119209508
HIP 38939B: A NEW BENCHMARK T DWARF IN THE GALACTIC PLANE DISCOVERED WITH Pan-STARRS1
We report the discovery of a wide brown dwarf companion to the mildly metal-poor ([Fe/H] = –0.24), low Galactic latitude (b = 188) K4V star HIP 38939. The companion was discovered by its common proper motion with the primary and its red optical (Pan-STARRS1) and blue infrared (Two Micron All Sky Survey) colors. It has a projected separation of 1630 AU and a near-infrared spectral type of T4.5. As such it is one of only three known companions to a main-sequence star which have early/mid T spectral types of (the others being HN Peg B and e Indi B). Using chromospheric activity we estimate an age for the primary of 900±1900 600 Myr. This value is also in agreement with the age derived from the star's weak ROSAT detection. Comparison with evolutionary models for this age range indicates that HIP 38939B falls in the mass range 38 ± 20 M Jup with an effective temperature range of 1090 ± 60 K. Fitting our spectrum with atmospheric models gives a best-fitting temperature of 1100 K. We include our object in an analysis of the population of benchmark T dwarfs and find that while older atmospheric models appeared to overpredict the temperature of the coolest objects compared to evolutionary models, more recent atmospheric models provide better agreement.
41180894
PHOTOMETRIC CALIBRATION OF THE FIRST 1.5 YEARS OF THE PAN-STARRS1 SURVEY
We present a precise photometric calibration of the first 1.5 years of science imaging from the PanSTARRS1 survey (PS1), an ongoing optical survey of the entire sky north of declination −30 ◦ in five bands. Building on the techniques employed by Padmanabhan et al. (2008) in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), we use repeat PS1 observations of stars to perform the relative calibration of PS1 in each of its five bands, solving simultaneously for the system throughput, the atmospheric transparency, and the large-scale detector flat field. Both internal consistency tests and comparison against the SDSS indicate that we achieve relative precision of < 10 mmag in g, r, and iP1, and ∼ 10 mmag in z and yP1. The spatial structure of the differences with the SDSS indicates that errors in both the PS1 and SDSS photometric calibration contribute similarly to the differences. The analysis suggests that both the PS1 system and the Haleakala site will enable < 1% photometry over much of the sky. Subject headings: Surveys: Pan-STARRS1
53626181
Ultra-bright optical transients are linked with type IC supernovae.
Recent searches by unbiased, wide-field surveys have uncovered a group of extremely luminous optical transients. The initial discoveries of SN 2005ap by the Texas Supernova Search and SCP-06F6 in a deep Hubble pencil beam survey were followed by the Palomar Transient Factory confirmation of host redshifts for other similar transients. The transients share the common properties of high optical luminosities (peak magnitudes ~-21 to -23), blue colors, and a lack of H or He spectral features. The physical mechanism that produces the luminosity is uncertain, with suggestions ranging from jet-driven explosion to pulsational pair instability. Here, we report the most detailed photometric and spectral coverage of an ultra-bright transient (SN 2010gx) detected in the Pan-STARRS 1 sky survey. In common with other transients in this family, early-time spectra show a blue continuum and prominent broad absorption lines of O II. However, about 25 days after discovery, the spectra developed type Ic supernova features, showing the characteristic broad Fe II and Si II absorption lines. Detailed, post-maximum follow-up may show that all SN 2005ap and SCP-06F6 type transients are linked to supernovae Ic. This poses problems in understanding the physics of the explosions: there is no indication from late-time photometry that the luminosity is powered by 56Ni, the broad light curves suggest very large ejected masses, and the slow spectral evolution is quite different from typical Ic timescales. The nature of the progenitor stars and the origin of the luminosity are intriguing and open questions.
118380187
The photometric classification server for Pan-STARRS1
The Pan-STARRS1 survey is obtaining multi-epoch imaging in five bands (g{sub P1} r{sub P1} i{sub P1} z{sub P1} y{sub P1}) over the entire sky north of declination -30 deg. We describe here the implementation of the Photometric Classification Server (PCS) for Pan-STARRS1. PCS will allow the automatic classification of objects into star/galaxy/quasar classes based on colors and the measurement of photometric redshifts for extragalactic objects, and will constrain stellar parameters for stellar objects, working at the catalog level. We present tests of the system based on high signal-to-noise photometry derived from the Medium-Deep Fields of Pan-STARRS1, using available spectroscopic surveys as training and/or verification sets. We show that the Pan-STARRS1 photometry delivers classifications and photometric redshifts as good as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) photometry to the same magnitude limits. In particular, our preliminary results, based on this relatively limited data set down to the SDSS spectroscopic limits, and therefore potentially improvable, show that stars are correctly classified as such in 85% of cases, galaxies in 97%, and QSOs in 84%. False positives are less than 1% for galaxies, Almost-Equal-To 19% for stars, and Almost-Equal-To 28% for QSOs. Moreover, photometric redshifts for 1000 luminous red galaxies up to redshiftmore » 0.5 are determined to 2.4% precision (defined as 1.48 Multiplication-Sign Median|z{sub phot} - z{sub spec}|/(1 + z)) with just 0.4% catastrophic outliers and small (-0.5%) residual bias. For bluer galaxies up to the same redshift, the residual bias (on average -0.5%) trend, percentage of catastrophic failures (1.2%), and precision (4.2%) are higher, but still interestingly small for many science applications. Good photometric redshifts (to 5%) can be obtained for at most 60% of the QSOs of the sample. PCS will create a value-added catalog with classifications and photometric redshifts for eventually many millions of sources.« less
118650819
A Search for High Proper Motion T Dwarfs with Pan-STARRS1 + 2MASS + WISE
We have searched ≈8200 deg2 for high proper motion (≈05-27 year–1) T dwarfs by combining first-epoch data from the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) 3π Survey, the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) All-Sky Point Source Catalog, and the WISE Preliminary Data Release. We identified two high proper motion objects with the very red (W1 – W2) colors characteristic of T dwarfs, one being the known T7.5 dwarf GJ 570D. Near-IR spectroscopy of the other object (PSO J043.5395+02.3995 ≡ WISEP J025409.45+022359.1) reveals a spectral type of T8, leading to a photometric distance of 7.2 ± 0.7 pc. The 256 year–1 proper motion of PSO J043.5+02 is the second highest among field T dwarfs, corresponding to a tangential velocity of 87 ± 8 km s–1. According to the Besancon galaxy model, this velocity indicates that its galactic membership is probably in the thin disk, with the thick disk an unlikely possibility. Such membership is in accord with the near-IR spectrum, which points to a surface gravity (age) and metallicity typical of the field population. We combine 2MASS, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, WISE, and PS1 astrometry to derive a preliminary parallax of 171 ± 45 mas (5.8+2.0 – 1.2 pc), the first such measurement using PS1 data. The proximity and brightness of PSO J043.5+02 will facilitate future characterization of its atmosphere, variability, multiplicity, distance, and kinematics. The modest number of candidates from our search suggests that the immediate (~10 pc) solar neighborhood does not contain a large reservoir of undiscovered T dwarfs earlier than about T8.
118552433
The First Very Long Baseline Interferometric Seti Experiment
The first Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) conducted with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) is presented. By consideration of the basic principles of interferometry, we show that VLBI is efficient at discriminating between SETI signals and human generated radio frequency interference (RFI). The target for this study was the star Gliese 581, thought to have two planets within its habitable zone. On 2007 June 19, Gliese 581 was observed for 8 hr at 1230-1544 MHz with the Australian Long Baseline Array. The data set was searched for signals appearing on all interferometer baselines above five times the noise limit. A total of 222 potential SETI signals were detected and by using automated data analysis techniques were ruled out as originating from the Gliese 581 system. From our results we place an upper limit of 7 MW Hz–1 on the power output of any isotropic emitter located in the Gliese 581 system within this frequency range. This study shows that VLBI is ideal for targeted SETI including follow-up observations. The techniques presented are equally applicable to next-generation interferometers, such as the long baselines of the Square Kilometre Array.
59399974
A dynamic momentum compaction factor lattice in the Fermilab Debuncher ring
In the initial and present design of the Debuncher ring, the momentum compaction factor (/spl alpha/), or equivalently the slip factor /spl eta/=/spl alpha/-1//spl gamma//sup 2/, was chosen to have a value which is a compromise between the two competing functions of the ring - that of accepting and debunching a large number of p~s/pulse and subsequently employing stochastic cooling feedback systems to precool before injection into the Accumulator. The goal of this experiment is to reconcile this compromise by changing /spl eta/ between two desired values during each p~ production cycle.
210236043
POST IRRADIATION MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RADIATION RESISTANT CAST EPOXY RESIN SYSTEMS
95194327
Stress relaxation of natural rubber during irradiation
Abstract The site of chain scission and crosslinking in vulcanized natural rubber irradiated with 4 MeV electrons has been determined by analysis of stress relaxation data. Sulfur and peroxide vulcanizates of different crosslink densities were prepared and the crosslink densities determined from stress—strain measurements. Stress relaxation was measured during irradiation using modified commercial relaxometers. The specimens were maintained in an atmosphere of nitrogen to minimize oxidative side effects. Scission is deduced to take place in the vicinity of crosslinks, since the rate of continuous stress relaxation is independent of crosslink density. Scission may be associated both with crosslinks initially present and with those subsequently introduced by irradiation. Crosslinking by radiation is largely a random process. However, there is a crosslinking reaction dependent to a slight extent on crosslink density as well as a small contribution from random scission reactions. G values for the random react...
122467679
A statistical analysis of the Stanford fractional charge experiment
Abstract We report arguments indicating that the residual fractional charges observed on niobium spheres in the experiments at Stanford are consistent with a statistical distribution of one kind of fractionally-charged object among the spheres, with a large average number of charges per sphere. Our statistical analysis enables us to conclude with 96% confidence that the spheres annealed on a tungsten substrate have a substantially higher concentration of fractional charges than those annealed on a niobium substrate. We draw attention to circumstantial evidence that such fractional charges were transferred from the tungsten substrate to the surfaces of the niobium spheres. We point out that surface and grain-boundary segregation effects, which previously have not been considered in assessing this experiment, could play a major role in enhancing the concentration of fractionally charged impurities on the surface of the tungsten substrate in contact with the niobium spheres. We conclude that the Stanford experiment would be consistent with a concentration of 1 fractional charge in 10 13 to 10 14 tungsten atoms, which would not be contradicted by other searches for fractional charges in tungsten.
118522497
Visual Observability of the Cassiopeia A Supernova
It is generally believed that the explosion which gave birth to the Cassiopeia A supernova remmant resulted from core collapse of a hydrogen-deficient star. A progenitor that has lost all its hydrogen envelope and part of its helium envelope would lead to an explosion with the optical properties of a Type Ic supernova. There is evidence, if not general agreement, that Flamsteed observed the Cas A supernova as a sixth magnitude object in August, 1680. If an explosion with a typical SNIc light curve at the position and distance of Cas A attained maximum luminosity during the winter of 1679-1680, it would at that time have been poorly situated for visual observation, as its upper culmination would have taken place during daylight, while in August, between 170-200 days after peak luminosity, it would have been a sixth magnitude star.