32,892 research outputs found
Fluctuation theorem for constrained equilibrium systems
We discuss the fluctuation properties of equilibrium chaotic systems with
constraints such as iso-kinetic and Nos\'e-Hoover thermostats. Although the
dynamics of these systems does not typically preserve phase-space volumes, the
average phase-space contraction rate vanishes, so that the stationary states
are smooth. Nevertheless finite-time averages of the phase-space contraction
rate have non-trivial fluctuations which we show satisfy a simple version of
the Gallavotti-Cohen fluctuation theorem, complementary to the usual
fluctuation theorem for non-equilibrium stationary states, and appropriate to
constrained equilibrium states. Moreover we show these fluctuations are
distributed according to a Gaussian curve for long-enough times. Three
different systems are considered here, namely (i) a fluid composed of particles
interacting with Lennard-Jones potentials; (ii) a harmonic oscillator with
Nos\'e-Hoover thermostatting; (iii) a simple hyperbolic two-dimensional map.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev.
The "quasi-stable" lipid shelled microbubble in response to consecutive ultrasound pulses
Controlled microbubble stability upon exposure to consecutive ultrasound exposures is important for increased sensitivity in contrast enhanced ultrasound diagnostics and manipulation for localised drug release. An ultra high-speed camera operating at 13 × 10 6 frames per second is used to show that a physical instability in the encapsulating lipid shell can be promoted by ultrasound, causing loss of shell material that depends on the characteristics of the microbubble motion. This leads to well characterized disruption, and microbubbles follow an irreversible trajectory through the resonance peak, causing the evolution of specific microbubble spectral signatures. © 2012 American Institute of Physics
Fluctuations in network dynamics
Most complex networks serve as conduits for various dynamical processes,
ranging from mass transfer by chemical reactions in the cell to packet transfer
on the Internet. We collected data on the time dependent activity of five
natural and technological networks, finding that for each the coupling of the
flux fluctuations with the total flux on individual nodes obeys a unique
scaling law. We show that the observed scaling can explain the competition
between the system's internal collective dynamics and changes in the external
environment, allowing us to predict the relevant scaling exponents.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Published versio
Architectural mismatch tolerance
The integrity of complex software systems built from existing components is becoming more dependent on the integrity of the mechanisms used to interconnect these components and, in particular, on the ability of these mechanisms to cope with architectural mismatches that might exist between components. There is a need to detect and handle (i.e. to tolerate) architectural mismatches during runtime because in the majority of practical situations it is impossible to localize and correct all such mismatches during development time. When developing complex software systems, the problem is not only to identify the appropriate components, but also to make sure that these components are interconnected in a way that allows mismatches to be tolerated. The resulting architectural solution should be a system based on the existing components, which are independent in their nature, but are able to interact in well-understood ways. To find such a solution we apply general principles of fault tolerance to dealing with arch itectural mismatche
Dinosaur tracks from the Kilmaluag Formation (Bathonian, Middle Jurassic) of Score Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Tracks of a juvenile theropod dinosaur with footprint lengths of between 2 and 9 cm as well as adults of the same ichnospecies with footprints of about 15–25 cm in length were found in the Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) Kilmaluag Formation of Score Bay, northwestern Trotternish Peninsula, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK. Two footprint sizes occur together on the same bedding plane in the central portion of Score Bay, both in situ and on loose blocks. Another horizon containing footprints above this was also identified. The footprints from the lowest horizon were produced in a desiccated silty mud that was covered with sand. A close association of both adults and juveniles with similar travel direction indicated by the footprints may suggest post-hatching care in theropod dinosaurs. Other footprints, produced on a rippled sandy substrate, have been found on the slightly higher bedding plane at this locality. Loose blocks found 130 m to the northeast in the central part of Score Bay have not been correlated with any in situ sediments, but were preserved in a similar manner to those from the higher bedding plane. These tracks represent the youngest dinosaur remains yet found in Scotland
Stiff Stability of the Hydrogen atom in dissipative Fokker electrodynamics
We introduce an ad-hoc electrodynamics with advanced and retarded
Lienard-Wiechert interactions plus the dissipative Lorentz-Dirac
self-interaction force. We study the covariant dynamical system of the
electromagnetic two-body problem, i.e., the hydrogen atom. We perform the
linear stability analysis of circular orbits for oscillations perpendicular to
the orbital plane. In particular we study the normal modes of the linearized
dynamics that have an arbitrarily large imaginary eigenvalue. These large
eigenvalues are fast frequencies that introduce a fast (stiff) timescale into
the dynamics. As an application, we study the phenomenon of resonant
dissipation, i.e., a motion where both particles recoil together in a drifting
circular orbit (a bound state), while the atom dissipates center-of-mass energy
only. This balancing of the stiff dynamics is established by the existence of a
quartic resonant constant that locks the dynamics to the neighborhood of the
recoiling circular orbit. The resonance condition quantizes the angular momenta
in reasonable agreement with the Bohr atom. The principal result is that the
emission lines of quantum electrodynamics (QED) agree with the prediction of
our resonance condition within one percent average deviation.Comment: 1 figure, Notice that Eq. (34) of the Phys. Rev. E paper has a typo;
it is missing the square Brackets of eq. (33), find here the correct e
Constraining Galileon inflation
In this short paper, we present constraints on the Galileon inflationary model from the CMB bispectrum. We employ a principal-component analysis of the independent degrees of freedom constrained by data and apply this to the WMAP 9-year data to constrain the free parameters of the model. A simple Bayesian comparison establishes that support for the Galileon model from bispectrum data is at best weak
Theory of Room Temperature Ferromagnet V(TCNE)_x (1.5 < x < 2): Role of Hidden Flat Bands
Theoretical studies on the possible origin of room temperature ferromagnetism
(ferromagnetic once crystallized) in the molecular transition metal complex,
V(TCNE)_x (1.5<x<2) have been carried out. For this family, there have been no
definite understanding of crystal structure so far because of sample quality,
though the effective valence of V is known to be close to +2. Proposing a new
crystal structure for the stoichiometric case of x=2, where the valence of each
TCNE molecule is -1 and resistivity shows insulating behavior, exchange
interaction among d-electrons on adjacent V atoms has been estimated based on
the cluster with 3 vanadium atoms and one TCNE molecule. It turns out that
Hund's coupling among d orbitals within the same V atoms and antiferromagnetic
coupling between d oribitals and LUMO of TCNE (bridging V atoms) due to
hybridization result in overall ferromagnetism (to be precise, ferrimagnetism).
This view based on localized electrons is supplemented by the band picture,
which indicates the existence of a flat band expected to lead to ferromagnetism
as well consistent with the localized view. The off-stoichiometric cases (x<2),
which still show ferromagnetism but semiconducting transport properties, have
been analyzed as due to Anderson localization.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Vol.79 (2010), No. 3
(March issue), in press; 6 pages, 8 figure
Crossroads of Cuisine
Crossroads of Cuisine provides a history of foods, and foodways in terms of exchanges taking place in Central Asia and in surrounding areas such as China, Korea or Iran during the last 5000 years, stressing the manner in which East and West, West and East grew together through food. It provides a discussion of geographical foundations, and an interlocking historical and cultural overview going down to the present day, with a comparative country by country survey of foods and recipes. An ethnographic photo essay embracing all parts of the book binds it all together, and helps make topics discussed vivid and approachable. The book is important for explaining key relationships that have not always been made clear in past scholarship
XHIP-II: Clusters and associations
Context. In the absence of complete kinematic data it has not previously been
possible to furnish accurate lists of member stars for all moving groups. There
has been an unresolved dispute concerning the apparent inconsistency of the
Hipparcos parallax distance to the Pleiades.
Aims. To find improved candidate lists for clusters and associations
represented among Hipparcos stars, to establish distances, and to cast light on
the Pleiades distance anomaly.
Methods. We use a six dimensional fitting procedure to identify candidates,
and plot CMDs for 20 of the nearest groups. We calculate the mean parallax
distance for all groups.
Results. We identify lists of candidates and calculated parallax distances
for 42 clusters and 45 associations represented within the Hipparcos catalogue.
We find agreement between parallax distance and photometric distances for the
most important clusters. For single stars in the Pleiades we find mean parallax
distance 125.6 \pm 4.2 pc and photometric distance 132 \pm 3 pc calibrated to
nearby groups of similar in age and composition. This gives no reason to doubt
either the Hipparcos database or stellar evolutionary theory.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy Letters, 10 pages, 2 fig
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