6,980 research outputs found
Performance characterization of a segmented anode arcjet thruster
A modular, 1 to 2 kW class arcjet thruster incorporating a segmented anode/nozzle was operated on a thrust stand to obtain performance characteristics of the device and further study its operating characteristics under a number of experimental conditions. The nozzle was composed of five axial conducting segments isolated from one another by boron nitride spacers. The electrical configuration allowed the current delivered to the arcjet to be collected at any combination of segments. Both the current collected by each segment, and the potential difference between the cathode and each segment were monitored throughout the test period. As in previous tests a similar device, current appeared to attach diffusely in the anode when all of the segments were allowed to conduct. Improvements to the device allowed long term (4 to 8 hour) operation at steady-state and operating characteristics were repeatable over extended periods. Performance characteristics indicated that the segmented anode reasonably simulates the behavior of solid anodes of similar geometry. Current distribution depended on flow rate as the arc attachment moved downstream in the nozzle with increases in the mass flow rate. The current level had little effect on current distribution on the anode segments. Thrust measurements indicated that the current distribution in the nozzle did not significantly affect performance of the device
The connection between metallicity and metal-line kinematics in (sub-)damped Lyman-alpha systems
A correlation between the metallicity, [M/H], and rest-frame MgII equivalent
width, EW, is found from 49 DLAs and strong sub-DLAs drawn from the literature
over the redshift range 0.2<z_abs<2.6. The correlation is significant at 4.2
sigma and improves to 4.7 sigma when the mild evolution of [M/H] with redshift
is taken into account. Even when including only the 26 DLAs (i.e. excluding
sub-DLAs) which have Zn metallicities and EW>0.7A, the correlation remains at
>3 sigma significance. Since the MgII2796 transition is predominantly saturated
in DLAs (which always have EW greater than 0.3A), EW is far more sensitive to
the kinematic spread of the metal velocity components across the absorption
profile than it is to [M/H]. Thus, the observed [M/H]--EW correlation points to
a strong link between the absorber metallicity and the mechanism for producing
and dispersing the velocity components. We also note that approximately half of
the 13 known molecular hydrogen absorbers have very high EW and very broad
velocity structures which show characteristics usually associated with
outflows. Follow-up ultraviolet- and blue-sensitive high-resolution spectra of
high-EW systems, initially identified in low-resolution spectra, may therefore
yield a large number of new H_2 discoveries.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures (3 EPS files). Accepted by MNRA
Further Observational Evidence for a Critical Ionising Luminosity in Active Galaxies
We report the results of a survey for HI 21-cm absorption at redshifts of z >
2.6 in a new sample of radio sources with the Green Bank and Giant Metrewave
Radio Telescopes. From a total of 25 targets, we report zero detections in the
16 for which optical depth limits could be obtained. Based upon the detection
rate for z > 0.1 associated absorption, we would expect approximately four
detections. Of the 11 which have previously not been searched, there is
sufficient source-frame optical/ultra-violet photometry to determine the
ionising photon rate for four. Adding these to the literature, the hypothesis
that there is a critical rate of logQ = 56 ionising photons per second is now
significant at ~7 sigma. This reaffirms our assertion that searching z > 3
active galaxies for which optical redshifts are available selects sources in
which the ultra-violet luminosity is sufficient to ionise all of the neutral
gas in the host galaxy.Comment: Accepted by MNRA
A search for 21 cm HI absorption in AT20G compact radio galaxies
We present results from a search for 21 cm associated HI absorption in a
sample of 29 radio sources selected from the Australia Telescope 20 GHz survey.
Observations were conducted using the Australia Telescope Compact Array
Broadband Backend, with which we can simultaneously look for 21 cm absorption
in a redshift range of 0.04 < z < 0.08, with a velocity resolution of 7 km/s .
In preparation for future large-scale H I absorption surveys we test a
spectral-line finding method based on Bayesian inference. We use this to assign
significance to our detections and to determine the best-fitting number of
spectral-line components. We find that the automated spectral-line search is
limited by residuals in the continuum, both from the band-pass calibration and
spectral-ripple subtraction, at spectral-line widths of \Deltav_FWHM > 103 km/s
. Using this technique we detect two new absorbers and a third, previously
known, yielding a 10 per cent detection rate. Of the detections, the
spectral-line profiles are consistent with the theory that we are seeing
different orientations of the absorbing gas, in both the host galaxy and
circumnuclear disc, with respect to our line-of-sight to the source. In order
to spatially resolve the spectral-line components in the two new detections,
and so verify this conclusion, we require further high-resolution 21 cm
observations (~0.01 arcsec) using very long baseline interferometry.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures and 5 tables; accepted for publication in MNRAS
(version 2 based on proof corrections
On finite -groups whose automorphisms are all central
An automorphism of a group is said to be central if
commutes with every inner automorphism of . We construct a family of
non-special finite -groups having abelian automorphism groups. These groups
provide counter examples to a conjecture of A. Mahalanobis [Israel J. Math.,
{\bf 165} (2008), 161 - 187]. We also construct a family of finite -groups
having non-abelian automorphism groups and all automorphisms central. This
solves a problem of I. Malinowska [Advances in group theory, Aracne Editrice,
Rome 2002, 111-127].Comment: 11 pages, Counter examples to a conjecture from [Israel J. Math.,
{\bf 165} (2008), 161 - 187]; This paper will appear in Israel J. Math. in
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