4,453 research outputs found
Discrete Symmetries in Covariant LQG
We study time-reversal and parity ---on the physical manifold and in internal
space--- in covariant loop gravity. We consider a minor modification of the
Holst action which makes it transform coherently under such transformations.
The classical theory is not affected but the quantum theory is slightly
different. In particular, the simplicity constraints are slightly modified and
this restricts orientation flips in a spinfoam to occur only across degenerate
regions, thus reducing the sources of potential divergences.Comment: 8 pages, v2: Minor change
High temperature properties of sodium, potassium, and cesium thirteenth progress report
Thermophysical properties of sodium, potassium, and cesium at high temperatures - density of liquid potassium and vapor pressure of cesiu
Loop quantum cosmology of Bianchi type IX models
The loop quantum cosmology "improved dynamics" of the Bianchi type IX model
are studied. The action of the Hamiltonian constraint operator is obtained via
techniques developed for the Bianchi type I and type II models, no new input is
required. It is shown that the big bang and big crunch singularities are
resolved by quantum gravity effects. We also present the effective equations
which provide modifications to the classical equations of motion due to quantum
geometry effects.Comment: 20 page
Hybrid Quantization: From Bianchi I to the Gowdy Model
The Gowdy cosmologies are vacuum solutions to the Einstein equations which
possess two space-like Killing vectors and whose spatial sections are compact.
We consider the simplest of these cosmological models: the case where the
spatial topology is that of a three-torus and the gravitational waves are
linearly polarized. The subset of homogeneous solutions to this Gowdy model are
vacuum Bianchi I spacetimes with a three-torus topology. We deepen the analysis
of the loop quantization of these Bianchi I universes adopting the improved
dynamics scheme put forward recently by Ashtekar and Wilson-Ewing. Then, we
revisit the hybrid quantization of the Gowdy cosmologies by combining
this loop quantum cosmology description with a Fock quantization of the
inhomogeneities over the homogeneous Bianchi I background. We show that, in
vacuo, the Hamiltonian constraint of both the Bianchi I and the Gowdy models
can be regarded as an evolution equation with respect to the volume of the
Bianchi I universe. This evolution variable turns out to be discrete, with a
strictly positive minimum. Furthermore, we argue that this evolution is
well-defined inasmuch as the associated initial value problem is well posed:
physical solutions are completely determined by the data on an initial section
of constant Bianchi I volume. This fact allows us to carry out to completion
the quantization of these two cosmological models.Comment: 20 pages, version accepted for publication in Physical Review
Zircon dissolution in a ductile shear zone, Monte Rosa granite gneiss, northern Italy
The sizes, distributions and shapes of zircon grains within variably deformed granite gneiss from the western Alps have been studied. Zircon shows numerous indicators of a metamorphic response in both the host gneiss and a 5 cm wide continuous ductile shear zone, within which the zircon grain sizes range from <1 µm to >50 µm. However, the very fine grain sizes are virtually absent from grain boundaries. Within this zone, zircons consistently have more rounded and embayed margins, which are interpreted as evidence of dissolution in response to fluid influx during shearing. Zircons are preferentially located near metamorphic muscovite in both the host gneiss and the shear zone and tend to show the poorest crystal shape, indicating that fluids linked to the formation and presence of muscovite may enhance both the crystallization of zircon and its subsequent dissolution. Larger zircon crystals typically show a brittle response to deformation when adjacent to phyllosilicates, with fractures consistently perpendicular to the (001) mica cleavage. The variety of metamorphic behaviour observed for zircon indicates that it may be highly reactive in sub-solidus mid-crustal metamorphic environments
Nanodomains of pyrochlore formed by Ti ion implantation in yttria-stabilized zirconia
The microstructural evolution of a single crystal of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) implanted with Ti has been studied by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The implantation of 180 keV Ti ions to a dose of 1×1017 ions/cm21×1017ions/cm2 was completed at room temperature. After annealing at 1100 °C in an Ar atmosphere for 2 h, a phase transition from the fluorite structure of ZrO2ZrO2 to an isometric pyrochlore structure-type, A2B2O7,A2B2O7, occurred due to cation ordering. High-resolution TEM revealed nanodomains of pyrochlore, Y2(TixZr1−x)2O7,Y2(TixZr1−x)2O7, with a ≅ 10.24±0.05 Å.a≅10.24±0.05Å. The nanodomains of the pyrochlore phase, embedded within the YSZ fluorite substrate, occurred in a depth range from 45 to 105 nm below the surface, which corresponds to Ti concentrations from ∼10 to ∼15 at. %. The nanoscale pyrochlore precipitates and the YSZ matrix have a completely coherent orientation. © 2002 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70072/2/APPLAB-80-23-4327-1.pd
Nano-porosity in GaSb induced by swift heavy ion irradiation
Nano-porous structures form in GaSb after ion irradiation with 185 MeV Au ions. The porous layer formation is governed by the dominant electronic energy loss at this energy regime. The porous layer morphology differs significantly from that previously reported for low-energy, ion-irradiated GaSb. Prior to the onset of porosity, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy indicates the formation of small vacancy clusters in single ion impacts, while transmission electron microscopy reveals fragmentation of the GaSb into nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous matrix. Following this fragmentation process, macroscopic porosity forms, presumably within the amorphous phase.The authors thank the Australian Research Council for
support and the staff at the ANU Heavy Ion Accelerator
Facility for their continued technical assistance. R.C.E. acknowledges the support
from the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the U.S. DOE
(Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER45656)
Sediment Sorting and Rounding in a Basaltic Glacio-Fluvio-Aeolian Environment: hrisjkull Glacier, Iceland
Sediments and sedimentary rocks preserve a rich history of environment and climate. Identifying these signals requires an understanding of the physical and chemical processes that have affected sedimentary deposits [1]. Such processes include sorting and rounding during transport and chemical alteration through weathering and diagenesis. Although these processes have long been studied in quartz-dominated sedimentary systems [2], a lack of studies of basaltic sedimentary systems limits our interpretations of the environment and climate where mafic source rocks dominate, such as on Mars [3,4]. As part of the SAND-E: Semi-Autonomous Navigation for Detrital Environments project [5], which uses robotic operations to examine physical and chemical changes to sediments in basaltic glacio-fluvialaeolian environments, this research studies changes in sorting and rounding of fluvial-aeolian sediments along a glacier-proximal-to-glacier-distal transect in the outwash-plain of the risjkull glacier in SW Iceland (Fig. 1
Reduced dimensionality spin-orbit dynamics of CH3 + HCl reversible arrow CH4 Cl on ab initio surfaces
A reduced dimensionality quantum scattering method is extended to the study of spin-orbit nonadiabatic transitions in the CH3 + HCl reversible arrow CH4 + Cl(P-2(J)) reaction. Three two-dimensional potential energy surfaces are developed by fitting a 29 parameter double-Morse function to CCSD(T)/IB//MP2/cc-pV(T+d)Z-dk ab initio data; interaction between surfaces is described by geometry-dependent spin-orbit coupling functions fit to MCSCF/cc-pV(T+d)Z-dk ab initio data. Spectator modes are treated adiabatically via inclusion of curvilinear projected frequencies. The total scattering wave function is expanded in a vibronic basis set and close-coupled equations are solved via R-matrix propagation. Ground state thermal rate constants for forward and reverse reactions agree well with experiment. Multi-surface reaction probabilities, integral cross sections, and initial-state selected branching ratios all highlight the importance of vibrational energy in mediating nonadiabatic transition. Electronically excited state dynamics are seen to play a small but significant role as consistent with experimental conclusions. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3592732
Brayton-cycle radioisotope heat source design study. Phase I - /Conceptual design/ report
Conceptual designs for radioisotope heat source systems to provide 25 kW thermal power to Brayton cycle power conversion system for space application
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