Tiered Objects

We investigate the foundations of reasoning over infinite data structures by means of set-theoretical structures arising in the sheaf-theoretic semantics of higher-order intuitionistic logic. Our approach focuses on a natural notion of tiering involving an operation of restriction of elements to levels forming a complete Heyting algebra. We relate these tiered objects to final coalgebras and initial algebras of a wide class of endofunctors of the category of sets, and study their order and convergence properties. As a sample application, we derive a general proof principle for tiered objects

Systematic biases on galaxy haloes parameters from Yukawa-like gravitational potentials

A viable alternative to the dark energy as a solution of the cosmic speed up problem is represented by Extended Theories of Gravity. Should this be indeed the case, there will be an impact not only on cosmological scales, but also at any scale, from the Solar System to extragalactic ones. In particular, the gravitational potential can be different from the Newtonian one commonly adopted when computing the circular velocity fitted to spiral galaxies rotation curves. Phenomenologically modelling the modified point mass potential as the sum of a Newtonian and a Yukawa like correction, we simulate observed rotation curves for a spiral galaxy described as the sum of an exponential disc and a NFW dark matter halo. We then fit these curves assuming parameterized halo models (either with an inner cusp or a core) and using the Newtonian potential to estimate the theoretical rotation curve. Such a study allows us to investigate the bias on the disc and halo model parameters induced by the systematic error induced by forcing the gravity theory to be Newtonian when it is not. As a general result, we find that both the halo scale length and virial mass are significantly overestimated, while the dark matter mass fraction within the disc optical radius is typically underestimated. Moreover, should the Yukawa scale length be smaller than the disc half mass radius, then the logarithmic slope of the halo density profile would turn out to be shallower than the NFW one. Finally, cored models are able to fit quite well the simulated rotation curves, provided the disc mass is biased high in agreement with the results in literature, favoring cored haloes and maximal discs. Such results make us argue that the cusp/core controversy could actually be the outcome of an incorrect assumption about which theory of gravity must actually be used in computing the theoretical circular velocity.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication on Monthly Notices of Royal Astronomical Societ

Weak lensing peak count as a probe of f(R) theories

Weak gravitational lensing by galaxy clusters on faint higher redshift galaxies has been traditionally used to study the cluster mass distribution and as a tool to identify clusters as peaks in the shear maps. However, it becomes soon clear that peaks statistics can also be used as a way to constrain the underlying cosmological model due to its dependence on both the cosmic expansion rate and the growth rate of structures. This feature makes peak statistics particularly interesting from the point of view of discriminating between General Relativity and modified gravity. Here we consider a general class of $f(R)$ theories and compute the observable mass function based on the aperture mass statistics. We complement our theoretical analysis with a Fisher matrix forecast of the constraints that an Euclid\,-\,like survey can impose on the $f(R)$ model parameters. We show that peak statistics alone can in principle discriminate between General Relativity and $f(R)$ models and strongly constrain the $f(R)$ parameters that are sensitive to the non-linear growth of structure. However, further analysis is needed in order to include possible selection function in the peaks redshift determination.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication on MNRAS on Jan 14, 2013; updated to match the published versio

Systematics in the Gamma Ray Bursts Hubble diagram

Thanks to their enormous energy release which allows to detect them up to very high redshift, Gamma Rays Bursts (GRBs) have recently attracted a lot of interest to probe the Hubble diagram (HD) deep into the matter dominated era and hence complement Type Ia Supernoave (SNeIa). However, lacking a local GRBs sample, calibrating the scaling relations proposed as an equivalent to the Phillips law to standardize GRBs is not an easy task because of the need to estimate the GRBs luminosity distance in a model independent way. We consider here three different calibration methods based on the use of a fiducial $\Lambda$CDM model, on cosmographic parameters and on the local regression on SNeIa. We find that the calibration coefficients and the intrinsic scatter do not significantly depend on the adopted calibration procedure. We then investigate the evolution of these parameters with the redshift finding no statistically motivated improvement in the likelihood so that the no evolution assumption is actually a well founded working hypothesis. Under this assumption, we then consider possible systematics effects on the HDs introduced by the calibration method, the averaging procedure and the homogeneity of the sample arguing against any significant bias. We nevertheless stress that a larger GRBs sample with smaller uncertainties is needed to definitely conclude that the different systematics considered here have indeed a negligible impact on the HDs thus strengthening the use of GRBs as cosmological tools.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure, 6 table

Bridge-specific fragility analysis: when is it really necessary?

In seismic assessment of bridges the research focus has recently shifted on the derivation of bridge-specific fragility curves that account for the effect of different geometry, structural system, component and soil properties, on the seismic behaviour. In this context, a new, component-based methodology for the derivation of bridge-specific fragility curves has been recently proposed by the authors, with a view to overcoming the inherent difficulties in assessing all bridges of a road network and the drawbacks of existing methodologies, which use the same group of fragility curves for bridges within the same typological class. The main objective of this paper is to critically assess the necessity of bridge-specific fragility analysis, starting from the effect of structure-specific parameters on component capacity (limit state thresholds), seismic demand, and fragility curves. The aforementioned methodology is used to derive fragility curves for all bridges within an actual road network, with a view to investigating the consistency of adopting generic fragility curves for bridges that fall within the same class and quantifying the degree of over- or under-estimation of the probability of damage when generic bridge classes are considered. Moreover, fragility curves for all representative bridges of the analysed concrete bridge classes are presented to illustrate the differentiation in bridge fragility for varying structural systems, bridge geometry, total bridge length and maximum pier height. Based on the above, the relevance of bridge-specific fragility analysis is assessed, and pertinent conclusions are drawn