New N=1 Extended Superconformal Algebras with Two and Three Generators

In this paper we consider extensions of the super Virasoro algebra by one and two super primary fields. Using a non-explicitly covariant approach we compute all SW-algebras with one generator of dimension up to 7 in addition to the super Virasoro field. In complete analogy to W-algebras with two generators most results can be classified using the representation theory of the super Virasoro algebra. Furthermore, we find that the SW(3/2, 11/2)-algebra can be realized as a subalgebra of SW(3/2, 5/2) at c = 10/7. We also construct some new SW-algebras with three generators, namely SW(3/2, 3/2, 5/2), SW(3/2, 2, 2) and SW(3/2, 2, 5/2).Comment: 30 pages (Plain TeX), BONN-HE-92-0

Large-scale structure formation for power spectra with broken scale invariance

We have simulated the formation of large-scale structure arising from COBE-normalized spectra computed by convolving a primordial double-inflation perturbation spectrum with the CDM transfer function. Due to the broken scale invariance ('BSI') characterizing the primordial perturbation spectrum, this model has less small-scale power than the (COBE-normalized) standard CDM model. The particle-mesh code (with $512^3$ cells and $256^3$ particles) includes a model for thermodynamic evolution of baryons in addition to the usual gravitational dynamics of dark matter. It provides an estimate of the local gas temperature. In particular, our galaxy-finding procedure seeks peaks in the distribution of gas that has cooled. It exploits the fact that ``cold" particles trace visible matter better than average and thus provides a natural biasing mechanism. The basic picture of large-scale structure formation in the BSI model is the familiar hierarchical clustering scenario. We obtain particle in cell statistics, the galaxy correlation function, the cluster abundance and the cluster-cluster correlation function and statistics for large and small scale velocity fields. We also report here on a semi-quantitative study of the distribution of gas in different temperature ranges. Based on confrontation with observations and comparison with standard CDM, we conclude that the BSI scenario could represent a promising modification of the CDM picture capable of describing many details of large-scale structure formation.Comment: 15 pages, Latex using mn.sty, uuencoded compressed ps-file with 15 figures by anonymous ftp to ftp://ftp.aip.de/incoming/mueller/bsi.u

Towards a Stable Numerical Evolution of Strongly Gravitating Systems in General Relativity: The Conformal Treatments

We study the stability of three-dimensional numerical evolutions of the Einstein equations, comparing the standard ADM formulation to variations on a family of formulations that separate out the conformal and traceless parts of the system. We develop an implementation of the conformal-traceless (CT) approach that has improved stability properties in evolving weak and strong gravitational fields, and for both vacuum and spacetimes with active coupling to matter sources. Cases studied include weak and strong gravitational wave packets, black holes, boson stars and neutron stars. We show under what conditions the CT approach gives better results in 3D numerical evolutions compared to the ADM formulation. In particular, we show that our implementation of the CT approach gives more long term stable evolutions than ADM in all the cases studied, but is less accurate in the short term for the range of resolutions used in our 3D simulations.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures. Small changes in the text, and a change in the list of authors. One new reference adde

SN1997cy/GRB970514 - A New Piece in the GRB Puzzle?

We present observations of SN1997cy, a supernova discovered as part of the Mount Stromlo Abell Cluster SN Search, which does not easily fit into the traditional classification scheme for supernovae. This object's extraordinary optical properties and coincidence with GRB970514, a short duration gamma ray burst, suggest a second case, after SN1998bw/GRB980425, for a SN-GRB association. SN1997cy is among the most luminous SNe yet discovered and has a peculiar spectrum. We present evidence that SN1997cy ejected approximately 2 solar masses of 56Ni, supported by its late-time light curve, and FeII/[FeIII] lines in its spectrum, although it is possible that both these observations can be explained via circumstellar interaction. While SN1998bw and SN1997cy appear to be very different objects with respect to both their gamma ray and optical properties, SN1997cy and the optical transient associated with GRB970508 have roughly similar late-time optical behavior. This similarity may indicate that the late-time optical output of these two intrinsically bright transient events have a common physical process. Although the connection between GRB970514 and SN1997cy is suggestive, it is not conclusive. However, if this association is real, followup of short duration GRBs detected with BATSE or HETE2 should reveal objects similar to SN1997cy.Comment: 26 pages including 6 postscript figures and 3 tables. Submitted to ApJ. Re-calibrated photometry - objects are about 0.3mags brighter than in original versio

Ionospheric conductances derived from satellite measurements of auroral UV and X-ray emissions, and ground-based electromagnetic data: a comparison

International audienceGlobal instantaneous conductance maps can be derived from remote sensing of UV and X-ray emissions by the UVI and PIXIE cameras on board the Polar satellite. Another technique called the 1-D method of characteristics provides mesoscale instantaneous conductance profiles from the MIRACLE ground-based network in Northern Scandinavia, using electric field measurements from the STARE coherent scatter radar and ground magnetometer data from the IMAGE network. The method based on UVI and PIXIE data gives conductance maps with a resolution of ~800km in space and ~4.5min in time, while the 1-D method of characteristics establishes conductances every 20s and with a spatial resolution of ~50km. In this study, we examine three periods with substorm activity in 1998 to investigate whether the two techniques converge when the results from the 1-D method of characteristics are averaged over the spatial and temporal resolution of the UVI/PIXIE data. In general, we find that the calculated conductance sets do not correlate. However, a fairly good agreement may be reached when the ionosphere is in a state that does not exhibit strong local turbulence. By defining a certain tolerance level of turbulence, we show that 14 of the 15 calculated conductance pairs during relatively uniform ionospheric conditions differ less than ±30%. The same is true for only 4 of the 9 data points derived when the ionosphere is in a highly turbulent state. A correlation coefficient between the two conductance sets of 0.27 is derived when all the measurements are included. By removing the data points from time periods when too much ionospheric turbulence occurs, the correlation coefficient raises to 0.57. Considering the two very different techniques used in this study to derive the conductances, with different assumptions, limitations and scale sizes, our results indicate that simple averaging of mesoscale results allows a continuous transition to large-scale results. Therefore, it is possible to use a combined approach to study ionospheric events with satellite optical and ground-based electrodynamic data of different spatial and temporal resolutions. We must be careful, though, when using these two techniques during disturbed conditions. The two methods will only give results that systematically converge when relatively uniform conditions exist

Instantaneous ionospheric global conductance maps during an isolated substorm

International audienceData from the Polar Ionospheric X-ray Imager (PIXIE) and the Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) on board the Polar satellite have been used to provide instantaneous global conductance maps. In this study, we focus on an isolated substorm event occurring on 31 July 1997. From the PIXIE and the UVI measurements, the energy spectrum of the precipitating electrons can be derived. By using a model of the upper atmosphere, the resulting conductivity values are generated. We present global maps of how the 5 min time-averaged height-integrated Hall and Pedersen conductivities vary every 15 min during this isolated substorm. The method presented here enables us to study the time development of the conductivities, with a spatial resolution of ~ 700 km. During the substorm, a single region of enhanced Hall conductance is observed. The Hall conductance maximum remains situated between latitudes 64 and 70 corrected geomagnetic (CGM) degrees and moves eastward. The strongest conductances are observed in the pre-midnight sector at the start of the substorm expansion. Toward the end of the substorm expansion and into the recovery phase, we find the Hall conductance maximum in the dawn region. We also observe that the Hall to Pedersen conductance ratio for the regions of maximum Hall conductance is increasing throughout the event, indicating a hardening of the electron spectrum. By combining PIXIE and UVI measurements with an assumed energy distribution, we can cover the whole electron energy range responsible for the conductances. Electrons with energies contributing most to the Pedersen conductance are well covered by UVI while PIXIE captures the high energetic component of the precipitating electrons affecting the Hall conductance. Most statistical conductance models have derived conductivities from electron precipitation data below approximately 30 keV. Since the intensity of the shortest UVI-wavelengths (LBHS) decreases significantly at higher electron energies, the UVI electron energy range is more or less comparable with the energy ranges of the statistical models. By calculating the conductivities from combined PIXIE and UVI measurements to compare with the conductivities from using UVI data only, we observe significant differences in the Hall conductance. The greatest differences are observed in the early evening and the late morning sector. We therefore suggest that the existing statistical models underestimate the Hall conductance