1,792 research outputs found
A study to determine the extent of instruction of individual income taxes to bookkeeping students in the secondary schools of New England
Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit
Multiscale Analysis of the Gradient of Linear Polarisation
We propose a new multiscale method to calculate the amplitude of the gradient
of the linear polarisation vector using a wavelet-based formalism. We
demonstrate this method using a field of the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey
(CGPS) and show that the filamentary structure typically seen in gradients of
linear polarisation maps depends strongly on the instrumental resolution. Our
analysis reveals that different networks of filaments are present on different
angular scales. The wavelet formalism allows us to calculate the power spectrum
of the fluctuations seen in gradients of linear polarisation maps and to
determine the scaling behaviour of this quantity. The power spectrum is found
to follow a power law with gamma ~ 2.1. We identify a small drop in power
between scales of 80 < l < 300 arcmin, which corresponds well to the overlap in
the u-v plane between the Effelsberg 100-m telescope and the DRAO 26-m
telescope data. We suggest that this drop is due to undersampling present in
the 26-m telescope data. In addition, the wavelet coefficient distributions
show higher skewness on smaller scales than at larger scales. The spatial
distribution of the outliers in the tails of these distributions creates a
coherent subset of filaments correlated across multiple scales, which trace the
sharpest changes in the polarisation vector P within the field. We suggest that
these structures may be associated with highly compressive shocks in the
medium. The power spectrum of the field excluding these outliers shows a
steeper power law with gamma ~ 2.5.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure
Lunar base CELSS: A bioregenerative approach
During the twenty-first century, human habitation of a self-sustaining lunar base could become a reality. To achieve this goal, the occupants will have to have food, water, and an adequate atmosphere within a carefully designed environment. Advanced technology will be employed to support terrestrial life-sustaining processes on the Moon. One approach to a life support system based on food production, waste management and utilization, and product synthesis is outlined. Inputs include an atmosphere, water, plants, biodegradable substrates, and manufacutured materials such as fiberglass containment vessels from lunar resources. Outputs include purification of air and water, food, and hydrogen (H2) generated from methane (CH4). Important criteria are as follows: (1) minimize resupply from Earth; and (2) recycle as efficiently as possible
A Massive Protostar Embedded in the Scuba Core JCMT 18354-0649S
We report the discovery of an extremely red object embedded in the massive SCUBA core JCMT 18354-0649S. This object is not associated with any known radio or far-IR source, though it appears in Spitzer IRAC data obtained as part of the GLIMPSE survey. At shorter wavelengths, this embedded source exhibits an extreme color, K – L' = 6.7. At an assumed distance of 5.7 kpc, this source has a near-IR luminosity of ~1000 L_☉. Its spectral energy distribution (SED) rises sharply from 2.1 μm to 8 μm, similar to that of a Class 0 young stellar object. Theoretical modeling of the SED indicates that the central star has a mass of 6-12 M_☉, with an optical extinction of more than 30. As both inflow and outflow motions are present in JCMT 18354-0649S, we suggest that this deeply embedded source is (1) a massive protostar in the early stages of accretion, and (2) the driving source of a massive molecular outflow evident in HCN J = 3-2 profiles observed toward this region
A Water Maser and Ammonia Survey of GLIMPSE Extended Green Objects (EGOs)
We present the results of a Nobeyama 45-m water maser and ammonia survey of
all 94 northern GLIMPSE Extended Green Objects (EGOs), a sample of massive
young stellar objects (MYSOs) identified based on their extended 4.5 micron
emission. We observed the ammonia (1,1), (2,2), and (3,3) inversion lines, and
detect emission towards 97%, 63%, and 46% of our sample, respectively (median
rms ~50 mK). The water maser detection rate is 68% (median rms ~0.11 Jy). The
derived water maser and clump-scale gas properties are consistent with the
identification of EGOs as young MYSOs. To explore the degree of variation among
EGOs, we analyze subsamples defined based on MIR properties or maser
associations. Water masers and warm dense gas, as indicated by emission in the
higher-excitation ammonia transitions, are most frequently detected towards
EGOs also associated with both Class I and II methanol masers. 95% (81%) of
such EGOs are detected in water (ammonia(3,3)), compared to only 33% (7%) of
EGOs without either methanol maser type. As populations, EGOs associated with
Class I and/or II methanol masers have significantly higher ammonia linewidths,
column densities, and kinetic temperatures than EGOs undetected in methanol
maser surveys. However, we find no evidence for statistically significant
differences in water maser properties (such as maser luminosity) among any EGO
subsamples. Combining our data with the 1.1 mm continuum Bolocam Galactic Plane
Survey, we find no correlation between isotropic water maser luminosity and
clump number density. Water maser luminosity is weakly correlated with clump
(gas) temperature and clump mass.Comment: Astrophysical Journal, accepted. Emulateapj, 24 pages including 24
figures, plus 9 tables (including full content of online-only tables
The infrared dust bubble N22: an expanding HII region and the star formation around it
Aims. To increase the observational samples of star formation around
expanding Hii regions, we analyzed the interstellar medium and star formation
around N22.
Methods. We used data extracted from the seven large-scale surveys from
infrared to radio wavelengths. In addition we used the JCMT observations of the
J = 3-2 line of 12CO emission data released on CADC and the 12CO J = 2-1 and J
=3-2 lines observed by the KOSMA 3 m telescope. We performed a multiwavelength
study of bubble N22.
Results. A molecular shell composed of several clumps agrees very well with
the border of N22, suggesting that its expansion is collecting the surrounding
material. The high integrated 12CO line intensity ratio (ranging from 0.7 to
1.14) implies that shocks have driven into the molecular clouds. We identify
eleven possible O-type stars inside the Hii region, five of which are located
in projection inside the cavity of the 20 cm radio continuum emission and are
probably the exciting-star candidates of N22. Twenty-nine YSOs (young stellar
objects) are distributed close to the dense cores of N22. We conclude that star
formation is indeed active around N22; the formation of most of YSOs may have
been triggered by the expanding of the Hii region. After comparing the
dynamical age of N22 and the fragmentation time of the molecular shell, we
suggest that radiation-driven compression of pre-existing dense clumps may be
ongoing.Comment: accepted in A&A 30/05/2012. arXiv admin note: text overlap with
arXiv:1010.5430 by other author
2-D and 3-D Radiation Transfer Models of High-Mass Star Formation
2-D and 3-D radiation transfer models of forming stars generally produce
bluer 1-10 micron colors than 1-D models of the same evolutionary state and
envelope mass. Therefore, 1-D models of the shortwave radiation will generally
estimate a lower envelope mass and later evolutionary state than
multidimensional models. 1-D models are probably reasonable for very young
sources, or longwave analysis (wavelengths > 100 microns). In our 3-D models of
high-mass stars in clumpy molecular clouds, we find no correlation between the
depth of the 10 micron silicate feature and the longwave (> 100 micron) SED
(which sets the envelope mass), even when the average optical extinction of the
envelope is >100 magnitudes. This is in agreement with the observations of
Faison et al. (1998) of several UltraCompact HII (UCHII) regions, suggesting
that many of these sources are more evolved than embedded protostars.
We have calculated a large grid of 2-D models and find substantial overlap
between different evolutionary states in the mid-IR color-color diagrams. We
have developed a model fitter to work in conjunction with the grid to analyze
large datasets. This grid and fitter will be expanded and tested in 2005 and
released to the public in 2006.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, to appear in the proceedings of IAU Symp 227,
Massive Star Birth: A Crossroads of Astrophysics, (Cesaroni R., Churchwell
E., Felli M., Walmsley C. editors
Disentangling protostellar evolutionary stages in clustered environments using Spitzer-IRS spectra and comprehensive SED modeling
When studying the evolutionary stages of protostars that form in clusters,
the role of any intracluster medium cannot be neglected. High foreground
extinction can lead to situations where young stellar objects (YSOs) appear to
be in earlier evolutionary stages than they actually are, particularly when
using simple criteria like spectral indices. To address this issue, we have
assembled detailed SED characterizations of a sample of 56 Spitzer-identified
candidate YSOs in the clusters NGC 2264 and IC 348. For these, we use spectra
obtained with the Infrared Spectrograph onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope and
ancillary multi-wavelength photometry. The primary aim is twofold: 1) to
discuss the role of spectral features, particularly those due to ices and
silicates, in determining a YSO's evolutionary stage, and 2) to perform
comprehensive modeling of spectral energy distributions (SEDs) enhanced by the
IRS data. The SEDs consist of ancillary optical-to-submillimeter
multi-wavelength data as well as an accurate description of the 9.7 micron
silicate feature and of the mid-infrared continuum derived from line-free parts
of the IRS spectra. We find that using this approach, we can distinguish
genuine protostars in the cluster from T Tauri stars masquerading as protostars
due to external foreground extinction. Our results underline the importance of
photometric data in the far-infrared/submillimeter wavelength range, at
sufficiently high angular resolution to more accurately classify cluster
members. Such observations are becoming possible now with the advent of the
Herschel Space Observatory.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
A Spitzer Census of Star Formation Activity in the Pipe Nebula
The Pipe Nebula, a large nearby molecular cloud lacks obvious signposts of
star formation in all but one of more than 130 dust extinction cores that have
been identified within it. In order to quantitatively determine the current
level of star formation activity in the Pipe Nebula, we analyzed 13 square
degrees of sensitive mid-infrared maps of the entire cloud, obtained with the
Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) at wavelengths of 24 micron and
70 micron to search for candidate Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) in the
high-extinction regions. We argue that our search is complete for class I and
typical class II YSOs with luminosities of Lbol~0.2 Lo and greater. We find
only 18 candidate YSOs in the high-extinction regions of the entire Pipe cloud.
Twelve of these sources are previously known members of a small cluster
associated with Barnard 59, the largest and most massive dense core in the
cloud. With only six candidate class I and class II YSOs detected towards
extinction cores outside of this cluster, our findings emphatically confirm the
notion of an extremely low level of star formation activity in the Pipe Nebula.
The resulting star formation efficiency for the entire cloud mass is only ~0.06
%.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
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