12,449 research outputs found
Integrated problem solving environment: the SCIRun computational steering system
Journal ArticleSCIRun is a scientific programming environment that allows the interactive construction, debugging, and steering of large-scale scientific computations. We review related systems and introduce a taxonomy that explores different computational steering solutions, Considering these approaches, we discuss why a tightly integrated problem solving environment, such as SCIRun, simplifies the design and debugging phases of computational science applications and how such an environment aids in the scientific discovery process
Feasibility study of an Integrated Program for Aerospace vehicle Design (IPAD). Volume 1A: Summary
IPAD was defined as a total system oriented to the product design process. This total system was designed to recognize the product design process, individuals and their design process tasks, and the computer-based IPAD System to aid product design. Principal elements of the IPAD System include the host computer and its interactive system software, new executive and data management software, and an open-ended IPAD library of technical programs to match the intended product design process. The basic goal of the IPAD total system is to increase the productivity of the product design organization. Increases in individual productivity were feasible through automation and computer support of routine information handling. Such proven automation can directly decrease cost and flowtime in the product design process
A Two-Fluid Thermally-Stable Cooling Flow Model
A new model for cooling flows in X-ray clusters, capable of naturally
explaining salient features observed, is proposed. The only requirement is that
a significant relativistic component, in the form of cosmic rays (CR), be
present in the intra-cluster medium and significantly frozen to the thermal
gas. Such an addition qualitatively alters the conventional isobaric thermal
instability criterion such that a fluid parcel becomes thermally stable when
its thermal pressure drops below a threshold fraction of its CR pressure.
Consequently, the lowest possible temperature at any radius is about one third
of the ambient temperature {\it at that radius}, exactly as observed, In
addition, we suggest that dissipation of internal gravity waves, excited by
radial oscillatory motions of inward drifting cooling clouds about their radial
equilibrium positions, may be responsible for heating up cooling gas. With the
ultimate energy source for powering the cooling X-ray luminosity and heating up
cooling gas being gravitational due to inward drifting cooling clouds as well
as the general inward flow, heating is spatially distributed and energetically
matched with cooling. One desirable property of this heating mechanism is that
heating energy is strongly centrally concentrated, providing the required
heating for emission-line nebulae.Comment: 13 pages, submitted to ApJ
Shell structure and electron-electron interaction in self-assembled InAs quantum dots
Using far-infrared spectroscopy, we investigate the excitations of
self-organized InAs quantum dots as a function of the electron number per dot,
1<n<6, which is monitored in situ by capacitance spectroscopy. Whereas the
well-known two-mode spectrum is observed when the lowest s - states are filled,
we find a rich excitation spectrum for n=3, which reflects the importance of
electron-electron interaction in the present, strongly non-parabolic confining
potential. From capacitance spectroscopy we find that the electronic shell
structure in our dots gives rise to a distinct pattern in the charging energies
which strongly deviates from the monotonic behavior of the Coulomb blockade
found in mesoscopic or metallic structures.Comment: 4 pages, 3 PostScript figure
Scaling and Universality in City Space Syntax: between Zipf and Matthew
We report about universality of rank-integration distributions of open spaces
in city space syntax similar to the famous rank-size distributions of cities
(Zipf's law). We also demonstrate that the degree of choice an open space
represents for other spaces directly linked to it in a city follows a power law
statistic. Universal statistical behavior of space syntax measures uncovers the
universality of the city creation mechanism. We suggest that the observed
universality may help to establish the international definition of a city as a
specific land use pattern.Comment: 24 pages, 5 *.eps figure
Genetic Progress From 50 Years of Smooth Bromegrass Breeding
Since its introduction from Eurasia, smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) has become an important cool-season forage grass in North America. The objective of this study was to document breeding progress in smooth bromegrass between 1942 and 1995 in North America. Thirty cultivars or experimental populations were tested at up to seven sites in the eastern and central USA, with a range of soil types and climates. There have been small genetic changes in forage yield, brown leafspot resistance [caused by Pyrenophora bromi (Died) Drechs.], in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration. Brown leafspot resistance increased gradually, averaging 0.21 units decade(-1). Mean forage yield did not change for cultivars developed after 1942, but was 0.54 Mg ha(-1) (7.2%) higher for the post-1942 group than in \u27Lincoln\u27, a direct representative of smooth bromegrass introduced into North America. Selection for increased IVDMD led to an average increase in IVDMD of 9 g kg(-1) (1.4%), an increase in forage yield of 0.33 Mg ha(-1) (5.0%), and a decrease in NDF of -8 g kg(-1) (-1.2%) in the post-1942 group. The slow rate of progress for smooth bromegrass forage yield is due to its complex polypoid inheritance, emphasis on traits other than forage yield, and relatively little concentrated attention from public and private breeders
Latitudinal and Longitudinal Adaptation of Smooth Bromegrass Populations
Breeding progress has been slow in smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss) since its introduction to North America. Much of the variability among cultivars appears to have arisen by natural selection and adaptive responses. The objective of this study was to determine if smooth bromegrass cultivars differ in latitudinal or longitudinal adaptation, as measured by forage yield, and if that variability relates to their breeding or selection history. The target region was defined as the Great Plains to the East Coast of the USA, from 38 to 47 degrees N latitude. Twenty-nine cultivars and experimental populations were evaluated for forage yield at up to seven locations ranging from central to eastern USA. Populations were classified according to pooled population main effect and population x location interaction effect (G + GL deviations). Cluster analysis resulted in eight clusters that explained 90% of the variation among G + GL deviations. One cluster consisted of populations average in adaptation, four clusters consisted of populations that were largely unadapted across the entire region, and three clusters consisted of populations that were specifically adapted to the entire region or a large part thereof. Much of the grouping and adaptation characteristics could be explained by similar pedigrees, selection history, and selection location. However, the phenotypic similarity of some superior, but divergent-pedigree populations suggested that alleles for high and stable forage yield in smooth bromegrass probably exist in numerous germplasm sources. Despite a history of little to no gains in forage yield, these results suggest unrealized potential for future improvement of forage yield of smooth bromegrass across a broad geographic region
Outer boundary conditions for evolving cool white dwarfs
White dwarf evolution is essentially a gravothermal cooling process,
which,for cool white dwarfs, sensitively depends on the treatment of the outer
boundary conditions. We provide detailed outer boundary conditions appropriate
for computing the evolution of cool white dwarfs employing detailed non-gray
model atmospheres for pure H composition. We also explore the impact on the
white dwarf cooling times of different assumptions for energy transfer in the
atmosphere of cool white dwarfs. Detailed non-gray model atmospheres are
computed taken into account non-ideal effects in the gas equation of state and
chemical equilibrium, collision-induced absorption from molecules, and the
Lyman alpha quasi-molecular opacity. Our results show that the use of detailed
outer boundary conditions becomes relevant for effective temperatures lower
than 5800 and 6100K for sequences with 0.60 and 0.90 M_sun, respectively.
Detailed model atmospheres predict ages that are up to approx 10% shorter at
log L/L_sun=-4 when compared with the ages derived using Eddington-like
approximations at tau_Ross=2/3. We also analyze the effects of various
assumptions and physical processes of relevance in the calculation of outer
boundary conditions. In particular, we find that the Ly_alpha red wing
absorption does not affect substantially the evolution of white dwarfs. White
dwarf cooling timescales are sensitive to the surface boundary conditions for
T_eff < 6000K. Interestingly enough, non-gray effects have little consequences
on these cooling times at observable luminosities. In fact, collision-induced
absorption processes, which significantly affect the spectra and colors of old
white dwarfs with hydrogen-rich atmospheres, have not noticeable effects in
their cooling rates, except throughout the Rosseland mean opacity.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figures, to be published in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Gravitational Radiation from Intermediate-Mass Black Holes
Recent X-ray observations of galaxies with ROSAT, ASCA, and Chandra have
revealed numerous bright off-center point sources which, if isotropic emitters,
are likely to be intermediate-mass black holes, with hundreds to thousands of
solar masses. The origin of these objects is under debate, but observations
suggest that a significant number of them currently reside in young
high-density stellar clusters. There is also growing evidence that some
Galactic globular clusters harbor black holes of similar mass, from
observations of stellar kinematics. In such high-density stellar environments,
the interactions of intermediate-mass black holes are promising sources of
gravitational waves for ground-based and space-based detectors. Here we explore
the signal strengths of binaries containing intermediate-mass black holes or
stellar-mass black holes in dense stellar clusters. We estimate that a few to
tens per year of these objects will be detectable during the last phase of
their inspiral with the advanced LIGO detector, and up to tens per year will be
seen during merger, depending on the spins of the black holes. We also find
that if these objects reside in globular clusters then tens of sources will be
detectable with LISA from the Galactic globular system in a five year
integration, and similar numbers will be detectable from more distant galaxies.
The signal strength depends on the eccentricity distribution, but we show that
there is promise for strong detection of pericenter precession and
Lense-Thirring precession of the orbital plane. We conclude by discussing what
could be learned about binaries, dense stellar systems, and strong gravity if
such signals are detected.Comment: Minor changes, accepted by ApJ (December 10, 2002
The multiple planets transiting Kepler-9 I. Inferring stellar properties and planetary compositions
The discovery of multiple transiting planetary systems offers new
possibilities for characterising exoplanets and understanding their formation.
The Kepler-9 system contains two Saturn-mass planets, Kepler-9b and 9c. Using
evolution models of gas giants that reproduce the sizes of known transiting
planets and accounting for all sources of uncertainties, we show that Kepler-9b
(respectively 9c) contains \,\mearth\ (resp.
\,\mearth) of hydrogen and helium and \,\mearth
(resp. \,\mearth) of heavy elements. More accurate constraints
are obtained when comparing planets 9b and 9c: the ratio of the total mass
fractions of heavy elements are , indicating
that, although the masses of the planets differ, their global composition is
very similar, an unexpected result for formation models. Using evolution models
for super-Earths, we find that Kepler-9d must contain less than 0.1% of its
mass in hydrogen and helium and predict a mostly rocky structure with a total
mass between 4 and 16\,\mearth.Comment: 5 pages + 7 pages of online material ; revised article submitted to
A\&A and accepted on March 3
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