5,144 research outputs found
The UV Scattering Halo of the Central Source Associated with Eta Carinae
We have made an extensive study of the UV spectrum of Eta Carinae, and find
that we do not directly observe the star and its wind in the UV. Because of
dust along our line of sight, the UV light that we observe arises from
bound-bound scattering at large impact parameters. We obtain a reasonable fit
to the UV spectrum by using only the flux that originates outside 0.033". This
explains why we can still observe the primary star in the UV despite the large
optical extinction -- it is due to the presence of an intrinsic coronagraph in
the Eta Carinae system, and to the extension of the UV emitting region. It is
not due to peculiar dust properties alone. We have computed the spectrum of the
purported companion star, and show that it could only be directly detected in
the UV spectrum preferentially in the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer
(FUSE) spectral region (912-1175 Ang.). However, we find no direct evidence for
a companion star, with the properties indicated by X-ray studies and studies of
the Weigelt blobs, in UV spectra. This might be due to reprocessing of the
companion's light by the dense stellar wind of the primary. Broad FeII and
[FeII] emission lines, which form in the stellar wind, are detected in spectra
taken in the SE lobe, 0.2" from the central star. The wind spectrum shows some
similarities to the spectra of the B & D Weigelt blobs, but also shows some
marked differences in that high excitation lines, and lines pumped by Ly-alpha,
are not seen. The detection of the broad lines lends support to our
interpretation of the UV spectrum, and to our model for Eta Carinae.Comment: To appear in ApJ. 57 pages with 18 figure
Random Walks Along the Streets and Canals in Compact Cities: Spectral analysis, Dynamical Modularity, Information, and Statistical Mechanics
Different models of random walks on the dual graphs of compact urban
structures are considered. Analysis of access times between streets helps to
detect the city modularity. The statistical mechanics approach to the ensembles
of lazy random walkers is developed. The complexity of city modularity can be
measured by an information-like parameter which plays the role of an individual
fingerprint of {\it Genius loci}.
Global structural properties of a city can be characterized by the
thermodynamical parameters calculated in the random walks problem.Comment: 44 pages, 22 figures, 2 table
Comparison of high-specific-activity ultratrace 123/131I-MIBG and carrier-added 123/131I-MIBG on efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution
Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is an enzymatically stable synthetic analog of norepinephrine that when radiolabled with diagnostic ((123)I) or therapeutic ((131)I) isotopes has been shown to concentrate highly in sympathetically innervated tissues such as the heart and neuroendocrine tumors that possesses high levels of norepinephrine transporter (NET). As the transport of MIBG by NET is a saturable event, the specific activity of the preparation may have dramatic effects on both the efficacy and safety of the radiodiagnostic/radiotherapeutic. Using a solid labeling approach (Ultratrace), noncarrier-added radiolabeled MIBG can be efficiently produced. In this study, specific activities of >1200 mCi/micromol for (123)I and >1600 mCi/micromol for (131)I have been achieved. A series of studies were performed to assess the impact of cold carrier MIBG on the tissue distribution of (123/131)I-MIBG in the conscious rat and on cardiovascular parameters in the conscious instrumented dog. The present series of studies demonstrated that the carrier-free Ultratrace MIBG radiolabeled with either (123)I or (131)I exhibited similar tissue distribution to the carrier-added radiolabeled MIBG in all nontarget tissues. In tissues that express NETs, the higher the specific activity of the preparation the greater will be the radiopharmaceutical uptake. This was reflected by greater efficacy in the mouse neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2c) xenograft model and less appreciable cardiovascular side-effects in dogs when the high-specific-activity radiopharmaceutical was used. The increased uptake and retention of Ultratrace (123/131)I-MIBG may translate into a superior diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Lastly, care must be taken when administering therapeutic doses of the current carrier-added (131)I-MIBG because of its potential to cause adverse cardiovascular side-effects, nausea, and vomiting
Far-UV FUSE spectroscopy of the OVI resonance doublet in Sand2 (WO)
We present Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spectroscopy of Sand
2, a LMC WO-type Wolf-Rayet star, revealing the OVI resonance P Cygni doublet
at 1032-38A. These data are combined with HST/FOS ultraviolet and Mt Stromlo
2.3m optical spectroscopy, and analysed using a spherical, non-LTE,
line-blanketed code. Our study reveals exceptional stellar parameters:
T*=150,000K, v_inf=4100 km/s, log (L/Lo)=5.3, and Mdot=10^-5 Mo/yr if we adopt
a volume filling factor of 10%. Elemental abundances of C/He=0.7+-0.2 and
O/He=0.15(-0.05+0.10) by number qualitatively support previous recombination
line studies. We confirm that Sand 2 is more chemically enriched in carbon than
LMC WC stars, and is expected to undergo a supernova explosion within the next
50,000 yr.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, AASTeX preprint format. This paper will appear
in a special issue of ApJ Letters devoted to the first scientific results
from the FUSE missio
Blobs in Wolf-Rayet Winds: Random Photometric and Polarimetric Variability
Some isolated Wolf-Rayet stars present random variability in their optical
flux and polarization. We make the assumption that such variability is caused
by the presence of regions of enhanced density, i.e. blobs, in their envelopes.
In order to find the physical characteristics of such regions we have modeled
the stellar emission using a Monte Carlo code to treat the radiative transfer
in an inhomogeneous electron scattering envelope. We are able to treat multiple
scattering in the regions of enhanced density as well as in the envelope
itself. The finite sizes of the source and structures in the wind are also
taken into account. Most of the results presented here are based on a parameter
study of models with a single blob. The effects due to multiple blobs in the
envelope are considered to a more limited extent. Our simulations indicate that
the density enhancements must have a large geometric cross section in order to
produce the observed photopolarimetric variability. The sizes must be of the
order of one stellar radius and the blobs must be located near the base of the
envelope. These sizes are the same inferred from the widths of the sub-peaks in
optical emission lines of Wolf-Rayet stars. Other early-type stars show random
polarimetric fluctuations with characteristics similar to those observed in
Wolf-Rayet stars, which may also be interpreted in terms of a clumpy wind.
Although the origin of such structures is still unclear, the same mechanism may
be working in different types of hot stars envelopes to produce such
inhomogeneities.Comment: Accepted to ApJ. 17 pages + 6 figure
Neon Abundances from a Spitzer/IRS Survey of Wolf-Rayet Stars
We report on neon abundances derived from {\it Spitzer} high resolution
spectral data of eight Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars using the forbidden line of
[\ion{Ne}{3}] 15.56 microns. Our targets include four WN stars of subtypes
4--7, and four WC stars of subtypes 4--7. We derive ion fraction abundances
of Ne^{2+} for the winds of each star. The ion fraction abundance is a
product of the ionization fraction in stage i and the abundance by
number of element E relative to all nuclei. Values generally
consistent with solar are obtained for the WN stars, and values in excess of
solar are obtained for the WC stars.Comment: to appear in Astrophysical Journa
Ranking Spaces for Predicting Human Movement in an Urban Environment
A city can be topologically represented as a connectivity graph, consisting
of nodes representing individual spaces and links if the corresponding spaces
are intersected. It turns out in the space syntax literature that some defined
topological metrics can capture human movement rates in individual spaces. In
other words, the topological metrics are significantly correlated to human
movement rates, and individual spaces can be ranked by the metrics for
predicting human movement. However, this correlation has never been well
justified. In this paper, we study the same issue by applying the weighted
PageRank algorithm to the connectivity graph or space-space topology for
ranking the individual spaces, and find surprisingly that (1) the PageRank
scores are better correlated to human movement rates than the space syntax
metrics, and (2) the underlying space-space topology demonstrates small world
and scale free properties. The findings provide a novel justification as to why
space syntax, or topological analysis in general, can be used to predict human
movement. We further conjecture that this kind of analysis is no more than
predicting a drunkard's walking on a small world and scale free network.
Keywords: Space syntax, topological analysis of networks, small world, scale
free, human movement, and PageRankComment: 11 pages, 5 figures, and 2 tables, English corrections from version 1
to version 2, major changes in the section of introduction from version 2 to
Discovery of the first tau Sco analogues: HD 66665 and HD 63425
The B0.2 V magnetic star tau Sco stands out from the larger population of
massive OB stars due to its high X-ray activity, peculiar wind diagnostics and
highly complex magnetic field. This paper presents the discovery of the first
two tau Sco analogues - HD 66665 and HD 63425, identified by the striking
similarity of their UV spectra to that of tau Sco. ESPaDOnS spectropolarimetric
observations were secured by the Magnetism in Massive Stars CFHT Large Program,
in order to characterize the stellar and magnetic properties of these stars.
CMFGEN modelling of optical ESPaDOnS spectra and archived IUE UV spectra showed
that these stars have stellar parameters similar to those of tau Sco. A
magnetic field of similar surface strength is found on both stars, reinforcing
the connection between the presence of a magnetic field and wind peculiarities.
However, additional phase-resolved observations will be required in order to
assess the potential complexity of the magnetic fields, and verify if the wind
anomalies are linked to this property.Comment: 6 pages, 2 tables, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. The
definitive version will be available at www.blackwel-synergy.co
The Effects of Clumps in Explaining X-ray Emission Lines from Hot Stars
It is now well established that stellar winds of hot stars are fragmentary
and that the X-ray emission from stellar winds has a strong contribution from
shocks in winds. Chandra high spectral resolution observations of line profiles
of O and B stars have shown numerous properties that had not been expected.
Here we suggest explanations by considering the X-rays as arising from bow
shocks that occur where the stellar wind impacts on spherical clumps in the
winds. We use an accurate and stable numerical hydrodynamical code to obtain
steady-state physical conditions for the temperature and density structure in a
bow shock. We use these solutions plus analytic approximations to interpret
some major X-ray features: the simple power-law distribution of the observed
emission measure derived from many hot star X-ray spectra and the wide range of
ionization stages that appear to be present in X-ray sources throughout the
winds. Also associated with the adiabatic cooling of the gas around a clump is
a significant transverse velocity for the hot plasma flow around the clumps,
and this can help to understand anomalies associated with observed line widths,
and the differences in widths seen in stars with high and low mass-loss rates.
The differences between bow shocks and the planar shocks that are often used
for hot stars are discussed. We introduce an ``on the shock'' (OTSh)
approximation that is useful for interpreting the X-rays and the consequences
of clumps in hot star winds and elsewhere in astronomy.Comment: to appear in the Astrophysical Journa
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