107 research outputs found
On the small-scale stability of thermonuclear flames in Type Ia supernovae
We present a numerical model which allows us to investigate thermonuclear
flames in Type Ia supernova explosions. The model is based on a finite-volume
explicit hydrodynamics solver employing PPM. Using the level-set technique
combined with in-cell reconstruction and flux-splitting schemes we are able to
describe the flame in the discontinuity approximation. We apply our
implementation to flame propagation in Chandrasekhar-mass Type Ia supernova
models. In particular we concentrate on intermediate scales between the flame
width and the Gibson-scale, where the burning front is subject to the
Landau-Darrieus instability. We are able to reproduce the theoretical
prediction on the growth rates of perturbations in the linear regime and
observe the stabilization of the flame in a cellular shape. The increase of the
mean burning velocity due to the enlarged flame surface is measured. Results of
our simulation are in agreement with semianalytical studies.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, Uses AASTEX, emulateapj5.sty, onecolfloat.sty.
Replaced with accepted version (ApJ), Figures 1 and 3 are ne
Relativistic quantum kinetic equation of the Vlasov type for systems with internal degrees of freedom
We present an approach to derive a relativistic kinetic equation of the
Vlasov type. Our approach is especially reliable for the description of quantum
field systems with many internal degrees of freedom. The method is based on the
Heisenberg picture and leads to a kinetic equation which fulfills the
conservation laws. We apply the approach to the standard Walecka Lagrangian and
an effective chiral Lagrangian.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX, uses ijmpel.st
The Impact of Type Ia Supernova Explosions on Helium Companions in the Chandrasekhar-mass Explosion Scenario
In the version of the single-degenerate scenario of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) studied here, a carbonâoxygen
white dwarf explodes close to the Chandrasekhar limit after accreting material from a non-degenerate helium
(He) companion star. In the present study, we employ the Stellar GADGET code to perform three-dimensional
hydrodynamical simulations of the interaction of the SN Ia ejecta with the He companion star taking into account
its orbital motion and spin. It is found that only 2%â5% of the initial companion mass is stripped off from the outer
layers of He companion stars due to the supernova (SN) impact. The dependence of the unbound mass (or the kick
velocity) on the orbital separation can be fitted to a good approximation by a power law for a given companion
model. After the SN impact, the outer layers of a He donor star are significantly enriched with heavy elements from
the low-expansion-velocity tail of SN Ia ejecta. The total mass of accumulated SN-ejecta material on the companion
surface reaches about 10â3 M for different companion models. This enrichment with heavy elements provides
a potential way to observationally identify the surviving companion star in SN remnants. Finally, by artificially
adjusting the explosion energy of the W7 explosion model, we find that the total accumulation of SN ejecta on the
companion surface is also dependent on the explosion energy with a power-law relation to a good approximation
500 Days of SN 2013dy: spectra and photometry from the ultraviolet to the infrared
SN 2013dy is a Type Ia supernova for which we have compiled an extraordinary
dataset spanning from 0.1 to ~ 500 days after explosion. We present 10 epochs
of ultraviolet (UV) through near-infrared (NIR) spectra with HST/STIS, 47
epochs of optical spectra (15 of them having high resolution), and more than
500 photometric observations in the BVrRiIZYJH bands. SN 2013dy has a broad and
slowly declining light curve (delta m(B) = 0.92 mag), shallow Si II 6355
absorption, and a low velocity gradient. We detect strong C II in our earliest
spectra, probing unburned progenitor material in the outermost layers of the SN
ejecta, but this feature fades within a few days. The UV continuum of SN
2013dy, which is strongly affected by the metal abundance of the progenitor
star, suggests that SN 2013dy had a relatively high-metallicity progenitor.
Examining one of the largest single set of high-resolution spectra for a SN Ia,
we find no evidence of variable absorption from circumstellar material.
Combining our UV spectra, NIR photometry, and high-cadence optical photometry,
we construct a bolometric light curve, showing that SN 2013dy had a maximum
luminosity of 10.0^{+4.8}_{-3.8} * 10^{42} erg/s. We compare the synthetic
light curves and spectra of several models to SN 2013dy, finding that SN 2013dy
is in good agreement with a solar-metallicity W7 model.Comment: 22 pages, 18 figures, replaced with version accecpted for publication
in MNRA
Equation of State of Nuclear Matter at high baryon density
A central issue in the theory of astrophysical compact objects and heavy ion
reactions at intermediate and relativistic energies is the Nuclear Equation of
State (EoS). On one hand, the large and expanding set of experimental and
observational data is expected to constrain the behaviour of the nuclear EoS,
especially at density above saturation, where it is directly linked to
fundamental processes which can occur in dense matter. On the other hand,
theoretical predictions for the EoS at high density can be challenged by the
phenomenological findings. In this topical review paper we present the
many-body theory of nuclear matter as developed along different years and with
different methods. Only nucleonic degrees of freedom are considered. We compare
the different methods at formal level, as well as the final EoS calculated
within each one of the considered many-body schemes. The outcome of this
analysis should help in restricting the uncertainty of the theoretical
predictions for the nuclear EoS.Comment: 51 pages, to appear in J. Phys. G as Topical Revie
Staggering behavior of the low lying excited states of even-even nuclei in a Sp(4,R) classification scheme
We implement a high order discrete derivative analysis of the low lying
collective energies of even-even nuclei with respect to the total number of
valence nucleon pairs N in the framework of F- spin multiplets appearing in a
symplectic sp(4,R) classification scheme. We find that for the nuclei of any
given F- multiplet the respective experimental energies exhibit a Delta N=2
staggering behavior and for the nuclei of two united neighboring F- multiplets
well pronounced Delta N=1 staggering patterns are observed. Those effects have
been reproduced successfully through a generalized sp(4,R) model energy
expression and explained in terms of the step-like changes in collective modes
within the F- multiplets and the alternation of the F-spin projection in the
united neighboring multiplets. On this basis we suggest that the observed Delta
N=2 and Delta N=1 staggering effects carry detailed information about the
respective systematic manifestation of both high order alpha - particle like
quartetting of nucleons and proton (neutron) pairing interaction in nuclei.PACS
number(s):21.10.Re, 21.60.FwComment: 22 pages and 6 figures changes in the figure caption
Complex Risks from Old Urban Waste Landfills: Sustainability Perspective from Iasi, Romania
Landfills continue to represent the most frequent managerial practice for municipal solid wastes and an increasing and complex problem globally. In certain countries, a transition to an open society and free market is superimposed on the transition to sustainability, resulting in even higher complexity of management. This paper proposes an approach for problem-structuring of landfills in complex transitions: sustainability or unsustainability of a management approach is determined by a set of sustainability filters that are defined by sets of indicators and prioritized according the systemic concept of sustainability, which says that economy is embedded in society, which is embedded in nature. The writers exercise this approach with an old landfill in Iasi, Romania, and conclude for unsustainability, because the ecological sustainability filter is not successfully passed. Social and economic sustainability filters are also discussed in relation with the ecological sustainability indicators. The described approach allows a coherent, transdisciplinary synthesis of knowledge scattered across various disciplines, a pervasive problem in landfill management. The case study helps distinguish between generally true and context-dependent aspects.Peer reviewe
Catching Element Formation In The Act
Gamma-ray astronomy explores the most energetic photons in nature to address
some of the most pressing puzzles in contemporary astrophysics. It encompasses
a wide range of objects and phenomena: stars, supernovae, novae, neutron stars,
stellar-mass black holes, nucleosynthesis, the interstellar medium, cosmic rays
and relativistic-particle acceleration, and the evolution of galaxies. MeV
gamma-rays provide a unique probe of nuclear processes in astronomy, directly
measuring radioactive decay, nuclear de-excitation, and positron annihilation.
The substantial information carried by gamma-ray photons allows us to see
deeper into these objects, the bulk of the power is often emitted at gamma-ray
energies, and radioactivity provides a natural physical clock that adds unique
information. New science will be driven by time-domain population studies at
gamma-ray energies. This science is enabled by next-generation gamma-ray
instruments with one to two orders of magnitude better sensitivity, larger sky
coverage, and faster cadence than all previous gamma-ray instruments. This
transformative capability permits: (a) the accurate identification of the
gamma-ray emitting objects and correlations with observations taken at other
wavelengths and with other messengers; (b) construction of new gamma-ray maps
of the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies where extended regions are
distinguished from point sources; and (c) considerable serendipitous science of
scarce events -- nearby neutron star mergers, for example. Advances in
technology push the performance of new gamma-ray instruments to address a wide
set of astrophysical questions.Comment: 14 pages including 3 figure
Shifting Home Energy Consumption Through a Holistic Understanding of the Home System of Practice
This chapter describes the concept of the home system of practice, which can be used to provide a deeper understanding of the social system of the home and inform long-term solutions for enabling domestic energy reduction. More traditional methods have attempted to persuade occupants to change behaviour through the use of information campaigns and feedback technology. However, these interventions are usually short lived as they ignore the underlying reasons for practices to occur. A more effective solution is through practice-oriented design, which co-creates innovative technology with the user. In addition, the emergence and use of automated technology enables practices to act independently of the user. Yet, the success of automation is also reliant on an understanding of the home system of practice, occupant needs and skills
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