4,695 research outputs found
Self-dual formulations of d=3 gravity theories in the path-integral framework
We study the connection, at the quantum level, between d=2+1 dimensional
self-dual models with actions of growing (from first to fourth) order,
governing the dynamics of helicity +2 (or -2) massive excitations. We obtain
identities between generating functionals of the different models using the
path-integral framework, this allowing to establish dual maps among relevant
vacuum expectation values. We check consistency of these v.e.v.'s with the
gauge invariance gained in each mapping.Comment: 26 pages. LaTeX. Minor changes. Published in Int. J Modern Phys. A;
http://www.worldscinet.com/ijmp
Effect of the number of vortices on the torque scaling in Taylor-Couette flow
Torque measurements in Taylor-Couette flow, with large radius ratio and large
aspect ratio, over a range of velocities up to a Reynolds number of 24 000 are
presented. Following a specific procedure, nine states with distinct number of
vortices along the axis were found and the aspect ratio of the vortices were
measured. The relationship between the speed and the torque for a given number
of vortices is reported. In the turbulent Taylor vortex flow regime, at
relatively high Reynolds number, a change in behaviour is observed
corresponding to intersections of the torque-speed curves for different states.
Before each intersection, the torque for a state with larger number of vortices
is higher. After each intersection, the torque for a state with larger number
of vortices is lower. The exponent, from the scaling laws of the torque, always
depends on the aspect ratio of the vortices. When the Reynolds number is
rescaled using the mean aspect ratio of the vortices, only a partial collapse
of the exponent data is found.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure
Joint Density-Functional Theory of the Electrode-Electrolyte Interface: Application to Fixed Electrode Potentials, Interfacial Capacitances, and Potentials of Zero Charge
This work explores the use of joint density-functional theory, a new form of
density-functional theory for the ab initio description of electronic systems
in thermodynamic equilibrium with a liquid environment, to describe
electrochemical systems. After reviewing the physics of the underlying
fundamental electrochemical concepts, we identify the mapping between commonly
measured electrochemical observables and microscopically computable quantities
within an, in principle, exact theoretical framework. We then introduce a
simple, computationally efficient approximate functional which we find to be
quite successful in capturing a priori basic electrochemical phenomena,
including the capacitive Stern and diffusive Gouy-Chapman regions in the
electrochemical double layer, quantitative values for interfacial capacitance,
and electrochemical potentials of zero charge for a series of metals. We
explore surface charging with applied potential and are able to place our ab
initio results directly on the scale associated with the Standard Hydrogen
Electrode (SHE). Finally, we provide explicit details for implementation within
standard density-functional theory software packages at negligible
computational cost over standard calculations carried out within vacuum
environments.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures. Initially presented at APS March Meeting 2010.
Accepted for publication in Physical Review B on Jul. 27, 201
The eccentric short-period orbit of the supergiant fast X-ray transient HD 74194 (=LM Vel)
Aims. We present the first orbital solution for the O-type supergiant star HD
74194, which is the optical counterpart of the supergiant fast X-ray transient
IGR J08408-4503. Methods. We measured the radial velocities in the optical
spectrum of HD 74194, and we determined the orbital solution for the first
time. We also analysed the complex H{\alpha} profile. Results. HD 74194 is a
binary system composed of an O-type supergiant and a compact object in a
short-period ( d) and high-eccentricity ()
orbit. The equivalent width of the H{\alpha} line is not modulated entirely
with the orbital period, but seems to vary in a superorbital period
( d) nearly 30 times longer than the orbital one.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Robust ab initio calculation of condensed matter: transparent convergence through semicardinal multiresolution analysis
We present the first wavelet-based all-electron density-functional
calculations to include gradient corrections and the first in a solid. Direct
comparison shows this approach to be unique in providing systematic
``transparent'' convergence, convergence with a priori prediction of errors, to
beyond chemical (millihartree) accuracy. The method is ideal for exploration of
materials under novel conditions where there is little experience with how
traditional methods perform and for the development and use of chemically
accurate density functionals, which demand reliable access to such precision.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. (updated
to include GGA
The Galactic O-Star Spectroscopic Survey (GOSSS). II. Bright Southern Stars
We present the second installment of GOSSS, a massive spectroscopic survey of
Galactic O stars, based on new homogeneous, high signal-to-noise ratio, R ~
2500 digital observations from both hemispheres selected from the Galactic
O-Star Catalog (GOSC). In this paper we include bright stars and other objects
drawn mostly from the first version of GOSC, all of them south of delta = -20
degrees, for a total number of 258 O stars. We also revise the northern sample
of paper I to provide the full list of spectroscopically classified Galactic O
stars complete to B = 8, bringing the total number of published GOSSS stars to
448. Extensive sequences of exceptional objects are given, including the early
Of/WN, O Iafpe, Ofc, ON/OC, Onfp, Of?p, and Oe types, as well as
double/triple-lined spectroscopic binaries. The new spectral subtype O9.2 is
also discussed. The magnitude and spatial distributions of the observed sample
are analyzed. We also present new results from OWN, a multi-epoch
high-resolution spectroscopic survey coordinated with GOSSS that is assembling
the largest sample of Galactic spectroscopic massive binaries ever attained.
The OWN data combined with additional information on spectroscopic and visual
binaries from the literature indicate that only a very small fraction (if any)
of the stars with masses above 15-20 M_Sol are born as single systems. In the
future we will publish the rest of the GOSSS survey, which is expected to
include over 1000 Galactic O stars.Comment: 110 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in ApJS. Some figures
have low quality due to arXiv file size limitations, alternative version
available at http://jmaiz.iaa.es/files/Sotaetal14.pd
Spectroscopic and photometric analysis of the early-type spectroscopic binary HD 161853 in the centre of an H II region
We study the O-type star HD 161853, which has been noted as a probable
double-lined spectroscopic binary system. We secured high-resolution spectra of
HD 161853 during the past nine years. We separated the two components in the
system and measured their respective radial velocities for the first time. We
confirm that HD 161853 is an 1 Ma old binary system consisting of an O8 V
star ( M) and a B1--3 V star ( M) at about 1.3 kpc. From the radial velocity curve, we measure an
orbital period = 2.667650.00001 d and an eccentricity =
0.1210.007. Its -band light curve is constant within 0.014 mag and does
not display eclipses, from which we impose a maximum orbital inclination
deg. HD 161853 is probably associated with an H II region and a poorly
investigated very young open cluster. In addition, we detect a compact emission
region at 50 arcsec to HD 161853 in 22m-WISE and 24m-Spitzer images,
which may be identified as a dust wave piled up by the radiation pressure of
the massive binary system.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in A&
Geysers in the Lagoon: new Herbig-Haro objects in M8
Aims: We search for direct evidence of ongoing star formation by accretion in
the Lagoon Nebula (M8), using optical wide-field narrow-band imaging obtained
at La Silla Observatory.
Methods: We examine [SII] and Halpha images for line-emission features that
could be interpreted as signatures of outflow activity of the exciting sources.
Results: We discover five new Herbig-Haro objects, study in detail their
morphology and attempt to identify their potential driving sources among the
population of T Tauri stars and embedded sources in the surroundings.
Conclusions: The results reported here conclusively demonstrate the existence
of very young stars going through the accreting phase in the M8 region.Comment: 9 pages, 6 postscript figures (one in color). Accepted, Astronomy and
Astrophysic
The young stellar population of NGC 4214 as observed with HST. I. Data and methods
We present the data and methods that we have used to perform a detailed
UV-optical study of the nearby dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 4214 using
multifilter HST/WFPC2+STIS photometry. We explain the process followed to
obtain high-quality photometry and astrometry of the stellar and cluster
populations of this galaxy. We describe the procedure used to transform
magnitudes and colors into physical parameters using spectral energy
distributions. The data show the existence of both young and old stellar
populations that can be resolved at the distance of NGC 4214 (2.94 Mpc) and we
perform a general description of those populations.Comment: 33 pages, 9 figures, and 8 table
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