2,326 research outputs found
Development of advanced techniques for rotorcraft state estimation and parameter identification
An integrated methodology for rotorcraft system identification consists of rotorcraft mathematical modeling, three distinct data processing steps, and a technique for designing inputs to improve the identifiability of the data. These elements are as follows: (1) a Kalman filter smoother algorithm which estimates states and sensor errors from error corrupted data. Gust time histories and statistics may also be estimated; (2) a model structure estimation algorithm for isolating a model which adequately explains the data; (3) a maximum likelihood algorithm for estimating the parameters and estimates for the variance of these estimates; and (4) an input design algorithm, based on a maximum likelihood approach, which provides inputs to improve the accuracy of parameter estimates. Each step is discussed with examples to both flight and simulated data cases
Chaotic Orbits in Thermal-Equilibrium Beams: Existence and Dynamical Implications
Phase mixing of chaotic orbits exponentially distributes these orbits through
their accessible phase space. This phenomenon, commonly called ``chaotic
mixing'', stands in marked contrast to phase mixing of regular orbits which
proceeds as a power law in time. It is operationally irreversible; hence, its
associated e-folding time scale sets a condition on any process envisioned for
emittance compensation. A key question is whether beams can support chaotic
orbits, and if so, under what conditions? We numerically investigate the
parameter space of three-dimensional thermal-equilibrium beams with space
charge, confined by linear external focusing forces, to determine whether the
associated potentials support chaotic orbits. We find that a large subset of
the parameter space does support chaos and, in turn, chaotic mixing. Details
and implications are enumerated.Comment: 39 pages, including 14 figure
Softening and Broadening of the Zone Boundary Magnons in Pr0.63Sr0.37MnO3
We have studied the spin dynamics in PrSrMnO above and
below the Curie temperature K. Three distinct new features have been
observed: a softening of the magnon dispersion at the zone boundary for
, significant broadening of the zone boundary magnons as , and
no evidence for residual spin-wave like excitations just above . The
results are inconsistent with double exchange models that have been
successfully applied to higher samples, indicating an evolution of the
spin system with decreasing .Comment: 12 pages, Latex, 3 figure
Replica-Immunogold Technique Applied to Studies on Measles Virus Morphogenesis
The replica technique was applied to studies on the dynamic process of measles virus budding on infected HeLa cells. Virus structures were identified by labeling with anti-measles antibodies and protein A-gold. The combination of these two methods enabled us (1) to characterize the sequence of virus budding at the plasma membrane, (2) to localize virus structures on cytoskeletons of infected cells, and (3) to study the influence of Ca2+ ions on virus structures at the plasma membrane. Studies on platinum carbon surface replicas suggest that the process of virus budding is similar to the genesis of cellular microvilli. Replicas prepared from cytoskeletons of infected cells reveal a close association of budding virus with actin filaments composing the outer parts of the networks. Replicas of apical plasma membranes isolated from infected cells show the attachment of viral nucleocapsids to the protoplasmic membrane face of infected cells. These nucleocapsids are not present on membranes prepared from cells treated with calcium and the ionophore A23187. In addition viral cell surface antigens become randomly distributed on these cells. The data suggest that measles virus morphogenesis at the plasma membrane of cultured cells is dependent on the function of the cytoskeleton and may be influenced by Ca2+ ions
Plasma Membrane Antigens Detected by Replica Techniques
Methods are introduced for in situ preparation of cell cultures grown on glass coverslips using the replica technique. Special equipment and handling procedures enabled us to prepare large-sized and stable replicas suitable for ultrastructural and immunocytochemical analysis of the different faces of the plasma membrane (PM): the extraplasmic surface (ES), the complementary extraplasmic (EF) and protoplasmic (PF) fracture face, and the protoplasmic surface (PS). Colloidal gold markers in combination with protein A and monospecific/monoclonal antibodies were used to identify virus-specific antigens at the ES of infected cells. Stereo replicas show a coincident location of gold-labeled virus antigens at the ES and structures visible at the EF as well as at the PS. In addition, the association of these antigens with cytoskeletal elements is demonstrated
Feasibility of a storage ring for polar molecules in strong-field-seeking states
We show, through modeling and simulation, that it is feasible to construct a
storage ring that will store dense bunches of strong-field-seeking polar
molecules at 30 m/s (kinetic energy of 2K) and hold them, for several minutes,
against losses due to defocusing, oscillations, and diffusion. The ring, 3 m in
diameter, has straight sections that afford access to the stored molecules and
a lattice structure that may be adapted for evaporative cooling. Simulation is
done using a newly-developed code that tracks the particles, in time, through
400 turns; it accounts for longitudinal velocity changes as a function of
external electric field, focusing and deflection nonlinearities, and the
effects of gravity. An injector, decelerator, and source are included and
intensities are calculated.Comment: 6 pages 5 figures, 3 table
A New Version of Reimers' law of Mass Loss Based on a Physical Approach
We present a new semi-empirical relation for the mass loss of cool stellar
winds, which so far has frequently been described by "Reimers' law".
Originally, this relation was based solely on dimensional scaling arguments
without any physical interpretation. In our approach, the wind is assumed to
result from the spill-over of the extended chromosphere, possibly associated
with the action of waves, especially Alfven waves, which are used as guidance
in the derivation of the new formula. We obtain a relation akin to the original
Reimers law, but which includes two new factors. They reflect how the
chromospheric height depends on gravity and how the mechanical energy flux
depends, mainly, on effective temperature. The new relation is tested and
sensitively calibrated by modelling the blue end of the Horizontal Branch of
globular clusters. The most significant difference from mass loss rates
predicted by the Reimers relation is an increase by up to a factor of 3 for
luminous late-type (super-)giants, in good agreement with observations.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, accepted by ApJ Letter
Flaring Up All Over -- Radio Activity in Rapidly-Rotating Late-Type M and L Dwarfs
We present Very Large Array observations of twelve late M and L dwarfs in the
Solar neighborhood. The observed sources were chosen to cover a wide range of
physical characteristics - spectral type, rotation, age, binarity, and X-ray
and H\alpha activity - to determine the role of these properties in the
production of radio emission, and hence magnetic fields. Three of the twelve
sources, TVLM513-46546, 2MASS J0036159+182110, and BRI0021-0214, were observed
to flare and also exhibit persistent emission, indicating that magnetic
activity is not quenched at the bottom of the main sequence. The radio emission
extends to spectral type L3.5, and there is no apparent decrease in the ratio
of flaring luminosities to bolometric luminosities between M8-L3.5. Moreover,
contrary to the significant drop in persistent H\alpha activity beyond spectral
type M7, the persistent radio activity appears to steadily increase between
M3-L3.5. Similarly, the radio emission from BRI0021-0214 violates the
phenomenological relations between the radio and X-ray luminosities of
coronally active stars, hinting that radio and X-ray activity are also
uncorrelated at the bottom of the main sequence. The radio active sources that
have measured rotational velocities are rapid rotators, Vsin(i)>30 km/sec,
while the upper limits on radio activity in slowly-rotating late M dwarfs
(Vsin(i)<10 km/sec) are lower than these detections. These observations provide
tantalizing evidence that rapidly-rotating late M and L dwarfs are more likely
to be radio active. This possible correlation is puzzling given that the
observed radio emission requires sustained magnetic fields of 10-1000 G and
densities of 10^12 cm^-3, indicating that the active sources should have slowed
down considerably due to magnetic braking.Comment: Accepted to ApJ; Two new figures; Minor text revision
Production of Enhanced Beam Halos via Collective Modes and Colored Noise
We investigate how collective modes and colored noise conspire to produce a
beam halo with much larger amplitude than could be generated by either
phenomenon separately. The collective modes are lowest-order radial eigenmodes
calculated self-consistently for a configuration corresponding to a
direct-current, cylindrically symmetric, warm-fluid Kapchinskij-Vladimirskij
equilibrium. The colored noise arises from unavoidable machine errors and
influences the internal space-charge force. Its presence quickly launches
statistically rare particles to ever-growing amplitudes by continually kicking
them back into phase with the collective-mode oscillations. The halo amplitude
is essentially the same for purely radial orbits as for orbits that are
initially purely azimuthal; orbital angular momentum has no statistically
significant impact. Factors that do have an impact include the amplitudes of
the collective modes and the strength and autocorrelation time of the colored
noise. The underlying dynamics ensues because the noise breaks the
Kolmogorov-Arnol'd-Moser tori that otherwise would confine the beam. These tori
are fragile; even very weak noise will eventually break them, though the time
scale for their disintegration depends on the noise strength. Both collective
modes and noise are therefore centrally important to the dynamics of halo
formation in real beams.Comment: For full resolution pictures please go to
http://www.nicadd.niu.edu/research/beams
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