442 research outputs found
Modeling charge transport in C60-based self-assembled monolayers for applications in field-effect transistors
We have investigated the conductance properties of C60-containing
self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), which are used in organic field-effect
transistors, employing a combination of molecular-dynamics simulations,
semiempirical electronic structure calculations and Landauer transport theory.
The results reveal the close relation between the transport characteristics and
the structural and electronic properties of the SAM. Furthermore, both local
pathways of charge transport in the SAMs and the influence of structural
fluctuations are analyzed.Comment: 10 figure
Kinematic and Thermal Structure at the onset of high-mass star formation
We want to understand the kinematic and thermal properties of young massive
gas clumps prior to and at the earliest evolutionary stages of high-mass star
formation. Do we find signatures of gravitational collapse? Do we find
temperature gradients in the vicinity or absence of infrared emission sources?
Do we find coherent velocity structures toward the center of the dense and cold
gas clumps? To determine kinematics and gas temperatures, we used ammonia,
because it is known to be a good tracer and thermometer of dense gas. We
observed the NH(1,1) and (2,2) lines within seven very young high-mass
star-forming regions with the VLA and the Effelsberg 100m telescope. This
allows us to study velocity structures, linewidths, and gas temperatures at
high spatial resolution of 3-5, corresponding to 0.05 pc. We find on
average cold gas clumps with temperatures in the range between 10 K and 30 K.
The observations do not reveal a clear correlation between infrared emission
peaks and ammonia temperature peaks. We report an upper limit for the linewidth
of 1.3 km s, at the spectral resolution limit of our VLA
observation. This indicates a relatively low level of turbulence on the scale
of the observations. Velocity gradients are present in almost all regions with
typical velocity differences of 1 to 2 km s and gradients of 5 to 10 km
s pc. These velocity gradients are smooth in most cases, but
there is one exceptional source (ISOSS23053), for which we find several
velocity components with a steep velocity gradient toward the clump centers
that is larger than 30 km s pc. This steep velocity gradient is
consistent with recent models of cloud collapse. Furthermore, we report a
spatial correlation of ammonia and cold dust, but we also find decreasing
ammonia emission close to infrared emission sources.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figure
Kinematic structure of massive star-forming regions - I. Accretion along filaments
The mid- and far-infrared view on high-mass star formation, in particular
with the results from the Herschel space observatory, has shed light on many
aspects of massive star formation. However, these continuum studies lack
kinematic information.
We study the kinematics of the molecular gas in high-mass star-forming
regions.
We complemented the PACS and SPIRE far-infrared data of 16 high-mass
star-forming regions from the Herschel key project EPoS with N2H+ molecular
line data from the MOPRA and Nobeyama 45m telescope. Using the full N2H+
hyperfine structure, we produced column density, velocity, and linewidth maps.
These were correlated with PACS 70micron images and PACS point sources. In
addition, we searched for velocity gradients.
For several regions, the data suggest that the linewidth on the scale of
clumps is dominated by outflows or unresolved velocity gradients. IRDC18454 and
G11.11 show two velocity components along several lines of sight. We find that
all regions with a diameter larger than 1pc show either velocity gradients or
fragment into independent structures with distinct velocities. The velocity
profiles of three regions with a smooth gradient are consistent with gas flows
along the filament, suggesting accretion flows onto the densest regions.
We show that the kinematics of several regions have a significant and complex
velocity structure. For three filaments, we suggest that gas flows toward the
more massive clumps are present.Comment: accepted by A&
What determines the density structure of molecular clouds? A case study of Orion B with <i>Herschel</i>
A key parameter to the description of all star formation processes is the density structure of the gas. In this Letter, we make use of probability distribution functions (PDFs) of Herschel column density maps of Orion B, Aquila, and Polaris, obtained with the Herschel Gould Belt survey (HGBS). We aim to understand which physical processes influence the PDF shape, and with which signatures. The PDFs of Orion B (Aquila) show a lognormal distribution for low column densities until AV ~ 3 (6), and a power-law tail for high column densities, consistent with a ρα r-2 profile for the equivalent spherical density distribution. The PDF of Orion B is broadened by external compression due to the nearby OB stellar aggregates. The PDF of a quiescent subregion of the non-star-forming Polaris cloud is nearly lognormal, indicating that supersonic turbulence governs the density distribution. But we also observe a deviation from the lognormal shape at AV > 1 for a subregion in Polaris that includes a prominent filament. We conclude that (1) the point where the PDF deviates from the lognormal form does not trace a universal AV -threshold for star formation, (2) statistical density fluctuations, intermittency, and magnetic fields can cause excess from the lognormal PDF at an early cloud formation stage, (3) core formation and/or global collapse of filaments and a non-isothermal gas distribution lead to a power-law tail, and (4) external compression broadens the column density PDF, consistent with numerical simulations
<i>Herschel</i> observations of B1-bS and B1-bN: two first hydrostatic core candidates in the Perseus star-forming cloud
We report far-infrared Herschel observations obtained between 70 μm and 500 μm of two star-forming dusty condensations, [HKM99] B1-bS and [HKM99] B1-bN, in the B1 region of the Perseus star-forming cloud. In the western part of the Perseus cloud, B1-bS is the only source detected in all six PACS and SPIRE photometric bands, but it is not visible in the Spitzer map at 24 μm. B1-bN is clearly detected between 100 μm and 250 μm. We have fitted the spectral energy distributions of these sources to derive their physical properties, and find that a simple greybody model fails to reproduce the observed spectral energy distributions. At least a two-component model is required, consisting of a central source surrounded by a dusty envelope. The properties derived from the fit, however, suggest that the central source is not a Class 0 object. We then conclude that while B1-bS and B1-bN appear to be more evolved than a pre-stellar core, the best-fit models suggest that their central objects are younger than a Class 0 source. Hence, they may be good candidates to be examples of the first hydrostatic core phase. The projected distance between B1-bS and B1-bN is a few Jeans lengths. If their physical separation is close to this value, this pair would allow studying the mutual interactions between two forming stars at a very early stage of their evolution
The Herschel view of the on-going star formation in the Vela-C molecular cloud
As part of the Herschel guaranteed time key program 'HOBYS', we present the
photometric survey of the star forming region Vela-C, one of the nearest sites
of low-to-high-mass star formation in the Galactic plane. Vela-C has been
observed with PACS and SPIRE in parallel mode between 70 um and 500 um over an
area of about 3 square degrees. A photometric catalogue has been extracted from
the detections in each band, using a threshold of 5 sigma over the local
background. Out of this catalogue we have selected a robust sub-sample of 268
sources, of which 75% are cloud clumps and 25% are cores. Their Spectral Energy
Distributions (SEDs) have been fitted with a modified black body function. We
classify 48 sources as protostellar and 218 as starless. For two further
sources, we do not provide a secure classification, but suggest they are Class
0 protostars.
From SED fitting we have derived key physical parameters. Protostellar
sources are in general warmer and more compact than starless sources. Both
these evidences can be ascribed to the presence of an internal source(s) of
moderate heating, which also causes a temperature gradient and hence a more
peaked intensity distribution. Moreover, the reduced dimensions of protostellar
sources may indicate that they will not fragment further. A virial analysis of
the starless sources gives an upper limit of 90% for the sources
gravitationally bound and therefore prestellar. We fit a power law N(logM) prop
M^-1.1 to the linear portion of the mass distribution of prestellar sources.
This is in between that typical of CO clumps and those of cores in nearby
star-forming regions. We interpret this as a result of the inhomogeneity of our
sample, which is composed of comparable fractions of clumps and cores.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted by A&
An infrared-submillimeter study of star-forming regions selected by the ISOSS 170um survey
Using the ISOPHOT Serendipity Survey (ISOSS) at 170um a sample of galactic
star-forming regions exhibiting very cold dust temperatures (< 20 K) and high
masses (> 100 M_sun) has been established. We characterise the star-forming
content of five regions that were selected as potential sites for early stage
high-mass star formation using SCUBA (JCMT) and Spitzer observations. In every
region we identify one to four submillimeter clumps with projected sizes
between 0.1 and 0.4 pc. The dust temperatures range from 11.6 to 21.3 K and the
estimated clump masses are 2 to 166 M_sun. Towards the majority of
submillimeter peaks we find point sources in the near- to mid-infrared. Most
are interpreted as low-mass young stellar objects but we also detect very red
sources. They probably represent very young and deeply embedded protostars that
continue to accrete clump material and may reach higher masses. Several
candidate intermediate-mass proto- or pre-main-sequence stars embedded in the
clumps are identified. A subset of four clumps may be massive enough (> 100
M_sun) to form high-mass stars and accompanying clusters. The absence of
stellar precursors with current masses in the high-mass regime leave the type
of star formation occuring in the clumps unsettled. We confirm the presence of
large fractions of cold material as derived from large-scale far-infrared
measurements which dominates the emission of most clumps and suggests that the
star-forming process will continue.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&
World citation and collaboration networks: uncovering the role of geography in science
Modern information and communication technologies, especially the Internet,
have diminished the role of spatial distances and territorial boundaries on the
access and transmissibility of information. This has enabled scientists for
closer collaboration and internationalization. Nevertheless, geography remains
an important factor affecting the dynamics of science. Here we present a
systematic analysis of citation and collaboration networks between cities and
countries, by assigning papers to the geographic locations of their authors'
affiliations. The citation flows as well as the collaboration strengths between
cities decrease with the distance between them and follow gravity laws. In
addition, the total research impact of a country grows linearly with the amount
of national funding for research & development. However, the average impact
reveals a peculiar threshold effect: the scientific output of a country may
reach an impact larger than the world average only if the country invests more
than about 100,000 USD per researcher annually.Comment: Published version. 9 pages, 5 figures + Appendix, The world citation
and collaboration networks at both city and country level are available at
http://becs.aalto.fi/~rajkp/datasets.htm
- …