1,777 research outputs found
Decoherence in supernova neutrino transformations suppressed by deleptonization
In the dense-neutrino region at 50-400 km above the neutrino sphere in a
supernova, neutrino-neutrino interactions cause large flavor transformations.
We study when the multi-angle nature of the neutrino trajectories leads to
flavor decoherence between different angular modes. We consider a two-flavor
mixing scenario between nu_e and another flavor nu_x and assume the usual
hierarchy F(nu_e)>F{antinu_e)>F(nu_x)=F(antinu_x) for the number fluxes. We
define epsilon=(F(nu_e)-F(antinu_e))/(F(antinu_e)-F(antinu_x)) as a measure for
the deleptonization flux which is the one crucial parameter. The transition
between the quasi single-angle behavior and multi-angle decoherence is abrupt
as a function of epsilon. For typical choices of other parameters, multi-angle
decoherence is suppressed for epsilon>0.3, but a much smaller asymmetry
suffices if the neutrino mass hierarchy is normal and the mixing angle small.
The critical epsilon depends logarithmically on the neutrino luminosity. In a
realistic supernova scenario, the deleptonization flux is probably enough to
suppress multi-angle decoherence.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures. Misprint in Eq (14) correcte
A Multiscale Model of Partial Melts 1: Effective Equations
In this paper a model for partial melts is constructed using two-scale
homogenization theory. While this technique is well known to the mathematics
and materials communities, it is relatively novel to problems in the solid
Earth. This approach begins with a grain scale model of the medium, coarsening
it into a macroscopic one. The emergent model is in good agreement with
previous work, including D. McKenzie's, and serves as verification. This
methodology also yields a series of Stokes problems whose solutions provide
constitutive relations for permeability and viscosity. A numerical
investigation of these relations appears in a companion paper.Comment: 55 pages. Submitted to JGR Solid Eart
Emergence of Zipf's Law in the Evolution of Communication
Zipf's law seems to be ubiquitous in human languages and appears to be a
universal property of complex communicating systems. Following the early
proposal made by Zipf concerning the presence of a tension between the efforts
of speaker and hearer in a communication system, we introduce evolution by
means of a variational approach to the problem based on Kullback's Minimum
Discrimination of Information Principle. Therefore, using a formalism fully
embedded in the framework of information theory, we demonstrate that Zipf's law
is the only expected outcome of an evolving, communicative system under a
rigorous definition of the communicative tension described by Zipf.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Multiple transition zone seismic discontinuities and low velocity layers below western United States
With P-to-S converted waves recorded at seismic stations of the U.S. Transportable Array, we image the fine structure of upper mantle and transition zone (TZ) beneath the western U.S. We map the topographies of seismic discontinuities by stacking data by common conversion points along profiles. Systematic depth and amplitude measurements are performed not only for the well-known “410” and “660” interfaces but also for minor seismic discontinuities identified around 350, 590, and 630 km depths. The amplitude of conversion suggests shear wave velocity (Vs) increase by 4% at the 410 and the 660. The observed 660 velocity contrast is smaller than expected from the 6% in IASP91 but consistent with a pyrolitic model of mantle composition. The Gorda plate, subducted under northern California, is tracked to the TZ where it seems to flatten and induce uplift of the 410 under northern Nevada. Maps of 410/660 amplitude/topography reveal that the TZ is anomalous beneath the geographical borders of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, with (1) a thickened TZ, (2) a sharp change in depth of the 660, (3) a reduced 410 conversion amplitude in the North, and (4) a positive “630” discontinuity. Such anomalous structure might be inherited from the past history of plate subduction/accretion. A thinned TZ under the Yellowstone suggests higher-than-average temperatures, perhaps due to a deep thermal plume. Both the “350” and the “590” negative discontinuities extend over very large areas. They might be related either to an increased water content in the TZ, a significant amount of oceanic material accumulated through the past 100 Myr, or both.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (VICI grant NWO:VICI865.03.007
Negative ions formed in N<sub>2</sub>/CH<sub>4</sub>/Ar discharge – a simulation of Titan's atmosphere chemistry
The formation of negative ions produced in a negative point-to-plane corona discharge fed by a Ar/N2//CH4/ gas mixture has been studied using mass spectrometry. The measurements were carried out in flowing regime at ambient temperature and a reduced pressure of 460 mbar. The CN ? anion has been found to be the most dominant negative ion in the discharge and is believed to be the precursor of heavier negative ions such as C3/N ? and C5/N ? . The most likely pathway for the formation of such molecular anions is H-loss dissociative electron attachment to HCN, H3/CN and H5/CN formed in the discharge. These same anions have been detected in Titan's atmosphere and the present experiments may provide some novel insights into the chemical and physical mechanisms prevalent in Titan's atmosphere and hence assist in the interpretation of results from the Cassini Huygens space mission
Incidence and impact on clinical outcome of infections with piperacillin/tazobactam resistant Escherichia coli in ICU: A retrospective study
Escherichia coli infections are frequent in ICU patients. The increased resistance to fluoroquinolones and amoxicillin/clavulanate of this pathogen mandates the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP-TAZ) or third generation cephalosporins (3GC)
Non equilibrium inertial dynamics of colloidal systems
We consider the properties of a one dimensional fluid of brownian inertial
hard-core particles, whose microscopic dynamics is partially damped by a
heat-bath. Direct interactions among the particles are represented as binary,
instantaneous elastic collisions. Collisions with the heath bath are accounted
for by a Fokker-Planck collision operator, whereas direct collisions among the
particles are treated by a well known method of kinetic theory, the Revised
Enskog Theory. By means of a time multiple time-scale method we derive the
evolution equation for the average density. Remarkably, for large values of the
friction parameter and/or of the mass of the particles we obtain the same
equation as the one derived within the dynamic density functional theory (DDF).
In addition, at moderate values of the friction constant, the present method
allows to study the inertial effects not accounted for by DDF method. Finally,
a numerical test of these corrections is provided.Comment: 13 pages+ 3 Postscript figure
Two sequential outbreaks caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates producing OXA-58 or OXA-72 oxacillinase in an intensive care unit in France
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