16,528 research outputs found
On the Putative Detection of z>0 X-ray Absorption Features in the Spectrum of Markarian 421
In a series of papers, Nicastro et al. have reported the detection of z>0
OVII absorption features in the spectrum of Mrk421 obtained with the Chandra
Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (LETGS). We evaluate this result
in the context of a high quality spectrum of the same source obtained with the
Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) on XMM-Newton. The data comprise over
955ks of usable exposure time and more than 26000 counts per 50 milliAngstrom
at 21.6 Angstroms. We concentrate on the spectrally clean region (21.3 < lambda
< 22.5 Angstroms) where sharp features due to the astrophysically abundant OVII
may reveal an intervening, warm--hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). We do not
confirm detection of any of the intervening systems claimed to date. Rather, we
detect only three unsurprising, astrophysically expected features down to the
Log(N_i)~14.6 (3 sigma) sensitivity level. Each of the two purported WHIM
features is rejected with a statistical confidence that exceeds that reported
for its initial detection. While we can not rule out the existence of fainter,
WHIM related features in these spectra, we suggest that previous discovery
claims were premature. A more recent paper by Williams et al. claims to have
demonstrated that the RGS data we analyze here do not have the resolution or
statistical quality required to confirm or deny the LETGS detections. We show
that our careful analysis resolves the issues encountered by Williams et al.
and recovers the full resolution and statistical quality of the RGS data. We
highlight the differences between our analysis and those published by Williams
et al. as this may explain our disparate conclusions.Comment: 19 pages/7 figures/4 tables. 060424 submitted to ApJ 060522
re-submitted following ApJ reques
Bulk and surface magnetoinductive breathers in binary metamaterials
We study theoretically the existence of bulk and surface discrete breathers
in a one-dimensional magnetic metamaterial comprised of a periodic binary array
of split-ring resonators. The two types of resonators differ in the size of
their slits and this leads to different resonant frequencies. In the framework
of the rotating-wave approximation (RWA) we construct several types of breather
excitations for both the energy-conserved and the dissipative-driven systems by
continuation of trivial breather solutions from the anticontinuous limit to
finite couplings. Numerically-exact computations that integrate the full model
equations confirm the quality of the RWA results. Moreover, it is demonstrated
that discrete breathers can spontaneously appear in the dissipative-driven
system as a results of a fundamental instability.Comment: 10 pages, 16 figure
Nonparametric Bayesian Mixed-effect Model: a Sparse Gaussian Process Approach
Multi-task learning models using Gaussian processes (GP) have been developed
and successfully applied in various applications. The main difficulty with this
approach is the computational cost of inference using the union of examples
from all tasks. Therefore sparse solutions, that avoid using the entire data
directly and instead use a set of informative "representatives" are desirable.
The paper investigates this problem for the grouped mixed-effect GP model where
each individual response is given by a fixed-effect, taken from one of a set of
unknown groups, plus a random individual effect function that captures
variations among individuals. Such models have been widely used in previous
work but no sparse solutions have been developed. The paper presents the first
sparse solution for such problems, showing how the sparse approximation can be
obtained by maximizing a variational lower bound on the marginal likelihood,
generalizing ideas from single-task Gaussian processes to handle the
mixed-effect model as well as grouping. Experiments using artificial and real
data validate the approach showing that it can recover the performance of
inference with the full sample, that it outperforms baseline methods, and that
it outperforms state of the art sparse solutions for other multi-task GP
formulations.Comment: Preliminary version appeared in ECML201
Guidelines for physical weed control research: flame weeding, weed harrowing and intra-row cultivation
A prerequisite for good research is the use of appropriate methodology. In order to aggregate sound research methodology, this paper presents some tentative guidelines for physical weed control research in general, and flame weeding, weed harrowing and intra-row cultivation in particular. Issues include the adjustment and use of mechanical weeders and other equipment, the recording of impact factors that affect weeding performance, methods to assess effectiveness, the layout of treatment plots, and the conceptual models underlying the experimental designs (e.g. factorial comparison, dose response).
First of all, the research aims need to be clearly defined, an appropriate experimental design produced and statistical methods chosen accordingly. Suggestions on how to do this are given. For assessments, quantitative measures would be ideal, but as they require more resources, visual classification may in some cases be more feasible. The timing of assessment affects the results and their interpretation.
When describing the weeds and crops, one should list the crops and the most abundantly present weed species involved, giving their density and growth stages at the time of treatment. The location of the experimental field, soil type, soil moisture and amount of fertilization should be given, as well as weather conditions at the time of treatment.
The researcher should describe the weed control equipment and adjustments accurately, preferably according to the prevailing practice within the discipline. Things to record are e.g. gas pressure, burner properties, burner cover dimensions and LPG consumption in flame weeding; speed, angle of tines, number of passes and direction in weed harrowing.
The authors hope this paper will increase comparability among experiments, help less experienced scientists to prevent mistakes and essential omissions, and foster the advance of knowledge on non-chemical weed management
Magnetoinductive breathers in magnetic metamaterials
The existence and stability of discrete breathers (DBs) in one-dimensional
and two-dimensional magnetic metamaterials (MMs), which consist of periodic
arrangem ents (arrays) of split-ring resonators (SRRs), is investigated
numerically. We consider different configurations of the SRR arrays, which are
related to the relative orientation of the SRRs in the MM, both in one and two
spatial dimensions. In the latter case we also consider anisotropic MMs. Using
standard numerical methods we construct several types of linearly stable
breather excitations both in Hamiltonian and dissipative MMs (dissipative
breathers). The study of stability in both cases is performed using standard
Floquet analysi s. In both cases we found that the increase of dimensionality
from one to two spatial dimensions does not destroy the DBs, which may also
exist in the case of moderate anisotropy (in two dimensions). In dissipative
MMs, the dynamics is governed by a power balance between the mainly Ohmic
dissipation and driving by an alternating magnetic field. In that case it is
demonstrated that DB excitation locally alters the magnetic response of MMs
from paramagnetic to diamagnetic. Moreover, when the frequency of the applied
field approaches the SRR resonance frequency, the magnetic response of the MM
in the region of the DB excitation may even become negative (extreme
diamagnetic).Comment: 12 pages 15 figure
Superconductor-Nanowire Devices from Tunneling to the Multichannel Regime: Zero-Bias Oscillations and Magnetoconductance Crossover
We present transport measurements in superconductor-nanowire devices with a
gated constriction forming a quantum point contact. Zero-bias features in
tunneling spectroscopy appear at finite magnetic fields, and oscillate in
amplitude and split away from zero bias as a function of magnetic field and
gate voltage. A crossover in magnetoconductance is observed: Magnetic fields
above ~ 0.5 T enhance conductance in the low-conductance (tunneling) regime but
suppress conductance in the high-conductance (multichannel) regime. We consider
these results in the context of Majorana zero modes as well as alternatives,
including Kondo effect and analogs of 0.7 structure in a disordered nanowire.Comment: Supplemental Material here:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1742676/Churchill_Supplemental.pd
Research study of some RAM antennas Final report, 18 Nov. 1964 - 18 Jun. 1965
Input impedance and radiation pattern determinations for cylindrical gap, waveguide excited and circular waveguide slot antenna array
W-Extended Fusion Algebra of Critical Percolation
Two-dimensional critical percolation is the member LM(2,3) of the infinite
series of Yang-Baxter integrable logarithmic minimal models LM(p,p'). We
consider the continuum scaling limit of this lattice model as a `rational'
logarithmic conformal field theory with extended W=W_{2,3} symmetry and use a
lattice approach on a strip to study the fundamental fusion rules in this
extended picture. We find that the representation content of the ensuing closed
fusion algebra contains 26 W-indecomposable representations with 8 rank-1
representations, 14 rank-2 representations and 4 rank-3 representations. We
identify these representations with suitable limits of Yang-Baxter integrable
boundary conditions on the lattice and obtain their associated W-extended
characters. The latter decompose as finite non-negative sums of W-irreducible
characters of which 13 are required. Implementation of fusion on the lattice
allows us to read off the fusion rules governing the fusion algebra of the 26
representations and to construct an explicit Cayley table. The closure of these
representations among themselves under fusion is remarkable confirmation of the
proposed extended symmetry.Comment: 30 page
SLE-type growth processes and the Yang-Lee singularity
The recently introduced SLE growth processes are based on conformal maps from
an open and simply-connected subset of the upper half-plane to the half-plane
itself. We generalize this by considering a hierarchy of stochastic evolutions
mapping open and simply-connected subsets of smaller and smaller fractions of
the upper half-plane to these fractions themselves. The evolutions are all
driven by one-dimensional Brownian motion. Ordinary SLE appears at grade one in
the hierarchy. At grade two we find a direct correspondence to conformal field
theory through the explicit construction of a level-four null vector in a
highest-weight module of the Virasoro algebra. This conformal field theory has
central charge c=-22/5 and is associated to the Yang-Lee singularity. Our
construction may thus offer a novel description of this statistical model.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, v2: thorough revision with corrections, v3: version
to be publishe
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