768 research outputs found
Segmentation and tracking of video objects for a content-based video indexing context
This paper examines the problem of segmentation and tracking of video objects for content-based information retrieval. Segmentation and tracking of video objects plays an important role in index creation and user request definition steps. The object is initially selected using a semi-automatic approach. For this purpose, a user-based selection is required to define roughly the object to be tracked. In this paper, we propose two different methods to allow an accurate contour definition from the user selection. The first one is based on an active contour model which progressively refines the selection by fitting the natural edges of the object while the second used a binary partition tree with aPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Quicksort with unreliable comparisons: a probabilistic analysis
We provide a probabilistic analysis of the output of Quicksort when
comparisons can err.Comment: 29 pages, 3 figure
Electrodeposition of Metals in Microgravity Conditions
Metal electrodeposition may introduce various morphological variations depending on the electrolytic conditions including cell configurations. For liquid electrolytes, a precise study of these deposits may be complicated by convective motion due to buoyancy. Zero-gravity (0-G) condition provided by drop shaft or parabolic flight gives a straightforward mean to avoid this effect: we present here 0-G electrodeposition experiments, which we compare to ground experiments (1-G). Two electrochemical systems were studied by laser interferometry, allowing to measure the concentration variations in the electrolyte: copper deposition from copper sulfate aqueous solution and lithium deposition from an ionic liquid containing LiTFSI. For copper, concentration variations were in good agreement with theory. For lithium, an apparent induction time was observed for the concentration evolution at 1-G: due to this induction time and to the low diffusion coefficient in ionic liquid, the concentration variations were hardly measurable in the parabolic flight 0-G periods of 20 seconds
Statistics of reduced words in locally free and braid groups: Abstract studies and application to ballistic growth model
We study numerically and analytically the average length of reduced
(primitive) words in so-called locally free and braid groups. We consider the
situations when the letters in the initial words are drawn either without or
with correlations. In the latter case we show that the average length of the
reduced word can be increased or lowered depending on the type of correlation.
The ideas developed are used for analytical computation of the average number
of peaks of the surface appearing in some specific ballistic growth modelComment: 29 pages, LaTeX, 7 separated Postscript figures (available on
request), submitted to J. Phys. (A): Math. Ge
Planar maps and continued fractions
We present an unexpected connection between two map enumeration problems. The
first one consists in counting planar maps with a boundary of prescribed
length. The second one consists in counting planar maps with two points at a
prescribed distance. We show that, in the general class of maps with controlled
face degrees, the solution for both problems is actually encoded into the same
quantity, respectively via its power series expansion and its continued
fraction expansion. We then use known techniques for tackling the first problem
in order to solve the second. This novel viewpoint provides a constructive
approach for computing the so-called distance-dependent two-point function of
general planar maps. We prove and extend some previously predicted exact
formulas, which we identify in terms of particular Schur functions.Comment: 47 pages, 17 figures, final version (very minor changes since v2
The topological structure of scaling limits of large planar maps
We discuss scaling limits of large bipartite planar maps. If p is a fixed
integer strictly greater than 1, we consider a random planar map M(n) which is
uniformly distributed over the set of all 2p-angulations with n faces. Then, at
least along a suitable subsequence, the metric space M(n) equipped with the
graph distance rescaled by the factor n to the power -1/4 converges in
distribution as n tends to infinity towards a limiting random compact metric
space, in the sense of the Gromov-Hausdorff distance. We prove that the
topology of the limiting space is uniquely determined independently of p, and
that this space can be obtained as the quotient of the Continuum Random Tree
for an equivalence relation which is defined from Brownian labels attached to
the vertices. We also verify that the Hausdorff dimension of the limit is
almost surely equal to 4.Comment: 45 pages Second version with minor modification
Random trees between two walls: Exact partition function
We derive the exact partition function for a discrete model of random trees
embedded in a one-dimensional space. These trees have vertices labeled by
integers representing their position in the target space, with the SOS
constraint that adjacent vertices have labels differing by +1 or -1. A
non-trivial partition function is obtained whenever the target space is bounded
by walls. We concentrate on the two cases where the target space is (i) the
half-line bounded by a wall at the origin or (ii) a segment bounded by two
walls at a finite distance. The general solution has a soliton-like structure
involving elliptic functions. We derive the corresponding continuum scaling
limit which takes the remarkable form of the Weierstrass p-function with
constrained periods. These results are used to analyze the probability for an
evolving population spreading in one dimension to attain the boundary of a
given domain with the geometry of the target (i) or (ii). They also translate,
via suitable bijections, into generating functions for bounded planar graphs.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures, tex, harvmac, epsf; accepted version; main
modifications in Sect. 5-6 and conclusio
Electrodeposition of In2S3 buffer layer for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells
AbstractThe electrochemical deposition of In2S3 thin films was carried out from an aqueous solution of InCl3 and Na2S2O3. The effect of the potential of deposition was studied on the cell parameters of CIGSe based solar cells. The obtained films depending on the deposition potential and thickness exhibited complete substrate coverage or nanocolumnar layers. XPS measurements detected the presence of indium sulphide and hydroxide depending on the deposition parameters. Maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency of 10.2% was obtained, limited mainly by a low fill factor (56%). Further process optimization is expected to lead to efficiencies comparable to CdS buffer layers
The scaling attractor and ultimate dynamics for Smoluchowski's coagulation equations
We describe a basic framework for studying dynamic scaling that has roots in
dynamical systems and probability theory. Within this framework, we study
Smoluchowski's coagulation equation for the three simplest rate kernels
, and . In another work, we classified all self-similar
solutions and all universality classes (domains of attraction) for scaling
limits under weak convergence (Comm. Pure Appl. Math 57 (2004)1197-1232). Here
we add to this a complete description of the set of all limit points of
solutions modulo scaling (the scaling attractor) and the dynamics on this limit
set (the ultimate dynamics). The main tool is Bertoin's L\'{e}vy-Khintchine
representation formula for eternal solutions of Smoluchowski's equation (Adv.
Appl. Prob. 12 (2002) 547--64). This representation linearizes the dynamics on
the scaling attractor, revealing these dynamics to be conjugate to a continuous
dilation, and chaotic in a classical sense. Furthermore, our study of scaling
limits explains how Smoluchowski dynamics ``compactifies'' in a natural way
that accounts for clusters of zero and infinite size (dust and gel)
Tangling clustering of inertial particles in stably stratified turbulence
We have predicted theoretically and detected in laboratory experiments a new
type of particle clustering (tangling clustering of inertial particles) in a
stably stratified turbulence with imposed mean vertical temperature gradient.
In this stratified turbulence a spatial distribution of the mean particle
number density is nonuniform due to the phenomenon of turbulent thermal
diffusion, that results in formation of a gradient of the mean particle number
density, \nabla N, and generation of fluctuations of the particle number
density by tangling of the gradient, \nabla N, by velocity fluctuations. The
mean temperature gradient, \nabla T, produces the temperature fluctuations by
tangling of the gradient, \nabla T, by velocity fluctuations. These
fluctuations increase the rate of formation of the particle clusters in small
scales. In the laboratory stratified turbulence this tangling clustering is
much more effective than a pure inertial clustering that has been observed in
isothermal turbulence. In particular, in our experiments in oscillating grid
isothermal turbulence in air without imposed mean temperature gradient, the
inertial clustering is very weak for solid particles with the diameter 10
microns and Reynolds numbers Re =250. Our theoretical predictions are in a good
agreement with the obtained experimental results.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, REVTEX4, revised versio
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