28 research outputs found
Ion pairing in model electrolytes: A study via three particle correlation functions
A novel integral equations approach is applied for studying ion pairing in
the restricted primitive model (RPM) electrolyte, i. e., the three point
extension (TPE) to the Ornstein-Zernike integral equations. In the TPE
approach, the three-particle correlation functions are obtained. The TPE results are compared to molecular
dynamics (MD) simulations and other theories. Good agreement between TPE and MD
is observed for a wide range of parameters, particularly where standard
integral equations theories fail, i. e., low salt concentration and high ionic
valence. Our results support the formation of ion pairs and aligned ion
complexes.Comment: 43 pages (including 18 EPS figs) - RevTeX 4 - J. Chem. Phys. (in
press
Stochastic Self-Similar and Fractal Universe
The structures formation of the Universe appears as if it were a classically
self-similar random process at all astrophysical scales. An agreement is
demonstrated for the present hypotheses of segregation with a size of
astrophysical structures by using a comparison between quantum quantities and
astrophysical ones. We present the observed segregated Universe as the result
of a fundamental self-similar law, which generalizes the Compton wavelength
relation. It appears that the Universe has a memory of its quantum origin as
suggested by R.Penrose with respect to quasi-crystal. A more accurate analysis
shows that the present theory can be extended from the astrophysical to the
nuclear scale by using generalized (stochastically) self-similar random
process. This transition is connected to the relevant presence of the
electromagnetic and nuclear interactions inside the matter. In this sense, the
presented rule is correct from a subatomic scale to an astrophysical one. We
discuss the near full agreement at organic cell scale and human scale too.
Consequently the Universe, with its structures at all scales (atomic nucleus,
organic cell, human, planet, solar system, galaxy, clusters of galaxy, super
clusters of galaxy), could have a fundamental quantum reason. In conclusion, we
analyze the spatial dimensions of the objects in the Universe as well as
spacetime dimensions. The result is that it seems we live in an El Naschie's E
infinity Cantorian spacetime; so we must seriously start considering fractal
geometry as the geometry of nature, a type of arena where the laws of physics
appear at each scale in a self--similar way as advocated long ago by the
Swedish school of astrophysics.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Chaos, Solitons & Fractla
Polygonal Structures in the Gaseous Disk: Numerical Simulations
The results of numerical simulations of a gaseous disk in the potential of a
stellar spiral density wave are presented. The conditions under which
straightened spiral arm segments (rows) form in the gas component are studied.
These features of the spiral structure were identified in a series of works by
A.D. Chernin with coauthors. Gas-dynamic simulations have been performed for a
wide range of model parameters: the pitch angle of the spiral pattern, the
amplitude of the stellar spiral density wave, the disk rotation speed, and the
temperature of the gas component. The results of 2D- and 3D-disk simulations
are compared. The rows in the numerical simulations are shown to be an
essentially nonstationary phenomenon. A statistical analysis of the
distribution of geometric parameters for spiral patterns with rows in the
observed galaxies and the constructed hydrodynamic models shows good agreement.
In particular, the numerical simulations and observations of galaxies give
for the average angles between straight segments.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure
The structure and evolution of M51-type galaxies
We discuss the integrated kinematic parameters of 20 M51-type binary
galaxies. A comparison of the orbital masses of the galaxies with the sum of
the individual masses suggests that moderately massive dark halos surround
bright spiral galaxies. The relative velocities of the galaxies in binary
systems were found to decrease with increasing relative luminosity of the
satellite. We obtained evidence that the Tully-Fisher relation for binary
members could be flatter than that for local field galaxies. An enhanced star
formation rate in the binary members may be responsible for this effect. In
most binary systems, the direction of orbital motion of the satellite coincides
with the direction of rotation of the main galaxy. Seven candidates for distant
M51-type objects were found in the Northern and Southern Hubble Deep Fields. A
comparison of this number with the statistics of nearby galaxies provides
evidence for the rapid evolution of the space density of M51-type galaxies with
redshift Z. We assume that M51-type binary systems could be formed through the
capture of a satellite by a massive spiral galaxy. It is also possible that the
main galaxy and its satellite in some of the systems have a common cosmological
origin.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Astronomy Letter
Discovery of Candidate HO Disk Masers in AGN and Estimations of Centripetal Accelerations
Based on spectroscopic signatures, about one-third of known HO maser
sources in active galactic nuclei (AGN) are believed to arise in highly
inclined accretion disks around central engines. These "disk maser candidates"
are of interest primarily because angular structure and rotation curves can be
resolved with interferometers, enabling dynamical study. We identify five new
disk maser candidates in studies with the Green Bank Telescope, bringing the
total number published to 30. We discovered two (NGC1320, NGC17) in a survey of
40 inclined active galaxies (v_{sys}< 20000 kms^{-1}). The remaining three disk
maser candidates were identified in monitoring of known sources: NGC449,
NGC2979, NGC3735. We also confirm a previously marginal case in UGC4203. For
the disk maser candidates reported here, inferred rotation speeds are 130-500
kms^{-1}. Monitoring of three more rapidly rotating candidate disks (CG211,
NGC6264, VV340A) has enabled measurement of likely orbital centripetal
acceleration, and estimation of central masses (2-7x10^7 M_\odot) and mean disk
radii (0.2-0.4pc). Accelerations may ultimately permit estimation of distances
when combined with interferometer data. This is notable because the three AGN
are relatively distant (10000<v_{sys}<15000 kms^{-1}). As signposts of highly
inclined geometries at galactocentric radii of \sim0.1-1pc, disk masers also
provide robust orientation references that allow analysis of (mis)alignment
between AGN and surrounding galactic stellar disks, even without
interferometric mapping. We find no preference among published disk maser
candidates to lie in high-inclination galaxies, providing independent support
for conclusions that central engines and galactic plane orientations are not
correlated. (ABRIDGED)Comment: 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ, Dec. 10, 200
Dipolar origin of the gas-liquid coexistence of the hard-core 1:1 electrolyte model
We present a systematic study of the effect of the ion pairing on the
gas-liquid phase transition of hard-core 1:1 electrolyte models. We study a
class of dipolar dimer models that depend on a parameter R_c, the maximum
separation between the ions that compose the dimer. This parameter can vary
from sigma_{+/-} that corresponds to the tightly tethered dipolar dimer model,
to R_c --> infinity, that corresponds to the Stillinger-Lovett description of
the free ion system. The coexistence curve and critical point parameters are
obtained as a function of R_c by grand canonical Monte Carlo techniques. Our
results show that this dependence is smooth but non-monotonic and converges
asymptotically towards the free ion case for relatively small values of R_c.
This fact allows us to describe the gas-liquid transition in the free ion model
as a transition between two dimerized fluid phases. The role of the unpaired
ions can be considered as a perturbation of this picture.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, submitted to Physical Review
Astrophysical structures from primordial quantum black holes
The characteristic sizes of astrophysical structures, up to the whole
observed Universe, can be recovered, in principle, assuming that gravity is the
overall interaction assembling systems starting from microscopic scales, whose
order of magnitude is ruled by the Planck length and the related Compton
wavelength. This result agrees with the absence of screening mechanisms for the
gravitational interaction and could be connected to the presence of Yukawa
corrections in the Newtonian potential which introduce typical interaction
lengths. This result directly comes out from quantization of primordial black
holes and then characteristic interaction lengths directly emerge from quantum
field theory.Comment: 11 page
Deep Near Infrared Mapping of Young and Old Stars in Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies
We analyze J, H and Ks near-infrared data for 9 Blue Compact Dwarf (BCD)
galaxies, selected from a larger sample that we have already studied in the
optical. We present contour maps, surface brightness and color profiles, as
well as color maps of the sample galaxies. The morphology of the BCDs in the
NIR has been found to be basically the same as in the optical. The inner
regions of these systems are dominated by the starburst component. At low
surface brightness levels the emission is due to the underlying host galaxy;
the latter is characterized by red, radially constant colors and isophotes well
fit by ellipses. We derive accurate optical near--infrared host galaxy colors
for eight of the sample galaxies; these colors are typical of an evolved
stellar population. Interestingly, optical near--infrared color maps reveal the
presence of a complex, large-scale absorption pattern in three of the sample
galaxies. We study the applicability of the Sersic law to describe the surface
brightness profiles of the underlying host galaxy, and find that, because of
the limited surface brightness interval over which the fit can be made, the
derived Sersic parameters are very sensitive to the selected radial interval
and to errors in the sky subtraction. Fitting an exponential model gives
generally more stable results, and can provide a useful tool to quantify the
structural properties of the host galaxy and compare them with those of other
dwarf classes as well as with those of star-forming dwarfs at higher redshifts.Comment: 49 pages, 9 figures, 10 tables, accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journa
Tides in colliding galaxies
Long tails and streams of stars are the most noticeable upshots of galaxy
collisions. Their origin as gravitational, tidal, disturbances has however been
recognized only less than fifty years ago and more than ten years after their
first observations. This Review describes how the idea of galactic tides
emerged, in particular thanks to the advances in numerical simulations, from
the first ones that included tens of particles to the most sophisticated ones
with tens of millions of them and state-of-the-art hydrodynamical
prescriptions. Theoretical aspects pertaining to the formation of tidal tails
are then presented. The third part of the review turns to observations and
underlines the need for collecting deep multi-wavelength data to tackle the
variety of physical processes exhibited by collisional debris. Tidal tails are
not just stellar structures, but turn out to contain all the components usually
found in galactic disks, in particular atomic / molecular gas and dust. They
host star-forming complexes and are able to form star-clusters or even
second-generation dwarf galaxies. The final part of the review discusses what
tidal tails can tell us (or not) about the structure and content of present-day
galaxies, including their dark components, and explains how tidal tails may be
used to probe the past evolution of galaxies and their mass assembly history.
On-going deep wide-field surveys disclose many new low-surface brightness
structures in the nearby Universe, offering great opportunities for attempting
galactic archeology with tidal tails.Comment: 46 pages, 13 figures, Review to be published in "Tidal effects in
Astronomy and Astrophysics", Lecture Notes in Physics. Comments are most
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