7,714 research outputs found
Where does galactic dust come from?
Here we investigate the origin of the dust mass (Mdust) observed in the Milky Way (MW) and of dust scaling relations found in a sample of local galaxies from the DGS and KINGFISH surveys. To this aim, we model dust production from Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars and supernovae (SNe) in simulated galaxies forming along the assembly of aMW-like halo in a well-resolved cosmic volume of 4 cMpc using the GAMESH pipeline. We explore the impact of different sets of metallicity and mass-dependent AGB and SN dust yields on the predicted Mdust. Our results show that models accounting for grain destruction by the SN reverse shock predict a total dust mass in the MW, that is a factor of ~4 less than observed, and cannot reproduce the observed galaxy-scale relations between dust and stellar masses, and dust-togas ratios and metallicity, with a smaller discrepancy in galaxies with low metallicity (12 + log(O/H) < 7.5) and low stellar masses (Mstar < 107 M⊙). In agreement with previous studies, we suggest that competing processes in the interstellar medium must be at play to explain the observed trends. Our result reinforces this conclusion by showing that it holds independently of the adopted AGB and SN dust yields
Optical and X-ray Observations of the Afterglow to XRF030723
The X-ray-flash XRF030723 was detected by the HETE satellite and rapidly
disseminated, allowing for an optical transient to be detected ~1 day after the
burst. We discuss observations in the optical with Magellan, which confirmed
the fade of the optical transient. In a 2-epoch ToO observation with Chandra,
we discovered a fading X-ray source spatially coincident with the optical
transient. We present spectral fits to the X-ray data. We also discuss the
possibility that the source underwent a rebrightening in the X-rays, as was
observed in the optical. We find that the significance of a possible
rebrightening is very low (~1 sigma).Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Santa Fe GRB Conference Proceedings,
200
Proton imaging of stochastic magnetic fields
Recent laser-plasma experiments report the existence of dynamically
significant magnetic fields, whose statistical characterisation is essential
for understanding the physical processes these experiments are attempting to
investigate. In this paper, we show how a proton imaging diagnostic can be used
to determine a range of relevant magnetic field statistics, including the
magnetic-energy spectrum. To achieve this goal, we explore the properties of an
analytic relation between a stochastic magnetic field and the image-flux
distribution created upon imaging that field. We conclude that features of the
beam's final image-flux distribution often display a universal character
determined by a single, field-scale dependent parameter - the contrast
parameter - which quantifies the relative size of the correlation length of the
stochastic field, proton displacements due to magnetic deflections, and the
image magnification. For stochastic magnetic fields, we establish the existence
of four contrast regimes - linear, nonlinear injective, caustic and diffusive -
under which proton-flux images relate to their parent fields in a qualitatively
distinct manner. As a consequence, it is demonstrated that in the linear or
nonlinear injective regimes, the path-integrated magnetic field experienced by
the beam can be extracted uniquely, as can the magnetic-energy spectrum under a
further statistical assumption of isotropy. This is no longer the case in the
caustic or diffusive regimes. We also discuss complications to the
contrast-regime characterisation arising for inhomogeneous, multi-scale
stochastic fields, as well as limitations currently placed by experimental
capabilities on extracting magnetic field statistics. The results presented in
this paper provide a comprehensive description of proton images of stochastic
magnetic fields, with applications for improved analysis of given proton-flux
images.Comment: Main paper pp. 1-29; appendices pp. 30-84. 24 figures, 2 table
STOCHASTIC DYNAMICS OF LARGE-SCALE INFLATION IN DE~SITTER SPACE
In this paper we derive exact quantum Langevin equations for stochastic
dynamics of large-scale inflation in de~Sitter space. These quantum Langevin
equations are the equivalent of the Wigner equation and are described by a
system of stochastic differential equations. We present a formula for the
calculation of the expectation value of a quantum operator whose Weyl symbol is
a function of the large-scale inflation scalar field and its time derivative.
The unique solution is obtained for the Cauchy problem for the Wigner equation
for large-scale inflation. The stationary solution for the Wigner equation is
found for an arbitrary potential. It is shown that the large-scale inflation
scalar field in de Sitter space behaves as a quantum one-dimensional
dissipative system, which supports the earlier results. But the analogy with a
one-dimensional model of the quantum linearly damped anharmonic oscillator is
not complete: the difference arises from the new time dependent commutation
relation for the large-scale field and its time derivative. It is found that,
for the large-scale inflation scalar field the large time asymptotics is equal
to the `classical limit'. For the large time limit the quantum Langevin
equations are just the classical stochastic Langevin equations (only the
stationary state is defined by the quantum field theory).Comment: 21 pages RevTex preprint styl
Statistical Analysis of Spectral Line Candidates in Gamma-Ray Burst GRB870303
The Ginga data for the gamma-ray burst GRB870303 exhibit low-energy dips in
two temporally distinct spectra, denoted S1 and S2. S1, spanning 4 s, exhibits
a single line candidate at ~ 20 keV, while S2, spanning 9 s, exhibits
apparently harmonically spaced line candidates at ~ 20 and 40 keV. We evaluate
the statistical evidence for these lines, using phenomenological continuum and
line models which in their details are independent of the distance scale to
gamma-ray bursts. We employ the methodologies based on both frequentist and
Bayesian statistical inference that we develop in Freeman et al. (1999b). These
methodologies utilize the information present in the data to select the
simplest model that adequately describes the data from among a wide range of
continuum and continuum-plus-line(s) models. This ensures that the chosen model
does not include free parameters that the data deem unnecessary and that would
act to reduce the frequentist significance and Bayesian odds of the
continuum-plus-line(s) model. We calculate the significance of the
continuum-plus-line(s) models using the Chi-Square Maximum Likelihood Ratio
test. We describe a parametrization of the exponentiated Gaussian absorption
line shape that makes the probability surface in parameter space
better-behaved, allowing us to estimate analytically the Bayesian odds. The
significance of the continuum-plus-line models requested by the S1 and S2 data
are 3.6 x 10^-5 and 1.7 x 10^-4 respectively, with the odds favoring them being
114:1 and 7:1. We also apply our methodology to the combined (S1+S2) data. The
significance of the continuum-plus-lines model requested by the combined data
is 4.2 x 10^-8, with the odds favoring it being 40,300:1.Comment: LaTeX2e (aastex.cls included); 41 pages text, 10 figures (on 11
pages); accepted by ApJ (to be published 1 Nov 1999, v. 525
A Logical Modeling of Severe Ignorance
In the logical context, ignorance is traditionally defined recurring to epistemic logic. In particular, ignorance is essentially interpreted as “lack of knowledge”. This received view has - as we point out - some problems, in particular we will highlight how it does not allow to express a type of content-theoretic ignorance, i.e. an ignorance of φ that stems from an unfamiliarity with its meaning. Contrarily to this trend, in this paper, we introduce and investigate a modal logic having a primitive epistemic operator I, modeling ignorance. Our modal logic is essentially constructed on the modal logics based on weak Kleene three-valued logic introduced by Segerberg (Theoria, 33(1):53–71, 1997). Such non-classical propositional basis allows to define a Kripke-style semantics with the following, very intuitive, interpretation: a formula φ is ignored by an agent if φ is neither true nor false in every world accessible to the agent. As a consequence of this choice, we obtain a type of content-theoretic notion of ignorance, which is essentially different from the traditional approach. We dub it severe ignorance. We axiomatize, prove completeness and decidability for the logic of reflexive (three-valued) Kripke frames, which we find the most suitable candidate for our novel proposal and, finally, compare our approach with the most traditional one
Early Maladaptive Schemas among children: a new way to screen for depressed child
How can children’s schemas evolve into adult schemas that are responsible for depression? To answer
this question, we translated Schmidt, Joiner, Young, and Telch’s (1995) Early Maladaptive Schema
Questionnaire into French and adapted it to children. We administered the questionnaire to two groups
of children in years seven to ten (N = 252), one group containing children suffering from depression
and the other containing children with no psychiatric disorders. The results provided insight into the
structure of depression schemas. From a clinical perspective, we stress the possibility of using this
tool to individually or collectively detect «normal» and «abnormal» schemas in children
Early maladaptive schemas among children: a new way to screen for depressed child
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