Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

Electronic Device Incorporating Memristor Made From Metallic Nanowire, Douglas R. Strachan, Stephen L. Johnson

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Patents

An electronic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a nanowire connected between the first and second electrodes to allow electric current flow. The nanowire is made from a conductive material exhibiting a variable resistance due to electromigration. The nanowire is repeatably switchable between two states. A voltage clamp operates through feedback control to maintain the voltage across the nanowire and prevent thermal runaway.

Investigating Evidence For Different Black Hole Accretion Modes Since Redshift Z ∼ 1, A. Georgakakis, P. G. Pérez-González, N. Fanidakis, M. Salvato, J. Aird, H. Messias, J. M. Lotz, G. Barro, Li-Ting Hsu, K. Nandra, D. Rosario, M. C. Cooper, Dalibor D. Kocevski, J. A. Newman

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Chandra data in the COSMOS, AEGIS-XD and 4 Ms Chandra Deep Field South are combined with multiwavelength photometry available in those fields to determine the rest-frame U − V versus V − J colours of X-ray AGN hosts in the redshift intervals 0.1 < z < 0.6 (mean z¯=0.40) and 0.6 < z < 1.2 (mean z¯=0.85). This combination of colours provides an effective and least model-dependent means of separating quiescent from star-forming, including dust reddened, galaxies. Morphological information emphasizes differences between AGN populations split by theirU − V versus V − J colours. AGN in quiescent galaxies consist almost exclusively of bulges, while star-forming hosts are equally split between early- and late-type hosts. The position of AGN hosts on the U − V versusV − J diagram is then used to set limits on the accretion density of the …

Dust Properties Of Z~2 Infrared-Luminous Lyman Break Galaxies., Jennifer Leigh Wojno

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) are well-known indicators of star formation. By analyzing the dust of moderate redshift (z ~ 2) LBGs, we can further investigate the properties of these strongly star forming galaxies at an epoch when global star formation is expected to peak. Using data observed by the Herschel satellite, we derive far-infrared fluxes for our color-selected sample of LBGs in the GOODS-S field, including a subsample of infrared-luminous LBGs (ILLBGs). This is one of the first samples of UV dropouts/partial dropouts, which are also infrared-luminous, to be studied for their far-IR properties. Fitting modified Planck curves and model …

Multidimensional Simulations Of Non-Linear Cosmic Ray Production In Supernova Remnant Evolution, Joshua Wood

All Dissertations

When a high-mass star (& 4Msun) explodes at the end of its life, a supernova occurs, leaving its degenerate core and a fast-moving shell of matter, known as a supernova remnant (SNR). The SNR shell lasts for many thousands of years, generating emissions from low-frequency radio (~ 10-7 eV) up to γ-ray regime (~ 1015 eV). It is also believed that SNRs are the predominant source of galactic cosmic rays, accelerating a population of thermal ions, primarily protons, up to relativistic energies by means of the diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) mechanism. The small population of thermal (Boltzmann) particles, p ~ …

Search For Gravitational Wave Ringdowns From Perturbed Intermediate Mass Black Holes In Ligo-Virgo Data From 2005–2010, J. Aasi, B. P. Abbott, Matthew Benacquista, H. Daveloza, Mario C. Diaz, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Malik Rakhmanov, Robert Stone, Cristina V. Torres

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report results from a search for gravitational waves produced by perturbed intermediate mass black holes (IMBH) in data collected by LIGO and Virgo between 2005 and 2010. The search was sensitive to astrophysical sources that produced damped sinusoid gravitational wave signals, also known as ringdowns, with frequency 50 ≤ f0=Hz ≤ 2000 and decay timescale 0.0001 ≲ τ=s ≲ 0.1 characteristic of those produced in mergers of IMBH pairs. No significant gravitational wave candidate was detected. We report upper limits on the astrophysical coalescence rates of IMBHs with total binary mass 50 ≤ M=M⊙ ≤ 450 and component mass …

Physics Of Gamma-Ray Bursts And Multi-Messenger Signals From Double Neutron Star Mergers, He Gao

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

My dissertation includes two parts:

Physics of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs): Gamma-ray bursts are multi-wavelength transients, with both prompt gamma-ray emission and late time afterglow emission observed by telescopes in different wavelengths. I have carried out three investigations to understand GRB prompt emission and afterglow. Chapter 2 develops a new method, namely, "Stepwise Filter Correlation" method, to decompose the variability components in a light curve. After proving its reliability through simulations, we apply this method to 266 bright GRBs and find that the majority of the bursts have clear evidence of superposition of fast and slow variability components. Chapter 3 gives …

Mri Characterization Of Cobalt Dichloride-N-Acetyl Cysteine (C4) Contrast Agent Marker For Prostate Brachytherapy, Tze Yee Lim, R. Jason Stafford, Rajat J. Kudchadker, Madhuri Sankaranarayanapillai, Geoffrey Ibbott, Arvind Rao, Karen S. Martirosyan, Steven J. Frank

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Brachytherapy, a radiotherapy technique for treating prostate cancer, involves the implantation of numerous radioactive seeds into the prostate. While the implanted seeds can be easily identified on a CT image, distinguishing the prostate and surrounding soft tissues is not as straightforward. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers superior anatomical delineation, but the seeds appear as dark voids and are difficult to identify, thus creating a conundrum. Cobalt dichloride-N-acetylcysteine (C4) has previously been shown to be promising as an encapsulated contrast agent marker. We performed spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) and spin-spin relaxation time (T2) measurements of C4 solutions with varying cobalt dichloride …

Experimental Observation Of Lasing Shutdown Via Asymmetric Gain, M. Chitsazi, S. Factor, J. Schindler, Hamidreza Ramezani, F. M. Ellis, T. Kottos

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Using a pair of coupled RLC cavities we experimentally demonstrate that amplification action can be tamed by a spatially inhomogeneous gain. Under specific conditions we observe the counterintuitive phenomenon of stabilization of the system even when the overall gain provided is increased. This behavior is directly related to lasing shutdown via asymmetric pumping, recently proposed in M. Liertzer et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 173901 (2012)]. The analysis of other simple systems reveals the universal nature of the lasing shutdown phenomenon as having its roots in managing impedance matching.

Phase-Correlation And Propagation Analysis Of Near-Field Military Jet Noise, Jazz Myres, Dr. Kent Gee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

According to the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the United States Department of Veteran Affairs spent over $1 billion dollars on military hearing loss compensation in 2010 alone1. A major cause of hearing loss is exposure to high Sound Pressure Levels, which are caused by military aircraft. These severe levels and high risks are what motivate the overarching goal of all jet noise research: to attenuate the sound impact and reduce the risk of hearing loss. My research project helps this overall purpose by characterizing jet noise and innovating more complete methods of jet noise study. The purpose of this …

Developing Microwave-Generated Hydrogen Atoms As A Reducing Agent For Tungsten Atomic Layer Deposition, Jason Kyle Anderson, Dr. David Allred

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Traditional micro fabrication processes are confined to a small subset of possible materials due to limitations on etching and are confined to low aspect ratio fabrication due to limits in both etching and stability of thicker film deposition processes.

Event-Plane-Dependent Dihadron Correlations With Harmonic VN Subtraction In Au + Au Collisions At √SNn=200 Gev, H Agakishiev, M. M. Aggarwal, Z. Ahammed, A. V. Alakhverdyants, I. Alekseev, J. Alford, B. D. Anderson, C. D. Anson, D. Arkhipkin, G. S. Averichev, Renee H. Fatemi, Robert G. Fersch, Wolfgang Korsch, G. Webb, Wayne Otto Witzke

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

STAR measurements of dihadron azimuthal correlations (Δϕ) are reported in midcentral (20–60%) Au + Au collisions at √^sNN = 200 GeV as a function of the trigger particle's azimuthal angle relative to the event plane, ϕ_s = |ϕ_t − ^ψEP |. The elliptic (^v2), triangular (^v3), and quadratic (^v4) flow harmonic backgrounds are subtracted using the zero yield at minimum (ZYAM) method. The results are compared to minimum-bias d + Au collisions. It is found that a finite near-side (|Δϕ| < π/2) long-range pseudorapidity correlation (ridge) is present in the in-plane direction (ϕ_s∼0). The …

Ds/Cft At Uniform Energy Density And A De Sitter “Bluewall”, Diptarka Das, Sumit R. Das, K. Narayan

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We describe a class of spacetimes that are asymptotically de Sitter in the Poincare slicing. Assuming that a dS/CFT correspondence exists, we argue that these are gravity duals to a CFT on a circle leading to uniform energy-momentum density, and are equivalent to an analytic continuation of the Euclidean AdS black brane. These are solutions with a complex parameter which then gives a real energy-momentum density. We also discuss a related solution with the parameter continued to a real number, which we refer to as a de Sitter “bluewall”. This spacetime has two asymptotic de Sitter universes and Cauchy horizons …

Lensed Type Ia Supernovae As Probes Of Cluster Mass Models, J Nordin, David Rubin, J Richard, E Rykoff, Greg Aldering, R Amanullah, H Atek, K Barbary, S Deustua, H K. Fakhouri, A S. Fruchter, A Goobar, I Hook, E Y. Hsiao, Xiaosheng Huang, J P. Kneib, C Lidman, J Meyers, S Perlmutter, C Saunders, A L. Spadafora, N Suzuki

Physics and Astronomy

Using three magnified Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) detected behind CLASH (Cluster Lensing and Supernovae with Hubble) clusters, we perform a first pilot study to see whether standardizable candles can be used to calibrate cluster mass maps created from strong lensing observations. Such calibrations will be crucial when next-generation Hubble Space Telescope cluster surveys (e.g. Frontier) provide magnification maps that will, in turn, form the basis for the exploration of the high-redshift Universe. We classify SNe using combined photometric and spectroscopic observations, finding two of the three to be clearly of Type Ia and the third probable. The SNe exhibit …

Dipole Bound Excited States Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Containing Nitrogen And Their Relation To The Interstellar Medium, Mallory L. Theis

Honors College Theses

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the most abundant type of molecule present in the interstellar medium (ISM). It has been hypothesized that nitrogen replacement within a ring is likely for PAHs present in the ISM. Additionally, electrons, protons, and hydrogen atoms are readily added to or removed from PAHs creating a truly diverse set of chemistries in various interstellar regions. The presence of a nitrogen within a PAH (called a PANH herein) that is additionally dehydrogenated leads to a neutral radical with a large dipole moment. It has recently been shown through the use of high-level quantum chemical computations for …

Single Spin Asymmetries Of Inclusive Hadrons Produced In Electron Scattering From A Transversely Polarized 3He Target, K. Allada, Y. X. Zhao, K. Aniol, J. R. M. Annand, T. Averett, F. Benmokhtar, W. Bertozzi, P. C. Bradshaw, P. Bosted, A. Camsonne, C. Dutta, Ameya Suresh Kolarkar, Wolfgang Korsch

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report the first measurement of target single spin asymmetries (A_N) in the inclusive hadron production reaction, e+³He^↑→h+X, using a transversely polarized ³He target. The experiment was conducted at Jefferson Lab in Hall A using a 5.9-GeV electron beam. Three types of hadrons (π^±, K^±, and proton) were detected in the transverse hadron momentum range 0.54 <p_T< 0.74 GeV/c. The range of x_F for pions was −0.29 <x_F< −0.23 and for kaons was −0.25 <x_F< −0.18. The observed asymmetry strongly depends on the type of hadron. A positive asymmetry is observed for π⁺ and K⁺. A negative asymmetry is observed for π⁻. The …

The Physics Of A Space Elevator, Trevor Hamer

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

A space elevator is a hypothetical device consisting of a long cable attached to the surface of the earth that extends upward into space. Its purpose is to provide a tether on which a vehicle could be lifted up into orbit, greatly reducing the cost of space travel. This project explains the physical forces acting on the elevator along with the kinds of materials required to keep such a cable intact. It also examines different design aspects, as well as potential problems facing the construction and usage of the elevator, and whether or not it is something we should expect …

Section Abstracts: Astronomy, Mathematics, And Physics With Materials Science

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Astronomy, Mathematics, and Physics with Materials Science Section for the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 13-15, 2014, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia

Forbidden Fe Ii Emission Line Fluxes From The Weigelt Knots Of Eta Carinae, S. Towers

Masters Theses

Eta Carinae is an unparalleled object crossing many divisions of astrophysics. It has multiple, complicated and dynamic processes leading to absorption and emission spectra across all wavelengths from radio to hard x-ray. The spectra differ spatially across Eta Carinae's extended envelope and are changing rapidly over time.

The Weigelt Knots of Eta Carinae's ejecta emit spectra of numerous forbidden iron species lines, rare on Earth, but prevalent in the unique conditions surrounding this star. The Weigelt Knots' unique conditions occur almost nowhere else, making Eta Carinae, useful not only for understanding massive stars similar to it, but for understanding the …

Experimental Observation Of Lasing Shutdown Via Asymmetric Gain, M. Chitsazi, S. Factor, J. Schindler, Hamidreza Ramezani

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Using a pair of coupled RLC cavities we experimentally demonstrate that amplification action can be tamed by a spatially inhomogeneous gain. Under specific conditions we observe the counterintuitive phenomenon of stabilization of the system even when the overall gain provided is increased. This behavior is directly related to lasing shutdown via asymmetric pumping, recently proposed in M. Liertzer et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 173901 (2012)]. The analysis of other simple systems reveals the universal nature of the lasing shutdown phenomenon as having its roots in managing impedance matching.

Fermi-Normal, Optical, And Wave-Synchronous Coordinates For Spacetime With A Plane Gravitational Wave, Malik Rakhmanov

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Fermi-normal (FN) coordinates provide a standardized way to describe the effects of gravitation from the point of view of an inertial observer. These coordinates have always been introduced via perturbation expansions and were usually limited to distances much less than the characteristic length scale set by the curvature of spacetime. For a plane gravitational wave this scale is given by its wavelength which defines the domain of validity for these coordinates known as the long-wavelength regime. The symmetry of this spacetime, however, allows us to extend FN coordinates far beyond the long-wavelength regime. Here we present an explicit construction for …

Jet-Hadron Correlations In √SNn=200 Gev P+P And Central Au+Au Collisions, L. Adamczyk, James K. Adkins, G. Agakishiev, M. M. Aggarwal, Z. Ahammed, I. Alekseev, J. Alford, C. D. Anson, A. Aparin, D. Arkhipkin, Renee H. Fatemi, Suvarna Ramachandran, G. Webb

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Azimuthal angular correlations of charged hadrons with respect to the axis of a reconstructed (trigger) jet in Au+Au and p+p collisions at √^sNN=200  GeV in STAR are presented. The trigger jet population in Au+Au collisions is biased toward jets that have not interacted with the medium, allowing easier matching of jet energies between Au+Au and p+p collisions while enhancing medium effects on the recoil jet. The associated hadron yield of the recoil jet is significantly suppressed at high transverse momentum (p^assoc_T) and enhanced at low p^assoc_T in 0%–20% central …

Concept Of A Reflective Power Limiter Based On Nonlinear Localized Modes, Elena Makri, Hamidreza Ramezani, Tsampikos Kottos, Ilya Vitebsky

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Optical limiters are designed to transmit low-intensity light, while blocking the light with excessively high intensity. A typical passive limiter absorbs excessive electromagnetic energy, which can cause its overheating and destruction. We propose the concept of a photonic reflective limiter based on resonance transmission via a localized mode. Such a limiter does not absorb the high-level radiation, but rather reflects it back to space. Importantly, the nearly total reflection occurs within a broad frequency range and direction of incidence. The same concept can be applied to infrared and microwave frequencies.

Spin And Orbital Moments And Magnetic Order In Fe3o4 Nanoparticle Assemblies, Yanping Cai

Theses and Dissertations

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles of 5 to 11 nm in size were prepared by organic methods. Particle size was analyzed by both X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. Zero Field Cooling (ZFC) / Field Cooling (FC) and magnetization loop measurements were recorded by VSM, and they confirmed superparamagnetic behavior in the sample. The blocking temperature is found to be in the range of 30 K ~ 170 K. It has a dependence on the particle size. ZFC / FC curves also indicate the presence of magnetic coupling between particles. X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) measurements of these nanoparticles …

Estimating The Acoustic Power Of Sources In Nonideal Enclosures Using Generalized Acoustic Energy Density, Daniel Ryan Marquez

Theses and Dissertations

Sound power measurements of acoustic sources are generally made in reverberation or anechoic chambers using acoustic pressure measurements as outlined in specific ISO or other standards. A reverberation chamber produces an approximate diffuse-field condition, wherein the sound power is determined from the spatially averaged squared pressure. An anechoic chamber produces an approximate free-field condition, wherein the sound power is estimated from squared pressure over an enveloping measurement surface. However, in many cases it is desirable to estimate sound power within nonideal semi-reverberant spaces. In these environments, both direct and reverberant energies may contribute significantly to the total acoustic field. This …

Evolution Of Broad-Line Emission From Active Galactic Nuclei, Moshe Elitzur, Luis C. Ho, Jonathan R. Trump

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Apart from viewing-dependent obscuration, intrinsic broad-line emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN) follows an evolutionary sequence: type 1 → 1.2/1.5 → 1.8/1.9 → 2 as the accretion rate on to the central black hole is decreasing. This spectral evolution is controlled, at least in part, by the parameter L_bol/M^2/3, where L_bol is the AGN bolometric luminosity and M is the black hole mass. Both this dependence and the double-peaked profiles that emerge along the sequence arise naturally in the disc-wind scenario for the AGN broad-line region.

Compton Scattering From 12C Using Tagged Photons In The Energy Range 65–115 Mev, L. S. Myers, Khayrullo Shoniyozov, M. F. Preston, M. D. Anderson, J. R. M. Annand, M. Boselli, W. J. Briscoe, J. Brudvik, J. I. Capone, G. Feldman, K. G. Fissum, K. Hansen, S. S. Henshaw, L. Isaksson, R. Jebali, Michael A. Kovash, K. Lewis, M. Lundin, I. J. D. Macgregor, D. G. Middleton, D. E. Mittelberger, M. Murray, A. M. Nathan, S. Nutbeam, G. V. O'Rielly, B. Schröder, B. Seitz, S. C. Stave, H. R. Weller

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Elastic scattering of photons from ¹²C has been investigated using quasimonoenergetic tagged photons with energies in the range 65–115 MeV at laboratory angles of 60^∘, 120^∘, and 150^∘ at the Tagged-Photon Facility at the MAX IV Laboratory in Lund, Sweden. A phenomenological model was employed to provide an estimate of the sensitivity of the ¹²C(γ,γ)¹²C cross section to the bound-nucleon polarizabilities.

Revealing Interaction Of Organic Adsorbates With Semiconductor Surfaces Using Chemically Enhanced Raman, Andrew K. Kuhlman, Alexey T. Zayak

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is frequently associated with "chemical enhancement" (CE), which is an effect of the chemical coupling between reporting molecules and surfaces. While SERS technique is mainly attributed to the studies of metallic surfaces, chemical coupling must be present on semiconductor surfaces as well. Here, we examine binding of trans-1,2-two(4-pyridyl) ethylene (BPE) to various crystallographic facets of PbSe semiconductor. The calculated off-resonant Raman spectra vary significantly on different crystallographic facets of PbSe, correlating with the electronic structure of each type of semiconductor surface. We distinguish situations when the charge transfer is present and when it is not, …

Secular Damping Of Stellar Bars In Spinning Dark Matter Halos, Stacy Long, Isaac Shlosman, Clayton Heller

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We demonstrate using numerical simulations of isolated galaxies that growth of stellar bars in spinning dark matter halos is heavily suppressed in the secular phase of evolution. In a representative set of models, we show that for values of the cosmological spin parameter λ ≳ 0.03, bar growth (in strength and size) becomes increasingly quenched. Furthermore, the slowdown of the bar pattern speed weakens considerably with increasing λ until it ceases completely. The terminal structure of the bars is affected as well, including extent and shape of their boxy/peanut bulges. The essence of this effect lies in the modified angular …

Secular Damping Of Stellar Bars In Spinning Dark Matter Halos, Stacy Long, Isaac Shlosman, Clayton Heller

Physics & Astronomy: Faculty Publications

We demonstrate using numerical simulations of isolated galaxies that growth of stellar bars in spinning dark matter halos is heavily suppressed in the secular phase of evolution. In a representative set of models, we show that for values of the cosmological spin parameter λ ≳ 0.03, bar growth (in strength and size) becomes increasingly quenched. Furthermore, the slowdown of the bar pattern speed weakens considerably with increasing λ until it ceases completely. The terminal structure of the bars is affected as well, including extent and shape of their boxy/peanut bulges. The essence of this effect lies in the modified angular …

Minisuperspace Canonical Quantization Of The Reissner-Nordström Black Hole Via Conditional Symmetries, T. Christodoulakis, Nicholas Dimakis, Petros A. Terzis, Babak Vakili, E. Melas, Th. Grammenos

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We use the conditional symmetry approach to study the r evolution of a minisuperspace spherically symmetric model both at the classical and the quantum level. After integration of the coordinates t, θ and ϕ in the gravitational plus electromagnetic action the configuration space dependent dynamical variables turn out to correspond to the r-dependent metric functions and the electrostatic field. In the context of the formalism for constrained systems (Dirac-Bergmann, Arnowitt-Deser-Misner) with respect to the radial coordinate r, we set up a pointlike reparametrization invariant Lagrangian. It is seen that, in the constant potential parametrization of the lapse, the corresponding minisuperspace …