4,045 research outputs found
Effective medium theories for irregular fluffy structures: aggregation of small particles
We study the extinction efficiencies as well as scattering properties of
particles of different porosity. Calculations are performed for porous
pseudospheres with small size (Rayleigh) inclusions using the discrete dipole
approximation. Five refractive indices of materials covering the range from
to were selected. They correspond to biological
particles, dirty ice, silicate, amorphous carbon and soot in the visual part of
spectrum. We attempt to describe the optical properties of such particles using
Lorenz-Mie theory and a refractive index found from some effective medium
theory (EMT) assuming the particle is homogeneous. We refer to this as the
effective model.
It is found that the deviations are minimal when utilizing the EMT based on
the Bruggeman mixing rule. Usually the deviations in extinction factor do not
exceed for particle porosity and size parameters
x_{\rm porous} = 2 \pi r_{\rm s, porous}/\lambda \la 25. The deviations are
larger for scattering and absorption efficiencies and smaller for particle
albedo and asymmetry parameter. Our calculations made for spheroids confirm
these conclusions. Preliminary consideration shows that the effective model
represents the intensity and polarization of radiation scattered by fluffy
aggregates quite well. Thus, the effective models of spherical and
non-spherical particles can be used to significantly simplify computations of
the optical properties of aggregates containing only Rayleigh inclusions.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Applied Optic
University-affiliated schools as sites for research learning in pre-service teacher education
This article proposes that the âteaching/practice schoolsâ formally affiliated to initial teacher education programmes at universities, can be utilised more optimally as research sites by student teachers. The argument is put forward with reference to the role that such schools have played historically in teacher education in the United States (US), and more recently, in the successful Finnish teacher education system, in which research is highly valued as a requisite part of a teaching qualification. The authors propose that the single component of these schools, which has historically distinguished them from schools for work integrated learning (WIL), is that they are also research spaces and have retained some of the âlabâ character of earlier schools, such as the one established by John Dewey. In such schools, the authors argue, students learn to be reflective practitioners by positioning themselves as researchers, who reflect on practice in a research-rich environment. In a pilot study, the authors found that university and school personnel hold different views about research in the schools. The article recommends that careful consideration be given to the research function in these public schools as part of teacher training.Keywords: activity systems; Dewey; experimental schools; Finland; lab schools; practice schools; practitioner research;reflective practice; teacher education; teaching school
Refined physical properties and g',r',i',z',J,H,K transmission spectrum of WASP-23b from the ground
Multi-band observations of planetary transits using the telescope defocus
technique may yield high-quality light curves suitable for refining the
physical properties of exoplanets even with small or medium size telescopes.
Such observations can be used to construct a broad-band transmission spectrum
of transiting planets and search for the presence of strong absorbers. We have
thoroughly characterised the orbital ephemeris and physical properties of the
transiting planet and host star in the WASP-23b system, constructed a
broad-band transmission spectrum of WASP-23b and performed a comparative
analysis with theoretical models of hot Jupiters. We observed a complete
transit of WASP-23b in seven bands simultaneously, using the GROND instrument
on the MPG/ESO 2.2m telescope at La Silla Observatory and telescope
defocussing. The optical data were taken in the Sloan g',r',i' and z' bands.
The resulting light curves are of high quality, with a root-mean-square scatter
of the residual as low as 330ppm in the z'-band, with a cadence of 90s.
Near-infrared data were obtained in the JHK bands. We performed MCMC analysis
of our photometry plus existing radial velocity data to refine measurements of
the ephemeris and physical properties of the WASP-23. We constructed a
broad-band transmission spectrum of WASP-23b and compared it with a theoretical
transmission spectrum of a Hot Jupiter. We measured the central transit time
with a precision about 8s. From this and earlier observations we obtain an
orbital period of P=2.9444300+/-0.0000011d. Our analysis also yielded a larger
radius and mass for the planet (Rp=1.067+0.045-0.038 RJup and,
Mp=0.917+0.040-0.039MJup). The transmission spectrum is marginally flat, given
the limited precision of the measurements for the planet radius and poor
spectral resolution of the data.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
Leaving the nest: the rise of regional financial arrangements and the future of global governance
This article examines the impact of regional financial arrangements (RFAs) on the global liquidity regime. It argues that the design of RFAs could potentially alter the global regime, whether by strengthening it and making it more coherent or by decentring the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and destabilizing it. To determine possible outcomes, this analysis deploys a âmiddleâupâ approach that focuses on the institutional design of these RFAs. It first draws on the rational design of institutions framework to identify the internal characteristics of RFAs that are most relevant to their capabilities and capacities. It then applies these insights to the interactions of RFAs with the IMF, building on Aggarwal's (1998) concept of ânestedâ versus âparallelâ institutions, to create an analytical lens through which to assess the nature and sustainability of nested linkages. Through an analysis of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) and the Latin American Reserve Fund (FLAR), the article demonstrates the usefulness of this lens. It concludes by considering three circumstances in which fault lines created by these RFAsâ institutional design could be activated, permitting an institution to âleave the nestâ, including changing intentions of principals, creation of parallel capabilities and facilities, and failure of the global regime to address regional needs in a crisis.The authors would like to thank Veronica Artola, Masatsugu Asakawa, Ana Maria Carrasquilla, Junhong Chang, Paolo Hernando, Hoe Ee Khor, Kazunori Koike, Jae Young Lee, Ser-Jin Lee, Guillermo Perry, Yoichi Nemoto, Freddy Trujillo, Masaaki Watanabe, Yasuto Watanabe, Akihiko Yoshida, and others who wished to remain anonymous, for their generosity in providing in-person interviews. Further, the authors would like to thank various central bank and ministry of finance officials of both FLAR and CMIM member countries. We also thank Jose Antonio Ocampo, Diana Barrowclough, and participants in the 'Beyond Bretton Woods' Workshop at Boston University (where an earlier version of this article was presented in September 2017) for their feedback on our broader research projects on RFAs. Last but not least, the authors wish to thank the anonymous referees for their constructive comments. This work builds upon previous work funded by UNCTAD and the Global Economic Governance Initiative at the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University. (UNCTAD; Global Economic Governance Initiative at the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University)Accepted manuscrip
Accretion Disks Around Young Objects. III. Grain Growth
We present detailed models of irradiated T Tauri disks including dust grain
growth with power-law size distributions. The models assume complete mixing
between dust and gas and solve for the vertical disk structure
self-consistentlyincluding the heating effects of stellar irradiation as well
as local viscous heating. For a given total dust mass, grain growth is found to
decrease the vertical height of the surface where the optical depth to the
stellar radiation becomes unit and thus the local irradiation heating, while
increasing the disk emission at mm and sub-mm wavelengths. The resulting disk
models are less geometrically thick than our previous models assuming
interstellar medium dust, and agree better with observed spectral energy
distributions and images of edge-on disks, like HK Tau/c and HH 30. The
implications of models with grain growth for determining disk masses from
long-wavelength emission are considered.Comment: 29 pages, including 11 figures and 1 table, APJ accepte
Simultaneous follow-up of planetary transits: revised physical properties for the planetary systems HAT-P-16 and WASP-21
Context. By now more than 300 planets transiting their host star have been
found, and much effort is being put into measuring the properties of each
system. Light curves of planetary transits often contain deviations from a
simple transit shape, and it is generally difficult to differentiate between
anomalies of astrophysical nature (e.g. starspots) and correlated noise due to
instrumental or atmospheric effects. Our solution is to observe transit events
simultaneously with two telescopes located at different observatories. Aims.
Using this observational strategy, we look for anomalies in the light curves of
two transiting planetary systems and accurately estimate their physical
parameters. Methods. We present the first photometric follow-up of the
transiting planet HAT-P-16 b, and new photometric observations of WASP-21 b,
obtained simultaneously with two medium-class telescopes located in different
countries, using the telescope defocussing technique. We modeled these and
other published data in order to estimate the physical parameters of the two
planetary systems. Results. The simultaneous observations did not highlight
particular features in the light curves, which is consistent with the low
activity levels of the two stars. For HAT-P-16, we calculated a new ephemeris
and found that the planet is 1.3 \sigma colder and smaller (Rb = 1.190 \pm
0.037 RJup) than the initial estimates, suggesting the presence of a massive
core. Our physical parameters for this system point towards a younger age than
previously thought. The results obtained for WASP-21 reveal lower values for
the mass and the density of the planet (by 1.0 \sigma and 1.4 \sigma
respectively) with respect to those found in the discovery paper, in agreement
with a subsequent study. We found no evidence of any transit timing variations
in either system.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Physical properties of the WASP-44 planetary system from simultaneous multi-colour photometry
We present ground-based broad-band photometry of two transits in the WASP-44
planetary system obtained simultaneously through four optical (Sloan g', r',
i', z') and three near-infrared (NIR; J, H, K) filters. We achieved low
scatters of 1-2 mmag per observation in the optical bands with a cadence of 48
s, but the NIR-band light curves present much greater scatter. We also observed
another transit of WASP-44 b by using a Gunn-r filter and telescope
defocussing, with a scatter of 0.37 mmag per point and an observing cadence
around 135 s. We used these data to improve measurements of the time of
mid-transit and the physical properties of the system. In particular, we
improved the radius measurements of the star and planet by factors of 3 and 4,
respectively. We find that the radius of WASP-44 b is 1.002 R_Jup, which is
slightly smaller than previously thought and differs from that expected for a
core-free planet. In addition, with the help of a synthetic spectrum, we
investigated the theoretically-predicted variation of the planetary radius as a
function of wavelength, covering the range 370-2440 nm. We can rule out extreme
variations at optical wavelengths, but unfortunately our data are not precise
enough (especially in the NIR bands) to differentiate between the theoretical
spectrum and a radius which does not change with wavelength.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, to appear in Monthly Notices of the Royal
Astronomical Societ
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