679 research outputs found
Detection of the buckminsterfullerene cation (C60+) in space
In the early 90s, C60+ was proposed as the carrier of two diffuse
interstellar bands (DIBs) at 957.7 and 963.2 nm, but a firm identification
still awaits gas-phase spectroscopic data. Neutral C60, on the other hand, was
recently detected through its infrared emission bands in the interstellar
medium and evolved stars. In this contribution, we present the detection of
C60+ through its infrared vibrational bands in the NGC 7023 nebula, based on
spectroscopic observations with the Spitzer space telescope, quantum chemistry
calculation, and laboratory data from the literature. This detection supports
the idea that C60+ could be a DIB carrier, and provides robust evidence that
fullerenes exist in the gas-phase in the interstellar medium. Modeling efforts
to design specific observations, combined with new gas-phase data, will be
essential to confirm this proposal. A definitive attribution of the 957.7 and
963.2 nm DIBs to C60+ would represent a significant step forward in the field.Comment: To appear in "Proceedings of IAU 297 symposium on the Diffuse
Interstellar Bands", eds. J. Cami and N. Cox (5 pages
The infrared signatures of very small grains in the Universe seen by JWST
The near- and mid-IR spectrum of many astronomical objects is dominated by
emission bands due to UV-excited polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and
evaporating very small grains (eVSG). Previous studies with the ISO, Spitzer
and AKARI space telescopes have shown that the spectral variations of these
features are directly related to the local physical conditions that induce a
photo-chemical evolution of the band carriers. Because of the limited
sensitivity and spatial resolution, these studies have focused mainly on
galactic star-forming regions. We discuss how the advent of JWST will allow to
extend these studies to previously unresolved sources such as near-by galaxies,
and how the analysis of the infrared signatures of PAHs and eVSGs can be used
to determine their physical conditions and chemical composition.Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the annual meeting of the French
society of astronomy and astrophysics (SF2A 2015
Evaporating Very Small Grains as tracers of the UV radiation field in Photo-dissociation Regions
Context. In photo-dissociation regions (PDRs), Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAHs) could be produced by evaporation of Very Small Grains
(VSGs) by the impinging UV radiation field from a nearby star. Aims. We
investigate quantitatively the transition zone between evaporating Very Small
Grains (eVSGs) and PAHs in several PDRs. Methods. We study the relative
contribution of PAHs and eVSGs to the mid-IR emission in a wide range of
excitation conditions. We fit the observed mid-IR emission of PDRs by using a
set of template band emission spectra of PAHs, eVSGs and gas lines. The fitting
tool PAHTAT (PAH Toulouse Astronomical Templates) is made available to the
community as an IDL routine. From the results of the fit, we derive the
fraction of carbon f_eVSG locked in eVSGs and compare it to the intensity of
the local UV radiation field. Results. We show a clear decrease of f_eVSG with
increasing intensity of the local UV radiation field, which supports the
scenario of photo-destruction of eVSGs. Conversely, this dependence can be used
to quantify the intensity of the UV radiation field for different PDRs,
including non resolved ones. Conclusions. PAHTAT can be used to trace the
intensity of the local UV radiation field in regions where eVSGs evaporate,
which correspond to relatively dense (nH = [100, 10^5 ] cm-3) and UV irradiated
PDRs (G0 = [100, 5x10^4]) where H2 emits in rotational lines.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A. Typos
correcte
Interstellar C60+
Buckminsterfullerene (C60) was recently detected through its infrared
emission bands in the interstellar medium (ISM), including in the proximity of
massive stars, where physical conditions could favor the formation of the
cationic form, C60+. In addition, C60+ was proposed as the carrier of two
diffuse interstellar bands in the near-IR, although a firm identification still
awaits for gas-phase spectroscopic data. We examined in details the Spitzer IRS
spectra of the NGC 7023 reflection nebula, at a position close (7.5") to the
illuminating B star HD 200775, and found four previously unreported bands at
6.4, 7.1, 8.2 and 10.5 \mu m in addition to the classical bands attributed to
Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and neutral C60. These 4 bands are
observed only in this region of the nebula, while C60 emission is still present
slightly further away from the star, and PAH emission even further away. Based
on this observation, on theoretical calculations we perform, and on laboratory
studies, we attribute these bands to C60+. The detection of C60+ confirms the
idea that large carbon molecules exist in the gas-phase in these environments.
In addition, the relative variation of the C60, and C60+, band intensities
constitutes a potentially powerful probe of the physical conditions in highly
UV-irradiated regions.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, v2: minor corrections of typos and
language and additional reference include
Random mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon spectra match interstellar infrared emission
The mid-infrared (IR; 5-15~m) spectrum of a wide variety of astronomical
objects exhibits a set of broad emission features at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.3 and
12.7 m. About 30 years ago it was proposed that these signatures are due
to emission from a family of UV heated nanometer-sized carbonaceous molecules
known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), causing them to be referred
to as aromatic IR bands (AIBs). Today, the acceptance of the PAH model is far
from settled, as the identification of a single PAH in space has not yet been
successful and physically relevant theoretical models involving ``true'' PAH
cross sections do not reproduce the AIBs in detail. In this paper, we use the
NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database, which contains over 500
quantum-computed spectra, in conjunction with a simple emission model, to show
that the spectrum produced by any random mixture of at least 30 PAHs converges
to the same 'kernel'-spectrum. This kernel-spectrum captures the essence of the
PAH emission spectrum and is highly correlated with observations of AIBs,
strongly supporting PAHs as their source. Also, the fact that a large number of
molecules are required implies that spectroscopic signatures of the individual
PAHs contributing to the AIBs spanning the visible, near-infrared, and far
infrared spectral regions are weak, explaining why they have not yet been
detected. An improved effort, joining laboratory, theoretical, and
observational studies of the PAH emission process, will support the use of PAH
features as a probe of physical and chemical conditions in the nearby and
distant Universe
Mapping PAH sizes in NGC 7023 with SOFIA
NGC 7023 is a well-studied reflection nebula, which shows strong emission
from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules in the form of aromatic
infrared bands (AIBs). The spectral variations of the AIBs in this region are
connected to the chemical evolution of the PAH molecules which, in turn,
depends on the local physical conditions. We use the capabilities of SOFIA to
observe a 3.2' x 3.4' region of NGC 7023 at wavelengths that we observe with
high spatial resolution (2.7") at 3.3 and 11.2 um. We compare the SOFIA images
with existing images of the PAH emission at 8.0 um (Spitzer), emission from
evaporating very small grains (eVSG) extracted from Spitzer-IRS spectral cubes,
the ERE (HST and CFHT), and H_2 (2.12 um). We create maps of the 11.2/3.3 um
ratio to probe the morphology of the PAH size distribution and the 8.0/11.2 um
ratio to probe the PAH ionization. We make use of an emission model and of
vibrational spectra from the NASA Ames PAHdb to translate the 11.2/3.3 um ratio
to PAH sizes. The 11.2/3.3 um map shows the smallest PAH concentrate on the PDR
surface (H_2 and extended red emission) in the NW and South PDR. We estimated
that PAHs in the NW PDR bear, on average, a number of carbon atoms (N_c) of ~70
in the PDR cavity and ~50 at the PDR surface. In the entire nebula, the results
reveal a factor of 2 variation in the size of the PAH. We relate these size
variations to several models for the evolution of the PAH families when they
traverse from the molecular cloud to the PDR. The PAH size map enables us to
follow the photochemical evolution of PAHs in NGC 7023. Small PAHs result from
the photo-evaporation of VSGs as they reach the PDR surface. Inside the PDR
cavity, the PAH abundance drops as the smallest PAH are broken down. The
average PAH size increases in the cavity where only the largest species survive
or are converted into C_60 by photochemical processing.Comment: accepted for publication in A&
Direct and indirect tourism online channels. Do they have a different potential for customer loyalty?
To manage their competitive goals, e-tourism service companies, in direct and in indirect channels respectively, need to know the antecedents of customer loyalty. Customer loyalty, generated by satisfaction in its various forms, is the cornerstone of the company''s assets and financial sustainability. Current literature does not provide a comparative analysis on this issue. To fill this gap, this research presents a model that includes customer satisfaction and participation as the main drivers of customer loyalty. The empirical research relies on one survey conducted by a market research company addressed to Internet users in Spain with experience in online purchases of tourism products. The estimation method is 3SLS (Three-Stage Least Squares), a simultaneous equations model applied to the database obtained. The results reveal a different potential of the two types of e-channels in producing higher levels of loyalty through customer participation. Increasing the participation of customers in indirect e-tourism channels results in higher returns on loyalty while the impact is lower in the direct channels. These findings are especially interesting for tourism service providers
Factores de desarrollo de las televisiones autonómicas públicas desde las percepciones de los grupos de interés: el caso de Aragón Televisión
La actual crisis económica, junto a los recientes cambios tecnológicos, legales y sociales producidos en la industria de la televisión, impulsa nuevos retos y oportunidades que deben ser abordados por todos los agentes que participan en la industria. Sin embargo, la literatura especializada carece de aportaciones que identifiquen grupos de interés y determinan la estructura de relaciones entre los mismos a través de puntos de interés común. Ante esta situación, el presente trabajo desarrolla una investigación cualitativa, con entrevistas en profundidad a expertos de la industria de la televisión autonómica pública de Aragón (cadena Aragón Televisión, ATV). Los resultados obtenidos permiten cubrir los objetivos del estudio descubriendo los factores de desarrollo a futuro de la industria audiovisual, en particular, para el caso de Aragón.The public television industry is confronting the current economic crisis and its financial problems related. This situation, joined to the technological, social and legal changes happening, derives in new challenges, which should be taken by every implied agent. However, the specialized literature falls in the identification of stakeholders and determining the relationships structure among them through common interest points. In this way, we develop a qualitative research, based on interviews to the experts, in the Aragon context (the study case of Aragon Television –ATV-, Spanish region). We use a qualitative methodology based on interviews to the experts of the audiovisual industry. Our results provide a better understanding of the audiovisual industry by identifying their stakeholders and the relationships between stakeholders and the regional public media. We obtain the development factors of this industry from stakeholders’ perceptions
The PAH hypothesis after 25 years
The infrared spectra of many galactic and extragalactic objects are dominated
by emission features at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6 and 11.2 \mu m. The carriers of
these features remained a mystery for almost a decade, hence the bands were
dubbed the unidentified infrared (UIR) bands. Since the mid-80's, the UIR bands
are generally attributed to the IR fluorescence of Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbon molecules (PAHs) upon absorption of UV photons -- the PAH
hypothesis. Here we review the progress made over the past 25 years in
understanding the UIR bands and their carriers.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures. To appear in the proceedings of IAU symposium
280 "The Molecular Universe
Analysing cross-cutting competencies learning in an online entrepreneurship context
Research in teaching innovation encourages leveraging the evolution of digital technologies from using the device to learning with the device, which means a change from using information and communicational technologies to learning and knowledge technologies. Nevertheless, although the feasibility of implementing active and interactive methodologies to improve education is widely recognised, more research is needed to obtain evidence on the subjects and contents with the most significant potential for success. In addition, the most recent literature claims greater attention to the improvement of transversal skills, as they are critical in the student’s professional future. Thus, the main objective of this study is to contribute to the development of immersive learning aimed at improving the cross-cutting skills of university students. Developing a teaching activity where the student acts as an entrepreneur in electronic distribution channels faces the research question. The student-company-university collaboration is the basis for enhancing the transversal skills of the Degree in Marketing and Market Research at the University of Zaragoza (Spain). The student participates in each step of the program as an active agent. The teacher tutors the work teams in each process step, and the Palbin Company provides the necessary technical support. The students give the information to analyse the success of the experience through two surveys -pre and post-workshop, following the methodology used in previous literature. While the activity planning is complex, the students show an excellent mood during the experience. The comparison between expectations and performance offers significant success from the student’s point of view. As a result, the student improves cross-cutting competencies and gains confidence, satisfaction with their learning at university, and professional experience
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