676 research outputs found
QCD evolution of naive-time-reversal-odd fragmentation functions
We study QCD evolution equations of the first transverse-momentum-moment of
the naive-time-reversal-odd fragmentation functions - the Collins function and
the polarizing fragmentation function. We find for the Collins function case
that the evolution kernel has a diagonal piece same as that for the
transversity fragmentation function, while for the polarizing fragmentation
function case this piece is the same as that for the unpolarized fragmentation
function. Our results might have important implications in the current global
analysis of spin asymmetries.Comment: 8 pages,4 figure
Hierarchical Star Formation from the Time-Space Distribution of Star Clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud
The average age difference between pairs of star clusters in the Large
Magellanic Clouds increases with their separation as the ~0.35 power. This
suggests that star formation is hierarchical in space and time. Small regions
form stars quickly and large regions, which often contain the small regions,
form stars over a longer period. A similar result found previously for Cepheid
variables is statistically less certain than the cluster result.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, accepted by Monthly Notices of the Royal
Astronomical Societ
Structure and Mass of a Young Globular Cluster in NGC 6946
Using the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope,
we have imaged a luminous young star cluster in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC
6946. The cluster has an absolute visual magnitude M(V)=-13.2, comparable to
the brightest young `super-star clusters' in the Antennae merger galaxy. UBV
colors indicate an age of about 15 Myr. The cluster has a compact core (core
radius = 1.3 pc), surrounded by an extended envelope. We estimate that the
effective radius (Reff) = 13 pc, but this number is uncertain because the outer
parts of the cluster profile gradually merge with the general field. Combined
with population synthesis models, the luminosity and age of the cluster imply a
mass of 8.2x10^5 Msun for a Salpeter IMF extending down to 0.1 Msun, or
5.5x10^5 Msun if the IMF is log-normal below 0.4 Msun. Depending on model
assumptions, the central density of the cluster is between 5300 Msun pc^-3 and
17000 Msun pc^-3, comparable to other high-density star forming regions. We
also estimate a dynamical mass for the cluster, using high-dispersion spectra
from the HIRES spectrograph on the Keck I telescope. The velocity dispersion is
10.0 +/- 2.7 km/s, implying a total cluster mass within 65 pc of (1.7 +/- 0.9)
x 10^6 Msun. Comparing the dynamical mass with the mass estimates based on the
photometry and population synthesis models, the mass-to-light ratio is at least
as high as for a Salpeter IMF extending down to 0.1 Msun, although a turn-over
in the IMF at 0.4 Msun is still possible within the errors. The cluster will
presumably remain bound, evolving into a globular cluster-like object.Comment: 33 pages, including 10 figures and 3 tables. Accepted for publication
in the Astrophysical Journa
On the origin of the neutral hydrogen supershells: the ionized progenitors and the limitations of the multiple supernovae hypothesis
Here we address the question whether the ionized shells associated with giant
HII regions can be progenitors of the larger HI shell-like objects found in the
Milky Way and other spiral and dwarf irregular galaxies. We use for our
analysis a sample of 12 HII shells presented recently by Rela\~no et al. (2005,
2007). We calculate the evolutionary tracks that these shells would have if
their expansion is driven by multiple supernovae explosions from the parental
stellar clusters. We find, contrary to Rela\~no et al. (2007), that the
evolutionary tracks of their sample HII shells are inconsistent with the
observed parameters of the largest and most massive neutral hydrogen
supershells. We conclude that HII shells found inside giant HII regions may
represent the progenitors of small or intermediate HI shells, however they
cannot evolve into the largest HI objects unless, aside from the multiple
supernovae explosions, an additional energy source contributes to their
expansion.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, tentatively scheduled for the ApJ
July 1, 2008, v681n1 issue. 19 pages, 4 figure
The dual nature of 5f electrons and origin of heavy fermions in U compounds
We develop a theory for the electronic excitations in UPt which is based
on the localization of two of the electrons. The remaining electron is
delocalized and acquires a large effective mass by inducing intra-atomic
excitations of the localized ones. The measured deHaas-vanAlphen frequencies of
the heavy quasiparticles are explained as well as their anisotropic heavy mass.
A model calculation for a small cluster reveals why only the largest of the
different hopping matrix elements is operative causing the electrons in
other orbitals to localize.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Comparison of the Halpha equivalent width of HII regions in a flocculent and a grand design galaxy: possible evidences for IMF variations
We present here a study of the Halpha equivalent widths of the flocculent
galaxy NGC 4395 and the grand design galaxy NGC 5457. A difference between the
mean values of the Halpha equivalent widths for the two galaxies has been
found. Several hypotheses are presented in order to explain this difference:
differences in age, metallicity, star formation rate, photon leakage and
initial mass function. Various tests and Monte Carlo models are used to find
out the most probable cause of this difference. The resultsshow that the
possible cause for the difference could be a variation in the initial mass
function. This difference is such that it seems to favor a fraction of more
massive stars in the grand design galaxy when compared with the flocculent
galaxy. This could be due to a change of the environmental conditions due to a
density wave.Comment: 29 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Astrophysical and Astrobiological Implications of Gamma-Ray Burst Properties
Combining results for the local cosmic rate and mean peak luminosity of GRBs
with the cosmic history of the star formation rate, we provide estimates for
the local GRB rate per unit blue luminosity in galaxies. We find a typical GRB
rate per unit B luminosity of 2.4x10^-17 h_{70}^2/Lsun/yr. The corresponding
mean rate in the Milky Way is 5.5x10^-7 h_{70}^2/yr. We conclude: 1) the ratio
of supernova rate to isotropic equivalent GRB rate is large: more than 6000
SNIbc per GRB or 30,000 SNII per GRB. GRBs could arise in a large fraction of
black hole-forming events only with collimation in the range 0.01 - 0.001 and a
steep enough slope of the IMF; 2) GRBs cannot account for the majority of large
HI holes observed in galaxies; 3) the probability that the solar system was
exposed to a fluence large enough to melt the chondrules during the first 10^7
yr of solar system history is negligibly small; 4) Even for very opaque
atmospheres, a significant fraction of the GRB energy is transmitted as UV
lines due to excitation by secondary electrons. For eukaryotic-like organisms
in thin atmospheres (e.g. contemporary Mars), or for UV line exposure in thick
atmospheres (e.g. Earth), biologically significant events occur at a rate of
about 100--500 /Gyr. The direct contribution of these "jolts" to mutational
evolution may, however, be negligible because of the short duration of the
GRBs. Evolutionary effects due to partial sterilizations and to longer-lived
disruptions of atmospheric chemistry should be more important. (Abridged)Comment: 36 pages, no figures Accepted by Astrophysical Journal Oct. 2001.
First submitted December,1999. Substantially rewritten discussion of burst
source count distributions and of biological implication
Perturbative QCD factorization of and
We prove factorization theorem for the processes and
to leading twist in the covariant gauge by means of the
Ward identity. Soft divergences cancel and collinear divergences are grouped
into a pion wave function defined by a nonlocal matrix element. The gauge
invariance and universality of the pion wave function are confirmed. The proof
is then extended to the exclusive meson decays and
in the heavy quark limit. It is shown that a light-cone
meson wave function, though absorbing soft dynamics, can be defined in an
appropriate frame. Factorization of the decay in
space, being parton transverse momenta, is briefly discussed. We comment
on the extraction of the leading-twist pion wave function from experimental
data.Comment: 21 pages in Latex file, version to appear in Phys. Rev.
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