A Short Introduction To Numerical Linked-Cluster Expansions,
2013
The Pennsylvania State University
A Short Introduction To Numerical Linked-Cluster Expansions, Baoming Tang, Ehsan Khatami, Marcos Rigol
Faculty Publications
We provide a pedagogical introduction to numerical linked-cluster expansions (NLCEs). We sketch the algorithm for generic Hamiltonians that only connect nearest-neighbor sites in a finite cluster with open boundary conditions. We then compare results for a specific model, the Heisenberg model, in each order of the NLCE with the ones for the finite cluster calculated directly by means of full exact diagonalization. We discuss how to reduce the computational cost of the NLCE calculations by taking into account symmetries and topologies of the linked clusters. Finally, we generalize the algorithm to the thermodynamic limit, and discuss several numerical resummation techniques …
Studies Of Ngc 6720 With Calibrated Hst/Wfc3 Emission-Line Filter Images. Ii. Physical Conditions,
2013
Vanderbilt University
Studies Of Ngc 6720 With Calibrated Hst/Wfc3 Emission-Line Filter Images. Ii. Physical Conditions, C. R. O'Dell, Gary J. Ferland, W. J. Henney, M. Peimbert
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
We have performed a detailed analysis of the electron temperature and density in the Ring Nebula using the calibrated Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 images described in the preceding paper. The electron temperature (Te) determined from [NII] and [O III] rises slightly and monotonically toward the central star. The observed equivalent width (EW) in the central region indicates that Te rises as high as 13,000 K. In contrast, the low EWs in the outer regions are largely due to scattered diffuse Galactic radiation by dust. The images allowed determination of unprecedented small-scale variations in Te. …
Studies Of Ngc 6720 With Calibrated Hst/Wfc3 Emission-Line Filter Images. I. Structure And Evolution,
2013
Vanderbilt University
Studies Of Ngc 6720 With Calibrated Hst/Wfc3 Emission-Line Filter Images. I. Structure And Evolution, C. R. O'Dell, Gary J. Ferland, W. J. Henney, M. Peimbert
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
We have performed a detailed analysis of the Ring Nebula (NGC 6720) using Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 images and derived a new three-dimensional model. Existing high spectral resolution spectra played an important supplementary role in our modeling. It is shown that the Main Ring of the nebula is an ionization-bounded irregular non-symmetric disk with a central cavity and perpendicular extended lobes pointed almost toward the observer. The faint outer halos are determined to be fossil radiation, i.e., radiation from gas ionized in an earlier stage of the nebula when it was not ionization bounded. The narrowband WFC3 filters that isolate …
Mars Up Close: Scott Murchie's Team Of Scientists Helps Uncover The Secrets Of The Red Planet,
2013
Colby College
Mars Up Close: Scott Murchie's Team Of Scientists Helps Uncover The Secrets Of The Red Planet, Tom Nugent
Colby Magazine
Planetary geologist Scott Murchie ’81 leads a team that built and operates the high-tech camera now orbiting Mars and analyzes images used to help select landing sites for the Phoenix lander and the Mars Science Laboratory, scheduled for launch in 2009. Murchie’s work is groundbreaking—literally.
Characterizing Sky Variability For Multi-Messenger Astronomy,
2013
Utah State University
Characterizing Sky Variability For Multi-Messenger Astronomy, Rachel Nydegger
UCUR
Multi-messenger astronomy employs both electromagnetic and gravitational -wave detectors to paint a richer picture of celestial objects, providing more depth and information. The interferometers utilized for gravitational-wave observations receive input from very broad fields of view on the sky, typically a few square degrees. To have simultaneous electromagnetic observations (typically less than one square degree) requires innovative techniques for the telescopes to find the origin of radiation. One idea is to “tile” the view of the interferometer, using multiple telescopes to simultaneously point at different areas of the field to observe the source. One di"culty of this observing paradigm is …
The Interior Structure Constants As An Age Diagnostic For Low-Mass, Pre-Main-Sequence Detached Eclipsing Binary Stars,
2013
Dartmouth College
The Interior Structure Constants As An Age Diagnostic For Low-Mass, Pre-Main-Sequence Detached Eclipsing Binary Stars, Gregory A. Feiden, Aaron Dotter
Dartmouth Scholarship
We propose a novel method for determining the ages of low-mass, pre-main-sequence stellar systems using the apsidal motion of low-mass detached eclipsing binaries. The apsidal motion of a binary system with an eccentric orbit provides information regarding the interior structure constants of the individual stars. These constants are related to the normalized stellar interior density distribution and can be extracted from the predictions of stellar evolution models. We demonstrate that low-mass, pre-main-sequence stars undergoing radiative core contraction display rapidly changing interior structure constants (greater than 5% per 10 Myr) that, when combined with observational determinations of the interior structure constants …
Einstein@Home All-Sky Search For Periodic Gravitational Waves In Ligo S5 Data,
2013
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Einstein@Home All-Sky Search For Periodic Gravitational Waves In Ligo S5 Data, J. Aasi, J. Abadie, B. P. Abbott, Matthew Benacquista, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Soma Mukherjee, Malik Rakhmanov, Volker Quetschke, Joseph D. Romano
Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications
This paper presents results of an all-sky search for periodic gravitational waves in the frequency range [50,1 190] Hz and with frequency derivative range of ∼[−20,1.1]×10−10 Hz s−1 for the fifth LIGO science run (S5). The search uses a noncoherent Hough-transform method to combine the information from coherent searches on time scales of about one day. Because these searches are very computationally intensive, they have been carried out with the Einstein@Home volunteer distributed computing project. Postprocessing identifies eight candidate signals; deeper follow-up studies rule them out. Hence, since no gravitational wave signals have been found, we report upper limits on …
A Magnetic Confinement Versus Rotation Classification Of Massive-Star Magnetospheres,
2013
Swarthmore College
A Magnetic Confinement Versus Rotation Classification Of Massive-Star Magnetospheres, V. Petit, S. P. Owocki, G. A. Wade, David H. Cohen, J. O. Sundqvist, M. Gagné, J. Maíz Apellániz, M. E. Oksala, D. A. Bohlender, T. Rivinius, H. F. Henrichs, E. Alecian, R. H.D. Townsend, A. Ud-Doula
Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works
Building on results from the Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS) project, this paper shows how a two-parameter classification of massive-star magnetospheres in terms of the magnetic wind confinement (which sets the Alfvén radius RA) and stellar rotation (which sets the Kepler co-rotation radius RK) provides a useful organization of both observational signatures and theoretical predictions. We compile the first comprehensive study of inferred and observed values for relevant stellar and magnetic parameters of 64 confirmed magnetic OB stars with Teff ≳ 16 kK. Using these parameters, we locate the stars in the magnetic confinement–rotation diagram, a log–log plot of RK …
A Report On The X-Ray Properties Of The Τ Sco Class Of Stars.,
2013
East Tennessee State University
A Report On The X-Ray Properties Of The Τ Sco Class Of Stars., Richard Ignace, L. Oskinova, D. Massa
ETSU Faculty Works
An increasing number of OB stars have been shown to possess magnetic fields. Although the sample remains small, it is surprising that the magnetic and X-ray properties of these stars appear to be far less correlated than expected. This contradicts model predictions, which generally indicate that the X-rays from magnetic stars are harder and more luminous than their non-magnetic counterparts. Instead, the X-ray properties of magnetic OB stars are quite diverse. τ Sco is one example where the expectations are better met. This bright main-sequence, early B star has been studied extensively in a variety of wavebands. It has a …
Discovery Of Tev Gamma-Ray Emission From Cta 1 By Veritas,
2013
Cork Institute of Technology
Discovery Of Tev Gamma-Ray Emission From Cta 1 By Veritas, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.
Physical Sciences Publications
We report the discovery of TeV gamma-ray emission coincident with the shell-type radio supernova remnant (SNR) CTA 1 using the VERITAS gamma-ray observatory. The source, VER J0006+729, was detected as a 6.5 standard deviation excess over background and shows an extended morphology, approximated by a two-dimensional Gaussian of semimajor (semiminor) axis 0fdg30 (0fdg24) and a centroid 5' from the Fermi gamma-ray pulsar PSR J0007+7303 and its X-ray pulsar wind nebula (PWN). The photon spectrum is well described by a power-law dN/dE = N 0(E/3 TeV)–Γ, with a differential spectral index of Γ = 2.2 ± 0.2stat ± 0.3sys, and normalization …
Stochastic Acceleration Of Suprathermal Particles Under Pressure Balance Conditions,
2013
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Stochastic Acceleration Of Suprathermal Particles Under Pressure Balance Conditions, Thorsten Antecki, Reinhard Schlickeiser, Ming Zhang
Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications
The acceleration of suprathermal charged particles in the heliosphere under pressure balance conditions including for the first time the radial spatial particle diffusion and convection in the solar wind is investigated. The physical conditions are derived for which the stationary phase space distribution of suprathermal particles approaches the power-law distribution f ∝ p −5,which is often seen in spacecraft observations. For separable source distributions in momentum and position we analytically solve the stationary particle transport equation for a radially constant solar wind speed V0 and a momentum-independent radial spatial diffusion coefficient. The resulting stationary solution at any position within the …
Galactic Cosmic-Ray Modulation In A Realistic Global Magnetohydrodynamic Heliosphere,
2013
Florida Institute of Technology
Galactic Cosmic-Ray Modulation In A Realistic Global Magnetohydrodynamic Heliosphere, Xi Luo, Ming Zhang, Hamid K. Rassoul, Nikolai V. Pogorelov, Jacob Heerikhuisen
Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications
To understand the behavior of cosmic-ray modulation seen by the two Voyager spacecraft in the region near the termination shock (TS) and in the heliosheath at a distance of >100 AU, a realistic magnetohydrodynamic global heliosphere model is incorporated into our cosmic-ray transport code, so that the detailed effects of the heliospheric boundaries and their plasma/magnetic geometry can be revealed. A number of simulations of cosmic-ray modulation performed with this code result in the following conclusions. (1) Diffusive shock acceleration by the TS can significantly affect the level of cosmic-ray flux and, in particular, its radial gradient profile in the …
The Radio And Optical Luminosity Evolution Of Quasars Ii -- The Sdss Sample,
2013
University of Richmond
The Radio And Optical Luminosity Evolution Of Quasars Ii -- The Sdss Sample, Jack Singal, V. Petrosian, L. Stawarz, A. Lawrence
Physics Faculty Publications
We determine the radio and optical luminosity evolutions and the true distribution of the radio-loudness parameter R, defined as the ratio of the radio to optical luminosity, for a set of more than 5000 quasars combining Sloan Digital Sky Survey optical and Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty cm (FIRST) radio data. We apply the method of Efron and Petrosian to access the intrinsic distribution parameters, taking into account the truncations and correlations inherent in the data. We find that the population exhibits strong positive evolution with redshift in both wavebands, with somewhat greater radio evolution than optical. …
Spurious Behavior Of Shock-Capturing Methods By The Fractional
Step Approach: Problems Containing Stiff Source Terms And
Discontinuities,
2013
NASA Ames Research Center
Spurious Behavior Of Shock-Capturing Methods By The Fractional Step Approach: Problems Containing Stiff Source Terms And Discontinuities, H.C. Yee, D.V. Kotov, Wei Wang, Chi-Wang Shu
United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Publications
The goal of this paper is to relate numerical dissipations that are inherited in high order shock-capturing schemes with the onset of wrong propagation speed of discontinuities. For pointwise evaluation of the source term, previous studies indicated that the phenomenon of wrong propagation speed of discontinuities is connected with the smearing of the discontinuity caused by the discretization of the advection term. The present study focuses only on solving the reactive system by the fractional step method using the Strang splitting. Studies shows that the degree of wrong propagation speed of discontinuities is highly dependent on the accuracy of the …
The Stellar Activity-Rotation Relationship,
2013
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
The Stellar Activity-Rotation Relationship, Nick J. Wright, Jeremy J. Drake, Eric E. Mamajek, Gregory W. Henry
Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications
Using a new catalog of 824 solar and late-type stars with measured X-ray luminosities and rotation periods we have studied the relationship between rotation and stellar activity that is believed to be a probe of the underlying stellar dynamo. Using an unbiased subset of the sample we calculate the power law slope of the unsaturated regime of the activity-rotation relationship as LX/Lbol α Roβ, where β = –2.70 ± 0.13. Notably this is inconsistent with the canonical β = –2 slope to a confidence of 5σ are argues for an interface-type dynamo. Super-saturation is observed for the fastest rotators in …
Retrograde Versus Prograde Models Of Accreting Black Holes,
2013
Kennesaw State University
Retrograde Versus Prograde Models Of Accreting Black Holes, David Garofalo
Faculty Articles
There is a general consensus that magnetic fields, accretion disks, and rotating black holes are instrumental in the generation of the most powerful sources of energy in the known universe. Nonetheless, because magnetized accretion onto rotating black holes involves both the complications of nonlinear magnetohydrodynamics that currently cannot fully be treated numerically, and uncertainties about the origin of magnetic fields that at present are part of the input, the space of possible solutions remains less constrained. Consequently, the literature still bears witness to the proliferation of rather different black hole engine models. But the accumulated wealth of observational data is …
A Soft X-Ray Reverberation Lag In The Agn Eso 113-G010,
2013
Wayne State University
A Soft X-Ray Reverberation Lag In The Agn Eso 113-G010, E. M. Cackett, A. C. Fabian, A. Zogbhi, E. Kara, C. Reynolds, P. Uttley
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications
Reverberation lags have recently been discovered in a handful of nearby, variable active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Here, we analyze a ~100 ks archival XMM-Newton observation of the highly variable AGN, ESO 113-G010, in order to search for lags between hard, 1.5-4.5 keV, and soft, 0.3-0.9 keV, energy X-ray bands. At the lowest frequencies available in the light curve (lsim 1.5 × 10-4 Hz), we find hard lags where the power-law-dominated hard band lags the soft band (where the reflection fraction is high). However, at higher frequencies in the range (2-3) × 10-4 Hz we find a soft lag …
2006 May–July Major Radio Flare Episodes In Cygnus X-3: Spectrotiming Analysis Of The X-Ray Data,
2013
Aalto University
2006 May–July Major Radio Flare Episodes In Cygnus X-3: Spectrotiming Analysis Of The X-Ray Data, K. I. I. Koljonen, M. L. Mccollough, D. C. Hannikainen, R. Droulans
Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications
We analyse in detail the X-ray data of the microquasar Cygnus X-3 obtained during major radio flaring episodes in 2006 with multiple observatories. The analysis consists of two parts: probing the fast (∼1min) X-ray spectral evolution with principal component analysis followed by subsequent spectral fits to the time-averaged spectra (∼3 ks). Based on the analysis we find that the overall X-ray variability during major flaring episodes can be attributed to two principal components whose evolution based on spectral fits is best reproduced by a hybrid Comptonization component and a bremsstrahlung or saturated thermal Comptonization component. The variability of the thermal …
Mapping Light Pollution At Utah State University,
2013
Utah State University
Mapping Light Pollution At Utah State University, Rachel Nydegger, Shane L. Larson
Research on the Hill (Salt Lake City)
One of the beauties of modern civilization is seeing the city lighting at night. It provides a feeling of security and is indicative of the power and endeavors of humanity, but over-lighting is a form of pollution. Many outdoor light fixtures spread light in all directions, sending a majority of the light into the sky, away from where we want the light to be on the ground. This light spreading upward is not only wasted light, but it is wasted energy and money, destroys our ability to view the night sky, and has profound effects on nocturnal creatures. The direct …
Investigating The Spectroscopic, Magnetic And Circumstellar Variability Of The O9 Subgiant Star Hd 57682.,
2013
Queens University
Investigating The Spectroscopic, Magnetic And Circumstellar Variability Of The O9 Subgiant Star Hd 57682., J. Grunhut, G. Wade, J. Sundqvist, A. Ud-Doula, C. Neiner, Richard Ignace, W. Marcolino, Th. Rivinius, A. Fullerton, L. Kaper, B. Mauclaire, C. Buil, T. Garrel, J. Ribeiro, S. Ubaud
ETSU Faculty Works
The O9IV star HD 57682, discovered to be magnetic within the context of the Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS) survey in 2009, is one of only eight convincingly detected magnetic O-type stars. Among this select group, it stands out due to its sharp-lined photospheric spectrum. Since its discovery, the MiMeS Collaboration has continued to obtain spectroscopic and magnetic observations in order to refine our knowledge of its magnetic field strength and geometry, rotational period and spectral properties and variability. In this paper we report new Echelle SpectroPolarimetric Device for the Observation of Stars (ESPaDOnS) spectropolarimetric observations of HD 57682, which …
