308 research outputs found
A molecular shell with star formation toward the supernova remnant G349.7+0.2
A field of ~38'x38' around the supernova remnant (SNR) G349.7+0.2 has been
surveyed in the CO J=1-0 transition with the 12 Meter Telescope of the NRAO,
using the On-The-Fly technique. The resolution of the observations is 54". We
have found that this remnant is interacting with a small CO cloud which, in
turn, is part of a much larger molecular complex, which we call the ``Large CO
Shell''. The Large CO Shell has a diameter of about 100 pc, an H_2 mass of
930,000 solar masses, and a density of 35 cm-3. We investigate the origin of
this structure and suggest that an old supernova explosion ocurred about 4
million years ago, as a suitable hypothesis. Analyzing the interaction between
G349.7+0.2 and the Large CO Shell, it is possible to determine that the shock
front currently driven into the molecular gas is a non-dissociative shock
(C-type), in agreement with the presence of OH 1720 MHz masers. The positional
and kinematical coincidence among one of the CO clouds that constitute the
Large CO Shell, an IRAS point-like source and an ultracompact H II region,
indicate the presence of a recently formed star. We suggest that the formation
of this star was triggered during the expansion of the Large CO Shell, and
suggest the possibility that the same expansion also created the progenitor
star of G349.7+0.2. The Large CO Shell would then be one of the few
observational examples of supernova-induced star formation.Comment: accepted in Astronomical Journal, corrected typo in the abstract (in
first line, 38' instead of 38"
Absolute calibration and beam reconstruction of MITO (a ground-based instrument in the millimetric region)
An efficient sky data reconstruction derives from a precise characterization
of the observing instrument. Here we describe the reconstruction of
performances of a single-pixel 4-band photometer installed at MITO (Millimeter
and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory) focal plane. The strategy of differential
sky observations at millimeter wavelengths, by scanning the field of view at
constant elevation wobbling the subreflector, induces a good knowledge of beam
profile and beam-throw amplitude, allowing efficient data recovery. The
problems that arise estimating the detectors throughput by drift scanning on
planets are shown. Atmospheric transmission, monitored by skydip technique, is
considered for deriving final responsivities for the 4 channels using planets
as primary calibrators.Comment: 14 pages, 6 fiugres, accepted for pubblication by New Astronomy (25
March
Hydrographic observations from the US/PRC Cooperative Program in the Western Equatorial Pacific Ocean, cruises 1-4
In support of the Tropical Oceans and Global Atmosphere (TOGA) program, investigators from Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution (WHOI), NOAA Pacific Marine Envionmental Laboratory and the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) from both
Qingdao (First Institute) and Guangzhou (South China Sea Branch) conducted hydrographic observations aboard the Chinese
Research vessels Xiang Yang Hong 5 and Xiang Yang Hong 14 in the western equatorial Pacific. The objective of this component of
the TOGA program was to document the water mass property distributions of the western equatorial Pacific Ocean and describe the
oceanic velocity field. The four cruises summarized here were conducted during the period November 1985 to June 1988 and are
the first half of an eight cruise repeated survey of the region scheduled to be completed in spring 1990. Conductivity-Temperatue-Depth-Oxygen (CTD/02) stations were collected to a minimum cast depth of 2,500 m or the bottom when shallower. The cruises reoccupied the same stations to provide temporal information. Summarized listings of CTD/O2 data together with selected physical
properties of sea water for these cruises are provided here, as well as a description of the hardware used and an explanation of the
data reduction tehniques employed.Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
MUSTANG 3.3 Millimeter Continuum Observations of Class 0 Protostars
We present observations of six Class 0 protostars at 3.3 mm (90 GHz) using
the 64-pixel MUSTANG bolometer camera on the 100-m Green Bank Telescope. The
3.3 mm photometry is analyzed along with shorter wavelength observations to
derive spectral indices (S_nu ~ nu^alpha) of the measured emission. We utilize
previously published dust continuum radiative transfer models to estimate the
characteristic dust temperature within the central beam of our observations. We
present constraints on the millimeter dust opacity index, beta, between 0.862
mm, 1.25 mm, and 3.3 mm. Beta_mm typically ranges from 1.0 to 2.4 for Class 0
sources. The relative contributions from disk emission and envelope emission
are estimated at 3.3 mm. L483 is found to have negligible disk emission at 3.3
mm while L1527 is dominated by disk emission within the central beam. The
beta_mm^disk <= 0.8 - 1.4 for L1527 indicates that grain growth is likely
occurring in the disk. The photometry presented in this paper may be combined
with future interferometric observations of Class 0 envelopes and disks.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, AJ accepted, in pres
Measuring poverty cycles in the U.S. 1959–2013
This paper aims to shed light on the nature of poverty as a dynamic process by examining poverty cycles, their magnitudes, and their asymmetry. The designated benchmark country is the USA due to the availability of time series data making comprehensive analyses possible. We use Harding and Pagan (2002) and the Cardinale and Taylor (2009) model to isolate poverty cycles in the U.S. during 1959–2013. Once isolated, we test the poverty cycles for duration dependency, and their synchronization with the U.S. business cycles observed over the same period. We find that poverty dynamics measured through poverty cycles differ for alternative poverty rate indicators. Another critical point is the magnitude of change in the poverty cycles. Prolonged and more volatile poverty cycles have a significant adverse impact on people and families facing them. That is particularly important for policymakers who should rethink poverty policy guidelines aimed at helping people with more volatile poverty cycles first. Our is the first study, to our knowledge, to isolate poverty cycles and focus on their nature. Poverty cycles should attract more attention from policymakers since they more accurately assess nations’ economic well-being than output (GDP)
ALMA Long Baseline Observations of the Strongly Lensed Submillimeter Galaxy HATLAS J090311.6+003906 at z=3.042
We present initial results of very high resolution Atacama Large
Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the =3.042
gravitationally lensed galaxy HATLAS J090311.6+003906 (SDP.81). These
observations were carried out using a very extended configuration as part of
Science Verification for the 2014 ALMA Long Baseline Campaign, with baselines
of up to 15 km. We present continuum imaging at 151, 236 and 290 GHz, at
unprecedented angular resolutions as fine as 23 milliarcseconds (mas),
corresponding to an un-magnified spatial scale of ~180 pc at z=3.042. The ALMA
images clearly show two main gravitational arc components of an Einstein ring,
with emission tracing a radius of ~1.5". We also present imaging of CO(10-9),
CO(8-7), CO(5-4) and H2O line emission. The CO emission, at an angular
resolution of ~170 mas, is found to broadly trace the gravitational arc
structures but with differing morphologies between the CO transitions and
compared to the dust continuum. Our detection of H2O line emission, using only
the shortest baselines, provides the most resolved detection to date of thermal
H2O emission in an extragalactic source. The ALMA continuum and spectral line
fluxes are consistent with previous Plateau de Bure Interferometer and
Submillimeter Array observations despite the impressive increase in angular
resolution. Finally, we detect weak unresolved continuum emission from a
position that is spatially coincident with the center of the lens, with a
spectral index that is consistent with emission from the core of the foreground
lensing galaxy.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures and 3 tables, accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journal Letter
ALCHEMI Finds a “Shocking” Carbon Footprint in the Starburst Galaxy NGC 253
The centers of starburst galaxies may be characterized by a specific gas and ice chemistry due to their gas dynamics and the presence of various ice desorption mechanisms. This may result in a peculiar observable composition. We analyse the abundances of CO2, a reliable tracer of ice chemistry, from data collected as part of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array large program ALCHEMI, a wide-frequency spectral scan toward the starburst galaxy NGC 253 with an angular resolution of 1.″6. We constrain the CO2 abundances in the gas phase using its protonated form HOCO+. The distribution of HOCO+ is similar to that of methanol, which suggests that HOCO+ is indeed produced from the protonation of CO2 sublimated from ice. The HOCO+ fractional abundances are found to be (1-2)
7 10−9 at the outer part of the central molecular zone (CMZ), while they are lower (∼10−10) near the kinematic center. This peak fractional abundance at the outer CMZ is comparable to that in the Milky Way CMZ, and orders of magnitude higher than that in Galactic disk, star-forming regions. From the range of HOCO+/CO2 ratios suggested from chemical models, the gas-phase CO2 fractional abundance is estimated to be (1-20)
7 10−7 at the outer CMZ, and orders of magnitude lower near the center. We estimate the CO2 ice fractional abundances at the outer CMZ to be (2-5)
7 10−6 from the literature. A comparison between the ice and gas CO2 abundances suggests an efficient sublimation mechanism. This sublimation is attributed to large-scale shocks at the orbital intersections of the bar and CMZ
ALMA Observations of Asteroid 3 Juno at 60 Kilometer Resolution
We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 1.3 mm
continuum images of the asteroid 3 Juno obtained with an angular resolution of
0.042 arcseconds (60 km at 1.97 AU). The data were obtained over a single 4.4
hr interval, which covers 60% of the 7.2 hr rotation period, approximately
centered on local transit. A sequence of ten consecutive images reveals
continuous changes in the asteroid's profile and apparent shape, in good
agreement with the sky projection of the three-dimensional model of the
Database of Asteroid Models from Inversion Techniques. We measure a geometric
mean diameter of 259pm4 km, in good agreement with past estimates from a
variety of techniques and wavelengths. Due to the viewing angle and inclination
of the rotational pole, the southern hemisphere dominates all of the images.
The median peak brightness temperature is 215pm13 K, while the median over the
whole surface is 197pm15 K. With the unprecedented resolution of ALMA, we find
that the brightness temperature varies across the surface with higher values
correlated to the subsolar point and afternoon areas, and lower values beyond
the evening terminator. The dominance of the subsolar point is accentuated in
the final four images, suggesting a reduction in the thermal inertia of the
regolith at the corresponding longitudes, which are possibly correlated to the
location of the putative large impact crater. These results demonstrate ALMA's
potential to resolve thermal emission from the surface of main belt asteroids,
and to measure accurately their position, geometric shape, rotational period,
and soil characteristics.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journal Letter
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