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Accurate characterization of the stochastic gravitational-wave background with pulsar timing arrays by likelihood reweighting
No full textAn isotropic stochastic background of nanohertz gravitational waves creates excess residual power in pulsar-timing-array datasets, with characteristic interpulsar correlations described by the Hellings-Downs function. These correlations appear as nondiagonal terms in the noise covariance matrix, which must be inverted to obtain the pulsar-timing-array likelihood. Searches for the stochastic background, which require many likelihood evaluations, are therefore quite computationally expensive. We propose a more efficient method: we first compute approximate posteriors by ignoring cross correlations and then reweight them to exact posteriors via importance sampling. We show that this technique results in accurate posteriors and marginal likelihood ratios, because the approximate and exact posteriors are similar, which makes reweighting especially accurate. The Bayes ratio between the marginal likelihoods of the exact and approximate models, commonly used as a detection statistic, is also estimated reliably by our method, up to ratios of at least 10⁶
Hydrodynamics and Nucleosynthesis of Jet-driven Supernovae. I. Parameter Study of the Dependence on Jet Energetics
No full textRotating massive stars with initial progenitor masses M_(prog) ∼ 25–140 M_⊙ can leave rapidly rotating black holes to become collapsars. The black holes and the surrounding accretion disks may develop powerful jets by magnetohydrodynamics instabilities. The propagation of the jet in the stellar envelope provides the necessary shock heating for triggering nucleosynthesis unseen in canonical core-collapse supernovae. However, the energy budget of the jet and its effects on the final chemical abundance pattern are unclear. In this exploratory work, we present a survey on the parameter dependence of collapsar nucleosynthesis on jet energetics. We use the zero-metallicity star with M_(prog) ∼ 40 M_⊙ as the progenitor. The parameters include the jet duration, its energy deposition rate, deposited energy, and the opening angle. We examine the correlations of the following observables: (1) the ejecta and remnant masses; (2) the energy deposition efficiency; (3) the ⁵⁶Ni production and its correlation with the ejecta velocity, deposited energy, and the ejected mass; (4) the Sc–Ti–V correlation as observed in metal-poor stars; and (5) the [Zn/Fe] ratio as observed in some metal-poor stars. We also provide the chemical abundance table of these explosion models for the use of the galactic chemical evolution and stellar archeology
PyQMC: An all-Python real-space quantum Monte Carlo module in PySCF
No full textWe describe a new open-source Python-based package for high accuracy correlated electron calculations using quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) in real space: PyQMC. PyQMC implements modern versions of QMC algorithms in an accessible format, enabling algorithmic development and easy implementation of complex workflows. Tight integration with the PySCF environment allows for a simple comparison between QMC calculations and other many-body wave function techniques, as well as access to high accuracy trial wave functions
Positive and negative emotion are associated with generalized transcriptional activation in immune cells
No full textAlterations in immune system gene expression have been implicated in psychopathology, but it remains unclear whether similar associations occur for intraindividual variations in emotion. The present study examined whether positive emotion and negative emotion were related to expression of pro-inflammatory and antiviral genes in circulating leukocytes from a community sample of 90 adolescents (M_(age) = 16.3 years, SD = 0.7; 51.1% female). Adolescents reported their positive emotion and negative emotion and provided blood samples twice, five weeks apart. Using a multilevel analytic framework, we found that within-individual increases in positive emotion were associated with reduced expression of both pro-inflammatory and Type I interferon (IFN) response genes, even after adjusting for demographic and biological covariates, and for leukocyte subset abundance. By contrast, increases in negative emotion were related to higher expression of pro-inflammatory and Type I IFN genes. When tested in the same model, only associations with positive emotion emerged as significant, and increases in overall emotional valence were associated with both lower pro-inflammatory and antiviral gene expression. These results are distinct from the previously observed Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA) gene regulation pattern characterized by reciprocal changes in pro-inflammatory and antiviral gene expression and may reflect alterations in generalized immunologic activation. These findings highlight one biological pathway by which emotion may potentially impact health and physiological function in the context of the immune system, and future studies can investigate whether fostering positive emotion may promote adolescent health through changes in the immune system
Retrieval Survey of Metals in Six Ultrahot Jupiters: Trends in Chemistry, Rain-out, Ionization, and Atmospheric Dynamics
No full textGround-based high-resolution spectroscopy (HRS) has detected numerous chemical species and atmospheric dynamics in exoplanets, most notably ultrahot Jupiters (UHJs). However, quantitative estimates on abundances have been challenging but are essential for accurate comparative characterization and to determine formation scenarios. In this work, we retrieve the atmospheres of six UHJs (WASP-76 b, MASCARA-4 b, MASCARA-2 b, WASP-121 b, HAT-P-70 b, and WASP-189 b) with ESPRESSO and HARPS-N/HARPS observations, exploring trends in eleven neutral species and dynamics. While Fe abundances agree well with stellar values, Mg, Ni, Cr, Mn, and V show more variation, highlighting the difficulty in using a single species as a proxy for metallicity. We find that Ca, Na, Ti, and TiO are underabundant, potentially due to ionization and/or nightside rain-out. Our retrievals also show that relative abundances between species are more robust, consistent with previous works. We perform spatially resolved and phase-resolved retrievals for WASP-76 b and WASP-121 b given their high signal-to-noise observations, and find the chemical abundances in each of the terminator regions are broadly consistent. We additionally constrain dynamics for our sample through Doppler shifts and broadening of the planetary signals during the primary eclipse, with median blueshifts between ∼0.9 and 9.0 km s⁻¹ due to day–night winds. Furthermore, we constrain spectroscopic masses for MASCARA-2 b and HAT-P-70 b consistent with their known upper limits, but we note that these may be biased due to degeneracies. This work highlights the importance of future HRS studies to further probe differences and trends between exoplanets
Analytic characterization of sub-Alfvénic turbulence energetics
No full textMagnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence is a cross-field process relevant to many systems. A prerequisite for understanding these systems is to constrain the role of MHD turbulence, and in particular, the energy exchange between kinetic and magnetic forms. The energetics of strongly magnetized and compressible turbulence has so far resisted attempts to understand them. Numerical simulations reveal that kinetic energy can be orders of magnitude higher than fluctuating magnetic energy. We solved this lack-of-balance puzzle by calculating the energetics of compressible and sub-Alfvénic turbulence based on the dynamics of coherent cylindrical fluid parcels. Using the MHD Lagrangian, we proved analytically that the bulk of the magnetic energy transferred to kinetic energy is the energy that is stored in the coupling between the ordered and fluctuating magnetic field. The analytical relations are in strikingly good agreement with numerical data, up to second-order terms
Join Our IMS2023 "Journals" Reception and Panel Session in San Diego
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Identifying and characterizing ultracool dwarfs ejected from post-encounter disintegrating systems
No full textDisintegrating multiple systems have been previously discovered from kinematic studies of the Hipparcos catalogue. They are presumably the result of dynamical encounters taking place in the Galactic disc between single/multiple systems. In this paper, we aim to expand the search for such systems, to study their properties, as well as to characterize possible low-mass ejecta (i.e. brown dwarfs and planets). We have assembled a list of 15 candidate systems using astrometry from the Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (later upgraded with Gaia DR3), and here we present the discovery and follow-up of five of them. We have obtained DECam imaging for all five systems and by combining near-infrared photometry and proper motion, we searched for ultracool ejected components. We find that the system consisting of TYC 7731-1951-1, TYC 7731-2128 AB, and TYC 7731-1995-1ABC?, contains one very promising ultracool dwarf candidate. Using additional data from the literature, we have found that three out of five disintegrating system candidates are likely to be true disintegrating systems
Dating Granites Using CODEX, with Application to In Situ Dating on the Moon
No full textWe have measured ⁸⁷Rb–⁸⁷Sr isochron ages for two granites, using the breadboard version of our Chemistry, Organics, and Dating EXperiment (CODEX), a laser-ablation resonance-ionization mass spectrometer designed for in situ geochronology on the Moon or Mars. These measurements extend the demonstrated analytical capabilities of CODEX, and indicate the value of incorporating a flight-ready version of CODEX, now under construction, into a future mission payload. We used CODEX to obtain accurate ages for the 1700 Ma Boulder Creek Granite, with 1σ statistical precision of 110 Myr, and for the 1100 Ma Pikes Peak Granite, with 1σ statistical precision of 160 Myr. To provide an end-to-end illustration of how CODEX analysis of granites can address critical lunar science questions regarding rock age and composition in situ, we describe an example mission to the lunar Gruithuisen Domes. Gruithuisen Domes appear to be volcanic edifices of granitic composition. Orbital remote sensing suggests that granitic rocks represent only a small fraction of the lunar surface, and the mere fact of their existence on the Moon is a puzzle. CODEX determination of the timing and process of their formation, both presently ill-understood, would provide important constraints on the thermal and geochemical evolution of the lunar interior
Micron-Sized Parylene-In-Oil Water Protection Layer
No full textThis work studies the parylene-in-oil composite layer as a water protection layer for biomedical applications where adhesion is critical. Compared to solid parylene, the parylene-in-oil film is thermodynamically favorable for preventing water condensation at the interface, subsequent parylene delamination, and underneath material corrosion. To study the effects of silicone oil thicknesses on the composite film, we fabricate test structures and measure both the dry and wet adhesion using a 180° peeling test and an accelerated soak-to-delamination test in saline at 67°C, respectively. Results show that when the oil thickness of the film is between 1-2 µm, the wet adhesion increases a few folds while the dry adhesion remains adequate for implantable medical device applications