2,254 research outputs found
Development of an (AlGaAs-Ga As) graded band gap solar cell
The results of an experimental program to develop the epitaxial growth techniques and analytical characterization techniques to fabricate graded bandgap solar cells are reported
A close look into the carbon disk at the core of the planetary nebula CPD-568032
We present high spatial resolution observations of the dusty core of the
Planetary Nebula with Wolf-Rayet central star CPD-568032. These observations
were taken with the mid-infrared interferometer VLTI/MIDI in imaging mode
providing a typical 300 mas resolution and in interferometric mode using
UT2-UT3 47m baseline providing a typical spatial resolution of 20 mas. The
visible HST images exhibit a complex multilobal geometry dominated by faint
lobes. The farthest structures are located at 7" from the star. The mid-IR
environment of CPD-568032 is dominated by a compact source, barely resolved by
a single UT telescope in a 8.7 micron filter. The infrared core is almost fully
resolved with the three 40-45m projected baselines ranging from -5 to 51 degree
but smooth oscillating fringes at low level have been detected in spectrally
dispersed visibilities. This clear signal is interpreted in terms of a ring
structure which would define the bright inner rim of the equatorial disk.
Geometric models allowed us to derive the main geometrical parameters of the
disk. For instance, a reasonably good fit is reached with an achromatic and
elliptical truncated Gaussian with a radius of 97+/-11 AU, an inclination of
28+/-7 degree and a PA for the major axis at 345+/-7 degree. Furthermore, we
performed some radiative transfer modeling aimed at further constraining the
geometry and mass content of the disk, by taking into account the MIDI
dispersed visibilities, spectra, and the large aperture SED of the source.
These models show that the disk is mostly optically thin in the N band and
highly flared.Comment: Paper accepted in A&
X-ray emission from Planetary Nebulae. I. Spherically symmetric numerical simulations
(abridged) The interaction of a fast wind with a spherical Asymptotic Giant
Branch (AGB) wind is thought to be the basic mechanism for shaping
Pre-Planetary Nebulae (PPN) and later Planetary Nebulae (PN). Due to the large
speed of the fast wind, one expects extended X-ray emission from these objects,
but X-ray emission has only been detected in a small fraction of PNs and only
in one PPN. Using numerical simulations we investigate the constraints that can
be set on the physical properties of the fast wind (speed, mass-flux, opening
angle) in order to produce the observed X-ray emission properties of PPNs and
PNs. We combine numerical hydrodynamical simulations including radiative
cooling using the code FLASH with calculations of the X-ray properties of the
resulting expanding hot bubble using the atomic database ATOMDB. In this first
study, we compute X-ray fluxes and spectra using one-dimensional models.
Comparing our results with analytical solutions, we find some agreements and
many disagreements. In particular, we test the effect of different time
histories of the fast wind on the X-ray emission and find that it is determined
by the final stage of the time history during which the fast wind velocity has
its largest value. The disagreements which are both qualitative and
quantitative in nature argue for the necessity of using numerical simulations
for understanding the X-ray properties of PNs.Comment: 17 pages, accepted for publication in ApJ (July 27, 2006), uses
emulateap
A Spitzer Study of the Mass Loss Histories of Three Bipolar Pre-Planetary Nebulae
We present the results of far-infrared imaging of extended regions around
three bipolar pre-planetary nebulae, AFGL 2688, OH 231.8+4.2, and IRAS
163423814, at 70 and 160 m with the MIPS instrument on the Spitzer
Space Telescope. After a careful subtraction of the point spread function of
the central star from these images, we place constraints on the existence of
extended shells and thus on the mass outflow rates as a function of radial
distance from these stars. We find no apparent extended emission in AFGL 2688
and OH 231.8+4.2 beyond 100 arcseconds from the central source. In the case of
AFGL 2688, this result is inconsistent with a previous report of two extended
dust shells made on the basis of ISO observations. We derive an upper limit of
M yr and M
yr for the dust mass loss rate of AFGL 2688 and OH 231.8, respectively,
at 200 arcseconds from each source. In contrast to these two sources, IRAS
163423814 does show extended emission at both wavelengths, which can be
interpreted as a very large dust shell with a radius of 400 arcseconds
and a thickness of 100 arcseconds, corresponding to 4 pc and 1 pc,
respectively, at a distance of 2 kpc. However, this enhanced emission may also
be galactic cirrus; better azimuthal coverage is necessary for confirmation of
a shell. If the extended emission is a shell, it can be modeled as enhanced
mass outflow at a dust mass outflow rate of M
yr superimposed on a steady outflow with a dust mass outflow rate of
M yr. It is likely that this shell has swept
up a substantial mass of interstellar gas during its expansion, so these
estimates are upper limits to the stellar mass loss rate.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures, accepted to A
High-Resolution Near-Infrared Imaging and Polarimetry of Four Proto-Planetary Nebulae
High-resolution near-infrared HST NICMOS (F160W, F222M) images and
polarization (2 um) observations were made of four bipolar proto-planetary
nebulae (PPNs): IRAS 17150-3224, IRAS 17441-2411, IRAS 17245-3951, and IRAS
16594-4656. The first three of these are viewed nearly edge-on, and for the
first time the central stars in them are seen. Color maps reveal a reddened
torus between the bipolar lobes in the edge-on cases, with bluer lobes. The
polarization values are high, with maximum values ranging from 40 to 80%. The
polarization patterns are basically centrosymmetric, with some deviations in
the low polarization equatorial regions. For IRAS 17150-3224, circumstellar
arcs are seen at 1.6 um, along with a newly-discovered loop in the equatorial
region. Bright caps are seen at the end of the lobes, indicating that they are
not open-ended. A distinct point-symmetric pattern is seen in the strengths of
the polarization vectors, especially in IRAS 17150-3224. HST NICMOS
observations provide a valuable complement to the WFPC2 visible images in
deriving the basic structure of bipolar PPNs.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomical
Journal higher resolution figures are available on
http://katherine.as.arizona.edu/~ksu/cv/su_nicmos7840.ps.g
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