7,057 research outputs found
Toward an Epistemic Web
In the beginning knowledge was local. With the development of more complex forms of economic organization knowledge began to travel. The Library of Alexandria was the fulfillment - however partial and transitory - of a vision to bring together all the knowledge of the world. But to obtain the knowledge one had to go to Alexandria. Today the World Wide Web promises to make universally accessible the knowledge of a world grown larger. To be sure, much work remains to be done: many documents need to be made available (i.e. digitized if they are not already, and freed from restrictive access controls); and various biases (economic, legal, linguistic, social, technological) need to be overcome. But what do we do with this knowledge? Is it enough to create a digital library of Alexandria, with (perhaps) improved finding aids? We propose that the crucial question is how to structure knowledge on the Web to facilitate the construction of new knowledge, knowledge that will be critical in addressing the challenges of the emerging global society. We begin by asking three questions about the Web and its future. In the remainder of the paper we explore the possibility of an Epistemic Web in the context of a more general discussion of knowledge representation technologies, technologies used for storing, manipulating and spreading knowledge
A new perspective on GCRT J1745-3009
Two WSRT observations were performed and five archival VLA data were reduced
in order to redetect the enigmatic radio transient GCRT J1745-3009. The source
was not redetected. We were, however, able to extract important new information
from the discovery dataset. Our reanalysis excludes models that predict
symmetric bursts, but the transient white dwarf pulsar is favoured. Although we
now have more contraints on the properties of this source, we are still unsure
about its basic model.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Weight, Motion and Force: Conceptual Structural Changes in Ancient Knowledge as a Result of its Transmission
Real Space Renormalization Group Study of the S=1/2 XXZ Chains with Fibonacci Exchange Modulation
Ground state properties of the S=1/2 antiferromagnetic XXZ chain with
Fibonacci exchange modulation are studied using the real space renormalization
group method for strong modulation. The quantum dynamical critical behavior
with a new universality class is predicted in the isotropic case. Combining our
results with the weak coupling renormalization group results by Vidal et al.,
the ground state phase diagram is obtained.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure
Similarity Analysis of Nonlinear Equations and Bases of Finite Wavelength Solitons
We introduce a generalized similarity analysis which grants a qualitative
description of the localised solutions of any nonlinear differential equation.
This procedure provides relations between amplitude, width, and velocity of the
solutions, and it is shown to be useful in analysing nonlinear structures like
solitons, dublets, triplets, compact supported solitons and other patterns. We
also introduce kink-antikink compact solutions for a nonlinear-nonlinear
dispersion equation, and we construct a basis of finite wavelength functions
having self-similar properties.Comment: 18 pages Latex, 6 figures ep
Numerical studies of the 2 and 3D gauge glass at low temperature
We report results from Monte Carlo simulations of the two- and
three-dimensional gauge glass at low temperature using parallel tempering Monte
Carlo. In two dimensions, we find strong evidence for a zero-temperature
transition. By means of finite-size scaling, we determine the stiffness
exponent theta = -0.39 +/- 0.03. In three dimensions, where a
finite-temperature transition is well established, we find theta = 0.27 +/-
0.01, compatible with recent results from domain-wall renormalization group
studies.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings of "2002 MMM Conference", Tampa, F
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