A spectroscopic analysis of the chemically peculiar star HD207561

In this paper we present a high-resolution spectroscopic analysis of the chemically peculiar star HD207561. During a survey programme to search for new roAp stars in the Northern hemisphere, Joshi et al. (2006) observed significant photometric variability on two consecutive nights in the year 2000. The amplitude spectra of the light curves obtained on these two nights showed oscillations with a frequency of 2.79 mHz [P~6-min]. However, subsequent follow-up observations could not confirm any rapid variability. In order to determine the spectroscopic nature of HD207561, high-resolution spectroscopic and spectro-polarimetric observations were carried out. A reasonable fit of the calculated Hbeta line profile to the observed one yields the effective temperature (Teff) and surface gravity (log g) as 7300 K and 3.7 dex, respectively. The derived projected rotational velocity (vsin i) for HD207561 is 74 km/sec indicative of a relatively fast rotator. The position of HD207561 in the H-R diagram implies that this is slightly evolved from the main-sequence and located well within the delta-Scuti instability strip. The abundance analysis indicates the star has slight under-abundances of Ca and Sc and mild over-abundances of iron-peak elements. The spectro-polarimetric study of HD207561 shows that the effective magnetic field is within the observational error of 100 gauss (G). The spectroscopic analysis revealed that the star has most of the characteristics similar to an Am star, rather than an Ap star, and that it lies in the delta-Scuti instability strip; hence roAp pulsations are not expected in HD207561, but low-overtone modes might be excited.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for pubblication in MNRA

Comprehensive study of the magnetic stars HD 5797 and HD 40711 with large chromium and iron overabundances

We present the results of a comprehensive study of the chemically peculiar stars HD 5797 and HD 40711. The stars have the same effective temperature, Teff = 8900 K, and a similar chemical composition with large iron (+1.5 dex) and chromium (+3 dex) overabundances compared to the Sun. The overabundance of rare-earth elements typically reaches +3 dex. We have measured the magnetic field of HD 5797. The longitudinal field component Be has been found to vary sinusoidally between -100 and +1000 G with a period of 69 days. Our estimate of the evolutionary status of the stars suggests that HD 5797 and HD 40711, old objects with an age t \approx 5 \times 108 yr, are near the end of the core hydrogen burning phase.Comment: 26 pages, 5 Encapsulated Postscript figure

Statistics of Magnetic Fields for OB Stars

Based on an analysis of the catalog of magnetic fields, we have investigated the statistical properties of the mean magnetic fields for OB stars. We show that the mean effective magnetic field ${\cal B}$ of a star can be used as a statistically significant characteristic of its magnetic field. No correlation has been found between the mean magnetic field strength ${\cal B}$ and projected rotational velocity of OB stars, which is consistent with the hypothesis about a fossil origin of the magnetic field. We have constructed the magnetic field distribution function for B stars, $F({\cal B})$, that has a power-law dependence on ${\cal B}$ with an exponent of $\approx -1.82$. We have found a sharp decrease in the function $F({\cal B})$F for {\cal B}\lem 400 G that may be related to rapid dissipation of weak stellar surface magnetic fields.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, accepted Astronomy Letters, 2010, vol.36, No.5, pp.370-379, contact E-mail: [email protected]

Towards pain-free diagnosis of skin diseases through multiplexed microneedles: biomarker extraction and detection using a highly sensitive blotting method

Immunodiagnostic microneedles provide a novel way to extract protein biomarkers from the skin in a minimally invasive manner for analysis in vitro. The technology could overcome challenges in biomarker analysis specifically in solid tissue, which currently often involves invasive biopsies. This study describes the development of a multiplex immunodiagnostic device incorporating mechanisms to detect multiple antigens simultaneously, as well as internal assay controls for result validation. A novel detection method is also proposed. It enables signal detection specifically at microneedle tips and therefore may aid the construction of depth profiles of skin biomarkers. The detection method can be coupled with computerised densitometry for signal quantitation. The antigen specificity, sensitivity and functional stability of the device were assessed against a number of model biomarkers. Detection and analysis of endogenous antigens (interleukins 1α and 6) from the skin using the device was demonstrated. The results were verified using conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The detection limit of the microneedle device, at ≤10 pg/mL, was at least comparable to conventional plate-based solid-phase enzyme immunoassays

Controlling Surface Potential of Graphene Using dc Electric Field

In this work, we study surface potential of graphite deposited on SiO2/Si substrate using Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) and Electric Force Microscopy (EFM). The amplitude modulated KPFM (AM-KPFM) shows that the graphene layer work function is 4.69±0.02 eV, whereas frequency modulated KPFM (FM-KPFM) revealed 4.50±0.02 eV. The work function indifference of 0.19±0.02 eV was attributed to the superior resolution of FM-KPFM and higher detection sensitivity of AM-KPFM. Subsequent EFM mapping suggests that the phase monotonically increases with increasing applied dc bias voltage in the range from -5 V to 5 V. This phase shift is ascribed to the induced charge polarization at tip-graphene surface due to interatomic interactions induced by dc field effects

Crystal optical method for temperature measuring

A new crystal optical method for temperature measuring based on the sign inversion of birefringence ∆n and temperature dependence of ∆n(T) is substantiated. The respective characteristics of some crystals are presented, which confirm good metrological and exploitation properties of the method. It is noted that the method solves some problems which arise in thermometry based on thermoelectricity and thermoresistance. The proposed method also gives better possibilities for measuring the temperature in hard conditions (in the region of high electric and magnetic fields, rotating workpieces etc.).Обгрунтовується новий кристалооптичний метод вимірювання температури на базі інверсії знаку двозаломлення ∆n та температурної залежності ∆n(T). Наведено відповідні характеристики деяких кристалів, які підтверджують високі метрологічні та експлуатаційні характеристики методу. Відзначається, що метод розв’язує деякі проблеми, що виникають перед термометрією на базі термоелектрики і термоопору, а також відкриває більш високі можливості вимірювань температури у важких умовах (в області високих електричних та магнітних полів, деталей, що обертаються і ін.)

Ivan Puluj – a renaissance man

Стаття про ученого-новатора, умілого та вдумливого фізика-експериментатора, оригінального конструктора та винахідника, блискучого лектора і активного організатора і разом з тим письменника перекладача та публіциста і громадського діяча, що боровся за національне відродження українського народуThe article discusses a scientist-innovator, a skilled and thoughtful physicist-experimenter, an original engineer and inventor, a brilliant lecturer and active organizer, as well as a writer-translator, publicist, and public figure who fought for the national revival of the Ukrainian peopl

Critical indices of the ferroelectric phase transition in TGS crystals

Temperature dependencies of retardation, electron susceptibility and linear thermal expansion for three crystal-physic directions are obtained by means of optical investigations of the ferroelectric phase transition in TGS crystal using the James-type interferometer. Temperature dependencies of the spontaneous changes of the characteristics studied in the 39–49◦ C range are fitted by the power low Y ~ τ²β with double critical indices 2β=0.87–0.95. Difference of 2β values from the unity is explained by the essential temperature dependence in the range close to the phase transition point for the coefficients of electrooptic, reversed piezoelectric and electrostriction effects.Шляхом оптичних вимірювань сегнетоелектричного фазового переходу в кристалі тригліцинсульфату за допомогою інтерферометра Жамена одержано температурні залежності оптичної рiзниці ходу, електронної сприйнятливості та лінійного розширення для трьох кристалофізичних напрямків. Температурні залежності спонтанних змін досліджуваних характеристик в області 39–49◦ C апроксимовані степеневими залежностями Y ~ τ²β з подвійними критичними індексами 2β=0.87–0.95. Відмінність 2β від одиниці пояснюється суттєвою температурною залежністю поблизу точки фазового переходу коефіцієнтів електрооптичного, оберненого п’єзоелектричного ефектів та електрострикції