4,997 research outputs found
Relativistic precession around rotating neutron stars: Effects due to frame-dragging and stellar oblateness
General relativity predicts that a rotating body produces a frame-dragging
(or Lense-Thirring) effect: the orbital plane of a test particle in a
non-equatorial orbit precesses about the body's symmetry axis. In this paper we
compute the precession frequencies of circular orbits around rapidly rotating
neutron stars for a variety of masses and equations of state. The precession
frequencies computed are expressed as numerical functions of the orbital
frequency observed at infinity. The post-Newtonian expansion of the exact
precession formula is examined to identify the relative magnitudes of the
precession caused by the Lense-Thirring effect, the usual Newtonian quadrupole
effect and relativistic corrections. The first post-Newtonian correction to the
Newtonian quadrupole precession is derived in the limit of slow rotation. We
show that the post-Newtonian precession formula is a good approximation to the
exact precession close to the neutron star in the slow rotation limit (up to
\sim 400 Hz in the present context).
The results are applied to recent RXTE observations of neutron star low-mass
X-ray binaries, which display kHz quasi-periodic oscillations and, within the
framework of beat frequency models, allow the measurement of both the neutron
star spin frequency and the Keplerian frequency of the innermost ring of matter
in the accretion disk around it. For a wide range of realistic equations of
state, we find that the predicted precession frequency of this ring is close to
one half of the low-frequency (\sim 20 - 35 Hz) quasi-periodic oscillations
seen in several Atoll sources.Comment: 35 pages including 10 figures and 6 tables. To appear in the
Astrophysical Journa
Robust non-adiabatic molecular dynamics for metals and insulators
We present a new formulation of the correlated electron-ion dynamics (CEID)
scheme, which systematically improves Ehrenfest dynamics by including quantum
fluctuations around the mean-field atomic trajectories. We show that the method
can simulate models of non-adiabatic electronic transitions, and test it
against exact integration of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation. Unlike
previous formulations of CEID, the accuracy of this scheme depends on a single
tunable parameter which sets the level of atomic fluctuations included. The
convergence to the exact dynamics by increasing the tunable parameter is
demonstrated for a model two level system. This algorithm provides a smooth
description of the non-adiabatic electronic transitions which satisfies the
kinematic constraints (energy and momentum conservation) and preserves quantum
coherence. The applicability of this algorithm to more complex atomic systems
is discussed.Comment: 36 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Journal of Chemical
Physic
The transitional millisecond pulsar IGR J18245-2452 during its 2013 outburst at X-rays and soft gamma-rays
IGR~J18245--2452/PSR J1824--2452I is one of the rare transitional accreting
millisecond X-ray pulsars, showing direct evidence of switches between states
of rotation powered radio pulsations and accretion powered X-ray pulsations,
dubbed transitional pulsars. IGR~J18245--2452 is the only transitional pulsar
so far to have shown a full accretion episode, reaching an X-ray luminosity of
~erg~s permitting its discovery with INTEGRAL in 2013. In
this paper, we report on a detailed analysis of the data collected with the
IBIS/ISGRI and the two JEM-X monitors on-board INTEGRAL at the time of the 2013
outburst. We make use of some complementary data obtained with the instruments
on-board XMM-Newton and Swift in order to perform the averaged broad-band
spectral analysis of the source in the energy range 0.4 -- 250~keV. We have
found that this spectrum is the hardest among the accreting millisecond X-ray
pulsars. We improved the ephemeris, now valid across its full outburst, and
report the detection of pulsed emission up to keV in both the ISGRI
() and Fermi/GBM () bandpass. The alignment of the
ISGRI and Fermi GBM 20 -- 60 keV pulse profiles are consistent at a $\sim25\
\mu$s level. We compared the pulse profiles obtained at soft X-rays with \xmm\
with the soft \gr-ray ones, and derived the pulsed fractions of the fundamental
and first harmonic, as well as the time lag of the fundamental harmonic, up to
s, as a function of energy. We report on a thermonuclear X-ray burst
detected with \Integ, and using the properties of the previously type-I X-ray
burst, we show that all these events are powered primarily by helium ignited at
a depth of g cm. For such a helium
burst the estimated recurrence time of d is in
agreement with the observations.Comment: 10 pages, 6 Figures, 3 Tables Astronomy and Astrophysics Journal,
accepted for publication on the 13th of April 201
Accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars: 10 years of INTEGRAL observations
During the last 10 years, INTEGRAL made a unique contribution to the study of
accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars (AMXPs), discovering three of the 14
sources now known of this class. Besides increasing the number of known AMXPs,
INTEGRAL also carried out observations of these objects above 20 keV,
substantially advancing our understanding of their behaviour. We present here a
review of all the AMXPs observed with INTEGRAL and discuss the physical
interpretation of their behaviour in the X-ray domain. We focus in particular
on the lightcurve profile during outburst, as well as the timing, spectral, and
thermonuclear type-I X-ray bursts properties.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures. Proceedings of "An INTEGRAL view of the
high-energy sky (the first 10 years)" the 9th INTEGRAL Workshop, October
15-19, 2012, Paris, Franc
Asp-120 Locates Zn2 for Optimal Metallo-β-lactamase Activity
Metallo-β-lactamases are zinc-dependent hydrolases that inactivate β-lactam antibiotics, rendering bacteria resistant to them. Asp-120 is fully conserved in all metallo-β-lactamases and is central to catalysis. Several roles have been proposed for Asp-120, but so far there is no agreed consensus. We generated four site-specifically substituted variants of the enzyme BcII from Bacillus cereus as follows: D120N, D120E, D120Q, and D120S. Replacement of Asp-120 by other residues with very different metal ligating capabilities severely impairs the lactamase activity without abolishing metal binding to the mutated site. A kinetic study of these mutants indicates that Asp-120 is not the proton donor, nor does it play an essential role in nucleophilic activation. Spectroscopic and crystallographic analysis of D120S BcII, the least active mutant bearing the weakest metal ligand in the series, reveals that this enzyme is able to accommodate a dinuclear center and that perturbations in the active site are limited to the Zn2 site. It is proposed that the role of Asp-120 is to act as a strong Zn2 ligand, locating this ion optimally for substrate binding, stabilization of the development of a partial negative charge in the β-lactam nitrogen, and protonation of this atom by a zinc-bound water molecule
Coupling Between Periodic and Aperiodic Variability in SAX J1808.4-3658
We detect a significant broadening in the wings of the 401 Hz peak in the
power spectrum of the accreting millisecond binary pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658.
This feature is consistent with the convolution of the red noise present in the
power spectrum with the harmonic line. We conclude that the flux modulated by
the spin period shows aperiodic variability similar to the red noise in the
overall flux, suggesting such variability also originates at the magnetic caps
close to the neutron star surface. This is analogous to the results found in
some longer period, higher magnetic field pulsators in high mass X-ray
binaries.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, to be published in The Astrophysical Journa
Anomalous scaling due to correlations: Limit theorems and self-similar processes
We derive theorems which outline explicit mechanisms by which anomalous
scaling for the probability density function of the sum of many correlated
random variables asymptotically prevails. The results characterize general
anomalous scaling forms, justify their universal character, and specify
universality domains in the spaces of joint probability density functions of
the summand variables. These density functions are assumed to be invariant
under arbitrary permutations of their arguments. Examples from the theory of
critical phenomena are discussed. The novel notion of stability implied by the
limit theorems also allows us to define sequences of random variables whose sum
satisfies anomalous scaling for any finite number of summands. If regarded as
developing in time, the stochastic processes described by these variables are
non-Markovian generalizations of Gaussian processes with uncorrelated
increments, and provide, e.g., explicit realizations of a recently proposed
model of index evolution in finance.Comment: Through text revision. 15 pages, 3 figure
NASA advanced space photovoltaic technology-status, potential and future mission applications
The NASA program in space photovoltaic research and development encompasses a wide range of emerging options for future space power systems, and includes both cell and array technology development. The long range goals are to develop technology capable of achieving 300 W/kg for planar arrays, and 300 W/sq m for concentrator arrays. InP and GaAs planar and concentrator cell technologies are under investigation for their potential high efficiency and good radiation resistance. The Advanced Photovoltaic Solar Array (APSA) program is a near term effort aimed at demonstrating 130 W/kg beginning of life specific power using thin (62 micrometer) silicon cells. It is intended to be technology transparent to future high efficiency cells and provides the baseline for development of the 300 W/kg array
Modulation of the glutamate-evoked release of arachidonic acid from mouse cortical neurons: involvement of a pH-sensitive membrane phospholipase A2
Excitatory synaptic transmission is associated with changes in both extracellular and intracellular pH. Using mouse cortical neurons in primary cultures, we studied the sensitivity of glutamate-evoked release of 3H-arachidonic acid (3H-AA) to changes in extracellular pH (pHo) and related intracellular pH (pHi). As pHo was shifted from 7.2 to 7.8, the glutamate-evoked release of 3H-AA was enhanced by approximately threefold. The effect of alkaline pHo on the glutamate response was rapid, becoming significant within 2 min. 3H-AA release, evoked by both NMDA and kainate, was also enhanced by pHo alkalinization. NMDA- and kainate-induced increase in free intracellular Ca2+ was unaffected by changing pHo from 7.2 to 7.8, indicating that the receptor-induced Ca2+ influx is not responsible for the pHo sensitivity of the glutamate-evoked release of 3H-AA. Alkalinization of pHi obtained by incubating neurons in the presence of HCO3- or NH4 enhanced the glutamate-evoked release of 3H-AA, while pHi acidification obtained by blockade of Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- exchangers decreased the glutamate response. Membrane-bound phospholipase A2 (mPLA2) activity was stimulated by Ca2+ in a pH-dependent manner, increasing its activity as pH was shifted from 7.2 to 7.8. This pH profile corresponds to the pH profile of the glutamate-, NMDA- and kainate-evoked release of 3H-AA. Taken together, these results indicate that the glutamate-evoked release of 3H-AA may be mediated by the pH-sensitive mPLA2. Since excitatory neurotransmission mediated by glutamate results in both pHo and pHi changes and since AA enhances glutamatergic neurotransmission at both pre- and postsynaptic levels, the data reported here reveals a possible molecular mechanism whereby glutamate can modulate its own signalling efficacy in a pH-dependent manner by regulating the release of AA
Assessment of disk MHD generators for a base load powerplant
Results from a study of the disk MHD generator are presented. Both open and closed cycle disk systems were investigated. Costing of the open cycle disk components (nozzle, channel, diffuser, radiant boiler, magnet and power management) was done. However, no detailed costing was done for the closed cycle systems. Preliminary plant design for the open cycle systems was also completed. Based on the system study results, an economic assessment of the open cycle systems is presented. Costs of the open cycle disk conponents are less than comparable linear generator components. Also, costs of electricity for the open cycle disk systems are competitive with comparable linear systems. Advantages of the disk design simplicity are considered. Improvements in the channel availability or a reduction in the channel lifetime requirement are possible as a result of the disk design
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