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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Application Of Asymptotic Expansions For Maximum Likelihood Estimators' Errors To Gravitational Waves From Inspiraling Binary Systems: The Network Case, Salvatore Vitale, Michele Zanolin Nov 2011

Application Of Asymptotic Expansions For Maximum Likelihood Estimators' Errors To Gravitational Waves From Inspiraling Binary Systems: The Network Case, Salvatore Vitale, Michele Zanolin

Michele Zanolin

This paper describes the most accurate analytical frequentist assessment to date of the uncertainties in the estimation of physical parameters from gravitational waves generated by nonspinning binary systems and Earth-based networks of laser interferometers. The paper quantifies how the accuracy in estimating the intrinsic parameters mostly depends on the network signal to noise ratio (SNR), but the resolution in the direction of arrival also strongly depends on the network geometry. We compare results for 6 different existing and possible global networks and two different choices of the parameter space. We show how the fraction of the sky where the one …


Holographic Renormalization Of Asymptotically Lifshitz Spacetimes, Robert Mcnees, Robert Mann Sep 2011

Holographic Renormalization Of Asymptotically Lifshitz Spacetimes, Robert Mcnees, Robert Mann

Robert A McNees IV

A variational formulation is given for a theory of gravity coupled to a massive vector in four dimensions, with Asymptotically Lifshitz boundary conditions on the fields. For theories with critical exponent z = 2 we obtain a well-defined variational principle by explicitly constructing two actions with local boundary counterterms. As part of our analysis we obtain solutions of these theories on a neighborhood of spatial infinity, study the asymptotic symmetries, and consider different definitions of the boundary stress tensor and associated charges. A constraint on the boundary data for the fields figures prominently in one of our formulations, and in …


Vuv Absorption Cross Section Of Benzene, Relevance For Titan’S Atmosphere, F-J. Capalbo, Y. Bénilan, N. Fray, M. Schwell, Et. Es-Sebbar, N. Champion, T. Koskinen, R. Yelle Jul 2011

Vuv Absorption Cross Section Of Benzene, Relevance For Titan’S Atmosphere, F-J. Capalbo, Y. Bénilan, N. Fray, M. Schwell, Et. Es-Sebbar, N. Champion, T. Koskinen, R. Yelle

Dr. Et-touhami Es-sebbar

Saturn's largest satellite, Titan, is the only one in the Solar System known to have a thick N2/CH4, planet like atmosphere. The dissociation of these principal components and the recombination of the products make this atmosphere to be rich in organic compounds of high interest for astrobiology. Solar and stellar occultations observed by the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) on board the Cassini spacecraft can be used to characterize the composition of Titan’s upper atmosphere (400 – 1400 km). The results depend strongly on the knowledge of the molecular absorption cross sections of the atmospheric constituents (Ferradaz et al. 2009). This …


Temporal And Spatial Aspects Of Gas Release During The 2010 Apparition Of Comet 103p/Hartley 2, M. J. Mumma, B. P. Bonev, G. L. Villanueva, L. Paganini, M. A. Disanti, E. L. Gibb, J. V. Keane, K. J. Meech, G. A. Blake, R. S. Ellis, M. Lippi, H. Boehnhardt, K. Magee-Sauer Jun 2011

Temporal And Spatial Aspects Of Gas Release During The 2010 Apparition Of Comet 103p/Hartley 2, M. J. Mumma, B. P. Bonev, G. L. Villanueva, L. Paganini, M. A. Disanti, E. L. Gibb, J. V. Keane, K. J. Meech, G. A. Blake, R. S. Ellis, M. Lippi, H. Boehnhardt, K. Magee-Sauer

Erika Gibb

We report measurements of eight primary volatiles (H2O, HCN, CH4, C2H6, CH3OH, C2H2, H2CO, and NH3) and two product species (OH and NH2) in comet 103P/Hartley 2 using high-dispersion infrared spectroscopy. We quantified the long- and short-term behavior of volatile release over a three-month interval that encompassed the comet's close approach to Earth, its perihelion passage, and flyby of the comet by the Deep Impact spacecraft during the EPOXI mission. We present production rates for individual species, their mixing ratios relative to water, and their spatial distributions in the coma on multiple dates. The production rates for water, ethane, HCN, …


Characterization Of Continuous Vacuum Ultraviolet Lamps-Implication On The Study Of Methane Photolysis At Lyman Alpha (121.6 Nm), M-C. Gazeau, Y. Benilan, Et. Es-Sebbar, A. Jolly, E. Arzoumanian, N. Fray, H. Cottin Apr 2011

Characterization Of Continuous Vacuum Ultraviolet Lamps-Implication On The Study Of Methane Photolysis At Lyman Alpha (121.6 Nm), M-C. Gazeau, Y. Benilan, Et. Es-Sebbar, A. Jolly, E. Arzoumanian, N. Fray, H. Cottin

Dr. Et-touhami Es-sebbar

Low-temperature hydrogen plasmas are widely used as continuous vacuum ultraviolet irradiation sources in photochemical studies and, in particular, in laboratory simulations of planetary atmospheres. One of the most challenging objectives of such experiments is to retrieve accurate quantitative laboratory data allowing a reliable comparison with theoretical and/or observational ones. This task can only be achieved when the irradiation source delivers a well characterised radiation in terms of flux and wavelength dependency. As an example, we will present a study, developed in the frame of a program dedicated to simulations of Titan’s atmosphere, on methane photolysis at Lyman alpha (121.6 nm). …


Formation Of Hcn And Nh3 As Primary Compounds Of Titan’S Atmosphere Simulations Using N2-Ch4 Afterglow Plasma’’, M-C. Gazeau, Y. Bénilan, E. Arzoumanian, Et. Es-Sebbar, A. Jolly, C.D. Pintassilgo Apr 2011

Formation Of Hcn And Nh3 As Primary Compounds Of Titan’S Atmosphere Simulations Using N2-Ch4 Afterglow Plasma’’, M-C. Gazeau, Y. Bénilan, E. Arzoumanian, Et. Es-Sebbar, A. Jolly, C.D. Pintassilgo

Dr. Et-touhami Es-sebbar

No abstract provided.


Astrophysical Mechanisms For Pulsar Spindown, Eric Addison Dec 2010

Astrophysical Mechanisms For Pulsar Spindown, Eric Addison

Eric Addison

Pulsars are astrophysical sources of pulsed electromagnetic radiation. The pulses have a variety of shapes in the time-domain, and the pulse energy generally peaks in the radio spectrum. The accepted models theorize that pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars with strong dipolar magnetic fields. Current models predict that rotational kinetic energy is extracted from the pulsar in the form of electromagnetic and gravitational radiation, causing it to slowly lose rotational speed, or “spin down”. This spindown can be characterized by a single value n, known as the braking index. This report will review basic characteristics of pulsars, including short treatments …


Epoxi: Comet 103p/Hartley 2 Observations From A Worldwide Campaign ; Astrophysical Journal Letters, K. J. Meech, M. F. A'Hearn, J. A. Adams, P. Bacci, J. Bai, L. Barrera, M. Battelino, J. M. Bauer, E. Becklin, B. Bhatt, N. Biver, D. Bockelee-Morvan, D. Bodewits, H. Bohnhardt, J. Boissier, B. P. Bonev, W. Borghini, J. R. Brucato, E. Bryssinck, M. W. Buie, H. Canovas, D. Castellano, S. B. Charnley, W. P. Chen, P. Chiang, Y. J. Choi, D. J. Christian, Y. L. Chuang, Anita L. Cochran, P. Colom, M. R. Combi, I. M. Coulson, J. Crovisier, N. Dello Russo, K. Dennerl, K. Dewahl, M. A. Disanti, M. Facchini, T. L. Farnham, Y. Fernandez, H. G. Floren, U. Frisk, T. Fujiyoshi, R. Furusho, T. Fuse, G. Galli, D. A. Garcia-Hernandez, A. Gersch, Z. Getu Dec 2010

Epoxi: Comet 103p/Hartley 2 Observations From A Worldwide Campaign ; Astrophysical Journal Letters, K. J. Meech, M. F. A'Hearn, J. A. Adams, P. Bacci, J. Bai, L. Barrera, M. Battelino, J. M. Bauer, E. Becklin, B. Bhatt, N. Biver, D. Bockelee-Morvan, D. Bodewits, H. Bohnhardt, J. Boissier, B. P. Bonev, W. Borghini, J. R. Brucato, E. Bryssinck, M. W. Buie, H. Canovas, D. Castellano, S. B. Charnley, W. P. Chen, P. Chiang, Y. J. Choi, D. J. Christian, Y. L. Chuang, Anita L. Cochran, P. Colom, M. R. Combi, I. M. Coulson, J. Crovisier, N. Dello Russo, K. Dennerl, K. Dewahl, M. A. Disanti, M. Facchini, T. L. Farnham, Y. Fernandez, H. G. Floren, U. Frisk, T. Fujiyoshi, R. Furusho, T. Fuse, G. Galli, D. A. Garcia-Hernandez, A. Gersch, Z. Getu

Erika Gibb

Earth- and space-based observations provide synergistic information for space mission encounters by providing data over longer timescales, at different wavelengths and using techniques that are impossible with an in situ flyby. We report here such observations in support of the EPOXI spacecraft flyby of comet 103P/Hartley 2. The nucleus is small and dark, and exhibited a very rapidly changing rotation period. Prior to the onset of activity, the period was ~16.4 hr. Starting in 2010 August the period changed from 16.6 hr to near 19 hr in December. With respect to dust composition, most volatiles and carbon and nitrogen isotope …