12,269 research outputs found
On Flux Quantization in F-Theory II: Unitary and Symplectic Gauge Groups
We study the quantization of the M-theory G-flux on elliptically fibered
Calabi-Yau fourfolds with singularities giving rise to unitary and symplectic
gauge groups. We seek and find its relation to the Freed-Witten quantization of
worldvolume fluxes on 7-branes in type IIB orientifold compactifications on
Calabi-Yau threefolds. By explicitly constructing the appropriate four-cycles
on which to calculate the periods of the second Chern class of the fourfolds,
we find that there is a half-integral shift in the quantization of G-flux
whenever the corresponding dual 7-brane is wrapped on a non-spin submanifold.
This correspondence of quantizations holds for all unitary and symplectic gauge
groups, except for SU(3), which behaves mysteriously. We also perform our
analysis in the case where, in addition to the aforementioned gauge groups,
there is also a 'flavor' U(1)-gauge group.Comment: 33 pages, 4 figure
Dynamics of a strongly interacting Fermi gas: the radial quadrupole mode
We report on measurements of an elementary surface mode in an ultracold,
strongly interacting Fermi gas of 6Li atoms. The radial quadrupole mode allows
us to probe hydrodynamic behavior in the BEC-BCS crossover without being
influenced by changes in the equation of state. We examine frequency and
damping of this mode, along with its expansion dynamics. In the unitarity limit
and on the BEC side of the resonance, the observed frequencies agree with
standard hydrodynamic theory. However, on the BCS side of the crossover, a
striking down shift of the oscillation frequency is observed in the
hydrodynamic regime as a precursor to an abrupt transition to collisionless
behavior; this indicates coupling of the oscillation to fermionic pairs.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures v2: minor change
On the universal X-ray luminosity function of binary X-ray sources in galaxies
The empirically determined universal power-law shape of X-ray luminosity
function of high mass X-ray binaries in galaxies is explained by fundamental
mass-luminosity and mass-radius relations for massive stars.Comment: 4 pages, plain LaTeX, no figures. Submitted to Astronomy Letter
The X-ray binary population in M33: II. X-ray spectra and variability
In this paper we investigate the X-ray spectra and X-ray spectral variability
of compact X-ray sources for 3 Chandra observations of the Local Group galaxy
M33. The observations are centered on the nucleus and the star forming region
NGC 604. In the observations 261 sources have been detected. For a total of 43
sources the number of net counts is above 100, sufficient for a more detailed
spectral fitting. Of these sources, 25 have been observed in more than one
observation, allowing the study of spectral variability on ~months timescales.
A quarter of the sources are found to be variable between observations.
However, except for two foreground sources, no source is variable within any
observation above the 99% confidence level. Only six sources show significant
spectral variability between observations. A comparison of N_H values with HI
observations shows that X-ray absorption values are consistent with Galactic
X-ray binaries and most sources in M33 are intrinsically absorbed. The pattern
of variability and the spectral parameters of these sources are consistent with
the M33 X-ray source population being dominated by X-ray binaries: Two thirds
of the 43 bright sources have spectral and timing properties consistent with
X-ray binaries; we also find two candidates for super-soft sources and two
candidates for quasi-soft sources.Comment: 25 pages, ApJ accepte
Narrow-line magneto-optical trap for erbium
We report on the experimental realization of a robust and efficient
magneto-optical trap for erbium atoms, based on a narrow cooling transition at
583nm. We observe up to atoms at a temperature of about
. This simple scheme provides better starting conditions for direct
loading of dipole traps as compared to approaches based on the strong cooling
transition alone, or on a combination of a strong and a narrow kHz transition.
Our results on Er point to a general, simple and efficient approach to laser
cool samples of other lanthanide atoms (Ho, Dy, and Tm) for the production of
quantum-degenerate samples
Structure of the solar photosphere studied from the radiation hydrodynamics code ANTARES
The ANTARES radiation hydrodynamics code is capable of simulating the solar
granulation in detail unequaled by direct observation. We introduce a
state-of-the-art numerical tool to the solar physics community and demonstrate
its applicability to model the solar granulation. The code is based on the
weighted essentially non-oscillatory finite volume method and by its
implementation of local mesh refinement is also capable of simulating turbulent
fluids. While the ANTARES code already provides promising insights into
small-scale dynamical processes occurring in the quiet-Sun photosphere, it will
soon be capable of modeling the latter in the scope of radiation
magnetohydrodynamics. In this first preliminary study we focus on the vertical
photospheric stratification by examining a 3-D model photosphere with an
evolution time much larger than the dynamical timescales of the solar
granulation and of particular large horizontal extent corresponding to on the solar surface to smooth out horizontal spatial
inhomogeneities separately for up- and downflows. The highly resolved Cartesian
grid thereby covers of the upper convection zone and the
adjacent photosphere. Correlation analysis, both local and two-point, provides
a suitable means to probe the photospheric structure and thereby to identify
several layers of characteristic dynamics: The thermal convection zone is found
to reach some ten kilometers above the solar surface, while convectively
overshooting gas penetrates even higher into the low photosphere. An wide transition layer separates the convective from the
oscillatory layers in the higher photosphere.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Science; 18 pages,
12 figures, 2 tables; typos correcte
Penrose Quantum Antiferromagnet
The Penrose tiling is a perfectly ordered two dimensional structure with
fivefold symmetry and scale invariance under site decimation. Quantum spin
models on such a system can be expected to differ significantly from more
conventional structures as a result of its special symmetries. In one
dimension, for example, aperiodicity can result in distinctive quantum
entanglement properties. In this work, we study ground state properties of the
spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the Penrose tiling, a model that could
also be pertinent for certain three dimensional antiferromagnetic
quasicrystals. We show, using spin wave theory and quantum Monte Carlo
simulation, that the local staggered magnetizations strongly depend on the
local coordination number z and are minimized on some sites of five-fold
symmetry. We present a simple explanation for this behavior in terms of
Heisenberg stars. Finally we show how best to represent this complex
inhomogeneous ground state, using the "perpendicular space" representation of
the tiling.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Dilute Birman--Wenzl--Murakami Algebra and models
A ``dilute'' generalisation of the Birman--Wenzl--Murakami algebra is
considered. It can be ``Baxterised'' to a solution of the Yang--Baxter algebra.
The vertex models are examples of corresponding solvable
lattice models and can be regarded as the dilute version of the
vertex models.Comment: 11 page
Molecular magnetic resonance imaging
Molecular MRI (mMRI) is a special implementation of Molecular Imaging for the non-invasive visualisation of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. More specifically, mMRI comprises the contrast agent-mediated alteration of tissue relaxation times for the detection and localisation of molecular disease markers (such as cell surface receptors, enzymes or signaling molecules), cells (e.g. lymphocytes, stem cells) or therapeutic drugs (e.g. liposomes, viral particles). MRI yields topographical, anatomical maps; functional MRI (fMRI) provides rendering of physiologic functions and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) reveals the distribution patterns of some specific metabolites. mMRI provides an additional level of information at the molecular or cellular level, thus extending MRI further beyond the anatomical and physiological level. These advances brought by mMRI are mandatory for MRI to be competitive in the age of molecular medicine. mMRI is already today increasingly used for research purposes, e.g. to facilitate the examination of cell migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis or gene expression in living organisms. In medical diagnostics, mMRI will pave the way toward a significant improvement in early detection of disease, therapy planning or monitoring of outcome and will therefore bring significant improvement in the medical treatment for patients
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