Anisotropic response of the moving vortex lattice in superconducting Mo(1−x)_{(1-x)}Gex_{x} amorphous films

We have performed magnetic susceptibility measurements in Mo$_{(1-x)}$Ge$_x$ amorphous thin films biased with an electrical current using anisotropic coils. We tested the symmetry of the vortex response changing the relative orientation between the bias current and the susceptibility coils. We found a region in the DC current - temperature phase diagram where the dynamical vortex structures behave anisotropically. In this region the shielding capability of the superconducting currents measured by the susceptibility coils is less effective along the direction of vortex motion compared to the transverse direction. This anisotropic response is found in the same region where the peak effect in the critical current is developed. On rising temperature the isotropic behavior is recovered.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Probing the Circumnuclear Stellar Populations of Starburst Galaxies in the Near-infrared

We employ the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility's near-infrared spectrograph SpeX at 0.8-2.4$\mu$m to investigate the spatial distribution of the stellar populations (SPs) in four well known Starburst galaxies: NGC34, NGC1614, NGC3310 and NGC7714. We use the STARLIGHT code updated with the synthetic simple stellar populations models computed by Maraston (2005, M05). Our main results are that the NIR light in the nuclear surroundings of the galaxies is dominated by young/intermediate age SPs ($t \leq 2\times10^9$yr), summing from $\sim$40\% up to 100\% of the light contribution. In the nuclear aperture of two sources (NGC1614 and NGC3310) we detected a predominant old SP component ($t > 2\times10^9$yr), while for NGC34 and NGC7714 the younger component prevails. Furthermore, we found evidence of a circumnuclear star formation ring-like structure and a secondary nucleus in NGC1614, in agreement with previous studies. We also suggest that the merger/interaction experienced by three of the galaxies studied, NGC1614, NGC3310 and NGC7714 can explain the lower metallicity values derived for the young SP component of these sources. In this scenario the fresh unprocessed metal poorer gas from the destroyed/interacting companion galaxy is driven to the centre of the galaxies and mixed with the central region gas, before star formation takes place. In order to deepen our analysis, we performed the same procedure of SP synthesis using Maraston (2011, M11) EPS models. Our results show that the newer and higher resolution M11 models tend to enhance the old/intermediate age SP contribution over the younger ages

The XDSPRES CL-based package for reducing OSIRIS cross-dispersed spectra

We present a description of the CL-based package XDSPRES, which aims at being a complete reducing facility for cross-dispersed spectra taken with the Ohio State Infrared Imager/Spectrometer, as installed at the SOAR telescope. This instrument provides spectra in the range between 1.2um and 2.35um in a single exposure, with resolving power of R ~ 1200. XDSPRES consists of two tasks, namely xdflat and doosiris. The former is a completely automated code for preparing normalized flat field images from raw flat field exposures. Doosiris was designed to be a complete reduction pipeline, requiring a minimum of user interaction. General steps towards a fully reduced spectrum are explained, as well as the approach adopted by our code. The software is available to the community through the web site http://www.if.ufrgs.br/~ruschel/software.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

The first detection of near-infrared CN bands in active galactic nuclei: signature of star formation

We present the first detection of the near-infrared CN absorption band in the nuclear spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN). This feature is a recent star formation tracer, being particularly strong in carbon stars. The equivalent width of the CN line correlates with that of the CO at 2.3 microns, as expected in stellar populations (SP) with ages between ~ 0.2 and ~ 2 Gyr. The presence of the 1.1 microns CN band in the spectra of the sources is taken as an unambiguous evidence of the presence of young/intermediate SP close to the central source of the AGN. Near-infrared bands can be powerful age indicators for star formation connected to AGN, the understanding of which is crucial in the context of galaxy formation and AGN feedback.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 4 pages, 3 figure

Integral Field Spectroscopy of the inner kpc of the elliptical galaxy NGC 5044

We used Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) in the Integral Field Unit mode to map the stellar population, emission line flux distributions and gas kinematics in the inner kpc of NGC 5044. From the stellar populations synthesis we found that the continuum emission is dominated by old high metallicity stars ($\sim$13 Gyr, 2.5Z$\odot$). Also, its nuclear emission is diluted by a non thermal emission, which we attribute to the presence of a weak active galactic nuclei (AGN). In addition, we report for the first time a broad component (FWHM$\sim$ 3000km$s^{-1}$) in the H$\alpha$ emission line in the nuclear region of NGC 5044. By using emission line ratio diagnostic diagrams we found that two dominant ionization processes coexist, while the nuclear region (inner 200 pc) is ionized by a low luminosity AGN, the filamentary structures are consistent with being excited by shocks. The H$\alpha$ velocity field shows evidence of a rotating disk, which has a velocity amplitude of $\sim$240kms$^{-1}$ at $\sim$ 136 pc from the nucleus. Assuming a Keplerian approach we estimated that the mass inside this radius is $1.9\times10^9$ $M_{\odot}$, which is in agreement with the value obtained through the M-$\sigma$ relation, $M_{SMBH}=1.8\pm1.6\times10^{9}M_{\odot}$. Modelling the ionized gas velocity field by a rotating disk component plus inflows towards the nucleus along filamentary structures, we obtain a mass inflow rate of $\sim$0.4 M$_\odot$. This inflow rate is enough to power the central AGN in NGC 5044.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, accepted by MNRA

Vortex motion rectification in Josephson junction arrays with a ratchet potential

By means of electrical transport measurements we have studied the rectified motion of vortices in ratchet potentials engineered on over-damped Josephson junction arrays. The rectified voltage as a function of the vortex density shows a maximum efficiency close a matching condition to the period of the ratchet potential indicating a collective vortex motion. Vortex current reversals where detected varying the driving force and vortex density revealing the influence of vortex-vortex interaction in the ratchet effect.Comment: PDF only, 4 page

Effect of disorder on the vortex-lattice melting transition

We use a three dimensional stacked triangular network of Josephson junctions as a model for the study of vortex structure in the mixed state of high Tc superconductors. We show that the addition of disorder destroys the first order melting transition occurring for clean samples. The melting transition splits in two different (continuous) transitions, ocurring at temperatures Ti and Tp (>Ti). At Ti the perpendicular-to-field superconductivity is lost, and at Tp the parallel-to-field superconductivity is lost. These results agree well with recent experiments in YBaCuO.Comment: 4 pages + 2 figure

New X-ray Constraints on Starburst and Seyfert Activity in the Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1672

The nearby barred spiral galaxy NGC 1672 shows dramatic starburst activity and may also host a Seyfert 2 nucleus. We present new X-ray observations that set constraints on starburst and Seyfert activity in NGC 1672. Two ROSAT HRI exposures, taken in 1992 and 1997, are used to investigate long-term variability of the known X-ray sources and to search for new sources of X-ray emission. We find large-amplitude (about 69%) variability from X-3, one of the off-nuclear sources located near an end of the galactic bar. X-3 has a peak observed 0.2-2.0 keV luminosity of about 2.5 x 10^{39} erg/s, and it is probably a luminous X-ray binary or young supernova remnant. We do not observe variability of the nuclear source X-1 or the strong off-nuclear source X-2. Our analyses also reveal two new off-nuclear sources, one of which is associated with a bright region along a spiral arm, and we find evidence for large-scale diffuse X-ray emission throughout part of the disk of NGC 1672. Furthermore, we use ASCA data taken in 1995 to constrain the hard X-ray properties of NGC 1672. While the nuclear source X-1 is the dominant soft X-ray source in NGC 1672, we find that the bulk of the 2-10 keV and 5-10 keV emission is spatially coincident with the off-nuclear source X-3, giving it an apparent 0.2-8 keV luminosity of about 6 x 10^{39} erg/s. A power-law plus Raymond-Smith model provides an acceptable fit to the full-band ASCA spectra. We do not find any evidence for a luminous but absorbed nuclear X-ray source. If there is a luminous Seyfert 2 nucleus in NGC 1672, it must be obscured by a `Compton-thick' torus with a column density of > 2 x 10^{24} cm^{-2}.Comment: 19 pages, AJ, accepted, also available from http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/niel/papers/papers.htm

Characteristics of First-Order Vortex Lattice Melting: Jumps in Entropy and Magnetization

We derive expressions for the jumps in entropy and magnetization characterizing the first-order melting transition of a flux line lattice. In our analysis we account for the temperature dependence of the Landau parameters and make use of the proper shape of the melting line as determined by the relative importance of electromagnetic and Josephson interactions. The results agree well with experiments on anisotropic Y$_1$Ba$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ and layered Bi$_2$Sr$_2$Ca$_1$Cu$_2$O$_8$ materials and reaffirm the validity of the London model.Comment: 4 pages. We have restructured the paper to emphasize that in the London scaling regime (appropriate for YBCO) our results are essentially exact. We have also emphasized that a major controversy over the relevance of the London model to describe VL melting has been settled by this wor