21,908 research outputs found
A random hierarchical lattice: the series-parallel graph and its properties
We consider a sequence of random graphs constructed by a hierarchical procedure. The construction replaces existing edges by pairs of edges in series or parallel with probability and respectively. We investigate the effective resistance across the graphs, first-passage percolation on the graphs and the Cheeger constants of the graphs as the number of edges tends to infinity. In each case we find a phase transition at
Present-day plate motions
A data set comprising 110 spreading rates, 78 transform fault azimuths and 142 earthquake slip vectors was inverted to yield a new instantaneous plate motion model, designated RM2. The mean averaging interval for the relative motion data was reduced to less than 3 My. A detailed comparison of RM2 with angular velocity vectors which best fit the data along individual plate boundaries indicates that RM2 performs close to optimally in most regions, with several notable exceptions. On the other hand, a previous estimate (RM1) failed to satisfy an extensive set of new data collected in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is shown that RM1 incorrectly predicts the plate kinematics in the South Atlantic because the presently available data are inconsistent with the plate geometry assumed in deriving RM1. It is demonstrated that this inconsistency can be remedied by postulating the existence of internal deformation with the Indian plate, although alternate explanations are possible
The progenitors of magnetic white dwarfs in open clusters
According to the fossil-field hypothesis magnetic fields are remnants of the
previous stages of evolution. However, population synthesis calculations are
unable to reproduce the magnetic white dwarf (MWD) sample without binary
interaction or inclusion of a population of progenitor with unobservable
small-scale fields. One necessary ingredient in population synthesis is the
initial-to-final-mass relation (IFMR) which describes the mass-loss processes
during the stellar evolution. When white dwarfs are members of open clusters,
their evolutionary histories can be assessed through the use of cluster
properties. In this work, we assess the cluster membership by correlating the
proper-motion of MWDs with the cluster proper-motion and by analyzing the
candidates spectroscopically with our magnetic model spectra in order to
estimate the effective temperature and radii. We identified SDSS
J085523.87+164059.0 to be a proper-motion member of Praesepe. We also included
the data of the formerly identified cluster members NGC 6819-8, WD 0836+201 and
estimated the mass, cooling age and the progenitor masses of the three probable
MWD members of open clusters. According to our analysis, the newly identified
cluster member SDSS J085523.87+164059.0 is an ultra-massive MWD of mass 1.12
0.11 Msolar. We increase the sample of MWDs with known progenitor masses
to ten, with the rest of the data coming from the common proper motion
binaries. Our investigations show that, when effects of the magnetic fields are
included in the diagnostics, the estimated properties of these cluster MWDs do
not show evidence for deviations from the IFMR. Furthermore, we estimate the
precision of the magnetic diagnostics which would be necessary to determine
quantitatively whether magnetism has any effect on the mass-loss.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Recommended from our members
Beacons of Excellence in Stress Prevention
NoThis report describes the work of Robertson Cooper Ltd and UMIST to identify good practice in stress
prevention and then identify organisations within the UK that could be called beacons of excellence in
comparison to this model. Part one of this report summarises and draws conclusions from all of the
substantive academic studies on stress prevention over the last decade and uses this information, as
well as advice gained from a panel of international experts, to develop a comprehensive stress
prevention model. Part two of the report uses this model to describe examples of stress prevention
practices that Robertson Cooper Ltd has identified within a wide range of UK organisations. Case
studies are presented for each aspect of the good practice model. Examples of real documentation and
organisational practice are presented.Health and Safety Executive (HSE
Lunar surface exploration by satellite. An integrated experiment package to perform measurements of the composition of the lunar surface Final report
Integrated experiment package to measure lunar surface composition - gamma ray, alpha particle, X ray fluorescence, and neutron albedo experiment
Migration as Adaptation? Exploring The Scope for Co-ordinating Environmental and Migration Policies in the European Union
Parity meter for charge qubits: an efficient quantum entangler
We propose a realization of a charge parity meter based on two double quantum
dots alongside a quantum point contact. Such a device is a specific example of
the general class of mesoscopic quadratic quantum measurement detectors
previously investigated by Mao et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 056803 (2004)]. Our
setup accomplishes entangled state preparation by a current measurement alone,
and allows the qubits to be effectively decoupled by pinching off the parity
meter. Two applications of the parity meter are discussed: the measurement of
Bell's inequality in charge qubits and the realization of a controlled NOT
gate.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; v2: discussion of measurement time, references
adde
Does observability amplify sensitivity to moral frames? Evaluating a reputation-based account of moral preferences
A growing body of work suggests that people are sensitive to moral framing in economic games involving prosociality, suggesting that people hold moral preferences for doing the “right thing”. What gives rise to these preferences? Here, we evaluate the explanatory power of a reputation-based account, which proposes that people respond to moral frames because they are motivated to look good in the eyes of others. Across four pre-registered experiments (total N = 9,601), we investigated whether reputational incentives amplify sensitivity to framing effects. Studies 1-3 manipulated (i) whether moral or neutral framing was used to describe a Trade-Off Game (in which participants chose between prioritizing equality or efficiency) and (ii) whether Trade-Off Game choices were observable to a social partner in a subsequent Trust Game. These studies found that observability does not significantly amplify sensitivity to moral framing. Study 4 ruled out the alternative explanation that the observability manipulation from Studies 1-3 is too weak to influence behavior. In Study 4, the same observability manipulation did significantly amplify sensitivity to normative information (about what others see as moral in the Trade-Off Game). Together, these results suggest that moral frames may tap into moral preferences that are relatively deeply internalized, such that the power of moral frames is not strongly enhanced by making the morally-framed behavior observable to others
Revisiting two-step Forbush decreases
Interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) and their shocks can sweep out galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), thus creating Forbush decreases (FDs). The traditional model of FDs predicts that an ICME and its shock decrease the GCR intensity in a two-step profile. This model, however, has been the focus of little testing. Thus, our goal is to discover whether a passing ICME and its shock inevitably lead to a two-step FD, as predicted by the model. We use cosmic ray data from 14 neutron monitors and, when possible, high time resolution GCR data from the spacecraft International Gamma Ray Astrophysical Laboratory (INTEGRAL). We analyze 233 ICMEs that should have created two-step FDs. Of these, only 80 created FDs, and only 13 created two-step FDs. FDs are thus less common than predicted by the model. The majority of events indicates that profiles of FDs are more complicated, particularly within the ICME sheath, than predicted by the model. We conclude that the traditional model of FDs as having one or two steps should be discarded. We also conclude that generally ignored small-scale interplanetary magnetic field structure can contribute to the observed variety of FD profiles
A Novel Use of Light Guides and Wavelength Shifting Plates for the Detection of Scintillation Photons in Large Liquid Argon Detectors
Scintillation light generated as charged particles traverse large liquid
argon detectors adds valuable information to studies of weakly-interacting
particles. This paper uses both laboratory measurements and cosmic ray data
from the Blanche dewar facility at Fermilab to characterize the efficiency of
the photon detector technology developed at Indiana University for the single
phase far detector of DUNE. The efficiency of this technology was found to be
0.48% at the readout end when the detector components were characterized with
laboratory measurements. A second determination of the efficiency using cosmic
ray tracks is in reasonable agreement with the laboratory determination. The
agreement of these two efficiency determinations supports the result that
minimum ionizing muons generate photons/MeV as
they cross the LAr volume.Comment: Accepted version (without final editorial corrections
- …