6,598 research outputs found
CoralXDS - Coral X-radiograph Densitometry System
The Coral X-radiograph Densitometry System (CoralXDS) is a Windows-based program which provides a tool for measurement of linear extension, density, and calcification from coral X-radiographs. These quantities are determined for high-density, low-density, and annual bands. CoralXDS operates in two modes : full mode and extension/luminance mode. Full mode measures linear extension, density, and calcification, while extension/luminance mode measures only linear extension. Extension/luminance mode requires only a coral image with scaling information. CoralXDS allows user specification of transect location and orientation on the coral image, and provides several options for automated and manual band selection. The output measurements are provided as plots and datasets
The k-Point Random Matrix Kernels Obtained from One-Point Supermatrix Models
The k-point correlation functions of the Gaussian Random Matrix Ensembles are
certain determinants of functions which depend on only two arguments. They are
referred to as kernels, since they are the building blocks of all correlations.
We show that the kernels are obtained, for arbitrary level number, directly
from supermatrix models for one-point functions. More precisely, the generating
functions of the one-point functions are equivalent to the kernels. This is
surprising, because it implies that already the one-point generating function
holds essential information about the k-point correlations. This also
establishes a link to the averaged ratios of spectral determinants, i.e. of
characteristic polynomials
Experimental Investigation into the Radar Anomalies on the Surface of Venus
Radar mapping of thc surface of Venus shows areas of high reflectivity (low emissivity) in the Venusian highlands at altitudes between 2.5-4.75 kilometers. The origin of the radar anomalies found in the Venusian highlands remains unclear. Most explanations of the potential causes for these radar anomalies come from theoretical work. Previous studies suggest increased surface roughness or materials with higher dielectric constants as well as surface atmospheric interactions. Several possible candidates of high-dielectric materials are tellurium) ferroelectric materials, and lead or bismuth sulfides. While previous studies have been influential in determining possible sources for the Venus anomalies, only a very few hypotheses have been verified via experimentation. This work intends to experimentally constrain the source of the radar anomalies on Venus. This study proposes to investigate four possible materials that could potentially cause the high reflectivities on the surface of Venus and tests their behavior under simulated Venusian conditions
Complex scattering within D" observed on the very dense Los Angeles Region Seismic Experiment passive array
Several seismic phases that scattered within a few hundred kilometers of the base of the mantle are observed in a very dense seismic section. The Los Angeles Region Seismic Experiment passive phase array was composed of 88 seismometers placed along a 175 km profile. Records from two deep earthquakes in Tonga and one earthquake near Honshu, Japan show a secondary arrival between clear P and PcP arrivals. Modeling with layered structures shows that the Tonga and Honshu seismic sections are consistent with an increase in seismic velocity 140 and 240 km above the core-mantle boundary, respectively, and a ≃10-km thick low-velocity zone at the base of the mantle beneath a region in the mid Pacific. Several of these arrivals are not coherent enough to appear in higher resolution stacks from the much larger Southern California Seismic Network. This experiment illustrates that fine-scale passive array data can reveal small-scale deep Earth structure invisible to larger-scale seismic networks
Damping of dHvA oscillations and vortex-lattice disorder in the peak-effect region of strong type-II superconductors
The phenomenon of magnetic quantum oscillations in the superconducting state
poses several questions that still defy satisfactory answers. A key
controversial issue concerns the additional damping observed in the vortex
state. Here, we show results of \mu SR, dHvA, and SQUID magnetization
measurements on borocarbide superconductors, indicating that a sharp drop
observed in the dHvA amplitude just below H_{c2} is correlated with enhanced
disorder of the vortex lattice in the peak-effect region, which significantly
enhances quasiparticle scattering by the pair potential.Comment: 4 pages 4 figure
ipso-Substitution – A Novel Pathway for Microbial Metabolism of Endocrine-Disrupting 4-Nonylphenols, 4-Alkoxyphenols, and Bisphenol A
Our studies with Sphingobium xenophagum Bayram show that this bacterial strain degrades ?-quaternary 4-nonylphenols by an ipso-substitution mechanism, whereby the nonylphenol substrates are initially hydroxylated at the ipso position to form 4-hydroxy-4-nonylcyclohexa-2,5-dienones
(quinols). Subsequently, the ?-quaternary side chains are able to detach as short-living cations from these intermediates. Alkyl branches attached to the carbocation help to delocalize and thereby stabilize the positive charge through inductive and hyperconjugative effects, which explains
why only alkyl moieties of ?-quaternary nonylphenols are released. This view is corroborated by experiments with S. xenophagum Bayram, in which the alkyl chains of the non-?-quaternary 4-(1-methyloctyl) phenol (4-NP2) and 4-n-nonylphenol (4-NP1)
were not released, so that the bacterium was unable to utilize these isomers as growth substrates. Analysis of dead end metabolites and experiments with 18O labeled H2O and O2 clearly show that in the main degradation pathway the nonyl cation derived from ?-quaternary
quinols preferentially combines with a molecule of water to yield the corresponding alcohol and hydroquinone. However, the incorporation of significant amounts of O2-derived oxygen into the nonanol metabolites derived from degradation of certain ?,?-dimethyl substituted
nonylphenols by strain Bayram strongly indicates the existence of a minor pathway in which the cation undergoes an alternative reaction and attacks the ipso-hydroxy group, yielding a 4-alkoxyphenol as an intermediate. Additional growth experiments with strain Bayram revealed that also
the two alkoxyphenols 4-tert-butoxyphenol and 4-n-octyloxyphenol promote growth. Furthermore, strain Bayram's ipso-hydroxlating activity is able to transform also bisphenol A
Survival Probability of a Doorway State in regular and chaotic environments
We calculate survival probability of a special state which couples randomly
to a regular or chaotic environment. The environment is modelled by a suitably
chosen random matrix ensemble. The exact results exhibit non--perturbative
features as revival of probability and non--ergodicity. The role of background
complexity and of coupling complexity is discussed as well.Comment: 19 pages 5 Figure
Coherent charge transport through molecular wires: "Exciton blocking" and current from electronic excitations in the wire
We consider exciton effects on current in molecular nanojunctions, using a
model comprising a two two-level sites bridge connecting free electron
reservoirs. Expanding the density operator in the many-electron eigenstates of
the uncoupled sites, we obtain a 16X16 density matrix in the bridge subspace
whose dynamics is governed by Liuoville equation that takes into account
interactions on the bridge as well as electron injection and damping to and
from the leads. Our consideration can be considerably simplified by using the
pseudospin description based on the symmetry properties of Lie group SU(2). We
study the influence of the bias voltage, the Coulomb repulsion and the
energy-transfer interactions on the steady-state current and in particular
focus on the effect of the excitonic interaction between bridge sites. Our
calculations show that in case of non-interacting electrons this interaction
leads to reduction in the current at high voltage for a homodimer bridge. In
other words, we predict the effect of \textquotedblleft
exciton\textquotedblright blocking. The effect of \textquotedblleft
exciton\textquotedblright blocking is modified for a heterodimer bridge, and
disappears for strong Coulomb repulsion at sites. In the latter case the
exciton type interactions can open new channels for electronic conduction. In
particular, in the case of strong Coulomb repulsion, conduction exists even
when the electronic connectivity does not exist.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figure
Coherent Optimal Control of Multiphoton Molecular Excitation
We give a framework for molecular multiphoton excitation process induced by
an optimally designed electric field. The molecule is initially prepared in a
coherent superposition state of two of its eigenfunctions. The relative phase
of the two superposed eigenfunctions has been shown to control the optimally
designed electric field which triggers the multiphoton excitation in the
molecule. This brings forth flexibility in desiging the optimal field in the
laboratory by suitably tuning the molecular phase and hence by choosing the
most favorable interfering routes that the system follows to reach the target.
We follow the quantum fluid dynamical formulation for desiging the electric
field with application to HBr molecule.Comment: 5 figure
A Multiplicity Census of Young Stars in Chamaeleon I
We present the results of a multiplicity survey of 126 stars spanning ~0.1-3
solar masses in the ~2-Myr-old Chamaeleon I star-forming region, based on
adaptive optics imaging with the ESO Very Large Telescope. Our observations
have revealed 30 binaries and 6 triples, of which 19 and 4, respectively, are
new discoveries. The overall multiplicity fraction we find for Cha I (~30%) is
similar to those reported for other dispersed young associations, but
significantly higher than seen in denser clusters and the field, for comparable
samples. Both the frequency and the maximum separation of Cha I binaries
decline with decreasing mass, while the mass ratios approach unity; conversely,
tighter pairs are more likely to be equal mass. We confirm that brown dwarf
companions to stars are rare, even at young ages at wide separations. Based on
follow-up spectroscopy of two low-mass substellar companion candidates, we
conclude that both are likely background stars. The overall multiplicity
fraction in Cha I is in rough agreement with numerical simulations of cloud
collapse and fragmentation, but its observed mass dependence is less steep than
predicted. The paucity of higher-order multiples, in particular, provides a
stringent constraint on the simulations, and seems to indicate a low level of
turbulence in the prestellar cores in Cha I.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
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