Based on VLT/FORS spectroscopy and HST/ACS imaging, we have constructed a sample of 125 field spiral galaxies that cover redshifts up to z = 1. By deriving the galaxies' luminosities, disk sizes, maximum rotation velocities, stellar masses, total masses, gas-phase metallicities etc., we are able to study the evolution of fundamental scaling relations like the Tully–Fisher relation as a function of cosmic time. While the evolution of most of the galaxies' fundamental parameters is in compliance with a hierarchical structure growth, the results from stellar population modelling favour a down-sizing scenario in the sense that the average stellar ages in high-mass spirals are older than in low-mass spirals.

We have newly performed millimeter- and submillimeter-wave observations in the nearest GMC: the Orion Molecular Cloud -2/3 region (OMC-2/3). Here, we report results of our large-scale (22' × 14') outflow survey with the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) in the CO(3-2) emission. The OMC-2/3 region is one of the famous intermediate-mass star-forming regions and harbors several sources diagnosed as Class0 protostars (Chini et al. 1997). With the intensive ASTE observations, we totally identified the 8 clear, 5 probable and 6 marginal outflows in OMC-2/3. 8 clear outflows from them, MMS 2, MMS 5, MMS7, MMS9, FIR-2, FIR 3, VLA 13, and FIR 6b are associated with mm and SPITZER 24 μm sources. The others are more or less complicated, and two of which, VLA 13 and FIR 6, are newly identified. We found the interaction between the molecular outflows and the dust condensations at least in four regions. In addition, we confirmed the increment of the velocity width of the dense gas toward some of these condensations (i.e. at the termination of the outflow lobes). These results suggest that (i) the interaction between the outflows and the dense condensation occurs commonly in the OMC-2/3 region, (ii) the dense condensations in this region are compressed ubiquitously by these outflows and are receiving a part of the momentum from them. Particularly, one of the strongest millimeter sources, and hence protostar candidates, FIR4, is strongly compressed by a molecular outflow driven by FIR3 located at the north-east of FIR 4. These results suggest that the molecular outflows play an important role in the formation and evolution of stars and that the outflows are a driving mechanism of turbulence in the OMC-2/3 region.

I provide some background about recent efforts made in modeling dense stellar systems, within the context of the MODEST initiative. During the last four years, we have seen more than fifteen MODEST workshops, with an attendance between twenty and a hundred participants, and topics ranging from very specialized discussions to rather general overviews.

Using high-resolution blue and far red spectra from the William Herschel Telescope, we have mapped the velocity field along three different slits in the central kiloparsec of the spiral galaxy NGC 3351. We have measured ionized gas (Hβ and [Oiii]) and stellar (near-IR Ca triplet) velocity dispersions for five individual Circumnuclear Star Forming Regions (CNSFRs) and the nucleus. Velocities and velocity dispersions in the red range were obtained using the cross-correlation technique of Tonry & Davis (1979AJ.84.1511) with a set of eleven templates, following the work by Nelson & Whittle (1995.ApJSS.99.67) with the variations introduced by Palacios et al. (1997.A & A.323.749). The gas velocities and velocity dispersions have been measured by fitting gaussians to the emission lines (Hβ and [OIII] λ5007Å) using three different suitable continua chosen by visual inspection and taking the average of the three results (Jiménez-Benito et al., 2000.MNRAS.317.907).

The rotation velocities derived for gas and stars are in very good agreement, although in some cases the gas seems to rotate slightly faster than stars. The turnover points of the rotational curves seem to be located at the same position than the star forming ring as found in other galaxies (Díaz, R. et al., 1999ApJ.512.623). The derived values are consistent with those previously obtained for the systemic velocity of NGC 3351 (Planesas et al., 1997.A & A.325.81).

The velocity dispersions of the stars are always larger (by between 10 and 25 km/sec) than those derived from Hβ emission lines. In the cases in which it has been possible to use the Paschen emission lines, the results obtained are similar. The twice ionized oxygen, on the other hand, shows velocity dispersions comparable to the stellar ones or, in some cases, even larger. It is however important to point out that in these metal rich regions the [Oiii] lines are very weak and they have a poor signal to noise ratio, then it is more difficult to accurately estimate the global kinematic behaviour from this emission line.

The difference between the behavior of ionized hydrogen and stars could be interpreted by assuming that the gas is confined to the disc and supported by rotation while the stars are mostly supported by dynamical pressure (see Pizzella et al., 2004.A & A.424.447). However, the kinematics of ionized gas as mapped by [Oiii], as we mentioned above, is similar to that of the stellar component.

We have applied the virial theorem to estimate the dynamical masses of the clusters and the galactic nucleus, assuming that the systems are gravitationally bound and spherically symmetric, and using sizes measured from the HST-WFPC2 image in the F606W filter (sizes between 2.6 and 5.1 pc). These values of the masses, estimated from stellar velocity dispersion measurements as mapped by the CaT lines, are in the range between 5.1×106 and 5.0×107 M⊙ for the five studied CNSFRs and 3.6×107 M⊙ for the nucleus of the galaxy, in the inner 23.4 pc.

We propose that the most massive stars in the local Universe start out on the main sequence being extremely luminous and already exhibiting wind-like emission lines. Such stars can probably be identified as hydrogen-rich WN5-7 stars. Masses are now being determined for these stars using the least model-dependent technique of binary orbits.

Using simple physical assumptions we derived fundamental parameters including: the mass of synthesised 56Ni, the ejecta mass, and the explosion energy of Type Ia supernovae. The methods have been described in several recent publications and comparison with other methods shows general consistency.

We investigate the possibility of constraining the ionization state of the Intergalactic Medium (IGM) close to the end of re-ionization (z≈6) by measuring the size of the H II regions in high-z quasars spectra, via a combination of SPH and 3D radiative transfer (RT) simulations and a statistical analysis of mock quasar spectra through the simulated cosmological volume.

Differential rotation is described in stellar dynamo models as one of the fundamental phenomena governing the amplification of magnetic fields in active stars.Using indirect imaging methods, the measurement of photospheric differential rotation is now achieved on a growing number of very active stars, a fraction of which exhibit temporal fluctuations of potentially large amplitude in their latitudinal shear, on a time-scale of a few years. I first describe the modeling tools on which such analysis is based, then discuss the implications of this observational work on our understanding of stellar dynamos and of the impact stellar magnetic fields may have on the dynamics of convective envelopes.

Vigorous discussion ensued about conditions under which both small-scale and global-scale dynamo action would be realized within real stars where the flow fields are expected to be highly turbulent and the magnetic Prandtl numbers small. Our nearest star reminds us that intricate boundary-layer phenomena may have to also be considered, such as the presence of a tachocline of rotational shear at the base of the solar convection zone revealed by helioseismology, which suggests that an interface dynamo may be at work to produce the observed 22-year cycles of large-scale magnetic activity.

Loosely bound, fragile binary stars, whose separations may reach ∼ 0.1 pc, are like open clusters with two coeval components. They provide a largely overlooked avenue for the investigation of many astrophysical questions. For example, the orbital distribution of fragile binaries with two long-lived main-sequence components provides a sensitive test of the cumulative effects of the Galactic environment. In pairs where one component is evolved, the orbits have been amplified by post-main-sequence mass loss, potentially providing useful constraints on the initial-to-final mass relation for white dwarfs. The nearly featureless spectra of cool white dwarfs usually provide little information about intrinsic radial velocity, full space motion, population membership, metallicity, etc. However, distant main sequence companions provide benchmarks against which those properties can be determined. In addition, the cooling ages of white dwarf components provide useful limits on the ages of their main sequence companions, independent of other stellar age determination methods. This paper summarizes some of the ways fragile binaries provide useful leverage on these and other problems of interest.

The massive-star IMF is found to be invariable. However, integrated IMFs probably depend on galactic mass.

The concordance cosmological model based on cold dark matter makes definitive predictions for the growth of galaxies in the Universe, which are being actively studied using numerical simulations. These predictions appear to contradict the observations of dwarf galaxies. Dwarf dark matter halos are more numerous and have steeper central density profiles than the observed galaxies. The first of these small-scale problems, the “missing satellites problem”, can be resolved by accounting for the low efficiency of gas cooling and star formation in dwarf halos. A newly-discovered class of HyperVelocity Stars will soon allow us to test another generic prediction of CDM models, the triaxial shapes of dark matter halos. Measuring the proper motions of HVS will probe the gravitational potential out to 100 kpc and will constrain the axis ratios and the orientation of the Galactic halo.

We have developed a code for modeling 3-dimensional kinematical data (i.e., both radial velocity and proper motions) of individual tracers in stellar systems. The code relies on the Schwarzschild method of orbit superposition to find the distribution function (a function of energy, angular momentum, and third integral of motion) that best reproduces all the observations (the positions and velocities of the tracers as well as the overall light distribution) in a given potential. Previous implementations of this method have generally focused on fitting integrated light measurements, instead of data for individual tracers. However, the latter is the only data that are generally available in a large class of problems (e.g., kinematics of tracers in nearby globular clusters, kinematics of planetary nebulae or globular clusters in galaxy halos, etc.). We have performed extensive tests of the fitting process by making use of data generated by a well-tested N-body simulation of an axisymmetric galaxy, quantifying how well the code can recover the known input distribution function and potential.

Older ideas on acceleration are linked to current ideas to identify both the major successes in the field, and long-standing problems and difficulties that remain unresolved.

SMC has been going through an active star formation epoch, especially during the last 0.2 Gyr when the close encounter with the LMC occured. Our goal is to detect regions dominated by early-type stars and gas and examine their behaviour at different wavelengths. Spectral energy distributions, a colour-magnitude diagram and a two-colour diagram from IRAS data (Bontekoe, Koperet & Kester (1994); Bontekoe, Kester, Stanimirović, et al. (1999)) for these regions were used in order to compare their properties with those of starburst galaxies (Helou (1986); Lehnert & Heckman (1995)). We have selected 50 stellar complexes with increased 100-μm IRAS flux, with detetected emission in all IRAS bands and/or high concentration of young stars. Ranking them by size (Maragoudaki, Kontizas, Kontizas, et al. (1998)), a total of what we call 24 aggregates, 23 complexes and 3 super-complexes were found. Radio continuum maps at 8.6-GHz (Haynes, Murray, Klein, et al. (1986)) and the CO (1→0) line (Mizuno, Rubio, Mizuno, et al. (2001)) were also correlated with the map of the complexes. Only 8 of them show enhanced star formation activity according to their IR properties and 8.6-GHz map, however, none of them resembles the IR behaviour of starburst regions found in the LMC and starburst galaxies (Livanou, Kontizas, Gonidakis, et al. (2006)). The south-west part of the “bar” has the most diverse intensity of star formation, with CO emission coincident with the largest structure. In the north-eastern end of the “bar”, star formation is likely to have commenced in the recent past, with molecular gas being abundant in this region. Ongoing and future star formation are revealed in the wing, while it appears to have ceased in the central “bar”.

Turbulence is believed to be important to star formation both within GMCs (affecting the IMF and the SFE), and on larger scales in the ISM (affecting GMC formation rates and properties). The traditional view of the ISM attributes most of the turbulent driving to stellar sources – in particular, supernovae and HII regions. However, evidence suggests that sources other than star formation must contribute significantly to large-scale turbulent driving in the diffuse ISM, thus also affecting the turbulence that GMCs inherit. I review recent investigations of alternative sources proposed for driving ISM turbulence, including thermal instabilities, the magnetorotational instability, large-scale self-gravitating modes, and instabilities in spiral shocks. I summarize results based on numerical simulations regarding the levels of turbulence that can be driven, and how these amplitudes depend on galactic conditions. This recent work shows that, under certain circumstances, very large-amplitude (trans-sonic with respect to the warm gas) motions and magnetic fields can be driven even without stellar energy inputs. Since turbulence can either trigger or limit star formation, understanding these potentially large non-stellar driving sources is crucial for a developing a theory of star formation regulation in the Milky Way and other disk galaxies.

The study of the flow structure is of great importance, and the results can be used both for consideration of the evolutionary status of binary stars and for the interpretation of observational data. In this report we present the review of 3D gas dynamic models used for the description of the mass exchange in close binaries.

Main features of the flow structure in steady-state close binaries are summarized. It is shown that in self-consistent considerations the interaction between the stream from the inner Lagrangian point and the forming accretion disk is shock-free, and, hence, a “hot spot” does not form at the outer edge of the disk. To explain the presence of the observed zones of high luminosity in close binaries a self-consistent “hot line” model was proposed according to which the excess energy is released in a shock wave formed due to interaction between the circumdisk halo and the stream. The “hot line” model was confronted with observations and confirmed by virtue of comparison of synthetic and observational light curves for cataclysmic variables and by the analysis of Doppler tomograms.

The special attention is paid to the physics of accretion disks in binary systems and particularly to waves in disks. The possible observational manifestations of the “hot line” wave and two arms of the tidal shocks are discussed. We also suggest that an additional spiral density wave can exist in inner parts of the cold accretion disk. This spiral wave is due to the retrograde precession of flow lines in the binary system. The results of 3D gas dynamic simulation have shown that a considerable increase in the accretion rate (by an order of magnitude) is associated with the formation of the “precessional” spiral wave. Based on this fact we suggest a new mechanism for the superoutbursts and superhumps in close binaries.

It is becoming ever easier to obtain first class astronomical data by working solely from one's computer terminal, the modern equivalent of the armchair. This wonderful development may tempt us to forget that astronomical discoveries and findings are first and foremost driven by hard-won progress in observational and experimental capabilities. The present article is meant to demonstrate this assertion by reviewing recent developments and future possibilities in studying the Center of the Milky Way, our best case for the existence of a (massive) black hole and a superb laboratory for studying the physical processes in the immediate vicinity of such an enigmatic object.

Since the mass-radius relation is quite different for a main sequence (MS) star and a giant (G) star, we find that the radiation efficiencies in the star capture processes by a black hole (BH) are also very different. This may provide a useful way to distinguish the capture of MS and G stars. Comparing with observations of the very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray emissions, we argue the event that triggers the gamma-ray emission in the energy range 4–40 TeV should be a G star capture. On the other hand, the capture of MS stars by the massive BH is required when the measured spectrum of VHE gamma-rays extends from 109 to 1015 eV.

By a simple physical consideration and uncertain principle, we derive that temperature is proportional to the surface gravity and entropy is proportional to the surface area of the black hole. We apply the same consideration to de Sitter space and estimate the temperature and entropy of the space, then we deduce that the entropy is proportional to the boundary surface area. By the sameconsideration, we estimate the temperature and entropy in the uniformly accelerated system (Rindler space). The cases in higher dimensions are considered.