5,315 research outputs found
A continuous-flow system for the growth of Neurospora
Continuous-flow system for growt
Evidence for a Supermassive Black Hole in the S0 Galaxy NGC 3245
The S0 galaxy NGC 3245 contains a circumnuclear disk of ionized gas and dust with a radius of 1.1" (110 pc), making it an ideal target for dynamical studies with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We have obtained spectra of the nuclear disk with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, using a 0.2" wide slit at five parallel positions. Measurements of the Hα and [N II] emission lines are used to map out the kinematic structure of the disk in unprecedented detail. The data reveal a rotational velocity field with a steep velocity gradient across the innermost 0.4". We construct dynamical models for a thin gas disk in circular rotation, using HST optical images to map out the gravitational potential due to stars. Our modeling code includes the blurring due to the telescope point-spread function and the nonzero slit width, as well as the instrumental shift in measured wavelength for light entering the slit off-center, so as to simulate the data as closely as possible. The Hα+[N II] surface brightness measured from an HST narrowband image is folded into the models, and we demonstrate that many of the apparent small-scale irregularities in the observed velocity curves are the result of the patchy distribution of emission-line surface brightness. Over most of the disk, the models are able to fit the observed radial velocity curves closely, although there are localized regions within the disk that appear to be kinematically disturbed relative to the overall rotational pattern. The velocity dispersion of [N II] λ6584 rises from σ~50 km/s in the outer disk to ~160 km/s at the nucleus, and most of this line width cannot be attributed to rotational or instrumental broadening. To account for the possible dynamical effect of the intrinsic velocity dispersion in the gas, we also calculate models that include a correction for asymmetric drift. This correction increases the derived black hole mass by 12% but leads to slightly poorer fits to the data. A central dark mass of (2.1+/-0.5)×10^8 Msolar is required for the models to reproduce the steep central velocity gradient. This value for the central mass is consistent with recently discovered correlations between black hole mass and bulge velocity dispersion.Peer reviewe
The quantum-classical crossover of a field mode
We explore the quantum-classical crossover in the behaviour of a quantum
field mode. The quantum behaviour of a two-state system - a qubit - coupled to
the field is used as a probe. Collapse and revival of the qubit inversion form
the signature for quantum behaviour of the field and continuous Rabi
oscillations form the signature for classical behaviour of the field. We
demonstrate both limits in a single model for the full coupled system, for
states with the same average field strength, and so for qubits with the same
Rabi frequency.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures (in this version the figures, text and references
have all been expanded
Lasing and cooling in a hot cavity
We present a microscopic laser model for many atoms coupled to a single
cavity mode, including the light forces resulting from atom-field momentum
exchange. Within a semiclassical description, we solve the equations for atomic
motion and internal dynamics to obtain analytic expressions for the optical
potential and friction force seen by each atom. When optical gain is maximum at
frequencies where the light field extracts kinetic energy from the atomic
motion, the dynamics combines optical lasing and motional cooling. From the
corresponding momentum diffusion coefficient we predict sub-Doppler
temperatures in the stationary state. This generalizes the theory of cavity
enhanced laser cooling to active cavity systems. We identify the gain induced
reduction of the effective resonator linewidth as key origin for the faster
cooling and lower temperatures, which implys that a bad cavity with a gain
medium can replace a high-Q cavity. In addition, this shows the importance of
light forces for gas lasers in the low-temperature limit, where atoms can
arrange in a periodic pattern maximizing gain and counteracting spatial hole
burning. Ultimately, in the low temperature limit, such a setup should allow to
combine optical lasing and atom lasing in single device.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure
- …