15,765 research outputs found
Rotational properties of the binary and non-binary populations in the Trans-Neptunian belt
We present results for the short-term variability of Binary Trans-Neptunian
Objects (BTNOs). We performed CCD photometric observations using the 3.58 m
Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, the 1.5 m Sierra Nevada Observatory telescope,
and the 1.23 m Centro Astronomico Hispano Aleman telescope at Calar Alto
Observatory. We present results based on five years of observations and report
the short-term variability of six BTNOs. Our sample contains three classical
objects: 2003MW12, or Varda, 2004SB60, or Salacia, and 2002 VT130; one detached
disk object: 2007UK126; and two resonant objects: 2007TY430 and 2000EB173, or
Huya. For each target, possible rotational periods and/or photometric
amplitudes are reported. We also derived some physical properties from their
lightcurves, such as density, primary and secondary sizes, and albedo. We
compiled and analyzed a vast lightcurve database for Trans-Neptunian Objects
(TNOs) including centaurs to determine the lightcurve amplitude and spin
frequency distributions for the binary and non-binary populations. The mean
rotational periods, from the Maxwellian fits to the frequency distributions,
are 8.63+/-0.52 h for the entire sample, 8.37+/-0.58 h for the sample without
the binary population, and 10.11+/-1.19 h for the binary population alone.
Because the centaurs are collisionally more evolved, their rotational periods
might not be so primordial. We computed a mean rotational period, from the
Maxwellian fit, of 8.86+/-0.58 h for the sample without the centaur population,
and of 8.64+/-0.67 h considering a sample without the binary and the centaur
populations. According to this analysis, regular TNOs spin faster than
binaries, which is compatible with the tidal interaction of the binaries.
Finally, we examined possible formation models for several systems studied in
this work and by our team in previous papers.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (June 26th,
2014); minor changes with published version; 21 pages, 17 figures, 7 table
A photometric search for active Main Belt asteroids
It is well known that some Main Belt asteroids show comet-like features. A
representative example is the first known Main Belt comet 133P/(7968)
Elst-Pizarro. If the mechanisms causing this activity are too weak to develop
visually evident comae or tails, the objects stay unnoticed. We are presenting
a novel way to search for active asteroids, based on looking for objects with
deviations from their expected brightnesses in a database. Just by using the
MPCAT-OBS Observation Archive we have found five new candidate objects that
possibly show a type of comet-like activity, and the already known Main Belt
comet 133P/(7968) Elst-Pizarro. Four of the new candidates, (315) Constantia,
(1026) Ingrid, (3646) Aduatiques, and (24684) 1990 EU4, show brightness
deviations independent of the object's heliocentric distance, while (35101)
1991 PL16 shows deviations dependent on its heliocentric distance, which could
be an indication of a thermal triggered mechanism. The method could be
implemented in future sky survey programmes to detect outbursts on Main Belt
objects almost simultaneously with their occurrence.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A on December 20,
201
SN 2013df, a double-peaked IIb supernova from a compact progenitor and an extended H envelope
Optical observations of the type IIb SN 2013df from a few days to about 250
days after explosion are presented. These observations are complemented with UV
photometry taken by \textit{SWIFT} up to 60 days post-explosion. The
double-peak optical light curve is similar to those of SNe 1993J and 2011fu
although with different decline and rise rates. From the modelling of the
bolometric light curve, we have estimated that the total mass of synthesised
Ni in the explosion is M, while the ejecta mass is
M and the explosion energy erg. In
addition, we have estimated a lower limit to the progenitor radius ranging from
. The spectral evolution indicates that SN 2013df had a
hydrogen envelope similar to SN 1993J ( M). The line
profiles in nebular spectra suggest that the explosion was asymmetric with the
presence of clumps in the ejecta, while the [O\,{\sc i}]
, luminosities, may indicate that the progenitor
of SN 2013df was a relatively low mass star ( M).Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, 9 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA
Eleven-dimensional massless superparticles and matrix theory spin-orbit couplings revisited
The classical probe dynamics of the eleven-dimensional massless
superparticles in the background geometry produced by N source M-momenta is
investigated in the framework of N-sector DLCQ supergravity. We expand the
probe action up to the two fermion terms and find that the fermionic
contributions are the spin-orbit couplings, which precisely agree with the
matrix theory calculations. We comment on the lack of non-perturbative
corrections in the one-loop matrix quantum mechanics effective action and its
compatibility with the supergravity analysis.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, no figure
Synthesis, physicochemical and photophysical characterization of 4-(1-Pyrenyl)-Butyl-α-d-mannopyranoside
Indexación: Web of Science; Scopus; Scielo.Glycolipids are biomolecules composed of a lipid chain (lipophilic) and a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide as hydrophilic group. Their chemical structure and biological role make them undoubtedly good candidates for a large and continuously growing number of biotechnological applications. Mannose is a carbohydrate present on membrane glycolipids of a wide number of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses) and specifically recognized by several lectins. We synthesized a mannose derivative linked through a short methylene chain to a pyrene moiety which behaves as a surfactant, able to aggregate, and retains the photophysical properties of pyrene: showing comparable absorption and emission spectra, having lower fluorescence quantum yield and the ability to form excimer, and finally the ability to produce O-2((1)Delta(g)) with high quantum yields. Thus, this novel molecule would open future applications for detection (fluorescence) or inactivation (singlet oxygen) of bacterial pathogens, viruses, tumor cells, or particular cells.http://ref.scielo.org/pcn4d
Temporal distortion of annual modulation at low recoil energies
We show that the main features of the annual modulation of the signal
expected in a WIMP direct detection experiment, i.e. its sinusoidal dependence
with time, the occurrence of its maxima and minima during the year and (under
some circumstances) even the one-year period, may be affected by relaxing the
isothermal sphere hypothesis in the description of the WIMP velocity phase
space. The most relevant effect is a distortion of the time-behaviour at low
recoil energies for anisotropic galactic halos. While some of these effects
turn out to be relevant at recoil energies below the current detector
thresholds, some others could already be measurable, although some degree of
tuning between the WIMP mass and the experimental parameters would be required.
Either the observation or non-observation of these effects could provide clues
on the phase space distribution of our galactic halo.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, typeset with ReVTeX4. The paper may also be found
at http://www.to.infn.it/~fornengo/papers/distortion.ps.g
Bulk and Surface Nucleation Processes in Ag2S Conductance Switches
We studied metallic Ag formation inside and on the surface of Ag2S thin
films, induced by the electric field created with a STM tip. Two clear regimes
were observed: cluster formation on the surface at low bias voltages, and full
conductance switching at higher bias voltages (V > 70mV). The bias voltage at
which this transition is observed is in agreement with the known threshold
voltage for conductance switching at room temperature. We propose a model for
the cluster formation at low bias voltage. Scaling of the measured data with
the proposed model indicates that the process takes place near steady state,
but depends on the STM tip geometry. The growth of the clusters is confirmed by
tip retraction measurements and topography scans. This study provides improved
understanding of the physical mechanisms that drive conductance switching in
solid electrolyte memristive devices.Comment: In press for PR
First results of the ROSEBUD Dark Matter experiment
Rare Objects SEarch with Bolometers UndergrounD) is an experiment which
attempts to detect low mass Weak Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) through
their elastic scattering off Al and O nuclei. It consists of three small
sapphire bolometers (of a total mass of 100 g) with NTD-Ge sensors in a
dilution refrigerator operating at 20 mK in the Canfranc Underground
Laboratory. We report in this paper the results of several runs (of about 10
days each) with successively improved energy thresholds, and the progressive
background reduction obtained by improvement of the radiopurity of the
components and subsequent modifications in the experimental assembly, including
the addition of old lead shields. Mid-term plans and perspectives of the
experiment are also presented.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Astroparticle Physic
Tentative Detection of the Nitrosylium Ion in Space
We report the tentative detection in space of the nitrosylium ion, NO.
The observations were performed towards the cold dense core Barnard 1-b. The
identification of the NO =2--1 line is supported by new laboratory
measurements of NO rotational lines up to the =8--7 transition
(953207.189\,MHz), which leads to an improved set of molecular constants: \,MHz, \,kHz, and \,MHz. The profile of the feature assigned to NO exhibits two
velocity components at 6.5 and 7.5 km s, with column densities of and cm, respectively. New
observations of NO and HNO, also reported here, allow to estimate the following
abundance ratios: (NO)/(NO), and
(HNO)/(NO). This latter value provides important constraints
on the formation and destruction processes of HNO. The chemistry of NO and
other related nitrogen-bearing species is investigated by the means of a
time-dependent gas phase model which includes an updated chemical network
according to recent experimental studies. The predicted abundance for NO
and NO is found to be consistent with the observations. However, that of HNO
relative to NO is too high. No satisfactory chemical paths have been found to
explain the observed low abundance of HNO. HSCN and HNCS are also reported here
with an abundance ratio of . Finally, we have searched for NNO,
NO, HNNO, and NNOH, but only upper limits have been obtained for
their column density, except for the latter for which we report a tentative
3- detection.Comment: To appear in the Astrophysical Journal October 20, 201
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