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At least 199 records · Page 11

Massive Stars and the Energy Balance of the Interstellar Medium: The Impact of an Isolated 60 M. Star - 1

We present results of numerical simulations carried out with a two-dimensional radiation hydrodynamics code in order to study the impact of massive stars on their surrounding interstellar medium. This first paper deals with the evolution of the circumstellar gas around an isolated 60 M. star. The interaction of the photo- ionized H II region with the stellar wind bubble forms a variety of interesting structures like shells, clouds, fingers, and spokes. These results demonstrate that complex structures found in H II regions are not necessarily relics from the time before the gas became ionized but may result from dynamical processes during the course of the H II region evolution. We have also analyzed the transfer and deposit of the stellar wind and radiation energy into the circumstellar medium until the star explodes as a supernova. Although the total mechanical wind energy supplied by the star is negligible compared to the accumulated energy of the Lyman continuum photons, the kinetic energy imparted to the circumstellar gas over the star s lifetime is 4 times higher than for a comparable windless simulation. Furthermore, the thermal energy of warm photoionized gas is lower by some 55%). Our results document the necessity to consider both ionizing radiation and stellar winds for an appropriate description of the interaction of OB stars with their circumstellar environment.

Freyer, Tim↗

Study of the gas contents of rocks: An approach to the evolution of atmospheres on the earth and planets

A high vacuum system was built for extracting volatiles from rocks either by heating or crushing, and preliminary analyses of the volatiles were made for selected terrestrial basalts and granites. The apparatus and experimental procedures are described, and the major problems associated with water measurement and choice of argon to replace neon as the internal standard are discussed. Preliminary analyses of granites and basalts indicate the following: All analyses lie in the H2O-CO2-CO triangle on a C-H-O ternary diagram. The compositions of the volatiles plot in distinct, but overlapping, areas of the C-H-O diagram. Pre-Cambrian granites have a higher volatile content than younger granites. Continental basalts have a higher volatile content than oceanic basalts.

Barker, C.↗

Thermal Properties of Lunar Regolith Simulants

Various high temperature chemical processes have been developed to extract oxygen and metals from lunar regolith. These processes are tested using terrestrial analogues of the regolith. But all practical terrestrial analogs contain H2O and/or OH-, the presence of which has substantial impact on important system behaviors. We have undertaken studies of lunar regolith simulants to determine the limits of the simulants to validate key components for human survivability during sustained presence on the Moon. Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) yields information on phase transitions and melting temperatures. Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis provides information on evolved gas species and their evolution temperature profiles. The DTA and TGA studies included JSC-1A fine (Johnson Space Center Mare Type 1A simulant), NU-LHT-2M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-- United States Geological Survey (USGS)--Lunar Highlands Type 2M simulant) and its proposed feedstocks: anorthosite; dunite; high quality (HQ) glass and the norite from which HQ glass is produced. As an example, the DTA and TGA profiles for anorthosite follow. The DTA indicates exothermic transitions at 355 and 490 C and endothermic transitions at 970 and 1235 C. Below the 355 C transition, water is lost accounting for approximately 0.1 percent mass loss. Just above 490 C a second type of water is lost, presumably bound in lattices of secondary minerals along with other volatile oxides. Limited TGA-FTIR data is available at the time of this writing. For JSC-1A fine, the TGA-FTIR indicates at least two kinds of water are evolved in the 100 to 500 and the 700 to 900 C ranges. Evolution of carbon dioxide types occurs in the 250 to 545, 545 to 705, and 705 to 985 C ranges. Geologically, the results are consistent with the evolution of "water" in its several forms, CO2 from break down of secondary carbonates and magmatic, dissolved gas and glass recrystallization

Street, Kenneth W., Jr.↗

A Mathematical Model of Diffusion-Limited Gas Bubble Dynamics in Tissue with Varying Diffusion Region Thickness

A three-region mathematical model of gas bubble dynamics has been shown suitable for describing diffusion-limited dynamics of more than one bubble in a given volume of extravascular tissue. The model is based on the dynamics of gas exchange between a bubble and a well-stirred tissue region through an intervening unperfused diffusion region previously assumed to have constant thickness and uniform gas diffusivity. As a result, the gas content of the diffusion region remains constant as the volume of the region increases with bubble growth, causing dissolved gas in the region to violate Henry's law. Earlier work also neglected the relationship between the varying diffusion region volume and the fixed total tissue volume, because only cases in which the diffusion region volume is a small fraction of the overall tissue volume were considered. We herein extend the three-region model to correct these theoretical inconsistencies by allowing both the thickness and gas content of the diffusion region to vary during bubble evolution. A postulated difference in gas diffusivity between an infinitesimally thin layer at the bubble surface and the remainder of the diffusion region leads to variation in diffusion region gas content and thickness during bubble growth and resolution. This variable thickness, differential diffusivity (VTDD) model can yield bubble lifetimes considerably longer than those yielded by earlier three-region models for given model and decompression parameters, and meets a need for theoretically consistent but relatively simple bubble dynamics models for use in studies of decompression sickness (DCS) in human subjects, Keywords: decompression sickness, gas diffusion in tissue, diffusivity

Srinivasan, R. Srini↗

Evolution of a localized thermal explosion in a reactive gas

Experimental observations of ignition in premixed gaseous reactants indicate that perfectly homogeneous initiation is practically unrealizable. Instead, combustion first sets in, as a rule, at small, discrete sites where inherent inhomogeneities cause chemical activity to proceed preferentially and lead to localized explosions. Combustion waves propagating away from these hot spots or reaction centers eventually envelop the remaining bulk. This study examines the spatial structure and temporal evolution of a hot spot for a model involving Arrhenius kinetics. The hot spot, characterized by peaks in pressure and temperature with little diminution in local density, is shown to have one of two possible self-similar structures. The analysis employs a combination of asymptotics and numerics, and terminates when pressure and temperature in the explosion have peaked.

Jackson, T. L.↗

Origin of the solar system.

Origin of solar system, discussing monistic and dualistic theory, interstellar gas characteristics, star formation and planetary development

PLANETARY ORIGIN↗

Infrared Continuum and Line Evolution of the Equatorial Ring Around SN 1987A

Spitzer observations of SN 1987A have now spanned more than a decade. Since day approximately 4000, mid-infrared (mid-IR) emission has been dominated by that from shock-heated dust in the equatorial ring (ER). From 6000 to 8000 days after the explosion, Spitzer observations included broadband photometry at 3.6-24 micrometer, and low and moderate resolution spectroscopy at 5-35 micrometer. Here we present later Spitzer observations, through day 10,377, which include only the broadband measurements at 3.6 and 4.5 micrometer. These data show that the 3.6 and 4.5 micrometer brightness has clearly begun to fade after day approximately 8500, and no longer tracks the X-ray emission as well as it did at earlier epochs. This can be explained by the destruction of the dust in the ER on timescales shorter than the cooling time for the shocked gas. We find that the evolution of the late time IR emission is also similar to the now fading optical emission. We provide the complete record of the IR emission lines, as seen by Spitzer prior to day 8000. The past evolution of the gas as seen by the IR emission lines seems largely consistent with the optical emission, although the IR [Fe(II)]and [Si(II)]lines show different, peculiar velocity structures.

Arendt, Richard G.↗

Degassing history and evolution of volcanic activity of terrestrial planets based on radiogenic noble gas degassing models

Current abundances of radiogenic noble gases (4-He, 40-Ar, 129-Xe) in the planetary atmospheres provide valuable information on planetary evolution through their degassing histories. Of these, 40-Ar (from 40-K with half life 1.25 Ga) can be used to envisage long-term degassing from their interior. Present amounts of 36 and 40-Ar should have information on timing and degree of degassing from the interior. On the other hand, 129-Xe (from 129-I with half life 17 Ma) is used in discussing early planetary degassing. Because life time of helium in the atmosphere is short, atmospheric 4-He (from 235-U, 238-U, 232-Th) data might be used only for current degassing. The relative abundance of 40-Ar in the Cytherean atmosphere is 0.26 of that in the Earth's atmosphere. We have executed numerical calculation of a 40-Ar degassing model along with mantle evolution and melt migration. Our result shows that the average magma production rate on Venus is about 5 (km(exp 3)/yr). Duration of plate motion on Venus, if existed, would be less than several hundred million years.

Sasaki, S.↗

Quantifying Feedback from Narrow Line Region Outflows in Nearby Active Galaxies. IV. The Effects of Different Density Estimates on the Ionized Gas Masses and Outflow Rates

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) can launch outflows of ionized gas that may influence galaxy evolution, and quantifying their full impact requires spatially resolved measurements of the gas masses, velocities, and radial extents. We previously reported these quantities for the ionized narrow-line region outflows in six low-redshift AGN, where the gas velocities and extents were determined from Hubble Space Telescope long-slit spectroscopy. However, calculating the gas masses required multicomponent photoionization models to account for radial variations in the gas densities, which span ∼6 orders of magnitude. To simplify this method for larger samples with less spectral coverage, we compare these gas masses with those calculated from techniques in the literature. First, we use a recombination equation with three different estimates for the radial density profiles. These include constant densities, those derived from [S ii], and power-law profiles based on constant values of the ionization parameter (U). Second, we use single-component photoionization models with power-law density profiles based on constant U, and allow U to vary with radius based on the [O iii]/Hβ ratios. We find that assuming a constant density of nH = 10(^2) cm(^−3) overestimates the gas masses for all six outflows, particularly at small radii where the outflow rates peak. The use of [S ii] marginally matches the total gas masses, but also overestimates at small radii. Overall, single-component photoionization models where U varies with radius are able to best match the gas mass and outflow rate profiles when there are insufficient emission lines to construct detailed models.

Mitchell Revalski↗

Understanding the Reaction of Nuclear Graphite with Molecular Oxygen

A thorough understanding of oxidation is important when considering the health and integrity of graphite components in graphite reactors. For the next generation of graphite reactors, HTGRs specifically, an unlikely air ingress has been deemed significant enough to have made its way into the licensing applications of many international licensing bodies. While a substantial body of literature exists on nuclear graphite oxidation in the presence of molecular oxygen and significant efforts have been made to characterize oxidation kinetics of various grades, the value of existing information is somewhat limited. Often, multiple competing processes, including reaction kinetics, mass transfer, and microstructural evolution, are lumped together into a single rate expression that limits the ability to translate this information to different conditions. This article reviews the reaction of graphite with molecular oxygen in terms of the reaction kinetics, gas transport, and microstructural evolution of graphite. It also presents the foundations of a model for the graphite-molecular oxygen reaction system that is kinetically independent of graphite grade, and is capable of describing both the bulk and local oxidation rates under a wide range of conditions applicable to air-ingress.

J. Kane, Joshua↗

The standard model and some new directions

A 'standard' model of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), based upon a massive black hole surrounded by a thin accretion disk, is defined. It is argued that, although there is good evidence for the presence of black holes and orbiting gas, most of the details of this model are either inadequate or controversial. Magnetic field may be responsible for the confinement of continuum and line-emitting gas, for the dynamical evolution of accretion disks and for the formation of jets. It is further argued that gaseous fuel is supplied in molecular form and that this is responsible for thermal re-radiation, equatorial obscuration and, perhaps, the broad line gas clouds. Stars may also supply gas close to the black hole, especially in low power AGN and they may be observable in discrete orbits as probes of the gravitational field. Recent observations suggest that magnetic field, stars, dusty molecular gas and orientation effects must be essential components of a complete description of AGN. The discovery of quasars with redshifts approaching 5 is an important clue to the mechanism of galaxy formation.

Blandford, R. D.↗

Versatile stochastic model for predictive KMC simulation of fcc metal nanostructure evolution with realistic kinetics

Stochastic lattice-gas models provide the natural framework for analysis of the surface diffusion-mediated evolution of crystalline metal nanostructures on the appropriate time scale (often 10 1 –10 4 s) and length scale. Model behavior can be precisely assessed by kinetic Monte Carlo simulation, typically incorporating a rejection-free algorithm to efficiently handle the broad range of Arrhenius rates for hopping of surface atoms. The model should realistically prescribe these rates, or the associated barriers, for a diversity of local surface environments. However, commonly used generic choices for barriers fail, even qualitatively, to simultaneously describe diffusion for different low-index facets, for terrace vs step edge diffusion, etc. We introduce an alternative Unconventional Interaction–Conventional Interaction formalism to prescribe these barriers, which, even with few parameters, can realistically capture most aspects of behavior. Here, the model is illustrated for single-component fcc metal systems, mainly for the case of Ag. It is quite versatile and can be applied to describe both the post-deposition evolution of 2D nanostructures in homoepitaxial thin films (e.g., reshaping and coalescence of 2D islands) and the post-synthesis evolution of 3D nanocrystals (e.g., reshaping of nanocrystals synthesized with various faceted non-equilibrium shapes back to 3D equilibrium Wulff shapes).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Charm meson and charm-meson molecule in an expanding hadron gas

We present our studies on the evolution of charm mesons after the kinetic freeze-out of the expanding hadron gas produced in a heavy-ion collision and the thermal correction to a loosely bound charm-meson molecule in a pion gas. The πD* → πD* reaction rates have t-channel singularities that give contributions inversely proportional to the thermal width of the D. The ratio of the D 0 and D + production rate can differ significantly from those predicted using the measured D* branching fractions. The thermal correction to a loosely bound charm-meson molecule in a pion gas comes primarily from the complex thermal energy shift of the charm-meson constituents.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Influence of helium bubbles on the bulk equation of state of gold under static compression

Nuclear materials often evolve into two-phase systems comprising a bulk matrix with dispersed inert-gas bubbles. The presence of these bubbles can have consequences to the thermomechanical response of materials and is a key life-limiting factor in some nuclear fuel forms. Understanding the behavior of these two-phase, bubble-matrix systems is, thus, important to improved predictive models and frameworks for many nuclear materials applications. While temperature excursions of these two-phase systems have been characterized, fewer studies have focused on the evolution of inert-gas bubbles under pressure. Here, in this paper, we use x-ray tools to interrogate a He-implanted gold foil to determine the pressure-dependent evolution of the individual components (Au matrix + bubbles), and we compare that total pressure dependence to theoretical equation-of-state descriptions based on mixing rules.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

A Semi-analytical Model for Stellar Evolution in AGN Disks

Disks of gas accreting onto supermassive black holes may host numerous stellar-mass objects, formed within the disk or captured from a nuclear star cluster. We present a simplified model of stellar evolution in these dense environments, which exhibits exceptional agreement with full stellar evolution calculations at a minuscule fraction of the cost. Although the model presented here is limited to stars burning hydrogen in their cores, it is sufficient to determine the evolutionary fate of disk-embedded stars: whether they proceed to later stages of nuclear burning and leave behind a compact remnant, reach a quasi-steady state where mass loss and accretion balance one another, or whether accretion proceeds faster than stellar structure can adjust, causing a runaway. We highlight how various disk parameters and phenomena such as gap opening affect stellar evolution outcomes. We also highlight how our model can accommodate time-varying conditions, such as those experienced by a star on an eccentric orbit, and can couple to N -body integrations. This model will enable more detailed studies of stellar populations and their interaction with accretion disks than have previously been possible.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Enrichment and heating of the intracluster medium by ejection from galaxies

Results of N-body + hydrodynamic simulations designed to model the formation and evolution of clusters of galaxies and intracluster gas are presented. Clusters of galaxies are the largest bound, relaxed objects in the universe. They are strong x-ray emitters; this radiation originates through thermal bremsstrahlung from a diffuse plasma filling the space between cluster galaxies, the intracluster medium or ICM. From observations, one can infer that the mass of the ICM is comparable to or greater than the mass of all the galaxies in the cluster, and that the ratio of mass in hot gas to mass in galaxies, M(sub ICM)/M(sub STARS), increases with the richness of the cluster. Spectroscopic studies of cluster x-ray emission show heavy element emission lines. While M(sub ICM)/M(sub STARS) is greater than or equal to 1 implies that most of the ICM is primordial in nature, the discovery of heavy elements indicates that some of the gas must have been processed through galaxies. Galaxy evolution thus directly impacts cluster evolution.

Metzler, Chris↗