Depth dependence of atomic mixing by ion beams

Ion backscattering spectrometry has been used to investigate the depth dependence of atomic mixing induced by ion beams. Samples consisting of a thin Pt (or Si) marker a few tens of angstroms thick buried at different depths in a deposited Si (or Pt) layer were bombarded with Xe+ of 300 keV at 2×10^16 cm^–2 dose and Ar+ of 150 keV at 5×10^15cm^–2 dose. Significant spreading of the marker was observed as a result of ion irradiation. The amount of spreading was measured as a function of depth of the marker, which was then compared with the deposited energy distribution. Measurements of this kind promise new insight into the nature of the interaction between ion beams and solids

Using a Crosswalk to Organize the Literature Review

A literature crosswalk is a valuable tool for researchers, whether novice or seasoned scholars, that can be used in organizing and synthesizing existing literature. This article provides practical advice for creating a literature crosswalk and how to use the tool to develop a literature review. Benefits of using a literature crosswalk include organizing a great deal of information in an easily searchable format, developing deeper understanding of the literature, and finding trends across multiple research studies in regard to methodology, theories used, types of participants, settings, and so forth

BATSE Gamma-Ray Burst Line Search: V. Probability of Detecting a Line in a Burst

The physical importance of the apparent discrepancy between the detections by pre-BATSE missions of absorption lines in gamma-ray burst spectra and the absence of a BATSE line detection necessitates a statistical analysis of this discrepancy. This analysis requires a calculation of the probability that a line, if present, will be detected in a given burst. However, the connection between the detectability of a line in a spectrum and in a burst requires a model for the occurrence of a line within a burst. We have developed the necessary weighting for the line detection probability for each spectrum spanning the burst. The resulting calculations require a description of each spectrum in the BATSE database. With these tools we identify the bursts in which lines are most likely to be detected. Also, by assuming a small frequency with which lines occur, we calculate the approximate number of BATSE bursts in which lines of various types could be detected. Lines similar to the Ginga detections can be detected in relatively few BATSE bursts; for example, in only ~20 bursts are lines similar to the GB 880205 pair of lines detectable. Ginga reported lines at ~20 and ~40 keV whereas the low energy cutoff of the BATSE spectra is typically above 20 keV; hence BATSE's sensitivity to lines is less than that of Ginga below 40 keV, and greater above. Therefore the probability that the GB 880205 lines would be detected in a Ginga burst rather than a BATSE burst is ~0.2. Finally, we adopted a more appropriate test of the significance of a line feature.Comment: 20 pages, AASTeX 4.0, 5 figures, Ap.J. in pres

Spectral Hardness Decay with Respect to Fluence in BATSE Gamma-Ray Bursts

We have analyzed the evolution of the spectral hardness parameter Epk as a function of fluence in gamma-ray bursts. We fit 41 pulses within 26 bursts with the trend reported by Liang & Kargatis (1996) which found that Epk decays exponentially with respect to photon fluence. We also fit these pulses with a slight modification of this trend, where Epk decays linearly with energy fluence. In both cases, we found the set of 41 pulses to be consistent with the trend. For the latter trend, which we believe to be more physical, the distribution of the decay constant is roughly log-normal, with a mean of 1.75 +/- 0.07 and a FWHM of 1.0 +/- 0.1. Regarding an earlier reported invariance in the decay constant among different pulses in a single burst, we found probabilities of 0.49 to 0.84 (depending on the test used) that such invariance would occur by coincidence, most likely due to the narrow distribution of decay constant values among pulses.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure pages, 2 table pages, submitted to The Astrophysical Journa

BATSE Gamma-Ray Burst Line Search: IV. Line Candidates from the Visual Search

We evaluate the significance of the line candidates identified by a visual search of burst spectra from BATSE's Spectroscopy Detectors. None of the candidates satisfy our detection criteria: an F-test probability less than 10^-4 for a feature in one detector and consistency among the detectors which viewed the burst. Most of the candidates are not very significant, and are likely to be fluctuations. Because of the expectation of finding absorption lines, the search was biased towards absorption features. We do not have a quantitative measure of the completeness of the search which would enable a comparison with previous missions. Therefore a more objective computerized search has begun.Comment: 18 pages AASTEX 4.0; 4 POSTSCRIPT figures on request from [email protected]

Obesity, Complexity, and the Role of the Health System

As obesity continues to increase throughout the world, there is still no well-defined solution to the issue. Reducing obesity poses a significant challenge for the health care system because it is a complex problem with numerous interconnections and elements. The complexity of obesity challenges traditional primary care practices that have been structured to address simple or less complicated conditions. Systems thinking provides a way forward for clinicians that are discouraged or overwhelmed by the complexity of obesity. At any given level, individuals matter and system functioning is optimized when our capacity is well matched to the complexity of our tasks. Shifting paradigms around the causes of obesity is essential for creating a health care system that promotes innovative and collaborative practice for healthcare practitioners and individuals dealing with obesity

Evolution of the Low-Energy Photon Spectra in Gamma-Ray Bursts

We report evidence that the asymptotic low-energy power law slope alpha (below the spectral break) of BATSE gamma-ray burst photon spectra evolves with time rather than remaining constant. We find a high degree of positive correlation exists between the time-resolved spectral break energy E_pk and alpha. In samples of 18 "hard-to-soft" and 12 "tracking" pulses, evolution of alpha was found to correlate with that of the spectral break energy E_pk at the 99.7% and 98% confidence levels respectively. We also find that in the flux rise phase of "hard-to-soft" pulses, the mean value of alpha is often positive and in some bursts the maximum value of alpha is consistent with a value > +1. BATSE burst 3B 910927, for example, has a alpha_max equal to 1.6 +/- 0.3. These findings challenge GRB spectral models in which alpha must be negative of remain constant.Comment: 12 pages (including 6 figures), accepted to Ap

Advanced techniques for high resolution spectroscopic observations of cosmic gamma-ray sources

An advanced gamma-ray spectrometer that is currently in development is described. It will obtain a sensitivity of 0.0001 ph/sq cm./sec in a 6 hour balloon observation and uses innovative techniques for background reduction and source imaging

Minute-of-Arc Resolution Gamma ray Imaging Experiment—MARGIE

MARGIE (Minute-of-Arc Resolution Gamma-ray Imaging Experiment) is a large area(∼104 cm2), wide field-of-view (∼1 sr), hard X-ray/gamma-ray (∼20–600 keV) coded-mask imaging telescope capable of performing a sensitive survey of both steady and transient cosmic sources. MARGIE has been selected for a NASA mission-concept study for an Ultra Long Duration (100 day) Balloon flight. We describe our program to develop the instrument based on new detector technology of either cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) semiconductors or pixellated cesium iodide (CsI) scintillators viewed by fast-timing bi-directional charge-coupled devices (CCDs). The primary scientific objectives are to image faint Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) in near-real-time at the low intensity (high-redshift) end of the logN-logS distribution, thereby extending the sensitivity of present observations, and to perform a wide field survey of the Galactic plane

MARGIE: A gamma-ray burst ultra-long duration balloon mission

We are designing MARGIE as a 100 day ULDB mission to: a) detect and localize gamma-ray bursts; and b) survey the hard X-ray sky. MARGIE will consist of one small field-of-view (FOV) and four large FOV coded mask modules mounted on a balloon gondola. The burst position will be calculated onboard and disseminated in near-real time, while information about every count will be telemetered to the ground for further analysis. In a 100-day mission we will localize ∼40 bursts with peak photon fluxes from 0.14 to ∼5 ph cm−2 s−1 using 1 s integrations; the typical localization resolution will be better than ∼2 arcminutes