3,394 research outputs found
Evolution of a barotropic shear layer into elliptical vortices
When a barotropic shear layer becomes unstable, it produces the well known
Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KH). The non-linear manifestation of KH is
usually in the form of spiral billows. However, a piecewise linear shear layer
produces a different type of KH characterized by elliptical vortices of
constant vorticity connected via thin braids. Using direct numerical simulation
and contour dynamics, we show that the interaction between two
counter-propagating vorticity waves is solely responsible for this KH
formation. We investigate the oscillation of the vorticity wave amplitude, the
rotation and nutation of the elliptical vortex, and straining of the braids.
Our analysis also provides possible explanation behind the formation and
evolution of elliptical vortices appearing in geophysical and astrophysical
flows, e.g. meddies, Stratospheric polar vortices, Jovian vortices, Neptune's
Great Dark Spot and coherent vortices in the wind belts of Uranus.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, Accepted in Physical Review
Universality of collapsing two-dimensional self-avoiding trails
Results of a numerically exact transfer matrix calculation for the model of
Interacting Self-Avoiding Trails are presented. The results lead to the
conclusion that, at the collapse transition, Self-Avoiding Trails are in the
same universality class as the O(n=0) model of Blote and Nienhuis (or
vertex-interacting self-avoiding walk), which has thermal exponent ,
contrary to previous conjectures.Comment: Final version, accepted for publication in Journal of Physics A; 9
pages; 3 figure
Measurement and Modeling of Infrared Nonlinear Absorption Coefficients and Laser-induced Damage Thresholds in Ge and GaSb
Using a simultaneous fitting technique to extract nonlinear absorption coefficients from data at two pulse widths, we measure two-photon and free-carrier absorption coefficients for Ge and GaSb at 2.05 and 2.5 μm for the first time, to our knowledge. Results agreed well with published theory. Single-shot damage thresholds were also measured at 2.5 μm and agreed well with modeled thresholds using experimentally determined parameters including nonlinear absorption coefficients and temperature dependent linear absorption. The damage threshold for a single-layer Al2O3 anti-reflective coating on Ge was 55% or 35% lower than the uncoated threshold for picosecond or nanosecond pulses, respectively
Can mixed reality technologies teach surgical skills better than traditional methods? A prospective randomised feasibility study
Background Basic surgical skills teaching is often delivered with didactic audio-visual content, and new digital technologies may allow more engaging and effective ways of teaching to be developed. The Microsoft HoloLens 2 (HL2) is a multi-functional mixed reality headset. This prospective feasibility study sought to assess the device as a tool for enhancing technical surgical skills training. Methods A prospective randomised feasibility study was conducted. 36 novice medical students were trained to perform a basic arteriotomy and closure using a synthetic model. Participants were randomised to receive a structured surgical skills tutorial via a bespoke mixed reality HL2 tutorial (n = 18), or via a standard video-based tutorial (n = 18). Proficiency scores were assessed by blinded examiners using a validated objective scoring system and participant feedback collected. Results The HL2 group showed significantly greater improvement in overall technical proficiency compared to the video group (10.1 vs. 6.89, p = 0.0076), and a greater consistency in skill progression with a significantly narrower range of scores (SD 2.48 vs. 4.03, p = 0.026). Participant feedback showed the HL2 technology to be more interactive and engaging with minimal device related problems experienced. Conclusions This study has demonstrated that mixed reality technology may provide a higher quality educational experience, improved skill progression and greater consistency in learning when compared to traditional teaching methodologies for basic surgical skills. Further work is required to refine, translate, and evaluate the scalability and applicability of the technology across a broad range of skills-based disciplines
Symmetric M-ary phase discrimination using quantum-optical probe states
We present a theoretical study of minimum error probability discrimination,
using quantum- optical probe states, of M optical phase shifts situated
symmetrically on the unit circle. We assume ideal lossless conditions and full
freedom for implementing quantum measurements and for probe state selection,
subject only to a constraint on the average energy, i.e., photon number. In
particular, the probe state is allowed to have any number of signal and
ancillary modes, and to be pure or mixed. Our results are based on a simple
criterion that partitions the set of pure probe states into equivalence classes
with the same error probability performance. Under an energy constraint, we
find the explicit form of the state that minimizes the error probability. This
state is an unentangled but nonclassical single-mode state. The error
performance of the optimal state is compared with several standard states in
quantum optics. We also show that discrimination with zero error is possible
only beyond a threshold energy of (M - 1)/2. For the M = 2 case, we show that
the optimum performance is readily demonstrable with current technology. While
transmission loss and detector inefficiencies lead to a nonzero erasure
probability, the error rate conditional on no erasure is shown to remain the
same as the optimal lossless error rate.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure
A 2-component -Hunter-Saxton equation
In this paper, we propose a two-component generalization of the generalized
Hunter-Saxton equation obtained in \cite{BLG2008}. We will show that this
equation is a bihamiltonian Euler equation, and also can be viewed as a
bi-variational equation
On the N=2 Supersymmetric Camassa-Holm and Hunter-Saxton Equations
We consider N=2 supersymmetric extensions of the Camassa-Holm and
Hunter-Saxton equations. We show that they admit geometric interpretations as
Euler equations on the superconformal algebra of contact vector fields on the
1|2-dimensional supercircle. We use the bi-Hamiltonian formulation to derive
Lax pairs. Moreover, we present some simple examples of explicit solutions. As
a by-product of our analysis we obtain a description of the bounded
traveling-wave solutions for the two-component Hunter-Saxton equation.Comment: 1+19 pages, 3 figures; v2: reference added; v3: more references
added, published in LM
Ameliorating effect of microdoses of a potentized homeopathic drug, Arsenicum Album, on arsenic-induced toxicity in mice
BACKGROUND: Arsenic in groundwater and its accumulation in plants and animals have assumed a menacing proportion in a large part of West Bengal, India and adjoining areas of Bangladesh. Because of the tremendous magnitude of the problem, there seems to be no way to tackle the problem overnight. Efforts to provide arsenic free water to the millions of people living in these dreaded zones are being made, but are awfully inadequate. In our quest for finding out an easy, safe and affordable means to combat this problem, a homeopathic drug, Arsenicum Album-30, appears to yield promising results in mice. The relative efficacies of two micro doses of this drug, namely, Arsenicum Album-30 and Arsenicum Album-200, in combating arsenic toxicity have been determined in the present study on the basis of some accepted biochemical protocols. METHODS: Mice were divided into different sets of control (both positive and negative) and treated series (As-intoxicated, As-intoxicated plus drug-fed). Alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) level in liver and blood were analyzed in the different series of mice at six different fixation intervals. RESULTS: Both Arsenicum Album-30 and Arsenicum Album-200 ameliorated arsenic-induced toxicity to a considerable extent as compared to various controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results lend further support to our earlier views that microdoses of potentized Arsenicum Album are capable of combating arsenic intoxication in mice, and thus are strong candidates for possible use in human subjects in arsenic contaminated areas under medical supervision
Surface critical behaviour of the Interacting Self-Avoiding Trail on the square lattice
The surface critical behaviour of the interacting self-avoiding trail is
examined using transfer matrix methods coupled with finite-size scaling.
Particular attention is paid to the critical exponents at the ordinary and
special points along the collapse transition line. The phase diagram is also
presented.Comment: Journal of Physics A (accepted
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