4,728 research outputs found
Towards a complete inventory of stratospheric dust particles, with implications for their classification
Several investigators have recently proposed classification schemes for stratospheric dust particles [1-3]. In addition, extraterrestrial materials within stratospheric dust collections may be used as a measure of micrometeorite flux [4]. However, little attention has been given to the problems of the stratospheric collection as a whole. Some of these problems include: (a) determination of accurate particle abundances at a given point in time; (b) the extent of bias in the particle selection process; (c) the variation of particle shape and chemistry with size; (d) the efficacy of proposed classification schemes and (e) an accurate determination of physical parameters associated with the particle collection process (e.g. minimum particle size collected, collection efficiency, variation of particle density with time). We present here preliminary results from SEM, EDS and, where appropriate, XRD analysis of all of the particles from a collection surface which sampled the stratosphere between 18 and 20km in altitude. Determinations of particle densities from this study may then be used to refine models of the behavior of particles in the stratosphere [5]
Relation between Energy Level Statistics and Phase Transition and its Application to the Anderson Model
A general method to describe a second-order phase transition is discussed. It
starts from the energy level statistics and uses of finite-size scaling. It is
applied to the metal-insulator transition (MIT) in the Anderson model of
localization, evaluating the cumulative level-spacing distribution as well as
the Dyson-Metha statistics. The critical disorder and the critical
exponent are computed.Comment: 9 pages, Latex, 6 PostScript figures in uuencoded compressed tar file
are appende
Preliminary evaluation of a novel elemental sulphur fertilizer
Non-Peer ReviewedIn 2018, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry began evaluating the agronomic performance of a novel elemental sulphur (S) fertilizer through field trials at two locations. This S fertilizer is not currently commercialized, but is intriguing because it has a mean particle size diameter of less than 20 microns and is intended to be applied as a suspension through spraying equipment, ensuring abundant S-soil contact. The purpose of the project was to compare this novel S product to ammonium sulphate. Canola was seeded into cereal stubble that had been treated with sprayed elemental S, sprayed ammonium sulphate, or banded ammonium sulphate, all applied at 0, 20, and 40 kg S/ha. The product evaluation was based on soil sulphate level changes over time using plant root simulator (PRS®) probes, S uptake by canola, and canola yield. PRS probes were able to detect treatment differences between control treatments and treatments fer tilized with sulphur, and in some cases differences between the treatments that received sulphur. There was evidence that surface-applied elemental S without incorporation was oxidizing within weeks of application. From an agronomic perspective, based on these two site-years of data, there is sufficient reason to continue and even expand the current work in future years
Does a magnetic field modify the critical behaviour at the metal-insulator transition in 3-dimensional disordered systems?
The critical behaviour of 3-dimensional disordered systems with magnetic
field is investigated by analyzing the spectral fluctuations of the energy
spectrum. We show that in the thermodynamic limit we have two different
regimes, one for the metallic side and one for the insulating side with
different level statistics. The third statistics which occurs only exactly at
the critical point is {\it independent} of the magnetic field. The critical
behaviour which is determined by the symmetry of the system {\it at} the
critical point should therefore be independent of the magnetic field.Comment: 10 pages, Revtex, 4 PostScript figures in uuencoded compressed tar
file are appende
Localization Transition in Multilayered Disordered Systems
The Anderson delocalization-localization transition is studied in
multilayered systems with randomly placed interlayer bonds of density and
strength . In the absence of diagonal disorder (W=0), following an
appropriate perturbation expansion, we estimate the mean free paths in the main
directions and verify by scaling of the conductance that the states remain
extended for any finite , despite the interlayer disorder. In the presence
of additional diagonal disorder () we obtain an Anderson transition with
critical disorder and localization length exponent independently of
the direction. The critical conductance distribution varies,
however, for the parallel and the perpendicular directions. The results are
discussed in connection to disordered anisotropic materials.Comment: 10 pages, Revtex file, 8 postscript files, minor change
Advanced characterization and simulation of SONNE: a fast neutron spectrometer for Solar Probe Plus
SONNE, the SOlar NeutroN Experiment proposed for Solar Probe Plus, is designed to measure solar neutrons from 1-20 MeV and solar gammas from 0.5-10 MeV. SONNE is a double scatter instrument that employs imaging to maximize its signal-to-noise ratio by rejecting neutral particles from non-solar directions. Under the assumption of quiescent or episodic small-flare activity, one can constrain the energy content and power dissipation by fast ions in the low corona. Although the spectrum of protons and ions produced by nanoflaring activity is unknown, we estimate the signal in neutrons and γ−rays that would be present within thirty solar radii, constrained by earlier measurements at 1 AU. Laboratory results and simulations will be presented illustrating the instrument sensitivity and resolving power
The Anderson Transition in Two-Dimensional Systems with Spin-Orbit Coupling
We report a numerical investigation of the Anderson transition in
two-dimensional systems with spin-orbit coupling. An accurate estimate of the
critical exponent for the divergence of the localization length in this
universality class has to our knowledge not been reported in the literature.
Here we analyse the SU(2) model. We find that for this model corrections to
scaling due to irrelevant scaling variables may be neglected permitting an
accurate estimate of the exponent
Development of the fast neutron imaging telescope
We report on the development of a next generation neutron telescope, with imaging and energy measurement capabilities, sensitive to neutrons in the 2-20 MeV energy range. The Fast Neutron Imaging Telescope (FNIT) was initially conceived to study solar neutrons as a candidate instrument for the Inner Heliosphere Sentinels (IHS) program under formulation at NASA. This detector is now being adapted to locate Special Nuclear Material (SNM) for homeland security purposes by detecting fission neutrons and reconstructing the image of their source. In either case, the detection principle is based on multiple elastic neutron-proton scatterings in organic scintillator. By reconstructing the scattering coordinates and measuring the recoil proton energy, the direction and energy of each neutron can be determined and discrete neutron sources identified. We describe the performance of the FNIT prototype, report on the current status of R&D efforts and present the results of recent laboratory measurements
Failure of single-parameter scaling of wave functions in Anderson localization
We show how to use properties of the vectors which are iterated in the
transfer-matrix approach to Anderson localization, in order to generate the
statistical distribution of electronic wavefunction amplitudes at arbitary
distances from the origin of disordered systems. For
our approach is shown to reproduce exact diagonalization results
available in the literature. In , where strips of width sites
were used, attempted fits of gaussian (log-normal) forms to the wavefunction
amplitude distributions result in effective localization lengths growing with
distance, contrary to the prediction from single-parameter scaling theory. We
also show that the distributions possess a negative skewness , which is
invariant under the usual histogram-collapse rescaling, and whose absolute
value increases with distance. We find for the
range of parameters used in our study, .Comment: RevTeX 4, 6 pages, 4 eps figures. Phys. Rev. B (final version, to be
published
Design optimization and performance capabilities of the fast neutron imaging telescope (FNIT)
We describe the design optimization process and performance characterization of a next generation neutron telescope, with imaging and energy measurement capabilities, sensitive to neutrons in the 1-20 MeV energy range. The response of the Fast Neutron Imaging Telescope (FNIT), its efficiency in neutron detection, energy resolution and imaging capabilities were characterized through a combination of lab tests and Monte Carlo simulations. Monte Carlo simulations, together with experimental data, are also being used in the development and testing of the image reconstruction algorithm. FNIT was initially conceived to study solar neutrons as a candidate instrument for the Inner Heliosphere Sentinel (IHS) spacecraft. However, the design of this detector was eventually adapted to locate Special Nuclear Material (SNM) sources for homeland security purposes, by detecting fission neutrons. In either case, the detection principle is based on multiple elastic neutron-proton scatterings in organic scintillator. By reconstructing event locations and measuring the recoil proton energies, the direction and energy spectrum of the primary neutron flux can be determined and neutron sources identified. This paper presents the most recent results arising from our efforts and outlines the performance of the FNIT detector
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