1,457 research outputs found
A new method for obtaining the star formation law in galaxies
We present a new observational method to evaluate the star formation law as
formulated by Schmidt: the power-law expression assumed to relate the rate of
star formation in a volume of space to the local total gas volume density.
Volume densities in the clouds surrounding an OB association are determined
with a simple model which considers atomic hydrogen as a photodissociation
product on cloud surfaces. The photodissociating flux incident on the cloud is
computed from the far-UV luminosity of the OB association and the geometry. We
have applied this "PDR Method" to a sample of star-forming regions in M33 using
VLA 21-cm data for the HI and GALEX imagery in the far-UV. It provides an
estimate of the total volume density of hydrogen (atomic + molecular) in the
gas clouds surrounding the young star cluster. A logarithmic graph of the
cluster UV luminosity versus the surrounding gas density is a direct measure of
the star formation law. However, this plot is severely affected by
observational selection, rendering large areas of the diagram inaccessible to
the data. An ordinary least-squares regression fit therefore gives a strongly
biased result. Its slope primarily reflects the boundary defined when the 21-cm
line becomes optically thick, no longer reliably measuring the HI column
density. We use a maximum-likelihood statistical approach which can deal with
truncated and skewed data, taking into account the large uncertainties in the
derived total gas densities. The exponent we obtain for the Schmidt law in M33
is 1.4 \pm 0.2.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
Explanations and the Preponderance Standard: Still Kicking Rocks with Dr. Johnson
This paper responds to a previously unpublished article by the late evidence scholar and our friend Craig Callen Craig\u27s article and our response will be published in the Seton Hall Law Review in a symposium issue dedicated to the work of Michael Risinger We thank Michael for unearthing Craig\u27s manuscript ”which discusses our theory of juridical proof in terms of the relative plausibility of competing explanations ”and for inviting us to respond In this response we discuss developments in the literature since the manuscript was written and we explain how our theory accommodates the concerns Craig raises regarding sufficiency of the evidence Our discussion focuses as does Craig\u27s article on motions for summary judgment and judgment as a matter of law using employmentdiscrimination cases as illustrativ
Wall-liquid and wall-crystal interfacial free energies via thermodynamic integration: A molecular dynamics simulation study
A method is proposed to compute the interfacial free energy of a
Lennard-Jones system in contact with a structured wall by molecular dynamics
simulation. Both the bulk liquid and bulk face-centered-cubic crystal phase
along the (111) orientation are considered. Our approach is based on a
thermodynamic integration scheme where first the bulk Lennard-Jones system is
reversibly transformed to a state where it interacts with a structureless flat
wall. In a second step, the flat structureless wall is reversibly transformed
into an atomistic wall with crystalline structure. The dependence of the
interfacial free energy on various parameters such as the wall potential, the
density and orientation of the wall is investigated. The conditions are
indicated under which a Lennard-Jones crystal partially wets a flat wall.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figure
The Formation of Molecular Clouds
In a recent paper, Elmegreen (2000) has made a cogent case, from an
observational point of view, that the lifetimes of molecular clouds are
comparable to their dynamical timescales. If so, this has important
implications for the mechanisms by which molecular clouds form. In particular
we consider the hypothesis that molecular clouds may form not by {\it in situ}
cooling of atomic gas, but rather by the agglomeration of the dense phase of
the interstellar medium (ISM), much, if not most, of which is already in
molecular form.Comment: 6 pages, no figures, accepted on 20 June 2001 for publication in
MNRA
HST/STIS UV Spectroscopy of Two Quiescent X-ray Novae: A0620-00 and Centaurus X-4
In 1998 we made UV spectroscopic observations with HST/STIS of A0620-00 and
Cen X-4, which are two X-ray novae (aka soft X-ray transients). These binary
systems are similar in all respects except that the former contains a black
hole and the latter contains a neutron star. A UV spectrum (1700-3100A) is
presented for the quiescent state of each system in the context of previously
published UV/optical and X-ray data. The non-stellar, continuum spectrum of
black hole A0620-00 has a prominent UV/optical peak centered at about 3500A. In
contrast the spectrum of neutron-star Cen X-4 lacks a peak and rises steadily
with frequency over the entire UV/optical band. In the optical, the two systems
are comparably luminous. However, black hole A0620-00 is about 6 times less
luminous at 1700A, and about 40 times less luminous in the X-ray band. The
broadband spectrum of A0620-00 is discussed in terms of the advection-dominated
accretion flow model.Comment: 18 pages including 4 figures; tentatively scheduled for the March 10,
2000 issue of ApJ; minor revision
Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas for Food Applications
Successfully distributing shelf food requires treatment to eliminate microorganisms. Current chemical methods, such as chlorine wash, can alter food quality while only being effective for a limited time. Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPs) can eradicate the microorganisms responsible for food spoilage and foodborne illness. Optimizing CAP treatments requires understanding the reactive species generated and relating them to eradication efficiency. Recent studies have used optical emission spectroscopy (OES) to determine the species generated in a sealed package that would hold food. In this study,we supplement the OES results with optical absorption spectroscopy (OAS) using the same gases (helium, nitrogen, compressed air, humid air) to elucidate plasma chemistry and temperature. We first reproduce previous results using a new setup while assessing the impact of the package and surrounding box on the plasma spectrum. A UV-Vis light lightsource is emitted through a series of lenses placed next to the plasma. Analysis using SpecAir software allows the identification of absorbed peaks and the calculation of rotational, vibrational, and electron temperatures. Results show that the air plasma produces a primary absorbance peak at a wavelength of ~260 nm, demonstrating the diagnostic capability of this technique . Species generation declined dramatically during the first two minutes of treatment with the effect leveling off thereafter. These findings elucidate reactive species generation within the plasma to optimize CAP systems for microorganism decontamination
Overview of C/C-SiC Composite Development for the Orion Launch Abort System
Past and present efforts by the authors to further understanding of the ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material used in the valve components of the Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) Attitude Control Motor (ACM) will be presented. The LAS is designed to quickly lift the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) away from its launch vehicle in emergency abort scenarios. The ACM is a solid rocket motor which utilizes eight throttleable nozzles to maintain proper orientation of the CEV during abort operations. Launch abort systems have not been available for use by NASA on manned launches since the last Apollo ]Saturn launch in 1975. The CMC material, carbon-carbon/silicon-carbide (C/C-SiC), is manufactured by Fiber Materials, Inc. and consists of a rigid 4-directional carbon-fiber tow weave reinforced with a mixed carbon plus SiC matrix. Several valve and full system (8-valve) static motor tests have been conducted by the motor vendor. The culmination of these tests was the successful flight test of the Orion LAS Pad Abort One (PA ]1) vehicle on May 6, 2010. Due to the fast pace of the LAS development program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center assisted the LAS community by performing a series of material and component evaluations using fired hardware from valve and full ]system development motor tests, and from the PA-1 flight ACM motor. Information will be presented on the structure of the C/C-SiC material, as well as the efficacy of various non ]destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques, including but not limited to: radiography, computed tomography, nanofocus computed tomography, and X-ray transmission microscopy. Examinations of the microstructure of the material via scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy will also be discussed. The findings resulting from the subject effort are assisting the LAS Project in risk assessments and in possible modifications to the final ACM operational design
Gravitational Waves from Collapsing Vacuum Domains
The breaking of an approximate discrete symmetry, the final stages of a first
order phase transition, or a post-inflationary biased probability distribution
for scalar fields are possible cosmological scenarios characterized by the
presence of unstable domain wall networks. Combining analytical and numerical
techniques, we show that the non-spherical collapse of these domains can be a
powerful source of gravitational waves. We compute their contribution to the
stochastic background of gravitational radiation and explore their
observability by present and future gravitational wave detectors.Comment: Revised version to appear in Physical Review Letters. Changes have
been made which improve the presentation of the results. Figure 3 was
modified, but conclusions remain the sam
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