11,350 research outputs found
General Fast Sampling Theorems for Nonlinear Systems
This paper is concerned with the gap metric approach to controller discretisation problems for continuous-time nonlinear systems with disturbances in both input and output channels. The principal idea is to construct a discrete controller based on a given stabilizing continuous time controller via a fast sampling and hold procedure and to calculate the gap between the two controllers. It is expected that, under general conditions, the computed gap depends on the discrete sample size and the faster the sample rate, the smaller the gap and, therefore, existing gap metric robust stability theorems can be applied to obtain both stability and performance results for the appropriately discretised controller. This is shown for the case of memoryless controllers and for a more general class of controllers specified by stable, causal operators. In both cases, both regional and global results are obtained under respective local and global incremental stability assumptions on the controllers
Remote sensing applications to forest vegetation classification and conifer vigor loss due to dwarf mistletoe
Criteria was established for practical remote sensing of vegetation stress and mortality caused by dwarf mistletoe infections in black spruce subboreal forest stands. The project was accomplished in two stages: (1) A fixed tower-tramway site in an infected black spruce stand was used for periodic multispectral photo coverage to establish basic film/filter/scale/season/weather parameters; (2) The photographic combinations suggested by the tower-tramway tests were used in low, medium, and high altitude aerial photography
Eigenlevel statistics of the quantum adiabatic algorithm
We study the eigenlevel spectrum of quantum adiabatic algorithm for
3-satisfiability problem, focusing on single-solution instances. The properties
of the ground state and the associated gap, crucial for determining the running
time of the algorithm, are found to be far from the predictions of random
matrix theory. The distribution of gaps between the ground and the first
excited state shows an abundance of small gaps. Eigenstates from the central
part of the spectrum are, on the other hand, well described by random matrix
theory.Comment: 8 pages, 10 ps figure
On the dominance of J(P)=0(+) ground states in even-even nuclei from random two-body interactions
Recent calculations using random two-body interactions showed a preponderance
of J(P)=0(+) ground states, despite the fact that there is no strong pairing
character in the force. We carry out an analysis of a system of identical
particles occupying orbits with j=1/2, 3/2 and 5/2 and discuss some general
features of the spectra derived from random two-body interactions. We show that
for random two-body interactions that are not time-reversal invariant the
dominance of 0(+) states in this case is more pronounced, indicating that
time-reversal invariance cannot be the origin of the 0(+) dominance.Comment: 8 pages, 3 tables and 3 figures. Phys. Rev. C, in pres
Remote sensing of vigor loss in conifers due to dwarf mistletoe
The initial operation of a multiband/multidate tower-tramway test site in northeastern Minnesota for the development of specifications for subsequent multiband aerial photography of more extensive study areas was completed. Multiband/multidate configurations suggested by the tower-tramway studies were and will be flown with local equipment over the Togo test site. This site was photographed by the NASA RB57F aircraft in August and September 1971. It appears that, of all the film/filter combinations attempted to date (including optical recombining of several spectral band images via photo enhancement techniques), Ektachrome infrared film with a Wratten 12 filter is the best for detecting dwarf mistletoe, and other tree diseases as well. Using this film/filter combination, infection centers are easily detectable even on the smallest photo scale (1:100,000) obtained on the Togo site
Mobile Phone Faraday Cage
A Faraday cage is an interesting physics phenomena where an electromagnetic
wave can be excluded from a volume of space by enclosure with an electrically
conducting material. The practical application of this in the classroom is to
block the signal to a mobile phone by enclosing it in a metal can! The
background of the physics behind this is described in some detail followed by a
explanation of some demonstrations and experiments which I have used
Probing the interiors of the ice giants: Shock compression of water to 700 GPa and 3.8 g/ccm
Recently there has been tremendous increase in the number of identified
extra-solar planetary systems. Our understanding of their formation is tied to
exoplanet internal structure models, which rely upon equations of state of
light elements and compounds like water. Here we present shock compression data
for water with unprecedented accuracy that shows water equations of state
commonly used in planetary modeling significantly overestimate the
compressibility at conditions relevant to planetary interiors. Furthermore, we
show its behavior at these conditions, including reflectivity and isentropic
response, is well described by a recent first-principles based equation of
state. These findings advocate this water model be used as the standard for
modeling Neptune, Uranus, and "hot Neptune" exoplanets, and should improve our
understanding of these types of planets.Comment: Accepted to Phys. Rev. Lett.; supplementary material attached
including 2 figures and 2 tables; to view attachments, please download and
extract the gzipped tar source file listed under "Other formats
Hydrogen Dissociation and Diffusion on Ni and Ti -doped Mg(0001) Surfaces
It is well known, both theoretically and experimentally, that alloying
MgH with transition elements can significantly improve the thermodynamic
and kinetic properties for H desorption, as well as the H intake by Mg
bulk. Here we present a density functional theory investigation of hydrogen
dissociation and surface diffusion over Ni-doped surface, and compare the
findings to previously investigated Ti-doped Mg(0001) and pure Mg(0001)
surfaces. Our results show that the energy barrier for hydrogen dissociation on
the pure Mg(0001) surface is high, while it is small/null when Ni/Ti are added
to the surface as dopants. We find that the binding energy of the two H atoms
near the dissociation site is high on Ti, effectively impeding diffusion away
from the Ti site. By contrast, we find that on Ni the energy barrier for
diffusion is much reduced. Therefore, although both Ti and Ni promote H
dissociation, only Ni appears to be a good catalyst for Mg hydrogenation,
allowing diffusion away from the catalytic sites. Experimental results
corroborate these theoretical findings, i.e. faster hydrogenation of the Ni
doped Mg sample as opposed to the reference Mg or Ti doped Mg.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, to appear in Journal of Chemical Physic
Atomic oxygen studies on polymers
The purpose was to study the effects of atomic oxygen on the erosion of polymer based materials. The development of an atomic oxygen neutral beam facility using a SURFATRON surface wave launcher that can produce beam energies between 2 and 3 eV at flux levels as high as approx. 10 to the 17th power atoms/cm (2)-sec is described. Thin film dielectric materials were studied to determine recession rates and and reaction efficiencies as a function of incident beam energy and fluence. Accelerated testing was also accomplished and the values of reaction efficiency compared to available space flight data. Electron microscope photomicrographs of the samples' surface morphology were compared to flight test specimens
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