3,911 research outputs found
Environmental legislation as a driver of design
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Long-term Properties of Accretion Disks in X-ray Binaries: II. Stability of Radiation-Driven Warping
A significant number of X-ray binaries are now known to exhibit long-term
``superorbital'' periodicities on timescales of 10 - 100 days. Several
physical mechanisms have been proposed that give rise to such periodicities, in
particular warping and/or precession of the accretion disk. Recent theoretical
work predicts the stability to disk warping of X-ray binaries as a function of
the mass ratio, binary radius, viscosity and accretion efficiency, and here we
examine the constraints that can be placed on such models by current
observations.
In paper I we used a dynamic power spectrum (DPS) analysis of long-term X-ray
datasets (CGRO, RXTE), focusing on the remarkable, smooth variations in the
superorbital period exhibited by SMC X-1. Here we use a similar DPS analysis to
investigate the stability of the superorbital periodicities in the neutron star
X-ray binaries Cyg X-2, LMC X-4 and Her X-1, and thereby confront stability
predictions with observation. We find that the period and nature of
superorbital variations in these sources is consistent with the predictions of
warping theory.
We also use a dynamic lightcurve analysis to examine the behaviour of Her X-1
as it enters and leaves the 1999 Anomalous Low State (ALS). This reveals a
significant phase shift some 15 cycles before the ALS, which indicates a change
in the disk structure or profile leading into the ALS.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures, Re-submitted to MNRAS after referee's comment
3 W of single-frequency output at 532 nm by intracavity frequency doubling of a diode-bar-pumped Nd:YAG ring laser 3 W of single-frequency output at 532 nm by intracavity frequency doubling of a diode-bar-pumped Nd:YAG ring laser
A beam-shaped 20W diode-bar has longitudinally pumped a Nd:YAG laser in a ring configuration. Unidirectional single-frequency operation is enforced by a Faraday rotator. Intracavity frequency doubling, using a KTP crystal has produced 3W of stable, single-frequency TEMoo output at 532nm
1+1+2 Electromagnetic perturbations on general LRS space-times: Regge-Wheeler and Bardeen-Press equations
We use the, covariant and gauge-invariant, 1+1+2 formalism developed by
Clarkson and Barrett, and develop new techniques, to decouple electromagnetic
(EM) perturbations on arbitrary locally rotationally symmetric (LRS)
space-times. Ultimately, we derive 3 decoupled complex equations governing 3
complex scalars. One of these is a new Regge-Wheeler (RW) equation generalized
for LRS space-times, whereas the remaining two are new generalizations of the
Bardeen-Press (BP) equations. This is achieved by first using linear algebra
techniques to rewrite the first-order Maxwell equations in a new complex 1+1+2
form which is conducive to decoupling. This new complex system immediately
yields the generalized RW equation, and furthermore, we also derive a decoupled
equation governing a newly defined complex EM 2-vector. Subsequently, a further
decomposition of the 1+1+2 formalism into a 1+1+1+1 formalism is developed,
allowing us to decompose the complex EM 2-vector, and its governing equations,
into spin-weighted scalars, giving rise to the generalized BP equations
Ultra-broadband wavelength-swept Tm-doped fiber laser using wavelength-combined gain stages
A wavelength-swept thulium-doped fiber laser system employing two parallel cavities with two different fiber gain stages is reported. The fiber gain stages were tailored to provide emission in complementary bands with external wavelength-dependent feedback cavities sharing a common rotating polygon mirror for wavelength scanning. The wavelength-swept laser outputs from the fiber gain elements were spectrally combined by means of a dichroic mirror and yielded over 500 mW of output with a scanning range from ~1740 nm to ~2070 nm for a scanning frequency of ~340 Hz
A new two-dimensional lattice model that is "consistent around a cube"
For two-dimensional lattice equations one definition of integrability is that
the model can be naturally and consistently extended to three dimensions, i.e.,
that it is "consistent around a cube" (CAC). As a consequence of CAC one can
construct a Lax pair for the model. Recently Adler, Bobenko and Suris conducted
a search based on this principle and certain additional assumptions. One of
those assumptions was the "tetrahedron property", which is satisfied by most
known equations. We present here one lattice equation that satisfies the
consistency condition but does not have the tetrahedron property. Its Lax pair
is also presented and some basic properties discussed.Comment: 8 pages in LaTe
Solving the riddle of codon usage preferences: a test for translational selection
Translational selection is responsible for the unequal usage of synonymous codons in protein coding genes in a wide variety of organisms. It is one of the most subtle and pervasive forces of molecular evolution, yet, establishing the underlying causes for its idiosyncratic behaviour across living kingdoms has proven elusive to researchers over the past 20 years. In this study, a statistical model for measuring translational selection in any given genome is developed, and the test is applied to 126 fully sequenced genomes, ranging from archaea to eukaryotes. It is shown that tRNA gene redundancy and genome size are interacting forces that ultimately determine the action of translational selection, and that an optimal genome size exists for which this kind of selection is maximal. Accordingly, genome size also presents upper and lower boundaries beyond which selection on codon usage is not possible. We propose a model where the coevolution of genome size and tRNA genes explains the observed patterns in translational selection in all living organisms. This model finally unifies our understanding of codon usage across prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Helicobacter pylori, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Homo sapiens are codon usage paradigms that can be better understood under the proposed model
On Scaling Solutions with a Dissipative Fluid
We study the asymptotic behaviour of scaling solutions with a dissipative
fluid and we show that, contrary to recent claims, the existence of stable
accelerating attractor solution which solves the `energy' coincidence problem
depends crucially on the chosen equations of state for the thermodynamical
variables. We discuss two types of equations of state, one which contradicts
this claim, and one which supports it.Comment: 8 pages and 5 figures; to appear in Class. Quantum Gra
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