5,549 research outputs found
Observations of Mira stars with the IOTA/FLUOR interferometer and comparison with Mira star models
We present K'-band observations of five Mira stars with the IOTA
interferometer. The interferograms were obtained with the FLUOR fiber optics
beam combiner, which provides high-accuracy visibility measurements in spite of
time-variable atmospheric conditions. For the M-type Miras X Oph, R Aql, RU
Her, R Ser, and the C-type Mira V CrB we derived the uniform-disk diameters
11.7mas, 10.9mas, 8.4mas, 8.1mas, and 7.9mas (+/- 0.3mas), respectively.
Simultaneous photometric observations yielded the bolometric fluxes. The
derived angular Rosseland radii and the bolometric fluxes allowed the
determination of effective temperatures. For instance, the effective
temperature of R Aql was determined to be 2970 +/- 110 K. A linear Rosseland
radius for R Aql of (250 +100/-60) Rsun was derived from the angular Rosseland
radius of 5.5mas +/- 0.2mas and the HIPPARCOS parallax of 4.73mas +/- 1.19mas.
The observations were compared with theoretical Mira star models of Bessel et
al. (1996) and Hofmann et al. (1998). The effective temperatures of the M-type
Miras and the linear radius of R Aql indicate fundamental mode pulsation.Comment: 12 pages, 4 postscript figure
Determining the galactic mass distribution using tidal streams from globular clusters
We discuss how to use tidal streams from globular clusters to measure the
mass distribution of the Milky Way. Recent proper motion determinations for
globular clusters from plate measurements and Hipparcos astrometry provide
several good candidates for Galactic mass determinations in the intermediate
halo, far above the Galactic disk, including Pal 5, NGC 4147, NGC 5024 (M53)
and NGC 5466; the remaining Hipparcos clusters provide candidates for
measurements several kpc above and below the disk. These clusters will help
determine the profile and shape of the inner halo. To aid this effort, we
present two methods of mass determination: one, a generalization of
rotation-curve mass measurements, which gives the mass and potential from
complete position-velocity observations for stream stars; and another using a
simple chi^2 estimator, which can be used when only projected positions and
radial velocities are known for stream stars. We illustrate the use of the
latter method using simulated tidal streams from Pal 5 and find that fairly
accurate mass determinations are possible even for relatively poor data sets.
Follow-up observations of clusters with proper motion determinations may reveal
tidal streams; obtaining radial velocity measurements would enable accurate
measurements of the mass distribution in the inner Galaxy.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, published in A
Simulation study of spatio-temporal correlations of earthquakes as a stick-slip frictional instability
Spatio-temporal correlations of earthquakes are studied numerically on the
basis of the one-dimensional spring-block (Burridge-Knopoff) model. As large
events approach, the frequency of smaller events gradually increases, while,
just before the mainshock, it is dramatically suppressed in a close vicinity of
the epicenter of the upcoming mainshock, a phenomenon closely resembling the
``Mogi doughnut'
Frictional sliding without geometrical reflection symmetry
The dynamics of frictional interfaces play an important role in many physical
systems spanning a broad range of scales. It is well-known that frictional
interfaces separating two dissimilar materials couple interfacial slip and
normal stress variations, a coupling that has major implications on their
stability, failure mechanism and rupture directionality. In contrast,
interfaces separating identical materials are traditionally assumed not to
feature such a coupling due to symmetry considerations. We show, combining
theory and experiments, that interfaces which separate bodies made of
macroscopically identical materials, but lack geometrical reflection symmetry,
generically feature such a coupling. We discuss two applications of this novel
feature. First, we show that it accounts for a distinct, and previously
unexplained, experimentally observed weakening effect in frictional cracks.
Second, we demonstrate that it can destabilize frictional sliding which is
otherwise stable. The emerging framework is expected to find applications in a
broad range of systems.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures + Supplementary Material. Minor change in the
title, extended analysis in the second par
Power Laws, Precursors and Predictability During Failure
We investigate the dynamics of a modified Burridge-Knopoff model by
introducing a dissipative term to mimic the bursts of acoustic emission (AE)
from rock samples. The model explains many features of the statistics of AE
signals observed in experiments such as the crossover in the exponent value
from relatively small amplitude AE signals to larger regime, and their
dependence on the pulling speed. Significantly, we find that the cumulative
energy dissipated identified with acoustic emission can be used to predict a
major slip event. We also find a data collapse of the acoustic activity for
several major slip events describable by a universal stretched exponential with
corrections in terms of time-to-failure.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, Final version with minor change
Role of friction-induced torque in stick-slip motion
We present a minimal quasistatic 1D model describing the kinematics of the
transition from static friction to stick-slip motion of a linear elastic block
on a rigid plane. We show how the kinematics of both the precursors to
frictional sliding and the periodic stick-slip motion are controlled by the
amount of friction-induced torque at the interface. Our model provides a
general framework to understand and relate a series of recent experimental
observations, in particular the nucleation location of micro-slip instabilities
and the build up of an asymmetric field of real contact area.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Characterization of an embedded RF-MEMS switch
An RF-MEMS capacitive switch for mm-wave integrated circuits, embedded in the BEOL of 0.25ÎŒm BiCMOS process, has been characterized. First, a mechanical
model based on Finite-Element-Method (FEM) was developed by taking the residual stress of the thin film membrane into account. The pull-in voltage and the capacitance values obtained with the mechanical model agree very well with the
measured values. Moreover, S-parameters were extracted using Electromagnetic (EM) solver. The data observed in this way also agree well with the experimental ones measured up to 110GHz. The developed RF model was applied to a transmit/receive (T/R) antenna switch design. The results proved the feasibility of using the FEM model in circuit simulations for the development of RF-MEMS switch embedded, single-chip multi-band RF ICs
Tolerogenic vaccines for Multiple Sclerosis
Tolerogenic vaccines represent a new class of vaccine designed to re-establish immunological tolerance, restore immune homeostasis, and thereby reverse autoimmune disease. Tolerogenic vaccines induce long-term, antigen-specific, inhibitory memory that blocks pathogenic T cell responses via loss of effector T cells and gain of regulatory T cell function. Substantial advances have been realized in the generation of tolerogenic vaccines that inhibit experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in a preclinical setting, and these vaccines may be a prequel of the tolerogenic vaccines that may have therapeutic benefit in Multiple Sclerosis. The purpose here is to provide a snapshot of the current concepts and future prospects of tolerogenic vaccination for Multiple Sclerosis, along with the central challenges to clinical application
Non-locality of non-Abelian anyons
Topological systems, such as fractional quantum Hall liquids, promise to
successfully combat environmental decoherence while performing quantum
computation. These highly correlated systems can support non-Abelian anyonic
quasiparticles that can encode exotic entangled states. To reveal the non-local
character of these encoded states we demonstrate the violation of suitable Bell
inequalities. We provide an explicit recipe for the preparation, manipulation
and measurement of the desired correlations for a large class of topological
models. This proposal gives an operational measure of non-locality for anyonic
states and it opens up the possibility to violate the Bell inequalities in
quantum Hall liquids or spin lattices.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
In-plane magnetic anisotropy of Fe atoms on BiSe(111)
The robustness of the gapless topological surface state hosted by a 3D
topological insulator against perturbations of magnetic origin has been the
focus of recent investigations. We present a comprehensive study of the
magnetic properties of Fe impurities on a prototypical 3D topological insulator
BiSe using local low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and
integral x-ray magnetic circular dichroism techniques. Single Fe adatoms on the
BiSe surface, in the coverage range are heavily relaxed
into the surface and exhibit a magnetic easy axis within the surface-plane,
contrary to what was assumed in recent investigations on the opening of a gap.
Using \textit{ab initio} approaches, we demonstrate that an in-plane easy axis
arises from the combination of the crystal field and dynamic hybridization
effects.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, typos correcte
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