The FERRUM project: Experimental lifetimes and transition probabilities from highly excited even 4d levels in Fe ii

We report lifetime measurements of the 6 levels in the 3d6(5D)4d e6G term in Fe ii at an energy of 10.4 eV, and f -values for 14 transitions from the investigated levels. The lifetimes were measured using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence on ions in a laser-produced plasma. The high excitation energy, and the fact that the levels have the same parity as the the low-lying states directly populated in the plasma, necessitated the use of a two-photon excitation scheme. The probability for this process is greatly enhanced by the presence of the 3d6(5D)4p z6F levels at roughly half the energy difference. The f -values are obtained by combining the experimental lifetimes with branching fractions derived using relative intensities from a hollow cathode discharge lamp recorded with a Fourier transform spectrometer. The data is important for benchmarking atomic calculations of astrophysically important quantities and useful for spectroscopy of hot stars.Comment: A&A, accepte

Dialect Leveling in Haloze, Slovenia

Dialect Leveling in Haloze, Slovenia represents an eclectic and innovative approach to Slovene dialectology. The first part of the book examines the dialect area of Haloze, a relatively underdeveloped region on Slovenia’s eastern frontier, from a descriptive and historical perspective. The phonological description of the dialect and the discussion of the linguistic history of Haloze are based on the author’s dialect recordings and fieldwork conducted over more than a decade. The initial chapters contain a basic discussion of the vocalic systems of the main regions of Haloze and a more detailed description of two regions, the village dialects of Meje and Belavšek. This description documents the most archaic forms of the dialect and clarifies where Haloze fits among the surrounding dialects and language groups. The remainder of the work is an analysis of Haloze from a contemporary point of view. A continuum model for the interaction between different varieties of the Slovene language is introduced. The modern sociolinguistic state of the dialect is discussed based on extensive interviews as well as several questionnaires conducted in the region within the last two years. All of this material indicates that the local dialect is not dying. Large percentages of people of all age groups claim to be proficient speakers of the dialect. It is also clear that, when the modern dialect of almost all local speakers is compared to the most archaic forms of the dialect, the dialect is changing. There is significant variation within the dialect. The author’s contention, supported by the results of surveys, interviews and observations, is that the local village dialect is being leveled toward the regional dialect spoken in and around the largest city of the area, Ptuj. The regional koinè, spoken in and around the city of Ptuj, is based on local dialects and is perceived by speakers as dialect. As the local village dialects are leveled toward the regional koinè, speakers continue to think of themselves as local dialect users even though they are speaking a variety of the language closer to the regional dialect than to the micro dialect of their parents and grandparents

Preliminary Report on Dialect Attitudes in Austrian and Slovene Carinthia

This paper is a preliminary analysis of an internet-based questionnaire on dialect attitudes and perceptions conducted in Slovene-speaking areas in Austrian and Slovene Carinthia

A theoretical investigation of the aerodynamics of slender wing-body combinations exhibiting leading-edge separation

Theoretical investigation of aerodynamics of slender wing-body combinations exhibiting leading edge separatio

Transition Probabilities Of Astrophysical Interest In The Niobium Ions Nb+ And Nb2+

Aims. We attempt to derive accurate transition probabilities for astrophysically interesting spectral lines of Nb II and Nb III and determine the niobium abundance in the Sun and metal-poor stars rich in neutron-capture elements. Methods. We used the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique to measure radiative lifetimes in Nb II. Branching fractions were measured from spectra recorded using Fourier transform spectroscopy. The radiative lifetimes and the branching fractions were combined yielding transition probabilities. In addition, we calculated lifetimes and transition probablities in Nb II and Nb III using a relativistic Hartree-Fock method that includes core polarization. Abundances of the sun and five metal-poor stars were derived using synthetic spectra calculated with the MOOG code, including hyperfine broadening of the lines. Results. We present laboratory measurements of 17 radiative lifetimes in Nb II. By combining these lifetimes with branching fractions for lines depopulating the levels, we derive the transition probabilities of 107 Nb II lines from 4d(3)5p configuration in the wavelength region 2240-4700 angstrom. For the first time, we present theoretical transition probabilities of 76 Nb III transitions with wavelengths in the range 1430-3140 angstrom. The derived solar photospheric niobium abundance log epsilon(circle dot) = 1.44 +/- 0.06 is in agreement with the meteoritic value. The stellar Nb/Eu abundance ratio determined for five metal-poor stars confirms that the r-process is a dominant production method for the n-capture elements in these stars.Integrated Initiative of Infrastructure RII3-CT-2003-506350Swedish Research CouncilKnut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationBelgian FRS-FNRSFRIAUS National Science Foundation AST-0607708, AST-0908978Astronom

Experimental f-value and isotopic structure for the Ni I line blended with [OI] at 6300A

We have measured the oscillator strength of the Ni I line at 6300.34 \AA, which is known to be blended with the forbidden [O I] $\lambda$6300 line, used for determination of the oxygen abundance in cool stars. We give also wavelengths of the two isotopic line components of $^{58}$Ni and $^{60}$Ni derived from the asymmetric laboratory line profile. These two line components of Ni I have to be considered when calculating a line profile of the 6300 \AA\ feature observed in stellar and solar spectra. We also discuss the labelling of the energy levels involved in the Ni I line, as level mixing makes the theoretical predictions uncertain.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJLetter