2,367 research outputs found
SPB stars in the open SMC cluster NGC 371
Pulsation in beta Cep and SPB stars are driven by the kappa mechanism which
depends critically on the metallicity. It has therefore been suggested that
beta Cep and SPB stars should be rare in the Magellanic Clouds which have lower
metallicities than the solar neighborhood. To test this prediction we have
observed the open SMC cluster NGC 371 for 12 nights in order to search for beta
Cep and SPB stars. Surprisingly, we find 29 short-period B-type variables in
the upper part of the main sequence, many of which are probably SPB stars. This
result indicates that pulsation is still driven by the kappa mechanism even in
low metallicity environments. All the identified variables have periods longer
than the fundamental radial period which means that they cannot be beta Cep
stars. Within an amplitude detection limit of 5 mmag no stars in the top of the
HR-diagram show variability with periods shorter than the fundamental radial
period. So if beta Cep stars are present in the cluster they oscillate with
amplitudes below 5 mmag, which is significantly lower than the mean amplitude
of beta Cep stars in the Galaxy. We see evidence that multimode pulsation is
more common in the upper part of the main sequence than in the lower. We have
also identified 5 eclipsing binaries and 3 periodic pulsating Be stars in the
cluster field.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Properties of 42 Solar-type Kepler Targets from the Asteroseismic Modeling Portal
Recently the number of main-sequence and subgiant stars exhibiting solar-like oscillations that are resolved
into individual mode frequencies has increased dramatically. While only a few such data sets were available
for detailed modeling just a decade ago, the Kepler mission has produced suitable observations for hundreds
of new targets. This rapid expansion in observational capacity has been accompanied by a shift in analysis
and modeling strategies to yield uniform sets of derived stellar properties more quickly and easily. We use
previously published asteroseismic and spectroscopic data sets to provide a uniform analysis of 42 solar-type
Kepler targets from the Asteroseismic Modeling Portal (AMP). We find that fitting the individual frequencies
typically doubles the precision of the asteroseismic radius, mass and age compared to grid-based modeling of
the global oscillation properties, and improves the precision of the radius and mass by about a factor of three
over empirical scaling relations. We demonstrate the utility of the derived properties with several applications
Alternative Stacking Sequences in Hexagonal Boron Nitride
The relative orientation of successive sheets, i.e. the stacking sequence, in
layered two-dimensional materials is central to the electronic, thermal, and
mechanical properties of the material. Often different stacking sequences have
comparable cohesive energy, leading to alternative stable crystal structures.
Here we theoretically and experimentally explore different stacking sequences
in the van der Waals bonded material hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). We examine
the total energy, electronic bandgap, and dielectric response tensor for five
distinct high symmetry stacking sequences for both bulk and bilayer forms of
h-BN. Two sequences, the generally assumed AA' sequence and the relatively
unknown (for h-BN) AB (Bernal) sequence, are predicted to have comparably low
energy. We present a scalable modified chemical vapor deposition method that
produces large flakes of virtually pure AB stacked h-BN; this new material
complements the generally available AA' stacked h-BN
Designing Excited States: Theory-Guided Access to Efficient Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Action
Cataloged from PDF version of article.The in silico design of tetraradical S 1 states was validated experimentally through synthesis, followed by characterization including phosphorescence measurements, use of trap molecules, and cell culture studies, leading to a series of orthogonal dimers of Bodipy chromophores with remarkable singlet oxygen efficiencies (see picture). A new path for the rational development of efficient photosensitizers is thus revealed. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Electron Beam-Induced Nanopores in Bernal-Stacked Hexagonal Boron Nitride
Controlling the size and shape of nanopores in two-dimensional materials is a
key challenge in applications such as DNA sequencing, sieving, and quantum
emission in artificial atoms. We here investigate experimentally and
theoretically triangular vacancies in (unconventional) Bernal-stacked AB-h-BN
formed using a high-energy electron beam. Due to the geometric configuration of
AB-h-BN, triangular pores in different layers are aligned, and their sizes are
controlled by the duration of the electron irradiation. Interlayer covalent
bonding at the vacancy edge is not favored, as opposed to what occurs in the
more common AA'-stacked BN. A variety of monolayer, concentric and bilayer
pores in bilayer AB-h-BN are observed in high-resolution transmission electron
microscopy and characterized using ab initio simulations. Bilayer pores in
AB-h-BN are commonly formed, and grow without breaking the bilayer character.
Nanopores in AB-h-BN exhibit a wide range of electronic properties, ranging
from half-metallic to non-magnetic and magnetic semiconducting. Therefore,
because of the controllability of the pore size, the electronic structure is
also highly controllable in these systems, and can potentially be tuned for
particular applications
Characterizing two solar-type Kepler subgiants with asteroseismology: KIC10920273 and KIC11395018
Determining fundamental properties of stars through stellar modeling has
improved substantially due to recent advances in asteroseismology. Thanks to
the unprecedented data quality obtained by space missions, particularly CoRoT
and Kepler, invaluable information is extracted from the high-precision stellar
oscillation frequencies, which provide very strong constraints on possible
stellar models for a given set of classical observations. In this work, we have
characterized two relatively faint stars, KIC10920273 and KIC11395018, using
oscillation data from Kepler photometry and atmospheric constraints from
ground-based spectroscopy. Both stars have very similar atmospheric properties;
however, using the individual frequencies extracted from the Kepler data, we
have determined quite distinct global properties, with increased precision
compared to that of earlier results. We found that both stars have left the
main sequence and characterized them as follows: KIC10920273 is a
one-solar-mass star (M=1.00 +/- 0.04 M_sun), but much older than our Sun
(t=7.12 +/- 0.47 Gyr), while KIC11395018 is significantly more massive than the
Sun (M=1.27 +/- 0.04 M_sun) with an age close to that of the Sun (t=4.57 +/-
0.23 Gyr). We confirm that the high lithium abundance reported for these stars
should not be considered to represent young ages, as we precisely determined
them to be evolved subgiants. We discuss the use of surface lithium abundance,
rotation and activity relations as potential age diagnostics.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, 5 tables. Accepted by Ap
Asteroseismology of the solar analogs 16 Cyg A & B from Kepler observations
The evolved solar-type stars 16 Cyg A & B have long been studied as solar
analogs, yielding a glimpse into the future of our own Sun. The orbital period
of the binary system is too long to provide meaningful dynamical constraints on
the stellar properties, but asteroseismology can help because the stars are
among the brightest in the Kepler field. We present an analysis of three months
of nearly uninterrupted photometry of 16 Cyg A & B from the Kepler space
telescope. We extract a total of 46 and 41 oscillation frequencies for the two
components respectively, including a clear detection of octupole (l=3) modes in
both stars. We derive the properties of each star independently using the
Asteroseismic Modeling Portal, fitting the individual oscillation frequencies
and other observational constraints simultaneously. We evaluate the systematic
uncertainties from an ensemble of results generated by a variety of stellar
evolution codes and fitting methods. The optimal models derived by fitting each
component individually yield a common age (t=6.8+/-0.4 Gyr) and initial
composition (Z_i=0.024+/-0.002, Y_i=0.25+/-0.01) within the uncertainties, as
expected for the components of a binary system, bolstering our confidence in
the reliability of asteroseismic techniques. The longer data sets that will
ultimately become available will allow future studies of differential rotation,
convection zone depths, and long-term changes due to stellar activity cycles.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables, ApJ Letters (accepted
Kepler White Paper: Asteroseismology of Solar-Like Oscillators in a 2-Wheel Mission
We comment on the potential for continuing asteroseismology of solar-type and
red-giant stars in a 2-wheel Kepler Mission. Our main conclusion is that by
targeting stars in the ecliptic it should be possible to perform high-quality
asteroseismology, as long as favorable scenarios for 2-wheel pointing
performance are met. Targeting the ecliptic would potentially facilitate unique
science that was not possible in the nominal Mission, notably from the study of
clusters that are significantly brighter than those in the Kepler field. Our
conclusions are based on predictions of 2-wheel observations made by a space
photometry simulator, with information provided by the Kepler Project used as
input to describe the degraded pointing scenarios. We find that elevated levels
of frequency-dependent noise, consistent with the above scenarios, would have a
significant negative impact on our ability to continue asteroseismic studies of
solar-like oscillators in the Kepler field. However, the situation may be much
more optimistic for observations in the ecliptic, provided that pointing resets
of the spacecraft during regular desaturations of the two functioning reaction
wheels are accurate at the < 1 arcsec level. This would make it possible to
apply a post-hoc analysis that would recover most of the lost photometric
precision. Without this post-hoc correction---and the accurate re-pointing it
requires---the performance would probably be as poor as in the Kepler-field
case. Critical to our conclusions for both fields is the assumed level of
pointing noise (in the short-term jitter and the longer-term drift). We suggest
that further tests will be needed to clarify our results once more detail and
data on the expected pointing performance becomes available, and we offer our
assistance in this work.Comment: NASA Kepler Mission White Paper; 10 pages, 2 figure
Surgical Parameters for Minimally Invasive Trans- Eustachian Tube CSF Leak Repair: A Cadaveric Study and Literature Review
Background Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea from a lateral skull base defect refractory to spontaneous healing and/or conservative management is most commonly managed via open surgery. Approach for repair is dictated by location of the defect, which may require surgical exploration. The final common pathway is the eustachian tube (ET). Endoscopic ET obliteration via endonasal and lateral approaches is under development. Whereas ET anatomy has been studied, surgical landmarks have not been previously described or quantified. We aimed to define surgical parameters of specific utility to endoscopic ET obliteration. Methods A literature review was performed of known ET anatomic parameters. Next, using a combination of endoscopic and open techniques in cadavers, we cannulated the intact ET and dissected its posterior component to define the major curvature position of the ET, defined as the genu, and quantified the relative distances through the ET lumen. The genu was targeted as a major obstacle encountered when cannulating the ET from the nasopharynx. Results Among 10 ETs, we found an average distance of 23 ± 5 mm from the nasopharynx to the ET genu, distance of 24 ± 3 mm from the genu to the anterior aspect of the tympanic membrane and total ET length of 47 ± 4 mm. Conclusions Although membranous and petrous components of the ET are important to its function, the genu may be a more useful surgical landmark. Basic surgical parameters for endoscopic ET obliteration are defined
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