1,187 research outputs found
GRIS observations of the galactic center and the gamma ray galactic diffuse continuum
On two flights in 1988, the Gamma-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (GRIS) discovered the galactic center in a high state (greater than 1 x 10(exp -3) ph/(sq cm sec)) of positron annihilation line emission (511 keV) after nearly a decade of failed attempts to confirm the exciting early results of balloon and satellite instruments. These two flights represented the first flights of a new generation of high resolution germanium spectrometers designed to achieve significantly greater sensitivity for astrophysical observations. During the fall flight, an observation of the galactic plane at 335 degrees longitude was also performed. This observation showed a very low level of 511 keV emission (2 +/- 1 x 10(exp -4) ph/(sq cm sec)), confirming the galactic center origin of the line, and a high level of hard x-ray and gamma-ray continuum emission (1 x 10(exp -4) ph/(sq cm sec keV) at 100 keV), which we attribute to galactic diffuse emission. Improved fits to the spectrum of the galactic center are presented with the proposed diffuse component subtracted. We conclude that our galactic center continuum spectrum is consistent with the sum of the 1E1740.7-2942 spectrum observed by SIGMA/GRANAT and our 1 = 335 degree galactic plane spectrum. The predicted diffuse flux should be easily measurable by the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) experiment on the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO)
Segre Types of Symmetric Two-tensors in n-Dimensional Spacetimes
Three propositions about Jordan matrices are proved and applied to
algebraically classify the Ricci tensor in n-dimensional Kaluza-Klein-type
spacetimes. We show that the possible Segre types are [1,1...1], [21...1],
[31\ldots 1], [z\bar{z}1...1] and degeneracies thereof. A set of canonical
forms for the Segre types is obtained in terms of semi-null bases of vectors.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, replaced due to a LaTex erro
Equivalence of three-dimensional spacetimes
A solution to the equivalence problem in three-dimensional gravity is given
and a practically useful method to obtain a coordinate invariant description of
local geometry is presented. The method is a nontrivial adaptation of Karlhede
invariant classification of spacetimes of general relativity. The local
geometry is completely determined by the curvature tensor and a finite number
of its covariant derivatives in a frame where the components of the metric are
constants. The results are presented in the framework of real two-component
spinors in three-dimensional spacetimes, where the algebraic classifications of
the Ricci and Cotton-York spinors are given and their isotropy groups and
canonical forms are determined. As an application we discuss Goedel-type
spacetimes in three-dimensional General Relativity. The conditions for local
space and time homogeneity are derived and the equivalence of three-dimensional
Goedel-type spacetimes is studied and the results are compared with previous
works on four-dimensional Goedel-type spacetimes.Comment: 13 pages - content changes and corrected typo
WKB-type Approximation to Noncommutative Quantum Cosmology
In this work, we develop and apply the WKB approximation to several examples
of noncommutative quantum cosmology, obtaining the time evolution of the
noncommutative universe, this is done starting from a noncommutative quantum
formulation of cosmology where the noncommutativity is introduced by a
deformation on the minisuperspace variables. This procedure gives a
straightforward algorithm to incorporate noncommutativity to cosmology and
inflation.Comment: Revtex4, 6 pages, no figure
First and Second Order Perturbations of Hypersurfaces
In this paper we find the first and second order perturbations of the induced
metric and the extrinsic curvature of a non-degenerate hypersurface in
a spacetime , when the metric is perturbed arbitrarily to second
order and the hypersurface itself is allowed to change perturbatively (i.e. to
move within spacetime) also to second order. The results are fully general and
hold in arbitrary dimensions and signature. An application of these results for
the perturbed matching theory between spacetimes is presented.Comment: 31 pages, no figures. To be published in Classical and Quantum
Gravit
Collimation of a spherical collisionless particles stream in Kerr space-time
We examine the propagation of collisionless particles emitted from a
spherical shell to infinity. The number distribution at infinity, calculated as
a function of the polar angle, exhibits a small deviation from uniformity. The
number of particles moving from the polar region toward the equatorial plane is
slightly larger than that of particles in the opposite direction, for an
emission radius in extreme Kerr space-time. This means that the black
hole spin exerts an anti-collimation effect on the particles stream propagating
along the rotation axis. We also confirm this property in the weak field limit.
The quadrupole moment of the central object produces a force toward the
equatorial plane. For a smaller emission radius , the absorption of
particles into the black hole, the non-uniformity and/or the anisotropy of the
emission distribution become much more important.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures; accepted for publication in CQ
Gravitational Instantons from Minimal Surfaces
Physical properties of gravitational instantons which are derivable from
minimal surfaces in 3-dimensional Euclidean space are examined using the
Newman-Penrose formalism for Euclidean signature. The gravitational instanton
that corresponds to the helicoid minimal surface is investigated in detail.
This is a metric of Bianchi Type , or E(2) which admits a hidden
symmetry due to the existence of a quadratic Killing tensor. It leads to a
complete separation of variables in the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for geodesics,
as well as in Laplace's equation for a massless scalar field. The scalar Green
function can be obtained in closed form which enables us to calculate the
vacuum fluctuations of a massless scalar field in the background of this
instanton.Comment: One figure available by fax upon request. Abstract missing in
original submission. Submitted to Classical and Quantum Gravit
Gravastar energy conditions revisited
We consider the gravastar model where the vacuum phase transition between the
de Sitter interior and the Schwarzschild or Schwarzschild-de Sitter exterior
geometries takes place at a single spherical delta-shell. We derive sharp
analytic bounds on the surface compactness (2m/r) that follow from the
requirement that the dominant energy condition (DEC) holds at the shell. In the
case of Schwarzschild exterior, the highest surface compactness is achieved
with the stiff shell in the limit of vanishing (dark) energy density in the
interior. In the case of Schwarzschild-de Sitter exterior, in addition to the
gravastar configurations with the shell under surface pressure, gravastar
configurations with vanishing shell pressure (dust shells), as well as
configurations with the shell under surface tension, are allowed by the DEC.
Respective bounds on the surface compactness are derived for all cases. We also
consider the speed of sound on the shell as derived from the requirement that
the shell is stable against the radial perturbations. The causality requirement
(sound speed not exceeding that of light) further restricts the space of
allowed gravastar configurations.Comment: LaTeX/IOP-style, 16 pages, 2 figures, changes wrt v1: motivation for
eq. (6) clarified, several referecnes added (to appear in Class. Quantum
Grav.
Measuring Metacognition in Cancer: Validation of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30)
Objective
The Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 assesses metacognitive beliefs and processes which are central to the metacognitive model of emotional disorder. As recent studies have begun to explore the utility of this model for understanding emotional distress after cancer diagnosis, it is important also to assess the validity of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 for use in cancer populations.
Methods
229 patients with primary breast or prostate cancer completed the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale pre-treatment and again 12 months later. The structure and validity of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 were assessed using factor analyses and structural equation modelling.
Results
Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses provided evidence supporting the validity of the previously published 5-factor structure of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30. Specifically, both pre-treatment and 12 months later, this solution provided the best fit to the data and all items loaded on their expected factors. Structural equation modelling indicated that two dimensions of metacognition (positive and negative beliefs about worry) were significantly associated with anxiety and depression as predicted, providing further evidence of validity.
Conclusions
These findings provide initial evidence that the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 is a valid measure for use in cancer populations
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