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At least 163 records · Page 9

High-efficiency silicon solar-cell design and practical barriers

A numerical evaluation technique is used to study the impact of practical barriers, such as heavy doping effects (Auger recombination, band gap narrowing), surface recombination, shadowing losses and minority-carrier lifetime (Tau), on a high efficiency silicon solar cell performance. Considering a high Tau of 1 ms, efficiency of a silicon solar cell of the hypothetical case is estimated to be around 29%. This is comparable with (detailed balance limit) maximum efficiency of a p-n junction solar cell of 30%. Value of Tau is varied from 1 second to 20 micro. Heavy doping effects, and realizable values of surface recombination velocities and shadowing, are then considered in succession and their influence on cell efficiency is evaluated and quantified. These practical barriers cause the cell efficiency to reduce from the maximum value of 29% to the experimentally achieved value of about 19%. Improvement in open circuit voltage V sub oc is required to achieve cell efficiency greater than 20%. Increased value of Tau reduces reverse saturation current and, hence, improves V sub oc. Control of surface recombination losses becomes critical at higher V sub oc. Substantial improvement in Tau and considerable reduction in surface recombination velocities is essential to achieve cell efficiencies greater than 20%.

Mokashi, A.↗

Radio continuum emission from premain sequence stars and associated structures

VLA 6 cm (4860 MHz with 100 MHz total bandwidth) C-array observations of regions of recent star formation containing premain sequence (PMS) stars, Herbig-Haro objects, and stellar jets, are presented. Three PMS stars, HL Tau, XZ Tau and FS Tau, were definitely (6-sigma) detected and FS Tau B is possibly (5-sigma) detected. The mass loss rates implied for spherically-symmetric stellar winds with outflow velocities of 200 km/s are in the range 1-2 x 10 to the -8th solar masses/yr. HL Tau shows extended structure including a 3-sigma detection of emission possibly associated with the jet from this star. No Herbig-Haro objects were detected at a typical 3-sigma rms level of 0.12 mJy/beam.

Brown, A.↗

Optical spectroscopy of HH-exciting stars from scattered light continua

Optical spectra of the reflected light continua visible in parts of several Herbig-Haro objects are presented. HH 100 unmistakably scatters the chromospheric spectrum of a strong emission-line T Tau star. HH 48S also reflects a T Tau stellar spectrum, as perhaps do HH 24 and HH 55, but less convincingly. HH 55 reveals photospheric absorption features too, corresponding to an M3.5 T Tau star. The continuum in HH 120 (= CG 30 HH) is unclassifiable while that in HH 46A has dimmed considerably (by a factor of order 20) although, only 7 yr ago, it clearly reflected a strong-line T Tau spectrum. It is concluded that at least some of the stars that excite Herbig-Haro nebulae, even when those stars are not directly visible, pass through a strong-line T Tau phase, and can undergo abrupt and dramatic changes in visual luminosity.

Cohen, M.↗

Neutron stars and white dwarfs in galactic halos

The possibility that galactic halos are composed of stellar remnants such as neutron stars and white dwarfs is discussed. On the basis of a simple model for the evolution of galactic halos, researchers follow the history of halo matter, luminosity, and metal and helium abundances. They assume conventional yields for helium and the heavier elements. By comparing with the observational constraints, which may be considered as fairly conservative, it is found that, for an exponentially decreasing star formation rate (SFR) with e-folding time tau, only values between 6 x 10(8) less than similar to tau less than similar to 2 x 10(9) years are allowed together with a very limited range of masses for the initial mass function (IMF). Star formation is allowed for 2 solar mass less than similar to m less than similar to 8 solar mass if tau = 2 x 10(9) years, and for 4 solar mass less than similar to m less than similar to 6 solar mass if tau = 10(9) years. For tau = 6 x 10(8) years, the lower and upper mass limits merge to similar to 5 solar mass. Researchers conclude that, even though the possibility of neutron stars as halo matter may be ruled out, that of white dwarfs may still be a viable hypothesis, though with very stringent constraints on allowed parameters, that merits further consideration.

Ryu, Dongsu↗

Neutron stars and white dwarfs in galactic halos?

The possibility that galactic halos are composed of stellar remnants such as neutron stars and white dwarfs is discussed. On the basis of a simple model for the evolution of galactic halos, researchers follow the history of halo matter, luminosity, and metal and helium abundances. They assume conventional yields for helium and the heavier elements. By comparing with the observational constraints, which may be considered as fairly conservative, it is found that, for an exponentially decreasing star formation rate (SFR) with e-folding time tau, only values between 6 x 10(8) less than similar to tau less than similar to 2 x 10(9) years are allowed together with a very limited range of masses for the initial mass function (IMF). Star formation is allowed for 2 solar mass less than similar to m less than similar to 8 solar mass if tau = 2 x 10(9) years, and for 4 solar mass less than similar to m less than similar to 6 solar mass if tau = 10(9) years. For tau = 6 x 10(8) years, the lower and upper mass limits merge to similar to 5 solar mass. Researchers conclude that, even though the possibility of neutron stars as halo matter may be ruled out, that of white dwarfs may still be a viable hypothesis, though with very stringent constraints on allowed parameters, that merits further consideration.

Ryu, Dongsu↗

Discovery of five pre-main-sequence binaries in Taurus

The progress of an infrared K band lunar occultation search for binaries among premain-sequence stars is reported. From the fall of 1986 to the fall of 1989, 13 objects have been observed, all in the Taurus star-forming region. Five new binaries have been discovered: DF Tau, DI Tau, FS Tau (Haro 6-5) A, FV Tau (Haro 6-8), and FW Tau, with projected separations ranging from 0.01 to 0.57 arcsec. Including results reported previously, a total of 31 objects, 21 in Taurus and 10 in Ophiuchus, have been surveyed and nine double systems have been found. The detected binary frequency (0.29) seems consistent with that of the solar-type main-sequence field stars.

Chen, W. P.↗

Diffraction limited infrared images of the binary star T Tauri

High-resolution images of T Tau and its infrared companion have been reconstructed from near- and midinfrared data collected at the Hale 5-m telescope. The near-infrared (1-5 microns) results were obtained by 2D speckle imaging and the midinfrared (10-20 microns) results were derived from shift-and-add procedures applied to slit scans. The spectral energy distributions of the separated components were constructed from 1- to 20-micron data collected in less than half a year (September 1990 to January 1991). The spectral energy distribution of the optical component (T Tau N) is interpreted as containing two distinct constituents, a photosphere and a surrounding disk of circumstellar material. Measurements at a number of infrared wavelengths over the period December 1985 to January 1991 show a 2-mag color-independent change in the brightness of the infrared component (T Tau S). It is proposed that this may have been caused by an increase in accretion onto T Tau S and model the spectral energy distribution of T Tau S as being dominated by an accretion disk.

Ghez, A. M.↗

Gas and dust in the pre-main-sequence multiple system GG Tauri

We present 1.4 and 2.7 mm aperture synthesis maps of the gas and dust continuum emission around GG Tauri, a very young component of a premain-sequence multiple star system; both GG Tau and its apparent companion, GG Tau/c, at 1500 AU separation, are themselves binaries. At 1.4 mm, dust continuum emission of about 750 AU in extent is associated with GG Tau, and a secondary peak is near GG Tau/c. Spectral line images reveal gaseous structure around GG Tau, elongated along the GG Tau-GG Tau/c axis. There is some suggestion that the gas associated with GG Tau/c alone is extended in a different direction. Marked changes in the morphology and velocity structure of the molecular emission near GG Tau/c also indicate that this system is differently oriented. Clumps between the two systems may be vestiges of a connecting bar. GG Tau and GG Tau/c appear to have originated in a common cloud; their different systemic orientations suggest that they formed from an initially prolate cloud rather than from an extensive and highly flattened disk.

Koerner, D. W.↗

Autonomous control system reconfiguration for spacecraft with non-redundant actuators

The Small Satellite Technology Initiative (SSTI) 'CLARK' spacecraft is required to be single-failure tolerant, i.e., no failure of any single component or subsystem shall result in complete mission loss. Fault tolerance is usually achieved by implementing redundant subsystems. Fault tolerant systems are therefore heavier and cost more to build and launch than non-redundent, non fault-tolerant spacecraft. The SSTI CLARK satellite Attitude Determination and Control System (ADACS) achieves single-fault tolerance without redundancy. The attitude determination system system uses a Kalman Filter which is inherently robust to loss of any single attitude sensor. The attitude control system uses three orthogonal reaction wheels for attitude control and three magnetic dipoles for momentum control. The nominal six-actuator control system functions by projecting the attitude correction torque onto the reaction wheels while a slower momentum management outer loop removes the excess momentum in the direction normal to the local B field. The actuators are not redundant so the nominal control law cannot be implemented in the event of a loss of a single actuator (dipole or reaction wheel). The spacecraft dynamical state (attitude, angular rate, and momentum) is controllable from any five-element subset of the six actuators. With loss of an actuator the instantaneous control authority may not span R(3) but the controllability gramian integral(limits between t,0) Phi(t, tau)B(tau )B(prime)(tau) Phi(prime)(t, tau)d tau retains full rank. Upon detection of an actuator failure the control torque is decomposed onto the remaining active axes. The attitude control torque is effected and the over-orbit momentum is controlled. The resulting control system performance approaches that of the nominal system.

Grossman, Walter↗

Emission-line studies of young stars. 4: The optical forbidden lines

Optical forbidden line strengths and profiles are discussed for a sample of 30 T Tauri stars and 12 Herbig Ae-Be stars. Transitions of (C I), (N II), (O I), (O II), (S II), (Ca II), (Cr II), (Fe II), and (Ni II) are detected. Profile variability occurred in DG Tau and probably other sources. The ensemble profiles can be divided into four generic components that may represent distinct emitting regions; (1) narrow rest-velocity lines, (2) 'low'-velocity lines (peaking at less than or approximately +/- 50 km s(exp -1)), (3) 'high'-velocity (usually greater than or approximately +/- 100 km s(exp -1)) blueshifted peaks or wings, and (4) high-velocity redshifted peaks. Among T Tauri stars, the rest-velocity lines appear most often in sources with weak and narrow permitted lines, such as the Ca II triplet. The low- and high-velocity blueshifted components usually appear together in sources with strong and broad Ca II triplet lines. If the velocity-shifted lines form in jets, the smallest (full) opening angles required by the profiles are less than or approximately 20 deg for the narrow, blueshifted (Ca II) lines of DG Tau and HL Tau. Other lines in DG Tau are much broader, implying larger opening angles or greater velocity dispersions. The variability in DG Tau also implies significant changes in the collimation or velocity coherence on timescales of a few years. RW Aur and AS 353A have blue- and redshifted line peaks that could form in oppositely directed jets. The strong (S II) lambda 6716 and lambda 6731 lines in RW Aur are exclusively redshifted and require opening angles less than or approximately 60 deg. Measurements of different profiles in the same spectrum show that the physical conditions change with the line-of-sight velocities. The most persistent trends are for more (N II) and (O II) and less (O I) lambda 5577 flux at high velocities. Constraints on the physical conditions are derived by modeling the emission lines via multilevel ions in 'coronal ionization equilibrium.' A single temperature and density cannot fully describe the line spectra in any velocity interval. Temperatures in the (O I) region are 9000 less than or approximately T(sub e) less than 14,000 K, and the ionization fraction (of H) is less than 35%. The densities derived from (O I) include n(sub e) less than or approximately 5 x 10(exp 5) to approximately 10(exp 7) cm(exp -3), but n(sub e) greater than or approximately 10(exp 6) cm(exp -3) obtains only at low velocities. In the (S II) regions the densities are lower, 10(exp 3) less than or approximately n(sub e) less than or approximately 7 x 10(exp 4) cm(exp -3), and the temperatures are probably higher, T(sub e) greater than or approximately 13,000 K. At high velocities (only) there is additional hot gas that produces (N II) and (O II), possibly most of the (S II), and little (O I). This region is characterized by T(sub e) greater than or approximately 15,000 K, n(sub e) less than or approximately 10(exp 5) cm(exp -3), and an ionization fraction greater than or approximately 50%. When combined with the spatially segregated emitting regions observed by others by spectral imaging, these results suggest decreasing n(sub e) and increasing T(sub e) away from the star in at least the high velocity gas.

Hamann, Fred↗

Is HL Tauri and FU Orionis system in quiescence?

A recent Nobeyama map of HL Tau reveals that gas is infalling in a flattened region approximately 1400 AU around the central star. The apparent motion of the gas provides the necessary condition for the formation of a Keplerian disk with a radius comparable to the size of the primordial solar nebula. The inferred mass infall rate onto the disk is approximately equal to 5 x 10(exp -6) solar mass/yr, which greatly exceeds the maximum estimate of the accretion rate onto the central star (approximately 7 x 10(exp -7) solar mass/yr). Consequently, mass must currently be accumulating in the disk. The estimated age and disk mass of HL Tau suggest that the accumulated matter has been flushed repeatedly on a timescale less than 10(exp 4) yr. Based on the similarites between their evolution patterns, we propose that HL Tau is an FU Orionis system in quiescence. In addition to HL Tau, 14 out of 86 pre-main-sequence stars in the Taurus-Auriga dark clouds have infrared luminosities much greater than their otherwise normal extinction-corrected stellar luminosities. These sources also tend to have flat spectra which may be due to the reprocessing of radiation by dusty, flattened, collapsing envelopes with infall rates a few 10(exp -6) solar mass/yr. Such rates are much larger than estimated central accretion rates for these systems, which suggests that mass must also be accumulating in these disks. If these sources are FU Orionis stars in quiescence, similar to HL Tau, their age and relative abundance imply that the FU Orionis phase occurs over a timescale of approixmately 10(exp 5) yr, and the quiescent phase between each outburst lasts approximately 10(exp 3) =10(exp 4) yr. These inferred properties are compatible with the scenario that FU Orionis outbursts are regulated by a thermal instability in the inner region of the disk.

Lin, D. N. C.↗

Self-gravity and dissipation in polar rings

Studies of inclined rings inside galaxy potentials have mostly considered the influence of self-gravity and viscous dissipation separately. In this study, we construct models of highly inclined ('polar') rings in an external potential including both self-gravity and dissipation due to a drag force. We do not include pressure forces and thus ignore shock heating that dominates the evolution of gaseous rings inside strongly nonspherical potentials. We adopt an oblate spheroidal scale-free logarithmic potential with axis ratio q = 0.85 and an initial inclination of 80 deg for the self-gravitating rings. We find that stellar (dissipationless) rings suffer from mass loss during their evolution. Mass loss also drives a secular change of the mean inclination toward the poles of the potential. As much as half of the ring mass escapes in the process and forms an inner and an outer shell of precessing orbits. If the remaining mass is more than approximately 0.02 of the enclosed galaxy mass, rings remain bound and do not fall apart from differential precession. The rings precess at a constant rate for more than a precession period tau(sub p) finding the configuration predicted by Sparke in 1986 which warps at larger radii toward the poles of the potential. We model shear viscosity with a velocity-dependent drag force and find that nuclear inflow dominates over self-gravity if the characteristic viscous inflow time scale tau(sub vi) is shorter than approximately 25(tau(sub p)). Rings with (tau(sub vi))/(tau(sub p)) less than or approximately equal to 25 collapse toward the nucleus of the potential within one precession period independent of the amount of self-gravity. Our results imply that stars and gas in real polar rings exhibit markedly different dynamical evolutions.

Dubinski, John↗

Chemical transitions for interstellar C2 and CN in cloud envelopes

Observations were made of absorption from CH, C2, and CN toward moderately reddened stars in Sco, OB2, Ceo OB3, and Taurus/Auriga. For these directions, most of the reddening is associated with a single cloud complex, for example, the rho Ophiuchus molecular cloud, and as a result, the observations probe moderately dense material. When combined with avaliable data for nearby directions, the survey provides the basis for a comprehensive analysis of the chemistry for these species. The chemical transitions affecting C2 and CN in cloud envelopes were analyzed. The depth into a cloud at which a transition takes place was characterized by tau(sub uv), the grain optical depth at 1000 A. One transition at tau(sub uv) approx. = 2, which arises from, the conversion of C(+) into CO, affects the chemistries for both molecules because of the key role this ion plays. A second one involving production terms in the CN chemistry occurs at tau(sub uv) of approx. = 3; neutral reactions which C2 and CH is more important at larger values for tau(sub uv). The transition from photodissociation to chemical destruction takes place at tau(sub uv) approx. = 4.5 for C2 and CN. The observational data for stars in Sco OB2, Cep OB3, and Taurus/Auriga were studied with chemical rate equations containing the most important production and destruction mechanisms. Because the sample of stars in Sco OB2 includes sight lines with A(sub v) ranging from 1-4 mag, sight lines dominated by photochemistry could be analyzed separately from those controlled by gas-phase destruction. The analysis yielded values for two poorly known rate constants for reactions involved in the production of CN; the reactions are C2 + N yields CN + C and C(+) + NH yields all products. The other directions were analyzed with the inferred values. The predicted column densities for C2 and CN agree with the observed values to better than 50%, and in most instances 20%. When combining the estimates for density and temperature derived from chemical modeling and molecular excitation for a specific cloud, such as the rho Ophiuchus molecular cloud, the portion of the cloud envelope probed by C2 and CN absorption was found to be in pressure equilibrium.

Federman, S. R.↗

Polymer-Induced Depletion Interaction and Its Effect on Colloidal Sedimentation in Colloid-Polymer Mixtures

In this paper we focus on the polymer-induced depletion attraction and its effect on colloidal sedimentation in colloid-polymer mixtures. We first report a small angle neutron scattering (SANS) study of the depletion effect in a mixture of hard-sphere-like colloid and non-adsorbing polymer. Then we present results of our recent sedimentation measurements in the same colloid-polymer mixture. A key parameter in controlling the sedimentation of heavy colloidal particles is the interparticle potential U(tau), which is the work required to bring two colloidal particles from infinity to a distance tau under a give solvent condition. This potential is known to affect the average settling velocity of the particles and experimentally one needs to have a way to continuously vary U(tau) in order to test the theory. The interaction potential U(tau) can be altered by adding polymer molecules into the colloidal suspension. In a mixture of colloid and non-adsorbing polymer, the potential U(tau) can develop an attractive well because of the depletion effect, in that the polymer chains are expelled from the region between two colloidal particles when their surface separation becomes smaller than the size of the polymer chains. The exclusion of polymer molecules from the space between the colloidal particles leads to an unbalanced osmotic pressure difference pushing the colloidal particles together, which results in an effective attraction between the two colloidal particles. The polymer-induced depletion attraction controls the phase stability of many colloid-polymer mixtures, which are directly of interest to industry.

Tong, Penger↗

Polarization of Line Emission from an Accretion Disk and Application to ARP 102B

We model the polarization properties of line emission from an accretion disk under a range of assumptions about the source function and electron-scattering optical depth tau(sub es). For small values of tau(sub es) and modest viewing angles, polarization can be in excess of the Chandrasekhar result for tau(sub es) = infinity. The polarization vector can be either parallel or perpendicular to the projected direction of the disk axis. The polarization properties of the double-peaked H-alpha emission line of the broad-line radio galaxy Arp 102B observed by Antonucci, Hurt, and Agol can be understood in terms of electron scattering and line broadening within the line-emitting region if tau(sub es) is of order unity, and if the position angle of polarization is parallel to the projected disk axis. The required small tau(sub es) is consistent with the hypothesis that the Balmer lines in Arp 102B are produced by photoionization of the disk atmosphere.

Chen, Kaiyou↗

Global and Regional Axial Ocean Angular Momentum Signals and Length-of-day Variations (1985-1996)

Changes in ocean angular momentum M about the polar axis are related to fluctuations in zonal currents (relative component M(sub tau) and latitudinal shifts in mass (planetary component M(sub Omega). Output from a 1 deg. ocean model is used to calculate global M(sub tau), (sub Omega), and M time series at 5 day intervals for the period January 1985 to April 1996. The annual cycle in M(sub tau), M(sub Omega), and M is larger than the semiannual cycle, and M(sub Omega) amplitudes are nearly twice those of M(sub tau). Year-to-year modulation of the seasonal cycle is present, but interannual variability is weak. The spectrum of M is red (background slope between omega(sup -1) and omega(sup -2) at sub-seasonal periods, implying a white or blue spectrum for the external torque on the ocean. Comparisons with previous studies indicate the importance of direct atmospheric forcing in inducing sub-seasonal M signals, relative to instabilities and other internal sources of rapid oceanic signals. Regional angular momentum estimates show that seasonal variability tends to be larger at low latitudes, but many local maxima exist because of the spatial structure of zonal current and mass variability. At seasonal timescales, latitudes approx. 20 deg. S - 10 deg. N contribute substantial variability to M(sub Omega), while signals in M(sub tau) can be traced to Antarctic Circumpolar Current transports and associated circulation. Variability in M is found to be small when compared with similar time series for the atmosphere and the solid Earth, but ocean signals are significantly coherent with atmosphere-solid Earth residuals, implying a measurable oceanic impact on length-of-day variations.

Ponte, Rui M.↗

Evaluation of Aerosol Properties over Ocean from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) during ACE-Asia

The Aerosol Characterization Experiment-Asia (ACE-Asia) was conducted in March-May 2001 in the western North Pacific in order to characterize the complex mix of dust, smoke, urban/industrial pollution, and background marine aerosol that is observed in that region in springtime. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) provides a large-scale regional view of the aerosol during the ACE-Asia time period. Focusing only on aerosol retrievals over ocean, MODIS data show latitudinal and longitudinal variation in the aerosol characteristics. Typically, aerosol optical depth (tau(sub a)) values at 0.55 micrometers are highest in the 30 deg. - 50 deg. latitude band associated with dust outbreaks. Monthly mean tau(sub a) in this band ranges approx. 0.40-70, although large differences between monthly mean and median values indicate the periodic nature of these dust outbreaks. The size parameters, fine mode fraction (eta), and effective radius (r(sub eff)) vary between monthly mean values of eta = 0.47 and r(sub eff)= 0.75 micrometers in the cleanest regions far offshore to approximately eta = 0.85 and r(sub eff) =.30 micrometers in near-shore regions dominated by biomass burning smoke. The collocated MODIS retrievals with airborne, ship-based, and ground-based radiometers measurements suggest that MODIS retrievals of spectral optical depth fall well within expected error (DELTA tau(sub a) = plus or minus 0.03 plus or minus 0.05 tau(sub a)) except in situations dominated by dust, in which cases MODIS overestimate both the aerosol loading and the aerosol spectral dependence. Such behavior is consistent with issues related to particle nonsphericity. Comparisons of MODIS-derived r(sub eff) with AERONET retrievals at the few occurrences of collocations show MODIS systematically underestimates particle size by 0.2 micrometers. Multiple-year analysis of MODIS aerosol size parameters suggests systematic differences between the year 2001 and the years 2000 and 2002, which are traced to instrumental electronic cross talk. Sensitivity studies show that such calibration errors are negligible in tau(sub a) retrievals but are more pronounced in size parameter retrievals, especially for dust and sea salt.

Chu, D. A.↗

TDR Using Autocorrelation and Varying-Duration Pulses

In an alternative to a prior technique of time-domain-reflectometry (TDR) in which very short excitation pulses are used, the pulses have very short rise and fall times and the pulse duration is varied continuously between a minimum and a maximum value. In both the present and prior techniques, the basic idea is to (1) measure the times between the generation of excitation pulses and the reception of reflections of the pulses as indications of the locations of one or more defects along a cable and (2) measure the amplitudes of the reflections as indication of the magnitudes of the defects. In general, an excitation pulse has a duration T. Each leading and trailing edge of an excitation pulse generates a reflection from a defect, so that a unique pair of reflections is associated with each defect. In the present alternative technique, the processing of the measured reflection signal includes computation of the autocorrelation function R(tau) identical with fx(t)x(t-tau)dt where t is time, x(t) is the measured reflection signal at time t, and taus is the correlation interval. The integration is performed over a measurement time interval short enough to enable identification and location of a defect within the corresponding spatial interval along the cable. Typically, where there is a defect, R(tau) exhibits a negative peak having maximum magnitude for tau in the vicinity of T. This peak can be used as a means of identifying a leading-edge/trailing-edge reflection pair. For a given spatial interval, measurements are made and R(tau) computed, as described above, for pulse durations T ranging from the minimum to the maximum value. The advantage of doing this is that the effective signal-to-noise ratio may be significantly increased over that attainable by use of a fixed pulse duration T.

Lucena, Angel↗