Effective one-body dynamics in multiple-quantum NMR experiments

A suitable NMR experiment in a one-dimensional dipolar coupled spin system allows one to reduce the natural many-body dynamics into effective one-body dynamics. We verify this in a polycrystalline sample of hydroxyapatite (HAp) by monitoring the excitation of NMR many-body superposition states: the multiple-quantum coherences. The observed effective one-dimensionality of HAp relies on the quasi 1d structure of the dipolar coupled network that, as we show here, is dynamically enhanced by the quantum Zeno effect. Decoherence is also probed through a Loschmidt echo experiment, where the time reversal is implemented on the double-quantum Hamiltonian, I_{i,+}I_{j,+} + I_{i,-}I_{j,-}. We contrast the decoherence of adamantane, a standard 3d system, with that of HAp. While the first shows an abrupt Fermi-type decay, HAp presents a smooth exponential law.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Infrared Spectroscopy of Molecular Supernova Remnants

We present Infrared Space Observatory spectroscopy of sites in the supernova remnants W28, W44, and 3C391, where blast waves are impacting molecular clouds. Atomic fine-structure lines were detected from C, N, O, Si, P, and Fe. The S(3) and S(9) lines of H2 were detected for all three remnants. The observations require both shocks into gas with moderate (~ 100 /cm3) and high (~10,000 /cm3) pre-shock densities, with the moderate density shocks producing the ionic lines and the high density shock producing the molecular lines. No single shock model can account for all of the observed lines, even at the order of magnitude level. We find that the principal coolants of radiative supernova shocks in moderate-density gas are the far-infrared continuum from dust grains surviving the shock, followed by collisionally-excited [O I] 63.2 and [Si II] 34.8 micron lines. The principal coolant of the high-density shocks is collisionally-excited H2 rotational and ro-vibrational line emission. We systematically examine the ground-state fine structure of all cosmically abundant elements, to explain the presence or lack of all atomic fine lines in our spectra in terms of the atomic structure, interstellar abundances, and a moderate-density, partially-ionized plasma. The [P II] line at 60.6 microns is the first known astronomical detection. There is one bright unidentified line in our spectra, at 74.26 microns. The presence of bright [Si II] and [Fe II] lines requires partial destruction of the dust. The required gas-phase abundance of Fe suggests 15-30% of the Fe-bearing grains were destroyed. The infrared continuum brightness requires ~1 Msun of dust survives the shock, suggesting about 1/3 of the dust mass was destroyed, in agreement with the depletion estimate and with theoretical models for dust destruction.Comment: 40 pages; 10 figures; accepted by ApJ July 11, 200

A 3-Dimensional study of the Local Environment of Bright IRAS Galaxies: The AGN/Starburst connection

We present a 3-dimensional study of the local ($\leq 100 h^{-1}$ kpc) and the large scale ($\leq$ 1 $h^{-1}$ Mpc) environment of Bright IRAS Galaxies (BIRGs). For this purpose we use 87 BIRGs located at high galactic latitudes (with 0.008$\leq z \leq$0.018) as well as a control sample of non-active galaxies having the same morphological, redshift and diameter size distributions as the corresponding BIRG sample. Using the Center for Astrophysics (CfA2) and Southern Sky Redshift Survey (SSRS) galaxy catalogues ($m_b\lesssim 15.5$)as well as our own spectroscopic observations ($m_b\lesssim19.0$) for a subsample of the original BIRG sample, we find that the fraction of BIRGs with a close neighbor is significantly higher than that of their control sample. Comparing with a related analysis of Sy1 and Sy2 galaxies of Koulouridis et al. (2006) we find that BIRGs have a similar environment as Sy2s, although the fraction of BIRGs with a bright close neighbor is even higher than that of Sy2 galaxies. An additional analysis of the relation between FIR colors and the type of activity of each BIRG shows a significant difference between the colors of strongly-interacting and non-interacting starbursts and a resemblance between the colors of non-interacting starbursts and Sy2s. Our results support the view where close interactions can drive molecular clouds towards the galactic center, triggering starburst activity and obscuring the nuclear activity. When the close neighbor moves away, starburst activity is reduced with the simultaneous appearance of an obscured (type 2) AGN. Finally, the complete disentanglement of the pair gives birth to an unobscured (type 1) AGN.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal,10 pages, 4 figure

A new cubic theory of gravity in five dimensions: Black hole, Birkhoff's theorem and C-function

We present a new cubic theory of gravity in five dimensions which has second order traced field equations, analogous to BHT new massive gravity in three dimensions. Moreover, for static spherically symmetric spacetimes all the field equations are of second order, and the theory admits a new asymptotically locally flat black hole. Furthermore, we prove the uniqueness of this solution, study its thermodynamical properties, and show the existence of a C-function for the theory following the arguments of Anber and Kastor (arXiv:0802.1290 [hep-th]) in pure Lovelock theories. Finally, we include the Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet and cosmological terms and we find new asymptotically AdS black holes at the point where the three maximally symmetric solutions of the theory coincide. These black holes may also possess a Cauchy horizon.Comment: 21 pages, no figures, V2: two appendices and some references added, V3: New section on the generalization to arbitrary higher order. Analogy with BHT new massive gravity Lagrangian made more precise, V4: Typos corrected. To appear in CQ

On higher derivative gravity, c-theorems and cosmology

We consider higher derivative gravity lagrangians in 3 and 4 dimensions, which admit simple c-theorems, including upto six derivative curvature invariants. Following a suggestion by Myers, these lagrangians are restricted such that the fluctuations around (anti) de Sitter spaces have second order linearized equations of motion. We study c-theorems both in the context of AdS/CFT and cosmology. In the context of cosmology, the monotonic function is the entropy defined on the apparent horizon through Wald's formula. Exact black hole solutions which are asymptotically (anti) de Sitter are presented. An interesting lower bound for entropy is found in de Sitter space. Some aspects of cosmology in both D=3 and D=4 are discussed.Comment: 23 pages, v3: clarifications added, references adde

An algorithmic approach to the existence of ideal objects in commutative algebra

The existence of ideal objects, such as maximal ideals in nonzero rings, plays a crucial role in commutative algebra. These are typically justified using Zorn's lemma, and thus pose a challenge from a computational point of view. Giving a constructive meaning to ideal objects is a problem which dates back to Hilbert's program, and today is still a central theme in the area of dynamical algebra, which focuses on the elimination of ideal objects via syntactic methods. In this paper, we take an alternative approach based on Kreisel's no counterexample interpretation and sequential algorithms. We first give a computational interpretation to an abstract maximality principle in the countable setting via an intuitive, state based algorithm. We then carry out a concrete case study, in which we give an algorithmic account of the result that in any commutative ring, the intersection of all prime ideals is contained in its nilradical

Shocked Molecular Gas in the Supernova Remnant HB 21

We report the discovery of the shocked molecular gas in the supernova remnant HB 21. We derive the physical parameters of the shocked gas from CO J=1-0 and J=2-1 line observations. We discuss the correlation of the shocked molecular gas with the previously detected, shocked atomic gas and the associated infrared emission.Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures, To appear in the ApJ, scheduled for the April 10, 2001 issue (v551

The Disks of Galaxies with Seyfert and Starburst Nuclei: II. Near-Infrared Structural Properties

We have derived the near-infrared structural components of a sample of Seyfert and starburst (SBN) host galaxies by fitting the images of Hunt et al. (1997,ApJS,108,229) with a new two-dimensional decomposition algorithm. An analysis of the fitted parameters shows that Seyfert 1 and SBN bulges resemble normal early-type bulges in structure and color, with (J-K)^c_b about 0.1 mag redder than disk (J-K)^c_d. Seyfert 2 bulges, instead, are bluer than normal with (J-K)^c_b ~ (J-K)^c_d. Seyfert disks (especially Type 1), but not those of SBNs, are abnormally bright (in surface brightness), significantly more so than even the brightest normal disks. Seyfert disks are also compact, but similar to those in normal early-type spirals. For a given mass, Seyferts and especially SBNs are abnormally rich in neutral hydrogen, and there is strong, albeit indirect, evidence for lower mass-to-light (M/L) ratios in Seyfert and SBN disks, but for normal M/Ls in their bulges. In Seyferts and SBNs, HI mass fractions and M/L ratios are anticorrelated, and we attribute the high gas mass fractions and low M/Ls in SBNs and several Seyferts to ongoing star formation. Such abundant gas in Seyferts would be expected to inhibit bar formation, which may explain why active galaxies are not always barred.Comment: 25 pgs (two-column, single-spaced) including 8 incorporated figures and 2 tables (aas2pp4, amssym, epsfig). Accepted for publication in Ap

A Chandra Study of the Circinus Galaxy Point-Source Population

We have used the Chandra X-ray Observatory to resolve spatially and spectrally the X-ray emission from the Circinus Galaxy. We report here on the nature of the X-ray emission from the off-nuclear point sources associated with the disk of Circinus. We find that many of the serendipitous X-ray sources are concentrated along the optical disk of the galaxy, but few have optical counterparts within 1" of their X-ray positions down to V=23-25. At 3.8 Mpc, their intrinsic 0.5-10 keV luminosities range from approx. 2E37 erg/s to 4E39 erg/s. One quarter of the sources are variable over the duration of the 67 ks observation, and spectral fitting of these off-nuclear sources shows a diverse range of spectral properties. The properties of the two strongest off-nuclear sources are remarkable, with average X-ray luminosities of 3.7E39 erg/s and 3.4E39 erg/s. The former displays large and periodic flux variations every 7.5 hr and is well fit by a multicolor blackbody accretion-disk model with T_in=1.35 keV, properties consistent with an eclipsing >50 M_sun black-hole binary. The latter appears to be a young supernova remnant, as it coincides with a non-thermal radio counterpart and an H\alpha-detected HII region. This source exhibits both long-term (approx. 4 yr) X-ray variability and a 6.67-6.97 keV iron emission-line blend with a 1.6 keV equivalent width. These two objects further support the notion that super-Eddington X-ray sources in nearby galaxies can be explained by a mixture of intermediate-mass black holes in X-ray binaries and young supernova remnants. (abridged)Comment: LaTex using emulateApJ5, 12 pages with 11 embedded figures, AJ in press. Also available at http://www.astro.psu.edu/~fbauer/RESEARCH/Circinus.ps.g