Large-scale Environment of a z = 6.61 Luminous Quasar Probed by Lyα Emitters and Lyman Break Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ota, Kazuaki; Venemans, Bram P.; Taniguchi, Yoshiaki; Kashikawa, Nobunari; Nakata, Fumiaki; Harikane, Yuichi; Bañados, Eduardo; Overzier, Roderik; Riechers, Dominik A.; Walter, Fabian; Toshikawa, Jun; Shibuya, Takatoshi; Jiang, Linhua

2018-04-01

Quasars (QSOs) hosting supermassive black holes are believed to reside in massive halos harboring galaxy overdensities. However, many observations revealed average or low galaxy densities around z ≳ 6 QSOs. This could be partly because they measured galaxy densities in only tens of arcmin2 around QSOs and might have overlooked potential larger-scale galaxy overdensities. Some previous studies also observed only Lyman break galaxies (LBGs; massive older galaxies) and missed low-mass young galaxies, like Lyα emitters (LAEs), around QSOs. Here we present observations of LAE and LBG candidates in ∼700 arcmin2 around a z = 6.61 luminous QSO using the Subaru Telescope Suprime-Cam with narrowband/broadband. We compare their sky distributions, number densities, and angular correlation functions with those of LAEs/LBGs detected in the same manner and comparable data quality in our control blank field. In the QSO field, LAEs and LBGs are clustering in 4–20 comoving Mpc angular scales, but LAEs show mostly underdensity over the field while LBGs are forming 30 × 60 comoving Mpc2 large-scale structure containing 3σ–7σ high-density clumps. The highest-density clump includes a bright (23.78 mag in the narrowband) extended (≳16 kpc) Lyα blob candidate, indicative of a dense environment. The QSO could be part of the structure but is not located exactly at any of the high-density peaks. Near the QSO, LAEs show underdensity while LBGs average to 4σ excess densities compared to the control field. If these environments reflect halo mass, the QSO may not be in the most massive halo but still in a moderately massive one. Based on data collected at Subaru Telescope, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

Distance determination to Broad Line Absorbers in AGN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bautista, Manuel; Arav, N.; Dunn, J.; Edmonds, D.; Korista, K. T.; Moe, M.; Benn, C.; Ignacio, G.

2009-01-01

We present various techniques for the determination of the physical conditions (density, temperature, total hydrogen column density, and ionization structure), chemical composition, and distances of Broad Line Absorbers (BAL) to the central engine in AGN. We start by discussing various density diagnostics from absorption lines from species such as C II, Si II, and Fe III. On the other hand, lines from metastable levels Fe II are often affected by Bowen fluorescence by scattered C IV photons. Lines from metastable levels of Ni II are usually excited by continuum fluorescence and mostly sensitive to the strength of the radiation field shortward of the Lyman continuum and as such they cam be used as direct distance indicators. Further, we show how the total hydrogen density of the absorber, its ionization parameter and distance can be determined through photoionization modeling of the absorber. Finally, we present our results for outflows of three different quasars: QSO 2359-1241 and SDSS J0318-0600.

Low redshift Lyman alpha absorption lines and the dark matter halos of disk galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maloney, Philip

1993-01-01

Recent observations using the Hubble Space Telescope of the z = 0.156 QSO 3C 273 have discovered a surprisingly large number of Ly-alpha absorption lines. In particular, Morris et al. found 9 certain and 7 possible Ly-alpha lines with equivalent widths above 25 mA. This is much larger (by a factor of 5-10) than the number expected from extrapolation of the high-redshift behavior of the Ly-alpha forest. Within the context of pressure-confined models for the Ly-alpha clouds, this behavior can be understood if the ionizing background declines sharply between z is approximately 2 and z is approximately 0. However, this requires that the ionizing photon flux drop as rapidly as the QSO volume emissivity; moreover, the absorbers must have a space density n(sub O) is approximately 2.6(N/10)h/((D/100 kpc)(sup 2)) Mpc(sup -3) where D is the present-day diameter of the absorbers. It is somewhat surprising that such necessarily fragile objects could have survived in such numbers to the present day. It is shown that it is plausible that the atomic hydrogen extents of spiral and irregular galaxies are large enough to produce the observed number of Ly-alpha absorption lines toward 3C 273, and that the neutral column densities and doppler b-values expected under these conditions fall in the range found by Morris et al. (1991).

Search for correlated UV and x ray absorption of NGC 3516

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, Christopher; Halpern, Jules P.; Kolman, Michiel

1991-01-01

NGC 3516, a low-luminosity Seyfert galaxy, is one of a small fraction of Seyfert galaxies that exhibit broad absorption in a resonance line. In order to determine whether the UV and x ray absorption in NGC 3516 are related, 5 IUE observations were obtained, quasi-simultaneously with 4 Ginga observations. The results are presented and discussed. The following subject areas are covered: short-term UV variability; emission lines; galactic absorption lines; the C IV, N V, and Si IV absorption features; lower limit on the carbon column density; estimate of the distance from the absorber to the continuum source; variability in the continuum and absorption; a comparison with BAL QSO's; and the x ray-UV connection.

HST Detection of Extended Neutral Hydrogen in a Massive Elliptical at z = 0.4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zahedy, Fakhri S.; Chen, Hsiao-Wen; Rauch, Michael; Zabludoff, Ann

2017-09-01

We report the first detection of extended neutral hydrogen (H I) gas in the interstellar medium (ISM) of a massive elliptical galaxy beyond z˜ 0. The observations utilize the doubly lensed images of QSO HE 0047-1756 at {z}{QSO}=1.676 as absorption-line probes of the ISM in the massive ({M}{star}≈ {10}11 {M}⊙ ) elliptical lens at z = 0.408, detecting gas at projected distances of d = 3.3 and 4.6 kpc on opposite sides of the lens. Using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, we obtain UV absorption spectra of the lensed QSO and identify a prominent flux discontinuity and associated absorption features matching the Lyman series transitions at z = 0.408 in both sightlines. The H I column density is log N({{H}} {{I}})=19.6{--}19.7 at both locations across the lens, comparable to what is seen in 21 cm images of nearby ellipticals. The H I gas kinematics are well-matched with the kinematics of the Fe II absorption complex revealed in ground-based echelle data, displaying a large velocity shear of ≈360 {\\text{km s}}-1 across the galaxy. We estimate an ISM Fe abundance of 0.3-0.4 solar at both locations. Including likely dust depletions increases the estimated Fe abundances to solar or supersolar, similar to those of the hot ISM and stars of nearby ellipticals. Assuming 100% covering fraction of this Fe-enriched gas, we infer a total Fe mass of {M}{cool}({Fe})˜ (5{--}8)× {10}4 {M}⊙ in the cool ISM of the massive elliptical lens, which is no more than 5% of the total Fe mass observed in the hot ISM.

The absorption spectrum of the QSO PKS 2126-158 (z_em =3.27) at high resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Odorico, V.; Cristiani, S.; D'Odorico, S.; Fontana, A.; Giallongo, E.

1998-01-01

Spectra of the z_em = 3.268 quasar PKS 2126-158 have been obtained in the range lambda lambda 4300-6620 Angstroms with a resolution Rsmallimeq27000 and an average signal-to-noise ratio s/nsmallimeq 25 per resolution element. The list of the identified absorption lines is given together with their fitted column densities and Doppler widths. The modal value of the Doppler parameter distribution for the Lyalpha lines is smallimeq 25 km s(-1) . The column density distribution can be described by a power-law dn / dN ~ N(-beta ) with beta smallimeq 1.5. 12 metal systems have been identified, two of which were previously unknown. In order to make the column densities of the intervening systems compatible with realistic assumptions about the cloud sizes and the silicon to carbon overabundance, it is necessary to assume a jump beyond the He II edge in the spectrum of the UV ionizing background at z smallim 3 a factor 10 larger than the standard predictions for the integrated quasar contribution. An enlarged sample of C IV absorptions (71 doublets) has been used to analyze the statistical properties of this class of absorbers strictly related to galaxies. The column density distribution is well described by a single power-law, with beta =1.64 and the Doppler parameter distribution shows a modal value b_CIV smallimeq 14 km s(-1) . The two point correlation function has been computed in the velocity space for the individual components of C IV features. A significant signal is obtained for scales smaller than 200- 300 km s(-1) , xi (30< Delta v < 90 km\\ s(-1) ) = 33 +/- 3. A trend of decreasing clustering amplitude with decreasing column density is apparent, analogously to what has been observed for Lyalpha lines. Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile (ESO No. 2-013-49K). Table 2 is only available in electronic from via anonymous ftp 130.79.128.5 or http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html

Measuring BAO and non-Gaussianity via QSO clustering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sawangwit, U.; Shanks, T.; Croom, S. M.; Drinkwater, M. J.; Fine, S.; Parkinson, D.; Ross, Nicholas P.

2012-03-01

Our goals are (i) to search for BAO and large-scale structure in current quasi-stellar object (QSO) survey data and (ii) to use these and simulation/forecast results to assess the science case for a new, ≳10 times larger, QSO survey. We first combine the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), 2dF QSO Redshift Survey (2QZ) and 2dF-SDSS LRG and QSO (2SLAQ) surveys to form a survey of ≈60 000 QSOs. We find a hint of a peak in the QSO two-point correlation function, ξ(s), at the same scale (≈105 h-1 Mpc) as detected by Eisenstein et al. in their sample of Data Release 5 (DR5) Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) but only at low statistical significance. We then compare these data with QSO mock catalogues from the Hubble Volume N-body light-cone simulation used by Hoyle et al. and find that both routes give statistical error estimates that are consistent at ≈100 h-1 Mpc scales. Mock catalogues are then used to estimate the nominal survey size needed for a 3-4σ detection of the Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) peak. We find that a redshift survey of ≈250 000 z < 2.2 QSOs is required over ≈3000 deg2. This is further confirmed by static lognormal simulations where the BAO are clearly detectable in the QSO power spectrum and correlation function. The nominal survey would on its own produce the first detection of, for example, discontinuous dark energy evolution in the so far uncharted 1 < z < 2.2 redshift range. We further find that a survey with ≈50 per cent higher QSO sky densities and 50 per cent bigger area will give an ≈6σ BAO detection, leading to an error ≈60 per cent of the size of the BOSS error on the dark energy evolution parameter, wa. Another important aim of a QSO survey is to place new limits on primordial non-Gaussianity at large scales. In particular, it is important to test tentative evidence we have found for the evolution of the linear form of the combined SDSS+2QZ+2SLAQ QSO ξ(s) at z≈ 1.6, which may be caused by the existence of non-Gaussian clustering features at high redshift. Such a QSO survey will also determine the gravitational growth rate at z≈ 1.6 via redshift-space distortions, allow lensing tomography via QSO magnification bias while also measuring the exact luminosity dependence of small-scale QSO clustering.

On the covering fraction variability in an EUV mini-BAL outflow from PG 1206+459

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muzahid, S.; Srianand, R.; Charlton, J.; Eracleous, M.

2016-04-01

We report on the first detection of extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) absorption variability in the Ne VIII λλ770, 780 mini-broad absorption line (mini-BAL) in the spectrum of the quasar (QSO) PG 1206+459. The observed equivalent width (EW) of the Ne VIII doublet shows a ˜4σ variation over a time-scale of 2.8 months in the QSO's rest frame. Both members of the Ne VIII doublet exhibit non-black saturation, indicating partial coverage of the continuum source. An increase in the Ne VIII covering fraction from fc = 0.59 ± 0.05 to 0.72 ± 0.03 is observed over the same period. The Ne VIII profiles are too highly saturated to be susceptible to changes in the ionization state of the absorbing gas. In fact, we do not observe any significant variation in the EW and/or column density after correcting the spectra for partial coverage. We, thus, propose transverse motions of the absorbing gas as the cause of the observed variability. Using a simple model of a transiting cloud we estimate a transverse speed of ˜1800 km s-1. For Keplerian motion, this corresponds to a distance between the absorber and the central engine of ˜1.3 pc, which places the absorber just outside the broad-line region. We further estimate a density of ˜5 × 106 cm-3 and a kinetic luminosity of ˜1043-1044 erg s-1. Such large kinetic powers suggest that outflows detected via EUV lines are potentially major contributors to active galactic nuclei feedback.

A logNHI = 22.6 Damped Lyα Absorber in a Dark Gamma-Ray Burst: The Environment of GRB 050401

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watson, D.; Fynbo, J. P. U.; Ledoux, C.; Vreeswijk, P.; Hjorth, J.; Smette, A.; Andersen, A. C.; Aoki, K.; Augusteijn, T.; Beardmore, A. P.; Bersier, D.; Castro Cerón, J. M.; D'Avanzo, P.; Diaz-Fraile, D.; Gorosabel, J.; Hirst, P.; Jakobsson, P.; Jensen, B. L.; Kawai, N.; Kosugi, G.; Laursen, P.; Levan, A.; Masegosa, J.; Näränen, J.; Page, K. L.; Pedersen, K.; Pozanenko, A.; Reeves, J. N.; Rumyantsev, V.; Shahbaz, T.; Sharapov, D.; Sollerman, J.; Starling, R. L. C.; Tanvir, N.; Torstensson, K.; Wiersema, K.

2006-12-01

The optical afterglow spectrum of GRB 050401 (at z=2.8992+/-0.0004) shows the presence of a damped Lyα absorber (DLA), with logNHI=22.6+/-0.3. This is the highest column density ever observed in a DLA and is about 5 times larger than the strongest DLA detected so far in any QSO spectrum. From the optical spectrum, we also find a very large Zn column density, implying an abundance of [Zn/H]=-1.0+/-0.4. These large columns are supported by the early X-ray spectrum from Swift XRT, which shows a column density (in excess of Galactic) of logNH=22.21+0.06-0.08 assuming solar abundances (at z=2.9). The comparison of this X-ray column density, which is dominated by absorption due to α-chain elements, and the H I column density derived from the Lyα absorption line allows us to derive a metallicity for the absorbing matter of [α/H]=-0.4+/-0.3. The optical spectrum is reddened and can be well reproduced with a power law with SMC extinction, where AV=0.62+/-0.06. But the total optical extinction can also be constrained independent of the shape of the extinction curve: from the optical to X-ray spectral energy distribution, we find 0.5<~AV<~4.5. However, even this upper limit, independent of the shape of the extinction curve, is still well below the dust column that is inferred from the X-ray column density, i.e., AV=9.1+1.4-1.5. This discrepancy might be explained by a small dust content with high metallicity (low dust-to-metals ratio). ``Gray'' extinction cannot explain the discrepancy, since we are comparing the metallicity to a measurement of the total extinction (without reference to the reddening). Little dust with high metallicity may be produced by sublimation of dust grains or may naturally exist in systems younger than a few hundred megayears. Based in part on observations made at the European Southern Observatory, Paranal, Chile under program 075.D-0270, with the Nordic Optical Telescope, operated on the island of La Palma jointly by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, with the Wide Field Camera (WFCAM) on the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, which is operated by the Joint Astronomy Centre on behalf of the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, and on data collected at the Subaru Telescope, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

COS Observations of Molecular H2 at z = 0.248

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruse, Ethan; Tumlinson, J.; Thom, C.; Sembach, K.

2011-01-01

We present HST/COS observations of a QSO sightline through the halo of two merging galaxies at z = 0.25 at impact parameter 90 kpc. This sightline presents the first example of strong H2 absorption features in our large COS survey of galaxy halo gas at low redshift (COS-Halos, Tumlinson et al.). COS spectra reveal a sub-DLA at z = 0.2478 which splits into two components separated by 70 km/s. One component appears to contain more high-ionization states and less neutral H I while the other favors neutral atoms and contains a strong H2 signature (J = 0-3) along with the majority of the H I. Aside from H2 we detect O I, N I and N II, Si II and Si III, and C II. We find a total H2 column density of N(H2) = 16.89 and an H2 fraction of f_{H2} = 0.0034. Fitting the unblended H2 lines from 0-0 to 15-0 to a curve of growth we find a best fit with b = 11.8 km s-1. Due to the full saturation of all Lyman lines, we are unable to separate the H I column density into the two components and therefore cannot get a direct metallicity for either cloud. However through Cloudy modelling we are able to estimate a H I column density and ionization correction in each component and therefore obtain an approximate metallicity through O I absorption. This system shows similar features to a portion of the Magellanic Stream studied by Sembach et al. 2006. Both sightlines have comparable H I and H2 columns, H2 excitation temperatures, and similar metallicities, suggesting this sightline could be a distant counterpart to the Magellanic Stream, perhaps stripped from an unseen companion galaxy to the two merger partners.

Ultraviolet Broad Absorption Features and the Spectral Energy Distribution of the QSO PG 1351+64. 3.1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zheng, W.; Kriss, G. A.; Wang, J. X.; Brotherton, M.; Oegerle, W. R.; Blair, W. P.; Davidsen, A. F.; Green, R. F.; Hutchings, J. B.; Kaiser, M. E.;

Ultraviolet Broad Absorption Features and the Spectral Energy Distribution of the QSO PG 1351+641. 2.5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zheng, W.; Kriss, G. A.; Wang, J. X.; Brotherton, M.; Oegerle, W. R.; Blair, W. P.; Davidsen, A. F.; Green, R. F.; Hutchings, J. B.; Kaiser, M. E.;

Intervening O vi Quasar Absorption Systems at Low Redshift: A Significant Baryon Reservoir.

PubMed

Tripp; Savage; Jenkins

2000-05-01

Far-UV echelle spectroscopy of the radio-quiet QSO H1821+643 (zem=0.297), obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) at approximately 7 km s-1 resolution, reveals four definite O vi absorption-line systems and one probable O vi absorber at 0.15

Discovery of a Dwarf Poststarburst Galaxy near a High Column Density Local Lyα Absorber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stocke, John T.; Keeney, Brian A.; McLin, Kevin M.; Rosenberg, Jessica L.; Weymann, R. J.; Giroux, Mark L.

2004-07-01

We report the discovery of a dwarf (MB=-13.9) poststarburst galaxy coincident in recession velocity (within uncertainties) with the highest column density absorber (NHI=1015.85 cm-2 at cz=1586 km s- 1) in the 3C 273 sight line. This galaxy is by far the closest galaxy to this absorber, projected just 71h-170 kpc on the sky from the sight line. The mean properties of the stellar populations in this galaxy are consistent with a massive starburst ~3.5 Gyr ago, whose attendant supernovae, we argue, could have driven sufficient gas from this galaxy to explain the nearby absorber. Beyond its proximity on the sky and in recession velocity, the further evidence in favor of this conclusion includes both a match in the metallicities of absorber and galaxy and the fact that the absorber has an overabundance of Si/C, suggesting recent Type II supernova enrichment. Thus, this galaxy and its ejecta are in the expected intermediate stage in the fading dwarf evolutionary sequence envisioned by Babul & Rees to explain the abundance of faint blue galaxies at intermediate redshifts. While this one instance of a QSO metal-line absorber and a nearby dwarf galaxy is not proof of a trend, a similar dwarf galaxy would be too faint to be observed by galaxy surveys around more distant metal-line absorbers. Thus, we cannot exclude the possibility that dwarf galaxies are primarily responsible for weak (NHI=1014-1017 cm-2) metal-line absorption systems in general. If a large fraction of the dwarf galaxies expected to exist at high redshift had a similar history (i.e., they had a massive starburst that removed all or most of their gas), these galaxies could account for at least several hundred high-z metal-line absorbers along the line of sight to a high-z QSO. The volume-filling factor for this gas, however, would be less than 1%. ID="FN1"> 1Based on observations made with the Apache Point 3.5 m telescope, operated by the Astronomical Research Consortium, and the 2.6 m du Pont telescope of the Las Campanas Observatory, operated by the Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC, and Pasadena, CA.

Quasi-stellar objects in the intergalactic medium: Source for the cosmic X-ray background

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sherman, R.D.

1980-06-15

QSOs are regarded as sources of both electromagnetic radiation and ejected matter that heat and ionize a dense intergalactic medium (IGM). Using current estimates of QSO luminosity, number density, evolution, and spectral index, we study three viable models: the diffuse cosmic X-ray background is (1) due entirely to thermal Bremsstrahlung of the IGM, (2) completely supplied by QSO X-radiation, (3) or a combination of both. The upper limits on an IGM fractional density with respect to closure are ..cap omega..=0.26, 0.24, and 0.21 for pure collisional, photo/collisional mixture, and pure photoionization, respectively. These calculations give emission spectra, Compton distortion ofmore » the cosmic microwave background, and optical depths to distant OSOs for comparison with relevant data.« less

A Hot Gaseous Galaxy Halo Candidate with Mg X Absorption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qu, Zhijie; Bregman, Joel N.

2016-12-01

The hot gas in galaxy halos may account for a significant fraction of missing baryons in galaxies, and some of these gases can be traced by high ionization absorption systems in QSO UV spectra. Using high S/N Hubble Space Telescope/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph spectra, we discovered a high ionization state system at z = 1.1912 in the sightline toward LBQS 1435-0134, and two-component absorption lines are matched for Mg x, Ne viii, Ne VI, O VI, Ne v, O v, Ne IV, O IV, N IV, O III, and H I. Mg x, detected for the first time (5.8σ), is a particularly direct tracer of hot galactic halos, as its peak ion fraction occurs near 106.1 K, about the temperature of a virialized hot galaxy halo of mass ˜ 0.5{M}* . With Mg x and Ne viii, a photoionization model cannot reproduce the observed column densities with path lengths of galaxy halos. For collisional ionization models, one or two-temperature models do not produce acceptable fits, but a three-temperature model or a power-law model can produce the observed results. In the power-law model, {dN}/{dT}={10}4.4+/- 2.2-[Z/X]{T}1.55+/- 0.41 with temperatures in the range of {10}4.39+/- 0.13 {{K}}\\lt T\\lt {10}6.04+/- 0.05 {{K}}, the total hydrogen column density is 8.2× {10}19(0.3 {Z}⊙ /Z) {{cm}}-2 and the positive power-law index indicates most of the mass is at the high temperature end. We suggest that this absorption system is a hot volume-filled galaxy halo rather than interaction layers between the hot halo and cool clouds. The temperature dependence of the column density is likely due to the local mixture of multiple phase gases.

Quasar Outflows and AGN Feedback in the Extreme UV: HST/COS Observations of QSO HE0238-1904

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arav, Nahum; Borguet, B.; Chamberlain, C.; Edmonds, D.; Danforth, C.

2014-01-01

Spectroscopic observations of quasar outflows at rest-frame 500-1000 Angstrom have immense diagnostic power. We present analyses of such data, where absorption troughs from three important ions are measured: first, O IV and O IV* that allow us to obtain the distance of high ionization outflows from the AGN; second, Ne VIII and Mg X that are sensitive to the very high ionization phase of the outflow. Their inferred column densities, combined with those of troughs from O VI, N IV, and H I, yield two important results: 1) The outflow shows two ionization phases, where the high ionization phase carries the bulk of the material. This is similar to the situation seen in x-ray warm absorber studies. Furthermore, the low ionization phase is inferred to have a volume filling factor of 10^(-5)-10^(-6). 2) From the O IV to O IV* column density ratio, and the knowledge of the ionization parameter, we determine a distance of 3000 pc. from the outflow to the central source. Since this is a typical high ionization outflow, we can determine robust values for the mass flux and kinetic luminosity of the outflow: 40 solar masses per year and 10^45 ergs/s, respectively, where the latter is roughly equal to 1% of the bolometric luminosity. Such a large kinetic luminosity and mass flow rate measured in a typical high ionization wind suggests that quasar outflows are a major contributor to AGN feedback mechanisms.

H2, C I, Metallicity, and Dust Depletion in the Z = 2.34 Damped Lyα Absorption System toward QSO 1232+0815

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Jian; Bechtold, Jill; Kulkarni, Varsha P.

2001-01-01

We report the detection of strong molecular hydrogen (H2) absorption lines in the z=2.34 damped Lyα absorber (DLA) toward QSO 1232+0815. This is the second detection in our survey for high-redshift molecules. The new ultraviolet spectrum of the QSO 1232+0815 at 0.9 Å resolution, taken with the Multiple Mirror Telescope Blue Channel Spectrograph, shows the υ=0-0 up to 10-0 Lyman bands and also the Werner υ=0-0 band of H2 associated with the z=2.34 DLA. We have estimated the total H2 column density in this system. It ranges from ~3×1019 cm-2 to ~3×1017 cm-2 depending on the Doppler parameters, b=6 or 10 km s-1. Based on the best fit with b=6 km s-1, the estimated kinetic temperature is TK~80 K. The measurements of the abundance of zinc and iron in the same DLA show that the metallicity measured by the relatively undepleted element zinc is [Zn/H]=-0.86, while the relative abundance ratio [Fe/Zn] is -1.04, indicating dust depletion. Combining our work with previous results on H2 and relative heavy-element depletion, we find that there is a correlation between them, which suggests that the formation of H2 on dust grains is perhaps the dominant formation process in high-redshift DLAs. Detections of strong absorption from the ground and excited states of neutral carbon (C I) in the z=2.34 DLA are also presented. The excitation temperature between the two fine-structure levels of C I is 15.7+/-3.5 K, an upper limit for the cosmic microwave background radiation temperature at z=2.34. This value is consistent with the prediction by the standard big bang cosmology. Observations here were obtained with the Multiple Mirror Telescope, a joint facility of the University of Arizona and the Smithsonian Institution.

Mapping the Lyα Emission around a z ˜ 6.6 QSO with MUSE: Extended Emission and a Companion at a Close Separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farina, Emanuele P.; Venemans, Bram P.; Decarli, Roberto; Hennawi, Joseph F.; Walter, Fabian; Bañados, Eduardo; Mazzucchelli, Chiara; Cantalupo, Sebastiano; Arrigoni-Battaia, Fabrizio; McGreer, Ian D.

2017-10-01

We utilize the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope to search for extended Lyα emission around the z ˜ 6.6 QSO J0305-3150. After carefully subtracting the point spread function, we reach a nominal 5σ surface-brightness limit of SB5σ = 1.9 × 10-18 erg s-1 cm-2 arcsec-2 over a 1 arcsec2 aperture, collapsing five wavelength slices centered at the expected location of the redshifted Lyα emission (I.e., at 9256 Å). Current data suggest the presence (5σ accounting for systematics) of a Lyα nebula that extends for 9 kpc around the QSO. This emission is displaced and redshifted by 155 km s-1 with respect to the location of the QSO host galaxy traced by the [{{C}} {{II}}] 158 μm emission line. The total luminosity is L({Ly}α ) = (3.0 ± 0.4) × 1042 erg s-1. Our analysis suggests that this emission is unlikely to rise from optically thick clouds illuminated by the ionizing radiation of the QSO. It is more plausible that the Lyα emission is due to the fluorescence of the highly ionized optically thin gas. This scenario implies a high hydrogen volume density of {n}{{H}}˜ 6 cm-3. In addition, we detect a Lyα emitter (LAE) in the immediate vicinity of the QSO, I.e., with a projected separation of ˜12.5 kpc and a line-of-sight velocity difference of 560 km s-1. The luminosity of the LAE is L({Ly}α ) = (2.1 ± 0.2) × 1042 erg s-1 and its inferred star-formation rate is SFR ˜ 1.3 M ⊙ yr-1. The probability of finding such a close LAE is one order of magnitude above the expectations based on the QSO-galaxy cross-correlation function. This discovery is in agreement with a scenario where dissipative interactions favor the rapid build-up of supermassive black holes at early cosmic times.

A Narrowband Imaging Search for [O III] Emission from Galaxies at z > 3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teplitz, Harry I.; Malkan, Matthew A.; McLean, Ian S.

1999-03-01

We present the results of a narrowband survey of quasi-stellar-object (QSO) fields at redshifts that place the [O III] (5007 Å) emission line in the Δλ/λ~1% 2.16 μm filter. We have observed 3 arcmin2 and detected one emission-line candidate object in the field around PC 1109+4642. We discuss the possibilities that this object is a star-forming galaxy at the QSO redshift, zem=3.313, or a Seyfert galaxy. In the former case, we infer a star formation rate of 170 Msolar yr-1 for this K'=21.3 object. The galaxy has a compact but resolved morphology, with an FWHM=0.6" or 4.2 kpc at z=3.313 (H0=50 km s-1 Mpc-1 and q0=0.5). The comoving density of such objects in QSO environments appears to be 0.0033 Mpc-3, marginally lower (<=3 σ) than the density observed for Hα-emitters in absorption-line fields at z~2.5 but similar to the density of Lyman-break galaxies at z~3. If, on the other hand, most of the line emission is [O III] from a Seyfert 2 nucleus at z=3.31, then the high inferred volume density could imply a large evolution in the Seyfert 2 luminosity function from the current epoch. We find the field containing the object to also contain many faint extended objects in the K' image but little significant excess over the expected number-magnitude relation. We discuss the implication of the emission line being a longer wavelength line at a lower redshift.

QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS THAT BL LACERTAE OBJECTS ARE QSO REMNANTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Borra, E. F.

2014-11-20

We evaluate with numerical simulations the hypothesis that BL Lacertae objects (BLLs) are the remnants of quasi-stellar objects. This hypothesis is based on their highly peculiar redshift evolution. They have a comoving space density that increases with decreasing redshift, contrary to all other active galactic nuclei. We assume that relativistic jets are below detection in young radio-quiet quasars and increase in strength with cosmic time so that they eventually are detected as BLLs. Our numerical simulations fit very well the observed redshift distributions of BLLs. There are strong indications that only the high-synchrotron-peaked BLLs could be QSO remnants.

The Chemical Evolution of QSO Absorbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellison, Sara L.

2000-06-01

The chemical evolution of the high redshift intergalactic and interstellar media of galaxies is studied using QSO absorption lines. The redshift evolution of damped Lyman alpha (DLA) system metallicity is studied down to z=0.5, and no significant increase in metals is found. The CIV/HI ratio in the Lyman alpha forest is investigated at z approximately 3 and traces of are metals found in the low density HI gas with optical depth of around 1. Finally, a new survey for DLAs in a radio-selected sample of QSOs is presented, with the aim of determining whether a significant dust bias may have affected previous surveys.

Lick slit spectra of thirty-eight objective prism quasar candidates and low metallicity halo stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tytler, David; Fan, Xiao-Ming; Junkkarinen, Vesa T.; Cohen, Ross D.

1993-01-01

Lick Observatory slit spectra of 38 objects which were claimed to have pronounced UV excess and emission lines are presented. Eleven QSOs, four galaxies at z of about 0.1, 22 stars, and one unidentified object with a low S/N spectrum were found. Of 11 objects which Zhan and Chen (1987, 1989) suggested were QSO with z(prism) not greater than 2.8; eight are QSOs. Six of the QSOs show absorption systems, including Q0000+027A with a relatively strong associated C IV absorption system, and Q0008+008 with a damped Ly-alpha system with an H I column density of 10 exp 21/sq cm. The equivalent widths of the Ca II K line, the G band, and the Balmer lines in 10 stars with the best spectra are measured, and metallicities are derived. Seven of them are in the range -2.5 to -1.7, while the others are less metal-poor.

Evidence of Primordial Clustering around the QSO SDSS J1030+0524 at z=6.28

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stiavelli, M.; Djorgovski, S. G.; Pavlovsky, C.; Scarlata, C.; Stern, D.; Mahabal, A.; Thompson, D.; Dickinson, M.; Panagia, N.; Meylan, G.

2005-03-01

We present tentative evidence of primordial clustering, manifested as an excess of color-selected objects in the field of the QSO SDSS J1030+0524 at redshift z=6.28. We have selected objects red in i775-z850 on the basis of Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys imaging of a field centered on the QSO. Compared to data at comparable depth obtained by the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey, we find an excess of objects with i775-z850>=1.5 in the QSO field. The significance of the detection is estimated to be ~97% on the basis of the counts alone and increases to 99.4% if one takes into account the color distribution. If confirmed, this would represent the highest redshift example of galaxy clustering and would have implications on models for the growth of structure. Bias-driven clustering of first luminous objects forming in the highest peaks of the primordial density field is expected in most models of early structure formation. The redshift of one of the candidates has been found to be z=5.970 by our spectroscopy with the Keck I Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, confirming the validity of our color selection. Based, in part, on data obtained at the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership between the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and NASA, and was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

The TESIS Project: Are Type 2 QSO Hidden in X-Ray Emitting EROs?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Severgnini, P.; Della Ceca, R.; Braito, V.; Saracco, P.; Longhetti, M.; Bender, R.; Drory, N.; Feulner, G.; Hopp, U.; Mannucci, F.; Maraston, C.

X-ray selected EROs are, on average, the hardest X-ray sources in medium and deep X-ray fields. This coupled with their extremely red colors (R-K > 5) suggest that they represent one of the most promising population where looking for high-luminosity (LX > 1044 erg s-1) and X-ray obscured (NH > 1022 cm-2) type2 AGNs, the so called QSO2 (e.g., [5]; [4]; Mignoli et al. submitted to A&A). These latter are predicted in large density by the synthesis model of the Cosmic X-ray background [9] even if only few observational evidences have been found so far (e.g., [1] and references therein; Caccianiga et al. A&A accepted).

A Population of Faint Extended Line Emitters and the Host Galaxies of Optically Thick QSO Absorption Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rauch, Michael; Haehnelt, Martin; Bunker, Andrew; Becker, George; Marleau, Francine; Graham, James; Cristiani, Stefano; Jarvis, Matt; Lacey, Cedric; Morris, Simon; Peroux, Celine; Röttgering, Huub; Theuns, Tom

2008-07-01

We have conducted a long-slit search for low surface brightness Lyα emitters at redshift 2.67 < z < 3.75. A 92 hr long exposure with the ESO VLT FORS2 instrument down to a 1 σ surface brightness detection limit of 8 × 10-20 erg cm-2 s-1 arcsec-2 per arcsec2 aperture yielded a sample of 27 single line emitters with fluxes of a few × 10-18 erg s-1 cm-2. We present arguments that most objects are indeed Lyα. The large comoving number density, 3 × 10-2 h370 Mpc-3, the large covering factor, dN/dz ~ 0.2-1, and the often extended Lyα emission suggest that the emitters can be identified with the elusive host population of damped Lyα systems (DLAS) and high column density Lyman limit systems (LLS). A small inferred star formation rate, perhaps supplemented by cooling radiation, appears to energetically dominate the Lyα emission, and is consistent with the low metallicity, low dust content, and theoretically inferred low masses of DLAS, and with the relative lack of success of earlier searches for their optical counterparts. Some of the line profiles show evidence for radiative transfer in galactic outflows. Stacking surface brightness profiles, we find emission out to at least 4''. The centrally concentrated emission of most objects appears to light up the outskirts of the emitters (where LLS arise) down to a column density where the conversion from UV to Lyα photon becomes inefficient. DLAS, high column density LLS, and the emitter population discovered in this survey appear to be different observational manifestations of the same low-mass, protogalactic building blocks of present-day L* galaxies. Based partly on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the Paranal Observatories under Program ID LP173.A-0440, and partly on observations obtained at the Gemini Observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under a cooperative agreement with the NSF on behalf of the Gemini partnership: the National Science Foundation (United States), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (United Kingdom), the National Research Council (Canada), CONICYT (Chile), the Australian Research Council (Australia), CNPq (Brazil) and CONICET (Argentina).

On orthogonality preserving quadratic stochastic operators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mukhamedov, Farrukh; Taha, Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd

2015-05-15

A quadratic stochastic operator (in short QSO) is usually used to present the time evolution of differing species in biology. Some quadratic stochastic operators have been studied by Lotka and Volterra. In the present paper, we first give a simple characterization of Volterra QSO in terms of absolutely continuity of discrete measures. Further, we introduce a notion of orthogonal preserving QSO, and describe such kind of operators defined on two dimensional simplex. It turns out that orthogonal preserving QSOs are permutations of Volterra QSO. The associativity of genetic algebras generated by orthogonal preserving QSO is studied too.

Conditions in the z = 0.692 absorber toward 3CR 286

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, Ross D.; Barlow, Thomas A.; Beaver, E. A.; Junkkarinen, Vesa T.; Lyons, Ronald W.; Smith, Harding E.

1994-01-01

We present Hubble Space Telescope/Faint Object Spectrograph (HST/FOS) ultraviolet and ground-based optical spectra of the z = 0.692 21 cm absorption system in the quasi-stellar object (QSO) 3CR 286. The strength of the damped Lyman-alpha absorption implies an H I column density, N(H I) approximately 2 x 10(exp 21)/sq cm. We derive a high spin temperature for the H I gas, T(sub s) greater than or approximately equal to 10(exp 3) K, as has been found for other high-redshift 21 cm absorbing systems; at least 80% of the H I is hotter than 1200 K. Curve-of-growth analysis yields Mg(+) and Fe(+) abundances which are approximately 1-2 dex below solar values; the Ca(+) abundance is even lower implying some depletion onto dust grains. The H2 fraction is not high. We speculate that the high inferred T(sub s) for the gas may reflect continuing active star formation at the 5-8 Gyr look-back time to the absorbing galaxy.

Strong Clustering of Lyman Break Galaxies around Luminous Quasars at Z ˜ 4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-Vergara, Cristina; Hennawi, Joseph F.; Barrientos, L. Felipe; Rix, Hans-Walter

2017-10-01

In the standard picture of structure formation, the first massive galaxies are expected to form at the highest peaks of the density field, which constitute the cores of massive proto-clusters. Luminous quasars (QSOs) at z ˜ 4 are the most strongly clustered population known, and should thus reside in massive dark matter halos surrounded by large overdensities of galaxies, implying a strong QSO-galaxy cross-correlation function. We observed six z ˜ 4 QSO fields with VLT/FORS, exploiting a novel set of narrow-band filters custom designed to select Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) in a thin redshift slice of {{Δ }}z˜ 0.3, mitigating the projection effects that have limited the sensitivity of previous searches for galaxies around z≳ 4 QSOs. We find that LBGs are strongly clustered around QSOs, and present the first measurement of the QSO-LBG cross-correlation function at z ˜ 4, on scales of 0.1≲ R≲ 9 {h}-1 {Mpc} (comoving). Assuming a power-law form for the cross-correlation function ξ ={(r/{r}0{QG})}γ , we measure {r}0{QG}={8.83}-1.51+1.39 {h}-1 {Mpc} for a fixed slope of γ =2.0. This result is in agreement with the expected cross-correlation length deduced from measurements of the QSO and LBG auto-correlation function, and assuming a deterministic bias model. We also measure a strong auto-correlation of LBGs in our QSO fields, finding {r}0{GG}={21.59}-1.69+1.72 {h}-1 {Mpc} for a fixed slope of γ =1.5, which is ˜4 times larger than the LBG auto-correlation length in blank fields, providing further evidence that QSOs reside in overdensities of LBGs. Our results qualitatively support a picture where luminous QSOs inhabit exceptionally massive ({M}{halo}> {10}12 {M}⊙ ) dark matter halos at z ˜ 4.

The Host Galaxies of Nearby, Optically Luminous, AGN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petric, Andreea

2016-01-01

Coevolution of galaxies and their central black holes (BH) has been the central theme of much of recent extragalactic astronomical research. Observations of the dynamics of stars and gas in the nuclear regions of nearby galaxies suggest that the majority of spheroidal galaxies in the local Universe contain massive BHs and that the masses of those central BH correlate with the velocity dispersions of the stars in the spheroid and the bulge luminosity. Cold ISM is the basic fuel for star-formation and BH growth so its study is essential to understanding how galaxies evolve.I will present high sensitivity observations taken with the Herschel Space Observatory to measure the cold dust content in a sample of 85 nearby (z <= 0.5) QSOs chosen from the optically luminous broad-line PG QSOs sample (QSO1s) and in a complementary sample of 85 narrow-line QSOs (QSO2s) chosen to match the redshift and optical luminosity distribution of the broad-line targets. The FIR data are combined with NIR and MIR measurements from the Two Micron All Sky Survey and the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer to determine their IR spectral energy distributions which we use to assess and compare the aggregate dust properties of QSO1s and QSO2s. I will also present NIR spectroscopy obtained with Gemini's Near-Infrared Spectrograph of a sub-sample of QSO2s and QSO1s which I use to compare the ratio of cold to warm H2 gas that emits in the NIR in the hosts of QSO1s and QSO2s.Finally I will present a comparison of star-formation in QSO1s and QSO2s. For both QSO1s and QSO2s 3stimates of star-formation rates that are based on the total IR continuum emission correlate with those based on the 11.3 micron PAH feature. However, for the QSO1s, star-formation rates estimated from the FIR continuum are higher than those estimated from the 11.3 micron PAH emission. This result can be attributed to a variety of factors including the possible destruction of the PAHs and that, in some sources, a fraction of the FIR originates from dust heated by the active galactic nucleus and by old stars. For QSO2s the SFR derived from the 11.3 micron PAH feature match those derived from the 160micron emission.

High redshift QSOs and the x ray background

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Impey, Chris

1993-01-01

ROSAT pointed observations were made of 9 QSO's from the Large Bright Quasar Survey (LBQS). The LBQS is based on machine measurement of objective prism plates taken with the UK Schmidt Telescope. Software has been used to select QSO's by both color and by the presence of spectral features and continuum breaks. The probability of detection can be calculated as a function of magnitude, redshift and spectral features, and the completeness of the survey can be accurately estimated. Nine out of 1040 QSO's in the LBQS have z greater than 3. The observations will provide an important data point in the X-ray luminosity function of QSO's at high redshift. The QSO's with z greater than 3 span less than a magnitude in M(sub B), so can be combined as a homogeneous sample. This analysis is only possible with a sample drawn from a large and complete catalog such as the LBQS. Four of the 9 QSO's that were observed with the ROSAT PSPC for this proposal were detected, including one of the most luminous X-ray sources ever observed. The April 1992 version of the PROS DETECT package was used to reduce the data. The results have been used to search for evolution of the X-ray properties of QSO's in redshift. The 9 QSO's lie in the range -28.7 less than M(sub B) less than -27.8. When combined with data for 16 QSO's in a similar luminosity range at lower redshift correlations with luminosity and redshift can be separated out. The LBQS sample also yields a new constraint on the contribution of high redshift QSO's to the X-ray background. An initial requirement is knowledge of the X-ray properties (alpha(sub OX)) as a function of redshift. Integration over the evolving luminosity function of the LBQS then gives the QSO contribution to the source counts.

A New Survey for Low-Redshift Damped Lyman-Alpha Lines in QSO MgII Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Sandhya

2000-07-01

Studies have shown that most of the observable neutral gas mass in the Universe resides in QSO damped LyAlpha {DLA} systems. However, at low redshift {z<1.65}, DLA can only be found by searching in the UV with HST. Such searches are crucial since z<1.65 corresponds to 3/4 of the age of the Universe. The identification of significant numbers of low- redshift DLA systems is imperative if we ever hope to effectively study this cosmologically massive component of neutral gas. To this end, we recently reported on the results of our initial HST survey to study low-redshift DLA absorbers in QSO MgII systems. We discovered 14 DLA systems and had a success rate of 14%. Now, based on these results and our improved understanding of the selection criteria for successful DLA searches, we propose a new survey for low-redshift DLA lines in QSO MgII systems. With our new revised selection criteria, we can empirically show that our success rate would be 35%. Specifically, we propose to observe the LyAlpha line of 55 MgII systems. We estimate that we will discover 19 new DLA systems with redshift z<1.65. Finding these systems will facilitate the type of research that can be done with DLA systems. By boot-strapping from the MgII statistics, we will be able to further improve the determination of the low- redshift statistical properties of DLA {their incidence and cosmological mass density} and open up new opportunities for studies at low redshift.

Probing the extent and content of low ionization gas in galaxies: QSO absorption and HI emission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Womble, Donna S.

1993-01-01

The small projected separations of some QSO's and low-redshift galaxies provide unique opportunities to study the extent and content of gas in galaxies through observation of absorption in the QSO spectra. Observations of these systems provide valuable information on the connection between the absorbing gas and the galaxy, as well as detailed information on the morphology and environment of the galaxy itself. While there is direct evidence that galaxies can produce the intervening-type QSO absorption lines, over the past decade, the study of such 'QSO-galaxy pairs' (at low redshift) has been considered unsuccessful because new detections of absorption were seldom made. A fundamental problem concerning the relation between these low-redshift systems and those seen at moderate to high redshift remains unresolved. Direct and indirect measures of galaxy absorption cross sections at moderate to high redshifts (z is approximately greater than 20.5) are much larger than the optical and HI sizes of local galaxies. However, direct comparison of the low and moderate to high redshift systems is difficult since different ions are observed in different redshift regimes. Observations are presented for a new sample of QSO-galaxy pairs. Nine new QSO's which shine through nearby galaxies (on the sky-plane) were observed to search for CaII absorption in the QSO spectra at the foreground galaxy redshifts.

On the mean radiative efficiency of accreting massive black holes in AGNs and QSOs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, XiaoXia; Lu, YouJun

2017-10-01

Radiative efficiency is an important physical parameter that describes the fraction of accretion material converted to radiative energy for accretion onto massive black holes (MBHs). With the simplest Sołtan argument, the radiative efficiency of MBHs can be estimated by matching the mass density of MBHs in the local universe to the accreted mass density by MBHs during AGN/QSO phases. In this paper, we estimate the local MBH mass density through a combination of various determinations of the correlations between the masses of MBHs and the properties of MBH host galaxies, with the distribution functions of those galaxy properties. We also estimate the total energy density radiated by AGNs and QSOs by using various AGN/QSO X-ray luminosity functions in the literature. We then obtain several hundred estimates of the mean radiative efficiency of AGNs/QSOs. Under the assumption that those estimates are independent of each other and free of systematic effects, we apply the median statistics as described by Gott et al. and find the mean radiative efficiency of AGNs/QSOs is ɛ = 0.105 -0.008 +0.006 , which is consistent with the canonical value 0.1. Considering that about 20% Compton-thick objects may be missed from current available X-ray surveys, the true mean radiative efficiency may be actually 0.12.

1E 0104.2 + 3153 - A broad absorption-line QSO viewed through a giant elliptical galaxy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stocke, J. T.; Liebert, J.; Schild, R.; Gioia, I. M.; Maccacaro, T.

1984-01-01

The optical identification of the X-ray source 1E 0104.2 + 3153 is complicated by the close projection of a broad absorption-line (BAL) QSO (z = 2.027) 10 arcsec from a giant elliptical galaxy (z = 0.111) at the center of a compact group of galaxies. At only 1.2 de Vaucouleur radii (16 kpc for H sub 0 = 100 km/s Mpc) this QSO-galaxy projection is the closest yet discovered. Based upon current observations, the source of the X-ray emission cannot be conclusively determined. Present in the BAL QSO spectrum are extremely strong Ca II H and K absorption lines due to the intervening galaxy, the first optical detection of the cold interstellar medium in an elliptical galaxy. The strength of these lines (EW = 2 and 1 A) requires observation through several interstellar clouds in the line of sight to the QSO. By its proximity to the central regions of the elliptical galaxy and the relative distances of the galaxy and QSO, this QSO is a particularly good candidate for observing dramatic transient gravitational lensing phenomena due to halo stars in the foreground galaxy.

The Effect of Clustering on Estimations of the UV Ionizing Background from the Proximity Effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pascarelle, S. M.; Lanzetta, K. M.; Chen, H. W.

1999-09-01

There have been several determinations of the ionizing background using the proximity effect observed in the distibution of Lyman-alpha absorption lines in the spectra of QSOs at high redshift. It is usually assumed that the distribution of lines should be the same at very small impact parameters to the QSO as it is at large impact parameters, and any decrease in line density at small impact parameters is due to ionizing radiation from the QSO. However, if these Lyman-alpha absorption lines arise in galaxies (Lanzetta et al. 1995, Chen et al. 1998), then the strength of the proximity effect may have been underestimated in previous work, since galaxies are known to cluster around QSOs. Therefore, the UV background estimations have likely been overestimated by the same factor.

Quasar target selection fiber efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newberg, Heidi; Yanny, Brian

1996-05-01

We present estimates of the efficiency for finding QSOs as a function of limiting magnitude and galactic latitude. From these estimates, we have formulated a target selection strategy that should net 80,000 QSOs in the north galactic cap with an average of 70 fibers per plate, not including fibers reserved for high-redshift quasars. With this plan, we expect 54% of the targets to be QSOs. The North Galactic Cap is divided into two zones of high and low stellar density. We use about five times as many fibers for QSO candidates in the half of the survey with the lower stellar density as we use in the half with higher stellar density. The current plan assigns 15% of the fibers to FIRST radio sources; if these are not available, those fibers would be allocated to lower probability QSO sources, dropping the total number of QSOs by a small factor (5%). We will find about 17,000 additional quasars in the southern strips, and maybe a few more at very high redshift. Use was made of two data sets: the star and quasar simulated test data generated by Don Schneider, and the data from UJFN plate surveys by Koo (1986) and Kron (1980). This data was compared to results from the Palomar-Green Survey and a recent survey by Pat Osmer and collaborators.

Einstein X-ray observations of QSO's with absorption-line systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Junkkarinen, V. T.; Marscher, A. P.; Burbidge, E. M.

1982-01-01

The detection of X-ray emission from eight QSO's is reported, plus an upper limit to the X-ray flux from one QSO, using the Einstein X-ray Observatory (HEAO-2). Each object in the sample contains at least one absorption-line system that has been identified in its optical spectrum. The present results are combined with those of other investigators to form a sample of 44 absorption-line QSO's (with 2 sub e greater than 1.2) which have been observed in the X-ray. This sample cannot be distinguished, in terms of X-ray properties, from one which consists of QSO's in which no absorption systems have been identified. These results are consistent with extrinsic models for absorption-line clouds, as well as with current versions of intrinsic models.

Cosmological Evolution of QSO Absorption Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stengler-Larrea, Erik

1995-08-01

First, the evolution with cosmic time of the hydrogen clouds which produce the Lyman-alpha absorption lines is studied in dependence on the strength of these lines. From the analysis it is concluded that the results show no evidence of a dependence in the sense of stronger lines evolving faster, although for the resolution at which the used observations were done, it can not be ruled out. Within the same analysis, a distribution of the Doppler parameter of the lines was obtained, with large values and a wide spread. This parameter being an indicator of the gas temperature, this result is in accordance with high temperatures and, consequently, large ionised fractions and a large fraction of the baryonic matter of the universe being associated with these clouds. However, recent high resolution studies seem to reveal that much lower temperatures are characteristic of the clouds. The main content of this thesis, however, focuses on the redshift evolution of the absorbing systems producing absorption at the Lyman limit and of the amount of CIV producing CIV absorption lines. Regarding the CIV absorbers, previous predictions on the effects underlying their redshift distribution pointed to an increase with redshift of the absorbing column densities. In this thesis the first direct measurements of such column densities by profile fitting of a large number of absorption systems (73) are presented, confirming the predictions of a decrease of at least a factor of 3 between z=1.5 and z=3.0. The study on the evolution of Lyman limit absorption systems (LLSs) puts an end to previous discrepancies between the results of different groups. Both a smooth single power law dependence of the LLS number density on redshift indicating no evolution in number density for 0.4 <= z <= 4.1, and a broken power law with a rapid increase above z ~ 2.5 had been obtained with different data sets. A detailed analysis reveals here the reasons for these discrepancies and obtains the most reliable result to date, which is consistent with no cosmological evolution of these absorbers, allowing for, at most, a mild evolutionary rate, depending on the cosmology chosen to interpret the redshifts. Taken together, the results on these two classes of absorbers allow to conclude on the effects underlying the evolution of the intervening objects: This is due mostly to an increase of the chemical abundance of C and not to changes in the ionisation conditions of the absorbers, which may be present to a small extent. Given these constraints on the changes in the ionisation conditions of the absorbers, it was possible to set limits on the evolution of the ionising metagalactic UV background radiation. These limits are compared with a thorough compilation of variously determined results and theoretical predictions on the evolutionary behaviour of this metagalactic radiation from the literature, and are in agreement with those favouring mild or no decrease above z=2.5. To prepare the observations of many QSOs with the HST by the Team of the HST Key Project on QSO absorption lines, and in particular to estimate the necessary exposure times, the magnitudes of several of these objects had to be re-measured. The acquisition of their images and the results of the photometric calculations performed on them are also described in a separate chapter. (SECTION: Dissertation Summaries)

The X-ray Absorber in the X-ray Transient NLS1 WPVS 007

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grupe, Dirk

This proposal is for a funding request for an approved XMM-Newton observations of the X-ray transient Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy WPVS 007. The request is for 4 month of salary for the PI for one year in order to do the data analysis, publish the results, and attend an international AGN meeting. XMM will observe WPVS 007 in June 2010 simultaneously with HST, Chandra, and Swift. The goal is to establish a tight connection between the UV broad absorption line troughs found in FUSE observations and the strong partial covering absorber feature found by Swift. WPVS 007 showed a dramatic transformation into a Broad Absorption line QSO like AGN between a 1996 HST observation and a 2003 FUSE observation. Several Swift monitoring observations have suggested that the absorber may have started to disappear. Therefore it is crucial for our HST COS UV spectroscopy to know what the status of the X-ray absorber is. The XMM observation will provide a well-exposed X-ray spectrum even if WPVS 007 will be in a low flux state. This spectrum will enable us to put constraints on the absorption column density and covering fraction of the partial covering absorber.

The clustering of QSOs and the dark matter halos that host them

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Dong-Yao; Yan, Chang-Shuo; Lu, Youjun

2013-10-01

The spatial clustering of QSOs is an important measurable quantity which can be used to infer the properties of dark matter halos that host them. We construct a simple QSO model to explain the linear bias of QSOs measured by recent observations and explore the properties of dark matter halos that host a QSO. We assume that major mergers of dark matter halos can lead to the triggering of QSO phenomena, and the evolution of luminosity for a QSO generally shows two accretion phases, i.e., initially having a constant Eddington ratio due to the self-regulation of the accretion process when supply is sufficient, and then declining in rate with time as a power law due to either diminished supply or long term disk evolution. Using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, the model parameters are constrained by fitting the observationally determined QSO luminosity functions (LFs) in the hard X-ray and in the optical band simultaneously. Adopting the model parameters that best fit the QSO LFs, the linear bias of QSOs can be predicted and then compared with the observational measurements by accounting for various selection effects in different QSO surveys. We find that the latest measurements of the linear bias of QSOs from both the SDSS and BOSS QSO surveys can be well reproduced. The typical mass of SDSS QSOs at redshift 1.5 < z < 4.5 is ~ (3 - 6) × 1012 h-1 Msolar and the typical mass of BOSS QSOs at z ~ 2.4 is ~ 2 × 1012 h-1 Msolar. For relatively faint QSOs, the mass distribution of their host dark matter halos is wider than that of bright QSOs because faint QSOs can be hosted in both big halos and smaller halos, but bright QSOs are only hosted in big halos, which is part of the reason for the predicted weak dependence of the linear biases on the QSO luminosity.

Warm-hot gas in X-ray bright galaxy clusters and the H I-deficient circumgalactic medium in dense environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burchett, Joseph N.; Tripp, Todd M.; Wang, Q. Daniel; Willmer, Christopher N. A.; Bowen, David V.; Jenkins, Edward B.

2018-04-01

We analyse the intracluster medium (ICM) and circumgalactic medium (CGM) in seven X-ray-detected galaxy clusters using spectra of background quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) (HST-COS/STIS), optical spectroscopy of the cluster galaxies (MMT/Hectospec and SDSS), and X-ray imaging/spectroscopy (XMM-Newton and Chandra). First, we report a very low covering fraction of H I absorption in the CGM of these cluster galaxies, f_c = 25^{+25}_{-15} {per cent}, to stringent detection limits (N(H I) <1013 cm-2). As field galaxies have an H I covering fraction of ˜ 100 per cent at similar radii, the dearth of CGM H I in our data indicates that the cluster environment has effectively stripped or overionized the gaseous haloes of these cluster galaxies. Secondly, we assess the contribution of warm-hot (105-106 K) gas to the ICM as traced by O VI and broad Ly α (BLA) absorption. Despite the high signal-to-noise ratio of our data, we do not detect O VI in any cluster, and we only detect BLA features in the QSO spectrum probing one cluster. We estimate that the total column density of warm-hot gas along this line of sight totals to ˜ 3 per cent of that contained in the hot T > 107 K X-ray emitting phase. Residing at high relative velocities, these features may trace pre-shocked material outside the cluster. Comparing gaseous galaxy haloes from the low-density `field' to galaxy groups and high-density clusters, we find that the CGM is progressively depleted of H I with increasing environmental density, and the CGM is most severely transformed in galaxy clusters. This CGM transformation may play a key role in environmental galaxy quenching.

The X-rays of a bright QSO well within the epoch of reionization at z=7.54

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banados, Eduardo

2016-09-01

After almost a decade of intense search, our team has finally discovered a bright QSO well within the epoch of reionization, at z=7.54. This is by far the most distant QSO known (previous record: 7.08), at a cosmic age of 690 Myr, i.e., only 5% of our universe's current age. This is the first QSO whose spectrum shows clear evidence of an intergalactic medium that is >20% neutral and that reionization is underway. We propose Chandra observations of this unique object to (i) probe evolution of the X-ray-to-optical luminosity ratio (alpha-ox) to the highest accessible redshift; (ii) provide a more reliable estimate of the QSO's bolometric luminosity, and (iii) assess the feasibility of deeper Chandra and XMM observations for the upcoming cycles, which would allow us to test whether the first black holes are accreting at super-Eddington rates.

Lick optical spectra of quasar HS 1946+7658 at 10 kilometers per second resolution Lyman-alpha forest and metal absorption systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fan, Xiao-Ming; Tytler, David

1994-01-01

We present optical spectra of the most luminous known quasi stellar object (QSO) HS 1946+7658 (z(sub em) = 3.051). Our spectra have both full wavelength coverage, 3240-10570 A, and in selected regions, either high signal-to-noise ratio, SNR approximately equals 40-100, or unusually high approximately 10 km/sec resolution, and in parts of the Ly alpha forest and to the red of Ly alpha emission they are among the best published. We find 113 Ly alpha systems and six metal-line systems, three of which are new. The metal systems at z(sub abs) = 2.844 and 3.050 have complex velocity structure with four and three prominent components, respectively. We find that the system at z(sub abs) = 2.844 is a damped Ly alpha absorption (DLA) system, with a neutral hydrogen column density of log N(H I) = 20.2 +/- 0.4, and it is the cause of the Lyman limit break at lambda approximately equals 3520 A. We believe that most of the H I column density in this system is in z(sub abs) = 2.8443 component which shows the strongest low-ionization absorption lines. The metal abundance in the gas phase of the system is (M/H) approximately equals -2.6 +/- 0.3, with a best estimate of (M/H) = -2.8, with ionizaion parameter log gamma = -2.75, from a photoionization model. The ratios of the logarithmic abundances of C, O, Al, and Si are all within a factor of 2 of solar, which is important for two reasons. First, we believe that the gas abundances which we measure are close to the total abundances, because the ratio of aluminum to other elements is near cosmic, and Al is a refractory element which depletes very readily like chromium, in the interstellar medium. Second, we do not see the enhancement of O with respect to C of (O/C) approximately equals 0.5-0.9 reported in three partial Lyman limit systems by Reimers et al. (1992) and Vogel & Reimers (1993); we measure (O/C) = -0.06 for observed ions and (O/C) approximately equals 0.2 after ionization corrections, which is consistent with solar abundances. We see C II*(lambda 1335) offset by 15 km/sec with respect to C II(lambda 1334), presumably because the gas density varies from 2 to 8 cm(exp -3) with changing velocity in the DLA system. These densities imply that the damped component is 6-25 pc thick, which is reasonable for a single cloud in a cold spiral disk. They also imply that the cloud is relatively highly ionized with more C III than C II, more O III than O I, and log N(H I) = 20.72, which is 3 times the H I column. The system at z(abs) = 1.7382 is also believed to be damped with N(H I) approximately equals 10(exp 21) cm(exp -2), because we see Cr II, but its Ly alpha line will never be seen because it is below the Lyman limit of the other DLA system. We see a 2.6 sigma lack of Ly alpha forest lines well away from the QSO redshift, which may be a chance fluctuation. We also see a correlation between column density N(H I) and Doppler parameter b for 96 unsaturated Ly Alpha forest absorption lines, and although this correlation persists in the 36 Ly alpha lines which lie in regions where the SNR approximately equals 8-16, we agree with Rauch et al. (1993) that it is probably a bogus effect of low supernova remnant (SNR). The same applies to lines with very low b values: in regions where SNR less than or equal to 8 we see many Ly alpha lines which appear to have 10 less than or equal to b less than or equal to 20, but when 8 less than or equal to SNR less than or equal to 16 we see only one line with b less than or equal to 15 km/sec, and two others which we believe have b less than or equal to 20, with values of 20 and 16 km/sec. Traditional Ly alpha line samples which include all lines which have W/sigma(W) greater than or equal to 4 are not adequate to explore the distribution of the properties of individual clouds, because we need much higher (W/sigma(W)) and SNR to avoid the strong biases.

The Queued Service Observing Project at CFHT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Pierre; Savalle, Renaud; Vermeulen, Tom; Shapiro, Joshua N.

2002-12-01

In order to maximize the scientific productivity of the CFH12K mosaic wide-field imager (and soon MegaCam), the Queued Service Observing (QSO) mode was implemented at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope at the beginning of 2001. The QSO system consists of an ensemble of software components allowing for the submission of programs, the preparation of queues, and finally the execution and evaluation of observations. The QSO project is part of a broader system known as the New Observing Process (NOP). This system includes data acquisition, data reduction and analysis through a pipeline named Elixir, and a data archiving and distribution component (DADS). In this paper, we review several technical and operational aspects of the QSO project. In particular, we present our strategy, technical architecture, program submission system, and the tools developed for the preparation and execution of the queues. Our successful experience of over 150 nights of QSO operations is also discussed along with the future plans for queue observing with MegaCam and other instruments at CFHT.

THE FIRST OBSERVATIONS OF LOW-REDSHIFT DAMPED Ly{alpha} SYSTEMS WITH THE COSMIC ORIGINS SPECTROGRAPH

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meiring, J. D.; Tripp, T. M.; Prochaska, J. X.

2011-05-01

We report on the first Cosmic Origins Spectrograph observations of damped Ly{alpha} systems (DLAs) and sub-damped Ly{alpha} systems (sub-DLAs) discovered in a new survey of the gaseous halos of low-redshift galaxies. From observations of 37 sightlines, we have discovered three DLAs and four sub-DLAs. We measure the neutral gas density {Omega}{sub HI}, and redshift density d N/d z, of DLA and sub-DLA systems at z < 0.35. We find d N/dz = 0.25{sup +0.24}-{sub 0.14} and {Omega}{sub HI} = 1.4{sup +1.3}{sub -0.7} x 10{sup -3} for DLAs, and d N/d z = 0.08{sup +0.19}{sub -0.06} with {Omega}{sub HI} = 4.2{supmore » +9.6}{sub -3.5} x 10{sup -5} for sub-DLAs over a redshift path {Delta}z = 11.9. To demonstrate the scientific potential of such systems, we present a detailed analysis of the DLA at z{sub abs} = 0.1140 in the spectrum of SDSS J1009+0713. Profile fits to the absorption lines determine log N(H I) = 20.68 {+-} 0.10 with a metallicity determined from the undepleted element sulfur of [S/H] = -0.62 {+-} 0.18. The abundance pattern of this DLA is similar to that of higher z DLAs, showing mild depletion of the refractory elements Fe and Ti with [S/Fe] = +0.24 {+-} 0.22 and [S/Ti] = +0.28 {+-} 0.15. Nitrogen is underabundant in this system with [N/H] = -1.40 {+-} 0.14, placing this DLA below the plateau of the [N/{alpha}] measurements in the local universe at similar metallicities. This DLA has a simple kinematic structure with only two components required to fit the profiles and a kinematic width of {Delta}v{sub 90} = 52 km s{sup -1}. Imaging of the QSO field with the Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 reveals a spiral galaxy at very small impact parameter to the QSO and several galaxies within 10'', or 20 comoving kpc at the redshift of the DLA. Follow-up spectra with the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer on the Keck telescope reveal that none of the nearby galaxies are at the redshift of the DLA. The spiral galaxy is identified as the host galaxy of the QSO based on the near perfect alignment of the nucleus and disk of the galaxy as well as spectra of an H II region showing emission lines at the QSO redshift. A small feature appears 0.''70 from the nucleus of the QSO after point-spread function subtraction, providing another candidate for the host galaxy of the DLA system. Even with these supporting data, we are unable to unambiguously identify the host galaxy of the DLA, exemplifying some of the difficulties in determining DLA hosts even at low redshift.« less

The concerted impact of galaxies and QSOs on the ionization and thermal state of the intergalactic medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakiichi, Koki; Graziani, Luca; Ciardi, Benedetta; Meiksin, Avery; Compostella, Michele; Eide, Marius B.; Zaroubi, Saleem

2017-07-01

We present a detailed analysis of the ionization and thermal structure of the intergalactic medium (IGM) around a high-redshift (z = 10) QSO, using a large suite of cosmological, multifrequency radiative transfer simulations, exploring the contribution from galaxies as well as the QSO, and the effect of X-rays and secondary ionization. We show that in high-z QSO environments both the central QSO and the surrounding galaxies concertedly control the reionization morphology of hydrogen and helium and have a non-linear impact on the thermal structure of the IGM. A QSO imprints a distinctive morphology on H II regions if its total ionizing photon budget exceeds that of the surrounding galaxies since the onset of hydrogen reionization; otherwise, the morphology shows little difference from that of H II regions produced only by galaxies. In addition, the spectral shape of the collective radiation field from galaxies and QSOs controls the thickness of the I-fronts. While a UV-obscured QSO can broaden the I-front, the contribution from other UV sources, either galaxies or unobscured QSOs, is sufficient to maintain a sharp I-front. X-ray photons from the QSO are responsible for a prominent extended tail of partial ionization ahead of the I-front. QSOs leave a unique imprint on the morphology of He II/He III regions. We suggest that, while the physical state of the IGM is modified by QSOs, the most direct test to understand the role of galaxies and QSOs during reionization is to perform galaxy surveys in a region of sky imaged by 21 cm tomography.

Detection of very high energy gamma-ray emission from the gravitationally lensed blazar QSO B0218+357 with the MAGIC telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahnen, M. L.; Ansoldi, S.; Antonelli, L. A.; Antoranz, P.; Arcaro, C.; Babic, A.; Banerjee, B.; Bangale, P.; Barres de Almeida, U.; Barrio, J. A.; Becerra González, J.; Bednarek, W.; Bernardini, E.; Berti, A.; Biasuzzi, B.; Biland, A.; Blanch, O.; Bonnefoy, S.; Bonnoli, G.; Borracci, F.; Bretz, T.; Buson, S.; Carosi, A.; Chatterjee, A.; Clavero, R.; Colin, P.; Colombo, E.; Contreras, J. L.; Cortina, J.; Covino, S.; Da Vela, P.; Dazzi, F.; De Angelis, A.; De Lotto, B.; de Oña Wilhelmi, E.; Di Pierro, F.; Doert, M.; Domínguez, A.; Dominis Prester, D.; Dorner, D.; Doro, M.; Einecke, S.; Eisenacher Glawion, D.; Elsaesser, D.; Engelkemeier, M.; Fallah Ramazani, V.; Fernández-Barral, A.; Fidalgo, D.; Fonseca, M. V.; Font, L.; Frantzen, K.; Fruck, C.; Galindo, D.; García López, R. J.; Garczarczyk, M.; Garrido Terrats, D.; Gaug, M.; Giammaria, P.; Godinović, N.; Gora, D.; Guberman, D.; Hadasch, D.; Hahn, A.; Hayashida, M.; Herrera, J.; Hose, J.; Hrupec, D.; Hughes, G.; Idec, W.; Kodani, K.; Konno, Y.; Kubo, H.; Kushida, J.; La Barbera, A.; Lelas, D.; Lindfors, E.; Lombardi, S.; Longo, F.; López, M.; López-Coto, R.; Majumdar, P.; Makariev, M.; Mallot, K.; Maneva, G.; Manganaro, M.; Mannheim, K.; Maraschi, L.; Marcote, B.; Mariotti, M.; Martínez, M.; Mazin, D.; Menzel, U.; Miranda, J. M.; Mirzoyan, R.; Moralejo, A.; Moretti, E.; Nakajima, D.; Neustroev, V.; Niedzwiecki, A.; Nievas Rosillo, M.; Nilsson, K.; Nishijima, K.; Noda, K.; Nogués, L.; Paiano, S.; Palacio, J.; Palatiello, M.; Paneque, D.; Paoletti, R.; Paredes, J. M.; Paredes-Fortuny, X.; Pedaletti, G.; Peresano, M.; Perri, L.; Persic, M.; Poutanen, J.; Prada Moroni, P. G.; Prandini, E.; Puljak, I.; Garcia, J. R.; Reichardt, I.; Rhode, W.; Ribó, M.; Rico, J.; Saito, T.; Satalecka, K.; Schroeder, S.; Schweizer, T.; Shore, S. N.; Sillanpää, A.; Sitarek, J.; Snidaric, I.; Sobczynska, D.; Stamerra, A.; Strzys, M.; Surić, T.; Takalo, L.; Tavecchio, F.; Temnikov, P.; Terzić, T.; Tescaro, D.; Teshima, M.; Torres, D. F.; Toyama, T.; Treves, A.; Vanzo, G.; Verguilov, V.; Vovk, I.; Ward, J. E.; Will, M.; Wu, M. H.; Zanin, R.; Desiante, R.

2016-11-01

Context. QSO B0218+357 is a gravitationally lensed blazar located at a redshift of 0.944. The gravitational lensing splits the emitted radiation into two components that are spatially indistinguishable by gamma-ray instruments, but separated by a 10-12 day delay. In July 2014, QSO B0218+357 experienced a violent flare observed by the Fermi-LAT and followed by the MAGIC telescopes. Aims: The spectral energy distribution of QSO B0218+357 can give information on the energetics of z 1 very high energy gamma-ray sources. Moreover the gamma-ray emission can also be used as a probe of the extragalactic background light at z 1. Methods: MAGIC performed observations of QSO B0218+357 during the expected arrival time of the delayed component of the emission. The MAGIC and Fermi-LAT observations were accompanied by quasi-simultaneous optical data from the KVA telescope and X-ray observations by Swift-XRT. We construct a multiwavelength spectral energy distribution of QSO B0218+357 and use it to model the source. The GeV and sub-TeV data obtained by Fermi-LAT and MAGIC are used to set constraints on the extragalactic background light. Results: Very high energy gamma-ray emission was detected from the direction of QSO B0218+357 by the MAGIC telescopes during the expected time of arrival of the trailing component of the flare, making it the farthest very high energy gamma-ray source detected to date. The observed emission spans the energy range from 65 to 175 GeV. The combined MAGIC and Fermi-LAT spectral energy distribution of QSO B0218+357 is consistent with current extragalactic background light models. The broadband emission can be modeled in the framework of a two-zone external Compton scenario, where the GeV emission comes from an emission region in the jet, located outside the broad line region.

Detection of very high energy gamma-ray emission from the gravitationally lensed blazar QSO B0218+357 with the MAGIC telescopes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ahnen, M. L.; Ansoldi, S.; Antonelli, L. A.

QSO B0218+357 is a gravitationally lensed blazar located at a redshift of 0.944. The gravitational lensing splits the emitted radiation into two components that are spatially indistinguishable by gamma-ray instruments, but separated by a 10–12 day delay. In July 2014, QSO B0218+357 experienced a violent flare observed by the Fermi-LAT and followed by the MAGIC telescopes. The spectral energy distribution of QSO B0218+357 can give information on the energetics of z ~ 1 very high energy gamma-ray sources. Furthermore, the gamma-ray emission can also be used as a probe of the extragalactic background light at z ~ 1. MAGIC performedmore » observations of QSO B0218+357 during the expected arrival time of the delayed component of the emission. The MAGIC and Fermi-LAT observations were accompanied by quasi-simultaneous optical data from the KVA telescope and X-ray observations by Swift-XRT. We construct a multiwavelength spectral energy distribution of QSO B0218+357 and use it to model the source. The GeV and sub-TeV data obtained by Fermi-LAT and MAGIC are used to set constraints on the extragalactic background light. We detected very high energy gamma-ray emission from the direction of QSO B0218+357 by the MAGIC telescopes during the expected time of arrival of the trailing component of the flare, making it the farthest very high energy gamma-ray source detected to date. We also observed emission spans the energy range from 65 to 175 GeV. The combined MAGIC and Fermi-LAT spectral energy distribution of QSO B0218+357 is consistent with current extragalactic background light models. The broadband emission can be modeled in the framework of a two-zone external Compton scenario, where the GeV emission comes from an emission region in the jet, located outside the broad line region.« less

Detection of very high energy gamma-ray emission from the gravitationally lensed blazar QSO B0218+357 with the MAGIC telescopes

DOE PAGES

Ahnen, M. L.; Ansoldi, S.; Antonelli, L. A.; ...

2016-11-04

QSO B0218+357 is a gravitationally lensed blazar located at a redshift of 0.944. The gravitational lensing splits the emitted radiation into two components that are spatially indistinguishable by gamma-ray instruments, but separated by a 10–12 day delay. In July 2014, QSO B0218+357 experienced a violent flare observed by the Fermi-LAT and followed by the MAGIC telescopes. The spectral energy distribution of QSO B0218+357 can give information on the energetics of z ~ 1 very high energy gamma-ray sources. Furthermore, the gamma-ray emission can also be used as a probe of the extragalactic background light at z ~ 1. MAGIC performedmore » observations of QSO B0218+357 during the expected arrival time of the delayed component of the emission. The MAGIC and Fermi-LAT observations were accompanied by quasi-simultaneous optical data from the KVA telescope and X-ray observations by Swift-XRT. We construct a multiwavelength spectral energy distribution of QSO B0218+357 and use it to model the source. The GeV and sub-TeV data obtained by Fermi-LAT and MAGIC are used to set constraints on the extragalactic background light. We detected very high energy gamma-ray emission from the direction of QSO B0218+357 by the MAGIC telescopes during the expected time of arrival of the trailing component of the flare, making it the farthest very high energy gamma-ray source detected to date. We also observed emission spans the energy range from 65 to 175 GeV. The combined MAGIC and Fermi-LAT spectral energy distribution of QSO B0218+357 is consistent with current extragalactic background light models. The broadband emission can be modeled in the framework of a two-zone external Compton scenario, where the GeV emission comes from an emission region in the jet, located outside the broad line region.« less

New Ground Based facilities in QSO research; The GTC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodriguez Espinosa, J. M.

New ground based observing opportunities are becoming, or about to become, available to astronomers for QSO research. These, combined with state of the art focal plane instruments, provide unprecedented sensitivity for detecting faint surface brightness features. During the talk I will take the liberty of talking about one of these new large telescope facilities currently being built in Spain, and will discuss some of the advantages for QSO research offered by these new facilities.

The Variable Fast Soft X-Ray Wind in PG 1211+143

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reeves, J. N.; Lobban, A.; Pounds, K. A.

2018-02-01

The analysis of a series of seven observations of the nearby (z = 0.0809) QSO PG 1211+143, taken with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) onboard XMM-Newton in 2014, are presented. The high-resolution soft X-ray spectrum, with a total exposure exceeding 600 ks, shows a series of blueshifted absorption lines from the He and H-like transitions of N, O, and Ne, as well as from L-shell Fe. The strongest absorption lines are all systematically blueshifted by ‑0.06c, originating in two absorption zones from low- and high-ionization gas. Both zones are variable on timescales of days, with the variations in absorber opacity effectively explained by either column density changes or the absorber ionization responding directly to the continuum flux. We find that the soft X-ray absorbers probably exist in a two-phase wind at a radial distance of ∼1017–1018 cm from the black hole with the lower-ionization gas as denser clumps embedded within a higher-ionization outflow. The overall mass outflow rate of the soft X-ray wind may be as high as 2{M}ȯ yr‑1, close to the Eddington rate for PG 1211+143 and similar to that previously deduced from the Fe K absorption.

Erratum: ``CO Line Width Differences in Early Universe Molecular Emission-Line Galaxies: Submillimeter Galaxies versus QSO Hosts'' (AJ, 131, 2763 [2006])

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carilli, C. L.; Wang, Ran

2006-11-01

It has been pointed out to us that in three dimensions the mean angle of randomly oriented disks with respect to the sky plane is <θ>=30deg, and not the 45° assumed in the original paper. This lower angle for the (assumed) random distribution of submillimeter galaxies, coupled with the factor of 2.3 lower mean CO line width for high-z, far-IR-luminous QSO host galaxies relative to the submillimeter galaxies, implies a mean angle with respect to the sky plane for the QSO host galaxies of <θ>QSO=13deg, as opposed to the 18° quoted in the original paper. We thank Pat Hall for bringing this to our attention.

PHL 6625: A Minor Merger-associated QSO Behind NGC 247

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tao, Lian; Feng, Hua; Shen, Yue

2017-06-01

PHL 6625 is a luminous quasi-stellar object (QSO) at z = 0.3954 located behind the nearby galaxy NGC 247 ( z = 0.0005). Hubble Space Telescope observations revealed an arc structure associated with it. We report on spectroscopic observations with the Very Large Telescope and multiwavelength observations from the radio to the X-ray band for the system, suggesting that PHL 6625 and the arc are a close pair of merging galaxies, instead of a strong gravitational lens system. The QSO host galaxy is estimated to be (4–28) × 10{sup 10} M {sub ☉} and the mass of the companion galaxymore » is estimated to be M {sub *} = (6.8 ± 2.4) × 10{sup 9} M {sub ☉}, suggesting that this is a minor merger system. The QSO displays typical broad emission lines, from which a black hole mass of about (2–5) × 10{sup 8} M {sub ☉} and an Eddington ratio of about 0.01–0.05 can be inferred. The system represents an interesting and rare case where a QSO is associated with an ongoing minor merger, analogous to Arp 142.« less

The z = 1.6748 C I Absorber Toward the QSO PKS 1756+237

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, Katherine C.; Bauer, James M.; Jim, Kevin T. C.

We have detected C I ground-state absorption at zabs = 1.6748 toward the QSO PKS 1756+237 (zem = 1.725), making this only the fourth known C I QSO absorber. The absence of excited-state fine-structure C I lines is compatible with the redshifted Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation at an expected temperature of TCMBR (1+z) = 7.291 K (Mather et al. 1994, ApJ, 354, L37). We find a 2 σ upper-limit on the C I excitation temperature of Tex <= 7.73(+0.53, -0.46) K (Roth & Bauer 1999, ApJ, submitted). Our Keck HIRES spectra (8.3 km s-1 FWHM) obtained in May 1997 also reveal the existence of Ni II and Fe II lines with a sub-solar Ni/Fe abundance ratio, presumably indicative of dust. We have obtained deep, high resolution (0.3'' FWHM) images in H+K' with the UH 2.2m Tip-Tilt system of the QSO field in order to identify the system responsible for the zabs = 1.6748 absorption. We detect two faint candidate systems within 1.5'' and 3'' (≅ 15 and 30 kpc, Hcirc = 65) of the QSO.

Properties of low-redshift QSO absorption systems - QSO-galaxy pairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Womble, Donna S.

1993-01-01

The chance proximity of QSOs and galaxies provides unique opportunities to probe the extent and content of gas in the foreground galaxies through evaluation of the incidence and strength of absorption lines in the spectra of the background QSOs. Recent results on the observed properties of these low-redshift, heavy-element absorption systems are summarized. These results are discussed in the context of the galaxy morphologies and environments and are briefly compared with Galactic absorption and with the inferred properties of higher-redshift QSO absorption systems.

Multiwavelength Characterization of an ACT-selected, Lensed Dusty Star-forming Galaxy at z = 2.64

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roberts-Borsani, G. W.; Jiménez-Donaire, M. J.; Daprà, M.; Alatalo, K.; Aretxaga, I.; Álvarez-Márquez, J.; Baker, A. J.; Fujimoto, S.; Gallardo, P. A.; Gralla, M.; Hilton, M.; Hughes, J. P.; Jiménez, C.; Laporte, N.; Marriage, T. A.; Nati, F.; Rivera, J.; Sievers, A.; Weiß, A.; Wilson, G. W.; Wollack, E. J.; Yun, M. S.

2017-08-01

We present C I(2-1) and multi-transition 12CO observations of a dusty star-forming galaxy, ACT J2029+0120, which we spectroscopically confirm to lie at z = 2.64. We detect CO(3-2), CO(5-4), CO(7-6), CO(8-7), and C I(2-1) at high significance, tentatively detect HCO+(4-3), and place strong upper limits on the integrated strength of dense gas tracers (HCN(4-3) and CS(7-6)). Multi-transition CO observations and dense gas tracers can provide valuable constraints on the molecular gas content and excitation conditions in high-redshift galaxies. We therefore use this unique data set to construct a CO spectral line energy distribution (SLED) of the source, which is most consistent with that of a ULIRG/Seyfert or QSO host object in the taxonomy of the Herschel Comprehensive ULIRG Emission Survey. We employ RADEX models to fit the peak of the CO SLED, inferring a temperature of T ˜ 117 K and {n}{{{H}}2}˜ {10}5 cm-3, most consistent with a ULIRG/QSO object and the presence of high-density tracers. We also find that the velocity width of the C I line is potentially larger than seen in all CO transitions for this object, and that the {L}{{C} {{I}}(2-1)}\\prime /{L}{CO(3-2)}\\prime ratio is also larger than seen in other lensed and unlensed submillimeter galaxies and QSO hosts; if confirmed, this anomaly could be an effect of differential lensing of a shocked molecular outflow.

The Luminosity Function of QSO Host Galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamilton, Timothy S.; Casertano, Stefano; Turnshek, David A.; White, Nicholas E. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We present some results from our HST archival image study of 71 QSO host galaxies. The objects are selected to have z less than or equal to 0.46 and total absolute magnitude M(sub v) less than or equal to -23 in our adopted cosmology (H(sub 0) = 50 kilometers per second Mpc(sup-1), q(sub 0) = 0.5, lambda = 0)). The aim of this initial study is to investigate the composition of the sample with respect to host morphology and radio loudness, as well as derive the QSO host galaxy luminosity function. We have analyzed available WFPC2 images in R or I band (U in one case), using a uniform set of procedures. The host galaxies span a narrow range of luminosities and are exceptionally bright, much more so than normal galaxies, usually L greater than L*(sub v). The QSOs are almost equally divided among three subclasses: radio-loud QSOs with elliptical hosts, radio-quiet QSOs with elliptical hosts, and radio-quiet QSOs with spiral hosts. Radio-loud QSOs with spiral hosts are extremely rare. Using a weighting procedure, we derive the combined luminosity function of QSO host galaxies. We find that the luminosity function of QSO hosts differs in shape from that of normal galaxies but that they coincide at the highest luminosities. The ratio of the number of quasar hosts to the number of normal galaxies at a luminosity L*(sub v) is R = (Lv/11.48L*(sub v))(sup 2.46), where L*(sub v) corresponds to M*(sub v)= -22.35, and a QSO is defined to be an object with total nuclear plus host light M(sub v) less than or equal to -23. This ratio can be interpreted as the probability that a galaxy with luminosity L(sub V) will host a QSO at redshift z approximately equal to 0.26.

The x ray properties of a large, uniform QSO sample: Einstein observations of the LBQS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Margon, B.; Anderson, S. F.; Xu, X.; Green, P. J.; Foltz, C. B.

1992-01-01

Although there are large numbers of Quasi Stellar Objects (QSO's) now observed in X rays, extensive X-ray observations of uniformly selected, 'complete' QSO samples are more rare. The Large Bright QSO Survey (LBQS) consists of about 1000 objects with well understood properties, most brighter than B = 18.8 and thus amenable to X-ray detections in relatively brief exposures. The sample is thought to be highly complete in the range 0.2 less than z less than 3.3, a significantly broader interval than many other surveys. The Einstein IPC observed 150 of these objects, mostly serendipitously, during its lifetime. We report the results of an analysis of these IPC data, considering not only the 20 percent of the objects we find to have positive X-ray detections, but also the ensemble X-ray properties derived by 'image stacking'.

A new detection of an UFO in the X-ray spectrum of a lensed QSO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dadina, M.

2017-10-01

The discovery of the "M_{SMBH}-σ relation" indicated that a connection between the central black-hole and the hosting galaxies acted during the cosmic time. With the discovery in X-rays of the ultra-fast outflows in nearby AGN, we have most probably probed one of the ingredients that are needed to build-up this mechanism. At high-z, however, such measurements were possible only in an handful of objects and this was possible mainly for the presence of gravitational lenses that magnified otherwise X-ray weak QSO. Following this, we proposed a program to use XMM-Newton and gravitational lenses as telescopes to point bright, lensed and distant QSO to characterize in detail their X-ray spectrum and to detect blushifted absorption lines at E˜7-10 keV (rest frame). Here we present the preliminary results obtained for the z=2.64 QSO MG J0414+0534.

Surveying the CGM and IGM across 4 orders of magnitude in environmental density

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burchett, Joseph

2017-08-01

Environment matters when it comes to galaxy evolution, and the mechanisms driving this evolution are reflected in the diffuse gas residing within the large-scale structures enveloping the cosmic galaxy population. QSO absorption lines effectively probe the circumgalactic medium (CGM) and intragroup and intracluster media, and work thus far hints at profound environmental effects on the CGM. However, sample sizes remain small, and a unifying picture of the gas characteristics across diverse environments has yet to emerge. Within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we have identified a sample volume containing a remarkable diversity in large-scale environment with an array of voids, >10,000 groups, several filaments, and 5 clusters, including the Coma Supercluster and CfA Great Wall. Leveraging the Hubble Spectroscopic Legacy Archive (HSLA), we propose a study using >360 background QSOs probing this volume to study the effects of large-scale environment on CGM and intergalactic medium (IGM) gas. The z = 0.019-0.028 spectroscopic galaxy sample is uniformly complete to galaxies L > 0.03 L* and, with the HSLA, produces 200 galaxy/sightline pairs within 300-kpc impact parameters across a wide range of environmental densities and structures.Upon quantifying the galaxy environment and identifying/measuring the QSO absorption lines at z = 0.019-0.028, we will pursue the following primary science goals:1. Constrain the CGM/IGM physical conditions across four orders of magnitude in galaxy density2. Compare ionic abundances and ionization states in the CGM of galaxies in filaments vs. voids3. Statistically investigate the IGM/CGM gas properties from structure to structure

Spectroscopic observations of a major flare in QSO TXS0917+624.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wyrzykowski, L.; Gromadzki, M.; Kozlowski, Sz.; Mroz, P.; Shahbandeh, M.; Hsiao, E.; Berton, M.; Ciroi, S.; Pastorello, A.; Chen, S.; Reguitti, A.

2018-01-01

We report on optical and near-IR spectroscopy of QSO TXS0917+624 (radio and gamma source) which showed a major 2 magnitude flare on 9th of December 2017 (Spiridonova, Moskvitin and Vlasyuk 2017, ATEL #11048).

ALMA reveals a warm and compact starburst around a heavily obscured supermassive black hole at z = 4.75

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilli, R.; Norman, C.; Vignali, C.; Vanzella, E.; Calura, F.; Pozzi, F.; Massardi, M.; Mignano, A.; Casasola, V.; Daddi, E.; Elbaz, D.; Dickinson, M.; Iwasawa, K.; Maiolino, R.; Brusa, M.; Vito, F.; Fritz, J.; Feltre, A.; Cresci, G.; Mignoli, M.; Comastri, A.; Zamorani, G.

2014-02-01

We report ALMA Cycle 0 observations at 1.3 mm of LESS J033229.4-275619 (XID403), an ultraluminous infrared galaxy at z = 4.75 in the Chandra Deep Field South hosting a Compton-thick QSO. The source is not resolved in our data at a resolution of ~0.75 arcsec, placing an upper-limit of 2.5 kpc to the half-light radius of the continuum emission from heated-dust. After deconvolving for the beam size, however, we found a ~3σ indication of an intrinsic source size of 0.27 ± 0.08 arcsec (Gaussian FWHM), which would correspond to rhalf ~ 0.9 ± 0.3 kpc. We build the far-infrared SED of XID403 by combining datapoints from both ALMA and Herschel and fit it with a modified blackbody spectrum. For the first time, we measure the dust temperature Td = 58.5 ± 5.3 K in this system, which is comparable to what has been observed in other high-z submillimeter galaxies. The measured star formation rate is SFR = 1020 ± 150 M⊙ yr-1, in agreement with previous estimates at lower S/N. Based on the measured SFR and source size, we constrain the SFR surface density to be ΣSFR > 26M⊙ yr-1 kpc-2 (~200M⊙ yr-1 kpc-2 for rhalf ~ 0.9 kpc). The compactness of this starburst is comparable to what has been observed in other local and high-z starburst galaxies. If the gas mass measured from previous [CII] and CO(2-1) observations at low resolution is confined within the same dust region, assuming rhalf ~ 0.9 ± 0.3 kpc, this would produce a column density of NH ~ 0.3-1.1 × 1024 cm-2 towards the central SMBH, similar to the column density of ≈1.4 × 1024 cm-2 measured from the X-rays. Then, in principle, if both gas and dust were confined on sub-kpc scales, this would be sufficient to produce the observed X-ray column density without any need of a pc-scale absorber (e.g. the torus postulated by Unified Models). We speculate that the high compactness of star formation, together with the presence of a powerful AGN, likely produce an outflowing wind. This would be consistent with the ~350 km s-1 velocity shift observed between the Lyα emission and the submm lines ([CII], CO(2-1), [NII]) and with the highly-ionized Fe emission line at ~6.9 keV rest-frame tentatively observed in the X-ray spectrum. Finally, our observations show that, besides the mass, star formation rate and gas depletion timescale, XID403 has also the right size to be one of the progenitors of the compact quiescent massive galaxies seen at z ~ 3.

Discovery of a Damped Lyα Absorber at z = 3.3 along a Galaxy Sight-line in the SSA22 Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mawatari, K.; Inoue, A. K.; Kousai, K.; Hayashino, T.; Cooke, R.; Prochaska, J. X.; Yamada, T.; Matsuda, Y.

2016-02-01

Using galaxies as background light sources to map the Lyα absorption lines is a novel approach to study Damped Lyα Absorbers (DLAs). We report the discovery of an intervening z = 3.335 ± 0.007 DLA along a galaxy sight-line identified among 80 Lyman Break Galaxy (LBG) spectra obtained with our Very Large Telescope/Visible Multi-Object Spectrograph survey in the SSA22 field. The measured DLA neutral hydrogen (H I) column density is log(NH I/cm-2) = 21.68 ± 0.17. The DLA covering fraction over the extended background LBG is >70% (2σ), yielding a conservative constraint on the DLA area of ≳1 kpc2. Our search for a counterpart galaxy hosting this DLA concludes that there is no counterpart galaxy with star formation rate larger than a few M⊙ yr-1, ruling out an unobscured violent star formation in the DLA gas cloud. We also rule out the possibility that the host galaxy of the DLA is a passive galaxy with M* ≳ 5 × 1010M⊙ or a heavily dust-obscured galaxy with E(B - V) ≳ 2. The DLA may coincide with a large-scale overdensity of the spectroscopic LBGs. The occurrence rate of the DLA is compatible with that of DLAs found in QSO sight-lines.

Confirming the gamma-ray blazar nature of the low energy counterpart QSO PKS1725+123 of 2FGL J1727.9+1220 with WISE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Massaro, F.; Paggi, A.; D'Abrusco, R.

2012-06-01

Following the near infrared NIR brightening of the QSO PKS1725+123 (=BZQJ1728+1215) (ATEL #4201), associated to the gamma-ray source 2FGL J1727.9+1220 in Nolan et al. (2012 ApJS, 199, 31), we searched in the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE; Wright et al. 2010 AJ, 140, 1868) catalog at the VLBI position of the QSO PKS1725+123 (R.A.(J2000): 17h28m07.0512s, Dec.(J2000): +12d15m39.485s) reported in Beasley et al.

Luminosity of serendipitous x-ray QSOs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Margon, B.; Chanan, G.A.; Downes, R.A.

1982-02-01

We have identified the optical counterparts of 47 serendipitously discovered Einstein Observatory X-ray sources with previously unreported quasi-stellar objects. The mean ratio of X-ray to optical luminosity of this sample agrees reasonably well with that derived from X-ray observations of previously known QSOs. However, despite the fact that our limiting magnitude V = 18.5 should permit detection of typical QSOs (i.e., M/sub c/ = -26) to z = 0.9, the mean redshift of our sample is only z = 0.42 Thus the mean luminosity of these objects, M/sub c/ = -24, differs significantly from that of previous QSO surveys withmore » similar optical thresholds. The existence of large numbers of these lower luminosity QSOs which are difficult to discover by previous selection techniques, provides observational confirmation of the steep luminosity function inferred indirectly from optical counts. However, possible explanations for the lack of higher luminosity QSOs in our sample prove even more interesting. If one accepts the global value of the X-ray to optical luminosity ratio proposed by Zamorani et al, and Ku, Helfand, and Lucy, then reconciliation of this ratio with our observations severely constrains the QSO space density and luminosity functions. Alternatively, the ''typical'' QSO-a radio quiet, high redshift (z>1), optically luminous but not superluminous (M/sub c/> or =-27) object-may not be a strong X-ray source. This inference is not in conflict with existing results from Einstein X-ray surveys of preselected QSOs, which also fail to detect such objects. The contribution of QSOs to the diffuse X-ray background radiation is therefore highly uncertain, but may be quite small. Current X-ray data probably do not place significant constraints on the optical number counts of faint QSOs.« less

HST/COS detection of a Ne VIII absorber towards PG 1407+265: an unambiguous tracer of collisionally ionized hot gas?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, T.; Muzahid, S.; Narayanan, A.; Srianand, R.; Wakker, B. P.; Charlton, J. C.; Pathak, A.

2015-01-01

We report the detection of Ne VIII in a zabs = 0.599 61 absorber towards the QSO PG1407+265 (zem= 0.94). Besides Ne VIII, absorption from H I Lyman series lines (H I λ1025-λ915), several other low (C II, N II, O II and S II), intermediate (C III, N III, N IV, O III, S IV and S V) and high (S VI, O VI and Ne VIII) ionization metal lines are detected. Disparity in the absorption line kinematics between different ions implies that the absorbing gas comprises of multiple ionization phases. The low and the intermediate ions (except S V) trace a compact (˜410 pc), metal-rich (Z ˜ Z⊙) and overdense (log nH ˜ -2.6) photoionized region that sustained star formation for a prolonged period. The high ions, Ne VIII and O VI, can be explained as arising in a low density (-5.3 ≤ log nH ≤ -5.0), metal-rich (Z ≳ Z⊙) and diffuse (˜180 kpc) photoionized gas. The S V, S VI and C IV [detected in the Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) spectrum] require an intermediate photoionization phase with -4.2 < log nH < -3.5. Alternatively, a pure collisional ionization model, as used to explain the previous known Ne VIII absorbers, with 5.65 < log T < 5.72, can reproduce the S VI, O VI and Ne VIII column densities simultaneously in a single phase. However, even such models require an intermediate phase to reproduce any observable S V and/or C IV. Therefore, we conclude that when multiple phases are present, the presence of Ne VIII is not necessarily an unambiguous indication of collisionally ionized hot gas.

On the Origin of the High Column Density Turnover in the HI Column Density Distribution

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Erkal, Denis; Gnedin, Nickolay Y.; Kravtsov, Andrey V.

We study the high column density regime of the HI column density distribution function and argue that there are two distinct features: a turnover at NHI ~ 10^21 cm^-2 which is present at both z=0 and z ~ 3, and a lack of systems above NHI ~ 10^22 cm^-2 at z=0. Using observations of the column density distribution, we argue that the HI-H2 transition does not cause the turnover at NHI ~ 10^21 cm^-2, but can plausibly explain the turnover at NHI > 10^22 cm^-2. We compute the HI column density distribution of individual galaxies in the THINGS sample andmore » show that the turnover column density depends only weakly on metallicity. Furthermore, we show that the column density distribution of galaxies, corrected for inclination, is insensitive to the resolution of the HI map or to averaging in radial shells. Our results indicate that the similarity of HI column density distributions at z=3 and z=0 is due to the similarity of the maximum HI surface densities of high-z and low-z disks, set presumably by universal processes that shape properties of the gaseous disks of galaxies. Using fully cosmological simulations, we explore other candidate physical mechanisms that could produce a turnover in the column density distribution. We show that while turbulence within GMCs cannot affect the DLA column density distribution, stellar feedback can affect it significantly if the feedback is sufficiently effective in removing gas from the central 2-3 kpc of high-redshift galaxies. Finally, we argue that it is meaningful to compare column densities averaged over ~ kpc scales with those estimated from quasar spectra which probe sub-pc scales due to the steep power spectrum of HI column density fluctuations observed in nearby galaxies.« less

Galaxy Clustering Around Nearby Luminous Quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fisher, Karl B.; Bahcall, John N.; Kirhakos, Sofia; Schneider, Donald P.

1996-01-01

We examine the clustering of galaxies around a sample of 20 luminous low redshift (z approx. less than 0.30) quasars observed with the Wide Field Camera-2 on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The HST resolution makes possible galaxy identification brighter than V = 24.5 and as close as 1 min or 2 min to the quasar. We find a significant enhancement of galaxies within a projected separation of approx. less than 100 1/h kpc of the quasars. If we model the QSO/galaxy correlation function as a power law with a slope given by the galaxy/galaxy correlation function, we find that the ratio of the QSO/galaxy to galaxy/galaxy correlation functions is 3.8 +/- 0.8. The galaxy counts within r less than 15 1/h kpc of the quasars are too high for the density profile to have an appreciable core radius (approx. greater than 100 1/h kpc). Our results reinforce the idea that low redshift quasars are located preferentially in groups of 10-20 galaxies rather than in rich clusters. We see no significant difference in the clustering amplitudes derived from radio-loud and radio-quiet subsamples.

Luminous Quasars Do Not Live in Overdense Regions of LBGS at z 4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchiyama, Hisakazu

2017-07-01

We present the cross-correlation between 151 luminous QSOs and 179 protoclustercandidates at z 4 using Hyper Suprime-Cam data. We found that only 2 QSOs reside inregions that are more overdense compared to the average field at > 4σ. The distributionsof the distance between QSOs and the nearest protoclusters and the signicance of theoverdensity at the position of QSOs are statistically identical to those found for LBGs,suggesting that QSOs tend to reside in almost the same environment as LBGs at thisredshift. Using stacking analysis, we found that the average density of LBGs around QSOsis slightly higher than that around LBGs on 1.0-2.5 pMpc scales, while at < 0.5 pMpcthat around QSOs tends to be lower. We also found that QSOs with higher UV-luminosityor with more massive black holes tend to avoid the most overdense regions, and that theQSO near zone sizes are anti-correlated with overdensity. These findings are consistentwith a scenario in which the average QSO at z 4 resides in structures that are lessmassive than those expected for the progenitors of today's rich clusters, and possibly thatluminous QSOs may be suppressing star formation in their close vicinity.

Highly ionized collimated outflow from HE 0238-1904

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muzahid, S.; Srianand, R.; Savage, B. D.; Narayanan, A.; Mohan, V.; Dewangan, G. C.

2012-07-01

We present a detailed analysis of a highly ionized, multiphased and collimated outflowing gas detected through O V, O VI, Ne VIII and Mg X absorption associated with the QSO HE 0238-1904 (zem≃ 0.629). Based on the similarities in the absorption-line profiles and estimated covering fractions, we find that the O VI and Ne VIII absorption trace the same phase of the absorbing gas. Simple photoionization models can reproduce the observed ?, ? and ? from a single phase whereas the low-ionization species (e.g. N III, N IV and O IV) originate from a different phase. The measured ? ratio is found to be remarkably similar (within a factor of ˜2) in several individual absorption components kinematically spread over ˜1800 km s-1. Under photoionization this requires a fine-tuning between hydrogen density (nH) and the distance of the absorbing gas from the Quasi Stellar Object (QSO). Alternatively, this can also be explained by collisional ionization in hot gas with T≥ 105.7 K. Long-term stability favours the absorbing gas being located outside the broad-line region. We speculate that the collimated flow of such a hot gas could possibly be triggered by the radio jet interaction.

A complex Lyman limit system at z=1.9 towards HS 1103+6416

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Köhler, S.; Reimers, D.; Tytler, D.; Hagen, H.-J.; Barlow, T.; Burles, S.

1999-02-01

We analyse absorption lines in optical and ultraviolet spectra of the bright (V=15.8, z=2.19) QSO HS 1103+6416. High-resolution (FWHM =8 km s(-1) ) optical spectra have been obtained with the Keck 10 m telescope in the range from 3180 to 5780 Angstroms. Ultraviolet observations in the range from 1150 to 3280 Angstroms were performed with the FOS and the GHRS onboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In this paper we concentrate our discussion on a complex Lyman limit system (LLS) at z=1.89. Absorption lines by carbon, silicon and aluminum in the optical spectra reveal a complex velocity structure with at least 11 components spanning a velocity range of 200 km s(-1) . From the Lyman limit in the ultraviolet spectra we derive a total neutral hydrogen column density of log N(H i) =17.46 cm(-2) . Column densities of heavy elements in the individual components were derived by Voigt profile fitting. The eleven components can be subdivided roughly into three groups: Components 2, 3 and 6 with radial velocities v = -129... -95 km s(-1) with low ionization (L), components 4, 5, 7, 8 (v = -75... +2) with intermediate ionization (I), and components 1, 9, 10, 11 (v = -129, +34... +57) with high ionization (H). In order to study the ionization and abundances in these systems we compare the observed column densities with photoionization models. The observed absorption in the optical data can be explained by individual clouds with slightly varying metal abundances photoionized by slightly different radiation fields. Highly ionized components favour the extragalactic radiation field as calculated by Haardt & Madau (\\cite{Haardt96}) while the components of low and intermediate ionization are better reproduced with a harder ionizing radiation field. Obviously local sources like stars can therefore be excluded as the main ionizing sources. Observational parameters for HST spectra of HS 1103+6416. <~bel{obs} Detector/Grating Exposure time Resolution Observed range Date Offset S/N_{subs{max}} [s] FWHM [Angstroms] [Angstroms] [Angstroms] AMBER/G270H 5336 2 2223-3277 Oct 31 1995 0.5 46 AMBER/G190H 8628 1.44 1572-2311 Oct 31 1995 1.24 21 DET1/G140L 17408 0.77 1415-1700 Jul 9 1996 0.66 8 DET1/G140L 22739 0.77 1150-1436 Jul 9 1996 0.66 12 Abundances in components L and I appear to be slightly different from those in the high ionization component H. In L and I we find roughly [C/H] = -0.9 while H has [C/H] = -1.2, consistent with the expectation that in a galaxy or groups of galaxies the abundances in the higher ionized `Halo' component are lower. The relative element abundances are also different. While in components L and I [Si/C] ~ 0.2, barely significant, and [S/C] and [O/C] ~ 0 within the uncertainties, component H shows [Si/C] = 0.5 and in addition [O/C] and [S/C] = 0.4 (both from HST spectra). [Al/C] measurable only in L and I is always ~ 0. The tendency of enhanced alpha element (O, Si, S) abundances at low C abundance is consistent with what is known from nucleosynthesis theory (SNII dominant at the beginning of galactic evolution), from metal deficient stars in our galaxy and from QSO absorption line systems. If all components were ionized by the same radiation field the relative overabundances of O and S in the highly ionized components would be even larger. We show that HS 1103+6416 will offer in the future for the first time the possibility to measure the cosmic He abundance at high redshift. Detailed calculations of He i absorption using the multicomponent model which explains the metal lines shows consistency with the observed first seven series members of the He i 584, 537, 522 Angstroms ... series for a helium abundance Y=0.24, the expected cosmic He abundance from Big Bang nucleosynthesis modified by stellar nucleosynthesis at ~ 1/10 solar metallicity. The presence of O i and possibly O vi absorption cannot be explained by our photoionization models and might hint at the existence of additional mainly neutral components with relatively low H i column density and further ionization mechanisms like, e.g., collisional ionization. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by Aura, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5--26\\,555. Optical data presented herein were obtained at the W.M.\\ Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W.M.\\ Keck Foundation.

Single fiber lignin distributions based on the density gradient column method

Treesearch

Brian Boyer; Alan W. Rudie

2007-01-01

The density gradient column method was used to determine the effects of uniform and non-uniform pulping processes on variation in individual fiber lignin concentrations of the resulting pulps. A density gradient column uses solvents of different densities and a mixing process to produce a column of liquid with a smooth transition from higher density at the bottom to...

The relation between the column density structures and the magnetic field orientation in the Vela C molecular complex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soler, J. D.; Ade, P. A. R.; Angilè, F. E.; Ashton, P.; Benton, S. J.; Devlin, M. J.; Dober, B.; Fissel, L. M.; Fukui, Y.; Galitzki, N.; Gandilo, N. N.; Hennebelle, P.; Klein, J.; Li, Z.-Y.; Korotkov, A. L.; Martin, P. G.; Matthews, T. G.; Moncelsi, L.; Netterfield, C. B.; Novak, G.; Pascale, E.; Poidevin, F.; Santos, F. P.; Savini, G.; Scott, D.; Shariff, J. A.; Thomas, N. E.; Tucker, C. E.; Tucker, G. S.; Ward-Thompson, D.

2017-07-01

We statistically evaluated the relative orientation between gas column density structures, inferred from Herschel submillimetre observations, and the magnetic field projected on the plane of sky, inferred from polarized thermal emission of Galactic dust observed by the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Submillimetre Telescope for Polarimetry (BLASTPol) at 250, 350, and 500 μm, towards the Vela C molecular complex. First, we find very good agreement between the polarization orientations in the three wavelength-bands, suggesting that, at the considered common angular resolution of 3.´0 that corresponds to a physical scale of approximately 0.61 pc, the inferred magnetic field orientation is not significantly affected by temperature or dust grain alignment effects. Second, we find that the relative orientation between gas column density structures and the magnetic field changes progressively with increasing gas column density, from mostly parallel or having no preferred orientation at low column densities to mostly perpendicular at the highest column densities. This observation is in agreement with previous studies by the Planck collaboration towards more nearby molecular clouds. Finally, we find a correspondencebetween (a) the trends in relative orientation between the column density structures and the projected magnetic field; and (b) the shape of the column density probability distribution functions (PDFs). In the sub-regions of Vela C dominated by one clear filamentary structure, or "ridges", where the high-column density tails of the PDFs are flatter, we find a sharp transition from preferentially parallel or having no preferred relative orientation at low column densities to preferentially perpendicular at highest column densities. In the sub-regions of Vela C dominated by several filamentary structures with multiple orientations, or "nests", where the maximum values of the column density are smaller than in the ridge-like sub-regions and the high-column density tails of the PDFs are steeper, such a transition is also present, but it is clearly less sharp than in the ridge-like sub-regions. Both of these results suggest that the magnetic field is dynamically important for the formation of density structures in this region.

Low-redshift quasars in the SDSS Stripe 82: associated companion galaxies and signature of star formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bettoni, D.; Falomo, R.; Kotilainen, J. K.; Karhunen, K.

2017-04-01

We obtained optical spectroscopy of close (<80 kpc) companion objects of a sample of 12 low-redshift quasars (z < 0.3) selected from the SDSS Stripe82 area and that are in the subsample of 52 QSOs for which both multicolour host galaxies properties and galaxy environment were recently investigated in detail. We found that for 8 out of 12 sources the companion galaxy is associated with the QSO having a difference of radial velocity that is less than 400 km s-1. Many of these associated companions exhibit [OII] λ3727 Å emission lines suggestive of episodes of (recent) star formation possibly induced by past interactions. The star formation rate of the companion galaxies as derived from [O II] line luminosity is, however, modest, with a median value of 1.0 ± 0.8 M⊙ yr-1, and the emission lines are barely consistent with expectation from gas ionization by the QSO. The role of the QSO for inducing star formation in close companion galaxies appears meager. For three objects we also detect the starlight spectrum of the QSO host galaxy, which is characterized by absorption lines of old stellar population and [O II] emission line.

Spectroscopic limits to an extragalactic far-ultraviolet background.

PubMed

Martin, C; Hurwitz, M; Bowyer, S

1991-10-01

We use a spectrum of the lowest intensity diffuse far-ultraviolet background obtained from a series of observations in a number of celestial view directions to constrain the properties of the extragalactic FUV background. The mean continuum level, IEG = 280 +/- 35 photons cm-2 s-1 angstrom-1 sr-1, was obtained in a direction with very low H I column density, and this represents a firm upper limit to any extragalactic background in the 1400-1900 angstroms band. Previous work has demonstrated that the far-ultraviolet background includes (depending on a view direction) contributions from dust-scattered Galactic light, high-ionization emission lines, two-photon emission from H II, H2 fluorescence, and the integrated light of spiral galaxies. We find no evidence in the spectrum of line or continuum features that would signify additional extragalactic components. Motivated by the observation of steep BJ and U number count distributions, we have made a detailed comparison of galaxy evolution models to optical and UV data. We find that the observations are difficult to reconcile with a dominant contribution from unclustered, starburst galaxies at low redshifts. Our measurement rules out large ionizing fluxes at z = 0, but cannot strongly constrain the QSO background light, which is expected to be 0.5%-4% of IEG. We present improved limits on radiative lifetimes of massive neutrinos. We demonstrated with a simple model that IGM radiation is unlikely to make a significant contribution to IEG. Since dust scattering could produce a significant part of the continuum in this lowest intensity spectrum, we carried out a series of tests to evaluate this possibility. We find that the spectrum of a nearby target with higher NH I, when corrected for H2 fluorescence, is very similar to the spectrum obtained in the low H I view direction. This is evidence that the majority of the continuum observed at low NH I is also dust reflection, indicating either the existence of a hitherto unidentified dust component, or of a large enhancement in dust scattering efficiency in low-density gas. We also review the effects of an additional dust component on the far-infrared background and on extragalactic FUV observations. We conclude that dust reflection, combined with modest contributions from H II two-photon emission and from the integrated light of late-type galaxies, may account for virtually all of the FUV background in low H I column density directions.

Confirming the gamma-ray blazar nature of the low energy counterpart QSO GB6 J1604+5714 of 2FGL J1604.6+5710 with WISE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Massaro, F.; D'Abrusco, R.; Paggi, A.

2012-06-01

Following the rapid optical variability detected in the QSO GB6 J1604+5714 (=BZQJ1604+5714) (ATEL #4184), associated to the gamma-ray source 2FGL J1604.6+5710 (=1FGL J1604.3+5710) in Nolan et al. (2012 ApJS, 199, 31), we searched in the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE; Wright et al. 2010 AJ, 140, 1868) catalog at the VLBI position of the QSO GB6 J1604+5714 (R.A.(J2000): 16h04m37.3546s, Dec.(J2000): +57d14m36.660s) reported in Beasley et al......

Abundance of nitrogen in QSOs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shields, G.A.

1976-03-01

Models of photoionized QSO emission-line regions show that measurements of O iii/N iv/C iv or N iii/C iii can yield the C/N/O ratios to an accuracy of a factor 2 or better. The N iii/C iii intensity ratios observed for the QSO PKS 1756+237 (z=1.72) implies a N/C abundance ratio 5 times larger than the solar value. This is comparable with the nitrogen overabundance in the nuclei of nearby galaxies, and it points to advanced chemical evolution in this QSO, with Zapproximately-greater-thanZ/sub sun/. Such a large abundance of nitrogen appears to be exceptional; composite spectra indicate that most QSOs havemore » (N/O) approximately one-fourth to one-half the solar value. (AIP)« less

A molecular Einstein ring: imaging a starburst disk surrounding a quasi-stellar object.

PubMed

Carilli, C L; Lewis, G F; Djorgovski, S G; Mahabal, A; Cox, P; Bertoldi, F; Omont, A

2003-05-02

Images of the molecular CO 2-1 line emission and the radio continuum emission from the redshift 4.12 gravitationally lensed quasi-stellar object (QSO) PSS J2322+1944 reveal an Einstein ring with a diameter of 1.5". These observations are modeled as a star-forming disk surrounding the QSO nucleus with a radius of 2 kiloparsecs. The implied massive star formation rate is 900 solar masses per year. At this rate, a substantial fraction of the stars in a large elliptical galaxy could form on a dynamical time scale of 108 years. The observation of active star formation in the host galaxy of a high-redshift QSO supports the hypothesis of coeval formation of supermassive black holes and stars in spheroidal galaxies.

Sub-millimeter detected z ~ 2 radio-quiet QSOs. Accurate redshifts, black hole masses, and inflow/outflow velocities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orellana, G.; Nagar, N. M.; Isaak, K. G.; Priddey, R.; Maiolino, R.; McMahon, R.; Marconi, A.; Oliva, E.

2011-07-01

Context. We present near-IR spectroscopy of a sample of luminous (MB - 27.5; Lbol > 1014 L⊙), sub-millimeter-detected, dusty (Md ~ 109 M⊙), radio-quiet quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) at z ~ 2. Aims: A primary aim is to provide a more accurate QSO redshift determination in order to trace kinematics and inflows/outflows in these sub-mm bright QSOs. Additionally, the Hα and continuum properties allow an estimation of the black hole mass and accretion rate, offering insights into the starburst-AGN connection in sub-mm bright QSOs. Methods: We measure the redshift, width, and luminosity of the Hα line, and the continuum luminosity near Hα. Relative velocity differences between Hα and rest-frame UV emission lines are used to study the presence and strength of outflows/inflows. Luminosities and line widths are used to estimate the black hole masses, bolometric luminosities, Eddington fractions, and accretion rates; these are compared to the star-formation-rate (SFR), estimated from the sub-mm derived far-infrared (FIR) luminosity. Finally our sub-mm-bright QSO sample is compared with other QSO samples at similar redshifts. Results: The Hα emission line was strongly detected in all sources. Two components - a very broad (≳5000 km s-1) Gaussian and an intermediate-width (≳1500 km s-1) Gaussian, were required to fit the Hα profile of all observed QSOs. Narrow (≲1000 km s-1) lines were not detected in the sample QSOs. The rest-frame UV emission lines in these sub-mm bright QSOs show larger than average blue-shifted velocities, potentially tracing strong - up to 3000 km s-1 - outflows in the broad line region. With the exception of the one QSO which shows exceptionally broad Hα lines, the black hole masses of the QSO sample are in the range log MBH = 9.0-9.7 and the Eddington fractions are between 0.5 and ~1. In black hole mass and accretion rate, this sub-mm bright QSO sample is indistinguishable from the Shemmer et al. (2004, ApJ, 614, 547) optically-bright QSO sample at z ~ 2; the latter is likely dominated by sub-mm dim QSOs. Previous authors have demonstrated a correlation, over six orders of magnitude, between SFR and accretion rate in active galaxies: the sub-mm bright QSOs lie at the upper extremes of both quantities and their SFR is an order of magnitude higher than that predicted from the correlation.

Impact of NO2 horizontal heterogeneity on tropospheric NO2 vertical columns retrieved from satellite, multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy, and in situ measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendolia, D.; D'Souza, R. J. C.; Evans, G. J.; Brook, J.

2013-01-01

Tropospheric NO2 vertical column densities were retrieved for the first time in Toronto, Canada using three methods of differing spatial scales. Remotely-sensed NO2 vertical column densities, retrieved from multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy and satellite remote sensing, were evaluated by comparison with in situ vertical column densities derived using a pair of chemiluminescence monitors situated 0.01 and 0.5 km above ground level. The chemiluminescence measurements were corrected for the influence of NOz, which reduced the NO2 concentrations at 0.01 and 0.5 km by 8 ± 1% and 12 ± 1%, respectively. The average absolute decrease in the chemiluminescence NO2 measurement as a result of this correction was less than 1 ppb. Good correlation was observed between the remotely sensed and in situ NO2 vertical column densities (Pearson R ranging from 0.68 to 0.79), but the in situ vertical column densities were 27% to 55% greater than the remotely-sensed columns. These results indicate that NO2 horizontal heterogeneity strongly impacted the magnitude of the remotely-sensed columns. The in situ columns reflected an urban environment with major traffic sources, while the remotely-sensed NO2 vertical column densities were representative of the region, which included spatial heterogeneity introduced by residential neighbourhoods and Lake Ontario. Despite the difference in absolute values, the reasonable correlation between the vertical column densities determined by three distinct methods increased confidence in the validity of the values provided by each of the methods.

Understanding star formation in molecular clouds. I. Effects of line-of-sight contamination on the column density structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, N.; Ossenkopf, V.; Csengeri, T.; Klessen, R. S.; Federrath, C.; Tremblin, P.; Girichidis, P.; Bontemps, S.; André, Ph.

2015-03-01

Column-density maps of molecular clouds are one of the most important observables in the context of molecular cloud- and star-formation (SF) studies. With the Herschel satellite it is now possible to precisely determine the column density from dust emission, which is the best tracer of the bulk of material in molecular clouds. However, line-of-sight (LOS) contamination from fore- or background clouds can lead to overestimating the dust emission of molecular clouds, in particular for distant clouds. This implies values that are too high for column density and mass, which can potentially lead to an incorrect physical interpretation of the column density probability distribution function (PDF). In this paper, we use observations and simulations to demonstrate how LOS contamination affects the PDF. We apply a first-order approximation (removing a constant level) to the molecular clouds of Auriga and Maddalena (low-mass star-forming), and Carina and NGC 3603 (both high-mass SF regions). In perfect agreement with the simulations, we find that the PDFs become broader, the peak shifts to lower column densities, and the power-law tail of the PDF for higher column densities flattens after correction. All corrected PDFs have a lognormal part for low column densities with a peak at Av ~ 2 mag, a deviation point (DP) from the lognormal at Av(DP) ~ 4-5 mag, and a power-law tail for higher column densities. Assuming an equivalent spherical density distribution ρ ∝ r- α, the slopes of the power-law tails correspond to αPDF = 1.8, 1.75, and 2.5 for Auriga, Carina, and NGC 3603. These numbers agree within the uncertainties with the values of α ≈ 1.5,1.8, and 2.5 determined from the slope γ (with α = 1-γ) obtained from the radial column density profiles (N ∝ rγ). While α ~ 1.5-2 is consistent with a structure dominated by collapse (local free-fall collapse of individual cores and clumps and global collapse), the higher value of α > 2 for NGC 3603 requires a physical process that leads to additional compression (e.g., expanding ionization fronts). From the small sample of our study, we find that clouds forming only low-mass stars and those also forming high-mass stars have slightly different values for their average column density (1.8 × 1021 cm-2 vs. 3.0 × 1021 cm-2), and they display differences in the overall column density structure. Massive clouds assemble more gas in smaller cloud volumes than low-mass SF ones. However, for both cloud types, the transition of the PDF from lognormal shape into power-law tail is found at the same column density (at Av ~ 4-5 mag). Low-mass and high-mass SF clouds then have the same low column density distribution, most likely dominated by supersonic turbulence. At higher column densities, collapse and external pressure can form the power-law tail. The relative importance of the twoprocesses can vary between clouds and thus lead to the observed differences in PDF and column density structure. Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.orgHerschel maps as FITS files are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/575/A79

ASAS-SN Discovery of an Unprecedented >2 Magnitude Optical Flare from QSO B2 1420+32

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanek, K. Z.; Kochanek, C. S.; Thompson, T. A.; Shappee, B. J.; Holoien, T. W.-S.; Prieto, J. L.; Dong, Subo; Dai, X.

2017-12-01

During the ongoing All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN, Shappee et al. 2014), using data from the quadruple 14-cm "Brutus" telescope in Haleakala, Hawaii, and the quadruple 14-cm "Leavitt" telescope in Fort Davis, Texas, we have discovered an unprecedented, factor of 10 optical brightening of QSO B2 1420+32 (SDSS J142230.37+322310.4, z=0.68).

A VLT/MUSE galaxy survey towards QSO Q1410: looking for a WHIM traced by BLAs in inter-cluster filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pessa, Ismael; Tejos, Nicolas; Barrientos, L. Felipe; Werk, Jessica; Bielby, Richard; Padilla, Nelson; Morris, Simon L.; Prochaska, J. Xavier; Lopez, Sebastian; Hummels, Cameron

2018-07-01

Cosmological simulations predict that a significant fraction of the low-z baryon budget resides in large-scale filaments in the form of a diffuse plasma at temperatures T ˜ 105 - 107 K. However, direct observation of this so-called warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) has been elusive. In the Λcold dark matter paradigm, galaxy clusters correspond to the nodes of the cosmic web at the intersection of several large-scale filamentary threads. In previous work, we used HST/COS data to conduct the first survey of broad H I Lyα absorbers (BLAs) potentially produced by WHIM in inter-cluster filaments. We targeted a single QSO, namely Q1410, whose sightline intersects seven independent inter-cluster axes at impact parameters <3 Mpc (comoving), and found a tentative excess of a factor of ˜4 with respect to the field. Here, we further investigate the origin of these BLAs by performing a blind galaxy survey within the Q1410 field using VLT/MUSE. We identified 77 sources and obtained the redshifts for 52 of them. Out of the total sample of seven BLAs in inter-cluster axes, we found three without any galaxy counterpart to stringent luminosity limits (˜4 × 108 L⊙ ˜0.01 L*), providing further evidence that these BLAs may represent genuine WHIM detections. We combined this sample with other suitable BLAs from the literature and inferred the corresponding baryon mean density for these filaments in the range Ω ^fil_bar= 0.02-0.04. Our rough estimates are consistent with the predictions from numerical simulations but still subject to large systematic uncertainties, mostly from the adopted geometry, ionization corrections, and density profile.

Analysis of Mexico City urban air pollution using nitrogen dioxide column density measurements from UV/Visible spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia Payne, D. G.; Grutter, M.; Melamed, M. L.

2010-12-01

The differential optical absorption spectroscopy method (DOAS) was used to get column densities of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the analysis of zenith sky UV/visible spectra. Since the optical path length provides critical information in interpreting NO2 column densities, in conjunction with NO2 column densities, the oxygen dimer (O4) column density was retrieved to give insight into the optical path length. We report observations of year round NO2 and O4 column densities (from august 2009 to september 2010) from which the mean seasonal levels and the daily evolution, as well as the occurrence of elevated pollution episodes are examined. Surface nitric oxide (NO) and NO2 from the local monitoring network, as well as wind data and the vertical aerosol density from continuous Lidar measurements are used in the analysis to investigate specific events in the context of local emissions from vehicular traffic, photochemical production and transport from industrial emissions. The NO2 column density measurements will enhance the understanding Mexico City urban air pollution. Recent research has begun to unravel the complexity of the air pollution problem in Mexico City and its effects not only locally but on a regional and global scale as well.

Mechanical Transformation of Task Heuristics into Operational Procedures

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-04-14

Introduction A central theme of recent research in artificial intelligence is that *Intelligent task performance requires large amounts of knowledge...PLAY P1 C4] (. (LEADING (QSO)) (OR (CAN-LEAO- HEARrS (gSO)J (mEg (SUIT-OF C3) H])] C-) (FOLLOWING (QSO)) (OR [VOID (OSO) (SUIT-LED)3 [IN-SUIT C3 (SUIT...Production rules as a representation for a knowledge based consultation system. Artificial Intelligence 8:15-45, Spring, 1977. [Davis 77b] R. Davis

DISCOVERY OF A DAMPED Lyα ABSORBER AT z = 3.3 ALONG A GALAXY SIGHT-LINE IN THE SSA22 FIELD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mawatari, K.; Inoue, A. K.; Kousai, K.

2016-02-01

Using galaxies as background light sources to map the Lyα absorption lines is a novel approach to study Damped Lyα Absorbers (DLAs). We report the discovery of an intervening z = 3.335 ± 0.007 DLA along a galaxy sight-line identified among 80 Lyman Break Galaxy (LBG) spectra obtained with our Very Large Telescope/Visible Multi-Object Spectrograph survey in the SSA22 field. The measured DLA neutral hydrogen (H i) column density is log(N{sub H} {sub i}/cm{sup −2}) = 21.68 ± 0.17. The DLA covering fraction over the extended background LBG is >70% (2σ), yielding a conservative constraint on the DLA area of ≳1 kpc{sup 2}. Our search for a counterpartmore » galaxy hosting this DLA concludes that there is no counterpart galaxy with star formation rate larger than a few M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}, ruling out an unobscured violent star formation in the DLA gas cloud. We also rule out the possibility that the host galaxy of the DLA is a passive galaxy with M{sub *} ≳ 5 × 10{sup 10}M{sub ⊙} or a heavily dust-obscured galaxy with E(B − V) ≳ 2. The DLA may coincide with a large-scale overdensity of the spectroscopic LBGs. The occurrence rate of the DLA is compatible with that of DLAs found in QSO sight-lines.« less

Exploring Damped Ly Alpha System Host Galaxies Using Gamma-Ray Bursts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Toy, Vicki L.; Cucchiara, Antonino; Veilleux, Sylvain; Fumagalli, Michele; Rafelski, Marc; Rahmati, Alireza; Cenko, S. Bradley; Capone, John I.; Pasham, Dheeraj R.

2016-01-01

We present a sample of 45 Damped Ly-Alpha system [DLA; H I-N is greater than or equal to 2 x 10(exp. 20) cm(exp. -2)] counterparts (33 detections, 12 upper limits) which host gamma-ray bursts (GRB-DLAs) in order to investigate star formation and metallicity within galaxies hosting DLAs. Our sample spans z is approx. 2 - 6 and is nearly three times larger than any previously detected DLA counterparts survey based on quasar line-of-sight searches (QSO-DLAs). We report star formation rates (SFRs) from rest-frame UV photometry and spectral energy distribution modeling. We find that DLA counterpart SFRs are not correlated with either redshift or H I column density. Thanks to the combination of Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observations, we also investigate DLA host star formation efficiency. Our GRB-DLA counterpart sample spans both higher efficiency and low efficiency star formation regions compared to the local Kennicutt-Schmidt relation, local star formation laws, and z is approximately 3 cosmological simulations. We also compare the depletion times of our DLA hosts sample to other objects in the local universe; our sample appears to deviate from the star formation efficiencies measured in local spiral and dwarf galaxies. Furthermore, we find similar efficiencies as local inner disks, SMC, and Lyman-break galaxy outskirts. Finally, our enrichment time measurements show a spread of systems with under- and over-abundance of metals, which may suggest that these systems had episodic star formation and a metal enrichment/depletion as a result of strong stellar feedback and/or metal inflow/outflow.

H I OBSERVATIONS OF THE Ca II ABSORBING GALAXIES Mrk 1456 AND SDSS J211701.26-002633.7

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cherinka, B.; Schulte-Ladbeck, R. E.; Rosenberg, J. L.

2009-12-15

In an effort to study Damped Ly{alpha} (DLA) galaxies at low redshift, we have been using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to identify galaxies projected onto quasi-stellar object (QSO) sight lines and to characterize their optical properties. For low-redshift galaxies, the H I 21 cm emission line can be used as an alternate tool for identifying possible DLA galaxies, since H I-emitting galaxies typically exhibit H I columns that are larger than the classical DLA limit. Here, we report on follow-up H I 21 cm emission-line observations of two DLA candidates that are both low-redshift spiral galaxies, Mrk 1456more » and SDSS J211701.26-002633.7. The observations were made using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) and Arecibo telescope, respectively. Analysis of their H I properties reveal the galaxies to be about one and two M*{sub HI} galaxies, respectively, and to have average H I mass, gas richness, and gas-mass fraction for their morphological types. We consider Mrk 1456 and SDSS J211701.26-002633.7 to be candidate DLA systems based upon the strength of the Ca II absorption lines they cause in their QSO's spectra, and impact parameters to the QSO that are smaller than the stellar disk. Compared to the small numbers of other H I detected DLA and candidate DLA galaxies, Mrk 1456 and SDSS J211701.26-002633.7 have high H I masses. Mrk 1456 and SDSS J211701.26-002633.7 have also been found to lie in galaxy groups that are high in H I gas mass compared to the group containing SBS 1543+593, the only DLA galaxy previously known to be situated in a galaxy group. When compared with the expected properties of low-z DLAs from an H I-detected sample of galaxies, Mrk 1456 and SDSS J211701.26-002633.7 fall within the ranges for impact parameter and M{sub B} ; and the H I mass distribution for the H I-detected DLAs agrees with that of the expected H I mass distribution for low-z DLAs. Our observations support galaxy-evolution models in which high-mass galaxies make up an increasing contribution to the DLA cross section at lower redshifts. We also report on the 21 cm line emission of Mrk 1457, a Seyfert galaxy observed within the beam of the GBT.« less

ALMA [N ii] 205 μ m Imaging Spectroscopy of the Interacting Galaxy System BRI 1202-0725 at Redshift 4.7

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lu, Nanyao; Xu, C. Kevin; Zhu, Lei

We present the results from Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array imaging in the [N ii] 205 μ m fine-structure line (hereafter [N ii]) and the underlying continuum of BRI 1202-0725, an interacting galaxy system at z = 4.7, consisting of a quasi-stellar object (QSO), a submillimeter galaxy (SMG), and two Ly α emitters, all within ∼25 kpc of the QSO. We detect the QSO and SMG in both [N ii] and continuum. At the ∼1″ (or 6.6 kpc) resolution, both the QSO and SMG are resolved in [N ii], with the de-convolved major axes of ∼9 and ∼14 kpc, respectively. Inmore » contrast, their continuum emissions are much more compact and unresolved even at an enhanced resolution of ∼0.″7. The ratio of the [N ii] flux to the existing CO(7−6) flux is used to constrain the dust temperature ( T {sub dust}) for a more accurate determination of the FIR luminosity L {sub FIR}. Our best estimated T {sub dust} equals 43 (±2) K for both galaxies (assuming an emissivity index β = 1.8). The resulting L {sub CO(7−6)}/ L {sub FIR} ratios are statistically consistent with that of local luminous infrared galaxies, confirming that L {sub CO(7−6)} traces the star formation (SF) rate (SFR) in these galaxies. We estimate that the ongoing SF of the QSO (SMG) has an SFR of 5.1 (6.9) × 10{sup 3} M {sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} (±30%) assuming Chabrier initial mass function, takes place within a diameter (at half maximum) of 1.3 (1.5) kpc, and will consume the existing 5 (5) × 10{sup 11} M {sub ⊙} of molecular gas in 10 (7) × 10{sup 7} years.« less

SOUTHERN COSMOLOGY SURVEY. III. QSOs FROM COMBINED GALEX AND OPTICAL PHOTOMETRY

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jimenez, Raul; Verde, Licia; Spergel, David N.

2009-04-15

We present catalogs of QSO candidates selected using photometry from Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) combined with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in the Stripe 82 region and Blanco Cosmology Survey (BCS) near declination -55 deg. The SDSS region contains {approx_equal}700 objects with magnitude i < 20 and {approx_equal}3600 objects with i < 21.5 in a {approx_equal}60 deg{sup 2} sky region, while the BCS region contains {approx_equal}280 objects with magnitude i < 20 and {approx}2000 objects with i < 21.5 for a 11 deg{sup 2} sky region that is being observed by three current microwave Sunyaev-Zeldovich surveys. Our QSO catalogmore » is the first one in the BCS region. Deep GALEX exposures ({approx}>2000 s in F {sub UV} and N {sub UV}, except in three fields) provide high signal-to-noise photometry in the GALEX bands (F {sub UV}, N {sub UV} < 24.5 mag). From this data, we select QSO candidates using only GALEX and optical r-band photometry, using the method given by Atlee and Gould. In the Stripe 82 field, 60% (30%) of the GALEX-selected QSOs with optical magnitude i < 20 (i < 21.5) also appear in the Richards et al. QSO catalog constructed using five-band optical SDSS photometry. Comparison with the same catalog by Richards et al. shows that the completeness of the sample is approximately 40% (25%). However, for regions of the sky with very low dust extinction, like the BCS 23-hr field and the Stripe 82 between 0{sup 0} and 10{sup 0} in R.A., our completeness is close to 95%, demonstrating that deep GALEX observations are almost as efficient as multiwavelength observations at finding QSOs. GALEX observations thus provide a viable alternate route to QSO catalogs in sky regions where u-band optical photometry is not available. The full catalog is available at http://www.ice.csic.es/personal/jimenez/PHOTOZ.« less

Hubble Space Telescope Images and Spectra of Objects Around an Optically Violent Variable QSO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burbidge, E. M.; Beaver, E. A.; Cohen, R. D.; Hamann, F.; Junkkarinen, V. T.; Lyons, R. W.; Zuo, L.

1995-12-01

The Arecibo Occultation radio source AO 0235+164 is a rapidly and violently variable QSO with ze = 0.94. It was originally designated as a BL Lac object since no emission lines were detected in its spectrum; two absorption redshifts at 0.524 and 0.851 were measured some years before weak emission lines at z = 0.94 were detected by Cohen et al. (ApJ,318,577,1987). A point-like companion (Smith et al., ApJ,218,611,1977) was found 2 arc sec south with an emission line redshift at 0.524. It was designated object A by Yanny et al. (ApJ,338,735,1989). This object has sometimes been called a ``normal'' galaxy, presumably giving rise to the absorption at 0.524 in the QSO. Recent observations of the surrounding field, using the post-repair WFPC 2 on the Hubble Space Telescope, have been analyzed and the nature of the companion object 2 arc sec south, and of a second companion 1.3 arc sec east of AO, have been studied. Spectra of companion object A have been obtained with the Faint Object Spectrograph with gratings G160L and G270H, and 1.0 arc sec aperture, and these show that it is an AGN or QSO with BAL-type broad absorption lines shortward of CIVlambda 1549, SiIVlambda 1397, and NVlambda 1240, also broad CIII]lambda 1909 emission. The second object, A1, 1.3 arc sec east of the QSO, originally identified by Yanny et al. (1989) and shown to have [0II]lambda 3727 at z=0.524, is slightly extended. The physical properties and nature of this remarkable configuration will be discussed. This research has been supported in part by NASA NAS5-29293 and NAG5-1630.

Einstein observations of active galaxies and quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schreier, E. J.

1979-01-01

The radio galaxies Centaurus A and Signus B are discussed. In both these sources, a comparison of the radio and imaged X-ray flux is allowed for the measurement of the magnetic fields. Einstein observations of quasars are discussed. The number of known X-ray emitting QSO's was increased from 3 to 22 and the distances where these QSO's were seen to correspond to an age of 15 billion years. It was shown that these quasars contributed significantly to the X-ray background.

A study of the discrepant QSO X-ray luminosity function from the HEAO-2 data archive

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Margon, B.

1986-01-01

Sensitive X-ray information for approximately 90 previously uncataloged Quasi-Stellar Objects (QSOs) in the redshift range 1.8 is less than or equal to z which is less than or equal to 3. Even with the longest esixting Einstein Observatory X-ray exposures, only 25% of these objects are positively detected in X-rays. The data were used to investigate the ensemble X-ray properties of high redshift QSOs, and the QSO population in general.

Extent of warm haloes around medium-redshift galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burbidge, E. M.; Barlow, T. A.; Cohen, R. D.; Junkkarinen, V. T.; Womble, D. S.

1989-01-01

The properties of low-to-medium ionization gaseous haloes around galaxies are briefly reviewed. New observations concerning such haloes are presented. For the galaxy-QSO pair in the field of the radio source 3C303, the higher-redshift QSO has been found to show Mg II absorption at the lower redshift of the faint nearby galaxy. Secondly, new data are presented on one of the galaxies in the environment of the well-known BL Lac object AO 0235 + 164.

ASAS-SN Discovery of an Unprecedented >1.5 Magnitude Optical Flare from QSO B0346-279

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vallely, P.; Stanek, K. Z.; Kochanek, C. S.; Shields, J. V.; Thompson, T. A.; Shappee, B. J.; Holoien, T. W.-S.; Prieto, J. L.; Bersier, D.; Dong, Subo; Bose, S.; Chen, Ping; Stritzinger, M.

2018-02-01

During the ongoing All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN, Shappee et al. 2014), using data from the quadruple 14-cm "Brutus" telescope in Haleakala, Hawaii, the quadruple 14-cm "Leavitt" telescope in Fort Davis, Texas, the quadruple 14-cm "Payne-Gaposchkin" telescope in Sutherland, South Africa, and the quadruple 14-cm "Cassius" and "Paczynski" telescopes in Cerro Tololo, Chile, we have discovered an unprecedented optical brightening of QSO B0346-279 (z 0.9874).

Detection of an unprecedented outburst in IDV QSO TXS0917+624

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spiridonova, O. I.; Moskvitin, A. S.; Vlasyuk, V. V.

2017-12-01

We report on an unprecedented optical flare of TXS0917+624 -- popular QSO (z=1.446) with effects of intraday variability in radio range. Our measurements, made with 1-meter telescope of SAO of RAS, equipped by UBVRI CCD photometer, showed that apparent magnitude of object in R-band increased up to 15.34 +/- 0.02 on December 8th, 2017 (MJD = 58096.5) and 15.31 +/- 0.03 on December 9th, 2017 (MJD = 58097.5).

SED Constraints on the Highest- z Blazar Jet: QSO J0906+6930

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

An, Hongjun; Romani, Roger W.

Here, we report on Gemini, NuSTAR, and eight years of Fermi observations of the most distant blazar QSO J0906+6930 (z = 5.48). We construct a broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) and model the SED using a synchro-Compton model. The measurements yield a mass of ~4 × 10 9 M ⊙ for the black hole and a spectral break at ~4 keV in the combined fit of the new NuSTAR and archival Chandra data. The SED fitting constrains the bulk Doppler factor δ of the jet to 9 +2.5 –3 for QSO J0906+6930. Similar, but weaker, constraints on δ are derivedmore » from SED modeling of the three other claimed z > 5 blazars. Together, these extrapolate to ~620 similar sources, fully 20% of the optically bright, high-mass active galactic nuclei expected at 5 < z < 5.5. This has interesting implications for the early growth of massive black holes.« less

SED Constraints on the Highest-z Blazar Jet: QSO J0906+6930

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Hongjun; Romani, Roger W.

2018-04-01

We report on Gemini, NuSTAR, and eight years of Fermi observations of the most distant blazar QSO J0906+6930 (z = 5.48). We construct a broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) and model the SED using a synchro-Compton model. The measurements yield a mass of ∼4 × 109 M ⊙ for the black hole and a spectral break at ∼4 keV in the combined fit of the new NuSTAR and archival Chandra data. The SED fitting constrains the bulk Doppler factor δ of the jet to 9+2.5 ‑3 for QSO J0906+6930. Similar, but weaker, constraints on δ are derived from SED modeling of the three other claimed z > 5 blazars. Together, these extrapolate to ∼620 similar sources, fully 20% of the optically bright, high-mass active galactic nuclei expected at 5 < z < 5.5. This has interesting implications for the early growth of massive black holes.

SED Constraints on the Highest- z Blazar Jet: QSO J0906+6930

DOE PAGES

An, Hongjun; Romani, Roger W.

2018-03-29

Here, we report on Gemini, NuSTAR, and eight years of Fermi observations of the most distant blazar QSO J0906+6930 (z = 5.48). We construct a broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) and model the SED using a synchro-Compton model. The measurements yield a mass of ~4 × 10 9 M ⊙ for the black hole and a spectral break at ~4 keV in the combined fit of the new NuSTAR and archival Chandra data. The SED fitting constrains the bulk Doppler factor δ of the jet to 9 +2.5 –3 for QSO J0906+6930. Similar, but weaker, constraints on δ are derivedmore » from SED modeling of the three other claimed z > 5 blazars. Together, these extrapolate to ~620 similar sources, fully 20% of the optically bright, high-mass active galactic nuclei expected at 5 < z < 5.5. This has interesting implications for the early growth of massive black holes.« less

The shapes of column density PDFs. The importance of the last closed contour

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alves, João; Lombardi, Marco; Lada, Charles J.

2017-10-01

The probability distribution function of column density (PDF) has become the tool of choice for cloud structure analysis and star formation studies. Its simplicity is attractive, and the PDF could offer access to cloud physical parameters otherwise difficult to measure, but there has been some confusion in the literature on the definition of its completeness limit and shape at the low column density end. In this letter we use the natural definition of the completeness limit of a column density PDF, the last closed column density contour inside a surveyed region, and apply it to a set of large-scale maps of nearby molecular clouds. We conclude that there is no observational evidence for log-normal PDFs in these objects. We find that all studied molecular clouds have PDFs well described by power laws, including the diffuse cloud Polaris. Our results call for a new physical interpretation of the shape of the column density PDFs. We find that the slope of a cloud PDF is invariant to distance but not to the spatial arrangement of cloud material, and as such it is still a useful tool for investigating cloud structure.

Strong z ~ 0.5 OVI absorption towards PKS 0405-123: implications for ionization and metallicity of the Cosmic Web

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howk, J. Christopher; Ribaudo, Joseph S.; Lehner, Nicolas; Prochaska, J. Xavier; Chen, Hsiao-Wen

2009-07-01

We present observations of the intervening OVI absorption-line system at zabs = 0.495096 towards the quasi-stellar object (QSO) PKS 0405-123 (zem = 0.5726) obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope. In addition to strong OVI, with , and moderate HI, with , this absorber shows absorption from CIII, NIV, OIV and OV, with upper limits for another seven ions. The large number of available ions allows us to test ionization models usually adopted with far fewer constraints. We find that the observed ionic column densities cannot be matched by single-temperature collisional ionization models, in or out of equilibrium. Photoionization models can match all of the observed column densities, including OVI. If one assumes photoionization by an ultraviolet (UV) background dominated by QSOs, the metallicity of the gas is [O/H] ~ -0.15, while if one assumes a model for the UV background with contributions from ionizing photons escaping from galaxies the metallicity is [O/H] ~ -0.62. Both give [N/O] ~ -0.6 and [C/H] ~ -0.2 to ~-0.1, though a solar C/O ratio is not ruled out. The choice of ionizing spectrum is poorly constrained and leads to systematic abundance uncertainties of ~0.5 dex, despite the wide range of available ions. Multiphase models with a contribution from both photoionized gas (at T ~ 104 K) and collisionally ionized gas [at T ~ (1-3) × 105 K] can also match the observations for either assumed UV background giving very similar metallicities. We do not detect NeVIII or MgX absorption. The limit on NeVIII/OVI < 0.21 (3σ) is the lowest yet observed. Thus, this absorber shows no firm evidence of the `warm-hot intergalactic medium' at T ~ (0.5-3) × 106K thought to contain a significant fraction of the baryons at low redshift. The OVI in this system is not necessarily a reliable tracer of the warm-hot intergalactic medium given the ambiguity in its origins. We present limits on the total column of warm-hot gas in this absorber as a function of temperature. This system would be unlikely to provide detectable X-ray absorption in the ions OVII or OVIII even if it resided in front of the brighter X-ray sources in the sky. Based on observations made with the NASA-CNES-CSA Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE). FUSE is operated for NASA by the Johns Hopkins University under NASA contract NAS5-32985. Also based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained from the Data Archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555. These observations are associated with program 7576. E-mail: jhowk@nd.edu

Comparison of tropospheric NO2 vertical columns in an urban environment using satellite, multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy, and in situ measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendolia, D.; D'Souza, R. J. C.; Evans, G. J.; Brook, J.

2013-10-01

Tropospheric NO2 vertical column densities have been retrieved and compared for the first time in Toronto, Canada, using three methods of differing spatial scales. Remotely sensed NO2 vertical column densities, retrieved from multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy and satellite remote sensing, were evaluated by comparison with in situ vertical column densities estimated using a pair of chemiluminescence monitors situated 0.01 and 0.5 km a.g.l. (above ground level). The chemiluminescence measurements were corrected for the influence of NOz, which reduced the NO2 concentrations at 0.01 and 0.5 km by an average of 8 ± 1% and 12 ± 1%, respectively. The average absolute decrease in the chemiluminescence NO2 measurement as a result of this correction was less than 1 ppb. The monthly averaged ratio of the NO2 concentration at 0.5 to 0.01 km varied seasonally, and exhibited a negative linear dependence on the monthly average temperature, with Pearson's R = 0.83. During the coldest month, February, this ratio was 0.52 ± 0.04, while during the warmest month, July, this ratio was 0.34 ± 0.04, illustrating that NO2 is not well mixed within 0.5 km above ground level. Good correlation was observed between the remotely sensed and in situ NO2 vertical column densities (Pearson's R value ranging from 0.72 to 0.81), but the in situ vertical column densities were 52 to 58% greater than the remotely sensed columns. These results indicate that NO2 horizontal heterogeneity strongly impacted the magnitude of the remotely sensed columns. The in situ columns reflected an urban environment with major traffic sources, while the remotely sensed NO2 vertical column densities were representative of the region, which included spatial heterogeneity introduced by residential neighbourhoods and Lake Ontario. Despite the difference in absolute values, the reasonable correlation between the vertical column densities determined by three distinct methods increased confidence in the validity of the values provided by each measurement technique.

Detection of emission lines from z ˜ 3 DLAs towards the QSO J2358+0149

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srianand, Raghunathan; Hussain, Tanvir; Noterdaeme, Pasquier; Petitjean, Patrick; Krühler, Thomas; Japelj, Jure; Pâris, Isabelle; Kashikawa, Nobunari

2016-07-01

Using VLT/X-shooter, we searched for emission line galaxies associated with four damped Lyman α systems (DLAs) and one sub-DLA at 2.73 ≤z ≤3.25 towards QSO J2358+0149. We detect [O III] emission from a `low-cool' DLA at zabs = 2.9791 (having log N(H I) = 21.69 ± 0.10, [Zn/H] = -1.83 ± 0.18) at an impact parameter of, ρ ˜ 12 kpc. The associated galaxy is compact with a dynamical mass of (1-6) × 109 M⊙, very high excitation ([O III]/[O II] and [O III]/[Hβ] both greater than 10), 12+[O/H]≤8.5 and moderate star formation rate (SFR ≤2 M⊙ yr-1). Such properties are typically seen in the low-z extreme blue compact dwarf galaxies. The kinematics of the gas is inconsistent with that of an extended disc and the gas is part of either a large scale wind or cold accretion. We detect Lyα emission from the zabs = 3.2477 DLA [having log N(H I) = 21.12 ± 0.10 and [Zn/H] = -0.97 ± 0.13]. The Lyα emission is redshifted with respect to the metal absorption lines by 320 km s-1, consistent with the location of the red hump expected in radiative transport models. We derive SFR ˜0.2-1.7 M⊙ yr-1 and Lyα escape fraction of ≥10 per cent. No other emission line is detected from this system. Because the DLA has a small velocity separation from the quasar (˜500 km s-1) and the DLA emission is located within a small projected distance (ρ < 5 kpc), we also explore the possibility that the Lyα emission is being induced by the QSO itself. QSO-induced Lyα fluorescence is possible if the DLA is within a physical separation of 340 kpc to the QSO. Detection of stellar continuum light and/or the oxygen emission lines would disfavour this possibility. We do not detect any emission line from the remaining three systems.

Interstellar C2, CH, and CN in translucent molecular clouds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Black, John H.; Van Dishoeck, Ewine F.

1989-01-01

Optical absorption-line techniques have been applied to the study of a number of translucent molecular clouds in which the total column densities are large enough that substantial molecular abundances can be maintained. Results are presented for a survey of absorption lines of interstellar C2, CH, and CN. Detections of CN through the A 2Pi-X 2Sigma(+) (1,O) and (2,O) bands of the red system are reported and compared with observations of the violet system for one line of sight. The population distributions in C2 provide diagnostic information on temperature and density. The measured column densities of the three species can be used to test details of the theory of molecule formation in clouds where photoprocesses still play a significant role. The C2 and CH column densities are strongly correlated with each other and probably also with the H2 column density. In contrast, the CN column densities are found to vary greatly from cloud to cloud. The observations are discussed with reference to detailed theoretical models.

Simulating the effect of high column density absorbers on the one-dimensional Lyman α forest flux power spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, Keir K.; Bird, Simeon; Peiris, Hiranya V.; Pontzen, Andrew; Font-Ribera, Andreu; Leistedt, Boris

2018-03-01

We measure the effect of high column density absorbing systems of neutral hydrogen (H I) on the one-dimensional (1D) Lyman α forest flux power spectrum using cosmological hydrodynamical simulations from the Illustris project. High column density absorbers (which we define to be those with H I column densities N(H I) > 1.6 × 10^{17} atoms cm^{-2}) cause broadened absorption lines with characteristic damping wings. These damping wings bias the 1D Lyman α forest flux power spectrum by causing absorption in quasar spectra away from the location of the absorber itself. We investigate the effect of high column density absorbers on the Lyman α forest using hydrodynamical simulations for the first time. We provide templates as a function of column density and redshift, allowing the flexibility to accurately model residual contamination, i.e. if an analysis selectively clips out the largest damping wings. This flexibility will improve cosmological parameter estimation, for example, allowing more accurate measurement of the shape of the power spectrum, with implications for cosmological models containing massive neutrinos or a running of the spectral index. We provide fitting functions to reproduce these results so that they can be incorporated straightforwardly into a data analysis pipeline.

The ULIRG Monster Mash: The Evolution of Massive Mergers Since z~1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rothberg, Barry; Fischer, Jacqueline; Pirzkal, Nor; Rodrigues, Myriam

2018-01-01

Theoretical models and observations in the local Universe indicate there is a clear progression from merger-induced star-formation (SF) to QSO activity via Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs), systems with L8-1000 µm ≥ 1012 LSun. Not all mergers are ULIRGs, but all local ULIRGs are mergers, and likely the progenitors of QSO host galaxies. At earlier epochs, this relationship is less well accepted. Here, we first present an overview of how the dynamical properties of local (z < 0.4) ULIRGs are statistically indistinguishable from Radio Loud and Radio Quiet QSOs. Then, transition to the critical redshift range 0.4 < z < 1.0, where the star-formation rates, gas fractions, and masses of galaxies are believed to be significantly higher than in the local universe. ULIRGs at these redshifts begin to dominate the SF activity and are responsible for up to 70% of the co-moving IR density. We use rest-frame UV & optical imaging and spectra to apply the same techniques used for local ULIRGs to a sample of "classically" selected (i.e via integrated 12, 25, 60 and 100μm fluxes) systems at 0.4 < z < 1.0. Although, in general, galaxies at z > 0.4 are not the same as those in the local Universe, these intermediate redshift ULIRGs are dynamically similar, but more powerful, than their local counterparts. Furthermore, they show evidence of merging, while containing a powerful AGN hosted within a massive galaxy.

Pressure, temperature and density drops along supercritical fluid chromatography columns. I. Experimental results for neat carbon dioxide and columns packed with 3- and 5-micron particles.

PubMed

Poe, Donald P; Veit, Devon; Ranger, Megan; Kaczmarski, Krzysztof; Tarafder, Abhijit; Guiochon, Georges

2012-08-10

The pressure drop and temperature drop on columns packed with 3- and 5-micron particles were measured using neat CO(2) at a flow rate of 5 mL/min, at temperatures from 20°C to 100°C, and outlet pressures from 80 to 300 bar. The density drop was calculated based on the temperature and pressure at the column inlet and outlet. The columns were suspended in a circulating air bath either bare or covered with foam insulation. The results show that the pressure drop depends on the outlet pressure, the operating temperature, and the thermal environment. A temperature drop was observed for all conditions studied. The temperature drop was relatively small (less than 3°C) for combinations of low temperature and high pressure. Larger temperature drops and density drops occurred at higher temperatures and low to moderate pressures. Covering the column with thermal insulation resulted in larger temperature drops and corresponding smaller density drops. At 20°C the temperature drop was never more than a few degrees. The largest temperature drops occurred for both columns when insulated at 80°C and 80 bar, reaching a maximum value of 21°C for the 5-micron column, and 26°C for the 3-micron column. For an adiabatic column, the temperature drop depends on the pressure drop, the thermal expansion coefficient, and the density and the heat capacity of the mobile phase fluid, and can be described by a simple mathematical relationship. For a fixed operating temperature and outlet pressure, the temperature drop increases monotonically with the pressure drop. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Density Gradient Columns for Chemical Displays.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guenther, William B.

1986-01-01

Procedures for preparing density gradient columns for chemical displays are presented. They include displays illustrating acid-base reactions, metal ion equilibria, and liquid density. The lifetime of these metastable displays is surprising, some lasting for months in display cabinets. (JN)

The Nature of the UV/X-ray Absorber In PG 2302+029

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sabra, Bassem M.; Hamann, Fred; Jannuzi, Buell T.; George, Ian M.; Shields, Joseph C.

2003-01-01

We present Chandra X-ray observations of the radio-quiet QSO PG 2302+029. This quasar has a rare system of ultra-high velocity (-56,000 km s(exp -1) UV absorption lines that form in an outflow from the active nucleus. The Chandra data indicate that soft X-ray absorption is also present. We perform a joint UV and X-ray analysis, using photoionization calculations, to determine the nature of the absorbing gas. The UV and X-ray datasets were not obtained simultaneously. Nonetheless, our analysis suggests that the X-ray absorption occurs at high velocities in the same general region as the UV absorber. There are not enough constraints to rule out multi-zone models. In fact, the distinct broad and narrow UV line profiles clearly indicate that multiple zones are present. Our preferred estimates of the ionization and total column density in the X-ray absorber (logU = 1.6, N(sub eta) = 10(exp 22.4) cm (exp -2) over predict the O VI lambda lambda1032,1038 absorption unless the X-ray absorber is also outflowing at approximately 56,000 km s(exp-l), but they over predict the Ne VIII lambda lambda 770,780 absorption at all velocities. If we assume that the X-ray absorbing gas is outflowing at the same velocity of the UV-absorbing wind and that the wind is radiatively accelerated, then the outflow must be launched at a radius of less than or equal to 10(exp 15) cm from the central continuum source. The smallness of this radius casts doubts on the assumption of radiative acceleration.

Are There Intrinsically X-Ray Quiet Quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gallagher, S. C.; Brandt, W. N.; Laor, A.; Elvis, Martin; Mathur, S.; Wills, Beverly J.; Iyomoto, N.; White, Nicholas (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Recent ROSAT studies have identified a significant population of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) that are notably faint in soft X-rays relative to their optical fluxes. Are these AGN intrinsically X-ray weak or are they just highly absorbed? Brandt, Laor & Wills have systematically examined the optical and UV spectral properties of a well-defined sample of these soft X-ray weak (SXW) AGN drawn from the Boroson & Green sample of all the Palomar Green AGN 00 with z < 0.5. We present ASCA observations of three of these SXW AGN: PG 1011-040, PG 1535+547 (Mrk 486), and PG 2112+059. In general, our ASCA observations support the intrinsic absorption scenario for explaining soft X-ray weakness; both PG 1535+547 and PG 2112+059 show significant column densities (NH is approximately 10(exp 22) - 10(exp 23)/sq cm) of absorbing gas. Interestingly, PG 1011-040 shows no spectral evidence for X-ray absorption. The weak X-ray emission may result from very strong absorption of a partially covered source, or this AGN may be intrinsically X-ray weak. PG 2112+059 is a Broad Absorption Line (BAL) QSO, and we find it to have the highest X-ray flux known of this class. It shows a typical power-law X-ray continuum above 3 keV; this is the first direct evidence that BAL QSOs indeed have normal X-ray continua underlying their intrinsic absorption. Finally, marked variability between the ROSAT and ASCA observations of PG 1535+547 and PG 2112+059 suggests that the soft X-ray weak designation may be transient, and multi-epoch 0.1-10.0 KeV X-ray observations are required to constrain variability of the absorber and continuum.

Lyman Limit Absorbers in GALEX Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williger, Gerard M.; Haberzettl, Lutz G.; Ribaudo, Joseph; Kuchner, Marc J.; Burchett, Joseph; Clowes, Roger G.; Lauroesch, James T.; Mills, Brianna; Borden, Jeremy

2018-01-01

We describe the method and early results for crowdsourcing a search for low-redshift partial and complete Lyman Limit Systems (pLLSs and LLSs) in the GALEX spectral archive. LLSs have been found in large numbers at z>3 and traced to lower redshift through a relatively small number of QSO spectra from spaced-based telescopes. From a sample of 44 pLLSs and 11 LLSs at 0.1 = -0.32 +/- 0.07 and the low-metallicity portion centered at <[X/H]> = -1.87 +/- 0.11.The GALEX spectral archive offers a vast dataset potentially containing hundreds of LLSs, which may be leveraged to search for such a bimodality and track its evolution within the unconstrained near-UV gap at 1

Isoelectric focusing of red blood cells in a density gradient stabilized column

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smolka, A. J. K.; Miller, T. Y.

1980-01-01

The effects of Ficoll and cell application pH on red blood cell electrophoretic mobility and focusing pH were investigated by focusing cells in a density gradient stabilized column. Sample loading, cell dispersion, column conductivity, resolution of separation, and the effect of Ampholines were examined.

Is QSO 1146 + 111B,C due to lensing by a cosmic string?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gott, J. R., III

1986-01-01

A newly discovered lens candidate, QSO 1146 + 111B,C, is discussed which appears to consist of two images of equal brightness of a quasar at redshift 1.01 separated by 2.6 arcmin. If this is produced by a cosmic string, its mass per unit length is about 4.0 x 10 to the 23rd g/cm or more. This value is large enough to be interesting for string-assisted galaxy formation and near the upper limits implied by the isotropy of the cosmic microwave background and constraints on gravitational radiation.

The Effect of AGN Heating on the Low-redshift Lyα Forest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurvich, Alex; Burkhart, Blakesley; Bird, Simeon

2017-02-01

We investigate the effects of AGN heating and the ultraviolet background on the low-redshift Lyα forest column density distribution (CDD) using the Illustris simulation. We show that Illustris reproduces observations at z = 0.1 in the column density range {10}12.5{--}{10}13.5 cm-2, relevant for the “photon underproduction crisis.” We attribute this to the inclusion of AGN feedback, which changes the gas distribution so as to mimic the effect of extra photons, as well as the use of the Faucher-Giguère ultraviolet background, which is more ionizing at z = 0.1 than the Haardt & Madau background previously considered. We show that the difference between simulations run with smoothed particle hydrodynamics and simulations using a moving mesh is small in this column density range but can be more significant at larger column densities. We further consider the effect of supernova feedback, Voigt profile fitting, and finite resolution, all of which we show to have little influence on the CDD. Finally, we identify a discrepancy between our simulations and observations at column densities {10}14{--}{10}16 cm-2, where Illustris produces too few absorbers, which suggests the AGN feedback model should be further refined. Since the “photon underproduction crisis” primarily affects lower column density systems, we conclude that AGN feedback and standard ionizing background models can resolve the crisis.

The MUSE view of QSO PG 1307+085: an elliptical galaxy on the MBH-σ* relation interacting with its group environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Husemann, B.; Bennert, V. N.; Scharwächter, J.; Woo, J.-H.; Choudhury, O. S.

2016-01-01

We report deep optical integral-field spectroscopy with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at the Very Large Telescope of the luminous radio-quiet quasi-stellar object (QSO) PG 1307+085 obtained during commissioning. Given the high sensitivity and spatial resolution delivered by MUSE, we are able to resolve the compact (re ˜ 1.3 arcsec) elliptical host galaxy. After spectroscopic deblending of the QSO and host galaxy emission, we infer a stellar velocity dispersion of σ* = 155 ± 19 km s-1. This places PG 1307+085 on the local MBH-σ* relation within its intrinsic scatter but offset towards a higher black hole mass with respect to the mean relation. The MUSE observations reveal a large extended narrow-line region (ENLR) around PG 1307+085 reaching out to ˜30 kpc. In addition, we detect a faint ionized gas bridge towards the most massive galaxy of the galaxy group at 50 kpc distance. The ionized gas kinematics does not show any evidence for gas outflows on kpc scales despite the high QSO luminosity of Lbol > 1046 erg s-1. Based on the ionized gas distribution, kinematics and metallicity we discuss the origin of the ENLR with respect to its group environments including minor mergers, ram-pressure stripping or gas accretion as the likely scenarios. We conclude that PG 1307+085 is a normal elliptical host in terms of the scaling relations, but that the gas is likely affected by the environment through gravity or ambient pressure. It is possible that the interaction with the environment, seen in the ionized gas, might be responsible for driving sufficient gas to the black hole.

The Role of Galaxies and AGN in Reionising the IGM - slowromancapi@: Keck Spectroscopy of 5 < z < 7 Galaxies in the QSO Field J1148+5251

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakiichi, Koki; Ellis, Richard S.; Laporte, Nicolas; Zitrin, Adi; Eilers, Anna-Christina; Ryan-Weber, Emma; Meyer, Romain A.; Robertson, Brant; Stark, Daniel P.; Bosman, Sarah E. I.

2018-05-01

We introduce a new method for determining the influence of galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGN) on the intergalactic medium (IGM) at high redshift and illustrate its potential via a first application to the field of the z = 6.42 QSO J1148+5251. Correlating spatial positions Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) with the Lyman alpha forest seen in the spectrum of a background QSO, we provide a statistical measure of the typical escape fraction of Lyman continuum photons. Using Keck DEIMOS spectroscopy to locate 7 colour-selected LBGs in the range 5.3 ≲ z ≲ 6.4 we examine the spatial correlation between this sample and Lyα/Lyβ transmission fluctuations in a Keck ESI spectrum of the QSO. Interpreting the statistical H I proximity effect as arising from faint galaxies clustered around the LBGs, we translate the observed mean Lyα transmitted flux into a constraint on the mean escape fraction ⟨fesc⟩ ≥ 0.08 at z ≃ 6. We also report individual transverse H I proximity effect for a z = 6.177 luminous LBG via a Lyβ transmission spike and two broad Lyα transmission spikes around the z = 5.701 AGN. We discuss the origin of such associations which suggest that while faint galaxies are primarily driving reionisation, luminous galaxies and AGN may provide important contributions to the UV background or thermal fluctuations of the IGM at z ≃ 6. Although a limited sample, our results demonstrate the potential of making progress using this method in resolving one of the most challenging aspects of the contribution of galaxies and AGN to cosmic reionisation.

MAVEN/IUVS Apoapse Observations of the Martian FUV Dayglow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Correira, J.; Evans, J. S.; Stevens, M. H.; Schneider, N. M.; Stewart, I. F.; Deighan, J.; Jain, S.; Chaffin, M.; Crismani, M. M. J.; McClintock, B.; Holsclaw, G.; Lefèvre, F.; Lo, D.; Stiepen, A.; Clarke, J. T.; Mahaffy, P. R.; Bougher, S. W.; Bell, J. M.; Jakosky, B. M.

2015-12-01

We present FUV data (115 - 190 nm) from MAVEN/IUVS apoapse mode observations for the Oct 2014 through Feb 2015 time period. During apoapse mode the highly elliptical orbit of MAVEN allows for up to four apoapse disk images by IUVS per day. Maps of FUV feature intensities and intensity ratios as well as derived CO/CO2 and O/CO2 column density ratios will be shown. Column density ratios are derived from lookup tables created using the Atmospheric Ultraviolet Radiance Integrated Code [Strickland et al., 1999] in conjunction with observed intensity ratios. Column density ratios provide a measure of composition changes in the Martian atmosphere. Due to MAVEN's orbital geometry the observations from this time period focus on the southern hemisphere. The broad view provided by apoapse observations allows for the investigation of spatial and temporal variations (both long term and local time) of the atmospheric composition (via the column density ratios). IUVS FUV intensities and derived column density ratios will also be compared with model results from Mars Global Ionosphere/Thermosphere Model (MGITM) and the Mars Climate Database (MCD).

Observations of circumstellar carbon monoxide and evidence for multiple ejections in red giants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bernat, A. P.

1981-01-01

Observations of the fundamental 4.6 micron band of CO in nine red giants are presented. A common feature is multiple absorption lines which are identified as products of separate components or shells. Column densities are derived; the relative values should be free of the uncertainties inherent in determining the absolute scale. These column densities are well fitted by single excitation temperatures for each absorption component; these excitation temperatures are identified with the local kinetic temperatures. There is no correlation of CO column density with either gas or dust column density nor of the expansion velocity of the component with its distance from the star. The evidence is reviewed, and it is concluded that mass loss from red giants is most likely episodic in nature.

Remotely operable compact instruments for measuring atmospheric CO2 and CH4 column densities at surface monitoring sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, N.; Inoue, G.; Kawasaki, M.; Yoshioka, H.; Minomura, M.; Murata, I.; Nagahama, T.; Matsumi, Y.; Tanaka, T.; Morino, I.; Ibuki, T.

2010-08-01

Remotely operable compact instruments for measuring atmospheric CO2 and CH4 column densities were developed in two independent systems: one utilizing a grating-based desktop optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) with a resolution enough to resolve rotational lines of CO2 and CH4 in the regions of 1565-1585 and 1674-1682 nm, respectively; the other is an application of an optical fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer (FFPI) to obtain the CO2 column density. Direct sunlight was collimated via a small telescope installed on a portable sun tracker and then transmitted through an optical fiber into the OSA or the FFPI for optical analysis. The near infrared spectra of the OSA were retrieved by a least squares spectral fitting algorithm. The CO2 and CH4 column densities deduced were in excellent agreement with those measured by a Fourier transform spectrometer with high resolution. The rovibronic lines in the wavelength region of 1570-1575 nm were analyzed by the FFPI. The I0 and I values in the Beer-Lambert law equation to obtain CO2 column density were deduced by modulating temperature of the FFPI, which offered column CO2 with the statistical error less than 0.2% for six hours measurement.

Understanding star formation in molecular clouds. II. Signatures of gravitational collapse of IRDCs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, N.; Csengeri, T.; Klessen, R. S.; Tremblin, P.; Ossenkopf, V.; Peretto, N.; Simon, R.; Bontemps, S.; Federrath, C.

2015-06-01

We analyse column density and temperature maps derived from Herschel dust continuum observations of a sample of prominent, massive infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) i.e. G11.11-0.12, G18.82-0.28, G28.37+0.07, and G28.53-0.25. We disentangle the velocity structure of the clouds using 13CO 1→0 and 12CO 3→2 data, showing that these IRDCs are the densest regions in massive giant molecular clouds (GMCs) and not isolated features. The probability distribution function (PDF) of column densities for all clouds have a power-law distribution over all (high) column densities, regardless of the evolutionary stage of the cloud: G11.11-0.12, G18.82-0.28, and G28.37+0.07 contain (proto)-stars, while G28.53-0.25 shows no signs of star formation. This is in contrast to the purely log-normal PDFs reported for near and/or mid-IR extinction maps. We only find a log-normal distribution for lower column densities, if we perform PDFs of the column density maps of the whole GMC in which the IRDCs are embedded. By comparing the PDF slope and the radial column density profile of three of our clouds, we attribute the power law to the effect of large-scale gravitational collapse and to local free-fall collapse of pre- and protostellar cores for the highest column densities. A significant impact on the cloud properties from radiative feedback is unlikely because the clouds are mostly devoid of star formation. Independent from the PDF analysis, we find infall signatures in the spectral profiles of 12CO for G28.37+0.07 and G11.11-0.12, supporting the scenario of gravitational collapse. Our results are in line with earlier interpretations that see massive IRDCs as the densest regions within GMCs, which may be the progenitors of massive stars or clusters. At least some of the IRDCs are probably the same features as ridges (high column density regions with N> 1023 cm-2 over small areas), which were defined for nearby IR-bright GMCs. Because IRDCs are only confined to the densest (gravity dominated) cloud regions, the PDF constructed from this kind of a clipped image does not represent the (turbulence dominated) low column density regime of the cloud. The column density maps (FITS files) are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/578/A29

Swift detections of the flaring blazar GAIA 18ayp (PKS 2333-415) in X-rays and the UV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grupe, Dirk; Komossa, S.; Angioni, R.; Schartel, N.

2018-04-01

We report Swift observations of the z=1.41 QSO GAIA 18ayp (PKS 2333-415) which was detected by GAIA in an optically flaring state on 2018-April-14. Swift observed GAIA 18ayp on 2018 April 23 for a total of 1.4 ks. The QSO is clearly detected in X-rays and the UV. The X-ray position found using the enhanced XRT position (Goad et al. 2007, Evans et al. 2009) is RA-2000 = 23 36 34.1, Dec-2000 = -41 15 21.4 with an uncertainty of 3.0".

Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Extended [O III]λ 5007 Emission in Nearby QSO2s: New Constraints on AGN Host Galaxy Interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fischer, Travis C.; Kraemer, S. B.; Schmitt, H. R.; Longo Micchi, L. F.; Crenshaw, D. M.; Revalski, M.; Vestergaard, M.; Elvis, M.; Gaskell, C. M.; Hamann, F.; Ho, L. C.; Hutchings, J.; Mushotzky, R.; Netzer, H.; Storchi-Bergmann, T.; Straughn, A.; Turner, T. J.; Ward, M. J.

2018-04-01

We present a Hubble Space Telescope survey of extended [O III] λ5007 emission for a sample of 12 nearby (z < 0.12), luminous Type 2 quasars (QSO2s), which we use to measure the extent and kinematics of their AGN-ionized gas. We find that the size of the observed [O III] regions scale with luminosity in comparison to nearby, less luminous Seyfert galaxies and radially outflowing kinematics to exist in all targets. We report an average maximum outflow radius of ∼600 pc, with gas continuing to be kinematically influenced by the central active galactic nucleus (AGN) out to an average radius of ∼1130 pc. These findings question the effectiveness of AGNs being capable of clearing material from their host bulge in the nearby universe and suggest that disruption of gas by AGN activity may prevent star formation without requiring evacuation. Additionally, we find a dichotomy in our targets when comparing [O III] radial extent and nuclear FWHM, where QSO2s with compact [O III] morphologies typically possess broader nuclear emission lines.

The low-metallicity QSO HE 2158 - 0107: a massive galaxy growing by accretion of nearly pristine gas from its environment?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Husemann, B.; Wisotzki, L.; Jahnke, K.; Sánchez, S. F.

2011-11-01

The metallicities of active galactic nuclei (AGN) are usually well above solar in their narrow-line regions, often reaching up to several times solar in their broad-line regions independent of redshift. Low-metallicity AGN are rare objects that have so far always been associated with low-mass galaxies hosting low-mass black holes (MBH106M⊙). We present integral field spectroscopy data of the low-redshift (z = 0.212) quasi-stellar object (QSO) HE 2158 - 0107 for which we find strong evidence of sub-solar NLR metallicities associated with a massive black hole (MBH ~ 3 × 108M⊙). The QSO is surrounded by a large extended emission-line region reaching out to 30 kpc from the QSO in a tail-like geometry. We present optical and near-infrared images and investigate the properties of the host galaxy. The host of HE 2158 - 0107 is most likely a very compact bulge-dominated galaxy with a size of re ~ 1.4 kpc. The multi-colour spectral energy distribution (SED) of the host is quite blue, indicative of a significant young age stellar population formed within the last 1 Gyr. A 3σ upper limit of Lbulge,H < 4.5 × 1010L ⊙ ,H for the H-band luminosity and a corresponding stellar mass upper limit of Mbulge < 3.4 × 1010M⊙ show that the host is offset from the local black hole-bulge relations. This is independently supported by the kinematics of the gas. Although the stellar mass of the host galaxy is lower than expected, it cannot explain the exceptionally low metallicity of the gas. We suggest that the extended emission-line region and the galaxy growth are caused by the infall of nearly pristine gas from the environment of the QSO host. Minor mergers of low-metallicity dwarf galaxies or the theoretically predicted smooth accretion of cold (~ 104 K) gas are both potential drivers behind that process. Because the metallicity of the gas in the QSO narrow-line region is much lower than expected, we suspect that the external gas has already reached the galaxy centre and may even contribute to the current feeding of the black hole. HE 2158 - 0107 appears to represent a particular phase of substantial black hole and galaxy growth that can be observationally linked with the accretion of external material from its environment. Based on observations collected at the Centro Astronómico Hispano Alemán (CAHA) at Calar Alto, operated jointly by the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC) and on observations collected at the European Organisation for Astronomical Reasearch in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile (program 070.B-0418).

IDENTIFICATION OF 1.4 MILLION ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN THE MID-INFRARED USING WISE DATA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Secrest, N. J.; Dudik, R. P.; Dorland, B. N.

2015-11-15

We present an all-sky sample of ≈1.4 million active galactic nuclei (AGNs) meeting a two-color infrared photometric selection criteria for AGNs as applied to sources from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer final catalog release (AllWISE). We assess the spatial distribution and optical properties of our sample and find that the results are consistent with expectations for AGNs. These sources have a mean density of ≈38 AGNs per square degree on the sky, and their apparent magnitude distribution peaks at g ≈ 20, extending to objects as faint as g ≈ 26. We test the AGN selection criteria against a largemore » sample of optically identified stars and determine the “leakage” (that is, the probability that a star detected in an optical survey will be misidentified as a quasi-stellar object (QSO) in our sample) rate to be ≤4.0 × 10{sup −5}. We conclude that our sample contains almost no optically identified stars (≤0.041%), making this sample highly promising for future celestial reference frame work as it significantly increases the number of all-sky, compact extragalactic objects. We further compare our sample to catalogs of known AGNs/QSOs and find a completeness value of ≳84% (that is, the probability of correctly identifying a known AGN/QSO is at least 84%) for AGNs brighter than a limiting magnitude of R ≲ 19. Our sample includes approximately 1.1 million previously uncataloged AGNs.« less

Multiwavelength Characterization of an ACT-Selected, Lensed Dusty Star-Forming Galaxy at zeta 2.64

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts-Borsani, G. W.; Jimenez-Donaire, M. J.; Dapra, M.; Alatalo, K.; Aretxaga, I.; Alvarez-Marquez, J.; Baker, A. J.; Fujimoto, S.; Gallardo, P. A.; Gralla, M.;

Hydrodynamic flow in capillary-channel fiber columns for liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Stanelle, Rayman D; Sander, Lane C; Marcus, R Kenneth

2005-12-23

The flow characteristics of capillary-channel polymer (C-CP) fiber liquid chromatographic (LC) columns have been investigated. The C-CP fibers are manufactured with eight longitudinal grooves (capillary channels) extending the length of the fibers. Three C-CP fiber examples were studied, with fiber dimensions ranging from approximately 35 microm to 65 microm, and capillary-channel dimensions ranging from approximately 6 microm to 35 microm. The influence of fiber packing density and column inner diameter on peak asymmetry, peak width, and run-to-run reproducibility have been studied for stainless steel LC columns packed with polyester (PET) and polypropylene (PP) C-CP fibers. The van Deemter A-term was evaluated as a function of fiber packing density (approximately 0.3 g/cm(3)-0.75 g/cm(3)) for columns of 4.6 mm inner diameter (i.d.) and at constant packing densities for 1.5 mm, 3.2 mm, 4.6 mm, and 7.7 mm i.d. columns. Although column diameter had little influence on the eluting peak widths, peak asymmetry increased with increasing column diameter. The A-terms for the C-CP fiber packed columns are somewhat larger than current commercial, microparticulate-packed columns, and means for improvement are discussed. Applications in the area of protein (macromolecule) separations appear the most promising at this stage of the system development.

Separation of carbon nanotubes into chirally enriched fractions

DOEpatents

Doorn, Stephen K [Los Alamos, NM; Niyogi, Sandip [Los Alamos, NM

2012-04-10

A mixture of single-walled carbon nanotubes ("SWNTs") is separated into fractions of enriched chirality by preparing an aqueous suspension of a mixture of SWNTs and a surfactant, injecting a portion of the suspension on a column of separation medium having a density gradient, and centrifuging the column. In some embodiments, salt is added prior to centrifugation. In other embodiments, the centrifugation is performed at a temperature below room temperature. Fractions separate as colored bands in the column. The diameter of the separated SWNTs decreases with increasing density along the gradient of the column. The colored bands can be withdrawn separately from the column.

Interstellar C IV and Si IV column densities toward early-type stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bruhweiler, F. C.; Kondo, Y.; Mccluskey, G. E.

1980-01-01

Equivalent widths and deduced column densities of Si IV and C IV are examined for 18 early-type close binaries, and physical processes responsible for the origin of these ions in the interstellar medium are investigated. The available C IV/Si IV column density ratios typically lie within a narrow range from 0.8 to 4.5, and there is evidence that the column density of C IV is higher than that of N V along most lines of sight, suggesting that C IV is not formed in the same hot region as O VI. In addition, the existence of regions with a narrowly defined new temperature range around 50,000 deg K is indicated. The detection of the semitorrid gas of Bruhweiler, Kondo, and McCluskey (1978, 1979) is substantiated, and the relation of this gas to the observations of coronal gas in the galactic halo is discussed.

Physical conditions in broad and associated narrow absorption-line systems toward APM 08279+5255

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srianand, R.; Petitjean, P.

2000-05-01

Results of a careful analysis of the absorption systems with z_abs =~ z_em seen toward the bright, z_em ~ 3.91, gravitationally lensed quasar APM 08279+5255 are presented. Two of the narrow-line systems, at z_abs = 3.8931 and z_abs = 3.9135, show absorptions from singly ionized species with weak or no N v and O vi absorptions at the same redshift. Absorption due to fine structure transitions of C ii and S ii i (excitation energies corresponding to, respectively, 156mu m and 34mu m) are detected at z_abs = 3.8931. Excitation by IR radiation is favored as the column density ratios are consistent with the shape of APM 08279+5255 IR spectrum. The low-ionization state of the system favors a picture where the cloud is closer to the IR source than to the UV source, supporting the idea that the extension of the IR source is larger than ~ 200 pc. The absence of fine structure lines at z_abs = 3.9135 suggests that the gas responsible for this system is farther away from the IR source. Abundances are ~ 0.01 and 1 Zsun at z_abs = 3.913 and 3.8931 and aluminum could be over-abundant with respect to silicon and carbon by at least a factor of two and five. All this suggests that whereas the z_abs = 3.8931 system is probably located within 200 pc from the QSO and ejected at a velocity larger than 1000 km s-1, the z_abs = 3.9135 system is farther away and part of the host-galaxy. Several narrow-line systems have strong absorption lines due to C iv, O vi and N v and very low neutral hydrogen optical depths. This probably implies metallicities Z>= Z_sun although firm conclusion cannot be drawn as the exact value depends strongly on the shape of the ionizing spectrum. The C iv broad absorption has a complex structure with mini-BALs (width <= 1000 km s-1) and narrow components superposed on a continuous absorption of smaller optical depth. The continuous absorption is much stronger in O vi indicating that the corresponding gas-component is of higher ionization than the other components in the flow and that absorption structures in the BAL-flow are mainly due to density inhomogeneities. There is a tendency for mini-BALs to have different covering factors for different species. It is shown that a few of the absorbing clouds do not cover all the three QSO images, especially we conclude that the z_abs = 3.712 system covers only image C. Finally we identify narrow components within the BAL-flow with velocity separations within 5 km s-1 of the O vi, N v and S ii v doublet splittings suggesting that line driven radiative acceleration is an important process to explain the out-flow. Based on observations collected at the W.M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W.M. Keck Foundation.

Highly-ionized metals as probes of the circumburst gas in the natal regions of gamma-ray bursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heintz, K. E.; Watson, D.; Jakobsson, P.; Fynbo, J. P. U.; Bolmer, J.; Arabsalmani, M.; Cano, Z.; Covino, S.; D'Elia, V.; Gomboc, A.; Japelj, J.; Kaper, L.; Krogager, J.-K.; Pugliese, G.; Sánchez-Ramírez, R.; Selsing, J.; Sparre, M.; Tanvir, N. R.; Thöne, C. C.; de Ugarte Postigo, A.; Vergani, S. D.

2018-06-01

We present here a survey of high-ionization absorption lines in the afterglow spectra of long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) obtained with the VLT/X-shooter spectrograph. Our main goal is to investigate the circumburst medium in the natal regions of GRBs. Our primary focus is on the N V λλ 1238,1242 line transitions, but we also discuss other high-ionization lines such as O VI, C IV and Si IV. We find no correlation between the column density of N V and the neutral gas properties such as metallicity, H I column density and dust depletion, however the relative velocity of N V, typically a blueshift with respect to the neutral gas, is found to be correlated with the column density of H I. This may be explained if the N V gas is part of an H II region hosting the GRB, where the region's expansion is confined by dense, neutral gas in the GRB's host galaxy. We find tentative evidence (at 2σ significance) that the X-ray derived column density, NH, X, may be correlated with the column density of N V, which would indicate that both measurements are sensitive to the column density of the gas located in the vicinity of the GRB. We investigate the scenario where N V (and also O VI) is produced by recombination after the corresponding atoms have been stripped entirely of their electrons by the initial prompt emission, in contrast to previous models where highly-ionized gas is produced by photoionization from the GRB afterglow.

Probing the dark energy with quasar clustering.

PubMed

Calvão, M O; de Mello Neto, J R T; Waga, I

2002-03-04

We show through Monte Carlo simulations that the Alcock-Paczyński test, as applied to quasar clustering, is a powerful tool to probe the cosmological density and equation of state parameters Omega(m0), Omega(x0), and w. By taking into account the effect of peculiar velocities upon the correlation function we obtain for the Two-Degree Field QSO Redshift Survey the predicted confidence contours for the cosmological constant (w = -1) and spatially flat (Omega(m0)+Omega(x0) = 1) cases. For w = -1, the test is especially sensitive to the difference Omega(m0)-Omega(Lambda0), thus being ideal to combine with cosmic microwave background results. For the flat case, it is competitive with future supernova and galaxy number count tests, besides being complementary to them.

Determination of the line shapes of atomic nitrogen resonance lines by magnetic scans

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawrence, G. M.; Stone, E. J.; Kley, D.

1976-01-01

A technique is given for calibrating an atomic nitrogen resonance lamp for use in determining column densities of atoms in specific states. A discharge lamp emitting the NI multiplets at 1200 A and 1493 A is studied by obtaining absorption by atoms in a magnetic field (0-2.5 T). This magnetic scanning technique enables the determination of the absorbing atom column density, and an empirical curve of growth is obtained because the atomic f-value is known. Thus, the calibrated lamp can be used in the determination of atomic column densities.

Large-Scale Structure of the Molecular Gas in Taurus Revealed by High Spatial Dynamic Range Spectral Line Mapping

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldsmith, Paul F.

2008-01-01

Viewgraph topics include: optical image of Taurus; dust extinction in IR has provided a new tool for probing cloud morphology; observations of the gas can contribute critical information on gas temperature, gas column density and distribution, mass, and kinematics; the Taurus molecular cloud complex; average spectra in each mask region; mas 2 data; dealing with mask 1 data; behavior of mask 1 pixels; distribution of CO column densities; conversion to H2 column density; variable CO/H2 ratio with values much less than 10(exp -4) at low N indicated by UV results; histogram of N(H2) distribution; H2 column density distribution in Taurus; cumulative distribution of mass and area; lower CO fractional abundance in mask 0 and 1 regions greatly increases mass determined in the analysis; masses determined with variable X(CO) and including diffuse regions agrees well with the found from L(CO); distribution of young stars as a function of molecular column density; star formation efficiency; star formation rate and gas depletion; and enlarged images of some of the regions with numerous young stars. Additional slides examine the origin of the Taurus molecular cloud, evolution from HI gas, kinematics as a clue to its origin, and its relationship to star formation.

Antibody-immobilized column for quick cell separation based on cell rolling.

PubMed

Mahara, Atsushi; Yamaoka, Tetsuji

2010-01-01

Cell separation using methodological standards that ensure high purity is a very important step in cell transplantation for regenerative medicine and for stem cell research. A separation protocol using magnetic beads has been widely used for cell separation to isolate negative and positive cells. However, not only the surface marker pattern, e.g., negative or positive, but also the density of a cell depends on its developmental stage and differentiation ability. Rapid and label-free separation procedures based on surface marker density are the focus of our interest. In this study, we have successfully developed an antiCD34 antibody-immobilized cell-rolling column, that can separate cells depending on the CD34 density of the cell surfaces. Various conditions for the cell-rolling column were optimized including graft copolymerization, and adjustment of the column tilt angle, and medium flow rate. Using CD34-positive and -negative cell lines, the cell separation potential of the column was established. We observed a difference in the rolling velocities between CD34-positive and CD34-negative cells on antibody-immobilized microfluidic device. Cell separation was achieved by tilting the surface 20 degrees and the increasing medium flow. Surface marker characteristics of the isolated cells in each fraction were analyzed using a cell-sorting system, and it was found that populations containing high density of CD34 were eluted in the delayed fractions. These results demonstrate that cells with a given surface marker density can be continuously separated using the cell rolling column.

C+/H2 gas in star-forming clouds and galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nordon, Raanan; Sternberg, Amiel

2016-11-01

We present analytic theory for the total column density of singly ionized carbon (C+) in the optically thick photon dominated regions (PDRs) of far-UV irradiated (star-forming) molecular clouds. We derive a simple formula for the C+ column as a function of the cloud (hydrogen) density, the far-UV field intensity, and metallicity, encompassing the wide range of galaxy conditions. When assuming the typical relation between UV and density in the cold neutral medium, the C+ column becomes a function of the metallicity alone. We verify our analysis with detailed numerical PDR models. For optically thick gas, most of the C+ column is mixed with hydrogen that is primarily molecular (H2), and this `C+/H2' gas layer accounts for almost all of the `CO-dark' molecular gas in PDRs. The C+/H2 column density is limited by dust shielding and is inversely proportional to the metallicity down to ˜0.1 solar. At lower metallicities, H2 line blocking dominates and the C+/H2 column saturates. Applying our theory to CO surveys in low-redshift spirals, we estimate the fraction of C+/H2 gas out of the total molecular gas to be typically ˜0.4. At redshifts 1 < z < 3 in massive disc galaxies the C+/H2 gas represents a very small fraction of the total molecular gas (≲ 0.16). This small fraction at high redshifts is due to the high gas surface densities when compared to local galaxies.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Gamma Ray Bursts detected by Swift (2004-2015) (Buchner+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchner, J.; Schulze, S.; Bauer, F.

2016-04-01

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB) typically show intrinsic LOS column densities of 1021-23cm2. We performed a thorough statistical analysis of all available X-ray spectra of Swift-detected GRBs. In the associated paper we use sub-samples to analyse the population properties of LGRB and concluded that the obscuration is due to large-scale gas inside the GRB host galaxy, due to the shape of the column density distribution and its correlation with host stellar mass. This catalogue presents X-ray spectral analysis of all Swift-detected GRBs. It includes information about the GRB (ID, Swift Trigger ID, duration, RA/Dec in J2000, galactic coordinates, Milky Way column density). Those properties are taken from the http://www.swift.ac.uk/ and http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/ websites. We removed prompt emission and flares, leaving only a certain time interval for spectral extraction. We use two models to analyse X-ray spectra: TBABS and SPHERE. Both include updated abundances and cross-sections as compared to previous works. The latter includes the effects of Compton-scattering and FeKa fluorescence relevant at high column densities. Columns list the posterior mean, standard deviation, 10% and 90% quantiles. Note that the column densities are converted to hydrogen assuming local ISM abundances, but are derived primarily from photo-electric absorption of e.g. Fe and O, and therefore primarily measure metal gas. (2 data files).

Evolution of HI from Z=5 to the present

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Storrie-Lombardi, L. J.

2002-01-01

Studies of damped Lya systems provide us with a good measure of the evolution of the HI column density distribution function and the contribution to the comoving mass density in neutral gas out to redshifts of z = 5 . The column density distribution function at high redshift steepens for the highest column density HI absorbers, though the contribution to the comoving mass density of neutral gas remains fiat from 2 < z < 5 . Results from studies at z < 2 are finding substantial numbers of damped absorbers identified from MgII absorption, compared to previous blind surveys. These results indicate that the contribution to the comoving mass density in neutral gas may be constant from z 0 to z 5. Details of recent work in the redshift range z < 2 work is covered elsewhere in this volume (see D. Nestor). We review here recent results for the redshift range 2 < z < 5.

Molecular outflow and feedback in the obscured quasar XID2028 revealed by ALMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brusa, M.; Cresci, G.; Daddi, E.; Paladino, R.; Perna, M.; Bongiorno, A.; Lusso, E.; Sargent, M. T.; Casasola, V.; Feruglio, C.; Fraternali, F.; Georgiev, I.; Mainieri, V.; Carniani, S.; Comastri, A.; Duras, F.; Fiore, F.; Mannucci, F.; Marconi, A.; Piconcelli, E.; Zamorani, G.; Gilli, R.; La Franca, F.; Lanzuisi, G.; Lutz, D.; Santini, P.; Scoville, N. Z.; Vignali, C.; Vito, F.; Rabien, S.; Busoni, L.; Bonaglia, M.

2018-04-01

We imaged, with ALMA and ARGOS/LUCI, the molecular gas and dust and stellar continuum in XID2028, which is an obscured quasi-stellar object (QSO) at z = 1.593, where the presence of a massive outflow in the ionised gas component traced by the [OIII]5007 emission has been resolved up to 10 kpc. This target represents a unique test case to study QSO feedback in action at the peak epoch of AGN-galaxy co-evolution. The QSO was detected in the CO(5 - 4) transition and in the 1.3 mm continuum at 30 and 20σ significance, respectively; both emissions are confined in the central (<2 kpc) radius area. Our analysis suggests the presence of a fast rotating molecular disc (v 400 km s-1) on very compact scales well inside the galaxy extent seen in the rest-frame optical light ( 10 kpc, as inferred from the LUCI data). Adding available measurements in additional two CO transitions, CO(2 - 1) and CO(3 - 2), we could derive a total gas mass of 1010 M⊙, thanks to a critical assessment of CO excitation and the comparison with the Rayleigh-Jeans continuum estimate. This translates into a very low gas fraction (<5%) and depletion timescales of 40-75 Myr, reinforcing the result of atypical gas consumption conditions in XID2028, possibly because of feedback effects on the host galaxy. Finally, we also detect the presence of high velocity CO gas at 5σ, which we interpret as a signature of galaxy-scale molecular outflow that is spatially coincident with the ionised gas outflow. XID2028 therefore represents a unique case in which the measurement of total outflowing mass, of 500-800 M⊙ yr-1 including the molecular and atomic components in both the ionised and neutral phases, was attempted for a high-z QSO.

Cosmological test with the QSO Hubble diagram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López-Corredoira, M.; Melia, F.; Lusso, E.; Risaliti, G.

2016-03-01

A Hubble diagram (HD) has recently been constructed in the redshift range 0 ≲ z ≲ 6.5 using a nonlinear relation between the ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray luminosities of quasi stellar objects (QSOs). The Type Ia Supernovae (SN) HD has already provided a high-precision test of cosmological models, but the fact that the QSO distribution extends well beyond the supernova range (z ≲ 1.8), in principle provides us with an important complementary diagnostic whose significantly greater leverage in z can impose tighter constraints on the distance versus redshift relationship. In this paper, we therefore perform an independent test of nine different cosmological models, among which six are expanding, while three are static. Many of these are disfavored by other kinds of observations (including the aforementioned Type Ia SNe). We wish to examine whether the QSO HD confirms or rejects these earlier conclusions. We find that four of these models (Einstein-de Sitter, the Milne universe, the static universe with simple tired light and the static universe with plasma tired light) are excluded at the > 99% C.L. The quasi-steady state model is excluded at > 95% C.L. The remaining four models (ΛCDM/wCDM, the Rh = ct universe, the Friedmann open universe and a static universe with a linear Hubble law) all pass the test. However, only ΛCDM/wCDM and Rh = ct also pass the Alcock-Paczyński (AP) test. The optimized parameters in ΛCDM/wCDM are Ωm = 0.20-0.20+0.24 and wde = -1.2-∞+1.6 (the dark energy equation-of-state). Combined with the AP test, these values become Ωm = 0.38-0.19+0.20 and wde = -0.28-0.40+0.52. But whereas this optimization of parameters in ΛCDM/wCDM creates some tension with their concordance values, the Rh = ct universe has the advantage of fitting the QSO and AP data without any free parameters.

Detecting the highest redshift (z > 8) quasi-stellar objects in a wide, near-infrared slitless spectroscopic survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roche, Nathan; Franzetti, Paolo; Garilli, Bianca; Zamorani, Giovanni; Cimatti, Andrea; Rossetti, Emanuel

2012-02-01

We investigate the prospects of extending observations of high-redshift quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) from the current z˜ 7 to z > 8 by means of a very wide-area near-infrared slitless spectroscopic survey, considering as an example the planned survey with the European Space Agency's Euclid telescope (scheduled for a 2019 launch). For any QSOs at z > 8.06, the strong Lyman α line will enter the wavelength range of the Euclid Near-Infrared Spectometer and Imaging Photometer (NISP). We perform a detailed simulation of near infrared spectrometer and imaging photometer (Euclid) NISP slitless spectroscopy (with the parameters of the wide survey) in an artificial field containing QSO spectra at all redshifts up to z= 12 and to a faint limit H= 22.5. QSO spectra are represented with a template based on a Sloan Digital Sky Survey composite spectrum, with the added effects of absorption from neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium. The spectra extracted from the simulation are analysed with an automated redshift finder, and a detection rate estimated as a function of H magnitude and redshift (defined as the proportion of spectra with both correct redshift measurements and classifications). We show that, as expected, spectroscopic identification of QSOs would reach deeper limits for the redshift ranges where either ? (0.67 < z < 2.05) or Lyman α (z > 8.06) is visible. Furthermore, if photometrically selected z > 8 spectra can be re-examined and refitted to minimize the effects of spectral contamination, the QSO detection rate in the Lyman α window will be increased by an estimated ˜60 per cent and will then be better here than at any other redshift, with an effective limit H≃ 21.5. With an extrapolated rate of QSO evolution, we predict that the Euclid wide (15 000 ?) spectroscopic survey will identify and measure spectroscopic redshifts for a total of 20-35 QSOs at z > 8.06 (reduced slightly to 19-33 if we apply a small correction for missed weak-lined QSOs). However, for a model with a faster rate of evolution, this prediction goes down to four or five. In any event, the survey will give important constraints on the evolution of QSO at z > 8 and therefore the formation of the first supermassive black holes. The z > 8.06 detections would be very luminous objects (with MB=-26 to -28) and many would also be detectable by the proposed Wide Field X-ray Telescope.

Sinking velocities of phytoplankton measured on a stable density gradient by laser scanning

PubMed Central

Walsby, Anthony E; Holland, Daryl P

2005-01-01

Two particular difficulties in measuring the sinking velocities of phytoplankton cells are preventing convection within the sedimenting medium and determining the changing depth of the cells. These problems are overcome by using a density-stabilized sedimentation column scanned by a laser. For freshwater species, a suspension of phytoplankton is layered over a vertical density gradient of Percoll solution; as the cells sink down the column their relative concentration is measured by the forward scattering of light from a laser beam that repeatedly scans up and down the column. The Percoll gradient stabilizes the column, preventing vertical mixing by convection, radiation or perturbation of density by the descending cells. Measurements were made on suspensions of 15 μm polystyrene microspheres with a density of 1050 kg m−3; the mean velocity was 6.28 μm s−1, within 1.5% of that calculated by the Stokes equation, 6.36 μm s−1. Measurements made on the filamentous cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens gave mean velocities within the theoretical range of values based on the range of size, shape, orientation and density of the particles in a modified Stokes equation. Measurements on marine phytoplankton may require density gradients prepared with other substances. PMID:16849271

HIDEEP - an extragalactic blind survey for very low column-density neutral hydrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minchin, R. F.; Disney, M. J.; Boyce, P. J.; de Blok, W. J. G.; Parker, Q. A.; Banks, G. D.; Freeman, K. C.; Garcia, D. A.; Gibson, B. K.; Grossi, M.; Haynes, R. F.; Knezek, P. M.; Lang, R. H.; Malin, D. F.; Price, R. M.; Stewart, I. M.; Wright, A. E.

2003-12-01

We have carried out an extremely long integration time (9000 s beam-1) 21-cm blind survey of 60 deg2 in Centaurus using the Parkes multibeam system. We find that the noise continues to fall as throughout, enabling us to reach an HI column-density limit of 4.2 × 1018 cm-2 for galaxies with a velocity width of 200 km s-1 in the central 32 deg2 region, making this the deepest survey to date in terms of column density sensitivity. The HI data are complemented by very deep optical observations from digital stacking of multi-exposure UK Schmidt Telescope R-band films, which reach an isophotal level of 26.5 R mag arcsec-2 (~=27.5 B mag arcsec-2). 173 HI sources have been found, 96 of which have been uniquely identified with optical counterparts in the overlap area. There is not a single source without an optical counterpart. Although we have not measured the column densities directly, we have inferred them from the optical sizes of their counterparts. All appear to have a column density of NHI= 1020.65+/-0.38. This is at least an order of magnitude above our sensitivity limit, with a scatter only marginally larger than the errors on NHI. This needs explaining. If confirmed it means that HI surveys will only find low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies with high MHI/LB. Gas-rich LSB galaxies with lower HI mass to light ratios do not exist. The paucity of low column-density galaxies also implies that no significant population will be missed by the all-sky HI surveys being carried out at Parkes and Jodrell Bank.

Fine structure of Galactic foreground ISM towards high-redshift AGN - utilizing Herschel PACS and SPIRE data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perger, K.; Pinter, S.; Frey, S.; Tóth, L. V.

2018-05-01

One of the most certain ways to determine star formation rate in galaxies is based on far infrared (FIR) measurements. To decide the origin of the observed FIR emission, subtracting the Galactic foreground is a crucial step. We utilized Herschel photometric data to determine the hydrogen column densities in three galactic latitude regions, at b = 27°, 50° and -80°. We applied a pixel-by-pixel fit to the spectral energy distribution (SED) for the images aquired from parallel PACS-SPIRE observations in all three sky areas. We determined the column densities with resolutions 45'' and 6', and compared the results with values estimated from the IRAS dust maps. Column densities at 27° and 50° galactic latitudes determined from the Herschel data are in a good agreement with the literature values. However, at the highest galactic latitude we found that the column densities from the Herschel data exceed those derived from the IRAS dust map.

Disentangling Quasar Nomenclature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, Nicholas; Goulding, Andrew D.

2015-01-01

The terms Type 1, Type 2, Obscured, Unobscured, Compton-thin and Compton-thick are cemented naming conventions for describing AGN and QSOs. However, all too often, they are used interchangeably to describe seemingly similar/different entities, leading to confusion towards the physical mechanisms that give rise to them. Furthermore, as is often the case in scientific discovery, initial designations and acronyms become obsolete. In this poster, using data and new results from the SDSS, SDSS-III BOSS, Bootes, DEEP2 and WISE surveys, we present a comprehensive QSO Glossary giving clear definitions of numerous AGN terms and the physical interpretation behind them. We further elucidate to the physical nature of hot dust obscured galaxy population (``hot DOGs'') and the long-sought after high-z Type 2 QSO population.

Correlations in the three-dimensional Lyman-alpha forest contaminated by high column density absorbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, Keir K.; Bird, Simeon; Peiris, Hiranya V.; Pontzen, Andrew; Font-Ribera, Andreu; Leistedt, Boris

2018-05-01

Correlations measured in three dimensions in the Lyman-alpha forest are contaminated by the presence of the damping wings of high column density (HCD) absorbing systems of neutral hydrogen (H I; having column densities N(H I) > 1.6 × 10^{17} atoms cm^{-2}), which extend significantly beyond the redshift-space location of the absorber. We measure this effect as a function of the column density of the HCD absorbers and redshift by measuring three-dimensional (3D) flux power spectra in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations from the Illustris project. Survey pipelines exclude regions containing the largest damping wings. We find that, even after this procedure, there is a scale-dependent correction to the 3D Lyman-alpha forest flux power spectrum from residual contamination. We model this residual using a simple physical model of the HCD absorbers as linearly biased tracers of the matter density distribution, convolved with their Voigt profiles and integrated over the column density distribution function. We recommend the use of this model over existing models used in data analysis, which approximate the damping wings as top-hats and so miss shape information in the extended wings. The simple `linear Voigt model' is statistically consistent with our simulation results for a mock residual contamination up to small scales (|k| < 1 h Mpc^{-1}). It does not account for the effect of the highest column density absorbers on the smallest scales (e.g. |k| > 0.4 h Mpc^{-1} for small damped Lyman-alpha absorbers; HCD absorbers with N(H I) ˜ 10^{21} atoms cm^{-2}). However, these systems are in any case preferentially removed from survey data. Our model is appropriate for an accurate analysis of the baryon acoustic oscillations feature. It is additionally essential for reconstructing the full shape of the 3D flux power spectrum.

On Local Ionization Equilibrium and Disk Winds in QSOs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereyra, Nicolas A.

2014-11-01

We present theoretical C IV λλ1548,1550 absorption line profiles for QSOs calculated assuming the accretion disk wind (ADW) scenario. The results suggest that the multiple absorption troughs seen in many QSOs may be due to the discontinuities in the ion balance of the wind (caused by X-rays), rather than discontinuities in the density/velocity structure. The profiles are calculated from a 2.5-dimensional time-dependent hydrodynamic simulation of a line-driven disk wind for a typical QSO black hole mass, a typical QSO luminosity, and for a standard Shakura-Sunyaev disk. We include the effects of ionizing X-rays originating from within the inner disk radius by assuming that the wind is shielded from the X-rays from a certain viewing angle up to 90° ("edge on"). In the shielded region, we assume constant ionization equilibrium, and thus constant line-force parameters. In the non-shielded region, we assume that both the line-force and the C IV populations are nonexistent. The model can account for P-Cygni absorption troughs (produced at edge on viewing angles), multiple absorption troughs (produced at viewing angles close to the angle that separates the shielded region and the non-shielded region), and for detached absorption troughs (produced at an angle in between the first two absorption line types); that is, the model can account for the general types of broad absorption lines seen in QSOs as a viewing angle effect. The steady nature of ADWs, in turn, may account for the steady nature of the absorption structure observed in multiple-trough broad absorption line QSOs. The model parameters are M bh = 109 M ⊙ and L disk = 1047 erg s-1.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saunders, Will; Smedley, Scott; Gillingham, Peter

We present Simulated Annealing fiber-to-target allocation simulations for the proposed DESI and 4MOST massively multiplexed spectroscopic surveys, and for both Poisson and realistically clustered mock target samples. We simulate both Echidna and theta-phi actuator designs, including the restrictions caused by the physical actuator characteristics during repositioning. For DESI, with theta-phi actuators, used in 5 passes over the sky for a mock ELG/LRG/QSO sample, with matched fiber and target densities, a total target allocation yield of 89.3% was achieved, but only 83.7% for the high-priority Ly-alpha QSOs. If Echidna actuators are used with the same pitch and number of passes, themore » yield increases by 5.7% and 16% respectively. Echidna also allows a factor-of-two increase in the number of close Ly-alpha QSO pairs that can be observed. Echidna spine tilt causes a variable loss of throughput, with average loss being the same as the loss at the rms tilt. With a natural tilt minimization scheme, we find an rms tilt always close to 0.58 x maximum. There is an additional but much smaller defocus loss, equivalent to an average defocus of 30microns. These tilt losses offset the gains in yield for Echidna, but because the survey strategy is driven by the higher priority targets, a clear survey speed advantage remains. For 4MOST, high and low latitude sample mock catalogs were supplied by the 4MOST team, and allocations were carried out with the proposed Echidna-based positioner geometry. At high latitudes, the resulting target completeness was 85.3% for LR targets and 78.9% for HR targets. At low latitude, the target completeness was 93.9% for LR targets and 71.2% for HR targets.« less

Stellar Contrails in Quasi-stellar Objects: The Origin of Broad Absorption Lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scoville, Nick; Norman, Colin

1995-10-01

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and quasars often exhibit infrared excesses at λ = 2-10 microns attributable to thermal dust emission. In this paper we propose that this hot dust is supplied by circumstellar mass loss from evolved stars in the nuclear star cluster. The physics of the mass-loss dust, specifically the evaporation temperature, is a critical parameter in determining the accretion rate of mass-loss material onto the central AGN. For standard interstellar dust grains with an evaporation temperature of 1800 K the dust is destroyed inside a radius of 1 pc from a central luminosity source of 5 × 10 Lsun. The mass-loss material inside 1 pc will therefore have a lower radiation pressure efficiency and accrete inward. Outside this critical radius, dust may survive, and the mass loss is accelerated outward owing to the high radiation pressure efficiency of the dust mixed with the gas. The outflowing material will consist of discrete trails of debris shed by the individual mass-loss stars, and we suggest that these trails produce the broad absorption lines (BALs) seen in 5%-10% of QSOs. The model accounts naturally for the maximum outflow velocities seen in the BALs (˜30,000 km s-1 and varying as L¼) since this maximum terminal velocity occurs for matter originating at the inner edge of the radiative equilibrium dust survival zone. Although the radiation pressure acts on the dust, individual grains will be highly charged (Z ˜ 103+), and the grains are therefore strongly coupled to the gas through the ambient magnetic fields. Numerical hydrodynamic calculations were done to follow the evolution of mass-loss material. As the orbiting debris is driven outward by radiation pressure, the trail forms a spiral with initially high pitch angle (˜85°). The trails are compressed into thin ribbons in the radial direction initially by the radiation pressure gradients due to absorption within the trail. After reaching > 104 km s-1 radial velocity, the compression can be maintained by ram pressure due to an ambient gas of modest density (˜102 cm-3). Each of the stellar contrails will have mean column density ˜1019-1021 cm-2, volume density ˜108-109 cm-3, and thickness 1011-1012 cm along the line of sight to the AGN corresponding to parameters deduced from observations of the BAL clouds. Assuming minimal expansion perpendicular to the line of sight at the speed of sound, the width of the trails is 1015-1016 cm, or 102-103 times the line-of-sight depth. Since the UV-emitting accretion disk probably has a radius of about 2 × 1016 cm, a single trail will only partially cover the continuum, but for the column densities quoted above the observed absorption lines (e.g., C IV) will be optically thick with τ > 10. Since the contrails are nearly radial just after leaving the star when the maximum outward acceleration occurs, a large range of velocities (˜4000 km s-1) will be seen in absorption of the QSO light from each trail, and only a few disk-crossing trails are needed to account for the full width of broad absorption line troughs.

Cloudy Skies over AGN: Observations with Simbol-X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salvati, M.; Risaliti, G.

2009-05-01

Recent time-resolved spectroscopic X-ray studies of bright obscured AGN show that column density variability on time scales of hours/days may be common, at least for sources with NH>1023 cm-2. This opens new oppurtunities in the analysis of the structure of the circumnuclear medium and of the X-ray source: resolving the variations due to single clouds covering/uncovering the X-ray source provides tight constraints on the source size, the clouds' size and distance, and their average number, density and column density. We show how Simbol-X will provide a breakthrough in this field, thanks to its broad band coverage, allowing (a) to precisely disentangle the continuum and NH variations, and (2) to extend the NH variability analysis to column densities >1023 cm-2.

Modeling Amateur Radio Soundings of the Ionospheric Response to the 2017 Great American Eclipse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frissell, N. A.; Katz, J. D.; Gunning, S. W.; Vega, J. S.; Gerrard, A. J.; Earle, G. D.; Moses, M. L.; West, M. L.; Huba, J. D.; Erickson, P. J.; Miller, E. S.; Gerzoff, R. B.; Liles, W.; Silver, H. W.

2018-05-01

On 21 August 2017, a total solar eclipse traversed the continental United States and caused large-scale changes in ionospheric densities. These were detected as changes in medium- and high-frequency radio propagation by the Solar Eclipse QSO Party citizen science experiment organized by the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (hamsci.org). This is the first eclipse-ionospheric study to make use of measurements from a citizen-operated, global-scale HF propagation network and develop tools for comparison to a physics-based model ionosphere. Eclipse effects were observed ±0.3 hr on 1.8 MHz, ±0.75 hr on 3.5 and 7 MHz, and ±1 hr on 14 MHz and are consistent with eclipse-induced ionospheric densities. Observations were simulated using the PHaRLAP raytracing toolkit in conjunction with the eclipsed SAMI3 ionospheric model. Model results suggest 1.8, 3.5, and 7 MHz refracted at h≥125 km altitude with elevation angles θ≥22°, while 14 MHz signals refracted at h < 125 km with elevation angles θ < 10°.

High-resolution observations of the QSO 3C 345 at 1.3 centimeters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baath, L. B.; Ronnang, B. O.; Pauliny-Toth, I. I. K.; Preuss, E.; Witzel, A.; Matveenko, L. I.; Kogan, L. R.; Kostenko, V. I.; Shaffer, D. B.

1981-01-01

High-resolution VLBI observations made at a frequency of 22.235 GHz of the quasar 3C 345 are discussed. Antennas located at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, USSR; Onsala, Sweden; Effelsberg, West Germany; and the Haystack Observatory, Massachusetts were employed at 4-min integration times to provide baselines ranging up to 5.5 x 10 to the 8th wavelengths. About 40% of the total flux density of 7.85 Jy, observed in November 1977, and 8.05 Jy, observed in October 1978, is found to originate in an unresolved component of the quasar core in a region less than 0.1 milliarcsec in diameter. The elongated jet-like component of the quasar is observed to contain several peaks of emission extending up to 6 milliarsec from the core which decreased in extent between the two observations.

Experimental investigation on temperature distribution of foamed concrete filled steel tube column under standard fire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kado, B.; Mohammad, S.; Lee, Y. H.; Shek, P. N.; Kadir, M. A. A.

2018-04-01

Standard fire test was carried out on 3 hollow steel tube and 6 foamed concrete filled steel tube columns. Temperature distribution on the columns was investigated. 1500 kg/m3 and 1800 kg/m3 foamed concrete density at 15%, 20% and 25% load level are the parameters considered. The columns investigated were 2400 mm long, 139.7 mm outer diameter and 6 mm steel tube thickness. The result shows that foamed concrete filled steel tube columns has the highest fire resistance of 43 minutes at 15% load level and low critical temperature of 671 ºC at 25% load level using 1500 kg/m3 foamed concrete density. Fire resistance of foamed concrete filled column increases with lower foamed concrete strength. Foamed concrete can be used to provide more fire resistance to hollow steel column or to replace normal weight concrete in concrete filled columns. Since filling hollow steel with foamed concrete produce column with high fire resistance than unfilled hollow steel column. Therefore normal weight concrete can be substituted with foamed concrete in concrete filled column, it will reduces the self-weight of the structure because of its light weight at the same time providing the desired fire resistance.

Constraining the H2 column density distribution at z ˜ 3 from composite DLA spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balashev, S. A.; Noterdaeme, P.

2018-07-01

We present the detection of the average H2 absorption signal in the overall population of neutral gas absorption systems at z˜ 3 using composite absorption spectra built from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-III damped Lyman α catalogue. We present a new technique to directly measure the H2 column density distribution function f_H_2(N) from the average H2 absorption signal. Assuming a power-law column density distribution, we obtain a slope β = -1.29 ± 0.06(stat) ± 0.10 (sys) and an incidence rate of strong H2 absorptions [with N(H2) ≳ 1018 cm-2] to be 4.0 ± 0.5(stat) ± 1.0 (sys) per cent in H I absorption systems with N(H I) ≥1020 cm-2. Assuming the same inflexion point where f_H_2(N) steepens as at z = 0, we estimate that the cosmological density of H2 in the column density range log N(H_2) (cm^{-2})= 18{-}22 is {˜ } 15 per cent of the total. We find one order of magnitude higher H2 incident rate in a sub-sample of extremely strong damped Lyman α absorption systems (DLAs) [log N(H I) (cm^{-2}) ≥ 21.7], which, together with the derived shape of f_H_2(N), suggests that the typical H I-H2 transition column density in DLAs is log N(H)(cm-2) ≳ 22.3 in agreement with theoretical expectations for the average (low) metallicity of DLAs at high-z.

Constraining the H2 column density distribution at z˜3 from composite DLA spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balashev, S. A.; Noterdaeme, P.

2018-04-01

We present the detection of the average H2 absorption signal in the overall population of neutral gas absorption systems at z ˜ 3 using composite absorption spectra built from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-III damped Lyman-α catalogue. We present a new technique to directly measure the H2 column density distribution function f_H_2(N) from the average H2 absorption signal. Assuming a power-law column density distribution, we obtain a slope β = -1.29 ± 0.06(stat) ± 0.10 (sys) and an incidence rate of strong H2 absorptions (with N(H2) ≳ 1018 cm-2) to be 4.0 ± 0.5(stat) ± 1.0 (sys) % in H I absorption systems with N(H I)≥1020 cm-2. Assuming the same inflexion point where f_H_2(N) steepens as at z = 0, we estimate that the cosmological density of H2 in the column density range log N(H_2) (cm^{-2})= 18-22 is ˜15% of the total. We find one order of magnitude higher H2 incident rate in a sub-sample of extremely strong DLAs (log N(H I) (cm^{-2}) ≥ 21.7), which, together with the the derived shape of f_H_2(N), suggests that the typical H I-H2 transition column density in DLAs is log N(H)(cm-2) ≳ 22.3 in agreement with theoretical expectations for the average (low) metallicity of DLAs at high-z.

Efficiency gain limits of the parallel segmented inlet and outlet flow concept in analytical liquid chromatography columns suffering from radial transcolumn packing density gradients.

PubMed

Broeckhoven, Ken; Desmet, Gert

2012-10-05

The maximal gain in efficiency that can be expected from the use of the segmented column end fittings that were recently introduced to alleviate the effect of transcolumn packing density gradients has been quantified and generalized using numerical computations of the band broadening process. It was found that, for an unretained compound in a column with a parabolic packing density gradient, the use of a segmented inlet or a segmented outlet allows to eliminate about 60-100% of the plate height contribution (H(tc)) originating from a parabolic transcolumn velocity gradient in a d(c)=4.6 mm column. In a d(c)=2.1 mm column, these percentages change from 10 to 100%. Using a combined segmented in- and outlet, H(tc) can be reduced by about 90-100% (d(c)=4.6 mm column) or 20-100% (d(c)=2.1 mm column). The strong variation of these gain percentages is due to fact that they depend very strongly on the column length and the flow rate. Dimensionless graphs have been established that allow to directly quantify the effect for each specific case. It was also found that, in agreement with one's physical intuition, trans-column velocity profiles that are more flat in the central region benefit more from the concept than sharp, parabolic-like profiles. The gain margins furthermore tend to become smaller with increasing retention and increasing diffusion coefficient. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pressure, temperature and density drops along supercritical fluid chromatography columns in different thermal environments. III. Mixtures of carbon dioxide and methanol as the mobile phase.

PubMed

Poe, Donald P; Veit, Devon; Ranger, Megan; Kaczmarski, Krzysztof; Tarafder, Abhijit; Guiochon, Georges

2014-01-03

The pressure, temperature and density drops along SFC columns eluted with a CO2/methanol mobile phase were measured and compared with theoretical values. For columns packed with 3- and 5-μm particles the pressure and temperature drops were measured using a mobile phase of 95% CO2 and 5% methanol at a flow rate of 5mL/min, at temperatures from 20 to 100°C, and outlet pressures from 80 to 300bar. The density drop was calculated based on the temperature and pressure at the column inlet and outlet. The columns were suspended in a circulating air bath, either bare or covered with foam insulation. The experimental measurements were compared to theoretical results obtained by numerical simulation. For the convective air condition at outlet pressures above 100bar the average difference between the experimental and calculated temperature drops and pressure drops were 0.1°C and 0.7% for the bare 3-μm column, respectively, and were 0.6°C and 4.1% for the insulated column. The observed temperature drops for the insulated columns are consistent with those predicted by the Joule-Thomson coefficients for isenthalpic expansion. The dependence of the temperature and the pressure drops on the Joule-Thomson coefficient and kinematic viscosity are described for carbon dioxide mobile phases containing up to 20% methanol. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Galactic cold cores. IX. Column density structures and radiative-transfer modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juvela, M.; Malinen, J.; Montillaud, J.; Pelkonen, V.-M.; Ristorcelli, I.; Tóth, L. V.

2018-06-01

Context. The Galactic Cold Cores (GCC) project has made Herschel photometric observations of interstellar clouds where Planck detected compact sources of cold dust emission. The fields are in different environments and stages of star formation. Aims: Our aim is to characterise the structure of the clumps and their parent clouds, and to study the connections between the environment and the formation of gravitationally bound objects. We also examine the accuracy to which the structure of dense clumps can be determined from sub-millimetre data. Methods: We use standard statistical methods to characterise the GCC fields. Individual clumps are extracted using column density thresholding. Based on sub-millimetre measurements, we construct a three-dimensional radiative transfer (RT) model for each field. These are used to estimate the relative radiation field intensities, to probe the clump stability, and to examine the uncertainty of column density estimates. We examine the structural parameters of the clumps, including their radial column density profiles. Results: In the GCC fields, the structure noise follows the relations previously established at larger scales and in lower-density clouds. The fractal dimension has no significant dependence on column density and the values DP = 1.25 ± 0.07 are only slightly lower than in typical molecular clouds. The column density probability density functions (PDFs) exhibit large variations, for example, in the case of externally compressed clouds. At scales r > 0.1 pc, the radial column density distributions of the clouds follow an average relation of N r-1. In spite of a great variety of clump morphologies (and a typical aspect ratio of 1.5), clumps tend to follow a similar N r-1 relation below r 0.1 pc. RT calculations indicate only factor 2.5 variation in the local radiation field intensity. The fraction of gravitationally bound clumps increases significantly in regions with AV > 5 mag but most bound objects appear to be pressure-confined. Conclusions: The host clouds of the cold clumps in the GCC sample have statistical properties similar to general molecular clouds. The gravitational stability, peak column density, and clump orientation are connected to the cloud background while most other statistical clump properties (e.g. DP and radial profiles) are insensitive to the environment. The study of clump morphology should be continued with a comparison with numerical simulations. Planck (http://www.esa.int/Planck) is a project of the European Space Agency (ESA) with instruments provided by two scientific consortia funded by ESA member states (in particular the lead countries: France and Italy) with contributions from NASA (USA), and telescope reflectors provided in a collaboration between ESA and a scientific consortium led and funded by Denmark.Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.

Maximizing performance in supercritical fluid chromatography using low-density mobile phases.

PubMed

Gritti, Fabrice; Fogwill, Michael; Gilar, Martin; Jarrell, Joseph A

2016-10-14

The performance of a 3.0mm×150mm column packed with 1.8μm fully porous HSS-SB-C 18 particles was investigated in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with low-density, highly expansible carbon dioxide. These conditions are selected for the analysis of semi-volatile compounds. Elevated temperatures (>100°C) were then combined with low column back pressures (<100bar). In this work, the inlet temperature of pure carbon dioxide was set at 107°C, the active back pressure regulator (ABPR) pressure was fixed at 100bar, and the flow rate was set at 2.1mL/min at 12°C (liquefied carbon dioxide) and at an inlet column pressure close to 300bar. Nine n-alkylbenzenes (from benzene to octadecylbenzene) were injected under linear (no sample overload) conditions. The severe steepness of the temperature gradients across the column diameter were predicted from a simplified heat transfer model. Such conditions dramatically lower the column performance by affecting the symmetry of the peak shape. In order to cope with this problem, three different approaches were experimentally tested. They include (1) the decoupling and the proper selection of the inlet eluent temperature with respect to the oven temperature, (2) the partial thermal insulation of the column using polyethylene aerogel, and (3) the application of a high vacuum (10 -5 Torr provided by a turbo-molecular pump) in a housing chamber surrounding the whole column body. The results reveal that (1) the column efficiency can be maximized by properly selecting the difference between the eluent and the oven temperatures, (2) the mere wrapping of the column with an excellent insulating material is insufficient to fully eliminate heat exchanges by conduction and the undesirable radial density gradients across the column i.d., and (3) the complete thermal insulation of the SFC column under high vacuum allows to maximize the column efficiency by maintaining the integrity of the peak shape. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular column densities in selected model atmospheres. [chemical analysis of carbon stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, H. R.; Beebe, R. F.; Sneden, C.

1974-01-01

From an examination of predicted column densities, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) The SiO ought to be visible in carbon stars which were generated from triple alpha burning, but absent from carbon stars generated from the CNO bi-cycle. (2) Variation in the observed relative strengths of TiO and ZrO is indicative of real differences in the ratio Ti/Zr. (3) The TiO/ZrO ratio shows a small variation as C/O and effective temperature is changed. (4) Column density of silicon dicarbide (SiC2) is sensitive to abundance, temperature, and gravity; hence all relationships between the strength of SiC2 and other stellar parameters will show appreciable scatter. There is however, a substantial luminosity effect present in the SiC2 column densities. (5) Unexpectedly, SiC2 is anti-correlated with C2. (6) The presence of SiC2 in a carbon star eliminates the possibility of these stars having temperatures greater than or equal to 3000 K, or being produced through the CNO bi-cycle.

Low Ionization Absorbing Gas Kinematics Around Z ~ 1 Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Churchill, C. W.; Steidel, C. C.; Vogt, S. S.

1996-12-01

Absorption profiles of the Mg II lambda lambda 2796,2803 doublet arising from gas associated with 48 ``normal'' intermediate redshift (0.4 < z < 1.7) galaxies have been resolved in QSO spectra at 6 km s(-1) resolution using HIRES on Keck I. We have found evidence for pronounced redshift evolution in the subcomponent velocity two--point correlation function, suggestive that the gas surrounding galaxies has settled over a 5--10 Gyr look--back time. Based upon a sub--sample of 15 galaxies at z<1, we found no evidence for correlations between the absorbing gas kinematics and the projected galactocentric distance of the gas, galaxy luminosities, or galaxy rest--frame colors (though trends between galaxy properties and absorption properties are apparent from a larger low resolution absorption line sample). The implication is that low ionization gas surrounding early epoch galaxies was not smoothly distributed either spatially or kinematically out to a galactocentric distance ~ 40 kpc. Directly from the profiles, we have measured the number of separate absorbing ``kinematic subsystems'' associated with each galaxy, and each subsystem's profile velocity width, asymmetry (skew), and integrated column density. The distribution in these subsystem properties with velocity is highly peaked at zero, and does not exhibit a bimodality. The lack of a bimodality is suggestive that the gas kinematics is not dominated by quasi--symmetric infall into galactic potential wells. In view of absorption line studies of local galaxies, it appears that extended regions of low ionization gas surrounding galaxies represent a dynamical and active epoch of ``normal'' galaxy evolution. The reservoirs of gas for these extended ``halos'' were probably residual infalling fragments (from earlier formation processes and on--going dynamical events) whose evolution first included a settling in velocity dispersion and then more recently a decline in number. The build up of thick and/or extended gaseous disks (in the case of spirals) may be one manifestation of this process.

Multi-wavelength campaign on NGC 7469. II. Column densities and variability in the X-ray spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peretz, U.; Behar, E.; Kriss, G. A.; Kaastra, J.; Arav, N.; Bianchi, S.; Branduardi-Raymont, G.; Cappi, M.; Costantini, E.; De Marco, B.; Di Gesu, L.; Ebrero, J.; Kaspi, S.; Mehdipour, M.; Middei, R.; Paltani, S.; Petrucci, P. O.; Ponti, G.; Ursini, F.

2018-01-01

We have investigated the ionic column density variability of the ionized outflows associated with NGC 7469, to estimate their location and power. This could allow a better understanding of galactic feedback of AGNs to their host galaxies. Analysis of seven XMM-Newton grating observations from 2015 is reported. We used an individual-ion spectral fitting approach, and compared different epochs to accurately determine variability on timescales of years, months, and days. We find no significant column density variability in a ten-year period implying that the outflow is far from the ionizing source. The implied lower bound on the ionization equilibrium time, ten years, constrains the lower limit on the distance to be at least 12 pc, and up to 31 pc, much less but consistent with the 1 kpc wide starburst ring. The ionization distribution of column density is reconstructed from measured column densities, nicely matching results of two 2004 observations, with one large high ionization parameter (ξ) component at 2 < log ξ< 3.5, and one at 0.5 < log ξ< 1 in cgs units. The strong dependence of the expression for kinetic power, ∝ 1 /ξ, hampers tight constraints on the feedback mechanism of outflows with a large range in ionization parameter, which is often observed and indicates a non-conical outflow. The kinetic power of the outflow is estimated here to be within 0.4 and 60% of the Eddington luminosity, depending on the ion used to estimate ξ.

PROVIDING STRINGENT STAR FORMATION RATE LIMITS OF z ∼ 2 QSO HOST GALAXIES AT HIGH ANGULAR RESOLUTION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vayner, Andrey; Wright, Shelley A.; Do, Tuan

2016-04-10

We present integral field spectrograph (IFS) with laser guide star adaptive optics (LGS-AO) observations of z ∼ 2 quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) designed to resolve extended nebular line emission from the host galaxy. Our data was obtained with W. M. Keck and Gemini North Observatories, using OSIRIS and NIFS coupled with the LGS-AO systems, respectively. We have conducted a pilot survey of five QSOs, three observed with NIFS+AO and two observed with OSIRIS+AO at an average redshift of z = 2.2. We demonstrate that the combination of AO and IFSs provides the necessary spatial and spectral resolutions required to separate QSO emission from its host.more » We present our technique for generating a point-spread function (PSF) from the broad-line region of the QSO and performing PSF subtraction of the QSO emission to detect the host galaxy emission at a separation of ∼0.″2 (∼1.4 kpc). We detect Hα narrow-line emission for two sources, SDSS J1029+6510 (z{sub Hα} = 2.182) and SDSS J0925+0655 (z{sub Hα} = 2.197), that have evidence for both star formation and extended narrow-line emission. Assuming that the majority of narrow-line Hα emission is from star formation, we infer a star formation rate (SFR) for SDSS J1029+6510 of 78.4 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} originating from a compact region that is kinematically offset by 290–350 km s{sup −1}. For SDSS J0925+0655 we infer a SFR of 29 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} distributed over three clumps that are spatially offset by ∼7 kpc. The null detections on three of the QSOs are used to infer surface brightness limits and we find that at 1.4 kpc from the QSO the un-reddened star formation limit is ≲0.3 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} kpc{sup −2}. If we assume typical extinction values for z = 2 type-1 QSOs, the dereddened SFR for our null detections would be ≲0.6 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} kpc{sup −2}. These IFS observations indicate that while the central black hole is accreting mass at 10%–40% of the Eddington rate, if star formation is present in the host (1.4–20 kpc) it would have to occur diffusely with significant extinction and not in compact, clumpy regions.« less

Physical properties of Southern infrared dark clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasyunina, T.; Linz, H.; Henning, Th.; Stecklum, B.; Klose, S.; Nyman, L.-Å.

2009-05-01

Context: What are the mechanisms by which massive stars form? What are the initial conditions for these processes? It is commonly assumed that cold and dense Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) represent the birth-sites of massive stars. Therefore, these clouds have been receiving an increasing amount of attention, and their analysis offers the opportunity to tackle the afore mentioned questions. Aims: To enlarge the sample of well-characterised IRDCs in the southern hemisphere, where ALMA will play a major role in the near future, we have developed a program to study the gas and dust of southern infrared dark clouds. The present paper attempts to characterize the continuum properties of this sample of IRDCs. Methods: We cross-correlated 1.2 mm continuum data from SIMBA bolometer array mounted on SEST telescope with Spitzer/GLIMPSE images to establish the connection between emission sources at millimeter wavelengths and the IRDCs that we observe at 8 μm in absorption against the bright PAH background. Analysing the dust emission and extinction enables us to determine the masses and column densities, which are important quantities in characterizing the initial conditions of massive star formation. We also evaluated the limitations of the emission and extinction methods. Results: The morphology of the 1.2 mm continuum emission is in all cases in close agreement with the mid-infrared extinction. The total masses of the IRDCs were found to range from 150 to 1150 M_⊙ (emission data) and from 300 to 1750 M_⊙ (extinction data). We derived peak column densities of between 0.9 and 4.6 × 1022 cm-2 (emission data) and 2.1 and 5.4 × 1022 cm-2 (extinction data). We demonstrate that the extinction method is unreliable at very high extinction values (and column densities) beyond AV values of roughly 75 mag according to the Weingartner & Draine (2001) extinction relation RV = 5.5 model B (around 200 mag when following the common Mathis (1990, ApJ, 548, 296) extinction calibration). By taking the spatial resolution effects into account and restoring the column densities derived from the dust emission to a linear resolution of 0.01 pc, peak column densities of 3-19 × 1023 cm-2 are obtained, which are much higher than typical values for low-mass cores. Conclusions: Taking into account the spatial resolution effects, the derived column densities are beyond the column density threshold of 3.0 × 1023 cm-2 required by theoretical considerations for massive star formation. We conclude that the values of column densities derived for the selected IRDC sample imply that these objects are excellent candidates for objects in the earliest stages of massive star formation.

STELLARATOR INJECTOR

DOEpatents

Post, R.F.

1962-09-01

A method and means are described for injecting energetic neutral atoms or molecular ions into dense magnetically collimated plasma columns of stellarators and the like in such a manner that the atoms or ions are able to significantly penetrate the column before being ionized by collision with the plasma constituent particles. Penetration of the plasma column by the neutral atoms or molecular ions is facilitated by superposition of two closely spaced magnetic mirrors on the plasma confinement field. The mirrors are moved apart to magnetically sweep plasma from a region between the mirrors and establish a relatively low plasma density therein. By virture of the low density, neutral atoms or molecular ions injected into the region significantly penetrate the plasma column before being ionized. Thereafter, the mirrors are diminished to permit the injected material to admix with the plasma in the remainder of the column. (AEC)

Study of scattering cross section of a plasma column using Green's function volume integral equation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soltanmoradi, Elmira; Shokri, Babak

2017-05-01

In this article, the electromagnetic wave scattering from plasma columns with inhomogeneous electron density distribution is studied by the Green's function volume integral equation method. Due to the ready production of such plasmas in the laboratories and their practical application in various technological fields, this study tries to find the effects of plasma parameters such as the electron density, radius, and pressure on the scattering cross-section of a plasma column. Moreover, the incident wave frequency influence of the scattering pattern is demonstrated. Furthermore, the scattering cross-section of a plasma column with an inhomogeneous collision frequency profile is calculated and the effect of this inhomogeneity is discussed first in this article. These results are especially used to determine the appropriate conditions for radar cross-section reduction purposes. It is shown that the radar cross-section of a plasma column reduces more for a larger collision frequency, for a relatively lower plasma frequency, and also for a smaller radius. Furthermore, it is found that the effect of the electron density on the scattering cross-section is more obvious in comparison with the effect of other plasma parameters. Also, the plasma column with homogenous collision frequency can be used as a better shielding in contrast to its inhomogeneous counterpart.

Temporal and spatial distribution of metallic species in the upper atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Correira, John Thomas

2009-06-01

Every day the Earth is bombarded by approximately 100 tons of meteoric material. Much of this material is completely ablated on atmospheric entry, resulting in a layer of atomic metals in the upper atmosphere between 70 km - 150 km. These neutral atoms are ionized by solar radiation and charge exchange. Metal ions have a long lifetime against recombination loss, allowing them to be redistributed globally by electromagnetic forces, especially when lifted to altitudes >150 km. UV radiances from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) spectrometer are used to determine long-term dayside variations of the total vertical column density below 795 km of the meteoric metal species Mg and Mg + in the upper atmosphere. A retrieval algorithm developed to determine magnesium column densities was applied to all available data from the years 1996-2001. Long term results show middle latitude dayside Mg + peaks in vertical content during the summer, while neutral Mg demonstrates a much more subtle maximum in summer. Atmospheric metal concentrations do not correlate strongly solar activity. An analysis of spatial variations shows geospatial distributions are patchy, with local regions of increased column density. To study short term variations and the role of meteor showers a time dependent mass flux rate is calculated using published estimates of meteor stream mass densities and activity profiles. An average daily mass flux rate is also calculated and used as a baseline against which shower mass flux rates are compared. These theoretical mass flux rates are then compared with GOME derived metal column densities. There appears to be little correlation between modeled meteor shower mass flux rates and changes in the observed neutral magnesium and Mg + metal column densities.

Temperature as a third dimension in column-density mapping of dusty astrophysical structures associated with star formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marsh, K. A.; Whitworth, A. P.; Lomax, O.

2015-12-01

We present point process mapping (PPMAP), a Bayesian procedure that uses images of dust continuum emission at multiple wavelengths to produce resolution-enhanced image cubes of differential column density as a function of dust temperature and position. PPMAP is based on the generic `point process formalism, whereby the system of interest (in this case, a dusty astrophysical structure such as a filament or pre-stellar core) is represented by a collection of points in a suitably defined state space. It can be applied to a variety of observational data, such as Herschel images, provided only that the image intensity is delivered by optically thin dust in thermal equilibrium. PPMAP takes full account of the instrumental point-spread functions and does not require all images to be degraded to the same resolution. We present the results of testing using simulated data for a pre-stellar core and a fractal turbulent cloud, and demonstrate its performance with real data from the Herschel infrared Galactic Plane Survey (Hi-GAL). Specifically, we analyse observations of a large filamentary structure in the CMa OB1 giant molecular cloud. Histograms of differential column density indicate that the warm material (T ≳ 13 K) is distributed lognormally, consistent with turbulence, but the column densities of the cooler material are distributed as a high-density tail, consistent with the effects of self-gravity. The results illustrate the potential of PPMAP to aid in distinguishing between different physical components along the line of sight in star-forming clouds, and aid the interpretation of the associated Probability distribution functions (PDFs) of column density.

Coupled Leidenfrost states as a monodisperse granular clock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Rui; Yang, Mingcheng; Chen, Ke; Hou, Meiying; To, Kiwing

2016-08-01

Using an event-driven molecular dynamics simulation, we show that simple monodisperse granular beads confined in coupled columns may oscillate as a different type of granular clock. To trigger this oscillation, the system needs to be driven against gravity into a density-inverted state, with a high-density clustering phase supported from below by a gaslike low-density phase (Leidenfrost effect) in each column. Our analysis reveals that the density-inverted structure and the relaxation dynamics between the phases can amplify any small asymmetry between the columns, and lead to a giant oscillation. The oscillation occurs only for an intermediate range of the coupling strength, and the corresponding phase diagram can be universally described with a characteristic height of the density-inverted structure. A minimal two-phase model is proposed and a linear stability analysis shows that the triggering mechanism of the oscillation can be explained as a switchable two-parameter Andronov-Hopf bifurcation. Numerical solutions of the model also reproduce similar oscillatory dynamics to the simulation results.

Satellite Investigation of Atmospheric Metal Deposition During Meteor Showers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Correira, J.; Aikin, A. C.; Grebowsky, J. M.

2008-12-01

Using the nadir-viewing Global Ozone Measuring Experiment (GOME) UV/VIS spectrometer on the ERS-2 satellite, we investigate short term variations in the magnesium column densities and any connection to possible enhanced mass deposition during a meteor shower. We derive a time dependent mass flux rate due to meteor showers using published estimates of mass density and activity profiles of meteor showers. An average daily mass flux rate is also calculated and used as a baseline against which calculated shower mass flux rates are compared. These theoretical mass flux rates are then compared with GOME derived metal column densities from the years 1996 - 2001.There appears to be little correlation between theoretical mass flux rates and changes in the Mg and Mg+ metal column densities. A possible explanation for the lack of a shower related increase in metal concentrations may be differences in the mass regimes dominating the average background mass flux and shower mass flux.

Effects of Coulomb collisions on cyclotron maser and plasma wave growth in magnetic loops

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamilton, Russell J.; Petrosian, Vahe

1990-01-01

The evolution of nonthermal electrons accelerated in magnetic loops is determined by solving the kinetic equation, including magnetic field convergence and Coulomb collisions in order to determine the effects of these interactions on the induced cyclotron maser and plasma wave growth. It is found that the growth rates are larger and the possibility of cyclotron maser action is stronger for smaller loop column density, for larger magnetic field convergence, for a more isotropic injected electron pitch angle distribution, and for more impulsive acceleration. For modest values of the column density in the coronal portion of a flaring loop, the growth rates of instabilities are significantly reduced, and the reduction is much larger for the cyclotron modes than for the plasma wave modes. The rapid decrease in the growth rates with increasing loop column density suggests that, in flare loops when such phenomena occur, the densities are lower than commonly accepted.

Long-term study of longitudinal dependence in primary particle precipitation in the north Jovian aurora

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Livengood, T. A.; Strobel, D. F.; Moos, H. W.

1990-01-01

The wavelength-dependent absorption apparent in IUE spectra of the north Jovian aurora is analyzed to determine the column density of hydrocarbons above the altitude of the FUV auroral emission. Both the magnetotail and torus auroral zone models are considered in estimating zenith angles, with very similar results obtained for both models. It is found that the hydrocarbon column density above the FUV emission displays a consistent dependence on magnetic longitude, with the peak density occurring approximately coincident with the peak in the observed auroral intensity. Two distinct scenarios for the longitude dependence of the column density are discussed. In one, the Jovian upper atmosphere is longitudinally homogeneous, and the variation in optical depth is due to a variation in penetration, and thus energy, of the primary particles. In the other, the energy of the primaries is longitudinally homogeneous, and it is aeronomic properties which change, probably due to auroral heating.

The Zone of Avoidance as an X-ray absorber - the role of the galactic foreground modelling Swift XRT spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Racz, I. I.; Bagoly, Z.; Tóth, L. V.; Balázs, L. G.; Horvath, I.; Zahorecz, S.

2018-05-01

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most powerful explosive events in the Universe. The prompt gamma emission is followed by an X-ray afterglow that is also detected for over nine hundred GRBs by the Swift BAT and XRT detectors. The X-ray afterglow spectrum bears essential information about the burst, and the surrounding interstellar medium (ISM). Since the radiation travels through the line of sight intergalactic medium and the ISM in the Milky Way, the observed emission is influenced by extragalactic and galactic components. The column density of the Galactic foreground ranges several orders of magnitudes, due to both the large scale distribution of ISM and its small scale structures. We examined the effect of local HI column density on the penetrating X-ray emission, as the first step towards a precise modeling of the measured X-ray spectra. We fitted the X-ray spectra using the Xspec software, and checked how the shape of the initially power low spectrum changes with varying input Galactic HI column density. The total absorbing HI column is a sum of the intrinsic and Galactic component. We also investigated the model results for the intrinsic component varying the Galactic foreground. We found that such variations may alter the intrinsic hydrogen column density up to twenty-five percent. We will briefly discuss its consequences.

The Elixir System: Data Characterization and Calibration at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magnier, E. A.; Cuillandre, J.-C.

2004-05-01

The Elixir System at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope performs data characterization and calibration for all data from the wide-field mosaic imagers CFH12K and MegaPrime. The project has several related goals, including monitoring data quality, providing high-quality master detrend images, determining the photometric and astrometric calibrations, and automatic preprocessing of images for queued service observing (QSO). The Elixir system has been used for all data obtained with CFH12K since the QSO project began in 2001 January. In addition, it has been used to process archival data from the CFH12K and all MegaPrime observations beginning in 2002 December. The Elixir system has been extremely successful in providing well-characterized data to the end observers, who may otherwise be overwhelmed by data-processing concerns.

Optimizing the night time with dome vents and SNR-QSO at CFHT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devost, Daniel; Mahoney, Billy; Moutou, Claire; CFHT QSO Team, CFHT software Group

2017-06-01

Night time is a precious and costly commodity and it is important to get everything we can out of every second of every night of observing. In 2012 the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope started operating 12 new vent doors installed on the dome over the course of the previous two years. The project was highly successful and seeing measurements show that venting the dome greatly enhances image quality at the focal plane. In order to capitalize on the gains brought by the new vents, the observatory started exploring a new mode of observation called SNR-QSO. This mode consist of a new implementation inside our Queued Service Observation (QSO) system. Exposure times are adjusted for each frame depending on the weather conditions in order to reach a specific depth, Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) at a certain magnitude. The goal of this new mode is to capitalize on the exquisite seeing provided by Maunakea, complemented by the minimized dome turbulence, to use the least amount of time to reach the depth required by the science programs. Specific implementations were successfully tested on two different instruments, our wide field camera MegaCam and our high resolution spectrograph ESPaDOnS. I will present the methods used for each instrument to achieve SNR observing and the gains produced by these new observing modes in order to reach the scientific goals of accepted programs in a shorter amount of time.

Probing the end of reionization with the near zones of z ≳ 6 QSOs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keating, Laura C.; Haehnelt, Martin G.; Cantalupo, Sebastiano; Puchwein, Ewald

2015-11-01

QSO near zones are an important probe of the ionization state of the intergalactic medium (IGM) at z ˜ 6-7, at the end of reionization. We present here high-resolution cosmological 3D radiative transfer simulations of QSO environments for a wide range of host halo masses, 1010-12.5 M⊙. Our simulated near zones reproduce both the overall decrease of observed near-zone sizes at 6 < z < 7 and their scatter. The observable near-zone properties in our simulations depend only very weakly on the mass of the host halo. The size of the H II region expanding into the IGM is generally limited by (super-)Lyman Limit systems loosely associated with (low-mass) dark matter haloes. This leads to a strong dependence of near-zone size on direction and drives the large observed scatter. In the simulation centred on our most massive host halo, many sightlines show strong red damping wings even for initial volume averaged neutral hydrogen fractions as low as ˜10-3. For QSO lifetimes long enough to allow growth of the central supermassive black hole while optically bright, we can reproduce the observed near zone of ULAS J1120+0641 only with an IGM that is initially neutral. Our results suggest that larger samples of z > 7 QSOs will provide important constraints on the evolution of the neutral hydrogen fraction and thus on how late reionization ends.

Unveiling the Secrets of Metallicity and Massive Star Formation Using DLAs Along Gamma-Ray Bursts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cucchiara, A.; Fumagalli, M.; Rafelski, M.; Kocevski, D.; Prochaska, J. X.; Cooke, R. J.; Becker, G. D.

2015-01-01

We present the largest, publicly available, sample of Damped Lyman-alpha systems (DLAs) along Swift discovered Gamma-ray Bursts (GRB) line of sights in order to investigate the environmental properties of long GRB hosts in the z = 1.8 - 6 redshift range. Compared with the most recent quasar DLAs sample (QSO-DLA), our analysis shows that GRB-DLAs probe a more metal enriched environment at z approximately greater than 3, up to [X/H] approximately -0.5. In the z = 2 - 3 redshift range, despite the large number of lower limits, there are hints that the two populations may be more similar (only at 90% significance level) than at higher redshifts. Also, at high-z, the GRB-DLA average metallicity seems to decline at a shallower rate than the QSO-DLAs: GRB-DLA hosts may be polluted with metals at least as far as approximately 2 kpc from the GRB explosion site, probably due to previous star-formation episodes and/or supernovae explosions. This shallow metallicity trend, extended now up to z approximately 5, confirms previous results that GRB hosts are star-forming and have, on average, higher metallicity than the general QSO-DLA population. Finally, our host metallicity measurements are broadly consistent with the predictions derived from the hypothesis of two channels of GRB progenitors, one of which is mildly affected by a metallicity bias, although more data are needed to constrain the models at z approximately greater than 4.

Physical conditions in CaFe interstellar clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gnaciński, P.; Krogulec, M.

2008-01-01

Interstellar clouds that exhibit strong Ca I and Fe I lines are called CaFe clouds. Ionisation equilibrium equations were used to model the column densities of Ca II, Ca I, K I, Na I, Fe I and Ti II in CaFe clouds. We find that the chemical composition of CaFe clouds is solar and that there is no depletion into dust grains. CaFe clouds have high electron densities, n_e≈1 cm-3, that lead to high column densities of neutral Ca and Fe.

The dependence of gamma-ray burst X-ray column densities on the model for Galactic hydrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arcodia, R.; Campana, S.; Salvaterra, R.

2016-05-01

We study the X-ray absorption of a complete sample of 99 bright Swift gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). In recent years, a strong correlation has been found between the intrinsic X-ray absorbing column density (NH(z)) and the redshift. This absorption excess in high-z GRBs is now thought to be due to the overlooked contribution of the absorption along the intergalactic medium (IGM), by means of both intervening objects and the diffuse warm-hot intergalactic medium along the line of sight. In this work we neglect the absorption along the IGM, because our purpose is to study the eventual effect of a radical change in the Galactic absorption model on the NH(z) distribution. Therefore, we derive the intrinsic absorbing column densities using two different Galactic absorption models: the Leiden Argentine Bonn HI survey and the more recent model that includes molecular hydrogen. We find that if, on the one hand, the new Galactic model considerably affects the single column density values, on the other hand, there is no drastic change in the distribution as a whole. It becomes clear that the contribution of Galactic column densities alone, no matter how improved, is not sufficient to change the observed general trend and it has to be considered as a second order correction. The cosmological increase of NH(z) as a function of redshift persists and, to explain the observed distribution, it is necessary to include the contribution of both the diffuse intergalactic medium and the intervening systems along the line of sight of the GRBs.

Global distribution of the He+ column density observed by Extreme Ultra Violet Imager on the International Space Station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hozumi, Yuta; Saito, Akinori; Yoshikawa, Ichiro; Yamazaki, Atsushi; Murakami, Go; Yoshioka, Kazuo; Chen, Chia-Hung

2017-07-01

The global distribution of He+ in the topside ionosphere was investigated using data of the He+ resonant scattering emission at 30.4 nm obtained by the Extreme Ultra Violet Imager (EUVI) onboard the International Space Station. The optical observation by EUVI from the low-Earth orbit provides He+ column density data above the altitude of 400 km, presenting a unique opportunity to study the He+ distribution with a different perspective from that of past studies using data from in situ measurements. We analyzed data taken in 2013 and elucidated, for the first time, the seasonal, longitudinal, and latitudinal variations of the He+ column density in the dusk sector. It was found that the He+ column density in the winter hemisphere was about twice that in the summer hemisphere. In the December solstice season, the magnitude of this hemispheric asymmetry was large (small) in the longitudinal sector where the geomagnetic declination is eastward (westward). In the June solstice season, this relationship between the He+ distribution and the geomagnetic declination is reversed. In the equinox seasons, the He+ column densities in the two hemispheres are comparable at most longitudes. The seasonal and longitudinal dependence of the hemispheric asymmetry of the He+ distribution was attributed to the geomagnetic meridional neutral wind in the F region ionosphere. The neutral wind effect on the He+ distribution was examined with an empirical neutral wind model, and it was confirmed that the transport of ions in the topside ionosphere is predominantly affected by the F region neutral wind and the geomagnetic configuration.

Stochastic Accumulation by Cortical Columns May Explain the Scalar Property of Multistable Perception

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Robin; Braun, Jochen; Mattia, Maurizio

2014-08-01

The timing of certain mental events is thought to reflect random walks performed by underlying neural dynamics. One class of such events—stochastic reversals of multistable perceptions—exhibits a unique scalar property: even though timing densities vary widely, higher moments stay in particular proportions to the mean. We show that stochastic accumulation of activity in a finite number of idealized cortical columns—realizing a generalized Ehrenfest urn model—may explain these observations. Modeling stochastic reversals as the first-passage time of a threshold number of active columns, we obtain higher moments of the first-passage time density. We derive analytical expressions for noninteracting columns and generalize the results to interacting columns in simulations. The scalar property of multistable perception is reproduced by a dynamic regime with a fixed, low threshold, in which the activation of a few additional columns suffices for a reversal.

Numerical modeling of the elution peak profiles of retained solutes in supercritical fluid chromatography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaczmarski, Krzysztof; Guiochon, Georges A

2011-01-01

In supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), the significant expansion of the mobile phase along the column causes the formation of axial and radial gradients of temperature. Due to these gradients, the mobile phase density, its viscosity, its velocity, its diffusion coefficients, etc. are not constant throughout the column. This results in a nonuniform flow velocity distribution, itself causing a loss of column efficiency in certain cases, even at low flow rates, as they do in HPLC. At high flow rates, an important deformation of the elution profiles of the sample components may occur. The model previously used to account satisfactorily formore » the retention of an unsorbed solute in SFC is applied to the modeling of the elution peak profiles of retained compounds. The numerical solution of the combined heat and mass balance equations provides the temperature and the pressure profiles inside the column and values of the retention time and the band profiles of retained compounds that are in excellent agreement with independent experimental data for large value of mobile phase reduced density. At low reduced densities, the band profiles can strongly depend on the column axial distribution of porosity.« less

Gravitational lensing effects of vacuum strings - Exact solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gott, J. R., III

1985-01-01

Exact interior and exterior solutions to Einstein's field equations are derived for vacuum strings. The exterior solution for a uniform density vacuum string corresponds to a conical space while the interior solution is that of a spherical cap. For Mu equals 0-1/4 the external metric is ds-squared = -dt-squared + dr-squared + (1-4 Mu)-squared r-squared dphi-squared + dz-squared, where Mu is the mass per unit length in the string in Planck masses per Planck length. A maximum mass per unit length for a string is 6.73 x 10 to the 27th g/cm. It is shown that strings cause temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background and produce equal brightness double QSO images separated by up to several minutes of arc. Formulae for lensing probabilities, image splittings, and time delays are derived for strings in a realistic cosmological setting. String searches using ST, the VLA, and the COBE satellite are discussed.

CO Column Density and Extinction in the Chamaeleon II--III Dark-Cloud Complex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayakawa, Takahiro; Cambrésy, Laurent; Onishi, Toshikazu; Mizuno, Akira; Fukui, Yasuo

2001-12-01

We carried out 13CO (J = 1 -- 0) and C18O (J = 1 -- 0) observations of the Chamaeleon II--III dark-cloud complex with the NANTEN radio telescope. The column densities of both molecular isotopes were derived assuming LTE. The AV values were obtained by scaling the AV values that were derived using an adaptive-grid star-count method applied to the DENIS J-band data. We established the AV--CO isotope column-density relations in Cha II and III, and compared them with those in Cha I. The slopes of the AV--13CO relations for Cha II and III are steeper than that for Cha I. Those of the AV -- C18O relations are similar among the three clouds. The total column density ratio, N(13O) / N(C18O, in Cha I tends to be small compared with those in Cha II or Cha III; the ratios range from ~ 5 to ~ 25 at low extinction in Cha II and III, but at most ~ 10 in Cha I. We suggest that the increase of N(13CO) due to the 13CO formation process causes cloud-to-cloud variations in the AV -- N(13CO) correlation.

Ultra high pressure liquid chromatography. Column permeability and changes of the eluent properties.

PubMed

Gritti, Fabrice; Guiochon, Georges

2008-04-11

The behavior of four similar liquid chromatography columns (2.1mm i.d. x 30, 50, 100, and 150 mm, all packed with fine particles, average d(p) approximately 1.7 microm, of bridged ethylsiloxane/silica hybrid-C(18), named BEH-C(18)) was studied in wide ranges of temperature and pressure. The pressure and the temperature dependencies of the viscosity and the density of the eluent (pure acetonitrile) along the columns were also derived, using the column permeabilities and applying the Kozeny-Carman and the heat balance equations. The heat lost through the external surface area of the chromatographic column was directly derived from the wall temperature of the stainless steel tube measured with a precision of +/-0.2 degrees C in still air and +/-0.1 degrees C in the oven compartment. The variations of the density and viscosity of pure acetonitrile as a function of the temperature and pressure was derived from empirical correlations based on precise experimental data acquired between 298 and 373 K and at pressures up to 1.5 kbar. The measurements were made with the Acquity UPLC chromatograph that can deliver a maximum flow rate of 2 mL/min and apply a maximum column inlet pressure of 1038 bar. The average Kozeny-Carman permeability constant of the columns was 144+/-3.5%. The temperature hence the viscosity and the density profiles of the eluent along the column deviate significantly from linear behavior under high-pressure gradients. For a 1000 bar pressure drop, we measured DeltaT=25-30 K, (Deltaeta/eta) approximately 100%, and (Deltarho/rho) approximately 10%. These results show that the radial temperature profiles are never fully developed within 1% for any of the columns, even under still-air conditions. This represents a practical advantage regarding the apparent column efficiency at high flow rates, since the impact of the differential analyte velocity between the column center and the column wall is not maximum. The interpretation of the peak profiles recorded in UPLC is discussed.

Relationship between the column density distribution and evolutionary class of molecular clouds as viewed by ATLASGAL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abreu-Vicente, J.; Kainulainen, J.; Stutz, A.; Henning, Th.; Beuther, H.

2015-09-01

We present the first study of the relationship between the column density distribution of molecular clouds within nearby Galactic spiral arms and their evolutionary status as measured from their stellar content. We analyze a sample of 195 molecular clouds located at distances below 5.5 kpc, identified from the ATLASGAL 870 μm data. We define three evolutionary classes within this sample: starless clumps, star-forming clouds with associated young stellar objects, and clouds associated with H ii regions. We find that the N(H2) probability density functions (N-PDFs) of these three classes of objects are clearly different: the N-PDFs of starless clumps are narrowest and close to log-normal in shape, while star-forming clouds and H ii regions exhibit a power-law shape over a wide range of column densities and log-normal-like components only at low column densities. We use the N-PDFs to estimate the evolutionary time-scales of the three classes of objects based on a simple analytic model from literature. Finally, we show that the integral of the N-PDFs, the dense gas mass fraction, depends on the total mass of the regions as measured by ATLASGAL: more massive clouds contain greater relative amounts of dense gas across all evolutionary classes. Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

A search for interstellar pyrrole - Evidence that rings are less abundant than chains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Myers, P. C.; Thaddeus, P.; Linke, R. A.

1980-01-01

Searches for three transitions of pyrrole (C4H5N) give maximum column density = 3-10 x 10 to the 13th per sq cm in Sgr B2. This limit is more than 10 times lower than previous ring molecule limits, and is slightly lower than column densities of known interstellar molecules with from four to six heavy atoms.

Helical patterns of magnetization and magnetic charge density in iron whiskers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Templeton, Terry L.; Hanham, Scott D.; Arrott, Anthony S.

2018-05-01

Studies with the (1 1 1) axis along the long axis of an iron whisker, 40 years ago, showed two phenomena that have remained unexplained: 1) In low fields, there are six peaks in the ac susceptibility, separated by 0.2 mT; 2) Bitter patterns showed striped domain patterns. Multipole columns of magnetic charge density distort to form helical patterns of the magnetization, accounting for the peaks in the susceptibility from the propagation of edge solitons along the intersections of the six sides of a (1 1 1) whisker. The stripes follow the helices. We report micromagnetic simulations in cylinders with various geometries for the cross-sections from rectangular, to hexagonal, to circular, with wide ranges of sizes and lengths, and different anisotropies, including (0 0 1) whiskers and the hypothetical case of no anisotropy. The helical patterns have been there in previous studies, but overlooked. The surface swirls and body helices are connected, but have their own individual behaviors. The magnetization patterns are more easily understood when viewed observing the scalar divergences of the magnetization as isosurfaces of magnetic charge density. The plus and minus charge densities form columns that interact with unlike charges attracting, but not annihilating as they are paid for by a decrease in exchange energy. Just as they start to form the helix, the columns are multipoles. If one could stretch the columns, the self-energy of the charges in a column would be diminished while making the attractive interactions of the unlike charges larger. The columns elongate by becoming helical. The visualization of 3-D magnetic charge distributions aids in the understanding of magnetization in soft magnetic materials.

XMM-Newton reveals a Seyfert-like X-ray spectrum in the z = 3.6 QSO B1422+231

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dadina, M.; Vignali, C.; Cappi, M.; Lanzuisi, G.; Ponti, G.; De Marco, B.; Chartas, G.; Giustini, M.

2016-08-01

Context. Matter flows from the central regions of quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) during their active phases are probably responsible for the properties of the super-massive black holes and those of the bulges of host galaxies. To understand how this mechanism works, we need to characterize the geometry and the physical state of the accreting matter at cosmological redshifts, when QSO activity is at its peak. Aims: We aim to use X-ray data to probe the matter inflow at the very center of a QSO at z = 3.62. While complex absorption, the iron K emission line, reflection hump, and high-energy cutoff are known to be almost ubiquitous in nearby active galactic nuclei (AGN), only a few distant objects are known to exhibit some of them. Methods: The few high-quality spectra of distant QSO were collected by adding sparse pointings of single objects obtained during X-ray monitoring campaigns. This could have introduced spurious spectral features due to source variability and/or microlensing. To avoid such problems, we decided to collect a single-epoch and high-quality X-ray spectrum of a distant AGN. We thus picked up the z = 3.62 QSO B1422+231, whose flux, enhanced by gravitationally lensing, is proven to be among the brightest lensed QSOs in X-rays (F2-10 keV ~ 10-12 erg s-1 cm-2). Results: The X-ray spectrum of B1422+231 is found to be very similar to the one of a typical nearby Seyfert galaxy. Neutral absorption is clearly detected (NH ~ 5 × 1021 cm-2 at the redshift of the source), while a strong absorption edge is measured at E ~ 7.5 keV with an optical depth of τ ~ 0.14. We also find hints of the FeKα line in emission at E ~ 6.4 keV line (EW ≲ 70 eV), and a hump is detected in the E ~ 15 - 20 keV energy band (rest frame) in excess of what is predicted by a simple absorbed power-law. Conclusions: The spectrum can best be modeled with two rather complex models; one assumes ionized and partially covering matter along the line of sight, the other is characterized by a reflection component. We argue that reflection seems more plausible here on a statistical basis. In this scenario, the primary emission of B1422+231 is most probably dominated by the thermal Comptonization of UV seed photons in a corona with kT ~ 40 keV. We also detected a reflection component with relative direct-to-reflect normalization r ~ 1. These findings confirm that gravitational lensing is suitable for obtaining good-quality X-ray spectral information of QSOs at high-z, moreover, they support the idea that the same general picture characterizing AGN in the nearby Universe is also valid at high redshift.

Two new hot white dwarfs in a region of exceptionally low hi density

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barstow, M. A.; Wesemael, F.; Holberg, J. B.; Werner, K.; Buckley, D. A. H.; Stobie, R. S.; Fontaine, G.; Rosen, S. R.; Demers, S.; Lamontagne, R.

1993-01-01

We report the discovery of two hot white dwarfs which have the lowest line-of-sight neutral hydrogen column densities yet measured. The stars were found independently by the ROSAT EUV, Montreal-Cambridge-Tololo, and Edinburgh-Cape surveys. Follow-up observations made using the Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer reveal strong continua shortward of the 912A Lyman limit from which we deduce that the neutral hydrogen column densities are 1.3 x 10(exp 17) and 2.0 x 10(exp 17) atoms/sq cm.

Is High Primordial Deuterium Consistent with Galactic Evolution?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tosi, Monica; Steigman, Gary; Matteucci, Francesca; Chiappini, Cristina

1998-05-01

Galactic destruction of primordial deuterium is inevitably linked through star formation to the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. The relatively high present gas content and low metallicity suggest only modest D destruction. In concert with deuterium abundances derived from solar system and/or interstellar observations, this suggests a primordial deuterium abundance in possible conflict with data from some high-redshift, low-metallicity QSO absorbers. We have explored a variety of chemical evolution models including infall of processed material and early, supernovae-driven winds with the aim of identifying models with large D destruction that are consistent with the observations of stellar-produced heavy elements. When such models are confronted with data, we reconfirm that only modest destruction of deuterium (less than a factor of 3) is permitted. When combined with solar system and interstellar data, these results favor the low deuterium abundances derived for the QSO absorbers by Tytler et al.

Evolutional schemes for objects with active nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Komberg, B. V.

1979-01-01

The observational properties of quasistellar objects (QSO) reveal that they are extremely violent nuclei of distant galaxies, but the evolutionary stage of these galaxies is still undetermined. Various published attempts to classify QSO under different criteria - including the one based on the morphological type of the surrounding galaxy E- or S- are analyzed. There are evidences that radioactive quasars reside in E-, while radio-quiet quasars reside in both E- and S- systems. The latter may be evolutionary connected to Seyfert-like objects. A correlation between the nuclei activity level in systems of different morphological type and the relative amount of gas in them is noted. From the point of view of activity level and the duration of active stage of nuclei it is concluded that an interaction of galaxies with the intergalactic medium is of particular importance and must be most conspicuous in spheriodal systems of central regions of rich clusters, in tight groups and binary galaxies.

IUE and ROSAT monitoring of the bright QSO H1821+643

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halpern, Jules; Kolman, Michiel; Shrader, Chris; Filippenko, Alexei

1991-01-01

The analysis is presented of IUE observations of the bright QSO H1821+643, obtained during the ROSAT All Sky Survey (the RIASS program). The objectives were: (1) to establish whether the UV and soft X ray radiation have the same physical origin; and (2) to determine if this physical origin is an accretion disk. Supporting ground based spectrophotometry was also obtained. The analysis shows that the shape and flux level of the UV continuum did not vary among the seven IUE observation spanning one month, to an upper limit of about 8 percent. So it is of great interest to determine whether the soft X ray flux varied during this period. Since X ray variability in AGNs is often more rapid and of higher amplitude than in the UV, detection of X ray variability in the ROSAT data could severely challenge the accretion disk model for the soft X ray excess.

Accurate photometric light curves of the lensed components of Q2237+0305 derived with an optimal image subtraction technique: Evidence for microlensing in image A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moreau, O.; Libbrecht, C.; Lee, D.-W.; Surdej, J.

2005-06-01

Using an optimal image subtraction technique, we have derived the V and R light curves of the four lensed QSO components of Q2237+0305 from the monitoring CCD frames obtained by the GLITP collaboration with the 2.6 m NOT telescope in 1999/2000 (Alcalde et al. 2002). We give here a detailed account of the data reduction and analysis and of the error estimates. In agreement with Woźniak et al. (2000a,b), the good derived photometric accuracy of the GLITP data allows to discuss the possible interpretation of the light curve of component A as due to a microlensing event taking place in the deflecting galaxy. This interpretation is strengthened by the colour dependence of the early rise of the light curve of component A, as it probably corresponds to a caustics crossing by the QSO source.

Setting limits on q0 from gravitational lensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gott, J. Richard, III; Park, Myeong-Gu; Lee, Hyung Mok

1989-01-01

Gravitational lensing by galaxies in a wide variety of cosmological models is considered. For closed models, the lensing depends on the parameter beta(crit). If beta(crit) is greater than zero, a normal lensing case can be obtained with two bright images separated by an angle twice beta(crit) and a third, arbitrarily dim image between them coincident with the position of the lensing galaxy nucleus. As the QSO approaches the antipodal redshift, which can occur in models with large values of the cosmological constant, the cross sections for lensing blow up. An overfocused case where beta(crit) is less than zero can be obtained for a QSO beyond the antipodal redshift. In this case, when a lensing event occurs, only one arbitrarily dim image coincident with the position of the lensing galaxy nucleus is seen. If galaxy rotation curves are always flat or slowly rising, the overfocused case always produces one image.

Principles of Queued Service Observing at CFHT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manset, Nadine; Burdullis, T.; Devost, D.

2011-03-01

CFHT started to use Queued Service Observing in 2001, and is now operating in that mode over 95% of the time. Ten years later, the observations are now carried out by Remote Observers who are not present at the telescope (see the companion presentation "Remote Queued Service Observing at CFHT"). The next phase at CFHT will likley involve assisted or autonomous service observing (see the presentation "Artificial Intelligence in Autonomous Telescopes"), which would not be possible without first having a Queued observations system already in place. The advantages and disadvantages of QSO at CFHT will be reviewed. The principles of QSO at CFHT, which allow CFHT to complete 90-100% of the top 30-40% programs and often up to 80% of other accepted programs, will be presented, along with the strategic use of overfill programs, the method of agency balance, and the suite of planning, scheduling, analysis and data quality assessment tools available to Queue Coordinators and Remote Observers.

Observational discrimination between modes of shock propagation in interstellar clouds: Predictions of CH+ and SH+ column densities in diffuse clouds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flower, D. R.; Desforets, G. P.; Roueff, E.; Hartquist, T. W.

1986-01-01

Considerable effort in recent years has been devoted to the study of shocks in the diffuse interstellar medium. This work has been motivated partly by the observations of rotationally excited states of H2, and partly by the realization that species such as CH(+), OH and H2O might be formed preferentially in hot, post-shock gas. The problem of CH(+) and the difficulties encountered when trying to explain the high column densities, observed along lines of sight to certain hot stars, have been reviewed earlier. The importance of a transverse magnetic field on the structure of an interstellar shock was also demonstrated earlier. Transverse magnetic fields above a critical strength give rise to an acceleration zone or precursor, in which the parameters on the flow vary continuously. Chemical reactions, which change the degree of ionization of the gas, also modify the structure of the shock considerably. Recent work has shown that large column densities of CH(+) can be produced in magnetohydrodynamic shock models. Shock speeds U sub s approx. = 10 km/s and initial magnetic field strengths of a few micro G are sufficient to produce ion-neutral drift velocities which can drive the endothermic C(+)(H2,H)CH(+) reaction. It was also shown that single-fluid hydrodynamic models do not generate sufficiently large column densities of CH(+) unless unacceptably high shock velocities (u sub s approx. 20 km/s) are assumed in the models. Thus, the observed column densities of CH(+) provide a constraint on the mode of shock propagation in diffuse clouds. More precisely, they determine a lower limit to the ion-neutral drift velocity.

40 CFR 98.398 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING Suppliers of Petroleum Products § 98.398 Definitions. All terms used in this subpart... MM-1 Table MM-1 to Subpart MM of Part 98—Default Factors for Petroleum Products and Natural Gas Liquids 1 2 Products Column A: density(metric tons/bbl) Column B:carbon share (% of mass) Column C...

Optical/Near-infrared Selection of Red Quasi-stellar Objects: Evidence for Steep Extinction Curves toward Galactic Centers?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fynbo, J. P. U.; Krogager, J.-K.; Venemans, B.; Noterdaeme, P.; Vestergaard, M.; Møller, P.; Ledoux, C.; Geier, S.

2013-01-01

We present the results of a search for red QSOs using a selection based on optical imaging from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and near-infrared imaging from UKIDSS. Our main goal with the selection is to search for QSOs reddened by foreground dusty absorber galaxies. For a sample of 58 candidates (including 20 objects fulfilling our selection criteria that already have spectra in the SDSS), 46 (79%) are confirmed to be QSOs. The QSOs are predominantly dust-reddened except for a handful at redshifts z >~ 3.5. However, the dust is most likely located in the QSO host galaxies (and for two, the reddening is primarily caused by Galactic dust) rather than in the intervening absorbers. More than half of the QSOs show evidence of associated absorption (BAL absorption). Four (7%) of the candidates turned out to be late-type stars, and another four (7%) are compact galaxies. We could not identify the remaining four objects. In terms of their optical spectra, these QSOs are similar to the QSOs selected in the FIRST-2MASS Red Quasar Survey except they are on average fainter, more distant, and only two are detected in the FIRST survey. As per the usual procedure, we estimate the amount of extinction using the SDSS QSO template reddened by Small-Magellanic-Cloud-(SMC) like dust. It is possible to get a good match to the observed (rest-frame ultraviolet) spectra, but it is not possible to match the observed near-IR photometry from UKIDSS for nearly all the reddened QSOs. The most likely reasons are that the SDSS QSO template is too red at optical wavelengths due to contaminating host galaxy light and because the assumed SMC extinction curve is too shallow. Three of the compact galaxies display old stellar populations with ages of several Gyr and masses of about 1010 M ⊙ (based on spectral energy distribution modeling). The inferred stellar densities in these galaxies exceed 1010 M ⊙ kpc-2, which is among the highest measured for early-type galaxies. Our survey has demonstrated that selection of QSOs based on near-IR photometry is an efficient way to select QSOs, including reddened QSOs, with only small contamination from late-type stars and compact galaxies. This will be useful with ongoing and future wide-field near-IR surveys such as the VISTA and EUCLID surveys. Based on observations collected at the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile, under program 088.A-0098, and on observations made with the Nordic Optical Telescope, jointly operated on the island of La Palma by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, in the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.

The Far-Infrared Spectrum of Arp 220

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gonzalez-Alfonso, Eduardo; Smith, Howard A.; Fischer, Jacqueline; Cernicharo, Jose

2004-01-01

ISO/LWS grating observations of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220 shows absorption in molecular lines of OH, H 2 0 , CH, NH, and "3, well as in the [0 I] 63 pm line and emission in the [C 111 158 pm line. We have modeled the continuum and the emission/absorption of all observed features by means of a non-local radiative transfer code. The continuum from 25 to 1300 pm is modeled AS A WARM (106 K) NUCLEAR REGION THAT IS OPTICALLY THICK IN THE FAR-INFRARED, attenuated by an extended region (size 2") that is heated mainly through absorption of nuclear infrared radiation. The molecular absorption in the nuclear region is characterized by high excitation due to the high infrared radiation density. The OH column densities are high toward the nucleus and the extended region (about 2 x 10 sup 17 cm sup-2). The H2O column density is also high toward the nucleus (2 - 10 x 1017 cm-2) and lower in the extended region. The column densities in a halo that accounts for the absorption by the lowest lying levels are similar to what are found in the diffuse clouds toward the star forming regions in the Sgr B2 molecular cloud complex near the Galactic Center. Most notable are the high column densities found for NH and NH3 toward the nucleus, with values of about 1.5 x 10supl6 cmsup-2 and about 3 x 10supl6 cmsup-2, respectively, whereas the NH2 column density is lower than about 2 x 10sup15 cmsup-2. A combination of PDRs in the extended region and hot cores with enhanced H20 photodissociation and a possible shock contribution in the nuclei may explain the relative column densities of OH and H20, whereas the nitrogen chemistry may be strongly affected by cosmic ray ionization. The [C II] 158 pm line is well reproduced by our models and its "deficit" relative to the CII/FIR ratio in normal and starburst galaxies is suggested to be mainly a consequence of the dominant non-PDR component of far- infrared radiation, ALTHOUGH OUR MODELS ALONE CANNOT RULE OUT EXTINCTION EFFECTS IN THE NUCLEI.

The Far-Infrared Spectrum of Arp 220

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gonzalez-Alfonso, Eduardo; Smith, Howard A.; Fischer, Jacqueline; Cernicharo, Jose

2005-01-01

ISO/LWS grating observations of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220 shows absorption in molecular lines of OH, H(sub 2)O, CH, NH, and NH(sub 3), as well as in the [O I] 63 micron line and emission in the [C II] 158 micron line. We have modeled the continuum and the emission/absorption of all observed features by means of a non-local radiative transfer code. The continuum from 25 to 1300 microns is modeled as a warm (106 K) nuclear region that is optically thick in the far-infrared, attenuated by an extended region (size 2") that is heated mainly through absorption of nuclear infrared radiation. The molecular absorption in the nuclear region is characterized by high excitation due to the high infrared radiation density. The OH column densities are high toward the nucleus (2 - 6 x 10(exp 17) cm(exp -2)) and the extended region (approximately 2 x 10(exp 17) cm(exp -2)). The H(sub 2)O column density is also high toward the nucleus (2 - 10 x 10(exp 17) cm(exp -2)) and lower in the extended region. The column densities in a halo that accounts for the absorption by the lowest lying levels are similar to what are found in the diffuse clouds toward the star forming regions in the Sgr B2 molecular cloud complex near the Galactic Center. Most notable are the high column densities found for NH and NH(sub 3) toward the nucleus, with values of approximately 1.5 x 10(exp 16) cm(exp -2) and approximately 3 x 10(exp 16) cm(exp -2), respectively, whereas the NH(sub 2) column density is lower than approximately 2 x 10(exp 15) cm(exp -2). A combination of PDRs in the extended region and hot cores with enhanced H(sub 2)O photodissociation and a possible shock contribution in the nuclei may explain the relative column densities of OH and H(sub 2)O, whereas the nitrogen chemistry may be strongly affected by cosmic ray ionization. The [C II] 158 micron line is well reproduced by our models and its deficit relative to the CII/FIR ratio in normal and starburst galaxies is suggested to be mainly a consequence of the dominant non-PDR component of far-infrared radiation, although our models alone cannot rule out extinction effects in the nuclei.

Metal concentrations in the upper atmosphere during meteor showers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Correira, J.; Aikin, A. C.; Grebowsky, J. M.; Burrows, J. P.

2010-02-01

Using the nadir-viewing Global Ozone Measuring Experiment (GOME) UV/VIS spectrometer on the ERS-2 satellite, we investigate short term variations in the vertical magnesium column densities in the atmosphere and any connection to possible enhanced mass deposition during a meteor shower. Time-dependent mass influx rates are derived for all the major meteor showers using published estimates of mass density and temporal profiles of meteor showers. An average daily sporadic background mass flux rate is also calculated and used as a baseline against which calculated shower mass flux rates are compared. These theoretical mass flux rates are then compared with GOME derived metal vertical column densities of Mg and Mg+ from the years 1996-2001. There is no correlation between theoretical mass flux rates and changes in the Mg and Mg+ metal column densities. A possible explanation for the lack of a shower related increase in metal concentrations may be differences in the mass regimes dominating the average background mass flux and shower mass flux.

Metal concentrations in the upper atmosphere during meteor showers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Correira, J.; Aikin, A. C.; Grebowsky, J. M.; Burrows, J. P.

2009-09-01

Using the nadir-viewing Global Ozone Measuring Experiment (GOME) UV/VIS spectrometer on the ERS-2 satellite, we investigate short term variations in the vertical magnesium column densities in the atmosphere and any connection to possible enhanced mass deposition during a meteor shower. Time-dependent mass influx rates are derived for all the major meteor showers using published estimates of mass density and temporal profiles of meteor showers. An average daily sporadic background mass flux rate is also calculated and used as a baseline against which calculated shower mass flux rates are compared. These theoretical mass flux rates are then compared with GOME derived metal vertical column densities of Mg and Mg+ from the years 1996-2001. There is no correlation between theoretical mass flux rates and changes in the Mg and Mg+ metal column densities. A possible explanation for the lack of a shower related increase in metal concentrations may be differences in the mass regimes dominating the average background mass flux and shower mass flux.

Remeasurement of the H I Gunn-Peterson Effect toward QSO PKS 1937-101 with Keck Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Yihu; Fan, Xiaoming; Tytler, David; Crotts, Arlin P. S.

1998-04-01

We present the first measurement of the H I Gunn-Peterson effect using the Keck 10 m telescope, observing the high-redshift QSO PKS 1937-101 (z = 3.787). The high-resolution echelle (HIRES) spectra, with FWHM ~15 km s-1 and a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) ~50 per spectral resolution element, allows us to resolve many weak lines down to NH I = 1012 cm-2, thus reducing the line-blanketing problem compared with previous data. Based on intensity-distribution analysis, we find that a maximum likelihood best fit yields a Gunn-Peterson type of opacity τGP = 0.113 +/- 0.020 in addition to a power-law Lyα absorption-line population with β of 1.7 down to NH I = 1012 cm-2. There remains systematic uncertainty in this result because of problems extrapolating the spectral continuum from the red side of the Lyα emission line. This is consistent with the previous study of the same QSO in low S/N data using weighted intensity function analysis (Fang & Crotts 1995). It indicates that this previous method succeeds in measuring the Lyα forest continuum level at low S/N, which is essential in extending the technique to possible fainter QSOs with minimum emission-line contamination for reliable continuum extrapolation. We further discuss problems of severe line blanketing, even in Keck spectra for QSOs at z >= 4.5, and show the effectiveness of the weighted intensity function method in measuring continuum levels in extremely crowded Lyα absorption spectra for redshifts as high as z > 5.

Ratios of molecular hydrogen line intensities in shocked gas - Evidence for cooling zones

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brand, P. W. J. L.; Moorhouse, A.; Bird, M.; Burton, M. G.; Geballe, T. R.

1988-01-01

Column densities of molecular hydrogen have been calculated from 19 infrared vibration-rotation and pure rotational line intensities measured at peak 1 of the Orion molecular outflow. The run of column density with energy level is similar to a simple coolng zone model of the line-emitting region, but is not well fitted by predictions of C-shock models current in the literature.

Non-detection of HC11N towards TMC-1: constraining the chemistry of large carbon-chain molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loomis, Ryan A.; Shingledecker, Christopher N.; Langston, Glen; McGuire, Brett A.; Dollhopf, Niklaus M.; Burkhardt, Andrew M.; Corby, Joanna; Booth, Shawn T.; Carroll, P. Brandon; Turner, Barry; Remijan, Anthony J.

2016-12-01

Bell et al. reported the first detection of the cyanopolyyne HC11N towards the cold dark cloud TMC-1; no subsequent detections have been reported towards any source. Additional observations of cyanopolyynes and other carbon-chain molecules towards TMC-1 have shown a log-linear trend between molecule size and column density, and in an effort to further explore the underlying chemical processes driving this trend, we have analysed Green Bank Telescope observations of HC9N and HC11N towards TMC-1. Although we find an HC9N column density consistent with previous values, HC11N is not detected and we derive an upper limit column density significantly below that reported in Bell et al. Using a state-of-the-art chemical model, we have investigated possible explanations of non-linearity in the column density trend. Despite updating the chemical model to better account for ion-dipole interactions, we are not able to explain the non-detection of HC11N, and we interpret this as evidence of previously unknown carbon-chain chemistry. We propose that cyclization reactions may be responsible for the depleted HC11N abundance, and that products of these cyclization reactions should be investigated as candidate interstellar molecules.

Cathode-constriction and column-constriction in high current vacuum arcs subjected to an axial magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zaiqin; Ma, Hui; Liu, Zhiyuan; Geng, Yingsan; Wang, Jianhua

2018-04-01

The influence of the applied axial magnetic field on the current density distribution in the arc column and electrodes is intensively studied. However, the previous results only provide a qualitative explanation, which cannot quantitatively explain a recent experimental data on anode current density. The objective of this paper is to quantitatively determine the current constriction subjected to an axial magnetic field in high-current vacuum arcs according to the recent experimental data. A magnetohydrodynamic model is adopted to describe the high current vacuum arcs. The vacuum arc is in a diffuse arc mode with an arc current ranged from 6 kArms to 14 kArms and an axial magnetic field ranged from 20 mT to 110 mT. By a comparison of the recent experimental work of current density distribution on the anode, the modelling results show that there are two types of current constriction. On one hand, the current on the cathode shows a constriction, and this constriction is termed as the cathode-constriction. On the other hand, the current constricts in the arc column region, and this constriction is termed as the column-constriction. The cathode boundary is of vital importance in a quantitative model. An improved cathode constriction boundary is proposed. Under the improved boundary, the simulation results are in good agreement with the recent experimental data on the anode current density distribution. It is demonstrated that the current density distribution at the anode is sensitive to that at the cathode, so that measurements of the anode current density can be used, in combination with the vacuum arc model, to infer the cathode current density distribution.

Low density of neutral hydrogen and helium in the local interstellar medium: Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer photometry of the Lyman continuum of the hot white dwarfs MCT 0501-2858, MCT 0455-2812, HZ 43, and GD 153

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vennes, Stephane; Dupuis, Jean; Bowyer, Stuart; Fontaine, Gilles; Wiercigroch, Alexandria; Jelinsky, Patrick; Wesemael, Francois; Malina, Roger

1994-01-01

The first comprehensive sky survey of the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral range performed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) has uncovered a handful of very bright sources at wavelengths longer than the He I 504 A photoionization edge. Among these objects are four white dwarfs with exceptionally low interstellar medium (ISM) column densities along the line of sight. Analysis of EUV photometry of the He-rich DO white dwarf MCT 0501-2858 and the H-rich DA white dwarf MCT 0455-2812 along one line of sight and of the DA white dwarfs HZ 43 and GD 153 near the north Galactic pole indicates that the overall minimum column density of the neutral material centered on the Sun is N(H I) = 0.5-1.0 x 10(exp 18)/sq cm. In the case of MCT 0501-2858, EUV photometric measurements provide a clear constraint to the effective temperature (60,000-70,000 K). Given these neutral hydrogen columns, the actual contribution to the density of neutral species from the immediate solar environment (the 'local fluff') would only cover a distance of approximately equals 2-3 pc (assuming an average density n(H I) = 0.1/cu cm) leaving these lines of sight almost entirely within the hot phase of the ISM. A preliminary examination of the complete EUVE long-wavelength survey indicates that these lines of sight are exceptional and set a minimum column density in the solar environment.

The puzzling spectrum of HD 94509. Sounding out the extremes of Be shell star spectral morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowley, C. R.; Przybilla, N.; Hubrig, S.

2015-06-01

Context. The spectral features of HD 94509 are highly unusual, adding an extreme to the zoo of Be and shell stars. The shell dominates the spectrum, showing lines typical for spectral types mid-A to early-F, while the presence of a late/mid B-type central star is indicated by photospheric hydrogen line wings and helium lines. Numerous metallic absorption lines have broad wings but taper to narrow cores. They cannot be fit by Voigt profiles. Aims: We describe and illustrate unusual spectral features of this star, and make rough calculations to estimate physical conditions and abundances in the shell. Furthermore, the central star is characterized. Methods: We assume mean conditions for the shell. An electron density estimate is made from the Inglis-Teller formula. Excitation temperatures and column densities for Fe i and Fe ii are derived from curves of growth. The neutral H column density is estimated from high Paschen members. The column densities are compared with calculations made with the photoionization code Cloudy. Atmospheric parameters of the central star are constrained employing non-LTE spectrum synthesis. Results: Overall chemical abundances are close to solar. Column densities of the dominant ions of several elements, as well as excitation temperatures and the mean electron density are well accounted for by a simple model. Several features, including the degree of ionization, are less well described. Conclusions: HD 94509 is a Be star with a stable shell, close to the terminal-age main sequence. The dynamical state of the shell and the unusually shaped, but symmetric line profiles, require a separate study.

Mini-columns for Conducting Breakthrough Experiments. Design and Construction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dittrich, Timothy M.; Reimus, Paul William; Ware, Stuart Douglas

Experiments with moderately and strongly sorbing radionuclides (i.e., U, Cs, Am) have shown that sorption between experimental solutions and traditional column materials must be accounted for to accurately determine stationary phase or porous media sorption properties (i.e., sorption site density, sorption site reaction rate coefficients, and partition coefficients or K d values). This report details the materials and construction of mini-columns for use in breakthrough columns to allow for accurate measurement and modeling of sorption parameters. Material selection, construction techniques, wet packing of columns, tubing connections, and lessons learned are addressed.

Column densities resulting from shuttle sublimator/evaporator operation. [optical density of nozzle flow containing water vapor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naumann, R. J.

1973-01-01

The proposed disposal of H2O from the shuttle fuel cell operation by ejecting it in vapor form through a supersonic nozzle at the rate of 100 lb/day has been investigated from the point of view of the possible interference to astronomical experiments. If the nozzle is located at the tail and directed along the shuttle longitudinal axis, the resulting column density will be less than 10 to th 12th power molecules/sq cm at viewing angles larger than 48 deg above the longitudinal axis. The molecules in the trail will diffuse rapidly. The column density contribution from molecules expelled on the previous orbit is 1.3 x 10 to the 8th power molecules/sq cm. This contribution diminishes by the inverse square root of the number of orbits since the molecules were expelled. The molecular backscatter from atmospheric molecules is also calculated. If the plume is directed into the flight path, the column density along a perpendicular is found to be 1.5 x 10 to the 11th power molecules/sq cm. The return flux is estimated to be of the order of 10 to the 12th power molecules/sq cm/sec at the stagnation point. With reasonable care in design of experiments to protect them from the backscatter flux of water molecules, the expulsion of 100 lb/day does not appear to create an insurmountable difficulty for the shuttle experiments.

Protein aggregation under high concentration/density state during chromatographic and ultrafiltration processes.

PubMed

Arakawa, Tsutomu; Ejima, Daisuke; Akuta, Teruo

2017-02-01

Local transient high protein concentration or high density condition can occur during processing of protein solutions. Typical examples are saturated binding of proteins during column chromatography and high protein concentration on the semi-permeable membrane during ultrafiltration. Both column chromatography and ultrafiltration are fundamental technologies, specially for production of pharmaceutical proteins. We summarize here our experiences related to such high concentration conditions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

VOLATILE-RICH CIRCUMSTELLAR GAS IN THE UNUSUAL 49 CETI DEBRIS DISK

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roberge, Aki; Grady, Carol A.; Welsh, Barry Y.

2014-11-20

We present Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph far-UV spectra of the edge-on disk around 49 Ceti, one of the very few debris disks showing submillimeter CO emission. Many atomic absorption lines are present in the spectra, most of which arise from circumstellar gas lying along the line-of-sight to the central star. We determined the line-of-sight C I column density, estimated the total carbon column density, and set limits on the O I column density. Surprisingly, no line-of-sight CO absorption was seen. We discuss possible explanations for this non-detection, and present preliminary estimates of the carbon abundances in themore » line-of-sight gas. The C/Fe ratio is much greater than the solar value, suggesting that 49 Cet harbors a volatile-rich gas disk similar to that of β Pictoris.« less

Carbon X-ray absorption in the local ISM: fingerprints in X-ray Novae spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gatuzz, Efraín; Ness, J.-U.; Gorczyca, T. W.; Hasoglu, M. F.; Kallman, Timothy R.; García, Javier A.

2018-06-01

We present a study of the C K-edge using high-resolution LETGS Chandra spectra of four novae during their super-soft-source (SSS) phase. We identified absorption lines due to C II Kα, C III Kα and C III Kβ resonances. We used these astronomical observations to perform a benchmarking of the atomic data, which involves wavelength shifts of the resonances and photoionization cross-sections. We used improved atomic data to estimate the C II and C III column densities. The absence of physical shifts for the absorption lines, the consistence of the column densities between multiple observations and the high temperature required for the SSS nova atmosphere modeling support our conclusion about an ISM origin of the respective absorption lines. Assuming a collisional ionization equilibrium plasma the maximum temperature derived from the ratio of C II/C III column densities of the absorbers correspond to Tmax < 3.05 × 104 K.

Analysis of interstellar fragmentation structure based on IRAS images

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scalo, John M.

1989-01-01

The goal of this project was to develop new tools for the analysis of the structure of densely sampled maps of interstellar star-forming regions. A particular emphasis was on the recognition and characterization of nested hierarchical structure and fractal irregularity, and their relation to the level of star formation activity. The panoramic IRAS images provided data with the required range in spatial scale, greater than a factor of 100, and in column density, greater than a factor of 50. In order to construct a densely sampled column density map of a cloud complex which is both self-gravitating and not (yet?) stirred up much by star formation, a column density image of the Taurus region has been constructed from IRAS data. The primary drawback to using the IRAS data for this purpose is that it contains no velocity information, and the possible importance of projection effects must be kept in mind.

Density Gradients in Chemistry Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, P. J.

1972-01-01

Outlines experiments in which a density gradient might be used to advantage. A density gradient consists of a column of liquid, the composition and density of which varies along its length. The procedure can be used in analysis of solutions and mixtures and in density measures of solids. (Author/TS)

Visualization and simulation of density driven convection in porous media using magnetic resonance imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montague, James A.; Pinder, George F.; Gonyea, Jay V.; Hipko, Scott; Watts, Richard

2018-05-01

Magnetic resonance imaging is used to observe solute transport in a 40 cm long, 26 cm diameter sand column that contained a central core of low permeability silica surrounded by higher permeability well-sorted sand. Low concentrations (2.9 g/L) of Magnevist, a gadolinium based contrast agent, produce density driven convection within the column when it starts in an unstable state. The unstable state, for this experiment, exists when higher density contrast agent is present above the lower density water. We implement a numerical model in OpenFOAM to reproduce the observed fluid flow and transport from a density difference of 0.3%. The experimental results demonstrate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in observing three-dimensional gravity-driven convective-dispersive transport behaviors in medium scale experiments.

Properties of Two-Variety Natural Luffa Sponge Columns as Potential Mattress Filling Materials

PubMed Central

Chen, Yuxia; Zhang, Kaiting; Yuan, Fangcheng; Zhang, Tingting; Weng, Beibei; Wu, Shanshan; Huang, Aiyue; Su, Na; Guo, Yong

2018-01-01

Luffa sponge (LS) is a resourceful material with fibro-vascular reticulated structure and extremely high porosity, which make it a potential candidate for manufacturing light mattress. In this study, two types of LS columns, namely high-density (HD) and low-density (LD) columns, were investigated as materials for filling the mattress. The results showed that the compressive strength of HD LS columns was significantly greater than that of LD LS columns. However, the densification strains of the two types of LS column were both in the range of 0.6 to 0.7. Besides, HD LS columns separately pressed to the smooth plateau region and the initial densification region exhibited a partial recovery of instant height when they were unloaded, and then both of them showed no more than 4.2% of height recovery after being allowed to rest at a constant temperature and humidity for 24 h. In contrast, when LD LS columns were compressed to the smooth plateau region, the height recovery was less than 1.62% compared to when they were pressed to the initial densification region, and that was more than 15.62%. Similar to other plant fibers used as mattress fillers, the two types of LS columns also showed good water absorption capacity—both of them could absorb water from as much as 2.07 to 3.45 times their own weight. At the same time, the two types of LS columns also showed good water desorption. The water desorption ratio of HD and LD LS columns separately reached 76.86 and 91.44%, respectively, after being let rest at a constant temperature and humidity for 13 h. PMID:29614744

Mitigation of Liquefaction in Sandy Soils Using Stone Columns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selcuk, Levent; Kayabalı, Kamil

2010-05-01

Soil liquefaction is one of the leading causes of earthquake-induced damage to structures. Soil improvement methods provide effective solutions to reduce the risk of soil liquefaction. Thus, soil ground treatments are applied using various techniques. However, except for a few ground treatment methods, they generally require a high cost and a lot of time. Especially in order to prevent the risk of soil liquefaction, stone columns conctructed by vibro-systems (vibro-compaction, vibro-replacement) are one of the traditional geotechnical methods. The construction of stone columns not only enhances the ability of clean sand to drain excess pore water during an earthquake, but also increases the relative density of the soil. Thus, this application prevents the development of the excess pore water pressure in sand during earthquakes and keeps the pore pressure ratio below a certain value. This paper presents the stone column methods used against soil liquefaction in detail. At this stage, (a) the performances of the stone columns were investigated in different spacing and diameters of columns during past earthquakes, (b) recent studies about design and field applications of stone columns were presented, and (c) a new design method considering the relative density of soil and the capacity of drenage of columns were explained in sandy soil. Furthermore, with this new method, earthquake performances of the stone columns constructed at different areas were investigated before the 1989 Loma Prieta and the 1994 Northbridge earthquakes, as case histories of field applications, and design charts were compiled for suitable spacing and diameters of stone columns with consideration to the different sandy soil parameters and earhquake conditions. Key Words: Soil improvement, stone column, excess pore water pressure

Shadows and Dust: Mid-Infrared Extinction Mapping of the Initial Conditions of Massive Star and Star Cluster Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Jonathan

We describe a research plan to develop and extend the mid-infrared (MIR) extinction mapping technique presented by Butler & Tan (2009), who studied Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) using Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) 8 micron images. This method has the ability to probe the detailed spatial structure of very high column density regions, i.e. the gas clouds thought to represent the initial conditions for massive star and star cluster formation. We will analyze the data Spitzer obtained at other wavelengths, i.e. the IRAC bands at 3.6, 4.5 and 5.8 microns, and the Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) bands, especially at 24 microns. This will allow us to measure the dust extinction law across the MIR and search for evidence of dust grain evolution, e.g. grain growth and ice mantle formation, as a function of gas density and column density. We will also study the detailed structure of the extinction features, including individual cores that may form single stars or close binaries, especially focusing on those cores that may form massive stars. By studying independent dark cores in a given IRDC, we will be able to test if they have a common minimum observed intensity, which we will then attribute to the foreground. This is a new method that should allow us to more accurately map distant, high column density IRDCs, probing more extreme regimes of star formation. We will combine MIR extinction mapping, which works best at high column densities, with near- IR mapping based on 2MASS images of star fields, which is most useful at lower columns that probe the extended giant molecular cloud structure. This information is crucial to help understand the formation process of IRDCs, which may be the rate limiting step for global galactic star formation rates. We will use our new extinction mapping methods to analyze large samples of IRDCs and thus search the Galaxy for the most extreme examples of high column density cores and assess the global star formation efficiency in dense gas. We will estimate the ability of future NASA missions, such as JWST, to carry out MIR extinction mapping science. We will develop the results of this research into an E/PO presentation to be included in the various public outreach events organized and courses taught by the PI.

Cosmic distribution of highly ionized metals and their physical conditions in the EAGLE simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahmati, Alireza; Schaye, Joop; Crain, Robert A.; Oppenheimer, Benjamin D.; Schaller, Matthieu; Theuns, Tom

2016-06-01

We study the distribution and evolution of highly ionized intergalactic metals in the Evolution and Assembly of Galaxies and their Environment (EAGLE) cosmological, hydrodynamical simulations. EAGLE has been shown to reproduce a wide range of galaxy properties while its subgrid feedback was calibrated without considering gas properties. We compare the predictions for the column density distribution functions (CDDFs) and cosmic densities of Si IV, C IV, N V, O VI and Ne VIII absorbers with observations at redshift z = 0 to ˜6 and find reasonable agreement, although there are some differences. We show that the typical physical densities of the absorbing gas increase with column density and redshift, but decrease with the ionization energy of the absorbing ion. The typical metallicity increases with both column density and time. The fraction of collisionally ionized metal absorbers increases with time and ionization energy. While our results show little sensitivity to the presence or absence of AGN feedback, increasing/decreasing the efficiency of stellar feedback by a factor of 2 substantially decreases/increases the CDDFs and the cosmic densities of the metal ions. We show that the impact of the efficiency of stellar feedback on the CDDFs and cosmic densities is largely due to its effect on the metal production rate. However, the temperatures of the metal absorbers, particularly those of strong O VI, are directly sensitive to the strength of the feedback.

An analysis of OH excited state absorption lines in DR 21 and K3-50

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, K. N.; Doel, R. C.; Field, D.; Gray, M. D.; Walker, R. N. F.

1992-10-01

We present an analysis of the OH absorption line zones observed toward the compact H II regions DR 21 and K3-50. Using as parameters the kinetic and dust temperatures, the H2 number density and the ratio of OH-H2 number densities to the velocity gradient, the model quantitatively reproduces the absorption line data for the six main line transitions in 2 Pi3/2 J = 5/2, 7/2, and 9/2. Observed upper limits for the absorption or emission in the satellite lines of 2 Pi3/2 J = 5/2 are crucial in constraining the range of derived parameters. Physical conditions derived for DR 21 show that the kinetic temperature centers around 140 K, the H2 number density around 10 exp 7/cu cm, and that the OH column density in the excited state absorption zone lies between 1 x 10 exp 15/sq cm and 2 x 10 exp 15/sq cm. Including contributions from a J = 3/2 absorption zone, the total OH column density is more than a factor of 2 lower than estimates based upon LTE (Walmsley et al., 1986). The OH absorption zone in K3-50 tends toward higher density and displays a larger column density, while the kinetic temperature is similar. For both sources, the dust temperature is found to be significantly lower than the kinetic temperature.

Characterizing the plasma of the Rotating Wall Machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hannum, David A.

The Rotating Wall Machine (RoWM) is a line-tied linear screw pinch built to study current-driven external kink modes. The plasma column is formed by an array of seven electrostatic washer guns which can also be biased to drive plasma current. The array allows independent control over the electron density ne and current density Jz profiles of the column. Internal measurements of the plasma have been made with singletip Langmuir and magnetic induction ("B-dot") probes for a range of bias currents (Ib = 0, 300, 500 A/gun). Streams from the individual guns are seen to merge at a distance of z ≈ 36 cm from the guns; the exact distance depends on the value of Ib. The density of the column is directly proportional to the Ohmic dissipation power, but the temperature stays at a low, uniform value (Te ≈ 3.5 eV) for each bias level. Electron densities are on the order of ne ˜10 20 m-3. The electron density expands radially (across the Bz guide field) as the plasma moves along the column, though the current density Jz mainly stays parallel to the field lines. The singletip Langmuir probe diagnostic is difficult to analyze for Ib = 500 A/gun plasmas and fails as Ib is raised beyond this level. Spectrographic analysis of the Halpha line indicates that the hydrogen plasmas are nearly fully ionized at each bias level. Azimuthal E x B rotation is axially and radially sheared; rotation slows as the plasma reaches the anode. Perpendicular diffusivity is consistent with the classical value, D⊥ ≈ 5 m2/sec, while parallel resistivity is seen to be twice the classical Spitzer value, 2 x 10-4 O m.

Interstellar Deuterium, Nitrogen and Oxygen Towards HZ43A: Results from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kruk, J. W.; Howk, J. C.; Andre, M.; Moos, H. W.; Oegerle, William R.; Oliveira, C.; Sembach, K. R.; Chayer, P.; Linsky, J. L.; Wood, B. E.

2002-01-01

We present an analysis of interstellar absorption along the line of sight to the nearby white dwarf star HZ43A. The distance to this star is 68+/-13 pc, and the line of sight extends toward the north Galactic pole. Column densities of O(I), N(I), and N(II) were derived from spectra obtained by the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE), the column density of D(I) was derived from a combination of our FUSE spectra and an archival HST GARDENS spectrum, and the column density of H(I) was derived from a combination of the GARDENS spectrum and values derived from EUVE data obtained from the literature. We find the following abundance ratios (with 2 sigma uncertainties): D(I)/H(I)=(1.66+/-0.28)x10(exp -5), O(I)/H(I)=(3.63+/-0.84)x10(exp -4), and N(I)/H(I)=(3.80+/-0.74)x10(exp -5). The N(II) column density was slightly greater than that of N(I), indicating that ionization corrections are important when deriving nitrogen abundances. Other interstellar species detected along the line of sight were C(II), C(III), O(VI), Si(II), Ar(I), Mg(II) and Fe(II); an upper limit was determined for N(III). No elements other than H(I) were detected in the stellar photosphere.

Probing the local environment of the supernova remnant HESS J1731-347 with CO and CS observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maxted, N.; Burton, M.; Braiding, C.; Rowell, G.; Sano, H.; Voisin, F.; Capasso, M.; Pühlhofer, G.; Fukui, Y.

2018-02-01

The shell-type supernova remnant HESS J1731 - 347 emits TeV gamma-rays, and is a key object for the study of the cosmic ray acceleration potential of supernova remnants. We use 0.5-1 arcmin Mopra CO/CS(1-0) data in conjunction with H I data to calculate column densities towards the HESS J1731 - 347 region. We trace gas within at least four Galactic arms, typically tracing total (atomic+molecular) line-of-sight H column densities of 2-3× 1022 cm-2. Assuming standard X-factor values and that most of the H I/CO emission seen towards HESS J1731 - 347 is on the near-side of the Galaxy, X-ray absorption column densities are consistent with H I+CO-derived column densities foreground to, but not beyond, the Scutum-Crux Galactic arm, suggesting a kinematic distance of ˜3.2 kpc for HESS J1731 - 347. At this kinematic distance, we also find dense, infrared-dark gas traced by CS(1-0) emission coincident with the north of HESS J1731 - 347, the nearby H II region G353.43-0.37 and the nearby unidentified gamma-ray source HESS J1729 - 345. This dense gas lends weight to the idea that HESS J1729 - 345 and HESS J1731 - 347 are connected, perhaps via escaping cosmic-rays.

Intra-pixel variability in satellite tropospheric NO2 column densities derived from simultaneous space-borne and airborne observations over the South African Highveld

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broccardo, Stephen; Heue, Klaus-Peter; Walter, David; Meyer, Christian; Kokhanovsky, Alexander; van der A, Ronald; Piketh, Stuart; Langerman, Kristy; Platt, Ulrich

2018-05-01

Aircraft measurements of NO2 using an imaging differential optical absorption spectrometer (iDOAS) instrument over the South African Highveld region in August 2007 are presented and compared to satellite measurements from OMI and SCIAMACHY. In situ aerosol and trace-gas vertical profile measurements, along with aerosol optical thickness and single-scattering albedo measurements from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), are used to devise scenarios for a radiative transfer modelling sensitivity study. Uncertainty in the air-mass factor due to variations in the aerosol and NO2 profile shape is constrained and used to calculate vertical column densities (VCDs), which are compared to co-located satellite measurements. The lower spatial resolution of the satellites cannot resolve the detailed plume structures revealed in the aircraft measurements. The airborne DOAS in general measured steeper horizontal gradients and higher peak NO2 vertical column density. Aircraft measurements close to major sources, spatially averaged to the satellite resolution, indicate NO2 column densities more than twice those measured by the satellite. The agreement between the high-resolution aircraft instrument and the satellite instrument improves with distance from the source, this is attributed to horizontal and vertical dispersion of NO2 in the boundary layer. Despite the low spatial resolution, satellite images reveal point sources and plumes that retain their structure for several hundred kilometres downwind.

Retrieval of tropospheric HCHO in El Salvador using ground based DOAS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abarca, W.; Gamez, K.; Rudamas, C.

2017-12-01

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is the most abundant carbonyl in the atmosphere, being an intermediate product in the oxidation of most volatile organic compounds (VOCs). HCHO is carcinogenic, and highly water soluble [1]. HCHO can originate from biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion and has been observed from satellite and ground-based sensors by using the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) technique [2].DOAS products can be used for air quality monitoring, validation of chemical transport models, validation of satellite tropospheric column density retrievals, among others [3]. In this study, we report on column density levels of HCHO measured by ground based Multi-Axis -DOAS in different locations of El Salvador in March, 2015. We have not observed large differences of the HCHO column density values at different viewing directions. This result points out a reasonably polluted and hazy atmosphere in the measuring sites, as reported by other authors [4]. Average values ranging from 1016 to 1017 molecules / cm2 has been obtained. The contribution of vehicular traffic and biomass burning to the column density levels in these sites of El Salvador will be discussed. [1] A. R. Garcia et al., Atmos. Chem. Phys. 6, 4545 (2006) [2] E. Peters et al., Atmos. Chem. Phys. 12, 11179 (2012) [3] T. Vlemmix, et al. Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 941-963, 2015 [4] A. Heckel et al., Atmos. Chem. Phys. 5, (2005)

Hot and cold gas toward young stellar objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mitchell, George F.; Maillard, Jean-Pierre; Allen, Mark; Beer, Reinhard; Belcourt, Kenneth

1990-01-01

High-resolution M band spectra are presented for the seven embedded IR sources W3 IRS 5, S140 IRS1, NGC 7538 IRS 1, NGC 7538 IRS 9, GL 2136, LkH-alpha 101, and MWC 349A, and the data are combined with previously published work for W33A and GL 2591. Cold CO is seen toward all nine sources, with temperatures from 11 K to 66 K. Column densities of cold CO are presented. Hot gas is seen toward eight of the nine objects with temperatures from 120 K to 1010 K. New lower limits to the hot gas density are obtained. The hot gas toward GL 2591, GL 2136, W3 IRS 5, and S140 IRS 1 is probably very near the central source and heated via gas-grain collisions. The optical depth in the silicate feature is strongly correlated with the (C-13)O column density, confirming that silicate optical depth is a useful measure of gas column density. The ratio of solid-to-gaseous CO is obtained for seven sources.

Characteristic Structure of Star-forming Clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myers, Philip C.

2015-06-01

This paper presents a new method to diagnose the star-forming potential of a molecular cloud region from the probability density function of its column density (N-pdf). This method provides expressions for the column density and mass profiles of a symmetric filament having the same N-pdf as a filamentary region. The central concentration of this characteristic filament can distinguish regions and can quantify their fertility for star formation. Profiles are calculated for N-pdfs which are pure lognormal, pure power law, or a combination. In relation to models of singular polytropic cylinders, characteristic filaments can be unbound, bound, or collapsing depending on their central concentration. Such filamentary models of the dynamical state of N-pdf gas are more relevant to star-forming regions than are spherical collapse models. The star formation fertility of a bound or collapsing filament is quantified by its mean mass accretion rate when in radial free fall. For a given mass per length, the fertility increases with the filament mean column density and with its initial concentration. In selected regions the fertility of their characteristic filaments increases with the level of star formation.

Ionization compression impact on dense gas distribution and star formation. Probability density functions around H II regions as seen by Herschel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tremblin, P.; Schneider, N.; Minier, V.; Didelon, P.; Hill, T.; Anderson, L. D.; Motte, F.; Zavagno, A.; André, Ph.; Arzoumanian, D.; Audit, E.; Benedettini, M.; Bontemps, S.; Csengeri, T.; Di Francesco, J.; Giannini, T.; Hennemann, M.; Nguyen Luong, Q.; Marston, A. P.; Peretto, N.; Rivera-Ingraham, A.; Russeil, D.; Rygl, K. L. J.; Spinoglio, L.; White, G. J.

2014-04-01

Aims: Ionization feedback should impact the probability distribution function (PDF) of the column density of cold dust around the ionized gas. We aim to quantify this effect and discuss its potential link to the core and initial mass function (CMF/IMF). Methods: We used Herschel column density maps of several regions observed within the HOBYS key program in a systematic way: M 16, the Rosette and Vela C molecular clouds, and the RCW 120 H ii region. We computed the PDFs in concentric disks around the main ionizing sources, determined their properties, and discuss the effect of ionization pressure on the distribution of the column density. Results: We fitted the column density PDFs of all clouds with two lognormal distributions, since they present a "double-peak" or an enlarged shape in the PDF. Our interpretation is that the lowest part of the column density distribution describes the turbulent molecular gas, while the second peak corresponds to a compression zone induced by the expansion of the ionized gas into the turbulent molecular cloud. Such a double peak is not visible for all clouds associated with ionization fronts, but it depends on the relative importance of ionization pressure and turbulent ram pressure. A power-law tail is present for higher column densities, which are generally ascribed to the effect of gravity. The condensations at the edge of the ionized gas have a steep compressed radial profile, sometimes recognizable in the flattening of the power-law tail. This could lead to an unambiguous criterion that is able to disentangle triggered star formation from pre-existing star formation. Conclusions: In the context of the gravo-turbulent scenario for the origin of the CMF/IMF, the double-peaked or enlarged shape of the PDF may affect the formation of objects at both the low-mass and the high-mass ends of the CMF/IMF. In particular, a broader PDF is required by the gravo-turbulent scenario to fit the IMF properly with a reasonable initial Mach number for the molecular cloud. Since other physical processes (e.g., the equation of state and the variations among the core properties) have already been said to broaden the PDF, the relative importance of the different effects remains an open question. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.

Statistical Detection of the He II Transverse Proximity Effect: Evidence for Sustained Quasar Activity for >25 Million Years

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Tobias M.; Worseck, Gabor; Hennawi, Joseph F.; Prochaska, J. Xavier; Crighton, Neil H. M.

2017-09-01

The He II transverse proximity effect—enhanced He II {Ly}α transmission in a background sightline caused by the ionizing radiation of a foreground quasar—offers a unique opportunity to probe the morphology of quasar-driven He II reionization. We conduct a comprehensive spectroscopic survey to find z˜ 3 quasars in the foreground of 22 background quasar sightlines with Hubble Space Telescope/COS He II {Ly}α transmission spectra. With our two-tiered survey strategy, consisting of a deep pencil-beam survey and a shallow wide-field survey, we discover 131 new quasars, which we complement with known SDSS/BOSS quasars in our fields. Using a restricted sample of 66 foreground quasars with inferred He II photoionization rates greater than the expected UV background at these redshifts ({{{Γ }}}{QSO}{He {{II}}}> 5× {10}-16 {{{s}}}-1) we perform the first statistical analysis of the He II transverse proximity effect. Our results show qualitative evidence for a large object-to-object variance: among the four foreground quasars with the highest {{{Γ }}}{QSO}{He {{II}}} only one (previously known) quasar is associated with a significant He II transmission spike. We perform a stacking analysis to average down these fluctuations, and detect an excess in the average He II transmission near the foreground quasars at 3σ significance. This statistical evidence for the transverse proximity effect is corroborated by a clear dependence of the signal strength on {{{Γ }}}{QSO}{He {{II}}}. Our detection places a purely geometrical lower limit on the quasar lifetime of {t}{{Q}}> 25 {Myr}. Improved modeling would additionally constrain quasar obscuration and the mean free path of He II-ionizing photons.

Variable X-Ray Absorption in the Mini-BAL QSO PG 1126-041

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Giustini, M.; Cappi, M.; Chartas, G.; Dadina, M.; Eracleous, M.; Ponti, G.; Proga, D.; Tombesi, F.; Vignali, C.; Palumbo, G. G. C.

2011-01-01

Context. X-ray studies of AGN with powerful nuclear winds are important to constrain the physics of the inner accretion/ejection flow around SMBH, and to understand the impact of such winds on the AGN environment. Aims. Our main scientific goal is to constrain the properties of a variable outflowing absorber that is thought to be launched near the SMBH of the mini-BAL QSO PG 1126-041 using a multi-epoch observational campaign performed with XMM-Newton. Methods. We performed temporally resolved X-ray spectroscopy and simultaneous UV and X-ray photometry on the most complete set of observations and on the deepest X-ray exposure of a mini-BAL QSO to date. Results. We found complex X-ray spectral variability on time scales of both months and hours, best reproduced by means of variable massive ionized absorbers along the line of sight. As a consequence, the observed optical-to-X-ray spectral index is found to be variable with time. In the highest signal-to-noise observation we detected highly ionized X-ray absorbing material outflowing much faster (u(sub X) approx. 16 500 km/s) than the UV absorbing one (u(sub uv) approx. 5,000 km/s). This highly ionized absorber is found to be variable on very short (a few kiloseconds) time scales. Conclusions. Our findings are qualitatively consistent with line driven accretion disk winds scenarios. Our observations have opened the time-resolved X-ray spectral analysis field for mini-BAL QSOs; only with future deep studies will we be able to map the dynamics of the inner flow and understand the physics of AGN winds and their impact on the environment.

40 CFR Table Mm-2 to Subpart Mm of... - Default Factors for Biomass-Based Fuels and Biomass

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Fuels and Biomass MM Table MM-2 to Subpart MM of Part 98 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL... Biomass-Based Fuels and Biomass Biomass-based fuel and biomass Column A:Density (metric tons/bbl) Column B: Carbon share(% of mass) Column C:Emission factor (metric tons CO2/bbl) Ethanol (100%) 0.1267 52.14 0.2422...

40 CFR Table Mm-2 to Subpart Mm of... - Default Factors for Biomass-Based Fuels and Biomass

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Fuels and Biomass MM Table MM-2 to Subpart MM of Part 98 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL... Biomass-Based Fuels and Biomass Biomass-based fuel and biomass Column A:Density (metric tons/bbl) Column B: Carbon share(% of mass) Column C:Emission factor (metric tons CO2/bbl) Ethanol (100%) 0.1267 52.14 0.2422...

40 CFR Table Mm-2 to Subpart Mm of... - Default Factors for Biomass-Based Fuels and Biomass

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Fuels and Biomass MM Table MM-2 to Subpart MM of Part 98 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL... Biomass-Based Fuels and Biomass Biomass-based fuel and biomass Column A:Density (metric tons/bbl) Column B: Carbon share(% of mass) Column C:Emission factor (metric tons CO2/bbl) Ethanol (100%) 0.1267 52.14 0.2422...

40 CFR Table Mm-2 to Subpart Mm of... - Default Factors for Biomass-Based Fuels and Biomass

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Fuels and Biomass MM Table MM-2 to Subpart MM of Part 98 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL... Biomass-Based Fuels and Biomass Biomass-based fuel and biomass Column A:Density (metric tons/bbl) Column B: Carbon share(% of mass) Column C:Emission factor (metric tons CO2/bbl) Ethanol (100%) 0.1267 52.14 0.2422...

Abundances of Deuterium, Oxygen and Nitrogen in the Local Interstellar Medium: Overview of First Results from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moos, H. W.; Sembach, K. R.; Vidal-Madjar, A.; York, D. G.; Friedman, S. D.; Hebrard, G.; Kruk, J. W.; Lehner, N.; Lemoine, M.; Sonneborn, G.;

Deuterium Abundance Toward G191-B2B: Results from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lemoine, M.; Vidal-Madjar, A.; Hebrard, G.; Desert, J.-M.; Ferlet, R.; LecavelierdesEtangs, A.; Howk, J. C.; Andre, M.; Blair, W. P.; Friedman, S. D.;

The abundance, distribution, and physical nature of highly ionized oxygen O VI, O VII, and O VIII in IllustrisTNG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Dylan; Kauffmann, Guinevere; Pillepich, Annalisa; Genel, Shy; Springel, Volker; Pakmor, Rüdiger; Hernquist, Lars; Weinberger, Rainer; Torrey, Paul; Vogelsberger, Mark; Marinacci, Federico

2018-06-01

We explore the abundance, spatial distribution, and physical properties of the O VI, O VII, and O VIII ions of oxygen in circumgalactic and intergalactic media (the CGM, IGM, and WHIM). We use the TNG100 and TNG300 large volume cosmological magnetohydrodynamical simulations. Modelling the ionization states of simulated oxygen, we find good agreement with observations of the low-redshift O VI column density distribution function (CDDF), and present its evolution for all three ions from z = 0 to z = 4. Producing mock quasar absorption line spectral surveys, we show that the IllustrisTNG simulations are fully consistent with constraints on the O VI content of the CGM from COS-haloes and other low-redshift observations, producing columns as high as observed. We measure the total amount of mass and average column densities of each ion using hundreds of thousands of simulated galaxies spanning 10^{11} < {M}_halo/ M⊙<1015 corresponding to 109 < M⋆/ M⊙<1012 in stellar mass. Stacked radial profiles of O VI are computed in 3D number density and 2D projected column density, decomposing into 1-halo and 2-halo terms. Relating halo O VI to properties of the central galaxy, we find a correlation between the (g - r) colour of a galaxy and the total amount of O VI in its CGM. In comparison to the COS-Haloes finding, this leads to a dichotomy of columns around star-forming versus passive galaxies at fixed stellar (or halo) mass. We demonstrate that this correlation is a direct result of black hole feedback associated with quenching and represents a causal consequence of galactic-scale baryonic feedback impacting the physical state of the circumgalactic medium.

Visualization and simulation of density driven convection in porous media using magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Montague, James A; Pinder, George F; Gonyea, Jay V; Hipko, Scott; Watts, Richard

2018-05-01

Magnetic resonance imaging is used to observe solute transport in a 40cm long, 26cm diameter sand column that contained a central core of low permeability silica surrounded by higher permeability well-sorted sand. Low concentrations (2.9g/L) of Magnevist, a gadolinium based contrast agent, produce density driven convection within the column when it starts in an unstable state. The unstable state, for this experiment, exists when higher density contrast agent is present above the lower density water. We implement a numerical model in OpenFOAM to reproduce the observed fluid flow and transport from a density difference of 0.3%. The experimental results demonstrate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in observing three-dimensional gravity-driven convective-dispersive transport behaviors in medium scale experiments. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectral Energy Distribution of Far-infrared Bright Quasar Sample in the Lockman Hole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Y.; Huang, J.-S.; Omont, A.; Hatziminaoglou, E.; Willmer, C.; Fazio, G.; Elvis, M.; Bergeron, J.; Rigopoulou, D.; Perez-Fournon, I.

2011-10-01

The far-infrared (FIR) properties of Quasi-Stellar Objects (QSOs) is important in connecting the Starburst (SB) and Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) activities. Therefore, we constructed a 24 μ m selected QSO sample to study their FIR behavior. All sources were spectroscopically identified from MMT or the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) as broadline quasars. Of the total ˜330 sources, 37 have secure FIR detections in the Herschel-HERMES field. We compared their SEDs to previous QSO templates, and found that those FIR bright quasars differ from existing AGNs only by an additional dust component(s). Further studies on the origin for the FIR emission reveals the relative roles starburst and AGN play in powering the dust emission, based on the dust temperature, FIR luminosity, and the shapes of individual SEDs. The dust temperatures have a wide range from 20K to 80K with a median of ˜ 30K, indicating homogeneous heating mechanisms that could later be related to the origin of these cold dust emissions.

CASBaH: the Multiphase Circumgalactic Medium During the Decline of Cosmic Star Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burchett, Joseph N.; Tripp, Todd; Prochaska, Jason; Werk, Jessica; Willmer, Christopher; Ford, Amanda Brady; Howk, Chris

2018-01-01

The COS Absorption Survey of Baryon Harbors (CASBaH) comprises high-S/N spectra of nine z > 0.9 QSOs with coverage from the far-ultraviolet to the optical. These sightlines access the rich suite of rest-frame extreme-ultraviolet (600 - 1000 Angstroms) spectral transitions, such as Ne VIII, Mg X, and O II/III/IV, in addition to those more well studied at longer wavelengths (O VI, C III, Mg II). We have undertaken a large ground-based spectroscopic follow-up campaign to identify galaxies projected near the QSO sightlines and leverage the myriad diagnostics within the QSO spectra to study the circumgalactic medium (CGM) at 0.2 < z < 1 over the crucial epoch when star formation activity in the Universe was in sharp decline. We will present results from this multiwavelength study characterizing the CGM across multiple ionization states, focusing on the O VI and Ne VIII-probed warm-hot (105-106 K) gas within the halos of our galaxy sample.

The black tide model of QSOs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Young, P. J.; Shields, G. A.; Wheeler, J. C.

1977-01-01

The paper develops certain aspects of a model wherein a QSO is a massive black hole located in a dense galactic nucleus, with its growth and luminosity fueled by tidal disruption of passing stars. Cross sections for tidal disruptions are calculated, taking into account the thermal energy of stars, relativistic effects, and partial disruption removing only the outer layers of a star. Accretion rates are computed for a realistic distribution of stellar masses and evolutionary phases, the effect of the black hole on the cluster distribution is examined, and the red-giant disruption rate is evaluated for hole mass of at least 300 million solar masses, the cutoff of disruption of main-sequence stars. The results show that this black-tide model can explain QSO luminosities of at least 1 trillion suns if the black hole remains almost maximally Kerr as it grows above 100 million solar masses and if 'loss-cone' depletion of the number of stars in disruptive orbits is unimportant.

From the school of nursing quality and safety officer: nursing students' use of safety reporting tools and their perception of safety issues in clinical settings.

PubMed

Cooper, Elizabeth

2013-01-01

Improved patient safety and quality are priority goals for nurses and schools of nursing. This article describes the innovative new role of quality and safety officer (QSO) developed by one university in response to the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses challenge to increase quality and safety education for prelicensure nursing students. The article also describes the results of a study conducted by the QSO, obtaining information from prelicensure nursing students about the use of safety tools and identifying the students' perceptions of safety issues, communication, and safety reporting in the clinical setting. Responses of 145 prelicensure nursing students suggest that it is difficult to get all errors and near-miss events reported. Barriers for nursing students are similar to the barriers nurses and physicians identify in reporting errors and near-miss events. The survey reveals that safety for the patient is the primary concern of the student nurse. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New simulation of QSO X-ray heating during the Cosmic Dawn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, Hannah E.; Dixon, Keri; Iliev, Ilian; Mellema, Garrelt

2018-05-01

The upcoming radio interferometer Square Kilometre Array is expected to directly detect the redshifted 21-cm signal from the Cosmic Dawn for the first time. In this era temperature fluctuations from X-ray heating of the neutral intergalactic medium can impact this signal dramatically. Previously, in Ross et al. (2017), we presented the first large-volume, 244 h-1 Mpc=349 Mpc a side, fully numerical radiative transfer simulations of X-ray heating. This work is a follow-up where we now also consider QSO-like sources in addition to high mass X-ray binaries. Images of the two cases are clearly distinguishable at SKA1-LOW resolution and have RMS fluctuations above the expected noise. The inclusion of QSOs leads to a dramatic increase in non-Gaussianity of the signal, as measured by the skewness and kurtosis of the 21-cm signal. We conclude that this increased non-Gaussianity is a promising signature of early QSOs.

Suspension of Drops of a Liquid in a Column of Water.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahmad, Jamil

1995-01-01

Describes a demonstration which creates the illusion of violating Archimedes Principle. The procedure involves two liquids with identical densities and produces drops of one liquid suspended in the middle of a column of the second liquid. (DDR)

Changes of Dust Opacity with Density in the Orion A Molecular Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Arabindo; Martin, Peter G.; Polychroni, Danae; Bontemps, Sylvain; Abergel, Alain; André, Philippe; Arzoumanian, Doris; Di Francesco, James; Hill, Tracey; Konyves, Vera; Nguyen-Luong, Quang; Pezzuto, Stefano; Schneider, Nicola; Testi, Leonardo; White, Glenn

2013-01-01

We have studied the opacity of dust grains at submillimeter wavelengths by estimating the optical depth from imaging at 160, 250, 350, and 500 μm from the Herschel Gould Belt Survey and comparing this to a column density obtained from the Two Micron All Sky Survey derived color excess E(J - K s). Our main goal was to investigate the spatial variations of the opacity due to "big" grains over a variety of environmental conditions and thereby quantify how emission properties of the dust change with column (and volume) density. The central and southern areas of the Orion A molecular cloud examined here, with N H ranging from 1.5 × 1021 cm-2 to 50 × 1021 cm-2, are well suited to this approach. We fit the multi-frequency Herschel spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of each pixel with a modified blackbody to obtain the temperature, T, and optical depth, τ1200, at a fiducial frequency of 1200 GHz (250 μm). Using a calibration of N H/E(J - Ks ) for the interstellar medium (ISM) we obtained the opacity (dust emission cross-section per H nucleon), σe(1200), for every pixel. From a value ~1 × 10-25 cm2 H-1 at the lowest column densities that is typical of the high-latitude diffuse ISM, σe(1200) increases as N 0.28 H over the range studied. This is suggestive of grain evolution. Integrating the SEDs over frequency, we also calculated the specific power P (emission power per H) for the big grains. In low column density regions where dust clouds are optically thin to the interstellar radiation field (ISRF), P is typically 3.7 × 10-31 W H-1, again close to that in the high-latitude diffuse ISM. However, we find evidence for a decrease of P in high column density regions, which would be a natural outcome of attenuation of the ISRF that heats the grains, and for localized increases for dust illuminated by nearby stars or embedded protostars.

On N. Park's Analytical solution for steady state density- and mixing regime—dependent solute transport in a vertical soil column

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thiele, Michael

1998-04-01

Recently, Park [1996] presented an analytical solution for stationary one-dimensional solute transport in a variable-density fluid flow through a vertical soil column. He used the widespread Bear-Scheidegger dispersion model describing solute mixing as a sum of molecular diffusion and velocity-proportional mechanical dispersion effects. His closed-form implicit concentration and pressure distributions thus allow for a discussion of the combined impact of molecular diffusion and mechanical dispersion in a variable-density environment. Whereas Park only considered the example of vanishing molecular diffusion in detail, both phenomena are taken into account simultaneously in the present study in order to elucidate their different influences on concentration distribution characteristics. The boundary value problem dealt with herein is based on an upward inflow of high-density fluid of constant solute concentration and corresponding outflow of a lower constant concentration fluid at the upper end of the column when dispersivity does not change along the flow path. The thickness of the transition zone between the two fluids appeared to strongly depend on the prevailing share of the molecular diffusion and mechanical dispersion mechanisms. The latter can be characterized by a molecular Peclet number Pe, which here is defined as the ratio of the column outflow velocity multiplied by a characteristic pore size and the molecular diffusion coefficient. For very small values of Pe, when molecular diffusion represents the exclusive mixing process, density differences have no impact on transition zone thicknesses. A relative density-;dependent thickness increases with flow velocities (increasing Pe values) very rapidly compared to the density-independent case, and after having passed a maximum decreases asymptotically to a constant value for the large Peclet number limit when mechanical dispersion is the only mixing mechanism. Hence the special transport problem analyzed gives further evidence for the importance of simultaneously considering molecular diffusion and mechanical dispersion in gravity-affected solute transport in porous media.

THE PHASE COHERENCE OF INTERSTELLAR DENSITY FLUCTUATIONS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Burkhart, Blakesley; Lazarian, A.

2016-08-10

Studies of MHD turbulence often investigate the Fourier power spectrum to provide information on the nature of the turbulence cascade. However, the Fourier power spectrum only contains the Fourier amplitudes and rejects all information regarding the Fourier phases. Here, we investigate the utility of two statistical diagnostics for recovering information on Fourier phases in ISM column density maps: the averaged amplitudes of the bispectrum and the phase coherence index (PCI), a new phase technique for the ISM. We create three-dimensional density and two-dimensional column density maps using a set of simulations of isothermal ideal MHD turbulence with a wide rangemore » of sonic and Alfvénic Mach numbers. We find that the bispectrum averaged along different angles with respect to either the k {sub 1} or k {sub 2} axis is primarily sensitive to the sonic Mach number while averaging the bispectral amplitudes over different annuli is sensitive to both the sonic and Alfvénic Mach numbers. The PCI of density suggests that the most correlated phases occur in supersonic sub-Alfvénic turbulence and near the shock scale. This suggests that nonlinear interactions with correlated phases are strongest in shock-dominated regions, in agreement with findings from the solar wind. Our results suggest that the phase information contained in the bispectrum and PCI can be used to find the turbulence parameters in column density maps.« less

Probing the cool interstellar and circumgalactic gas of three massive lensing galaxies at z = 0.4-0.7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zahedy, Fakhri S.; Chen, Hsiao-Wen; Rauch, Michael; Wilson, Michelle L.; Zabludoff, Ann

2016-05-01

We present multisightline absorption spectroscopy of cool gas around three lensing galaxies at z = 0.4-0.7. These lenses have half-light radii re = 2.6-8 kpc and stellar masses of log M*/M⊙ = 10.9-11.4, and therefore resemble nearby passive elliptical galaxies. The lensed QSO sightlines presented here occur at projected distances of d = 3-15 kpc (or d ≈ 1-2 re) from the lensing galaxies, providing for the first time an opportunity to probe both interstellar gas at r ˜ re and circumgalactic gas at larger radii r ≫ re of these distant quiescent galaxies. We observe distinct gas absorption properties among different lenses and among sightlines of individual lenses. Specifically, while the quadruple lens for HE 0435-1223 shows no absorption features to very sensitive limits along all four sightlines, strong Mg II, Fe II, Mg I, and Ca II absorption transitions are detected along both sightlines near the double lens for HE 0047-1756, and in one of the two sightlines near the double lens for HE 1104-1805. The absorbers are resolved into 8-15 individual components with a line-of-sight velocity spread of Δ v ≈ 300-600 km s-1. The large ionic column densities, log N ≳ 14, observed in two components suggest that these may be Lyman limit or damped Ly α absorbers with a significant neutral hydrogen fraction. The majority of the absorbing components exhibit a uniform supersolar Fe/Mg ratio with a scatter of <0.1 dex across the full Δ v range. Given a predominantly old stellar population in these lensing galaxies, we argue that the observed large velocity width and Fe-rich abundance pattern can be explained by SNe Ia enriched gas at radius r ˜ re. We show that additional spatial constraints in line-of-sight velocity and relative abundance ratios afforded by a multisightline approach provide a powerful tool to resolve the origin of chemically enriched cool gas in massive haloes.

QSO Lyalpha Absorption Lines in Galaxy Superclusters and Voids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stocke, J. T.; Shull, J. M.; Penton, S.; Burks, G.; Donahue, M.

1993-12-01

We have used the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) to search for Lyalpha absorption clouds in nearby galaxy voids (cz <= 10,000 km s(-1) ). Thus far, we have obtained GHRS spectra (G160M, 1225 -- 1255 Angstroms, 0.25 Angstroms resolution) of three very bright Active Galactic Nuclei, Mrk 501, I Zw I, and Mrk 335, at V <= 14.5. We find 4 probable (4.0 sigma - 4.5 sigma ) and 4 definite (5 sigma - 16 sigma ) Lyalpha absorption lines, with equivalent widths W_λ = 50 - 200 m Angstroms, corresponding to column densities N(H I) = 10(13) -- 10(14) cm(-2) , assuming a typical Doppler parameter of b = 25 km s(-1) . Based on an updated version of the CfA redshift survey (Huchra and Clemens, private communication), most of these Lyalpha systems appear to be associated with supercluster - sized ``strings'' of galaxies similar to the ``Great Wall''. Toward Mrk 501, the nearest bright galaxy at the redshift of the strongest (200 m Angstroms) Lyalpha cloud lies 500 h75(-1) kpc off the line of sight. Models of H I disks exposed to the intergalactic ionizing radiation field (Dove & Shull 1994, ApJ, 423, in press) show that the N(H I) = 10(13) cm(-2) contour in a typical spiral galaxy is reached at 100 kpc radial extent. Thus, the Lyalpha absorbers associated with galaxy-string systems may be the result of H I in an extended halo, in dwarf satellite galaxies (M_B > -15), or in tidally-stripped gas. Most importantly for cosmological origins of baryons, one (4.3 sigma ) Lyalpha absorption line in the spectrum of Mrk 501 lies within the galaxy void in the foreground of the ``Great Wall''. The nearest bright galaxy, to a level M_B <= -18.5 for H_0 = 75 km s(-1) Mpc(-1) , is more than 5 Mpc away. A pencil-beam survey of faint galaxies to M_B = -16.0 finds no galaxy within 100 h75(-1) kpc of the line of sight, at or near the absorber redshift.

Comparison of the far-infrared and carbon monoxide emission in Heiles' Cloud 2 and B18

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snell, Ronald L.; Schloerb, F. Peter; Heyer, Mark H.

1989-01-01

A comparison is made of the far-IR emission detected by IRAS at 60 and 100 microns and the emission from C(-13)O in B18 and Heiles' Cloud 2. The results show that both these clouds have extended emission at the studied wavelengths and that this emission is correlated with the integrated intensity of (C-13)O emission. The dust temperature and optical depth, the gas column density, the mass of gas and dust, and the far-IR luminosity are derived and presented. The analysis shows that the dust optical depth is much better correlated with the gas column density than with the far-IR intensity. The dust temperature is found to be anticorrelated with the gas column density, suggesting that these clouds are externally heated by the interstellar radiation field. The far-IR luminosity-to-mass ratios for the clouds are substantially less than the average for the inner Galaxy.

Medium-resolution far-ultraviolet spectroscopy of PKS 2155-304

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Appenzeller, I.; Mandel, H.; Krautter, J.; Bowyer, S.; Hurwitz, M.; Grewing, M.; Kramer, G.; Kappelmann, N.

1995-01-01

Using the Berkeley spectrometer of the Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (ORFEUS) we observed the 87-117 nm UV spectrum of the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 with about 0.5 A resolution. In addition to the expected interstellar lines we detected higher quantum number counterparts of the intergalactic Lyman alpha lines discovered earlier with IUE and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in the direction of PKS 2155-304. The Lyman discontinuities indicate for three of the redshifted clouds a combined H I column density of 2-5 x 10(exp 16)/sq cm, while the column density for another cloud appears to be well below 5 x 10(exp 15)/sq cm. No siginificant O VI absorption in the galactic halo toward PKS 2155-304 could be detected from our data. Assuming that saturation effects are negligible for these weak features, we obtain for the O VI column density toward PKS 2155-304 a 3 sigma upper limit of 2.7 x 10(exp 14)/sq cm.

A study of the discrepant QSO X-ray luminosity function from the HEAO-2 data archive

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Margon, B.

1984-01-01

An in-progress investigation aimed at characterizing the X-ray luminosity of very faint QSOs is described. More than 100 faint, previously uncataloged QSOs which lie in areas imaged in X rays at very high sensitivity were discovered.

The O VI Mystery: Mismatch between X-Ray and UV Column Densities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathur, S.; Nicastro, F.; Gupta, A.; Krongold, Y.; McLaughlin, B. M.; Brickhouse, N.; Pradhan, A.

2017-12-01

The UV spectra of Galactic and extragalactic sightlines often show O VI absorption lines at a range of redshifts, and from a variety of sources from the Galactic circumgalactic medium to active galactic nuclei (AGN) outflows. Inner shell O VI absorption is also observed in X-ray spectra (at λ =22.03 Å), but the column density inferred from the X-ray line was consistently larger than that from the UV line. Here we present a solution to this discrepancy for the z = 0 systems. The O II Kβ line {}4{S}0\\to {(}3D)3{p}4P at 562.40 eV (≡22.04 Å) is blended with the O VI Kα line in X-ray spectra. We estimate the strength of this O II line in two different ways, and show that in most cases the O II line accounts for the entire blended line. The small amount of O VI equivalent width present in some cases has column density entirely consistent with the UV value. This solution to the O VI discrepancy, however, does not apply to high column-density systems like AGN outflows. We discuss other possible causes to explain their UV/X-ray mismatch. The O VI and O II lines will be resolved by gratings on board the proposed mission Arcus and the concept mission Lynx, and would allow the detection of weak O VI lines not just at z = 0, but also at higher redshift.

Deuterium and Oxygen Toward Feige 110: Results from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Friedman, S. D.; Howk, J. C.; Chayer, P.; Tripp, T. M.; Hebrard, G.; Andre, M.; Oliveira, C.; Jenkins, E. B.; Moos, H. W.; Oegerle, William R.

2001-01-01

We present measurements of the column densities of interstellar D I and O I made with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE), and of H I made with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) toward the sdOB star Feige 110 [(l,b) = (74.09 deg., - 59.07 deg.); d = 179(sup +265, sub -67) pc; Z = -154(sup +57, Sub -227 pc). Our determination of the D I column density made use of curve of growth fitting and profile fitting analyses, while our O I column density determination used only curve of growth techniques. The H I column density was estimated by fitting the damping wings of the interstellar Ly(lpha) profile. We find log N(D I) = 15.47 +/- 0.06, log N(O I) = 16.73 +/- 0.10, and log N(H I) = 20.14(sup +0.13, sub -0.20) (all errors 2(sigma)). This implies D/H = (2.14 +/- 0.82) x 10(esp -5), D/O = (5.50(sup + 1.64, sub -133)) x 10(exp -2), and O/H = (3.89 +/- 1.67) x 10(exp -4). Taken with the FUSE results reported in companion papers and previous measurements of the local interstellar medium, this suggests the possibility of spatial variability in D/H for sight lines exceeding approx. 100 pc. This result may constrain models which characterize the mixing time and length scales of material in the local interstellar medium.

Inversion and Application of Muon Tomography Data for Cave Exploration in Budapest, Hungary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molnár, Gábor; Surányi, Gergely; Gábor Barnaföldi, Gergely; Oláh, László; Hamar, Gergö; Varga, Dezsö

2016-04-01

In this contribution we present a prospecting muon-tomograph and its application for cave exploration in Budapest, Hungary. The more than 50 years old basic idea behind muon tomography is the ability of muon particles, generated in the upper atmosphere to penetrate tens of meters into rocks with continuous attenuation before decay. This enables us placing a detector in a tunnel and measure muon fluxes from different directions and convert these fluxes to rock density data. The lightweight, 51x46x32 cm3 size, muon tomograph containing 5 detector layers was developed by Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Budapest, Hungary. A muon passing at least 4 of the 5 detector layers along one line are classified as unique muon detection. Its angular resolution is approximately 1 degree and it is effective up to 50 degrees off zenith. During the measurement campaign we installed the muon detector at seventeen locations along an abandoned, likely Cold War air raid shelter tunnel for 10-15 days at each location, collecting large set of events. The measured fluxes are converted to apparent density lengths (multiplication of rock densities by along path lengths) using an empirically tested relationship. For inverting measurements, a 3D block model of the subsurface was developed. It consisted of cuboids, with equal horizontal size, equal number in every line and in every row of the model. Additionally it consisted of blocks with different heights, equal number of blocks in every column. (Block height was constant in a column, but varied from column to column.) The heights of the blocks in a column were chosen, that top face of the uppermost blocks has an elevation defined by a Digital Elevation Model. Initially the density of every model blocks was set to a realistic value. We calculated the theoretical density length for every detector location and for a subset of flux measurement directions. We also calculated the partial derivatives of these theoretical density length values with respect to the densities of every model block. This is the Jacobian of the problem and these values were proportional to the path length in the respective block. A regularized least squares solution returns the corrections of the densities of the blocks. If the corrected density of a block is significantly smaller than the typical rock density of the subsurface, the block is dedicated as a cave. According to our results a supposed cave exists some 7 meters above the tunnel. This work has been supported by the Lendület Program of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (LP2013-60) and the OTKA NK-106119 grant. Gergely Gábor Barnaföld and Dezsö Varga thank for the support of the Bolyai Fellowship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

The Arizona Radio Observatory CO Mapping Survey of Galactic Molecular Clouds. V. The Sh2-235 Cloud in CO J=2-1, 13CO J=2-1, and CO J=3-2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bieging, John H.; Patel, Saahil; Peters, William L.; Toth, L. Viktor; Marton, Gábor; Zahorecz, Sarolta

2016-09-01

We present the results of a program to map the Sh2-235 molecular cloud complex in the CO and 13CO J = 2 - 1 transitions using the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope. The map resolution is 38″ (FWHM), with an rms noise of 0.12 K brightness temperature, for a velocity resolution of 0.34 km s-1. With the same telescope, we also mapped the CO J = 3 - 2 line at a frequency of 345 GHz, using a 64 beam focal plane array of heterodyne mixers, achieving a typical rms noise of 0.5 K brightness temperature with a velocity resolution of 0.23 km s-1. The three spectral line data cubes are available for download. Much of the cloud appears to be slightly sub-thermally excited in the J = 3 level, except for in the vicinity of the warmest and highest column density areas, which are currently forming stars. Using the CO and 13CO J = 2 - 1 lines, we employ an LTE model to derive the gas column density over the entire mapped region. Examining a 125 pc2 region centered on the most active star formation in the vicinity of Sh2-235, we find that the young stellar object surface density scales as approximately the 1.6-power of the gas column density. The area distribution function of the gas is a steeply declining exponential function of gas column density. Comparison of the morphology of ionized and molecular gas suggests that the cloud is being substantially disrupted by expansion of the H II regions, which may be triggering current star formation.

The recent NIR Flare of the Blazar CTA102

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrasco, L.; Escobedo, G.; Porras, A.; Recillas, E.; Chavushyan, V.; Mayya, D. Y.

2018-01-01

Following the report of increased Gamma-Ray activity detected by AGILE of the high redshift QSO (z=1.037) CTA102 cross identified with the radio source 4C+11.69 and the Gamma-ray source 2FGLJ2232.4+1143 by Lucarelli et al.(ATEL #11045).

SEPARATION OF OCTYLPHENOL POLYETHER ALCOHOLS SURFACTANTS BY CAPILLARY COLUMN AND HPLC

EPA Science Inventory

Separation of nonionic octylphenol polyether alcohols (OPA) by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and HPLC is described. sing a density programming and a 50-pm i.d. capillary column, a total of 18 group oligomers was separated. he effects of the operating parameters, such a...

X-Ray Wind Tomography of IGR J17252-3616

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manousakis, Antonios; Walter, Roland

2010-07-01

IGR J17252-3616, a highly absorbed High Mass X-ray Binary (HMXB) with Hydrogen column density NH~(2-4)×1023 cm-2, has been observed with XMM-Newton for about one month. Observations were scheduled in order to cover the orbital-phase space as much as possible. IGR J17252-3616 shows a varying column density NH and Fe Kα line when fit with simple phenomenological models. A refined orbital solution can be derived. Spectral timing analysis allows derivation of the wind properties of the massive star.

An Atlas of Computed Equivalent Widths of Quasar Broad Emission Lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korista, Kirk; Baldwin, Jack; Ferland, Gary; Verner, Dima

We present graphically the results of several thousand photoionization calculations of broad emission-line clouds in quasars, spanning 7 orders of magnitude in hydrogen ionizing flux and particle density. The equivalent widths of 42 quasar emission lines are presented as contours in the particle density-ionizing flux plane for a typical incident continuum shape, solar chemical abundances, and cloud column density of N(H) = 1023 cm-2. Results are similarly given for a small subset of emission lines for two other column densities (1022 and 1024 cm-2), five other incident continuum shapes, and a gas metallicity of 5 Z⊙. These graphs should prove useful in the analysis of quasar emission-line data and in the detailed modeling of quasar broad emission-line regions. The digital results of these emission-line grids and many more are available over the Internet.

Effects of solvent density on retention in gas-liquid chromatography. I. Alkanes solutes in polyethylene glycol stationary phases.

PubMed

González, F R; Pérez-Parajón, J; García-Domínguez, J A

2002-04-12

Gas-liquid chromatographic columns were prepared coating silica capillaries with poly(oxyethylene) polymers of different molecular mass distributions, in the range of low number-average molar masses, where the density still varies significantly. A novel, high-temperature, rapid evaporation method was developed and applied to the static coating of the low-molecular-mass stationary phases. The analysis of alkanes retention data from these columns reveals that the dependence of the partition coefficient with the solvent macroscopic density is mainly due to a variation of entropy. Enthalpies of solute transfer contribute poorly to the observed variations of retention. Since the alkanes solubility diminishes with the increasing solvent density, and this variation is weakly dependent with temperature, it is concluded that the decrease of free-volume in the liquid is responsible for this behavior.

Desorption and Bioavailability of PAHs in Contaminated Soil Subjected to Long-Term In Situ Biostimulation

PubMed Central

Richardson, Stephen D.; Aitken, Michael D.

2011-01-01

The distribution and potential bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil from a former manufactured-gas plant (MGP) site were examined before and after long-term biostimulation under simulated in situ conditions. Treated soil was collected from the oxygenated zones of two continuous-flow columns, one subjected to biostimulation and the other serving as a control, and separated into low- and high-density fractions. In the original soil, over 50% of the total PAH mass was associated with lower-density particles, which comprised < 2% of the total soil mass. However, desorbable fractions of PAHs were much lower in the low-density material than in the high-density material. After over 500 d of biostimulation, significant removal of total PAHs occurred in both the high- and low-density materials (77% and 53%, respectively), with three- and four-ring PAHs accounting for the majority of the observed mass loss. Total PAHs that desorbed over a 28-d period were substantially lower in treated soil from the biostimulated column than in the original soil for both the high-density material (23 versus 63%) and low-density material (5 versus 20%). The fast-desorbing fractions quantified by a two-site desorption model ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 for most PAHs in the original soil but were essentially zero in the biostimulated soil. The fast-desorbing fractions in the original soil underestimated the extent of PAH biodegradation observed in the biostimulated column, and thus was not a good predictor of PAH bioavailability after long-term, simulated in situ biostimulation. PMID:21932296

STAR FORMATION IN TURBULENT MOLECULAR CLOUDS WITH COLLIDING FLOW

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matsumoto, Tomoaki; Dobashi, Kazuhito; Shimoikura, Tomomi, E-mail: matsu@hosei.ac.jp

2015-03-10

Using self-gravitational hydrodynamical numerical simulations, we investigated the evolution of high-density turbulent molecular clouds swept by a colliding flow. The interaction of shock waves due to turbulence produces networks of thin filamentary clouds with a sub-parsec width. The colliding flow accumulates the filamentary clouds into a sheet cloud and promotes active star formation for initially high-density clouds. Clouds with a colliding flow exhibit a finer filamentary network than clouds without a colliding flow. The probability distribution functions (PDFs) for the density and column density can be fitted by lognormal functions for clouds without colliding flow. When the initial turbulence ismore » weak, the column density PDF has a power-law wing at high column densities. The colliding flow considerably deforms the PDF, such that the PDF exhibits a double peak. The stellar mass distributions reproduced here are consistent with the classical initial mass function with a power-law index of –1.35 when the initial clouds have a high density. The distribution of stellar velocities agrees with the gas velocity distribution, which can be fitted by Gaussian functions for clouds without colliding flow. For clouds with colliding flow, the velocity dispersion of gas tends to be larger than the stellar velocity dispersion. The signatures of colliding flows and turbulence appear in channel maps reconstructed from the simulation data. Clouds without colliding flow exhibit a cloud-scale velocity shear due to the turbulence. In contrast, clouds with colliding flow show a prominent anti-correlated distribution of thin filaments between the different velocity channels, suggesting collisions between the filamentary clouds.« less

Evaluating the precision of passive sampling methods using PRCs in the water column.

EPA Science Inventory

To assess these models, four different thicknesses of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) passive samplers were co-deployed for 28 days in the water column at three sites in New Bedford Harbor, MA, USA. Each sampler was pre-loaded with six PCB performance reference compounds (PRCs) t...

SEPARATION OF T-MAZ ETHOXYLATED SORBITAN FATTY ACID ESTERS BY SUPERCRITICAL FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

EPA Science Inventory

The application of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) to the analysis of T-MAZ ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid esters is described. FC separation methods utilize a density programming technique and a 50 um I.D. capillary column. his work demonstrates that capillary column S...

SEPARATION OF OCTYLPHENOL POLYETHER ALCOHOLS SURFACTANTS BY CAPILLARY COLUMN SFC AND HPLC

EPA Science Inventory

Separation of nonionic octylphenol polyether alcohols (OPA) by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and HPLC is described. Using a density programming and a 50-μm i.d. capillary column, a total of 18 group oligomers was separated. The effects of the operating parameters, such...

Structure and stability in TMC-1: Analysis of NH3 molecular line and Herschel continuum data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fehér, O.; Tóth, L. V.; Ward-Thompson, D.; Kirk, J.; Kraus, A.; Pelkonen, V.-M.; Pintér, S.; Zahorecz, S.

2016-05-01

Aims: We examined the velocity, density, and temperature structure of Taurus molecular cloud-1 (TMC-1), a filamentary cloud in a nearby quiescent star forming area, to understand its morphology and evolution. Methods: We observed high signal-to-noise (S/N), high velocity resolution NH3(1,1), and (2, 2) emission on an extended map. By fitting multiple hyperfine-split line profiles to the NH3(1, 1) spectra, we derived the velocity distribution of the line components and calculated gas parameters on several positions. Herschel SPIRE far-infrared continuum observations were reduced and used to calculate the physical parameters of the Planck Galactic Cold Clumps (PGCCs) in the region, including the two in TMC-1. The morphology of TMC-1 was investigated with several types of clustering methods in the parameter space consisting of position, velocity, and column density. Results: Our Herschel-based column density map shows a main ridge with two local maxima and a separated peak to the south-west. The H2 column densities and dust colour temperatures are in the range of 0.5-3.3 × 1022 cm-2 and 10.5-12 K, respectively. The NH3 column densities and H2 volume densities are in the range of 2.8-14.2 × 1014 cm-2 and 0.4-2.8 × 104 cm-3. Kinetic temperatures are typically very low with a minimum of 9 K at the maximum NH3 and H2 column density region. The kinetic temperature maximum was found at the protostar IRAS 04381+2540 with a value of 13.7 K. The kinetic temperatures vary similarly to the colour temperatures in spite of the fact that densities are lower than the critical density for coupling between the gas and dust phase. The k-means clustering method separated four sub-filaments in TMC-1 with masses of 32.5, 19.6, 28.9, and 45.9 M⊙ and low turbulent velocity dispersion in the range of 0.13-0.2 km s-1. Conclusions: The main ridge of TMC-1 is composed of four sub-filaments that are close to gravitational equilibrium. We label these TMC-1F1 through F4. The sub-filaments TMC-1F1, TMC-1F2, and TMC-1F4 are very elongated, dense, and cold. TMC-1F3 is a little less elongated and somewhat warmer, and probably heated by the Class I protostar, IRAS 04381+2540, which is embedded in it. TMC-1F3 is approximately 0.1 pc behind TMC1-F1. Because of its structure, TMC-1 is a good target to test filament evolution scenarios.

The Mass and Absorption Columns of Galactic Gaseous Halos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qu, Zhijie; Bregman, Joel N.

2018-01-01

The gaseous halo surrounding the galaxy is a reservoir for the gas on the galaxy disk, supplying materials for the star formation. We developed a gaseous halo model connecting the galactic disk and the gaseous halo by assuming the star formation rate is equal to the radiative cooling rate. Besides the single-phase collisional gaseous halo, we also consider the photoionization effect and a time-independent cooling model that assumes the mass cooling rate is constant over all temperatures. The photoionization dominates the low mass galaxy and the outskirts of the massive galaxy due to the low-temperature or low-density nature. The multi-phase cooling model dominates the denser region within the cooling radius, where the efficient radiative cooling must be included. Applying these two improvements, our model can reproduce the most of observed high ionization state ions (i.e., O VI, O VII, Ne VIII and Mg X). Our models show that the O VI column density is almost a constant of around 10^14 cm^-2 over a wide stellar mass from M_\\star ~10^8 M_Sun to 10^11 M_Sun, which is constant with current observations. This model also implies the O VI is photoionized for the galaxy with a halo mass <~ 3 * 10^11 M_Sun, while for more massive galaxies, the O VI is from the cooling-down medium from higher temperature materials (collisional ionized). As higher ionization states, Mg X and Ne VIII are also consistent with observations with the column density of 10^13.5 - 10^14.0 cm^-2, however, the absorber-galaxy pair sample is few to constrain the connection with the galaxy. Based on our calculation, such a gaseous halo cannot close the census of baryonic materials in the galaxy, which shows the same tendency as the baryonic fraction function of the EAGLE simulation. Finally, our model predicts plateaus of the Ne VIII and the Mg X column densities above the sub-L^* galaxy, and the possibly detectable O VII and O VIII column densities for low-mass galaxies, which help to determine the required detection limit for the future observations and missions.

Detections of Long Carbon Chains CH_{3}CCCCH, C_{6}H, LINEAR-C_{6}H_{2} and C_{7}H in the Low-Mass Star Forming Region L1527

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Araki, Mitsunori; Takano, Shuro; Sakai, Nami; Yamamoto, Satoshi; Oyama, Takahiro; Kuze, Nobuhiko; Tsukiyama, Koichi

2017-06-01

Carbon chains in the warm carbon chain chemistry (WCCC) region has been searched in the 42-44 GHz region by using Green Bank 100 m telescope. Long carbon chains C_{7}H, C_{6}H, CH_{3}CCCCH, and linear-C_{6}H_{2} and cyclic species C_{3}H and C_{3}H_{2}O have been detected in the low-mass star forming region L1527, performing the WCCC. C_{7}H was detected for the first time in molecular clouds. The column density of C_{7}H is derived to be 6.2 × 10^{10} cm^{-2} by using the detected J = 24.5-23.5 and 25.5-24.5 rotational lines. The ^{2}Π_{1/2} electronic state of C_{6}H, locating 21.6 K above the ^{2}Π_{3/2} electronic ground state, and the K_a = 0 line of the para species of linear-C_{6}H_{2} were also detected firstly in molecular clouds. The column densities of the ^{2}Π_{1/2} and ^{2}Π_{3/2} states of C_{6}H in L1527 were derived to be 1.6 × 10^{11} and 1.1 × 10^{12} cm^{-2}, respectively. The total column density of linear-C_{6}H_{2} is obtained to be 1.86 × 10^{11} cm^{-2}. While the abundance ratios of carbon chains in between L1527 and the starless dark cloud Taurus Molecular Cloud-1 Cyanopolyyne Peak (TMC-1 CP) have a trend of decrease by extension of carbon-chain length, column densities of CH_{3}CCCCH and C_{6}H are on the trend. However, the column densities of linear-C_{6}H_{2}, and C_{7}H are as abundant as those of TMC-1 CP in spite of long carbon chain, i.e., they are not on the trend. The abundances of linear-C_{6}H_{2} and C_{7}H show that L1527 is rich for long carbon chains as well as TMC-1 CP.

First detection of hydrogen in the β Pictoris gas disk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, P. A.; Lecavelier des Etangs, A.; Vidal-Madjar, A.; Bourrier, V.; Hébrard, G.; Kiefer, F.; Beust, H.; Ferlet, R.; Lagrange, A.-M.

2017-03-01

The young and nearby star β Pictoris (β Pic) is surrounded by a debris disk composed of dust and gas known to host a myriad evaporating exocomets, planetesimals and at least one planet. At an edge-on inclination, as seen from Earth, this system is ideal for debris disk studies providing an excellent opportunity to use absorption spectroscopy to study the planet forming environment. Using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) we observe the most abundant element in the disk, hydrogen, through the H I Lyman α (Ly-α) line. We present a new technique to decrease the contamination of the Ly-α line by geocoronal airglow in COS spectra. This Airglow Virtual Motion (AVM) technique allows us to shift the Ly-α line of the astrophysical target away from the contaminating airglow emission revealing more of the astrophysical line profile. This new AVM technique, together with subtraction of an airglow emission map, allows us to analyse the shape of the β Pic Ly-α emission line profile and from it, calculate the column density of neutral hydrogen surrounding β Pic. The column density of hydrogen in the β Pic stable gas disk at the stellar radial velocity is measured to be log (NH/ 1 cm2) ≪ 18.5. The Ly-α emission line profile is found to be asymmetric and we propose that this is caused by H I falling in towards the star with a bulk radial velocity of 41 ± 6 km s-1 relative to β Pic and a column density of log (NH/ 1 cm2) = 18.6 ± 0.1. The high column density of hydrogen relative to the hydrogen content of CI chondrite meteorites indicates that the bulk of the hydrogen gas does not come from the dust in the disk. This column density reveals a hydrogen abundance much lower than solar, which excludes the possibility that the detected hydrogen could be a remnant of the protoplanetary disk or gas expelled by the star. We hypothesise that the hydrogen gas observed falling towards the star arises from the dissociation of water originating from evaporating exocomets.

Internal waves interacting with particles in suspension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micard, Diane

2016-04-01

Internal waves are produced as a consequence of the dynamic balance between buoy- ancy and gravity forces when a particle of fluid is vertically displaced in a stable stratified environment. Geophysical systems such as ocean and atmosphere are naturally stratified and therefore suitable for internal waves to propagate. Furthermore, these two environ- ments stock a vast amount of particles in suspension, which present a large spectrum of physical properties (size, density, shape), and can be organic, mineral or pollutant agents. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that internal waves will have an active effect over the dynamics of these particles. In order to study the interaction of internal waves and suspended particles, an ide- alized experimental setup has been implemented. A linear stratification is produced in a 80×40×17 cm3 tank, in which two dimensional plane waves are created thanks to the inno- vative wave generator GOAL. In addition, a particle injector has been developed to produce a vertical column of particles within the fluid, displaying the same two-dimensional sym- metry as the waves. The particle injector allows to control the volumic fraction of particles and the size of the column. The presence of internal waves passing through the column of particles allowed to observe two main effects: The column oscillates around an equilibrium position (which is observed in both, the contours an the interior of the column), and the column is displaced as a whole. The column is displaced depending on the characteristics of the column, the gradient of the density, and the intensity and frequency of the wave. When displaced, the particles within the column are sucked towards the source of waves. The direction of the displacement of the column is explained by computing the effect of the Lagrangian drift generated by the wave over the time the particles stay in the wave beam before settling.

Galactic interstellar abundance surveys with IUE and IRAS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Van Steenberg, M.E.

1987-01-01

This thesis is a survey of interstellar densities, abundances, and cloud structure in the Galaxy, using two NASA satellites: the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). From IUE high-resolution spectra, the author measured equivalent widths of 18 ultraviolet resonance transitions and derived column densities for Si/sup +/, Mn/sup +/, Fe/sup +/, S/sup +/, and Zn/sup +/ toward 261 early-type stars. From the IRAS all-sky survey he also measured the infrared cirrus flux. He examined the variations of the measured parameters with spectral type, E(B-V), galactic longitude and latitude, distance from the Sun, and mean density. The hydrogen-columnmore » densities, metal-column densities, and gas-to-dust ratio are in good agreement with Copernicus surveys. The derived interstellar abundances yield mean logarithmic depletions. These depletions correlate with mean density but not with the physical density derived from Copernicus H/sub 2/ rotational states. Abundance ratios indicate a larger Fe halo abundance compared to Si, Mn, S, or Zn, which may result from selective grain processing in shocks or from Type I supernovae.« less

Smooth H I Low Column Density Outskirts in Nearby Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ianjamasimanana, R.; Walter, Fabian; de Blok, W. J. G.; Heald, George H.; Brinks, Elias

2018-06-01

The low column density gas at the outskirts of galaxies as traced by the 21 cm hydrogen line emission (H I) represents the interface between galaxies and the intergalactic medium, i.e., where galaxies are believed to get their supply of gas to fuel future episodes of star formation. Photoionization models predict a break in the radial profiles of H I at a column density of ∼5 × 1019 cm‑2 due to the lack of self-shielding against extragalactic ionizing photons. To investigate the prevalence of such breaks in galactic disks and to characterize what determines the potential edge of the H I disks, we study the azimuthally averaged H I column density profiles of 17 nearby galaxies from the H I Nearby Galaxy Survey and supplemented in two cases with published Hydrogen Accretion in LOcal GAlaxieS data. To detect potential faint H I emission that would otherwise be undetected using conventional moment map analysis, we line up individual profiles to the same reference velocity and average them azimuthally to derive stacked radial profiles. To do so, we use model velocity fields created from a simple extrapolation of the rotation curves to align the profiles in velocity at radii beyond the extent probed with the sensitivity of traditional integrated H I maps. With this method, we improve our sensitivity to outer-disk H I emission by up to an order of magnitude. Except for a few disturbed galaxies, none show evidence of a sudden change in the slope of the H I radial profiles: the alleged signature of ionization by the extragalactic background.

Survey Observations to Study Chemical Evolution from High-mass Starless Cores to High-mass Protostellar Objects. I. HC3N and HC5N

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taniguchi, Kotomi; Saito, Masao; Sridharan, T. K.; Minamidani, Tetsuhiro

2018-02-01

We carried out survey observations of HC3N and HC5N in the 42‑45 GHz band toward 17 high-mass starless cores (HMSCs) and 35 high-mass protostellar objects (HMPOs) with the Nobeyama 45 m radio telescope. We have detected HC3N from 15 HMSCs and 28 HMPOs, and HC5N from 5 HMSCs and 14 HMPOs, respectively. The average values of the column density of HC3N are found to be (5.7+/- 0.7) × {10}12 and (1.03+/- 0.12)×{10}13 cm‑2 in HMSCs and HMPOs, respectively. The average values of the fractional abundance of HC3N are derived to be (6.6+/- 0.8)× {10}-11 and (3.6+/- 0.5)× {10}-11 in HMSCs and HMPOs, respectively. We find that the fractional abundance of HC3N decreases from HMSCs to HMPOs using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. On the other hand, its average value of the column density slightly increases from HMSCs to HMPOs. This may imply that HC3N is newly formed in dense gas in HMPO regions. We also investigate the relationship between the column density of HC3N in HMPOs and the luminosity-to-mass ratio (L/M), a physical evolutional indicator. The column density of HC3N tends to decrease with the increase of the L/M ratio, which suggests that HC3N is destroyed by the stellar activities.

An X-Ray Spectral Model for Clumpy Tori in Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yuan; Li, Xiaobo

2014-05-01

We construct an X-ray spectral model for the clumpy torus in an active galactic nucleus (AGN) using Geant4, which includes the physical processes of the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, Rayleigh scattering, γ conversion, fluorescence line, and Auger process. Since the electrons in the torus are expected to be bounded instead of free, the deviation of the scattering cross section from the Klein-Nishina cross section has also been included, which changes the X-ray spectra by up to 25% below 10 keV. We have investigated the effect of the clumpiness parameters on the reflection spectra and the strength of the fluorescent line Fe Kα. The volume filling factor of the clouds in the clumpy torus only slightly influences the reflection spectra, however, the total column density and the number of clouds along the line of sight significantly change the shapes and amplitudes of the reflection spectra. The effect of column density is similar to the case of a smooth torus, while a small number of clouds along the line of sight will smooth out the anisotropy of the reflection spectra and the fluorescent line Fe Kα. The smoothing effect is mild in the low column density case (N H = 1023 cm-2), whereas it is much more evident in the high column density case (N H = 1025 cm-2). Our model provides a quantitative tool for the spectral analysis of the clumpy torus. We suggest that the joint fits of the broad band spectral energy distributions of AGNs (from X-ray to infrared) should better constrain the structure of the torus.

Gravity or turbulence? IV. Collapsing cores in out-of-virial disguise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballesteros-Paredes, Javier; Vázquez-Semadeni, Enrique; Palau, Aina; Klessen, Ralf S.

2018-06-01

We study the dynamical state of massive cores by using a simple analytical model, an observational sample, and numerical simulations of collapsing massive cores. From the analytical model, we find that cores increase their column density and velocity dispersion as they collapse, resulting in a time evolution path in the Larson velocity dispersion-size diagram from large sizes and small velocity dispersions to small sizes and large velocity dispersions, while they tend to equipartition between gravity and kinetic energy. From the observational sample, we find that: (a) cores with substantially different column densities in the sample do not follow a Larson-like linewidth-size relation. Instead, cores with higher column densities tend to be located in the upper-left corner of the Larson velocity dispersion σv, 3D-size R diagram, a result explained in the hierarchical and chaotic collapse scenario. (b) Cores appear to have overvirial values. Finally, our numerical simulations reproduce the behavior predicted by the analytical model and depicted in the observational sample: collapsing cores evolve towards larger velocity dispersions and smaller sizes as they collapse and increase their column density. More importantly, however, they exhibit overvirial states. This apparent excess is due to the assumption that the gravitational energy is given by the energy of an isolated homogeneous sphere. However, such excess disappears when the gravitational energy is correctly calculated from the actual spatial mass distribution. We conclude that the observed energy budget of cores is consistent with their non-thermal motions being driven by their self-gravity and in the process of dynamical collapse.

Probing the structure of the gas in the Milky Way through X-ray high-resolution spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gatuzz, Efraín; Churazov, Eugene

2018-02-01

We have developed a new X-ray absorption model, called IONeq, which computes the optical depth τ(E) simultaneously for ions of all abundant elements, assuming ionization equilibrium and taking into account turbulent broadening. We use this model to analyse the interstellar medium (ISM) absorption features in the Milky Way for a sample of 18 Galactic (LMXBs) and 42 extragalactic sources (mainly Blazars). The absorbing ISM was modelled as a combination of three components/phases - neutral (T ≲ 1 × 104 K), warm (T ˜ 5 × 104 K) and hot (T ˜ 2 × 106 K). We found that the spatial distribution of both, neutral and warm components, are difficult to describe using smooth profiles due to non-uniform distribution of the column densities over the sky. For the hot phase we used a combination of a flattened disc and a halo, finding comparable column densities for both spatial components, of the order of ˜6-7 × 1018 cm-2, although this conclusion depends on the adopted parametrization. If the halo component has sub-solar abundance Z, then the column density has to be scaled up by a factor of Z_{⊙}/Z. The vertically integrated column densities of the disc components suggest the following mass fractions for these three ISM phases in the Galactic disc: neutral ˜ 89 per cent, warm ˜ 8 per cent and hot ˜ 3 per cent components, respectively. The constraints on the radial distribution of the halo component of the hot component are weak.

A RELATION BETWEEN THE WARM NEUTRAL AND IONIZED MEDIA OBSERVED IN THE CANADIAN GALACTIC PLANE SURVEY

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Foster, T.; Kothes, R.; Brown, J. C., E-mail: Tyler.Foster@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

2013-08-10

We report on a comparison between 21 cm rotation measure (RM) and the optically thin atomic hydrogen column density (N{sub H{sub I}}({tau} {yields} 0)) measured toward unresolved extragalactic sources in the Galactic plane of the northern sky. H I column densities integrated to the Galactic edge are measured immediately surrounding each of nearly 2000 sources in 1 arcmin 21 cm line data, and are compared to RMs observed from polarized emission of each source. RM data are binned in column density bins 4 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 20} cm{sup -2} wide, and one observes a strong relationship between the number of hydrogenmore » atoms in a 1 cm{sup 2} column through the plane and the mean RM along the same line of sight and path length. The relationship is linear over one order of magnitude (from 0.8 to 14 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 21} atoms cm{sup -2}) of column densities, with a constant RM/N{sub H{sub I}}{approx} -23.2 {+-} 2.3 rad m{sup -2}/10{sup 21} atoms cm{sup -2}, and a positive RM of 45.0 {+-} 13.8 rad m{sup -2} in the presence of no atomic hydrogen. This slope is used to calculate a mean volume-averaged magnetic field in the second quadrant of (B{sub Parallel-To }) {approx}1.0 {+-} 0.1 {mu}G directed away from the Sun, assuming an ionization fraction of 8% (consistent with the warm-neutral medium; WNM). The remarkable consistency between this field and (B) = 1.2 {mu}G found with the same RM sources and a Galactic model of dispersion measures (DMs) suggests that electrons in the partially ionized WNM are mainly responsible for pulsar DMs, and thus the partially ionized WNM is the dominant form of the magneto-ionic interstellar medium.« less

Quantitative measurements of vaporization, burst ionization, and emission characteristics of shaped charge barium releases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoch, Edward L.; Hallinan, Thomas J.; Stenbaek-Nielsen, Hans C.

1994-01-01

Intensity-calibrated color video recordings of three barium-shaped charge injections in the ionopshere were used to determine the initial ionization, the column density corresponding to unity optical depth, and the yield of vaporized barium in the fast jet. It was found that the initial ionization at the burst was less than 1% and that 0% burst ionization was consistent with the observations. Owing to the Doppler shift, the column density for optical thickness in the neutral barium varies somewhat according to the velocity distribution. For the cases examined here, the column density was 2-5 x 10(exp 10) atoms/sq cm. This value, which occurred 12 to 15 s after release, should be approximately valid for most shaped charge experiments. The yield was near 30% (15% in the fast jet) for two of the releases and was somewhat lower in the third, which also had a lower peak velocity. This study also demonstrated the applicability of the computer simulation code developed for chemical releases by Stenbaek-Nielsen and provided experimental verification of the Doppler-corrected emission rates calculated b Stenbaek-Nielsen (1989).

Analysis of interstellar cloud structure based on IRAS images

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scalo, John M.

1992-01-01

The goal of this project was to develop new tools for the analysis of the structure of densely sampled maps of interstellar star-forming regions. A particular emphasis was on the recognition and characterization of nested hierarchical structure and fractal irregularity, and their relation to the level of star formation activity. The panoramic IRAS images provided data with the required range in spatial scale, greater than a factor of 100, and in column density, greater than a factor of 50. In order to construct densely sampled column density maps of star-forming clouds, column density images of four nearby cloud complexes were constructed from IRAS data. The regions have various degrees of star formation activity, and most of them have probably not been affected much by the disruptive effects of young massive stars. The largest region, the Scorpius-Ophiuchus cloud complex, covers about 1000 square degrees (it was subdivided into a few smaller regions for analysis). Much of the work during the early part of the project focused on an 80 square degree region in the core of the Taurus complex, a well-studied region of low-mass star formation.

Quasara: Ancient, Awesome Violence. Exploring the Universe.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harrington, Sherwood, Comp.

This information packet on quasars consists of an introductory paper, four articles from "Mercury," a journal of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and a bibliography. Methods used to measure distances in the universe and the nature of quasi-stellar objects (QSO's), the name preferred by many workers in the field, are discussed in…

QSO Narrow [OIII] Line Width and Host Galaxy Luminosity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonning, E. W.; Shields, G. A.; Salviander, S.

2004-05-01

Established correlations between galaxy bulge luminosity L, black hole mass MBH, and stellar velocity dispersion sigma in galaxies suggest a close relationship between the growth of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies. Measurements of the MBH - sigma relationship as a function of cosmic time may shed light on the origin of this relationship. One approach is to derive MBH and sigma from the widths of QSO broad and narrow lines, respectively (Shields et al. 2003, ApJ, 583, 124; Nelson 2000, ApJ, 544, L91). We investigate the utility of using the velocity of the narrow line emitting gas as a surrogate for stellar velocity dispersion in QSOs by examining host magnitudes and [OIII] line widths for low redshift QSOs. For our limited range of L, the increase in sigma with L predicted by the Faber-Jackson relation is substantially obscured by scatter. However, sigma([O III]) is consistent in the mean with host galaxy luminosity. EWB is a NASA GSRP fellow. GAS and SS are supported under Texas Advanced Research Program grant 003658-0177-2001 and NSF grant AST-0098594.

Discovery of Associated Absorption Lines in an X-Ray Warm Absorber: Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph Observations of MR 2251-178

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Monier, Eric M.; Mathur, Smita; Wilkes, Belinda; Elvis, Martin

2001-01-01

The presence of a 'warm absorber' was first suggested to explain spectral variability in an X-ray spectrum of the radio-quiet quasi-stellar object (QSO) MR 2251-178. A unified picture, in which X-ray warm absorbers and 'intrinsic' UV absorbers are the same, offers the opportunity to probe the nuclear environment of active galactic nuclei. To test this scenario and understand the physical properties of the absorber, we obtained a UV spectrum of MR 2251-178 with the Faint Object Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The HST spectrum clearly shows absorption due to Lyalpha, N v, and C IV, blueshifted by 300 km s(exp -1) from the emission redshift of the QSO. The rarity of both X-ray and UV absorbers in radio-quiet QSOs suggests these absorbers are physically related, if not identical. Assuming the unified scenario, we place constraints on the physical parameters of the absorber and conclude the mass outflow rate is essentially the same as the accretion rate in MR 2251-178.

Density-driven transport of gas phase chemicals in unsaturated soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fen, Chiu-Shia; Sun, Yong-tai; Cheng, Yuen; Chen, Yuanchin; Yang, Whaiwan; Pan, Changtai

2018-01-01

Variations of gas phase density are responsible for advective and diffusive transports of organic vapors in unsaturated soils. Laboratory experiments were conducted to explore dense gas transport (sulfur hexafluoride, SF6) from different source densities through a nitrogen gas-dry soil column. Gas pressures and SF6 densities at transient state were measured along the soil column for three transport configurations (horizontal, vertically upward and vertically downward transport). These measurements and others reported in the literature were compared with simulation results obtained from two models based on different diffusion approaches: the dusty gas model (DGM) equations and a Fickian-type molar fraction-based diffusion expression. The results show that the DGM and Fickian-based models predicted similar dense gas density profiles which matched the measured data well for horizontal transport of dense gas at low to high source densities, despite the pressure variations predicted in the soil column were opposite to the measurements. The pressure evolutions predicted by both models were in trend similar to the measured ones for vertical transport of dense gas. However, differences between the dense gas densities predicted by the DGM and Fickian-based models were discernible for vertically upward transport of dense gas even at low source densities, as the DGM-based predictions matched the measured data better than the Fickian results did. For vertically downward transport, the dense gas densities predicted by both models were not greatly different from our experimental measurements, but substantially greater than the observations obtained from the literature, especially at high source densities. Further research will be necessary for exploring factors affecting downward transport of dense gas in soil columns. Use of the measured data to compute flux components of SF6 showed that the magnitudes of diffusive flux component based on the Fickian-type diffusion expressions in terms of molar concentration, molar fraction and mass density fraction gradient were almost the same. However, they were greater than the result computed with the mass fraction gradient for > 24% and the DGM-based result for more than one time. As a consequence, the DGM-based total flux of SF6 was in magnitude greatly less than the Fickian result not only for horizontal transport (diffusion-dominating) but also for vertical transport (advection and diffusion) of dense gas. Particularly, the Fickian-based total flux was more than two times in magnitude as much as the DGM result for vertically upward transport of dense gas.

The Nature of Turbulence in the LITTLE THINGS Dwarf Irregular Galaxies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maier, Erin; Chien, Li-Hsin; Hollyday, Gigja

We present probability density functions and higher order (skewness and kurtosis) analyses of the galaxy-wide and spatially resolved distributions of H i column density in the LITTLE THINGS sample of dwarf irregular galaxies. This analysis follows that of Burkhart et al. for the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). About 60% of our sample have galaxy-wide values of kurtosis that are similar to that found for the SMC, with a range up to much higher values, and kurtosis increases with integrated star formation rate. Kurtosis and skewness were calculated for radial annuli and for a grid of 32 pixel × 32 pixel kernels acrossmore » each galaxy. For most galaxies, kurtosis correlates with skewness. For about half of the galaxies, there is a trend of increasing kurtosis with radius. The range of kurtosis and skewness values is modeled by small variations in the Mach number close to the sonic limit and by conversion of H i to molecules at high column density. The maximum H i column densities decrease with increasing radius in a way that suggests molecules are forming in the weak-field limit, where H{sub 2} formation balances photodissociation in optically thin gas at the edges of clouds.« less

Gaussian model for emission rate measurement of heated plumes using hyperspectral data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grauer, Samuel J.; Conrad, Bradley M.; Miguel, Rodrigo B.; Daun, Kyle J.

2018-02-01

This paper presents a novel model for measuring the emission rate of a heated gas plume using hyperspectral data from an FTIR imaging spectrometer. The radiative transfer equation (RTE) is used to relate the spectral intensity of a pixel to presumed Gaussian distributions of volume fraction and temperature within the plume, along a line-of-sight that corresponds to the pixel, whereas previous techniques exclusively presume uniform distributions for these parameters. Estimates of volume fraction and temperature are converted to a column density by integrating the local molecular density along each path. Image correlation velocimetry is then employed on raw spectral intensity images to estimate the volume-weighted normal velocity at each pixel. Finally, integrating the product of velocity and column density along a control surface yields an estimate of the instantaneous emission rate. For validation, emission rate estimates were derived from synthetic hyperspectral images of a heated methane plume, generated using data from a large-eddy simulation. Calculating the RTE with Gaussian distributions of volume fraction and temperature, instead of uniform distributions, improved the accuracy of column density measurement by 14%. Moreover, the mean methane emission rate measured using our approach was within 4% of the ground truth. These results support the use of Gaussian distributions of thermodynamic properties in calculation of the RTE for optical gas diagnostics.

Application of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and its magnetite derivative for emulsified oil removal from produced water.

PubMed

Ibrahim, Taleb H; Sabri, Muhammad A; Khamis, Mustafa I

2018-05-10

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their magnetite derivatives were employed as adsorbents for emulsified oil removal from produced water. The experimental parameters for maximum emulsified oil removal efficiency and effective regeneration of these adsorbents were determined. The optimum parameters in terms of adsorbent dosage, contact time, salinity, pH and temperature were 3.0 g/L, 20.0 min, 0 ppm, 7.0 and 25°C for both adsorbents. Due to their low density, multiwalledcarbon nanotubes could not be successfully employed in packed bed columns. The magnetite derivative has a larger density and hence, for the removal of emulsified oil from produced water packed bed column studies were performed utilizing multiwalled carbon magnetite nanotubes. The packed bed column efficiency and behaviour were evaluated using Thomas, Clark, Yan et al. and Bohart and Adams models. The Yan model was found to best describe the column experimental data. The adsorbents were regenerated using n-hexane and reused several times for oil removal from produced water without any significant decrease in their initial adsorption capacities.

The structure of the ISM in the Zone of Avoidance by high-resolution multi-wavelength observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tóth, L. V.; Doi, Y.; Pinter, S.; Kovács, T.; Zahorecz, S.; Bagoly, Z.; Balázs, L. G.; Horvath, I.; Racz, I. I.; Onishi, T.

2018-05-01

We estimate the column density of the Galactic foreground interstellar medium (GFISM) in the direction of extragalactic sources. All-sky AKARI FIS infrared sky survey data might be used to trace the GFISM with a resolution of 2 arcminutes. The AKARI based GFISM hydrogen column density estimates are compared with similar quantities based on HI 21cm measurements of various resolution and of Planck results. High spatial resolution observations of the GFISM may be important recalculating the physical parameters of gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxies using the updated foreground parameters.

Detection of a new carbon-chain molecule, CCO

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohishi, Masatoshi; Ishikawa, Shin-Ichi; Yamada, Chikashi; Kanamori, Hideto; Irvine, William M.; Brown, Ronald D.; Godfrey, Peter D.; Kaifu, Norio; Suzuki, Hiroko

1991-01-01

A new carbon-chain molecule, CCO 3Sigma(-), has been detected in the cold dark molecular cloud TMC-1. The excitation temperature and the column density of CCO are, respectively, about 6 K and about 6 x 10 to the 11th/sq cm. This column density corresponds to a fractional abundance relative to H2 of about 6 x 10 to the -11th. This value is two orders of magnitude less than the abundance of the related carbon-chain molecule CCS, and about half that of C3O. The formation mechanism for CCO is discussed.

CS band intensity and column densities and production rates of 15 comets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanzovo, G. C.; Singh, P. D.; Huebner, W. F.

1993-09-01

An accurate fluorescence efficiency of the CS(0,0) band and the lifetime of CS have been calculated at 1 AU heliocentric distance. Model-independent CS column densities and production rates are determined from derived fluorescent emission rates (g-factors) and lifetimes for 15 comets: Austin (1982g), Borrelly (1980i), Bradfield (1979X), Crommelin (1983n), Encke (1980), Encke (1984), Giacobini-Zinner (1984e), Halley (1982i), IRAS-Araki-Alcock (1983d), Meier (1980q), Panther (1980u), Stephan-Oterma (1980g), Tuttle (1980h), West (1975n), and Wilson (1986l).

CS band intensity and column densities and production rates of 15 comets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanzovo, G. C.; Singh, P. D.; Huebner, W. F.

1993-01-01

An accurate fluorescence efficiency of the CS(0,0) band and the lifetime of CS have been calculated at 1 AU heliocentric distance. Model-independent CS column densities and production rates are determined from derived fluorescent emission rates (g-factors) and lifetimes for 15 comets: Austin (1982g), Borrelly (1980i), Bradfield (1979X), Crommelin (1983n), Encke (1980), Encke (1984), Giacobini-Zinner (1984e), Halley (1982i), IRAS-Araki-Alcock (1983d), Meier (1980q), Panther (1980u), Stephan-Oterma (1980g), Tuttle (1980h), West (1975n), and Wilson (1986l).

Diurnal variation of stratospheric chlorine monoxide - A critical test of chlorine chemistry in the ozone layer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Solomon, P. M.; De Zafra, R.; Parrish, A.; Barrett, J. W.

1984-01-01

Ground-based observations of a mm-wave spectral line at 278 GHz have yielded stratospheric chlorine monoxide column density diurnal variation records which indicate that the mixing ratio and column density of this compound above 30 km are about 20 percent lower than model predictions based on 2.1 parts/billion of total stratospheric chlorine. The observed day-to-night variation is, however, in good agreement with recent model predictions, both confirming the existence of a nighttime reservoir for chlorine and verifying the predicted general rate of its storage and retrieval.

Directed self-assembly into low-density colloidal liquid crystal phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Yongxiang; Romano, Flavio; Dullens, Roel P. A.; Doye, Jonathan K.; Aarts, Dirk G. A. L.

2018-01-01

Alignment of anisometric particles into liquid crystals (LCs) often results from an entropic competition between their rotational and translational degrees of freedom at dense packings. Here we show that by selectively functionalizing the heads of colloidal rods with magnetic nanoparticles this tendency can be broken to direct the particles into novel, low-density LC phases. Under an external magnetic field, the magnetic heads line up in columns whereas the nonmagnetic tails point out randomly in a plane perpendicular to the columns, forming bottle-brush-like objects; laterally, the bottle brushes are entropically stabilized against coalescence. Experiments and simulations show that upon increasing the particle density the system goes from a dilute gas to a dense two-dimensional liquid of bottle brushes with a density well below the zero-field nematic phase. Our findings offer a strategy for self-assembly into three-dimensional open phases that may find applications in switchable photonics, filtration, and light-weight materials.

Yet another UFO in the X-ray spectrum of a high-z lensed QSO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dadina, M.; Vignali, C.; Cappi, M.; Lanzuisi, G.; Ponti, G.; Torresi, E.; De Marco, B.; Chartas, G.; Giustini, M.

2018-02-01

Aim. Ultra-fast outflows (UFO) appear to be common in local active galactic nuclei (AGN) and may be powerful enough (Ėkin ≥ 1% of Lbol) to effectively quench the star formation in their host galaxies. To test feedback models based on AGN outflows, it is mandatory to investigate UFOs near the peak of AGN activity, that is, at high-z where only a few studies are available to date. Methods: UFOs produce Fe resonant absorption lines measured above ≈7 keV. The most critical problem in detecting such features in distant objects is the difficulty in obtaining X-ray data with sufficient signal-to-noise. We therefore selected a distant QSO that gravitational lensing made bright enough for these purposes, the z = 2.64 QSO MG J0414+0534, and observed it with XMM-Newton for ≈78 ks. Results: The X-ray spectrum of MG J0414+0534 is complex and shows signatures of cold absorption (NH ≈ 4 × 1022 cm-2) and of the presence of an iron emission line (E ≈ 6.4 keV, EW = 95 ± 53 eV) consistent with it originating in the cold absorber. Our main result, however, is the robust detection (more than 5σ) of an absorption line at Eint ≈ 9.2 keV (Eobs ≈ 2.5 keV observer frame). If interpreted as due to FeXXVI, it implies gas outflowing at vout ≈ 0.3c. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of an UFO in a radio-loud quasar at z ≥ 1.5. We estimated that the UFO mechanical output is Ėkin ≈ 2.5Lbol with ṗout/ṗrad ≈ 17 indicating that it is capable of installing significant feedback between the super-massive black hole and the bulge of the host galaxy. We argue that this also suggests a magnetic driving origin of the UFO.

The puzzling case of the radio-loud QSO 3C 186: a gravitational wave recoiling black hole in a young radio source?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiaberge, M.; Ely, J. C.; Meyer, E. T.; Georganopoulos, M.; Marinucci, A.; Bianchi, S.; Tremblay, G. R.; Hilbert, B.; Kotyla, J. P.; Capetti, A.; Baum, S. A.; Macchetto, F. D.; Miley, G.; O'Dea, C. P.; Perlman, E. S.; Sparks, W. B.; Norman, C.

2017-04-01

Context. Radio-loud active galactic nuclei with powerful relativistic jets are thought to be associated with rapidly spinning black holes (BHs). BH spin-up may result from a number of processes, including accretion of matter onto the BH itself, and catastrophic events such as BH-BH mergers. Aims: We study the intriguing properties of the powerful (Lbol 1047 erg s-1) radio-loud quasar 3C 186. This object shows peculiar features both in the images and in the spectra. Methods: We utilize near-IR Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images to study the properties of the host galaxy, and HST UV and Sloan Digital Sky Survey optical spectra to study the kinematics of the source. Chandra X-ray data are also used to better constrain the physical interpretation. Results: HST imaging shows that the active nucleus is offset by 1.3 ± 0.1 arcsec (I.e. 11 kpc) with respect to the center of the host galaxy. Spectroscopic data show that the broad emission lines are offset by -2140 ± 390 km s-1 with respect to the narrow lines. Velocity shifts are often seen in QSO spectra, in particular in high-ionization broad emission lines. The host galaxy of the quasar displays a distorted morphology with possible tidal features that are typical of the late stages of a galaxy merger. Conclusions: A number of scenarios can be envisaged to account for the observed features. While the presence of a peculiar outflow cannot be completely ruled out, all of the observed features are consistent with those expected if the QSO is associated with a gravitational wave (GW) recoiling BH. Future detailed studies of this object will allow us to confirm this type of scenario and will enable a better understanding of both the physics of BH-BH mergers and the phenomena associated with the emission of GW from astrophysical sources.

On the link between column density distribution and density scaling relation in star formation regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veltchev, Todor; Donkov, Sava; Stanchev, Orlin

2017-07-01

We present a method to derive the density scaling relation ∝ L^{-α} in regions of star formation or in their turbulent vicinities from straightforward binning of the column-density distribution (N-pdf). The outcome of the method is studied for three types of N-pdf: power law (7/5≤α≤5/3), lognormal (0.7≲α≲1.4) and combination of lognormals. In the last case, the method of Stanchev et al. (2015) was also applied for comparison and a very weak (or close to zero) correlation was found. We conclude that the considered `binning approach' reflects rather the local morphology of the N-pdf with no reference to the physical conditions in a considered region. The rough consistency of the derived slopes with the widely adopted Larson's (1981) value α˜1.1 is suggested to support claims that the density-size relation in molecular clouds is indeed an artifact of the observed N-pdf.

The relationship between the galactic matter distribution, cosmic ray dynamics, and gamma ray production

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kniffen, D. A.; Fichtel, C. E.; Thompson, D. J.

1976-01-01

Theoretical considerations and analysis of the results of gamma ray astronomy suggest that the galactic cosmic rays are dynamically coupled to the interstellar matter through the magnetic fields, and hence the cosmic ray density should be enhanced where the matter density is greatest on the scale of galactic arms. This concept has been explored in a galactic model using recent 21 cm radio observations of the neutral hydrogen and 2.6 mm observations of carbon monoxide, which is considered to be a tracer of molecular hydrogen. The model assumes: (1) cosmic rays are galactic and not universal; (2) on the scale of galactic arms, the cosmic ray column (surface) density is proportional to the total interstellar gas column density; (3) the cosmic ray scale height is significantly larger than the scale height of the matter; and (4) ours is a spiral galaxy characterized by an arm to interarm density ratio of about 3:1.

A quantitative analysis of microplastic pollution along the south-eastern coastline of South Africa.

PubMed

Nel, H A; Froneman, P W

2015-12-15

The extent of microplastic pollution (<5mm) in the southern hemisphere, particularly southern Africa, is largely unknown. This study aimed to evaluate microplastic pollution along the south-eastern coastline of South Africa, looking at whether bays are characterised by higher microplastic densities than open stretches of coastline in both beach sediment and surf-zone water. Microplastic (mean ± standard error) densities in the beach sediment ranged between 688.9 ± 348.2 and 3308 ± 1449 particles · m(-2), while those in the water column varied between 257.9 ± 53.36 and 1215 ± 276.7 particles · m(-3). With few exceptions there were no significant spatial patterns in either the sediment or water column microplastic densities; with little differences in density between bays and the open coast (P>0.05). These data indicate that the presence of microplastics were not associated with proximity to land-based sources or population density, but rather is governed by water circulation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The H I-to-H2 Transition in a Turbulent Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bialy, Shmuel; Burkhart, Blakesley; Sternberg, Amiel

2017-07-01

We study the effect of density fluctuations induced by turbulence on the H I/H2 structure in photodissociation regions (PDRs) both analytically and numerically. We perform magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations for both subsonic and supersonic turbulent gas and chemical H I/H2 balance calculations. We derive atomic-to-molecular density profiles and the H I column density probability density function (PDF) assuming chemical equilibrium. We find that, while the H I/H2 density profiles are strongly perturbed in turbulent gas, the mean H I column density is well approximated by the uniform-density analytic formula of Sternberg et al. The PDF width depends on (a) the radiation intensity-to-mean density ratio, (b) the sonic Mach number, and (c) the turbulence decorrelation scale, or driving scale. We derive an analytic model for the H I PDF and demonstrate how our model, combined with 21 cm observations, can be used to constrain the Mach number and driving scale of turbulent gas. As an example, we apply our model to observations of H I in the Perseus molecular cloud. We show that a narrow observed H I PDF may imply small-scale decorrelation, pointing to the potential importance of subcloud-scale turbulence driving.

The properties of the extended warm ionised gas around low-redshift QSOs and the lack of extended high-velocity outflows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Husemann, B.; Wisotzki, L.; Sánchez, S. F.; Jahnke, K.

2013-01-01

We present a detailed analysis of a large sample of 31 low-redshift, mostly radio-quiet type 1 quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) observed with integral field spectroscopy to study their extended emission-line regions (EELRs). We focus on the ionisation state of the gas, size and luminosity of extended narrow line regions (ENLRs), which corresponds to those parts of the EELR dominated by ionisation from the QSO, as well as the kinematics of the ionised gas. We detect EELRs around 19 of our 31 QSOs (61%) after deblending the unresolved QSO emission and the extended host galaxy light in the integral field data with a new dedicated algorithm. Based on standard emission-line diagnostics we identify 13 EELRs to be entirely ionised by the QSO radiation, 3 EELRs are composed of H ii regions and 3 EELRs display signatures of both ionisation mechanisms at different locations. The typical size of the ENLR is ~10 kpc at a median nuclear [O iii] luminosity of log (L([O iii])/ [ergs-1]) = 42.7 ± 0.15. We show that the ENLR sizes are least a factor of ~2 larger than determined with the Hubble Space Telescope, but are consistent with those of recently reported type 2 QSOs at matching [O iii] luminosities. The ENLR of type 1 and type 2 QSOs therefore appear to follow the same size-luminosity relation. Furthermore, we show for the first time that the ENLR size is much better correlated with the QSO continuum luminosity than with the total/nuclear [O iii] luminosity. We show that ENLR luminosity and radio luminosity are correlated, and argue that radio jets even in radio-quiet QSOs are important for shaping the properties of the ENLR. Strikingly, the kinematics of the ionised gas is quiescent and likely gravitationally driven in the majority of cases and we find only 3 objects with radial gas velocities exceeding >400 km s-1 in specific regions of the EELR that can be associate with radio jets. In general, these are significantly lower outflow velocities and detection rates compared to starburst galaxies or radio-loud QSOs. This represent a challenge for some theoretical feedback models in which luminous QSOs are expected to radiatively drive an outflow out to scales of the entire host galaxy. Based on observations collected at the Centro Astronómico Hispano Alemán (CAHA) at Calar Alto, operated jointly by the Max- Planck-Institut für Astronomie and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC).Tables 3, 4, and 7 are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Observation of helicon wave with m = 0 antenna in a weakly magnetized inductively coupled plasma source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellingboe, Bert; Sirse, Nishant; Moloney, Rachel; McCarthy, John

2015-09-01

Bounded whistler wave, called ``helicon wave,'' is known to produce high-density plasmas and has been exploited as a high density plasma source for many applications, including electric propulsion for spacecraft. In a helicon plasma source, an antenna wrapped around the magnetized plasma column launches a low frequency wave, ωce/2 >ωhelicon >ωce/100, in the plasma which is responsible for maintaining high density plasma. Several antenna designs have been proposed in order to match efficiently the wave modes. In our experiment, helicon wave mode is observed using an m = 0 antenna. A floating B dot probe, compensated to the capacitively coupled E field, is employed to measure axial-wave-field-profiles (z, r, and θ components) in the plasma at multiple radial positions as a function of rf power and pressure. The Bθ component of the rf-field is observed to be unaffected as the wave propagates in the axial direction. Power coupling between the antenna and the plasma column is identified and agrees with the E, H, and wave coupling regimes previously seen in M =1 antenna systems. That is, the Bz component of the rf-field is observed at low plasma density as the Bz component from the antenna penetrates the plasma. The Bz component becomes very small at medium density due to shielding at the centre of the plasma column; however, with increasing density, a sudden ``jump'' occurs in the Bz component above which a standing wave under the antenna with a propagating wave away from the antenna are observed.

GEOMETRY-INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION OF RADIAL DENSITY DISTRIBUTIONS IN MOLECULAR CLOUD CORES AND OTHER ASTRONOMICAL OBJECTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krčo, Marko; Goldsmith, Paul F., E-mail: marko@astro.cornell.edu

2016-05-01

We present a geometry-independent method for determining the shapes of radial volume density profiles of astronomical objects whose geometries are unknown, based on a single column density map. Such profiles are often critical to understand the physics and chemistry of molecular cloud cores, in which star formation takes place. The method presented here does not assume any geometry for the object being studied, thus removing a significant source of bias. Instead, it exploits contour self-similarity in column density maps, which appears to be common in data for astronomical objects. Our method may be applied to many types of astronomical objectsmore » and observable quantities so long as they satisfy a limited set of conditions, which we describe in detail. We derive the method analytically, test it numerically, and illustrate its utility using 2MASS-derived dust extinction in molecular cloud cores. While not having made an extensive comparison of different density profiles, we find that the overall radial density distribution within molecular cloud cores is adequately described by an attenuated power law.« less

Interstellar abundances and depletions inferred from observations of neutral atoms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snow, T. P.

1984-01-01

Data on neutral atomic species are analyzed for the purpose of inferring relative elemental abundances and depletions in diffuse cloud cores, where it is assumed that densities are enhanced in comparison with mean densities over integrated lines of sight. Column densities of neutral atoms are compared to yield relative column densities of singly ionized species, which are assumed dominant in cloud cores. This paper incorporates a survey of literature data on neutral atomic abundances with the result that no systematic enhancement in the depletions of calcium or iron in cloud cores is found, except for zeta Ophiuchi. This may imply that depletions are not influenced by density, but other data argue against this interpretation. It is concluded either that in general all elements are depleted together in dense regions so that their relative abundances remain constant, or that typical diffuse clouds do not have significant cores, but instead are reasonably homogeneous. The data show a probable correlation between cloud-core depletion and hydrogen-molecular fraction, supporting the assumption that overall depletions are a function of density.

Radial Profiles of the Plasma Electron Characteristics in a 30 kW Arc Jet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Codron, Douglas A.; Nawaz, Anuscheh

2013-01-01

The present effort aims to strengthen modeling work conducted at the NASA Ames Research Center by measuring the critical plasma electron characteristics within and slightly outside of an arc jet plasma column. These characteristics are intended to give physical insights while assisting in the formulation of boundary conditions to validate full scale simulations. Single and triple Langmuir probes have been used to achieve estimates of the electron temperature (T(sub e)), electron number density (n(sub e)) and plasma potential (outside of the plasma column) as probing location is varied radially from the flow centerline. Both the electron temperature and electron number density measurements show a large dependence on radial distance from the plasma column centerline with T(sub e) approx. = (3 - 12 eV and n(sub e) approx. = 10(exp 12) - 10(exp 14)/cu cm.

Empirical relationships among atmospheric variables from rawinsonde and field data as surrogates for AVIRIS measurements: Estimation of regional land surface evapotranspiration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conel, James E.; Hoover, Gordon; Nolin, Anne; Alley, Ron; Margolis, Jack

1992-01-01

Empirical relationships between variables are ways of securing estimates of quantities difficult to measure by remote sensing methods. The use of empirical functions was explored between: (1) atmospheric column moisture abundance W (gm H2O/cm(sup 2) and surface absolute water vapor density rho(q-bar) (gm H2O/cm(sup 3), with rho density of moist air (gm/cm(sup 3), q-bar specific humidity (gm H2O/gm moist air), and (2) column abundance and surface moisture flux E (gm H2O/(cm(sup 2)sec)) to infer regional evapotranspiration from Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometers (AVIRIS) water vapor mapping data. AVIRIS provides, via analysis of atmospheric water absorption features, estimates of column moisture abundance at very high mapping rate (at approximately 100 km(sup 2)/40 sec) over large areas at 20 m ground resolution.

Effects of initial saturation on properties modification and displacement of tetrachloroethene with aqueous isobutanol.

PubMed

Boyd, Glen R; Ocampo-Gómez, Ana M; Li, Minghua; Husserl, Johana

2006-11-20

Packed column experiments were conducted to study effects of initial saturation of tetrachloroethene (PCE) in the range of 1.0-14% pore volume (PV) on mobilization and downward migration of the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) product upon contact with aqueous isobutanol ( approximately 10 vol.%). This study focused on the consequences of swelling beyond residual saturation. Columns were packed with mixtures of neat PCE, water and glass beads and waterflooded to establish a desired homogeneous residual saturation, and then flooded with aqueous isobutanol under controlled hydraulic conditions. Results showed a critical saturation of approximately 8% PV for these packed column experimental conditions. At low initial PCE saturations (<8% PV), experimental results showed reduced risk of NAPL-product migration upon contact with aqueous isobutanol. At higher initial PCE saturations (>8% PV), results showed NAPL-product mobilization and downward migration which was attributed to interfacial tension (IFT) reduction, swelling of the NAPL-product, and reduced density modification. Packed column results were compared with good agreement to theoretical predictions of NAPL-product mobilization using the total trapping number, N(T). In addition to the packed column study, preliminary batch experiments were conducted to study the effects of PCE volumetric fraction in the range of 0.5-20% on density, viscosity, and IFT modification as a function of time following contact with aqueous isobutanol ( approximately 10 vol.%). Modified NAPL-product fluid properties approached equilibrium within approximately 2 h of contact for density and viscosity. IFT reduction occurred immediately as expected. Measured fluid properties were compared with good agreement to theoretical equilibrium predictions based on UNIQUAC. Overall, this study demonstrates the importance of initial DNAPL saturation, and the associated risk of downward NAPL-product migration, in applying alcohol flooding for remediation of DNAPL contaminated ground water sites.

Uncertainty and variability in laboratory derived sorption parameters of sediments from a uranium in situ recovery site

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dangelmayr, Martin A.; Reimus, Paul W.; Johnson, Raymond H.; Clay, James T.; Stone, James J.

2018-06-01

This research assesses the ability of a GC SCM to simulate uranium transport under variable geochemical conditions typically encountered at uranium in-situ recovery (ISR) sites. Sediment was taken from a monitoring well at the SRH site at depths 192 and 193 m below ground and characterized by XRD, XRF, TOC, and BET. Duplicate column studies on the different sediment depths, were flushed with synthesized restoration waters at two different alkalinities (160 mg/l CaCO3 and 360 mg/l CaCO3) to study the effect of alkalinity on uranium mobility. Uranium breakthrough occurred 25% - 30% earlier in columns with 360 mg/l CaCO3 over columns fed with 160 mg/l CaCO3 influent water. A parameter estimation program (PEST) was coupled to PHREEQC to derive site densities from experimental data. Significant parameter fittings were produced for all models, demonstrating that the GC SCM approach can model the impact of carbonate on uranium in flow systems. Derived site densities for the two sediment depths were between 141 and 178 μmol-sites/kg-soil, demonstrating similar sorption capacities despite heterogeneity in sediment mineralogy. Model sensitivity to alkalinity and pH was shown to be moderate compared to fitted site densities, when calcite saturation was allowed to equilibrate. Calcite kinetics emerged as a potential source of error when fitting parameters in flow conditions. Fitted results were compared to data from previous batch and column studies completed on sediments from the Smith-Ranch Highland (SRH) site, to assess variability in derived parameters. Parameters from batch experiments were lower by a factor of 1.1 to 3.4 compared to column studies completed on the same sediments. The difference was attributed to errors in solid-solution ratios and the impact of calcite dissolution in batch experiments. Column studies conducted at two different laboratories showed almost an order of magnitude difference in fitted site densities suggesting that experimental methodology may play a bigger role in column sorption behavior than actual sediment heterogeneity. Our results demonstrate the necessity for ISR sites to remove residual pCO2 and equilibrate restoration water with background geochemistry to reduce uranium mobility. In addition, the observed variability between fitted parameters on the same sediments highlights the need to provide standardized guidelines and methodology for regulators and industry when the GC SCM approach is used for ISR risk assessments.

Uncertainty and variability in laboratory derived sorption parameters of sediments from a uranium in situ recovery site.

PubMed

Dangelmayr, Martin A; Reimus, Paul W; Johnson, Raymond H; Clay, James T; Stone, James J

2018-06-01

This research assesses the ability of a GC SCM to simulate uranium transport under variable geochemical conditions typically encountered at uranium in-situ recovery (ISR) sites. Sediment was taken from a monitoring well at the SRH site at depths 192 and 193 m below ground and characterized by XRD, XRF, TOC, and BET. Duplicate column studies on the different sediment depths, were flushed with synthesized restoration waters at two different alkalinities (160 mg/l CaCO 3 and 360 mg/l CaCO 3 ) to study the effect of alkalinity on uranium mobility. Uranium breakthrough occurred 25% - 30% earlier in columns with 360 mg/l CaCO 3 over columns fed with 160 mg/l CaCO 3 influent water. A parameter estimation program (PEST) was coupled to PHREEQC to derive site densities from experimental data. Significant parameter fittings were produced for all models, demonstrating that the GC SCM approach can model the impact of carbonate on uranium in flow systems. Derived site densities for the two sediment depths were between 141 and 178 μmol-sites/kg-soil, demonstrating similar sorption capacities despite heterogeneity in sediment mineralogy. Model sensitivity to alkalinity and pH was shown to be moderate compared to fitted site densities, when calcite saturation was allowed to equilibrate. Calcite kinetics emerged as a potential source of error when fitting parameters in flow conditions. Fitted results were compared to data from previous batch and column studies completed on sediments from the Smith-Ranch Highland (SRH) site, to assess variability in derived parameters. Parameters from batch experiments were lower by a factor of 1.1 to 3.4 compared to column studies completed on the same sediments. The difference was attributed to errors in solid-solution ratios and the impact of calcite dissolution in batch experiments. Column studies conducted at two different laboratories showed almost an order of magnitude difference in fitted site densities suggesting that experimental methodology may play a bigger role in column sorption behavior than actual sediment heterogeneity. Our results demonstrate the necessity for ISR sites to remove residual pCO2 and equilibrate restoration water with background geochemistry to reduce uranium mobility. In addition, the observed variability between fitted parameters on the same sediments highlights the need to provide standardized guidelines and methodology for regulators and industry when the GC SCM approach is used for ISR risk assessments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

M = +1, ± 1 and ± 2 mode helicon wave excitation.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, J.-H.; Yun, S.-M.; Chang, H.-Y.

1996-11-01

The characteristics of M=+1, ± 1 and ± 2 modes helicon wave excited using a solenoid antenna, Nagoya type III and quadrupole antenna respectively are first investigated. The solenoid antenna is constructed by winding a copper cable on a quartz discharge tube. Two dimensional cross-field measurements of ArII optical emission induced by hot electrons are made to investigate RF power deposition: Components of the wave magnetic field measured with a single-turn, coaxial magnetic probe were compared with the field patterns computed for M=+1, ± 1 and ± 2 modes. The M=+1 mode plasma produced by the solenoid antenna has a cylindrical high intensity plasma column, which center is empty. This cylindrical high intensity column results from the rotation of the cross-sectional electric field pattern (right hand circularly polarization). The radial plasma density profile has a peak at r=2.5cm with axisymmetry. It has been found that the radial profile of the plasma density is in good agreement with the computed power deposition profile. The radial profiles of the wave magnetic field are in good agreement with computations. The plasma excited by Nagoya type III antenna has two high intensity columns which results from the linear combination of M=+1 and -1 modes (i.e. plane polarization). The radial plasma density profile is in good agreement with emission intensity profile of ArII line (488nm). The plasma excited by quadrupole antenna has four high intensity columns which results from the linear combination of M=+2 and -2 modes (i.e. plane polarization). In the M=± 2 modes, the radial plasma density profile is also in good agreement with emission intensity profile of ArII line.

The Orion Fingers: H2 Temperatures and Excitation in an Explosive Outflow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Youngblood, Allison; France, Kevin; Ginsburg, Adam; Hoadley, Keri; Bally, John

2018-04-01

We measure H2 temperatures and column densities across the Orion Becklin-Neugebauer/Kleinmann-Low (BN/KL) explosive outflow from a set of 13 near-infrared (IR) H2 rovibrational emission lines observed with the TripleSpec spectrograph on Apache Point Observatory’s 3.5 m telescope. We find that most of the region is well characterized by a single temperature (∼2000–2500 K), which may be influenced by the limited range of upper-energy levels (6000–20,000 K) probed by our data set. The H2 column density maps indicate that warm H2 comprises 10‑5–10‑3 of the total H2 column density near the center of the outflow. Combining column density measurements for co-spatial H2 and CO at T = 2500 K, we measure a CO/H2 fractional abundance of 2 × 10‑3 and discuss possible reasons why this value is in excess of the canonical 10‑4 value, including dust attenuation, incorrect assumptions on co-spatiality of the H2 and CO emission, and chemical processing in an extreme environment. We model the radiative transfer of H2 in this region with ultraviolet (UV) pumping models to look for signatures of H2 fluorescence from H I Lyα pumping. Dissociative (J-type) shocks and nebular emission from the foreground Orion H II region are considered as possible Lyα sources. From our radiative transfer models, we predict that signatures of Lyα pumping should be detectable in near-IR line ratios given a sufficiently strong source, but such a source is not present in the BN/KL outflow. The data are consistent with shocks as the H2 heating source.

Analysis of record-breaking low ozone values during the 1997 winter over NDSC Station Lauder, New Zealand

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brinksma, E. J.; Meijer, Y. J.; Connor, B. J.; Manney, G. L.; Bergwerff, J. B.; Bodeker, G. E.; Boyd, I. S.; Liley, J. B.; Hogervorst, W.; Hovenier, J. W.;

Ozone column density determination from direct irradiance measurements in the ultraviolet performed by a four-channel precision filter radiometer.

PubMed

Ingold, T; Mätzler, C; Wehrli, C; Heimo, A; Kämpfer, N; Philipona, R

2001-04-20

Ultraviolet light was measured at four channels (305, 311, 318, and 332 nm) with a precision filter radiometer (UV-PFR) at Arosa, Switzerland (46.78 degrees , 9.68 degrees , 1850 m above sea level), within the instrument trial phase of a cooperative venture of the Swiss Meteorological Institute (MeteoSwiss) and the Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos/World Radiation Center. We retrieved ozone-column density data from these direct relative irradiance measurements by adapting the Dobson standard method for all possible single-difference wavelength pairs and one double-difference pair (305/311 and 305/318) under conditions of cloud-free sky and of thin clouds (cloud optical depth <2.5 at 500 nm). All UV-PFR retrievals exhibited excellent agreement with those of collocated Dobson and Brewer spectrophotometers for data obtained during two months in 1999. Combining the results of the error analysis and the findings of the validation, we propose to retrieve ozone-column density by using the 305/311 single difference pair and the double-difference pair. Furthermore, combining both retrievals by building the ratio of ozone-column density yields information that is relevant to data quality control. Estimates of the 305/311 pair agree with measurements by the Dobson and Brewer instruments within 1% for both the mean and the standard deviation of the differences. For the double pair these values are in a range up to 1.6%. However, this pair is less sensitive to model errors. The retrieval performance is also consistent with satellite-based data from the Earth Probe Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (EP-TOMS) and the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment instrument (GOME).

Ozone Column Density Determination From Direct Irradiance Measurements in the Ultraviolet Performed by a Four-Channel Precision Filter Radiometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ingold, Thomas; Mätzler, Christian; Wehrli, Christoph; Heimo, Alain; Kämpfer, Niklaus; Philipona, Rolf

2001-04-01

Ultraviolet light was measured at four channels (305, 311, 318, and 332 nm) with a precision filter radiometer (UV-PFR) at Arosa, Switzerland (46.78 , 9.68 , 1850 m above sea level), within the instrument trial phase of a cooperative venture of the Swiss Meteorological Institute (MeteoSwiss) and the Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos /World Radiation Center. We retrieved ozone-column density data from these direct relative irradiance measurements by adapting the Dobson standard method for all possible single-difference wavelength pairs and one double-difference pair (305 /311 and 305 /318) under conditions of cloud-free sky and of thin clouds (cloud optical depth <2.5 at 500 nm). All UV-PFR retrievals exhibited excellent agreement with those of collocated Dobson and Brewer spectrophotometers for data obtained during two months in 1999. Combining the results of the error analysis and the findings of the validation, we propose to retrieve ozone-column density by using the 305 /311 single difference pair and the double-difference pair. Furthermore, combining both retrievals by building the ratio of ozone-column density yields information that is relevant to data quality control. Estimates of the 305 /311 pair agree with measurements by the Dobson and Brewer instruments within 1% for both the mean and the standard deviation of the differences. For the double pair these values are in a range up to 1.6%. However, this pair is less sensitive to model errors. The retrieval performance is also consistent with satellite-based data from the Earth Probe Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (EP-TOMS) and the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment instrument (GOME).

The Mean Metal-line Absorption Spectrum of Damped Ly α Systems in BOSS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mas-Ribas, Lluís; Miralda-Escudé, Jordi; Pérez-Ràfols, Ignasi

We study the mean absorption spectrum of the Damped Ly α (DLA) population at z ∼ 2.6 by stacking normalized, rest-frame-shifted spectra of ∼27,000 DLA systems from the DR12 of the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS)/SDSS-III. We measure the equivalent widths of 50 individual metal absorption lines in five intervals of DLA hydrogen column density, five intervals of DLA redshift, and overall mean equivalent widths for an additional 13 absorption features from groups of strongly blended lines. The mean equivalent width of low-ionization lines increases with N {sub H} {sub i}, whereas for high-ionization lines the increase is much weaker.more » The mean metal line equivalent widths decrease by a factor ∼1.1–1.5 from z ∼ 2.1 to z ∼ 3.5, with small or no differences between low- and high-ionization species. We develop a theoretical model, inspired by the presence of multiple absorption components observed in high-resolution spectra, to infer mean metal column densities from the equivalent widths of partially saturated metal lines. We apply this model to 14 low-ionization species and to Al iii, S iii, Si iii, C iv, Si iv, N v, and O vi. We use an approximate derivation for separating the equivalent width contributions of several lines to blended absorption features, and infer mean equivalent widths and column densities from lines of the additional species N i, Zn ii, C ii*, Fe iii, and S iv. Several of these mean column densities of metal lines in DLAs are obtained for the first time; their values generally agree with measurements of individual DLAs from high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectra when they are available.« less

Estimated global nitrogen deposition using NO2 column density

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lu, Xuehe; Jiang, Hong; Zhang, Xiuying; Liu, Jinxun; Zhang, Zhen; Jin, Jiaxin; Wang, Ying; Xu, Jianhui; Cheng, Miaomiao

2013-01-01

Global nitrogen deposition has increased over the past 100 years. Monitoring and simulation studies of nitrogen deposition have evaluated nitrogen deposition at both the global and regional scale. With the development of remote-sensing instruments, tropospheric NO2 column density retrieved from Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) and Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) sensors now provides us with a new opportunity to understand changes in reactive nitrogen in the atmosphere. The concentration of NO2 in the atmosphere has a significant effect on atmospheric nitrogen deposition. According to the general nitrogen deposition calculation method, we use the principal component regression method to evaluate global nitrogen deposition based on global NO2 column density and meteorological data. From the accuracy of the simulation, about 70% of the land area of the Earth passed a significance test of regression. In addition, NO2 column density has a significant influence on regression results over 44% of global land. The simulated results show that global average nitrogen deposition was 0.34 g m−2 yr−1 from 1996 to 2009 and is increasing at about 1% per year. Our simulated results show that China, Europe, and the USA are the three hotspots of nitrogen deposition according to previous research findings. In this study, Southern Asia was found to be another hotspot of nitrogen deposition (about 1.58 g m−2 yr−1 and maintaining a high growth rate). As nitrogen deposition increases, the number of regions threatened by high nitrogen deposits is also increasing. With N emissions continuing to increase in the future, areas whose ecosystem is affected by high level nitrogen deposition will increase.

A new all-sky map of Galactic high-velocity clouds from the 21-cm HI4PI survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Westmeier, Tobias

2018-02-01

High-velocity clouds (HVCs) are neutral or ionized gas clouds in the vicinity of the Milky Way that are characterized by high radial velocities inconsistent with participation in the regular rotation of the Galactic disc. Previous attempts to create a homogeneous all-sky H I map of HVCs have been hampered by a combination of poor angular resolution, limited surface brightness sensitivity and suboptimal sampling. Here, a new and improved H I map of Galactic HVCs based on the all-sky HI4PI survey is presented. The new map is fully sampled and provides significantly better angular resolution (16.2 versus 36 arcmin) and column density sensitivity (2.3 versus 3.7 × 1018 cm-2 at the native resolution) than the previously available LAB survey. The new HVC map resolves many of the major HVC complexes in the sky into an intricate network of narrow H I filaments and clumps that were not previously resolved by the LAB survey. The resulting sky coverage fraction of high-velocity H I emission above a column density level of 2 × 1018 cm-2 is approximately 15 per cent, which reduces to about 13 per cent when the Magellanic Clouds and other non-HVC emission are removed. The differential sky coverage fraction as a function of column density obeys a truncated power law with an exponent of -0.93 and a turnover point at about 5 × 1019 cm-2. H I column density and velocity maps of the HVC sky are made publicly available as FITS images for scientific use by the community.

How well does CO emission measure the H2 mass of MCs?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szűcs, László; Glover, Simon C. O.; Klessen, Ralf S.

2016-07-01

We present numerical simulations of molecular clouds (MCs) with self-consistent CO gas-phase and isotope chemistry in various environments. The simulations are post-processed with a line radiative transfer code to obtain 12CO and 13CO emission maps for the J = 1 → 0 rotational transition. The emission maps are analysed with commonly used observational methods, I.e. the 13CO column density measurement, the virial mass estimate and the so-called XCO (also CO-to-H2) conversion factor, and then the inferred quantities (I.e. mass and column density) are compared to the physical values. We generally find that most methods examined here recover the CO-emitting H2 gas mass of MCs within a factor of 2 uncertainty if the metallicity is not too low. The exception is the 13CO column density method. It is affected by chemical and optical depth issues, and it measures both the true H2 column density distribution and the molecular mass poorly. The virial mass estimate seems to work the best in the considered metallicity and radiation field strength range, even when the overall virial parameter of the cloud is above the equilibrium value. This is explained by a systematically lower virial parameter (I.e. closer to equilibrium) in the CO-emitting regions; in CO emission, clouds might seem (sub-)virial, even when, in fact, they are expanding or being dispersed. A single CO-to-H2 conversion factor appears to be a robust choice over relatively wide ranges of cloud conditions, unless the metallicity is low. The methods which try to take the metallicity dependence of the conversion factor into account tend to systematically overestimate the true cloud masses.

Using Cassini UVIS Data to Constrain Enceladus' Libration State

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hurford, Terry A.; Helfenstein, P.; Hansen, C.

2010-01-01

Given the non-spherical shape of Enceladus, the satellite may experience gravitational torques that will cause it to physically librate as it orbits Saturn. Physical libration would produce a diurnal oscillation in the longitude of Enceladus' tidal bulge, which could have a profound effect on the diurnal stresses experienced by the surface of the satellite. Although Cassini ISS has placed an observational upper limit on Enceladus' libration amplitude, stall amplitude librations may have geologically significant consequences. For example, a physical libration will affect heat production along the tiger stripes as produced by tidal shear heating and a previous study has explored possible libration states that provided better matches to Cassini CIRS observations of heat along the tiger stripes. Cassini UVIS stellar occultations provided measurements of the column density of the Enceladus plume at two different points in Enceladus' orbit and find comparable column density values. This column density may be a reflection of the amount of the tiger stripe rifts in tension and able to vent volatiles and a physical libration will also affect the fraction of tiger stripe in tension at different points in the orbit. We have modeled the expected fraction of tiger stripes in tension under different libration conditions. Without libration the amount of tiger stripe rifts in tension at both paints in the orbit would not be comparable and therefore may not allow comparable amounts of volatiles to escape. However, we identify libration conditions that do allow comparable amounts of the tiger stripes to be in tension at each point in the orbit, which might lead to comparable column densities. The librations identified coincide with possible librations states identified in the earlier study, which used Cassini CIRS observations.

D/H Toward BD+28 4211: First FUSE Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sonneborne, George; Andre, M.; Oliveira, C.; Friedman, S. D.; Howk, J. C.; Kruk, J. W.; Moos, H. W.; Oegerle, W. R.; Sembach, K. R.; Chayer, P.;

Investigating the physics and environment of Lyman limit systems in cosmological simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erkal, Denis

2015-07-01

In this work, I investigate the properties of Lyman limit systems (LLSs) using state-of-the-art zoom-in cosmological galaxy formation simulations with on the fly radiative transfer, which includes both the cosmic UV background (UVB) and local stellar sources. I compare the simulation results to observations of the incidence frequency of LLSs and the H I column density distribution function over the redshift range z = 2-5 and find good agreement. I explore the connection between LLSs and their host haloes and find that LLSs reside in haloes with a wide range of halo masses with a nearly constant covering fraction within a virial radius. Over the range z = 2-5, I find that more than half of the LLSs reside in haloes with M < 1010 h-1 M⊙, indicating that absorption line studies of LLSs can probe these low-mass galaxies which H2-based star formation models predict to have very little star formation. I study the physical state of individual LLSs and test a simple model which encapsulates many of their properties. I confirm that LLSs have a characteristic absorption length given by the Jeans length and that they are in photoionization equilibrium at low column densities. Finally, I investigate the self-shielding of LLSs to the UVB and explore how the non-sphericity of LLSs affects the photoionization rate at a given N_{H I}. I find that at z ≈ 3, LLSs have an optical depth of unity at a column density of ˜1018 cm-2 and that this is the column density which characterizes the onset of self-shielding.

The Nature of the Torus in the Heavily Obscured AGN Markarian 3: an X-Ray Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guainazzi, M.; Risaliti, G.; Awaki, H.; Arevalo, P.; Bauer, F. E.; Bianchi, S.; Boggs, S.E; Brandt, W. N.; Brightman, M.; Christensen, F. E.;

Radial distribution of the flow velocity, efficiency and concentration in a wide HPLC column

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Farkas, T.; Sepaniak, M.J.; Guiochon, G.

1997-08-01

The use of optical fibers in a fluorescence-detection scheme permits the accurate determination of the radial distribution of the transit time, the column efficiency, and the analyte concentration at the exit of a chromatographic axial-compression column (50 mmID). The results obtained demonstrate that the column is not homogeneous, but suggest a nearly cylindrical distribution of the packing density. The average velocity close to the column wall is 7% lower than along its axis and the HETP 25% higher. The lack of homogeneity of the column packing is another source of band broadening not taken into account in chromatography so far.more » It causes the apparent HETP derived from the conventional elution chromatogram recorded on the bulk eluent to be larger than the local HETP and the band profile to be unsymmetrical with a slight tail reminiscent of kinetic tailing.« less

A {sup 13}CO SURVEY OF INTERMEDIATE-MASS STAR-FORMING REGIONS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lundquist, Michael J.; Kobulnicky, Henry A.; Kerton, Charles R.

2015-06-10

We have conducted a {sup 13}CO survey of a sample of 128 infrared color-selected intermediate-mass star-forming region (IM SFR) candidates. We utilized the Onsala 20 m telescope to observe {sup 13}CO (1–0) toward 67 northern IM SFRs, used the 12 m Atacama Pathfinder Experiment telescope to observe {sup 13}CO (2–1) toward 22 southern IM SFRs, and incorporated an additional 39 sources from the Boston University Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory Galactic Ring Survey which observed {sup 13}CO (1–0). We detect {sup 13}CO (1–0) in 58 of the 67 northern sources and {sup 13}CO (2–1) in 20 of the 22 southernmore » sources. The mean molecular column densities and {sup 13}CO linewidths in the inner Galaxy are higher by factors of 3.4 and 1.5, respectively, than the outer Galaxy. We attribute this difference to molecular clouds in the inner Galaxy being more massive and hosting star forming regions with higher luminosities on average than the outer Galaxy. IM SFRs have mean a molecular column density of 7.89 × 10{sup 21} cm{sup −2}, a factor of 3.1 lower than that for a sample of high-mass regions, and have a mean {sup 13}CO linewidth of 1.84 km s{sup −1}, a factor of 1.5 lower than that for high-mass regions. We demonstrate a correlation between {sup 13}CO linewidth and infrared luminosity as well as between molecular column density and infrared luminosity for the entire sample of intermediate-mass and high-mass regions. IM SFRs appear to form in distinctly lower-density environments with mean linewidths and beam-averaged column densities a factor of several lower than high-mass star-forming regions.« less

The early stages of massive star formation: tracing the physical and chemical conditions in hot cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calcutt, Hannah

2015-04-01

Molecules are essential to the formation of stars, by allowing radiation to escape the cloud and cooling to occur. Over 180 molecules have been detected in interstellar environments, ranging from comets to interstellar clouds. Their spectra are useful probes of the conditions in which these molecules form. Comparison of rest frequencies to observed frequencies can provide information about the velocity of gas and indicate physical structures. The density, temperature, and excitation conditions of gas can be determined directly from the spectra of molecules. Furthermore, by taking a chemical inventory of a particular object, one can gain an understanding of the chemical processes occurring within a cloud. The class of molecules known as complex molecules (>6 atoms), are of particular interest when probing the conditions in massive starforming environments, as they are observed to trace a more compact region than smaller molecules. This thesis details the work of my PhD, to explore how complex molecules can be used to trace the physical and chemical conditions in hot cores (HCs), one of the earliest stages of massive star formation. This work combines both the observations and chemical modelling of several different massive star-forming regions. We identify molecular transitions observed in the spectra of these regions, and calculate column densities and rotation temperatures of these molecules (Chapters 2 and 3). In Chapter 4, we chemically model the HCs, and perform a comparison between observational column densities and chemical modelling column densities. In Chapter 5, we look at the abundance ratio of three isomers, acetic acid, glycolaldehyde, and methyl formate, to ascertain whether this ratio can be used as an indicator of HC evolution. Finally, we explore the chemistry of the HC IRAS 17233-3606, to identify emission features in the spectra, and determine column densities and rotation temperatures of the detected molecules.

2MASS wide-field extinction maps. V. Corona Australis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alves, João; Lombardi, Marco; Lada, Charles J.

2014-05-01

We present a near-infrared extinction map of a large region (~870 deg2) covering the isolated Corona Australis complex of molecular clouds. We reach a 1-σ error of 0.02 mag in the K-band extinction with a resolution of 3 arcmin over the entire map. We find that the Corona Australis cloud is about three times as large as revealed by previous CO and dust emission surveys. The cloud consists of a 45 pc long complex of filamentary structure from the well known star forming Western-end (the head, N ≥ 1023 cm-2) to the diffuse Eastern-end (the tail, N ≤ 1021 cm-2). Remarkably, about two thirds of the complex both in size and mass lie beneath AV ~ 1 mag. We find that the probability density function (PDF) of the cloud cannot be described by a single log-normal function. Similar to prior studies, we found a significant excess at high column densities, but a log-normal + power-law tail fit does not work well at low column densities. We show that at low column densities near the peak of the observed PDF, both the amplitude and shape of the PDF are dominated by noise in the extinction measurements making it impractical to derive the intrinsic cloud PDF below AK < 0.15 mag. Above AK ~ 0.15 mag, essentially the molecular component of the cloud, the PDF appears to be best described by a power-law with index -3, but could also described as the tail of a broad and relatively low amplitude, log-normal PDF that peaks at very low column densities. FITS files of the extinction maps are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/565/A18

VizieR Online Data Catalog: QSO eHAQ0111+0641 spectra (Fynbo+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fynbo, J. P. U.; Krogager, J.-K.; Heintz, K. E.; Geier, S.; Moller, P.; Noterdaeme, P.; Christensen, L.; Ledoux, C.; Jakobsson, P.

2017-09-01

eHAQ0111+0641 was observed with the OSIRIS instrument at the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) as part of a larger sample of candidate red quasars. We secured spectroscopy with OSIRIS and a range of grisms to better constrain the spectral energy distribution, metal lines, and hydrogen Lyα line. (2 data files).

Guidance for Subaqueous Dredged Material Capping.

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-06-01

from Ambrose Channel , over the contaminated sediments. At least two intermediate sur- veys and additional capping were required before capping was...organisms to a given bioturbation depth; reducing contami- nant flux rates to achieve specific sediment, pore water, or water column target...bathymetry, bottom slopes, cur- rents, water depths, water column density stratification, erosion/accretion trends, proximity to navigation channels

Color Variabilities of Spectrally Defined Red QSOs at z = 0.3–1.2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, I.-Chenn; Hwang, Chorng-Yuan; Kaiser, Nick; Magnier, Eugene A.; Metcalfe, Nigel; Waters, Christopher

2018-03-01

We study the brightness and the color variabilities of 34 red and 122 typical quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) at z = 0.3–1.2 using data from the Pan-STARRS Medium Deep Survey. The red and the typical QSOs are selected based on the ratios of the flux densities at 3000 Å to those at 4000 Å in the rest frame. We find that 16 out of 34 red QSOs are identified as extended sources, which exhibit strong brightness and color variabilities at shorter wavelengths due to the contamination of the emission from their host galaxies. Some point-like QSOs with significant color variabilities are able to change their color classification according to our spectral definition. The timescales of the color variabilities for these point-like QSOs are within 4 years, suggesting that the size scales of the mechanisms producing the color variabilities are less than a few light years. The spectra of some extended and point-like red QSOs can be well fitted with the dust-reddened spectra of a typical QSO, while others are difficult to explain with dust reddening.

Preparative liquid column electrophoresis of T and B lymphocytes at gravity = 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Van Oss, C. J.; Bigazzi, P. E.; Gillman, C. F.; Allen, R. E.

1974-01-01

Vertical liquid columns containing low-molecular-weight dextran density gradients can be used for preparative lymphocyte electrophoresis on earth, in simulation of zero gravity conditions. Another method that has been tested at 1 g, is the electrophoresis of lymphocytes in an upward direction in vertical columns. By both methods up to 100 million lymphocytes can be separated at one time in a 30-cm glass column of 8-mm inside diameter, at 12 V/cm, in two hours. Due to convection and sedimentation problems, the separation at 1 g is less than ideal, but it is expected that at zero gravity electrophoresis will probe to be a uniquely powerful cell separation tool.

Surveying the H I Content of the Galactic Halo via Lyman Series Absorption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, Andrew

The halo of the Milky Way is home to a population of gaseous high-velocity clouds (HVCs) that trace the exchange of matter between the Galaxy and its surroundings. HVCs have been studied extensively via H I 21 cm emission and UV metal-line absorption. Here we propose a third, complementary approach for studying HVCs: surveying them in UV Lyman series H I absorption using all AGN spectra in the FarUltraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) archive. This H I survey will constitute a metal-independent view of the baryons in the Galactic halo at a level over 1000 times more sensitive than 21 cm surveys, and it can be conducted with archival data alone. 67 AGN are available in the FUSE archives with suitable properties (S/N>4 at 977 A), and the data are reduced and ready for analysis. With these data, we will calculate HVC sky covering fractions in H I absorption and conduct HVC metallicity measurements in sightlines with UV metal absorption in HST/COS or HST/STIS spectra. We will calculate the Galactic H I column density distribution function (CDDF), the incidence of H I clouds per unit column density that encodes underlying density and ionization variations and is sensitive to the escaping ionization radiation field. The CDDF has been measured at high redshifts over eight orders of magnitude of H I column density via quasar-absorption line experiments. However, the Galactic H I CDDF has until now only been constrained at high H I column density where HVCs can be seen in 21cm emission. Our detailed work plan will involve identifying and modeling HVC absorption in ten Lyman series lines from Ly gamma 972 to Ly mu 917 in each sight line in the FUSE sample. This will constrain the H I CDDF in the column density range log N(H I) 14 to 18. By combining with the existing H I CDDF in 21 cm HVCs in the range log N(H I) 18 to 21 from the all-sky GASS survey, we will produce a global Galactic CDDF complete over seven orders of magnitude, providing key new information on the distribution of diffuse gas in the Galactic halo. This will allow us to place the Milky Way s halo in the context of those of external galaxies, and to identify the galactic contribution from bound gas in halos to the extragalactic CDDF.

Electric discharge synthesis of HCN in simulated Jovian atmospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stribling, Roscoe; Miller, Stanley L.

1987-01-01

Corona discharge is presently considered as a possible source of the HCN detected in the Jovian atmosphere at 2.2 x 10 to the -7th moles/sq cm column density, for the cases of gas mixtures containing H2, CH4, and NH3, with H2/CH4 ratios from 4.4 to 1585. A 3:1 ratio of corona discharge to lightning energy similar to that of the earth is applied to Jupiter. Depending on the lightning energy available on Jupiter and the eddy diffusion coefficients in the synthesis region, HCN column densities generated by corona discharge could account for about 10 percent of the HCN observed.

I(CO)/N(H2) conversions and molecular gas abundances in spiral and irregular galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maloney, Philip; Black, John H.

1988-01-01

Observations of emission in the J = 1-0 rotational transition of interstellar CO are used to obtain column densities and masses of hydrogen. By taking into account the effects of variations in molecular cloud parameters on conversion factors between integrated CO intensity and molecular hydrogen column density, it is shown that conversion factors are very sensitive to the kinetic temperature of the emitting gas. Results indicate that the gas temperatures in systems with high star formation rates can be quite high, and it is suggested that use of a standard conversion factor will lead to systematic overestimation of the amount of molecular gas.

A Herschel-SPIRE Survey of the MonR2 Giant Molecular Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pokhrel, Riwaj; Gutermuth, Robert A.; Ali, Babar; Megeath, S. Thomas; Pipher, Judith; Myers, Philip C.; Fischer, William J.; Henning, Thomas; Wolk, Scott J.; Allen, Lori; Tobin, John J.

2014-06-01

We present a new survey of the MonR2 giant molecular cloud with SPIRE on the Herschel Space Observatory. We cross-calibrated SPIRE data with Planck-HFI and accounted for its absolute offset and zero point correction. We fixed emissivity with the help of flux-error and flux ratio plots. As the best representation of cold dusty molecular clouds, we did greybody fits of the SEDs. We studied the nature of distribution of column densities above and below certain critical limit, followed by the mass and temperature distributions for different regions. We isolated the filaments and studied radial column density profile in this cloud.

A Multi-Wavelength Study of the Hot Component of the Interstellar Medium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nichols, Joy; Oliversen, Ronald K. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The goals of this research are as follows: (1) Using the large number of lines of sight available in the ME database, identify the lines of sight with high-velocity components in interstellar lines, from neutral species through Si VI, C IV, and N V; (2) Compare the column density of the main components (i.e. low velocity components) of the interstellar lines with distance, galactic longitude and latitude, and galactic radial position. Derive statistics on the distribution of components in space (e.g. mean free path, mean column density of a component). Compare with model predictions for the column densities in the walls of old SNR bubbles and superbubbles, in evaporating cloud boundaries and in turbulent mixing layers; (3) For the lines of sight associated with multiple high velocity, high ionization components, model the shock parameters for the associated superbubble and SNR to provide more accurate energy input information for hot phase models and galactic halo models. Thus far 49 lines of sight with at least one high velocity component to the C IV lines have been identified; and (4) Obtain higher resolution data for the lines of sight with high velocity components (and a few without) to further refine these models.

Rapid ionization of the environment of SN 1987A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raga, A. C.

1987-01-01

It has been suggested by some authors that IUE observations of the supernova SN 1987A show the presence of a strong component of the interstellar C IV 1550 and Si IV 1393 absorption lines at a velocity that approximately corresponds to the velocity of the LMC. It is possible that this component might come from originally neutral (or at least not very highly ionized) gas which has been photoionized by the initially very strong ionizing radiation field of the supernova. Theoretical considerations of this scenario lead to the study of fast (with velocities of about c) ionization fronts. It is shown that for reasonable model parameters it is possible to obtain considerably large C IV column densities, in agreement with the IUE observations. On the other hand, the models do not so easily predict the large Si IV column densities that are also obtained from the IUE observations. It is found that only models in which the interstellar medium surrounding SN 1987A is initially composed of already ionized hydrogen and helium predict substantial Si IV column densities. This result provides an interesting prediction of the ionization state of the environment of the presupernova star.

Wide-field SCUBA-2 observations of NGC 2264: submillimetre clumps and filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buckle, J. V.; Richer, J. S.

2015-10-01

We present wide-field observations of the NGC 2264 molecular cloud in the dust continuum at 850 and 450 μm using SCUBA-2 on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. Using 12CO 3 → 2 molecular line data, we determine that emission from CO contaminates the 850 μm emission at levels ˜30 per cent in localized regions associated with high-velocity molecular outflows. Much higher contamination levels of 60 per cent are seen in shocked regions near the massive star S Mon. If not removed, the levels of CO contamination would contribute an extra 13 per cent to the dust mass in NGC 2264. We use the FELLWALKER routine to decompose the dust into clumpy structures, and a Hessian-based routine to decompose the dust into filamentary structures. The filaments can be described as a hub-filament structure, with lower column density filaments radiating from the NGC 2264 C protocluster hub. Above mean filament column densities of 2.4 × 1022 cm-2, star formation proceeds with the formation of two or more protostars. Below these column densities, filaments are starless, or contain only a single protostar.

Optical observations of nearby interstellar gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frisch, P. C.; York, D. G.

1984-11-01

Observations indicated that a cloud with a heliocentric velocity of approximately -28 km/s and a hydrogen column density that possibly could be on the order of, or greater than, 5 x 10 to the 19 power/square cm is located within the nearest 50 to 80 parsecs in the direction of Ophiuchus. This is a surprisingly large column density of material for this distance range. The patchy nature of the absorption from the cloud indicates that it may not be a feature with uniform properties, but rather one with small scale structure which includes local enhancements in the column density. This cloud is probably associated with the interstellar cloud at about the same velocity in front of the 20 parsec distant star alpha Oph (Frisch 1981, Crutcher 1982), and the weak interstellar polarization found in stars as near as 35 parsecs in this general region (Tinbergen 1982). These data also indicate that some portion of the -14 km/s cloud also must lie within the 100 parsec region. Similar observations of both Na1 and Ca2 interstellar absorption features were performed in other lines of sight. Similar interstellar absorption features were found in a dozen stars between 20 and 100 parsecs of the Sun.

Optical Observations of Nearby Interstellar Gas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frisch, P. C.; York, D. G.

1984-01-01

Observations indicated that a cloud with a heliocentric velocity of approximately -28 km/s and a hydrogen column density that possibly could be on the order of, or greater than, 5 x 10 to the 19 power/square cm is located within the nearest 50 to 80 parsecs in the direction of Ophiuchus. This is a surprisingly large column density of material for this distance range. The patchy nature of the absorption from the cloud indicates that it may not be a feature with uniform properties, but rather one with small scale structure which includes local enhancements in the column density. This cloud is probably associated with the interstellar cloud at about the same velocity in front of the 20 parsec distant star alpha Oph (Frisch 1981, Crutcher 1982), and the weak interstellar polarization found in stars as near as 35 parsecs in this general region (Tinbergen 1982). These data also indicate that some portion of the -14 km/s cloud also must lie within the 100 parsec region. Similar observations of both Na1 and Ca2 interstellar absorption features were performed in other lines of sight. Similar interstellar absorption features were found in a dozen stars between 20 and 100 parsecs of the Sun.

Column Number Density Expressions Through M = 0 and M = 1 Point Source Plumes Along Any Straight Path

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woronowicz, Michael

2016-01-01

Analytical expressions for column number density (CND) are developed for optical line of sight paths through a variety of steady free molecule point source models including directionally-constrained effusion (Mach number M = 0) and flow from a sonic orifice (M = 1). Sonic orifice solutions are approximate, developed using a fair simulacrum fitted to the free molecule solution. Expressions are also developed for a spherically-symmetric thermal expansion (M = 0). CND solutions are found for the most general paths relative to these sources and briefly explored. It is determined that the maximum CND from a distant location through directed effusion and sonic orifice cases occurs along the path parallel to the source plane that intersects the plume axis. For the effusive case this value is exactly twice the CND found along the ray originating from that point of intersection and extending to infinity along the plume's axis. For sonic plumes this ratio is reduced to about 4/3. For high Mach number cases the maximum CND will be found along the axial centerline path. Keywords: column number density, plume flows, outgassing, free molecule flow.

Seasonal variability of the hydrogen exosphere of Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halekas, J. S.

2017-05-01

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission measures both the upstream solar wind and collisional products from energetic neutral hydrogen atoms that precipitate into the upper atmosphere after their initial formation by charge exchange with exospheric hydrogen. By computing the ratio between the densities of these populations, we derive a robust measurement of the column density of exospheric hydrogen upstream of the Martian bow shock. By comparing with Chamberlain-type model exospheres, we place new constraints on the structure and escape rates of exospheric hydrogen, derived from observations sensitive to a different and potentially complementary column from most scattered sunlight observations. Our observations provide quantitative estimates of the hydrogen exosphere with nearly complete temporal coverage, revealing order of magnitude seasonal changes in column density and a peak slightly after perihelion, approximately at southern summer solstice. The timing of this peak suggests either a lag in the response of the Martian atmosphere to solar inputs or a seasonal effect driven by lower atmosphere dynamics. The high degree of seasonal variability implied by our observations suggests that the Martian atmosphere and the thermal escape of light elements depend sensitively on solar inputs.

Evolution of column density distributions within Orion A⋆

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stutz, A. M.; Kainulainen, J.

2015-05-01

We compare the structure of star-forming molecular clouds in different regions of Orion A to determine how the column density probability distribution function (N-PDF) varies with environmental conditions such as the fraction of young protostars. A correlation between the N-PDF slope and Class 0 protostar fraction has been previously observed in a low-mass star-formation region (Perseus); here we test whether a similar correlation is observed in a high-mass star-forming region. We used Herschel PACS and SPIRE cold dust emission observations to derive a column density map of Orion A. We used the Herschel Orion Protostar Survey catalog to accurately identify and classify the Orion A young stellar object content, including the cold and relatively short-lived Class 0 protostars (with a lifetime of ~0.14 Myr). We divided Orion A into eight independent regions of 0.25 square degrees (13.5 pc2); in each region we fit the N-PDF distribution with a power law, and we measured the fraction of Class 0 protostars. We used a maximum-likelihood method to measure the N-PDF power-law index without binning the column density data. We find that the Class 0 fraction is higher in regions with flatter column density distributions. We tested the effects of incompleteness, extinction-driven misclassification of Class 0 sources, resolution, and adopted pixel-scales. We show that these effects cannot account for the observed trend. Our observations demonstrate an association between the slope of the power-law N-PDF and the Class 0 fractions within Orion A. Various interpretations are discussed, including timescales based on the Class 0 protostar fraction assuming a constant star-formation rate. The observed relation suggests that the N-PDF can be related to an evolutionary state of the gas. If universal, such a relation permits evaluating the evolutionary state from the N-PDF power-law index at much greater distances than those accessible with protostar counts. Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.orgThe N(H) map as a FITS file is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/577/L6

Stability and Structure of Star-Shape Granules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yuchen; Bares, Jonathan; Zheng, Matthew; Dierichs, Karola; Menges, Achim; Behringer, Robert

2015-11-01

Columns are made of convex non-cohesive grains like sand collapse after being released from initial positions. On the other hand, various architectures built by concave grains can maintain stability. We explore why these structures are stable, and how stable they can be. We performed experiments by randomly pouring identical star-shape particles into hollow cylinders left on glass and a rough base, and observed stable granular columns after lifting the cylinders. Particles have six 9 mm arms, which extend symmetrically in the xyz directions. Both the probability of creating a stable column and mechanical stability aspects have been investigated. We define r as the weight fraction of particles that fall out of the column after removing confinement. r gradually increases as the column height increases, or the column diameter decreases. We also explored different experiment conditions such as vibration of columns with confinement, or large basal friction. We also consider different stability measures such as the maximum inclination angle or maximum weight a column can support. In order to understand structure leading to stability, 3D CT scan reconstructions of columns have been done and coordination number and packing density will be discussed. We acknowledge supports from W.M.Keck Foundation and Research Triangle MRSEC.

The H i-to-H{sub 2} Transition in a Turbulent Medium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bialy, Shmuel; Sternberg, Amiel; Burkhart, Blakesley, E-mail: shmuelbi@mail.tau.ac.il

2017-07-10

We study the effect of density fluctuations induced by turbulence on the H i/H{sub 2} structure in photodissociation regions (PDRs) both analytically and numerically. We perform magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations for both subsonic and supersonic turbulent gas and chemical H i/H{sub 2} balance calculations. We derive atomic-to-molecular density profiles and the H i column density probability density function (PDF) assuming chemical equilibrium. We find that, while the H i/H{sub 2} density profiles are strongly perturbed in turbulent gas, the mean H i column density is well approximated by the uniform-density analytic formula of Sternberg et al. The PDF width depends onmore » (a) the radiation intensity–to–mean density ratio, (b) the sonic Mach number, and (c) the turbulence decorrelation scale, or driving scale. We derive an analytic model for the H i PDF and demonstrate how our model, combined with 21 cm observations, can be used to constrain the Mach number and driving scale of turbulent gas. As an example, we apply our model to observations of H i in the Perseus molecular cloud. We show that a narrow observed H i PDF may imply small-scale decorrelation, pointing to the potential importance of subcloud-scale turbulence driving.« less

VALIDATION TESTING OF NEW MECHANISMS WITH OUTDOOR CHAMBER DATA, VOLUME 3: CALCULATION OF PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION PHOTOLYSIS RATES IN THE UNC OUTDOOR CHAMBER

EPA Science Inventory

A new model is described for computing in-chamber actinic flux using site specific conditions that include time of day, air pressure, total column ozone, total column water vapor, relative humidity, aerosol type, aerosol optical density at 500 nm, and the spectral albedo of the g...

Accretion Makes a Splash on TW Hydrae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brickhouse, N. S.

2011-12-01

The Chandra Large Program on the Classical T Tauri star TW Hydrae (489 ksec, obtained over the course of one month) brings a wealth of spectral diagnostics to the study of X-ray emission from a young star. The emission measure distribution shows two components separated by a gap (i.e. no emission measure in between). Light curves for the two components can then be constructed from the summed light curves of the appropriate individual lines. The two light curves show uncorrelated variability, with one large flare occurring only in the hot component. We associate the hotter component with the corona, since its peak temperature is ˜10 MK. Ne IX line ratio diagnostics for temperature and density indicate that the source of the cooler component is indeed the accretion shock, as originally reported by Kastner et al. (2002). The temperature and density of the accretion shock are in excellent agreement with models using mass accretion rates derived from the optical. We require a third component, which we call the "post-shock region," from line ratio diagnostics of O VII. The density derived from O VII is lower than the density derived from Ne IX, contrary to standard one-dimensional model expectations and from hydrodynamics simulations to date. The column densities derived from the two ions are also significantly different, with the column density from O VII lower than that from Ne IX. This post-shock region cannot be the settling flow expected from the cooling of the shock column, since its mass is 30 times the mass of material that passes through the shock. Instead this region is the splash of stellar atmosphere that has been hit by the accretion stream and heated by the accretion process (Brickhouse et al. 2010).

Inferring physical properties of galaxies from their emission-line spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ucci, G.; Ferrara, A.; Gallerani, S.; Pallottini, A.

2017-02-01

We present a new approach based on Supervised Machine Learning algorithms to infer key physical properties of galaxies (density, metallicity, column density and ionization parameter) from their emission-line spectra. We introduce a numerical code (called GAME, GAlaxy Machine learning for Emission lines) implementing this method and test it extensively. GAME delivers excellent predictive performances, especially for estimates of metallicity and column densities. We compare GAME with the most widely used diagnostics (e.g. R23, [N II] λ6584/Hα indicators) showing that it provides much better accuracy and wider applicability range. GAME is particularly suitable for use in combination with Integral Field Unit spectroscopy, both for rest-frame optical/UV nebular lines and far-infrared/sub-millimeter lines arising from photodissociation regions. Finally, GAME can also be applied to the analysis of synthetic galaxy maps built from numerical simulations.

Cosmic-rays, gas, and dust in nearby anticentre clouds. II. Interstellar phase transitions and the dark neutral medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Remy, Q.; Grenier, I. A.; Marshall, D. J.; Casandjian, J. M.

2018-03-01

Aim. H I 21-cm and 12CO 2.6-mm line emissions trace the atomic and molecular gas phases, respectively, but they miss most of the opaque H I and diffuse H2 present in the dark neutral medium (DNM) at the transition between the H I-bright and CO-bright regions. Jointly probing H I, CO, and DNM gas, we aim to constrain the threshold of the H I-H2 transition in visual extinction, AV, and in total hydrogen column densities, NHtot. We also aim to measure gas mass fractions in the different phases and to test their relation to cloud properties. Methods: We have used dust optical depth measurements at 353 GHz, γ-ray maps at GeV energies, and H I and CO line data to trace the gas column densities and map the DNM in nearby clouds toward the Galactic anticentre and Chamaeleon regions. We have selected a subset of 15 individual clouds, from diffuse to star-forming structures, in order to study the different phases across each cloud and to probe changes from cloud to cloud. Results: The atomic fraction of the total hydrogen column density is observed to decrease in the (0.6-1) × 1021 cm-2 range in NHtot (AV ≈ 0.4 mag) because of the formation of H2 molecules. The onset of detectable CO intensities varies by only a factor of 4 from cloud to cloud, between 0.6 × 1021 cm-2 and 2.5 × 1021 cm-2 in total gas column density. We observe larger H2 column densities than linearly inferred from the CO intensities at AV > 3 mag because of the large CO optical thickness; the additional H2 mass in this regime represents on average 20% of the CO-inferred molecular mass. In the DNM envelopes, we find that the fraction of diffuse CO-dark H2 in the molecular column densities decreases with increasing AV in a cloud. For a half molecular DNM, the fraction decreases from more than 80% at 0.4 mag to less than 20% beyond 2 mag. In mass, the DNM fraction varies with the cloud properties. Clouds with low peak CO intensities exhibit large CO-dark H2 fractions in molecular mass, in particular the diffuse clouds lying at high altitude above the Galactic plane. The mass present in the DNM envelopes appears to scale with the molecular mass seen in CO as MHDNM = 62 ± 7 MH2CO0.51 ± 0.02 across two decades in mass. Conclusions: The phase transitions in these clouds show both common trends and environmental differences. These findings will help support the theoretical modelling of H2 formation and the precise tracing of H2 in the interstellar medium.

Rocket-borne observation of singly ionized carbon 158 micron emission from the diffuse interstellar medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bock, James Joseph

1994-01-01

We report an observation of 158 micron line emission from singly ionized carbon from the diffuse interstellar medium at high galactic latitude. The integrated line intensity is measured in a 36 arcmin field-of-view along a triangular scan path in a 5 deg x 20 deg region in Ursa Major using a rocket-borne, liquid helium cooled spectrophotometer. The scan includes high latitude infrared cirrus, molecular clouds, a bright external galaxy, M82, and the HI Hole, which is a region of uniquely low neutral hydrogen column density. Emission from (CII) is observed in all regions and, in the absence of appreciable CO emission, is well correlated with neutral hydrogen column density. We observe a (CII) gas cooling rate which varies from (3.25 +/- 0.8 to 1.18 +/- 0.4) x 10-26 ergs-1 H-atom-1, in good agreement with recent observations of UV absorption lines at high galactic latitude. Regions with CO emission have enhanced (CII) line emission over that expected from the correlation with neutral hydrogen column density. The line-to-continuum ratio varies from I(CII)/lambda Ilambda = 0.002 to 0.008 in comparison with the all sky average of 0.0082 reported by FIRAS, which is heavily weighted towards the Galactic plane. The far-infrared continuum intensity, measured at 134 microns, 154 microns, and 186 microns, correlates with the 100 micron brightness measured by IRAS, and in regions excluding molecular clouds, with HI column density. The far-infrared brightness correlated with HI column density is fit by a thermal spectrum with a temperature T = 16.4 (+2.3/-1.8) K assuming an index of emissivity n = 2. The residual brightness after subtracting the emission correlated with neutral hydrogen column density yields an upper limit to the far-infrared extra-galactic background radiation of lambda Ilambda (154 microns) less than 2.6 x 10-12 W cm-2 sr-1. The observation of M82 confirms the laboratory calibration of the instrument. Unique instrumentation was developed to realize the instrument. A high sensitivity detection system consisting of stressed Ge:Ga photoconductors coupled to charge integrating amplifiers is described. We developed a compact, miniature He-4 refrigerator suitable for spaceborne operation. A silicon-gap Fabry-Perot filter, designed for use in high-throughput, compact optical systems, was developed. The performance of a far-infrared low-pass filter stack with high out-of-band rejection is reported. We tested the performance of a telescope baffle system with high-off axis rejection in a combination of ground-based and rocket-borne experiments. A submillimeter-black coating suitable for use in spaceborne telescopes is described. We report the laboratory testing of the instrument and the performance during the flight, and discuss the scientific implications of the observations.

Evaluating analytical approaches for estimating pelagic fish biomass using simulated fish communities

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yule, Daniel L.; Adams, Jean V.; Warner, David M.; Hrabik, Thomas R.; Kocovsky, Patrick M.; Weidel, Brian C.; Rudstam, Lars G.; Sullivan, Patrick J.

2013-01-01

Pelagic fish assessments often combine large amounts of acoustic-based fish density data and limited midwater trawl information to estimate species-specific biomass density. We compared the accuracy of five apportionment methods for estimating pelagic fish biomass density using simulated communities with known fish numbers that mimic Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Ontario, representing a range of fish community complexities. Across all apportionment methods, the error in the estimated biomass generally declined with increasing effort, but methods that accounted for community composition changes with water column depth performed best. Correlations between trawl catch and the true species composition were highest when more fish were caught, highlighting the benefits of targeted trawling in locations of high fish density. Pelagic fish surveys should incorporate geographic and water column depth stratification in the survey design, use apportionment methods that account for species-specific depth differences, target midwater trawling effort in areas of high fish density, and include at least 15 midwater trawls. With relatively basic biological information, simulations of fish communities and sampling programs can optimize effort allocation and reduce error in biomass estimates.

Optical confirmation of Gaia18ayp brightness increase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spano, M.; Blanco-Cuaresma, S.; Roelens, M.; Mowlavi, N.; Eyer, L.

2018-04-01

We report confirmation of Gaia_Science_Alerts, brightness increase of the QSO [VV2006] J233633.0-411547, Gaia18ayp . Images were obtained through modified Gunn R and V band filter of the ECAM instrument installed on the Swiss 1.2m Euler telescope at La Silla, on 2018 April 21- 22. Magnitudes according to the MJD of observations.

A search for quasars in the Virgo cluster region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

He, X.-T.; Cannon, R. D.; Peacock, J. A.; Smith, M. G.; Oke, J. B.

1984-01-01

Using objective-prism plates taken with the 44-arcmin objective prism mounted on the UK Schmidt telescope, 53 emission-line quasar candidates and 29 ultraviolet-excess objects (possible low-redshift quasars) have been found in a 5 x 5-degree field centered on 12 h 27 m, + 13 deg 30 min (1950) in the Virgo cluster of galaxies. Eighteen of these 82 candidates were observed using the double spectrograph on the Palomar 5-meter telescope; 13 of the observed objects proved to be quasars. The broad-absorption-line QSO Q1232 + 134 is the first example of the class to show broad low-ionization absorption lines (such as Mg II 2798 A) in addition to the usual high-excitation lines such as Nv 1240 A. Although no conclusive evidence for quasar-galaxy associations is found in this field, there do exist nonuniformities in the distribution of the quasar candidates which may merit further investigation. These objects will provide a useful network of probes for absorbing material in the Virgo cluster. The lines-of-sight to two of the confirmed quasars pass very close to NGC galaxies; the respective projected QSO-galaxy separations are only 4 and 11 kpc at the assumed distance of the Virgo cluster.

Increasing phytoplankton-available phosphorus and inhibition of macrophyte on phytoplankton bloom.

PubMed

Dai, Yanran; Wu, Juan; Ma, Xiaohang; Zhong, Fei; Cui, Naxin; Cheng, Shuiping

2017-02-01

We assembled mesocosms to address the coherent mechanisms that an increasing phosphorus (P) concentration in water columns coupled with the phytoplankton bloom and identify the performance gap of regulating phytoplankton growth between two macrophyte species, Ceratophyllum demersum L. and Vallisneria spiralis L. Intense alkaline phosphatase activities (APA) were observed in the unplanted control, with their predominant part, phytoplankton APA (accounting for up to 44.7% of the total APA), and another large share, bacterial APA. These correspond with the large average concentration of total phosphorus (TP), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) and soluble reactive (SRP) as well as high phytoplankton density in the water column. The consistency among P concentrations, phytoplankton density and APA, together with the positive impact of phytoplankton density on total APA revealed by the structural equation modelling (SEM), indicates that facilitated APA levels in water is an essential strategy for phytoplankton to enhance the available P. Furthermore, a positive interaction between phytoplankton APA and bacteria APA was detected, suggesting a potential collaboration between phytoplankton and bacteria to boost available P content in the water column. Both macrophyte species had a prominent performance on regulating phytoplankton proliferation. The phytoplankton density and quantum yield in C. demersum systems were all significantly lower (33.8% and 24.0%) than those in V. spiralis systems. Additionally, a greater decoupling effect of C. demersum on the relationship between P, APA, phytoplankton density, bacteria dynamic and quantum yield was revealed by SEM. These results imply that the preferred tactic of different species could lead to the performance gap. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Test of direct and indirect effects of agrochemicals on the survival of fecal indicator bacteria.

PubMed

Staley, Zachery R; Rohr, Jason R; Harwood, Valerie J

2011-12-01

Water bodies often receive agrochemicals and animal waste carrying fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and zoonotic pathogens, but we know little about the effects of agrochemicals on these microbes. We assessed the direct effects of the pesticides atrazine, malathion, and chlorothalonil and inorganic fertilizer on Escherichia coli and enterococcal survival in simplified microcosms held in the dark. E. coli strain composition in sediments and water column were positively correlated, but none of the agrochemicals had significant direct effects on E. coli strain composition or on densities of culturable FIBs. In a companion study, microcosms with nondisinfected pond water and sediments were exposed to or shielded from sunlight to examine the potential indirect effects of atrazine and inorganic fertilizer on E. coli. The herbicide atrazine had no effect on E. coli in dark-exposed microcosms containing natural microbial and algal communities. However, in light-exposed microcosms, atrazine significantly lowered E. coli densities in the water column and significantly increased densities in the sediment compared to controls. This effect appears to be mediated by the effects of atrazine on algae, given that atrazine significantly reduced phytoplankton, which was a positive and negative predictor of E. coli densities in the water column and sediment, respectively. These data suggest that atrazine does not directly affect the survival of FIB, rather that it indirectly alters the distribution and abundance of E. coli by altering phytoplankton and periphyton communities. These results improve our understanding of the influence of agricultural practices on FIB densities in water bodies impacted by agricultural runoff.

Test of Direct and Indirect Effects of Agrochemicals on the Survival of Fecal Indicator Bacteria▿

PubMed Central

Staley, Zachery R.; Rohr, Jason R.; Harwood, Valerie J.

2011-01-01

Water bodies often receive agrochemicals and animal waste carrying fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and zoonotic pathogens, but we know little about the effects of agrochemicals on these microbes. We assessed the direct effects of the pesticides atrazine, malathion, and chlorothalonil and inorganic fertilizer on Escherichia coli and enterococcal survival in simplified microcosms held in the dark. E. coli strain composition in sediments and water column were positively correlated, but none of the agrochemicals had significant direct effects on E. coli strain composition or on densities of culturable FIBs. In a companion study, microcosms with nondisinfected pond water and sediments were exposed to or shielded from sunlight to examine the potential indirect effects of atrazine and inorganic fertilizer on E. coli. The herbicide atrazine had no effect on E. coli in dark-exposed microcosms containing natural microbial and algal communities. However, in light-exposed microcosms, atrazine significantly lowered E. coli densities in the water column and significantly increased densities in the sediment compared to controls. This effect appears to be mediated by the effects of atrazine on algae, given that atrazine significantly reduced phytoplankton, which was a positive and negative predictor of E. coli densities in the water column and sediment, respectively. These data suggest that atrazine does not directly affect the survival of FIB, rather that it indirectly alters the distribution and abundance of E. coli by altering phytoplankton and periphyton communities. These results improve our understanding of the influence of agricultural practices on FIB densities in water bodies impacted by agricultural runoff. PMID:22003017

The structure and statistics of interstellar turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kritsuk, A. G.; Ustyugov, S. D.; Norman, M. L.

2017-06-01

We explore the structure and statistics of multiphase, magnetized ISM turbulence in the local Milky Way by means of driven periodic box numerical MHD simulations. Using the higher order-accurate piecewise-parabolic method on a local stencil (PPML), we carry out a small parameter survey varying the mean magnetic field strength and density while fixing the rms velocity to observed values. We quantify numerous characteristics of the transient and steady-state turbulence, including its thermodynamics and phase structure, kinetic and magnetic energy power spectra, structure functions, and distribution functions of density, column density, pressure, and magnetic field strength. The simulations reproduce many observables of the local ISM, including molecular clouds, such as the ratio of turbulent to mean magnetic field at 100 pc scale, the mass and volume fractions of thermally stable Hi, the lognormal distribution of column densities, the mass-weighted distribution of thermal pressure, and the linewidth-size relationship for molecular clouds. Our models predict the shape of magnetic field probability density functions (PDFs), which are strongly non-Gaussian, and the relative alignment of magnetic field and density structures. Finally, our models show how the observed low rates of star formation per free-fall time are controlled by the multiphase thermodynamics and large-scale turbulence.

Excitation of the molecular gas in the nuclear region of M 82

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loenen, A. F.; van der Werf, P. P.; Güsten, R.; Meijerink, R.; Israel, F. P.; Requena-Torres, M. A.; García-Burillo, S.; Harris, A. I.; Klein, T.; Kramer, C.; Lord, S.; Martín-Pintado, J.; Röllig, M.; Stutzki, J.; Szczerba, R.; Weiß, A.; Philipp-May, S.; Yorke, H.; Caux, E.; Delforge, B.; Helmich, F.; Lorenzani, A.; Morris, P.; Philips, T. G.; Risacher, C.; Tielens, A. G. G. M.

2010-10-01

We present high-resolution HIFI spectroscopy of the nucleus of the archetypical starburst galaxy M 82. Six 12CO lines, 2 13CO lines and 4 fine-structure lines have been detected. Besides showing the effects of the overall velocity structure of the nuclear region, the line profiles also indicate the presence of multiple components with different optical depths, temperatures, and densities in the observing beam. The data have been interpreted using a grid of PDR models. It is found that the majority of the molecular gas is in low density (n = 103.5 cm-3) clouds, with column densities of NH = 1021.5 cm-2 and a relatively low UV radiation field (G0 = 102). The remaining gas is predominantly found in clouds with higher densities (n = 105 cm-3) and radiation fields (G0 = 102.75), but somewhat lower column densities (NH = 1021.2 cm-2). The highest J CO lines are dominated by a small (1% relative surface filling) component, with an even higher density (n = 106 cm-3) and UV field (G0 = 103.25). These results show the strength of multi-component modelling for interpretating the integrated properties of galaxies.

Column-to-column packing variation of disposable pre-packed columns for protein chromatography.

PubMed

Schweiger, Susanne; Hinterberger, Stephan; Jungbauer, Alois

2017-12-08

In the biopharmaceutical industry, pre-packed columns are the standard for process development, but they must be qualified before use in experimental studies to confirm the required performance of the packed bed. Column qualification is commonly done by pulse response experiments and depends highly on the experimental testing conditions. Additionally, the peak analysis method, the variation in the 3D packing structure of the bed, and the measurement precision of the workstation influence the outcome of qualification runs. While a full body of literature on these factors is available for HPLC columns, no comparable studies exist for preparative columns for protein chromatography. We quantified the influence of these parameters for commercially available pre-packed and self-packed columns of disposable and non-disposable design. Pulse response experiments were performed on 105 preparative chromatography columns with volumes of 0.2-20ml. The analyte acetone was studied at six different superficial velocities (30, 60, 100, 150, 250 and 500cm/h). The column-to-column packing variation between disposable pre-packed columns of different diameter-length combinations varied by 10-15%, which was acceptable for the intended use. The column-to-column variation cannot be explained by the packing density, but is interpreted as a difference in particle arrangement in the column. Since it was possible to determine differences in the column-to-column performance, we concluded that the columns were well-packed. The measurement precision of the chromatography workstation was independent of the column volume and was in a range of±0.01ml for the first peak moment and±0.007 ml 2 for the second moment. The measurement precision must be considered for small columns in the range of 2ml or less. The efficiency of disposable pre-packed columns was equal or better than that of self-packed columns. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Approximate transient and long time limit solutions for the band broadening induced by the thin sidewall-layer in liquid chromatography columns.

PubMed

Broeckhoven, Ken; Desmet, Gert

2007-11-16

Using a combination of both analytical and numerical techniques, approximate analytical expressions have been established for the transient and long time limit band broadening, originating from the presence of a thin disturbed sidewall layer in liquid chromatography columns, including packed, monolithic as well as microfabricated columns. The established expressions can be used to compare the importance of a thin disturbed sidewall layer with that of other radial heterogeneity effects (such as transcolumn packing density variations due to the relief of packing stresses). The expressions are independent of the actual velocity profile inside the layer as long as the disturbed sidewall layer occupies less than 2.5% of the column width.

Gas-solid fluidized bed reactors: Scale-up, flow regimes identification and hydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaid, Faraj Muftah

This research studied the scale-up, flow regimes identification and hydrodynamics of fluidized beds using 6-inch and 18- inch diameter columns and different particles. One of the objectives was to advance the scale-up of gas-solid fluidized bed reactors by developing a new mechanistic methodology for hydrodynamic similarity based on matching the radial or diameter profile of gas phase holdup, since gas dynamics dictate the hydrodynamics of these reactors. This has been successfully achieved. However, the literature reported scale-up methodology based on matching selected dimensionless groups was examined and it was found that it was not easy to match the dimensionless groups and hence, there was some deviation in the hydrodynamics of the studied two different fluidized beds. A new technique based on gamma ray densitometry (GRD) was successfully developed and utilized to on-line monitor the implementation of scale-up, to identify the flow regime, and to measure the radial or diameter profiles of gas and solids holdups. CFD has been demonstrated as a valuable tool to enable the implementation of the newly developed scale-up methodology based on finding the conditions that provide similar or closer radial profile or cross sectional distribution of the gas holdup. As gas velocity increases, solids holdup in the center region of the column decreases in the fully developed region of both 6 inch and 18 inch diameter columns. Solids holdup increased with the increase in the particles size and density. Upflowing particles velocity increased with the gas velocity and became steeper at high superficial gas velocity at all axial heights where the center line velocity became higher than that in the wall region. Smaller particles size and lower density gave larger upflowing particles velocity. Minimum fluidization velocity and transition velocity from bubbly to churn turbulent flow regimes were found to be lower in 18 inch diameter column compared to those obtained in 6 inch diameter column. Also the absolute fluctuation of upflowing particles velocity multiplied by solids holdups vś 3ś as one of the terms for solids mass flux estimation was found to be larger in 18-inch diameter column than that in 6-inch diameter column using same particles size and density.

Occurrence of turbulent flow conditions in supercritical fluid chromatography.

PubMed

De Pauw, Ruben; Choikhet, Konstantin; Desmet, Gert; Broeckhoven, Ken

2014-09-26

Having similar densities as liquids but with viscosities up to 20 times lower (higher diffusion coefficients), supercritical CO2 is the ideal (co-)solvent for fast and/or highly efficient separations without mass-transfer limitations or excessive column pressure drops. Whereas in liquid chromatography the flow remains laminar in both the packed bed and tubing, except in extreme cases (e.g. in a 75 μm tubing, pure acetonitrile at 5 ml/min), a supercritical fluid can experience a transition from laminar to turbulent flow in more typical operation modes. Due to the significant lower viscosity, this transition for example already occurs at 1.3 ml/min for neat CO2 when using connection tubing with an ID of 127 μm. By calculating the Darcy friction factor, which can be plotted versus the Reynolds number in a so-called Moody chart, typically used in fluid dynamics, higher values are found for stainless steel than PEEK tubing, in agreement with their expected higher surface roughness. As a result turbulent effects are more pronounced when using stainless steel tubing. The higher than expected extra-column pressure drop limits the kinetic performance of supercritical fluid chromatography and complicates the optimization of tubing ID, which is based on a trade-off between extra-column band broadening and pressure drop. One of the most important practical consequences is the non-linear increase in extra-column pressure drop over the tubing downstream of the column which leads to an unexpected increase in average column pressure and mobile phase density, and thus decrease in retention. For close eluting components with a significantly different dependence of retention on density, the selectivity can significantly be affected by this increase in average pressure. In addition, the occurrence of turbulent flow is also observed in the detector cell and connection tubing. This results in a noise-increase by a factor of four when going from laminar to turbulent flow (e.g. going from 0.5 to 2.5 ml/min for neat CO2). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Einstein objective grating spectrometer survey of galactic binary X-ray sources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vrtilek, S. D.; Mcclintock, J. E.; Seward, F. D.; Kahn, S. M.; Wargelin, B. J.

1991-01-01

The results of observations of 22 bright Galactic X-ray point sources are presented, and the most reliable measurements to date of X-ray column densities to these sources are derived. The results are consistent with the idea that some of the objects have a component of column density intrinsic to the source in addition to an interstellar component. The K-edge absorption due to oxygen is clearly detected in 10 of the sources and the Fe L and Ne K edges are detected in a few. The spectra probably reflect emission originating in a collisionally excited region combined with emission from a photoionized region excited directly by the central source.

Size and DNA distributions of electrophoretically separated cultured human kidney cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kunze, M. E.; Plank, L. D.; Todd, P. W.

1985-01-01

Electrophoretic purification of purifying cultured cells according to function presumes that the size of cycle phase of a cell is not an overriding determinant of its electrophoretic velocity in an electrophoretic separator. The size distributions and DNA distributions of fractions of cells purified by density gradient electrophoresis were determined. No systematic dependence of electrophoretic migration upward in a density gradient column upon either size or DNA content were found. It was found that human leukemia cell populations, which are more uniform function and found in all phases of the cell cycle during exponential growth, separated on a vertical sensity gradient electrophoresis column according to their size, which is shown to be strictly cell cycle dependent.

X-ray wind tomography of IGR J17252-3616

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manousakis, Antonios; Walter, Roland

IGR J17252-3616 is an heavily absorbed and eclipsing High Mass X-ray Binary with an ab-sorbing hydrogen column density >1023 cm-2 . We have observed it with XMM-Newton to understand the geometry of the absorbing material. Observations were scheduled in order to cover as many orbital phases as possible. Timing analysis is constraining the orbital solution and the physical parameters of the system. Spectral analysis reveals remarkable variations of the absorbing column density and of the Iron Kα fluorescence line around the eclipse. These variations allow to map the geometry of the absorbing and reflection material. Very large accretion structures could be imaged for the first time.

THE GAS/DUST RATIO OF CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS: TESTING MODELS OF PLANETESIMAL FORMATION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horne, David; Gibb, Erika; Rettig, Terrence W.

2012-07-20

We present high-resolution, near-infrared NIRSPEC observations of CO absorption toward six class II T Tauri stars: AA Tau, DG Tau, IQ Tau, RY Tau, CW Tau, and Haro 6-5b. {sup 12}CO overtone absorption lines originating from the circumstellar disk of each object were used to calculate line-of-sight gas column densities toward each source. We measured the gas/dust ratio as a function of disk inclination, utilizing measured visual extinctions and inclinations for each star. The majority of our sources show further evidence for a correlation between the gas/dust column density ratio and disk inclination similar to that found by Rettig etmore » al.« less

Electromigration induced high fraction of compound formation in SnAgCu flip chip solder joints with copper column

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Luhua; Han, Jung-Kyu; Liang, Jarrett Jun; Tu, K. N.; Lai, Yi-Shao

2008-06-01

To overcome the effect of current crowding on electromigration-induced pancake-type void formation in flip chip solder joints, two types of Cu column in 90μm flip chip SnAgCu solder joints have been studied. They were (1) the solder contacts the Cu column at bottom and side walls and (2) the solder wets only the bottom surface of the copper column. With a current density of 1.6×104A/cm2 at 135°C, no failure was detected after 1290h. However, the resistance increased by about 10% due to the formation of a large fraction of intermetallic compounds. We found that electromigration has accelerated the consumption rate of copper column and converted almost the entire solder joint into intermetallic compound. Mechanically, drop impact test indicates a brittle fracture failure in the intermetallic. The electromigration critical product for the intermetallic is discussed.

An upper limit on interstellar C IV in the spectrum of gamma-2 Velorum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lengyel-Frey, D.; Stecher, T. P.; West, D. K.

1975-01-01

An upper limit on the column density of C IV along the line of sight to gamma-2 Vel is derived from upper limits placed on the equivalent widths of the interstellar C IV doublet with rest wavelengths at 1548.20 A and 1550.77 A. A lower limit of 250,000 K is calculated for the electron temperature of O VI emitting regions by combining the C IV results with a measurement of the column density of interstellar O VI for the same star and using calculations for the relative ionization of some abundant elements as a function of electron temperature in a low-density plasma. Since gamma-2 Vel is in the central part of the Gum Nebula, the high temperature suggested by these results is shown to support the idea that a high-temperature phase of the interstellar medium, possibly maintained by supernova explosions, may exist.-

Characterisation of RPLC columns packed with porous sub-2 microm particles.

PubMed

Petersson, Patrik; Euerby, Melvin R

2007-08-01

Eight commercially available sub-2 microm octadecyl silane columns (C18 columns) have been characterised by the Tanaka protocol. The columns can be grouped into two groups that display large differences in selectivity and peak shape due to differences in hydrophobicity, degree of surface coverage and silanol activity. Measurements of particle size distributions were made using automated microscopy and electrical sensing zone measurements. Only a weak correlation could be found between efficiency and particle size. Large differences in column backpressure were observed. These differences are not related to particle size distribution. A more likely explanation is differences in packing density. In order to take full advantage of 100-150 mm columns packed with sub-2 microm particles, it is often necessary to employ not only an elevated pressure but also an elevated temperature. A comparison between columns packed with sub-2, 3 and 5 microm versions of the same packing indicates potential method transferability problems for several of the columns due to selectivity differences. Currently, the best alternative for fast high-resolution LC is the use of sub-2 microm particles in combination with elevated pressure and temperature. However, as shown in this study additional efforts are needed to improve transferability as well as column performance.

First measurement of H I 21 cm emission from a GRB host galaxy indicates a post-merger system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arabsalmani, Maryam; Roychowdhury, Sambit; Zwaan, Martin A.; Kanekar, Nissim; Michałowski, Michał J.

2015-11-01

We report the detection and mapping of atomic hydrogen in H I 21 cm emission from ESO 184-G82, the host galaxy of the gamma-ray burst 980425. This is the first instance where H I in emission has been detected from a galaxy hosting a gamma-ray burst (GRB). ESO 184-G82 is an isolated galaxy and contains a Wolf-Rayet region close to the location of the GRB and the associated supernova, SN 1998bw. This is one of the most luminous H II regions identified in the local Universe, with a very high inferred density of star formation. The H I 21 cm observations reveal a high H I mass for the galaxy, twice as large as the stellar mass. The spatial and velocity distribution of the H I 21 cm emission reveals a disturbed rotating gas disc, which suggests that the galaxy has undergone a recent minor merger that disrupted its rotation. We find that the Wolf-Rayet region and the GRB are both located in the highest H I column density region of the galaxy. We speculate that the merger event has resulted in shock compression of the gas, triggering extreme star formation activity, and resulting in the formation of both the Wolf-Rayet region and the GRB. The high H I column density environment of the GRB is consistent with the high H I column densities seen in absorption in the host galaxies of high-redshift GRBs.

Numerical Simulation using VolcFlow for Pyroclastic Density Currents by Explosive Eruption of Mt. Baekdu, Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yun, S. H.; Chang, C.

2015-12-01

It is the numerical simulation using a VolcFlow model to determine the runout range of pyroclastic density currents where an eruption column had been formed by the explosive Plinian eruption and the collapse of the column had caused to occur on Mt. Baekdu. We assumed that the most realistic way for the simulation of a sustained volcanic column is to modify the topography with a cone above the crater to follow expert advice from Dr. Karim Kelfoun, the developer of VolcFlow. Then we set the radius and height of the cone, the volume of pyroclastic flow, and the duration and simulation time accoding to the volcanic explosivity index (VEI). Also we set the yield stress as 5,000 Pa, 10,000 Pa, 15,000 Pa, the basal friction angle as 3°, 5°, 10°, respectively. As the simulation results, the longest runout range was 2.3 km, 9.1 km, 14.4 km, 18.6 km, 23.4 km from VEI 3 to VEI 7, respectively. It can be used as a very important material to predict the impact range of pyroclastic density currents and to minimize human and material damages caused by pyroclastic density currents derived from the future explosive eruption of Mt. Baekdu. This research was supported by a grant 'Development of Advanced Volcanic Disaster Response System considering Potential Volcanic Risk around Korea' [MPSS-NH-2015-81] from the Natural Hazard Mitigation Research Group, National Emergency Management Agency of Korea.

Physical properties of CO-dark molecular gas traced by C+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Ningyu; Li, Di; Heiles, Carl; Wang, Shen; Pan, Zhichen; Wang, Jun-Jie

2016-09-01

Context. Neither Hi nor CO emission can reveal a significant quantity of so-called dark gas in the interstellar medium (ISM). It is considered that CO-dark molecular gas (DMG), the molecular gas with no or weak CO emission, dominates dark gas. Determination of physical properties of DMG is critical for understanding ISM evolution. Previous studies of DMG in the Galactic plane are based on assumptions of excitation temperature and volume density. Independent measurements of temperature and volume density are necessary. Aims: We intend to characterize physical properties of DMG in the Galactic plane based on C+ data from the Herschel open time key program, namely Galactic Observations of Terahertz C+ (GOT C+) and Hi narrow self-absorption (HINSA) data from international Hi 21 cm Galactic plane surveys. Methods: We identified DMG clouds with HINSA features by comparing Hi, C+, and CO spectra. We derived the Hi excitation temperature and Hi column density through spectral analysis of HINSA features. The Hi volume density was determined by utilizing the on-the-sky dimension of the cold foreground Hi cloud under the assumption of axial symmetry. The column and volume density of H2 were derived through excitation analysis of C+ emission. The derived parameters were then compared with a chemical evolutionary model. Results: We identified 36 DMG clouds with HINSA features. Based on uncertainty analysis, optical depth of HiτHi of 1 is a reasonable value for most clouds. With the assumption of τHi = 1, these clouds were characterized by excitation temperatures in a range of 20 K to 92 K with a median value of 55 K and volume densities in the range of 6.2 × 101 cm-3 to 1.2 × 103 cm-3 with a median value of 2.3 × 102 cm-3. The fraction of DMG column density in the cloud (fDMG) decreases with increasing excitation temperature following an empirical relation fDMG =-2.1 × 10-3Tex,(τHi = 1) + 1.0. The relation between fDMG and total hydrogen column density NH is given by fDMG = 1.0-3.7 × 1020/NH. We divided the clouds into a high extinction group and low extinction group with the dividing threshold being total hydrogen column density NH of 5.0 × 1021 cm-2 (AV = 2.7 mag). The values of fDMG in the low extinction group (AV ≤ 2.7 mag) are consistent with the results of the time-dependent, chemical evolutionary model at the age of ~10 Myr. Our empirical relation cannot be explained by the chemical evolutionary model for clouds in the high extinction group (AV > 2.7 mag). Compared to clouds in the low extinction group (AV ≤ 2.7 mag), clouds in the high extinction group (AV > 2.7 mag) have comparable volume densities but excitation temperatures that are 1.5 times lower. Moreover, CO abundances in clouds of the high extinction group (AV > 2.7 mag) are 6.6 × 102 times smaller than the canonical value in the Milky Way. Conclusions: The molecular gas seems to be the dominate component in these clouds. The high percentage of DMG in clouds of the high extinction group (AV > 2.7 mag) may support the idea that molecular clouds are forming from pre-existing molecular gas, I.e., a cold gas with a high H2 content but that contains a little or no CO content.

The X-ray properties of high redshift, optically selected QSOs. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, S. F.

1985-01-01

In order to study the X-ray properties of high redshift QSOs, grism/grens plates covering 17 deg. of sky previously imaged to very sensitive X-ray flux levels with the Einstein Observatory were taken. Following optical selection of the QSO, the archived X-ray image is examined to extract an X-ray flux detection or a sensitive upper limit.

Temperature Dependence of the Rate Constant for the CH3 Recombination Reaction: A Loss Process in Outer Planet Atmospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cody, R. J.; Payne, W. A.; Thorn, R. P., Jr.; Romani, P. N.; Stief, L. J.; Nesbitt, F. L.; Iannone, M. A.; Tardy, D. C.

2002-01-01

The methyl free radical (CH3) has been observed in the atmospheres of Saturn and Neptune by the ISO satellite. There are discrepancies between the column densities for the CH3 radical derived from the ISO observations and the column densities derived from atmospheric photochemical models. For Neptune the model column density is 1.5 times that derived from ISO. For Saturn the model is 6 times that from ISO. The recombination of methyl radicals is the major loss process for methyl in these atmospheres. The serious disagreement between observed and calculated levels of CH3 has led to suggestions that the atmospheric models greatly underestimated the loss of CH3 due to poor knowledge of the rate of the reaction (1) CH3 + CH3 + M goes to C2H6 + M at the low temperatures and pressures of these atmospheric systems. Although the reaction CH3 + CH3 + M goes to C2H6 + M has been extensively studied both theoretically and experimentally, the laboratory conditions have been, with only a few exceptions, higher temperatures (T greater than 298K), higher pressures (P greater than or equal to 10 Torr - 13.3 mbar) or M=Ar rather than H2 or He as the bath gas.

A New, Large-scale Map of Interstellar Reddening Derived from H I Emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lenz, Daniel; Hensley, Brandon S.; Doré, Olivier

2017-09-01

We present a new map of interstellar reddening, covering the 39% of the sky with low H I column densities ({N}{{H}{{I}}}< 4× {10}20 cm-2 or E(B-V)≈ 45 mmag) at 16\\buildrel{ \\prime}\\over{.} 1 resolution, based on all-sky observations of Galactic H I emission by the HI4PI Survey. In this low-column-density regime, we derive a characteristic value of {N}{{H}{{I}}}/E(B-V)=8.8 × {10}21 {{cm}}2 {{mag}}-1 for gas with | {v}{LSR}| < 90 km s-1 and find no significant reddening associated with gas at higher velocities. We compare our H I-based reddening map with the Schlegel et al. (SFD) reddening map and find them consistent to within a scatter of ≃ 5 mmag. Further, the differences between our map and the SFD map are in excellent agreement with the low-resolution (4\\buildrel{\\circ}\\over{.} 5) corrections to the SFD map derived by Peek and Graves based on observed reddening toward passive galaxies. We therefore argue that our H I-based map provides the most accurate interstellar reddening estimates in the low-column-density regime to date. Our reddening map is made publicly available at doi.org/10.7910/DVN/AFJNWJ.

Observational Tracers of Hot and Cold Gas in Isolated Galaxy Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brzycki, Bryan; Silvia, Devin

2018-01-01

We present results from an analysis comparing simulations of isolated spiral galaxies with recent observations of the circumgalactic medium (CGM). As the interface containing inflows and outflows between the interstellar and intergalactic media, the CGM plays an important role in the composition and evolution of galaxies. Using a set of isolated galaxy simulations over different initial conditions and star formation and feedback parameters, we investigate the evolution of CGM gas. Specifically, in light of recent observational studies, we compute the radial column density profiles and covering fractions of various observable ion species (H I, C IV, O VI, Mg II, Si III) for each simulated galaxy. Taking uniformly random sightlines through the CGM of each simulated galaxy, we find the abundance of gas absorbers and analyze their contribution to the overall column density along each sightline. By identifying the prevalence of high column density absorbers, we seek to characterize the distribution and evolution of observable ion species in the CGM. We also highlight a subset of our isolated galaxy simulations that produce and maintain a stable precipitating CGM that fuels high rates of sustained star formation. This project was supported in part by the NSF REU grant AST-1358980 and by the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association.

Trace gas retrievals from Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper (ACAM) observations during the 2011 DISCOVER-AQ flight campaign

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, X.; Kowalewski, M. G.; Janz, S. J.; Bhartia, P. K.; Chance, K.; Krotkov, N. A.; Pickering, K. E.; Crawford, J. H.

2011-12-01

The DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality) mission has just finished its first flight campaign in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area in July 2011. The ACAM, flown on board the NASA UC-12 aircraft, includes two spectrographs covering the spectral region 304-900 nm and a high-definition video camera, and is expected to provide column measurements of several important air quality trace gases and aerosols for the DISCOVER-AQ mission. The quick look results for NO2 have been shown to very useful in capturing the strong spatiotemporal variability of NO2. Preliminary fitting of UV/Visible spectra has shown that ACAM measurements have adequate signal to noise ratio to measure the trace gases O2, NO2, HCHO, and maybe SO2 and CHOCHO, at individual pixel resolution, although a great deal of effort is needed to improve the instrument calibration and derive proper reference spectrum for retrieving absolute trace gas column densities. In this study, we present analysis of ACAM instrument calibration including slit function, wavelength registration, and radiometric calibration for both nadir-viewing and zenith-sky measurements. Based on this analysis, an irradiance reference spectrum at ACAM resolution will be derived from a high-resolution reference spectrum with additional correction to account for instrument calibration. Using the derived reference spectrum and/or the measured zenith sky measurements, we will perform non-linear least squares fitting to investigate the retrievals of slant column densities of these trace gases from ACAM measurements, and also use an optimal estimation based algorithm including full radiative transfer calculations to derive the vertical column densities of these trace gases. The initial results will be compared with available in-situ and ground-based measurements taken during the DISCOVER-AQ campaign.

Galaxies Probing Galaxies in PRIMUS. I. Sample, Spectroscopy, and Characteristics of the z\\sim 0.5 Mg II–absorbing Circumgalactic Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubin, Kate H. R.; Diamond-Stanic, Aleksandar M.; Coil, Alison L.; Crighton, Neil H. M.; Moustakas, John

2018-01-01

The spectroscopy of background QSO sightlines passing close to foreground galaxies is a potent technique for studying the circumgalactic medium (CGM). However, QSOs are effectively point sources, limiting their potential to constrain the size of circumgalactic gaseous structures. Here we present the first large Keck/Low-resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS) and Very Large Telescope (VLT)/Focal Reducer/Low-dispersion Spectrograph 2 (FORS2) spectroscopic survey of bright ({B}{AB}< 22.3) background galaxies whose lines of sight probe Mg II λ λ 2796,2803 absorption from the CGM around close projected foreground galaxies at transverse distances 10 {kpc}< {R}\\perp < 150 {kpc}. Our sample of 72 projected pairs, drawn from the PRIsm MUlti-object Survey, includes 48 background galaxies that do not host bright active galactic nuclei, and both star-forming and quiescent foreground galaxies with stellar masses of 9.0< {log}{M}* /{M}ȯ < 11.2 at redshifts of 0.35< {z}{{f}/{{g}}}< 0.8. We detect Mg II absorption associated with these foreground galaxies with equivalent widths of 0.25 \\mathring{{A}} < {W}2796< 2.6 \\mathring{{A}} at > 2σ significance in 20 individual background sightlines passing within {R}\\perp < 50 {kpc} and place 2σ upper limits on W 2796 of ≲ 0.5 \\mathring{{A}} in an additional 11 close sightlines. Within {R}\\perp < 50 {kpc}, W 2796 is anticorrelated with R ⊥, consistent with analyses of Mg II absorption detected along background QSO sightlines. Subsamples of these foreground hosts divided at {log}{M}* /{M}ȯ =9.9 exhibit statistically inconsistent W 2796 distributions at 30 {kpc}< {R}\\perp < 50 {kpc}, with the higher-M * galaxies yielding a larger median W 2796 by 0.9 \\mathring{{A}} . Finally, we demonstrate that foreground galaxies with similar stellar masses exhibit the same median W 2796 at a given R ⊥ to within < 0.2 \\mathring{{A}} toward both background galaxies and toward QSO sightlines drawn from the literature. Analysis of these data sets constraining the spatial coherence scale of circumgalactic Mg II absorption is presented in a companion paper.

A Toolkit for Eye Recognition of LAMOST Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, H.; Zhang, H.; Zhang, Y.; Lei, Y.; Dong, Y.; Zhao, Y.

2014-05-01

The Large sky Area Multi-Object fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST, also named the Guo Shou Jing Telescope) has finished the pilot survey and now begun the normal survey by the end of 2012 September. There have already been millions of targets observed, including thousands of quasar candidates. Because of the difficulty in the automatic identification of quasar spectra, eye recognition is always necessary and efficient. However massive spectra identification by eye is a huge job. In order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of spectra , a toolkit for eye recognition of LAMOST spectroscopy is developed. Spectral cross-correlation templates from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) are applied as references, including O star, O/B transition star, B star, A star, F/A transition star, F star, G star, K star, M1 star, M3 star,M5 star,M8 star, L1 star, magnetic white dwarf, carbon star, white dwarf, B white dwarf, low metallicity K sub-dwarf, "Early-type" galaxy, galaxy, "Later-type" galaxy, Luminous Red Galaxy, QSO, QSO with some BAL activity and High-luminosity QSO. By adjusting the redshift and flux ratio of the template spectra in an interactive graphic interface, the spectral type of the target can be discriminated in a easy and feasible way and the redshift is estimated at the same time with a precision of about millesimal. The advantage of the tool in dealing with low quality spectra is indicated. Spectra from the Pilot Survey of LAMSOT are applied as examples and spectra from SDSS are also tested from comparison. Target spectra in both image format and fits format are supported. For convenience several spectra accessing manners are provided. All the spectra from LAMOST pilot survey can be located and acquired via the VOTable files on the internet as suggested by International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA). After the construction of the Simple Spectral Access Protocol (SSAP) service by the Chinese Astronomical Data Center (CAsDC), spectra can be obtained and analyzed in a more efficient way.

Damped and sub-damped Lyman-α absorbers in z > 4 QSOs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guimarães, R.; Petitjean, P.; de Carvalho, R. R.; Djorgovski, S. G.; Noterdaeme, P.; Castro, S.; Poppe, P. C. Da R.; Aghaee, A.

2009-12-01

We present the results of a survey of damped (DLA, log~N(H i)>20.3) and sub-damped Lyman-α systems (19.5 2.55 along the lines-of-sight to 77 quasars with emission redshifts in the range 419.5 were detected of which 40 systems are damped Lyman-α systems for an absorption length of Δ X = 378. About half of the lines of sight of this homogeneous survey have never been investigated for DLAs. We study the evolution with redshift of the cosmological density of the neutral gas and find, consistent with previous studies at similar resolution, that ΩDLA, H_I decreases at z>3.5. The overall cosmological evolution of Ω_HI shows a peak around this redshift. The H i column density distribution for log N(H i)≥20.3 is fitted, consistent with previous surveys, with a single power-law of index α ˜ -1.8 ±0.25. This power-law overpredicts data at the high-end and a second, much steeper, power-law (or a gamma function) is needed. There is a flattening of the function at lower H i column densities with an index of α ˜ -1.4 for the column density range log N(H i)=19.5-21. The fraction of H i mass in sub-DLAs is of the order of 30%. The H i column density distribution does not evolve strongly from z˜ 2.5 to z˜ 4.5. The observations reported here were obtained with the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is operated by the California Association for Research in Astronomy, a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Tables 1, 2 and Appendices are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

THE ARIZONA RADIO OBSERVATORY CO MAPPING SURVEY OF GALACTIC MOLECULAR CLOUDS. V. THE SH2-235 CLOUD IN CO J  = 2 − 1, {sup 13}CO J  = 2 − 1, AND CO J  = 3 − 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bieging, John H.; Peters, William L.; Patel, Saahil

We present the results of a program to map the Sh2-235 molecular cloud complex in the CO and {sup 13}CO  J  = 2 − 1 transitions using the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope. The map resolution is 38″ (FWHM), with an rms noise of 0.12 K brightness temperature, for a velocity resolution of 0.34 km s{sup −1}. With the same telescope, we also mapped the CO J  = 3 − 2 line at a frequency of 345 GHz, using a 64 beam focal plane array of heterodyne mixers, achieving a typical rms noise of 0.5 K brightness temperature with a velocity resolution of 0.23 km s{sup −1}.more » The three spectral line data cubes are available for download. Much of the cloud appears to be slightly sub-thermally excited in the J  = 3 level, except for in the vicinity of the warmest and highest column density areas, which are currently forming stars. Using the CO and {sup 13}CO  J  = 2 − 1 lines, we employ an LTE model to derive the gas column density over the entire mapped region. Examining a 125 pc{sup 2} region centered on the most active star formation in the vicinity of Sh2-235, we find that the young stellar object surface density scales as approximately the 1.6-power of the gas column density. The area distribution function of the gas is a steeply declining exponential function of gas column density. Comparison of the morphology of ionized and molecular gas suggests that the cloud is being substantially disrupted by expansion of the H ii regions, which may be triggering current star formation.« less

CO-dark molecular gas at high redshift: very large H2 content and high pressure in a low-metallicity damped Lyman alpha system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balashev, S. A.; Noterdaeme, P.; Rahmani, H.; Klimenko, V. V.; Ledoux, C.; Petitjean, P.; Srianand, R.; Ivanchik, A. V.; Varshalovich, D. A.

2017-09-01

We present a detailed analysis of an H2-rich, extremely strong intervening damped Ly α absorption system (DLA) at zabs = 2.786 towards the quasar J 0843+0221, observed with the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph on the Very Large Telescope. The total column density of molecular (resp. atomic) hydrogen is log N(H2) = 21.21 ± 0.02 (resp. log N(H I) = 21.82 ± 0.11), making it to be the first case in quasar absorption line studies with H2 column density as high as what is seen in 13CO-selected clouds in the Milky Way. We find that this system has one of the lowest metallicity detected among H2-bearing DLAs, with [Zn/H] = -1.52^{+0.08}_{-0.10}. This can be the reason for the marked differences compared to systems with similar H2 column densities in the local Universe: (I) the kinetic temperature, T ˜ 120 K, derived from the J = 0, 1 H2 rotational levels is at least twice higher than expected; (II) there is little dust extinction with AV < 0.1; (III) no CO molecules are detected, putting a constraint on the XCO factor XCO > 2 × 1023 cm-2/(km s-1 K), in the very low metallicity gas. Low CO and high H2 contents indicate that this system represents 'CO-dark/faint' gas. We investigate the physical conditions in the H2-bearing gas using the fine-structure levels of C I, C II, Si II and the rotational levels of HD and H2. We find the number density to be about n ˜ 260-380 cm-3, implying a high thermal pressure of 3-5 × 104 cm-3 K. We further identify a trend of increasing pressure with increasing total hydrogen column density. This independently supports the suggestion that extremely strong DLAs (with log N(H) ˜22) probe high-z galaxies at low impact parameters.

Numerical modeling of elution peak profiles in supercritical fluid chromatography. Part I--elution of an unretained tracer.

PubMed

Kaczmarski, Krzysztof; Poe, Donald P; Guiochon, Georges

2010-10-15

When chromatography is carried out with high-density carbon dioxide as the main component of the mobile phase (a method generally known as "supercritical fluid chromatography" or SFC), the required pressure gradient along the column is moderate. However, this mobile phase is highly compressible and, under certain experimental conditions, its density may decrease significantly along the column. Such an expansion absorbs heat, cooling the column, which absorbs heat from the outside. The resulting heat transfer causes the formation of axial and radial gradients of temperature that may become large under certain conditions. Due to these gradients, the mobile phase velocity and most physico-chemical parameters of the system (viscosity, diffusion coefficients, etc.) are no longer constant throughout the column, resulting in a loss of column efficiency, even at low flow rates. At high flow rates and in serious cases, systematic variations of the retention factors and the separation factors with increasing flow rates and important deformations of the elution profiles of all sample components may occur. The model previously used to account satisfactorily for the effects of the viscous friction heating of the mobile phase in HPLC is adapted here to account for the expansion cooling of the mobile phase in SFC and is applied to the modeling of the elution peak profiles of an unretained compound in SFC. The numerical solution of the combined heat and mass balance equations provides temperature and pressure profiles inside the column, and values of the retention time and efficiency for elution of this unretained compound that are in excellent agreement with independent experimental data. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of spatial proxies on the representation of bottom-up emission inventories: A satellite-based analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, Guannan; Zhang, Qiang; Martin, Randall V.; Lin, Jintai; Huo, Hong; Zheng, Bo; Wang, Siwen; He, Kebin

2017-03-01

Spatial proxies used in bottom-up emission inventories to derive the spatial distributions of emissions are usually empirical and involve additional levels of uncertainty. Although uncertainties in current emission inventories have been discussed extensively, uncertainties resulting from improper spatial proxies have rarely been evaluated. In this work, we investigate the impact of spatial proxies on the representation of gridded emissions by comparing six gridded NOx emission datasets over China developed from the same magnitude of emissions and different spatial proxies. GEOS-Chem-modeled tropospheric NO2 vertical columns simulated from different gridded emission inventories are compared with satellite-based columns. The results show that differences between modeled and satellite-based NO2 vertical columns are sensitive to the spatial proxies used in the gridded emission inventories. The total population density is less suitable for allocating NOx emissions than nighttime light data because population density tends to allocate more emissions to rural areas. Determining the exact locations of large emission sources could significantly strengthen the correlation between modeled and observed NO2 vertical columns. Using vehicle population and an updated road network for the on-road transport sector could substantially enhance urban emissions and improve the model performance. When further applying industrial gross domestic product (IGDP) values for the industrial sector, modeled NO2 vertical columns could better capture pollution hotspots in urban areas and exhibit the best performance of the six cases compared to satellite-based NO2 vertical columns (slope = 1.01 and R2 = 0. 85). This analysis provides a framework for information from satellite observations to inform bottom-up inventory development. In the future, more effort should be devoted to the representation of spatial proxies to improve spatial patterns in bottom-up emission inventories.

Simultaneous UV and X-ray Spectroscopy of the Seyfert 1 Galaxy NGC 5548. I: Physical Conditions in the UV Absorbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crenshaw, D. M.; Kraemer, S. B.; Gabel, J. R.; Kaastra, J. S.; Steenbrugge, K. C.; Brinkman, A. C.; Dunn, J. P.; George, I. M.; Liedahl, D. A.; Paerels, F. B. S.

2003-01-01

We present new UV spectra of the nucleus of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548, which we obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph at high spectral resolution, in conjunction with simultaneous Chandra X-ray Observatory spectra. Taking advantage of the low UV continuum and broad emission-line fluxes, we have determined that the deepest UV absorption component covers at least a portion of the inner, high-ionization narrow-line region (NLR). We find nonunity covering factors in the cores of several kinematic components, which increase the column density measurements of N V and C IV by factors of 1.2 to 1.9 over the full-covering case; however, the revised columns have only a minor effect on the parameters derived from our photoionization models. For the first time, we have simultaneous N V and C IV columns for component 1 (at -1040 km/s), and find that this component cannot be an X-ray warm absorber, contrary to our previous claim based on nonsimultaneous observations. We find that models of the absorbers based on solar abundances severely overpredict the O VI columns previously obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectrograph, and present arguments that this is not likely due to variability. However, models that include either enhanced nitrogen (twice solar) or dust, with strong depletion of carbon in either case, are successful in matching all of the observed ionic columns. These models result in substantially lower ionization parameters and total column densities compared to dust-free solar-abundance models, and produce little O VII or O VIII, indicating that none of the UV absorbers are X-ray warm absorbers.

OBSERVATIONAL PROPERTIES OF ROTATIONALLY EXCITED MOLECULAR HYDROGEN IN TRANSLUCENT LINES OF SIGHT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jensen, Adam G.; Sonneborn, George; Snow, Theodore P.

2010-03-10

The Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) has allowed precise determinations of the column densities of molecular hydrogen (H{sub 2}) in Galactic lines of sight with a wide range of pathlengths and extinction properties. However, survey studies of lines of sight with greater extinction have been mostly restricted to the low-J states (lower total angular momentum) in which most molecular hydrogen is observed. This paper presents a survey of column densities for the molecular hydrogen in states of greater rotational excitation (J >= 2) in Galactic lines of sight with log N(H{sub 2}) {approx}> 20. This study is comprehensive through themore » highest excited state detectable in each line of sight. J = 5 is observed in every line of sight, and we detect J = 7 in four lines of sight, J = 8 in one line of sight, and vibrationally excited H{sub 2} in two lines of sight. We compared the apparent b-values and velocity offsets of the higher-J states relative to the dominant low-J states and we found no evidence of any trends that might provide insight into the formation of higher-J H{sub 2}, although these results are the most affected by the limits of the FUSE resolution. We also derive excitation temperatures based on the column densities of the different states. We confirm that at least two distinct temperatures are necessary to adequately describe these lines of sight, and that more temperatures are probably necessary. Total H{sub 2} column density is known to be correlated with other molecules; we explore if correlations vary as a function of J for several molecules, most importantly CH and CH{sup +}. Finally, we briefly discuss interpretations of selected lines of sight by comparing them to models computed using the Meudon PDR code.« less

The Swift Burst Alert Telescope Detected Seyfert 1 Galaxies: X-Ray Broadband Properties and Warm Absorbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winter, Lisa M.; Veilleux, Sylvain; McKernan, Barry; Kallman, T.

2012-01-01

We present results from an analysis of the broadband, 0.3-195 keV, X-ray spectra of 48 Seyfert 1-1.5 sources detected in the very hard X-rays with the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT). This sample is selected in an all-sky survey conducted in the 14-195 keV band. Therefore, our sources are largely unbiased toward both obscuration and host galaxy properties. Our detailed and uniform model fits to Suzaku/BAT and XMM-Newton/BAT spectra include the neutral absorption, direct power-law, reflected emission, soft excess, warm absorption, and narrow Fe I K[alpha] emission properties for the entire sample. We significantly detect O VII and O VIII edges in 52% of our sample. The strength of these detections is strongly correlated with the neutral column density measured in the spectrum. Among the strongest detections, X-ray grating and UV observations, where available, indicate outflowing material. The ionized column densities of sources with O VII and O VIII detections are clustered in a narrow range with Nwarm [approx] 1021 cm-2, while sources without strong detections have column densities of ionized gas an order of magnitude lower. Therefore, we note that sources without strong detections likely have warm ionized outflows present but at low column densities that are not easily probed with current X-ray observations. Sources with strong complex absorption have a strong soft excess, which may or may not be due to difficulties in modeling the complex spectra of these sources. Still, the detection of a flat [Gamma] [approx] 1 and a strong soft excess may allow us to infer the presence of strong absorption in low signal-to-noise active galactic nucleus spectra. Additionally, we include a useful correction from the Swift BAT luminosity to bolometric luminosity, based on a comparison of our spectral fitting results with published spectral energy distribution fits from 33 of our sources.

Planck intermediate results: XXXV. Probing the role of the magnetic field in the formation of structure in molecular clouds

DOE PAGES

Ade, P. A. R.; Aghanim, N.; Alves, M. I. R.; ...

2016-02-09

Within ten nearby (d < 450 pc) Gould belt molecular clouds we evaluate in this paper statistically the relative orientation between the magnetic field projected on the plane of sky, inferred from the polarized thermal emission of Galactic dust observed by Planck at 353 GHz, and the gas column density structures, quantified by the gradient of the column density, N H. The selected regions, covering several degrees in size, are analysed at an effective angular resolution of 10' FWHM, thus sampling physical scales from 0.4 to 40 pc in the nearest cloud. The column densities in the selected regions rangemore » from N H≈ 10 21 to10 23 cm -2, and hence they correspond to the bulk of the molecular clouds. The relative orientation is evaluated pixel by pixel and analysed in bins of column density using the novel statistical tool called “histogram of relative orientations”. Throughout this study, we assume that the polarized emission observed by Planck at 353 GHz is representative of the projected morphology of the magnetic field in each region, i.e., we assume a constant dust grain alignment efficiency, independent of the local environment. Within most clouds we find that the relative orientation changes progressively with increasing N H, from mostly parallel or having no preferred orientation to mostly perpendicular. In simulations of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in molecular clouds this trend in relative orientation is a signature of Alfvénic or sub-Alfvénic turbulence, implying that the magnetic field is significant for the gas dynamics at the scales probed by Planck. Finally, we compare the deduced magnetic field strength with estimates we obtain from other methods and discuss the implications of the Planck observations for the general picture of molecular cloud formation and evolution.« less

Hydrodynamic Models of Line-Driven Accretion Disk Winds III: Local Ionization Equilibrium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pereyra, Nicolas Antonio; Kallman, Timothy R.; White, Nicholas E. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We present time-dependent numerical hydrodynamic models of line-driven accretion disk winds in cataclysmic variable systems and calculate wind mass-loss rates and terminal velocities. The models are 2.5-dimensional, include an energy balance condition with radiative heating and cooling processes, and includes local ionization equilibrium introducing time dependence and spatial dependence on the line radiation force parameters. The radiation field is assumed to originate in an optically thick accretion disk. Wind ion populations are calculated under the assumption that local ionization equilibrium is determined by photoionization and radiative recombination, similar to a photoionized nebula. We find a steady wind flowing from the accretion disk. Radiative heating tends to maintain the temperature in the higher density wind regions near the disk surface, rather than cooling adiabatically. For a disk luminosity L (sub disk) = solar luminosity, white dwarf mass M(sub wd) = 0.6 solar mass, and white dwarf radii R(sub wd) = 0.01 solar radius, we obtain a wind mass-loss rate of M(sub wind) = 4 x 10(exp -12) solar mass yr(exp -1) and a terminal velocity of approximately 3000 km per second. These results confirm the general velocity and density structures found in our earlier constant ionization equilibrium adiabatic CV wind models. Further we establish here 2.5D numerical models that can be extended to QSO/AGN winds where the local ionization equilibrium will play a crucial role in the overall dynamics.

Structure and properties of the egg mass of the ommastrephid squid Todarodes pacificus

PubMed Central

Puneeta, Pandey; Yamamoto, Jun; Adachi, Kohsuke; Kato, Yoshiki; Sakurai, Yasunori

2017-01-01

The Japanese flying squid, Todarodes pacificus, is thought to spawn neutrally buoyant egg masses that retain a specific location in the water column by floating at the interface between water layers of slightly different densities. It is important to understand the physical process that determines the vertical distribution of the egg masses to predict their horizontal drift in relation to embryo survival and subsequent recruitment. Here, mesocosm experiments were conducted in a 300 m3 tank by creating a thermally stratified (17–22°C) water column to obtain egg masses. A cage net methodology was developed to sustain egg masses for detailed observation. We measured the density of the egg masses of T. pacificus, and used this information to infer the vertical distribution patterns of the egg masses at the spawning grounds (Tsushima Strait, Japan). When measured separately, the density of the outer jelly of each egg mass was 2.7 σ units higher than that of the surrounding water. The outer jelly and the specific gravity of embedded individual eggs (~1.10) cause the egg masses to have very slight negative buoyancy relative to the water in which they are formed. Analysis of the vertical profile of the spawning ground showed that water density (σθ) increased sharply at ~30 m depth; thus, egg masses might settle above the pycnocline layer. In conclusion, we suggest that T. pacificus egg masses might retain their location in the water column by floating at the interface between water layers of slightly different densities, which happen to be above the pycnocline layer (actual depth varies seasonally/annually) in the Tsushima Strait between Korea and Japan. PMID:28767686

Structure and properties of the egg mass of the ommastrephid squid Todarodes pacificus.

PubMed

Puneeta, Pandey; Vijai, Dharmamony; Yamamoto, Jun; Adachi, Kohsuke; Kato, Yoshiki; Sakurai, Yasunori

2017-01-01

The Japanese flying squid, Todarodes pacificus, is thought to spawn neutrally buoyant egg masses that retain a specific location in the water column by floating at the interface between water layers of slightly different densities. It is important to understand the physical process that determines the vertical distribution of the egg masses to predict their horizontal drift in relation to embryo survival and subsequent recruitment. Here, mesocosm experiments were conducted in a 300 m3 tank by creating a thermally stratified (17-22°C) water column to obtain egg masses. A cage net methodology was developed to sustain egg masses for detailed observation. We measured the density of the egg masses of T. pacificus, and used this information to infer the vertical distribution patterns of the egg masses at the spawning grounds (Tsushima Strait, Japan). When measured separately, the density of the outer jelly of each egg mass was 2.7 σ units higher than that of the surrounding water. The outer jelly and the specific gravity of embedded individual eggs (~1.10) cause the egg masses to have very slight negative buoyancy relative to the water in which they are formed. Analysis of the vertical profile of the spawning ground showed that water density (σθ) increased sharply at ~30 m depth; thus, egg masses might settle above the pycnocline layer. In conclusion, we suggest that T. pacificus egg masses might retain their location in the water column by floating at the interface between water layers of slightly different densities, which happen to be above the pycnocline layer (actual depth varies seasonally/annually) in the Tsushima Strait between Korea and Japan.

CHIMPS: the 13CO/C18O (J = 3 → 2) Heterodyne Inner Milky Way Plane Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rigby, A. J.; Moore, T. J. T.; Plume, R.; Eden, D. J.; Urquhart, J. S.; Thompson, M. A.; Mottram, J. C.; Brunt, C. M.; Butner, H. M.; Dempsey, J. T.; Gibson, S. J.; Hatchell, J.; Jenness, T.; Kuno, N.; Longmore, S. N.; Morgan, L. K.; Polychroni, D.; Thomas, H.; White, G. J.; Zhu, M.

2016-03-01

We present the 13CO/C18O (J = 3 → 2) Heterodyne Inner Milky Way Plane Survey (CHIMPS) which has been carried out using the Heterodyne Array Receiver Program on the 15 m James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii. The high-resolution spectral survey currently covers |b| ≤ 0.5° and 28° ≲ l ≲ 46°, with an angular resolution of 15 arcsec in 0.5 km s-1 velocity channels. The spectra have a median rms of ˜0.6 K at this resolution, and for optically thin gas at an excitation temperature of 10 K, this sensitivity corresponds to column densities of NH2 ˜ 3 × 1020 cm-2 and NH2 ˜ 4 × 1021 cm-2 for 13CO and C18O, respectively. The molecular gas that CHIMPS traces is at higher column densities and is also more optically thin than in other publicly available CO surveys due to its rarer isotopologues, and thus more representative of the three-dimensional structure of the clouds. The critical density of the J = 3 → 2 transition of CO is ≳104 cm-3 at temperatures of ≤20 K, and so the higher density gas associated with star formation is well traced. These data complement other existing Galactic plane surveys, especially the JCMT Galactic Plane Survey which has similar spatial resolution and column density sensitivity, and the Herschel infrared Galactic Plane Survey. In this paper, we discuss the observations, data reduction and characteristics of the survey, presenting integrated-emission maps for the region covered. Position-velocity diagrams allow comparison with Galactic structure models of the Milky Way, and while we find good agreement with a particular four-arm model, there are some significant deviations.

A Deep Herschel/PACS Observation of CO(40-39) in NGC 1068: A Search for the Molecular Torus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janssen, A. W.; Bruderer, S.; Sturm, E.; Contursi, A.; Davies, R.; Hailey-Dunsheath, S.; Poglitsch, A.; Genzel, R.; Graciá-Carpio, J.; Lutz, D.; Tacconi, L.; Fischer, J.; González-Alfonso, E.; Sternberg, A.; Veilleux, S.; Verma, A.; Burtscher, L.

2015-10-01

Emission from high-J CO lines in galaxies has long been proposed as a tracer of X-ray dominated regions (XDRs) produced by active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Of particular interest is the question of whether the obscuring torus, which is required by AGN unification models, can be observed via high-J CO cooling lines. Here we report on the analysis of a deep Herschel/PACS observation of an extremely high-J CO transition (40-39) in the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. The line was not detected, with a derived 3σ upper limit of 2× {10}-17 {{W}} {{{m}}}-2. We apply an XDR model in order to investigate whether the upper limit constrains the properties of a molecular torus in NGC 1068. The XDR model predicts the CO spectral line energy distributions for various gas densities and illuminating X-ray fluxes. In our model, the CO(40-39) upper limit is matched by gas with densities of ˜ {10}6-{10}7 {{cm}}-3, located at 1.6-5 pc from the AGN, with column densities of at least {10}25 {{cm}}-2. At such high column densities, however, dust absorbs most of the CO(40-39) line emission at λ =65.69 μ {{m}}. Therefore, even if NGC 1068 has a molecular torus that radiates in the CO(40-39) line, the dust can attenuate the line emission to below the PACS detection limit. The upper limit is thus consistent with the existence of a molecular torus in NGC 1068. In general, we expect that the CO(40-39) is observable in only a few AGN nuclei (if at all), because of the required high gas column density, and absorption by dust.

Radiative transfer within seagrass canopies: impact on carbon budgets and light requirements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmerman, Richard C.; Mobley, Curtis D.

1997-02-01

Seagrasses are ecologically important but extremely vulnerable to anthropogenic modifications of the coastal zone that affect light availability within these unique ecosystems. Strongly pigmented seagrass leaves can extend for more than 1 m above the substrate and biomass is distributed unevenly throughout the canopy. in this study, light attenuation in a 7 m water column that contained a seagrass canopy extending 1.5 m above the bottom was calculated by the radiative transfer model Hydrolight using the spectral absorbance of eelgrass leaves and a non-uniform vertical distribution of biomass. Runs were performed in clear and turbid water columns, over san d and mud substrates, and with shoot densities ranging from 25 to 200 m-2 using solar angles for both winter and summer solstices. The flux of photosynthetically active irradiance (EPAR) reaching the top of the seagrass canopy was twice as high in summer compared to winter, and in clear water compared to turbid water. Sediment type had a measurable effect on EPAR only within the bottom third of the canopy. Light penetration within the canopy was inversely proportional to shoot density. Introduction of daylength and a sinusoidal distribution of EPAR throughout the day greatly increased the importance of solar elevation on daily integrated production relative to water column turbidity and sediment type. Shoot-specific productivity decreased and the position of maximum shoot productivity within the canopy shallowed as shoot density increased. Positive net photosynthesis for entire shoots was possible only when plant density was lower than 100 shoots m-2 in winter; values consistent with field observations. Although very simplistic with regard to inherent optical properties of real seagrass leaves, this model was able to generate estimates of maximum sustainable shoot density that were fully testable by, and wholly consistent with, field observations.

A low-luminosity type-1 QSO sample . IV. Molecular gas contents and conditions of star formation in three nearby Seyfert galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moser, Lydia; Krips, Melanie; Busch, Gerold; Scharwächter, Julia; König, Sabine; Eckart, Andreas; Smajić, Semir; García-Marin, Macarena; Valencia-S., Mónica; Fischer, Sebastian; Dierkes, Jens

2016-03-01

We present a pilot study of ~3'' resolution observations of low CO transitions with the Submillimeter Array in three nearby Seyfert galaxies, which are part of the low-luminosity quasi-stellar object (LLQSOs) sample consisting of 99 nearby (z = 0.06) type-1 active galactic nuclei (AGN) taken from the Hamburg/ESO quasi-stellar object (QSO) survey. Two sources were observed in 12CO(2-1) and 13CO(2-1) and the third in 12CO(3-2) and HCO+(4-3). None of the sources is detected in continuum emission. More than 80% of the 12CO detected molecular gas is concentrated within a diameter (FWHM) < 1.8 kpc. 13CO is tentatively detected, while HCO+ emission could not be detected. All three objects show indications of a kinematically decoupled central unresolved molecular gas component. The molecular gas masses of the three galaxies are in the range Mmol = (0.7-8.7) × 109M⊙. We give lower limits for the dynamical masses of Mdyn> 1.5 × 109M⊙ and for the dust masses of Mdust> 1.6 × 106M⊙. The R21 = 12CO/13CO(2-1) line luminosity ratios show Galactic values of R21 ~ 5-7 in the outskirts and R21 ≳ 20 in the central region, similar to starbursts and (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies ((U)LIRGs; I.e. LIRGs and ULIRGs), implying higher temperatures and stronger turbulence. All three sources show indications of 12CO(2-1)/12CO(1-0) ratios of ~0.5, suggesting a cold or diffuse gas phase. Strikingly, the 12CO(3-2)/(1-0) ratio of ~1 also indicates a higher excited phase. Since these galaxies have high infrared luminosities of LIR ≥ 1011L⊙ and seem to contain a circumnuclear starburst with minimum surface densities of gas and star formation rate (SFR) around Σmol = 50-550 M⊙pc-2 and ΣSFR = 1.1-3.1 M⊙ kpc-2 yr-1, we conclude that the interstellar medium in the centers of these LIRG Seyferts is strongly affected by violent star formation and better described by the ULIRG mass conversion factor.

Group-III Nitride Field Emitters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bensaoula, Abdelhak; Berishev, Igor

2008-01-01

Field-emission devices (cold cathodes) having low electron affinities can be fabricated through lattice-mismatched epitaxial growth of nitrides of elements from group III of the periodic table. Field emission of electrons from solid surfaces is typically utilized in vacuum microelectronic devices, including some display devices. The present field-emission devices and the method of fabricating them were developed to satisfy needs to reduce the cost of fabricating field emitters, make them compatible with established techniques for deposition of and on silicon, and enable monolithic integration of field emitters with silicon-based driving circuitry. In fabricating a device of this type, one deposits a nitride of one or more group-III elements on a substrate of (111) silicon or other suitable material. One example of a suitable deposition process is chemical vapor deposition in a reactor that contains plasma generated by use of electron cyclotron resonance. Under properly chosen growth conditions, the large mismatch between the crystal lattices of the substrate and the nitride causes strains to accumulate in the growing nitride film, such that the associated stresses cause the film to crack. The cracks lie in planes parallel to the direction of growth, so that the growing nitride film becomes divided into microscopic growing single-crystal columns. The outer ends of the fully-grown columns can serve as field-emission tips. By virtue of their chemical compositions and crystalline structures, the columns have low work functions and high electrical conductivities, both of which are desirable for field emission of electrons. From examination of transmission electron micrographs of a prototype device, the average column width was determined to be about 100 nm and the sharpness of the tips was determined to be characterized by a dimension somewhat less than 100 nm. The areal density of the columns was found to about 5 x 10(exp 9)/sq cm . about 4 to 5 orders of magnitude greater than the areal density of tips in prior field-emission devices. The electric field necessary to turn on the emission current and the current per tip in this device are both lower than in prior field-emission devices, such that it becomes possible to achieve longer operational lifetime. Moreover, notwithstanding the lower current per tip, because of the greater areal density of tips, it becomes possible to achieve greater current density averaged over the cathode area. The thickness of the grown nitride film (equivalently, the length of the columns) could lie between about 0.5 microns and a few microns; in any event, a thickness of about 1 micron is sufficient and costs less than do greater thicknesses. It may be possible to grow nitride emitter columns on glass or other substrate materials that cost less than silicon does. What is important in the choice of substrate material is the difference between the substrate and nitride crystalline structures. Inasmuch as the deposition process is nondestructive, an ability to grow emitter columns on a variety of materials would be advantageous in that it would facilitate the integration of field-emitter structures onto previously processed integrated circuits.

Efficiency for unretained solutes in packed column supercritical fluid chromatography. I. Theory for isothermal conditions and correction factors for carbon dioxide.

PubMed

Poe, Donald P

2005-06-17

A general theory for efficiency of nonuniform columns with compressible mobile phase fluids is applied to the elution of an unretained solute in packed-column supercritical fluid chromatography (pSFC). The theoretical apparent plate height under isothermal conditions is given by the Knox equation multiplied by a compressibility correction factor f1, which is equal to the ratio of the temporal-to-spatial average densities of the mobile phase. If isothermal conditions are maintained, large pressure drops in pSFC should not result in excessive efficiency losses for elution of unretained solutes.

Buoyant densities of phototrophic sulfur bacteria and cyanobacteria

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guerrero, R.

1985-01-01

The buoyant densities of bacterial cells are greatly influenced by the accumulation of intracellular reserve material. The buoyant density of phototrophic bacteria that are planktonic is of particular interest, since these organisms must remain in the photic zone of the water column for optimal growth. Separation of cells by their buoyant density may also be of use in separating and identifying organisms from a natural population. The bacteria used were obtained from pure cultures, enrichments, or samples taken directly from the environment.

Self-organized Sr leads to solid state twinning in nano-scaled eutectic Si phase

PubMed Central

Albu, M.; Pal, A.; Gspan, C.; Picu, R. C.; Hofer, F.; Kothleitner, G.

2016-01-01

A new mechanism for twin nucleation in the eutectic Al-Si alloy with trace Sr impurities is proposed. Observations made by sub-angstrom resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray probing proved the presence of <110> Sr columns located preferentially at twin boundaries. Density functional theory simulations indicate that Sr atoms bind in the Si lattice only along the <110> direction, with preferential positions at first and second nearest neighbors for interstitial and substitutional Sr, respectively. Density functional theory total energy calculations confirm that twin nucleation at Sr columns is energetically favorable. Hence, twins may nucleate in Si precipitates after solidification, which provides a different perspective to the currently accepted mechanism which suggests twin formation during precipitate growth. PMID:27527789

Self-organized Sr leads to solid state twinning in nano-scaled eutectic Si phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albu, M.; Pal, A.; Gspan, C.; Picu, R. C.; Hofer, F.; Kothleitner, G.

2016-08-01

A new mechanism for twin nucleation in the eutectic Al-Si alloy with trace Sr impurities is proposed. Observations made by sub-angstrom resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray probing proved the presence of <110> Sr columns located preferentially at twin boundaries. Density functional theory simulations indicate that Sr atoms bind in the Si lattice only along the <110> direction, with preferential positions at first and second nearest neighbors for interstitial and substitutional Sr, respectively. Density functional theory total energy calculations confirm that twin nucleation at Sr columns is energetically favorable. Hence, twins may nucleate in Si precipitates after solidification, which provides a different perspective to the currently accepted mechanism which suggests twin formation during precipitate growth.

Glyoxal Vertical Column Retrievals from the GOME-2/METOP-A European Spaceborne Sensor and Comparisons with the IMAGESv2 CT Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lerot, C.; Stavrakou, T.; de Smedt, I.; Muller, J. J.; van Roozendael, M.

2010-12-01

Glyoxal is mostly formed in our atmosphere as an intermediate product in the oxidation of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC). To a lesser extent, it is also directly emitted from biomass burning events and from fossil- and bio-fuel combustion processes. Several studies have estimated its atmospheric lifetime to 2-3 hours, which makes of glyoxal a good indicator for short-lived NMVOC emissions. Glyoxal is also known to be a precursor for secondary organic aerosols and could help to reduce the gap between observations and models for organic aerosol abundances. The three absorption bands of glyoxal in the visible region allow applying the DOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) technique to retrieve its vertical column densities from the nadir backscattered light measurements performed by the GOME-2 satellite sensor. This instrument has been launched in October 2006 on board of the METOP-A platform and is characterized by a spatial resolution of 80 km x 40 km and by a large scan-width (1920 km) leading to a global coverage reached in 1.5 day. The GOME-2 glyoxal retrieval algorithm developed at BIRA-IASB accounts for the liquid water absorption and provides geophysically sound column measurements not only over lands but also over oceanic regions where spectral interferences between glyoxal and liquid water have been shown to be significant. The a-priori glyoxal vertical distribution required for the slant to vertical column conversion is provided by the global chemical transport model IMAGESv2. The highest glyoxal vertical column densities are mainly observed in continental tropical regions, while the mid-latitude columns strongly depend on the season with maximum values during warm months. An anthropogenic signature is also observed in highly populated regions of Asia. Comparisons with glyoxal columns simulated with IMAGESv2 in different regions of the world generally point to a missing glyoxal source in current models. As already reported from previous analysis with the SCIAMACHY instrument, significant glyoxal columns are also observed over tropical oceans, which remains unexplained so far.

High-throughput NGL electron-beam direct-write lithography system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, N. William; Brodie, Alan D.; McCoy, John H.

2000-07-01

Electron beam lithography systems have historically had low throughput. The only practical solution to this limitation is an approach using many beams writing simultaneously. For single-column multi-beam systems, including projection optics (SCALPELR and PREVAIL) and blanked aperture arrays, throughput and resolution are limited by space-charge effects. Multibeam micro-column (one beam per column) systems are limited by the need for low voltage operation, electrical connection density and fabrication complexities. In this paper, we discuss a new multi-beam concept employing multiple columns each with multiple beams to generate a very large total number of parallel writing beams. This overcomes the limitations of space-charge interactions and low voltage operation. We also discuss a rationale leading to the optimum number of columns and beams per column. Using this approach we show how production throughputs >= 60 wafers per hour can be achieved at CDs

A dynamic pressure calibration standard

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schutte, P. C.; Cate, K. H.; Young, S. D.

1985-01-01

A dynamic pressure calibration standard has been developed for calibrating flush diaphragm mounted pressure transducers. Pressures up to 20 kPa (3 psi) have been accurately generated over a frequency range of 50 to 1800 hz. The uncertainty of the standard is +/-5 pct to 5kPa (.75 psi) and +/-10 pct from 5 kPa (.75 psi) to 20 kPa (3 psi). The system consists of two conically shaped, aluminum columns, one 5 cm (2 in.) high for low pressures and another 11 cm (4.3 in.) high for higher pressures, each filled with a viscous fluid. A column is mounted on the armature of a vibration exciter which imparts a sinusoidally varying acceleration to the fluid column. Two pressure transducers mounted at the base of the column sense the sinusoidally varying pressure. This pressure is determined from measurements of the density of the fluid, the height of the fluid, and the acceleration of the column. A section of the taller column is filled with steel balls to control the damping of the fluid to extend its useful frequency range.

Nebulosities around QSOs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakur, R. K.; Sood, R. K.

1980-11-01

Thakur and Sapre (1979) suggested that a QSO consists of a bright central object embedded in an extended nebulosity. This paper presents independent evidence in favor of this hypothesis. Alpha(U-B) and alpha(B-V), the spectral indices in (U-B) and (B-V) colors, were plotted for a sample of 80 QSOs with a redshift of z not greater than 0.76. An empirical criterion for the detectability of nebulosities around QSOs is suggested.

Low-density solvent based ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction and on-column derivatization combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of carbamate pesticides in environmental water samples.

PubMed

Guo, Liang; Lee, Hian Kee

2012-04-27

A fast and efficient method for the determination of trace level of carbamate pesticides using a lower-density-than-water solvent for ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction coupled to on-column derivatization and analysis by GC-MS has been developed and studied. In this approach, a soft plastic Pasteur pipette was employed as a convenient extraction device. Fifty microliters of extraction solvent, of lower density than water, was injected into the sample solution held in the pipette. The latter was immediately immersed in an ultrasound water bath to form an emulsion. After 2 min extraction, the emulsion was fractionated into two layers by centrifugation. The upper layer (organic extract) could be collected conveniently by squeezing the bulb of the pipette, now held upside down, to move it into the narrow stem of the device, facilitating its retrieval for analysis. The extract was then combined with trimethylphenylammonium hydroxide and directly injected into a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system for on-column derivatization and analysis. The on-column derivatization provided an added convenience (since a separate step was not necessary). Parameters affecting the derivatization and extraction were investigated. Under the most favorable conditions, the method demonstrated high extraction efficiency with low limits of detection of between 0.01 and 0.1 μg/L, good linearity in the range of 0.05-50 μg/L, to 0.5-100 μg/L, and good repeatability (RSD below 9.2%, n=5). The proposed method was evaluated by determining carbamate pesticides in river water samples. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Galaxy gas as obscurer - I. GRBs x-ray galaxies and find an NH3∝ M_{star} relation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchner, Johannes; Schulze, Steve; Bauer, Franz E.

2017-02-01

An important constraint for galaxy evolution models is how much gas resides in galaxies, in particular, at the peak of star formation z = 1-3. We attempt a novel approach by letting long-duration gamma ray bursts (LGRBs) x-ray their host galaxies and deliver column densities to us. This requires a good understanding of the obscurer and biases introduced by incomplete follow-up observations. We analyse the X-ray afterglow of all 844 Swift LGRBs to date for their column density NH. To derive the population properties, we propagate all uncertainties in a consistent Bayesian methodology. The NH distribution covers the 1020-23 cm-2 range and shows no evolutionary effect. Higher obscurations, e.g. Compton-thick columns, could have been detected but are not observed. The NH distribution is consistent with sources randomly populating a ellipsoidal gas cloud of major axis {N^{major}H }=10^{23}cm^{-2} with 0.22 dex intrinsic scatter between objects. The unbiased SHOALS survey of afterglows and hosts allows us to constrain the relation between Spitzer-derived stellar masses and X-ray derived column densities NH. We find a well-constrained power-law relation of NH = 1021.7 cm-2 × (M⋆/109.5 M⊙)1/3, with 0.5 dex intrinsic scatter between objects. The Milky Way and the Magellanic clouds also follow this relation. From the geometry of the obscurer, its stellar mass dependence and comparison with local galaxies, we conclude that LGRBs are primarily obscured by galaxy-scale gas. Ray tracing of simulated Illustris galaxies reveals a relation of the same normalization, but a steeper stellar-mass dependence and mild redshift evolution. Our new approach provides valuable insight into the gas residing in high-redshift galaxies.

Finding the Edge of the Galactic Wind's Influence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werk, Jessica; Prochaska, J. Xavier; Tumlinson, Jason; Tripp, Todd; Thom, Christopher; Ford, Amanda Brady

2011-08-01

Brand new results from the HST Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the low-z IGM combined with low-resolution optical spectroscopy of galaxy absorbers indicate that there is a correlation between the total star formation rates of L* galaxies and the strength of the OVI absorption in their halos out to 150 kpc. That diffuse, highly-ionized metals surrounding L* galaxies are a sensitive function of recent star formation suggests we may be seeing the effects of feedback in action in the far reaches of a galaxy's halo. Here, we propose to examine this correlation over a broader range of parameters, for galaxies with luminosities ranging from 0.01 L* to L*, having data- rich QSO sightlines passing through their halos at impact parameters up to 300 kpc. Using a combination of GMOS-S imaging and multi-slit spectroscopy, we will determine the star formation rates and metallicities of galaxies from the recently-published LCO/WFCCD redshift survey. We will use existing UV spectral data for the 14 QSO sightlines to analyze the OVI absorption in the circumgalactic medium of the surveyed galaxies. Our goal is to measure the radius at which OVI absorption no longer correlates with galaxy SFR. This observational estimate for the extent to which galactic winds propagate will provide robust constraints on the simulations that model their effects.

The Cambridge-Cambridge X-ray Serendipity Survey: I X-ray luminous galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boyle, B. J.; Mcmahon, R. G.; Wilkes, B. J.; Elvis, M.

1994-01-01

We report on the first results obtained from a new optical identification program of 123 faint X-ray sources with S(0.5-2 keV) greater than 2 x 10(exp -14) erg/s/sq cm serendipitously detected in ROSAT PSPC pointed observations. We have spectroscopically identified the optical counterparts to more than 100 sources in this survey. Although the majority of the sample (68 objects) are QSO's, we have also identified 12 narrow emission line galaxies which have extreme X-ray luminosities (10(exp 42) less than L(sub X) less than 10(exp 43.5) erg/s). Subsequent spectroscopy reveals them to be a mixture of star-burst galaxies and Seyfert 2 galaxies in approximately equal numbers. Combined with potentially similar objects identified in the Einstein Extended Medium Sensitivity Survey, these X-ray luminous galaxies exhibit a rate of cosmological evolution, L(sub X) varies as (1 + z)(exp 2.5 +/- 1.0), consistent with that derived for X-ray QSO's. This evolution, coupled with the steep slope determined for the faint end of the X-ray luminosity function (Phi(L(sub X)) varies as L(sub X)(exp -1.9)), implies that such objects could comprise 15-35% of the soft (1-2 keV) X-ray background.

Gravitational microlensing - The effect of random motion of individual stars in the lensing galaxy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kundic, Tomislav; Wambsganss, Joachim

1993-01-01

We investigate the influence of random motion of individual stars in the lensing galaxy on the light curve of a gravitationally lensed background quasar. We compare this with the effects of the transverse motion of the galaxy. We find that three-dimensional random motion of stars with a velocity dispersion sigma in each dimension is more effective in producing 'peaks' in a microlensed light curve by a factor a about 1.3 than motion of the galaxy with a transverse velocity v(t) = sigma. This effectiveness parameter a seems to depend only weakly on the surface mass density. With an assumed transverse velocity of v(t) = 600 km/s of the galaxy lensing the QSO 2237+0305 and a measured velocity dispersion of sigma = 215 km/s, the expected rate of maxima in the light curves calculated for bulk motion alone has to be increased by about 10 percent due to the random motion of stars. As a consequence, the average time interval Delta t between two high-magnification events is smaller than the time interval Delta(t) bulk, calculated for bulk motion alone, Delta t about 0.9 Delta(t) bulk.

Coronal gas in the galaxy. II. A statistical analysis of O VI absorptions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jenkins, E.B.

Results from the survey of interstellar O VI by Jenkins and by Jenkins and Meloy are analyzed to synthesize a global description of the properties of the coronal gas. Tests for correlations of column densities or velocities with properties of the target stars showed no evidence for a circumstellar origin for the absorption lines. An overall average density n (O VI) =2.8 x 10/sup -8/ cm/sup -3/ was found in the galactic plane, with a decrease which approximately follows exp (-z/300 pc) away from the plane.Fluctuations in column densities over various lines of sight suggest that existence of six hotmore » gas regions kpc/sup -/1, randomly distributed in space, each with an O VI column density of about 10/sup 13/ cm/sup -2/. These regions account for an average density n (O VI) =2.1 x 10/sup -8/ cm/sup -3/; the remaining 7 x 10/sup -9/ cm/sup -3/ is produced by more sparsely distributed but thicker parcels of hot gas which are seen toward 10% of the stars. The statistics of radial velocity centroids and widths support the interpretation of distinct domains; each region has an internal velocity dispersion consistent with a Doppler broadening of a plasma at T> or approx. =2 x 10/sup 5/ K (near the characteristic temperature for a maximum concentration of O VI in collisional equilibrium), while the regions themselves move about with a dispersion of radial velocities equal to 26 km s/sup -1/. Systematic motions of gas away from the galactic plane could not be seen, however.Excursions from the normal O VI per unit distance have no perceptible anicorrelation with deviations in reddening by cool interstellar coulds: a fact which suggests that the average filling factor of O VI gas is less than 20% if coronal gas really displaces the cooler material and does not have large variations in density and temperature.« less

Topology in Synthetic Column Density Maps for Interstellar Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Putko, Joseph; Burkhart, B. K.; Lazarian, A.

2013-01-01

We show how the topology tool known as the genus statistic can be utilized to characterize magnetohydrodyanmic (MHD) turbulence in the ISM. The genus is measured with respect to a given density threshold and varying the threshold produces a genus curve, which can suggest an overall ‘‘meatball,’’ neutral, or ‘‘Swiss cheese’’ topology through its integral. We use synthetic column density maps made from three-dimensional 5123 compressible MHD isothermal simulations performed for different sonic and Alfvénic Mach numbers (Ms and MA respectively). We study eight different Ms values each with one sub- and one super-Alfvénic counterpart. We consider sight-lines both parallel (x) and perpendicular (y and z) to the mean magnetic field. We find that the genus integral shows a dependence on both Mach numbers, and this is still the case even after adding beam smoothing and Gaussian noise to the maps to mimic observational data. The genus integral increases with higher Ms values (but saturates after about Ms = 4) for all lines of sight. This is consistent with greater values of Ms resulting in stronger shocks, which results in a clumpier topology. We observe a larger genus integral for the sub-Alfvénic cases along the perpendicular lines of sight due to increased compression from the field lines and enhanced anisotropy. Application of the genus integral to column density maps should allow astronomers to infer the Mach numbers and thus learn about the environments of interstellar turbulence. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation’s REU program through NSF Award AST-1004881.

Rapid and Green Separation of Mono- and Diesters of Monochloropropanediols by Ultrahigh Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Using Neat Carbon Dioxide as a Mobile Phase.

PubMed

Jumaah, Firas; Jędrkiewicz, Renata; Gromadzka, Justyna; Namieśnik, Jacek; Essén, Sofia; Turner, Charlotta; Sandahl, Margareta

2017-09-20

This study demonstrates the effect of column selectivity and density of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ) on the separation of monochloropropanediol (MCPD) esters, known as food toxicants, using SC-CO 2 without addition of cosolvent in ultrahigh performance supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPSFC-MS). This study shows that over 20 2-monochloropropanediol (2-MCPD) and 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) mono- and diesters are separated on a 2-picolylamine column in less than 12 min. The presence and position of a hydroxyl group in the structure, the number of unsaturated bonds, and the acyl chain length play a significant role in the separation of MCPD esters. The flow rate, backpressure, and column oven temperature, which affect the density of the mobile phase, were shown to have a substantial impact on retention, efficiency, and selectivity. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of MCPD esters in refined oils and showed a close to excellent green analysis score using the Analytical Eco-Scale.

Observations of chlorine monoxide over Scott Base, Antarctica, during the ozone hole, 1996-2005

USGS Publications Warehouse

Connor, Brian; Solomon, Philip; Barrett, James; Mooney, Thomas; Parrish, Alan

2007-01-01

We report observations of chlorine monoxide, ClO, in the lower stratosphere, made from Scott Base (77.85º S, 166.77º E) in springtime during each year, 1996-2005. The ClO amounts in the atmosphere are retrieved from remote measurements of microwave emission spectra. ClO column densities of up to about 2.5 × 1015 cm-2 are recorded during September, when chlorine is present in chemically active forms due to reactions on the surface of Polar Stratospheric Cloud (PSC) particles. Maximum mixing ratios of ClO are approximately 2 ppbv. The annual average of ClO column density during the activation period is anticorrelated with similar averages of ozone column measured at nearby Arrival Heights, with correlation coefficient of –0.81, and with averages of ozone mass integrated over the entire polar region, with similar correlation coefficients. There was a substantial decrease in ClO amounts during 2002-2004. There has been no systematic change in the timing of chlorine deactivation attributable to secular change in the Antarctic vortex

Flow morphologies after oblique shock acceelration of a cylindrical density interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wayne, Patrick; Simons, Dylan; Olmstead, Dell; Truman, C. Randall; Vorobieff, Peter; Kumar, Sanjay

2015-11-01

We present an experimental study of instabilities developing after an oblique shock interaction with a heavy gas column. The heavy gas in our experiments is sulfur hexafluoride infused with 11% acetone by mass. A misalignment of the pressure and density gradients results in three-dimensional vorticity deposition on the gaseous interface, dtriggering the onset of Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI). Shortly thereafter, other instabilities develop along the interface, including a shear-driven instability that presents itself on the leading (with respect to the shock) and trailing edges of the column. This leads to the development of rows of co-rotating ``cat's eye'' vortices, characteristic of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI). Characteristics of the KHI, such as growth rate and wavelength, depend on several factors including the Mach number of the shock, the shock tube angle of inclination α (equal to the angle between the axis of the column and the plane of the shock), and the Atwood number. This work is supported by the US National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) via grant DE-NA0002913.

High-resolution measurements from the airborne Atmospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Imager (ANDI)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawrence, J. P.; Anand, J. S.; Vande Hey, J. D.; Leigh, R. R.; Monks, P. S.; Leigh, R. J.

2015-06-01

Nitrogen Dioxide is both a primary pollutant with direct health effects and a key precursor of the secondary pollutant ozone. This paper reports on the development, characterisation and test flight of the Atmospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Imager (ANDI) remote sensing system. The ANDI system includes an imaging (UV)-vis grating spectrometer able to capture scattered sunlight spectra for the determination of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations by way of DOAS slant column density and vertical column density measurements. Results are shown for an ANDI test flight over Leicester City in the UK. Retrieved NO2 columns at a surface resolution of 80 m x 20 m revealed hot spots in a series of locations around Leicester City, including road junctions, the train station, major car parks, areas of heavy industry, a nearby airport (East Midlands) and a power station (Ratcliffe-on-Soar). In the city centre the dominant source of NO2 emissions was identified as road traffic, contributing to a background concentration as well as producing localised hot spots. Quantitative analysis revealed a significant urban increment over the city centre which increased throughout the flight.

The structure of galactic HI in directions of low total column density

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lockman, F. J.; Jahoda, K.; Mccammon, D.

1985-01-01

A detailed 21 cm study of areas of that have the smallest known amount of HI in the northern sky was performed. These observations were corrected for stray radiation. The region of main interest, around alpha = 10(h)45(m), delta = 57 deg 20', has a minimium N(HI) of 4.5 x 10 to the 19th power/sq cm. Spectra taken at 21' resolution over a field 4 x 3 deg in this direction show up to four HI line components. Two, near 0 and -50 km/s, are ubiquitous. There is also a narrow component at -10 km/s attributable to a diffuse cloud covering half of the field, and scattered patches of HI at v -100 km/s. the low and intermediate velocity components have a broad line width and are so smoothly distributed across the region that it is unlikely that they contain significant unresolved angular structure. Eight other low column density directions were also observed. Their spectra typically have several components, but the total column density is always 7 x 10 to the 19th power/sq cm and changes smoothly along a 2 deg strip. Half of the directions show narrow lines arising from weak diffuse HI clouds that contain 0.5 to 3.0 x 10 to the 19th power/sq cm.

Erratum: "Photoionization Modeling of Oxygen K Absorption in the Interstellar Medium, the Chandra Grating Spectra of XTE J1817-330" (2013, Apj, 768, 60)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gatuzz, E.; Garcia, J.; Mendoza, C.; Kallman, Timothy R.; Witthoeft, Michael C.; Lohfink, A.; Bautista, M. A.; Palmeri, P.; Quinet, P.

2013-01-01

In the published version of this paper, there are some minor inaccuracies in the absorption-line wavelengths listed in Table 4 as a result of a faulty reduction procedure of the Obs6615 spectrum. The shifts have been detected in a comparison with the wavelengths listed for this spectrum in the Chandra Transmission Grating Catalog and Archive (TGCat8). They are due to incorrect centroid positions of the zero-order image in both reductions as determined by the tgdetect utility which, when disentangled, yield the improved line positions of the amended Table 4 given below. It must also be pointed out that other quantitative findings of the original paper: 1. Table 5, p. 9: the column density (NH), ionization parameter, oxygen abundance of the warmabs model and the normalization and photon index of the power-law model; 2. Table 6, p. 9: the hydrogen column density of the warmabs fit; 3. Table 7, p. 9: the present oxygen equivalent widths of XTE J1817-330; and 4. Table 8, p. 10: the present oxygen column densities of XTE J1817-330 derived from both the curve of growth and warmabs model fit have been revised in the new light and are, within the estimated uncertainty ranges, in good accord with the new rendering.

Constraints on the OH-to-H Abundance Ratio in Infrared-bright Galaxies Derived from the Strength of the OH 35 μm Absorption Feature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stone, Myra; Veilleux, Sylvain; González-Alfonso, Eduardo; Spoon, Henrik; Sturm, Eckhard

2018-02-01

We analyze Spitzer/InfraRed Spectrograph (IRS) observations of the OH 35 μm feature in 15 nearby (z ≲ 0.06) (ultra-)luminous infrared galaxies (U/LIRGs). All objects exhibit OH 35 μm purely in absorption, as expected. The small optical depth of this transition makes the strength of this feature a good indicator of the true OH column density. The measured OH 35 μm equivalent widths imply an average OH column density and a 1-σ standard deviation to the mean of {N}{OH}=1.31+/- 0.22× {10}17 cm‑2. This number is then compared with the hydrogen column density for a typical optical depth at 35 μm of ∼0.5 and gas-to-dust ratio of 125 to derive an OH-to-H abundance ratio of {X}{OH}=1.01+/- 0.15× {10}-6. This abundance ratio is formally a lower limit. It is consistent with the values generally assumed in the literature. The OH 35 μm line profiles predicted from published radiative transfer models constrained by observations of OH 65, 79, 84, and 119 μm in 5 objects (Mrk 231, Mrk 273, IRAS F05189-2524, IRAS F08572+3915, and IRAS F20551-4250) are also found to be consistent with the IRS OH 35 μm spectra.

The Fourth Flight of CHESS: Analysis of Interstellar H2 on the γ Ara Sightline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruczek, Nick E.; France, Kevin; Nell, Nicholas; Fleming, Brian

2018-06-01

In this talk, we describe the scientific motivation and technical development of the Colorado High-resolution Echelle Stellar Spectrograph (CHESS) sounding rocket, focusing on the preliminary science results for the fourth launch of the payload (CHESS-4). CHESS is a far ultraviolet rocket-borne instrument designed to study the atomic-to-molecular transitions within translucent cloud regions in the interstellar medium. CHESS-4 launched on 13 April 2018 aboard NASA/CU sounding rocket mission 36.333 UG. The target for this flight was γ Ara, a B1I star that is known to display a variable and equatorially enhanced stellar wind. We present flight results of interstellar molecular hydrogen excitation, including initial measurements of the column density and temperature, on the sightline. These results are compared to previous values that were calculated using the damping wings of low-J H2 absorption features in Copernicus spectra. We also present analogous flight data for the sightline toward β Sco, finding that the derived column density of the J” = 1 rotational level differs by a factor of ~2 when compared to the previous observations. We discuss the discrepancies between the two measurements and show that the source of the difference is likely due to the opacity of higher rotational levels contributing to the J” = 1 absorption wing, increasing the inferred column density in the previous work.

The Multi-Layer Variable Absorbers in NGC 1365 Revealed by XMM-Newton and NuSTAR

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rivers, E.; Risaliti, G.; Walton, D. J.; Harrison, F.; Arevalo, P.; Baur, F. E.; Boggs, S. E.; Brenneman, L. W.; Brightman, M.; Zhang, W. W.

2015-01-01

Between 2012 July and 2013 February, NuSTAR and XMM-Newton performed four long-look joint observations of the type 1.8 Seyfert, NGC 1365. We have analyzed the variable absorption seen in these observations in order to characterize the geometry of the absorbing material. Two of the observations caught NGC 1365 in an unusually low absorption state, revealing complexity in the multi-layer absorber that had previously been hidden. We find the need for three distinct zones of neutral absorption in addition to the two zones of ionized absorption and the Compton-thick torus previously seen in this source. The most prominent absorber is likely associated with broad-line region clouds with column densities of around approximately 10 (sup 23) per square centimeter and a highly clumpy nature as evidenced by an occultation event in 2013 February. We also find evidence of a patchy absorber with a variable column around approximately 10 (sup 22) per square centimeter and a line-of-sight covering fraction of 0.3-0.9, which responds directly to the intrinsic source flux, possibly due to a wind geometry. A full-covering, constant absorber with a low column density of approximately 1 by 10 (sup 22) per square centimeter is also present, though the location of this low density haze is unknown.

The ATLASGAL survey: distribution of cold dust in the Galactic plane. Combination with Planck data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Csengeri, T.; Weiss, A.; Wyrowski, F.; Menten, K. M.; Urquhart, J. S.; Leurini, S.; Schuller, F.; Beuther, H.; Bontemps, S.; Bronfman, L.; Henning, Th.; Schneider, N.

2016-01-01

Context. Sensitive ground-based submillimeter surveys, such as ATLASGAL, provide a global view on the distribution of cold dense gas in the Galactic plane at up to two-times better angular-resolution compared to recent space-based surveys with Herschel. However, a drawback of ground-based continuum observations is that they intrinsically filter emission, at angular scales larger than a fraction of the field-of-view of the array, when subtracting the sky noise in the data processing. The lost information on the distribution of diffuse emission can be, however, recovered from space-based, all-sky surveys with Planck. Aims: Here we aim to demonstrate how this information can be used to complement ground-based bolometer data and present reprocessed maps of the APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy (ATLASGAL) survey. Methods: We use the maps at 353 GHz from the Planck/HFI instrument, which performed a high sensitivity all-sky survey at a frequency close to that of the APEX/LABOCA array, which is centred on 345 GHz. Complementing the ground-based observations with information on larger angular scales, the resulting maps reveal the distribution of cold dust in the inner Galaxy with a larger spatial dynamic range. We visually describe the observed features and assess the global properties of dust distribution. Results: Adding information from large angular scales helps to better identify the global properties of the cold Galactic interstellar medium. To illustrate this, we provide mass estimates from the dust towards the W43 star-forming region and estimate a column density contrast of at least a factor of five between a low intensity halo and the star-forming ridge. We also show examples of elongated structures extending over angular scales of 0.5°, which we refer to as thin giant filaments. Corresponding to > 30 pc structures in projection at a distance of 3 kpc, these dust lanes are very extended and show large aspect ratios. We assess the fraction of dense gas by determining the contribution of the APEX/LABOCA maps to the combined maps, and estimate 2-5% for the dense gas fraction (corresponding to Av> 7 mag) on average in the Galactic plane. We also show probability distribution functions of the column density (N-PDF), which reveal the typically observed log-normal distribution for low column density and exhibit an excess at high column densities. As a reference for extragalactic studies, we show the line-of-sight integrated N-PDF of the inner Galaxy, and derive a contribution of this excess to the total column density of ~ 2.2%, corresponding to NH2 = 2.92 × 1022 cm-2. Taking the total flux density observed in the maps, we provide an independent estimate of the mass of molecular gas in the inner Galaxy of ~ 1 × 109 M⊙, which is consistent with previous estimates using CO emission. From the mass and dense gas fraction (fDG), we estimate a Galactic SFR of Ṁ = 1.3 M⊙ yr-1. Conclusions: Retrieving the extended emission helps to better identify massive giant filaments which are elongated and confined structures. We show that the log-normal distribution of low column density gas is ubiquitous in the inner Galaxy. While the distribution of diffuse gas is relatively homogenous in the inner Galaxy, the central molecular zone (CMZ) stands out with a higher dense gas fraction despite its low star formation efficiency.Altogether our findings explain well the observed low star formation efficiency of the Milky Way by the low fDG in the Galactic ISM. In contrast, the high fDG observed towards the CMZ, despite its low star formation activity, suggests that, in that particular region of our Galaxy, high density gas is not the bottleneck for star formation.

Plasticity in skeletal characteristics of nursery-raised staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kuffner, Ilsa B.; Bartels, Erich; Stathakopoulos, Anastasios; Enochs, Ian C.; Kolodziej, Graham; Toth, Lauren; Manzello, Derek P.

2017-01-01

Staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, is a threatened species and the primary focus of western Atlantic reef restoration efforts to date. We compared linear extension, calcification rate, and skeletal density of nursery-raised A. cervicornis branches reared for 6 months either on blocks attached to substratum or hanging from PVC trees in the water column. We demonstrate that branches grown on the substratum had significantly higher skeletal density, measured using computerized tomography, and lower linear extension rates compared to water-column fragments. Calcification rates determined with buoyant weighing were not statistically different between the two grow-out methods, but did vary among coral genotypes. Whereas skeletal density and extension rates were plastic traits that depended on grow-out method, calcification rate was conserved. Our results show that the two rearing methods generate the same amount of calcium carbonate skeleton but produce colonies with different skeletal characteristics and suggest that there is genetically based variability in coral calcification performance.

Highly ionized atoms in cooling gas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edgar, R. J.; Chevalier, R. A.

1986-01-01

The ionization of low density gas cooling from a high temperature was calculated. The evolution during the cooling is assumed to be isochoric, isobaric, or a combination of these cases. The calculations are used to predict the column densities and ultraviolet line luminosities of highly ionized atoms in cooling gas. In a model for cooling of a hot galactic corona, it is shown that the observed value of N(N V) can be produced in the cooling gas, while the predicted value of N(Si IV) falls short of the observed value by a factor of about 5. The same model predicts fluxes of ultraviolet emission lines that are a factor of 10 lower than the claimed detections of Feldman, Brune, and Henry. Predictions are made for ultraviolet lines in cooling flows in early-type galaxies and clusters of galaxies. It is shown that the column densities of interest vary over a fairly narrow range, while the emission line luminosities are simply proportional to the mass inflow rate.

Highly ionized atoms in cooling gas. [in model for cooling of hot Galactic corona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edgar, Richard J.; Chevalier, Roger A.

1986-01-01

The ionization of low density gas cooling from a high temperature was calculated. The evolution during the cooling is assumed to be isochoric, isobaric, or a combination of these cases. The calculations are used to predict the column densities and ultraviolet line luminosities of highly ionized atoms in cooling gas. In a model for cooling of a hot galactic corona, it is shown that the observed value of N(N V) can be produced in the cooling gas, while the predicted value of N(Si IV) falls short of the observed value by a factor of about 5. The same model predicts fluxes of ultraviolet emission lines that are a factor of 10 lower than the claimed detections of Feldman, Bruna, and Henry. Predictions are made for ultraviolet lines in cooling flows in early-type galaxies and clusters of galaxies. It is shown that the column densities of interest vary over a fairly narrow range, while the emission line luminosities are simply proportional to the mass inflow rate.

Empirical mass-loss rates for 25 O and early B stars, derived from Copernicus observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gathier, R.; Lamers, H. J. G. L. M.; Snow, T. P.

1981-01-01

Ultraviolet line profiles are fitted with theoretical line profiles in the cases of 25 stars covering a spectral type range from O4 to B1, including all luminosity classes. Ion column densities are compared for the determination of wind ionization, and it is found that the O VI/N V ratio is dependent on the mean density of the wind and not on effective temperature value, while the Si IV/N V ratio is temperature-dependent. The column densities are used to derive a mass-loss rate parameter that is empirically correlated against the mass-loss rate by means of standard stars with well-determined rates from IR or radio data. The empirical mass-loss rates obtained are compared with those derived by others and found to vary by as much as a factor of 10, which is shown to be due to uncertainties or errors in the ionization fractions of models used for wind ionization balance prediction.

The effects of a decompression on seismic parameter profiles in a gas-charged magma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sturton, Susan; Neuberg, Jürgen

2003-11-01

Seismic velocities in a gas-charged magma vary with depth and time. Relationships between pressure, density, exsolved gas content, and seismic velocity are derived and used in conjunction with expressions describing diffusive bubble growth to find a series of velocity profiles which depend on time. An equilibrium solution is obtained by considering a column of magma in which the gas distribution corresponds to the magmastatic pressure profile with depth. Decompression events of various sizes are simulated, and the resulting disequilibrium between the gas pressure and magmastatic pressure leads to bubble growth and therefore to a change of seismic velocity and density with time. Bubble growth stops when the system reaches a new equilibrium. The corresponding volume increase is accommodated by accelerating the magma column upwards and an extrusion of lava. A timescale for the system to return to equilibrium can be obtained. The effect of changes in magma viscosity and bubble number density is examined.

Plasticity in skeletal characteristics of nursery-raised staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuffner, Ilsa B.; Bartels, Erich; Stathakopoulos, Anastasios; Enochs, Ian C.; Kolodziej, G.; Toth, Lauren T.; Manzello, Derek P.

2017-09-01

Staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, is a threatened species and the primary focus of western Atlantic reef restoration efforts to date. We compared linear extension, calcification rate, and skeletal density of nursery-raised A. cervicornis branches reared for 6 months either on blocks attached to substratum or hanging from PVC trees in the water column. We demonstrate that branches grown on the substratum had significantly higher skeletal density, measured using computerized tomography, and lower linear extension rates compared to water-column fragments. Calcification rates determined with buoyant weighing were not statistically different between the two grow-out methods, but did vary among coral genotypes. Whereas skeletal density and extension rates were plastic traits that depended on grow-out method, calcification rate was conserved. Our results show that the two rearing methods generate the same amount of calcium carbonate skeleton but produce colonies with different skeletal characteristics and suggest that there is genetically based variability in coral calcification performance.

Hydrodynamic optical-field-ionized plasma channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shalloo, R. J.; Arran, C.; Corner, L.; Holloway, J.; Jonnerby, J.; Walczak, R.; Milchberg, H. M.; Hooker, S. M.

2018-05-01

We present experiments and numerical simulations which demonstrate that fully ionized, low-density plasma channels could be formed by hydrodynamic expansion of plasma columns produced by optical field ionization. Simulations of the hydrodynamic expansion of plasma columns formed in hydrogen by an axicon lens show the generation of 200 mm long plasma channels with axial densities of order ne(0 ) =1 ×1017cm-3 and lowest-order modes of spot size WM≈40 μ m . These simulations show that the laser energy required to generate the channels is modest: of order 1 mJ per centimeter of channel. The simulations are confirmed by experiments with a spherical lens which show the formation of short plasma channels with 1.5 ×1017cm-3≲ne(0 ) ≲1 ×1018cm-3 and 61 μ m ≳WM≳33 μ m . Low-density plasma channels of this type would appear to be well suited as multi-GeV laser-plasma accelerator stages capable of long-term operation at high pulse repetition rates.

Far infrared maps of the ridge between OMC-1 and OMC-2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keene, J.; Smith, J.; Harper, D. A.; Hildebrand, R. H.; Whitcomb, S. E.

1979-01-01

Dust continuum emission from a 6 ft x 20 ft region surrounding OMC-1 and OMC-2 were mapped at 55 and 125 microns with 4 ft resolution. The dominant features of the maps are a strong peak at OMC-1 and a ridge of lower surface brightness between OMC-1 and OMC-2. Along the ridge the infrared flux densities and the color temperature decreases smoothly from OMC-1 to OMC-2. OMC-1 is heated primarily by several optical and infrared stars situated within or just at the boundary of the cloud. At the region of minimum column density between OMC-1 and OMC-2 the nearby B0.5 V star NU Ori may contribute significantly to the dust heating. Near OMC-2 dust column densities are large enough so that, in addition to the OMC-2 infrared cluster, the nonlocal infrared sources associated with OMC-1 and NU Ori can contribute to the heating.

Liquid level sensing device

DOEpatents

Tokarz, Richard D.

1983-01-01

A liquid level sensing device comprising a load cell supporting a column or stack of segments freely resting on one another. The density of each element is substantially identical to that of the surrounding liquid. The elements are freely guided within a surrounding tube. As each element is exposed above the liquid level, its weight will be impressed through the column to the load cell, thereby providing a signal at the load cell directly proportional to the liquid level elevation.

Deriving Surface NO2 Mixing Ratios from DISCOVER-AQ ACAM Observations: A Method to Assess Surface NO2 Spatial Variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silverman, M. L.; Szykman, J.; Chen, G.; Crawford, J. H.; Janz, S. J.; Kowalewski, M. G.; Lamsal, L. N.; Long, R.

2015-12-01

Studies have shown that satellite NO2 columns are closely related to ground level NO2 concentrations, particularly over polluted areas. This provides a means to assess surface level NO2 spatial variability over a broader area than what can be monitored from ground stations. The characterization of surface level NO2 variability is important to understand air quality in urban areas, emissions, health impacts, photochemistry, and to evaluate the performance of chemical transport models. Using data from the NASA DISCOVER-AQ campaign in Baltimore/Washington we calculate NO2 mixing ratios from the Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper (ACAM), through four different methods to derive surface concentration from column measurements. High spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) mixed layer heights, vertical P3B profiles, and CMAQ vertical profiles are used to scale ACAM vertical column densities. The derived NO2 mixing ratios are compared to EPA ground measurements taken at Padonia and Edgewood. We find similar results from scaling with HSRL mixed layer heights and normalized P3B vertical profiles. The HSRL mixed layer heights are then used to scale ACAM vertical column densities across the DISCOVER-AQ flight pattern to assess spatial variability of NO2 over the area. This work will help define the measurement requirements for future satellite instruments.

The timing and intensity of column collapse during explosive volcanic eruptions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carazzo, Guillaume; Kaminski, Edouard; Tait, Stephen

2015-02-01

Volcanic columns produced by explosive eruptions commonly reach, at some stage, a collapse regime with associated pyroclastic density currents propagating on the ground. The threshold conditions for the entrance into this regime are mainly controlled by the mass flux and exsolved gas content at the source. However, column collapse is often partial and the controls on the fraction of total mass flux that feeds the pyroclastic density currents, defined here as the intensity of collapse, are unknown. To better understand this regime, we use a new experimental apparatus reproducing at laboratory scale the convecting and collapsing behavior of hot particle-laden air jets. We validate the predictions of a 1D theoretical model for the entrance into the regime of partial collapse. Furthermore, we show that where a buoyant plume and a collapsing fountain coexist, the intensity of collapse can be predicted by a universal scaling relationship. We find that the intensity of collapse in the partial collapse regime is controlled by magma gas content and temperature, and always exceeds 40%, independent of peak mass flux and total erupted volume. The comparison between our theoretical predictions and a set of geological data on historic and pre-historic explosive eruptions shows that the model can be used to predict both the onset and intensity of column collapse, hence it can be used for rapid assessment of volcanic hazards notably ash dispersal during eruptive crises.

Characterizing pressure issues due to turbulent flow in tubing, in ultra-fast chiral supercritical fluid chromatography at up to 580bar.

PubMed

Berger, Terry A

2016-12-02

It has been widely suggested that the outlet pressure be changed to maintain constant density ("isopycnic" conditions) when comparing the kinetic performance of different columns in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). However, at high flow rates, flow in the tubing is turbulent, causing large extra-column pressure drops that limit options for changing outlet pressure. Some of these pressure drops occur before and some after the column, obscuring the actual column inlet and outlet pressures. In this work, a 4.6×100mm, 1.8μm R,R-Whelk-O1 column was used with low dispersion LD (120μm) plumbing to generate sub-1min chiral separations. However, the optimum, or near optimum, flow rate was 5mL-min -1 , producing a system pressure of 580bar (with 40% methanol, outlet pressure 120bar). Both the flow rate and pump pressure required were near the limits of the instrument, and significantly exceeded the capability of many other SFC's. Extra-column pressure drops (ΔP ec ) were as high as 200bar, caused mostly by turbulent flow in the tubing. The ΔP ec increased by more than the square of the flow rate. Reynolds Numbers (Re) were calculated for tubing as a function of flow rate between 100 and 400bar and 5-20% methanol in CO 2 , and 40°-60°C. This represents the most extensive analysis of turbulence in tubing in the SFC literature. Flow in 120μm ID tubing was calculated to be laminar below 1.0mL-min -1 , mostly transitional up to 2.5mL-min -1 and virtually always turbulent at 3mL-min -1 and higher. Flow in 170μm tubing is turbulent at lower flows but generates half the ΔP ec due to the lower mobile phase linear velocity. The results suggest that, while sub-minute chromatograms are easily generated, 4.6mm columns are not very user friendly for use with sub-2μm packings. The high flow rates required just to reach optimum result in high ΔP ec generated by the tubing, causing uncertainty in the true column inlet, outlet, and average column pressure/density. When comparing kinetic performance of columns with different dimensions, the pressure drops in the tubing must be considered. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The measurement of carbon monoxide and methane in the National Capital Air Quality Control Region. I - Measurement systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lebel, P. J.; Lamontagne, R. A.; Goldstein, H. W.

1976-01-01

The Carbon Monoxide Pollution Experiment (COPE) and the National Capital Air Quality Control Region (NCAQCR) undertook a series of measurements of atmospheric CO and CH4 to determine the accuracy of the airborne COPE Correlation Interfer4meter. The device, a modified Michelson interferometer, measures the atmospheric column density of CO and CH4 at 2.3 microns with tropospheric measurement sensitivities of 70 and 10 PPB, respectively. Data for evaluating the remote measurements included atmospheric column density measurements at a ground truth site using a van-mounted infrared Fourier spectrometer; continuous ground level gas chromatographic measurements; and chromatographic data from atmospheric grab samples collected by aircraft and at ground locations. The instruments and sampling techniques used in the experiment are described in detail.

X-Ray Shadowing Experiments Toward Infrared Dark Clouds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, L. E.; Snowden, S.; Bania, T. M.

2009-01-01

We searched for X-ray shadowing toward two infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) using the MOS detectors on XMM-Newton to learn about the Galactic distribution of X-ray emitting plasma. IRDCs make ideal X-ray shadowing targets of 3/4 keY photons due to their high column densities, relatively large angular sizes, and known kinematic distances. Here we focus on two clouds near 30 deg Galactic longitude at distances of 2 and 5 kpc from the Sun. We derive the foreground and background column densities of molecular and atomic gas in the direction of the clouds. We find that the 3/4 ke V emission must be distributed throughout the Galactic disk. It is therefore linked to the structure of the cooler material of the ISM, and to the birth of stars.

Electric discharge during electrosurgery

PubMed Central

Shashurin, Alexey; Scott, David; Zhuang, Taisen; Canady, Jerome; Beilis, Isak I.; Keidar, Michael

2015-01-01

Electric discharge utilized for electrosurgery is studied by means of a recently developed method for the diagnostics of small-size atmospheric plasma objects based on Rayleigh scattering of microwaves on the plasma volume. Evolution of the plasma parameters in the near-electrode sheaths and in the positive column is measured and analyzed. It is found that the electrosurgical system produces a glow discharge of alternating current with strongly contracted positive column with current densities reaching 103 A/cm2. The plasma electron density and electrical conductivities in the channel were found be 1016 cm−3 and (1-2) Ohm−1cm−1, respectively. The discharge interrupts every instance when the discharge-driving AC voltage crosses zero and re-ignites again every next half-wave at the moment when the instant voltage exceeds the breakdown threshold. PMID:25880721

Electric discharge during electrosurgery.

PubMed

Shashurin, Alexey; Scott, David; Zhuang, Taisen; Canady, Jerome; Beilis, Isak I; Keidar, Michael

2015-04-16

Electric discharge utilized for electrosurgery is studied by means of a recently developed method for the diagnostics of small-size atmospheric plasma objects based on Rayleigh scattering of microwaves on the plasma volume. Evolution of the plasma parameters in the near-electrode sheaths and in the positive column is measured and analyzed. It is found that the electrosurgical system produces a glow discharge of alternating current with strongly contracted positive column with current densities reaching 10(3) A/cm(2). The plasma electron density and electrical conductivities in the channel were found be 10(16) cm(-3) and (1-2) Ohm(-1) cm(-1), respectively. The discharge interrupts every instance when the discharge-driving AC voltage crosses zero and re-ignites again every next half-wave at the moment when the instant voltage exceeds the breakdown threshold.

Analytical methods for measuring the parameters of interstellar gas using methanol observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalenskii, S. V.; Kurtz, S.

2016-08-01

The excitation of methanol in the absence of external radiation is analyzed, and LTE methods for probing interstellar gas considered. It is shown that rotation diagrams correctly estimate the gas kinetic temperature only if they are constructed using lines whose upper levels are located in the same K-ladders, such as the J 0- J -1 E lines at 157 GHz, the J 1- J 0 E lines at 165 GHz, and the J 2- J 1 E lines at 25 GHz. The gas density must be no less than 107 cm-3. Rotation diagrams constructed from lines with different K values for their upper levels (e.g., 2 K -1 K at 96 GHz, 3 K -2 K at 145 GHz, 5 K -4 K at 241 GHz) significantly underestimate the temperature, but enable estimation of the density. In addition, diagrams based on the 2 K -1 K lines can be used to estimate the methanol column density within a factor of about two to five. It is suggested that rotation diagrams should be used in the following manner. First, two rotation diagrams should be constructed, one from the lines at 96, 145, or 241 GHz, and another from the lines at 157, 165, or 25 GHz. The former diagram is used to estimate the gas density. If the density is about 107 cm-3 or higher, the latter diagram reproduces the temperature fairly well. If the density is around 106 cm-3, the temperature obtained from the latter diagram should be multiplied by a factor of 1.5-2. If the density is about 105 cm-3 or lower, then the latter diagram yields a temperature that is lower than the kinetic temperature by a factor of three or more, and should be used only as a lower limit for the kinetic temperature. The errors in the methanol column density determined from the integrated intensity of a single line can be more than an order of magnitude, even when the gas temperature is well known. However, if the J 0-( J - 1)0 E lines, as well as the J 1-( J - 1)1 A + or A - lines are used, the relative error in the column density is no more than a factor of a few.

Relationships between environmental factors and pathogenic Vibrios in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

PubMed

Johnson, C N; Flowers, A R; Noriea, N F; Zimmerman, A M; Bowers, J C; DePaola, A; Grimes, D J

2010-11-01

Although autochthonous vibrio densities are known to be influenced by water temperature and salinity, little is understood about other environmental factors associated with their abundance and distribution. Densities of culturable Vibrio vulnificus containing vvh (V. vulnificus hemolysin gene) and V. parahaemolyticus containing tlh (thermolabile hemolysin gene, ubiquitous in V. parahaemolyticus), tdh (thermostable direct hemolysin gene, V. parahaemolyticus pathogenicity factor), and trh (tdh-related hemolysin gene, V. parahaemolyticus pathogenicity factor) were measured in coastal waters of Mississippi and Alabama. Over a 19-month sampling period, vibrio densities in water, oysters, and sediment varied significantly with sea surface temperature (SST). On average, tdh-to-tlh ratios were significantly higher than trh-to-tlh ratios in water and oysters but not in sediment. Although tlh densities were lower than vvh densities in water and in oysters, the opposite was true in sediment. Regression analysis indicated that SST had a significant association with vvh and tlh densities in water and oysters, while salinity was significantly related to vibrio densities in the water column. Chlorophyll a levels in the water were correlated significantly with vvh in sediment and oysters and with pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus (tdh and trh) in the water column. Furthermore, turbidity was a significant predictor of V. parahaemolyticus density in all sample types (water, oyster, and sediment), and its role in predicting the risk of V. parahaemolyticus illness may be more important than previously realized. This study identified (i) culturable vibrios in winter sediment samples, (ii) niche-based differences in the abundance of vibrios, and (iii) predictive signatures resulting from correlations between environmental parameters and vibrio densities.

Continuous automated sensing of streamflow density as a surrogate for suspended-sediment concentration sampling

USGS Publications Warehouse

Larsen, Matthew C.; Figueroa Alamo, Carlos; Gray, John R.; Fletcher, William

2001-01-01

A newly refined technique for continuously and automatically sensing the density of a water-sediment mixture is being tested at a U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station in Puerto Rico. Originally developed to measure crude oil density, the double bubbler instrument measures fluid density by means of pressure transducers at two elevations in a vertical water column. By subtracting the density of water from the value measured for the density of the water-sediment mixture, the concentration of suspended sediment can be estimated. Preliminary tests of the double bubbler instrument show promise but are not yet conclusive.

High energy spectrum of spherically accreting black holes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meszaros, P.; Ostriker, J. P.

1983-01-01

Spherically accreting black holes may sustain strong collisionless shocks, downstream of which the fluid approximation is not valid. The proton-electron Coulomb exchange provides for the downstream matter diffusion into the hole. Energy conversion efficiencies upward of 10-30 percent are obtained, with most of the luminosity in hard X-rays and gamma-rays. The whole spectrum and its application for radio-quiet QSO's and galactic X- and gamma-ray sources are discussed.

Pillars and globules at the edges of H ii regions. Confronting Herschel observations and numerical simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tremblin, P.; Minier, V.; Schneider, N.; Audit, E.; Hill, T.; Didelon, P.; Peretto, N.; Arzoumanian, D.; Motte, F.; Zavagno, A.; Bontemps, S.; Anderson, L. D.; André, Ph.; Bernard, J. P.; Csengeri, T.; Di Francesco, J.; Elia, D.; Hennemann, M.; Könyves, V.; Marston, A. P.; Nguyen Luong, Q.; Rivera-Ingraham, A.; Roussel, H.; Sousbie, T.; Spinoglio, L.; White, G. J.; Williams, J.

2013-12-01

Context. Herschel far-infrared imaging observations have revealed the density structure of the interface between H ii regions and molecular clouds in great detail. In particular, pillars and globules are present in many high-mass star-forming regions, such as the Eagle nebula (M 16) and the Rosette molecular cloud, and understanding their origin will help characterize triggered star formation. Aims: The formation mechanisms of these structures are still being debated. The initial morphology of the molecular cloud and its turbulent state are key parameters since they generate deformations and curvatures of the shell during the expansion of the H ii region. Recent numerical simulations have shown how pillars can arise from the collapse of the shell in on itself and how globules can be formed from the interplay of the turbulent molecular cloud and the ionization from massive stars. The goal here is to test this scenario through recent observations of two massive star-forming regions, M 16 and the Rosette molecular cloud. Methods: First, the column density structure of the interface between molecular clouds and associated H ii regions was characterized using column density maps obtained from far-infrared imaging of the Herschel HOBYS key programme. Then, the DisPerSe algorithm was used on these maps to detect the compressed layers around the ionized gas and pillars in different evolutionary states. Column density profiles were constructed. Finally, their velocity structure was investigated using CO data, and all observational signatures were tested against some distinct diagnostics established from simulations. Results: The column density profiles have revealed the importance of compression at the edge of the ionized gas. The velocity properties of the structures, i.e. pillars and globules, are very close to what we predict from the numerical simulations. We have identified a good candidate of a nascent pillar in the Rosette molecular cloud that presents the velocity pattern of the shell collapsing on itself, induced by a high local curvature. Globules have a bulk velocity dispersion that indicates the importance of the initial turbulence in their formation, as proposed from numerical simulations. Altogether, this study re-enforces the picture of pillar formation by shell collapse and globule formation by the ionization of highly turbulent clouds. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.

Use of a polar ionic liquid as second column for the comprehensive two-dimensional GC separation of PCBs.

PubMed

Zapadlo, Michal; Krupcík, Ján; Májek, Pavel; Armstrong, Daniel W; Sandra, Pat

2010-09-10

The orthogonality of three columns coupled in two series was studied for the congener specific comprehensive two-dimensional GC separation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A non-polar capillary column coated with poly(5%-phenyl-95%-methyl)siloxane was used as the first ((1)D) column in both series. A polar capillary column coated with 70% cyanopropyl-polysilphenylene-siloxane or a capillary column coated with the ionic liquid 1,12-di(tripropylphosphonium)dodecane bis(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl)imide were used as the second ((2)D) columns. Nine multi-congener standard PCB solutions containing subsets of all native 209 PCBs, a mixture of 209 PCBs as well as Aroclor 1242 and 1260 formulations were used to study the orthogonality of both column series. Retention times of the corresponding PCB congeners on (1)D and (2)D columns were used to construct retention time dependences (apex plots) for assessing orthogonality of both columns coupled in series. For a visual assessment of the peak density of PCBs congeners on a retention plane, 2D images were compared. The degree of orthogonality of both column series was, along the visual assessment of distribution of PCBs on the retention plane, evaluated also by Pearson's correlation coefficient, which was found by correlation of retention times t(R,i,2D) and t(R,i,1D) of corresponding PCB congeners on both column series. It was demonstrated that the apolar+ionic liquid column series is almost orthogonal both for the 2D separation of PCBs present in Aroclor 1242 and 1260 formulations as well as for the separation of all of 209 PCBs. All toxic, dioxin-like PCBs, with the exception of PCB 118 that overlaps with PCB 106, were resolved by the apolar/ionic liquid series while on the apolar/polar column series three toxic PCBs overlapped (105+127, 81+148 and 118+106). Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Herschel/HIFI spectral line survey of the Orion Bar. Temperature and density differentiation near the PDR surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagy, Z.; Choi, Y.; Ossenkopf-Okada, V.; van der Tak, F. F. S.; Bergin, E. A.; Gerin, M.; Joblin, C.; Röllig, M.; Simon, R.; Stutzki, J.

2017-03-01

Context. Photon dominated regions (PDRs) are interfaces between the mainly ionized and mainly molecular material around young massive stars. Analysis of the physical and chemical structure of such regions traces the impact of far-ultraviolet radiation of young massive stars on their environment. Aims: We present results on the physical and chemical structure of the prototypical high UV-illumination edge-on Orion Bar PDR from an unbiased spectral line survey with a wide spectral coverage which includes lines of many important gas coolants such as [Cii], [Ci], and CO and other key molecules such as H2CO, H2O, HCN, HCO+, and SO. Methods: A spectral scan from 480-1250 GHz and 1410-1910 GHz at 1.1 MHz resolution was obtained by the HIFI instrument on board the Herschel Space Observatory. We obtained physical parameters for the observed molecules. For molecules with multiple transitions we used rotational diagrams to obtain excitation temperatures and column densities. For species with a single detected transition we used an optically thin LTE approximation. In the case of species with available collisional rates, we also performed a non-LTE analysis to obtain kinetic temperatures, H2 volume densities, and column densities. Results: About 120 lines corresponding to 29 molecules (including isotopologues) have been detected in the Herschel/HIFI line survey, including 11 transitions of CO, 7 transitions of 13CO, 6 transitions of C18O, 10 transitions of H2CO, and 6 transitions of H2O. The rotational temperatures are in the range between 22 and 146 K and the column densities are in the range between 1.8 × 1012 cm-2 and 4.5 × 1017 cm-2. For species with at least three detected transitions and available collisional excitation rates we derived a best fit kinetic temperature and H2 volume density. Most species trace kinetic temperatures in the range between 100 and 150 K and H2 volume densities in the range between 105 and 106 cm-3. The species with temperatures and/or densities outside this range include the H2CO transitions tracing a very high temperature (315 K) and density (1.4 × 106 cm-3) component and SO corresponding to the lowest temperature (56 K) measured as a part of this line survey. Conclusions: The observed lines/species reveal a range of physical conditions (gas density/temperature) involving structures at high density/high pressure, making the traditional clump/interclump picture of the Orion Bar obsolete.

Glycolipid class profiling by packed-column subcritical fluid chromatography.

PubMed

Deschamps, Frantz S; Lesellier, Eric; Bleton, Jean; Baillet, Arlette; Tchapla, Alain; Chaminade, Pierre

2004-06-18

The potential of packed-column subcritical fluid chromatography (SubFC) for the separation of lipid classes has been assessed in this study. Three polar stationary phases were checked: silica, diol, and poly(vinyl alcohol). Carbon dioxide (CO2) with methanol as modifier was used as mobile phase and detection performed by evaporative light scattering detection. The influence of methanol content, temperature, and pressure on the chromatographic behavior of sphingolipids and glycolipids were investigated. A complete separation of lipid classes from a crude wheat lipid extract was achieved using a modifier gradient from 10 to 40% methanol in carbon dioxide. Solute selectivity was improved using coupled silica and diol columns in series. Because the variation of eluotropic strength depending on the fluid density changes, a normalized separation factor product (NSP) was used to select the nature, the number and the order of the columns to reach the optimum glycolipid separation.

Scaling of Turbulence and Transport with ρ* in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guice, Daniel; Carter, Troy; Rossi, Giovanni

2014-10-01

The plasma column size of the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) is varied in order to investigate the variation of turbulence and transport with ρ* =ρs / a . The data set includes plasmas produced by the standard BaO plasma source (straight field plasma radius a 30 cm) as well as the new higher density, higher temperature LaB6 plasma source (straight field plasma radius a 10 cm). The size of the plasma column is scaled in order to observe a Bohm to Gyro-Bohm diffusion transition. The main plasma column magnetic field is held fixed while the field in the cathode region is changed in order to map the cathode to different plasma column scales in the main chamber. Past experiments in the LAPD have shown a change in the observed diffusion but no transition to Gyro-Bohm diffusion. Results will be presented from an ongoing campaign to push the LAPD into the Gyro-Bohm diffusion regime.

Simultaneous Ultraviolet and X-Ray Spectroscopy of the Seyfert 1 Galaxy NGC 5548. I. Physical Conditions in the Ultraviolet Absorbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crenshaw, D. M.; Kraemer, S. B.; Gabel, J. R.; Kaastra, J. S.; Steenbrugge, K. C.; Brinkman, A. C.; Dunn, J. P.; George, I. M.; Liedahl, D. A.; Paerels, F. B. S.; Turner, T. J.; Yaqoob, T.

2003-09-01

We present new UV spectra of the nucleus of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548, which we obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph at high spectral resolution, in conjunction with simultaneous Chandra X-Ray Observatory spectra. Taking advantage of the low UV continuum and broad emission-line fluxes, we have determined that the deepest UV absorption component covers at least a portion of the inner, high-ionization narrow-line region (NLR). We find nonunity covering factors in the cores of several kinematic components, which increase the column density measurements of N V and C IV by factors of 1.2-1.9 over the full-covering case; however, the revised columns have only a minor effect on the parameters derived from our photoionization models. For the first time, we have simultaneous N V and C IV columns for component 1 (at -1040 km s-1) and find that this component cannot be an X-ray warm absorber, contrary to our previous claim based on nonsimultaneous observations. We find that models of the absorbers based on solar abundances severely overpredict the O VI columns previously obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and present arguments that this is not likely due to variability. However, models that include either enhanced nitrogen (twice solar) or dust, with strong depletion of carbon in either case, are successful in matching all of the observed ionic columns. These models result in substantially lower ionization parameters and total column densities compared to dust-free solar-abundance models and produce little O VII or O VIII, indicating that none of the UV absorbers are X-ray warm absorbers. Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555. These observations are associated with proposal 9279.

Simultaneous UV and X-ray Spectroscopy of the Seyfert 1 Galaxy NGC 5548. I. Evidence for Dust in the UV Absorbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraemer, S. B.; Crenshaw, D. M.; Gabel, J. R.; Kaastra, J. S.; Steenbrugge, K.; George, I. M.; Turner, T. J.; Yaqoob, T.; Dunn, J. P.

2002-12-01

We present new UV spectra of the nucleus of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548, obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph at high spectral resolution (λ /Δ λ = 30,000 - 46,000), simultaneously with Chandra X-ray Observatory spectra. Taking advantage of the low UV continuum and broad emission-line fluxes, we have determined that the deepest UV absorption component covers at least a portion of the inner high-ionization narrow-line region (NLR). Assuming the NLR is fully covered, we find nonunity covering factors in the cores of several components, which increase the column density measurements of N V and C IV by factors of 1.2 to 1.9; however, the revised columns have only a minor effect on the parameters derived from our photoionization models. For the first time, we have simultaneous C IV and N V columns for component 1 (at -1040 km s-1), and find that this component cannot be an X-ray warm absorber, contrary to our previous claim (based on nonsimultaneous observations of N V and C IV). We find that dust-free models of the absorbers severely overpredict the O VI columns previously obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectrograph, and present arguments that this is not likely due to variability. However, models that include dust (and thereby heavily deplete carbon) are successful in matching all of the observed ionic columns, and result in substantially lower ionization parameters and total column densities compared to dust-free models. Interestingly, these models yield the exact amount of dust needed to produce the observed reddening of the inner NLR, assuming a Galactic dust to gas ratio. The models produce little O VII and O VIII, indicating that none of the dusty UV absorbers is associated with a classic X-ray warm absorber.

Planck intermediate results. XIX. An overview of the polarized thermal emission from Galactic dust

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Planck Collaboration; Ade, P. A. R.; Aghanim, N.; Alina, D.; Alves, M. I. R.; Armitage-Caplan, C.; Arnaud, M.; Arzoumanian, D.; Ashdown, M.; Atrio-Barandela, F.; Aumont, J.; Baccigalupi, C.; Banday, A. J.; Barreiro, R. B.; Battaner, E.; Benabed, K.; Benoit-Lévy, A.; Bernard, J.-P.; Bersanelli, M.; Bielewicz, P.; Bock, J. J.; Bond, J. R.; Borrill, J.; Bouchet, F. R.; Boulanger, F.; Bracco, A.; Burigana, C.; Butler, R. C.; Cardoso, J.-F.; Catalano, A.; Chamballu, A.; Chary, R.-R.; Chiang, H. C.; Christensen, P. R.; Colombi, S.; Colombo, L. P. L.; Combet, C.; Couchot, F.; Coulais, A.; Crill, B. P.; Curto, A.; Cuttaia, F.; Danese, L.; Davies, R. D.; Davis, R. J.; de Bernardis, P.; de Gouveia Dal Pino, E. M.; de Rosa, A.; de Zotti, G.; Delabrouille, J.; Désert, F.-X.; Dickinson, C.; Diego, J. M.; Donzelli, S.; Doré, O.; Douspis, M.; Dunkley, J.; Dupac, X.; Efstathiou, G.; Enßlin, T. A.; Eriksen, H. K.; Falgarone, E.; Ferrière, K.; Finelli, F.; Forni, O.; Frailis, M.; Fraisse, A. A.; Franceschi, E.; Galeotta, S.; Ganga, K.; Ghosh, T.; Giard, M.; Giraud-Héraud, Y.; González-Nuevo, J.; Górski, K. M.; Gregorio, A.; Gruppuso, A.; Guillet, V.; Hansen, F. K.; Harrison, D. L.; Helou, G.; Hernández-Monteagudo, C.; Hildebrandt, S. R.; Hivon, E.; Hobson, M.; Holmes, W. A.; Hornstrup, A.; Huffenberger, K. M.; Jaffe, A. H.; Jaffe, T. R.; Jones, W. C.; Juvela, M.; Keihänen, E.; Keskitalo, R.; Kisner, T. S.; Kneissl, R.; Knoche, J.; Kunz, M.; Kurki-Suonio, H.; Lagache, G.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Lamarre, J.-M.; Lasenby, A.; Lawrence, C. R.; Leahy, J. P.; Leonardi, R.; Levrier, F.; Liguori, M.; Lilje, P. B.; Linden-Vørnle, M.; López-Caniego, M.; Lubin, P. M.; Macías-Pérez, J. F.; Maffei, B.; Magalhães, A. M.; Maino, D.; Mandolesi, N.; Maris, M.; Marshall, D. J.; Martin, P. G.; Martínez-González, E.; Masi, S.; Matarrese, S.; Mazzotta, P.; Melchiorri, A.; Mendes, L.; Mennella, A.; Migliaccio, M.; Miville-Deschênes, M.-A.; Moneti, A.; Montier, L.; Morgante, G.; Mortlock, D.; Munshi, D.; Murphy, J. A.; Naselsky, P.; Nati, F.; Natoli, P.; Netterfield, C. B.; Noviello, F.; Novikov, D.; Novikov, I.; Oxborrow, C. A.; Pagano, L.; Pajot, F.; Paladini, R.; Paoletti, D.; Pasian, F.; Pearson, T. J.; Perdereau, O.; Perotto, L.; Perrotta, F.; Piacentini, F.; Piat, M.; Pietrobon, D.; Plaszczynski, S.; Poidevin, F.; Pointecouteau, E.; Polenta, G.; Popa, L.; Pratt, G. W.; Prunet, S.; Puget, J.-L.; Rachen, J. P.; Reach, W. T.; Rebolo, R.; Reinecke, M.; Remazeilles, M.; Renault, C.; Ricciardi, S.; Riller, T.; Ristorcelli, I.; Rocha, G.; Rosset, C.; Roudier, G.; Rubiño-Martín, J. A.; Rusholme, B.; Sandri, M.; Savini, G.; Scott, D.; Spencer, L. D.; Stolyarov, V.; Stompor, R.; Sudiwala, R.; Sutton, D.; Suur-Uski, A.-S.; Sygnet, J.-F.; Tauber, J. A.; Terenzi, L.; Toffolatti, L.; Tomasi, M.; Tristram, M.; Tucci, M.; Umana, G.; Valenziano, L.; Valiviita, J.; Van Tent, B.; Vielva, P.; Villa, F.; Wade, L. A.; Wandelt, B. D.; Zacchei, A.; Zonca, A.

2015-04-01

This paper presents an overview of the polarized sky as seen by Planck HFI at 353 GHz, which is the most sensitive Planck channel for dust polarization. We construct and analyse maps of dust polarization fraction and polarization angle at 1° resolution, taking into account noise bias and possible systematic effects. The sensitivity of the Planck HFI polarization measurements allows for the first time a mapping of Galactic dust polarized emission on large scales, including low column density regions. We find that the maximum observed dust polarization fraction is high (pmax = 19.8%), in particular in some regions of moderate hydrogen column density (NH < 2 × 1021 cm-2). The polarization fraction displays a large scatter at NH below a few 1021 cm-2. There is a general decrease in the dust polarization fraction with increasing column density above NH ≃ 1 × 1021 cm-2 and in particular a sharp drop above NH ≃ 1.5 × 1022 cm-2. We characterize the spatial structure of the polarization angle using the angle dispersion function. We find that the polarization angle is ordered over extended areas of several square degrees, separated by filamentary structures of high angle dispersion function. These appear as interfaces where the sky projection of the magnetic field changes abruptly without variations in the column density. The polarization fraction is found to be anti-correlated with the dispersion of polarization angles. These results suggest that, at the resolution of 1°, depolarization is due mainly to fluctuations in the magnetic field orientation along the line of sight, rather than to the loss of grain alignment in shielded regions. We also compare the polarization of thermal dust emission with that of synchrotron measured with Planck, low-frequency radio data, and Faraday rotation measurements toward extragalactic sources. These components bear resemblance along the Galactic plane and in some regions such as the Fan and North Polar Spur regions. The poor match observed in other regions shows, however, that dust, cosmic-ray electrons, and thermal electrons generally sample different parts of the line of sight. Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Investigating Star-Gas Correlation and Evolution in the 100pc Cygnus X Complex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutermuth, Robert

We request support to pursue a substantial refinement of the ongoing characterizations of star and gas surface density in nearby star forming regions by engaging in a focused study of the Cygnus X star forming complex. The substantial physical size of the region and high spatial dynamic range of its surveys enables us to achieve the following science goals: - Characterize the distributions of gas and stellar column densities in a large, nearby starforming complex and integrate those values over successively larger physical scales in order to gauge the effect of varying physical resolution on the measured star-gas correlation. - Validate integrated 24 ¼m luminosity as a method of estimating star formation rate surface density using a region in which the substantial number of known forming members should ensure that the IMF is statistically well-sampled. - Validate 12CO luminosity as a method of estimating molecular gas column density against 13CO column density. tegrated 24 micron and radio continuum luminosity. To achieve these goals, we will perform substantial improvement and expansion of the Cygnus X Spitzer (and 2MASS) Legacy Survey point source catalog using UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) near-IR data and WISE mid-IR data. From this catalog, we will produce a comprehensive census of young stellar objects (YSOs) with IR-excess emission over the numerical bulk of the stellar mass function (0.2 2 M ). This YSO catalog is expected to be considerably larger than the entire YSO census of the nearest kiloparsec. Both the point source and YSO catalogs will be contributed to the Infrared Science Archive (IRSA) to facilitate community access to these improved data products. In addition, we will provide a star formation surface density map derived from the MIPS 24 micron map of Cygnus X from the Spitzer Legacy Survey and gas column density maps derived from 12CO and 13CO data from the Exeter-Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory Cygnus Survey. The proposed program will bring to maturity a major new scientific result from the combination of data from several NASA program investments (Spitzer Legacy, WISE, & 2MASS) and some external archives (UKIDSS GPS, Exeter-FCRAO XGRS) that we have shown above add considerable value to the scientific interpretation of the data from the NASA archive. The improvement in effective sensitivity to low mass YSOs from the Cygnus X Legacy Survey source catalog and our targeted science investigation to examine the star-gas correlation (and any deviation that may correlate with local YSO evolutionary age) are relevant to the NASA Astrophysics Theme, Cosmic Origins, which aspires to unveil how the universe developed to the current day configuration of galaxies, stars and planets and the conditions necessary for life.

New plastic recycling technology | Science Inventory | US EPA

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Greater than 60% of the total plastic content of municipal solid waste is comprised of polyolefins (high-density, low-density, and linear polyethylene and polypropylene. Polyethylene (PE) is the largest-volume component but presents a challenge due to the absence of low-energy degradation processes. This news column provides a digest of recent technical reports relating to clean technology and environmental policy,

Protamine ratio and the level of histone retention in sperm selected from a density gradient preparation.

PubMed

Hammoud, S; Liu, L; Carrell, D T

2009-04-01

Fertile males express two forms of sperm nuclear proteins, protamine 1 (P1) and protamine 2 (P2), in roughly equal quantities, whereas some infertile men have been shown to have a reduction in protamine content and an increase in the level of histones retained in mature sperm. In this study, we assessed histone and protamine levels in spermatozoa isolated from different layers of a density gradient centrifugation column to evaluate the nuclear protein content of the sperm population selected. Protamine levels were measured using acid gel electrophoresis and immunofluorescence, and the percentage of cells retaining histones was evaluated using aniline staining and immunofluorescence. Our data suggests that there is an inverse correlation between P1/P2 ratio and the level of histone expression in the different layers of the density gradient. Paradoxically, the 90% layer had a lower P1/P2 ratio, which corresponded with an increase in histone expression. It is concluded that although the sperm population selected in the 90% layer of the density gradient columns had a lower P1/P2 ratio, it was yet similar to the P1/P2 ratio observed in previously screened fertile donors.

A novel assembly used for hot-shock consolidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Pengwan; Zhou, Qiang; State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technique Team

2013-06-01

A novel assembly characterized by an automatic set-up was developed for hot-shock consolidations of powders. The under-water shock wave and the high-temperature preheating, which are considered as two effective ways to eliminate cracks, were combined in the system. In this work, a SHS reaction mixture was used as chemical furnace to preheat the precursor powder, and the water column as well as the explosive attached to it was detached from the furnace by a solenoid valve fixed on the slide guide. When the precursor powders was preheated to the designed temperature, the solenoid valve was switched on, then the water column and the explosive slid down along the slide guide by gravity. At the moment the water container contacted with the lower part, the explosive was initiated, and the generated shock wave propagated through the water column to compact the powders. So the explosive and water column can be kept cool during the preheating process. The intensity of shock wave loading can be adjusted by changing the heights of water column. And the preheating temperature is controlled in the range of 700 ~1300 °C by changing the mass of the SHS mixture. In this work, pure tungsten powders and tungsten-copper mixture were separately compacted using this new assembly. The pure tungsten powder with a grain size of 2 μm were compacted to high density (96%T.D.) at 1300 °C, and the 90W-10Cu (wt pct) mixtures were compacted to nearly theoretical density at 1000 °C. The results showed that both samples were free of cracks. The consolidated specimens were then characterized by SEM analysis and micro-hardness testing.

Formaldehyde Column Density Measurements as a Suitable Pathway to Estimate Near-Surface Ozone Tendencies from Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schroeder, Jason R.; Crawford, James H.; Fried, Alan; Walega, James; Weinheimer, Andrew; Wisthaler, Armin; Mueller, Markus; Mikoviny, Tomas; Chen, Gao; Shook, Michael;

Simultaneous X-ray and Far-Ultraviolet Spectra of AGN with ASCA and HUT

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kriss, Gerard A.

1997-01-01

We obtained ASCA spectra of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3516 in March 1995. Simultaneous far-UV observations were obtained with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope on the Astro-2 shuttle mission. The ASCA spectrum shows a lightly absorbed power law of energy index 0.78. The low energy absorbing column is significantly less than previously seen. Prominent 0 VII and 0 VIII absorption edges are visible, but, consistent with the much lower total absorbing column, no Fe K absorption edge is detectable. A weak, narrow Fe K(alpha) emission line from cold material is present as well as a broad Fe K(alpha) line. These features are similar to those reported in other Seyfert 1 galaxies. A single warm absorber model provides only an imperfect description of the low energy absorption. In addition to a highly ionized absorber with ionization parameter U = 1.66 and a total column density of 1.4 x 10(exp 22)/sq cm, adding a lower ionization absorber with U = 0.32 and a total column of 6.9 x 10(exp 21)/sq cm significantly improves the fit. The contribution of resonant line scattering to our warm absorber models limits the Doppler parameter to less than 160 km/s at 90% confidence. Turbulence at the sound speed of the photoionized gas provides the best fit. None of the warm absorber models fit to the X-ray spectrum can match the observed equivalent widths of all the UV absorption lines. Accounting for the X-ray and UV absorption simultaneously requires an absorbing region with a broad range of ionization parameters and column densities.

Reliability of high I/O high density CCGA interconnect electronic packages under extreme thermal environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramesham, Rajeshuni

2012-03-01

Ceramic column grid array (CCGA) packages have been increasing in use based on their advantages such as high interconnect density, very good thermal and electrical performances, compatibility with standard surfacemount packaging assembly processes, and so on. CCGA packages are used in space applications such as in logic and microprocessor functions, telecommunications, payload electronics, and flight avionics. As these packages tend to have less solder joint strain relief than leaded packages or more strain relief over lead-less chip carrier packages, the reliability of CCGA packages is very important for short-term and long-term deep space missions. We have employed high density CCGA 1152 and 1272 daisy chained electronic packages in this preliminary reliability study. Each package is divided into several daisy-chained sections. The physical dimensions of CCGA1152 package is 35 mm x 35 mm with a 34 x 34 array of columns with a 1 mm pitch. The dimension of the CCGA1272 package is 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm with a 36 x 36 array with a 1 mm pitch. The columns are made up of 80% Pb/20%Sn material. CCGA interconnect electronic package printed wiring polyimide boards have been assembled and inspected using non-destructive x-ray imaging techniques. The assembled CCGA boards were subjected to extreme temperature thermal atmospheric cycling to assess their reliability for future deep space missions. The resistance of daisy-chained interconnect sections were monitored continuously during thermal cycling. This paper provides the experimental test results of advanced CCGA packages tested in extreme temperature thermal environments. Standard optical inspection and x-ray non-destructive inspection tools were used to assess the reliability of high density CCGA packages for deep space extreme temperature missions.

Organic Chemistry of Low-Mass Star-Forming Cores. I. 7 mm Spectroscopy of Chamaeleon MMSl

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cordiner, Martn A.; Charnley, Steven B.; Wirtstroem, Eva S.; Smith, Robert G.

2012-01-01

Observations are presented of emission lines from organic molecules at frequencies 32-50 GHz in the vicinity of Chamaeleon MMS1. This chemically rich dense cloud core harbors an extremely young, very low luminosity protostellar object and is a candidate first hydrostatic core. Column densities are derived and emission maps are presented for species including polyynes, cyanopolyynes, sulphuretted carbon chains, and methanol. The polyyne emission peak lies about 5000 AU from the protostar, whereas methanol peaks about 15,000 AU away. Averaged over the telescope beam, the molecular hydrogen number density is calculated to be 10(exp 6) / cubic cm and the gas kinetic temperature is in the range 5-7 K. The abundances of long carbon chains are very large and are indicative of a nonequilibrium carbon chemistry; C6H and HC7N column densities are 5.9(sup +2.9) (sub -1.3) x 10(exp 11) /cubic cm and 3.3 (sup +8.0)(sub -1.5) x 10(exp 12)/sq cm, respectively, which are similar to the values found in the most carbon-chain-rich protostars and prestellar cores known, and are unusually large for star-forming gas. Column density upper limits were obtained for the carbon chain anions C4H(-) and C6H(-), with anion-to-neutral ratios [C4H(-)]/[C4H] < 0.02% and [C6H(-l)]/[C6H] < 10%, consistent with previous observations in interstellar clouds and low-mass protostars. Deuterated HC,3 and c-C3H2 were detected. The [DC3N]/[HC,N] ratio of approximately 4% is consistent with the value typically found in cold interstellar gas.

Gravity, turbulence and the scaling ``laws'' in molecular clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballesteros-Paredes, Javier

The so-called Larson (1981) scaling laws found empirically in molecular clouds have been generally interpreted as evidence that the clouds are turbulent and fractal. In the present contribution we discussed how recent observations and models of cloud formation suggest that: (a) these relations are the result of strong observational biases due to the cloud definition itself: since the filling factor of the dense structures is small, by thresholding the column density the computed mean density between clouds is nearly constant, and nearly the same as the threshold (Ballesteros-Paredes et al. 2012). (b) When accounting for column density variations, the velocity dispersion-size relation does not appears anymore. Instead, dense cores populate the upper-left corner of the δ v-R diagram (Ballesteros-Paredes et al. 2011a). (c) Instead of a δ v-R relation, a more appropriate relation seems to be δ v 2 / R = 2 GMΣ, which suggest that clouds are in collapse, rather than supported by turbulence (Ballesteros-Paredes et al. 2011a). (d) These results, along with the shapes of the star formation histories (Hartmann, Ballesteros-Paredes & Heitsch 2012), line profiles of collapsing clouds in numerical simulations (Heitsch, Ballesteros-Paredes & Hartmann 2009), core-to-core velocity dispersions (Heitsch, Ballesteros-Paredes & Hartmann 2009), time-evolution of the column density PDFs (Ballesteros-Paredes et al. 2011b), etc., strongly suggest that the actual source of the non-thermal motions is gravitational collapse of the clouds, so that the turbulent, chaotic component of the motions is only a by-product of the collapse, with no significant ``support" role for the clouds. This result calls into question if the scale-free nature of the motions has a turbulent, origin (Ballesteros-Paredes et al. 2011a; Ballesteros-Paredes et al. 2011b, Ballesteros-Paredes et al. 2012).

Numerical Simulations of Martian Fog Formation in the Low Latitudes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inada, A.

2002-09-01

The formation of Martian surface fog is simulated by a one-dimensional model including the micro-physical processes of heterogeneous nucleation, condensation, and sublimation. The model includes diurnal cycle of water vapor in the 1 km surface layer which is spatially resolved. The results show that the column density of water ice in fog strongly depends on the water vapor density near the surface. If the mixing ratio of water vapor is 300 ppm near the surface, the simulations show that a thin fog layer appears with a maximum column density of 0.145 precipitable microns. If the mixing ratio is 600 ppm, the value measured by the Mars Pathfinder, the column density of water ice reaches 0.75 precipitable microns. It is also found that if the boundary layer is strongly turbulent the total amount of ice formed is small, since the ice particles are transported to the unsaturated higher atmospheric layers and sublimate there. Fog particles, which are large enough to precipitate to the lower atmosphere play a significant role in determining the altitude distribution of water vapor. It is noteworthy that the size distribution of all of the aerosols has two peaks once fog appears. This is because nucleation on large dust particles is so much faster than on the small ones, that the small dust particles are hardly coated by ice. The simulations assume an initial dust distribution with effective radius of 1.6 microns. Once fog forms this peak remains and is populated with particles with little water ice. A secondary peak is formed at about 10 microns corresponding to particles which are mostly water ice. This research was carried out under the partial support of JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research Abroad.

Radiation-damped profiles of extremely high column density neutral hydrogen: implications of cosmic reionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bach, Kiehunn

2017-01-01

Incorporating the time-dependent second-order perturbation theory for the Lyman scattering cross-section, we investigate the intergalactic absorption profiles of extremely high column density systems near the end of cosmic reionization. Assuming a representative set of the redshift distribution of neutral hydrogen, we quantitatively examined the impact of inhomogeneous density on the intrinsic absorption profiles. The cumulative absorption by neutral patches in the line of sight mainly affects the far off-centre region of the red damping wing, but the effect is not significant. The shape of the line centre can be modified by the near-zone distribution due to high opacities of the near-resonance scattering. On the other hand, the HWHM (half width at half-maximum) as an effective line width is relatively less sensitive to the local inhomogeneity. Specifically, when the two local damping wings of Lyα and Lyβ are close in spectra of the strongly damped systems, accurate profiles of both lines are required. In the case of N_{H I}≲ 10^{21} { cm^{-2}}, the two-level approximation is marginally applicable for the damping wing fit within 5 - 7 per cent errors. However, as the local column density reaches N_{H I}˜ 10^{22.3} { cm^{-2}}, this classical approximation yields a relative error of a 10 per cent overestimation in the red wing and a 20 per cent underestimation in the blue wing of Lyα. If severe extinction by the Lyα forests is carefully subtracted, the intrinsic absorption profile will provide a better constraint on the local ionized states. For practical applications, an analytic fitting function for the Lyβ scattering is derived.

How an improved implementation of H2 self-shielding influences the formation of massive stars and black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartwig, Tilman; Glover, Simon C. O.; Klessen, Ralf S.; Latif, Muhammad A.; Volonteri, Marta

2015-09-01

High-redshift quasars at z > 6 have masses up to ˜109 M⊙. One of the pathways to their formation includes direct collapse of gas, forming a supermassive star, precursor of the black hole seed. The conditions for direct collapse are more easily achievable in metal-free haloes, where atomic hydrogen cooling operates and molecular hydrogen (H2) formation is inhibited by a strong external (ultraviolet) UV flux. Above a certain value of UV flux (Jcrit), the gas in a halo collapses isothermally at ˜104 K and provides the conditions for supermassive star formation. However, H2 can self-shield, reducing the effect of photodissociation. So far, most numerical studies used the local Jeans length to calculate the column densities for self-shielding. We implement an improved method for the determination of column densities in 3D simulations and analyse its effect on the value of Jcrit. This new method captures the gas geometry and velocity field and enables us to properly determine the direction-dependent self-shielding factor of H2 against photodissociating radiation. We find a value of Jcrit that is a factor of 2 smaller than with the Jeans approach (˜2000 J21 versus ˜4000 J21). The main reason for this difference is the strong directional dependence of the H2 column density. With this lower value of Jcrit, the number of haloes exposed to a flux > Jcrit is larger by more than an order of magnitude compared to previous studies. This may translate into a similar enhancement in the predicted number density of black hole seeds.

Eigenmode electric field profiles in cylindrical plasmas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Litwin, C.; Hershkowitz, N.

Electric field profiles of plasma column eigenmodes in the ion-cyclotron range of frequencies are discussed. Step and parabolic density profiles are compared. The role of temperature and Alfven resonance is analyzed.

Spitzer Imaging of Planck-Herschel Dusty Proto-Clusters at z=2-3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooray, Asantha; Ma, Jingzhe; Greenslade, Joshua; Kubo, Mariko; Nayyeri, Hooshang; Clements, David; Cheng, Tai-An

2018-05-01

We have recently introduced a new proto-cluster selection technique by combing Herschel/SPIRE imaging data and Planck/HFIk all-sky survey point source catalog. These sources are identified as Planck point sources with clumps of Herschel source over-densities with far-IR colors comparable to z=0 ULIRGS redshifted to z=2 to 3. The selection is sensitive to dusty starbursts and obscured QSOs and we have recovered couple of the known proto-clusters and close to 30 new proto-clusters. The candidate proto-clusters selected from this technique have far-IR flux densities several times higher than those that are optically selected, such as using LBG selection, implying that the member galaxies are in a special phase of heightened dusty starburst and dusty QSO activity. This far-IR luminous phase may be short but likely to be necessary piece to understand the whole stellar mass assembly history of clusters. Moreover, our photo-clusters are missed in optical selections, suggesting that optically selected proto-clusters alone do not provide adequate statistics and a comparison of the far-IR and optical selected clusters may reveal the importance of the dusty stellar mass assembly. Here, we propose IRAC observations of six of the highest priority new proto-clusters, to establish the validity of the technique and to determine the total stellar mass through SED models. For a modest observing time the science program will have a substantial impact on an upcoming science topic in cosmology with implications for observations with JWST and WFIRST to understand the mass assembly in the universe.

A Survey of Metal Lines at High-redshift. I. SDSS Absorption Line Studies—the Methodology and First Search Results for O VI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frank, S.; Mathur, S.; Pieri, M.; York, D. G.

2010-09-01

We report the results of a systematic search for signatures of metal lines in quasar spectra of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data release 3 (DR3), focusing on finding intervening absorbers via detection of their O VI doublet. Here, we present the search algorithm and criteria for distinguishing candidates from spurious Lyα forest lines. In addition, we compare our findings with simulations of the Lyα forest in order to estimate the detectability of O VI doublets over various redshift intervals. We have obtained a sample of 1756 O VI doublet candidates with rest-frame equivalent width (EW) >=0.05 Å in 855 active galactic nuclei spectra (out of 3702 objects with redshifts in the accessible range for O VI detection). This sample is further subdivided into three groups according to the likelihood of being real and the potential for follow-up observation of the candidate. The group with the cleanest and most secure candidates is comprised of 145 candidates. Sixty-nine of these reside at a velocity separation >=5000 km s-1 from the QSO and can therefore be classified tentatively as intervening absorbers. Most of these absorbers have not been picked up by earlier, automated QSO absorption line detection algorithms. This sample increases the number of known O VI absorbers at redshifts beyond z abs>= 2.7 substantially.

The Physical Constraints on a New LoBAL QSO at z = 4.82

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yi, Weimin; Bai, Jin-Ming; Green, Richard

Very few low-ionization broad absorption line (LoBAL) QSOs have been found at high redshifts, to date. One high-redshift LoBAL QSO, J0122+1216, was recently discovered by the Lijiang 2.4 m Telescope, with an initial redshift determination of 4.76. Aiming to investigate its physical properties, we carried out follow-up observations in the optical and near-IR spectroscopy. Near-IR spectra from UKIRT and P200 confirm that it is a LoBAL, with a new redshift determination of 4.82 ± 0.01 based on the Mg ii emission-line. The new Mg ii redshift determination reveals strong blueshifts and asymmetry of the high-ionization emission lines. We estimate amore » black hole mass of ∼2.3 × 10{sup 9} M {sub ⊙} and Eddington ratio of ∼1.0 according to the empirical Mg ii-based single-epoch relation and bolometric correction factor. It is possible that strong outflows are the result of an extreme quasar environment driven by the high Eddington ratio. A lower limit on the outflowing kinetic power (>0.9% L {sub Edd}) is derived from both emission and absorption lines, indicating that these outflows play a significant role in the feedback process that regulates the growth of its black hole, as well as host galaxy evolution.« less

Topology of Neutral Hydrogen within the Small Magellanic Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chepurnov, A.; Gordon, J.; Lazarian, A.; Stanimirovic, S.

2008-12-01

In this paper, genus statistics have been applied to an H I column density map of the Small Magellanic Cloud in order to study its topology. To learn how topology changes with the scale of the system, we provide topology studies for column density maps at varying resolutions. To evaluate the statistical error of the genus, we randomly reassign the phases of the Fourier modes while keeping the amplitudes. We find that at the smallest scales studied (40 pc <= λ <= 80 pc), the genus shift is negative in all regions, implying a clump topology. At the larger scales (110 pc <= λ <= 250 pc), the topology shift is detected to be negative (a "meatball" topology) in four cases and positive (a "swiss cheese" topology) in two cases. In four regions, there is no statistically significant topology shift at large scales.

The kinetic temperature in the interior of the Xi Ophiuchi cloud from Copernicus observations of interstellar C2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snow, T. P., Jr.

1978-01-01

Satellite observations of transitions of C2 at 2312 Angstroms in the spectrum of Xi Ophiuchi were carried out to evaluate the kinetic temperature of the interior cloud. A column density of 1.22 x 10 to the 12th per sq cm is derived from an absorption feature at the 4 sigma level of significance at the position of the R(0) line. This would imply a rotational temperature of not more than 22 K, with a more probable value of less than 16 K. Since total column density (3.2 x 10 to the 12th per sq cm) is found to be lower by a factor of approximately 4 than that which had been previously reported, substantial photo-dissociation of C2 is assumed.

NO2 Total and Tropospheric Vertical Column Densities from OMI on EOS Aura: Update

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gleason, J.F.; Bucsela, E.J.; Celarier, E.A.; Veefkind, J.P.; Kim, S.W.; Frost, G.F.

2009-01-01

The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), which is on the EOS AURA satellite, retrieves vertical column densities (VCDs) of NO2, along with those of several other trace gases. The relatively high spatial resolution and daily global coverage of the instrument make it particularly well-suited to monitoring tropospheric pollution at scales on the order of 20 km. The OMI NO2 algorithm distinguishes polluted regions from background stratospheric NO2 using a separation algorithm that relies on the smoothly varying stratospheric NO2 and estimations of both stratospheric and tropospheric air mass factors (AMFs). Version 1 of OMI NO2 data has been released for public use. An overview of OMI NO2 data, some recent results and a description of the improvements for version 2 of the algorithm will be presented.

COMPARING SPATIAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF SOLAR PROMINENCE MASS DERIVED FROM CORONAL ABSORPTION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gilbert, Holly; Kilper, Gary; Kucera, Therese

2011-01-20

In a previous study, Gilbert et al. derived the column density and total mass of solar prominences using a new technique, which measures how much coronal radiation in the Fe XII (195 A) spectral band is absorbed by prominence material, while considering the effects of both foreground and background radiation. In the present work, we apply this method to a sample of prominence observations in three different wavelength regimes: one in which only H{sup 0} is ionized (504 A < {lambda} < 911 A), a second where both H{sup 0} and He{sup 0} are ionized (228 A < {lambda}

Links between soil properties and steady-state solute transport through cultivated topsoil at the field scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koestel, J. K.; Norgaard, T.; Luong, N. M.; Vendelboe, A. L.; Moldrup, P.; Jarvis, N. J.; Lamandé, M.; Iversen, B. V.; Wollesen de Jonge, L.

2013-02-01

It is known that solute transport through soil is heterogeneous at all spatial scales. However, little data are available to allow quantification of these heterogeneities at the field scale or larger. In this study, we investigated the spatial patterns of soil properties, hydrologic state variables, and tracer breakthrough curves (BTCs) at the field scale for the inert solute transport under a steady-state irrigation rate which produced near-saturated conditions. Sixty-five undisturbed soil columns approximately 20 cm in height and diameter were sampled from the loamy topsoil of an agricultural field site in Silstrup (Denmark) at a sampling distance of approximately 15 m (with a few exceptions), covering an area of approximately 1 ha (60 m × 165 m). For 64 of the 65 investigated soil columns, we observed BTC shapes indicating a strong preferential transport. The strength of preferential transport was positively correlated with the bulk density and the degree of water saturation. The latter suggests that preferential macropore transport was the dominating transport process. Increased bulk densities were presumably related with a decrease in near-saturated hydraulic conductivities and as a consequence to larger water saturation and the activation of larger macropores. Our study provides further evidence that it should be possible to estimate solute transport properties from soil properties such as soil texture or bulk density. We also demonstrated that estimation approaches established for the column scale have to be upscaled when applied to the field scale or larger.

Abundances and Depletions of Neutron-capture Elements in the Interstellar Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritchey, A. M.; Federman, S. R.; Lambert, D. L.

2018-06-01

We present an extensive analysis of the gas-phase abundances and depletion behaviors of neutron-capture elements in the interstellar medium (ISM). Column densities (or upper limits to the column densities) of Ga II, Ge II, As II, Kr I, Cd II, Sn II, and Pb II are determined for a sample of 69 sight lines with high- and/or medium-resolution archival spectra obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope. An additional 59 sight lines with column density measurements reported in the literature are included in our analysis. Parameters that characterize the depletion trends of the elements are derived according to the methodology developed by Jenkins. (In an appendix, we present similar depletion results for the light element B.) The depletion patterns exhibited by Ga and Ge comport with expectations based on the depletion results obtained for many other elements. Arsenic exhibits much less depletion than expected, and its abundance in low-depletion sight lines may even be supersolar. We confirm a previous finding by Jenkins that the depletion of Kr increases as the overall depletion level increases from one sight line to another. Cadmium shows no such evidence of increasing depletion. We find a significant amount of scatter in the gas-phase abundances of Sn and Pb. For Sn, at least, the scatter may be evidence of real intrinsic abundance variations due to s-process enrichment combined with inefficient mixing in the ISM.

Estimation of Chinese surface NO2 concentrations combining satellite data and Land Use Regression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anand, J.; Monks, P.

2016-12-01

Monitoring surface-level air quality is often limited by in-situ instrument placement and issues arising from harmonisation over long timescales. Satellite instruments can offer a synoptic view of regional pollution sources, but in many cases only a total or tropospheric column can be measured. In this work a new technique of estimating surface NO2 combining both satellite and in-situ data is presented, in which a Land Use Regression (LUR) model is used to create high resolution pollution maps based on known predictor variables such as population density, road networks, and land cover. By employing a mixed effects approach, it is possible to take advantage of the spatiotemporal variability in the satellite-derived column densities to account for daily and regional variations in surface NO2 caused by factors such as temperature, elevation, and wind advection. In this work, surface NO2 maps are modelled over the North China Plain and Pearl River Delta during high-pollution episodes by combining in-situ measurements and tropospheric columns from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). The modelled concentrations show good agreement with in-situ data and surface NO2 concentrations derived from the MACC-II global reanalysis.

The effect of bioturbation by Lumbriculus variegatus on transport and distribution of lead in a freshwater microcosm.

PubMed

Blankson, Emmanuel R; Klerks, Paul L

2016-05-01

The present study investigated the effect of bioturbation by the oligochaete worm Lumbriculus variegatus on the transport and environmental distribution of lead (Pb). Experiments used L. variegatus at densities of 0 ind./m(2), 2093 ind./m(2), and 8372 ind./m(2), in freshwater microcosms with Pb-spiked sediment. At the end of the 14-d experiment, Pb levels in the water column, tissues of L. variegatus, and sediment were determined, and bioturbation was quantified using luminophores. The bioturbation by L. variegatus increased Pb transport from the sediment to the water column. However, it did not significantly affect Pb bioaccumulation by L. variegatus or Pb levels in the sediment. The biodiffusion coefficient (Db) was positively related to worm density, but did not differ between Pb-spiked sediment and uncontaminated sediment. The latter finding suggests that Pb at the 100 μg/g concentration used in the present study did not affect L. variegatus bioturbation. The present study shows that bioturbation can enhance Pb transfer across the sediment-water interface and thus enhance Pb availability to organisms in the water column. © 2015 SETAC.

High-resolution measurements from the airborne Atmospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Imager (ANDI)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawrence, J. P.; Anand, J. S.; Vande Hey, J. D.; White, J.; Leigh, R. R.; Monks, P. S.; Leigh, R. J.

2015-11-01

Nitrogen dioxide is both a primary pollutant with direct health effects and a key precursor of the secondary pollutant ozone. This paper reports on the development, characterisation and test flight of the Atmospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Imager (ANDI) remote sensing system. The ANDI system includes an imaging UV/Vis grating spectrometer able to capture scattered sunlight spectra for the determination of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations by way of DOAS slant column density and vertical column density measurements. Results are shown for an ANDI test flight over Leicester City in the UK on a cloud-free winter day in February 2013. Retrieved NO2 columns gridded to a surface resolution of 80 m × 20 m revealed hotspots in a series of locations around Leicester City, including road junctions, the train station, major car parks, areas of heavy industry, a nearby airport (East Midlands) and a power station (Ratcliffe-on-Soar). In the city centre the dominant source of NO2 emissions was identified as road traffic, contributing to a background concentration as well as producing localised hotspots. Quantitative analysis revealed a significant urban increment over the city centre which increased throughout the flight.

Pyroclast textural variation as an indicator of eruption column steadiness in andesitic Plinian eruptions at Mt. Ruapehu

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pardo, Natalia; Cronin, Shane J.; Wright, Heather M.N.; Schipper, C. Ian; Smith, Ian; Stewart, Bob

2014-01-01

Between 27 and 11 cal. ka BP, a transition is observed in Plinian eruptions at Mt. Ruapehu, indicating evolution from non-collapsing (steady and oscillatory) eruption columns to partially collapsing columns (both wet and dry). To determine the causes of these variations over this eruptive interval, we examined lapilli fall deposits from four eruptions representing the climactic phases of each column type. All eruptions involve andesite to basaltic andesite magmas containing plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and magnetite phenocrysts. Differences occur in the dominant pumice texture, the degree of bulk chemistry and textural variability, the average microcrystallinity and the composition of groundmass glass. In order to investigate the role of ascent and degassing processes on column stability, vesicle textures were quantified by gas volume pycnometry (porosity), X-ray synchrotron and computed microtomography (μ-CT) imagery from representative clasts from each eruption. These data were linked to groundmass crystallinity and glass geochemistry. Pumice textures were classified into six types (foamy, sheared, fibrous, microvesicular, microsheared and dense) according to the vesicle content, size and shape and microlite content. Bulk porosities vary from 19 to 95 % among all textural types. Melt-referenced vesicle number density ranges between 1.8 × 102 and 8.9 × 102 mm−3, except in fibrous textures, where it spans from 0.3 × 102 to 53 × 102 mm−3. Vesicle-free magnetite number density varies within an order of magnitude from 0.4 × 102 to 4.5 × 102 mm−3 in samples with dacitic groundmass glass and between 0.0 and 2.3 × 102 mm−3 in samples with rhyolitic groundmass. The data indicate that columns that collapsed to produce pyroclastic flows contained pumice with the greatest variation in bulk composition (which overlaps with but extends to slightly more silicic compositions than other eruptive products); textures indicating heterogeneous bubble nucleation, progressively more complex growth history and shear-localization; and the highest degrees of microlite crystallization, most evolved melt compositions and lowest relative temperatures. These findings suggest that collapsing columns in Ruapehu have been produced when strain localization is prominent, early bubble nucleation occurs and variation in decompression rate across the conduit is greatest. This study shows that examination of pumice from steady phases that precede column collapse may be used to predict subsequent column behaviour.

Relationships between Environmental Factors and Pathogenic Vibrios in the Northern Gulf of Mexico ▿ †

PubMed Central

Johnson, C. N.; Flowers, A. R.; Noriea, N. F.; Zimmerman, A. M.; Bowers, J. C.; DePaola, A.; Grimes, D. J.

2010-01-01

Although autochthonous vibrio densities are known to be influenced by water temperature and salinity, little is understood about other environmental factors associated with their abundance and distribution. Densities of culturable Vibrio vulnificus containing vvh (V. vulnificus hemolysin gene) and V. parahaemolyticus containing tlh (thermolabile hemolysin gene, ubiquitous in V. parahaemolyticus), tdh (thermostable direct hemolysin gene, V. parahaemolyticus pathogenicity factor), and trh (tdh-related hemolysin gene, V. parahaemolyticus pathogenicity factor) were measured in coastal waters of Mississippi and Alabama. Over a 19-month sampling period, vibrio densities in water, oysters, and sediment varied significantly with sea surface temperature (SST). On average, tdh-to-tlh ratios were significantly higher than trh-to-tlh ratios in water and oysters but not in sediment. Although tlh densities were lower than vvh densities in water and in oysters, the opposite was true in sediment. Regression analysis indicated that SST had a significant association with vvh and tlh densities in water and oysters, while salinity was significantly related to vibrio densities in the water column. Chlorophyll a levels in the water were correlated significantly with vvh in sediment and oysters and with pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus (tdh and trh) in the water column. Furthermore, turbidity was a significant predictor of V. parahaemolyticus density in all sample types (water, oyster, and sediment), and its role in predicting the risk of V. parahaemolyticus illness may be more important than previously realized. This study identified (i) culturable vibrios in winter sediment samples, (ii) niche-based differences in the abundance of vibrios, and (iii) predictive signatures resulting from correlations between environmental parameters and vibrio densities. PMID:20817802

Development of a GMP Phase III purification process for VB4-845, an immunotoxin expressed in E. coli using high cell density fermentation.

PubMed

Premsukh, Arjune; Lavoie, Joelle M; Cizeau, Jeannick; Entwistle, Joycelyn; MacDonald, Glen C

2011-07-01

VB4-845 is a recombinant immunotoxin comprised of an anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) scFv fused to a truncated form of the bacterial toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A. VB4-845, purified from TB fed-batch fermentation, showed clinical efficacy when administered locally to treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). Here, we describe the implementation of an Escherichia coli high cell density (HCD) cultivation and purification process for VB4-845. HCD cultivation was a prerequisite for achieving higher yields necessary for Phase III clinical trials and commercialization. Using this process, the VB4-845 titer in the supernatant was increased by 30-fold over the original TB fed-batch cultivation. To obtain clinical grade material, a process involving a five-step column purification procedure was implemented and led to an overall recovery of ∼ 40%. VB4-845 purity of >97% was achieved after the first three columns following the removal of low-molecular weight product-related impurities and aggregates. Endotoxins were effectively separated from VB4-845 on the Q-columns and by washing the Ni-column with a detergent buffer while host cell proteins were removed using ceramic hydroxyapatite. Comparability studies demonstrated that the purified product from the Phase III process was identical to the Phase II reference standard produced using TB fed-batch fermentation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

LIFS atomic hydrogen density measurements at the URAGAN-3M facility

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Volkov, E.D.; Zhmurin, P.N.; Letuchii, A.N.

1994-12-31

Molecular and atomic hydrogen behavior within a plasma column of the URAGAN-3M facility was numerically simulated for a low density regime ({bar n}{sub e} {approx_equal} 2 x 10{sup 12} cm{sup {minus}3}). Local density of hydrogen atoms in the axial region was measured by Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy technique. A good agreement of the measurements and simulations was observed. In the regime under investigation the results of hydrogen density spectroscopic measurements were found to be greatly affected by dissociative population of hydrogen atom excited states. 2 refs., 3 figs.

Plasma volume methodology: Evans blue, hemoglobin-hematocrit, and mass density transformations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenleaf, J. E.; Hinghofer-Szalkay, H.

1985-01-01

Methods for measuring absolute levels and changes in plasma volume are presented along with derivations of pertinent equations. Reduction in variability of the Evans blue dye dilution technique using chromatographic column purification suggests that the day-to-day variability in the plasma volume in humans is less than + or - 20 m1. Mass density determination using the mechanical-oscillator technique provides a method for measuring vascular fluid shifts continuously for assessing the density of the filtrate, and for quantifying movements of protein across microvascular walls. Equations for the calculation of volume and density of shifted fluid are presented.

Potential techniques for non-destructive evaluation of cable materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillen, Kenneth T.; Clough, Roger L.; Mattson, Bengt; Stenberg, Bengt; Oestman, Erik

This paper describes the connection between mechanical degradation of common cable materials, in radiation and elevated temperature environments, and density increases caused by the oxidation which leads to this degradation. Two techniques based on density changes are suggested as potential non-destructive evaluation (NDE) procedures which may be applicable to monitoring the mechanical condition of cable materials in power plant environments. The first technique is direct measurement of density changes, via a density gradient column, using small shavings removed from the surface of cable jackets at selected locations. The second technique is computed X-ray tomography, utilizing a portable scanning device.