752 research outputs found
Resonant switching using spin valves
Using micromagnetics we demonstrate that the r.f. field produced by a spin
valve can be used to reverse the magnetization in a magnetic nanoparticle. The
r.f. field is generated using a current that specifically excites a uniform
spin wave in the spin valve. This current is swept such that the
chirped-frequency generated by the valve matches the angular dependent resonant
frequency of the anisotropy-dominated magnetic nanoparticle, as a result of
which the magnetization reversal occurs. The switching is fast, requires
currents similar to those used in recent experiments with spin valves, and is
stable with respect to small perturbations. This phenomenon can potentially be
employed in magnetic information storage devices or recently discussed magnetic
computing schemes
Dynamic magnetic response of infinite arrays of ferromagnetic particles
Recently developed techniques to find the eigenmodes of a ferromagnetic
particle of arbitrary shape, as well as the absorption in the presence of an
inhomogeneous radio-frequency field, are extended to treat infinite lattices of
such particles. The method is applied to analyze the results of recent FMR
experiments, and yields substantially good agreement between theory and
experiment
Ultraviolet and visible photometry of asteroid (21) Lutetia using the Hubble Space Telescope
The asteroid (21) Lutetia is the target of a planned close encounter by the
Rosetta spacecraft in July 2010. To prepare for that flyby, Lutetia has been
extensively observed by a variety of astronomical facilities. We used the
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to determine the albedo of Lutetia over a wide
wavelength range, extending from ~150 nm to ~700 nm. Using data from a variety
of HST filters and a ground-based visible light spectrum, we employed synthetic
photometry techniques to derive absolute fluxes for Lutetia. New results from
ground-based measurements of Lutetia's size and shape were used to convert the
absolute fluxes into albedos. We present our best model for the spectral energy
distribution of Lutetia over the wavelength range 120-800 nm. There appears to
be a steep drop in the albedo (by a factor of ~2) for wavelengths shorter than
~300 nm. Nevertheless, the far ultraviolet albedo of Lutetia (~10%) is
considerably larger than that of typical C-chondrite material (~4%). The
geometric albedo at 550 nm is 16.5 +/- 1%. Lutetia's reflectivity is not
consistent with a metal-dominated surface at infrared or radar wavelengths, and
its albedo at all wavelengths (UV-visibile-IR-radar) is larger than observed
for typical primitive, chondritic material. We derive a relatively high FUV
albedo of ~10%, a result that will be tested by observations with the Alice
spectrograph during the Rosetta flyby of Lutetia in July 2010.Comment: 14 pages, 2 tables, 8 figure
The triaxial ellipsoid dimensions, rotational pole, and bulk density of ESA Rosetta target asteroid (21) Lutetia
We seek the best size estimates of the asteroid (21) Lutetia, the direction
of its spin axis, and its bulk density, assuming its shape is well described by
a smooth featureless triaxial ellipsoid, and to evaluate the deviations from
this assumption. Methods. We derive these quantities from the outlines of the
asteroid in 307 images of its resolved apparent disk obtained with adaptive
optics (AO) at Keck II and VLT, and combine these with recent mass
determinations to estimate a bulk density. Our best triaxial ellipsoid
diameters for Lutetia, based on our AO images alone, are a x b x c = 132 x 101
x 93 km, with uncertainties of 4 x 3 x 13 km including estimated systematics,
with a rotational pole within 5 deg. of ECJ2000 [long,lat] = [45, -7], or
EQJ2000 [RA, DEC] = [44, +9]. The AO model fit itself has internal precisions
of 1 x 1 x 8 km, but it is evident, both from this model derived from limited
viewing aspects and the radius vector model given in a companion paper, that
Lutetia has significant departures from an idealized ellipsoid. In particular,
the long axis may be overestimated from the AO images alone by about 10 km.
Therefore, we combine the best aspects of the radius vector and ellipsoid model
into a hybrid ellipsoid model, as our final result, of 124 +/- 5 x 101 +/- 4 x
93 +/- 13 km that can be used to estimate volumes, sizes, and projected areas.
The adopted pole position is within 5 deg. of [long, lat] = [52, -6] or[RA DEC]
= [52, +12]. Using two separately determined masses and the volume of our
hybrid model, we estimate a density of 3.5 +/- 1.1 or 4.3 +/- 0.8 g cm-3 . From
the density evidence alone, we argue that this favors an enstatite-chondrite
composition, although other compositions are formally allowed at the extremes
(low-porosity CV/CO carbonaceous chondrite or high-porosity metallic). We
discuss this in the context of other evidence.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, 5 tables, submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysic
Near-Infrared Mapping and Physical Properties of the Dwarf-Planet Ceres
We study the physical characteristics (shape, dimensions, spin axis
direction, albedo maps, mineralogy) of the dwarf-planet Ceres based on
high-angular resolution near-infrared observations. We analyze adaptive optics
J/H/K imaging observations of Ceres performed at Keck II Observatory in
September 2002 with an equivalent spatial resolution of ~50 km. The spectral
behavior of the main geological features present on Ceres is compared with
laboratory samples. Ceres' shape can be described by an oblate spheroid (a = b
= 479.7 +/- 2.3 km, c = 444.4 +/- 2.1 km) with EQJ2000.0 spin vector
coordinates RA = 288 +/- 5 deg. and DEC = +66 +/- 5 deg. Ceres sidereal period
is measured to be 9.0741 +/- 0.0001 h. We image surface features with diameters
in the 50-180 km range and an albedo contrast of ~6% with respect to the
average Ceres albedo. The spectral behavior of the brightest regions on Ceres
is consistent with phyllosilicates and carbonate compounds. Darker isolated
regions could be related to the presence of frost.Comment: 11 pages, 8 Postscript figures, Accepted for publication in A&
Physical properties of ESA Rosetta target asteroid (21) Lutetia: Shape and flyby geometry
Aims. We determine the physical properties (spin state and shape) of asteroid
(21) Lutetia, target of the ESA Rosetta mission, to help in preparing for
observations during the flyby on 2010 July 10 by predicting the orientation of
Lutetia as seen from Rosetta.
Methods. We use our novel KOALA inversion algorithm to determine the physical
properties of asteroids from a combination of optical lightcurves,
disk-resolved images, and stellar occultations, although the latter are not
available for (21) Lutetia.
Results. We find the spin axis of (21) Lutetia to lie within 5 degrees of
({\lambda} = 52 deg., {\beta} = -6 deg.) in Ecliptic J2000 reference frame
(equatorial {\alpha} = 52 deg., {\delta} = +12 deg.), and determine an improved
sidereal period of 8.168 270 \pm 0.000 001 h. This pole solution implies the
southern hemisphere of Lutetia will be in "seasonal" shadow at the time of the
flyby. The apparent cross-section of Lutetia is triangular as seen "pole-on"
and more rectangular as seen "equator-on". The best-fit model suggests the
presence of several concavities. The largest of these is close to the north
pole and may be associated with large impacts.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, submitted to Astronomy and
Astrophysic
The Effects of Home Computers on Educational Outcomes: Evidence from a Field Experiment with Schoolchildren
Are home computers are an important input in the educational production
function? To address this question, we conduct a field experiment
involving the provision of free computers to schoolchildren for home
use. Low-income children attending middle and high schools in 15 schools
in California were randomly selected to receive free computers and
followed over the school year. The results indicate that the experiment
substantially increased computer ownership and total computer use among
the schoolchildren with no substitution away from use at school or other
locations outside the home. We find no evidence that the home computers
improved educational outcomes for the treatment group. From detailed
administrative data provided by the schools and a follow-up survey, we
find no evidence of positive effects on a comprehensive set of outcomes
such as grades, test scores, credits, attendance, school enrollment,
computer skills, and college aspirations. The estimates also do not
indicate that the effects of home computers on educational outcomes are
instead negative. Our estimates are precise enough to rule out even
modestly-sized positive or negative impacts. The lack of a positive net
effect on educational outcomes may be due to displacement from
non-educational uses such as for games, social networking, and
entertainment. We find evidence that total hours of computer use for
games and social networking increases substantially with having a home
computer, and increases more than total hours of computer use for schoolwork
The DECam Ecliptic Exploration Project (DEEP) IV: Constraints on the shape distribution of bright TNOs
We present the methods and results from the discovery and photometric
measurement of 26 bright (VR 24 trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) during the
first year (2019-20) of the DECam Ecliptic Exploration Project (DEEP). The DEEP
survey is an observational TNO survey with wide sky coverage, high sensitivity,
and a fast photometric cadence. We apply a computer vision technique known as a
progressive probabilistic Hough transform to identify linearly-moving transient
sources within DEEP photometric catalogs. After subsequent visual vetting, we
provide a photometric and astrometric catalog of our TNOs. By modeling the
partial lightcurve amplitude distribution of the DEEP TNOs using Monte Carlo
techniques, we find our data to be most consistent with an average TNO axis
ratio b/a 0.5, implying a population dominated by non-spherical objects.
Based on ellipsoidal gravitational stability arguments, we find our data to be
consistent with a TNO population containing a high fraction of contact binaries
or other extremely non-spherical objects. We also discuss our data as evidence
that the expected binarity fraction of TNOs may be size-dependent
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