3,616 research outputs found
Holographic predictions for cosmological 3-point functions
We present the holographic predictions for cosmological 3-point correlators,
involving both scalar and tensor modes, for a universe which started in a
non-geometric holographic phase. Holographic formulae relate the cosmological
3-point functions to stress tensor correlation functions of a holographically
dual three-dimensional non-gravitational QFT. We compute these correlators at
1-loop order for a theory containing massless scalars, fermions and gauge
fields, and present an extensive analysis of the constraints due to Ward
identities showing that they uniquely determine the correlators up to a few
constants. We define shapes for all cosmological bispectra and compare the
holographic shapes to the slow-roll ones, finding that some are distinguishable
while others, perhaps surprisingly, are not.Comment: 51pp; 4 fig
Holographic Non-Gaussianity
We investigate the non-Gaussianity of primordial cosmological perturbations
within our recently proposed holographic description of inflationary universes.
We derive a holographic formula that determines the bispectrum of cosmological
curvature perturbations in terms of correlation functions of a holographically
dual three-dimensional non-gravitational quantum field theory (QFT). This
allows us to compute the primordial bispectrum for a universe which started in
a non-geometric holographic phase, using perturbative QFT calculations.
Strikingly, for a class of models specified by a three-dimensional
super-renormalisable QFT, the primordial bispectrum is of exactly the
factorisable equilateral form with f_nl^eq=5/36, irrespective of the details of
the dual QFT. A by-product of this investigation is a holographic formula for
the three-point function of the trace of the stress-energy tensor along general
holographic RG flows, which should have applications outside the remit of this
work.Comment: 42 pages, 2 figs, published versio
The Holographic Universe
We present a holographic description of four-dimensional single-scalar
inflationary universes in terms of a three-dimensional quantum field theory.
The holographic description correctly reproduces standard inflationary
predictions in their regime of applicability. In the opposite case, wherein
gravity is strongly coupled at early times, we propose a holographic
description in terms of perturbative QFT and present models capable of
satisfying the current observational constraints while exhibiting a
phenomenology distinct from standard inflation. This provides a qualitatively
new method for generating a nearly scale-invariant spectrum of primordial
cosmological perturbations.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figs; extended version of arXiv:0907.5542 including
background material and detailed derivations. To appear in Proceedings of 1st
Mediterranean Conference on Classical and Quantum Gravit
Spacecraft charging and ion wake formation in the near-Sun environment
A three-dimensional (3-D), self-consistent code is employed to solve for the
static potential structure surrounding a spacecraft in a high photoelectron
environment. The numerical solutions show that, under certain conditions, a
spacecraft can take on a negative potential in spite of strong photoelectron
currents. The negative potential is due to an electrostatic barrier near the
surface of the spacecraft that can reflect a large fraction of the
photoelectron flux back to the spacecraft. This electrostatic barrier forms if
(1) the photoelectron density at the surface of the spacecraft greatly exceeds
the ambient plasma density, (2) the spacecraft size is significantly larger
than local Debye length of the photoelectrons, and (3) the thermal electron
energy is much larger than the characteristic energy of the escaping
photoelectrons. All of these conditions are present near the Sun. The numerical
solutions also show that the spacecraft's negative potential can be amplified
by an ion wake. The negative potential of the ion wake prevents secondary
electrons from escaping the part of spacecraft in contact with the wake. These
findings may be important for future spacecraft missions that go nearer to the
Sun, such as Solar Orbiter and Solar Probe Plus.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Physics of Plasma
Phase field modeling of electrochemistry I: Equilibrium
A diffuse interface (phase field) model for an electrochemical system is
developed. We describe the minimal set of components needed to model an
electrochemical interface and present a variational derivation of the governing
equations. With a simple set of assumptions: mass and volume constraints,
Poisson's equation, ideal solution thermodynamics in the bulk, and a simple
description of the competing energies in the interface, the model captures the
charge separation associated with the equilibrium double layer at the
electrochemical interface. The decay of the electrostatic potential in the
electrolyte agrees with the classical Gouy-Chapman and Debye-H\"uckel theories.
We calculate the surface energy, surface charge, and differential capacitance
as functions of potential and find qualitative agreement between the model and
existing theories and experiments. In particular, the differential capacitance
curves exhibit complex shapes with multiple extrema, as exhibited in many
electrochemical systems.Comment: v3: To be published in Phys. Rev. E v2: Added link to
cond-mat/0308179 in References 13 pages, 6 figures in 15 files, REVTeX 4,
SIUnits.sty. Precedes cond-mat/030817
Evaluation of the quality and impact of online learning through the SAFE EUROPE webinars
IntroductionThe SAFE EUROPE project, a European-funded project, addressed educational gaps of Therapeutic Radiographers/Radiation Therapists (TR/RTTs) by offering a series of free webinars. This study aimed to assess the quality of these webinars and their impact on professional practice.MethodsData collection involved two methods: an automated feedback form administered after each webinar, supplemented by a survey disseminated through social media. The collected data encompassed attendance statistics, participants’ professions and geographic locations, webinar quality assessment, the acquisition of new knowledge and skills, the application of this newfound knowledge in practice, and the likelihood of recommending these webinars. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Ethical approval for the study was obtained.Results11,286 individuals from 107 countries participated in 18 webinars. Despite 72.7% being radiographers, a diverse array of professionals attended the webinars, including medical physicists, oncologists, radiologists, and academics. Remarkably, 98.7% of respondents rated the webinar quality as either good or excellent. The average rating for the likelihood of recommending these webinars to colleagues was 8.96/10. A substantial proportion of respondents expressed agreement or strong agreement that the webinars enhanced their knowledge (85%) and skills (73%). Furthermore, 79% of participants indicated that the webinars motivated them to change practice, with 65% having already implemented these changes. The insights from open-ended questions corroborated these findings.ConclusionThe webinars effectively achieved the aim of the SAFE EUROPE project to enhance practice by increasing knowledge and skills. Participants overwhelmingly endorsed the quality of these webinars.Implications for practiceWebinars represent a cost-efficient training tool that reaches a global audience and various radiography/radiotherapy professions. The development of additional webinars is strongly recommended.<br/
Contributions to the Nearby Stars (NStars) Project: Spectroscopy of Stars Earlier than M0 within 40 parsecs: The Northern Sample I
We have embarked on a project, under the aegis of the Nearby Stars (NStars)/
Space Interferometry Mission Preparatory Science Program to obtain spectra,
spectral types, and, where feasible, basic physical parameters for the 3600
dwarf and giant stars earlier than M0 within 40 parsecs of the sun. In this
paper we report on the results of this project for the first 664 stars in the
northern hemisphere. These results include precise, homogeneous spectral types,
basic physical parameters (including the effective temperature, surface gravity
and the overall metallicity, [M/H]) and measures of the chromospheric activity
of our program stars. Observed and derived data presented in this paper are
also available on the project's website at http://stellar.phys.appstate.edu/
Ekpyrotic collapse with multiple fields
A scale invariant spectrum of isocurvature perturbations is generated during
collapse in the scaling solution in models where two or more fields have steep
negative exponential potentials. The scale invariance of the spectrum is
realised by a tachyonic instability in the isocurvature field. We show that
this instability is due to the fact that the scaling solution is a saddle point
in the phase space. The late time attractor is identified with a single field
dominated ekpyrotic collapse in which a steep blue spectrum for isocurvature
perturbations is found. Although quantum fluctuations do not necessarily to
disrupt the classical solution, an additional preceding stage is required to
establish classical homogeneity.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur
LUNASKA simultaneous neutrino searches with multiple telescopes
The most sensitive method for detecting neutrinos at the very highest
energies is the lunar Cherenkov technique, which employs the Moon as a target
volume, using conventional radio telescopes to monitor it for nanosecond-scale
pulses of Cherenkov radiation from particle cascades in its regolith.
Multiple-antenna radio telescopes are difficult to effectively combine into a
single detector for this purpose, while single antennas are more susceptible to
false events from radio interference, which must be reliably excluded for a
credible detection to be made. We describe our progress in excluding such
interference in our observations with the single-antenna Parkes radio
telescope, and our most recent experiment (taking place the week before the
ICRC) using it in conjunction with the Australia Telescope Compact Array,
exploiting the advantages of both types of telescope.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, in Proceedings of the 32nd International Cosmic
Ray Conference (Beijing 2011
Scale-invariance in expanding and contracting universes from two-field models
We study cosmological perturbations produced by the most general
two-derivative actions involving two scalar fields, coupled to Einstein
gravity, with an arbitrary field space metric, that admit scaling solutions.
For contracting universes, we show that scale-invariant adiabatic perturbations
can be produced continuously as modes leave the horizon for any equation of
state parameter . The corresponding background solutions are unstable,
which we argue is a universal feature of contracting models that yield
scale-invariant spectra. For expanding universes, we find that nearly
scale-invariant adiabatic perturbation spectra can only be produced for , and that the corresponding scaling solutions are attractors. The
presence of a nontrivial metric on field space is a crucial ingredient in our
results.Comment: 23 pages, oversight in perturbations calculation corrected,
conclusions for expanding models modifie
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