20,609 research outputs found
Signature of the interaction between dark energy and dark matter in observations
We investigate the effect of an interaction between dark energy and dark
matter upon the dynamics of galaxy clusters. This effect is computed through
the Layser-Irvine equation, which describes how an astrophysical system reaches
virial equilibrium and was modified to include the dark interactions. Using
observational data from almost 100 purportedly relaxed galaxy clusters we put
constraints on the strength of the couplings in the dark sector. We compare our
results with those from other observations and find that a positive (in the
sense of energy flow from dark energy to dark matter) non vanishing interaction
is consistent with the data within several standard deviations.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures; matches PRD published versio
Reentrant valence transition in EuO at high pressures: beyond the bond-valence model
The pressure-dependent relation between Eu valence and lattice structure in
model compound EuO is studied with synchrotron-based x-ray spectroscopic and
diffraction techniques. Contrary to expectation, a 7% volume collapse at
45 GPa is accompanied by a reentrant Eu valence transition into a
\emph{lower} valence state. In addition to highlighting the need for probing
both structure and electronic states directly when valence information is
sought in mixed-valent systems, the results also show that widely used
bond-valence methods fail to quantitatively describe the complex electronic
valence behavior of EuO under pressure.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Understanding the dynamical structure of pulsating stars: The Baade-Wesselink projection factor of the delta Scuti stars AI Vel and beta Cas
Aims. The Baade-Wesselink method of distance determination is based on the
oscillations of pulsating stars. The key parameter of this method is the
projection factor used to convert the radial velocity into the pulsation
velocity. Our analysis was aimed at deriving for the first time the projection
factor of delta Scuti stars, using high-resolution spectra of the
high-amplitude pulsator AI Vel and of the fast rotator beta Cas. Methods. The
geometric component of the projection factor (i.e. p0) was calculated using a
limb-darkening model of the intensity distribution for AI Vel, and a
fast-rotator model for beta Cas. Then, using SOPHIE/OHP data for beta Cas and
HARPS/ESO data for AI Vel, we compared the radial velocity curves of several
spectral lines forming at different levels in the atmosphere and derived the
velocity gradient associated to the spectral-line-forming regions in the
atmosphere of the star. This velocity gradient was used to derive a dynamical
projection factor p. Results. We find a flat velocity gradient for both stars
and finally p = p0 = 1.44 for AI Vel and p = p0 = 1.41 for beta Cas. By
comparing Cepheids and delta Scuti stars, these results bring valuable insights
into the dynamical structure of pulsating star atmospheres. They suggest that
the period-projection factor relation derived for Cepheids is also applicable
to delta Scuti stars pulsating in a dominant radial mode
Topological phase for spin-orbit transformations on a laser beam
We investigate the topological phase associated with the double connectedness
of the SO(3) representation in terms of maximally entangled states. An
experimental demonstration is provided in the context of polarization and
spatial mode transformations of a laser beam carrying orbital angular momentum.
The topological phase is evidenced through interferometric measurements and a
quantitative relationship between the concurrence and the fringes visibility is
derived. Both the quantum and the classical regimes were investigated.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
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