23 research outputs found
Forbidden transitions in the helium atom
Nonrelativistically forbidden, single-photon transition rates between low
lying states of the helium atom are rigorously derived within quantum
electrodynamics theory. Equivalence of velocity and length gauges, including
relativistic corrections is explicitly demonstrated. Numerical calculations of
matrix elements are performed with the use of high precision variational wave
functions and compared to former results.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Phys. Rev.
A Far-Ultraviolet View of Starburst Galaxies
Recent observational and theoretical results on starburst galaxies related to
the wavelength regime below 1200 A are discussed. The review covers stars,
dust, as well as hot and cold gas. This wavelength region follows trends
similar to those seen at longer wavelengths, with several notable exceptions.
Even the youngest stellar populations show a turn-over in their spectral energy
distributions, and line-blanketing is much more pronounced. Furthermore, the O
VI line allows one to probe gas at higher temperatures than possible with lines
at longer wavelengths. Molecular hydrogen lines (if detected) provide a glimpse
of the cold phase. I cover the crucial wavelength regime below 912 A and the
implications of recent attempts to detect the escaping ionizing radiation.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, Invited Talk, Starbursts--From 30 Doradus to
Lyman-Break Galaxies, ed. R. de Grijs & R. M. Gonzalez Delgado (Dordrecht:
Kluwer
UV and EUV Instruments
We describe telescopes and instruments that were developed and used for
astronomical research in the ultraviolet (UV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV)
regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The wavelength ranges covered by these
bands are not uniquely defined. We use the following convention here: The EUV
and UV span the regions ~100-912 and 912-3000 Angstroem respectively. The
limitation between both ranges is a natural choice, because the hydrogen Lyman
absorption edge is located at 912 Angstroem. At smaller wavelengths,
astronomical sources are strongly absorbed by the interstellar medium. It also
marks a technical limit, because telescopes and instruments are of different
design. In the EUV range, the technology is strongly related to that utilized
in X-ray astronomy, while in the UV range the instruments in many cases have
their roots in optical astronomy. We will, therefore, describe the UV and EUV
instruments in appropriate conciseness and refer to the respective chapters of
this volume for more technical details.Comment: To appear in: Landolt-Boernstein, New Series VI/4A, Astronomy,
Astrophysics, and Cosmology; Instruments and Methods, ed. J.E. Truemper,
Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 201
What Physical Processes Drive the Interstellar Medium in the Local Bubble?
Recent 3D high-resolution simulations of the interstellar medium in a star form-
ing galaxy like the Milky Way show that supernova explosions are the main driver of the
structure and evolution of the gas. Its physical state is largely controlled by turbulence due
to the high Reynolds numbers of the average flows. For a constant supernova rate a dynam-
ical equilibrium is established within 200 Myr of simulation as a consequence of the setup
of a galactic fountain. The resulting interstellar medium reveals a typical density/pressure
pattern, i.e. distribution of so-called gas phases, on scales of 500â700 pc, with interstellar
bubbles being a common phenomenon just like the Local Bubble and the Loop I superbub-
ble, which are assumed to be interacting. However, modeling the Local Bubble is special,
because it is driven by a moving group, passing through its volume, as it is inferred from
the analysis of Hipparcos data. A detailed analysis reveals that between 14 and 19 super-
novae have exploded during the last 15 Myr. The age of the Local Bubble is derived from
comparison with HI and UV absorption line data to be 14.5±0.7
Myr. We further predict the
0.4merging of the two bubbles in about 3 Myr from now, when the interaction shell starts to
fragment. The Local Cloud and its companion HI clouds are the consequence of a dynamical
instability in the interaction shell between the Local and the Loop I bubble
FUV and X-ray absorption in the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium
The Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM) arises from shock-heated gas
collapsing in large-scale filaments and probably harbours a substantial
fraction of the baryons in the local Universe. Absorption-line measurements in
the ultraviolet (UV) and in the X-ray band currently represent the best method
to study the WHIM at low redshifts. We here describe the physical properties of
the WHIM and the concepts behind WHIM absorption line measurements of H I and
high ions such as O VI, O VII, and O VIII in the far-ultraviolet and X-ray
band. We review results of recent WHIM absorption line studies carried out with
UV and X-ray satellites such as FUSE, HST, Chandra, and XMM-Newton and discuss
their implications for our knowledge of the WHIM.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Space Science
Reviews, special issue "Clusters of galaxies: beyond the thermal view",
Editor J.S. Kaastra, Chapter 3; work done by an international team at the
International Space Science Institute (ISSI), Bern, organised by J.S.
Kaastra, A.M. Bykov, S. Schindler & J.A.M. Bleeke
Baryons: What, When and Where?
We review the current state of empirical knowledge of the total budget of
baryonic matter in the Universe as observed since the epoch of reionization.
Our summary examines on three milestone redshifts since the reionization of H
in the IGM, z = 3, 1, and 0, with emphasis on the endpoints. We review the
observational techniques used to discover and characterize the phases of
baryons. In the spirit of the meeting, the level is aimed at a diverse and
non-expert audience and additional attention is given to describe how space
missions expected to launch within the next decade will impact this scientific
field.Comment: Proceedings Review for "Astrophysics in the Next Decade: JWST and
Concurrent Facilities", ed. X. Tielens, 38 pages, 10 color figures. Revised
to address comments from the communit
THE Cu I AND Zn I-LIKE SPECTRA OF Pr, Eu, Gd, Dy AND Yb EMITTED BY A TOKAMAK PLASMA IN THE 50-200 Ă RANGE
Spectra of rare earth elements, praseodymium, europium, gadolinium, dysprosium and ytterbium (Z=59 to Z=70) have been recorded from a high temperature (Te=1-1 .4 keV) - low density (ne =1013cm-3) tokamak plasma, in the 50-200 Ă
range. The absolute brightnesses of the lines originating in 4-4 transitions of Cu I and Zn I-like ions of the above mentioned elements have been measured by means of a photometrically calibrated grazing incidence spectrometer. Newly identified Cu I-like, 4s 2S1/2 -4p 2P1/2 transitions in Pr3 0+, Eu3 4+ , Gd3 5+ , Dy3 7+ and Yb4 1 , and intercombination transitions 4s2 1So-4s4p 3P1 in the Zn I-like ions of the mentioned elements are presented. The identifications are based on interpolation of previous experimental results, ab initio energy level computations using the RELAC code and are substantiated by the time histories of individual spectral lines. The experimental line intensities of the Cu Iand Zn I-like ions are compared with those predicted by a collisional-radiative model under the conditions of the tokamak plasma