Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

Anomalous Magnetic Field Dependence Of The T1 Spin Lifetime In A Lightly Doped Gaas Sample, John S. Colton, M. E. Heeb, P. Schroeder, A. Stokes, L. R. Wienkes, A. S. Bracker

Faculty Publications

The T1 spin lifetime of a lightly doped n-type GaAs sample has been measured via time-resolved polarization spectroscopy under a number of temperature and magnetic field conditions. Lifetimes up to 19 μs have been measured. The magnetic field dependence of T1 shows a nonmonotonic behavior, where the spin lifetime first increases, then decreases, then increases again with field. The initial increase in T1 is understood to be due to correlation between electrons localized on donors. The decrease in T1 is likely due to phonon-related spin-orbit relaxation. The final increase in T1 with B indicates a suppression of the spin-orbit relaxation …

The Effects Of Spin-Orbit Coupling On Gravitational Wave Uncertainties, C. L. Wainwright

Pomona Senior Theses

Paper discusses the expected uncertainty of orbital parameters of binary stars as measured by the space-based gravitational wave observatory LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) and how the inclusion of spin in the model of the binary stars affects the uncertainty. The uncertainties are found by calculating the received gravitational wave from a binary pair and then performing a linear least-squares parameter estimation. The case of a 1500 solar mass black hole that is 20 years from coalescing with a 1000 solar mass black hole--both of which are 50 x 10^6 light years away--is analyzed, and the results show that the …

Listening To Jupiter From 48°N, Matt Kistner

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Coupling Down Converted Light Into Single Mode Fibers, David A. Niemi

Theses and Dissertations

We investigate the influence of the pump and collection mode parameters on the collection efficiency of Type I down converted photons into single mode fibers. For best single and coincidence counting rates, we find that the mode sizes should be close to the same size and that the mode waists should be located near the down-conversion crystal. Larger collection waists give higher collection efficiencies, but lower singles counts.

A Simple Organic Solar Cell, Gordon Patrick Whyburn

Pomona Senior Theses

Finding renewable sources of energy is becoming an increasingly important component of scientific research. Greater competition for existing sources of energy has strained the world’s supply and demand balance and has increased the prices of traditional sources of energy such as oil, coal, and natural gas. The experiment discussed in this paper is designed to identify and build an inexpensive and simple method for creating an effective organic solar cell.

Searching For A Stochastic Background Of Gravitational Waves With The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, B. Abbott, R. Abbott, R. Adhikari, J. Agresti, Mario C. Diaz, Roberto Grosso, Soumya Mohanty, Soma Mukherjee, Cristina V. Torres

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has performed the fourth science run, S4, with significantly improved interferometer sensitivities with respect to previous runs. Using data acquired during this science run, we place a limit on the amplitude of a stochastic background of gravitational waves. For a frequency independent spectrum, the new Bayesian 90% upper limit is ΩGW × [H0/(12 km s-1 Mpc-1)]2 < 6.5 × 10-5. This is currently the most sensitive result in the frequency range 51-150 Hz, with a factor of 13 improvement over the previous LIGO result. We discuss the complementarity of the new result with other constraints on a stochastic background of gravitational waves, and we investigate implications of the new result for different models of this background. © 2007. The American Astronumical Society. All rights reserved.

Systematic Errors In Cosmic Microwave Background Interferometry, Emory F. Bunn

Physics Faculty Publications

Cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization observations will require superb control of systematic errors in order to achieve their full scientific potential, particularly in the case of attempts to detect the B modes that may provide a window on inflation. Interferometry may be a promising way to achieve these goals. This paper presents a formalism for characterizing the effects of a variety of systematic errors on interferometric CMB polarization observations, with particular emphasis on estimates of the B-mode power spectrum. The most severe errors are those that couple the temperature anisotropy signal to polarization; such errors include cross talk within …

Ua66 2007 Student Awards Ceremony, Wku Ogden College Of Science & Engineering

WKU Administration Documents

Program recognizing Ogden College students with brief list of activities for each student.

The Spectroscopic And Astrometric Orbits Of Hr 672, Francis C. Fekel, Michael H. Williamson, Dimitri Pourbaix

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

From a very extensive set of radial velocities obtained at Fairborn Observatory we have computed a new spectroscopic orbit for HR 672. This binary has an orbital period of 93.290 days and an eccentricity of 0.5249. The greatly improved orbital elements have been incorporated into a new astrometric orbit, which has an inclination of 110°, from Hipparcos data. The primary is a slowly rotating early G star that is situated nearly 1 mag above the main sequence and is likely pseudosynchronously rotating. It has an iron abundance that is greater than that of the Sun. Lines of the secondary were …

Warm Gas In The Inner Disks Around Young Intermediate-Mass Stars, Sean D. Brittain, Theodore Simon, Joan R. Najita, Terrence W. Rettig

Publications

The characterization of gas in the inner disks around young stars is of particular interest because of its connection to planet formation. In order to study the gas in inner disks, we have obtained high-resolution K- and M-band spectroscopy of 14 intermediate-mass young stars. In sources that have optically thick inner disks, i.e., E(K-L)>1, our detection rate of the rovibrational CO transitions is 100%, and the gas is thermally excited. Of the five sources that do not have optically thick inner disks, we only detect the rovibrational CO transitions from HD 141569. In this case, we show that the …

Dust And Pah Emission In The Star-Forming Active Nucleus Of Ngc 1097, R. E. Mason, N. A. Levenson, C. Packham, Moshe Elitzur, J. Radomski, A. O. Petric, G. S. Wright

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The nucleus of the nearby galaxy NGC 1097 is known to host a young, compact (r < 9 pc) nuclear star cluster, as well as a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (AGN). It has been suggested both that the nuclear stellar cluster is associated with a dusty torus and that low-luminosity AGNs like NGC 1097 do not have the torus predicted by the unified model of AGNs. To investigate these contradictory possibilities we have acquired Gemini/T-ReCS 11.7 and 18.3 μm images of the central few hundred parsecs of this galaxy at <45 pc angular resolution, in which the nucleus and spectacular, kiloparsec-scale star-forming ring are detected in both bands. The small-scale mid-IR luminosity implies thermal emission from warm dust close to the central engine. Fitting of torus models shows that the observed mid-IR emission cannot be accounted for by dust heated by the central engine. Rather, the principal source heating the dust in this object is the nuclear star cluster itself, suggesting that the detected dust is not the torus of AGN unified schemes (although it is also possible that the dusty starburst itself could provide the obscuration invoked by the unified model). Comparison of Spitzer IRS and Gemini GNIRS spectra shows that, although PAH bands are strong in the immediate circumnuclear region of the galaxy, PAH emission is weak or absent in the central 19 pc. The lack of PAH emission can probably be explained largely by destruction/ionization of PAH molecules by hard photons from the nuclear star cluster. If NGC 1097 is typical, PAH emission bands may not be a useful tool with which …

The Rotation Velocity Attributable To Dark Matter At Intermediate Radii In Disk Galaxies, Stacy S. Mcgaugh

Faculty Scholarship

We examine the amplitude of the rotation velocity that can be attributed to the dark matter halos of disk galaxies, focusing on well-measured intermediate radii. The data for 60 galaxies spanning a large range of mass and Hubble types, taken together, are consistent with a dark halo velocity log Vh = C + B log R with C = 1.47-0.19+0.15 and B ≈1/2 over the range of 1 < R < 74 kpc. The range in C stems from different choices of the stellar mass estimator, from minimum to maximum disk. For all plausible choices of stellar mass, the implied densities of the dark halos are lower than expected from structure formation simulations in ACDM, which anticipate C > 1.6. This problem is not specific to a particular type of galaxy or to the innermost region of the halo (cusp or core); the velocity attributable to dark matter is too low …

The Sun-Like Activity Of The Solar Twin 18 Scorpii, Jeffrey C. Hall, Gregory W. Henry, G. Wesley Lockwood

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present the results of 10 yr of complementary spectroscopic and photometric observations of the solar twin 18 Scorpii. We show that over the course of its ∼7 yr chromospheric activity cycle, 18 Sco's brightness varies in the same manner as the Sun's and with a likely total brightness variation of 0.09%, similar to the 0.1% decadal variation in the total solar irradiance.

Infrared High-Resolution Spectroscopy Of Post-Agb Circumstellar Disks. I. Hr 4049: The Winnowing Flow Observed?, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Sean D. Brittain, David L. Lambert

Publications

High-resolution infrared spectroscopy in the 2.3-4.6 micron region is reported for the peculiar A supergiant, single-lined spectroscopic binary HR 4049. Lines from the CO fundamental and first overtone, OH fundamental, and several H2O vibration-rotation transitions have been observed in the near-infrared spectrum. The spectrum of HR 4049 appears principally in emission through the 3 and 4.6 micron region and in absorption in the 2 micron region. The 4.6 micron spectrum shows a rich 'forest' of emission lines. All the spectral lines observed in the 2.3-4.6 micron spectrum are shown to be circumbinary in origin. The presence of OH and H2O …

Possible Identification Of A Metal-Rich Old Moving Group: High-Resolution Spectroscopy Of Candidate Members, Abigail R. Daane, Jeremy R. King, Simon C. Schuler

Publications

Using new high-resolution spectroscopic observations from both the McDonald Observatory 2.7 m and Kitt Peak National Observatory 4 m telescopes, we observed four candidate members of the Ursa Major moving group previously suggested to instead belong to a significantly older kinematic assemblage. The Fe abundances we measure strongly suggest that these stars are not UMa members but form a more metal-rich group of stars (+0.10 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ +0.18) with an age near 3 Gyr. Our [Ca/H] determinations corroborate this result. The apparent similarities in metallicity and previously discovered UVW space motions lend credence to prior suggestions that these stars …

Initial Mass Function Effects On The Colour Evolution Of Disk Galaxies, P. Westera, M. Samland, Stefan Kautsch, R. Buser, K. Ammon

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Aims. In this work, we want to find out if the IMF can be determined from colour images, integrated colours, or mass-to-light ratios, especially at high redshift, where galaxies cannot be resolved into individual stars, which would enable us to investigate dependencies of the IMF on cosmological epoch.

Methods. We use chemo-dynamical models to investigate the influence of the Initial Mass Function (IMF) on the evolution of a Milky Way-type disk galaxy, in particular of its colours.

Results. We find that the effect of the IMF on the internal gas absorption is larger than its effect on …

Warm Hcn, C2h2, And Co In The Disk Of Gv Tau, E L. Gibb, K A. Vanbrunt, Sean D. Brittain, T W. Rettig

Publications

We present the first high-resolution, ground-based observations of HCN and C2H2 toward the T Tauri binary star system GV Tau. We detected strong absorption due to HCN nu3 and weak C2H2 [nu3 and nu2+(nu4+nu5)0+] absorption toward the primary (GV Tau S) but not the infrared companion. We also report CO column densities and rotational temperatures, and present abundances relative to CO of HCN/CO~0.6% and C2H/CO~1.2% and an upper limit for CH4/CO

A Magnetically Supported Photodissociation Region In M17, E. W. Pellegrini, J. A. Baldwin, C. L. Brogan, M. M. Hanson, N. P. Abel, Gary J. Ferland, H. B. Nemala, G. Shaw, Thomas H. Troland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The southwestern (SW) part of the Galactic H II region M17 contains an obscured ionization front that is most easily seen at infrared and radio wavelengths. It is nearly edge-on, thus offering an excellent opportunity to study the way in which the gas changes from fully ionized to molecular as radiation from the ionizing stars penetrates into the gas. M17 is also one of the very few H II regions for which the magnetic field strength can be measured in the photodissociation region ( PDR) that forms the interface between the ionized and molecular gas. Here we model an observed …

A Three‐Dimensional Numerical Method For Modelling Weakly Ionized Plasmas, Stephen O'Sullivan, Turlough Downes

Articles

Astrophysical fluids under the influence of magnetic fields are often subjected to single- or two-fluid approximations. In the case of weakly ionized plasmas, however, this can be inappropriate due to distinct responses from the multiple constituent species to both collisional and non-collisional forces. As a result, in dense molecular clouds and protostellar accretion discs, for instance, the conductivity of the plasma may be highly anisotropic leading to phenomena such as Hall and ambipolar diffusion strongly influencing the dynamics.

An Isotropic Metric, Joseph D. Rudmin

Virginia Journal of Science

An isotropic metric for a black hole and a better vacuum condition \nabla^2 V_G =0 are presented which yield distinct terms for the energy densities of ordinary matter and gravitational fields in the Einstein tensor (G^44 =-g^2 (2\nabla^2 V_G +(\nabla V_G)^2)). This model resolves an inconsistency between electromagnetism and gravity in the calculation of field energy. Resolution of this inconsistency suggests a slight modification of the Einstein equation to gG^\mu\nu = 8\pi G T^\mu\nu.

Butterfly Diagram And Activity Cycles In Hr 1099, Svetlana Berdyugina, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We analyze photometric data of the active RS CVn-type star HR 1099 for the years 1975-2006 with an inversion technique and reveal the nature of two activity cycles of 15-16 yr and 5.3 ± 0.1 yr duration. The 16 yr cycle is related to variations of the total spot area and is coupled with the differential rotation, while the 5.3 yr cycle is caused by the symmetric redistribution of the spotted area between the opposite stellar hemispheres (flip-flop cycle). We recover long-lived active regions comprising two active longitudes that migrate in the orbital reference frame with a variable rate because …

The Chemical Distribution In A Subluminous Type Ia Supernova: Hubble Space Telescope Images Of The Sn 1885 Remnant, Robert A. Fesen, Peter A. Hoflich, Andrew J. S. Hamilton, Molly C. Hammell

Dartmouth Scholarship

SN 1885 was a probable subluminous SN Ia that occurred in the bulge of the Andromeda galaxy, M31, at a projected location 16'' from the nucleus. Here we present and analyze Hubble Space Telescope images of the SN 1885 remnant seen in absorption against the M31 bulge via the resonance lines of Ca I, Ca II, Fe I, and Fe II. Viewed in Ca II H and K line absorption, the remnant appears as a nearly black circular spot with an outermost angular radius of 0.40'' ± 0.025'', implying a maximum linear radius of 1.52 ± 0.15 pc at M31's …

New Techniques To Determine Ages Of Open Clusters Using White Dwarfs, E. J. Jeffery, Ted Von Hippel, Et Al.

Publications

Currently there are two main techniques for independently determining the ages of stellar populations: main-sequence evolution theory (via cluster isochrones) and white dwarf cooling theory. Open clusters provide the ideal environment for the calibration of these two clocks. Because current techniques to derive cluster ages from white dwarfs are observationally challenging, we discuss the feasibility of determining white dwarf ages from the brighter white dwarfs alone. This would eliminate the requirement of observing the coolest (i.e., faintest) white dwarfs. We discuss our method for testing this new idea, as well as the required photometric precision and prior constraints on metallicity, …

The Distribution Of Activity On The Rs Cvn–Type Star Sz Piscium, Joel A. Eaton, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We use contemporaneous spectra and BV light curves to derive a model of the distribution of spots and active regions on the cooler component of SZ Psc for the 1993–1994 season. For that epoch, both spots and active regions were visible at all rotational phases of this chromospherically active star. The lack of large distortions of Doppler profiles of optical lines argues for ≳15 spots with angular radii of ≲8°–10°. Transition region emission was constant to within ±12% over the orbit, nor was it eclipsed appreciably. This leads us to estimate that there are at least 20 active regions, perhaps …

The Transit Light Curve Project. V. System Parameters And Stellar Rotation Period Of Hd 189733, Joshua N. Winn, Matthew J. Holman, Gregory W. Henry, Anna Roussanova, Keigo Enya, Yuzuru Yoshii, Avi Shporer, Tsevi Mazeh, John Asher Johnson, Norio Narita

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present photometry of HD 189733 during eight transits of its close-in giant planet, and out-of-transit photometry spanning 2 yr. Using the transit photometry, we determine the stellar and planetary radii and the photometric ephemeris. Outside of transits, there are quasi-periodic flux variations with a 13.4 day period that we attribute to stellar rotation. In combination with previous results, we derive upper limits on the orbital eccentricity and on the true angle between the stellar rotation axis and planetary orbit (as opposed to the angle between the projections of those axes on the sky).

The Acs Survey Of Galactic Globular Clusters. I. Overview And Clusters Without Previoushubble Space Telescope Photometry, Ata Sarajedini, Luigi R. Bedin, Brian Chaboyer, Aaron Dotter, Michael H. Siegel, Jay Anderson, Antonio Aparicio, Ivan King, Steven R. Majewski, A. Marin-Franch, Giampolo Piotto, I. Neill Reid, Alfred Rosenberg

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present the first results of a large Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) survey of Galactic globular clusters. This Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Treasury project is designed to obtain photometry with S/N (signal-to-noise ratio) 10 for main-sequence stars with masses 0.2 M_⊙ in a sample of globulars using the ACS Wide Field Channel. Here we focus on clusters without previous HST imaging data. These include NGC 5466, NGC 6779, NGC 5053, NGC 6144, Palomar 2, E3, Lyngå 7, Palomar 1, and NGC 6366. Our color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) extend reliably from the horizontal branch to as much as …

Grating Lobe Reduction In Transducer Arrays Through Structural Filtering Of Supercritical Plates, Brian E. Anderson, Stephen A. Hambric, Jack W. Hughes

Faculty Publications

The effect of placing a structural acoustic filter between water and the transducer elements of an array to help reduce undesirable grating lobes is investigated. A supercritical plate is mounted to transducer elements with a thin decoupling polyurethane layer between the transducers and the plate. The plate acts as a radiation/incidence angle filter to pass energy at angles near normal incidence, but suppress energy at large incidence angles. Grating lobe reduction is achieved at the expense of limiting the available steering of the main lobe. Within this steer angle limitation, the main lobe can be steered as normal while the …

Development Of An H-Alpha Index For The Detection Of Pms Candidates In Young Open Clusters, Liberty Rae Evanko

Theses and Dissertations

One phase of formation of medium- and low-mass stars is the optically visible phase known as the pre-main-sequence or PMS phase. In order to further the understanding of this phase, more of these PMS objects need to be identified and classified. Previous techniques have used photometry to identify possible PMS objects by their characteristic Hα emission. Once identified these objects can be studied spectroscopically yielding complete PMS classification. This study develops a method to locate these emission objects that overcomes two limitations of previous techniques. The first limitation is the need for the creation of reddening maps. It is eliminated …

A Time Delay For The Cluster‐Lensed Quasar Sdss J1004+4112, J. Fohlmeister, C. S. Kochanek, E. E. Falco, J. Wambsganss, N. Morgan, C.W. Morgan, E.O. Ofek, D. Maoz, C.R. Keeton, J.C. Barentine, G. Dalton, J. Dembicky, W. Ketzeback, R. Mcmillan, C.S. Peters

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present 426 epochs of optical monitoring data spanning 1000 days from 2003 December to 2006 June for the gravitationally lensed quasar SDSS J1004+4112. The time delay between the A and B images is tBA . 38: 42: 0 days (2 . 4) in the expected sense that B leads A and the overall time ordering is C-B-A-D-E. The measured delay invalidates all published models. The models probably failed because they neglected the perturbations from cluster member galaxies. Models including the galaxies can fit the data well, but conclusions about the clustermass distribution should await themeasurement of the longer, and …

Large Merger Recoils And Spin Flips From Generic Black Hole Binaries, Manuela Campanelli, Carlos O. Lousto, Y. Zlochower, David Merritt

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report the first results from the evolution of generic black hole binaries, i.e., binaries containing unequal-mass black holes with misaligned spins. Our configuration, which has a mass ratio of 2 : 1, consists of an initially nonspinning hole orbiting a larger, rapidly spinning hole (specific spin a/m = 0.885), with the spin direction oriented -45° with respect to the orbital plane. We track the inspiral and merger for ~2 orbits and find that the remnant receives a substantial kick of 454 km s-1, more than twice as large as the maximum kick from nonspinning binaries. The remnant …