2,800 research outputs found
Sputtering of Oxygen Ice by Low Energy Ions
Naturally occurring ices lie on both interstellar dust grains and on
celestial objects, such as those in the outer solar system. These ices are
continu- ously subjected to irradiation by ions from the solar wind and/or
cosmic rays, which modify their surfaces. As a result, new molecular species
may form which can be sputtered off into space or planetary atmospheres. We
determined the experimental values of sputtering yields for irradiation of
oxygen ice at 10 K by singly (He+, C+, N+, O+ and Ar+) and doubly (C2+, N2+ and
O2+) charged ions with 4 keV kinetic energy. In these laboratory experiments,
oxygen ice was deposited and irradiated by ions in an ultra high vacuum chamber
at low temperature to simulate the environment of space. The number of
molecules removed by sputtering was observed by measurement of the ice
thickness using laser interferometry. Preliminary mass spectra were taken of
sputtered species and of molecules formed in the ice by temperature programmed
desorption (TPD). We find that the experimental sputtering yields increase
approximately linearly with the projectile ion mass (or momentum squared) for
all ions studied. No difference was found between the sputtering yield for
singly and doubly charged ions of the same atom within the experimental
uncertainty, as expected for a process dominated by momentum transfer. The
experimental sputter yields are in good agreement with values calculated using
a theoretical model except in the case of oxygen ions. Preliminary studies have
shown molecular oxygen as the dominant species sputtered and TPD measurements
indicate ozone formation.Comment: to be published in Surface Science (2015
MODELING AND SIMULATION OF THERMOELECTRIC PLANT OF COMBINED CYCLES AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The impact any power plant has upon the environment must be minimized as much as
possible. Due to its high efficiency, low emission levels and low cooling requirements,
combined cycle plants are considered to be environmentally friendly. This study evaluates
the effect of operational conditions on pollutants (CO, CO2, SOx, NOx) emissions levels,
waste-heat and wastewater of a combined-cycle natural gas and steam power plant. The
HYSYS process simulation was used for modelling and simulation. The study clearly
shows that the absolute quantity of pollutants emitted is high. Also, it was possible to
verify that the unit operate in the condition of minimal emissions regarding the maximum
possible, and thus a reduction or elimination of such pollutants is not possible
Non-Fermi Liquid behavior in CeIrIn near a metamagnetic transition
We present specific heat and resistivity study of CeIrIn5 in magnetic fields
up to 17 T and temperature down to 50 mK. Both quantities were measured with
the magnetic field parallel to the c-axis (H || [001]) and within the a-b plane
(H \perp [001]). Non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) behavior develops above 12 T for H ||
[001]. The Fermi liquid state is much more robust for H \perp [001] and is
suppressed only moderately at the highest applied field. Based on the observed
trends and the proximity to a metamagnetic phase transition, which exists at
fields above 25 T for H || [001], we suggest that the observed NFL behavior in
CeIrIn5 is a consequence of a metamagnetic quantum critical point.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Letter
Universally diverging Grueneisen parameter and the magnetocaloric effect close to quantum critical points
At a generic quantum critical point, the thermal expansion is more
singular than the specific heat . Consequently, the "Gr\"uneisen ratio'',
\GE=\alpha/c_p, diverges. When scaling applies, \GE \sim T^{-1/(\nu z)} at
the critical pressure , providing a means to measure the scaling
dimension of the most relevant operator that pressure couples to; in the
alternative limit and , \GE \sim \frac{1}{p-p_c} with a
prefactor that is, up to the molar volume, a simple {\it universal} combination
of critical exponents. For a magnetic-field driven transition, similar
relations hold for the magnetocaloric effect .
Finally, we determine the corrections to scaling in a class of metallic quantum
critical points.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; general discussion on how the Grueneisen exponent
measures the scaling dimension of the most relevant operator at any QCP is
expande
The spatially resolved star formation history of CALIFA galaxies: Cosmic time scales
This paper presents the mass assembly time scales of nearby galaxies observed
by CALIFA at the 3.5m telescope in Calar Alto. We apply the fossil record
method of the stellar populations to the complete sample of the 3rd CALIFA data
release, with a total of 661 galaxies, covering stellar masses from 10
to 10 M and a wide range of Hubble types. We apply spectral
synthesis techniques to the datacubes and process the results to produce the
mass growth time scales and mass weighted ages, from which we obtain temporal
and spatially resolved information in seven bins of galaxy morphology and six
bins of stellar mass (M) and stellar mass surface density
(). We use three different tracers of the spatially resolved
star formation history (mass assembly curves, ratio of half mass to half light
radii, and mass-weighted age gradients) to test if galaxies grow inside-out,
and its dependence with galaxy stellar mass, , and morphology.
Our main results are as follows: (a) The innermost regions of galaxies assemble
their mass at an earlier time than regions located in the outer parts; this
happens at any given M, , or Hubble type, including
the lowest mass systems. (b) Galaxies present a significant diversity in their
characteristic formation epochs for lower-mass systems. This diversity shows a
strong dependence of the mass assembly time scales on and
Hubble type in the lower-mass range (10 to 10), but a very
mild dependence in higher-mass bins. (c) All galaxies show negative
log age gradients in the inner 1 HLR. The profile
flattens with increasing values of . There is no significant
dependence on M within a particular bin, except for
the lowest bin, where the gradients becomes steeper.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy
& Astrophysics. *Abridged abstract
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