Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

An Introduction To The Quasi-Optical Design Of The Hifi Instrument For The Herschel Space Observatory, Gareth S. Curran, J. Anthony Murphy

The ITB Journal

This paper is concerned with the quasi-optical design and analysis of the Heterodyne Instrument for the Far Infrared (HIFI) on board the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Observatory, which is due for launch in 2007. The paper begins with an introduction to astronomy at submillimetre wavelengths followed by the science that will be carried out by HIFI. The optical layout of HIFI is presented and the quasi-optical techniques used in the analysis of band 5 of the instrument are discussed, in particular, issues associated with the design and performance of the integrated lens antenna for this band. A power coupling …

The Stellar Initial Mass Function In Early-Type Galaxies From Absorption Line Spectroscopy. Iii. Radial Gradients, Pieter Van Dokkum, Charlie Conroy, Alexa Villaume, Jean Brodie, Aaron Romanowsky

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Atomic Data Revisions For Transitions Relevant To Observations Of Interstellar, Circumgalactic, And Intergalactic Matter, Frances H. Cashman, Varsha P. Kulkarni, Romas Kisielius, Gary J. Ferland, Pavel Bogdanovich

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Measurements of element abundances in galaxies from astrophysical spectroscopy depend sensitively on the atomic data used. With the goal of making the latest atomic data accessible to the community, we present a compilation of selected atomic data for resonant absorption lines at wavelengths longward of 911.753 Å (the H I Lyman limit), for key heavy elements (heavier than atomic number 5) of astrophysical interest. In particular, we focus on the transitions of those ions that have been observed in the Milky Way interstellar medium (ISM), the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of the Milky Way and/or other galaxies, and the intergalactic medium …

Retrieval Of Atmospheric Properties Of Cloudy L Dwarfs, Ben Burningham, M. S. Marley, M. R. Line, R. Lupu, Channon Visscher, C. V. Morley, D. Saumon, R. Freedman

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

We present the first results from applying the spectral inversion technique in the cloudy L dwarf regime. Our new framework provides a flexible approach to modelling cloud opacity which can be built incrementally as the data require and improves upon previous retrieval experiments in the brown dwarf regime by allowing for scattering in two-stream radiative transfer. Our first application of the tool to two mid-L dwarfs is able to reproduce their near-infrared spectra far more closely than grid models. Our retrieved thermal, chemical and cloud profiles allow us to estimate Teff=1796−25+23" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; …

Emission Line Ratios Of Fe Iii As Astrophysical Plasma Diagnostics, Sibasish Laha, Niall B. Tyndall, Francis P. Keenan, Connor P. Ballance, Catherine A. Ramsbottom, Gary J. Ferland, Alan Hibbert

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Recent, state-of-the-art calculations of A-values and electron impact excitation rates for Fe III are used in conjunction with the Cloudy modeling code to derive emission-line intensity ratios for optical transitions among the fine-structure levels of the 3d⁶ configuration. A comparison of these with high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra of gaseous nebulae reveals that previous discrepancies found between theory and observation are not fully resolved by the latest atomic data. Blending is ruled out as a likely cause of the discrepancies, because temperature- and density-independent ratios (arising from lines with common upper levels) match well with those predicted by theory. For …

Laminar Composite Structures For High Power Actuators, M. A. Hobosyan, P. M. Martinez, A. A. Zakhidov, C. S. Haines, R. H. Baughman, K. S. Martirosyan

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Twisted laminar composite structures for high power and large-stroke actuators based on coiled Multi Wall Carbon Nanotube (MWNT) composite yarns were crafted by integrating high-density Nanoenergetic Gas Generators (NGGs) into carbon nanotube sheets. The linear actuation force, resulting from the pneumatic force caused by expanding gases confined within the pores of laminar structures and twisted carbon nanotube yarns, can be further amplified by increasing NGG loading and yarns twist density, as well as selecting NGG compositions with high energy density and large-volume gas generation. Moreover, the actuation force and power can be tuned by the surrounding environment, such as to …

Universal Disorder In Organic Semiconductors Due To Fluctuations In Space Charge, Tzucheng Wu

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

This thesis concerns the study of charge transport in organic semiconductors. These materials are widely used as thin-film photoconductors in copiers and laser printers, and for their electroluminescent properties in organic light-emitting diodes. Much contemporary research is directed towards improving the efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices, which is limited to a large extent by the spatial and energetic disorder that hinders the charge mobility. One contribution to energetic disorder arises from the strong Coulomb interactions between injected charges with one another, but to date this has been largely ignored. We present a mean-field model for the effect of mutual interactions …

Almost Dark Galaxies: The Search For Optical Counterparts, Quinton O. Singer

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

Presented in this paper are results from neutral hydrogen (HI) imaging and analysis of the "Almost Dark" galaxies AGC 219533, AGC 227982, and AGC 268363 using new, higher resolution observations from the Very Large Array (VLA). Selected from the ALFALFA survey, "Almost Dark" galaxies possess significant HI reservoirs but, when the HI data is compared to survey-depth ground-based optical imaging, their optical stellar counterparts have extremely low surface brightnesses. AGC 219533 is one such object. The other two sources, AGC 227982 and AGC 26833, were candidate dark galaxies, as no stellar counterpart was identified in initial ALFALFA optical matching, and …

Intervalley Scattering Rates In Tellurium Observed Via Time-Resolved Terahertz Spectroscopy, Joshua R. Rollag

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

We conducted time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy measurements on the elemental semiconductor tellurium. Pump-probe measurements were used to find the conductivity as a function of time in single crystalline tellurium samples. It was found that the excitation dynamics in tellurium changes for photon energies of 1.03 eV and 1.55 eV. The change in these excitation dynamics was attributed to intervalley scattering effects. A model using intervalley scattering and Auger recombination was fit to the data, giving a value of 2.28 ps for the intervalley scattering time constant in tellurium.

Transient Photoconductivity Of A Thermoelectric Nanomaterial Pedot:Pss With Tecu Nanowires, Gunnar J. Footh, Michaela S. Koller, James Heyman

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

Thermoelectric materials are able to transfer heat energy into electrical energy. They have many important applications, and an increased understanding of them would allow the scientific community to develop more efficient thermoelectrics. We provide here transient photoconductivity measurements of a thermoelectric nanomaterial - PEDOT:PSS with TeCu nanowires on quartz substrate. Increased copper concentration in nanowires decreases photoconductivity in both transmission and reflectance measurements. Fermi blocking provides a reasonable explanation for this decrease in photoconductivity, which occurs when total nanowire mass approaches ~15% copper concentration.

A Direct Comparison Of Lyman-Alpha And Neutral Hydrogen Morphologies, Kathleen Fitzgibbon, John M. Cannon

Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy

The Lyman-Alpha Reference Sample (LARS) and its extension (eLARS) represent an exhaustive campaign to reverse-engineer galaxies. The main goal is to understand how \lya radiation is transported within galaxies: what fraction of it escapes, and what physical properties affect the \lya morphology and radiative transport (e.g., dust and gas content, metallicity, kinematics, properties of the producing and underlying stellar populations). Two galaxies from the sample, LARS02 and LARS09, were observed using the B and C configurations of the Very Large Array to examine the neutral hydrogen emission, which can be used to determine a galaxy's neutral hydrogen (HI) structure and …

Literature Review: Biomimetic And Conventional Aircraft Wing Tips, Naseeb Ahmed Siddiqui, Waqar Asrar, Erwin Sulaeman

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This paper is an attempt to summarize the effect of wing tip devices employed by birds, as well as aeronautical engineers in the past to improve the performance characteristics of aircraft. The focus is on reduction of the induced drag or drag due to lift also known as inviscid drag. This paper will provide an insight on both biomimetic and conventional wing tip approaches to reduce the induced drag. Prior analysis and experiments on the aerodynamics of airplane performance due to both these separate studies have been discussed. The needs of the industry and their past inventions have been described …

Mid-Ir Properties Of H2o Megamaser Disks, Catherine Witherspoon

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Astrophysical masers are natural microwave amplifiers by stimulated emission and when detected in galaxy centers, they are extremely luminous (i.e. millions of times more luminous than those associated with typical star-forming regions in the spiral arms of our own Milky Way). A fraction of water megamasers detected in 22 GHz emission in galactic nuclear regions are in a disk-like configuration, which makes them extremely valuable for providing direct geometrical distances to galaxies and the most precise and accurate masses of supermassive black holes. Nevertheless, these systems are extremely rare. While the exact mechanism of water maser emission production is not …

Beyond 3 Au From The Sun: The Hypervolatiles Ch4, C2h6, And Co In The Distant Comet C/2006 W3 (Christensen), Boncho Bonev, Geronimo Villanueva, Michael Disanti, Hermann Boehnhardt, Manuela Lippi, Erika Gibb, Lucas Paganini, Michael Mumma

Physics Faculty Works

Comet C/2006 W3 (Christensen) remained outside a heliocentric distance (R h) of 3.1 au throughout its apparition, but it presented an exceptional opportunity to directly sense a suite of molecules released from its nucleus. The Cryogenic Infrared Echelle Spectrograph at ESO-VLT detected infrared emissions from the three "hypervolatiles" (CO, CH4, and C2H6) that have the lowest sublimation temperatures among species that are commonly studied in comets by remote sensing. Even at R h = 3.25 au, the production rate of each molecule exceeded those measured for the same species in a number of other comets, although these comets were observed …

Swift Monitoring Of Ngc 4151: Evidence For A Second X-Ray/Uv Reprocessing, R. Edelson, J. Gelbord, E. Cackett, S. Connolly, C. Done, M. Fausnaugh, E. Gardner, N. Gehrels, M. Goad, K. Horne, I. Mchardy, B. M. Peterson, S. Vaughan, M. Vestergaard, A. Breeveld, A. J. Barth, M. Bentz, M. Bottorff, W. N. Brandt, S. M. Crawford, E. Dalla Bontà, D. Emmanoulopoulos, P. Evans, R. Figuera Jaimes, A. V. Filippenko, Gary J. Ferland, D. Grupe, M. Joner, J. Kennea, K. T. Korista

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Swift monitoring of NGC 4151 with an ~6 hr sampling over a total of 69 days in early 2016 is used to construct light curves covering five bands in the X-rays (0.3–50 keV) and six in the ultraviolet (UV)/optical (1900–5500 Å). The three hardest X-ray bands (> 2.5 keV) are all strongly correlated with no measurable interband lag, while the two softer bands show lower variability and weaker correlations. The UV/optical bands are significantly correlated with the X-rays, lagging ~3–4 days behind the hard X-rays. The variability within the UV/optical bands is also strongly correlated, with the UV appearing to …

Kelt-11b: A Highly Inflated Sub-Saturn Exoplanet Transiting The V = 8 Subgiant Hd 93396, J. Pepper, J. E. Rodriguez, K. A. Collins, J. A. Johnson, B. J. Fulton, A. W. Howard, T. G. Beatty, K. G. Stassun, H. Isaacson, K. D. Colón, M. B. Lund, R. B. Kuhn, R. J. Siverd, B. S. Gaudi, T. G. Tan, I. Curtis, C. Stockdale, D. Mawet, M. Bottom, D. James, G. Zhou, D. Bayliss, P. Cargile, A. Bieryla, K. Penev, D. W. Latham, J. Labadie-Bartz, J. Kielkopf, J. D. Eastman, T. E. Oberst, Eric L.N. Jensen, P. Nelson, D. H. Sliski, R. A. Wittenmyer, N. Mccrady, J. T. Wright, H. M. Relles, D. J. Stevens, M. D. Joner, E. Hintz

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

We report the discovery of a transiting exoplanet, KELT-11b, orbiting the bright (V = 8.0) subgiant HD 93396. A global analysis of the system shows that the host star is an evolved subgiant star with T_eff = 5370 ± 51 K, M_* = 1.438 (+0.061)/(-0.052) M_⊙, R_* = 2.72 (+0.21)/(-0.17) R_⊙, logg_* = 3.727 (+0.040)/(-0.046), and [Fe/H] = 0.180 ± 0.075. The planet is a low-mass gas giant in a P = 4.736529 ± 0.00006 day orbit, with M_P = 0.195 ± 0.018 M_J, R_P = …

Heterogeneous Colloidal Particles Immersed In A Liquid Crystal, Setarehalsadat Changizrezaei, Colin Denniston

Physics and Astronomy Publications

In this paper, we explore anisotropic interactions between particles with heterogeneous boundary conditions inside both nematic and cholesteric liquid crystals. The results show that when particles are put at different distances and angles with respect to each other, new types of defect structures are produced, depending on the relative distances and directions. In a cholesteric liquid crystal, the value of the pitch affects the defect structures and induced forces. Moreover, it was observed that it is energetically favorable for the particles to remain in a plane parallel to the far-field director in a nematic liquid crystal, while for particles immersed …

Catching Shadow Bands, Laurence A. Marschall

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Even though shadow bands are only visible for a few fleeting minutes, it is possible to catch them if you prepare in advance. Get a large piece of white cardboard or white-painted plywood to act as a screen--the bands are subtle and can be more easily seen against a clean, white surface. (excerpt)

Revealing The Structure Of The Outer Disks Of Be Stars, Robert Klement, Anthony C. Carciofi, Thomas Rivinius, Lynn D. Matthews, Rodrigo G. Vieira, Richard Ignace, Jon E. Bjorkman, B. C. Mota, Daniel M. Faes, A. D. Bratcher, M. Cure, Stanislav Stefl

ETSU Faculty Works

Context. The structure of the inner parts of Be star disks (≲ 20 stellar radii) is well explained by the viscous decretion disk (VDD) model, which is able to reproduce the observable properties of most of the objects studied so far. The outer parts, on the other hand, are not observationally well-explored, as they are observable only at radio wavelengths. A steepening of the spectral slope somewhere between infrared and radio wavelengths was reported for several Be stars that were previously detected in the radio, but a convincing physical explanation for this trend has not yet been provided.

Aims. We …

Total Solar Eclipses: Why I Observe Them And How You Can Too, Martina B. Arndt

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Shape Modeling And Boulder Napping Of Asteroid 1992 Uy4., Nicholas D Duong

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

In August 2005, the near-Earth Asteroid 1992 UY4 made a close flyby, coming within 0.04 au of our planet. Between the dates of 1-10 August 2005, it was observed via delay-Doppler radar imaging by the Arecibo Observatory (2380 MHz, 13 cm) and the DSS-14 antenna at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (8560 MHz, 3.5 cm). The images achieve a resolution as fine as 7.5 m/pixel and reveal a lumpy and modestly asymmetric object. The images also revealed the presence of numerous large boulders/blocks on the surface of 1992 UY4. By using the modeling software SHAPE, which is standard in …

What Are The Low-Q And Large-X Boundaries Of Collinear Qcd Factorization Theorems?, E. Moffat, W. Melnitchouk, T. C. Rogers, N. Sato

Physics Faculty Publications

Familiar factorized descriptions of classic QCD processes such as deeply inelastic scattering (DIS) apply in the limit of very large hard scales, much larger than nonperturbative mass scales and other nonperturbative physical properties like intrinsic transverse momentum. Since many interesting DIS studies occur at kinematic regions where the hard scale, Q ∼ 1-2 GeV, is not very much greater than the hadron masses involved, and the Bjorken scaling variable x_bj is large, x_bj ≳ 0.5, it is important to examine the boundaries of the most basic factorization assumptions and assess whether improved starting points are needed. Using an …

Target And Double Spin Asymmetries Of Deeply Virtual Π0 Production With A Longitudinally Polarized Proton Target And Clas, A. Kim, H. Avakian, V. Burkert, K. Joo, W. Kim, K. P. Adhikari, Z. Akbar, S. Anefalos Pereira, R. A. Badui, M. Battaglieri, S. Bültmann, A. Klein, S E. Kuhn, Y. Prok, B. Torayev, L. B. Weinstein, J. Zhang

Physics Faculty Publications

The target and double spin asymmetries of the exclusive pseudoscalar channel e→p→→epπ⁰ were measured for the first time in the deep-inelastic regime using a longitudinally polarized 5.9 GeV electron beam and a longitudinally polarized proton target at Jefferson Lab with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). The data were collected over a large kinematic phase space and divided into 110 four-dimensional bins of Q^2, x_B, −t and ϕ. Large values of asymmetry moments clearly indicate a substantial contribution to the polarized structure functions from transverse virtual photon amplitudes. The interpretation of experimental data in terms of …

Effects Of Protein Corona On Iapp Amyloid Aggregation, Fibril Remodelling, And Cytotoxicity, Emily H. Pilkington, Yanting Xing, Bo Wang, Aleksandr Kakinen, Miaoyi Wang, Thomas P. Davis, Feng Ding, Pu Chen Ke

Publications

Aggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), a peptide hormone co-synthesized and co-stored with insulin in pancreatic cells and also co-secreted to the circulation, is associated with beta-cell death in type-2 diabetes (T2D). In T2D patients IAPP is found aggregating in the extracellular space of the islets of Langerhans. Although the physiological environments of these intra- and extra-cellular compartments and vascular systems significantly differ, the presence of proteins is ubiquitous but the effects of protein binding on IAPP aggregation are largely unknown. Here we examined the binding of freshly-dissolved IAPP as well as pre-formed fibrils with two homologous proteins, namely cationic …

Epoch, Latitude And Star Positions From Hipparchus’ Commentary, Irene Vargas-Salazar

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Fourier Transform Spectroscopy Of The A3Π–X3Σ− Transition Of Oh+, James N. Hodges, Peter F. Bernath

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The OH⁺ ion is of critical importance to the chemistry in the interstellar medium and is a prerequisite for the generation of more complex chemical species. Submillimeter and ultraviolet observations rely on high quality laboratory spectra. Recent measurements of the fundamental vibrational band and previously unanalyzed Fourier transform spectra of the near-ultraviolet A³Π-X 3Σ^- electronic spectrum, acquired at the National Solar Observatory at Kitt Peak in 1989, provide an excellent opportunity to perform a global fit of the available data. These new optical data are approximately four times more precise as compared to the previous values. …

The Hi Content Of Isolated Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies: A Sign Of Multiple Formation Mechanisms?, E. Papastergis, E. Adams, Aaron Romanowsky

Faculty Publications

We report on the results of radio observations in the 21 cm emission line of atomic hydrogen (HI) of four relatively isolated ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs): DGSAT I, R-127-1, M-161-1, and SECCO-dI-2. Our Effelsberg observations resulted in non-detections for the first three UDGs, and a clear detection for the last. DGSAT I, R-127-1, and M-161-1 are quiescent galaxies with gas fractions that are much lower than those of typical field galaxies of the same stellar mass. On the other hand, SECCO-dI-2 is a star forming gas-rich dwarf, similar to two other field UDGs that have literature HI data: SECCO-dI-1 and UGC …

Imf Dependence Of Energetic Oxygen And Hydrogen Ion Distributions In The Near-Earth Magnetosphere, H. Luo, E. A. Kronberg, K. Nykyri, K. J. Trattner, P. W. Daly, G. X. Chen, A. M. Du, Y. S. Ge

Publications

Energetic ion distributions in the near-Earth plasma sheet can provide important information for understanding the entry of ions into the magnetosphere and their transportation, acceleration, and losses in the near-Earth region. In this study, 11 years of energetic proton and oxygen observations (> ~274 keV) from Cluster/Research with Adaptive Particle Imaging Detectors were used to statistically study the energetic ion distributions in the near-Earth region. The dawn-dusk asymmetries of the distributions in three different regions (dayside magnetosphere, near-Earth nightside plasma sheet, and tail plasma sheet) are examined in Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The results show that the energetic ion distributions …

The Effects Of Thunderstorm Static And Quasi-Static Electric Fields On The Lower Ionosphere, Mohammad Ahmad Salem

Theses and Dissertations

Thunderstorms and their lightning discharges are of great interest to many areas of geophysics and atmospheric electricity. A thunderstorm is an electric generator; it can produce both electrostatic and quasi-electrostatic fields in the overhead atmospheric D region. The D region is the lower part of the ionosphere that extends from about 40-90 km altitude where the electrons and ions are sufficient enough to affect the propagation of radio waves. In contrast to the electrostatic field, the quasi-electrostatic fields can be much stronger in magnitude, but shorter in duration, and can trigger halos. A halo is one type of the transient …

Prediction Of A Red Nova Outburst In Kic 9832227, Lawrence A. Molnar, Daniel M. Van Noord, Karen Kinemuchi, Jason P. Smolinski

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

We present the first identification of a candidate precursor for an imminent red nova. Our prediction is based on the example of the precursor to the red nova V1309 Sco, which was retrospectively found to be a contact binary with an exponentially decreasing period. We explore the use of this distinctive timing signature to identify precursors, developing the observational and analysis steps needed. We estimate that our Galaxy has roughly 1-10 observable precursors. Specifically, we lay out the observational case for KIC 9832227, which we identified as a tentative candidate two years ago (Molnar et al. 2015, AAS Meeting #225 …