Refine
Year of publication
- 2016 (258) (remove)
Document Type
- Article (203)
- Doctoral Thesis (21)
- Postprint (18)
- Other (10)
- Review (4)
- Habilitation Thesis (2)
Is part of the Bibliography
- yes (258)
Keywords
- Magellanic Clouds (8)
- Sun: magnetic fields (6)
- intergalactic medium (6)
- methods: data analysis (6)
- stars: Wolf-Rayet (6)
- techniques: spectroscopic (6)
- galaxies: formation (5)
- stars: atmospheres (5)
- turbulence (5)
- X-rays: binaries (4)
Institute
- Institut für Physik und Astronomie (258) (remove)
In a network with a mixture of different electrophysiological types of neurons linked by excitatory and inhibitory connections, temporal evolution leads through repeated epochs of intensive global activity separated by intervals with low activity level. This behavior mimics "up" and "down" states, experimentally observed in cortical tissues in absence of external stimuli. We interpret global dynamical features in terms of individual dynamics of the neurons. In particular, we observe that the crucial role both in interruption and in resumption of global activity is played by distributions of the membrane recovery variable within the network. We also demonstrate that the behavior of neurons is more influenced by their presynaptic environment in the network than by their formal types, assigned in accordance with their response to constant current.
In a network with a mixture of different electrophysiological types of neurons linked by excitatory and inhibitory connections, temporal evolution leads through repeated epochs of intensive global activity separated by intervals with low activity level. This behavior mimics "up" and "down" states, experimentally observed in cortical tissues in absence of external stimuli. We interpret global dynamical features in terms of individual dynamics of the neurons. In particular, we observe that the crucial role both in interruption and in resumption of global activity is played by distributions of the membrane recovery variable within the network. We also demonstrate that the behavior of neurons is more influenced by their presynaptic environment in the network than by their formal types, assigned in accordance with their response to constant current.
X-RAY OBSERVATIONS OF BOW SHOCKS AROUND RUNAWAY O STARS. THE CASE OF zeta OPH AND BD+43 degrees 3654
(2016)
Non-thermal radiation has been predicted within bow shocks around runaway stars by recent theoretical works. We present X-ray observations toward the runaway stars zeta Oph by Chandra and Suzaku and of BD+43 degrees 3654 by XMM-Newton to search for the presence of non-thermal X-ray emission. We found no evidence of non-thermal emission spatially coincident with the bow shocks; nonetheless, diffuse emission was detected in the vicinity of zeta Oph. After a careful analysis of its spectral characteristics, we conclude that this emission has a thermal nature with a plasma temperature of T approximate to 2 x 10(6) K. The cometary shape of this emission seems to be in line with recent predictions of radiation-hydrodynamic models of runaway stars. The case of BD+43 degrees 3654 is puzzling, as non-thermal emission has been reported in a previous work for this source.
Photospheric radiation can drive winds from hot, massive stars by direct momentum transfer through scattering in bound-bound transitions of atmospheric ions. The line radiation force should cause a new radiative wave mode. The dispersion relation from perturbations of the line force was analysed so far either in Sobolev approximation or for pure line absorption. The former does not include the line-driven instability, and the latter cannot account for upstream propagating, radiative waves. We consider a non-Sobolev line force that includes scattering in a simplified way, accounting however for the important line-drag effect. We derive a new dispersion relation for radiative waves, and analyse wave propagation using Fourier methods, and by numerical solution of an integro-differential equation. The existence of an upstream propagating, dispersive radiative wave mode is demonstrated.
A gelatin-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), PLGA, composite scaffold, featuring a highly oriented pore channel structure, was developed as a template for articular cartilage regeneration. As a design principle the composite scaffold was optimized to contain only medical grade educts and accordingly no chemical cross linking agents or other toxicological relevant substances or methods were used. Scaffolds were synthesized using a freeze structuring method combined with an electrochemical process followed by freeze-drying. Finally, cross linking was performed using dehydrothermal treatment, which was simultaneously used for sterilization purposes. These composite scaffolds were analyzed in regard to structural and biomechanical properties, and to their degradation behavior. Furthermore, cell culture performance was tested using chondrocytes originated from joint articular cartilage tissue from 6 to 10 months old domestic pigs. Finally, the scaffolds were tested for tissue biocompatibility and their ability for tissue integration in a rat model. The scaffolds showed both excellent functional performance and high biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. We expect that these gelatin-PLGA scaffolds can effectively support chondrogenesis in vivo demonstrating great potential for the use in cartilage defect treatment. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing experiments and their theoretical descriptions have determined fast dynamics of the "chromatin and epigenetics" field, with new concepts appearing at high rate. This field includes but is not limited to the study of DNA-protein-RNA interactions, chromatin packing properties at different scales, regulation of gene expression and protein trafficking in the cell nucleus, binding site search in the crowded chromatin environment and modulation of physical interactions by covalent chemical modifications of the binding partners. The current special issue does not pretend for the full coverage of the field, but it rather aims to capture its development and provide a snapshot of the most recent concepts and approaches. Eighteen open-access articles comprising this issue provide a delicate balance between current theoretical and experimental biophysical approaches to uncover chromatin structure and understand epigenetic regulation, allowing free flow of new ideas and preliminary results.
The competition between charge extraction and nongeminate recombination critically determines the current-voltage characteristics of organic solar cells (OSCs) and their fill factor. As a measure of this competition, several figures of merit (FOMs) have been put forward; however, the impact of space charge effects has been either neglected, or not specifically addressed. Here we revisit recently reported FOMs and discuss the role of space charge effects on the interplay between recombination and extraction. We find that space charge effects are the primary cause for the onset of recombination in so-called non-Langevin systems, which also depends on the slower carrier mobility and recombination coefficient. The conclusions are supported with numerical calculations and experimental results of 25 different donor/acceptor OSCs with different charge transport parameters, active layer thicknesses or composition ratios. The findings represent a conclusive understanding of bimolecular recombination for drift dominated photocurrents and allow one to minimize these losses for given device parameters.
Forecasting the onset and withdrawal of the Indian summer monsoon is crucial for the life and prosperity of more than one billion inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. However, accurate prediction of monsoon timing remains a challenge, despite numerous efforts. Here we present a method for prediction of monsoon timing based on a critical transition precursor. We identify geographic regions-tipping elements of the monsoon-and use them as observation locations for predicting onset and withdrawal dates. Unlike most predictability methods, our approach does not rely on precipitation analysis but on air temperature and relative humidity, which are well represented both in models and observations. The proposed method allows to predict onset 2 weeks earlier and withdrawal dates 1.5 months earlier than existing methods. In addition, it enables to correctly forecast monsoon duration for some anomalous years, often associated with El Nino-Southern Oscillation.
Context. The massive Wolf-Rayet type star WR102c is located near the Quintuplet Cluster, one of the three massive star clusters in the Galactic centre region. Previous studies indicated that WR102c may have a dusty circumstellar nebula and is among the main ionising sources of the Sickle Nebula associated with the Quintuplet Cluster. Aims. The goals of our study are to derive the stellar parameters of WR102c from the analysis of its spectrum and to investigate its stellar and nebular environment. Methods. We obtained observations with the ESO VLT integral field spectrograph SINFONI in the K-band, extracted the stellar spectra, and analysed them by means of stellar atmosphere models. Results. Our new analysis supersedes the results previously reported for WR102c. We significantly decrease its bolometric luminosity and hydrogen content. We detect four early OB type stars close to WR102c. These stars have radial velocities similar to that of WR102c. We suggest that together with WR102c these stars belong to a distinct star cluster with a total mass of similar to 1000 M-circle dot. We identify a new WR nebula around WR102c in the SINFONI map of the di ff use Br gamma emission and in the HST Pa ff images. The Br gamma line at di ff erent locations is not significantly broadened and similar to the width of nebular emission elsewhere in the H i i region around WR102c. Conclusions. The massive star WR102c located in the Galactic centre region resides in a star cluster containing additional early-type stars. The stellar parameters of WR102c are typical for hydrogen-free WN6 stars. We identify a nebula surrounding WR102c that has a morphology similar to other nebulae around hydrogen-free WR stars, and propose that the formation of this nebula is linked to interaction of the fast stellar wind with the matter ejected at a previous evolutionary stage of WR102c.
In May 2014, the Balkans were hit by a Vb-type cyclone that brought disastrous flooding and severe damage to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. Vb cyclones migrate from the Mediterranean, where they absorb warm and moist air, to the north, often causing flooding in central/eastern Europe. Extreme rainfall events are increasing on a global scale, and both thermodynamic and dynamical mechanisms play a role. Where thermodynamic aspects are generally well understood, there is large uncertainty associated with current and future changes in dynamics. We study the climatic and meteorological factors that influenced the catastrophic flooding in the Balkans, where we focus on large-scale circulation. We show that the Vb cyclone was unusually stationary, bringing extreme rainfall for several consecutive days, and that this situation was likely linked to a quasi-stationary circumglobal Rossby wave train. We provide evidence that this quasi-stationary wave was amplified by wave resonance. Statistical analysis of daily spring rainfall over the Balkan region reveals significant upward trends over 1950-2014, especially in the high quantiles relevant for flooding events. These changes cannot be explained by simple thermodynamic arguments, and we thus argue that dynamical processes likely played a role in increasing flood risks over the Balkans.
Positron Two Dimensional Angular Correlation of Annihilation Radiation (2D-ACAR) measurements reveal modifications of the electronic structure and composition at the surfaces of PbSe quantum dots (QDs), deposited as thin films, produced by various ligands containing either oxygen or nitrogen atoms. In particular, the 2D--ACAR measurements on thin films of colloidal PbSe QDs capped with oleic acid ligands yield an increased intensity in the electron momentum density (EMD) at high momenta compared to PbSe quantum dots capped with oleylamine. Moreover, the EMD of PbSe QDs is strongly affected by the small ethylenediamine ligands, since these molecules lead to small distances between QDs and favor neck formation between near neighbor QDs, inducing electronic coupling between neighboring QDs. The high sensitivity to the presence of oxygen atoms at the surface can be also exploited to monitor the surface oxidation of PbSe QDs upon exposure to air. Our study clearly demonstrates that positron annihilation spectroscopy applied to thin films can probe surface transformations of colloidal semiconductor QDs embedded in functional layers. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.
Context. Massive Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are evolved massive stars (M-i greater than or similar to 20 M-circle dot) characterized by strong mass-loss. Hypothetically, they can form either as single stars or as mass donors in close binaries. About 40% of all known WR stars are confirmed binaries, raising the question as to the impact of binarity on the WR population. Studying WR binaries is crucial in this context, and furthermore enable one to reliably derive the elusive masses of their components, making them indispensable for the study of massive stars. Aims. By performing a spectral analysis of all multiple WR systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), we obtain the full set of stellar parameters for each individual component. Mass-luminosity relations are tested, and the importance of the binary evolution channel is assessed. Methods. The spectral analysis is performed with the PotsdamWolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code by superimposing model spectra that correspond to each component. Evolutionary channels are constrained using the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis (BPASS) evolution tool. Results. Significant hydrogen mass fractions (0.1 < X-H < 0.4) are detected in all WN components. A comparison with mass-luminosity relations and evolutionary tracks implies that the majority of the WR stars in our sample are not chemically homogeneous. The WR component in the binary AB6 is found to be very luminous (log L approximate to 6.3 [L-circle dot]) given its orbital mass (approximate to 10 M-circle dot), presumably because of observational contamination by a third component. Evolutionary paths derived for our objects suggest that Roche lobe overflow had occurred in most systems, affecting their evolution. However, the implied initial masses (greater than or similar to 60 M-circle dot) are large enough for the primaries to have entered the WR phase, regardless of binary interaction. Conclusions. Together with the results for the putatively single SMC WR stars, our study suggests that the binary evolution channel does not dominate the formation of WR stars at SMC metallicity.
Talbot-Lau interferometry provides X-ray imaging techniques with significant enhancement of the radiographic contrast of weakly absorbing objects. The grating based technique allows separation of absorption, refraction and small angle scattering effects. The different efficiency of rectangular and triangular shaped phase gratings at varying detector distances is investigated. The interference patterns (Talbot carpets) are modeled for parallel monochromatic radiation and measured by synchrotron radiation. In comparison to rectangular shapes of phase gratings much higher visibility is obtained for triangular shapes which yield enhanced contrast of a glass capillary test specimen.
We perform experiments and phase model simulations with a ring network of oscillatory electrochemical reactions to explore the effect of random connections and nonisochronicity of the interactions on the pattern formation. A few additional links facilitate the emergence of the fully synchronized state. With larger nonisochronicity, complex rotating waves or persistent irregular phase dynamics can derail the convergence to global synchronization. The observed long transients of irregular phase dynamics exemplify the possibility of a sudden onset of hypersynchronous behavior without any external stimulus or network reorganization.
A single predator charging a herd of prey: effects of self volume and predator-prey decision-making
(2016)
We study the degree of success of a single predator hunting a herd of prey on a two-dimensional square lattice landscape. We explicitly consider the self volume of the prey restraining their dynamics on the lattice. The movement of both predator and prey is chosen to include an intelligent, decision making step based on their respective sighting ranges, the radius in which they can detect the other species (prey cannot recognise each other besides the self volume interaction): after spotting each other the motion of prey and predator turns from a nearest neighbour random walk into directed escape or chase, respectively. We consider a large range of prey densities and sighting ranges and compute the mean first passage time for a predator to catch a prey as well as characterise the effective dynamics of the hunted prey. We find that the prey's sighting range dominates their life expectancy and the predator profits more from a bad eyesight of the prey than from his own good eye sight. We characterise the dynamics in terms of the mean distance between the predator and the nearest prey. It turns out that effectively the dynamics of this distance coordinate can be captured in terms of a simple Ornstein–Uhlenbeck picture. Reducing the many-body problem to a simple two-body problem by imagining predator and nearest prey to be connected by an effective Hookean bond, all features of the model such as prey density and sighting ranges merge into the effective binding constant.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die planetare Grenzschicht in Ny-Ålesund, Spitzbergen, sowohl bezüglich kleinskaliger („mikrometeorologischer“) Effekte als auch in ihrer Kopplung mit der Synoptik untersucht. Dazu werden verschiedene Beobachtungsdaten aus der Säule und in Bodennähe zusammengezogen und bewertet. Die so gewonnenen Datensätze werden dann zur Validierung eines nicht-hydrostatischen, regionalen Klimamodells genutzt. Weiterhin werden orographisch bedingte Einflüsse, die Untergrundbeschaffenheit und die lokale Heterogenität der Unterlage untersucht. Hierzu werden meteorologische Größen, wie die Variabilität der Temperatur und insbesondere die jährliche Windverteilung in Bodennähe untersucht und es erfolgt ein Vergleich von in-situ gemessenen turbulenten Flüssen von den Eddy-Kovarianz-Messkomplexen bei Ny-Ålesund und im Bayelva-Tal unter demselben Aspekt. Es zeigt sich, dass der Eddy-Kovarianz-Messkomplex im Bayelva-Tal sehr stark durch eine orographisch bedingte Kanalisierung der Strömung beeinflusst ist und sich nicht für Vergleiche mit regionalen Klimamodellen mit horizontalen Auflösungen von <1km eignet. Die hohe Bodenfeuchte im Bayelva-Tal führt zudem zu einem deutlich kleineren Bowen-Verhältnis, als es für diese Region zu erwarten ist. Der Eddy-Kovarianz-Messkomplex bei Ny-Ålesund erweist sich hingegen als geeigneter für solche Modellvergleiche, aufgrund der typischen, küstennahen Windverteilung und des repräsentativen Footprints. Letzteres wird durch die Bestimmung der Footprint-Klimatologie des Jahres 2013 mit einem aktuellen Footprint-Modell erarbeitet.
Weiterhin wird die Auswirkung von (Anti-) Zyklonen über den Archipel auf die zeitliche Variabilität der lokalen Grenzschichteigenschaften untersucht und bewertet. Dazu wird ein Zyklonen-Detektions-Algorithmus auf ERA-Interim-Reanalysedatensätze angewendet, wodurch die Häufigkeit von nahezu ideal konzentrischen Hoch- und die Tiefdruckgebieten für drei Jahre bestimmt wird. Aus dieser Verteilung werden insgesamt drei interessante Zeiträume zu verschiedenen Jahreszeiten ausgewählt und im Rahmen von Prozessstudien die lokalen bodennahen meteorologischen Messungen, der turbulente Austausch an der Oberfläche und die Grenzschichtdynamik in der Säule untersucht. Die zeitliche Variabilität der dynamischen Grenzschichtstabilität in der Säule wird anhand von zeitlich hoch aufgelösten vertikalen Profilen der Bulk-Richardson-Zahl aus Kompositprofilen aus Fernerkundungsinstrumenten (Radiometer, Wind-LIDAR) sowie Mastdaten (BSRN-Mast) untersucht und die Grenzschichthöhe ermittelt. Aus diesen Analysen ergibt sich eine deutliche Abhängigkeit der thermischen Stabilität beim Durchzug von Fronten, eine damit einhergehende erhebliche Abhängigkeit der Grenzschichtdynamik und der Grenzschichthöhe sowie des turbulenten Austauschs von der zeitlichen Variabilität der Windgeschwindigkeit in der Säule.
Auf Grundlage der Standortanalysen und Prozessstudien erfolgt ein Vergleich der bodennahen Messungen und den Beobachtungen aus der Säule, sowohl von den genannten Fernerkundungsinstrumenten als auch von In-situ-Messungen (Radiosonden) für den Zeitraum einer Radiosondierungskampagne mit dem nicht-hydrostatischen, regionalen Klimamodel WRF (ARW). Auf Grundlage der Fragestellung, inwieweit aktuelle Schemata die Grenzschichtcharakteristika in orographisch stark gegliedertem Gelände in der Arktis reproduzieren können, werden zwei Grenzschichtparametrisierungsschemata mit verschiedenen Ordnungen der Schließung validiert. Hierzu wird die zeitliche Variabilität der Temperatur, der Feuchte und des Windfeldes in der Säule bis 2000m in den Simulationen mit den Beobachtungsdaten vergleichen. Es wird gezeigt, dass durch Modifikation der Initialwertfelder eine sehr gute Übereinstimmung zwischen den Simulationen und den Beobachtungen bereits bei einer horizontalen Auflösung von 1km erreicht werden kann und die Wahl des Grenzschichtschemas nur untergeordneten Einfluss hat. Hieraus werden Ansätze der Weiterentwicklung der Parametrisierungen, aber auch Empfehlungen bezüglich der Initialwertfelder, wie der Landmaske und der Orographie, vorgeschlagen.
In this thesis, the two prototype catalysts Fe(CO)₅ and Cr(CO)₆ are investigated with time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy at a high harmonic setup. In both of these metal carbonyls, a UV photon can induce the dissociation of one or more ligands of the complex. The mechanism of the dissociation has been debated over the last decades. The electronic dynamics of the first dissociation occur on the femtosecond timescale.
For the experiment, an existing high harmonic setup was moved to a new location, was extended, and characterized. The modified setup can induce dynamics in gas phase samples with photon energies of 1.55eV, 3.10eV, and 4.65eV. The valence electronic structure of the samples can be probed with photon energies between 20eV and 40eV. The temporal resolution is 111fs to 262fs, depending on the combination of the two photon energies.
The electronically excited intermediates of the two complexes, as well as of the reaction product Fe(CO)₄, could be observed with photoelectron spectroscopy in the gas phase for the first time. However, photoelectron spectroscopy gives access only to the final ionic states. Corresponding calculations to simulate these spectra are still in development. The peak energies and their evolution in time with respect to the initiation pump pulse have been determined, these peaks have been assigned based on literature data. The spectra of the two complexes show clear differences. The dynamics have been interpreted with the assumption that the motion of peaks in the spectra relates to the movement of the wave packet in the multidimensional energy landscape. The results largely confirm existing models for the reaction pathways. In both metal carbonyls, this pathway involves a direct excitation of the wave packet to a metal-to-ligand charge transfer state and the subsequent crossing to a dissociative ligand field state. The coupling of the electronic dynamics to the nuclear dynamics could explain the slower dissociation in Fe(CO)₅ as compared to Cr(CO)₆.