11,513 research outputs found
Properties of non-stoichiometric metallic carbides final report
Nonstoichiometric transition metal carbide propertie
Periodicities In The X-Ray Intensity Variations of TV Columbae: An Intermediate Polar
We present results from a temporal analysis of the longest and the most
sensitive X-ray observations of TV Columbae--an intermediate polar. The
observations were carried out with the RXTE PCA, ROSAT PSPC, and ASCA. Data
were analyzed using a 1-dimensional CLEAN and Bayesian algorithms. The presence
of a nearly sinusoidal modulation due to the spin of the white dwarf is seen
clearly in all the data, confirming the previous reports based on the EXOSAT
data. An improved period of 1909.7+/-2.5s is derived for the spin from the RXTE
data.The binary period of 5.5hr is detected unambiguously in X-rays for the
first time. Several side-bands due to the interaction of these periods are
observed in the power spectra, thereby suggesting contributions from both the
disk-fed and the stream-fed accretion for TV Col. The accretion disk could
perhaps be precessing as side-bands due to the influence of 4 day period on the
orbital period are seen. The presence of a significant power at certain
side-bands of the spin frequency indicates that the emission poles are
asymmetrically located. The strong power at the orbital side-bands seen in both
the RXTE and ROSAT data gives an indication for an absorption site fixed in the
orbital frame. Both the spin and the binary modulation are found to be
energy-dependent. Increased hardness ratio during a broad dip in the intensity
at binary phase of 0.75--1.0 confirms the presence of a strong attenuation due
to additional absorbers probably from an impact site of the accretion stream
with the disk or magnetosphere. Hardness ratio variations and the energy
dependent modulation depth during the spin modulation can be explained by
partially covered absorbers in the path of X-ray emission region in the
accretion stream.Comment: 34 pages, including 12 figures, Accepted for publication in
Astronomical Journal, scheduled for January 2004 issue (vol. 127
Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable Accretion Flows
We have used a magnetic accretion model to investigate the accretion flows of magnetic cataclysmic variables (mCVs) throughout a range of parameter space. The results of our numerical simulations demonstrate that broadly four types of flow are possible: discs, streams, rings and propellers. We show that the equilibrium spin periods in asynchronous mCVs, for a given orbital period and magnetic moment, occur where the flow changes from a type characterised by spin-up (i.e. disc or stream) to one characterised by spin-down (i.e. propeller or ring). 'Triple points' occur in the plane of spin-to-orbital period ratio versus magnetic moment, at which stream-disc-propeller flows or stream-ring-propeller flows can co-exist. The first of these is identified as corresponding to when the corotation radius is equal to the circularisation radius, and the second as where the corotation radius is equal to the distance from white dwarf to the L1 point. If mCVs are accreting at their equilibrium spin rates, then for a mass ratio of 0.5, those with Pspin/Porb < 0.1 will be disc-like, those with 0.1 < Pspin/Porb < 0.5 will be stream-like, and those with Pspin/Porb ~ 0.5 will be ring-like. In each case, some material is also lost from the binary in order to maintain angular momentum balance. The spin to orbital period ratio at which the systems transition between these flow types decreases as the mass ratio of the stellar components increases, and vice versa
Aircraft Leasing—How to Comply with the Regulations and What Happens When You Don’t
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) increased emphasis on investigating improper leasing/illegal charter presents a challenge for aircraft operators. Understanding the regulatory requirements related to aircraft leasing is critical for operators to ensure their aircraft operations are compliant. Equally important is the need for aircraft operators to understand how the FAA exercises its oversight when it investigates alleged improper leasing/illegal charter operations, the consequences to which an aircraft operator may be subject in the event of non-compliance, and how an operator who is the target of such an investigation may respond to and/or work with the FAA to successfully resolve the investigation
How much more can sunspots tell us about the solar dynamo?
Sunspot observations inspired solar dynamo theory and continue to do so. Simply counting them established the sunspot cycle and its period. Latitudinal distributions introduced the tough constraint that the source of sunspots moves equator-ward as the cycle progresses. Observations of Hale's polarity law mandated hemispheric asymmetry. How much more can sunspots tell us about the solar dynamo? We draw attention to a few outstanding questions raised by inherent sunspot properties. Namely, how to explain sunspot rotation rates, the incoherence of follower spots, the longitudinal spacing of sunspot groups, and brightness trends within a given sunspot cycle. After reviewing the first several topics, we then present new results on the brightness of sunspots in Cycle 24 as observed with the Helioseismic Magnetic Imager (HMI). We compare these results to the sunspot brightness observed in Cycle 23 with the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI). Next, we compare the minimum intensities of five sunspots simultaneously observed by the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope Spectropolarimeter (SOT-SP) and HMI to verify that the minimum brightness of sunspot umbrae correlates well to the maximum field strength. We then examine 90 and 52 sunspots in the north and south hemisphere, respectively, from 2010 - 2012. Finally, we conclude that the average maximum field strengths of umbra 40 Carrington Rotations into Cycle 24 are 2690 Gauss, virtually indistinguishable from the 2660 Gauss value observed at a similar time in Cycle 23 with MDI
Applications of the AVE-Sesame data sets to mesoscale studies
Data collected by the lightning data concentrator are available for research. The Mark 3 McIDAS capability provides greater flexibility for the Marshall user community and serves as a model of future UW McIDAS to remote computer links. Techniques were investigated for the display of dynamic 3-D data sets. To date the most promising display technology is a polarized two CRT perspective display which allows both dynamic 3-D images and graphics presentations with full color capability. Algorithms were for the preparation and display of conventional and satellite based weather data in 3-D. These include gridding, contouring, and streamlining processors which operate on both real time and case study data bases. An upper air trajectory model was implemented which creates a display of air parcel trajectories in perspective 3-D. A subsystem for the generation of 3-D solid surface display with shading and hidden surface display with shading and hidden surface removal was tested and its products are currently being evaluated. Motion parallax introduced by moving the point of observation during display is an important depth cue, which, when added to the perspective parallax creates a very realistic appearing display
The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) Vector Magnetic Field Pipeline: Optimization of the Spectral Line Inversion Code
The Very Fast Inversion of the Stokes Vector (VFISV) is a Milne-Eddington
spectral line inversion code used to determine the magnetic and thermodynamic
parameters of the solar photosphere from observations of the Stokes vector in
the 6173 A Fe I line by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) onboard the
Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We report on the modifications made to the
original VFISV inversion code in order to optimize its operation within the HMI
data pipeline and provide the smoothest solution in active regions. The changes
either sped up the computation or reduced the frequency with which the
algorithm failed to converge to a satisfactory solution. Additionally, coding
bugs which were detected and fixed in the original VFISV release, are reported
here.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physic
Characteristics of Magnetohydrodynamic Oscillations Observed with Michelson Doppler Imager
We report on the spatial distribution of magnetogram oscillatory power and
phase angles between velocity and magnetogram signals as observed with the
Michelson Doppler Imager. The dataset is 151.25 arcsec times 151.25 arcsec
containing sunspot from Dec 2, 1997 with a temporal sampling interval of 60
seconds and spatial sampling of 0.605 arcsec. Simultaneously observed continuum
intensity and surface velocity accompany the magnetic information. We focus on
three frequency regimes: 0.5-1.0, 3.0-3.5 and 5.5-6.0 mHz corresponding roughly
to timescales of magnetic evolution, p-modes and the 3 minute resonant sunspot
oscillation. Significant low frequency magnetogram power is found in lower flux
pixels, 100-300 Gauss, in a striking ring with filamentary structure
surrounding sunspot. Five minute magnetogram power peaks in extended regions of
flux 600-800 Gauss. The 3 minute oscillation is observed in sunspot umbra in
pixels whose flux measures 1300-1500 Gauss. Phase angles of approximately -90
degrees between velocity and magnetic flux in the 3.0-3.5 and 5.5-6.0 mHz
regimes are found in regions of significant cross amplitude.Comment: 4 Pages, 4 Figures -- For better Figure files see:
http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~norton/pub_list.htm
The X-ray properties of the magnetic cataclysmic variable UUColumbae
Aims. XMM-Newton observations to determine for the first time the broad-band X-ray properties of the faint, high galactic latitude intermediate polar UUCol are presented.
Methods. We performed X-ray timing analysis in different energy ranges of the EPIC cameras, which reveals the dominance of the 863 s white dwarf rotational period. The spin pulse is strongly energy dependent. Weak variabilities at the beat 935 s and at the 3.5 h orbital periods are also observed, but the orbital modulation is detected only below 0.5 keV. Simultaneous UV and optical photometry shows that the spin pulse is anti-phased with respect to the hard X-rays. Analysis of the EPIC and RGS spectra reveals
the complexity of the X-ray emission, which is composed of a soft 50 eV black–body component and two optically thin emission components at 0.2 keV and 11 keV strongly absorbed by dense material with an equivalent hydrogen column density of 1023 cm−2 that partially (50%) covers the X-ray source.
Results. The complex X-ray and UV/optical temporal behaviour indicates that accretion occurs predominantly (∼80%) via a disc with a partial contribution (∼20%) directly from the stream. The main accreting pole dominates at high energies whilst the secondary pole mainly contributes in the soft X-rays and at lower energies. The bolometric flux ratio of the soft-to-hard X-ray emissions is found to be consistent with the prediction of the standard accretion shock model. We find the white dwarf in UUCol accretes at a low rate and possesses a low magnetic moment. It is therefore unlikely that UUCol will evolve into a moderate field strength polar, so that the soft X-ray intermediate polars still remain an enigmatic small group of magnetic cataclysmic variables
Principles of Discrete Time Mechanics: II. Classical field Theory
We apply the principles discussed in an earlier paper to the construction of
discrete time field theories. We derive the discrete time field equations of
motion and Noether's theorem and apply them to the Schrodinger equation to
illustrate the methodology. Stationary solutions to the discrete time
Schrodinger wave equation are found to be identical to standard energy
eigenvalue solutions except for a fundamental limit on the energy. Then we
apply the formalism to the free neutral Klein Gordon system, deriving the
equations of motion and conserved quantities such as the linear momentum and
angular momentum. We show that there is an upper bound on the magnitude of
linear momentum for physical particle-like solutions. We extend the formalism
to the charged scalar field coupled to Maxwell's electrodynamics in a gauge
invariant way. We apply the formalism to include the Maxwell and Dirac fields,
setting the scene for second quantisation of discrete time mechanics and
discrete time Quantum Electrodynamics.Comment: 23 pages, LateX, To be published in J.Phys.A: Math.Gen: contact email
address: [email protected]
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