8,482 research outputs found
On the lower semicontinuous envelope of functionals defined on polyhedral chains
In this note we prove an explicit formula for the lower semicontinuous
envelope of some functionals defined on real polyhedral chains. More precisely,
denoting by an even,
subadditive, and lower semicontinuous function with , and by
the functional induced by on polyhedral -chains, namely \Phi_{H}(P)
:= \sum_{i=1}^{N} H(\theta_{i}) \mathcal{H}^{m}(\sigma_{i}), \quad\mbox{for
every }P=\sum_{i=1}^{N} \theta_{i} [[ \sigma_{i} ]]
\in\mathbf{P}_m(\mathbb{R}^n), we prove that the lower semicontinuous
envelope of coincides on rectifiable -currents with the -mass
\mathbb{M}_{H}(R) := \int_E H(\theta(x)) \, d\mathcal{H}^m(x) \quad \mbox{ for
every } R= [[ E,\tau,\theta ]] \in \mathbf{R}_{m}(\mathbb{R}^{n}). Comment: 14 page
Migration flows, structural change, and growth convergence: A panel data analysis of Italian regions
The aim of this paper is to measure the impact of migration flows on growth via their effect on structural change. To this extent we build an empirical growth model in which migration flows and intersectoral wage differentials can affect the speed of labour readjustment between sectors and, ultimately, total factor productivity and growth. By employing Italian regional data stemming over more than four decades we measure the effects of interregional migration on regional growth and convergence. The results confirm that migration in general, and in particular the content of human capital of moving workers, is a relevant factor in determining the speed of technological change and growth.Migration; Structural change; Growth and convergence.
Low-damping epsilon-near-zero slabs: nonlinear and nonlocal optical properties
We investigate second harmonic generation, low-threshold multistability,
all-optical switching, and inherently nonlocal effects due to the free-electron
gas pressure in an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterial slab made of
cylindrical, plasmonic nanoshells illuminated by TM-polarized light. Damping
compensation in the ENZ frequency region, achieved by using gain medium inside
the shells' dielectric cores, enhances the nonlinear properties. Reflection is
inhibited and the electric field component normal to the slab interface is
enhanced near the effective pseudo-Brewster angle, where the effective
\epsilon-near-zero condition triggers a non-resonant, impedance-matching
phenomenon. We show that the slab displays a strong effective, spatial
nonlocality associated with leaky modes that are mediated by the compensation
of damping. The presence of these leaky modes then induces further spectral and
angular conditions where the local fields are enhanced, thus opening new
windows of opportunity for the enhancement of nonlinear optical processes
Gain assisted harmonic generation in near-zero permittivity metamaterials made of plasmonic nanoshells
We investigate enhanced harmonic generation processes in gain-assisted,
near-zero permittivity metamaterials composed of spherical plasmonic
nanoshells. We report the presence of narrow-band features in transmission,
reflection and absorption induced by the presence of an active material inside
the core of the nanoshells. The damping-compensation mechanism used to achieve
the near-zero effective permittivity condition also induces a significant
increase in field localization and strength and, consequently, enhancement of
linear absorption. When only metal nonlinearities are considered, second and
third harmonic generation efficiencies obtained by probing the structure in the
vicinity of the near-zero permittivity condition approach values as high as for
irradiance value as low as . These results clearly demonstrate that a
relatively straightforward path now exists to the development of exotic and
extreme nonlinear optical phenomena in the KW/cm2 rang
Slant immersions in -manifolds
Odd-dimensional non anti-invariant slant submanifolds of an α- Kenmotsu manifold are studied. We relate slant immersions into a Kähler manifold with suitable slant submanifolds of an α-Kenmotsu manifold. More generally, in the framework of Chinea-Gonzalez, we specify the type of the almost contact metric structure induced on a slant submanifold, then stating a local classification theorem. The case of austere immersions is discussed. This helps in proving a reduction theorem of the codimension. Finally, slant submanifolds which are generalized Sasakian space-forms are described
Making the Communication of CCS more "human"
CCS communication has proven a tough challenge, particularly for the difficulty in raising interest for the technology, which is still unknown to the majority of the population, and for the complexity of conveying information about its potential for reducing emissions. In this paper we present a research based effort for bringing CCS nearer to people, through visual material developed taking into account emotional needs related to the technology. The production of a short introductory film on CCS is illustrated and its testing with a sample of 700 high school students
Future of oil and gas development in the western Amazon
The western Amazon is one of the world's last high-biodiversity wilderness areas, characterized by extraordinary species richness and large tracts of roadless humid tropical forest. It is also home to an active hydrocarbon (oil and gas) sector, characterized by operations in extremely remote areas that require new access routes. Here, we present the first integrated analysis of the hydrocarbon sector and its associated road-building in the western Amazon. Specifically, we document the (a) current panorama, including location and development status of all oil and gas discoveries, of the sector, and (b) current and future scenario of access (i.e. access road versus roadless access) to discoveries. We present an updated 2014 western Amazon hydrocarbon map illustrating that oil and gas blocks now cover 733 414 km(2), an area much larger than the US state of Texas, and have been expanding since the last assessment in 2008. In terms of access, we documented 11 examples of the access road model and six examples of roadless access across the region. Finally, we documented 35 confirmed and/or suspected untapped hydrocarbon discoveries across the western Amazon. In the Discussion, we argue that if these reserves must be developed, use of the offshore inland model-a method that strategically avoids the construction of access roads-is crucial to minimizing ecological impacts in one of the most globally important conservation regions
Viscoelastic optical nonlocality of low-loss epsilon-near-zero nanofilms
Optical nonlocalities are elusive and hardly observable in traditional
plasmonic materials like noble and alkali metals. Here we report experimental
observation of viscoelastic nonlocalities in the infrared optical response of
doped cadmium-oxide, epsilon-near-zero nanofilms. The nonlocality is detectable
thanks to the low damping rate of conduction electrons and the virtual absence
of interband transitions at infrared wavelengths. We describe the motion of
conduction electrons using a hydrodynamic model for a viscoelastic fluid, and
find excellent agreement with experimental results. The electrons elasticity
blue-shifts the infrared plasmonic resonance associated with the main
epsilon-near-zero mode, and triggers the onset of higher-order resonances due
to the excitation of electron-pressure modes above the bulk plasma frequency.
We also provide evidence of the existence of nonlocal damping, i.e., viscosity,
in the motion of optically-excited conduction electrons using a combination of
spectroscopic ellipsometry data and predictions based on the viscoelastic
hydrodynamic model.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure
Fano collective resonance as complex mode in a two dimensional planar metasurface of plasmonic nanoparticles
Fano resonances are features in transmissivity/reflectivity/absorption that
owe their origin to the interaction between a bright resonance and a dark
(i.e., sub-radiant) narrower resonance, and may emerge in the optical
properties of planar two-dimensional (2D) periodic arrays (metasurfaces) of
plasmonic nanoparticles. In this Letter, we provide a thorough assessment of
their nature for the general case of normal and oblique plane wave incidence,
highlighting when a Fano resonance is affected by the mutual coupling in an
array and its capability to support free modal solutions. We analyze the
representative case of a metasurface of plasmonic nanoshells at ultraviolet
frequencies and compute its absorption under TE- and TM-polarized, oblique
plane-wave incidence. In particular, we find that plasmonic metasurfaces
display two distinct types of resonances observable as absorption peaks: one is
related to the Mie, dipolar resonance of each nanoparticle; the other is due to
the forced excitation of free modes with small attenuation constant, usually
found at oblique incidence. The latter is thus an array-induced collective Fano
resonance. This realization opens up to manifold flexible designs at optical
frequencies mixing individual and collective resonances. We explain the
physical origin of such Fano resonances using the modal analysis, which allows
to calculate the free modes with complex wavenumber supported by the
metasurface. We define equivalent array dipolar polarizabilities that are
directly related to the absorption physics at oblique incidence and show a
direct dependence between array modal phase and attenuation constant and Fano
resonances. We thus provide a more complete picture of Fano resonances that may
lead to the design of filters, energy-harvesting devices, photodetectors, and
sensors at ultraviolet frequencies.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
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