908 research outputs found
Spatial distribution of introduced brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis (Salmonidae) within alpine lakes: evidences from a fish eradication campaign
Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis have been used worldwide to stock fishless alpine lakes, negatively affecting native biota. Understanding its spatial ecology in invaded ecosystems can provide information to interpret and contrast its ecological impact. We opportunistically used capture points of brook trout gillnetted during an eradication campaign to assess the distribution patterns of four unexploited populations inhabiting high-altitude lakes. The main eradication method implies the use of many gillnets with several mesh sizes, which are selective for different fish sizes. For each lake we drew six capture maps associated with as many different mesh sizes, and we tested whether the distance from the coastline (which in alpine lakes is a reliable proxy of the most important spatial gradients, e.g. depth, temperature, prey availability, lighting conditions) influences the proportion of captured fish belonging to different size classes and the number of fish captured by the nets with different mesh sizes. To interpret the results, we also provide a cartographic description of the lakesâ bathymetry and littoral microhabitats. We found (1) a negative relationship between brook trout distribution and the distance from the coastline in all of the size classes, lakes and mesh sizes; (2) that large brook trout can thrive in the lakesâ center, while small ones are limited to the littoral areas; and (3) that the distance from the coastline alone cannot explain all the differences in the catch densities in different parts of the lakes. As in their native range, introduced brook trout populations also have littoral habits. Microhabitats, prey availability and distance from the spawning ground are other likely factors determining the distribution patterns of brook trout populations introduced in alpine lakes. The obtained results also provide useful information on how to plan new eradication campaigns
Stellar Orbits and the Interstellar Gas Temperature in Elliptical Galaxies
We draw attention to the close relationship between the anisotropy parameter
beta(r) for stellar orbits in elliptical galaxies and the temperature profile
T(r) of the hot interstellar gas. For nearly spherical galaxies the gas density
can be accurately determined from X-ray observations and the stellar luminosity
density can be accurately found from the optical surface brightness. The Jeans
equation and hydrostatic equilibrium establish a connection between beta(r) and
T(r) that must be consistent with the observed stellar velocity dispersion.
Purely optical observations of the bright elliptical galaxy NGC 4472 indicate
beta(r) < 0.35 within the effective radius. However, the X-ray gas temperature
profile T(r) for NGC 4472 requires significantly larger anisotropy, beta = 0.6
- 0.7, about twice the optical value. This strong preference for radial stellar
orbits must be understood in terms of the formation history of massive
elliptical galaxies. Conversely, if the smaller, optically determined
anisotropy is indeed correct, we are led to the important conclusion that the
temperature profile T(r) of the hot interstellar gas in NGC 4472 must differ
from that indicated by X-ray observations, or that the hot gas is not in
hydrostatic equilibrium.Comment: 6 pages (emulateapj5) with 4 figures; accepted by The Astrophysical
Journa
On the evolution of cooling cores in X-ray galaxy clusters
(Abridged) To define a framework for the formation and evolution of the
cooling cores in X-ray galaxy clusters, we study how the physical properties
change as function of the cosmic time in the inner regions of a 4 keV and 8 keV
galaxy cluster under the action of radiative cooling and gravity only. The
cooling radius, R_cool, defined as the radius at which the cooling time equals
the Universe age at given redshift, evolves from ~0.01 R200 at z>2, where the
structures begin their evolution, to ~0.05 R200 at z=0. The values measured at
0.01 R200 show an increase of about 15-20 per cent per Gyr in the gas density
and surface brightness and a decrease with a mean rate of 10 per cent per Gyr
in the gas temperature. The emission-weighted temperature diminishes by about
25 per cent and the bolometric X-ray luminosity rises by a factor ~2 after 10
Gyrs when all the cluster emission is considered in the computation. On the
contrary, when the core region within 0.15 R500 is excluded, the gas
temperature value does not change and the X-ray luminosity varies by 10-20 per
cent only. The cooling time and gas entropy radial profiles are well
represented by power-law functions. The behaviour of the inner slopes of the
gas temperature and density profiles are the most sensitive and unambiguous
tracers of an evolving cooling core. Their values after 10 Gyrs of radiative
losses, T_gas ~ r^0.4 and n_gas ~ r^(-1.2) for the hot (cool) object, are
remarkably in agreement with the observational constraints available for nearby
X-ray luminous cooling core clusters. Because our simulations do not consider
any AGN heating, they imply that the feedback process does not greatly alter
the gas density and temperature profiles as generated by radiative cooling
alone.Comment: 8 pages. MNRAS in pres
A conceptual study on the use of a regenerator in a hybrid energy storage unit (LIQHYSMES)
Wind and photovoltaic parks raise the issue of a discontinuous electrical generation. As an energy carrier with high volumetric energy density, liquid hydrogen is an inevitable choice for large-scale energy storage. But, since balancing loads or rapidly evolving fluctuations on the grid with just hydrogen is unrealistic due to ist slow response, it is necessary to integrate it with an electrical energy storage device that enables rapid response. This approach combines the use of a liquefaction plant for hydrogen, and a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES). Besides, in this case, conventional liquefaction methods are not a viable solution, meaning that a substantial simplification of the process is possible where a regenerator/recuperator is employed and only if temporary/intermediate storage is required. A study is conducted to develop a regenerator (among other parts) for a proof of concept small scale LIQHYSMES system. A 1D model of differential equations is implemented to investigate the regenerator performances, addressing parameters such as regenerator configuration, material and fluid properties, temperature profiles, etc. Results are then analysed and discussed
Evidence for AGN Feedback in Galaxy Clusters and Groups
The current generation of flagship X-ray missions, Chandra and XMM-Newton,
has changed our understanding of the so-called "cool core" galaxy clusters and
groups. Instead of the initial idea that the thermal gas is cooling and flowing
toward the center, the new picture envisages a complex dynamical evolution of
the intra-cluster medium (ICM) regulated by the radiative cooling and the
nongravitational heating from the active galactic nucleus (AGN). Understanding
the physics of the hot gas and its interplay with the relativistic plasma
ejected by the AGN is key for understanding the growth and evolution of
galaxies and their central black holes, the history of star formation, and the
formation of large-scale structures. It has thus become clear that the feedback
from the central black hole must be taken into account in any model of galaxy
evolution. In this paper, we draw a qualitative picture of the current
knowledge of the effects of the AGN feedback on the ICM by summarizing the
recent results in this field.Comment: Accepted for publication in Advances in Astronomy, 30 pages, 6
figures. Tutorial Review to appear in the Special Issue "Seeking for the
Leading Actor on the Cosmic Stage: Galaxies versus Supermassive Black Holes
Chandra Detection of Massive Black Holes in Galactic Cooling Flows
Anticipating forthcoming observations with the Chandra X-ray telescope, we
describe the continuation of interstellar cooling flows deep into the cores of
elliptical galaxies. Interstellar gas within about r = 50 parsecs from the
massive black hole is heated to T > 1 keV and should be visible unless thermal
heating is diluted by non-thermal pressure. Since our flows are subsonic near
the massive black holes, distributed cooling continues within 300 pc from the
center. Dark, low mass stars formed in this region may be responsible for some
of the mass attributed to central black holes.Comment: 6 pages with 3 figures; accepted by Astrophysical Journal Letter
Mass Loss From Planetary Nebulae in Elliptical Galaxies
Early-type galaxies possess a dilute hot (2-10E6 K) gas that is probably the
thermalized ejecta of the mass loss from evolving stars. We investigate the
processes by which the mass loss from orbiting stars interacts with the
stationary hot gas for the case of the mass ejected in a planetary nebula
event. Numerical hydrodynamic simulations show that at first, the ejecta
expands nearly symmetrically, with an upstream bow shock in the hot ambient
gas. At later times, the flow past the ejecta creates fluid instabilities that
cause about half of the ejecta to separate and the other half to flow more
slowly downstream in a narrow wake. When radiative cooling is included, most of
the material in the wake (>80%) remains below 1E5 K while the separated ejecta
is hotter (1E5-1E6 K). The separated ejecta is still less than one-quarter the
temperature of the ambient medium and the only way it will reach the
temperature of the ambient medium is through turbulent mixing (after the
material has left the grid). These calculations suggest that a significant
fraction of the planetary nebula ejecta may not become part of the hot ambient
material. This is in contrast to our previous calculations for continuous mass
loss from giant stars in which most of the mass loss became hot gas. We
speculate that detectable OVI emission may be produced, but more sophisticated
calculations will be required to determine the emission spectrum and to better
define the fraction of cooled material.Comment: 34 pages with 20 figures. Higher quality figures are in the ApJ
versio
Solving the Cooling Flow Problem of Galaxy Clusters by Dark Matter Neutralino Annihilation
Recent X-ray observations revealed that strong cooling flow of intracluster
gas is not present in galaxy clusters, even though predicted theoretically if
there is no additional heating source. I show that relativistic particles
produced by dark matter neutralino annihilation in cluster cores provide a
sufficient heating source to suppress the cooling flow, under reasonable
astrophysical circumstances including adiabatic growth of central density
profile, with appropriate particle physics parameters for dark matter
neutralinos. In contrast to other astrophysical heat sources such as AGNs, this
process is a steady and stable feedback over cosmological time scales after
turned on.Comment: 4 pages, no figure. Accepted to Phys. Rev. Lett. A few minor
revisions and references adde
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