Search results for " Gian"
showing 10 items of 114 documents
Measurement of the 151Sm n,gamma 152Sm cross section at n_TOF
2005
The 151 Sm(n, γ ) 152 Sm cross section, which is important for the interpretation of the 151 Sm branching as an s -process thermometer, was measured from 1 eV up to 1 MeV at the innovative n_TOF facility at CERN. Based on these data, the Maxwellian-averaged cross section at k T = 30 keV is found to be 3100±160 mb. This value can be used to constrain the thermodynamical conditions in Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars during He-shell burning.
AMBER observations of the AGB star RS Cap: extended atmosphere and comparison with stellar models
2011
We report on K-band VLTI/AMBER observations at medium spectral resolution ($\sim$1500) of RS Capricorni, an M6/M7III semi-regular AGB star. From the spectrally-dispersed visibilities, we measure the star diameter as a function of observing wavelength from 2.13 to 2.47 microns. We derive a Rosseland angular diameter of $7.95 \pm 0.07$ mas, which corresponds to an effective temperature of $3160 \pm 160$ K. We detect size variations of around 10% in the CO band heads, indicating strong opacity effects of CO in the stellar photosphere. We also detect a linear increase of the size as a function of wavelength, beginning at 2.29 microns. Models of the stellar atmosphere, based on the mass of the s…
Mechanism of decoherence-free coupling between giant atoms
2020
Giant atoms are a new paradigm of quantum optics going beyond the usual local coupling. Building on this, a new type of decoherence-free (DF) many-body Hamiltonians was shown in a broadband waveguide. Here, these are incorporated in a general framework (not relying on master equations) and contrasted to dispersive DF Hamiltonians with normal atoms: the two schemes are shown to correspond to qualitatively different ways to match the same general condition for suppressing decoherence. Next, we map the giant atoms dynamics into a cascaded collision model (CM), providing an intuitive interpretation of the connection between non-trivial DF Hamiltonians and coupling points topology. The braided c…
Collisional picture of quantum optics with giant emitters
2020
The effective description of the weak interaction between an emitter and a bosonic field as a sequence of two-body collisions provides a simple intuitive picture compared to traditional quantum optics methods as well as an effective calculation tool of the joint emitter-field dynamics. Here, this collisional approach is extended to many emitters (atoms or resonators), each generally interacting with the field at many coupling points ("giant" emitter). In the regime of negligible delays, the unitary describing each collision in particular features a contribution of a chiral origin resulting in an effective Hamiltonian. The picture is applied to derive a Lindblad master equation (ME) of a set…
A detailed spectroscopy of the carbon-rich star BD +57° 2161
2005
An LTE abundance analysis based on high-resolution spectra is presented for the carbon-rich star BD +57° 2161, whose evolutionary status is unknown. With [C/Fe] = +0.4 dex and a mean s-process overabundance of [s/Fe] ≃ +1.5 dex the peculiar atmospheric composition of BD +57° 2161 is confirmed. The 12 C/ 13 C abundance ratio was found to be about 10. The mild iron deficiency, [Fe/H] = -0.2, supports the idea that BD +57° 2161 could be an old-disk-population object. Radial-velocity measurements confirm the binary nature of the star. Therefore the peculiar chemical composition could be due to the mass transfer from the secondary - AGB star in the past. Orbital parameters are estimated for anot…
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS OF A WIND-COLLIMATED BLAST WAVE AND METAL-RICH EJECTA FROM THE 2006 EXPLOSION OF RS OPHIUCHI
2009
Chandra HETG observations of RS Ophiuchi at day 13.9 of the 2006 outburst reveal a rich spectrum of emission lines from abundant ions formed over a wide temperature range (∼ 3 × 10 6 to 60 × 10 6 K) indicative of shock heating of the circumstellar medium by the expanding blast wave. Lines are asymmetric and strongly broadened (v ∼ 2400 km s −1 at zero intensity). Using simple analytical model profiles, we show how the lines are shaped by differential absorption in the red giant wind and explosion ejecta, and that shock heating to multimillion degree temperatures appears to have occurred preferentially in the direction perpendicular to the line of sight. We conclude that the asymmetric natur…
Self-Enrichment in Globular Clusters: Is There a Role for the Super-Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars?
2008
In four globular clusters (GCs) a non negligible fraction of stars can be interpreted only as a very helium rich population. The evidence comes from the presence of a "blue" main sequence in $\omega$ Cen and NGC 2808, and from the the very peculiar horizontal branch morphology in NGC 6441 and NGC 6388. Although a general consensus is emerging on the fact that self--enrichment is a common feature among GCs, the helium content required for these stars is Y$\simgt$0.35, and it is difficult to understand how it can be produced without any --or, for $\omega$ Cen, without a considerable--associated metal enhancement. We examine the possible role of super--AGB stars, and show that they may provide…
Lithium in the intermediate age cluster NGC 3680: Following Li evolution along the C-M diagram
2001
We present an analysis of high resolution spectroscopic observations (R 30 000, S=N =6 0 150) of 24 members of the intermediate age (1.5 Gyr) open cluster NGC 3680, covering all regions of the cluster colour-magnitude (C{M) diagram where cluster members are known to exist. These observations represent in many aspects challenges to our understanding of stellar interior and mixing. Four main sequence G stars have, within the errors, the same Li abundance, 0.3 dex lower than similar stars in the1 Gyr younger Hyades but comparable with those observed in the coeval cluster IC 4651. The cluster shows a clear Li-dip located around the turn-o; two stars on the upper part of the turn-o are out of th…
The ultrastructure of multinucleate giant cells
2002
Abstract A survey of the available ultrastructural data on physiologically and pathologically occurring and virally-induced multinucleate giant cells (MNGCs) is presented. Emphasis is initially placed upon the bone osteoclast, the skeletal muscle myotube and the placental syncytiotrophoblast. The widespread occurence of MNGCs in a range of pathological situations is discussed, with emphasis upon the broad involvement of the macrophage in inflammatory responses. Many viruses produce cell fusion in vivo and in vitro when cell cultures are infected. Several examples are given. A clear distinction is drawn between viral fusion from “without” and viral fusion from “within” the cell. The cytopath…
Natural or synthetic nucleic acids encapsulated in a closed cavity of amphiphiles
2013
In this review some aspects of the interactions of organized structures of amphiphiles with natural or synthetic DNAs are briefly considered. In particular DNAs encapsulated in closed cavities of amphiphiles, specifically giant vesicles and water-in-oil droplets and reverse micelles, are dealt with. Two main applications of giant vesicles are reviewed in detail, namely their use as microreactors where reactions can be followed by optical microscopy on a single vesicle and in synthetic biology as protocell models or as potential semi-synthetic ‘‘living’’ cells. Water-in-oil droplets uses for rapid and relatively low-cost DNA amplification by PCR reaction are described as well as for in vitro…