3,345 research outputs found
Observation of Microlensing towards the Galactic Spiral Arms. EROS II 2 year survey
We present the analysis of the light curves of 8.5 million stars observed
during two seasons by EROS (Experience de Recherche d'Objets Sombres), in the
galactic plane away from the bulge. Three stars have been found that exhibit
luminosity variations compatible with gravitational microlensing effects due to
unseen objects. The corresponding optical depth, averaged over four directions,
is 0.38 (+0.53, -0.15) 10^{-6}. All three candidates have long Einstein radius
crossing times ( 70 to 100 days). For one of them, the lack of evidence
for a parallax or a source size effect enabled us to constrain the lens-source
% geometric configuration. Another candidate displays a modulation of the
magnification, which is compatible with the lensing of a binary source.
The interpretation of the optical depths inferred from these observations is
hindered by the imperfect knowledge of the distance to the target stars. Our
measurements are compatible with expectations from simple galactic models under
reasonable assumptions on the target distances.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures, accepted by A&A in Aug 9
Cross-linkable azido C60-fullerene derivatives for efficient thermal stabilization of polymer bulk-heterojunction solar cells
International audienceOriginal [60]PCBM-inspired fullerene derivatives bearing an azidofunctional group were synthesized. By incorporating an optimizedquantity of this thermal cross-linker additive in the P3HT:[60]PCBMphotoactive layer, an impressive stabilization of the bulk-heterojunctionmorphology at its optimal photovoltaic performance wasachieved
MACHO 96-LMC-2: Lensing of a Binary Source in the LMC and Constraints on the Lensing Object
We present photometry and analysis of the microlensing alert MACHO 96-LMC-2.
The ~3% photometry provided by the Global Microlensing Alert Network follow--up
effort reveals a periodic modulation in the lightcurve. We attribute this to
binarity of the lensed source. Microlensing fits to a rotating binary source
magnified by a single lens converge on two minima, separated by delta chi^2 ~
1. The most significant fit X1 predicts a primary which contributes ~100% of
the light, a dark secondary, and an orbital period (T) of 9.2 days. The second
fit X2 yields a binary source with two stars of roughly equal mass and
luminosity, and T = 21.2 days.
The lensed object appears to lie on the upper LMC main sequence. We estimate
the mass of the primary component of the binary system, M ~2 M_sun. For the
preferred model X1, we explore the range of dark companions by assuming 0.1
M_sun and 1.4 M_sun objects in models X1a and X1b, respectively. We find lens
velocities projected to the LMC in these models of v^hat_X1a = 18.3 +/- 3.1
km/s and v^hat_X1b = 188 +/- 32 k/ms. In both these cases, a likelihood
analysis suggests an LMC lens is preferred over a Galactic halo lens, although
only marginally so in model X1b. We also find v^hat_X2 = 39.6 +/- 6.1 k/ms,
where the likelihood for the lens location is strongly dominated by the LMC
disk. In all cases, the lens mass is consistent with that of an M-dwarf. The
LMC self-lensing rate contributed by 96-LMC-2 is consistent with model
self-lensing rates. (Abridged)Comment: 23 pages, including 3 tables and 6 figures; Accepted for publication
in The Astrophysical Journa
Discovery of a peculiar Cepheid-like star towards the northern edge of the Small Magellanic Cloud
For seven years, the EROS-2 project obtained a mass of photometric data on
variable stars. We present a peculiar Cepheid-like star, in the direction of
the Small Magellanic Cloud, which demonstrates unusual photometric behaviour
over a short time interval. We report on data of the photometry acquired by the
MARLY telescope and spectroscopy from the EFOSC instrument for this star,
called EROS2 J005135-714459(sm0060n13842), which resembles the unusual Cepheid
HR 7308. The light curve of our target is analysed using the Analysis of
Variance method to determine a pulsational period of 5.5675 days. A fit of
time-dependent Fourier coefficients is performed and a search for proper motion
is conducted. The light curve exhibits a previously unobserved and spectacular
change in both mean magnitude and amplitude, which has no clear theoretical
explanation. Our analysis of the spectrum implies a radial velocity of 104 km
s and a metallicity of -0.40.2 dex. In the direction of right
ascension, we measure a proper motion of 17.46.0 mas yr using EROS
astrometry, which is compatible with data from the NOMAD catalogue. The nature
of EROS2 J005135-714459(sm0060n13842) remains unclear. For this star, we may
have detected a non-zero proper motion for this star, which would imply that it
is a foreground object. Its radial velocity, pulsational characteristics, and
photometric data, however, suggest that it is instead a Cepheid-like object
located in the SMC. In such a case, it would present a challenge to
conventional Cepheid models.Comment: Correction of typos in the abstrac
Microlensing as a probe of the Galactic structure; 20 years of microlensing optical depth studies
Microlensing is now a very popular observational astronomical technique. The
investigations accessible through this effect range from the dark matter
problem to the search for extra-solar planets. In this review, the techniques
to search for microlensing effects and to determine optical depths through the
monitoring of large samples of stars will be described. The consequences of the
published results on the knowledge of the Milky-Way structure and its dark
matter component will be discussed. The difficulties and limitations of the
ongoing programs and the perspectives of the microlensing optical depth
technique as a probe of the Galaxy structure will also be detailed.Comment: Accepted for publication in General Relativity and Gravitation.
General Relativity and Gravitation in press (2010) 0
The MACHO project: Microlensing Optical Depth towards the Galactic Bulge from Difference Image Analysis
We present the microlensing optical depth towards the Galactic bulge based on
the detection of 99 events found in our Difference Image Analysis (DIA) survey.
This analysis encompasses three years of data, covering ~ 17 million stars in ~
4 deg^2, to a source star baseline magnitude limit of V = 23. The DIA technique
improves the quality of photometry in crowded fields, and allows us to detect
more microlensing events with faint source stars. We find this method increases
the number of detection events by 85% compared with the standard analysis
technique. DIA light curves of the events are presented and the microlensing
fit parameters are given. The total microlensing optical depth is estimated to
be tau_(total)= 2.43^(+0.39/-0.38) x 10^(-6) averaged over 8 fields centered at
l=2.68 and b=-3.35. For the bulge component we find
tau_(bulge)=3.23^(+0.52/-0.50) x 10^(-6) assuming a 25% stellar contribution
from disk sources. These optical depths are in good agreement with the past
determinations of the MACHO Alcock et al. (1997) and OGLE Udalski et al. (1994)
groups, and are higher than predicted by contemporary Galactic models. We show
that our observed event timescale distribution is consistent with the
distribution expected from normal mass stars, if we adopt the stellar mass
function of Scalo (1986) as our lens mass function. However, we note that as
there is still disagreement about the exact form of the stellar mass function,
there is uncertainty in this conclusion. Based on our event timescale
distribution we find no evidence for the existence of a large population of
brown dwarfs in the direction of the Galactic bulge.Comment: Updated references and corrected optical depth values. tau_tot=
[2.91(+0.47/-0.45) -> 2.43^(+0.39/-0.38)] x 10^(-6) tau_bul =
[3.88(+0.63/-0.60) -> 3.23^(+0.52/-0.50)] x 10^(-6
Observation of periodic variable stars towards the galactic spiral arms by EROS II
We present the results of a massive variability search based on a photometric
survey of a six square degree region along the Galactic plane at (, ) and (, ). This
survey was performed in the framework of the EROS II (Exp\'erience de Recherche
d'Objets Sombres) microlensing program. The variable stars were found among
1,913,576 stars that were monitored between April and June 1998 in two
passbands, with an average of 60 measurements. A new period-search technique is
proposed which makes use of a statistical variable that characterizes the
overall regularity of the flux versus phase diagram. This method is well suited
when the photometric data are unevenly distributed in time, as is our case.
1,362 objects whose luminosity varies were selected. Among them we identified 9
Cepheids, 19 RR Lyrae, 34 Miras, 176 eclipsing binaries and 266 Semi-Regular
stars. Most of them are newly identified objects. The cross-identification with
known catalogues has been performed. The mean distance of the RR Lyrae is
estimated to be kpc undergoing an average absorption of
magnitudes. This distance is in good agreement with the one
of disc stars which contribute to the microlensing source star population.Our
catalogue and light curves are available electronically from the CDS,
Strasbourg and from our Web site http://eros.in2p3.fr.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, accepted in A&A (april 2002
The EROS2 search for microlensing events towards the spiral arms: the complete seven season results
The EROS-2 project has been designed to search for microlensing events
towards any dense stellar field. The densest parts of the Galactic spiral arms
have been monitored to maximize the microlensing signal expected from the stars
of the Galactic disk and bulge. 12.9 million stars have been monitored during 7
seasons towards 4 directions in the Galactic plane, away from the Galactic
center. A total of 27 microlensing event candidates have been found. Estimates
of the optical depths from the 22 best events are provided. A first order
interpretation shows that simple Galactic models with a standard disk and an
elongated bulge are in agreement with our observations. We find that the
average microlensing optical depth towards the complete EROS-cataloged stars of
the spiral arms is , a number that is
stable when the selection criteria are moderately varied. As the EROS catalog
is almost complete up to , the optical depth estimated for the
sub-sample of bright target stars with () is easier to interpret. The set of microlensing events
that we have observed is consistent with a simple Galactic model. A more
precise interpretation would require either a better knowledge of the distance
distribution of the target stars, or a simulation based on a Galactic model.
For this purpose, we define and discuss the concept of optical depth for a
given catalog or for a limiting magnitude.Comment: 22 pages submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysic
Developing a professional leadership identity during organisational change in professional youth football
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the construction of a professional leadership identity of an outsider appointed to implement organisational change within the academy of a professional football club. Data were collected through field notes, informal observations and meetings, formal academy team meetings, three in-depth co-worker interviews and four semi-structured in-depth participant interviews, which were subjected to an iterative analysis. Findings highlighted how the appraisal of others and their appraisal of the participant were affected by employment vulnerability, and that ‘identity work’ when leading organisational change was intertwined with micro-political literacy and micro-political action. This study furthers understanding of the development of a leadership identity as a fluid and fragmented struggle, by demonstrating that the process of identity construction is emotional work and is entwined in a complex interplay of micro-political literacy and action, and employment vulnerability
Improving the Prospects for Detecting Extrasolar Planets in Gravitational Microlensing in 2002
Gravitational microlensing events of high magnification have been shown to be
promising targets for detecting extrasolar planets. However, only a few events
of high magnification have been found using conventional survey techniques.
Here we demonstrate that high magnification events can be readily found in
microlensing surveys using a strategy that combines high frequency sampling of
target fields with online difference imaging analysis. We present 10
microlensing events with peak magnifications greater than 40 that were detected
in real-time towards the Galactic Bulge during 2001 by MOA. We show that Earth
mass planets can be detected in future events such as these through intensive
follow-up observations around the event peaks. We report this result with
urgency as a similar number of such events are expected in 2002.Comment: 11 pages, 3 embedded ps figures including 2 colour, revised version
accepted by MNRA
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