10,836 research outputs found
Phases dynamics in VCSELs with delayed optical feedback and cross re-injection
We study theoretically the non linear polarization dynamics of
Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers in the presence of an external cavity
providing delayed optical feedback and cross polarization re-injection. We show
that far from the laser threshold, the dynamics remains confined close to the
equatorial plane of a Stokes sphere of a given radius and we reduce the
dynamics to a dynamical system composed of two phases: the orientation phase of
the quasi-linear polarization and the optical phase of the field. We explore
the complex modal structure given by the double feedback configuration and
recovers as particular cases the Lang-Kobayashi modes and the modes founds by
Giudici et al. [1]. We also re-interpret the square waves switching dynamics as
phase kinks.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, pre-submission to Phys. Rev.
Cepheid theoretical models and observations in HST/WFC3 filters: the effect on the Hubble constant Ho
We present a complete theoretical scenario for classical Cepheids in the most
commonly used HST/WFC3 filters, going from optical (F555W, F606W and F814W) to
near-infrared (F160W) bands. The importance of such a study is related to the
recent release of new classical Cepheids observed with HST/WFC3 in 8 distant
galaxies where SNIa are hosted. These observations have posed sound constraints
to the current distance scale with uncertainties on the Hubble constant Ho
smaller than 3%. Our models explore a large range of metallicity and Helium
content, thus providing a robust and unique theoretical tool for describing
these new and future HST/WFC3 observations. As expected, the Period-Luminosity
(PL) relation in F160W filter is linear and slightly dependent on the
metallicity when compared with optical bands, thus it seems the most accurate
tool to constrain extragalactic distances with Cepheids. We compare the
pulsation properties of Cepheids observed with HST/WFC3-IR with our theoretical
scenario and we discuss the agreement with the predicted Instability Strip for
all the investigated galaxy samples including the case of NGC4258. Finally,
adopting our theoretical F160W PL relation for Z=0.02 and log P>1.0, we derive
new distance moduli. In particular, for NGC 4258, we derive a distance modulus
mu0 = 29.345 +- 0.004 mag with a sigma = 0.34 mag, which is in very good
agreement with the geometrical maser value. Moreover, using the obtained
distance moduli, we estimate the Hubble constant value, Ho=76.0 +- 1.9 km s-1
Mpc-1 in excellent agreement with the most recent literature values.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables, MNRAS, accepte
Theoretical Zero Age Main Sequences revisited
Zero Age Main Sequence (ZAMS) models with updated physical inputs are
presented for selected assumptions about the chemical composition, covering the
ranges 0.6 < M/Mo < 1.2, 0.0001 < Z < 0.04, 0.23 < Y < 0.34.The HR diagram
location of the ZAMS as a function of Y and Z is discussed both in the
theoretical and in the observational HR diagrams, showing that the V magnitude
presents an increased dependence on Z to be taken into account when discussing
observational evidences. Analytical relations quantifying both these
dependences are derived. Implications for the galactic helium to heavier
elements enrichment are finally discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 postscript figures, accepted for publication on Astronomy
& Astrophysic
The intermediate age open cluster NGC 2660
We present CCD UBVI photometry of the intermediate old open cluster NGC2660,
covering from the red giants region to about seven magnitudes below the main
sequence turn-off. Using the synthetic Colour - Magnitude Diagram method, we
estimate in a self-consistent way values for distance modulus ((m-M)0 ~= 12.2),
reddening (E(B-V) ~= 0.40), metallicity ([Fe/H] about solar), and age (age ~ 1
Gyr). A 30% population of binary stars turns out to be probably present.Comment: 12 pages, 8 (encapsulated) figures, to be published on MNRA
Pulsational M_V versus [Fe/H] relation(s) for globular cluster RR Lyrae variables
We use the results from recent computations of updated non-linear convective
pulsating models to constrain the distance modulus of Galactic globular
clusters through the observed periods of first overtone RRc pulsators. The
resulting relation between the mean absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae stars
and the heavy element content [Fe/H] appears well in the range of
several previous empirical calibrations, but with a non linear dependence on
[Fe/H] so that the slope of the relation increases when moving towards larger
metallicities. On this ground, our results suggest that metal-poor
([Fe/H]-1.5) variables follow two different
linear -[Fe/H] relations. Application to RR Lyrae stars in the
metal-poor globular clusters of the Large Magellanic Cloud provides a LMC
distance modulus of the order of 18.6 mag, thus supporting the "long" distance
scale. The comparison with recent predictions based on updated stellar
evolution theory is shortly presented and discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 4 postscript figures, accepted for publication on MNRA
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