Optical intra-day variability timescales and black hole mass of the blazars

In this paper, we have used optical intra-day variability archive data to calculate the central black hole masses and Eddington luminosities for nine blazars: 3C 66A, AO 0235+164, S5 0716+714, PKS 0735+178, OJ 287, 1215+303, 1216−010, 1308+326, PKS 1510−089, Mrk 501 and BL Lac using intra-day variability timescales and periodicity (if present). The calculated central black hole mass of these nine blazars using intra-day variability timescales are found to be in the range of 1.22-25.30 × 10⁷ M_⊙ and corresponding Eddington luminosity in the range of 1.58-32.88 × 10⁴⁵ erg s⁻¹. The black hole mass and Eddington luminosity are in the range of 0.32-31.23 × 10⁸ M_⊙ and 1.23-31.20 × 10⁴⁶ erg s⁻¹, respectively when optical Doppler factor is taken into account. The comparison show, our estimated values of black hole mass are consistent with earlier reported values. Periodicity were present in two blazars OJ 287 and 1216−010 which give the central black hole mass of these blazars in the range of 1.32-14.6 × 10⁷ M_⊙ and corresponding Eddington luminosity in the range of 1.60-19.0 × 10⁴⁵ erg s⁻¹, respectively.     

Geochemical and thermodynamic aspects of sorption of strontium on kaolinite dominated clay samples at Kalpakkam

The mobility of strontium in subsurface is largely influenced by sorption on to clay minerals. In the present study, kaolinite clay samples collected from the Kalpakkam nuclear plant site were employed to understand the sorption characteristics of strontium by batch method. The effect of several parameters such as time, strontium ion concentration, pH, temperature and ionic strength was investigated. The kinetic studies suggested pseudo-second-order mechanism. The experimental sorption data was fitted to Langmuir adsorption model for obtaining the sorption capacity of the sorbent. The maximum sorption capacity was 5.77 mg/g at 298 K and was found to increase with an increase in temperature. It was observed that the distribution coefficient (K _d) of strontium on clay increased as the pH of the solution increased. The distribution coefficient was found to decrease with an increase in concentration of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions. This variation of K _d suggests that cation exchange is the predominant sorption process. It was also observed that sorption process is endothermic. The thermodynamic parameters such as ∆G ⁰, ∆H ⁰ and ∆S ⁰ were calculated. The negative values obtained for ∆G ⁰ indicated that the sorption of strontium on clay was spontaneous at all studied concentrations. ∆G ⁰ becomes more negative with an increase in temperature, suggests that the sorption process is more favorable at higher temperatures.     

Near hydrothermal alteration of obsidian glass: Implications for long term performance assessments

Obsidian glass alteration experiments under near hydrothermal conditions were performed to study mechanism and conditions of formation of altered minerals. X-ray diffraction patterns and cell dimensions of the specimens treated at 150, 200 and 300°C (pH = 8.03) revealed appearance of three main minerals — illite (9.5–10 Å), chlorite (7.04 Å) and halloysite (10.25Å). Further increase in the pH favours matrix dissolution with the formation of secondary altered layers. SEM-EDS study show that the alteration causes smoothing of the grain surfaces. These surfaces exhibits etch pits and series of depressions, formed by the process of dissolution. SEM — Back Scattered Electron images of obsidian specimens show thin laminae of smectite, with foliated bulky rims and cellular honeycomb texture, formed by precipitation from the solution as well as by direct transformation of glass during alteration. This mechanism is resulting from the alteration of alkalis by ionic inter-diffusion with H₃O⁺ and H⁺ and inward diffusion of H₂O, leading to free diffusion of silica into solution and then to a local rearrangement of the glass framework. Thus, a direct transformation of glass into clay minerals is the major reaction mechanism as evidenced by the mechanism of glass dissolution and subsequent mineral precipitation.     

Generalized teleparallel gravity via some scalar field dark energy models

We consider generalized teleparallel gravity in the flat FRW universe with a viable power-law f(T) model. We construct its equation of state and deceleration parameters which give accelerated expansion of the universe in quintessence era for the obtained scale factor. Further, we develop correspondence of f(T) model with scalar field models such as, quintessence, tachyon, K-essence and dilaton. The dynamics of scalar field as well as scalar potential of these models indicate the expansion of the universe with acceleration in the f(T) gravity scenario.     

Atmospheric Dry Deposition to Marble and Red Stone

This paper presents dry deposition flux and deposition velocity of atmospheric particles on white marble and red stone at Dayalbagh, a suburban site of semi arid region, which is 10 km away from the industrial sector of the Agra city where due to agricultural practices vegetation predominates. The wind speed at Agra is mostly in the range of 1–2 m s^–1. The atmospheric calm conditions at Agra in summer, monsoon, and winter seasons are 47%, 35%, and 76%, respectively. Industrial areas of the city are away from Dayalbagh and are located in the NE, E, SE, and SW sectors. The main industrial activities, which are in operation in Agra city and its outskirts, are foundry and forging industry. The other industrial activities in Agra are rubber processing, lime oxidation and pulverization, chemicals, engineering and brick refractory kilns. Dry deposition samples were collected on dry days on white marble and red stone (0.224 m × 0.224 m × 0.02 m) using surface washing method. Both slabs were fixed to an iron stand (1.5 m height) at an angle of about 80 from the horizontal and exposed for 24 h on the roof of the faculty building. The order of deposition flux on white marble is NH₄⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > Cl^– > K⁺ > NO₃^– > SO₄^2– > F^– and that on red stone is NH₄⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > SO₄^2– > Na⁺ > NO₃^– > K⁺ > F^– > Cl^–. Average dry deposition flux of major ions varies from 3.4 to 128.5 M m^–2 d^–1. The sum of major cations on white marble and red stone are 516.4 and 450.4 eq m^–2 d^–1, respectively while sum of major anions are 425.3 and 400.4 eq m^–2 d^–1 on white marble and red stone, respectively. Higher deposition of all ions was observed when wind blows from NE as most of the Agra Iron foundries and Ferozabad glass industries lie in this direction. The mean values of dry deposition velocity of ions vary between 0.22 cm s^–1 to 1.49 cm s^–1. Deposition velocity for all ions is higher on white marble than red stone inspite of rougher surface of red stone as compared to white marble. This could be due to the chemical nature of white marble, which is made of dolomite and hence adds significant amount of ions by dissolution during washing. Seasonally the deposition velocity was highest in winter.     

A note on 2-D lithospheric deformation due to a blind strike-slip fault

Analytical solution for the problem of a surface-breaking long strike-slip fault in an elastic layer overlying an elastic half-space is well known. The purpose of this note is to obtain the corresponding solution for a blind fault. Since the solution is valid for arbitrary values of the fault-depth and the dip angle, the effects of these two important fault parameters can be studied numerically. The variation of the parallel displacement and shear stress with the distance from the fault is studied numerically for different values of the fault-depth and dip angle.     

A Long Term Study on Chemical Composition of Rainwater at Dayalbagh, a Suburban Site of Semiarid Region

Rainwater samples were collected for the monsoon period of 1988 and 1991–1996 at Dayalbagh (Agra), a suburban site situated in semiaridregion. The mean pH was 7.01 ±1.03 well above 5.6, which is the reference pH. Concentration of Ca²⁺ was observed to be highest followed by Mg²⁺, NH₄ ⁺,SO₄ ^2–, Cl^–,NO₃ ^–, Na⁺, F^– and K⁺. The ratios of SO₄ ^2– + NO₃ ^– andCa²⁺ + Mg²⁺ (TA/TC) have been considered as indicatorfor acidity. In the Agra region ratio of TA/TC is quite below 1.0 indicating alkaline nature of rainwater. The lowest value of 0.24 was observed in 1991 likely due to the lowest rain depth of the decade. The highest value of 0.54 was observed in 1996, a year with a large rain depth and increase in line (vehicular traffic) and area sources (population growth). Good correlation between Ca²⁺ and NO₃ ^–,Ca²⁺ and SO₄ ^2– andSO₄ ^2– and NO₃ ^–,indicates that wind carried dust and soil play a significant role in neutralization of precipitation acidity.     

Spatial distribution of altered minerals in the Gadag Schist Belt (GSB) of Karnataka,Southern India using hyperspectral remote sensing data

Spatial distribution of altered minerals in rocks and soils in the Gadag Schist Belt (GSB) is carried out using Hyperion data of March 2013. The entire spectral range is processed with emphasis on VNIR (0.4–1.0 μm) and SWIR regions (2.0–2.4 μm). Processing methodology includes Fast Line-of-sight Atmospheric Analysis of Spectral Hypercubes correction, minimum noise fraction transformation, spectral feature fitting (SFF) and spectral angle mapper (SAM) in conjunction with spectra collected, using an analytical spectral device spectroradiometer. A total of 155 bands were analysed to identify and map the major altered minerals by studying the absorption bands between the 0.4–1.0-μm and 2.0–2.3-μm wavelength regions. The most important and diagnostic spectral absorption features occur at 0.6–0.7 μm, 0.86 and at 0.9 μm in the VNIR region due to charge transfer of crystal field effect in the transition elements, whereas absorption near 2.1, 2.2, 2.25 and 2.33 μm in the SWIR region is related to the bending and stretching of the bonds in hydrous minerals (Al-OH, Fe-OH and Mg-OH), particularly in clay minerals. SAM and SFF techniques are implemented to identify the minerals present. A score of 0.33–1 was assigned for both SAM and SFF, where a value of 1 indicates the exact mineral type. However, endmember spectra were compared with United States Geological Survey and John Hopkins University spectral libraries for minerals and soils. Five minerals, i.e. kaolinite-5, kaolinite-2, muscovite, haematite, kaosmec and one soil, i.e. greyish brown loam have been identified. Greyish brown loam and kaosmec have been mapped as the major weathering/altered products present in soils and rocks of the GSB. This was followed by haematite and kaolinite. The SAM classifier was then applied on a Hyperion image to produce a mineral map. The dominant lithology of the area included greywacke, argillite and granite gneiss.     

Static deformation of two welded half-spaces due to dip-slip faulting

Closed-form expressions for the displacements and stresses at any point of either of two elastic half-spaces in welded contact caused by a dip-slip line source obtained earlier are integrated analytically to derive the elastic residual field due to a long dip-slip fault of finite width. The results are valid for an arbitrary dip of the fault. The variation of the displacement field with the distance from the fault as well as with the distance from the interface is studied numerically. It is found that the displacement field is heavily dependent on the dip angle. Contour maps showing the residual elastic field in the two half-spaces caused by a vertical dip-slip fault located in one of the half-spaces are also obtained.