4,818 research outputs found
An Investigation into the Geometry of Seyfert Galaxies
We present a new method for the statistical investigation into the
distributions of the angle beta between the radio axis and the normal to the
galactic disk for a sample of Seyfert galaxies. We discuss how further
observations of the sample galaxies can strengthen the conclusions. Our data
are consistent with the hypothesis that AGN jets are oriented randomly in
space, independent of the position of the plane of the galaxy. By making the
simple assumption that the Standard Model of AGN holds, with a universal
opening angle of the thick torus of phi_c, we demonstrate a statistical method
to obtain an estimate of phi_c. Our data are not consistent with the
simple-minded idea that Seyfert 1s and Seyfert 2s are differentiated solely by
whether or not our line of sight lies within some fixed angle of the jet axis.
Our result is significant on the 2 sigma level and can thus be considered only
suggestive, not conclusive. A complete sample of Seyfert galaxies selected on
an isotropic property is required to obtain a conclusive result.Comment: 13 pages, Tex, 5 Postscript figures. Accepted Ap
The Exciting Lives of Giant Molecular Clouds
We present a detailed study of the evolution of GMCs in a galactic disc
simulation. We follow individual GMCs (defined in our simulations by a total
column density criterion), including their level of star formation, from their
formation to dispersal. We find the evolution of GMCs is highly complex. GMCs
often form from a combination of smaller clouds and ambient ISM, and similarly
disperse by splitting into a number of smaller clouds and ambient ISM. However
some clouds emerge as the result of the disruption of a more massive GMC,
rather than from the assembly of smaller clouds. Likewise in some cases, clouds
accrete onto more massive clouds rather than disperse. Because of the
difficulty of determining a precursor or successor of a given GMC, determining
GMC histories and lifetimes is highly non-trivial. Using a definition relating
to the continuous evolution of a cloud, we obtain lifetimes typically of 4-25
Myr for >10^5 M GMCs, over which time the star formation efficiency
is about 1 %. We also relate the lifetime of GMCs to their crossing time. We
find that the crossing time is a reasonable measure of the actual lifetime of
the cloud, although there is considerable scatter. The scatter is found to be
unavoidable because of the complex and varied shapes and dynamics of the
clouds. We study cloud dispersal in detail and find both stellar feedback and
shear contribute to cloud disruption. We also demonstrate that GMCs do not
behave as ridge clouds, rather massive spiral arm GMCs evolve into smaller
clouds in inter-arm spurs.Comment: 15 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
The observable effects of tidally induced warps in protostellar discs
We consider the response of a protostellar disc to a tidally induced warp and
the resultant changes in the spectral energy distribution (SED). We argue that
for typical protostellar disc parameters the warp is communicated through the
disc in a wave-like fashion. We find that the main effects of the warp tend to
be at large radii (greater than 30 AU) and, for sufficiently small viscosity,
can be quite long-lived. This can result in non-uniform illumination of the
disc at these radii and can induce significant changes to the SED at
wavelengths greater than 100 microns.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures. Accepted by MNRA
Radiation-Driven Warping: The Origin of Warps and Precession in Accretion Disks
A geometrically thin, optically thick, warped accretion disk with a central
source of luminosity is subject to non-axisymmetric forces due to radiation
pressure; the resulting torque acts to modify the warp. In a recent paper,
\cite{pri96} used a local analysis to show that initially planar accretion
disks are unstable to warping driven by radiation torque. Here we extend this
work with a global analysis of the stable and unstable modes. We confirm
Pringle's conclusion that thin centrally-illuminated accretion disks are
generically unstable to warping via this mechanism; we discuss the
time-evolution and likely steady-state of such systems and show specifically
that this mechanism can explain the warping of the disk of water masers in NGC
4258 and the 164-day precession period of the accretion disk in SS 433.
Radiation-driven warping and precession provides a robust mechanism for
producing warped, precessing accretion disks in active galactic nuclei and
X-ray binary systems.Comment: 16 pages, latex, 3 figure
Are Intervention-Design Characteristics More Predictive than Baseline Participant Characteristics on Participant Attendance to a Paediatric, Community Weight Management Programme?
BACKGROUND: Approximately 50% of participants complete a paediatric weight management programme, yet the predictors of attendance and dropout are inconsistent. This study investigates subject and intervention-design characteristics associated with attendance at a group based, family weight management programme.
SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Secondary data analysis of 2948 subjects (Age 10.4±2.8 years, BMI 26.0±5.7kg/m2, Standardised BMI (BMI SDS) 2.48±0.87, White 70.3%) from 244 MoreLife (UK) programmes. Subjects attend weekly for 10-12 weeks, sessions last 2-3 hours. Sessions include lifestyle guidance and physical activity.
METHOD: Subject characteristics (demographics, psychological (body satisfaction & self-esteem) and sedentary behaviour) were gathered at first contact and BMI SDS was noted weekly. Intervention-design characteristics were recorded (year, length (weeks), group size, age segregation and day of session). Attendance was calculated as total number of sessions attended (%). Multivariate linear regression examined predictors of attendance and multiple imputation countered missing data. RESULTS: Average attendance was 59.4%±29.3%. Baseline subject characteristics were ‘poor’ predictors of attendance. Intervention year, group size and day of session significantly predicted attendance (Tables 1 & 2). Yet, the most predictive marker of attendance was a change in BMI SDS during the programme (B = -0.38, 95% CI = -0.43 - -0.33).
CONCLUSION: A reduction in BMI was seen to predict greater attendance. However, baseline subject characteristics were weakly associated with attendance, refuting past findings. Dominant intervention characteristics (large groups, weekend sessions and recent delivery) predicted lower attendance. Future programmes may be better informed
On the role of numerical diffusivity in MHD simulations of global accretion disc dynamos
Observations, mainly of outbursts in dwarf novae, imply that the anomalous
viscosity in highly ionized accretion discs is magnetic in origin, and requires
that the plasma . Until now most simulations of the magnetic
dynamo in accretion discs have used a local approximation (known as the
shearing box). While these simulations demonstrate the possibility of a
self-sustaining dynamo, the magnetic activity generated in these models
saturates at . This long-standing discrepancy has previously been
attributed to the local approximation itself. There have been recent attempts
at simulating magnetic activity in global accretion discs with parameters
relevant to the dwarf novae. These too find values of . We
speculate that the tension between these models and the observations may be
caused by numerical magnetic diffusivity. As a pedagogical example, we present
exact time-dependent solutions for the evolution of weak magnetic fields in an
incompressible fluid subject to linear shear and magnetic diffusivity. We find
that the maximum factor by which the initial magnetic energy can be increased
depends on the magnetic Reynolds number as . We
estimate that current global numerical simulations of dwarf nova discs have
numerical magnetic Reynolds numbers around 6 orders of magnitude less than the
physical value found in dwarf nova discs of . We suggest that, given the current limitations on computing power,
expecting to be able to compute realistic dynamo action in observable accretion
discs using numerical MHD is, for the time being, a step too far.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in the Journal of
Plasma Physic
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