On the Nature of X-ray Surface Brightness Fluctuations in M87

X-ray images of galaxy clusters and gas-rich elliptical galaxies show a wealth of small-scale features which reflect fluctuations in density and/or temperature of the intra-cluster medium. In this paper we study these fluctuations in M87/Virgo, to establish whether sound waves/shocks, bubbles or uplifted cold gas dominate the structure. We exploit the strong dependence of the emissivity on density and temperature in different energy bands to distinguish between these processes. Using simulations we demonstrate that our analysis recovers the leading type of fluctuation even in the presence of projection effects and temperature gradients. We confirm the isobaric nature of cool filaments of gas entrained by buoyantly rising bubbles, extending to 7' to the east and south-west, and the adiabatic nature of the weak shocks at 40" and 3' from the center. For features of 5--10 kpc, we show that the central 4'x 4' region is dominated by cool structures in pressure equilibrium with the ambient hotter gas while up to 30 percent of the variance in this region can be ascribed to adiabatic fluctuations. The remaining part of the central 14'x14' region, excluding the arms and shocks described above, is dominated by apparently isothermal fluctuations (bubbles) with a possible admixture (at the level of about 30 percent) of adiabatic (sound waves) and by isobaric structures. Larger features, of about 30 kpc, show a stronger contribution from isobaric fluctuations. The results broadly agree with an AGN feedback model mediated by bubbles of relativistic plasma.Comment: 16 pages, submitted to Ap

A contribution to the mechanism of “reduced” CO₂ adsorbates electro-oxidation from combined spectroelectrochemical and voltammetric data

The nature of reduced CO2 adsorbates, as well as the mechanisms for their electro-oxidation on platinum, have been reviewed through the light of new experimental data obtained by cyclic voltammetry and by Fourier transform infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Three different “reduced” CO2 adsorbates are described as “‘ensembles”. It is suggested that they involve different extents of adsorbed entities, among which weakly bound and strongly bound hydrogen atoms play the most important role.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

Potential-dependent competitive processes on platinum in acid solution in the presence of propargyl alcohol

The electroadsorption interactions between dilute propargyl alcohol and smooth platinum in 0.5 M H2SO4 at 25° C have been investigated at different potentials. When the platinum electrode is covered by H atoms the hydrogenation of propargyl alcohol takes place. Otherwise, when the platinum electrode is held at a potential located in the double-layer region, the electroadsorption of propargyl alcohol involves a disruptive electro-oxidation yielding strongly bound adsorbed residues. The latter can be electrodesorbed presumably as carbon dioxide and protons. This process occurs within the O-electroadsorption potential range. The complete residue electrodesorption requires several voltammetric cycles. Competition between the hydrogenation reaction and the disruptive electroadsorption process can be observed at potentials where the platinum surface is partially covered by H atoms.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

A refined analysis of the low-mass eclipsing binary system T-Cyg1-12664

The observational mass-radius relation of main sequence stars with masses between ~0.3 and 1.0 Msun reveals deviations between the stellar radii predicted by models and the observed radii of stars in detached binaries. We generate an accurate physical model of the low-mass eclipsing binary T-Cyg1-12664 in the Kepler mission field to measure the physical parameters of its components and to compare them with the prediction of theoretical stellar evolution models. We analyze the Kepler mission light curve of T-Cyg1-12664 to accurately measure the times and phases of the primary and secondary eclipse. In addition, we measure the rotational period of the primary component by analyzing the out-of-eclipse oscillations that are due to spots. We accurately constrain the effective temperature of the system using ground-based absolute photometry in B, V, Rc, and Ic. We also obtain and analyze V, Rc, Ic differential light curves to measure the eccentricity and the orbital inclination of the system, and a precise Teff ratio. From the joint analysis of new radial velocities and those in the literature we measure the individual masses of the stars. Finally, we use the PHOEBE code to generate a physical model of the system. T-Cyg1-12664 is a low eccentricity system, located d=360+/-22 pc away from us, with an orbital period of P=4.1287955(4) days, and an orbital inclination i=86.969+/-0.056 degrees. It is composed of two very different stars with an active G6 primary with Teff1=5560+/-160 K, M1=0.680+/-0.045 Msun, R1=0.799+/-0.017 Rsun, and a M3V secondary star with Teff2=3460+/-210 K, M2=0.376+/-0.017 Msun, and R2=0.3475+/-0.0081 Rsun. The primary star is an oversized and spotted active star, hotter than the stars in its mass range. The secondary is a cool star near the mass boundary for fully convective stars (M~0.35 Msun), whose parameters appear to be in agreement with low-mass stellar model.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, 15 table

Entrevistar : una experiencia de enseñanza de la entrevista en profundidad

La siguiente presentación da cuenta de una propuesta diseñada y llevada a cabo durante dos cuatrimestres en la carrera de Ciencias de la Educación en el marco de un espacio curricular denominado “Seminario de Recolección y Análisis de datos". Está destinado a estudiantes del último ciclo de la carrera, especialmente a quienes están interesados en formarse como investigadores. Reconstruimos la experiencia desarrollando en cada etapa del proceso: la estrategia metodológica de la enseñanza, explicitamos las lecturas y actividades propuestas, y el sentido formativo de cada una de ellas al tiempo que introducimos posibles variaciones, discusiones y algunas apreciaciones que fuimos generando en el proceso. Asumimos una perspectiva socio antropológica basada en el enfoque teórico de Pierre Bourdieu y otros aportes específicamente metodológicos (Valles,1999; Blanchet,1989; Guber, 1991; Achili, 2005; García Salord, 2000) que ayudan a dar precisión al trabajo. Todo el proceso propone un doble desafío: por un lado, aprender a entrevistar y, por el otro, generar una práctica reflexiva de auto análisis que permita a cada estudiante conocerse un poco mejor en esta tarea. Promovemos un trabajo denso en términos teóricos y una experiencia subjetiva intensa; el diálogo entre ambas constituye de algún modo algo de ese “aprender a investigar investigando", factible en los marcos curriculares y normativos previstos. Para la reconstrucción del proceso hemos recurrido a los registros de clases, el programa del seminario, los documentos de trabajo enviados y recibidos por el aula virtual y los trabajos de los estudiantes.Fil: Pacheco, Marcela C. . Universidad Nacional de Córdoba.Fil: Arévalo, Jessica I. . Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

PG 1211+143: probing high frequency lags in a high mass AGN

We present the timing analysis of the four archived XMM-Newton observations of PG 1211+143. The source is well-known for its spectral complexity, comprising a strong soft-excess and different absorption systems. Soft energy band (0.3-0.7 keV) lags are detected over all the four observations, in the frequency range \nu \lsim 6 \times 10^{-4} Hz, where hard lags, similar to those observed in black hole X-ray binaries, are usually detected in smaller mass AGN. The lag magnitude is energy-dependent, showing two distinct trends apparently connectable to the two flux levels at which the source is observed. The results are discussed in the context of disk- and/or corona-reprocessing scenarios, and of disk wind models. Similarities with the high-frequency negative lag of 1H 0707-495 are highlighted, and, if confirmed, they would support the hypothesis that the lag in PG 1211+143 represents the signature of the same underlying mechanism, whose temporal characteristics scale with the mass of the central object.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter

Optimization of multiple PON deployment costs and comparison between GPON, XGPON, NGPON2 and UDWDM PON

In this paper we propose an optimization framework for multiple deployment of PON in a wide region with very large number of users, with different bit rate demands, serviced by many central offices, as it may practically happen in a large city that plans a massive introduction of Fiber to the Home technologies using PON. We propose an algorithm called Optimal Topology Search (OTS), which is based on a set of heuristic approaches, capable of performing an optimal dimensioning of multiple PON deployments for a set of central offices (CO), including an optimal distribution of users among the CO. The set of heuristics integrated in OTS permit the efficient clustering of users for each CO, depending on their location and the bit rate demanded by them. It also permits the definition of optimal routes for optical cables and the allocation of branching devices. Taking into account hardware capacity restrictions and physical layer restrictions, we obtained solutions for different types of standardized PON technologies, like GPON, XGPON and NGPON2 as well as for future UDWDM-PON. We evaluate the optimal network deployment in a series of different minimum guaranteed bit rate demand scenarios, employing realistic maps of a large city in order to compare costs and portrait some reference points for deciding in which scenario a specific technology constitutes the best choice

Factorizing the time evolution operator

There is a widespread belief in the quantum physical community, and in textbooks used to teach Quantum Mechanics, that it is a difficult task to apply the time evolution operator Exp{-itH/h} on an initial wave function. That is to say, because the hamiltonian operator generally is the sum of two operators, then it is a difficult task to apply the time evolution operator on an initial wave function f(x,0), for it implies to apply terms operators like (a+b)^n. A possible solution of this problem is to factorize the time evolution operator and then apply successively the individual exponential operator on the initial wave function. However, the exponential operator does not directly factorize, i. e. Exp{a+b} is not equal to Exp{a}Exp{b}. In this work we present a useful procedure for factorizing the time evolution operator when the argument of the exponential is a sum of two operators, which obey specific commutation relations. Then, we apply the exponential operator as an evolution operator for the case of elementary unidimensional potentials, like the particle subject to a constant force and the harmonic oscillator. Also, we argue about an apparent paradox concerning the time evolution operator and non-spreading wave packets addressed previously in the literature.Comment: 24 pages; added references; one figure change