Variations of radiocarbon in tree rings: southern hemisphere offset preliminary results

The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland and University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand radiocarbon laboratories have undertaken a series of high-precision measurements on decadal samples of dendrochronologically dated oak (Quercus patrea) and cedar (Libocedrus bidwillii) from Great Britain and New Zealand, respectively. The results show a real atmospheric offset of 3.4 ± 0.6% (27.2 ± 4.7 ¹⁴C yr) between the two locations for the interval AD 1725 to AD 1885, with the Southern Hemisphere being depleted in ¹⁴C. This result is less than the value currently used to correct Southern Hemisphere calibrations, possibly indicating a gradient in Δ¹⁴C within the Southern Hemisphere

High-Temperature Properties of the Z(3) Interface in (2+1)-D SU(3) Gauge Theory

We study the high-temperature properties of the Z(3) interface which forms between the various ordered phases of pure SU(3) gauge theory above a critical temperature. On a (2+1)-D Euclidean lattice, we perform an accurate measurement of the interface tension, which shows good agreement with the prediction of perturbation theory. We also examine the behaviour of the Debye electric screening mass, and compare this with theoretical predictions.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, uuencoded gzipped tar fil

Critical properties of the Z(3) interface in (2+1)-D SU(3) gauge theory

We study the interface between two different Z(3) vacua in the deconfined phase of SU(3) pure gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions just above the critical temperature. In simulations of the Euclidean lattice gauge theory formulation of the system we measure the fluctuations of the interface as the critical temperature is approached and as a function of system size. We show that the intrinsic width of the interface remains small even very close to the critical temperature. Some dynamical exponents which govern the interaction of the interface with our Monte Carlo algorithm are also estimated. We conclude that the Z(3) interface has properties broadly similar to those in many other comparable statistical mechanical systems.Comment: 26 pages, LaTex with 16 postscript figure

Langevin Simulation of Thermally Activated Magnetization Reversal in Nanoscale Pillars

Numerical solutions of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert micromagnetic model incorporating thermal fluctuations and dipole-dipole interactions (calculated by the Fast Multipole Method) are presented for systems composed of nanoscale iron pillars of dimension 9 nm x 9 nm x 150 nm. Hysteresis loops generated under sinusoidally varying fields are obtained, while the coercive field is estimated to be 1979 $\pm$ 14 Oe using linear field sweeps at T=0 K. Thermal effects are essential to the relaxation of magnetization trapped in a metastable orientation, such as happens after a rapid reversal of an external magnetic field less than the coercive value. The distribution of switching times is compared to a simple analytic theory that describes reversal with nucleation at the ends of the nanomagnets. Results are also presented for arrays of nanomagnets oriented perpendicular to a flat substrate. Even at a separation of 300 nm, where the field from neighboring pillars is only $\sim$ 1 Oe, the interactions have a significant effect on the switching of the magnets.Comment: 19 pages RevTeX, including 12 figures, clarified discussion of numerical technique

The UK risk assessment scheme for all non-native species

1. A pest risk assessment scheme, adapted from the EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation) scheme, was developed to assess the risks posed to UK species, habitats and ecosystems by non-native taxa. 2. The scheme provides a structured framework for evaluating the potential for non-native organisms, whether intentional or unintentional introductions, to enter, establish, spread and cause significant impacts in all or part of the UK. Specialist modules permit the relative importance of entry pathways, the vulnerability of receptors and the consequences of policies to be assessed and appropriate risk management options to be selected. Spreadsheets for summarising the level of risk and uncertainty, invasive attributes and economic impact were created. In addition, new methods for quantifying economic impact and summarising risk and uncertainty were explored. 3. Although designed for the UK, the scheme can readily be applied elsewhere

The ARTEMIS simulations: stellar haloes of Milky Way-mass galaxies

We introduce the Assembly of high-ResoluTion Eagle-simulations of MIlky Way-type galaxieS (ARTEMIS) simulations, a new set of 42 zoomed-in, high-resolution (baryon particle mass of ≈2×104M⊙h−1⁠), hydrodynamical simulations of galaxies residing in haloes of Milky Way mass, simulated with the EAGLE galaxy formation code with re-calibrated stellar feedback. In this study, we analyse the structure of stellar haloes, specifically the mass density, surface brightness, metallicity, colour, and age radial profiles, finding generally very good agreement with recent observations of local galaxies. The stellar density profiles are well fitted by broken power laws, with inner slopes of ≈−3, outer slopes of ≈−4, and break radii that are typically ≈20–40 kpc. The break radii generally mark the transition between in situ formation and accretion-driven formation of the halo. The metallicity, colour, and age profiles show mild large-scale gradients, particularly when spherically averaged or viewed along the major axes. Along the minor axes, however, the profiles are nearly flat, in agreement with observations. Overall, the structural properties can be understood by two factors: that in situ stars dominate the inner regions and that they reside in a spatially flattened distribution that is aligned with the disc. Observations targeting both the major and minor axes of galaxies are thus required to obtain a complete picture of stellar haloes

Low field vortex matter in YBCO: an atomic beam magnetic resonance study

We report measurements of the low field structure of the magnetic vortex lattice in an untwinned YBCO single-crystal platelet. Measurements were carried out using a novel atomic beam magnetic resonance (ABMR) technique. For a 10.7 G field applied parallel to the c-axis of the sample, we find a triangular lattice with orientational order extending across the entire sample. We find the triangular lattice to be weakly distorted by the a-b anisotropy of the material and measure a distortion factor, f = 1.16. Model-experiment comparisons determine a penetration depth, lambda_ab = 140 (+-20) nm. The paper includes the first detailed description of the ABMR technique. We discuss both technical details of the experiment and the modeling used to interpret the measurements.Comment: 44 pages, 13 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B Revision includes Postscript wrapped figures + minor typo

Lepton Flavor Violating Z Decays in the Zee Model

We calculate lepton flavor violating (LFV) Z decays Z \to {{e_i^\pm}}e_j^\mp (i, j = e, \mu, \tau ; i\neq j) in the Zee model keeping in view the radiative leptonic decays e_i\to e_j\gamma (i = \mu, \tau ; j = e, \mu ; i\neq j), \mu decay and anomalous muon magnetic moment (\mu AMM). We investigate three different cases of Zee f_{ij} coupling (A) f_{e\mu}^2 = f_{\mu\tau}^2= f_{\tau e}^2, (B) f_{e\mu}^2 \gg f_{\tau e}^2 \gg f_{\mu\tau}^2, and (C) f_{\mu\tau}^2 \gg f_{e\mu}^2 \gg f_{\tau e}^2 subject to the neutrino phenomenology. Interestingly, we find that, although the case (C) satisfies the large excess value of \mu AMM, however, it is unable to explain the solar neutrino experimental result, whereas the case (B) satisfies the bi-maximal neutrino mixing scenario, but confronts with the result of \mu AMM experiment. We also find that among all the three cases, only the case (C) gives rise to largest contribution to the ratio B(Z\to e^\pm\tau^\mp)/B(Z\to \mu^\pm \mu^\mp) \simeq {10}^{-8} which is still two order less than the accessible value to be probed by the future linear colliders, whereas for the other two cases, this ratio is too low to be observed even in the near future for all possible LFV Z decay modes.Comment: 12 pages, RevTex, 2 figures, 3 Tables, typos corrected, reference added, version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Supernova neutrino oscillations: A simple analytical approach

Analyses of observable supernova neutrino oscillation effects require the calculation of the electron (anti)neutrino survival probability P_ee along a given supernova matter density profile. We propose a simple analytical prescription for P_ee, based on a double-exponential form for the crossing probability and on the concept of maximum violation of adiabaticity. In the case of two-flavor transitions, the prescription is shown to reproduce accurately, in the whole neutrino oscillation parameter space, the results of exact numerical calculations for generic (realistic or power-law) profiles. The analytical approach is then generalized to cover three-flavor transitions with (direct or inverse) mass spectrum hierarchy, and to incorporate Earth matter effects. Compact analytical expressions, explicitly showing the symmetry properties of P_ee, are provided for practical calculations.Comment: 22 pages (RevTeX) + 5 figures (PostScript

Usability Challenges in Smartphone Web Access: A Systematic Literature Review

Part 8: International Workshop on Information Engineering and ManagementInternational audienceSystematic literature reviews facilitate methodical understanding of current advances in a field. With the increasing popularity of smartphones, they have become an important means to access the web. Although the literature on this topic is growing in recent times, there has been no effort yet to systematically review it. This paper reports on a systematic literature review of primary studies from 2007 to 2012 that concern mobile web usability. We identify the usability dimensions tested and the testing procedures adopted in the literature. We anticipate that our work will not only help researchers understand the current state of usability testing of mobile web but also identify the areas where further research is needed in addressing the challenges identified