5,257 research outputs found
A comprehensive population synthesis study of post-common envelope binaries
We apply population synthesis techniques to calculate the present day
population of post-common envelope binaries (PCEBs) for a range of theoretical
models describing the common envelope (CE) phase. Adopting the canonical energy
budget approach we consider models where the ejection efficiency,
\alpha_{\rmn{CE}} is either a constant, or a function of the secondary mass.
We obtain the envelope binding energy from detailed stellar models of the
progenitor primary, with and without the thermal and ionization energy, but we
also test a commonly used analytical scaling. We also employ the alternative
angular momentum budget approach, known as the -algorithm. We find that
a constant, global value of \alpha_{\rmn{CE}} \ga 0.1 can adequately account
for the observed population of PCEBs with late spectral-type secondaries.
However, this prescription fails to reproduce IK Pegasi, which has a secondary
with spectral type A8. We can account for IK Pegasi if we include thermal and
ionization energy of the giant's envelope, or if we use the -algorithm.
However, the -algorithm predicts local space densities that are 1 to 2
orders of magnitude greater than estimates from observations. In contrast, the
canonical energy budget prescription with an initial mass ratio distribution
that favours unequal initial mass ratios gives a local space density which is
in good agreement with observations, and best reproduces the observed
distribution of PCEBs. Finally, all models fail to reproduce the sharp decline
for orbital periods, P_{\rmn{orb}} \ga 1 d in the orbital period distribution
of observed PCEBs, even if we take into account selection effects against
systems with long orbital periods and early spectral-type secondaries.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Monthly Notices of the Royal
Astronomical Society. 18 pages, 10 figures. Work concerning the
reconstruction of the common envelope phase presented in the previous version
will now be submitted in a separate paper in the near futur
Superconducting phase formation in random neck syntheses: a study of the Y-Ba-Cu-O system by magneto-optics and magnetometry
Magneto-optical imaging and magnetization measurements were applied to
investigate local formation of superconducting phase effected by a random neck
synthesis in Y-Ba-Cu-O system. Polished pellets of strongly inhomogeneous
ceramic samples show clearly the appearance of superconducting material in the
intergrain zones of binary primary particles reacted under different
conditions. Susceptibility measurements allows evaluation of superconducting
critical temperature, which turned out to be close to that of optimally doped
YBCO.Comment: 6 pages, 11 figure
Deep level transient spectroscopy study for the development of ion-implanted silicon field-effect transistors for spin-dependent transport
A deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) study of defects created by
low-fluence, low-energy ion implantation for development of ion-implanted
silicon field-effect transistors for spin-dependent transport experiments is
presented. Standard annealing strategies are considered to activate the
implanted dopants and repair the implantation damage in test
metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors. Fixed oxide charge, interface
trapped charge and the role of minority carriers in DLTS are investigated. A
furnace anneal at 950 C was found to activate the dopants but did not
repair the implantation damage as efficiently as a 1000 C rapid
thermal anneal. No evidence of bulk traps was observed after either of these
anneals. The ion- implanted spin-dependent transport device is shown to have
expected characteristics using the processing strategy determined in this
study.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure
Detailed magnetization study of superconducting properties of YBCO ceramic spheres
We present a magnetization study of low density YBCO ceramics carried out in
magnetic fields 0.5 Oe < H < 50 kOe. It was demonstrated that superconducting
links between grains may be completely suppressed either by a magnetic field of
the order of 100 Oe (at low temperatures) or by an increase of temperature
above 70 K. This property of present samples allowed to evaluate the ratio
between an average grain size and the magnetic field penetration depth lambda.
Furthermore, at temperatures T > 85 K, using low-field magnetization
measurements, we could evaluate the temperature dependence of lambda, which
turned out to be very close to predictions of the conventional Ginzburg-Landau
theory. Although present samples consisted of randomly oriented grains,
specifics of magnetization measurements allowed for evaluation of lambda_ab(T).
Good agreement between our estimation of the grain size with the real sample
structure provides evidence for the validity of this analysis of magnetization
data. Measurements of equilibrium magnetization in high magnetic fields were
used for evaluation of Hc2(T). At temperatures close to T_c, the Hc2(T)
dependence turned out to be linear in agreement with the Ginzburg-Landau
theory. The value of temperature, at which Hc2 vanishes, coincides with the
superconducting critical temperature evaluated from low-field measurements.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure
Polar kicks and the spin period - eccentricity relation in double neutron stars
We present results of a population synthesis study aimed at examining the
role of spin-kick alignment in producing a correlation between the spin period
of the first-born neutron star and the orbital eccentricity of observed double
neutron star binaries in the Galactic disk. We find spin-kick alignment to be
compatible with the observed correlation, but not to alleviate the requirements
for low kick velocities suggested in previous population synthesis studies. Our
results furthermore suggest low- and high-eccentricity systems may form through
two distinct formation channels distinguished by the presence or absence of a
stable mass transfer phase before the formation of the second neutron star. The
presence of highly eccentric systems in the observed sample of double neutron
stars may furthermore support the notion that neutron stars accrete matter when
moving through the envelope of a giant companion.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of "40 Years of Pulsars: Millisecond
Pulsars, Magnetars, and More", August 12-17, 2007, McGill University,
Montreal, Canad
Interacting Binaries with Eccentric Orbits. III. Orbital Evolution due to Direct Impact and Self-Accretion
The rapid circularization and synchronization of the stellar components in an
eccentric binary system at the onset of Roche lobe overflow (RLO) is a
fundamental assumption common to all binary stellar evolution and population
synthesis codes, even though the validity of this assumption is questionable
both theoretically and observationally. Here we calculate the evolution of the
orbital elements of an eccentric binary through the direct three-body
integration of a massive particle ejected through the inner Lagrangian point of
the donor star at periastron. The trajectory of this particle leads to three
possible outcomes: direct accretion (DA) onto the companion star within a
single orbit, self-accretion (SA) back onto the donor star within a single
orbit, or a quasi-periodic orbit around the companion star. We calculate the
secular evolution of the binary orbit in the first two cases and conclude that
DA can increase or decrease the orbital semi-major axis and eccentricity, while
SA always decreases the orbital both orbital elements. In cases where mass
overflow contributes to circularizing the orbit, circularization can set in on
timescales as short as a few per cent of the mass transfer timescale. In cases
where mass overflow increases the eccentricity, the orbital evolution is
governed by competition between mass overflow and tidal torques. In the absence
of tidal torques, mass overflow resulting in DI can lead to substantially
subsynchronously rotating donor stars. Contrary to common assumptions, DI
furthermore does not always provide a strong sink of orbital angular momentum
in close mass-transferring binaries; in fact we instead find that a significant
part can be returned to the orbit during the particle orbit. The formulation
presented here can be combined with stellar and binary evolution codes to
generate a better picture of the evolution of eccentric, RLO binary star
systems.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap
Eccentric double white dwarfs as LISA sources in globular clusters
We consider the formation of double white dwarfs (DWDs) through dynamical
interactions in globular clusters. Such interactions can give rise to eccentric
DWDs, in contrast to the exclusively circular population expected to form in
the Galactic disk. We show that for a 5-year Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
(LISA) mission and distances as far as the Large Magellanic Cloud, multiple
harmonics from eccentric DWDs can be detected at a signal-to-noise ratio higher
than 8 for at least a handful of eccentric DWDs, given their formation rate and
typical lifetimes estimated from current cluster simulations. Consequently the
association of eccentricity with stellar-mass LISA sources does not uniquely
involve neutron stars, as is usually assumed. Due to the difficulty of
detecting (eccentric) DWDs with present and planned electromagnetic
observatories, LISA could provide unique dynamical identifications of these
systems in globular clusters.Comment: Published in ApJ 665, L5
Optical and electronic properties of sub-surface conducting layers in diamond created by MeV B-implantation at elevated temperatures
Boron implantation with in-situ dynamic annealing is used to produce highly
conductive sub-surface layers in type IIa (100) diamond plates for the search
of a superconducting phase transition. Here we demonstrate that high-fluence
MeV ion-implantation, at elevated temperatures avoids graphitization and can be
used to achieve doping densities of 6 at.%. In order to quantify the diamond
crystal damage associated with implantation Raman spectroscopy was performed,
demonstrating high temperature annealing recovers the lattice. Additionally,
low-temperature electronic transport measurements show evidence of charge
carrier densities close to the metal-insulator-transition. After electronic
characterization, secondary ion mass spectrometry was performed to map out the
ion profile of the implanted plates. The analysis shows close agreement with
the simulated ion-profile assuming scaling factors that take into account an
average change in diamond density due to device fabrication. Finally, the data
show that boron diffusion is negligible during the high temperature annealing
process.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, submitted to JA
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