4,622 research outputs found
Searching for additional heating - [OII] emission in the diffuse ionized gas of NGC891, NGC4631 and NGC3079
We present spectroscopic data of ionized gas in the disk--halo regions of
three edge-on galaxies, NGC 891, NGC 4631 and NGC 3079, covering a wavelength
range from [\ion{O}{2}] 3727\AA to [\ion{S}{2}] 6716.4\AA.
The inclusion of the [\ion{O}{2}] emission provides new constraints on the
properties of the diffuse ionized gas (DIG), in particular, the origin of the
observed spatial variations in the line intensity ratios. We used three
different methods to derive electron temperatures, abundances and ionization
fractions along the slit. The increase in the [\ion{O}{2}]/H line ratio
towards the halo in all three galaxies requires an increase either in electron
temperature or in oxygen abundance. Keeping the oxygen abundance constant
yields the most reasonable results for temperature, abundances, and ionization
fractions. Since a constant oxygen abundance seems to require an increase in
temperature towards the halo, we conclude that gradients in the electron
temperature play a significant role in the observed variations in the optical
line ratios from extraplanar DIG in these three spiral galaxies.Comment: 43 pages, 29 figure
Sharing electrons: An extraordinary friendship between bacteria
Did you know that iron is one of the most important elements on Earth? It is assumed that life evolved close to iron sources. This means that the earliest life forms—and therefore oldest creatures—were able to use iron to obtain energy the way we use food. These tiny organisms are called iron microorganisms and can occur in sediments, which are mainly muddy sand. But less was known about where iron microorganisms live in these sediments—are they located close to the water surface or deep in the sediment? In this study, a team from the University of Tübingen investigated the distribution and variety of iron microorganisms. The scientists discovered that iron microorganisms live independent from their favorite foods: iron, oxygen, and light! This independence might be explained by an unexpected extraordinary friendship with a “living cable.” Are you curious about what a living cable is
Exploring the phase diagram of the two-impurity Kondo problem
A system of two exchange-coupled Kondo impurities in a magnetic field gives
rise to a rich phase space hosting a multitude of correlated phenomena.
Magnetic atoms on surfaces probed through scanning tunnelling microscopy
provide an excellent platform to investigate coupled impurities, but typical
high Kondo temperatures prevent field-dependent studies from being performed,
rendering large parts of the phase space inaccessible. We present an integral
study of pairs of Co atoms on insulating Cu2N/Cu(100), which each have a Kondo
temperature of only 2.6 K. In order to cover the different regions of the phase
space, the pairs are designed to have interaction strengths similar to the
Kondo temperature. By applying a sufficiently strong magnetic field, we are
able to access a new phase in which the two coupled impurities are
simultaneously screened. Comparison of differential conductance spectra taken
on the atoms to simulated curves, calculated using a third order transport
model, allows us to independently determine the degree of Kondo screening in
each phase.Comment: paper: 14 pages, 4 figures; supplementary: 3 pages, 1 figure, 1 tabl
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