2,881 research outputs found
Phase-space structure of two-dimensional excitable localized structures
In this work we characterize in detail the bifurcation leading to an
excitable regime mediated by localized structures in a dissipative nonlinear
Kerr cavity with a homogeneous pump. Here we show how the route can be
understood through a planar dynamical system in which a limit cycle becomes the
homoclinic orbit of a saddle point (saddle-loop bifurcation). The whole picture
is unveiled, and the mechanism by which this reduction occurs from the full
infinite-dimensional dynamical system is studied. Finally, it is shown that the
bifurcation leads to an excitability regime, under the application of suitable
perturbations. Excitability is an emergent property for this system, as it
emerges from the spatial dependence since the system does not exhibit any
excitable behavior locally.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure
Effects of a localized beam on the dynamics of excitable cavity solitons
We study the dynamical behavior of dissipative solitons in an optical cavity
filled with a Kerr medium when a localized beam is applied on top of the
homogeneous pumping. In particular, we report on the excitability regime that
cavity solitons exhibits which is emergent property since the system is not
locally excitable. The resulting scenario differs in an important way from the
case of a purely homogeneous pump and now two different excitable regimes, both
Class I, are shown. The whole scenario is presented and discussed, showing that
it is organized by three codimension-2 points. Moreover, the localized beam can
be used to control important features, such as the excitable threshold,
improving the possibilities for the experimental observation of this
phenomenon.Comment: 9 Pages, 12 figure
Large optical gain from four-wave mixing instabilities in semiconductor quantum wells
Based on a microscopic many-particle theory, we predict large optical gain in
the probe and background-free four-wave mixing directions caused by excitonic
instabilities in semiconductor quantum wells. For a single quantum well with
radiative-decay limited dephasing in a typical pump-probe setup we discuss the
microscopic driving mechanisms and polarization and frequency dependence of
these instabilities
The Rising Light Curves of Type Ia Supernovae
We present an analysis of the early, rising light curves of 18 Type Ia
supernovae (SNe Ia) discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) and the
La Silla-QUEST variability survey (LSQ). We fit these early data flux using a
simple power-law to determine the time of first
light , and hence the rise-time from first light to
peak luminosity, and the exponent of the power-law rise (). We find a mean
uncorrected rise time of days, with individual SN rise-times
ranging from to days. The exponent n shows significant
departures from the simple 'fireball model' of (or ) usually assumed in the literature. With a mean value of , our data also show significant diversity from event to event. This
deviation has implications for the distribution of 56Ni throughout the SN
ejecta, with a higher index suggesting a lesser degree of 56Ni mixing. The
range of n found also confirms that the 56Ni distribution is not standard
throughout the population of SNe Ia, in agreement with earlier work measuring
such abundances through spectral modelling. We also show that the duration of
the very early light curve, before the luminosity has reached half of its
maximal value, does not correlate with the light curve shape or stretch used to
standardise SNe Ia in cosmological applications. This has implications for the
cosmological fitting of SN Ia light curves.Comment: 19 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Spatial correlations in hexagons generated via a Kerr nonlinearity
We consider the hexagonal pattern forming in the cross-section of an optical
beam produced by a Kerr cavity, and we study the quantum correlations
characterizing this structure. By using arguments related to the symmetry
broken by the pattern formation, we identify a complete scenario of six-mode
entanglement. Five independent phase quadratures combinations, connecting the
hexagonal modes, are shown to exhibit sub-shot-noise fluctuations. By means of
a non-linear quantum calculation technique, quantum correlations among the mode
photon numbers are demonstrated and calculated.Comment: ReVTeX file, 20 pages, 7 eps figure
Fluctuations and correlations in hexagonal optical patterns
We analyze the influence of noise in transverse hexagonal patterns in
nonlinear Kerr cavities. The near field fluctuations are determined by the
neutrally stable Goldstone modes associated to translational invariance and by
the weakly damped soft modes. However these modes do not contribute to the far
field intensity fluctuations which are dominated by damped perturbations with
the same wave vectors than the pattern. We find strong correlations between the
intensity fluctuations of any arbitrary pair of wave vectors of the pattern.
Correlation between pairs forming 120 degrees is larger than between pairs
forming 180 degrees, contrary to what a naive interpretation of emission in
terms of twin photons would suggest.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figure
Steps towards a map of the nearby universe
We present a new analysis of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data aimed at
producing a detailed map of the nearby (z < 0.5) universe. Using neural
networks trained on the available spectroscopic base of knowledge we derived
distance estimates for about 30 million galaxies distributed over ca. 8,000 sq.
deg. We also used unsupervised clustering tools developed in the framework of
the VO-Tech project, to investigate the possibility to understand the nature of
each object present in the field and, in particular, to produce a list of
candidate AGNs and QSOs.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. To appear in Nucl Phys. B, in the proceedings of
the NOW-2006 (Neutrino Oscillation Workshop - 2006), R. Fogli et al. ed
Food and mood:how do diet and nutrition affect mental wellbeing?
Poor nutrition may be a causal factor in the experience of low mood, and improving diet may help to protect not only the physical health but also the mental health of the population. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health conditions worldwide, making them a leading cause of disability.1 Even beyond diagnosed conditions, subclinical symptoms of depression and anxiety affect the wellbeing and functioning of a large proportion of the population.2 Therefore, new approaches to managing both clinically diagnosed and subclinical depression and anxiety are needed
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