1,270 research outputs found
Regge calculus from a new angle
In Regge calculus space time is usually approximated by a triangulation with
flat simplices. We present a formulation using simplices with constant
sectional curvature adjusted to the presence of a cosmological constant. As we
will show such a formulation allows to replace the length variables by 3d or 4d
dihedral angles as basic variables. Moreover we will introduce a first order
formulation, which in contrast to using flat simplices, does not require any
constraints. These considerations could be useful for the construction of
quantum gravity models with a cosmological constant.Comment: 8 page
Measuring Brachial Artery Occlusion Pressure Using a Hand-held Doppler and Pulse Oximeter
The measurement of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) is recommended for the safe and effective use of blood flow restriction (BFR) during training. PURPOSE: This study compared measurements of brachial artery AOP using Doppler ultrasound (US), a hand-held Doppler (HHDOP) and a pulse oximeter (PO). METHODS: The AOP of the brachial artery was measured simultaneously using US, HHDOP, and a PO in the dominant arm of males (n=36) and females (n=49). The blood flow restriction cuff was inflated using a continuous cuff inflation protocol. RESULTS: A mixed model ANOVA revealed small but significant (p \u3c 0.05) overall main effects (combined males and females) between AOP measured using US (119.8 ± 13.2 mmHg), HHDOP (119.1 ± 13.1 mmHg) and PO (118.0 ±13.2 mmHg), and between males (125.3 ± 13.1 mmHg) and females (114.3 ± 11.1 mmHg). The differences in AOP between males and females was consistent across all three methods of measuring AOP (US, HHDP, PO) and may be attributed to sex differences in limb circumference and systolic blood pressure. The small overall difference between US and HHDOP (0.74 ± 2.7 mmHg) was not significant but the difference between US and PO (1.81 ± 3.3 mmHg) measures of AOP was significant (
Group field theory formulation of 3d quantum gravity coupled to matter fields
We present a new group field theory describing 3d Riemannian quantum gravity
coupled to matter fields for any choice of spin and mass. The perturbative
expansion of the partition function produces fat graphs colored with SU(2)
algebraic data, from which one can reconstruct at once a 3-dimensional
simplicial complex representing spacetime and its geometry, like in the
Ponzano-Regge formulation of pure 3d quantum gravity, and the Feynman graphs
for the matter fields. The model then assigns quantum amplitudes to these fat
graphs given by spin foam models for gravity coupled to interacting massive
spinning point particles, whose properties we discuss.Comment: RevTeX; 28 pages, 21 figure
Quantum simplicial geometry in the group field theory formalism: reconsidering the Barrett-Crane model
A dual formulation of group field theories, obtained by a Fourier transform
mapping functions on a group to functions on its Lie algebra, has been proposed
recently. In the case of the Ooguri model for SO(4) BF theory, the variables of
the dual field variables are thus so(4) bivectors, which have a direct
interpretation as the discrete B variables. Here we study a modification of the
model by means of a constraint operator implementing the simplicity of the
bivectors, in such a way that projected fields describe metric tetrahedra. This
involves a extension of the usual GFT framework, where boundary operators are
labelled by projected spin network states. By construction, the Feynman
amplitudes are simplicial path integrals for constrained BF theory. We show
that the spin foam formulation of these amplitudes corresponds to a variant of
the Barrett-Crane model for quantum gravity. We then re-examin the arguments
against the Barrett-Crane model(s), in light of our construction.Comment: revtex, 24 page
3d Spinfoam Quantum Gravity: Matter as a Phase of the Group Field Theory
An effective field theory for matter coupled to three-dimensional quantum
gravity was recently derived in the context of spinfoam models in
hep-th/0512113. In this paper, we show how this relates to group field theories
and generalized matrix models. In the first part, we realize that the effective
field theory can be recasted as a matrix model where couplings between matrices
of different sizes can occur. In a second part, we provide a family of
classical solutions to the three-dimensional group field theory. By studying
perturbations around these solutions, we generate the dynamics of the effective
field theory. We identify a particular case which leads to the action of
hep-th/0512113 for a massive field living in a flat non-commutative space-time.
The most general solutions lead to field theories with non-linear redefinitions
of the momentum which we propose to interpret as living on curved space-times.
We conclude by discussing the possible extension to four-dimensional spinfoam
models.Comment: 17 pages, revtex4, 1 figur
Practical Flapping Mechanisms for 20cm-span Micro Air Vehicles
[[abstract]]In the body of research relevant to high-performance flapping micro air vehicles (MAV), development of light-weight, compact and energy-efficient flapping mechanisms occupies a position of primacy due to its direct impact on the flight performance and mission capability. Realization of such versatile flapping mechanism with additional ability of producing thrust levels that fulfill requirements of cruising forward flight and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) conditions demand extensive design validation and performance evaluation. This paper presents a concerted approach for mechanism development of a 20 cm span flapping MAV through an iterative design process and synergistic fabrication options involving electrical-discharge-wire-cutting (EDWC) and injection molding. Dynamic characterization of each mechanism is done through high speed photography, power take-off measurement, wind tunnel testing and proof-of-concept test flights. The research outcome represents best-in-class mechanism for a 20 cm span flapping MAV with desirable performance features of extra-large flapping stroke up to 100°, minimal transverse vibrations and almost no phase lag between the wings.[[notice]]補æ£å®Œç•¢[[journaltype]]國外[[incitationindex]]SCI[[ispeerreviewed]]Y[[booktype]]紙本[[countrycodes]]US
A new look at loop quantum gravity
I describe a possible perspective on the current state of loop quantum
gravity, at the light of the developments of the last years. I point out that a
theory is now available, having a well-defined background-independent
kinematics and a dynamics allowing transition amplitudes to be computed
explicitly in different regimes. I underline the fact that the dynamics can be
given in terms of a simple vertex function, largely determined by locality,
diffeomorphism invariance and local Lorentz invariance. I emphasize the
importance of approximations. I list open problems.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
Area-angle variables for general relativity
We introduce a modified Regge calculus for general relativity on a
triangulated four dimensional Riemannian manifold where the fundamental
variables are areas and a certain class of angles. These variables satisfy
constraints which are local in the triangulation. We expect the formulation to
have applications to classical discrete gravity and non-perturbative approaches
to quantum gravity.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure. v2 small changes to match published versio
Coupling gauge theory to spinfoam 3d quantum gravity
We construct a spinfoam model for Yang-Mills theory coupled to quantum
gravity in three dimensional riemannian spacetime. We define the partition
function of the coupled system as a power series in g_0^2 G that can be
evaluated order by order using grasping rules and the recoupling theory. With
respect to previous attempts in the literature, this model assigns the
dynamical variables of gravity and Yang-Mills theory to the same simplices of
the spinfoam, and it thus provides transition amplitudes for the spin network
states of the canonical theory. For SU(2) Yang-Mills theory we show explicitly
that the partition function has a semiclassical limit given by the Regge
discretization of the classical Yang-Mills action.Comment: 18 page
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Global Budget and Radiative Forcing of Black Carbon Aerosol: Constraints from Pole-to-Pole (HIPPO) Observations across the Pacific
We use a global chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to interpret aircraft curtain observations of black carbon (BC) aerosol over the Pacific from 85°N to 67°S during the 2009–2011 HIAPER (High-Performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research) Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) campaigns. Observed concentrations are very low, implying much more efficient scavenging than is usually implemented in models. Our simulation with a global source of and mean tropospheric lifetime of 4.2 days (versus 6.8 ± 1.8 days for the Aerosol Comparisons between Observations and Models (AeroCom) models) successfully simulates BC concentrations in source regions and continental outflow and captures the principal features of the HIPPO data but is still higher by a factor of 2 (1.48 for column loads) over the Pacific. It underestimates BC absorbing aerosol optical depths (AAODs) from the Aerosol Robotic Network by 32% on a global basis. Only 8.7% of global BC loading in GEOS-Chem is above 5 km, versus 21 ± 11% for the AeroCom models, with important implications for radiative forcing estimates. Our simulation yields a global BC burden of 77 Gg, a global mean BC AAOD of 0.0017, and a top-of-atmosphere direct radiative forcing (TOA DRF) of , with a range of based on uncertainties in the BC atmospheric distribution. Our TOA DRF is lower than previous estimates in AeroCom, in more recent studies). We argue that these previous estimates are biased high because of excessive BC concentrations over the oceans and in the free troposphere.Engineering and Applied Science
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