1. Investigation of the potential of waste gasification systems in achieving sustainable waste management practices and exploring their potential to contribute to the circular economy : master's thesisAnđela Korać, 2024, magistrsko delo Opis: Waste management is a global problem, as waste production continues to rise, and the methods used today, such as landfilling and incineration, can cause many environmental issues. Waste gasification, among other technologies, is a promising alternative since waste is turned into useful energy resources and reduces emissions with the formation of syngas. Thus, this thesis investigated the potential of waste gasification systems in sustainable waste management and circular economy. Focusing on its energy and economic potential, modeling methods were used to recreate real-world systems, with the goal of properly estimating the true sustainability potential of the waste gasification systems. Biomass gasification was evaluated through thorough thermodynamics and economic analysis. Although the initial calculations failed to provide positive results by showing the energy of 54 MJ, instead of the expected energy release, further analysis with the optimized conditions and different assumptions, provided more accurate results. By increasing the share of oxidized CO from 10% to 25%, and reducing the wet material from 35% to 10%, total released heat was estimated to be −148.9 MJ. With the right assumptions, the gasification process was proved to provide good energy values necessary for the sustainability of such a process. Additionally, the financial analysis produced a high Net Present Value (NPV) of EUR 3,434,411.46, Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 21.81%, and a short payback period (PP) of 4.48 years, hence proving the strong economic potential and financial strength of such technology. Therefore, biomass waste gasification was concluded to be a positive investment opportunity with valuable long-term economic benefits, while still providing good energy balance. Ključne besede: waste, gasification, energy, circular economy, emission Objavljeno v RUNG: 18.12.2024; Ogledov: 269; Prenosov: 2 Celotno besedilo (2,16 MB) |
2. Impact of dust source patchiness on the existence of a constant dust flux layer during aeolian erosion eventsSylvain Dupont, Martina Klose, M. R. Irvine, Cristina González-Flórez, A. Alastuey, J.-M. Bonnefond, P. Dagsson‐Waldhauserova, Adolfo Gonzalez-Romero, Tareq Hussein, Jesús Yus-Díez, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Abstract
Dust emission fluxes during wind soil erosion are usually estimated using a dust concentration vertical gradient, by assuming a constant dust flux layer between the surface and the dust measurement levels. Here, we investigate the existence of this layer during erosion events recorded in Iceland and Jordan. Size‐resolved dust fluxes were estimated at three levels between 2 and 4 m using the eddy‐covariance method. Dust fluxes were found mainly constant only between the two upper levels in Iceland, the lower dust flux being often stronger and richer in coarse particles, while dust fluxes in Jordan were nearly constant across all levels. The wind dynamics could not explain the absence of a constant dust flux layer in Iceland. We show that the presence of stationary dust source patches in Iceland, related to surface humidity, created a non‐uniform dust layer near the surface, named dust roughness sublayer (DRSL), where individual plumes behind each patch interact but do not fully mix. The lowest dust measurement level was probably located within this sublayer while the upper ones were located above, such that there the emitted dust became spatially well‐mixed. This explains near the surface in Iceland, the more intermittent dust concentration, its low correlation with the dust concentrations above, and the richer dust flux in coarse particles due to their lower deposition contribution. Our findings highlight the importance of estimating dust fluxes above a dust blending height whose characteristics depend on the dust source patchiness caused by surface humidity or the presence of sparse non‐erosive elements. Ključne besede: dust emission, turbulence, dust fluxes, dust source patchiness Objavljeno v RUNG: 29.11.2024; Ogledov: 378; Prenosov: 1 Celotno besedilo (5,95 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Large-scale cosmic-ray anisotropies with 19 yr of data from the Pierre Auger ObservatoryA. Abdul Halim, P. Abreu, M. Aglietta, Ingo Allekotte, K. Almeida Cheminant, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: We present results of the measurement of large-scale anisotropies in the arrival directions of
ultra–high-energy cosmic rays detected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during 19 yr of operation,
prior to AugerPrime, the upgrade of the observatory. The 3D dipole amplitude and direction are
reconstructed above 4 EeV in four energy bins. Besides the established dipolar anisotropy in right
ascension above 8 EeV, the Fourier amplitude of the 8–16 EeV energy bin is now also above the 5σ
discovery level. No time variation of the dipole moment above 8 EeV is found, setting an upper limit
to the rate of change of such variations of 0.3% per year at the 95% confidence level. Additionally,
the results for the angular power spectrum are shown, demonstrating no other statistically
significant multipoles. The results for the equatorial dipole component down to 0.03 EeV are
presented, using for the first time a data set obtained with a trigger that has been optimized for
lower energies. Finally, model predictions are discussed and compared with observations, based
on two source emission scenarios obtained in the combined fit of spectrum and composition above 0.6 EeV. Ključne besede: ultra–high-energy cosmic rays, UHECRs, UHECR anisotropies, Pierre Auger Observatory, dipolar anisotropy in right ascension, Fourier amplitude analysis, angular power spectrum, equatorial dipole component, UHECR source emission scenarios Objavljeno v RUNG: 26.11.2024; Ogledov: 364; Prenosov: 0 Celotno besedilo (1,16 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
4. Prospects for a survey of the galactic plane with the Cherenkov Telescope ArrayK. Abe, Saptashwa Bhattacharyya, Judit Pérez Romero, Samo Stanič, Veronika Vodeb, Serguei Vorobiov, Gabrijela Zaharijas, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Miha Živec, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Approximately one hundred sources of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma rays are known in the Milky Way, detected with a combination of targeted observations and surveys. A survey of the entire Galactic Plane in the energy range from a few tens of GeV to a few hundred TeV has been proposed as a Key Science Project for the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). This article presents the status of the studies towards the Galactic Plane Survey (GPS). We build and make publicly available a sky model that combines data from recent observations of known gamma-ray emitters with state-of-the-art physically-driven models of synthetic populations of the three main classes of established Galactic VHE sources (pulsar wind nebulae, young and interacting supernova remnants, and compact binary systems), as well as of interstellar emission from cosmic-ray interactions in the Milky Way. We also perform an optimisation of the observation strategy (pointing pattern and scheduling) based on recent estimations of the instrument performance. We use the improved sky model and observation strategy to simulate GPS data corresponding to a total observation time of 1620 hours spread over ten years. Data are then analysed using the methods and software tools under development for real data. Under our model assumptions and for the realisation considered, we show that the GPS has the potential to increase the number of known Galactic VHE emitters by almost a factor of five. This corresponds to the detection of more than two hundred pulsar wind nebulae and a few tens of supernova remnants at average integral fluxes one order of magnitude lower than in the existing sample above 1 TeV, therefore opening the possibility to perform unprecedented population studies. The GPS also has the potential to provide new VHE detections of binary systems and pulsars, to confirm the existence of a hypothetical population of gamma-ray pulsars with an additional TeV emission component, and to detect bright sources capable of accelerating particles to PeV energies (PeVatrons). Furthermore, the GPS will constitute a pathfinder for deeper follow-up observations of these source classes. Finally, we show that we can extract from GPS data an estimate of the contribution to diffuse emission from unresolved sources, and that there are good prospects of detecting interstellar emission and statistically distinguishing different scenarios. Thus, a survey of the entire Galactic plane carried out from both hemispheres with CTAO will ensure a transformational advance in our knowledge of Galactic VHE source populations and interstellar emission. Ključne besede: very-high-energy gamma rays, Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory, CTAO Galactic Plane Survey, galactic cosmic rays, pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants, galactic PeVatrons, binary systems, diffuse emission Objavljeno v RUNG: 28.10.2024; Ogledov: 502; Prenosov: 0 Celotno besedilo (4,26 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
5. Emission of volatile organic compounds from residential biomass burning and their rapid chemical transformationsMaximillien Desservettaz, Michael Pikridas, Iasonas Stavroulas, Aikaterini Bougiatioti, Eleni Liakakou, Nikolaos Hatzianastassiou, Jean Sciare, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, Efstratios Bourtsoukidis, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Biomass combustion releases a complex array of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that pose significant challenges to air quality and human health. Although biomass burning has been extensively studied at ecosystem levels, understanding the atmospheric transformation and impact on air quality of emissions in urban environments remains challenging due to complex sources and burning materials. In this study, we investigate the VOC emission rates and atmospheric chemical processing of predominantly wood burning emissions in a small urban centre in Greece. Ioannina is situated in a valley within the Dinaric Alps and experiences intense atmospheric pollution accumulation during winter due to its topography and high wood burning activity. During pollution event days, the ambient mixing ratios of key VOC species were found to be similar to those reported for major urban centres worldwide. Positive matrix factorisation (PMF) analysis revealed that biomass burning was the dominant emission source (>50 %), representing two thirds of OH reactivity, which indicates a highly reactive atmospheric mixture. Calculated OH reactivity ranges from 5 s−1 to an unprecedented 278 s−1, and averages at 93 ± 66 s−1 at 9 PM, indicating the presence of exceptionally reactive VOCs. The highly pronounced photochemical formation of organic acids coincided with the formation of ozone, highlighting the significance of secondary formation of pollutants in poorly ventilated urban areas. Our findings underscore the pressing need to transition from wood burning to environmentally friendly sources of energy in poorly ventilated urban areas, in order to improve air quality and safeguard public health. Ključne besede: biomass burning, urban air quality, VOCs, emission factors, source apportionment Objavljeno v RUNG: 13.05.2024; Ogledov: 1111; Prenosov: 5 Celotno besedilo (8,93 MB) |
6. The Cherenkov Telescope ArrayDaniel Mazin, Christopher Eckner, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Gabrijela Zaharijas, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2019, objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci Opis: The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the next generation ground-based observatory
for gamma-ray astronomy at very-high energies. It will be capable of detecting gamma rays in the energy range from 20 GeV to more than 300 TeV with unprecedented precision in energy and directional reconstruction. With more than 100 telescopes of three different types it will be located in the northern hemisphere at La Palma, Spain, and in the southern
at Paranal, Chile. CTA will be one of the largest astronomical infrastructures in the world with open data access and it will address questions in astronomy, astrophysics and fundamental physics in the next decades. In this presentation we will focus on the status
of the CTA construction, the status of the telescope prototypes and highlight some of the physics perspectives. Ključne besede: very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy, Cherenkov Telescope Array, CTA sensitivity, gamma-ray bursts, POpulation Synthesis Theory Integrated project for very high-energy emission Objavljeno v RUNG: 04.12.2023; Ogledov: 2044; Prenosov: 6 Celotno besedilo (27,92 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
7. POSyTIVE : a GRB population study for the Cherenkov Telescope ArrayMaria Grazia Bernardini, Christopher Eckner, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Gabrijela Zaharijas, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2019, objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci Opis: One of the central scientific goals of the next-generation Cherenkov Telescope Array
(CTA) is the detection and characterization of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). CTA will be sensitive to gamma rays with energies from about 20 GeV, up to a few hundred TeV.
The energy range below 1 TeV is particularly important for GRBs. CTA will allow exploration of this regime with a ground-based gamma-ray facility with unprecedented sensitivity.
As such, it will be able to probe radiation and particle acceleration mechanisms at work in GRBs. In this contribution, we describe POSyTIVE, the POpulation Synthesis Theory Integrated project for very high-energy emission. The purpose of the project is to make realistic predictions for the detection rates of GRBs with CTA, to enable studies
of individual simulated GRBs, and to perform preparatory studies for time-resolved
spectral analyses. The mock GRB population used by POSyTIVE is calibrated using the entire 40-year dataset of multi-wavelength GRB observations. As part of this project we explore theoretical models for prompt and afterglow emission of long and short GRBs,
and predict the expected radiative output. Subsequent analyses are performed
in order to simulate the observations with CTA, using the publicly available ctools and Gammapy frameworks. We present preliminary results of the design and implementation
of this project. Ključne besede: very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy, Cherenkov Telescope Array, CTA sensitivity, gamma-ray bursts, population Synthesis Theory, very high-energy emission Objavljeno v RUNG: 04.12.2023; Ogledov: 2922; Prenosov: 3 Celotno besedilo (1,50 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
8. Wavelength-resolved reverberation mapping of quasar CTS C30.10: Dissecting Mg II and Fe II emission regionsRaj Prince, Michal Zajaček, Bożena Czerny, Piotr Trzcionkowski, Mateusz Bronikowski, Catalina Sobrino Figaredo, Swayamtrupta Panda, Mary Loli Martinez-Aldama, Krzysztof Hryniewicz, Vikram Kumar Jaiswal, Marzena Śniegowska, Mohammad-Hassan Naddaf, Maciej Bilicki, Martin Haas, Marek Jacek Sarna, Vladimir Karas, Aleksandra Olejak, Robert Przyłuski, Mateusz Rałowski, Andrzej Udalski, Ramotholo R. Sefako, Anja Genade, Hannah L. Worters, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Context. We present the results of the reverberation monitoring of the Mg II broad line and Fe II pseudocontinuum for the luminous quasar CTS C30.10 (z = 0.90052) with the Southern African Large Telescope in 2012–2021.
Aims. We aimed at disentangling the Mg II and UV Fe II variability and the first measurement of UV Fe II time delay for a distant quasar.
Methods. We used several methods for the time-delay measurements and determined the Fe II and Mg II time delays. We also performed a wavelength-resolved time delay study for a combination of Mg II and Fe II in the 2700–2900 Å rest-frame wavelength range.
Results. We obtain a time delay for Mg II of 275.5−19.5+12.4 days in the rest frame, and we have two possible solutions of 270.0−25.3+13.8 days and 180.3−30.0+26.6 in the rest frame for Fe II. Combining this result with the old measurement of Fe II UV time delay for NGC 5548, we discuss for first time the radius-luminosity relation for UV Fe II with the slope consistent with 0.5 within the uncertainties.
Conclusions. Because the Fe II time delay has a shorter time-delay component but the lines are narrower than Mg II, we propose that the line-delay measurement is biased toward the part of the broad line region (BLR) facing the observer. The bulk of the Fe II emission may arise from the more distant BLR region, however, the region that is shielded from the observer. Ključne besede: accretion, accretion disks / quasars: emission lines / quasars: individual: CTS C30.10 / techniques: spectroscopic / techniques: photometric Objavljeno v RUNG: 13.11.2023; Ogledov: 1985; Prenosov: 5 Celotno besedilo (3,50 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
9. Wavelength-resolved reverberation mapping of intermediate-redshift quasars HE 0413-4031 and HE 0435-4312 : dissecting Mg II, optical Fe II, and UV Fe II emission regionsRaj Prince, Michal Zajaček, Swayamtrupta Panda, Krzysztof Hryniewicz, Vikram Kumar Jaiswal, Bożena Czerny, Piotr Trzcionkowski, Mateusz Bronikowski, Mateusz Rałowski, Catalina Sobrino Figaredo, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Context. We present the wavelength-resolved reverberation mapping (RM) of combined Mg II and UV Fe II broad-line emissions for two intermediate-redshift (z ∼ 1), luminous quasars, HE 0413-4031 and HE 0435-4312, monitored by the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and 1m class telescopes between 2012 and 2022.
Aims. Using a wavelength-resolved technique, we aim to disentangle the Mg II and Fe II emission regions and to build a radius–luminosity (R–L) relation for UV Fe II emission, which has so far remained unconstrained.
Methods. We applied several time-delay methodologies to constrain the time delays for total Mg II and Fe II emissions. In addition, wavelength-resolved RM is performed to quantify the inflow or outflow of broad-line region (BLR) gas around the supermassive black hole and to disentangle the emission and the emitting regions based on lines produced in proximity to each other.
Results. The mean total FeII time delay is nearly equal to the mean total MgII time delay for HE 0435-4312, suggesting the co-spatiality of their emission regions. However, in HE 0413-4031, the mean FeII time delay is found to be longer than the mean MgII time delay, suggesting that FeII emission is produced at greater distances from the black hole. The UV FeII R–L relation is updated with these two quasars (now four in total) and compared with the optical FeII relation (20 sources), which suggests that the optical FeII emission region is located further than the UV FeII region by a factor of 1.7–1.9, that is, RFeII-opt ∼ (1.7 − 1.9)RFeII-UV.
Conclusion. Wavelength-resolved reverberation is an efficient way to constrain the geometry and structure of the BLR. We detected a weak pattern in the time delay versus wavelength relation, suggesting that the MgII broad line originates from a region slightly closer to the SMBH than the UV FeII pseudo continuum, although the difference is not very significant. Comparison of MgII, UV, and optical FeII R–L relations suggests that the difference may be greater for lower-luminosity sources, possibly with the MgII emission originating further from the SMBH. In the future, more RM data will be acquired, allowing better constraints on these trends, in particular the UV FeII R–L relation. Ključne besede: accretion, accretion disks, emission lines, photometric, spectroscopic Objavljeno v RUNG: 13.11.2023; Ogledov: 2190; Prenosov: 5 Celotno besedilo (2,92 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
10. Insights into the size-resolved dust emission from field measurements in the Moroccan SaharaCristina González-Flórez, Martina Klose, Andrés Alastuey, Sylvain Dupont, Jerónimo Escribano, Vicken Etyemezian, Adolfo Gonzalez-Romero, Yue Huang, Konrad Kandler, Jesús Yus-Díez, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Atmospheric mineral dust consists of tiny mineral particles that are emitted by wind erosion from arid regions. Its particle size distribution (PSD) affects its impact on the Earth's system. Nowadays, there is an incomplete understanding of the emitted dust PSD and a lot of debate about its variability. Here, we try to address these issues based on the measurements performed during a wind erosion and dust emission field campaign in the Moroccan Sahara within the framework of FRAGMENT project. Ključne besede: aerosol particles, mineral dust, emission processes, climate Objavljeno v RUNG: 23.10.2023; Ogledov: 1987; Prenosov: 7 Celotno besedilo (23,38 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |