9,229 research outputs found
Optical and X-ray Studies of Ten X-ray Selected Cataclysmic Binaries
We report on ground-based optical observations of ten cataclysmic binaries
that were discovered through their X-ray emission. Time-resolved radial
velocity spectroscopy yields unambiguous orbital periods for eight objects and
ambiguous results for the remaining two. The orbital periods range from 87 min
to 9.38 hr. We also obtained time-series optical photometry for six targets,
four of which have coherent pulsations. These periods are 1218 s for 1RXS
J045707.4+452751, 628 s for AX J1740.2-2903, 477 s for AX J1853.3-0128, and 935
s for IGR J19267+1325. A total of seven of the sources have coherent
oscillations in X-rays or optical, indicating that they are intermediate polars
(DQ Herculis stars). Time-resolved spectroscopy of one object, Swift
J2218.4+1925, shows that it is an AM Herculis star, or polar, and IGR
J19552+0044 may also be in that class. For another object, Swift J0476.2-1611,
we find an orbital period of 9.384 hr and detect the spectrum of the secondary
star. The secondary's spectral contribution implies a distance of 900 (+190,
-150) pc, where the error bars are estimated using a Monte Carlo technique to
account for correlated uncertainties.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. 38 pages, 16
figures Revised to include a correct finding chart for RX J0457+4
On the Fixed-Point Structure of Scalar Fields
In a recent Letter (K.Halpern and K.Huang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 74 (1995) 3526),
certain properties of the Local Potential Approximation (LPA) to the Wilson
renormalization group were uncovered, which led the authors to conclude that
dimensional scalar field theories endowed with {\sl non-polynomial}
interactions allow for a continuum of renormalization group fixed points, and
that around the Gaussian fixed point, asymptotically free interactions exist.
If true, this could herald very important new physics, particularly for the
Higgs sector of the Standard Model. Continuing work in support of these ideas,
has motivated us to point out that we previously studied the same properties
and showed that they lead to very different conclusions. Indeed, in as much as
the statements in hep-th/9406199 are correct, they point to some deep and
beautiful facts about the LPA and its generalisations, but however no new
physics.Comment: Typos corrected. A Comment - to be published in Phys. Rev. Lett. 1
page, 1 eps figure, uses LaTeX, RevTex and eps
Two Large Examples in Orbifold Theory: Abelian Orbifolds and the Charge Conjugation Orbifold on su(n)
Recently the operator algebra and twisted vertex operator equations were
given for each sector of all WZW orbifolds, and a set of twisted KZ equations
for the WZW permutation orbifolds were worked out as a large example. In this
companion paper we report two further large examples of this development. In
the first example we solve the twisted vertex operator equations in an abelian
limit to obtain the twisted vertex operators and correlators of a large class
of abelian orbifolds. In the second example, the twisted vertex operator
equations are applied to obtain a set of twisted KZ equations for the
(outer-automorphic) charge conjugation orbifold on su(n \geq 3).Comment: 58 pages, v2: three minor typo
Anonymity and Information Hiding in Multiagent Systems
We provide a framework for reasoning about information-hiding requirements in
multiagent systems and for reasoning about anonymity in particular. Our
framework employs the modal logic of knowledge within the context of the runs
and systems framework, much in the spirit of our earlier work on secrecy
[Halpern and O'Neill 2002]. We give several definitions of anonymity with
respect to agents, actions, and observers in multiagent systems, and we relate
our definitions of anonymity to other definitions of information hiding, such
as secrecy. We also give probabilistic definitions of anonymity that are able
to quantify an observer s uncertainty about the state of the system. Finally,
we relate our definitions of anonymity to other formalizations of anonymity and
information hiding, including definitions of anonymity in the process algebra
CSP and definitions of information hiding using function views.Comment: Replacement. 36 pages. Full version of CSFW '03 paper, submitted to
JCS. Made substantial changes to Section 6; added references throughou
Computations in Large N Matrix Mechanics
The algebraic formulation of Large N matrix mechanics recently developed by
Halpern and Schwartz leads to a practical method of numerical computation for
both action and Hamiltonian problems. The new technique posits a boundary
condition on the planar connected parts X_w, namely that they should decrease
rapidly with increasing order. This leads to algebraic/variational schemes of
computation which show remarkably rapid convergence in numerical tests on some
many- matrix models. The method allows the calculation of all moments of the
ground state, in a sequence of approximations, and excited states can be
determined as well. There are two unexpected findings: a large d expansion and
a new selection rule for certain types of interaction.Comment: 27 page
Precise Timing of the X-ray Pulsar 1E 1207.4-5209: A Steady Neutron Star Weakly Magnetized at Birth
We analyze all X-ray timing data on 1E 1207.4-5209 in supernova remnant PKS
1209-51/52 gathered in 2000-2005, and find a highly stable rotation with
P=424.130451(4) ms and period derivative of (9.6 +/- 9.4)E-17 s/s. This refutes
previous claims of large timing irregularities in these data. In the dipole
spin-down formalism, the 2-sigma upper limit on period derivative implies an
energy loss rate < 1.5E32 ergs/s, surface magnetic field strength B_p < 3.5E11
G, and characteristic age tau > 24 Myr. This tau exceeds the remnant age by 3
orders of magnitude, requiring that the pulsar was born spinning at its present
period. The X-ray luminosity of 1E 1207.4-5209, L(bol) ~= 2E33 ergs/s at 2 kpc,
exceeds its spin-down energy loss, implying that L(bol) derives from residual
cooling, and perhaps partly from accretion of supernova debris. The upper limit
on B_p is small enough to favor the electron cyclotron model for at least one
of the prominent absorption lines in its soft X-ray spectrum. This is the
second demonstrable case of a pulsar born spinning slowly and with a weak
B-field, after PSR J1852+0040 in Kesteven 79.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure, Latex, emulateapj style. Submitted to ApJ Letter
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