457 research outputs found
Effects of magnets on pigeon homing
The function of magnets in the navigation system of homing pigeons is investigated. Only experienced pigeons with magnets or brass bars were studied. Data show that on sunny days, pigeons with the magnets had some difficulty in orientation while those with brass bars had no problems. The same experiment was repeated on cloudy days. These results show that the magnets did not interfere with orientation. This difference suggests that sun and magnetic cues are used interchangeably, but that both together seldom function
Analysis of physical-chemical processes governing SSME internal fluid flows
The efforts to adapt CHAM's computational fluid dynamics code, PHOENICS, to the analysis of flow within the high pressure fuel turbopump (HPFTP) aft-platform seal cavity of the SSME are summarized. In particular, the special purpose PHOENICS satellite and ground station specifically formulated for this application are listed and described, and the preliminary results of the first part two-dimensional analyses are presented and discussed. Planned three-dimensional analyses are also briefly outlined. To further understand the mixing and combustion processes in the SSME fuelside preburners, a single oxygen-hydrogen jet element was investigated
Formalism for testing theories of gravity using lensing by compact objects. III: Braneworld gravity
Braneworld gravity is a model that endows physical space with an extra
dimension. In the type II Randall-Sundrum braneworld gravity model, the extra
dimension modifies the spacetime geometry around black holes, and changes
predictions for the formation and survival of primordial black holes. We
develop a comprehensive analytical formalism for far-field black hole lensing
in this model, using invariant quantities to compute all geometric optics
lensing observables. We then make the first analysis of wave optics in
braneworld lensing, working in the semi-classical limit. We show that wave
optics offers the only realistic way to observe braneworld effects in black
hole lensing. We point out that if primordial braneworld black holes exist,
have mass M, and contribute a fraction f of the dark matter, then roughly 3e5 x
f (M/1e-18 Msun)^(-1) of them lie within our Solar System. These objects, which
we call "attolenses," would produce interference fringes in the energy spectra
of gamma-ray bursts at energies ~100 (M/1e-18 Msun)^(-1) MeV (which will soon
be accessible with the GLAST satellite). Primordial braneworld black holes
spread throughout the universe could produce similar interference effects; the
probability for "attolensing" may be non-negligible. If interference fringes
were observed, the fringe spacing would yield a simple upper limit on M.
Detection of a primordial black hole with M <~ 1e-19 Msun would challenge
general relativity and favor the braneworld model. Further work on lensing
tests of braneworld gravity must proceed into the physical optics regime, which
awaits a description of the full spacetime geometry around braneworld black
holes.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures; accepted in PRD; expanded discussion of
prospects for observing attolensing with GLAS
Observations of Lensed Relativistic Jets as a Tool of Constraining Lens Galaxy Parameters
The possibility of using lensed relativistic jets on very small angular
scales to construct proper models of spiral lens galaxies and to independently
determine the Hubble constant is considered. The system B0218+357 is used as an
example to illustrate that there exists a great choice of model parameters
adequately reproducing its observed large-scale properties but leading to a
significant spread in the Hubble constant. The jet image position angle is
suggested as an additional parameter that allows the range of models under
consideration to be limited. It is shown that the models for which the jet
image position angles differ by at least can be distinguished between
themselves during observations on very small angular scales. The possibility of
observing the geometric properties of lensed relativistic jets and measuring
the superluminal velocities of knot images on time scales of several months
with very long baseline space interferometers is discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, Will be published in the Astronomy Letters,
V.37, PP.483-490, 201
Abelian varieties isogenous to a power of an elliptic curve
Let be an elliptic curve over a field . Let .
There is a functor from the category of
finitely presented torsion-free left -modules to the category of abelian
varieties isogenous to a power of , and a functor in the
opposite direction. We prove necessary and sufficient conditions on for
these functors to be equivalences of categories.Comment: 21 pages, comments welcom
High resolution observations and mass modelling of the CLASS gravitational lens B1152+199
We present a series of high resolution radio and optical observations of the
CLASS gravitational lens system B1152+199 obtained with the Multi-Element
Radio-Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN), Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA)
and Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Based on the milliarcsecond-scale
substructure of the lensed radio components and precise optical astrometry for
the lensing galaxy, we construct models for the system and place constraints on
the galaxy mass profile. For a single galaxy model with surface mass density
Sigma(r) propto r^-beta, we find that 0.95 < beta < 1.21 at 2-sigma confidence.
Including a second deflector to represent a possible satellite galaxy of the
primary lens leads to slightly steeper mass profiles.Comment: 7 pages, post-referee revision for MNRA
Time delay between images of the lensed quasar UM673
We study brightness variations in the double lensed quasar UM673 (Q0142-100)
with the aim of measuring the time delay between its two images. In the paper
we combine our previously published observational data of UM673 obtained during
the 2003 - 2005 seasons at the Maidanak Observatory with archival and recently
observed Maidanak and CTIO UM673 data. We analyze the V, R and I-band light
curves of the A and B images of UM673, which cover ten observational seasons
from August 2001 to November 2010. We also analyze the time evolution of the
difference in magnitudes between images A and B of UM673 over more than ten
years. We find that the quasar exhibits both short-term (with amplitude of \sim
0.1 mag in the R band) and high-amplitude (\sim 0.3 mag) long-term variability
on timescales of about several months and several years, respectively. These
brightness variations are used to constrain the time delay between the images
of UM673. From cross-correlation analysis of the A and B quasar light curves
and error analysis we measure the mean time delay and its error of 89 \pm11
days. Given the input time delay of 88 days, the most probable value of the
delay that can be recovered from light curves with the same statistical
properties as the observed R-band light curves of UM673 is 95{+5/-16}{+14/-29}
days (68 and 95 % confidence intervals). Analysis of the V - I color variations
and V, R and I-band magnitude differences of the quasar images does not show
clear evidence of the microlensing variations between 1998 and 2010.Comment: Submitted to A&A, 11 pages, 9 figure
The climate sensitivity of carbon, timber, and species richness covaries with forest age in boreal–temperate North America
Climate change threatens the provisioning of forest ecosystem services and biodiversity (ESB). The climate sensitivity of ESB may vary with forest development from young to old-growth conditions as structure and composition shift over time and space. This study addresses knowledge gaps hindering implementation of adaptive forest management strategies to sustain ESB. We focused on a number of ESB indicators to (a) analyze associations among carbon storage, timber growth rate, and species richness along a forest development gradient; (b) test the sensitivity of these associations to climatic changes; and (c) identify hotspots of climate sensitivity across the boreal–temperate forests of eastern North America. From pre-existing databases and literature, we compiled a unique dataset of 18,507 forest plots. We used a full Bayesian framework to quantify responses of nine ESB indicators. The Bayesian models were used to assess the sensitivity of these indicators and their associations to projected increases in temperature and precipitation. We found the strongest association among the investigated ESB indicators in old forests (\u3e170 years). These forests simultaneously support high levels of carbon storage, timber growth, and species richness. Older forests also exhibit low climate sensitivity of associations among ESB indicators as compared to younger forests. While regions with a currently low combined ESB performance benefitted from climate change, regions with a high ESB performance were particularly vulnerable to climate change. In particular, climate sensitivity was highest east and southeast of the Great Lakes, signaling potential priority areas for adaptive management. Our findings suggest that strategies aimed at enhancing the representation of older forest conditions at landscape scales will help sustain ESB in a changing world
ARCRAIDER II: Arc search in a sample of non-Abell clusters
We present a search for gravitational arcs in a sample of X-ray luminous,
medium redshift clusters of galaxies. The sample of clusters is called
ARCRAIDER, is based on the ROSAT Bright Survey (RBS) and fulfills the following
criteria: (a) X-ray luminosity Lx>=0.5x10^45erg/s (0.5-2keV band), (b) redshift
range 0.1<=z<=0.52, (c) classified as clusters in the RBS, (d) not a member of
the Abell catalogue and, finally, (e) visible from the ESO sites La
Silla/Paranal (declination \delta<=20deg). In total we found more than 35
(giant) arc/arclet candidates, including a possible radial arc, one
galaxy-galaxy lensing event and a possible quasar triple image in 14 of the 21
clusters of galaxies. Hence 66% of the sample members are possible lenses.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics; 8 pages
(excl. Appendix), 6 figures, 9 tables; Please download the high-res images of
the appendix from
http://astro-staff.uibk.ac.at/~w.kausch/ARCRAIDER_II_images.tar.g
Chandra Observations of SDSS J1004+4112: Constraints on the Lensing Cluster and Anomalous X-Ray Flux Ratios of the Quadruply Imaged Quasar
We present results from Chandra observations of SDSS J1004+4112, a strongly
lensed quasar system with a maximum image separation of 15". All four bright
images of the quasar, as well as resolved X-ray emission originating from the
lensing cluster, are clearly detected. The emission from the lensing cluster
extends out to approximately 1.5 arcmin. We measure the bolometric X-ray
luminosity and temperature of the lensing cluster to be 4.7e44 erg s^-1 and 6.4
keV, consistent with the luminosity-temperature relation for distant clusters.
The mass estimated from the X-ray observation shows excellent agreement with
the mass derived from gravitational lensing. The X-ray flux ratios of the
quasar images differ markedly from the optical flux ratios, and the combined
X-ray spectrum of the images possesses an unusually strong Fe Kalpha emission
line, both of which are indicative of microlensing.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Version with
high-quality color figures at
http://cosmic.riken.jp/ota/publications/index.htm
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