2,329 research outputs found
Neutrino Masses and Mixings from String Theory Instantons
We study possible patterns of neutrino masses and mixings in string models in
which Majorana neutrino masses are generated by a certain class of string
theory instantons recently considered in the literature. These instantons may
generate either directly the dim=5 Weinberg operator or right-handed neutrino
Majorana masses, both with a certain flavour-factorised form. A hierarchy of
neutrino masses naturally appears from the exponentially suppressed
contributions of different instantons. The flavour structure is controlled by
string amplitudes involving neutrino fields and charged instanton zero modes.
For some simple choices for these amplitudes one finds neutrino mixing patterns
consistent with experimental results. In particular, we find that a
tri-bimaximal mixing pattern is obtained for simple symmetric values of the
string correlators.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figure
The 2MASS Tully-Fisher Survey : Mapping the Mass in the Universe
The 2MASS Tully-Fisher Survey (2MTF) aims to measure Tully-Fisher (TF)
distances for all bright inclined spirals in the 2MASS Redshift Survey (2MRS)
using high quality HI widths and 2MASS photometry. Compared with previous
peculiar velocity surveys, the 2MTF survey provides more accurate width
measurements and more uniform sky coverage, combining observations with the
Green Bank, Arecibo and Parkes telescopes. With this new redshift-independent
distance database, we will significantly improve our understanding of the mass
distribution in the local universe.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, IAU Symposium 289 proceedin
Slow epidemic extinction in populations with heterogeneous infection rates
We explore how heterogeneity in the intensity of interactions between people
affects epidemic spreading. For that, we study the
susceptible-infected-susceptible model on a complex network, where a link
connecting individuals and is endowed with an infection rate
proportional to the intensity of their contact
, with a distribution taken from face-to-face experiments
analyzed in Cattuto (PLoS ONE 5, e11596, 2010). We find an extremely
slow decay of the fraction of infected individuals, for a wide range of the
control parameter . Using a distribution of width we identify two
large regions in the space with anomalous behaviors, which are
reminiscent of rare region effects (Griffiths phases) found in models with
quenched disorder. We show that the slow approach to extinction is caused by
isolated small groups of highly interacting individuals, which keep epidemic
alive for very long times. A mean-field approximation and a percolation
approach capture with very good accuracy the absorbing-active transition line
for weak (small ) and strong (large ) disorder, respectively
A hard X-ray polarimeter designed for transient astrophysical sources
â This paper discusses the latest progress in the development of GRAPE (Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment), a hard X-ray Compton Polarimeter. The purpose of GRAPE is to measure the polarization of hard X-rays in the 50-300 keV energy range. We are particularly interested in X-rays that are emitted from solar flares and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Accurately measuring the polarization of the emitted radiation from these sources will lead, to a better understating of both the emission mechanisms and source geometries. The GRAPE design consists of an array of plastic scintillators surrounding a central high-Z crystal scintillator. We can monitor individual Compton scatters that occur in the plastics and determine whether the photon is photo absorbed by the high-Z crystal or not. A Compton scattered photon that is immediately photo absorbed by the high-Z crystal constitutes a valid event. These valid events provide us with the interaction locations of each incident photon and ultimately produces a modulation pattern for the Compton scattering of the polarized radiation. Comparing with Monte Carlo simulations of a 100% polarized beam, the level of polarization of the measured beam can then be determined. The complete array is mounted on a flat-panel multi-anode photomultiplier tube (MAPMT) that can measure the deposited energies resulting from the photon interactions. The design of the detector allows for a large field-ofview (\u3e Ï steradian), at the same time offering the ability to be close-packed with multiple modules in order to reduce deadspace. We plan to present in this paper the latest laboratory results obtained from GRAPE using partially polarized radiation sources
Developing a Compton Polarimeter to Measure Polarization of Hard X-Rays in the 50-300 keV Energy Range
This paper discusses the latest progress in the development of GRAPE
(Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment), a hard X-ray Compton Polarimeter. The
purpose of GRAPE is to measure the polarization of hard X-rays in the 50-300
keV energy range. We are particularly interested in X-rays that are emitted
from solar flares and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Accurately measuring the
polarization of the emitted radiation from these sources will lead, to a better
understating of both the emission mechanisms and source geometries. The GRAPE
design consists of an array of plastic scintillators surrounding a central
high-Z crystal scintillator. We can monitor individual Compton scatters that
occur in the plastics and determine whether the photon is photo absorbed by the
high-Z crystal or not. A Compton scattered photon that is immediately photo
absorbed by the high-Z crystal constitutes a valid event. These valid events
provide us with the interaction locations of each incident photon and
ultimately produces a modulation pattern for the Compton scattering of the
polarized radiation. Comparing with Monte Carlo simulations of a 100% polarized
beam, the level of polarization of the measured beam can then be determined.
The complete array is mounted on a flat-panel multi-anode photomultiplier tube
(MAPMT) that can measure the deposited energies resulting from the photon
interactions. The design of the detector allows for a large field-of-view (>pi
steradian), at the same time offering the ability to be close-packed with
multiple modules in order to reduce deadspace. We plan to present in this paper
the latest laboratory results obtained from GRAPE using partially polarized
radiation sources.Comment: 10 pages; conference paper presented at the SPIE conference "UV,
X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XIV." To be
published in SPIE Conference Proceedings, vol. 589
Development of a Hard X-Ray Polarimeter for Astrophysics
We have been developing a Compton scatter polarimeter for measuring the linear polarization of hard X-rays (100-300 keV) from astrophysical sources. A laboratory prototype polarimeter has been used to successfully demonstrate the reliability of our Monte Carlo simulation code and to demonstrate our ability to generate a polarized photon source in the lab. Our design concept places a self-containedpolarimeter module on the front-end of a a 5-inch position sensitive PMT (PSPMT). We are currently working on the fabrication of a science model based on this PSPMT concept. Although the emphasis of our development effort is towards measuring hard X-rays from solar flares, our design has the advantage that it is sensitive over a rather large field-of-view (\u3e1 steradian), a feature that makes it especially attractive for Îł-ray burst studie
Prospects for GRB Polarimetry with GRAPE
This paper discusses the latest progress in the development of GRAPE (GammaâRay Polarimeter Experiment), a hard Xâray Compton Polarimeter. The purpose of GRAPE is to measure the polarization of hard Xârays in the 50â300 keV energy range. We are particularly interested in Xârays that are emitted from solar flares and gammaâray bursts (GRBs). Accurately measuring the polarization of the emitted radiation from these sources will lead to a better understating of both the emission mechanisms and source geometries. The GRAPE design consists of an array of plastic scintillators surrounding a central highâZ crystal scintillator. We can monitor individual Compton scatters that occur in the plastics and determine whether the photon is photo absorbed by the highâZ crystal or not. A Compton scattered photon that is immediately photo absorbed by the highâZ crystal constitutes a valid event. These valid events provide us with the interaction locations of each incident photon and ultimately produces a modulation pattern for the Compton scattering of the polarized radiation. Comparing with Monte Carlo simulations of a 100% polarized beam, the level of polarization of the measured beam can then be determined. The complete array is mounted on a flatâpanel multiâanode photomultiplier tube (MAPMT) that can measure the deposited energies resulting from the photon interactions. The design of the detector allows for a large fieldâofâview (\u3e Ï steradian), at the same time offering the ability to be closeâpacked with multiple modules in order to reduce deadspace. We present in this paper the latest laboratory results obtained from GRAPE using partially polarized radiation sources along with a brief description of our future plans for the GRAPE design
Development of a hard X-ray polarimeter for astrophysics
We have been developing a Compton scatter polarimeter for measuring the linear polarization of hard X-rays (100-300 keV) from astrophysical sources. A laboratory prototype polarimeter has been used to successfully demonstrate the reliability of our Monte Carlo simulation code and to demonstrate our ability to generate a polarized photon source in the lab. Our design concept places a self-containedpolarimeter module on the front-end of a a 5-inch position sensitive PMT (PSPMT). We are currently working on the fabrication of a science model based on this PSPMT concept. Although the emphasis of our development effort is towards measuring hard X-rays from solar flares, our design has the advantage that it is sensitive over a rather large field-of-view (\u3e1 steradian), a feature that makes it especially attractive for Îł-ray burst studies
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