The Dependence of Brown Dwarf Radii on Atmospheric Metallicity and Clouds: Theory and Comparison with Observations

Employing realistic and consistent atmosphere boundary conditions, we have generated evolutionary models for brown dwarfs and very-low-mass stars (VLMs) for different metallicities ([Fe/H]), with and without clouds. We find that the spread in radius at a given mass and age can be as large as $\sim$10% to $\sim$25%, with higher-metallicity, higher-cloud-thickness atmospheres resulting quite naturally in larger radii. For each 0.1 dex increase in [Fe/H], radii increase by $\sim$1% to $\sim$2.5%, depending upon age and mass. We also find that, while for smaller masses and older ages brown dwarf radii decrease with increasing helium fraction ($Y$) (as expected), for more massive brown dwarfs and a wide range of ages they increase with helium fraction. The increase in radius in going from $Y=0.25$ to $Y=0.28$ can be as large as $\sim$0.025 \rj\ ($\sim$2.5%). Furthermore, we find that for VLMs an increase in atmospheric metallicity from 0.0 to 0.5 dex, increases radii by $\sim$4%, and from -0.5 to 0.5 dex by $\sim$10%. Therefore, we suggest that opacity due to higher metallicity might naturally account for the apparent radius anomalies in some eclipsing VLM systems. Ten to twenty-five percent variations in radius exceed errors stemming from uncertainities in the equation of state alone. This serves to emphasize that transit and eclipse measurements of brown dwarf radii constrain numerous effects collectively, importantly including the atmosphere and condensate cloud models, and not just the equation of state. At all times, one is testing a multi-parameter theory, and not a universal radius$-$mass relation.Comment: Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal, May 3, 201

Writing While Black: The Black Tax on African American Graduate Writers

In Souls of Black Folk, W. E. B. Du Bois states that African American identity contains a “double consciousness” of being both black and American (45). According to Du Bois, African Americans are constantly aware of their dual identities because their existence is a constant struggle to reconcile those two selves in a society that scorns them. As Du Bois writes, “He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly in his face” (46). As a result, African Americans have to see themselves in relation to how white Americans view them, while struggling to encounter a world that they anticipate will eventually—and hopefully—view them without contempt.University Writing Cente

Tracer sensitive tapes

A leak detection system has been developed, consisting of a tape that can be wrapped around possible leak sites on a system pressurized with air or gaseous nitrogen. Carbon monoxide, at a level of 100 to 1000 parts per million is used as a trace gas in the pressurized system. The sensitive element of the tape is palladium chloride supported on specially prepared silica gel and specially dried. At a CO level of 100 ppm and a leak rate of 10-20 ml/hr, discoloration of the sensitive element is observed in 1.5 to 3 min. The tape and trace gas are compatible with aerospace hardware, safe to handle, and economically reasonable to produce and handle

The Influence of Atmospheric Scattering and Absorption on Ohmic Dissipation in Hot Jupiters

Using semi-analytical, one-dimensional models, we elucidate the influence of scattering and absorption on the degree of Ohmic dissipation in hot Jovian atmospheres. With the assumption of Saha equilibrium, the variation in temperature is the main driver of the variations in the electrical conductivity, induced current and Ohmic power dissipated. Atmospheres possessing temperature inversions tend to dissipate most of the Ohmic power superficially, at high altitudes, whereas those without temperature inversions are capable of greater dissipation deeper down. Scattering in the optical range of wavelengths tends to cool the lower atmosphere, thus reducing the degree of dissipation at depth. Purely absorbing cloud decks (in the infrared), of a finite extent in height, allow for localized reductions in dissipation and may reverse a temperature inversion if they are dense and thick enough, thus greatly enhancing the dissipation at depth. If Ohmic dissipation is the mechanism for inflating hot Jupiters, then variations in the atmospheric opacity (which may be interpreted as arising from variations in metallicity and cloud/haze properties) and magnetic field strength naturally produce a scatter in the measured radii at a given strength of irradiation. Future work will determine if these effects are dominant over evolutionary effects, which also contribute a scatter to the measured radii.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letters. 5 pages, 5 figure