45,964 research outputs found
Searching for sub-millisecond pulsars from highly polarized radio sources
Pulsars are among the most highly polarized sources in the universe. The NVSS
has catalogued 2 million radio sources with linear polarization measurements,
from which we have selected 253 sources, with polarization percentage greater
than 25%, as targets for pulsar searches. We believe that such a sample is not
biased by selection effects against ultra-short spin or orbit periods. Using
the Parkes 64m telescope, we conducted searches with sample intervals of 0.05
ms and 0.08 ms, sensitive to submillisecond pulsars. Unfortunately we did not
find any new pulsars.Comment: 2 pages 1 figure. To appear in "Young Neutron Stars and Their
Environments" (IAU Symposium 218, ASP Conference Proceedings), eds F. Camilo
and B. M. Gaensle
Probing Exotic Physics With Cosmic Neutrinos
Traditionally, collider experiments have been the primary tool used in
searching for particle physics beyond the Standard Model. In this talk, I will
discuss alternative approaches for exploring exotic physics scenarios using
high energy and ultra-high energy cosmic neutrinos. Such neutrinos can be used
to study interactions at energies higher, and over baselines longer, than those
accessible to colliders. In this way, neutrino astronomy can provide a window
into fundamental physics which is highly complementary to collider techniques.
I will discuss the role of neutrino astronomy in fundamental physics,
considering the use of such techniques in studying several specific scenarios
including low scale gravity models, Standard Model electroweak instanton
induced interactions, decaying neutrinos and quantum decoherence.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures; For the proceedings of From Colliders To Cosmic
Rays, Prague, Czech Republic, September 7-13, 200
Nagy-Soper subtraction scheme for multiparton final states
In this work, we present the extension of an alternative subtraction scheme
for next-to-leading order QCD calculations to the case of an arbitrary number
of massless final-state partons. The scheme is based on the splitting kernels
of an improved parton shower and comes with a reduced number of final state
momentum mappings. While a previous publication including the setup of the
scheme has been restricted to cases with maximally two massless partons in the
final state, we here provide the final state real emission and integrated
subtraction terms for processes with any number of massless partons. We apply
our scheme to three jet production at lepton colliders at next-to-leading order
and present results for the differential C parameter distribution.Comment: 45 pages, 5 figures v2: several references added; v3: title changed,
references and a discussion of further scaling improvement added. Corresponds
to published journal versio
An improved solar wind electron-density model for pulsar timing
Variations in the solar wind density introduce variable delays into pulsar
timing observations. Current pulsar timing analysis programs only implement
simple models of the solar wind, which not only limit the timing accuracy, but
can also affect measurements of pulsar rotational, astrometric and orbital
parameters. We describe a new model of the solar wind electron density content
which uses observations from the Wilcox Solar Observatory of the solar magnetic
field. We have implemented this model into the tempo2 pulsar timing package. We
show that this model is more accurate than previous models and that these
corrections are necessary for high precision pulsar timing applications.Comment: Accepted by ApJ, 13 pages, 4 figure
Spin-Kick Correlation in Neutron Stars: Alignment Conditions and Implications
Recent observations of pulsar wind nebulae and radio polarization profiles
revealed a tendency of the alignment between the spin and velocity directions
in neutron stars. We study the condition for spin-kick alignment using a toy
model, in which the kick consists of many off-centered, randomly-oriented
thrusts. Both analytical considerations and numerical simulations indicate that
spin-kick alignment cannot be easily achieved if the proto-neutron star does
not possess some initial angular momentum, contrary to some previous claims. To
obtain the observed spin-kick misalignment angle distribution, the initial spin
period of the neutron star must be smaller than the kick timescale. Typically,
an initial period of a hundred milliseconds or less is required.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures. Accepted by Ap
Shock compression and spallation of single crystal tantalum
We present molecular dynamics simulations of shock-induced plasticity and spall damage in single crystal Ta described by a recently developed embedded-atom-method (EAM) potential and a volumedependent qEAM potential. We use impact or Hugoniotstat simulations to investigate the Hugoniots, deformation and spallation. Both EAM and qEAM are accurate in predicting, e.g., the Hugoniots and γ - surfaces. Deformation and spall damage are anisotropic for Ta single crystals. Our preliminary results show that twinning is dominant for [100] and [110] shock loading, and dislocation, for [111]. Spallation initiates with void nucleation at defective sites from remnant compressional deformation or tensile plasticity. Spall strength decreases with increasing shock strength, while its rate dependence remains to be explored
Circular polarization in pulsar integrated profiles
We present a systematic study of the circular polarization in pulsar
integrated profiles, based on published polarization data. For core components,
we find no significant correlation between the sense-change of circular
polarization and the sense of linear position angle variation. Circular
polarization is not restricted to core components and, in some cases, reversals
of circular polarization sense are observed across the conal emission. In conal
double profiles, the sense of circular polarization is found to be correlated
with the sense of position-angle variation. Pulsars with a high degree of
linear polarization often have one hand of circular polarization across the
whole profile. For most pulsars, the sign of circular polarization is the same
at 50-cm and 20-cm wavelength, and the degree of polarization is similar,
albeit with a wide scatter. However, at least two cases of frequency-dependent
sign reversals are known. This diverse behaviour may require more than one
mechanism to generate circular polarization.Comment: Will apear in MNRAS. 15 pages, 9 figures. One big table. 1.6MB PS
file: ftp://ftp.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/user/jhan/PS/98HMXQ_MN.p
Polarization observations of nine southern millisecond pulsars
Mean pulse profiles and polarization properties are presented for nine
southern pulsars. The observations were made using the Parkes radio telescope
at frequencies near 1330 MHz; three of the nine pulsars were also observed at
660 MHz. A very high degree of circular polarization was observed in PSR
J1603-7202. Complex position angle variations which are not well described by
the rotating-vector model were observed in PSRs J2124-3358 and J2145-0750, both
of which have very wide profiles. Rotation measures were obtained for all nine
pulsars, with two implying relatively strong interstellar magnetic fields.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figs, accepted by Ap
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