2,921 research outputs found
On variational principles for coherent vortex structures
Different approaches are discussed of variational principles characterizing coherent vortex structures in two-dimensional flows. Turbulent flows seem to form ordered structures in the large scales of the motion and the self-organization principle predicts asymptotic states realizing an extremal value of the energy or a minimum of enstrophy. On the other hand the small scales take care of the increase of entropy, and asymptotic results can be obtained by applying the theory of equilibrium statistical mechanics
Slow-roll Inflation with the Gauss-Bonnet and Chern-Simons Corrections
We study slow-roll inflation with the Gauss-Bonnet and Chern-Simons
corrections. We obtain general formulas for the observables: spectral indices,
tensor-to-scalar ratio and circular polarization of gravitational waves. The
Gauss-Bonnet term violates the consistency relation r = -8n_T. Particularly,
blue spectrum n_T > 0 and scale invariant spectrum |8n_T|/r << 1 of tensor
modes are possible. These cases require the Gauss-Bonnet coupling function of
\xi _{,\phi } \sim 10^8/M_{Pl}. We use examples to show new-inflation-type
potential with 10M_{Pl} symmetry breaking scale and potential with flat region
in \phi \gtrsim 10M_{Pl} lead to observationally consistent blue and scale
invariant spectra, respectively. Hence, these interesting cases can actually be
realized. The Chern-Simons term produce circularly polarized tensor modes. We
show an observation of these signals supports existence of the Chern-Simons
coupling function of \omega _{,\phi } \sim 10^8/M_{Pl}. Thus, with future
observations, we can fix or constrain the value of these coupling functions, at
the CMB scale.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figure
Exact solutions in a scalar-tensor model of dark energy
We consider a model of scalar field with non minimal kinetic and Gauss Bonnet
couplings as a source of dark energy. Based on asymptotic limits of the
generalized Friedmann equation, we impose restrictions on the kinetic an
Gauss-Bonnet couplings. This restrictions considerable simplify the equations,
allowing for exact solutions unifying early time matter dominance with
transitions to late time quintessence and phantom phases. The stability of the
solutions in absence of matter has been studied.Comment: 30 pages, 2 figures, to appear in JCA
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Evaluation of ECMWF medium-range ensemble forecasts of precipitation for river basins
Providing probabilistic forecasts using Ensemble Prediction Systems has become increasingly popular in both the meteorological and hydrological communities. Compared to conventional deterministic forecasts, probabilistic forecasts may provide more reliable forecasts of a few hours to a number of days ahead, and hence are regarded as better tools for taking uncertainties into consideration and hedging against weather risks. It is essential to evaluate performance of raw ensemble forecasts and their potential values in forecasting extreme hydro-meteorological events. This study evaluates ECMWF's medium-range ensemble forecasts of precipitation over the period 1 January 2008 to 30 September 2012 on a selected midlatitude large-scale river basin, the Huai river basin (ca. 270 000 km2) in central-east China. The evaluation unit is sub-basin in order to consider forecast performance in a hydrologically relevant way. The study finds that forecast performance varies with sub-basin properties, between flooding and non-flooding seasons, and with the forecast properties of aggregated time steps and lead times. Although the study does not evaluate any hydrological applications of the ensemble precipitation forecasts, its results have direct implications in hydrological forecasts should these ensemble precipitation forecasts be employed in hydrology
Attributing scientific and technical progress: the case of holography
Holography, the three-dimensional imaging technology, was portrayed widely as a paradigm
of progress during its decade of explosive expansion 1964–73, and during its subsequent
consolidation for commercial and artistic uses up to the mid 1980s. An unusually
seductive and prolific subject, holography successively spawned scientific insights, putative
applications and new constituencies of practitioners and consumers. Waves of forecasts,
associated with different sponsors and user communities, cast holography as a field on the
verge of success—but with the dimensions of success repeatedly refashioned. This retargeting
of the subject represented a degree of cynical marketeering, but was underpinned by
implicit confidence in philosophical positivism and faith in technological progressivism.
Each of its communities defined success in terms of expansion, and anticipated continual
progressive increase. This paper discusses the contrasting definitions of progress in holography,
and how they were fashioned in changing contexts. Focusing equally on reputed ‘failures’ of some aspects of the subject, it explores the varied attributes by which success and failure were linked with progress by different technical communities. This important case illuminates the peculiar post-World War II environment that melded the military, commercial and popular engagement with scientific and technological subjects, and the
competing criteria by which they assessed the products of science
Energy Conditions in Modified Gravity with Non-minimal Coupling to Matter
In this paper we study a model of modified gravity with non-minimal coupling
between a general function of the Gauss-Bonnet invariant, , and matter
Lagrangian from the point of view of the energy conditions. Such model has been
introduced in Ref. [21] for description of early inflation and late-time cosmic
acceleration. We present the suitable energy conditions for the above mentioned
model and then, we use the estimated values of the Hubble, deceleration and
jerk parameters to apply the obtained energy conditions to the specific class
of modified Gauss-Bonnet models.Comment: 12 pages, no figur, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and
Space Scienc
Crossing the phantom divide in brane cosmology with curvature corrections and brane-bulk energy transfer
We consider the Randall-Sundrum brane-world model with bulk-brane energy
transfer where the Einstein-Hilbert action is modified by curvature correction
terms: a four-dimensional scalar curvature from induced gravity on the brane,
and a five-dimensional Gauss-Bonnet curvature term. It is remarkable that these
curvature terms will not change the dynamics of the brane universe at low
energy. Parameterizing the energy transfer and taking the dark radiation term
into account, we find that the phantom divide of the equation of state of
effective dark energy could be crossed, without the need of any new dark energy
components. Fitting the two most reliable and robust SNIa datasets, the 182
Gold dataset and the Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS), our model indeed has a
small tendency of phantom divide crossing for the Gold dataset, but not for the
SNLS dataset. Furthermore, combining the recent detection of the SDSS baryon
acoustic oscillations peak (BAO) with lower matter density parameter prior, we
find that the SNLS dataset also mildly favors phantom divide crossing.Comment: 11 pages,3 figures, revtex4, revised version, accepted for
publication in Phys. Lett.
UV stable, Lorentz-violating dark energy with transient phantom era
Phantom fields with negative kinetic energy are often plagued by the vacuum
quantum instability in the ultraviolet region. We present a Lorentz-violating
dark energy model free from this problem and show that the crossing of the
cosmological constant boundary w=-1 to the phantom equation of state is
realized before reaching a de Sitter attractor. Another interesting feature is
a peculiar time-dependence of the effective Newton's constant; the magnitude of
this effect is naturally small but may be close to experimental limits. We also
derive momentum scales of instabilities at which tachyons or ghosts appear in
the infrared region around the present Hubble scale and clarify the conditions
under which tachyonic instabilities do not spoil homogeneity of the
present/future Universe.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures; Presentation modified substantially, results and
conclusions unchanged. Journal versio
Enhanced robustness digital holographic microscopy for demanding environment of space biology
We describe an optimized digital holographic microscopy system (DHM) suitable for high-resolution visualization of living cells under conditions of altered macroscopic mechanical forces such as those that arise from changes in gravitational force. Experiments were performed on both a ground-based microgravity simulation platform known as the random positioning machine (RPM) as well as during a parabolic flight campaign (PFC). Under these conditions the DHM system proved to be robust and reliable. In addition, the stability of the system during disturbances in gravitational force was further enhanced by implementing post-processing algorithms that best exploit the intrinsic advantages of DHM for hologram autofocusing and subsequent image registration. Preliminary results obtained in the form of series of phase images point towards sensible changes of cytoarchitecture under states of altered gravity
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