14,899 research outputs found
Exponential Distributions in a Mechanical Model for Earthquakes
We study statistical distributions in a mechanical model for an earthquake
fault introduced by Burridge and Knopoff [R. Burridge and L. Knopoff, {\sl
Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am.} {\bf 57}, 341 (1967)]. Our investigations on the size
(moment), time duration and number of blocks involved in an event show that
exponential distributions are found in a given range of the paramenter space.
This occurs when the two kinds of springs present in the model have the same,
or approximately the same, value for the elastic constants. Exponential
distributions have also been seen recently in an experimental system to model
earthquake-like dynamics [M. A. Rubio and J. Galeano, {\sl Phys. Rev. E} {\bf
50}, 1000 (1994)].Comment: 11 pages, uuencoded (submitted to Phys. Rev. E
Comparison of the Spherical Averaged Pseudopotential Model with the Stabilized Jellium Model
We compare Kohn-Sham results (density, cohesive energy, size and effect of
charging) of the Spherical Averaged Pseudopotential Model with the Stabilized
Jellium Model for clusters of sodium and aluminum with less than 20 atoms. We
find that the Stabilized Jellium Model, although conceptually and practically
more simple, gives better results for the cohesive energy and the elastic
stiffness. We use the Local Density Approximation as well as the Generalized
Gradient Approximation to the exchange and correlation energies.Comment: 13 pages, latex, 8 figures, compressed postscript version available
at http://www.fis.uc.pt/~vieir
SAMplus: adaptive optics at optical wavelengths for SOAR
Adaptive Optics (AO) is an innovative technique that substantially improves
the optical performance of ground-based telescopes. The SOAR Adaptive Module
(SAM) is a laser-assisted AO instrument, designed to compensate ground-layer
atmospheric turbulence in near-IR and visible wavelengths over a large Field of
View. Here we detail our proposal to upgrade SAM, dubbed SAMplus, that is
focused on enhancing its performance in visible wavelengths and increasing the
instrument reliability. As an illustration, for a seeing of 0.62 arcsec at 500
nm and a typical turbulence profile, current SAM improves the PSF FWHM to 0.40
arcsec, and with the upgrade we expect to deliver images with a FWHM of
arcsec -- up to 0.23 arcsec FWHM PSF under good seeing
conditions. Such capabilities will be fully integrated with the latest SAM
instruments, putting SOAR in an unique position as observatory facility.Comment: To appear in Proc. SPIE 10703 (Ground-based and Airborne
Instrumentation for Astronomy VII; SPIEastro18
Astrometry of mutual approximations between natural satellites. Application to the Galilean moons
Typically we can deliver astrometric positions of natural satellites with
errors in the 50-150 mas range. Apparent distances from mutual phenomena, have
much smaller errors, less than 10 mas. However, this method can only be applied
during the equinox of the planets. We developed a method that can provide
accurate astrometric data for natural satellites -- the mutual approximations.
The method can be applied when any two satellites pass close by each other in
the apparent sky plane. The fundamental parameter is the central instant
of the passage when the distances reach a minimum.
We applied the method for the Galilean moons. All observations were made with
a 0.6 m telescope with a narrow-band filter centred at 889 nm with width of 15
nm which attenuated Jupiter's scattered light. We obtained central instants for
14 mutual approximations observed in 2014-2015. We determined with an
average precision of 3.42 mas (10.43 km). For comparison, we also applied the
method for 5 occultations in the 2009 mutual phenomena campaign and for 22
occultations in the 2014-2015 campaign. The comparisons of determined by
our method with the results from mutual phenomena show an agreement by less
than 1-sigma error in , typically less than 10 mas. This new method is
particularly suitable for observations by small telescopes.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures and 8 tables. Based on observations made at the
Laborat\'orio Nacional de Astrof\'isica (LNA), Itajub\'a-MG, Brazi
Chaos and Synchronized Chaos in an Earthquake Model
We show that chaos is present in the symmetric two-block Burridge-Knopoff
model for earthquakes. This is in contrast with previous numerical studies, but
in agreement with experimental results. In this system, we have found a rich
dynamical behavior with an unusual route to chaos. In the three-block system,
we see the appearance of synchronized chaos, showing that this concept can have
potential applications in the field of seismology.Comment: To appear in Physical Review Letters (13 pages, 6 figures
Magnetic control of particle-injection in plasma based accelerators
The use of an external transverse magnetic field to trigger and to control
electron self-injection in laser- and particle-beam driven wakefield
accelerators is examined analytically and through full-scale particle-in-cell
simulations. A magnetic field can relax the injection threshold and can be used
to control main output beam features such as charge, energy, and transverse
dynamics in the ion channel associated with the plasma blowout. It is shown
that this mechanism could be studied using state-of-the-art magnetic fields in
next generation plasma accelerator experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure
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