9,534 research outputs found
The abundance of high-redshift objects as a probe of non-Gaussian initial conditions
The observed abundance of high-redshift galaxies and clusters contains
precious information about the properties of the initial perturbations. We
present a method to compute analytically the number density of objects as a
function of mass and redshift for a range of physically motivated non-Gaussian
models. In these models the non-Gaussianity can be dialed from zero and is
assumed to be small. We compute the probability density function for the
smoothed dark matter density field and we extend the Press and Schechter
approach to mildly non-Gaussian density fields. The abundance of high-redshift
objects can be directly related to the non-Gaussianity parameter and thus to
the physical processes that generated deviations from the Gaussian behaviour.
Even a skewness parameter of order 0.1 implies a dramatic change in the
predicted abundance of z\gap 1 objects. Observations from NGST and X-ray
satellites (XMM) can be used to accurately measure the amount of
non-Gaussianity in the primordial density field.Comment: Minor changes to match the accepted ApJ version (ApJ, 539
Absence of correlation between built-in electric dipole moment and quantum Stark effect in InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots
We report significant deviations from the usual quadratic dependence of the
ground state interband transition energy on applied electric fields in
InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots. In particular, we show that conventional
second-order perturbation theory fails to correctly describe the Stark shift
for electric field below kV/cm in high dots. Eight-band calculations demonstrate this effect is predominantly due to
the three-dimensional strain field distribution which for various dot shapes
and stoichiometric compositions drastically affects the hole ground state. Our
conclusions are supported by two independent experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Protecting the Primordial Baryon Asymmetry From Erasure by Sphalerons
If the baryon asymmetry of the universe was created at the GUT scale,
sphalerons together with exotic sources of -violation could have erased
it, unless the latter satisfy stringent bounds. We elaborate on how the small
Yukawa coupling of the electron drastically weakens previous estimates of these
bounds.Comment: 41 pp., 4 latex figures included and 3 uuencoded or postscript
figures available by request, UMN-TH-1213-9
Creating multi-scale nested MRIO tables for linking localized impacts to global consumption drivers
Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratories (IELabs) enable the construction of national-to-local-scale multi-regional inputâoutput (MRIO) models. These IELabs have been proven to be especially important for analyzing research questions that warrant sub-national spatial detail. The field of industrial ecology has clearly progressed from the time of national-only inputâoutput tables. Here, we present a newly developed tool called NLabâânested IELabââthat nests sub-national MRIO tables within global country-scale MRIOs. This capability allows for the investigation of interactions between sub-national production and consumption systems, with global systems interlinked via international trade. We provide a technical and mathematical roadmap for construction of nested inputâoutput tables in the NLab, and demonstrate this capability through a real-world assessment of the Western Australian wine industry. Our results suggest that nested MRIO tables provide an added layer of detail at a regional level, when undertaking consumption-based footprint assessments, leading to improved assessment of quantification of regional impacts. The NLab presented in this work provides tools for analysis of complex trade linkages between industries at various scales, which has the further potential to open avenues for policy-makers to analyze the implications of local decisions at a global level, and vice versa
Kinetic and Kinematic Characteristics of Proficient and Non-Proficient 2-Point and 3-Point Basketball Shooters
The purpose of this study was to examine kinetic and kinematic characteristics of various types of 2-point and 3-point basketball shooting approaches and determine which variables have the greatest contribution in discriminating proficient (PRO) from non-proficient (N-PRO) shooters. While standing on a force plate, twenty-nine recreationally active males performed a total of 1740 shots by utilizing stationary and step-in shooting approaches. Two high-definition cameras were used to simultaneously capture kinematic parameters of shooting motions. The type of shooting approach showed as a non-influential factor. During the preparatory phase of the shooting motion, PRO 2-point shooters demonstrated higher elbow and basketball height placements, greater flexion in the shoulder and elbow joints while attaining greater release and entry ball angles during the release phase. PRO 3-point shooters demonstrated greater elbow flexion, higher basketball placement, and less hip flexion during the preparatory phase while attaining greater heel, release, and trajectory heights during the release phase. When entered into a full-model discriminant function analysis, elbow angle, elbow height, and release angle variables correctly classified PRO from N-PRO 2-point shooters in 62.1% of cases and hip angle, heel height, and elbow angle variables correctly classified PRO from N-PRO 3-point shooters in 81.6% of cases
Probing Primordial Non-Gaussianity with Large-Scale Structure
We consider primordial non-Gaussianity due to quadratic corrections in the
gravitational potential parametrized by a non-linear coupling parameter fnl. We
study constraints on fnl from measurements of the galaxy bispectrum in redshift
surveys. Using estimates for idealized survey geometries of the 2dF and SDSS
surveys and realistic ones from SDSS mock catalogs, we show that it is possible
to probe |fnl|~100, after marginalization over bias parameters. We apply our
methods to the galaxy bispectrum measured from the PSCz survey, and obtain a
2sigma-constraint |fnl|< 1800. We estimate that an all sky redshift survey up
to z~1 can probe |fnl|~1. We also consider the use of cluster abundance to
constrain fnl and find that in order to be sensitive to |fnl|~100, cluster
masses need to be determined with an accuracy of a few percent, assuming
perfect knowledge of the mass function and cosmological parameters.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure
Gravitino constraints on models of neutrino masses and leptogenesis
In the supersymmetric extensions of the standard model, neutrino masses and
leptogenesis requires existence of new particles. We point out that if these
particles with lepton number violating interactions have standard model gauge
interactions, then they may not be created after reheating because of the
gravitino problem. This will rule out all existing models of neutrino masses
and leptogenesis, except the one with right-handed singlet neutrinos.Comment: 12 pages latex file with one postscript figur
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