4,380 research outputs found
The asteroseismological potential of the pulsating DB white dwarf stars CBS 114 and PG 1456+103
We have acquired 65 h of single-site time-resolved CCD photometry of the
pulsating DB white dwarf star CBS 114 and 62 h of two-site high-speed CCD
photometry of another DBV, PG 1456+103. The pulsation spectrum of PG 1456+103
is complicated and variable on time scales of about one week and could only
partly be deciphered with our measurements. The modes of CBS 114 are more
stable in time and we were able to arrive at a frequency solution somewhat
affected by aliasing, but still satisfactory, involving seven independent modes
and two combination frequencies. These frequencies also explain the discovery
data of the star, taken 13 years earlier. We find a mean period spacing of 37.1
+/- 0.7 s significant at the 98% level between the independent modes of CBS 114
and argue that they are due to nonradial g-mode pulsations of spherical degree
l=1. We performed a global search for asteroseismological models of CBS 114
using a genetic algorithm, and we examined the susceptibility of the results to
the uncertainties of the observational frequency determinations and mode
identifications (we could not provide m values). The families of possible
solutions are identified correctly even without knowledge of m. Our optimal
model suggests Teff = 21,000 K and M_* = 0.730 M_sun as well as log(M_He/M_*) =
-6.66, X_O = 0.61. This measurement of the central oxygen mass fraction implies
a rate for the ^12C(alpha,gamma)^16O nuclear reaction near S_300=180 keV b,
consistent with laboratory measurements.Comment: 10 pages, 10 embedded figures, 3 embedded tables. Accepted for
publication in MNRA
Multiwavelength Observations of the Hot DB Star PG 0112+104
We present a comprehensive multiwavelength analysis of the hot DB white dwarf
PG 0112+104. Our analysis relies on newly-acquired FUSE observations, on
medium-resolution FOS and GHRS data, on archival high-resolution GHRS
observations, on optical spectrophotometry both in the blue and around Halpha,
as well as on time-resolved photometry. From the optical data, we derive a
self-consistent effective temperature of 31,300+-500 K, a surface gravity of
log g = 7.8 +- 0.1 (M=0.52 Msun), and a hydrogen abundance of log N(H)/N(He) <
-4.0. The FUSE spectra reveal the presence of CII and CIII lines that
complement the previous detection of CII transitions with the GHRS. The
improved carbon abundance in this hot object is log N(C)/N(He) = -6.15 +- 0.23.
No photospheric features associated with other heavy elements are detected. We
reconsider the role of PG 0112+104 in the definition of the blue edge of the
V777 Her instability strip in light of our high-speed photometry, and contrast
our results with those of previous observations carried out at the McDonald
Observatory.Comment: 10 pages in emulateapj, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Towards Automated Benchmarking of Atomistic Forcefields: Neat Liquid Densities and Static Dielectric Constants from the ThermoML Data Archive
Atomistic molecular simulations are a powerful way to make quantitative
predictions, but the accuracy of these predictions depends entirely on the
quality of the forcefield employed. While experimental measurements of
fundamental physical properties offer a straightforward approach for evaluating
forcefield quality, the bulk of this information has been tied up in formats
that are not machine-readable. Compiling benchmark datasets of physical
properties from non-machine-readable sources require substantial human effort
and is prone to accumulation of human errors, hindering the development of
reproducible benchmarks of forcefield accuracy. Here, we examine the
feasibility of benchmarking atomistic forcefields against the NIST ThermoML
data archive of physicochemical measurements, which aggregates thousands of
experimental measurements in a portable, machine-readable, self-annotating
format. As a proof of concept, we present a detailed benchmark of the
generalized Amber small molecule forcefield (GAFF) using the AM1-BCC charge
model against measurements (specifically bulk liquid densities and static
dielectric constants at ambient pressure) automatically extracted from the
archive, and discuss the extent of available data. The results of this
benchmark highlight a general problem with fixed-charge forcefields in the
representation low dielectric environments such as those seen in binding
cavities or biological membranes
Coherent Error Suppression in Multi-Qubit Entangling Gates
We demonstrate a simple pulse shaping technique designed to improve the
fidelity of spin-dependent force operations commonly used to implement
entangling gates in trapped-ion systems. This extension of the
M{\o}lmer-S{\o}rensen gate can theoretically suppress the effects of certain
frequency and timing errors to any desired order and is demonstrated through
Walsh modulation of a two-qubit entangling gate on trapped atomic ions. The
technique is applicable to any system of qubits coupled through collective
harmonic oscillator modes
Ion cyclotron resonance studies of radiative and dissociative electron attachment processes at low pressures
Ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy is used to measure nondissociative electron attachment rate constants for C6F6 (perfluorobenzene), C7F8 (perfluorotoluene), c-C4F8 (perfluorocyclobutane), and C7F14 (perfluoromethylcyclohexane) at low pressure (<10−6 Torr). Infrared emission is assumed to stabilize excited species leading to long-lived molecular negative ions. Combining the present data with negative ion lifetimes measured at low pressures by time-of-flight methods and electron attachment rates measured at high pressures in swarm experiments allows estimates of radiative lifetimes to be made. These all fall in the range from 0.4 to 1.5 msec, which are typical of infrared radiative lifetimes. Data are also presented for dissociative electron attachment to CCl4, where the rate limiting step is shown to be thermalization of the electron energy distribution. A number of different buffer gases are examined and the ion cyclotron resonance results extrapolate to yield the attachment rate measured in high pressure swarm experiments
Variation in home range size and patterns in adult female American crocodiles Crocodylus acutus
The American crocodile Crocodylus acutus is a threatened species that uses relatively deep, open-water habitats with low salinity. Adult female American crocodiles nest on sandy coastal beaches, islands or human-made berms, assist in the hatching process, and can travel long distances to nesting habitat. We satellite-tracked 15 adult female American crocodiles in 2 hydrologically distinct areas in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, to quantify the home range sizes, test for intraspecific differences in home range and core area size and structure, and identify important crocodile high-use areas. Overall home ranges (95% kernel density estimate; KDE) for adult female crocodiles in South Florida ranged from 30.0 to 141.9 km2 (mean ± SD, 84.4 ± 32.3 km2), and core areas (50% KDE) ranged from 4.7 to 27.4 km2 (17.8 ± 7.3 km2). We identified patterns in home range and core area overlap, seasonally shifting patterns in core area use, and the Fox Lake complex as an important crocodile high-use area. As the population of American crocodiles continues to grow and expand into new areas, it is important for conservation managers to understand individual crocodile habitat-use patterns and spatial resource requirements
Revisiting the theoretical DBV (V777 Her) instability strip: the MLT theory of convection
We reexamine the theoretical instability domain of pulsating DB white dwarfs
(DBV or V777 Her variables). We performed an extensive -mode nonadiabatic
pulsation analysis of DB evolutionary models considering a wide range of
stellar masses, for which the complete evolutionary stages of their progenitors
from the ZAMS, through the thermally pulsing AGB and born-again phases, the
domain of the PG1159 stars, the hot phase of DO white dwarfs, and then the DB
white dwarf stage have been considered. We explicitly account for the evolution
of the chemical abundance distribution due to time-dependent chemical diffusion
processes. We examine the impact of the different prescriptions of the MLT
theory of convection and the effects of small amounts of H in the almost
He-pure atmospheres of DB stars on the precise location of the theoretical blue
edge of the DBV instability strip.Comment: Proceedings, 16th European White Dwarf Workshop, Barcelona, 200
Resilience to climate shocks in the tropics
This focus collection on resilience to climate shocks in the tropics draws together 16 papers that predominantly examine the impacts of, and responses to, the 2015/2016 El Niño-Southern Oscillation event, in a range of contexts. This introductory synthesis contextualises the collection of papers by reviewing important concepts and highlighting some important insights that emerge from the collection. The papers in this collection collectively highlight: the value of longitudinal and interdisciplinary research in understanding both the roots of, and responses to, resilience challenges; the critical interaction between climatic and land-use changes; and the ways in which governance arrangements underpin societal decision-making across a range of scales and contexts to shape resilience
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