6,223 research outputs found
Fast, exact CMB power spectrum estimation for a certain class of observational strategies
We describe a class of observational strategies for probing the anisotropies
in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) where the instrument scans on rings
which can be combined into an n-torus, the {\em ring torus}. This class has the
remarkable property that it allows exact maximum likelihood power spectrum
estimation in of order operations (if the size of the data set is )
under circumstances which would previously have made this analysis intractable:
correlated receiver noise, arbitrary asymmetric beam shapes and far side lobes,
non-uniform distribution of integration time on the sky and partial sky
coverage. This ease of computation gives us an important theoretical tool for
understanding the impact of instrumental effects on CMB observables and hence
for the design and analysis of the CMB observations of the future. There are
members of this class which closely approximate the MAP and Planck satellite
missions. We present a numerical example where we apply our ring torus methods
to a simulated data set from a CMB mission covering a 20 degree patch on the
sky to compute the maximum likelihood estimate of the power spectrum
with unprecedented efficiency.Comment: RevTeX, 14 pages, 5 figures. A full resolution version of Figure 1
and additional materials are at http://feynman.princeton.edu/~bwandelt/RT
Strengthening impact assessment: a call for integration and focus
We suggest that the impact assessment community has lost its way based on our observation that impact assessment is under attack because of a perceived lack of efficiency. Specifically, we contend that the proliferation of different impact assessment types creates separate silos of expertise and feeds arguments for not only a lack of efficiency but also a lack of effectiveness of the process through excessive specialisation and a lack of interdisciplinary practice. We propose that the solution is a return to the basics of impact assessment with a call for increased integration around the goal of sustainable development and focus through better scoping. We rehearse and rebut counter arguments covering silo-based expertise, advocacy, democracy, sustainability understanding and communication. We call on the impact assessment community to rise to the challenge of increasing integration and focus, and to engage in the debate about the means of strengthening impact assessment
A Limit on the Polarized Anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background at Subdegree Angular Scales
A ground-based polarimeter, PIQUE, operating at 90 GHz has set a new limit on
the magnitude of any polarized anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background.
The combination of the scan strategy and full width half maximum beam of 0.235
degrees gives broad window functions with average multipoles, l = 211+294-146
and l = 212+229-135 for the E- and B-mode window functions, respectively. A
joint likelihood analysis yields simultaneous 95% confidence level flat band
power limits of 14 and 13 microkelvin on the amplitudes of the E- and B-mode
angular power spectra, respectively. Assuming no B-modes, a 95% confidence
limit of 10 microkelvin is placed on the amplitude of the E-mode angular power
spectrum alone.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Astrophysical Journal Letter
Primordial Gravitational Wave Detectability with Deep Small-sky Cosmic Microwave Background Experiments
We use the Bayesian estimation on direct T - Q - U cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization maps to forecast errors on the tensor-to-scalar power ratio r, and hence on primordial gravitational waves, as a function of sky coverage f_sky. This map-based likelihood filters the information in the pixel-pixel space into the optimal combinations needed for r detection for cut skies, providing enhanced information over a first-step linear separation into a combination of E, B, and mixed modes, and ignoring the latter. With current computational power and for typical resolutions appropriate for r detection, the large matrix inversions required are accurate and fast. Our simulations explore two classes of experiments, with differing bolometric detector numbers, sensitivities, and observational strategies. One is motivated by a long duration balloon experiment like Spider, with pixel noise ∝ √f_sky for a specified observing period. This analysis also applies to ground-based array experiments. We find that, in the absence of systematic effects and foregrounds, an experiment with Spider-like noise concentrating on f_sky ~ 0.02-0.2 could place a 2σ_r ≈ 0.014 boundary (~95% confidence level), which rises to 0.02 with an ℓ-dependent foreground residual left over from an assumed efficient component separation. We contrast this with a Planck-like fixed instrumental noise as f_sky varies, which gives a Galaxy-masked (f_sky = 0.75) 2σ_r ≈ 0.015, rising to ≈0.05 with the foreground residuals. Using as the figure of merit the (marginalized) one-dimensional Shannon entropy of r, taken relative to the first 2003 WMAP CMB-only constraint, gives –2.7 bits from the 2012 WMAP9+ACT+SPT+LSS data, and forecasts of –6 bits from Spider (+ Planck); this compares with up to –11 bits for CMBPol, COrE, and PIXIE post-Planck satellites and –13 bits for a perfectly noiseless cosmic variance limited experiment. We thus confirm the wisdom of the current strategy for r detection of deeply probed patches covering the f_sky minimum-error trough with balloon and ground experiments
Observational Constraints on Visser's Cosmological Model
Theories of gravity for which gravitons can be treated as massive particles
have presently been studied as realistic modifications of General Relativity,
and can be tested with cosmological observations. In this work, we study the
ability of a recently proposed theory with massive gravitons, the so-called
Visser theory, to explain the measurements of luminosity distance from the
Union2 compilation, the most recent Type-Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) dataset,
adopting the current ratio of the total density of non-relativistic matter to
the critical density () as a free parameter. We also combine the SNe
Ia data with constraints from Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) and CMB
measurements. We find that, for the allowed interval of values for ,
a model based on Visser's theory can produce an accelerated expansion period
without any dark energy component, but the combined analysis (SNe Ia + BAO +
CMB) shows that the model is disfavored when compared with CDM model.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Exactly solvable model of A + A \to 0 reactions on a heterogeneous catalytic chain
We present an exact solution describing equilibrium properties of the
catalytically-activated A + A \to 0 reaction taking place on a one-dimensional
lattice, where some of the sites possess special "catalytic" properties. The A
particles undergo continuous exchanges with the vapor phase; two neighboring
adsorbed As react when at least one of them resides on a catalytic site (CS).
We consider three situations for the CS distribution: regular, annealed random
and quenched random. For all three CS distribution types, we derive exact
results for the disorder-averaged pressure and present exact asymptotic
expressions for the particles' mean density. The model studied here furnishes
another example of a 1D Ising-type system with random multi-site interactions
which admits an exact solution.Comment: 7 pages, 3 Figures, appearing in Europhysics Letter
Improving the Prospects for Detecting Extrasolar Planets in Gravitational Microlensing in 2002
Gravitational microlensing events of high magnification have been shown to be
promising targets for detecting extrasolar planets. However, only a few events
of high magnification have been found using conventional survey techniques.
Here we demonstrate that high magnification events can be readily found in
microlensing surveys using a strategy that combines high frequency sampling of
target fields with online difference imaging analysis. We present 10
microlensing events with peak magnifications greater than 40 that were detected
in real-time towards the Galactic Bulge during 2001 by MOA. We show that Earth
mass planets can be detected in future events such as these through intensive
follow-up observations around the event peaks. We report this result with
urgency as a similar number of such events are expected in 2002.Comment: 11 pages, 3 embedded ps figures including 2 colour, revised version
accepted by MNRA
Observational constraints on modified gravity models and the Poincar\'e dodecahedral topology
We study the constraints that spatial topology may place on the parameters of
models that account for the accelerated expansion of the universe via infrared
modifications to general relativity, namely the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati
braneworld model as well as the Dvali-Turner and Cardassian models. By
considering the Poincar\'e dodecahedral space as the circles-in-the-sky
observable spatial topology, we examine the constraints that can be placed on
the parameters of each model using type Ia supernovae data together with the
baryon acoustic peak in the large scale correlation function of the Sloan
Digital Sky Survey of luminous red galaxies and the Cosmic Microwave Background
Radiation shift parameter data. We show that knowledge of spatial topology does
provide relevant constraints, particularly on the curvature parameter, for all
models.Comment: Revtex4, 10 pages, 1 table, 12 figures; version to match the one to
be published in Physical Review
Weak Lensing Reconstruction and Power Spectrum Estimation: Minimum Variance Methods
Large-scale structure distorts the images of background galaxies, which
allows one to measure directly the projected distribution of dark matter in the
universe and determine its power spectrum. Here we address the question of how
to extract this information from the observations. We derive minimum variance
estimators for projected density reconstruction and its power spectrum and
apply them to simulated data sets, showing that they give a good agreement with
the theoretical minimum variance expectations. The same estimator can also be
applied to the cluster reconstruction, where it remains a useful reconstruction
technique, although it is no longer optimal for every application. The method
can be generalized to include nonlinear cluster reconstruction and photometric
information on redshifts of background galaxies in the analysis. We also
address the question of how to obtain directly the 3-d power spectrum from the
weak lensing data. We derive a minimum variance quadratic estimator, which
maximizes the likelihood function for the 3-d power spectrum and can be
computed either from the measurements directly or from the 2-d power spectrum.
The estimator correctly propagates the errors and provides a full correlation
matrix of the estimates. It can be generalized to the case where redshift
distribution depends on the galaxy photometric properties, which allows one to
measure both the 3-d power spectrum and its time evolution.Comment: revised version, 36 pages, AAS LateX, submitted to Ap
Design guide for high pressure oxygen systems
A repository for critical and important detailed design data and information, hitherto unpublished, along with significant data on oxygen reactivity phenomena with metallic and nonmetallic materials in moderate to very high pressure environments is documented. This data and information provide a ready and easy to use reference for the guidance of designers of propulsion, power, and life support systems for use in space flight. The document is also applicable to designs for industrial and civilian uses of high pressure oxygen systems. The information presented herein are derived from data and design practices involving oxygen usage at pressures ranging from about 20 psia to 8000 psia equal with thermal conditions ranging from room temperatures up to 500 F
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