28,456 research outputs found
Gravitational settling of 22Ne and white dwarf evolution
We study the effects of the sedimentation of the trace element 22Ne in the
cooling of white dwarfs. In contrast with previous studies, which adopted a
simplified treatment of the effects of 22Ne sedimentation, this is done
self-consistently for the first time, using an up-to-date stellar evolutionary
code in which the diffusion equation is coupled with the full set of equations
of stellar evolution. Due the large neutron excess of 22Ne, this isotope
rapidly sediments in the interior of the white dwarf. Although we explore a
wide range of parameters, we find that using the most reasonable assumptions
concerning the diffusion coefficient and the physical state of the white dwarf
interior the delay introduced by the ensuing chemical differentation is minor
for a typical 0.6 Msun white dwarf. For more massive white dwarfs, say M_Wd
about 1.0 Msun, the delay turns out to be considerably larger. These results
are in qualitatively good accord with those obtained in previous studies, but
we find that the magnitude of the delay introduced by 22Ne sedimentation was
underestimated by a factor of about 2. We also perform a preliminary study of
the impact of 22Ne sedimentation on the white dwarf luminosity function.
Finally, we hypothesize as well on the possibility of detecting the
sedimentation of 22Ne using pulsating white dwarfs in the appropriate effective
temperature range with accurately determined rates of change of the observed
periods.Comment: To apper in The Astrophysical Journa
Molecular machines operating on nanoscale: from classical to quantum
The main physical features and operating principles of isothermal
nanomachines in microworld are reviewed, which are common for both classical
and quantum machines. Especial attention is paid to the dual and constructive
role of dissipation and thermal fluctuations, fluctuation-dissipation theorem,
heat losses and free energy transduction, thermodynamic efficiency, and
thermodynamic efficiency at maximum power. Several basic models are considered
and discussed to highlight generic physical features. Our exposition allows to
spot some common fallacies which continue to plague the literature, in
particular, erroneous beliefs that one should minimize friction and lower the
temperature to arrive at a high performance of Brownian machines, and that
thermodynamic efficiency at maximum power cannot exceed one-half. The emerging
topic of anomalous molecular motors operating sub-diffusively but highly
efficiently in viscoelastic environment of living cells is also discussed
Exclusonic Quasiparticles and Thermodynamics of Fractional Quantum Hall Liquids
Quasielectrons and quasiholes in the fractional quantum Hall liquids obey
fractional (including nontrivial mutual) exclusion statistics. Their statistics
matrix can be determined from several possible state-counting scheme, involving
different assumptions on statistical correlations. Thermal activation of
quasiparticle pairs and thermodynamic properties of the fractional quantum Hall
liquids near fillings ( odd) at low temperature are studied in the
approximation of generalized ideal gas. The existence of hierarchical states in
the fractional quantum Hall effect is shown to be a manifestation of the
exclusonic nature of the relevant quasiparticles. For magnetic properties, a
paramagnetism-diamagnetism transition appears to be possible at finite
temperature.Comment: latex209, REVTE
Scaling-up quantum heat engines efficiently via shortcuts to adiabaticity
The finite-time operation of a quantum heat engine that uses a single
particle as a working medium generally increases the output power at the
expense of inducing friction that lowers the cycle efficiency. We propose to
scale up a quantum heat engine utilizing a many-particle working medium in
combination with the use of shortcuts to adiabaticity to boost the nonadiabatic
performance by eliminating quantum friction and reducing the cycle time. To
this end, we first analyze the finite-time thermodynamics of a quantum Otto
cycle implemented with a quantum fluid confined in a time-dependent harmonic
trap. We show that nonadiabatic effects can be controlled and tailored to match
the adiabatic performance using a variety of shortcuts to adiabaticity. As a
result, the nonadiabatic dynamics of the scaled-up many-particle quantum heat
engine exhibits no friction and the cycle can be run at maximum efficiency with
a tunable output power. We demonstrate our results with a working medium
consisting of particles with inverse-square pairwise interactions, that
includes noninteracting and hard-core bosons as limiting cases.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures; typo in Eq. (51) fixed. Feature paper in the
Special Issue "Quantum Thermodynamics" edited by Prof. Dr. Ronnie Koslof
Geodynamics and Rate of Volcanism on Massive Earth-like Planets
We provide estimates of volcanism versus time for planets with Earth-like
composition and masses from 0.25 to 25 times Earth, as a step toward predicting
atmospheric mass on extrasolar rocky planets. Volcanism requires melting of the
silicate mantle. We use a thermal evolution model, calibrated against Earth, in
combination with standard melting models, to explore the dependence of
convection-driven decompression mantle melting on planet mass. Here we show
that (1) volcanism is likely to proceed on massive planets with plate tectonics
over the main-sequence lifetime of the parent star; (2) crustal thickness (and
melting rate normalized to planet mass) is weakly dependent on planet mass; (3)
stagnant lid planets live fast (they have higher rates of melting than their
plate tectonic counterparts early in their thermal evolution) but die young
(melting shuts down after a few Gyr); (4) plate tectonics may not operate on
high mass planets because of the production of buoyant crust which is difficult
to subduct; and (5) melting is necessary but insufficient for efficient
volcanic degassing - volatiles partition into the earliest, deepest melts,
which may be denser than the residue and sink to the base of the mantle on
young, massive planets. Magma must also crystallize at or near the surface, and
the pressure of overlying volatiles must be fairly low, if volatiles are to
reach the surface. If volcanism is detected in the Tau Ceti system, and tidal
forcing can be shown to be weak, this would be evidence for plate tectonics.Comment: Revised version, accepted by Astrophysical Journa
A Thermal Plume Model for the Martian Convective Boundary Layer
The Martian Planetary Boundary Layer [PBL] is a crucial component of the
Martian climate system. Global Climate Models [GCMs] and Mesoscale Models [MMs]
lack the resolution to predict PBL mixing which is therefore parameterized.
Here we propose to adapt the "thermal plume" model, recently developed for
Earth climate modeling, to Martian GCMs, MMs, and single-column models. The aim
of this physically-based parameterization is to represent the effect of
organized turbulent structures (updrafts and downdrafts) on the daytime PBL
transport, as it is resolved in Large-Eddy Simulations [LESs]. We find that the
terrestrial thermal plume model needs to be modified to satisfyingly account
for deep turbulent plumes found in the Martian convective PBL. Our Martian
thermal plume model qualitatively and quantitatively reproduces the thermal
structure of the daytime PBL on Mars: superadiabatic near-surface layer, mixing
layer, and overshoot region at PBL top. This model is coupled to surface layer
parameterizations taking into account stability and turbulent gustiness to
calculate surface-atmosphere fluxes. Those new parameterizations for the
surface and mixed layers are validated against near-surface lander
measurements. Using a thermal plume model moreover enables a first order
estimation of key turbulent quantities (e.g. PBL height, convective plume
velocity) in Martian GCMs and MMs without having to run costly LESs.Comment: 53 pages, 21 figures, paper + appendix. Accepted for publication in
Journal of Geophysical Research - Planet
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