4,670 research outputs found
Determination of Fluorescence Polarization and Absorption Anisotropy in Molecular Complexes Having Threefold Rotational Symmetry
The current work concerns investigation of the polarization properties of complex molecular ensembles exhibiting threefold (C3) rotational symmetry, particularly with regard to the interplay between their structure and dynamics of internal energy transfer. We assume that the molecules or chromophores in such complexes possess strongly overlapped spectra both for absorption and fluorescence. Such trimeric structures are widely found in biological preparations, as for example the trimer of C-phycocyanin (C-PC). Higher order aggregates, e.g. hex-amers and three-hexamer rods, are also investigated and compared with the trimer case. The theory addresses both steady-state and 8-pulse excitation and establishes some links between them. Monochromophoric, bichro-mophoric and trichromophoric molecular complexes are individually examined. For steady-state excitation, analytical formulas are reported for the degree of fluorescence polarization and absorption anisotropy. It is shown that the polarization is dependent on the chromophore inclination relative to the symmetry axis, the relative efficiencies of absorption and fluorescence by chromophores of different spectral types, and the rates of energy equilibration. To assess the validity of the theory, it has been applied to C-PC aggregates. Here it was found that different C-PC aggregates provide practically identical polarization response. For S-pulse excitation we give analytical formulas for determination of the fluorescence depolarization, and also the depolarization associated with absorption recovery, both for a monochromophoric trimer and some particular cases of bichromophoric trimer. More complicated systems are analyzed by computer modeling. Thus it transpires that the initial polarization anisotropy r(t = 0) takes the value 0.4 for all considered aggregates; the long-time limit r(t ââ) has about the same value as is associated with steady-state excitation. We also show that with steady-state excitation the degree of fluorescence polarization is practically equal for various C3 aggregates of C-PC, and that the major factor determining the polarization is the chromophore orientation relative to the symmetry axis
Flares and variability from Sagittarius A*: five nights of simultaneous multi-wavelength observations
Aims. We report on simultaneous observations and modeling of mid-infrared
(MIR), near-infrared (NIR), and submillimeter (submm) emission of the source
Sgr A* associated with the supermassive black hole at the center of our Galaxy.
Our goal was to monitor the activity of Sgr A* at different wavelengths in
order to constrain the emitting processes and gain insight into the nature of
the close environment of Sgr A*. Methods. We used the MIR instrument VISIR in
the BURST imaging mode, the adaptive optics assisted NIR camera NACO, and the
sub-mm antenna APEX to monitor Sgr A* over several nights in July 2007.
Results. The observations reveal remarkable variability in the NIR and sub-mm
during the five nights of observation. No source was detected in the MIR, but
we derived the lowest upper limit for a flare at 8.59 microns (22.4 mJy with
A_8.59mu = 1.6+/- 0.5). This observational constraint makes us discard the
observed NIR emission as coming from a thermal component emitting at sub-mm
frequencies. Moreover, comparison of the sub-mm and NIR variability shows that
the highest NIR fluxes (flares) are coincident with the lowest sub-mm levels of
our five-night campaign involving three flares. We explain this behavior by a
loss of electrons to the system and/or by a decrease in the magnetic field, as
might conceivably occur in scenarios involving fast outflows and/or magnetic
reconnection.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, published in A&
GCIRS 7, a pulsating M1 supergiant at the Galactic centre. Physical properties and age
The stellar population in the central parsec of the Galaxy is dominated by an
old (several Gyr) population, but young, massive stars dominate the luminosity
function. We have studied the most luminous of these stars, GCIRS 7, in order
to constrain the age of the recent star formation event in the Galactic Centre
and to characterise it as an interferometric reference for observations of the
Galactic Centre with the instrument GRAVITY, which will equip the Very Large
Telescope Interferometer in the near future. We present the first H-band
interferometric observations of GCIRS 7, obtained using the PIONIER visitor
instrument on the VLTI using the four 8.2-m unit telescopes. In addition, we
present unpublished K-band VLTI/AMBER data, build JHKL light-curves based on
data spanning 4 decades, and measured the star's effective temperature using
SINFONI spectroscopy. GCIRS 7 is marginally resolved at H-band (in 2013:
uniform-disk diameter=1.076+/-0.093mas, R=960+/-92Rsun at 8.33+/-0.35kpc). We
detect a significant circumstellar contribution at K-band. The star and its
environment are variable in brightness and in size. The photospheric H-band
variations are well modelled with two periods: P0~470+/-10 days (amplitude
~0.64mag) and long secondary period LSP~2700-2850 days (~1.1mag). As measured
from CO equivalent width, =3600+/-195K. The size, periods, luminosity
(=-8.44+/-0.22) and effective temperature are consistent with an M1
supergiant with an initial mass of 22.5+/-2.5Msun and an age of 6.5-10Myr
(depending on rotation). This age is in remarkable agreement with most
estimates for the recent star formation event in the central parsec. Caution
should be taken when using this star as an interferometric reference as it is
variable in size, is surrounded by a variable circumstellar environment and
large convection cells may form on its photosphere.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. 10 pages, 12 figure
Characterization of integrated optics components for the second generation of VLTI instruments
Two of the three instruments proposed to ESO for the second generation
instrumentation of the VLTI would use integrated optics for beam combination.
Several design are studied, including co-axial and multi-axial recombination.
An extensive quantity of combiners are therefore under test in our
laboratories. We will present the various components, and the method used to
validate and compare the different combiners. Finally, we will discuss the
performances and their implication for both VSI and Gravity VLTI instruments.Comment: SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation 2008 in Marseille, France --
Equation (7) update
Young Low-Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in IC 348
I present new results from a continuing program to identify and characterize
the low-mass stellar and substellar populations in the young cluster IC 348
(1-10~Myr). Optical spectroscopy has revealed young objects with spectral types
as late as M8.25. The intrinsic J-H and H-K colors of these sources are
dwarf-like, whereas the R-I and I-J colors appear intermediate between the
colors of dwarfs and giants. Furthermore, the spectra from 6500 to 9500 A are
reproduced well with averages of standard dwarf and giant spectra, suggesting
that such averages should be used in the classification of young late-type
sources. An H-R diagram is constructed for the low-mass population in IC 348
(K6-M8). The presumably coeval components of the young quadruple system GG~Tau
(White et al.) and the locus of stars in IC 348 are used as empirical
isochrones to test the theoretical evolutionary models. For the models of
Baraffe et al., an adjustment of the temperature scale to progressively warmer
temperatures at later M types, intermediate between dwarfs and giants, brings
all components of GG~Tau onto the same model isochrone and gives the population
of IC 348 a constant age and age spread as a function of mass. When other
observational constraints are considered, such as the dynamical masses of
GM~Aur, DM~Tau, and GG~Tau~A, the models of Baraffe et al. are the most
consistent with observations of young systems. With compatible temperature
scales, the models of both D'Antona & Mazzitelli and Baraffe et al. suggest
that the hydrogen burning mass limit occurs near M6 at ages of <10 Myr. Thus,
several likely brown dwarfs are discovered in this study of IC 348, with masses
down to ~20-30 M_J.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, accepted to Ap
Total Reaction Cross Section in an Isospin-Dependent Quantum Molecular Dynamics (IDQMD) Model
The isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamics (IDQMD) model is used to
study the total reaction cross section . The energy-dependent Pauli
volumes of neutrons and protons have been discussed and introduced into the
IDQMD calculation to replace the widely used energy-independent Pauli volumes.
The modified IDQMD calculation can reproduce the experimental well
for both stable and exotic nuclei induced reactions. Comparisons of the
calculated induced by with different initial density
distributions have been performed. It is shown that the calculation by using
the experimentally deduced density distribution with a long tail can fit the
experimental excitation function better than that by using the
Skyrme-Hartree-Fock calculated density without long tails. It is also found
that at high energy is sensitive to the long tail of density
distribution.Comment: 4 page, 4 fig
The Photophysics of the Carrier of Extended Red Emission
Interstellar dust contains a component which reveals its presence by emitting
a broad, unstructured band of light in the 540 to 950 nm wavelength range,
referred to as Extended Red Emission (ERE). The presence of interstellar dust
and ultraviolet photons are two necessary conditions for ERE to occur. This is
the basis for suggestions which attribute ERE to an interstellar dust component
capable of photoluminescence. In this study, we have collected all published
ERE observations with absolute-calibrated spectra for interstellar
environments, where the density of ultraviolet photons can be estimated
reliably. In each case, we determined the band-integrated ERE intensity, the
wavelength of peak emission in the ERE band, and the efficiency with which
absorbed ultraviolet photons are contributing to the ERE. The data show that
radiation is not only driving the ERE, as expected for a photoluminescence
process, but is modifying the ERE carrier as manifested by a systematic
increase in the ERE band's peak wavelength and a general decrease in the photon
conversion efficiency with increasing densities of the prevailing exciting
radiation. The overall spectral characteristics of the ERE and the observed
high quantum efficiency of the ERE process are currently best matched by the
recently proposed silicon nanoparticle (SNP) model. Using the experimentally
established fact that ionization of semiconductor nanoparticles quenches their
photoluminescence, we proceeded to test the SNP model by developing a
quantitative model for the excitation and ionization equilibrium of SNPs under
interstellar conditions for a wide range of radiation field densities.Comment: 42 p., incl. 8 fig. Accepted for publication by Ap
Silicon Nanoparticles: Source of Extended Red Emission?
We have reviewed the characteristics of the extended red emission (ERE) as
observed in many dusty astronomical environments, in particular, the diffuse
interstellar medium of the Galaxy. The spectral nature and the photon
conversion efficiency of the ERE identify the underlying process as highly
efficient photoluminescence by an abundant component of interstellar dust. We
have compared the photoluminescence properties of a variety of carbon- and
silicon-based materials proposed as sources for the ERE with the
observationally established constraints. We found that silicon nanoparticles
provide the best match to the spectrum and the efficiency requirement of the
ERE. If present in interstellar space with an abundance sufficient to explain
the intensity of the ERE, silicon nanoparticles will also contribute to the
interstellar 9.7 micron Si-O stretch feature in absorption, to the near- and
mid-IR nonequilibrium thermal background radiation, and to the continuum
extinction in the near- and far-UV. About 36% of the interstellar silicon
depleted into the dust phase would be needed in the form of silicon
nanoparticles, amounting to less than 5% of the interstellar dust mass. We
propose that silicon nanoparticles form through the nucleation of SiO in
oxygen-rich stellar mass outflows and that they represent an important
small-grain component of the interstellar dust spectrum.Comment: 5 pages; 1 included figure; accepted 1998 May 1, ApJ
Model Order Reduction for Rotating Electrical Machines
The simulation of electric rotating machines is both computationally
expensive and memory intensive. To overcome these costs, model order reduction
techniques can be applied. The focus of this contribution is especially on
machines that contain non-symmetric components. These are usually introduced
during the mass production process and are modeled by small perturbations in
the geometry (e.g., eccentricity) or the material parameters. While model order
reduction for symmetric machines is clear and does not need special treatment,
the non-symmetric setting adds additional challenges. An adaptive strategy
based on proper orthogonal decomposition is developed to overcome these
difficulties. Equipped with an a posteriori error estimator the obtained
solution is certified. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the
effectiveness of the proposed method
GRAVITY: getting to the event horizon of Sgr A*
We present the second-generation VLTI instrument GRAVITY, which currently is
in the preliminary design phase. GRAVITY is specifically designed to observe
highly relativistic motions of matter close to the event horizon of Sgr A*, the
massive black hole at center of the Milky Way. We have identified the key
design features needed to achieve this goal and present the resulting
instrument concept. It includes an integrated optics, 4-telescope, dual feed
beam combiner operated in a cryogenic vessel; near infrared wavefront sensing
adaptive optics; fringe tracking on secondary sources within the field of view
of the VLTI and a novel metrology concept. Simulations show that the planned
design matches the scientific needs; in particular that 10 microarcsecond
astrometry is feasible for a source with a magnitude of K=15 like Sgr A*, given
the availability of suitable phase reference sources.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, to appear in the conference proceedings of SPIE
Astronomical Instrumentation, 23-28 June 2008, Marseille, Franc
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