Excess Clustering on Large Scales in the MegaZ DR7 Photometric Redshift Survey

We observe a large excess of power in the statistical clustering of luminous red galaxies in the photometric SDSS galaxy sample called MegaZ DR7. This is seen over the lowest multipoles in the angular power spectra C-l in four equally spaced redshift bins between 0: 45 <= z <= 0: 65. However, it is most prominent in the highest redshift band at similar to 4 sigma and it emerges at an effective scale k less than or similar to 0: 01 h Mpc(-1). Given that MegaZ DR7 is the largest cosmic volume galaxy survey to date (3.3(Gpch(-1))(3)) this implies an anomaly on the largest physical scales probed by galaxies. Alternatively, this signature could be a consequence of it appearing at the most systematically susceptible redshift. There are several explanations for this excess power that range from systematics to new physics. We test the survey, data, and excess power, as well as possible origins

Laterally driven interfaces in the three-dimensional Ising lattice gas

We study the steady state of a phase-separated driven Ising lattice gas in three dimensions using computer simulations with Kawasaki dynamics. An external force field F(z) acts in the x direction parallel to the interface, creating a lateral order parameter current j^x(z) which varies with distance z from the interface. Above the roughening temperature, our data for `shear-like' linear variation of F(z) are in agreement with the picture wherein shear acts as effective confinement in this system, thus supressing the interfacial capillary-wave fluctuations. We find sharper magnetisation profiles and reduced interfacial width as compared to equilibrium. Pair correlations are more suppressed in the vorticity direction y than in the driving direction; the opposite holds for the structure factor. Lateral transport of capillary waves occurs for those forms of F(z) for which the current j^x(z) is an odd function of z, for example the shear-like drive, and a `step-like' driving field. For a V-shaped driving force no such motion occurs, but capillary waves are suppressed more strongly than for the shear-like drive. These findings are in agreement with our previous simulation studies in two dimensions. Near and below the (equilibrium) roughening temperature the effective-confinement picture ceases to work, but the lateral motion of the interface persists.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Universality and universal finite-size scaling functions in four-dimensional Ising spin glasses

We study the four-dimensional Ising spin glass with Gaussian and bond-diluted bimodal distributed interactions via large-scale Monte Carlo simulations and show via an extensive finite-size scaling analysis that four-dimensional Ising spin glasses obey universality.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, 4 table

SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYERS AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME IN BIOSENSING APPLICATIONS

Cross - linked amphiphile constructs that form self - as sembled monolayers ( SAMs ) on metal surfaces such as gold surfaces are disclosed . These new SAMs generate well packed and highly oriented monolayer films on gold sur faces . A method for using the SAMs in the fabrication of biomolecule sensors is also disclosed

Vortex transport and voltage noise in disordered superconductors

We study, by means of three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations, the current-voltage (IV) characteristics and the voltage noise spectrum at low temperatures of driven magnetic flux lines interacting with randomly placed point or columnar defects, as well as with periodically arranged linear pinning centers. Near the depinning current J_c, the voltage noise spectrum S(w) universally follows a 1/w^a power law. For currents J > J_c, distinct peaks appear in S(w) which are considerably more pronounced for extended as compared to point defects, and reflect the spatial distribution of the correlated pinning centers.Comment: 8 pages, latex, Elsevier style file and figures include

Morphic and principal-ideal group rings

We observe that the class of left and right artinian left and right morphic rings agrees with the class of artinian principal ideal rings. For $R$ an artinian principal ideal ring and $G$ a group, we characterize when $RG$ is a principal ideal ring; for finite groups $G$, this characterizes when $RG$ is a left and right morphic ring. This extends work of Passman, Sehgal and Fisher in the case when $R$ is a field, and work of Chen, Li, and Zhou on morphic group rings.Comment: 21 page

Synergy of stereo cloud top height and ORAC optimal estimation cloud retrieval: evaluation and application to AATSR

In this paper we evaluate the retrievals of cloud top height when stereo derived heights are combined with the radiometric cloud top heights retrieved from the ORAC (Optimal Retrieval of Aerosol and Cloud) algorithm. This is performed in a mathematically rigorous way using the ORAC optimal estimation retrieval framework, which includes the facility to use independent a priori information. Key to the use of a priori information is a characterisation of their associated uncertainty. This paper demonstrates the improvements that are possible using this approach and also considers their impact on the microphysical cloud parameters retrieved. The AATSR instrument has two views and three thermal channels so is well placed to demonstrate the synergy of the two techniques. The stereo retrieval is able to improve the accuracy of the retrieved cloud top height when compared to collocated Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO), particularly in the presence of boundary layer inversions and high clouds. The impact on the microphysical properties of the cloud such as optical depth and effective radius was evaluated and found to be very small with the biggest differences occurring over bright land surfaces and for high clouds. Overall the cost of the retrievals increased indicating a poorer radiative fit of radiances to the cloud model, which currently uses a single layer cloud model. Best results and improved fit to the radiances may be obtained in the future if a multi-layer model is used

Asymptotics of the Farey Fraction Spin Chain Free Energy at the Critical Point

We consider the Farey fraction spin chain in an external field $h$. Using ideas from dynamical systems and functional analysis, we show that the free energy $f$ in the vicinity of the second-order phase transition is given, exactly, by $$f \sim \frac t{\log t}-\frac1{2} \frac{h^2}t \quad \text{for} \quad h^2\ll t \ll 1 .$$ Here $t=\lambda_{G}\log(2)(1-\frac{\beta}{\beta_c})$ is a reduced temperature, so that the deviation from the critical point is scaled by the Lyapunov exponent of the Gauss map, $\lambda_G$. It follows that $\lambda_G$ determines the amplitude of both the specific heat and susceptibility singularities. To our knowledge, there is only one other microscopically defined interacting model for which the free energy near a phase transition is known as a function of two variables. Our results confirm what was found previously with a cluster approximation, and show that a clustering mechanism is in fact responsible for the transition. However, the results disagree in part with a renormalisation group treatment