57,188 research outputs found
The Diffuse Source at the Center of LMC SNR 0509-67.5 is a Background Galaxy at z = 0.031
Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are well-known for their use in the measurement
of cosmological distances, but our continuing lack of concrete knowledge about
their progenitor stars is both a matter of debate and a source of systematic
error. In our attempts to answer this question, we presented unambiguous
evidence that LMC SNR 0509-67.5, the remnant of an SN Ia that exploded in the
Large Magellanic Cloud 400 +/- 50 years ago, did not have any point sources
(stars) near the site of the original supernova explosion, from which we
concluded that this particular supernova must have had a progenitor system
consisting of two white dwarfs (Schaefer & Pagnotta 2012). There is, however,
evidence of nebulosity near the center of the remnant, which could have been
left over detritus from the less massive WD, or could have been a background
galaxy unrelated to the supernova explosion. We obtained long-slit spectra of
the central nebulous region using GMOS on Gemini South to determine which of
these two possibilities is correct. The spectra show H-alpha emission at a
redshift of z = 0.031, which implies that the nebulosity in the center of LMC
SNR 0509-67.5 is a background galaxy, unrelated to the supernova.Comment: 2 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Ca2+ transients are not required as signals for long-term neurite outgrowth from cultured sympathetic neurons
A method for clamping cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in cultures of rat sympathetic neurons at or below resting levels for several days was devised to determine whether Ca2+ signals are required for neurite outgrowth from neurons that depend on Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) for their growth and survival. To control [Ca2+]i, normal Ca2+ influx was eliminated by titration of extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA and reinstated through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. The rate of neurite outgrowth and the number of neurites thus became dependent on the extent of depolarization by KCl, and withdrawal of KCl caused an immediate cessation of growth. Neurite outgrowth was completely blocked by the L type Ca2+ channel antagonists nifedipine, nitrendipine, D600, or diltiazem at sub- or micromolar concentrations. Measurement of [Ca2+]i in cell bodies using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2 established that optimal growth, similar to that seen in normal medium, was obtained when [Ca2+]i was clamped at resting levels. These levels of [Ca2+]i were set by serum, which elevated [Ca2+]i by integral of 30 nM, whereas the addition of NGF had no effect on [Ca2+]i. The reduction of [Ca2+]o prevented neurite fasciculation but this had no effect on the rate of neurite elongation or on the number of extending neurites. These results show that neurite outgrowth from NGF-dependent neurons occurs over long periods in the complete absence of Ca2+ signals, suggesting that Ca2+ signals are not necessary for operating the basic machinery of neurite outgrowth
Systematic derivation of a surface polarization model for planar perovskite solar cells
Increasing evidence suggests that the presence of mobile ions in perovskite
solar cells can cause a current-voltage curve hysteresis. Steady state and
transient current-voltage characteristics of a planar metal halide
CHNHPbI perovskite solar cell are analysed with a drift-diffusion
model that accounts for both charge transport and ion vacancy motion. The high
ion vacancy density within the perovskite layer gives rise to narrow Debye
layers (typical width 2nm), adjacent to the interfaces with the transport
layers, over which large drops in the electric potential occur and in which
significant charge is stored. Large disparities between (I) the width of the
Debye layers and that of the perovskite layer (600nm) and (II) the ion
vacancy density and the charge carrier densities motivate an asymptotic
approach to solving the model, while the stiffness of the equations renders
standard solution methods unreliable. We derive a simplified surface
polarisation model in which the slow ion dynamic are replaced by interfacial
(nonlinear) capacitances at the perovskite interfaces. Favourable comparison is
made between the results of the asymptotic approach and numerical solutions for
a realistic cell over a wide range of operating conditions of practical
interest.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figure
The JCMT dense gas survey of the Perseus Molecular Cloud
We present the results of a large-scale survey of the very dense gas in the
Perseus molecular cloud using HCO+ and HCN (J = 4 - 3) transitions. We have
used this emission to trace the structure and kinematics of gas found in pre-
and protostellar cores, as well as in outflows. We compare the HCO+/HCN data,
highlighting regions where there is a marked discrepancy in the spectra of the
two emission lines. We use the HCO+ to identify positively protostellar
outflows and their driving sources, and present a statistical analysis of the
outflow properties that we derive from this tracer. We find that the relations
we calculate between the HCO+ outflow driving force and the Menv and Lbol of
the driving source are comparable to those obtained from similar outflow
analyses using 12CO, indicating that the two molecules give reliable estimates
of outflow properties. We also compare the HCO+ and the HCN in the outflows,
and find that the HCN traces only the most energetic outflows, the majority of
which are driven by young Class 0 sources. We analyse the abundances of HCN and
HCO+ in the particular case of the IRAS 2A outflows, and find that the HCN is
much more enhanced than the HCO+ in the outflow lobes. We suggest that this is
indicative of shock-enhancement of HCN along the length of the outflow; this
process is not so evident for HCO+, which is largely confined to the outflow
base.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figures, 9 table
Flame detector operable in presence of proton radiation
A detector of ultraviolet radiation for operation in a space vehicle which orbits through high intensity radiation areas is described. Two identical ultraviolet sensor tubes are mounted within a shield which limits to acceptable levels the amount of proton radiation reaching the sensor tubes. The shield has an opening which permits ultraviolet radiation to reach one of the sensing tubes. The shield keeps ultraviolet radiation from reaching the other sensor tube, designated the reference tube. The circuitry of the detector subtracts the output of the reference tube from the output of the sensing tube, and any portion of the output of the sensing tube which is due to proton radiation is offset by the output of the reference tube. A delay circuit in the detector prevents false alarms by keeping statistical variations in the proton radiation sensed by the two sensor tubes from developing an output signal
Electromagnetic and spin polarisabilities in lattice QCD
We discuss the extraction of the electromagnetic and spin polarisabilities of
nucleons from lattice QCD. We show that the external field method can be used
to measure all the electromagnetic and spin polarisabilities including those of
charged particles. We then turn to the extrapolations required to connect such
calculations to experiment in the context of finite volume chiral perturbation
theory. We derive results relevant for lattice simulations of QCD,
partially-quenched QCD and quenched QCD. Our results for the polarisabilities
show a strong dependence on the lattice volume and quark masses, typically
differing from the infinite volume limit by ~10% for current lattice volumes
and quark masses.Comment: Minor change
A Lattice Test of 1/N_c Baryon Mass Relations
1/N_c baryon mass relations are compared with lattice simulations of baryon
masses using different values of the light-quark masses, and hence different
values of SU(3) flavor-symmetry breaking. The lattice data clearly display both
the 1/N_c and SU(3) flavor-symmetry breaking hierarchies. The validity of 1/N_c
baryon mass relations derived without assuming approximate SU(3)
flavor-symmetry also can be tested by lattice data at very large values of the
strange quark mass. The 1/N_c expansion constrains the form of discretization
effects; these are suppressed by powers of 1/N_c by taking suitable
combinations of masses. This 1/N_c scaling is explicitly demonstrated in the
present work.Comment: 13 pages, 20 figures; v2 version to be published in PR
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