511 research outputs found
NOAO fundamental plane survey II: Age and metallicity along the red sequence from line-strength data
We present spectroscopic line-strength data for 4097 red-sequence galaxies in 93 low-redshift galaxy clusters and use these to investigate variations in average stellar populations as a function of galaxy mass. Our analysis includes an improved treatment of nebular emission contamination, which affects 10% of the sample galaxies. Using the stellar population models of D. Thomas and collaborators, we simultaneously fit 12 observed line-strength relations in terms of common underlying trends of age, [Z/H] (total metallicity), and [/Fe] (-element enhancement). We find that the observed line-strength relations can be explained only if higher mass red-sequence galaxies are, on average, older, more metal-rich, and more -enhanced than lower mass galaxies. Quantitatively, the scaling relations are age0.59±0.13, Z/H0.53±0.08, and /Fe0.31±0.06, where the errors reflect the range obtained using different subsets of indices. Our conclusions are not strongly dependent on which Balmer lines are used as age indicators. The derived age- relation is such that if the largest (400 km s-1) galaxies formed their stars 13 Gyr ago, then the mean age of low-mass (50 km s-1) objects is only 4 Gyr. The data also suggest a large spread in age at the low-mass end of the red sequence, with 68% of the galaxies having ages between 2 and 8 Gyr. We conclude that although the stars in giant red galaxies in clusters formed early, most of the galaxies at the faint end joined the red sequence only at recent epochs. This "downsizing" trend is in good qualitative agreement with observations of the red sequence at higher redshifts but is not predicted by semianalytic models of galaxy formation
Kondo effect of non-magnetic impurities and the co-existing charge order in the cuprate superconductors
We present a theory of Kondo effect caused by an induced magnetic moment near
non-magnetic impurities such as Zn and Li in the cuprate superconductors. Based
on the co-existence of charge order and superconductivity, a natural
description of the induced moment and the resulting Kondo effect is obtained in
the framework of bond-operator theory of microscopic t-J-V Hamiltonian. The
local density of state near impurities is computed in a self-consistent
Bogoliubov-de Gennes theory which shows a low-energy peak in the middle of
superconducting gap. Our theory also suggests that the charge order can be
enhanced near impuries.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Scattering of a longitudinal wave by a circular crack in a fluid-saturated porous medium
Physical properties of many natural and man-made materials can be modelled using the concept of poroelasticity. Some porous materials, in addition to the network of pores, contain larger inhomogeneities such as inclusions, cavities, fractures or cracks. A common method of detecting such inhomogeneities is based on the use of elastic wave scattering. We consider interaction of a normally incident time-harmonic longitudinal plane wave with a circular crack imbedded in a porous medium governed by Biot's equations of dynamic poroelasticity. The problem is formulated in cylindrical co-ordinates as a system of dual integral equations for the Hankel transform of the wave field, which is then reduced to a single Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. It is found that the scattering that takes place is predominantly due to wave inducedfluid flow between the pores and the crack. The scattering magnitude depends on the size of the crack relative to the slow wave wavelength and has it's maximum value when they are of the same order
Zeeman effects on the impurity-induced resonances in d-wave superconductors
It is shown how the resonant states induced by a single spinless impurity in
a d-wave superconductor evolve under the effect of an applied Zeeman magnetic
field. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the spin-orbit coupling to the
impurity potential can have important and characteristic effects on the
resonant states and their response to the Zeeman field, especially when the
impurity is close to the unitary limit. For zero or very small spin-orbit
interaction, the resonant states becomes Zeeman splitted by the magnetic field
while when the spin-orbit coupling is important, new low-lying resonances arise
which do not show any Zeeman splitting.Comment: 5 pages with 5 eps figures embedded. To appear on Phys. Rev.
Deleting titin's C-terminal PEVK exons increases passive stiffness, alters splicing, and induces cross-sectional and longitudinal hypertrophy in skeletal muscle
The Proline, Glutamate, Valine and Lysine-rich (PEVK) region of titin constitutes an entropic spring that provides passive tension to striated muscle. To study the functional and structural repercussions of a small reduction in the size of the PEVK region, we investigated skeletal muscles of a mouse with the constitutively expressed C-terminal PEVK exons 219â225 deleted, the Ttn(Î219â225) model (MGI: Ttn(TM 2.1Mgot)). Based on this deletion, passive tension in skeletal muscle was predicted to be increased by âŒ17% (sarcomere length 3.0 ÎŒm). In contrast, measured passive tension (sarcomere length 3.0 ÎŒm) in both soleus and EDL muscles was increased 53 ± 11% and 62 ± 4%, respectively. This unexpected increase was due to changes in titin, not to alterations in the extracellular matrix, and is likely caused by co-expression of two titin isoforms in Ttn(Î219â225) muscles: a larger isoform that represents the Ttn(Î219â225) N2A titin and a smaller isoform, referred to as N2A2. N2A2 represents a splicing adaption with reduced expression of spring element exons, as determined by titin exon microarray analysis. Maximal tetanic tension was increased in Ttn(Î219â225) soleus muscle (WT 240 ± 9; Ttn(Î219â225) 276 ± 17 mN/mm2), but was reduced in EDL muscle (WT 315 ± 9; Ttn(Î219â225) 280 ± 14 mN/mm2). The changes in active tension coincided with a switch toward slow fiber types and, unexpectedly, faster kinetics of tension generation and relaxation. Functional overload (FO; ablation) and hindlimb suspension (HS; unloading) experiments were also conducted. Ttn(Î219â225) mice showed increases in both longitudinal hypertrophy (increased number of sarcomeres in series) and cross-sectional hypertrophy (increased number of sarcomeres in parallel) in response to FO and attenuated cross-sectional atrophy in response to HS. In summary, slow- and fast-twitch muscles in a mouse model devoid of titin's PEVK exons 219â225 have high passive tension, due in part to alterations elsewhere in splicing of titinâs spring region, increased kinetics of tension generation and relaxation, and altered trophic responses to both functional overload and unloading. This implicates titinâs C-terminal PEVK region in regulating passive and active muscle mechanics and muscle plasticity
Highly variable friction and slip observed at Antarctic ice stream bed
The slip of glaciers over the underlying bed is the dominant mechanism governing the migration of ice from land into the oceans, with accelerating slip contributing to sea-level rise. Yet glacier slip remains poorly understood, and observational constraints are sparse. Here we use passive seismic observations to measure both frictional shear stress and slip at the bed of the Rutford Ice Stream in Antarctica using 100,000 repetitive stick-slip icequakes. We find that basal shear stresses and slip rates vary from 104 to 107âPa and 0.2 to 1.5âm per day, respectively. Friction and slip vary temporally over the order of hours, and spatially over 10s of metres, due to corresponding variations in effective normal stress and iceâbed interface material. Our findings suggest that the bed is substantially more complex than currently assumed in ice stream models and that basal effective normal stresses may be significantly higher than previously thought. Our observations can provide constraints on the basal boundary conditions for ice-dynamics models. This is critical for constraining the primary contribution of ice mass loss in Antarctica and hence for reducing uncertainty in sea-level rise projections
Quantum optics in the phase space - A tutorial on Gaussian states
In this tutorial, we introduce the basic concepts and mathematical tools
needed for phase-space description of a very common class of states, whose
phase properties are described by Gaussian Wigner functions: the Gaussian
states. In particular, we address their manipulation, evolution and
characterization in view of their application to quantum information.Comment: Tutorial. 23 pages, 1 figure. Updated version accepted for
publication in EPJ - ST devoted to the memory of Federico Casagrand
The Evolution of Sunspot Magnetic Fields Associated with a Solar Flare
Solar flares occur due to the sudden release of energy stored in
active-region magnetic fields. To date, the pre-cursors to flaring are still
not fully understood, although there is evidence that flaring is related to
changes in the topology or complexity of an active region's magnetic field.
Here, the evolution of the magnetic field in active region NOAA 10953 was
examined using Hinode/SOT-SP data, over a period of 12 hours leading up to and
after a GOES B1.0 flare. A number of magnetic-field properties and low-order
aspects of magnetic-field topology were extracted from two flux regions that
exhibited increased Ca II H emission during the flare. Pre-flare increases in
vertical field strength, vertical current density, and inclination angle of ~
8degrees towards the vertical were observed in flux elements surrounding the
primary sunspot. The vertical field strength and current density subsequently
decreased in the post-flare state, with the inclination becoming more
horizontal by ~7degrees. This behaviour of the field vector may provide a
physical basis for future flare forecasting efforts.Comment: Accepted for Publication in Solar Physics. 16 pages, 4 figure
Spatial competition and agglomeration in the visitor attraction sector
This paper provides a theoretical and empirical contribution to understanding spatial competition by examining visitor attractions in two contrasting clusters of lower and higher levels of agglomeration of businesses in Cornwall, the UK. The study found that competition is mainly for customers and labour and is related differently to the levels of agglomeration, spatial proximity and thematic product similarity between visitor attractions at the local compared to the regional scale. Location can be used differently for employing âweakâ and âstrongâ competitive strategies. The study contributes to the knowledge on the spatiality of competition and the locational strategies of service businesses
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