Ultra-relativistic oscillon collisions

In this short note we investigate the ultra-relativistic collisions of small amplitude oscillons in 1+1 dimensions. Using the amplitude of the oscillons and the inverse relativistic boost factor $\gamma^{-1}$ as the perturbation variables, we analytically calculate the leading order spatial and temporal phase shifts, and the change in the amplitude of the oscillons after the collisions. At leading order, we find that only the temporal phase shift receives a nonzero contribution, and that the collision is elastic. This work is also the first application of the general kinematic framework for understanding ultra-relativistic collisions (arXiv:1308.0606) to intrinsically time-dependent solitons.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, version 2, added one reference and matching the version to appear on PR

Ice shelves as floating channel flows of viscous power-law fluids

IB is supported by a Science and Technology Facilities Council studentship.We explain the force balance in flowing marine ice sheets and the ice shelves they often feed. Treating ice as a viscous shear-thinning power law fluid, we develop an asymptotic (late-time) theory in two cases: the presence or absence of contact with sidewalls. Most real-world situations fall somewhere between the two extreme cases considered. The solution when sidewalls are absent is a fairly simple generalization of that found by Robison (JFM, 648, 363). In this case, we obtain the equilibrium grounding line thickness using a simple computer model and have an analytic approximation. For shelves in contact with sidewalls, we obtain an asymptotic theory valid for long shelves. We determine when this is. Our theory is based on the velocity profile across the channel being a generalized version of Poiseuille flow, which works when lateral shear dominates the force balance. We conducted experiments using a laboratory model for ice. This was a suspension of xanthan in water, at a concentration of 0.5% by mass. The model has n ≈ 3.8, similar to that of ice. Our theories agreed extremely well with our experiments for all relevant parameters (front position, thickness profile, lateral velocity profile, longitudinal velocity gradient and grounding line thickness). We also saw detailed features similar to natural systems. Thus, we believe we have understood the dominant force balance in both types of ice shelf. Combining our understanding of the forces in the system with a basic model for basal melting and iceberg formation, we uncovered some instabilities of the natural system. Laterally confined ice shelves can rapidly disintegrate but ice tongues cannot. However, ice tongues can be shortened until they no longer exist, at which point the sheet becomes unstable and ultimately the grounding line should retreat above sea level. While the ice tongue still exists, the flow of ice into it should not be speeded up and the grounding line should also not retreat, assuming that only conditions in the ocean change. However, laterally confined ice shelves experience significant buttressing. If removed, this leads to a rapid speed-up of the sheet and a new equilibrium grounding line thickness. We believe that something like this occurred in the Larsen B ice shelf.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Regionalvermarktung und Bio-Produkte: Spannungsverhältnis oder sinnvolle Ergänzung?

Several studies on organic and region-of-origin labelled products assume that combining both characteristics enhances the success of the products on food markets. This paper presents results of two surveys which together give an insight into the compatibility of advertising the characteristics “organic” and “produced in the region of consumption” (regional products) for the case of Germany. Based on indepth interviews, the surveys reveal that the combination of both characteristics can complement each other but can also lead to unfavourable effects for both, organic and regional products. Hence, if market segments for organic and regional products are too small to serve them separately, the contrariness of the characteristics should be taken into account for developing adequate communication strategies

The El Gordo galaxy cluster challenges {\Lambda}CDM for any plausible collision velocity

El Gordo (ACT-CL J0102-4915) is an extraordinarily large and bright galaxy cluster collision. In a previous study, we found that El Gordo is in $6.2\sigma$ tension with the $\Lambda$CDM standard model when assuming the nominal mass and infall velocity values from the hydrodynamical simulations of Zhang et al. ($M_{200} = 3.2 \times 10^{15} M_{\odot}$ and $V_{\textrm{infall}} = 2500~\textrm{km~s}^{-1}$, respectively). The recent weak lensing study of Kim et al. showed that the mass of El Gordo is actually $2.13^{+0.25}_{-0.23} \times 10^{15} M_{\odot}$. Here we explore the level of tension between El Gordo and $\Lambda$CDM for the new mass estimate, assuming several $V_{\textrm{infall}}$ values. We find that in order to reduce the tension below the $5\sigma$ level, the El Gordo subclusters should have $V_{\textrm{infall}} < 2300~\textrm{km~s}^{-1}$ ($V_{\textrm{infall}} < 1800~\textrm{km~s}^{-1}$ when considering the combined tension with the Bullet Cluster). To the best of our knowledge, the El Gordo hydrodynamical simulations conducted so far require $V_{\textrm{infall}} \geq 2500~\textrm{km~s}^{-1}$ to simultaneously reproduce its morphology and its high X-ray luminosity and temperature. We therefore conclude that El Gordo still poses a significant challenge to $\Lambda$CDM cosmology. Whether the properties of El Gordo can be reconciled with a lower $V_{\textrm{infall}}$ should be tested with new hydrodynamical simulations that explore different configurations of the interaction.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal in this for