4,928 research outputs found
High resolution study of associated C IV absorption systems in NGC 5548
We present the results of a careful analysis of associated absorption systems
toward NGC 5548. Most of the well resolved narrow components in the associated
system, defined by the Lyman alpha, C IV and N V profiles, show velocity
separation similar (to within 10~\kms) to the C IV doublet splitting. We
estimate the chance probability of occurrence of such pairs with velocity
separation equal to C IV doublet splitting to be . Thus it is
more likely that most of the narrow components are line-locked with C IV
doublet splitting. This will mean that the radiative acceleration plays an
important role in the kinematics of the absorbing clouds. We build grids of
photoionization models and estimate the radiative acceleration due to all
possible bound-bound transitions. We show that the clouds producing absorption
have densities less than , and are in the outer regions of the
broad emission line region (BLR). We note that the clouds which are line-locked
cannot produce appreciable optical depths of O VII and O VIII, and hence cannot
be responsible for the observed ionized edges, in the soft X-ray. We discuss
the implications of the presence of optically thin clouds in the outer regions
of the BLR to the models of broad emission lines.Comment: 21 pages, latex (aasms4 style), incluedes 4 ps figures. To appear in
Astrophysical Journa
Double-Peaked Broad Emission Lines in NGC 4450 and Other LINERs
Spectra taken with HST reveal that NGC 4450 emits Balmer emission lines with
displaced double peaks and extremely high-velocity wings. This characteristic
line profile, previously seen in a few nearby LINERs and in a small fraction of
broad-line radio galaxies, can be interpreted as a kinematic signature of a
relativistic accretion disk. We can reproduce the observed profile with a model
for a disk with a radial range of 1000-2000 gravitational radii and inclined by
27 degrees along the line of sight. The small-aperture HST data also allow us
to detect, for the first time, the featureless continuum at optical wavelengths
in NGC 4450; the nonstellar nucleus is intrinsically very faint, with M_B =
-11.2 mag for D = 16.8 Mpc. We have examined the multiwavelength properties of
NGC 4450 collectively with those of other low-luminosity active nuclei which
possess double-peaked broad lines and find a number of common features. These
objects are all classified spectroscopically as "type 1" LINERs or closely
related objects. The nuclear luminosities are low, both in absolute terms and
relative to the Eddington rates. All of them have compact radio cores, whose
strength relative to the optical nuclear emission places them in the league of
radio-loud active nuclei. The broad-band spectral energy distributions of these
sources are most notable for their deficit of ultraviolet emission compared to
those observed in luminous Seyfert 1 nuclei and quasars. The double-peaked
broad-line radio galaxies Arp 102B and Pictor A have very similar attributes.
We discuss how these characteristics can be understood in the context of
advection-dominated accretion onto massive black holes.Comment: To appear in The Astrophysical Journal. Latex, 15 pages, embedded
figures and tabl
Influence of s,p-d and s-p exchange couplings on exciton splitting in (Zn,Mn)O
This work presents results of near-band gap magnetooptical studies on
(Zn,Mn)O epitaxial layers. We observe excitonic transitions in reflectivity and
photoluminescence, that shift towards higher energies when the Mn concentration
increases and split nonlinearly under the magnetic field. Excitonic shifts are
determined by the s,p-d exchange coupling to magnetic ions, by the
electron-hole s-p exchange, and the spin-orbit interactions. A quantitative
description of the magnetoreflectivity findings indicates that the free
excitons A and B are associated with the Gamma_7 and Gamma_9 valence bands,
respectively, the order reversed as compared to wurtzite GaN. Furthermore, our
results show that the magnitude of the giant exciton splittings, specific to
dilute magnetic semiconductors, is unusual: the magnetoreflectivity data is
described by an effective exchange energy N_0(beta-alpha)=+0.2+/-0.1 eV, what
points to small and positive N_0 beta. It is shown that both the increase of
the gap with x and the small positive value of the exchange energy N_0 beta
corroborate recent theory describing the exchange splitting of the valence band
in a non-perturbative way, suitable for the case of a strong p-d hybridization.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure
Energy Performance and Economic Evaluation of Heat Pump/Organic Rankine Cycle System with Sensible Thermal Storage
The End of the Lines for OX 169: No Binary Broad-Line Region
We show that unusual Balmer emission line profiles of the quasar OX 169,
frequently described as either self-absorbed or double peaked, are actually
neither. The effect is an illusion resulting from two coincidences. First, the
forbidden lines are quite strong and broad. Consequently, the [N II]6583 line
and the associated narrow-line component of H-alpha present the appearance of
twin H-alpha peaks. Second, the redshift of 0.2110 brings H-beta into
coincidence with Na I D at zero redshift, and ISM absorption in Na I D divides
the H-beta emission line. In spectra obtained over the past decade, we see no
substantial change in the character of the line profiles, and no indication of
intrinsic double-peaked structure. The H-gamma, Mg II, and Ly-alpha emission
lines are single peaked, and all of the emission-line redshifts are consistent
once they are correctly attributed to their permitted and forbidden-line
identifications. A systematic shift of up to 700 km/s between broad and narrow
lines is seen, but such differences are common, and could be due to
gravitational and transverse redshift in a low-inclination disk. Stockton &
Farnham (1991) had called attention to an apparent tidal tail in the host
galaxy of OX 169, and speculated that a recent merger had supplied the nucleus
with a coalescing pair of black holes which was now revealing its existence in
the form of two physically distinct broad-line regions. Although there is no
longer any evidence for two broad emission-line regions in OX 169, binary black
holes should form frequently in galaxy mergers, and it is still worthwhile to
monitor the radial velocities of emission lines which could supply evidence of
their existence in certain objects.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Ap.
Assessing the concentrations and risks of toxicity from the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and erythromycin in European rivers
This study evaluated the potential concentrations of four antibiotics: ciprofloxacin (CIP), sulfamethoxazole (SUF), trimethoprim (TRI) and erythromycin (ERY) throughout the rivers of Europe. This involved reviewing national consumption rates together with assessing excretion and sewage treatment removal rates. From this information, it was possible to construct best, expected and worst case scenarios for the discharge of these antibiotics into rivers. Consumption data showed surprising variations, up to 200-fold in the popularity of different antibiotics across different European nations. Using the water resources model GWAVA which has a spatial resolution of approximately 6 Ă 9 km, river water concentrations throughout Europe were predicted based on 31-year climate data. The modelled antibiotic concentrations were within the range of measurements reported previously in European effluents and rivers. With the expected scenario, the predicted annual-average antibiotic concentrations ranged between 0 and 10 ng/L for 90% by length of surface waters. In the worst case scenario concentrations could reach between 0.1 and 1 ÎŒg/L at the most exposed locations. As both predicted and observed sewage effluent concentrations were below reported effect levels for the most sensitive aquatic wildlife, no direct toxicity in rivers is expected. Predicted river concentrations for CIP and ERY were closest to effect levels in wildlife, followed by SUF which was 2â3 orders of magnitude lower. TRI appeared to be of the least concern with around 6 orders of magnitude difference between predicted and effect levels. However, mixture toxicity may elevate this risk and antibiotic levels of 0.1â1 ÎŒg/L in hotspots may contribute to local environmental antibiotic resistance in microorganisms
Cultures of caste and rural development in the social network of a south Indian village
Cultures of caste in much of rural India have become entangled with institutions of rural development. In community-driven development, emphasis on âlocal resource personsâ and âcommunity spokespersonsâ has created new opportunities for brokerage and patronage within some villages, which interact with existing forms of authority and community afforded by caste identity and intra-caste headmanship. In this article, we study how these entangled cultures of caste and development translate into social network structures using data on friendship ties from a south Indian village. We find that although caste continues to be important in shaping community structures and leadership in the villageâs network, its influence varies across different communities. This fluidity of casteâs influence on community network structures is argued to be the result of multiple distinct yet partially overlapping cultural-political forces, which include sharedness afforded by caste identity and new forms of difference and inequality effected through rural development
The XMM/BeppoSAX observation of Mkn 841
Mkn 841 has been observed simultaneously by XMM and BeppoSAX in January 2001.
Due to operational contingency, the 30ks XMM observation was split into two
parts, separated by about 15 hours. We first report the presence of a narrow
iron line which appears to be rapidly variable between the two pointings,
requiring a non-standard interpretation. We then focus on the analysis of the
broad band (0.3-200 keV) continuum using the XMM/EPIC, RGS and SAX/PDS data.
The Mkn 841 spectrum is well fitted by a comptonization model in a geometry
more photon-fed than a simple slab geometry above a passive disk. It presents a
relatively large reflection (R>2) which does not agree with an apparently weak
iron line. It also show the presence of a strong soft excess wellfitted by a
comptonized spectrum in a cool plasma, suggesting the presence of a
multi-temperature corona.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Proc. of the meeting: "The Restless High-Energy
Universe" (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), E.P.J. van den Heuvel, J.J.M. in 't
Zand, and R.A.M.J. Wijers Ed
Kinetics of photoinduced ordering in azo-dye films: two-state and diffusion models
We study the kinetics of photoinduced ordering in the azo-dye SD1
photoaligning layers and present the results of modeling performed using two
different phenomenological approaches. A phenomenological two state model is
deduced from the master equation for an ensemble of two-level molecular
systems. Using an alternative approach, we formulate the two-dimensional (2D)
diffusion model as the free energy Fokker-Planck equation simplified for the
limiting regime of purely in-plane reorientation. The models are employed to
interpret the irradiation time dependence of the absorption order parameters
extracted from the available experimental data by using the exact solution to
the light transmission problem for a biaxially anisotropic absorbing layer. The
transient photoinduced structures are found to be biaxially anisotropic whereas
the photosteady and the initial states are uniaxial.Comment: revtex4, 34 pages, 9 figure
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