568 research outputs found
Digital Image Compression Using Artificial Neural Networks
The problem of storing, transmitting, and manipulating digital images is considered. Because of the file sizes involved, large amounts of digitized image information are becoming common in modern projects. Our goal is to described an image compression transform coder based on artificial neural networks techniques (NNCTC). A comparison of the compression results obtained from digital astronomical images by the NNCTC and the method used in the compression of the digitized sky survey from the Space Telescope Science Institute based on the H-transform is performed in order to assess the reliability of the NNCTC
Theory-independent randomness generation with spacetime symmetries
We introduce a class of semi-device-independent protocols based on the
breaking of spacetime symmetries. In particular, we characterise how the
response of physical systems to spatial rotations constrains the probabilities
of events that may be observed: in our setup, the set of quantum correlations
arises from rotational symmetry without assuming quantum physics. On a
practical level, our results allow for the generation of secure random numbers
without trusting the devices or assuming quantum theory. On a fundamental
level, we open a theory-agnostic framework for probing the interplay between
probabilities of events (as prevalent in quantum mechanics) and the properties
of spacetime (as prevalent in relativity).Comment: 5+12 pages, 4 figures. V2: some minor corrections and clarification
Minimally implicit Runge-Kutta methods for Resistive Relativistic MHD
The Relativistic Resistive Magnetohydrodynamic (RRMHD) equations are a hyperbolic system of partial differential equations used to describe the dynamics of relativistic magnetized fluids with a finite conductivity. Close to the ideal magnetohydrodynamic regime, the source term proportional to the conductivity becomes potentially stiff and cannot be handled with standard explicit time integration methods. We propose a new class of methods to deal with the stiffness fo the system, which we name Minimally Implicit Runge-Kutta methods. These methods avoid the development of numerical instabilities without increasing the computational costs in comparison with explicit methods, need no iterative extra loop in order to recover the primitive (physical) variables, the analytical inversion of the implicit operator is trivial and the several stages can actually be viewed as stages of explicit Runge-Kutta methods with an effective time-step. We test these methods with two different one-dimensional test beds in varied conductivity regimes, and show that our second-order schemes satisfy the theoretical expectations
High--Resolution 3D Simulations of Relativistic Jets
We have performed high-resolution 3D simulations of relativistic jets with
beam flow Lorentz factors up to 7, a spatial resolution of 8 cells per beam
radius, and for up to 75 normalized time units to study the morphology and
dynamics of 3D relativistic jets. Our simulations show that the coherent fast
backflows found in axisymmetric models are not present in 3D models. We further
find that when the jet is exposed to non-axisymmetric perturbations, (i) it
does not display the strong perturbations found for 3D classical hydrodynamic
and MHD jets (at least during the period of time covered by our simulations),
and (ii) it does propagate according to the 1D estimate. Small 3D effects in
the relativistic beam give rise to a lumpy distribution of apparent speeds like
that observed in M87. The beam is surrounded by a boundary layer of high
specific internal energy. The properties of this layer are briefly discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Accepted to be publish in the ApJ Letters.
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On the nature of an ejection event in the jet of 3C111
We present a possible scenario for the ejection of a superluminal component
in the jet of the Broad Line Radio Galaxy 3C111 in early 1996. VLBI
observations at 15 GHz discovered the presence of two jet features on scales
smaller than one parsec. The first component evolves downstream, whereas the
second one fades out after 1 parsec. We propose the injection of a perturbation
of dense material followed by a decrease in the injection rate of material in
the jet as a plausible explanation. This scenario is supported by 1D
relativistic hydrodynamics and emission simulations. The perturbation is
modeled as an increase in the jet density, without modifying the original
Lorentz factor in the initial conditions. We show that an increase of the
Lorentz factor in the material of the perturbation fails to reproduce the
observed evolution of this flare. We are able to estimate the lifetime of the
ejection event in 3C111 to be 36\pm7 days.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Letter
The inner kiloparsec of the jet in 3C264
We present new multi-frequency EVN, MERLIN and VLA observations of the radio
source 3C264, sensitive to linear scales ranging from the parsec to several
kiloparsecs. The observations confirm the existence of regions with different
properties in the first kiloparsec of the jet. The most remarkable feature is
the transition between a well collimated narrow jet at distances from the core
below 80 pc, to a conical-shaped wide jet, with an opening angle of 20 degrees.
Another change of properties, consisting of an apparent deflection of the jet
ridge line and a diminution of the surface brightness, occurs at a distance of
300 pc from the core, coincident with the radius of a ring observed at optical
wavelengths. Our observations add new pieces of information on the spectrum of
the radio-optical jet of 3C264, with results consistent with a synchrotron
emission mechanism and a spectrum break frequency in the infrared. Brightness
profiles taken perpendicularly to the jet of 3C264 are consistent with a spine
brightened jet at distances below 100 pc from the core, and an edge-brightened
jet beyond, which can be interpreted as evidence of a transverse jet velocity
structure. Our observations do not allow us to distinguish between the presence
of a face--on dust and gas disk at the center of the host galaxy of 3C264, or
rather an evacuated bubble. However, the properties of the jet structure, the
changes in the polarization angle, and the plausible jet orientation can be
naturally brought into agreement in the bubble scenario.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, accepted in A&
Faraday rotation and polarization gradients in the jet of 3C~120: Interaction with the external medium and a helical magnetic field?
We present a sequence of 12 monthly polarimetric 15, 22, and 43 GHz VLBA
observations of the radio galaxy 3C 120 revealing a systematic presence of
gradients in Faraday rotation and degree of polarization across and along the
jet. The degree of polarization increases with distance from the core and
toward the jet edges, and has an asymmetric profile in which the northern side
of the jet is more highly polarized. The Faraday rotation measure is also
stratified across the jet width, with larger values for the southern side. We
find a localized region of high Faraday rotation measure superposed on this
structure between approximately 3 and 4 mas from the core, with a peak of about
6000 rad/m^2. Interaction of the jet with the external medium or a cloud would
explain the confined region of enhanced Faraday rotation, as well as the
stratification in degree of polarization and the flaring of superluminal knots
when crossing this region. The data are also consistent with a helical field in
a two-fluid jet model, consisting of an inner, emitting jet and a sheath
containing nonrelativistic electrons. However, this helical magnetic field
model cannot by itself explain the localized region of enhanced Faraday
rotation. The polarization electric vectors, predominantly perpendicular to the
jet axis once corrected for Faraday rotation, require a dominant component
parallel to the jet axis (in the frame of the emitting plasma) for the magnetic
field in the emitting region.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters. 4 pages (including 5
figures
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