20,688 research outputs found
Variability and stability in optical blazar jets: the case of OJ287
OJ287 is a BL Lac object at redshift z=0.306 that has shown double-peaked
bursts at regular intervals of ~12 yr during the last ~ 40 yr. Due to this
behavior, it has been suggested that OJ287 might host a close supermassive
binary black hole. We present optical photopolarimetric monitoring data from
2005-2009, during which the latest double-peaked outburst occurred. We find a
stable component in the optical jet: the optical polarization core. The optical
polarization indicates that the magnetic field is oriented parallel to the jet.
Using historical optical polarization data, we trace the evolution of the
optical polarization core and find that it has showed a swing in the Stokes
plane indicating a reorientation of the jet magnetic field. We also find that
changes in the optical jet magnetic field seem tightly related to the
double-peaked bursts. We use our findings as a new constraint on possible
binary black hole models. Combining all available observations, we find that
none of the proposed binary black bole models is able to fully explain the
observations. We suggest a new approach to understanding OJ287 that is based on
the assumption that changes in the jet magnetic field drive the regular
outbursts.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the meeting "Steady and Transient
Jets", held in Bonn, Germany (7-8 April 2010
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Influence of semicon shields on the dielectric loss of XLPE cables
Dielectric response measurement techniques in both time and frequency domains are studied in order to measure the dielectric loss of XLPE cables, which have very low losses. A high sensitivity transformer ratio bridge system, which can measure loss tangents as low as 10-5, has been developed with the ability to measure these cables. A tuned amplifier was designed to help to extend the frequency range from 200Hz to 20kHz. Different model cables from Borealis AB with different semiconducting materials have been measured in the temperature range 15⁰C to 120⁰C. It is found that the semiconducting layers dominate the dielectric loss in the insulation system of the XLPE cables, when the outer semicon is treated as measuring electrode. In this case, steadily increasing dielectric loss has been measured at higher frequencies. The resistivity of the semiconducting materials was measured, which confirmed that the increasing slope is due to the semiconducting layers. After using conductive tapes to wrap the cable samples, monotonically decreasing losses were measured, corresponding to the actual dielectric frequency response of the XLPE cables. It is concluded that the axial resistance of semiconducting shields have a substantial influence on the dielectric loss of XLPE cables, especially for dielectric response in high frequency range. A device on measuring the loss of such cables is presented
Properties of optically selected BL Lac candidates from the SDSS
\textbf{Context.} Deep optical surveys open the avenue for find large numbers
of BL Lac objects that are hard to identify because they lack the unique
properties classifying them as such. While radio or X-ray surveys typically
reveal dozens of sources, recent compilations based on optical criteria alone
have increased the number of BL Lac candidates considerably. However, these
compilations are subject to biases and may contain a substantial number of
contaminating sources. \textbf{Aims.} In this paper we extend our analysis of
182 optically selected BL Lac object candidates from the SDSS with respect to
an earlier study. The main goal is to determine the number of bona fide BL Lac
objects in this sample. \textbf{Methods.} We examine their variability
characteristics, determine their broad-band radio-UV SEDs, and search for the
presence of a host galaxy. In addition we present new optical spectra for 27
targets with improved S/N with respect to the SDSS spectra. \textbf{Results.}
At least 59% of our targets have shown variability between SDSS DR2 and our
observations by more than 0.1-0.27 mag de- pending on the telescope used. A
host galaxy was detected in 36% of our targets. The host galaxy type and
luminosities are consistent with earlier studies of BL Lac host galaxies.
Simple fits to broad-band SEDS for 104 targets of our sample derived
synchrotron peak frequencies between with a peak at
. Our new optical spectra do not reveal any new
redshift for any of our objects. Thus the sample contains a large number of
bona fide BL Lac objects and seems to contain a substantial fraction of
intermediate-frequency peaked BL Lacs.Comment: Accepted for publication in A\&
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The measurement of very low conductivity and dielectric loss in XLPE cables: A possible method to detect degradation due to thermal aging
The dielectric response of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated, miniature power cables, extruded with inner and outer semicons, was measured over the frequency range 10-4 to 104 Hz at temperatures from 20 to 100 °C. A dielectric spectrometer was used for the frequency range 10-4 to 10-2 Hz. A bespoke noise-free power supply was constructed and used to measure the dc conductivity and, using a Fourier transform technique, it was also used to measure the very low dielectric tanδ losses encountered at frequencies of 1 to 100 Hz. Tanδ measurements of <;10-5 were found in this frequency range and attributed to a β-mode dielectric relaxation lying above 100 Hz due to motion of chain segments in the amorphous region and an β-mode relaxation lying below 1 Hz window due to twists of chains in the crystal lamellae. The dc conductivity measurements were consistent with those of the dielectric spectrometer and indicate lower dc conductivities in vacuum degassed cables than have been previously reported for XLPE (less than 10-17 S.m-1). The conduction process is thermally activated with an activation energy of approximately 1.1 eV. Higher conductivities were found for non-degassed cables. A transformer ratio bridge was used for measurements in the range 1 to 10 kHz; loss in this region was shown to be due to the series resistance of the semicon layers. Thermal ageing of the cables at 135 °C for 60 days caused significant increases in the conductivity and tanδ and it is considered that such measurements may be a sensitive way of measuring electrical degradation due to thermal aging
Short-wavelength fiber Raman laser pulse-pumped by multimode laser diode at 806 nm
We demonstrate a fiber Raman laser emitting at 835 nm when pumped by bursts of 50 - 100 ns pulses from a multi-mode laser diode at 806 nm. The slope efficiency reaches 38%
Comment on ``Two Time Scales and Violation of the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem in a Finite Dimensional Model for Structural Glasses''
In cond-mat/0002074 Ricci-Tersenghi et al. find two linear regimes in the
fluctuation-dissipation relation between density-density correlations and
associated responses of the Frustrated Ising Lattice Gas. Here we show that
this result does not seem to correspond to the equilibrium quantities of the
model, by measuring the overlap distribution P(q) of the density and comparing
the FDR expected on the ground of the P(q) with the one measured in the
off-equilibrium experiments.Comment: RevTeX, 1 page, 2 eps figures, Comment on F. Ricci-Tersenghi et al.,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4473 (2000
Timelike self-similar spherically symmetric perfect-fluid models
Einstein's field equations for timelike self-similar spherically symmetric
perfect-fluid models are investigated. The field equations are rewritten as a
first-order system of autonomous differential equations. Dimensionless
variables are chosen in such a way that the number of equations in the coupled
system is reduced as far as possible and so that the reduced phase space
becomes compact and regular. The system is subsequently analysed qualitatively
using the theory of dynamical systems.Comment: 23 pages, 6 eps-figure
Processing Issues in Top-Down Approaches to Quantum Computer Development in Silicon
We describe critical processing issues in our development of single atom
devices for solid-state quantum information processing. Integration of single
31P atoms with control gates and single electron transistor (SET) readout
structures is addressed in a silicon-based approach. Results on electrical
activation of low energy (15 keV) P implants in silicon show a strong dose
effect on the electrical activation fractions. We identify dopant segregation
to the SiO2/Si interface during rapid thermal annealing as a dopant loss
channel and discuss measures of minimizing it. Silicon nanowire SET pairs with
nanowire width of 10 to 20 nm are formed by electron beam lithography in SOI.
We present first results from Coulomb blockade experiments and discuss issues
of control gate integration for sub-40nm gate pitch levels
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Dielectric spectroscopy study of thermally-aged extruded model power cables
“Model” extruded power cables, having a much reduced geometry but using the same extrusion techniques and materials as full-sized cables, have been examined using dielectric spectroscopy techniques to study their thermal ageing effects. Cables insulated with homo-polymer XLPE and co-polymer of XLPE with micron-sized ethylene-butyl-acrylate (EBA) islands were studied by both frequency-domain and time-domain dielectric spectroscopy techniques after accelerated thermal ageing under 135°C for 60 days. In the frequency domain, a frequency response analyzer (FRA) was used to measure the frequency range from 10-4Hz to 1Hz at temperatures from 20°C to 80°C. In the time domain, a special charging/discharging current measurement system was developed to measure the frequencies from 10-1Hz to 102Hz. These techniques were chosen to cope with the extremely low dielectric losses of the model cables. The results are compared with those from new model power cables that were degassed at 80°C for 5 days. Thermal ageing was found to increase the low-frequency conductivity, permittivity and the discharging current. Both homo- and co-polymer cables have substantial increase of dielectric loss after ageing
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