Atmospheric aerosol attenuation effect on FD data analysis at the Pierre Auger Observatory

The atmospheric aerosol monitoring system of the Pierre Auger Observatory has been operating smoothly since 2004. Two laser facilities (Central Laser Facility, CLF and eXtreme Laser Facility, XLF) fire sets of 50 shots four times per hour during FD shifts to measure the highly variable hourly aerosol attenuation to correct the longitudinal UV light profiles of the Extensive Air Showers detected by the Fluorescence Detector. Hourly aerosol attenuation loads (Vertical Aerosol Optical Depth) are used to correct the measured profiles. Two techniques are used to determine the aerosol profiles, which have been proven to be fully compatible. The uncertainty in the VAOD profiles measured consequently leads to an uncertainty on the energy and on the estimation of the depth at the maximum development of a shower (X max ) of the event in analysis. To prove the validity of the aerosol attenuation measurements used in FD event analysis, the flatness of the ratio of reconstructed SD to FD energy as a function of the aerosol transmission to the depth of shower maximum has been verified.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figures, poster at UHECR 2018 (Paris, Oct 2018

Atmospheric Aerosol Characterization using the Central Laser Facility at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Abstract The Fluorescence Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory uses the atmosphere as a huge calorimeter that needs continuous monitoring to ensure unbiased physics results. The Central Laser Facility (CLF), a calibrated laser source located near the center of the observatory, is used to measure the light attenuation due to aerosols, highly variable even on time scales of 1 h. Two independent, fully compatible procedures based on the analysis of CLF vertical events have been developed. Five years of hourly aerosol characterization are provided

Assuming the Worst: Eliminating the Forcibly Steals Element from Second-Degree Robbery

This Note begins with an exploration of the factual circumstances that gave rise to the court’s determination that an objective standard should be applied when determining whether a threat of the immediate use of physical force exists in second-degree robbery cases. This Note then discusses the conflict among Missouri appellate courts regarding the determination of whether a threat of force exists, while also looking at how other states have handled this issue. Next, this Note provides an analysis of the Supreme Court of Missouri’s reasoning in Brooks and, finally, explores how the objective standard articulated by the court will be applied, along with a possible alternative solution to the conflict between stealing and robbery in bank theft cases

Resemblance, Exemplification, and Ontology

According to the quantificational (neo-) Quinean model in meta-ontology, the question of ontology boils down to the question of whether a sortal property is exemplified. I address some complications that arise when we try to build a philosophical reconstruction of the link between individuals and kinds displayed in the exemplification relation from the point of view of conceptualism about kinds and having in mind this stand in ontology. I distinguish two notions of resemblance, object-to- object and object-to- kind, and show the problems with both of them. Finally, I argue for a better awareness of the implicit "bias" involved in the very notion of "resemblance, " without indulging in Quine's veto toward this notion

Smoothed Bounded-Confidence Opinion Dynamics on the Complete Graph

We present and analyze a model for how opinions might spread throughout a network of people sharing information. Our model is called the smoothed bounded-confidence model and is inspired by the bounded-confidence model of opinion dynamics proposed by Hegselmann and Krause. In the Hegselmann–Krause model, agents move towards the average opinion of their neighbors. However, an agent only factors a neighbor into the average if their opinions are sufficiently similar. In our model, we replace this binary threshold with a logarithmic weighting function that rewards neighbors with similar opinions and minimizes the effect of dissimilar ones. This weighting function can be tuned with parameters and and recovers the Hegselmann–Krause model as approaches infinity. We analyze the effect of and on some of the stationary states of the smoothed bounded-confidence model on the complete graph. In particular, we analyze the stationary states with consensus and those with two distinct opinions

"Word and Object" - 50 Years Later

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