7,240 research outputs found
Space telescope observatory management system preliminary test and verification plan
The preliminary plan for the Space Telescope Observatory Management System Test and Verification (TAV) is provided. Methodology, test scenarios, test plans and procedure formats, schedules, and the TAV organization are included. Supporting information is provided
Massive binaries in the vicinity of Sgr A*
A long-term spectroscopic and photometric survey of the most luminous and
massive stars in the vicinity of the super-massive black hole Sgr A* revealed
two new binaries; a long-period Ofpe/WN9 binary, GCIRS 16NE, with a modest
eccentricity of 0.3 and a period of 224 days and an eclipsing Wolf-Rayet binary
with a period of 2.3 days. Together with the already identified binary GCIRS
16SW, there are now three confirmed OB/WR binaries in the inner 0.2\,pc of the
Galactic Center. Using radial velocity change upper limits, we were able to
constrain the spectroscopic binary fraction in the Galactic Center to at a confidence level of 95%, a massive binary
fraction similar to that observed in dense clusters. The fraction of eclipsing
binaries with photometric amplitudes is , which is consistent with local OB star clusters ().
Overall the Galactic Center binary fraction seems to be close to the binary
fraction in comparable young clusters.Comment: 5 figures, submitted to Ap
A Mathematical Model for DNA Damage and Repair
In cells, DNA repair has to keep up with DNA damage to maintain the integrity of the genome and prevent mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. While the importance of both DNA damage and repair is clear, the impact of imbalances between both processes has not been studied. In this paper, we created a combined mathematical model for the formation of DNA adducts from oxidative estrogen metabolism followed by base excision repair (BER) of these adducts. The model encompasses a set of differential equations representing the sequence of enzymatic reactions in both damage and repair pathways. By combining both pathways, we can simulate the overall process by starting from a given time-dependent concentration of 17β-estradiol (E2) and 2′-deoxyguanosine, determine the extent of adduct formation and the correction by BER required to preserve the integrity of DNA. The model allows us to examine the effect of phenotypic and genotypic factors such as different concentrations of estrogen and variant enzyme haplotypes on the formation and repair of DNA adducts
The power of monitoring stellar orbits
The center of the Milky Way hosts a massive black hole. The observational
evidence for its existence is overwhelming. The compact radio source Sgr A* has
been associated with a black hole since its discovery. In the last decade,
high-resolution, near-infrared measurements of individual stellar orbits in the
innermost region of the Galactic Center have shown that at the position of Sgr
A* a highly concentrated mass of 4 x 10^6 M_sun is located. Assuming that
general relativity is correct, the conclusion that Sgr A* is a massive black
hole is inevitable. Without doubt this is the most important application of
stellar orbits in the Galactic Center. Here, we discuss the possibilities going
beyond the mass measurement offered by monitoring these orbits. They are an
extremely useful tool for many scientific questions, such as a geometric
distance estimate to the Galactic Center or the puzzle, how these stars reached
their current orbits. Future improvements in the instrumentation will open up
the route to testing relativistic effects in the gravitational potential of the
black hole, allowing to take full advantage of this unique laboratory for
celestial mechanics.Comment: Proceedings of the Galactic Center Workshop 2009, Shangha
Fluctuations and Ergodicity of the Form Factor of Quantum Propagators and Random Unitary Matrices
We consider the spectral form factor of random unitary matrices as well as of
Floquet matrices of kicked tops. For a typical matrix the time dependence of
the form factor looks erratic; only after a local time average over a suitably
large time window does a systematic time dependence become manifest. For
matrices drawn from the circular unitary ensemble we prove ergodicity: In the
limits of large matrix dimension and large time window the local time average
has vanishingly small ensemble fluctuations and may be identified with the
ensemble average. By numerically diagonalizing Floquet matrices of kicked tops
with a globally chaotic classical limit we find the same ergodicity. As a
byproduct we find that the traces of random matrices from the circular
ensembles behave very much like independent Gaussian random numbers. Again,
Floquet matrices of chaotic tops share that universal behavior. It becomes
clear that the form factor of chaotic dynamical systems can be fully faithful
to random-matrix theory, not only in its locally time-averaged systematic time
dependence but also in its fluctuations.Comment: 12 pages, RevTEX, 4 figures in eps forma
HERschel Observations of Edge-on Spirals (HEROES). II: Tilted-ring modelling of the atomic gas disks
Context. Edge-on galaxies can offer important insights in galaxy evolution as
they are the only systems where the distribution of the different components
can be studied both radially and vertically. The HEROES project was designed to
investigate the interplay between the gas, dust, stars and dark matter (DM) in
a sample of 7 massive edge-on spiral galaxies.
Aims. In this second HEROES paper we present an analysis of the atomic gas
content of 6 out of 7 galaxies in our sample. The remaining galaxy was recently
analysed according to the same strategy. The primary aim of this work is to
constrain the surface density distribution, the rotation curve and the geometry
of the gas disks in a homogeneous way. In addition we identify peculiar
features and signs of recent interactions.
Methods. We construct detailed tilted-ring models of the atomic gas disks
based on new GMRT 21-cm observations of NGC 973 and UGC 4277 and re-reduced
archival HI data of NGC 5907, NGC 5529, IC 2531 and NGC 4217. Potential
degeneracies between different models are resolved by requiring a good
agreement with the data in various representations of the data cubes.
Results. From our modelling we find that all but one galaxy are warped along
the major axis. In addition, we identify warps along the line of sight in three
galaxies. A flaring gas layer is required to reproduce the data only for one
galaxy, but (moderate) flares cannot be ruled for the other galaxies either. A
coplanar ring-like structure is detected outside the main disk of NGC 4217,
which we suggest could be the remnant of a recent minor merger event. We also
find evidence for a radial inflow of 15 +- 5 km/s in the disk of NGC 5529,
which might be related to the ongoing interaction with two nearby companions.
(Abridged)Comment: 39 pages, 38 figures, Accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
Transport Properties of a Chain of Anharmonic Oscillators with random flip of velocities
We consider the stationary states of a chain of anharmonic coupled
oscillators, whose deterministic hamiltonian dynamics is perturbed by random
independent sign change of the velocities (a random mechanism that conserve
energy). The extremities are coupled to thermostats at different temperature
and and subject to constant forces and . If
the forces differ the center of mass of the system will
move of a speed inducing a tension gradient inside the system. Our aim is
to see the influence of the tension gradient on the thermal conductivity. We
investigate the entropy production properties of the stationary states, and we
prove the existence of the Onsager matrix defined by Green-kubo formulas
(linear response). We also prove some explicit bounds on the thermal
conductivity, depending on the temperature.Comment: Published version: J Stat Phys (2011) 145:1224-1255 DOI
10.1007/s10955-011-0385-
Correlations and the relativistic structure of the nucleon self-energy
A key point of Dirac Brueckner Hartree Fock calculations for nuclear matter
is to decompose the self energy of the nucleons into Lorentz scalar and vector
components. A new method is introduced for this decomposition. It is based on
the dependence of the single-particle energy on the small component in the
Dirac spinors used to calculate the matrix elements of the underlying NN
interaction. The resulting Dirac components of the self-energy depend on the
momentum of the nucleons. At densities around and below the nuclear matter
saturation density this momentum dependence is dominated by the non-locality of
the Brueckner G matrix. At higher densities these correlation effects are
suppressed and the momentum dependence due to the Fock exchange terms is
getting more important. Differences between symmetric nuclear matter and
neutron matter are discussed. Various versions of the Bonn potential are
considered.Comment: 18 pages LaTeX, including 6 figure
Hydrodynamical simulations of a compact source scenario for G2
The origin of the dense gas cloud G2 discovered in the Galactic Center
(Gillessen et al. 2012) is still a debated puzzle. G2 might be a diffuse cloud
or the result of an outflow from an invisible star embedded in it. We present
here detailed simulations of the evolution of winds on G2's orbit. We find that
the hydrodynamic interaction with the hot atmosphere present in the Galactic
Center and the extreme gravitational field of the supermassive black hole must
be taken in account when modeling such a source scenario. We find that the
hydrodynamic interaction with the hot atmosphere present in the Galactic Center
and the extreme gravitational field of the supermassive black hole must be
taken in account when modeling such a source scenario. We also find that in
this scenario most of the Br\gamma\ luminosity is expected to come from the
highly filamentary densest shocked wind material. G2's observational properties
can be used to constrain the properties of the outflow and our best model has a
mass outflow rate of Mdot,w=8.8 x 10^{-8} Msun/yr and a wind velocity of vw =
50 km/s. These values are compatible with those of a young TTauri star wind, as
already suggested by Scoville & Burkert (2013).Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; Proceeding of the IAU 303: "The GC: Feeding and
Feedback in a Normal Galactic Nucleus" / September 30 - October 4, 2013,
Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA
Banda Aceh-The Value of Earth Observation Data in Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction: A Case Study
On 26 December 2004, Banda Aceh in Indonesia was at the center of one of the worst natural disasters to affect mankind. Large amounts of international aid poured in to assist in the relief and reconstruction efforts. Amongst this effort, were investments in basic earth observation data from in-situ, airborne and space observations. While the use of this data is assumed to be crucial, few efforts have gone into quantifying the benefits of its acquisition.
The objectives of this study were to interview a cross-section of agencies operating in Banda Aceh and across the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam on the use, sources and quality of earth observation data in the relief/reconstruction effort; and to analyze and quantify the value that earth observation data brings to the relief/reconstruction effort based on the survey results and specific examples.
Key findings from the interviews point to an overall improvement in the spatial data situation since the tsunami. Problems identified included insufficient training, lack of timely data and sometimes poor spatial resolution. Specific examples of the cost-benefits of earth observation data were typically on the order of millions of dollars and involved large time savings.
IIASA is one of 12 partners in the European Union sponsored project "Global Earth Observation/Benefit Estimation: Now, Next and Emerging" (GEO-BENE). Additional GEO-BENE partner countries include Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Netherlands, Finland, South Africa and Japan. Within GEO-BENE we are developing methodologies and analytical tools to assess societal benefits of GEO in nine societal benefit areas- one of which is disasters. The tsunami affected province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, and specifically Banda Aceh, has been selected as a case study. Other case studies representing different societal benefit areas include: biodiversity in South Africa, health and climate in Finland, fire in Europe, etc. For more information please refer to: www.geo-bene.eu
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