3,068 research outputs found
Direct Detection of Galactic Halo Dark Matter
The Milky Way Galaxy contains a large, spherical component which is believed
to harbor a substantial amount of unseen matter. Recent observations indirectly
suggest that as much as half of this ``dark matter'' may be in the form of old,
very cool white dwarfs, the remnants of an ancient population of stars as old
as the Galaxy itself. We conducted a survey to find faint, cool white dwarfs
with large space velocities, indicative of their membership in the Galaxy's
spherical halo component. The survey reveals a substantial, directly observed
population of old white dwarfs, too faint to be seen in previous surveys. This
newly discovered population accounts for at least 2% of the halo dark matter.
It provides a natural explanation for the indirect observations, and represents
a direct detection of Galactic halo dark matter.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Note added after Science Express online
publication: This text reflects the correction of a few typographical errors
in the online version of the table. It also includes the new constraint on
the calculation of d_max which accounts for the fact that the survey could
not have detected stars with proper motions below 0.33 arcseconds per year.
Published online at ScienceExpress www.sciencemag.org 22 March 2001;
10.1126/science.1059954; To appear in Science 27 April 200
Monte Carlo simulation for statistical mechanics model of ion channel cooperativity in cell membranes
Voltage-gated ion channels are key molecules for the generation and
propagation of electrical signals in excitable cell membranes. The
voltage-dependent switching of these channels between conducting and
nonconducting states is a major factor in controlling the transmembrane
voltage. In this study, a statistical mechanics model of these molecules has
been discussed on the basis of a two-dimensional spin model. A new Hamiltonian
and a new Monte Carlo simulation algorithm are introduced to simulate such a
model. It was shown that the results well match the experimental data obtained
from batrachotoxin-modified sodium channels in the squid giant axon using the
cut-open axon technique.Comment: Paper has been revise
Reflection Positivity and Monotonicity
We prove general reflection positivity results for both scalar fields and
Dirac fields on a Riemannian manifold, and comment on applications to quantum
field theory. As another application, we prove the inequality
between Dirichlet and Neumann covariance operators on a manifold with a
reflection.Comment: 11 page
Kinetic models of ion transport through a nanopore
Kinetic equations for the stationary state distribution function of ions
moving through narrow pores are solved for a number of one-dimensional models
of single ion transport. Ions move through pores of length , under the
action of a constant external field and of a concentration gradient. The
interaction of single ions with the confining pore surface and with water
molecules inside the pore are modelled by a Fokker-Planck term in the kinetic
equation, or by uncorrelated collisions with thermalizing centres distributed
along the pore. The temporary binding of ions to polar residues lining the pore
is modelled by stopping traps or energy barriers. Analytic expressions for the
stationary ion current through the pore are derived for several versions of the
model, as functions of key physical parameters. In all cases, saturation of the
current at high fields is predicted. Such simple models, for which results are
analytic, may prove useful in the study of the current/voltage relations of ion
channels through membranes
Non-Markovian Stochastic Resonance: three state model of ion channel gating
Stochastic Resonance in single voltage-dependent ion channels is investigated
within a three state non-Markovian modeling of the ion channel conformational
dynamics. In contrast to a two-state description one assumes the presence of an
additional closed state for the ion channel which mimics the manifold of
voltage-independent closed subconformations (inactivated ``state''). The
conformational transition into the open state occurs through a domain of
voltage-dependent closed subconformations (closed ``state''). At distinct
variance with a standard two-state or also three-state Markovian approach, the
inactivated state is characterized by a broad, non-exponential probability
distribution of corresponding residence times. The linear response to a
periodic voltage signal is determined for arbitrary distributions of the
channel's recovery times. Analytical results are obtained for the spectral
amplification of the applied signal and the corresponding signal-to-noise
ratio. Alternatively, these results are also derived by use of a corresponding
two-state non-Markovian theory which is based on driven integral renewal
equations [I. Goychuk and P. Hanggi, Phys. Rev. E 69, 021104 (2004)]. The
non-Markovian features of stochastic resonance are studied for a power law
distribution of the residence time-intervals in the inactivated state which
exhibits a large variance. A comparison with the case of bi-exponentially
distributed residence times possessing the same mean value, i.e. a simplest
non-Markovian two-state description, is also presented
A photometric and astrometric investigation of the brown dwarfs in Blanco 1
We present the results of a photometric and astrometric study of the low mass
stellar and substellar population of the young open cluster Blanco 1. We have
exploited J band data, obtained recently with the Wide Field Camera (WFCAM) on
the United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope (UKIRT), and 10 year old I and z band
optical imaging from CFH12k and Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), to
identify 44 candidate low mass stellar and substellar members, in an area of 2
sq. degrees, on the basis of their colours and proper motions. This sample
includes five sources which are newly discovered. We also confirm the lowest
mass candidate member of Blanco 1 unearthed so far (29MJup). We determine the
cluster mass function to have a slope of alpha=+0.93, assuming it to have a
power law form. This is high, but nearly consistent with previous studies of
the cluster (to within the errors), and also that of its much better studied
northern hemisphere analogue, the Pleiades.Comment: 8 Pages, 5 Figures, 2 Tables and 1 Appendix. Accepted for publication
in MNRA
Model atmosphere analysis of the extreme DQ white dwarf GSC2U J131147.2+292348
A new model atmosphere analysis for the peculiar DQ white dwarf discovered by
Carollo et al. (2002) is presented. The effective temperature and carbon
abundance have been estimated by fitting both the photometric data
(UBJ,VRF,IN,JHK) and a low resolution spectrum (3500<lambda<7500 A) with a new
model grid for helium-rich white dwarfs with traces of carbon (DQ stars). We
estimate Teff ~ 5120 +/- 200 K and log[C/He] ~ -5.8 +/- 0.5, which make GSC2U
J131147.2+292348 the coolest DQ star ever observed. This result indicates that
the hypothetical transition from C2 to C2H molecules around Teff = 6000 K,
which was inferred to explain the absence of DQ stars at lower temperatures,
needs to be reconsidered.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysics Letter
- …