20,084 research outputs found
Wolf-Rayet nebulae as tracers of stellar ionizing fluxes: I. M1-67
We use WR124 (WN8h) and its associated nebula M1-67, to test theoretical
non-LTE models for Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars. Lyman continuum ionizing flux
distributions derived from a stellar analysis of WR124, are compared with
nebular properties via photo-ionization modelling. Our study demonstrates the
significant role that line blanketing plays in affecting the Lyman ionizing
energy distribution of WR stars, of particular relevance to the study of HII
regions containing young stellar populations.
We confirm previous results that non-line blanketed WR energy distributions
fail to explain the observed nebular properties of M1-67, such that the
predicted ionizing spectrum is too hard. A line blanketed analysis of WR124 is
carried out using the method of Hillier & Miller (1998), with stellar
properties in accord with previous results, except that the inclusion of
clumping in the stellar wind reduces its wind performance factor to only
approx2. The ionizing spectrum of the line blanketed model is much softer than
for a comparable temperature unblanketed case, such that negligible flux is
emitted with energy above the HeI 504 edge. Photo-ionization modelling,
incorporating the observed radial density distribution for M1-67 reveals
excellent agreement with the observed nebular electron temperature, ionization
balance and line strengths. An alternative stellar model of WR124 is
calculated, following the technique of de Koter et al. (1997), augmented to
include line blanketing following Schmutz et al. (1991). Good consistency is
reached regarding the stellar properties of WR124, but agreement with the
nebular properties of M1-67 is somewhat poorer than for the Hillier & Miller
code.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, latex2e style file, Astronomy & Astrophysics
(accepted
Polynomial growth of volume of balls for zero-entropy geodesic systems
The aim of this paper is to state and prove polynomial analogues of the
classical Manning inequality relating the topological entropy of a geodesic
flow with the growth rate of the volume of balls in the universal covering. To
this aim we use two numerical conjugacy invariants, the {\em strong polynomial
entropy } and the {\em weak polynomial entropy }. Both are
infinite when the topological entropy is positive and they satisfy
. We first prove that the growth rate of the volume of
balls is bounded above by means of the strong polynomial entropy and we show
that for the flat torus this inequality becomes an equality. We then study the
explicit example of the torus of revolution for which we can give an exact
asymptotic equivalent of the growth rate of volume of balls, which we relate to
the weak polynomial entropy.Comment: 22 page
Surface-acoustic-wave driven planar light-emitting device
Electroluminescence emission controlled by means of surface acoustic waves
(SAWs) in planar light-emitting diodes (pLEDs) is demonstrated. Interdigital
transducers for SAW generation were integrated onto pLEDs fabricated following
the scheme which we have recently developed. Current-voltage, light-voltage and
photoluminescence characteristics are presented at cryogenic temperatures. We
argue that this scheme represents a valuable building block for advanced
optoelectronic architectures
Testing the binary hypothesis for the formation and shaping of planetary nebulae
There is no quantitative theory to explain why a high 80% of all planetary
nebulae are non-spherical. The Binary Hypothesis states that a companion to the
progenitor of a central star of planetary nebula is required to shape the
nebula and even for a planetary nebula to be formed at all. A way to test this
hypothesis is to estimate the binary fraction of central stars of planetary
nebulae and to compare it with that of the main sequence population.
Preliminary results from photometric variability and the infrared excess
techniques indicate that the binary fraction of central stars of planetary
nebulae is higher than that of the main sequence, implying that PNe could
preferentially form via a binary channel. This article briefly reviews these
results and current studies aiming to refine the binary fraction.Comment: EUROWD12 Proceeding
Planetary nebulae : getting closer to an unbiased binary fraction
Why 80% of planetary nebulae are not spherical is not yet understood. The
Binary Hypothesis states that a companion to the progenitor of the central star
of a planetary nebula is required to shape the nebula and even for a planetary
nebula to be formed at all. A way to test this hypothesis is to estimate the
binary fraction of central stars of planetary nebula and to compare it with the
main sequence population. Preliminary results from photometric variability and
infrared excess techniques indicate that the binary fraction of central stars
of planetary nebulae is higher than that of the putative main sequence
progenitor population, implying that PNe could be preferentially formed via a
binary channel. This article briefly reviews these results and future studies
aiming to refine the binary fraction.Comment: SF2A 2012 proceeding
On the generation of UHECRs in GRBs: a reappraisal
We re-examine critically the arguments raised against the theory that Ultra
High Energy Cosmic Rays observed at Earth are produced in Gamma Ray Bursts.
These include the limitations to the highest energy attainable by protons
around the bursts' shocks, the spectral slope at the highest energies, the
total energy released in non--thermal particles, the occurrence of doublets and
triplets in the data reported by AGASA. We show that, to within the
uncertainties in our current knowledge of GRBs, none of these objections is
really fatal to the scenario. In particular, we show that the total energy
budget of GRBs easily accounts for the energy injection rate necessary to
account for UHECRs as observed at Earth. We also compute the expected particle
spectrum at Earth, showing that it fits the HiRes and AGASA data to within
statistical uncertainties. We consider the existence of multiplets in AGASA'
data. To this end, we present a Langevin--like treatment for the motion of a
charged particle in the IGM magnetic field, which allows us to estimate both
the average and the rms timedelay for particles of given energy; we discuss
when particles of identical energies reach the Earth in bunches, or spread over
the rms timedelay, showing that multiplets pose no problem for an explosive
model for the sources of UHECRs. We compare our model with a scenario where the
particles are accelerated at internal shocks, underlining differences and
advantages of particle acceleration at external shocks.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal; minor change
On the terminal velocity of sedimenting particles in a flowing fluid
The influence of an underlying carrier flow on the terminal velocity of
sedimenting particles is investigated both analytically and numerically. Our
theoretical framework works for a general class of (laminar or turbulent)
velocity fields and, by means of an ordinary perturbation expansion at small
Stokes number, leads to closed partial differential equations (PDE) whose
solutions contain all relevant information on the sedimentation process. The
set of PDE's are solved by means of direct numerical simulations for a class of
2D cellular flows (static and time dependent) and the resulting phenomenology
is analysed and discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, submitted to JP
Enhancing the Violation of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Local Realism by Quantum Hyper-entanglement
Mermin's observation [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 65}, 1838 (1990)] that the
magnitude of the violation of local realism, defined as the ratio between the
quantum prediction and the classical bound, can grow exponentially with the
size of the system is demonstrated using two-photon hyper-entangled states
entangled in polarization and path degrees of freedom, and local measurements
of polarization and path simultaneously.Comment: Minor errors corrected. To appear on Physical Review Letter
Acoustic charge transport in n-i-n three terminal device
We present an unconventional approach to realize acoustic charge transport
devices that takes advantage from an original input region geometry in place of
standard Ohmic input contacts. Our scheme is based on a n-i-n lateral junction
as electron injector, an etched intrinsic channel, a standard Ohmic output
contact and a pair of in-plane gates. We show that surface acoustic waves are
able to pick up electrons from a current flowing through the n-i-n junction and
steer them toward the output contact. Acoustic charge transport was studied as
a function of the injector current and bias, the SAW power and at various
temperatures. The possibility to modulate the acoustoelectric current by means
of lateral in-plane gates is also discussed. The main advantage of our approach
relies on the possibility to drive the n-i-n injector by means of both voltage
or current sources, thus allowing to sample and process voltage and current
signals as well.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to Applied Physics Letter
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