Identification of the OGLE-2003-BLG-235/MOA-2003-BLG-53 Planetary Host Star

We present the results of HST observations of the host star for the first definitive extrasolar planet detected by microlensing. The light curve model for this event predicts that the lens star should be separated from the source star by ~6mas at the time of the HST images. If the lens star is a late G, K or early M dwarf, then it will be visible in the HST images as an additional source of light that is blended with the source image. Unless the lens and source have exactly the same colors, its presence will also be revealed by a systematic shift between centroids of the source plus lens in different filter bands. The HST data indicates both of these effects: the HST source that matches the position of the source star is 0.21 magnitudes brighter in the ACS/HRC-F814W filter than the microlensing model predicts, and there is an offset of ~0.7mas between the centroid of this source in the F814W and F435W filter bands. We conclude the planetary host star has been detected in these HST images, and this identification of the lens star enables a complete solution of the lens system. The lens parameters are determined with a Bayesian analysis, averaging over uncertainties in the measured parameters, interstellar extinction, and allowing for the possibility of a binary companion to the source star. This yields a stellar mass of M_* = 0.63(+0.07/-0.09) M_solar and a planet mass of M_p = 2.6 (+0.8/-0.6) M_Jup at an orbital separation of 4.3 (+2.5/-0.8) AU. Thus, the lens system resembles our own Solar System, with a planet of ~3 Jupiter-masses in a Jupiter-like orbit around a star of two-thirds of a Solar mass. These conclusions can be tested with future HST images, which should reveal a broadening of the blended source-plus-lens point spread function due to the relative lens-source proper motion.Comment: 11 pages, with 3 figures. to appear in ApJ Lett (Aug 20 issue

Radar signal categorization using a neural network

Neural networks were used to analyze a complex simulated radar environment which contains noisy radar pulses generated by many different emitters. The neural network used is an energy minimizing network (the BSB model) which forms energy minima - attractors in the network dynamical system - based on learned input data. The system first determines how many emitters are present (the deinterleaving problem). Pulses from individual simulated emitters give rise to separate stable attractors in the network. Once individual emitters are characterized, it is possible to make tentative identifications of them based on their observed parameters. As a test of this idea, a neural network was used to form a small data base that potentially could make emitter identifications

Unreality TV

Presents a discussion about the ethical challenges facing a psychologist asked to conduct interviews with potential contestants of a television reality show that places participants in a series of stressful and embarrassing activities. Response to the career-altering opportunity; General practice issues facing the psychologist; Public view on psychologists\u27 involvement with the media

Universal low-temperature crossover in two-channel Kondo models

An exact expression is derived for the electron Green function in two-channel Kondo models with one and two impurities, describing the crossover from non-Fermi liquid (NFL) behavior at intermediate temperatures to standard Fermi liquid (FL) physics at low temperatures. Symmetry-breaking perturbations generically present in experiment ensure the standard low-energy FL description, but the full crossover is wholly characteristic of the unstable NFL state. Distinctive conductance lineshapes in quantum dot devices should result. We exploit a connection between this crossover and one occurring in a classical boundary Ising model to calculate real-space electron densities at finite temperature. The single universal finite-temperature Green function is then extracted by inverting the integral transformation relating these Friedel oscillations to the t matrix. Excellent agreement is demonstrated between exact results and full numerical renormalization group calculations.Comment: 26 pages, 14 figures: updated version including new a section and figure comparing exact results to finite-temperature numerical renormalization group calculation

Principles for Water

Water issues are often contentious. How much water can one individual use? What must the water quality of water returned from use be? How much water must be allocated to uses such as maintaining sufficient instream flows for aquatic species? For the last century, the United States has largely such answered questions through command and control regulatory schemes rather than through markets and common law dispute resolution processes. The choice of regulation by institutions over other mechanisms has meant a reliance on centralized decisionmaking and a rejection of both the market\u27s more decentralized institutions and the common law. Recently, water market proposals have become a significant part of the debate over how to resolve competing claims on water. In addition to the United States, active water markets are present in Chile and Australia. Spain, France, and Great Britain are also considering market oriented water policies. Water markets create incentives for conservation by offering water rights holders the potential to sell the water they conserve. Markets also facilitate reallocation of water to alternative uses. Many fear, however, that water markets will harm environmental quality and some countries have incorporated restrictions on market transfers with the purpose of protecting the environment. Such restrictions hamper the development of markets by increasing the cost of trading thereby limiting the potential to improve the efficiency of water allocation or encourage conservation. In this Article we propose a set of principles to guide policy makers as they consider water law reform measures. In Part II, we describe a set of principles for water law reform. In Part III, we evaluate existing institutions based on these principles. Part IV concludes the Paper with an agenda for reform

Principles for Water

Water issues are often contentious. How much water can one individual use? What must the water quality of water returned from use be? How much water must be allocated to uses such as maintaining sufficient instream flows for aquatic species? For the last century, the United States has largely such answered questions through command and control regulatory schemes rather than through markets and common law dispute resolution processes. The choice of regulation by institutions over other mechanisms has meant a reliance on centralized decisionmaking and a rejection of both the market\u27s more decentralized institutions and the common law. Recently, water market proposals have become a significant part of the debate over how to resolve competing claims on water. In addition to the United States, active water markets are present in Chile and Australia. Spain, France, and Great Britain are also considering market oriented water policies. Water markets create incentives for conservation by offering water rights holders the potential to sell the water they conserve. Markets also facilitate reallocation of water to alternative uses. Many fear, however, that water markets will harm environmental quality and some countries have incorporated restrictions on market transfers with the purpose of protecting the environment. Such restrictions hamper the development of markets by increasing the cost of trading thereby limiting the potential to improve the efficiency of water allocation or encourage conservation. In this Article we propose a set of principles to guide policy makers as they consider water law reform measures. In Part II, we describe a set of principles for water law reform. In Part III, we evaluate existing institutions based on these principles. Part IV concludes the Paper with an agenda for reform

Microstructures in Metasedimentary Rocks from the Neoproterozoic Bonahaven Formation, Scotland: Microconcretions, Impact Spherules, or Microfossils?

Microscopic spherules in relatively undeformed mudstones of the Neoproterozoic Bonahaven Formation, Islay, Scotland, are differentiated from their matrix by a sharp micron-scale, smoothly rounded boundary. These elongate spherules were earlier interpreted as hollow bodies filled penecontemporaneously by glauconite and subsequently metamorphosed to phengite, but their origin remains a matter of debate. Spherules observed in thin section are predominantly rounded (∼74%) but can exhibit a flat edge or protrusion at one end. In 11% of a sample population, two or more spherules are conjoined. X-ray diffraction indicates that spherule-bearing mudstones consist mainly of muscovite, with variable amounts of kaolin-group minerals and minor iron-chlorites. A range of physical origins for the spherules – including microconcretions or metamorphic microstructures; deposition from the sky as micrometeorites, microtektites/microkrystites, or accretionary volcanic ash particles; and detrital grains – is considered but rejected on distributional, morphological, and mineralogical evidence. Biological origins are considered most likely, especially protistan tests similar to the vase-shaped microfossils found in somewhat older Neoproterozoic rocks. If correct, this provides the first report of eukaryotic life in the Dalradian succession that passes critical tests for biogenicity and new evidence for testate microfossils in post-Sturtian but pre-Marinoan aged rocks.Earth and Planetary SciencesOrganismic and Evolutionary Biolog

Tunable-focus liquid lens controlled using a servo motor

We demonstrated a liquid lens whose focal length can be controlled by a servo motor. The lens cell is composed of elastic membrane, planar glass plate, a periphery sealing ring, and a liquid with a fixed volume in the lens chamber. Part of the periphery sealing ring is excavated to form a hollow chamber which functions as a reservoir. This hollowed periphery is surrounded by an exterior rubber membrane. The arm of a servo motor is used to deform the elastic rubber. Squeezing the liquid contained in the reservoir into the lens chamber. Excess liquid in the lens chamber will push the lens membrane to outward, resulting in a lens shape change. Due to the compact structure and easy operation, this liquid lens has potential applications in zoom lenses, auto beam steering, and eyeglasses