37,626 research outputs found
Dust properties of external galaxies; NGC 891 revisited
We compare 850um SCUBA images of NGC 891 with the corresponding V-band
optical depth predicted from radiation transfer simulations. These two tracers
of dust show a very similar distribution along the minor axis and a reasonable
agreement along the major axis. Assuming that the grains responsible for
optical extinction are also the source of 850um emission we derive a
submillimeter emissivity (emission efficiency) for dust in the NGC 891 disk.
This quantity is found to be a factor of 2-3 higher than the generally-accepted
(but highly uncertain) values adopted for the Milky Way. It should be stated,
however, that if a substantial fraction of dust in NGC 891 is clumped, the
emissivity in the two galaxies may be quite similar. We use our newly-acquired
emissivity to convert our 850um images into detailed maps of dust mass and,
utilizing 21cm and CO-emission data for NGC 891, derive the gas-to-dust ratio
along the disk. We compute an average ratio of 260 -- a value consistent with
the Milky Way and external spirals within the uncertainties in deriving both
the dust mass and the quantity of molecular gas. The bulk of dust in NGC 891
appears to be closely associated with the molecular gas phase although it may
start to follow the distribution of atomic hydrogen at radii >9 kpc (i.e. >0.5
R_25). Using the optical depth of the NGC 891 disk, we quantify how light
emitted at high redshift is attenuated by dust residing in foreground spirals.
For B-band observations of galaxies typically found in the Hubble Deep Field,
the amount of light lost is expected to be small (~ 5%). This value depends
critically on the maximum radial extent of cold dust in spiral disks (which is
poorly known). It may also represent a lower limit if galaxies expel dust over
time into the intergalactic medium.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, A&A accepte
Are There Magnetars in High Mass X-ray Binaries? The Case of SuperGiant Fast X-Ray Transients
In this paper we survey the theory of wind accretion in high mass X-ray
binaries hosting a magnetic neutron star and a supergiant companion.
We concentrate on the different types of interaction between the inflowing
wind matter and the neutron star magnetosphere that are relevant when accretion
of matter onto the neutron star surface is largely inhibited; these include the
inhibition through the centrifugal and magnetic barriers. Expanding on earlier
work, we calculate the expected luminosity for each regime and derive the
conditions under which transition from one regime to another can take place. We
show that very large luminosity swings (~10^4 or more on time scales as short
as hours) can result from transitions across different regimes.
The activity displayed by supergiant fast X-ray transients, a recently
discovered class of high mass X-ray binaries in our galaxy, has often been
interpreted in terms of direct accretion onto a neutron star immersed in an
extremely clumpy stellar wind. We show here that the transitions across the
magnetic and/or centrifugal barriers can explain the variability properties of
these sources as a results of relatively modest variations in the stellar wind
velocity and/or density. According to this interpretation we expect that
supergiant fast X-ray transients which display very large luminosity swings and
host a slowly spinning neutron star are characterized by magnetar-like fields,
irrespective of whether the magnetic or the centrifugal barrier applies.
Supergiant fast X-ray transients might thus provide a new opportunity to
detect and study magnetars in binary systems.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 16 pages, 6 figure
The detection of FIR emission from high redshift star-forming galaxies in the ECDF-S
ABRIDGED: We have used the LABOCA Survey of the ECDF-S (LESS) to investigate
rest-frame FIR emission from typical SF systems (LBGs) at redshift 3, 4, and 5.
We initially concentrate on LBGs at z~3 and select three subsamples on stellar
mass, extinction corrected SF and rest-frame UV-magnitude. We produce composite
870micron images of the typical source in our subsamples, obtaining ~4sigma
detections and suggesting a correlation between FIR luminosity and stellar
mass. We apply a similar procedure to our full samples at z~3, 4, 4.5 and 5 and
do not obtain detections - consistent with a simple scaling between FIR
luminosity and stellar mass. In order to constrain the FIR SED of these systems
we explore their emission at multiple wavelengths spanning the peak of dust
emission at z~3 using the Herschel SPIRE observations of the field. We obtain
detections at multiple wavelengths for both our stellar mass and UV-magnitude
selected samples, and find a best-fit SED with T_dust in the ~33-41K range. We
calculate L_FIR, obscured SFRs and M_dust, and find that a significant fraction
of SF in these systems is obscured. Interestingly, our extinction corrected SFR
sample does not display the large FIR fluxes predicted from its red UV-spectral
slope. This suggests that the method of assuming an intrinsic UV-slope and
correcting for dust attenuation may be invalid for this sample - and that these
are not in fact the most actively SF systems. All of our z~3 samples fall on
the `main sequence' of SF galaxies at z~3 and our detected subsamples are
likely to represent the high obscuration end of LBGs at their epoch. We compare
the FIR properties of our subsamples with various other populations, finding
that our stellar mass selected sample shows similar FIR characteristics to SMGs
at the same epoch and therefore potentially represents the low L_FIR end of the
high redshift FIR luminosity function.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figure, MNRAS accepted, corrected typos,
acknowledgements adde
Understanding temporal rhythms and travel behaviour at destinations: Potential ways to achieve more sustainable travel
This paper analyses the roles played by time in destination-based travel behaviour. It contrasts clock time's linear view of time with fragmented time, instantaneous time, fluid time and flow, time out and the multiple temporalities of tourism experiences. It explores temporal issues in a destination travel context, using qualitative techniques. Data were captured using diary photography, diary-interview method with tourists at a rural destination; their spatial and temporal patterns were captured using a purpose built smartphone app. The analysis revealed three temporal themes influencing travel behaviour: time fluidity; daily and place-related rhythms; and control of time. Three key messages emerge for future sustainable tourist destination-based travel systems. Given the strong desire for temporal fluidity, transport systems should evolve beyond clock-time regimes. Second, temporal forces favour personal modes of transport (car, walk, cycle), especially in rural areas where public transport cannot offer flexibility. Third, the car is personalised and perceived to optimise travel fluidity and speed, but is currently unsustainable. Imaginative initiatives, using new mobile media technology can offer new positive and proactive car travel, utilising spare public and private vehicle capacity. Research is needed to implement mechanisms for individualised space-time scheduling and collective vehicle use strategies. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC
Greater priming for previously distracting information in young than older adults when suppression is ruled out
The use of previously distracting information on memory tests with indirect instructions is usually age-equivalent, while young adults typically show greater explicit memory for such information. This could reflect qualitatively distinct initial processing (encoding) of distracting information by younger and older adults, but could also be caused by greater suppression of such information by younger adults on tasks with indirect instructions. In Experiment 1, young and older adults read stories containing distracting words, which they ignored, before studying a list of words containing previously distracting items for a free recall task. Half the participants were informed of the presence of previously distracting items in the study list prior to recall (direct instruction), and half were not (indirect instruction). Recall of previously distracting words was age-equivalent in the indirect condition, but young adults recalled more distracting words in the direct condition. In Experiment 2, participants performed the continuous identification with recognition task, which captures a measure of perceptual priming and recognition on each trial, and is immune to suppression. Priming and recognition of previously distracting words was greater in younger than older adults, suggesting that the young engage in more successful suppression of previously distracting information on tasks in which its relevance is not overtly signaled
Identifying clustering at high redshift through actively star-forming galaxies
Identifying galaxy clustering at high redshift (i.e. z > 1) is essential to
our understanding of the current cosmological model. However, at increasing
redshift, clusters evolve considerably in star-formation activity and so are
less likely to be identified using the widely-used red sequence method. Here we
assess the viability of instead identifying high redshift clustering using
actively star-forming galaxies (SMGs associated with over-densities of
BzKs/LBGs). We perform both a 2- and 3-D clustering analysis to determine
whether or not true (3D) clustering can be identified where only 2D data are
available. As expected, we find that 2D clustering signals are weak at best and
inferred results are method dependant. In our 3D analysis, we identify 12 SMGs
associated with an over-density of galaxies coincident both spatially and in
redshift - just 8% of SMGs with known redshifts in our sample. Where an SMG in
our target fields lacks a known redshift, their sightline is no more likely to
display clustering than blank sky fields; prior redshift information for the
SMG is required to identify a true clustering signal. We find that the strength
of clustering in the volume around typical SMGs, while identifiable, is not
exceptional. However, we identify a small number of highly clustered regions,
all associated with an SMG. The most notable of these, surrounding
LESSJ033336.8-274401, potentially contains an SMG, a QSO and 36 star-forming
galaxies (a > 20sig over-density) all at z~1.8. This region is highly likely to
represent an actively star-forming cluster and illustrates the success of using
star-forming galaxies to select sites of early clustering. Given the increasing
number of deep fields with large volumes of spectroscopy, or high quality and
reliable photometric redshifts, this opens a new avenue for cluster
identification in the young Universe.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figures, accepted MNRA
ALFA & 3D: integral field spectroscopy with adaptive optics
One of the most important techniques for astrophysics with adaptive optics is
the ability to do spectroscopy at diffraction limited scales. The extreme
difficulty of positioning a faint target accurately on a very narrow slit can
be avoided by using an integral field unit, which provides the added benefit of
full spatial coverage. During 1998, working with ALFA and the 3D integral field
spectrometer, we demonstrated the validity of this technique by extracting and
distinguishing spectra from binary stars separated by only 0.26". The
combination of ALFA & 3D is also ideally suited to imaging distant galaxies or
the nuclei of nearby ones, as its field of view can be changed between
1.2"x1.2" and 4"x4", depending on the pixel scale chosen. In this contribution
we present new results both on galactic targets, namely young stellar objects,
as well as extra-galactic objects including a Seyfert and a starburst nucleus.Comment: SPIE meeting 4007 on Adaptive Optical Systems Technology, March 200
Sixth Sense Transport : Challenges in Supporting Flexible Time Travel
In this paper, we consider the challenges associated with providing a mobile computing system that helps users enjoy a
more flexible relationship between time and travel. Current
travel plans, especially in Western cultures, are dominated
by a strict notion of time. The need to conform to schedules
leads to increased pressures for travellers and inefficiencies when these schedules cannot be met. We are interested in exploring the extent to which mobile computing can be used to help travellers relax these schedules and adopt a more opportunistic approach to travel – potentially helping to reduce the environmental, financial and societal costs of modern travel
On the X-Ray Light Curve, Pulsed-Radio Emission, and Spin Frequency Evolution of the Transient Anomalous X-Ray Pulsar Xte J1810--197 During its X-Ray Outburst
We show that: (i) the long-term X-ray outburst light curve of the transient
AXP XTE J1810-197 can be accounted for by a fallback disk that is evolving
towards quiescence through a disk instability after having been heated by a
soft gamma-ray burst, (ii) the spin-frequency evolution of this source in the
same period can also be explained by the disk torque acting on the
magnetosphere of the neutron star, (iii) most significantly, recently observed
pulsed-radio emission from this source coincides with the epoch of minimum
X-ray luminosity. This is natural in terms of a fallback disk model, as the
accretion power becomes so low that it is not sufficient to suppress the beamed
radio emission from XTE J1810-197.Comment: 13 pages, 2 Figures, accepted for publication in Ap
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