16,153 research outputs found
The relative influences of disorder and of frustration on the glassy dynamics in magnetic systems
The magnetisation relaxations of three different types of geometrically
frustrated magnetic systems have been studied with the same experimental
procedures as previously used in spin glasses. The materials investigated are
YMoO (pyrochlore system), SrCrGaO (piled
pairs of Kagom\'e layers) and (HO)Fe(SO)(OH) (jarosite
compound). Despite a very small amount of disorder, all the samples exhibit
many characteristic features of spin glass dynamics below a freezing
temperature , much smaller than their Curie-Weiss temperature .
The ageing properties of their thermoremanent magnetization can be well
accounted for by the same scaling law as in spin glasses, and the values of the
scaling exponents are very close. The effects of temperature variations during
ageing have been specifically investigated. In the pyrochlore and the
bi-Kagom\'e compounds, a decrease of temperature after some waiting period at a
certain temperature re-initializes ageing and the evolution at the new
temperature is the same as if the system were just quenched from above .
However, as the temperature is raised back to , the sample recovers the
state it had previously reached at that temperature. These features are known
in spin glasses as rejuvenation and memory effects. They are clear signatures
of the spin glass dynamics. In the Kagom\'e compound, there is also some
rejuvenation and memory, but much larger temperature changes are needed to
observe the effects. In that sense, the behaviour of this compound is
quantitatively different from that of spin glasses.Comment: latex VersionCorrigee4.tex, 4 files, 3 figures, 5 pages (Proceedings
of the International Conference on Highly Frustrated Magnetism (HFM2003),
August 26-30, 2003, Institut Laue Langevin (ILL), Grenoble, France
Linear response subordination to intermittent energy release in off-equilibrium aging dynamics
The interpretation of experimental and numerical data describing
off-equilibrium aging dynamics crucially depends on the connection between
spontaneous and induced fluctuations. The hypothesis that linear response
fluctuations are statistically subordinated to irreversible outbursts of
energy, so-called quakes, leads to predictions for averages and fluctuations
spectra of physical observables in reasonable agreement with experimental
results [see e.g. Sibani et al., Phys. Rev. B74:224407, 2006]. Using
simulational data from a simple but representative Ising model with plaquette
interactions, direct statistical evidence supporting the hypothesis is
presented and discussed in this work.
A strict temporal correlation between quakes and intermittent magnetization
fluctuations is demonstrated. The external magnetic field is shown to bias the
pre-existent intermittent tails of the magnetic fluctuation distribution, with
little or no effect on the Gaussian part of the latter. Its impact on energy
fluctuations is shown to be negligible.
Linear response is thus controlled by the quakes and inherits their temporal
statistics. These findings provide a theoretical basis for analyzing
intermittent linear response data from aging system in the same way as thermal
energy fluctuations, which are far more difficult to measure.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures. Text improve
Evolution of a global string network in a matter dominated universe
We evolve the network of global strings in the matter-dominated universe by
means of numerical simulations. The existence of the scaling solution is
confirmed as in the radiation-dominated universe but the scaling parameter
takes a slightly smaller value, , which is
defined as with the energy density of
global strings and the string tension per unit length. The change of
from the radiation to the matter-dominated universe is consistent with
that obtained by Albrecht and Turok by use of the one-scale model. We also
study the loop distribution function and find that it can be well fitted with
that predicted by the one-scale model, where the number density of
the loop with the length is given by with and . Thus, the evolution of the
global string network in the matter-dominated universe can be well described by
the one-scale model as in the radiation-dominated universe.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
The type of adjuvant in whole inactivated influenza a virus vaccines impacts vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease
Influenza A virus (IAV) causes a disease burden in the swine industry in the US and is a challenge to prevent due to substantial genetic and antigenic diversity of IAV that circulate in pig populations. Whole inactivated virus (WIV) vaccines formulated with oil-in-water (OW) adjuvant are commonly used in swine. However, WIV-OW are associated with vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD) when the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase of the vaccine strain are mismatched with the challenge virus. Here, we assessed if different types of adjuvant in WIV vaccine formulations impacted VAERD outcome. WIV vaccines with a swine δ1-H1N2 were formulated with different commercial adjuvants: OW1, OW2, nano-emulsion squalene-based (NE) and gel polymer (GP). Pigs were vaccinated twice by the intramuscular route, 3 weeks apart, then challenged with an H1N1pdm09 three weeks post-boost and necropsied at 5 days post infection. All WIV vaccines elicited antibodies detected using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay against the homologous vaccine virus, but not against the heterologous challenge virus; in contrast, all vaccinated groups had cross-reactive IgG antibody and IFN-γ responses against H1N1pdm09, with a higher magnitude observed in OW groups. Both OW groups demonstrated robust homologous HI titers and cross-reactivity against heterologous H1 viruses in the same genetic lineage. However, both OW groups had severe immunopathology consistent with VAERD after challenge when compared to NE, GP, and non-vaccinated challenge controls. None of the WIV formulations protected pigs from heterologous virus replication in the lungs or nasal cavity. Thus, although the type of adjuvant in the WIV formulation played a significant role in the magnitude of immune response to homologous and antigenically similar H1, none tested here increased the breadth of protection against the antigenically-distinct challenge virus, and some impacted immunopathology after challenge
Graphics mini manual
The computer graphics capabilities available at the Center are introduced and their use is explained. More specifically, the manual identifies and describes the various graphics software and hardware components, details the interfaces between these components, and provides information concerning the use of these components at LaRC
Scaling Property of the global string in the radiation dominated universe
We investigate the evolution of the global string network in the radiation
dominated universe by use of numerical simulations in 3+1 dimensions. We find
that the global string network settles down to the scaling regime where the
energy density of global strings, , is given by with the string tension per unit length and the scaling parameter,
, irrespective of the cosmic time. We also find that the
loop distribution function can be fitted with that predicted by the so-called
one scale model. Concretely, the number density, , of the loop with
the length, , is given by
where and is related with the Nambu-Goldstone(NG)
boson radiation power from global strings, , as with
. Therefore, the loop production function also scales and
the typical scale of produced loops is nearly the horizon distance. Thus, the
evolution of the global string network in the radiation dominated universe can
be well described by the one scale model in contrast with that of the local
string network.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Estimation de l'équivalent en eau du couvert nival au moyen d'images radar satellitaires
L'objectif de cette étude est de vérifier le potentiel des images radar à synthèse d'ouverture (RSO) pour estimer l'équivalent en eau du couvert nival sur le bassin de la rivière La Grande (Baie de James, Québec). Il s'agit d'un milieu dominé par une forêt ouverte d'épinettes noires, des brûlis et des tourbières. Cette information intéresse grandement Hydro-Québec qui gère plusieurs installations hydro-électriques dans cette région subarctique. Durant deux ans, six campagnes de terrain ont été réalisées sur le bassin de la rivière La Grande et une dizaine d'images RSO du satellite européen ERS-1 ont été acquises, étalonnées et géoréférencées, afin de déterminer la relation entre les coefficients de rétrodiffusion des images radar (hiver et automne) et la résistance thermique du couvert nival. Cette relation constitue la première partie d'un algorithme d'estimation de l'équivalent en eau. Elle utilise plus spécifiquement le rapport de rétrodiffusion, qui est la différence entre une image avec neige et une image sans neige. La deuxième partie de cette algorithme déduit l'équivalent en eau du couvert de neige à partir de sa résistance thermique et de sa densité, en se basant sur la relation physique établie par les mesures de terrain. L'équivalent en eau du couvert nival a donc été estimé pour quatre images de février et mars 1994 et 1995. L'erreur moyenne sur l'estimation de l'équivalent en eau de la neige au sol est de 2% à 3% (-5 à 7mm) sur l'ensemble des sites d'échantillonnage avec un écart-type de 14 à 19% (-35 à 45mm). Ces résultats ont encouragé Hydro-Québec à poursuivre la recherche avec les données du satellite canadien RADARSAT (opérationnel depuis le 1er avril 1996) et à développer un prototype pour la cartographie de l'équivalent en eau du couvert nival à partir d'images radar.The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images for estimating the snow water equivalent (SWE) on the La Grande river watershed (James Bay area, Québec). This information is of major interest for Hydro-Québec, which exploits many hydroelectric complexes throughout this subarctic region. The La Grande watershed is composed of moderately dense to opened black spruce forests, opened areas, burned areas and peat bogs. Over two years (1994-1995), six field campaigns were carried out on a study site located between the LG4 and Laforge1 reservoir, in the center of the La Grande river watershed. The field measurements were of two types: 20 snow lines (depth, snow water equivalent (SWE), density) and 8 snow profiles (depth, density, grain size, temperature, dielectric constant). With these data, the thermal resistance of the snowpack was calculated for every test-site, using the depth, density and thermal conductivity of each layer. Concurrently, more than 10 SAR images (European Satellite ERS-1) of the study site were acquired, calibrated and georeferenced. The backscattering coefficients of all winter images were extracted. Using a reference image (snow-free), backscattering ratios were calculated. They are the difference between a winter image and a snow-free image. This process is used to reduce the impact of vegetation and topography. Then, the relationship between the backscattering ratios and the snowpack thermal resistance of february and march 1994 are established, as the first part of an algorithm developed to estimate the snow water equivalent. The second part of the algorithm infers the snowpack water equivalent from its thermal resistance and density, based on the physical relationship established with field data. This approach is based on studies conducted by INRS-Eau in a southern Quebec agricultural area (BERNIER and FORTIN (1998)). The hypothesis are based on the following: - The snowpack characteristics influence the underlying soil temperature;- The dielectric constant of the soil varies with the soil temperature under 0°C;- The radar signal is influenced by the soil dielectric constant;- Thus, the snowpack characteristics (thermal resistance) influence the radar signal. However, due to variations of soil humidity on the date of the reference image (september 1994), two slightly different relationships were obtained. One for open areas and open forests and one for burned areas and peat bogs. This shows the importance of using a good reference image, with homogeneous soil conditions. It could be better to obtain an image later in the fall, when the soil is frozen. The relationships established here are preliminary, as they use a small dataset. It is estimated that a better regression should be obtained with the acquisition of more images and with a greater range of snow characteristics. However, the algorithm is applied to test the applicability of the method. First, the algorithm was applied on the test-sites, using the images from February and March of 1994 and 1995. The mean error on the estimation of the snow water equivalent is 2% to 3% ( 5 to 7mm), with a deviation of 14% to 19% ( 35 to 45mm). The results are comparable for both years, even if the algorithm is based on 1994 data only. Secondly, the algorithm is applied on the whole images. A classification of a Landsat-TM image is used to identify the land cover of every pixel, which determines the regression and the snow density to be used in the algorithm. Four maps of the SWE are produced and resampled to a resolution of 500m. These are compared with the field measurements from the four nearest Hydro-Quebec snow survey sites. The SWE measured by Hydro-Quebec are all within the most dominant SWE class of each map. Further validation of the results will be possible when the algorithm can be applied on a sub-watershed, which is the actual scale used by Hydro-Quebec. However, the results of this study were sufficiently promising to Hydro-Quebec to support a follow up research with data from the canadian satellite RADARSAT (operational since april 1996). Meanwhile, to improve the algorithm, it is important to obtain a good and homogeneous reference image, to better assess the impact of the land cover and to acquire a dataset with a greater range of snow characteristics
A Search for Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem Violations in Spin-Glasses from Susceptibility Data
We propose an indirect way of studying the fluctuation-dissipation relation
in spin-glasses that only uses available susceptibility data. It is based on a
dynamic extension of the Parisi-Toulouse approximation and a Curie-Weiss
treatment of the average magnetic couplings. We present the results of the
analysis of several sets of experimental data obtained from various samples.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Heterogeneous dynamics of the three dimensional Coulomb glass out of equilibrium
The non-equilibrium relaxational properties of a three dimensional Coulomb
glass model are investigated by kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Our results
suggest a transition from stationary to non-stationary dynamics at the
equilibrium glass transition temperature of the system. Below the transition
the dynamic correlation functions loose time translation invariance and
electron diffusion is anomalous. Two groups of carriers can be identified at
each time scale, electrons whose motion is diffusive within a selected time
window and electrons that during the same time interval remain confined in
small regions in space. During the relaxation that follows a temperature quench
an exchange of electrons between these two groups takes place and the
non-equilibrium excess of diffusive electrons initially present decreases
logarithmically with time as the system relaxes. This bimodal dynamical
heterogeneity persists at higher temperatures when time translation invariance
is restored and electron diffusion is normal. The occupancy of the two
dynamical modes is then stationary and its temperature dependence reflects a
crossover between a low-temperature regime with a high concentration of
electrons forming fluctuating dipoles and a high-temperature regime in which
the concentration of diffusive electrons is high.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure
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