8,934 research outputs found
Spectral Analyses of the Nearest Persistent Ultraluminous X-Ray Source M33 X-8
We provide a detailed analysis of 12 XMM observations of the nearest
persistent extragalactic ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX), M33 X-8. No
significant spectral evolution is detected between the observations, therefore
we combine the individual observations to increase the signal-to-noise ratio
for spectral fitting. The combined spectra are best fitted by the
self-consistent p-free disk plus power-law component model with p =
0.571_{-0.030}^{+0.032}, kT_{in} = 1.38_{-0.08}^{+0.09} keV, and the flux ratio
of the p-free disk component to the power-law component being 0.63:0.37 in the
0.3 -- 10 keV band. The fitting indicates that the black hole in M33 X-8 is of
\sim 10 M_{\odot} and accretes at a super-Eddington rate (\sim 1.5 L_{Edd}),
and the phase of the accretion disk is close to a slim disk (p = 0.5). We
report, for the first time, that an extra power-law component is required in
addition to the p-free disk model for ULXs. In super-Eddington cases, the
power-law component may possibly result from the optically thin inner region f
the disk or a comptonized corona similar to that of a standard thin disk.Comment: 11 pages, 1 table, 2 figures, accepted by PAS
Phase diagram of the frustrated, spatially anisotropic S=1 antiferromagnet on a square lattice
We study the S=1 square lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet with spatially
anisotropic nearest neighbor couplings , frustrated by a
next-nearest neighbor coupling numerically using the density-matrix
renormalization group (DMRG) method and analytically employing the
Schwinger-Boson mean-field theory (SBMFT). Up to relatively strong values of
the anisotropy, within both methods we find quantum fluctuations to stabilize
the N\'{e}el ordered state above the classically stable region. Whereas SBMFT
suggests a fluctuation-induced first order transition between the N\'{e}el
state and a stripe antiferromagnet for and an
intermediate paramagnetic region opening only for very strong anisotropy, the
DMRG results clearly demonstrate that the two magnetically ordered phases are
separated by a quantum disordered region for all values of the anisotropy with
the remarkable implication that the quantum paramagnetic phase of the spatially
isotropic - model is continuously connected to the limit of
decoupled Haldane spin chains. Our findings indicate that for S=1 quantum
fluctuations in strongly frustrated antiferromagnets are crucial and not
correctly treated on the semiclassical level.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure
Effects of dust storms on microwave radiation based on satellite observation and model simulation over the Taklamakan desert
International audienceEffects of dust particles on microwave radiation over the Taklamakan desert are studied with use of measurements from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) on the EOS Aqua satellite and a microwave radiation transfer model. Eight observed cases show that the signal from atmospheric dust can be separated from the surface radiation by the fact that the dust particles produce stronger scattering at high frequencies and depolarize the background desert signature. This result of satellite data is consistent with the model simulation
Multi-wavelength variability properties of Fermi blazar S5 0716+714
S5 0716+714 is a typical BL Lacertae object. In this paper we present the
analysis and results of long term simultaneous observations in the radio,
near-infrared, optical, X-ray and -ray bands, together with our own
photometric observations for this source. The light curves show that the
variability amplitudes in -ray and optical bands are larger than those
in the hard X-ray and radio bands and that the spectral energy distribution
(SED) peaks move to shorter wavelengths when the source becomes brighter, which
are similar to other blazars, i.e., more variable at wavelengths shorter than
the SED peak frequencies. Analysis shows that the characteristic variability
timescales in the 14.5 GHz, the optical, the X-ray, and the -ray bands
are comparable to each other. The variations of the hard X-ray and 14.5 GHz
emissions are correlated with zero-lag, so are the V band and -ray
variations, which are consistent with the leptonic models. Coincidences of
-ray and optical flares with a dramatic change of the optical
polarization are detected. Hadronic models do not have the same nature
explanation for these observations as the leptonic models. A strong optical
flare correlating a -ray flare whose peak flux is lower than the
average flux is detected. Leptonic model can explain this variability
phenomenon through simultaneous SED modeling. Different leptonic models are
distinguished by average SED modeling. The synchrotron plus synchrotron
self-Compton (SSC) model is ruled out due to the extreme input parameters.
Scattering of external seed photons, such as the hot dust or broad line region
emission, and the SSC process are probably both needed to explain the
-ray emission of S5 0716+714.Comment: 43 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables, to be appeared in Ap
Nitrogen dynamics in the shallow groundwater of a riparian wetland zone of the Garonne, SW France: nitrate inputs, bacterial densities, organic matter supply and denitrification measurements
This study highlights the role of interactions between surface and sub-surface water of the riparian zone of a large river (the Garonne, SW
France). Information is given about the role of surface water in supplying Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC ) to the riparian zone for nitrate
removal processes. The densities of bacteria (up to 3.3106 cell m L-1) in groundwater are strongly conditioned by the water moving during
flood events. Total bacterial densities in groundwater were related to surface water bacterial densities. In sediment, total bacteria are attached
mainly to fine particles (90 % in the fraction < 1 mm). Spatial variations in organic carbon and nitrate content in groundwater at the site
studied are correlated with exchanges between the groundwater and the river, from the upstream to the downstream part of the meander. Total
bacterial densities, nitrate and decressing organic carbon concentrations follow the same pattern. These results suggest that, in this kind of
riparian wetland, nitrate from alluvial groundwater influenced by agricultural practices may be denitrified by bacteria in the presence of
organic carbon from river surface water
Mott physics, sign structure, ground state wavefunction, and high-Tc superconductivity
In this article I give a pedagogical illustration of why the essential
problem of high-Tc superconductivity in the cuprates is about how an
antiferromagnetically ordered state can be turned into a short-range state by
doping. I will start with half-filling where the antiferromagnetic ground state
is accurately described by the Liang-Doucot-Anderson (LDA) wavefunction. Here
the effect of the Fermi statistics becomes completely irrelevant due to the no
double occupancy constraint. Upon doping, the statistical signs reemerge,
albeit much reduced as compared to the original Fermi statistical signs. By
precisely incorporating this altered statistical sign structure at finite
doping, the LDA ground state can be recast into a short-range antiferromagnetic
state. Superconducting phase coherence arises after the spin correlations
become short-ranged, and the superconducting phase transition is controlled by
spin excitations. I will stress that the pseudogap phenomenon naturally emerges
as a crossover between the antiferromagnetic and superconducting phases. As a
characteristic of non Fermi liquid, the mutual statistical interaction between
the spin and charge degrees of freedom will reach a maximum in a
high-temperature "strange metal phase" of the doped Mott insulator.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure
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