18,774 research outputs found
Evaluating the reliability of NAND multiplexing with PRISM
Probabilistic-model checking is a formal verification technique for analyzing the reliability and performance of systems exhibiting stochastic behavior. In this paper, we demonstrate the applicability of this approach and, in particular, the probabilistic-model-checking tool PRISM to the evaluation of reliability and redundancy of defect-tolerant systems in the field of computer-aided design. We illustrate the technique with an example due to von Neumann, namely NAND multiplexing. We show how, having constructed a model of a defect-tolerant system incorporating probabilistic assumptions about its defects, it is straightforward to compute a range of reliability measures and investigate how they are affected by slight variations in the behavior of the system. This allows a designer to evaluate, for example, the tradeoff between redundancy and reliability in the design. We also highlight errors in analytically computed reliability bounds, recently published for the same case study
Evolution in the iron abundance of the ICM
We present a Chandra analysis of the X-ray spectra of 56 clusters of galaxies
at , which cover a temperature range of keV. Our analysis
is aimed at measuring the iron abundance in the ICM out to the highest redshift
probed to date. We find that the emission-weighted iron abundance measured
within in clusters below 5 keV is, on average, a factor of
higher than in hotter clusters, following , which confirms the trend seen in local samples. We made use of
combined spectral analysis performed over five redshift bins at
to estimate the average emission weighted iron abundance. We find a constant
average iron abundance as a function of redshift,
but only for clusters at . The emission-weighted iron abundance is
significantly higher () in the redshift range
, approaching the value measured locally in the inner radii for a mix of cool-core and non cool-core clusters in the
redshift range . The decrease in with can be
parametrized by a power law of the form . The observed
evolution implies that the average iron content of the ICM at the present epoch
is a factor of larger than at . We confirm that the ICM is
already significantly enriched () at a look-back time
of 9 Gyr. Our data provide significant constraints on the time scales and
physical processes that drive the chemical enrichment of the ICM.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of "The Extreme
Universe in the Suzaku Era", Dicember 2006, Kyoto (Japan
Quantity and Elasticity Spillovers onto the Labor Market: Theory and Evidence on Sluggishness
Firms' beliefs that they may be unable to sell as much as they would like at the market price leads not only to a quantity spillover (even when prices are flexible) but also to a spillover of product demand elasticity onto the elasticity of labor demand. Hence, optimal firm behavior can be expected to produce a negative correlation between the (absolute value of) the wage elasticity and the unemployment rate. This hypothesis is tested on three sets of data. 1) For low-skilled workers in the United States in 1969 there is weak support for this hypothesis; 2) In time-series data for the U.S. there is no evidence for the hypothesis (there is essentially no cyclical variability in the elasticity); and 3) In time-series data for the United Kingdom there is fairly strong evidence supporting it. We also find that, in both the U.S. and the U.K., the demand elasticity for labor decreased in the 1970s to an extent that does not appear to be explained by changes in other factor prices.
Switching Current vs. Magnetoresistance in Magnetic Multilayer Nanopillars
We study current-driven magnetization switching in nanofabricated magnetic
trilayers, varying the magnetoresistance in three different ways. First, we
insert a strongly spin-scattering layer between the magnetic trilayer and one
of the electrodes, giving increased magnetoresistance. Second, we insert a
spacer with a short spin-diffusion length between the magnetic layers,
decreasing the magnetoresistance. Third, we vary the angle between layer
magnetizations. In all cases, we find an approximately linear dependence
between magnetoresistance and inverse switching current. We give a qualitative
explanation for the observed behaviors, and suggest some ways in which the
switching currents may be reduced.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure
Odd Parity and Line Nodes in Heavy Fermion Superconductors
Group theory arguments have demonstrated that a general odd parity order
parameter cannot have line nodes in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. In
this paper, it is shown that these arguments do not hold on the
zone face of a hexagonal close packed lattice. In particular, three of the six
odd parity representations vanish identically on this face. This has potential
relevance to the heavy fermion superconductor .Comment: 5 pages, revte
Tracing the evolution in the iron content of the ICM
We present a Chandra analysis of the X-ray spectra of 56 clusters of galaxies
at z>0.3, which cover a temperature range of 3>kT>15 keV. Our analysis is aimed
at measuring the iron abundance in the ICM out to the highest redshift probed
to date. We find that the emission-weighted iron abundance measured within
(0.15-0.3)R_vir in clusters below 5 keV is, on average, a factor of ~2 higher
than in hotter clusters, following Z(T)~0.88T^-(0.47)Z_o, which confirms the
trend seen in local samples. We made use of combined spectral analysis
performed over five redshift bins at 0.3>z>1.3 to estimate the average emission
weighted iron abundance. We find a constant average iron abundance Z_Fe~0.25Z_o
as a function of redshift, but only for clusters at z>0.5. The
emission-weighted iron abundance is significantly higher (Z_Fe~0.4Z_o) in the
redshift range z~0.3-0.5, approaching the value measured locally in the inner
0.15R_vir radii for a mix of cool-core and non cool-core clusters in the
redshift range 0.1<z<0.3. The decrease in Z_Fe with redshift can be
parametrized by a power law of the form ~(1+z)^(-1.25). The observed evolution
implies that the average iron content of the ICM at the present epoch is a
factor of ~2 larger than at z=1.2. We confirm that the ICM is already
significantly enriched (Z_Fe~0.25Z_o) at a look-back time of 9 Gyr. Our data
provide significant constraints on the time scales and physical processes that
drive the chemical enrichment of the ICM.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of "Heating vs.
Cooling in Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies", August 2006, Garching
(Germany
Chain configurations in light nuclei
The model of nuclear matter built from alpha-particles is proposed. The
strong deformed shape for doubly even N=Z nuclides from carbon to magnesium has
been determined according to this model. In this paper we undertake very simple
approach, which assumes the existence of low lying chain configurations.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
The Global Structure and Evolution of a Self-Gravitating Multi-phase Interstellar Medium in a Galactic Disk
Using high resolution, two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations, we
investigate the evolution of a self-gravitating multi-phase interstellar medium
in the central kiloparsec region of a galactic disk. We find that a
gravitationally and thermally unstable disk evolves, in a self-stabilizing
manner, into a globally quasi-stable disk that consists of cold (T < 100 K),
dense clumps and filaments surrounded by hot (T > 10^4 K), diffuse medium. The
quasi-stationary, filamentary structure of the cold gas is remarkable. The hot
gas, characterized by low-density holes and voids, is produced by shock
heating. The shocks derive their energy from differential rotation and
gravitational perturbations due to the formation of cold dense clumps. In the
quasi-stable phase where cold and dense clouds are formed, the effective
stability parameter, Q, has a value in the range 2-5. The dynamic range of our
multi-phase calculations is 10^6 - 10^7 in both density and temperature. Phase
diagrams for this turbulent medium are analyzed and discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, ApJ Letters in press (vol. 516
Measurement of spin memory lengths in PdNi and PdFe ferromagnetic alloys
Weakly ferromagnetic alloys are being used by several groups in the study of
superconducting/ferromagnetic hybrid systems. Because spin-flip and spin-orbit
scattering in such alloys disrupt the penetration of pair correlations into the
ferromagnetic material, it is desirable to have a direct measurement of the
spin memory length in such alloys. We have measured the spin memory length at
4.2 K in sputtered Pd0.88Ni0.12 and Pd0.987Fe0.013 alloys using methods based
on current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance. The alloys are
incorporated into hybrid spin valves of various types, and the spin memory
length is determined by fits of the Valet-Fert spin-transport equations to data
of magnetoresistance vs. alloy thickness. For the case of PdNi alloy, the
resulting values of the spin memory length are lsf(PdNi) = 2.8 +/- 0.5 nm and
5.4 +/- 0.6 nm, depending on whether or not the PdNi is exchange biased by an
adjacent Permalloy layer. For PdFe, the spin memory length is somewhat longer,
lsf(PdFe) = 9.6 +/- 2 nm, consistent with earlier measurements indicating lower
spin-orbit scattering in that material. Unfortunately, even the longer spin
memory length in PdFe may not be long enough to facilitate observation of
spin-triplet superconducting correlations predicted to occur in
superconducting/ferromagnetic hybrid systems in the presence of magnetic
inhomogeneity.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure
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