2,230 research outputs found
Terahertz emitters based on microcavity dipolaritons
We propose the use of dipolaritons -- quantum well excitons with large dipole
moment, coupled to a planar microcavity -- for generating terahertz (THz)
radiation. This is achieved by exciting the system with two THz detuned lasers
that leads to dipole moment oscillations of the exciton polariton at the
detuning frequency, thus generating a THz emission. We have optimized the
structural parameters of a system with microcavity embedded AlGaAs double
quantum wells and shown that the THz emission intensity is maximized if the
laser frequencies both match different dipolariton states. The influence of the
electronic tunnel coupling between the wells on the frequency and intensity of
the THz radiation is also investigated, demonstrating a trade-off between the
polariton dipole moment and the Rabi splitting.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. This article has been submitted to Applied
Physics Letter
Development of microcomputer-based mental acuity tests for repeated-measures studies
The purpose of this report is to detail the development of the Automated Performance Test System (APTS), a computer battery of mental acuity tests that can be used to assess human performance in the presence of toxic elements and environmental stressors. There were four objectives in the development of APTS. First, the technical requirements for developing APTS followed the tenets of the classical theory of mental tests which requires that tests meet set criteria like stability and reliability (the lack of which constitutes insensitivity). To be employed in the study of the exotic conditions of protracted space flight, a battery with multiple parallel forms is required. The second criteria was for the battery to have factorial multidimensionality and the third was for the battery to be sensitive to factors known to compromise performance. A fourth objective was for the tests to converge on the abilities entailed in mission specialist tasks. A series of studies is reported in which candidate APTS tests were subjected to an examination of their psychometric properties for repeated-measures testing. From this work, tests were selected that possessed the requisite metric properties of stability, reliability, and factor richness. In addition, studies are reported which demonstrate the predictive validity of the tests to holistic measures of intelligence
Measurement techniques and instruments suitable for life-prediction testing of photovoltaic arrays
Array failure modes, relevant materials property changes, and primary degradation mechanisms are discussed as a prerequisite to identifying suitable measurement techniques and instruments. Candidate techniques and instruments are identified on the basis of extensive reviews of published and unpublished information. These methods are organized in six measurement categories - chemical, electrical, optical, thermal, mechanical, and other physicals. Using specified evaluation criteria, the most promising techniques and instruments for use in life prediction tests of arrays were selected
Fluorescence measurements of the thermal control experiments coatings on LDEF S0069 and A0114
Fluorescence measurements were made on the thermal control coatings from the Long Duration Experiment Facility (LDEF) S0069, Thermal Control Surfaces Experiment (TCSE); and the A0114, Interaction of Atomic Oxygen with Material Surfaces in Low Earth orbit. Fluorescence was observed in two types of thermal control coatings and is attributed to pigments or binders. In addition, fluorescence measurement on the silver Teflon from the front cover of TCSE led to confirmation of damage (cracking) to the metal layers during application
Transplant Thought-Experiments: Two costly mistakes in discounting them
‘Transplant’ thought-experiments, in which the cerebrum is moved from one body to another, have featured in a number of recent discussions in the personal identity literature. Once taken as offering confirmation of some form of psychological continuity theory of identity, arguments from Marya Schechtman and Kathleen Wilkes have contended that this is not the case. Any such apparent support is due to a lack of detail in their description or a reliance on predictions that we are in no position to make. I argue that the case against them rests on two serious misunderstandings of the operation of thought-experiments, and that even if they do not ultimately support a psychological continuity theory, they do major damage to that theory’s opponents
An Empirical Ultraviolet Template for Iron Emission in Quasars as Derived from I Zw 1
We present an empirical template spectrum suitable for fitting/subtracting
and studying the FeII and FeIII line emission in the restframe UV spectra of
active galatic nuclei (AGNs), the first empirical UV iron template to cover the
full 1250 - 3090 A range. Iron emission is often a severe contaminant in
optical--UV spectra of AGNs. Its presence complicates and limits the accuracy
of measurements of both strong and weak emission lines and the continuum
emission, affecting studies of line and continuum interrelations, the
ionization structure, and elemental abundances in AGNs. Despite the wealth of
work on modeling the AGN FeII emission and the need to account for it in
observed AGN spectra, there is no UV template electronically available to aid
this process. The iron template we present is based on HST spectra of the
Narrow Line Seyfert 1, IZw1. Its intrinsic narrow lines (~900 km/s) and rich
iron spectrum make the template particularly suitable for use with most AGN
spectra. The iron emission spectrum and the line identifications and
measurements are presented and compared with the work of Laor et al. We
illustrate the application of the derived FeII and FeIII templates by fitting
and subtracting the iron emission from UV spectra of four high-z quasars and of
the nearby quasar, 3C273. We briefly discuss the small discrepancies between
this observed iron emission and the UV template, and compare the template with
previously published ones. We discuss the advantages and limitations of the
templates and of the template fitting method. We conclude that the templates
work sufficiently well to be a valuable and important tool for eliminating and
studying the iron emission in AGNs, at least until accurate theoretical iron
emission models are developed. (Abridged)Comment: 73 pages including 7 figures, 6 tables. To appear in ApJS. Preprint
is also available at
http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~vester/IronEmission
Chandra Multiwavelength Project: Normal Galaxies at Intermediate Redshift
(abridged) We have investigated 136 Chandra extragalactic sources without
broad optical emission lines, including 93 galaxies with narrow emission lines
(NELG) and 43 with only absorption lines (ALG). Based on fx/fo, Lx, X-ray
spectral hardness and optical emission line diagnostics, we have conservatively
classified 36 normal galaxies (20 spirals and 16 ellipticals) and 71 AGNs. We
found no statistically significant evolution in Lx/LB, within the limited z
range. We have built log(N)-log(S), after correcting for completeness based on
a series of simulations. The best-fit slope is -1.5 for both S and B energy
bands, which is considerably steeper than that of the AGN-dominated cosmic
background sources, but slightly flatter than the previous estimate, indicating
normal galaxies will not exceed the AGN population until fx ~ 2 x 10-18 erg s-1
cm-2 (a factor of ~5 lower than the previous estimate). A group of NELGs appear
to be heavily obscured in X-rays, i.e., a typical type 2 AGN. After correcting
for intrinsic absorption, their X-ray luminosities could be Lx > 10^44 erg s-1,
making them type 2 quasar candidates. While most X-ray luminous ALGs (XBONG -
X-ray bright, optically normal galaxy candidates) do not appear to be
significantly absorbed, we found two heavily obscured objects, which could be
as luminous as an unobscured broad-line quasar. Among 43 ALGs, we found two E+A
galaxy candidates with strong Balmer absorption lines, but no [OII] line. The
X-ray spectra of both galaxies are soft and one of them has a nearby close
companion galaxy, supporting the merger/interaction scenario rather than the
dusty starburst hypothesis.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ (20 June 2006,
v644), replaced with minor correction
Spectral Variability of Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. II: The C IV Line
We examine the variability of the high-ionizaton C IV line in a sample of 105
quasars observed at multiple epochs by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We find a
strong correlation between the change in the C IV line flux and the change in
the line width, but no correlations between the change in flux and changes in
line center and skewness. The relation between line flux change and line width
change is consistent with a model in which a broad line base varies with
greater amplitude than the line core. The objects studied here are more
luminous and at higher redshift than those normally studied for variability,
ranging in redshift from 1.65 to 4.00 and in absolute r-band magnitude from
roughly -24 to -28. Using moment analysis line-fitting techniques, we measure
line fluxes, centers, widths and skewnesses for the C IV line at two epochs for
each object. The well-known Baldwin Effect is seen for these objects, with a
slope beta = -0.22. The sample has a median intrinsic Baldwin Effect slope of
beta = -0.85; the C IV lines in these high-luminosity quasars appear to be less
responsive to continuum variations than those in lower luminosity AGN.
Additionally, we find no evidence for variability of the well known blueshift
of the C IV line with respect to the low-ionization Mg II line in the highest
flux objects, indicating that this blueshift might be useful as a measure of
orientation.Comment: 52 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
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Measurements on low level plutonium sources using Rad Elec Electret Ion Chambers
This is a technique for measuring gross alpha particle emission from interior contaminated surfaces. The technique utilizes electret ionization chambers (EICs), which consist of a charged Teflon plate (the electret) and an electrically-conductive plastic chamber of 145 ml volume. To measure very low levels of alpha contamination, the EIC is left in place on the surface to be measured for about 48 hours. The change in the surface charge of the electret is a measure of the ionization during the measurement period. The rate of change of the charge is converted into an activity using an appropriate calibration factor. This system has the ability to make accurate gross alpha contamination measurements while being subject to a high airborne radon concentration, such as might occur in certain buildings or during an atmospheric inversion. Previous studies of the effectiveness of these EIC`s focused on levels of alpha contamination much higher than is allowed for unrestricted release of material at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS). This study evaluated the performance of EIC`s at levels from 100 disintegrations per minute (dpm) per 100 cm{sup 2} to below 20 dpm per 100 cm{sup 2} (all measurements are referenced to a 4{pi} geometry). The EIC`s were found to be within 5% accuracy, as compared to a gas flow proportional counter calibrated with a NIST-traceable source. Test results indicate that the EIC, left in place for 48 hours, can detect alpha contamination as low as 6.4 {+-} 3.0 dpm/100 cm{sup 2} to a 95% confidence level
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