Experimental Demonstration of Squeezed State Quantum Averaging

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a universal quantum averaging process implementing the harmonic mean of quadrature variances. The harmonic mean protocol can be used to efficiently stabilize a set of fragile squeezed light sources with statistically fluctuating noise levels. The averaged variances are prepared probabilistically by means of linear optical interference and measurement induced conditioning. We verify that the implemented harmonic mean outperforms the standard arithmetic mean strategy. The effect of quantum averaging is experimentally tested both for uncorrelated and partially correlated noise sources with sub-Poissonian shot noise or super-Poissonian shot noise characteristics.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Statistically Stable Estimates of Variance in Radioastronomical Observations as Tools for RFI Mitigation

A selection of statistically stable (robust) algorithms for data variance calculating has been made. Their properties have been analyzed via computer simulation. These algorithms would be useful if adopted in radio astronomy observations in the presence of strong sporadic radio frequency interference (RFI). Several observational results have been presented here to demonstrate the effectiveness of these algorithms in RFI mitigation

Iron as recyclable energy carrier: Feasibility study and kinetic analysis of iron oxide reduction

Carbon-free and sustainable energy storage solutions are required to mitigate climate change. One possible solution, especially for stationary applications, could be the storage of energy in metal fuels. Energy can be stored through reduction of the oxide with green hydrogen and be released by combustion. In this work a feasibility study for iron as possible metal fuel considering the complete energy cycle is conducted. On the basis of equilibrium calculations it could be shown that the power-to-power efficiency of the iron/iron oxide cycle is 27 %. As technology development requires a more detailed description of both the reduction and the oxidation, a first outlook is given on the kinetic analysis of the reduction of iron oxides with hydrogen. Thermogravimetric experiments using Fe$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_3$O$_4$ and FeO indicate a three-step process for the reduction. The maximum reduction rate can be achieved with a hydrogen content of 25 %. Based on the experimental results a reaction mechanism and accompanied kinetic data were developed for description of Fe$_2$O$_3$ reduction with H$_2$ under varying experimental conditions

A large local rotational speed for the Galaxy found from proper-motions: Implications for the mass of the Milky-Way

Predictions from a Galactic Structure and Kinematic model are compared to the absolute proper-motions of about 30,000 randomly selected stars with $9 < B_{\rm J} \le 19$ derived from the Southern Proper-Motion Program (SPM) toward the South Galactic Pole. The absolute nature of the SPM proper-motions allow us to measure not only the relative motion of the Sun with respect to the local disk, but also, and most importantly, the overall state of rotation of the local disk with respect to galaxies. The SPM data are best fit by models having a solar peculiar motion of +5 km~s$^{-1}$ in the V-component (pointing in the direction of Galactic rotation), a large LSR speed of 270 km~s$^{-1}$, and a disk velocity ellipsoid that points towards the Galactic center. We stress, however, that these results rest crucially on the assumptions of both axisymmetry and equilibrium dynamics. The absolute proper-motions in the U-component indicate a solar peculiar motion of $11.0 \pm 1.5$ km~s$^{-1}$, with no need for a local expansion or contraction term. The implications of the large LSR speed are discussed in terms of gravitational mass of the Galaxy inferred from the most recent and accurate determination for the proper-motion of the LMC. We find that our derived value for the LSR is consistent both with the mass of the Galaxy inferred from the motion of the Clouds ($3 - 4 \times 10^{12} M_\odot$ to $\sim 50$ kpc), as well as the timing argument, based on the binary motion of M31 and the Milky Way, and Leo I and the Milky Way ($\ge 1.2 \times 10^{12} M_\odot$ to $\sim 200$ kpc).Comment: 7 pages (AAS Latex macro v4.0), 2 B&W postscript figures, accepted for publication on ApJ, Letters sectio

Bubble Cutting by Cylinder – Elimination of Wettability Effects by a Separating Liquid Film

Experiments and simulations are presented for the interaction of single bubbles rising in a viscous liquid against a horizontal cylinder (Ø = 4 mm) of varying wettability. The slide-off of small and the cutting of larger bubbles into two daughter bubbles observed in the experiment are reproduced by phase-field simulations. It is shown that in the entire process bubble and cylinder are separated by a liquid film, which eliminates any influence of cylinder wettability. Before the mother bubble splits, a thinning gas thread develops below the cylinder. The rupture of this gas thread can lead to a different number of satellite bubbles depending on the conditions

Gas infall towards Sgr A* from the clumpy circumnuclear disk

We present the first large-scale mosaic performed with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) in the Galactic center. We have produced a 25-pointing mosaic, covering a ~2' x 2' area around Sgr A*. We have detected emission from two high-density molecular tracers, HCN(4-3) and CS(7-6), the latter never before reported in this region. The data have an angular resolution of 4.6" x 3.1", and the spectral window coverage is from -180 km/s to 1490 km/s for HCN(4-3) and from -1605 km/s to 129 km/s for CS(7-6). Both molecular tracers present a very clumpy distribution along the circumnuclear disk (CND), and are detected with a high signal-to-noise ratio in the southern part of the CND, while they are weaker towards the northern part. Assuming that the clumps are as close to the Galactic center as their projected distances, they are still dense enough to be gravitationally stable against the tidal shear produced by the supermassive black hole. Therefore, the CND is a non-transient structure. This geometrical distribution of both tracers suggests that the southern part of the CND is denser than the northern part. Also, by comparing the HCN(4-3) results with HCN(1-0) results we can see that the northern and the southern parts of the CND have different excitation levels, with the southern part warmer than the northern. Finally, we compare our results with those obtained with the detection of NH3, which traces the warmer and less dense material detected in the inner cavity of the CND. We suggest that we are detecting the origin point where a portion of the CND becomes destabilized and approaches the dynamical center of the Milky Way, possibly being impacted by the southern streamer and heated on its way inwards.Comment: 35 pages, 25 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ, emulate-apj styl

Supernova Remnants in the Magellanic Clouds. VI. The DEML316 Supernova Remnants

The DEML316 system contains two shells, both with the characteristic signatures of supernova remnants (SNRs). We analyze Chandra and XMM-Newton data for DEML316, investigating its spatial and spectral X-ray features. Our Chandra observations resolve the structure of the northeastern SNR (Shell A) as a bright inner ring and a set of "arcs" surrounded by fainter diffuse emission. The spectrum is well fit by a thermal plasma model with temperature ~1.4 keV; we do not find significant spectral differences for different regions of this SNR. The southwestern SNR (Shell B) exhibits an irregular X-ray outline, with a brighter interior ring of emission including a bright knot of emission. Overall the emission of the SNR is well described by a thermal plasma of temperature ~0.6 keV. The Bright Knot, however, is spectrally distinct from the rest of the SNR, requiring the addition of a high-energy spectral component consistent with a power-law spectrum of photon index 1.6--1.8. We confirm the findings of Nishiuchi et al. (2001) that the spectra of these shells are notably different, with Shell A requiring a high iron abundance for a good spectral fit, implying a Type Ia origin. We further explicitly compare abundance ratios to model predictions for Type Ia and Type II supernovae. The low ratios for Shell A (O/Fe of 1.5 and Ne/Fe of 0.2) and the high ratios for Shell B (O/Fe of 30--130 and Ne/Fe of 8--16) are consistent with Type Ia and Type II origins, respectively. The difference between the SNR progenitor types casts some doubt on the suggestion that these SNRs are interacting with one another.Comment: Accepted for ApJ v. 635 (December issue

Outflows and Massive Stars in the protocluster IRAS 05358+3543

We present new near-IR H2, CO J=2-1, and CO J = 3-2 observations to study outflows in the massive star forming region IRAS 05358+3543. The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope H2 images and James Clerk Maxwell Telescope CO data cubes of the IRAS 05358 region reveal several new outflows, most of which emerge from the dense cluster of sub-mm cores associated with the Sh 2-233IR NE cluster to the northeast of IRAS 05358. We used Apache Point Observatory (APO) JHK spectra to determine line of sight velocities of the outflowing material. Analysis of archival VLA cm continuum data and previously published VLBI observations reveal a massive star binary as a probable source of one or two of the outflows. We have identified probable sources for 6 outflows and candidate counterflows for 7 out of a total of 11 seen to be originating from the IRAS 05358 clusters. We classify the clumps within Sh 2-233IR NE as an early protocluster and Sh 2-233IR SW as a young cluster, and conclude that the outflow energy injection rate approximately matches the turbulent decay rate in Sh 2-233IR NE.Comment: 15 figures, 42 pages, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Full size figures are included at http://casa.colorado.edu/~ginsbura/iras05358.htm. Data can be accessed from figshare: http://figshare.com/articles/IRAS_05358_3543_Data_Cubes/80631

Magnetohydrodynamics of Cloud Collisions in a Multi-phase Interstellar Medium

We extend previous studies of the physics of interstellar cloud collisions by beginning investigation of the role of magnetic fields through 2D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulations. We study head-on collisions between equal mass, mildly supersonic diffuse clouds. We include a moderate magnetic field and two limiting field geometries, with the field lines parallel (aligned) and perpendicular (transverse) to the colliding cloud motion. We explore both adiabatic and radiative cases, as well as symmetric and asymmetric ones. We also compute collisions between clouds evolved through prior motion in the intercloud medium and compare with unevolved cases. We find that: In the (i) aligned case, adiabatic collisions, like their HD counterparts, are very disruptive, independent of the cloud symmetry. However, when radiative processes are taken into account, partial coalescence takes place even in the asymmetric case, unlike the HD calculations. In the (ii) transverse case, collisions between initially adjacent unevolved clouds are almost unaffected by magnetic fields. However, the interaction with the magnetized intercloud gas during the pre-collision evolution produces a region of very high magnetic energy in front of the cloud. In collisions between evolved clouds with transverse field geometry, this region acts like a ``bumper'', preventing direct contact between the clouds, and eventually reverses their motion. The ``elasticity'', defined as the ratio of the final to the initial kinetic energy of each cloud, is about 0.5-0.6 in the cases we considered. This behavior is found both in adiabatic and radiative cases.Comment: 40 pages in AAS LaTeX v4.0, 13 figures (in degraded jpeg format). Full resolution images as well as mpeg animations are available at http://www.msi.umn.edu:80/Projects/twj/mhd-cc/ . Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa