40,169 research outputs found
The relation between magnetic and material arms in models for spiral galaxies
Context. Observations of polarized radio emission show that large-scale
(regular) magnetic fields in spiral galaxies are not axisymmetric, but
generally stronger in interarm regions. In some nearby galaxies such as NGC
6946 they are organized in narrow magnetic arms situated between the material
spiral arms. Aims. The phenomenon of magnetic arms and their relation to the
optical spiral arms (the material arms) call for an explanation in the
framework of galactic dynamo theory. Several possibilities have been suggested
but are not completely satisfactory; here we attempt a consistent
investigation. Methods. We use a 2D mean-field dynamo model in the no-z
approximation and add injections of small-scale magnetic field, taken to result
from supernova explosions, to represent the effects of dynamo action on smaller
scales. This injection of small scale field is situated along the spiral arms,
where star-formation mostly occurs. Results. A straightforward explanation of
magnetic arms as a result of modulation of the dynamo mechanism by material
arms struggles to produce pronounced magnetic arms, at least with realistic
parameters, without introducing new effects such as a time lag between Coriolis
force and {\alpha}-effect. In contrast, by taking into account explicitly the
small-scale magnetic field that is injected into the arms by the action of the
star forming regions that are concentrated there, we can obtain dynamo models
with magnetic structures of various forms that can be compared with magnetic
arms. (abbrev). Conclusions. We conclude that magnetic arms can be considered
as coherent magnetic structures generated by large-scale dynamo action, and
associated with spatially modulated small-scale magnetic fluctuations, caused
by enhanced star formation rates within the material arms.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication to A&
Filamentary Diffusion of Cosmic Rays on Small Scales
We investigate the diffusion of cosmic rays (CR) close to their sources.
Propagating individual CRs in purely isotropic turbulent magnetic fields with
maximal scale of spatial variations Lmax, we find that CRs diffuse
anisotropically at distances r <~ Lmax from their sources. As a result, the CR
densities around the sources are strongly irregular and show filamentary
structures. We determine the transition time t* to standard diffusion as t* ~
10^4 yr (Lmax/150 pc)^b (E/PeV)^(-g) (Brms/4 muG)^g, with b ~ 2 and g =
0.25-0.5 for a turbulent field with Kolmogorov power spectrum. We calculate the
photon emission due to CR interactions with gas and the resulting irregular
source images.Comment: 5 pages (2 columns), 4 figures. Published in Physical Review Letter
High efficiency deterministic Josephson Vortex Ratchet
We investigate experimentally a Josephson vortex ratchet -- a fluxon in an
asymmetric periodic potential driven by a deterministic force with zero time
average. The highly asymmetric periodic potential is created in an underdamped
annular long Josephson junction by means of a current injector providing
efficiency of the device up to 91%. We measured the ratchet effect for driving
forces with different spectral content. For monochromatic high-frequency drive
the rectified voltage becomes quantized. At high driving frequencies we also
observe chaos, sub-harmonic dynamics and voltage reversal due to the inertial
mass of a fluxon.Comment: accepted by PRL. To see status click on
http://134.2.74.170:88/cnt/cond-mat_0506754.htm
A search for extended radio emission from selected compact galaxy groups
Context. Studies on compact galaxy groups have led to the conclusion that a
plenitude of phenomena take place in between galaxies that form them. However,
radio data on these objects are extremely scarce and not much is known
concerning the existence and role of the magnetic field in intergalactic space.
Aims. We aim to study a small sample of galaxy groups that look promising as
possible sources of intergalactic magnetic fields; for example data from radio
surveys suggest that most of the radio emission is due to extended, diffuse
structures in and out of the galaxies. Methods. We used the Effelsberg 100 m
radio telescope at 4.85 GHz and NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) data at 1.40 GHz.
After subtraction of compact sources we analysed the maps searching for
diffuse, intergalactic radio emission. Spectral index and magnetic field
properties were derived. Results. Intergalactic magnetic fields exist in groups
HCG 15 and HCG 60, whereas there are no signs of them in HCG 68. There are also
hints of an intergalactic bridge in HCG 44 at 4.85 GHz. Conclusions.
Intergalactic magnetic fields exist in galaxy groups and their energy density
may be comparable to the thermal (X-ray) density, suggesting an important role
of the magnetic field in the intra-group medium, wherever it is detected.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in A&
Hybrid Atom--Photon Quantum Gate in a Superconducting Microwave Resonator
We propose a novel hybrid quantum gate between an atom and a microwave photon
in a superconducting coplanar waveguide cavity by exploiting the strong
resonant microwave coupling between adjacent Rydberg states. Using
experimentally achievable parameters gate fidelities are possible on
sub-s timescales for waveguide temperatures below 40 mK. This provides a
mechanism for generating entanglement between two disparate quantum systems and
represents an important step in the creation of a hybrid quantum interface
applicable for both quantum simulation and quantum information processing.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Quenching of the Deuteron in Flight
We investigate the Lorentz contraction of a deuteron in flight. Our starting
point is the Blankenbecler-Sugar projection of the Bethe-Salpeter equation to a
3-dimensional quasi potential equation, wqhich we apply for the deuteron bound
in an harmonic oscillator potential (for an analytical result) and by the Bonn
NN potential for a more realistic estimate. We find substantial quenching with
increasing external momenta and a significant modification of the high momentum
spectrum of the deuteron.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Optimized Coplanar Waveguide Resonators for a Superconductor-Atom Interface
We describe the design and characterization of superconducting coplanar
waveguide cavities tailored to facilitate strong coupling between
superconducting quantum circuits and single trapped Rydberg atoms. For initial
superconductor-atom experiments at 4.2 K, we show that resonator quality
factors above can be readily achieved. Furthermore, we demonstrate that
the incorporation of thick-film copper electrodes at a voltage antinode of the
resonator provides a route to enhance the zero-point electric fields of the
resonator in a trapping region that is 40 m above the chip surface,
thereby minimizing chip heating from scattered trap light. The combination of
high resonator quality factor and strong electric dipole coupling between the
resonator and the atom should make it possible to achieve the strong coupling
limit of cavity quantum electrodynamics with this system.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
The population of deformed bands in Cr by emission of Be from the S + Mg reaction
Using particle- coincidences we have studied the population of final
states after the emission of 2 -particles and of Be in nuclei
formed in S+Mg reactions at an energy of . The data were obtained in a setup
consisting of the GASP -ray detection array and the multidetector array
ISIS. Particle identification is obtained from the E and E signals of
the ISIS silicon detector telescopes, the Be being identified by the
instantaneous pile up of the E and E pulses. -ray decays of the
Cr nucleus are identified with coincidences set on 2 -particles
and on Be. Some transitions of the side-band with show
stronger population for Be emission relative to that of 2
-particles (by a factor ). This observation is interpreted as
due to an enhanced emission of Be into a more deformed nucleus.
Calculations based on the extended Hauser-Feshbach compound decay formalism
confirm this observation quantitatively.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures accepted for publication in J. Phys.
A dynamical model for the heavily ram pressure stripped Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4522
A dynamical model including ram pressure stripping is applied to the strongly
HI deficient Virgo spiral galaxy NGC 4522. A carefully chosen model snapshot is
compared with existing VLA HI observations. The model successfully reproduces
the large-scale gas distribution and the velocity field. However it fails to
reproduce the large observed HI linewidths in the extraplanar component, for
which we give possible explanations. In a second step, we solve the induction
equation on the velocity fields of the dynamical model and calculate the large
scale magnetic field. Assuming a Gaussian distribution of relativistic
electrons we obtain the distribution of polarized radio continuum emission
which is also compared with our VLA observations at 6 cm. The observed maximum
of the polarized radio continuum emission is successfully reproduced. Our model
suggests that the ram pressure maximum occurred only ~50 Myr ago. Since NGC
4522 is located far away from the cluster center (~1 Mpc) where the
intracluster medium density is too low to cause the observed stripping if the
intracluster medium is static and smooth, two scenarios are envisaged: (i) the
galaxy moves very rapidly within the intracluster medium and is not even bound
to the cluster; in this case the galaxy has just passed the region of highest
intracluster medium density; (ii) the intracluster medium is not static but
moving due to the infall of the M49 group of galaxies. In this case the galaxy
has just passed the region of highest intracluster medium velocity. This study
shows the strength of combining high resolution HI and polarized radio
continuum emission with detailed numerical modeling of the evolution of the gas
and the large-scale magnetic field.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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