22,908 research outputs found
Measurement of Quantum Fluctuations in Geometry
A particular form for the quantum indeterminacy of relative spacetime
position of events is derived from the limits of measurement possible with
Planck wavelength radiation. The indeterminacy predicts fluctuations from a
classically defined geometry in the form of ``holographic noise'' whose spatial
character, absolute normalization, and spectrum are predicted with no
parameters. The noise has a distinctive transverse spatial shear signature, and
a flat power spectral density given by the Planck time. An interferometer
signal displays noise due to the uncertainty of relative positions of
reflection events. The noise corresponds to an accumulation of phase offset
with time that mimics a random walk of those optical elements that change the
orientation of a wavefront. It only appears in measurements that compare
transverse positions, and does not appear at all in purely radial position
measurements. A lower bound on holographic noise follows from a covariant upper
bound on gravitational entropy. The predicted holographic noise spectrum is
estimated to be comparable to measured noise in the currently operating
interferometer GEO600. Because of its transverse character, holographic noise
is reduced relative to gravitational wave effects in other interferometer
designs, such as LIGO, where beam power is much less in the beamsplitter than
in the arms.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX. Extensive rewrite of original version,
including more detailed analysis. Main result is the same but the estimate of
noise in strain units for GEO600, showing 1/f behavior at low f and flat at
high f, is improved. To appear in Phys. Rev.
Indeterminacy of Holographic Quantum Geometry
An effective theory based on wave optics is used to describe indeterminacy of
position in holographic spacetime with a UV cutoff at the Planck scale.
Wavefunctions describing spacetime positions are modeled as complex
disturbances of quasi-monochromatic radiation. It is shown that the product of
standard deviations of two position wavefunctions in the plane of a holographic
light sheet is equal to the product of their normal separation and the Planck
length. For macroscopically separated positions the transverse uncertainty is
much larger than the Planck length, and is predicted to be observable as a
"holographic noise" in relative position with a distinctive shear spatial
character, and an absolutely normalized frequency spectrum with no parameters
once the fundamental wavelength is fixed from the theory of gravitational
thermodynamics. The spectrum of holographic noise is estimated for the GEO600
interferometric gravitational-wave detector, and is shown to approximately
account for currently unexplained noise between about 300 and 1400Hz. In a
holographic world, this result directly and precisely measures the fundamental
minimum interval of time.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX. Considerably shortened from earlier version.
Conclusions are unchanged. Submitted to PR
Holographic Geometry and Noise in Matrix Theory
Using Matrix Theory as a concrete example of a fundamental holographic
theory, we show that the emergent macroscopic spacetime displays a new
macroscopic quantum structure, holographic geometry, and a new observable
phenomenon, holographic noise, with phenomenology similar to that previously
derived on the basis of a quasi-monochromatic wave theory. Traces of matrix
operators on a light sheet with a compact dimension of size are interpreted
as transverse position operators for macroscopic bodies. An effective quantum
wave equation for spacetime is derived from the Matrix Hamiltonian. Its
solutions display eigenmodes that connect longitudinal separation and
transverse position operators on macroscopic scales. Measurements of transverse
relative positions of macroscopically separated bodies, such as signals in
Michelson interferometers, are shown to display holographic nonlocality,
indeterminacy and noise, whose properties can be predicted with no parameters
except . Similar results are derived using a detailed scattering calculation
of the matrix wavefunction. Current experimental technology will allow a
definitive and precise test or validation of this interpretation of holographic
fundamental theories. In the latter case, they will yield a direct measurement
of independent of the gravitational definition of the Planck length, and a
direct measurement of the total number of degrees of freedom.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures; v2: factors of Planck mass written explicitly,
typos correcte
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Digital inclusion - the vision, the challenges and the way forward
This paper considers the vision and aspiration of digital inclusion, and then examines the current reality. It looks beyond the rhetoric to provide an analysis of the status quo, a consideration of some facilitators and challenges to progress and some suggestions for moving forward with renewed energy and commitment. The far-reaching benefits of digital inclusion and the crucial role it plays in enabling full participation in our digital society are considered. At the heart of the vision of universal digital inclusion is the deceptively simple goal to ensure that everyone is able to access and experience the wide-ranging benefits and transformational opportunities and impacts it offers. The reality is a long way from the vision: inequality of access still exists despite many national campaigns and initiatives to reduce it. The benefits and beneficiaries of a digital society are not just the individual but all stakeholders in the wider society. Research evidence has shown that the critical success factors for successful digital participation are (i) appropriate design and (ii) readily available and on-going ICT (Information and Communication Technology) support in the community. Challenges and proven solutions are presented. The proposition of community hubs in local venues to provide user-centred ICT support and learning for older and disabled people is presented. While the challenges to achieve digital inclusion are very considerable, the knowledge of how to achieve it and the technologies which enable it already exist. Harnessing of political will is necessary to make digital inclusion a reality rather than a vision. With the cooperation and commitment of all stakeholders actualisation of the vision of a digitally inclusive society, while challenging, can be achieved and will yield opportunities and rewards that eclipse the cost of implementation
Helical Magnetic Fields from Sphaleron Decay and Baryogenesis
Many models of baryogenesis rely on anomalous particle physics processes to
give baryon number violation. By numerically evolving the electroweak equations
on a lattice, we show that baryogenesis in these models creates helical cosmic
magnetic fields. After a transitory period, electroweak dynamics is found to
conserve the Chern-Simons number and the total electromagnetic helicity. We
argue that baryogenesis could lead to magnetic fields of nano-Gauss strength
today on astrophysical length scales. In addition to being astrophysically
relevant, such helical magnetic fields can provide an independent probe of
baryogenesis and CP violation in particle physics.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Added references, fixed typo
Extreme Ultraviolet Emission from Clusters of Galaxies: Inverse Compton Radiation from a Relic Population of Cosmic Ray Electrons?
We suggest that the luminous extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission which has
been detected recently from clusters of galaxies is Inverse Compton (IC)
scattering of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation by low energy cosmic
ray electrons in the intracluster medium. The cosmic ray electrons would have
Lorentz factors of gamma ~ 300, and would lose energy primarily by emitting EUV
radiation. These particles have lifetimes comparable to the Hubble time; thus,
the electrons might represent a relic population of cosmic rays produced by
nonthermal activity over the history of the cluster. The IC model naturally
explains the observed increase in the ratio of EUV to X-ray emission with
radius in clusters. The required energy in cosmic ray electrons is typically
1--10% of the thermal energy content of the intracluster gas. We suggest that
the cosmic ray electrons might have been produced by supernovae in galaxies, by
radio galaxies, or by particle acceleration in intracluster shocks.Comment: ApJ Letters, in press, 4 pages with 1 embedded figure, Latex in
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A Bayesian Estimate of the Primordial Helium Abundance
We introduce a new statistical method to estimate the primordial helium
abundance, Y_p from observed abundances in a sample of galaxies which have
experienced stellar helium enrichment. Rather than using linear regression on
metal abundance we construct a likelihood function using a Bayesian prior,
where the key assumption is that the true helium abundance must always exceed
the primordial value. Using a sample of measurements compiled from the
literature we find estimates of Y_p between 0.221 and 0.236, depending on the
specific subsample and prior adopted, consistent with previous estimates either
from a linear extrapolation of the helium abundance with respect to
metallicity, or from the helium abundance of the lowest metallicity HII region,
I Zw 18. We also find an upper limit which is insensitive to the specific
subsample or prior, and estimate a model-independent bound Y_p < 0.243 at 95%
confidence, favoring a low cosmic baryon density and a high primordial
deuterium abundance. The main uncertainty is not the model of stellar
enrichment but possible common systematic biases in the estimate of Y in each
individual HII region.Comment: 14 pages, latex, 3 ps figure
How Do Consumers Use Nutrition Labels on Food Products in the United States?
This study examined how consumers use food labels in the United States. Based on the results from the cluster analysis, eight nutrition label questions from the Health and Diet Survey fell into 2 categories of label usage: for shopping or for dietary decisions. Survey respondents reported equal or more consideration of nutrition-label information for dietary choices than for shopping decisions in 2008 compared with prior survey years. Female consumers, frequent label users, well-educated, consumers aged 50 to 59, or consumers with any health issues were significantly more likely to use food labels for all kinds of purposes than their corresponding counterparts
Interferometers as Probes of Planckian Quantum Geometry
A theory of position of massive bodies is proposed that results in an
observable quantum behavior of geometry at the Planck scale, . Departures
from classical world lines in flat spacetime are described by Planckian
noncommuting operators for position in different directions, as defined by
interactions with null waves. The resulting evolution of position wavefunctions
in two dimensions displays a new kind of directionally-coherent quantum noise
of transverse position. The amplitude of the effect in physical units is
predicted with no parameters, by equating the number of degrees of freedom of
position wavefunctions on a 2D spacelike surface with the entropy density of a
black hole event horizon of the same area. In a region of size , the effect
resembles spatially and directionally coherent random transverse shear
deformations on timescale with typical amplitude . This quantum-geometrical "holographic noise" in position is not
describable as fluctuations of a quantized metric, or as any kind of
fluctuation, dispersion or propagation effect in quantum fields. In a Michelson
interferometer the effect appears as noise that resembles a random Planckian
walk of the beamsplitter for durations up to the light crossing time. Signal
spectra and correlation functions in interferometers are derived, and predicted
to be comparable with the sensitivities of current and planned experiments. It
is proposed that nearly co-located Michelson interferometers of laboratory
scale, cross-correlated at high frequency, can test the Planckian noise
prediction with current technology.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures, Latex. To appear in Physical Review
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