Gravitational perturbations from oscillons and transients after inflation

We study the scalar and tensor perturbations generated by the fragmentation of the inflaton condensate into oscillons or transients after inflation, using nonlinear classical lattice simulations. Without including the backreaction of metric perturbations, we find that the magnitude of scalar metric perturbations never exceeds a few $\times 10^{-3}$, whereas the maximal strength of the gravitational wave signal today is $\mathcal{O}(10^{-9})$ for standard post-inflationary expansion histories. We provide parameter scalings for the $\alpha$-attractor models of inflation, which can be easily applied to other models. We also discuss the likelihood of primordial black hole formation, as well as conditions under which the gravitational wave signal can be at observationally interesting frequencies and amplitudes. Finally, we provide an upper bound on the frequency of the peak of the gravitational wave signal, which applies to all preheating scenarios.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure

Ride quality systems for commuter aircraft

The state-of-the-art in Active Ride Augmentation, specifically in terms of its feasibility for commuter aircraft applications. A literature survey was done, and the principal results are presented here through discussion of different Ride Quality Augmentation System (RQAS) designs and advances in related technologies. Recommended follow-on research areas are discussed, and a preliminary RQAS configuration for detailed design and development is proposed

Design of a digital ride quality augmentation system for commuter aircraft

Commuter aircraft typically have low wing loadings, and fly at low altitudes, and so they are susceptible to undesirable accelerations caused by random atmospheric turbulence. Larger commercial aircraft typically have higher wing loadings and fly at altitudes where the turbulence level is lower, and so they provide smoother rides. This project was initiated based on the goal of making the ride of the commuter aircraft as smooth as the ride experienced on the major commercial airliners. The objectives of this project were to design a digital, longitudinal mode ride quality augmentation system (RQAS) for a commuter aircraft, and to investigate the effect of selected parameters on those designs

Surface plasmon resonance assisted rapid laser joining of glass

Rapid and strong joining of clear glass to glass containing randomly distributed embedded spherical silver nanoparticles upon nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation (∼40 ns and repetition rate of 100 kHz) at 532 nm is demonstrated. The embedded silver nanoparticles were ∼30–40 nm in diameter, contained in a thin surface layer of ∼10 μm. A joint strength of 12.5 MPa was achieved for a laser fluence of only ∼0.13 J/cm2 and scanning speed of 10 mm/s. The bonding mechanism is discussed in terms of absorption of the laser energy by nanoparticles and the transfer of the accumulated localised heat to the surrounding glass leading to the local melting and formation of a strong bond. The presented technique is scalable and overcomes a number of serious challenges for a widespread adoption of laser-assisted rapid joining of glass substrates, enabling applications in the manufacture of microelectronic devices, sensors, micro-fluidic, and medical devices

Quantum Nondemolition Charge Measurement of a Josephson Qubit

In a qubit system, the measurement operator does not necessarily commute with the qubit Hamiltonian, so that the readout process demolishes (mixes) the qubit energy eigenstates. The readout time is therefore limited by such a mixing time and its fidelity will be reduced. A quantum nondemolition readout scheme is proposed in which the charge of a flux qubit is measured. The measurement operator is shown to commute with the qubit Hamiltonian in the reduced two-level Hilbert space, even though the Hamiltonian contains non-commuting charge and flux terms.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, a paragraph added to describe how the scheme works in charge regim

Quantum Field Theory of Forward Rates with Stochastic Volatility

In a recent formulation of a quantum field theory of forward rates, the volatility of the forward rates was taken to be deterministic. The field theory of the forward rates is generalized to the case of stochastic volatility. Two cases are analyzed, firstly when volatility is taken to be a function of the forward rates, and secondly when volatility is taken to be an independent quantum field. Since volatiltiy is a positive valued quantum field, the full theory turns out to be an interacting nonlinear quantum field theory in two dimensions. The state space and Hamiltonian for the interacting theory are obtained, and shown to have a nontrivial structure due to the manifold moving with a constant velocity. The no arbitrage condition is reformulated in terms of the Hamiltonian of the system, and then exactly solved for the nonlinear interacting case.Comment: 7 Figure

The 'regional problem' and the spatial grammar of British politics

One of the most persistent characteristics of the geography of Britain is the wide inequality that exists between its constituent regions. It is an inequality which has come to be known as the North-South divide, but this is a gestural term that refers to a geography which has in fact varied in detail and in form over at least the last two centuries. In the present period, in spite of many stated intentions and much government rhetoric to the contrary, it has on many measures grown considerably worse. This pamphlet argues that it will continue to do so unless there is a more serious engagement with the power dynamics that underlie this fundamentally unequal and undemocratic geography: dynamics that continue to return London and the South East as the centre of the nation. In the absence of both a systematic attack on the spatial concentration of power, and a radical re-imagination of the nature of regions in an age of geographical connectivity and flow, the concessions on offer in the current debate on devolution and region-building will amount to little more than a pin-prick in tackling the alarming regional inequality and political centrism that currently exists in Britain