Spectroscopic identification of r-process nucleosynthesis in a double neutron-star merger.

The merger of two neutron stars is predicted to give rise to three major detectable phenomena: a short burst of γ-rays, a gravitational-wave signal, and a transient optical-near-infrared source powered by the synthesis of large amounts of very heavy elements via rapid neutron capture (the r-process). Such transients, named 'macronovae' or 'kilonovae', are believed to be centres of production of rare elements such as gold and platinum. The most compelling evidence so far for a kilonova was a very faint near-infrared rebrightening in the afterglow of a short γ-ray burst at redshift z = 0.356, although findings indicating bluer events have been reported. Here we report the spectral identification and describe the physical properties of a bright kilonova associated with the gravitational-wave source GW170817 and γ-ray burst GRB 170817A associated with a galaxy at a distance of 40 megaparsecs from Earth. Using a series of spectra from ground-based observatories covering the wavelength range from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared, we find that the kilonova is characterized by rapidly expanding ejecta with spectral features similar to those predicted by current models. The ejecta is optically thick early on, with a velocity of about 0.2 times light speed, and reaches a radius of about 50 astronomical units in only 1.5 days. As the ejecta expands, broad absorption-like lines appear on the spectral continuum, indicating atomic species produced by nucleosynthesis that occurs in the post-merger fast-moving dynamical ejecta and in two slower (0.05 times light speed) wind regions. Comparison with spectral models suggests that the merger ejected 0.03 to 0.05 solar masses of material, including high-opacity lanthanides.

Sub-Femto-g Free Fall for Space-Based Gravitational Wave Observatories: LISA Pathfinder Results.

We report the first results of the LISA Pathfinder in-flight experiment. The results demonstrate that two free-falling reference test masses, such as those needed for a space-based gravitational wave observatory like LISA, can be put in free fall with a relative acceleration noise with a square root of the power spectral density of 5.2±0.1 fm s^{-2}/sqrt[Hz], or (0.54±0.01)×10^{-15} g/sqrt[Hz], with g the standard gravity, for frequencies between 0.7 and 20 mHz. This value is lower than the LISA Pathfinder requirement by more than a factor 5 and within a factor 1.25 of the requirement for the LISA mission, and is compatible with Brownian noise from viscous damping due to the residual gas surrounding the test masses. Above 60 mHz the acceleration noise is dominated by interferometer displacement readout noise at a level of (34.8±0.3) fm/sqrt[Hz], about 2 orders of magnitude better than requirements. At f≤0.5 mHz we observe a low-frequency tail that stays below 12 fm s^{-2}/sqrt[Hz] down to 0.1 mHz. This performance would allow for a space-based gravitational wave observatory with a sensitivity close to what was originally foreseen for LISA.

Approaching Free Fall on Two Degrees of Freedom: Simultaneous Measurement of Residual Force and Torque on a Double Torsion Pendulum.

A torsion pendulum with 2 soft degrees of freedom (DOFs), realized by off-axis cascading two torsion fibers, has been built and operated. This instrument helps characterize the geodesic motion of a test mass for LISA Pathfinder or any other free-fall space mission, providing information on cross talk and other effects that cannot be detected when monitoring a single DOF. We show that it is possible to simultaneously measure both the residual force and the residual torque acting on a quasifree test mass. As an example of the investigations that a double pendulum allows, we report the measurement of the force-to-torque cross talk, i.e., the amount of actuation signal, produced by applying a force on the suspended test mass, that leaks into the rotational DOF, detected by measuring the corresponding (unwanted) torque.

[Some attributes of community structure of fishes in Laguna Grande de Obispo, Golfo Cariaco, Sucre State, Venezuela]. / Algunos atributos de la estructura comunitaria de la ictiofauna de la Laguna Grande de Obispo, Golfo de Cariaco, Venezuela.

Species composition, relative abundance, diversity and community structure of fishes were studied from monthly sampling during December 1995 to November 1996 in the Laguna Grande de Obispo, Gulf of Cariaco, Sucre State, Venezuela. Sampling were realised in 3 stations inside the lagoon with a small beach seine and the other 4 stations with a large beach seine. Seventy four species belonging to 33 families and 68 genera were identified of which 8 species dominated, constituting 90.43% of total catch. Mugil curema, Xenomelaniris brasiliensis, Opistonema oglinum, Atherinomorus stipes and Anchoa hepsetus were present in high abundance in the biomass. M. curema dominated the catch with large seine while X. brasiliensis, M. curema and Eucinostomus argenteus dominated the catch with small seine. Species diversity (H') ranged from 2.968-4.607 bits/ind and species richness of Margalef from 2.752-7.464. An inverse analysis realized on catches by small seine and based on nodal constancy and fidelity allowed to define a pattern of spatial distribution of 9 groups containing 1 to 11 species on the basis their abundance, frequency of appearance and ecological characteristics of each area. An analysis of correlation showed that the salinity, dissolved O2 and precipitation did not show any significant correlation with the ecological parameters studied but existed significant correlation with average surface water temperature (p < 0.05), number of species (S), individuals (N), diversity (H') and species richness (D). The positive correlation was found with surface temperature but no relationship with relative dominance (D1 and D2). The CPUE in biomass did not show any significant association with temperature.

[Spatial and temporal variation of the fish community inhabiting the Laguna Grande de Obispo, Gulf of Cariaco, Sucre State, Venezuela]. / Variacion espacio-temporal de la comunidad de peces en Laguna Grande de Obispo, Golfo de Caroaco, Estado Sucre, Venezuela.

The monthly species composition and the spatial and temporal variation of fish community of Laguna Grande de Obispo, Gulf of Canaco, Sucre State, Venezuela were analyzed. The samples were collected using two beach seines of different size from December 1995 to November 1996. A cluster analysis for stations inside the lagoon and time of capture showed 4 major groups, defined principally with ecological parameters of each area. Fishing with large seine in and outside the lagoon showed two large groups which were divided into 10 subgroups in function of station and time, while an inverse analysis of the same sample differentiated into 8 groups of species. based on distribution, dominance, and occurrence. Xenomeianiris brasiliensis, Mugil curema and Eucinostomus argenteus were the most abundant species in both time and space. An analysis of conglomerate on the whole fish community of the sampling period indicated the existence of two groups: i) the first half of the year including December 1995 and October 1996 and ii) the second half of the year. The distribution of fishes in relation to ecological factors is discussed.

Muscle/heart isoform of mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT1) is transiently expressed during perinatal development in rat liver.

A postnatal increase in the content of mitochondrial ANT in rat liver which is related to the maturation of mitochondrial function has previously been reported [Schönfeld et al., Biochim. Biophys Acta 1144 (1993) 353-358]. In order to define the contribution of the ANT isoforms to this postnatal increase we have studied the expression of ANT1 and ANT2 isoforms in the liver during this period. The results show that in contrast to adult liver, perinatal liver expressed the ANT1 isoform at the mRNA and protein level, and that during this period the expression of ANT1 increased to a similar extent as total ANT content. It is concluded that the postnatal increase in ANT is mainly due to the ANT1 isoform and therefore, a role for the ANT1 isoform in the postnatal maturation of mitochondrial respiration in rat liver is suggested.

Digital error-signal extraction technique for real-time automatic control of optical interferometers.

We describe an efficient and robust method for the extraction of the longitudinal error signal for the automatic control of optical interferometers, which can also be applied when the uncontrolled optical system spans hundreds of fringes. The method is based on classic modulation techniques (phase modulation, mechanical modulation, etc.), but extends their performances by the use of the information available only at the output photodiode. We digitally implemented such a method by following modular hardware and software architectures. We then tested the whole procedure in the automatic control of a suspended Michelson interferometer, showing its feasibility and the good performances.

Real-time digital control of optical interferometers by the mechanical-modulation technique.

We discuss the application of digital systems to the automatic control of dual-wave optical interferometers. We show that, if the mechanical-modulation technique is used for error-signal extraction, digital techniques can be used both for error-signal extraction and for control-signal generation. Therefore, apart from two front/end amplifiers that are necessary to match the dynamics of the detectors and actuators to the dynamics of the analog-to-digital converters and digital-to-analog converters, no other analog devices are required. In particular, the mechanical-modulation technique requires the synchronous demodulation of the photodiode output signal. Hence we need to implement a digital lock-in amplifier whose algorithm is described here. Finally, we describe one of the possible applications of this digital control procedure, such as the control of a classic Mach-Zehnder interferometer in air.