8,711 research outputs found
The effect of the relative orientation between the coronal field and new emerging flux: I Global Properties
The emergence of magnetic flux from the convection zone into the corona is an
important process for the dynamical evolution of the coronal magnetic field. In
this paper we extend our previous numerical investigations, by looking at the
process of flux interaction as an initially twisted flux tube emerges into a
plane parallel, coronal magnetic field. Significant differences are found in
the dynamical appearance and evolution of the emergence process depending on
the relative orientation between the rising flux system and any preexisting
coronal field. When the flux systems are nearly anti-parallel, the experiments
show substantial reconnection and demonstrate clear signatures of a high
temperature plasma located in the high velocity outflow regions extending from
the reconnection region. However, the cases that have a more parallel
orientation of the flux systems show very limited reconnection and none of the
associated features. Despite the very different amount of reconnection between
the two flux systems, it is found that the emerging flux that is still
connected to the original tube, reaches the same height as a function of time.
As a compensation for the loss of tube flux, a clear difference is found in the
extent of the emerging loop in the direction perpendicular to the main axis of
the initial flux tube. Increasing amounts of magnetic reconnection decrease the
volume, which confines the remaining tube flux.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures Accepted for Ap
Experimental determination of the state-dependent enhancement of the electron-positron momentum density in solids
The state-dependence of the enhancement of the electron-positron momentum
density is investigated for some transition and simple metals (Cr, V, Ag and
Al). Quantitative comparison with linearized muffin-tin orbital calculations of
the corresponding quantity in the first Brillouin zone is shown to yield a
measurement of the enhancement of the s, p and d states, independent of any
parameterizations in terms of the electron density local to the positron. An
empirical correction that can be applied to a first-principles state-dependent
model is proposed that reproduces the measured state-dependence very well,
yielding a general, predictive model for the enhancement of the momentum
distribution of positron annihilation measurements, including those of angular
correlation and coincidence Doppler broadening techniques
Rotational Widths for Use in the Tully-Fisher Relation. II. The Impact of Surface Brightness
Using a large sample of spiral galaxies for which 21 cm single-dish and/or
long-slit optical spectra are available, we make a detailed comparison between
various estimates of rotational widths. Different optical width estimators are
considered and their limitations discussed, with emphasis on biases associated
with rotation curve properties (shape and extent) and disk central surface
brightness. The best match with HI rotational velocities is obtained with
Polyex widths, which are measured at the optical radius (encompassing a fixed
fraction of the total light of the galaxy) from a model fit to the rotation
curve. In contrast with Polyex widths, optical rotational velocities measured
at 2.15 disk scale lengths r_d deviate from HI widths by an amount that
correlates with the central surface brightness of the disk. This bias occurs
because the rotation curves of galaxies are in general still rising at 2.15
r_d, and the fraction of total mass contained within this radius decreases with
increasing disk surface brightness. Statistical corrections, parameterized by
the radial extent of the observed rotation curve, are provided to reduce Polyex
and HI width measurements into a homogeneous system. This yields a single
robust estimate of rotational velocity to be used for applications of disk
scaling relations.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures. To appear in the Astronomical Journal (August
2007
No Hubble Bubble in the Local Universe
Zehavi et al. (1998) have suggested that the Hubble flow within 70/h Mpc may
be accelerated by the existence of a void centered on the Local Group. Its
underdensity would be ~20 %, which would result in a local Hubble distortion of
about 6.5 %. We have combined the peculiar velocity data of two samples of
clusters of galaxies, SCI and SCII, to investigate the amplitude of Hubble
distortions to 200/h Mpc. Our results are not supportive of that conclusion.
The amplitude of a possible distortion in the Hubble flow within 70/h Mpc in
the SCI+SCII merged data is 0.010\pm0.022. The largest, and still quite
marginal, geocentric deviation from smooth Hubble flow consistent with that
data set is a shell with (Delta H)/H =0.027\pm0.023, centered at hd = 101 Mpc
and extending over some 30/h Mpc. Our results are thus consistent with a Hubble
flow that, on distances in excess of about 50/h Mpc, is remarkably smooth.Comment: 11 pages, 1 tables, 1 figure; uses AAS LaTex; to appear in ApJ Nov 9
HI Emission and Absorption in the Southern Galactic Plane Survey
We present preliminary results from the Southern Galactic Plane Survey (SGPS)
Test Region and Parkes data. As part of the pilot project for the Southern
Galactic Plane Survey, observations of a Test Region (325.5 deg < l < 333.5
deg; -0.5 deg < b < 3.5 deg) were completed in December 1998. Single dish
observations of the full survey region (253 deg < l < 358 deg; |b| <1 deg) with
the Parkes Radio Telescope were completed in March 2000. We present a sample of
SGPS HI data with particular attention to the smallest and largest scale
structures seen in absorption and emission, respectively. On the large scale,
we detect many prominent HI shells. On the small scale, we note extremely
compact, cold clouds seen in HI self-absorption. We explore how these two
classes of objects probe opposite ends of the HI spatial power spectrum.Comment: 9 pages, 3 embedded postscript & 4 jpeg figures. Presented at the
Astronomical Society of Australia, Hobart, Tasmania, July 4-7 2000. To appear
in PASA Vol. 18(1
Engaged Learning: Enabling Self-Authorship and Effective Practice
There is now broad consensus that higher education must extend beyond content-based knowledge to encompass intellectual and practical skills, personal and social responsibility, and integrative learning. The college learning outcomes needed for success in 21st century life include critical thinking, a coherent sense of self, intercultural maturity, civic engagement, and the capacity for mutual relationships. Yet, research suggests that college students are struggling to achieve these outcomes in part because skills needed to succeed in college are not those needed to succeed upon graduation. One reason for this gap is that these college learning outcomes require complex developmental capacities or “self-authorship” that higher education is not currently designed to promote
Kinematic Evidence of Minor Mergers in Normal Sa Galaxies: NGC3626, NGC3900, NGC4772 and NGC5854
BVRI and H-alpha imaging and long-slit optical spectroscopic data are
presented for four morphologically normal and relatively isolated Sa galaxies,
NGC3626, NGC3900, NGC4772 and NGC5854. VLA HI synthesis imaging is presented
for the first 3 objects. In all 4 galaxies, evidence of kinematic decoupling of
ionized gas components is found; the degree and circumstances of the distinct
kinematics vary from complete counterrotation of all of the gas from all of the
stars (NGC3626) to nuclear gas disks decoupled from the stars (NGC5854) to
anomalous velocity central gas components (NGC3900 and NGC4772). In the 3
objects mapped in HI, the neutral gas extends far beyond the optical radius,
R_HI/R_25 > 2. In general, the HI surface density is very low and the outer HI
is patchy and asymmetric or found in a distinct ring, exterior to the optical
edge. While the overall HI velocity fields are dominated by circular motions,
strong warps are suggested in the outer regions. Optical imaging is also
presented for NGC 4138 previously reported by Jore et al. (1996) to show
counterrotating stellar components. The multiwavelength evidence is interpreted
in terms of the kinematic "memory" of past minor mergers in objects that
otherwise exhibit no morphological signs of interaction.Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Astron. J.,
postscript figures available at
ftp://culebra.tn.cornell.edu/pub/haynes/figures.tar.g
Brain tissue properties differentiate between motor and limbic basal ganglia circuits
Despite advances in understanding basic organizational principles of the human basal ganglia, accurate in vivo assessment of their anatomical properties is essential to improve early diagnosis in disorders with corticosubcortical pathology and optimize target planning in deep brain stimulation. Main goal of this study was the detailed topological characterization of limbic, associative, and motor subdivisions of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in relation to corresponding corticosubcortical circuits. To this aim, we used magnetic resonance imaging and investigated independently anatomical connectivity via white matter tracts next to brain tissue properties. On the basis of probabilistic diffusion tractography we identified STN subregions with predominantly motor, associative, and limbic connectivity. We then computed for each of the nonoverlapping STN subregions the covariance between local brain tissue properties and the rest of the brain using high-resolution maps of magnetization transfer (MT) saturation and longitudinal (R1) and transverse relaxation rate (R2*). The demonstrated spatial distribution pattern of covariance between brain tissue properties linked to myelin (R1 and MT) and iron (R2*) content clearly segregates between motor and limbic basal ganglia circuits. We interpret the demonstrated covariance pattern as evidence for shared tissue properties within a functional circuit, which is closely linked to its function. Our findings open new possibilities for investigation of changes in the established covariance pattern aiming at accurate diagnosis of basal ganglia disorders and prediction of treatment outcom
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