236,224 research outputs found
Modeling SN 1996cr's X-ray lines at high-resolution: Sleuthing the ejecta/CSM geometry
SN 1996cr, located in the Circinus Galaxy (3.7 Mpc, z ~ 0.001) was
non-detected in X-rays at ~ 1000 days yet brightened to ~ 4 x 10^{39} erg/s
(0.5-8 keV) after 10 years (Bauer et al. 2008). A 1-D hydrodynamic model of the
ejecta-CSM interaction produces good agreement with the measured X-ray light
curves and spectra at multiple epochs. We conclude that the progenitor of SN
1996cr could have been a massive star, M > 30 M_solar, which went from an RSG
to a brief W-R phase before exploding within its ~ 0.04 pc wind-blown shell
(Dwarkadas et al. 2010). Further analysis of the deep Chandra HETG observations
allows line-shape fitting of a handful of bright Si and Fe lines in the
spectrum. The line shapes are well fit by axisymmetric emission models with an
axis orientation ~ 55 degrees to our line-of-sight. In the deep 2009 epoch the
higher ionization Fe XXVI emission is constrained to high lattitudes: the
Occam-est way to get the Fe H-like emission coming from high latitude/polar
regions is to have more CSM at/around the poles than at mid and lower
lattitudes, along with a symmetric ejecta explosion/distribution. Similar
CSM/ejecta characterization may be possible for other SNe and, with
higher-throughput X-ray observations, for gamma-ray burst remnants as well.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the Gamma Ray
Bursts 2010 Conference, Annapolis, USA. Editors: McEnery, Racusin, Gehrel
Near-Earth asteroid (3200) Phaethon. Characterization of its orbit, spin state, and thermophysical parameters
The near-Earth asteroid (3200) Phaethon is an intriguing object: its
perihelion is at only 0.14 au and is associated with the Geminid meteor stream.
We aim to use all available disk-integrated optical data to derive a reliable
convex shape model of Phaethon. By interpreting the available space- and
ground-based thermal infrared data and Spitzer spectra using a thermophysical
model, we also aim to further constrain its size, thermal inertia, and visible
geometric albedo. We applied the convex inversion method to the new optical
data obtained by six instruments and to previous observations. The convex shape
model was then used as input for the thermophysical modeling. We also studied
the long-term stability of Phaethon's orbit and spin axis with a numerical
orbital and rotation-state integrator. We present a new convex shape model and
rotational state of Phaethon: a sidereal rotation period of 3.603958(2) h and
ecliptic coordinates of the preferred pole orientation of (319,
39) with a 5 uncertainty. Moreover, we derive its size
(=5.10.2 km), thermal inertia (=600200 J m
s K), geometric visible albedo
(=0.1220.008), and estimate the macroscopic surface
roughness. We also find that the Sun illumination at the perihelion passage
during the past several thousand years is not connected to a specific area on
the surface, which implies non-preferential heating.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics. In pres
A survey to evaluate how non designers perceive aesthetic properties of styling features
World-wide market competition and the need to create products that better satisfy the market expectations require a more comprehensive involvement of the customer in the product definition loop. Therefore, it is crucial to provide customers with very easy-to-use shape definition and modification tools, allowing them to verify and evaluate possible shape alternatives without requiring specific knowledge on geometric modeling. A set of aesthetic properties guiding the shape characterization and appraisal have been identified together with measures for their evaluation and shape modeling methods for their direct modification. Since these properties have been indicated by stylists, no guarantee exists that they are usable in a context directly involving customers in the product definition loop. To verify the extent to which the terms indicating the properties, their meaning and their measures are significant and understandable by non-expert designer people we carried out a survey. This paper describes the methodology adopted and the outcomes of this survey
Searching for transits in the Wide Field Camera Transit Survey with difference-imaging light curves
The Wide Field Camera Transit Survey is a pioneer program aiming at for searching extra-solar planets in the near-infrared. The images from the survey are processed by a data reduction pipeline, which uses aperture photometry to construct the light curves. We produce an alternative set of light curves using the difference-imaging method for the most complete field in the survey and carry out a quantitative comparison between the photometric precision achieved with both methods. The results show that differencephotometry light curves present an important improvement for stars with J > 16. We report an implementation on the box-fitting transit detection algorithm, which performs a trapezoid-fit to the folded light curve, providing more accurate results than the boxfitting model. We describe and optimize a set of selection criteria to search for transit candidates, including the V-shape parameter calculated by our detection algorithm. The optimized selection criteria are applied to the aperture photometry and difference-imaging light curves, resulting in the automatic detection of the best 200 transit candidates from a sample of ~475 000 sources. We carry out a detailed analysis in the 18 best detections and classify them as transiting planet and eclipsing binary candidates. We present one planet candidate orbiting a late G-type star. No planet candidate around M-stars has been found, confirming the null detection hypothesis and upper limits on the occurrence rate of short-period giant planets around M-dwarfs presented in a prior study. We extend the search for transiting planets to stars with J ≤ 18, which enables us to set a stricter upper limit of 1.1%. Furthermore, we present the detection of five faint extremely-short period eclipsing binaries and three M-dwarf/M-dwarf binary candidates. The detections demonstrate the benefits of using the difference-imaging light curves, especially when going to fainter magnitudes.Peer reviewe
Inductive activation of magnetite filled shape memory polymers
Thermally activated shape memory polymers are a desirable material for use in dynamic structures due to their large strain recovery, light weight, and tunable activation. The addition of ferromagnetic susceptor particles to a polymer matrix provides the ability to heat volumetrically and remotely via induction. Here, remote induction heating of magnetite filler particles dispersed in a thermoset matrix is used to activate shape memory polymer as both solid and foam composites. Bulk material properties and performance are characterized and compared over a range of filler parameters, induction parameters, and packaging configurations. Magnetite filler particles are investigated over a range of power input, in order to understand the effects of particle size and shape on heat generation and flux into the matrix. This investigation successfully activates shape memory polymers in 10 to 20 seconds, with no significant impact of filler particles up to 10wt% on mechanical properties of shape memory foam. Performance of different particle materials is dependent upon the amplitude of the driving magnetic field. There is a general improvement in heating performance for increased content of filler particles. Characterization indicates that heat transfer between the filler nanoparticles and the foam is the primary constraint in improved heating performance. The use of smaller, acicular particles as one way to improve heat transfer, by increasing interfacial area between filler and matrix, is further examined.M.S.Committee Chair: Garmestani, Hamid; Committee Member: Gall, Ken; Committee Member: Thadhani, Nares
Metrology of EUV Masks by EUV-Scatterometry and Finite Element Analysis
Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is seen as a main candidate for
production of future generation computer technology. Due to the short
wavelength of EUV light (around 13 nm) novel reflective masks have to be used
in the production process. A prerequisite to meet the high quality requirements
for these EUV masks is a simple and accurate method for absorber pattern
profile characterization. In our previous work we demonstrated that the Finite
Element Method (FEM) is very well suited for the simulation of EUV
scatterometry and can be used to reconstruct EUV mask profiles from
experimental scatterometric data. In this contribution we apply an indirect
metrology method to periodic EUV line masks with different critical dimensions
(140 nm and 540 nm) over a large range of duty cycles (1:2, ..., 1:20). We
quantitatively compare the reconstructed absorber pattern parameters to values
obtained from direct AFM and CD-SEM measurements. We analyze the reliability of
the reconstruction for the given experimental data. For the CD of the absorber
lines, the comparison shows agreement of the order of 1nm. Furthermore we
discuss special numerical techniques like domain decomposition algorithms and
high order finite elements and their importance for fast and accurate solution
of the inverse problem.Comment: Photomask Japan 2008 / Photomask and Next-Generation Lithography Mask
Technology X
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