1,431 research outputs found
Energy Injection Episodes in Gamma Ray Bursts: The Light Curves and Polarization Properties of GRB 021004
Several GRB afterglow light curves deviate strongly from the power law decay
observed in most bursts. We show that these variations can be accounted for by
including refreshed shocks in the standard fireball model previously used to
interpret the overall afterglow behavior. As an example we consider GRB 021004
that exhibited strong light curve variations and has a reasonably well
time-resolved polarimetry. We show that the light curves in the R-band, X-rays
and in the radio can be accounted for by four energy injection episodes in
addition to the initial event. The polarization variations are shown to be a
consequence of the injections.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. To appear in ApJ
Energy injection episodes in GRBs: The case of GRB 021004
A number of GRB afterglow light curves deviate substantially from the power law decay observed in most bursts. These variations can be accounted for by including refreshed shocks in the standard fireball model previously used to interpret the overall afterglow behavior. We show that the light curves of GRB 021004 can be accounted for by four energy injection episodes in addition to the initial
event. The polarization variations are shown to be a consequence of the injections
Longitudinal surface structures (flowstripes) on Antarctic glaciers
Longitudinal surface structures (“flowstripes”) are common on many glaciers but their origin and significance are poorly understood. In this paper we present observations of the development of these longitudinal structures from four different Antarctic glacier systems; the Lambert Glacier/Amery Ice Shelf area, the Taylor and Ferrar Glaciers in the Ross Sea sector, Crane and Jorum Glaciers (ice-shelf tributary glaciers) on the Antarctic Peninsula, and the onset zone of a tributary to the Recovery Glacier Ice Stream in the Filchner Ice Shelf area. Mapping from optical satellite images demonstrates that longitudinal surface structures develop in two main situations: (1) as relatively wide flow stripes within glacier flow units and (2) as relatively narrow flow stripes where there is convergent flow around nunataks or at glacier confluence zones. Our observations indicate that the confluence features are narrower, sharper, and more clearly defined features. They are characterised by linear troughs or depressions on the ice surface and are much more common than the former type. Longitudinal surface structures within glacier flow units have previously been explained as the surface expression of localised bed perturbations but a universal explanation for those forming at glacier confluences is lacking. Here we propose that these features are formed at zones of ice acceleration and extensional flow at glacier confluences. We provide a schematic model for the development of longitudinal surface structures based on extensional flow that can explain their ridge and trough morphology as well as their down-ice persistence
Halley Research Station, Antarctica: calving risks and monitoring strategies
The British Antarctic Survey's Halley Research Station is located on the Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica, where it is potentially vulnerable to calving events. Existing historical records show that the Brunt Ice Shelf is currently extended further into the Weddell Sea than it was before its last large calving event, so a new calving event may be overdue. We describe three different possible future scenarios for a large-scale calving event on Brunt Ice Shelf, and conclude that the currently most threatening scenario for the Halley Research Station is a calving event on the neighbouring Stancomb–Wills Glacier Tongue, with subsequent detrimental consequences for the stability of the Brunt Ice Shelf. Based on available data, we suggest an increasing likelihood of this scenario occurring after 2020. We furthermore describe ongoing monitoring efforts aimed at giving advanced warning of an imminent calving event
A new high-precision and low-power GNSS receiver for long-term installations in remote areas
We have developed a new high-precision GNSS receiver specifically designed for long-term unattended deployments in remote areas. The receiver reports its status, and can be reprogrammed remotely, through an integrated satellite data link. It uses less power than commercially available alternatives while being equally, if not more, accurate. Data is saved locally on dual SD card slots for increased reliability. Deployments of a number those receivers in several different locations on the Antarctic Ice Sheet have shown them to robust and able to operate flawlessly at low temperatures down to −40 °C
Nonperturbative Approach to Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics
We outline a rigorous method which can be used to solve the many-body
Schroedinger equation for a Coulomb interacting electronic system in an
external classical magnetic field as well as a quantized electromagnetic field.
Effects of the geometry of the electronic system as well as the polarization of
the quantized electromagnetic field are explicitly taken into account. We
accomplish this by performing repeated truncations of many-body spaces in order
to keep the size of the many particle basis on a manageable level. The
electron-electron and electron-photon interactions are treated in a
nonperturbative manner using "exact numerical diagonalization". Our results
demonstrate that including the diamagnetic term in the photon-electron
interaction Hamiltonian drastically improves numerical convergence.
Additionally, convergence with respect to the number of photon states in the
joint photon-electron Fock space basis is fast. However, the convergence with
respect to the number of electronic states is slow and is the main bottleneck
in calculations.Comment: Revtex, pdflatex, 8 pages, with 5 included pdf figure
Luminosity Functions of Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows
Aims: Use the standard fireball model to create virtual populations of
gamma-ray burst afterglows and study their luminosity functions.
Methods: We randomly vary the parameters of the standard fireball model to
create virtual populations of afterglows. We use the luminosity of each burst
at an observer's time of 1 day to create a luminosity function and compare our
results with available observational data to assess the internal consistency of
the standard fireball model.
Results: We show that the luminosity functions can be described by a function
similar to a log normal distribution with an exponential cutoff. The function
parameters are frequency dependent but not very dependent on the model
parameter distributions used to create the virtual populations. Comparison with
observations shows that while there is good general agreement with the data, it
is difficult to explain simultaneously the X-ray and optical data. Possible
reasons for this are discussed and the most likely one is that the standard
fireball model is incomplete and that decoupling of the X-ray and optical
emission mechanism may be needed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; accepted for publication in A&
Butterfly-like spectra and collective modes of antidot superlattices in magnetic fields
We calculate the energy band structure for electrons in an external periodic
potential combined with a perpendicular magnetic field. Electron-electron
interactions are included within a Hartree approximation. The calculated energy
spectra display a considerable degree of self-similarity, just as the
``Hofstadter butterfly.'' However, screening affects the butterfly, most
importantly the bandwidths oscillate with magnetic field in a characteristic
way. We also investigate the dynamic response of the electron system in the
far-infrared (FIR) regime. Some of the peaks in the FIR absorption spectra can
be interpreted mainly in semiclassical terms, while others originate from
inter(sub)band transitions.Comment: 4 pages with 2 embeded eps figures. Uses revtex, multicol and
graphicx styles. Accepted for publication in PRB Brief Report
Tidal controls on the flow of ice streams
The flow of many Antarctic ice streams is known to be significantly influenced by tides. In the past, modeling studies have implemented the tidal forces acting on a coupled ice stream/ice shelf system in a number of different ways, but the consequences that this has on the modeled response of ice streams to tides have, until now, not been considered. Here we investigate for the first time differences in model response that are only due to differences in the way tidal forcings are implemented. We find that attempts to simplify the problem by neglecting flexural stresses are generally not valid and forcing models with only changes in ocean back pressure will not capture either the correct amplitudes or length scale
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