Acoustic power absorption and enhancement generated by slow and fast MHD waves

We used long duration, high quality, unresolved (Sun-as-a star) observations collected by the ground based network BiSON and by the instruments GOLF and VIRGO on board the ESA/NASA SOHO satellite to search for solar-cycle-related changes in mode characteristics in velocity and continuum intensity for the frequency range between 2.5mHz < nu < 6.8mHz. Over the ascending phase of solar cycle 23 we found a suppression in the p-mode amplitudes both in the velocity and intensity data between 2.5mHz <nu< 4.5mHz with a maximum suppression for frequencies in the range between 2.5mHz <nu< 3.5mHz. The size of the amplitude suppression is 13+-2 per cent for the velocity and 9+-2 per cent for the intensity observations. Over the range 4.5mHz <nu< 5.5mHz the findings hint within the errors to a null change both in the velocity and intensity amplitudes. At still higher frequencies, in the so called High-frequency Interference Peaks (HIPs) between 5.8mHz <nu < 6.8mHz, we found an enhancement in the velocity amplitudes with the maximum 36+-7 per cent occurring for 6.3mHz <nu< 6.8mHz. However, in intensity observations we found a rather smaller enhancement of about 5+-2 per cent in the same interval. There is evidence that the frequency dependence of solar-cycle velocity amplitude changes is consistent with the theory behind the mode conversion of acoustic waves in a non-vertical magnetic field, but there are some problems with the intensity data, which may be due to the height in the solar atmosphere at which the VIRGO data are taken.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. 10 pages, 9 figures

Spectroscopic Observations of Planetary Nebulae in the Northern Spur of M31

We present spectroscopy of three planetary nebulae (PNe) in the Northern Spur of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) obtained with the Double Spectrograph on the 5.1 m Hale Telescope at the Palomar Observatory. The samples are selected from the observations of Merrett et al. Our purpose is to investigate formation of the substructures of M31 using PNe as a tracer of chemical abundances. The [O III] 4363 auroral line is detected in the spectra of two objects, enabling temperature determinations. Ionic abundances are derived from the observed collisionally excited lines, and elemental abundances of nitrogen, oxygen, and neon as well as sulphur and argon are estimated. Correlations between oxygen and the alpha-element abundance ratios are studied, using our sample and the M31 disk and bulge PNe from the literature. In one of the three PNe, we observed relatively higher oxygen abundance compared to the disk sample in M31 at similar galactocentric distances. The results of at least one of the three Northern Spur PNe might be in line with the proposed possible origin of the Northern Spur substructure of M31, i.e. the Northern Spur is connected to the Southern Stream and both substructures comprise the tidal debris of the satellite galaxies of M31.Comment: 5 tables, 17 figures; accepted for publication in Ap

Design And Optimization Of Pv/diesel Hybrid Power System In A Hotel

Electric power is a necessity for the development of a society, without it would be impossible to see the world as we actually know. Its use is closely related to modern life and human development. Renewable energy is a good alternative for energy supply in regions where conventional power networks are absent or service quality is intermittent. The importance of these renewable energy sources lies in their lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) to atmosphere and the reduced dependency on raw materials for importation and transport for power generation. Renewable energy is becoming economically competitive in the short to medium term. Hybrid power systems is a novel approach recently gaining popularity, since they combine multiple sources of renewable energy such as solar, wind, mini hydro-power, and also could include conventional generators as support. This combination allows the optimization of the power generation system by reducing emissions from the petroleum and coal based energy sources. This paper presents a pilot hybrid power system design for the power supply in the hotel ‘La mansion’ in the town of Acacias, Meta (Colombia). Simulation and optimization were based on a computer program known as HOGA educational version 2.2, which initially considered economic parameters associated to photovoltaic system such as: overall power, replacement cost and operation and maintenance costs, as well as all powers to consider in the simulation. The main purpose is to present an alternative power source in the hotel located in an area with high rates of power outages, and gradually include photovoltaic solar power combined with conventional energy supply, to meet the energy demand when the peak consumption periods occurs during power outages from the power grid. This paper confirmed that hybrid power systems are a good energy supply alternative as auxiliary small power systems because they are capable of supplying the power demands during power grid outages or even in total absence of the power grid. Simulations showed that the combination of diesel and solar photovoltaics is a good alternative to meet lighting power demand in the hotel ‘La Mansion’, even in night hours thanks to the battery storag

Signatures of magnetic activity in the seismic data of solar-type stars observed by Kepler

In the Sun, the frequencies of the acoustic modes are observed to vary in phase with the magnetic activity level. These frequency variations are expected to be common in solar-type stars and contain information about the activity-related changes that take place in their interiors. The unprecedented duration of Kepler photometric time-series provides a unique opportunity to detect and characterize stellar magnetic cycles through asteroseismology. In this work, we analyze a sample of 87 solar-type stars, measuring their temporal frequency shifts over segments of length 90 days. For each segment, the individual frequencies are obtained through a Bayesian peak-bagging tool. The mean frequency shifts are then computed and compared with: 1) those obtained from a cross-correlation method; 2) the variation in the mode heights; 3) a photometric activity proxy; and 4) the characteristic timescale of the granulation. For each star and 90-d sub-series, we provide mean frequency shifts, mode heights, and characteristic timescales of the granulation. Interestingly, more than 60% of the stars show evidence for (quasi-)periodic variations in the frequency shifts. In the majority of the cases, these variations are accompanied by variations in other activity proxies. About 20% of the stars show mode frequencies and heights varying approximately in phase, in opposition to what is observed for the Sun.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJS, 19(+86) pages, 11(+89) figures, 2(+87) table

Seismic signatures of magnetic activity in solar-type stars observed by Kepler

The properties of the acoustic modes are sensitive to magnetic activity. The unprecedented long-term Kepler photometry, thus, allows stellar magnetic cycles to be studied through asteroseismology. We search for signatures of magnetic cycles in the seismic data of Kepler solar-type stars. We find evidence for periodic variations in the acoustic properties of about half of the 87 analysed stars. In these proceedings, we highlight the results obtained for two such stars, namely KIC 8006161 and KIC 5184732.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the Proceedings of the IAUS34

Dynamics of bright matter wave solitons in a quasi 1D Bose-Einstein condensate with a rapidly varying trap

The dynamics of a bright matter wave soliton in a quasi 1D Bose-Einstein condensate with periodically rapidly varying trap is considered. The governing equation is derived based on averaging over fast modulations of the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation. This equation has the form of GP equation with effective potential of more complicated structure than unperturbed trap. For the case of inverted (expulsive) quadratic trap corresponding to unstable GP equation, the effective potential can be stable. For the bounded in space trap potential it is showed that the bifurcation exists, i.e.,the single well potential bifurcates to the triple well effective potential. Stabilization of BEC cloud on-site state in the temporary modulated optical lattice is found. (analogous to the Kapitza stabilization of the pendulum). The predictions of the averaged GP equation are confirmed by the numerical simulations of GP equation with rapid perturbations.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure