4,213 research outputs found
OH Maser sources in W49N: probing differential anisotropic scattering with Zeeman pairs
Our analysis of a VLBA 12-hour synthesis observations of the OH masers in
W49N has provided detailed high angular-resolution images of the maser sources,
at 1612, 1665 and 1667 MHz. The images, of several dozens of spots, reveal
anisotropic scatter broadening; with typical sizes of a few tens of
milli-arc-seconds and axial ratios between 1.5 to 3. The image position angles
oriented perpendicular to the galactic plane are interpreted in terms of
elongation of electron-density irregularities parallel to the galactic plane,
due to a similarly aligned local magnetic field. However, we find the apparent
angular sizes on the average a factor of 2.5 less than those reported by Desai
et al., indicating significantly less scattering than inferred earlier. The
average position angle of the scattered broadened images is also seen to
deviate significantly (by about 10 degrees) from that implied by the magnetic
field in the Galactic plane. More intriguingly, for a few Zeeman pairs in our
set, we find significant differences in the scatter broadened images for the
two hands of polarization, even when apparent velocity separation is less than
0.1 km/s. Here we present the details of our observations and analysis, and
discuss the interesting implications of our results for the intervening
anisotropic magneto-ionic medium, as well as a comparison with the expectations
based on earlier work.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to the Proceedings of the IAU Symposium
287: "Cosmic masers - from OH to H0
FACTORS INFLUENCING CONSUMER DECISIONS RELATED TO "NATURAL" BEEF IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS
Consumer/Household Economics,
The neutral gas in the environs of the Geminga gamma-ray pulsar
We present a high-resolution (24 arcsec) study of the HI interstellar gas
distribution around the radio-quiet neutron star Geminga. Based on Very Large
Array (VLA) and MPIfR Effelsberg telescope data, we analyzed a 40' x 40' field
around Geminga. These observations have revealed the presence of a neutral gas
shell, 0.4 pc in radius, with an associated HI mass of 0.8 Msun, which
surrounds Geminga at a radial velocity compatible with the kinematical distance
of the neutron star. In addition, morphological agreement is observed between
the internal face of the HI shell and the brightest structure of Geminga's tail
observed in X-rays.We explore the possibility that this morphological agreement
is the result of a physical association.Comment: One tarfile including a Latex file (7 pages) and two figures. Paper
accepted for publication in Advances in Space Research; typos corrected;
changes in section Results and Discussion after referee's suggestions. S.
Johnston's affilation correcte
The distance and radius of the neutron star PSR B0656+14
We present the result of astrometric observations of the radio pulsar PSR
B0656+14, made using the Very Long Baseline Array. The parallax of the pulsar
is pi = 3.47 +- 0.36 mas, yielding a distance of 288 +33 -27 pc. This
independent distance estimate has been used to constrain existing models of
thermal x-ray emission from the neutron star's photosphere. Simple blackbody
fits to the x-ray data formally yield a neutron star radius R_inf ~ 7-8.5 km.
With more realistic fits to a magnetized hydrogen atmosphere, any radius
between ~13 and ~20 km is allowed.Comment: 7 pages including 1 figure. Submitted to ApJL. AASte
Soft Cheeses that are Easily Made
The high food value and palatability of properly made cheese arc not fully appreciated by the people of the United States. That is indicated by their low per capita consumption of this fine dairy. product. In 1922 the consumption of cheese per person in the United States was 3.7 lbs. while in some European countries it was four or five times that amount. Among the larger nations the United States is ninth in per capita cheese consumption
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