ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 29 6 v 1 1 4 Fe b 20 03 Chaotic Loss Cones , Black Hole Fueling and the M • − σ Relation

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 29 6 v 2 1 3 A ug 2 00 3 Chaotic Loss Cones , Black Hole Fueling and the M • − σ Relation

In classical loss cone theory, stars are supplied to a central black hole via gravitational scattering onto low angular momentum orbits. Higher feeding rates are possible if the gravitational potential near the black hole is non-axisymmetric and the orbits are chaotic. Motivated by recently published, self-consistent models, we evaluate rates of stellar capture and disruption in triaxial nuclei...

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 17 7 v 1 1 0 Fe b 20 03 Polarization in GRB Afterglows

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 42 4 v 1 2 0 Fe b 20 03 Stochastic appearance in stars and high energy sources

Many phenomena such as stellar variability, stellar explosions, behavior of different kind of X-ray and gamma-ray sources, processes in active galactic nuclei and other astrophysical objects show stochastic features. Brief description of these phenomena is given in this review.

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 09 41 9 v 1 1 6 Se p 20 03 Discovery of the Bright Afterglow of the Nearby Gamma - Ray Burst of 29 March 2003

X iv :a st ro -p h/ 03 09 41 9v 1 1 6 Se p 20 03 Discovery of the Bright Afterglow of the Nearby Gamma-Ray Burst of 29 March 2003 P. A. Price, D. W. Fox, S. R. Kulkarni, B. A. Peterson, B. P. Schmidt, A. M. Soderberg, S. A. Yost, E. Berger, S. G. Djorgovski, D. A. Frail, F. A. Harrison, R. Sari, A. W. Blain, and S. C. Chapman. 1 RSAA, ANU, Mt. Stromlo Observatory, via Cotter Rd, Weston Creek, A...

ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 03 02 48 0 v 1 2 4 Fe b 20 03 23 Field and cluster RR Lyrae stars as stellar tracers

We present an overview on pulsation properties of RR Lyrae stars in the Galaxy and in Local Group dwarf galaxies. We discuss the key information that RR Lyrae might provide on their parent population, and in particular on their metallicity distribution.