Analysis of a stochastic chemical system close to a sniper bifurcation of its mean field model

A framework for the analysis of stochastic models of chemical systems for which the deterministic mean-field description is undergoing a saddle-node infinite period (SNIPER) bifurcation is presented. Such a bifurcation occurs for example in the modelling of cell-cycle regulation. It is shown that the stochastic system possesses oscillatory solutions even for parameter values for which the mean-field model does not oscillate. The dependence of the mean period of these oscillations on the parameters of the model (kinetic rate constants) and the size of the system (number of molecules present) is studied. Our approach is based on the chemical Fokker Planck equation. To get some insights into advantages and disadvantages of the method, a simple one-dimensional chemical switch is first analyzed, before the chemical SNIPER problem is studied in detail. First, results obtained by solving the Fokker-Planck equation numerically are presented. Then an asymptotic analysis of the Fokker-Planck equation is used to derive explicit formulae for the period of oscillation as a function of the rate constants and as a function of the system size

Evidence for extended, obscured starbursts in submm galaxies

We compare high-resolution optical and radio imaging of 12 luminous submm galaxies at z=2.2+/-0.2 observed with HST and the MERLIN and VLA at comparable spatial resolution, 0.3" (2kpc). The radio emission traces the likely far-infrared morphology of these dusty, luminous galaxies. In ~30% of the sample the radio appears unresolved, suggesting that the emission is compact: either an obscured AGN or nuclear starburst. However, in the majority, ~70% (8/12), the radio emission is resolved by MERLIN/VLA on scales of ~1" (10 kpc). For these galaxies the radio morphologies are broadly similar to their restframe UV emission seen by HST. We discuss the probable mechanisms for the extended emission and conclude that their luminous radio and submm emission arises from a large, spatially-extended starburst. The median SFRs are 1700Mo/yr occuring within a ~40kpc^2 region, giving a star formation density of 45Mo/yr/kpc^2. Such vigorous and extended starbursts appear to be uniquely associated with the submm population. A more detailed comparison of the distribution of UV and radio emission shows that the broad similarities on large scales are not carried through to smaller scales, where there is rarely a one-to-one correspondance. We interpret this as resulting from highly structured internal obscuration, suggesting that the vigorous activity is producing wind-blown channels through the obscuration in these galaxies. If correct this underlines the difficulty of using UV morphologies to understand structural properties of this population and also may explain the surprising frequency of Ly-alpha emission in their spectra. [Abridged]Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Unresolved Tensions: Warlpiri Law, Police Powers and Land Rights

This article explores the powerlessness of Indigenous people when confronted with police on ceremonial land. It draws on a recent incident in Lajamanu (northern Tanami Desert, Northern Territory ('NT')) that highlights the conflict between Indigenous and non-Indigenous laws. The incident involved an intrusion on a restricted Warlpiri ceremony ground by non-Indigenous police officers, including a female officer