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X. Chen

Publications and source records attributed to X. Chen.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources

The single-degenerate channel for the progenitor of type Ia supernovae with different metallicities

The single-degenerate channel for the progenitors of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are currently accepted, in which a carbon-oxygen white dwarf (CO WD) accretes hydrogen-rich material from its companion, increases its mass to the Chandrasekhar mass limit, and then explodes as a SN Ia. Incorporating the prescription of \citet{HAC99a} for the accretion efficiency into Eggleton's stellar evolution code and assuming that the prescription is valid for \emph{all} metallicities, we performed binary stellar evolution calculations for more than 25,000 close WD binaries with metallicities $Z=0.06, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02, 0.01, 0.004, 0.001, 0.0003$ and 0.0001. For our calculations, the companions are assumed to be unevolved or slightly evolved stars (WD + MS). As a result, the initial parameter spaces for SNe Ia at various $Z$ are presented in orbital period-secondary mass ($\log P_{\rm i}, M_{\rm 2}^{\rm i}$) planes. Our study shows that both the initial mass of the secondary and the initial orbital period increase with metallicity. Thus, the minimum mass of the CO WD for SNe Ia decreases with metallicity $Z$. The difference of the minimum mass may be as large as 0.24 $M_{\odot}$ for different Z. Adopting the results above, we studied the birth rate of SNe Ia for various $Z$ via a binary population synthesis approach. If a single starburst is assumed, SNe Ia occur systemically earlier and the peak value of the birth rate is larger for a high $Z$. The Galactic birth rate from the WD + MS channel is lower than (but comparable to) that inferred from observations. Our study indicates that supernovae like SN2002ic would not occur in extremely low-metallicity environments, if the delayed dynamical-instability model in \citet{HAN06} is appropriate.

astro-ph↗

Helium star donor channel for the progenitors of type Ia supernovae

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) play an important role in astrophysics, especially in the study of cosmic evolution. There are several progenitor models for SNe Ia proposed in the past years. In this paper, we have carried out a detailed study of the He star donor channel, in which a carbon-oxygen white dwarf (CO WD) accretes material from a He main sequence star or a He subgiant to increase its mass to the Chandrasekhar mass. Employing Eggleton's stellar evolution code with an optically thick wind assumption, and adopting the prescription of Kato & Hachisu (2004) for the mass accumulation efficiency of the He-shell flashes onto the WDs, we performed binary evolution calculations for about 2600 close WD binary systems. According to these calculations, we mapped out the initial parameters for SNe Ia in the orbital period--secondary mass ($\log P^{\rm i}-M^{\rm i}_2$) plane for various WD masses from this channel. The study shows that the He star donor channel is noteworthy for producing SNe Ia (i.e. $\sim 1.2\times10^{-3} {\rm yr}^{-1}$ in the Galaxy), and that the progenitors from this channel may appear as supersoft X-ray sources. Importantly, this channel can explain SNe Ia with short delay times ($\la 10^{8}$ yr), which is consistent with recent observational implications of young populations of SN Ia progenitors.

astro-ph.SR↗

Rotating molecular outflows: the young T Tauri star in CB26

The disk-outflow connection is thought to play a key role in extracting excess angular momentum from a forming proto-star. Though jet rotation has been observed in a few objects, no rotation of molecular outflows has been unambiguously reported so far. We report new millimeter-interferometric observations of the edge-on T Tauri star - disk system in the isolated Bok globule CB26. The aim of these observations was to study the disk-outflow relation in this 1Myr old low-mass young stellar object. The IRAM PdBI array was used to observe 12CO(2-1) at 1.3mm in two configurations, resulting in spectral line maps with 1.5 arcsec resolution. We use an empirical parameterized steady-state outflow model combined with 2-D line radiative transfer calculations and chi^2-minimization in parameter space to derive a best-fit model and constrain parameters of the outflow. The data reveal a previously undiscovered collimated bipolar molecular outflow of total length ~2000 AU, escaping perpendicular to the plane of the disk. We find peculiar kinematic signatures that suggest the outflow is rotating with the same orientation as the disk. However, we could not ultimately exclude jet precession or two misaligned flows as possible origin of the observed peculiar velocity field. There is indirect indication that the embedded driving source is a binary system, which, together with the youth of the source, could provide the clue to the observed kinematic features of the outflow. CB26 is so far the most promising source to study the rotation of a molecular outflow. Assuming that the outflow is rotating, we compute and compare masses, mass flux, angular momenta, and angular momentum flux of disk and outflow and derive disk dispersal timescales of 0.5...1 Myr, comparable to the age of the system.

astro-ph↗

Visual Observation and Quantitative Measurement of the Microwave Absorbing Effect at X band

We have setup a simple field mapping measure system to describe graphically the 2D quasi-free-space electromagnetic wave in a parallel plate waveguide at the X-band frequencies. Our apparatus illustrates a potential application in characterizing the microwave absorbing materials. The visual demonstration about the physical process and quantitative measurement of reflectivity coefficients can be achieved. This simple apparatus has have an advantage over with conventional testing methods which usually involve huge, expensive anechoic chambers and demand samples of large size.

physics.optics↗

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) Source Catalog

We present the list of point sources found in the WMAP 5-year maps. The technique used in the first-year and three-year analysis now finds 390 point sources, and the five-year source catalog is complete for regions of the sky away from the galactic plane to a 2 Jy limit, with SNR > 4.7 in all bands in the least covered parts of the sky. The noise at high frequencies is still mainly radiometer noise, but at low frequencies the CMB anisotropy is the largest uncertainty. A separate search of CMB-free V-W maps finds 99 sources of which all but one can be identified with known radio sources. The sources seen by WMAP are not strongly polarized. Many of the WMAP sources show significant variability from year to year, with more than a 2:1 range between the minimum and maximum fluxes.

astro-ph↗

Critiquing Variational Theories of the Anderson-Hubbard Model: Real-Space Self-Consistent Hartree-Fock Solutions

A simple and commonly employed approximate technique with which one can examine spatially disordered systems when strong electronic correlations are present is based on the use of real-space unrestricted self-consistent Hartree-Fock wave functions. In such an approach the disorder is treated exactly while the correlations are treated approximately. In this report we critique the success of this approximation by making comparisons between such solutions and the exact wave functions for the Anderson-Hubbard model. Due to the sizes of the complete Hilbert spaces for these problems, the comparisons are restricted to small one-dimensional chains, up to ten sites, and a 4x4 two-dimensional cluster, and at 1/2 filling these Hilbert spaces contain about 63,500 and 166 million states, respectively. We have completed these calculations both at and away from 1/2 filling. This approximation is based on a variational approach which minimizes the Hartree-Fock energy, and we have completed comparisons of the exact and Hartree-Fock energies. However, in order to assess the success of this approximation in reproducing ground-state correlations we have completed comparisons of the local charge and spin correlations, including the calculation of the overlap of the Hartree-Fock wave functions with those of the exact solutions. We find that this approximation reproduces the local charge densities to quite a high accuracy, but that the local spin correlations, as represented by < S_i . S_j >, are not as well represented. In addition to these comparisons, we discuss the properties of the spin degrees of freedom in the HF approximation, and where in the disorder-interaction phase diagram such physics may be important.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Initial-Final Mass Relationship for Stars of Different Metallicities

Following Paczyński & Ziólkowski (1968) and Han et al. (1994), we assume that the envelope of an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) or a first giant branch (FGB) star is lost when the binding energy of the envelope is equal to zero ($ΔW=0$) and the core mass of the AGB star or the FGB star at the point ($ΔW=0$) is taken as the final mass. Using this assumption, we calculate the IFMRs for stars of different metallicities.We find that the IFMRs depends strongly on the metallicity, i.e. $Z=0.0001, 0.0003, 0.001, 0.004, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.08$ and 0.1. From $Z=0.04$, the final mass of the stars with a given initial mass increases with increasing or decreasing metallicity. The difference of the final mass due to the metallicity may be up to 0.4 $M_{\odot}$. A linear fit of the initial-final mass relationship in NGC 2099 (M37) shows a potential evidence of the effect of metallicity on the IFMR. The IFMR for stars of $Z=0.02$ obtained in the paper matches well with those inferred observationally in the Galaxy. For $Z\geq 0.02$, helium WDs are obtained from the stars of $M_{\rm i}\leq 1.0 M_{\odot}$ and this result is upheld by the discovery of numerous low-mass WDs in NGC 6791 which is a metal-rich old open cluster. Using the IFMR for stars of $Z=0.02$ obtained in the paper, we have reproduced the mass distribution of DA WDs in Sloan DR4 except for some ultra-massive white dwarfs. The trend that the mean mass of WDs decreases with effective temperature may originate from the increase of the initial metallicities of stars. We predict that metal-rich low-mass stars may become under-massive white dwarfs.

astro-ph↗

Power-law carrier dynamics in semiconductor nanocrystals at nanosecond time scales

We report the observation of power law dynamics on nanosecond to microsecond time scales in the fluorescence decay from semiconductor nanocrystals, and draw a comparison between this behavior and power-law fluorescence blinking from single nanocrystals. The link is supported by comparison of blinking and lifetime data measured simultaneously from the same nanocrystal. Our results reveal that the power law coefficient changes little over the nine decades in time from 10 ns to 10 s, in contrast with the predictions of some diffusion based models of power law behavior.

cond-mat.other↗

Large Deviations for Riesz Potentials of Additive Processes

We study functionals of the form \[ζ_{t}=\int_0^{t}...\int_0^{t} | X_1(s_1)+...+ X_p(s_p)|^{-σ}ds_1... ds_p\] where $X_1(t),..., X_p(t)$ are i.i.d. $d$-dimensional symmetric stable processes of index $0<\bb\le 2$. We obtain results about the large deviations and laws of the iterated logarithm for $ζ_{t}$.

math.PR↗

Exact diagonalization analysis of the Anderson-Hubbard model and comparison to real-space self-consistent Hartree-Fock solutions

We have obtained the exact ground state wave functions of the Anderson-Hubbard model for different electron fillings on a 4x4 lattice with periodic boundary conditions - for 1/2 filling such ground states have roughly 166 million states. When compared to the uncorrelated ground states (Hubbard interaction set to zero) we have found strong evidence of the very effective screening of the charge homogeneities due to the Hubbard interaction. We have successfully modelled these local charge densities using a non-interacting model with a static screening of the impurity potentials. In addition, we have compared such wave functions to self-consistent real-space unrestricted Hartree-Fock solutions and have found that these approximate ground state wave functions are remarkably successful at reproducing the local charge densities, and may indicate the role of dipolar backflow in producing a novel metallic state in two dimensions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

The Impact of Type Ia Supernova Explosions on their Companions in Binary System

Using a simple analytic method, we calculate the impact effect between the ejecta of a SN Ia and its companion to survey the influence of initial parameters of the progenitor's system, which is useful for searching the companion in a explosion remnant. The companion models are obtained from Eggleton's evolution code.The results are divided into two groups based on mass transfer stage. For a given condition, more hydrogen-rich material is stripped from the envelope of a Hertzsprung-gap companion than that of a main-sequence companion, while a larger kick velocity and a larger luminosity are gained for a main-sequence companion. The kick velocity is too low to significantly affect the final spatial velocity of the companion, which is mainly affected by the initial parameters of the progenitor systems. The spatial velocity of the stripped material has an upper limit within the range of 8000 - 9500 km/s, which only depends on the total kinetic energy of the explosion.The stripped mass, the ratio of the stripped mass to the companion mass and the kick velocity of the companion all significantly depend on the initial companion mass and orbital period. Our model may naturally explain the spatial velocity of the star G in the remnant of Tycho's supernova, while an energy-loss mechanism is needed to interpret its luminosity.

astro-ph↗

Evolution of Supermassive Black Hole Binary and Acceleration of Jet Precession in Galactic Nuclei

Supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) is expected with the hierarchical galaxy formation model. Currently, physics processes dominating the evolution of a SMBHB are unclear. An interesting question is whether we could observationally determine the evolution of SMBHB and give constraints on the physical processes. Jet precession have been observed in many AGNs and generally attributed to disk precession. In this paper we calculate the time variation of jet precession and conclude that jet precession is accelerated in SMBHB systems but decelerated in others. The acceleration of jet precession $dP_{\rm pr} / dt$ is related to jet precession timescale $P_{\rm pr}$ and SMBHB evolution timescale $τ_{\rm a}$, ${dP_{\rm pr} \over dt} \simeq - Λ{P_{\rm pr} \over τ_{\rm a}}$. Our calculations based on the models for jet precession and SMBHB evolution show that $dP_{\rm pr} / dt$ can be as high as about $- 1.0$ with a typical value -0.2 and can be easily detected. We discussed the differential jet precession for NGC1275 observed in the literature. If the observed rapid acceleration of jet precession is true, the jet precession is due to the orbital motion of an unbound SMBHB with mass ratio $q\approx 0.76$. When jets precessed from the ancient bubbles to the currently active jets, the separation of SMBHB decrease from about $1.46 {\rm Kpc}$ to $0.80 {\rm Kpc}$ with an averaged decreasing velocity $da/dt \simeq - 1.54 \times 10^6 {\rm cm/s}$ and evolution timescale $τ_{\rm a} \approx 7.5\times 10^7 {\rm yr}$. However, if we assume a steady jet precession for many cycles, the observations implies a hard SMBHB with mass ratio $q\approx 0.21$ and separation $a\approx 0.29 {\rm pc}$.

astro-ph↗

Phase-reference VLBI Observations of the Compact Steep-Spectrum Source 3C 138

We investigate a phase-reference VLBI observation that was conducted at 15.4 GHz by fast switching VLBA antennas between the compact steep-spectrum radio source 3C 138 and the quasar PKS 0528+134 which are about 4$^\circ$ away on the sky. By comparing the phase-reference mapping with the conventional hybrid mapping, we demonstrate the feasibility of high precision astrometric measurements for sources separated by 4$^\circ$. VLBI phase-reference mapping preserves the relative phase information, and thus provides an accurate relative position between 3C 138 and PKS 0528+134 of $Δα=-9^m46^s.531000\pm0^s.000003$ and $Δδ=3^\circ6^\prime26^{\prime\prime}.90311\pm0^{\prime\prime}.00007$ (J2000.0) in right ascension and declination, respectively. This gives an improved position of the nucleus (component A) of 3C 138 in J2000.0 to be RA=$05^h 21^m 9^s.885748$ and Dec=$16^\circ 38' 22''.05261$ under the assumption that the position of calibrator PKS 0528+134 is correct. We further made a hybrid map by performing several iterations of CLEAN and self-calibration on the phase-referenced data with the phase-reference map as an input model for the first phase self-calibration. Compared with the hybrid map from the limited visibility data directly obtained from fringe fitting 3C 138 data, this map has a similar dynamic range, but a higher angular resolution. Therefore, phase-reference technique is not only a means of phase connection, but also a means of increasing phase coherence time allowing self-calibration technique to be applied to much weaker sources.

astro-ph↗

Quasi-simultaneous five-frequency VLBA observations of PKS 0528+134

We present results of Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of PKS 0528+134 at five frequencies (2.3, 5.0, 8.4, 15.4, and 22.2 GHz). These quasi-simultaneous data enable us to study the spectral distribution of Very Long Baseline Interferometer (VLBI) components for the first time in this highly variable source, from which the central compact core is identified. Our observations indicate that there are two bendings for the jet motion at parsec scale. We provide an approximate spatial fit to the curved jet trajectory using the Steffen et al. (\cite{Steffen95}) helical model. We further investigate the proper motions of three jet components, which all show superluminal motion. At high frequencies (15.4 and 22.2 GHz) we detected a new component, which is estimated to be related to a radio burst peaking at about 2000.

astro-ph↗

Multi-Frequency VLBI Observations of NRAO 530

We report on VLBA observations of a gamma-ray bright blazar NRAO 530 at multiple frequencies (5, 8, 15, 22, 39, 43, and 45 GHz) in 1997 and 1999. These multi-epoch multi-frequency high-resolution VLBI images exhibit a consistent core-dominated morphology with a bending jet to the north of the core. The quasi-simultaneous data observed at five frequencies (5, 8, 15, 22 and 43 GHz) in February 1997 enable us to estimate the spectra of compact VLBI components in this highly variable source. Flat spectra are seen in central two components (A and B), and the most compact component A with the flattest spectral index at the south end is identified as the core.

astro-ph↗

Evidance for an Oxygen Diffusion Model for the Electric Pulse Induced Resistance Change Effect in Oxides

Electric pulse induced resistance (EPIR) switching hysteresis loops for Pr0.7Ca0.7MnO3 (PCMO) perovskite oxide films were found to exhibit an additional sharp "shuttle peak" around the negative pulse maximum for films deposited in an oxygen deficient ambient. The device resistance hysteresis loop consists of stable high resistance and low resistance states, and transition regions between them. The resistance relaxation of the "shuttle peak" and its temperature behavior as well as the resistance relaxation in the transition regions were studied, and indicate that the resistance switching relates to oxygen diffusion with activation energy about 0.4eV. An oxygen diffusion model with the oxygen ions (vacancies) as the active agent is proposed for the non-volatile resistance switching effect in PCMO.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Electronic properties of disordered corner-sharing tetrahedral lattices

We have examined the behaviour of noninteracting electrons moving on a corner-sharing tetrahedral lattice into which we introduce a uniform (box) distribution, of width W, of random on-site energies. We have used both the relative localization length and the spectral rigidity to analyze the nature of the eigenstates, and have determined both the mobility edge trajectories as a function of W, and the critical disorder, Wc, beyond which all states are localized. We find (i) that the mobility edge trajectories (energies Ec vs. disorder W) are qualitatively different from those found for a simple cubic lattice, and (ii) that the spectral rigidity is scale invariant at Wc and thus provides a reliable method of estimating this quantity -- we find Wc/t=14.5. We discuss our results in the context of the metal-to-insulator transition undergone by LiAlyTi{2-y}O4 in a quantum site percolation model that also includes the above-mentioned Anderson disorder, and show that the effects produced by Anderson disorder are far less important than those produced by quantum site percolation, at least in the determination of the doping concentration at which the metal-to-insulator transition is predicted to occur.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Collective states of interacting ferromagnetic nanoparticles

Discontinuous magnetic multilayers [CoFe/Al2O3] are studied by use of magnetometry, susceptometry and numeric simulations. Soft ferromagnetic Co80Fe20 nanoparticles are embedded in a diamagnetic insulating a-Al2O3 matrix and can be considered as homogeneously magnetized superspins exhibiting randomness of size (viz. moment), position and anisotropy. Lacking intra-particle core-surface ordering, generic freezing processes into collective states rather than individual particle blocking are encountered. With increasing particle density one observes first superspin glass and then superferromagnetic domain state behavior. The phase diagram resembles that of a dilute disordered ferromagnet. Criteria for the identification of the individual phases are given.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗