1,632 research outputs found
Economical comparison of CHP systems for industrial user with large steam demand
In this paper cogeneration benefits applied to a user with a high steam demand are analyzed. The methodology for the feasibility study and the economical analysis of the investment is presented under the Italian legislative framework. The methodology is applied to an actual case and a detailed description and discussion of all data input is provided. Especially this last key point will be faced using starting data usually available in these kind of studies (i.e., not very detailed for thermal consumption). Finally a comparison of different CHP technologies and a sensitivity analysis is done
On the Light Curve and Spectrum of SN 2003dh Separated from the Optical Afterglow of GRB 030329
The net optical light curves and spectra of the supernova (SN) 2003dh are
obtained from the published spectra of GRB 030329, covering about 6 days before
SN maximum to about 60 days after. The bulk of the U-band flux is subtracted
from the observed spectra using early-time afterglow templates, because strong
line blanketing greatly depresses the UV and U-band SN flux in a metal-rich,
fast-moving SN atmosphere. The blue-end spectra of the gamma-ray burst
(GRB)connected hypernova SN 1998bw is used to determine the amount of
subtraction. The subtraction of a host galaxy template affects the late-time
results. The derived SN 2003dh light curves are narrower than those of SN
1998bw, rising as fast before maximum, reaching a possibly fainter maximum, and
then declining ~ 1.2-1.4 times faster. We then build UVOIR bolometric SN light
curve. Allowing for uncertainties, it can be reproduced with a spherical ejecta
model of Mej ~ 7+/-3 Msun, KE ~ (3.5+/-1.5)E52 ergs, with KE/Mej ~ 5 following
previous spectrum modelling, and M(Ni56) ~ (0.4 +0.15/-0.1) Msun. This suggests
a progenitor main-sequence mass of about 25-40 Msun, lower than SN 1998bw but
significantly higher than normal Type Ic SNe and the GRB-unrelated hypernova SN
2002ap.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, published by Ap
The size distribution of magnetic bright points derived from Hinode/SOT observations
Context. Magnetic Bright Points (MBPs) are small-scale magnetic features in
the solar photosphere. They may be a possible source of coronal heating by
rapid footpoint motions that cause magnetohydrodynamical waves. The number and
size distribution are of vital importance in estimating the small
scale-magnetic-field energy. Aims. The size distribution of MBPs is derived for
G-band images acquired by the Hinode/SOT instrument. Methods. For
identification purposes, a new automated segmentation and identification
algorithm was developed. Results. For a sampling of 0.108 arcsec/pixel, we
derived a mean diameter of (218 +- 48) km for the MBPs. For the full resolved
data set with a sampling of 0.054 arcsec/pixel, the size distribution shifted
to a mean diameter of (166 +- 31) km. The determined diameters are consistent
with earlier published values. The shift is most probably due to the different
spatial sampling. Conclusions. We conclude that the smallest magnetic elements
in the solar photosphere cannot yet be resolved by G-band observations. The
influence of discretisation effects (sampling) has also not yet been
investigated sufficiently.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 498, Issue 1, 2009, pp.289-29
Core excitation in Ozone localized to one of two symmetry-equivalent chemical bonds - molecular alignment through vibronic coupling
Core excitation from terminal oxygen O in O is shown to be an
excitation from a localized core orbital to a localized valence orbital. The
valence orbital is localized to one of the two equivalent chemical bonds. We
experimentally demonstrate this with the Auger Doppler effect which is
observable when O is core-excited to the highly dissociative
O1s7a state. Auger electrons emitted from the atomic oxygen
fragment carry information about the molecular orientation relative to the
electromagnetic field vector at the moment of excitation. The data together
with analytical functions for the electron-peak profiles give clear evidence
that the preferred molecular orientation for excitation only depends on the
orientation of one bond, not on the total molecular orientation. The
localization of the valence orbital "7a" is caused by mixing of the valence
orbital "5b" through vibronic coupling of anti-symmetric stretching mode
with b-symmetry. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first discussion
of the localization of a core excitation of O. This result explains the
success of the widely used assumption of localized core excitation in
adsorbates and large molecules
Multi-wavelength analysis of the field of the dark burst GRB 031220
We have collected and analyzed data taken in different spectral bands (from
X-ray to optical and infrared) of the field of GRB031220 and we present results
of such multiband observations. Comparison between images taken at different
epochs in the same filters did not reveal any strong variable source in the
field of this burst. X-ray analysis shows that only two of the seven Chandra
sources have a significant flux decrease and seem to be the most likely
afterglow candidates. Both sources do not show the typical values of the R-K
colour but they appear to be redder. However, only one source has an X-ray
decay index (1.3 +/- 0.1) that is typical for observed afterglows. We assume
that this source is the best afterglow candidate and we estimate a redshift of
1.90 +/- 0.30. Photometric analysis and redshift estimation for this object
suggest that this GRB can be classified as a Dark Burst and that the
obscuration is the result of dust extinction in the circum burst medium or
inside the host galaxy.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication on A&
The intensity contrast of solar granulation: comparing Hinode SP results with MHD simulations
The contrast of granulation is an important quantity characterizing solar
surface convection. We compare the intensity contrast at 630 nm, observed using
the Spectro-Polarimeter (SP) aboard the Hinode satellite, with the 3D radiative
MHD simulations of V{\"o}gler & Sch{\"u}ssler (2007). A synthetic image from
the simulation is degraded using a theoretical point-spread function of the
optical system, and by considering other important effects. The telescope
aperture and the obscuration by the secondary mirror and its attachment spider,
reduce the simulated contrast from 14.4 % to 8.5 %. A slight effective defocus
of the instrument brings the simulated contrast down to 7.5 %, close to the
observed value of 7.0 %. A proper consideration of the effects of the optical
system and a slight defocus, lead to sufficient degradation of the synthetic
image from the MHD simulation, such that the contrast reaches almost the
observed value. The remaining small discrepancy can be ascribed to straylight
and slight imperfections of the instrument, which are difficult to model.
Hence, Hinode SP data are consistent with a granulation contrast which is
predicted by 3D radiation MHD simulations.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in A&
Radio Spectral Evolution of an X-ray Poor Impulsive Solar Flare: Implications for Plasma Heating and Electron Acceleration
We present radio and X-ray observations of an impulsive solar flare that was
moderately intense in microwaves, yet showed very meager EUV and X-ray
emission. The flare occurred on 2001 Oct 24 and was well-observed at radio
wavelengths by the Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH), the Nobeyama Radio
Polarimeters (NoRP), and by the Owens Valley Solar Array (OVSA). It was also
observed in EUV and X-ray wavelength bands by the TRACE, GOES, and Yohkoh
satellites. We find that the impulsive onset of the radio emission is
progressively delayed with increasing frequency relative to the onset of hard
X-ray emission. In contrast, the time of flux density maximum is progressively
delayed with decreasing frequency. The decay phase is independent of radio
frequency. The simple source morphology and the excellent spectral coverage at
radio wavelengths allowed us to employ a nonlinear chi-squared minimization
scheme to fit the time series of radio spectra to a source model that accounts
for the observed radio emission in terms of gyrosynchrotron radiation from
MeV-energy electrons in a relatively dense thermal plasma. We discuss plasma
heating and electron acceleration in view of the parametric trends implied by
the model fitting. We suggest that stochastic acceleration likely plays a role
in accelerating the radio-emitting electrons.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure
Characterization of horizontal flows around solar pores from high-resolution time series of images
Though there is increasing evidence linking the moat flow and the Evershed
flow along the penumbral filaments, there is not a clear consensus regarding
the existence of a moat flow around umbral cores and pores, and the debate is
still open. Solar pores appear to be a suitable scenario to test the
moat-penumbra relation as evidencing the direct interaction between the umbra
and the convective plasma in the surrounding photosphere, without any
intermediate structure in between. The present work studies solar pores based
on high resolution ground-based and satellite observations. Local correlation
tracking techniques have been applied to different-duration time series to
analyze the horizontal flows around several solar pores. Our results establish
that the flows calculated from different solar pore observations are coherent
among each other and show the determinant and overall influence of exploding
events in the granulation around the pores. We do not find any sign of
moat-like flows surrounding solar pores but a clearly defined region of inflows
surrounding them. The connection between moat flows and flows associated to
penumbral filaments is hereby reinforced by this work.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysics
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