363 research outputs found
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Generation of Micro Mechanical Devices Using Stereo Lithography
A high resolution machining setup for creating three-dimensional precision components from a
UV-curable photo-resin has been developed. By using frequency-converted diode-pumped solid
state lasers, functional micro-mechanical devices are directly fabricated in a successive layer-bylayer fashion. Within this paper, the direct generation of micro assemblies having
moving components without further assembly of parts will be presented. The micro system
design is based on user-defined 3D-CAD data and will completively be built up within the
fabrication cycle. By using specially developed μSL materials with suitable properties for micromechanical parts, the development from Rapid Prototyping towards Rapid Production of small
series is intended.Mechanical Engineerin
Young stellar object jet models: From theory to synthetic observations
Astronomical observations, analytical solutions and numerical simulations
have provided the building blocks to formulate the current theory of young
stellar object jets. Although each approach has made great progress
independently, it is only during the last decade that significant efforts are
being made to bring the separate pieces together. Building on previous work
that combined analytical solutions and numerical simulations, we apply a
sophisticated cooling function to incorporate optically thin energy losses in
the dynamics. On the one hand, this allows a self-consistent treatment of the
jet evolution and on the other, it provides the necessary data to generate
synthetic emission maps. Firstly, analytical disk and stellar outflow solutions
are properly combined to initialize numerical two-component jet models inside
the computational box. Secondly, magneto-hydrodynamical simulations are
performed in 2.5D, following properly the ionization and recombination of a
maximum of ions. Finally, the outputs are post-processed to produce
artificial observational data. The first two-component jet simulations, based
on analytical models, that include ionization and optically thin radiation
losses demonstrate promising results for modeling specific young stellar object
outflows. The generation of synthetic emission maps provides the link to
observations, as well as the necessary feedback for the further improvement of
the available models.Comment: accepted for publication A&A, 20 pages, 11 figure
Functional kernel estimators of conditional extreme quantiles
We address the estimation of "extreme" conditional quantiles i.e. when their
order converges to one as the sample size increases. Conditions on the rate of
convergence of their order to one are provided to obtain asymptotically
Gaussian distributed kernel estimators. A Weissman-type estimator and kernel
estimators of the conditional tail-index are derived, permitting to estimate
extreme conditional quantiles of arbitrary order.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1107.226
Stability and structure of analytical MHD jet formation models with a finite outer disk radius
(Abridged) Finite radius accretion disks are a strong candidate for launching
astrophysical jets from their inner parts and disk-winds are considered as the
basic component of such magnetically collimated outflows. The only available
analytical MHD solutions for describing disk-driven jets are those
characterized by the symmetry of radial self-similarity. Radially self-similar
MHD models, in general, have two geometrical shortcomings, a singularity at the
jet axis and the non-existence of an intrinsic radial scale, i.e. the jets
formally extend to radial infinity. Hence, numerical simulations are necessary
to extend the analytical solutions towards the axis and impose a physical
boundary at finite radial distance. We focus here on studying the effects of
imposing an outer radius of the underlying accreting disk (and thus also of the
outflow) on the topology, structure and variability of a radially self-similar
analytical MHD solution. The initial condition consists of a hybrid of an
unchanged and a scaled-down analytical solution, one for the jet and the other
for its environment. In all studied cases, we find at the end steady
two-component solutions.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in A &
Deterministic single-photon source from a single ion
We realize a deterministic single-photon source from one and the same calcium
ion interacting with a high-finesse optical cavity. Photons are created in the
cavity with efficiency (88 +- 17)%, a tenfold improvement over previous
cavity-ion sources. Results of the second-order correlation function are
presented, demonstrating a high suppression of two-photon events limited only
by background counts. The cavity photon pulse shape is obtained, with good
agreement between experiment and simulation. Moreover, theoretical analysis of
the temporal evolution of the atomic populations provides relevant information
about the dynamics of the process and opens the way to future investigations of
a coherent atom-photon interface
Galactic bulge giants: probing stellar and galactic evolution I. Catalogue of Spitzer IRAC and MIPS sources
Aims: We aim at measuring mass-loss rates and the luminosities of a
statistically large sample of Galactic bulge stars at several galactocentric
radii. The sensitivity of previous infrared surveys of the bulge has been
rather limited, thus fundamental questions for late stellar evolution, such as
the stage at which substantial mass-loss begins on the red giant branch and its
dependence on fundamental stellar properties, remain unanswered. We aim at
providing evidence and answers to these questions. Methods: To this end, we
observed seven 15 times 15 arcmin^2 fields in the nuclear bulge and its
vicinity with unprecedented sensitivity using the IRAC and MIPS imaging
instruments on-board the Spitzer Space Telescope. In each of the fields, tens
of thousands of point sources were detected. Results: In the first paper based
on this data set, we present the observations, data reduction, the final
catalogue of sources, and a detailed comparison to previous mid-IR surveys of
the Galactic bulge, as well as to theoretical isochrones. We find in general
good agreement with other surveys and the isochrones, supporting the high
quality of our catalogue.Comment: 21 pages, accepted for publication in A&A. A version with
high-resolution figures, as well as the data catalogues (including cross-id
with GLIMPSE and GALCEN) and image mosaics are available at the anonymous
ftp://ftp.ster.kuleuven.be/dist/stefan/Spitzer
Dissolved noble gases and stable isotopes as tracers of preferential fluid flow along faults in the Lower Rhine Embayment, Germany
Groundwater in shallow unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers close to the Bornheim fault in the Lower Rhine Embayment (LRE), Germany, has relatively low δ2H and δ18O values in comparison to regional modern groundwater recharge, and 4He concentrations up to 1.7 × 10−4 cm3 (STP) g–1 ± 2.2 % which is approximately four orders of magnitude higher than expected due to solubility equilibrium with the atmosphere. Groundwater age dating based on estimated in situ production and terrigenic flux of helium provides a groundwater residence time of ∼107 years. Although fluid exchange between the deep basal aquifer system and the upper aquifer layers is generally impeded by confining clay layers and lignite, this study’s geochemical data suggest, for the first time, that deep circulating fluids penetrate shallow aquifers in the locality of fault zones, implying that sub-vertical fluid flow occurs along faults in the LRE. However, large hydraulic-head gradients observed across many faults suggest that they act as barriers to lateral groundwater flow. Therefore, the geochemical data reported here also substantiate a conduit-barrier model of fault-zone hydrogeology in unconsolidated sedimentary deposits, as well as corroborating the concept that faults in unconsolidated aquifer systems can act as loci for hydraulic connectivity between deep and shallow aquifers. The implications of fluid flow along faults in sedimentary basins worldwide are far reaching and of particular concern for carbon capture and storage (CCS) programmes, impacts of deep shale gas recovery for shallow groundwater aquifers, and nuclear waste storage sites where fault zones could act as potential leakage pathways for hazardous fluids
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