Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

Asymmetric Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability At Jupiter's Magnetopause Boundary: Implications For Corotation-Dominated Systems, B. Zhang, P. A. Delamere, X. Ma, B. Burkholder, M. Wiltberger, J. G. Lyon, V. G. Merkin, K. A. Sorathia

Publications

The multifluid Lyon‐Fedder‐Mobarry (MFLFM) global magnetosphere model is used to study the interactions between solar wind and rapidly rotating, internally driven Jupiter magnetosphere. The MFLFM model is the first global simulation of Jupiter magnetosphere that captures the Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability (KHI) in the critically important subsolar region. Observations indicate that Kelvin‐Helmholtz vortices are found predominantly in the dusk sector. Our simulations explain that this distribution is driven by the growth of KHI modes in the prenoon and subsolar region (e.g., >10 local time) that are advected by magnetospheric flows to the dusk sector. The period of density fluctuations at the dusk …

Luminous And Obscured Quasars And Their Host Galaxies, Agnese Del Moro, David M. Alexander, Franz E. Bauer, Emanuele Daddi, Dale D. Kocevski, Flora Stanley, Daniel H. Mcintosh

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The most heavily-obscured, luminous quasars might represent a specific phase of the evolution of the actively accreting supermassive black holes and their host galaxies, possibly related to mergers. We investigated a sample of the most luminous quasars at z ≈ 1 − 3 in the GOODS fields, selected in the mid-infrared band through detailed spectral energy distribution (SED) decomposition. The vast majority of these quasars (~80%) are obscured in the X-ray band and ~30% of them to such an extent, that they are undetected in some of the deepest (2 and 4 Ms) Chandra X-ray data. Although no clear relation …

On The Formation Mechanisms Of Compact Elliptical Galaxies, Anna Ferré-Mateu, Duncan Forbes, Aaron Romanowsky, Joachim Janz, Christopher Dixon

Faculty Publications

In order to investigate the formation mechanisms of the rare compact elliptical (cE) galaxies, we have compiled a sample of 25 cEs with good SDSS spectra, covering a range of stellar masses, sizes and environments. They have been visually classified according to the interaction with their host, representing different evolutionary stages. We have included clearly disrupted galaxies, galaxies that despite not showing signs of interaction are located close to a massive neighbour (thus are good candidates for a stripping process), and cEs with no host nearby. For the latter, tidal stripping is less likely to have happened and instead they …

Rotation In [C Ii]-Emitting Gas In Two Galaxies At A Redshift Of 6.8, Renske Smit, Rychard J. Bouwens, Stefano Carniani, Pascal A. Oesch, Ivo Labbé, Garth D. Illingworth, Paul Van Der Werf, Larry D. Bradley, Valentino Gonzalez, Jacqueline A. Hodge, Benne W. Holwerda, Roberto Maiolino, Wei Zheng

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The earliest galaxies are thought to have emerged during the first billion years of cosmic history, initiating the ionization of the neutral hydrogen that pervaded the Universe at this time. Studying this 'epoch of reionization' involves looking for the spectral signatures of ancient galaxies that are, owing to the expansion of the Universe, now very distant from Earth and therefore exhibit large redshifts. However, finding these spectral fingerprints is challenging. One spectral characteristic of ancient and distant galaxies is strong hydrogen-emission lines (known as Lyman-α lines), but the neutral intergalactic medium that was present early in the epoch of reionization …

Unexpected Occurrence Of Mesospheric Frontal Gravity Wave Events Over The South Pole (90 Degrees S), P.-D. Pautet, M. J. Taylor, J. B. Snively, C. Solorio

Publications

Since 2010, Utah State University has operated an infrared Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole station to investigate the upper atmosphere dynamics and temperature deep within the vortex. A surprising number of “frontal” gravity wave events (86) were recorded in the mesospheric OH(3,1) band intensity and rotational temperature images (typical altitude of ~87 km) during four austral winters (2012–2015). These events are gravity waves (GWs) characterized by a sharp leading wave front followed by a quasi-monochromatic wave train that grows with time. A particular subset of frontal gravity wave events has been identified in the past (Dewan …

Electrical Control Of Structural And Physical Properties Via Strong Spin-Orbit Interactions In Sr2Iro4, Gang Cao, Jasminka Terzic, H. D. Zhao, H. Zheng, Lance E. De Long, Peter S. Riseborough

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Electrical control of structural and physical properties is a long-sought, but elusive goal of contemporary science and technology. We demonstrate that a combination of strong spin-orbit interactions (SOI) and a canted antiferromagnetic Mott state is sufficient to attain that goal. The antiferromagnetic insulator Sr₂IrO₄ provides a model system in which strong SOI lock canted Ir magnetic moments to IrO₆ octahedra, causing them to rigidly rotate together. A novel coupling between an applied electrical current and the canting angle reduces the Néel temperature and drives a large, nonlinear lattice expansion that closely tracks the magnetization, increases the …

Sdss-Iv Manga: Uncovering The Angular Momentum Content Of Central And Satellite Early-Type Galaxies, J. E. Greene, A. Leauthaud, E. Emsellem, J. Ge, A. Aragón-Salamanca, J. Greco, Y. -T. Lin, S. Mao, K. Masters, M. Merrifield, S. More, N. Okabe, D. P. Schneider, D. Thomas, D. A. Wake, K. Pan, D. Bizyaev, D. Oravetz, A. Simmons, Renbin Yan, F. Van Den Bosch

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We study 379 central and 159 satellite early-type galaxies with two-dimensional kinematics from the integral-field survey Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) to determine how their angular momentum content depends on stellar and halo mass. Using the Yang et al. group catalog, we identify central and satellite galaxies in groups with halo masses in the range 10^12.5 h^-1 M_⊙ < M_200b < 10¹⁵ h^-1 M_⊙. As in previous work, we see a sharp dependence on stellar mass, in the sense that ~70% of galaxies with stellar mass M_* > 10¹¹ h^-2 M …

Thinking Out Loud On Early Creation Through The Lens Of Hermeneutics Of Sherlock Holmes (Towards A Model Of Universe Based On Turbulence-Generated Sound Theory), Victor Christianto, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In recent years, apparently the Big Bang as described by the Lambda CDM-Standard Model Cosmology has become widely accepted by majority of physics and cosmology communities. Even some people have concluded that it has no serious alternative in horizon. Is that true? First, as we argued elsewhere, Big Bang story relies on singularity. In other words, when we are able to describe the observed data without invoking singularity, then Big Bang model is no longer required. Therefore, here we explore a few alternative stories other than Big Bang story, which most cosmologists believe it is the nearest to Biblical account …

Solar Eclipse, 2017 (Sc 3152), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3152. Materials relating to the 2017 solar eclipse as experienced primarily in Bowling Green and Hopkinsville, Kentucky and vicinity. Includes viewing glasses, first day stamped covers, stickers, art work, photographs (in digital format), promotional materials, and impressions of the eclipse contributed as part of WKU’s Department of Library Special Collections’ “Tell Us About Your Eclipse Day” project. Also includes wristbands, handouts and volunteer information relating to an eclipse viewing event for schoolchildren held at WKU’s Smith-Houchens Stadium. Digital photographs are stored in the Photo Archives.

Integrated Multi-Terminal Devices Consisting Of Carbon Nanotube, Few-Layer Graphene Nanogaps And Few-Layer Graphene Nanoribbons Having Crystallographically Controlled Interfaces, Douglas R. Strachan, David P. Hunley

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Patents

The present invention relates to atomically-thin channel materials with crystallographically uniform interfaces to atomically-thin commensurate graphene electrodes and/or nanoribbons separated by nanogaps that allow for nanoelectronics based on quantum transport effects and having significantly improved contact resistances.

Differential Rotation In Magnetic Chemically Peculiar Stars, Zdeněk Mikulášek, Jiří Krtička, Ernst Paunzen, Michal Švanda, Stefan Hummerich, Klaus Bernhard, Miroslav Jagelka, Jan Janík, Gregory W. Henry, Matthew E. Shultz

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

Magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars constitute about 10% of upper-main-sequence stars and are characterized by strong magnetic fields and abnormal photospheric abundances of some chemical elements. Most of them exhibit strictly periodic light, magnetic, radio, and spectral variations that can be fully explained by a rigidly rotating main-sequence star with persistent surface structures and a stable global magnetic field. Long-term observations of the phase curves of these variations enable us to investigate possible surface differential rotation with unprecedented accuracy and reliability. The analysis of the phase curves in the best-observed mCP stars indicates that the location and the contrast of …

Resistance Temperature Detectors In A Cryostat Refrigeration System, Kirsten Marie Manahan, Alice Callen

STAR Program Research Presentations

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) is a ground-based telescope that will survey the Southern sky every few nights. Located in the telescope will be a 3.2 gigapixel digital camera. To ensure proper instrumentation of the camera, there must be a monitored stable temperature. As part of my research, I assembled resistance temperature detectors and tested them to verify their reliability in measuring temperature in the camera’s cryostat refrigeration cooling system. Resistance temperature detectors function by the principle of thermal resistivity, in which their electrical resistances vary as temperature varies. Through testing, I was able to determine whether these particular …

Symmetry Of Energy Divergence Anomalies Associated With The El Niño-Southern Oscillation, Evan Kutta, Jason A. Hubbart, Timothy P. Eichler, Anthony R. Lupo

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a dominant source of global climate variability. The effects of this phenomenon alter the flow of heat from tropical to polar latitudes, resulting in weather and climate anomalies that are difficult to forecast. The current work quantified two components of the vertically integrated equation for the total energy content of an atmospheric column, to show the anomalous horizontal redistribution of surface heat flux anomalies. Symmetric and asymmetric components of the vertically integrated latent and sensible heat flux divergence were quantified using ERA-Interim atmospheric reanalysis output on 30 model layers between 1979 and 2016. Results …

Insights Into The Magnetic Dead Layer In La0.7sr0.3mno3 Thin Films From Temperature, Magnetic Field And Thickness Dependence Of Their Magnetization, N. Mottaghi, M.S. Seehra, R. Trappen, S. Kumari, Chih-Yeh Huang, S. Yousefi, G.B. Cabrera, A.H. Romero, M.B. Holcomb

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Experimental investigations of the magnetic dead layer in 7.6 nm thick film of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) are reported. The dc magnetization (M) measurements for a sample cooled to T = 5 K in applied field H = 0 reveal the presence of negative remanent magnetization (NRM) in the M vs. H (magnetic field) measurements as well as in the M vs. T measurements in H = 50 Oe and 100 Oe. The M vs. T data in ZFC (zero-field-cooled) and FC (field-cooled) protocols are used to determine the blocking temperature TB in different H. Isothermal hysteresis loops at differ- ent T …

Examples Of The Birkhoff Theorem And Its Generalizations, Charles G. Torre

Tutorials on... in 1 hour or less

In this worksheet I demonstrate three versions of Birkhoff's theorem, which is a characterization of spherically symmetric solutions of the Einstein equations. The three versions considered here correspond to taking the "Einstein equations" to be: (1) the vacuum Einstein equations; (2) the Einstein equations with a cosmological constant (3) the Einstein-Maxwell equations. I will restrict my attention to 4-dimensional spacetimes.

How To Make Tetrads, Charles G. Torre

How to... in 10 minutes or less

This is a worksheet which demonstrates tools for creating orthonormal and null tetrads for a given spacetime.

Investigating The Opal Cubesat’S Ability To Measure Thermospheric Gravity Waves, Kenneth Zia, Michael J. Taylor, Ludger Scherliess

Posters

Understanding the Earth’s lower thermosphere is of high interest to the space science community because of competing forcing due to solar heating above and episodic wave forcing from below. The NSF sponsored OPAL cubesat is designed to measure the temperature profile in this region by observing day-time O2 A time O2 A-band (~760nm) emission on the limb and is expected to be launched from the ISS (International Space Station). To band (~760nm) emission on the limb and is expected to be launched from the ISS (International Space Station). To investigate the instrument’s ability to detect space weather signatures (i.e. solar …

Approximate Approaches For Nuclear Weak Interaction Rates In Astrophysics, Benjamin M. Anderson

Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

Nuclear weak interactions, like beta decay, are important inputs for modeling astrophysical explosions. In the allowed approximation, these processes proceed as Fermi or Gamow Teller (GT) processes where the spins of the electron and neutrino are anti-parallel or parallel, respectively. In the GT case, transition probability is spread over many final states in the daughter nucleus, with each probability determination requiring numerical integration of the available phase space. Developing a fast and accurate method for calculating each contribution to the total decay rate would provide reliable weak rate libraries for astrophysical modelers. The phase space integrand includes the classical statistical …

Symmetric Criticality In General Relativity, Charles G. Torre

Research Vignettes

In this worksheet I explore the local Lagrangian version of the Principle of Symmetric Criticality (PSC) due to Anderson, Fels, and Torre], which asserts the commutativity of the processes (i) of symmetry reduction (for finding group-invariant fields) and (ii) forming Euler-Lagrange equations. There are two obstructions to PSC, which I will call the Lie algebra obstruction and the isotropy obstruction. In this worksheet I will illustrate these obstructions in the General Theory of Relativity.

Strategies For Detecting Biological Molecules On Titan, Catherine Neish, Ralph Lorenz, Elizabeth Turtle, Jason Barnes, Melissa Trainer, Bryan Stiles, Randolph Kirk, Charles Hibbitts, Michael Malaska

Earth Sciences Publications

Saturn’s moon Titan has all the ingredients needed to produce “life as we know it”. When exposed to liquid water, organic molecules analogous to those found on Titan produce a range of biomolecules such as amino acids. Titan thus provides a natural laboratory for studying the products of prebiotic chemistry. In this work, we examine the ideal locales to search for evidence of, or progression towards, life on Titan. We determine that the best sites to identify biological molecules are deposits of impact melt on the floors of large, fresh impact craters, specifically Sinlap, Selk, and Menrva craters. We find …

Narrowing Of Plasmon Resonance Peaks As An Ensemble Effect, Zhutian Ding, James M. Stubbs, Silvia Mittler

Physics and Astronomy Publications

The frequency of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) displayed by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) redshifts as a function of their local refractive index, which renders them valuable transducers for sensing applications. An ensemble hypothesis is presented herein, along with spectroscopic evidence, using the biotin-streptavidin system on immobilized AuNPs to interpret the decrease in ensemble linewidth (ELW) consistently observed upon functionalization of plasmonic nanoparticles and the subsequent analyte binding. These results demonstrate that ELW can be used to monitor recognition reactions, providing spectral details and a possible sensitivity enhancement to the conventional wavelength sensing. A novel sensing platform allowing the simultaneous measurement …

A Mass-Producible And Versatile Sensing System: Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Excited By Individual Waveguide Modes, Zhutian Ding, James M. Stubbs, Danielle Mcrae, Johanna M. Blacquiere, François Lagugné-Labarthet, Silvia Mittler

Physics and Astronomy Publications

A plasmonic sensing system that allows the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by individual waveguide modes is presented conceptually and experimentally. Any change in the local environment of the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) alters the degree of coupling between LSPR and a polymer slab waveguide, which then modulates the transmission-output signal. In comparison to conventional LSPR sensors, this system is less susceptible to optical noise and positional variation of signals. Moreover, it enables more freedom in the exploitation of plasmonic hot spots with both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes. Through real-time measurement, it is demonstrated that …

Polymer Margination In Uniform Shear Flows, Venkat Balasubramanian, Colin Denniston

Physics and Astronomy Publications

We address the issue of polymer margination (migration towards surfaces) in uniform shear flows through extensive LBMD (lattice-Boltzmann molecular dynamics) simulations. In particular we consider the effect of monomer size, a on the chain's overall margination tendency for chains of length N = 16, 32 monomers in flows at multiple shear rates . We observed higher margination of chains with larger radii monomers in comparison to smaller radii monomer chains of the same length N. We quantify this effect by considering various measures such as the distribution of the maximum extent of the chain into the channel bulk, z …

Electrical Detection Of Charge-To- Spin And Spin-To-Charge Conversion In A Topological Insulator Bi2te3 Using Bn/Al2o3 Hybrid Tunnel Barrier, C.H. Li, O.M.J. Van't Erve, C. Yan, L. Li, B.T. Jonker

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

One of the most striking properties of three-dimensional topological insulators (TIs) is spin-momentum locking, where the spin is locked at right angles to momentum and hence an unpolarized charge current creates a net spin polarization. Alternatively, if a net spin is injected into the TI surface state system, it is distinctively associated with a unique carrier momentum and hence should generate a charge accumulation, as in the so-called inverse Edelstein effect. Here using a Fe/Al2O3/BN tunnel barrier, we demonstrate both effects in a single device in Bi2Te3: the electrical detection of the spin accumulationgenerated by an unpolarized current flowing through …

Gamma-Ray-Emitting Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies In The Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Vaidehi S. Paliya, M. Ajello, A. Mandal, C. S. Stalin, A. Kaur, D. Hartmann

Publications

The detection of significant γ-ray emission from radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1s) galaxies enables us to study jets in environments different than those in blazars. However, due to the small number of known γ-ray-emitting NLSy1 (γ-NLSy1) galaxies, a comprehensive study could not be performed. Here, we report the first detection of significant γ-ray emission from four active galactic nuclei (AGNs), recently classified as NLSy1 from their Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) optical spectrum. Three flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) present in the third Large Area Telescope AGN catalog (3LAC) are also found as γ-NLSy1 galaxies. …

Spectral–Timing Analysis Of Kilohertz Quasi–Periodic Oscillations In Neutron Star Low Mass X-Ray Binaries, Jon Troyer

Wayne State University Dissertations

Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations or kHz QPOs are X-ray intensity variations observed

in neutron star low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) systems. In such systems, matter is transferred

from a secondary low-mass star to a neutron star via the process of accretion. kHz

QPOs occur on the timescale of the inner accretion flow and may carry signatures of the

physics of strong gravity (c2 ~GM/R) and possibly clues to constraining the neutron star

equation of state (EOS). No model to date has been able to illuminate the origin of kHz

QPOs. Spectral-timing is a set of analysis techniques useful in deriving information about …

Multidimensional Item Response Theory And The Force Concept Inventory, John Stewart, Cabot Zabriskie, Seth Devore, Gay Stewart

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Research on the test structure of the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) has largely been performed with exploratory methods such as factor analysis and cluster analysis. Multidimensional Item Response Theory (MIRT) provides an alternative to traditional exploratory factor analysis which allows statistical testing to identify the optimal number of factors. Application of MIRT to a sample of N 1⁄4 4716 FCI post-tests identified a 9-factor solution as optimal. Additional analysis showed that a substantial part of the identified factor structure resulted from the practice of using problem blocks and from pairs of similar questions. Applying MIRT to a reduced set of …

Item-Level Gender Fairness In The Force And Motion Conceptual Evaluation And The Conceptual Survey Of Electricity And Magnetism, Rachel Henderson, Paul Miller, John Stewart, Adrienne Traxler, Rebecca Lindell

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Gender gaps on the most widely used conceptual inventories created by physics education researchers have been extensively studied. Most of the research exploring the consistent gender gaps has been performed at the student level using the total evaluation score; less research has been performed examining these assessments at the item level and this research has been predominately restricted to the Force Concept Inventory (FCI). Many studies have identified subsets of FCI items as unfair to either men or women. An item is fair if men and women of equal ability in conceptual physics score equally on the item. This study …

Robust Topological Phase In Proximitized Core–Shell Nanowires Coupled To Multiple Superconductors, Tudor D. Stanescu, Anna Stitek, Andrei Manolescu

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

We consider core–shell nanowires with prismatic geometry contacted with two or more superconductors in the presence of a mag- netic field applied parallel to the wire. In this geometry, the lowest energy states are localized on the outer edges of the shell, which strongly inhibits the orbital effects of the longitudinal magnetic field that are detrimental to Majorana physics. Using a tight-binding model of coupled parallel chains, we calculate the topological phase diagram of the hybrid system in the presence of non-vanishing transverse potentials and finite relative phases between the parent superconductors. We show that having finite relative phases strongly …

Kelt-19ab: A P ∼ 4.6-Day Hot Jupiter Transiting A Likely Am Star With A Distant Stellar Companion, R. J. Siverd, K. A. Collins, G. Zhou, S. N. Quinn, B. S. Gaudi, K. G. Stassun, M. C. Johnson, A. Bieryla, D. W. Latham, D. R. Ciardi, J. E. Rodriguez, K. Penev, M. Pinsonneault, J. Pepper, J. D. Eastman, H. Relles, J. F. Kielkopf, J. Gregorio, T. E. Oberst, G. F. Aldi, G. A. Esquerdo, M. L. Calkins, P. Berlind, C. D. Dressing, R. Patel, D. J. Stevens, T. G. Beatty, M. B. Lund, J. Labadie-Bartz, R. B. Kuhn, K. D. Colón, D. James, X. Yao, J. A. Johnson, J. T. Wright, N. Mccrady, R. A. Wittenmyer, S. A. Johnson, D. H. Sliski, Eric L.N. Jensen, David H. Cohen, K. K. Mcleod, M. T. Penny, M. D. Joner, D. C. Stephens, S. Villanueva Jr., R. Zambelli, C. Stockdale, P. Evans, T.-G. Tan, I. A. Curtis, P. A. Reed, M. Trueblood, P. Trueblood

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

We present the discovery of the giant planet KELT-19Ab, which transits the moderately bright (V ~ 9.9) A8V star TYC 764-1494-1 with an orbital period of 4.61 days. We confirm the planetary nature of the companion via a combination of radial velocities, which limit the mass to ≲ 4.1 M_J (3σ), and a clear Doppler tomography signal, which indicates a retrograde projected spin–orbit misalignment of λ = -179.7 (+3.7)/(-3.8) degrees. Global modeling indicates that the T_eff = 7500 ± 110 K host star has M_* = 1.62 (+0.25)/(-0.20) M_⊙ and R_* = …