Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

Symmetry And The Arrow Of Time In Theoretical Black Hole Astrophysics, David Garofalo

Faculty Articles

While the basic laws of physics seem time-reversal invariant, our understanding of the apparent irreversibility of the macroscopic world is well grounded in the notion of entropy. Because astrophysics deals with the largest structures in the Universe, one expects evidence there for the most pronounced entropic arrow of time. However, in recent theoretical astrophysics work it appears possible to identify constructs with time-reversal symmetry, which is puzzling in the large-scale realm especially because it involves the engines of powerful outflows in active galactic nuclei which deal with macroscopic constituents such as accretion disks, magnetic fields, and black holes. Nonetheless, the …

Variable Hard-X-Ray Emission From The Candidate Accreting Black Hole In Dwarf Galaxy Henize 2–10, Thomas J. Whalen, Ryan C. Hickox, Amy E. Reines, Jenny E. Greene

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present an analysis of the X-ray spectrum and long-term variability of the nearby dwarf starburst galaxy Henize 2–10. Recent observations suggest that this galaxy hosts an actively accreting black hole (BH) with mass ~10⁶ . The presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) in a low-mass starburst galaxy marks a new environment for AGNs, with implications for the processes by which "seed" BHs may form in the early universe. In this paper, we analyze four epochs of X-ray observations of Henize 2–10, to characterize the long-term behavior of its hard nuclear emission. We analyze observations with Chandra from …

Butterfly Pitch-Angle Distribution Of Relativistic Electrons In The Outer Radiation Belt: Evidence Of Nonadiabatic Scattering, Nikolai O. Artemyev, O. V. Agapitov, F. S. Mozer, Harlan E. Spence

Physics & Astronomy

In this paper we investigate the scattering of relativistic electrons in the nightside outer radiation belt (around the geostationary orbit). We consider the particular case of low geomagnetic activity (|Dst|<20 nT), quiet conditions in the solar wind, and absence of whistler wave emissions. For such conditions we find several events of Van Allen probe observations of butterfly pitch angle distributions of relativistic electrons (energies about 1–3 MeV). Many previous publications have described such pitch angle distributions over a wide energy range as due to the combined effect of outward radial diffusion and magnetopause shadowing. In this paper we discuss another mechanism that produces butterfly distributions over a limited range of electron energies. We suggest that such distributions can be shaped due to relativistic electron scattering in the equatorial plane of magnetic field lines that are locally deformed by currents of hot ions injected into the inner magnetosphere. Analytical estimates, test particle simulations, and observations of the AE index support this scenario. We conclude that even in the rather quiet magnetosphere, small scale (magnetic local time (MLT)-localized) injection of hot ions from the magnetotail can likely influence the relativistic electron scattering. Thus, observations of butterfly pitch angle distributions can serve as an indicator of magnetic field deformations in the nightside inner magnetosphere. We briefly discuss possible theoretical approaches and problems for modeling such nonadiabatic electron scattering.

Three Super-Earths Orbiting Hd 7924, Benjamin J. Fulton, Lauren M. Weiss, Evan Sinukoff, Howard Isaacson, Andrew W. Howard, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Gregory W. Henry, Bradford P. Holden, Robert I. Kibrick

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We report the discovery of two super-Earth-mass planets orbiting the nearby K0.5 dwarf HD 7924, which was previously known to host one small planet. The new companions have masses of 7.9 and 6.4 ${{M}_{\oplus }}$, and orbital periods of 15.3 and 24.5 days. We perform a joint analysis of high-precision radial velocity data from Keck/HIRES and the new Automated Planet Finder Telescope (APF) to robustly detect three total planets in the system. We refine the ephemeris of the previously known planet using 5 yr of new Keck data and high-cadence observations over the last 1.3 yr with the APF. With …

Gps Phase Scintillation At High Latitudes During Geomagnetic Storms Of 7–17 March 2012 – Part 1: The North American Sector, P. Prikryl, R. Ghoddousi-Fard, E. G. Thomas, J. M. Ruohoniemi, S. G. Shepherd

Dartmouth Scholarship

During the ascending phase of solar cycle 24, a series of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) in the period 7–17 March 2012 caused geomagnetic storms that strongly affected high-latitude ionosphere in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. GPS phase scintillation was observed at northern and southern high latitudes by arrays of GPS ionospheric scintillation and TEC monitors (GISTMs) and geodetic-quality GPS receivers sampling at 1 Hz. Mapped as a function of magnetic latitude and magnetic local time, regions of enhanced scintillation are identified in the context of coupling processes between the solar wind and the magnetosphere–ionosphere system. Large southward IMF and …

Search For Life, John W. Delano Phd

Atmospheric and Environmental Science Faculty Scholarship

NASA's Astrobiology program seeks to determine the origin and distribution of life in the Milky Way galaxy using scientific expertise from many disciplines (e.g., astronomy, biochemistry, geochemistry). This presentation, which provides an overview of the progress that has been made in this effort, was delivered on 23 June 2015 at the Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning in Manchester, VT. With NASA's development of the Space Launch System (SLS), vigorous multi-disciplinary scientific research, and additional spacecraft (e.g., TESS) for finding and analyzing planets orbiting other stars, exciting discoveries will continue.

A Sluggs And Gemini/Gmos Combined Study Of The Elliptical Galaxy M60: Wide-Field Photometry And Kinematics Of The Globular Cluster System, Vincenzo Pota, Jean Brodie, Terry Bridges, Jay Strader, Aaron Romanowsky, Alexa Villaume, Zach Jennings, Favio Faifer, Nicola Pastorello, Duncan Forbes, Ainsley Campbell, Christopher Usher, Caroline Foster, Lee Spitler, Nelson Caldwell, Juan Forte, Mark Norris, Stephen Zepf, Michael Beasley, Karl Gebhardt, David Hanes, Ray Sharples, Jacob Arnold

Faculty Publications

We present new wide-field photometry and spectroscopy of the globular clusters (GCs) around NGC 4649 (M60), the third brightest galaxy in the Virgo cluster. Imaging of NGC 4649 was assembled from a recently obtained Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys mosaic, and new Subaru/Suprime-Cam and archival Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope/MegaCam data. About 1200 sources were followed up spectroscopically using combined observations from three multi-object spectrographs: Keck/Deep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph, Gemini/Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph and Multiple Mirror Telescope/Hectospec. We confirm 431 unique GCs belonging to NGC 4649, a factor of 3.5 larger than previous data sets and with a factor of 3 improvement in …

Spectropolarimetry Of Epsilon Aurigae: Probing Stellar And Disk Atmospheres, Kathleen M. Geise

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The bright eclipsing binary system epsilon Aurigae offers a unique opportunity to uncover physical mechanisms contributing to disk formation and evolution and to explore the relationship between photospheric anisotropies, stellar pulsation and mass loss. This research contributes to our understanding of stellar evolution in the context of binary stars. The research also offers the opportunity to investigate disk formation and evolution significant to our understanding of protoplanetary disks now seen in many star systems. Lastly, the project considers radiative transfer of polarized light that contributes to diverse fields such as atmospheric studies of exoplanets.

My objective is to understand the …

Precise Mass And Radius Measurements For The Components Of The Bright Solar-Type Eclipsing Binary Star V1094 Tauri, P. F.L. Maxted, R. J. Hutcheon, G. Torres, C. H.S. Lacy, J. Southworth, B. Smalley, K. Pavlovski, Laurence A. Marschall, J. V. Clausen

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Context. V1094 Tau is a bright eclipsing binary star with an orbital period close to nine days that contains two stars similar to the Sun.

Aims. Our aim is to test models of Sun-like stars using precise and accurate mass and radius measurements for both stars in V1094 Tau.

Methods. We present new spectroscopy of V1094 Tau, which we use to estimate the effective temperatures of both stars and to refine their spectroscopic orbits. We also present new, high-quality photometry covering both eclipses of V1094 Tau in the Strömgren uvby system and in the Johnson V-band.

Results. The masses, …

A Disk-Based Dynamical Mass Estimate For The Young Binary Ak Sco, I. Czekala, S. M. Andrews, Eric L.N. Jensen, K. G. Stassun, G. Torres, D. J. Wilner

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

We present spatially and spectrally resolved Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of gas and dust in the disk orbiting the pre-main sequence (pre-MS) binary AK Sco. By forward-modeling the disk velocity field traced by CO J = 2-1 line emission, we infer the mass of the central binary, {M}_*=2.49+/- 0.10 {M}_☉ , a new dynamical measurement that is independent of stellar evolutionary models. Assuming the disk and binary are co-planar within ̃2°, this disk-based binary mass measurement is in excellent agreement with constraints from radial velocity monitoring of the combined stellar spectra. These ALMA results are …

Search For Vector-Like T Quarks Decaying To Top Quarks And Higgs Bosons In The All-Hadronic Channel Using Jet Substructure, Cms Collaboration, V. Khachatryan, A. M. Sirunyan, Marc M. Baarmand, Marcus Hohlmann, Himali Kalakhety, Francisco X. Yumiceva

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

A search is performed for a vector-like heavy T quark that is produced in pairs and that decays to a top quark and a Higgs boson. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb⁻¹ collected with the CMS detector in proton-proton collisions at s=8" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; text-wrap: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">�=8 TeV. For T quarks with large mass values the top quarks and Higgs bosons can have significant Lorentz …

Faint Agns At Z > 4 In The Candels Goods-S Field: Looking For Contributors To The Reionization Of The Universe, E. Giallongo, A. Grazian, F. Fiore, A. Fontana, L. Pentericci, E. Vanzella, M. Dickinson, Dale D. Kocevski, M. Castellano, S. Christiani, H. Ferguson, S. Finkelstein, N. Grogin, N. Hathi, A. M. Koekemoer, J. A. Newman, M. Salvato

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Context. Establishing the number of faint active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at z = 4−6 is crucial to understanding their cosmological importance as main contributors to the reionization of the Universe.

Aims. In order to derive the AGN contribution to the cosmological ionizing emissivity we have selected faint AGN candidates at z> 4 in the CANDELS GOODS-South field, which is one of the deepest fields with extensive multiwavelength coverage from Chandra, HST, Spitzer, and various ground-based telescopes.

Methods. We have adopted a relatively novel criterion. As a first step, high redshift galaxies are selected in the NIR H band …

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (Gama) Blended Spectra Catalogue : Strong Galaxy–Galaxy Lens And Occulting Galaxy Pair Candidates., Benne W. Holwerda, I. K. Baldry, M. Alpaslan, A. E. Bauer, J. Bland-Hawthorn, S. Brough, M. J. I. Brown, M. E. Cluver, C. J. Conselice, S. P. Driver, A. M. Hopkins, D. H. Jones, Angel R. Lopez-Sanchez, J. Loveday, M. J. Meyer, A. Moffett

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

We present the catalogue of blended galaxy spectra from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. These are cases where light from two galaxies are significantly detected in a single GAMA fibre. Galaxy pairs identified from their blended spectrum fall into two principal classes: they are either strong lenses, a passive galaxy lensing an emission-line galaxy; or occulting galaxies, serendipitous overlaps of two galaxies, of any type. Blended spectra can thus be used to reliably identify strong lenses for follow-up observations (high-resolution imaging) and occulting pairs, especially those that are a late-type partly obscuring an early-type galaxy which are of …

A Feasibility Study Of Photometric Reverberation Mapping With Meter-Class Telescopes, Carla June Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

For the past several decades, mass estimates for supermassive black holes hosted by active galactic nuclei (AGN) have been made with the reverberation mapping (RM) technique. This methodology has produced consistent results and has been used to establish several relations that link the characteristics of the host galaxy to the mass of the central black hole. Despite this success, there are less than 50 AGN with black hole masses derived from RM. This low number is generally attributed to the difficulties in coordinating large blocks of telescope time for making simultaneous photometric and spectroscopic observations. Spectroscopic observations also generally require …

Determining The Relationship Between The [Oiii] 5007 Å Emission Line Profile And The Stellar Velocity Dispersion In Active Galaxies, Nathaniel Milgram

Physics

The empirical relation between the stellar velocity dispersion (SVD) of the bulge and the mass of the central supermassive black hole (BH) suggests a link between host galaxy and BH evolution. For active galactic nuclei (AGNs), the BH mass (MBH) can be estimated in a straightforward way from the Doppler broadening of the broad emission lines using the so-called virial method. However, the powerful AGN continuum emission often outshines the underlying stellar absorption lines, making it difficult to measure SVD of the host galaxy. Thus, the MBH - SVD relation is difficult to establish for galaxies containing AGNs. As a …

Frequency Of Seyfert Type Transitions In A Sample Of 102 Local Active Galactic Nuclei, Jordan Runco

Physics

A sample of ∼100 type-1 local (0.02 ≤ z ≤ 0.1) active galaxies (AGNs) was selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey with black hole masses M_BH > 10⁷ M_ʘ and re-observed using the Keck 10-m telescope to study the local scaling relations between M_BH and the host galaxy properties. As a side product, the data provides insight into any changes of the broad-line region within the 3-9 year time-frame covered by the two sets of spectra. The variability of the broad Hβ emission line is of particular interest to us, not only because it is used …

Variability Of The Coronal Line Region In Ngc 4151, Hermine Landt, Martin J. Ward, Katrien C. Steenbrugge, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present the first extensive study of the coronal line variability in an active galaxy. Our data set for the nearby source NGC 4151 consists of six epochs of quasi-simultaneous optical and near-infrared spectroscopy spanning a period of about 8 yr and five epochs of X-ray spectroscopy overlapping in time with it. None of the coronal lines showed the variability behaviour observed for the broad emission lines and hot dust emission. In general, the coronal lines varied only weakly, if at all. Using the optical [Fe vii] and X-ray O vii emission lines we estimate that the coronal line gas …

Simulation Of Energetic Particle Precipitation Effects During The 2003-2004 Arctic Winter, C. E. Randall, V. L. Harvey, L. A. Holt, D. R. Marsh, D. Kinnison, B. Funke, P. F. Bernath

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Energetic particle precipitation (EPP) during the 2003-2004 Arctic winter led to the production and subsequent transport of reactive odd nitrogen (NO_x=NO+NO₂) from the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) into the stratosphere. This caused NO_x enhancements in the polar upper stratosphere in April 2004 that were unprecedented in the satellite record. Simulations of the 2003-2004 Arctic winter with the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model using Specified Dynamics (SD-WACCM) are compared to satellite measurements to assess our understanding of the observed NO_x enhancements. The comparisons show that SD-WACCM clearly displays the descent of NO_x produced …

Characterization Of Order-Disorder Phase Transition Temperature For Select Nanoparticles, Gregory J. Sutherland

Theses and Dissertations

A method was found for creating ordered nanoparticles whose size and theoretical order-disorder temperature are ideal for study in the TEM. Specifically FePt, NiPt, FeNiPt and AuCu nanoparticles were studied. We were able to show how a nanoparticle's size affects its order-disorder temperature (Tod). When the particles were around 6 nm in diameter there was a shift downward of the Tod of 10-15 percent compared to the bulk. While particles around 10 nm in diameter experienced a downward shift of 0-6 percent compared to the bulk. One can approximate that particles less than 10-15 nm in diameter would show significant …

Magnetic Flux Circulation In The Rotationally Driven Giant Magnetospheres, P. A. Delamere, A. Otto, X. Ma, F. Bagenal, R. J. Wilson

Publications

The giant‐planet magnetodiscs are shaped by the radial transport of plasma originating in the inner magnetosphere. Magnetic flux transport is a key aspect of the stretched magnetic field configuration of the magnetodisc. While net mass transport is outward (ultimately lost to the solar wind), magnetic flux conservation requires a balanced two‐way transport process. Magnetic reconnection is a critical aspect of the balanced flux transport. We present a comprehensive analysis of current sheet crossings in Saturn's magnetosphere using Cassini magnetometer data from 2004 to 2012 in an attempt to quantify the circulation of magnetic flux, emphasizing local time dependence. A key …

Book Review: The Scientific Exploration Of Venus, T. D. Oswalt

Publications

This document is Dr. Oswalt’s review of The Scientific Exploration of Venus, by Fredric W. Taylor. Cambridge, 2014 295p bibl index, 9781107023482 $48.00

Chiral Imprint Of A Cosmic Gauge Field On Primordial Gravitational Waves, Jannis Bielefeld, Robert R. Caldwell

Dartmouth Scholarship

A cosmological gauge field with isotropic stress-energy introduces parity violation into the behavior of gravitational waves. We show that a primordial spectrum of inflationary gravitational waves develops a preferred handedness, left or right circularly polarized, depending on the abundance and coupling of the gauge field during the radiation era. A modest abundance of the gauge field would induce parity-violating correlations of the cosmic microwave background temperature and polarization patterns that could be detected by current and future experiments.

Ruling Out Ic/Cmb X-Rays In Pks 0637-752 And The Implications For Tev Emission From Large-Scale Quasar Jets, Eileen T. Meyer, Markos Georganopoulos, William B. Sparks, Leith E.H. Godfrey, James E.J. Lovell, Eric S. Perlman

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

The Chandra X-ray observatory has discovered dozens of resolved, kiloparsec-scale jets associated with powerful quasars in which the X-ray fluxes are observed to be much higher than the expected level based on the radio-optical synchrotron spectrum. The most popular explanation for the anomalously high and hard X-ray fluxes is that these jets do not decelerate significantly by the kiloparsec scale, but rather remain highly relativistic (Lorentz factors ). By adopting a small angle to the line of sight, the X-rays can thus be explained by inverse Compton upscattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons (IC/CMB), where the observed emission is …

The Event Horizon Of M87, Avery E. Broderick, Ramesh Narayan, John Kormendy, Eric S. Perlman, Marcia J. Rieke, Sheperd S. Doleman

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

The 6 x 10⁹ M⊙ supermassive black hole at the center of the giant elliptical galaxy M87 powers a relativistic jet. Observations at millimeter wavelengths with the Event Horizon Telescope have localized the emission from the base of this jet to angular scales comparable to the putative black hole horizon. The jet might be powered directly by an accretion disk or by electromagnetic extraction of the rotational energy of the black hole. However, even the latter mechanism requires a confining thick accretion disk to maintain the required magnetic flux near the black hole. Therefore, regardless of the jet mechanism, the …

A Statistical Study Of The Dawn-Dusk Asymmetry Of Ion Temperature Anistrophy And Mirror Mode Occurrence In The Terrestrial Dayside Magnetosheath Using Themis Data, A. P. Dimmock, A. Osmane, T. I. Pulkkinen, K. Nykyri

Publications

We present a statistical study of ion temperature anisotropy and mirror mode activity in the Earth's dayside magnetosheath using 6 years of Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) observations focusing on the quantification of dawn-dusk asymmetry as a function of upstream conditions and distance from the magnetopause. Our statistical data show a pronounced dusk favored asymmetry of T⊥/T∥ which drives a similar asymmetry of mirror mode activity. T⊥/T∥ decreases with increasing solar wind Alfvén Mach number, whereas mirror mode occurrence increases. In both cases, the relative asymmetry between the dawn and dusk flanks decrease with increasing …

Defining The Circumstellar Habitable Zone, Blake Cervetti, Joanna Mccall

DePaul Discoveries

The study of habitable exoplanets is a rapidly expanding field in astronomy. Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars other than our own sun. One of the keys to knowing whether or not an exoplanet is habitable is by studying the circumstellar habitable zone, or CHZ. Over the past several years, the defined limits of the CHZ have become susceptible to change as new parameters and factors are found to affect a planets habitability. There are many factors that affect its habitability, including the composition of the star, the mass of the planet, the planets atmosphere, etc. Our focus is divided …

Detection Of Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations In The Matter Power Spectrum, Spencer Everett, Ian Johnson, Jon Murphy, Mary Tarpley

DePaul Discoveries

Using the spectra of 22,923 high-redshift quasars from the Baryon Oscillation Spectrosocpic Survey (BOSS) subset of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the authors detect evidence of the primordial baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAOs) in the matter power spectrum. The detection further endorses the currently accepted Lambda-CDM model of cosmology based upon the existence of dark energy (Lambda) and cold dark matter (CDM). Additionally, the use of the continuous wavelet transform to calculate the power spectrum has many advantages over traditional Fourier methods and independently corroborates previous detections.

Crystal Growth And Electronic Phase Diagram Of 4D-Doped Na1-ΔFe1-XRhXAs In Comparison To 3D-Doped Na1-ΔFe1-XCoXAs, Frank Steckel, Maria Roslova, Robert Beck, Igor Morozov, Saicharan Aswartham, Daniil Evtushinsky, Christian G. F. Blum, Mahmoud Abdel-Hafiez, Dirk Bombor, Janek Maletz, Sergey Borisenko, Andrei V. Shevelkov, Anja U. B. Wolter, Christian Hess, Sabine Wurmehl, Bernd Büchner

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Single crystals of Na_1−δFe_1−xT_xAs with T = Co, Rh have been grown using a self-flux technique. The crystals were thoroughly characterized by powder x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and electronic transport with particular focus on the Rh-doped samples. Measurements of the specific heat and ARPES were conducted exemplarily for the optimally doped compositions. The spin-density wave transition (SDW) observed for samples with low Rh concentration (0≤x≤0.013) is fully suppressed in the optimally doped sample. The superconducting transition temperature (T_c) is enhanced from 10 K in Na_1−δFeAs to 21 …

Investigating The Correlation Between Inclination Of Coronal Loops And Solar Flare Activity, John-Paul Mann

Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

The purpose of this research is to investigate changes in the coronal loop structures during the life cycle of a solar flare. Coronal loops are intricate and complicated magnetic features on the solar surface that are the source of large solar flares. Understanding the dynamics of these coronal loops provides better models for predicting solar flare activity. By obtaining the magnetogram, or magnetic field strength, along with the inclination of these coronal loops, the full structure of the coronal loop can be obtained. Therefore, we studied how the coronal loops inclination angle, as it emerges from the photosphere, changes in …

Predicting Solar Sigmoid Lifetimes Based On Shearing In The Photosphere, Austen Stone

Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)

This project’s purpose was to study how the speed at which the plasma in the photosphere of the sun affects the lifetime and shape of a solar sigmoid. Solar sigmoids are S-shaped, twisted magnetic structures that are due to the shifting magnetic field lines emerging from the surface of the sun. The photosphere is the visible layer of the sun’s surface and is made up of cells of plasma that are highly conductive and influenced by the magnetic field of the sun. Sigmoids form when shearing (a lateral shift between two objects in directions opposite each other) occurs in the …