6,927 research outputs found
Cosmology without inflation
We propose a new cosmological paradigm in which our observed expanding phase
is originated from an initially large contracting Universe that subsequently
experienced a bounce. This category of models, being geodesically complete, is
non-singular and horizon-free, and can be made to prevent any relevant scale to
ever have been smaller than the Planck length. In this scenario, one can find
new ways to solve the standard cosmological puzzles. One can also obtain scale
invariant spectra for both scalar and tensor perturbations: this will be the
case, for instance, if the contracting Universe is dust-dominated at the time
at which large wavelength perturbations get larger than the curvature scale. We
present a particular example based on a dust fluid classically contracting
model, where a bounce occurs due to quantum effects, in which these features
are explicit.Comment: 8 pages, no figur
GRB 081029: Understanding Multiple Afterglow Components
We present an analysis of the unusual optical light curve of the gamma-ray
burst GRB~081029, which occurred at a redshift of z = 3.8479$. We combine X-ray
and optical observations from the Swift X-Ray Telescope and the Swift
UltraViolet/Optical Telescope with optical and infrared data obtained using the
REM and ROTSE telescopes to construct a detailed data set extending from 86 s
to approximately 100,000 s after the BAT trigger. Our data also cover a wide
energy range, from 10 keV to 0.77 eV (1.24 Angstrom to 16,000 Angstrom). The
X-ray afterglow shows a shallow initial decay followed by a rapid decay
starting at about 18,000s. The optical and infrared afterglow, however, shows
an uncharacteristic rise at about 5000 s that does not correspond to any
feature in the X-ray light curve. Our data are not consistent with synchrotron
radiation from a single-component jet interacting with an external medium. We
do, however, find that the observed light curve can be explained using
multi-component model for the jet.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in the AIP Conference Proceedings for
the Gamma-Ray Burst 2010 Conference, Annapolis, MD, USA, November 201
Condensation in ideal Fermi gases
I investigate the possibility of condensation in ideal Fermi systems of
general single particle density of states. For this I calculate the probability
of having exactly particles in the condensate and analyze its
maxima. The existence of such maxima at macroscopic values of indicates a
condensate. An interesting situation occurs for example in 1D systems, where
may have two maxima. One is at and another one may exist at
finite (for temperatures bellow a certain condensation temperature). This
suggests the existence of a first order phase transition. % The calculation of
allows for the exploration of ensemble equivalence of Fermi systems
from a new perspective.Comment: 8 pages with 1 figure. Will appear in J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. Changes
(minor): I updated Ref. [9] and its citation in the text. I introduced
citation for figure 1 in the tex
Troubles with quantum anistropic cosmological models: Loss of unitarity
The anisotropic Bianchi I cosmological model coupled with perfect fluid is
quantized in the minisuperspace. The perfect fluid is described by using the
Schutz formalism which allows to attribute dynamical degrees of freedom to
matter. A Schr\"odinger-type equation is obtained where the matter variables
play the role of time. However, the signature of the kinetic term is
hyperbolic. This Schr\"odinger-like equation is solved and a wave packet is
constructed. The norm of the resulting wave function comes out to be time
dependent, indicating the loss of unitarity in this model. The loss of
unitarity is due to the fact that the effective Hamiltonian is hermitian but
not self-adjoint. The expectation value and the bohmian trajectories are
evaluated leading to different cosmological scenarios, what is a consequence of
the absence of a unitary quantum structure. The consistency of this quantum
model is discussed as well as the generality of the absence of unitarity in
anisotropic quantum models.Comment: Latex file, 18 pages. To appear in General Relativity and Gravitatio
Confinement in the Deconfined Phase: A numerical study with a cluster algorithm
We have previously found analytically a very unusual and unexpected form of
confinement in SU(3) Yang-Mills theory. This confinement occurs in the
deconfined phase of the theory. The free energy of a single static test quark
diverges, even though it is contained in deconfined bulk phase and there is no
QCD string present. This phenomenon occurs in cylindrical volumes with a
certain choice of spatial boundary conditions. We examine numerically an
effective model for the Yang-Mills theory and, using a cluster algorithm, we
observe this unusual confinement. We also find a new way to determine the
interface tension of domain walls separating distinct bulk phases.Comment: LaTex, 14 pages, 4 figure
Investigation of Weibull Statistics in Fracture Analysis of Cast Aluminum
The fracture strengths of two large batches of A357-T6 cast aluminum coupon specimens were compared by using two-parameter Weibull analysis. The minimum number of these specimens necessary to find the fracture strength of the material was determined. Introduction The ability to design static structures and rotating machine components that can survive anticipated loads and stresses in both normal and overload applications is an important safety and economic requirement. Common design practice for many industrial applications tends toward placing large safety factors in the design of structures and machinery. Although this practice results in satisfactory operation, usually the machine element is larger, weighs more, and utilizes materials less efficiently. An alternative is to design structural elements to operate at loads closer to their failure strength and then proof test the end product to ensure the safety of those items that will reach the consumer. However, this method can also be costly, perhaps more so than designing with a conservative safety factor. In aerospace applications, designing in a conservative mode with large safety factors is precluded because the resultant structure would be either too heavy or too bulky to fly. Hence, designing closer to the failure limit is almost mandatory in aerospace applications. The issue becomes one of how to determine the failure limit of a structure or machine element. A further issue confronting the engineer is the determination of the stress in a structure below which no fatigue, creep, or fracture failures will occur. For pressure vessels elaborate sets of standards have been developed that ensure with reasonable engineering certainty that for known materials no failure will occur over the usable design life (ASME, 1987). However, for new or untested materials for which no field experience exists, how should this determination be made? What kind of tests should be conducted? How many specimens should be run? How can results from coupon specimens be extrapolated to full-size structures? How can the probability of survival of a structure subjected to known loads be determined with reasonable engineering certainty? Many investigators over the years have approached these questions in the areas of fracture and fatigu
Quantum Cosmology in Scalar-Tensor Theories With Non Minimal Coupling
Quantization in the minisuperspace of non minimal scalar-tensor theories
leads to a partial differential equation which is non separable. Through a
conformal transformation we can recast the Wheeler-DeWitt equation in an
integrable form, which corresponds to the minimal coupling case, whose general
solution is known. Performing the inverse conformal transformation in the
solution so found, we can construct the corresponding one in the original
frame. This procedure can also be employed with the bohmian trajectories. In
this way, we can study the classical limit of some solutions of this quantum
model. While the classical limit of these solutions occurs for small scale
factors in the Einstein's frame, it happens for small values of the scalar
field non minimally coupled to gravity in the Jordan's frame, which includes
large scale factors.Comment: latex, 18 page
Transferring orbital and spin angular momenta of light to atoms
Light beams carrying orbital angular momentum, such as Laguerre-Gaussian
beams, give rise to the violation of the standard dipolar selection rules
during the interaction with matter yielding, in general, an exchange of angular
momentum larger than hbar per absorbed photon. By means of ab initio 3D
numerical simulations, we investigate in detail the interaction of a hydrogen
atom with intense Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian light pulses. We analyze the
dependence of the angular momentum exchange with the polarization, the orbital
angular momentum, and the carrier-envelope phase of light, as well as with the
relative position between the atom and the light vortex. In addition, a
quantum-trajectory approach based on the de Broglie-Bohm formulation of quantum
mechanics is used to gain physical insight into the absorption of angular
momentum by the hydrogen atom
The Value of Literacy Practices
The concepts of literacy events and practices have received considerable attention in educational research and policy. In comparison, the question of value, that is, ‘which literacy practices do people most value?’ has been neglected. With the current trend of cross-cultural adult literacy assessment, it is increasingly important to recognise locally valued literacy practices. In this paper we argue that measuring preferences and weighting of literacy practices provides an empirical and democratic basis for decisions in literacy assessment and curriculum development and could inform rapid educational adaptation to changes in the literacy environment. The paper examines the methodological basis for investigating literacy values and its potential to inform cross-cultural literacy assessments. The argument is illustrated with primary data from Mozambique. The correlation between individual values and respondents’ socio-economic and demographic characteristics is explored
Signatures of resonance superfluidity in a quantum Fermi gas
In this letter, we predict a direct and observable signature of the
superfluid phase in a quantum Fermi gas, in a temperature regime already
accessible in current experiments. We apply the theory of resonance
superfluidity to a gas confined in a harmonic potential and demonstrate that a
significant increase in density will be observed in the vicinity of the trap
center.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
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