Development and evaluation of infrared sensitive image sensors for space astronomy

The experimental development and evaluation of infrared vidicons for use in solving high precision high flux broadband astronomical problems are discussed. Data cover the EOS, silicon, and doped germanium vidicons. Results are graphed and problems encountered using the vidicons in electrical cameras are reported

Honeylocust Twig-gall Midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Michigan

Emergence and oviposition data were gathered for Neolasioptera brevis, a recently described pest of honeylocust. In 1984 the insects first emerged on 21 May and first oviposited on 4 June; in 1985 they first emerged on 28 April and first oviposited between 5-20 May. Average raceme length at emergence and at oviposition were 2.7 and 4.4 cm in 1984 and 2.6 and 4.8 cm in 1985. Approximate duration of the emergence period was one week. In 1985 observed oviposition wounds averaged 0.5/cm

Velocity dispersions in galaxies: 1: The SO galaxy NGC 7332

A Coude spectrum of the SO galaxy NGC 7332 with 0.9 A resolution from 4186 to 4364 A was obtained with the SEC vidicon television camera and the Hale telescope. Comparisons with spectra of G and K giant stars, numerically broadened for various Maxwellian velocity distributions, give a dispersion velocity in the line of sight of 160 + or - 20 km/sec with the best fit at G8III. The dispersion appears to be constant within + or - 35 km/sec out to 1.4 kpc (H = 100 km/sec/mpc). After correction for projection, the rotation curve has a slope of 0.16 km/sec/pc at the center and a velocity of 130 km/sec at 1.4 kpc where it is still increasing. For an estimated effective radius of 3.5 kpc enclosing half the light, the virial theorem gives a mass of 1.4 x 10 to the 11th power solar masses if the mass-to-light ratio is constant throughout the galaxy. The photographic luminosity is 8.3 x 10 to the 9th power solar luminosities so that the M/L ratio is 17

Extracting Radial Velocities of A- and B-type Stars from Echelle Spectrograph Calibration Spectra

We present a technique to extract radial velocity measurements from echelle spectrograph observations of rapidly rotating stars ($V\sin{i} \gtrsim 50$ km s$^{-1}$). This type of measurement is difficult because the line widths of such stars are often comparable to the width of a single echelle order. To compensate for the scarcity of lines and Doppler information content, we have developed a process that forward-models the observations, fitting the radial velocity shift of the star for all echelle orders simultaneously with the echelle blaze function. We use our technique to extract radial velocity measurements from a sample of rapidly rotating A- and B-type stars used as calibrator stars observed by the California Planet Survey observations. We measure absolute radial velocities with a precision ranging from 0.5-2.0 km s$^{-1}$ per epoch for more than 100 A- and B-type stars. In our sample of 10 well-sampled stars with radial velocity scatter in excess of their measurement uncertainties, three of these are single-lined binaries with long observational baselines. From this subsample, we present detections of two previously unknown spectroscopic binaries and one known astrometric system. Our technique will be useful in measuring or placing upper limits on the masses of sub-stellar companions discovered by wide-field transit surveys, and conducting future spectroscopic binarity surveys and Galactic space-motion studies of massive and/or young, rapidly-rotating stars.Comment: Accepted to ApJ

‘Maturing Out’ as dilemmatic: Transitions towards relatively light drinking practices among UK University students

Objectives University students in the UK engage in relatively high alcohol consumption levels, yet young adults, including students, now drink less than previously and abstain more. Against this cultural backdrop, our objective was to further understanding of ‘maturing out’ of excessive drinking practices among students by focusing on drinking transitions that had taken place during university years. Design A qualitative interview study. Methods Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with ten 18‐ to 27‐year‐old UK undergraduate university students who self‐identified as light or non‐drinkers. Interviews were audio‐recorded, and anonymized interview transcripts were subjected to an experience‐focused application of thematic analysis. Results Participants reported dilemmas involved in transitions from relatively high to low levels of alcohol consumption. One dilemma was characterized by managing to drink less (or nothing) without cutting off social options with university friends/peers. A second dilemma concerned not wishing to fully abandon the pleasures and increased social confidence that alcohol consumption could afford. Results also demonstrated that self‐reported drinking could contradict participants’ self‐defined ‘light drinker’ status. Conclusions This study reinforces the view that ‘maturing out’ involves more than simply having gained new responsibilities during young adulthood. Recognition of these dilemmatic features of drinking transitions could be drawn on in novel campus‐based interventions. Such interventions may help strengthen realistic and sustainable moderate drinking by guiding students to anticipate potential difficulties involved in planned reductions in personal drinking but may also help foster students’ ability to view drinking choices as in transition rather than as permanent and enduring

Helium energy levels including mα6m \alpha^6 corrections

The $m \alpha^6$ correction to energy is expressed in terms of an effective Hamiltonian $H^{(6)}$ for an arbitrary state of helium. Numerical calculations are performed for $n=2$ levels, and the previous result for the $2^3P$ centroid is corrected. While the resulting theoretical predictions for the ionization energy are in moderate agreement with experimental values for $2^3S_1$, $2^3P$, and $2^1S_0$ states, they are in significant disagreement for the singlet state $2^1P_1$.Comment: 11 pages, with erratum submitted to Phys. Rev. A (2007