3,066 research outputs found
On the sensitivity of extrasolar mass-loss rate ranges: HD 209458b a case study
We present a 3D hydrodynamic study of the effects that different stellar wind
conditions and planetary wind structures have on the calculated Ly-
absorptions produced during the transit of HD 209458b. Considering a range of
stellar wind speeds [350-800] km s, coronal temperature
[3-7] K and two values of the polytropic index
[1.01-1.13], while keeping fixed the stellar mass loss rate, we found a
that a range between [3-5] g s give
account for the observational absorption in Ly- measured for the
planetary system. Also, several models with anisotropic evaporation profiles
for the planetary escaping atmosphere were carried out, showing that both, the
escape through polar regions and through the night side yields larger
absorptions than an isotropic planetary wind
Photo-ionization of planetary winds: case study HD209458b
Close-in hot Jupiters are exposed to a tremendous photon flux that ionizes
the neutral escaping material from the planet leaving an observable imprint
that makes them an interesting laboratory for testing theoretical models. In
this work we present 3D hydrodynamic simulations with radiation transfer
calculations of a close-in exoplanet in a blow-off state. We calculate the
Ly- absorption and compare it with observations of HD 209458b an
previous simplified model results.Our results show that the hydrodynamic
interaction together with a proper calculation of the photoionization proccess
are able to reproduce the main features of the observed Ly- absorption,
in particular at the blue-shifted wings of the line. We found that the ionizing
stellar flux produce an almost linear effect on the amount of absorption in the
wake. Varying the planetary mass loss rate and the radiation flux, we were able
to reproduce the absorption observed at .Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
Dark Matter investigation by DAMA at Gran Sasso
Experimental observations and theoretical arguments at Galaxy and larger
scales have suggested that a large fraction of the Universe is composed by Dark
Matter particles. This has motivated the DAMA experimental efforts to
investigate the presence of such particles in the galactic halo by exploiting a
model independent signature and very highly radiopure set-ups deep underground.
Few introductory arguments are summarized before presenting a review of the
present model independent positive results obtained by the DAMA/NaI and
DAMA/LIBRA set-ups at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN.
Implications and model dependent comparisons with other different kinds of
results will be shortly addressed. Some arguments put forward in literature
will be confuted.Comment: review article, 71 pages, 25 figures, 8 tables; v2: minor
modifications. In publication on the International Journal of Modern Physics
Theta-frequency resonance at the cerebellum input stage improves spike timing on the millisecond time-scale
The neuronal circuits of the brain are thought to use resonance and oscillations to improve communication over specific frequency bands (Llinas, 1988; Buzsaki, 2006). However, the properties and mechanism of these phenomena in brain circuits remain largely unknown. Here we show that, at the cerebellum input stage, the granular layer (GRL) generates its maximum response at 5\u20137 Hz both in vivo following tactile sensory stimulation of the whisker pad and in acute slices following mossy fiber bundle stimulation. The spatial analysis of GRL activity performed using voltage-sensitive dye (VSD) imaging revealed 5\u20137 Hz resonance covering large GRL areas. In single granule cells, resonance appeared as a reorganization of output spike bursts on the millisecond time-scale, such that the first spike occurred earlier and with higher temporal precision and the probability of spike generation increased. Resonance was independent from circuit inhibition, as it persisted with little variation in the presence of the GABAA receptor blocker, gabazine. However, circuit inhibition reduced the resonance area more markedly at 7 Hz. Simulations with detailed computational models suggested that resonance depended on intrinsic granule cells ionic mechanisms: specifically, Kslow (M-like) and KA currents acted as resonators and the persistent Na current and NMDA current acted as amplifiers. This form of resonance may play an important role for enhancing coherent spike emission from the GRL when theta-frequency bursts are transmitted by the cerebral cortex and peripheral sensory structures during sensory-motor processing, cognition, and learning
Model independent result on possible diurnal effect in DAMA/LIBRA-phase1
The results obtained in the search for possible diurnal effect in the
single-hit low energy data collected by DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 (total exposure: 1.04
ton x yr) deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the
I.N.F.N. are presented. At the present level of sensitivity the presence of any
significant diurnal variation and of diurnal time structures in the data can be
excluded for both the cases of solar and sidereal time. In particular, the
diurnal modulation amplitude expected, because of the Earth diurnal motion, on
the basis of the DAMA Dark Matter annual modulation results is below the
present sensitivity.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables; in publication on Eur. Phys. J.
Final model independent result of DAMA/LIBRA-phase1
The results obtained with the total exposure of 1.04 ton x yr collected by
DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS)
of the I.N.F.N. during 7 annual cycles (i.e. adding a further 0.17 ton x yr
exposure) are presented. The DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 data give evidence for the
presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo, on the basis of
the exploited model independent DM annual modulation signature by using highly
radio-pure NaI(Tl) target, at 7.5 sigma C.L.. Including also the first
generation DAMA/NaI experiment (cumulative exposure 1.33 ton x yr,
corresponding to 14 annual cycles), the C.L. is 9.3 sigma and the modulation
amplitude of the single-hit events in the (2-6) keV energy interval is: (0.0112
\pm 0.0012) cpd/kg/keV; the measured phase is (144 \pm 7) days and the measured
period is (0.998 \pm 0.002) yr, values well in agreement with those expected
for DM particles. No systematic or side reaction able to mimic the exploited DM
signature has been found or suggested by anyone over more than a decade.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figures, 6 tables; in publication on Eur. Phys. J.
No role for neutrons, muons and solar neutrinos in the DAMA annual modulation results
This paper summarizes in a simple and intuitive way why the neutrons, the
muons and the solar neutrinos cannot give any significant contribution to the
DAMA annual modulation results. A number of these elements have already been
presented in individual papers; they are recalled here. Afterwards, few simple
considerations are summarized which already demonstrate the incorrectness of
the claim reported in PRL 113 (2014) 081302.Comment: 11 pages, 1 tabl
Investigating Earth shadowing effect with DAMA/LIBRA-phase1
In the present paper the results obtained in the investigation of possible
diurnal effects for low-energy single-hit scintillation events of
DAMA/LIBRA-phase1 (1.04 ton yr exposure) have been analysed in terms
of an effect expected in case of Dark Matter (DM) candidates inducing nuclear
recoils and having high cross-section with ordinary matter, which implies low
DM local density in order to fulfill the DAMA/LIBRA DM annual modulation
results. This effect is due to the different Earth depths crossed by those DM
candidates during the sidereal day.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, 1 table; in publication on Eur. Phys. J.
Vector meson photoproduction studied in its radiative decay channel
We provide an analysis of vector meson photoproduction in the channel of the
vector meson decaying into a pseudoscalar meson plus a photon, i.e. . It is shown that non-trivial kinematic correlations arise from the
measurement of the angular distributions in the overall c.m. system
in comparison with those in the vector-meson-rest frame. In terms of the vector
meson density matrix elements, the implication of such kinematic correlations
in the measurement of polarization observables is discussed. For the
meson production, due to its relatively large branching ratios for
, additional events from this channel may enrich the
information about the reaction mechanism and improve the statistics of the
recent measurement of polarized beam asymmetries by the GRAAL Collaboration.
For , , and , we expect
that additional information about the spin structure of the vector meson
production vertex can be derived.Comment: Revtex, 14 pages, 2 eps figures; Version accepted by PR
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