426 research outputs found
The global response of relativistic radiation belt electrons to the January 1997 magnetic cloud
In January 1997 a large fleet of NASA and US military satellites provided the most complete observations to date of the changes in \u3e2 MeV electrons during a geomagnetic storm. Observations at geosynchronous orbit revealed a somewhat unusual two-peaked enhancement in relativistic electron fluxes [ Reeves et al., 1998]. In the heart of the radiation belts at L ≈ 4, however, there was a single enhancement followed by a gradual decay. Radial profiles from the POLAR and GPS satellites revealed three distinct phases. (1) In the acceleration phase electron fluxes increased simultaneously at L ≈ 4–6. (2) During the passage of the cloud the radiation belts were shifted radially outward and then relaxed earthward. (3) For several days after the passage of the cloud the radial gradient of the fluxes flattened, increasing the fluxes at higher L-shells. These observations provide evidence that the acceleration of relativistic electrons takes place within the radiation belts and is rapid. Both magnetospheric compression and radial diffusion can cause a redistribution of electron fluxes within the magnetosphere that make the event profiles appear quite different when viewed at different L-shells
Surface critical behavior in fixed dimensions : Nonanalyticity of critical surface enhancement and massive field theory approach
The critical behavior of semi-infinite systems in fixed dimensions is
investigated theoretically. The appropriate extension of Parisi's massive field
theory approach is presented.Two-loop calculations and subsequent Pad\'e-Borel
analyses of surface critical exponents of the special and ordinary phase
transitions yield estimates in reasonable agreement with recent Monte Carlo
results. This includes the crossover exponent , for which we obtain
the values and , considerably
lower than the previous -expansion estimates.Comment: Latex with Revtex-Stylefiles, 4 page
A plasticity model for powder compaction processes incorporating particle deformation and rearrangement
This article is available open access through the publisher’s website at the link below. Copyright @ 2008 Elsevier Ltd.This paper develops a mechanistic model of granular materials that can be used with a commercial finite element package (ABAQUS). The model draws on the ideas of critical state soil mechanics and combines them with the theory of envelopes to develop an elasto-plastic model with a non-associated flow rule. The model incorporates both local deformation at the granule contacts, and rearrangement of the granules so that jointly they account for any bulk deformation. The mechanics of the model closely reflect the physicality of the material behaviour and the model parameters are closely linked (although not simplistically identical) to the characteristics of the granules. This not only gives an insight into the material behaviour, but also enables the model to be used to facilitate design of the material, its processing properties and, hence, component development. The model is used to simulate drained triaxial tests, settlement of a powder in a bin, and some examples of die pressing. Simulations are compared with experimental data and with predictions obtained using other models
Molecular Dynamics Study of Bamboo-like Carbon Nanotube Nucleation
MD simulations based on an empirical potential energy surface were used to
study the nucleation of bamboo-like carbon nanotubes (BCNTs). The simulations
reveal that inner walls of the bamboo structure start to nucleate at the
junction between the outer nanotube wall and the catalyst particle. In
agreement with experimental results, the simulations show that BCNTs nucleate
at higher dissolved carbon concentrations (i.e., feedstock pressures) than
those where non-bamboolike carbon nanotubes are nucleated
Massive Field-Theory Approach to Surface Critical Behavior in Three-Dimensional Systems
The massive field-theory approach for studying critical behavior in fixed
space dimensions is extended to systems with surfaces.This enables one to
study surface critical behavior directly in dimensions without having to
resort to the expansion. The approach is elaborated for the
representative case of the semi-infinite |\bbox{\phi}|^4 -vector model
with a boundary term {1/2} c_0\int_{\partial V}\bbox{\phi}^2 in the action.
To make the theory uv finite in bulk dimensions , a renormalization
of the surface enhancement is required in addition to the standard mass
renormalization. Adequate normalization conditions for the renormalized theory
are given. This theory involves two mass parameter: the usual bulk `mass'
(inverse correlation length) , and the renormalized surface enhancement .
Thus the surface renormalization factors depend on the renormalized coupling
constant and the ratio . The special and ordinary surface transitions
correspond to the limits with and ,
respectively. It is shown that the surface-enhancement renormalization turns
into an additive renormalization in the limit . The
renormalization factors and exponent functions with and
that are needed to determine the surface critical exponents of the special and
ordinary transitions are calculated to two-loop order. The associated series
expansions are analyzed by Pad\'e-Borel summation techniques. The resulting
numerical estimates for the surface critical exponents are in good agreement
with recent Monte Carlo simulations. This also holds for the surface crossover
exponent .Comment: Revtex, 40 pages, 3 figures, and 8 pictograms (included in equations
Specific heat and high-temperature series of lattice models: interpolation scheme and examples on quantum spin systems in one and two dimensions
We have developed a new method for evaluating the specific heat of lattice
spin systems. It is based on the knowledge of high-temperature series
expansions, the total entropy of the system and the low-temperature expected
behavior of the specific heat as well as the ground-state energy. By the choice
of an appropriate variable (entropy as a function of energy), a stable
interpolation scheme between low and high temperature is performed. Contrary to
previous methods, the constraint that the total entropy is log(2S+1) for a spin
S on each site is automatically satisfied. We present some applications to
quantum spin models on one- and two- dimensional lattices. Remarkably, in most
cases, a good accuracy is obtained down to zero temperature.Comment: 10 pages (RevTeX 4) including 11 eps figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.
Possible background reductions in double beta decay experiments
The background induced by radioactive impurities of and
in the source of the double beta experiment NEMO-3 has been
investigated. New methods of data analysis which decrease the background from
the above mentioned contamination are identified. The techniques can also be
applied to other double beta decay experiments capable of measuring
independently the energies of the two electrons.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, accepted in the Nuclear Instruments and Methods
P-wave excited baryons from pion- and photo-induced hyperon production
We report evidence for , , ,
, , and , and find
indications that might have a companion state at 1970\,MeV. The
controversial is not seen. The evidence is derived from a
study of data on pion- and photo-induced hyperon production, but other data are
included as well. Most of the resonances reported here were found in the
Karlsruhe-Helsinki (KH84) and the Carnegie-Mellon (CM) analyses but were
challenged recently by the Data Analysis Center at GWU. Our analysis is
constrained by the energy independent scattering amplitudes from either
KH84 or GWU. The two amplitudes from KH84 or GWU, respectively, lead to
slightly different branching ratios of contributing resonances but the
debated resonances are required in both series of fits.Comment: 22 pages, 28 figures. Some additional sets of data are adde
Marine pelagic ecosystems: the West Antarctic Peninsula
The marine ecosystem of the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) extends from the Bellingshausen Sea to the northern tip of the peninsula and from the mostly glaciated coast across the continental shelf to the shelf break in the west. The glacially sculpted coastline along the peninsula is highly convoluted and characterized by deep embayments that are often interconnected by channels that facilitate transport of heat and nutrients into the shelf domain. The ecosystem is divided into three subregions, the continental slope, shelf and coastal regions, each with unique ocean dynamics, water mass and biological distributions. The WAP shelf lies within the Antarctic Sea Ice Zone (SIZ) and like other SIZs, the WAP system is very productive, supporting large stocks of marine mammals, birds and the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Ecosystem dynamics is dominated by the seasonal and interannual variation in sea ice extent and retreat. The Antarctic Peninsula is one among the most rapidly warming regions on Earth, having experienced a 28C increase in the annual mean temperature and a 68C rise in the mean winter temperature since 1950. Delivery of heat from the Antarctic Circumpolar Current has increased significantly in the past decade, sufficient to drive to a 0.68C warming of the upper 300 m of shelf water. In the past 50 years and continuing in the twenty-first century, the warm, moist maritime climate of the northern WAP has been migrating south, displacing the once dominant cold, dry continental Antarctic climate and causing multi-level responses in the marine ecosystem. Ecosystem responses to the regional warming include increased heat transport, decreased sea ice extent and duration, local declines in icedependent Ade´lie penguins, increase in ice-tolerant gentoo and chinstrap penguins, alterations in phytoplankton and zooplankton community composition and changes in krill recruitment, abundance and availability to predators. The climate/ecological gradients extending along theWAPand the presence of monitoring systems, field stations and long-term research programmes make the region an invaluable observatory of climate change and marine ecosystem response
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