21,252 research outputs found
Properties of optically selected BL Lac candidates from the SDSS
\textbf{Context.} Deep optical surveys open the avenue for find large numbers
of BL Lac objects that are hard to identify because they lack the unique
properties classifying them as such. While radio or X-ray surveys typically
reveal dozens of sources, recent compilations based on optical criteria alone
have increased the number of BL Lac candidates considerably. However, these
compilations are subject to biases and may contain a substantial number of
contaminating sources. \textbf{Aims.} In this paper we extend our analysis of
182 optically selected BL Lac object candidates from the SDSS with respect to
an earlier study. The main goal is to determine the number of bona fide BL Lac
objects in this sample. \textbf{Methods.} We examine their variability
characteristics, determine their broad-band radio-UV SEDs, and search for the
presence of a host galaxy. In addition we present new optical spectra for 27
targets with improved S/N with respect to the SDSS spectra. \textbf{Results.}
At least 59% of our targets have shown variability between SDSS DR2 and our
observations by more than 0.1-0.27 mag de- pending on the telescope used. A
host galaxy was detected in 36% of our targets. The host galaxy type and
luminosities are consistent with earlier studies of BL Lac host galaxies.
Simple fits to broad-band SEDS for 104 targets of our sample derived
synchrotron peak frequencies between with a peak at
. Our new optical spectra do not reveal any new
redshift for any of our objects. Thus the sample contains a large number of
bona fide BL Lac objects and seems to contain a substantial fraction of
intermediate-frequency peaked BL Lacs.Comment: Accepted for publication in A\&
Combustion of coal gas fuels in a staged combustor
Gaseous fuels produced from coal resources generally have heating values much lower than natural gas; the low heating value could result in unstable or inefficient combustion. Coal gas fuels may contain ammonia which if oxidized in an uncontrolled manner could result in unacceptable nitrogen oxide exhaust emission levels. Previous investigations indicate that staged, rich-lean combustion represents a desirable approach to achieve stable, efficient, low nitrogen oxide emission operation for coal-derived liquid fuels contaning up to 0.8-wt pct nitrogen. An experimental program was conducted to determine whether this fuel tolerance can be extended to include coal-derived gaseous fuels. The results of tests with three nitrogen-free fuels having heating values of 100, 250, and 350 Btu/scf and a 250 Btu/scf heating value doped to contain 0.7 pct ammonia are presented
The analysis of Polyakov loop and spin correlators in finite volumes
We derive an analytic expression for point to point correlation functions of
the Polyakov loop based on the transfer matrix formalism. The contributions
from the eigenvalues of the transfer matrix including and beyond the mass gap
are investigated both for the Ising model and in finite temperature
gauge theory. We find that the leading matrix element shows similar
scaling properties in both models. Just above the critical point we obtain for
a Debye screening mass , independent of the volume.
Sorry, figures are not included and can be sent by ordinary mail.Comment: TALK GIVEN AT THE LATTICE '93 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM LATTICE FIELD
THEORY, DALLAS, USA, OCTOBER 12--16, 1993 3 pages preprint HU
BERLIN--IEP--93/5 and BIELEFELD BI-TP--93/63, November 199
Electrical methods of determining soil moisture content
The electrical permittivity of soils is a useful indicator of soil moisture content. Two methods of determining the permittivity profile in soils are examined. A method due to Becher is found to be inapplicable to this situation. A method of Slichter, however, appears to be feasible. The results of Slichter's method are extended to the proposal of an instrument design that could measure available soil moisture profile (percent available soil moisture as a function of depth) from a surface measurement to an expected resolution of 10 to 20 cm
Uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy in
is a paramagnetic metal and since its low temperature
resistivity is described by with , it
is also considered a non-Fermi liquid (NFL) metal. We have performed extensive
magnetoresistance and Hall effect measurements of untwinned epitaxial films of
. These measurements reveal that exhibits
uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy. In addition, the low-temperature NFL
behavior is most effectively suppressed when a magnetic field is applied along
the easy axis, suggesting that critical spin fluctuations, possibly due to
proximity of a quantum critical phase transition, are related to the NFL
behavior.Comment: 7 figure
Density matrix reconstruction from displaced photon number distributions
We consider state reconstruction from the measurement statistics of phase
space observables generated by photon number states. The results are obtained
by inverting certain infinite matrices. In particular, we obtain reconstruction
formulas, each of which involves only a single phase space observable.Comment: 19 page
State education as high-yield investment: human capital theory in European policy discourse
Human Capital Theory has been an increasingly important phenomenon in economic thought over the last 50 years. The central role it affords to education has become even more marked in recent years as the concept of the ‘knowledge economy’ has become a global concern. In this paper, the prevalence of Human Capital Theory within European educational policy discourse is explored. The paper examines a selection of policy documents from a number of disparate European national contexts and considers the extent to which the ideas of Human Capital Theory can be seen to be influential. In the second part of the paper, the implications of Human Capital Theory for education are considered, with a particular focus on the possible ramifications at a time of economic austerity. The paper argues that Human Capital Theory risks offering a diminished view of the person, a diminished view of education, but that with its sole focus on economic goals leaves room for educationists and others to argue for the educational, social, and moral values it ignores, and for the conception of the good life and good society it fails to mention
Chemical NOx budget in the upper troposphere over the tropical South Pacific
The chemical NOx budget in the upper troposphere over the tropical South Pacific is analyzed using aircraft measurements made at 6-12 km altitude in September 1996 during the Global Tropospheric Experiment (GTE) Pacific Exploratory Mission (PEM) Tropics A campaign. Chemical loss and production rates of NOx along the aircraft flight tracks are calculated with a photochemical model constrained by observations. Calculations using a standard chemical mechanism show a large missing source for NOx; chemical loss exceeds chemical production by a factor of 2.4 on average. Similar or greater NOx budget imbalances have been reported in analyses of data from previous field studies. Ammonium aerosol concentrations in PEM-Tropics A generally exceeded sulfate on a charge equivalent basis, and relative humidities were low (median 25% relative to ice). This implies that the aerosol could be dry in which case N2O5 hydrolysis would be suppressed as a sink for NOx. Suppression of N2O5 hydrolysis and adoption of new measurements of the reaction rate constants for NO2 + OH + M and HNO3 + OH reduces the median chemical imbalance in the NOx budget for PEM-Tropics A from 2.4 to 1.9. The remaining imbalance cannot be easily explained from known chemistry or long-range transport of primary NOx and may imply a major gap in our understanding of the chemical cycling of NOx in the free troposphere. Copyright 2000 by the American Geophysical Union
- …