Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

Chandra Observations Of The Luminous, Oxygen‐Rich Supernova Remnants In The Irregular Galaxy Ngc 4449, Daniel J. Patnaude, Robert A. Fesen

Dartmouth Scholarship

An analysis of a 29 ks Chandra ACIS-S observation of the young, Cassiopeia A–like supernova remnant in the irregular galaxy NGC 4449 is presented. The observed 0.5–2.1 keV spectrum reveals the likely presence of several emission lines. A nonequilibrium ionization fit to the spectrum suggests an overabundance of oxygen around 20 times solar, consistent with the remnant’s UV and optical emission-line properties. We discuss the remnant’s approximate X-ray–derived elemental abundances and compare its X-ray spectrum and luminosity with other oxygen-rich remnants

The Orbit And Pulsation Periods Of The Γ Doradus Variable Hr 6844 (V2502 Ophiuchi), Francis C. Fekel, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We obtained spectroscopic and photometric observations of the γ Doradus variable HR 6844 (=V2502 Ophiuchi). Radial velocities show that this star is a single-lined binary with a period of 4.4852 days. The primary is an F1 V star, while the secondary is likely an M dwarf. Velocity residuals to a circular orbit have a period of 1.3071 days and an amplitude of ∼3 km s-1. Three periods of light variation were detected, 1.30702, 1.4350, and 0.62286 days. The first period is essentially identical to that found in the radial velocities and has the largest amplitude, a peak-to-peak value of 0.067 …

Spectroscopy Of Early F Stars: Γ Doradus Candidates And Possible Metallic Shell Stars, Francis C. Fekel, Phillip B. Warner, Anthony B. Kaye

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We obtained high-resolution spectroscopic observations of 34 γ Doradus candidates. From the red-wavelength spectra, we determined spectral classes, radial velocities, and projected rotational velocities. The spectra of seven late A or early F stars show metallic lines that have composite profiles consisting of a narrow component near the center of a broad line, indicating that they may be shell stars or binaries. Several stars, including HD 152896, HD 173977, HD 175337, and HD 195068/9, show large line profile asymmetries. Two stars, HD 11443 (=α Trianguli) and HD 149420, are ellipsoidal variables and not γ Doradus stars. The percentage of binary …

An Efficient Targeting Strategy For Multiobject Spectrograph Surveys: The Sloan Digital Sky Survey “Tiling” Algorithm, Michael R. Blanton, Huan Lin, Robert H. Lupton, F. Miller Maley, Neal Young

Dartmouth Scholarship

Large surveys using multiobject spectrographs require automated methods for deciding how to efficiently point observations and how to assign targets to each pointing. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) will observe around 106 spectra from targets distributed over an area of about 10,000 deg2 , using a multiobject fiber spectrograph that can simultaneously observe 640 objects in a circular field of view (referred to as a ‘‘ tile ’’) 1= 49 in radius. No two fibers can be placed closer than 5500 during the same observation; multiple targets closer than this distance are said to ‘‘ collide.’’ We present here …

Modes In A Non-Neutral Plasma Of Finite Length, M = 0,1, S. Neil Rasband, Ross L. Spencer

Faculty Publications

For realistic, cold equilibria of finite length representing a pure electron plasma confined in a cylindrical Malmberg–Penning trap, the mode spectrum for Trivelpiece–Gould, m=0, and for diocotron, m=1, modes is calculated numerically. A novel method involving finite elements is used to successfully compute eigenfrequencies and eigenfunctions for plasma equilibria shaped like pancakes, cigars, long cylinders, and all things in between. Mostly sharp-boundary density configurations are considered but also included in this study are diffuse density profiles including ones with peaks off axis leading to instabilities. In all cases the focus has been on elucidating the role of finite length in …

High-Resolution Chandra Spectroscopy Of Tau Scorpii: A Narrow-Line X-Ray Spectrum From A Hot Star, David H. Cohen, Genevieve Escande De Messières , '04, J. J. Macfarlane, N. A. Miller, J. P. Cassinelli, S. P. Owocki, D. A. Liedahl

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

Long known to be an unusual early-type star by virtue of its hard and strong X-ray emission, tau Scorpii poses a severe challenge to the standard picture of O-star wind-shock X-ray emission. The Chandra HETGS spectrum now provides significant direct evidence that this B0.2 star does not fit this standard wind-shock framework. The many emission lines detected with the Chandra gratings are significantly narrower than what would be expected from a star with the known wind properties of tau Sco, although they are broader than the corresponding lines seen in late-type coronal sources. While line ratios are consistent with the …

Development Of Czt Strip Detector Modules For 0.05- To 1-Mev Gamma-Ray Imaging And Spectroscopy, James M. Ryan, B Donmez, John R. Macri, M Mcclish, Mark L. Mcconnell, R S. Miller, Mark Widholm, L A. Hamel, Manuel Julien

Space Science Center

We report progress in our study of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) strip detectors featuring orthogonal coplanar anode contacts. We specifically report on the performance, characterization and stability of 5 and 10 mm thick prototype CZT detectors fabricated using material from several manufacturers. Our ongoing work includes laboratory and simulation studies aimed at optimizing and developing compact, efficient, high performance detector modules for 0.05 to 1 MeV gamma radiation measurements with space-based instrumentation. The coplanar anode strip configuration retains many of the performance advantages of pixel detectors yet requires far fewer electronic channels to perform both 3-d imaging and spectroscopy. Minimizing …

Nonsolar Astronomy With The Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (Rhessi), David M. Smith, Robert P. Lin, K Hurley, Wayne Coburn, G J. Hurford, Claudia Wigger, W Hajdas, Alex Zehnder, Mark L. Mcconnell

Space Science Center

The Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) is a NASA Small Explorer satellite designed to study hard x-ray and gamma-ray emission from solar flares. In addition, its high-resolution array of germanium detectors can see photons from high-energy sources throughout the Universe. Here we discuss the various algorithms necessary to extract spectra, lightcurves, and other information about cosmic gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, and other astrophysical phenomena using an unpointed, spinning array of detectors. We show some preliminary results and discuss our plans for future analyses. All RHESSI data are public, and scientists interested in participating should contact the principal author.

Hard X-Ray Polarimeter For Gamma-Ray Bursts And Solar Flares, Mark L. Mcconnell, J Ledoux, John R. Macri, James M. Ryan

Space Science Center

We report on the development of a dedicated polarimeter design that is capable of studying the linear polarization of hard X-rays (50-300 keV) from gamma-ray bursts and solar flares. This compact design, based on the use of a large area position-sensitive PMT (PSPMT), is referred to as GRAPE (Gamma-RAy Polarimeter Experiment). The PSPMT is used to determine the Compton interaction location within an array of small plastic scintillator elements. Some of the photons that scatter within the plastic scintillator array are subsequently absorbed by a small centrally-located array of CsI(Tl) crystals that is read out by an independent multi-anode PMT. …

X-Ray Spectral Diagnostics Of Neon Photoionization Experiments On The Z-Machine, David H. Cohen, J. J. Macfarlane, J. E. Bailey, D. A. Liedahl

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

We report on an initial spectroscopic study of low-density, x-ray photoionized neon with x-ray spectroscopy. These experiments, carried out on the Z-machine at Sandia, are optimized to produce a gradient-free, collisionless plasma, and to explore issues related to the rapid x-ray photoionization of relatively cold, low-density plasmas. The initial experiments used time-integrated absorption spectroscopy, backlit by the pinch radiation, to determine the ionization balance in the gas cell. Future experiments will use time-resolved spectroscopy in both absorption and emission. The emission spectra are expected to be similar to those seen from photoionized astrophysical sources, such as x-ray binaries. Indeed, in …

X-Ray Emission Line Profile Modeling Of Hot Stars, Roban Hultman Kramer , '03, Stephanie Korinne Tonnesen , '03, David H. Cohen, S. P. Owocki, A. Ud-Doula, J. J. Macfarlane

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

The launch of high-spectral-resolution x-ray telescopes (Chandra, XMM) has provided a host of new spectralline diagnostics for the astrophysics community. In this paper we discuss Doppler-broadened emission line profiles from highly supersonic outflows of massive stars. These outflows, or winds, are driven by radiation pressure and carry a tremendous amount of kinetic energy, which can be converted to x rays by shock-heating even a small fraction of the wind plasma. The unshocked, cold wind is a source of continuum opacity to the x rays generated in the shock-heated portion of the wind. Thus the emergent line profiles are affected by …

What The Universe Means To People Like Me, David D. Allred

Faculty Publications

When I picked up David's paper to read it, I had a pencil in my hand. Years of reading my students' and my own papers made it natural to edit as I read. However, I heard in my mind the voice of my mother advising me to put the pencil down. This wasn't time to edit but to hear and understand. Still, I kept the pencil in my hand for the first few pages and made a few notes before I put it down and just read. I could hear David's voice speaking the words I read. It was good …

Book Review: Strange Matters: Undiscovered Ideas At The Frontiers Of Space And Time, T. D. Oswalt

Publications

This document is Dr. Oswalt’s review of Strange Matters: Undiscovered Ideas at the Frontiers of Space and Time by Tom Siegfried. John Henry, 2002 307p, 0-309-08407-5 $24.95.

Neutral-Plasma Oscillations At Zero Temperature, Scott D. Bergeson, Ross L. Spencer

Faculty Publications

Cold plasma theory is used to calculate the response of an ultracold neutral plasma to an applied rf field. The free oscillation of the system has a continuous spectrum and an associated damped quasimode. This quasimode dominates the driven response and is resonant in the tail of the density distribution. Recent experiments used the plasma response to an applied rf field to determine the plasma density in an expanding ultracold plasma. The comparison between experiment and theory indicates that this method accurately determines the expansion velocity and underestimates the initial plasma density by a factor of 3 in weakly collisional …

Protoplanetary Disk Mass Distribution In Young Binaries, Eric L.N. Jensen, R. L. Akeson

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

We present millimeter-wave continuum images of four wide (separations 210-800 AU), young stellar binary systems in the Taurus-Auriga star-forming region. For all four sources, the resolution of our observations is sufficient to determine the millimeter emission from each of the components. In all four systems, the primary star's disk has stronger millimeter emission than the secondary's, and in three of the four the secondary is undetected; this is consistent with predictions of recent models of binary formation by fragmentation. The primaries circumstellar disk masses inferred from these observations are comparable to those found for young single stars, confirming that the …

A Limit On The Cosmological Mass Density And Power Spectrum From The Rotation Curves Of Low Surface Brightness Galaxies, Stacy S. Mcgaugh

Faculty Scholarship

The concentrations of the cuspy dark matter halos predicted by simulations of cold dark matter are related to the cosmology in which the halos form. Observational constraints on halo concentration therefore map into constraints on cosmological parameters. In order to explain the observed concentrations of dark matter-dominated low surface brightness galaxies, we require a cosmology with rather little power on galaxy scales. Formally, we require σ 8Γ0.6 < 0.23, where Γ0.6 is a modified shape parameter appropriate to this problem. Practically, this means that either Ωm < 0.2 or σ8 < 0.8. These limits apply as long as we insist that the cuspy halos found in simulations must describe the halos of low surface brightness galaxies. A low-density cosmology helps with the low observed concentrations, but it offers no explanation of the many cases where the shape of the density profile deviates from the predicted cuspy form. These cases must have suffered very extensive mass redistribution if the current halo formation picture is not to fail outright. It is far from clear whether any of the mass redistribution mechanisms that have been suggested (e.g., feedback) are viable.

Observational Constraints On General Relativistic Energy Conditions, Cosmic Matter Density And Dark Energy From X-Ray Clusters Of Galaxies And Type-La Supernovae, P. Schuecker, R. R. Caldwell, H. Böhringer, C. A. Collins

Dartmouth Scholarship

New observational constraints on the cosmic matter density Ωm and an effectively redshift-independent equation

of state parameter wx of the dark energy are obtained while simultaneously testing the strong and null energy conditions of

general relativity on macroscopic scales. The combination of REFLEX X-ray cluster and type-Ia supernova data shows that

for a flat Universe the strong energy condition might presently be violated whereas the null energy condition seems to be

fulfilled. This provides another observational argument for the present accelerated cosmic expansion and the absence of exotic

physical phenomena related to a broken null energy condition. The marginalization of …

Seasonal And Diurnal Variation Of Geomagnetic Activity: Revised Dst Versus External Drivers, L V.T Hakkinen, T I. Pulkkinen, R J. Pirjola, H Nevanlinna, E I. Tanskanen, Niescja E. Turner

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research

Daily and seasonal variability of long time series of magnetometer data from Dst stations is examined. Each station separately shows a local minimum of horizontal magnetic component near 18 local time (LT) and weakest activity near 06 LT. The stations were found to have different baselines such that the average levels of activity differed by about 10 nT. This effect was corrected for by introducing a new “base method” for the elimination of the secular variation. This changed the seasonal variability of the Dst index by about 3 nT. The hemispheric differences between the annual variation (larger activity during local …

Chemomechanical Surface Patterning And Functionalization Of Silicon Surfaces Using An Atomic Force Microscope, Brent A. Wascaser, Michael J. Maughan, Travis L. Niederhauser, Matthew R. Linford, Robert C. Davis, Ian A. Mowat

Faculty Publications

Surface modification and patterning at the nanoscale is a frontier in science with significant possible applications in biomedical technology and nanoelectronics. Here we show that an atomic force microscope (AFM) can be employed to simultaneously pattern and functionalize hydrogen-terminated silicon (111) surfaces. The AFM probe was used to break Si-H and Si-Si bonds in the presence of reactive molecules, which covalently bonded to the scribed Si surface. Functionalized patches and patterned lines of molecules were produced. Linewidths down to 30 nm were made by varying the force at the tip

Radial Velocity Survey Of Members And Candidate Members Of The Tw Hydrae Association, Guillermo Torres, Eike W. Guenther, Laurence A. Marschall, Ralph Neuhauser, David W. Latham, Robert P. Stefanik

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report spectroscopic observations of stars belonging to the young nearby group known as the TW Hydrae association, as well as of a number of potential members of the association identified in kinematic and X-ray surveys. Multiple radial velocity measurements were obtained for each object, several of which turn out to be multiple systems. Orbital solutions are presented for three double-lined binaries, one singlelined binary, and a double-lined triple system, all with short periods. Effective temperatures and projected rotational velocities are presented for each visible object. None of the candidate members of the association in our sample are confirmed as …

Hard X-Ray Polarimetry With The Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (Rhessi), Mark L. Mcconnell, David M. Smith, A G. Emslie, Robert P. Lin, James M. Ryan

Space Science Center

Although designed primarily as a hard X-ray imager and spectrometer, the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) is also capable of measuring the polarization of hard X-rays (20-100 keV) from solar flares. This capability arises from the inclusion of a small unobstructed Be scattering element that is strategically located within the cryostat that houses the array of nine germanium detectors. The Ge detectors are segmented, with both a front and rear active volume. Low energy photons (below about 100 keV) can reach a rear segment of a Ge detector only indirectly, by scattering. Low energy photons from the Sun …

Sontrac: An Imaging Spectrometer For Solar Neutrons, James M. Ryan, L Desorgher, E O. Fluckiger, John R. Macri, Mark L. Mcconnell, R S. Miller

Space Science Center

An instrument capable of unambiguously determining the energy and direction of incident neutrons has important applications in solar physics-as well as environmental monitoring and medical/radiological sciences. The SONTRAC (SOlar Neutron TRACking) instrument is designed to operate in the neutron energy range of 20-250 MeV. The measurement principle is based on non-relativistic double scatter of neutrons off ambient protons (n-p scattering) within a block of densely packed scintillating fibers. Using this double-scatter mode it is possible to uniquely determine neutron energy and direction on an event-by-event basis. A fully operational science model of such an instrument has been built using 300 …

Search For Tev Emissions From Pulsars In Binary Systems, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

A survey of binary systems containing pulsars was conducted, with the intention of detecting Galactic sources of very high energy γ-ray emission. Observations were carried out with the Whipple 10 m imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope. Standard analysis techniques were applied to these sources to search for steady, unpulsed emission. Periodic tests were also performed to search for emission correlated with both the orbital and spin phases, where appropriate. Analyses indicate that the binaries in this study do not emit detectable levels of very high energy photons within the sensitivity of our instrument. The flux upper limits presented here fail to …

Chemical Abundances In Broad Emission Line Regions: The "Nitrogen-Loud'' Quasi-Stellar Object Q0353-383, J. A. Baldwin, F. Hamann, K. T. Korista, Gary J. Ferland, M. Dietrich, C. Warner

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The intensity of the strong N V λ1240 line relative to C IV λ1549 or to He II λ1640 has been proposed as an indicator of the metallicity of quasi-stellar object (QSO) broad emission line regions, allowing abundance measurements in a large number of QSOs out to the highest redshifts. Previously, it had been shown that the (normally) much weaker lines N III] λ1750 and N IV] λ1486 could be used in the same way. The redshift 1.96 QSO 0353-383 has long been known to have N III] and N IV] lines that are far stronger relative to Lyα or …

Normal And Lateral Casimir Forces Between Deformed Plates, Thorsten Emig, Andreas Hanke, Ramin Golestanian, Mehran Kardar

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The general path-integral formulation was set up for Casimir energy of the electromagnetic gauge field. By separating into transversal electric and magnetic modes, the problem was reduced to two decoupled problems for scalar fields which differ only in their boundary conditions. In each case, the Casimir energy was calculated for general plate deformations perturbatively. Results on both the normal and the lateral force between sinusoidally corrugated plates were outlined.

The Mass Of Quasar Broad Emission Line Regions, J. A. Baldwin, Gary J. Ferland, K. T. Korista, F. Hamann, M. Dietrich

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We show that the mass of ionized gas in the broad-line regions (BLRs) of luminous quasars is at least several hundred M_☉, and probably of the order of 10³-10⁴ M_solar. BLR mass estimates in several existing textbooks suggest lower values but pertain to much less luminous Seyfert galaxies or include only a small fraction of the ionized/emitting volume of the BLR. The previous estimates also fail to include the large amounts of BLR gas that emit at low efficiency (in a given line) but that must be present based on reverberation and other …

E/B Decomposition Of Finite Pixelized Cmb Maps, Emory F. Bunn, Matias Zaldarriaga, Max Tegmark, Angelica De Oliveira-Costa

Physics Faculty Publications

Separation of the E and B components of a microwave background polarization map or a weak lensing map is an essential step in extracting science from it, but when the map covers only part of the sky and/or is pixelized, this decomposition cannot be done perfectly. We present a method for decomposing an arbitrary sky map into a sum of three orthogonal components that we term ‘‘pure E,’’ ‘‘pure B,’’ and ‘‘ambiguous.’’ The fluctuations in the pure E and B maps are due only to the E and B power spectra, respectively, whereas the source of those in …

The Ionizing Efficiency Of The First Stars, Aparna Venkatesan, James W. Truran

Physics and Astronomy

We investigate whether a single population of first stars could have influenced both the metal enrichment and reionization of the high-redshift intergalactic medium (IGM), by calculating the generated ionizing radiation per unit metal yield as a function of the metallicity of stellar populations. We examine the relation between the ionizing radiation and carbon created by the first stars, since the evidence for the widespread enrichment of the IGM at redshifts z about 3-4 comes from the detection of C IV absorption. We find that the number of ionizing photons per baryon generated in association with the detected IGM metallicity may …

A Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method For The Uehling-Uhlenbeck-Boltzmann Equation, Alejandro Garcia, W. Wagner

Faculty Publications

In this paper we describe a direct simulation Monte Carlo algorithm for the Uehling-Uhlenbeck-Boltzmann equation in terms of Markov processes. This provides a unifying framework for both the classical Boltzmann case as well as the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein cases. We establish the foundation of the algorithm by demonstrating its link to the kinetic equation. By numerical experiments we study its sensitivity to the number of simulation particles and to the discretization of the velocity space, when approximating the steady-state distribution.

Tracing The Star Stream Through M31 Using Planetary Nebula Kinematics, H. R. Merrett, K. Kuijken, M. R. Merrifield, Aaron J. Romanowsky, N. G. Douglas, N. R. Napolitano, M. Arnaboldi, M. Capaccioli, K. C. Freeman, O. Gerhard, N. W. Evans, M. I. Wilkinson, C. Halliday, T. J. Bridges, D. Carter

Faculty Publications

We present a possible orbit for the Southern Stream of stars in M31, which connects it to the Northern Spur. Support for this model comes from the dynamics of planetary nebulae (PNe) in the disc of M31: analysis of a new sample of 2611 PNe obtained using the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph reveals ∼20 objects with kinematics inconsistent with the normal components of the galaxy, but which lie at the right positions and velocities to connect the two photometric features via this orbit. The satellite galaxy M32 is coincident with the stream both in position and velocity, adding weight to the …