3,682 research outputs found
Radio-mode feedback in local AGNs: dependence on the central black hole parameters
Radio mode feedback, in which most of the energy of an active galactic
nucleus (AGN) is released in a kinetic form via radio-emitting jets, is thought
to play an important role in the maintenance of massive galaxies in the
present-day Universe. We study the link between radio emission and the
properties of the central black hole in a large sample of local radio galaxies
drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), based on the catalogue of Best
and Heckman (2012). Our sample is mainly dominated by massive black holes
(mostly in the range ) accreting at very low Eddington
ratios (typically ). In broad agreement with previously
reported trends, we find that radio galaxies are preferentially associated with
the more massive black holes, and that the radio loudness parameter seems to
increase with decreasing Eddington ratio. We compare our results with previous
studies in the literature, noting potential biases. The majority of the local
radio galaxies in our sample are currently in a radiatively inefficient
accretion regime, where kinetic feedback dominates over radiative feedback. We
discuss possible physical interpretations of the observed trends in the context
of a two-stage feedback process involving a transition in the underlying
accretion modes.Comment: accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical
Societ
Blueprint for fault-tolerant quantum computation with Rydberg atoms
We present a blueprint for building a fault-tolerant universal quantum computer with Rydberg atoms. Our scheme, which is based on the surface code, uses individually addressable, optically trapped atoms as qubits and exploits electromagnetically induced transparency to perform the multiqubit gates required for error correction and computation. We discuss the advantages and challenges of using Rydberg atoms to build such a quantum computer, and we perform error correction simulations to obtain an error threshold for our scheme. Our findings suggest that Rydberg atoms are a promising candidate for quantum computation, but gate fidelities need to improve before fault-tolerant universal quantum computation can be achieved
A system for online beam emittance measurements and proton beam characterization
A system for online measurement of the transverse beam emittance was
developed. It is named PrOBaM (4-Profiler Online Beam
Emittance Measurement) and was conceived to measure the emittance in a fast and
efficient way using the multiple beam profiler method. The core of the system
is constituted by four consecutive UniBEaM profilers, which are based on silica
fibers passing across the beam. The PrOBaM system was
deployed for characterization studies of the 18~MeV proton beam produced by the
IBA Cyclone 18 MeV cyclotron at Bern University Hospital (Inselspital). The
machine serves daily radioisotope production and multi-disciplinary research,
which is carried out with a specifically conceived Beam Transport Line (BTL).
The transverse RMS beam emittance of the cyclotron was measured as a function
of several machine parameters, such as the magnetic field, RF peak voltage, and
azimuthal angle of the stripper. The beam emittance was also measured using the
method based on the quadrupole strength variation. The results obtained with
both techniques were compared and a good agreement was found. In order to
characterize the longitudinal dynamics, the proton energy distribution was
measured. For this purpose, a method was developed based on aluminum absorbers
of different thicknesses, a UniBEaM detector, and a Faraday cup. The results
were an input for a simulation of the BTL developed in the MAD-X software. This
tool allows machine parameters to be tuned online and the beam characteristics
to be optimized for specific applications.Comment: published in Journal of Instrumentatio
Inference of the Cold Dark Matter substructure mass function at z=0.2 using strong gravitational lenses
We present the results of a search for galaxy substructures in a sample of 11
gravitational lens galaxies from the Sloan Lens ACS Survey. We find no
significant detection of mass clumps, except for a luminous satellite in the
system SDSS J0956+5110. We use these non-detections, in combination with a
previous detection in the system SDSS J0946+1006, to derive constraints on the
substructure mass function in massive early-type host galaxies with an average
redshift z ~ 0.2 and an average velocity dispersion of 270 km/s. We perform a
Bayesian inference on the substructure mass function, within a median region of
about 32 kpc squared around the Einstein radius (~4.2 kpc). We infer a mean
projected substructure mass fraction at the 68
percent confidence level and a substructure mass function slope < 2.93
at the 95 percent confidence level for a uniform prior probability density on
alpha. For a Gaussian prior based on Cold Dark Matter (CDM) simulations, we
infer and a slope of =
1.90 at the 68 percent confidence level. Since only one
substructure was detected in the full sample, we have little information on the
mass function slope, which is therefore poorly constrained (i.e. the Bayes
factor shows no positive preference for any of the two models).The inferred
fraction is consistent with the expectations from CDM simulations and with
inference from flux ratio anomalies at the 68 percent confidence level.Comment: Accepted for publication on MNRAS, some typos corrected and some
important references adde
Observations of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays
The status of measurements of the arrival directions, mass composition and
energy spectrum of cosmic rays above 3 x 10^18 eV (3 EeV) is reviewed using
reports presented at the 29th International Cosmic Ray Conference held in Pune,
India, in August 2005. The paper is based on a plenary talk given at the
TAUP2005 meeting in Zaragoza, 10 - 14 September 2005.Comment: 7 pages and two figure
A Three-Point Cosmic Ray Anisotropy Method
The two-point angular correlation function is a traditional method used to
search for deviations from expectations of isotropy. In this paper we develop
and explore a statistically descriptive three-point method with the intended
application being the search for deviations from isotropy in the highest energy
cosmic rays. We compare the sensitivity of a two-point method and a
"shape-strength" method for a variety of Monte-Carlo simulated anisotropic
signals. Studies are done with anisotropic source signals diluted by an
isotropic background. Type I and II errors for rejecting the hypothesis of
isotropic cosmic ray arrival directions are evaluated for four different event
sample sizes: 27, 40, 60 and 80 events, consistent with near term data
expectations from the Pierre Auger Observatory. In all cases the ability to
reject the isotropic hypothesis improves with event size and with the fraction
of anisotropic signal. While ~40 event data sets should be sufficient for
reliable identification of anisotropy in cases of rather extreme (highly
anisotropic) data, much larger data sets are suggested for reliable
identification of more subtle anisotropies. The shape-strength method
consistently performs better than the two point method and can be easily
adapted to an arbitrary experimental exposure on the celestial sphere.Comment: Fixed PDF erro
Luminous Satellites II: Spatial Distribution, Luminosity Function and Cosmic Evolution
We infer the normalization and the radial and angular distributions of the
number density of satellites of massive galaxies
() between redshifts 0.1 and 0.8 as a function
of host stellar mass, redshift, morphology and satellite luminosity. Exploiting
the depth and resolution of the COSMOS HST images, we detect satellites up to
eight magnitudes fainter than the host galaxies and as close as 0.3 (1.4)
arcseconds (kpc). Describing the number density profile of satellite galaxies
to be a projected power law such that P(R)\propto R^{\rpower}, we find
\rpower=-1.1\pm 0.3. We find no dependency of \rpower on host stellar mass,
redshift, morphology or satellite luminosity. Satellites of early-type hosts
have angular distributions that are more flattened than the host light profile
and are aligned with its major axis. No significant average alignment is
detected for satellites of late-type hosts. The number of satellites within a
fixed magnitude contrast from a host galaxy is dependent on its stellar mass,
with more massive galaxies hosting significantly more satellites. Furthermore,
high-mass late-type hosts have significantly fewer satellites than early-type
galaxies of the same stellar mass, likely a result of environmental
differences. No significant evolution in the number of satellites per host is
detected. The cumulative luminosity function of satellites is qualitatively in
good agreement with that predicted using subhalo abundance matching techniques.
However, there are significant residual discrepancies in the absolute
normalization, suggesting that properties other than the host galaxy luminosity
or stellar mass determine the number of satellites.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
On the Electric Breakdown in Liquid Argon at Centimeter Scale
We present a study on the dependence of electric breakdown discharge
properties on electrode geometry and the breakdown field in liquid argon near
its boiling point. The measurements were performed with a spherical cathode and
a planar anode at distances ranging from 0.1 mm to 10.0 mm. A detailed study of
the time evolution of the breakdown volt-ampere characteristics was performed
for the first time. It revealed a slow streamer development phase in the
discharge. The results of a spectroscopic study of the visible light emission
of the breakdowns complement the measurements. The light emission from the
initial phase of the discharge is attributed to electro-luminescence of liquid
argon following a current of drifting electrons. These results contribute to
set benchmarks for breakdown-safe design of ionization detectors, such as
Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LAr TPC).Comment: Minor revision according to editor report. 17 pages, 15 figures, 2
tables. Turboencabulato
How can alien species inventories and interception data help us prevent insect invasions?
Information relevant to invasion processes and invasive alien insect species management in Central Europe was extracted from two databases: a compilation of two inventories of alien insects in Austria and Switzerland, and a list of interceptions of non-indigenous plant pests in Europe gathered by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) for the period 1995-2004. For one-third of the insects established in Switzerland and Austria, the region of origin is unclear. Others come mainly from North America, Asia and the Mediterranean region. Among the intercepted insects, 40% were associated with commodities from Asia, 32% from Europe and only 2% from North America. Sternorrhyncha, Coleoptera and Psocoptera were particularly well represented in the alien fauna compared to the native fauna. In the interception database, Sternorrhyncha were also well represented but Diptera accounted for the highest number of records. Sap feeders and detritivores were the dominant feeding niches in the alien insect fauna. In contrast, external defoliators, stem borers, gall makers, root feeders, predators and parasitoids were underrepresented. Nearly 40% of the alien insects in Switzerland and Austria live only indoors. Another 15% live outdoors but exclusively or predominantly on exotic plants. Less than 20% are found mainly in ‘natural' environments. The majority of introductions of alien insects in Europe are associated with the international trade in ornamental plants. An economic impact was found for 40% of the alien insects in Switzerland and Austria, whereas none is known to have an ecological impact. The implications of these observations for further studies and the management of alien species in Europe are discusse
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