2,005 research outputs found
On the capacity and normalisation of ISI channels
[Abstract]: We investigate the capacity of various ISI channels with additive white Gaussian noise. Previous papers showed
a minimum Eb/N0 of −4.6 dB, 3 dB below the capacity of
a flat channel, is obtained using the water-pouring capacity
formulas for the 1 + D channel. However, these papers did
not take into account that the channel power gain can be
greater than unity when water-pouring is used. We present a
generic power normalization method of the channel frequency
response, namely peak bandwidth normalisation, to facilitate the fair capacity comparison of various ISI channels. Three types of ISI channel, i.e., adder channels, RC channels and magnetic recording channels, are examined. By using our channel power gain normalization, the capacity curves of these ISI channels are shown
A new code for parameter estimation in searches for gravitational waves from known pulsars
We describe the consistency testing of a new code for gravitational wave
signal parameter estimation in known pulsar searches. The code uses an
implementation of nested sampling to explore the likelihood volume. Using fake
signals and simulated noise we compare this to a previous code that calculated
the signal parameter posterior distributions on both a grid and using a crude
Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. We define a new parameterisation of two
orientation angles of neutron stars used in the signal model (the initial phase
and polarisation angle), which breaks a degeneracy between them and allows more
efficient exploration of those parameters. Finally, we briefly describe
potential areas for further study and the uses of this code in the future.Comment: Accepted for proceedings of Amaldi 9 meetin
A Bayesian approach to the follow-up of candidate gravitational wave signals
Ground-based gravitational wave laser interferometers (LIGO, GEO-600, Virgo
and Tama-300) have now reached high sensitivity and duty cycle. We present a
Bayesian evidence-based approach to the search for gravitational waves, in
particular aimed at the followup of candidate events generated by the analysis
pipeline. We introduce and demonstrate an efficient method to compute the
evidence and odds ratio between different models, and illustrate this approach
using the specific case of the gravitational wave signal generated during the
inspiral phase of binary systems, modelled at the leading quadrupole Newtonian
order, in synthetic noise. We show that the method is effective in detecting
signals at the detection threshold and it is robust against (some types of)
instrumental artefacts. The computational efficiency of this method makes it
scalable to the analysis of all the triggers generated by the analysis
pipelines to search for coalescing binaries in surveys with ground-based
interferometers, and to a whole variety of signal waveforms, characterised by a
larger number of parameters.Comment: 9 page
Negative Quasi-Probability as a Resource for Quantum Computation
A central problem in quantum information is to determine the minimal physical
resources that are required for quantum computational speedup and, in
particular, for fault-tolerant quantum computation. We establish a remarkable
connection between the potential for quantum speed-up and the onset of negative
values in a distinguished quasi-probability representation, a discrete analog
of the Wigner function for quantum systems of odd dimension. This connection
allows us to resolve an open question on the existence of bound states for
magic-state distillation: we prove that there exist mixed states outside the
convex hull of stabilizer states that cannot be distilled to non-stabilizer
target states using stabilizer operations. We also provide an efficient
simulation protocol for Clifford circuits that extends to a large class of
mixed states, including bound universal states.Comment: 15 pages v4: This is a major revision. In particular, we have added a
new section detailing an explicit extension of the Gottesman-Knill simulation
protocol to deal with positively represented states and measurement (even
when these are non-stabilizer). This paper also includes significant
elaboration on the two main results of the previous versio
Studying stellar binary systems with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna using Delayed Rejection Markov chain Monte Carlo methods
Bayesian analysis of LISA data sets based on Markov chain Monte Carlo methods
has been shown to be a challenging problem, in part due to the complicated
structure of the likelihood function consisting of several isolated local
maxima that dramatically reduces the efficiency of the sampling techniques.
Here we introduce a new fully Markovian algorithm, a Delayed Rejection
Metropolis-Hastings Markov chain Monte Carlo method, to efficiently explore
these kind of structures and we demonstrate its performance on selected LISA
data sets containing a known number of stellar-mass binary signals embedded in
Gaussian stationary noise.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, accepted in CQG (GWDAW-13 proceedings
Equivalence of using a desktop virtual reality science simulation at home and in class
The use of virtual laboratories is growing as companies and educational institutions try to expand their reach, cut costs, increase student understanding, and provide more accessible hands on training for future scientists. Many new higher education initiatives outsource lab activities so students now perform them online in a virtual environment rather than in a classroom setting, thereby saving time and money while increasing accessibility. In this paper we explored whether the learning and motivational outcomes of interacting with a desktop virtual reality (VR) science lab simulation on the internet at home are equivalent to interacting with the same simulation in class with teacher supervision. A sample of 112 (76 female) university biology students participated in a between-subjects experimental design, in which participants learned at home or in class from the same virtual laboratory simulation on the topic of microbiology. The home and classroom groups did not differ significantly on post-test learning outcome scores, or on self-report measures of intrinsic motivation or self-efficacy. Furthermore, these conclusions remained after accounting for prior knowledge or goal orientation. In conclusion, the results indicate that virtual simulations are learning activities that students can engage in just as effectively outside of the classroom environment
Modeling thermoelastic distortion of optics using elastodynamic reciprocity
Thermoelastic distortion resulting from optical absorption by transmissive and reflective optics can cause unacceptable changes in optical systems that employ high-power beams. In advanced-generation laser-interferometric gravitational wave detectors, for example, optical absorption is expected to result in wavefront distortions that would compromise the sensitivity of the detector, thus necessitating the use of adaptive thermal compensation. Unfortunately, these systems have long thermal time constants, and so predictive feed-forward control systems could be required, but the finite-element analysis is computationally expensive. We describe here the use of the Betti-Maxwell elastodynamic reciprocity theorem to calculate the response of linear elastic bodies (optics) to heating that has arbitrary spatial distribution. We demonstrate, using a simple example, that it can yield accurate results in computational times that are significantly less than those required for finite-element analyses.Eleanor King, Yuri Levin, David Ottaway, and Peter Veitc
Compensation of Strong Thermal Lensing in High Optical Power Cavities
In an experiment to simulate the conditions in high optical power advanced
gravitational wave detectors such as Advanced LIGO, we show that strong thermal
lenses form in accordance with predictions and that they can be compensated
using an intra-cavity compensation plate heated on its cylindrical surface. We
show that high finesse ~1400 can be achieved in cavities with internal
compensation plates, and that the cavity mode structure can be maintained by
thermal compensation. It is also shown that the measurements allow a direct
measurement of substrate optical absorption in the test mass and the
compensation plate.Comment: 8 page
Parameterized tests of the strong-field dynamics of general relativity using gravitational wave signals from coalescing binary black holes: Fast likelihood calculations and sensitivity of the method
Thanks to the recent discoveries of gravitational wave signals from binary
black hole mergers by Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave
Observatory and Advanced Virgo, the genuinely strong-field dynamics of
spacetime can now be probed, allowing for stringent tests of general relativity
(GR). One set of tests consists of allowing for parametrized deformations away
from GR in the template waveform models and then constraining the size of the
deviations, as was done for the detected signals in previous work. In this
paper, we construct reduced-order quadratures so as to speed up likelihood
calculations for parameter estimation on future events. Next, we explicitly
demonstrate the robustness of the parametrized tests by showing that they will
correctly indicate consistency with GR if the theory is valid. We also check to
what extent deviations from GR can be constrained as information from an
increasing number of detections is combined. Finally, we evaluate the
sensitivity of the method to possible violations of GR.Comment: 19 pages, many figures. Matches PRD versio
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