2,686 research outputs found
Second-harmonic generation in vortex-induced waveguides
We study the second-harmonic generation and localization of light in a
reconfigurable waveguide induced by an optical vortex soliton in a defocusing
Kerr medium. We show that the vortex-induced waveguide greatly improves
conversion efficiency from the fundamental to the second harmonic field.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Optics Letter
An Inquiry into the Practice of Proving in Low-Dimensional Topology
The aim of this article is to investigate specific aspects connected with visualization in the practice of a mathematical subfield: low-dimensional topology. Through a case study, it will be established that visualization can play an epistemic role. The background assumption is that the consideration of the actual practice of mathematics is relevant to address epistemological issues. It will be shown that in low-dimensional topology, justifications can be based on sequences of pictures. Three theses will be defended. First, the representations used in the practice are an integral part of the mathematical reasoning. As a matter of fact, they convey in a material form the relevant transitions and thus allow experts to draw inferential connections. Second, in low-dimensional topology experts exploit a particular type of manipulative imagination which is connected to intuition of two- and three-dimensional space and motor agency. This imagination allows recognizing the transformations which connect different pictures in an argument. Third, the epistemic—and inferential—actions performed are permissible only within a specific practice: this form of reasoning is subject-matter dependent. Local criteria of validity are established to assure the soundness of representationally heterogeneous arguments in low-dimensional topology
A polynomial bound for untangling geometric planar graphs
To untangle a geometric graph means to move some of the vertices so that the
resulting geometric graph has no crossings. Pach and Tardos [Discrete Comput.
Geom., 2002] asked if every n-vertex geometric planar graph can be untangled
while keeping at least n^\epsilon vertices fixed. We answer this question in
the affirmative with \epsilon=1/4. The previous best known bound was
\Omega((\log n / \log\log n)^{1/2}). We also consider untangling geometric
trees. It is known that every n-vertex geometric tree can be untangled while
keeping at least (n/3)^{1/2} vertices fixed, while the best upper bound was
O(n\log n)^{2/3}. We answer a question of Spillner and Wolff [arXiv:0709.0170
2007] by closing this gap for untangling trees. In particular, we show that for
infinitely many values of n, there is an n-vertex geometric tree that cannot be
untangled while keeping more than 3(n^{1/2}-1) vertices fixed. Moreover, we
improve the lower bound to (n/2)^{1/2}.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure
Magnetic Field Effects on Neutron Diffraction in the Antiferromagnetic Phase of
We discuss possible magnetic structures in UPt based on our analysis of
elastic neutron-scattering experiments in high magnetic fields at temperatures
. The existing experimental data can be explained by a single-{\bf q}
antiferromagnetic structure with three independent domains. For modest in-plane
spin-orbit interactions, the Zeeman coupling between the antiferromagnetic
order parameter and the magnetic field induces a rotation of the magnetic
moments, but not an adjustment of the propagation vector of the magnetic order.
A triple-{\bf q} magnetic structure is also consistent with neutron
experiments, but in general leads to a non-uniform magnetization in the
crystal. New experiments could decide between these structures.Comment: 5 figures included in the tex
Competition between decay and dissociation of core-excited OCS studied by X-ray scattering
We show the first evidence of dissociation during resonant inelastic soft
X-ray scattering. Carbon and oxygen K-shell and sulfur L-shell resonant and
non-resonant X-ray emission spectra were measured using monochromatic
synchrotron radiation for excitation and ionization. After sulfur, L2,3 ->
{\pi}*, {\sigma}* excitation, atomic lines are observed in the emission spectra
as a consequence of competition between de-excitation and dissociation. In
contrast the carbon and oxygen spectra show weaker line shape variations and no
atomic lines. The spectra are compared to results from ab initio calculations
and the discussion of the dissociation paths is based on calculated potential
energy surfaces and atomic transition energies.Comment: 12 pages, 6 pictures, 2 tables,
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.59.428
Magnetoelastic effects in Jahn-Teller distorted CrF and CuF studied by neutron powder diffraction
We have studied the temperature dependence of crystal and magnetic structures
of the Jahn-Teller distorted transition metal difluorides CrF and CuF
by neutron powder diffraction in the temperature range 2-280 K. The lattice
parameters and the unit cell volume show magnetoelastic effects below the
N\'eel temperature. The lattice strain due to the magnetostriction effect
couples with the square of the order parameter of the antiferromagnetic phase
transition. We also investigated the temperature dependence of the Jahn-Teller
distortion which does not show any significant effect at the antiferromagnetic
phase transition but increases linearly with increasing temperature for CrF
and remains almost independent of temperature in CuF. The magnitude of
magnetovolume effect seems to increase with the low temperature saturated
magnetic moment of the transition metal ions but the correlation is not at all
perfect
Studying complex interventions : reflections from the FEMHealth project on evaluating fee exemption policies in West Africa and Morocco
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Third order dielectric susceptibility in a model quantum paraelectric
In the context of perovskite quantum paraelectrics, we study the effects of a
quadrupolar interaction , in addition to the standard dipolar one .
We concentrate here on the nonlinear dielectric response , as
the main response function sensitive to quadrupolar (in our case
antiquadrupolar) interactions. We employ a 3D quantum four-state lattice model
and mean-field theory. The results show that inclusion of quadrupolar coupling
of moderate strength () is clearly accompanied by a
double change of sign of from negative to positive, near the
quantum temperature where the quantum paraelectric behaviour sets in. We
fit our to recent experimental data for SrTiO, where the
sign change is identified close to .Comment: 22 page
Stronger diversity effects with increased environmental stress : a study of multitrophic interactions between oak, powdery mildew and ladybirds
Recent research has suggested that increasing neighbourhood tree species diversity may mitigate the impact of pests or pathogens by supporting the activities of their natural enemies and/or reducing the density of available hosts. In this study, we attempted to assess these mechanisms in a multitrophic study system of young oak (Quercus), oak powdery mildew (PM, caused by Erysiphe spp.) and a mycophagous ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduo-punctata). We assessed ladybird mycophagy on oak PM in function of different neighbourhood tree species compositions. We also evaluated whether these species interactions were modulated by environmental conditions as suggested by the Stress Gradient Hypothesis. We adopted a complementary approach of a field experiment where we monitored oak saplings subjected to a reduced rainfall gradient in a young planted forest consisting of different tree species mixtures, as well as a lab experiment where we independently evaluated the effect of different watering treatments on PM infections and ladybird mycophagy. In the field experiment, we found effects of neighbourhood tree species richness on ladybird mycophagy becoming more positive as the target trees received less water. This effect was only found as weather conditions grew drier. In the lab experiment, we found a preference of ladybirds to graze on infected leaves from trees that received less water. We discuss potential mechanisms that might explain this preference, such as emissions of volatile leaf chemicals. Our results are in line with the expectations of the Natural Enemies Hypothesis and support the hypothesis that biodiversity effects become stronger with increased environmental stress
Let's Make Love: Whiteness, Cleanliness and Sexuality in the French Reception of Marilyn Monroe
Copyright © by SAGE PublicationsRichard Dyer’s seminal work on whiteness in film considers Marilyn Monroe as the epitome of an institutionally racist Hollywood system that imagines the most desirable woman to be blonde, given that blondeness is understood as a guarantee of whiteness. This article adds to other recent scholarship on Monroe that has sought to complicate this reading by examining other meanings that can be attributed to her bleached blonde hair. By closely analyzing media texts that discussed Monroe in 1950s France, this article demonstrates the way in which her performance of ideal American female sexuality was read through the prism of Monroe as icon of cleanliness and (linked) modernity. It examines the way in which Monroe’s modernity allowed her to partially escape the traditional feminine private sphere and it concludes that Monroe’s bleached blonde hair can be seen in this context as having liberatory potential
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