10,485 research outputs found
Plurality Voting: the statistical laws of democracy in Brazil
We explore the statistical laws behind the plurality voting system by
investigating the election results for mayor held in Brazil in 2004. Our
analysis indicate that the vote partition among mayor candidates of the same
city tends to be "polarized" between two candidates, a phenomenon that can be
closely described by means of a simple fragmentation model. Complex concepts
like "government continuity" and "useful vote" can be identified and even
statistically quantified through our approach.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Third post-Newtonian dynamics of compact binaries: Equations of motion in the center-of-mass frame
The equations of motion of compact binary systems and their associated
Lagrangian formulation have been derived in previous works at the third
post-Newtonian (3PN) approximation of general relativity in harmonic
coordinates. In the present work we investigate the binary's relative dynamics
in the center-of-mass frame (center of mass located at the origin of the
coordinates). We obtain the 3PN-accurate expressions of the center-of-mass
positions and equations of the relative binary motion. We show that the
equations derive from a Lagrangian (neglecting the radiation reaction), from
which we deduce the conserved center-of-mass energy and angular momentum at the
3PN order. The harmonic-coordinates center-of-mass Lagrangian is equivalent,
{\it via} a contact transformation of the particles' variables, to the
center-of-mass Hamiltonian in ADM coordinates that is known from the
post-Newtonian ADM-Hamiltonian formalism. As an application we investigate the
dynamical stability of circular binary orbits at the 3PN order.Comment: 31 pages, to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit
Estudo da oferta e comercialização de repolho na CEAPE no período de 1999 a 2005.
bitstream/item/26141/1/f-11.pd
Dirac spinor fields in the teleparallel gravity: comment on "Metric-affine approach to teleparallel gravity"
We show that the coupling of a Dirac spinor field with the gravitational
field in the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity is consistent. For
an arbitrary SO(3,1) connection there are two possibilities for the coupling of
the spinor field with the gravitational field. The problems of consistency
raised by Y. N. Obukhov and J. G. Pereira in the paper {\it Metric-affine
approach to teleparallel gravity} [gr-qc/0212080] take place only in the
framework of one particular coupling. By adopting an alternative coupling the
consistency problem disappears.Comment: 8 pages, Latex file, no figures, to appear in the Phys. Rev. D as a
Commen
Nanopercolation
We investigate through direct molecular mechanics calculations the
geometrical properties of hydrocarbon mantles subjected to percolation
disorder. We show that the structures of mantles generated at the critical
percolation point have a fractal dimension . In addition,
the solvent access surface and volume of these molecules follow
power-law behavior, and ,
where is the system size, and with both critical exponents and
being significantly dependent on the radius of the accessing probing
molecule, . Our results from extensive simulations with two distinct
microscopic topologies (i.e., square and honeycomb) indicate the consistency of
the statistical analysis and confirm the self-similar characteristic of the
percolating hydrocarbons. Due to their highly branched topology, some of the
potential applications for this new class of disordered molecules include drug
delivery, catalysis, and supramolecular structures.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Torsion Gravity: a Reappraisal
The role played by torsion in gravitation is critically reviewed. After a
description of the problems and controversies involving the physics of torsion,
a comprehensive presentation of the teleparallel equivalent of general
relativity is made. According to this theory, curvature and torsion are
alternative ways of describing the gravitational field, and consequently
related to the same degrees of freedom of gravity. However, more general
gravity theories, like for example Einstein-Cartan and gauge theories for the
Poincare and the affine groups, consider curvature and torsion as representing
independent degrees of freedom. By using an active version of the strong
equivalence principle, a possible solution to this conceptual question is
reviewed. This solution favors ultimately the teleparallel point of view, and
consequently the completeness of general relativity. A discussion of the
consequences for gravitation is presented.Comment: RevTeX, 34 pages. Review article to be published by Int. J. Mod.
Phys.
Axial-Vector Torsion and the Teleparallel Kerr Spacetime
In the context of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, we
obtain the tetrad and the torsion fields of the stationary axisymmetric Kerr
spacetime. It is shown that, in the slow rotation and weak field
approximations, the axial-vector torsion plays the role of the gravitomagnetic
component of the gravitational field, and is thus the responsible for the
Lense-Thirring effect.Comment: 9 pages, no figures, to appear in Class. Quant. Gra
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