16,814 research outputs found
Fermi, Majorana and the statistical model of atoms
We give an account of the appearance and first developments of the
statistical model of atoms proposed by Thomas and Fermi, focusing on the main
results achieved by Fermi and his group in Rome. Particular attention is
addressed to the unknown contribution to this subject by Majorana, anticipating
some important results reached later by leading physicists.Comment: Latex, 16 pages, 2 figure
Fast wavelength-tunable ultra-violet laser source for confocal Fura-2AM imaging
We report a novel wavelength-flexible laser source for three-dimensional ultra-violet imaging. Based on supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber, the resultant broadband laser source extended from A = 331 nm into the visible region of the spectrum. Using an electronically-controlled filter wheel and filter set with a response time of approximately 50 ins, rapid wavelength selection was performed. The described scheme is capable of exciting the current range of ultra-violet-excited fluorophores and the simple and rapid wavelength control also provides a new approach for fast ratiometric imaging of Fura-2AM, facilitating an easy method of performing quantitative intracellular calcium concentration measurements
Boundary Operators in Quantum Field Theory
The fundamental laws of physics can be derived from the requirement of
invariance under suitable classes of transformations on the one hand, and from
the need for a well-posed mathematical theory on the other hand. As a part of
this programme, the present paper shows under which conditions the introduction
of pseudo-differential boundary operators in one-loop Euclidean quantum gravity
is compatible both with their invariance under infinitesimal diffeomorphisms
and with the requirement of a strongly elliptic theory. Suitable assumptions on
the kernel of the boundary operator make it therefore possible to overcome
problems resulting from the choice of purely local boundary conditions.Comment: 23 pages, plain Tex. The revised version contains a new section, and
the presentation has been improve
Radiation Induced Fermion Resonance
The Dirac equation is solved for two novel terms which describe the
interaction energy between the half integral spin of a fermion and the
classical, circularly polarized, electromagnetic field. A simple experiment is
suggested to test the new terms and the existence of radiation induced fermion
resonance.Comment: latex, 4 pages, no figure
Baryon asymmetry in the Universe resulting from Lorentz violation
We analyze the phenomenological consequences of a Lorentz violating
energy-momentum dispersion relation in order to give a simple explanation for
the baryon asymmetry in the Universe. By assuming very few hypotheses, we
propose a straightforward mechanism for generating the observed
matter-antimatter asymmetry which entails a Lorentz-breakdown energy scale of
the order of the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cut-off.Comment: 7 page
Investigating Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients with LOFT
Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients (SFXT) are a class of High-Mass X-ray
Binaries whose optical counterparts are O or B supergiant stars, and whose
X-ray outbursts are ~ 4 orders of magnitude brighter than the quiescent state.
LOFT, the Large Observatory For X-ray Timing, with its coded mask Wide Field
Monitor (WFM) and its 10 m^2 class collimated X-ray Large Area Detector (LAD),
will be able to dramatically deepen the knowledge of this class of sources. It
will provide simultaneous high S/N broad-band and time-resolved spectroscopy in
several intensity states, and long term monitoring that will yield new
determinations of orbital periods, as well as spin periods. We show the results
of an extensive set of simulations performed using previous observational
results of these sources obtained with Swift and XMM-Newton. The WFM will
detect all SFXT flares within its field of view down to a 15-20 mCrab in 5ks.
Our simulations describe the outbursts at several intensities
(F_(2-10keV)=5.9x10^-9 to 5.5x10^-10 erg cm^-2 s^-1), the intermediate and most
common state (10^-11 erg cm^-2 s^-1), and the low state (1.2x10^-12 to 5x10^-13
erg cm^-2 s^-1). We also considered large variations of N_H and the presence of
emission lines, as observed by Swift and XMM-Newton.Comment: Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on High-Energy
Gamma-Ray Astronomy (Gamma2012), Heidelberg. 4 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
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