Magneto-elastic oscillations of neutron stars: exploring different magnetic field configurations

We study magneto-elastic oscillations of highly magnetized neutron stars (magnetars) which have been proposed as an explanation for the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) appearing in the decaying tail of the giant flares of soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs). We extend previous studies by investigating various magnetic field configurations, computing the Alfv\'en spectrum in each case and performing magneto-elastic simulations for a selected number of models. By identifying the observed frequencies of 28 Hz (SGR 1900+14) and 30 Hz (SGR 1806-20) with the fundamental Alfv\'en QPOs, we estimate the required surface magnetic field strength. For the magnetic field configurations investigated (dipole-like poloidal, mixed toroidal-poloidal with a dipole-like poloidal component and a toroidal field confined to the region of field lines closing inside the star, and for poloidal fields with an additional quadrupole-like component) the estimated dipole spin-down magnetic fields are between 8x10^14 G and 4x10^15 G, in broad agreement with spin-down estimates for the SGR sources producing giant flares. A number of these models exhibit a rich Alfv\'en continuum revealing new turning points which can produce QPOs. This allows one to explain most of the observed QPO frequencies as associated with magneto-elastic QPOs. In particular, we construct a possible configuration with two turning points in the spectrum which can explain all observed QPOs of SGR 1900+14. Finally, we find that magnetic field configurations which are entirely confined in the crust (if the core is assumed to be a type I superconductor) are not favoured, due to difficulties in explaining the lowest observed QPO frequencies (f<30 Hz).Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures, 6 tables, matched to version accepted by MNRAS with extended comparison/discussion to previous wor

The optimal P3M algorithm for computing electrostatic energies in periodic systems

We optimize Hockney and Eastwood's Particle-Particle Particle-Mesh (P3M) algorithm to achieve maximal accuracy in the electrostatic energies (instead of forces) in 3D periodic charged systems. To this end we construct an optimal influence function that minimizes the RMS errors in the energies. As a by-product we derive a new real-space cut-off correction term, give a transparent derivation of the systematic errors in terms of Madelung energies, and provide an accurate analytical estimate for the RMS error of the energies. This error estimate is a useful indicator of the accuracy of the computed energies, and allows an easy and precise determination of the optimal values of the various parameters in the algorithm (Ewald splitting parameter, mesh size and charge assignment order).Comment: 31 pages, 3 figure

Capillary deformations of bendable films

We address the partial wetting of liquid drops on ultrathin solid sheets resting on a deformable foundation. Considering the membrane limit of sheets that can relax compression through wrinkling at negligible energetic cost, we revisit the classical theory for the contact of liquid drops on solids. Our calculations and experiments show that the liquid-solid-vapor contact angle is modified from the Young angle, even though the elastic bulk modulus (E) of the sheet is so large that the ratio between the surface tension γ and E is of molecular size. This finding establishes a new type of “soft capillarity” that stems from the bendability of thin elastic bodies rather than from material softness. We also show that the size of the wrinkle pattern that emerges in the sheet is fully predictable, thus resolving a puzzle noticed in several previous attempts to model “drop-on-a-floating-sheet” experiments, and enabling a reliable usage of this setup for the metrology of ultrathin films

A new ornithopod dinosaur from the Santonian of Northern Patagonia (Rincón de los Sauces, Argentina)

In recent decades, the Argentinian ornithopod record – which includes eight species that have been described – has increased as a result of the discovery of diverse new bone remains from the Upper Cretaceous. The area near the town of Rincón de los Sauces (Neuquén Province) presents rich fossiliferous outcrops that have provided new ornithopod remains. These bones are from two units: the Plottier and Bajo de la Carpa formations. In the latter, several isolated postcranial bones and a partial articulated skeleton (MAU-Pv-CO-596) have been found. The holotype of Mahuidacursor lipanglef gen. et sp. nov. (MAU-Pv-CO-596) comes from the Cerro Overo site (Santonian, Upper Cretaceous). The skeleton preserves elements from the cervical and dorsal series, the pectoral girdle and the right forelimb. It corresponds to a medium-bodied ornithopod with a gracile general appearance. Histological analysis suggests that the specimen was a sexually mature but not fully grown individual. Some distinctive characters present in Mahuidacursor, such as the strongly bowed humeral shaft and the weakly developed deltopectoral crest, are shared with other South American basal ornithopods. A phylogenetic analysis including Mahuidacursor within a large ornithischian dataset was performed. The results show Mahuidacursor to be a basal ornithopod recovered within a polytomy along with Notohypsilophodon and the clade Elasmaria (Talenkauen + Macrogryphosaurus)

Limitations on the smooth confinement of an unstretchable manifold

We prove that an m-dimensional unit ball D^m in the Euclidean space {\mathbb R}^m cannot be isometrically embedded into a higher-dimensional Euclidean ball B_r^d \subset {\mathbb R}^d of radius r < 1/2 unless one of two conditions is met -- (1)The embedding manifold has dimension d >= 2m. (2) The embedding is not smooth. The proof uses differential geometry to show that if d<2m and the embedding is smooth and isometric, we can construct a line from the center of D^m to the boundary that is geodesic in both D^m and in the embedding manifold {\mathbb R}^d. Since such a line has length 1, the diameter of the embedding ball must exceed 1.Comment: 20 Pages, 3 Figure

Valoracion del riesgo de caidas en adultos mayores pertenecientes al centro de salud familiar Lontue

102 p.Una consecuencia propia del envejecimiento de una población, es el aumento de las lesiones secundarias a las caídas, y por ende en los costos socioeconómicos para el país. En este contexto, la detección de la población con riesgo de caídas, resulta de gran importancia para el establecimiento de medidas preventivas. Considerando la escasa información existente a nivel regional y local sobre la población adulta mayor y riesgo de caídas, se realizó una investigación descriptiva cuyo objetivo fue valorar el riesgo de caídas en los adultos mayores pertenecientes al centro de salud familiar Lontué. Se tomo una muestra de 120 sujetos mayores de 65 años, y se valoró el riesgo de caída a través de dos instrumentos: Escala de Downton y el Test de Tinetti. De los resultados obtenidos, se desprende que el 50% de los evaluados ha presentado al menos 1 caída dentro de los últimos 6 meses. De aquellas personas que caen, el 65% corresponde al sexo femenino. Del total de los sujetos evaluados, el 81,7% resulto con riesgo de caídas en la escala de Downton, en cambio de este mismo grupo, la escala de Tinetti indicó que había riesgo de caídas solo en el 15% de esta població