2,119 research outputs found
The influence of general-relativity effects, dynamical tides and collisions on planet-planet scattering close to the star
Planet--Planet scattering is an efficient and robust dynamical mechanism for
producing eccentric exoplanets. Coupled to tidal interactions with the central
star, it can also explain close--in giant planets on circularized and
potentially misaligned orbits. We explore scattering events occurring close to
the star and test if they can reproduce the main features of the observed
orbital distribution of giant exoplanets on tight orbits.In our modeling we
exploit a numerical integration code based on the Hermite algorithm and
including the effects of general relativity, dynamical tides and two--body
collisions.We find that P--P scattering events occurring in systems with three
giant planets initially moving on circular orbits close to their star produce a
population of planets similar to the presently observed one, including
eccentric and misaligned close--in planets. The contribution of tides and
general relativity is relevant in determining the final outcome of the chaotic
phase. Even if two--body collisions dominate the chaotic evolution of three
planets in crossing orbits close to their star, the final distribution shows a
significant number of planets on eccentric orbits. The highly misaligned
close--in giant planets are instead produced by systems where the initial
semi--major axis of the inner planet was around 0.2 au or beyond.Comment: Accepted for publication on A&
On the stochastic mechanics of the free relativistic particle
Given a positive energy solution of the Klein-Gordon equation, the motion of
the free, spinless, relativistic particle is described in a fixed Lorentz frame
by a Markov diffusion process with non-constant diffusion coefficient. Proper
time is an increasing stochastic process and we derive a probabilistic
generalization of the equation . A
random time-change transformation provides the bridge between the and the
domain. In the domain, we obtain an \M^4-valued Markov process
with singular and constant diffusion coefficient. The square modulus of the
Klein-Gordon solution is an invariant, non integrable density for this Markov
process. It satisfies a relativistically covariant continuity equation
Entropy, time irreversibility and Schroedinger equation in a primarily discrete space-time
In this paper we show that the existence of a primarily discrete space-time
may be a fruitful assumption from which we may develop a new approach of
statistical thermodynamics in pre-relativistic conditions. The discreetness of
space-time structure is determined by a condition that mimics the Heisenberg
uncertainty relations and the motion in this space-time model is chosen as
simple as possible. From these two assumptions we define a path-entropy that
measures the number of closed paths associated with a given energy of the
system preparation. This entropy has a dynamical character and depends on the
time interval on which we count the paths. We show that it exists an
like-equilibrium condition for which the path-entropy corresponds exactly to
the usual thermodynamic entropy and, more generally, the usual statistical
thermodynamics is reobtained. This result derived without using the Gibbs
ensemble method shows that the standard thermodynamics is consistent with a
motion that is time-irreversible at a microscopic level. From this change of
paradigm it becomes easy to derive a . A comparison with the
traditional Boltzmann approach is presented. We also show how our approach can
be implemented in order to describe reversible processes. By considering a
process defined simultaneously by initial and final conditions a well defined
stochastic process is introduced and we are able to derive a Schroedinger
equation, an example of time reversible equation.Comment: latex versio
Atomic configurations of dislocation core and twin boundaries in 3C-SiC studied by high-resolution electron microscopy
The defects in 3C-SiC film grown on (001) plane of Si substrate were studied using a 200 kV high-resolution electron microscope with point resolution of 0.2 nm. A posterior image processing technique, the image deconvolution, was utilized in combination with the image contrast analysis to distinguish atoms of Si from C distant from each other by 0.109 nm in the [110] projected image. The principle of the image processing technique utilized and the related image contrast theory is briefly presented. The procedures of transforming an experimental image that does not reflect the crystal structure intuitively into the structure map and of identifying Si and C atoms from the map are described. The atomic configurations for a 30 degrees partial dislocation and a microtwin have been derived at atomic level. It has been determined that the 30 degrees partial dislocation terminates in C atom and the segment of microtwin is sandwiched between two 180 degrees rotation twins. The corresponding stacking sequences are derived and atomic models are constructed according to the restored structure maps for both the 30 degrees partial dislocation and microtwin. Images were simulated based on the two models to affirm the above-mentioned results
Radiation Yield and Radicals Produced in Irradiated Poly (Butylene Succinate)
The main chemical effects of ionizing irradiation on polymers are crosslinking and chain scission. Both processes occur simultaneously and their yields determine the final results of processing. The radiation yield of crosslinking could be determined by several methods depending on the characteristics of the material and properties of the gel. Radiation parameters of gelation, such as gelation dose and ratio of scission yield to crosslinking yield, as well as their values were estimated. In this study, those parameters depend on the amount of Trimethallyl isocyanurate (TMAIC) in Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), molecular weight of PBS, and irradiation condition. In the absence of TMAIC, higher molecular weight of PBS required less energy to start gelation process compare to lower molecular weight of PBS. While in the presence of TMAIC all of the PBS samples require similar energy to start gelation process. The existence of macroradicals were observed by Electron Spin Resonance measurements. The result showed that the spectra consisted of signals derived from radicals on carbon nearby carbonyl, and signals derived from radicals on carbon reside between two similar carbon on polymer, both of radicals lead to crosslinking
The mass-period distribution of close-in exoplanets
The lower limit to the distribution of orbital periods P for the current
population of close-in exoplanets shows a distinctive discontinuity located at
approximately one Jovian mass. Most smaller planets have orbital periods longer
than P~2.5 days, while higher masses are found down to P~1 day.
We analyze whether this observed mass-period distribution could be explained
in terms of the combined effects of stellar tides and the interactions of
planets with an inner cavity in the gaseous disk.
We performed a series of hydrodynamical simulations of the evolution of
single-planet systems in a gaseous disk with an inner cavity mimicking the
inner boundary of the disk. The subsequent tidal evolution is analyzed assuming
that orbital eccentricities are small and stellar tides are dominant.
We find that most of the close-in exoplanet population is consistent with an
inner edge of the protoplanetary disk being located at approximately P>2 days
for solar-type stars, in addition to orbital decay having been caused by
stellar tides with a specific tidal parameter on the order of Q'*=10^7. The
data is broadly consistent with planets more massive than one Jupiter mass
undergoing type II migration, crossing the gap, and finally halting at the
interior 2/1 mean-motion resonance with the disk edge. Smaller planets do not
open a gap in the disk and remain trapped in the cavity edge. CoRoT-7b appears
detached from the remaining exoplanet population, apparently requiring
additional evolutionary effects to explain its current mass and semimajor axis.Comment: 8 Pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A&
The effect of selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors, alone and in combination, on a murine model of allergic asthma
BACKGROUND: The anti-inflammatory effects of the selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors cilostazol (PDE 3), RO 20-1724 (PDE 4) and sildenafil (PDE 5) were examined in a murine model of allergic asthma. These compounds were used alone and in combination to determine any potential synergism, with dexamethasone included as a positive control. METHODS: Control and ovalbumin sensitised Balb/C mice were administered orally with each of the possible combinations of drugs at a dose of 3 mg/Kg for 10 days. RESULTS: When used alone, RO 20-1724 significantly reduced eosinophil influx into lungs and lowered tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid when compared to untreated mice. Treatment with cilostazol or sildenafil did not significantly inhibit any markers of inflammation measured. Combining any of these PDE inhibitors produced no additive or synergistic effects. Indeed, the anti-inflammatory effects of RO 20-1724 were attenuated by co-administration of either cilostazol or sildenafil. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that concurrent treatment with a PDE 3 and/or PDE 5 inhibitor will reduce the anti-inflammatory effectiveness of a PDE 4 inhibitor
Comparing HARPS and Kepler surveys: The alignment of multiple-planet systems
Aims. We study a subset of the planetary population characterized both by
HARPS and Kepler surveys. We compare the statistical properties of planets in
systems with m.sin i >5-10 M_Earth and R>2 R_Earth. If we assume that the
underlying population has the same characteristics, the different detection
sensitivity to the orbital inclination relative to the line of sight allows us
to probe the planets' mutual inclination.
Methods. We considered the frequency of systems with one, two and three
planets as dictated by HARPS data. We used Kepler's planetary period and host
mass and radii distributions (corrected from detection bias) to model planetary
systems in a simple yet physically plausible way. We then varied the mutual
inclination between planets in a system according to different prescriptions
(completely aligned, Rayleigh distributions and isotropic) and compared the
transit frequencies with one, two or three planets with those measured by
Kepler.
Results. The results show that the two datasets are compatible, a remarkable
result especially because there are no tunable knobs other than the assumed
inclination distribution. For m.sin i cutoffs of 7-10 M_Earth, which are those
expected to correspond to the radius cutoff of 2 R_Earth, we conclude that the
results are better described by a Rayleigh distribution with mode of 1 deg or
smaller. We show that the best-fit scenario only becomes a Rayleigh
distribution with mode of 5 deg if we assume a rather extreme mass-radius
relationship for the planetary population.
Conclusions. These results have important consequences for our understanding
of the role of several proposed formation and evolution mechanisms. They
confirm that planets are likely to have been formed in a disk and show that
most planetary systems evolve quietly without strong angular momentum exchanges
(abridged).Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy
& Astrophysic
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