362 research outputs found
Spectroscopy and dissociative recombination of the lowest rotational states of H3+
The dissociative recombination of the lowest rotational states of H3+ has
been investigated at the storage ring TSR using a cryogenic 22-pole
radiofrequency ion trap as injector. The H3+ was cooled with buffer gas at ~15
K to the lowest rotational levels, (J,G)=(1,0) and (1,1), which belong to the
ortho and para proton-spin symmetry, respectively. The rate coefficients and
dissociation dynamics of H3+(J,G) populations produced with normal- and para-H2
were measured and compared to the rate and dynamics of a hot H3+ beam from a
Penning source. The production of cold H3+ rotational populations was
separately studied by rovibrational laser spectroscopy using chemical probing
with argon around 55 K. First results indicate a ~20% relative increase of the
para contribution when using para-H2 as parent gas. The H3+ rate coefficient
observed for the para-H2 source gas, however, is quite similar to the H3+ rate
for the normal-H2 source gas. The recombination dynamics confirm that for both
source gases, only small populations of rotationally excited levels are
present. The distribution of 3-body fragmentation geometries displays a broad
part of various triangular shapes with an enhancement of ~12% for events with
symmetric near-linear configurations. No large dependences on internal state or
collision energy are found.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, to be published in Journal of Physics:
Conference Proceeding
First Time-dependent Study of H2 and H3+ Ortho-Para Chemistry in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium: Observations Meet Theoretical Predictions
The chemistry in the diffuse interstellar medium initiates the gradual
increase of molecular complexity during the life cycle of matter. A key
molecule that enables build-up of new molecular bonds and new molecules via
proton-donation is H3+. Its evolution is tightly related to molecular hydrogen
and thought to be well understood. However, recent observations of ortho and
para lines of H2 and H3+ in the diffuse ISM showed a puzzling discrepancy in
nuclear spin excitation temperatures and populations between these two key
species. H3+, unlike H2, seems to be out of thermal equilibrium, contrary to
the predictions of modern astrochemical models. We conduct the first
time-dependent modeling of the para-fractions of H2 and H3+ in the diffuse ISM
and compare our results to a set of line-of-sight observations, including new
measurements presented in this study. We isolate a set of key reactions for H3+
and find that the destruction of the lowest rotational states of H3+ by
dissociative recombination largely control its ortho/para ratio. A plausible
agreement with observations cannot be achieved unless a ratio larger than 1:5
for the destruction of (1,1)- and (1,0)-states of H3+ is assumed. Additionally,
an increased CR ionization rate to 10(-15) 1/s further improves the fit whereas
variations of other individual physical parameters, such as density and
chemical age, have only a minor effect on the predicted ortho/para ratios. Thus
our study calls for new laboratory measurements of the dissociative
recombination rate and branching ratio of the key ion H3+ under interstellar
conditions.Comment: 27 pages, 6 figures, 3 table
An Interacting Galaxy System Along a Filament in a Void
Cosmological voids provide a unique environment for the study of galaxy
formation and evolution. The galaxy population in their interior have
significantly different properties than average field galaxies. As part of our
Void Galaxy Survey (VGS), we have found a system of three interacting galaxies
(VGS_31) inside a large void. VGS_31 is a small elongated group whose members
are embedded in a common HI envelope. The HI picture suggests a filamentary
structure with accretion of intergalactic cold gas from the filament onto the
galaxies. We present deep optical and narrow band H_alpha data, optical
spectroscopy, near-UV and far-UV GALEX and CO(1-0) data. We find that one of
the galaxies, a Markarian object, has a ring-like structure and a tail evident
both in optical and HI. While all three galaxies form stars in their central
parts, the tail and the ring of the Markarian object are devoid of star
formation. We discuss these findings in terms of a gravitational interaction
and ongoing growth of galaxies out of a filament. VGS_31 is one of the first
observed examples of a filamentary structure in a void. It is an important
prototype for understanding the formation of substructure in a void. This
system also shows that the galaxy evolution in voids can be as dynamic as in
high density environments.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A
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Absolute energy-resolved measurements of the H-+H→H2+e- associative detachment reaction using a merged-beam apparatus
Using a merged-beam configuration, we have performed absolute measurements for the associative detachment reaction H-+H→H2+e-. Our energy-resolved measurements for this process remove a long-standing discrepancy between theory and experiment for this fundamental reaction. In particular, we find excellent agreement with theoretical results which previously seemed to be ruled out by earlier experiments performed using a flowing afterglow technique
KK246, a dwarf galaxy with extended H I disk in the Local Void
We have found that KK 246, the only confirmed galaxy located within the
nearby Tully Void, is a dwarf galaxy with an extremely extended H I disk and
signs of an H I cloud with anomalous velocity. It also exhibits clear
misalignment between the kinematical major and minor axes, indicative of an
oval distortion, and a general misalignment between the H I and optical major
axes. We measure a H I mass of 1.05 +- 0.08 x 10^8 M_sun, and a H I extent 5
times that of the stellar disk, one of the most extended H I disks known. We
estimate a dynamical mass of 4.1 x 10^9 M_sun, making this also one of the
darkest galaxies known, with a mass-to-light ratio of 89. The relative
isolation and extreme underdense environment make this an interesting case for
examining the role of gas accretion in galaxy evolution.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in A
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Low-energy charge transfer for collisions of Si3+ with atomic hydrogen
Cross sections of charge transfer for Si3+ ions with atomic hydrogen at collision energies of ≈40–2500 eV/u were carried out using a merged-beam technique at the Multicharged Ion Research Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The data span an energy range in which both molecular orbital close coupling (MOCC) and classical trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) calculations are available. The influence of quantum mechanical effects of the ionic core as predicted by MOCC is clearly seen in our results. However, discrepancies between our experiment and MOCC results toward higher collision energies are observed. At energies above 1000 eV/u good agreement is found with CTMC results
Generation of neutral atomic beams utilizing photodetachment by high power diode laser stacks
We demonstrate the use of high power diode laser stacks to photodetach fast
hydrogen and carbon anions and produce ground term neutral atomic beams. We
achieve photodetachment efficiencies of 7.4\% for H at a beam energy
of 10\,keV and 3.7\% for C at 28\,keV. The diode laser systems used
here operate at 975\,nm and 808\,nm, respectively, and provide high continuous
power levels of up to 2\,kW, without the need of additional enhancements like
optical cavities. The alignment of the beams is straightforward and operation
at constant power levels is very stable, while maintenance is minimal. We
present a dedicated photodetachment setup that is suitable to efficiently
neutralize the majority of stable negative ions in the periodic table
Molecular Cloud Chemistry and The Importance of Dielectronic Recombination
Dielectronic recombination (DR) of singly charged ions is a reaction pathway that is commonly neglected in chemical models of molecular clouds. In this study we include state-of-the-art DR data for He+, C+, N+, O+, Na+, and Mg+ in chemical models used to simulate dense molecular clouds, protostars, and diffuse molecular clouds. We also update the radiative recombination (RR) rate coefficients for H+, He+, C+, N+, O+, Na+, and Mg+ to the current state-of-the-art values. The new RR data have little effect on the models. However, the inclusion of DR results in significant differences in gas-grain models of dense, cold molecular clouds for the evolution of a number of surface and gas-phase species. We find differences of a factor of 2 in the abundance for 74 of the 655 species at times of 104-106 yr in this model when we include DR. Of these 74 species, 16 have at least a factor of 10 difference in abundance. We find the largest differences for species formed on the surface of dust grains. These differences are due primarily to the addition of C+ DR, which increases the neutral C abundance, thereby enhancing the accretion of C onto dust. These results may be important for the warm-up phase of molecular clouds when surface species are desorbed into the gas phase. We also note that no reliable state-of-the-art RR or DR data exist for Si+, P+, S+, Cl+, and Fe+. Modern calculations for these ions are needed to better constrain molecular cloud models
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A simple double-focusing electrostatic ion beam deflector
We have developed an electrostatic, double-focusing 90° deflector for fast ion beams consisting of concentric cylindrical plates of differing heights. In contrast to standard cylindrical deflectors, our design allows for focusing of an incoming parallel beam not only in the plane of deflection but also in the orthogonal direction. The optical properties of our design resemble those of a spherical capacitor deflector while it is much easier and more cost effective to manufacture
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