Calibration of Nebular Emission-line Diagnostics: II. Abundances

(Abridged) We examine standard methods of measuring nebular chemical abundances, including estimates based on direct T_e measurements, and also bright-line diagnostics. We use observations of 4 LMC HII regions whose ionizing stars have classifications ranging from O7 to WN3. We assume a 2-zone T_e structure to compute ionic abundances. We compare with photoionization models tailored to the properties of the individual objects, and emphasize the importance of correctly relating T_e in the two zones, which can otherwise cause errors of ~0.2 dex in abundance estimates. There are no spatial variations to within 0.1 - 0.15 dex in any of the objects, even one hosting 3 WR stars. Our data agree with the modeled R23 and S23 diagnostics of O and S. We present the first theoretical tracks for S23, which are in excellent agreement with a larger dataset. However, contrary to earlier suggestions, S23 is much more sensitive to the ionization parameter than is R23, because S23 does not sample S IV. We therefore introduce S234 = ([SII]+[SIII]+[SIV])/H-beta. Predicted and observed spatial variations in S234 are dramatically reduced in contrast to S23. The intensity of [SIV]10.5 microns is easily estimated from a simple relation between [SIV]/[SIII] and [OIII]/[OII]. This method of estimating S234 yields excellent agreement with our models, hence we give a theoretical calibration for S234. The double-valued structure of S23 and S234 remains an important problem as for R23, and presently we consider the S diagnostics reliable only at Z < 0.5 Z_sol. However, the slightly larger dynamic range and excellent compatibility with theoretical predictions suggest the S diagnostics to be more effective abundance indicators than R23.Comment: Accepted to ApJ. 24 pages, 11 figures, uses emulateapj.st

Electrometry using the quantum Hall effect in a bilayer 2D electron system

We discuss the development of a sensitive electrometer that utilizes a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in the quantum Hall regime. As a demonstration, we measure the evolution of the Landau levels in a second, nearby 2DEG as the applied perpendicular magnetic field is changed, and extract an effective mass for electrons in GaAs that agrees within experimental error with previous measurements.Comment: 3.5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to APL

Origin of the hysteresis in bilayer 2D systems in the quantum Hall regime

The hysteresis observed in the magnetoresistance of bilayer 2D systems in the quantum Hall regime is generally attributed to the long time constant for charge transfer between the 2D systems due to the very low conductivity of the quantum Hall bulk states. We report electrometry measurements of a bilayer 2D system that demonstrate that the hysteresis is instead due to non-equilibrium induced current. This finding is consistent with magnetometry and electrometry measurements of single 2D systems, and has important ramifications for understanding hysteresis in bilayer 2D systems.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figs. Accepted for publication in PR

The effect of screening long-range Coulomb interactions on the metallic behavior in two-dimensional hole systems

We have developed a technique utilizing a double quantum well heterostructure that allows us to study the effect of a nearby ground-plane on the metallic behavior in a GaAs two-dimensional hole system (2DHS) in a single sample and measurement cool-down, thereby maintaining a constant disorder potential. In contrast to recent measurements of the effect of ground-plane screening of the long-range Coulomb interaction in the insulating regime, we find surprisingly little effect on the metallic behavior when we change the distance between the 2DHS and the nearby ground-plane.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in PR

Socioeconomic inequalities in childhood exposure to secondhand smoke before and after smoke-free legislation in three UK countries

Background: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is higher among lower socioeconomic status (SES) children. Legislation restricting smoking in public places has been associated with reduced childhood SHS exposure and increased smoke-free homes. This paper examines socioeconomic patterning in these changes.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Methods: Repeated cross-sectional survey of 10 867 schoolchildren in 304 primary schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Children provided saliva for cotinine assay, completing questionnaires before and 12 months after legislation.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Results: SHS exposure was highest, and private smoking restrictions least frequently reported, among lower SES children. Proportions of saliva samples containing &lt;0.1 ng/ml (i.e. undetectable) cotinine increased from 31.0 to 41.0%. Although across the whole SES spectrum, there was no evidence of displacement of smoking into the home or increased SHS exposure, socioeconomic inequality in the likelihood of samples containing detectable levels of cotinine increased. Among children from the poorest families, 96.9% of post-legislation samples contained detectable cotinine, compared with 38.2% among the most affluent. Socioeconomic gradients at higher exposure levels remained unchanged. Among children from the poorest families, one in three samples contained &gt; 3 ng/ml cotinine. Smoking restrictions in homes and cars increased, although socioeconomic patterning remained.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Conclusions Urgent action is needed to reduce inequalities in SHS exposure. Such action should include emphasis on reducing smoking in cars and homes

Effects of Zeeman spin splitting on the modular symmetry in the quantum Hall effect

Magnetic-field-induced phase transitions in the integer quantum Hall effect are studied under the formation of paired Landau bands arising from Zeeman spin splitting. By investigating features of modular symmetry, we showed that modifications to the particle-hole transformation should be considered under the coupling between the paired Landau bands. Our study indicates that such a transformation should be modified either when the Zeeman gap is much smaller than the cyclotron gap, or when these two gaps are comparable.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

From insulator to quantum Hall liquid at low magnetic fields

We have performed low-temperature transport measurements on a GaAs two-dimensional electron system at low magnetic fields. Multiple temperature-independent points and accompanying oscillations are observed in the longitudinal resistivity between the low-field insulator and the quantum Hall (QH) liquid. Our results support the existence of an intermediate regime, where the amplitudes of magneto-oscillations can be well described by conventional Shubnikov-de Haas theory, between the low-field insulator and QH liquid.Comment: Magneto-oscillations governed by Shubnikov-de Haas theory are observed between the low-field insulator and quantum Hall liqui

Direct measurement of the spin gaps in a gated GaAs two-dimensional electron gas.

We have performed magnetotransport measurements on gated GaAs two-dimensional electron gases in which electrons are confined in a layer of the nanoscale. From the slopes of a pair of spin-split Landau levels (LLs) in the energy-magnetic field plane, we can perform direct measurements of the spin gap for different LLs. The measured g-factor g is greatly enhanced over its bulk value in GaAs (0.44) due to electron-electron (e-e) interactions. Our results suggest that both the spin gap and g determined from conventional activation energy studies can be very different from those obtained by direct measurements.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

Short range scattering effect of InAs quantum dots in the transport properties of two dimensional electron gas

Short range interaction between two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) and InAs quantum dots embedded in the GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well is investigated as a function of carrier density. At low carrier density the interaction is significantly characterized by a transport to quantum lifetime ratio of less than 5. However, with an increase in carrier density, quantum lifetime is observed to undergo a sharp transition from 0.17 to 0.25 ps. This is attributed to the screening of short range repulsive scattering due to InAs quantum dots by the 2DEG.open7