8,970 research outputs found
Ratios of star cluster core and half-mass radii: a cautionary note on intermediate-mass black holes in star clusters
There is currently much interest in the possible presence of
intermediate-mass black holes in the cores of globular clusters. Based on
theoretical arguments and simulation results it has previously been suggested
that a large core radius -- or particularly a large ratio of the core radius to
half-mass radius -- is a promising indicator for finding such a black hole in a
star cluster. In this study N-body models of 100000 stars with and without
primordial binaries are used to investigate the long-term structural evolution
of star clusters. Importantly, the simulation data is analysed using the same
processes by which structural parameters are extracted from observed star
clusters. This gives a ratio of the core and half-mass (or half-light) radii
that is directly comparable to the Galactic globular cluster sample. As a
result, it is shown that the ratios observed for the bulk of this sample can be
explained without the need for an intermediate-mass black hole. Furthermore, it
is possible that clusters with large core to half-light radius ratios harbour a
black-hole binary (comprised of stellar mass black holes) rather than a single
massive black hole. This work does not rule out the existence of
intermediate-mass black holes in the cores of at least some star clusters.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
The application of digital computers to near-real-time processing of flutter test data
Procedures used in monitoring, analyzing, and displaying flight and ground flutter test data are presented. These procedures include three digital computer programs developed to process structural response data in near real time. Qualitative and quantitative modal stability data are derived from time history response data resulting from rapid sinusoidal frequency sweep forcing functions, tuned-mode quick stops, and pilot induced control pulses. The techniques have been applied to both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, during flight, whirl tower rotor systems tests, and wind tunnel flutter model tests. An hydraulically driven oscillatory aerodynamic vane excitation system utilized during the flight flutter test programs accomplished during Lockheed L-1011 and S-3A development is described
Populating the Galaxy with low-mass X-ray binaries
We perform binary population synthesis calculations to investigate the
incidence of low-mass X-ray binaries and their birth rate in the Galaxy. We use
a binary evolution algorithm that models all the relevant processes including
tidal circularization and synchronization. Parameters in the evolution
algorithm that are uncertain and may affect X-ray binary formation are allowed
to vary during the investigation. We agree with previous studies that under
standard assumptions of binary evolution the formation rate and number of
black-hole low-mass X-ray binaries predicted by the model are more than an
order of magnitude less than what is indicated by observations. We find that
the common-envelope process cannot be manipulated to produce significant
numbers of black-hole low-mass X-ray binaries. However, by simply reducing the
mass-loss rate from helium stars adopted in the standard model, to a rate that
agrees with the latest data, we produce a good match to the observations.
Including low-mass X-ray binaries that evolve from intermediate-mass systems
also leads to favourable results. We stress that constraints on the X-ray
binary population provided by observations are used here merely as a guide as
surveys suffer from incompleteness and much uncertainty is involved in the
interpretation of results.Comment: 17 pages and 9 figures; accepted by MNRA
Effects of Low pH on Lactate Dehydrogenase Kinetics of Diving and Nondiving Reptiles
The properties of lactate dehydrogenase were examined in two snake species, Nerodia rhombifera and Elaphe obsoleta, and a turtle species, Pseudemys scripta. Our purpose was to compare the LDH activity of reptiles with limited anaerobic capabilities with that of the well established diver Pseudemys. The Michaelis-Menten kinetics of LDH and its susceptibility to inhibition by elevated pyruvate concentrations were investigated in the brain and heart of the three species. All tissue incubations and enzyme activity determinations were done at a pH of 7.0 in order to stimulate a diving blood pH in the three species. In both tissues the LDH activity of the snakes was higher than that of Pseudemys at pyruvate concentrations ranging between .03 mM and .50 mM. The Km values of the snakes were lower than those of Pseudemys, suggesting a greater enzyme-substrate affinity in the snake tissues. The Vmax values were higher in the snake tissues indicating a faster conversion of substrate to product. Heart LDH activity was reduced to an equal extent by high pyruvate concentrations in each of the three species. Elaphe brain LDH was most susceptible to pyruvate inhibition, but Nerodia and Pseudemys brain LDH were inhibited to an equal extent. The results indicate that the kinetic behavior of brain and heart LDH of the three species is similar at a pH of 7.4 and a pH of 7.0. The results also suggest that the LDH of Pseudemys is no better adapted to withstand anaerobic conditions than that of Nerodia or Elaphe at a pH of 7.0
A direct N-body model of core-collapse and core oscillations
We report on the results of a direct N-body simulation of a star cluster that
started with N = 200 000, comprising 195 000 single stars and 5 000 primordial
binaries. The code used for the simulation includes stellar evolution, binary
evolution, an external tidal field and the effects of two-body relaxation. The
model cluster is evolved to 12 Gyr, losing more than 80% of its stars in the
process. It reaches the end of the main core-collapse phase at 10.5 Gyr and
experiences core oscillations from that point onwards -- direct numerical
confirmation of this phenomenon. However, we find that after a further 1 Gyr
the core oscillations are halted by the ejection of a massive binary comprised
of two black holes from the core, producing a core that shows no signature of
the prior core-collapse. We also show that the results of previous studies with
N ranging from 500 to 100 000 scale well to this new model with larger N. In
particular, the timescale to core-collapse (in units of the relaxation
timescale), mass segregation, velocity dispersion, and the energies of the
binary population all show similar behaviour at different N.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Application of biological filters in water treatment systems
Silver chloride placed on or close to barrier kills bacteria as they arrive. Dead bacteria accumulate linearly, whereas previously, live bacteria accumulated exponentially. During continuous 30-day tests, no bacteriological contamination was found downstream of filters with silver chloride added
The Interplanetary Network Supplement to the BeppoSAX Gamma-Ray Burst Catalogs
Between 1996 July and 2002 April, one or more spacecraft of the
interplanetary network detected 787 cosmic gamma-ray bursts that were also
detected by the Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor and/or Wide-Field X-Ray Camera
experiments aboard the BeppoSAX spacecraft. During this period, the network
consisted of up to six spacecraft, and using triangulation, the localizations
of 475 bursts were obtained. We present the localization data for these events.Comment: 89 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal
Supplement Serie
Evolution of binary stars and the effect of tides on binary populations
We present a rapid binary evolution algorithm that enables modelling of even
the most complex binary systems. In addition to all aspects of single star
evolution, features such as mass transfer, mass accretion, common-envelope
evolution, collisions, supernova kicks and angular momentum loss mechanisms are
included. In particular, circularization and synchronization of the orbit by
tidal interactions are calculated for convective, radiative and degenerate
damping mechanisms. We use this algorithm to study the formation and evolution
of various binary systems. We also investigate the effect that tidal friction
has on the outcome of binary evolution. Using the rapid binary code, we
generate a series of large binary populations and evaluate the formation rate
of interesting individual species and events. By comparing the results for
populations with and without tidal friction we quantify the hitherto ignored
systematic effect of tides and show that modelling of tidal evolution in binary
systems is necessary in order to draw accurate conclusions from population
synthesis work. Tidal synchronism is important but because orbits generally
circularize before Roche-lobe overflow the outcome of the interactions of
systems with the same semi-latus rectum is almost independent of eccentricity.
It is not necessary to include a distribution of eccentricities in population
synthesis of interacting binaries, however, the initial separations should be
distributed according to the observed distribution of semi-latera recta rather
than periods or semi-major axes.Comment: 36 pages, 12 figures, to be published in the Monthly Notices of the
Royal Astronomical Societ
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