On the Intracluster Medium in Cooling Flow & Non-Cooling Flow Clusters

Recent X-ray observations have highlighted clusters that lack entropy cores. At first glance, these results appear to invalidate the preheated ICM models. We show that a self-consistent preheating model, which factors in the effects of radiative cooling, is in excellent agreement with the observations. Moreover, the model naturally explains the intrinsic scatter in the L-T relation, with ``cooling flow'' and ``non-cooling flow'' systems corresponding to mildly and strongly preheated systems, respectively. We discuss why preheating ought to be favoured over merging as a mechanism for the origin of ``non-cooling flow'' clusters.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the "Multiwavelength Cosmology" Conference held in Mykonos, Greece, June 2003, ed. M. Plionis (Kluwer

The Las Campanas Infra-red Survey. V. Keck Spectroscopy of a large sample of Extremely Red Objects

(Abridged) We present deep Keck spectroscopy, using the DEIMOS and LRIS spectrographs, of a large and representative sample of 67 ``Extremely Red Objects'' (EROs) to H=20.5, with I-H>3.0, in three of the Las Campanas Infrared Survey fields. Spectroscopic redshifts are determined for 44 sources, of which only two are contaminating low mass stars. When allowance is made for incompleteness, the spectroscopic redshift distribution closely matches that predicted earlier on the basis of photometric data. Our spectra are of sufficient quality that we can address the important question of the nature and homogeneity of the z>0.8 ERO population. A dominant old stellar population is inferred for 75% of our spectroscopic sample; a higher fraction than that seen in smaller, less-complete samples with broader photometric selection criteria (e.g. R-K). However, only 28% have spectra with no evidence of recent star formation activity, such as would be expected for a strictly passively-evolving population. More than ~30% of our absorption line spectra are of the `E+A' type with prominent Balmer absorption consistent, on average, with mass growth of 5-15% in the past Gyr. We use our spectroscopic redshifts to improve earlier estimates of the spatial clustering of this population as well as to understand the significant field-to-field variation. Our spectroscopy enables us to pinpoint a filamentary structure at z=1.22 in the Chandra Deep Field South. Overall, our study suggests that the bulk of the ERO population is an established population of clustered massive galaxies undergoing intermittent activity consistent with continued growth over the redshift interval 0.8<z<1.6.Comment: 27 pages, including 14 figures and appendix of spectra (at low resolution). Full resolution paper can be found at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~md . To appear in MNRA

Topological Quantum Field Theory and Seiberg-Witten Monopoles

A topological quantum field theory is introduced which reproduces the Seiberg-Witten invariants of four-manifolds. Dimensional reduction of this topological field theory leads to a new one in three dimensions. Its partition function yields a three-manifold invariant, which can be regarded as the Seiberg-Witten version of Casson's invariant. A Geometrical interpretation of the three dimensional quantum field theory is also given.Comment: 15 pages, Latex file, no figure

On the algebraic K-theory of formal power series

In this paper we extend the computation of the the typical curves of algebraic K-theory done by Lars Hesselholt and Ib Madsen to general tensor algebras. The models used allow us to determine the stages of the Taylor tower of algebraic K-theory as a functor of augmented algebras, as defined by Tom Goodwillie, when evaluated on derived tensor algebras. For $R$ a discrete ring, and $M$ a simplicial $\LARGE{\tau}\normalsize{_{R}}$-bimodule, we let $\LARGE{\tau}\normalsize{_{R}\big(M\big)}$ denote the (derived) tensor algebra of $M$ over $R$, and $\LARGE{\tau}\;\normalsize{^{\pi}_{R}}$ denote the ring of formal (derived) power series in $M$ over $R$. We define a natural transformation of functors of simplicial $R$-bimodules $\phi: \sum\tilde{K}\big(R;\; \big)\rightarrow\tilde{K}\big(\LARGE{\tau}\normalsize{_{R}\big(\; \big)\big)}$.which is closely related to Waldhausen's equivalence $\sum\tilde{K}\big(\text{Nil}\big(R; \;\big)\big)\rightarrow\tilde{K}\big(\LARGE{\tau}\normalsize{^{\pi}_{R}\big( \big)\big)}$. We show that $\phi$ induces an equivalence on any finite stage of Goodwillie's Taylor towers of the functors at any simplicial bimodule. This is used to show that there is an equivalence of functors $\sum W\big(R; \;\big)\rightarrow^{\simeq}\text{holim}_{n}\tilde{K}\big(\LARGE{\tau}\normalsize{_{R}\big(\; \big)/I^{n+1}\big)}$, and for connected bimodules, also an equivalence $\sum\tilde{K}\big(R; \;\big)\rightarrow^{\simeq}\tilde{K}\big(\LARGE{\tau}\normalsize{_{R}\big( \;\big)\big)}$

Deep VLT spectroscopy of the z=2.49 Radio Galaxy MRC 2104-242: Evidence for a metallicity gradient in its extended emission line region

We present spectroscopic observations of the rest-frame UV line emission around radio galaxy MRC 2104-242 at z=2.49, obtained with FORS1 on VLT Antu. The morphology of the halo is dominated by two spatially resolved regions. Lya is extended by >12 arcsec along the radio axis, CIV and HeII are extended by ~8 arcsec. The overall spectrum is typical for that of high redshift radio galaxies. The most striking spatial variation is that NV is present in the spectrum of the region associated with the center of the galaxy hosting the radio source, the northern region, while absent in the southern region. Assuming that the gas is photoionized by a hidden quasar, the difference in NV emission can be explained by a metallicity gradient within the halo. This is consistent with a scenario in which the gas is associated with a massive cooling flow or originates from the debris of the merging of two or more galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A Letter

Assessing Human Error Against a Benchmark of Perfection

An increasing number of domains are providing us with detailed trace data on human decisions in settings where we can evaluate the quality of these decisions via an algorithm. Motivated by this development, an emerging line of work has begun to consider whether we can characterize and predict the kinds of decisions where people are likely to make errors. To investigate what a general framework for human error prediction might look like, we focus on a model system with a rich history in the behavioral sciences: the decisions made by chess players as they select moves in a game. We carry out our analysis at a large scale, employing datasets with several million recorded games, and using chess tablebases to acquire a form of ground truth for a subset of chess positions that have been completely solved by computers but remain challenging even for the best players in the world. We organize our analysis around three categories of features that we argue are present in most settings where the analysis of human error is applicable: the skill of the decision-maker, the time available to make the decision, and the inherent difficulty of the decision. We identify rich structure in all three of these categories of features, and find strong evidence that in our domain, features describing the inherent difficulty of an instance are significantly more powerful than features based on skill or time.Comment: KDD 2016; 10 page

Voltage-dependent Block of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Cl- Channel by Two Closely Related Arylaminobenzoates

The gene defective in cystic fibrosis encodes a Cl- channel, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is blocked by diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC) when applied extracellularly at millimolar concentrations. We studied the block of CFTR expressed in Xenopus oocytes by DPC or by a closely related molecule, flufenamic acid (FFA). Block of whole-cell CFTR currents by bath-applied DPC or by FFA, both at 200 µM, requires several minutes to reach full effect. Blockade is voltage dependent, suggesting open-channel block: currents at positive potentials are not affected but currents at negative potentials are reduced. The binding site for both drugs senses ~40% of the electric field across the membrane, measured from the inside. In single-channel recordings from excised patches without blockers, the conductance was 8.0 ± 0.4 pS in symmetric 150 mM Cl^-. A subconductance state, measuring ~60% of the main conductance, was often observed. Bursts to the full open state lasting up to tens of seconds were uninterrupted at depolarizing membrane voltages. At hyperpolarizing voltages, bursts were interrupted by brief closures. Either DPC or FFA (50 µM) applied to the cytoplasmic or extracellular face of the channel led to an increase in flicker at V_m =-100 mV and not at V_m = +100 mV, in agreement with whole-cell experiments. DPC induced a higher frequency of flickers from the cytoplasmic side than the extracellular side. FFA produced longer closures than DPC; the FFA closed time was roughly equal (~ 1.2 ms) at -100 mV with application from either side. In cell-attached patch recordings with DPC or FFA applied to the bath, there was flickery block at V_m = -100 mV, confirming that the drugs permeate through the membrane to reach the binding site. The data are consistent with the presence of a single binding site for both drugs, reached from either end of the channel. Open-channel block by DPC or FFA may offer tools for use with site-directed mutagenesis to describe the permeation pathway

Investigating Heating and Cooling in the BCS & B55 Cluster Samples

We study clusters in the BCS cluster sample which are observed by Chandra and are more distant than redshift, z>0.1. We select from this subsample the clusters which have both a short central cooling time and a central temperature drop, and also those with a central radio source. Six of the clusters have clear bubbles near the centre. We calculate the heating by these bubbles and express it as the ratio r_heat/r_cool=1.34+/-0.20. This result is used to calculate the average size of bubbles expected in all clusters with central radio sources. In three cases the predicted bubble sizes approximately match the observed radio lobe dimensions. We combine this cluster sample with the B55 sample studied in earlier work to increase the total sample size and redshift range. This extended sample contains 71 clusters in the redshift range 0<z<0.4. The average distance out to which the bubbles offset the X-ray cooling in the combined sample is at least r_heat/r_cool=0.92+/-0.11. The distribution of central cooling times for the combined sample shows no clusters with clear bubbles and t_cool>1.2Gyr. An investigation of the evolution of cluster parameters within the redshift range of the combined samples does not show any clear variation with redshift.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Barrier and internal wave contributions to the quantum probability density and flux in light heavy-ion elastic scattering

We investigate the properties of the optical model wave function for light heavy-ion systems where absorption is incomplete, such as $\alpha + ^{40}$Ca and $\alpha + ^{16}$O around 30 MeV incident energy. Strong focusing effects are predicted to occur well inside the nucleus, where the probability density can reach values much higher than that of the incident wave. This focusing is shown to be correlated with the presence at back angles of a strong enhancement in the elastic cross section, the so-called ALAS (anomalous large angle scattering) phenomenon; this is substantiated by calculations of the quantum probability flux and of classical trajectories. To clarify this mechanism, we decompose the scattering wave function and the associated probability flux into their barrier and internal wave contributions within a fully quantal calculation. Finally, a calculation of the divergence of the quantum flux shows that when absorption is incomplete, the focal region gives a sizeable contribution to nonelastic processes.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figures. RevTeX file. To appear in Phys. Rev. C. The figures are only available via anonynous FTP on ftp://umhsp02.umh.ac.be/pub/ftp_pnt/figscat

Effective Radii and Color Gradients in Radio Galaxies

We present de Vaucouleurs' effective radii in B and R bands for a sample of Molonglo Reference Catalogue radio galaxies and a control sample of normal galaxies. We use the ratio of the scale lengths in the two bands as an indicator to show that the radio galaxies tend to have excess of blue color in their inner region much more frequently than the control galaxies. We show that the scale length ratio is a useful indicator of radial color variation even when the conventional color gradient is too noisy to serve the purpose.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, (LaTeX: aaspp4, epsfig), to appear in ApJL 199