5,050 research outputs found
Simulations of Electron Acceleration at Collisionless Shocks: The Effects of Surface Fluctuations
Energetic electrons are a common feature of interplanetary shocks and
planetary bow shocks, and they are invoked as a key component of models of
nonthermal radio emission, such as solar radio bursts. A simulation study is
carried out of electron acceleration for high Mach number, quasi-perpendicular
shocks, typical of the shocks in the solar wind. Two dimensional
self-consistent hybrid shock simulations provide the electric and magnetic
fields in which test particle electrons are followed. A range of different
shock types, shock normal angles, and injection energies are studied. When the
Mach number is low, or the simulation configuration suppresses fluctuations
along the magnetic field direction, the results agree with theory assuming
magnetic moment conserving reflection (or Fast Fermi acceleration), with
electron energy gains of a factor only 2 - 3. For high Mach number, with a
realistic simulation configuration, the shock front has a dynamic rippled
character. The corresponding electron energization is radically different:
Energy spectra display: (1) considerably higher maximum energies than Fast
Fermi acceleration; (2) a plateau, or shallow sloped region, at intermediate
energies 2 - 5 times the injection energy; (3) power law fall off with
increasing energy, for both upstream and downstream particles, with a slope
decreasing as the shock normal angle approaches perpendicular; (4) sustained
flux levels over a broader region of shock normal angle than for adiabatic
reflection. All these features are in good qualitative agreement with
observations, and show that dynamic structure in the shock surface at ion
scales produces effective scattering and can be responsible for making high
Mach number shocks effective sites for electron acceleration.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figure
Lifetime statistics of quantum chaos studied by a multiscale analysis
In a series of pump and probe experiments, we study the lifetime statistics
of a quantum chaotic resonator when the number of open channels is greater than
one. Our design embeds a stadium billiard into a two dimensional photonic
crystal realized on a Silicon-on-insulator substrate. We calculate resonances
through a multiscale procedure that combines graph theory, energy landscape
analysis and wavelet transforms. Experimental data is found to follow the
universal predictions arising from random matrix theory with an excellent level
of agreement.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure
Applications of the AVE-Sesame data sets to mesoscale studies
Data collected by the lightning data concentrator are available for research. The Mark 3 McIDAS capability provides greater flexibility for the Marshall user community and serves as a model of future UW McIDAS to remote computer links. Techniques were investigated for the display of dynamic 3-D data sets. To date the most promising display technology is a polarized two CRT perspective display which allows both dynamic 3-D images and graphics presentations with full color capability. Algorithms were for the preparation and display of conventional and satellite based weather data in 3-D. These include gridding, contouring, and streamlining processors which operate on both real time and case study data bases. An upper air trajectory model was implemented which creates a display of air parcel trajectories in perspective 3-D. A subsystem for the generation of 3-D solid surface display with shading and hidden surface display with shading and hidden surface removal was tested and its products are currently being evaluated. Motion parallax introduced by moving the point of observation during display is an important depth cue, which, when added to the perspective parallax creates a very realistic appearing display
Astrophysical factors:Zero energy vs. Most effective energy
Effective astrophysical factors for non-resonant astrophysical nuclear
reaction are invariably calculated with respect to a zero energy limit. In the
present work that limit is shown to be very disadvantageous compared to the
more natural effective energy limit. The latter is used in order to modify the
thermonuclear reaction rate formula so that it takes into account both plasma
and laboratory screening effects.Comment: 7 RevTex pages. Accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.
Gravitational Lensing Signature of Long Cosmic Strings
The gravitational lensing by long, wiggly cosmic strings is shown to produce
a large number of lensed images of a background source. In addition to pairs of
images on either side of the string, a number of small images outline the
string due to small-scale structure on the string. This image pattern could
provide a highly distinctive signature of cosmic strings. Since the optical
depth for multiple imaging of distant quasar sources by long strings may be
comparable to that by galaxies, these image patterns should be clearly
observable in the next generation of redshift surveys such as the Sloan Digital
Sky Survey.Comment: 4 pages, revtex with 3 postscript figures include
Atomic effects in astrophysical nuclear reactions
Two models are presented for the description of the electron screening
effects that appear in laboratory nuclear reactions at astrophysical energies.
The two-electron screening energy of the first model agrees very well with the
recent LUNA experimental result for the break-up reaction , which so far defies all available theoretical models.
Moreover, multi-electron effects that enhance laboratory reactions of the CNO
cycle and other advanced nuclear burning stages, are also studied by means of
the Thomas-Fermi model, deriving analytical formulae that establish a lower and
upper limit for the associated screening energy. The results of the second
model, which show a very satisfactory compatibility with the adiabatic
approximation ones, are expected to be particularly useful in future
experiments for a more accurate determination of the CNO astrophysical factors.Comment: 14 RevTex pages + 2 ps (revised) figures. Phys.Rev.C (in production
The Cosmological Constant is Back
A diverse set of observations now compellingly suggest that Universe
possesses a nonzero cosmological constant. In the context of quantum-field
theory a cosmological constant corresponds to the energy density of the vacuum,
and the wanted value for the cosmological constant corresponds to a very tiny
vacuum energy density. We discuss future observational tests for a cosmological
constant as well as the fundamental theoretical challenges---and
opportunities---that this poses for particle physics and for extending our
understanding of the evolution of the Universe back to the earliest moments.Comment: latex, 8 pages plus one ps figure available as separate compressed
uuencoded fil
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