473 research outputs found
Magnetic-field-induced collapse of charge-ordered nanoclusters and the Colossal Magnetoresistance effect in Nd(0.3)Sr(0.3)MnO(3)
We report synchrotron x-ray scattering studies of charge/orbitally ordered
(COO) nanoclusters in NdSrMnO. We find that the COO
nanoclusters are strongly suppressed in an applied magnetic field, and that
their decreasing concentration follows the field-induced decrease of the sample
electrical resistivity. The COO nanoclusters, however, do not completely
disappear in the conducting state, suggesting that this state is inhomogeneous
and contains an admixture of an insulating phase. Similar results were also
obtained for the zero-field insulator-metal transition that occurs as
temperature is reduced. These observations suggest that these correlated
lattice distortions play a key role in the Colossal Magnetoresistance effect in
this prototypical manganite.Comment: 5 pages, 3 embedded eps figures; to appear in PRB Rapid
Commumication
Noise Probe of the Dynamic Phase Separation in La2/3Ca1/3MnO3
Giant Random Telegraph Noise (RTN) in the resistance fluctuation of a
macroscopic film of perovskite-type manganese oxide La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 has been
observed at various temperatures ranging from 4K to 170K, well below the Curie
temperature (TC = 210K). The amplitudes of the two-level-fluctuations (TLF)
vary from 0.01% to 0.2%. We use a statistical analysis of the life-times of the
TLF to gain insight into the microscopic electronic and magnetic state of this
manganite. At low temperature (below 30K) The TLF is well described by a
thermally activated two-level model. An estimate of the energy difference
between the two states is inferred. At higher temperature (between 60K and
170K) we observed critical effects of the temperature on the life-times of the
TLF. We discuss this peculiar temperature dependence in terms of a sharp change
in the free energy functional of the fluctuators. We attribute the origin of
the RTN to be a dynamic mixed-phase percolative conduction process, where
manganese clusters switch back and forth between two phases that differ in
their conductivity and magnetization.Comment: 15 pages, PDF only, Phys. Rev. Lett. (in press
Ambipolar gate effect and low temperature magnetoresistance of ultrathin La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 Films
Ultrathin La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 films have been measured in a field-effect geometry.
The electric field due to the gate produces a large ambipolar decrease in
resistance at low temperatures. This is attributed to the development of a
pseudogap in the density of states and the couple of localized charge to
strain. The gate effect and mangetoresistance are interpreted in a consistent
framework. The implications for the low temperature behavior of a manganite
film in the two dimensional limit are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
A Brief History of AGN
Astronomers knew early in the twentieth century that some galaxies have
emission-line nuclei. However, even the systematic study by Seyfert (1943) was
not enough to launch active galactic nuclei (AGN) as a major topic of
astronomy. The advances in radio astronomy in the 1950s revealed a new universe
of energetic phenomena, and inevitably led to the discovery of quasars. These
discoveries demanded the attention of observers and theorists, and AGN have
been a subject of intense effort ever since. Only a year after the recognition
of the redshifts of 3C 273 and 3C 48 in 1963, the idea of energy production by
accretion onto a black hole was advanced. However, acceptance of this idea came
slowly, encouraged by the discovery of black hole X-ray sources in our Galaxy
and, more recently, supermassive black holes in the center of the Milky Way and
other galaxies. Many questions remain as to the formation and fueling of the
hole, the geometry of the central regions, the detailed emission mechanisms,
the production of jets, and other aspects. The study of AGN will remain a
vigorous part of astronomy for the foreseeable future.Comment: 37 pages, no figures. Uses aaspp4.sty. To be published in
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 1999 Jun
Tracing PAHs and Warm Dust Emission in the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 1068
We present a study of the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068 using mid- and far-
infrared data acquired with the IRAC, IRS, and MIPS instruments aboard the
Spitzer Space Telescope. The images show extensive 8 um and 24 um emission
coinciding with star formation in the inner spiral approximately 15" (1 kpc)
from the nucleus, and a bright complex of star formation 47" (3 kpc) SW of the
nucleus. The brightest 8 um PAH emission regions coincide remarkably well with
knots observed in an Halpha image. Strong PAH features at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and
11.3 um are detected in IRS spectra measured at numerous locations inside,
within, and outside the inner spiral. The IRAC colors and IRS spectra of these
regions rule out dust heated by the AGN as the primary emission source; the
SEDs are dominated by starlight and PAH emission. The equivalent widths and
flux ratios of the PAH features in the inner spiral are generally consistent
with conditions in a typical spiral galaxy ISM. Interior to the inner spiral,
the influence of the AGN on the ISM is evident via PAH flux ratios indicative
of a higher ionization parameter and a significantly smaller mean equivalent
width than observed in the inner spiral. The brightest 8 and 24 um emission
peaks in the disk of the galaxy, even at distances beyond the inner spiral, are
located within the ionization cones traced by [O III]/Hbeta, and they are also
remarkably well aligned with the axis of the radio jets. Although it is
possible that radiation from the AGN may directly enhance PAH excitation or
trigger the formation of OB stars that subsequently excite PAH emission at
these locations in the inner spiral, the orientation of collimated radiation
from the AGN and star formation knots in the inner spiral could be
coincidental. (abridged)Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures; AJ, accepted; full resolution version available
at http://spider.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/jhhowell/astro/howelln1068.pd
On the 3-particle scattering continuum in quasi one dimensional integer spin Heisenberg magnets
We analyse the three-particle scattering continuum in quasi one dimensional
integer spin Heisenberg antiferromagnets within a low-energy effective field
theory framework. We exactly determine the zero temperature dynamical structure
factor in the O(3) nonlinear sigma model and in Tsvelik's Majorana fermion
theory. We study the effects of interchain coupling in a Random Phase
Approximation. We discuss the application of our results to recent
neutron-scattering experiments on the Haldane-gap material .Comment: 8 pages of revtex, 5 figures, small changes, to appear in PR
XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer Observations of Discrete Soft-X-ray Emission Features from NGC 1068
We present the first high-resolution, soft-X-ray spectrum of the prototypical
Seyfert 2 galaxy, NGC 1068. This spectrum was obtained with the XMM-Newton
Reflection Grating Spectrometer. Emission lines from H-like and He-like low-Z
ions (from C to Si) and Fe-L-shell ions dominate the spectrum. Strong, narrow
radiative recombination continua (RRC) for several ions are also present,
implying that most of the observed soft-X-ray emission arises in
low-temperature (few eV) plasma. This plasma is photoionized by the inferred
nuclear continuum (obscured along our line of sight), as in the unified model
of active galactic nuclei (AGN). We find excess emission (compared with pure
recombination) in all resonance lines (np to 1s) up to the photoelectric edge,
demonstrating the importance of photoexcitation as well. We introduce a simple
model of a cone of plasma irradiated by the nuclear continuum; the line
emission we observe along our line of sight perpendicular to the cone is
produced through recombination/radiative cascade following photoionization and
radiative decay following photoexcitation. A remarkably good fit is obtained to
the H-like/He-like ionic line series, with inferred radial ionic column
densities consistent with recent observations of warm absorbers in Seyfert 1
galaxies. Previous Chandra imaging revealed a large (extending out to 500 pc)
ionization cone containing most of the X-ray flux, implying that the warm
absorber in NGC 1068 is a large-scale outflow. To explain the ionic column
densities, a broad, flat distribution in the logarithm of the ionization
parameter () is necessary, spanning --3. This
suggests either radially-stratified ionization zones or the existence of a
broad density distribution (spanning a few orders of magnitude) at each radius.Comment: 23 pages, 16 figures, ApJ (accepted). XSPEC local model "photo" is
available at http://xmm.astro.columbia.edu/research.htm
Function and Assembly of a Chromatin-Associated RNase P that Is Required for Efficient Transcription by RNA Polymerase I
Background: Human RNase P has been initially described as a tRNA processing enzyme, consisting of H1 RNA and at least ten distinct protein subunits. Recent findings, however, indicate that this catalytic ribonucleoprotein is also required for transcription of small noncoding RNA genes by RNA polymerase III (Pol III). Notably, subunits of human RNase P are localized in the nucleolus, thus raising the possibility that this ribonucleoprotein complex is implicated in transcription of rRNA genes by Pol I. Methodology/Principal Findings: By using biochemical and reverse genetic means we show here that human RNase P is required for efficient transcription of rDNA by Pol I. Thus, inactivation of RNase P by targeting its protein subunits for destruction by RNA interference or its H1 RNA moiety for specific cleavage causes marked reduction in transcription of rDNA by Pol I. However, RNase P restores Pol I transcription in a defined reconstitution system. Nuclear run on assays reveal that inactivation of RNase P reduces the level of nascent transcription by Pol I, and more considerably that of Pol III. Moreover, RNase P copurifies and associates with components of Pol I and its transcription factors and binds to chromatin of the promoter and coding region of rDNA. Strikingly, RNase P detaches from transcriptionally inactive rDNA in mitosis and reassociates with it at G1 phase through a dynamic and stepwise assembly process that is correlated with renewal of transcription
Function and Assembly of a Chromatin-Associated RNase P that Is Required for Efficient Transcription by RNA Polymerase I
Human RNase P has been initially described as a tRNA processing enzyme, consisting of H1 RNA and at least ten distinct protein subunits. Recent findings, however, indicate that this catalytic ribonucleoprotein is also required for transcription of small noncoding RNA genes by RNA polymerase III (Pol III). Notably, subunits of human RNase P are localized in the nucleolus, thus raising the possibility that this ribonucleoprotein complex is implicated in transcription of rRNA genes by Pol I.By using biochemical and reverse genetic means we show here that human RNase P is required for efficient transcription of rDNA by Pol I. Thus, inactivation of RNase P by targeting its protein subunits for destruction by RNA interference or its H1 RNA moiety for specific cleavage causes marked reduction in transcription of rDNA by Pol I. However, RNase P restores Pol I transcription in a defined reconstitution system. Nuclear run on assays reveal that inactivation of RNase P reduces the level of nascent transcription by Pol I, and more considerably that of Pol III. Moreover, RNase P copurifies and associates with components of Pol I and its transcription factors and binds to chromatin of the promoter and coding region of rDNA. Strikingly, RNase P detaches from transcriptionally inactive rDNA in mitosis and reassociates with it at G1 phase through a dynamic and stepwise assembly process that is correlated with renewal of transcription.Our findings reveal that RNase P activates transcription of rDNA by Pol I through a novel assembly process and that this catalytic ribonucleoprotein determines the transcription output of Pol I and Pol III, two functionally coordinated transcription machineries
Pore timing:the evolutionary origins of the nucleus and nuclear pore complex
The name “eukaryote” is derived from Greek, meaning “true kernel”, and describes the domain of organisms whose cells have a nucleus. The nucleus is thus the defining feature of eukaryotes and distinguishes them from prokaryotes (Archaea and Bacteria), whose cells lack nuclei. Despite this, we discuss the intriguing possibility that organisms on the path from the first eukaryotic common ancestor to the last common ancestor of all eukaryotes did not possess a nucleus at all—at least not in a form we would recognize today—and that the nucleus in fact arrived relatively late in the evolution of eukaryotes. The clues to this alternative evolutionary path lie, most of all, in recent discoveries concerning the structure of the nuclear pore complex. We discuss the evidence for such a possibility and how this impacts our views of eukaryote origins and how eukaryotes have diversified subsequent to their last common ancestor
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