16,764 research outputs found
Optimal Survey Strategies and Predicted Planet Yields for the Korean Microlensing Telescope Network
The Korean Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) will consist of three 1.6m
telescopes each with a 4 deg^{2} field of view (FoV) and will be dedicated to
monitoring the Galactic Bulge to detect exoplanets via gravitational
microlensing. KMTNet's combination of aperture size, FoV, cadence, and
longitudinal coverage will provide a unique opportunity to probe exoplanet
demographics in an unbiased way. Here we present simulations that optimize the
observing strategy for, and predict the planetary yields of, KMTNet. We find
preferences for four target fields located in the central Bulge and an exposure
time of t_{exp} = 120s, leading to the detection of ~2,200 microlensing events
per year. We estimate the planet detection rates for planets with mass and
separation across the ranges 0.1 <= M_{p}/M_{Earth} <= 1000 and 0.4 <= a/AU <=
16, respectively. Normalizing these rates to the cool-planet mass function of
Cassan (2012), we predict KMTNet will be approximately uniformly sensitive to
planets with mass 5 <= M_{p}/M_{Earth} <= 1000 and will detect ~20 planets per
year per dex in mass across that range. For lower-mass planets with mass 0.1 <=
M_{p}/M_{Earth} < 5, we predict KMTNet will detect ~10 planets per year. We
also compute the yields KMTNet will obtain for free-floating planets (FFPs) and
predict KMTNet will detect ~1 Earth-mass FFP per year, assuming an underlying
population of one such planet per star in the Galaxy. Lastly, we investigate
the dependence of these detection rates on the number of observatories, the
photometric precision limit, and optimistic assumptions regarding seeing,
throughput, and flux measurement uncertainties.Comment: 29 pages, 31 figures, submitted to ApJ. For a brief video explaining
the key results of this paper, please visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5rWVjiO26
The A2667 Giant Arc at z=1.03: Evidence for Large-scale Shocks at High Redshift
We present the spatially resolved emission line ratio properties of a ~10^10
M_sun star-forming galaxy at redshift z=1.03. This galaxy is gravitationally
lensed as a triple-image giant arc behind the massive lensing cluster Abell
2667. The main image of the galaxy has magnification factors of 14+/-2.1 in
flux and ~ 2 by 7 in area, yielding an intrinsic spatial resolution of 115-405
pc after AO correction with OSIRIS at KECK II. The HST morphology shows a
clumpy structure and the H\alpha\ kinematics indicates a large velocity
dispersion with V_{max} sin(i)/\sigma ~ 0.73, consistent with high redshift
disk galaxies of similar masses. From the [NII]/H\alpha\ line ratios, we find
that the central 350 parsec of the galaxy is dominated by star formation. The
[NII]/H\alpha\ line ratios are higher in the outer-disk than in the central
regions. Most noticeably, we find a blue-shifted region of strong
[NII]/H\alpha\ emission in the outer disk. Applying our recent HII region and
slow-shock models, we propose that this elevated [NII]/H\alpha\ ratio region is
contaminated by a significant fraction of shock excitation due to galactic
outflows. Our analysis suggests that shocked regions may mimic flat or inverted
metallicity gradients at high redshift.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, ApJ accepte
Fast and Robust Small Infrared Target Detection Using Absolute Directional Mean Difference Algorithm
Infrared small target detection in an infrared search and track (IRST) system
is a challenging task. This situation becomes more complicated when high
gray-intensity structural backgrounds appear in the field of view (FoV) of the
infrared seeker. While the majority of the infrared small target detection
algorithms neglect directional information, in this paper, a directional
approach is presented to suppress structural backgrounds and develop a more
effective detection algorithm. To this end, a similar concept to the average
absolute gray difference (AAGD) is utilized to construct a novel directional
small target detection algorithm called absolute directional mean difference
(ADMD). Also, an efficient implementation procedure is presented for the
proposed algorithm. The proposed algorithm effectively enhances the target area
and eliminates background clutter. Simulation results on real infrared images
prove the significant effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.Comment: The Final version (Accepted in Signal Processing journal
The Lyman Alpha Reference Sample: III. Properties of the Neutral ISM from GBT and VLA Observations
We present new H I imaging and spectroscopy of the 14 UV-selected
star-forming galaxies in the Lyman Alpha Reference Sample (LARS), aimed for a
detailed study of the processes governing the production, propagation, and
escape of Ly photons. New H I spectroscopy, obtained with the 100m
Green Bank Telescope (GBT), robustly detects the H I spectral line in 11 of the
14 observed LARS galaxies (although the profiles of two of the galaxies are
likely confused by other sources within the GBT beam); the three highest
redshift galaxies are not detected at our current sensitivity limits. The GBT
profiles are used to derive fundamental H I line properties of the LARS
galaxies. We also present new pilot H I spectral line imaging of 5 of the LARS
galaxies obtained with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). This imaging
localizes the H I gas and provides a measurement of the total H I mass in each
galaxy. In one system, LARS 03 (UGC 8335 or Arp 238), VLA observations reveal
an enormous tidal structure that extends over 160 kpc from the main interacting
systems and that contains 10 M of H I. We compare various H I
properties with global Ly quantities derived from HST measurements. The
measurements of the Ly escape fraction are coupled with the new direct
measurements of H I mass and significantly disturbed H I velocities. Our
robustly detected sample reveals that both total H I mass and linewidth are
tentatively correlated with key Ly tracers. Further, on global scales,
these data support a complex coupling between Ly propagation and the H
I properties of the surrounding medium.Comment: Preprint form, 16 figures, accepted in Ap
DOPAL derived alpha-synuclein oligomers impair synaptic vesicles physiological function
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons and by accumulation of alpha-synuclein (aS) aggregates in the surviving neurons. The dopamine catabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) is a highly reactive and toxic molecule that leads to aS oligomerization by covalent modifications to lysine residues. Here we show that DOPAL-induced aS oligomer formation in neurons is associated with damage of synaptic vesicles, and with alterations in the synaptic vesicles pools. To investigate the molecular mechanism that leads to synaptic impairment, we first aimed to characterize the biochemical and biophysical properties of the aS-DOPAL oligomers; heterogeneous ensembles of macromolecules able to permeabilise cholesterol-containing lipid membranes. aS-DOPAL oligomers can induce dopamine leak in an in vitro model of synaptic vesicles and in cellular models. The dopamine released, after conversion to DOPAL in the cytoplasm, could trigger a noxious cycle that further fuels the formation of aS-DOPAL oligomers, inducing neurodegeneration
Galaxy morphology and evolution from SWAN Adaptive Optics imaging
We present the results from adaptive optics (AO) assisted imaging in the Ks
band of an area of 15 arcmin^2 for SWAN (Survey of a Wide Area with NACO). We
derive the high resolution near-IR morphology of ~400 galaxies up to Ks~23.5 in
the first 21 SWAN fields around bright guide stars, carefully taking into
account the survey selection effects and using an accurate treatment of the
anisoplanatic AO PSF. The detected galaxies are sorted into two morphological
classes according to their Sersic index. The extracted morphological properties
and number counts of the galaxies are compared with the predictions of
different galaxy formation and evolution models, both for the whole galaxy
population and separately for late-type and early-type galaxies. This is one of
the first times such a comparison has been done in the near-IR, as AO
observations and accurate PSF modeling are needed to obtain reliable
morphological classification of faint field galaxies at these wavelengths. For
early-type galaxies we find that a pure luminosity evolution model, without
evidence for relevant number and size evolution, better reproduces the observed
properties of our Ks-selected sample than current semi-analytic models based on
the hierarchical picture of galaxy formation. In particular, we find that the
observed flattening of elliptical galaxy counts at Ks~20 is quantitatively in
good agreement with the prediction of the pure luminosity evolution model that
was calculated prior to the observation. For late-type galaxies, while both
models are able to reproduce the number counts, we find some hints of a
possible size growth. These results demonstrate the unique power of AO
observations to derive high resolution details of faint galaxies' morphology in
the near-IR and drive studies of galaxy evolution.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures. A&A, in press. Final version with corrected
typo
Diffraction-limited Subaru imaging of M82: sharp mid-infrared view of the starburst core
We present new imaging at 12.81 and 11.7 microns of the central ~40"x30"
(~0.7x0.5 kpc) of the starburst galaxy M82. The observations were carried out
with the COMICS mid-infrared (mid-IR) imager on the 8.2m Subaru telescope, and
are diffraction-limited at an angular resolution of <0".4. The images show
extensive diffuse structures, including a 7"-long linear chimney-like feature
and another resembling the edges of a ruptured bubble. This is the clearest
view to date of the base of the kpc-scale dusty wind known in this galaxy.
These structures do not extrapolate to a single central point, implying
multiple ejection sites for the dust. In general, the distribution of dust
probed in the mid-IR anticorrelates with the locations of massive star clusters
that appear in the near-infrared. The 10-21 micron mid-IR emission,
spatially-integrated over the field of view, may be represented by hot dust
with temperature of ~160 K. Most discrete sources are found to have extended
morphologies. Several radio HII regions are identified for the first time in
the mid-IR. The only potential radio supernova remnant to have a mid-IR
counterpart is a source which has previously also been suggested to be a weak
active galactic nucleus. This source has an X-ray counterpart in Chandra data
which appears prominently above 3 keV and is best described as a hot (~2.6 keV)
absorbed thermal plasma with a 6.7 keV Fe K emission line, in addition to a
weaker and cooler thermal component. The mid-IR detection is consistent with
the presence of strong [NeII]12.81um line emission. The broad-band source
properties are complex, but the X-ray spectra do not support the active
galactic nucleus hypothesis. We discuss possible interpretations regarding the
nature of this source.Comment: Accepted for publication in PASJ Subaru special issue. High
resolution version available temporarily at
http://www.astro.isas.jaxa.jp/~pgandhi/pgandhi_m82.pd
- âŠ