740 research outputs found
Turbulent convection: comparing the moment equations to numerical simulations
The non-local hydrodynamic moment equations for compressible convection are
compared to numerical simulations. Convective and radiative flux typically
deviate less than 20% from the 3D simulations, while mean thermodynamic
quantities are accurate to at least 2% for the cases we have investigated. The
moment equations are solved in minutes rather than days on standard
workstations. We conclude that this convection model has the potential to
considerably improve the modelling of convection zones in stellar envelopes and
cores, in particular of A and F stars.Comment: 10 pages (6 pages of text including figure captions + 4 figures),
Latex 2e with AAS Latex 5.0 macros, accepted for publication in ApJ
Development of Readout Interconnections for the Si-W Calorimeter of SiD
The SiD collaboration is developing a Si-W sampling electromagnetic
calorimeter, with anticipated application for the International Linear
Collider. Assembling the modules for such a detector will involve special
bonding technologies for the interconnections, especially for attaching a
silicon detector wafer to a flex cable readout bus. We review the interconnect
technologies involved, including oxidation removal processes, pad surface
preparation, solder ball selection and placement, and bond quality assurance.
Our results show that solder ball bonding is a promising technique for the Si-W
ECAL, and unresolved issues are being addressed.Comment: 8 pages + title, 6 figure
Stellar Hydrodynamics in Radiative Regions
We present an analysis of the response of a radiative region to waves
generated by a convective region of the star; this wave treatment of the
classical problem of ``overshooting'' gives extra mixing relative to the
treatment traditionally used in stellar evolutionary codes. The interface
between convectively stable and unstable regions is dynamic and nonspherical,
so that the nonturbulent material is driven into motion, even in the absence of
``penetrative overshoot.'' These motions may be described by the theory of
nonspherical stellar pulsations, and are related to motion measured by
helioseismology. Multi-dimensional numerical simulations of convective flow
show puzzling features which we explain by this simplified physical model.
Gravity waves generated at the interface are dissipated, resulting in slow
circulation and mixing seen outside the formal convection zone. The approach
may be extended to deal with rotation and composition gradients. Tests of this
description in the stellar evolution code TYCHO produce carbon stars on the
asymptotic giant branch (AGB), an isochrone age for the Hyades and three young
clusters with lithium depletion ages from brown dwarfs, and lithium and
beryllium depletion consistent with observations of the Hyades and Pleiades,
all without tuning parameters. The insight into the different contributions of
rotational and hydrodynamic mixing processes could have important implications
for realistic simulation of supernovae and other questions in stellar
evolution.Comment: 27 pages, 5 figures, accepted to the Astrophysical Journa
Excitation gaps in fractional quantum Hall states: An exact diagonalization study
We compute energy gaps for spin-polarized fractional quantum Hall states in
the lowest Landau level at filling fractions nu=1/3, 2/5,3/7 and 4/9 using
exact diagonalization of systems with up to 16 particles and extrapolation to
the infinite system-size limit. The gaps calculated for a pure Coulomb
interaction and ignoring finite width effects, disorder and LL mixing agree
with predictions of composite fermion theory provided the logarithmic
corrections to the effective mass are included. This is in contrast with
previous estimates, which, as we show, overestimated the gaps at nu=2/5 and 3/7
by around 15%. We also study the reduction of the gaps as a result of the
non-zero width of the 2D layer. We show that these effects are accurately
accounted for using either Gaussian or z*Gaussian' (zG) trial wavefunctions,
which we show are significantly better variational wavefunctions than the
Fang-Howard wavefunction. For quantum well parameters typical of
heterostructure samples, we find gap reductions of around 20%. The experimental
gaps, after accounting heuristically for disorder,are still around 40% smaller
than the computed gaps. However, for the case of tetracene layers
inmetal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) devices we find that the measured
activation gaps are close to those we compute. We discuss possible reasons why
the difference between computed and measured activation gaps is larger in GaAs
heterostructures than in MIS devices. Finally, we present new calculations
using systems with up to 18 electrons of the gap at nu=5/2 including width
corrections.Comment: 18 pages, 17 figure
Analysis of stellar spectra with 3D and NLTE models
Models of radiation transport in stellar atmospheres are the hinge of modern
astrophysics. Our knowledge of stars, stellar populations, and galaxies is only
as good as the theoretical models, which are used for the interpretation of
their observed spectra, photometric magnitudes, and spectral energy
distributions. I describe recent advances in the field of stellar atmosphere
modelling for late-type stars. Various aspects of radiation transport with 1D
hydrostatic, LTE, NLTE, and 3D radiative-hydrodynamical models are briefly
reviewed.Comment: 21 pages, accepted for publication as a chapter in "Determination of
Atmospheric Parameters of B, A, F and G Type Stars", Springer (2014), eds. E.
Niemczura, B. Smalley, W. Pyc
THGEM-based detectors for sampling elements in DHCAL: laboratory and beam evaluation
We report on the results of an extensive R&D program aimed at the evaluation
of Thick-Gas Electron Multipliers (THGEM) as potential active elements for
Digital Hadron Calorimetry (DHCAL). Results are presented on efficiency, pad
multiplicity and discharge probability of a 10x10 cm2 prototype detector with 1
cm2 readout pads. The detector is comprised of single- or double-THGEM
multipliers coupled to the pad electrode either directly or via a resistive
anode. Investigations employing standard discrete electronics and the KPiX
readout system have been carried out both under laboratory conditions and with
muons and pions at the CERN RD51 test beam. For detectors having a
charge-induction gap, it has been shown that even a ~6 mm thick single-THGEM
detector reached detection efficiencies above 95%, with pad-hit multiplicity of
1.1-1.2 per event; discharge probabilities were of the order of 1e-6 - 1e-5
sparks/trigger, depending on the detector structure and gain. Preliminary beam
tests with a WELL hole-structure, closed by a resistive anode, yielded
discharge probabilities of <2e-6 for an efficiency of ~95%. Methods are
presented to reduce charge-spread and pad multiplicity with resistive anodes.
The new method showed good prospects for further evaluation of very thin
THGEM-based detectors as potential active elements for DHCAL, with competitive
performances, simplicity and robustness. Further developments are in course.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, MPGD2011 conference proceedin
The s Process: Nuclear Physics, Stellar Models, Observations
Nucleosynthesis in the s process takes place in the He burning layers of low
mass AGB stars and during the He and C burning phases of massive stars. The s
process contributes about half of the element abundances between Cu and Bi in
solar system material. Depending on stellar mass and metallicity the resulting
s-abundance patterns exhibit characteristic features, which provide
comprehensive information for our understanding of the stellar life cycle and
for the chemical evolution of galaxies. The rapidly growing body of detailed
abundance observations, in particular for AGB and post-AGB stars, for objects
in binary systems, and for the very faint metal-poor population represents
exciting challenges and constraints for stellar model calculations. Based on
updated and improved nuclear physics data for the s-process reaction network,
current models are aiming at ab initio solution for the stellar physics related
to convection and mixing processes. Progress in the intimately related areas of
observations, nuclear and atomic physics, and stellar modeling is reviewed and
the corresponding interplay is illustrated by the general abundance patterns of
the elements beyond iron and by the effect of sensitive branching points along
the s-process path. The strong variations of the s-process efficiency with
metallicity bear also interesting consequences for Galactic chemical evolution.Comment: 53 pages, 20 figures, 3 tables; Reviews of Modern Physics, accepte
Tunnelling Studies of Two-Dimensional States in Semiconductors with Inverted Band Structure: Spin-orbit Splitting, Resonant Broadening
The results of tunnelling studies of the energy spectrum of two-dimensional
(2D) states in a surface quantum well in a semiconductor with inverted band
structure are presented. The energy dependence of quasimomentum of the 2D
states over a wide energy range is obtained from the analysis of tunnelling
conductivity oscillations in a quantizing magnetic field. The spin-orbit
splitting of the energy spectrum of 2D states, due to inversion asymmetry of
the surface quantum well, and the broadening of 2D states at the energies, when
they are in resonance with the heavy hole valence band, are investigated in
structures with different strength of the surface quantum well. A quantitative
analysis is carried out within the framework of the Kane model of the energy
spectrum. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the tunnelling
spectroscopy data.Comment: 29 pages, RevTeX, submitted in Phys.Rev.B. Figures available on
request from [email protected]
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