3,011 research outputs found
Light-like Big Bang singularities in string and matrix theories
Important open questions in cosmology require a better understanding of the
Big Bang singularity. In string and matrix theories, light-like analogues of
cosmological singularities (singular plane wave backgrounds) turn out to be
particularly tractable. We give a status report on the current understanding of
such light-like Big Bang models, presenting both solved and open problems.Comment: 20 pages, invited review for Class. Quant. Grav; v3: section 2.3
shortened, discussion on DLCQ added in section 3.1, published versio
Pterodactyl: Trade Study for an Integrated Control System Design of a Mechanically Deployable Entry Vehicle
This paper presents the trade study method used to evaluate and downselect from a set of guidance and control (G&C) system designs for a mechanically Deployable Entry Vehicle (DEV). The Pterodactyl project was prompted by the challenge to develop an effective G&C system for a vehicle without a backshell, which is the case for DEVs. For the DEV, the project assumed a specific aeroshell geometry pertaining to an Adaptable, Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT) vehicle, which was successfully developed by NASAs Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) prior to this study. The Pterodactyl project designed three different entry G&C systems for precision targeting. This paper details the Figures of Merit (FOMs) and metrics used during the course of the projects G&C system assessment. The relative importance of the FOMs was determined from the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which was used to develop weights that were combined with quantitative design metrics and engineering judgement to rank the G&C systems against one another. This systematic method takes into consideration the projects input while simultaneously reducing unintentional judgement bias and ultimately was used to select a single G&C design for the project to pursue in the next design phase
Integrating Flight Dynamics & Control Analysis and Simulation in Rotorcraft Conceptual Design
The development of a toolset, SIMPLI-FLYD ('SIMPLIfied FLight dynamics for conceptual Design') is described. SIMPLI-FLYD is a collection of tools that perform flight dynamics and control modeling and analysis of rotorcraft conceptual designs including a capability to evaluate the designs in an X-Plane-based real-time simulation. The establishment of this framework is now facilitating the exploration of this new capability, in terms of modeling fidelity and data requirements, and the investigation of which stability and control and handling qualities requirements are appropriate for conceptual design. Illustrative design variation studies for single main rotor and tiltrotor vehicle configurations show sensitivity of the stability and control characteristics and an approach to highlight potential weight savings by identifying over-design
Quantum evolution across singularities: the case of geometrical resolutions
We continue the study of time-dependent Hamiltonians with an isolated
singularity in their time dependence, describing propagation on singular
space-times. In previous work, two of us have proposed a "minimal subtraction"
prescription for the simplest class of such systems, involving Hamiltonians
with only one singular term. On the other hand, Hamiltonians corresponding to
geometrical resolutions of space-time tend to involve multiple operator
structures (multiple types of dependence on the canonical variables) in an
essential way.
We consider some of the general properties of such (near-)singular
Hamiltonian systems, and further specialize to the case of a free scalar field
on a two-parameter generalization of the null-brane space-time. We find that
the singular limit of free scalar field evolution exists for a discrete subset
of the possible values of the two parameters. The coordinates we introduce
reveal a peculiar reflection property of scalar field propagation on the
generalized (as well as the original) null-brane. We further present a simple
family of pp-wave geometries whose singular limit is a light-like hyperplane
(discontinuously) reflecting the positions of particles as they pass through
it.Comment: 25 pages, 1 figur
Effect of Control System Augmentation on Handling Qualities and Task Performance in Good and Degraded Visual Environments
In June 2013, NASA and the U.S. Army jointly conducted a simulation experiment in the NASA-Ames Vertical Motion Simulator that examined and quantified the effects of limited-authority control system augmentation on handling qualities and task performance in both good and degraded visual environments (DVEs). The vehicle model used for the experiment was the OH-58D with similar size, weight and performance, and the same 4-blade rotor system as the Bell 407 civilian helicopter that is commonly used for medical evacuation and emergency medical services. The control systems investigated as part of this study included the baseline aircraft Rate Command system, a short-term Attitude Command/Attitude Hold system that uses lagged-rate feedback to provide a short-term attitude response, Modernized Control Laws that provide an Attitude Command/Attitude Hold control response type, and Modernized Control Laws with an additional Position Hold function. Evaluation tasks included the ADS-33 Hover, Sidestep, Acceleration/Deceleration, and Pirouette Mission Task Elements, as well as a new proposed Emergency Medical Services task that includes an approach and landing at a minimally prepared remote landing site. Degraded visual environments were simulated with night vision goggles and an unaided night scene. A total of nine experimental test pilots participated in the four-week simulation experiment. Data recorded during the evaluation included Cooper-Harper handling qualities ratings, Bedford Workload scale ratings, and task performance. The Usable Cue Environment (UCE) was measured for this simulation experiment, and found to be UCE equals 1 in good visual environments and UCE equals 2 in degraded visual environments with night vision goggles. Results showed that handling qualities ratings were improved with a control system providing short-term attitude response over a rate command system, although the improvements were not sufficient to produce Level 1 handling qualities in degraded visual environments. Results for an Attitude Command/Attitude Hold control system showed that borderline Level 1 handling qualities could be achieved in degraded visual environments, and the 10 percent authority stability augmentation system was adequate to obtain these handling qualities ratings
A Matrix Big Bang
The light-like linear dilaton background represents a particularly simple
time-dependent 1/2 BPS solution of critical type IIA superstring theory in ten
dimensions. Its lift to M-theory, as well as its Einstein frame metric, are
singular in the sense that the geometry is geodesically incomplete and the
Riemann tensor diverges along a light-like subspace of codimension one. We
study this background as a model for a big bang type singularity in string
theory/M-theory. We construct the dual Matrix theory description in terms of a
(1+1)-d supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory on a time-dependent world-sheet given
by the Milne orbifold of (1+1)-d Minkowski space. Our model provides a
framework in which the physics of the singularity appears to be under control.Comment: 25 pages, LaTeX; v2: discussion of singularity of Einstein frame
metric added, references adde
Self Consistent Molecular Field Theory for Packing in Classical Liquids
Building on a quasi-chemical formulation of solution theory, this paper
proposes a self consistent molecular field theory for packing problems in
classical liquids, and tests the theoretical predictions for the excess
chemical potential of the hard sphere fluid. Results are given for the self
consistent molecular fields obtained, and for the probabilities of occupancy of
a molecular observation volume. For this system, the excess chemical potential
predicted is as accurate as the most accurate prior theories, particularly the
scaled particle (Percus-Yevick compressibility) theory. It is argued that the
present approach is particularly simple, and should provide a basis for a
molecular-scale description of more complex solutions.Comment: 6 pages and 5 figure
Exact Solutions of Anisotropic Diffusion-Limited Reactions with Coagulation and Annihilation
We report exact results for one-dimensional reaction-diffusion models A+A ->
inert, A+A -> A, and A+B -> inert, where in the latter case like particles
coagulate on encounters and move as clusters. Our study emphasized anisotropy
of hopping rates; no changes in universal properties were found, due to
anisotropy, in all three reactions. The method of solution employed mapping
onto a model of coagulating positive integer charges. The dynamical rules were
synchronous, cellular-automaton type. All the asymptotic large-time results for
particle densities were consistent, in the framework of universality, with
other model results with different dynamical rules, when available in the
literature.Comment: 28 pages in plain TeX + 2 PostScript figure
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