2,293 research outputs found
Near-Infrared, Adaptive Optics Observations of the T Tauri Multiple-Star System
With high-angular-resolution, near-infrared observations of the young stellar
object T Tauri at the end of 2002, we show that, contrary to previous reports,
none of the three infrared components of T Tau coincide with the compact radio
source that has apparently been ejected recently from the system (Loinard,
Rodriguez, and Rodriguez 2003). The compact radio source and one of the three
infrared objects, T Tau Sb, have distinct paths that depart from orbital or
uniform motion between 1997 and 2000, perhaps indicating that their interaction
led to the ejection of the radio source. The path that T Tau Sb took between
1997 and 2003 may indicate that this star is still bound to the presumably more
massive southern component, T Tau Sa. The radio source is absent from our
near-infrared images and must therefore be fainter than K = 10.2 (if located
within 100 mas of T Tau Sb, as the radio data would imply), still consistent
with an identity as a low-mass star or substellar object.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, submitted to ApJ
Discovery of the Pre-Main Sequence Population of the Stellar Association LH 95 in the Large Magellanic Cloud with Hubble Space Telescope ACS Observations
We report the discovery of an extraordinary number of pre-main sequence (PMS)
stars in the vicinity of the stellar association LH 95 in the Large Magellanic
Cloud (LMC). Using the {\em Advanced Camera for Surveys} on-board the {\em
Hubble} Space Telescope in wide-field mode we obtained deep high-resolution
imaging of the main body of the association and of a nearby representative LMC
background field. These observations allowed us to construct the
color-magnitude diagram (CMD) of the association in unprecedented detail, and
to decontaminate the CMD for the average LMC stellar population. The most
significant result is the direct detection of a substantial population of PMS
stars and their clustering properties with respect to the distribution of the
higher mass members of the association. Although LH 95 represents a rather
modest star forming region, our photometry, with a detection limit \lsim 28
mag, reveals in its vicinity more than 2,500 PMS stars with masses down to
M{\solar}. Our observations offer, thus, a new perspective of a
typical LMC association: The stellar content of LH 95 is found to extend from
bright OB stars to faint red PMS stars, suggesting a fully populated Initial
Mass Function (IMF) from the massive blue giants down to the sub-solar mass
regime.Comment: Accepted for Publication in ApJ Letters - 4 Pages ApJ paper format -
3 figures in low-resolution/grayscal
Spin Disorder and Magnetic Anisotropy in Fe3O4 Nanoparticles
We have studied the magnetic behavior of dextran-coated magnetite
(FeO) nanoparticles with median particle size \left=8 .
Magnetization curves and in-field M\"ossbauer spectroscopy measurements showed
that the magnetic moment of the particles was much smaller than the bulk
material. However, we found no evidence of magnetic irreversibility or
non-saturating behavior at high fields, usually associated to spin canting. The
values of magnetic anisotropy from different techniques indicate that
surface or shape contributions are negligible. It is proposed that these
particles have bulk-like ferrimagnetic structure with ordered A and B
sublattices, but nearly compensated magnetic moments. The dependence of the
blocking temperature with frequency and applied fields, ,
suggests that the observed non-monotonic behavior is governed by the strength
of interparticle interactions.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 3 Table
Effects of decreased dietary roughage concentration on energy metabolism and nutrient balance in finishing beef cattle
The optimal roughage concentration required in feedlot diets changes continuously for many reasons such as source, availability, price, and interaction with other ingredients in the diet. Wet distillers grains and solubles (WDGS) are common in finishing diets and they contain relatively high amounts of fiber compared with other grains they replace. Therefore, concentration of roughage could be altered when WDGS are included in feedlot diets. There has been very little data published regarding the effects of roughage concentration on energy metabolism and nutrient balance in beef steers. Therefore, the effects of roughage concentration in dryrolled corn (DRC)–based diets containing 25% WDGS were evaluated in 8 steers (BW = 362 ± 3.71 kg) using a replicated Latin square. Data were analyzed with the fixed effects of dietary treatment and period and random effects of square and steer within square were included in the model. Diets consisted of 25% WDGS and the balance being DRC and coarsely ground alfalfa hay (AH) replacing corn at 2% (AH-2), 6% (AH-6), 10% (AH-10), and 14% (AH-14) of dietary dry matter. As a proportion of GE intake, fecal energy loss increased linearly (P = 0.02), and DE decreased linearly (P = 0.02) as dietary level of AH increased. Methane energy loss, as a proportion of GE intake, increased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) and ME decreased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) as dietary concentration of AH increased. Heat production tended (P = 0.10) to decrease reaching a minimum of 10% AH and increased from 10 to 14% AH inclusion. Moreover, as a proportion of GE intake, retained energy (RE) decreased (P \u3c 0.01) as AH level increased in the diet. Reasons for the decrease in RE are 1) the increase in fecal energy loss that is associated with decreased ruminal digestibility of NDF when AH replaced DRC and the shift in ruminal VFA produced, 2) the decreased energy available for animal retention when NDF increased linearly as AH increased in the diet, and 3) the methane and heat energy associated with digestion of the fibrous portion of the AH. Neutral detergent fiber and OM excretion also increased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) with increasing AH in the diet. The increased NDF and OM excretion were likely caused by the difference in digestibility of AH and DRC
Effects of decreased dietary roughage concentration on energy metabolism and nutrient balance in finishing beef cattle
The optimal roughage concentration required in feedlot diets changes continuously for many reasons such as source, availability, price, and interaction with other ingredients in the diet. Wet distillers grains and solubles (WDGS) are common in finishing diets and they contain relatively high amounts of fiber compared with other grains they replace. Therefore, concentration of roughage could be altered when WDGS are included in feedlot diets. There has been very little data published regarding the effects of roughage concentration on energy metabolism and nutrient balance in beef steers. Therefore, the effects of roughage concentration in dryrolled corn (DRC)–based diets containing 25% WDGS were evaluated in 8 steers (BW = 362 ± 3.71 kg) using a replicated Latin square. Data were analyzed with the fixed effects of dietary treatment and period and random effects of square and steer within square were included in the model. Diets consisted of 25% WDGS and the balance being DRC and coarsely ground alfalfa hay (AH) replacing corn at 2% (AH-2), 6% (AH-6), 10% (AH-10), and 14% (AH-14) of dietary dry matter. As a proportion of GE intake, fecal energy loss increased linearly (P = 0.02), and DE decreased linearly (P = 0.02) as dietary level of AH increased. Methane energy loss, as a proportion of GE intake, increased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) and ME decreased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) as dietary concentration of AH increased. Heat production tended (P = 0.10) to decrease reaching a minimum of 10% AH and increased from 10 to 14% AH inclusion. Moreover, as a proportion of GE intake, retained energy (RE) decreased (P \u3c 0.01) as AH level increased in the diet. Reasons for the decrease in RE are 1) the increase in fecal energy loss that is associated with decreased ruminal digestibility of NDF when AH replaced DRC and the shift in ruminal VFA produced, 2) the decreased energy available for animal retention when NDF increased linearly as AH increased in the diet, and 3) the methane and heat energy associated with digestion of the fibrous portion of the AH. Neutral detergent fiber and OM excretion also increased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) with increasing AH in the diet. The increased NDF and OM excretion were likely caused by the difference in digestibility of AH and DRC
Observed Limits on Charge Exchange Contributions to the Diffuse X-ray Background
We present a high resolution spectrum of the diffuse X-ray background from
0.1 to 1 keV for a ~1 region of the sky centered at l=90, b=+60 using a
36-pixel array of microcalorimeters flown on a sounding rocket. With an energy
resolution of 11 eV FWHM below 1 keV, the spectrum's observed line ratios help
separate charge exchange contributions originating within the heliosphere from
thermal emission of hot gas in the interstellar medium. The X-ray sensitivity
below 1 keV was reduced by about a factor of four from contamination that
occurred early in the flight, limiting the significance of the results. The
observed centroid of helium-like O VII is 568+2-3 eV at 90% confidence. Since
the centroid expected for thermal emission is 568.4 eV while for charge
exchange is 564.2 eV, thermal emission appears to dominate for this line
complex, consistent with much of the high-latitude O VII emission originating
in 2-3 x 10^6 K gas in the Galactic halo. On the other hand, the observed ratio
of C VI Ly gamma to Ly alpha is 0.3+-0.2. The expected ratios are 0.04 for
thermal emission and 0.24 for charge exchange, indicating that charge exchange
must contribute strongly to this line and therefore potentially to the rest of
the ROSAT R12 band usually associated with 10^6 K emission from the Local Hot
Bubble. The limited statistics of this experiment and systematic uncertainties
due to the contamination require only >32% thermal emission for O VII and >20%
from charge exchange for C VI at the 90% confidence level. An experimental gold
coating on the silicon substrate of the array greatly reduced extraneous
signals induced on nearby pixels from cosmic rays passing through the
substrate, reducing the triggered event rate by a factor of 15 from a previous
flight of the instrument.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Ap
Companion detection limits with adaptive optics coronagraphy
We presented a detailed observational study of the capabilities of the Palomar Adaptive Optics System and the PHARO near infrared camera in coronagraphic mode. The camera provides two different focal plane occulting masks consisting of completely opaque circular disks of diameter 0.433 arcsec and 0.965 arcsec, both within the cryogenic dewar. In addition, three different pupil plane apodizing masks (a.k.a. Lyot masks) are provided which downsize the beam. The six different combinations of Lyot mask and focal plane mask provide for different levels of suppression of the point spread function of a bright star centered on the focal plane mask. We obtained images of the bright nearby star Gliese 614 with all six different configurations in the K-band filter. Herein, we provide an analysis of the dynamic range achievable with these configurations. The dynamic range (the ratio of the primary star intensity to the intensity of the faintest point source detectable in the images) is a complicated function of not only the angular separation of the primary star and companion, but also of the azimuthal angle because of the complex point spread function of the primary star, which is also wavelength dependent. However, beyond 2.5 arcseconds from the star, regardless of the wavelength of the observation, the detection limit of a companion is simply the limiting magnitude of the image, as determined by the sensitivity of the PHARO camera. Within that radius, the dynamic range is at least 8 magnitudes at the 5(sigma) level and as high as 12 in a one second exposure. This represents a substantial gain over similar techniques without adaptive optics, which are generally limited to radii beyond two arcsec. We provide a quantitative discussion and recommendation for the optimal configuration along with a detailed comparison with recent theoretical predictions of AO coronagraphic performance
Mid-Infrared Spectra of Classical AGN Observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope
Full low resolution (65<R<130) and high resolution (R~600) spectra between 5
microns and 37 microns obtained with the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on the
Spitzer Space Telescope are presented for eight classical active galactic
nuclei (AGN) which have been extensively studied previously. Spectra of these
AGN are presented as comparison standards for the many objects, including
sources at high redshift, which are being observed spectroscopically in the
mid-infrared for the first time using the IRS. The AGN are NGC4151, Markarian
3, I Zwicky 1, NGC 1275, Centaurus A, NGC 7469, Markarian 231, and NGC 3079.
These sources are used to demonstrate the range of infrared spectra encountered
in objects which have widely different classification criteria at other
wavelengths but which unquestionably contain AGN. Overall spectral
characteristics - including continuum shape, nebular emission lines, silicate
absorption and emission features, and PAH emission features - are considered to
understand how spectral classifications based on mid-infrared spectra relate to
those previously derived from optical spectra. The AGN are also compared to the
same parameters for starburst galaxies such as NGC 7714 and the compact, low
metallicity starburst SBS 0335-052 previously observed with the IRS. Results
confirm the much lower strengths of PAH emission features in AGN, but there are
no spectral parameters in this sample which unambiguously distinguish AGN and
starbursts based only on the slopes of the continuous spectra.Comment: Accepted by Ap
Studies of Herbig-Haro objects with the Palomar adaptive optics system
Herbig-Haro objects are bright optical emission-line sources associated with tightly collimated jets ejected from pre-main- sequence stars. Only a few hundred are known. In optical images, they appear to be dense knots of material at the outer ends of the jets, and often exhibit streaming wake morphologies suggestive of bow shocks. Their optical spectra show characteristics of high-velocity shocks, with line-widths typically 100 km/s. HH objects often occur in pairs consistent with the bipolar morphology of outflows from YSOs; when radio maps of NH3 are made, high-density central regions consistent with collimating disks are seen. HH objects also often appear in a series along a jet, presumably where the jet undergoes a particularly energetic interaction with the ambient medium. Adaptively-corrected near-infrared studies of HH objects can reveal much about their workings at fine spatial scales. Narrow-band NIR filters sensitive to transitions of molecular hydrogen and other selected species are excellent tracers of shock excitation, and many HH objects have been observed to show complex structure in these lines down to the arc second level. By pushing to higher spatial resolution with adaptive optics, much more detailed information about the nature of the shock fronts may be obtained. In this paper we describe our first observations of HH objects with the AO system on the Palomar 200-inch telescope
The Physical Conditions in Starbursts Derived from Bayesian Fitting of Mid-IR SEDS: 30 Doradus as a Template
To understand and interpret the observed Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs)
of starbursts, theoretical or semi-empirical SED models are necessary. Yet,
while they are well-founded in theory, independent verification and calibration
of these models, including the exploration of possible degeneracies between
their parameters, are rarely made. As a consequence, a robust fitting method
that leads to unique and reproducible results has been lacking. Here we
introduce a novel approach based on Bayesian analysis to fit the Spitzer-IRS
spectra of starbursts using the SED models proposed by Groves et al. (2008). We
demonstrate its capabilities and verify the agreement between the derived best
fit parameters and actual physical conditions by modelling the nearby,
well-studied, giant HII region 30 Dor in the LMC. The derived physical
parameters, such as cluster mass, cluster age, ISM pressure and covering
fraction of photodissociation regions, are representative of the 30 Dor region.
The inclusion of the emission lines in the modelling is crucial to break
degeneracies. We investigate the limitations and uncertainties by modelling
sub-regions, which are dominated by single components, within 30 Dor. A
remarkable result for 30 Doradus in particular is a considerable contribution
to its mid-infrared spectrum from hot ({\simeq} 300K) dust. The demonstrated
success of our approach will allow us to derive the physical conditions in more
distant, spatially unresolved starbursts.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. Accepted por publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
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