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At least 739 records · Page 41

Brightness of Solar Magnetic Elements As a Function of Magnetic Flux at High Spatial Resolution

We investigate the relationship between the photospheric magnetic field of small-scale magnetic elements in the quiet-Sun (QS) at disk center and the brightness at 214, 300, 313, 388, 397, and 525.02 nm. To this end, we analyzed spectropolarimetric and imaging time series acquired simultaneously by the Imaging Magnetograph eXperiment magnetograph and the SuFI filter imager on board the balloon-borne observatory SUNRISE during its first science flight in 2009, with high spatial and temporal resolution. We find a clear dependence of the contrast in the near ultraviolet and the visible on the line-of-sight component of the magnetic field, B {sub LOS}, which is best described by a logarithmic model. This function effectively represents the relationship between the Ca ii H-line emission and B {sub LOS} and works better than the power-law fit adopted by previous studies. This, along with the high contrast reached at these wavelengths, will help with determining the contribution of small-scale elements in the QS to the irradiance changes for wavelengths below 388 nm. At all wavelengths, including the continuum at 525.40 nm, the intensity contrast does not decrease with increasing B {sub LOS}. This result also strongly supports the fact that SUNRISE has resolved small strong magnetic field elements in the internetwork, resulting in constant contrasts for large magnetic fields in our continuum contrast at 525.40 nm versus the B {sub LOS} scatterplot, unlike the turnover obtained in previous observational studies. This turnover is due to the intermixing of the bright magnetic features with the dark intergranular lanes surrounding them.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Mechanism of Electron Injection and Acceleration in Transrelativistic Reconnection

Electron acceleration during magnetic reconnection is thought to play a key role in time-variable high-energy emission from astrophysical systems. By means of particle-in-cell simulations of transrelativistic reconnection, we investigate electron injection and acceleration mechanisms in low-β electron–proton plasmas. We set up a diversity of density and field structures (e.g., X-points and plasmoids) by varying the guide field strength and choosing whether to trigger reconnection or let it spontaneously evolve. We show that the number of X-points and plasmoids controls the efficiency of electron acceleration, with more X-points leading to a higher efficiency. Using on-the-fly acceleration diagnostics, we also show that the nonideal electric fields associated with X-points play a critical role in the first stages of electron acceleration. As a further diagnostic, we include two populations of test particles that selectively experience only certain components of electric fields. We find that the out-of-plane component of the parallel electric field determines the hardness of the high-energy tail of the electron energy distribution. These results further our understanding of electron acceleration in this regime of magnetic reconnection and have implications for realistic models of black hole accretion flows.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Software for Optical Archive and Retrieval (SOAR) user's guide, version 4.2

The optical disk is an emerging technology. Because it is not a magnetic medium, it offers a number of distinct advantages over the established form of storage, advantages that make it extremely attractive. They are as follows: (1) the ability to store much more data within the same space; (2) the random access characteristics of the Write Once Read Many optical disk; (3) a much longer life than that of traditional storage media; and (4) much greater data access rate. Software for Optical Archive and Retrieval (SOAR) user's guide is presented.

Davis, Charles↗

Radiative Grain Alignment in Protoplanetary Disks: Implications for Polarimetric Observations

We apply the theory of radiative torque (RAT) alignment for studying protoplanetary disks around a T-Tauri star and perform 3D radiative transfer calculations to provide the expected maps of polarized radiation to be compared with observations, such as with ALMA. We revisit the issue of grain alignment for large grains expected in the protoplanetary disks and find that mm-sized grains at the midplane do not align with the magnetic field since the Larmor precession timescale for such large grains becomes longer than the gaseous damping timescale. Hence, for these grains the RAT theory predicts that the alignment axis is determined by the grain precession with respect to the radiative flux. As a result, we expect that the polarization will be in the azimuthal direction for a face-on disk. It is also shown that if dust grains have superparamagnetic inclusions, magnetic field alignment is possible for (sub-)micron grains at the surface layer of disks, and this can be tested by mid-infrared polarimetric observations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

OPTICAL MASS FLOW DIAGNOSTICS IN HERBIG AE/BE STARS

We examine a broad range of mass flow diagnostics in a large sample of Herbig Ae/Be stars (HAEBES) using high resolution optical spectra. The Hβ and He i 5876 Å lines show the highest incidence of P Cygni (30%) and inverse P Cygni (14%) morphologies, respectively. The Fe ii 4924 Å line also shows a large incidence of P Cygni profiles (11%). We find support for many of the conclusions reached in a study based on the analysis of the He i λ10830 line in a large sample of HAEBES. Namely, HAEBES exhibit smaller fractions of both blueshifted absorption (i.e., mass outflow) and redshifted absorption (i.e., mass infall or accretion) than their lower mass cousins, the classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs). In particular, the optical data supports the conclusion that HAEBES displaying redshifted absorption, in general, show maximum redshifted absorption velocities that are smaller fractions of their stellar escape velocities than is found for CTTSs. This suggests that HAEBE accretion flows are originating deeper in the gravitational potentials of their stars than in CTTS systems. In addition, we find a lack of inner disk wind signatures in the blueshifted absorption objects; only stellar wind signatures are clearly observed. These findings, along with the lack of detected magnetic fields around HAEBES, support the idea that large magnetospheres are not prevalent around HAEBES and that accretion flows are instead mediated by significantly smaller magnetospheres with relatively smaller truncation radii (e.g., 1–2 R{sub *}). Redshifted absorption is much more common around Herbig Ae stars than Be stars, suggesting that Herbig Be stars may accrete via a boundary layer rather than along magnetic field lines.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Ultradense Arrays of Sub-100 nm Co/CoO Nanodisks for Spintronics Applications

Sub-100 nm ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic nanodisks present enhanced magnetic properties with respect to their thin film counterparts. Co/CoO disks were fabricated over large areas by a transferring process of an anodic aluminum oxide membrane, electron beam evaporation of Co, and subsequent oxidation to CoO. This method reveals exchange bias fields up to 4 times larger than that in thin films and higher blocking temperatures for the same oxidation protocol. The significant improvement of the magnetic properties is attributed to finite-size effects in nanostructures and might be exploited in diverse areas such as the magnetic stabilization of ultradense arrays or the scalability process of patterned heterostructures in spintronic phenomena.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

CHROMOSPHERIC RAPID BLUESHIFTED EXCURSIONS OBSERVED WITH IBIS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PHOTOSPHERIC MAGNETIC FIELD EVOLUTION

Chromospheric rapid blueshifted excursions (RBEs) are suggested to be the disk counterparts of type II spicules at the limb and believed to contribute to the coronal heating process. Previous identification of RBEs was mainly based on feature detection using Dopplergrams. In this paper, we study RBEs on 2011 October 21 in a very quiet region at the disk center, which were observed with the high-cadence imaging spectroscopy of the Ca II 8542 Å line from the Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer (IBIS). By using an automatic spectral analysis algorithm, a total of 98 RBEs are identified during an 11 minute period. Most of these RBEs have either a round or elongated shape, with an average area of 1.2 arcsec{sup 2}. The detailed temporal evolution of spectra from IBIS makes possible a quantitative determination of the velocity (∼16 km s{sup –1}) and acceleration (∼400 m s{sup –2}) of Ca II 8542 RBEs, and reveals an additional deceleration (∼–160 m s{sup –2}) phase that usually follows the initial acceleration. In addition, we also investigate the association of RBEs with the concomitant photospheric magnetic field evolution, using coordinated high-resolution and high-sensitivity magnetograms made by Hinode. Clear examples are found where RBEs appear to be associated with the preceding magnetic flux emergence and/or the subsequent flux cancellation. However, further analysis with the aid of the Southwest Automatic Magnetic Identification Suite does not yield a significant statistical association between these RBEs and magnetic field evolution. We discuss the implications of our results in the context of understanding the driving mechanism of RBEs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Observations of A0535 + 26 with the SMM satellite

An examination of archival data from the hard X-ray instruments on the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite has revealed a previously undetected outburst from the recurrent X-ray transient, A0535 + 26. The outburst occurred in June 1983 and reached a peak intensity of about 2 crab units in the energy range 32-91 keV. The outburst was detected over a span of 18 days, and the pulse period was observed to spin-up with an average rate of about -6 x 10 to the -8th s/s. A recently proposed model for A0535 + 26 has a pulsar powered by a short-lived accretion disk. A thin accretion disk model is fitted to the present data, assuming an orbital period of 111 days. Two solutions to the magnetic moment of the neutron star are derived. The slow rotator solution is more consistent with the model than the fast rotator, on the grounds that the conditions for the formation of an accretion disk are more favorable for a lower magnetic field strength.

Sembay, S.↗

3D Radiation Nonideal Magnetohydrodynamical Simulations of the Inner Rim in Protoplanetary Disks

Many planets orbit within 1 au of their stars, raising questions about their origins. Particularly puzzling are the planets found near the silicate sublimation front. We investigate conditions near the front in the protostellar disk around a young intermediate-mass star, using the first global 3D radiation nonideal MHD simulations in this context. We treat the starlight heating; the silicate grains’ sublimation and deposition at the local, time-varying temperature and density; temperature-dependent ohmic dissipation; and various initial magnetic fields. The results show magnetorotational turbulence around the sublimation front at 0.5 au. The disk interior to 0.8 au is turbulent, with velocities exceeding 10% of the sound speed. Beyond 0.8 au is the dead zone, cooler than 1000 K and with turbulence orders of magnitude weaker. A local pressure maximum just inside the dead zone concentrates solid particles, favoring their growth. Over many orbits, a vortex develops at the dead zone’s inner edge, increasing the disk’s thickness locally by around 10%. We synthetically observe the results using Monte Carlo transfer calculations, finding that the sublimation front is near-infrared bright. The models with net vertical magnetic fields develop extended, magnetically supported atmospheres that reprocess extra starlight, raising the near-infrared flux 20%. The vortex throws a nonaxisymmetric shadow on the outer disk. At wavelengths >2 μm, the flux varies several percent on monthly timescales. The variations are more regular when the vortex is present. The vortex is directly visible as an arc at ultraviolet through near-infrared wavelengths, given sub-au spatial resolution.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Spatial and Temporal Correlations of XY Macro Spins

Here, we use nano disk arrays with square and honeycomb symmetry to investigate magnetic phases and spin correlations of XY dipolar systems at the micro scale. Utilizing magnetization sensitive x-ray photoemission electron microscopy, we probe magnetic ground states and the ”order-by-disorder” phenomenon predicted 30 years ago. We observe the antiferromagnetic striped ground state in square lattices, and six-fold symmetric structures, including trigonal vortex lattices and disordered floating vortices, in the honeycomb lattice. The spin frustration in the honeycomb lattice causes a phase transition from a long-range ordered locked phase over a floating phase with quasi long-range order and indications of a Berezinskii-Thouless-Kosterlitz-like character, to the thermally excited paramagnetic state. Absent spatial correlation and quasi periodic switching of isolated vortices in the quasi long-range ordered phase suggest a degeneracy of the vortex circulation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Generation of dynamo magnetic fields in the primordial solar nebula

The present treatment of dynamo-generated magnetic fields in the primordial solar nebula proceeds in view of the ability of the combined action of Keplerian rotation and helical convention to generate, via alpha-omega dynamo, large-scale magnetic fields in those parts of the nebula with sufficiently high, gas-and magnetic field coupling electrical conductivity. Nebular gas electrical conductivity and the radial distribution of the local dynamo number are calculated for both a viscous-accretion disk model and the quiescent-minimum mass nebula. It is found that magnetic fields can be easily generated and maintained by alpha-omega dynamos occupying the inner and outer parts of the nebula.

Stepinski, Tomasz F.↗

The CMS Magnetic Field Measuring and Monitoring Systems

This review article describes the performance of the magnetic field measuring and monitoring systems for the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector. To cross-check the magnetic flux distribution obtained with the CMS magnet model, four systems for measuring the magnetic flux density in the detector volume were used. The magnetic induction inside the 6 m diameter superconducting solenoid was measured and is currently monitored by four nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probes installed using special tubes outside the barrel hadron calorimeter. Two more NRM probes were installed at the faces of the tracking system. The field inside the superconducting solenoid was precisely measured in 2006 in a cylindrical volume of 3.448 m in diameter and 7 m in length using 10 three-dimensional (3D) B-sensors based on the Hall effect. These B-sensors were installed on each of the two propeller arms of an automated field-mapping machine. In addition to these measurement systems, a system for monitoring the magnetic field during the CMS detector operation has been developed. Inside the solenoid in the horizontal plane, 4 3D B-sensors were installed at the faces of the tracking detector. Twelve 3D B-sensors were installed on the surfaces of the flux-return yoke nose disks. Seventy 3D B-sensors were installed in the air gaps of the CMS magnet yoke. A specially developed flux loop technique was used for the most complex measurements of the magnetic flux density inside the steel blocks of the CMS magnet yoke. The flux loops are installed in 22 sections of the flux-return yoke blocks. The areas enclosed by these coils varied from 0.3 to 1.59 m$^{2}$ in the blocks of the barrel wheels and from 0.5 to 1.12 m$^{2}$ in the blocks of the yoke endcap disks. The development of these systems and the results of the magnetic flux density measurements across the CMS magnet are presented and discussed in this review article.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Protostar l1455 IRS1: a rotating disk connecting to a filamentary network

We conducted IRAM-30 m C{sup 18}O (2–1) and SMA 1.3 mm continuum {sup 12}CO (2–1) and C{sup 18}O (2–1) observations toward the Class 0/I protostar L1455 IRS1 in Perseus. The IRAM-30 m C{sup 18}O results show IRS1 in a dense 0.05 pc core with a mass of 0.54 M {sub ⊙}, connecting to a filamentary structure. Inside the dense core, compact components of 350 au and 1500 au are detected in the SMA 1.3 mm continuum and C{sup 18}O, with a velocity gradient in the latter one perpendicular to a bipolar outflow in {sup 12}CO, likely tracing a rotational motion. We measure a rotational velocity profile ∝r{sup −0.75} that becomes shallower at a turning radius of ∼200 au, which is approximately the radius of the 1.3 mm continuum component. These results hint at the presence of a Keplerian disk with a radius <200 au around L1455 IRS1 with a protostellar mass of about 0.28 M {sub ⊙}. We derive a core rotation that is about one order of magnitude faster than expected. A significant velocity gradient along a filament toward IRS1 indicates that this filament is dynamically important, providing a gas reservoir and possibly responsible for the faster-than-average core rotation. Previous polarimetric observations show a magnetic field aligned with the outflow axis and perpendicular to the associated filament on a 0.1 pc scale, while on the inner 1000 au scale, the field becomes perpendicular to the outflow axis. This change in magnetic field orientations is consistent with our estimated increase in rotational energy from large to small scales that overcomes the magnetic field energy, wrapping the field lines and aligning them with the disk velocity gradient. These results are discussed in the context of the interplay between filament, magnetic field, and gas kinematics from large to small scales. Possible emerging trends are explored with a sample of 8 Class 0/I protostars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Theory of protostellar accretion disks

I will present an overview of the current paradigm for the theory of gaseous accretion disks around young stars. Protostellar disks form from the collapse of rotating molecular cloud cores. The disks evolve via outward angular momentum transport provided by several mechanisms: gravitational instabilities, thermal convective turbulence, and magnetic stresses. I will review the conditions under which these mechanisms are efficient and consistent with the observed disk evolutionary timescales of several million years. Time permitting, I will discuss outbursts in protostellar disks (FU Orionis variables), the effect of planet formation on disk structure, and the dispersal of remnant gas.

Ruden, S.↗

Creation and annihilation of topological meron pairs in in-plane magnetized films

Merons which are topologically equivalent to one-half of skyrmions can exist only in pairs or groups in two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic (FM) systems. The recent discovery of meron lattice in chiral magnet Co 8 Zn 9 Mn 3 raises the immediate challenging question that whether a single meron pair, which is the most fundamental topological structure in any 2D meron systems, can be created and stabilized in a continuous FM film? Utilizing winding number conservation, we develop a new method to create and stabilize a single pair of merons in a continuous Py film by local vortex imprinting from a Co disk. By observing the created meron pair directly within a magnetic field, we determine its topological structure unambiguously and explore the topological effect in its creation and annihilation processes. Our work opens a pathway towards developing and controlling topological structures in general magnetic systems without the restriction of perpendicular anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Observational studies of the clearing phase in proto-planetary disk systems

Progress in this study is summarized for its second year. An extensive program of high dispersion UV spectral studies using the IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) has resulted in acquisition of 40 Herbig Ae/Be star and related object spectra. We find that accreting, circumstellar gas is detected with velocities consistent with material in free-fall toward the stars in approximately 38% of the sample. With acquisition of optical measurements of the projected stellar rotational velocities, we find that the systems with accreting gas exhibit systematically higher projected rotational velocities than the systems showing signatures of outflowing material only. When combined with polarimetric and photometric data, the IUE spectra for these stars indicate that accretion in intermediate-mass pre-main sequence stars is confined to the plane of the circumstellar dust disk. This is in contrast to lower-mass PMS stars where accretion, persumably along magnetic field lines, is seen at polar latitudes. Our data also support significant clearing of the central regions of these circumstellar disks, as originally suggested. The model which most closely matches the observational data is accretion from a disk envelope, as developed by Calvet et al. (1994).

Grady, Carol A.↗

Origin of Pre-Coronal-Jet Minifilaments: Flux Cancellation

Coronal jets are frequent magnetically channeled narrow eruptions. All coronal jets observed in EUV and X-ray images show a bright spire with a base brightening, also known as jet bright point (JBP). Recent studies of jets show that coronal jets are driven by small-scale filament eruptions (e.g. Hong et al. 2011, Shen et al. 2012, Adams et al. 2014, Sterling et al. 2015). We recently investigated the triggering mechanism of ten on-disk quiet-region coronal jet eruptions and found that magnetic flux cancellation at the neutral line of minifilaments is the main cause of quiet-region jet eruptions (Panesar et al.2016).

Panesar, Navdeep K.↗

Multicolor Variability of Young Stars in the Lagoon Nebula: Driving Causes and Intrinsic Timescales

Space observatories have provided unprecedented depictions of the many variability behaviors typical of low-mass, young stars. However, those studies have so far largely omitted more massive objects (~2 M {sub ⊙} to 4–5 M {sub ⊙}) and were limited by the absence of simultaneous, multiwavelength information. We present a new study of young star variability in the ~1–2 Myr old, massive Lagoon Nebula region. Our sample encompasses 278 young, late B to K-type stars, monitored with Kepler/K2. Auxiliary u, g, r, i, Hα time-series photometry, simultaneous with K2, was acquired at the Paranal Observatory. We employed this comprehensive data set and archival infrared photometry to determine individual stellar parameters, assess the presence of circumstellar disks, and tie the variability behaviors to inner disk dynamics. We found significant mass-dependent trends in variability properties, with B/A stars displaying substantially reduced levels of variability compared to G/K stars for any light-curve morphology. These properties suggest different magnetic field structures at the surface of early-type and later-type stars. We also detected a dearth of some disk-driven variability behaviors, particularly dippers, among stars earlier than G. This indicates that their higher surface temperatures and more chaotic magnetic fields prevent the formation and survival of inner disk dust structures corotating with the star. Finally, we examined the characteristic variability timescales within each light curve and determined that the day-to-week timescales are predominant over the K2 time series. These reflect distinct processes and locations in the inner disk environment, from intense accretion triggered by instabilities in the innermost disk regions to variable accretion efficiency in the outer magnetosphere.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗