Astronomical Objects and Phenomena

In General
@ Identification: Andreon et al ap/98-wd [neural networks].

Boson Stars > s.a. black-hole mimickers; dark-matter types.
* Idea: Localized configurations (e.g., of a Klein-Gordon scalar field or a field with an added ⁴ term in the potential) kept together by their self-gravity, and supported by the uncertainty principle.
* History: Descendents of Wheeler's non-topological geons, developed in Ruffini's PhD dissertation; 2009, Phenomenologically they are now almost ruled out, but not dead, as alternatives to black holes.
@ References: & Ruffini & Bonazzola; Mielke & Schunck gq/98-in; Schunck & Mielke CQG(03) [rev]; Brihaye et al PLB(05) [SU(2) Yang-Mills scalar field theory]; Guzman PRD(06)gq/05.

Magnetars
@ References: Kouveliotou et al SA(03)feb; Cea ap/05 [as chromomagnetic condensate of u, d, and e].

Quark Stars > s.a. phase transitions; QCD phenomenology [quark matter].
* Idea: Stars of intermediate density between neutron stars and objects that collapse to form black holes; Predictions of their existence depend on assumptions about the equation of state of quark matter, obtained by extrapolating lattice QCD results.
@ Reviews: Jaikumar et al IJMPA(04)ap-in [vs neutron stars]; Weber PPNP(05)ap/04; Jaikumar et al MPLA(06)ap; Jaikumar EPJC(07)ap-in; Ghosh a0808-in.
@ Theory: Glendenning et al PRL(97)ap; Banerjee et al JPG(00)ap [Chandrasekhar limit]; Fraga et al PRD(01) [perturbative QCD]; Ivanov et al PRC(05)ap [and QCD equation of state]; Drago et al ApJ(07)ap/05 [formation]; Jaikumar et al PRL(06) + pn(06)jan [surface and luminosity]; Schaffner-Bielich ap/06-in; Kovacs et al MNRAS-a0908 [vs black holes, phenomenology].
@ Possible evidence: Drake et al ApJ(02)ap, Prasanna & Ray ap/02 [RXJ1856]; Thoma et al JPG(04)ap/03-in [Chandra & XMM]; Dunning-Davies ap/04 [near galactic center]; Leahy & Ouyed MNRAS-a0708 [SN2006gy as quark nova?]; news sr(08)jun; > s.a. gamma-ray bursts.

Stars > s.a. neutron stars; star types [including novae and supernovae].

Star Clusters
* Distance determination: For nearby clusters (10–100 pc), extended parallax, convergent point method; For distant ones (100s of pc), apparent magnitude and color index; For globular clusters, variable stars in them.
* Globular clusters: Population II objects (low abundance of heavy elements), with characteristic relative HR diagrams; stable, distributed mainly in the galactic halo; Many contain variable stars, for example M3 and M13.
* Examples of open clusters: Hyades, Pleiades (both in Taurus).
@ Globular clusters: Krauss PRP(00)ap/99-in [ages]; Meylan ap/99-in [dynamics]; Leon et al A&A-ap/00 [tidal stripping]; Zepf ap/03-in [evolution]; Zepf & Ashman SA(03)oct [young globular clusters]; Kissler-Patig et al A&A(06)ap/05 [large ones vs dwarf galaxies]; Maccarone & Knigge A&G-a0709 [compact objects, rev]; Bekki et al MNRAS-a0804 [formation, simulation results]; Cohen a0909-in [and galaxy formation/evolution].
@ Open clusters: von Hippel ap/05-in [galactic]; Elmegreen ap/06-in [hierarchical patterns]; Moitinho a0911-in [and the galaxy].
@ Related topics: Elmegreen & Efremov AS(98) [formation]; Merritt ap/05-in [Kandrup's work on relaxation].

Strangelets > s.a. QCD phenomenology.
* Idea: Lumps of strange quark matter; They have been invoked as a possible explanation for the exotic nuclear fragments, with highly unusual charge to mass ratio, reportedly seen in some cosmic ray experiments.
@ General references: Abers et al PRD(09)-a0712.
@ In cosmic rays: Banerjee et al PRL(00)hp, ASS(00)ap; Madsen ap/06-in.

Other Objects > s.a. cosmic rays; galaxies; Intergalactic Matter; interstellar matter [and nebulae]; magnetic fields; quasars.
@ References: Jaikumar & Ouyed ApJ(06)ap/05 [skyrmion stars]; Hayasaki & Okazaki ApJL-a0809 [circumbinary disks].
> Substellar Objects: see Brown Dwarves; solar planets; solar system.

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send feedback and suggestions to bombelli at olemiss.edu – modified 9 nov 2009