Chemical Abundances of the Milky Way Thick Disk and Stellar Halo I.: Implications of [alpha/Fe] for Star Formation Histories in Their Progenitors

We present the abundance analysis of 97 nearby metal-poor (-3.3<[Fe/H]<-0.5) stars having kinematics characteristics of the Milky Way (MW) thick disk, inner, and outer stellar halos. The high-resolution, high-signal-to-noise optical spectra for the sample stars have been obtained with the High Dispersion Spectrograph mounted on the Subaru Telescope. Abundances of Fe, Mg, Si, Ca and Ti have been derived using a one-dimensional LTE abundance analysis code with Kurucz NEWODF model atmospheres. By assigning membership of the sample stars to the thick disk, inner or outer halo components based on their orbital parameters, we examine abundance ratios as a function of [Fe/H] and kinematics for the three subsamples in wide metallicity and orbital parameter ranges. We show that, in the metallicity range of -1.5<[Fe/H]<= -0.5, the thick disk stars show constantly high mean [Mg/Fe] and [Si/Fe] ratios with small scatter. In contrast, the inner, and the outer halo stars show lower mean values of these abundance ratios with larger scatter. The [Mg/Fe], [Si/Fe] and [Ca/Fe] for the inner and the outer halo stars also show weak decreasing trends with [Fe/H] in the range [Fe/H]$>-2$. These results favor the scenarios that the MW thick disk formed through rapid chemical enrichment primarily through Type II supernovae of massive stars, while the stellar halo has formed at least in part via accretion of progenitor stellar systems having been chemically enriched with different timescales.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Ferromagnetic Quantum Critical Fluctuations and Anomalous Coexistence of Ferromagnetism and Superconductivity in UCoGe Revealed by Co-NMR and NQR Studies

Co nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) studies were performed in the recently discovered UCoGe, in which the ferromagnetic and superconducting (SC) transitions were reported to occur at $T_{\rm Curie} \sim 3$ K and $T_S \sim 0.8$ K (N. T. Huy {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 99} (2007) 067006), in order to investigate the coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity as well as the normal-state and SC properties from a microscopic point of view. From the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ and Knight-shift measurements, we confirmed that ferromagnetic fluctuations which possess a quantum critical character are present above $T_{\rm Curie}$ and the occurrence of ferromagnetic transition at 2.5 K in our polycrystalline sample. The magnetic fluctuations in the normal state show that UCoGe is an itinerant ferromagnet similar to ZrZn$_2$ and YCo$_2$. The onset SC transition was identified at $T_S \sim 0.7$ K, below which $1/T_1$ of 30 % of the volume fraction starts to decrease due to the opening of the SC gap. This component of $1/T_1$, which follows a $T^3$ dependence in the temperature range of $0.3 - 0.1$ K, coexists with the magnetic components of $1/T_1$ showing a $\sqrt{T}$ dependence below $T_S$. From the NQR measurements in the SC state, we suggest that the self-induced vortex state is realized in UCoGe.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures. submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. To appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Heavy-Fermions in LiV2O4: Kondo-Compensation vs. Spin-Liquid Behavior?

7Li NMR measurements were performed in the metallic spinel LiV2O4. The temperature dependencies of the line width, the Knight shift and the spin-lattice relaxation rate were investigated in the temperature range 30 mK < T < 280 K. For temperatures T < 1 K we observe a spin-lattice relaxation rate which slows down exponentially. The NMR results can be explained by a spin-liquid behavior and the opening of a spin gap of the order 0.6 K

Heavy-Fermion Formation at the Metal-to-Insulator Transition in Gd1−x_{1-x}Srx_xTiO3_3

The perovskite-like transition-metal oxide Gd$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$TiO$_3$ is investigated by measurements of resistivity, specific-heat, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Approaching the metal-to-insulator transition from the metallic regime ($x \geq 0.2$), the Sommerfeld coefficient $\gamma$ of the specific heat becomes strongly enhanced and the resistivity increases quadratically at low temperatures, which both are fingerprints of strong electronic correlations. The temperature dependence of the dynamic susceptibility, as determined from the Gd$^{3+}$-EPR linewidth, signals the importance of strong spin fluctuations, as observed in heavy-fermion compounds.Comment: 4pages, 3 figure

Environmental dependence of 8 μm luminosity functions of galaxies at z ~ 0.8: Comparison between RXJ1716.4+6708 and the AKARI NEP-deep field

Aims. We aim to reveal environmental dependence of infrared luminosity functions (IR LFs) of galaxies at z ~ 0.8 using the AKARI satellite. AKARI’s wide field of view and unique mid-IR filters help us to construct restframe 8 μm LFs directly without relying on SED models. Methods. We construct restframe 8 μm IR LFs in the cluster region RXJ1716.4+6708 at z = 0.81, and compare them with a blank field using the AKARI north ecliptic pole deep field data at the same redshift. AKARI’s wide field of view (10' × 10') is suitable to investigate wide range of galaxy environments. AKARI’s 15 μm filter is advantageous here since it directly probes restframe 8 μm at z ~ 0.8, without relying on a large extrapolation based on a SED fit, which was the largest uncertainty in previous work. Results. We have found that cluster IR LFs at restframe 8 μm have a factor of 2.4 smaller L^∗ and a steeper faint-end slope than that of the field. Confirming this trend, we also found that faint-end slopes of the cluster LFs becomes flatter and flatter with decreasing local galaxy density. These changes in LFs cannot be explained by a simple infall of field galaxy population into a cluster. Physics that can preferentially suppress IR luminous galaxies in high density regions is required to explain the observed results

Pressure-induced anomalous magnetism and unconventional superconductivity in CeRhIn5 : 115In-NQR Study under Pressure

We report $^{115}$In nuclear-quadrupole-resonance (NQR) measurements of the pressure($P$)-induced superconductor CeRhIn$_5$ in the antiferromagnetic (AF) and superconducting (SC) states. In the AF region, the internal field $H_{int}$ at the In site is substantially reduced from $H_{int}=1.75$ kOe at P=0 to 0.39 kOe at $P=1.23$ GPa, while the N\'eel temperature slightly changes with increasing $P$. This suggests that either the size in the ordered moment $M_{Q}(P)$ or the angle $\theta (P)$ between the direction of $M_{Q}(P)$ and the tetragonal $c$ axis is extrapolated to zero at $P^*=1.6 \pm 0.1$ GPa at which a bulk SC transition is no longer emergent. In the SC state at $P=2.1$ GPa, the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $^{115}(1/T_1)$ has revealed a $T^3$ dependence without the coherence peak just below $T_c$, giving evidence for the unconventional superconductivity. The dimensionality of the magnetic flutuations in the normal state are also discussed.Comment: 8pages,4figures,submitted to Phys. Rev. B. Rapid

Observation of Live Ticks (Haemaphysalis flava) by Scanning Electron Microscopy under High Vacuum Pressure

Scanning electron microscopes (SEM), which image sample surfaces by scanning with an electron beam, are widely used for steric observations of resting samples in basic and applied biology. Various conventional methods exist for SEM sample preparation. However, conventional SEM is not a good tool to observe living organisms because of the associated exposure to high vacuum pressure and electron beam radiation. Here we attempted SEM observations of live ticks. During 1.5×10−3 Pa vacuum pressure and electron beam irradiation with accelerated voltages (2–5 kV), many ticks remained alive and moved their legs. After 30-min observation, we removed the ticks from the SEM stage; they could walk actively under atmospheric pressure. When we tested 20 ticks (8 female adults and 12 nymphs), they survived for two days after SEM observation. These results indicate the resistance of ticks against SEM observation. Our second survival test showed that the electron beam, not vacuum conditions, results in tick death. Moreover, we describe the reaction of their legs to electron beam exposure. These findings open the new possibility of SEM observation of living organisms and showed the resistance of living ticks to vacuum condition in SEM. These data also indicate, for the first time, the usefulness of tick as a model system for biology under extreme condition

The Infrared Camera (IRC) for AKARI - Design and Imaging Performance

The Infrared Camera (IRC) is one of two focal-plane instruments on the AKARI satellite. It is designed for wide-field deep imaging and low-resolution spectroscopy in the near- to mid-infrared (1.8--26.5um) in the pointed observation mode of AKARI. IRC is also operated in the survey mode to make an all-sky survey at 9 and 18um. It comprises three channels. The NIR channel (1.8--5.5um) employs a 512 x 412 InSb array, whereas both the MIR-S (4.6--13.4um) and MIR-L (12.6--26.5um) channels use 256 x 256 Si:As impurity band conduction arrays. Each of the three channels has a field-of-view of about 10' x 10' and are operated simultaneously. The NIR and MIR-S share the same field-of-view by virtue of a beam splitter. The MIR-L observes the sky about $25' away from the NIR/MIR-S field-of-view. IRC gives us deep insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies, the evolution of planetary disks, the process of star-formation, the properties of interstellar matter under various physical conditions, and the nature and evolution of solar system objects. The in-flight performance of IRC has been confirmed to be in agreement with the pre-flight expectation. This paper summarizes the design and the in-flight operation and imaging performance of IRC.Comment: Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, in pres