28,741 research outputs found
On the distribution of the total energy of a system on non-interacting fermions: random matrix and semiclassical estimates
We consider a single particle spectrum as given by the eigenvalues of the
Wigner-Dyson ensembles of random matrices, and fill consecutive single particle
levels with n fermions. Assuming that the fermions are non-interacting, we show
that the distribution of the total energy is Gaussian and its variance grows as
n^2 log n in the large-n limit. Next to leading order corrections are computed.
Some related quantities are discussed, in particular the nearest neighbor
spacing autocorrelation function. Canonical and gran canonical approaches are
considered and compared in detail. A semiclassical formula describing, as a
function of n, a non-universal behavior of the variance of the total energy
starting at a critical number of particles is also obtained. It is illustrated
with the particular case of single particle energies given by the imaginary
part of the zeros of the Riemann zeta function on the critical line.Comment: 28 pages in Latex format, 5 figures, submitted for publication to
Physica
The stellar metallicity gradients in galaxy discs in a cosmological scenario
Indexación: Web of ScienceContext. The stellar metallicity gradients of disc galaxies provide information on disc assembly, star formation processes, and chemical evolution. They also might store information on dynamical processes that could affect the distribution of chemical elements in the gas phase and the stellar components. Understanding their joint effects within a hierarchical clustering scenario is of paramount importance.
Aims. We studied the stellar metallicity gradients of simulated discs in a cosmological simulation. We explored the dependence of the stellar metallicity gradients on stellar age and on the size and mass of the stellar discs.
Methods. We used a catalogue of galaxies with disc components selected from a cosmological hydrodynamical simulation performed including a physically motivated supernova feedback and chemical evolution. Disc components were defined based on angular momentum and binding energy criteria. The metallicity profiles were estimated for stars with different ages. We confront our numerical findings with results from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) Survey.
Results. The simulated stellar discs are found to have metallicity profiles with slopes in global agreement with observations. Low stellar mass galaxies tend to have a larger variety of metallicity slopes. When normalized by the half-mass radius, the stellar metallicity gradients do not show any dependence and the dispersion increases significantly, regardless of the galaxy mass. Galaxies with stellar masses of around 10(10) M-circle dot show steeper negative metallicity gradients. The stellar metallicity gradients correlate with the half-mass radius. However, the correlation signal is not present when they are normalized by the half-mass radius. Stellar discs with positive age gradients are detected to have negative and positive metallicity gradients, depending on the relative importance of recent star formation activity in the central regions.
Conclusions. Our results suggest that inside-out formation is the main process responsible for the metallicity and age profiles. The large dispersions in the metallicity gradients as a function of stellar mass could be ascribed to the effects of dynamical processes such as mergers, interactions and/or migration as well as those regulating the conversion of gas into stars. The fingerprints of the inside-out formation seem better preserved by the stellar metallicity gradients as a function of the half-mass radius.http://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2016/08/aa28188-16/aa28188-16.htm
Superconducting Vortex Lattices for Ultracold Atoms
We propose and analyze a nanoengineered vortex array in a thin-film type-II
superconductor as a magnetic lattice for ultracold atoms. This proposal
addresses several of the key questions in the development of atomic quantum
simulators. By trapping atoms close to the surface, tools of nanofabrication
and structuring of lattices on the scale of few tens of nanometers become
available with a corresponding benefit in energy scales and temperature
requirements. This can be combined with the possibility of magnetic single site
addressing and manipulation together with a favorable scaling of
superconducting surface-induced decoherence.Comment: Published Version. Manuscript: 5 pages, 3 figures. Supplementary
Information: 11 pages, 7 figure
The Nature of the Gould Belt from a Fractal Analysis of its Stellar Population
The Gould Belt (GB) is a system of gas and young, bright stars distributed
along a plane that is inclined with respect to the main plane of the Milky Way.
Observational evidence suggests that the GB is our closest star formation
complex, but its true nature and origin remain rather controversial. In this
work we analyze the fractal structure of the stellar component of the GB. In
order to do this, we tailor and apply an algorithm that estimates the fractal
dimension in a precise and accurate way, avoiding both boundary and small data
set problems. We find that early OB stars (of spectral types earlier than B4)
in the GB have a fractal dimension very similar to that of the gas clouds in
our Galaxy. On the contrary, stars in the GB of later spectral types show a
larger fractal dimension, similar to that found for OB stars of both age groups
in the local Galactic disk (LGD). This result seems to indicate that while the
younger OB stars in the GB preserve the memory of the spatial structure of the
cloud where they were born, older stars are distributed following a similar
morphology as that found for the LGD stars. The possible causes for these
differences are discussed.Comment: 20 pages including 7 figures and 1 table. ApJ (in press
The circumstellar environment of HD50138 revealed by VLTI/AMBER at high angular resolution
HD50138 is a Herbig B[e] star with a circumstellar disc detected at IR and mm
wavelength. Its brightness makes it a good candidate for NIR interferometry
observations. We aim to resolve, spatially and spectrally, the continuum and
hydrogen emission lines in the 2.12-2.47 micron region, to shed light on the
immediate circumstellar environment of the star. VLTI/AMBER K-band observations
provide spectra, visibilities, differential phases, and closure phases along
three long baselines for the continuum, and HI emission in Br and five
high-n Pfund lines. By computing the pure-line visibilities, we derive the
angular size of the different line-emitting regions. A simple LTE model was
created to constrain the physical conditions of HI emitting region. The
continuum region cannot be reproduced by a geometrical 2D elongated Gaussian
fitting model. We estimate the size of the region to be 1 au. We find the
Br and Pfund lines come from a more compact region of size 0.4 au. The
Br line exhibits an S-shaped differential phase, indicative of
rotation. The continuum and Br line closure phase show offsets of
-255 and 2010, respectively. This is evidence of an
asymmetry in their origin, but with opposing directions. We find that we cannot
converge on constraints for the HI physical parameters without a more detailed
model. Our analysis reveals that HD50138 hosts a complex circumstellar
environment. Its continuum emission cannot be reproduced by a simple disc
brightness distribution. Similarly, several components must be evoked to
reproduce the interferometric observables within the Br, line.
Combining the spectroscopic and interferometric data of the Br and
Pfund lines favours an origin in a wind region with a large opening angle.
Finally, our results point to an evolved source.Comment: accepted for publication in A&
Valence and magnetic instabilities in Sm compounds at high pressures
We report on the study of the response to high pressures of the electronic
and magnetic properties of several Sm-based compounds, which span at ambient
pressure the whole range of stable charge states between the divalent and the
trivalent. Our nuclear forward scattering of synchrotron radiation and specific
heat investigations show that in both golden SmS and SmB6 the pressure-induced
insulator to metal transitions (at 2 and about 4-7 GPa, respectively) are
associated with the onset of long-range magnetic order, stable up to at least
19 and 26 GPa, respectively. This long-range magnetic order, which is
characteristic of Sm(3+), appears already for a Sm valence near 2.7. Contrary
to these compounds, metallic Sm, which is trivalent at ambient pressure,
undergoes a series of pressure-induced structural phase transitions which are
associated with a progressive decrease of the ordered 4f moment.Comment: 15 pages (including 7 figures) submitted to J. Phys.: Condens. Matte
Human Chromosomes: Evaluation of Processing Techniques for Scanning Electron Microscopy
Methods for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of chromosomes have been developed in the last two decades. Technical limitations in the study of human chromosomes, however, have hindered the routine use of SEM in clinical and experimental human cytogenetics. We compared different methodologies, including metal impregnation, air drying and specimen coating. SEM preparation of human chromosomes in which osmium impregnation is mediated by tannic acid, yielded more reproducible results when compared with osmium impregnation protocols previously described. The level of osmium impregnation was systematically evaluated by imaging chromosomes in the backscattering mode. Critical point drying and a light gold-palladium coating were essential for appropriate secondary electron imaging of chromosomes. With this method, and in a preliminary quantitative analysis, we show that our SEM technique is mere sensitive than light microscopy for the detection of aphidicolin-induced fragile sites. This technical approach is useful for chromosomal studies requiring resolution higher than that obtained by light microscopy. Also, it allows the use of clinical and archival chromosomal samples prepared by routine cytogenetic techniques
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