2,058 research outputs found
An Extreme-AO Search for Giant Planets around a White Dwarf --VLT/SPHERE performance on a faint target GD 50
CONTEXT. Little is known about the planetary systems around single white
dwarfs although there is strong evidence that they do exist.
AIMS. We performed a pilot study with the extreme-AO system on the
Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) on the Very
Large Telescopes (VLT) to look for giant planets around a young white dwarf, GD
50.
METHODS. We were awarded science verification time on the new ESO instrument
SPHERE. Observations were made with the InfraRed Dual-band Imager and
Spectrograph in classical imaging mode in H band.
RESULTS. Despite the faintness of the target (14.2 mag in R band), the AO
loop was closed and a strehl of 37\% was reached in H band. No objects were
detected around GD 50. We achieved a 5-sigma contrast of 6.2, 8.0 and 8.25 mags
at 0{\farcs}2, 0{\farcs}4 and 0{\farcs}6 and beyond, respectively. We exclude
any substellar objects more massive than 4.0 M at 6.2 AU, 2.9
M at 12.4 AU and 2.8 M at 18.6 AU and beyond. This
rivals the previous upper limit set by Spitzer. We further show that SPHERE is
the most promising instrument available to search for close-in substellar
objects around nearby white dwarfs.Comment: A&A letters, accepte
Quasi-conservation laws for compressible 3D Navier-Stokes flow
We formulate the quasi-Lagrangian fluid transport dynamics of mass density
and the projection q=\bom\cdot\nabla\rho of the vorticity \bom onto
the density gradient, as determined by the 3D compressible Navier-Stokes
equations for an ideal gas, although the results apply for an arbitrary
equation of state. It turns out that the quasi-Lagrangian transport of
cannot cross a level set of . That is, in this formulation, level sets of
(isopychnals) are impermeable to the transport of the projection .Comment: 2 page note, to appear in Phys Rev
J004457+4123 (Sharov 21): not a remarkable nova in M31 but a background quasar with a spectacular UV flare
We announce the discovery of a quasar behind the disk of M31, which was
previously classified as a remarkable nova in our neighbour galaxy. The paper
is primarily aimed at the outburst of J004457+4123 (Sharov 21), with the first
part focussed on the optical spectroscopy and the improvement in the
photometric database. Both the optical spectrum and the broad band spectral
energy distribution of Sharov 21 are shown to be very similar to that of
normal, radio-quiet type 1 quasars. We present photometric data covering more
than a century and resulting in a long-term light curve that is densely sampled
over the past five decades. The variability of the quasar is characterized by a
ground state with typical fluctuation amplitudes of ~0.2 mag around B~20.5,
superimposed by a singular flare of ~2 yr duration (observer frame) with the
maximum at 1992.81 where the UV flux has increased by a factor of ~20. The
total energy in the flare is at least three orders of magnitudes higher than
the radiated energy of the most luminous supernovae, provided that it comes
from an intrinsic process and the energy is radiated isotropically. The profile
of the flare light curve appears to be in agreement with the standard
predictions for a stellar tidal disruption event where a ~10 M_sun giant star
was shredded in the tidal field of a ~2...5 10^8 M_sun black hole. The short
fallback time derived from the light curve requires an ultra-close encounter
where the pericentre of the stellar orbit is deep within the tidal disruption
radius. Gravitational microlensing provides an alternative explanation, though
the probability of such a high amplification event is very low.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics, 14 pages, 11
figure
Generation of correlated Rayleigh fading channels for accurate simulationof promising wireless communication systems
In this paper, a generalized method is proposed for the accurate simulation of equal/ unequal power correlated Rayleigh fading channels to overcome the shortcomings of existing methods. Spatial and spectral correlations are also considered in this technique for different transmission conditions. It employs successive coloring for the inphase and quadrature components of successive signals using real correlation vector of successive signal envelopes rather than complex covariance matrix of the Gaussian signals which is utilized in conventional methods. Any number of fading signals with any desired correlations
of successive envelope pairs in the interval [0, 1] can be generated with high accuracy. Moreover, factorization of the desired covariance matrix is avoided to overcome the shortcomings and high computational complexity of conventional methods. Extensive simulations of different representative scenarios demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposedtechnique. The simplicity and accuracy of this method will help the researchers to study and simulate the impact of fading correlation on the performance evaluation of various multi-antenna and multicarrier communication systems. Moreover, it enables the engineers for efficient design and deployment of new schemes for feasible wireless
application
MYCOPLASMA STUDIES OF HUMAN LEUKEMIA *
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72000/1/j.1749-6632.1967.tb27701.x.pd
The gradient of potential vorticity, quaternions and an orthonormal frame for fluid particles
The gradient of potential vorticity (PV) is an important quantity because of
the way PV (denoted as ) tends to accumulate locally in the oceans and
atmospheres. Recent analysis by the authors has shown that the vector quantity
\bdB = \bnabla q\times \bnabla\theta for the three-dimensional incompressible
rotating Euler equations evolves according to the same stretching equation as
for \bom the vorticity and \bB, the magnetic field in magnetohydrodynamics
(MHD). The \bdB-vector therefore acts like the vorticity \bom in Euler's
equations and the \bB-field in MHD. For example, it allows various analogies,
such as stretching dynamics, helicity, superhelicity and cross helicity. In
addition, using quaternionic analysis, the dynamics of the \bdB-vector
naturally allow the construction of an orthonormal frame attached to fluid
particles\,; this is designated as a quaternion frame. The alignment dynamics
of this frame are particularly relevant to the three-axis rotations that
particles undergo as they traverse regions of a flow when the PV gradient
\bnabla q is large.Comment: Dedicated to Raymond Hide on the occasion of his 80th birthda
Differential rotation in giant planets maintained by density-stratified turbulent convection
The zonal winds on the surfaces of giant planets vary with latitude. Jupiter
and Saturn, for example, have several bands of alternating eastward (prograde)
and westward (retrograde) jets relative to the angular velocity of their global
magnetic fields. These surface wind profiles are likely manifestations of the
variations in depth and latitude of angular velocity deep within the liquid
interiors of these planets. Two decades ago it was proposed that this
differential rotation could be maintained by vortex stretching of convective
fluid columns that span the interiors of these planets from the northern
hemisphere surface to the southern hemisphere surface. This now classic
mechanism explains the differential rotation seen in laboratory experiments and
in computer simulations of, at best, weakly turbulent convection in rotating
constant-density fluid spheres. However, these experiments and simulations are
poor approximations for the density-stratified strongly-turbulent interiors of
giant planets. The long thin global convective columns predicted by the classic
geostrophic theory for these planets would likely not develop. Here we propose
a much more robust mechanism for maintaining differential rotation in radius
based on the local generation of vorticity as rising plumes expand and sinking
plumes contract. Our high-resolution two-dimensional computer simulations
demonstrate how this mechanism could maintain either prograde or retrograde
surface winds in the equatorial region of a giant planet depending on how the
density scale height varies with depth.Comment: Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics, in pres
The potential role of T-cells and their interaction with antigen-presenting cells in mediating immunosuppression following trauma-hemorrhage
Objective: Trauma-hemorrhage results in depressed immune responses of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T-cells. Recent studies suggest a key role of depressed T-cell derived interferon (IFN)-g in this complex immune cell interaction. The aim of this study was to elucidate further the underlying mechanisms responsible for dysfunctional T-cells and their interaction with APCs following trauma-hemorrhage.
Design: Adult C3H/HeN male mice were subjected to trauma-hemorrhage (3-cm midline laparotomy) followed by hemorrhage (blood pressure of 35�5mmHg for 90 min and resuscitation) or sham operation. At 24 h thereafter, spleens were harvested and T-cells (by Microbeads) and APCs (via adherence) were Isolated. Co-cultures of T-cells and APCs were established for 48 h and stimulated with concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. T-Cell specific cytokines known to affect APC function (i.e. interleukin(IL)-2, IL-4 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)) were measured in culture supernatants by Multiplex assay. The expression of MHC class II as well as co-stimulatory surface molecules on T-cells and APCs was determined by flow cytometry.
Results: The release of IL-4 and GM-CSF by T-cells was suppressed following trauma-hemorrhage, irrespective of whether sham or trauma-hemorrhage APCs were present. Antigen-presenting cells from animals subjected to trauma-hemorrhage did not affect T-cell derived cytokine release by sham T-cells. In contrast, T-cells from traumahemorrhage animals depressed MHC class II expression of CD11c(þ) cells, irrespective of whether APCs underwent sham or trauma-hemorrhage procedure. Surprisingly, co-stimulatory molecules on APCs (CD80, CD86) were not affected by trauma-hemorrhage.
Conclusions: These results suggest that beside IFN-g other T-cell derived cytokines contribute to immunosuppression following trauma-hemorrhage causing diminished MHC II expression on APCs. Thus, T-cells appear to play an important role in this interaction at the time-point examined. Therapeutic approaches should aim at maintenance of T-cell function and their interaction with APCs to prevent extended immunosuppression following trauma-hemorrhage
Lagrangian particle paths and ortho-normal quaternion frames
Experimentalists now measure intense rotations of Lagrangian particles in
turbulent flows by tracking their trajectories and Lagrangian-average velocity
gradients at high Reynolds numbers. This paper formulates the dynamics of an
orthonormal frame attached to each Lagrangian fluid particle undergoing
three-axis rotations, by using quaternions in combination with Ertel's theorem
for frozen-in vorticity. The method is applicable to a wide range of Lagrangian
flows including the three-dimensional Euler equations and its variants such as
ideal MHD. The applicability of the quaterionic frame description to Lagrangian
averaged velocity gradient dynamics is also demonstrated.Comment: 9 pages, one figure, revise
Selective decay by Casimir dissipation in fluids
The problem of parameterizing the interactions of larger scales and smaller
scales in fluid flows is addressed by considering a property of two-dimensional
incompressible turbulence. The property we consider is selective decay, in
which a Casimir of the ideal formulation (enstrophy in 2D flows, helicity in 3D
flows) decays in time, while the energy stays essentially constant. This paper
introduces a mechanism that produces selective decay by enforcing Casimir
dissipation in fluid dynamics. This mechanism turns out to be related in
certain cases to the numerical method of anticipated vorticity discussed in
\cite{SaBa1981,SaBa1985}. Several examples are given and a general theory of
selective decay is developed that uses the Lie-Poisson structure of the ideal
theory. A scale-selection operator allows the resulting modifications of the
fluid motion equations to be interpreted in several examples as parameterizing
the nonlinear, dynamical interactions between disparate scales. The type of
modified fluid equation systems derived here may be useful in modelling
turbulent geophysical flows where it is computationally prohibitive to rely on
the slower, indirect effects of a realistic viscosity, such as in large-scale,
coherent, oceanic flows interacting with much smaller eddies
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