1,057 research outputs found
Scaling of the superfluid density in superfluid films
We study scaling of the superfluid density with respect to the film thickness
by simulating the model on films of size ()
using the cluster Monte Carlo. While periodic boundary conditions where used in
the planar () directions, Dirichlet boundary conditions where used along the
film thickness. We find that our results can be scaled on a universal curve by
introducing an effective thickness. In the limit of large our scaling
relations reduce to the conventional scaling forms. Using the same idea we find
scaling in the experimental results using the same value of .Comment: 4 pages, one postscript file replaced by one Latex file and 5
postscript figure
Scaling of the specific heat in superfluid films
We study the specific heat of the model on lattices with (i.e. on lattices representing a film geometry) using the
Cluster Monte--Carlo method. In the --direction we apply Dirichlet boundary
conditions so that the order parameter in the top and bottom layers is zero. We
find that our results for the specific heat of various thickness size
collapse on the same universal scaling function. The extracted scaling function
of the specific heat is in good agreement with the experimentally determined
universal scaling function using no free parameters.Comment: 4 pages, uuencoded compressed PostScrip
The Age Of Globular Clusters In Light Of Hipparcos: Resolving the Age Problem?
We review five independent techniques which are used to set the distance
scale to globular clusters, including subdwarf main sequence fitting utilizing
the recent Hipparcos parallax catalogue. These data together all indicate that
globular clusters are farther away than previously believed, implying a
reduction in age estimates. This new distance scale estimate is combined with a
detailed numerical Monte Carlo study designed to assess the uncertainty
associated with the theoretical age-turnoff luminosity relationship in order to
estimate both the absolute age and uncertainty in age of the oldest globular
clusters. Our best estimate for the mean age of the oldest globular clusters is
now Gyr, with a one-sided, 95% confidence level lower limit of
9.5 Gyr. This represents a systematic shift of over 2 compared to our
earlier estimate, due completely to the new distance scale---which we emphasize
is not just due to the Hipparcos data. This now provides a lower limit on the
age of the universe which is consistent with either an open universe, or a
flat, matter dominated universe (the latter requiring H_0 \le 67 \kmsmpc).
Our new study also explicitly quantifies how remaining uncertainties in the
distance scale and stellar evolution models translate into uncertainties in the
derived globular cluster ages. Simple formulae are provided which can be used
to update our age estimate as improved determinations for various quantities
become available.Comment: 41 pages, including 10 eps figs, uses aaspp4.sty and flushrt.sty,
submitted to Ap.J., revised to incorporate FULL Hipparcos catalogue dat
First Stellar Abundances in the Dwarf Irregular Galaxy Sextans A
We present the abundance analyses of three isolated A-type supergiant stars
in the dwarf irregular galaxy Sextans A from high-resolution spectra the UVES
spectrograph at the VLT. Detailed model atmosphere analyses have been used to
determine the stellar atmospheric parameters and the elemental abundances of
the stars. The mean iron group abundance was determined from these three stars
to be [(FeII,CrII)/H]=-0.99+/-0.04+/-0.06. This is the first determination of
the present-day iron group abundances in Sextans A. These three stars now
represent the most metal-poor massive stars for which detailed abundance
analyses have been carried out. The mean stellar alpha element abundance was
determined from the alpha element magnesium as
[alpha(MgI)/H]=-1.09+/-0.02+/-0.19. This is in excellent agreement with the
nebular alpha element abundances as determined from oxygen in the H II regions.
These results are consistent from star-to-star with no significant spatial
variations over a length of 0.8 kpc in Sextans A. This supports the nebular
abundance studies of dwarf irregular galaxies, where homogeneous oxygen
abundances are found throughout, and argues against in situ enrichment. The
alpha/Fe abundance ratio is [alpha(MgI)/FeII,CrII]=-0.11+/-0.02+/-0.10, which
is consistent with the solar ratio. This is consistent with the results from
A-supergiant analyses in other Local Group dwarf irregular galaxies but in
stark contrast with the high [alpha/Fe] results from metal-poor stars in the
Galaxy, and is most clearly seen from these three stars in Sextans A because of
their lower metallicities. The low [alpha/Fe] ratios are consistent with the
slow chemical evolution expected for dwarf galaxies from analyses of their
stellar populations.Comment: 40 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A
The Subdwarf Luminosity Function
Using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Early Data Release and
SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey scans of POSS-I plates we identify a sample of 2600
subdwarfs using reduced proper motion methods and strict selection criteria.
This forms one of the largest and most reliable samples of candidate subdwarfs
known, and enables us to determine accurate luminosity functions along many
different lines of sight. We derive the subdwarf luminosity function with
unprecedented accuracy to M_V <= 12.5, finding good agreement with recent local
estimates but discrepancy with results for the more distant spheroid. This
provides further evidence that the inner and outer parts of the stellar halo
cannot be described by a single density distribution. We also find that the
form of the inner spheroid density profile within heliocentric distances of 2.5
kpc is closely matched by a power law with an index of -3.15 +/- 0.3.Comment: 21 pages, 29 figures (Figs 4,6,7,11 are low res versions.) Published
in MNRAS: minor explanatory additions to text, new subsection (5.2) on
reddening, reference adde
Ages and Metallicities of Hickson Compact Group Galaxies
Hickson Compact Groups (HCGs) constitute an interesting extreme in the range
of environments in which galaxies are located, as the space density of galaxies
in these small groups are otherwise only found in the centres of much larger
clusters. The work presented here uses Lick indices to make a comparison of
ages and chemical compositions of galaxies in HCGs with those in other
environments (clusters, loose groups and the field). The metallicity and
relative abundance of `-elements' show strong correlations with galaxy
age and central velocity dispersion, with similar trends found in all
environments. However, we show that the previously reported correlation between
-element abundance ratios and velocity dispersion disappears when a
full account is taken of the the abundance ratio pattern in the calibration
stars. This correlation is thus found to be an artifact of incomplete
calibration to the Lick system.
Variations are seen in the ranges and average values of age, metallicity and
-element abundance ratios for galaxies in different environments. Age
distributions support the hierarchical formation prediction that field galaxies
are on average younger than their cluster counterparts. However, the ages of
HCG galaxies are shown to be more similar to those of cluster galaxies than
those in the field, contrary to the expectations of current hierarchical
models. A trend for lower velocity dispersion galaxies to be younger was also
seen. This is again inconsistent with hierarchical collapse models, but is
qualitatively consistent with the latest N-body-SPH models based on monolithic
collapse in which star formation continues for many Gyr in low mass halos.Comment: 18 pages. Submitted for publication in MNRA
Heavy sulphur compounds, higher alcohols and esters production profile of Hanseniaspora uvarum and Hanseniaspora guilliermondii grown as pure and mixed cultures in grape must
Hanseniaspora guilliermondii and Hanseniaspora uvarum were tested in grape must fermentations as pure and mixed starter cultures with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In pure cultures, the specific growth rates found were 0.29 h⁻¹ for H. uvarum, 0.23 h⁻¹ for H. guilliermondii and 0.18 h⁻¹ for S. cerevisiae. No significant differences
were observed between these values and those obtained in mixed cultures. Results presented in this work show that growth of apiculate yeasts during the first days of fermentation enhances the production of
desirable compounds, such as esters, and may not have a negative influence on the production of higher alcohols and undesirable heavy sulphur compounds. Growth of apiculate yeasts reduced the total content of higher alcohols in wines, when compared to those produced by a pure culture of S. cerevisiae. Furthermore, the highest levels of 2-phenylethyl acetate were obtained when H. guilliermondii was inoculated in grape musts, whereas H. uvarum increased the isoamyl acetate content of wines. Apiculate yeasts produced high amounts
of ethyl acetate; however, the level of this compound decreased in mixed cultures of apiculate yeasts and S. cerevisiae. When S. cerevisiae was used as a starter culture, wines showed higher concentrations of glycerol, 2-phenylethanol and ethyl hexanoate. In mixed cultures of apiculate yeasts and S. cerevisiae, wines presented
amounts of methionol, acetic acid-3-(methylthio)propyl ester, 4-(methylthio)-1-butanol, 2-mercaptoethanol
and cis-2-methyltetrahydro-thiophen-3-ol similar to those produced by a pure culture of S. cerevisiae. An increase in the amounts of 3-(ethylthio)-1-propanol, trans-2-methyltetrahydro-thiophen-3-ol and 3-
mercapto-1-propanol was obtained in wines produced from mixed cultures with H. guilliermondii
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