Full 5D characterisation of the Sagittarius stream with Gaia DR2 RR Lyrae

Context. The Sagittarius (Sgr) stream is one of the best tools that we currently have to estimate the mass and shape of our Galaxy. However, assigning membership and obtaining the phase-space distribution of the stars that form the tails of the stream is quite challenging. Aims. Our goal is to produce a catalogue of the RR Lyrae stars of Sgr and obtain an empiric measurement of the trends along the stream in sky position, distance, and tangential velocity. Methods. We generated two initial samples from the Gaia DR2 RR Lyrae catalogue: one selecting only the stars within ±20° of the orbital plane of Sagittarius (Strip), and the other resulting from application of the Pole Count Map (nGC3) algorithm. We then used the model-independent, deterministic method developed in this work to remove most of the contamination by detecting and isolating the stream in distance and proper motions. Results. The output is two empiric catalogues: the Strip sample (higher-completeness, lower-purity) which contains 11 677 stars, and the nGC3 sample (higher-purity, lower-completeness) with 6608 stars. We characterise the changes along the stream in all the available dimensions, namely the five astrometric dimensions plus the metallicity, covering more than 2π rad in the sky, and obtain new estimates for the apocentres and the mean [Fe/H] of the RR Lyrae population. Also, we show the first map of the two components of the tangential velocity thanks to the combination of distances and proper motions. Finally, we detect the bifurcation in the leading arm and report no significant difference between the two branches in terms of metallicity, kinematics, or distance. Conclusions. We provide the largest sample of RR Lyrae candidates of Sgr, which can be used as input for a spectroscopic follow-up or as a reference for the new generation of models of the stream through the interpolators in distance and velocity that we constructed.

Interactions between canopy cover density and regeneration cores of older saplings in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands

Aim of study: This paper provides an analysis of growth and survival of twenty–year–old Scots pine saplings in relation to canopy cover density (CCD) gradients, from dense (D–CCD), sparse (S–CCD), and gap (G–CCD) situations.Area of study: Aladag (Bolu) in northern Turkey.Material and methods: Sparse canopy cover density (S–CCD), dense canopy cover density (D–CCD) and gap canopy (G–CCD) were chosen within ten different strip sample plots (10 × 50 m) with sapling regeneration cores. Those regeneration cores were divided into two portions (individuals at the edge and middle of the regeneration cores) and from each portion three individuals was were obtained from a sample. The growth relationships of individual saplings were calculated with stem analyses. Honowski Light Factor (HLF) (ratio of Terminal sprout length (T) to Lateral sprout length (L)) was used to present growth potential measure of seedlings.Main results: The largest sapling regeneration cores were found in the G–CCD followed by S–CCD, and finally D–CCD, all tested for significance with Kruskal–Wallis Test. Compared with saplings in the middle of regeneration cores (crop saplings), those at the edge were always reduced in terms of mean height. Significant difference was only found between the ‘Main Crop’ and the ‘Edge 1’ of the regeneration cores for G–CCD suggesting that sapling regeneration cores are more typical under G–CCD conditions. HLF ratios were greater than 1 with high growth potentials for both CCD gradients (G–CCD and S–CCD) and there were no significant variations between G–CCD and S–CCD for main crop and edges. The thinning after 12–14 years increased sapling growth. However, under D–CCD, growth had virtually ceased.Research highlights: Naturally occurring Scots pine saplings are suppressed by a dense canopy. However, they are tolerant of shade to the extent that they can survive over relatively long time–periods (10–12 years) and can exploit subsequent opportunities should a canopy gap occur.Keywords: Gap regeneration; sapling growth; light regime; canopy cover density; irregular silviculture.

Recrystallization and crystallographic texture in AA4006 aluminum alloy sheets produced by twin roll caster and direct chill processes

A recrystallization study of cold rolled metallic sheets is very important to evaluate the softening temperature for subsequent annealing. Crystallographic texture evolves during metal rolling and recrystallization. These processing steps can lead to an optimization of the grain orientation distribution in a metal strip and can improve, for instance, the stamping process, hence leading to a product with aggregated value. Softening curves were determined and compared for two sheets of the AA4006 aluminum alloy produced by the twin roll caster-TRC and by the direct chill-DC (under industrial process condition). It has been detected that the recrystallization of the strip produced by TRC process occurs at a higher temperature than the produced by DC process despite the little differences in their softening curves. The precipitation, in the TRC strip sample, occurs mainly before recrystallization and may occur during recrystallization. There is precipitation occurrence before and during recrystallization more expressive in the DC strip sample. Crystallographic texture of the sheet samples was obtained by X-ray diffraction and electron back scattering diffraction (EBSD) techniques. Results indicated the presence of a shear texture at the surface and β-fiber at the center of the cold rolled (70% area reduction) sample for the sheet produced by TRC process. In the strip sample obtained by the DC process, under the same conditions, the cube component and the β-fiber on the surface and at the center were observed. A random oriented grain texture has been detected in the two (TRC and DC) recrystallized (after cold rolling) sheet samples possibly due to the particle stimulated nucleation. The absence of β fiber in the recrystallized samples (TRC and DC) has also been observed.

Modeling and Control of a 1-D Membrane Strip With an Integrated PZT Bimorph

Ultra-lightweight, ultra-large and deployable satellite technology is at the forefront of research efforts for future on-orbit reconnaissance missions. The minimal mass and stowage volume associated with the technology are attractive traits for getting larger bandwidth satellites on-orbit. One of the key components for such a satellite is the membrane lens or aperture for optical or radar applications, and understanding the membrane’s dynamics is critical for mission success. As either an optical reflector or radar antenna, the vibration levels of the membrane must be minimized and eliminated. This work examines the possibility of integrating a PZT bimorph near the boundary of a strip sample to eliminate detrimental vibration. By starting with a 1-D model, the dominant governing phenomena of the system dynamics can be established and used to build more complex models with confidence. A physics-based finite element (FE) model of a thin strip of Kapton HN material with a monolithic PZT bimorph bonded near a boundary is developed in a MatLab environment and verified experimentally. The membrane strip under tension is modeled as a beam under axial load. In doing so, the FE model is able to capture the relevant transverse dynamics of the experimental setup. Having verified the FE model, an LQR controller is developed and simulated to demonstrate effective control over the transverse dynamics of the membrane sample.

Boundary Effects in (2+1)-Dimensional Maxwell–Chern–Simons Theory

The effects of the sample's boundaries in the magnetic response of the charged anyon fluid at finite temperature are investigated. For the case of an infinite-strip sample it is shown that the Meissner effect takes place at temperatures lower than the fermion energy gap ωc. The temperature dependence of the corresponding effective penetration depth is determined. At temperatures much larger than the scale ωc, a different phase is found, in which the external magnetic field penetrates the fluid.