14,932 research outputs found
Influence of bottom topography on integral constraints in zonal flows with parameterized potential vorticity fluxes
An integral constraint for eddy fluxes of potential vorticity (PV), corresponding to global momentum conservation, is applied to two-layer zonal quasi-geostrophic channel flow. This constraint must be satisfied for any type of parameterization of eddy PV fluxes. Bottom topography strongly influence the integral constraint compared to a flat bottom channel. An analytical solution for the mean flow solution has been found by using asymptotic expansion in a small parameter which is the ratio of the Rossby radius to the meridional extent of the channel. Applying the integral constraint to this solution, one can find restrictions for eddy PV transfer coefficients which relate the eddy fluxes of PV to the mean flow. These restrictions strongly deviate from restrictions for the channel with flat bottom topography
Hemispheric Asymmetry of Globus Pallidus Explains Reward-related Posterior Alpha Modulation in Humans
While subcortical structures such as the basal ganglia (BG) have been widely explored in relation to motor control, recent evidence suggests that their mechanisms extend to the domain of attentional switching. We here investigated the subcortical involvement in reward related top-down control of visual alpha-band oscillations (8 – 13 Hz), which have been consistently linked to the mechanisms supporting the allocation of visual spatial attention. Given that items associated with contextual saliency (e.g. monetary reward or loss) attract attention, it is not surprising that alpha oscillations are further modulated by the saliency properties of the visual items. The executive network controlling such reward-dependent modulations of oscillatory brain activity has yet to be fully elucidated. Although such network has been explored in terms of cortico-cortical interaction, it likely relies also on the contribution of subcortical regions. To uncover this, we investigated whether derived measures of subcortical structural asymmetries could predict interhemispheric modulation of alpha power during a spatial attention task. We show that volumetric hemispheric lateralization of globus pallidus (GP) and thalamus (Th) explains individual hemispheric biases in the ability to modulate posterior alpha power. Importantly, for the GP, this effect became stronger when the value-saliency parings in the task increased. Our findings suggest that the Th and GP in humans are part of a subcortical executive control network, differently involved in modulating posterior alpha activity. Further investigation aimed at uncovering the interaction between subcortical and neocortical attentional networks would provide useful insight in future studies
Computing the Loewner driving process of random curves in the half plane
We simulate several models of random curves in the half plane and numerically
compute their stochastic driving process (as given by the Loewner equation).
Our models include models whose scaling limit is the Schramm-Loewner evolution
(SLE) and models for which it is not. We study several tests of whether the
driving process is Brownian motion. We find that just testing the normality of
the process at a fixed time is not effective at determining if the process is
Brownian motion. Tests that involve the independence of the increments of
Brownian motion are much more effective. We also study the zipper algorithm for
numerically computing the driving function of a simple curve. We give an
implementation of this algorithm which runs in a time O(N^1.35) rather than the
usual O(N^2), where N is the number of points on the curve.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures. Changes to second version: added new paragraph
to conclusion section; improved figures cosmeticall
The Highly Miniaturised Radiation Monitor
We present the design and preliminary calibration results of a novel highly
miniaturised particle radiation monitor (HMRM) for spacecraft use. The HMRM
device comprises a telescopic configuration of active pixel sensors enclosed in
a titanium shield, with an estimated total mass of 52 g and volume of 15
cm. The monitor is intended to provide real-time dosimetry and
identification of energetic charged particles in fluxes of up to 10
cm s (omnidirectional). Achieving this capability with such a
small instrument could open new prospects for radiation detection in space.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figure
Submitted ta Health Physics Society
Abstract When evaluating a task involving the machining of volume-activated materials, accelerator health physicists must consider more than the surface contamination levels of the equipment and containment of loose shavings, dust or filings. Machining operations such as sawing, routing, welding, and grinding conducted on volume-activated material may pose a significant airborne radioactivity hazard to the worker. This paper presents a computer spreadsheet notebook that conservatively estimates the airborne radioactivity levels generated during machining operations performed on volume-activated materials. By knowing (1) the size and type of materials, (2) the dose rate at a given distances, and (3) limited process knowledge, the Derived Air Concentration (DAC) fraction can be estimated. This tool is flexible, taking into consideration that the process knowledge available for the different materials varies. It addresses the two most common geometries: thick plane and circular cylinder. Once the DAC fraction has been estimated, controls can be implemented to mitigate the hazard to the worker
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Calculation of airborne radioactivity hazard from machining volume-activated materials
When evaluating a task involving the machining of volume-activated materials, accelerator health physicists must consider more than the surface contamination levels of the equipment and containment of loose shavings, dust or filings. Machining operations such as sawing, routing, welding, and grinding conducted on volume-activated material may pose a significant airborne radioactivity hazard to the worker. This paper presents a computer spreadsheet notebook that conservatively estimates the airborne radioactivity levels generated during machining operations performed on volume-activated materials. By knowing (1) the size and type of materials, (2) the dose rate at a given distances, and (3) limited process knowledge, the Derived Air Concentration (DAC) fraction can be estimated. This tool is flexible, taking into consideration that the process knowledge available for the different materials varies. It addresses the two most common geometries: thick plane and circular cylinder. Once the DAC fraction has been estimated, controls can be implemented to mitigate the hazard to the worker
Experimental tests of hidden variable theories from dBB to Stochastic Electrodynamics
In this paper we present some of our experimental results on testing hidden
variable theories, which range from Bell inequalities measurements to a
conclusive test of stochastic electrodynamics
Simultaneous EUVE/ASCA/RXTE Observations of NGC 5548
We present simultaneous observations by EUVE, ASCA, and RXTE of the type~1
Seyfert galaxy NGC 5548. These data indicate that variations in the EUV
emission (at keV) appear to lead similar modulations in higher
energy (\ga 1 keV) X-rays by 10--30 ks. This is contrary to popular
models which attribute the correlated variability of the EUV, UV and optical
emission in type~1 Seyferts to reprocessing of higher energy radiation. This
behavior instead suggests that the variability of the optical through EUV
emission is an important driver for the variability of the harder X-rays which
are likely produced by thermal Comptonization. We also investigate the spectral
characteristics of the fluorescent iron K line and Compton reflection
emission. In contrast to prior measurements of these spectral features, we find
that the iron K line has a relatively small equivalent width
(eV) and that the reflection component is consistent
with a covering factor which is significantly less than unity (--0.5). Notably, although the 2--10 keV X-ray flux varies by % and the derived reflection fraction appears to be constant throughout our
observations, the flux in the Fe~K line is also constant. This behavior
is difficult to reconcile in the context of standard Compton reflection models.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, LaTeX, uses emulateapj.sty and apjfonts.sty,
submitted to Ap
Interrelation between the pseudogap and the incoherent quasi-particle features of high-Tc superconductors
Using a scenario of a hybridized mixture of localized bipolarons and
conduction electrons, we demonstrate for the latter the simultaneous appearance
of a pseudogap and of strong incoherent contributions to their quasi-particle
spectrum which arise from phonon shake-off effects. This can be traced back to
temporarily fluctuating local lattice deformations, giving rise to a
double-peak structure in the pair distribution function, which should be a key
feature in testing the origin of these incoherent contributions, recently seen
in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES).Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Let
Fermi-LAT Observations of High- and Intermediate-Velocity Clouds: Tracing Cosmic Rays in the Halo of the Milky Way
It is widely accepted that cosmic rays (CRs) up to at least PeV energies are
Galactic in origin. Accelerated particles are injected into the interstellar
medium where they propagate to the farthest reaches of the Milky Way, including
a surrounding halo. The composition of CRs coming to the solar system can be
measured directly and has been used to infer the details of CR propagation that
are extrapolated to the whole Galaxy. In contrast, indirect methods, such as
observations of gamma-ray emission from CR interactions with interstellar gas,
have been employed to directly probe the CR densities in distant locations
throughout the Galactic plane. In this article we use 73 months of data from
the Fermi Large Area Telescope in the energy range between 300 MeV and 10 GeV
to search for gamma-ray emission produced by CR interactions in several high-
and intermediate-velocity clouds located at up to ~ 7 kpc above the Galactic
plane. We achieve the first detection of intermediate-velocity clouds in gamma
rays and set upper limits on the emission from the remaining targets, thereby
tracing the distribution of CR nuclei in the halo for the first time. We find
that the gamma-ray emissivity per H atom decreases with increasing distance
from the plane at 97.5% confidence level. This corroborates the notion that CRs
at the relevant energies originate in the Galactic disk. The emissivity of the
upper intermediate-velocity Arch hints at a 50% decline of CR densities within
2 kpc from the plane. We compare our results to predictions of CR propagation
models.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
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