Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Have We Found Our Neighbors? The Search For Habitable Planets Outside Our Solar System, Madeline Galbraith

D.U.Quark

No abstract provided.

Quantum Correlation Measurements In Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Detectors, D. V. Martynov, V. V. Frolov, S. Kandhasamy, K. Izumi, H. Miao, N. Mavalvala, E. D. Hall, R. Lanza, Volker Quetschke, Guillermo Valdes

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Quantum fluctuations in the phase and amplitude quadratures of light set limitations on the sensitivity of modern optical instruments. The sensitivity of the interferometric gravitational-wave detectors, such as the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), is limited by quantum shot noise, quantum radiation pressure noise, and a set of classical noises. We show how the quantum properties of light can be used to distinguish these noises using correlation techniques. Particularly, in the first part of the paper we show estimations of the coating thermal noise and gas phase noise, hidden below the quantum shot noise in the Advanced LIGO sensitivity …

Dust-Polarization Maps And Interstellar Turbulence, Robert R. Caldwell, Chris Hirata, Marc Kamionkowski

Dartmouth Scholarship

Perhaps the most intriguing result of Planck's dust-polarization measurements is the observation that the power in the E-mode polarization is twice that in the B mode, as opposed to pre-Planck expectations of roughly equal dust powers in the E and B modes. Here we show how the E- and B-mode powers depend on the detailed properties of the fluctuations in the magnetized interstellar medium (ISM). These fluctuations can be decomposed into slow, fast, and Alfvén magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves, which comprise a complete basis that can be used to describe linear fluctuations of a magnetized fluid. They can …