3,478 research outputs found
Development of optical diaphragm deflection sensors
The objective of this project was to develop high-temperature pressure sensors using non-metallic components and optical sensing methods. The sensors are to operate over a temperature range from room temperature approx. 20C to 540C, to respond to internal pressure up to 690 kPa, to respond to external pressure up to 690 kPa, and to withstand external overpressure of 2070 kPa. Project tasks include evaluating sensing techniques and sensor systems. These efforts include materials and sensing method selection, sensor design, sensor fabrication, and sensor testing. Sensors are tested as a function of temperature, pressure, overpressure, and vibration. The project results show that high-temperature pressure sensors based on glass components and optical sensing methods are feasible. The microbend optical diaphragm deflection sensor exhibits the required sensitivity and stability for use as a pressure sensor with temperature compensation. for the microbend sensor, the 95% confidence level deviation of input pressure from the pressure calculated from the overall temperature-compensated calibration equation is 3.7% of full scale. The limitations of the sensors evaluated are primarily due to the restricted temperature range of suitable commercially available optical fibers and the problems associated with glass-to-metal pressure sealing over the entire testing temperature range
Information theoretic approach to single-particle and two-particle interference in multi-path interferometers
We propose entropic measures for the strength of single-particle and
two-particle interference in interferometric experiments where each particle of
a pair traverses a multi-path interferometer. Optimal single-particle
interference excludes any two-particle interference, and vice versa. We report
an inequality that states the compromises allowed by quantum mechanics in
intermediate situations, and identify a class of two-particle states for which
the upper bound is reached. Our approach is applicable to symmetric two-partite
systems of any finite dimension.Comment: RevTex 4, 4 pages, 2 figure
J004457+4123 (Sharov 21): not a remarkable nova in M31 but a background quasar with a spectacular UV flare
We announce the discovery of a quasar behind the disk of M31, which was
previously classified as a remarkable nova in our neighbour galaxy. The paper
is primarily aimed at the outburst of J004457+4123 (Sharov 21), with the first
part focussed on the optical spectroscopy and the improvement in the
photometric database. Both the optical spectrum and the broad band spectral
energy distribution of Sharov 21 are shown to be very similar to that of
normal, radio-quiet type 1 quasars. We present photometric data covering more
than a century and resulting in a long-term light curve that is densely sampled
over the past five decades. The variability of the quasar is characterized by a
ground state with typical fluctuation amplitudes of ~0.2 mag around B~20.5,
superimposed by a singular flare of ~2 yr duration (observer frame) with the
maximum at 1992.81 where the UV flux has increased by a factor of ~20. The
total energy in the flare is at least three orders of magnitudes higher than
the radiated energy of the most luminous supernovae, provided that it comes
from an intrinsic process and the energy is radiated isotropically. The profile
of the flare light curve appears to be in agreement with the standard
predictions for a stellar tidal disruption event where a ~10 M_sun giant star
was shredded in the tidal field of a ~2...5 10^8 M_sun black hole. The short
fallback time derived from the light curve requires an ultra-close encounter
where the pericentre of the stellar orbit is deep within the tidal disruption
radius. Gravitational microlensing provides an alternative explanation, though
the probability of such a high amplification event is very low.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics, 14 pages, 11
figure
Statistics of dressed modes in a thermal state
By a Wigner-function calculation, we evaluate the trace of a certain Gaussian
operator arising in the theory of a boson system subject to both finite
temperature and (weak) interaction. Thereby we rederive (and generalize) a
recent result by Kocharovsky, Kocharovsky, and Scully [Phys. Rev. A, vol. 61,
art. 053606 (2000)] in a way that is technically much simpler. One step uses a
special case of the response of Wigner functions to linear transformations, and
we demonstrate the general case by simple means. As an application we extract
the counting statistics for each mode of the Bose gas.Comment: to appear in Optics Communications, 10 page
Non-local anomaly of the axial-vector current for bound states
We demonstrate that the amplitude does not vanish in the limit of zero quark masses. This
represents a new kind of violation of the classical equation of motion for the
axial current and should be interpreted as the axial anomaly for bound states.
The anomaly emerges in spite of the fact that the one loop integrals are
ultraviolet-finite as guaranteed by the presence of the bound-state wave
function. As a result, the amplitude behaves like in the limit of
a large momentum of the current. This is to be compared with the amplitude
which remains
finite in the limit .
The observed effect leads to the modification of the classical equation of
motion of the axial-vector current in terms of the non-local operator and can
be formulated as a non-local axial anomaly for bound states.Comment: revtex, 4 pages, numerical value for in Eq. (19) is
corrected, Eqs. (22) and (23) are modified. New references added. Results
remain unchange
Symmetric coupling of four spin-1/2 systems
We address the non-binary coupling of identical angular momenta based upon
the representation theory for the symmetric group. A correspondence is pointed
out between the complete set of commuting operators and the
reference-frame-free subsystems. We provide a detailed analysis of the coupling
of three and four spin-1/2 systems and discuss a symmetric coupling of four
spin-1/2 systems.Comment: 20 pages, no figure
Test-State Approach to the Quantum Search Problem
The search for "a quantum needle in a quantum haystack" is a metaphor for the
problem of finding out which one of a permissible set of unitary mappings---the
oracles---is implemented by a given black box. Grover's algorithm solves this
problem with quadratic speed-up as compared with the analogous search for "a
classical needle in a classical haystack." Since the outcome of Grover's
algorithm is probabilistic---it gives the correct answer with high probability,
not with certainty---the answer requires verification. For this purpose we
introduce specific test states, one for each oracle. These test states can also
be used to realize "a classical search for the quantum needle" which is
deterministic---it always gives a definite answer after a finite number of
steps---and faster by a factor of 3.41 than the purely classical search. Since
the test-state search and Grover's algorithm look for the same quantum needle,
the average number of oracle queries of the test-state search is the classical
benchmark for Grover's algorithm.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Identification of a gene associated with avian migratory behaviour
Bird migration is one of the most spectacular and best-studied phenomena in behavioural biology. Yet, while the patterns of variation in migratory behaviour and its ecological causes have been intensively studied, its genetic, physiological and neurological control remains poorly understood. The lack of knowledge of the molecular basis of migration is currently not only limiting our insight into the proximate control of migration, but also into its evolution. We investigated polymorphisms in the exons of six candidate genes for key behavioural traits potentially linked to migration, which had previously been identified in several bird species, and eight control loci in 14 populations of blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla), representing the whole range of geographical variation in migration patterns found in this species, with the aim of identifying genes controlling variation in migration. We found a consistent association between a microsatellite polymorphism and migratory behaviour only at one candidate locus: the ADCYAP1 gene. This polymorphism explained about 2.6 per cent of the variation in migratory tendency among populations, and 2.7–3.5% of variation in migratory restlessness among individuals within two independent populations. In all tests, longer alleles were associated with higher migratory activity. The consistency of results among different populations and levels of analysis suggests that ADCYAP1 is one of the genes controlling the expression of migratory behaviour. Moreover, the multiple described functions of the gene product indicate that this gene might act at multiple levels modifying the shift between migratory and non-migratory states
Effects of a Follow-On Formula Containing Isomaltulose (Palatinose) on Metabolic Response, Acceptance, Tolerance and Safety in Infants: A Randomized-Controlled Trial
UNLABELLED:Effects of the dietary glycaemic load on postprandial blood glucose and insulin response might be of importance for fat deposition and risk of obesity. We aimed to investigate the metabolic effects, acceptance and tolerance of a follow-on formula containing the low glycaemic and low insulinaemic carbohydrate isomaltulose replacing high glycaemic maltodextrin. Healthy term infants aged 4 to 8 completed months (n = 50) were randomized to receive the intervention follow-on formula (IF, 2.1g isomaltulose (Palatinose™)/100mL) or an isocaloric conventional formula (CF) providing 2.1g maltodextrin/100mL for four weeks. Plasma insulinaemia 60 min after start of feeding (primary outcome) was not statistically different, while glycaemia adjusted for age and time for drinking/volume of meal 60 min after start of feeding was 122(105,140) mg/dL in IF (median, interquartile range) and 111(100,123) in CF (p = 0.01). Urinary c-peptide:creatinine ratio did not differ (IF:81.5(44.7, 96.0) vs. CF:56.8(37.5, 129),p = 0.43). Urinary c-peptide:creatinine ratio was correlated total intake of energy (R = 0.31,p = 0.045), protein (R = 0.42,p = 0.006) and fat (R = 0.40,p = 0.01) but not with carbohydrate intake (R = 0.22,p = 0.16). Both formulae were well accepted without differences in time of crying, flatulence, stool characteristics and the occurrence of adverse events. The expected lower postprandial plasma insulin and blood glucose level due to replacement of high glycaemic maltodextrin by low glycaemic isomaltulose were not observed in the single time-point blood analysis. In infants aged 4 to 8 completed months fed a liquid formula, peak blood glucose might be reached earlier than 60 min after start of feeding. Non-invasive urinary c-peptide measurements may be a suitable marker of nutritional intake during the previous four days in infants. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01627015
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