43,693 research outputs found
Negative Specific Heat in a Quasi-2D Generalized Vorticity Model
Negative specific heat is a dramatic phenomenon where processes decrease in
temperature when adding energy. It has been observed in gravo-thermal collapse
of globular clusters. We now report finding this phenomenon in bundles of
nearly parallel, periodic, single-sign generalized vortex filaments in the
electron magnetohydrodynamic (EMH) model for the unbounded plane under strong
magnetic confinement. We derive the specific heat using a steepest descent
method and a mean field property. Our derivations show that as temperature
increases, the overall size of the system increases exponentially and the
energy drops. The implication of negative specific heat is a runaway reaction,
resulting in a collapsing inner core surrounded by an expanding halo of
filaments.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures; updated with revision
Cultivation and use of bryophytes as experimental material
Bryophytes can be grown successfully if keptmoist, supplied
with nutrients, and out of direct sunlight. They remain greener
on peat than on sand. However, difficulties were encountered when
attempting to grow mosses and liverworts in an unshaded
glasshouse, in spring and summer. Even spraying hourly with water
did not prevent scorching and desiccation.
Growth can be measured using a variety of techniques; height
measurement and shoot elongation from thread markers proved the
most reliabl
Loophole-free Bell test based on local precertification of photon's presence
A loophole-free violation of Bell inequalities is of fundamental importance
for demonstrating quantum nonlocality and long-distance device-independent
secure communication. However, transmission losses represent a fundamental
limitation for photonic loophole-free Bell tests. A local precertification of
the presence of the photons immediately before the local measurements may solve
this problem. We show that local precertification is feasible by integrating
three current technologies: (i) enhanced single-photon down-conversion to
locally create a flag photon, (ii) nanowire-based superconducting single-photon
detectors for a fast flag detection, and (iii) superconducting transition-edge
sensors to close the detection loophole. We carry out a precise space-time
analysis of the proposed scheme, showing its viability and feasibility.Comment: REVTeX4, 7 Pages, 1 figur
T-Parity Violation by Anomalies
Little Higgs theories often rely on an internal parity ("T-parity'') to
suppress non-standard electroweak effects or to provide a dark matter
candidate. We show that such a symmetry is generally broken by anomalies, as
described by the Wess-Zumino-Witten term. We study a simple SU(3) x SU(3)/SU(3)
Little Higgs scheme where we obtain a minimal form for the topological
interactions of a single Higgs field. The results apply to more general models,
including [SU(3) x SU(3)/SU(3)]^4, SU(5)/SO(5), and SU(6)/Sp(6).Comment: 17 page
A new test of conservation laws and Lorentz invariance in relativistic gravity
General relativity predicts that energy and momentum conservation laws hold
and that preferred frames do not exist. The parametrised post-Newtonian
formalism (PPN) phenomenologically quantifies possible deviations from general
relativity. The PPN parameter alpha_3 (which identically vanishes in general
relativity) plays a dual role in that it is associated both with a violation of
the momentum conservation law, and with the existence of a preferred frame. By
considering the effects of alpha_3 neq 0 in certain binary pulsar systems, it
is shown that alpha_3 < 2.2 x 10^-20 (90% CL). This limit improves on previous
results by several orders of magnitude, and shows that pulsar tests of alpha_3
rank (together with Hughes-Drever-type tests of local Lorentz invariance) among
the most precise null experiments of physics.Comment: Submitted to Classical Quantum Gravity, LaTeX, requires ioplppt.sty,
no figure
The Identity Correspondence Problem and its Applications
In this paper we study several closely related fundamental problems for words
and matrices. First, we introduce the Identity Correspondence Problem (ICP):
whether a finite set of pairs of words (over a group alphabet) can generate an
identity pair by a sequence of concatenations. We prove that ICP is undecidable
by a reduction of Post's Correspondence Problem via several new encoding
techniques.
In the second part of the paper we use ICP to answer a long standing open
problem concerning matrix semigroups: "Is it decidable for a finitely generated
semigroup S of square integral matrices whether or not the identity matrix
belongs to S?". We show that the problem is undecidable starting from dimension
four even when the number of matrices in the generator is 48. From this fact,
we can immediately derive that the fundamental problem of whether a finite set
of matrices generates a group is also undecidable. We also answer several
question for matrices over different number fields. Apart from the application
to matrix problems, we believe that the Identity Correspondence Problem will
also be useful in identifying new areas of undecidable problems in abstract
algebra, computational questions in logic and combinatorics on words.Comment: We have made some proofs clearer and fixed an important typo from the
published journal version of this article, see footnote 3 on page 1
Vibration effects on heat transfer in cryogenic systems Quarterly progress report, Jul. 1 - Sep. 30, 1967
Water test apparatus used to determine vibration effects on heat transfer in cryogenic system
Nitrogen hydrides in interstellar gas: Herschel/HIFI observations towards G10.6-0.4 (W31C)
The HIFI instrument on board the Herschel Space Observatory has been used to observe interstellar nitrogen hydrides along the sight-line towards
G10.6−0.4 in order to improve our understanding of the interstellar chemistry of nitrogen. We report observations of absorption in NH N = 1 ← 0,
J = 2 ← 1 and ortho-NH_2 1_(1,1) ← 0_(0,0). We also observed ortho-NH_3 1_0 ← 0_0, and 2_0 ← 1_0, para-NH_3 2_1 ← 1_1, and searched unsuccessfully for
NH^+. All detections show emission and absorption associated directly with the hot-core source itself as well as absorption by foreground material
over a wide range of velocities. All spectra show similar, non-saturated, absorption features, which we attribute to diffuse molecular gas. Total
column densities over the velocity range 11−54 km s^(−1) are estimated. The similar profiles suggest fairly uniform abundances relative to hydrogen,
approximately 6 × 10^(−9), 3 × 10^(−9), and 3 × 10^(−9) for NH, NH_2, and NH_3, respectively. These abundances are discussed with reference to models of
gas-phase and surface chemistry
CH^+(1–0) and ^(13)CH^+(1–0) absorption lines in the direction of massive star-forming regions
We report the detection of the ground-state rotational transition of the methylidyne cation CH^+ and its isotopologue ^(13)CH^+ toward the remote
massive star-forming regions W33A, W49N, and W51 with the HIFI instrument onboard the Herschel satellite. Both lines are seen only in
absorption against the dust continuum emission of the star-forming regions. The CH^+ absorption is saturated over almost the entire velocity
ranges sampled by the lines-of-sight that include gas associated with the star-forming regions (SFR) and Galactic foreground material. The CH^+
column densities are inferred from the optically thin components. A lower limit of the isotopic ratio [^(12)CH^+]/[^(13)CH^+] > 35.5 is derived from
the absorptions of foreground material toward W49N. The column density ratio, N(CH^+)/N(HCO^+), is found to vary by at least a factor 10,
between 4 and >40, in the Galactic foreground material. Line-of-sight ^(12)CH^+ average abundances relative to total hydrogen are estimated. Their
average value, N(CH^+)/N_H > 2.6 × 10^(−8), is higher than that observed in the solar neighborhood and confirms the high abundances of CH^+ in
the Galactic interstellar medium. We compare this result to the predictions of turbulent dissipation regions (TDR) models and find that these high
abundances can be reproduced for the inner Galaxy conditions. It is remarkable that the range of predicted N(CH^+)/N(HCO^+) ratios, from 1 to
~50, is comparable to that observed
Evaluating the articulation of programme theory in practice as observed in Quality Improvement initiatives
Background: The Action-Effect Method(AEM) was co-developed by NIHR CLAHRC Northwest London (CLAHRC NWL) researchers and QI practitioners, building on Driver Diagrams(DD). This study aimed to determine AEM effectiveness in terms of technical aspects (how diagrams produced in practice compared with theoretical ideals) and social aspects (how engagement with the method related to social benefits). Methods Diagrams were scored on criteria developed on theoretical ideals of programme theory. 65 programme theory diagrams were reviewed (21 published Driver Diagrams (External DDs), 22 CLAHRC NWL Driver Diagrams (Internal DDs), and 21 CLAHRC NWL Action-Effect Diagrams(AEDs)). Social functions were studied through ethnographic observation of frontline QI teams in AEM sessions facilitated by QI experts. Qualitative analysis used inductive and deductive coding. Results ANOVA indicated the AEM significantly improved the quality of programme theory diagrams over Internal and External DDs on an average of 5 criteria from an 8-point assessment. Articulated aims were more likely to be patient-focused and high-level in AEDs than DDs. The cause/effect relationships from intervention to overall aim also tended to be clearer and were more likely than DDs to contain appropriate measure concepts. Using the AEM also served several social functions such as facilitating dialogue among multidisciplinary teams, and encouraging teams to act scientifically and pragmatically about planning and measuring QI interventions. Implications: The Action-Effect Method developed by CLAHRC NWL resulted in improvements over Driver Diagrams in articulating programme theory, which has wide-ranging benefits to quality improvement, including encouraging broad multi-disciplinary buy-in to clear aims and pre-planning a rigorous evaluation strategy
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