On double Hurwitz numbers in genus 0

We study double Hurwitz numbers in genus zero counting the number of covers \CP^1\to\CP^1 with two branching points with a given branching behavior. By the recent result due to Goulden, Jackson and Vakil, these numbers are piecewise polynomials in the multiplicities of the preimages of the branching points. We describe the partition of the parameter space into polynomiality domains, called chambers, and provide an expression for the difference of two such polynomials for two neighboring chambers. Besides, we provide an explicit formula for the polynomial in a certain chamber called totally negative, which enables us to calculate double Hurwitz numbers in any given chamber as the polynomial for the totally negative chamber plus the sum of the differences between the neighboring polynomials along a path connecting the totally negative chamber with the given one.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure

Uniform cross phase modulation for nonclassical radiation pulses

We propose a scheme to achieve a uniform cross phase modulation (XPM) for two nonclassical light pulses and study its application for quantum non-demolition measurements of the photon number in a pulse and for controlled phase gates in quantum information. We analyze the scheme by quantizing a common phenomenological model for classical XPM. Our analysis first treats the ideal case of equal cross-phase modulation and pure unitary dynamics. This establishes the groundwork for more complicated studies of non-unitary dynamics and difference in phase shifts between the two pulses where decohering effects severely affect the performance of the scheme.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. To appear in J. Opt. Soc. Am.

Impact hazard protection efficiency by a small kinetic impactor

In this paper the ability of a small kinetic impactor spacecraft to mitigate an Earth-threatening asteroid is assessed by means of a novel measure of efficiency. This measure estimates the probability of a space system to deflect a single randomly-generated Earth-impacting object to a safe distance from the Earth. This represents a measure of efficiency that is not biased by the orbital parameters of a test-case object. A vast number of virtual Earth-impacting scenarios are investigated by homogenously distributing in orbital space a grid of 17,518 Earth impacting trajectories. The relative frequency of each trajectory is estimated by means Opik’s theory and Bottke’s near Earth objects model. A design of the entire mitigation mission is performed and the largest deflected asteroid computed for each impacting trajectory. The minimum detectable asteroid can also be estimated by an asteroid survey model. The results show that current technology would likely suffice against discovered airburst and local damage threats, whereas larger space systems would be necessary to reliably tackle impact hazard from larger threats. For example, it is shown that only 1,000 kg kinetic impactor would suffice to mitigate the impact threat of 27.1% of objects posing similar threat than that posed by Apophis

Phonological Working Memory in Aphasia

Current literature supports specialized working memory (WM) capacities that handle distinct types of linguistic information. Previously, a task was developed by Wright et al. (2007) to measure phonological WM by manipulating the stimulus type in people with aphasia. The study explored the relationship between phonological WM, as measured by PhonoBack, and auditory comprehension of phonologically demanding sentences in people with conduction aphasia. Preliminary results suggest that PhonoBack is able to detect phonological WM deficits in participants with aphasia. Clinical and theoretical implications of the results will be discussed in detail

Direct transition from a disordered to a multiferroic phase on a triangular lattice

Competing interactions and geometric frustration provide favourable conditions for exotic states of matter. Such competition often causes multiple phase transitions as a function of temperature and can lead to magnetic structures that break inversion symmetry, thereby inducing ferroelectricity [1-4]. Although this phenomenon is understood phenomenologically [3-4], it is of great interest to have a conceptually simpler system in which ferroelectricity appears coincident with a single magnetic phase transition. Here we report the first such direct transition from a paramagnetic and paraelectric phase to an incommensurate multiferroic in the triangular lattice antiferromagnet RbFe(MoO4)2 (RFMO). A magnetic field extinguishes the electric polarization when the symmetry of the magnetic order changes and ferroelectricity is only observed when the magnetic structure has chirality and breaks inversion symmetry. Multiferroic behaviour in RFMO provides a theoretically tractable example of ferroelectricity from competing spin interactions. A Landau expansion of symmetry-allowed terms in the free energy demonstrates that the chiral magnetic order of the triangular lattice antiferromagnet gives rise to a pseudoelectric field, whose temperature dependence agrees with that observed experimentally.Comment: 16 pages pdf including 3 figure

Coherence as ultrashort pulse train generator

Intense, well-controlled regular light pulse trains start to play a crucial role in many fields of physics. We theoretically demonstrate a very simple and robust technique for generating such periodic ultrashort pulses from a continuous probe wave which propagates in a dispersive thermal gas media

The first gigayear of bulge star formation in Virgo ellipticals: constraints from their globular cluster systems

Data products from the Advanced Camera for Surveys Virgo Cluster Survey are used to understand the bulge star formation history in early-type galaxies at redshifts z > 2. A new technique is developed whereby observed high-redshift age-metallicity relationships are utilized to constrain the typical formation epochs of metal-rich or "bulge" globular clusters. This analysis supports a model where massive Virgo galaxies underwent an extremely intense mode of bulge globular cluster formation at z ~ 3.5 that was followed by an era of significant bulge growth and little globular cluster production. Intermediate-mass galaxies showed a less-intense period of globular cluster formation at z ~ 2.5 that was synchronized with the bulk of bulge star growth. The transition between the massive and intermediate-mass galaxy star formation modes occurs at a galaxy stellar mass of M_stellar ~ 3 x 10^10 M_sun, the mass where many other galaxy properties are observed to change. Dwarf early-type galaxies in Virgo may have experienced no significant period of bulge globular cluster formation, thus the intense star bursts associated with globular cluster formation may be difficult to directly observe at redshifts z < 4. Though the above conclusions are preliminary because they are based upon uncertain relationships between age and metallicity, the technique employed will yield more stringent constraints as high-redshift galaxy observations and theoretical models improve.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS. 9 pages text. 6 figures

Physiological Profile of Male Competitive and Recreational Surfers

Surfing consists of both high- and low-intensity paddling of varying durations, using both the aerobic and anaerobic systems. Surf-specific physiological studies lack adequate group sample sizes, and V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak values are yet to determine the differences between competitive and recreational surfers. The purpose of this study was therefore to provide a comprehensive physiological profile of both recreational and competitive surfers. This multisite study involved 62 male surfers, recreational (n = 47) and competitive (n = 15). Anthropometric measurements were conducted followed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, anaerobic testing and finally aerobic testing. V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak was significantly greater in competitive surfers than in recreational surfers (M = 40.71 ± 3.28 vs. 31.25 ± 6.31 ml·kg·min, p \u3c 0.001). This was also paralleled for anaerobic power (M = 303.93 vs. 264.58 W) for competitive surfers. Arm span and lean total muscle mass was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) correlated with key performance variables (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak and anaerobic power). No significant (p ≥ 0.05) correlations were revealed between season rank and each of the variables of interest (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak and anaerobic power). Key performance variables (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak and anaerobic power) are significantly higher in competitive surfers, indicating that this is both an adaptation and requirement in this cohort. This battery of physiological tests could be used as a screening tool to identify an athlete\u27s weaknesses or strengths. Coaches and clinicians could then select appropriate training regimes to address weaknesses