648 research outputs found
A New Version of Reimers' law of Mass Loss Based on a Physical Approach
We present a new semi-empirical relation for the mass loss of cool stellar
winds, which so far has frequently been described by "Reimers' law".
Originally, this relation was based solely on dimensional scaling arguments
without any physical interpretation. In our approach, the wind is assumed to
result from the spill-over of the extended chromosphere, possibly associated
with the action of waves, especially Alfven waves, which are used as guidance
in the derivation of the new formula. We obtain a relation akin to the original
Reimers law, but which includes two new factors. They reflect how the
chromospheric height depends on gravity and how the mechanical energy flux
depends, mainly, on effective temperature. The new relation is tested and
sensitively calibrated by modelling the blue end of the Horizontal Branch of
globular clusters. The most significant difference from mass loss rates
predicted by the Reimers relation is an increase by up to a factor of 3 for
luminous late-type (super-)giants, in good agreement with observations.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, accepted by ApJ Letter
Flaring Up All Over -- Radio Activity in Rapidly-Rotating Late-Type M and L Dwarfs
We present Very Large Array observations of twelve late M and L dwarfs in the
Solar neighborhood. The observed sources were chosen to cover a wide range of
physical characteristics - spectral type, rotation, age, binarity, and X-ray
and H\alpha activity - to determine the role of these properties in the
production of radio emission, and hence magnetic fields. Three of the twelve
sources, TVLM513-46546, 2MASS J0036159+182110, and BRI0021-0214, were observed
to flare and also exhibit persistent emission, indicating that magnetic
activity is not quenched at the bottom of the main sequence. The radio emission
extends to spectral type L3.5, and there is no apparent decrease in the ratio
of flaring luminosities to bolometric luminosities between M8-L3.5. Moreover,
contrary to the significant drop in persistent H\alpha activity beyond spectral
type M7, the persistent radio activity appears to steadily increase between
M3-L3.5. Similarly, the radio emission from BRI0021-0214 violates the
phenomenological relations between the radio and X-ray luminosities of
coronally active stars, hinting that radio and X-ray activity are also
uncorrelated at the bottom of the main sequence. The radio active sources that
have measured rotational velocities are rapid rotators, Vsin(i)>30 km/sec,
while the upper limits on radio activity in slowly-rotating late M dwarfs
(Vsin(i)<10 km/sec) are lower than these detections. These observations provide
tantalizing evidence that rapidly-rotating late M and L dwarfs are more likely
to be radio active. This possible correlation is puzzling given that the
observed radio emission requires sustained magnetic fields of 10-1000 G and
densities of 10^12 cm^-3, indicating that the active sources should have slowed
down considerably due to magnetic braking.Comment: Accepted to ApJ; Two new figures; Minor text revision
Geometry and symmetries of multi-particle systems
The quantum dynamical evolution of atomic and molecular aggregates, from
their compact to their fragmented states, is parametrized by a single
collective radial parameter. Treating all the remaining particle coordinates in
d dimensions democratically, as a set of angles orthogonal to this collective
radius or by equivalent variables, bypasses all independent-particle
approximations. The invariance of the total kinetic energy under arbitrary
d-dimensional transformations which preserve the radial parameter gives rise to
novel quantum numbers and ladder operators interconnecting its eigenstates at
each value of the radial parameter.
We develop the systematics and technology of this approach, introducing the
relevant mathematics tutorially, by analogy to the familiar theory of angular
momentum in three dimensions. The angular basis functions so obtained are
treated in a manifestly coordinate-free manner, thus serving as a flexible
generalized basis for carrying out detailed studies of wavefunction evolution
in multi-particle systems.Comment: 37 pages, 2 eps figure
Two accreting protoplanets around the young star PDS 70
Newly forming proto-planets are expected to create cavities and substructures
in young, gas-rich proto-planetary disks, but they are difficult to detect as
they could be confused with disk features affected by advanced image-analysis
techniques. Recently, a planet was discovered inside the gap of the
transitional disk of the T-Tauri star PDS 70. Here we report on the detection
of strong H-alpha emission from two distinct locations in the PDS 70 system,
one corresponding to the previously discovered planet PDS 70 b, which confirms
the earlier H detection, and another located close to the outer-edge of
the gap, coinciding with a previously identified bright dust spot in the disk
and with a small opening in a ring of molecular emission. We identify this
second H peak as a second proto-planet in the PDS 70 system. The
H emission spectra of both proto-planets indicate ongoing accretion
onto the proto-planets, which appear to be near a 2:1 mean motion resonance.
Our observations show that adaptive-optics-assisted, medium-resolution,
integral-field spectroscopy with MUSE targeting accretion signatures will be a
powerful way to trace ongoing planet formation in transitional disks at
different stages of their evolution. Finding more young planetary systems in
mean motion resonance would give credibility to the Grand Tack hypothesis in
which Jupiter and Saturn migrated in a resonance orbit during the early
formation period of our Solar System.Comment: Nature Astronomy, June 3, 2019; 15 pages, 3 Figs, 1 Tabl
Quantum stereodynamics of Li + HF reactive collisions: The role of reactants polarization on the differential cross section
A complete quantum study for the state-to-state Li + HF(v,j,m) → LiF(v′,j′,Ω′) + H reactive collisions has been performed using a wave packet method, for different initial rotational states and helicity states of the reactants. The state-to-state differential cross section has been simulated, and the polarization of products extracted. It is found that the reactivity is enhanced for nearly collinear collisions, which produces a vibrational excitation of HF, needed to overcome the late barrier. It is also found that LiF(v′ = 0) products are preferentially forward scattered, while vibrationally excited LiF(v′ = 1 and 2) are backward scattered. These results are interpreted with a simple reaction mechanism, based on the late character and bent geometry of the transition state, originating from a covalent/ionic crossing, which consists of two steps: the arrival at the transition state and the dissociation. In the first step, in order to get to the saddle point some HF vibrational excitation is required, which favors head-on collisions and therefore low values of m. In the second step a fast dissociation of H atom takes place, which is explained by the ionic Li+F -H character of the bent transition state: the FH- is repulsive making that H depart rapidly leaving a highly rotating LiF molecule. For the higher energy analyzed, where resonances slightly contribute, the orientation and alignment of product rotational states, referred to as reactants frame (with the z-axis parallel to k), are approximately constant with the scattering angle. The alignment is close to -1, showing that j′ is perpendicular to k, while starting from initial states with well defined rotational orientation, as states with pure m values, the final rotational are also oriented. It is also found that when using products frame (with the z′-axis parallel to k′) the rotational alignment and orientation of products varies a lot with the scattering angle just because the z′ axis changes from being parallel to anti-parallel to k when varying from θ = 0 to π. © the Owner Societies 2011.This work has been supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, under grants CSD2009-00038 (programa CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 entitled “Molecular Astrophysics: the Herschel and Alma era”), FIS2010-18132, CTQ2008-02578 and CTQ2007-62898, and by Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (CAM) under Grant No. S-0505/MAT/0303.Peer Reviewe
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JOYCE: JĂĽlich Observatory for cloud evolution
The Jülich Observatory for Cloud Evolution (JOYCE), located at Forschungszentrum Jülich in the most western part of Germany, is a recently established platform for cloud research. The main objective of JOYCE is to provide observations, which improve our understanding of the cloudy boundary layer in a midlatitude environment. Continuous and temporally highly resolved measurements that are specifically suited to characterize the diurnal cycle of water vapor, stability, and turbulence in the lower troposphere are performed with a special focus on atmosphere–surface interaction. In addition, instruments are set up to measure the micro- and macrophysical properties of clouds in detail and how they interact with different boundary layer processes and the large-scale synoptic situation. For this, JOYCE is equipped with an array of state-of-the-art active and passive remote sensing and in situ instruments, which are briefly described in this scientific overview. As an example, a 24-h time series of the evolution of a typical cumulus cloud-topped boundary layer is analyzed with respect to stability, turbulence, and cloud properties. Additionally, we present longer-term statistics, which can be used to elucidate the diurnal cycle of water vapor, drizzle formation through autoconversion, and warm versus cold rain precipitation formation. Both case studies and long-term observations are important for improving the representation of clouds in climate and numerical weather prediction models
Low energy atomic collision with dipole interactions
We apply quantum defect theory to study low energy ground state atomic
collisions including aligned dipole interactions such as those induced by an
electric field. Our results show that coupled even () relative orbital
angular momentum partial wave channels exhibit shape resonance structures while
odd () channels do not. We analyze and interpret these resonances within the
framework of multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT).Comment: 27 pages, 17 figures, an inadvertent typo correcte
Structured Red Giant Winds with Magnetized Hot Bubbles and the Corona/Cool Wind Dividing Line
By performing MHD simulations, we investigate the mass loss of intermediate-
and low-mass stars from main sequence (MS) to red giant branch (RGB) phases.
Alfven waves, which are excited by the surface convections travel outwardly and
dissipate by nonlinear processes to accelerate and heat the stellar winds. We
dynamically treat these processes in open magnetic field regions from the
photospheres to 25 stellar radii. When the stars evolve to slightly blueward
positions of the dividing line (Linsky & Haisch), the steady hot corona with
temperature, ~ 1MK, suddenly disappears. Instead, many hot (~1MK) and warm
(~10^5K) bubbles are formed in cool (T<~2x10^4K) chromospheric winds because of
thermal instability; the red giant wind is not a steady stream but structured
outflow. As a result, the mass loss rates, \dot{M}, largely vary in time by 3-4
orders or magnitude in the RGB stars. Supported by magnetic pressure, the
density of hot bubbles can be kept low to reduce the radiative cooling and to
maintain the high temperature long time. Even in the stars redward of the
dividing line, hot bubbles intermittently exist, and they can be sources of
UV/soft X-ray emissions from hybrid stars. Nearly static regions are formed
above the photospheres of the RGB stars, and the stellar winds are effectively
accelerated from several stellar radii. Then, the wind velocity is much smaller
than the surface escape speed, because it is regulated by the slower escape
speed at that location. We finally derive an equation that determines \dot{M}
from the energetics of the simulated wave-driven winds in a forward manner. The
relation explains \dot{M} from MS to RGB, and it can play a complementary role
to the Reimers' formula, which is mainly for more luminous stars.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures embedded (emulate ApJ style), submitted to ApJ,
mpeg movie is available at
http://www.esa.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~stakeru/research/st633.mp
Modification of a conventional photolytic converter for improving aircraft measurements of NO via chemiluminescence
Nitrogen oxides (NO≡NO+NO) are centrally involved in the photochemical processes taking place in the Earth\u27s atmosphere. Measurements of NO, particularly in remote areas where concentrations are of the order of parts per trillion by volume (pptv), are still a challenge and subject to extensive research. In this study, we present NO measurements via photolysis–chemiluminescence during the research aircraft campaign CAFE Africa (Chemistry of the Atmosphere – Field Experiment in Africa) 2018 around Cabo Verde and the results of laboratory experiments to characterize the photolytic converter used. We find the NO reservoir species MPN (methyl peroxy nitrate) to produce the only relevant thermal interference in the converter under the operating conditions during CAFE Africa. We identify a memory effect within the conventional photolytic converter (type 1) associated with high NO concentrations and rapidly changing water vapor concentrations, accompanying changes in altitude during aircraft measurements, which is due to the porous structure of the converter material. As a result, NO artifacts, which are amplified by low conversion efficiencies, and a varying instrumental background adversely affect the NO measurements. We test and characterize an alternative photolytic converter (type 2) made from quartz glass, which improves the reliability of NO measurements in laboratory and field studies
Chandra Observations of the Pleiades Open Cluster: X-ray Emission from Late-B to Early-F Type Binaries
We present the analysis of a 38.4 ks and a 23.6 ks observation of the core of
the Pleiades open cluster. The Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer on board the
Chandra X-ray Observatory detected 99 X-ray sources in a 17'X17' region,
including 18 of 23 Pleiades members. Five candidate Pleiades members have also
been detected, confirming their cluster membership. Fifty-seven sources have no
optical or near-infrared counterparts to limiting magnitudes V=22.5 and J=14.5.
The unidentified X-ray sources are probably background AGN and not stars. The
Chandra field of view contains seven intermediate mass cluster members. Five of
these, HII 980 (B6 + G), HII 956 (A7 + F6), HII 1284 (A9 + K), HII 1338 (F3 +
F6), and HII 1122 (F4 + K), are detected in this study. All but HII 1284 have
high X-ray luminosity and soft X-ray spectra. HII 1284 has X-ray properties
comparable to non-flaring K-type stars. Since all five stars are visual or
spectroscopic binaries with X-ray properties similar to F-G stars, the
late-type binary companions are probably producing the observed coronal X-ray
emission. Strengthening this conclusion is the nondetection by Chandra of two A
stars, HII 1362 (A7, no known companion) and HII 1375 (A0 + A SB) with X-ray
luminosity upper limits 27-54 times smaller than HII 980 and HII 956, the B6-A7
stars with cooler companions. Despite the low number statistics, the Chandra
data appear to confirm the expectation that late-B and A stars are not strong
intrinsic X-ray sources. The ACIS spectra and hardness ratios suggest a gradual
increase in coronal temperature with decreasing mass from F4 to K. M stars
appear to have somewhat cooler coronae than active K stars.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures, 7 tables, to appear in Ap
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