Weak gravitational lensing in the standard Cold Dark Matter model, using an algorithm for three-dimensional shear

We investigate the effects of weak gravitational lensing in the standard Cold Dark Matter cosmology, using an algorithm which evaluates the shear in three dimensions. The algorithm has the advantage of variable softening for the particles, and our method allows the appropriate angular diameter distances to be applied to every evaluation location within each three-dimensional simulation box. We investigate the importance of shear in the distance-redshift relation, and find it to be very small. We also establish clearly defined values for the smoothness parameter in the relation, finding its value to be at least 0.88 at all redshifts in our simulations. From our results, obtained by linking the simulation boxes back to source redshifts of 4, we are able to observe the formation of structure in terms of the computed shear, and also note that the major contributions to the shear come from a very broad range of redshifts. We show the probability distributions for the magnification, source ellipticity and convergence, and also describe the relationships amongst these quantities for a range of source redshifts. We find a broad range of magnifications and ellipticities; for sources at a redshift of 4, 97{1/2}% of all lines of sight show magnifications up to 1.3 and ellipticities up to 0.195. There is clear evidence that the magnification is not linear in the convergence, as might be expected for weak lensing, but contains contributions from higher order terms in both the convergence and the shear.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, 15 figures include

Quantum noise and mixedness of a pumped dissipative non-linear oscillator

Evolutions of quantum noise, characterized by quadrature squeezing parameter and Fano factor, and of mixedness, quantified by quantum von Neumann and linear entropies, of a pumped dissipative non-linear oscillator are studied. The model can describe a signal mode interacting with a thermal reservoir in a parametrically pumped cavity with a Kerr non-linearity. It is discussed that the initial pure states, including coherent states, Fock states, and finite superpositions of coherent states evolve into the same steady mixed state as verified by the quantum relative entropy and the Bures metric. It is shown analytically and verified numerically that the steady state can be well approximated by a nonclassical Gaussian state exhibiting quadrature squeezing and sub-Poissonian statistics for the cold thermal reservoir. A rapid increase is found in the mixedness, especially for the initial Fock states and superpositions of coherent states, during a very short time interval, and then for longer evolution times a decrease in the mixedness to the same, for all the initial states, and relatively low value of the nonclassical Gaussian state.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure

Evidence for the Jacobi shape transition in hot 46Ti

The gamma-rays from the decay of the GDR in 46Ti compound nucleus formed in the 18O+28Si reaction at bombarding energy 105 MeV have been measured in an experiment using a setup consisting of the combined EUROBALL IV, HECTOR and EUCLIDES arrays. A comparison of the extracted GDR lineshape data with the predictions of the thermal shape fluctuation model shows evidence for the Jacobi shape transition in hot 46Ti. In addition to the previously found broad structure in the GDR lineshape region at 18-27 MeV caused by large deformations, the presence of a low energy component (around 10 MeV), due to the Coriolis splitting in prolate well deformed shape, has been identified for the first time.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, proceedings of the COMEX1 conference, June 2003, Paris; to be published in Nucl. Phys.

Dynamics and stability of the Godel universe

We use covariant techniques to describe the properties of the Godel universe and then consider its linear response to a variety of perturbations. Against matter aggregations, we find that the stability of the Godel model depends primarily upon the presence of gradients in the centrifugal energy, and secondarily on the equation of state of the fluid. The latter dictates the behaviour of the model when dealing with homogeneous perturbations. The vorticity of the perturbed Godel model is found to evolve as in almost-FRW spacetimes, with some additional directional effects due to shape distortions. We also consider gravitational-wave perturbations by investigating the evolution of the magnetic Weyl component. This tensor obeys a simple plane-wave equation, which argues for the neutral stability of the Godel model against linear gravity-wave distortions. The implications of the background rotation for scalar-field Godel cosmologies are also discussed.Comment: Revised version, to match paper published in Class. Quantum Gra

SAWA experiment ? properties of mineral dust aerosol as seen by synergic lidar and sun-photometer measurements

International audienceWe propose a method of retrieving basic information on mineral dust aerosol particles from synergic sun-photometer and multi-wavelength lidar measurements as well as from the observations of lidar light depolarisation. We use this method in a case study of mineral dust episode in Central Europe. Lidar signals are inversed with a modified Klett-Fernald algorithm. Aerosol optical depth measured with the sun-photometer allows to reduce uncertainties in the inversion procedure through which we estimate vertical profile of aerosol extinction. Next we assume that aerosol particles may be represented by ensemble of randomly oriented, identical spheroids. Having calculated vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients for lidar wavelengths, we compute the profiles of local Angstrom exponent. We use laser beam depolarisation together with the calculated Angstrom exponents to estimate the shapes (aspect ratios) and sizes of the spheroids. Numerical calculations are performed with the transition matrix (T-matrix) algorithm by M. Mishchenko. The proposed method was first used during SAWA measurement campaign in Warsaw, spring 2005, to characterise the particles of desert dust, drifting over Poland with a southern-eastern wind (13?14 April). Observations and T-matrix calculations show that mode radii of spheroids representative for desert aerosols' particles are in the range of 0.15?0.3 ?m, while their aspect ratios are lower than 0.7 or larger than 1.7

Effect of atomic transfer on the decay of a Bose-Einstein condensate

We present a model describing the decay of a Bose-Einstein condensate, which assumes the system to remain in thermal equilibrium during the decay. We show that under this assumption transfer of atoms occurs from the condensate to the thermal cloud enhancing the condensate decay rate

A theoretical investigation of ferromagnetic tunnel junctions with 4-valued conductances

In considering a novel function in ferromagnetic tunnel junctions consisting of ferromagnet(FM)/barrier/FM junctions, we theoretically investigate multiple valued (or multi-level) cell property, which is in principle realized by sensing conductances of four states recorded with magnetization configurations of two FMs; that is, (up,up), (up,down), (down,up), (down,down). To obtain such 4-valued conductances, we propose FM1/spin-polarized barrier/FM2 junctions, where the FM1 and FM2 are different ferromagnets, and the barrier has spin dependence. The proposed idea is applied to the case of the barrier having localized spins. Assuming that all the localized spins are pinned parallel to magnetization axes of the FM1 and FM2, 4-valued conductances are explicitly obtained for the case of many localized spins. Furthermore, objectives for an ideal spin-polarized barrier are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys.: Condens. Matte

The gravitational energy-momentum flux

We present a continuity equation for the gravitational energy-momentum, which is obtained in the framework of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity. From this equation it follows a general definition for the gravitational energy-momentum flux. This definition is investigated in the context of plane waves and of cylindrical Einstein-Rosen waves. We obtain the well known value for the energy flux of plane gravitational waves, and conclude that the latter exhibit features similar to plane electromagnetic waves.Comment: 20 pages, latex file, no figures, two references added, accepted for publication in Class. Quantum Gravit

Optical and Acoustical Methods in Science and Technology Optical Scanner for 3D Radiotherapy Polymer Gel Dosimetry

Sophisticated techniques employed in radiotherapy for irradiation of tumours require comprehensive dosimetry allowing for precise, high resolution measurements of radiation dose distribution in three dimensions and verication of treatment planning systems. Polymer gel dosimetry has been shown to be a unique technique for such the purpose. If exposed to ionizing radiation, radical polymerisation and crosslinking of monomeric components take place in a 3D polymer gel dosimeter, leading to the formation of large polymeric structures that scatter visible light. This feature allows for optical observation of the eects of the absorbed dose and its distribution. Presently, magnetic resonance imaging is employed most often for the analysis of the 3D polymer gel dosimeters. However, much attention is also being given to the development of optical computed tomography since this technique is hoped to serve as a substitute for expensive and not easily available magnetic resonance imaging. The optical scanner presented in this work consists of a laser diode, a scanning system and a signal detector. A 3D polymer gel dosimeter is measured in an immersion liquid in order to reduce deection of the light from the dosimeter phantom. The very rst results were obtained with the newly constructed scanner and PABIG nx 3D polymer gel dosimeter, which was inhomogeneously irradiated with 192 Ir brachytherapy source. The results have been contrasted with those for the magnetic resonance imaging and are presented in this work together with the description of the developed instrument. Currently, the optimization of the optical scanner is performed

Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Rhizosphere of Solaris and Regent Grapevine Plants Treated with Bioproducts

The aim of this study was to identify the spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere of Solaris and Regent grapevine plants grafted onto SO4 rootstock and treated with bioproducts. The bioproducts Ausuma, Bioilsa, manure and BF Ekomix were tested and applied on their own, or combined with standard mineral fertilisation (NPK). The applied bioproducts contributed to an increase in the number of species of mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere soil of the grapevines. The most frequently occurring AMF species was Claroideoglomus claroideum. Biopreparation BF Ekomix was a promisingagent for increasing the number of AMF spores in the rhizosphere of Regent grapevines. In the rhizosphere of Solaris, a positive influence on the number of spores occurred after the application of Bioilsa