175 research outputs found
Numerical continuation in nonlinear experiments using local Gaussian process regression
Control-based continuation (CBC) is a general and systematic method to probe the dynamics of nonlinear experiments. In this paper, CBC is combined with a novel continuation algorithm that is robust to experimental noise and enables the tracking of geometric features of the response surface such as folds. The method uses Gaussian process regression to create a local model of the response surface on which standard numerical continuation algorithms can be applied. The local model evolves as continuation explores the experimental parameter space, exploiting previously captured data to actively select the next data points to collect such that they maximise the potential information gain about the feature of interest. The method is demonstrated experimentally on a nonlinear structure featuring harmonically coupled modes. Fold points present in the response surface of the system are followed and reveal the presence of an isola, i.e. a branch of periodic responses detached from the main resonance peak
Magnetic chemically peculiar stars
Chemically peculiar (CP) stars are main-sequence A and B stars with
abnormally strong or weak lines for certain elements. They generally have
magnetic fields and all observables tend to vary with the same period.
Chemically peculiar stars provide a wealth of information; they are natural
atomic and magnetic laboratories. After a brief historical overview, we discuss
the general properties of the magnetic fields in CP stars, describe the oblique
rotator model, explain the dependence of the magnetic field strength on the
rotation, and concentrate at the end on HgMn stars.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, chapter in "Determination of
Atmospheric Parameters of B-, A-, F- and G-Type Stars", Springer (2014), eds.
E. Niemczura, B. Smalley, W. Pyc
New measurements of magnetic fields of roAp stars with FORS1 at the VLT
Magnetic fields play a key role in the pulsations of rapidly oscillating Ap
(roAp) stars since they are a necessary ingredient of all pulsation excitation
mechanisms proposed so far. This implies that the proper understanding of the
seismological behaviour of the roAp stars requires knowledge of their magnetic
fields. However, the magnetic fields of the roAp stars are not well studied.
Here we present new results of measurements of the mean longitudinal field of
14 roAp stars obtained from low resolution spectropolarimetry with FORS1 at the
VLT.Comment: 5 pages, accepted for publication in A&
The radius and effective temperature of the binary Ap star beta CrB from CHARA/FLUOR and VLT/NACO observations
The prospects for using asteroseismology of rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp)
stars are hampered by the large uncertainty in fundamental stellar parameters.
Results in the literature for the effective temperature (Teff) often span a
range of 1000 K. Our goal is to reduce systematic errors and improve the Teff
calibration of Ap stars based on new interferometric measurements. We obtained
long-baseline interferometric observations of beta CrB using the CHARA/FLUOR
instrument. To disentangle the flux contributions of the two components of this
binary star, we obtained VLT/NACO adaptive optics images. We determined limb
darkened angular diameters of 0.699+-0.017 mas for beta CrB A (from
interferometry) and 0.415+-0.017 mas for beta CrB B (from surface brightness-
color relations), corresponding to radii of 2.63+-0.09 Rsun (3.4 percent
uncertainty) and 1.56+-0.07 Rsun (4.5 percent). The combined bolometric flux of
the A and B components was determined from satellite UV data, spectrophotometry
in the visible and broadband data in the infrared. The flux from the B
component constitutes 16+-4 percent of the total flux and was determined by
fitting an ATLAS9 model atmosphere to the broad-band NACO J and K magnitudes.
Combining the flux of the A component with its measured angular diameter, we
determine the effective temperature Teff(A) = 7980+-180 K (2.3 percent). Our
new interferometric and imaging data enable a nearly model-independent
determination of the effective temperature of beta CrB A. Including our recent
study of alpha Cir, we now have direct Teff measurements of two of the
brightest roAp stars, providing a strong benchmark for an improved calibration
of the Teff scale for Ap stars. This will support the use of potentially strong
constraints imposed by asteroseismic studies of roAp stars.Comment: 7 pages, accepted by A&
TMTDyn: A Matlab package for modeling and control of hybrid rigid-continuum robots based on discretized lumped systems and reduced-order models
A reliable, accurate, and yet simple dynamic model is important to analyzing, designing, and controlling hybrid rigid–continuum robots. Such models should be fast, as simple as possible, and user-friendly to be widely accepted by the ever-growing robotics research community. In this study, we introduce two new modeling methods for continuum manipulators: a general reduced-order model (ROM) and a discretized model with absolute states and Euler–Bernoulli beam segments (EBA). In addition, a new formulation is presented for a recently introduced discretized model based on Euler–Bernoulli beam segments and relative states (EBR). We implement these models in a Matlab software package, named TMTDyn, to develop a modeling tool for hybrid rigid–continuum systems. The package features a new high-level language (HLL) text-based interface, a CAD-file import module, automatic formation of the system equation of motion (EOM) for different modeling and control tasks, implementing Matlab C-mex functionality for improved performance, and modules for static and linear modal analysis of a hybrid system. The underlying theory and software package are validated for modeling experimental results for (i) dynamics of a continuum appendage, and (ii) general deformation of a fabric sleeve worn by a rigid link pendulum. A comparison shows higher simulation accuracy (8–14% normalized error) and numerical robustness of the ROM model for a system with a small number of states, and computational efficiency of the EBA model with near real-time performances that makes it suitable for large systems. The challenges and necessary modules to further automate the design and analysis of hybrid systems with a large number of states are briefly discussed
TMTDyn: A Matlab package for modeling and control of hybrid rigid–continuum robots based on discretized lumped systems and reduced-order models
A reliable, accurate, and yet simple dynamic model is important to analyzing, designing, and controlling hybrid rigid–continuum robots. Such models should be fast, as simple as possible, and user-friendly to be widely accepted by the evergrowing robotics research community. In this study, we introduce two new modeling methods for continuum manipulators: a general reduced-order model (ROM) and a discretized model with absolute states and Euler–Bernoulli beam segments (EBA). In addition, a new formulation is presented for a recently introduced discretized model based on Euler–Bernoulli beam segments and relative states (EBR). We implement these models in a Matlab software package, named TMTDyn, to develop a modeling tool for hybrid rigid–continuum systems. The package features a new high-level language (HLL)
text-based interface, a CAD-file import module, automatic formation of the system equation of motion (EOM) for different modeling and control tasks, implementing Matlab C-mex functionality for improved performance, and modules for static and linear modal analysis of a hybrid system. The underlying theory and software package are validated for modeling experimental results for (i) dynamics of a continuum appendage, and (ii) general deformation of a fabric sleeve worn by a rigid link pendulum. A comparison shows higher simulation accuracy (8–14% normalized error) and numerical robustness of the ROM model for a system with a small number of states, and computational efficiency of the EBA model with
near real-time performances that makes it suitable for large systems. The challenges and necessary modules to further automate the design and analysis of hybrid systems with a large number of states are briefly discussed
Did the ancient egyptians record the period of the eclipsing binary Algol - the Raging one?
The eclipses in binary stars give precise information of orbital period
changes. Goodricke discovered the 2.867 days period in the eclipses of Algol in
the year 1783. The irregular orbital period changes of this longest known
eclipsing binary continue to puzzle astronomers. The mass transfer between the
two members of this binary should cause a long-term increase of the orbital
period, but observations over two centuries have not confirmed this effect.
Here, we present evidence indicating that the period of Algol was 2.850 days
three millenia ago. For religious reasons, the ancient Egyptians have recorded
this period into the Cairo Calendar, which describes the repetitive changes of
the Raging one. Cairo Calendar may be the oldest preserved historical document
of the discovery of a variable star.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures, 11 table
An Atlas of K-line Spectra for Cool Magnetic CP Stars: The Wing-Nib Anomaly (WNA)
We present a short atlas illustrating the unusual Ca {\sc ii} K-line profiles
in upper main sequence stars with anomalous abundances. Slopes of the profiles
for 10 cool, magnetic chemically peculiar (CP) stars change abruptly at the
very core, forming a deep "nib." The nibs show the same or nearly the same
radial velocity as the other atomic lines. The near wings are generally more
shallow than in normal stars. In three magnetic CP stars, the K-lines are too
weak to show this shape, though the nibs themselves are arguably present. The
Ca {\sc ii} H-lines also show deep nibs, but the profiles are complicated by
the nearby, strong H absorption. The K-line structure is nearly
unchanged with phase in CrB and Cir. Calculations, including
NLTE, show that other possibilities in addition to chemical stratification may
yield nib-like cores.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, and 8 figures; accepted for publication in ApJ
The discovery of high-amplitude 10.9-minute oscillations in the cool magnetic Ap star HD 115226
We present the discovery of pulsational variations in the cool magnetic Ap
star HD 115226 -- the first high-amplitude rapidly oscillating Ap star
discovered with time-series spectroscopy. Using high-resolution spectra
obtained with the HARPS instrument at the ESO 3.6-m telescope, we detect radial
velocity variations with a period of 10.86 min in Pr III, Nd III, Dy III lines
and in the narrow cores of hydrogen lines. Pulsational amplitudes exceed 1 km/s
in individual lines of Nd III. The presence of running waves in the stellar
atmosphere is inferred from a phase shift between the radial velocity maxima of
rare-earth and hydrogen lines. Our abundance analysis demonstrates that HD
115226 exhibits typical roAp spectroscopic signature, notably ionization
anomaly of Pr, Nd and Dy. We discuss the discovery of pulsations in HD 115226
in the context of recent spectroscopic studies of roAp stars and point to the
existence of correlation between spectroscopic pulsational amplitude and the
stellar rotation rate.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
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