Core Excitation in a Stripping Reaction

title: Time-Dependent Scattering Experiment
abstract: Theory is developed for a time-dependenit scatternng experiment that consists in following the time development of a photon wave packet scattered resonantly from the metastable state of an appropriate nucleus.

title: Theory of (p,2p) reactions at medium energies
abstract: A new and effective means of calculating matrix elements relevant to direct interactions is introduced and applied to a distorted-wave t matrix approximation analysis of the /sup 12/C(p,2p9/sup 11/B and /sup 16/O(p,2p)/sup 15/N reactions at 45-50 MeV incident energy. A realistic separable two-body t matrix has been employed and core polarization, whereby the final state is generated after excitation of giant resonance target states, has been included. The integrals involved in the matrix elements were calculated analytically by making a parametrization of the distorted scattering wave functions, the nucleon-nucleon interaction, and the bound state wave function, the parameters being chosen in accordance with elastic (p,p) and inelastic (p,p') data and realistic shell model wave functions. The results indicate the inadequacy of a distorted-wave t-matrix approximation analysis at these energies.

title: A high-resolution electron momentum spectroscopy and density functional theory study into the complete valence electronic structure of allene
abstract: A study of the electronic structure of the complete valence shell of allene (1,2-propadiene) is reported. New high-resolution binding-energy spectra were measured in the energy regime 6–34.5 eV over a range of different target electron momenta, so that momentum distributions (MDs) could be determined for each molecular orbital. These data supersede the low-resolution work of Braidwood et al. [ (1994) 2075–2087], and also clarify some ambiguities with the earlier results. Theoretical MDs were calculated using a plane wave impulse approximation (PWIA) model for the reaction mechanism and density functional theory (DFT) for the wave function. Three basis sets, at the local spin density (LSD) approximation level and, additionally, incorporating nonlocal corrections such as the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), were studied. A critical comparison between the experimental and theoretical MDs was made, and it allowed us to determine the “optimum” wave function for allene from the basis sets we considered. This wave function is then used to derive allene's chemically interesting molecular properties. A summary of some of these results and a comparison of them with those of other workers is also presented with the level of agreement typically being good.

title: Analytic distorted waves for intermediate-energy alpha particles

title: Observing electron motion in solids
abstract: We describe an experimental technique that allows for the direct determination of the motion (i.e., the momentum) of electrons in atoms, molecules, and solids. This ({ital e},2{ital e}) technique centers on a fast electron`s ejecting a second electron from a target. Precise spectroscopy of both electrons` final energies and momenta provides very significant information on the second electron`s initial state. Decades of past ({ital e},2{ital e}) studies on single-molecule states have now progressed into studies of condensed matter. The interpretation of these experiments is mediated in this colloquium by analysis of intermediate models in the form of chainlike molecules.

title: An analytic investigation of the scatter in the integrated X-ray properties of galaxy groups and clusters
abstract: We revisit the scaling relationships between the dark matter mass and observed X-ray luminosity and temperature of galaxy clusters and groups in the local Universe. Specifically, we compare recent observations with analytic models of the intracluster medium in which the gas entropy distribution has been shifted by a variable amount, K o , to investigate the origin of the scatter in these scaling relations, and its influence on the luminosity and temperature functions. We find that variations in halo concentration or formation epoch (which might determine the time available for low-entropy gas to cool out) are insufficient to explain the amount of scatter in the mass and X-ray luminosity (M-L) relation. Instead, a range of entropy floors at a fixed halo mass, spanning approximately ∼50-700 keV cm 2 , is required to match the data. This range is likely related to the variance in heating and/or cooling efficiency from halo to halo. We demonstrate that these models are consistent with the observed temperature and luminosity functions of clusters, with a normalization of σ 8 ∼ 0.8 in agreement with Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) measurements (for h = 0.7 and Ω m = 0.3); in particular, the scatter in the M-L relation has an important influence on the shape of the luminosity function, and must be accounted for to provide a consistent result. Finally, we present predictions for the redshift evolution of these scaling relations and luminosity/temperature functions. Comparison with recent data at z < 0.7 shows reasonable agreement with a model that assumes a median entropy floor of K = 200 keV cm 2 . When observations are extended to group scales (kT ≤ 1 keV). this evolution will have the potential to discriminate between an entropy floor that is independent of redshift (e.g. in a preheating scenario) and one that depends on the cooling time of the halo.

title: Probing the physics of the intracluster medium
abstract: Clusters of galaxies are the largest and most massive virialized objects in the universe. And because structure formation in the universe occurs hierarchically, clusters represent the end points of this process. As a result, these systems contain a wealth of cosmological information including a detailed fossil record of the structure formation process. However, in order to fully exploit clusters for cosmological purposes, it is necessary to model the internal properties of these systems in detail, particularly the baryonic component. Although much progress has been made on this front, there remain several important outstanding issues in our understanding of the properties of the intracluster medium (ICM), a diffuse plasma that fills clusters and dominates (by mass) the baryonic component of these systems. In particular, very little is presently known about the potential role of non-gravitational ICM physics such as radiative cooling, thermal conduction, and heating via outflows from supermassive black holes (i.e., active galactic nuclei AGN) that are often located at the centers of clusters. In this dissertation, we have attempted to shed light on this important issue. In particular, we have developed physically-motivated analytic models of the ICM in order to assess the role that non-gravitational processes, such as radiative cooling and heating from AGN, play in mediating the observed properties of clusters. We have carried out detailed and systematic comparisons between our models and the observed global and structural X-ray and Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect properties of clusters. From this comparison we conclude the following. As expected, a pure gravitational model (i.e., the standard self-similar model) fails to match the observed properties of clusters. A model that invokes radiative cooling but no sources of non-gravitational heating also fails, as it has no hope of avoiding the so-called "cooling crisis" or of explaining the origin of "non-cooling flow" clusters. On the other hand, a model that includes non-gravitational heating but that does not take into account the effects of radiative cooling fails to account for the observed global and structure properties of "cooling flow"c1usters and obviously has no hope of explaining galaxy or star formation in clusters. We find that in order to account for the global X-ray and SZ effect scaling relations (including their intrinsic scatter), it is necessary to invoke both radiative cooling and a distribution in the level of non-gravitational heating experienced by clusters. Under this scenario, clusters that were severely heated early on likely evolved into %oncooling flow"clusters, whereas clusters that were heated by only mild amounts likely evolved into "cooling flow" clusters. This conclusion is reinforced by com' parisons to new spatially-resolved entropy, temperature, and surface brightness profiles derived from Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray data. Supervisor: Dr. A. Babul, (Department of Physics and Astronomy)

title: The case for AGN feedback in galaxy groups
abstract: The relatively recent insight that energy input from supermassive black holes (BHs) can have a substantial effect on the star formation rates (SFRs) of galaxies motivates us to examine the effects of BH feedback on the scale of galaxy groups. At present, groups contain most of the galaxies and a significant fraction of the overall baryon content of the universe and, along with massive clusters, they represent the only systems for which it is possible to measure both the stellar and gaseous baryonic components directly. To explore the effects of BH feedback on groups, we analyse two high resolution cosmological hydrodynamic simulations from the OverWhelmingly Large Simulations (OWLS) project. While both include galactic winds driven by supernovae, only one of the models includes feedback from accreting BHs. We compare the properties of the simulated galaxy groups to a wide range of observational data, including the entropy and temperature profiles of the intragroup medium, hot gas mass fractions, the luminosity temperature and mass temperature scaling relations, the K-band luminosity of the group and its central brightest galaxy (CBG), star formation rates and ages of the CBG, and gas- and stellar-phase metallicities. Both runs yield entropy distributions similar to the data, while the run without AGN feedback yields highly peaked temperature profiles, in discord with the observations. Energy input from supermassive BHs significantly reduces the gas mass fractions of galaxy groups with masses less than a few times 10 14 M� , yielding a gas mass fraction and X-ray luminosity scaling with system temperature that is in excellent agreement with the data, although the detailed scatter in the L T relation is not quite correct. The run without AGN feedback suffers from the well known overcooling problem — the resulting stellar mass fractions are several times larger than observed and present-day cooling flows operate uninhibitedly. By contrast, the run that includes BH feedback yields stellar mass fractions, SFRs, and stellar age distributions in excellent agreement with current estimates, thus resolving the long standing ‘cooling crisis’ of simulations on the scale of groups. Both runs yield very similar gas-phase metal abundance profiles that match X-ray measurements, but they predict very different stellar metallicities. Based on the above, galaxy groups provide a compelling case that feedback from supermassive BHs is a crucial ingredient in the formation of massive galaxies.

title: The colours of satellite galaxies in groups and clusters
abstract: Current models of galaxy formation predict satellite galaxies in groups and clusters that are redder than observed. We investigate the effect on the colours of satellite galaxies produced by the ram-pressure stripping of their hot-gaseous atmospheres as the satellites orbit within their parent halo. We incorporate a model of the stripping process based on detailed hydrodynamic simulations within the Durham semi-analytic model of galaxy formation. The simulations show that the environment in groups and clusters is less aggressive than previously assumed. The main uncertainty in the model is the treatment of gas expelled by supernovae. With reasonable assumptions for the stripping of this material, we find that satellite galaxies are able to retain a significant fraction of their hot gas for several Gyr, thereby replenishing their reservoirs of cold, star-forming gas and remaining blue for a relatively long period of time. A bimodal distribution of galaxy colours, similar to that observed in Sloan Digital Sky Survey data, is established and the colours of the satellite galaxies are in good agreement with the data. In addition, our model naturally accounts for the observed dependence of satellite colours on environment, from small groups to high-mass clusters.

title: Ram pressure stripping the hot gaseous haloes of galaxies in groups and clusters
abstract: We use a large suite of carefully controlled full hydrodynamic simulations to study the ram pressure stripping of the hot gaseous haloes of galaxies as they fall into massive groups and clusters. The sensitivity of the results to the orbit, total galaxy mass, and galaxy structural properties is explored. For typical structural and orbital parameters, we find that ∼30 per cent of the initial hot galactic halo gas can remain in place after 10 Gyr. We propose a physically simple analytic model that describes the stripping seen in the simulations remarkably well. The model is analogous to the original formulation of Gunn & Gott, except that it is appropriate for the case of a spherical (hot) gas distribution (as opposed to a face-on cold disc) and takes into account that stripping is not instantaneous but occurs on a characteristic time-scale. The model reproduces the results of the simulations to within ≈10 per cent at almost all times for all the orbits, mass ratios, and galaxy structural properties we have explored. The one exception involves unlikely systems where the orbit of the galaxy is highly non-radial and its mass exceeds about 10 per cent of the group or cluster into which it is falling (in which case the model underpredicts the stripping following pericentric passage). The proposed model has several interesting applications, including modelling the ram pressure stripping of both observed and cosmologically simulated galaxies and as a way to improve present semi-analytic models of galaxy formation. One immediate consequence is that the colours and morphologies of satellite galaxies in groups and clusters will differ significantly from those predicted with the standard assumption of complete stripping of the hot coronae.