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Radial infall of two compact objects: 2.5-post-Newtonian linear momentum flux and associated recoil
No full textOpen Access.The loss rate of linear momentum from a binary system composed of compact objects (radially falling towards each other under mutual gravitational influence) has been investigated using the multipolar post-Minkowskian approach. The 2.5PN accurate analytical formula for the linear momentum flux is provided, in terms of the separation of the two objects, in harmonic coordinates, both for a finite and an infinite initial separation. The 2.5PN formulas for the linear momentum flux are finally used to estimate the recoil velocity accumulated during a premerger phase of the binary evolution
Dual switchable six-ring bent-core liquid crystals with azo linkages exhibiting B1 and B2 mesophases
No full textRestricted Access.A new series of asymmetric bent-core compounds were synthesised using azo linkages with equal as well as unequal terminal alkyl chains and their photo and electrical switching properties investigated. The mesomorphic properties were characterised using polarised optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The lower homologues of the series of compounds show a B1 phase whereas higher homologues exhibit a B2 phase. The B2 phase shows an anticlinic-antiferroelectric switching behaviour during electro-optic measurements. The photo-switching properties of the azobenzene containing bent-core molecules were investigated using ultraviolet- visible spectroscopy. The trans to cis photo isomerisation was observed at 25 s whereas reverse processes took 14 h in chloroform
The impact of thermodynamics on gravitational collapse: filament formation and magnetic field amplification
No full textRestricted Access. An open-access version is available at arXiv.org (one of the alternative locations)Stars form by the gravitational collapse of interstellar gas. The thermodynamic response of the gas can be characterized by an effective equation of state. It determines how gas heats up or cools as it gets compressed, and hence plays a key role in regulating the process of stellar birth on virtually all scales, ranging from individual star clusters up to the galaxy as a whole. We present a systematic study of the impact of thermodynamics on gravitational collapse in the context of high-redshift star formation, but argue that our findings are also relevant for present-day star formation in molecular clouds. We consider a polytropic equation of state, P = kρΓ, with both sub-isothermal exponents Γ < 1 and super-isothermal exponents Γ > 1. We find significant differences between these two cases. For Γ > 1, pressure gradients slow down the contraction and lead to the formation of a virialized, turbulent core. Weak magnetic fields are strongly tangled and efficiently amplified via the small-scale turbulent dynamo on timescales corresponding to the eddy-turnover time at the viscous scale. For Γ < 1, on the other hand, pressure support is not sufficient for the formation of such a core. Gravitational contraction proceeds much more rapidly and the flow develops very strong shocks, creating a network of intersecting sheets and extended filaments. The resulting magnetic field lines are very coherent and exhibit a considerable degree of order. Nevertheless, even under these conditions we still find exponential growth of the magnetic energy density in the kinematic regime
OH Maser sources in W49N: probing differential anisotropic scattering with Zeeman pairs
No full textRestricted Access.Our analysis of a VLBA 12-hour synthesis observations of the OH masers in W49N has provided detailed high angular-resolution images of the maser sources, at 1612, 1665 and 1667 MHz. The images, of several dozens of spots, reveal anisotropic scatter broadening; with typical sizes of a few tens of milli-arc-seconds and axial ratios between 1.5 to 3. The image position angles oriented perpendicular to the galactic plane are interpreted in terms of elongation of electron-density irregularities parallel to the galactic plane, due to a similarly aligned local magnetic field. However, we find the apparent angular sizes on the average a factor of 2.5 less than those reported by Desai et al., indicating significantly less scattering than inferred earlier. The average position angle of the scattered broadened images is also seen to deviate significantly (by about 10 degrees) from that implied by the magnetic field in the Galactic plane. More intriguingly, for a few Zeeman pairs in our set, we find significant differences in the scatter broadened images for the two hands of polarization, even when apparent velocity separation is less than 0.1 km/s. Here we present the details of our observations and analysis, and discuss the interesting implications of our results for the intervening anisotropic magneto-ionic medium, as well as a comparison with the expectations based on earlier work
Cooling and stabilization by collisions in a mixed ion-atom system
No full textRestricted Access.In mixed systems of trapped ions and cold atoms, the ions and atoms can coexist at different temperatures. This is primarily due to their different trapping and cooling mechanisms. The key questions of how ions can cool collisionally with cold atoms and whether the combined system allows stable coexistence, need to be answered. Here we experimentally demonstrate that rubidium ions cool in contact with magneto-optically trapped rubidium atoms, contrary to the general experimental expectation of ion heating. The cooling process is explained theoretically and substantiated with numerical simulations, which include resonant charge exchange collisions. The mechanism of single collision swap cooling of ions with atoms is discussed. Finally, it is experimentally and numerically demonstrated that the combined ion-atom system is intrinsically stable, which is critical for future cold chemistry experiments with such systems