282 research outputs found
ISO Spectroscopy of Young Stellar Objects
Observations of gas-phase and solid-state species toward
young stellar objects (YSOs) with the spectrometers
on board the Infrared Space Observatory
are reviewed. The excitation and abundances of
the atoms and molecules are sensitive to the changing
physical conditions during star-formation. In
the cold outer envelopes around YSOs, interstellar
ices contain a significant fraction of the heavy element
abundances, in particular oxygen. Different ice
phases can be distinguished, and evidence is found for
heating and segregation of the ices in more evolved
objects. The inner warm envelopes around YSOs are
probed through absorption and emission of gas-phase
molecules, including CO, CO_2, CH_4 and H_2O. An
overview of the wealth of observations on gas-phase
H_2O in star-forming regions is presented. Gas/solid
ratios are determined, which provide information on
the importance of gas-grain chemistry and high temperature
gas-phase reactions. The line ratios of molecules
such as H_2, CO and H_2O are powerful probes
to constrain the physical parameters of the gas. Together
with atomic and ionic lines such as [0 I]
63 µm, [S I] 25 µm and (Si II] 35 µm, they can also
be used to distinguish between photon- and shock-heated
gas. Finally, spectroscopic data on circumstellar
disks around young stars are mentioned. The
results are discussed in the context of the physical
and chemical evolution of YSOs
Relative Equilibria in the Four-Vortex Problem with Two Pairs of Equal Vorticities
We examine in detail the relative equilibria in the four-vortex problem where
two pairs of vortices have equal strength, that is, \Gamma_1 = \Gamma_2 = 1 and
\Gamma_3 = \Gamma_4 = m where m is a nonzero real parameter. One main result is
that for m > 0, the convex configurations all contain a line of symmetry,
forming a rhombus or an isosceles trapezoid. The rhombus solutions exist for
all m but the isosceles trapezoid case exists only when m is positive. In fact,
there exist asymmetric convex configurations when m < 0. In contrast to the
Newtonian four-body problem with two equal pairs of masses, where the symmetry
of all convex central configurations is unproven, the equations in the vortex
case are easier to handle, allowing for a complete classification of all
solutions. Precise counts on the number and type of solutions (equivalence
classes) for different values of m, as well as a description of some of the
bifurcations that occur, are provided. Our techniques involve a combination of
analysis and modern and computational algebraic geometry
Dynamic nuclear polarization and spin-diffusion in non-conducting solids
There has been much renewed interest in dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP),
particularly in the context of solid state biomolecular NMR and more recently
dissolution DNP techniques for liquids. This paper reviews the role of spin
diffusion in polarizing nuclear spins and discusses the role of the spin
diffusion barrier, before going on to discuss some recent results.Comment: submitted to Applied Magnetic Resonance. The article should appear in
a special issue that is being published in connection with the DNP Symposium
help in Nottingham in August 200
Forward pi^0 Production and Associated Transverse Energy Flow in Deep-Inelastic Scattering at HERA
Deep-inelastic positron-proton interactions at low values of Bjorken-x down
to x \approx 4.10^-5 which give rise to high transverse momentum pi^0 mesons
are studied with the H1 experiment at HERA. The inclusive cross section for
pi^0 mesons produced at small angles with respect to the proton remnant (the
forward region) is presented as a function of the transverse momentum and
energy of the pi^0 and of the four-momentum transfer Q^2 and Bjorken-x.
Measurements are also presented of the transverse energy flow in events
containing a forward pi^0 meson. Hadronic final state calculations based on QCD
models implementing different parton evolution schemes are confronted with the
data.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures and 3 table
Search for Doubly-Charged Higgs Boson Production at HERA
A search for the single production of doubly-charged Higgs bosons H^{\pm \pm}
in ep collisions is presented. The signal is searched for via the Higgs decays
into a high mass pair of same charge leptons, one of them being an electron.
The analysis uses up to 118 pb^{-1} of ep data collected by the H1 experiment
at HERA. No evidence for doubly-charged Higgs production is observed and mass
dependent upper limits are derived on the Yukawa couplings h_{el} of the Higgs
boson to an electron-lepton pair. Assuming that the doubly-charged Higgs only
decays into an electron and a muon via a coupling of electromagnetic strength
h_{e \mu} = \sqrt{4 \pi \alpha_{em}} = 0.3, a lower limit of 141 GeV on the
H^{\pm\pm} mass is obtained at the 95% confidence level. For a doubly-charged
Higgs decaying only into an electron and a tau and a coupling h_{e\tau} = 0.3,
masses below 112 GeV are ruled out.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
The Science of Sungrazers, Sunskirters, and Other Near-Sun Comets
This review addresses our current understanding of comets that venture close to the Sun, and are hence exposed to much more extreme conditions than comets that are typically studied from Earth. The extreme solar heating and plasma environments that these objects encounter change many aspects of their behaviour, thus yielding valuable information on both the comets themselves that complements other data we have on primitive solar system bodies, as well as on the near-solar environment which they traverse. We propose clear definitions for these comets: We use the term near-Sun comets to encompass all objects that pass sunward of the perihelion distance of planet Mercury (0.307 AU). Sunskirters are defined as objects that pass within 33 solar radii of the Sun’s centre, equal to half of Mercury’s perihelion distance, and the commonly-used phrase sungrazers to be objects that reach perihelion within 3.45 solar radii, i.e. the fluid Roche limit. Finally, comets with orbits that intersect the solar photosphere are termed sundivers. We summarize past studies of these objects, as well as the instruments and facilities used to study them, including space-based platforms that have led to a recent revolution in the quantity and quality of relevant observations. Relevant comet populations are described, including the Kreutz, Marsden, Kracht, and Meyer groups, near-Sun asteroids, and a brief discussion of their origins. The importance of light curves and the clues they provide on cometary composition are emphasized, together with what information has been gleaned about nucleus parameters, including the sizes and masses of objects and their families, and their tensile strengths. The physical processes occurring at these objects are considered in some detail, including the disruption of nuclei, sublimation, and ionisation, and we consider the mass, momentum, and energy loss of comets in the corona and those that venture to lower altitudes. The different components of comae and tails are described, including dust, neutral and ionised gases, their chemical reactions, and their contributions to the near-Sun environment. Comet-solar wind interactions are discussed, including the use of comets as probes of solar wind and coronal conditions in their vicinities. We address the relevance of work on comets near the Sun to similar objects orbiting other stars, and conclude with a discussion of future directions for the field and the planned ground- and space-based facilities that will allow us to address those science topics
Low Q^2 Jet Production at HERA and Virtual Photon Structure
The transition between photoproduction and deep-inelastic scattering is
investigated in jet production at the HERA ep collider, using data collected by
the H1 experiment. Measurements of the differential inclusive jet
cross-sections dsigep/dEt* and dsigmep/deta*, where Et* and eta* are the
transverse energy and the pseudorapidity of the jets in the virtual
photon-proton centre of mass frame, are presented for 0 < Q2 < 49 GeV2 and 0.3
< y < 0.6. The interpretation of the results in terms of the structure of the
virtual photon is discussed. The data are best described by QCD calculations
which include a partonic structure of the virtual photon that evolves with Q2.Comment: 20 pages, 5 Figure
Hadron Production in Diffractive Deep-Inelastic Scattering
Characteristics of hadron production in diffractive deep-inelastic
positron-proton scattering are studied using data collected in 1994 by the H1
experiment at HERA. The following distributions are measured in the
centre-of-mass frame of the photon dissociation system: the hadronic energy
flow, the Feynman-x (x_F) variable for charged particles, the squared
transverse momentum of charged particles (p_T^{*2}), and the mean p_T^{*2} as a
function of x_F. These distributions are compared with results in the gamma^* p
centre-of-mass frame from inclusive deep-inelastic scattering in the
fixed-target experiment EMC, and also with the predictions of several Monte
Carlo calculations. The data are consistent with a picture in which the
partonic structure of the diffractive exchange is dominated at low Q^2 by hard
gluons.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett.
Measurement of D* Meson Cross Sections at HERA and Determination of the Gluon Density in the Proton using NLO QCD
With the H1 detector at the ep collider HERA, D* meson production cross
sections have been measured in deep inelastic scattering with four-momentum
transfers Q^2>2 GeV2 and in photoproduction at energies around W(gamma p)~ 88
GeV and 194 GeV. Next-to-Leading Order QCD calculations are found to describe
the differential cross sections within theoretical and experimental
uncertainties. Using these calculations, the NLO gluon momentum distribution in
the proton, x_g g(x_g), has been extracted in the momentum fraction range
7.5x10^{-4}< x_g <4x10^{-2} at average scales mu^2 =25 to 50 GeV2. The gluon
momentum fraction x_g has been obtained from the measured kinematics of the
scattered electron and the D* meson in the final state. The results compare
well with the gluon distribution obtained from the analysis of scaling
violations of the proton structure function F_2.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Nucl. Phys.
Measurement of Leading Proton and Neutron Production in Deep Inelastic Scattering at HERA
Deep--inelastic scattering events with a leading baryon have been detected by
the H1 experiment at HERA using a forward proton spectrometer and a forward
neutron calorimeter. Semi--inclusive cross sections have been measured in the
kinematic region 2 <= Q^2 <= 50 GeV^2, 6.10^-5 <= x <= 6.10^-3 and baryon p_T
<= MeV, for events with a final state proton with energy 580 <= E' <= 740 GeV,
or a neutron with energy E' >= 160 GeV. The measurements are used to test
production models and factorization hypotheses. A Regge model of leading baryon
production which consists of pion, pomeron and secondary reggeon exchanges
gives an acceptable description of both semi-inclusive cross sections in the
region 0.7 <= E'/E_p <= 0.9, where E_p is the proton beam energy. The leading
neutron data are used to estimate for the first time the structure function of
the pion at small Bjorken--x.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Eur. Phys.
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