8,912 research outputs found
Long String Scattering in c = 1 String Theory
We study the scattering of long strings in c = 1 string theory, both in the
worldsheet description and in the non-singlet sector of the dual matrix quantum
mechanics. From the worldsheet perspective, the scattering amplitudes of long
strings are obtained from a decoupling limit of open strings amplitudes on FZZT
branes, which we compute by integrating Virasoro conformal blocks along with
structure constants of boundary Liouville theory. In particular, we study the
tree level amplitudes of (1) a long string decaying by emitting a closed
string, and (2) the scattering of a pair of long strings. We show that they are
indeed well defined as limits of open string amplitudes, and that our results
are in striking numerical agreement with computations in the adjoint and
bi-adjoint sectors of the dual matrix model (based on proposals of Maldacena
and solutions due to Fidkowski), thereby providing strong evidence of the
duality.Comment: 42 pages, 18 figure
The c=1 String Theory S-Matrix Revisited
We revisit the perturbative S-matrix of c=1 string theory from the worldsheet
perspective. We clarify the origin of the leg pole factors, the non-analyticity
of the string amplitudes, and the validity as well as limitations of earlier
computations based on resonance momenta. We compute the tree level 4-point
amplitude and the genus one 2-point reflection amplitude by numerically
integrating Virasoro conformal blocks with DOZZ structure constants on the
sphere and on the torus, with sufficiently generic complex Liouville momenta,
and find agreement with known answers from the c=1 matrix model.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figures; footnote and references added, typos correcte
The S-Matrix of 2D Type 0B String Theory Part 2: D-Instanton Effects
We study the effect of D-instantons on closed string scattering amplitudes in
the two-dimensional type 0B string theory from the worldsheet perspective. We
find that the contribution from a pair of D-instanton and anti-D-instanton to
the closed string reflection amplitude, with a suitable contour prescription
for the integration over the D-instanton moduli space, agrees with the
corresponding leading non-perturbative corrections in the proposed dual matrix
quantum mechanics. This analysis is further extended to thermal observables
defined at finite temperature. The infrared divergence in charged processes is
understood through the measure factor for charged D-instantons, and can be
treated with spacetime dimensional regularization.Comment: 30 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
The use of ecosystem-based adaptation practices by smallholder farmers in Central America
There is growing interest in promoting the use of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) practices to help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change, however there is limited information on how commonly these practices are used by smallholder farmers and what factors influence their use. Using participatory mapping and field surveys, we examined the prevalence and characteristics of EbA practices on 300 smallholder coffee and maize farmers in six landscapes in Central America and explored the socioeconomic and biophysical factors associated with their use. The prevalence of individual EbA practices varied across smallholder farms. Common EbA practices included live fences, home gardens, shade trees in coffee plantations, and dispersed trees in maize fields. We found a mean of 3.8 EbA practices per farm. Factors that were correlated with the total number of EbA practices on farms included the mean area of coffee plantations, farmer age, farmer experience, the farm type and the landscape in which farms were located. Factors associated with the presence or characteristics of individual EbA practices included the size of coffee plantations, farmer experience, farmer education, land tenure, landscape and farm type. Our analysis suggests that many smallholder farmers in Central America are already using certain EbA practices, but there is still scope for greater implementation. Policy makers, donors and technicians can encourage the broader use of EbA by smallholder farmers by facilitating farmer-to-farmer exchanges to share knowledge on EbA implementation, assessing the effectiveness of EbA practices in delivering adaptation benefits, and tailoring EbA policies and programs for smallholder farmers in different socioeconomic and biophysical contexts. (Résumé d'auteur
Titan Science with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scheduled for launch in 2018, is the
successor to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) but with a significantly larger
aperture (6.5 m) and advanced instrumentation focusing on infrared science
(0.6-28.0 m ). In this paper we examine the potential for scientific
investigation of Titan using JWST, primarily with three of the four
instruments: NIRSpec, NIRCam and MIRI, noting that science with NIRISS will be
complementary. Five core scientific themes are identified: (i) surface (ii)
tropospheric clouds (iii) tropospheric gases (iv) stratospheric composition and
(v) stratospheric hazes. We discuss each theme in depth, including the
scientific purpose, capabilities and limitations of the instrument suite, and
suggested observing schemes. We pay particular attention to saturation, which
is a problem for all three instruments, but may be alleviated for NIRCam
through use of selecting small sub-arrays of the detectors - sufficient to
encompass Titan, but with significantly faster read-out times. We find that
JWST has very significant potential for advancing Titan science, with a
spectral resolution exceeding the Cassini instrument suite at near-infrared
wavelengths, and a spatial resolution exceeding HST at the same wavelengths. In
particular, JWST will be valuable for time-domain monitoring of Titan, given a
five to ten year expected lifetime for the observatory, for example monitoring
the seasonal appearance of clouds. JWST observations in the post-Cassini period
will complement those of other large facilities such as HST, ALMA, SOFIA and
next-generation ground-based telescopes (TMT, GMT, EELT).Comment: 50 pages, including 22 figures and 2 table
Sussing merger trees: a proposed merger tree data format
We propose a common terminology for use in describing both temporal merger trees and spatial structure trees for dark-matter halos. We specify a unified data format in HDF5 and provide example I/O routines in C, FORTRAN and PYTHON
A comparative study of WASP-67b and HAT-P-38b from WFC3 data
Atmospheric temperature and planetary gravity are thought to be the main
parameters affecting cloud formation in giant exoplanet atmospheres. Recent
attempts to understand cloud formation have explored wide regions of the
equilibrium temperature-gravity parameter space. In this study, we instead
compare the case of two giant planets with nearly identical equilibrium
temperature ( ) and gravity (. During Cycle 23, we collected WFC3/G141
observations of the two planets, WASP-67 b and HAT-P-38 b. HAT-P-38 b, with
mass 0.42 M and radius 1.4 , exhibits a relatively
clear atmosphere with a clear detection of water. We refine the orbital period
of this planet with new observations, obtaining . WASP-67 b, with mass 0.27 M and radius 0.83
, shows a more muted water absorption feature than that of
HAT-P-38 b, indicating either a higher cloud deck in the atmosphere or a more
metal-rich composition. The difference in the spectra supports the hypothesis
that giant exoplanet atmospheres carry traces of their formation history.
Future observations in the visible and mid-infrared are needed to probe the
aerosol properties and constrain the evolutionary scenario of these planets.Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in The
Astronomical Journa
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