8,495 research outputs found
A nonlinear detection algorithm for periodic signals in gravitational wave detectors
We present an algorithm for the detection of periodic sources of
gravitational waves with interferometric detectors that is based on a special
symmetry of the problem: the contributions to the phase modulation of the
signal from the earth rotation are exactly equal and opposite at any two
instants of time separated by half a sidereal day; the corresponding is true
for the contributions from the earth orbital motion for half a sidereal year,
assuming a circular orbit. The addition of phases through multiplications of
the shifted time series gives a demodulated signal; specific attention is given
to the reduction of noise mixing resulting from these multiplications. We
discuss the statistics of this algorithm for all-sky searches (which include a
parameterization of the source spin-down), in particular its optimal
sensitivity as a function of required computational power. Two specific
examples of all-sky searches (broad-band and narrow-band) are explored
numerically, and their performances are compared with the stack-slide technique
(P. R. Brady, T. Creighton, Phys. Rev. D, 61, 082001).Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Cosmic Censorship: As Strong As Ever
Spacetimes which have been considered counter-examples to strong cosmic
censorship are revisited. We demonstrate the classical instability of the
Cauchy horizon inside charged black holes embedded in de Sitter spacetime for
all values of the physical parameters. The relevant modes which maintain the
instability, in the regime which was previously considered stable, originate as
outgoing modes near to the black hole event horizon. This same mechanism is
also relevant for the instability of Cauchy horizons in other proposed
counter-examples of strong cosmic censorship.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX style, 1 figure included using epsfi
Speech Communication
Contains reports on two research projects.National Science FoundationUnited States Air Force, Cambridge Research Center, Air Research and Development Command (Contract AF19(604)-6102
Lightweight means of actuation for use in space-based robotics applications
In the field of robotics many researchers have devoted a large amount of time to pursuing means to reduce the weight of robotic systems. For space robotics, this becomes even more important due to launch cost being directly affected by weight. During review, potential progress involving weight reduction of actuators has been encountered, which it is necessary to investigate further in order to ascertain the potential advantages and disadvantages of such work. The contribution to be put forth here is a review of means by which reductions in weight can be achieved, with particular emphasis on space robotic actuation sub-systems. Ideas will be posited about the possible configurations which could be explored to reduce weight whilst attempting to maintain performance. It is expected that this contribution will provide evidence-based support for some future research directions, and will also help to stimulate discussion and further work on the subject of lightweight robotics and lightweight actuators. The next stages of this project aim to enhance some of the actuation ideas investigated so far, test these comparatively against one another, and critically review them alongside existing lightweight actuation methods. Following this, simulation of actuation concepts being applied to robotic applications will take place. This is in order to evaluate their performance in microgravity environments and to test their versatility. This process, as part of this project, will also be discussed in this pape
Gravitational collapse from smooth initial data with vanishing radial pressure
We study here the spherical gravitational collapse assuming initial data to
be necessarily smooth, as motivated by the requirements based on physical
reasonableness. A tangential pressure model is constructed and analyzed in
order to understand the final fate of collapse explicitly in terms of the
density and pressure parameters at the initial epoch from which the
collapsedevelops. It is seen that both black holes and naked singularities are
produced as collapse end states even when the initial data is smooth. We show
that the outcome is decided entirely in terms of the initial data, as given by
density, pressure and velocity profiles at the initial epoch, from which the
collapse evolves.Comment: 10 pages,3 figures,revtex4,Revised Versio
Gauge symmetry breaking on orbifolds
We discuss a new method for gauge symmetry breaking in theories with one
extra dimension compactified on the orbifold S^1/Z_2. If we assume that fields
and their derivatives can jump at the orbifold fixed points, we can implement a
generalized Scherk-Schwarz mechanism that breaks the gauge symmetry. We show
that our model with discontinuous fields is equivalent to another with
continuous but non periodic fields; in our scheme localized lagrangian terms
for bulk fields appear.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Talk given at the XXXVIIth Rencontres de Moriond,
"Electroweak interactions and unified theories", Les Arcs, France, 9-16 Mar
2002. Minor changes, one reference adde
Homothetic Wyman Spacetimes
The time-dependent, spherically symmetric, Wyman sector of the Unified Field
Theory is shown to be equivalent to a self-gravitating scalar field with a
positive-definite, repulsive self-interaction potential. A homothetic symmetry
is imposed on the fundamental tensor, and the resulting autonomous system is
numerically integrated. Near the critical point (between the collapsing and
non-collapsing spacetimes) the system displays an approximately periodic
alternation between collapsing and dispersive epochs.Comment: 15 pages with 6 figures; requires amsart, amssymb, amsmath, graphicx;
formatted for publication in Int. J. Mod. Phys.
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