4,411 research outputs found
Effects of Helium Phase Separation on the Evolution of Extrasolar Giant Planets
We build on recent new evolutionary models of Jupiter and Saturn and here
extend our calculations to investigate the evolution of extrasolar giant
planets of mass 0.15 to 3.0 M_J. Our inhomogeneous thermal history models show
that the possible phase separation of helium from liquid metallic hydrogen in
the deep interiors of these planets can lead to luminosities ~2 times greater
than have been predicted by homogeneous models. For our chosen phase diagram
this phase separation will begin to affect the planets' evolution at ~700 Myr
for a 0.15 M_J object and ~10 Gyr for a 3.0 M_J object. We show how phase
separation affects the luminosity, effective temperature, radii, and
atmospheric helium mass fraction as a function of age for planets of various
masses, with and without heavy element cores, and with and without the effect
of modest stellar irradiation. This phase separation process will likely not
affect giant planets within a few AU of their parent star, as these planets
will cool to their equilibrium temperatures, determined by stellar heating,
before the onset of phase separation. We discuss the detectability of these
objects and the likelihood that the energy provided by helium phase separation
can change the timescales for formation and settling of ammonia clouds by
several Gyr. We discuss how correctly incorporating stellar irradiation into
giant planet atmosphere and albedo modeling may lead to a consistent
evolutionary history for Jupiter and Saturn.Comment: 22 pages, including 14 figures. Accepted to the Astrophysical Journa
Test results of Spacelab 2 infrared telescope focal plane
The small helium cooled infrared telescope for Spacelab 2 is designed for sensitive mapping of extended, low-surface-brightness celestial sources as well as highly sensitive investigations of the shuttle contamination environment (FPA) for this mission is described as well as the design for a thermally isolated, self-heated J-FET transimpedance amplifier. This amplifier is Johnson noise limited for feedback resistances from less than 10 to the 8th power Omega to greater than 2 x 10 to the 10th power Omega at T = 4.2K. Work on the focal plane array is complete. Performance testing for qualification of the flight hardware is discussed, and results are presented. All infrared data channels are measured to be background limited by the expected level of zodiacal emission
The tropospheric gas composition of Jupiter's north equatorial belt (NH3, PH3, CH3D, GeH4, H2O) and the Jovian D/H isotropic ratio
The gas composition of the troposphere of Jupiter in the clearest regions of the North Equatorial Belt (NEB) was derived from the Voyager 1 IRIS data. The infrared spectrum for this homogeneous cloud free region was modeled to infer altitude profiles for NH3, PH3, GeH4 and H2O. The Profiles for NH3 and PH3 were found to be depleted in the upper troposphere but otherwise in agreement with their solar values at the 1 bar level. The mole fraction for CH3D was determined to be 3.5(+1.0 or -1.3) x 10 to the minus 7th power. The GeH4 mole fraction of 7+ or -2 x 10 to the minus 10th power at the 2 to 3 bar level is a factor of 10 lower than the solar value. The H2O mole fraction is approximately 1 x 0.00001 at the 2.5 bar level and is increasing to approximately 3 x 0.00001 at 4 bars where it is a factor of 30 lower than solar. Using IRIS infrared values for the mole fractions of CH3D and CH4 a value of D/H = 3.6(+1.0 or -1.4)x 0.00001 is derived. Assuming this Jovian D/H ratio is representative of the protosolar nebula, and correcting for chemical galactic evolution, yields a value of 5.5 - 9.0 x 0.00001 for the primordial D/H ratio and an upper limit of 1.8 to 2.4 x 10 to the minus 31st power cu cm for the present day baryon density
Dynamical Mean Field Theory of the Antiferromagnetic Metal to Antiferromagnetic Insulator Transition
We study the antiferromagnetic metal to antiferromagnetic insulator using
dynamical mean field theory and exact diagonalization methods. We find two
qualitatively different behaviors depending on the degree of magnetic
correlations. For strong correlations combined with magnetic frustration, the
transition can be described in terms of a renormalized slater theory, with a
continuous gap closure driven by the magnetism but strongly renormalized by
correlations. For weak magnetic correlations, the transition is weakly first
order.Comment: 4 pages, uses epsfig,4 figures,notational errors rectifie
Caltech Faint Field Galaxy Redshift Survey IX: Source detection and photometry in the Hubble Deep Field Region
Detection and photometry of sources in the U_n, G, R, and K_s bands in a 9x9
arcmin^2 region of the sky, centered on the Hubble Deep Field, are described.
The data permit construction of complete photometric catalogs to roughly
U_n=25, G=26, R=25.5 and K_s=20 mag, and significant photometric measurements
somewhat fainter. The galaxy number density is 1.3x10^5 deg^{-2} to R=25.0 mag.
Galaxy number counts have slopes dlog N/dm=0.42, 0.33, 0.27 and 0.31 in the
U_n, G, R and K_s bands, consistent with previous studies and the trend that
fainter galaxies are, on average, bluer. Galaxy catalogs selected in the R and
K_s bands are presented, containing 3607 and 488 sources, in field areas of
74.8 and 59.4 arcmin^2, to R=25.5 and and K_s=20 mag.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJS; some tables and slightly nicer
figures available at http://www.sns.ias.edu/~hogg/deep
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