2,186 research outputs found
Excitation of Na D-line radiation in collisions of sodium atoms with internally excited H2, D2, and N2
Excitation of D-line radiation in collisions of Na atoms with vibrationally excited N2, H2 and D2 was studied in two modulated crossed beam experiments. In both experiments, the vibrational excitation of the molecules was provided by heating the molecular beam source to temperatures in the range of 2000 to 3000 K, which was assumed to give populations according to the Boltzmann expression. In the first experiment, a total rate coefficient was measured as a function of molecular beam temperature, with absolute calibration of the photon detector being made using the black body radiation from the heated molecular beam source. Since heating affects both the internal energy and the collisional kinetic energy, the first experiment could not determine the relative contributions of internal energy transfer versus collisional excitation. The second experiment achieved partial separation of internal versus kinetic energy transfer effects by using a velocity-selected molecular beam. Using two simple models for the kinetic energy dependence of the transfer cross section for a given change in vibrational quantum number, the data from both experiments were used to determine parameters in the models
The population biology of the living coelacanth studied over 21 years
Between 1986 and 2009 nine submersible and
remote-operated vehicle expeditions were carried out to
study the population biology of the coelacanth Latimeria
chalumnae in the Comoro Islands, located in the western
Indian Ocean. Latimeria live in large overlapping home
ranges that can be occupied for as long as 21 years. Most
individuals are confined to relatively small home ranges,
resting in the same caves during the day. One hundred and
forty five coelacanths are individually known, and we
estimate the total population size of Grande Comore as
approximately 300–400 adult individuals. The local population
inhabiting a census area along an 8-km section of
coastline remained stable for at least 18 years. Using
LASER-assisted observations, we recorded length frequencies
between 100 and 200 cm total length and did not
encounter smaller-bodied individuals (\100 cm total
length). It appears that coelacanth recruitment in the
observation areas occur mainly by immigrating adults. We
estimate that the mean numbers of deaths and newcomers
are 3–4 individuals per year, suggesting that longevity may
exceed 100 years. The domestic fishery represents a threat
to the long-term survival of coelacanths in the study area.
Recent changes in the local fishery include a decrease in
the abundance of the un-motorized canoes associated with
exploitation of coelacanths and an increase in motorized
canoes. Exploitation rates have fallen in recent years, and
by 2000, had fallen to lowest ever reported. Finally, future
fishery developments are discussed
A Redshift Survey of Nearby Galaxy Groups: the Shape of the Mass Density Profile
We constrain the mass profile and orbital structure of nearby groups and
clusters of galaxies. Our method yields the joint probability distribution of
the density slope n, the velocity anisotropy beta, and the turnover radius r0
for these systems. The measurement technique does not use results from N-body
simulations as priors. We incorporate 2419 new redshifts in the fields of 41
systems of galaxies with z < 0.04. The new groups have median velocity
dispersion sigma=360 km/s. We also use 851 archived redshifts in the fields of
8 nearly relaxed clusters with z < 0.1. Within R < 2 r200, the data are
consistent with a single power law matter density distribution with slope n =
1.8-2.2 for systems with sigma < 470 km/s, and n = 1.6-2.0 for those with sigma
> 470 km/s (95% confidence). We show that a simple, scale-free phase space
distribution function f(E,L^2) ~ (-E)^(alpha-1/2) L^(-2 \beta) is consistent
with the data as long as the matter density has a cusp. Using this DF, matter
density profiles with constant density cores (n=0) are ruled out with better
than 99.7% confidence.Comment: 22 pages; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Turbulent Mixing in the Surface Layers of Accreting Neutron Stars
During accretion a neutron star (NS) is spun up as angular momentum is
transported through its surface layers. We study the resulting differentially
rotating profile, focusing on the impact this has for type I X-ray bursts. The
predominant viscosity is likely provided by the Tayler-Spruit dynamo. The
radial and azimuthal magnetic field components have strengths of ~10^5 G and
~10^10 G, respectively. This leads to nearly uniform rotation at the depths of
interest for X-ray bursts. A remaining small shear transmits the accreted
angular momentum inward to the NS interior. Though this shear gives little
viscous heating, it can trigger turbulent mixing. Detailed simulations will be
required to fully understand the consequences of mixing, but our models
illustrate some general features. Mixing has the greatest impact when the
buoyancy at the compositional discontinuity between accreted matter and ashes
is overcome. This occurs at high accretion rates, at low spin frequencies, or
may depend on the ashes from the previous burst. We then find two new regimes
of burning. The first is ignition in a layer containing a mixture of heavier
elements from the ashes. If ignition occurs at the base of the mixed layer,
recurrence times as short as ~5-30 minutes are possible. This may explain the
short recurrence time of some bursts, but incomplete burning is still needed to
explain these bursts' energetics. When mixing is sufficiently strong, a second
regime is found where accreted helium mixes deep enough to burn stably,
quenching X-ray bursts. We speculate that the observed change in X-ray burst
properties near one-tenth the Eddington accretion rate is from this mechanism.
The carbon-rich material produced by stable helium burning would be important
for triggering and fueling superbursts. (abridged)Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal, 16 pages, 15
figure
Anisotropic Aerogels for Studying Superfluid He
It may be possible to stabilize new superfluid phases of He with
anisotropic silica aerogels. We discuss two methods that introduce anisotropy
in the aerogel on length scales relevant to superfluid He. First,
anisotropy can be induced with uniaxial strain. A second method generates
anisotropy during the growth and drying stages. We have grown cylindrical
98% aerogels with anisotropy indicated by preferential radial shrinkage
after supercritical drying and find that this shrinkage correlates with small
angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). The growth-induced anisotropy was found to be
out of phase relative to that induced by strain. This has
implications for the possible stabilization of superfluid phases with specific
symmetry.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Quantum Fluids and Solids (QFS)
conference 200
Harvard Law School Lambda Second Annual Gay and Lesbian Legal Advocacy Conference: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Quantum kinetics and thermalization in a particle bath model
We study the dynamics of relaxation and thermalization in an exactly solvable
model of a particle interacting with a harmonic oscillator bath. Our goal is to
understand the effects of non-Markovian processes on the relaxational dynamics
and to compare the exact evolution of the distribution function with
approximate Markovian and Non-Markovian quantum kinetics. There are two
different cases that are studied in detail: i) a quasiparticle (resonance) when
the renormalized frequency of the particle is above the frequency threshold of
the bath and ii) a stable renormalized `particle' state below this threshold.
The time evolution of the occupation number for the particle is evaluated
exactly using different approaches that yield to complementary insights. The
exact solution allows us to investigate the concept of the formation time of a
quasiparticle and to study the difference between the relaxation of the
distribution of bare particles and that of quasiparticles. We derive a
non-Markovian quantum kinetic equation which resums the perturbative series and
includes off-shell effects. A Markovian approximation that includes off-shell
contributions and the usual Boltzmann equation (energy conserving) are obtained
from the quantum kinetic equation in the limit of wide separation of time
scales upon different coarse-graining assumptions. The relaxational dynamics
predicted by the non-Markovian, Markovian and Boltzmann approximations are
compared to the exact result. The Boltzmann approach is seen to fail in the
case of wide resonances and when threshold and renormalization effects are
important.Comment: 39 pages, RevTex, 14 figures (13 eps figures
A search for broad infrared recombination lines in NGC 1068
We report infrared spectroscopy of the prototypical Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC
1068, aiming at detection of broad components of hydrogen recombination lines
that originate in the obscured broad-line region. Using the Short Wavelength
Spectrometer on board the Infrared Space Observatory, we have observed for the
first time the regions of Brackett beta 2.626um and Pfund alpha 7.460um, and
present improved data for Brackett alpha 4.052um. No significant broad
components are detected, implying an equivalent visual extinction to the
broad-line region of at least 50 magnitudes and an obscuring column density of
at least 10^23 cm^-2. While consistent with a highly obscured broad-line
region, as required by the classical unified scenario, these limits are not yet
significant enough to discriminate strongly between different torus models or
to constrain properties of the gas causing the very large X-ray obscuration. We
discuss the systematic limitations of infrared broad-line region searches and
suggest that Brackett alpha may often be the most favorable transition for
future searches.Comment: aastex (V4), 4 eps figures. Accepted by Ap
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