308 research outputs found
About the Algebraic Solutions of Smallest Enclosing Cylinders Problems
Given n points in Euclidean space E^d, we propose an algebraic algorithm to
compute the best fitting (d-1)-cylinder. This algorithm computes the unknown
direction of the axis of the cylinder. The location of the axis and the radius
of the cylinder are deduced analytically from this direction. Special attention
is paid to the case d=3 when n=4 and n=5. For the former, the minimal radius
enclosing cylinder is computed algebrically from constrained minimization of a
quartic form of the unknown direction of the axis. For the latter, an
analytical condition of existence of the circumscribed cylinder is given, and
the algorithm reduces to find the zeroes of an one unknown polynomial of degree
at most 6. In both cases, the other parameters of the cylinder are deduced
analytically. The minimal radius enclosing cylinder is computed analytically
for the regular tetrahedron and for a trigonal bipyramids family with a
symmetry axis of order 3.Comment: 13 pages, 0 figure; revised version submitted to publication
(previous version is a copy of the original one of 2010
Life Beyond the Solar System: Space Weather and Its Impact on Habitable Worlds
The search of life in the Universe is a fundamental problem of astrobiology
and a major priority for NASA. A key area of major progress since the NASA
Astrobiology Strategy 2015 (NAS15) has been a shift from the exoplanet
discovery phase to a phase of characterization and modeling of the physics and
chemistry of exoplanetary atmospheres, and the development of observational
strategies for the search for life in the Universe by combining expertise from
four NASA science disciplines including heliophysics, astrophysics, planetary
science and Earth science. The NASA Nexus for Exoplanetary System Science
(NExSS) has provided an efficient environment for such interdisciplinary
studies. Solar flares, coronal mass ejections and solar energetic particles
produce disturbances in interplanetary space collectively referred to as space
weather, which interacts with the Earth upper atmosphere and causes dramatic
impact on space and ground-based technological systems. Exoplanets within close
in habitable zones around M dwarfs and other active stars are exposed to
extreme ionizing radiation fluxes, thus making exoplanetary space weather (ESW)
effects a crucial factor of habitability. In this paper, we describe the recent
developments and provide recommendations in this interdisciplinary effort with
the focus on the impacts of ESW on habitability, and the prospects for future
progress in searching for signs of life in the Universe as the outcome of the
NExSS workshop held in Nov 29 - Dec 2, 2016, New Orleans, LA. This is one of
five Life Beyond the Solar System white papers submitted by NExSS to the
National Academy of Sciences in support of the Astrobiology Science Strategy
for the Search for Life in the Universe.Comment: 5 pages, the white paper was submitted to the National Academy of
Sciences in support of the Astrobiology Science Strategy for the Search for
Life in the Univers
Definitions and methodology for the grayscale and radiofrequency intravascular ultrasound and coronary angiographic analyses
Objectives: In a prospective study of the natural history of coronary atherosclerosis using angiography and grayscale and radio
Bounding Helly numbers via Betti numbers
We show that very weak topological assumptions are enough to ensure the
existence of a Helly-type theorem. More precisely, we show that for any
non-negative integers and there exists an integer such that
the following holds. If is a finite family of subsets of such that for any
and every
then has Helly number at most . Here
denotes the reduced -Betti numbers (with singular homology). These
topological conditions are sharp: not controlling any of these first Betti numbers allow for families with unbounded Helly number.
Our proofs combine homological non-embeddability results with a Ramsey-based
approach to build, given an arbitrary simplicial complex , some well-behaved
chain map .Comment: 29 pages, 8 figure
Impact of Space Weather on Climate and Habitability of Terrestrial Type Exoplanets
The current progress in the detection of terrestrial type exoplanets has
opened a new avenue in the characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres and in
the search for biosignatures of life with the upcoming ground-based and space
missions. To specify the conditions favorable for the origin, development and
sustainment of life as we know it in other worlds, we need to understand the
nature of astrospheric, atmospheric and surface environments of exoplanets in
habitable zones around G-K-M dwarfs including our young Sun. Global environment
is formed by propagated disturbances from the planet-hosting stars in the form
of stellar flares, coronal mass ejections, energetic particles, and winds
collectively known as astrospheric space weather. Its characterization will
help in understanding how an exoplanetary ecosystem interacts with its host
star, as well as in the specification of the physical, chemical and biochemical
conditions that can create favorable and/or detrimental conditions for
planetary climate and habitability along with evolution of planetary internal
dynamics over geological timescales. A key linkage of (astro) physical,
chemical, and geological processes can only be understood in the framework of
interdisciplinary studies with the incorporation of progress in heliophysics,
astrophysics, planetary and Earth sciences. The assessment of the impacts of
host stars on the climate and habitability of terrestrial (exo)planets will
significantly expand the current definition of the habitable zone to the
biogenic zone and provide new observational strategies for searching for
signatures of life. The major goal of this paper is to describe and discuss the
current status and recent progress in this interdisciplinary field and to
provide a new roadmap for the future development of the emerging field of
exoplanetary science and astrobiology.Comment: 206 pages, 24 figures, 1 table; Review paper. International Journal
of Astrobiology (2019
Discovery of a WZ Sge-Type Dwarf Nova, SDSS J102146.44+234926.3: Unprecedented Infrared Activity during a Rebrightening Phase
Several SU UMa-type dwarf novae, in particular, WZ Sge-type stars tend to
exhibit rebrightenings after superoutbursts. The rebrightening phenomenon is
problematic for the disk instability theory of dwarf novae since it requires a
large amount of remnant matter in the disk even after superoutbursts. Here, we
report our optical and infrared observations during the first-ever outburst of
a new dwarf nova, SDSS J102146.44+234926.3. During the outburst, we detected
superhumps with a period of 0.056281 +/- 0.000015 d, which is typical for
superhump periods in WZ Sge stars. In conjunction with the appearance of a
long-lived rebrightening, we conclude that the object is a new member of WZ Sge
stars. Our observations, furthermore, revealed infrared behaviors for the first
time in the rebrightening phase of WZ Sge stars. We discovered prominent
infrared superhumps. We calculate the color temperature of the infrared
superhump source to be 4600-6400 K. These temperatures are too low to be
explained with a fully-ionized disk appearing during dwarf nova outbursts. We
also found a Ks-band excess over the hot disk component. These unprecedented
infrared activities provide evidence for the presence of mass reservoir at the
outermost part of the accretion disk. We propose that a moderately high
mass-accretion rate at this infrared active region leads to the long-lived
rebrightening observed in SDSS J102146.44+234926.3.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in PAS
Gamma-Ray Emission Concurrent with the Nova in the Symbiotic Binary V407 Cygni
Novae are thermonuclear explosions on a white dwarf surface fueled by mass
accreted from a companion star. Current physical models posit that shocked
expanding gas from the nova shell can produce X-ray emission but emission at
higher energies has not been widely expected. Here, we report the Fermi Large
Area Telescope detection of variable gamma-ray (0.1-10 GeV) emission from the
recently-detected optical nova of the symbiotic star V407 Cygni. We propose
that the material of the nova shell interacts with the dense ambient medium of
the red giant primary, and that particles can be accelerated effectively to
produce pi0 decay gamma-rays from proton-proton interactions. Emission
involving inverse Compton scattering of the red giant radiation is also
considered and is not ruled out.Comment: 38 pages, includes Supplementary Online Material; corresponding
authors: C.C. Cheung, A.B. Hill, P. Jean, S. Razzaque, K.S. Woo
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