459 research outputs found
Vorticity Budget of Weak Thermal Convection in Keplerian disks
By employing the equations of mean-square vorticity (enstrophy) fluctuations
in strong shear flows, we demonstrate that unlike energy production of
turbulent vorticity in nonrotating shear flows, the turbulent vorticity of weak
convection in Keplerian disks cannot gain energy from vortex stretching/tilting
by background shear unless the asscoiated Reynolds stresses are negative. This
is because the epicyclic motion is an energy sink of the radial component of
mean-square turbulent vorticity in Keplerian disks when Reynolds stresses are
positive. Consequently, weak convection cannot be self-sustained in Keplerian
flows. This agrees with the results implied from the equations of mean-square
velocity fluctuations in strong shear flows. Our analysis also sheds light on
the explanation of the simulation result in which positive kinetic helicity is
produced by the Balbus-Hawley instability in a vertically stratified Keplerian
disk. We also comment on the possibility of outward angular momentum transport
by strong convection based on azimuthal pressure perturbations and directions
of energy cascade.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, emulateapj.sty, revised version in response to
referee's comments, accepted by Ap
Conditions determining the morphology and nanoscale magnetism of Co nanoparticles: Experimental and numerical studies
Co-based nanostructures ranging from core-shell to hollow nanoparticles were
produced by varying the reaction time and the chemical environment during the
thermal decomposition of Co2(CO)8. Both structural characterization and kinetic
model simulation illustrate that the diffusivities of Co and oxygen determine
the growth ratio and the final morphology of the nanoparticles. Exchange
coupling between Co and Co-oxide in core/shell nanoparticles induced a shift of
field-cooled hysteresis loops that is proportional to the shell thickness, as
verified by numerical studies. The increased nanocomplexity when going from
core/shell to hollow particles, also leads to the appearance of hysteresis
above 300 K due to an enhancement of the surface anisotropy resulting from the
additional spin-disordered surfaces.Comment: 29 pages including 11 figures embedded. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Spectrum and Variability of Mrk501 as observed by the CAT Imaging Telescope
The CAT Imaging Telescope has observed the BL Lac object Markarian 501
between March and August 1997. We report here on the variability over this time
including several large flares. We present also preliminary spectra for all
these data, for the low emission state, and for the largest flare.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, Late
Very High Energy Gamma-ray spectral properties of Mrk 501 from CAT Cerenkov telescope observations in 1997
The BL Lac object Mrk 501 went into a very high state of activity during
1997, both in VHE gamma-rays and X-rays. We present here results from
observations at energies above 250 GeV carried out between March and October
1997 with the CAT Cerenkov imaging Telescope. The average differential spectrum
between 30 GeV and 13 TeV shows significant curvature and is well represented
by phi_0 * E_TeV^{-(alpha + beta*log10(E_TeV))}, with: phi_0 = 5.19 +/- 0.13
{stat} +/- 0.12 {sys-MC} +1.66/-1.04 {sys-atm} * 10^-11 /cm^2/s/TeV alpha =
2.24 +/- 0.04 {stat} +/- 0.05 {sys} beta = 0.50 +/- 0.07 {stat} (negligible
systematics). The TeV spectral energy distribution of Mrk 501 clearly peaks in
the range 500 GeV-1 TeV. Investigation of spectral variations shows a
significant hardness-intensity correlation with no measurable effect on the
curvature. This can be described as an increase of the peak TeV emission energy
with intensity. Simultaneous and quasi-simultaneous CAT VHE gamma-ray and
BeppoSAX hard X-ray detections for the highest recorded flare on 16th April and
for lower-activity states of the same period show correlated variability with a
higher luminosity in X-rays than in gamma-rays. The observed spectral energy
distribution and the correlated variability between X-rays and gamma-rays, both
in amplitude and in hardening of spectra, favour a two-component emission
scheme where the low and high energy components are attributed to synchrotron
and inverse Compton (IC) radiation, respectively.Comment: Submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysics, 8 pages including 6 figures.
Published with minor change
Detection of Vhe Gamma-Rays from MRK 501 with the Cat Imaging Telescope
The CAT imaging telescope on the site on the former solar plant Themis has
been observing gamma-rays from Mrk501 above 220 GeV in March and April 1997.
This source is shown to be highly variable and the light curve is presented.
The detected gamma-ray rate for the most intense flare is in excess of 10 per
minute.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Tex, contribution to 25th ICRC Durba
Observation of the Crab Nebula Gamma-Ray Emission Above 220 Gev by the Cat Cherenkov Imaging Telescope
The CAT imaging telescope, recently built on the site of the former solar
plant Themis (French Pyrenees), observed gamma-rays from the Crab nebula from
October 1996 to March 1997. This steady source, often considered as the
standard candle of very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy, is used as a test-beam
to probe the performances of the new telescope, particularly its energy
threshold (220 GeV at 20 degrees zenith angle) and the stability of its
response. Due to the fine-grain camera, an accurate analysis of the
longitudinal profiles of shower images is performed, yielding the source
position in two dimensions for each individual shower.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Tex, contribution to 25th ICRC Durba
The CAT Imaging Telescope for Very-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy
The CAT (Cherenkov Array at Themis) imaging telescope, equipped with a
very-high-definition camera (546 fast phototubes with 0.12 degrees spacing
surrounded by 54 larger tubes in two guard rings) started operation in Autumn
1996 on the site of the former solar plant Themis (France). Using the
atmospheric Cherenkov technique, it detects and identifies very high energy
gamma-rays in the range 250 GeV to a few tens of TeV. The instrument, which has
detected three sources (Crab nebula, Mrk 421 and Mrk 501), is described in
detail.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figures. submitted to Elsevier Preprin
Quantum Smoluchowski equation: Escape from a metastable state
We develop a quantum Smoluchowski equation in terms of a true probability
distribution function to describe quantum Brownian motion in configuration
space in large friction limit at arbitrary temperature and derive the rate of
barrier crossing and tunneling within an unified scheme. The present treatment
is independent of path integral formalism and is based on canonical
quantization procedure.Comment: 10 pages, To appear in the Proceedings of Statphys - Kolkata I
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