70 research outputs found
Weighing neutrinos using high redshift galaxy luminosity functions
Laboratory experiments measuring neutrino oscillations, indicate small mass
differences between different mass eigenstates of neutrinos. The absolute mass
scale is however not determined, with at present the strongest upper limits
coming from astronomical observations rather than terrestrial experiments. The
presence of massive neutrinos suppresses the growth of perturbations below a
characteristic mass scale, thereby leading to a decreased abundance of
collapsed dark matter halos. Here we show that this effect can significantly
alter the predicted luminosity function (LF) of high redshift galaxies. In
particular we demonstrate that a stringent constraint on the neutrino mass can
be obtained using the well measured galaxy LF and our semi-analytic structure
formation models. Combining the constraints from the Wilkinson Microwave
Anisotropy Probe 7 year (WMAP7) data with the LF data at z = 4, we get a limit
on the sum of the masses of 3 degenerate neutrinos \Sigma m_\nu < 0.52 eV at
the 95 % CL. The additional constraints using the prior on Hubble constant
strengthens this limit to \Sigma m_\nu < 0.29 eV at the 95 % CL. This neutrino
mass limit is a factor of order 4 improvement compared to the constraint based
on the WMAP7 data alone, and as stringent as known limits based on other
astronomical observations. As different astronomical measurements may suffer
from different set of biases, the method presented here provides a
complementary probe of \Sigma m_\nu . We suggest that repeating this exercise
on well measured luminosity functions over different redshift ranges can
provide independent and tighter constraints on \Sigma m_\nu .Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, submitted to PR
Kasner and Mixmaster behavior in universes with equation of state w \ge 1
We consider cosmological models with a scalar field with equation of state
that contract towards a big crunch singularity, as in recent cyclic
and ekpyrotic scenarios. We show that chaotic mixmaster oscillations due to
anisotropy and curvature are suppressed, and the contraction is described by a
homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann equation if . We generalize the
results to theories where the scalar field couples to p-forms and show that
there exists a finite value of , depending on the p-forms, such that chaotic
oscillations are suppressed. We show that orbifold compactification also
contributes to suppressing chaotic behavior. In particular, chaos is avoided in
contracting heterotic M-theory models if at the crunch.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures, minor changes, references adde
Dark Matter Gravitational Interactions
We argue that the conjectured dark mater in the Universe may be endowed with
a new kind of gravitational charge that couples to a short range gravitational
interaction mediated by a massive vector field. A model is constructed that
assimilates this concept into ideas of current inflationary cosmology. The
model is also consistent with the observed behaviour of galactic rotation
curves according to Newtonian dynamics. The essential idea is that stars
composed of ordinary (as opposed to dark matter) experience Newtonian forces
due to the presence of an all pervading background of massive gravitationally
charged cold dark matter. The novel gravitational interactions are predicted to
have a significant influence on pre-inflationary cosmology. The precise details
depend on the nature of a gravitational Proca interaction and the description
of matter. A gravitational Proca field configuration that gives rise to
attractive forces between dark matter charges of like polarity exhibits
homogeneous isotropic eternal cosmologies that are free of cosmological
curvature singularities thus eliminating the horizon problem associated with
the standard big-bang scenario. Such solutions do however admit dense hot
pre-inflationary epochs each with a characteristic scale factor that may be
correlated with the dark matter density in the current era of expansion. The
model is based on a theory in which a modification of Einsteinian gravity at
very short distances can be expressed in terms of the gradient of the Einstein
metric and the torsion of a non-Riemannian connection on the bundle of linear
frames over spacetime. Indeed we demonstrate that the genesis of the model
resides in a remarkable simplification that occurs when one analyses the
variational equations associated with a broad class of non-Riemannian actions.Comment: 40 pages, 4 Postscript figure
Cluster M Mycobacteriophages Bongo, PegLeg, and Rey with Unusually Large Repertoires of tRNA Isotopes
Genomic analysis of a large set of phages infecting the common hostMycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 shows that they span considerable genetic diversity. There are more than 20 distinct types that lack nucleotide similarity with each other, and there is considerable diversity within most of the groups. Three newly isolated temperate mycobacteriophages, Bongo, PegLeg, and Rey, constitute a new group (cluster M), with the closely related phages Bongo and PegLeg forming subcluster M1 and the more distantly related Rey forming subcluster M2. The cluster M mycobacteriophages have siphoviral morphologies with unusually long tails, are homoimmune, and have larger than average genomes (80.2 to 83.7 kbp). They exhibit a variety of features not previously described in other mycobacteriophages, including noncanonical genome architectures and several unusual sets of conserved repeated sequences suggesting novel regulatory systems for both transcription and translation. In addition to containing transfer-messenger RNA and RtcB-like RNA ligase genes, their genomes encode 21 to 24 tRNA genes encompassing complete or nearly complete sets of isotypes. We predict that these tRNAs are used in late lytic growth, likely compensating for the degradation or inadequacy of host tRNAs. They may represent a complete set of tRNAs necessary for late lytic growth, especially when taken together with the apparent lack of codons in the same late genes that correspond to tRNAs that the genomes of the phages do not obviously encode
Bostonia: The Boston University Alumni Magazine. Volume 9
Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs
Taking the Measure of the Universe: Precision Astrometry with SIM PlanetQuest
Precision astrometry at microarcsecond accuracy has application to a wide
range of astrophysical problems. This paper is a study of the science questions
that can be addressed using an instrument that delivers parallaxes at about 4
microarcsec on targets as faint as V = 20, differential accuracy of 0.6
microarcsec on bright targets, and with flexible scheduling. The science topics
are drawn primarily from the Team Key Projects, selected in 2000, for the Space
Interferometry Mission PlanetQuest (SIM PlanetQuest). We use the capabilities
of this mission to illustrate the importance of the next level of astrometric
precision in modern astrophysics. SIM PlanetQuest is currently in the detailed
design phase, having completed all of the enabling technologies needed for the
flight instrument in 2005. It will be the first space-based long baseline
Michelson interferometer designed for precision astrometry. SIM will contribute
strongly to many astronomical fields including stellar and galactic
astrophysics, planetary systems around nearby stars, and the study of quasar
and AGN nuclei. SIM will search for planets with masses as small as an Earth
orbiting in the `habitable zone' around the nearest stars using differential
astrometry, and could discover many dozen if Earth-like planets are common. It
will be the most capable instrument for detecting planets around young stars,
thereby providing insights into how planetary systems are born and how they
evolve with time. SIM will observe significant numbers of very high- and
low-mass stars, providing stellar masses to 1%, the accuracy needed to
challenge physical models. Using precision proper motion measurements, SIM will
probe the galactic mass distribution and the formation and evolution of the
Galactic halo. (abridged)Comment: 54 pages, 28 figures, uses emulateapj. Submitted to PAS
Dynamics of Galactic Disks and Mergers at z~1.6: Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy with Keck Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics
We present 0.2" resolution near-infrared integral field spectroscopy of
H-alpha emission from six star forming galaxies at z~1.6 (look-back time of
~9.6 Gyr). These observations were obtained with OSIRIS using the Keck Laser
Guide Star Adaptive Optics system. All sources have a compact spatial extent of
~1", with an average half light radius of r=2.9 kpc and average dereddened star
formation rate of 22 Msolar per year. Based on H-alpha kinematics we find that
these six galaxies are dynamically distinguishable, and we classify them as
either merger or disk candidate systems. We find three merger systems
(HDF-BX1287, HDF-BX1315, and Q1623-BX491) with varying geometries and dynamical
properties. Three galaxies (HDF-BMZ1299, Q2343-BX344, and Q2343-BM145) are
well-fit by an inclined-disk model with low velocity residuals (20 to 46
km/sec). An average plateau velocity of v_p=185 km/sec is achieved within 1.0
kpc. The majority of observed velocity dispersions (~88 km/sec) can be
explained by the residual seeing halo, and are not intrinsic to our sources.
However, one merger and one disk candidate have high velocity dispersions (>
200 km/sec) that cannot be solely explained by beam smearing. For two disk
candidates, we detect [NII] emission and are able to map the [NII]/H-alpha
ratio on kiloparsec scales. In both cases, [NII] emission is more concentrated
than H-alpha emission (< 0.2"), and peak ratios are best explained by the
presence of an AGN. These are among the weakest known AGN at high redshift,
however their emission is strong enough to impact high redshift metallicity
studies that use nebular ratios. All disk candidates have likely completed only
a few orbital periods, and if left unperturbed are excellent candidates to
become present-day spiral galaxies.Comment: 45 pages, 12 figures, resubmitted to Ap
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