4,354 research outputs found
Generalized molecular chaos hypothesis and H-theorem: Problem of constraints and amendment of nonextensive statistical mechanics
Quite unexpectedly, kinetic theory is found to specify the correct definition
of average value to be employed in nonextensive statistical mechanics. It is
shown that the normal average is consistent with the generalized
Stosszahlansatz (i.e., molecular chaos hypothesis) and the associated
H-theorem, whereas the q-average widely used in the relevant literature is not.
In the course of the analysis, the distributions with finite cut-off factors
are rigorously treated. Accordingly, the formulation of nonextensive
statistical mechanics is amended based on the normal average. In addition, the
Shore-Johnson theorem, which supports the use of the q-average, is carefully
reexamined, and it is found that one of the axioms may not be appropriate for
systems to be treated within the framework of nonextensive statistical
mechanics.Comment: 22 pages, no figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Radiative, actively cooled panel tests results
The radiative, actively cooled panel designed to withstand a uniform incident heat flux of 136 kW/sq m to a 444 K surface temperature was evaluated. The test program consisted of preliminary static thermal mechanical loading and aerothermal flow tests. Test results are briefly discussed
Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage analogs in classical physics
Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) is a well established technique
for producing coherent population transfer in a three-state quantum system. We
here exploit the resemblance between the Schrodinger equation for such a
quantum system and the Newton equation of motion for a classical system
undergoing torque to discuss several classical analogs of STIRAP, notably the
motion of a moving charged particle subject to the Lorentz force of a
quasistatic magnetic field, the orientation of a magnetic moment in a slowly
varying magnetic field, the Coriolis effect and the inertial frame dragging
effect. Like STIRAP, those phenomena occur for counterintuitively ordered field
pulses and are robustly insensitive to small changes in the interaction
properties
Dark-State Polaritons for multi-component and stationary light fields
We present a general scheme to determine the loss-free adiabatic
eigensolutions (dark-state polaritons) of the interaction of multiple probe
laser beams with a coherently driven atomic ensemble under conditions of
electromagnetically induced transparency. To this end we generalize the
Morris-Shore transformation to linearized Heisenberg-Langevin equations
describing the coupled light-matter system in the weak excitation limit. For
the simple lambda-type coupling scheme the generalized Morris-Shore
transformation reproduces the dark-state polariton solutions of slow light.
Here we treat a closed-loop dual-V scheme wherein two counter-propagating
control fields generate a quasi stationary pattern of two counter-propagating
probe fields -- so-called stationary light. We show that contrary to previous
predictions,there exists a single unique dark-state polariton; it obeys a
simple propagation equation.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure
The spectroscopic evolution of the recurrent nova T Pyxidis during its 2011 outburst. II.The optically thin phase and the structure of the ejecta in recurrent novae
We continue our study of the physical properties of the recurrent nova T Pyx,
focussing on the structure of the ejecta in the nebular stage of expansion
during the 2011 outburst. The nova was observed contemporaneously with the
Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT), at high resolution spectroscopic resolution (R
~ 65000) on 2011 Oct. 11 and 2012 Apr. 8 (without absolute flux calibration),
and with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) aboard the Hubble
Space Telescope, at high resolution (R ~ 30000) on 2011 Oct. 10 and 2012 Mar.
28 (absolute fluxes). We use standard plasma diagnostics (e.g. [O III] and [N
II] line ratios and the H line fluxes) to constrain electron densities
and temperatures. Using Monte Carlo modeling of the ejecta, we derive the
structure and filling factor from comparisons to the optical and ultraviolet
line profiles. The ejecta can be modeled using an axisymmetric conical --
bipolar -- geometry with a low inclination of the axis to the line of sight,
i=15+/-5 degrees, compatible with published results from high angular
resolution optical spectro-interferometry. The structure is similar to that
observed in the other short orbital period recurrent novae during their nebular
stages. We show that the electron density scales as as expected from a
ballistically ejected constant mass shell; there is no need to invoke a
continuing mass outflow following the eruption. The derived mass for the ejecta
with filling factor f ~ 3%, M_ej ~ 2E-6$M_sun is similar to that obtained for
other recurrent nova ejecta but inconsistent with the previously reported
extended optically thick epoch of the explosion. We suggest that the system
underwent a common envelope phase following the explosion that produced the
recombination event. Implications for the dynamics of the recurrent novae are
discussed. (truncated)Comment: accepted for publication in A&A (10 Nov. 2012), 10 pgs, 16 fig
The Conical Point in the Ferroelectric Six-Vertex Model
We examine the last unexplored regime of the asymmetric six-vertex model: the
low-temperature phase of the so-called ferroelectric model. The original
publication of the exact solution, by Sutherland, Yang, and Yang, and various
derivations and reviews published afterwards, do not contain many details about
this regime. We study the exact solution for this model, by numerical and
analytical methods. In particular, we examine the behavior of the model in the
vicinity of an unusual coexistence point that we call the ``conical'' point.
This point corresponds to additional singularities in the free energy that were
not discussed in the original solution. We show analytically that in this point
many polarizations coexist, and that unusual scaling properties hold in its
vicinity.Comment: 28 pages (LaTeX); 8 postscript figures available on request
([email protected]). Submitted to Journal of Statistical Physics. SFU-DJBJDS-94-0
A generalized theory of semiflexible polymers
DNA bending on length scales shorter than a persistence length plays an
integral role in the translation of genetic information from DNA to cellular
function. Quantitative experimental studies of these biological systems have
led to a renewed interest in the polymer mechanics relevant for describing the
conformational free energy of DNA bending induced by protein-DNA complexes.
Recent experimental results from DNA cyclization studies have cast doubt on the
applicability of the canonical semiflexible polymer theory, the wormlike chain
(WLC) model, to DNA bending on biological length scales. This paper develops a
theory of the chain statistics of a class of generalized semiflexible polymer
models. Our focus is on the theoretical development of these models and the
calculation of experimental observables. To illustrate our methods, we focus on
a specific toy model of DNA bending. We show that the WLC model generically
describes the long-length-scale chain statistics of semiflexible polymers, as
predicted by the Renormalization Group. In particular, we show that either the
WLC or our new model adequate describes force-extension, solution scattering,
and long-contour-length cyclization experiments, regardless of the details of
DNA bend elasticity. In contrast, experiments sensitive to short-length-scale
chain behavior can in principle reveal dramatic departures from the linear
elastic behavior assumed in the WLC model. We demonstrate this explicitly by
showing that our toy model can reproduce the anomalously large
short-contour-length cyclization J factors observed by Cloutier and Widom.
Finally, we discuss the applicability of these models to DNA chain statistics
in the context of future experiments
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The Relative Importance of Different Trophic Pathways for Secondary Exposure to Anticoagulant Rodenticides
Secondary exposure of predators to anticoagulant rodenticides, and in particular second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), is a global phenomenon. The widespread and large-scale nature of this exposure has attracted considerable concern, although the consequences in terms of likelihood of poisoning of individuals and resultant impacts on populations are not well characterised. Secondary exposure of predators may as rise from once or more of: (i) eating contaminated commensal rodents subject to control (target species are typically rats and house mice); (ii) consumption of contaminated non-target small mammals (such as Peromyscus, Microtus, and Apodemus species) that encounter and feed on what are rodent-attractive baits; (iii) consumption of non-rodent vertebrate and invertebrate prey that may also incidentally encounter and eat baits. We hypothesised that predators feeding primarily on target species may be most at risk of exposure to SGARs while those predominantly taking non-mammalian prey may be at least risk. We tested this hypothesis by comparing exposure, determined from the presence and magnitude of SGAR liver residues, in red kites (Milvus milvus), which feeds extensively on rats, in barn owls (Tyto alba), kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), and tawny owls (Strix aluco) that feed widely on non-target small mammals, and in sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) that feed predominantly on small birds. We found that the scale and magnitude of exposure was broadly consistent with our hypothesis, and that controlling for age in the analysis could be important as older birds can accumulate residues with age. However, exposure in kestrels was typically greater than that in barn owls and tawny owls, despite what is thought to be a general similarity among the species in their diets. We discuss the relative importance of trophic pathways relative to other factors that may drive secondary exposure in predators, and confirm that species that feed on rats or other target species may be at most risk of exposure and poisoning
Phosphine generator trial using external air dilution
A commercial phosphine (PH3) generator manufactured by Beijing Liangmao Technology Development Company Limited, China was used in a fumigation trial on 5000 tonne bunker storage. The generator’s production of PH3 is controlled by the rate of dosing conventional aluminum phosphide (AlP) tablets into 100 kg water in the reaction chamber.Because PH3 is flammable and explosive if certain a concentration is reached in air, it is usually mixed with carbon dioxide (CO2) in the weight ratio of 50:1. This trial’s objective was to minimise the amount of CO2 and dilute the generated PH3 with air. The PH3 generated is purged from the reaction chamber by a continuous low flow of regulated CO2 gas. The PH3-rich CO2 purge stream was fed into the suction inlet of an external venturi. A high pressure fan was used to produce the air flow through the venturi to create the vacuum to suck in and dilute the PH3 rich stream from the generator. The PH3 was diluted in the air-flow to ensure a non-flammable concentration of less than 1% (10.000 ppm) and thence fed directly into the bunker storage. The trial successfully demonstrated the viability of generating phosphine in this manner, and excellent results in PH3 concentration and distribution was achieved in very short time periods. The capacity of the generator was limited to 8 kg of AlP tablets, equivalent to 2.667 kg of PH3, or sufficient to fumigate 2667 m3 of grain at a dosage rate of 1 g/m3. A much larger version of the machine would be required to fumigate medium size bunker storages in the 10.000 to 15.000 tonne range. Notwithstanding, the generator offers an attractive package combining the speed and convenience associated with the use of gaseous PH3 with the low cost of AlP formulations. Keywords: Phosphine fumigant, On-site generator, Metallic phosphide, Non-flammabl
Equilibrium shapes and faceting for ionic crystals of body-centered-cubic type
A mean field theory is developed for the calculation of the surface free
energy of the staggered BCSOS, (or six vertex) model as function of the surface
orientation and of temperature. The model approximately describes surfaces of
crystals with nearest neighbor attractions and next nearest neighbor
repulsions. The mean field free energy is calculated by expressing the model in
terms of interacting directed walks on a lattice. The resulting equilibrium
shape is very rich with facet boundaries and boundaries between reconstructed
and unreconstructed regions which can be either sharp (first order) or smooth
(continuous). In addition there are tricritical points where a smooth boundary
changes into a sharp one and triple points where three sharp boundaries meet.
Finally our numerical results strongly suggest the existence of conical points,
at which tangent planes of a finite range of orientations all intersect each
other. The thermal evolution of the equilibrium shape in this model shows
strong similarity to that seen experimentally for ionic crystals.Comment: 14 Pages, Revtex and 10 PostScript figures include
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