Wetting between structured surfaces: Liquid bridges and induced forces

Wetting phenomena are theoretically studied for a slab geometry consisting of a wetting phase confined between two chemically patterned substrates. Each of these is decorated by an array of stripes whose composition alternates between two different surface phases. For a single pair of opposing stripes, the wetting phase may either form a bridge spanning from one surface to the other or it may break up into two separate channels. The bridge state induces an effective interaction between the two substrates. This leads to the bridge itself having a preferred contact angle and the substrates having a preferred separation. In the case of many stripes, one has a whole sequence of morphological transitions with the number of bridges decreasing as the surface separation grows

Selective Principal Component Extraction and Reconstruction: A Novel Method for Ground Based Exoplanet Spectroscopy

Context: Infrared spectroscopy of primary and secondary eclipse events probes the composition of exoplanet atmospheres and, using space telescopes, has detected H2O, CH4 and CO2 in three hot Jupiters. However, the available data from space telescopes has limited spectral resolution and does not cover the 2.4 - 5.2 micron spectral region. While large ground based telescopes have the potential to obtain molecular-abundance-grade spectra for many exoplanets, realizing this potential requires retrieving the astrophysical signal in the presence of large Earth-atmospheric and instrument systematic errors. Aims: Here we report a wavelet-assisted, selective principal component extraction method for ground based retrieval of the dayside spectrum of HD 189733b from data containing systematic errors. Methods: The method uses singular value decomposition and extracts those critical points of the Rayleigh quotient which correspond to the planet induced signal. The method does not require prior knowledge of the planet spectrum or the physical mechanisms causing systematic errors. Results: The spectrum obtained with our method is in excellent agreement with space based measurements made with HST and Spitzer (Swain et al. 2009b; Charbonneau et al. 2008) and confirms the recent ground based measurements (Swain et al. 2010) including the strong 3.3 micron emission.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; excepted for publication by A&

The mid-infrared spectrum of the transiting exoplanet HD 209458b

We report the spectroscopic detection of mid-infrared emission from the transiting exoplanet HD 209458b. Using archive data taken with the Spitzer/IRS instrument, we have determined the spectrum of HD 209458b between 7.46 and 15.25 microns. We have used two independent methods to determine the planet spectrum, one differential in wavelength and one absolute, and find the results are in good agreement. Over much of this spectral range, the planet spectrum is consistent with featureless thermal emission. Between 7.5 and 8.5 microns, we find evidence for an unidentified spectral feature. If this spectral modulation is due to absorption, it implies that the dayside vertical temperature profile of the planetary atmosphere is not entirely isothermal. Using the IRS data, we have determined the broad-band eclipse depth to be 0.00315 +/- 0.000315, implying significant redistribution of heat from the dayside to the nightside. This work required development of improved methods for Spitzer/IRS data calibration that increase the achievable absolute calibration precision and dynamic range for observations of bright point sources.Comment: 35 pages, 12 figures, revised version accepted by the Astrophysical Journa

Conceptual design study for a teleoperator visual system, phase 2

An analysis of the concept for the hybrid stereo-monoscopic television visual system is reported. The visual concept is described along with the following subsystems: illumination, deployment/articulation, telecommunications, visual displays, and the controls and display station

Seasonal activity patterns of the frog, Crinia signifera (Anura: Myobatrachidae), in southern Tasmania, Australia

We investigated the seasonal adaptations of the myobatrachid frog Girard, 1863 in a commercial forest in southern Tasmania, Australia. Seasonal variation in activity patterns, body size and body condition was investigated. Although C does not hibernate over winter, activity levels arc much reduced during this time. Females trapped in summer were smaller than those captured throughout the remainder of the year. We interpreted seasonal variation in the condition of captured frogs as an indication that breeding in spring and early summer is metabolically costly and fat stores are replenished by extensive foraging in summer. Fat stores accumulated in summer and autumn by males are used for body maintenance over winter and breeding in the following spring

Spherical solid-propellant rocket motor Patent

Spherical solid propellant rocket engine desig