369 research outputs found
Temperature Dependent Polarity Reversal in Au/Nb:SrTiO3 Schottky Junctions
We have observed temperature-dependent reversal of the rectifying polarity in
Au/Nb:SrTiO3 Schottky junctions. By simulating current-voltage characteristics
we have found that the permittivity of SrTiO3 near the interface exhibits
temperature dependence opposite to that observed in the bulk, significantly
reducing the barrier width. At low temperature, tunneling current dominates the
junction transport due both to such barrier narrowing and to suppressed thermal
excitations. The present results demonstrate that novel junction properties can
be induced by the interface permittivity
Observations of OJ 287 from the Geodetic VLBI Archive of the Washington Correlator
We present 27 geodetic VLBI maps of OJ 287 obtained from the archive of the
Washington correlator. The observations presented here were made between 1990
October and 1996 December. During this period a sequence of six superluminal
components has been identified. We measured the proper motion of these
components to be approximately 0.5 mas/yr, which is about twice as high as that
seen in previous VLBI observations. These results imply a higher component
ejection rate than previously observed, in good agreement with the observed
occurrences of radio outbursts. We have examined a possible connection between
VLBI components and optical flares in the framework of a binary black hole
system.Comment: 9 pages, 5 included figures, emulateapj.sty, accepted to The
Astrophysical Journa
High sensitive X-ray films to detect electron showers in 100 GeV region
Nonscreen type X-ray films were used in emulsion chamber experiments to detect high energy showers in cosmic rays. Ranges of the detection threshold is from about 1 to 2 TeV depending on the exposure conditions. Different types of X-ray films and sheets i.e. high sensitive screen type X-ray films and luminescence sheets were tested. The threshold of the shower detection is found to be about 200 GeV, which is much lower than that of nonscreen type X-ray films. These films are useful to detect showers in the medium energy range, a few hundred GeV, of the cosmic ray electrons
Observations of BL Lacertae from the Geodetic VLBI Archive of the Washington Correlator
We present maps of BL Lac obtained from geodetic VLBI data from the archive of the Washington correlator. The observations were made from 1996 March to 1996 November, with periods from one experiment to another as short as 1 month. The dominant structure of the maps is given by a superluminal component (C2) moving predominantly at position angle ~190°. At the later epochs a new superluminal component (C3) emerges from the core and moves along a trajectory at a higher position angle (200°). We also include maps from observations made in 1995 June and August showing the main component (C2) in the early stages of its evolution, as well as an older component (C1). The position angle of the component C1 is nearly the same as that of the new component C3. The component C2 shows indications of nonradial motion, which is discussed in terms of a helically distorted jet. The best fit was obtained for a half-opening angle of the jet of 2.6d and an angle of the helical axis to the line of sight of 17°
Observation of Multi-Tev Diffuse Gamma Rays from the Galactic Plane with the Tibet Air Shower Array
Data from the Tibet-III air shower array (with energies around 3 TeV) and
from the Tibet-II array (with energies around 10 TeV) have been searched for
diffuse gamma rays from the Galactic plane. These arrays have an angular
resolution of about 0.9 degrees. The sky regions searched are the inner Galaxy,
20 degrees <= l <= 55 degrees, and outer Galaxy, 140 degrees <= l <= 225
degrees, and |b| <= 2 degrees or <= 5 degrees. No significant Galactic plane
gamma-ray excess was observed. The 99% confidence level upper limits for
gamma-ray intensity obtained are (for |b| <= 2 degrees) 1.1 times 10^{-15}
cm^{-2}s^{-1}sr^{-1}MeV^{-1} at 3 TeV and 4.1 times 10^{-17}
cm^{-2}s^{-1}sr^{-1}MeV^{-1} at 10 TeV for the inner Galaxy, and 3.6 times
10^{-16} cm^{-2}s^{-1}sr^{-1}MeV^{-1} at 3 TeV and 1.3 times 10^{-17}
cm^{-2}s^{-1}sr^{-1}MeV^{-1} at 10 TeV for the outer Galaxy, assuming a
differential spectral index of 2.4. The upper limits are significant in the
multi-TeV region when compared to those from Cherenkov telescopes in the lower
energy region and other air shower arrays in the higher energy region; however,
the results are not sufficient to rule out the inverse Compton model with a
source electron spectral index of 2.0.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap
Observation of thundercloud-related gamma rays and neutrons in Tibet
During the 2010 rainy season in Yangbajing (4300 m above sea level) in Tibet, China, a long-duration count enhancement associated with thunderclouds was detected by a solar-neutron telescope and neutron monitors installed at the Yangbajing Comic Ray Observatory. The event, lasting for ∼40  min, was observed on July 22, 2010. The solar-neutron telescope detected significant γ-ray signals with energies >40  MeV in the event. Such a prolonged high-energy event has never been observed in association with thunderclouds, clearly suggesting that electron acceleration lasts for 40 min in thunderclouds. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations showed that >10  MeV γ rays largely contribute to the neutron monitor signals, while >1  keV neutrons produced via a photonuclear reaction contribute relatively less to the signals. This result suggests that enhancements of neutron monitors during thunderstorms are not necessarily clear evidence for neutron production, as previously thought
The kinematics in the pc-scale jets of AGN The case of S5 1803+784
We present a kinematic analysis of jet component motion in the VLBI jet of
the BL Lac object S5 1803+784, which does not reveal long-term outward motion
for most of the components. Understanding the complex kinematic phenomena can
possibly provide insights into the differences between quasars and BL Lac
objects. The blazar S5 1803+784 has been studied with VLBI at =1.6, 2.3,
5, 8.4, and 15 GHz between 1993.88 and 2005.68 in 26 observing runs. We
(re)analyzed the data and present Gaussian model-fits. We collected the already
published kinematic information for this source from the literature and
re-identified the components according to the new scenario presented in this
paper. Altogether, 94 epochs of observations have been investigated. A careful
study of the long-term kinematics reveals a new picture for component motion in
S5 1803+784. In contrast to previously discussed motion scenarios, we find that
the jet structure within 12 mas of the core can most easily be described by the
coexistence of several bright jet features that remain on the long-term at
roughly constant core separations (in addition to the already known {\it
stationary} jet component 1.4 mas) and one faint component moving with
an apparent superluminal speed ( 19c, based on 3 epochs). While most of
the components maintain long-term roughly constant distances from the core, we
observe significant, smooth changes in their position angles. We report on an
evolution of the whole jet ridge line with time over the almost 12 years of
observations. The width of the jet changes periodically with a period of
8 to 9 years. We find a correlation between changes in the position angle and
maxima in the total flux-density. We present evidence for a geometric origin of
the phenomena and discuss possible models.Comment: The manuscript will be published by A&
The inner jet of radio galaxy NGC 315 as observed with Chandra and the VLA
We present Chandra X-ray results for the jet, nucleus, and gaseous atmosphere
of NGC 315, a nearby radio galaxy whose jet kinematics are known through deep
radio mapping. Diffuse X-ray synchrotron emission is detected from the jet out
to 30 arcsec from the nucleus, through regions both of fast bulk flow and
deceleration. The X-ray to radio flux ratio drops considerably where the flow
decelerates, but the X-ray and radio emissions show similar transverse extents
throughout, requiring distributed particle acceleration to maintain the supply
of X-ray-emitting electrons. A remarkable knotty filament within the jet is
seen in both the radio and X-ray, contributing roughly 10 per cent of the
diffuse emission along its extent at both wavelengths. No completely
satisfactory explanation for the filament is found, though its oscillatory
appearance, roughly aligned magnetic field, and requirements for particle
acceleration, suggest that it is a magnetic strand within a shear layer between
fast inner and slower outer flow.Comment: Accepted for publication in the MNRAS. 13 pages,14 figures (some in
colour
High-Mass Cloud Cores in the eta Carinae Giant Molecular Cloud
We carried out an unbiased survey for massive dense cores in the giant
molecular cloud associated with eta Carinae with the NANTEN telescope in 12CO,
13CO, and C18O 1-0 emission lines. We identified 15 C18O cores. Two of the 15
cores are associated with IRAS point sources whose luminosities are larger than
10^4 Lo, which indicates that massive star formation is occuring within these
cores. Five cores including the two with IRAS sources are associated with MSX
point sources. We detected H13CO+ (1-0) emission toward 4 C18O cores, one of
which is associated with neither IRAS nor MSX point sources. This core shows
the presence of a bipolar molecular outflow in 12CO (2-1), which indicates that
star formation is also occuring in the core. In total, six C18O cores out of 15
are experienced star formation, and at least 2 of 15 are massive-star forming
cores in the eta Car GMC. We found that massive star formation occurs
preferentially in cores with larger column density, mass, number density, and
smaller ratio of virial mass to LTE mass Mvir/M. We also found that the cores
in the eta Car GMC are characterized by large line width and Mvir/M on average
compared to the cores in other GMCs. We investigated the origin of a large
amount of turbulence in the eta Car GMC. We propose the possibility that the
large turbulence was pre-existing when the GMC was formed, and is now
dissipating. Mechanisms such as multiple supernova explosions in the Carina
flare supershell may have contributed to form a GMC with a large amount of
turbulence.Comment: 41 pages, including 11 fugures and 9 tables. Accepted by ApJ. Author
changed. Paper with high resolution figures is available at
http://astrol.cias.osakafu-u.ac.jp/~yonekura/work/paper/etaCar
Observation of Multi-Tev Gamma Rays from the Crab Nebula Using the Tibet Air Shower Array
The Tibet experiment, operating at Yangbajing (4,300 m above sea level), is
the lowest energy air shower array and the new high density array constructed
in 1996 has sensitivity to -ray air showers at energies as low as 3
TeV. With this new array, the Crab Nebula was observed in multi-TeV
-rays and a signal was detected at the 5.5 level. We also
obtained the energy spectrum of -rays in the energy region above 3 TeV
which partially overlaps those observed with imaging atmospheric Cherenkov
telescopes. This is the first observation of -ray signals from point
sources with a conventional air shower array using scintillation detectors.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
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