2,656 research outputs found
Seismic Halos Around Active Regions: An MHD Theory
Comprehending the manner in which magnetic fields affect propagating waves is
a first step toward constructing accurate helioseismic models of active region
sub-surface structure and dynamics. Here, we present a numerical method to
compute the linear interaction of waves with magnetic fields embedded in a
solar-like stratified background. The ideal Magneto-Hydrodynamic (MHD)
equations are solved in a 3-dimensional box that straddles the solar
photosphere, extending from 35 Mm within to 1.2 Mm into the atmosphere. One of
the challenges in performing these simulations involves generating a
Magneto-Hydro-Static (MHS) state wherein the stratification assumes horizontal
inhomogeneity in addition to the strong vertical stratification associated with
the near-surface layers. Keeping in mind that the aim of this effort is to
understand and characterize linear MHD interactions, we discuss a means of
computing statically consistent background states. Power maps computed from
simulations of waves interacting with thick flux tubes of peak photospheric
field strengths 600 G and 3000 G are presented. Strong modal power reduction in
the `umbral' regions of the flux tube enveloped by a halo of increased wave
power are seen in the simulations with the thick flux tubes. These enhancements
are also seen in Doppler velocity power maps of active regions observed in the
Sun, leading us to propose that the halo has MHD underpinnings.Comment: submitted to Ap
Sub-Zero Alteration in an Isotopically Heavy Brine Preserved in a Pristine H Chondrite Xenolith
Introduction: Brecciated H chondrites host a variety of xenoliths, including unshocked, phyllo- silicate-rich carbonaceous chondrites (CCs). The brecciated H chondrite Zag (H3-6) is one of two chondrites to host macroscopic (1 - 5mm), xenolithic crystals of halite (NaCl) with aqueous fluid inclusions and organics. A ~1cm CC xenolith in Zag (Zag clast) has mineralogy similar to CI chondrites, but it has a unique bulk oxygen isotopic composition among all meteorites ((exp 17)O = 1.49 0.04 , (exp 18)O = 22.38 0.17 ). The Zag clast encloses halite in its matrix, linking the coarse, matrix halite and the xenolith to the same parent object, suggested to be hydrovolcanically active. Its bulk C and N contents are the highest among chondrites and bulk (exp 15)N is similar to CR chondrites and Bells. Insoluble organic material (IOM) in the Zag clast has D and (exp 15)N hotspots, also similar to CR chondrites and Bells (C2-ung.). We provide further isotopic characterization of the Zag clast to constrain the formation temperature and origin of its primary and secondary components
Star Formation Histories of Nearby Elliptical Galaxies. II. Merger Remnant Sample
This work presents high spectroscopic observations of a sample of six
suspected merger remnants, selected primarily on the basis of H{\sc i} tidal
debris detections. Single stellar population analysis of these galaxies
indicates that their ages, metallicities, and -enhancement ratios are
consistent with those of a representative sample of nearby elliptical galaxies.
The expected stellar population of a recent merger remnant, young age combined
with low [/Fe], is not seen in any H{\sc i}-selected galaxy. However,
one galaxy (NGC~2534), is found to deviate from the -plane in the sense
expected for a merger remnant. Another galaxy (NGC~7332), selected by other
criteria, best matches the merger remnant expectations.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted by A
Baryonically Closed Galaxy Groups
Elliptical galaxies and their groups having the largest L_x/L_B lie close to
the locus in the L_x,L_B diagram expected for closed systems with baryon
fractions equal to the cosmic mean value, f_b = 0.16. The estimated baryon
fractions for several of these galaxies/groups are also close to 0.16 when the
gas density is extrapolated to the virial radius. Evidently they are the least
massive baryonically closed systems. Gas retention in these groups implies that
non-gravitational heating cannot exceed about 1 keV per particle, consistent
with the heating required to produce the deviation of groups from the L_x - T
correlation for more massive clusters. Isolated galaxies/groups with X-ray
luminosities significantly lower than baryonically closed groups may have
undermassive dark halos, overactive central AGNs, or higher star formation
efficiencies. The virial mass and hot gas temperatures of nearly or completely
closed groups correlate with the group X-ray luminosities and the optical
luminosities of the group-centered elliptical galaxy, an expected consequence
of their merging history. The ratio of halo mass to the mass of the central
galaxy for X-ray luminous galaxy/groups is about 80.Comment: 7 pages; Accepted by ApJ Letter
Damped Lyman alpha Absorbing Galaxies At Low Redshifts z<1 From Hierarchical Galaxy Formation Models
We investigate Damped Ly-alpha absorbing galaxies (DLA galaxies) at low
redshifts z<1 in the hierarchical structure formation scenario to clarify the
nature of DLA galaxies because observational data of such galaxies mainly at
low redshifts are currently available. We find that our model well reproduces
distributions of fundamental properties of DLA galaxies such as luminosities,
column densities, impact parameters obtained by optical and near-infrared
imagings. Our results suggest that DLA systems primarily consist of low
luminosity galaxies with small impact parameters (typical radius about 3 kpc,
surface brightness from 22 to 27 mag arcsec^{-2}) similar to low surface
brightness (LSB) galaxies. In addition, we investigate selection biases arising
from the faintness and from the masking effect which prevents us from
identifying a DLA galaxy hidden or contaminated by a point spread function of a
background quasar. We find that the latter affects the distributions of DLA
properties more seriously rather than the former, and that the observational
data are well reproduced only when taking into account the masking effect. The
missing rate of DLA galaxies by the masking effect attains 60-90 % in the
sample at redshift 0<z<1 when an angular size limit is as small as 1 arcsec.
Furthermore we find a tight correlation between HI mass and cross section of
DLA galaxies, and also find that HI-rich galaxies with M(HI) \sim 10^{9} M_sun
dominate DLA systems. These features are entirely consistent with those from
the Arecibo Dual-Beam Survey which is a blind 21 cm survey. Finally we discuss
star formation rates, and find that they are typically about 10^{-2} M_sun
yr^{-1} as low as those in LSB galaxies.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophsical
Journa
Gravitational Waves from Supermassive Black Hole Coalescence in a Hierarchical Galaxy Formation Model
We investigate the expected gravitational wave emission from coalescing
supermassive black hole (SMBH) binaries resulting from mergers of their host
galaxies. When galaxies merge, the SMBHs in the host galaxies sink to the
center of the new merged galaxy and form a binary system. We employ a
semi-analytic model of galaxy and quasar formation based on the hierarchical
clustering scenario to estimate the amplitude of the expected stochastic
gravitational wave background owing to inspiraling SMBH binaries and bursts
owing to the SMBH binary coalescence events. We find that the characteristic
strain amplitude of the background radiation is for just below the detection
limit from measurements of the pulsar timing provided that SMBHs coalesce
simultaneously when host galaxies merge. The main contribution to the total
strain amplitude of the background radiation comes from SMBH coalescence events
at . We also find that a future space-based gravitational wave
interferometer such as the planned \textit{Laser Interferometer Space Antenna}
({\sl LISA}) might detect intense gravitational wave bursts associated with
coalescence of SMBH binaries with total mass at
at a rate . Our model predicts that
burst signals with a larger amplitude correspond
to coalescence events of massive SMBH binary with total mass at low redshift at a rate whereas those with a smaller amplitude
correspond to coalescence events of less massive SMBH binary with total mass
at high redshift .Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 11 pages, 7 figure
Forsterite-Bearing Type B CAI with a Relict Eringaite-Bearing Ultra-Refractory CAI
Forsterite-bearing Type B (FoB) Ca,Al-rich
inclusions (CAIs) are a rare type of coarse-grained igneous CAIs
found almost exclusively in CV3 chondrites [1–5]. Here we
describe the mineralogy, petrography, and oxygen-isotope
compositions of a FoB CAI Al-2 from Allende containing a relict
eringaite-bearing ultra-refractory (UR) inclusion. Eringaite is a
Sc-rich garnet [Ca_3(Sc,Y,Ti)_2Si_3O_(12)] that has been recently
identified in a cluster of UR inclusion fragments within an
amoeboid olivine aggregate in Vigarano [6]
On the Similarity between Cluster and Galactic Stellar Initial Mass Functions
The stellar initial mass functions (IMFs) for the Galactic bulge, the Milky
Way, other galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and the integrated stars in the
Universe are composites from countless individual IMFs in star clusters and
associations where stars form. These galaxy-scale IMFs, reviewed in detail
here, are not steeper than the cluster IMFs except in rare cases. This is true
even though low mass clusters generally outnumber high mass clusters and the
average maximum stellar mass in a cluster scales with the cluster mass. The
implication is that the mass distribution function for clusters and
associations is a power law with a slope of -2 or shallower. Steeper slopes,
even by a few tenths, upset the observed equality between large and small scale
IMFs. Such a cluster function is expected from the hierarchical nature of star
formation, which also provides independent evidence for the IMF equality when
it is applied on sub-cluster scales. We explain these results with analytical
expressions and Monte Carlo simulations. Star clusters appear to be the relaxed
inner parts of a widespread hierarchy of star formation and cloud structure.
They are defined by their own dynamics rather than pre-existing cloud
boundaries.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figures, ApJ, 648, in press, September 1, 200
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