12,882 research outputs found
Thermal Phase Variations of WASP-12b: Defying Predictions
[Abridged] We report Warm Spitzer full-orbit phase observations of WASP-12b
at 3.6 and 4.5 micron. We are able to measure the transit depths, eclipse
depths, thermal and ellipsoidal phase variations at both wavelengths. The large
amplitude phase variations, combined with the planet's previously-measured
day-side spectral energy distribution, is indicative of non-zero Bond albedo
and very poor day-night heat redistribution. The transit depths in the
mid-infrared indicate that the atmospheric opacity is greater at 3.6 than at
4.5 micron, in disagreement with model predictions, irrespective of C/O ratio.
The secondary eclipse depths are consistent with previous studies. We do not
detect ellipsoidal variations at 3.6 micron, but our parameter uncertainties
-estimated via prayer-bead Monte Carlo- keep this non-detection consistent with
model predictions. At 4.5 micron, on the other hand, we detect ellipsoidal
variations that are much stronger than predicted. If interpreted as a geometric
effect due to the planet's elongated shape, these variations imply a 3:2 ratio
for the planet's longest:shortest axes and a relatively bright day-night
terminator. If we instead presume that the 4.5 micron ellipsoidal variations
are due to uncorrected systematic noise and we fix the amplitude of the
variations to zero, the best fit 4.5 micron transit depth becomes commensurate
with the 3.6 micron depth, within the uncertainties. The relative transit
depths are then consistent with a Solar composition and short scale height at
the terminator. Assuming zero ellipsoidal variations also yields a much deeper
4.5 micron eclipse depth, consistent with a Solar composition and modest
temperature inversion. We suggest future observations that could distinguish
between these two scenarios.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, ApJ in press. Improved discussion of gravity
brightenin
Pixel level decorrelation in service of the Spitzer microlens parallax survey
Microlens parallax measurements combining space-based and ground-based observatories can be used to study planetary demographics. In recent years, the Spitzer Space Telescope was used as a microlens parallax satellite. Meanwhile, Spitzer IRAC has been employed to study short-period exoplanets and their atmospheres. As these investigations require exquisite photometry, they motivated the development of numerous self-calibration techniques now widely used in the exoplanet atmosphere community. Specifically, pixel level decorrelation (PLD) was developed for starring-mode observations in uncrowded fields. We adapt and extend PLD to make it suitable for observations obtained as part of the Spitzer Microlens Parallax Campaign. We apply our method to two previously published microlensing events, OGLE-2017-BLG-1140 and OGLE-2015-BLG-0448, and compare its performance to the state-of-the-art pipeline used to analyses Spitzer microlensing observation. We find that our method yields photometry 1.5–6 times as precise as previously published. In addition to being useful for Spitzer, a similar approach could improve microlensing photometry with the forthcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
Pixel level decorrelation in service of the Spitzer microlens parallax survey
Microlens parallax measurements combining space-based and ground-based observatories can be used to study planetary demographics. In recent years, the Spitzer Space Telescope was used as a microlens parallax satellite. Meanwhile, Spitzer IRAC has been employed to study short-period exoplanets and their atmospheres. As these investigations require exquisite photometry, they motivated the development of numerous self-calibration techniques now widely used in the exoplanet atmosphere community. Specifically, pixel level decorrelation (PLD) was developed for starring-mode observations in uncrowded fields. We adapt and extend PLD to make it suitable for observations obtained as part of the Spitzer Microlens Parallax Campaign. We apply our method to two previously published microlensing events, OGLE-2017-BLG-1140 and OGLE-2015-BLG-0448, and compare its performance to the state-of-the-art pipeline used to analyses Spitzer microlensing observation. We find that our method yields photometry 1.5–6 times as precise as previously published. In addition to being useful for Spitzer, a similar approach could improve microlensing photometry with the forthcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
New Test of Supernova Electron Neutrino Emission using Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Sensitivity to the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background
Supernovae are rare nearby, but they are not rare in the Universe, and all
past core-collapse supernovae contributed to the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino
Background (DSNB), for which the near-term detection prospects are very good.
The Super-Kamiokande limit on the DSNB electron {\it antineutrino} flux,
cm s, is just above the
range of recent theoretical predictions based on the measured star formation
rate history. We show that the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory should be able to
test the corresponding DSNB electron {\it neutrino} flux with a sensitivity as
low as cm s,
improving the existing Mont Blanc limit by about three orders of magnitude.
While conventional supernova models predict comparable electron neutrino and
antineutrino fluxes, it is often considered that the first (and
forward-directed) SN 1987A event in the Kamiokande-II detector should be
attributed to electron-neutrino scattering with an electron, which would
require a substantially enhanced electron neutrino flux. We show that with the
required enhancements in either the burst or thermal phase fluxes, the
DSNB electron neutrino flux would generally be detectable in the Sudbury
Neutrino Observatory. A direct experimental test could then resolve one of the
enduring mysteries of SN 1987A: whether the first Kamiokande-II event reveals a
serious misunderstanding of supernova physics, or was simply an unlikely
statistical fluctuation. Thus the electron neutrino sensitivity of the Sudbury
Neutrino Observatory is an important complement to the electron antineutrino
sensitivity of Super-Kamiokande in the quest to understand the DSNB.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure
Interaction effects and quantum phase transitions in topological insulators
We study strong correlation effects in topological insulators via the Lanczos
algorithm, which we utilize to calculate the exact many-particle ground-state
wave function and its topological properties. We analyze the simple,
noninteracting Haldane model on a honeycomb lattice with known topological
properties and demonstrate that these properties are already evident in small
clusters. Next, we consider interacting fermions by introducing repulsive
nearest-neighbor interactions. A first-order quantum phase transition was
discovered at finite interaction strength between the topological band
insulator and a topologically trivial Mott insulating phase by use of the
fidelity metric and the charge-density-wave structure factor. We construct the
phase diagram at as a function of the interaction strength and the
complex phase for the next-nearest-neighbor hoppings. Finally, we consider the
Haldane model with interacting hard-core bosons, where no evidence for a
topological phase is observed. An important general conclusion of our work is
that despite the intrinsic nonlocality of topological phases their key
topological properties manifest themselves already in small systems and
therefore can be studied numerically via exact diagonalization and observed
experimentally, e.g., with trapped ions and cold atoms in optical lattices.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures. Published versio
Three-body correlations and finite-size effects in the Moore--Read states on a sphere
Two- and three-body correlations in partially filled degenerate fermion
shells are studied numerically for various interactions between the particles.
Three distinct correlation regimes are defined, depending on the short-range
behavior of the pair pseudopotential. For pseudopotentials similar to those of
electrons in the first excited Landau level, correlations at half-filling have
a simple three-body form consisting of the maximum avoidance of the triplet
state with the smallest relative angular momentum R_3=3. In analogy to the
superharmonic criterion for Laughlin two-body correlations, their occurrence is
related to the form of the three-body pseudopotential at short range. The
spectra of a model three-body repulsion are calculated, and the zero-energy
Moore--Read ground state, its +-e/4-charged quasiparticles, and the
magnetoroton and pair-breaking bands are all identified. The quasiparticles are
correctly described by a composite fermion model appropriate for Halperin's
p-type pairing with Laughlin correlations between the pairs. However, the
Moore--Read ground state, and specially its excitations, have small overlaps
with the corresponding Coulomb eigenstates when calculated on a sphere. The
reason lies in surface curvature which affects the form of pair pseudopotential
for which the "R_3>3" three-body correlations occur. In finite systems, such
pseudopotential must be slightly superharmonic at short range (different from
Coulomb pseudopotential). However, the connection with the three-body
pseudopotential is less size-dependent, suggesting that the Moore--Read state
and its excitations are a more accurate description for experimental nu=5/2
states than could be expected from previous calculations.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, submitted to PR
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Summary report of working group 3: High gradient and laser-structure based acceleration
The charge for the working group on high gradient and laser-structure based acceleration was to assess the current challenges involved in developing an advanced accelerator based on electromagnetic structures, and survey state-of-the-art methods to address those challenges. The topics of more than 50 presentations in the working group covered a very broad range of issues, from ideas, theoretical models and simulations, to design and manufacturing of accelerating structures and, finally, experimental results on obtaining extremely high accelerating gradients in structures from conventional microwave frequency range up to THz and laser frequencies. Workshop discussion topics included advances in the understanding of the physics of breakdown and other phenomena, limiting high gradient performance of accelerating structures. New results presented in this workshop demonstrated significant progress in the fields of conventional vacuum structure-based acceleration, dielectric wakefield acceleration, and laser-structure acceleration
Three-dimensional dielectric photonic crystal structures for laser-driven acceleration
We present the design and simulation of a three-dimensional photonic crystal
waveguide for linear laser-driven acceleration in vacuum. The structure
confines a synchronous speed-of-light accelerating mode in both transverse
dimensions. We report the properties of this mode, including sustainable
gradient and optical-to-beam efficiency. We present a novel method for
confining a particle beam using optical fields as focusing elements. This
technique, combined with careful structure design, is shown to have a large
dynamic aperture and minimal emittance growth, even over millions of optical
wavelengths
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