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2004

Astrophysics and Astronomy

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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Atomic Force Microscope Conductivity Measurements Of Single Ferritin Molecules, Degao Xu Dec 2004

Atomic Force Microscope Conductivity Measurements Of Single Ferritin Molecules, Degao Xu

Theses and Dissertations

Conductive Atomic Force Microscope (c-AFM) was used to measure the conductivity of single horse spleen ferritin (HoSF) and azotobacter vinelandii bacterial ferritin (AvBF) molecules deposited on flat gold surfaces. A 500 micron diameter gold ball was also used as a contact probe to measure the conductivity of a thin film of ferritin molecules. The average current measured for holo HoSF was 13 and 5 times larger than that measured for apo HoSF as measured by c-AFM at 1V and gold ball at 2V and respectively, which indicates that the core of ferritin is more conductive than the protein shell and …


Self‐Consistent Diffusive Lifetimes Of Weibel Magnetic Fields In Gamma‐Ray Bursts, C. H. Jaroschek, H. Lesch, R. A. Treumann Dec 2004

Self‐Consistent Diffusive Lifetimes Of Weibel Magnetic Fields In Gamma‐Ray Bursts, C. H. Jaroschek, H. Lesch, R. A. Treumann

Dartmouth Scholarship

Weibel filamentation in relativistic plasma shell collisions has been demonstrated as an efficient and fast mechanism for the generation of near-equipartition magnetic fields in self-consistent particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. In generic γ-ray burst (GRB) models with kinetically dominated plasma outflow, sufficient strength and lifetime of magnetic fields are essential to validate synchrotron emission as the source of radiative outbursts. In this article we report on self-consistent PIC simulations of pair-plasma shell collisions in the highly relativistic regime with particle ensembles up to 5 × 108. Energy dependence of magnetic field generation in the Weibel process is discussed, and for …


Coordinate Conditions For A Uniformly Accelerated Or Static Plane Symmetric Metric, Preston Jones, Lucas Wanex Dec 2004

Coordinate Conditions For A Uniformly Accelerated Or Static Plane Symmetric Metric, Preston Jones, Lucas Wanex

Publications

The coordinate conditions for three exact solutions for the metric components of a coordinate system with constant acceleration or of a static plane symmetric gravitational field are presented. First, the coordinate condition that the acceleration of light is constant is applied to the field equations to derive the metric of a coordinate system of constant acceleration. Second, the coordinate conditions required to produce the metrics of Rindler and Lass are applied to the field equations to calculate the components of these two metrics and the coordinate velocities and coordinate accelerations for light of these two metrics are compared to the …


The Origin Of Fe Ii Emission In Active Galactic Nuclei, J. A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, K. T. Korista, F. Hamann, A. Lacluyzé Nov 2004

The Origin Of Fe Ii Emission In Active Galactic Nuclei, J. A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, K. T. Korista, F. Hamann, A. Lacluyzé

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We used a very large set of models of broad emission line region (BELR) clouds in active galactic nuclei to investigate the formation of the observed Fe II emission lines. We show that photoionized BELR clouds cannot produce both the observed shape and observed equivalent width of the 2200-2800 Å Fe II UV bump unless there is considerable velocity structure corresponding to a microturbulent velocity parameter vturb≥100 km s-1 for the locally optimally emitting cloud models used here. This could be either microturbulence in gas that is confined by some phenomenon such as MHD waves or a …


Geometric Acoustic Modeling Of The Lds Conference Center, Heather Smith Nov 2004

Geometric Acoustic Modeling Of The Lds Conference Center, Heather Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses the process of modeling a 21,000 seat fan-shaped auditorium using methods of geometric acoustics. Two commercial geometric acoustics software packages were used in the research: CATT-Acoustic™ 8.0 and EASE™ 4.1. The process first included creating preliminary models of the hall using published absorption coefficients for its surfaces and approximate scattering coefficients based on current best-known techniques. A detailed analysis determined the minimum numbers of rays needed in both packages to produce reliable results with these coefficient values. It was found that 100,000 rays were needed for CATT™ and 500,000 rays were needed for EASE™. Analysis was also …


Computing The M = 1 Diocotron Frequency Via An Equilibrium Calculation In Non-Neutral Plasmas, Ross L. Spencer Oct 2004

Computing The M = 1 Diocotron Frequency Via An Equilibrium Calculation In Non-Neutral Plasmas, Ross L. Spencer

Faculty Publications

The m = 1 diocotron mode in non-neutral plasmas has long been thought of as a shifted equilibrium, and its frequency has been approximately calculated in this way by Fine and Driscoll [Phys. Plasmas 5, 601 (1998)]. This article shows that this idea can be coupled with a standard axisymmetric equilibrium calculation on a grid to calculate the frequency of this mode to very high precision including both finite-length and thermal effects, provided that the Debye length is small enough. As the Debye length begins to approach the plasma size not only does the shifted equilibrium calculation fail to predict …


Optical Properties And Application Of Uranium-Based Thin Films For The Extreme Ultraviolet And Soft X-Ray Region, Richard L. Sandberg, David D. Allred, Shannon Lunt, Marie K. Urry, R. Steven Turley Oct 2004

Optical Properties And Application Of Uranium-Based Thin Films For The Extreme Ultraviolet And Soft X-Ray Region, Richard L. Sandberg, David D. Allred, Shannon Lunt, Marie K. Urry, R. Steven Turley

Faculty Publications

Uranium oxide and uranium nitride thin films reflect significantly more than all previously known/standard reflectors (e.g., nickel, gold, and iridium) for most of the 4-10 nm range at low angles of incidence. This work includes measurements of the EUV/soft x-ray (2-20 nm) reflectance of uranium-based thin films (~20 nm thick) and extraction of their optical constants (d and ?). We report the reflectances at 5, 10, and 15 degrees grazing incidence of air-oxidized sputtered uranium, reactively sputtered (O2) uranium oxide, and reactively sputtered (N2) uranium nitride thin films measured at Beamline 6.3.2 at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence …


Analysis And Comparison Of Three Acoustic Energy Density Probes, Lance Lester Locey Oct 2004

Analysis And Comparison Of Three Acoustic Energy Density Probes, Lance Lester Locey

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional methods for the investigation of sound fields generally rely on a microphone to convert sound pressure into an electrical signal which can be recorded, displayed, and so forth. The squared sound pressure is directly related to potential energy density. Consequently, the measurement of sound pressure alone does not inherently provide insight into the total energy density of the sound field. Specifically, no information about the kinetic energy density of the sound field is available from this measurement alone. However, it is possible to use two microphones to estimate particle velocity. The squared particle velocity magnitude is directly related to …


Cross Sections Fall 2004, Department Of Physics And Astronomy Oct 2004

Cross Sections Fall 2004, Department Of Physics And Astronomy

Cross Sections

No abstract provided.


Dirac-Fock Energy Levels And Transition Probabilities For Oxygen-Like Fe Xix, V. Jonauskas, F. P. Keenan, M. E. Foord, R. F. Heeter, S. J. Rose, Gary J. Ferland, R. Kisielius, Peter A. M. Van Hoof, P. H. Norrington Sep 2004

Dirac-Fock Energy Levels And Transition Probabilities For Oxygen-Like Fe Xix, V. Jonauskas, F. P. Keenan, M. E. Foord, R. F. Heeter, S. J. Rose, Gary J. Ferland, R. Kisielius, Peter A. M. Van Hoof, P. H. Norrington

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Multiconfigurational Dirac-Fock calculations are reported for 656 energy levels and the 214 840 electric dipole (E1), electric quadrupole (E2) and magnetic dipole (M1) transition probabilities in oxygen-like FeXIX. The spectroscopic notations as well as the total transition probabilities from each energy level are provided. Good agreement is found with data compiled by NIST.


Mechanical Properties Of Carbon Nanotubes Composites, David Hui, Mircea Chipara, Jagannathan Sankar, K. T. Lau Sep 2004

Mechanical Properties Of Carbon Nanotubes Composites, David Hui, Mircea Chipara, Jagannathan Sankar, K. T. Lau

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

A critical review of theoretical models aiming to explain the physical properties of composites based on polymeric matrices reinforced with carbon nanotubes is presented. Attention is paid to descriptions based on molecular dynamics, continuum mechanics, and finite element analysis. It is shown that both the continuum mechanics approximation and the finite size element analyses fail to describe composites with very thin interfaces, while the performances of molecular dynamics simulations are still restricted by computer's performances. The limitations of the continuum mechanics approximation are analyzed in detail.


Lorentz-Violating Electromagnetostatics, Quentin G. Bailey Aug 2004

Lorentz-Violating Electromagnetostatics, Quentin G. Bailey

Publications

In this talk, the stationary limit of Lorentz-violating electrodynamics is discussed. As illustrated by some simple examples, the general solution includes unconventional mixing of electrostatic and magnetostatic effects. I discuss a high-sensitivity null-type measurement, exploiting Lorentz-violating electromagnetostatic effects, that could improve existing limits on parity-odd coefficients for Lorentz violation in the photon sector.


On The Variability Of The Fine Structure Constant, Jason Lott Evans Jul 2004

On The Variability Of The Fine Structure Constant, Jason Lott Evans

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses the issue of the time variability of the fine structure constant, alpha. Recent claims of a varying alpha are set against the established standards of quantum electrodynamical theory and experiments. A study of the feasibility of extracting data on the time dependence of alpha using particles in Penning traps is compared to the results obtained by existing methods, including those using astrophysical data and those obtained in atomic clock experiments. Suggestions are made on the nature of trapped particles and the trapping fields.


Physical Conditions In Orion's Veil, N. P. Abel, C. L. Brogan, Gary J. Ferland, C. R. O'Dell, G. Shaw, Thomas H. Troland Jul 2004

Physical Conditions In Orion's Veil, N. P. Abel, C. L. Brogan, Gary J. Ferland, C. R. O'Dell, G. Shaw, Thomas H. Troland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Orion's veil consists of several layers of largely neutral gas lying between us and the main ionizing stars of the Orion Nebula. It is visible in 21 cm H I absorption and in optical and UV absorption lines of H I and other species. Toward θ1 Ori C, the veil has two remarkable properties, a high magnetic field (~100 μG) and a surprising lack of H2, given its total column density. Here we compute photoionization models of the veil to establish its gas density and its distance from θ1 Ori C. We use a greatly improved …


Extended Tidal Structure In Two Lyalpha-Emitting Starburst Galaxies, John M. Cannon, E D. Skillman, D Kunth, C Leitherer, M Mas-Hesse, G Östlin, A Petrosian Jun 2004

Extended Tidal Structure In Two Lyalpha-Emitting Starburst Galaxies, John M. Cannon, E D. Skillman, D Kunth, C Leitherer, M Mas-Hesse, G Östlin, A Petrosian

John Cannon

No abstract provided.


Removing Surface Contaminants From Silicon Wafers To Facilitate Euv Optical Characterization, Richard L. Sandberg, David D. Allred, A. L. Jackson, J. E. Johnson, W. Evans, T. Doughty, A. E. Baker, K. Adamson, A. Jacquier, R. E. Robinson Apr 2004

Removing Surface Contaminants From Silicon Wafers To Facilitate Euv Optical Characterization, Richard L. Sandberg, David D. Allred, A. L. Jackson, J. E. Johnson, W. Evans, T. Doughty, A. E. Baker, K. Adamson, A. Jacquier, R. E. Robinson

Faculty Publications

The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) is becoming increasingly important. Principal applications include orbital space-based astronomy and lithography for integrated circuit computer chips. A main impediment to further development of efficient mirrors is the lack of reliable optical constants for various materials in this region of the electromagnetic spectrum. One reason for the unreliability of the optical constants is that the sample surfaces are often contaminated with foreign material, especially organic compounds, when exposed to laboratory air. Several cleaning techniques were evaluated, namely: 1) strippable solid optical cleaner (Opticlean®); 2) oxygen plasma etch; 3) high energy UV light/ozone; 4) strippable coating followed …


12C/13C Ratio In Planetary Nebulae From The Iue Archives, R. H. Rubin, Gary J. Ferland, E. E. Chollet, R. Horstmeyer Apr 2004

12C/13C Ratio In Planetary Nebulae From The Iue Archives, R. H. Rubin, Gary J. Ferland, E. E. Chollet, R. Horstmeyer

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We investigated the abundance ratio of 12C/13C in planetary nebulae by examining emission lines arising from C III 2s2p3Po2,1,0 → 2s21S0. Spectra were retrieved from the International Ultraviolet Explorer archives, and multiple spectra of the same object were co-added to achieve improved signal-to-noise ratio. The 13C hyperfine structure line at 1909.6 Å was detected in NGC 2440. The 12C/13C ratio was found to be ~4.4+/-1.2. In all other objects, we provide an upper limit for the flux of the 1910 Å line. For 23 …


Cross Sections Spring 2004, Department Of Physics And Astronomy Apr 2004

Cross Sections Spring 2004, Department Of Physics And Astronomy

Cross Sections

No abstract provided.


The Effects Of Low-Temperature Dielectronic Recombination On The Relative Populations Of The Fe M-Shell States, S. B. Kraemer, Gary J. Ferland, J. R. Gabel Apr 2004

The Effects Of Low-Temperature Dielectronic Recombination On The Relative Populations Of The Fe M-Shell States, S. B. Kraemer, Gary J. Ferland, J. R. Gabel

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We examine the effects of low-temperature, or Δn=0, dielectronic recombination (DR) on the ionization balance of the Fe M shell (Fe IX-Fe XVI). Since Δn=0 rates are not available for these ions, we have derived estimates based on the existing rates for the first four ionization states of the CNO sequence and newly calculated rates for L-shell ions of third-row elements and Fe. For a range of ionization parameter and column density applicable to the intrinsic absorbers detected in ASCA, Chandra, and XMM-Newton observations of Seyfert galaxies, we generated two grids of photoionization models, with and …


Microsecond Spin-Flip Times In N-Gaas Measured By Time-Resolved Polarization Of Photoluminescence, John S. Colton, T. A. Kennedy, A. S. Bracker, D. Gammon Mar 2004

Microsecond Spin-Flip Times In N-Gaas Measured By Time-Resolved Polarization Of Photoluminescence, John S. Colton, T. A. Kennedy, A. S. Bracker, D. Gammon

Faculty Publications

We have observed microsecond spin-flip times in lightly doped n-GaAs, by measuring the photoluminescence polarization in the time domain with pump and probe pulses. Times up to 1.4 μs have been measured. Our results as a function of magnetic field indicated three regions governing the spin relaxation: a low field region, where spin-flip times increase due to suppression of the nuclear hyperfine interaction for localized electrons, a medium field region where spin-flip times increase due to narrowing of the hyperfine relaxation for interacting electrons, and a high field region where spin-flip times begin to level off due to the increasing …


The Quantum And The Cosmos, Edward (Rocky) W. Kolb, Joseph D. Lykken Mar 2004

The Quantum And The Cosmos, Edward (Rocky) W. Kolb, Joseph D. Lykken

IMSA Great Minds Program ®

Fermilab physicists, Dr. Rocky Kolb and Dr. Joe Lykken team up to explain the connection of the physics of the very small to the physics of the cosmos and their discovery of a fundamental contradiction regarding how these mysteries have led to the development of new ideas: string theory, inflation, extra dimensions and Wimpzillas, as well as Higgs boson, and other mysteries that cosmologists care about, like dark energy.

Dr. Rocky Kolb is the founding head of the NASA/Fermilab Astrophysics Group at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. He is also a Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at The University of Chicago. …


Active Minimization Of Acoustic Energy Density In A Mock Tractor Cab, Benjamin Mahonri Faber Mar 2004

Active Minimization Of Acoustic Energy Density In A Mock Tractor Cab, Benjamin Mahonri Faber

Theses and Dissertations

An active noise control (ANC) system has been applied to the problem of attenuating low-frequency tonal noise inside small enclosures. The intended target application of the system was the reduction of the engine firing frequency inside heavy equipment cabins. The ANC system was based on a version of the filtered-x LMS adaptive algorithm, modified for the minimization of acoustic energy density (ED), rather than the more traditional minimization of squared acoustic pressure (SP). Three loudspeakers produced control signals within a mock cabin composed of a steel frame with plywood sides and a Plexiglas® front. An energy density sensor, capable of …


Relativistic Allowed And Forbidden Transition Probabilities For Fluorine-Like Fe Xviii, V. Jonauskas, F. P. Keenan, M. E. Foord, R. F. Heeter, S. J. Rose, P. A. M. Van Hoof, Gary J. Ferland, K. M. Aggarwal, R. Kisielius, P. H. Norrington Mar 2004

Relativistic Allowed And Forbidden Transition Probabilities For Fluorine-Like Fe Xviii, V. Jonauskas, F. P. Keenan, M. E. Foord, R. F. Heeter, S. J. Rose, P. A. M. Van Hoof, Gary J. Ferland, K. M. Aggarwal, R. Kisielius, P. H. Norrington

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Energy levels and the corresponding transition probabilities for allowed and forbidden transitions among the levels of the ground configuration and first 23 excited configurations of fluorine-like Fe XVIII have been calculated using the multiconfigurational Dirac-Fock GRASP code. A total of 379 lowest bound levels of Fe XVIII is presented, and the energy levels are identified in spectroscopic notations. Transition probabilities, oscillator strengths and line strengths for electric dipole (E1), electric quadrupole (E2) and magnetic dipole (M1) transitions among these 379 levels are also presented. The calculated energy levels and transition probabilities are compared with experimental data.


Boron Alloying In Gan, Gus L. W. Hart, Laurian Escalanti Feb 2004

Boron Alloying In Gan, Gus L. W. Hart, Laurian Escalanti

Faculty Publications

Using first-principles calculations in the local density approximation, we studied effects of adding up to 6% boron to zinc-blende GaN. We found that the band gap increases monotonically with boron incorporation, in agreement with experiment. A composition-independent band-gap bowing parameter of 4.30 eV was determined, and proved to be large compared to bowing for other mixed cation systems. The formation enthalpy of mixing, ΔH, was determined for BxGa1-xN, BxGa1-xAs, and GaAs1-xNx. A comparison of enthalpies indicates that the production of BxGa1-xN films with boron concentrations of at least 5% may be possible.


Derivation Of Moving-Coil Loudspeaker Parameters Using Plane Wave Tube Techniques, Brian Eric Anderson Jan 2004

Derivation Of Moving-Coil Loudspeaker Parameters Using Plane Wave Tube Techniques, Brian Eric Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Small-signal moving-coil loudspeaker driver parameters are traditionally derived through electrical impedance measurement techniques. These parameters are commonly called Thiele/Small parameters, after Neville Thiele and Richard Small who are credited with developing industry-standard loudspeaker modeling techniques. However, because loudspeaker drivers are electro-mechano-acoustical transducers, it should be possible to measure their parameters in physical domains other than the electrical domain. A method of measuring loudspeaker parameters from the acoustical domain will be developed. The technique uses a plane wave tube to measure acoustical properties of a baffled driver under test. Quantities such as the transmission loss through the driver are measured for …


Grain Size Distributions And Photoelectric Heating In Ionized Media, P. A. M. Vanhoof, J. C. Weingartner, P. G. Martin, K. Volk, Gary J. Ferland Jan 2004

Grain Size Distributions And Photoelectric Heating In Ionized Media, P. A. M. Vanhoof, J. C. Weingartner, P. G. Martin, K. Volk, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Ever since the pioneering study of Spitzer, it has been widely recognized that grains play an important role in the heating and cooling of photoionized environments. This includes the diffuse interstellar medium and H II regions, planetary nebulae and photodissociation regions. A detailed code is necessary to model grains in a photoionized medium since the interactions of grains with their environment include a host of microphysical processes. In this paper we will use the spectral synthesis code CLOUDY for this purpose. A comprehensive upgrade of the grain model has been recently incorporated into CLOUDY. One of these upgrades is the …


The Nature Of Radio Continuum Emission In The Dwarf Starburst Galaxy Ngc 625, John M. Cannon, E. D. Skillman Jan 2004

The Nature Of Radio Continuum Emission In The Dwarf Starburst Galaxy Ngc 625, John M. Cannon, E. D. Skillman

John Cannon

No abstract provided.


Hi Observations Of The Local Group Dwarf Wlm, D. Jackson, E. D. Skillman, John M. Cannon, S. Cote Jan 2004

Hi Observations Of The Local Group Dwarf Wlm, D. Jackson, E. D. Skillman, John M. Cannon, S. Cote

John Cannon

No abstract provided.


Rectification Of Thermal Fluctuations In Ideal Gases, Alejandro Garcia, P. Meurs, C. Van De Broeck Jan 2004

Rectification Of Thermal Fluctuations In Ideal Gases, Alejandro Garcia, P. Meurs, C. Van De Broeck

Alejandro Garcia

We calculate the systematic average speed of the adiabatic piston and a thermal Brownian motor, introduced by C. Van den Broeck, R. Kawai and P. Meurs [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 090601 (2004)], by an expansion of the Boltzmann equation and compare with the exact numerical solution.


Rectification Of Thermal Fluctuations In Ideal Gases, Alejandro Garcia, P. Meurs, C. Van De Broeck Jan 2004

Rectification Of Thermal Fluctuations In Ideal Gases, Alejandro Garcia, P. Meurs, C. Van De Broeck

Faculty Publications

We calculate the systematic average speed of the adiabatic piston and a thermal Brownian motor, introduced by C. Van den Broeck, R. Kawai and P. Meurs [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 090601 (2004)], by an expansion of the Boltzmann equation and compare with the exact numerical solution.