19,055 research outputs found
On black hole singularities in quantum gravity
We show that absence of space-like boundaries in 1+1 dimensional dilaton
gravity implies a catastrophic event at the end point of black hole
evaporation. The proof is completely independent of the physics at Planck
scales, which suggests that the same will occur in any theory of quantum
gravity which only admits trivial space-time topologies.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures (included), UTTG-32-9
Cortical free association dynamics: distinct phases of a latching network
A Potts associative memory network has been proposed as a simplified model of
macroscopic cortical dynamics, in which each Potts unit stands for a patch of
cortex, which can be activated in one of S local attractor states. The internal
neuronal dynamics of the patch is not described by the model, rather it is
subsumed into an effective description in terms of graded Potts units, with
adaptation effects both specific to each attractor state and generic to the
patch. If each unit, or patch, receives effective (tensor) connections from C
other units, the network has been shown to be able to store a large number p of
global patterns, or network attractors, each with a fraction a of the units
active, where the critical load p_c scales roughly like p_c ~ (C S^2)/(a
ln(1/a)) (if the patterns are randomly correlated). Interestingly, after
retrieving an externally cued attractor, the network can continue jumping, or
latching, from attractor to attractor, driven by adaptation effects. The
occurrence and duration of latching dynamics is found through simulations to
depend critically on the strength of local attractor states, expressed in the
Potts model by a parameter w. Here we describe with simulations and then
analytically the boundaries between distinct phases of no latching, of
transient and sustained latching, deriving a phase diagram in the plane w-T,
where T parametrizes thermal noise effects. Implications for real cortical
dynamics are briefly reviewed in the conclusions
Strong Magnetic Limit of String Theory
We show that there exists a certain limit in type I and type II superstring
theory in the presence of a suitable configuration of magnetic U(1) fields
where all string excitations get an infinite mass, except for the neutral
massless sector and for the boson and fermion string states lying on the
leading Regge trajectory. For a supersymmetric configuration of magnetic fields
in internal directions, the resulting theory after the limit is a 3+1 Lorentz
invariant supersymmetric theory. Supersymmetry can be broken by introducing
extra components of the magnetic field or else by finite temperature. In both
cases we compute the one-loop partition function for the type I string model
after taking the limit, which turns out to be different from the Yang-Mills
result that arises by a direct limit. In the case of finite
temperature, no Hagedorn transition appears, in consistency with the reduction
of the string spectrum. In type II superstring theory, the analogous limit is
constructed by starting with a configuration of Melvin twists in two or more
complex planes. The resulting theory contains gravitation plus an infinite
number of states of the leading Regge trajectory.Comment: 10 pages. Minor correction
Computer program for analysis of split-Stirling-cycle cryogenic coolers
A computer program for predicting the detailed thermodynamic performance of split-Stirling-cycle refrigerators has been developed. The mathematical model includes the refrigerator cold head, free-displacer/regenerator, gas transfer line, and provision for modeling a mechanical or thermal compressor. To allow for dynamic processes (such as aerodynamic friction and heat transfer) temperature, pressure, and mass flow rate are varied by sub-dividing the refrigerator into an appropriate number of fluid and structural control volumes. Of special importance to modeling of cryogenic coolers is the inclusion of real gas properties, and allowance for variation of thermo-physical properties such as thermal conductivities, specific heats and viscosities, with temperature and/or pressure. The resulting model, therefore, comprehensively simulates the split-cycle cooler both spatially and temporally by reflecting the effects of dynamic processes and real material properties
Blockchain electricity trading using tokenised power delivery contracts. ESRI Working Paper No. 649 December 2019
This paper proposes a new mechanism for forward selling renewable electricity generation. In this transactive
framework, a wind or solar farm may directly sell to consumers a claim on their future power output in the form of nonfungible
blockchain tokens. Using the flexibility of smart contract code, which executes irrevocably on a blockchain, the realised
generation levels will offset the token holdersâ electricity consumption in near real-time. To elucidate the flexibility offered by
such smart contracts, two ways of structuring these power delivery instruments are considered: firstly, an exotic tranched
system, where more senior tokens holders enjoy priority claims on power, as compared against a simpler pro-rata scheme,
where the realised output of a generator is equally apportioned between token holders. A notional market simulation is
provided to explore whether, for instance, consumers could exploit the flatter power delivery profiles of more senior tranches to
better schedule their responsive demands
Cosmological string models from Milne spaces and SL(2,Z) orbifold
The -dimensional Milne Universe with extra free directions is used to
construct simple FRW cosmological string models in four dimensions, describing
expansion in the presence of matter with , . We then
consider the n=2 case and make SL(2,Z) orbifold identifications. The model is
surprisingly related to the null orbifold with an extra reflection generator.
The study of the string spectrum involves the theory of harmonic functions in
the fundamental domain of SL(2,Z). In particular, from this theory one can
deduce a bound for the energy gap and the fact that there are an infinite
number of excitations with a finite degeneracy. We discuss the structure of
wave functions and give examples of physical winding states becoming light near
the singularity.Comment: 14 pages, harvma
Direct observation of a gate tunable band-gap in electrical transport in ABC-trilayer graphene
Few layer graphene systems such as Bernal stacked bilayer and rhombohedral
(ABC-) stacked trilayer offer the unique possibility to open an electric field
tunable energy gap. To date, this energy gap has been experimentally confirmed
in optical spectroscopy. Here we report the first direct observation of the
electric field tunable energy gap in electronic transport experiments on doubly
gated suspended ABC-trilayer graphene. From a systematic study of the
non-linearities in current \textit{versus} voltage characteristics and the
temperature dependence of the conductivity we demonstrate that thermally
activated transport over the energy-gap dominates the electrical response of
these transistors. The estimated values for energy gap from the temperature
dependence and from the current voltage characteristics follow the
theoretically expected electric field dependence with critical exponent .
These experiments indicate that high quality few-layer graphene are suitable
candidates for exploring novel tunable THz light sources and detectors.Comment: Nano Letters, 2015 just accepted, DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b0077
Model of black hole evolution
From the postulate that a black hole can be replaced by a boundary on the
apparent horizon with suitable boundary conditions, an unconventional scenario
for the evolution emerges. Only an insignificant fraction of energy of order
is radiated out. The outgoing wave carries a very small part of the
quantum mechanical information of the collapsed body, the bulk of the
information remaining in the final stable black hole geometry.Comment: 9 pages, harvmac, 3 figures, minor addition
Model of black hole evolution
From the postulate that a black hole can be replaced by a boundary on the
apparent horizon with suitable boundary conditions, an unconventional scenario
for the evolution emerges. Only an insignificant fraction of energy of order
is radiated out. The outgoing wave carries a very small part of the
quantum mechanical information of the collapsed body, the bulk of the
information remaining in the final stable black hole geometry.Comment: 9 pages, harvmac, 3 figures, minor addition
Buckling of built-up columns of pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer C-sections
This paper presents the test results of an experimental investigation to evaluate the buckling behavior of built-up columns of pultruded profiles, subjected to axial compression. Specimens are assembled by using four (off the shelf) channel shaped profiles of E-glass fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), having similar detailing to strut members in a large FRP structure that was executed in 2009 to start the restoration of the Santa Maria Paganica church in LâAquila, Italy. This church had partially collapsed walls and no roof after the April 6, 2009, earthquake of 6.3 magnitude. A total of six columns are characterized with two different configurations for the bolted connections joining the channel sections into a built-up strut. Test results are discussed and a comparison is made with closed-form equation predictions for flexural buckling resistance, with buckling resistance values established from both eigenvalue and geometric nonlinear finite element analyses. Results show that there is a significant role played by the end loading condition, the composite action, and imperfections. Simple closed-form equations overestimate the flexural buckling strength, whereas the resistance provided by the nonlinear analysis provides a reasonably reliable numerical approach to establishing the actual buckling behavior
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