571 research outputs found
VLT Spectropolarimetry of the optical transient in NGC300. Evidence for asymmetry in the circumstellar dust
AIMS: The main goal of this work is to study possible signs of asymmetry in
the bright optical transient in NGC300, with the aim of getting independent
information on the explosion mechanism, the progenitor star and its
circumstellar environment.
METHODS: Using VLT-FORS1 we have obtained low-resolution optical linear
spectropolarimetry of NGC300 OT2008-1 on two epochs, 48 and 55 days after the
discovery, covering the spectral range 3600--9330A.
RESULTS: The data show a continuum polarization at a very significant level.
At least two separate components are identified. The first is characterized by
a strong wavelength dependency and a constant position angle (68.6+/-0.3
degrees), which is parallel to the local spiral arm of the host galaxy. The
second shows a completely different position angle (151.3+/-0.4) and displays a
mild but statistically significant evolution between the two epochs. While the
former is identified as arising in the interstellar dust associated with
NGC300, the latter is most likely due to continuum polarization by dust
scattering in the circumstellar environment. No line depolarization is detected
in correspondence of the most intense emission lines, disfavoring electron
scattering as the source of intrinsic polarization. This implies a very small
deviation from symmetry in the continuum-forming region. Given the observed
level of intrinsic polarization, the transient must be surrounded by a
significant amount of dust (>4x10^-5 Msun), asymmetrically distributed within a
few thousand AU. This most likely implies that one or more asymmetric outflow
episodes took place during the past history of the progenitor.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics. 16 pages, 16
figure
Biologically active Phytophthora mating hormone prepared by catalytic asymmetric total synthesis
A Phytophthora mating hormone with an array of 1,5-stereogenic centers has been synthesized by using our recently developed methodology of catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of Grignard reagents. We applied this methodology in a diastereo- and enantioselective iterative route and obtained two of the 16 possible stereoisomers of Phytophthora hormone α1. These synthetic stereoisomers induced the formation of sexual spores (oospores) in A2 mating type strains of three heterothallic Phytophthora species, P. infestans, P. capsici, and P. nicotianae but not in A1 mating type strains. The response was concentration-dependent, and the oospores were viable. These results demonstrate that the biological activity of the synthetic hormone resembles that of the natural hormone α1. Mating hormones are essential components in the sexual life cycle of a variety of organisms. For plant pathogens like Phytophthora, sexual reproduction is important as a source of genetic variation. Moreover, the thick-walled oospores are the most durable propagules that can survive harsh environmental conditions. Sexual reproduction can thus greatly affect disease epidemics. The availability of synthetic compounds mimicking the activity of Phytophthora mating hormone will be instrumental for further unravelling sexual reproduction in this important group of plant pathogens.
Thermoelectric Cooling at Cryogenic Temperatures
Experimental results demonstrating Peltier cooling below 10 K are reported, using crystals of the thermoelectric cerium hexaboride (CeB6). Direct measurements of the Peltier cooling showed ÎŽT up to âŒ0.2 K in magnitude at TâŒ4â5âK. All three kinetic parameters: resistivity (Ï), heat conductivity (k), and Seebeck coefficient (S), characterizing the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT=S2T/Ïk, were measured, giving high-confidence results
Accelerated Expansion of the Early and Late Universe in Terms of the Scalar-Tensor Theory of Gravitation. I
© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media New YorkThe basic idea behind the evolutionary development of the early universe is that the hot stage was preceded by the inflationary stage. In most modern concepts of the inflationary regime, it is assumed that a specific scalar field (inflaton) is present which expands space at enormous rates, while the temperature falls rapidly, real particles almost vanish, and the universe is filled by a vacuum with the equation of state P = â É. In the first part of this article, the cosmological scalar of the modified Jordan-Brans-Dicke (JBD) theory is chosen to be the inflaton. Problems in the âEinsteinâ and proper representations of the JBD theory are considered
Observation of Resonant Diffusive Radiation in Random Multilayered Systems
Diffusive Radiation is a new type of radiation predicted to occur in randomly
inhomogeneous media due to the multiple scattering of pseudophotons. This
theoretical effect is now observed experimentally. The radiation is generated
by the passage of electrons of energy 200KeV-2.2MeV through a random stack of
films in the visible light region. The radiation intensity increases resonantly
provided the Cherenkov condition is satisfied for the average dielectric
constant of the medium. The observed angular dependence and electron resonance
energy are in agreement with the theoretical predictions. These observations
open a road to application of diffusive radiation in particle detection,
astrophysics, soft X-ray generation and etc.. `Comment: 4pages, 4figure
Laser-Powered Thermoelectric Generators Operating at Cryogenic Temperatures
A thermoelectric generator, operating in a cryostat at liquid helium temperatures, is described. Energy to the generator is supplied via an external laser beam. For this prototype device the associated heat load at permanent operation is comparable with the heat load associated with power delivery via metallic wires. Estimates indicate that still better performance can be enabled with existing thermoelectric materials, thereby far exceeding efficiency of traditional cryostat wiring. We used a prototype generator to produce electric power for measuring critical currents in Nb3Sn-films at 4K
Behaviors of susceptible-infected epidemics on scale-free networks with identical infectivity
In this article, we proposed a susceptible-infected model with identical
infectivity, in which, at every time step, each node can only contact a
constant number of neighbors. We implemented this model on scale-free networks,
and found that the infected population grows in an exponential form with the
time scale proportional to the spreading rate. Further more, by numerical
simulation, we demonstrated that the targeted immunization of the present model
is much less efficient than that of the standard susceptible-infected model.
Finally, we investigated a fast spreading strategy when only local information
is available. Different from the extensively studied path finding strategy, the
strategy preferring small-degree nodes is more efficient than that preferring
large-degree nodes. Our results indicate the existence of an essential
relationship between network traffic and network epidemic on scale-free
networks.Comment: 5 figures and 7 page
A long-lasting quiescence phase of the eruptive variable V1118 Ori
V1118 Ori is an eruptive variable belonging to the EXor class of Pre-Main
Sequence stars whose episodic outbursts are attributed to disk accretion
events. Since 2006, V1118 Ori is in the longest quiescence stage ever observed
between two subsequent outbursts of its recent history. We present
near-infrared photometry of V1118 Ori carried out during the last eight years,
along with a complete spectroscopic coverage from 0.35 to 2.5 um. A longterm
sampling of V1118 Ori in quiescence has never been done, hence we can benefit
from the current circumstance to determine the lowest values (i.e. the zeroes)
of the parameters to be used as a reference for evaluating the physical changes
typical of more active phases. A quiescence mass accretion rate between 1--3
10 M_{\sun} yr can be derived and the difference with
previous determinations is discussed. From line emission and IR colors analysis
a visual extinction of 1-2 mag is consistently derived, confirming that V1118
Ori (at least in quiescence) is a low-extinction T Tauri star with a bolometric
luminosity of about 2.1 L_{\sun}. An anti-correlation exists between the
equivalent width of the emission lines and the underlying continuum. We
searched the literature for evaluating whether or not such a behaviour is a
common feature of the whole class. The anti-correlation is clearly recognizable
for all the available EXors in the optical range (H and H
lines), while it is not as much evident in the infrared (Pa and
Br lines). The observed anti-correlation supports the accretion-driven
mechanism as the most likely to account for continuum variations.Comment: 6 figures, 5 tables, accepted on Ap
Interacting supernovae and supernova impostors. SN 2007sv: the major eruption of a massive star in UGC 5979
We report the results of the photometric and spectroscopic monitoring
campaign of the transient SN 2007sv. The observables are similar to those of
type IIn supernovae, a well-known class of objects whose ejecta interact with
pre-existing circum-stellar material. The spectra show a blue continuum at
early phases and prominent Balmer lines in emission, however, the absolute
magnitude at the discovery of SN 2007sv (M_R = - 14.25 +/- 0.38) indicate it to
be most likely a supernova impostor. This classification is also supported by
the lack of evidence in the spectra of very high velocity material as expected
in supernova ejecta. In addition we find no unequivocal evidence of broad lines
of alpha - and/or Fe-peak elements. The comparison with the absolute light
curves of other interacting objects (including type IIn supernovae) highlights
the overall similarity with the prototypical impostor SN 1997bs. This supports
our claim that SN 2007sv was not a genuine supernova, and was instead a
supernova impostor, most likely similar to the major eruption of a luminous
blue variable.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 15 pages, 11 figures, 5 table
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