26,557 research outputs found
The volumetric rate of calcium-rich transients in the local universe
We present a measurement of the volumetric rate of `calcium-rich' optical
transients in the local universe, using a sample of three events from the
Palomar Transient Factory (PTF). This measurement builds on a detailed study of
the PTF transient detection efficiencies, and uses a Monte Carlo simulation of
the PTF survey. We measure the volumetric rate of calcium-rich transients to be
higher than previous estimates: events
yr Mpc. This is equivalent to 33-94% of the local volumetric type
Ia supernova rate. This calcium-rich transient rate is sufficient to reproduce
the observed calcium abundances in galaxy clusters, assuming an asymptotic
calcium yield per calcium-rich event of ~0.05. We also
study the PTF detection efficiency of these transients as a function of
position within their candidate host galaxies. We confirm as a real physical
effect previous results that suggest calcium-rich transients prefer large
physical offsets from their host galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 9 pages, 5 figure
A statistical approach to identify superluminous supernovae and probe their diversity
We investigate the identification of hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae
(SLSNe I) using a photometric analysis, without including an arbitrary
magnitude threshold. We assemble a homogeneous sample of previously classified
SLSNe I from the literature, and fit their light curves using Gaussian
processes. From the fits, we identify four photometric parameters that have a
high statistical significance when correlated, and combine them in a parameter
space that conveys information on their luminosity and color evolution. This
parameter space presents a new definition for SLSNe I, which can be used to
analyse existing and future transient datasets. We find that 90% of previously
classified SLSNe I meet our new definition. We also examine the evidence for
two subclasses of SLSNe I, combining their photometric evolution with
spectroscopic information, namely the photospheric velocity and its gradient. A
cluster analysis reveals the presence of two distinct groups. `Fast' SLSNe show
fast light curves and color evolution, large velocities, and a large velocity
gradient. `Slow' SLSNe show slow light curve and color evolution, small
expansion velocities, and an almost non-existent velocity gradient. Finally, we
discuss the impact of our analyses in the understanding of the powering engine
of SLSNe, and their implementation as cosmological probes in current and future
surveys.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, accepted by ApJ on 23/01/201
The enviornmental assessment of a contemporary coal mining system
A contemporary underground coal mine in eastern Kentucky was assessed in order to determine potential off-site and on-site environmental impacts associated with the mining system in the given environmental setting. A 4 section, continuous room and pillor mine plan was developed for an appropriate site in eastern Kentucky. Potential environmental impacts were identified, and mitigation costs determined. The major potential environmental impacts were determined to be: acid water drainage from the mine and refuse site, uneven subsidence of the surface as a result of mining activity, and alteration of ground water aquifers in the subsidence zone. In the specific case examined, the costs of environmental impact mitigation to levels prescribed by regulations would not exceed $1/ton of coal mined, and post mining land values would not be affected
A methodology for the environmental assessment of advanced coal extraction systems
Procedures developed to identify and assess potential environment impacts of advanced mining technology as it moves from a generic concept to a more systems definition are described. Two levels of assessment are defined in terms of the design stage of the technology being evaluated. The first level of analysis is appropriate to a conceptual design. At this level it is assumed that each mining process has known and potential environmental impacts that are generic to each mining activity. By using this assumption, potential environmental impacts can be identified for new mining systems. When two or more systems have been assessed, they can be evaluated comparing potential environmental impacts. At the preliminary stage of design, a systems performance can be assessed again with more precision. At this level of systems definition, potential environmental impacts can be analyzed and their significane determined in a manner to facilitate comparisons between systems. At each level of analysis, suggestions calculated to help the designer mitigate potentially harmful impacts are provided
Understanding single-top-quark production and jets at hadron colliders
I present an analysis of fully differential single-top-quark production plus
jets at next-to-leading order. I describe the effects of jet definitions,
top-quark mass, and higher orders on the shapes and normalizations of the
kinematic distributions, and quantify all theoretical uncertainties. I explain
how to interpret next-to-leading-order jet calculations, and compare them to
showering event generators. Using the program ZTOP, I show that HERWIG and
PYTHIA significantly underestimate both s-channel and t-channel
single-top-quark production, and propose a scheme to match the relevant samples
to the next-to-leading-order predictions.Comment: 40 pgs., revtex4, 35 ps figs; added Fig. 4, 1 Ref., minor
clarifications, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Aerothermal modeling program. Phase 2, element B: Flow interaction experiment
NASA has instituted an extensive effort to improve the design process and data base for the hot section components of gas turbine engines. The purpose of element B is to establish a benchmark quality data set that consists of measurements of the interaction of circular jets with swirling flow. Such flows are typical of those that occur in the primary zone of modern annular combustion liners. Extensive computations of the swirling flows are to be compared with the measurements for the purpose of assessing the accuracy of current physical models used to predict such flows
Ramsey interferometry with oppositely detuned fields
We report a narrowing of the interference pattern obtained in an atomic
Ramsey interferometer if the two separated fields have different frequency and
their phase difference is controlled. The width of the Ramsey fringes depends
inversely on the free flight time of ground state atoms before entering the
first field region in addition to the time between the fields. The effect is
stable also for atomic wavepackets with initial position and momentum
distributions and for realistic mode functions.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
Can cluster environment modify the dynamical evolution of spiral galaxies?
Over the past decade many effects of the cluster environment on member galaxies have been established. These effects are manifest in the amount and distribution of gas in cluster spirals, the luminosity and light distributions within galaxies, and the segregation of morphological types. All these effects could indicate a specific dynamical evolution for galaxies in clusters. Nevertheless, a more direct evidence, such as a different mass distribution for spiral galaxies in clusters and in the field, is not yet clearly established. Indeed, Rubin, Whitmore, and Ford (1988) and Whitmore, Forbes, and Rubin (1988) (referred to as RWF) presented evidence that inner cluster spirals have falling rotation curves, unlike those of outer cluster spirals or the great majority of field spirals. If falling rotation curves exist in centers of clusters, as argued by RWF, it would suggest that dark matter halos were absent from cluster spirals, either because the halos had become stripped by interactions with other galaxies or with an intracluster medium, or because the halos had never formed in the first place. Even if they didn't disagree with RWF, other researchers pointed out that the behaviour of the slope of the rotation curves of spiral galaxies (in Virgo) is not so clear. Amram, using a different sample of spiral galaxies in clusters, found only 10% of declining rotation curves (2 declining vs 17 flat or rising) in opposition to RWF who find about 40% of declining rotation curves in their sample (6 declining vs 10 flat or rising), we will hereafter briefly discuss the Amram data paper and compare it to the results of RWF. We have measured the rotation curves for a sample of 21 spiral galaxies in 5 nearby clusters. These rotation curves have been constructed from detailed two-dimensional maps of each galaxy's velocity field as traced by emission from the Ha line. This complete mapping, combined with the sensitivity of our CFHT 3.60 m. + Perot-Fabry + CCD observations, allows the construction of high-quality rotation curves. Details concerning the acquisition and reduction procedures of the data are given in Amram. We present and discuss our preliminary analysis and compare them with RWF's results
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