40 research outputs found
Inhomogeneous Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and Mutual Ion Diffusion
We present a study of inhomogeneous big bang nucleosynthesis with emphasis on
transport phenomena. We combine a hydrodynamic treatment to a nuclear reaction
network and compute the light element abundances for a range of inhomogeneity
parameters. We find that shortly after annihilation of electron-positron pairs,
Thomson scattering on background photons prevents the diffusion of the
remaining electrons. Protons and multiply charged ions then tend to diffuse
into opposite directions so that no net charge is carried. Ions with Z>1 get
enriched in the overdense regions, while protons diffuse out into regions of
lower density. This leads to a second burst of nucleosynthesis in the overdense
regions at T<20 keV, leading to enhanched destruction of deuterium and lithium.
We find a region in the parameter space at 2.1E-10<eta<5.2E-10 where
constraints
7Li/H<10^{-9.7} and D/H<10^{-4.4} are satisfied simultaneously.Comment: 9 pages, minor changes to match the PRD versio
Newborn Magnetars as sources of Gravitational Radiation: constraints from High Energy observations of Magnetar Candidates
Soft Gamma Repeaters and the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars are believed to contain
slowly spinning "magnetars". The enormous energy liberated in the 2004 Dece 27
giant flare from SGR 1806-20, together with the likely recurrence time of such
events, points to an internal magnetic field strength ~ 10^{16} G. Such strong
fields are expected to be generated by a coherent alpha-Omega dynamo in the
early seconds after the Neutron Star formation, if its spin period is of a few
milliseconds at most. A substantial deformation of the NS is caused by such
fields and a newborn millisecond-spinning magnetar would thus radiate for a few
days a strong gravitational wave signal. Such a signal may be detected with
Advanced LIGO-class detectors up to the distance of the Virgo cluster, where ~
1 magnetar per year are expected to form. Recent X-ray observations reveal that
SNRs around magnetar candidates do not show evidence for a larger energy
content than standard SNRs (Vink & Kuiper 2006). This is at variance with what
would be expected if the spin energy of the young, millisecond NS were radiated
away as electromagnetic radiation andd/or relativistic particle winds and,
thus, transferred quickly to the expanding gas shell. We show here that these
recent findings can be reconciled with the idea of magnetars being formed with
fast spins, if most of their initial spin energy is radiated thorugh GWs. In
particular, we find that this occurs for essentially the same parameter range
that would make such objects detectable by Advanced LIGO-class detectors up to
the Virgo Cluster.Comment: Proceedings of the Conference "Isolated Neutron stars: from the
interior to the surface", Eds. D. Page, R. Turolla, S. Zan
How Does CMB + BBN Constrain New Physics?
Recent cosmic microwave background (CMB) results from BOOMERANG, MAXIMA, and
DASI provide cosmological constraints on new physics that can be competitive
with those derived from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). In particular, both CMB
and BBN can be used to place limits on models involving neutrino degeneracy and
additional relativistic degrees of freedom. However, for the case of the CMB,
these constraints are, in general, sensitive to the assumed priors. We examine
the CMB and BBN constraints on such models and study the sensitivity of ``new
physics" to the assumed priors. If we add a constraint on the age of the
universe (t_0 \ga 11 Gyr), then for models with a cosmological constant, the
range of baryon densities and neutrino degeneracy parameters allowed by the CMB
and BBN is fairly robust: , \deln \la 6, \xi_e \la
0.3. In the absence of new physics, models without a cosmological constant are
only marginally compatible with recent CMB observations (excluded at the 93%
confidence level).Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures; version to appear in Phys. Rev.
Virtual Compton Scattering and Neutral Pion Electroproduction in the Resonance Region up to the Deep Inelastic Region at Backward Angles
We have made the first measurements of the virtual Compton scattering (VCS)
process via the H exclusive reaction in the nucleon resonance
region, at backward angles. Results are presented for the -dependence at
fixed GeV, and for the -dependence at fixed near 1.5 GeV.
The VCS data show resonant structures in the first and second resonance
regions. The observed -dependence is smooth. The measured ratio of
H to H cross sections emphasizes the different
sensitivity of these two reactions to the various nucleon resonances. Finally,
when compared to Real Compton Scattering (RCS) at high energy and large angles,
our VCS data at the highest (1.8-1.9 GeV) show a striking -
independence, which may suggest a transition to a perturbative scattering
mechanism at the quark level.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures. To appear in Phys.Rev.
Low-Energy Direct Capture in the 8Li(n,gamma)9Li and 8B(p,gamma)9C Reactions
The cross sections of the 8Li(n,gamma)9Li and 8B(p,gamma)9C capture reactions
have been analyzed using the direct capture model. At low energies which is the
astrophysically relevant region the capture process is dominated by E1
transitions from incoming s-waves to bound p-states. The cross sections of both
mirror reactions can be described simultaneously with consistent potential
parameters, whereas previous calculations have overestimated the capture cross
sections significantly. However, the parameters of the potential have to be
chosen very carefully because the calculated cross section of the
8Li(n,gamma)9Li reaction depends sensitively on the potential strength.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Phys. Rev. C, accepte
Dynamics of the O(e,e'p) cross section at high missing energies
We measured the cross section and response functions (R_L, R_T, and R_LT) for the 16O(e,e'p) reaction in quasielastic kinematics for missing energies 25 60 MeV and P_miss > 200 MeV/c, the cross section is relatively constant. Calculations which include contributions from pion exchange currents, isobar currents and short-range correlations account for the shape and the transversity but only for half of the magnitude of the measured cross section
The Scientific Foundations of Forecasting Magnetospheric Space Weather
The magnetosphere is the lens through which solar space weather phenomena are focused and directed towards the Earth. In particular, the non-linear interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field leads to the formation of highly inhomogenous electrical currents in the ionosphere which can ultimately result in damage to and problems with the operation of power distribution networks. Since electric power is the fundamental cornerstone of modern life, the interruption of power is the primary pathway by which space weather has impact on human activity and technology. Consequently, in the context of space weather, it is the ability to predict geomagnetic activity that is of key importance. This is usually stated in terms of geomagnetic storms, but we argue that in fact it is the substorm phenomenon which contains the crucial physics, and therefore prediction of substorm occurrence, severity and duration, either within the context of a longer-lasting geomagnetic storm, but potentially also as an isolated event, is of critical importance. Here we review the physics of the magnetosphere in the frame of space weather forecasting, focusing on recent results, current understanding, and an assessment of probable future developments.Peer reviewe
The Earth: Plasma Sources, Losses, and Transport Processes
This paper reviews the state of knowledge concerning the source of magnetospheric plasma at Earth. Source of plasma, its acceleration and transport throughout the system, its consequences on system dynamics, and its loss are all discussed. Both observational and modeling advances since the last time this subject was covered in detail (Hultqvist et al., Magnetospheric Plasma Sources and Losses, 1999) are addressed