7,976 research outputs found
Transition state method and Wannier functions
We propose a computational scheme for materials where standard Local Density
Approximation (LDA) fails to produce a satisfactory description of excitation
energies. The method uses Slater's "transition state" approximation and Wannier
functions basis set. We define a correction to LDA functional in such a way
that its variation produces one-electron energies for Wannier functions equal
to the energies obtained in "transition state" constrained LDA calculations. In
the result eigenvalues of the proposed functional could be interpreted as
excitation energies of the system under consideration. The method was applied
to MgO, Si, NiO and BaBiO and gave an improved agreement with experimental
data of energy gap values comparing with LDA.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl
Study of an instrument for sensing errors in a telescope wavefront
Focal plane sensors for determining the error in a telescope wavefront were investigated. The construction of three candidate test instruments and their evaluation in terms of small wavefront error aberration measurements are described. A laboratory wavefront simulator was designed and fabricated to evaluate the test instruments. The laboratory wavefront error simulator was used to evaluate three tests; a Hartmann test, a polarization shearing interferometer test, and an interferometric Zernike test
Fertilizer Use in Southern Missouri
Document presented at the White River conference in Springfield, MO.Total fertilizer use in Missouri has trended upward from 1990 through 2000. Total tonnage used throughout the state in 1990 was 1,577,553 tons which was made up of 378,837 tons of Nitrogen, 158,972 tons of available
phosphate, and 227,828 tons of soluble potash. 1996 showed an increase in
tonnage to 1,611,227 total tons, but a combination of increase and decrease in
components, 410,151 tons of Nitrogen, 156,058 tons of available phosphate, and
230,488 tons of soluble potash. The upward trend continued through 2000 with
total tonnage 1,945,575 tons comprised of actual plant food: 474,334 tons
nitrogen, 190,148 tons of available phosphate and 264,881 tons of soluble
potash
Solving the two-center nuclear shell-model problem with arbitrarily-orientated deformed potentials
A general new technique to solve the two-center problem with
arbitrarily-orientated deformed realistic potentials is demonstrated, which is
based on the powerful potential separable expansion method. As an example,
molecular single-particle spectra for C + C Mg are
calculated using deformed Woods-Saxon potentials. These clearly show that
non-axial symmetric configurations play a crucial role in molecular resonances
observed in reaction processes for this system at low energy
The design, construction and testing of the optics for a 147-cm-aperture telescope
Geodetic optics research for the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL) is described. The work consisted mainly of the fabrication of the optical components for a telescope with a 152-cm-diam (60-in.) primary mirror masked down to 147-cm-diam for use by the AFCRL for a lunar ranging experiment. Among the achievements of this contract were the following: completion of the primary and secondary mirrors for a high-quality 147-cm-diam telescope system in eight months from the start of edging the primary; manufacture and testing of a unique center mount for the primary according to an AFCRL design that allowed for a thin-edged and therefore less-massive mirror; and development of a quantitative analysis of the wire test for calculating the departure of the mirror figure from the design figure quickly and accurately after each polishing step. This analysis method in conjunction with a knowledge of polishing rates for given weights and diameters of tools, mirror, and polishing materials should considerably reduce the polishing time required for future large mirrors
Dynamics of methane ebullition from a peat monolith revealed from a dynamic flux chamber system
Methane (CH4) ebullition in northern peatlands is poorly quantified in part due to its high spatiotemporal variability. In this study, a dynamic flux chamber (DFC) system was used to continuously measure CH4 fluxes from a monolith of nearâsurface Sphagnum peat at the laboratory scale to understand the complex behavior of CH4 ebullition. Coincident transmission ground penetrating radar measurements of gas content were also acquired at three depths within the monolith. A graphical method was developed to separate diffusion, steady ebullition, and episodic ebullition fluxes from the total CH4 flux recorded and to identify the timing and CH4 content of individual ebullition events. The results show that the application of the DFC had minimal disturbance on airâpeat CH4 exchange and estimated ebullition fluxes were not sensitive to the uncertainties associated with the graphical model. Steady and episodic ebullition fluxes were estimated to be averagely 36 ± 24% and 38 ± 24% of the total fluxes over the study period, respectively. The coupling between episodic CH4 ebullition and gas content within the three layers supports the existence of a threshold gas content regulating CH4 ebullition. However, the threshold at which active ebullition commenced varied between peat layers with a larger threshold (0.14 m3 mâ3) observed in the deeper layers, suggesting that the peat physical structure controls gas bubble dynamics in peat. Temperature variation (23°C to 27°C) was likely only responsible for small episodic ebullition events from the upper peat layer, while large ebullition events from the deeper layers were most likely triggered by drops in atmospheric pressure
Inducing Illusory Ownership of a Virtual Body
We discuss three experiments that investigate how virtual limbs and bodies can come to feel like real limbs and bodies. The first experiment shows that an illusion of ownership of a virtual arm appearing to project out of a person's shoulder can be produced by tactile stimulation on a person's hidden real hand and synchronous stimulation on the seen virtual hand. The second shows that the illusion can be produced by synchronous movement of the person's hidden real hand and a virtual hand. The third shows that a weaker form of the illusion can be produced when a brainâcomputer interface is employed to move the virtual hand by means of motor imagery without any tactile stimulation. We discuss related studies that indicate that the ownership illusion may be generated for an entire body. This has important implications for the scientific understanding of body ownership and several practical applications
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