3,294 research outputs found
Control of fluorescence in quantum emitter and metallic nanoshell hybrids for medical applications
We study the light emission from quantum emitter and double metallic
nanoshell hybrid systems. Quantum emitters act as local sources which transmit
their light efficiently due to a double nanoshell near field. The double
nanoshell consists a dielectric core and two outer nanoshells
Long Term Variability of SDSS Quasars
We use a sample of 3791 quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)
Early Data Release (EDR), and compare their photometry to historic plate
material for the same set of quasars in order to study their variability
properties. The time base-line we attain this way ranges from a few months to
up to 50 years. In contrast to monitoring programs, where relatively few
quasars are photometrically measured over shorter time periods, we utilize
existing databases to extend this base-line as much as possible, at the cost of
sampling per quasar. Our method, however, can easily be extended to much larger
samples. We construct variability Structure Functions and compare these to the
literature and model functions. From our modeling we conclude that 1) quasars
are more variable toward shorter wavelengths, 2) their variability is
consistent with an exponentially decaying light-curve with a typical time-scale
of ~2 years, 3) these outbursts occur on typical time-scales of ~200 years.
With the upcoming first data release of the SDSS, a much larger quasar sample
can be used to put these conclusions on a more secure footing.Comment: 16 pages, accepted for publication in AJ, Sept issu
The spatially resolved star formation history of CALIFA galaxies: Cosmic time scales
This paper presents the mass assembly time scales of nearby galaxies observed
by CALIFA at the 3.5m telescope in Calar Alto. We apply the fossil record
method of the stellar populations to the complete sample of the 3rd CALIFA data
release, with a total of 661 galaxies, covering stellar masses from 10
to 10 M and a wide range of Hubble types. We apply spectral
synthesis techniques to the datacubes and process the results to produce the
mass growth time scales and mass weighted ages, from which we obtain temporal
and spatially resolved information in seven bins of galaxy morphology and six
bins of stellar mass (M) and stellar mass surface density
(). We use three different tracers of the spatially resolved
star formation history (mass assembly curves, ratio of half mass to half light
radii, and mass-weighted age gradients) to test if galaxies grow inside-out,
and its dependence with galaxy stellar mass, , and morphology.
Our main results are as follows: (a) The innermost regions of galaxies assemble
their mass at an earlier time than regions located in the outer parts; this
happens at any given M, , or Hubble type, including
the lowest mass systems. (b) Galaxies present a significant diversity in their
characteristic formation epochs for lower-mass systems. This diversity shows a
strong dependence of the mass assembly time scales on and
Hubble type in the lower-mass range (10 to 10), but a very
mild dependence in higher-mass bins. (c) All galaxies show negative
log age gradients in the inner 1 HLR. The profile
flattens with increasing values of . There is no significant
dependence on M within a particular bin, except for
the lowest bin, where the gradients becomes steeper.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy
& Astrophysics. *Abridged abstract
Observation of Replica Symmetry Breaking in the 1D Anderson Localization Regime in an Erbium-Doped Random Fiber Laser
The analogue of the paramagnetic to spin-glass phase transition in disordered
magnetic systems, leading to the phenomenon of replica symmetry breaking, has
been recently demonstrated in a two-dimensional random laser consisting of an
organic-based amorphous solid-state thin film. We report here the first
demonstration of replica symmetry breaking in a one-dimensional photonic system
consisting of an erbium-doped random fiber laser operating in the
continuous-wave regime based on a unique random fiber grating system, which
plays the role of the random scatterers and operates in the Anderson
localization regime. The clear transition from a photonic paramagnetic to a
photonic spin glass phase, characterized by the probability distribution
function of the Parisi overlap, was verified and characterized. In this unique
system, the radiation field interacts only with the gain medium, and the fiber
grating, which provides the disordered feedback mechanism, does not interfere
with the pump
An Atlas of the circumnuclear regions of 75 Seyfert galaxies in the near-UV with HST Advanced Camera for Surveys
We present an atlas of the central regions of 75 Seyfert galaxies imaged in
the near-UV with the Advanced Camera for Surveys of the Hubble Space Telescope
at an average resolution of ~10pc. These data complement archival high
resolution data from the Space Telescope at optical and near-IR wavelengths,
creating an extremely valuable dataset for astronomers with a broad range of
scientific interests. Our goal is to investigate the nature of the near-UV
light in these objects, its relation to the circumnuclear starburst phenomenon,
and the connection of this to the evolution and growth of the galaxy bulge and
central black hole. In this paper, we describe the near-UV morphology of the
objects and characterize the near-UV emission. We estimate the size and the
luminosity of the emitting regions and extract the luminosity profile. We also
determine the presence of unresolved compact nuclei. In addition, the
circumnuclear stellar cluster population is identified, and the contribution of
the stellar clusters to the total light, at this wavelength, is estimated. The
size of the sample allows us to draw robust statistical conclusions. We find
that {Seyfert 1} galaxies are completely dominated by its bright and compact
nucleus, that remains point-like at this resolution, while we find almost no
unresolved nucleus in Seyfert 2. The Seyfert types 1 and 2 are quite segregated
in an asymmetry vs compactness plot. Stellar clusters are found somewhat more
frequently in Sy2 (in ~70% of the galaxies) than in Sy1 (~57%), and contribute
more to the total light in Sy2, but this two differences seem to be mostly due
to the large contribution of the compact nucleus in Sy1, as the luminosity
distribution of the clusters is similar in both Sy types.Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ, 58 pages, 20 figures. High-resolution
figures for all the objects are available at
http://www.iaa.es/~manuel/publications/paper01.htm
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