12,815 research outputs found
The origin of planetary impactors in the inner solar system
New insights into the history of the inner solar system are derived from the
impact cratering record of the Moon, Mars, Venus and Mercury, and from the size
distributions of asteroid populations. Old craters from a unique period of
heavy bombardment that ended 3.8 billion years ago were made by asteroids
that were dynamically ejected from the main asteroid belt, possibly due to the
orbital migration of the giant planets. The impactors of the past 3.8
billion years have a size distribution quite different from the main belt
asteroids, but very similar to the population of near-Earth asteroids.Comment: 12 pages (including 4 figures
The Keck Lyman Continuum Spectroscopic Survey (KLCS): The Emergent Ionizing Spectrum of Galaxies at
We present results of a deep spectroscopic survey designed to quantify the
statistics of the escape of ionizing photons from star-forming galaxies at z~3.
We measure the ratio of ionizing to non-ionizing UV flux density
_obs, where f900 is the mean flux density evaluated over the range
[880,910] A. We quantify the emergent ratio of ionizing to non-ionizing UV flux
density by analyzing high-S/N composite spectra formed from sub-samples with
common observed properties and numbers sufficient to reduce the statistical
uncertainty in the modeled IGM+CGM correction to obtain precise values of
_out, including a full-sample average
_out=. We further show that _out
increases monotonically with Ly rest equivalent width, inducing an
inverse correlation with UV luminosity as a by-product. We fit the composite
spectra using stellar spectral synthesis together with models of the ISM in
which a fraction f_c of the stellar continuum is covered by gas with column
density N(HI). We show that the composite spectra simultaneously constrain the
intrinsic properties of the stars (L900/L1500)_int along with f_c, N(HI),
E(B-V), and , the absolute escape fraction of ionizing photons. We
find a sample-averaged , and that subsamples fall
along a linear relation . We use the FUV luminosity function, the distribution function
, and the relationship between and
_out to estimate the total ionizing emissivity of
star-forming galaxies with Muv < -19.5:
ergs/s/Hz/Mpc, exceeding the contribution of QSOs by a factor of ,
and accounting for % of the total at
estimated using indirect methods.Comment: 45 pages, 31 figures, ApJ, in pres
Hydrodynamical Models of Outflow Collimation in YSOs
We explore the physics of time-dependent hydrodynamic collimation of jets
from Young Stellar Objects (YSOs). Using parameters appropriate to YSOs we have
carried out high resolution hydrodynamic simulations modeling the interaction
of a central wind with an environment characterized by a moderate opening angle
toroidal density distribution. The results show that the the wind/environment
interaction produces strongly collimated supersonic jets. The jet is composed
of shocked wind gas. Using analytical models of wind blown bubble evolution we
show that the scenario studied here should be applicable to YSOs and can, in
principle, initiate collimation on the correct scales (R ~ 100 AU). The
simulations reveal a number of time-dependent non-linear features not
anticipated in previous analytical studies including: a prolate wind shock; a
chimney of cold swept-up ambient material dragged into the bubble cavity; a
plug of dense material between the jet and bow shocks. We find that the
collimation of the jet occurs through both de Laval nozzles and focusing of the
wind via the prolate wind shock. Using an analytical model for shock focusing
we demonstrate that a prolate wind shock can, by itself, produce highly
collimated supersonic jets.Comment: Accepted by ApJ, 31 pages with 12 figures (3 JPEG's) now included,
using aasms.sty, Also available in postscript via a gzipped tar file at
ftp://s1.msi.umn.edu/pub/afrank/SFIC1/SFIC.tar.g
Instabilities and Clumping in Type Ia Supernova Remnants
We present two-dimensional high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations in
spherical polar coordinates of a Type Ia supernova interacting with a constant
density interstellar medium. The ejecta are assumed to be freely expanding with
an exponential density profile. The interaction gives rise to a double-shocked
structure susceptible to hydrodynamic instabilities. The Rayleigh-Taylor
instability initially grows, but the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability takes over,
producing vortex rings. The nonlinear instability initially evolves toward
longer wavelengths and eventually fades away when the reverse shock front is in
the flatter part of the supernova density distribution. Based on observations
of X-ray knots and the protrusion in the southeast outlin of Tycho's supernova
remnant, we include clumping in the ejecta. The clump interaction with the
reverse shock induces Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities on the
clump surface that facilitate fragmentation. In order to survive crushing and
to have a bulging effect on the forward shock, the clump's initial density
ratio to the surrounding ejecta must be at least 100 for the conditions in
Tycho's remnant. The 56Ni bubble effect may be important for the development of
clumpiness in the ejecta. The observed presence of an Fe clump would then
require a non-radioactive origin for this Fe, possibly 54Fe. The large radial
distance of the X-ray emitting Si and S ejecta from the remnant center
indicates that they were initially in clumps.Comment: 27 pages, 4 postscript figures, 5 GIF figures submitted to
Astrophysical Journa
New Test of Supernova Electron Neutrino Emission using Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Sensitivity to the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background
Supernovae are rare nearby, but they are not rare in the Universe, and all
past core-collapse supernovae contributed to the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino
Background (DSNB), for which the near-term detection prospects are very good.
The Super-Kamiokande limit on the DSNB electron {\it antineutrino} flux,
cm s, is just above the
range of recent theoretical predictions based on the measured star formation
rate history. We show that the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory should be able to
test the corresponding DSNB electron {\it neutrino} flux with a sensitivity as
low as cm s,
improving the existing Mont Blanc limit by about three orders of magnitude.
While conventional supernova models predict comparable electron neutrino and
antineutrino fluxes, it is often considered that the first (and
forward-directed) SN 1987A event in the Kamiokande-II detector should be
attributed to electron-neutrino scattering with an electron, which would
require a substantially enhanced electron neutrino flux. We show that with the
required enhancements in either the burst or thermal phase fluxes, the
DSNB electron neutrino flux would generally be detectable in the Sudbury
Neutrino Observatory. A direct experimental test could then resolve one of the
enduring mysteries of SN 1987A: whether the first Kamiokande-II event reveals a
serious misunderstanding of supernova physics, or was simply an unlikely
statistical fluctuation. Thus the electron neutrino sensitivity of the Sudbury
Neutrino Observatory is an important complement to the electron antineutrino
sensitivity of Super-Kamiokande in the quest to understand the DSNB.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure
Detection of Molecular Hydrogen Orbiting a "Naked" T Tauri Star
Astronomers have established that for a few million years newborn stars
possess disks of orbiting gas and dust. Such disks, which are likely sites of
planet formation, appear to disappear once these stars reach ages of 5-10 times
10^6 yr; yet, >= 10^7 yr is thought necessary for giant planet formation. If
disks dissipate in less time than is needed for giant planet formation, such
planets may be rare and those known around nearby stars would be anomalies.
Herein, we report the discovery of H_2 gas orbiting a weak-lined T Tauri star
heretofore presumed nearly devoid of circumstellar material. We estimate that a
significant amount of H_2 persists in the gas phase, but only a tiny fraction
of this mass emits in the near-infrared. We propose that this star possesses an
evolved disk that has escaped detection thus far because much of the dust has
coagulated into planetesimals. This discovery suggests that the theory that
disks are largely absent around such stars should be reconsidered. The
widespread presence of such disks would indicate that planetesimals can form
quickly and giant planet formation can proceed to completion before the gas in
circumstellar disks disperses.Comment: latex 12 pages, including 1 figur
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