8,256 research outputs found
HST and Spitzer point source detection and optical extinction in powerful narrow-line radio galaxies
We present the analysis of infrared HST and Spitzer data for a sample of 13
FRII radio galaxies at 0.03<z<0.11 that are classified as narrow-line radio
galaxies (NLRG). In the context of the unified schemes for active galactic
nuclei (AGN), our direct view of the AGN in NLRG is impeded by a parsec-scale
dusty torus structure. Our high resolution infrared observations provide new
information about the degree of extinction induced by the torus, and the
incidence of obscured AGN in NLRG.
We find that the point-like nucleus detection rate increases from 25 per cent
at 1.025m, to 80 per cent at 2.05m, and to 100 per cent at 8.0m.
This supports the idea that most NLRG host an obscured AGN in their centre. We
estimate the extinction from the obscuring structures using X-ray, near-IR and
mid-IR data. We find that the optical extinction derived from the 9.7m
silicate absorption feature is consistently lower than the extinction derived
using other techniques. This discrepancy challenges the assumption that all the
mid-infrared emission of NLRG is extinguished by a simple screen of dust at
larger radii. This disagreement can be explained in terms of either weakening
of the silicate absorption feature by (i) thermal mid-IR emission from the
narrow-line region, (ii) non-thermal emission from the base of the radio jets,
or (iii) by direct warm dust emission that leaks through a clumpy torus without
suffering major attenuation.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA
Localizing gravity on exotic thick 3-branes
We consider localization of gravity on thick branes with a non trivial
structure. Double walls that generalize the thick Randall-Sundrum solution, and
asymmetric walls that arise from a Z_2-symmetric scalar potential, are
considered. We present a new asymmetric solution: a thick brane interpolating
between two AdS_5 spacetimes with different cosmological constants, which can
be derived from a ``fake supergravity'' superpotential, and show that it is
possible to confine gravity on such branes.Comment: Final version, minor changes, references adde
Chemical (in)homogeneity and atomic diffusion in the open cluster M67
Context. The benchmark open cluster M67 is known to have solar metallicity
and similar age as the Sun. It thus provides us a great opportunity to study
the properties of solar twins, as well as the evolution of Sun-like stars.
Aims. Previous spectroscopic studies reported to detect possible subtle changes
in stellar surface abundances throughout the stellar evolutionary phase, namely
the effect of atomic diffusion, in M67. In this study we attempt to confirm and
quantify more precisely the effect of atomic diffusion, as well as to explore
the level of chemical (in)homogeneity in M67. Methods. We presented a strictly
line-by-line differential chemical abundance analysis of two groups of stars in
M67: three turn-off stars and three sub-giants. Stellar atmospheric parameters
and elemental abundances were obtained with very high precision using the
Keck/HIRES spectra. Results. The sub-giants in our sample show negligible
abundance variations ( 0.02 dex), which implies that M67 was born
chemically homogeneous. We note there is a significant abundance difference
( 0.1 - 0.2 dex) between sub-giants and turn-off stars, which can be
interpreted as the signature of atomic diffusion. Qualitatively stellar models
with diffusion agree with the observed abundance results. Some turn-off stars
do not follow the general pattern, which suggests that in some cases diffusion
can be inhibited, or they might suffered some sort of mixing event related to
planets. Conclusions. Our results pose additional challenges for chemical
tagging when using turn-off stars. In particular, the effects of atomic
diffusion, which could be as large as 0.1 - 0.2 dex, must be taken into account
in order for chemical tagging to be successfully applied.Comment: 19 pages, 21 figures; submitted to A&A on February, 2019, accepted
for publication in A&A on June, 201
Metallicity of Red Giants in the Galactic Bulge from Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
We present K-band spectra of more than 110 M giants in Galactic bulge fields
interior to -4 degrees and as close as 0.2 degrees of the Galactic Center. From
the equivalent widths of three features in these spectra, EW(Na),EW(Ca), and
EW(CO) we calculate [Fe/H] for the stars with a calibration derived from
globular clusters Stephens et al (2000). The mean [Fe/H] for each field is in
good agreement with the results from Frogel et al. (1999) based on the slope of
the giant branch method. We find no evidence for a metallicity gradient along
the minor or major axes of the inner bulge (R < 0.6 kpc). A metallicity
gradient along the minor axis, found earlier, arises when fields located at
larger galactic radius are included. However, these more distant fields are
located outside of the infrared bulge defined by the COBE/DIRBE observations.
We compute the [Fe/H] distribution for the inner bulge and find a mean value of
-0.21 dex with a full width dispersion of 0.30 dex, close to the values found
for Baade's Window (BW) by Sadler et al. (1996) and to a theoretical prediction
for a bulge formed by dissipative collapse Molla et al (2000).Comment: 32 pages, 10 figures, AJ submitte
Searching for galactic sources in the Swift GRB catalog
Since the early 1990s Gamma Ray Bursts have been accepted to be of
extra-galactic origin due to the isotropic distribution observed by BATSE and
the redshifts observed via absorption line spectroscopy. Nevertheless, upon
further examination at least one case turned out to be of galactic origin. This
particular event presented a Fast Rise, Exponential Decay (FRED) structure
which leads us to believe that other FRED sources might also be Galactic. This
study was set out to estimate the most probable degree of contamination by
galactic sources that certain samples of FREDs have. In order to quantify the
degree of anisotropy the average dipolar and quadripolar moments of each sample
of GRBs with respect to the galactic plane were calculated. This was then
compared to the probability distribution of simulated samples comprised of a
combination of isotropically generated sources and galactic sources. We observe
that the dipolar and quadripolar moments of the selected subsamples of FREDs
are found more than two standard deviations outside those of random
isotropically generated samples.The most probable degree of contamination by
galactic sources for the FRED GRBs of the Swift catalog detected until February
2011 that do not have a known redshift is about 21 out of 77 sources which is
roughly equal to 27%. Furthermore we observe, that by removing from this sample
those bursts that may have any type of indirect redshift indicator and multiple
peaks gives the most probable contamination increases up to 34% (17 out of 49
sources). It is probable that a high degree of contamination by galactic
sources occurs among the single peak FREDs observed by Swift.Comment: Published to A&A, 4 pages, 5 figures, this arXiv version includes
appended table with all the bursts considered in this stud
¿Cómo mejorar el concreto mediante procesos bioamigables al medio ambiente y que repotencien sus cualidades en construcción?
Since the beginning of civilizations, man’s need to improve his living conditions has led to constant development. A basic problem is the need to protect our life from the problems that it can offer us, not only the changes of nature but also the need to protect ourselves from others. From this arises the idea of generating structures capable of overcoming this need. Consequently, the first cements appeared, which were capable of resisting and joining these first structures. The cement must go according to the development of the humanity, one of the new innovations is the cement based on microorganisms, that not only is friendly to the environment, but its efficiency is such that it has the capacity to seal fissures. Bio-concrete is capable of regenerating the cracks that sooner or later appear in the concrete due to solar action, humidity, temperature differences, etc.Desde comienzos de las civilizaciones, la necesidad del hombre por mejorar su condición de vida nos ha llevado a un constante desarrollo. Un problema básico es la necesidad de proteger nuestra vida frente los problemas que nos pueda ofrecer, no solo los cambios de la naturaleza si no también la necesidad de protegernos de otros. De ahí surge la idea de generar estructuras capaces de sobrepasar esta necesidad. En consecuencia aparecen los primeros cementos, que eran capaces de resistir y unir estas primeras estructuras. El cemento debe ir acorde al desarrollo de la humanidad, una de las nuevas innovaciones es el cemento a base de microorganismos, que no solo es amigable al medio ambiente, sino que su eficiencia es tal que tiene la capacidad de sellar fisuras. El Bio-concreto es capaz de regenerar las grietas que, tarde o temprano aparecen en el concreto por la acción solar, humedad, diferencias de temperatura, etc
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