22 research outputs found
Subjective Perception of Time and a Progressive Present Moment: The Neurobiological Key to Unlocking Consciousness
The conclusion of physics, within both a historical and more recent context, that an objectively progressive time and present moment are derivative notions without actual physical foundation in nature, illustrate that these perceived chronological features originate from subjective conscious experience and the neurobiological processes underlying it. Using this conclusion as a stepping stone, it is posited that the phenomena of an in-built subjective conception of a progressive present moment in time and that of conscious awareness are actually one and the same thing, and as such, are also the outcome of the same neurobiological processes. A possible explanation as to how this might be achieved by the brain through employing the neuronal induced nonconscious cognitive manipulation of a small interval of time is proposed. The CIP phenomenon, elucidated within the context of this study is also then discussed
Denying the existence of instants of time and the instantaneous
Extending on an earlier paper [Found. Phys. Ltt., 16(4) 343–355, (2003)], it is argued that instants of time and the instantaneous (including instantaneous relative position) do not actually exist. This conclusion, one which is also argued to represent the correct solution to Zeno’s motion paradoxes, has several implications for modern physics and for our philosophical view of time, including that time and space cannot be quantized; that contrary to common interpretation, motion and change are compatible with the “block” universe and relativity; and that time, space, and space-time too, cannot exist. Instead, motion and change become the major players
Hubble Space Telescope Observations of M32: The Color-Magnitude Diagram
We present a V-I color-magnitude diagram for a region 1'-2' from the center
of M32 based on Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 images. The broad color-luminosity
distribution of red giants shows that the stellar population comprises stars
with a wide range in metallicity. This distribution cannot be explained by a
spread in age. The blue side of the giant branch rises to M_I ~ -4.0 and can be
fitted with isochrones having [Fe/H] ~ -1.5. The red side consists of a heavily
populated and dominant sequence that tops out at M_I ~ -3.2, and extends beyond
V-I=4. This sequence can be fitted with isochrones with -0.2 < [Fe/H] < +0.1,
for ages running from 15 Gyr to 5 Gyr respectively. We do not find the
optically bright asymptotic giant branch stars seen in previous ground-based
work and argue that the majority of them were artifacts of crowding. Our
results are consistent with the presence of the infrared-luminous giants found
in ground-based studies, though their existence cannot be directly confirmed by
our data. There is little evidence for an extended or even a red horizontal
branch, but we find a strong clump on the giant branch itself. If the age
spread is not extreme, the distribution of metallicities in M32 is considerably
narrower than that of the closed-box model of chemical evolution, and also
appears somewhat narrower than that of the solar neighborhood. Overall, the M32
HST color-magnitude diagram is consistent with the average luminosity-weighted
age of 8.5 Gyr and [Fe/H] = -0.25 inferred from integrated spectral indices.Comment: 22 pages, AASTeX, aaspp4 and flushrt style files included, 11
postscript figures, figures 1,2,5,7, and 8 available at
ftp://bb3.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/m32 . Submitted to the Astronomical Journa
Strong lensing optical depths in a LCDM universe II: the influence of the stellar mass in galaxies
We investigate how strong gravitational lensing in the concordance LCDM
cosmology is affected by the stellar mass in galaxies. We extend our previous
studies, based on ray-tracing through the Millennium Simulation, by including
the stellar components predicted by galaxy formation models. We find that the
inclusion of these components greatly enhances the probability for strong
lensing compared to a `dark matter only' universe. The identification of the
`lenses' associated with strong-lensing events reveals that the stellar mass of
galaxies (i) significantly enhances the strong-lensing cross-sections of group
and cluster halos, and (ii) gives rise to strong lensing in smaller halos,
which would not produce noticeable effects in the absence of the stars. Even if
we consider only image splittings >10 arcsec, the luminous matter can enhance
the strong-lensing optical depths by up to a factor of 2.Comment: published in MNRA
Kerr black holes as retro-MACHOs
Gravitational lensing is a well known phenomenon predicted by the General
Theory of Relativity. It is now a well-developed observational technique in
astronomy and is considered to be a fundamental tool for acquiring information
about the nature and distribution of dark matter. In particular, gravitational
lensing experiments may be used to search for black holes. It has been proposed
that a Schwarzschild black hole may act as a retro-lens (Holz & Wheeler
\cite{hw}) which, if illuminated by a powerful light source (e.g. the Sun),
deflects light ray paths to large bending angles so that the light may reach
the observer. Here, by considering the strong field limit in the deflection
angle and confining our analysis to the black hole equatorial plane, we extend
the Holz-Wheeler results to slowly spinning Kerr black holes. By considering
the Holz-Wheeler geometrical configuration for the lens, source and observer we
find that the inclusion of rotation does not substantially change the
brightness of the retro-lensing images with respect to the Schwarzschild case.
We also discuss the possibility that the next generation space-based telescopes
may detect such retro-images and eventually put limits on the rotational
parameter of the black hole.Comment: in press on A&
Gemini Observations of Disks and Jets in Young Stellar Objects and in Active Galaxies
We present first results from the Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph
(NIFS) located at Gemini North. For the active galaxies Cygnus A and Perseus A
we observe rotationally-supported accretion disks and adduce the existence of
massive central black holes and estimate their masses. In Cygnus A we also see
remarkable high-excitation ionization cones dominated by photoionization from
the central engine. In the T-Tauri stars HV Tau C and DG Tau we see
highly-collimated bipolar outflows in the [Fe II] 1.644 micron line, surrounded
by a slower molecular bipolar outflow seen in the H_2 lines, in accordance with
the model advocated by Pyo et al. (2002).Comment: Invited paper presented at the 5th Stromlo Symposium. 9 pages, 7
figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc
Zeno's Paradoxes: A Timely Solution
Zeno of Elea's motion and infinity paradoxes, excluding the Stadium, are stated (1), commented on (2), and their historical proposed solutions then discussed (3). Their correct solution, based on recent conclusions in physics associated with time and classical and quantum mechanics, and in particular, of there being a necessary trade off of all precisely determined physical values at a time (including relative position), for their continuity through time, is then explained (4). This article follows on from another, more physics orientated and widely encompassing paper entitled "Time and Classical and Quantum Mechanics: Indeterminacy vs. Discontinuity" (Lynds, 2003), with its intention being to detail the correct solution to Zeno's paradoxes more fully by presently focusing on them alone. If any difficulties are encountered in understanding any aspects of the physics underpinning the following contents, it is suggested that readers refer to the original paper for a more in depth coverage