Application of a New Non-Linear Least Squares Velocity Curve Analysis Technique for Spectroscopic Binary Stars

Using measured radial velocity data of nine double lined spectroscopic binary systems NSV 223, AB And, V2082 Cyg, HS Her, V918 Her, BV Dra, BW Dra, V2357 Oph, and YZ Cas, we find corresponding orbital and spectroscopic elements via the method introduced by Karami & Mohebi (2007a) and Karami & Teimoorinia (2007). Our numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained by others using more traditional methods.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

Solar-Type Post-T Tauri Stars in the Nearest OB Subgroups

I discuss results from the recent spectroscopic survey for solar-type pre-MS stars in the Lower Centaurus-Crux (LCC) and Upper Centaurus-Lupus (UCL) OB subgroups by Mamajek, Meyer, & Liebert (2002, AJ, 124, 1670). LCC and UCL are subgroups of the Sco-Cen OB association, and the two nearest OB subgroups to the Sun. In the entire survey of 110 pre-main sequence stars, there exists only one Classical T Tauri star (PDS 66), implying that only ~1% of ~1 Msun stars are still accreting at age 13$\pm$7 (1$\sigma$) Myr. Accounting for observational errors, the HRD placement of the pre-MS stars is consistent with the bulk of star-formation taking place within 5-10 Myr. In this contribution, I estimate conservative upper limits to the intrinsic velocity dispersions of the post-T Tauri stars in the LCC and UCL subgroups (<1.6 km/s and <2.2 km/s, respectively; 95% CL) using Monte-Carlo simulations of Tycho-2 proper motions for candidate subgroup members. I also demonstrate that a new OB subgroup recently proposed to exist in Chamaeleon probably does not.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, to appear in proceedings for "Open Issues in Local Star Formation and Early Stellar Evolution", eds. J. Gregorio-Hetem & J. Lepine. Minor edits (5/30/03

The Dehn invariants of the Bricard octahedra

We prove that the Dehn invariants of any Bricard octahedron remain constant during the flex and that the Strong Bellows Conjecture holds true for the Steffen flexible polyhedron.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure

Angular momentum exchange during secular migration of two-planet systems

We investigate the secular dynamics of two-planet coplanar systems evolving under mutual gravitational interactions and dissipative forces. We consider two mechanisms responsible for the planetary migration: star-planet (or planet-satellite) tidal interactions and interactions of a planet with a gaseous disc. We show that each migration mechanism is characterized by a specific law of orbital angular momentum exchange. Calculating stationary solutions of the conservative secular problem and taking into account the orbital angular momentum leakage, we trace the evolutionary routes followed by the planet pairs during the migration process. This procedure allows us to recover the dynamical history of two-planet systems and constrain parameters of the involved physical processes.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy (special issue on Exoplanets

Physiological responses and production of 'Syrah' vines as a function of training systems

Plant architecture and its interaction with agricultural practices and environmental constraints is determinant for grapevine canopy structure, which is related to carbon assimilation, bud fertility and fruit quality. In this context, this study evaluated the performance of field-grown 'Syrah' grapevines conducted by two management systems: Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) or a modified Geneva Double Curtain (GDC), in Pirapora, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the winters of 2007 and 2008. The evaluations of leaf area, water relations and net CO2 assimilation were made at the end of the ripening period. Yield per vine and per hectare were estimated and mean berry weight and diameter, total soluble solids, pH and titratable acidity were evaluated during berry ripening. The grapevines trained in VSP had higher water status as compared to GDC, shown by differences in pre-dawn leaf water potential (&#968;pd) and stem water potential (&#968;stem). However, the CO2 assimilation was similar in both training systems. Fruit exposure was higher in VSP than in GDC, which contributed to increasing berry temperature. At harvest, the berries in GDC reached values near to 23 ºBrix whereas berries in VSP showed values near 21 ºBrix

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results

Energetic particle influence on the Earth's atmosphere

This manuscript gives an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the effects of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) onto the whole atmosphere, from the lower thermosphere/mesosphere through the stratosphere and troposphere, to the surface. The paper summarizes the different sources and energies of particles, principally galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), solar energetic particles (SEPs) and energetic electron precipitation (EEP). All the proposed mechanisms by which EPP can affect the atmosphere are discussed, including chemical changes in the upper atmosphere and lower thermosphere, chemistry-dynamics feedbacks, the global electric circuit and cloud formation. The role of energetic particles in Earth’s atmosphere is a multi-disciplinary problem that requires expertise from a range of scientific backgrounds. To assist with this synergy, summary tables are provided, which are intended to evaluate the level of current knowledge of the effects of energetic particles on processes in the entire atmosphere

Measurement of the cross section of high transverse momentum Z→bb̄ production in proton–proton collisions at √s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This Letter reports the observation of a high transverse momentum Z→bb̄ signal in proton–proton collisions at √s=8 TeV and the measurement of its production cross section. The data analysed were collected in 2012 with the ATLAS detector at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.5 fb−¹. The Z→bb̄ decay is reconstructed from a pair of b -tagged jets, clustered with the anti-ktkt jet algorithm with R=0.4R=0.4, that have low angular separation and form a dijet with pT>200 GeVpT>200 GeV. The signal yield is extracted from a fit to the dijet invariant mass distribution, with the dominant, multi-jet background mass shape estimated by employing a fully data-driven technique that reduces the dependence of the analysis on simulation. The fiducial cross section is determined to be σZ→bb¯fid=2.02±0.20 (stat.) ±0.25 (syst.)±0.06 (lumi.) pb=2.02±0.33 pb, in good agreement with next-to-leading-order theoretical predictions

Operation and performance of the ATLAS semiconductor tracker

The semiconductor tracker is a silicon microstrip detector forming part of the inner tracking system of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. The operation and performance of the semiconductor tracker during the first years of LHC running are described. More than 99% of the detector modules were operational during this period, with an average intrinsic hit efficiency of (99.74±0.04)%. The evolution of the noise occupancy is discussed, and measurements of the Lorentz angle, δ-ray production and energy loss presented. The alignment of the detector is found to be stable at the few-micron level over long periods of time. Radiation damage measurements, which include the evolution of detector leakage currents, are found to be consistent with predictions and are used in the verification of radiation background simulations