4,497 research outputs found
Structural load challenges during space shuttle development
The challenges that resulted from the unique configuration of the space shuttle and capabilities developed to meet these challenges are described. The methods and the organization that were developed to perform dynamic loads analyses on the space shuttle configuration and to assess dynamic data developed after design are discussed. Examples are presented from the dynamic loads analysis of the lift-off and maximum dynamic pressure portion of ascent. Also shown are orbital flight test results, for which selected predicted responses are compared to measured data for the lift-off and high-dynamic-pressure times of ascent. These results have generally verified the design analysis. However, subscale testing was found to be deficient in predicting full-scale results in two areas: the ignition overpressure at lift-off and the aerodynamics/plume interactions at high-q boost. In these areas, the results of the flight test program were accommodated with no impact to the vehicle design
Gemini/GMOS photometry of intermediate-age star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud
We present Gemini South GMOS g,i photometry of 14 intermediate-age Large
Magellanic Cloud (LMC) star clusters, namely: NGC 2155, 2161, 2162, 2173, 2203,
2209, 2213, 2231, 2249, Hodge 6, SL 244, 505, 674, and 769, as part of a
continuing project to investigate the extended Main Sequence Turnoff (EMSTO)
phenomenon. Extensive artificial star tests were made over the observed field
of view. These tests reveal the observed behaviour of photometric errors with
magnitude and crowding. The cluster stellar density radial profiles were traced
from star counts over the extent of the observed field. We adopt clus- ter
radii and build colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) with cluster features clearly
identified. We used the cluster (g,g-i) CMDs to estimate ages from the matching
of theoretical isochrones. The studied LMC clusters are confirmed to be
intermediate-age clusters, which range in age 9.10 < log(t) < 9.60. NGC 2162
and NGC 2249 look like new EMSTO candidates, in addition to NGC 2209, on the
basis of having dual red clumps.Comment: MNRAS, accepte
Making Methods Relevant: Undergraduate Research Methods and the Content Analysis Project
Teachers of undergraduate research methods classes may struggle at times to keep their courses engaging and to have students view the material as relevant to the occupations they will soon enter. This article discusses a content analysis assignment and how it offers a way for students to demonstrate critical thinking and acquire data analysis skills. Through the use of multiple high-impact learning practices, the assignment requires students, individually or in a group, to identify data appropriate for content analysis and then, with faculty guidance, develop research questions, manage the data, conceptualize and operationalize themes, perform content analysis, draw conclusions from the data, and assess the validity and reliability of their work. We discuss the benefits and potential pitfalls of the assignment and analyze data (both quantitative and qualitative) derived from student evaluations of their content analysis project
On the Exponentials of Some Structured Matrices
In this note explicit algorithms for calculating the exponentials of
important structured 4 x 4 matrices are provided. These lead to closed form
formulae for these exponentials. The techniques rely on one particular Clifford
Algebra isomorphism and basic Lie theory. When used in conjunction with
structure preserving similarities, such as Givens rotations, these techniques
extend to dimensions bigger than four.Comment: 19 page
Perspectives: Quantum Mechanics on Phase Space
The basic ideas in the theory of quantum mechanics on phase space are
illustrated through an introduction of generalities, which seem to underlie
most if not all such formulations and follow with examples taken primarily from
kinematical particle model descriptions exhibiting either Galileian or
Lorentzian symmetry. The structures of fundamental importance are the relevant
(Lie) groups of symmetries and their homogeneous (and associated) spaces that,
in the situations of interest, also possess Hamiltonian structures. Comments
are made on the relation between the theory outlined and a recent paper by
Carmeli, Cassinelli, Toigo, and Vacchini.Comment: "Quantum Structures 2004" - Meeting of the International Quantum
Structures Association; Denver, Colorado; 17-22 July, 200
Structures in surface-brightness profiles of LMC and SMC star clusters: evidence of mergers?
The LMC and SMC are rich in binary star clusters, and some mergers are
expected. It is important to characterize single clusters, binary clusters and
candidates to mergers. We selected a sample of star clusters in each Cloud with
this aim. Surface photometry of 25 SMC and 22 LMC star clusters was carried
with the ESO Danish 1.54 m telescope. 23 clusters were observed for the first
time for these purposes. We fitted Elson, Fall and Freeman (1987, EFF) profiles
to the data, deriving structural parameters, luminosities and masses. We also
use isophotal maps to constrain candidates to cluster interactions.} {The
structural parameters, luminosities and masses presented good agreement with
those in the literature. Three binary clusters in the sample have a double
profile. Four clusters (NGC 376, K 50, K 54 and NGC 1810) do not have
companions and present as well important deviations from EFF profiles. The
present sample contains blue and red Magellanic clusters. Extended EFF profiles
were detected in some blue clusters. We find evidence that important deviations
from the body of EFF profiles might be used as a tool to detect cluster
mergers.Comment: 16 pages and 8 figures. Accepted by A&
A Tool to Recover Scalar Time-Delay Systems from Experimental Time Series
We propose a method that is able to analyze chaotic time series, gained from
exp erimental data. The method allows to identify scalar time-delay systems. If
the dynamics of the system under investigation is governed by a scalar
time-delay differential equation of the form ,
the delay time and the functi on can be recovered. There are no
restrictions to the dimensionality of the chaotic attractor. The method turns
out to be insensitive to noise. We successfully apply the method to various
time series taken from a computer experiment and two different electronic
oscillators
Quantization and noiseless measurements
In accordance with the fact that quantum measurements are described in terms
of positive operator measures (POMs), we consider certain aspects of a
quantization scheme in which a classical variable is associated
with a unique positive operator measure (POM) , which is not necessarily
projection valued. The motivation for such a scheme comes from the well-known
fact that due to the noise in a quantum measurement, the resulting outcome
distribution is given by a POM and cannot, in general, be described in terms of
a traditional observable, a selfadjoint operator. Accordingly, we notice that
the noiseless measurements are the ones which are determined by a selfadjoint
operator. The POM in our quantization is defined through its moment
operators, which are required to be of the form , , with
a fixed map from classical variables to Hilbert space operators. In
particular, we consider the quantization of classical \emph{questions}, that
is, functions taking only values 0 and 1. We compare two concrete
realizations of the map in view of their ability to produce noiseless
measurements: one being the Weyl map, and the other defined by using phase
space probability distributions.Comment: 15 pages, submitted to Journal of Physics
Vector coherent state representations, induced representations, and geometric quantization: I. Scalar coherent state representations
Coherent state theory is shown to reproduce three categories of
representations of the spectrum generating algebra for an algebraic model: (i)
classical realizations which are the starting point for geometric quantization;
(ii) induced unitary representations corresponding to prequantization; and
(iii) irreducible unitary representations obtained in geometric quantization by
choice of a polarization. These representations establish an intimate relation
between coherent state theory and geometric quantization in the context of
induced representations.Comment: 29 pages, part 1 of two papers, published versio
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