5 research outputs found
A bright millisecond radio burst of extragalactic origin
Pulsar surveys offer one of the few opportunities to monitor even a small
fraction (~0.00001) of the radio sky for impulsive burst-like events with
millisecond durations. In analysis of archival survey data, we have discovered
a 30-Jy dispersed burst of duration <5 ms located three degrees from the Small
Magellanic Cloud. The burst properties argue against a physical association
with our Galaxy or the Small Magellanic Cloud. Current models for the free
electron content in the Universe imply a distance to the burst of <1 Gpc No
further bursts are seen in 90-hr of additional observations, implying that it
was a singular event such as a supernova or coalescence of relativistic
objects. Hundreds of similar events could occur every day and act as insightful
cosmological probes.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures. Accepted by Science. Published electronically
via Science Express on September 27, 200
Triangulation of gravitational wave sources with a network of detectors
There is significant benefit to be gained by pursuing multi-messenger
astronomy with gravitational wave and electromagnetic observations. In order to
undertake electromagnetic follow-ups of gravitational wave signals, it will be
necessary to accurately localize them in the sky. Since gravitational wave
detectors are not inherently pointing instruments, localization will occur
primarily through triangulation with a network of detectors. We investigate the
expected timing accuracy for observed signals and the consequences for
localization. In addition, we discuss the effect of systematic uncertainties in
the waveform and calibration of the instruments on the localization of sources.
We provide illustrative results of timing and localization accuracy as well as
systematic effects for coalescing binary waveforms.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure
Rural Water Policy in Africa and Asia
Universal delivery of improved drinking water services in rural Africa and Asia has been an enduring policy challenge for decades. Whilst drinking water coverage has generally improved, only one in five countries below 95% coverage in 2015 is currently on track to achieve basic drinking water services for all by 2030. We identify and evaluate three periods of rural water policy in Africa and Asia between 1980 and 2030 to (i) identify four pillars of rural water policy design, (ii) consider how they have adapted over time, and (iii) propose priorities for progress. We argue for an increase in investments in designing and testing emerging institutional models for rural water services to evaluate the tradeâoffs in performance across institutional, financial and operational dimensions. Stronger empirical evidence will allow policy and planning to balance and negotiate shortâterm political goals with longâterm sector sustainability for the benefit of the poor