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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,657 records · Page 92
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DOE OSTI2013

MN Lup: X-RAYS FROM A WEAKLY ACCRETING T TAURI STAR

Young T Tauri stars (TTS) are surrounded by an accretion disk, which over time disperses due to photoevaporation, accretion, and possibly planet formation. The accretion shock on the central star produces an UV/optical veiling continuum, line emission, and X-ray signatures. As the accretion rate decreases, the impact on the central star must change. In this article we study MN Lup, a young star where no indications of a disk are seen in IR observations. We present XMM-Newton and VLT/UVES observations, some of them taken simultaneously. The X-ray data show that MN Lup is an active star with L{sub X} /L{sub bol} close to the saturation limit. However, we find high densities (n{sub e} > 3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 10} cm{sup -3}) in the X-ray grating spectrum. This can be well fitted using an accretion shock model with an accretion rate of 2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -11} M{sub Sun} yr{sup -1}. Despite the simple H{alpha} line profile which has a broad component, but no absorption signatures as typically seen on accreting TTS, we find rotational modulation in Ca II K and in photospheric absorption lines. These line profile modulations do not clearly indicate the presence of a localized hot accretion spot on the star. In the H{alpha} line we see a prominence in absorption about 2R{sub *} above the stellar surface-the first of its kind on a TTS. MN Lup is also the only TTS where accretion is seen, but no dust disk is detected that could fuel it. We suggest that MN Lup presents a unique and short-lived state in the disk evolution. It may have lost its dust disk only recently and is now accreting the remaining gas at a very low rate.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

THE EFFICIENCY OF SECOND-ORDER FERMI ACCELERATION BY WEAKLY COMPRESSIBLE MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC TURBULENCE

We investigate the effects of pitch-angle scattering on the efficiency of particle heating and acceleration by MHD turbulence using phenomenological estimates and simulations of non-relativistic test particles interacting with strong, subsonic MHD turbulence. We include an imposed pitch-angle scattering rate, which is meant to approximate the effects of high-frequency plasma waves and/or velocity space instabilities. We focus on plasma parameters similar to those found in the near-Earth solar wind, though most of our results are more broadly applicable. An important control parameter is the size of the particle mean free path λ{sub mfp} relative to the scale of the turbulent fluctuations L. For small scattering rates, particles interact quasi-resonantly with turbulent fluctuations in magnetic field strength. Scattering increases the long-term efficiency of this resonant heating by factors of a few times 10, but the distribution function does not develop a significant non-thermal power-law tail. For higher scattering rates, the interaction between particles and turbulent fluctuations becomes non-resonant, governed by particles heating and cooling adiabatically as they encounter turbulent density fluctuations. Rapid pitch-angle scattering can produce a power-law tail in the proton distribution function, but this requires fine-tuning of parameters. Moreover, in the near-Earth solar wind, a significant power-law tail cannot develop by this mechanism because the particle acceleration timescales are longer than the adiabatic cooling timescale set by the expansion of the solar wind. Our results thus imply that MHD-scale turbulent fluctuations are unlikely to be the origin of the v {sup –5} tail in the proton distribution function observed in the solar wind.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

An argument for weakly magnetized, slowly rotating progenitors of long gamma-ray bursts

Using binary evolution with Case-C mass transfer, the spins of several black holes (BHs) in X-ray binaries (XBs) have been predicted and confirmed (three cases) by observations. The rotational energy of these BHs is sufficient to power up long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and hypernovae (HNe) and still leave a Kerr BH behind. However, strong magnetic fields and/or dynamo effects in the interior of such stars deplete their cores from angular momentum preventing the formation of collapsars. Thus, even though binaries can produce Kerr BHs, most of their rotation is acquired from the stellar mantle, with a long delay between BH formation and spin up. Such binaries would not form GRBs. We study whether the conditions required to produce GRBs can be met by the progenitors of such BHs. Tidal-synchronization and Alfvén timescales are compared for magnetic fields of different intensities threading He stars. A search is made for a magnetic field range that allows tidal spin up all the way in to the stellar core but prevents its slow down during differential rotation phases. The energetics for producing a strong magnetic field during core collapse, which may allow for a GRB central engine, are also estimated. An observationally reasonable choice of parameters is found (B ≲ 10{sup 2} G threading a slowly rotating He star) that allows Fe cores to retain substantial angular momentum. Thus, the Case-C mass-transfer binary channel is capable of explaining long GRBs. However, the progenitors must have low initial spin and low internal magnetic field throughout their H-burning and He-burning phases.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Weak turbulence cascading effects in the acceleration and heating of ions in the solar wind

We study the wave-particle interaction and the evolution of electromagnetic waves propagating through a solar-wind-like plasma composed of cold electrons, isotropic protons, and a small portion of drifting anisotropic He{sup +2} (T {sub α} = 6 T {sub ∥α}) and O{sup +6} (T {sub O} = 11 T {sub ∥O}) ions as suggested in Gomberoff and Valdivia and Gomberoff et al., using two approaches. First, we use quasilinear kinetic theory to study the energy transfer between waves and particles, with the subsequent acceleration and heating of ions. Second, 1.5 D (one spatial dimension and three dimensions in velocity space) hybrid numerical simulations are performed to investigate the fully nonlinear evolution of this wave-particle interaction. Numerical results of both approaches show that the temperatures of all species evolve anisotropically, consistent with the time-dependent wave-spectrum energy. In a cascade effect, we observe the emergence of modes at frequencies higher than those initially considered, peaking at values close to the resonance frequencies of O{sup +6} ions (ω ∼ Ω {sub cO}) and He{sup +2} ions (ω ∼ Ω {sub cα}), being the peak due to O{sup +6} ions about three times bigger than the peak associated with He{sup +2} ions. Both the heating of the plasma and the energy cascade were more efficient in the nonlinear analysis than in the quasilinear one. These results suggest that this energy cascade mechanism may participate in the acceleration and heating of the solar wind plasma close to the Sun during fast streams associated with coronal holes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Revisiting impacts of nuclear burning for reviving weak shocks in neutrino-driven supernovae

We revisit potential impacts of nuclear burning on the onset of the neutrino-driven explosions of core-collapse supernovae. By changing the neutrino luminosity and its decay time to obtain parametric explosions in one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D, respectively) models with or without a 13 isotope α network, we study how the inclusion of nuclear burning could affect the postbounce dynamics for 4 progenitor models; 3 for 15.0 M {sub ☉} stars and 1 for an 11.2 M {sub ☉} star. We find that the energy supply due to the nuclear burning of infalling material behind the shock can energize the shock expansion, especially for models that produce only marginal explosions in the absence of nuclear burning. These models are energized by nuclear energy deposition when the shock front passes through the silicon-rich layer and/or later as it touches the oxygen-rich layer. Depending on the neutrino luminosity and its decay time, the diagnostic energy of the explosion increases up to a few times 10{sup 50} erg for models with nuclear burning compared to the corresponding models without. We point out that these features are most remarkable for the Limongi-Chieffi progenitor in both 1D and 2D because the progenitor model possesses a massive oxygen layer, with an inner-edge radius that is smallest among the employed progenitors, which means that the shock can touch the rich fuel on a shorter timescale after bounce. The energy difference is generally smaller (∼0.1-0.2 × 10{sup 51} erg) in 2D than in 1D (at most ∼0.6 × 10{sup 51} erg). This is because neutrino-driven convection and the shock instability in 2D models enhance the neutrino heating efficiency, which makes the contribution of nuclear burning relatively smaller compared to 1D models. Considering uncertainties in progenitor models, our results indicate that nuclear burning should remain one of the important ingredients to foster the onset of neutrino-driven explosions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Weak decay processes in pre-supernova core evolution within the gross theory

The beta decay and electron capture rates are of fundamental importance in the evolution of massive stars in a pre-supernova core. The beta decay process gives its contribution by emitting electrons in the plasma of the stellar core, thereby increasing pressure, which in turn increases the temperature. From the other side, the electron capture removes free electrons from the plasma of the star core contributing to the reduction of pressure and temperature. In this work we calculate the beta decay and electron capture rates in stellar conditions for 63 nuclei of relevance in the pre-supernova stage, employing Gross Theory as the nuclear model. We use the abundances calculated with the Saha equations in the hypothesis of nuclear statistical equilibrium to evaluate the time derivative of the fraction of electrons. Our results are compared with other evaluations available in the literature. They have shown to be one order less or equal than the calculated within other models. Our results indicate that these differences may influence the evolution of the star in the later stages of pre-supernova.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Weak and compact radio emission in early massive star formation regions: an ionized jet toward G11.11–0.12P1

We report 1.3 cm and 6 cm continuum observations toward the massive proto-stellar candidate G11.11–0.12P1 using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. We detect a string of four unresolved radio continuum sources coincident with the mid-infrared source in G11P1. The continuum sources have positive spectral indices consistent with a thermal (free-free) ionized jet. The most likely origins of the ionized gas are shocks due to the interaction of a stellar wind with the surrounding high-density material. We also present NIR United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) archival data that show an extended structure detected only at K band (2.2 μm), which is oriented perpendicular to the jet, and that may be scattered light from a circumstellar disk around the massive protostar. Our observations plus the UKIRT archival data thus provide new evidence that a disk/jet system is present in the massive proto-stellar candidate located in the G11.11–0.12P1 core.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The weak lensing signal and the clustering of BOSS galaxies. II. Astrophysical and cosmological constraints

We perform a joint analysis of the abundance, the clustering, and the galaxy–galaxy lensing signal of galaxies measured from Data Release 11 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey in our companion paper, Miyatake et al. The lensing signal was obtained by using the shape catalog of background galaxies from the Canada France Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey, which was made publicly available by the CFHTLenS collaboration, with an area overlap of about 105 deg{sup 2}. We analyze the data in the framework of the halo model in order to fit halo occupation parameters and cosmological parameters (Ω{sub m} and σ{sub 8}) to these observables simultaneously, and thus break the degeneracy between galaxy bias and cosmology. Adopting a flat ΛCDM cosmology with priors on Ω{sub b}h{sup 2}, n{sub s}, and h from the analysis of WMAP 9 yr data, we obtain constraints on the stellar mass–halo mass relation of galaxies in our sample. Marginalizing over the halo occupation distribution parameters and a number of other nuisance parameters in our model, we obtain Ω{sub m}=0.310{sub −0.020}{sup +0.019} and σ{sub 8}=0.785{sub −0.044}{sup +0.044} (68% confidence). We demonstrate the robustness of our results with respect to sample selection and a variety of systematics such as the halo off-centering effect and possible incompleteness in our sample. Our constraints are consistent, complementary, and competitive with those obtained using other independent probes of these cosmological parameters. The cosmological analysis is the first of its kind to be performed at a redshift as high as 0.53.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

SN 2013ej: A type IIL supernova with weak signs of interaction

We present optical photometric and spectroscopic observations of SN 2013ej. It is one of the brightest Type II supernovae (SNe II) exploded in a nearby (∼10 Mpc) galaxy, NGC 628. The light-curve characteristics are similar to SNe II, but with a relatively shorter (∼85 days) and steeper (∼1.7 mag (100 days){sup −1} in V) plateau phase. The SN shows a large drop of 2.4 mag in V-band brightness during the plateau-to-nebular transition. The absolute ultraviolet (UV) light curves are identical to SN 2012aw, showing a similar UV-plateau trend extending up to 85 days. The radioactive {sup 56}Ni mass estimated from the tail luminosity is 0.02 M{sub ⊙}, which is significantly lower than typical SNe IIP. The characteristics of spectral features and evolution of line velocities indicate that SN 2013ej is a Type II event. However, light-curve characteristics and some spectroscopic features provide strong support in classifying it as a Type IIL event. A detailed synow modeling of spectra indicates the presence of some high-velocity components in Hα and Hβ profiles, implying a possible ejecta–circumstellar medium interaction. The nebular phase spectrum shows an unusual notch in the Hα emission, which may indicate bipolar distribution of {sup 56}Ni. Modeling of the bolometric light curve yields a progenitor mass of ∼14 M{sub ⊙} and a radius of ∼450 R{sub ⊙}, with a total explosion energy of ∼2.3×10{sup 51} erg.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Curved radio spectra of weak cluster shocks

In order to understand certain observed features of arc-like giant radio relics such as the rareness, uniform surface brightness, and curved integrated spectra, we explore a diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) model for radio relics in which a spherical shock impinges on a magnetized cloud containing fossil relativistic electrons. Toward this end, we perform DSA simulations of spherical shocks with the parameters relevant for the Sausage radio relic in cluster CIZA J2242.8+5301, and calculate the ensuing radio synchrotron emission from re-accelerated electrons. Three types of fossil electron populations are considered: a delta-function like population with the shock injection momentum, a power-law distribution, and a power law with an exponential cutoff. The surface brightness profile of the radio-emitting postshock region and the volume-integrated radio spectrum are calculated and compared with observations. We find that the observed width of the Sausage relic can be explained reasonably well by shocks with speed u{sub s}∼3×10{sup 3} km s{sup −1} and sonic Mach number M{sub s}∼3. These shocks produce curved radio spectra that steepen gradually over (0.1–10)ν{sub br} with a break frequency ν{sub br}∼1 GHz if the duration of electron acceleration is ∼60–80 Myr. However, the abrupt increase in the spectral index above ∼1.5 GHz observed in the Sausage relic seems to indicate that additional physical processes, other than radiative losses, operate for electrons with γ{sub e}≳10{sup 4}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

POLARIZED LINE FORMATION IN MOVING ATMOSPHERES WITH PARTIAL FREQUENCY REDISTRIBUTION AND A WEAK MAGNETIC FIELD

The dynamical state of the solar and stellar atmospheres depends on the macroscopic velocity fields prevailing within them. The presence of such velocity fields in the line formation regions strongly affects the polarized radiation field emerging from these atmospheres. Thus it becomes necessary to solve the radiative transfer equation for polarized lines in moving atmospheres. Solutions based on the “observer’s frame method” are computationally expensive to obtain, especially when partial frequency redistribution (PRD) in line scattering and large-amplitude velocity fields are taken into account. In this paper we present an efficient alternative method of solution, namely, the comoving frame technique, to solve the polarized PRD line formation problems in the presence of velocity fields. We consider one-dimensional planar isothermal atmospheres with vertical velocity fields. We present a study of the effect of velocity fields on the emergent linear polarization profiles formed in optically thick moving atmospheres. We show that the comoving frame method is far superior when compared to the observer’s frame method in terms of the computational speed and memory requirements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

WEAK TURBULENCE IN THE HD 163296 PROTOPLANETARY DISK REVEALED BY ALMA CO OBSERVATIONS

Turbulence can transport angular momentum in protoplanetary disks and influence the growth and evolution of planets. With spatially and spectrally resolved molecular emission line measurements provided by (sub)millimeter interferometric observations, it is possible to directly measure non-thermal motions in the disk gas that can be attributed to this turbulence. We report a new constraint on the turbulence in the disk around HD 163296, a nearby young A star, determined from Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Science Verification observations of four CO emission lines (the CO(3-2), CO(2-1), {sup 13}CO(2-1), and C{sup 18}O(2-1) transitions). The different optical depths for these lines permit probes of non-thermal line-widths at a range of physical conditions (temperature and density) and depths into the disk interior. We derive stringent limits on the non-thermal motions in the upper layers of the outer disk such that any contribution to the line-widths from turbulence is <3% of the local sound speed. These limits are approximately an order of magnitude lower than theoretical predictions for full-blown magnetohydrodynamic turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability, potentially suggesting that this mechanism is less efficient in the outer (R ≳ 30 AU) disk than has been previously considered.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Principal component analysis of modified gravity using weak lensing and peculiar velocity measurements

We perform a principal component analysis to assess ability of future observations to measure departures from General Relativity in predictions of the Poisson and anisotropy equations on linear scales. In particular, we focus on how the measurements of redshift-space distortions (RSD) observed from spectroscopic galaxy redshift surveys will improve the constraints when combined with lensing tomographic surveys. Assuming a Euclid-like galaxy imaging and redshift survey, we find that adding the 3D information decreases the statistical uncertainty by a factor between 3 and 7 compared to the case when only observables from lensing tomographic surveys are used. We also find that the number of well-constrained modes increases by a factor between 3 and 6. Our study indicates the importance of joint galaxy imaging and redshift surveys such as SuMIRe and Euclid to give more stringent tests of the ΛCDM model and to distinguish between various modified gravity and dark energy models.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Weak lensing corrections to tSZ-lensing cross correlation

The cross correlation between the thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich (tSZ) effect and gravitational lensing in wide field has recently been measured. It can be used to probe the distribution of the diffuse gas in large scale structure, as well as inform us about the missing baryons. As for any lensing-based quantity, higher order lensing effects can potentially affect the signal. Here, we extend previous higher order lensing calculations to the case of tSZ-lensing cross correlations. We derive terms analogous to corrections due to the Born approximation, lens-lens coupling, and reduced shear up to order ℓ ∼> 3000.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Alternatives to Schwarzschild in the weak field limit of General Relativity

The metric outside an isolated object made up of ordinary matter is bound to be the classical Schwarzschild vacuum solution of General Relativity. Nevertheless, some solutions are known (e.g. Morris-Thorne wormholes) that do not match Schwarzschild asymptotically. On a phenomenological point of view, gravitational lensing in metrics falling as 1/r{sup q} has recently attracted great interest. In this work, we explore the conditions on the source matter for constructing static spherically symmetric metrics exhibiting an arbitrary power-law as Newtonian limit. For such space-times we also derive the expressions of gravitational redshift and force on probe masses, which, together with light deflection, can be used in astrophysical searches of non-Schwarzschild objects made up of exotic matter. Interestingly, we prove that even a minimally coupled scalar field with a power-law potential can support non-Schwarzschild metrics with arbitrary asymptotic behaviour.

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