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Results for “Density wave theory”

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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NASA NTRS1975

High-energy galactic gamma radiation from cosmic rays concentrated in spiral arms

A model for the emission of high-energy (exceeding 100 Mev) gamma-rays from the galactic disk has been developed and compared with recent SAS-2 observations. In the calculation, it is assumed that (1) the high energy galactic gamma-rays result primarily from the interaction of cosmic rays with galactic matter, (2) the cosmic-ray density is proportional to the matter density on the scale of galactic arms, and (3) the matter in the Galaxy is distributed in a spiral pattern consistent with density-wave theory and experimental data on the matter distribution that is available, including the 21-cm H I line emission, continuum emission from H II regions, and data currently being used to estimate the H2 density. The calculated galactic-longitude distribution of gamma rays is in good agreement with the SAS-2 observations in relative shape and absolute flux. As a corollary, the nonuniform cosmic-ray distribution of this model tends to support the galactic origin of the fraction of cosmic rays which is important in the production of high-energy photons. Modifications of the basic model show that the gamma-ray flux is relatively sensitive to large variations of the assumed distribution of molecular hydrogen in the Galaxy.

Bignami, G. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The solar nebula and the planetesimal disk

Two popular theories of solar system formation are briefly reviewed, then used as background in an examination of several new developments related to planetary ring dynamics that promise to have great impact on future research. Most important are the incorporation of accretion disk and density wave theories into cosmogonic theory. A successful integration of these mechanisms may significantly constrain evolutionary models of the early solar system and also provide new insight into the mechanisms themselves.

Ward, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Star-gas density waves in spiral galaxies

The steady state dynamics of spiral galaxies is analyzed as a two-component system consisting of stars and gas within the framework of the WKB density wave theory. The gravitational influence of the gas is included for the first time in a steady state calculation. The full set of equations for a star-gas galaxy is presented, and the equations are analyzed for small-amplitude forcing. Wave properties near the solar circle are examined, and it is found that the large-scale gas shock disappears for gas content above 8 percent. Instead, gas density profiles change to highly symmetric shapes as a result of the action of the gas self-gravity. The stellar wave is damped by the torque exerted by the gas.

Lubow, Stephen H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

High energy galactic gamma radiation from cosmic rays concentrated in spiral arms

A model for the emission of high energy ( 100 MeV) gamma rays from the galactic disk was developed and compared to recent SAS-2 observations. In the calculation, it is assumed that (1) the high energy galactic gamma rays result primarily from the interaction of cosmic rays with galactic matter; (2) on the basis of theoretical and experimental arguments the cosmic ray density is proportional to the matter density on the scale of galactic arms; and (3) the matter in the galaxy, atomic and molecular, is distributed in a spiral pattern consistent with density wave theory and the experimental data on the matter distribution.

Bignami, G. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The chemical composition and distribution of interstellar grains

The chemical composition of interstellar grains is derived here on the basis of (1) the cosmic abundance of the elements; (2) the wavelength dependence of extinction and polarization; (3) the average total extinction; (4) the ratio of polarization to extinction; (5) the predominantly dielectric character of grains in the visible spectral region; and (6) infrared spectral characteristics of grains. Inferences of the core-mantle model with respect to spatial distribution are consistent with the proposition that growth of the mantles occurs in the galactic shock region predicted by the density-wave theory. Estimates of the total visual extinction toward the galactic center and the consequent estimates of the total amount of far infrared radiation are shown to depend critically on the grain model. Variations of the ratio of far ultraviolet to visual extinction are correlated with the conditions for growth of mantles on the bare small particles which are generally prevented from accreting mantles primarily because of their extreme temperature fluctuations produced by the ultraviolet photons in the radiation field.

Greenberg, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Galactic gamma-ray observations and galactic structure

Recent observations of gamma-rays originating in the galactic disk together with radio observations, support an emerging picture of the overall structure of our galaxy with higher interstellar gas densities and star formation rates in a region which corresponds to that of the inner arms. The emerging picture is one where molecular clouds make up the dominant constituent of the interstellar gas in the inner galaxy and play a key role in accounting for the gamma-rays and phenomena associated with the production of young stars and other population 1 objects. In this picture, cosmic rays are associated with supernovae and are primarily of galactic origin. These newly observed phenomena can be understood as consequences of the density wave theories of spiral structure. Based on these new developments, the suggestion is made that a new galactic population class, Population O, be added to the standard Populations 1 and 2 in order to recognize important differences in dynamics and distribution between diffuse galactic H1 and interstellar molecular clouds.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Spiral structure and star formation. I - Formation mechanisms and mean free paths

The wide variety of optical appearances observed in spiral galaxies has encouraged the growth of two theoretical approaches to explain the spiral patterns exhibited by such young objects as OB associations, giant H II regions, and dark dust lanes. These approaches are related to the density wave theory of spiral structure and 'stochastic, self-propagating star formation'. Levinson and Roberts (1981) tried to reconcile these two theoretical approaches, and considered a disk filled with discrete gas clouds. The present investigation is concerned with refinements and extensions of the model of Levinson and Roberts. Attention is given to gravitational forces and dynamical propagation, cloud-cloud collisions, supernova interactions, computational models, a theory concerning the interactions of the gas cloud and stellar association systems, the time evolution of the gas cloud-stellar association systems, and aspects of collisionally triggered star formation.

Roberts, W. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The dense interstellar medium and the birthplaces of OB stars

A review is presented of Stromgren's research on the relationships among atomic, ionized, and molecular hydrogen in the Galaxy and the spatial distribution and kinematics of OB stars. Particular attention is given to the development of density-wave theory, the implication that the pattern of the formation of OB stars in a spiral galaxy should rotate at a constant angular speed, which differs generally from the mean material speed of the interstellar gas. Other theories involving the mechanical support of molecular clouds; triggered star formation; and the relationships among H2, H I, and H II are discussed.

Shu, Frank H.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Spiral Arms in the Asymmetrically Illuminated Disk of MWC 758 and Constraints on Giant Planets

We present the first near-IR scattered light detection of the transitional disk associated with the Herbig Ae star MWC 758 using data obtained as part of the Strategic Exploration of Exoplanets and Disks with Subaru, and 1.1 micrometer Hubble Space Telescope/NICMOS data. While submillimeter studies suggested there is a dust-depleted cavity with r = 0".35, we find scattered light as close as 0".1 (20-28 AU) from the star, with no visible cavity at H, K', or Ks . We find two small-scaled spiral structures that asymmetrically shadow the outer disk. We model one of the spirals using spiral density wave theory, and derive a disk aspect ratio of h approximately 0.18, indicating a dynamically warm disk. If the spiral pattern is excited by a perturber, we estimate its mass to be 5(exp +3)(sub -4) M(sub J), in the range where planet filtration models predict accretion continuing onto the star. Using a combination of non-redundant aperture masking data at L' and angular differential imaging with Locally Optimized Combination of Images at K' and Ks , we exclude stellar or massive brown dwarf companions within 300 mas of the Herbig Ae star, and all but planetary mass companions exterior to 0".5. We reach 5 sigma contrasts limiting companions to planetary masses, 3-4 M(sub J) at 1".0 and 2 M(sub J) at 1".55, using the COND models. Collectively, these data strengthen the case for MWC 758 already being a young planetary system.

Grady, C. A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Microscopic Theory of Pair Density Waves in Spin-Orbit Coupled Kondo Lattice

We demonstrate that the discommensuration between the Fermi surfaces of a conduction sea and an underlying spin liquid provides a natural mechanism for the spontaneous formation of pair density waves. Using a recent formulation of the Kondo lattice model that incorporates a Yao Lee spin liquid proposed by the authors, we demonstrate that doping away from half filling induces finite-momentum electron-Majorana pair condensation, resulting in amplitude-modulated pair density waves (PDWs). Our approach provides a precise, analytically tractable pathway for understanding the spontaneous formation of PDWs in higher dimensions and offers a natural mechanism for PDW formation in the absence of Zeeman splitting.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1991

Resonance excitation of spiral density waves in a gaseous disk. II - A nonlinear theory and application to the 3 kiloparsec arm

The present nonlinear theory of spiral density waves in a thin, viscous, self-gravitating gaseous disk views the waves as generated near the Lindblad resonance by periodic disturbances through an excitation mechanism. The suggestion of Yuan (1984), that either a minor oval distortion or an uneven distribution of mass in the center can excite a spiral density wave whose radial velocity and mass concentration are in excellent agreement with observations of the 3 kpc arm of the Galaxy, is confirmed. Reliable results are obtained for nonlinear density waves either in a gaseous disk or in the gas components of a galactic disk.

Yuan, Chi↗
DOE OSTI2025

Noncollinear ground states of solids with a source-free exchange correlation functional

In this paper, we expand upon the source-free (SF) exchange correlation (XC) functional developed by Sangeeta Sharma and coworkers to plane-wave density functional theory (DFT) based on the projector augmented wave (PAW) method. This constraint is implemented by the current authors within the VASP source code, using a fast Poisson solver that capitalizes on the parallel three-dimensional fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) implemented in VASP. Using this modified XC functional, we explore the improved convergence behavior that results from applying this constraint to the GGA-PBE+U+J functional. In the process, we compare the noncollinear magnetic ground state computed by each functional and their SF counterpart for a select number of magnetic materials in order to provide a metric for comparing with experimentally determined magnetic orderings. We observe significantly improved agreement with experimentally measured magnetic ground-state structures after applying the source-free constraint. Furthermore, we explore the importance of considering probability current densities in spin-polarized systems, even under no applied field. We analyze the XC torque as well, in order to provide theoretical and computational analyses of the net XC magnetic torque induced by the source-free constraint. Along these lines, we highlight the importance of properly considering the real-space integral of the source-free local magnetic XC field. Our analyses on probability currents, net torque, and constant terms draw additional links to the rich body of previous research on spin-current density functional theory (SCDFT), and pave the way for future extensions and corrections to the SF corrected XC functional.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Toward an Understanding of Linear Scaling Relations through Energy Decomposition Analysis

The discovery of linear scaling relations has fundamentally changed the field of heterogeneous catalysis. The scaling relations have been rationalized based on the d-band theory, specifically a separation of sp and d electron contributions to adsorption energies. Within the framework of energy decomposition analysis, a full understanding of such a separation would require one to further break down the adsorption energy into distinct energy components such as electrostatics, polarization, charge transfer, and van der Waals interactions, and to examine the sp and d contributions to each of them. As a step in this direction, we analyzed the interaction energy between CH x (x = 1–4) adsorbates and fcc(100) transition metal surfaces (M = Cu, Ag, Au, Rh, and Pt), with the surfaces represented both as slabs in plane-wave density functional theory (pw-DFT) calculations and as atomic clusters in atomic-orbital basis density functional theory (ao-DFT) calculations. Through an absolutely localized molecular orbital (ALMO) based energy decomposition analysis of the ao-DFT adsorption energy, each of the interaction energy components (electrostatics, polarization, van der Waals, and charge transfer) was found to follow its own scaling relations, with an intricate interplay among these energy components yielding the overall scaling relations for the total adsorption energies. Using the recently introduced ALMO-based polarization and charge-transfer analysis schemes, we further dissected polarization into metal surface and adsorbate contributions, and charge transfer into metal → adsorbate and adsorbate → metal contributions. The contributions from the sp and d electrons of the metal to these terms were further quantified, and the dominant role of the metal d electrons was reaffirmed. These results shed light on how CHx adsorbates interact with metal surfaces and further reveal the physical origin of the scaling relations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Medium-range order and compositional correlation in metallic glasses

The compositional atomic ordering in metallic glasses was studied by simulation focusing on the medium-range order (MRO). Many metallic alloy liquids and glasses show MRO characterized by the oscillations in the atomic pair-distribution function (PDF) beyond the first peak, which decay exponentially with distance. To study the effects of the local chemical order on MRO, we examine the compositionally resolved PDF and its MRO for models of various binary metallic alloy glasses. We show that compositional ordering is limited mostly to the nearest-neighbor atoms and the MRO is largely independent of the compositional order. For some elements that strongly repel each other in the alloy, a second MRO periodicity is observed owing to the distinct correlations among them. These results are discussed in light of the idea that the MRO oscillations in the PDF describe the correlations in the atomic density fluctuations, rather than the detailed local atomic structure.

Atomic structure↗
NASA NTRS1987

The role of resonances in planetary rings

The new observations of planetary rings, including those acquired during the encounters of Voyager with Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, and the discovery of incomplete rings around Neptune, reveal the great importance of resonances in determining the dynamics and the shape of planetary rings. Several types of resonances play a part in planetary rings. Current questions of interest are related to the nonlinear theory of density waves, the confinement of the Uranian rings, and the arcs of rings around Neptune.

Borderies, N.↗