2,429 research outputs found
Propagating Waves Transverse to the Magnetic Field in a Solar Prominence
We report an unusual set of observations of waves in a large prominence
pillar which consist of pulses propagating perpendicular to the prominence
magnetic field. We observe a huge quiescent prominence with the Solar Dynamics
Observatory (SDO) Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) in EUV on 2012 October 10
and only a part of it, the pillar, which is a foot or barb of the prominence,
with the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) (in Ca II and H\alpha lines), Sac
Peak (in H\alpha, H\beta\ and Na-D lines), THEMIS ("T\'elescope
H\'eliographique pour l' Etude du Magn\'etisme et des Instabilit\'es Solaires")
with the MTR (MulTi-Raies) spectropolarimeter (in He D_3 line). The THEMIS/MTR
data indicates that the magnetic field in the pillar is essentially horizontal
and the observations in the optical domain show a large number of horizontally
aligned features on a much smaller scale than the pillar as a whole. The data
is consistent with a model of cool prominence plasma trapped in the dips of
horizontal field lines. The SOT and Sac Peak data over the 4 hour observing
period show vertical oscillations appearing as wave pulses. These pulses, which
include a Doppler signature, move vertically, perpendicular to the field
direction, along thin quasi-vertical columns in the much broader pillar. The
pulses have a velocity of propagation of about 10 km/s, a period about 300 sec,
and a wavelength around 2000 km. We interpret these waves in terms of fast
magneto-sonic waves and discuss possible wave drivers.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa
Open questions on prominences from coordinated observations by IRIS, Hinode, SDO/AIA, THEMIS, and the Meudon/MSDP
Context. A large prominence was observed on September 24, 2013, for three
hours (12:12 UT -15:12 UT) with the newly launched (June 2013) Interface Region
Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), THEMIS (Tenerife), the Hinode Solar Optical
Telescope (SOT), the Solar Dynamic Observatory Atmospheric Imaging Assembly
(SDO/AIA), and the Multichannel Subtractive Double Pass spectrograph (MSDP) in
the Meudon Solar Tower. Aims. The aim of this work is to study the dynamics of
the prominence fine structures in multiple wavelengths to understand their
formation. Methods. The spectrographs IRIS and MSDP provided line profiles with
a high cadence in Mg II and in Halpha lines. Results. The magnetic field is
found to be globally horizontal with a relatively weak field strength (8-15
Gauss). The Ca II movie reveals turbulent-like motion that is not organized in
specific parts of the prominence. On the other hand, the Mg II line profiles
show multiple peaks well separated in wavelength. Each peak corresponds to a
Gaussian profile, and not to a reversed profile as was expected by the present
non-LTE radiative transfer modeling. Conclusions. Turbulent fields on top of
the macroscopic horizontal component of the magnetic field supporting the
prominence give rise to the complex dynamics of the plasma. The plasma with the
high velocities (70 km/s to 100 km/s if we take into account the transverse
velocities) may correspond to condensation of plasma along more or less
horizontal threads of the arch-shape structure visible in 304 A. The steady
flows (5 km/s) would correspond to a more quiescent plasma (cool and
prominence-corona transition region) of the prominence packed into dips in
horizontal magnetic field lines. The very weak secondary peaks in the Mg II
profiles may reflect the turbulent nature of parts of the prominence.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure
Observations of ozone production in a dissipating tropical convective cell during TC4
From 13 July–9 August 2007, 25 ozonesondes were launched from Las Tablas, Panama as part of the Tropical Composition, Cloud, and Climate Coupling (TC4) mission. On 5 August, a strong convective cell formed in the Gulf of Panama. World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) data indicated 563 flashes (09:00–17:00 UTC) in the Gulf. NO2 data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) show enhancements, suggesting lightning production of NOx. At 15:05 UTC, an ozonesonde ascended into the southern edge of the now dissipating convective cell as it moved west across the Azuero Peninsula. The balloon oscillated from 2.5–5.1 km five times (15:12–17:00 UTC), providing a unique examination of ozone (O3) photochemistry on the edge of a convective cell. Ozone increased at a rate of 1.6–4.6 ppbv/hr between the first and last ascent, resulting cell wide in an increase of (2.1–2.5)×106 moles of O3. This estimate agrees to within a factor of two of our estimates of photochemical lightning O3 production from the WWLLN flashes, from the radar-inferred lightning flash data, and from the OMI NO2 data (1.2, 1.0, and 1.7×106 moles, respectively), though all estimates have large uncertainties. Examination of DC-8 in situ and lidar O3 data gathered around the Gulf that day suggests 70–97% of the O3 change occurred in 2.5–5.1 km layer. A photochemical box model initialized with nearby TC4 aircraft trace gas data suggests these O3 production rates are possible with our present understanding of photochemistry
Morphology Of A Hot Prominence Cavity Observed with Hinode/XRT and SDO/AIA
Prominence cavities appear as circularly shaped voids in coronal emission over polarity inversion lines where a prominence channel is straddling the solar limb. The presence of chromospheric material suspended at coronal altitudes is a common but not necessary feature within these cavities. These voids are observed to change shape as a prominence feature rotates around the limb. We use a morphological model projected in cross-sections to fit the cavity emission in Hinode/XRT passbands, and then apply temperature diagnostics to XRT and SDO/AIA data to investigate the thermal structure. We find significant evidence that the prominence cavity is hotter than the corona immediately outside the cavity boundary. This investigation follows upon "Thermal Properties of A Solar Coronal Cavity Observed with the X-ray Telescope on Hinode" by Reeves et al., 2012, ApJ, in press
Voltage control of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in ferromagnetic - semiconductor/piezoelectric hybrid structures
We demonstrate dynamic voltage control of the magnetic anisotropy of a
(Ga,Mn)As device bonded to a piezoelectric transducer. The application of a
uniaxial strain leads to a large reorientation of the magnetic easy axis which
is detected by measuring longitudinal and transverse anisotropic
magnetoresistance coefficients. Calculations based on the mean-field
kinetic-exchange model of (Ga,Mn)As provide microscopic understanding of the
measured effect. Electrically induced magnetization switching and detection of
unconventional crystalline components of the anisotropic magnetoresistance are
presented, illustrating the generic utility of the piezo voltage control to
provide new device functionalities and in the research of micromagnetic and
magnetotransport phenomena in diluted magnetic semiconductors.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letters. Updates version 1 to include a
more detailed discussion of the effect of strain on the anisotropic
magnetoresistanc
Rare variants in axonogenesis genes connect three families with sound–color synesthesia
Synesthesia is a rare nonpathological phenomenon where stimulation of one sense automatically provokes a secondary perception in another. Hypothesized to result from differences in cortical wiring during development, synesthetes show atypical structural and functional neural connectivity, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. The trait also appears to be more common among people with autism spectrum disorder and savant abilities. Previous linkage studies searching for shared loci of large effect size across multiple families have had limited success. To address the critical lack of candidate genes, we applied whole-exome sequencing to three families with sound–color (auditory–visual) synesthesia affecting multiple relatives across three or more generations. We identified rare genetic variants that fully cosegregate with synesthesia in each family, uncovering 37 genes of interest. Consistent with reports indicating genetic heterogeneity, no variants were shared across families. Gene ontology analyses highlighted six genes—COL4A1, ITGA2, MYO10, ROBO3, SLC9A6, and SLIT2—associated with axonogenesis and expressed during early childhood when synesthetic associations are formed. These results are consistent with neuroimaging-based hypotheses about the role of hyperconnectivity in the etiology of synesthesia and offer a potential entry point into the neurobiology that organizes our sensory experiences
Boronic Acid Derivatives Targeting HIV-1
A series of novel boronic acid derivatives containing either a pyrimidine or purine base was synthesized. The preparation involved the condensation of 4-bromobutyl boronic acid with the appropriate base. These acyclic nucleosides were designed as potential antiviral agents especially targeting the human immunodeficiency virus. Two analogues, 6-chloro-9-(4-dihydroxyborylbutyl)purine and 2,6-dichloro-9-(4-dihydroxyborylbutyl)purine, exhibited EC50 values of 7.7 µM and 0.99 µM, respectively, in an HIV-1 syncytial plaque reduction assay
- …