2,894 research outputs found
The Magic Number Problem for Subregular Language Families
We investigate the magic number problem, that is, the question whether there
exists a minimal n-state nondeterministic finite automaton (NFA) whose
equivalent minimal deterministic finite automaton (DFA) has alpha states, for
all n and alpha satisfying n less or equal to alpha less or equal to exp(2,n).
A number alpha not satisfying this condition is called a magic number (for n).
It was shown in [11] that no magic numbers exist for general regular languages,
while in [5] trivial and non-trivial magic numbers for unary regular languages
were identified. We obtain similar results for automata accepting subregular
languages like, for example, combinational languages, star-free, prefix-,
suffix-, and infix-closed languages, and prefix-, suffix-, and infix-free
languages, showing that there are only trivial magic numbers, when they exist.
For finite languages we obtain some partial results showing that certain
numbers are non-magic.Comment: In Proceedings DCFS 2010, arXiv:1008.127
Direct measurement of shear-induced cross-correlations of Brownian motion
Shear-induced cross-correlations of particle fluctuations perpendicular and
along stream-lines are investigated experimentally and theoretically. Direct
measurements of the Brownian motion of micron-sized beads, held by optical
tweezers in a shear-flow cell, show a strong time-asymmetry in the
cross-correlation, which is caused by the non-normal amplification of
fluctuations. Complementary measurements on the single particle probability
distribution substantiate this behavior and both results are consistent with a
Langevin model. In addition, a shear-induced anti-correlation between
orthogonal random-displacements of two trapped and hydrodynamically interacting
particles is detected, having one or two extrema in time, depending on the
positions of the particles.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
The acceleration and propagation of solar flare energetic particles
Observations and theories of particle acceleration in solar flares are reviewed. The most direct signatures of particle acceleration in flares are gamma rays, X-rays and radio emissions produced by the energetic particles in the solar atmosphere and energetic particles detected in interplanetary space and in the Earth's atmosphere. The implication of these observations are discussed. Stochastic and shock acceleration as well as acceleration in direct electric fields are considered. Interplanetary particle propagation is discussed and an overview of the highlights of both current and promising future research is presented
Measurements of heavy ion beam losses from collimation
The collimation efficiency for Pb ion beams in the LHC is predicted to be
lower than requirements. Nuclear fragmentation and electromagnetic dissociation
in the primary collimators create fragments with a wide range of Z/A ratios,
which are not intercepted by the secondary collimators but lost where the
dispersion has grown sufficiently large. In this article we present
measurements and simulations of loss patterns generated by a prototype LHC
collimator in the CERN SPS. Measurements were performed at two different
energies and angles of the collimator. We also compare with proton loss maps
and find a qualitative difference between Pb ions and protons, with the maximum
loss rate observed at different places in the ring. This behavior was predicted
by simulations and provides a valuable benchmark of our understanding of ion
beam losses caused by collimation.Comment: 12 pages, 20 figure
Phase Rotation, Cooling And Acceleration Of Muon Beams: A Comparison Of Different Approaches
Experimental and theoretical activities are underway at CERN with the aim of
examining the feasibility of a very-high-flux neutrino source. In the present
scheme, a high-power proton beam (some 4 MW) bombards a target where pions are
produced. The pions are collected and decay to muons under controlled optical
condition. The muons are cooled and accelerated to a final energy of 50 GeV
before being injected into a decay ring where they decay under well-defined
conditions of energy and emittance.
We present the most challenging parts of the whole scenario, the muon
capture, the ionisation-cooling and the first stage of the muon acceleration.
Different schemes, their performance and the technical challenges are compared.Comment: LINAC 2000 CONFERENCE, paper ID No. THC1
Analytical solution for the Fermi-sea energy of two-dimensional electrons in a magnetic field: lattice path-integral approach and quantum interference
We derive an exact solution for the total kinetic energy of noninteracting
spinless electrons at half-filling in two-dimensional bipartite lattices. We
employ a conceptually novel approach that maps this problem exactly into a
Feynman-Vdovichenko lattice walker. The problem is then reduced to the analytic
study of the sum of magnetic phase factors on closed paths. We compare our
results with the ones obtained through numerical calculations.Comment: 5 pages, RevTe
Trends and correlates of marijuana use among late middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 2002–2014
BACKGROUND: Recent trend studies suggest that marijuana use is on the rise among the general population of adults ages 18 and older in the United States. However, little is known about the trends in marijuana use and marijuana-specific risk/protective factors among American adults during the latter part of adulthood.
METHOD: Findings are based on repeated, cross-sectional data collected from late middle-aged (ages 50–64) and older adults (ages 65 and older) surveyed as part of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2002 and 2014.
RESULTS: The prevalence of past-year marijuana use among late middle-aged adults increased significantly from a low of 2.95% in 2003 to a high of 9.08% in 2014. Similarly, the prevalence of marijuana use increased significantly among older adults from a low of 0.15% in 2003 to a high of 2.04% in 2014. Notably, the upward trends in marijuana use remained significant even when accounting for sociodemographic, substance use, behavioral, and health-related factors. We also found that decreases in marijuana-specific protective factors were associated with the observed trend changes in marijuana use among late middle-aged and older adults, and observed a weakening of the association between late-middle aged marijuana use and risk propensity, other illicit drug use, and criminal justice system involvement over the course of the study.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the present study provide robust evidence indicating that marijuana use among older Americans has increased markedly in recent years, with the most evident changes observed between 2008 and 2014
Pair dispersion in turbulence
We study the statistics of pair dispersion in two-dimensional turbulence.
Direct numerical simulations show that the pdf of pair separations is in
agreement with the Richardson prediction. The pdf of doubling times follows
dimensional scaling and shows a long tail which is the signature of close
approaches between particles initially seeded with a large separation. This
phenomenon is related to the formation of fronts in passive scalar advection.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Beam losses from ultra-peripheral nuclear collisions between Pb ions in the Large Hadron Collider and their alleviation
Electromagnetic interactions between colliding heavy ions at the Large Hadron
Collider (LHC) at CERN will give rise to localized beam losses that may quench
superconducting magnets, apart from contributing significantly to the
luminosity decay. To quantify their impact on the operation of the collider, we
have used a three-step simulation approach, which consists of optical tracking,
a Monte-Carlo shower simulation and a thermal network model of the heat flow
inside a magnet. We present simulation results for the case of Pb ion operation
in the LHC, with focus on the ALICE interaction region, and show that the
expected heat load during nominal Pb operation is 40% above the quench level.
This limits the maximum achievable luminosity. Furthermore, we discuss methods
of monitoring the losses and possible ways to alleviate their effect.Comment: 17 pages, 20 figure
Consequences of a Change in the Galactic Environment of the Sun
The interaction of the heliosphere with interstellar clouds has attracted
interest since the late 1920's, both with a view to explaining apparent
quasi-periodic climate "catastrophes" as well as periodic mass extinctions.
Until recently, however, models describing the solar wind - local interstellar
medium (LISM) interaction self-consistently had not been developed. Here, we
describe the results of a two-dimensional (2D) simulation of the interaction
between the heliosphere and an interstellar cloud with the same properties as
currently, except that the neutral H density is increased from the present
value of n(H) ~ 0.2 cm^-3 to 10 cm^-3. The mutual interaction of interstellar
neutral hydrogen and plasma is included. The heliospheric cavity is reduced
considerably in size (approximately 10 - 14 AU to the termination shock in the
upstream direction) and is highly dynamical. The interplanetary environment at
the orbit of the Earth changes markedly, with the density of interstellar H
increasing to ~2 cm^-3. The termination shock itself experiences periods where
it disappears, reforms and disappears again. Considerable mixing of the shocked
solar wind and LISM occurs due to Rayleigh-Taylor-like instabilities at the
nose, driven by ion-neutral friction. Implications for two anomalously high
concentrations of 10Be found in Antarctic ice cores 33 kya and 60 kya, and the
absence of prior similar events, are discussed in terms of density enhancements
in the surrounding interstellar cloud. The calculation presented here supports
past speculation that the galactic environment of the Sun moderates the
interplanetary environment at the orbit of the Earth, and possibly also the
terrestrial climate.Comment: 23 pages, 2 color plates (jpg), 3 figures (eps
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