scholarly journals Galactic cold cores

2018 ◽  
Vol 614 ◽  
pp. A83 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Juvela ◽  
J. Malinen ◽  
J. Montillaud ◽  
V.-M. Pelkonen ◽  
I. Ristorcelli ◽  
...  

Context. The Galactic Cold Cores (GCC) project has made Herschel photometric observations of interstellar clouds where Planck detected compact sources of cold dust emission. The fields are in different environments and stages of star formation. Aims. Our aim is to characterise the structure of the clumps and their parent clouds, and to study the connections between the environment and the formation of gravitationally bound objects. We also examine the accuracy to which the structure of dense clumps can be determined from sub-millimetre data. Methods. We use standard statistical methods to characterise the GCC fields. Individual clumps are extracted using column density thresholding. Based on sub-millimetre measurements, we construct a three-dimensional radiative transfer (RT) model for each field. These are used to estimate the relative radiation field intensities, to probe the clump stability, and to examine the uncertainty of column density estimates. We examine the structural parameters of the clumps, including their radial column density profiles. Results. In the GCC fields, the structure noise follows the relations previously established at larger scales and in lower-density clouds. The fractal dimension has no significant dependence on column density and the values DP = 1.25 ± 0.07 are only slightly lower than in typical molecular clouds. The column density probability density functions (PDFs) exhibit large variations, for example, in the case of externally compressed clouds. At scales r > 0.1 pc, the radial column density distributions of the clouds follow an average relation of N ~ r−1. In spite of a great variety of clump morphologies (and a typical aspect ratio of 1.5), clumps tend to follow a similar N ~ r−1 relation below r ~ 0.1 pc. RT calculations indicate only factor 2.5 variation in the local radiation field intensity. The fraction of gravitationally bound clumps increases significantly in regions with AV > 5 mag but most bound objects appear to be pressure-confined. Conclusions. The host clouds of the cold clumps in the GCC sample have statistical properties similar to general molecular clouds. The gravitational stability, peak column density, and clump orientation are connected to the cloud background while most other statistical clump properties (e.g. DP and radial profiles) are insensitive to the environment. The study of clump morphology should be continued with a comparison with numerical simulations.

1989 ◽  
Vol 120 ◽  
pp. 511-517
Author(s):  
John M. Dickey ◽  
R. W. Garwood

AbstractThe abundance of 21-cm absorption lines seen in surveys at high latitudes can be translated into a line of sight abundance of clouds vs. column density using an empirical relationship between temperature and optical depth. As VLA surveys of 21-cm absorption at low latitudes are now becoming available, it is possible to study the variation of this function with galactic radius. It is interesting to compare the abundance of these diffuse atomic clouds (with temperatures of 50 to 100 K and masses of 1 to 10 M⊙) to the abundance of molecular clouds. To do the latter we must make assumptions about cloud cross-sections in order to convert the line of sight abundance of diffuse clouds into a number per unit volume, and to convert from cloud column density to mass. The spectrum of diffuse clouds matches fairly well the spectrum of molecular clouds, although observationally there is a gap of several orders of magnitude in cloud mass. Optical absorption studies also agree well with the 21-cm results for clouds of column density a few times 1020 M⊙.


2019 ◽  
Vol 632 ◽  
pp. A17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bracco ◽  
Tuhin Ghosh ◽  
François Boulanger ◽  
Jonathan Aumont

Context. The analysis of the Planck polarization E and B mode power spectra of interstellar dust emission at 353 GHz recently raised new questions concerning the impact of Galactic foregrounds on the detection of the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and on the physical properties of the interstellar medium (ISM). In the diffuse ISM at high latitude a clear E–B asymmetry is observed that has twice as much power in E modes as in B modes; there is also a positive correlation between the total power, T, and both E and B modes, which is currently interpreted in terms of the link between the structure of interstellar matter and that of the Galactic magnetic field. Aims. In this paper we aim to extend the Planck analysis of the high latitude sky to low Galactic latitudes, investigating the correlation between the T–E–B auto- and cross-correlation power spectra with the gas column density from the diffuse ISM to molecular clouds. Methods. We divided the sky between Galactic latitudes |b| > 5° and |b| < 60° in 552 circular patches, with an area of ~400°2, and we studied the cross-correlations between the T–E–B power spectra and the column density of each patch using the latest release of the Planck polarization data. Results. We find that the B-to-E power ratio (DlBB/DlEE) and the TE correlation ratio (rTE) depend on column density. While the former increases going from the diffuse ISM to molecular clouds in the Gould Belt, the latter decreases. This systematic variation must be related to actual changes in ISM properties. The data show significant scatter about this mean trend. The variations of DlBB/DlEE and rTE are observed to be anticorrelated for all column densities. In the diffuse ISM, the variance of these two ratios is consistent with a stochastic non-Gaussian model in which the values of DlBB/DlEE and rTE are fixed. We finally discuss the dependences of TB and EB with column density, which are however hampered by instrumental noise. Conclusions. For the first time, this work shows significant variations of the T–E–B power spectra of dust polarized emission across a large portion of the Galaxy. Their dependence on multipole and gas column density is key for accurate forecasts of next generation CMB experiments and for constraining present models of ISM physics (i.e., dust properties and interstellar turbulence), which are considered responsible for the observed T–E–B signals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao Liu ◽  
Giovanni Dipierro ◽  
Enrico Ragusa ◽  
Giuseppe Lodato ◽  
Gregory J. Herczeg ◽  
...  

Gap-like structures in protoplanetary disks are likely related to planet formation processes. In this paper, we present and analyze high-resolution (0.17′′× 0.11′′) 1.3 mm ALMA continuum observations of the protoplanetary disk around the Herbig Ae star MWC 480. Our observations show for the first time a gap centered at ~74 au with a width of ~23 au, surrounded by a bright ring centered at ~98 au from the central star. Detailed radiative transfer modeling of the ALMA image and the broadband spectral energy distribution is used to constrain the surface density profile and structural parameters of the disk. If the width of the gap corresponds to 4–8 times the Hill radius of a single forming planet, then the putative planet would have a mass of 0.4–3 MJ. We test this prediction by performing global three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamic gas/dust simulations of disks hosting a migrating and accreting planet. We find that the dust emission across the disk is consistent with the presence of an embedded planet with a mass of ~2.3 MJ at an orbital radius of ~78 au. Given the surface density of the best-fit radiative transfer model, the amount of depleted mass in the gap is higher than the mass of the putative planet, which satisfies the basic condition for the formation of such a planet.


2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (4) ◽  
pp. 5117-5128
Author(s):  
Jonathan M C Rawlings ◽  
D A Williams

ABSTRACT In interstellar clouds, the deposition of water ice on to grains only occurs at visual extinctions above some threshold value (Ath). At extinctions greater than Ath, there is a (near-linear) correlation between the inferred column density of the water ice and AV. For individual cloud complexes such as Taurus, Serpens, and ρ-Ophiuchi, Ath and the gradients of the correlation are very similar along all lines of sight. We have investigated the origin of this phenomenon, with careful consideration of the various possible mechanisms that may be involved and have applied a full chemical model to analyse the behaviours and sensitivities in quiescent molecular clouds. Our key results are as follows: (i) the ubiquity of the phenomenon points to a common cause, so that the lines-of-sight probe regions with similar, advanced, chemical, and dynamical evolution; (ii) for Taurus and Serpens Ath and the slope of the correlation can be explained as resulting from the balance of freeze-out of oxygen atoms and photodesorption of H2O molecules. No other mechanism can satisfactorily explain the phenomenon; (iii) Ath depends on the local density, suggesting that there is a correlation between local volume density and column density; (iv) the different values of Ath for Taurus and Serpens are probably due to variations in the local mean radiation field strength; (v) most ice is accreted on to grains that are initially very small (&lt;0.01$\,\mu$m); and (vi) the very high value of Ath observed in ρ-Ophiuchi cannot be explained in the same way, unless there is complex microstructure and/or a modification to the extinction characteristics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rino Saiga ◽  
Masayuki Uesugi ◽  
Akihisa Takeuchi ◽  
Kentaro Uesugi ◽  
Yoshio Suzuki ◽  
...  

AbstractBrain blood vessels constitute a micrometer-scale vascular network responsible for supply of oxygen and nutrition. In this study, we analyzed cerebral tissues of the anterior cingulate cortex and superior temporal gyrus of schizophrenia cases and age/gender-matched controls by using synchrotron radiation microtomography or micro-CT in order to examine the three-dimensional structure of cerebral vessels. Over 1 m of cerebral blood vessels was traced to build Cartesian-coordinate models, which were then used for calculating structural parameters including the diameter and curvature of the vessels. The distribution of vessel outer diameters showed a peak at 7–9 μm, corresponding to the diameter of the capillaries. Mean curvatures of the capillary vessels showed a significant correlation to the mean curvatures of neurites, while the mean capillary diameter was almost constant, independent of the cases. Our previous studies indicated that the neurites of schizophrenia cases are thin and tortuous compared to controls. The curved capillaries with a constant diameter should occupy a nearly constant volume, while neurons suffering from neurite thinning should have reduced volumes, resulting in a volumetric imbalance between the neurons and the vessels. We suggest that the observed structural correlation between neurons and blood vessels is related to neurovascular abnormalities in schizophrenia.


Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Junfeng Sun ◽  
Meihong Liu ◽  
Zhen Xu ◽  
Taohong Liao ◽  
Xiangping Hu ◽  
...  

A new type of cylindrical gas film seal (CGFS) with a flexible support is proposed according to the working characteristics of the fluid dynamic seal in high-rotational-speed fluid machinery, such as aero-engines and centrifuges. Compared with the CGFS without a flexible support, the CGFS with flexible support presents stronger radial floating characteristics since it absorbs vibration and reduces thermal deformation of the rotor system. Combined with the structural characteristics of a film seal, an analytical model of CGFS with a flexible wave foil is established. Based on the fluid-structure coupling analysis method, the three-dimensional flow field of a straight-groove CGFS model is simulated to study the effects of operating and structural parameters on the steady-state characteristics and the effects of gas film thickness, eccentricity, and the number of wave foils on the equivalent stress of the flexible support. Simulation results show that the film stiffness increases significantly when the depth of groove increases. When the gas film thickness increases, the average equivalent stress of the flexible support first decreases and then stabilizes. Furthermore, the number of wave foils affects the average foils thickness. Therefore, when selecting the number of wave foils, the support stiffness and buffer capacity should be considered simultaneously.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S235) ◽  
pp. 300-300
Author(s):  
R.O. Amorín ◽  
J.A.L. Aguerri ◽  
L.M. Cairós ◽  
N. Caon ◽  
C. Muñoz-Tuñón

AbstractBlue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies are gas-rich, low-luminosity (Mb≳-18 mag) and compact systems, currently undergoing violent star-formation burst (Sargent & Searle 1970). While it was initially hypothesized that they were very young galaxies (e.g. Sargent & Searle 1970, et al. 1988), the subsecuent detection of an extended, redder stellar host galaxy showed that the vast majority of them are old systems (e.g. Gil de Paz et al. 2003,2005). BCDs play an important role for understanding the process of galaxy formation and evolution.The structural properties of the low surface brightness stellar host in BCDs are often studied by fitting r1/n models to the outer regions of their radial profiles. The limitations imposed by the presence of a large starburst emission overlapping the underlying component makes this kind of analysis a difficult task.We propose a two-dimensional fitting methodology in order to improve the extraction of the structural parameters of the LSB host Amorín et al. 2006, submitted). A set of ideal simulations are presented in order to test the reliability of the method and to determine its robustness and flexibility. We present the different steps of the method discussing its advantages and weaknesses. We compare the results for a sample of eight objects with those already obtained using a one-dimensional technique (Caon et al. 2005).We fit a PSF convolved Sérsic model to the BVR images with the GALFIT publicly software (Peng et al. 2002). We restrict the fit to the stellar host by masking out the starburst region and take special care to minimize the sky-subtraction uncertainties. Consistency checks are performed to assess the reliability and accuracy of the derived structural parameters.We obtain robust fits for all the sample galaxies, all of which, except one, show low Sérsic indices n—very close to 1—with good agreement in the three bands. These findings suggest that the stellar hosts in BCDs have near-exponential profiles. Since the Sérsic index n of host galaxies is important in the context of the possible structural and evolutionary connections among the different types of dwarf galaxies, we are currently extending the study to a larger sample of objects. This kind of studies will help us to understand the mechanisms that form and shape BCD galaxies, and how they relate to the other dwarf galaxy classes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S251) ◽  
pp. 369-370
Author(s):  
S. Pilling ◽  
D. P. P. Andrade ◽  
A. C. F. Santos ◽  
H. M. Boechat-Roberty

AbstractWe present experimental results obtained from photoionization and photodissociation processes of abundant interstellar methanol (CH3OH) as an alternative route for the production of H3+ in dense clouds. The measurements were taken at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) employing soft X-ray and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Mass spectra were obtained using the photoelectron-photoion coincidence techniques. Absolute averaged cross sections for the production of H3+ due to molecular dissociation of methanol by soft X-rays (C1s edge) were determined. The H3+'s photoproduction rate and column density were been estimated adopting a typical soft X-ray luminosity inside dense molecular and the observed column density of methanol. Assuming a steady state scenario, the highest column density value for the photoproduced H3+ was about 1011 cm2, which gives the ratio photoproduced/observed of about 0.05%, as in the case of dense molecular cloud AFGL 2591. Despite the small value, this represent a new and alternative source of H3+ into dense molecular clouds and it is not been considered as yet in interstellar chemistry models.


Author(s):  
Bartlomiej Blachowski

The present study deals with a comprehensive approach for damage identification of spatial truss structures. The novelty of the proposed approach consists of a three-level analysis. First, sensitivity of assumed modal characteristics is calculated. Second, natural frequency sensitivity is used to determine hardly identifiable structural parameters and mode shape sensitivity is applied to select damage-sensitive locations of sensors. Third, two sparsity constrained optimization algorithms are tested towards efficient identification of applied damage scenarios. These two algorithms are based on ℓ1-norm minimization and non-negative least square (NNLS) solution.Performances of both proposed algorithms have been compared in two realistic case studies: the first one concerned a three-dimensional truss girder with 61 structural parameters and the second one was devoted to an upper-deck arch bridge composed of 416 steel members.


Author(s):  
Xin Ma ◽  
Zhongpei Ning ◽  
Honggang Chen ◽  
Jinyang Zheng

Ultra-High Pressure Vessel (UHPV) with self-protective Flat Steel Ribbons (FSR) wound and Tooth-Locked Quick-Actuating (TLQA) end closure is a new type of vessel developed in recent years. When the structural parameters of its TLQA and Buttress Thread (BT) end closure are determined using the ordinary engineering design method, Design by Analysis (DBA) shows that the requirement on fatigue life of this unique UHPV could hardly be satisfied. To solve the above problem, an integrated FE modeling method has been proposed in this paper. To investigate the fatigue life of TLQA and BT end closures of a full-scale unique UHPV, a three-dimensional (3-D) Finite Element (FE) solid model and a two-dimensional (2-D) FE axisymmetric model are built in FE software ANSYS, respectively., Nonlinear FE analysis and orthogonal testing are both conducted to obtain the optimum structure strength, in which the peak stress in the TLQA or BT end closure of the unique UHPV is taken as an optimal target. The important parameters, such as root structure of teeth, contact pressure between the pre-stressed collar and the cylinder end, the knuckle radius, the buttress thread profile and the local structure of the cylinder, are optimized. As a result, both the stress distribution at the root of teeth and the axial load carried by each thread are improved. Therefore, the load-carrying capacity of the end closure has been reinforced and the fatigue life of unique UHPV has been extended.


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