1,775 research outputs found
Singlet-Triplet Excitations in the Unconventional Spin-Peierls System TiOBr
We have performed time-of-flight neutron scattering measurements on powder
samples of the unconventional spin-Peierls compound TiOBr using the
fine-resolution Fermi chopper spectrometer (SEQUOIA) at the SNS. These
measurements reveal two branches of magnetic excitations within the
commensurate and incommensurate spin-Peierls phases, which we associate with n
= 1 and n = 2 triplet excitations out of the singlet ground state. These
measurements represent the first direct measure of the singlet-triplet energy
gap in TiOBr, which is determined to be Eg = 21.2 +/- 1.0 meV.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted for publicatio
Asymptotic Behaviour of Inhomogeneous String Cosmologies
The asymptotic behaviour at late times of inhomogeneous axion-dilaton
cosmologies is investigated. The space-times considered here admit two abelian
space-like Killing vectors. These space-times evolve towards an anisotropic
universe containing gravitational radiation. Furthermore, a peeling-off
behaviour of the Weyl tensor and the antisymmetric tensor field strength is
found. The relation to the pre-big-bang scenario is briefly discussed.Comment: 15 pages, Late
Initial Conditions in String Cosmology
We take a critical look at a recent conjecture concerning the past attractor
in the pre-big-bang scenario. We argue that the Milne universe is unlikely to
be a general past attractor for such models and support this with a number of
examples.Comment: 10 pages standard Latex format, no figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
String cosmology versus standard and inflationary cosmology
This paper presents a review of the basic, model-independent differences
between the pre-big bang scenario, arising naturally in a string cosmology
context, and the standard inflationary scenario. We use an unconventional
approach in which the introduction of technical details is avoided as much as
possible, trying to focus the reader's attention on the main conceptual aspects
of both scenarios. The aim of the paper is not to conclude in favour either of
one or of the other scenario, but to raise questions that are left to the
reader's meditation. Warnings: the paper does not contain equations, and is not
intended as a complete review of all aspects of string cosmology.Comment: 22 pages, Latex (IOP Style), three figures included using epsfig. To
appear in Class. Quantum Grav. (Topical Review Section). Two misprints
correcte
Inhomogeneous Einstein-Rosen String Cosmology
Families of anisotropic and inhomogeneous string cosmologies containing
non-trivial dilaton and axion fields are derived by applying the global
symmetries of the string effective action to a generalized Einstein-Rosen
metric. The models exhibit a two-dimensional group of Abelian isometries. In
particular, two classes of exact solutions are found that represent
inhomogeneous generalizations of the Bianchi type VI_h cosmology. The
asymptotic behaviour of the solutions is investigated and further applications
are briefly discussed.Comment: Minor extension of concluding section; 18 pages, to appear in
Phys.Rev.
Anisotropic Four-Dimensional NS-NS String Cosmology
An anisotropic (Bianchi type I) cosmology is considered in the
four-dimensional NS-NS sector of low-energy effective string theory coupled to
a dilaton and an axion-like -field within a de Sitter-Einstein frame
background. The time evolution of this Universe is discussed in both the
Einstein and string frames.Comment: Revtex, 5 pages, 3 figure
Design of Mechanism and Preliminary Field Validation of Low-Cost Transfemoral Rotator for Use in the Developing World
Copyright © 2016 by ASME. Transfemoral (above-knee) amputees face a unique and challenging set of restrictions to movement and function. Most notably, they are unable to medially rotate their lower-leg and subsequently cross their legs. The best and most common solution to this issue today is a transfemoral rotator, which allows medial rotation of the leg distal to the knee through a lockable turntable mechanism. However, currently available transfemoral rotators can cost thousands of dollars, and few equivalent technologies exist in the developing world. This paper, supported by the results of field studies and user testing, establishes a framework for the design of a low-cost and easily manufacturable transfemoral rotator for use in the developing world. Two prototypes are presented, each with a unique internal locking mechanism and form. A preliminary field study was conducted on six transfemoral amputees in India and qualitative user and prosthetist feedback was collected. Both prototypes successfully allowed all subjects to complete tasks such as crossing legs, putting on pants, and tying shoes while maintaining functionality of walking and standing. Future iterations of the mechanism will be guided by a combination of the most positively received features of the prototypes and general feedback suggestions from the users.MIT D-LabMIT International Science and Technology Initiative
First results on Martian carbon monoxide from Herschel/HIFI observations
We report on the initial analysis of Herschel/HIFI carbon monoxide (CO)
observations of the Martian atmosphere performed between 11 and 16 April 2010.
We selected the (7-6) rotational transitions of the isotopes ^{13}CO at 771 GHz
and C^{18}O at 768 GHz in order to retrieve the mean vertical profile of
temperature and the mean volume mixing ratio of carbon monoxide. The derived
temperature profile agrees within less than 5 K with general circulation model
(GCM) predictions up to an altitude of 45 km, however, show about 12-15 K lower
values at 60 km. The CO mixing ratio was determined as 980 \pm 150 ppm, in
agreement with the 900 ppm derived from Herschel/SPIRE observations in November
2009.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (special issue
on HIFI first results); minor changes to match published versio
Effects of anisotropy and spatial curvature on the pre-big bang scenario
A class of exact, anisotropic cosmological solutions to the vacuum
Brans-Dicke theory of gravity is considered within the context of the pre-big
bang scenario. Included in this class are the Bianchi type III, V and VI_h
models and the spatially isotropic, negatively curved
Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe. The effects of large anisotropy and
spatial curvature are determined. In contrast to negatively curved
Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model, there exist regions of the parameter space in
which the combined effects of curvature and anisotropy prevent the occurrence
of inflation. When inflation is possible, the necessary and sufficient
conditions for successful pre-big bang inflation are more stringent than in the
isotropic models. The initial state for these models is established and
corresponds in general to a gravitational plane wave.Comment: 15 pages, including 2 eps figure
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