27,174 research outputs found
The electromagnetic self-force on a charged spherical body slowly undergoing a small, temporary displacement from a position of rest
The self-force of classical electrodynamics on a charged "rigid" body of
radius R is evaluated analytically for the body undergoing a slow (i.e., with a
speed v<<c), slight (i.e., small compared to R), and temporary displacement
from an initial position of rest. The results are relevant to the
Bohr-Rosenfeld analysis of the measurability of the electromagnetic field,
which has been the subject of a recent controversy.Comment: REVTeX, 15 pages, 3 figures, accepted by J. Phys.
Measuring gravitational lens time delays using low-resolution radio monitoring observations
Obtaining lensing time delay measurements requires long-term monitoring
campaigns with a high enough resolution (< 1 arcsec) to separate the multiple
images. In the radio, a limited number of high-resolution interferometer arrays
make these observations difficult to schedule. To overcome this problem, we
propose a technique for measuring gravitational time delays which relies on
monitoring the total flux density with low-resolution but high-sensitivity
radio telescopes to follow the variation of the brighter image. This is then
used to trigger high-resolution observations in optimal numbers which then
reveal the variation in the fainter image. We present simulations to assess the
efficiency of this method together with a pilot project observing radio lens
systems with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) to trigger Very
Large Array (VLA) observations. This new method is promising for measuring time
delays because it uses relatively small amounts of time on high-resolution
telescopes. This will be important because instruments that have high
sensitivity but limited resolution, together with an optimum usage of followup
high-resolution observations from appropriate radio telescopes may in the
future be useful for gravitational lensing time delay measurements by means of
this new method.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted by MNRA
Nonlinear double Compton scattering in the full quantum regime
A detailed analysis of the process of two photon emission by an electron
scattered from a high-intensity laser pulse is presented. The calculations are
performed in the framework of strong-field QED and include exactly the presence
of the laser field, described as a plane wave. We investigate the full quantum
regime of interaction, where photon recoil plays an essential role in the
emission process, and substantially alters the emitted photon spectra as
compared to those in previously-studied regimes. We provide a semiclassical
explanation for such differences, based on the possibility of assigning a
trajectory to the electron in the laser field before and after each quantum
photon emission. Our numerical results indicate the feasibility of
investigating experimentally the full quantum regime of nonlinear double
Compton scattering with already available plasma-based electron accelerator and
laser technology.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Recruiting and retaining children and families' social workers. The potential of work discussion groups
Current difficulties with the recruitment and retention of children and families' social workers have been formally acknowledged. However, although initiatives which focus on remuneration and career progression are clearly welcome, research and evidence from practice highlights how social workers themselves place high value on the availability of good quality supervision. Yet, questions remain about whether first-line managers have the time or are even in the best position to offer this support.
This article draws on the experience and evaluation of one particular model of supervision — 'work discussion groups' —and explores its impact with residential social work staff and teachers as well as the potential for further developments of this kind
Field of homogeneous Plane in Quantum Electrodynamics
We study quantum electrodynamics coupled to the matter field on singular
background, which we call defect. For defect on the infinite plane we
calculated the fermion propagator and mean electromagnetic field. We show that
at large distances from the defect plane, the electromagnetic field is constant
what is in agreement with the classical results. The quantum corrections
determining the field near the plane are calculated in the leading order of
perturbation theory.Comment: 16 page
Charged rho meson production in neutrino-induced reactions at E_nu = 10 GeV
The neutrinoproduction of charged mesons on nuclei and nucleons is
investigated for the first time at moderate energies ( 10
GeV), using the date obtained with SKAT bubble chamber. No strong nuclear
effects are observed in and production. The fractions of
charged and neutral pions originating from decays are obtained and
compared with higher energy data. From analysis of the obtained and available
data on and (892) neutrinoproduction, the strangeness
suppression factor in the quark string fragmentation is extracted: . Estimations are obtained for cross sections of quasiexclusive
single and coherent neutrinoproduction on nuclei. The
estimated coherent cross section = (0.29 cm is compatible with theoretical predictions.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Lensing galaxies: light or dark?
In a recent paper, Hawkins (1997) argues on the basis of statistical studies
of double-image gravitational lenses and lens candidates that a large
population of dark lenses exists and that these outnumber galaxies with more
normal mass-to-light ratios by a factor of 3:1. If correct, this is a very
important result for many areas of astronomy including galaxy formation and
cosmology. In this paper we discuss our new radio-selected gravitational lens
sample, JVAS/CLASS, in order to test and constrain this proposition. We have
obtained ground-based and HST images of all multiple-image lens systems in our
sample and in 12 cases out of 12 we find the lensing galaxies in the optical
and/or near infrared. Our success in finding lensing galaxies creates problems
for the dark lens hypothesis. If it is to survive, ad hoc modifications seem to
be necessary: only very massive galaxies (more than about one trillion solar
masses) can be dark, and the cutoff in mass must be sharp. Our finding of lens
galaxies in all the JVAS/CLASS systems is complementary evidence which supports
the conclusion of Kochanek et al. (1997) that many of the wide-separation
optically-selected pairs are physically distinct quasars rather than
gravitational lens systems.Comment: 4 pages, 2 included figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysics. Paper version available on request. This replacement amends
the text to allow more discussion of the overlap with astro-ph/971016
Surface potential at a ferroelectric grain due to asymmetric screening of depolarization fields
Nonlinear screening of electric depolarization fields, generated by a stripe
domain structure in a ferroelectric grain of a polycrystalline material, is
studied within a semiconductor model of ferroelectrics. It is shown that the
maximum strength of local depolarization fields is rather determined by the
electronic band gap than by the spontaneous polarization magnitude.
Furthermore, field screening due to electronic band bending and due to presence
of intrinsic defects leads to asymmetric space charge regions near the grain
boundary, which produce an effective dipole layer at the surface of the grain.
This results in the formation of a potential difference between the grain
surface and its interior of the order of 1 V, which can be of either sign
depending on defect transition levels and concentrations. Exemplary acceptor
doping of BaTiO3 is shown to allow tuning of the said surface potential in the
region between 0.1 and 1.3 V.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, submitted to J. Appl. Phy
Muscle Synergies Facilitate Computational Prediction of Subject-Specific Walking Motions.
Researchers have explored a variety of neurorehabilitation approaches to restore normal walking function following a stroke. However, there is currently no objective means for prescribing and implementing treatments that are likely to maximize recovery of walking function for any particular patient. As a first step toward optimizing neurorehabilitation effectiveness, this study develops and evaluates a patient-specific synergy-controlled neuromusculoskeletal simulation framework that can predict walking motions for an individual post-stroke. The main question we addressed was whether driving a subject-specific neuromusculoskeletal model with muscle synergy controls (5 per leg) facilitates generation of accurate walking predictions compared to a model driven by muscle activation controls (35 per leg) or joint torque controls (5 per leg). To explore this question, we developed a subject-specific neuromusculoskeletal model of a single high-functioning hemiparetic subject using instrumented treadmill walking data collected at the subject's self-selected speed of 0.5 m/s. The model included subject-specific representations of lower-body kinematic structure, foot-ground contact behavior, electromyography-driven muscle force generation, and neural control limitations and remaining capabilities. Using direct collocation optimal control and the subject-specific model, we evaluated the ability of the three control approaches to predict the subject's walking kinematics and kinetics at two speeds (0.5 and 0.8 m/s) for which experimental data were available from the subject. We also evaluated whether synergy controls could predict a physically realistic gait period at one speed (1.1 m/s) for which no experimental data were available. All three control approaches predicted the subject's walking kinematics and kinetics (including ground reaction forces) well for the model calibration speed of 0.5 m/s. However, only activation and synergy controls could predict the subject's walking kinematics and kinetics well for the faster non-calibration speed of 0.8 m/s, with synergy controls predicting the new gait period the most accurately. When used to predict how the subject would walk at 1.1 m/s, synergy controls predicted a gait period close to that estimated from the linear relationship between gait speed and stride length. These findings suggest that our neuromusculoskeletal simulation framework may be able to bridge the gap between patient-specific muscle synergy information and resulting functional capabilities and limitations
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