Spectral Inversion of Multi-Line Full-Disk Observations of Quiet Sun Magnetic Fields

Spectral inversion codes are powerful tools to analyze spectropolarimetric observations, and they provide important diagnostics of solar magnetic fields. Inversion codes differ by numerical procedures, approximations of the atmospheric model, and description of radiative transfer. Stokes Inversion based on Response functions (SIR) is an implementation widely used by the solar physics community. It allows to work with different atmospheric components, where gradients of different physical parameters are possible, e.g., magnetic field strength and velocities. The spectropolarimetric full-disk observations were carried out with the Stokesmeter of the Solar Telescope for Operative Predictions (STOP) at the Sayan Observatory on 3 February 2009, when neither an active region nor any other extended flux concentration was present on the Sun. In this study of quiet Sun magnetic fields, we apply the SIR code simultaneously to 15 spectral lines. A tendency is found that weaker magnetic field strengths occur closer to the limb. We explain this finding by the fact that close to the limb, we are more sensitive to higher altitudes in an expanding flux tube, where the field strength should be smaller since the magnetic flux is conserved with height. Typically, the inversions deliver two populations of magnetic elements: (1) high magnetic field strengths (1500-2000 G) and high temperatures (5500-6500 K) and (2) weak magnetic fields (50-150 G) and low temperatures (5000-5300 K).Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, accepted for Solar Physic

The Jefferson Lab Frozen Spin Target

A frozen spin polarized target, constructed at Jefferson Lab for use inside a large acceptance spectrometer, is described. The target has been utilized for photoproduction measurements with polarized tagged photons of both longitudinal and circular polarization. Protons in TEMPO-doped butanol were dynamically polarized to approximately 90% outside the spectrometer at 5 T and 200--300 mK. Photoproduction data were acquired with the target inside the spectrometer at a frozen-spin temperature of approximately 30 mK with the polarization maintained by a thin, superconducting coil installed inside the target cryostat. A 0.56 T solenoid was used for longitudinal target polarization and a 0.50 T dipole for transverse polarization. Spin-lattice relaxation times as high as 4000 hours were observed. We also report polarization results for deuterated propanediol doped with the trityl radical OX063.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, preprint submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section

A low-voltage retarding-field Mott polarimeter for photocathode characterization

Nuclear physics experiments at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility's CEBAF rely on high polarization electron beams. We describe a recently commissioned system for prequalifying and studying photocathodes for CEBAF with a load-locked, low-voltage polarized electron source coupled to a compact retarding-field Mott polarimeter. The polarimeter uses simplified electrode structures and operates from 5 to 30 kV. The effective Sherman function for this device has been calibrated by comparison with the CEBAF 5 MeV Mott polarimeter. For elastic scattering from a thick gold target at 20 keV, the effective Sherman function is 0.201(5). Its maximum efficiency at 20 keV, defined as the detected count rate divided by the incident particle current, is 5.4(2) x 10-4, yielding a figure-of-merit, or analyzing power squared times efficiency, of 1.0(1) x 10-5. The operating parameters of this new polarimeter design are compared to previously published data for other compact Mott polarimeters of the retarding-field type.Comment: 9 figure

The Nursing Worklife Model: Extending and Refining a New Theory

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75205/1/j.1365-2834.2007.00670.x.pd

Dispersive properties of quasi-phase-matched optical parametric amplifiers

The dispersive properties of non-degenerate optical parametric amplification in quasi-phase-matched (QPM) nonlinear quadratic crystals with an arbitrary grating profile are theoretically investigated in the no-pump-depletion limit. The spectral group delay curve of the amplifier is shown to be univocally determined by its spectral power gain curve through a Hilbert transform. Such a constraint has important implications on the propagation of spectrally-narrow optical pulses through the amplifier. In particular, it is shown that anomalous transit times, corresponding to superluminal or even negative group velocities, are possible near local minima of the spectral gain curve. A possible experimental observation of such effects using a QPM Lithium-Niobate crystal is suggested.Comment: submitted for publicatio

Prediction of Zamorano cheese quality by near-infrared spectroscopy assessing false non-compliance and false compliance at minimum permitted limits stated by designation of origin regulations

Near-infrared transmittance (NIT) spectroscopy was used to predict the percentage in weight of the fat, dry matter, protein and fat/dry matter contents in Zamorano cheeses, protected with a Designation of Origin by the European Union. A total of 42 cheeses submitted to official control were analysed by reference methods. Samples were scanned (850–1050 nm) and predictive equations were developed using Partial Least Squares regression with a cross-validation step. Eight pretreatments independent from the remaining calibration samples were first considered. The most adequate one was that performing the second derivative (using a Savitzky–Golay method with a nine-point window and a second-order polynomial) followed by the standard normal variate transformation. Percentages of the root mean square error in cross-validation, the coefficient of determination and the mean of the absolute value of relative errors found were, respectively, for fat (0.62; 96.16; 1.05), dry matter (0.76; 96.03; 0.83), protein (0.41; 97.82; 0.81) and the fat/dry matter ratio (0.61; 92.51; 0.66). At a 99% confidence level, the trueness of the NIT+PLS methods for fat, dry matter and protein was verified. The official regulation for Zamorano cheese demands minimum permitted limits on the percentages in weight for protein (25%), dry matter (55%) and the ratio of fat to dry matter (45%). The adaptation of both the decision limit and the detection capability to the case of a minimum permitted limit (CDα and CDβ, respectively) when a Partial Least Squares calibration is used has been applied for the first time for a food product protected by a Designation of Origin. The values of CDα with a probability of false non-compliance equal to 0.05 and of CDβ when, in addition, the probability of false compliance was equal to or less than 0.05, both provided by the corresponding NIT+PLS-based method, were, respectively, for protein (24.78%; 24.57%), dry matter (54.14%; 53.28%) and the fat/dry matter ratio (44.39%; 43.78%).authorsthankthefinancialsupportprovidedbyMinisterio de CienciaeInnovacio´n (CTQ2011-26022)andJuntadeCastillay Leo´n (BU108A11-2

Calibration of Tuffak polycarbonate track detector for identification of relativistic nuclei

We discuss response of Tuffak polycarbonate to relativistic heavy nuclei using two methods, measurement of the minor axis diameter and of the length of the track cone, to determine charge resolution. At Z = 92 (0.95 GeV/u 238U) both methods give about 0.9e charge resolution for a single cone measurement. Multiple cone measurements along the ion's trajectory have yielded a charge resolution [sigma]z [les] 0.25e (16 cones) when stripping foils (Cu) are interleaved between plastic sheets to minimize sheet-to-sheet charge state correlations. As the charge of the incident ion decreases to Z [approximate] 52-57, the single-cone charge resolution improves ([sigma]z ~ 0.29e). The angular response of Tuffak is fairly constant for zenith angles of incidence from 0[deg] to 48[deg]. Range measurements of stopping relativistic 238U in Tuffak deviate by ~5% from that predicted by the Bethe-Bloch formula, as expected from recent relativistic calculations. We conclude that Tuffak is an excellent track detector for identification of nuclear charges of relativistic heavy nuclei with 50 Z <= 92.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24979/1/0000406.pd

Star Formation and Dynamics in the Galactic Centre

The centre of our Galaxy is one of the most studied and yet enigmatic places in the Universe. At a distance of about 8 kpc from our Sun, the Galactic centre (GC) is the ideal environment to study the extreme processes that take place in the vicinity of a supermassive black hole (SMBH). Despite the hostile environment, several tens of early-type stars populate the central parsec of our Galaxy. A fraction of them lie in a thin ring with mild eccentricity and inner radius ~0.04 pc, while the S-stars, i.e. the ~30 stars closest to the SMBH (<0.04 pc), have randomly oriented and highly eccentric orbits. The formation of such early-type stars has been a puzzle for a long time: molecular clouds should be tidally disrupted by the SMBH before they can fragment into stars. We review the main scenarios proposed to explain the formation and the dynamical evolution of the early-type stars in the GC. In particular, we discuss the most popular in situ scenarios (accretion disc fragmentation and molecular cloud disruption) and migration scenarios (star cluster inspiral and Hills mechanism). We focus on the most pressing challenges that must be faced to shed light on the process of star formation in the vicinity of a SMBH.Comment: 68 pages, 35 figures; invited review chapter, to be published in expanded form in Haardt, F., Gorini, V., Moschella, U. and Treves, A., 'Astrophysical Black Holes'. Lecture Notes in Physics. Springer 201

The global atmospheric electrical circuit and climate

Evidence is emerging for physical links among clouds, global temperatures, the global atmospheric electrical circuit and cosmic ray ionisation. The global circuit extends throughout the atmosphere from the planetary surface to the lower layers of the ionosphere. Cosmic rays are the principal source of atmospheric ions away from the continental boundary layer: the ions formed permit a vertical conduction current to flow in the fair weather part of the global circuit. Through the (inverse) solar modulation of cosmic rays, the resulting columnar ionisation changes may allow the global circuit to convey a solar influence to meteorological phenomena of the lower atmosphere. Electrical effects on non-thunderstorm clouds have been proposed to occur via the ion-assisted formation of ultra-fine aerosol, which can grow to sizes able to act as cloud condensation nuclei, or through the increased ice nucleation capability of charged aerosols. Even small atmospheric electrical modulations on the aerosol size distribution can affect cloud properties and modify the radiative balance of the atmosphere, through changes communicated globally by the atmospheric electrical circuit. Despite a long history of work in related areas of geophysics, the direct and inverse relationships between the global circuit and global climate remain largely quantitatively unexplored. From reviewing atmospheric electrical measurements made over two centuries and possible paleoclimate proxies, global atmospheric electrical circuit variability should be expected on many timescale