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We present a fully self-consistent simulation of a synthetic survey of the furthermost cosmic explosions. The appearance of the first generation of stars (Population III) in the Universe represents a critical point during cosmic evolution, signaling the end of the dark ages, a period of absence of light sources. Despite their importance, there is no confirmed detection of Population III stars so far. A fraction of these primordial stars are expected to die as pair-instability supernovae (PISNe), and should be bright enough to be observed up to a few hundred million years after the big bang. While the quest for Population III stars continues, detailed theoretical models and computer simulations serve as a testbed for their observability. With the upcoming near-infrared missions, estimates of the feasibility of detecting PISNe are not only timely but imperative. To address this problem, we combine state-of-the-art cosmological and radiative simulations into a complete and self-consistent framework, which includes detailed features of the observational process. We show that a dedicated observational strategy using $\lesssim 8$ per cent of total allocation time of the James Webb Space Telescope mission can provide us up to $\sim 9-15$ detectable PISNe per year., Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. Minor corrections added to match published version

To answer questions on the start and duration of the epoch of reionisation, periods of galaxy mergers and properties of other cosmological encounters, the cosmic star formation history (CSFH), is of fundamental importance. Using the association of long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) with the death of massive stars and their ultra-luminous nature, the CSFH can be probed to higher redshifts than current conventional methods. Unfortunately, no consensus has been reached on the manner in which the LGRB rate (LGRBR) traces the CSFH, leaving many of the questions mentioned mostly unexplored by this method. Observations by the GRB NIR detector (GROND) over the past 4 years have, for the first time, acquired highly complete LGRB samples. Driven by these completeness levels and new evidence of LGRBs also occurring in more massive and metal rich galaxies than previously thought, the possible biases of the LGRBR-CSFH connection are investigated over a large range of galaxy properties. The CSFH is modelled using empirical fits to the galaxy mass function and galaxy star formation rates. Biasing the CSFH by metallicity cuts, mass range boundaries, and other unknown redshift dependencies, a LGRBR is generated and compared to the highly complete GROND sample. It is found that there is no strong preference for a metallicity cut or fixed galaxy mass boundaries and that there are no unknown redshift effects, in contrast to previous work which suggest values of Z/Z_sun~0.1-0.3. From the best-fit models, we predict that ~1.2% of the LGRB burst sample exists above z=6. The linear relationship between the LGRBR and the CSFH suggested by our results implies that redshift biases present in previous LGRB samples significantly affect the inferred dependencies of LGRBs on their host galaxy properties. Such biases can lead to, e.g., an interpretation of metallicity limitations and evolving LGRB luminosity functions., Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures, 7 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

We investigate the synthesis of kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) polycrystalline thin films using cosputtering from binary sulfide targets followed by annealing in sulfur vapor at 500 {\deg}C to 650 {\deg}C. The films are the kesterite CZTS phase as indicated by x-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and optical absorption measurements. The films exhibit (112) fiber texture and preferred low-angle and Sigma3 grain boundary populations which have been demonstrated to reduce recombination in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and CdTe films. The grain growth kinetics are investigated as functions of temperature and the addition of Na. Significantly, lateral grain sizes above 1 um are demonstrated for samples grown on Na-free glass,demonstrating the feasibility for CZTS growth on substrates other than soda lime glass.

The first stars were key drivers of early cosmic evolution. We review the main physical elements of the current consensus view, positing that the first stars were predominantly very massive. We continue with a discussion of important open questions that confront the standard model. Among them are uncertainties in the atomic and molecular physics of the hydrogen and helium gas, the multiplicity of stars that form in minihalos, and the possible existence of two separate modes of metal-free star formation., Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures. To appear in the conference proceedings for IAU Symposium 255: Low-Metallicity Star Formation: From the First Stars to Dwarf Galaxies

This semi-expository paper surveys results concerning three classes of orthogonal polynomials: in one non-hermitian variable, in several isometric non-commuting variables, and in several hermitian non-commuting variables. The emphasis is on some dilation theoretic techniques that are also described in some details., Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures

In this paper we continue to explore the connection between tensor algebras and displacement structure. We focus on recursive orthonormalization and we develop an analogue of the Szego type theory of orthogonal polynomials in the unit circle for several noncommuting variables. Thus, we obtain the recurrence equations and Christoffel-Darboux type formulas, as well as a Favard type result. Also we continue to study a Szego kernel for the N-dimnesional unit ball of an infinite dimensional Hilbert space., Comment: 17 pages

In this paper we explore the connection between tensor algebras and displacement structure. We describe a scattering experiment in this framework, we obtain a realization of the elements of the tensor algebra as transfer maps of a certain class of nonstationary linear systems, and we describe a Schur algorithm for the Schur elements of the tensor algebra., Comment: 17 pages

In this paper we formulate and solve Nevanlinna-Pick and Carath\'eodory type problems for tensor algebras with data given on the N-dimensional operator unit ball of a Hilbert space. We develop an approach based on the displacement structure theory., Comment: 10 pages