3,427 research outputs found
A Direct Distance to the LMC Cepheid HV 12198 from the Infrared Surface Brightness Technique
We report on a first application of the infrared surface brightness technique
on a Cepheid in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the variable HV 12198 in the young
globular cluster NGC 1866. From this one star, we determine a distance modulus
of 18.42 +- 0.10 (random and systematic uncertainty) to the cluster. When the
results on further member Cepheids in NGC 1866 become available, we expect to
derive the distance to the LMC with a +- 3-4 percent accuracy, including
systematic errors, from this technique.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted in ApJ Letter
2XMM J083026+524133: The most X-ray luminous cluster at redshift 1
In the distant universe X-ray luminous clusters of galaxies are rare objects.
Large area surveys are therefore needed to probe the high luminosity end of the
cluster population at redshifts z >= 1. We correlated extended X-ray sources
from the second XMM-Newton source catalogue (2XMM) with the SDSS in order to
identify new clusters of galaxies. Distant cluster candidates in empty SDSS
fields were imaged in the R and z bands with the Large Binocular Telescope. We
extracted the X-ray spectra of the cluster candidates and fitted thermal plasma
models to the data. We determined the redshift 0.99 +-0.03 for 2XMM
J083026+524133 from its X-ray spectrum. With a bolometric luminosity of 1.8 x
10^45 erg/sec this is the most X-ray luminous cluster at redshifts z >= 1. We
measured a gas temperature of 8.2 +- 0.9 keV and and estimate a cluster mass
M(500) = 5.6 x 10^14 M(solar). The optical imaging revealed a rich cluster of
galaxies.Comment: New version, as accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic
The bend stiffness of S-DNA
We formulate and solve a two-state model for the elasticity of nicked,
double-stranded DNA that borrows features from both the Worm Like Chain and the
Bragg--Zimm model. Our model is computationally simple, and gives an excellent
fit to recent experimental data through the entire overstretching transition.
The fit gives the first value for the bending stiffness of the overstretched
state as about 10 nm*kbt, a value quite different from either B-form or
single-stranded DNA.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur
InAs nanowire transistors with multiple, independent wrap-gate segments
We report a method for making horizontal wrap-gate nanowire transistors with
up to four independently controllable wrap-gated segments. While the step up to
two independent wrap-gates requires a major change in fabrication methodology,
a key advantage to this new approach, and the horizontal orientation more
generally, is that achieving more than two wrap-gate segments then requires no
extra fabrication steps. This is in contrast to the vertical orientation, where
a significant subset of the fabrication steps needs to be repeated for each
additional gate. We show that cross-talk between adjacent wrap-gate segments is
negligible despite separations less than 200 nm. We also demonstrate the
ability to make multiple wrap-gate transistors on a single nanowire using the
exact same process. The excellent scalability potential of horizontal wrap-gate
nanowire transistors makes them highly favourable for the development of
advanced nanowire devices and possible integration with vertical wrap-gate
nanowire transistors in 3D nanowire network architectures.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, In press for Nano Letters (DOI below
Critical behaviour in the nonlinear elastic response of hydrogels
In this paper we study the elastic response of synthetic hydrogels to an
applied shear stress. The hydrogels studied here have previously been shown to
mimic the behaviour of biopolymer networks when they are sufficiently far above
the gel point. We show that near the gel point they exhibit an elastic response
that is consistent with the predicted critical behaviour of networks near or
below the isostatic point of marginal stability. This point separates rigid and
floppy states, distinguished by the presence or absence of finite linear
elastic moduli. Recent theoretical work has also focused on the response of
such networks to finite or large deformations, both near and below the
isostatic point. Despite this interest, experimental evidence for the existence
of criticality in such networks has been lacking. Using computer simulations,
we identify critical signatures in the mechanical response of sub-isostatic
networks as a function of applied shear stress. We also present experimental
evidence consistent with these predictions. Furthermore, our results show the
existence of two distinct critical regimes, one of which arises from the
nonlinear stretch response of semi-flexible polymers.
Cepheid variables in the LMC cluster NGC 1866. I. New BVRI CCD photometry
We report BV(RI)c CCD photometric data for a group of seven Cepheid variables
in the young, rich cluster NGC 1866 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The
photometry was obtained as part of a program to determine accurate distances to
these Cepheids by means of the infrared surface brightness technique, and to
improve the LMC Cepheid database for constructing Cepheid PL and PLC relations.
Using the new data together with data from the literature, we have determined
improved periods for all variables. For five fundamental mode pulsators, the
light curves are now of excellent quality and will lead to accurate distance
and radius determinations once complete infrared light curves and radial
velocity curves for these variables become available.Comment: To appear in ApJ Supp., AASTeX, 24 pages, 8 tables, 8 figure
The Baade-Wesselink p-factor applicable to LMC Cepheids
Context. Recent observations of LMC Cepheids bring new constraints on the
slope of the period-projection factor relation (hereafter Pp relation) that is
currently used in the Baade-Wesselink (hereafter BW) method of distance
determination. The discrepancy between observations and theoretical analysis is
particularly significant for short period Cepheids Aims. We investigate three
physical effects that might possibly explain this discrepancy: (1) the
spectroscopic S/N that is systematically lower for LMC Cepheids (around 10)
compared to Galactic ones (up to 300), (2) the impact of the metallicity on the
dynamical structure of LMC Cepheids, and (3) the combination of infrared
photometry/interferometry with optical spectroscopy. Methods. To study the S/N
we use a very simple toy model of Cepheids. The impact of metallicity on the
projection factor is based on the hydrodynamical model of delta Cep already
described in previous studies. This model is also used to derive the position
of the optical versus infrared photospheric layers. Results. We find no
significant effect of S/N, metallicity, and optical-versus-infrared
observations on the Pp relation. Conclusions. The Pp relation of Cepheids in
the LMC does not differ from the Galactic relation. This allows its universal
application to determine distances to extragalactic Cepheids via BW analysis.Comment: accepted in A&A LETTER
Absolute Determination of the 22Na(p,g) Reaction Rate in Novae
Gamma-ray telescopes in orbit around the Earth are searching for evidence of
the elusive radionuclide 22Na produced in novae. Previously published
uncertainties in the dominant destructive reaction, 22Na(p,g)23Mg, indicated
new measurements in the proton energy range of 150 to 300 keV were needed to
constrain predictions. We have measured the resonance strengths, energies, and
branches directly and absolutely by using protons from the University of
Washington accelerator with a specially designed beamline, which included beam
rastering and cold vacuum protection of the 22Na implanted targets. The
targets, fabricated at TRIUMF-ISAC, displayed minimal degradation over a ~ 20 C
bombardment as a result of protective layers. We avoided the need to know the
stopping power, and hence the target composition, by extracting resonance
strengths from excitation functions integrated over proton energy. Our
measurements revealed that resonance strengths for E_p = 213, 288, 454, and 610
keV are stronger by factors of 2.4 to 3.2 than previously reported. Upper
limits have been placed on proposed resonances at 198-, 209-, and 232-keV. We
have re-evaluated the 22Na(p,g) reaction rate, and our measurements indicate
the resonance at 213 keV makes the most significant contribution to 22Na
destruction in novae. Hydrodynamic simulations including our rate indicate that
the expected abundance of 22Na ejecta from a classical nova is reduced by
factors between 1.5 and 2, depending on the mass of the white-dwarf star
hosting the nova explosion.Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures; shortened paper, accepted in Phys. Rev.
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