367 research outputs found
Transport of positrons in the interstellar medium
This work investigates some aspects of the transport of low-energy positrons
in the interstellar medium (ISM). We consider resonance interactions with
magnetohydrodynamic waves above the resonance threshold. Below the threshold,
collisions take over and deflect positrons in their motion parallel to
magnetic-field lines. Using Monte-Carlo simulations, we model the propagation
and energy losses of positrons in the different phases of the ISM until they
annihilate. We suggest that positrons produced in the disk by an old population
of stars, with initial kinetic energies below 1 MeV, and propagating in the
spiral magnetic field of the disk, can probably not penetrate the Galactic
bulge.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in the proceeding of the
6th INTEGRAL worksho
Faint dwarf galaxies in the Next Generation Virgo cluster Survey
The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS) is a CFHT Large Program that
is using the wide field of view capabilities of the MegaCam camera to map the
entire Virgo Cluster from its core to virial radius. The observing strategy has
been optimized to detect very low surface brightness structures in the cluster,
including intracluster stellar streams and faint dwarf spheroidal galaxies. We
present here the current status of this ongoing survey, with an emphasis on the
detection and analysis of the very low-mass galaxies in the cluster that have
been revealed by the NGVS.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Conference Proceedings: "A Universe of Dwarf
Galaxies", 14-18 June 2010, Lyon, Franc
The 511 keV emission from positron annihilation in the Galaxy
The first gamma-ray line originating from outside the solar system that was
ever detected is the 511 keV emission from positron annihilation in the Galaxy.
Despite 30 years of intense theoretical and observational investigation, the
main sources of positrons have not been identified up to now. Observations in
the 1990's with OSSE/CGRO showed that the emission is strongly concentrated
towards the Galactic bulge. In the 2000's, the SPI instrument aboard ESA's
INTEGRAL gamma-ray observatory allowed scientists to measure that emission
across the entire Galaxy, revealing that the bulge/disk luminosity ratio is
larger than observed in any other wavelength. This mapping prompted a number of
novel explanations, including rather "exotic ones (e.g. dark matter
annihilation). However, conventional astrophysical sources, like type Ia
supernovae, microquasars or X-ray binaries, are still plausible candidates for
a large fraction of the observed total 511 keV emission of the bulge. A closer
study of the subject reveals new layers of complexity, since positrons may
propagate far away from their production sites, making it difficult to infer
the underlying source distribution from the observed map of 511 keV emission.
However, contrary to the rather well understood propagation of high energy
(>GeV) particles of Galactic cosmic rays, understanding the propagation of low
energy (~MeV) positrons in the turbulent, magnetized interstellar medium, still
remains a formidable challenge. We review the spectral and imaging properties
of the observed 511 keV emission and we critically discuss candidate positron
sources and models of positron propagation in the Galaxy.Comment: 62 pages, 35 figures. Review paper to appear in Reviews of Modern
Physic
Shocked Quartz in Polymict Impact Breccia from the Upper Cretaceous Yallalie Impact Structure in Western Australia
Yallalie is a ~12 km diameter circular structure located ~200 km north of Perth, Australia. Previous studies have proposed that the buried structure is a complex impact crater based on geophysical data. Allochthonous breccia exposed near the structure has previously been interpreted as proximal impact ejecta; however, no diagnostic indicators of shock metamorphism have been found. Here we report multiple (27) shocked quartz grains containing planar fractures (PFs) and planar deformation features (PDFs) in the breccia. The PFs occur in up to five sets per grain, while the PDFs occur in up to four sets per grain. Universal stage measurements of all 27 shocked quartz grains confirms that the planar microstructures occur in known crystallographic orientations in quartz corresponding to shock compression from 5 to 20 GPa. Proximity to the buried structure (~4 km) and occurrence of shocked quartz indicates that the breccia represents either primary or reworked ejecta. Ejecta distribution simulated using iSALE hydrocode predicts the same distribution of shock levels at the site as those found in the breccia, which supports a primary ejecta interpretation, although local reworking cannot be excluded. The Yallalie impact event is stratigraphically constrained to have occurred in the interval from 89.8 to 83.6 Ma based on the occurrence of Coniacian clasts in the breccia and undisturbed overlying Santonian to Campanian sedimentary rocks. Yallalie is thus the first confirmed Upper Cretaceous impact structure in Australia
Prospects for the characterization of habitable planets
With thousands of exoplanets now identified, the characterization of
habitable planets and the potential identification of inhabited ones is a major
challenge for the coming decades. We review the current working definition of
habitable planets, the upcoming observational prospects for their
characterization and present an innovative approach to assess habitability and
inhabitation. This integrated method couples for the first time the atmosphere
and the interior modeling with the biological activity based on ecosystem
modeling. We review here the first applications of the method to asses the
likelihood and impact of methanogenesis for Enceladus, primitive Earth, and
primitive Mars. Informed by these applications for solar system situations
where habitability and inhabitation is questionned, we show how the method can
be used to inform the design of future space observatories by considering
habitability and inhabitation of Earth-like exoplanets around sun-like stars.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure
Magnetic Flux Expulsion in the Powerful Superbubble Explosions and the Alpha-Omega Dynamo
The possibility of the magnetic flux expulsion from the Galaxy in the
superbubble (SB) explosions, important for the Alpha-Omega dynamo, is
considered. Special emphasis is put on the investigation of the downsliding of
the matter from the top of the shell formed by the SB explosion which is able
to influence the kinematics of the shell. It is shown that either Galactic
gravity or the development of the Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in the shell
limit the SB expansion, thus, making impossible magnetic flux expulsion. The
effect of the cosmic rays in the shell on the sliding is considered and it is
shown that it is negligible compared to Galactic gravity. Thus, the question of
possible mechanism of flux expulsion in the Alpha-Omega dynamo remains open.Comment: MNRAS, in press, 11 pages, 9 figure
Biermann Mechanism in Primordial Supernova Remnant and Seed Magnetic Fields
We study generation of magnetic fields by the Biermann mechanism in the
pair-instability supernovae explosions of first stars. The Biermann mechanism
produces magnetic fields in the shocked region between the bubble and
interstellar medium (ISM), even if magnetic fields are absent initially. We
perform a series of two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations with the
Biermann term and estimate the amplitude and total energy of the produced
magnetic fields. We find that magnetic fields with amplitude
G are generated inside the bubble, though the amount of
magnetic fields generated depend on specific values of initial conditions. This
corresponds to magnetic fields of erg per each supernova
remnant, which is strong enough to be the seed magnetic field for galactic
and/or interstellar dynamo.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure
Combining shock barometry with numerical modeling: insights into complex crater formation â The example of the Siljan impact structure (Sweden)
Siljan, central Sweden, is the largest known impact structure in Europe. It was formed at about 380 Ma, in the late Devonian period. The structure has been heavily eroded to a level originally located underneath the crater floor, and to date, important questions about the original size and morphology of Siljan remain unanswered. Here we present the results of a shock barometry study of quartz-bearing surface and drill core samples combined with numerical modeling using iSALE. The investigated 13 bedrock granitoid samples show that the recorded shock pressure decreases with increasing depth from 15 to 20 GPa near the (present) surface, to 10â15 GPa at 600 m depth. A best-fit model that is consistent with observational constraints relating to the present size of the structure, the location of the downfaulted sediments, and the observed surface and vertical shock barometry profiles is presented. The best-fit model results in a final crater (rim-to-rim) diameter of ~65 km. According to our simulations, the original Siljan impact structure would have been a peak-ring crater. Siljan was formed in a mixed target of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks overlaying crystalline basement. Our modeling suggests that, at the time of impact, the sedimentary sequence was approximately 3 km thick. Since then, there has been around 4 km of erosion of the structure
Development of a new method to estimate the incident solar flux on central receivers from deteriorated heliostats
This work proposes a new empirical direct methodology to estimate both the solar flux distribution and intensity on the surface of central receivers. In solar power tower plants with deteriorated heliostats, the numerical simulations to estimate the incident solar flux are not precise. Hence the thermal behaviour of the receivers cannot be determined. In those cases, direct measurement or semi-empirical methodologies are required to characterize the radiant power on the receiver. The new methodology proposed, named "Superposition method", consists in the hourly characterization of the reflected solar beam of each individual heliostat by means of a pyrheliometer, a passive screen, a flux sensor, a camera and digital image analysis. According to the aiming strategy used during receiver operation, each individual solar flux distribution and intensity can be gathered to obtain the total incident radiant power on the solar receiver. This non-real-time method has the advantage of reproducing any solar flux distribution on the receiver at present and past time
In Situ Origin of Large Scale Galactic Magnetic Fields Without Kinetic Helicity?
The origin and sustenance of large scale galactic magnetic fields has been a
long standing and controversial astrophysical problem. Here an alternative to
the ``standard'' \a-\Omega mean field dynamo and primordial theories is
pursued. The steady supply of supernovae induced turbulence exponentiates the
total field energy, providing a significant seed mean field that can be
linearly stretched by shear. The observed micro-Gauss fields would be produced
primarily within one vertical diffusion time since it is only during this time
that linear stretching can compete with diffusion. This approach does not
invoke exponential mean field dynamo growth from the helicity \a-effect but
does employ turbulent diffusion, which limits the number of large scale
reversals. The approach could be of interest if the helicity effect is
suppressed independently of the turbulent diffusion. This is an important but
presently unresolved issue.Comment: 15 pages TeX, accepted, ApJ
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