Shocks in relativistic transverse stratified jets, a new paradigm for radio-loud AGN

The transverse stratification of active galactic nuclei (AGN) jets is suggested by observations and theoretical arguments, as a consequence of intrinsic properties of the central engine (accretion disc + black hole) and external medium. On the other hand, the one-component jet approaches are heavily challenged by the various observed properties of plasmoids in radio jets (knots), often associated with internal shocks. Given that such a transverse stratification plays an important role on the jets acceleration, stability, and interaction with the external medium, it should also induce internal shocks with various strengths and configurations, able to describe the observed knots behaviours. By establishing a relation between the transverse stratification of the jets, the internal shock properties, and the multiple observed AGN jet morphologies and behaviours, our aim is to provide a consistent global scheme of the various AGN jet structures. Working on a large sample of AGN radio jets monitored in very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) by the MOJAVE collaboration, we determined the consistency of a systematic association of the multiple knots with successive re-collimation shocks. We then investigated the re-collimation shock formation and the influence of different transverse stratified structures by parametrically exploring the two relativistic outflow components with the specific relativistic hydrodynamic (SRHD) code AMRVAC. We were able to link the different spectral classes of AGN with specific stratified jet characteristics, in good accordance with their VLBI radio properties and their accretion regimes.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in A&

The rise of the cosmetic industry in ancient China: insights from a 2,700‐year‐old face cream

Cosmetic has a long history in China while its origin has remained unclear. It potentially originated in the Spring and Autumn period (770‐476 BC) but little is known about its early manufacture and use. The Liujiawa Site, located at the southern edge of the Loess Plateau in northern China, was the late capital of the Rui State in the early to middle Spring and Autumn Period. During the excavation, a sealed small and exquisite container with suspected cosmetic use was unearthed from tomb M49 belonging to a male associated with the aristocratic class. Here, we report the multidisciplinary application of ATR‐FTIR, XRD, SEM, stable isotope analysis, GC/MS, and GC‐C‐IRMS analysis of the residue inside the container, demonstrating that the residue, made of ruminant adipose fat mixed with monohydrocalcite coming from cave moonmilk, was likely used as cosmetic face cream by the nobleman of ancient Rui State. This work provides an early example of cosmetic production in China and, together with the prevalence of similar cosmetic containers during this period, suggests the rise of an incipient cosmetics industry. Furthermore, the exploitation of moonmilk, a special stalactite in some limestone caves, reflects the link between early Taoist School and cosmetic production encouraged by the aristocratic class.1. Introduction 2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Site and sample background 2.2 FTIR analysis 2.3 XRD analysis 2.4 SEM analysis 2.5 Inorganic carbon and oxygen isotope analysis 2.6 GC/MS analysis 2.7 GC-C-IRMS analysis 3. Results 3.1 The source of inorganic mineral 3.2 The origin of fat matrix 4. Discussion 4.1 The origin of the animal lipids 4.2 The exploitation of stalactites along with the Taoist School Cave Cultus 4.3 The earliest face cream in China 4.4 The rise of the cosmetic industry in the early period of Spring and Autum

Observation of the Ankle and Evidence for a High-Energy Break in the Cosmic Ray Spectrum

We have measured the cosmic ray spectrum at energies above $10^{17}$ eV using the two air fluorescence detectors of the High Resolution Fly's Eye experiment operating in monocular mode. We describe the detector, PMT and atmospheric calibrations, and the analysis techniques for the two detectors. We fit the spectrum to models describing galactic and extragalactic sources. Our measured spectrum gives an observation of a feature known as the ``ankle'' near $3\times 10^{18}$ eV, and strong evidence for a suppression near $6\times 10^{19}$ eV.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures. To appear in Physics Letters B. Accepted versio

Coupling to optical phonons in the one-dimensional t-J model: Effects on superconducting fluctuations and phase separation

The one-dimensional (1D) $t$-$J$ Holstein model is studied by exact diagonalization of finite rings using a variational approximation for the phonon states. Due to renormalization effects induced by the phonons, for intermediate electron-phonon coupling, the phase separation (PS) boundary, and with it the region of dominating superconducting fluctuations is shifted substantially to smaller values of $J/t$ as compared to the pure $t$-$J$ model. Superconducting correlations are weakened through charge density wave interactions mediated by the phonons. Possible consequences for the high $T_c$ oxides are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, Latex2

Spectral properties of the t-J model in the presence of hole-phonon interaction

We examine the effects of electron-phonon interaction on the dynamics of the charge carriers doped in two-dimensional (2D) Heisenberg antiferromagnet. The $t$-$J$ model Hamiltonian with a Fr\"ohlich term which couples the holes to a dispersionless (optical) phonon mode is considered for low doping concentration. The evolution of the spectral density function, the density of states, and the momentum distribution function of the holes with an increase of the hole-phonon coupling constant $g$ is studied numerically. As the coupling to a phonon mode increases the quasiparticle spectral weight decreases and a ``phonon satellite'' feature close to the quasi-particle peak becomes more pronounced. Furthermore, strong electron-phonon coupling smears the multi-magnon resonances (``string states'') in the incoherent part of the spectral function. The jump in the momentum distribution function at the Fermi surface is reduced without changing the hole pocket volume, thereby providing a numerical verification of Luttinger theorem for this strongly interacting system. The vertex corrections due to electron- phonon interaction are negligible in spite of the fact that the ratio of the phonon frequency to the effective bandwidth is not small.Comment: REVTeX, 20 pages, 9 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. B (Nov. 1, 1996

Two-Dimensional Nature of Four-Layer Superconductors by Inequivalent Hole Distribution

The magnetization of the four-layer superconductor CuBa_{2}Ca_{3}Cu_4O_{12-\delta} with T_c\simeq117 K is presented. The high-field magnetization around T_c(H) follows the exact two-dimensional scaling function given by Te\v{s}anovi\'{c} and Andreev. This feature is contrary to the inference that the interlayer coupling becomes strong if the number of CuO_2 planes in a unit cell increases. Also, the fluctuation-induced susceptibility in the low-field region was analyzed by using the modified Lawrence-Doniach model. The effective number of independently fluctuating CuO_2 layers per unit cell, g_{\rm eff}, turned out to be \simeq 2 rather than 4, which indicated that two among the four CuO_2 layers were in states far from their optimal doping levels. This result could explain why CuBa_{2}Ca_{3}Cu_4O_{12-\delta} shows two-dimensional behavior.Comment: 5 pages and 4 figure

A Measurement of Time-Averaged Aerosol Optical Depth using Air-Showers Observed in Stereo by HiRes

Air fluorescence measurements of cosmic ray energy must be corrected for attenuation of the atmosphere. In this paper we show that the air-showers themselves can yield a measurement of the aerosol attenuation in terms of optical depth, time-averaged over extended periods. Although the technique lacks statistical power to make the critical hourly measurements that only specialized active instruments can achieve, we note the technique does not depend on absolute calibration of the detector hardware, and requires no additional equipment beyond the fluorescence detectors that observe the air showers. This paper describes the technique, and presents results based on analysis of 1258 air-showers observed in stereo by the High Resolution Fly's Eye over a four year span.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication by Astroparticle Physics Journa

Cosmological constraints combining H(z), CMB shift and SNIa observational data

Recently H(z) data obtained from differential ages of galaxies have been proposed as a new geometrical probe of dark energy. In this paper we use those data, combined with other background tests (CMB shift and SNIa data), to constrain a set of general relativistic dark energy models together with some other models motivated by extra dimensions. Our analysis rests mostly on Bayesian statistics, and we conclude that LCDM is at least substantially favoured, and that braneworld models are less favoured than general relativistic ones.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures; improved discussion, new figures, updated to match published versio

Oxygen-isotope effect on the in-plane penetration depth in cuprate superconductors

Muon-spin rotation (muSR) studies of the oxygen isotope (^{16}O/^{18}O) effect (OIE) on the in-plane magnetic field penetration depth lambda_{ab} in cuprate high-temperature superconductors (HTS) are presented. First, the doping dependence of the OIE on the transition temperature T_c in various HTS is briefly discussed. It is observed that different cuprate families show a similar doping dependence of the OIE on T_c. Then, bulk muSR, low-energy muSR, and magnetization studies of the total and site-selective OIE on lambda_{ab} are described in some detail. A substantial OIE on lambda_{ab} was observed in various cuprate families at all doping levels, suggesting that cuprate HTS are non-adiabatic superconductors. The experiments clearly demonstrate that the total OIE on T_c and lambda_{ab} arise from the oxygen sites within the superconducting CuO_2 planes, demonstrating that the phonon modes involving the movement of planar oxygen are dominantly coupled to the supercarriers. Finally, it is shown that the OIE on T_c and lambda_{ab} exhibit a relation that appears to be generic for different families of cuprate HTS. The observation of these unusual isotope effects implies that lattice effects play an essential role in cuprate HTS and have to be considered in any realistic model of high-temperature superconductivity.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures. To be published in a special issue of J. Phys. Cond. Ma

Search for Global Dipole Enhancements in the HiRes-I Monocular Data above 10^{18.5} eV

Several proposed source models for Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) consist of dipole distributions oriented towards major astrophysical landmarks such as the galactic center, M87, or Centaurus A. We use a comparison between real data and simulated data to show that the HiRes-I monocular data for energies above 10^{18.5} eV is, in fact, consistent with an isotropic source model. We then explore methods to quantify our sensitivity to dipole source models oriented towards the Galactic Center, M87, and Centaurus A.Comment: 17 pages, 31 figure