3,194 research outputs found
Ultrafast Acousto-Plasmonics in Gold Nanoparticles Superlattice
We report the investigation of the generation and detection of GHz coherent
acoustic phonons in plasmonic gold nanoparticles superlattices (NPS). The
experiments have been performed from an optical femtosecond pump-probe scheme
across the optical plasmon resonance of the superlattice. Our experiments allow
to estimate the collective elastic response (sound velocity) of the NPS as well
as an estimate of the nano-contact elastic stiffness. It appears that the
light-induced coherent acoustic phonon pulse has a typical in-depth spatial
extension of about 45 nm which is roughly 4 times the optical skin depth in
gold. The modeling of the transient optical reflectivity indicates that the
mechanism of phonon generation is achieved through ultrafast heating of the NPS
assisted by light excitation of the volume plasmon. These results demonstrate
how it is possible to map the photon-electron-phonon interaction in
subwavelength nanostructures
High resolution imaging of young M-type stars of the solar neighborhood: Probing the existence of companions down to the mass of Jupiter
Context. High contrast imaging is a powerful technique to search for gas
giant planets and brown dwarfs orbiting at separation larger than several AU.
Around solar-type stars, giant planets are expected to form by core accretion
or by gravitational instability, but since core accretion is increasingly
difficult as the primary star becomes lighter, gravitational instability would
be the a probable formation scenario for yet-to-be-found distant giant planets
around a low-mass star. A systematic survey for such planets around M dwarfs
would therefore provide a direct test of the efficiency of gravitational
instability. Aims. We search for gas giant planets orbiting around late-type
stars and brown dwarfs of the solar neighborhood. Methods. We obtained deep
high resolution images of 16 targets with the adaptive optic system of VLT-NACO
in the Lp band, using direct imaging and angular differential imaging. This is
currently the largest and deepest survey for Jupiter-mass planets around
Mdwarfs. We developed and used an integrated reduction and analysis pipeline to
reduce the images and derive our 2D detection limits for each target. The
typical contrast achieved is about 9 magnitudes at 0.5" and 11 magnitudes
beyond 1". For each target we also determine the probability of detecting a
planet of a given mass at a given separation in our images. Results. We derived
accurate detection probabilities for planetary companions, taking into account
orbital projection effects, with in average more than 50% probability to detect
a 3MJup companion at 10AU and a 1.5MJup companion at 20AU, bringing strong
constraints on the existence of Jupiter-mass planets around this sample of
young M-dwarfs.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Nuclear Matrix Elements of Axial-Charge Exchange Currents Derived in Heavy-Fermion Chiral Perturbation Theory
We calculate shell-model matrix elements of the axial-charge exchange current
operators that have been obtained up to the next-to-leading order from
heavy-fermion chiral perturbation theory. It is found that loop corrections to
the soft one-pion-exchange contribution are small (around 10 \%) and have no
significant dependence on the nuclear mass number or on the valence-nucleon
orbits. These results render further support to the chiral-filtering
conjecture.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX, SNUTP 94-29, USC(NT)-94-
Extending the Canada-France brown Dwarfs Survey to the near-infrared: first ultracool brown dwarfs from CFBDSIR
We present the first results of the ongoing Canada-France Brown Dwarfs
Survey-InfraRed, hereafter CFBDSIR, a Near InfraRed extension to the optical
wide-field survey CFBDS. Our final objectives are to constrain ultracool
atmosphere physics by finding a statistically significant sample of objects
cooler than 650K and to explore the ultracool brown dwarf mass function
building on a well defined sample of such objects. Candidates are identified in
CFHT/WIRCam J and CFHT/MegaCam z' images using optimised psf-fitting, and we
follow them up with pointed near infrared imaging with SOFI at NTT. We finally
obtain low resolution spectroscopy of the coolest candidates to characterise
their atmospheric physics. We have so far analysed and followed up all
candidates on the first 66 square degrees of the 335 square degrees survey. We
identified 55 T-dwarfs candidates with z'-J > 3:5 and have confirmed six of
them as T-dwarfs, including 3 that are strong later-than-T8 candidates, based
on their far-red and NIR colours. We also present here the NIR spectra of one
of these ultracool dwarfs, CFBDSIR1458+1013 which confirms it as one of the
coolest brown dwarf known, possibly in the 550-600K temperature range. From the
completed survey we expect to discover 10 to 15 dwarfs later than T8, more than
doubling the known number of such objects. This will enable detailed studies of
their extreme atmospheric properties and provide a stronger statistical base
for studies of their luminosity function.Comment: A&A, Accepte
Direct imaging constraints on planet populations detected by microlensing
Results from gravitational microlensing suggested the existence of a large
population of free-floating planetary mass objects. The main conclusion from
this work was partly based on constraints from a direct imaging survey. This
survey determined upper limits for the frequency of stars that harbor giant
exoplanets at large orbital separations. Aims. We want to verify to what extent
upper limits from direct imaging do indeed constrain the microlensing results.
We examine the current derivation of the upper limits used in the microlensing
study and re-analyze the data from the corresponding imaging survey. We focus
on the mass and semi-major axis ranges that are most relevant in context of the
microlensing results. We also consider new results from a recent M-dwarf
imaging survey as these objects are typically the host stars for planets
detected by microlensing. We find that the upper limits currently applied in
context of the microlensing results are probably underestimated. This means
that a larger fraction of stars than assumed may harbor gas giant planets at
larger orbital separations. Also, the way the upper limit is currently used to
estimate the fraction of free-floating objects is not strictly correct. If the
planetary surface density of giant planets around M-dwarfs is described as
df_Planet ~ a^beta da, we find that beta ~ 0.5 - 0.6 is consistent with results
from different observational studies probing semi-major axes between ~0.03 - 30
AU. Having a higher upper limit on the fraction of stars that may have gas
giant planets at orbital separations probed by the microlensing data implies
that more of the planets detected in the microlensing study are potentially
bound to stars rather than free-floating. The current observational data are
consistent with a rising planetary surface density for giant exoplanets around
M-dwarfs out to ~30 AU.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A as Research Note, 3 page
Spitzer Mid-Infrared Photometry of 500 - 750 K Brown Dwarfs
Mid-infrared data, including Spitzer warm-IRAC [3.6] and [4.5] photometry, is
critical for understanding the cold population of brown dwarfs now being found,
objects which have more in common with planets than stars. As effective
temperature (T_eff) drops from 800 K to 400 K, the fraction of flux emitted
beyond 3 microns increases rapidly, from about 40% to >75%. This rapid increase
makes a color like H-[4.5] a very sensitive temperature indicator, and it can
be combined with a gravity- and metallicity-sensitive color like H-K to
constrain all three of these fundamental properties, which in turn gives us
mass and age for these slowly cooling objects. Determination of mid-infrared
color trends also allows better exploitation of the WISE mission by the
community. We use new Spitzer Cycle 6 IRAC photometry, together with published
data, to present trends of color with type for L0 to T10 dwarfs. We also use
the atmospheric and evolutionary models of Saumon & Marley to investigate the
masses and ages of 13 very late-type T dwarfs, which have H-[4.5] > 3.2 and
T_eff ~ 500 K to 750 K.Comment: To be published in the on-line version of the Proceedings of Cool
Stars 16 (ASP Conference Series). This is an updated version of Leggett et
al. 2010 ApJ 710 1627; a photometry compilation is available at
http://www.gemini.edu/staff/slegget
Discovery of a Low-Mass Companion to the F7V star HD 984
We report the discovery of a low-mass companion to the nearby (d = 47 pc) F7V
star HD 984. The companion is detected 0.19" away from its host star in the L'
band with the Apodizing Phase Plate on NaCo/VLT and was recovered by L'-band
non-coronagraphic imaging data taken a few days later. We confirm the companion
is co-moving with the star with SINFONI integral field spectrograph H+K data.
We present the first published data obtained with SINFONI in pupil-tracking
mode. HD 984 has been argued to be a kinematic member of the 30 Myr-old Columba
group, and its HR diagram position is not altogether inconsistent with being a
ZAMS star of this age. By consolidating different age indicators, including
isochronal age, coronal X-ray emission, and stellar rotation, we independently
estimate a main sequence age of 11585 Myr (95% CL) which does not rely on
this kinematic association. The mass of directly imaged companions are usually
inferred from theoretical evolutionary tracks, which are highly dependent on
the age of the star. Based on the age extrema, we demonstrate that with our
photometric data alone, the companion's mass is highly uncertain: between 33
and 96 M (0.03-0.09 M) using the COND evolutionary
models. We compare the companion's SINFONI spectrum with field dwarf spectra to
break this degeneracy. Based on the slope and shape of the spectrum in the
H-band, we conclude that the companion is an M dwarf. The age of the
system is not further constrained by the companion, as M dwarfs are poorly fit
on low-mass evolutionary tracks. This discovery emphasizes the importance of
obtaining a spectrum to spectral type companions around F-stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 10 pages, 5 figure
Interpersonal EEG synchrony while listening to a story recorded using consumer-grade EEG devices
Discovery of a probable 4-5 Jupiter-mass exoplanet to HD 95086 by direct-imaging
Direct imaging has just started the inventory of the population of gas giant
planets on wide-orbits around young stars in the solar neighborhood. Following
this approach, we carried out a deep imaging survey in the near-infrared using
VLT/NaCo to search for substellar companions. We report here the discovery in
L' (3.8 microns) images of a probable companion orbiting at 56 AU the young
(10-17 Myr), dusty, and early-type (A8) star HD 95086. This discovery is based
on observations with more than a year-time-lapse. Our first epoch clearly
revealed the source at 10 sigma while our second epoch lacked good observing
conditions hence yielding a 3 sigma detection. Various tests were thus made to
rule out possible artifacts. This recovery is consistent with the signal at the
first epoch but requires cleaner confirmation. Nevertheless, our astrometric
precision suggests the companion to be comoving with the star, with a 3 sigma
confidence level. The planetary nature of the source is reinforced by a
non-detection in Ks-band (2.18 microns) images according to its possible
extremely red Ks - L' color. Conversely, background contamination is rejected
with good confidence level. The luminosity yields a predicted mass of about
4-5MJup (at 10-17 Myr) using "hot-start" evolutionary models, making HD 95086 b
the exoplanet with the lowest mass ever imaged around a star.Comment: accepted for publication to APJ
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