19,002 research outputs found
Single-machine scheduling with stepwise tardiness costs and release times
We study a scheduling problem that belongs to the yard operations component of the railroad planning problems, namely the hump sequencing problem. The scheduling problem is characterized as a single-machine problem with stepwise tardiness cost objectives. This is a new scheduling criterion which is also relevant in the context of traditional machine scheduling problems. We produce complexity results that characterize some cases of the problem as pseudo-polynomially solvable. For the difficult-to-solve cases of the problem, we develop mathematical programming formulations, and propose heuristic algorithms. We test the formulations and heuristic algorithms on randomly generated single-machine scheduling problems and real-life datasets for the hump sequencing problem. Our experiments show promising results for both sets of problems
General energy bounds for systems of bosons with soft cores
We study a bound system of N identical bosons interacting by model pair
potentials of the form V(r) = A sgn(p)r^p + B/r^2, A > 0, B >= 0. By using a
variational trial function and the `equivalent 2-body method', we find explicit
upper and lower bound formulas for the N-particle ground-state energy in
arbitrary spatial dimensions d > 2 for the two cases p = 2 and p = -1. It is
demonstrated that the upper bound can be systematically improved with the aid
of a special large-N limit in collective field theory
Droplet minimizers for the Gates-Lebowitz-Penrose free energy functional
We study the structure of the constrained minimizers of the
Gates-Lebowitz-Penrose free-energy functional ,
non-local functional of a density field , , a
-dimensional torus of side length . At low temperatures, is not convex, and has two distinct global minimizers,
corresponding to two equilibrium states. Here we constrain the average density
L^{-d}\int_{{\cal T}_L}m(x)\dd x to be a fixed value between the
densities in the two equilibrium states, but close to the low density
equilibrium value. In this case, a "droplet" of the high density phase may or
may not form in a background of the low density phase, depending on the values
and . We determine the critical density for droplet formation, and the
nature of the droplet, as a function of and . The relation between the
free energy and the large deviations functional for a particle model with
long-range Kac potentials, proven in some cases, and expected to be true in
general, then provides information on the structure of typical microscopic
configurations of the Gibbs measure when the range of the Kac potential is
large enough
Effects of High Charge Densities in Multi-GEM Detectors
A comprehensive study, supported by systematic measurements and numerical
computations, of the intrinsic limits of multi-GEM detectors when exposed to
very high particle fluxes or operated at very large gains is presented. The
observed variations of the gain, of the ion back-flow, and of the pulse height
spectra are explained in terms of the effects of the spatial distribution of
positive ions and their movement throughout the amplification structure. The
intrinsic dynamic character of the processes involved imposes the use of a
non-standard simulation tool for the interpretation of the measurements.
Computations done with a Finite Element Analysis software reproduce the
observed behaviour of the detector. The impact of this detailed description of
the detector in extreme conditions is multiple: it clarifies some detector
behaviours already observed, it helps in defining intrinsic limits of the GEM
technology, and it suggests ways to extend them.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposiu
Crystal Structure and Magnetism of the Linear-Chain Copper Oxides Sr5Pb3-xBixCuO12
The title quasi-1D copper oxides (0=< x =<0.4) were investigated by neutron
diffraction and magnetic susceptibility studies. Polyhedral CuO4 units in the
compounds were found to comprise linear-chains at inter-chain distance of
approximately 10 A. The parent chain compound (x = 0), however, shows less
anisotropic magnetic behavior above 2 K, although it is of substantially
antiferromagnetic (mu_{eff}= 1.85 mu_{B} and Theta_{W} = -46.4 K) spin-chain
system. A magnetic cusp gradually appears at about 100 K in T vs chi with the
Bi substitution. The cusp (x = 0.4) is fairly characterized by and therefore
suggests the spin gap nature at Delta/k_{B} ~ 80 K. The chain compounds hold
electrically insulating in the composition range.Comment: To be published in PR
Homothetic perfect fluid space-times
A brief summary of results on homotheties in General Relativity is given,
including general information about space-times admitting an r-parameter group
of homothetic transformations for r>2, as well as some specific results on
perfect fluids. Attention is then focussed on inhomogeneous models, in
particular on those with a homothetic group (acting multiply
transitively) and . A classification of all possible Lie algebra
structures along with (local) coordinate expressions for the metric and
homothetic vectors is then provided (irrespectively of the matter content), and
some new perfect fluid solutions are given and briefly discussed.Comment: 27 pages, Latex file, Submitted to Class. Quantum Gra
A multi-phase biogeochemical model for mitigating earthquake-induced liquefaction via microbially induced desaturation and calcium carbonate precipitation
A next-generation biogeochemical model was developed to
explore the impact of the native water source on microbially induced
desaturation and precipitation (MIDP) via denitrification. MIDP is a
non-disruptive, nature-based ground improvement technique that offers the
promise of cost-effective mitigation of earthquake-induced soil liquefaction
under and adjacent to existing structures. MIDP leverages native soil
bacteria to reduce the potential for liquefaction triggering in the short
term through biogenic gas generation (treatment completed within hours to
days) and over the longer term through calcium carbonate precipitation
(treatment completed in weeks to months). This next-generation
biogeochemical model expands earlier modeling to consider multi-phase
speciation, bacterial competition, inhibition, and precipitation. The
biogeochemical model was used to explore the impact of varying treatment
recipes on MIDP products and by-products in a natural seawater environment.
The case study presented herein demonstrates the importance of optimizing
treatment recipes to minimize unwanted by-products (e.g., H2S
production) or incomplete denitrification (e.g., nitrate and nitrite
accumulation).</p
A model for the current instabilities in GaAsâAlGaAs heterojunction
A model is proposed for the description of the current instabilities in GaAs-AlGaAs heterojunctions. It consists of three parts: the injection of electrons via the contact into the AlGaAs layer, the partial capture of these electrons in deep centers, and the change with time of the band structure. This last ingredient is crucial, since due to the increase of the total number of electrons in the AlGaAs layer the band bending decreases making real-space transfer from the AlGaAs layer to the two-dimensional electron gas possible. We have performed quasistationary simulations of the time dependence of the current. The velocities, average energies, capture rates, etc. were taken from Monte Carlo simulations. It turned out, that the parameters for the modeling of the contact, which are to a high degree unknown, play an essential role
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