High performance Beowulf computer for lattice QCD

We describe the construction of a high performance parallel computer composed of PC components, as well as the performance test in lattice QCD.Comment: Lattice 2001 (Algorithms and Machines) 3 page

Remote sensing of cloud properties using ground-based measurements of zenith radiance

We have conducted the first extensive field test of two new methods to retrieve optical properties for overhead clouds that range from patchy to overcast. The methods use measurements of zenith radiance at 673 and 870 nm wavelengths and require the presence of green vegetation in the surrounding area. The test was conducted at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Oklahoma site during September–November 2004. These methods work because at 673 nm (red) and 870 nm (near infrared (NIR)), clouds have nearly identical optical properties, while vegetated surfaces reflect quite differently. The first method, dubbed REDvsNIR, retrieves not only cloud optical depth τ but also radiative cloud fraction. Because of the 1-s time resolution of our radiance measurements, we are able for the first time to capture changes in cloud optical properties at the natural timescale of cloud evolution. We compared values of τ retrieved by REDvsNIR to those retrieved from downward shortwave fluxes and from microwave brightness temperatures. The flux method generally underestimates τ relative to the REDvsNIR method. Even for overcast but inhomogeneous clouds, differences between REDvsNIR and the flux method can be as large as 50%. In addition, REDvsNIR agreed to better than 15% with the microwave method for both overcast and broken clouds. The second method, dubbed COUPLED, retrieves τ by combining zenith radiances with fluxes. While extra information from fluxes was expected to improve retrievals, this is not always the case. In general, however, the COUPLED and REDvsNIR methods retrieve τ to within 15% of each other

Eliminating opportunism using an epistemic mechanism

Opportunism is a behavior that takes advantage of knowledge asymmetry and results in promoting agents' own value and demoting other agents' value. It is important to eliminate such a selfish behavior in multi-agent systems, as it has undesirable results for the participating agents. However, as the context we study here is multi-agent systems, system designers actually might not be aware of the value system for each agent thus they have no idea whether an agent will perform opportunistic behavior. Given this fact, this paper designs an epistemic mechanism to eliminate opportunism given a set of possible value systems for the participating agents: An agent's knowledge gets updated so that the other agent is not able to perform opportunistic behavior, and there exists a balance between eliminating opportunism and respecting agents' privacy

CoNi/Pt interface roughness probed by nonlinear magneto-optics, x-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy

The crystallographic contribution of the nonlinear magneto-optical response from CoNi/Pt interfaces appears to scale linearly with increasing interface roughness as determined by small angle x-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy. From the magnetic contribution it follows that the increased interface roughness causes the interface moment to turn out of plane while the bulk of the film has an in-plane magnetization

Spin transport of electrons through quantum wires with spatially-modulated strength of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction

We study ballistic transport of spin-polarized electrons through quantum wires in which the strength of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (SOI) is spatially modulated. Subband mixing, due to SOI, between the two lowest subbands is taken into account. Simplified approximate expressions for the transmission are obtained for electron energies close to the bottom of the first subband and near the value for which anticrossing of the two lowest subbands occurs. In structures with periodically varied SOI strength, {\it square-wave} modulation on the spin transmission is found when only one subband is occupied and its possible application to the spin transistor is discussed. When two subbands are occupied the transmission is strongly affected by the existence of SOI interfaces as well as by the subband mixing

Further constraints on electron acceleration in solar noise storms

We reexamine the energetics of nonthermal electron acceleration in solar noise storms. A new result is obtained for the minimum nonthermal electron number density required to produce a Langmuir wave population of sufficient intensity to power the noise storm emission. We combine this constraint with the stochastic electron acceleration formalism developed by Subramanian & Becker (2005) to derive a rigorous estimate for the efficiency of the overall noise storm emission process, beginning with nonthermal electron acceleration and culminating in the observed radiation. We also calculate separate efficiencies for the electron acceleration -- Langmuir wave generation stage and the Langmuir wave -- noise storm production stage. In addition, we obtain a new theoretical estimate for the energy density of the Langmuir waves in noise storm continuum sources.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physic

TEM-EELS study of low-friction superlattice TiAlN/VN coating: the wear mechanisms

A 20-50 nm thick tribofilm was generated on the worn surface of a multilayer coating TiAlN/VN after dry sliding test against an alumina counterpart. The tribofilm was characterized by applying analytical transmission electron microscopy techniques with emphasis on detailed electron energy loss spectrometry and energy loss near edge structure analysis. Pronounced oxygen in the tribofilm indicated a predominant tribo-oxidation wear. Structural changes in the inner-shell ionization edges of N, Ti and V suggested decomposition of nitride fragments

Nuclear dependence coefficient α(A,qT)\alpha(A,q_T) for the Drell-Yan and J/ψ\psi production

Define the nuclear dependence coefficient $\alpha(A,q_T)$ in terms of ratio of transverse momentum spectrum in hadron-nucleus and in hadron-nucleon collisions: $\frac{d\sigma^{hA}}{dq_T^2}/ \frac{d\sigma^{hN}}{dq_T^2}\equiv A^{\alpha(A,q_T)}$. We argue that in small $q_T$ region, the $\alpha(A,q_T)$ for the Drell-Yan and J/$\psi$ production is given by a universal function:\ $a+b q_T^2$, where parameters a and b are completely determined by either calculable quantities or independently measurable physical observables. We demonstrate that this universal function $\alpha(A,q_T)$ is insensitive to the A for normal nuclear targets. For a color deconfined nuclear medium, the $\alpha(A,q_T)$ becomes strongly dependent on the A. We also show that our $\alpha(A,q_T)$ for the Drell-Yan process is naturally linked to perturbatively calculated $\alpha(A,q_T)$ at large $q_T$ without any free parameters, and the $\alpha(A,q_T)$ is consistent with E772 data for all $q_T$.Comment: latex, 28 pages, 10 figures, updated two figures, and add more discussion

Impurity (Fe, Cl, and P)-induced grain boundary and secondary phases in commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti)

A detailed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study has been made of the microstructures of two as-sintered CP-Ti materials. We show that iron content at the impurity level of 1280 ppm, less than the limit (2000 ppm) for CP-Ti ASTM Grade 1, is sufficient to lead to the formation of a grain boundary (GB) β-Ti phase in the as-sintered microstructure due to segregation. The Fe-stabilized GB β-Ti phase contains ∼7 at. pct Fe and ∼1.5 at. pct Cl. In addition, nano-precipitates of ω-Ti exist in the Fe-stabilized GB β-Ti phase. A phosphorus (P)-enriched Ti-P-based phase was also identified, which has a tetragonal crystal structure with lattice parameters of (a = b = 8.0 ± 0.2 Å and c = 2.7 ± 0.2 Å) and is new to the existing database for Ti-P-enriched phases. As-sintered CP-Ti materials are thus not necessarily a single α-Ti phase material. These impurity-induced phases may exert potential impacts on the properties of sintered CP-Ti

Nuclear effects in the Drell-Yan process at very high energies

We study Drell-Yan (DY) dilepton production in proton(deuterium)-nucleus and in nucleus-nucleus collisions within the light-cone color dipole formalism. This approach is especially suitable for predicting nuclear effects in the DY cross section for heavy ion collisions, as it provides the impact parameter dependence of nuclear shadowing and transverse momentum broadening, quantities that are not available from the standard parton model. For p(D)+A collisions we calculate nuclear shadowing and investigate nuclear modification of the DY transverse momentum distribution at RHIC and LHC for kinematics corresponding to coherence length much longer than the nuclear size. Calculations are performed separately for transversely and longitudinally polarized DY photons, and predictions are presented for the dilepton angular distribution. Furthermore, we calculate nuclear broadening of the mean transverse momentum squared of DY dileptons as function of the nuclear mass number and energy. We also predict nuclear effects for the cross section of the DY process in heavy ion collisions. We found a substantial nuclear shadowing for valence quarks, stronger than for the sea.Comment: 46 pages, 18 figures, title changed and some discussion added, accepted for publication in PR