2,497 research outputs found
SGR J1550–5418 Bursts Detected with the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor during its Most Prolific Activity
We have performed detailed temporal and time-integrated spectral analysis of 286 bursts from SGR J1550–5418 detected with the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) in 2009 January, resulting in the largest uniform sample of temporal and spectral properties of SGR J1550–5418 bursts. We have used the combination of broadband and high time-resolution data provided with GBM to perform statistical studies for the source properties. We determine the durations, emission times, duty cycles, and rise times for all bursts, and find that they are typical of SGR bursts. We explore various models in our spectral analysis, and conclude that the spectra of SGR J1550–5418 bursts in the 8-200 keV band are equally well described by optically thin thermal bremsstrahlung (OTTB), a power law (PL) with an exponential cutoff (Comptonized model), and two blackbody (BB) functions (BB+BB). In the spectral fits with the Comptonized model, we find a mean PL index of –0.92, close to the OTTB index of –1. We show that there is an anti-correlation between the Comptonized E_(peak) and the burst fluence and average flux. For the BB+BB fits, we find that the fluences and emission areas of the two BB functions are correlated. The low-temperature BB has an emission area comparable to the neutron star surface area, independent of the temperature, while the high-temperature BB has a much smaller area and shows an anti-correlation between emission area and temperature. We compare the properties of these bursts with bursts observed from other SGR sources during extreme activations, and discuss the implications of our results in the context of magnetar burst models
Investigation into the redox behavior of bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(.mu.-.eta.1-disulfide)(.mu.-.eta.2-disulfide)diiron: an unexpected reversible .eta.1 .dblharw. .eta.2 rearrangement of a disulfur bridge
Sharp lines in the absorption edge of EuTe and PbEuTe in high magnetic fields
The optical absorption spectra in the region of the \fd transition energies
of epitaxial layers of of EuTe and \PbEuTe, grown by molecular beam epitaxy,
were studied using circularly polarized light, in the Faraday configuration.
Under \sigmam polarization a sharp symmetric absorption line (full width at
half-maximum 0.041 eV) emerges at the low energy side of the band-edge
absorption, for magnetic fields intensities greater than 6 T. The absorption
line shows a huge red shift (35 meV/T) with increasing magnetic fields. The
peak position of the absorption line as a function of magnetic field is
dominated by the {\em d-f} exchange interaction of the excited electron and the
\Euion spins in the lattice. The {\em d-f} exchange interaction energy was
estimated to be eV. In \PbEuTe the same absorption line
is detected, but it is broader, due to alloy disorder, indicating that the
excitation is localized within a finite radius. From a comparison of the
absorption spectra in EuTe and \PbEuTe the characteristic radius of the
excitation is estimated to be \AA.Comment: Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (2004, at press
Magnetic groundstate and Fermi surface of bcc Eu
Using spin-spiral technique within the full potential linearized
augmented-plane-waves (LAPW) electronic structure method we investigate the
magnon spectrum and N\'eel temperature of bcc Eu. Ground state corresponding to
an incommensurate spin-spiral is obtained in agreement with experiment and
previous calculations. We demonstrate that the magnetic coupling is primarily
through the intra-atomic and exchange and
Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida mechanism. We show that the existence of this
spin-spiral is closely connected to a nesting feature of the Fermi surface
which was not noticed before.Comment: 6 pages 8 figure
The planetary nebula Abell 48 and its [WN4] central star
We have conducted a multi-wavelength study of the planetary nebula Abell 48
and give a revised classification of its nucleus as a hydrogen-deficient star
of type [WN4]. The surrounding nebula has a morphology typical of PNe and
importantly, is not enriched in nitrogen, and thus not the 'peeled atmosphere'
of a massive star. Indeed, no WN4 star is known to be surrounded by such a
compact nebula. The ionized mass of the nebula is also a powerful discriminant
between the low-mass PN and high-mass WR ejecta interpretations. The ionized
mass would be impossibly high if a distance corresponding to a Pop I star was
adopted, but at a distance of 2 kpc, the mass is quite typical of moderately
evolved PNe. At this distance, the ionizing star then has a luminosity of ~5000
Lsolar, again rather typical for a PN central star. We give a brief discussion
of the implications of this discovery for the late-stage evolution of
intermediate-mass stars.Comment: EUROWD12 Proceeding
Are the INTEGRAL Intermediate Polars Different?
One of the biggest surprises of the INTEGRAL mission was the detection of large
numbers of magnetic cataclysmic variables – in particular the intermediate polar (IP) subclass.
Not only have many previously known systems been detected, but many new ones have also been
found and subsequently classified from optical follow-up observations, increasing the sample of IPs
by ! 15%. We have recently been using a particle hydrodynamic code to investigate the accretion
flows of IPs and determine the equilibrium spin-rates and accretion flow patterns across a wide range
of orbital periods, mass ratios and magnetic field strengths. We use the results of these accretion
flow simulations to examine whether the INTEGRAL IPs differ from the overall population and
conclude that they do not. Most IPs are likely to be INTEGRAL sources, given sufficient exposure.
Currently however, none of the 'EX Hya-like' IPs, with large spin-to-orbital period ratios and short
orbital periods, are detected by INTEGRAL. If this continues to be the case once the whole sky
has a comparable INTEGRAL exposure, it may indicate that the ring-like mode of accretion which
we demonstrate occurs in these systems is responsible for their different appearance
Evolution of population with sexual and asexual reproduction in changing environment
Using a lattice model based on Monte Carlo simulations, we study the role of
the reproduction pattern on the fate of an evolving population. Each individual
is under the selection pressure from the environment and random mutations. The
habitat ("climate") is changing periodically. Evolutions of populations
following two reproduction patterns are compared, asexual and sexual. We show,
via Monte Carlo simulations, that sexual reproduction by keeping more
diversified populations gives them better chances to adapt themselves to the
changing environment. However, in order to obtain a greater chance to mate, the
birth rate should be high. In the case of low birth rate and high mutation
probability there is a preference for the asexual reproduction.Comment: 11 pages including figs., for Int. J. Mod. Phys. C 15, issue 2 (2004
The planetary nebula Abell 48 and its [WN] nucleus
We have conducted a detailed multi-wavelength study of the peculiar nebula
Abell 48 and its central star. We classify the nucleus as a helium-rich,
hydrogen-deficient star of type [WN4-5]. The evidence for either a massive WN
or a low-mass [WN] interpretation is critically examined, and we firmly
conclude that Abell 48 is a planetary nebula (PN) around an evolved low-mass
star, rather than a Population I ejecta nebula. Importantly, the surrounding
nebula has a morphology typical of PNe, and is not enriched in nitrogen, and
thus not the `peeled atmosphere' of a massive star. We estimate a distance of
1.6 kpc and a reddening, E(B-V) = 1.90 mag, the latter value clearly showing
the nebula lies on the near side of the Galactic bar, and cannot be a massive
WN star. The ionized mass (~0.3 M_Sun) and electron density (700 cm^-3) are
typical of middle-aged PNe. The observed stellar spectrum was compared to a
grid of models from the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) grid. The best fit
temperature is 71 kK, and the atmospheric composition is dominated by helium
with an upper limit on the hydrogen abundance of 10 per cent. Our results are
in very good agreement with the recent study of Todt et al., who determined a
hydrogen fraction of 10 per cent and an unusually large nitrogen fraction of ~5
per cent. This fraction is higher than any other low-mass H-deficient star, and
is not readily explained by current post-AGB models. We give a discussion of
the implications of this discovery for the late-stage evolution of
intermediate-mass stars. There is now tentative evidence for two distinct
helium-dominated post-AGB lineages, separate to the helium and carbon dominated
surface compositions produced by a late thermal pulse. Further theoretical work
is needed to explain these recent discoveries.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, to appear in MNRAS. Version 3 incorporates
proof correction
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