22,934 research outputs found
Approximate density-effect correction for the ionization loss of charged particles
Approximate density-effect correction for ionization loss of charged particle
An estimate of the prompt photon spectrum arising from cosmic-ray bombardment of the moon
Calculation method for estimating photon leakage spectrum arising from cosmic ray bombardment of moo
KIC 2856960: the impossible triple star
KIC 2856960 is a star in the Kepler field which was observed by Kepler for 4
years. It shows the primary and secondary eclipses of a close binary of 0.258d
as well as complex dipping events that last for about 1.5d at a time and recur
on a 204d period. The dips are thought to result when the close binary passes
across the face of a third star. In this paper we present an attempt to model
the dips. Despite the apparent simplicity of the system and strenuous efforts
to find a solution, we find that we cannot match the dips with a triple star
while satisfying Kepler's laws. The problem is that to match the dips the
separation of the close binary has to be larger than possible relative to the
outer orbit given the orbital periods. Quadruple star models can get round this
problem but require the addition of a so-far undetected intermediate period of
order 5 -- 20d that has be a near-perfect integer divisor of the outer 204d
period. Although we have no good explanation for KIC 2856960, using the full
set of Kepler data we are able to update several of its parameters. We also
present a spectrum showing that KIC 2856960 is dominated by light from a K3- or
K4-type star.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS August 21,
201
Particle acceleration due to shocks in the interplanetary field: High time resolution data and simulation results
Data were examined from two experiments aboard the Explorer 50 (IMP 8) spacecraft. The Johns Hopkins University/Applied Lab Charged Particle Measurement Experiment (CPME) provides 10.12 second resolution ion and electron count rates as well as 5.5 minute or longer averages of the same, with data sampled in the ecliptic plane. The high time resolution of the data allows for an explicit, point by point, merging of the magnetic field and particle data and thus a close examination of the pre- and post-shock conditions and particle fluxes associated with large angle oblique shocks in the interplanetary field. A computer simulation has been developed wherein sample particle trajectories, taken from observed fluxes, are allowed to interact with a planar shock either forward or backward in time. One event, the 1974 Day 312 shock, is examined in detail
Monte Carlo calculations of high energy nucleon meson cascades and applications to galactic cosmic ray transport
Results obtained using a recently developed calculational method for determining the nucleon-meson cascade induced in thick materials by high-energy nucleons and charged pions are presented. The calculational method uses the intranuclear-cascade-evaporation model to treat nonelastic collisions by particles with energies approximately or smaller than GeV and an extrapolation model at higher energies. The following configurations are considered: (1) 19.2-GeV/c protons incident on iron; (2) 30.3-GeV/c protons incident on iron; (3) solar and galactic protons incident on the moon, and (4) galactic protons incident on tissue. For the first three configurations, experimental results are available and comparisons between the experimental and calculated results are given
Bound States and Universality in Layers of Cold Polar Molecules
The recent experimental realization of cold polar molecules in the rotational
and vibrational ground state opens the door to the study of a wealth of
phenomena involving long-range interactions. By applying an optical lattice to
a gas of cold polar molecules one can create a layered system of planar traps.
Due to the long-range dipole-dipole interaction one expects a rich structure of
bound complexes in this geometry. We study the bilayer case and determine the
two-body bound state properties as a function of the interaction strength. The
results clearly show that a least one bound state will always be present in the
system. In addition, bound states at zero energy show universal behavior and
extend to very large radii. These results suggest that non-trivial bound
complexes of more than two particles are likely in the bilayer and in more
complicated chain structures in multi-layer systems.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Revised version to be publishe
Weakly bound states of polar molecules in bilayers
We investigate a system of two polarized molecules in a layered trap. The
molecules reside in adjacent layers and interact purely via the dipole-dipole
interaction. We determine the properties of the ground state of the system as a
function of the dipole moment and polarization angle. A bound state is always
present in the system and in the weak binding limit the bound state extends to
a very large distance and shows universal behavior.Comment: Presented at the 21st European Conference on Few-Body Problems in
Physics, Salamanca, Spain, 30 August - 3 September 201
Effects of Extreme Obliquity Variations on the Habitability of Exoplanets
We explore the impact of obliquity variations on planetary habitability in
hypothetical systems with high mutual inclination. We show that large
amplitude, high frequency obliquity oscillations on Earth-like exoplanets can
suppress the ice-albedo feedback, increasing the outer edge of the habitable
zone. We restrict our exploration to hypothetical systems consisting of a
solar-mass star, an Earth-mass planet at 1 AU, and 1 or 2 larger planets. We
verify that these systems are stable for years with N-body simulations,
and calculate the obliquity variations induced by the orbital evolution of the
Earth-mass planet and a torque from the host star. We run a simplified energy
balance model on the terrestrial planet to assess surface temperature and ice
coverage on the planet's surface, and we calculate differences in the outer
edge of the habitable zone for planets with rapid obliquity variations. For
each hypothetical system, we calculate the outer edge of habitability for two
conditions: 1) the full evolution of the planetary spin and orbit, and 2) the
eccentricity and obliquity fixed at their average values. We recover previous
results that higher values of fixed obliquity and eccentricity expand the
habitable zone, but also find that obliquity oscillations further expand
habitable orbits in all cases. Terrestrial planets near the outer edge of the
habitable zone may be more likely to support life in systems that induce rapid
obliquity oscillations as opposed to fixed-spin planets. Such planets may be
the easiest to directly characterize with space-borne telescopes.Comment: 46 pages, 12 Figures, 5 Table
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