18,300 research outputs found
An investigation of pulsar searching techniques with the Fast Folding Algorithm
Here we present an in-depth study of the behaviour of the Fast Folding
Algorithm, an alternative pulsar searching technique to the Fast Fourier
Transform. Weaknesses in the Fast Fourier Transform, including a susceptibility
to red noise, leave it insensitive to pulsars with long rotational periods (P >
1 s). This sensitivity gap has the potential to bias our understanding of the
period distribution of the pulsar population. The Fast Folding Algorithm, a
time-domain based pulsar searching technique, has the potential to overcome
some of these biases. Modern distributed-computing frameworks now allow for the
application of this algorithm to all-sky blind pulsar surveys for the first
time. However, many aspects of the behaviour of this search technique remain
poorly understood, including its responsiveness to variations in pulse shape
and the presence of red noise. Using a custom CPU-based implementation of the
Fast Folding Algorithm, ffancy, we have conducted an in-depth study into the
behaviour of the Fast Folding Algorithm in both an ideal, white noise regime as
well as a trial on observational data from the HTRU-S Low Latitude pulsar
survey, including a comparison to the behaviour of the Fast Fourier Transform.
We are able to both confirm and expand upon earlier studies that demonstrate
the ability of the Fast Folding Algorithm to outperform the Fast Fourier
Transform under ideal white noise conditions, and demonstrate a significant
improvement in sensitivity to long-period pulsars in real observational data
through the use of the Fast Folding Algorithm.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, 3 table
Comment on "Absence of trapped surfaces and singularities in cylindrical collapse"
Recently, the gravitational collapse of an infinite cylindrical thin shell of
matter in an otherwise empty spacetime with two hypersurface orthogonal Killing
vectors was studied by Gon\c{c}alves [Phys. Rev. {\bf D65}, 084045 (2002).]. By
using three "alternative" criteria for trapped surfaces, the author claimed to
have shown that {\em they can never form either outside or on the shell,
regardingless of the matter content for the shell, except at asymptotical
future null infinite}.
Following Penrose's original idea, we first define trapped surfaces in
cylindrical spacetimes in terms of the expansions of null directions orthogonal
to the surfaces, and then show that the first criterion used by Gon\c{c}alves
is incorrect. We also show that his analysis of non-existence of trapped
surfaces in vacuum is incomplete. To confirm our claim, we present an example
that is a solution to the vacuum Einstein field equations and satisfies all the
regular conditions imposed by Gon\c{c}alves. After extending the solution to
the whole spacetime, we show explicitly that trapped surfaces exist in the
extended region.Comment: latex, 2 figures, the last version to appear in Phys. Rev.
Spherical Orbifolds for Cosmic Topology
Harmonic analysis is a tool to infer cosmic topology from the measured
astrophysical cosmic microwave background CMB radiation. For overall positive
curvature, Platonic spherical manifolds are candidates for this analysis. We
combine the specific point symmetry of the Platonic manifolds with their deck
transformations. This analysis in topology leads from manifolds to orbifolds.
We discuss the deck transformations of the orbifolds and give eigenmodes for
the harmonic analysis as linear combinations of Wigner polynomials on the
3-sphere. These provide new tools for detecting cosmic topology from the CMB
radiation.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with
arXiv:1011.427
Observables in the Decays of B to Two Vector Mesons
In general there are nine observables in the decay of a B meson to two vector
mesons defined in terms of polarization correlations of these mesons. Only six
of these can be detected via the subsequent decay angular distributions because
of parity conservation in those decays. The remaining three require the
measurement of the spin polarization of one of the decay products.Comment: 12 pages, no figur
New Non-Diagonal Singularity-Free Cosmological Perfect-Fluid Solution
We present a new non-diagonal G2 inhomogeneous perfect-fluid solution with
barotropic equation of state p=rho and positive density everywhere. It
satisfies the global hyperbolicity condition and has no curvature singularity
anywhere. This solution is very simple in form and has two arbitrary constants.Comment: Latex, no figure
Mixed Symmetry Solutions of Generalized Three-Particle Bargmann-Wigner Equations in the Strong-Coupling Limit
Starting from a nonlinear isospinor-spinor field equation, generalized
three-particle Bargmann-Wigner equations are derived. In the strong-coupling
limit, a special class of spin 1/2 bound-states are calculated. These solutions
which are antisymmetric with respect to all indices, have mixed symmetries in
isospin-superspin space and in spin orbit space. As a consequence of this mixed
symmetry, we get three solution manifolds. In appendix \ref{b}, table 2, these
solution manifolds are interpreted as the three generations of leptons and
quarks. This interpretation will be justified in a forthcoming paper.Comment: 17 page
Wigner Molecules in Nanostructures
The one-- and two-- particle densities of up to four interacting electrons
with spin, confined within a quasi one--dimensional ``quantum dot'' are
calculated by numerical diagonalization. The transition from a dense
homogeneous charge distribution to a dilute localized Wigner--type electron
arrangement is investigated. The influence of the long range part of the
Coulomb interaction is studied. When the interaction is exponentially cut off
the ``crystallized'' Wigner molecule is destroyed in favor of an inhomogeneous
charge distribution similar to a charge density wave .Comment: 10 pages (excl. Figures), Figures available on request LaTe
Apollo-11 lunar sample information catalogue
The Apollo 11 mission is reviewed with emphasis on the collection of lunar samples, their geologic setting, early processing, and preliminary examination. The experience gained during five subsequent missions was applied to obtain physical-chemical data for each sample using photographic and binocular microscope techniques. Topics discussed include: binocular examination procedure; breccia clast dexrriptuons, thin section examinations procedure typical breccia in thin section, typical basalt in thin section, sample histories, and chemical and age data. An index to photographs is included
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