Partial-Transfer Absorption Imaging: A versatile technique for optimal imaging of ultracold gases

Partial-transfer absorption imaging is a tool that enables optimal imaging of atomic clouds for a wide range of optical depths. In contrast to standard absorption imaging, the technique can be minimally-destructive and can be used to obtain multiple successive images of the same sample. The technique involves transferring a small fraction of the sample from an initial internal atomic state to an auxiliary state and subsequently imaging that fraction absorptively on a cycling transition. The atoms remaining in the initial state are essentially unaffected. We demonstrate the technique, discuss its applicability, and compare its performance as a minimally-destructive technique to that of phase-contrast imaging.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Review of Scientific Instrument

Evolution of the Near-Infrared Tully-Fisher Relation: Constraints on the Relationship Between the Stellar and Total Masses of Disk Galaxies since z=1

Using a combination of Keck spectroscopy and near-infrared imaging, we investigate the K-band and stellar mass Tully-Fisher relation for 101 disk galaxies at 0.2 < z < 1.2, with the goal of placing the first observational constraints on the assembly history of halo and stellar mass. Our main result is a lack of evolution in either the K-band or stellar mass Tully-Fisher relation from z = 0 - 1.2. Furthermore, although our sample is not statistically complete, we consider it suitable for an initial investigation of how the fraction of total mass that has condensed into stars is distributed with both redshift and total halo mass. We calculate stellar masses from optical and near-infrared photometry and total masses from maximum rotational velocities and disk scale lengths, utilizing a range of model relationships derived analytically and from simulations. We find that the stellar/total mass distribution and stellar-mass Tully-Fisher relation for z > 0.7 disks is similar to that at lower redshift, suggesting that baryonic mass is accreted by disks along with dark matter at z < 1, and that disk galaxy formation at z < 1 is hierarchical in nature. We briefly discuss the evolutionary trends expected in conventional structure formation models and the implications of extending such a study to much larger samples.Comment: ApJ, in press, 9 page

Hubble Diagrams of Type Ia Supernovae in the Near Infrared

From observations of 7 Type Ia supernovae obtained during the last four years at the Las Campanas and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatories, along with previous published data for 9 supernovae, we present JHK Hubble diagrams and derive absolute magnitudes at maximum light of 16 objects out to a redshift of 0.038. On the scale of H_0 = 72 km/s/Mpc we find mean absolute magnitudes at maximum of -18.57, -18.24, and -18.42 for J, H, and K, respectively, with 1-sigma uncertainties of the distributions of values of +/- 0.14, 0.18, and 0.12 mag. The data indicate no significant decline rate relations for the infrared. Thus, Type Ia SNe at maximum brightness appear to be standard candles in the infrared at the +/- 0.20 mag level or better. The minimum requirements for obtaining the distance to a Type Ia SN are: reasonably accurate values of Delta m_15(B) and T(B_max), and one night of infrared data in the -12 to +10 d window with respect to T(B_max).Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, published in the Astrophysical Journal, vol. 602, pp. L81-L84 (20 February 2004). This version gives more credit where credit is du

Fast-decaying plant litter enhances soil carbon in temperate forests but not through microbial physiological traits

Conceptual and empirical advances in soil biogeochemistry have challenged long-held assumptions about the role of soil micro-organisms in soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics; yet, rigorous tests of emerging concepts remain sparse. Recent hypotheses suggest that microbial necromass production links plant inputs to SOC accumulation, with high-quality (i.e., rapidly decomposing) plant litter promoting microbial carbon use efficiency, growth, and turnover leading to more mineral stabilization of necromass. We test this hypothesis experimentally and with observations across six eastern US forests, using stable isotopes to measure microbial traits and SOC dynamics. Here we show, in both studies, that microbial growth, efficiency, and turnover are negatively (not positively) related to mineral-associated SOC. In the experiment, stimulation of microbial growth by high-quality litter enhances SOC decomposition, offsetting the positive effect of litter quality on SOC stabilization. We suggest that microbial necromass production is not the primary driver of SOC persistence in temperate forests. Factors such as microbial necromass origin, alternative SOC formation pathways, priming effects, and soil abiotic properties can strongly decouple microbial growth, efficiency, and turnover from mineral-associated SOC

Cosmological Results from High-z Supernovae

The High-z Supernova Search Team has discovered and observed 8 new supernovae in the redshift interval z=0.3-1.2. These independent observations, confirm the result of Riess et al. (1998a) and Perlmutter et al. (1999) that supernova luminosity distances imply an accelerating universe. More importantly, they extend the redshift range of consistently observed SN Ia to z~1, where the signature of cosmological effects has the opposite sign of some plausible systematic effects. Consequently, these measurements not only provide another quantitative confirmation of the importance of dark energy, but also constitute a powerful qualitative test for the cosmological origin of cosmic acceleration. We find a rate for SN Ia of 1.4+/-0.5E-04 h^3/Mpc^3/yr at a mean redshift of 0.5. We present distances and host extinctions for 230 SN Ia. These place the following constraints on cosmological quantities: if the equation of state parameter of the dark energy is w=-1, then H0 t0 = 0.96+/-0.04, and O_l - 1.4 O_m = 0.35+/-0.14. Including the constraint of a flat Universe, we find O_m = 0.28+/-0.05, independent of any large-scale structure measurements. Adopting a prior based on the 2dF redshift survey constraint on O_m and assuming a flat universe, we find that the equation of state parameter of the dark energy lies in the range -1.48-1, we obtain w<-0.73 at 95% confidence. These constraints are similar in precision and in value to recent results reported using the WMAP satellite, also in combination with the 2dF redshift survey.Comment: 50 pages, AAS LateX, 15 figures, 15 tables. Accepted for publication by Astrophysical Journa

UBVRIz Light Curves of 51 Type II Supernovae

We present a compilation of UBV RIz light curves of 51 type II supernovae discovered during the course of four different surveys during 1986 to 2003: the Cerro Tololo Supernova Survey, the Calan/Tololo Supernova Program (C&T), the Supernova Optical and Infrared Survey (SOIRS), and the Carnegie Type II Supernova Survey (CATS). The photometry is based on template-subtracted images to eliminate any potential host galaxy light contamination, and calibrated from foreground stars. This work presents these photometric data, studies the color evolution using different bands, and explores the relation between the magnitude at maximum brightness and the brightness decline parameter (s) from maximum light through the end of the recombination phase. This parameter is found to be shallower for redder bands and appears to have the best correlation in the B band. In addition, it also correlates with the plateau duration, being thus shorter (longer) for larger (smaller) s values.Comment: 110 pages, 9 Figures, 6 Tables, accepted in A

Next generation aerosol-cloud microphysics for advanced high-resolution climate predictions

The three top-level project goals are: -We proposed to develop, test, and run a new, physically based, scale-independent microphysical scheme for those cloud processes that most strongly affect greenhouse gas scenarios, i.e. warm cloud microphysics. In particular, we propsed to address cloud droplet activation, autoconversion, and accretion. -The new, unified scheme was proposed to be derived and tested using the University of Hawaii's IPRC Regional Atmospheric Model (iRAM). -The impact of the new parameterizations on climate change scenarios will be studied. In particular, the sensitivity of cloud response to climate forcing from increased greenhouse gas concentrations will be assessed

Molecular techniques reveal cryptic life history and demographic processes of a critically endangered marine turtle

The concept of ‘effective population size’ (Ne), which quantifies how quickly a population will lose genetic variability, is one of the most important contributions of theoretical evolutionary biology to practical conservation management. Ne is often much lower than actual population size: how much so depends on key life history and demographic parameters, such as mating systems and population connectivity, that often remain unknown for species of conservation concern. Molecular techniques allow the indirect study of these parameters, as well as the estimation of current and historical Ne. Here, we use genotyping to assess the genetic health of an important population of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), a slow-to-mature, difficult-to-observe species with a long history of severe overhunting. Our results were surprisingly positive: we found that the study population, located in the Republic of Seychelles, Indian Ocean, has a relatively large Ne, estimated to exceed 1000, and showed no evidence of a recent reduction in Ne (i.e. no genetic bottleneck). Furthermore, molecular inferences suggest the species' mating system is conducive to maintaining a large Ne, with a relatively large and widely distributed male population promoting considerable gene flow amongst nesting sites across the Seychelles area. This may also be reinforced by the movement of females between nesting sites. Our study underlines how molecular techniques can help to inform conservation biology. In this case our results suggest that this important hawksbill population is starting from a relatively strong position as it faces new challenges, such as global climate change

Next generation aerosol-cloud microphysics for advanced high-resolution climate predictions

The three top-level project goals are: -We proposed to develop, test, and run a new, physically based, scale-independent microphysical scheme for those cloud processes that most strongly affect greenhouse gas scenarios, i.e. warm cloud microphysics. In particular, we propsed to address cloud droplet activation, autoconversion, and accretion. -The new, unified scheme was proposed to be derived and tested using the University of Hawaii's IPRC Regional Atmospheric Model (iRAM). -The impact of the new parameterizations on climate change scenarios will be studied. In particular, the sensitivity of cloud response to climate forcing from increased greenhouse gas concentrations will be assessed

Imaging and Demography of the Host Galaxies of High-Redshift Type Ia Supernovae

We present the results of a study of the host galaxies of high redshift Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). We provide a catalog of 18 hosts of SNe Ia observed with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) by the High-z Supernova Search Team (HZT), including images, scale-lengths, measurements of integrated (Hubble equivalent) BVRIZ photometry in bands where the galaxies are brighter than m ~ 25 mag, and galactocentric distances of the supernovae. We compare the residuals of SN Ia distance measurements from cosmological fits to measurable properties of the supernova host galaxies that might be expected to correlate with variable properties of the progenitor population, such as host galaxy color and position of the supernova. We find mostly null results; the current data are generally consistent with no correlations of the distance residuals with host galaxy properties in the redshift range 0.42 < z < 1.06. Although a subsample of SN hosts shows a formally significant (3-sigma) correlation between apparent V-R host color and distance residuals, the correlation is not consistent with the null results from other host colors probed by our largest samples. There is also evidence for the same correlations between SN Ia properties and host type at low redshift and high redshift. These similarities support the current practice of extrapolating properties of the nearby population to high redshifts pending more robust detections of any correlations between distance residuals from cosmological fits and host properties.Comment: 35 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in A