3,464 research outputs found
Completing HI observations of galaxies II. The Coma Supercluster
High sensitivity 21-cm HI line observations, with an rms noise level of \sim
0.5 mJy, were made of 35 spiral galaxies in the Coma Supercluster, using the
refurbished Arecibo telescope, which resulted in the detection of 25 objects.
These data, combined with the measurements available from the literature,
provide the set of HI data for 94% of all late-type galaxies in the Coma
Supercluster with an apparent photographic magnitude m_p <15.7 mag. We confirm
that the typical scale of HI deficiency around the Coma cluster is 2 Mpc, i.e.
one virial radius. Comparing the HI mass function (HIMF) of cluster with
non-cluster members of the Coma Supercluster we detect a shortage of high HI
mass galaxies among cluster members that can be ascribed to the pattern of HI
deficiency found in rich clusters.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication on A&
B-Alkyl Suzuki couplings for the stereoselective synthesis of substituted pyrans
Unprotected homoallylic alcohols can be directly converted to cis-2,6-disubstituted pyrans by palladium catalyzed B-alkyl Suzuki coupling and subsequent Michael addition
Toward the total synthesis of spirastrellolide A. Part 3: Intelligence gathering and preparation of a ring-expanded analogue
Different methods for the formation of the C.25–C.26 bond of spirastrellolide A (1) are evaluated that might qualify for the end game of the projected total synthesis, with emphasis on metathetic ways to forge the macrocyclic frame
The dependence of HII region properties on global and local surface brightness within galaxy discs
Using B, R, and H-alpha images of roughly equal-sized samples of low surface
brightness (LSB) and high surface brightness (HSB) galaxies (~40 galaxies
apiece), we have explored the dependence of HII region properties on local and
global disc surface brightness. We have done this by constructing co-added HII
region luminosity functions (LFs) according to local and central disc surface
brightness and fitting Schechter functions to these LFs. The results show that
the shape of the HII region LF within LSB galaxies does not change noticeably
as different limiting (i.e., mu>mu_lim) local surface brightness values are
used. However, the LFs for HSB galaxies have larger values of L_* and are less
steep at the faint-end than those of LSB galaxies for limiting B-band local
surface brightness values as faint as mu_B,lim~23-24. Both the LFs and the data
for individual HII regions show that luminous (log L>39 ergs/s) HII regions are
much more common within HSB discs than within LSB discs, implying that the
newly formed star clusters are also larger. Taking this into account along with
the results of Monte Carlo simulations, the shapes of the LFs imply that the
regions within LSB discs and those within the LSB areas of HSB discs are
relatively old (~5 Myr) while the regions within HSB discs for mu_B<24 are
significantly younger (<1 Myr). Since the majority of the LSB galaxies do not
have noticeable spiral arms and the majority of the HSB galaxies do, this may
indicate a transition within HSB discs from spiral arm-driven star formation to
a more locally driven, possibly sporadic form of star formation at mu_B~24, a
transition that does not appear to occur within LSB discs.Comment: Accepted to MNRA
The Energy of a Plasma in the Classical Limit
When \lambda_{T} << d_{T}, where \lambda_{T} is the de Broglie wavelength and
d_{T}, the distance of closest approach of thermal electrons, a classical
analysis of the energy of a plasma can be made. In all the classical analysis
made until now, it was assumed that the frequency of the fluctuations \omega <<
T (k_{B}=\hbar=1). Using the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, we evaluate the
energy of a plasma, allowing the frequency of the fluctuations to be arbitrary.
We find that the energy density is appreciably larger than previously thought
for many interesting plasmas, such as the plasma of the Universe before the
recombination era.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.Let
Completing HI observations of galaxies in the Virgo cluster
High sensitivity (rms noise mJy) 21-cm HI line observations were
made of 33 galaxies in the Virgo cluster, using the refurbished Arecibo
telescope, which resulted in the detection of 12 objects. These data, combined
with the measurements available from the literature, provide the first set of
HI data that is complete for all 355 late-type (Sa-Im-BCD) galaxies in the
Virgo cluster with mag. The Virgo cluster HI mass function
(HIMF) that was derived for this optically selected galaxy sample is in
agreement with the HIMF derived for the Virgo cluster from the blind HIJASS HI
survey and is inconsistent with the Field HIMF. This indicates that both in
this rich cluster and in the general field, neutral hydrogen is primarily
associated with late-type galaxies, with marginal contributions from early-type
galaxies and isolated HI clouds. The inconsistency between the cluster and the
field HIMF derives primarily from the difference in the optical luminosity
function of late-type galaxies in the two environments, combined with the HI
deficiency that is known to occur in galaxies in rich clusters.Comment: accepted for publication on A&
Improving Orbit Estimates for Incomplete Orbits with a New Approach to Priors -- with Applications from Black Holes to Planets
We propose a new approach to Bayesian prior probability distributions
(priors) that can improve orbital solutions for low-phase-coverage orbits,
where data cover less than approximately 40% of an orbit. In instances of low
phase coverage such as with stellar orbits in the Galactic center or with
directly-imaged exoplanets, data have low constraining power and thus priors
can bias parameter estimates and produce under-estimated confidence intervals.
Uniform priors, which are commonly assumed in orbit fitting, are notorious for
this. We propose a new observable-based prior paradigm that is based on
uniformity in observables. We compare performance of this observable-based
prior and of commonly assumed uniform priors using Galactic center and
directly-imaged exoplanet (HR 8799) data. The observable-based prior can reduce
biases in model parameters by a factor of two and helps avoid under-estimation
of confidence intervals for simulations with less than about 40% phase
coverage. Above this threshold, orbital solutions for objects with sufficient
phase coverage such as S0-2, a short-period star at the Galactic center with
full phase coverage, are consistent with previously published results. Below
this threshold, the observable-based prior limits prior influence in regions of
prior dominance and increases data influence. Using the observable-based prior,
HR 8799 orbital analyses favor lower eccentricity orbits and provide stronger
evidence that the four planets have a consistent inclination around 30 degrees
to within 1-sigma. This analysis also allows for the possibility of
coplanarity. We present metrics to quantify improvements in orbital estimates
with different priors so that observable-based prior frameworks can be tested
and implemented for other low-phase-coverage orbits.Comment: Published in AJ. 23 pages, 14 figures. Monte Carlo chains are
available in the published article, or are available upon reques
Strangers in the night: Discovery of a dwarf spheroidal galaxy on its first Local Group infall
We present spectroscopic observations of the AndXII dwarf spheroidal galaxy
using DEIMOS/Keck-II, showing it to be moving rapidly through the Local Group
(-556 km/s heliocentric velocity, -281 km/s relative to Andromeda from the MW),
falling into the Local Group from ~115 kpc beyond Andromeda's nucleus. AndXII
therefore represents a dwarf galaxy plausibly falling into the Local Group for
the first time, and never having experienced a dense galactic environment. From
Green Bank Telescope observations, a limit on the H{I} gas mass of <3000 Msun
suggests that AndXII's gas could have been removed prior to experiencing the
tides of the Local Group galaxies. Orbit models suggest the dwarf is close to
the escape velocity of M31 for published mass models. AndXII is our best direct
evidence for the late infall of satellite galaxies, a prediction of
cosmological simulations.Comment: 4 pages 5 figures 1 table, accepted in ApJ, july issu
- …