5,781 research outputs found
Galaxy types in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey using supervised artificial neural networks
Supervised artificial neural networks are used to predict useful properties of galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, in this instance morphological classifications, spectral types and redshifts. By giving the trained networks unseen data, it is found that correlations between predicted and actual properties are around 0.9 with rms errors of order ten per cent. Thus, given a representative training set, these properties may be reliably estimated for galaxies in the survey for which there are no spectra and without human intervention
Comparison between mirror Langmuir probe and gas puff imaging measurements of intermittent fluctuations in the Alcator C-Mod scrape-off layer
Statistical properties of the scrape-off layer (SOL) plasma fluctuations are
studied in ohmically heated plasmas in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. For the first
time, plasma fluctuations as well as parameters that describe the fluctuations
are compared across measurements from a mirror Langmuir probe (MLP) and from
gas-puff imaging (GPI) that sample the same plasma discharge. This comparison
is complemented by an analysis of line emission time-series data, synthesized
from the MLP electron density and temperature measurements. The fluctuations
observed by the MLP and GPI typically display relative fluctuation amplitudes
of order unity together with positively skewed and flattened probability
density functions. Such data time series are well described by an established
stochastic framework which model the data as a superposition of uncorrelated,
two-sided exponential pulses. The most important parameter of the process is
the intermittency parameter, {\gamma} = {\tau}d / {\tau}w where {\tau}d denotes
the duration time of a single pulse and {\tau}w gives the average waiting time
between consecutive pulses. Here we show, using a new deconvolution method,
that these parameters can be consistently estimated from different statistics
of the data. We also show that the statistical properties of the data sampled
by the MLP and GPI diagnostic are very similar. Finally, a comparison of the
GPI signal to the synthetic line-emission time series suggests that the
measured emission intensity can not be explained solely by a simplified model
which neglects neutral particle dynamics
MIMAC: MIcro-tpc MAtrix of Chambers for dark matter directional detection
Directional detection of non-baryonic Dark Matter is a promising search
strategy for discriminating WIMP events from neutrons, the ultimate background
for dark matter direct detection. This strategy requires both a precise
measurement of the energy down to a few keV and 3D reconstruction of tracks
down to a few mm. The MIMAC (MIcro-tpc MAtrix of Chambers) collaboration has
developed in the last years an original prototype detector based on the direct
coupling of large pixelized micromegas with a special developed fast
self-triggered electronics showing the feasibility of a new generation of
directional detectors. The first bi-chamber prototype has been installed at
Modane, underground laboratory in June 2012. The first undergournd background
events, the gain stability and calibration are shown. The first spectrum of
nuclear recoils showing 3D tracks coming from the radon progeny is presented.Comment: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Directional Dark
Matter Detection CYGNUS2013, held in Toyoma (Japan), June 201
TLEP: A High-Performance Circular e+e- Collider to Study the Higgs Boson
The recent discovery of a light Higgs boson has opened up considerable
interest in circular e+e- Higgs factories around the world. We report on the
progress of the TLEP concept since last year. TLEP is an e+e- circular collider
capable of very high luminosities in a wide centre-of-mass (ECM) spectrum from
90 to 350 GeV. TLEP could be housed in a new 80 to 100 km tunnel in the Geneva
region. The design can be adapted to different ring circumference (e.g. LEP3 in
the 27 km LHC tunnel). TLEP is an ideal complementary machine to the LHC thanks
to high luminosity, exquisite determination of ECM and the possibility of four
interaction points, both for precision measurements of the Higgs boson
properties and for precision tests of the closure of the Standard Model from
the Z pole to the top threshold.Comment: Contribution to IPAC13, 12-17 May 2013, Shanghai, Chin
Travelling-wave nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is one of the most versatile experimental methods in chemistry, physics and biology, providing insight into the structure and dynamics of matter at the molecular scale. Its imaging variant-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-is widely used to examine the anatomy, physiology and metabolism of the human body. NMR signal detection is traditionally based on Faraday induction in one or multiple radio-frequency resonators that are brought into close proximity with the sample. Alternative principles involving structured-material flux guides, superconducting quantum interference devices, atomic magnetometers, Hall probes or magnetoresistive elements have been explored. However, a common feature of all NMR implementations until now is that they rely on close coupling between the detector and the object under investigation. Here we show that NMR can also be excited and detected by long-range interaction, relying on travelling radio-frequency waves sent and received by an antenna. One benefit of this approach is more uniform coverage of samples that are larger than the wavelength of the NMR signal-an important current issue in MRI of humans at very high magnetic fields. By allowing a significant distance between the probe and the sample, travelling-wave interaction also introduces new possibilities in the design of NMR experiments and systems
Effect of many-body interactions on the solid-liquid phase-behavior of charge-stabilized colloidal suspensions
The solid-liquid phase-diagram of charge-stabilized colloidal suspensions is
calculated using a technique that combines a continuous Poisson-Boltzmann
description for the microscopic electrolyte ions with a molecular-dynamics
simulation for the macroionic colloidal spheres. While correlations between the
microions are neglected in this approach, many-body interactions between the
colloids are fully included. The solid-liquid transition is determined at a
high colloid volume fraction where many-body interactions are expected to be
strong. With a view to the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory predicting
that colloids interact via Yukawa pair-potentials, we compare our results with
the phase diagram of a simple Yukawa liquid. Good agreement is found at high
salt conditions, while at low ionic strength considerable deviations are
observed. By calculating effective colloid-colloid pair-interactions it is
demonstrated that these differences are due to many-body interactions. We
suggest a density-dependent pair-potential in the form of a truncated Yukawa
potential, and show that it offers a considerably improved description of the
solid-liquid phase-behavior of concentrated colloidal suspensions
Standard and Null Weak Values
Weak value (WV) is a quantum mechanical measurement protocol, proposed by
Aharonov, Albert, and Vaidman. It consists of a weak measurement, which is
weighed in, conditional on the outcome of a later, strong measurement. Here we
define another two-step measurement protocol, null weak value (NVW), and point
out its advantages as compared to WV. We present two alternative derivations of
NWVs and compare them to the corresponding derivations of WVs.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures. To appear in Quantum Theory: A Two-Time Success
Story: Yakir Aharonov Festschrif
D-brane Categories for Orientifolds -- The Landau-Ginzburg Case
We construct and classify categories of D-branes in orientifolds based on
Landau-Ginzburg models and their orbifolds. Consistency of the worldsheet
parity action on the matrix factorizations plays the key role. This provides
all the requisite data for an orientifold construction after embedding in
string theory. One of our main results is a computation of topological field
theory correlators on unoriented worldsheets, generalizing the formulas of Vafa
and Kapustin-Li for oriented worldsheets, as well as the extension of these
results to orbifolds. We also find a doubling of Knoerrer periodicity in the
orientifold context.Comment: 45 pages, 6 figure
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