Rotational modulation of the linear polarimetric variability of the cool dwarf TVLM 513−-46546

Aims: We aimed to monitor the optical linear polarimetric signal of the magnetized, rapidly rotating M8.5 dwarf TVLM 513$-$46546. Methods: $R$- and $I$-band linear polarimetry images were collected with the ALFOSC instrument of the 2.56-m Nordic Optical Telescope on two consecutive nights covering about 0.5 and 4 rotation cycles in the $R$ and $I$ filters, respectively. We also obtained simultaneous intensity curves by means of differential photometry. The typical precision of the data is $\pm$0.46\% ($R$), $\pm$0.35\% ($I$) in the linear polarization degree and $\pm$9 mmag ($R$), $\pm$1.6 mmag ($I$) in the differential intensity curves. Results: Strong and variable linear polarization is detected in the $R$ and $I$ filters, with values of maximum polarization ($p^{*}$ = 1.30$\pm$0.35 \%) similar for both bands. The intensity and the polarimetric curves present a sinusoid-like pattern with a periodicity of $\sim$1.98 h, which we ascribe to structures in TVLM 513$-$46's surface synchronized with rotation. We found that the peaks of the intensity and polarimetric curves occur with a phase difference of 0.18$\pm$0.01, and that the maximum of the linear polarization happens nearly half a period (0.59$\pm$0.03) after the radio pulse. We discussed different scenarios to account for the observed properties of the light curves.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Simultaneous optical and near-infrared linear spectropolarimetry of the earthshine

Aims: We aim to extend our current observational understanding of the integrated planet Earth spectropolarimetry from the optical to the near-infrared wavelengths. Major biomarkers like O$_{\rm 2}$ and water vapor are strong flux absorbents in the Earth atmosphere and some linear polarization of the reflected stellar light is expected to occur at these wavelengths. Methods: Simultaneous optical ($0.4-0.9$ $\mu$m) and near-infrared ($0.9-2.3$ $\mu$m) linear spectropolarimetric data of the earthshine were acquired by observing the nightside of the waxing Moon. The data have sufficient spectral resolution (2.51 nm in the optical, and 1.83 and 2.91 nm in the near-infrared) to resolve major molecular species present in the Earth atmosphere. Results: We find the highest values of linear polarization ($\ge 10\%$) at the bluest wavelengths, which agrees with the literature. Linear polarization intensity steadily decreases towards red wavelengths reaching a nearly flat value beyond $\sim$0.8 $\mu$m. In the near-infrared, we measured a polarization degree of $\sim4.5 \%$ for the continuum. We report the detection of molecular features due to O$_{2}$ at $0.760, 1.25 \mu$m and H$_{2}$O at 0.653$-$0.725 $\mu$m, 0.780$-$0.825 $\mu$m, 0.93 and 1.12 $\mu$m in the spectropolarimetric data; most of them show high linear polarimetry degrees above the continuum. In particular, the broad H$_{2}$O 1.12 $\mu$m band displays a polarimetric intensity as high as that of the blue optical. These features may become a powerful tool to characterize Earth-like planets in polarized light.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication as Letter in Astronomy and Astrophysics on 23/01/201

Analysis of Monetary Policy and Financial Stability: A New Paradigm

This paper introduces agent heterogeneity, liquidity, and endogenous default to a DSGE framework. Our model allows for a comprehensive assessment of regulatory and monetary policy, as well as welfare analysis in the different sectors of the economy. Due to liquidity and endogenous default, the transmission mechanism of shocks is well defined, and their short to medium run effects on financial stability are properly captured.general equilibrium, financial fragility, monetary policy, regulation

A Behavioral Confirmation and Reduction of the Natural versus Synthetic Drug Bias

Research reveals a biased preference for natural versus synthetic drugs; however, this research is based upon self-report and has not examined ways to reduce the bias. We examined these issues in five studies involving 1,125 participants. In a Pilot Study (N = 110), participants rated the term natural to be more positive than the term synthetic, which reveals a default natural-is-better belief. In Studies 1 (N = 109) and 2 (N = 100), after a supposed personality study, participants were offered a thank you “gift” of a natural or synthetic pain reliever. Approximately 86% (Study 1) and 93% (Study 2) of participants chose the natural versus synthetic pain reliever, which provide a behavioral choice confirmation of the natural drug bias. In Studies 3 (N = 350) and 4 (N = 356), participants were randomly assigned to a control or experimental condition and were asked to consider a scenario in which they had a medical issue requiring a natural versus synthetic drug. The experimental condition included a stronger (Study 3) or weaker (Study 4) rational appeal about the natural drug bias and a statement suggesting that natural and synthetic drugs can be good or bad depending upon the context. In both studies, the natural bias was reduced in the experimental condition, and perceived safety and effectiveness mediated this effect. Overall, these data indicate a bias for natural over synthetic drugs in preferences and behavioral choices, which might be reduced with a rational appeal

Spatial entanglement of paired photons generated in cold atomic ensembles

Cold atomic ensembles can mediate the generation of entanglement between pairs of photons. Photons with specific directions of propagation are detected, and the entanglement can reside in any of the degrees of freedom that describe the whole quantum state of the photons: polarization, spatial shape or frequency. We show that the direction of propagation of the generated photons determines the spatial quantum state of the photons and therefore, the amount of entanglement generated. When photons generated in different directions are combined, this spatial distinguishing information can degrade the quantum purity of the polarization or frequency entanglement.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. A.; one figure (Fig. 3) was added, typos and labels in figure 2 were correcte

Scattering due to non-magnetic disorder in 2D anisotropic d-wave high Tc superconductors

Inspired by the studies on the influence of transition metal impurities in high Tc superconductors and what is already known about nonmagnetic suppression of Tc in unconventional superconductors, we set out to investigate the behavior of the nonmagnetic disordered elastic scattering for a realistic 2D anisotropic high Tc superconductor with line nodes and a Fermi surface in the tight-binding approximation. For this purpose, we performed a detailed self-consistent 2D numerical study of the disordered averaged scattering matrix with nonmagnetic impurities and a singlet line nodes order parameter, varying the concentration and the strength of the impurities potential in the Born, intermediate and unitary limits. In a high Tc anisotropic superconductor with a tight binding dispersion law averaging over the Fermi surface, including hopping parameters and an order parameter in agreement with experimental data, the tight-binding approximation reflects the anisotropic effects. In this study, we also included a detailed visualization of the behavior of the scattering matrix with different sets of physical parameters involved in the nonmagnetic disorder, which allowed us to model the dressed scattering behavior in different regimes for very low and high energies. With this study, we demonstrate that the scattering elastic matrix is affected by the non-magnetic disorder, as well as the importance of an order parameter and a Fermi surface in agreement with experiments when studying this effect in unconventional superconductors.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Quasi-point versus point nodes in Sr2RuO4Sr_2RuO_4, the case of a flat tight binding γ\gamma sheet

We perform a numerical study of the unitary regime as a function of disorder concentration in the imaginary part of the elastic scattering cross-section for the compound $Sr_2RuO_4$ in the flat band non-disperse limit. By using a self-consistent tight-binding (TB) method, we find a couple of families of Wigner probabilistic functions that help to explain macroscopically the distribution between Fermion dressed quasiparticles and Cooper pairs, and also the position of nodes in the order parameter for $Sr_2RuO_4$. Therefore, we are able to show that a TB model for the $\gamma$ sheet numerically shows 4 point nodes in a flat $\gamma$ sheet limit or 4 quasi-point nodes for strong dispersion $\gamma$ sheet limit in the reduced phase scattering space (RPS).Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures, 44 reference

Special Issue on “fruit metabolism and metabolomics”

Over the past 10 years, knowledge about several aspects of fruit metabolism has been greatly improved. Notably, high-throughput metabolomic technologies have allowed quantifying metabolite levels across various biological processes, and identifying the genes that underly fruit development and ripening. This Special Issue is designed to exemplify the current use of metabolomics studies of temperate and tropical fruit for basic research as well as practical applications. It includes articles about different aspects of fruit biochemical phenotyping, fruit metabolism before and after harvest, including primary and specialized metabolisms, and bioactive compounds involved in growth and environmental responses. The effect of genotype, stages of development or fruit tissue on metabolomic profiles and corresponding metabolism regulations are addressed, as well as the combination of other omics with metabolomics for fruit metabolism studies. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.partly funded by MetaboHUB (ANR‐11‐INBS‐0010) and PHENOME (ANR‐11‐ INBS‐0012) French Agence Nationale de la Recherche projects. S.O. was parcially supported by grants RTI2018‐ 099797‐B‐100 (Ministerio de ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain) and UMA18‐DEDERJA‐179 (Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidades, Junta de Andalucía, Spain).Peer reviewe