Bi-large neutrino mixing and the Cabibbo angle

Recent measurements of the neutrino mixing angles cast doubt on the validity of the so-far popular tri-bimaximal mixing ansatz. We propose a parametrization for the neutrino mixing matrix where the reactor angle seeds the large solar and atmospheric mixing angles, equal to each other in first approximation. We suggest such bi-large mixing pattern as a model building standard, realized when the leading order value of the reactor angle equals the Cabibbo angle.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figs. v2: matches version appearing in Phys.Rev.D, rapid communication

The Las Campanas Distant Cluster Survey -- The Correlation Function

We present the first non-local (z>0.2) measurement of the cluster-cluster spatial correlation length, using data from the Las Campanas Distant Cluster Survey (LCDCS). We measure the angular correlation function for velocity-dispersion limited subsamples of the catalog at estimated redshifts of 0.35<z_{est}<0.575, and derive spatial correlation lengths for these clusters via the cosmological Limber equation. The correlation lengths that we measure for clusters in the LCDCS are consistent both with local results for the APM cluster catalog and with theoretical expectations based upon the Virgo Consortium Hubble Volume simulations and the analytic predictions. Despite samples containing over 100 clusters, our ability to discriminate between cosmological models is limited because of statistical uncertainty.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted to ApJ (v571, May 20, 2002

The Butcher-Oemler Effect in High Redshift X-ray Selected Clusters

We are engaged in a wide-field, multi-colour imaging survey of X-ray selected clusters at intermediate and high redshift. We present blue fractions for the first 8 out of 29 clusters, covering almost a factor of 100 in X-ray luminosity. We find no correlation of blue fraction with redshift or X-ray luminosity. The lack of a correlation with L$_{X}$, places strong constraints on the importance of ram-pressure stripping as a driver of the Butcher-Oemler effect.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to be puplished in the proceedings of the ''Sesto 2001-Tracing Cosmic Evolution with Galaxy Clusters'', Sesto 3-6 July 2001, Italy, eds, Stefano Borgan

Statistical Computations with AstroGrid and the Grid

We outline our first steps towards marrying two new and emerging technologies; the Virtual Observatory (e.g, AstroGrid) and the computational grid. We discuss the construction of VOTechBroker, which is a modular software tool designed to abstract the tasks of submission and management of a large number of computational jobs to a distributed computer system. The broker will also interact with the AstroGrid workflow and MySpace environments. We present our planned usage of the VOTechBroker in computing a huge number of n-point correlation functions from the SDSS, as well as fitting over a million CMBfast models to the WMAP data.Comment: Invited talk to appear in "Proceedings of PHYSTAT05: Statistical Problems in Particle Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Survey of Tetraploid and Diploid Perennial Pastures in the Waikato for Number of Spores Produced by the Fungus \u3cem\u3ePithomyces Chartarum\u3c/em\u3e

Facial eczema (FE) is a disease of livestock, caused by a toxin released into the bloodstream after digestion of spores of Pithomyces chartarum, a fungus residing in necrotic plant material in the base of pastures (di Menna & Bailey, 1973). Spore numbers tend to be highest in warm, humid conditions, where high post grazing residuals have lead to a build up of necrotic plant material. Tetraploid perennial ryegrass pastures tend to be more palatable, and with lower post gazing residuals, than equivalent diploid pastures; thus we hypothesised that spore numbers would be lower in tetraploid pastures. A survey of tetraploid and diploid pastures was carried out to investigate the relationship between FE spore numbers, and perennial ryegrass ploidy levels

The Bright SHARC Survey: The Cluster Catalog

We present the Bright SHARC (Serendipitous High-Redshift Archival ROSAT Cluster) Survey, which is an objective search for serendipitously detected extended X-ray sources in 460 deep ROSAT PSPC pointings. The Bright SHARC Survey covers an area of 178.6 sq.deg and has yielded 374 extended sources. We discuss the X-ray data reduction, the candidate selection and present results from our on-going optical follow-up campaign. The optical follow-up concentrates on the brightest 94 of the 374 extended sources and is now 97% complete. We have identified thirty-seven clusters of galaxies, for which we present redshifts and luminosities. The clusters span a redshift range of 0.0696<z<0.83 and a luminosity range of 0.065<Lx<8.3e44 erg/s [0.5-2.0 keV] (assuming Ho = 50 km/s/Mpc and qo=0.5). Twelve of the clusters have redshifts greater than z=0.3, eight of which are at luminosities brighter than Lx=3e44 erg/s. Seventeen of the 37 optically confirmed Bright SHARC clusters have not been listed in any previously published catalog. We also report the discovery of three candidate ``fossil groups'' of the kind proposed by Ponman et al. (1994).Comment: Minor revisions: References updated and typos corrected. Shortened by use of emulateapj.st