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2002

Astrophysics and Astronomy

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Full-Text Articles in Physics

He Ii Reverberation In Active Galactic Nucleus Spectra, Mark C. Bottorff, Jack A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, Jason W. Ferguson, Kirk T. Korista Dec 2002

He Ii Reverberation In Active Galactic Nucleus Spectra, Mark C. Bottorff, Jack A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, Jason W. Ferguson, Kirk T. Korista

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

This paper compares the observed reverberation response lags and the intensity ratios of the broad-line region (BLR) emission lines He II λ1640, He II λ4686, and C IV λ1549 with predictions. Published observations indicate that the He II λ1640 lag is 3 times shorter than the lags of He II λ4686 or C IV λ1549. Diverse models, however, do not reproduce this observation. Extensive improved numerical simulations of the hydrogenic isoelectronic sequence emission show that the He II spectrum remains especially simple, even in the central regions of a luminous quasar. Line trapping never builds up a significant population of …


Controlling Laser High-Order Harmonic Generation Using Weak Counter-Propagating Light, Sergei Leonidovich Voronov Dec 2002

Controlling Laser High-Order Harmonic Generation Using Weak Counter-Propagating Light, Sergei Leonidovich Voronov

Theses and Dissertations

Laser high-order harmonic generation in the presence of relatively weak interfering light is investigated. The interfering pulses intersect the primary harmonic-generating laser pulse at the laser focus. The interfering light creates a standing intensity and phase modulation on the field, which disrupts microscopic phase matching and shuts down local high harmonic production. Suppression of the 23rd harmonic (by two orders of magnitude) is observed when a counter-propagating interfering pulse of light is introduced. A sequence of counter-propagating pulses can be used to shut down harmonic production in out-of-phase zones of the generating volume to achieve quasi phase matching. Harmonic emission …


Biaxial Strain-Modified Valence And Conduction Band Offsets Of Zinc-Blende Gan, Gap, Gaas, Inn, Inp, And Inas, And Optical Bowing Of Strained Epitaxial Ingan Alloys, Gus L. W. Hart, P. R. C. Kent, Alex Zunger Dec 2002

Biaxial Strain-Modified Valence And Conduction Band Offsets Of Zinc-Blende Gan, Gap, Gaas, Inn, Inp, And Inas, And Optical Bowing Of Strained Epitaxial Ingan Alloys, Gus L. W. Hart, P. R. C. Kent, Alex Zunger

Faculty Publications

Using density-functional calculations, we obtain the (001) biaxial strain dependence of the valence and conduction band energies of GaN, GaP, GaAs, InN, InP, and InAs. The results are fit to a convenient-to-use polynomial and the fits provided in tabular form. Using the calculated biaxial deformation potentials in large supercell empirical psuedopotential calculations, we demonstrate that epitaxial strain reduces the InGaN alloy bowing coefficient compared to relaxed bulk alloys.


Statistical Cataloging Of Archival Data For Luminosity Class Iv-V Stars, B. J. Taylor Nov 2002

Statistical Cataloging Of Archival Data For Luminosity Class Iv-V Stars, B. J. Taylor

Faculty Publications

This paper is one of a pair in which temperatures and metallicity catalogs for class IV-V stars are considered. The temperature catalog described here is derived from a calibration based on stellar angular diameters. If published calibrations of this kind are compared by using color-index transformations, temperature-dependent differences among the calibrations are commonly found. However, such differences are minimized if attention is restricted to calibrations based on Johnson V-K. A calibration of this sort from Di Benedetto (1998) is therefore tested and adopted. That calibration is then applied to spectroscopic and photometric data, with the latter predominating. Cousins R-I photometry …


Statistical Cataloging Of Archival Data For Luminosity Class Iv-V Stars - Ii. The Epoch 2001 [Fe/H] Catalog, B. J. Taylor Nov 2002

Statistical Cataloging Of Archival Data For Luminosity Class Iv-V Stars - Ii. The Epoch 2001 [Fe/H] Catalog, B. J. Taylor

Faculty Publications

This paper describes the derivation of an updated statistical catalog of metallicities. The stars for which those metallicities apply are of spectral types F, G, and K, and are on or near the main sequence. The input data for the catalog are values of [Fe/H] published before 2002 February and derived from lines of weak and moderate strength. The analyses used to derive the data have been based on one-dimensional LTE model atmospheres. Initial adjustments which are applied to the data include corrections to a uniform temperature scale which is given in a companion paper (see Taylor 2003). After correction, …


The Core Structure Of Presolar Graphite Onions, P. Fraundorf, Martin Wackenhut Oct 2002

The Core Structure Of Presolar Graphite Onions, P. Fraundorf, Martin Wackenhut

Physics Faculty Works

Of the “presolar particles” extracted from carbonaceous meteorite dissolution residues, i.e., of those particles that show isotopic evidence of formation in the neighborhood of other stars prior to the origin of our solar system, a subset of the onion-like graphite spheres has an interesting concentric graphene core–graphite rim structure. We show here that single graphene sheet defects in the onion cores (e.g., cyclopentane loops) may be observable edge-on by high-resolution electron microscopy. This could allow a better evaluation of models for their formation and in particular could strengthen the possibility that growth of these assemblages proceeds atom by atom with …


Ion Contribution To The Astrophysical Important 447.15, 587.56 And 667.82 Nm He I Spectral Lines Broadening, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Stevan Djenize Oct 2002

Ion Contribution To The Astrophysical Important 447.15, 587.56 And 667.82 Nm He I Spectral Lines Broadening, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Stevan Djenize

Articles

Characteristics of the astrophysical important Stark broadened 447.15 nm, 587.56 nm and 667.82 nm spectral line profiles have been measured at electron densities between 0.3 10 and 8.2 10 m and electron temperatures between 8000 and 33 000 K in plasmas created in five various discharge conditions using a linear, low-pressure, pulsed arc as an optically thin plasma source operated in a helium-nitrogen-oxygen gas mixture. On the basis of the observed asymmetry of the line profiles we have obtained their ion broadening parameters ( A) caused by influence of the ion microfield on the line broadening mechanism and also …


Cross Sections Fall 2002, Department Of Physics And Astronomy Oct 2002

Cross Sections Fall 2002, Department Of Physics And Astronomy

Cross Sections

No abstract provided.


Compact Focusing Von Hamos Spectrometer For Quantitative X-Ray Spectroscopy, Larry V. Knight, A. P. Shevelko, Yu S. Kasyanov, O. F. Yakushev Oct 2002

Compact Focusing Von Hamos Spectrometer For Quantitative X-Ray Spectroscopy, Larry V. Knight, A. P. Shevelko, Yu S. Kasyanov, O. F. Yakushev

Faculty Publications

A compact focusing crystal spectrometer based on the von Hamos scheme is described. Cylindrically curved mica and graphite crystals with a radius of curvature of R = 20 mm are used in the spectrometer. A front illuminated charge-coupled device (CCD) linear array detector makes this spectrometer useful for real-time spectroscopy of laser-produced plasma x-ray sources within the wavelength range of lambda= 1.8-10 Angstroms. Calibration of crystals and the CCD linear array makes it possible to measure absolute photon fluxes. X-ray spectra in an absolute intensity scale were obtained from Mg, Ti, and Fe laser-produced plasmas, with a spectral resolution lambda/delta …


Temperature Variations From Hubble Space Telescope Imagery And Spectroscopy Of Ngc 7009, R. H. Rubin, N. J. Bhatt, R. J. Dufour, B. A. Buckalew, M. J. Barlow, X.-W. Liu, P. J. Storey, B. Balick, Gary J. Ferland, J. P. Harrington, P. G. Martin Aug 2002

Temperature Variations From Hubble Space Telescope Imagery And Spectroscopy Of Ngc 7009, R. H. Rubin, N. J. Bhatt, R. J. Dufour, B. A. Buckalew, M. J. Barlow, X.-W. Liu, P. J. Storey, B. Balick, Gary J. Ferland, J. P. Harrington, P. G. Martin

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present new Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/WFPC2 imagery and STIS long-slit spectroscopy of the planetary nebula NGC 7009. The primary goal was to obtain high spatial resolution of the intrinsic line ratio [O III] 4364/5008 and thereby evaluate the electron temperature (Te) and the fractional mean-square Te variation (tA2)across the nebula. The WFPC2 Temap is rather uniform; almost all values are between 9000–11 000 K, with the higher Te values closely coinciding with the inner He++ zone. The results indicate very small values–≲0.01– for …


Simulations Of The Instability Of The M = 1 Self-Shielding Diocotron Mode In Finite-Length Non-Neutral Plasmas, Grant W. Mason, Ross L. Spencer Aug 2002

Simulations Of The Instability Of The M = 1 Self-Shielding Diocotron Mode In Finite-Length Non-Neutral Plasmas, Grant W. Mason, Ross L. Spencer

Faculty Publications

The "self-shielding" m = 1 diocotron mode in Malmberg-Penning traps has been known for over a decade to be unstable for finite length non-neutral plasmas with hollow density profiles. Early theoretical efforts were unsuccessful in accounting for the exponential growth and/or the magnitude of the growth rate. Recent theoretical work has sought to resolve the discrepancy either as a consequence of the shape of the plasma ends or as a kinetic effect resulting from a modified distribution function as a consequence of the protocol used to form the hollow profiles in experiments. Both of these finite length mechanisms have been …


Pumping Or Mixing System Using A Levitating Magnetic Element, Aexandre N. Terentiev Jul 2002

Pumping Or Mixing System Using A Levitating Magnetic Element, Aexandre N. Terentiev

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Patents

A system capable of pumping or mixing relatively warm fluids using a rotating magnetic element or bearing levitated by a cold superconducting element is disclosed. The magnetic element or bearing carries at least one impeller and is placed in a fluid vessel positioned external to the outer wall of a cryostat or other housing for the superconducting element. A separate cooling source thermally linked to the superconducting element provides the necessary cooling to create the desired superconductive effects and induce levitation in the magnetic element or bearing. The outer wall or housing defines a chamber around the cold superconducting element …


The Physical Conditions Within Dense Cold Clouds In Cooling Flows - Ii, Gary J. Ferland, A. C. Fabian, R. M. Johnstone Jul 2002

The Physical Conditions Within Dense Cold Clouds In Cooling Flows - Ii, Gary J. Ferland, A. C. Fabian, R. M. Johnstone

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

This is a progress report on our numerical simulations of conditions in the cold cores of cooling flow condensations. The physical conditions in any non-equilibrium plasma are the result of a host of microphysical processes, many involving reactions that are research areas in themselves. We review the dominant physical processes in our previously published simulations, to clarify those issues that have caused confusion in the literature. We show that conditions in the core of an X-ray-illuminated cloud are very different from those found in molecular clouds, largely because carbon remains substantially atomic and provides powerful cooling through its far infrared …


Vibrational Modes Of Thin Oblate Clouds Of Charge, Thomas G. Jenkins, Ross L. Spencer Jul 2002

Vibrational Modes Of Thin Oblate Clouds Of Charge, Thomas G. Jenkins, Ross L. Spencer

Faculty Publications

A numerical method is presented for finding the eigenfunctions (normal modes) and mode frequencies of azimuthally symmetric non-neutral plasmas confined in a Penning trap whose axial thickness is much smaller than their radial size. The plasma may be approximated as a charged disk in this limit; the normal modes and frequencies can be found if the surface charge density profile sigma(r) of the disk and the trap bounce frequency profile wz(r) are known. The dependence of the eigenfunctions and equilibrium plasma shapes on nonideal components of the confining Penning trap fields is discussed. The results of the calculation are compared …


Dust Emission From Active Galactic Nuclei, Maia Nenkova, Željko Ivezić, Moshe Elitzur May 2002

Dust Emission From Active Galactic Nuclei, Maia Nenkova, Željko Ivezić, Moshe Elitzur

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Unified schemes of active galactic nuclei require an obscuring dusty torus around the central source, giving rise to a Seyfert 1 line spectrum for pole-on viewing and Seyfert 2 characteristics in edge-on sources. Although the observed IR is in broad agreement with this scheme, the behavior of the 10 μm silicate feature and the width of the far-IR emission peak remained serious problems in all previous modeling efforts. We show that these problems find a natural explanation if the dust is contained in approximately five to 10 clouds along radial rays through the torus. The spectral energy distributions of …


Dissipative Heating And Quasar Emission Lines, Mark Bottorff, Gary J. Ferland Apr 2002

Dissipative Heating And Quasar Emission Lines, Mark Bottorff, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Recent observations reveal that the profiles of emission lines of active galactic nuclei are too smooth to be produced by discrete thermal (T~104 K) clouds. The lines may also be too bright to be powered by the continuum unless a large covering factor or additional heating mechanisms are present. We have been investigating one possible explanation of these observations, namely, that the clouds are turbulent. This paper focuses on observational effects caused by dissipation of turbulent energy into cloud heating. We find that internal heating can explain these observations. Clouds energized by both the ionizing continuum and …


Cross Sections Spring 2002, Department Of Physics And Astronomy Apr 2002

Cross Sections Spring 2002, Department Of Physics And Astronomy

Cross Sections

No abstract provided.


Negative Band Gap Bowing In Epitaxial Inas/Gaas Alloys And Predicted Band Offsets Of The Strained Binaries And Alloys On Various Substrates, Gus L. W. Hart, Kwiseon Kim, Alex Zunger Feb 2002

Negative Band Gap Bowing In Epitaxial Inas/Gaas Alloys And Predicted Band Offsets Of The Strained Binaries And Alloys On Various Substrates, Gus L. W. Hart, Kwiseon Kim, Alex Zunger

Faculty Publications

We use pseudopotential theory to provide (1) the band offsets of strained GaAs and InAs on various substrates and (2) the energies Ev(x) of the valence and conduction bands of InxGa1-xAs alloy, as a function of composition. Results are presented for both the bulk alloy and for the alloy strained on InP or GaAs. We predict that while Ex(x) bows downward for relaxed bulk alloys, it bows upward for strained epitaxial alloys. The calculated alloy offsets are used to discuss electron and hole localization in this system.


Nested Bars In Disk Galaxies : No Offset Dust Lanes In Secondary Nuclear Bars, Isaac Shlosman, Clayton Heller Feb 2002

Nested Bars In Disk Galaxies : No Offset Dust Lanes In Secondary Nuclear Bars, Isaac Shlosman, Clayton Heller

Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Under certain conditions, subkiloparsec nuclear bars form inside large-scale stellar bars of disk galaxies. These secondary bars spend a fraction of their lifetime in a dynamically decoupled state, tumbling in the gravitational field of the outer bars. We analyze the flow pattern in such nested-bar systems under the conditions of negligible self-gravity and find that secondary bars differ fundamentally from their large-scale counterparts in gas flow pattern and other dynamical properties. In particular, the gas flow across the bar-bar interface in these systems can be more chaotic or more regular in nature and, contrary to predictions, has no difficulty in …


Stark Shifts And Transition Probabilities In The Ne Ii Spectrum, Stevan Djenize, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Milan S. Dimitrijevic Jan 2002

Stark Shifts And Transition Probabilities In The Ne Ii Spectrum, Stevan Djenize, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Milan S. Dimitrijevic

Articles

Stark shifts (d) and transition probabilities of the spontaneous emission (Einstein's A values) of forty two singly charged neon ( ) ion spectral lines have been measured in a linear, low pressure, pulsed arc at 35 300 K electron temperature and 1.83 10 23 m -3 electron density. Transition probabilities have been obtained using the relative line intensity ratio (RLIR) method. Stark shift values have also been calculated, using the semiclassical perturbation formalism (SCPF). The measured and calculated shift values and the measured A values have been compared to the existing data taken from available data sources.


Metallicities And Abundance Ratios From Quasar Broad Emission Lines, Fred Hamann, K. T. Korista, Gary J. Ferland, Craig Warner, Jack Baldwin Jan 2002

Metallicities And Abundance Ratios From Quasar Broad Emission Lines, Fred Hamann, K. T. Korista, Gary J. Ferland, Craig Warner, Jack Baldwin

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The broad emission lines (BELs) of quasars and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are important diagnostics of the relative abundances and overall metallicity in the gas. Here we present new theoretical predictions for several UV BELs. We focus specifically on the relative nitrogen abundance as a metallicity indicator, based on the expected secondary enrichment of nitrogen at metallicities Z≳0.2 Z. Among the lines we consider, NIII]λ1750/OIII]λ1664, NVλ1240/(CIVλ1549+OVIλ1034), AND NV/HeIIλ1640 are the most robust diagnostics. We argue, in particular, that the average N V BEL is not dominated by scattered Lyα photons from a broad absorption-line wind. We then …


A Comparison Of Haloe V19 With Sage Ii V6.00 Ozone Observations Using Trajectory Mapping, Gary A. Morris, James F. Gleason, James M. Russell Iii, Mark R. Schoeberl, M. Patrick Mccormick Jan 2002

A Comparison Of Haloe V19 With Sage Ii V6.00 Ozone Observations Using Trajectory Mapping, Gary A. Morris, James F. Gleason, James M. Russell Iii, Mark R. Schoeberl, M. Patrick Mccormick

Gary A. Morris

We apply trajectory mapping to an 8-year intercomparison of ozone observations from the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) (V19) and Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II (V6.00) for the months March, May, June, September, October, and December from the period December 1991 to October 1999. Our results, which represent the most extensive such intercomparison of these two data sets to date, suggest a root-mean-square difference between the two data sets of >15% below 22 km in the tropics and of 4–12% throughout most of the rest of the stratosphere. In addition, we find a bias with HALOE ozone low relative …


Classical Gluodynamics In Curved Space-Time And The Soft Pomeron, Dmitri Kharzeev, Eugene Levin, Kirill Tuchin Jan 2002

Classical Gluodynamics In Curved Space-Time And The Soft Pomeron, Dmitri Kharzeev, Eugene Levin, Kirill Tuchin

Kirill Tuchin

QCD at the classical level possesses scale invariance which is broken by quantum effects. This "dimensional transmutation" phenomenon can be mathematically described by formulating classical gluodynamics in a curved, conformally flat, space-time with non-vanishing cosmological constant. We study QCD high-energy scattering in this theory. We find that the properties of the scattering amplitude at small momentum transfer are determined by the energy density of vacuum fluctuations. The approach gives rise to the power growth of the total hadron-hadron cross section with energy, i.e., the pomeron. The intercept of the pomeron and the multiplicity of produced particles are evaluated. We also …


Comment On ‘‘Stress-Density Ratio Slip-Corrected Reynolds Equation For Ultra-Thin Film Gas Bearing Lubrication’’, Alejandro Garcia Jan 2002

Comment On ‘‘Stress-Density Ratio Slip-Corrected Reynolds Equation For Ultra-Thin Film Gas Bearing Lubrication’’, Alejandro Garcia

Alejandro Garcia

No abstract provided.


Comment On ‘‘Stress-Density Ratio Slip-Corrected Reynolds Equation For Ultra-Thin Film Gas Bearing Lubrication’’, Alejandro Garcia Jan 2002

Comment On ‘‘Stress-Density Ratio Slip-Corrected Reynolds Equation For Ultra-Thin Film Gas Bearing Lubrication’’, Alejandro Garcia

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Mutual Constraints Between Reionization Models And Parameter Extraction From Cosmic Microwave Background Data, Aparna Venkatesan Jan 2002

Mutual Constraints Between Reionization Models And Parameter Extraction From Cosmic Microwave Background Data, Aparna Venkatesan

Physics and Astronomy

Spectroscopic studies of high-redshift objects and increasingly precise data on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) are beginning to independently place strong complementary bounds on the epoch of hydrogen reionization. Parameter estimation from current CMB data continues, however, to be subject to several degeneracies. Here, we focus on those degeneracies in CMB parameter forecasts related to the optical depth to reionization. We extend earlier work on the mutual constraints that such analyses of CMB data and a reionization model may place on each other to a more general parameter set and to the case of data anticipated from the MAP satellite. …


Negative-Parity Baryon Masses Using An O(A)-Improved Fermion Action, M. Göckeler, R. Horsley, D. Pleiter, P. E. L. Rakow, G. Schierholz, C. M. Maynard, D. G. Richards Jan 2002

Negative-Parity Baryon Masses Using An O(A)-Improved Fermion Action, M. Göckeler, R. Horsley, D. Pleiter, P. E. L. Rakow, G. Schierholz, C. M. Maynard, D. G. Richards

Physics Faculty Publications

We present a calculation of the mass of the lowest-lying negative-parity J=1/2− state in quenched QCD. Results are obtained using a non-perturbatively O(a)-improved clover fermion action, and a splitting is found between the mass of the nucleon, and its parity partner. The calculation is performed on two lattice volumes and at three lattice spacings, enabling a study of both finite-volume and finite lattice-spacing uncertainties. A comparison is made with results obtained using the unimproved Wilson fermion action.


The Lisa Optimal Sensitivity, Thomas A. Prince, Massimo Tinto, Shane L. Larson, J. W. Armstrong Jan 2002

The Lisa Optimal Sensitivity, Thomas A. Prince, Massimo Tinto, Shane L. Larson, J. W. Armstrong

All Physics Faculty Publications

The multiple Doppler readouts available on the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) permit simultaneous formation of several interferometric observables. All these observables are independent of laser frequency fluctuations and have different couplings to gravitational waves and to the various LISA instrumental noises. Within the functional space of interferometric combinations LISA will be able to synthesize, we have identified a triplet of interferometric combinations that show optimally combined sensitivity. As an application of the method, we computed the sensitivity improvement for sinusoidal sources in the nominal, equal-arm LISA configuration. In the part of the Fourier band where the period of the …


Unequal Arm Space-Borne Gravitational Wave Detectors, Shane L. Larson, Ronald W. Hellings, William A. Hiscock Jan 2002

Unequal Arm Space-Borne Gravitational Wave Detectors, Shane L. Larson, Ronald W. Hellings, William A. Hiscock

All Physics Faculty Publications

Unlike ground-based interferometric gravitational wave detectors, large space-based systems will not be rigid structures. When the end stations of the laser interferometer are freely flying spacecraft, the armlengths will change due to variations in the spacecraft positions along their orbital trajectories, so the precise equality of the arms that is required in a laboratory interferometer to cancel laser phase noise is not possible. However, using a method discovered by Tinto and Armstrong, a signal can be constructed in which laser phase noise exactly cancels out, even in an unequal arm interferometer. We examine the case where the ratio of the …


Tightness Of Slip-Linked Polymer Chains, Ralf Metzler, Andreas Hanke, Paul G. Dommersnes, Yacov Kantor, Mehran Kardar Jan 2002

Tightness Of Slip-Linked Polymer Chains, Ralf Metzler, Andreas Hanke, Paul G. Dommersnes, Yacov Kantor, Mehran Kardar

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

We study the interplay between entropy and topological constraints for a polymer chain in which sliding rings (slip links) enforce pair contacts between monomers. These slip links divide a closed ring polymer into a number of subloops which can exchange length among each other. In the ideal chain limit, we find the joint probability density function for the sizes of segments within such a slip-linked polymer chain (paraknot). A particular segment is tight (small in size) or loose (of the order of the overall size of the paraknot) depending on both the number of slip links it incorporates and its …