3,021 research outputs found
Binary Blue Metal-Poor Stars: Evidence for AGB Mass Transfer
We present new abundance analyses of six blue metal-poor (BMP) stars with
very low iron abundances ([Fe/H] < -2), based on new high resolution echelle
spectra. Three are spectroscopic binaries and three have constant radial
velocities. The chemical compositions of these two groups are very different,
as the binary BMP stars have large enhancements of carbon and neutron-capture
elements that are products of s-process nucleosynthesis. One star, CS
29497-030, has an extreme enhancement of lead, [Pb/Fe] = +3.7, the largest
abundance in any star yet discovered. It probably also has an oxygen
overabundance compared to the other BMP stars of our sample. The binary BMP
stars must have attained their status via mass transfer during the asymptotic
giant branch (AGB) evolutions of their companion stars, which are now unseen
and most likely are compact objects. We have not found any examples of AGB mass
transfer among BMP binaries with [Fe/H] > -2.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figures, 7 tables; To appear in the Astrophysical Journa
Exchange current density of reversible solid oxide cell electrodes
Reversible solid oxide cells (r-SOCs) can be operated in either solid oxide fuel cell or solid oxide electrolysis cell mode. They are expected to become important in the support of renewable energy due to their high efficiency for both power generation and hydrogen generation. The exchange current density is one of the most important parameters in the quantification of electrode performance in solid oxide cells. In this study, four different fuel electrodes and two different air electrodes are fabricated using different materials and the microstructures are compared. The temperature, fuel humidification, and oxygen concentration at the air electrode are varied to obtain the apparent exchange current density for the different electrode materials. In contrast to ruthenium-and-gadolinia-doped ceria (Rh-GDC) as well as nickel-and-gadolinia-doped ceria (Ni-GDC) electrodes, significant differences in the apparent exchange current density were observed between electrolysis and fuel cell modes for the nickel-scandia-stabilized zirconia (Ni-ScSZ) cermet. Variation of gas concentration revealed that surface adsorption sites were almost completely vacant for all these electrodes. The apparent exchange current densities obtained in this study are useful as a parameter for simulation of the internal properties of r-SOCs
How Intense Policy Demanders Shape Postreform Politics: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act
The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been a politically volatile process. The ACA\u27s institutional design and delayed feedback effects created a window of opportunity for its partisan opponents to launch challenges at both the federal and state level. Yet as recent research suggests, postreform politics depends on more than policy feedback alone; rather, it is shaped by the partisan and interest-group environment. We argue that “intense policy demanders” played an important role in defining the policy alternatives that comprised congressional Republicans\u27 efforts to repeal and replace the ACA. To test this argument, we drew on an original data set of bill introductions in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2016. Our analysis suggests that business contributions and political ideology affected the likelihood that House Republicans would introduce measures repealing significant portions of the ACA. A secondary analysis shows that intense policy demanders also shaped the vote on House Republicans\u27 initial ACA replacement plan. These findings highlight the role intense policy demanders can play in shaping the postreform political agenda
Nucleon-Gold Collisions at 200 AGeV Using Tagged d+Au Interactions in PHOBOS
Forward calorimetry in the PHOBOS detector has been used to study charged
hadron production in d+Au, p+Au and n+Au collisions at sqrt(s_nn) = 200 GeV.
The forward proton calorimeter detectors are described and a procedure for
determining collision centrality with these detectors is detailed. The
deposition of energy by deuteron spectator nucleons in the forward calorimeters
is used to identify p+Au and n+Au collisions in the data. A weighted
combination of the yield of p+Au and n+Au is constructed to build a reference
for Au+Au collisions that better matches the isospin composition of the gold
nucleus. The p_T and centrality dependence of the yield of this improved
reference system is found to match that of d+Au. The shape of the charged
particle transverse momentum distribution is observed to extrapolate smoothly
from pbar+p to central d+Au as a function of the charged particle
pseudorapidity density. The asymmetry of positively- and negatively-charged
hadron production in p+Au is compared to that of n+Au. No significant asymmetry
is observed at mid-rapidity. These studies augment recent results from
experiments at the LHC and RHIC facilities to give a more complete description
of particle production in p+A and d+A collisions, essential for the
understanding the medium produced in high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions.Comment: 17 pages, 18 figure
Charged antiparticle to particle ratios near midrapidity in p+p collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV
The ratios of the yields of primary charged antiparticles to particles have
been obtained for pions, kaons, and protons near midrapidity for p+p collisions
at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. Ratios of =1.000 +/- 0.012 (stat.) +/- 0.019
(syst.), =0.93 +/- 0.05 (stat.) +/- 0.03 (syst.), and =0.85 +/-
0.04 (stat.) +/- 0.03 (syst.) have been measured. The reported values represent
the ratio of the yields averaged over the rapidity range of 0.1<y_{pi}<1.3 and
0<y_{K,p}<0.8, and for transverse momenta of 0.1<p_T^{pi,K}<1.0 GeV/c and
0.3<p_T^{p}<1.0 GeV/c. Within the uncertainties, all three ratios are
consistent with the values measured in d+Au collisions at the same energy. The
data are compared to results from other collision systems and energies.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Centrality dependence of charged antiparticle to particle ratios near mid-rapidity in d+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV
The ratios of the yields of charged antiparticles to particles have been
obtained for pions, kaons, and protons near mid-rapidity for d+Au collisions at
sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV as a function of centrality. The reported values represent
the ratio of the yields averaged over the rapidity range of 0.1<y_pi<1.3 and
0<y_(K,p)<0.8, where positive rapidity is in the deuteron direction, and for
transverse momenta 0.1<p_(T)^(pi,K)<1.0 GeV/c and 0.3<p_(T)^(p)<1.0 GeV/c.
Within the uncertainties, a lack of centrality dependence is observed in all
three ratios. The data are compared to results from other systems and model
calculations.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR
Pseudorapidity Distributions of Charged Particles in d + Au and p + p Collisions at = 200GeV
The measured pseudorapidity distributions of primary charged particles are
presented for d + Au and p + p collisions at 200 GeV
over a wide pseudorapidity range of 5.4. The results
for d + Au collisions are presented for minimum-bias events and as a function
of collision centrality. The measurements for p + p collisions are shown for
minimum-bias events. The ratio of the charged particle multiplicity in d + Au
and p + A collisions relative to that for inelastic p + p collisions is found
to depend only on , and it is remarkably independent of
collision energy and system mass. The deuteron and gold fragmentation regions
in d + Au collisions are in good agreement with proton nucleus data at lower
energies.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. To appear in the proceedings of Seventeenth
International Conference on Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions
(Quark Matter 2004), Oakland, California from January 11-17, 2004. Submitted
to Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physic
The impact of Mn nonstoichiometry on the oxygen mass transport properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnyO3±δ thin films
Oxygen mass transport in perovskite oxides is relevant for a variety of energy and information technologies. In oxide thin films, cation nonstoichiometry is often found but its impact on the oxygen transport properties is not well understood. Here, we used oxygen isotope exchange depth profile technique coupled with secondary ion mass spectrometry to study oxygen mass transport and the defect compensation mechanism of Mn-deficient La0.8Sr0.2Mn (y) O-3 +/-delta epitaxial thin films. Oxygen diffusivity and surface exchange coefficients were observed to be consistent with literature measurements and to be independent on the degree of Mn deficiency in the layers. Defect chemistry modeling, together with a collection of different experimental techniques, suggests that the Mn-deficiency is mainly compensated by the formation of La-x(Mn) antisite defects. The results highlight the importance of antisite defects in perovskite thin films for mitigating cationic nonstoichiometry effects on oxygen mass transport properties
Centrality dependence of charged hadron transverse momentum spectra in d+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV
We have measured transverse momentum distributions of charged hadrons
produced in d+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. The spectra were obtained
for transverse momenta 0.25 < p_T < 6.0 GeV/c, in a pseudorapidity range of 0.2
< eta < 1.4 in the deuteron direction. The evolution of the spectra with
collision centrality is presented in comparison to p+pbarcollisions at the same
collision energy. With increasing centrality, the yield at high transverse
momenta increases more rapidly than the overall particle density, leading to a
strong modification of the spectral shape. This change in spectral shape is
qualitatively different from observations in Au+Au collisions at the same
energy. The results provide important information for discriminating between
different models for the suppression of high-p_T hadrons observed in Au+Au
collisions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR
- …