9,909 research outputs found
A study of liquid propellant autoignition
Data and theory pertinent to the autoignition of liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants were reviewed. Physical models of the processes supporting or contributing to autoignition were developed. Emphasis was placed on the description of the physical environment and its relationship to the autoignition phenomenon
The photon blockade effect in optomechanical systems
We analyze the photon statistics of a weakly driven optomechanical system and
discuss the effect of photon blockade under single photon strong coupling
conditions. We present an intuitive interpretation of this effect in terms of
displaced oscillator states and derive analytic expressions for the cavity
excitation spectrum and the two photon correlation function . Our
results predict the appearance of non-classical photon correlations in the
combined strong coupling and sideband resolved regime, and provide a first
detailed understanding of photon-photon interactions in strong coupling
optomechanics
Generalized Phase Rules
For a multi-component system, general formulas are derived for the dimension
of a coexisting region in the phase diagram in various state spaces.Comment: In the revised manuscript, physical meanings of D's are explained by
adding three figures. 10 pages, 3 figure
Exact Solution of the Infinite-Range Quantum Mattis Model
We have solved the quantum version of the Mattis model with infinite-range
interactions. A variational approach gives the exact solution for the
infinite-range system, in spite of the non-commutative nature of the quantum
spin components; this implies that quantum effects are not predominant in
determining the macroscopic properties of the system. Nevertheless, the model
has a surprisingly rich phase behaviour, exhibiting phase diagrams with
tricritical, three-phase and critical end points.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure
Two-Pion Exchange in Proton-Proton Scattering
The contribution of the box and crossed two-pion-exchange diagrams to
proton-proton scattering at 90 is calculated in the laboratory
momentum range up to 12 GeV/c. Relativistic form factors related to the nucleon
and pion size and representing the pion source distribution based on the quark
structure of the hadronic core are included at each vertex of the pion-nucleon
interaction. These form factors depend on the four-momenta of the exchanged
pions and scattering nucleons. Feynman-diagram amplitudes calculated without
form factors are checked against those derived from dispersion relations. In
this comparison, one notices that a very short-range part of the crossed
diagram, neglected in dispersion-relation calculations of the two-pion-exchange
nucleon-nucleon potential, gives a sizable contribution. In the Feynman-diagram
calculation with form factors the agreement with measured spin-separated cross
sections, as well as amplitudes in the lower part of the energy range
considered, is much better for pion-nucleon pseudo-vector vis \`a vis
pseudo-scalar coupling. While strengths of the box and crossed diagrams are
comparable for laboratory momenta below 2 GeV/c, the crossed diagram dominates
for larger momenta, largely due to the kinematics of the crossed diagram
allowing a smaller momentum transfer in the nucleon center of mass. An
important contribution arises from the principal-value part of the integrals
which is non-zero when form factors are included. It seems that the importance
of the exchange of color singlets may extend higher in energy than expected
Struggling and juggling: a comparison of assessment loads in research and teaching-intensive universities
In spite of the rising tide of metrics in UK higher education, there has been scant attention paid to assessment loads, when evidence demonstrates that heavy demands lead to surface learning. Our study seeks to redress the situation by defining assessment loads and comparing them across research-and teaching intensive universities. We clarify the concept of ‘assessment load’ in response to findings about high volumes of summative assessment on modular degrees. We define assessment load across whole undergraduate degrees, according to four measures: the volume of summative assessment; volume of formative assessment; proportion of examinations to coursework; number of different varieties of assessment. All four factors contribute to the weight of an assessment load, and influence students’ approaches to learning. Our research compares programme assessment data from 73 programmes in 14 UK universities, across two institutional categories. Research-intensives have higher summative assessment loads and a greater proportion of examinations; teaching-intensives have higher varieties of assessment. Formative assessment does not differ significantly across both university groups. These findings pose particular challenges for students in different parts of the sector. Our study questions the wisdom that ‘more’ is always better, proposing that lighter assessment loads may make room for ‘slow’ and deep learning
Cavity spin optodynamics
The dynamics of a large quantum spin coupled parametrically to an optical
resonator is treated in analogy with the motion of a cantilever in cavity
optomechanics. New spin optodynamic phenonmena are predicted, such as
cavity-spin bistability, optodynamic spin-precession frequency shifts, coherent
amplification and damping of spin, and the spin optodynamic squeezing of light.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Editorial : environmental governance of urban and regional development – scales and sectors, conflict and cooperation
Recent years have continued to see a concern for the detrimental environmental impacts of human economic activities particularly in the form of enhanced global warming, sea level rise, land degradation and deforestation. Although it can be argued that economic development and growth remain the priority for governments at a variety of spatial scales or levels, these same governments also express a desire through a growing number of policy initiatives to make such development more sustainable and environmentally-friendly. A growing interest amongst policy makers has been in identifying the ways in which environmental protection measures can be made complementary to economic development aims. Rather than seeing the environment and the economy in opposition, there has been a focus on the growth potential from developing a green or low-carbon economy (OECD, 2011). At the urban and regional scale governments have increasingly begun to try and position themselves as destinations for new forms of green economy investments as a source of a new round of capital accumulation (GIBBS and O’NEILL, 2014). In total then, questions around the environment, climate change and sustainability look set to grow in importance for decision makers in cities and regions
Convex Functions and Spacetime Geometry
Convexity and convex functions play an important role in theoretical physics.
To initiate a study of the possible uses of convex functions in General
Relativity, we discuss the consequences of a spacetime or an
initial data set admitting a suitably defined convex
function. We show how the existence of a convex function on a spacetime places
restrictions on the properties of the spacetime geometry.Comment: 26 pages, latex, 7 figures, improved version. some claims removed,
references adde
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