Modelling the effect of carbon on deformation behaviour of twinning induced plasticity steels

In this article, a physical model describing the deformation behaviour of Twinning Induced Plasticity(TWIP) steels has been extended to include the effect of carbon content. The experimental validation and the analysis show that carbon mainly controls the maximum number of dislocations piled up at the twin boundary, resulting in the increase of back-stresses (i.e. kinematic hardening) and therefore the work hardening rate. This explanation seems to be in agreement with recent TEM observations. © The Author(s) 2011. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

Rotational Periods and Starspot Activity of Young Solar-Type Dwarfs in the Open Cluster IC 4665

We present the results of a V-band photometric monitoring survey of 15 late-type dwarfs in the young open cluster IC 4665. Low-amplitude periodic light variations are found for 8 stars and ascribed to the modulation by starspots that cover typically a few percent of the stellar disk. Periods range from 0.6 to 3.7d, translating to equatorial velocities between 13 and 93 km.s-1. That no period longer than 4d was detected suggests a relative paucity of extremely slow rotators (Veq \u3c\u3c 10 km.s-1) among late-type dwarfs in IC 4665. The fractional number of slow rotators in IC 4665 is similar to that of Alpha Per cluster, suggesting that IC 4665 is close in age to Alpha Per (~50 Myr)

The rotational velocity of low-mass stars in the Pleiades

We present new vsini measurements for 235 low-mass stars in the Pleiades. The differential rotational broadening has been resolved for all the stars in our sample. These results, combined with previously published measurements, provide a complete and unbiased rotation data set for stars in the mass range from 0.6 to 1.2 Msol. Applying a numerical inversion technique on the vsini distributions, we derive the distributions of velocities for low-mass Pleiades members. Comparison of the rotational distributions of low-mass members between IC 2602/2391 and the Pleiades suggests that G dwarfs behave like solid-bodies and follow Skumanich's law during this time span. However, comparison between Pleiades and older clusters (M34 and Hyades) indicates that the braking of slow rotators on the early main sequence is weaker than predicted by an asymptotical Skumanich's law. This strongly supports the view that angular momentum tapped in the radiative core of slow rotators on the zero age main sequence (ZAMS) resurfaces into the convective envelope between Pleiades and Hyades age. For the G-dwarfs, we derive a characteristic coupling time scale between the core and the envelope of about 100--200Myr. The relationship between rotation and coronal activity in the Pleiades is in agreement with previous observations in other clusters and field stars. We show that the Rossby diagram provides an excellent description of the X-ray activity for all stars in the mass domain studied. The Pleiades data for slow and moderate rotators fills the gap between the X-ray--rotation correlation found for slow rotators and the X-ray ``saturation plateau'' observed for young fast rotators.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Main Journa

The [CII] 158 um Line Deficit in Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies Revisited

We present a study of the [CII] 157.74 um fine-structure line in a sample of 15 ultraluminous infrared (IR) galaxies (L_IR>10^12 Lsun; ULIRGs) using the Long Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) on the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). We confirm the observed order of magnitude deficit (compared to normal and starburst galaxies) in the strength of the [CII] line relative to the far-IR dust continuum emission found in our initial report (Luhman et al. 1998), but here with a sample that is twice as large. This result suggests that the deficit is a general phenomenon affecting 4/5 ULIRGs. We present an analysis using observations of generally acknowledged photodissociation region (PDR) tracers ([CII], [OI] 63 and 145 um, and FIR continuum emission), which suggests that a high UV flux G_o incident on a moderate density n PDR could explain the deficit. However, comparisons with other ULIRG observations, including CO (1-0), [CI] (1-0), and 6.2 um polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission, suggest that high G_o/n PDRs alone cannot produce a self-consistent solution that is compatible with all of the observations. We propose that non-PDR contributions to the FIR continuum can explain the apparent [CII] deficiency. Here, unusually high G_o and/or n physical conditions in ULIRGs as compared to those in normal and starburst galaxies are not required to explain the [CII] deficit. Dust-bounded photoionization regions, which generate much of the FIR emission but do not contribute significant [CII] emission, offer one possible physical origin for this additional non-PDR component. Such environments may also contribute to the observed suppression of FIR fine-structure emission from ionized gas and PAHs, as well as the warmer FIR colors found in ULIRGs. The implications for observations at higher redshifts are also revisited.Comment: to be published in The Astrophysical Journal, 58 page

Ages for illustrative field stars using gyrochronology: viability, limitations and errors

We here develop an improved way of using a rotating star as a clock, set it using the Sun, and demonstrate that it keeps time well. This technique, called gyrochronology, permits the derivation of ages for solar- and late-type main sequence stars using only their rotation periods and colors. The technique is clarified and developed here, and used to derive ages for illustrative groups of nearby, late-type field stars with measured rotation periods. We first demonstrate the reality of the interface sequence, the unifying feature of the rotational observations of cluster and field stars that makes the technique possible, and extends it beyond the proposal of Skumanich by specifying the mass dependence of rotation for these stars. We delineate which stars it cannot currently be used on. We then calibrate the age dependence using the Sun. The errors are propagated to understand their dependence on color and period. Representative age errors associated with the technique are estimated at ~15% (plus possible systematic errors) for late-F, G, K, & early-M stars. Ages derived via gyrochronology for the Mt. Wilson stars are shown to be in good agreement with chromospheric ages for all but the bluest stars, and probably superior. Gyro ages are then calculated for each of the active main sequence field stars studied by Strassmeier and collaborators where other ages are not available. These are shown to be mostly younger than 1Gyr, with a median age of 365Myr. The sample of single, late-type main sequence field stars assembled by Pizzolato and collaborators is then assessed, and shown to have gyro ages ranging from under 100Myr to several Gyr, and a median age of 1.2Gyr. Finally, we demonstrate that the individual components of the three wide binaries XiBooAB, 61CygAB, & AlphaCenAB yield substantially the same gyro ages.Comment: 58 pages, 18 color figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal; Age uncertainties slightly modified upon correcting an algebraic error in Section

Thermally induced crystallization, hole-transport, NLO and photovoltaic activity of a bis-diarylamine-based push-pull molecule

The synthesis of a molecule constituted of two diarylamine-based push-pull chromophores covalently linked via their nitrogen atom is described. Comparison of the electronic properties with the parent monomer shows that dimerization has negligible influence on the electronic properties of the molecule but exerts a dramatic impact on the capacity of the material to self-reorganize. Application of thermal annealing to thin films induces the crystallization under original morphologies, a process accompanied by a partial bleaching of the absorption in the visible range and by a huge increase of hole-mobility. X-ray diffraction data on single crystals reveal the presence of π-stacked organization with a non-centrosymmetric co-facial arrangement of the dipoles which leads to intrinsic 2nd order bulk NLO properties of thin films as evidenced by second harmonic generation under 800 nm laser light. The implications of this thermally induced crystallization on the photovoltaic properties of the material are discussed on the basis of preliminary results obtained on simple bilayer organic solar cells

3D-conjugated systems based on oligothiophenes and phosphorus nodes

3D-conjugated systems based on oligothiophene segments grafted on a phosphorus or on a phosphine oxide node have been synthesized. Under Stille coupling conditions, bromide terminated thienyl phosphine derivatives undergo a breaking of the phosphorus–carbon bond attributed to a ligand exchange with the Pd catalyst. The electronic properties of the new compounds have been analyzed by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry

Internal Dust Correction Factors for Star Formation Rates Derived for Dusty \HII Regions and Starburst Galaxies

Star formation rates in galaxies are frequently estimated using the Balmer line fluxes. However, these can be systematically underestimated because dust competes for the absorption of Lyman continuum photons in the ionized gas. Here we present theoretical correction factors in a simple analytic form. T These factors scale as the product of the ionization parameter, ${\cal U}$, and the nebular O/H abundance ratio, both of which can now be derived from the observation of bright nebular line ratios. The correction factors are only somewhat dependent upon the photoelectron production by grains, but are very sensitive to the presence of complex PAH-like carbonaceous molecules in the ionized gas, providing that these can survive in such an environment.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ. (Feb 1, 2003

Teaching introductory undergraduate Physics using commercial video games

Commercial video games are increasingly using sophisticated physics simulations to create a more immersive experience for players. This also makes them a powerful tool for engaging students in learning physics. We provide some examples to show how commercial off-the-shelf games can be used to teach specific topics in introductory undergraduate physics. The examples are selected from a course taught predominantly through the medium of commercial video games.Comment: Accepted to Physics Education, Fig1 does not render properly in this versio

Rotational Periods and Starspot Activity of Young Solar-Type Dwarfs in the Open Cluster IC 4665

We present the results of a V-band photometric monitoring survey of 15 late-type dwarfs in the young open cluster IC 4665. Low-amplitude periodic light variations are found for 8 stars and ascribed to the modulation by starspots that cover typically a few percent of the stellar disk. Periods range from 0.6 to 3.7 d, translating to equatorial velocities between 13 and 93 km/s. That no period longer than 4 d was detected suggests a relative paucity of extremely slow rotators (V(sub eq) much less than 10 km/s) among late-type dwarfs in IC 4665. The fractional number of slow rotators in IC 4665 is similar to that of Alpha Per cluster, suggesting that IC 4665 is close in age to Alpha Per (approx. 50 Myr)