Quantum Structure of Space Near a Black Hole Horizon

We describe a midi-superspace quantization scheme for generic single horizon black holes in which only the spatial diffeomorphisms are fixed. The remaining Hamiltonian constraint yields an infinite set of decoupled eigenvalue equations: one at each spatial point. The corresponding operator at each point is the product of the outgoing and ingoing null convergences, and describes the scale invariant quantum mechanics of a particle moving in an attractive $1/X^2$ potential. The variable $X$ that is analoguous to particle position is the square root of the conformal mode of the metric. We quantize the theory via Bohr quantization, which by construction turns the Hamiltonian constraint eigenvalue equation into a finite difference equation. The resulting spectrum gives rise to a discrete spatial topology exterior to the horizon. The spectrum approaches the continuum in the asymptotic region.Comment: References added and typos corrected. 21 pages, 1 figur

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THERMAL SYSTEMS BUILT WITH REFLECTIVE INSULATORS WITH AND WITHOUT VACUUM

The use of reflective surfaces functioning as thermal insulators has grown significantly over the years. Reflective thermal insulators are materials that have several characteristics such as low emissivity, low absorptivity and high reflectivity in the infrared spectrum. The use of these materials has grown very much lately, since they contain several important radioactive properties that minimize the heat loss of thermal systems and cooling systems that are used to block the heat on the roof of buildings. A system made of three surfaces of 430 stainless steel mirror was built to analyze the influence of reflective surfaces as a way to reduce the heat loss and thereby conserve the energy of a thermal system. The system was analyzed both with and without the presence of vacuum, and then compared with a system that contained glass wool between the stainless steel mirror walls, since this insulator is considered resistive and also broadly used around the world in thermal systems. The reflectivity and emissivity of the surfaces used were also measured in this experiment. A type K thermocouple was fixed on the wall of the system to obtain the temperature of the stainless steel mirror surfaces and to analyze the thermal behavior of each configuration used. The results showed an efficiency of 13% when the reflective surfaces were used to minimize the heat loss of the thermal system. However, the system with vacuum had the best outcome, a 60% efficiency. Both of these were compared to the system made of glass wool as a thermal insulator

Genetic control of quantitative traits and hybrid breeding strategies for cashew improvement.

Knowledge about genetic parameters and trait control is fundamental for the success of any breeding program. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters in an interpopulation of cashew using the REML/BLUP methods for vegetative growth, yield and nut quality traits. Results showed that plant height, canopy diameter, kernel weight and nut weight are under strong additive genetic control and do not present heterosis. The heritability of nut number and yield were higher in the broad than in the narrow sense. This indicates dominance and heterosis of these traits that should be adequately exploited in cashew breeding programs. Therefore, the best-suited breeding strategy to exploit heterosis is reciprocal recurrent selection using individual crosses between parents with high mean genotypic performance and high specific combining ability