283 research outputs found
Learning from Minimum Entropy Queries in a Large Committee Machine
In supervised learning, the redundancy contained in random examples can be
avoided by learning from queries. Using statistical mechanics, we study
learning from minimum entropy queries in a large tree-committee machine. The
generalization error decreases exponentially with the number of training
examples, providing a significant improvement over the algebraic decay for
random examples. The connection between entropy and generalization error in
multi-layer networks is discussed, and a computationally cheap algorithm for
constructing queries is suggested and analysed.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, multicol, epsf, two postscript figures. To appear in
Physical Review E (Rapid Communications
1.3 mm Wavelength VLBI of Sagittarius A*: Detection of Time-Variable Emission on Event Horizon Scales
Sagittarius A*, the ~4 x 10^6 solar mass black hole candidate at the Galactic
Center, can be studied on Schwarzschild radius scales with (sub)millimeter
wavelength Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). We report on 1.3 mm
wavelength observations of Sgr A* using a VLBI array consisting of the JCMT on
Mauna Kea, the ARO/SMT on Mt. Graham in Arizona, and two telescopes of the
CARMA array at Cedar Flat in California. Both Sgr A* and the quasar calibrator
1924-292 were observed over three consecutive nights, and both sources were
clearly detected on all baselines. For the first time, we are able to extract
1.3 mm VLBI interferometer phase information on Sgr A* through measurement of
closure phase on the triangle of baselines. On the third night of observing,
the correlated flux density of Sgr A* on all VLBI baselines increased relative
to the first two nights, providing strong evidence for time-variable change on
scales of a few Schwarzschild radii. These results suggest that future VLBI
observations with greater sensitivity and additional baselines will play a
valuable role in determining the structure of emission near the event horizon
of Sgr A*.Comment: 8 pages, submitted to ApJ
Hard x-ray characterization of a HEFT single-reflection prototype
We have measured the hard X-ray reflectivity and imaging performance from depth graded W/Si multilayer coated mirror segments mounted in a single reflection cylindrical prototype for the hard X-ray telescopes to be flown on the High Energy Focusing Telescope (HEFT) balloon mission. Data have been obtained in the energy range from 18 - 170 keV at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and at the Danish Space Research Institute at 8 keV. The modeling of the reflectivity data demonstrate that the multilayer structure can be well described by the intended power law distribution of the bilayer thicknesses optimized for the telescope performance and we find that all the data is consistent with an interfacial width of 4.5 Å. We have also demonstrated that the required 5% uniformity of the coatings is obtained over the mirror surface and we have shown that it is feasible to use similar W/Si coatings for much higher energies than the nominal energy range of HEFT leading the way for designing Gamma-ray telescopes for future astronomical applications. Finally we have demonstrate 35 arcsecond Half Power Diameter imaging performance of the one bounce prototype throughout the energy range of the HEFT telescopes
Detection of intrinsic source structure at ~3 Schwarzschild radii with Millimeter-VLBI observations of SAGITTARIUS A*
We report results from very long baseline interferometric (VLBI) observations
of the supermassive black hole in the Galactic center, Sgr A*, at 1.3 mm (230
GHz). The observations were performed in 2013 March using six VLBI stations in
Hawaii, California, Arizona, and Chile. Compared to earlier observations, the
addition of the APEX telescope in Chile almost doubles the longest baseline
length in the array, provides additional {\it uv} coverage in the N-S
direction, and leads to a spatial resolution of 30 as (3
Schwarzschild radii) for Sgr A*. The source is detected even at the longest
baselines with visibility amplitudes of 4-13% of the total flux density.
We argue that such flux densities cannot result from interstellar refractive
scattering alone, but indicate the presence of compact intrinsic source
structure on scales of 3 Schwarzschild radii. The measured nonzero
closure phases rule out point-symmetric emission. We discuss our results in the
context of simple geometric models that capture the basic characteristics and
brightness distributions of disk- and jet-dominated models and show that both
can reproduce the observed data. Common to these models are the brightness
asymmetry, the orientation, and characteristic sizes, which are comparable to
the expected size of the black hole shadow. Future 1.3 mm VLBI observations
with an expanded array and better sensitivity will allow a more detailed
imaging of the horizon-scale structure and bear the potential for a deep
insight into the physical processes at the black hole boundary.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, accepted to Ap
Rule-Makers or Rule-Takers? Exploring the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is an effort by the United States and the European Union to reposition themselves for a world of diffuse economic power and intensified global competition. It is a next-generation economic negotiation that breaks the mould of traditional trade agreements. At the heart of the ongoing talks is the question whether and in which areas the two major democratic actors in the global economy can address costly frictions generated by their deep commercial integration by aligning rules and other instruments. The aim is to reduce duplication in various ways in areas where levels of regulatory protection are equivalent as well as to foster wide-ranging regulatory cooperation and set a benchmark for high-quality global norms.
In this volume, European and American experts explain the economic context of TTIP and its geopolitical implications, and then explore the challenges and consequences of US-EU negotiations across numerous sensitive areas, ranging from food safety and public procurement to economic and regulatory assessments of technical barriers to trade, automotive, chemicals, energy, services, investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms and regulatory cooperation. Their insights cut through the confusion and tremendous public controversies now swirling around TTIP, and help decision-makers understand how the United States and the European Union can remain rule-makers rather than rule-takers in a globalising world in which their relative influence is waning
Report from NA49
The most recent data of NA49 on hadron production in nuclear collisions at
CERN SPS energies are presented. Anomalies in the energy dependence of pion and
kaon production in central Pb+Pb collisions are observed. They suggest that the
onset of deconfinement is located at about 30 AGeV. Large multiplicity and
transverse momentum fluctuations are measured for collisions of intermediate
mass systems at 158 AGeV. The need for a new experimental programme at the CERN
SPS is underlined.Comment: invited talk presented at Quark Matter 2004, 10 page
System-size dependence of strangeness production in nucleus-nucleus collisions at sqrt{s_{NN}}=17.3 GeV
Emission of pi, K, phi and Lambda was measured in near-central C+C and Si+Si
collisions at 158 AGeV beam energy. Together with earlier data for p+p, S+S and
Pb+Pb, the system-size dependence of relative strangeness production in
nucleus-nucleus collisions is obtained. Its fast rise and the saturation
observed at about 60 participating nucleons can be understood as onset of the
formation of coherent partonic subsystems of increasing size.Comment: Phys.Rev.Lett in print; version2: changes made according to the
request of the referee
Rapidity and transverse momentum dependence of pion-pion Bose-Einstein correlations measured at 20, 30, 40, 80, and 158 AGeV beam energy
Preliminary results on pion-pion Bose-Einstein correlations in central Pb+Pb
collisions measured by the NA49 experiment are presented. Rapidity as well as
transverse momentum dependence of the HBT-radii are shown for collisions at 20,
30, 40, 80, and 158 AGeV beam energy. Including results from AGS and RHIC
experiments only a weak energy dependence of the radii is observed. Based on
hydrodynamical models parameters like lifetime and geometrical radius of the
source are derived from the dependence of the radii on transverse momentum.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, contribution to the Quark Matter conference,
Oakland, USA, Jan 11-17, 200
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