31,972 research outputs found
Observationally-Motivated Analysis of Simulated Galaxies
The spatial and temporal relationships between stellar age, kinematics, and
chemistry are a fundamental tool for uncovering the physics driving galaxy
formation and evolution. Observationally, these trends are derived using
carefully selected samples isolated via the application of appropriate
magnitude, colour, and gravity selection functions of individual stars;
conversely, the analysis of chemodynamical simulations of galaxies has
traditionally been restricted to the age, metallicity, and kinematics of
`composite' stellar particles comprised of open cluster-mass simple stellar
populations. As we enter the Gaia era, it is crucial that this approach
changes, with simulations confronting data in a manner which better mimics the
methodology employed by observers. Here, we use the \textsc{SynCMD} synthetic
stellar populations tool to analyse the metallicity distribution function of a
Milky Way-like simulated galaxy, employing an apparent magnitude plus gravity
selection function similar to that employed by the RAdial Velocity Experiment
(RAVE); we compare such an observationally-motivated approach with that
traditionally adopted - i.e., spatial cuts alone - in order to illustrate the
point that how one analyses a simulation can be, in some cases, just as
important as the underlying sub-grid physics employed.Comment: Accepted for publication in PoS (Proceedings of Science): Nuclei in
the Cosmos XIII (Debrecen, Jul 2014); 6 pages; 3 figure
Imaging and quantum efficiency measurement of chromium emitters in diamond
We present direct imaging of the emission pattern of individual
chromium-based single photon emitters in diamond and measure their quantum
efficiency. By imaging the excited state transition dipole intensity
distribution in the back focal plane of high numerical aperture objective, we
determined that the emission dipole is oriented nearly orthogonal to the
diamond-air interface. Employing ion implantation techniques, the emitters were
engineered with various proximities from the diamond-air interface. By
comparing the decay rates from the single chromium emitters at different depths
in the diamond crystal, an average quantum efficiency of 28% was measured.Comment: 11 pages and 4 figure
Galactic Cannibalism: the Origin of the Magellanic Stream
We are in a privileged location in the Universe which allows us to observe
galactic interactions from close range -- the merger of our two nearest dwarf
satellite galaxies, the LMC and SMC. It is important to understand the local
merger process before we can have confidence in understanding mergers at high
redshift. We present high resolution Nbody+SPH simulations of the disruption of
the LMC and SMC and the formation of the Magellanic Stream, and discuss the
implications for galaxy formation and evolution.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, to appear in "The Evolution of Galaxies II: Basic
Building Blocks", (2002) ed. M. Sauvage et al. (Kluwer
The [?/Fe] ratios of very metal-poor stars within the integrated galactic initial mass function theory
The aim of this paper is to quantify the amplitude of the predicted plateau in [α/Fe] ratios associated with the most metal-poor stars of a galaxy. We assume that the initial mass function (IMF) in galaxies is steeper if the star formation rate (SFR) is low – as per the integrated galactic initial mass function (IGIMF) theory. A variant of the theory, in which the IGIMF depends upon the metallicity of the parent galaxy, is also considered. The IGIMF theory predicts low [α/Fe] plateaus in dwarf galaxies, characterized by small SFRs. The [α/Fe] plateau is up to 0.7 dex lower than the corresponding plateau of the Milky Way. For a universal IMF one should expect instead that the [α/Fe] plateau is the same for all the galaxies, irrespective of their masses or SFRs. Assuming a strong dependence of the IMF on the metallicity of the parent galaxy, dwarf galaxies can show values of the [α/Fe] plateau similar to those of the Milky Way, and almost independent of the SFR. The [Mg/Fe] ratios of the most metal-poor stars in dwarf galaxies satellites of the Milky Way can be reproduced either if we consider metallicity-dependent IMFs or if the early SFRs of these galaxies were larger than we presently think. Present and future observations of dwarf galaxies can help disentangle between these different IGIMF formulations
Three-body structure of the system with coupling
The structure of the three-body system, which has been observed
recently by the HypHI collaboration, is investigated taking coupling explicitly into account. The and interactions employed in
this work reproduce the binding energies of H, H
and He. We do not find any bound state, which
contradicts the interpretation of the data reported by the HypHI collaboration.Comment: To be publsihed in PRC as a Rapid communicatio
Anomalous isotopic predissociation in the F³Πu(v=1) state of O₂
Using a tunable, narrow-bandwidth vacuum-ultraviolet source based on third-harmonic generation from excimer-pumped dye-laser radiation, the F³Πu←X³Σg-(1,0)photoabsorption cross sections of ¹⁶O₂ and ¹⁸O₂ have been recorded in high resolution. Rotational analyses have been performed and the resultant F(v=1) term values fitted to the ³Π Hamiltonian of Brown and Merer [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 74, 488 (1979)]. A large rotationless isotope effect is observed in the F(v=1)predissociation, wherein the Lorentzian linewidth component for ¹⁸O₂ is a factor of ∼50 smaller than the corresponding ¹⁶O₂linewidth. This effect, a consequence of the nonadiabatic rotationless predissociation mechanism, is described using a coupled-channel treatment of the strongly Rydberg-valence-mixed 3Πu states. Significant J, e/f-parity, and sublevel dependencies observed in the isotopic F(v=1) rotational widths are found to derive from an indirect predissociation mechanism involving an accidental degeneracy with the E³Σ−u(v=3) level, itself strongly predissociated by ³Σ−u Rydberg-valence interactions, together with L-uncoupling (rotational) interactions between the Rydberg components of the F and E states. Transitions into the E(v=3) level are observed directly for the first time, specifically in the ¹⁸O₂ spectrumPartial support
was provided by an NSF International Opportunities for Scientists
and Engineers Program Grant No. INT-9513350, and
Visiting Fellowships for G.S. and J.B.W. at the Australian
National University
Properties of simulated Milky Way-mass galaxies in loose group and field environments
We test the validity of comparing simulated field disk galaxies with the
empirical properties of systems situated within environments more comparable to
loose groups, including the Milky Way's Local Group. Cosmological simulations
of Milky Way-mass galaxies have been realised in two different environment
samples: in the field and in environments with similar properties to the Local
Group. Apart from the environments of the galaxies, the samples are kept as
homogeneous as possible with equivalent ranges in last major merger time, halo
mass and halo spin. Comparison of these two samples allow for systematic
differences in the simulations to be identified. Metallicity gradients, disk
scale lengths, colours, magnitudes and age-velocity dispersion relations are
studied for each galaxy in the suite and the strength of the link between these
and environment of the galaxies is studied. The bulge-to-disk ratio of the
galaxies show that these galaxies are less spheroid dominated than many other
simulated galaxies in literature with the majority of both samples being disk
dominated. We find that secular evolution and mergers dominate the spread of
morphologies and metallicity gradients with no visible differences between the
two environment samples. In contrast with this consistency in the two samples
there is tentative evidence for a systematic difference in the velocity
dispersion-age relations of galaxies in the different environments. Loose group
galaxies appear to have more discrete steps in their velocity dispersion-age
relations. We conclude that at the current resolution of cosmological galaxy
simulations field environment galaxies are sufficiently similar to those in
loose groups to be acceptable proxies for comparison with the Milky Way
provided that a similar assembly history is considered.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, abstract abridged for arXiv. Accepted for
publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic
The Smith Cloud: HI associated with the Sgr dwarf?
The Smith high velocity cloud (V(LSR) = 98 kms) has been observed at two
locations in the emission lines [OIII]5007, [NII]6548 and H-alpha. Both the
[NII] and H-alpha profiles show bright cores due to the Reynolds layer, and red
wings with emission extending to V(LSR) = 130 kms. This is the first
simultaneous detection of two emission lines towards a high velocity cloud,
allowing us to form the ratio of these line profiles as a function of LSR
velocity. At both cloud positions, we see a clear distinction between emission
at the cloud velocity, and the Reynolds layer emission (V(LSR) = 0). The
[NII]/H-alpha ratio (=0.25) for the Reynolds layer is typical of the warm
ionised medium. At the cloud velocity, this ratio is enhanced by a factor of
3-4 compared to emission at rest with respect to the LSR. A moderately deep
upper limit at [OIII] (0.12R at 3-sigma) was derived from our data. If the
emission arises from dilute photoionisation from hot young stars, the highly
enhanced [NII]/H-alpha ratio, the [OIII] non-detection and weak H-alpha
emission (0.24-0.30R) suggest that the Smith Cloud is 26+/-4 kpc from the Sun,
at a Galactocentric radius of 20+/-4 kpc. This value assumes that the emission
arises from an optically thick slab, with a covering fraction of unity as seen
by the ionizing photons, whose orientation is either (a) parallel to the
Galactic disk, or (b) such as to maximize the received flux from the disk. The
estimated mass and size of the cloud are 4x10^6 Msun and 6 kpc. We discuss a
possible association with the much larger Sgr dwarf, at a galactocentric radius
of 16+/-2 kpc, which lies within 35 degrees (~12 kpc) of the Smith Cloud.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, mn.sty. Our first application of a new method
for establishing distances to high velocity clouds. This version matches
paper to appear in MNRAS, 299, 611-624 (Sept. 11 issue
- …