26,301 research outputs found
UV driven evaporation of close-in planets: energy-limited; recombination-limited and photon-limited flows
We have investigated the evaporation of close-in exoplanets irradiated by
ionizing photons. We find that the properties of the flow are controlled by the
ratio of the recombination time to the flow time-scale. When the recombination
time-scale is short compared to the flow time-scale the the flow is in
approximate local ionization equilibrium with a thin ionization front, where
the photon mean free path is short compared to flow scale. In this
"recombination limited" flow the mass-loss scales roughly with the square root
of the incident flux. When the recombination time is long compared to the flow
time-scale the ionization front becomes thick and encompasses the entire flow,
with the mass-loss rate scaling linearly with flux. If the planet's potential
is deep the flow is approximately "energy-limited"; however, if the planet's
potential is shallow we identify a new limiting mass-loss regime, which we term
"photon-limited". In this scenario the mass-loss rate is purely limited by the
incoming flux of ionizing photons. We have developed a new numerical approach
that takes into account the frequency dependence of the incoming ionizing
spectrum and performed a large suite of 1D simulations to characterise UV
driven mass-loss around low mass planets. We find the flow is
"recombination-limited" at high fluxes but becomes "energy-limited" at low
fluxes; however, the transition is broad occurring over several order of
magnitude in flux. Finally, we point out the transitions between the different
flow types does not occur at a single flux value, but depends on the planet's
properties, with higher mass planets becoming "energy-limited" at lower fluxes.Comment: Published in Ap
Short-term effect of soil disturbance by mechanical weeding on plant available nutrients in an organic vs conventional rotations experiment
The question whether soil disturbance from mechanical weeding in organic systems affects nutrient release from organic matter in compost-amended soil was examined in a long-term organic-versus-conventional rotational cropping system experiment over three years. The experimental design included continuous snap beans, and a fully phased snap beans/fall rye crop rotation sequence. Treatments were combinations of yearly applied fertiliser (synthetic fertiliser, 1× compost, 3× compost) and weed control (herbicide, mechanical weeding). The 1× compost rate was calculated to deliver the equivalent of 50 kg N ha-1: equal to the rate ofN in the synthetic fertiliser treatments. Ion exchange membranes were buried for 24 hours following mechanical weeding in bean plots. Adsorbed ions were then eluted and quantified. Available ammonium-nitrogen was not affected byweeding treatment, but nitrate-nitrogen was consistently less in mechanically weeded plots than in plots treated with herbicide. Principal component analysis of NH4-N, NO3-N, P, K, Ca and Mg availabilities showed distinct groupings of treatments according to fertility treatment rather than weeding treatment. The effect of cropping sequence on available nutrients was pronounced (P ≤ 0.001) only in plots amended with synthetic fertilisers
A Stronger Theorem Against Macro-realism
Macro-realism is the position that certain "macroscopic" observables must
always possess definite values: e.g. the table is in some definite position,
even if we don't know what that is precisely. The traditional understanding is
that by assuming macro-realism one can derive the Leggett-Garg inequalities,
which constrain the possible statistics from certain experiments. Since quantum
experiments can violate the Leggett-Garg inequalities, this is taken to rule
out the possibility of macro-realism in a quantum universe. However, recent
analyses have exposed loopholes in the Leggett-Garg argument, which allow many
types of macro-realism to be compatible with quantum theory and hence violation
of the Leggett-Garg inequalities. This paper takes a different approach to
ruling out macro-realism and the result is a no-go theorem for macro-realism in
quantum theory that is stronger than the Leggett-Garg argument. This approach
uses the framework of ontological models: an elegant way to reason about
foundational issues in quantum theory which has successfully produced many
other recent results, such as the PBR theorem.Comment: Accepted journal version. 10 + 7 pages, 1 figur
A New Generalized Harmonic Evolution System
A new representation of the Einstein evolution equations is presented that is
first order, linearly degenerate, and symmetric hyperbolic. This new system
uses the generalized harmonic method to specify the coordinates, and
exponentially suppresses all small short-wavelength constraint violations.
Physical and constraint-preserving boundary conditions are derived for this
system, and numerical tests that demonstrate the effectiveness of the
constraint suppression properties and the constraint-preserving boundary
conditions are presented.Comment: Updated to agree with published versio
Ion-tracer anemometer
Gas velocity measuring instrument measures transport time of ion-trace traveling fixed distance between ionization probe and detector probe. Electric field superimposes drift velocity onto flow velocity so travel times can be reduced to minimize ion diffusion effects
Urine metabolomic analysis to detect metabolites associated with the development of contrast induced nephropathy.
ObjectiveContrast induced nephropathy (CIN) is a result of injury to the proximal tubules. The incidence of CIN is around 11% for imaging done in the acute care setting. We aim to analyze the metabolic patterns in the urine, before and after dosing with intravenous contrast for computed tomography (CT) imaging of the chest, to determine if metabolomic changes exist in patients who develop CIN.MethodsA convenience sample of high risk patients undergoing a chest CT with intravenous contrast were eligible for enrollment. Urine samples were collected prior to imaging and 4 to 6 hours post imaging. Samples underwent gas chromatography/mass spectrometry profiling. Peak metabolite values were measured and data was log transformed. Significance analysis of microarrays and partial least squares was used to determine the most significant metabolites prior to CT imaging and within subject. Analysis of variance was used to rank metabolites associated with temporal change and CIN. CIN was defined as an increase in serum creatinine level of ≥ 0.5 mg/dL or ≥ 25% above baseline within 48 hours after contrast administration.ResultsWe sampled paired urine samples from 63 subjects. The incidence of CIN was 6/63 (9.5%). Patients without CIN had elevated urinary citric acid and taurine concentrations in the pre-CT urine. Xylulose increased in the post CT sample in patients who developed CIN.ConclusionDifferences in metabolomics patterns in patients who do and do not develop CIN exist. Metabolites may be potential early identifiers of CIN and identify patients at high-risk for developing this condition prior to imaging
Digital computer simulation of inductor-energy-storage dc-to-dc converters with closed-loop regulators
The simulation of converter-controller combinations by means of a flexible digital computer program which produces output to a graphic display is discussed. The procedure is an alternative to mathematical analysis of converter systems. The types of computer programming involved in the simulation are described. Schematic diagrams, state equations, and output equations are displayed for four basic forms of inductor-energy-storage dc to dc converters. Mathematical models are developed to show the relationship of the parameters
Reversible Mode Switching in Y coupled Terahertz Lasers
Electrically independent terahertz (THz) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are
optically coupled in a Y configuration. Dual frequency, electronically
switchable emission is achieved in one QCL using an aperiodic grating, designed
using computer-generated hologram techniques, incorporated directly into the
QCL waveguide by focussed ion beam milling. Multi-moded emission around 2.9 THz
is inhibited, lasing instead occurring at switchable grating-selected
frequencies of 2.88 and 2.92 THz. This photonic control and switching behaviour
is selectively and reversibly transferred to the second, unmodified QCL via
evanescent mode coupling, without the transfer of the inherent grating losses
- …