Communications of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (ComBAO)
Volume 73, Issue 1, Jul 2026

ORIGINAL PAPERS

The time characteristics of spectral line quanta diffusion in scattering and absorbing media 0.3 MB
A. Nikoghossian
Pages: 1-7
Abstract. The paper presents new results on the patterns of evolution of spectral lines formed in absorbing and scattering media under the influence of non-stationary energy sources. When describing the time evolution of radiation diffusion, both possible causes of time consumption are taken into account: the time spent in the absorbed state and the time taken to travel the path between two successive scattering events. Mathematically, this is expressed as a convolution of the probability distributions of these two quantities. Proof is provided of the existence of a relationship between two time averages characterising the process of spectral lines radiation diffusion. It follows that the description of the evolution of a spectral line becomes a mathematically single-parameter problem, with the ratio of the mentioned two temporal values as a parameter. The value of the ratio for a given spectral line is determined by the number-density of emitting or absorbing atoms/ions (dependent on spectrum) and their thermal velocity. The fact that the dependence on the numberdensity far exceeds that on thermal velocity significantly simplifies the determination of the chemical composition of the object under study.



Classical analog of extended phase space SUSY: spectrum generating algebra 0.1 MB
G. Ter-Kazarian
Pages: 8-16
Abstract. We address the classical analog of the extended phase space (EPS) (N=2)-supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSY QM). We derive the integrals of motion and calculate the parameters that measure the breaking of EPS-SUSY. We analyze the non-perturbative mechanism for its breaking in the instanton picture, which has resulted from tunneling between the classical vacua of the theory. Particular attention is given to the independent group theoretical method and its connection to the factorization procedure in developing a spectrum generating algebra (SGA) for the EPS-SUSY.



Non-Linear Realizations of ’Distortion’ Group 0.1 MB
G. Ter-Kazarian
Pages: 17-23
Abstract. In the framework of the method of phenomenological Lagrangians, we address the non-linear realizations of the Lie group G concerning the ’distortion’ of 12-dimensional space. Treating the ’distortion’ group G and its stationary subgroup H = SO(3), respectively, as the dynamical group and its algebraic subgroup, we identify the parameters of the quotient space G/H of adjacent classes by the subgroup H with the Goldstone fields of spontaneous breaking of ’distortion’ symmetry. We study the geometrical structure of the space of parameters in terms of Cartan forms introduced through the appropriate Maurer-Cartan’s structure equations. This allows us to infer the group invariants and calculate the conserved currents as its inevitable corollaries.



Rearrangement of Vacuum State in Gravitation 0.2 MB
G. Ter-Kazarian
Pages: 24-38
Abstract. We address the processes of rearrangement of vacuum state and spontaneous gauge symmetry breaking in gravity. This is achieved by an extension of ’standard gauge principle’ to ’general gauge principle’ (GGP). The GGP accounts for the gravity generated by hidden local internal symmetries implemented on ’maximally symmetric’ (MS) auxiliary space. In doing this, we extend the curvature to a general ’distortion’ of the space-time continuum as the theory of spontaneous breaking of ’distortion’ symmetry. We have to implement the hidden gauge symmetry of two-parameter abelian group on the extended 12-dimensional MS-space, with the group elements of of U (1)Y and exp respectively. This group has two generators, the hypercharge Y and the third component T³ of isospin. The neutral complex Higgs scalar breaks the vacuum symmetry, leaving the ’gravitation’ subgroup intact. The massive field component of the so-called ’inner distortion’ (ID) causes the shift of zero point energy and, thus, simultaneously with the strong gravity, a significant change in the properties of the space-time continuum has occurred at huge energies. This leads to the ’matter-to-proto-matter’ phase transition of second kind.



Recovering Stellar Flare-Rate Distributions: Comparative Study of Methods, Application to Flare Stars in Galactic field 0.8 MB
A. Akopian
Pages: 39-58
Abstract. The revised and substantially extended pipeline/code for recovering the flare-rate distribution φ(ν) of a population of randomly flashing objects is presented. The capabilities of existing methods have been significantly expanded, and new ones have been added. Specifically, the new code allows (i) the use of the χ2 and test to significantly improve the estimation of the number of unknown (undiscovered) flare stars n0, (ii) a refinement of the moment fit via a maximum likelihood estimate of a truncated Poisson distribution and a comparison of Pearson’s types based on AIC/BIC metrics, (iii) an analysis of the temporal evolution of φ(ν) to account for accumulated observations, (iv) the application of modern numerical calculation methods, and (v) the use of numerical simulation to work with both synthetic and real observational data. Finally, two methods for recovering the flare-rate distribution φ(ν) of a stellar population are considered. The first method is the inverse-Laplace formulation from Ambartsumian (1978), applied to the discovery curve of first-flare events. The second is the method of moments (MoM) Akopian (2003), improved and extended here to the full Pearson family of probability distributions. A comparative analysis of these methods is also presented.
In the second part of the study, the code was used to determine the distribution of flare rate among flare stars within the Kepler telescope’s field of view. Typically, both methods yield identical results for synthetic data. However, when applied to a sample of flare stars from the Kepler field of view, their results diverge. The MoM yields a Pearson Type III distribution, or gamma distribution, with a negative bias in the minimum flare frequency, which is physically impossible. In contrast, the Ambartsumian’s approach yields a Type III distribution, which is physically plausible, with ν₀ > 0. To identify the cause of the discrepancies, regardless of the specific form of the Pearson distribution, a numerical inverse Laplace transform was applied using modern algorithms. The inverse function m₁(t)/m₁(0), where m₁(t) is the frequency of the first flare, was in this case represented and approximated by its purely observational realisation n₁(t)/n(t), where n₁(t) is the number of stars that have survived exactly one flare by time t, and n(t) is the cumulative number of flares. This approach does not require knowledge of Ntot and provides the most reliable of the available cross-checks for reconstruction using the inverse Laplace transform. The nature of these discrepancies reveals the structure of the underlying distribution: a smooth density curve with a peak shifted towards values of ν ∼ 2 × 10⁻³ d⁻¹, with a long tail in the region of high ν values.



Satellite system of M31 and dark energy 0.1 MB
H. A. Harutyunian and A. A. Torosyan
Pages: 59-63
Abstract. The structural features of the Andromeda satellite galaxy system are examined. Their configuration clearly contradicts the assumption that they formed randomly from a uniform distribution of primordial matter. In contrast, we propose a scenario that emerges when the evolutionary role of dark energy is taken into account. The disintegration of a protogalactic baryonic clump of matter is proposed as the primary mechanism for the formation of all Local Group galaxies. M31, from which the Milky Way separated, was most likely the first of the two giant galaxies in the Local Group to form. This is supported by the fact that M31 is larger than our galaxy, the diameter of its satellite system is larger than that of the Milky Way, and the known flattened satellite structures of both galaxies are aligned parallel to the line connecting their parent galaxies. As a supporting argument, the blueshift of the spectra of Andromeda’s satellites is shown to be inversely correlated with their luminosity.



Low-mass M-type eclipsing variable star found in the third catalogue of DFBS late-type stars 0.1 MB
G. R. Kostandyan, K. K. Gigoyan, and K. S. Gigoyan
Pages: 64-67
Abstract. Based on the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) phased light curve, we confirm the eclipsing type variability nature for low-mass M-dwarf DFBS J095623.83+064801.9, as presented in the third version of the DFBS (Digitized First Byurakan Survey) catalog of late-type stars (LTSs). We present the most important physical parameters of this object from the Gaia Data Release 3 (DR3) catalog and TESS catalogs.



Pulsars and Millisecond Pulsars IV: From Subroutine Validation to Population Synthesis in NBODY6++GPU 0.1 MB
M. Rah, R. Spurzem, A. Mickaelian, and F. F. Dotti
Pages: 68-73
Abstract. Direct N -body codes such as NBODY6++GPU can solve the dynamical evolution of globular clusters with great accuracy, yet historically uses simple models: spin period, spin-down rate, and magnetic field strength are never updated once a neutron star forms. Earlier works in this series identified this gap, proposed a seven-scenario framework (S1–S7) covering the full range of pulsar evolutionary channels, and demonstrated the absence of pulsar tracking in an existing cluster simulation. Here we bring together three subsequent stages that solve this gap. A pulsar evolution subroutine was first tested in isolation across all seven scenarios, with two independently written codes agreeing to better than 0.1% over more than two thousand compared values, and reproducing accretion-driven spin-up for the first time within this framework. The validated framework was then embedded directly into NBODY6++GPU, and test integrations spanning timescales from under a Megayear up to a Gigayear show that the resulting period-period derivative distribution already resembles the pattern seen in real globular cluster pulsar populations. Finally, an early production test followed ten neutron stars self-consistently through the integrated code over roughly 28 Myr, uncovering that most of them pass through at least one episode of backward evolution, a behaviour that only becomes visible when spin parameters are sampled at every simulation step rather than inferred afterwards. Taken together, these results show that pulsar physics can now evolve as an integral part of cluster dynamics rather than a separate bookkeeping exercise, setting the stage for a full production run at N = 250,000.



INTRODUCTION 0.1 MB
Editorial Board
Pages: 74-75




Universe in Armenian Rock Art and Mythology 1.4 MB
G. Vardumyan and K. Tokhatyan
Pages: 76-91
Abstract. The Universe, celestial bodies and luminaries, and the sky have been reflected in Armenian petroglyphic art and mythological conceptions since the earliest times. Throughout millennia, representations of the Universe, embodied in depictions of the Milky Way, the Sun, stars, and other celestial luminaries and bodies, have found vivid expressions in Armenian petroglyphs. Numerous rock carvings dating from the VII-III mill. BC, discovered on the slopes of the Aragats, Geghama, Vardenis, Syunik, and Vayots Dzor Mountain ranges, as well as at other sites throughout Armenia, depict solar, lunar, and astral motifs. The Universe found expression in Armenian rock carvings not only through depictions of celestial bodies but also through ritual scenes reflecting the veneration of higher supernatural powers.
Cults of gods and goddesses personifying the Sun and the Moon, planets of the solar system, and constellations, myths about the Milky Way, and many archeological artifacts, prove the high level of interpretation of the Universe in Ancient Armenian culture. Mythological representations of the Universe were further embodied in images of Patriarch Gods and in cosmogonic narratives connected with the Sun, the Moon, the Milky Way, and the stars. Over the millennia, a rich corpus of solar, lunar, and astral deities emerged within Armenian mythological thought, traces of which have been preserved in the Armenian epic “Sasna Tsrer”. Certain cosmological beliefs and mythological motifs have also survived in transformed forms within Armenian ethnographic traditions, remaining part of popular culture and folk belief up to the present day.



Istanbul and Kandilli Observatories as the Astronomical Heritage of Turkiye 0.6 MB
S. Fisek and S. Alis
Pages: 92-101
Abstract. This paper explores the historical evolution and scientific contributions of two cornerstone institutions of Turkish astronomy: the Kandilli Observatory and the Istanbul University Observatory. By examining their origins—ranging from the late Ottoman era to the early years of the Republic — this work highlights their roles in establishing modern astronomical research in Türkiye. The paper details their historical instrumentation, significant manuscript collections, and the continuous solar observation datasets that remain vital for global heliophysics research today. Furthermore, it discusses their current educational initiatives and their role in bridging Türkiye’s rich astronomical heritage with future endeavors, such as the Eastern Anatolia Observatory (DAG).



Ancient Georgian Cultural Heritage: Archaeoastronomy and Ethnocosmology 0.2 MB
I. Simonia
Pages: 102-106
Abstract. The processes of accumulating knowledge about celestial bodies and phenomena are considered. Certain elements of the ancient Georgian astronomical worldview are discussed. Archaeoastronomical and ethnocosmological aspects of the problem are described. Examples of the astronomical projection of the ancient Georgian heritage are presented.



Astronomical Simulation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites with Stellarium 0.5 MB
G. Zotti
Pages: 107-116
Abstract. An accurate desktop planetarium program can be of great importance for research and explanations in cultural astronomy. The author has developed virtual archaeoastronomy in the free and open-source desktop planetarium “Stellarium”. This paper summarizes 15 years of development and highlights applications where the sky and architecture over UNESCO world heritage had to be simulated.



Astronomical Terminology in Ancient Armenian and Early Armenian Cosmology 0.1 MB
H. Harutyunian
Pages: 117-120
Abstract. This paper examines traditional astronomical terminology preserved in the Armenian language and discusses its significance for reconstructing early Armenian cosmological concepts. Armenian names of the planets are compared with their ancient Greek counterparts, revealing similarities in the original descriptive meanings assigned to these celestial objects. The myth of Vahagn, one of the principal deities of the ancient Armenian pantheon, is examined as an early cosmological narrative preserved in Armenian tradition. Particular attention is given to the description of his birth, in which the four classical elements—air, earth, water, and fire—appear as fundamental components of the surrounding world. The study demonstrates that language and mythology can serve as valuable sources for investigating early astronomical and cosmological ideas.



Temple of Apollo in Didyma: An Oracle as an Astronomical Instrument 0.3 MB
Alper K. Ateş
Pages: 121-126
Abstract. In this conference communique, we summarise our findings on the orientation of the Temple of Apollo in Didyma, published in The Journal of Skyscape Archaeology in 2024. We suggest that the temple is carefully oriented towards the heliacal rising direction of Castor (α Gemini) at an azimuth of 55 degrees. Since in the Archaic and Hellenistic construction epochs the heliacal rise of Castor coincided with the summer solstice, Castor’s sighting must have been used as the confirming signal for the beginning of the summer season. We believe the temple was oriented for Castor’s early detection and, therefore, for the oracle’s timing purposes.



Reviving Indigenous Star Names of the Middle East: Cultural Heritage in Modern Astronomy 0.1 MB
M. S. Faghanpour and S. Jafari
Pages: 127-129
Abstract. This review examines the revival of indigenous Middle Eastern star names as a resource for astronomy education and cultural preservation. It draws on the IAU Catalog of Star Names and recent reports of the IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN), considering 230 officially adopted names classified here according to Arabic, Persian, Sumerian, Hebrew, Turkish, Akkadian and Coptic origins. The review also describes educational infographics that combine astrophysical parameters with historical and linguisticcontext and were disseminated primarily through social media. Recent WGSN activity shows that standardisation now proceeds alongside the documentation of variant names, etymologies, cultural transfer, and visual traditions. Middle Eastern star names are therefore relevant to both scientific nomenclature and the preservation of intangible astronomical heritage. Their educational use is strongest when an adopted name is presented together with its historical source, linguistic development, and astronomical identification rather than as an isolated label.



From Khayyām’s Calendar to the Chartaqi: Bringing Persian Heritage into Astronomy Classrooms in Iran 0.1 MB
M. Papari and S. Jafari
Pages: 130-134
Abstract. Iranian astronomy education often presents celestial concepts apart from the cultural materials through which communities have long interpreted the sky. This article examines how Mehr Observatory in Bushehr organised a programme around four resources, the Jalali calendar and seasonal festivals, Canopus as observed from southern Iran, astronomical imagery in Persian poetry and the Jereh Chartaqi. Between 2022 and 2025, 30,000 secondary-school students joined in observations, model building, literary interpretation, international exchange, and field-based inquiry. Evidence comes from activity records, student work, observation notes, and reflective discussions produced during implementation. The article asks how familiar heritage can become a disciplined route into astronomical reasoning and what organizational conditions make that work credible. The activities linked equinoxes, latitude, stellar motion, and solar orientation with regional practices; yet they also exposed gaps in teacher preparation, documentation, and tested learning resources. The programme indicates that heritage gains educational value when learners examine claims, construct representations, and connect local knowledge with astronomical evidence in class.



Grigor Brutyan’s Discovery of the Ancient Proto-Haykian Calendar of the Armenians (9th Millennium BCE) 0.1 MB
H. V. Pikichyan
Pages: 135-139
Abstract. A fundamental discovery made by the late astrophysicist and calendrical scholar Grigor Hambardzum Brutyan in the field of deciphering ancient Armenian calendars is briefly presented. Prior to his work, it was known that the Armenian calendar, inherited from the patriarch Hayk, consisted of a year composed of twelve 30-day months and five additional days known as “Avelyats” (“added” days). Through a detailed analysis of diverse ancient sources, he succeeded in demonstrating that an even older calendar had existed before it — a system which he termed the “Proto-Haykian” calendar. This discovery was later confirmed through the study of a material artifact dating to the 3rd millennium BCE — a polished clay vessel bearing impressed ornamental motifs. The “Proto-Haykian” calendar consisted of ten months of 30 days each, together with an additional transitional period of approximately 65–70 days that lay outside the principal calendrical cycle. In both calendrical systems, the principal annual festival was Navasard. It began with the heliacal rising of the venerated star, occurring seven days before the summer solstice — on June 14 in the modern calendar. The Proto-Haykian calendar was established in the 9th millennium BCE on the basis of the heliacal rising of Spica, the brightest star of the constellation Virgo, and was associated with the emergence of cereal cultivation. In contrast, the principal star of the Haykian calendar was Betelgeuse. In the Proto-Haykian system, the year commenced with the festival of Navasard, whereas during the supplementary period lying outside the formal structure of the year, the venerated star remained below the horizon and was therefore invisible in the night sky. In everyday social life, these days constituted a period associated with certain prohibitions and restrictions derived from mythological conceptions. In both the Proto-Haykian and Haykian calendars, the position of the principal festival, Navasard, remained fixed. The beginning of the year was likewise fixed in the former system, whereas in the latter it had already become movable.



Ancient perceptions of the Pleiades 0.4 MB
Ray P. Norris
Pages: 140-150
Abstract. The Pleiades cluster is prominent in many cultures. Curiously, many cultures call it the Seven Sisters while acknowledging that most people only see six stars. They then have stories to explain why only six are visible. Similar stories about the Pleiades are found around the world and are shared by cultures (e.g., Australian Aboriginal and Classical Greek) that have had no cultural contact, even indirect contact, for tens of thousands of years. These curious details suggest the stories may date back to the time when early humans left Africa. This paper is part of a larger study to catalogue ancient references to the Pleiades, to help trace the history and evolution of the ancient myths and artefacts that refer to the Pleiades. This paper has a particular focus on material from Armenia and its surrounding region.



Russian Astronomical Sites on the World Heritage List 0.3 MB
O. B. Dluzhneskaya and I. V. Kuznetsova
Pages: 151-159
Abstract. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes natural or human-made sites that have cultural, historical, or ecological significance, as determined by UNESCO experts. This article focuses on three sites from the Russian UNESCO List that have scientific significance and are related to astronomy and astronomical heritage.



Ancient Astronomical Heritage of Iran: A Linguistic and Cultural Perspective 0.1 MB
S. Jafari
Pages: 160-166
Abstract. Language is central to the survival of Iran’s astronomical heritage, yet scholarship often treats celestial names, literary imagery, calendrical terms, and ritual symbols as separate evidence. This review examines how Iranian engagements with the sky were preserved and transmitted through language and symbol. It brings together scholarship on Avestan, Middle Persian, New Persian, selected Iranian languages, Persian literature, calendrical traditions, festivals, and astronomical knowledge. The discussion compares established studies from two perspectives, linguistic evidence and culturally situated signification. A diachronic linguistic-semiotic approach traces lexical retention and semantic reanalysis, metaphorical conceptualisation, and calendrical-symbolic representation. Terms including Tištrya, Haftõrang, Parvîın, Bahrãm, and Nãhîd illustrate the interaction of celestial reference with ritual authority and moral association. Solar and lunar imagery extends those associations into descriptions of beauty, sovereignty, fortune, and character. Month names and festivals place meanings within recurrent social time, although direct equations between ancient observances and modern equinoxes or solstices require historical caution. Iranian astronomical heritage emerges as a changing archive whose continuity depends on reinterpretation, translation, and use across periods.



The Name of Pavel Petrovich Parenago in Science as a Part of Astronomical Heritage 0.1 MB
I. V. Kuznetsova
Pages: 167-171
Abstract. Astronomical heritage is a broad concept. It mainly includes objects related to astronomical observations, as well as places that contain evidence of traditional astronomical beliefs among local communities. Additionally, it now includes astronomical photographic plates that are being digitized to preserve their images. This article proposes a perspective on scientific phenomena named after Pavel Petrovich Parenago, a remarkable Russian astronomer, as part of the astronomical heritage.



Reconsidering the Bundahishn through Cultural Astronomy and Narrative-Based Science Education 0.1 MB
S. Zandian and S. Jafari
Pages: 172-176
Abstract. The relationship between myth and astronomy began long before telescopes. Celestial change was followed through observation, memory, ritual, and narrative, allowing practical knowledge of seasons and stars to pass across generations. This review examines Zoroastrian cosmology, especially the Bundahishn, and considers its use in astronomy education. It brings together cultural astronomy, science education, Iranian myth studies, and research on narrative learning. Henning’s analysis shows that the astronomical chapter coordinates inherited Avestan material with pre-Achaemenian conceptions, Babylonian zodiacal knowledge, and elements of Greek astronomy in a single cosmological compilation. The Tishtrya tradition offers a focused example in which seasonal concern, ritual time, and Sirius meet within a memorable account. Comparative evidence further suggests that culturally grounded storytelling can connect astronomical concepts with identity without presenting myth as an empirical model. The article proposes a three-stage teaching framework moving from narrative encounter to observational checking and critical interpretation, with particular relevance to historically informed astronomy literacy among younger learners in Iran today.



Armenian Astrolabes between Appropriation and Agency: Epistemic Recalibration and Material Production 0.2 MB
A. Margaryan
Pages: 177-188
Abstract. Despite their presence in museum collections and specialist footnotes, astrolabes bearing Armenian inscriptions or commissioned by Armenian patrons have never been the subject of a systematic, interdisciplinary study. This article addresses that gap through the first integrated analysis of six instruments — held in Oxford, Fez, Doha, Yerevan, and Byurakan — dating from the late ninth to the early eighteenth century. Drawing on object biography, material epistemology, and visual semiotics, the study examines epigraphic layers, rete typologies, and patronage contexts as primary evidence. The instruments are shown to exist on a spectrum: from Islamic devices reinscribed with Armenian alphanumerical notation and vernacular star names to European-type astrolabes produced entirely in Armenian script. In each case, the physical artifact records a deliberate act of adaptation or autonomous commissioning, embedded within trans-Eurasian mercantile and courtly networks. The article thereby reconceptualises these objects not as peripheral curiosities but as material witnesses to a sustained, cross-cultural Armenian practice of astronomical knowledge production and proposes a new, object-centered agenda for their further interdisciplinary study.



Astronomical Heritage Related Educational and Outreach Activities in Armenia 0.5 MB
L. Darbinyan, A. Mickaelian, and S. Farmanyan
Pages: 189-195
Abstract. Astronomical heritage represents an important component of scientific and cultural identity, preserving the achievements, instruments, archives, and intellectual legacy of astronomy. In Armenia, the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) plays a central role in safeguarding this heritage while actively integrating it into modern educational and outreach initiatives. This article presents key educational and outreach activities related to astronomical heritage in Armenia, highlighting programs designed to promote astronomy education, engage the public, and inspire new generations of scientists. Initiatives such as the “From School to Space” lecture series, the Byurakan Science Camp, teacher training workshops, astrojournalism and astrophotography competitions, and digital outreach programs demonstrate how BAO connects historical scientific achievements with contemporary educational practices. Through these initiatives, the observatory continues to strengthen astronomy education, promote scientific communication, and foster international collaboration while preserving Armenia’s rich astronomical heritage.

GUESTS

Massive Early Seeds as a Phenomenological Framework for the Origin of High-Redshift Supermassive Black Holes 0.3 MB
Vasily N. Bruilo
Pages: 196-206
Abstract. Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) with masses of 10⁸–10⁹ M_⊙ are observed at redshifts z > 7– 10, corresponding to cosmic times less than 700 Myr after the Big Bang within ∆CDM cosmology. Recent JWST discoveries, including Little Red Dots (LRDs), compact galaxies hosting overmassive SMBHs, and dustobscured AGN (e.g., CAPERS-LRD-z9 at z ≃ 9.3), challenge light-seed models that rely solely on Eddington-limited accretion from stellar-mass remnants (Kocevski et al., 2025, Maiolino & et al., 2024, Rusakov et al., 2026).
While heavy-seed scenarios such as direct collapse partially alleviate growth timescale issues, they often require finely tuned initial conditions or episodic super-Eddington accretion to match the observed abundance and mass distribution of high-z SMBHs.
Unlike existing heavy-seed models, this work proposes a phenomenological framework in which massive early seeds (M_seed ≥ 10⁵–10⁶ M_⊙) are treated as an effective macroscopic population constrained by observations, without invoking a single specific formation channel. Forming preferentially in highly biased overdense environments at z ≥15, these seeds act as gravitational centers that accelerate galaxy and quasar assembly, reducing the required growth from ≃18–20 e-folds to ≥10 while remaining consistent with realistic duty cycles and feedback physics. The model naturally explains the elevated M_BH / M_* ratios observed in compact high-redshift systems without extreme dust obscuration or feedback fine-tuning.
We outline viable parameter ranges and present multiple independent observational tests, including an enhanced central SMBH occupation fraction in compact galaxies (testable with JWST programs such as GLIMPSE and PRIMER), relic intermediate-mass black hole populations, and elevated early merger rates detectable by LISA Consortium (2025). The framework is fully consistent with ∆CDM cosmology and does not modify global cosmological observables. It can be decisively tested or falsified with ongoing JWST deep fields, ngEHT observations, and future gravitational-wave measurements. In particular, the absence of an enhanced SMBH occupation fraction in the most compact high-redshift galaxies would directly falsify the model.



A Historical-Comparative Analysis of Armenian Parallels to the Principal Night Names of Pre-Eastern Polynesian Lunar Calendars 0.1 MB
L. G. Stepanyan
Pages: 207-219
Abstract. The subject of this study is the most stable night names of the Pre-Eastern Polynesian lunar calendars, whose etymologies are comparatively reliable, namely Hiro, Kokore, Hotu, and Mutu. Using the method of historical-comparative linguistics, the semantic and structural features of these night names were examined, and their possible comparative correspondences in Armenian were proposed. During the study, methods of historical-comparative, etymological, and semantic analysis were employed, based on comparative data from Polynesian languages, materials from the POLLEX project, and classical ethnographic sources. The analysis shows that the night names under consideration exhibit interesting formal and semantic parallels with certain lexical strata of Armenian. In some cases, these comparisons contribute to a more precise semantic interpretation of Polynesian night names. In particular, in the case of the Kokore series, it is proposed to distinguish two semantic layers corresponding to the phases of the waxing and waning moon: “curvature / curving” and “loss / diminution / disappearance.” The aim of the study is to enrich the material basis for investigating possible Armenian-Polynesian linguistic-cultural commonalities and to expand the scope of comparative calendrical studies.