2,121 research outputs found
Tachoastrometry: astrometry with radial velocities
Spectra of composite systems (e.g., spectroscopic binaries) contain spatial
information that can be retrieved by measuring the radial velocities (i.e.,
Doppler shifts) of the components in four observations with the slit rotated by
90 degrees in the sky. By using basic concepts of slit spectroscopy we show
that the geometry of composite systems can be reliably retrieved by measuring
only radial velocity differences taken with different slit angles. The spatial
resolution is determined by the precision with which differential radial
velocities can be measured. We use the UVES spectrograph at the VLT to observe
the known spectroscopic binary star HD 188088 (HIP 97944), which has a maximum
expected separation of 23 milli-arcseconds. We measure an astrometric signal in
radial velocity of 276 \ms, which corresponds to a separation between the two
components at the time of the observations of 18 milli-arcseconds. The
stars were aligned east-west. We describe a simple optical device to
simultaneously record pairs of spectra rotated by 180 degrees, thus reducing
systematic effects. We compute and provide the function expressing the shift of
the centroid of a seeing-limited image in the presence of a narrow slit.The
proposed technique is simple to use and our test shows that it is amenable for
deriving astrometry with milli-arcsecond accuracy or better, beyond the
diffraction limit of the telescope. The technique can be further improved by
using simple devices to simultaneously record the spectra with 180 degrees
angles.With tachoastrometry, radial velocities and astrometric positions can be
measured simultaneously for many double line system binaries in an easy way.
The method is not limited to binary stars, but can be applied to any
astrophysical configuration in which spectral lines are generated by separate
(non-rotational symmetric) regions.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
The 2007-2009 subprime crisis and the global public policy response
In this article, we look at the root causes of the 2007-2009 subprime financial crisis in the United States and the ensuing global economic crisis. We then examine how public authorities in advanced economies responded to the crisis. We emphasize that, from the very start, public policy developed along two complementary but distinct lines of intervention: (i) short-term macroeconomic management, and (ii) medium- to long-term reshaping of the financial regulatory framework. We find that the two sub-sets of policies were pursued at the global level and not simply at the national and/or regional level. Finally, we summarize the main risks that emerged as a consequence of the macroeconomic policy response to the crisis, namely high volumes of public debt, an uncertain inflation outlook and the possible development of bubbles in some asset markets.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Wavelets: a powerful tool for studying rotation, activity, and pulsation in Kepler and CoRoT stellar light curves
Aims. The wavelet transform has been used as a powerful tool for treating
several problems in astrophysics. In this work, we show that the time-frequency
analysis of stellar light curves using the wavelet transform is a practical
tool for identifying rotation, magnetic activity, and pulsation signatures. We
present the wavelet spectral composition and multiscale variations of the time
series for four classes of stars: targets dominated by magnetic activity, stars
with transiting planets, those with binary transits, and pulsating stars.
Methods. We applied the Morlet wavelet (6th order), which offers high time and
frequency resolution. By applying the wavelet transform to the signal, we
obtain the wavelet local and global power spectra. The first is interpreted as
energy distribution of the signal in time-frequency space, and the second is
obtained by time integration of the local map. Results. Since the wavelet
transform is a useful mathematical tool for nonstationary signals, this
technique applied to Kepler and CoRoT light curves allows us to clearly
identify particular signatures for different phenomena. In particular, patterns
were identified for the temporal evolution of the rotation period and other
periodicity due to active regions affecting these light curves. In addition, a
beat-pattern signature in the local wavelet map of pulsating stars over the
entire time span was also detected.Comment: Accepted for publication on A&
An SDRAM test education package that embeds the factory equipment into the e-learning server
SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) demand has grown exponentially since the 1980s, as a result of technological factors and new areas of application, particularly concerning communication and consumer electronics. The SDRAM market represented in 2007 c. 20% of the total semiconductor business and is seen as a strategic area, justifying private and public investment in the western and far-eastern economic communities. SDRAM test education is therefore an important subject, but very high purchase and maintenance costs keep test equipment beyond reach of most university test courses. This paper presents a pilot project addressing an SDRAM test education course developed jointly by Qimonda and the University of Porto (FEUP), where the company offers remote access to one if its Advantest SDRAM automatic test equipments. Access to this remote tester was embedded into the Moodle e-learning server that supports a new course entitled Electronic Systems Testing (TSEL), which is part of the Integrated Masters degree on Electrical and Computer Engineering at FEUP. The excellent feedback received from students encouraged us to extend this cooperation into an educational network, which is also introduced in this paper
Static and dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in the alkali metal fulleride salts A4C60 (A = K, Rb, Cs)
We report the temperature dependent mid- and near-infrared spectra of K4C60,
Rb4C60 and Cs4C60. The splitting of the vibrational and electronic transitions
indicates a molecular symmetry change of C604- which brings the fulleride anion
from D2h to either a D3d or a D5d distortion. In contrast to Cs4C60, low
temperature neutron diffraction measurements did not reveal a structural phase
transition in either K4C60 and Rb4C60. This proves that the molecular
transition is driven by the molecular Jahn-Teller effect, which overrides the
distorting potential field of the surrounding cations at high temperature. In
K4C60 and Rb4C60 we suggest a transition from a static to a dynamic Jahn-Teller
state without changing the average structure. We studied the librations of
these two fullerides by temperature dependent inelastic neutron scattering and
conclude that both pseudorotation and jump reorientation are present in the
dynamic Jahn-Teller state.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.
A contribution to the study of the German treasury bills market
We study the yields in the German treasury bills market. We take a detailed look at the yield banks require to buy treasury bills in the primary market, and we also examine the yield households and nonbank firms demand to buy these bills in the secondary market. We use data from real world tenders to show that the bids set by banks are in accordance with the predictions of our theoretical framework. In particular, we show that current monetary policy and the market's expectations regarding the future path of monetary policy can be used to define an interval in which the bids from banks lie. Our theoretical predictions for the secondary market also match the data.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
The WFCAM Multi-wavelength Variable Star Catalog
Stellar variability in the near-infrared (NIR) remains largely unexplored.
The exploitation of public science archives with data-mining methods offers a
perspective for the time-domain exploration of the NIR sky. We perform a
comprehensive search for stellar variability using the optical-NIR multi-band
photometric data in the public Calibration Database of the WFCAM Science
Archive (WSA), with the aim of contributing to the general census of variable
stars, and to extend the current scarce inventory of accurate NIR light curves
for a number of variable star classes. We introduce new variability indices
designed for multi-band data with correlated sampling, and apply them for
pre-selecting variable star candidates, i.e., light curves that are dominated
by correlated variations, from noise-dominated ones. Pre-selection criteria are
established by robust numerical tests for evaluating the response of
variability indices to colored noise characteristic to the data. We find 275
periodic variable stars and an additional 44 objects with suspected variability
with uncertain periods or apparently aperiodic variation. Only 44 of these
objects had been previously known, including 11 RR~Lyrae stars in the outskirts
of the globular cluster M3 (NGC~5272). We provide a preliminary classification
of the new variable stars that have well-measured light curves, but the
variability types of a large number of objects remain ambiguous. We classify
most of the new variables as contact binary stars, but we also find several
pulsating stars, among which 34 are probably new field RR~Lyrae and 3 are
likely Cepheids. We also identify 32 highly reddened variable objects close to
previously known dark nebulae, suggesting that these are embedded young stellar
objects. We publish our results and all light-curve data as the WFCAM Variable
Star Catalog.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figure
Gonadotropin therapy in assisted reproduction: an evolutionary perspective from biologics to biotech
Gonadotropin therapy plays an integral role in ovarian stimulation for infertility treatments. Efforts have been made over the last century to improve gonadotropin preparations. Undoubtedly, current gonadotropins have better quality and safety profiles as well as clinical efficacy than earlier ones. A major achievement has been introducing recombinant technology in the manufacturing processes for follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. Recombinant gonadotropins are purer than urine-derived gonadotropins, and incorporating vial filling by mass virtually eliminated batch-to-batch variations and enabled accurate dosing. Recombinant and fill-by-mass technologies have been the driving forces for launching of prefilled pen devices for more patient-friendly ovarian stimulation. The most recent developments include the fixed combination of follitropin alfa + lutropin alfa, long-acting FSH gonadotropin, and a new family of prefilled pen injector devices for administration of recombinant gonadotropins. The next step would be the production of orally bioactive molecules with selective follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone activity
Stellar parameters for stars of the CoRoT exoplanet field
Aims:To support the computation and evolutionary interpretation of periods
associated with the rotational modulation, oscillations, and variability of
stars located in the CoRoT fields, we are conducting a spectroscopic survey for
stars located in the fields already observed by the satellite. These
observations allow us to compute physical and chemical parameters for our
stellar sample. Method: Using spectroscopic observations obtained with UVES/VLT
and Hydra/Blanco, and based on standard analysis techniques, we computed
physical and chemical parameters (, , ,
, , , and ) for a large
sample of CoRoT targets. Results: We provide physical and chemical parameters
for a sample comprised of 138 CoRoT targets. Our analysis shows the stars in
our sample are located in different evolutionary stages, ranging from the main
sequence to the red giant branch, and range in spectral type from F to K. The
physical and chemical properties for the stellar sample are in agreement with
typical values reported for FGK stars. However, we report three stars
presenting abnormal lithium behavior in the CoRoT fields. These parameters
allow us to properly characterize the intrinsic properties of the stars in
these fields. Our results reveal important differences in the distributions of
metallicity, , and evolutionary status for stars belonging to
different CoRoT fields, in agreement with results obtained independently from
ground-based photometric surveys. Conclusions: Our spectroscopic catalog, by
providing much-needed spectroscopic information for a large sample of CoRoT
targets, will be of key importance for the successful accomplishment of several
different programs related to the CoRoT mission, thus it will help further
boost the scientific return associated with this space mission.Comment: 43 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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