3,689 research outputs found
On the origin of exponential growth in induced earthquakes in Groningen
The Groningen gas field shows exponential growth in earthquakes event counts
around a magnitude M1 with a doubling time of 6-9 years since 2001. This
behavior is identified with dimensionless curvature in land subsidence, which
has been evolving at a constant rate over the last few decades {essentially
uncorrelated to gas production.} We demonstrate our mechanism by a tabletop
crack formation experiment. The observed skewed distribution of event
magnitudes is matched by that of maxima of event clusters with a normal
distribution. It predicts about one event \,M5 per day in 2025, pointing to
increasing stress to human living conditions.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Earthquakes and Structure
Numerical Integration of Nonlinear Wave Equations for General Relativity
A second-order numerical implementation is given for recently derived
nonlinear wave equations for general relativity. The Gowdy T cosmology is
used as a test bed for studying the accuracy and convergence of simulations of
one-dimensional nonlinear waves. The complete freedom in space-time slicing in
the present formulation is exploited to compute in the Gowdy line-element.
Second-order convergence is found by direct comparison of the results with
either analytical solutions for polarized waves, or solutions obtained from
Gowdy's reduced wave equations for the more general unpolarized waves. Some
directions for extensions are discussed.Comment: 19 pages (LaTex), 3 figures (ps
Past and future gauge in numerical relativity
Numerical relativity describes a discrete initial value problem for general
relativity. A choice of gauge involves slicing space-time into space-like
hypersurfaces. This introduces past and future gauge relative to the
hypersurface of present time. Here, we propose solving the discretized Einstein
equations with a choice of gauge in the future and a dynamical gauge in the
past. The method is illustrated on a polarized Gowdy wave.Comment: To appear in Class Quantum Grav, Let
Comparison of different objective functions for parameterization of simple respiration models
The eddy covariance measurements of carbon dioxide fluxes collected around the world offer a rich source for detailed data analysis. Simple, aggregated models are attractive tools for gap filling, budget calculation, and upscaling in space and time. Key in the application of these models is their parameterization and a robust estimate of the uncertainty and reliability of their predictions. In this study we compared the use of ordinary least squares (OLS) and weighted absolute deviations (WAD, which is the objective function yielding maximum likelihood parameter estimates with a double exponential error distribution) as objective functions within the annual parameterization of two respiration models: the Q10 model and the Lloyd and Taylor model. We introduce a new parameterization method based on two nonparametric tests in which model deviation (Wilcoxon test) and residual trend analyses (Spearman test) are combined. A data set of 9 years of flux measurements was used for this study. The analysis showed that the choice of the objective function is crucial, resulting in differences in the estimated annual respiration budget of up to 40%. The objective function should be tested thoroughly to determine whether it is appropriate for the application for which the model will be used. If simple models are used to estimate a respiration budget, a trend test is essential to achieve unbiased estimates over the year. The analyses also showed that the parameters of the Lloyd and Taylor model are highly correlated and difficult to determine precisely, thereby limiting the physiological interpretability of the parameter
Minimally Invasive Optical Biopsy for Oximetry
The study of localised oxygen saturation in blood vessels can shed light on the etiology and progression of
many diseases with which hypoxia is associated. For example, hypoxia in the tendon has been linked to early
stages of rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune inflammatory disease. Vascular oximetry of deep tissue presents
significant challenges as vessels are not optically accessible. In this paper, we present a novel multispectral
imaging technique for vascular oximetry, and recent developments made towards its adaptation for minimally
invasive imaging. We present proof-of-concept of the system and illumination scheme as well as the analysis
technique. We present results of a validation study performed in vivo on mice with acutely inflamed tendons.
Adaptation of the technique for minimally invasive microendoscopy is also presented, along with preliminary
results of minimally invasive ex vivo vascular oximetry
Uniqueness in MHD in divergence form: right nullvectors and well-posedness
Magnetohydrodynamics in divergence form describes a hyperbolic system of
covariant and constraint-free equations. It comprises a linear combination of
an algebraic constraint and Faraday's equations. Here, we study the problem of
well-posedness, and identify a preferred linear combination in this divergence
formulation. The limit of weak magnetic fields shows the slow magnetosonic and
Alfven waves to bifurcate from the contact discontinuity (entropy waves), while
the fast magnetosonic wave is a regular perturbation of the hydrodynamical
sound speed. These results are further reported as a starting point for
characteristic based shock capturing schemes for simulations with
ultra-relativistic shocks in magnetized relativistic fluids.Comment: To appear in J Math Phy
Gauge dependence and self-force from Galilean to Einsteinian free fall, compact stars falling into black holes, Hawking radiation and the Pisa tower at the general relativity centennial
(Short abstract). In Galilean physics, the universality of free fall implies
an inertial frame, which in turns implies that the mass m of the falling body
is omitted. Otherwise, an additional acceleration proportional to m/M would
rise either for an observer at the centre of mass of the system, or for an
observer at a fixed distance from the centre of mass of M. These elementary,
but overlooked, considerations fully respect the equivalence principle and the
identity of an inertial or a gravitational pull for an observer in the Einstein
cabin. They value as fore-runners of the self-force and gauge dependency in
general relativity. The approximate nature of Galilei's law of free fall is
explored herein. When stepping into general relativity, we report how the
geodesic free fall into a black hole was the subject of an intense debate again
centred on coordinate choice. Later, we describe how the infalling mass and the
emitted gravitational radiation affect the free fall motion of a body. The
general relativistic self-force might be dealt with to perfectly fit into a
geodesic conception of motion. Then, embracing quantum mechanics, real black
holes are not classical static objects any longer. Free fall has to handle the
Hawking radiation, and leads us to new perspectives on the varying mass of the
evaporating black hole and on the varying energy of the falling mass. Along the
paper, we also estimate our findings for ordinary masses being dropped from a
Galilean or Einsteinian Pisa-like tower with respect to the current state of
the art drawn from precise measurements in ground and space laboratories, and
to the constraints posed by quantum measurements. The appendix describes how
education physics and high impact factor journals discuss the free fall.
Finally, case studies conducted on undergraduate students and teachers are
reviewed
Scattering Lens Resolves sub-100 nm Structures with Visible Light
The smallest structures that conventional lenses are able to optically
resolve are of the order of 200 nm. We introduce a new type of lens that
exploits multiple scattering of light to generate a scanning nano-sized optical
focus. With an experimental realization of this lens in gallium phosphide we
have succeeded to image gold nanoparticles at 97 nm optical resolution. Our
work is the first lens that provides a resolution in the nanometer regime at
visible wavelengths.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Efficient and Practical Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones Catalyzed by a Simple Bidentate MnâNHC Complex
Catalytic reductions of carbonylâcontaining compounds are highly important for the safe, sustainable, and economical production of alcohols. Herein, we report on the efficient transfer hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by a highly potent Mn(I)âNHC complex. MnâNHC 1 is practical at metal concentrations as low as 75â
ppm, thus approaching loadings more conventionally reserved for noble metal based systems. With these low Mn concentrations, catalyst deactivation is found to be highly temperature dependent and becomes especially prominent at increased reaction temperature. Ultimately, understanding of deactivation pathways could help close the activity/stabilityâgap with Ru and Ir catalysts towards the practical implementation of sustainable earthâabundant Mnâcomplexes
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