx}0.4$–$8.5$~day$^{-1}$ over different sectors and under different detection thresholds. We detect flares down to amplitudes of $0.03$%, $0.29$%, and $0.007$% of the bolometric luminosity for each star respectively. We model the distributions of flare energies and peak fluxes as power-laws, and find that the solar-like star exhibits values similar to that on the Sun ($\alpha_{E,P}\approx1.85,2.36$), while for the less- and highly-active low-mass stars $\alpha_{E,P}>2$ and $<2$ respectively.
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All authors Qiyuan Wang, Giovanni Motta, Genaro Sucarrat, Vinay L. Kashyap

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Cross-listed from nucl-th

Superfluid fraction in the crystal phase of the inner crust of neutron stars

In the most extended layer of the inner crust of neutron stars, nuclear matter is believed to form a crystal of clusters immersed in a superfluid neutron gas. Here we analyze this phase of matter within fully self-consistent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations using Skyrme-type energy density functionals for the mean field and a separable interaction in the pairing channel. The periodicity of the lattice is taken into account using Bloch boundary conditions, in order to describe the interplay between band structure and superfluidity. A relative flow between the clusters and the surrounding neutron gas is introduced in a time-independent way. As a consequence, the complex order parameter develops a phase, and in the rest frame of the superfluid one finds a counterflow between neutrons inside and outside the clusters. The neutron superfluid fraction is computed from the resulting current. Our results indicate that at densities above 0.03 fm$^{-3}$, more than 90% of the neutrons are effectively superfluid, independently of the detailed choice of the interaction, cluster charge, and lattice geometry. This fraction is only slightly lower than the one obtained recently within linear response theory on top of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer approximation, and it approaches the hydrodynamic limit for strong pairing. As a consequence, it is likely that the inner crust alone can provide a sufficient superfluid angular momentum reservoir to explain pulsar glitches.
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Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

Harmony of the Spheres: Extension to All Points of an Algorithm for Producing a Density Field with Given Two-, Three-, and Four-Point Correlation Functions

Previous work (Slepian 2024) showed that the Smith-Zaldarriaga (2011) algorithm to realize Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) maps with any desired harmonic-space bispectrum could be generalized to produce a 3D density field with any desired N-Point Correlation Functions (NPCFs, N = $2, 3, \ldots$) about a particular, specified set of “primary” points. This algorithm assured one of having the correct correlations if measured about these specific centers. Here, we show that this algorithm was more general than initially believed, and can in fact be used to produce a density field on a grid that has the correct, desired NPCFs as measured about every point on the grid. This paper should be considered the second in the series, and now completes the quest to generalize the idea of “constrained realization” (Hoffman and Ribak 1991) to higher-order statistics. This algorithm will be of great use for quickly generating density fields both to produce covariance matrices, and test systematics, for current and future 3D large-scale structure surveys such as Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), Euclid, Spherex, and Roman.
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High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Searches for Prompt Low-Frequency Radio Counterparts to Gravitational Wave Event S250206dm with the OVRO-LWA Time Machine

We report on a search for prompt, low-frequency radio emission from the gravitational-wave (GW) merger S250206dm using the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array (OVRO-LWA). Early alerts favored a neutron-star-containing merger, making this a compelling target. Motivated by theoretical predictions of coherent radio bursts from mergers involving a neutron star, we utilized the OVRO-LWA Time Machine system to analyze voltage data recorded around the time of the event. The Time Machine is a two-stage voltage buffer and processing pipeline that continuously buffers raw data from all antennas across the array's nearly full-hemisphere instantaneous field of view, enabling retrospective beamforming, dedispersion, and fast-transient candidate identification. For this event, we analyzed a 30-minute interval beginning 3.5 minutes after the merger, which included two minutes of pre-alert data recovered by the ring buffer. We searched the 50% localization probability region with millisecond time resolution in the 69-86 MHz frequency band. No radio counterpart was detected above a 7-sigma fluence detection threshold of ~150 Jy ms. Using Bayesian analysis, we place a 95% confidence upper limit on the source luminosity of L95 = 4 x 10^41 erg s^-1. These constraints start to probe the bright end of the coherent-emission parameter space predicted by jet-ISM shock processes, magnetar and blitzar-like mechanisms, and recent simulation-based scenarios for neutron-star-containing mergers. This study presents the first sensitive, large-area, millisecond-timescale search for prompt low-frequency radio emission from a GW merger with the OVRO-LWA, establishing a framework in which about ten additional events will yield stringent population-level constraints.
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All authors Nikita Kosogorov, Gregg Hallinan, Casey Law, Jack Hickish, Jayce Dowell, Kunal P. Mooley, Marin M. Anderson, Judd D. Bowman, Ruby Byrne, Morgan Catha, Bin Chen, Xingyao Chen, Sherry Chhabra, Larry D'Addario, Ivey Davis, Katherine Elder, Dale Gary, Charlie Harnach, Greg Hellbourg, Rick Hobbs, David Hodge, Mark Hodges, Yuping Huang, Andrea Isella, Daniel C. Jacobs, Ghislain Kemby, John T. Klinefelter, Matthew Kolopanis, James Lamb, Nivedita Mahesh, Surajit Mondal, Brian O'Donnell, Kathryn Plant, Corey Posner, Travis Powell, Vinand Prayag, Andres Rizo, Andrew Romero-Wolf, Jun Shi, Greg Taylor, Jordan Trim, Mike Virgin, Akshatha Vydula, Sandy Weinreb, Scott White, David Woody, Sijie Yu, Thomas Zentmeyer, Peijin Zhang

Saturday 20 December

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics

Breakthrough Listen Observations of 3I/ATLAS with the Green Bank Telescope at 1-12 GHz

3I/ATLAS, an interstellar object, made its closest approach to Earth on 2025 December 19. On 2025 December 18, the Breakthrough Listen program conducted a technosignature search toward 3I/ATLAS using the 100 m Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope at 1-12 GHz. We report a nondetection of candidate signals down to the 100 mW level.
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All authors Ben Jacobson-Bell, Steve Croft, Ellie White, Andrew P. V. Siemion, Matthew Lebofsky, David H. E. MacMahon

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

How the Oblique Drift Instability Alters Solar Wind Heating and Constrains the Distribution of Solar Wind Observations

Ion-driven plasma instability thresholds, derived from linear theory, constrain the distribution of solar observations in parameter space, defining boundaries of stable plasma parameters. Excursions beyond these thresholds result in the emission of energy, transferred from particles to coherent electromagnetic waves, acting to adjust the system toward a more stable configuration. In this work, we use linear Vlasov–Maxwell theory to define parametric limits for a low-$\beta$ plasma that contains a drifting proton beam or helium ($\alpha$-particle) population. A sufficiently fast and dense drifting population triggers an Oblique Drift Instability (ODI). This instability decreases the velocity drift between the thermal core proton and secondary populations and prevents the ratio of core thermal to magnetic pressure $\beta_c$ from decreasing below a minimum value by increasing the temperatures - i.e. heating - of both the core and drifting populations. Our theoretical results are of interest for Parker Solar Probe observations, as they provide an additional mechanism for perpendicular heating of ions active in the sub-\Alfvenic solar wind. The ODI may explain the discrepancy between long-standing expectations of measurements of very low-$\beta$ plasmas with very large ion temperature anisotropies in the near-Sun environment and in situ observations, where $\beta$ is consistently measured above a few percent and the secondary ion populations drift faster than the bulk of proton population by no more than approximately the local Alfven speed.
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All authors Mihailo M. Martinovic, Kristopher G. Klein, Leon Ofman, Yogesh, Jaye L. Verniero, Peter H. Yoon, Gregory G. Howes, Daniel Verscharen, Benjamin L. Alterman

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Imaging the LkCa 15 system in polarimetry and total intensity without self-subtraction artefacts

Studying young protoplanetary disks is essential for understanding planet formation, but traditional angular differential imaging can introduce self-subtraction artefacts that hinder interpretation of small-scale structures. We present high-resolution total- and polarized-intensity Ks-band images of the LkCa~15 system obtained with SPHERE using near-simultaneous reference-star differential imaging (star-hopping), yielding self-subtraction-free images beyond 0.1 arcsec. LkCa~15 hosts a ~160 au protoplanetary disk and has previously been reported to harbour candidate protoplanets at separations of 15–18 au. We analyse the disk morphology and dust properties and search for super-Jupiter planets beyond 20 au. We first model the near-infrared scattered-light images together with ALMA submillimetre continuum data using RADMC-3D and a two grain-size (micron and millimetre) compact olivine model. While this model broadly reproduces the disk geometry, it overpredicts the degree of forward scattering in the near-infrared. To investigate this discrepancy, we extract the scattering phase function S(theta) and polarized fraction P(theta) from the SPHERE data and compare them with aggregate-scattering models. The observed phase functions disfavour compact Mie spheres and are better matched by porous aggregates (CAHP). Recomputing the scattered-light models with porous CAHP grains in the disk surface layer significantly improves agreement with the observed Ks-band morphology and polarization, while retaining compact millimetre grains to reproduce the ALMA continuum. No new planetary companions are detected; we place upper mass limits of ~1.5 MJ beyond 200 au and ~3.6 MJ in the inner disk. Our results demonstrate that combining star-hopping imaging with phase-function diagnostics provides strong constraints on dust grain properties in protoplanetary disks.
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All authors C. Swastik, Zahed Wahhaj, Myriam Benisty, Saksham Arora, Christian Ginski, Bin B. Ren, R. G. van Holstein, Rob de Rosa, Ravinder K Banyal, Ryo Tazaki

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Unveiling Long-Period Variables in M33's Central Region: Insights into Stellar Evolution and Star Formation via Near-Infrared Photometry

We present an analysis of UKIRT observations obtained between 2003 and 2007 to investigate the evolved stellar populations within the central square kiloparsec of M33. Point-spread function (PSF) photometry is employed to mitigate the effects of stellar crowding and to ensure accurate measurements in this densely populated region. This method, applied to merged observations from UIST and WFCAM in the $J$, $H$, and $K$ bands, extracts $211,179$ stars by cross-matching frame-by-frame across 39 observing nights in three bands. From this, we identify approximately 750 long-period variables (LPVs), predominantly Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars, by cross-matching PSF results with aperture photometry, focusing on the UIST field for robust variability confirmation. The PSF approach proves particularly effective for resolving blended sources and detecting faint, dusty variables that might remain undetected. We also examined aperture photometry data to validate our results; however, the PSF-derived measurements provide superior depth and completeness, particularly for obscured stellar populations. The resulting master catalog provides a basis for future analyses of variability amplitudes, periods, and star-formation history (SFH), paving the way for a deeper understanding of mass-loss and the dynamical evolution of the central region of M33.
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Astrophysics of Galaxies

The evolution of obscured AGN across cosmic time – A large quasar survey for the 2040s

We propose a large quasar demographic optical multi-object spectroscopic (MOS) survey targeting over 50 million AGN candidates up to the highest redshifts possible in the optical (z~6.5), with repeat visits, using a variety of selection criteria available by 2040. A large MOS survey combining all AGN selection methods is the only way to unify a diverse range of different obscured AGN populations within a single, variability- and spectroscopy-based framework, rather than as disjoint classes selected by different methods.
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All authors Tanya Urrutia, Darshan Kakkad, Paula Sánchez-Sáez, Mojtaba Raouf, Swayamtrupta Panda, Sarah E. I. Bosman, Francisco Pozo Nunez, Annagrazia Puglisi, Sophia Flury, Dragana Ilic, Andjelka B. Kovacevic, Mamta Pandey-Pommier, Giustina Vietri, Sarath Satheesh-Sheeba, Francesco Salvestrini, Susanna Bisogni, Eduardo Bañados, Ana Monreal Ibero, Sabine Thater, Pratika Dayal, Filippo D'Ammando, José Afonso, Paramita Barai, Valentin Ivanov

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Energy-Dependent Shifts of Medium-Scale Anisotropies in Very-High-Energy Cosmic Rays Observed by LHAASO-KM2A

Small deviations from isotropy in the arrival directions of Galactic cosmic rays serve as a unique probe of the local magnetic environment. In this Letter, we report observations of medium-scale anisotropies (MSA) at energies above 10 TeV using the LHAASO-KM2A array. Our analysis identifies four regions of excess and four regions of deficit, each spanning angular scales of approximately ten degrees. Crucially, we detect significant energy-dependent shifts in the centroids of two excess regions: Region B and the newly identified Region $\mathrm{\widetilde{D}}$. We also characterize the energy evolution of the fractional relative intensity across both excess and deficit regions. These findings imply that the observed anisotropies are shaped by the specific realization of the local turbulent magnetic field within the cosmic ray scattering length. Such energy-dependent behaviors impose strict constraints on local turbulence models and cosmic ray propagation theories.
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All authors The LHAASO collabration, Zhen Cao, F. Aharonian, Y.X. Bai, Y.W. Bao, D. Bastieri, X.J. Bi, Y.J. Bi, W. Bian, A.V. Bukevich, C.M. Cai, W.Y. Cao, Zhe Cao, J. Chang, J.F. Chang, A.M. Chen, E.S. Chen, G.H. Chen, H.X. Chen, Liang Chen, Long Chen, M.J. Chen, M.L. Chen, Q.H. Chen, S. Chen, S.H. Chen, S.Z. Chen, T.L. Chen, X.B. Chen, X.J. Chen, Y. Chen, N. Cheng, Y.D. Cheng, M.C. Chu, M.Y. Cui, S.W. Cui, X.H. Cui, Y.D. Cui, B.Z. Dai, H.L. Dai, Z.G. Dai, Danzengluobu, Y.X. Diao, X.Q. Dong, K.K. Duan, J.H. Fan, Y.Z. Fan, J. Fang, J.H. Fang, K. Fang, C.F. Feng, H. Feng, L. Feng, S.H. Feng, X.T. Feng, Y. Feng, Y.L. Feng, S. Gabici, B. Gao, C.D. Gao, Q. Gao, W. Gao, W.K. Gao, M.M. Ge, T.T. Ge, L.S. Geng, G. Giacinti, G.H. Gong, Q.B. Gou, M.H. Gu, F.L. Guo, J. Guo, X.L. Guo, Y.Q. Guo, Y.Y. Guo, Y.A. Han, O.A. Hannuksela, M. Hasan, H.H. He, H.N. He, J.Y. He, X.Y. He, Y. He, S. Hernández-Cadena, B.W. Hou, C. Hou, X. Hou, H.B. Hu, S.C. Hu, C. Huang, D.H. Huang, J.J. Huang, T.Q. Huang, W.J. Huang, X.T. Huang, X.Y. Huang, Y. Huang, Y.Y. Huang, X.L. Ji, H.Y. Jia, K. Jia, H.B. Jiang, K. Jiang, X.W. Jiang, Z.J. Jiang, M. Jin, S. Kaci, M.M. Kang, I. Karpikov, D. Khangulyan, D. Kuleshov, K. Kurinov, B.B. Li, Cheng Li, Cong Li, D. Li, F. Li, H.B. Li, H.C. Li, Jian Li, Jie Li, K. Li, L. Li, R.L. Li, S.D. Li, T.Y. Li, W.L. Li, X.R. Li, Xin Li, Y. Li, Y.Z. Li, Zhe Li, Zhuo Li, E.W. Liang, Y.F. Liang, S.J. Lin, B. Liu, C. Liu, D. Liu, D.B. Liu, H. Liu, H.D. Liu, J. Liu, J.L. Liu, J.R. Liu, M.Y. Liu, R.Y. Liu, S.M. Liu, W. Liu, X. Liu, Y. Liu, Y. Liu, Y.N. Liu, Y.Q. Lou, Q. Luo, Y. Luo, H.K. Lv, B.Q. Ma, L.L. Ma, X.H. Ma, J.R. Mao, Z. Min, W. Mitthumsiri, G.B. Mou, H.J. Mu, A. Neronov, K.C.Y. Ng, M.Y. Ni, L. Nie, L.J. Ou, P. Pattarakijwanich, Z.Y. Pei, J.C. Qi, M.Y. Qi, J.J. Qin, A. Raza, C.Y. Ren, D. Ruffolo, A. Sáiz, D. Semikoz, L. Shao, O. Shchegolev, Y.Z. Shen, X.D. Sheng, Z.D. Shi, F.W. Shu, H.C. Song, Yu.V. Stenkin, V. Stepanov, Y. Su, D.X. Sun, H. Sun, Q.N. Sun, X.N. Sun, Z.B. Sun, N.H. Tabasam, J. Takata, P.H.T. Tam, H.B. Tan, Q.W. Tang, R. Tang, Z.B. Tang, W.W. Tian, C.N. Tong, L.H. Wan, C. Wang, G.W. Wang, H.G. Wang, J.C. Wang, K. Wang, Kai Wang, Kai Wang, L.P. Wang, L.Y. Wang, L.Y. Wang, R. Wang, W. Wang, X.G. Wang, X.J. Wang, X.Y. Wang, Y. Wang, Y.D. Wang, Z.H. Wang, Z.X. Wang, Zheng Wang, D.M. Wei, J.J. Wei, Y.J. Wei, T. Wen, S.S. Weng, C.Y. Wu, H.R. Wu, Q.W. Wu, S. Wu, X.F. Wu, Y.S. Wu, S.Q. Xi, J. Xia, J.J. Xia, G.M. Xiang, D.X. Xiao, G. Xiao, Y.L. Xin, Y. Xing, D.R. Xiong, Z. Xiong, D.L. Xu, R.F. Xu, R.X. Xu, W.L. Xu, L. Xue, D.H. Yan, T. Yan, C.W. Yang, C.Y. Yang, F.F. Yang, L.L. Yang, M.J. Yang, R.Z. Yang, W.X. Yang, Z.H. Yang, Z.G. Yao, X.A. Ye, L.Q. Yin, N. Yin, X.H. You, Z.Y. You, Q. Yuan, H. Yue, H.D. Zeng, T.X. Zeng, W. Zeng, X.T. Zeng, M. Zha, B.B. Zhang, B.T. Zhang, C. Zhang, F. Zhang, H. Zhang, H.M. Zhang, H.Y. Zhang, J.L. Zhang, Li Zhang, P.F. Zhang, P.P. Zhang, R. Zhang, S.R. Zhang, S.S. Zhang, W.Y. Zhang, X. Zhang, X.P. Zhang, Yi Zhang, Yong Zhang, Z.P. Zhang, J. Zhao, L. Zhao, L.Z. Zhao, S.P. Zhao, X.H. Zhao, Z.H. Zhao, F. Zheng, W.J. Zhong, B. Zhou, H. Zhou, J.N. Zhou, M. Zhou, P. Zhou, R. Zhou, X.X. Zhou, X.X. Zhou, B.Y. Zhu, C.G. Zhu, F.R. Zhu, H. Zhu, K.J. Zhu, Y.C. Zou, X. Zuo