1,245 research outputs found
A Geometrical Relationship between Broad-Line Clouds and an Accretion Disk around Active Galactic Nuclei
Recent hard X-ray spectroscopy of active galactic nuclei has strongly
suggested that double-peaked, very broad Fe K emission arises from an accretion
disk around the central engine. Model fitting of the observed Fe K emission
line profile makes it possible to estimate a probable inclination angle of the
accretion disk. In order to study the geometrical relationship between the
accretion disk and broad emission-line regions (BLRs), we investigate the
correlation between the inclination angle of the accretion disk and the
velocity width of BLRs for 18 type-1 Seyfert galaxies. We found that there may
be a negative correlation between them, i.e., Seyfert nuclei with a more
face-on accretion disk tend to have larger BLR velocity widths, suggesting that
the BLRs are not coplanar with respect to the accretion disk. The most probable
interpretation may be that the BLRs arise from outer parts ({\it r} 0.01
pc) of a warped accretion disk illuminated by the central engine.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures; accepted for Publications of the Astronomical
Society of Japa
Convergence study and optimal weight functions of an explicit particle method for the incompressible Navier--Stokes equations
To increase the reliability of simulations by particle methods for
incompressible viscous flow problems, convergence studies and improvements of
accuracy are considered for a fully explicit particle method for incompressible
Navier--Stokes equations. The explicit particle method is based on a penalty
problem, which converges theoretically to the incompressible Navier--Stokes
equations, and is discretized in space by generalized approximate operators
defined as a wider class of approximate operators than those of the smoothed
particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) methods.
By considering an analytical derivation of the explicit particle method and
truncation error estimates of the generalized approximate operators, sufficient
conditions of convergence are conjectured.Under these conditions, the
convergence of the explicit particle method is confirmed by numerically
comparing errors between exact and approximate solutions. Moreover, by focusing
on the truncation errors of the generalized approximate operators, an optimal
weight function is derived by reducing the truncation errors over general
particle distributions. The effectiveness of the generalized approximate
operators with the optimal weight functions is confirmed using numerical
results of truncation errors and driven cavity flow. As an application for flow
problems with free surface effects, the explicit particle method is applied to
a dam break flow.Comment: 27 pages, 13 figure
Large-scale simulations of viscoelastic deformable multi-body systems using quadruple discrete element method on supercomputers
Contact problems among viscoelastic materials in the multibody system is one of
the challenging topics in science and many engineering applications. We have developed an effective
simulation method of combining QDEM (Quadruple Discrete Element Method) for the deformation
analysis of structures with the DEM for the collisions among structures. However, it is
still difficult to reproduce surface topography of structures because particles only set on four
nodes of tetrahedrons in our current method. In this paper, QDEMSM (QDEM with Surface
Modeling) is newly developed. Point-polygon collisions and line-line collisions are effectively
coupled with QDEM. Our improved method was validated by several simulation results; domino
simulations using the 40 pieces of shogi (= Japanese chess) were successfully carried out. It
was also found the friction forces acted on the surface critically effected on the
propagation speeds of contact forces. In parallel computing, by applying the space-filling
curve to decomposition of the computational domain, we make it possible to contain the same
number of nodes in each decomposed domain. Our parallel
simulation code achieves a good weak scalability on the TSUBAME2.5 supercomputer
Theoretical basis to measure the impact of short-lasting control of an infectious disease on the epidemic peak
Background. While many pandemic preparedness plans have promoted disease control effort to lower and delay an epidemic peak, analytical methods for determining the required control effort and making statistical inferences have yet to be sought. As a first step to address this issue, we present a theoretical basis on which to assess the impact of an early intervention on the epidemic peak, employing a simple epidemic model. Methods. We focus on estimating the impact of an early control effort (e.g. unsuccessful containment), assuming that the transmission rate abruptly increases when control is discontinued. We provide analytical expressions for magnitude and time of the epidemic peak, employing approximate logistic and logarithmic-form solutions for the latter. Empirical influenza data (H1N1-2009) in Japan are analyzed to estimate the effect of the summer holiday period in lowering and delaying the peak in 2009. Results. Our model estimates that the epidemic peak of the 2009 pandemic was delayed for 21 days due to summer holiday. Decline in peak appears to be a nonlinear function of control-associated reduction in the reproduction number. Peak delay is shown to critically depend on the fraction of initially immune individuals. Conclusions. The proposed modeling approaches offer methodological avenues to assess empirical data and to objectively estimate required control effort to lower and delay an epidemic peak. Analytical findings support a critical need to conduct population-wide serological survey as a prior requirement for estimating the time of peak. © 2011 Omori and Nishiura; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.published_or_final_versio
Kiso observations for 20 GRBs in HETE-2 era
We have established a GRB follow-up observation system at Kiso observatory
(Japan) in 2001. Since the east Asian area had been blank for the GRB follow-up
observational network, this observational system is very important in studying
the temporal and spectral evolution of early afterglows. Using this system, we
have performed quick observations for optical afterglows from early phase based
on HETE-2 and INTEGRAL alerts. Thanks to the quick follow-up observation
system, we have been able to use the Kiso observatory in 20 events, and conduct
their follow-up observations in optical and near infrared wavelengths.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure. Accepted for publication into "il nuovo cimento".
Proceeding of the 4th Rome GRB conference, eds. L. Piro, L. Amati, S. Covino,
B. Gendr
Potential measurements with heavy ion beam probe system on LHD
The heavy ion beam probe system in the Large Helical Device (LHD) was improved as follows. At first, the additional new sweeper was installed into the diagnostic port to extend the observable region. By using this sweeper, the potential profile was measured in a wider minor radius range than in previous experiments, in the case of outward shifted magnetic configuration of LHD. Next, the real time control system was installed to control the probe beam orbit for measuring the potential in plasma with large plasma current. In this system, a digital signal processor was used to control the probe beam in real time. The system worked well in the fixed position observation mode. In the sweeping mode for profile measurement, this control system became unstable. The details of this system and the experimental results are reported in this article
Dengue disease, basic reproduction number and control
Dengue is one of the major international public health concerns. Although
progress is underway, developing a vaccine against the disease is challenging.
Thus, the main approach to fight the disease is vector control. A model for the
transmission of Dengue disease is presented. It consists of eight mutually
exclusive compartments representing the human and vector dynamics. It also
includes a control parameter (insecticide) in order to fight the mosquito. The
model presents three possible equilibria: two disease-free equilibria (DFE) and
another endemic equilibrium. It has been proved that a DFE is locally
asymptotically stable, whenever a certain epidemiological threshold, known as
the basic reproduction number, is less than one. We show that if we apply a
minimum level of insecticide, it is possible to maintain the basic reproduction
number below unity. A case study, using data of the outbreak that occurred in
2009 in Cape Verde, is presented.Comment: This is a preprint of a paper whose final and definitive form has
appeared in International Journal of Computer Mathematics (2011), DOI:
10.1080/00207160.2011.55454
Quark Mass Matrices with Four and Five Texture Zeroes, and the CKM Matrix, in terms of Mass Eigenvalues
Using the triangular matrix techniques of Kuo et al and Chiu et al for the
four and five texture zero cases, with vanishing (11) elements for U and D
matrices, it is shown, from the general eigenvalue equations and hierarchy
conditions, that the quark mass matrices, and the CKM matrix can be expressed
(except for the phases) entirely in terms of quark masses. The matrix
structures are then quite simple and transparent. We confirm their results for
the five texture zero case but find, upon closer examination of all the CKM
elements which our results provide, that six of their nine patterns for the
four texture zero case are not compatible with experiments. In total, only one
five-texture zero and three four-texture zero patterns are allowed.Comment: 15 pages, 3 table
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