1,802 research outputs found
Penning ionization of doped helium nanodroplets following EUV excitation
Helium nanodroplets are widely used as a cold, weakly interacting matrix for
spectroscopy of embedded species. In this work we excite or ionize doped He
droplets using synchrotron radiation and study the effect onto the dopant atoms
depending on their location inside the droplets (rare gases) or outside at the
droplet surface (alkali metals). Using photoelectron-photoion coincidence
imaging spectroscopy at variable photon energies (20-25 eV), we compare the
rates of charge-transfer to Penning ionization of the dopants in the two cases.
The surprising finding is that alkali metals, in contrast to the rare gases,
are efficiently Penning ionized upon excitation of the (n=2)-bands of the host
droplets. This indicates rapid migration of the excitation to the droplet
surface, followed by relaxation, and eventually energy transfer to the alkali
dopants
Persistence, extinction and spatio-temporal synchronization of SIRS cellular automata models
Spatially explicit models have been widely used in today's mathematical
ecology and epidemiology to study persistence and extinction of populations as
well as their spatial patterns. Here we extend the earlier work--static
dispersal between neighbouring individuals to mobility of individuals as well
as multi-patches environment. As is commonly found, the basic reproductive
ratio is maximized for the evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) on diseases'
persistence in mean-field theory. This has important implications, as it
implies that for a wide range of parameters that infection rate will tend
maximum. This is opposite with present results obtained in spatial explicit
models that infection rate is limited by upper bound. We observe the emergence
of trade-offs of extinction and persistence on the parameters of the infection
period and infection rate and show the extinction time having a linear
relationship with respect to system size. We further find that the higher
mobility can pronouncedly promote the persistence of spread of epidemics, i.e.,
the phase transition occurs from extinction domain to persistence domain, and
the spirals' wavelength increases as the mobility increasing and ultimately, it
will saturate at a certain value. Furthermore, for multi-patches case, we find
that the lower coupling strength leads to anti-phase oscillation of infected
fraction, while higher coupling strength corresponds to in-phase oscillation.Comment: 12page
On the Application of a Monolithic Array for Detecting Intensity-Correlated Photons Emitted by Different Source Types
It is not widely appreciated that many subtleties are involved in the
accurate measurement of intensity-correlated photons; even for the original
experiments of Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT). Using a monolithic 4x4 array of
single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), together with an off-chip algorithm for
processing streaming data, we investigate the difficulties of measuring
second-order photon correlations g2 in a wide variety of light fields that
exhibit dramatically different correlation statistics: a multimode He-Ne laser,
an incoherent intensity-modulated lamp-light source and a thermal light source.
Our off-chip algorithm treats multiple photon-arrivals at pixel-array pairs, in
any observation interval, with photon fluxes limited by detector saturation, in
such a way that a correctly normalized g2 function is guaranteed. The impact of
detector background correlations between SPAD pixels and afterpulsing effects
on second-order coherence measurements is discussed. These results demonstrate
that our monolithic SPAD array enables access to effects that are otherwise
impossible to measure with stand-alone detectors.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure
Speckle from phase ordering systems
The statistical properties of coherent radiation scattered from
phase-ordering materials are studied in detail using large-scale computer
simulations and analytic arguments. Specifically, we consider a two-dimensional
model with a nonconserved, scalar order parameter (Model A), quenched through
an order-disorder transition into the two-phase regime. For such systems it is
well established that the standard scaling hypothesis applies, consequently the
average scattering intensity at wavevector _k and time t' is proportional to a
scaling function which depends only on a rescaled time, t ~ |_k|^2 t'. We find
that the simulated intensities are exponentially distributed, with the
time-dependent average well approximated using a scaling function due to Ohta,
Jasnow, and Kawasaki. Considering fluctuations around the average behavior, we
find that the covariance of the scattering intensity for a single wavevector at
two different times is proportional to a scaling function with natural
variables mt = |t_1 - t_2| and pt = (t_1 + t_2)/2. In the asymptotic large-pt
limit this scaling function depends only on z = mt / pt^(1/2). For small values
of z, the scaling function is quadratic, corresponding to highly persistent
behavior of the intensity fluctuations. We empirically establish a connection
between the intensity covariance and the two-time, two-point correlation
function of the order parameter. This connection allows sensitive testing,
either experimental or numerical, of existing theories for two-time
correlations in systems undergoing order-disorder phase transitions. Comparison
between theory and our numerical results requires no adjustable parameters.Comment: 18 pgs RevTeX, to appear in PR
SPARTAN: a global network to evaluate and enhance satellite-based estimates of ground-level particulate matter for global health applications
Ground-based observations have insufficient spatial coverage to assess long-term human exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at the global scale. Satellite remote sensing offers a promising approach to provide information on both short-and long-term exposure to PM2.5 at local-to-global scales, but there are limitations and outstanding questions about the accuracy and precision with which ground-level aerosol mass concentrations can be inferred from satellite remote sensing alone. A key source of uncertainty is the global distribution of the relationship between annual average PM2.5 and discontinuous satellite observations of columnar aerosol optical depth (AOD). We have initiated a global network of ground-level monitoring stations designed to evaluate and enhance satellite remote sensing estimates for application in health-effects research and risk assessment. This Surface PARTiculate mAtter Network (SPARTAN) includes a global federation of ground-level monitors of hourly PM2.5 situated primarily in highly populated regions and collocated with existing ground-based sun photometers that measure AOD. The instruments, a three-wavelength nephelometer and impaction filter sampler for both PM2.5 and PM10, are highly autonomous. Hourly PM2.5 concentrations are inferred from the combination of weighed filters and nephelometer data. Data from existing networks were used to develop and evaluate network sampling characteristics. SPARTAN filters are analyzed for mass, black carbon, water-soluble ions, and metals. These measurements provide, in a variety of regions around the world, the key data required to evaluate and enhance satellite-based PM2.5 estimates used for assessing the health effects of aerosols. Mean PM2.5 concentrations across sites vary by more than 1 order of magnitude. Our initial measurements indicate that the ratio of AOD to ground-level PM2.5 is driven temporally and spatially by the vertical profile in aerosol scattering. Spatially this ratio is also strongly influenced by the mass scattering efficiency.Fil: Snider, G.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Weagle, C. L.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Martin, R. V.. Dalhousie University Halifax; Canadá. University of Cambridge; Reino UnidoFil: van Donkelaar, A.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Conrad, K.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Cunningham, D.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Gordon, C.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Zwicker, M.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Akoshile, C.. University of Ilorin; NigeriaFil: Artaxo, P.. Governo Do Estado de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Anh, N. X.. Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. Institute of Geophysics; VietnamFil: Brook, J.. University of Toronto; CanadáFil: Dong, J.. Tsinghua University; ChinaFil: Garland, R. M.. North-West University; SudáfricaFil: Greenwald, R.. Rollins School of Public Health; Estados UnidosFil: Griffith, D.. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; SudáfricaFil: He, K.. Tsinghua University; ChinaFil: Holben, B. N.. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados UnidosFil: Kahn, R.. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados UnidosFil: Koren, I.. Weizmann Institute Of Science Israel; IsraelFil: Lagrosas, N.. Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Manila University campus; FilipinasFil: Lestari, P.. Institut Teknologi Bandung; IndonesiaFil: Ma, Z.. Rollins School of Public Health; Estados UnidosFil: Vanderlei Martins, J.. University of Maryland; Estados UnidosFil: Quel, Eduardo Jaime. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rudich, Y.. Weizmann Institute Of Science Israel; IsraelFil: Salam, A.. University Of Dhaka; BangladeshFil: Tripathi, S. N.. Indian Institute Of Technology, Kanpur; IndiaFil: Yu, C.. Rollins School of Public Health; Estados UnidosFil: Zhang, Q.. Tsinghua University; ChinaFil: Zhang, Y.. Tsinghua University; ChinaFil: Brauer, M.. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Cohen, A.. Health Effects Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Gibson, M. D.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Liu, Y.. Rollins School of Public Health; Estados Unido
The unexpectedly short Holocene Humid Period in Northern Arabia
The early to middle Holocene Humid Period led to a greening of today's arid Saharo-Arabian desert belt. While this phase is well defined in North Africa and the Southern Arabian Peninsula, robust evidence from Northern Arabia is lacking. Here we fill this gap with unprecedented annually to sub-decadally resolved proxy data from Tayma, the only known varved lake sediments in Northern Arabia. Based on stable isotopes, micro-facies analyses and varve and radiocarbon dating, we distinguish five phases of lake development and show that the wet phase in Northern Arabia from 8800-7900 years BP is considerably shorter than the commonly defined Holocene Humid Period (similar to 11,000-5500 years BP). Moreover, we find a two century-long peak humidity at times when a centennial-scale dry anomaly around 8200 years BP interrupted the Holocene Humid Period in adjacent regions. The short humid phase possibly favoured Neolithic migrations into Northern Arabia representing a strong human response to environmental changes
Solving the Coagulation Equation by the Moments Method
We demonstrate an approach to solving the coagulation equation that involves
using a finite number of moments of the particle size distribution. This
approach is particularly useful when only general properties of the
distribution, and their time evolution, are needed. The numerical solution to
the integro-differential Smoluchowski coagulation equation at every time step,
for every particle size, and at every spatial location is computationally
expensive, and serves as the primary bottleneck in running evolutionary models
over long periods of time. The advantage of using the moments method comes in
the computational time savings gained from only tracking the time rate of
change of the moments, as opposed to tracking the entire mass histogram which
can contain hundreds or thousands of bins depending on the desired accuracy.
The collision kernels of the coagulation equation contain all the necessary
information about particle relative velocities, cross-sections, and sticking
coefficients. We show how arbitrary collision kernels may be treated. We
discuss particle relative velocities in both turbulent and non-turbulent
regimes. We present examples of this approach that utilize different collision
kernels and find good agreement between the moment solutions and the moments as
calculated from direct integration of the coagulation equation. As practical
applications, we demonstrate how the moments method can be used to track the
evolving opacity, and also indicate how one may incorporate porous particles.Comment: 35 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication to The Astrophysical
Journa
Effect of a magnetic field on the long-range magnetic order in insulating Nd2CuO4, nonsuperconducting and superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4
We have measured the effect of a c-axis aligned magnetic field on the
long-range magnetic order of insulating Nd2CuO4, as-grown nonsuperconducting
and superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4. On cooling from room temperature, Nd2CuO4
goes through a series of antiferromagnetic (AF) phase transitions with
different noncollinear spin structures. In all phases of Nd2CuO4, we find that
the applied c-axis field induces a canting of the AF order but does not alter
the basic zero-field noncollinear spin structures. Similar behavior is also
found in as-grown nonsuperconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4. These results contrast
dramatically with those of superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4, where a c-axis
aligned magnetic field induces a static, anomalously conducting, long-range
ordered AF state. We confirm that the annealing process necessary to make
superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 also induces epitaxial, three-dimensional
long-range ordered cubic (Nd,Ce)2O3 as an impurity phase. In addition, the
annealing process makes a series of quasi two-dimensional superlattice
reflections associated with lattice distortions of Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 in the CuO2
plane. While the application of a magnetic field will induce a net moment in
the impurity phase, we determine its magnitude and eliminate this as a
possibility for the observed magnetic field-induced effect in superconducting
Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Path integral representations in noncommutative quantum mechanics and noncommutative version of Berezin-Marinov action
It is known that actions of field theories on a noncommutative space-time can
be written as some modified (we call them -modified) classical actions
already on the commutative space-time (introducing a star product). Then the
quantization of such modified actions reproduces both space-time
noncommutativity and usual quantum mechanical features of the corresponding
field theory. The -modification for arbitrary finite-dimensional
nonrelativistic system was proposed by Deriglazov (2003). In the present
article, we discuss the problem of constructing -modified actions for
relativistic QM. We construct such actions for relativistic spinless and
spinning particles. The key idea is to extract -modified actions of the
relativistic particles from path integral representations of the corresponding
noncommtative field theory propagators. We consider Klein-Gordon and Dirac
equations for the causal propagators in such theories. Then we construct for
the propagators path-integral representations. Effective actions in such
representations we treat as -modified actions of the relativistic
particles. To confirm the interpretation, we quantize canonically these
actions. Thus, we obtain the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations in the
noncommutative field theories. The -modified action of the relativistic
spinning particle is just a generalization of the Berezin-Marinov
pseudoclassical action for the noncommutative case
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