5,030 research outputs found
Compton Scattering in Ultra-Strong Magnetic Fields: Numerical and Analytical Behavior in the Relativistic Regime
This paper explores the effects of strong magnetic fields on the Compton
scattering of relativistic electrons. Recent studies of upscattering and energy
loss by relativistic electrons that have used the non-relativistic, magnetic
Thomson cross section for resonant scattering or the Klein-Nishina cross
section for non-resonant scattering do not account for the relativistic quantum
effects of strong fields ( G). We have derived a
simplified expression for the exact QED scattering cross section for the
broadly-applicable case where relativistic electrons move along the magnetic
field. To facilitate applications to astrophysical models, we have also
developed compact approximate expressions for both the differential and total
polarization-dependent cross sections, with the latter representing well the
exact total QED cross section even at the high fields believed to be present in
environments near the stellar surfaces of Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters and
Anomalous X-Ray Pulsars. We find that strong magnetic fields significantly
lower the Compton scattering cross section below and at the resonance, when the
incident photon energy exceeds in the electron rest frame. The cross
section is strongly dependent on the polarization of the final scattered
photon. Below the cyclotron fundamental, mostly photons of perpendicular
polarization are produced in scatterings, a situation that also arises above
this resonance for sub-critical fields. However, an interesting discovery is
that for super-critical fields, a preponderance of photons of parallel
polarization results from scatterings above the cyclotron fundamental. This
characteristic is both a relativistic and magnetic effect not present in the
Thomson or Klein-Nishina limits.Comment: AASTeX format, 31 pages included 7 embedded figures, accepted for
publication in The Astrophysical Journa
From multiple perspectives to shared understanding
The aim of this study was to explore how learners operating in a small group reach shared understanding as they work out joint research questions and build a theoretical framework and to identify the resources and tools they used in the process. The learners’ own interpretations of their group activities and learning were also taken into account. The data, consisting of group discussions and the documents produced by the group, were subjected to a qualitative content analysis. The group members employed a variety of resources and tools to exchange their individual perspectives and achieve shared understanding. Summaries of relevant literature laid a foundation for the group’s theoretical discussions. Reflective comparisons between their book knowledge and their personal experiences of online interaction and collaboration were frequent, suggesting that such juxtapositions may have enhanced their learning by intertwining the content to be mastered and the activities entailed by this particular content
Compton Scattering in Ultra-Strong Magnetic Fields: Numerical and Analytical Behavior in the Relativistic Regime
This paper explores the effects of strong magnetic fields on the Compton
scattering of relativistic electrons. Recent studies of upscattering and energy
loss by relativistic electrons that have used the non-relativistic, magnetic
Thomson cross section for resonant scattering or the Klein-Nishina cross
section for non-resonant scattering do not account for the relativistic quantum
effects of strong fields ( G). We have derived a
simplified expression for the exact QED scattering cross section for the
broadly-applicable case where relativistic electrons move along the magnetic
field. To facilitate applications to astrophysical models, we have also
developed compact approximate expressions for both the differential and total
polarization-dependent cross sections, with the latter representing well the
exact total QED cross section even at the high fields believed to be present in
environments near the stellar surfaces of Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters and
Anomalous X-Ray Pulsars. We find that strong magnetic fields significantly
lower the Compton scattering cross section below and at the resonance, when the
incident photon energy exceeds in the electron rest frame. The cross
section is strongly dependent on the polarization of the final scattered
photon. Below the cyclotron fundamental, mostly photons of perpendicular
polarization are produced in scatterings, a situation that also arises above
this resonance for sub-critical fields. However, an interesting discovery is
that for super-critical fields, a preponderance of photons of parallel
polarization results from scatterings above the cyclotron fundamental. This
characteristic is both a relativistic and magnetic effect not present in the
Thomson or Klein-Nishina limits.Comment: AASTeX format, 31 pages included 7 embedded figures, accepted for
publication in The Astrophysical Journa
Micromagnetic simulations of interacting dipoles on a fcc lattice: Application to nanoparticle assemblies
Micromagnetic simulations are used to examine the effects of cubic and axial
anisotropy, magnetostatic interactions and temperature on M-H loops for a
collection of magnetic dipoles on fcc and sc lattices. We employ a simple model
of interacting dipoles that represent single-domain particles in an attempt to
explain recent experimental data on ordered arrays of magnetoferritin
nanoparticles that demonstrate the crucial role of interactions between
particles in a fcc lattice. Significant agreement between the simulation and
experimental results is achieved, and the impact of intra-particle degrees of
freedom and surface effects on thermal fluctuations are investigated.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure
Refining lunar impact chronology through high spatial resolution 40Ar/39Ar dating of impact melts
Quantitative constraints on the ages of melt-forming impact events on the Moon are based primarily on isotope
geochronology of returned samples. However, interpreting the results of such studies can often be difficult
because the provenance region of any sample returned from the lunar surface may have experienced
multiple impact events over the course of billions of years of bombardment. We illustrate this problem with
new laser microprobe 40Ar/39Ar data for two Apollo 17 impact melt breccias. Whereas one sample yields a
straightforward result, indicating a single melt-forming event at ca. 3.83 Ga, data from the other sample document
multiple impact melt–forming events between ca. 3.81 Ga and at least as young as ca. 3.27 Ga. Notably,
published zircon U/Pb data indicate the existence of even older melt products in the same sample. The revelation
of multiple impact events through 40Ar/39Ar geochronology is likely not to have been possible using
standard incremental heating methods alone, demonstrating the complementarity of the laser microprobe
technique. Evidence for 3.83 Ga to 3.81 Ga melt components in these samples reinforces emerging interpretations
that Apollo 17 impact breccia samples include a significant component of ejecta from the Imbrium basin
impact. Collectively, our results underscore the need to quantitatively resolve the ages of different melt generations
from multiple samples to improve our current understanding of the lunar impact record, and to establish
the absolute ages of important impact structures encountered during future exploration missions in the
inner Solar System
GABAA receptors can initiate the formation of functional inhibitory GABAergic synapses.
The mechanisms that underlie the selection of an inhibitory GABAergic axon's postsynaptic targets and the formation of the first contacts are currently unknown. To determine whether expression of GABAA receptors (GABAA Rs) themselves - the essential functional postsynaptic components of GABAergic synapses - can be sufficient to initiate formation of synaptic contacts, a novel co-culture system was devised. In this system, the presynaptic GABAergic axons originated from embryonic rat basal ganglia medium spiny neurones, whereas their most prevalent postsynaptic targets, i.e. α1/β2/γ2-GABAA Rs, were expressed constitutively in a stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cell line. The first synapse-like contacts in these co-cultures were detected by colocalization of presynaptic and postsynaptic markers within 2 h. The number of contacts reached a plateau at 24 h. These contacts were stable, as assessed by live cell imaging; they were active, as determined by uptake of a fluorescently labelled synaptotagmin vesicle-luminal domain-specific antibody; and they supported spontaneous and action potential-driven postsynaptic GABAergic currents. Ultrastructural analysis confirmed the presence of characteristics typical of active synapses. Synapse formation was not observed with control or N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-expressing HEK293 cells. A prominent increase in synapse formation and strength was observed when neuroligin-2 was co-expressed with GABAA Rs, suggesting a cooperative relationship between these proteins. Thus, in addition to fulfilling an essential functional role, postsynaptic GABAA Rs can promote the adhesion of inhibitory axons and the development of functional synapses
A burst search for gravitational waves from binary black holes
Compact binary coalescence (CBC) is one of the most promising sources of
gravitational waves. These sources are usually searched for with matched
filters which require accurate calculation of the GW waveforms and generation
of large template banks. We present a complementary search technique based on
algorithms used in un-modeled searches. Initially designed for detection of
un-modeled bursts, which can span a very large set of waveform morphologies,
the search algorithm presented here is constrained for targeted detection of
the smaller subset of CBC signals. The constraint is based on the assumption of
elliptical polarisation for signals received at the detector. We expect that
the algorithm is sensitive to CBC signals in a wide range of masses, mass
ratios, and spin parameters. In preparation for the analysis of data from the
fifth LIGO-Virgo science run (S5), we performed preliminary studies of the
algorithm on test data. We present the sensitivity of the search to different
types of simulated CBC waveforms. Also, we discuss how to extend the results of
the test run into a search over all of the current LIGO-Virgo data set.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, submitted for publication in CQG in
the special issue for the conference proceedings of GWDAW13; corrected some
typos, addressed some minor reviewer comments one section restructured and
references updated and correcte
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