616 research outputs found
Low Frequency Gravitational Waves from Black Hole MACHO Binaries
Nakamura, Sasaki, Tanaka, and Thorne have recently estimated the initial
distribution of binary MACHOs in the galactic halo assuming that the MACHOs are
primordial half solar mass black holes, and considered their coalescence as a
possible source for ground-based interferometer gravitational wave detectors
such as LIGO. Evolving their binary distribution forward in time to the
present, the low-frequency (10^{-5} < f < 10^{-1} Hz) spectrum of gravitational
waves associated with such a population of compact binaries is calculated. The
resulting gravitational waves would form a strong stochastic background in
proposed space interferometers such as LISA and OMEGA. Low frequency
gravitational waves are likely to become a key tool for determining the
properties of binaries within the dark MACHO population.Comment: 8 pages + 2 ps figures; AASTe
LISA data analysis: The monochromatic binary detection and initial guess problems
We consider the detection and initial guess problems for the LISA
gravitational wave detector. The detection problem is the problem of how to
determine if there is a signal present in instrumental data and how to identify
it. Because of the Doppler and plane-precession spreading of the spectral power
of the LISA signal, the usual power spectrum approach to detection will have
difficulty identifying sources. A better method must be found. The initial
guess problem involves how to generate {\it a priori} values for the parameters
of a parameter-estimation problem that are close enough to the final values for
a linear least-squares estimator to converge to the correct result. A useful
approach to simultaneously solving the detection and initial guess problems for
LISA is to divide the sky into many pixels and to demodulate the Doppler
spreading for each set of pixel coordinates. The demodulated power spectra may
then be searched for spectral features. We demonstrate that the procedure works
well as a first step in the search for gravitational waves from monochromatic
binaries.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure
Low Frequency Gravitational Waves from White Dwarf MACHO Binaries
The possibility that Galactic halo MACHOs are white dwarfs has recently
attracted much attention. Using the known properties of white dwarf binaries in
the Galactic disk as a model, we estimate the possible contribution of halo
white dwarf binaries to the low-frequency (10^{-5} Hz} < f < 10^{-1}Hz)
gravitational wave background. Assuming the fraction of white dwarfs in
binaries is the same in the halo as in the disk, we find the confusion
background from halo white dwarf binaries could be five times stronger than the
expected contribution from Galactic disk binaries, dominating the response of
the proposed space based interferometer LISA. Low-frequency gravitational wave
observations will be the key to discovering the nature of the dark MACHO binary
population.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, AASTe
Probing anisotropies of gravitational-wave backgroundswith a space-based interferometer II: Perturbative reconstruction of a low-frequency skymap
We present a perturbative reconstruction method to make a skymap of
gravitational-wave backgrounds (GWBs) observed via space-based interferometer.
In the presence of anisotropies in GWBs, the cross-correlated signals of
observed GWBs are inherently time-dependent due to the non-stationarity of the
gravitational-wave detector. Since the cross-correlated signal is obtained
through an all-sky integral of primary signals convolving with the antenna
pattern function of gravitational-wave detectors, the non-stationarity of
cross-correlated signals, together with full knowledge of antenna pattern
functions, can be used to reconstruct an intensity map of the GWBs. Here, we
give two simple methods to reconstruct a skymap of GWBs based on the
perturbative expansion in low-frequency regime. The first one is based on
harmonic-Fourier representation of data streams and the second is based on
"direct" time-series data. The latter method enables us to create a skymap in a
direct manner. The reconstruction technique is demonstrated in the case of the
Galactic gravitational wave background observed via planned space
interferometer, LISA. Although the angular resolution of low-frequency skymap
is rather restricted, the methodology presented here would be helpful in
discriminating the GWBs of galactic origins by those of the extragalactic
and/or cosmological origins.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures, Phys.Rev.D (2005) in pres
A constitutive model for the mechanical response of the folding of creased paperboard
AbstractPaperboard is a widely used material in industrial processes, in particular for packaging purposes. Packages are obtained through a forming process, in which a flat laminated sheet is converted into the final 3-D solid. In the package forming process, it is common practice to score the paperboard laminate with crease lines, in order to obtain folds with sharp edges and to minimize the initiation and propagation of flaws during the subsequent folding procedures. In this work, a constitutive model for the mechanical response of crease lines is proposed and validated on the basis of experimental tests available in the literature. The model has been implemented in an interface finite element to be placed between adjacent shell elements and is intended for large-scale computations of package forming processes. For this reason, the material model has been developed at the macroscopic scale in terms of generalized variables, aiming at computational effectiveness
An integrated smart thermo-chemical energy network
Managing the intermittency of renewable sources together with transient (hourly to daily to seasonal) energy demands is one of the principal challenges of delivering a net-zero energy system. Smart multifunctional thermo-chemical energy networks represent an alternative energy network and storage system, a solution based on the distribution of energy via thermo-chemical material rather than thermal energy, gas, fuels or electricityâ an option that has scope for integrated short- and long-term energy storage. This is the first research work to realise such a system and demonstrate how it might operate using smart control strategies and how thermo-chemical fluids (TCFs) can be used as a medium for timely energy storage and distribution. The experimental study also describes the effect of steady and variable heat sources on TCF regeneration performance and estimates the potential of thermo-chemical energy networks, which would be particularly beneficial in buildings with high energy consumption for humidity control. This research proves the practicality of the design idea for such a network, which would be governed by centralised control, regenerated by steady or transient heat loads and capable of supplying a variety of demands in an experimental setting. The energy and economic potential of the network were also assessed, identifying temperature and humidity control application scenarios with energy savings of more than 60% compared to conventional operation and payback periods of 6.6â9.7 years
Prospective study of a molecular selection profile for RAS wild type colorectal cancer patients receiving irinotecan-cetuximab
Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate whether a panel of biomarkers, prospectively analysed might be able to predict patients' clinical outcome more accurately than RAS status alone. Methods: K-RAS (exons 2, 3, 4) wild type colorectal cancer patients, candidates to second/third-line cetuximab with chemotherapy were prospectively allocated into 2 groups on the basis of their profile: favourable (BRAF and PIK3CA exon 20 wild type, EGFR GCN ℠2.6, HER-3 Rajkumar score †8, IGF-1 immunostaining < 2) or unfavourable (any of the previous markers altered or mutated). After the introduction of N-RAS status (exons 2, 3, 4) only RAS wild type patients were considered eligible. Results: Forty-six patients were enrolled. Seventeen patients (37%) were allocated to the favourable and 29 patients (63%) to the unfavourable profile. RR in the favourable and unfavourable group was 11/17 (65%) and 2/29 (7%) (p = 0.007) respectively. The favourable group also showed an improved PFS (8months vs. 3months, p < 0.0001) and OS (15months vs. 6months, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that prospective selection of optimal candidates for cetuximab treatment is feasible and may be able to improve clinical outcom
Sensitivity curves for spaceborne gravitational wave interferometers
To determine whether particular sources of gravitational radiation will be
detectable by a specific gravitational wave detector, it is necessary to know
the sensitivity limits of the instrument. These instrumental sensitivities are
often depicted (after averaging over source position and polarization) by
graphing the minimal values of the gravitational wave amplitude detectable by
the instrument versus the frequency of the gravitational wave. This paper
describes in detail how to compute such a sensitivity curve given a set of
specifications for a spaceborne laser interferometer gravitational wave
observatory. Minor errors in the prior literature are corrected, and the first
(mostly) analytic calculation of the gravitational wave transfer function is
presented. Example sensitivity curve calculations are presented for the
proposed LISA interferometer. We find that previous treatments of LISA have
underestimated its sensitivity by a factor of .Comment: 27 pages + 5 figures, REVTeX, accepted for publication in Phys Rev D;
Update reflects referees comments, figure 3 clarified, figure 5 corrected for
LISA baselin
Simulation of the White Dwarf -- White Dwarf galactic background in the LISA data
LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) is a proposed space mission, which
will use coherent laser beams exchanged between three remote spacecraft to
detect and study low-frequency cosmic gravitational radiation. In the low-part
of its frequency band, the LISA strain sensitivity will be dominated by the
incoherent superposition of hundreds of millions of gravitational wave signals
radiated by inspiraling white-dwarf binaries present in our own galaxy. In
order to estimate the magnitude of the LISA response to this background, we
have simulated a synthesized population that recently appeared in the
literature. We find the amplitude of the galactic white-dwarf binary background
in the LISA data to be modulated in time, reaching a minimum equal to about
twice that of the LISA noise for a period of about two months around the time
when the Sun-LISA direction is roughly oriented towards the Autumn equinox.
Since the galactic white-dwarfs background will be observed by LISA not as a
stationary but rather as a cyclostationary random process with a period of one
year, we summarize the theory of cyclostationary random processes and present
the corresponding generalized spectral method needed to characterize such
process. We find that, by measuring the generalized spectral components of the
white-dwarf background, LISA will be able to infer properties of the
distribution of the white-dwarfs binary systems present in our Galaxy.Comment: 14 pages and 6 figures. Submitted to Classical and Quantum Gravity
(Proceedings of GWDAW9
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