9,121 research outputs found
Charge-Focusing Readout of Time Projection Chambers
Time projection chambers (TPCs) have found a wide range of applications in
particle physics, nuclear physics, and homeland security. For TPCs with
high-resolution readout, the readout electronics often dominate the price of
the final detector. We have developed a novel method which could be used to
build large-scale detectors while limiting the necessary readout area. By
focusing the drift charge with static electric fields, we would allow a small
area of electronics to be sensitive to particle detection for a much larger
detector volume. The resulting cost reduction could be important in areas of
research which demand large-scale detectors, including dark matter searches and
detection of special nuclear material. We present simulations made using the
software package Garfield of a focusing structure to be used with a prototype
TPC with pixel readout. This design should enable significant focusing while
retaining directional sensitivity to incoming particles. We also present first
experimental results and compare them with simulation.Comment: 5 pages, 17 figures, Presented at IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium 201
Cryptography based on neural networks - analytical results
Mutual learning process between two parity feed-forward networks with
discrete and continuous weights is studied analytically, and we find that the
number of steps required to achieve full synchronization between the two
networks in the case of discrete weights is finite. The synchronization process
is shown to be non-self-averaging and the analytical solution is based on
random auxiliary variables. The learning time of an attacker that is trying to
imitate one of the networks is examined analytically and is found to be much
longer than the synchronization time. Analytical results are found to be in
agreement with simulations
Observations of the SW Sextantis star DW Ursae Majoris with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer
We present an analysis of the first far-ultraviolet observations of the SW
Sextantis-type cataclysmic variable DW Ursae Majoris, obtained in November 2001
with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. The time-averaged spectrum of
DW UMa shows a rich assortment of emission lines (plus some contamination from
interstellar absorption lines including molecular hydrogen). Accretion disk
model spectra do not provide an adequate fit to the far-ultraviolet spectrum of
DW UMa. We constructed a light curve by summing far-ultraviolet spectra
extracted in 60-sec bins; this shows a modulation on the orbital period, with a
maximum near photometric phase 0.93 and a minimum half an orbit later. No other
periodic variability was found in the light curve data. We also extracted
spectra in bins spanning 0.1 in orbital phase; these show substantial variation
in the profile shapes and velocity shifts of the emission lines during an
orbital cycle of DW UMa. Finally, we discuss possible physical models that can
qualitatively account for the observed far-ultraviolet behavior of DW UMa, in
the context of recent observational evidence for the presence of a
self-occulting disk in DW UMa and the possibility that the SW Sex stars may be
the intermediate polars with the highest mass transfer rates and/or weakest
magnetic fields.Comment: accepted by the Astronomical Journal; 36 pages, including 12 figures
and 4 table
Training a perceptron in a discrete weight space
On-line and batch learning of a perceptron in a discrete weight space, where
each weight can take different values, are examined analytically and
numerically. The learning algorithm is based on the training of the continuous
perceptron and prediction following the clipped weights. The learning is
described by a new set of order parameters, composed of the overlaps between
the teacher and the continuous/clipped students. Different scenarios are
examined among them on-line learning with discrete/continuous transfer
functions and off-line Hebb learning. The generalization error of the clipped
weights decays asymptotically as / in the case of on-line learning with binary/continuous activation
functions, respectively, where is the number of examples divided by N,
the size of the input vector and is a positive constant that decays
linearly with 1/L. For finite and , a perfect agreement between the
discrete student and the teacher is obtained for . A crossover to the generalization error ,
characterized continuous weights with binary output, is obtained for synaptic
depth .Comment: 10 pages, 5 figs., submitted to PR
The effect of follicular fluid hormones on oocyte recovery after ovarian stimulation: FSH level predicts oocyte recovery.
BackgroundOvarian stimulation for assisted reproductive technology (ART) overcomes the physiologic process to develop a single dominant follicle. However, following stimulation, egg recovery rates are not 100%. The objective of this study is to determine if the follicular fluid hormonal environment is associated with oocyte recovery.MethodsThis is a prospective study involving patients undergoing ART by standard ovarian stimulation protocols at an urban academic medical center. A total of 143 follicular fluid aspirates were collected from 80 patients. Concentrations of FSH, hCG, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and prolactin were determined. A multivariable regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the follicular fluid hormones and oocyte recovery.ResultsIntrafollicular FSH was significantly associated with oocyte recovery after adjustment for hCG (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.21, 95%CI 1.03-1.42). The hCG concentration alone, in the range tested, did not impact the odds of oocyte recovery (AOR = 0.99, 95%CI 0.93-1.07). Estradiol was significantly associated with oocyte recovery (AOR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99). After adjustment for progesterone, the strength of association between FSH and oocyte recovery increased (AOR = 1.84, 95%CI 1.45-2.34).ConclusionThe relationship between FSH and oocyte recovery is significant and appears to work through mechanisms independent of the sex hormones. FSH may be important for the physiologic event of separation of the cumulus-oocyte complex from the follicle wall, thereby influencing oocyte recovery. Current methods for inducing the final stages of oocyte maturation, with hCG administration alone, may not be optimal. Modifications of treatment protocols utilizing additional FSH may enhance oocyte recovery
Quantum Dew
We consider phase separation in nonequilibrium Bose gas with an attractive
interaction between the particles. Using numerical integrations on a lattice,
we show that the system evolves into a state that contains drops of
Bose-Einstein condensate suspended in uncondensed gas. When the initial gas is
sufficiently rarefied, the rate of formation of this quantum dew scales with
the initial density as expected for a process governed by two-particle
collisions.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, 5 figure
Na2IrO3 as a spin-orbit-assisted antiferromagnetic insulator with a 340 meV gap
We study Na2IrO3 by ARPES, optics, and band structure calculations in the
local-density approximation (LDA). The weak dispersion of the Ir 5d-t2g
manifold highlights the importance of structural distortions and spin-orbit
coupling (SO) in driving the system closer to a Mott transition. We detect an
insulating gap {\Delta}_gap = 340 meV which, at variance with a Slater-type
description, is already open at 300 K and does not show significant temperature
dependence even across T_N ~ 15 K. An LDA analysis with the inclusion of SO and
Coulomb repulsion U reveals that, while the prodromes of an underlying
insulating state are already found in LDA+SO, the correct gap magnitude can
only be reproduced by LDA+SO+U, with U = 3 eV. This establishes Na2IrO3 as a
novel type of Mott-like correlated insulator in which Coulomb and relativistic
effects have to be treated on an equal footing.Comment: Accepted in Physical Review Letters. Auxiliary and related material
can be found at:
http://www.phas.ubc.ca/~quantmat/ARPES/PUBLICATIONS/articles.htm
- …