Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

Depleted Carbon Monoxide In Fragment C Of The Jupiter-Family Comet 73p/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, M. Disanti, W. Anderson, G. Villanueva, B. Bonev, K. Magee-Sauer, E. Gibb, M. Mumma

Physics Faculty Works

Carbon monoxide emission was targeted in fragment C of the recently split Jupiter-family comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 during its 2006 apparition, using the Cryogenic Echelle Spectrograph (CSHELL) at the NASA IRTF on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Simultaneous sounding with H2O near 4.65 μm revealed highly depleted CO, consistent with a mixing ratio of 0.5% ± 0.13%. Along with depleted CH3OH but nearly normal HCN, this may indicate that this comet formed in the inner giant planets' region or, alternatively, that it formed relatively late, after significant clearing of the protosolar nebula.

Discovery Of Photospheric Calcium Line-Strength Variations In The Dazd White Dwarf G29-38, Ted Von Hippel, Susan E. Thompson

Publications

Metals in the photospheres of white dwarfs with T_eff between 12,000 and 25,000 K should gravitationally settle out of these atmospheres in 1 ̶ 2 weeks. Temporal variations in the line strengths of these metals could provide a direct measurement of episodic metal accretion. Using archival VLT and Keck spectroscopy, we find evidence that the DAZd white dwarf G29-38 shows significant changes in its Ca _П K line strength. At the two best-observed epochs, we find that the Ca line equivalent width (EW) = 165 ̶ 4 mǺ (in 1996.885) and 280 ± 8 mǺ (in 1999.653), which is …

Gemini Mid-Ir Polarimetry Of Ngc 1068: Polarized Structures Around The Nucleus, Christopher C. Packham, Stuart Young, Scott E. Fisher, Kevin M. Volk, Rachel E. Mason, James H. Hough, Patrick F. Roche, Moshe Elitzur, James T. Radomski, Eric S. Perlman

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

We present diffraction-limited, 10 μm imaging polarimetry data for the central regions of the archetypal Seyfert active galactic nucleus NGC 1068. The position angle of polarization is consistent with three dominant polarizing mechanisms. We identify three distinct regions of polarization: (1) north of the nucleus, arising from aligned dust in the narrow emission line region, (2) south, east, and west of the nucleus, consistent with dust being channeled toward the central engine, and (3) a central minimum of polarization consistent with a compact (≤22 pc) torus. These observations provide continuity between the geometrically and optically thick torus and the host …

An Investigation Into The Effects Of Luminosity On The Mid-Infrared Spectral Energy Distributions Of Radio-Quiet Quasars, S. C. Gallagher, G. T. Richards, M. Lacy, D. C. Hines, Moshe Elitzur, L. J. Storrie-Lombardi

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present an analysis of the effects of luminosity on the shape of the mid-infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of 234 radio-quiet quasars originally presented by Richards et al. In quasars without evident dust extinction, the spectrally integrated optical and infrared luminosities are linearly correlated over nearly three decades in luminosity. We find a significant (≳99.99\% confidence) correlation between the 1.8-8.0 μm spectral index and infrared luminosity that indicates an enhancement of the mid-infrared continuum with increasing luminosity. Coupled with strong evidence for spectral curvature in more luminous quasars, we conclude that this trend is likely a manifestation of …

Gemini Mid-Ir Polarimetry Of Ngc 1068: Polarized Structures Around The Nucleus, C. Packham, S. Young, S. Fisher, K. Volk, R. Mason, J. H. Hough, P. F. Roche, Moshe Elitzur, J. Radomski, E. Perlman

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present diffraction-limited, 10 μm imaging polarimetry data for the central regions of the archetypal Seyfert active galactic nucleus NGC 1068. The position angle of polarization is consistent with three dominant polarizing mechanisms. We identify three distinct regions of polarization: (1) north of the nucleus, arising from aligned dust in the narrow emission line region, (2) south, east, and west of the nucleus, consistent with dust being channeled toward the central engine, and (3) a central minimum of polarization consistent with a compact (≤22 pc) torus. These observations provide continuity between the geometrically and optically thick torus and the …

The Shape Of Galaxy Cluster Dark Matter Haloes: Systematics Of Its Imprint On Cluster Gas And Comparison To Observations, Ricardo Flores, Brandon Allgood, Andrey Kravtsov, Joel Primack, David Buote, James Bullock

Physics Faculty Works

We study predictions for galaxy cluster observables that can test the statistics of dark matter halo shapes expected in a flat Λ cold dark matter (CDM) universe. We present a simple analytical model for the prediction of cluster-scale X-ray observations, approximating clusters as isothermal systems in hydrostatic equilibrium, and dark matter haloes as ellipsoids with uniform axial ratios (homeoidal ellipsoids). We test the model against high-resolution, hydrodynamic cluster simulations to gauge its reliability. We find that this simple prescription does a good job of predicting cluster X-ray ellipticities compared to the simulations as long as one focuses on cluster regions …

Warm Hcn, C2h2, And Co In The Disk Of Gv Tau, Erika Gibb, K. Van Brunt, S. Brittain, T Rettig

Physics Faculty Works

We present the first high-resolution, ground-based observations of HCN and C2H2 toward the T Tauri binary star system GV Tau. We detected strong absorption due to HCN ν3 and weak C2H2 [ν3 and ν2 + (ν4 + ν5)img1.gif] absorption toward the primary (GV Tau S) but not the infrared companion. We also report CO column densities and rotational temperatures, and present abundances relative to CO of HCN/CO ~ 0.6% and C2H/CO ~ 1.2% and an upper limit for CH4/CO < 0.37% toward GV Tau S. Neither HCN nor C2H2 were detected toward the infrared companion, and results suggest that abundances may differ between the two sources.

Factors That Affect The Global Positioning System And Global Navigation Satellite System In An Urban And Forested Environment., Douglas Allen Ritchie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy in real time measurements acquired from GPS and GLONASS satellite observations using RTK techniques in an urban and forested environment. To determine this accuracy, 2 data sets of 3-dimensional coordinates were created and compared at 14 stations situated at East Tennessee State University. One data set included coordinates determined by conventional land survey methods; the second was solved by RTK GPS/GLONASS. Once the magnitude of any deviation in the coordinate positions was determined, the contributions to the accuracies from cycle slips, multipath, satellite availability, PDOP, and fixed or float solutions …

Determining The Agn Fraction Of Galaxy Groups, Rachel Paterno-Mahler

Pomona Senior Theses

Using the Chandra X-ray Observatory, Martini et al. (2006) found that the AGN fraction of galaxy clusters was five times higher than previous optical studies suggested. Using visual observations only, Dressler et al. (1985) estimated the AGN fraction of field galaxies to be 5%, while that of clusters was thought to be 1%. To understand the role that the environment plays in AGN fueling, the author studied a variety of environments, ranging from the field to groups to clusters. Will the AGN fraction of groups also be higher than that of the field? The author demonstrates how the AGN fraction …

Searching For H3+ In The Atmosphere Of The Exoplanet Hd 209458b, Matthew Troutman

All Theses

This thesis searches or the H₃⁺ molecule in the atmosphere of HD 209458b. This exoplanet has been well studied since its initial discovery. H₃⁺ is a diagnostic of the thermal regulation in the ionosphere of the exoplanet, and therefore is an advantageous molecule to test both atmospheric models and observational limits. Both models and observational limits need to be constrained as steps towards the ultimate goal of detecting biomarkers in the atmospheres of exoplanets. The exoplanet HD 209458b was observed during transit using PHOENIX on Gemini South in 2005.

Gamma Ray Burst Afterglow Observations, Adria Updike

All Theses

Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) are among the most luminous explosions in the universe. We present an overview of the observational history of GRBs and the mechanisms involved, then focus on one burst in particular, GRB 070125 and our observational campaign. Finally, we present the results of a model of the global optical response to GRBs, and make recommendations as to how we could improve the global response in preparation for upcoming satellite missions.

Determination Of The Physical Conditions Of The Knots In The Helix Nebula From Optical And Infrared Observations, C. R. O'Dell, W. J. Henney, Gary J. Ferland

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We use new Hubble Space Telescope and archived images to clarify the nature of the ubiquitous knots in the Helix Nebula, which are variously estimated to contain a significant to majority fraction of the material ejected by its central star. We employ published far-infrared spectrophotometry and existing 2.12 μm images to establish that the population distribution of the lowest rovibrational states of H2 is close to the distribution of a gas in local thermodynamic equilibrium at 988 ± 119 K. In addition, we present calculations that show that the weakness of the H₂ 0-0 S(7) line is not …

A Photon Dominated Region Code Comparison Study, M. Röllig, Nicholas Paul Abel, T. Bell, F. Bensch, J. Black, Gary J. Ferland, B. Jonkheid, I. Kamp, M. J. Kaufman, J. Le Bourlot, F. Le Petit, R. Meijerink, O. Morata, V. Ossenkopf, E. Roueff, Gargi Shaw, M. Spaans, A. Sternberg, J. Stutzki, W.-F. Thi, E. F. Van Dishoeck, P. A. M. Van Hoof, S. Viti, M. G. Wolfire

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Aims. We present a comparison between independent computer codes, modeling the physics and chemistry of interstellar photon dominated regions (PDRs). Our goal was to understand the mutual differences in the PDR codes and their effects on the physical and chemical structure of the model clouds, and to converge the output of different codes to a common solution.

Methods. A number of benchmark models have been created, covering low and high gas densities n = 10³,10^5.5 cm^-3 and far ultraviolet intensities χ = 10, 10⁵ in units of the Draine field (FUV: 6 < h_ν < 13.6 eV). The benchmark models were computed in two ways: one set assuming constant temperatures, thus testing the consistency of the chemical network and photo-processes, and a second set determining the temperature self consistently by solving the thermal balance, thus testing the modeling of the heating and cooling mechanisms accounting for the detailed energy balance throughout the clouds.

Results. …

Fuzzy Blackholes, Anand Murugan

Pomona Senior Theses

The fuzzball model of a black hole is an attempt to resolve the many paradoxes and puzzles of black hole physics that have revealed themselves over the last century. These badly behaved solutions of general relativity have given physicists one of the few laboratories to test candidate quantum theories of gravity. Though little is known about exactly what lies beyond the event horizon, and what the ultimate fate of matter that falls in to a black hole is, we know a few intriguing and elegant semi-classical results that have kept physicists occupied. Among these are the known black hole entropy …

Bvi Photometry And The Luminosity Functions Of The Globular Cluster M92, Nathaniel E. Q. Paust, Brian Chaboyer, Ata Sarajedini

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present new BVI ground-based photometry and VI space-based photometry for the globular cluster M92 (NGC 6341) and examine luminosity functions in B, V, and I containing over 50,000 stars ranging from the tip of the red giant branch to several magnitudes below the main-sequence turnoff. Once corrected for completeness, the observed luminosity functions agree very well with theoretical models and do not show stellar excesses in any region of the luminosity function. Using reduced-χ² fitting, the new M92 luminosity function is shown to be an excellent match to the previously published luminosity function for M30. These …

Keck Hires Spectroscopy Of Candidate Post T Tauri Stars, Eric Bubar

All Theses

This work utilizes an age-oriented method to identify isolated post T Tauri stars in a 13-star sample of high resolution spectroscopy from the 10-m Keck telescope. This analysis utilizes qualitative age information derived from lithium abundances, chromospheric emission indices and UVW kinematic motions in analyzing positions in the the H-R diagram. Once qualitatively assigned a ``young'' age, pre-main sequence isochrones are utilized to determine stellar mass and age estimates. Through this method, 5 of the 13 stars have been confirmed as being in the post T Tauri class. We also examine irregular photometric variability of PTTs and compare the homology …

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

Faculty Publications

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

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

Pomona Senior Theses

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

Listening To Jupiter From 48°N, Matt Kistner

Honors Capstones

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

A Simple Organic Solar Cell, Gordon Patrick Whyburn

Pomona Senior Theses

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

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

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

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

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

Physics Faculty Publications

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

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

WKU Administration Documents

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

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

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

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

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

Publications

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

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

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

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

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

Faculty Scholarship

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

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

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

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

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

Publications

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