2,228 research outputs found
Constraints on First-Light Ionizing Sources from Optical Depth of the Cosmic Microwave Background
We examine the constraints on high-redshift star formation, ultraviolet and
X-ray pre-ionization, and the epoch of reionization at redshift z_r, inferred
from the recent WMAP-5 measurement, tau_e = 0.084 +/- 0.016, of the electron
scattering optical depth of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Half of this
scattering can be accounted for by the optical depth, tau_e = 0.04-0.05, of a
fully ionized intergalactic medium (IGM) at z < z_GP = 6-7, consistent with
Gunn-Peterson absorption in neutral hydrogen. The required additional optical
depth, Delta-tau_e = 0.03 +/- 0.02 at z > z_GP, constrains the ionizing
contributions of first light sources. WMAP-5 also measured a significant
increase in small-scale power, which lowers the required efficiency of star
formation and ionization from mini-halos. Early massive stars (UV radiation)
and black holes (X-rays) can produce a partially ionized IGM, adding to the
residual electrons left from incomplete recombination. Inaccuracies in
computing the ionization history, x_e(z), and degeneracies in cosmological
parameters (Omega_m, Omega_b, sigma_8, n_s) add systematic uncertainty to the
measurement and modeling of . From the additional optical depth from
sources at z > z_GP, we limit the star-formation efficiency, the rate of
ionizing photon production for Pop III and Pop II stars, and the photon escape
fraction, using standard histories of baryon collapse, minihalo star formation,
and black-hole X-ray preionization.Comment: Greatly revised version, based on WMAP-5 results and new models.
Accepted for ApJ (2008
Dissipation due to tunneling two-level systems in gold nanomechanical resonators
We present measurements of the dissipation and frequency shift in
nanomechanical gold resonators at temperatures down to 10 mK. The resonators
were fabricated as doubly-clamped beams above a GaAs substrate and actuated
magnetomotively. Measurements on beams with frequencies 7.95 MHz and 3.87 MHz
revealed that from 30 mK to 500 mK the dissipation increases with temperature
as , with saturation occurring at higher temperatures. The relative
frequency shift of the resonators increases logarithmically with temperature up
to at least 400 mK. Similarities with the behavior of bulk amorphous solids
suggest that the dissipation in our resonators is dominated by two-level
systems
Effect of Sheep Grazing and Rainfall on the Ecology of \u3cem\u3eLasiurus sindicus\u3c/em\u3e-Dominated Grassland in Hot Arid Zone of India
Thar Desert in India is very fragile owing to frequent drought and low rainfall which causes extreme stress on biodiversity of region especially on livestock due to limited seasonal grazing resources. Despite inhospitable and harsh climate, as well as anthropogenic pressures, Indian arid zone has 682 species belonging to 352 genera and 87 families. Some 63 species are introduced belonging to 37 genera and 9 families. Compared to other deserts of the world, this desert has higher number of endemic species, i.e. 6.4%. Poaceae and Leguminosae are the largest species. All these species have typical habitat-plant cover relationship resulting in major vegetation types on hills and rock outcrops, piedmonts and pediments, alluvial plains, saline flats, fresh water lakes/talavs, river and stream banks, sandy hummocky plains and sand dunes of varying shapes and sizes. CAZRI has been actively engaged since inception in assessing the status of natural vegetation, its distribution pattern, utilization trends, economic importance and degradation status at district as well as habitat level. Though fairly good understanding exists on progressive successional trends on major habitats but dynamics of retrogressive trends is poorly understood more so in varying rainfall scenarios. Hence, this study was taken up to understand these trends in respect of Lasiurus sindicus, a key grass species along with other associated species in Jaisalmer, in the extreme arid region of India
Nonlinear modal coupling in a high-stress doubly-clamped nanomechanical resonator
We present results from a study of the nonlinear intermodal coupling between
different flexural vibrational modes of a single high-stress, doubly-clamped
silicon nitride nanomechanical beam. The measurements were carried out at 100
mK and the beam was actuated using the magnetomotive technique. We observed the
nonlinear behavior of the modes individually and also measured the coupling
between them by driving the beam at multiple frequencies. We demonstrate that
the different modes of the resonator are coupled to each other by the
displacement induced tension in the beam, which also leads to the well known
Duffing nonlinearity in doubly-clamped beams.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure
Microburst phenomena. I - Auroral zone X-rays
Balloon observations of auroral zone bremsstrahlung X-ray microburst
Temperature dependent optical studies of TiCoO
We present the results of Raman and photoluminescence (PL) studies on
epitaxial anatase phase TiCoO films for = 0-0.07, grown by
pulsed laser deposition. The low doped system (=0.01 and 0.02) shows a Curie
temperature of ~700 K in the as-grown state. The Raman spectra from the doped
and undoped films confirm their anatase phase. The photoluminescence spectrum
is characterized by a broad emission from self-trapped excitons (STE) at 2.3 eV
at temperatures below 120 K. This peak is characteristic of the anatase-phase
TiO and shows a small blueshift with increasing doping concentration. In
addition to the emission from STE, the Co-doped samples show two emission lines
at 2.77 eV and 2.94 eV that are absent in the undoped film indicative of a
spin-flip energy.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Response to the letter by Udo Bonnet
Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153273/1/nmo13715_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153273/2/nmo13715.pd
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