Bayesian model-independent evaluation of expansion rates of the universe

Marginal likelihoods for the cosmic expansion rates are evaluated using the `Constitution' data of 397 supernovas, thereby updating the results in some previous works. Even when beginning with a very strong prior probability that favors an accelerated expansion, we obtain a marginal likelihood for the deceleration parameter $q_0$ peaked around zero in the spatially flat case. It is also found that the new data significantly constrains the cosmographic expansion rates, when compared to the previous analyses. These results may strongly depend on the Gaussian prior probability distribution chosen for the Hubble parameter represented by $h$, with $h=0.68\pm 0.06$. This and similar priors for other expansion rates were deduced from previous data. Here again we perform the Bayesian model-independent analysis in which the scale factor is expanded into a Taylor series in time about the present epoch. Unlike such Taylor expansions in terms of redshift, this approach has no convergence problem.Comment: To appear in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Spectroscopic study of optically induced ultrafast electron dynamics in gold

Copyright © 2007 The American Physical SocietyUsing a supercontinuum pulse as a probe, we have measured the transient reflectivity spectra of a thin film of gold for different values of the pump-probe time delay. The wavelength lambda(x) at which the measured transient reflectivity changes sign has been found to depend upon the time delay, leading to bipolar time resolved signals. The time dependence of lambda(x) has been shown to be consistent with calculations that take into account the full dependence of the reflectivity upon the electron occupation number, and to contradict qualitatively a model in which the signal is assumed to be directly proportional to the occupation number. The shift of lambda(x) has been found to persist at time delays that are much longer than the time required for the electrons to thermalize. Therefore the bipolar reflectivity signals do not necessarily contain a contribution from nonthermalized electrons, as has been previously assumed

Super-harmonic injection locking of nano-contact spin-torque vortex oscillators

Super-harmonic injection locking of single nano-contact (NC) spin-torque vortex oscillators (STVOs) subject to a small microwave current has been explored. Frequency locking was observed up to the fourth harmonic of the STVO fundamental frequency $f_{0}$ in microwave magneto-electronic measurements. The large frequency tunability of the STVO with respect to $f_{0}$ allowed the device to be locked to multiple sub-harmonics of the microwave frequency $f_{RF}$, or to the same sub-harmonic over a wide range of $f_{RF}$ by tuning the DC current. In general, analysis of the locking range, linewidth, and amplitude showed that the locking efficiency decreased as the harmonic number increased, as expected for harmonic synchronization of a non-linear oscillator. Time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy (TRSKM) revealed significant differences in the spatial character of the magnetization dynamics of states locked to the fundamental and harmonic frequencies, suggesting significant differences in the core trajectories within the same device. Super-harmonic injection locking of a NC-STVO may open up possibilities for devices such as nanoscale frequency dividers, while differences in the core trajectory may allow mutual synchronisation to be achieved in multi-oscillator networks by tuning the spatial character of the dynamics within shared magnetic layers.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure

SN 2006bt: A Perplexing, Troublesome, and Possibly Misleading Type Ia Supernova

SN 2006bt displays characteristics unlike those of any other known Type Ia supernova (SN Ia). We present optical light curves and spectra of SN 2006bt which demonstrate the peculiar nature of this object. SN 2006bt has broad, slowly declining light curves indicative of a hot, high-luminosity SN, but lacks a prominent second maximum in the i band as do low-luminosity SNe Ia. Its spectra are similar to those of low-luminosity SNe Ia, containing features that are only present in cool SN photospheres. Light-curve fitting methods suggest that SN 2006bt is reddened by a significant amount of dust; however, it occurred in the outskirts of its early-type host galaxy and has no strong Na D absorption in any of its spectra, suggesting a negligible amount of host-galaxy dust absorption. C II is possibly detected in our pre-maximum spectra, but at a much lower velocity than other elements. The progenitor was likely very old, being a member of the halo population of a galaxy that shows no signs of recent star formation. SNe Ia have been very successfully modeled as a one-parameter family, and this is fundamental to their use as cosmological distance indicators. SN 2006bt is a challenge to that picture, yet its relatively normal light curves allowed SN 2006bt to be included in cosmological analyses. We generate mock SN Ia datasets which indicate that contamination by similar objects will both increase the scatter of a SN Ia Hubble diagram and systematically bias measurements of cosmological parameters. However, spectra and rest-frame i-band light curves should provide a definitive way to identify and eliminate such objects.Comment: ApJ, accepted. 13 pages, 13 figure

Dependence of spatial coherence of coherent suppression of magnetization precession upon aspect ratio in Ni 81Fe 19 microdots

Copyright © 2005 American Institute of PhysicsCoherent suppression of magnetization dynamics in circular microdots of Ni81Fe19 has been observed by time-resolved scanning Kerr effect microscopy. The applied pulsed field rose sharply, stimulating precession, and then exhibited an oscillatory behavior. For certain values of the static magnetic field the precession was suppressed at the point at which the magnetization lay in the sample plane. Time resolved images confirmed that coherent suppression had occurred at the center of the element, but nonuniformity was observed at the edges of the element, which became greater with decreasing aspect ratio. The nonuniform magnetization dynamics result from the dephasing of confined spin wave modes, suggesting that a more involved pulse shaping scheme may be required to coherently suppress the full mode spectrum

Direct observation of magnetization dynamics generated by nano-contact spin-torque vortex oscillators

Time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy has been used to directly image the magnetization dynamics of nano-contact (NC) spin-torque vortex oscillators (STVOs) when phase-locked to an injected microwave (RF) current. The Kerr images reveal free layer magnetization dynamics that extend outside the NC footprint, where they cannot be detected electrically, but which are crucial to phase-lock STVOs that share common magnetic layers. For a single NC, dynamics were observed not only when the STVO frequency was fully locked to that of the RF current, but also for a partially locked state characterized by periodic changes in the core trajectory at the RF frequency. For a pair of NCs, images reveal the spatial character of dynamics that electrical measurements show to have enhanced amplitude and reduced linewidth. Insight gained from these images may improve understanding of the conditions required for mutual phase-locking of multiple STVOs, and hence enhanced microwave power emission.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

The Luminous and Carbon-Rich Supernova 2006gz: A Double Degenerate Merger?

Spectra and light curves of SN 2006gz show the strongest signature of unburned carbon and one of the slowest fading light curves ever seen in a type Ia event (Delta m_15 = 0.69 +/- 0.04). The early-time Si II velocity is low, implying it was slowed by an envelope of unburned material. Our best estimate of the luminosity implies M_V = -19.74 and the production of ~ 1.2 M_sun of 56Ni. This suggests a super-Chandrasekhar mass progenitor. A double degenerate merger is consistent with these observations.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL (5 pages, 4 figures). UBVr'i' light curves, UVOIR light curves, and spectra available at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/supernova/SN2006g

Dependence of anisotropy and damping on shape and aspect ratio in micron sized Ni 81Fe 19 elements

Copyright © 2004 American Institute of PhysicsWe have studied magnetic anisotropy and damping in Ni81Fe19 elements of different shape and aspect ratio by time-resolved scanning Kerr effect microscopy and micromagnetic simulations. Square elements show a fourfold anisotropy that becomes weaker with increasing aspect ratio. Square elements with aspect ratio <230 show an anisotropy of the apparent damping that becomes stronger with decreasing aspect ratio. Variations in the apparent damping may be understood in terms of dephasing of spin wave modes that leads to the appearance of fringes in time-resolved magnetic images