Power filtration of CMB observational data

We propose a power filter Gp for linear reconstruction of the CMB signal from observational maps. This Gp filter preserves the power spectrum of the CMB signal in contrast to the Wiener filter which diminishes the power spectrum of the reconstructed CMB signal. We demonstrate how peak statistics and a cluster analysis can be used to estimate the probability of the presence of a CMB signal in observational records. The efficiency of the Gp filter is demonstrated on a toy model of an observational record consisting of a CMB signal and noise in the form of foreground point sources.Comment: 17 pages; 4 figures; submitted to International Journal of Modern Physic

Numerical indications on the semiclassical limit of the flipped vertex

We introduce a technique for testing the semiclassical limit of a quantum gravity vertex amplitude. The technique is based on the propagation of a semiclassical wave packet. We apply this technique to the newly introduced "flipped" vertex in loop quantum gravity, in order to test the intertwiner dependence of the vertex. Under some drastic simplifications, we find very preliminary, but surprisingly good numerical evidence for the correct classical limit.Comment: 4 pages, 8 figure

Transitions in non-conserving models of Self-Organized Criticality

We investigate a random--neighbours version of the two dimensional non-conserving earthquake model of Olami, Feder and Christensen [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 68}, 1244 (1992)]. We show both analytically and numerically that criticality can be expected even in the presence of dissipation. As the critical level of conservation, $\alpha_c$, is approached, the cut--off of the avalanche size distribution scales as $\xi\sim(\alpha_c-\alpha)^{-3/2}$. The transition from non-SOC to SOC behaviour is controlled by the average branching ratio $\sigma$ of an avalanche, which can thus be regarded as an order parameter of the system. The relevance of the results are discussed in connection to the nearest-neighbours OFC model (in particular we analyse the relevance of synchronization in the latter).Comment: 8 pages in latex format; 5 figures available upon reques

Alcohol Motor Fuels

The proposal to encourage the use of power alcohol made from farm crops grown in the Continental United States, as an aid to agriculture, is not new. Since the last consideration, something more than ten years ago, anhydrous ethyl alcohol has become commercially available. This development makes it feasible to use alcohol-gasoline mixtures. The power alcohol project is thus placed upon a new basis and is worthy of a new consideration

Gravitational intraction on quantum level and consequences thereof

The notion of gravitational emission as an emission of the same level with electromagnetic emission is based on the proven fact of existence of electrons stationary states in its own gravitational field, characterized by gravitational constantComment: 22 pages, 9 figure

Terrane‐controlled crustal shear wave splitting in Taiwan

Taiwan is the result of arc‐continent collision associated with the convergence of the Philippine Sea plate with the eastern Eurasian plate continental margin. The locus of deformation is found in eastern Taiwan in the form of mountain building (Central Range) with underlying thickened lithosphere. Rapid tectonic exhumation in the Central Range has uncovered low‐to‐high‐grade metamorphic rocks marked by steep cleavage. We carried out a crustal seismic anisotropy study across Taiwan, producing a database of over 27,000 local earthquake shear wave splitting measurements. Additionally, we carried out rock physics measurements of metamorphic outcrop samples to quantify shear wave rock anisotropy. We produced a map of station‐averaged splitting measurements across Taiwan. Patterns of fast shear wave directions correlate with tectonic terranes produced by plate convergence. Deformation‐related mineral‐preferred orientation in the metamorphic rocks produces a significant amount of the crustal anisotropy in the Taiwan collision zone

Nesting Induced Peierls-type Instability for Compressed Li-CI16

Alkalies are considered to be simple metals at ambient conditions. However, recently reported theoretical and experimental results have shown an unexpected and intriguing correlation between complex structures and an enhanced superconducting transition temperature in lithium under pressure. In this article we analyze the pressure induced Fermi surface deformation in bcc lithium, and its relation to the observed cI16 structure. According to our calculations, the Fermi surface becomes increasingly anisotropic with pressure and develops an extended nesting along the bcc [121] direction. This nesting induces a phonon instability of both transverse modes at N, so that a Peierls-type mechanism is proposed to explain the stability of Li-cI16.Comment: Proceedings of Fukuoka 2006 Conference on Novel Pressure-induced Phenomena in Condensed Matter Systems. To be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 2 pages and 3 figure