16,079 research outputs found
The Peculiar Velocities of Local Type Ia Supernovae and their Impact on Cosmology
We quantify the effect of supernova Type Ia peculiar velocities on the
derivation of cosmological parameters. The published distant and local Ia SNe
used for the Supernova Legacy Survey first-year cosmology report form the
sample for this study. While previous work has assumed that the local SNe are
at rest in the CMB frame (the No Flow assumption), we test this assumption by
applying peculiar velocity corrections to the local SNe using three different
flow models. The models are based on the IRAS PSCz galaxy redshift survey, have
varying beta = Omega_m^0.6/b, and reproduce the Local Group motion in the CMB
frame. These datasets are then fit for w, Omega_m, and Omega_Lambda using
flatness or LambdaCDM and a BAO prior. The chi^2 statistic is used to examine
the effect of the velocity corrections on the quality of the fits. The most
favored model is the beta=0.5 model, which produces a fit significantly better
than the No Flow assumption, consistent with previous peculiar velocity
studies. By comparing the No Flow assumption with the favored models we derive
the largest potential systematic error in w caused by ignoring peculiar
velocities to be Delta w = +0.04. For Omega_Lambda, the potential error is
Delta Omega_Lambda = -0.04 and for Omega_m, the potential error is Delta
Omega_m < +0.01. The favored flow model (beta=0.5) produces the following
cosmological parameters: w = -1.08 (+0.09,-0.08), Omega_m = 0.27 (+0.02,-0.02)
assuming a flat cosmology, and Omega_Lambda = 0.80 (+0.08,-0.07) and Omega_m =
0.27 (+0.02,-0.02) for a w = -1 (LambdaCDM) cosmology.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
DEL British Dashboard October 2020
Overall, the profile of public engagement with development has not changed significantly since June 2020. Changes in overall engagement between June and October with the 10 actions DEL tracks are small and/or insignificant
Galaxy Distances in the Nearby Universe: Corrections For Peculiar Motions
By correcting the redshift--dependent distances for peculiar motions through
a number of peculiar velocity field models, we recover the true distances of a
wide, all-sky sample of nearby galaxies (~ 6400 galaxies with velocities
cz<5500 km/s), which is complete up to the blue magnitude B=14 mag. Relying on
catalogs of galaxy groups, we treat ~2700 objects as members of galaxy groups
and the remaining objects as field galaxies.
We model the peculiar velocity field using: i) a cluster dipole
reconstruction scheme; ii) a multi--attractor model fitted to the Mark II and
Mark III catalogs of galaxy peculiar velocities. According to Mark III data the
Great Attractor has a smaller influence on local dynamics than previously
believed, whereas the Perseus-Pisces and Shapley superclusters acquire a
specific dynamical role. Remarkably, the Shapley structure, which is found to
account for nearly half the peculiar motion of the Local Group, is placed by
Mark III data closer to the zone of avoidance with respect to its optical
position.
Our multi--attractor model based on Mark III data favors a cosmological
density parameter Omega ~ 0.5 (irrespective of a biasing factor of order
unity). Differences among distance estimates are less pronounced in the ~ 2000
- 4000 km/s distance range than at larger or smaller distances. In the last
regions these differences have a serious impact on the 3D maps of the galaxy
distribution and on the local galaxy density --- on small scales.Comment: 24 pages including (9 eps figures and 7 tables). Figures 1,2,3,4 are
available only upon request. Accepted by Ap
Nodal Quasiparticle Lifetimes in Cuprate Superconductors
A new generation of angular-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES)
measurements on the cuprate superconductors offer the promise of enhanced
momentum and energy resolution. In particular, the energy and temperature
dependence of the on-shell nodal (k_x=k_y) quasiparticle scattering rate can be
studied. In the superconducting state, low temperature transport measurements
suggest that one can describe nodal quasiparticles within the framework of a
BCS d-wave model by including forward elastic scattering and spin-fluctuation
inelastic scattering. Here, using this model, we calculate the temperature and
frequency dependence of the on-shell nodal quasiparticle scattering rate in the
superconducting state which determines the momentum width of the ARPES momentum
distribution curves. For a zero-energy quasiparticle at the nodal momentum k_N,
both the elastic and inelastic scattering rate show a sudden decrease as the
temperature drops below Tc, reflecting the onset of the gap amplitude. At low
temperatures the scattering rate decreases as T^3 and approaches a zero
temperature value determined by the elastic impurity scattering. For T>T_c, we
find a quasilinear dependence on T. At low reduced temperatures, the elastic
scattering rate for the nodal quasiparticles exhibits a quasilinear increase at
low energy which arises from elastic scattering processes. The inelastic
spin-fluctuation scattering leads to a low energy omega^3 dependence which, for
omega>~Delta_0, crosses over to a quasilinear behavior.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, minor revision
A Populist Paradox? How Brexit Softened Anti-Immigration Attitudes
Recent political contests across Europe and North America have been propelled by a wave of populist, anti-immigrant resentment, and it was widely expected that these populist victories would further fan the flames of xenophobia. We implemented an experimental design around the Brexit referendum to test how populist victories shape anti-immigrant attitudes. We find that anti-immigrant attitudes actually softened after the Brexit referendum, among both Leave and Remain supporters, and these effects persisted for several months. How could a right- wing, populist victory soften anti-immigrant attitudes? We use causal mediation analysis to understand this ‘populist paradox.’ Among Leavers, a greater sense of control over immigration channelled the effects of the Brexit outcome onto anti-immigrant attitudes. But it is individuals’ efforts to distance themselves from accusations of xenophobia and racism that explains why we see a softening of attitudes towards immigration among both Leavers and Remainers
Recertification of the air and methane storage vessels at the Langley 8-foot high-temperature structures tunnel
This center operates a number of sophisticated wind tunnels in order to fulfill the needs of its researchers. Compressed air, which is kept in steel storage vessels, is used to power many of these tunnels. Some of these vessels have been in use for many years, and Langley is currently recertifying these vessels to insure their continued structural integrity. One of the first facilities to be recertified under this program was the Langley 8-foot high-temperature structures tunnel. This recertification involved (1) modification, hydrotesting, and inspection of the vessels; (2) repair of all relevant defects; (3) comparison of the original design of the vessel with the current design criteria of Section 8, Division 2, of the 1974 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code; (4) fracture-mechanics, thermal, and wind-induced vibration analyses of the vessels; and (5) development of operating envelopes and a future inspection plan for the vessels. Following these modifications, analyses, and tests, the vessels were recertified for operation at full design pressure (41.4 MPa (6000 psi)) within the operating envelope developed
A robust floating nanoammeter
A circuit capable of measuring nanoampere currents while floating at voltages
up to at least 25kV is described. The circuit relays its output to ground
potential via an optical fiber. We particularly emphasize the design and
construction techniques which allow robust operation in the presence of high
voltage spikes and discharges.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure
Bridging k- and q- Space in the Cuprates: Comparing ARPES and STM Results
A critical comparison is made between the ARPES-derived spectral function and
STM studies of Friedel-like oscillations in Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+delta} (Bi2212).
The data can be made approximately consistent, provided that (a) the elastic
scattering seen in ARPES is predominantly small-angle scattering and (b) the
`peak' feature seen in ARPES is really a dispersive `bright spot', smeared into
a line by limited energy resolution; these are the `bright spots' which control
the quasiparticle interferences. However, there is no indication of bilayer
splitting in the STM data.Comment: 6 eps figures, revte
Prospects for the measurement of the electron electric dipole moment using YbF
We discuss an experiment underway at Imperial College London to measure the
permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of the electron using a molecular beam
of YbF. We describe the measurement method, which uses a combination of laser
and radiofrequency resonance techniques to detect the spin precession of the
YbF molecule in a strong electric field. We pay particular attention to the
analysis scheme and explore some of the possible systematic effects which might
mimic the EDM signal. Finally, we describe technical improvements which should
increase the sensitivity by more than an order of magnitude over the current
experimental limit.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure
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