1,389 research outputs found
Evaluating model performance of an ensemble-based chemical data assimilation system during INTEX-B field mission
We present a global chemical data assimilation system using a global atmosphere model, the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3) with simplified chemistry and the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART) assimilation package. DART is a community software facility for assimilation studies using the ensemble Kalman filter approach. Here, we apply the assimilation system to constrain global tropospheric carbon monoxide (CO) by assimilating meteorological observations of temperature and horizontal wind velocity and satellite CO retrievals from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) satellite instrument. We verify the system performance using independent CO observations taken on board the NSF/NCAR C-130 and NASA DC-8 aircrafts during the April 2006 part of the Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment (INTEX-B). Our evaluations show that MOPITT data assimilation provides significant improvements in terms of capturing the observed CO variability relative to no MOPITT assimilation (i.e. the correlation improves from 0.62 to 0.71, significant at 99% confidence). The assimilation provides evidence of median CO loading of about 150 ppbv at 700 hPa over the NE Pacific during April 2006. This is marginally higher than the modeled CO with no MOPITT assimilation (~140 ppbv). Our ensemble-based estimates of model uncertainty also show model overprediction over the source region (i.e. China) and underprediction over the NE Pacific, suggesting model errors that cannot be readily explained by emissions alone. These results have important implications for improving regional chemical forecasts and for inverse modeling of CO sources and further demonstrate the utility of the assimilation system in comparing non-coincident measurements, e.g. comparing satellite retrievals of CO with in-situ aircraft measurements
Linear Response, Validity of Semi-Classical Gravity, and the Stability of Flat Space
A quantitative test for the validity of the semi-classical approximation in
gravity is given. The criterion proposed is that solutions to the
semi-classical Einstein equations should be stable to linearized perturbations,
in the sense that no gauge invariant perturbation should become unbounded in
time. A self-consistent linear response analysis of these perturbations, based
upon an invariant effective action principle, necessarily involves metric
fluctuations about the mean semi-classical geometry, and brings in the
two-point correlation function of the quantum energy-momentum tensor in a
natural way. This linear response equation contains no state dependent
divergences and requires no new renormalization counterterms beyond those
required in the leading order semi-classical approximation. The general linear
response criterion is applied to the specific example of a scalar field with
arbitrary mass and curvature coupling in the vacuum state of Minkowski
spacetime. The spectral representation of the vacuum polarization function is
computed in n dimensional Minkowski spacetime, and used to show that the flat
space solution to the semi-classical Einstein equations for n=4 is stable to
all perturbations on distance scales much larger than the Planck length.Comment: 22 pages: This is a significantly expanded version of gr-qc/0204083,
with two additional sections and two new appendices giving a complete,
explicit example of the semi-classical stability criterion proposed in the
previous pape
Stochastically Fluctuating Black-Hole Geometry, Hawking Radiation and the Trans-Planckian Problem
We study the propagation of null rays and massless fields in a black hole
fluctuating geometry. The metric fluctuations are induced by a small
oscillating incoming flux of energy. The flux also induces black hole mass
oscillations around its average value. We assume that the metric fluctuations
are described by a statistical ensemble. The stochastic variables are the
phases and the amplitudes of Fourier modes of the fluctuations. By averaging
over these variables, we obtain an effective propagation for massless fields
which is characterized by a critical length defined by the amplitude of the
metric fluctuations: Smooth wave packets with respect to this length are not
significantly affected when they are propagated forward in time. Concomitantly,
we find that the asymptotic properties of Hawking radiation are not severely
modified. However, backward propagated wave packets are dissipated by the
metric fluctuations once their blue shifted frequency reaches the inverse
critical length. All these properties bear many resemblences with those
obtained in models for black hole radiation based on a modified dispersion
relation. This strongly suggests that the physical origin of these models,
which were introduced to confront the trans-Planckian problem, comes from the
fluctuations of the black hole geometry.Comment: 32 page
Bilinear R-parity violation with flavor symmetry
Bilinear R-parity violation (BRPV) provides the simplest intrinsically
supersymmetric neutrino mass generation scheme. While neutrino mixing
parameters can be probed in high energy accelerators, they are unfortunately
not predicted by the theory. Here we propose a model based on the discrete
flavor symmetry with a single R-parity violating parameter, leading to
(i) correct Cabbibo mixing given by the Gatto-Sartori-Tonin formula, and a
successful unification-like b-tau mass relation, and (ii) a correlation between
the lepton mixing angles and in agreement with
recent neutrino oscillation data, as well as a (nearly) massless neutrino,
leading to absence of neutrinoless double beta decay.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures. Extended version, as published in JHE
Histological evidence for a supraspinous ligament in sauropod dinosaurs
Supraspinous ossified rods have been reported in the sacra of some derived sauropod dinosaurs. Although different hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin ofthis structure, histological evidence has never been provided to support or reject any of them. In order to establish its origin, we analyse and characterize the microstructure of thesupraspinous rod of two sauropod dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina. The supraspinous ossified rod is almost entirely formed by dense Haversian bone. Remains ofprimary bone consist entirely of an avascular tissue composed of two types of fibre-like structures, which are coarse and longitudinally (parallel to the main axis of the element) oriented. These structures are differentiated on the basis of their optical properties under polarized light. Very thin fibrous strands are also observed in some regions. These small fibres are all oriented parallel to one another but perpendicular to the element main axis. Histological features of the primary bone tissue indicate that the sacral supraspinous rod corresponds to an ossified supraspinous ligament. The formation of this structure appears to have been a non-pathological metaplastic ossification, possibly induced by the continuous tensile forces applied to the element.Fil: Cerda, Ignacio Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de InvestigaciĂłn en PaleobiologĂa y GeologĂa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Negro; ArgentinaFil: Casal, Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: MartĂnez, RubĂ©n DarĂo. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia ; ArgentinaFil: Ibiricu, Lucio Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro Nacional PatagĂłnico; Argentin
Inferring from an imprecise Plackett–Luce model : application to label ranking
Learning ranking models is a difficult task, in which data may be scarce and cautious predictions desirable. To address such issues, we explore the extension of the popular parametric probabilistic Plackett–Luce model, often used to model rankings, to the imprecise setting where estimated parameters are set-valued. In particular, we study how to achieve cautious or conservative inference with it, and illustrate their application on label ranking problems, a specific supervised learning task
Stochastic Gravity: A Primer with Applications
Stochastic semiclassical gravity of the 90's is a theory naturally evolved
from semiclassical gravity of the 70's and 80's. It improves on the
semiclassical Einstein equation with source given by the expectation value of
the stress-energy tensor of quantum matter fields in curved spacetimes by
incorporating an additional source due to their fluctuations. In stochastic
semiclassical gravity the main object of interest is the noise kernel, the
vacuum expectation value of the (operator-valued) stress-energy bi-tensor, and
the centerpiece is the (stochastic) Einstein-Langevin equation. We describe
this new theory via two approaches: the axiomatic and the functional. The
axiomatic approach is useful to see the structure of the theory from the
framework of semiclassical gravity. The functional approach uses the
Feynman-Vernon influence functional and the Schwinger-Keldysh close-time-path
effective action methods which are convenient for computations. It also brings
out the open systems concepts and the statistical and stochastic contents of
the theory such as dissipation, fluctuations, noise and decoherence. We then
describe the application of stochastic gravity to the backreaction problems in
cosmology and black hole physics. Intended as a first introduction to this
subject, this article places more emphasis on pedagogy than completeness.Comment: 46 pages Latex. Intended as a review in {\it Classical and Quantum
Gravity
Patterning graphene nanostripes in substrate-supported functionalized graphene: A promising route to integrated, robust, and superior transistors
It is promising to apply quantum-mechanically confined graphene systems in
field-effect transistors. High stability, superior performance, and large-scale
integration are the main challenges facing the practical application of
graphene transistors. Our understandings of the adatom-graphene interaction
combined with recent progress in the nanofabrication technology indicate that
very stable and high-quality graphene nanostripes could be integrated in
substrate-supported functionalized (hydrogenated or fluorinated) graphene using
electron-beam lithography. We also propose that parallelizing a couple of
graphene nanostripes in a transistor should be preferred for practical
application, which is also very useful for transistors based on graphene
nanoribbon.Comment: Frontiers of Physics (2012) to be publishe
A new species of Gymnotus (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae) from the Fitzcarrald Arch of southeastern Peru
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