8,848 research outputs found
Debris disk size distributions: steady state collisional evolution with P-R drag and other loss processes
We present a new scheme for determining the shape of the size distribution,
and its evolution, for collisional cascades of planetesimals undergoing
destructive collisions and loss processes like Poynting-Robertson drag. The
scheme treats the steady state portion of the cascade by equating mass loss and
gain in each size bin; the smallest particles are expected to reach steady
state on their collision timescale, while larger particles retain their
primordial distribution. For collision-dominated disks, steady state means that
mass loss rates in logarithmic size bins are independent of size. This
prescription reproduces the expected two phase size distribution, with ripples
above the blow-out size, and above the transition to gravity-dominated
planetesimal strength. The scheme also reproduces the expected evolution of
disk mass, and of dust mass, but is computationally much faster than evolving
distributions forward in time. For low-mass disks, P-R drag causes a turnover
at small sizes to a size distribution that is set by the redistribution
function (the mass distribution of fragments produced in collisions). Thus
information about the redistribution function may be recovered by measuring the
size distribution of particles undergoing loss by P-R drag, such as that traced
by particles accreted onto Earth. Although cross-sectional area drops with
1/age^2 in the PR-dominated regime, dust mass falls as 1/age^2.8, underlining
the importance of understanding which particle sizes contribute to an
observation when considering how disk detectability evolves. Other loss
processes are readily incorporated; we also discuss generalised power law loss
rates, dynamical depletion, realistic radiation forces and stellar wind drag.Comment: Accepted for publication by Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical
Astronomy (special issue on EXOPLANETS
Warm Debris Disks Candidates in Transiting Planets Systems
We have bandmerged candidate transiting planetary systems (from the Kepler
satellite) and confirmed transiting planetary systems (from the literature)
with the recent Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) preliminary release
catalog. We have found 13 stars showing infrared excesses at either 12 and/or
22 microns. Without longer wavelength observations it is not possible to
conclusively determine the nature of the excesses, although we argue that they
are likely due to debris disks around the stars. If confirmed, our sample ~
doubles the number of currently known warm excess disks around old main
sequence stars. The ratios between the measured fluxes and the stellar
photospheres are generally larger than expected for Gyr-old stars, such as
these planetary hosts. Assuming temperature limits for the dust and emission
from large dust particles, we derive estimates for the disk radii. These values
are comparable to the planet's semi-major axis, suggesting that the planets may
be stirring the planetesimals in the system.Comment: Submitted to A&A: 21 October 2011 / Accepted for publication in A&A:
27 February 201
A predictive model of the effect of therapeutic radiation on the human ovary
Radiation to the female pelvis as part of treatment for cancer predisposes young women to develop Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). As the human female is born with their full complement of non-growing follicles which decline in an exponential fashion until the menopause, the age at which POI occurs is dependent on the age of the patient at treatment and the dose received by the ovary. A model that predicts the age at which POI occurs for a known dose at a known age will aid counselling patients on their fertility risk. Patients deemed to be at high risk of POI may be considered to be good candidates for established fertility preservation techniques. An updated and externally validated model of the age-related decline in human ovarian reserve was combined with the best available estimate of the median lethal dose LD for the human ovary. Using known age at diagnosis and posited radiotherapy treatment plan to estimate the dose to the least-affected ovary, we use an age-related model of the decline in ovarian reserve to generate a personalized age prediction of premature ovarian insufficiency. Our algorithm is available as an online calculator which graphs model outputs to inform discussions around survivor fertility. We report four example cases across different ages and diagnoses, each with two carefully designed photon and proton treatment plans. The treatment options are compared in terms of remaining fertile lifespan for the survivor. International oncology guidelines now mandate the consideration of later fertility when reviewing treatment options for children diagnosed with cancer. Our calculator (https://sites.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/radiosensitivity), and the underlying algorithm and models, allow detailed predictions of the impact of various radiotherapy plans on fertility. These patient-specific data enhance pre-treatment discussions around post-treatment fertility and fertility preservation.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
Scaling at the OTOC Wavefront: Integrable versus chaotic models
Out of time ordered correlators (OTOCs) are useful tools for investigating
foundational questions such as thermalization in closed quantum systems because
they can potentially distinguish between integrable and nonintegrable dynamics.
Here we discuss the properties of wavefronts of OTOCs by focusing on the region
around the main wavefront at , where is the butterfly
velocity. Using a Heisenberg spin model as an example, we find that a
propagating Gaussian with the argument
gives an excellent fit for both the integrable case and the chaotic case.
However, the scaling in these two regimes is very different: in the integrable
case the coefficients and have an inverse power law dependence on
whereas in the chaotic case they decay exponentially. In fact, the
wavefront in the integrable case is a rainbow caustic and catastrophe theory
can be invoked to assert that power law scaling holds rigorously in that case.
Thus, we conjecture that exponential scaling of the OTOC wavefront is a robust
signature of a nonintegrable dynamics.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure
Classical-Quantum Coexistence: a `Free Will' Test
Von Neumann's statistical theory of quantum measurement interprets the
instantaneous quantum state and derives instantaneous classical variables. In
realty, quantum states and classical variables coexist and can influence each
other in a time-continuous way. This has been motivating investigations since
longtime in quite different fields from quantum cosmology to optics as well as
in foundations. Different theories (mean-field, Bohm, decoherence, dynamical
collapse, continuous measurement, hybrid dynamics, e.t.c.) emerged for what I
call `coexistence of classical continuum with quantum'. I apply to these
theories a sort of `free will' test to distinguish `tangible' classical
variables useful for causal control from useless ones.Comment: 7pp, based on talk at Conf. on Emergent Quantum Mechanics, Heinz von
Foerster Congress (Vienna University, Nov 11-13, 2011
Radiation effects on silicon solar cells Final report, Dec. 1, 1961 - Dec. 31, 1962
Displacement defects in silicon solar cells by high energy electron irradiation using electron spin resonance, galvanometric, excess carrier lifetime, and infrared absorption measurement
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Automated Fabrication ofCeramic Components from Tape-Cast Ceramic
This paper describes a machine and process for automated fabrication of functional 3-D
laminated engineering components, ceramics in the present example. A laser cuts successive layers
of a part derived from a CAD model description out of unfired tape-cast ceramic sheets
vacuum-clamped to an x-y sled. A material-handling robot uses a selective-area gripper to extract
only the desired part outlines from the surrounding waste material, then stacks the slices to build the
part. This system design enables rapid manufacture of functional engineering components with
arbitrarily complex internal and external geometries from virtually any material available in sheet
form.Mechanical Engineerin
Debris Disks: Probing Planet Formation
Debris disks are the dust disks found around ~20% of nearby main sequence
stars in far-IR surveys. They can be considered as descendants of
protoplanetary disks or components of planetary systems, providing valuable
information on circumstellar disk evolution and the outcome of planet
formation. The debris disk population can be explained by the steady
collisional erosion of planetesimal belts; population models constrain where
(10-100au) and in what quantity (>1Mearth) planetesimals (>10km in size)
typically form in protoplanetary disks. Gas is now seen long into the debris
disk phase. Some of this is secondary implying planetesimals have a Solar
System comet-like composition, but some systems may retain primordial gas.
Ongoing planet formation processes are invoked for some debris disks, such as
the continued growth of dwarf planets in an unstirred disk, or the growth of
terrestrial planets through giant impacts. Planets imprint structure on debris
disks in many ways; images of gaps, clumps, warps, eccentricities and other
disk asymmetries, are readily explained by planets at >>5au. Hot dust in the
region planets are commonly found (<5au) is seen for a growing number of stars.
This dust usually originates in an outer belt (e.g., from exocomets), although
an asteroid belt or recent collision is sometimes inferred.Comment: Invited review, accepted for publication in the 'Handbook of
Exoplanets', eds. H.J. Deeg and J.A. Belmonte, Springer (2018
Rotons and Quantum Evaporation from Superfluid 4He
The probability of evaporation induced by and rotons at the
surface of superfluid helium is calculated using time dependent density
functional theory. We consider excitation energies and incident angles such
that phonons do not take part in the scattering process. We predict sizable
evaporation rates, which originate entirely from quantum effects. Results for
the atomic reflectivity and for the probability of the roton change-mode
reflection are also presented.Comment: 11 pages, REVTEX, 3 figures available upon request or at
http://anubis.science.unitn.it/~dalfovo/papers/papers.htm
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