1,608 research outputs found
The Evolution of Oxygen and Magnesium in the Bulge and Disk of the Milky Way
We show that the Galactic bulge and disk share a similar, strong, decline in
[O/Mg] ratio with [Mg/H]. The similarity of the [O/Mg] trend in these two,
markedly different, populations suggests a metallicity-dependent modulation of
the stellar yields from massive stars, by mass loss from winds, and related to
the Wolf-Rayet phenomenon, as proposed by McWilliam & Rich (2004). We have
modified existing models for the chemical evolution of the Galactic bulge and
the solar neighborhood with the inclusion of metallicity-dependent oxygen
yields from theoretical predictions for massive stars that include mass loss by
stellar winds. Our results significantly improve the agreement between
predicted and observed [O/Mg] ratios in the bulge and disk above solar
metallicity; however, a small zero-point normalization problem remains to be
resolved. The zero-point shift indicates that either the semi-empirical yields
of Francois et al. (2004) need adjustment, or that the bulge IMF is not quite
as flat as found by Ballero et al. (2007); the former explanation is preferred.
Our result removes a previous inconsistency between the interpretation of
[O/Fe] and [Mg/Fe] ratios in the bulge, and confirms the conclusion that the
bulge formed more rapidly than the disk, based on the over-abundances of
elements produced by massive stars. We also provide an explanation for the
long-standing difference between [Mg/Fe] and [O/Fe] trends among disk stars
more metal-rich than the sun.Comment: 22 pages including 5 figures. Submitted to the Astronomical Journa
An Update on the 0Z Project
We give an update on our 0Z Survey to find more extremely metal poor (EMP)
stars with [Fe/H] < -3 dex through mining the database of the Hamburg/ESO
Survey. We present the most extreme such stars we have found from ~1550
moderate resolution follow up spectra. One of these, HE1424-0241, has highly
anomalous abundance ratios not seen in any previously known halo giant, with
very deficient Si, moderately deficient Ca and Ti, highly enhanced Mn and Co,
and low C, all with respect to Fe. We suggest a SNII where the nucleosynthetic
yield for explosive alpha-burning nuclei was very low compared to that for the
hydrostatic alpha-burning element Mg, which is normal in this star relative to
Fe. A second, less extreme, outlier star with high [Sc/Fe] has also been found.
We examine the extremely metal-poor tail of the HES metallicity distribution
function (MDF). We suggest on the basis of comparison of our high resolution
detailed abundance analyses with [Fe/H](HES) for stars in our sample that the
MDF inferred from follow up spectra of the HES sample of candidate EMP stars is
heavily contaminated for [Fe/H](HES) < -3 dex; many of the supposed EMP stars
below that metallicity are of substantially higher Fe-metallicity, including
most of the very C-rich stars, or are spurious objects.Comment: to appear in conference proceedings "First Stars III", ed. B. O'Shea,
A. Heger & T.Abel, 4 pages, 2 figure
Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects
This paper proposes a versatile non-linear model for predicting piezoelectric energy harvester performance. The presented model includes (i) material non-linearity, for both substrate and piezoelectric layers, and (ii) geometric non-linearity incorporated by assuming inextensibility and accurately representing beam curvature. The addition of a sub-model, which utilizes the transfer matrix method to predict eigenfrequencies and eigenvectors for segmented beams, allows for accurate optimization of piezoelectric layer coverage. A validation of the overall theoretical model is performed through experimental testing on both uniform and non-uniform samples manufactured in-house. For the harvester composition used in this work, the magnitude of material non-linearity exhibited by the piezoelectric layer is 35 times greater than that of the substrate layer. It is also observed that material non-linearity, responsible for reductions in resonant frequency with increases in base acceleration, is dominant over geometric non-linearity for standard piezoelectric harvesting devices. Finally, over the tested range, energy loss due to damping is found to increase in a quasi-linear fashion with base acceleration. During an optimization study on piezoelectric layer coverage, results from the developed model were compared with those from a linear model. Unbiased comparisons between harvesters were realized by using devices with identical natural frequenciesâcreated by adjusting the device substrate thickness. Results from three studies, each with a different assumption on mechanical damping variations, are presented. Findings showed that, depending on damping variation, a non-linear model is essential for such optimization studies with each model predicting vastly differing optimum configurations
A geometric parameter study of piezoelectric coverage on a rectangular cantilever energy harvester
This paper proposes a versatile model for optimizing the performance of a rectangular cantilever beam piezoelectric energy harvester used to convert ambient vibrations into electrical energy. The developed model accounts for geometric changes to the natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping in the structure. This is achieved through the combination of finite element modelling and a distributed parameter electromechanical model, including load resistor and charging capacitor models. The model has the potential for use in investigating the influence of numerous geometric changes on harvester performance, and incorporates a model for accounting for changes in damping as the geometry changes. The model is used to investigate the effects of substrate and piezoelectric layer length, and piezoelectric layer thickness on the performance of a microscale device. Findings from a parameter study indicate the existence of an optimum sample length due to increased mechanical damping for longer beams and improved power output using thicker piezoelectric layers. In practice, harvester design is normally based around a fixed operating frequency for a particular application, and improved performance is often achieved by operating at or near resonance. To achieve unbiased comparisons between different harvester designs, parameter studies are performed by changing multiple parameters simultaneously with the natural frequency held fixed. Performance enhancements were observed using shorter piezoelectric layers as compared to the conventional design, in which the piezoelectric layer and substrate are of equal length
Variation propagation control in mechanical assembly of cylindrical components
AbstractVariation propagation control is one of the procedures used to improve product quality in the manufacturing assembly process. The quality of a product assembly depends on the product type and the optimization criteria employed in the assembly. This paper presents two assembly procedures of component stacks by controlling variation propagation. The procedures considered are: (i) straight-build assembly by minimizing the distances from the centres of components to table axis; (ii) parallelism-build assembly by minimizing the angular errors between actual and nominal planes. Simulation results are presented for the assembly of four cylindrical components. The results indicate that the variation can be reduced significantly by using these procedures, compared to that without minimization. The results also indicate that the variation not only greatly relies on the assembly procedures, but also on the number of available orientations at the assembly stage. The radial variation increases with the stage for the straight-build assembly, while the angular error decreases with the stage for the parallelism-build assembly. The assembly quality for the two assembly procedures can be improved by increasing the number of orientations. The variation decreases exponentially and monotonically with the number of orientations. The information obtained is useful for manufacturing processes and the assembly modeling
Coordinates and 2MASS and OGLE identifications for all stars in Arp's 1965 finding chart for Baade's Window
Aims: We seek to provide 2MASS and OGLE identifications and coordinates for
all stars in the finding chart published by Arp\,(1965). This chart covers the
low extinction area around NGC 6522, also known as Baade's window, at
coordinates (l,b)=(1.02,-3.92).
Methods: A cross correlation, using numerical techniques, was performed
between a scan of the original finding chart from Arp (1965) and 2MASS and
OGLE-II images and stellar coordinates.
Results: We provide coordinates for all stars in Arp's finding chart and
2MASS and OGLE identifications wherever possible. Two identifications in
quadrant II do not appear in the original finding chart.Comment: 30 pages, accepted by A&A as a Research Not
Hydrogen bonding in substituted nitroanilines : isolated nets in 1,3-diamino-4-nitrobenzene and continuously interwoven nets in 3,5-dinitroaniline
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Optically-pumped saturable absorber for fast switching between continuous-wave and passively mode-locked regimes of a Nd:YVO4 laser
We report on the fast (~50 ÎŒs) remote-controlled switching between continuous-wave (cw), cw mode-locked (ML) and Q-switched ML modes of operation of a Nd:YVO4 laser using an optically-pumped saturable absorber (SA). Pulses as short as 40 ps with an average output power of 0.5 W are obtained in cw ML regime
Measuring professionalsâ perceptions about collaborative consultation in early childhood intervention
We investigated the reliability and construct validity of the Professionalsâ Perceptions about Collaborative Consultation in Early Childhood Intervention Scale (ProPerCECIS), a rating scale developed to measure collaborative consultation in early childhood intervention (ECI). ProPerCECIS was completed by 427 professionals
from 78 ECI teams. The full sample was randomised into sample A, 170 participants, for conducting an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) â and sample B, 257 participants, for performing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Multiple-group analysis, with the overall sample, was conducted. The EFA final solution comprised three correlated factors, with acceptable to very good internal consistency: Intervention, Context, and Planning. The CFA supported the three-factor structure. Results supported configural invariance and partial metric invariance, but partial scalar invariance did not hold. Results supported the conceptual framework of collaborative consultation in ECI and suggest that ProPerCECIS can be a useful measure of professionalsâ perceptions about collaborative consultation practices in ECI. ProPerCECIS seems to be particularly suited to assess collaborative practices within services
providing routines-based family-centred interventions. Importantly, because the factor structure for ProPerCECIS holds up for different professional groups, it might be used by transdisciplinary ECI teams.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
The First Detection of Co in a Damped Lyman Alpha System
The study of elemental abundances in Damped Lyman Alpha systems (DLAs) at
high redshift represents one of our best opportunities to probe galaxy
formation and chemical evolution at early times. By coupling measurements made
in high z DLAs with our knowledge of abundances determined locally and with
nucleosynthetic models, we can start to piece together the star formation
histories of these galaxies. Here, we discuss the clues to galactic chemical
evolution that may be gleaned from studying the abundance of Co in DLAs. We
present high resolution echelle spectra of two QSOs, Q2206-199 and Q1223+17,
both already known to exhibit intervening damped systems. These observations
have resulted in the first ever detection of Co at high redshift, associated
with the z= 1.92 DLA in the sightline towards Q2206-199. We find that the
abundance of Co is approximately 1/4 solar and that there is a clear
overabundance relative to iron, [Co/Fe] = +0.31 +/- 0.05. From the abundance of
Zn, we determine that this is a relatively metal-rich DLA, with a metallicity
approximately 1/3 solar. Therefore, this first detection of Co is similar to
the marked overabundance relative to Fe seen in Galactic bulge and thick disk
stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 10 page
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