7,373 research outputs found
System design and performance of earth/lunar horizon sensor BEC project 3744
An infrared horizon sensor system has been designed which is capable of searching over a wide field for the edges of a planet and, upon locating such edges, stations itself in a position which provides signals which identify the local vertical to the planet. In this fixed attitude it requires no continuous mechanical movement and operates with a minimum utilization of power. The system is thus capable of providing a high degree of accuracy when used for local vertical determination in orbits around the earth, the moon, or other planets. A detailed description of the design and operating features of the horizon scanner is given and the evaluation test data which have been completed are presented
Chromosome mapping: radiation hybrid data and stochastic spin models
This work approaches human chromosome mapping by developing algorithms for
ordering markers associated with radiation hybrid data. Motivated by recent
work of Boehnke et al. [1], we formulate the ordering problem by developing
stochastic spin models to search for minimum-break marker configurations. As a
particular application, the methods developed are applied to 14 human
chromosome-21 markers tested by Cox et al. [2]. The methods generate
configurations consistent with the best found by others. Additionally, we find
that the set of low-lying configurations is described by a Markov-like ordering
probability distribution. The distribution displays cluster correlations
reflecting closely linked loci.Comment: 26 Pages, uuencoded LaTex, Submitted to Phys. Rev. E,
[email protected], [email protected]
Phenomenological Study of Strong Decays of Heavy Hadrons in Heavy Quark Effective Theory
The application of the tensor formalism of the heavy quark effective theory
(HQET) at leading order to strong decays of heavy hadrons is presented.
Comparisons between experimental and theoretical predictions of ratios of decay
rates for B mesons, D mesons and kaons are given. The application of HQET to
strange mesons presents some encouraging results. The spin-flavor symmetry is
used to predict some decay rates that have not yet been measured.Comment: 10 page
Cluster Variation Approach to the Random-Anisotropy Blume-Emery-Griffiths Model
The random--anisotropy Blume--Emery--Griffiths model, which has been proposed
to describe the critical behavior of He--He mixtures in a porous
medium, is studied in the pair approximation of the cluster variation method
extended to disordered systems. Several new features, with respect to mean
field theory, are found, including a rich ground state, a nonzero percolation
threshold, a reentrant coexistence curve and a miscibility gap on the high
He concentration side down to zero temperature. Furthermore, nearest
neighbor correlations are introduced in the random distribution of the
anisotropy, which are shown to be responsible for the raising of the critical
temperature with respect to the pure and uncorrelated random cases and
contribute to the detachment of the coexistence curve from the line.Comment: 14 pages (plain TeX) + 12 figures (PostScript, appended), Preprint
POLFIS-TH.02/9
Second Order Power Corrections in the Heavy Quark Effective Theory I. Formalism and Meson Form Factors
In the heavy quark effective theory, hadronic matrix elements of currents
between two hadrons containing a heavy quark are expanded in inverse powers of
the heavy quark masses, with coefficients that are functions of the kinematic
variable . For the ground state pseudoscalar and vector mesons, this
expansion is constructed at order . A minimal set of universal form
factors is defined in terms of matrix elements of higher dimension operators in
the effective theory. The zero recoil normalization conditions following from
vector current conservation are derived. Several phenomenological applications
of the general results are discussed in detail. It is argued that at zero
recoil the semileptonic decay rates for and receive only small second order corrections, which are unlikely
to exceed the level of a few percent. This supports the usefulness of the heavy
quark expansion for a reliable determination of .Comment: (34 pages, REVTEX, two postscript figures available upon request),
SLAC-PUB-589
Semileptonic B and Lambda_b Decays and Local Duality in QCD
The inclusive and exclusive semileptonic decay distributions for b -> c decay
are computed in the Shifman-Voloshin limit. The inclusive decay distributions
(computed using an operator product expansion) depend on quark masses, and the
exclusive decay distributions depend on hadron masses. Nevertheless, we show
explicitly how the first two terms in the 1/m expansion match between the
inclusive and exclusive decays. Agreement between the inclusive and exclusive
decay rates requires a minimum smearing region of size Lambda_QCD before local
duality holds in QCD. The alpha_s corrections to the inclusive and exclusive
decay rates are also shown to agree to order (log m)/m^2. The alpha_s/m^2
corrections are used to obtain the alpha_s correction to Bjorken's inequality
on the slope of the Isgur-Wise function.Comment: 22 pages, 3 eps figures, uses revtex (Revision: a discussion of
radiative corrections to the bound K>0 of Section 7.B has been added; some
typos, including labels in fig 2
Analyticity Properties and Unitarity Constraints of Heavy Meson Form Factors
We derive new bounds on the b-number form factor of the B meson.
(Revised version of hep-ph/9306214).Comment: 22 page
Distinct Signatures For Coulomb Blockade and Aharonov-Bohm Interference in Electronic Fabry-Perot Interferometers
Two distinct types of magnetoresistance oscillations are observed in two
electronic Fabry-Perot interferometers of different sizes in the integer
quantum Hall regime. Measuring these oscillations as a function of magnetic
field and gate voltages, we observe three signatures that distinguish the two
types. The oscillations observed in a 2.0 square micron device are understood
to arise from the Coulomb blockade mechanism, and those observed in an 18
square micron device from the Aharonov-Bohm mechanism. This work clarifies,
provides ways to distinguish, and demonstrates control over, these distinct
physical origins of resistance oscillations seen in electronic Fabry-Perot
interferometers.Comment: related papers at http://marcuslab.harvard.ed
Nudging sustainability transitions in Central Mozambique
An Agricultural Innovation Platform (AIP) facilitates and accelerates transition of
farmers from subsistence farming to socially inclusive, environmentally sound
and market-oriented farming.
AIPs adapt interventions around interlinked levers in the food value chains, with
entry points based on a good understanding of farming systems and input/output
market requirements. Learning activities around these entry points strengthen
stakeholder networks.
Capacitating farmers through stakeholder networks, using mutual learning and
additional technical training sessions, improves their self-organization and helps
them become entrepreneurs, with the private sector as business mentors and
government and extension as facilitators and support.
Prospects for change in complex farming systems often appear few and
uncertain, leaving farmers feeling helpless in the face of challenges. AIPs
demonstrate that small interventions around significant leverage points will have
far-reaching benefits.
With time, stakeholders facilitate multiple changes through AIPs, magnifying
the impact and paving the way for initiatives beyond a project’s lifespan. The
‘AIP experience’ changes their self-perception, resilience, motivation and
empowerment forever
- …