The orbits of subdwarf-B + main-sequence binaries. II. Three eccentric systems; BD+29 3070, BD +34 1543 and Feige 87

The predicted orbital-period distribution of the subdwarf-B (sdB) population is bi-modal with a peak at short ( 250 days) periods. Observationally, many short-period sdB systems are known, but the predicted long period peak is missing as orbits have only been determined for a few long-period systems. As these predictions are based on poorly understood binary-interaction processes, it is of prime importance to confront the predictions with reliable observational data. We therefore initiated a monitoring program to find and characterize long-period sdB stars. In this paper we aim to determine the orbital parameters of the three long-period sdB+MS binaries BD+29 3070, BD+34 1543 and Feige 87, to constrain their absolute dimensions and the physical parameters of the components. High-resolution spectroscopic time series were obtained with HERMES at the Mercator telescope on La Palma, and analyzed to determine the radial velocities of both the sdB and MS components. Photometry from the literature was used to construct the spectral-energy distribution (SED) of the binaries. Atmosphere models were used to fit these SEDs and to determine the surface gravities and temperatures of both components of all systems. Spectral analysis was used to check the results of the SEDs. An orbital period of 1283 +- 63 d, a mass ratio of q = 0.39 +- 0.04 and a significant non-zero eccentricity of e = 0.15 +- 0.01 were found for BD+29 3070. For BD+34 1543 we determined P = 972 +- 2 d, q = 0.57 +- 0.01 and again a clear non-zero eccentricity of e = 0.16 +- 0.01. Last, for Feige 87 we found P = 936 +- 2 d, q = 0.55 +- 0.01 and e = 0.11 +- 0.01. BD+29 3070, BD+34 1543 and Feige 87 are long period sdB + MS binaries on clearly eccentric orbits. These results are in conflict with the predictions of stable Roche-lobe overflow models.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, Accepted by A&

Checking the transverse Ward-Takahashi relation at one loop order in 4-dimensions

Some time ago Takahashi derived so called {\it transverse} relations relating Green's functions of different orders to complement the well-known Ward-Green-Takahashi identities of gauge theories by considering wedge rather than inner products. These transverse relations have the potential to determine the full fermion-boson vertex in terms of the renormalization functions of the fermion propagator. He & Yu have given an indicative proof at one-loop level in 4-dimensions. However, their construct involves the 4th rank Levi-Civita tensor defined only unambiguously in 4-dimensions exactly where the loop integrals diverge. Consequently, here we explicitly check the proposed transverse Ward-Takahashi relation holds at one loop order in $d$-dimensions, with $d=4+\epsilon$.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures This version corrects and clarifies the previous result. This version has been submitted for publicatio

Newtonian limit of String-Dilaton Gravity

We study the weak-field limit of string-dilaton gravity and derive corrections to the Newtonian potential which strength directly depends on the self interaction potential and the nonminimal coupling of the dilaton scalar field. We discuss also possible astrophysical applications of the results, in particular the flat rotation curves of spiral galaxies.Comment: 11 pages, LATEX file, to appear in IJMP

Graduate Student Impairment: The Impact on Counselor Training Programs

This article focuses on the issue of student impairment in graduate level counselor training programs and the factors that affect it, including: A definition of graduate student impairment; the prevalence of student impairment in counselor training programs; an explanation of the legal consequences when addressing student impairment; organizational issues in universities dealing with this issue; and, the impact of graduate student impairment on the counseling professions

Measuring Active-Sterile Neutrino Oscillations with a Stopped Pion Neutrino Source

The question of the existence of light sterile neutrinos is of great interest in many areas of particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. Furthermore, should the MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab confirm the LSND oscillation signal, then new measurements are required to identify the mechanism responsible for these oscillations. Possibilities include sterile neutrinos, CP or CPT violation, variable mass neutrinos, Lorentz violation, and extra dimensions. In this paper, we consider an experiment at a stopped pion neutrino source to determine if active-sterile neutrino oscillations with delta-m greater than 0.1 eV2 can account for the signal. By exploiting stopped pi+ decay to produce a monoenergetic nu_mu source, and measuring the rate of the neutral current reaction nu_x + 12C -> nu_x +12C* as a function of distance from the source, we show that a convincing test for active-sterile neutrino oscillations can be performed.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure

PATENT LICENSING BY MEANS OF AN AUCTION: INTERNAL VS. EXTERNAL PATENTEE

An independent research laboratory owns a patented process innovation that can be licensed by means of an auction to two Cournot duopolists producing differentiated goods. For large innovations and close enough substitute goods the patentee auctions o¤ only one license, preventing the full diffusion of the innovation. For this range of parameters, however, if the laboratory merged with one of the firms in the industry, full technology diffusion would be implemented as the merged entity would always license the innovation to the rival firm. This explains that, in this context, a vertical merger is both profitable and welfare improving.Patent licensing, two-part tariff contracts, vertical mergers

The X-ray Iron Emission from Tycho's Supernova Remnant

We present the results of broadband fits to the X-ray spectrum of Tycho's supernova remnant obtained by the Solid-State Imaging Spectrometers on the ASCA Observatory. We use single-temperature, single-ionization-age, nonequilibrium ionization models to characterize the ejecta and the blast-shocked interstellar medium. Based on the Fe K emission at 6.5 keV, previous spectral studies have suggested that the Fe ejecta in this Type Ia remnant are stratified interior to the other ejecta. The ASCA data provide important constraints from the Fe L emission near 1 keV as well as the Fe K emission. We find that the simplest models, with emission from the ejecta and blast wave each at a single temperature and ionization age, severely underestimate the Fe K flux. We show that there is little Fe emission associated with the Si and S ejecta shell. The blast-shocked interstellar medium has abundances roughly 0.3 times the solar value, while the ejecta, with the exception of Fe, have relative abundances that are typical of Type Ia supernovae. The addition of another component of Fe emission, which we associate with ejecta, at a temperature at least two times higher and an ionization age $\sim$ 100 times lower than the Si ejecta, does provide a good fit to the spectrum. This model is consistent with X-ray imaging results. Although fluorescent emission from dust in the remnant may contribute to the Fe K flux, we conclude that it is unlikely to dominate.Comment: 23 pages, LaTex; 4 postscript figures, 2 postscript tables. To appear in ApJ, vol 49

Test and evaluation of articulating jaw assemblies Final report

Testing articulating jaws for stretch wrap forming of large contoured sheet metal sections for aerospace application

Particle phenomenology on noncommutative spacetime

We introduce particle phenomenology on the noncommutative spacetime called the Groenewold-Moyal plane. The length scale of spcetime noncommutativity is constrained from the CPT violation measurements in $K^{0}-\bar{K}^{0}$ system and $g-2$ difference of $\mu^+ - \mu^-$. The $K^{0}-\bar{K}^{0}$ system provides an upper bound on the length scale of spacetime noncommutativity of the order of $10^{-32} \textrm{m}$, corresponding to a lower energy bound $E$ of the order of $E \gtrsim 10^{16}\textrm{GeV}$. The $g-2$ difference of $\mu^+ - \mu^-$ constrains the noncommutativity length scale to be of the order of $10^{-20} \textrm{m}$, corresponding to a lower energy bound $E$ of the order of $E \gtrsim 10^{3}\textrm{GeV}$. We also present the phenomenology of the electromagnetic interaction of electrons and nucleons at the tree level in the noncommutative spacetime. We show that the distributions of charge and magnetization of nucleons are affected by spacetime noncommutativity. The analytic properties of electromagnetic form factors are also changed and it may give rise to interesting experimental signals.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures. Published versio