12,292 research outputs found
Information Storage and Retrieval for Probe Storage using Optical Diffraction Patterns
A novel method for fast information retrieval from a probe storage device is
considered. It is shown that information can be stored and retrieved using the
optical diffraction patterns obtained by the illumination of a large array of
cantilevers by a monochromatic light source. In thermo-mechanical probe
storage, the information is stored as a sequence of indentations on the polymer
medium. To retrieve the information, the array of probes is actuated by
applying a bending force to the cantilevers. Probes positioned over
indentations experience deflection by the depth of the indentation, probes over
the flat media remain un-deflected. Thus the array of actuated probes can be
viewed as an irregular optical grating, which creates a data-dependent
diffraction pattern when illuminated by laser light. We develop a low
complexity modulation scheme, which allows the extraction of information stored
in the pattern of indentations on the media from Fourier coefficients of the
intensity of the diffraction pattern. We then derive a low-complexity maximum
likelihood sequence detection algorithm for retrieving the user information
from the Fourier coefficients. The derivation of both the modulation and the
detection schemes is based on the Fraunhofer formula for data-dependent
diffraction patterns. We show that for as long as the Fresnel number F<0.1, the
optimal channel detector derived from Fraunhofer diffraction theory does not
suffer any significant performance degradation.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures. Version 2: minor misprints corrected,
experimental section expande
Towards a fully self-consistent spectral function of the nucleon in nuclear matter
We present a calculation of nuclear matter which goes beyond the usual
quasi-particle approximation in that it includes part of the off-shell
dependence of the self-energy in the self-consistent solution of the
single-particle spectrum. The spectral function is separated in contributions
for energies above and below the chemical potential. For holes we approximate
the spectral function for energies below the chemical potential by a
-function at the quasi-particle peak and retain the standard form for
energies above the chemical potential. For particles a similar procedure is
followed. The approximated spectral function is consistently used at all levels
of the calculation. Results for a model calculation are presented, the main
conclusion is that although several observables are affected by the inclusion
of the continuum contributions the physical consistency of the model does not
improve with the improved self-consistency of the solution method. This in
contrast to expectations based on the crucial role of self-consistency in the
proofs of conservation laws.Comment: 26 pages Revtex with 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
The discovery of two extremely low luminosity Milky Way globular clusters
We report the discovery of two extremely low luminosity globular clusters in
the Milky Way Halo. These objects were detected in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
Data Release 5 and confirmed with deeper imaging at the Calar Alto Observatory.
The clusters, Koposov 1 and Koposov 2, are located at kpc and
appear to have old stellar populations and luminosities of only
mag. Their observed sizes of pc are well within the expected tidal
limit of 10 pc at that distance. Together with Palomar 1, AM 4 and
Whiting 1, these new clusters are the lowest luminosity globulars orbiting the
Milky Way, with Koposov 2 the most extreme. Koposov 1 appears to lie close to
distant branch of the Sagittarius stream. The half-mass relaxation times of
Koposov 1 and 2 are only and Myr respectively (2 orders of
magnitude shorter than the age of the stellar populations), so it would seem
that they have undergone drastic mass segregation. Since they do not appear to
be very concentrated, their evaporation timescales may be as low as . These discoveries show that the structural parameter space of
globular clusters in the Milky Way halo is not yet fully explored. They also
add, through their short remaining survival times, significant direct evidence
for a once much larger population of globular clusters.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ, minor revision
Stellar science from a blue wavelength range - A possible design for the blue arm of 4MOST
From stellar spectra, a variety of physical properties of stars can be
derived. In particular, the chemical composition of stellar atmospheres can be
inferred from absorption line analyses. These provide key information on large
scales, such as the formation of our Galaxy, down to the small-scale
nucleosynthesis processes that take place in stars and supernovae. By extending
the observed wavelength range toward bluer wavelengths, we optimize such
studies to also include critical absorption lines in metal-poor stars, and
allow for studies of heavy elements (Z>38) whose formation processes remain
poorly constrained. In this context, spectrographs optimized for observing blue
wavelength ranges are essential, since many absorption lines at redder
wavelengths are too weak to be detected in metal-poor stars. This means that
some elements cannot be studied in the visual-redder regions, and important
scientific tracers and science cases are lost. The present era of large public
surveys will target millions of stars. Here we describe the requirements
driving the design of the forthcoming survey instrument 4MOST, a multi-object
spectrograph commissioned for the ESO VISTA 4m-telescope. We focus here on
high-density, wide-area survey of stars and the science that can be achieved
with high-resolution stellar spectroscopy. Scientific and technical
requirements that governed the design are described along with a thorough line
blending analysis. For the high-resolution spectrograph, we find that a
sampling of >2.5 (pixels per resolving element), spectral resolution of 18000
or higher, and a wavelength range covering 393-436 nm, is the most
well-balanced solution for the instrument. A spectrograph with these
characteristics will enable accurate abundance analysis (+/-0.1 dex) in the
blue and allow us to confront the outlined scientific questions. (abridged)Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A
Cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx/larynx and lung in North Thailand: case-control study and analysis of cigar smoke.
The unusually high relative frequency of cancer in the laryngeal region in males (18% of all histologically diagnosed cancers) and a sex ratio of unity for lung cancer in Northern Thailand were further explored in a hospital-based case-control study in Chiang Mai. This compared patients having cancers of the oral cavity (including oropharynx), larynx, hypopharynx and lung, with controls in relation to smoking and chewing habits. Statistical analysis indicated that chewing betel is strongly associated with the occurrence of oral cancer in both sexes, and with cancer of the laryngeal region in males. No factors were strongly linked to lung cancer in men, but, in women, urban residence and miang chewing were associated with lung cancer. Analysis of smoke from the two main types of cigars smoked in the region showed that both had high tar content, but there were marked differences in pH. Smoking cigars with alkaline smoke and high tar had an increased risk for laryngeal cancer in males, whereas other cigars with acid smoke and high tar together with manufactured cigarettes had increased risks for lung cancer. These increased risks were not, however, statistically significant
Calculation of nanowire thermal conductivity using complete phonon dispersion relations
The lattice thermal conductivity of crystalline Si nanowires is calculated.
The calculation uses complete phonon dispersions, and does not require any
externally imposed frequency cutoffs. No adjustment to nanowire thermal
conductivity measurements is required. Good agreement with experimental results
for nanowires wider than 35 nm is obtained. A formulation in terms of the
transmission function is given. Also, the use of a simpler, nondispersive
"Callaway formula", is discussed from the complete dispersions perspective.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Accepted in Phys. Rev.
Andreev Reflection In Ferromagnet-Superconductor Junctions
The transport properties of a ferromagnet-superconductor (FS) junction are
studied in a scattering formulation. Andreev reflection at the FS interface is
strongly affected by the exchange interaction in the ferromagnet. The
conductance G_FS of a ballistic point contact between F and S can be both
larger or smaller than the value G_FN with the superconductor in the normal
state, depending on the ratio of the exchange and Fermi energies. If the
ferromagnet contains a tunnel barrier (I), the conductance G_FIFS exhibits
resonances which do not vanish in linear response -- in contrast to the Tomasch
oscillations for non-ferromagnetic materials.Comment: 8 pages, RevTeX v3.0, including 3 encapsulated postscript figures;
[2017: figures included in text
Testing the Hypothesis of Modified Dynamics with Low Surface Brightness Galaxies and Other Evidence
The rotation curves of low surface brightness galaxies provide a unique data
set with which to test alternative theories of gravitation over a large dynamic
range in size, mass, surface density, and acceleration. Many clearly fail,
including any in which the mass discrepancy appears at a particular
length-scale. One hypothesis, MOND [Milgrom 1983, ApJ, 270, 371], is consistent
with the data. Indeed, it accurately predicts the observed behavior. We find no
evidence on any scale which clearly contradicts MOND, and a good deal which
supports it.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 35 pages
AAStex + 9 figures. This result surprised the bejeepers out of us, to
Reflection of light from a disordered medium backed by a phase-conjugating mirror
This is a theoretical study of the interplay of optical phase-conjugation and
multiple scattering. We calculate the intensity of light reflected by a
phase-conjugating mirror when it is placed behind a disordered medium. We
compare the results of a fully phase-coherent theory with those from the theory
of radiative transfer. Both methods are equivalent if the dwell time
\tau_{dwell} of a photon in the disordered medium is much larger than the
inverse of the frequency shift 2\Delta\omega acquired at the phase-conjugating
mirror. When \tau_{dwell} \Delta\omega < 1, in contrast, phase coherence
drastically affects the reflected intensity. In particular, a minimum in the
dependence of the reflectance on the disorder strength disappears when
\Delta\omega is reduced below 1/\tau_{dwell}. The analogies and differences
with Andreev reflection of electrons at the interface between a normal metal
and a superconductor are discussed.Comment: 27 pages RevTeX with 11 figures included with psfi
Semi-Analytical Models for the Formation of Disk Galaxies II. Dark Matter versus Modified Newtonian Dynamics
We present detailed semi-analytical models for the formation of disk galaxies
both in a Universe dominated by dark matter (DM), and in one for which the
force law is given by modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND). We tune the models to
fit the observed near-infrared Tully-Fisher (TF) relation, and compare numerous
predictions of the resulting models with observations. The DM and MOND models
are almost indistinguishable. They both yield gas mass fractions and dynamical
mass-to-light ratios which are in good agreement with observations. Both models
reproduce the narrow relation between global mass-to-light ratio and central
surface brightness, and reveal a characteristic acceleration, contrary to
claims that these relations are not predicted by DM models. Both models require
SN feedback in order to reproduce the lack of high surface brightness dwarf
galaxies. However, the introduction of feedback to the MOND models steepens the
TF relation and increases the scatter, making MOND only marginally consistent
with observations. The most serious problem for the DM models is their
prediction of steep central rotation curves. However, the DM rotation curves
are only slightly steeper than those of MOND, and are only marginally
inconsistent with the poor resolution data on LSB galaxies.Comment: 26 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
- …