Linear response formula for piecewise expanding unimodal maps

The average R(t) of a smooth function with respect to the SRB measure of a smooth one-parameter family f_t of piecewise expanding interval maps is not always Lipschitz. We prove that if f_t is tangent to the topological class of f_0, then R(t) is differentiable at zero, and the derivative coincides with the resummation previously proposed by the first named author of the (a priori divergent) series given by Ruelle's conjecture.Comment: We added Theorem 7.1 which shows that the horizontality condition is necessary. The paper "Smooth deformations..." containing Thm 2.8 is now available on the arxiv; see also Corrigendum arXiv:1205.5468 (to appear Nonlinearity 2012

AFTER, the front end ASIC of the T2K Time Projection Chambers

The T2K (Tokai-to-Kamioka) experiment is a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment in Japan. A near detector, located at 280m of the production target, is used to characterize the beam. One of its key elements is a tracker, made of three Time Projection Chambers (TPC) read by Micromegas endplates. A new readout system has been developed to collect, amplify, condition and acquire the data produced by the 124,000 detector channels of these detectors. The front-end element of this system is a a new 72-channel application specific integrated circuit. Each channel includes a low noise charge preamplifier, a pole zero compensation stage, a second order Sallen-Key low pass filter and a 511-cell Switched Capacitor Array. This electronics offers a large flexibility in sampling frequency, shaping time, gain, while taking advantage of the low physics events rate of 0.3 Hz. We detail the design and the performance of this ASIC and report on the deployment of the frond-end electronics on-site

On the recurrence and robust properties of Lorenz'63 model

Lie-Poisson structure of the Lorenz'63 system gives a physical insight on its dynamical and statistical behavior considering the evolution of the associated Casimir functions. We study the invariant density and other recurrence features of a Markov expanding Lorenz-like map of the interval arising in the analysis of the predictability of the extreme values reached by particular physical observables evolving in time under the Lorenz'63 dynamics with the classical set of parameters. Moreover, we prove the statistical stability of such an invariant measure. This will allow us to further characterize the SRB measure of the system.Comment: 44 pages, 7 figures, revised version accepted for pubblicatio

The entropy of alpha-continued fractions: numerical results

We consider the one-parameter family of interval maps arising from generalized continued fraction expansions known as alpha-continued fractions. For such maps, we perform a numerical study of the behaviour of metric entropy as a function of the parameter. The behaviour of entropy is known to be quite regular for parameters for which a matching condition on the orbits of the endpoints holds. We give a detailed description of the set M where this condition is met: it consists of a countable union of open intervals, corresponding to different combinatorial data, which appear to be arranged in a hierarchical structure. Our experimental data suggest that the complement of M is a proper subset of the set of bounded-type numbers, hence it has measure zero. Furthermore, we give evidence that the entropy on matching intervals is smooth; on the other hand, we can construct points outside of M on which it is not even locally monotone.Comment: 33 pages, 14 figure

Bulk micromegas detectors for large TPC applications

A large volume TPC will be used in the near future in a variety of experiments including T2K. The bulk Micromegas detector for this TPC is built using a novel production technique particularly suited for compact and robust low mass detectors. The capability to pave a large surface with a simple mounting solution and small dead space between modules is of particular interest for these applications. We have built several large bulk Micromegas detectors (27 x 26 cm2) and we have tested them in the former HARP field cage setup with a magnetic field. Cosmic ray data have been acquired in a variety of experimental conditions. Good detector performances and space point resolution have been achieved

Time projection chambers for the T2K near detectors

The T2K experiment is designed to study neutrino oscillation properties by directing a high intensity neutrino beam produced at J-PARC in Tokai, Japan, towards the large Super-Kamiokande detector located 295 km away, in Kamioka, Japan. The experiment includes a sophisticated near detector complex, 280 m downstream of the neutrino production target in order to measure the properties of the neutrino beam and to better understand neutrino interactions at the energy scale below a few GeV. A key element of the near detectors is the ND280 tracker, consisting of two active scintillator-bar target systems surrounded by three large time projection chambers (TPCs) for charged particle tracking. The data collected with the tracker is used to study charged current neutrino interaction rates and kinematics prior to oscillation, in order to reduce uncertainties in the oscillation measurements by the far detector. The tracker is surrounded by the former UA1/Nomad dipole magnet and the TPCs measure the charges, momenta, and particle types of charged particles passing through them. Novel features of the TPC design include its rectangular box layout constructed from composite panels, the use of bulk micromegas detectors for gas amplification, electronics readout based on a new ASIC, and a photoelectron calibration system. This paper describes the design and construction of the TPCs, the micromegas modules, the readout electronics, the gas handling system, and shows the performance of the TPCs as deduced from measurements with particle beams, cosmic rays, and the calibration system

La construction communicationnelle du patrimoine : la mise en texte d’une candidature à la labellisation UNESCO

International audienc

Evidence of a positive effect of hydrolysis rate of fish peptones on Escherichia coli culture kinetics.

International audienceThe aim of this work was to evaluate the potential use of a fish hydrolysate as microbial substrate, and the effect of an increased (acidic) hydrolysis rate on the cell yield. With this objective, we compared E. coli growth kinetics on fish hydrolysates and on casein hydrolysates as a reference. We measured lag-phase durations, growth rates in exponential phase, and maximum cell densities. On casein hydrolysates, the lag phase was shorter, and the growth rate and maximum cell density were higher as compared to that on fish protein hydrolysates. For both substrates, when the concentration in the medium was increased five times, the maximum cell density was also increased approximately five times, showing that the quality, or the concentration, of these nitrogen sources were the limiting factors in our conditions. Following hot hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of both enzymatic hydrolysates, both substrates showed an approximately 170% increase of the maximum cell density compared to the untreated ones. These results suggest that the rate of hydrolysis of proteins dramatically affects the final cell density in cultures. Therefore, at least for our E. coli strain, the quality of the protein hydrolysate seems to be highly related to the hydrolysis rate