266 research outputs found
Microstates of a Neutral Black Hole in M Theory
We consider vacuum solutions in M theory of the form of a five-dimensional
Kaluza-Klein black hole cross T^6. In a certain limit, these include the
five-dimensional neutral rotating black hole (cross T^6). From a IIA
standpoint, these solutions carry D0 and D6 charges. We show that there is a
weakly coupled D-brane description which precisely reproduces the
Hawking-Bekenstein entropy in the extremal limit, even though supersymmetry is
completely broken.Comment: 11 pages. v2: microstate counting extended to generic angular moment
An optical time-delay estimate for the double gravitational lens system B1600+434
We present optical I-band light curves of the gravitationally lensed double
QSO B1600+434 from observations obtained at the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT)
between April 1998 and November 1999. The photometry has been performed by
simultaneous deconvolution of all the data frames, involving a numerical lens
galaxy model. Four methods have been applied to determine the time delay
between the two QSO components, giving a mean estimate of \Delta_t = 51+/-4
days (95% confidence level). This is the fourth optical time delay ever
measured. Adopting a Omega=0.3, Lambda=0 Universe and using the mass model of
Maller et al. (2000), this time-delay estimate yields a Hubble parameter of
H_0=52 (+14, -8) km s^-1 Mpc^-1 (95% confidence level) where the errors include
time-delay as well as model uncertainties. There are time-dependent offsets
between the two (appropriately shifted) light curves that indicate the presence
of external variations due to microlensing.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Stellar Inversion Techniques
Stellar seismic inversions have proved to be a powerful technique for probing
the internal structure of stars, and paving the way for a better understanding
of the underlying physics by revealing some of the shortcomings in current
stellar models. In this lecture, we provide an introduction to this topic by
explaining kernel-based inversion techniques. Specifically, we explain how
various kernels are obtained from the pulsation equations, and describe
inversion techniques such as the Regularised Least-Squares (RLS) and Optimally
Localised Averages (OLA) methods.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures. Lecture presented at the IVth Azores
International Advanced School in Space Sciences on "Asteroseismology and
Exoplanets: Listening to the Stars and Searching for New Worlds"
(arXiv:1709.00645), which took place in Horta, Azores Islands, Portugal in
July 201
Asteroseismology across the HR diagram
High precision spectroscopy provides essential information necessary to fully
exploit the opportunity of probing the internal structure of stars using
Asteroseismology. In this work we discuss how Asteroseismology combined with
High Precision Spectroscopy can establish a detailed view on stellar structure
and evolution of stars across the HR diagramme.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures - to appear in Precision Spectroscopy in
Astrophysics, (Eds) L. Pasquini, M. Romaniello, N.C. Santos, and A. Correia,
ESO Astrophysics Symposia, 200
On the Reliability of Cross Correlation Function Lag Determinations in Active Galactic Nuclei
Many AGN exhibit a highly variable luminosity. Some AGN also show a
pronounced time delay between variations seen in their optical continuum and in
their emission lines. In effect, the emission lines are light echoes of the
continuum. This light travel-time delay provides a characteristic radius of the
region producing the emission lines. The cross correlation function (CCF) is
the standard tool used to measure the time lag between the continuum and line
variations. For the few well-sampled AGN, the lag ranges from 1-100 days,
depending upon which line is used and the luminosity of the AGN. In the best
sampled AGN, NGC 5548, the H_beta lag shows year-to-year changes, ranging from
about 8.7 days to about 22.9 days over a span of 8 years. In this paper it is
demonstrated that, in the context of AGN variability studies, the lag estimate
using the CCF is biased too low and subject to a large variance. Thus the
year-to-year changes of the measured lag in NGC 5548 do not necessarily imply
changes in the AGN structure. The bias and large variance are consequences of
finite duration sampling and the dominance of long timescale trends in the
light curves, not due to noise or irregular sampling. Lag estimates can be
substantially improved by removing low frequency power from the light curves
prior to computing the CCF.Comment: To appear in the PASP, vol 111, 1999 Nov; 37 pages; 10 figure
High resolution observations of SiO masers: comparing the spatial distribution at 43 and 86 GHz
We present sub-milliarcsecond observations of SiO masers in the late-type
stars IRC +10011 and Chi Cyg. We have used the NRAO Very Long Baseline Array
(VLBA) to map the 43 GHz (v=1, 2 J=1-0) and the 86 GHz (v=1, 2 J=2-1) SiO
masers. All the transitions have been imaged except the v=2 J=2-1 in IRC
+10011. We report the first VLBI map of the v=1 J=2-1 28SiO maser in IRC +10011
as well as the first VLBA images of SiO masers in an S-type Mira variable, Chi
Cyg. In this paper we have focused on the study of the relative spatial
distribution of the different observed lines. We have found that in some cases
the observational results are not reproduced by the current theoretical pumping
models, either radiative or collisional. In particular, for IRC +10011, the v=1
J=1-0 and J=2-1 28SiO lines have different spatial distributions and emitting
region sizes, the J=2-1 emission being located in an outer region of the
envelope. For Chi Cyg, the distributions also differ, but the sizes of the
masing regions are comparable. We suggest that the line overlaps between
ro-vibrational transitions of two abundant molecular species, H2O and 28SiO, is
a possible explanation for the discrepancies found between the observations and
the theoretical predictions. We have introduced this overlapping process in the
calculations of the excitation of the SiO molecule. We conclude that the line
overlaps can strongly affect the excitation of SiO and may reproduce the
unexpected observational results for the two sources studied.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figure
Probing Interband Coulomb Interactions in Semiconductor Nanocrystals with 2D Double-Quantum Coherence Spectroscopy
Using previously developed exciton scattering model accounting for the
interband, i.e., exciton-biexciton, Coulomb interactions in semiconductor
nanocrystals (NCs), we derive a closed set of equations for 2D double-quantum
coherence signal. The signal depends on the Liouville space pathways which
include both the interband scattering processes and the inter- and intraband
optical transitions. These processes correspond to the formation of different
cross-peaks in the 2D spectra. We further report on our numerical calculations
of the 2D signal using reduced level scheme parameterized for PbSe NCs. Two
different NC excitation regimes considered and unique spectroscopic features
associated with the interband Coulomb interactions are identified.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Helioseismology, solar models and neutrino fluxes
We present our results concerning a systematical analysis of helioseismic
implications on solar structure and neutrino production. We find
Y, and
gr/cm. In the interval , the quantity is
determined with and accuracy of \permille~or better. At the solar center
still one has remarkable accuracy, . We compare the predictions
of recent solar models (standard and non-standard) with the helioseismic
results. By constructing helioseismically constrained solar models, the central
solar temperature is found to be K with a conservatively
estimated accuracy of 1.4%, so that the major unceratainty on neutrino fluxes
is due to nuclear cross section and not to solar inputs.Comment: 14 pages including 9 figures, LaTex file, espcrc2.sty is needed; to
appear in Nucl. Phys. B Proc. Suppl., Proceedings of TAUP97 conference,
Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, September 199
The dynamical evolution of the circumstellar gas around low-and intermediate-mass stars I: the AGB
We have investigated the dynamical interaction of low- and-intermediate mass
stars (from 1 to 5 Msun) with their interstellar medium (ISM). In this first
paper, we examine the structures generated by the stellar winds during the
Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) phase, using a numerical code and the wind
history predicted by stellar evolution. The influence of the external ISM is
also taken into account. We find that the wind variations associated with the
thermal pulses lead to the formation of transient shells with an average
lifetime of 20,000 yr, and consequently do not remain recorded in the density
or velocity structure of the gas. The formation of shells that survive at the
end of the AGB occurs via two main processes: shocks between the shells formed
by two consecutive enhancements of the mass-loss or via continuous accumulation
of the material ejected by the star in the interaction region with the ISM. Our
models show that the mass of the circumstellar envelope increases appreciably
due to the ISM material swept up by the wind (up to 70 % for the 1 Msun stellar
model). We also point out the importance of the ISM on the deceleration and
compression of the external shells. According to our simulations, large regions
(up to 2.5 pc) of neutral gas surrounding the molecular envelopes of AGB stars
are expected. These large regions of gas are formed from the mass-loss
experienced by the star during the AGB evolution.Comment: 43 pages, 15 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Can impact excitation explain efficient carrier multiplication in carbon nanotube photodiodes?
We address recent experiments (Science 325, 1367 (2009)) reporting on highly
efficient multiplication of electron-hole pairs in carbon nanotube photodiodes
at photon energies near the carrier multiplication threshold (twice the
quasi-particle band gap). This result is surprising in light of recent
experimental and theoretical work on multiexciton generation in other confined
materials, such as semiconducting nanocrystals. We propose a detailed mechanism
based on carrier dynamics and impact excitation resulting in highly efficient
multiplication of electron-hole pairs. We discuss the important time and energy
scales of the problem and provide analysis of the role of temperature and the
length of the diode
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