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Articles 5941 - 5970 of 8865

Full-Text Articles in Astrophysics and Astronomy

Detecting Massive Gravitons Using Pulsar Timing Arrays, Kejia Lee, F. A. Jenet, Richard H. Price, Norbert Wex, Michael Kramer Oct 2010

Detecting Massive Gravitons Using Pulsar Timing Arrays, Kejia Lee, F. A. Jenet, Richard H. Price, Norbert Wex, Michael Kramer

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

At the limit of weak static fields, general relativity becomes Newtonian gravity with a potential field that falls off as inverse distance rather than a theory of Yukawa-type fields with a finite range. General relativity also predicts that the speed of disturbances of its waves is c, the vacuum light speed, and is non-dispersive. For these reasons, the graviton, the boson for general relativity, can be considered to be massless. Massive gravitons, however, are features of some alternatives to general relativity. This has motivated experiments and observations that, so far, have been consistent with the zero-mass graviton of general relativity, …

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Ultra-Compact Dwarfs In The Core Of The Coma Cluster, Juan P. Madrid, Alister W. Graham, William E. Harris, Paul Goudfrooij, Duncan A. Forbes, David Carter, John P. Blakeslee, Lee R. Spitler, Henry C. Ferguson Oct 2010

Ultra-Compact Dwarfs In The Core Of The Coma Cluster, Juan P. Madrid, Alister W. Graham, William E. Harris, Paul Goudfrooij, Duncan A. Forbes, David Carter, John P. Blakeslee, Lee R. Spitler, Henry C. Ferguson

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We have discovered both a red and a blue subpopulation of ultra-compact dwarf (UCD) galaxy candidates in the Coma galaxy cluster. We analyzed deep F475W (Sloan g) and F814W (I) Hubble Space Telescope images obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys Wide Field Channel as part of the Coma Cluster Treasury Survey and have fitted the light profiles of similar to 5000 point-like sources in the vicinity of NGC 4874, one of the two central dominant galaxies of the Coma Cluster. Although almost all of these sources are globular clusters that remain unresolved, we found that 52 objects have effective …

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Rotation Periods Of Exoplanet Host Stars, E. K. Simpson, Sallie L. Baliunas, Gregory W. Henry, Christopher A. Watson Oct 2010

Rotation Periods Of Exoplanet Host Stars, E. K. Simpson, Sallie L. Baliunas, Gregory W. Henry, Christopher A. Watson

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

The stellar rotation periods of 10 exoplanet host stars have been determined using newly analysed Ca ii H&K flux records from the Mount Wilson Observatory and Strömgren b, y photometric measurements from Tennessee State University's automatic photometric telescopes at the Fairborn Observatory. Five of the rotation periods have not previously been reported, with that of HD 130322 very strongly detected at Prot= 26.1 ± 3.5 d. The rotation periods of five other stars have been updated using new data. We use the rotation periods to derive the line-of-sight inclinations of the stellar rotation axes, which may be used to probe …

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The Lick–Carnegie Exoplanet Survey: A 3.1 M⊕ Planet In The Habitable Zone Of The Nearby M3v Star Gliese 581, Steve Vogt, R. Paul Butler, Eugenio J. Rivera, Nader Haghighipour, Gregory W. Henry, Michael H. Williamson Oct 2010

The Lick–Carnegie Exoplanet Survey: A 3.1 M⊕ Planet In The Habitable Zone Of The Nearby M3v Star Gliese 581, Steve Vogt, R. Paul Butler, Eugenio J. Rivera, Nader Haghighipour, Gregory W. Henry, Michael H. Williamson

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present 11 years of HIRES precision radial velocities (RVs) of the nearby M3V star Gliese 581, combining our data set of 122 precision RVs with an existing published 4.3-year set of 119 HARPS precision RVs. The velocity set now indicates six companions in Keplerian motion around this star. Differential photometry indicates a likely stellar rotation period of ∼94 days and reveals no significant periodic variability at any of the Keplerian periods, supporting planetary orbital motion as the cause of all the RV variations. The combined data set strongly confirms the 5.37-day, 12.9-day, 3.15-day, and 67-day planets previously announced by …

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New Precision Orbits Of Bright Double-Lined Spectroscopic Binaries. V. The Am Stars Hd 434 And 41 Sextantis, Francis C. Fekel, Michael H. Williamson Oct 2010

New Precision Orbits Of Bright Double-Lined Spectroscopic Binaries. V. The Am Stars Hd 434 And 41 Sextantis, Francis C. Fekel, Michael H. Williamson

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We have detected the secondary component in two previously known spectroscopic binaries, HD 434 and 41 Sex, and for the first time determined double-lined orbits for them. Despite the relatively long period of 34.26 days and a moderate eccentricity of 0.32, combined with the components' rotationally broadened lines, measurement of the primary and secondary radial velocities of HD 434 has enabled us to obtain significantly improved orbital elements. While the 41 Sex system has a much shorter period of 6.167 days and a circular orbit, the estimated V mag difference of 3.2 between its components also makes this a challenging …

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Extended Green-Liouville Asymptotics And Vacuum Polarization For Lukewarm Black Holes, Cormac Breen, Adrian Ottewill Oct 2010

Extended Green-Liouville Asymptotics And Vacuum Polarization For Lukewarm Black Holes, Cormac Breen, Adrian Ottewill

Articles

We consider a quantum field on a lukewarm black hole spacetime. We introduce a new uniform approximation to the radial equation, constructed using an extension of Green-Liouville asymptotics. We then use this new approximation to construct the renormalized vacuum polarization in the Hartle-Hawking vacuum. Previous calculations of the vacuum polarization rely on the WKB approximation to the solutions of the radial equation, however the nonuniformity of the WKB approximations obscures the results of these calculations near both horizons. The use of our new approximation eliminates these obscurities, enabling us to obtain explicitly finite and easily calculable values of the vacuum …

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Einstein In The Sky: Black Hole Tales From The Edge Of Space And Time, Shane L. Larson Oct 2010

Einstein In The Sky: Black Hole Tales From The Edge Of Space And Time, Shane L. Larson

Public Talks

No abstract provided.

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Modeling And Simulation On Signatures Of Mars Minerals, Widad Elmahboub, Edward Yankey, Olivia Kerwin Oct 2010

Modeling And Simulation On Signatures Of Mars Minerals, Widad Elmahboub, Edward Yankey, Olivia Kerwin

Virginia Journal of Science

The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of identifying minerals on Mars using remotely sensed data. In the process we also investigated the effect of noise of Aerosol and dust particles on the spectra of Mars minerals. The remotely sensed data was obtained through modeling and simulation and compared to the lab spectroscopy of the specific minerals in order to make an accurate identification. A linear model was developed using MATLAB Random Number Generator to obtain a simulated image. Part of the information we needed for the linear model was pure pixel information of Mars which was …

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Continued Cooling Of The Crust In The Neutron Star Low-Mass X-Ray Binary Ks 1731-260, Edward M. Cackett, Edward F. Brown, Andrew Cumming, Nathalie Degenaar, Jon M. Miller, Rudy Wijnands Oct 2010

Continued Cooling Of The Crust In The Neutron Star Low-Mass X-Ray Binary Ks 1731-260, Edward M. Cackett, Edward F. Brown, Andrew Cumming, Nathalie Degenaar, Jon M. Miller, Rudy Wijnands

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

Some neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries have very long outbursts (lasting several years) which can generate a significant amount of heat in the neutron star crust. After the system has returned to quiescence, the crust then thermally relaxes. This provides a rare opportunity to study the thermal properties of neutron star crusts, putting constraints on the thermal conductivity and hence the structure and composition of the crust. KS 1731-260 is one of only four systems where this crustal cooling has been observed. Here, we present a new Chandra observation of this source approximately eight years after the end of the …

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A Multiphase Suzaku Study Of X-Rays From Τ Sco, R. Ignace, L. M. Oskinova, M. Jardine, J. P. Cassinelli, David H. Cohen, J.-F. Donati, R. H.D. Townsend, A. Ud-Doula Oct 2010

A Multiphase Suzaku Study Of X-Rays From Τ Sco, R. Ignace, L. M. Oskinova, M. Jardine, J. P. Cassinelli, David H. Cohen, J.-F. Donati, R. H.D. Townsend, A. Ud-Doula

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

We obtained relatively high signal-to-noise X-ray spectral data of the early massive star tau Sco (B0.2V) with the Suzaku X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS) instrument. This source displays several unusual features that motivated our study: (1) redshifted absorption in UV P Cygni lines to approximately +250 km s(-1) suggestive of infalling gas, (2) unusually hard X-ray emission requiring hot plasma at temperatures in excess of 10 MK whereas most massive stars show relatively soft X-rays at a few MK, and (3) a complex photospheric magnetic field of open and closed field lines. In an attempt to understand the hard component better, …

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New Tests Of General Relativity, Quentin Bailey Oct 2010

New Tests Of General Relativity, Quentin Bailey

Publications

The last decade has seen a rapid increase in the number of precision tests of relativity. This research has been motivated by the intriguing possibility that tiny deviations from relativity might arise in the underlying theory that is widely believed to successfully mesh General Relativity (GR) with quantum physics. Many of these tests have been analyzed within an effective field theory framework which generically describes possible deviations from exact relativity and contains some traditional test frameworks as limiting cases. One part of the activity has been a resurgence of interest in tests of relativity in the Minkowski-spacetime context, where Lorentz …

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A Multi-Phase Suzaku Study Of Τ Sco., Richard Ignace, L. Oskinova, M. Jardine, J. Cassinelli, D. Cohen, J.-F. Donati, R. Townsend, A. Ud-Doula Oct 2010

A Multi-Phase Suzaku Study Of Τ Sco., Richard Ignace, L. Oskinova, M. Jardine, J. Cassinelli, D. Cohen, J.-F. Donati, R. Townsend, A. Ud-Doula

ETSU Faculty Works

We obtained relatively high signal-to-noise X-ray spectral data of the early massive star τ Sco (B0.2V) with the Suzaku X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS) instrument. This source displays several unusual features that motivated our study: (1) redshifted absorption in UV P Cygni lines to approximately +250 km s−1 suggestive of infalling gas, (2) unusually hard X-ray emission requiring hot plasma at temperatures in excess of 10 MK whereas most massive stars show relatively soft X-rays at a few MK, and (3) a complex photospheric magnetic field of open and closed field lines. In an attempt to understand the hard component better, …

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Generalized Acoustic Energy Density And Its Applications, Buye Xu Sep 2010

Generalized Acoustic Energy Density And Its Applications, Buye Xu

Theses and Dissertations

The properties of acoustic kinetic energy density and total energy density of sound fields in lightly damped enclosures have been explored thoroughly in the literature. Their increased spatial uniformity makes them more favorable measurement quantities for various applications than acoustic potential energy density (or squared pressure), which is most often used. In this dissertation, a new acoustic energy quantity, the generalized acoustic energy density (GED), will be introduced. It is defined by introducing weighting factors, α and 1 − α, in the formulation of total acoustic energy density. With the additional degree of freedom, the GED can conform to the …

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Cosmic Microwave Background Constraints On Cosmological Models With Large-Scale Isotropy Breaking, Haoxuan Zheng, Emory F. Bunn Sep 2010

Cosmic Microwave Background Constraints On Cosmological Models With Large-Scale Isotropy Breaking, Haoxuan Zheng, Emory F. Bunn

Physics Faculty Publications

Several anomalies appear to be present in the large-angle cosmic microwave background anisotropy maps of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, including the alignment of large-scale multipoles. Models in which isotropy is spontaneously broken (e.g., by a scalar field) have been proposed as explanations for these anomalies, as have models in which a preferred direction is imposed during inflation. We examine models inspired by these, in which isotropy is broken by a multiplicative factor with dipole and/or quadrupole terms. We evaluate the evidence provided by the multipole alignment using a Bayesian framework, finding that the evidence in favor of the model …

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The Trilinear Hamiltonian: A Zero-Dimensional Model Of Hawking Radiation From A Quantized Source, Paul D. Nation, Miles P. Blencowe Sep 2010

The Trilinear Hamiltonian: A Zero-Dimensional Model Of Hawking Radiation From A Quantized Source, Paul D. Nation, Miles P. Blencowe

Dartmouth Scholarship

We investigate a quantum parametric amplifier with dynamical pump mode, viewed as a zero-dimensional model of Hawking radiation from an evaporating black hole. We derive the conditions under which the spectrum of particles generated from vacuum fluctuations deviates from the thermal spectrum predicted for the conventional parametric amplifier. We find that significant deviations arise when the pump mode (black hole) has emitted nearly half of its initial energy into the signal (Hawking radiation) and idler (in-falling particle) modes. As a model of black hole dynamics, this finding lends support to the view that late-time Hawking radiation contains information about the …

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Xmm-Newton Observations Of Hd 189733 During Planetary Transits, Ignazio Pillitteri, Scott J. Wolk, Ofer Cohen, Vinay Kashyap, Heather Knutson, Carey M. Lisse, Gregory W. Henry Sep 2010

Xmm-Newton Observations Of Hd 189733 During Planetary Transits, Ignazio Pillitteri, Scott J. Wolk, Ofer Cohen, Vinay Kashyap, Heather Knutson, Carey M. Lisse, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We report on two XMM-Newton observations of the planetary host star HD 189733. The system has a close in planet and it can potentially affect the coronal structure via interactions with the magnetosphere. We have obtained X-ray spectra and light curves from EPIC and the Reflection Grating Spectrometer on board XMM-Newton which we have analyzed and interpreted. We reduced X-ray data from the primary transit and secondary eclipse that occurred on 2007 April 17 and 2009 May 18, respectively. In the 2007 April observation, only variability due to weak flares is recognized. In 2009 HD 189733 exhibited an X-ray flux …

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Optical Discovery Of An Apparent Galactic Supernova Remnant G159.6+7.3, Robert A. Fesen, Dan Milisavljevic Sep 2010

Optical Discovery Of An Apparent Galactic Supernova Remnant G159.6+7.3, Robert A. Fesen, Dan Milisavljevic

Dartmouth Scholarship

Deep Hα images of portions of a faint 3° × 4° Hα shell centered at l = 1596, b = 73 seen on the Virginia Tech Spectral Line Survey images revealed the presence of several thin emission filaments along its eastern limb. Low-dispersion optical spectra of two of these filaments covering the wavelength range of 4500-7500 Å show narrow Hα line emissions with velocities around –170 ± 30 km s–1. Both the morphology and spectra of these filaments are consistent with a Balmer-dominated shock interpretation and we propose that these optical filaments indicate that the large Hα emission …

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Discovery Of Cyclic Spot Activity On The G8 Giant Hd 208472, Orkun Özdarcan, Serdar Evren, Klaus G. Strassmeier, Thomas Granzer, Gregory W. Henry Sep 2010

Discovery Of Cyclic Spot Activity On The G8 Giant Hd 208472, Orkun Özdarcan, Serdar Evren, Klaus G. Strassmeier, Thomas Granzer, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present and analyze 17 consecutive years of UBVRI time-series photometry of the spotted giant component of the RS CVn binary HD 208472. Our aim is to determine the morphology and the evolution of its starspots by using periodsearch techniques and two-spot light-curve modelling. Spots on HD208472 always occur on hemispheres facing the observer during orbital quadrature and flip their location to the opposite hemisphere every approximately six years. The times when the spots change their preferential hemisphere correspond to times when the light curve amplitudes are the smallest and when abrupt changes of the photometric periods are observed. During …

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Local Group Dwarf Spheroidals: Correlated Deviations From The Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation, Stacy S. Mcgaugh Sep 2010

Local Group Dwarf Spheroidals: Correlated Deviations From The Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation, Stacy S. Mcgaugh

Faculty Scholarship

Local Group dwarf spheroidal satellite galaxies are the faintest extragalactic stellar systems known. We examine recent data for these objects in the plane of the Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation (BTFR). While some dwarf spheroidals adhere to the BTFR, others deviate substantially. We examine the residuals from the BTFR and find that they are not random. The residuals correlate with luminosity, size, metallicity, ellipticity, and susceptibility of the dwarfs to tidal disruption in the sense that fainter, more elliptical, and tidally more susceptible dwarfs deviate farther from the BTFR. These correlations disfavor stochastic processes and suggest a role for tidal effects. We …

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The Climate Of Hd 189733b From Fourteen Transits And Eclipses Measured By Spitzer, Eric Agol, Nicolas B. Cowan, Heather A. Knutson, Drake Deming, Jason H. Steffen, Gregory W. Henry, David Charbonneau Sep 2010

The Climate Of Hd 189733b From Fourteen Transits And Eclipses Measured By Spitzer, Eric Agol, Nicolas B. Cowan, Heather A. Knutson, Drake Deming, Jason H. Steffen, Gregory W. Henry, David Charbonneau

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present observations of six transits and six eclipses of the transiting planet system HD 189733 taken with the Spitzer Space Telescope's Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) at 8 μm, as well as a re-analysis of previously published data. We use several novel techniques in our data analysis, the most important of which is a new correction for the detector "ramp" variation with a double-exponential function, which performs better and is a better physical model for this detector variation. Our main scientific findings are (1) an upper limit on the variability of the dayside planet flux of 2.7% (68% confidence); (2) …

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A Hot Jupiter Orbiting The 1.7 M☉ Subgiant Hd 102956*, John Asher Johnson, Brendan P. Bowler, Andrew W. Howard, Gregory W. Henry, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Howard Isaacson, John Michael Brewer, Debra A. Fischer, Timothy D. Morton, Justin R. Crepp Sep 2010

A Hot Jupiter Orbiting The 1.7 M☉ Subgiant Hd 102956*, John Asher Johnson, Brendan P. Bowler, Andrew W. Howard, Gregory W. Henry, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Howard Isaacson, John Michael Brewer, Debra A. Fischer, Timothy D. Morton, Justin R. Crepp

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We report the detection of a giant planet in a 6.4950 day orbit around the 1.68 M☉ subgiant HD 102956. The planet has a semimajor axis a = 0.081 AU and a minimum mass MPsin i =0.96 MJup. HD 102956 is the most massive star known to harbor a hot Jupiter, and its planet is only the third known to orbit within 0.6 AU of a star more massive than 1.5 M☉. Based on our sample of 137 subgiants with M⋆>1.45 M☉, we find that 0.5%–2.3% of A-type stars harbor a close-in planet (a < 0.1 AU) with MPsin i > 1 MJup, consistent with hot-Jupiter …

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The California Planet Survey. I. Four New Giant Exoplanets*, Andrew W. Howard, John Asher Johnson, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Debra A. Fischer, Jason T. Wright, David Bernat, Gregory W. Henry, Kathryn M. G. Peek, Howard Isaacson, Kevin Apps, Michael Endl, William D. Cochran, Jeff A. Valenti, Jay Anderson, Nikolai E. Piskunov Sep 2010

The California Planet Survey. I. Four New Giant Exoplanets*, Andrew W. Howard, John Asher Johnson, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Debra A. Fischer, Jason T. Wright, David Bernat, Gregory W. Henry, Kathryn M. G. Peek, Howard Isaacson, Kevin Apps, Michael Endl, William D. Cochran, Jeff A. Valenti, Jay Anderson, Nikolai E. Piskunov

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present precise Doppler measurements of four stars obtained during the past decade at Keck Observatory by the California Planet Survey (CPS). These stars, namely, HD 34445, HD 126614, HD 13931, and Gl 179, all show evidence for a single planet in Keplerian motion. We also present Doppler measurements from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) for two of the stars, HD 34445 and Gl 179, that confirm the Keck detections and significantly refine the orbital parameters. These planets add to the statistical properties of giant planets orbiting near or beyond the ice line, and merit follow-up by astrometry, imaging, and space-borne …

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Veritas Search For Vhe Gamma-Ray Emission From Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al. Sep 2010

Veritas Search For Vhe Gamma-Ray Emission From Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

Indirect dark matter searches with ground-based gamma-ray observatories provide an alternative for identifying the particle nature of dark matter that is complementary to that of direct search or accelerator production experiments. We present the results of observations of the dwarf spheroidal galaxies Draco, Ursa Minor, Boötes 1, and Willman 1 conducted by the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS). These galaxies are nearby dark matter dominated objects located at a typical distance of several tens of kiloparsecs for which there are good measurements of the dark matter density profile from stellar velocity measurements. Since the conventional astrophysical background …

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Predictions For The Rates Of Compact Binary Coalescences Observable By Ground-Based Gravitational-Wave Detectors, J. Abadie, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, M. Abernathy, T. Accadia, F. Acernese, C. Adams, R. Adhikari, P. Ajith, B. Allen, G. Allen, E. Amador Ceron, R. S. Amin, S. B. Anderson, W. G. Anderson, F. Antonucci, S. Aoudia, M. A. Arain, M. Araya, M. Aronsson, K. G. Arun, Y. Aso, S. Aston, P. Astone, D. E. Atkinson, P. Aufmuth, C. Aulbert, S. Babak, P. Baker, G. Ballardin, S. Ballmer, Tiffany Z. Summerscales Sep 2010

Predictions For The Rates Of Compact Binary Coalescences Observable By Ground-Based Gravitational-Wave Detectors, J. Abadie, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, M. Abernathy, T. Accadia, F. Acernese, C. Adams, R. Adhikari, P. Ajith, B. Allen, G. Allen, E. Amador Ceron, R. S. Amin, S. B. Anderson, W. G. Anderson, F. Antonucci, S. Aoudia, M. A. Arain, M. Araya, M. Aronsson, K. G. Arun, Y. Aso, S. Aston, P. Astone, D. E. Atkinson, P. Aufmuth, C. Aulbert, S. Babak, P. Baker, G. Ballardin, S. Ballmer, Tiffany Z. Summerscales

Faculty Publications

We present an up-to-date, comprehensive summary of the rates for all types of compact binary coalescence sources detectable by the initial and advanced versions of the ground-based gravitational-wave detectors LIGO and Virgo. Astrophysical estimates for compact-binary coalescence rates depend on a number of assumptions and unknown model parameters and are still uncertain. Themost confident among these estimates are the rate predictions for coalescing binary neutron stars which are based on extrapolations from observed binary pulsars in our galaxy. These yield a likely coalescence rate of 100 Myr-1 per MilkyWay Equivalent Galaxy (MWEG), although the rate could plausibly range from 1 …

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Biofunctionalization And Immobilization Of A Membrane Via Peptide Binding (Cr3-1, S2) By A Monte Carlo Simulation, Ras B. Pandey, Hendrik Heinz, Jie Feng, Barry L. Farmer Sep 2010

Biofunctionalization And Immobilization Of A Membrane Via Peptide Binding (Cr3-1, S2) By A Monte Carlo Simulation, Ras B. Pandey, Hendrik Heinz, Jie Feng, Barry L. Farmer

Faculty Publications

A coarse-grained computer simulation model is used to study the immobilization of a dynamic tethered membrane (representation of a clay platelet) in a matrix of mobile peptide chains CR3-1:(1)Trp-(2)Pro-(3)Ser-(4)Ser-(5)Tyr-(6)Leu-(7)Ser-(8)Pro-(9)Ile-(10)Pro-(11)Tyr-(12)Ser and S2:(1)His-(2)Gly-(3)Ile-(4)Asn-(5)Thr-(6)Thr-(7)Lys-(8)Pro-(9)Phe-(10)Lys-(11)Ser-(12)Val on a cubic lattice. Each residue interacts with the membrane nodes with appropriate interaction and executes their stochastic motion with the Metropolis algorithm. Density profiles, binding energy of each residue, mobility, and targeted structural profile are analyzed as a function of peptide concentration. We find that the binding of peptides S2 is anchored by lysine residues ((7)Lys,(10)Lys) while peptides CR3-1 do not bind to membrane. The membrane slows down …

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A Portable Neutron Spectroscope (Nspect) For Detection, Imaging And Identification Of Nuclear Material, James M. Ryan, Chris Bancroft, Peter F. Bloser, U Bravar, Dominique Fourguette, Colin Frost, Liane Larocque, Mark L. Mcconnell, Jason S. Legere, Jane Pavlich, Greg Ritter, Greg Wassick, Joshua Wood, R S. Woolf Sep 2010

A Portable Neutron Spectroscope (Nspect) For Detection, Imaging And Identification Of Nuclear Material, James M. Ryan, Chris Bancroft, Peter F. Bloser, U Bravar, Dominique Fourguette, Colin Frost, Liane Larocque, Mark L. Mcconnell, Jason S. Legere, Jane Pavlich, Greg Ritter, Greg Wassick, Joshua Wood, R S. Woolf

Space Science Center

We have developed, fabricated and tested a prototype imaging neutron spectrometer designed for real-time neutron source location and identification. Real-time detection and identification is important for locating materials. These materials, specifically uranium and transuranics, emit neutrons via spontaneous or induced fission. Unlike other forms of radiation (e.g. gamma rays), penetrating neutron emission is very uncommon. The instrument detects these neutrons, constructs images of the emission pattern, and reports the neutron spectrum. The device will be useful for security and proliferation deterrence, as well as for nuclear waste characterization and monitoring. The instrument is optimized for imaging and spectroscopy in the …

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Quiescent X-Ray Emission From Cen X-4: A Variable Thermal Component, Edward M. Cackett, Edward F. Brown, Jon M. Miller, Rudy Wijnands Sep 2010

Quiescent X-Ray Emission From Cen X-4: A Variable Thermal Component, Edward M. Cackett, Edward F. Brown, Jon M. Miller, Rudy Wijnands

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

The nearby neutron star low-mass X-ray binary, Cen X-4, has been in a quiescent state since its last outburst in 1979. Typically, quiescent emission from these objects consists of thermal emission (presumably from the neutron star surface) with an additional hard power-law tail of unknown nature. Variability has been observed during quiescence in Cen X-4 on both timescales as short as hundreds of seconds and as long as years. However, the nature of this variability is still unknown. Early observations seemed to show it was all due to a variable hard X-ray tail. Here, we present new and archival observations …

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Relativistic Particle Acceleration In Tangled Magnetic Fields, Stephen O'Sullivan, Brian Reville, Andrew Taylor Sep 2010

Relativistic Particle Acceleration In Tangled Magnetic Fields, Stephen O'Sullivan, Brian Reville, Andrew Taylor

Conference papers

We present simulations of the transport of fast particles through three-dimensional turbulent magnetic field configurations. A time dependency is imposed on the plane wave modes used in constructing these fields such than acceleration via the second-order Fermi process is possible. We consider simulations of models with low and high turbulence levels for non-relativistic waves. The predictions of quasi-linear theory are discussed with respect to the simulation data. We conclude that for pure stochastic acceleration via Alfvén waves to be plausible as the generator of UHECR in Cen A, the baryon number density would need to be several orders of magnitude …

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Probing The Evolving Massive Star Population In Orion With Kinematic And Radioactive Tracers, R. Voss, R. Diehl, J. S. Vink, Dieter H. Hartmann Sep 2010

Probing The Evolving Massive Star Population In Orion With Kinematic And Radioactive Tracers, R. Voss, R. Diehl, J. S. Vink, Dieter H. Hartmann

Publications

Context. Orion is the nearest star-forming region to host a significant number of young and massive stars. The energy injected by these OB stars is thought to have created the Eridanus superbubble. Because of its proximity, Orion is a prime target for a detailed investigation of the interaction between massive stars and their environment. Aims. We study the massive star population of Orion and its feedback in terms of energy and mass, in order to compare the current knowledge of massive stars with kinematic and radioactive tracers in the surrounding interstellar medium (ISM). Methods. We assembled a census of the …

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Relativistic Lines And Reflection From The Inner Accretion Disks Around Neutron Stars, Edward M. Cackett, Jon M. Miller, David R. Ballantyne, Didier Barret, Sudip Bhattacharyya, Martin Boutelier, M. Coleman Miller, Tod E. Strohmayer, Rudy Wijnands Sep 2010

Relativistic Lines And Reflection From The Inner Accretion Disks Around Neutron Stars, Edward M. Cackett, Jon M. Miller, David R. Ballantyne, Didier Barret, Sudip Bhattacharyya, Martin Boutelier, M. Coleman Miller, Tod E. Strohmayer, Rudy Wijnands

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

A number of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) have recently been discovered to show broad, asymmetric Fe K emission lines in their X-ray spectra. These lines are generally thought to be the most prominent part of a reflection spectrum, originating in the inner part of the accretion disk where strong relativistic effects can broaden emission lines. We present a comprehensive, systematic analysis of Suzaku and XMM-Newton spectra of 10 neutron star LMXBs, all of which display broad Fe K emission lines. Of the 10 sources, 4 are Z sources, 4 are atolls, and 2 are accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars …

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