257 research outputs found
Cosmic-ray acceleration in supernova remnants: non-linear theory revised
A rapidly growing amount of evidences, mostly coming from the recent
gamma-ray observations of Galactic supernova remnants (SNRs), is seriously
challenging our understanding of how particles are accelerated at fast shocks.
The cosmic-ray (CR) spectra required to account for the observed phenomenology
are in fact as steep as , i.e., steeper than the
test-particle prediction of first-order Fermi acceleration, and significantly
steeper than what expected in a more refined non-linear theory of diffusive
shock acceleration. By accounting for the dynamical back-reaction of the
non-thermal particles, such a theory in fact predicts that the more efficient
the particle acceleration, the flatter the CR spectrum. In this work we put
forward a self-consistent scenario in which the account for the magnetic field
amplification induced by CR streaming produces the conditions for reversing
such a trend, allowing --- at the same time --- for rather steep spectra and CR
acceleration efficiencies (about 20%) consistent with the hypothesis that SNRs
are the sources of Galactic CRs. In particular, we quantitatively work out the
details of instantaneous and cumulative CR spectra during the evolution of a
typical SNR, also stressing the implications of the observed levels of
magnetization on both the expected maximum energy and the predicted CR
acceleration efficiency. The latter naturally turns out to saturate around
10-30%, almost independently of the fraction of particles injected into the
acceleration process as long as this fraction is larger than about .Comment: 24 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in JCA
Superconducting zero temperature phase transition in two dimensions and in the magnetic field
We derive the Ginzburg-Landau-Wilson theory for the superconducting phase
transition in two dimensions and in the magnetic field. Without disorder the
theory describes a fluctuation induced first-order quantum phase transition
into the Abrikosov lattice. We propose a phenomenological criterion for
determining the transition field and discuss the qualitative effects of
disorder. Comparison with recent experiments on MoGe films is discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Investigation of oil palm harvesting tools design and technique on work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper body
The oil palm industry is one of the important sectors in Malaysia. The growth and development of this industry
shows that Malaysia is the world second-largest oil palm producers. However, in the fresh fruit bunch (FFB)
harvesting process, the harvesters are exposed to many types of work-related musculoskeletal disorders
(WMSDs). The FFB harvesters tend to develop WMSDs especially the shoulders and trunk. Hence, it is important
to identify the exposure levels, awkward postures and the reaction forces of muscle activity based on the posture
and movement of the harvesters when using pole, chisel and loading spike during the harvesting process. The
objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the design of oil palm FFB harvesting tools on WMSDs of
the upper body. Rapid Upper Limb Analysis (RULA) was used to investigate and assess the exposure level on the
harvester body during the harvesting process. The assessment showed that the shoulders and trunk have high
exposure level and undergo awkward posture. Human Musculoskeletal Model Analysis (HMMA) was used to
identify the reaction force exerted on the muscle during the FFB harvesting process. In this study, 4 muscles were
analysed including Triceps, Biceps, Erector Spinae and Psoas Major. The highest reaction force of 16.36 N was
found on the left triceps when handling a loading spike. In conclusion, it is important to address the risks by
reviewing all possible aspects that contribute to the WMSDs and interventions on the tool design, task and
working shifts may be required
Bessel Process and Conformal Quantum Mechanics
Different aspects of the connection between the Bessel process and the
conformal quantum mechanics (CQM) are discussed. The meaning of the possible
generalizations of both models is investigated with respect to the other model,
including self adjoint extension of the CQM. Some other generalizations such as
the Bessel process in the wide sense and radial Ornstein- Uhlenbeck process are
discussed with respect to the underlying conformal group structure.Comment: 28 Page
Demystifying an unidentified EGRET source by VHE gamma-ray observations
In a novel approach in observational high-energy gamma-ray astronomy,
observations carried out by imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes provide
necessary templates to pinpoint the nature of intriguing, yet unidentified
EGRET gamma-ray sources. Using GeV-photons detected by CGRO EGRET and taking
advantage of high spatial resolution images from H.E.S.S. observations, we were
able to shed new light on the EGRET observed gamma-ray emission in the
Kookaburra complex, whose previous coverage in the literature is somewhat
contradictory. 3EGJ1420-6038 very likely accounts for two GeV gamma-ray sources
(E>1 GeV), both in positional coincidence with the recently reported pulsar
wind nebulae (PWN) by HESS in the Kookaburra/Rabbit complex. PWN associations
at VHE energies, supported by accumulating evidence from observations in the
radio and X-ray band, are indicative for the PSR/plerionic origin of spatially
coincident, but still unidentified Galactic gamma-ray sources from EGRET. This
not only supports the already suggested connection between variable, but
unidentified low-latitude gamma-ray sources with pulsar wind nebulae
(3EGJ1420-6038 has been suggested as PWN candidate previoulsy), it also
documents the ability of resolving apparently confused EGRET sources by
connecting the GeV emission as measured from a large-aperture space-based
gamma-ray instrument with narrow field-of-view but superior spatial resolution
observations by ground-based atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, a very promising
identification technique for achieving convincing individual source
identifications in the era of GLAST-LAT.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and
Space Science, Proc. of "The Multi-Messenger Approach to High-Energy
Gamma-ray Sources (Third Workshop on the Nature of Unidentified High-Energy
Sources)", Barcelona, July 4-7, 2006, one typo correcte
Red Queen Coevolution on Fitness Landscapes
Species do not merely evolve, they also coevolve with other organisms.
Coevolution is a major force driving interacting species to continuously evolve
ex- ploring their fitness landscapes. Coevolution involves the coupling of
species fit- ness landscapes, linking species genetic changes with their
inter-specific ecological interactions. Here we first introduce the Red Queen
hypothesis of evolution com- menting on some theoretical aspects and empirical
evidences. As an introduction to the fitness landscape concept, we review key
issues on evolution on simple and rugged fitness landscapes. Then we present
key modeling examples of coevolution on different fitness landscapes at
different scales, from RNA viruses to complex ecosystems and macroevolution.Comment: 40 pages, 12 figures. To appear in "Recent Advances in the Theory and
Application of Fitness Landscapes" (H. Richter and A. Engelbrecht, eds.).
Springer Series in Emergence, Complexity, and Computation, 201
X-Ray and Radio Observations of Bright GeV Sources
We present X-ray and radio studies of sources which are brightabove 1 GeV
(F_{>1GeV} > 4e-8 ph/cm^2/s. Only 11 out of ~30 of these gamma-ray sources have
been identified with lower energy counterparts: 5 blazars and 6 pulsars. Three
of these pulsars are surrounded by radio pulsar wind nebulae (PWN), two of
which are also seen as bright, extended X-ray synchrotron nebulae. The ASCA
X-ray telescope has observed 28 of the bright GeV sources, revealing an excess
of F_{2-10keV} > 10e-12 ergs/cm^2/s sources within the {\it EGRET} error
contours of the unidentified sources. Although several supernova remnants are
positionally coincident with these sources, we find no X-ray evidence of high
energy particle production in SNR shell shocks consistent with the GeV
positions. We also present initial results from follow on radio imaging studies
of several fields containing unidentified sources. We have discovered new
X-ray/radio nebulae in three of these fields which are strong candidates for
PWN. These sources, along with a similar nebula in CTA 1 and the PWN around PSR
B1853+01 in W44, are all positionally coincident with variable EGRET sources.
This suggests a class of variable gamma-ray sources associated with synchrotron
emitting regions powered by the winds of young pulsars.Comment: 18 pages, 26 figures, To appear in the proceedings of the workshop:
"The Nature of the Unidentified Galactic Gamma-Ray Sources" held at INAOE,
Mexico, October 2000, (A.Carraminana, O. Reiner and D. Thompson,
Multiple determination of the optical constants of thin-film coating materials
The seven participating laboratories received films of two different thicknesses of Sc2O3 and Rh. All samples of each material were prepared in a single deposition run. Brief descriptions are given of the various methods used for determination of the optical constants of these coating materials. The measurement data are presented, and the results are compared. The mean of the variances of the Sc2O3refractive-index determinations in the 0.40–0.75-nm spectral region was 0.03. The corresponding variances for the refractive index and absorption coefficient of Rh were 0.35 and 0.26, respectively
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