An Anomalous Extinction Law in the Cep OB3b Young Cluster: Evidence for dust processing during gas dispersal

We determine the extinction law through Cep OB3b, a young cluster of 3000 stars undergoing gas dispersal. The extinction is measured toward 76 background K giants identified with MMT/Hectospec spectra. Color excess ratios were determined toward each of the giants using $V$ and $R$ photometry from the literature, $g$,$r$,$i$ and $z$ photometry from SDSS and $J$, $H$, and $K_{s}$ photometry from 2MASS. These color excess ratios were the used to construct the extinction law through the dusty material associated with Cep OB3b. The extinction law through Cep OB3b is intermediate between the $R_{V} = 3.1$ and $R_{V} = 5$ laws commonly used for the diffuse atomic ISM and dense molecular clouds, respectively. The dependence of the extinction law on line-of-sight $A_{V}$ is investigated and we find the extinction law becomes shallower for regions with $A_{V} > 2.5$ magnitudes. We speculate that the intermediate dust law results from dust processing during the dispersal of the molecular cloud by the cluster.Comment: 31 pages, 10 Figures, 3 Tables, accepted for publication in Ap

Instrument calibration of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) mission

This work is supported by NASA contract NNG09FA40C (IRIS).The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) is a NASA small explorer mission that provides high-resolution spectra and images of the Sun in the 133 – 141 nm and 278 – 283 nm wavelength bands. The IRIS data are archived in calibrated form and made available to the public within seven days of observing. The calibrations applied to the data include dark correction, scattered light and background correction, flat fielding, geometric distortion correction, and wavelength calibration. In addition, the IRIS team has calibrated the IRIS absolute throughput as a function of wavelength and has been tracking throughput changes over the course of the mission. As a resource for the IRIS data user, this article describes the details of these calibrations as they have evolved over the first few years of the mission. References to online documentation provide access to additional information and future updates.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Correlation of Microstructures and Tribological Properties of Ferrous Coatings Deposited by Atmospheric Plasma Spraying on Al-Si Cast Alloy Substrate

The microstructure and tribological properties of ferrous coatings applicable to cylinder bores were investigated in this study. Two kinds of ferrous powders were sprayed on Al-Si cast alloy (EN AlSi10Mg) substrate by atmospheric plasma spraying. Microstructural analysis showed that various Fe oxides were formed in the coatings. The presence of pores, unmelted particles, and Fe precipitates was also noticed. The pin-on-ring tribometer was used to carry out tribological tests under lubricated sliding conditions: sliding speed of 0.5 m/s, sliding distance of 5000 m, and normal load of 450 N. High porosity and the presence of larger and irregularly shaped pores as well as the amount of oxides were the controlling factors for the crack initiations and, consequently, the wear rate. Tribological properties of the coatings were compared with gray cast iron as a standard material for cylinder blocks and showed that, for the investigated conditions, both coatings could be an adequate substitution