13,994 research outputs found
Nucleus Driven Electronic Pulsation
We derive and solve by the spectral method the equations for a neutral system
of ultra-relativistic electrons that are compressed to the radius of the
nucleus and subject to a driving force. This driving force can be thought of as
originating from a nuclear breathing mode, a possibility we discuss in detail
Is the Sun Lighter than the Earth? Isotopic CO in the Photosphere, Viewed through the Lens of 3D Spectrum Synthesis
We consider the formation of solar infrared (2-6 micron) rovibrational bands
of carbon monoxide (CO) in CO5BOLD 3D convection models, with the aim to refine
abundances of the heavy isotopes of carbon (13C) and oxygen (18O,17O), to
compare with direct capture measurements of solar wind light ions by the
Genesis Discovery Mission. We find that previous, mainly 1D, analyses were
systematically biased toward lower isotopic ratios (e.g., R23= 12C/13C),
suggesting an isotopically "heavy" Sun contrary to accepted fractionation
processes thought to have operated in the primitive solar nebula. The new 3D
ratios for 13C and 18O are: R23= 91.4 +/- 1.3 (Rsun= 89.2); and R68= 511 +/- 10
(Rsun= 499), where the uncertainties are 1 sigma and "optimistic." We also
obtained R67= 2738 +/- 118 (Rsun= 2632), but we caution that the observed
12C17O features are extremely weak. The new solar ratios for the oxygen
isotopes fall between the terrestrial values and those reported by Genesis
(R68= 530, R6= 2798), although including both within 2 sigma error flags, and
go in the direction favoring recent theories for the oxygen isotope composition
of Ca-Al inclusions (CAI) in primitive meteorites. While not a major focus of
this work, we derive an oxygen abundance of 603 +/- 9 ppm (relative to
hydrogen; 8.78 on the logarithmic H= 12 scale). That the Sun likely is lighter
than the Earth, isotopically speaking, removes the necessity to invoke exotic
fractionation processes during the early construction of the inner solar
system
Modelling floods in the Ammer catchment: limitations and challenges with a coupled meteo-hydrological model approach
International audienceNumerous applications of hydrological models have shown their capability to simulate hydrological processes with a reasonable degree of certainty. For flood modelling, the quality of precipitation data ? the key input parameter ? is very important but often remains questionable. This paper presents a critical review of experience in the EU-funded RAPHAEL project. Different meteorological data sources were evaluated to assess their applicability for flood modelling and forecasting in the Bavarian pre-alpine catchment of the Ammer river (709 km2), for which the hydrological aspects of runoff production are described as well as the complex nature of floods. Apart from conventional rain gauge data, forecasts from several Numerical Weather Prediction Models (NWP) as well as rain radar data are examined, scaled and applied within the framework of a GIS-structured and physically based hydrological model. Multi-scenario results are compared and analysed. The synergetic approach leads to promising results under certain meteorological conditions but emphasises various drawbacks. At present, NWPs are the only source of rainfall forecasts (up to 96 hours) with large spatial coverage and high temporal resolution. On the other hand, the coarse spatial resolution of NWP grids cannot yet address, adequately, the heterogeneous structures of orographic rainfields in complex convective situations; hence, a major downscaling problem for mountain catchment applications is introduced. As shown for two selected Ammer flood events, a high variability in prediction accuracy has still to be accepted at present. Sensitivity analysis of both meteo-data input and hydrological model performance in terms of process description are discussed and positive conclusions have been drawn for future applications of an advanced meteo-hydro model synergy.</p
Field-induced structural aging in glasses at ultra low temperatures
In non-equilibrium experiments on the glasses Mylar and BK7, we measured the
excess dielectric response after the temporary application of a strong electric
bias field at mK--temperatures. A model recently developed describes the
observed long time decays qualitatively for Mylar [PRL 90, 105501, S. Ludwig,
P. Nalbach, D. Rosenberg, D. Osheroff], but fails for BK7. In contrast, our
results on both samples can be described by including an additional mechanism
to the mentioned model with temperature independent decay times of the excess
dielectric response. As the origin of this novel process beyond the "tunneling
model" we suggest bias field induced structural rearrangements of "tunneling
states" that decay by quantum mechanical tunneling.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted at PRL, corrected typos in version
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Probing molecular interaction in ionic liquids by low frequency spectroscopy: Coulomb energy, hydrogen bonding and dispersion forces
Ionic liquids are defined as salts composed solely of ions with melting points below 100 °C. These remarkable liquids have unique and fascinating properties and offer new opportunities for science and technology. New combinations of ions provide changing physical properties and thus novel potential applications for this class of liquid materials. To a large extent, the structure and properties of ionic liquids are determined by the intermolecular interaction between anions and cations. In this perspective we show that far infrared and terahertz spectroscopy are suitable methods for studying the cation-anion interaction in these Coulomb fluids. The interpretation of the measured low frequency spectra is supported by density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. We present results for selected aprotic and protic ionic liquids and their mixtures with molecular solvents. In particular, we focus on the strength and type of intermolecular interaction and how both parameters are influenced by the character of the ions and their combinations. We show that the total interaction between cations and anions is a result of a subtle balance between Coulomb forces, hydrogen bonds and dispersion forces. For protic ionic liquids we could measure distinct vibrational modes in the low frequency spectra indicating clearly the cation-anion interaction characterized by linear and medium to strong hydrogen bonds. Using isotopic substitution we have been able to dissect frequency shifts related to pure interaction strength between cations and anions and to different reduced masses only. In this context we also show how these different types of interaction may influence the physical properties of ionic liquids such as the melting point, viscosity or enthalpy of vaporization. Furthermore we demonstrate that low frequency spectroscopy can also be used for studying ion speciation. Low vibrational features can be assigned to contact ion pairs and solvent separated ion pairs. In conclusion we showed how detailed knowledge of the low frequency spectra can be used to understand the change in interaction strength and structure by variation of temperature, solvent polarity and solvent concentration in ionic liquids and their mixtures with molecular solvents. In principle the used combination of methods is suitable for studying intermolecular interaction in pure molecular liquids and their solutions including additive materials such as nanoparticles
Influence of Random Internal Fields on the Tunneling of OH Defects in NaCl Crystals
Alkali halide crystals doped with certain impurity ions show a low
temperature behaviour, which differs significantly from that of pure crystals.
The origin of these characteristic differences are tunneling centers formed by
atomic or molecular impurity ions. We have investigated the dielectric
susceptibility of hydroxyl ions in NaCl crystals at very low concentrations
(below 30 ppm), where interactions are believed to be negligible. We find that
the temperature dependence of the susceptibility is noticeably different from
what one would expect for isolated defects in a symmetric environment. We
propose that the origin of these deviations are random internal strains arising
from imperfections of the host crystal. We will present the experimental data
and a theoretical model which allows a quantitative understanding on a
microscopic basis.Comment: 3 pages 3 figures, REVTeX, submitted to the proceedings of the
PHONONS 2001 conferenc
Operation of a Stark decelerator with optimum acceptance
With a Stark decelerator, beams of neutral polar molecules can be
accelerated, guided at a constant velocity, or decelerated. The effectiveness
of this process is determined by the 6D volume in phase space from which
molecules are accepted by the Stark decelerator. Couplings between the
longitudinal and transverse motion of the molecules in the decelerator can
reduce this acceptance. These couplings are nearly absent when the decelerator
operates such that only every third electric field stage is used for
deceleration, while extra transverse focusing is provided by the intermediate
stages. For many applications, the acceptance of a Stark decelerator in this
so-called mode significantly exceeds that of a decelerator in the
conventionally used () mode. This has been experimentally verified by
passing a beam of OH radicals through a 2.6 meter long Stark decelerator. The
experiments are in quantitative agreement with the results of trajectory
calculations, and can qualitatively be explained with a simple model for the 6D
acceptance. These results imply that the 6D acceptance of a Stark decelerator
in the mode of operation approaches the optimum value, i.e. the value
that is obtained when any couplings are neglected.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figure
Vacuum spacetimes with a spacelike, hypersurface-orthogonal Killing vector: reduced equations in a canonical frame
The Newman-Penrose equations for spacetimes having one spacelike Killing
vector are reduced -- in a geometrically defined "canonical frame'' -- to a
minimal set, and its differential structure is studied. Expressions for the
frame vectors in an arbitrary coordinate basis are given, and
coordinate-independent choices of the metric functions are suggested which make
the components of the Ricci tensor in the direction of the Killing vector
vanish.Comment: 13 pages, no figures, LaTeX, to be published in Class. Quantum
Gravity; v2: added/rephrased content, corrected typos, changed 1 referenc
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