12,942 research outputs found
Modeling the IDV emissions of the BL Lac Objects with a Langevin type stochastic differential equation
In this paper, we introduce a simplified model for explaining the
observations of the optical intraday variability (IDV) of the BL Lac Objects.
We assume that the source of the IDV are the stochastic oscillations of an
accretion disk around a supermassive black hole. The Stochastic Fluctuations on
the vertical direction of the accretion disk are described by using a Langevin
type equation with a damping term and a random, white noise type force.
Furthermore, the preliminary numerical simulation results are presented, which
are based on the numerical analysis of the Langevin stochastic differential
equation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in J. Astrophys. Ast
Chiral symmetry breaking in a uniform external magnetic field II. Symmetry restoration at high temperatures and chemical potentials
Chiral symmetry is dynamically broken in quenched, ladder QED at weak gauge
couplings when an external magnetic field is present. In this paper, we show
that chiral symmetry is restored above a critical chemical potential and the
corresponding phase transition is of first order. In contrast, the chiral
symmetry restoration at high temperatures (and at zero chemical potential) is a
second order phase transition.Comment: Latex; 12 pages; 8 postscript figures include
The Radon Monitoring System in Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment
We developed a highly sensitive, reliable and portable automatic system
(H) to monitor the radon concentration of the underground experimental
halls of the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment. H is able to measure
radon concentration with a statistical error less than 10\% in a 1-hour
measurement of dehumidified air (R.H. 5\% at 25C) with radon
concentration as low as 50 Bq/m. This is achieved by using a large radon
progeny collection chamber, semiconductor -particle detector with high
energy resolution, improved electronics and software. The integrated radon
monitoring system is highly customizable to operate in different run modes at
scheduled times and can be controlled remotely to sample radon in ambient air
or in water from the water pools where the antineutrino detectors are being
housed. The radon monitoring system has been running in the three experimental
halls of the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment since November 2013
Quasinormal Modes of Dirty Black Holes
Quasinormal mode (QNM) gravitational radiation from black holes is expected
to be observed in a few years. A perturbative formula is derived for the shifts
in both the real and the imaginary part of the QNM frequencies away from those
of an idealized isolated black hole. The formulation provides a tool for
understanding how the astrophysical environment surrounding a black hole, e.g.,
a massive accretion disk, affects the QNM spectrum of gravitational waves. We
show, in a simple model, that the perturbed QNM spectrum can have interesting
features.Comment: 4 pages. Published in PR
Readability and quality of online information regarding dental treatment for patients with ischaemic heart disease
Background: Healthcare information is increasingly being sought on the Internet. Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) poses a significant health burden. Concern often arises for patients with IHD when undergoing dental treatment, leading to online searching for relevant healthcare information. /
Objective: To evaluate the readability and quality of webpages regarding IHD and dental treatment. /
Materials and methods: Three searches were performed on the Google search engine. The first hundred results of each search were collated and exclusion criteria applied. The remaining 66 webpages were categorised. Readability was assessed using the FRES and SMOG readability tools. Quality was assessed using the PEMAT questionnaire, the JAMA benchmarks and the Health On the Net (HON) seal. /
Results: Most examined webpages were commercial. Readability of 90.1% of webpages was deemed fairly to very difficult. Understandability and actionability scores were generally below the comprehension level of the general population. Less than 50% of websites achieved the authorship, attribution and disclosure JAMA benchmarks. Only 12.1% of websites displayed the HON seal. /
Conclusions: Online health information related to IHD and dental treatment is generally too difficult for the average individual to read, understand, or act upon, and may be of questionable quality. Given the low health literacy rates among the general population, future revisions of educational materials by non-commercial sources regarding IHD and dental treatment are warranted, in order to ensure online health information is understandable and of genuine benefit to patients and/or their carers
Ordering dynamics of the driven lattice gas model
The evolution of a two-dimensional driven lattice-gas model is studied on an
L_x X L_y lattice. Scaling arguments and extensive numerical simulations are
used to show that starting from random initial configuration the model evolves
via two stages: (a) an early stage in which alternating stripes of particles
and vacancies are formed along the direction y of the driving field, and (b) a
stripe coarsening stage, in which the number of stripes is reduced and their
average width increases. The number of stripes formed at the end of the first
stage is shown to be a function of L_x/L_y^\phi, with \phi ~ 0.2. Thus,
depending on this parameter, the resulting state could be either single or
multi striped. In the second, stripe coarsening stage, the coarsening time is
found to be proportional to L_y, becoming infinitely long in the thermodynamic
limit. This implies that the multi striped state is thermodynamically stable.
The results put previous studies of the model in a more general framework
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