562 research outputs found

    Embodied technical change in a two-sector AK model

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    In this paper, we study a two-sector version of the AK model proposed by Rebelo (1991), where constant returns to capital are confined to the investment goods sector. We show that this setup, an endogenous growth extension to the model of Greenwood, Hercowitz, and Krusell (1997), reproduces important features of the U.S. NIPA data, namely the secular downward trend of the price of equipment investment relative to non- durable consumption and the increasing ratio of real equipment investment to real output. The main difference to the one-sector AK model lies in the existence of obsolescence costs, which decrease output growth if the elasticity of intertemporal substitution is larger than the saving rate.subliminal extant Smith economagic gmm

    Rotationally resolved spectroscopy of dwarf planet (136472) Makemake

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    Context. Icy dwarf planets are key for studying the chemical and physical states of ices in the outer solar system. The study of secular and rotational variations gives us hints of the processes that contribute to the evolution of their surface. Aims. The aim of this work is to search for rotational variability on the surface composition of the dwarf planet (136472) Makemake Methods. We observed Makemake in April 2008 with the medium-resolution spectrograph ISIS, at the William Herschel Telescope (La Palma, Spain) and obtained a set of spectra in the 0.28 - 0.52 {\mu}m and 0.70 - 0.95 {\mu}m ranges, covering 82% of its rotational period. For the rotational analysis, we organized the spectra in four different sets corresponding to different rotational phases, and after discarding one with low signal to noise, we analyzed three of them that cover 71% of the surface. For these spectra we computed the spectral slope and compared the observed spectral bands of methane ice with reflectances of pure methane ice to search for shifts of the center of the bands, related to the presence of CH 4 /N 2 solid solution. Results. All the spectra have a red color with spectral slopes between 20%/1000 {\AA} and 32%/1000 {\AA} in accordance with previously reported values. Some variation in the spectral slope is detected, pointing to the possibility of a variation in the surface content or the particle size of the solid organic compound. The absorption bands of methane ice present a shift toward shorter wavelengths, indicating that methane (at least partially) is in solid solution with nitrogen. There is no variation within the errors of the shifts with the wavelength or with the depth of the bands, so there is no evidence of variation in the CH 4 /N 2 mixing ratio with rotation. By comparing with all the available data in the literature, no secular compositional variations between 2005 and 2008 is found

    Dust loss from activated asteroid P/2015 X6

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    We present observations and dust tail models of activated asteroid P/2015 X6 from deep imaging data acquired at the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) from mid-December 2015 to late January 2016. The results of the modeling indicate that the asteroid has undergone a sustained dust loss over a two-month or longer period. The dust parameters, derived from multidimensional fits of the available images, are compatible with either ice sublimation or rotational instability processes. An impulsive event, as it could be associated to an impact with another body, is less likely. A power-law distribution of particles, with minimum and maximum radius of 1 μ\mum and 1 cm, and power index of --3.3 is found to be consistent with the observations. Depending on the ejection velocity model adopted, the particle velocities are found in the 0.3 to 10 m s−1^{-1} range. The activation time was between 18-26 days before discovery. The total ejected mass from that time to the most recent observation is in the range 5-9×\times106^6 kg. No dust features giving indication of past activity earlier than the activation time have been observed.Comment: Accepted by ApJ, May 15th 201

    On the dust environment of Main-Belt Comet 313P/Gibbs

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    We present observations carried out using the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias and an interpretative model of the dust environment of activated asteroid 313P/Gibbs. We discuss three different models relating to different values of the dust parameters, i.e, dust loss rate, maximum and minimum sizes of particles, power index of the size distribution, and emission pattern. The best model corresponds with an isotropic emission of particles which started on August 1st. The size of grains were in the range of 0.1−20000.1-2000 μ\mum, with velocities for 100 μ\mum particles between 0.4−1.90.4-1.9 m ~s−1^{-1}, with a dust production rate in the range of 0.2−0.80.2-0.8 kg ~s−1^{-1}. The dust tails' brightness and morphology are best interpreted in terms of a model of sustained and low dust emission driven by water-ice sublimation, spanning since 2014 August 1st, and triggered by a short impulsive event. This event produced an emission of small particles of about 0.1 μ\mum with velocities of ∼\sim4 m ~s−1^{-1}. From our model we deduce that the activity of this Main-Belt Comet continued for, at least, four months, since activation.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

    Near-infrared spectroscopy of 1999 JU3, the target of the Hayabusa 2 mission

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    Context. Primitive asteroids contain complex organic material and ices relevant to the origin of life on Earth. These types of asteroids are the target of several-sample return missions to be launched in the next years. 1999 JU3 is the target of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's Hayabusa 2 mission. Aims. 1999 JU3 has been previously identified as a C-class asteroid. Spectroscopic observations at longer wavelengths will help to constrain its composition. Methods. We obtained spectroscopy of 1999 JU3 from 0.85 to 2.2 microns, with the 3.6 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo using the low resolution mode of the Near Infrared Camera Spectrograph. Results. We present a near-infrared spectrum of 1999 JU3 from 0.85 to 2.2microns that is consistent with previously published spectra and with its C-type classification. Conclusions. Our spectrum confirms the primitive nature of 1999 JU3 and its interest as target of the sample-return mission Hayabusa 2.Comment: Research Note: 3 pages 1 Figure Received December 2012; accepted 4 March 201

    Early evolution of disrupted asteroid P/2016 G1 (PANSTARRS)

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    We present deep imaging observations of activated asteroid P/2016 G1 (PANSTARRS) using the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) from late April to early June 2016. The images are best interpreted as the result of a relatively short-duration event with onset about 350−30+10\mathop{350}_{-30}^{+10} days before perihelion (i.e., around 10th February, 2016), starting sharply and decreasing with a 24−7+10\mathop{24}_{-7}^{+10} days (Half-width at half-maximum, HWHM). The results of the modeling imply the emission of ∼\sim1.7×\times107^7 kg of dust, if composed of particles of 1 micrometer to 1 cm in radius, distributed following a power-law of index --3, and having a geometric albedo of 0.15. A detailed fitting of a conspicuous westward feature in the head of the comet-like object indicates that a significant fraction of the dust was ejected along a privileged direction right at the beginning of the event, which suggests that the parent body has possibly suffered an impact followed by a partial or total disruption. From the limiting magnitude reachable with the instrumental setup, and assuming a geometric albedo of 0.15 for the parent body, an upper limit for the size of possible fragment debris of ∼\sim50 m in radius is derived.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letter

    Thermophysical properties of near-Earth asteroid (341843) 2008 EV5 from WISE data

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    Aims. To derive the thermal inertia of 2008 EV5_5, the baseline target for the Marco Polo-R mission proposal, and infer information about the size of the particles on its surface. Methods. Values of thermal inertia are obtained by fitting an asteroid thermophysical model to NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) infrared data. From the constrained thermal inertia and a model of heat conductivity that accounts for different values of the packing fraction (a measure of the degree of compaction of the regolith particles), grain size is derived. Results. We obtain an effective diameter D=370±6 mD = 370 \pm 6\,\mathrm{m}, geometric visible albedo pV=0.13±0.05p_V = 0.13 \pm 0.05 (assuming H=20.0±0.4H=20.0 \pm 0.4), and thermal inertia Γ=450±60\Gamma = 450 \pm 60 J/m2/s(1/2)/K at the 1-σ\sigma level of significance for its retrograde spin pole solution. The regolith particles radius is r=6.6−1.3+1.3r = 6.6^{+1.3}_{-1.3} mm for low degrees of compaction, and r=12.5−2.6+2.7r = 12.5^{+2.7}_{-2.6} mm for the highest packing densities.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures; accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic
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