4,036 research outputs found
Searching for cavities of various densities in the Earth's crust with a low-energy electron-antineutrino beta-beam
We propose searching for deep underground cavities of different densities in
the Earth's crust using a long-baseline electron-antineutrino disappearance
experiment, realized through a low-energy beta-beam with highly-enhanced
luminosity. We focus on four cases: cavities with densities close to that of
water, iron-banded formations, heavier mineral deposits, and regions of
abnormal charge accumulation that have been posited to appear prior to the
occurrence of an intense earthquake. The sensitivity to identify cavities
attains confidence levels higher than and for exposures
times of 3 months and 1.5 years, respectively, and cavity densities below 1 g
cm or above 5 g cm, with widths greater than 200 km. We
reconstruct the cavity density, width, and position, assuming one of them known
while keeping the other two free. We obtain large allowed regions that improve
as the cavity density differs more from the Earth's mean density. Furthermore,
we demonstrate that knowledge of the cavity density is important to obtain
O(10%) error on the width. Finally, we introduce an observable to quantify the
presence of a cavity by changing the orientation of the electron-antineutrino
beam, with which we are able to identify the presence of a cavity at the
to C.L.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures; matches published versio
Reversible Graphene decoupling by NaCl photo-dissociation
We describe the reversible intercalation of Na under graphene on Ir(111) by
photo-dissociation of a previously adsorbed NaCl overlayer. After room
temperature evaporation, NaCl adsorbs on top of graphene forming a bilayer.
With a combination of electron diffraction and photoemission techniques we
demonstrate that the NaCl overlayer dissociates upon a short exposure to an
X-ray beam. As a result, chlorine desorbs while sodium intercalates under the
graphene, inducing an electronic decoupling from the underlying metal. Low
energy electron diffraction shows the disappearance of the moir\'e pattern when
Na intercalates between graphene and iridium. Analysis of the Na 2p core-level
by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows a chemical change from NaCl to
metallic buried Na at the graphene/Ir interface. The intercalation-decoupling
process leads to a n-doped graphene due to the charge transfer from the Na, as
revealed by constant energy angle resolved X-ray photoemission maps. Moreover,
the process is reversible by a mild annealing of the samples without damaging
the graphene
The effect of nanocoatings enriched with essential oils on ‘Rocha’ pear long storage
The effect of coating 'Rocha' pears with alginate-based nanoemulsions enriched with lemongrass essential oil (LG) or citral (Cit) was investigated. Fruit were treated with the nanoemulsions: sodium alginate 2% (w/w) + citral 1% (w/w) (Cit1%); sodium alginate 2% (w/w) + citral 2% (w/w) (Cit2%); sodium alginate 2% (w/w) + lemongrass 1.25% (w/w) (LG1.25%); sodium alginate 2% (w/w) + lemongrass 2.5% (w/w) (LG2.5%). Then, fruit were stored at 0 °C and at 95% relative humidity, for six months. Fruit samples were taken after two, four and six months, and then placed at 22 °C. Upon removal and after 7 d shelf-life, fruit were evaluated for colour CIE (L*, h◦), firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), weight loss, electrolytic leakage, microbial growth, symptoms of superficial scald and internal browning. All nanoemulsions had droplets in the nano range <500 nm, showed uniformity of particle size and stable dispersion. Cit-nanoemulsions had lower droplet size and higher stability than LG. No nanoemulsion showed cytotoxicity. Coatings reduced fruit colour evolution and preserved better firmness than control. After shelf-life, better firmness was found in LG-coated fruit. Coatings did not affect SSC and TA. Microbial growth was below the safety limits in all treatments. Fruit treated with LG-nanoemulsions did not show scald symptoms and panelists preferred LG1.25% coated fruit. Cit2% treated fruit showed the highest scald and internal browning symptoms, while LG1.25% did not show any disorders. This study suggests that LG-nanocoatings have the potential for preserving the quality of 'Rocha' pear.FCT (SFRH/BPD/108831/2015); UID/BIA/04325/2019/ UID/Multi/00631/2019/ UID/AMB/50017/2019info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Krotov: A Python implementation of Krotov's method for quantum optimal control
We present a new open-source Python package, krotov, implementing the quantum optimal control method of that name. It allows to determine time-dependent external fields for a wide range of quantum control problems, including state-to-state transfer, quantum gate implementation and optimization towards an arbitrary perfect entangler. Krotov's method compares to other gradient-based optimization methods such as gradient-ascent and guarantees monotonic convergence for approximately time-continuous control fields. The user-friendly interface allows for combination with other Python packages, and thus high-level customization
An Axiomatic Setup for Algorithmic Homological Algebra and an Alternative Approach to Localization
In this paper we develop an axiomatic setup for algorithmic homological
algebra of Abelian categories. This is done by exhibiting all existential
quantifiers entering the definition of an Abelian category, which for the sake
of computability need to be turned into constructive ones. We do this
explicitly for the often-studied example Abelian category of finitely presented
modules over a so-called computable ring , i.e., a ring with an explicit
algorithm to solve one-sided (in)homogeneous linear systems over . For a
finitely generated maximal ideal in a commutative ring we
show how solving (in)homogeneous linear systems over can be
reduced to solving associated systems over . Hence, the computability of
implies that of . As a corollary we obtain the computability
of the category of finitely presented -modules as an Abelian
category, without the need of a Mora-like algorithm. The reduction also yields,
as a by-product, a complexity estimation for the ideal membership problem over
local polynomial rings. Finally, in the case of localized polynomial rings we
demonstrate the computational advantage of our homologically motivated
alternative approach in comparison to an existing implementation of Mora's
algorithm.Comment: Fixed a typo in the proof of Lemma 4.3 spotted by Sebastian Posu
Fullerenelike arrangements in carbon nitride thin films grown by direct ion beam sputtering
Carbon nitride (CNx) thin films were grown by direct N-2/Ar ion beam
sputtering of a graphite target at moderate substrate temperatures
(300-750 K). The resulting microstructure of the films was studied by
high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The images showed the
presence of curved basal planes in fullerenelike arrangements. The
achievement and evolution of these microstructural features are
discussed in terms of nitrogen incorporation, film-forming flux, and
ion bombardment effects, thus adding to the understanding of the
formation mechanisms of curved graphitic structures in CNx materials.
(C) 2005 American Institute of Physics
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