589 research outputs found
Generation of Vorticity and Velocity Dispersion by Orbit Crossing
We study the generation of vorticity and velocity dispersion by orbit
crossing using cosmological numerical simulations, and calculate the
backreaction of these effects on the evolution of large-scale density and
velocity divergence power spectra. We use Delaunay tessellations to define the
velocity field, showing that the power spectra of velocity divergence and
vorticity measured in this way are unbiased and have better noise properties
than for standard interpolation methods that deal with mass weighted
velocities. We show that high resolution simulations are required to recover
the correct large-scale vorticity power spectrum, while poor resolution can
spuriously amplify its amplitude by more than one order of magnitude. We
measure the scalar and vector modes of the stress tensor induced by orbit
crossing using an adaptive technique, showing that its vector modes lead, when
input into the vorticity evolution equation, to the same vorticity power
spectrum obtained from the Delaunay method. We incorporate orbit crossing
corrections to the evolution of large scale density and velocity fields in
perturbation theory by using the measured stress tensor modes. We find that at
large scales (k~0.1 h/Mpc) vector modes have very little effect in the density
power spectrum, while scalar modes (velocity dispersion) can induce percent
level corrections at z=0, particularly in the velocity divergence power
spectrum. In addition, we show that the velocity power spectrum is smaller than
predicted by linear theory until well into the nonlinear regime, with little
contribution from virial velocities.Comment: 27 pages, 14 figures. v2: reorganization of the material, new
appendix. Accepted by PR
Spin alignment of dark matter haloes in filaments and walls
The MMF technique is used to segment the cosmic web as seen in a cosmological
N-body simulation into wall-like and filament-like structures. We find that the
spins and shapes of dark matter haloes are significantly correlated with each
other and with the orientation of their host structures. The shape orientation
is such that the halo minor axes tend to lie perpendicular to the host
structure, be it a wall or filament. The orientation of the halo spin vector is
mass dependent. Low mass haloes in walls and filaments have a tendency to have
their spins oriented within the parent structure, while higher mass haloes in
filaments have spins that tend to lie perpendicular to the parent structure.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Feasibility of a Pulsed Ponderomotive Phase Plate for Electron Beams
We propose a scheme for constructing a phase plate for use in an ultrafast
Zernike-type phase contrast electron microscope, based on the interaction of
the electron beam with a strongly focused, high-power femtosecond laser pulse
and a pulsed electron beam. Analytical expressions for the phase shift using
the time-averaged ponderomotive potential and a paraxial approximation for the
focused laser beam are presented, as well as more rigorous quasiclassical
simulations based on the quantum phase integral along classical, relativistic
electron trajectories in an accurate, non-paraxial description of the laser
beam. The results are shown to agree well unless the laser beam is focused to a
waist size below a wavelength. For realistic (off-the-shelf) laser parameters
the optimum phase shift of is shown to be achievable. When combined
with RF-cavity based electron chopping and compression techniques to produce
electron pulses, a femtosecond regime pulsed phase contrast microscope can be
constructed. The feasibility and robustness of the scheme are further
investigated using the simulations, leading to motivated choices for design
parameters such as wavelength, focus size and polarization.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure
Cosmic Voids: structure, dynamics and galaxies
In this review we discuss several aspects of Cosmic Voids. Voids are a major
component of the large scale distribution of matter and galaxies in the
Universe. They are of instrumental importance for understanding the emergence
of the Cosmic Web. Their relatively simple shape and structure makes them into
useful tools for extracting the value of a variety cosmic parameters, possibly
including even that of the influence of dark energy. Perhaps most promising and
challenging is the issue of the galaxies found within their realm. Not only
does the pristine environment of voids provide a promising testing ground for
assessing the role of environment on the formation and evolution of galaxies,
the dearth of dwarf galaxies may even represent a serious challenge to the
standard view of cosmic structure formation.Comment: 29 pages, 12 figures, invited review COSPA2008, Pohang, Korea. Modern
Physics Letters A, accepted. For high-res version see
http://www.astro.rug.nl/~weygaert/voids.cospa2008.weygaert.pd
Star formation thresholds and galaxy edges: why and where
We study global star formation thresholds in the outer parts of galaxies by
investigating the stability of disk galaxies embedded in dark halos. The disks
are self-gravitating, contain metals and dust, and are exposed to UV radiation.
We find that the critical surface density for the existence of a cold
interstellar phase depends only weakly on the parameters of the model and
coincides with the empirically derived surface density threshold for star
formation. Furthermore, it is shown that the drop in the thermal velocity
dispersion associated with the transition from the warm to the cold gas phase
triggers gravitational instability on a wide range of scales. The presence of
strong turbulence does not undermine this conclusion if the disk is
self-gravitating. Models based on the hypothesis that the onset of thermal
instability determines the star formation threshold in the outer parts of
galaxies can reproduce many observations, including the threshold radii, column
densities, and the sizes of stellar disks as a function of disk scale length
and mass. Finally, prescriptions are given for implementing star formation
thresholds in (semi-)analytic models and three-dimensional hydrodynamical
simulations of galaxy formation.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journal. Version 2: text significantly revised (major improvements), physics
unchanged. Version 3: minor correction
Star Formation Thresholds in Galactic Disks
We report the first results of a detailed study of the star formation law in
a sample of 32 nearby spiral galaxies with well-measured rotation curves, HI
and H (as traced by CO) surface density profiles, and new \Ha CCD
photometry. Our results strongly support the view that the formation of
gravitationally bound interstellar clouds regulates the onset of widespread
star formation -- at least in the outer regions of galactic disks.Comment: Will appear in July 1 ApJ. Abbreviated abstract. Postscript version
available at http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~clm
The Cosmic Web, Multi-Stream Flows, and Tessellations
Understanding the structure of the matter distribution in the Universe due to
the action of the gravitational instability -- the cosmic web -- is complicated
by lack of direct analytic access to the nonlinear domain of structure
formation. Here, we suggest and apply a novel tessellation method designed for
cold dark matter (CDM) N-body cosmological simulations. The method is based on
the fact that the initial CDM state can be described by a 3-D manifold (in a
6-D phase space) that remains continuous under evolution. Our technique uses
the full phase space information and has no free parameters; it can be used to
compute multi-stream and density fields, the main focus of this paper. Using a
large-box LCDM simulation we carry out a variety of initial analyses with the
technique. These include studying the correlation between multi-streaming and
density, the identification of structures such as Zel'dovich pancakes and
voids, and statistical measurements of quantities such as the volume fraction
as a function of the number of streams -- where we find a remarkable scaling
relation. Cosmological implications are briefly discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure
Addressing Corporate Ties to Slavery: Corporate Apologia in a Discourse of Reconciliation
Pressured by activists to take responsibility, American corporations recently found themselves in the spotlight for their past ties to slavery. Responding to the issue, they stepped into a complex discourse of reconciliation. Taking a rhetorical approach, this article analyzes the response of Aetna Inc. It explores how corporate rhetoric functions within present discourses about historical injustices and illustrates that Aetna\u27s response informed by common strategies of corporate apologia inhibited meaningful reconciliation. The article thus furthers criticisms of (corporate) apologia in the context of historical injustice and raises questions about the potentialities and limitations of corporate rhetoric for reconciliation
Minivoids in the Local Volume
We consider a sphere of 7.5 Mpc radius, which contains 355 galaxies with
accurately measured distances, to detect the nearest empty volumes. Using a
simple void detection algorithm, we found six large (mini)voids in Aquila,
Eridanus, Leo, Vela, Cepheus and Octans, each of more than 30 Mpc^3. Besides
them, 24 middle-size "bubbles" of more than 5 Mpc^3 volume are detected, as
well as 52 small "pores". The six largest minivoids occupy 58% of the
considered volume. Addition of the bubbles and pores to them increases the
total empty volume up to 75% and 81%, respectively. The detected local voids
look like oblong potatoes with typical axial ratios b/a = 0.75 and c/a = 0.62
(in the triaxial ellipsoide approximation). Being arranged by the size of their
volume, local voids follow power law of volumes-rankes dependence. A
correlation Gamma-function of the Local Volume galaxies follows a power low
with a formally calculated fractal dimension D = 1.5. We found that galaxies
surrounding the local minivoids do not differ significantly from other nearby
galaxies on their luminosity, but have appreciably higher hydrogen
mass-to-luminosity ratio and also higher star formation rate. We recognize an
effect of local expansion of typical minivoid to be \Delta H/H_0~(25+-15)%.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figures. Astrophysical Journal, accepte
Frequency of HIV-testing and factors associated with multiple lifetime HIV-testing among a rural population of Zambian men
Abstract Background Across sub-Saharan Africa, men's levels of HIV-testing remain inadequate relative to women’s. Men are less likely to access anti-retroviral therapy and experience higher levels of morbidity and mortality once initiated on treatment. More frequent HIV-testing by men at continued risk of HIV-infection is required to facilitate earlier diagnosis. This study explored the frequency of HIV-testing among a rural population of men and the factors associated with more frequent HIV-testing. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of a population-based survey in three rural district in Zambia, from February-November, 2013. Households (N = 300) in randomly selected squares from 42 study sites, defined as a health facility and its catchment area, were invited to participate. Individuals in eligible households were invited to complete questionnaires regarding demographics and HIV-testing behaviours. Men were defined as multiple HIV-testers if they reported more than one lifetime test. Upon questionnaire completion, individuals were offered rapid home-based HIV-testing. Results Of the 2376 men, more than half (61 %) reported having ever-tested for HIV. The median number of lifetime tests was 2 (interquartile range = 1-3). Just over half (n = 834; 57 %) of ever-testers were defined as multiple-testers. Relative to never-testers, multiple-testers had higher levels of education and were more likely to report an occupation. Among the 719 men linked to a spouse, multiple-testing was higher among men whose spouse reported ever-testing (adjusted prevalence ratio = 3.02 95 % CI: 1.37-4.66). Multiple-testing was higher in study sites where anti-retroviral therapy was available at the health facility on the day of a health facility audit. Among ever-testers, education and occupation were positively associated with multiple-testing relative to reporting one lifetime HIV-test. Almost half (49 %) of ever-testers accepted the offer of home-based HIV-testing. Discussion Reported HIV-testing increased among this population of men since a 2011/12 survey. Yet, only 35 % of all men reported multiple lifetime HIV-tests. The factors associated with multiple HIV-testing were similar to factors associated with ever-testing for HIV. Men living with HIV were less likely to report multiple HIV-tests and employment and education were associated with multiple-testing. The offer of home-based HIV-testing increased the frequency of HIV-testing among men. Conclusion Although men's levels of ever-testing for HIV have increased, strategies need to increase the lifetime frequency of HIV-testing among men at continued risk of HIV-infection
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