12,324 research outputs found
Quantum integrability of quadratic Killing tensors
Quantum integrability of classical integrable systems given by quadratic
Killing tensors on curved configuration spaces is investigated. It is proven
that, using a "minimal" quantization scheme, quantum integrability is insured
for a large class of classic examples.Comment: LaTeX 2e, no figure, 35 p., references added, minor modifications. To
appear in the J. Math. Phy
Potential shift in tree species composition after interaction of fire and drought in the Central Alps
The future trajectory of forest ecosystems under climate change is heavily debated. Previous studies on the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems have focused mainly on direct effects of altered climatic conditions, whereas interactions with disturbance events have been largely neglected. The aim of this study is to explore interactions of drought with fire disturbance and to assess their effects on tree species shifts in the European Central Alps. Tree recruitment after a stand replacing wildfire in the Rhone valley, Switzerland, was measured along an altitudinal temperature moisture gradient. Recruitment was more successful in pioneer species (Betula pendula, Populus tremula and Salix appendiculata) than in pre-fire stand forming (PFSF) species (Larix decidua, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris). Seedling and sapling density was not related to fire intensity, but it correlated with the distance to the forest edge in PFSF species. The window of opportunity for seedling establishment was short (1-2years), and moisture deficit was the main limiting factor for tree recruitment at lower altitudes. We suggest that prolonged drought periods, as projected under continued global warming, will further aggravate tree recruitment success after fire disturbance at low altitudes of the Central Alps and may eventually lead to a shift from PFSF species to either more drought-tolerant species or to forest-free vegetatio
Optical beam guidance in monolithic polymer chips for miniaturized colorimetric assays
For the first time, we present a simple and robust optical concept to enable precise and sensitive read-out of colorimetric assays in flat lab-on-a-chip devices. The optical guidance of the probe beam through an incorporated measurement chamber to the detector is based on the total internal reflection at V-grooves in the polymer chip. This way, the optical path length through the flat measurement chamber and thus the performance of the measurements are massively enhanced compared to direct (perpendicular) beam incidence. This is demonstrated by a chip-based, colorimetric glucose-assay on serum. Outstanding features are an excellent reproducibility (CV= 1.91 %), a competitive lower limit of detection (cmin = 124 ÎŒM), and a high degree of linearity (R2 = 0.998) within a working range extending over nearly three orders of magnitude
VLTI/PIONIER images the Achernar disk swell
Context. The mechanism of disk formation around fast-rotating Be stars is not
well understood. In particular, it is not clear which mechanisms operate, in
addition to fast rotation, to produce the observed variable ejection of matter.
The star Achernar is a privileged laboratory to probe these additional
mechanisms because it is close, presents B-Be phase variations on timescales
ranging from 6 yr to 15 yr, a companion star was discovered around it, and
probably presents a polar wind or jet. Aims. Despite all these previous
studies, the disk around Achernar was never directly imaged. Therefore we seek
to produce an image of the photosphere and close environment of the star.
Methods. We used infrared long-baseline interferometry with the PIONIER/VLTI
instrument to produce reconstructed images of the photosphere and close
environment of the star over four years of observations. To study the disk
formation, we compared the observations and reconstructed images to previously
computed models of both the stellar photosphere alone (normal B phase) and the
star presenting a circumstellar disk (Be phase). Results. The observations
taken in 2011 and 2012, during the quiescent phase of Achernar, do not exhibit
a disk at the detection limit of the instrument. In 2014, on the other hand, a
disk was already formed and our reconstructed image reveals an extended H-band
continuum excess flux. Our results from interferometric imaging are also
supported by several H-alpha line profiles showing that Achernar started an
emission-line phase sometime in the beginning of 2013. The analysis of our
reconstructed images shows that the 2014 near-IR flux extends to 1.7 - 2.3
equatorial radii. Our model-independent size estimation of the H-band continuum
contribution is compatible with the presence of a circumstellar disk, which is
in good agreement with predictions from Be-disk models
Donor binding energy and thermally activated persistent photoconductivity in high mobility (001) AlAs quantum wells
A doping series of AlAs (001) quantum wells with Si delta-modulation doping
on both sides reveals different dark and post-illumination saturation
densities, as well as temperature dependent photoconductivity. The lower dark
two-dimensional electron density saturation is explained assuming deep binding
energy of Delta_DK = 65.2 meV for Si-donors in the dark. Persistent
photoconductivity (PPC) is observed upon illumination, with higher saturation
density indicating shallow post-illumination donor binding energy. The
photoconductivity is thermally activated, with 4 K illumination requiring
post-illumination annealing to T = 30 K to saturate the PPC. Dark and
post-illumination doping efficiencies are reported.Comment: The values of binding energy changed from previous versions because
of a better understanding for the dielectric permittivity. Also, the Gamma -
X donor states are better explaine
Perturbed Three Vortex Dynamics
It is well known that the dynamics of three point vortices moving in an ideal
fluid in the plane can be expressed in Hamiltonian form, where the resulting
equations of motion are completely integrable in the sense of Liouville and
Arnold. The focus of this investigation is on the persistence of regular
behavior (especially periodic motion) associated to completely integrable
systems for certain (admissible) kinds of Hamiltonian perturbations of the
three vortex system in a plane. After a brief survey of the dynamics of the
integrable planar three vortex system, it is shown that the admissible class of
perturbed systems is broad enough to include three vortices in a half-plane,
three coaxial slender vortex rings in three-space, and `restricted' four vortex
dynamics in a plane. Included are two basic categories of results for
admissible perturbations: (i) general theorems for the persistence of invariant
tori and periodic orbits using Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser and Poincare-Birkhoff
type arguments; and (ii) more specific and quantitative conclusions of a
classical perturbation theory nature guaranteeing the existence of periodic
orbits of the perturbed system close to cycles of the unperturbed system, which
occur in abundance near centers. In addition, several numerical simulations are
provided to illustrate the validity of the theorems as well as indicating their
limitations as manifested by transitions to chaotic dynamics.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures, submitted to the Journal of Mathematical Physic
On the Orbit Structure of the Logarithmic Potential
We investigate the dynamics in the logarithmic galactic potential with an
analytical approach. The phase-space structure of the real system is
approximated with resonant detuned normal forms constructed with the method
based on the Lie transform. Attention is focused on the properties of the axial
periodic orbits and of low order `boxlets' that play an important role in
galactic models. Using energy and ellipticity as parameters, we find analytical
expressions of several useful indicators, such as stability-instability
thresholds, bifurcations and phase-space fractions of some orbit families and
compare them with numerical results available in the literature.Comment: To appear on the Astrophysical Journa
Hall effect and conduction anisotropy in the organic conductor TMTSF2PF6
Long missing basic experiments in the normal phase of the anisotropic
electron system of TMTSF2PF6 were performed. Both the Hall effect and the
ab'-plane conduction anisotropy are directly addressing the unconventional
electrical properties of this Bechgaard salt. We found that the dramatic
reduction of the carrier density deduced from recent optical data is not
reflected in an enhanced Hall-resistance. The pressure- and temperature
dependence of the b'-direction resitivity reveal isotropic relaxation time and
do not require explanations beyond the Fermi liquid theory. Our results allow a
coherent-diffusive transition in the interchain carrier propagation, however
the possible crossover to Luttinger liquid behavior is placed to an energy
scale above room temperature.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Let
Variational Approach to Gaussian Approximate Coherent States: Quantum Mechanics and Minisuperspace Field Theory
This paper has a dual purpose. One aim is to study the evolution of coherent
states in ordinary quantum mechanics. This is done by means of a Hamiltonian
approach to the evolution of the parameters that define the state. The
stability of the solutions is studied. The second aim is to apply these
techniques to the study of the stability of minisuperspace solutions in field
theory. For a theory we show, both by means of perturbation
theory and rigorously by means of theorems of the K.A.M. type, that the
homogeneous minisuperspace sector is indeed stable for positive values of the
parameters that define the field theory.Comment: 26 pages, Plain TeX, no figure
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