Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy Commons^™

An Investigation Into The Suitability Of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria As Models For Martian Forward Contamination, Maxwell M. W. Silver

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The NASA Planetary Protection policy requires interplanetary space missions do not compromise the target body for a current or future scientific investigation and do not pose an unacceptable risk to Earth, including biologic materials. Robotic missions to Mars pose a risk to planetary protection in the forms of forward and reverse contamination. To reduce these risks, a firm understanding of microbial response to Mars conditions is required. Sulfate-reducing bacteria are prime candidates for potential forward contamination on Mars. Understanding the potential for forward-contamination of sulfate-reducers on Mars calls for the characterization of sulfate-reducers under Mars atmosphere, temperature, and sulfate-brines. This …

Remark On Vacuum Fluctuation As The Cause Of Universe Creation: Or How Neutrosophic Logic And Material Point Method May Resolve Dispute On The Origin Of The Universe Through Re-Reading Gen. 1:1-2, Florentin Smarandache, Victor Christianto

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Questions regarding the formation of the Universe and what was there before the existence of Early Universe have been great interest to mankind of all times. In recent decades, the Big Bang as described by the Lambda CDMStandard Model Cosmology has become widely accepted by majority of physics and cosmology communities. Among other things, we can cite A.A. Grib Pavlov who pointed out some problems of heavy particles creation out of vacuum and also other proposal of Creatio ex nihilo theory (CET). But the philosophical problems remain, as Vaas pointed out: Did the universe have a beginning or does it …

Thinking Out Loud On Primeval Atom, Big Bang & Biblical Account Of Creation, Florentin Smarandache, Victor Christianto

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In recent years, the Big Bang as described by the Lambda CDM-Standard Model Cosmology has become widely accepted by majority of physics and cosmology communities. Some people even have concluded that it has no serious alternative in horizon. Is that true? First, as we argued elsewhere, Big Bang relies on singularity, so, when we are able to describe the observed data without invoking singularity, then Big Bang model is no longer required. In this paper, we explore a few alternatives other than Big Bang which most cosmologists believe is the closest to biblical account of creation. We argue that re-reading …

Energy From Active Galactic Nuclei And The Effects On Host Spiral Galaxies, Amanda Schilling

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

I have investigated the energy output of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in order to understand how these objects evolve and the impact they may have on host galaxies. First, I looked at a sample of 96 AGN at redshifts $z \sim 2, 3,$ and $4$ which have imaging and thus luminosity measurements in the $griz$ and $JHK$ observed wavebands. For these galaxies, I have co-epochal data across those bands which accounted for variability in AGN luminosity. I used the luminosity measurements in the five bands to construct spectral energy distributions (SED) in the emitted optical-UV bands for each AGN. I …

Using Student Characteristics, Student Spatial-Content Knowledge, And Teacher Spatial-Content Knowledge To Predict Student Spatial-Content Knowledge Of Lunar Phases, Kyle A. Curry

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

Student demographic characteristics of gender and race/ethnicity, students’ spatial-content knowledge as measured by pre-instructional performance on the Lunar Phases Concept Inventory (LPCI) (Lindell & Olsen), and post-instructional performance on the Purdue Visualization of Rotations Test (PSVT) (Bodner & Guay, 1997), and teachers’ spatial-content knowledge as measured by the two assessments were considered to predict students’ overall understanding of lunar phases as measured by post-instructional results on the LPCI. A mixed modeling approach was used in a hierarchal manner to evaluate the student learning outcomes. Results showed that student gender was not a significant predictor of post-instructional student performance, but students …

Probing The Fitting Accuracy Of Active Galaxy Spectra, Aaron T. Line

Physics

Prior to this study, Dr. Vardha N. Bennert and collaborators selected a sample of ~100 local active galaxies to study the relationships between black hole mass and host galaxy properties. The broad Hβ width is necessary to determine black hole mass. This value is determined using a spectral decomposition code was scripted in IDL by Dr. Daeseong Park. The script fit spectral features and collected data for properties such as width of emission lines and continuum contribution percentages. The results were logged for further analysis.

To probe the accuracy of the fitting process, artificial spectra were created and fitted to …

Modeling Extrasolar Trojan Asteroids In Gravitational Potentials Of Migrating Jovian-Like Planets To Inform Future Observations, Austin Hinkel

Lewis Honors College Capstone Collection

In this paper, I construct a program to map the evolution of the potential in a planet-star system where a planet with a few Jupiter masses migrates inward. Given a trojan asteroid librating around the fourth or fifth Lagrange point, the asteroid follows the evolving equipotential lines of the slowly changing potential map. As the planet and its trojan asteroids migrate inward towards the host star, the trojan asteroid librations become tighter, providing a denser “cloud” of trojan asteroids. Such a change in the density of trojan asteroids is examined with the intent to deduce the likelihood of detection via …

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

Physics

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

Unmatter Plasma, Relativistic Oblique-Length Contraction Factor, Neutrosophic Diagram And Neutrosophic Degree Of Paradoxicity: Articles And Notes, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

This book has four parts. In the first part, we collected five recent papers, published before in Progress in Physics, but reviewed. In the first paper, we approach a novel form of plasma, Unmatter Plasma. The electron-positron beam plasma was generated in the laboratory in the beginning of 2015. This experimental fact shows that unmatter, a new form of matter that is formed by matter and antimatter bind together (mathematically predicted a decade ago) really exists. That is the electron-positron plasma experiment of 2015 is the experimentum crucis verifying the mathematically predicted unmatter. In the second paper, we generalize the …

Pulsar J0453+1559, The 10th Double Neutron Star System In The Universe, Jose Guadalupe Martinez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Pulsars are neutron stars that spin rapidly, are highly magnetized, and they emit beams of electromagnetic radiation like a lighthouse out in space. These beams of radiation are only observed when the beams face towards Earth and can be measured by a radio telescope. Pulsar studies have an abundance of scientific implementations in solid state physics, general relativity, galactic astronomy, astronomy, planetary physics and have even opened windows in cosmology. This thesis reports the results of a study of pulsar (PSR) J0453+1559, a new binary pulsar discovered in the Arecibo All-Sky 327 MegaHertz Drift Pulsar Survey. The recorded observations of …

Star Formation And Substructure In Galaxy Clusters, Seth A. Cohen, Ryan C. Hickox, Gary A. Wegner, Maret Einasto, Jaan Vennik

Dartmouth Scholarship

We investigate the relationship between star formation (SF) and substructure in a sample of 107 nearby galaxy clusters using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Several past studies of individual galaxy clusters have suggested that cluster mergers enhance cluster SF, while others find no such relationship. The SF fraction in multi-component clusters (0.228 +/- 0.007) is higher than that in single-component clusters (0.175 +/- 0.016) for galaxies with M^0.1_r < -20.5. In both single- and multi-component clusters, the fraction of star-forming galaxies increases with clustercentric distance and decreases with local galaxy number density, and multi-component clusters show a higher SF fraction than single-component clusters at almost all clustercentric distances and local densities. Comparing the SF fraction in individual clusters to several statistical measures of substructure, we find weak, but in most cases significant at greater than 2 sigma, correlations between substructure and SF fraction. These results could indicate that cluster mergers may cause weak but significant SF enhancement in clusters, or unrelaxed clusters exhibit slightly stronger SF due to their less evolved states relative to relaxed clusters.

Black Hole Variability And The Star Formation-Active Galactic Nucleus Connection: Do All Star-Forming Galaxies Host An Active Galactic Nucleus?, Ryan C. Hickox, James R. Mullaney, David M. Alexander, Chien-Ting J. Chen, Francesca M. Civano, Andy D. Goulding, Kevin N. Hainline

Dartmouth Scholarship

We investigate the effect of active galactic nucleus (AGN) variability on the observed connection between star formation and black hole accretion in extragalactic surveys. Recent studies have reported relatively weak correlations between observed AGN luminosities and the properties of AGN hosts, which has been interpreted to imply that there is no direct connection between AGN activity and star formation. However, AGNs may be expected to vary significantly on a wide range of timescales (from hours to Myr) that are far shorter than the typical timescale for star formation (100 Myr). This variability can have important consequences for observed correlations. We …

Modeling Ionized And Molecular Regions Of The Interstellar Medium Using The Spectral Synthesis Code Cloudy, Gururaj Wagle

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The focus of this dissertation is to study the star-forming regions of the interstellar medium (ISM), using two very diverse environments: the Polaris Flare, high-galactic latitude, cirrus cloud complex consisting of several starless molecular cores with no nearby hot stars; and the Orion Nebula, which is the closest massive star forming region. The two environments provide a wide range of physical conditions.

It is commonly assumed that the Herschel far-infrared (FIR) fluxes are a good measure of column density, hence, mass of interstellar clouds. We find that the FIR fluxes are insensitive to the column density if A_V ≳ …

Proceedings Of The First International Conference On Superluminal Physics & Instantaneous Physics As New Fields Of Research, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In a similar way as passing from Euclidean Geometry to Non-Euclidean Geometry, we can pass from Subluminal Physics to Superluminal Physics, and further to Instantaneous Physics (instantaneous traveling). In the lights of two consecutive successful CERN experiments with superluminal particles in the fall of 2011, we believe these two new fields of research should begin developing. A physical law has a form in Newtonian physics, another form in the Relativity Theory, and different form at Superluminal theory, or at Instantaneous (infinite) speeds – according to the S-Denying Theory spectrum. First, we extend physical laws and formulas to superluminal traveling and …

The Structure Of Broad Line Region And The Effects Of Cooling Function In Active Galactic Nuclei, Ye Wang

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) are the most mystic objects in the universe. They are usually very far away from our Galaxy, which means that they are ancient objects. They are also luminous and have unique features in their spectra. Studying AGNs helps understanding the early universe and the evolution of galaxies. This Dissertation aims to research the structure of AGNs and the cooling function in the AGNs environment.

I first investigate what optical/ultraviolet spectroscopic features would be produced by Broad-line Region (BLR) clouds crossing our line of sight to the accretion disk, the source of the optical/UV continuum. This research, …

Supernova Resonance-Scattering Line Profiles In The Absence Of A Photosphere, Brian Friesen, E. Baron, David Branch, Bin Chen, Jerod T. Parrent, R. C. Thomas

Dartmouth Scholarship

In supernova (SN) spectroscopy relatively little attention has been given to the properties of optically thick spectral lines in epochs following the photosphere's recession. Most treatments and analyses of post-photospheric optical spectra of SNe assume that forbidden-line emission comprises most if not all spectral features. However, evidence exists that suggests that some spectra exhibit line profiles formed via optically thick resonance-scattering even months or years after the SN explosion. To explore this possibility, we present a geometrical approach to SN spectrum formation based on the "Elementary Supernova" model, wherein we investigate the characteristics of resonance-scattering in optically thick lines while …

Energetic Galaxy-Wide Outflows In High-Redshift Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies Hosting Agn Activity, C. M. Harrison, D. M. Alexander, A. M. Swinbank, Ian Smail, S. Alaghband-Zadeh, F. E. Bauer, S. C. Chapman, A. Del Moro, R. C. Hickox

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present integral field spectroscopy observations, covering the [O III]4959,5007 emission-line doublet of eight high-redshift (z=1.4-3.4) ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) that host Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) activity, including known sub-millimetre luminous galaxies (SMGs). The targets have moderate radio luminosities that are typical of high-redshift ULIRGs (L(1.4GHz)=10^(24)-10^(25)W/Hz) and therefore are not radio-loud AGN. We de-couple kinematic components due to the galaxy dynamics and mergers from those due to outflows. We find evidence in the four most luminous systems (L([O III])>~10^(43)erg/s) for the signatures of large-scale energetic outflows: extremely broad [O III] emission (FWHM ~ 700-1400km/s) across ~4-15kpc, with high velocity …

Hypervelocity Planets And Transits Around Hypervelocity Stars, Idan Ginsburg, Abraham Loeb, Gary A. Wegner

Dartmouth Scholarship

The disruption of a binary star system by the massive black hole at the Galactic Centre, SgrA*, can lead to the capture of one star around SgrA* and the ejection of its companion as a hypervelocity star (HVS). We consider the possibility that these stars may have planets and study the dynamics of these planets. Using a direct N-body integration code, we simulated a large number of different binary orbits around SgrA*. For some orbital parameters, a planet is ejected at a high speed. In other instances, a HVS is ejected with one or more planets orbiting around it. …

Vacuum, Space-Time, Matter And The Models Of Smarandache Geometry, Florentin Smarandache, Hu Chang-Wei

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Many fundamental concepts in physics remain unsolved:  What is time? Is it pure relative?  What is the vacuum? Is it void space or special medium?  What is mass? Can it be created? I believe that physicists have not got definite answers for the above questions. Isaac Newton said: I was like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me. For instance, we still do not know what the clear definition of time …

Laboratory Astrophysics: Using Ebit Measurements To Interpret High Resolution Spectra From Celestial Sources, Carey Scott, Joshua Thompson, N. Hell, Greg V. Brown

STAR Program Research Presentations

Astrophysicists use radiation to investigate the physics controlling a variety of celestial sources, including stellar atmospheres, black holes, and binary systems. By measuring the spectrum of the emitted radiation, astrophysicists can determine a source’s temperature and composition. Accurate atomic data are needed for reliably interpreting these spectra. Here we present an overview of how LLNL’s EBIT facility is used to put the atomic data on sound footing for use by the high energy astrophysics community.

Evidence For Particle Acceleration To The Knee Of The Cosmic Ray Spectrum In Tycho’S Supernova Remnant, Kristoffer A. Eriksen, John P. Hughes, Carles Badenes, Robert Fesen

Dartmouth Scholarship

Supernova remnants (SNRs) have long been assumed to be the source of cosmic rays (CRs) up to the "knee" of the CR spectrum at 10^15 eV, accelerating particles to relativistic energies in their blast waves by the process of diffusive shock acceleration (DSA). Since cosmic ray nuclei do not radiate efficiently, their presence must be inferred indirectly. Previous theoretical calculations and X-ray observations show that CR acceleration modifies significantly the structure of the SNR and greatly amplifies the interstellar magnetic field. We present new, deep X-ray observations of the remnant of Tycho's supernova (SN 1572, henceforth Tycho), which reveal a …

Limit On Continuous Neutrino Emission From Neutron Stars, Itzhak Goldman, Shmuel Nussinov

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The timing data of the binary pulsar PSR1913+16, are used to establish an upper limit on the rate of continuous neutrino emission from neutron stars. Neutrino emission from each of the neutron stars of the binary system, increases the star binding energy and thus translates to a decrease in their masses. This in turn implies an increase with time of the binary period. Using the pulsar data we obtain an upper limit on the allowed rate of mass reduction: vertical bar M vertical bar < 1.1 x 10(-12) yr(-1) M, where M is the total mass of the binary. This constrains exotic nuclear equations of state that predict continuous neutrino emissions. The limit applies also to other channels of energy loss, e. g. axion emission. Continued timing measurements of additional binary pulsars, should yield a stronger limit in the future.

Begin The Adventure : How To Break The Light Barrier By A.D. 2079 (3rd Ed.), Florentin Smarandache, Homer B. Tilton

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

This edition, the third, has undergone a subtle name change, going from "A.D. 2070" in the title to A.D. 2079 as the timeline is fine-tuned. Because of the almost universal failure to recognize the distinction between physical (reality-based, dynamical) and visual (appearance-based, kinematical) variables, a tremendous volume of mythology arose over the past 100 years centered around Einstein's reality view of the distortions of special relativity. To get a sense of it, we point the reader to Paul J. Nahin's heroic book, Time Machines, 2nd ed.,- to these Tech Notes in particular: TN#6. "A High-Speed Rocket Is a One-Way Time …

Neutrosophic Logic, Wave Mechanics, And Other Stories: Selected Works 2005-2008, Florentin Smarandache, Victor Christianto

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

There is beginning for anything; we used to hear that phrase. The same wisdom word applies to us too. What began in 2005 as a short email on some ideas related to interpretation of the Wave Mechanics results in a number of papers and books up to now. Some of these papers can be found in Progress in Physics or elsewhere. It is often recognized that when a mathematician meets a physics-inclined mind then the result is either a series of endless debates or publication. In our story, we prefer to publish rather than perish. Therefore, our purpose with this …

Agn Reddening And Ultraviolet Extinction Curves From Hubble Space Telescope Spectra, C. Martin Gaskell, A. J. Benkler

C. Martin Gaskell Publications

We present intrinsic extinction curves for 14 AGNs. The AGNs have reddenings, E(B-V), of up to 0.36 mag. The majority (13 out of 14) of the extinction curves are not steep in the UV. Of the seven best determined extinction curves, five have extinction curves that are as flat as the standard Galactic curve in the optical and near UV, but flatter in the far UV, and without the λ2175 feature. One AGN, B3 0754+394, has a steep SMC-like extinction curve, and another, Mrk 304, has an LMC-like extinction curve, including a probable λ2175 bump. The remaining seven, lower-quality, extinction …

Quantization In Astrophysics, Brownian Motion, And Supersymmetry, Florentin Smarandache, Victor Christianto

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

The present book discusses, among other things, various quantization phenomena found in Astrophysics and some related issues including Brownian Motion. With recent discoveries of exoplanets in our galaxy and beyond, this Astrophysics quantization issue has attracted numerous discussions in the past few years. Most chapters in this book come from published papers in various peer-reviewed journals, and they cover different methods to describe quantization, including Weyl geometry, Supersymmetry, generalized Schrödinger, and Cartan torsion method. In some chapters Navier-Stokes equations are also discussed, because it is likely that this theory will remain relevant in Astrophysics and Cosmology While much of the …

Today's Take On Einstein’S Relativity: Proceedings Of The Conference Of 18 Feb 2005, Florentin Smarandache, Homer B. Tilton

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Non Sequiturs in Relativity Four in number at this point Dr. Smith of "Lost in Space" had a knack of easing out of binds that he'd gotten himself into. Dr. Einstein was a little like that. Einstein originally declared that the distortions of special relativity reflect real changes to the objects being remotely observed, then reconsidered. The first non sequitur is quoted here from Sachs:[1] In a lecture that Einstein gave to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in 1921, he said the following: "Geometry predicates nothing about relations of real things, but only geometry together with the purport of physical …

The Long-Period Orbit Of The Dwarf Nova V630 Cassiopeiae, J. A. Orosz, J. R. Thorstensen, R. K. Honeycutt

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present extensive spectroscopy and photometry of the dwarf nova V630 Cassiopeiae. A late-type (K4-5) absorption spectrum is easily detectable, from which we derive the orbital parameters. We find a spectroscopic period of P=2.56387 +/- (4 times 10^{-5}) days and a semiamplitude of K_2=132.9 +/- 4.0 km/s. The resulting mass function, which is a firm lower limit on the mass of the white dwarf, is then f(M)=0.624 +/- 0.056 solar masses. The secondary star is a ``stripped giant'', and using relations between the core mass and the luminosity and the core mass and the radius we derive a lower limit …

Cluster Versus Field Elliptical Galaxies And Clues On Their Formation, Mariangela Bernardi, Alvio Renzini, Luiz N. Da Costa, Gary Wegner

Dartmouth Scholarship

Using new observations for a sample of 931 early-type galaxies, we investigate whether the Mg₂-σ₀ relation shows any dependence on the local environment. The galaxies have been assigned to three different environments depending on the local overdensity (clusters, groups, and field); we used our complete redshift database to guide the assignment of galaxies. It is found that cluster, group, and field early-type galaxies follow almost identical Mg₂-σ₀ relations, with the largest Mg₂ zero-point difference (clusters minus field) being only 0.007±0.002 mag. No correlation of the residuals is found with the morphological type or …

Comets And Meteors, Lincoln N. Oatley

Student and Lippitt Prize Essays

Defines and describes named comets and meteor events and their scientific study.