699 research outputs found
Lattice QCD with mixed actions
We discuss some of the implications of simulating QCD when the action used
for the sea quarks is different from that used for the valence quarks. We
present exploratory results for the hadron mass spectrum and pseudoscalar meson
decay constants using improved staggered sea quarks and HYP-smeared overlap
valence quarks. We propose a method for matching the valence quark mass to the
sea quark mass and demonstrate it on UKQCD clover data in the simpler case
where the sea and valence actions are the same.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures some minor modification to text and figures.
Accepted for publicatio
Localization and chiral symmetry in 2+1 flavor domain wall QCD
We present results for the dependence of the residual mass of domain wall
fermions (DWF) on the size of the fifth dimension and its relation to the
density and localization properties of low-lying eigenvectors of the
corresponding hermitian Wilson Dirac operator relevant to simulations of 2+1
flavor domain wall QCD. Using the DBW2 and Iwasaki gauge actions, we generate
ensembles of configurations with a space-time volume and an
extent of 8 in the fifth dimension for the sea quarks. We demonstrate the
existence of a regime where the degree of locality, the size of chiral symmetry
breaking and the rate of topology change can be acceptable for inverse lattice
spacings GeV.Comment: 59 Pages, 23 figures, 1 MPG linke
Random billiards with wall temperature and associated Markov chains
By a random billiard we mean a billiard system in which the standard specular
reflection rule is replaced with a Markov transition probabilities operator P
that, at each collision of the billiard particle with the boundary of the
billiard domain, gives the probability distribution of the post-collision
velocity for a given pre-collision velocity. A random billiard with
microstructure (RBM) is a random billiard for which P is derived from a choice
of geometric/mechanical structure on the boundary of the billiard domain. RBMs
provide simple and explicit mechanical models of particle-surface interaction
that can incorporate thermal effects and permit a detailed study of
thermostatic action from the perspective of the standard theory of Markov
chains on general state spaces.
We focus on the operator P itself and how it relates to the
mechanical/geometric features of the microstructure, such as mass ratios,
curvatures, and potentials. The main results are as follows: (1) we
characterize the stationary probabilities (equilibrium states) of P and show
how standard equilibrium distributions studied in classical statistical
mechanics, such as the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution and the Knudsen cosine
law, arise naturally as generalized invariant billiard measures; (2) we obtain
some basic functional theoretic properties of P. Under very general conditions,
we show that P is a self-adjoint operator of norm 1 on an appropriate Hilbert
space. In a simple but illustrative example, we show that P is a compact
(Hilbert-Schmidt) operator. This leads to the issue of relating the spectrum of
eigenvalues of P to the features of the microstructure;(3) we explore the
latter issue both analytically and numerically in a few representative
examples;(4) we present a general algorithm for simulating these Markov chains
based on a geometric description of the invariant volumes of classical
statistical mechanics
Scoping the strengths and weaknesses of different auction and PES mechanisms for Countryside Stewardship
This is the final version. Available from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) via the link in this recordThe majority of farmers in England currently receive a fixed fee for managing their land under an agrienvironment scheme (Environmental Stewardship), which is based on an estimate of the typical income
forgone by participating. The aim of this research is to explore alternative mechanisms for allocating
agri-environment contracts with a view to achieving a more cost-efficient and effective use of funds. The
focus is on reverse auctions, whereby farmers opt into a bidding process, offering to manage their land
under prescribed management options at a price that more closely reflects their cost of doing so. The
researchers have used a combination of laboratory experiments, simulation modelling and farmer
workshops to consider the opportunity for efficiency gains, aspects of auction design and farmer
responses to auctions.
A secondary objective of the work is to explore opportunities for the private sector to engage in agrienvironment actions by leveraging match-funding where there are common goals and mutual benefits
for private firms and society. This has entailed a review of the payment for ecosystem services (PES)
literature and consultations with a number of relevant private firms. A particular focus for the latter has
been the water companies, as they have already established some initiatives on PES around improving
water quality
- …