268 research outputs found
Understanding of the Retarded Oxidation Effects in Silicon Nanostructures
In-depth understanding of the retarded oxidation phenomenon observed during
the oxidation of silicon nanostructures is proposed. The wet thermal oxidation
of various silicon nanostructures such as nanobeams, concave/convex nanorings
and nanowires exhibits an extremely different and complex behavior. Such
effects have been investigated by the modeling of the mechanical stress
generated during the oxidation process explaining the retarded regime. The
model describes the oxidation kinetics of silicon nanowires down to a few
nanometers while predicting reasonable and physical stress levels at the
Si/SiO interface by correctly taking into account the relaxation effects
in silicon oxide through plastic flow
Optical and Infrared Light Curves of the Eclipsing X-ray Binary V395 Car = 2S 0921-630
We present results of optical and infrared photometric monitoring of the
eclipsing low-mass X-ray binary V395 Car (2S 0921-630). Our observations reveal
a clear, repeating orbital modulation with an amplitude of about one magnitude
in B, and V and a little less in J. Combining our data with archival
observations spanning about 20 years, we derive an updated ephemeris with
orbital period 9.0026+/-0.0001d. We attribute the modulation to a combination
of the changing aspect of the irradiated face of the companion star and
eclipses of the accretion disk around the neutron star. Both appear to be
necessary as a secondary eclipse of the companion star is clearly seen. We
model the B, V, and J lightcurves using a simple model of an accretion disk and
companion star and find a good fit is possible for binary inclinations of
82.2+/-1.0 degrees. We estimate the irradiating luminosity to be about 8x10^35
erg/s, in good agreement with X-ray constraints.Comment: 6 pages, accepted for publication in MNRA
A Circumbinary Planet in Orbit Around the Short-Period White-Dwarf Eclipsing Binary RR Cae
By using six new determined mid-eclipse times together with those collected
from the literature, we found that the Observed-Calculated (O-C) curve of RR
Cae shows a cyclic change with a period of 11.9 years and an amplitude of
14.3s, while it undergoes an upward parabolic variation (revealing a long-term
period increase at a rate of dP/dt =+4.18(+-0.20)x10^(-12). The cyclic change
was analyzed for the light-travel time effect that arises from the
gravitational influence of a third companion. The mass of the third body was
determined to be M_3*sin i' = 4.2(+-0.4) M_{Jup} suggesting that it is a
circumbinary giant planet when its orbital inclination is larger than 17.6
degree. The orbital separation of the circumbinary planet from the central
eclipsing binary is about 5.3(+-0.6)AU. The period increase is opposite to the
changes caused by angular momentum loss via magnetic braking or/and
gravitational radiation, nor can it be explained by the mass transfer between
both components because of its detached configuration. These indicate that the
observed upward parabolic change is only a part of a long-period (longer than
26.3 years) cyclic variation, which may reveal the presence of another giant
circumbinary planet in a wide orbit.Comment: It will be published in the MNRA
Membrane bioreactors – A review on recent developments in energy reduction, fouling control, novel configurations, LCA and market prospects
COST Action ES1202: Conceiving Wastewater Treatment in 2020 - Energetic, environmental and economic challenges (Water_2020), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)
Skilful seasonal forecasts of streamflow over Europe?
This paper considers whether there is any added value in using seasonal climate forecasts instead of historical meteorological observations for forecasting streamflow on seasonal timescales over Europe. A Europe-wide analysis of the skill of the newly operational EFAS (European Flood Awareness System) seasonal streamflow forecasts (produced by forcing the Lisflood model with the ECMWF System 4 seasonal climate forecasts), benchmarked against the Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) forecasting approach (produced by forcing the Lisflood model with historical meteorological observations), is undertaken. The results suggest that, on average, the System 4 seasonal climate forecasts improve the streamflow predictability over historical meteorological observations for the first month of lead time only (in terms of hindcast accuracy, sharpness and overall performance). However, the predictability varies in space and time and is greater in winter and autumn. Parts of Europe additionally exhibit a longer predictability, up to seven months of lead time, for certain months within a season. In terms of hindcast reliability, the EFAS seasonal streamflow hindcasts are on average less skilful than the ESP for all lead times. The results also highlight the potential usefulness of the EFAS seasonal streamflow forecasts for decision-making (measured in terms of the hindcast discrimination for the lower and upper terciles of the simulated streamflow). Although the ESP is the most potentially useful forecasting approach in Europe, the EFAS seasonal streamflow forecasts appear more potentially useful than the ESP in some regions and for certain seasons, especially in winter for almost 40% of Europe. Patterns in the EFAS seasonal streamflow hindcasts skill are however not mirrored in the System 4 seasonal climate hindcasts, hinting the need for a better understanding of the link between hydrological and meteorological variables on seasonal timescales, with the aim to improve climate-model based seasonal streamflow forecasting
High Speed Photometry of SDSS J013701.06-091234.9
We present high speed photometry of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey cataclysmic
variable SDSS J013701.06-091234.9 in quiescence and during its 2003 December
superoutburst. The orbital modulation at 79.71\pm0.01 min is double humped; the
superhump period is 81.702\pm0.007 min. Towards the end of the outburst late
superhumps with a period of 81.29\pm0.01 min were observed. We argue that this
is a system of very low mass transfer rate, and that it probably has a long
outburst interval.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
The Carnegie Supernova Project: The Low-Redshift Survey
Supernovae are essential to understanding the chemical evolution of the
Universe. Type Ia supernovae also provide the most powerful observational tool
currently available for studying the expansion history of the Universe and the
nature of dark energy. Our basic knowledge of supernovae comes from the study
of their photometric and spectroscopic properties. However, the presently
available data sets of optical and near-infrared light curves of supernovae are
rather small and/or heterogeneous, and employ photometric systems that are
poorly characterized. Similarly, there are relatively few supernovae whose
spectral evolution has been well sampled, both in wavelength and phase, with
precise spectrophotometric observations. The low-redshift portion of the
Carnegie Supernova Project (CSP) seeks to remedy this situation by providing
photometry and spectrophotometry of a large sample of supernovae taken on
telescope/filter/detector systems that are well understood and well
characterized. During a five-year program which began in September 2004, we
expect to obtain high-precision u'g'r'i'BVYJHKs light curves and optical
spectrophotometry for about 250 supernovae of all types. In this paper we
provide a detailed description of the CSP survey observing and data reduction
methodology. In addition, we present preliminary photometry and spectra
obtained for a few representative supernovae during the first observing
campaign.Comment: 45 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables, accepted by PAS
The Carnegie Supernova Project: Analysis of the First Sample of Low-Redshift Type-Ia Supernovae
We present the analysis of the first set of low-redshift Type Ia supernovae
(SNe Ia) by the Carnegie Supernova Project. Well-sampled, high-precision
optical (ugriBV) and near-infrared (NIR; YJHKs) light curves obtained in a
well-understood photometric system are used to provide light-curve parameters,
and ugriBVYJH template light curves. The intrinsic colors at maximum light are
calibrated to compute optical--NIR color excesses for the full sample, thus
allowing the properties of the reddening law in the host galaxies to be
studied. A low value of Rv~1.7, is derived when using the entire sample of SNe.
However, when the two highly reddened SNe in the sample are excluded, a value
Galactic standard of Rv~3.2 is obtained. The colors of these two events are
well matched by a reddening model due to circumstellar dust. The peak
luminosities are calibrated using a two-parameter linear fit to the decline
rates and the colors, or alternatively, the color excesses. In both cases,
dispersions in absolute magnitude of 0.12--0.16 mag are obtained, depending on
the filter-color combination. In contrast to the results obtained from color
excesses, these fits give Rv~1--2, even when the two highly reddened SNe are
excluded. This discrepancy suggests that, beyond the "normal" interstellar
reddening produced in the host galaxies, there is an intrinsic dispersion in
the colors of SNe Ia which is correlated with luminosity but independent of the
decline rate. Finally, a Hubble diagram is produced by combining the results of
the fits for each filter. The resulting scatter of 0.12 mag appears to be
limited by peculiar velocities as evidenced by the strong correlation between
the distance-modulus residuals among the different filters. The implication is
that the actual precision of SN Ia distances is 3--4%.Comment: 76 pages, 20 figures, accepted for publication in A
The Carnegie Supernova Project I: photometry data release of low-redshift stripped-envelope supernovae
The first phase of the Carnegie Supernova Project (CSP-I) was a dedicated
supernova follow-up program based at the Las Campanas Observatory that
collected science data of young, low-redshift supernovae between 2004 and 2009.
Presented in this paper is the CSP-I photometric data release of low-redshift
stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae. The data consist of optical
(uBgVri) photometry of 34 objects, with a subset of 26 having near-infrared
(YJH) photometry. Twenty objects have optical pre-maximum coverage with a
subset of 12 beginning at least five days prior to the epoch of B-band maximum
brightness. In the near-infrared, 17 objects have pre-maximum observations with
a subset of 14 beginning at least five days prior to the epoch of J-band
maximum brightness. Analysis of this photometric data release is presented in
companion papers focusing on techniques to estimate host-galaxy extinction
(Stritzinger et al., submitted) and the light-curve and progenitor star
properties of the sample (Taddia et al., submitted). The analysis of an
accompanying visual-wavelength spectroscopy sample of ~150 spectra will be the
subject of a future paper.Comment: Updated a couple of small error
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