20,149 research outputs found
Analysis and Monte Carlo simulation of near-terminal aircraft flight paths
The flight paths of arriving and departing aircraft at an airport are stochastically represented. Radar data of the aircraft movements are used to decompose the flight paths into linear and curvilinear segments. Variables which describe the segments are derived, and the best fitting probability distributions of the variables, based on a sample of flight paths, are found. Conversely, given information on the probability distribution of the variables, generation of a random sample of flight paths in a Monte Carlo simulation is discussed. Actual flight paths at Dulles International Airport are analyzed and simulated
Two-micron spectrophotometry of the galaxy NGC 253
A very strong Brackett-gamma hydrogen emission line, and the 2.3 micron CO stellar absorption feature were measured in NGC 253. The presence and strength of the CO feature indicates that late type giant stars produce most of the 2.2 micron continuum emission, while the rate of ionization implied by strength of the Brackett-gamma line indicates that much, perhaps all, of the luminosity detected at far infrared wavelengths originates from a large number of OB stars. As compared to the corresponding region of the Galaxy, the number of massive young stars in the central 200 pc of NGC 253 is thirty times greater, but the total mass of stars is roughly the same
Coherent Time Evolution and Boundary Conditions of Two-Photon Quantum Walks
Multi-photon quantum walks in integrated optics are an attractive controlled
quantum system, that can mimic less readily accessible quantum systems and
exhibit behavior that cannot in general be accurately replicated by classical
light without an exponential overhead in resources. The ability to observe time
evolution of such systems is important for characterising multi-particle
quantum dynamics---notably this includes the effects of boundary conditions for
walks in spaces of finite size. Here we demonstrate the coherent evolution of
quantum walks of two indistinguishable photons using planar arrays of 21
evanescently coupled waveguides fabricated in silicon oxynitride technology. We
compare three time evolutions, that follow closely a model assuming unitary
evolution, corresponding to three different lengths of the array---in each case
we observe quantum interference features that violate classical predictions.
The longest array includes reflecting boundary conditions.Comment: 7 pages,7 figure
Discovery of the Fomalhaut C debris disc
Fomalhaut is one of the most interesting and well studied nearby stars,
hosting at least one planet, a spectacular debris ring, and two distant
low-mass stellar companions (TW PsA and LP 876-10, a.k.a. Fomalhaut B & C). We
observed both companions with Herschel, and while no disc was detected around
the secondary, TW PsA, we have discovered the second debris disc in the
Fomalhaut system, around LP 876-10. This detection is only the second case of
two debris discs seen in a multiple system, both of which are relatively wide
(3000 AU for HD 223352/40 and 158 kAU [0.77 pc] for Fomalhaut/LP
876-10). The disc is cool (24K) and relatively bright, with a fractional
luminosity , and represents the rare
observation of a debris disc around an M dwarf. Further work should attempt to
find if the presence of two discs in the Fomalhaut system is coincidental,
perhaps simply due to the relatively young system age of 440 Myr, or if the
stellar components have dynamically interacted and the system is even more
complex than it currently appears.Comment: Published in MNRAS Letters. Merry Xma
Interferometric Mapping of Magnetic fields: NGC2071IR
We present polarization maps of NGC2071IR from thermal dust emission at 1.3
mm and from CO J= line emission. The observations were obtained using
the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association array in the period 2002-2004. We
detected dust and line polarized emission from NGC2071IR that we used to
constrain the morphology of the magnetic field. From CO J= polarized
emission we found evidence for a magnetic field in the powerful bipolar outflow
present in this region. We calculated a visual extinction mag from our dust observations. This result, when compared with early
single dish work, seems to show that dust grains emit polarized radiation
efficiently at higher densities than previously thought. Mechanical alignment
by the outflow is proposed to explain the polarization pattern observed in
NGC2071IR, which is consistent with the observed flattening in this source.Comment: 17 pages, 4 Figures, Accepted for publication in Ap
Mass and orbit constraints of the gamma-ray binary LS 5039
We present the results of space-based photometric and ground-based
spectroscopic observing campaigns on the gamma-ray binary LS 5039. The new
orbital and physical parameters of the system are similar to former results,
except we found a lower eccentricity. Our MOST-data show that any broad-band
optical photometric variability at the orbital period is below the 2 mmag
level. Light curve simulations support the lower value of eccentricity and
imply that the mass of the compact object is higher than 1.8 solar masses.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure (with 2 panels); to be published in the
Proceedings: From Interacting Binaries to Exoplanets: Essential Modeling
Tools, IAU Symposium 282 (18-22 July, 2011, Tatranska Lomnica, Slovakia
Quaternionic Diffusion by a Potential Step
In looking for qualitative differences between quaternionic and complex
formulations of quantum physical theories, we provide a detailed discussion of
the behavior of a wave packet in presence of a quaternionic time-independent
potential step. In this paper, we restrict our attention to diffusion
phenomena. For the group velocity of the wave packet moving in the potential
region and for the reflection and transmission times, the study shows a
striking difference between the complex and quaternionic formulations which
could be matter of further theoretical discussions and could represent the
starting point for a possible experimental investigation.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur
A K-band image of the gravitational lens system 2016 + 112
A new K-band (2.0-2.4 µm) image of the gravitational lens system 2016 + 112 gives the clearest view yet obtained of the two lensing galaxies, which have K magnitudes of 17.2 and ~ 18. The fainter galaxy is extremely red, with r-K of ≈7.7 mag, and while no spectroscopic redshift is available for it, estimates based on colors suggest a redshift significantly greater than that of the brighter galaxy. This has important consequences for models of this system
Coplanar Circumbinary Debris Disks
We present resolved Herschel images of circumbinary debris disks in the alpha
CrB (HD139006) and beta Tri (HD13161) systems. We find that both disks are
consistent with being aligned with the binary orbital planes. Though secular
perturbations from the binary can align the disk, in both cases the alignment
time at the distances at which the disk is resolved is greater than the stellar
age, so we conclude that the coplanarity was primordial. Neither disk can be
modelled as a narrow ring, requiring extended radial distributions. To satisfy
both the Herschel and mid-IR images of the alpha CrB disk, we construct a model
that extends from 1-300AU, whose radial profile is broadly consistent with a
picture where planetesimal collisions are excited by secular perturbations from
the binary. However, this model is also consistent with stirring by other
mechanisms, such as the formation of Pluto-sized objects. The beta Tri disk
model extends from 50-400AU. A model with depleted (rather than empty) inner
regions also reproduces the observations and is consistent with binary and
other stirring mechanisms. As part of the modelling process, we find that the
Herschel PACS beam varies by as much as 10% at 70um and a few % at 100um. The
70um variation can therefore hinder image interpretation, particularly for
poorly resolved objects. The number of systems in which circumbinary debris
disk orientations have been compared with the binary plane is now four. More
systems are needed, but a picture in which disks around very close binaries
(alpha CrB, beta Tri, and HD 98800, with periods of a few weeks to a year) are
aligned, and disks around wider binaries (99 Her, with a 50 yr period) are
misaligned, may be emerging. This picture is qualitatively consistent with the
expectation that the protoplanetary disks from which the debris emerged are
more likely to be aligned if their binaries have shorter periods.Comment: accepted to MNRA
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