4,587 research outputs found
EGRET upper limits and stacking searches of gamma-ray observations of luminous and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies
We present a stacking analysis of EGRET -ray observations at the
positions of luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies. The latter were
selected from the recently presented HCN survey, which is thought to contain
the most active star forming regions of the universe. Different sorting
criteria are used and, whereas no positive collective detection of -ray
emission from these objects we determined both collective and individual upper
limits. The upper most excess we find appears in the case of ULIRGs ordered by
redshift, at a value of 1.8.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Bright single-photon sources in bottom-up tailored nanowires
The ability to achieve near-unity light extraction efficiency is necessary
for a truly deterministic single photon source. The most promising method to
reach such high efficiencies is based on embedding single photon emitters in
tapered photonic waveguides defined by top-down etching techniques. However,
light extraction efficiencies in current top-down approaches are limited by
fabrication imperfections and etching induced defects. The efficiency is
further tempered by randomly positioned off-axis quantum emitters. Here, we
present perfectly positioned single quantum dots on the axis of a tailored
nanowire waveguide using bottom-up growth. In comparison to quantum dots in
nanowires without waveguide, we demonstrate a 24-fold enhancement in the single
photon flux, corresponding to a light extraction efficiency of 42 %. Such high
efficiencies in one-dimensional nanowires are promising to transfer quantum
information over large distances between remote stationary qubits using flying
qubits within the same nanowire p-n junction.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figure
Spectra of Modular and Small-World Matrices
We compute spectra of symmetric random matrices describing graphs with
general modular structure and arbitrary inter- and intra-module degree
distributions, subject only to the constraint of finite mean connectivities. We
also evaluate spectra of a certain class of small-world matrices generated from
random graphs by introducing short-cuts via additional random connectivity
components. Both adjacency matrices and the associated graph Laplacians are
investigated. For the Laplacians, we find Lifshitz type singular behaviour of
the spectral density in a localised region of small values. In the
case of modular networks, we can identify contributions local densities of
state from individual modules. For small-world networks, we find that the
introduction of short cuts can lead to the creation of satellite bands outside
the central band of extended states, exhibiting only localised states in the
band-gaps. Results for the ensemble in the thermodynamic limit are in excellent
agreement with those obtained via a cavity approach for large finite single
instances, and with direct diagonalisation results.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure
Phase Transitions in Operational Risk
In this paper we explore the functional correlation approach to operational
risk. We consider networks with heterogeneous a-priori conditional and
unconditional failure probability. In the limit of sparse connectivity,
self-consistent expressions for the dynamical evolution of order parameters are
obtained. Under equilibrium conditions, expressions for the stationary states
are also obtained. The consequences of the analytical theory developed are
analyzed using phase diagrams. We find co-existence of operational and
non-operational phases, much as in liquid-gas systems. Such systems are
susceptible to discontinuous phase transitions from the operational to
non-operational phase via catastrophic breakdown. We find this feature to be
robust against variation of the microscopic modelling assumptions.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures. Accepted in Physical Review
Methodological approaches to determining the marine radiocarbon reservoir effect
The marine radiocarbon reservoir effect is an offset in 14C age between contemporaneous organisms from the terrestrial environment and organisms that derive their carbon from the marine environment. Quantification of this effect is of crucial importance for correct calibration of the <sup>14</sup>C ages of marine-influenced samples to the calendrical timescale. This is fundamental to the construction of archaeological and palaeoenvironmental chronologies when such samples are employed in <sup>14</sup>C analysis. Quantitative measurements of temporal variations in regional marine reservoir ages also have the potential to be used as a measure of process changes within Earth surface systems, due to their link with climatic and oceanic changes. The various approaches to quantification of the marine radiocarbon reservoir effect are assessed, focusing particularly on the North Atlantic Ocean. Currently, the global average marine reservoir age of surface waters, R(t), is c. 400 radiocarbon years; however, regional values deviate from this as a function of climate and oceanic circulation systems. These local deviations from R(t) are expressed as +R values. Hence, polar waters exhibit greater reservoir ages (δR = c. +400 to +800 <sup>14</sup>C y) than equatorial waters (δR = c. 0 <sup>14</sup>C y). Observed temporal variations in δR appear to reflect climatic and oceanographic changes. We assess three approaches to quantification of marine reservoir effects using known age samples (from museum collections), tephra isochrones (present onshore/offshore) and paired marine/terrestrial samples (from the same context in, for example, archaeological sites). The strengths and limitations of these approaches are evaluated using examples from the North Atlantic region. It is proposed that, with a suitable protocol, accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurements on paired, short-lived, single entity marine and terrestrial samples from archaeological deposits is the most promising approach to constraining changes over at least the last 5 ky BP
Present and Future Gamma-Ray Probes of the Cygnus OB2 Environment
The MAGIC Collaboration has provided new observational data pertaining to the
TeV J2032+4130 gamma-ray source (within the Cygnus OB2 region), for energies
E_gamma >400 GeV. It is then appropriate to update the impact of these data on
gamma-ray production mechanisms in stellar associations. We consider two
mechanisms of gamma-ray emission, pion production and decay (PION) and
photo-excitation of high-energy nuclei followed by prompt photo-emission from
the daughter nuclei (A*). We find that while the data can be accommodated with
either scenario, the A* features a spectral bump, corresponding to the
threshold for exciting the Giant Dipole Resonance, which can serve to
discriminate between them. We comment on neutrino emission and detection from
the region if the PION and/or A* processes are operative. We also touch on the
implications for this analysis of future Fermi and Cerenkov Telescope Array
data.Comment: 6 pp, 2 figs. Matching version publihed in Phys. Rev.
Retained strength of UHTCMCs after oxidation at 2278 K
In the frame of Horizon 2020 European C3HARME research project, the manufacture of ZrB2-based CMCs was developed through different processes: slurry infiltration and sintering, radio frequency chemical vapour infiltration (RF-CVI) and reactive metal infiltration (RMI). To assess the high temperature stability, room temperature bending strength was measured after oxidizing the samples at 2278 K and compared to the strength of the as-produced materials. Microstructures were analysed before and after the thermal treatment to assess the damage induced by the high temperature oxidation. Short fibre-reinforced composites showed the highest retained strength (>80%) and an unchanged stress–strain curve
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