4,629 research outputs found
Superdiffusion of massive particles induced by multi-scale velocity fields
We study drag-induced diffusion of massive particles in scale-free velocity
fields, where superdiffusive behavior emerges due to the scale-free size
distribution of the vortices of the underlying velocity field. The results show
qualitative resemblance to what is observed in fluid systems, namely the
diffusive exponent for the mean square separation of pairs of particles and the
preferential concentration of the particles, both as a function of the response
time.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in EP
Simultaneous Observations of Comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) with the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association and Owens Valley Radio Observatory Interferometers: HCN and CH_3OH
We present observations of HCN J = 1-0 and CH_3OH J(K_a, K_c) = 3(1, 3)-4(0, 4) A+ emission from comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) obtained simultaneously with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) and Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) millimeter interferometers. We combined the data from both arrays to increase the (u, v) sampling and signal to noise of the detected line emission. We also report the detection of CH_3OH J(K_a, K_c) = 8(0, 8)-7(1, 7) A^+ with OVRO data alone. Using a molecular excitation code that includes the effects of collisions with water and electrons, as well as pumping by the Solar infrared photons (for HCN alone), we find a production rate of HCN of 2.9 × 10^(26) s^(–1) and for CH_3OH of 2.2 × 10^(27) s^(–1). Compared to the adopted water production rate of 3 × 10^(29) s^(–1), this corresponds to an HCN/H_2O ratio of 0.1% and a CH_3OH/H_2O ratio of 0.7%. We critically assess the uncertainty of these values due to the noise (~10%), the uncertainties in the adopted comet model (~50%), and the uncertainties in the adopted collisional excitation rates (up to a factor of 2). Pumping by Solar infrared photons is found to be a minor effect for HCN, because our 15" synthesized beam is dominated by the region in the coma where collisions dominate. Since the uncertainties in the derived production rates are at least as large as one-third of the differences found between comets, we conclude that reliable collision rates and an accurate comet model are essential. Because the collisionally dominated region critically depends on the water production rate, using the same approximate method for different comets may introduce biases in the derived production rates. Multiline observations that directly constrain the molecular excitation provide much more reliable production rates
Potential for Solar System Science with the ngVLA
Radio wavelength observations of solar system bodies are a powerful method of
probing many characteristics of those bodies. From surface and subsurface, to
atmospheres (including deep atmospheres of the giant planets), to rings, to the
magnetosphere of Jupiter, these observations provide unique information on
current state, and sometimes history, of the bodies. The ngVLA will enable the
highest sensitivity and resolution observations of this kind, with the
potential to revolutionize our understanding of some of these bodies. In this
article, we present a review of state-of-the-art radio wavelength observations
of a variety of bodies in our solar system, varying in size from ring particles
and small near-Earth asteroids to the giant planets. Throughout the review we
mention improvements for each body (or class of bodies) to be expected with the
ngVLA. A simulation of a Neptune-sized object is presented in Section 6.
Section 7 provides a brief summary for each type of object, together with the
type of measurements needed for all objects throughout the Solar System
The impact of a large object with Jupiter in July 2009
On 2009 July 19, we observed a single, large impact on Jupiter at a
planetocentric latitude of 55^{\circ}S. This and the Shoemaker-Levy 9 (SL9)
impacts on Jupiter in 1994 are the only planetary-scale impacts ever observed.
The 2009 impact had an entry trajectory opposite and with a lower incidence
angle than that of SL9. Comparison of the initial aerosol cloud debris
properties, spanning 4,800 km east-west and 2,500 km north-south, with those
produced by the SL9 fragments, and dynamical calculations of pre-impact orbit,
indicate that the impactor was most probably an icy body with a size of 0.5-1
km. The collision rate of events of this magnitude may be five to ten times
more frequent than previously thought. The search for unpredicted impacts, such
as the current one, could be best performed in 890-nm and K (2.03-2.36 {\mu}m)
filters in strong gaseous absorption, where the high-altitude aerosols are more
reflective than Jupiter's primary cloud.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
A Bima Array Survey of Molecules in Comets Linear (C/2002 T7) and Neat (C/2001 Q4)
We present an interferometric search for large molecules, including methanol,
methyl cyanide, ethyl cyanide, ethanol, and methyl formate in comets LINEAR
(C/2002 T7) and NEAT (C/2001 Q4) with the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland
Association (BIMA) array. In addition, we also searched for transitions of the
simpler molecules CS, SiO, HNC, HN13C and 13CO . We detected transitions of
methanol and CS around Comet LINEAR and one transition of methanol around Comet
NEAT within a synthesized beam of ~20''. We calculated the total column density
and production rate of each molecular species using the variable temperature
and outflow velocity (VTOV) model described by Friedel et al.(2005).Considering
the molecular production rate ratios with respect to water, Comet T7 LINEAR is
more similar to Comet Hale-Bopp while Comet Q4 NEAT is more similar to Comet
Hyakutake. It is unclear, however, due to such a small sample size, whether
there is a clear distinction between a Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake class of comet
or whether comets have a continuous range of molecular production rate ratios.Comment: Accepted for Publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Confirmation and Analysis of Circular Polarization from Sagittarius A*
Recently Bower et al. (1999b) have reported the detection of circular
polarization from the Galactic Center black hole candidate, Sagittarius A*. We
provide an independent confirmation of this detection, and provide some
analysis on the possible mechanisms.Comment: 14 pages, to appear in Astrophysical Journal Letter
Morphology of Thermoset Polyimides by Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy
Thermoset polyimides have great potential for successfully meeting tough stress and temperature challenges in the advanced aircraft development program. However, studies of structure/property relationships in these materials have not been very successful so far. Positron annihilation spectroscopy has been used to investigate free volumes and associated parameters. It has been noted that the free volume correlates well with the molecular weight, cross-link density and thermal coefficient of expansion of these materials. Currently no other techniques are available for direct measurement of these parameters. Experimental results and their interpretations will be discussed
Combined BIMA and OVRO observations of comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR)
We present results from an observing campaign of the molecular content of the
coma of comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) carried out jointly with the millimeter-arrays
of the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) and the Owens Valley Radio
Observatory (OVRO). Using the BIMA array in autocorrelation (`single-dish')
mode, we detected weak HCN J=1-0 emission from comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) at 14
+- 4 mK km/s averaged over the 143" beam. The three days over which emission
was detected, 2000 July 21.9-24.2, immediately precede the reported full
breakup of the nucleus of this comet. During this same period, we find an upper
limit for HCN 1-0 of 144 mJy/beam km/s (203 mK km/s) in the 9"x12" synthesized
beam of combined observations of BIMA and OVRO in cross-correlation (`imaging')
mode. Together with reported values of HCN 1-0 emission in the 28" IRAM
30-meter beam, our data probe the spatial distribution of the HCN emission from
radii of 1300 to 19,000 km. Using literature results of HCN excitation in
cometary comae, we find that the relative line fluxes in the 12"x9", 28" and
143" beams are consistent with expectations for a nuclear source of HCN and
expansion of the volatile gases and evaporating icy grains following a Haser
model.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures. Uses aastex. AJ in pres
Triplicity and Physical Characteristics of Asteroid (216) Kleopatra
To take full advantage of the September 2008 opposition passage of the M-type
asteroid (216) Kleopatra, we have used near-infrared adaptive optics (AO)
imaging with the W.M. Keck II telescope to capture unprecedented high
resolution images of this unusual asteroid. Our AO observations with the W.M.
Keck II telescope, combined with Spitzer/IRS spectroscopic observations and
past stellar occultations, confirm the value of its IRAS radiometric radius of
67.5 km as well as its dog-bone shape suggested by earlier radar observations.
Our Keck AO observations revealed the presence of two small satellites in orbit
about Kleopatra (see Marchis et al., 2008). Accurate measurements of the
satellite orbits over a full month enabled us to determine the total mass of
the system to be 4.64+/-0.02 10^18 Kg. This translates into a bulk density of
3.6 +/-0.4 g/cm3, which implies a macroscopic porosity for Kleopatra of ~
30-50%, typical of a rubble-pile asteroid. From these physical characteristics
we measured its specific angular momentum, very close to that of a spinning
equilibrium dumbbell.Comment: 35 pages, 3 Tables, 9 Figures. In press to Icaru
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