13,694 research outputs found
On the Formation of Boxy and Disky Elliptical Galaxies
The origin of boxy and disky elliptical galaxies is investigated. The results
of two collisionless N-body simulations of spiral-spiral mergers with mass
ratios of 1:1 and 3:1 are discussed and the projected properties of the merger
remnants are investigated. It is shown that the equal-mass merger leads to an
anisotropic, slowly rotating system with preferentially boxy isophotes and
significant minor axis rotation. The unequal-mass merger results in the
formation of a rotationally supported elliptical with disky isophotes and small
minor axis rotation. The observed scatter in the kinematical and isophotal
properties of both classes of elliptical galaxies can be explained by
projection effects.Comment: 12 pages, incl. 5 figures, accepted by ApJ Letter
Extending PT symmetry from Heisenberg algebra to E2 algebra
The E2 algebra has three elements, J, u, and v, which satisfy the commutation
relations [u,J]=iv, [v,J]=-iu, [u,v]=0. We can construct the Hamiltonian
H=J^2+gu, where g is a real parameter, from these elements. This Hamiltonian is
Hermitian and consequently it has real eigenvalues. However, we can also
construct the PT-symmetric and non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H=J^2+igu, where again
g is real. As in the case of PT-symmetric Hamiltonians constructed from the
elements x and p of the Heisenberg algebra, there are two regions in parameter
space for this PT-symmetric Hamiltonian, a region of unbroken PT symmetry in
which all the eigenvalues are real and a region of broken PT symmetry in which
some of the eigenvalues are complex. The two regions are separated by a
critical value of g.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Harmonic oscillator well with a screened Coulombic core is quasi-exactly solvable
In the quantization scheme which weakens the hermiticity of a Hamiltonian to
its mere PT invariance the superposition V(x) = x^2+ Ze^2/x of the harmonic and
Coulomb potentials is defined at the purely imaginary effective charges
(Ze^2=if) and regularized by a purely imaginary shift of x. This model is
quasi-exactly solvable: We show that at each excited, (N+1)-st
harmonic-oscillator energy E=2N+3 there exists not only the well known harmonic
oscillator bound state (at the vanishing charge f=0) but also a normalizable
(N+1)-plet of the further elementary Sturmian eigenstates \psi_n(x) at
eigencharges f=f_n > 0, n = 0, 1, ..., N. Beyond the first few smallest
multiplicities N we recommend their perturbative construction.Comment: 13 pages, Latex file, to appear in J. Phys. A: Math. Ge
Vector Casimir effect for a D-dimensional sphere
The Casimir energy or stress due to modes in a D-dimensional volume subject
to TM (mixed) boundary conditions on a bounding spherical surface is
calculated. Both interior and exterior modes are included. Together with
earlier results found for scalar modes (TE modes), this gives the Casimir
effect for fluctuating ``electromagnetic'' (vector) fields inside and outside a
spherical shell. Known results for three dimensions, first found by Boyer, are
reproduced. Qualitatively, the results for TM modes are similar to those for
scalar modes: Poles occur in the stress at positive even dimensions, and cusps
(logarithmic singularities) occur for integer dimensions . Particular
attention is given the interesting case of D=2.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figure, REVTe
The Isophotal Structure of Early-Type Galaxies in the SDSS: Dependence on AGN Activity and Environment
We study the dependence of the isophotal shape of early-type galaxies on
their absolute B-band magnitude, their dynamical mass, and their nuclear
activity and environment, using an unprecedented large sample of 847 early-type
galaxies identified in the SDSS by Hao et al (2006). We find that the fraction
of disky galaxies smoothly decreases with increasing luminosity. The large
sample allows us to describe these trends accurately with tight linear
relations that are statistically robust against the uncertainty in the
isophotal shape measurements. There is also a host of significant correlations
between the disky fraction and indicators of nuclear activity (both in the
optical and in the radio) and environment (soft X-rays, group mass, group
hierarchy). Our analysis shows however that these correlations can be
accurately matched by assuming that the disky fraction depends only on galaxy
luminosity or mass. We therefore conclude that neither the level of activity,
nor group mass or group hierarchy help in better predicting the isophotal shape
of early-type galaxies.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Homogeneity of Stellar Populations in Early-Type Galaxies with Different X-ray Properties
We have found the stellar populations of early-type galaxies are homogeneous
with no significant difference in color or Mg2 index, despite the dichotomy
between X-ray extended early-type galaxies and X-ray compact ones. Since the
X-ray properties reflect the potential gravitational structure and hence the
process of galaxy formation, the homogeneity of the stellar populations implies
that the formation of stars in early-type galaxies predat es the epoch when the
dichotomy of the potential structure was established.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Chaotic systems in complex phase space
This paper examines numerically the complex classical trajectories of the
kicked rotor and the double pendulum. Both of these systems exhibit a
transition to chaos, and this feature is studied in complex phase space.
Additionally, it is shown that the short-time and long-time behaviors of these
two PT-symmetric dynamical models in complex phase space exhibit strong
qualitative similarities.Comment: 22 page, 16 figure
Spin switching via quantum dot spin valves
We develop a theory for spin transport and magnetization dynamics in a
quantum-dot spin valve, i.e., two magnetic reservoirs coupled to a quantum dot.
Our theory is able to take into account effects of strong correlations. We
demonstrate that, as a result of these strong correlations, the dot gate
voltage enables control over the current-induced torques on the magnets, and,
in particular, enables voltage-controlled magnetic switching. The electrical
resistance of the structure can be used to read out the magnetic state. Our
model may be realized by a number of experimental systems, including magnetic
scanning-tunneling microscope tips and artificial quantum dot systems
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