285 research outputs found
Rare quantum metastable states in the strongly dispersive Jaynes-Cummings oscillator
We present evidence of metastable rare quantum-fluctuation switching for the
driven dissipative Jaynes-Cummings oscillator coupled to a zero-temperature
bath in the strongly dispersive regime. We show that single-atom complex
amplitude bistability is accompanied by the appearance of a low-amplitude
long-lived transient state, hereinafter called `dark state', having a
distribution with quasi-Poissonian statistics both for the coupled qubit and
cavity mode. We find that the dark state is linked to a spontaneous flipping of
the qubit state, detuning the cavity to a low-photon response. The appearance
of the dark state is correlated with the participation of the two metastable
states in the dispersive bistability, as evidenced by the solution of the
Master Equation and single quantum trajectories.Comment: Extensively revised text, 18 revised figures (16 in main and 2 in
appendix), 38(+1) references, appendi
The spatially resolved star formation history of CALIFA galaxies: Cosmic time scales
This paper presents the mass assembly time scales of nearby galaxies observed
by CALIFA at the 3.5m telescope in Calar Alto. We apply the fossil record
method of the stellar populations to the complete sample of the 3rd CALIFA data
release, with a total of 661 galaxies, covering stellar masses from 10
to 10 M and a wide range of Hubble types. We apply spectral
synthesis techniques to the datacubes and process the results to produce the
mass growth time scales and mass weighted ages, from which we obtain temporal
and spatially resolved information in seven bins of galaxy morphology and six
bins of stellar mass (M) and stellar mass surface density
(). We use three different tracers of the spatially resolved
star formation history (mass assembly curves, ratio of half mass to half light
radii, and mass-weighted age gradients) to test if galaxies grow inside-out,
and its dependence with galaxy stellar mass, , and morphology.
Our main results are as follows: (a) The innermost regions of galaxies assemble
their mass at an earlier time than regions located in the outer parts; this
happens at any given M, , or Hubble type, including
the lowest mass systems. (b) Galaxies present a significant diversity in their
characteristic formation epochs for lower-mass systems. This diversity shows a
strong dependence of the mass assembly time scales on and
Hubble type in the lower-mass range (10 to 10), but a very
mild dependence in higher-mass bins. (c) All galaxies show negative
log age gradients in the inner 1 HLR. The profile
flattens with increasing values of . There is no significant
dependence on M within a particular bin, except for
the lowest bin, where the gradients becomes steeper.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy
& Astrophysics. *Abridged abstract
Photoelectron diffraction investigation of the structure of the clean TiO2(110)(1×1) surface
The surface relaxations of the rutile TiO2(110)(1×1) clean surface have been determined by O 1 s and Ti 2p3∕2 scanned-energy mode photoelectron diffraction. The results are in excellent agreement with recent low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) results, but in conflict with the results of some earlier investigations including one by surface x-ray diffraction. In particular, the bridging O atoms at the surface are found to relax outward, rather than inward, relative to the underlying bulk. Combined with the recent LEED and MEIS results, a consistent picture of the structure of this surface is provided. While the results of the most recent theoretical total-energy calculations are qualitatively consistent with this experimental consensus, significant quantitative differences remain
The cosmic evolution of the spatially-resolved star formation rate and stellar mass of the CALIFA survey
We investigate the cosmic evolution of the absolute and specific star
formation rate (SFR, sSFR) of galaxies as derived from a spatially-resolved
study of the stellar populations in a set of 366 nearby galaxies from the
CALIFA survey. The analysis combines GALEX and SDSS images with the 4000 break,
H_beta, and [MgFe] indices measured from the datacubes, to constrain parametric
models for the SFH, which are then used to study the cosmic evolution of the
star formation rate density (SFRD), the sSFR, the main sequence of star
formation (MSSF), and the stellar mass density (SMD). A delayed-tau model,
provides the best results, in good agreement with those obtained from
cosmological surveys. Our main results from this model are: a) The time since
the onset of the star formation is larger in the inner regions than in the
outer ones, while tau is similar or smaller in the inner than in the outer
regions. b) The sSFR declines rapidly as the Universe evolves, and faster for
early than for late type galaxies, and for the inner than for the outer regions
of galaxies. c) SFRD and SMD agree well with results from cosmological surveys.
At z< 0.5, most star formation takes place in the outer regions of late spiral
galaxies, while at z>2 the inner regions of the progenitors of the current E
and S0 are the major contributors to SFRD. d) The inner regions of galaxies are
the major contributor to SMD at z> 0.5, growing their mass faster than the
outer regions, with a lookback time at 50% SMD of 9 and 6 Gyr for the inner and
outer regions. e) The MSSF follows a power-law at high redshift, with the slope
evolving with time, but always being sub-linear. f) In agreement with galaxy
surveys at different redshifts, the average SFH of CALIFA galaxies indicates
that galaxies grow their mass mainly in a mode that is well represented by a
delayed-tau model, with the peak at z~2 and an e-folding time of 3.9 Gyr.Comment: 23 pages, 16 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy
& Astrophysics. *Abridged abstract
The spatially-resolved star formation histories of CALIFA galaxies: Implications for galaxy formation
This paper presents the spatially resolved star formation history (SFH) of
nearby galaxies with the aim of furthering our understanding of the different
processes involved in the formation and evolution of galaxies. To this end, we
apply the fossil record method of stellar population synthesis to a rich and
diverse data set of 436 galaxies observed with integral field spectroscopy in
the CALIFA survey. The sample covers a wide range of Hubble types, with stellar
masses ranging from to . Spectral
synthesis techniques are applied to the datacubes to retrieve the spatially
resolved time evolution of the star formation rate (SFR), its intensity
(), and other descriptors of the 2D-SFH in seven bins of
galaxy morphology (E, S0, Sa, Sb, Sbc, Sc, and Sd), and five bins of stellar
mass. Our main results are: a) Galaxies form very fast independently of their
current stellar mass, with the peak of star formation at high redshift (). Subsequent star formation is driven by and morphology, with less
massive and later type spirals showing more prolonged periods of star
formation. b) At any epoch in the past the SFR is proportional to ,
with most massive galaxies having the highest absolute (but lowest specific)
SFRs. c) While nowadays is similar for all spirals, and
significantly lower in early type galaxies (ETG), in the past scales well with morphology. The central regions of today's ETGs are
where reached the highest values (Gyrpc), similar to those measured in high redshift
star forming galaxies. d) The evolution of in Sbc systems
matches that of models for Milky-Way-like galaxies, suggesting that the
formation of a thick disk may be a common phase in spirals at early epochs.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in Astronomy
& Astrophysics, abstract abridged for arXiv submissio
Resolving galaxies in time and space: II: Uncertainties in the spectral synthesis of datacubes
In a companion paper we have presented many products derived from the
application of the spectral synthesis code STARLIGHT to datacubes from the
CALIFA survey, including 2D maps of stellar population properties and 1D
averages in the temporal and spatial dimensions. Here we evaluate the
uncertainties in these products. Uncertainties due to noise and spectral shape
calibration errors and to the synthesis method are investigated by means of a
suite of simulations based on 1638 CALIFA spectra for NGC 2916, with
perturbations amplitudes gauged in terms of the expected errors. A separate
study was conducted to assess uncertainties related to the choice of
evolutionary synthesis models. We compare results obtained with the Bruzual &
Charlot models, a preliminary update of them, and a combination of spectra
derived from the Granada and MILES models. About 100k CALIFA spectra are used
in this comparison.
Noise and shape-related errors at the level expected for CALIFA propagate to
0.10-0.15 dex uncertainties in stellar masses, mean ages and metallicities.
Uncertainties in A_V increase from 0.06 mag in the case of random noise to 0.16
mag for shape errors. Higher order products such as SFHs are more uncertain,
but still relatively stable. Due to the large number statistics of datacubes,
spatial averaging reduces uncertainties while preserving information on the
history and structure of stellar populations. Radial profiles of global
properties, as well as SFHs averaged over different regions are much more
stable than for individual spaxels. Uncertainties related to the choice of base
models are larger than those associated with data and method. Differences in
mean age, mass and metallicity are ~ 0.15 to 0.25 dex, and 0.1 mag in A_V.
Spectral residuals are ~ 1% on average, but with systematic features of up to
4%. The origin of these features is discussed. (Abridged)Comment: A&A, accepte
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