1,160 research outputs found
Spectral shape of the UV ionizing background and HeII absorption at redshifts 1.8 < z < 2.9
The shape of the UV ionizing background is reconstructed from optically thin
metal absorption-line systems identified in spectra of HE2347-4342, Q1157+3143,
and HS1700+6416 in the redshift interval 1.8 < z < 2.9. The systems are
analyzed by means of the Monte Carlo Inversion method completed with the
spectral shape recovering procedure. The UVB spectral shape fluctuates at 2.4 <
z < 2.9 mostly due to radiative transfer processes in the clumpy IGM. At z <
1.8, the IGM becomes almost transparent both in the HI and HeII Lyman continua
and the variability of the spectral shape comes from diversity of spectral
indices describing the QSO/AGN intrinsic radiation. At z > 2.4, the recovered
spectral shapes show intensity depression between 3 and 4 Ryd due to HeII
Ly-alpha absorption in the IGM clouds (line blanketing) and continuous medium
(true Gunn-Petersen effect). The mean HeII Ly-alpha opacity estimated from the
depth of this depression corresponds within 1-2sigma to the values directly
measured from the HI/HeII Ly-alpha forest towards the quasars studied. The
observed scatter in eta = N(HeII)/N(HI) and anti-correlation between N(HI) and
eta can be explained by the combined action of variable spectral softness and
differences in the mean gas density between the absorbing clouds. Neither of
the recovered spectral shapes show features which can be attributed to the
putative input of radiation from soft sources like starburst galaxies.Comment: 20 pages, 20 figures. Accepted for publication in A&
Comparing Behavioural Models Using Data from Experimental Centipede Games
The centipede game posits one of the most well-known paradoxes of backward induction in the literature of experimental game theory. Given that deviations from the unique subgame perfect Nash equilibrium generates a Pareto improvement, several theoretical models have been employed in order to rationalize this kind of behavior in this social dilemma. The available explanations range from social preferences including fairness, altruism or cooperation motives, errors in playing, inability to perform backward induction or different depths of reasoning. In the present study, we use the Blavatskyy's theoretical contribution, and relax the assumptions of Expected Utility maximization and risk-neutral attitudes, to test an alternative explanation. We compare various probabilistic decision theory models in terms of their descriptive (in-sample) and predictive (out-of-sample fit) performance, using data from experimental centipede games. We find that introducing non-Expected Utility preferences to the Quantal Response Equilibrium model, along with a nonlinear utility function, provides a better explanation compared to alternative specifications such as the Level-k or the Quantal Response Equilibrium model with altruistic motives. (JEL C72, C92, D81, D82)
Strong influence of the complex bandstructure on the tunneling electroresistance: A combined model and ab-initio study
The tunneling electroresistance (TER) for ferroelectric tunnel junctions
(FTJs) with BaTiO_{3} (BTO) and PbTiO}_{3} (PTO) barriers is calculated by
combining the microscopic electronic structure of the barrier material with a
macroscopic model for the electrostatic potential which is caused by the
ferroelectric polarization. The TER ratio is investigated in dependence on the
intrinsic polarization, the chemical potential, and the screening properties of
the electrodes. A change of sign in the TER ratio is obtained for both barrier
materials in dependence on the chemical potential. The inverse imaginary Fermi
velocity describes the microscopic origin of this effect; it qualitatively
reflects the variation and the sign reversal of the TER. The quantity of the
imaginary Fermi velocity allows to obtain detailed information on the transport
properties of FTJs by analyzing the complex bandstructure of the barrier
material.Comment: quality of figures reduce
An HST/COS legacy survey of high-velocity ultraviolet absorption in the Milky Way's circumgalactic medium and the Local Group
To characterize the absorption properties of this circumgalactic medium (CGM)
and its relation to the LG we present the so-far largest survey of metal
absorption in Galactic high-velocity clouds (HVCs) using archival ultraviolet
(UV) spectra of extragalactic background sources. The UV data are obtained with
the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) onboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
and are supplemented by 21 cm radio observations of neutral hydrogen. Along 270
sightlines we measure metal absorption in the lines of SiII, SiIII, CII, and
CIV and associated HI 21 cm emission in HVCs in the velocity range
|v_LSR|=100-500 km s^-1. With this unprecedented large HVC sample we were able
to improve the statistics on HVC covering fractions, ionization conditions,
small-scale structure, CGM mass, and inflow rate. For the first time, we
determine robustly the angular two point correlation function of the
high-velocity absorbers, systematically analyze antipodal sightlines on the
celestial sphere, and compare the absorption characteristics with that of
Damped Lyman alpha absorbers (DLAs) and constrained cosmological simulations of
the LG. Our study demonstrates that the Milky Way CGM contains sufficient
gaseous material to maintain the Galactic star-formation rate at its current
level. We show that the CGM is composed of discrete gaseous structures that
exhibit a large-scale kinematics together with small-scale variations in
physical conditions. The Magellanic Stream clearly dominates both the cross
section and mass flow of high-velocity gas in the Milky Way's CGM. The possible
presence of high-velocity LG gas underlines the important role of the local
cosmological environment in the large-scale gas-circulation processes in and
around the Milky Way (abridged).Comment: 37 pages, 25 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in A&
Nitrogen-deficient and iron-rich associated absorbers with oversolar metallicities towards the quasar HE0141-3932
HE0141-3932 (zem=1.80) is a bright blue radio-quite quasar which reveals an
emission line spectrum with an unusually weak Ly-alpha line. In addition, large
redshift differences (Delta z=0.05) are observed between high ionization and
low ionization emission lines. Absorption systems identified at z=1.78, 1.71,
and 1.68 show mild oversolar metallicities (Z ~= 1-2Zsolar) and can be
attributed to the associated gas clouds ejected from the circumnuclear region.
The joint analysis of the emission and absorption lines leads to the conclusion
that this quasar is seen almost pole-on. Its apparent luminosity may be Doppler
boosted by ~10 times. The absorbing gas shows high abundance of Fe, Mg, and Al
([Fe, Mg, Al/C] ~= 0.15+/-0.10) along with underabundance of N ([N/C]<=-0.5).
This abundance pattern is at variance with current chemical evolution models of
QSOs predicting [N/C]>0 and [Fe/C]<0 at Z ~ Zsolar. Full details of this work
are given in Reimers et al. (2005).Comment: 2 pages, to appear in the Proceed. of IAU Symp.228 "From Lithium to
Uranium: Elemental Tracers of Early Cosmic Evolution", eds. V.Hill,
P.Francois and F.Prima
HE 0141-3932: a bright QSO with an unusual emission line spectrum and associated absorption
HE 0141-3932 (zem = 1.80) is a bright blue radio-quite quasar with an
unusually weak Ly-alpha emission line. Large redshift differences (Delta z =
0.05) are observed between high ionization and low ionization emission lines.
Absorption systems identified at zabs = 1.78, 1.71, and 1.68 show mild
oversolar metallicities (Z ~= 1-2Zsolar) and can be attributed to the
associated gas clouds ejected from the circumnuclear region. The joint analysis
of the emission and absorption lines leads to the conclusion that this quasar
is seen almost pole-on. Its apparent luminosity may be Doppler boosted by ~10
times. The absorbing gas shows a high abundance of Fe, Mg and Al ([Fe, Mg,
Al/C] ~= 0.15 +/- 0.10) along with underabundance of N ([N/C] <= -0.5). This
abundance pattern is at variance with current chemical evolution models of QSOs
predicting [N/C] >= 0$ and [Fe/C] < 0 at Z ~ Zsolar.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Unusually large polarizabilities and "new" atomic states in Ba
Electric polarizabilities of four low-J even-parity states and three low-J
odd-parity states of atomic barium in the range to $36,000\
^{-1}6s8p
^3P_{0,2}$ is suggested.Comment: 29 pages, 12 figure
Piezoelectric control of the magnetic anisotropy via interface strain coupling in a composite multiferroic structure
We investigate theoretically the magnetic dynamics in a
ferroelectric/ferromagnetic heterostructure coupled via strain-mediated
magnetoelectric interaction. We predict an electric field-induced magnetic
switching in the plane perpendicular to the magneto-crystalline easy axis, and
trace this effect back to the piezoelectric control of the magnetoelastic
coupling. We also investigate the magnetic remanence and the electric
coercivity
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