2,054 research outputs found
Mass loss and supernova progenitors
We first discuss the mass range of type IIP SN progenitors and how the upper
and lower limits impose interesting constraints on stellar evolution. Then we
discuss the possible implications of two SNe, 2002ap and 2006jc, for Wolf-Rayet
star mass-loss rates and long Gamma-ray bursts.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, to appear in the Conference Proceedings of
"Unsolved Problems in Stellar Astrophysics
Superconducting proximity effect in interacting double-dot systems
We study subgap transport from a superconductor through a double quantum dot
with large on-site Coulomb repulsion to two normal leads. Non-local
superconducting correlations in the double dot are induced by the proximity to
the superconducting lead, detectable in non-local Andreev transport that splits
Cooper pairs in locally separated, spin-entangled electrons. We find that the
-- characteristics are strongly asymmetric: for a large bias voltage of
certain polarity, transport is blocked by populating the double dot with states
whose spin symmetry is incompatible with the superconductor. Furthermore, by
tuning gate voltages one has access to splitting of the Andreev excitation
energies, which is visible in the differential conductance.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
The Night and Cultural Benefit : The Case for a Holistic Approach to Licensing
This research article critically engages with the Licensing Act (2003), arguing for a more holistic approach to licensing. Drawing on primary research conducted in London for the Greater London Authority (GLA), the article considers the positive benefits of licensed venues and the possibility of extending the licensing objectives to include their role in sustaining urban vitality. The current licensing objectives are steered towards minimising negative outcomes, with the assumption being that licensing is primarily a tool of control and minimising harm. The argument developed here is based on two alternative conceptions of the role of licensing. Firstly, licensing has a key role to play in developing sites for sociability and community cohesion. Though focused around alcohol, licensing is central to enabling or constraining more traditional as well as emerging spaces which combine entertainment, dining and other experimental forms of leisure. Second, the article argues that by addressing urban vitality and cultural benefit, the Act could be more attuned to the positive influence of licensed premises at a broader scale. The need for planning and licensing to work more cooperatively is considered in light of how licensing decisions reach beyond individual venues and impact on entire neighbourhoods or areas. Focusing on two London boroughs, Croydon and Lambeth, the paper examines how the current approach by local authorities to licensing could therefore be re-framed in more positive terms to acknowledge the wider cultural benefits and social good of licensed premises
Stratospheric measurement requirements and satellite-borne remote sensing capabilities
The capabilities of specific NASA remote sensing systems to provide appropriate measurements of stratospheric parameters for potential user needs were assessed. This was used to evaluate the capabilities of the remote sensing systems to perform global monitoring of the stratosphere. The following conclusions were reached: (1) The performance of current remote stratospheric sensors, in some cases, compares quite well with identified measurement requirements. Their ability to measure other species has not been demonstrated. (2) None of the current, in-situ methods have the capability to satisfy the requirements for global monitoring and the temporal constraints derived from the users needs portion of the study. (3) Existing, non-remote techniques will continue to play an important role in stratospheric investigations for both corroboration of remotely collected data and in the evolutionary development of future remote sensors
Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis Version 2.1: construction, observational verification and new results
The Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis (BPASS) suite of binary stellar
evolution models and synthetic stellar populations provides a framework for the
physically motivated analysis of both the integrated light from distant stellar
populations and the detailed properties of those nearby. We present a new
version 2.1 data release of these models, detailing the methodology by which
BPASS incorporates binary mass transfer and its effect on stellar evolution
pathways, as well as the construction of simple stellar populations. We
demonstrate key tests of the latest BPASS model suite demonstrating its ability
to reproduce the colours and derived properties of resolved stellar
populations, including well- constrained eclipsing binaries. We consider
observational constraints on the ratio of massive star types and the
distribution of stellar remnant masses. We describe the identification of
supernova progenitors in our models, and demonstrate a good agreement to the
properties of observed progenitors. We also test our models against photometric
and spectroscopic observations of unresolved stellar populations, both in the
local and distant Universe, finding that binary models provide a
self-consistent explanation for observed galaxy properties across a broad
redshift range. Finally, we carefully describe the limitations of our models,
and areas where we expect to see significant improvement in future versions.Comment: 69 pages, 45 figures. Accepted for publication in PASA. Accompanied
by a full, documented data release at http://bpass.auckland.ac.nz and
http://warwick.ac.uk/bpas
A Comprehensive Comparative Test of Seven Widely-Used Spectral Synthesis Models Against Multi-Band Photometry of Young Massive Star Clusters
We test the predictions of spectral synthesis models based on seven different
massive-star prescriptions against Legacy ExtraGalactic UV Survey (LEGUS)
observations of eight young massive clusters in two local galaxies, NGC 1566
and NGC 5253, chosen because predictions of all seven models are available at
the published galactic metallicities. The high angular resolution, extensive
cluster inventory and full near-ultraviolet to near-infrared photometric
coverage make the LEGUS dataset excellent for this study. We account for both
stellar and nebular emission in the models and try two different prescriptions
for attenuation by dust. From Bayesian fits of model libraries to the
observations, we find remarkably low dispersion in the median E(B-V) (~0.03
mag), stellar masses (~10^4 M_\odot) and ages (~1 Myr) derived for individual
clusters using different models, although maximum discrepancies in these
quantities can reach 0.09 mag and factors of 2.8 and 2.5, respectively. This is
for ranges in median properties of 0.05-0.54 mag, 1.8-10x10^4 M_\odot and
1.6-40 Myr spanned by the clusters in our sample. In terms of best fit, the
observations are slightly better reproduced by models with interacting binaries
and least well reproduced by models with single rotating stars. Our study
provides a first quantitative estimate of the accuracies and uncertainties of
the most recent spectral synthesis models of young stellar populations,
demonstrates the good progress of models in fitting high-quality observations,
and highlights the needs for a larger cluster sample and more extensive tests
of the model parameter space.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS (14 Jan. 2016). 30 pages, 16
figures, 9 table
Optical control of spin textures in quasi-one-dimensional polariton condensates
We investigate, through polarization-resolved spectroscopy, the spin
transport by propagating polariton condensates in a quasi one-dimensional
microcavity ridge along macroscopic distances. Under circularly polarized,
continuous-wave, non-resonant excitation, a sinusoidal precession of the spin
in real space is observed, whose phase depends on the emission energy. The
experiments are compared with simulations of the spinor-polariton condensate
dynamics based on a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation, modified to account
for incoherent pumping, decay and energy relaxation within the condensate.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure
Comprehensive multi-wavelength modelling of the afterglow of GRB050525A
The Swift era has posed a challenge to the standard blast-wave model of Gamma
Ray Burst (GRB) afterglows. The key observational features expected within the
model are rarely observed, such as the achromatic steepening (`jet-break') of
the light curves. The observed afterglow light curves showcase additional
complex features requiring modifications within the standard model. Here we
present optical/NIR observations, millimeter upper limits and comprehensive
broadband modelling of the afterglow of the bright GRB 0505025A, detected by
Swift. This afterglow cannot be explained by the simplistic form of the
standard blast-wave model. We attempt modelling the multi-wavelength light
curves using (i) a forward-reverse shock model, (ii) a two-component outflow
model and (iii) blast-wave model with a wind termination shock. The
forward-reverse shock model cannot explain the evolution of the afterglow. The
two component model is able to explain the average behaviour of the afterglow
very well but cannot reproduce the fluctuations in the early X-ray light curve.
The wind termination shock model reproduces the early light curves well but
deviates from the global behaviour of the late-time afterglow.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
The effect of massive binaries on stellar populations and supernova progenitors
We compare our latest single and binary stellar model results from the
Cambridge STARS code to several sets of observations. We examine four stellar
population ratios, the number of blue to red supergiants, the number of
Wolf-Rayet stars to O supergiants, the number of red supergiants to Wolf-Rayet
stars and the relative number of Wolf-Rayet subtypes, WC to WN stars. These
four ratios provide a quantitative measure of nuclear burning lifetimes and the
importance of mass loss during various stages of the stars' lifetimes. In
addition we compare our models to the relative rate of type Ib/c to type II
supernovae to measure the amount of mass lost over the entire lives of all
stars. We find reasonable agreement between the observationally inferred values
and our predicted values by mixing single and binary star populations. However
there is evidence that extra mass loss is required to improve the agreement
further, to reduce the number of red supergiants and increase the number of
Wolf-Rayet stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 11 pages, 10 figure
On the Progenitors of Core-Collapse Supernovae
Theory holds that a star born with an initial mass between about 8 and 140
times the mass of the Sun will end its life through the catastrophic
gravitational collapse of its iron core to a neutron star or black hole. This
core collapse process is thought to usually be accompanied by the ejection of
the star's envelope as a supernova. This established theory is now being tested
observationally, with over three dozen core-collapse supernovae having had the
properties of their progenitor stars directly measured through the examination
of high-resolution images taken prior to the explosion. Here I review what has
been learned from these studies and briefly examine the potential impact on
stellar evolution theory, the existence of "failed supernovae", and our
understanding of the core-collapse explosion mechanism.Comment: 7 Pages, invited review accepted for publication by Astrophysics and
Space Science (special HEDLA 2010 issue
- …