10,533 research outputs found
Experimental phase functions of mm-sized cosmic dust grains
We present experimental phase functions of three types of millimeter-sized
dust grains consisting of enstatite, quartz and volcanic material from Mount
Etna, respectively. The three grains present similar sizes but different
absorbing properties. The measurements are performed at 527 nm covering the
scattering angle range from 3 to 170 degrees. The measured phase functions show
two well defined regions i) soft forward peaks and ii) a continuous increase
with the scattering angle at side- and back-scattering regions. This behavior
at side- and back-scattering regions are in agreement with the observed phase
functions for the Fomalhaut and HR 4796A dust rings. Further computations and
measurements (including polarization) for millimeter sized-grains are needed to
draw some conclusions about the fluffy or compact structure of the dust grains
Inter-band B(E2) transition strengths in odd-mass heavy deformed nuclei
Inter-band B(E2) transition strengths between different normal parity bands
in 163Dy and 165Er are described using the pseudo-SU(3) model. The Hamiltonian
includes Nilsson single-particle energies, quadrupole-quadrupole and pairing
interactions with fixed, parametrized strengths, and three extra rotor terms
used to fine tune the energy spectra. In addition to inter-band transitions,
the energy spectra and the ground state intra-band B(E2) strengths are
reported. The results show the pseudo-SU(3) shell model to be a powerful
microscopic theory for a description of the normal parity sector in heavy
deformed odd-A nuclei.Comment: 4 figures, 2 table
Another derivation of the geometrical KPZ relations
We give a physicist's derivation of the geometrical (in the spirit of
Duplantier-Sheffield) KPZ relations, via heat kernel methods. It gives a
covariant way to define neighborhoods of fractals in 2d quantum gravity, and
shows that these relations are in the realm of conformal field theory
Enseñanza de la astronomía con material interactivo
The world trends in a series of reforms curriculares based on the idea of involving the scientific knowledge interactively, for the improvement the education of the sciences in general, on this writing a thematic development is explained by the choice (election) of the astronomy as didactic approximation to the physics that promises great interactivity and feedback to the student. The program is used estelarium to generate illustrated(erudite) simulations of phenomena already be mythological, technical personnel (technicians) or physicists of a more interactive way for the student of basic secondary education without losing rigiorusidad in definitions and physical interpretations.En este trabajo hacemos un desarrollo temático entorno a la astronomía con base en la interactividad a través de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación. Queremos responder a la necesidad que se plantean la literatura actual en el sentido de articular la enseñanza de las ciencias con el uso de las tecnologías. Para ello usamos el programa estelarium en donde se producen simulaciones ilustradas de fenómenos ya sean mitológicos, técnicos o físicos de una manera interactiva para el estudiante de educación media, sin perder rigurosidad en definiciones e interpretaciones astrofísicas
Gause's exclusion principle revisited: artificial modified species and competition
Gause's principle of competition between two species is studied when one of
them is sterile. We study the condition for total extinction in the niche,
namely, when the sterile population exterminates the native one by an optimal
use of resources. A mathematical Lotka-Volterra non linear model of interaction
between a native and sterile species is proposed. The condition for total
extinction is related to the initial number of sterile individuals
released in the niche. In fact, the existence of a critical sterile-population
value is conjectured from numerical analysis and an analytical
estimation is found. When spatial diffusion (migration) is considered a
critical size territory is found and, for small territory, total extinction
exist in any case. This work is motived by the extermination agriculture
problem of fruit flies in our region.Comment: 11 pages. Published in Jour.Phys.A Math.Gen. 33, 4877 (2000
Concerted changes in tropical forest structure and dynamics: evidence from 50 South American long-term plots
Several widespread changes in the ecology of old-growth tropical forests have recently been documented for the late twentieth century, in particular an increase in stem turnover (pan-tropical), and an increase in above-ground biomass (neotropical). Whether these changes are synchronous and whether changes in growth are also occurring is not known. We analysed stand-level changes within 50 long-term. monitoring plots from across South America spanning 1971-2002. We show that: (i) basal area (BA: sum of the cross-sectional areas of all trees in a plot) increased significantly over time (by 0.10 +/- 0.04 m(2) ha(-1) yr(-1), mean +/- 95% CI); as did both (ii) stand-level BA growth rates (sum of the increments of BA of surviving trees and BA of new trees that recruited into a plot); and (iii) stand-level BA mortality rates (sum of the cross-sectional areas of all trees that died in a plot). Similar patterns were observed on a per-stem basis: (i) stem density (number of stems per hectare; 1 hectare is 10(4) m(2)) increased significantly over time (0.94 +/- 0.63 stems ha(-1) yr(-1)); as did both (ii) stem recruitment rates; and (iii) stem mortality rates. In relative terms, the pools of BA and stem density increased by 0.38 +/- 0.15% and 0.18 +/- 0.12% yr(-1), respectively. The fluxes into and out of these pools-stand-level BA growth, stand-level BA mortality, stem recruitment and stem mortality rates-increased, in relative terms, by an order of magnitude more. The gain terms (BA growth, stem recruitment) consistently exceeded the loss terms (BA loss, stem mortality) throughout the period, suggesting that whatever process is driving these changes was already acting before the plot network was established. Large long-term increases in stand-level BA growth and simultaneous increases in stand BA and stem density imply a continent-wide increase in resource availability which is increasing net primary productivity and altering forest dynamics. Continent-wide changes in incoming solar radiation, and increases in atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and air temperatures may have increased resource supply over recent decades, thus causing accelerated growth and increased dynamism across the world's largest tract of tropical forest
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