39,298 research outputs found
An updated stellar census of the Quintuplet cluster
Context. Found within the central molecular zone, the Quintuplet is one of the most massive young clusters in the Galaxy. As a consequence it offers the prospect of constraining stellar formation and evolution in extreme environments. However, current observations suggest that it comprises a remarkably diverse stellar population that is difficult to reconcile with an instantaneous formation event.
Aims. To better understand the nature of the cluster our aim is to improve observational constraints on the constituent stars.
Methods. In order to accomplish this goal we present Hubble Space Telescope/NICMOS+WFC3 photometry and Very Large Telescope/SINFONI+KMOS spectroscopy for ∼100 and 71 cluster members, respectively.
Results. Spectroscopy of the cluster members reveals the Quintuplet to be far more homogeneous than previously expected. All supergiants are classified as either O7–8 Ia or O9–B0 Ia, with only one object of earlier (O5 I–III) spectral type. These stars form a smooth morphological sequence with a cohort of seven early-B hypergiants and six luminous blue variables and WN9-11h stars, which comprise the richest population of such stars of any stellar aggregate known. In parallel, we identify a smaller population of late-O hypergiants and spectroscopically similar WN8–9ha stars. No further H-free Wolf–Rayet (WR) stars are identified, leaving an unexpectedly extreme ratio of 13:1 for WC/WN stars. A subset of the O9–B0 supergiants are unexpectedly faint, suggesting they are both less massive and older than the greater cluster population. Finally, no main sequence objects were identifiable.
Conclusions. Due to uncertainties over which extinction law to apply, it was not possible to quantitatively determine a cluster age via isochrone fitting. Nevertheless, we find an impressive coincidence between the properties of cluster members preceding the H-free WR phase and the evolutionary predictions for a single, non-rotating 60 M⊙ star; in turn this implies an age of ∼3.0–3.6 Myr for the Quintuplet. Neither the late O-hypergiants nor the low luminosity supergiants are predicted by such a path; we suggest that the former either result from rapid rotators or are the products of binary driven mass-stripping, while the latter may be interlopers. The H-free WRs must evolve from stars with an initial mass in excess of 60 M⊙ but it appears difficult to reconcile their observational properties with theoretical expectations. This is important since one would expect the most massive stars within the Quintuplet to be undergoing core-collapse/SNe at this time; since the WRs represent an evolutionary phase directly preceding this event,their physical properties are crucial to understanding both this process and the nature of the resultant relativistic remnant. As such, the Quintuplet provides unique observational constraints on the evolution and death of the most massive stars forming in the local, high metallicity Universe
Raman-induced limits to efficient squeezing in optical fibers
We report new experiments on polarization squeezing using ultrashort photonic
pulses in a single pass of a birefringent fiber. We measure what is to our
knowledge a record squeezing of -6.8 +/- 0.3 dB in optical fibers which when
corrected for linear losses is -10.4 +/- 0.8 dB. The measured polarization
squeezing as a function of optical pulse energy, which spans a wide range from
3.5-178.8 pJ, shows a very good agreement with the quantum simulations and for
the first time we see the experimental proof that Raman effects limit and
reduce squeezing at high pulse energy.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
Unified modeling and measurement of current-programmed converters
A unified model is established for a
current-programmed converter, which is both a
modification and an extension of familiar models.
Inclusion of the sampling effect allows the
presence of an additional pole in the current-loop
gain to be inferred. The resulting final
double-slope asymptote is fixed in position, and
the crossover frequency cannot exceed half the
switching frequency. A new “stability parameter”
Q_s determines the additional pole and describes
the degree of peaking in the closed-loop
transfer functions. Experimental verification
employs an analog signal injection technique
A Unified Model for Current-Programmed Converters
A unified model is established for a current-programmed power converter, which is both a modification and an extension of familiar models. Inclusion of the sampling effect allows the presence of an additional pole ω_p in the current-loop gain to be derived. The resulting final double-slope asymptote is fixed in position, and the crossover frequency cannot exceed half the switching frequency. A stability parameter, Q_s, determines the additional pole and describes the degree of peaking in the closed-loop transfer function. Experimental verification employs an analog signal injection techniqu
On the L_p-solvability of higher order parabolic and elliptic systems with BMO coefficients
We prove the solvability in Sobolev spaces for both divergence and
non-divergence form higher order parabolic and elliptic systems in the whole
space, on a half space, and on a bounded domain. The leading coefficients are
assumed to be merely measurable in the time variable and have small mean
oscillations with respect to the spatial variables in small balls or cylinders.
For the proof, we develop a set of new techniques to produce mean oscillation
estimates for systems on a half space.Comment: 44 pages, introduction revised, references expanded. To appear in
Arch. Rational Mech. Ana
Elasticity Theory and Shape Transitions of Viral Shells
Recently, continuum elasticity theory has been applied to explain the shape
transition of icosahedral viral capsids - single-protein-thick crystalline
shells - from spherical to buckled/faceted as their radius increases through a
critical value determined by the competition between stretching and bending
energies of a closed 2D elastic network. In the present work we generalize this
approach to capsids with non-icosahedral symmetries, e.g., spherocylindrical
and conical shells. One key new physical ingredient is the role played by
nonzero spontaneous curvature. Another is associated with the special way in
which the energy of the twelve topologically-required five-fold sites depends
on the background local curvature of the shell in which they are embedded.
Systematic evaluation of these contributions leads to a shape phase diagram in
which transitions are observed from icosahedral to spherocylindrical capsids as
a function of the ratio of stretching to bending energies and of the
spontaneous curvature of the 2D protein network. We find that the transition
from icosahedral to spherocylindrical symmetry is continuous or weakly
first-order near the onset of buckling, leading to extensive shape degeneracy.
These results are discussed in the context of experimentally observed
variations in the shapes of a variety of viral capsids.Comment: 53 pages, 17 figure
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