Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

The Search For The Missing Mantles Of Differentiated Asteroids: Evidence From Taxonomic A-Class Asteroids And Olivine-Dominated Achondrite Meteorites, Michael Peter Lucas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The apparent rarity of taxonomic A-class asteroids poses a significant paradox for understanding asteroid differentiation and the dynamical evolution of the early solar system. Based on results from asteroid taxonomic surveys, and on the abundances and mineralogy of different achondrite meteorites, it appears that olivine-dominated mantle remnants are missing from both the asteroid population and in meteorite collections. Several scenarios to explain this paradox have been proposed: (1) olivine mantle material has been stripped away by collisions and only remains as small fragments (< ~5 km), (2) A-class asteroids are abundant but have been altered in some way masking their presence, or (3) differentiated asteroids did not form thick olivine-rich mantles.

We have approached these questions through the collection of taxonomic and observational data on known A-class …

Why Is An Einstein Ring Blue?, Jonathan Blackledge

Articles

Albert Einstein predicted the existence of `Einstein rings' as a consequence of his general theory of relativity. The phenomenon is a direct result of the idea that if a mass warps space-time then light (and other electromagnetic waves) will be `lensed' by the strong gravitational field produced by a large cosmological body such as a galaxy. Since 1998, when the first complete Einstein ring was observed, many more complete or partially complete Einstein rings have been observed in the radio and infrared spectra, for example, and by the Hubble Space Telescope in the optical spectrum. However, in the latter case, …

A Gravitational Wave Observatory Operating Beyond The Quantum Shot-Noise Limit, J. Abadie, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. D. Abbott, M. Abernathy, C. Adams, R. Adhikari, C. Affeldt, P. Ajith, B. Allen, G. S. Allen, E. Amador Ceron, D. Amariutei, R. S. Amin, S. B. Anderson, W. G. Anderson, K. Arai, M. A. Arain, M. C. Araya, S. M. Aston, D. Atkinson, P. Aufmuth, C. Aulbert, B. E. Aylott, S. Babak, P. Baker, S. Ballmer, D. Barker, B. Barr, P. Barriga, L. Barsotti, Tiffany Z. Summerscales

Faculty Publications

© 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. Around the globe several observatories are seeking the first direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs). These waves are predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity and are generated, for example, by black-hole binary systems. Present GW detectors are Michelson-type kilometre-scale laser interferometers measuring the distance changes between mirrors suspended in vacuum. The sensitivity of these detectors at frequencies above several hundred hertz is limited by the vacuum (zero-point) fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. A quantum technology - the injection of squeezed light - offers a solution to this problem. Here we demonstrate …

Book Review: Exploring Mars: Chronicles From A Decade Of Discovery, T. D. Oswalt

Publications

This document is Dr. Oswalt’s review of Exploring Mars : Chronicles from a Decade of Discovery by Scott Hubbard. Arizona, 2011 194p, 9780816521111 $45.00, 9780816528967 $17.95.

Next-To-Next-To-Leading Soft-Gluon Corrections For The Top Quark Cross Section And Transverse Momentum Distribution, Nikolaos Kidonakis

Faculty Articles

I present results for top quark production in hadronic collisions at LHC and Tevatron energies. The soft-gluon corrections to the differential cross section are resummed at next-to-next-to-leading-logarithm accuracy via the two-loop soft anomalous dimension matrices. Approximate next-to-next-to-leading-order differential and total cross sections are calculated. Detailed theoretical predictions are shown for the t (t) over bar cross section and the top quark p(T) distribution at the Tevatron and the LHC.

Cosmic Voices: Searching For Signs Of Life Elsewhere In The Universe, Shane L. Larson

Public Talks

No abstract provided.

D-Dimensional Bose Gases And The Lambert W Function, Sree Ram Valluri, J Tanguay, M Gil, D J. Jeffrey

Physics and Astronomy Publications

The applications of the Lambert W function (also known as the W function) to D-dimensional Bose gases are presented. We introduce two sets of families of logarithmic transcendental equations that occur frequently in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics and present their solution in terms of the W function. The low temperature T behavior of free ideal Bose gases is considered in three and four dimensions. It is shown that near condensation in four dimensions, the chemical potential μ and pressure P can be expressed in terms of T through the W function. The low T behavior of one- and two-dimensional ideal …

Pitch Angle Scattering In The Outer Heliosheath And Formation Of The Interstellar Boundary Explorer Ribbon, Konstantin V. Gamayunov, Ming Zhang, Hamid K. Rassoul

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

The dominant and unexpected feature in the first Interstellar Boundary EXplorer (IBEX) maps is a ribbon of the enhanced energetic neutral atom (ENA) emissions. Presenting the first results from IBEX,McComas et al. identified six possible mechanisms of ribbon formation. One of the mechanisms, the so-called secondary ENA mechanism, was already quantitatively elaborated by Heerikhuisen et al., and they successfully reproduced the main features of the ribbon. We further study the "secondary ENA" mechanism by quantifying a previously omitted stage of the proton evolution between two consecutive acts of the charge-exchange in the outer heliosheath (OHS). The main findings can be …

Pitch Aangle Scattering In The Outer Heliosheath And Formation Of The Interstellar Boundary Explorer Ribbon, Konstantin V. Gamayunov, Ming Zhang, Hamid K. Rassoul

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

The dominant and unexpected feature in the first Interstellar Boundary EXplorer (IBEX) maps is a ribbon of the enhanced energetic neutral atom (ENA) emissions. Presenting the first results from IBEX,McComas et al. identified six possible mechanisms of ribbon formation. One of the mechanisms, the so-called secondary ENA mechanism, was already quantitatively elaborated by Heerikhuisen et al., and they successfully reproduced the main features of the ribbon. We further study the "secondary ENA" mechanism by quantifying a previously omitted stage of the proton evolution between two consecutive acts of the charge-exchange in the outer heliosheath (OHS). The main findings can be …

The Kepler Light Curve Of V344 Lyrae: Constraining The Thermal-Viscous Limit Cycle Instability, John K. Cannizzo, Martin D. Still, Steve B. Howell, Matt A. Wood, Alan P. Smale

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

We present time-dependent modeling based on the accretion disk limit cycle model for a 270 d light curve of the short-period SU UMa-type dwarf nova V344 Lyr taken by Kepler. The unprecedented precision and cadence (1 minute) far surpass that generally available for long-term light curves. The data encompass two superoutbursts and 17 normal (i.e., short) outbursts. The main decay of the superoutbursts is nearly perfectly exponential, decaying at a rate ~12 d mag−1, while the much more rapid decays of the normal outbursts exhibit a faster-than-exponential shape. Our modeling using the basic accretion disk limit cycle can produce the …

The Nasa-Uc Eta-Earth Program. Ii. A Planet Orbiting Hd 156668 With A Minimum Mass Of Four Earth Masses*, Andrew W. Howard, John Asher Johnson, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Debra A. Fischer, Jason T. Wright, Gregory W. Henry, Howard Isaacson, Jeff A. Valenti, Jay Anderson, Nikolai Piskunov

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We report the discovery of HD 156668 b, an extrasolar planet with a minimum mass of MPsin i = 4.15 M⊕. This planet was discovered through Keplerian modeling of precise radial velocities from Keck-HIRES and is the second super-Earth to emerge from the NASA-UC Eta-Earth Survey. The best-fit orbit is consistent with circular and has a period of P = 4.6455 days. The Doppler semi-amplitude of this planet, K = 1.89 m s−1, is among the lowest ever detected, on par with the detection of GJ 581 e using HARPS. A longer period (P ≈ 2.3 years), low-amplitude signal of …

Transit Spectrophotometry Of The Exoplanet Hd 189733b Ii. New Spitzer Observations At 3.6 Μm, Jean-Michel Désert, David K. Sing, Alfred Vidal-Madjar, Guillaume Hébrard, David Ehrenreich, Alain Lecavelier Des Etangs, Vivien Parmentier, Roger Ferlet, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

Context. We present a new primary transit observation of the hot-jupiter HD 189733b, obtained at 3.6 μm with the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope. Previous measurements at 3.6 microns suffered from strong systematics, and conclusions could hardly be obtained with confidence on the water detection by comparison of the 3.6 and 5.8 microns observations.

Aims. We aim at constraining the atmospheric structure and composition of the planet and improving previously derived parameters.

Methods. We use a high-S/NSpitzer photometric transit light curve to improve the precision of the near infrared radius of …

Sources Of The Radio Background Considered, Jack Singal, L. Stawarz, A. Lawrence, V. Petrosian

Physics Faculty Publications

We investigate different scenarios for the origin of the extragalactic radio background. The surface brightness of the background, as reported by the Absolute Radiometer for Cosmology, Astrophysics, and Diffuse Emission 2 (ARCADE 2) collaboration, is several times higher than that which would result from currently observed radio sources. We consider contributions to the background from diffuse synchrotron emission from clusters and the intergalactic medium, previously unrecognized flux from low-surface-brightness regions of radio sources and faint point sources below the flux limit of existing surveys. By examining radio source counts available in the literature, we conclude that most of the radio …

Retired A Stars And Their Companions. Vi. A Pair Of Interacting Exoplanet Pairs Around The Subgiants 24 Sextanis And Hd 200964*, John Asher Johnson, Matthew J. Payne, Andrew W. Howard, Kelsey I. Clubb, Eric B. Ford, Brendan P. Bowler, Gregory W. Henry, Debra A. Fischer, Geoffrey W. Marcy, John M. Brewer, Christian Schwab, Sabine Reffert, Thomas B. Lowe

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We report radial velocity (RV) measurements of the G-type subgiants 24 Sextanis (= HD 90043) and HD 200964. Both are massive, evolved stars that exhibit periodic variations due to the presence of a pair of Jovian planets. Photometric monitoring with the T12 0.80 m APT at Fairborn Observatory demonstrates both stars to be constant in brightness to ⩽0.002 mag, thus strengthening the planetary interpretation of the RV variations. Based on our dynamical analysis of the RV time series, 24 Sex b, c have orbital periods of 452.8 days and 883.0 days, corresponding to semimajor axes 1.333 AU and 2.08 AU, …

The Hanle Effect As A Diagnostic Of Magnetic Fields In Stellar Envelopes. V. Thin Lines From Keplerian Disks., Richard Ignace

ETSU Faculty Works

This paper focuses on the polarized profiles of resonance scattering lines that form in magnetized disks. Optically thin lines from Keplerian planar disks are considered. Model line profiles are calculated for simple field topologies of axial fields (i.e., vertical to the disk plane) and toroidal fields (i.e., purely azimuthal). A scheme for discerning field strengths and geometries in disks is developed based on Stokes Q − U diagrams for the run of polarization across line profiles that are Doppler-broadened by the disk rotation. A discussion of the Hanle effect for magnetized disks in which the magnetorotational instability (MRI) is operating …

Equation Of State Of A Dense And Magnetized Fermion System, Efrain J. Ferrer, Vivian De La Incera, Jason P. Keith, Israel Portillo, Paul L. Springsteen

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The equation of state of a system of fermions in a uniform magnetic field is obtained in terms of the thermodynamic quantities of the theory by using functional methods. It is shown that the breaking of the O(3) rotational symmetry by the magnetic field results in a pressure anisotropy, which leads to the distinction between longitudinal- and transverse-to-the-field pressures. A criterion to find the threshold field at which the asymmetric regime becomes significant is discussed. This threshold magnetic field is shown to be the same as the one required for the pure field contribution to the energy and pressures to …

Double Compact Objects As Low-Frequency Gravitational Wave Sources, Krzysztof Belczynski, Matthew Benacquista, Tomasz Bulik

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We study the Galactic field population of double compact objects (DCOs; NS-NS, BH-NS, BH-BH binaries) to investigate the number (if any) of these systems that can potentially be detected with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) at low gravitational wave frequencies. We calculate the Galactic numbers and physical properties of these binaries and show their relative contributions from the disk, bulge, and halo. Although the Galaxy hosts ∼10 5 DCO binaries emitting low-frequency gravitational waves, only a handful of these objects in the disk will be detectable with LISA, but none from the halo or bulge. This is because the …

Source Attribution Of Ozone In Southeast Texas Before And After The Deepwater Horizon Accident Using Satellite, Sonde, Surface Monitor, And Air Mass Trajectory Data, Gary A. Morris, Barry Lefer, Bernhard Rappenglueck, Christine Haman, Marc Taylor, Mark R. Schoeberl

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Presentations

Since the summer of 2004, over 300 ozonesondes have been launched from Rice University (29.7 N, 95.4 W) or the University of Houston (29.7 N, 95.3 W), each < 5 km from downtown Houston. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality maintains a large database of hourly surface ozone observations in Southeast Texas. In this study, we identify the contributions to surface ozone pollution levels from natural and anthropogenic sources, both local and remote in nature. This source identification is performed two ways: 1) through an analysis of sonde data, including ozone concentrations, wind speed and direction, and relative humidity data, and 2) through an analysis that combines trajectory calculations with surface monitor data. We also examine regional changes in Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) measurements of formaldehyde and ozone from 2004 – 2010. In particular, we compare the 2010 sonde, surface monitor, and satellite data after the Deepwater Horizon accident with data from previous years to determine the impact, if any, of the large source of hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Mexico on air quality in Southeast Texas.

On Relativistic Disk Spectroscopy In Compact Objects With X-Ray Ccd Cameras, J. M. Miller, A. D'Aì, M. W. Bautz, S. Bhattacharyya, D. N. Burrows, E. M. Cackett, A. C. Fabian, M. J. Freyberg, F. Haberl, J. Kennea, M. A. Nowak, R. C. Reis, T. E. Strohmayer, M. Tsujimoto

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Research Publications

X-ray charge-coupled devices (CCDs) are the workhorse detectors of modern X-ray astronomy. Typically covering the 0.3-10.0 keV energy range, CCDs are able to detect photoelectric absorption edges and K shell lines from most abundant metals. New CCDs also offer resolutions of 30-50 (E/ΔE), which is sufficient to detect lines in hot plasmas and to resolve many lines shaped by dynamical processes in accretion flows. The spectral capabilities of X-ray CCDs have been particularly important in detecting relativistic emission lines from the inner disks around accreting neutron stars and black holes. One drawback of X-ray CCDs is that spectra can be …

Libstatmech And Applications To Astrophysics, Tianhong Yu

All Theses

In this work an introduction to Libstatmech is presented and applications especially to astrophysics are discussed. Libstatmech is a C toolkit for computing the statistical mechanics of fermions and bosons, written on top of libxml and gsl (GNU Scientific Library). Calculations of Thomas-Fermi Screening model and Bose-Einstein Condensate based on libstatmech demonstrate the expected results. For astrophysics application, a simple Type Ia Supernovae model is established to run the network calculation with weak reactions, in which libstatmech contributes to compute the electron chemical potential and allows the weak reverse rates to be calculated from detailed balance. Starting with pure 12C …