14,863 research outputs found
Deligne-Beilinson cohomology and abelian link invariants: torsion case
For the abelian Chern-Simons field theory, we consider the quantum functional
integration over the Deligne-Beilinson cohomology classes and present an
explicit path-integral non-perturbative computation of the Chern-Simons link
invariants in , a toy example of 3-manifold with
torsion
Mariner 'c' dsif equivalent ground support equipment, volume 1 final report
Mariner C Deep Space Instrumentation Facility /DSIF/ equivalent ground support equipmen
Electron spin relaxation of N@C60 in CS2
We examine the temperature dependence of the relaxation times of the
molecules N@C60 and N@C70 (which comprise atomic nitrogen trapped within a
carbon cage) in liquid CS2 solution. The results are inconsistent with the
fluctuating zero field splitting (ZFS) mechanism, which is commonly invoked to
explain electron spin relaxation for S > 1/2 spins in liquid solution, and is
the mechanism postulated in the literature for these systems. Instead, we find
a clear Arrhenius temperature dependence for N@C60, indicating the spin
relaxation is driven primarily by an Orbach process. For the asymmetric N@C70
molecule, which has a permanent non-zero ZFS, we resolve an additional
relaxation mechanism caused by the rapid reorientation of its ZFS. We also
report the longest coherence time (T2) ever observed for a molecular electron
spin, being 0.25 ms at 170K.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures V2: Updated to published versio
Abelian link invariants and homology
We consider the link invariants defined by the quantum Chern-Simons field
theory with compact gauge group U(1) in a closed oriented 3-manifold M. The
relation of the abelian link invariants with the homology group of the
complement of the links is discussed. We prove that, when M is a homology
sphere or when a link -in a generic manifold M- is homologically trivial, the
associated observables coincide with the observables of the sphere S^3. Finally
we show that the U(1) Reshetikhin-Turaev surgery invariant of the manifold M is
not a function of the homology group only, nor a function of the homotopy type
of M alone.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures; to be published in Journal of Mathematical
Physic
Chemical Abundance Gradients in the Star-Forming Ring Galaxies
Ring waves of star formation, propagating outwardly in the galactic disks,
leave chemical abundance gradients in their wakes. We show that the relative
[Fe/O] abundance gradients in ring galaxies can be used as a tool for
determining the role of the SNIa explosions in their chemical enrichment. We
consider two mechanisms which can create outwardly propagating star forming
rings in a purely gaseous disk -- a self-induced wave and a density wave, and
demonstrate that the radial distribution of the relative [Fe/O] abundance
gradients does not depend on the particular mechanism of the wave formation or
on the parameters of the star-forming process. We show that the [Fe/O] profile
is determined by the velocity of the wave, initial mass function, and the
initial chemical composition of the star-forming gas. If the role of SNIa
explosions is negligible in the chemical enrichment, the ratio [Fe/O] remains
constant throughout the galactic disk with a steep gradient at the wave front.
If SNIa stars are important in the production of cosmic iron, the [Fe/O] ratio
has gradient in the wake of the star-forming wave with the value depending on
the frequency of SNIa explosions.Comment: Uses aas2pp4.sty and epsfig.sty, 7 pages including one figure To
appear in Astrophysical Journa
The Influence of Low Wall Temperature on Boundary-Layer Transition and Local Heat Transfer on 2-Inch-Diameter Hemispheres at a Mach Number of 4.95 and a Reynolds Number per Foot of 73.2 x 10(exp 6)
Measurements of the location of boundary-layer transition and the local heat transfer have been made on 2-inch-diameter hemispheres in the Langley gas dynamics laboratory at a Mach number of 4.95, a Reynolds number per foot of 73.2 x 10(exp 6), and a stagnation temperature of approximately 400 F. The transient-heating thin-skin calorimeter technique was used, and the initial values of the wall-to-stream stagnation- temperature ratios were 0.16 (cold-model tests) and 0.65 (hot-model test). During two of the four cold tests, the boundary-layer flow changed from turbulent to laminar over large regions of the hemisphere as the model heated. On the basis of a detailed consideration of the magnitude of roughness possibly present during these two cold tests, it appears that this destabilizing effect of low wall temperatures (cooling) was not caused by roughness as a dominant influence. This idea of a decrease in boundary-layer stability with cooling has been previously suggested. (See, for example, NASA Memorandum 10-8-58E.) For the laminar data obtained during the early part of the hot test, the correlation of the local-heating data with laminar theory was excellent
Landscape-scale variation in forest structure and biomass along an elevation gradient in the Atlantic Forest of the Serra do Mar, Brazil.
Landscape-scale quantification of forest structure, disturbance patterns and biomass distribution can improve our understanding of the environmental controls on the functioning of forested ecosystems. Assessing the detailed structure of the complex tropical forest canopy is a challenging task, especially in areas of steep topography where field access is limited. We used airborne lidar (light detection and ranging) data to describe the landscape-scale variation in canopy structure and gap distribution in a 1000-ha area along an elevation gradient from 0 to 1200m in the Atlantic Forest of the Serra do Mar in southeast Brazil. Mean canopy heights (MCHs) were greatest (21-22m) at intermediate elevations (200-700m) in the submontane forest where terrain slope was also the steepest (~40º). Canopy gap fraction was highest (~30%) and MCH lowest (~16m) in the montane forest areas (900-1100m) on flatter sites atop the plateau (~24º slopes). We used forest inventory data from nine 1-ha permanent field plots (PFPs) within the study area to assess aboveground biomass (AGB) stocks and changes. We established regression models based on lidar-derived canopy structure and field-based biometry data, and used these to extrapolate AGB predictions across the landscape. Comparing canopy height and disturbance distributions in the PFPs with the distributions across the broader landscape, we found that submontane PFPs showed closer correspondence with their surrounding areas, while montane PFPs consistently overestimated landscape-scale canopy height (thus AGB pools) and underestimated gap fraction (therefore AGB changes)
High cooperativity coupling of electron-spin ensembles to superconducting cavities
Electron spins in solids are promising candidates for quantum memories for
superconducting qubits because they can have long coherence times, large
collective couplings, and many quantum bits can be encoded into the spin-waves
of a single ensemble. We demonstrate the coupling of electron spin ensembles to
a superconducting transmission-line resonator at coupling strengths greatly
exceeding the cavity decay rate and comparable to spin linewidth. We also use
the enhanced coupling afforded by the small cross-section of the transmission
line to perform broadband spectroscopy of ruby at millikelvin temperatures at
low powers. In addition, we observe hyperfine structure in diamond P1 centers
and time domain saturation-relaxation of the spins.Comment: 4pgs, 4 figure
Analytical Assessment of the Reciprocating Feed System
A preliminary analysis tool has been created in Microsoft Excel to determine deliverable payload mass, total system mass, and performance of spacecraft systems using various types of propellant feed systems. These mass estimates are conducted by inserting into the user interface the basic mission parameters (e.g., thrust, burn time, specific impulse, mixture ratio, etc.), system architecture (e.g., propulsion system type and characteristics, propellants, pressurization system type, etc.), and design properties (e.g., material properties, safety factors, etc.). Different propellant feed and pressurization systems are available for comparison in the program. This gives the user the ability to compare conventional pressure fed, reciprocating feed system (RFS), autogenous pressurization thrust augmentation (APTA RFS), and turbopump systems with the deliverable payload, inert mass, and total system mass being the primary comparison metrics. Analyses of several types of missions and spacecraft were conducted and it was found that the RFS offers a performance improvement, especially in terms of delivered payload, over conventional pressure fed systems. Furthermore, it is competitive with a turbopump system at low to moderate chamber pressures, up to approximately 1,500 psi. Various example cases estimating the system mass and deliverable payload of several types of spacecraft are presented that illustrate the potential system performance advantages of the RFS. In addition, a reliability assessment of the RFS was conducted, comparing it to simplified conventional pressure fed and turbopump systems, based on MIL-STD 756B; these results showed that the RFS offers higher reliability, and thus substantially longer periods between system refurbishment, than turbopump systems, and is competitive with conventional pressure fed systems. This is primarily the result of the intrinsic RFS fail-operational capability with three run tanks, since the system can operate with just two run tanks
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