62 research outputs found
Faint young Sun paradox remains
The Sun was fainter when the Earth was young, but the climate was generally
at least as warm as today; this is known as the `faint young Sun paradox'.
Rosing et al. [1] claim that the paradox can be resolved by making the early
Earth's clouds and surface less reflective. We show that, even with the
strongest plausible assumptions, reducing cloud and surface albedos falls short
by a factor of two of resolving the paradox. A temperate Archean climate cannot
be reconciled with the low level of CO2 suggested by Rosing et al. [1]; a
stronger greenhouse effect is needed.Comment: 3 pages, no figures. In press in Nature. v2 corrects typo in author
list in original submissio
Lawson criterion for ignition exceeded in an inertial fusion experiment
For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37Â MJ of fusion for 1.92Â MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion
External Morphology of the Immature Stages of Metacuterebra apicalis
The second and third instar larvae, and the pupa of Metacuterebra apicalis (Guérin-Menevilli), are described based on light and scanning electron microscope observation
- …