20,651 research outputs found
Oedipus of many pains: Strategies of contest in Homeric poetry
In this paper we analyse Oedipus’ appearance during Odysseus’ tale in book 11 of Homer’s Odyssey in order to outline and test a methodology for appreciating the poetic and thematic implications of moments when ‘extraneous’ narratives or traditions appear in the Homeric poems. Our analysis, which draws on oral-formulaic theory, is offered partly as a re-evaluation of standard scholarly approaches that tend to over-rely on the assumed pre-eminence of Homeric narratives over other traditions in their original contexts or approaches that reduce such moments to instances of allusions to or parallels with fixed texts. In conjunction with perspectives grounded in orality, we emphasise the agonistic character of Greek poetry to explore the ways in which Odysseus’ articulation of his Oedipus narrative exemplifies an attempt to appropriate and manipulate a rival tradition in the service of a particular narrative’s ends. We focus specifically on the resonance of the phrases algea polla and mega ergon used by Odysseus as a narrator to draw a web of interconnections throughout Homeric and Archaic Greek poetry. Such an approach, in turn, suggests to what extent the Homeric Oedipus passage speaks to the themes and concerns of Homeric poetry rather than some lost Oedipal epic tradition and illustrates the importance of recognizing the deeply competitive nature of Homeric narratives vis-à -vis other narrative traditions
Split-sideband spectroscopy in slowly modulated optomechanics
Optomechanical coupling between the motion of a mechanical oscillator and a
cavity represents a new arena for experimental investigation of quantum effects
on the mesoscopic and macroscopic scale.The motional sidebands of the output of
a cavity offer ultra-sensitive probes of the dynamics. We introduce a scheme
whereby these sidebands split asymmetrically and show how they may be used as
experimental diagnostics and signatures of quantum noise limited dynamics. We
show split-sidebands with controllable asymmetry occur by simultaneously
modulating the light-mechanical coupling and - slowly and out
of-phase. Such modulations are generic but already occur in optically trapped
set-ups where the equilibrium point of the oscillator is varied cyclically. We
analyse recently observed, but overlooked, experimental split-sideband
asymmetries; although not yet in the quantum regime, the data suggests that
split sideband structures are easily accessible to future experiments
An Alternative Parameterization of R-matrix Theory
An alternative parameterization of R-matrix theory is presented which is
mathematically equivalent to the standard approach, but possesses features
which simplify the fitting of experimental data. In particular there are no
level shifts and no boundary-condition constants which allows the positions and
partial widths of an arbitrary number levels to be easily fixed in an analysis.
These alternative parameters can be converted to standard R-matrix parameters
by a straightforward matrix diagonalization procedure. In addition it is
possible to express the collision matrix directly in terms of the alternative
parameters.Comment: 8 pages; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C; expanded Sec. IV,
added Sec. VI, added Appendix, corrected typo
The B Neutrino Spectrum
Knowledge of the energy spectrum of B neutrinos is an important
ingredient for interpreting experiments that detect energetic neutrinos from
the Sun. The neutrino spectrum deviates from the allowed approximation because
of the broad alpha-unstable Be final state and recoil order corrections to
the beta decay. We have measured the total energy of the alpha particles
emitted following the beta decay of B. The measured spectrum is
inconsistent with some previous measurements, in particular with a recent
experiment of comparable precision. The beta decay strength function for the
transition from B to the accessible excitation energies in Be is fit to
the alpha energy spectrum using the R-matrix approach. Both the positron and
neutrino energy spectra, corrected for recoil order effects, are constructed
from the strength function. The positron spectrum is in good agreement with a
previous direct measurement. The neutrino spectrum disagrees with previous
experiments, particularly for neutrino energies above 12 MeV.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, 4 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev. C, typos
correcte
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Odysseus’s nostos and the Odyssey’s nostoi: rivalry within the epic cycle
In this article we explore some of the ways in which our Odyssey engages with other epic homecoming (nostoi) traditions and how they help prepare for and glorify Odysseus’s return home. The process of telling nostoi tales in Ithaca, Pylos and Sparta dramatizes for the audience the selection and presentation of homecoming narratives, whose metapoetic potential is clear – nostos signifies both a homecoming and a song about homecoming. Since this process is in part a contemplation of which Odysseus is needed in this narrative, emphasis lies on how his story compares to possible versions both of nostoi narratives and of different Odysseys. In turn, part of this process reveals how both storytellers and audience members participate in a selection of different aspects to create the Odysseus they want. We focus in particular on how Telemachus negotiates these other nostoi, not always successfully, but always with a view to learning about the role he is to play in this epic. These other nostoi narratives are not only put at the service of the Odyssey to anticipate the content and structure of the monumental tale to come, as we will argue; they also help demonstrate what is at stake in narrating and experiencing nostos
Post-Newtonian gravitational radiation and equations of motion via direct integration of the relaxed Einstein equations. III. Radiation reaction for binary systems with spinning bodies
Using post-Newtonian equations of motion for fluid bodies that include
radiation-reaction terms at 2.5 and 3.5 post-Newtonian (PN) order (O[(v/c)^5]
and O[(v/c)^7] beyond Newtonian order), we derive the equations of motion for
binary systems with spinning bodies. In particular we determine the effects of
radiation-reaction coupled to spin-orbit effects on the two-body equations of
motion, and on the evolution of the spins. For a suitable definition of spin,
we reproduce the standard equations of motion and spin-precession at the first
post-Newtonian order. At 3.5PN order, we determine the spin-orbit induced
reaction effects on the orbital motion, but we find that radiation damping has
no effect on either the magnitude or the direction of the spins. Using the
equations of motion, we find that the loss of total energy and total angular
momentum induced by spin-orbit effects precisely balances the radiative flux of
those quantities calculated by Kidder et al. The equations of motion may be
useful for evolving inspiraling orbits of compact spinning binaries.Comment: 19 pages, small corrections, equivalent to published versio
A yellowwood by any other name: molecular systematics and the taxonomy of Podocarpus and the Podocarpaceae in southern Africa
We briefly review the taxonomic history of the Podocarpaceae, with an emphasis on the recognition of numerous segregate genera out of Podocarpus sensu lato. Despite some controversy over the recognition of these genera, molecular data (DNA sequences) provide evidence that supports this taxonomy. The implications for African Podocarpaceae are discussed. In particular, molecular data support the recognition of Afrocarpus as distinct from Podocarpus. Additional taxonomic problems concerning the possible segregation of Podocarpus milanjianus from P. latifolius are addressed using DNA sequence data from the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. Results of this are inconclusive, and suggest that alternative DNA-based evidence, such as from AFLPs or microsatellites, may be more informative in resolving such species complexes in African Podocarpus
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