6,387 research outputs found
Wavelet-based Faraday Rotation Measure Synthesis
Faraday Rotation Measure (RM) Synthesis, as a method for analyzing
multi-channel observations of polarized radio emission to investigate galactic
magnetic fields structures, requires the definition of complex polarized
intensity in the range of the negative lambda square. We introduce a simple
method for continuation of the observed complex polarized intensity into this
domain using symmetry arguments. The method is suggested in context of magnetic
field recognition in galactic disks where the magnetic field is supposed to
have a maximum in the equatorial plane. The method is quite simple when applied
to a single Faraday-rotating structure on the line of sight. Recognition of
several structures on the same line of sight requires a more sophisticated
technique. We also introduce a wavelet-based algorithm which allows us to
consider a set of isolated structures. The method essentially improves the
possibilities for reconstruction of complicated Faraday structures using the
capabilities of modern radio telescopes.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter
Blogging in the physics classroom: A research-based approach to shaping students' attitudes towards physics
Even though there has been a tremendous amount of research done in how to
help students learn physics, students are still coming away missing a crucial
piece of the puzzle: why bother with physics? Students learn fundamental laws
and how to calculate, but come out of a general physics course without a deep
understanding of how physics has transformed the world around them. In other
words, they get the "how" but not the "why". Studies have shown that students
leave introductory physics courses almost universally with decreased
expectations and with a more negative attitude. This paper will detail an
experiment to address this problem: a course weblog or "blog" which discusses
real-world applications of physics and engages students in discussion and
thinking outside of class. Specifically, students' attitudes towards the value
of physics and its applicability to the real-world were probed using a
26-question Likert scale survey over the course of four semesters in an
introductory physics course at a comprehensive Jesuit university. We found that
students who did not participate in the blog study generally exhibited a
deterioration in attitude towards physics as seen previously. However, students
who read, commented, and were involved with the blog maintained their initially
positive attitudes towards physics. Student response to the blog was
overwhelmingly positive, with students claiming that the blog made the things
we studied in the classroom come alive for them and seem much more relevant.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure
Long-time behavior of MHD shell models
The long time behavior of velocity-magnetic field alignment is numerically
investigated in the framework of MHD shell model. In the stationary forced
case, the correlation parameter C displays a nontrivial behavior with long
periods of high variability which alternates with periods of almost constant C.
The temporal statistics of correlation is shown to be non Poissonian, and the
pdf of constant sign periods displays clear power law tails. The possible
relevance of the model for geomagnetic dynamo problem is discussed.Comment: 6 pages with 5 figures. In press on Europhysics Letter
Amplitude analysis of four-body decays using a massively-parallel fitting framework
The GooFit Framework is designed to perform maximum-likelihood fits for
arbitrary functions on various parallel back ends, for example a GPU. We
present an extension to GooFit which adds the functionality to perform
time-dependent amplitude analyses of pseudoscalar mesons decaying into four
pseudoscalar final states. Benchmarks of this functionality show a significant
performance increase when utilizing a GPU compared to a CPU. Furthermore, this
extension is employed to study the sensitivity on the mixing
parameters and in a time-dependent amplitude analysis of the decay . Studying a sample of 50 000 events and setting
the central values to the world average of and , the statistical sensitivities of and are determined
to be and .Comment: Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Computing in High
Energy and Nuclear Physics, CHEP 201
Negative Refraction and Left-handed electromagnetism in Microwave Photonic Crystals
We demonstrate negative refraction of microwaves in metallic photonic
crystals. The spectral response of the photonic crystal, which manifests both
positive and negative refraction, is in complete agreement with band-structure
calculations and numerical simulations. The negative refraction observed
corresponds to left-handed electromagnetism and arises due to the dispersion
characteristics of waves in a periodic medium. This mechanism for negative
refraction is different from that in metamaterials.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure
Structures in the RM sky
Coherent structures in the distribution of the Faraday rotation measure of
extragalactic radio sources are isolated using wavelet transformation
technique. Signatures of the magnetic fields in the local (Orion) spiral arm,
the Sagittarius and Carina arms, the synchrotron Loop I and, possibly, the
Perseus arm have been revealed using the RM catalogues of Simard-Normandin et
al. (1981, 551 source)and Broten et al. (1988, 663 sources). Unlike earlier
analyses of the RM sky, our approach has allowed us to assess the stability of
the results with respect to modifications of the data sample.
We estimate the mean magnetic field strength in the Orion arm as 1.4\pm0.3
mkGauss and find clear indication of a magnetic field reversal at a distance of
0.6-1 kpc towards the Galactic centre. Our analysis has revealed for the first
time the extension of the reversal in the Carina arm. The direction of magnetic
field in the Perseus arm is reversed with respect to that in the Orion arm. The
average pitch angle of magnetic field in the nearby spiral arms is 15^\circ,
and the mean field strength in the Sagittarius-Carina and Perseus arms is
1.7\pm0.3 mkGauss and 1.4\pm1.2 mkGauss, respectively. The line-of-sight
magnetic field in Loop I is estimated as 0.9\pm0.3 mkGauss. We find firm
evidence of a dominant even symmetry of the local mean field with respect to
the galactic equator.Comment: 16 pages (LaTEX), 11 figures (eps), accepted for publication in MNRAS
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Static and dynamic properties of frictional phenomena in a one-dimensional system with randomness
Static and dynamic frictional phenomena at the interface with random
impurities are investigated in a two-chain model with incommensurate structure.
Static frictional force is caused by the impurity pinning and/or by the pinning
due to the regular potential, which is responsible for the breaking of
analyticity transition for impurity-free cases. It is confirmed that the static
frictional force is always finite in the presence of impurities, in contrast to
the impurity-free system. The nature of impurity pinning is discussed in
connection with that in density waves. The kinetic frictional force of a steady
sliding state is also investigated numerically. The relationship between the
sliding velocity dependence of the kinetic frictional force and the strength of
impurity potential is discussed.Comment: RevTex, 14 pages, 6 PostScript figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
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