1,558 research outputs found
Evidence for Low-Dimensional Chaos in Semiregular Variable Stars
An analysis of the photometric observations of the light curves of the five
large amplitude, irregularly pulsating stars R UMi, RS Cyg, V CVn, UX Dra and
SX Her is presented. First, multi-periodicity is eliminated for these
pulsations, i.e. they are not caused by the excitation of a small number of
pulsation modes with constant amplitudes. Next, on the basis of energetics we
also eliminate stochasticity as a cause, leaving low dimensional chaos as the
only alternative. We then use a global flow reconstruction technique in an
attempt to extract quantitative information from the light curves, and to
uncover common physical features in this class of irregular variable stars that
straddle the RV Tau to the Mira variables. Evidence is presented that the
pulsational behavior of R UMi, RS Cyg, V CVn and UX Dra takes place in a
4-dimensional dynamical phase space, suggesting that two vibrational modes are
involved in the pulsation. A linear stability analysis of the fixed points of
the maps further indicates the existence of a two-mode resonance, similar to
the one we had uncovered earlier in R Sct: The irregular pulsations are the
result of a continual energy exchange between two strongly nonadiabatic modes,
a lower frequency pulsation mode and an overtone that are in a close 2:1
resonance. The evidence is particularly convincing for R UMi, RS Cyg and V CVn,
but much weaker for UX Dra. In contrast, the pulsations of SX Her appear to be
more complex and may require a 6D space.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures, accepted in ApJ - paper with clearer figures is
available at http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~buchler/publications/u12.ps.gz (1Mb
A Merger Scenario for the Dynamics of Abell 665
We present new redshift measurements for 55 galaxies in the vicinity of the
rich galaxy cluster Abell 665. When combined with results from the literature,
we have good velocity measurements for a sample of 77 confirmed cluster members
from which we derive the cluster's redshift z=0.1829 +/- 0.0005 and
line-of-sight velocity dispersion of 1390 +/- 120 km/s. Our analysis of the
kinematical and spatial data for the subset of galaxies located within the
central 750 kpc reveals only subtle evidence for substructure and
non-Gaussianity in the velocity distribution. We find that the brightest
cluster member is not moving significantly relative to the other galaxies near
the center of the cluster. On the other hand, our deep ROSAT high resolution
image of A665 shows strong evidence for isophotal twisting and centroid
variation, thereby confirming previous suggestions of significant substructure
in the hot X-ray--emitting intracluster gas. In light of this evident
substructure, we have compared the optical velocity data with N-body
simulations of head-on cluster mergers. We find that a merger of two similar
mass subclusters (mass ratios of 1:1 or 1:2) seen close to the time of
core-crossing produces velocity distributions that are consistent with that
observed.Comment: 30 pages and 7 figures. Accepted by the Astrophysical Journal Full
resoultion figures 1 and 3 available in postscript at
http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~percy/A665paper.htm
Stochastic Processes in Yellow and Red Pulsating Variables
Random changes in pulsation period are well established in cool pulsating
stars, in particular the red giant variables: Miras, semi-regulars of types A
and B, and RV Tau variables. Such effects are also observed in a handful of
Cepheids, the SX Phe variable XX Cyg, and, most recently, the red supergiant
variable, BC Cyg, a type C semi-regular. The nature of such fluctuations is
seemingly random over a few pulsation cycles of the stars, yet the regularity
of the primary pulsation mechanism dominates over the long term. The degree of
stochasticity is linked to the dimensions of the stars, the randomness
parameter 'e' appearing to correlate closely with mean stellar radius through
the period 'P', with an average value of e/P = 0.0136+-0.0005. The physical
processes responsible for such fluctuations are uncertain, but presumably
originate in temporal modifications of envelope convection in such stars.Comment: Poster given at the "Stellar Pulsation: Challenges for Theory and
Observation" conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico (2009
Substructure in clusters containing wide-angle tailed radio galaxies. I. New redshifts
We present new redshifts and positions for 635 galaxies in nine rich clusters
containing Wide-Angle Tailed (WAT) radio galaxies. Combined with existing data,
we now have a sample of 18 WAT-containing clusters with more than 10 redshifts.
This sample contains a substantial portion of the WAT clusters in the VLA 20 cm
survey of Abell clusters, including 75% of WAT clusters in the complete survey
(z0.09. It is a representative sample
which should not contain biases other than selection by radio morphology. We
graphically present the new data using histograms and sky maps. A
semi-automated procedure is used to search for emission lines in the spectra in
order to add and verify galaxy redshifts. We find that the average apparent
fraction of emission line galaxies is about 9% in both the clusters and the
field. We investigate the magnitude completeness of our redshift surveys with
CCD data for a test case, Abell 690. This case indicates that our galaxy target
lists are deeper than the detection limit of a typical MX exposure, and they
are 82% complete down to R=19.0. The importance of the uniformity of the
placement of fibers on targets is posited, and we evaluate this in our
datasets. We find some cases of non-uniformities which may influence dynamical
analyses. A second paper will use this database to look for correlations
between the WAT radio morphology and the cluster's dynamical state.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, 7 tables. To appear in the Astronomical Journa
Not in my back yard! Sports stadia location and the property market
In recent years sports stadia have been built in the UK, not only for their intended sporting purpose but with the twin aim of stimulating economic and physical regeneration. However, proposals to locate stadia in urban areas often prompt a negative reaction from local communities, fearing a decline in property prices. This paper will use a case study of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the City of Manchester Stadium to illustrate that in contrast to this widely held belief, sports stadia can actually enhance the value of residential property. Furthermore, it will argue that stadia also contribute indirectly to property value through the creation of pride, confidence and enhanced image of an area.</p
Love, rights and solidarity: studying children's participation using Honneth's theory of recognition
Recent attempts to theorize childrenâs participation have drawn on a wide range of ideas, concepts and models from political and social theory. The aim of this article is to explore the specific usefulness of Honnethâs theory of a âstruggle for recognitionâ in thinking about this area of practice. The article identifies what is distinctive about Honnethâs theory of recognition, and how it differs from other theories of recognition. It then considers the relevance of Honnethâs conceptual framework to the social position of children, including those who may be involved in a variety of âparticipatoryâ activities.
It looks at how useful Honnethâs ideas are in direct engagement with young peopleâs praxis, drawing on ethnographic research with members of a children and young peopleâs forum. The article concludes by reflecting on the implications of this theoretical approach and the further questions which it opens up for theories of participation and of adultâchild relations more generally
Developing the Saegusa-Ito cyclisation for the synthesis of difluorinated cyclohexenones
Palladium(II)-catalysed cycloalkenylation (Saegusa-Ito cyclisation) has been used for the first time to transform difluorinated silylenol ethers to difluorinated cycloalkenones under mild conditions. The silylenol ether precursors were prepared in two high-yielding steps from trifluoroethanol, and cyclised in moderate to good yields. A combination of air and copper(I) chloride in acetonitrile achieved the turnover of the initial palladium(II) salt, while the provision of an oxygen atmosphere ensured more rapid reaction. Annulations required a minimum level of substitution on the chain, but failed when the alkene was substituted. Annelations allowed a range of n,6-bicyclic systems to be prepared and afforded three products in which heterocycles were fused to the new cyclohexenone. The least substituted system explored underwent cyclisation followed by terminal oxidation to a cyclic enal, which corresponded to a Wacker product of unusual regiochemistry
Bostonia: The Boston University Alumni Magazine. Volume 11
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
Period and light curve fluctuations of the Kepler Cepheid V1154 Cyg
We present a detailed period analysis of the bright Cepheid-type variable
star V1154 Cygni (V =9.1 mag, P~4.9 d) based on almost 600 days of continuous
observations by the Kepler space telescope. The data reveal significant
cycle-to-cycle fluctuations in the pulsation period, indicating that classical
Cepheids may not be as accurate astrophysical clocks as commonly believed:
regardless of the specific points used to determine the O-C values, the cycle
lengths show a scatter of 0.015-0.02 days over the 120 cycles covered by the
observations. A very slight correlation between the individual Fourier
parameters and the O-C values was found, suggesting that the O - C variations
might be due to the instability of the light curve shape. Random fluctuation
tests revealed a linear trend up to a cycle difference 15, but for long term,
the period remains around the mean value. We compare the measurements with
simulated light curves that were constructed to mimic V1154 Cyg as a perfect
pulsator modulated only by the light travel time effect caused by low-mass
companions. We show that the observed period jitter in V1154 Cyg represents a
serious limitation in the search for binary companions. While the Kepler data
are accurate enough to allow the detection of planetary bodies in close orbits
around a Cepheid, the astrophysical noise can easily hide the signal of the
light-time effect.Comment: published in MNRAS: 8 pages, 7 figure
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