21,353 research outputs found
Inversion of polarimetric data from eclipsing binaries
We describe a method for determining the limb polarization and limb darkening
of stars in eclipsing binary systems, by inverting photometric and polarimetric
light curves.
Because of the ill-conditioning of the problem, we use the Backus-Gilbert
method to control the resolution and stability of the recovered solution, and
to make quantitative estimates of the maximum accuracy possible. Using this
method we confirm that the limb polarization can indeed be recovered, and
demonstrate this with simulated data, thus determining the level of
observational accuracy required to achieve a given accuracy of reconstruction.
This allows us to set out an optimal observational strategy, and to critcally
assess the claimed detection of limb polarization in the Algol system.
The use of polarization in stars has been proposed as a diagnostic tool in
microlensing surveys by Simmons et al. (1995), and we discuss the extension of
this work to the case of microlensing of extended sources.Comment: 10pp, 5 figures. To appear in A&
Hidden Order in
We review current attempts to characterize the underlying nature of the
hidden order in . A wide variety of experiments point to the
existence of two order parameters: a large primary order parameter of unknown
character which co-exists with secondary antiferromagnetic order. Current
theories can be divided into two groups determined by whether or not the
primary order parameter breaks time-reversal symmetry. We propose a series of
experiments designed to test the time-reversal nature of the underlying primary
order in and to characterize its local single-ion physics
The Kondo lattice model from strong-coupling viewpoint
We present some preliminary results on the phase diagram of the 2D S=1/2
Kondo lattice model at finite doping. As a starting point the Hamiltonian is
written in terms of local spin and charge excitations, and the interactions
between these modes are subsequently treated in various perturbative schemes.
We find that a paramagnetic-magnetic quantum phase transition does occur, and,
at least on a superficial level, the Kondo effect does not break down at the
critical point. The latter result however might well be a consequence of the
inherent bias of our starting point and/or the level of approximation.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in the Proceedings of SCES 2001, Ann Arbor, August
200
Atomic Model of Susy Hubbard Operators
We apply the recently proposed susy Hubbard operators to an atomic model. In
the limiting case of free spins, we derive exact results for the entropy which
are compared with a mean field + gaussian corrections description. We show how
these results can be extended to the case of charge fluctuations and calculate
exact results for the partition function, free energy and heat capacity of an
atomic model for some simple examples. Wavefunctions of possible states are
listed. We compare the accuracy of large N expansions of the susy spin
operators with those obtained using `Schwinger bosons' and `Abrikosov
pseudo-fermions'. For the atomic model, we compare results of slave boson,
slave fermion, and susy Hubbard operator approximations in the physically
interesting but uncontrolled limiting case of N->2. For a mixed representation
of spins we estimate the accuracy of large N expansions of the atomic model. In
the single box limit, we find that the lowest energy saddle-point solution
reduces to simply either slave bosons or slave fermions, while for higher boxes
this is not the case. The highest energy saddle-point solution has the
interesting feature that it admits a small region of a mixed representation,
which bears a superficial resemblance to that seen experimentally close to an
antiferromagnetic quantum critical point.Comment: 17 pages + 7 pages Appendices, 14 figures. Substantial revision
Vacuum Decay in Theories with Symmetry Breaking by Radiative Corrections
The standard bounce formalism for calculating the decay rate of a metastable
vacuum cannot be applied to theories in which the symmetry breaking is due to
radiative corrections, because in such theories the tree-level action has no
bounce solutions. In this paper I derive a modified formalism to deal with such
cases. As in the usual case, the bubble nucleation rate may be written in the
form . To leading approximation, is the bounce action obtained by
replacing the tree-level potential by the leading one-loop approximation to the
effective potential, in agreement with the generally adopted {\it ad hoc}
remedy. The next correction to (which is proportional to an inverse power
of a small coupling) is given in terms of the next-to-leading term in the
effective potential and the leading correction to the two-derivative term in
the effective action. The corrections beyond these (which may be included in
the prefactor) do not have simple expressions in terms of the effective
potential and the other functions in the effective action. In particular, the
scalar-loop terms which give an imaginary part to the effective potential do
not explicitly appear; the corresponding effects are included in a functional
determinant which gives a manifestly real result for the nucleation rate.Comment: 39 pages, CU-TP-57
Microlensing of Extended Stellar Sources
We investigate the feasibility of reconstructing the radial intensity profile
of extended stellar sources by inverting their microlensed light curves. Using
a simple, linear, limb darkening law as an illustration, we show that the
intensity profile can be accurately determined, at least over the outer part of
the stellar disc, with realistic light curve sampling and photometric errors.
The principal requirement is that the impact parameter of the lens be less than
or equal to the stellar radius. Thus, the analysis of microlensing events
provides a powerful method for testing stellar atmosphere models.Comment: 4 pages LaTeX, to appear in New Astronomy Reviews - proceedings of
the Oxford Workshop `Gravitational Lensing: Nature's Own Weighing Scales'.
Uses elsart.cls. Paper also available at
ftp://info.astro.gla.ac.uk/pub/martin/extended.p
Local Moments in an Interacting Environment
We discuss how local moment physics is modified by the presence of
interactions in the conduction sea. Interactions in the conduction sea are
shown to open up new symmetry channels for the exchange of spin with the
localized moment. We illustrate this conclusion in the strong-coupling limit by
carrying out a Schrieffer Wolff transformation for a local moment in an
interacting electron sea, and show that these corrections become very severe in
the approach to a Mott transition. As an example, we show how the Zhang Rice
reduction of a two-band model is modified by these new effects.Comment: Latex file with two postscript figures. Revised version, with more
fully detailed calculation
Co-operative Kondo Effect in the two-channel Kondo Lattice
We discuss the possibility of a co-operative Kondo effect driven by channel
interference in a Kondo lattice where local moments are coupled to a single
Fermi sea via two orthogonal scattering channels. In this situation, the
channel quantum number is not conserved. We argue that the absence of channel
conservation causes the Kondo effect in the two channels to constructively
interfere, giving rise to a superconducting condensate of composite pairs,
formed between the local moments and the conduction electrons. Our arguments
are based on the observation that a heavy Fermi surface gives rise to zero
modes for Kondo singlets to fluctuate between screening channels of different
symmetry, producing a divergent composite pair susceptibility. Secondary
screening channels couple to these divergent fluctuations, promoting an
instability into a state with long-range composite order. We present detailed a
detailed mean-field theory for this superconducting phase, and discuss the
possible implications for heavy fermion physics.Comment: 23 double column pages. 9 fig
Insulation bonding test system
A method and a system for testing the bonding of foam insulation attached to metal is described. The system involves the use of an impacter which has a calibrated load cell mounted on a plunger and a hammer head mounted on the end of the plunger. When the impacter strikes the insulation at a point to be tested, the load cell measures the force of the impact and the precise time interval during which the hammer head is in contact with the insulation. This information is transmitted as an electrical signal to a load cell amplifier where the signal is conditioned and then transmitted to a fast Fourier transform (FFT) analyzer. The FFT analyzer produces energy spectral density curves which are displayed on a video screen. The termination frequency of the energy spectral density curve may be compared with a predetermined empirical scale to determine whether a igh quality bond, good bond, or debond is present at the point of impact
On the Integrability of the Bukhvostov-Lipatov Model
The integrability of the Bukhvostov-Lipatov four-fermion model is
investigated. It is shown that the classical model possesses a current of
Lorentz spin 3, conserved both in the bulk and on the half-line for specific
types of boundary actions. It is then established that the conservation law is
spoiled at the quantum level -- a fact that might indicate that the quantum
Bukhvostov-Lipatov model is not integrable, contrary to what was previously
believed.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, LaTeX2e, AMS; new references adde
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