arXiv subjects

G. Gutiérrez

Publications and source records attributed to G. Gutiérrez.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

First planetesimals from DESI DR1: 12 highly metal-rich white dwarfs

Metal-enriched white dwarfs provide a unique insight into the composition of exoplanet interiors. These stars accrete the debris of disrupted planetary bodies, and hence, measuring the stellar parameters and photospheric abundances yields the bulk compositions of the parent bodies. At present, over 1750 debris-accreting white dwarfs are known, but just a few dozen are sufficiently enriched to allow a detailed abundance study. Here we report the analysis of 12 highly metal-enriched white dwarfs observed within the Data Release~1 of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). We characterised their stellar parameters and photospheric metal abundances and we identified between three and ten different elements in their optical spectra, including most of the rock-forming species: O, Mg, Si, Ca and Fe. We conclude that the accreted bodies broadly resemble compositions found within the inner Solar System such as primitive meteorites, processed material or planetary cores. Six of the systems allowed a more thorough analysis: four of the parent bodies are composed of dry rock-forming elements; and two of them of something akin to a water-rich planetesimal. Thus, this study establishes DESI as a potent survey for identifying metal-rich targets, yielding reliable compositions of accreted exoplanetary material.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2017

A measurement of the ionization efficiency of nuclear recoils in silicon

We have measured the ionization efficiency of silicon nuclear recoils with kinetic energy between 1.8 and 20 keV. We bombarded a silicon-drift diode with a neutron beam to perform an elastic-scattering experiment. A broad-energy neutron spectrum was used and the nuclear recoil energy was reconstructed using a measurement of the time of flight and scattering angle of the scattered neutron. The overall trend of the results of this work is well described by the theory of Lindhard et al. above 4 keV of recoil energy. Below this energy, the presented data shows a deviation from the model. The data indicates a faster drop than the theory prediction at low energies.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2016

Ensemble-free configurational temperature for spin systems

An estimator for the dynamical temperature in an arbitrary ensemble is derived in the framework of Bayesian statistical mechanics and the maximum entropy principle. We test this estimator numerically by a simulation of the two-dimensional XY-model in the canonical ensemble. As this model is critical in the whole region of temperatures below the Berezinski-Kosterlitz-Thouless critical temperature $T_{BKT}$, we use a generalization of Wolff's uni-cluster algorithm. The numerical results allow us to confirm the robustness of the analytical expression for the microscopic estimator of the temperature. This microscopic estimator has also the advantage that it gives a direct measure of the thermalization process and can be used to compute absolute errors associated to statistical fluctuations. In consequence, this estimator allows for a direct, absolute and astringent test of the ergodicity of the underlying Markov process, which encodes the algorithm used in a numerical simulation.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2014

Behavior of grains in contact with the wall of a silo during the initial instants of a discharge-driven collapse

We study experimentally gravity-driven granular discharges of laboratory scale silos, during the initial instants of the discharge. We investigate deformable wall silos around their critical collapse height, as well as rigid wall silos. We propose a criterion to determine a maximum time for the onset of the collapse and find that the onset of collapse always occurs before the grains adjacent to the wall are sliding down. We conclude that the evolution of the static friction toward a state of maximum mobilization plays a crucial role in the collapse of the silo.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2014

Silo collapse under granular discharge

We investigate, at a laboratory scale, the collapse of cylindrical shells of radius $R$ and thickness $t$ induced by a granular discharge. We measure the critical filling height for which the structure fails upon discharge. We observe that the silos sustain filling heights significantly above an estimation obtained by coupling standard shell-buckling and granular stress distribution theories. Two effects contribute to stabilize the structure: (i) below the critical filling height, a dynamical stabilization due to granular wall friction prevents the localized shell-buckling modes to grow irreversibly; (ii) above the critical filling height, collapse occurs before the downward sliding motion of the whole granular column sets in, such that only a partial friction mobilization is at play. However, we notice also that the critical filling height is reduced as the grain size, $d$, increases. The importance of grain size contribution is controlled by the ratio $d/\sqrt{R t}$. We rationalize these antagonist effects with a novel fluid/structure theory both accounting for the actual status of granular friction at the wall and the inherent shell imperfections mediated by the grains. This theory yields new scaling predictions which are compared with the experimental results.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2012

Simulation of grains in a vibrated U-tube without interstitial fluid

We present a computational study using Molecular Dynamics of the development of an accumulation of grains in one side of a two dimensional U-tube under vertical vibrations. Studying the evolution of the height difference between the centers of mass of the branches of the tube, we found that it reaches a saturation value after vibrating for some time. We obtain that this saturation value is the same if the simulation start with the arms leveled or with a large initial height difference. We explore the effect of the width of the tube, the density of the grains and the coefficient of restitution between the grains and the wall on the value of the saturation. We obtain a value of the width of the tube for which the saturation value reaches a maximum, and show that the transport of grains between arms is favored for low grain densities and high grain-wall restitution coefficient.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2007

Granular instability in a vibrated U tube

We study experimentally the collective motion of grains inside a U shaped tube undergoing vertical oscillations, and we develop a very simple quantitative model that captures relevant features of the observed behaviour. The height difference between the granular columns grows with time when the system is shaken at sufficiently low frequencies. The system exhibits two types of growth: exponentially divergent (type I) and exponentially saturating (type II), depending on the size of the grains. The type I growth can be quenched by removing the air whereas the type II behavior can occur in the absence of air. There is a good agreement between the model proposed and our experimental results.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2005

A mechanism for air induced fluidization in vibrated granular beds

We present a new mechanism for the fluidization of a vibrated granular bed in the presence of interstitial air. We show that the air flow induced across the bed, as the gap in the bottom of the cell evolves, can fluidize the bed in a similar way as in gas-fluidized {\it static} beds. We use the model of Kroll to quantify the relevant variables suggested by the mechanism proposed. The relevance of the above fluidization for segregation phenomena is discussed.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2002

Simple model for reverse buoyancy in a vibrated granular system

Large objects, immersed in a homogeneous granular system, migrate when subjected to vibrations. Under certain conditions large heavy objects rise and similar light ones sink to the bottom. This is called reverse buoyancy. We report an experimental study of this singular behavior, for a large sphere immersed in a deep granular bed. A simple mechanism is proposed to describe the motion of a sphere, inside a vertically vibrated granular system. When reverse buoyancy is observed, the measured vertical velocity of the immersed object, as a function of its density, shows a simple behavior. With a one-dimensional mechanical model that takes into account a buoyancy force and the frictional drag, we obtain the rising velocity for heavy objects and the sinking rate for light ones. The model yields a very good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the experiment.

cond-mat.soft↗