645 research outputs found
The Burst Spectra of EXO 0748-676 during a Long 2003 XMM-Newton Observation
Gravitationally redshifted absorption lines from highly ionized iron have
been previously identified in the burst spectra of the neutron star in EXO
0748-676. To repeat this detection we obtained a long, nearly 600 ks
observation of the source with XMM-Newton in 2003. The spectral features seen
in the burst spectra from the initial data are not reproduced in the burst
spectra from this new data. In this paper we present the spectra from the 2003
observations and discuss the sensitivity of the absorption structure to changes
in the photospheric conditions.Comment: 18 Pages, 3 Figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
Localized magnetoplasmon modes arising from broken translational symmetry in semiconductor superlattices
The electromagnetic propagator associated with the localized collective
magnetoplasmon excitations in a semiconductor superlattice with broken
translational symmetry, is calculated analytically within linear response
theory. We discuss the properties of these collective excitations in both
radiative and non-radiative regimes of the electromagnetic spectra. We find
that low frequency retarded modes arise when the surface density of carriers at
the symmetry breaking layer is lower than the density at the remaining layers.
Otherwise a doublet of localized, high-frequency magnetoplasmon-like modes
occurs.Comment: Revtex file + separate pdf figure
Chandra and XMM Observations of the ADC Source 0921-630
We analyze observations of the low mass X-ray binary 2S0921-63 obtained with
the gratings and CCDs on Chandra and XMM. This object is a high inclination
system showing evidence for an accretion disk corona (ADC). Such a corona has
the potential to constrain the properties of the heated accretion disk in this
system, and other LMXBs by extension. We find evidence for line emission which
is generally consistent with that found by previous experiments, although we
are able to detect more lines. For the first time in this source, we find that
the iron K line has multiple components. We set limits on the line widths and
velocity offsets, and we fit the spectra to photoionization models and discuss
the implications for accretion disk corona models. For the first time in any
ADC source we use these fits, together with density constraints based on the O
VII line ratio, in order to constrain the flux in the medium-ionization region
of the ADC. Under various assumptions about the source luminosity this
constrains the location of the emitting region. These estimates, together with
estimates for the emission measure, favor a scenario in which the intrinsic
luminosity of the source is comparable to what we observe.Comment: 40 pages, 11 figures submitted to Ap.
Discovery of X-ray absorption features from the dipping low-mass X-ray binary XB 1916-053 with XMM-Newton
We report the discovery of narrow Fe XXV and Fe XXVI K alpha X-ray absorption
lines at 6.65 and 6.95 keV in the persistent emission of the dipping low-mass
X-ray binary (LMXB) XB 1916-053 during an XMM-Newton observation performed in
September 2002. In addition, there is marginal evidence for absorption features
at 1.48 keV, 2.67 kev, 7.82 keV and 8.29 keV consistent with Mg XII, S XVI, Ni
XXVII K alpha and Fe XXVI K beta transitions, respectively. Such absorption
lines from highly ionized ions are now observed in a number of high inclination
(ie. close to edge-on) LMXBs, such as XB 1916-053, where the inclination is
estimated to be between 60-80 degrees. This, together with the lack of any
orbital phase dependence of the features (except during dips), suggests that
the highly ionized plasma responsible for the absorption lines is located in a
cylindrical geometry around the compact object. Using the ratio of Fe XXV and
Fe XXVI column densities, we estimate the photo-ionization parameter of the
absorbing material to be 10^{3.92} erg cm s^{-1}. Only the Fe XXV line is
observed during dipping intervals and the upper-limits to the Fe XXVI column
density are consistent with a decrease in the amount of ionization during
dipping intervals. This implies the presence of cooler material in the line of
sight during dipping. We also report the discovery of a 0.98 keV absorption
edge in the persistent emission spectrum. The edge energy decreases to 0.87 keV
during deep dipping intervals. The detected feature may result from edges of
moderately ionized Ne and/or Fe with the average ionization level decreasing
from persistent emission to deep dipping. This is again consistent with the
presence of cooler material in the line of sight during dipping.Comment: 13 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
High Resolution Spectroscopy of the X-ray Photoionized Wind in Cygnus X-3 with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer
We present a preliminary analysis of the 1--10 keV spectrum of the massive
X-ray binary Cyg X-3, obtained with the High Energy Transmission Grating
Spectrometer on the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The source reveals a richly
detailed discrete emission spectrum, with clear signatures of
photoionization-driven excitation.
Among the spectroscopic novelties in the data are the first astrophysical
detections of a number of He-like 'triplets' (Si, S, Ar) with emission line
ratios characteristic of photoionization equilibrium, fully resolved narrow
radiative recombination continua of Mg, Si, and S, the presence of the H-like
Fe Balmer series, and a clear detection of a ~ 800 km/s large scale velocity
field, as well as a ~1500 km/s FWHM Doppler broadening in the source. We
briefly touch on the implications of these findings for the structure of the
Wolf-Rayet wind.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures; Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
Nonlinear Spin Dynamics in Ferromagnets with Electron-Nuclear Coupling
Nonlinear spin motion in ferromagnets is considered with nonlinearity due to
three factors: (i) the sample is prepared in a strongly nonequilibrium state,
so that evolution equations cannot be linearized as would be admissible for
spin motion not too far from equilibrium, (ii) the system considered consists
of interacting electron and nuclear spins coupled with each other via hyperfine
forces, and (iii) the sample is inserted into a coil of a resonant electric
circuit producing a resonator feedback field. Due to these nonlinearities,
coherent motion of spins can develop, resulting in their ultrafast relaxation.
A complete analysis of mechanisms triggering such a coherent motion is
presented. This type of ultrafast coherent relaxation can be used for studying
intrinsic properties of magnetic materials.Comment: 1 file, LaTex, 23 page
Matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression in primary human prostatic adenocarcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression was investigated in patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Forty-one men were studied: 26 had histologically proven prostate cancer, with 14 (54%) showing metastatic disease; 15 patients had BPH. Prostatic tissue was obtained from transurethral resection and needle core biopsies; gelatinolytic activity was determined by zymography. Seven gelatinolytic bands were detected, with molecular weights ranging from > 100 kilodalton (kDa) to 29 kDa. Nine of 14 patients (64%) with skeletal metastases had 92 kDa activity, present in only two of 12 patients (17%) with a negative bone scan, and absent in BPH. The 92 kDa gelatinolytic activity was expressed in 73% of aneuploid tumours compared with 20% of diploid tumours. A 97 kDa gelatinase was expressed in 80% of BPH samples and 23% of carcinoma patients. Enzyme bands of 72, 66 and 45 kDa were equally expressed in malignant tissue, irrespective of metastatic status, but were expressed in fewer BPH patients. The 97, 92, 66 and 45 kDa enzymes were identified as being pro-MMP-9 sequences by Western blotting, using a specific antibody directed against the pro sequence of the mature protein. MMP activity appeared to be increased in malignant prostatic tissue compared with BPH. Pro-MMP-9, in its 92 kDa form, was shown to be exclusively expressed by malignant prostatic tissue, and in particular by tumours that exhibited the aggressive and metastatic phenotype
Effects of Multi-Surface Modification on Curie temperature of ferroelectric films
Within the framework of mean field theory, we study the effects of
multi-surface modification on Curie temperature of ferroelectric films using
the transverse Ising model. The general nonlinear equations for Curie
temperature of multi-surface ferroelectric films with arbitrary exchange
constants and transverse fields are derived by the transfer matrix method. As
an example, we consider a film consisting of top surface layers, bulk layers
and bottom surface layers. Two types of surface modifications, modifications of
a surface exchange constant and a surface transverse field are taken into
account. The dependence of Curie temperature on the surface layer numbers, bulk
layer numbers, surface exchange constants, surface transverse fields and bulk
transverse fields is discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Coupling between magnon and ligand-field excitations in magnetoelectric Tb3Fe5O12 garnet
The spectra of far-infrared transmission in Tb3Fe5O12 magnetoelectric single
crystals have been studied in the range between 15 and 100 cm-1, in magnetic
fields up to 10 T, and for temperatures between 5 and 150 K. We attribute some
of the observed infrared-active excitations to electric-dipole transitions
between ligand-field split states of Tb3+ ions. Anticrossing between the
magnetic exchange excitation and the ligand-field transition occurs at the
temperature between 60 and 80 K. The corresponding coupling energy for this
interaction is 6 cm-1. Temperature-induced softening of the hybrid IR
excitation correlates with the increase of the static dielectric constant. We
discuss the possibility for hybrid excitations of magnons and ligand-field
states and their possible connection to the magnetoelectric effect in
Tb3Fe5O12.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. B on May 15th, 201
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