3,079 research outputs found
Conjugacy in Baumslag's group, generic case complexity, and division in power circuits
The conjugacy problem belongs to algorithmic group theory. It is the
following question: given two words x, y over generators of a fixed group G,
decide whether x and y are conjugated, i.e., whether there exists some z such
that zxz^{-1} = y in G. The conjugacy problem is more difficult than the word
problem, in general. We investigate the complexity of the conjugacy problem for
two prominent groups: the Baumslag-Solitar group BS(1,2) and the
Baumslag(-Gersten) group G(1,2). The conjugacy problem in BS(1,2) is
TC^0-complete. To the best of our knowledge BS(1,2) is the first natural
infinite non-commutative group where such a precise and low complexity is
shown. The Baumslag group G(1,2) is an HNN-extension of BS(1,2). We show that
the conjugacy problem is decidable (which has been known before); but our
results go far beyond decidability. In particular, we are able to show that
conjugacy in G(1,2) can be solved in polynomial time in a strongly generic
setting. This means that essentially for all inputs conjugacy in G(1,2) can be
decided efficiently. In contrast, we show that under a plausible assumption the
average case complexity of the same problem is non-elementary. Moreover, we
provide a lower bound for the conjugacy problem in G(1,2) by reducing the
division problem in power circuits to the conjugacy problem in G(1,2). The
complexity of the division problem in power circuits is an open and interesting
problem in integer arithmetic.Comment: Section 5 added: We show that an HNN extension G = < H, b | bab^-1 =
{\phi}(a), a \in A > has a non-amenable Schreier graph with respect to the
base group H if and only if A \neq H \neq
Why Does Steady-State Magnetic Reconnection Have A Maximum Local Rate Of Order 0.1?
Simulations suggest collisionless steady-state magnetic reconnection of Harris-type current sheets proceeds with a rate of order 0.1, independent of dissipation mechanism. We argue this long-standing puzzle is a result of constraints at the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) scale. We perform a scaling analysis of the reconnection rate as a function of the opening angle made by the upstream magnetic fields, finding a maximum reconnection rate close to 0.2. The predictions compare favorably to particle-in-cell simulations of relativistic electron-positron and non-relativistic electron-proton reconnection. The fact that simulated reconnection rates are close to the predicted maximum suggests reconnection proceeds near the most efficient state allowed at the MHD-scale. The rate near the maximum is relatively insensitive to the opening angle, potentially explaining why reconnection has a similar fast rate in differing models
The Diffusion Region in Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection
A review of present understanding of the dissipation region in magnetic reconnection is presented. The review focuses on results of the thermal inertia-based dissipation mechanism but alternative mechanisms are mentioned as well. For the former process, a combination of analytical theory and numerical modeling is presented. Furthermore, a new relation between the electric field expressions for anti-parallel and guide field reconnection is developed
Searches for Giant Pulses from Extragalactic Pulsars
We discuss the giant-pulse phenomenon exhibited by pulsars and the distances
to which giant pulses might be detected from extragalactic pulsars. We describe
the conditions under which a single-pulse search is more sensitive than a
standard periodicity search. We find that, for certain pulse-amplitude
distribution power laws and time series lengths, single-pulse searches can be
superior. We present the results of searches toward several extragalactic
targets, including M33, the LMC (PSR B0540-69) and several other galaxies.
While we have not conclusively detected giant pulses from any of these targets,
these searches illustrate the methodology of, issues related to and
difficulties in these types of searches.Comment: Accepted by Ap
On the geometry of C^3/D_27 and del Pezzo surfaces
We clarify some aspects of the geometry of a resolution of the orbifold X =
C3/D_27, the noncompact complex manifold underlying the brane quiver standard
model recently proposed by Verlinde and Wijnholt. We explicitly realize a map
between X and the total space of the canonical bundle over a degree 1 quasi del
Pezzo surface, thus defining a desingularization of X. Our analysis relys
essentially on the relationship existing between the normalizer group of D_27
and the Hessian group and on the study of the behaviour of the Hesse pencil of
plane cubic curves under the quotient.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables. JHEP style. Added references.
Corrected typos. Revised introduction, results unchanged
Mid Infrared Properties of Low Metallicity Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies From Spitzer/IRS
We present a {\em Spitzer}-based mid-infrared study of a large sample of Blue
Compact Dwarf galaxies (BCD) using the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS), including
the first mid-IR spectrum of IZw18, the archetype for the BCD class and among
the most metal poor galaxies known. We show the spectra of Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbon (PAH) emission in low-metallicity environment. We find that the
equivalent widths (EW) of PAHs at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6 and 11.2 m are generally
weaker in BCDs than in typical starburst galaxies and that the fine structure
line ratio, [NeIII]/[NeII], has a weak anti-correlation with the PAH EW. A much
stronger anti-correlation is shown between the PAH EW and the product of the
[NeIII]/[NeII] ratio and the UV luminosity density divided by the metallicity.
We conclude that PAH EW in metal-poor high-excitation environments is
determined by a combination of PAH formation and destruction effects.Comment: 41 pages, 14 figure
New Insights into Dissipation in the Electron Layer During Magnetic Reconnection
Detailed comparisons are reported between laboratory observations of
electron-scale dissipation layers near a reconnecting X-line and direct
two-dimensional full-particle simulations. Many experimental features of the
electron layers, such as insensitivity to the ion mass, are reproduced by the
simulations; the layer thickness, however, is about 3-5 times larger than the
predictions. Consequently, the leading candidate 2D mechanism based on
collisionless electron nongyrotropic pressure is insufficient to explain the
observed reconnection rates. These results suggest that, in addition to the
residual collisions, 3D effects play an important role in electron-scale
dissipation during fast reconnection.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure
The Seyfert-Starburst Connection in X-rays. II. Results and Implications
We present the results of X-ray imaging and spectroscopic analysis of a
sample of Seyfert 2 galaxies that contain starbursts, based on their optical
and UV characteristics. These composite galaxies exhibit extended, soft,
thermal X-ray emission, which we attribute to their starburst components.
Comparing their X-ray and far-infrared properties with ordinary Seyfert and
starburst galaxies, we identify the spectral characteristics of their various
intrinsic emission sources. The observed far-infrared emission of the composite
galaxies may be associated almost exclusively with star formation, rather than
the active nucleus. The ratio of the hard X-ray luminosity to the far-infrared
and [O III] 5007 luminosity distinguishes most of these composite galaxies from
``pure'' Seyfert 2 galaxies, while their total observed hard X-ray luminosity
distinguishes them from ``pure'' starbursts. The hard nuclear X-ray source is
generally heavily absorbed (N_H > 10^{23} cm^{-2}) in the composite galaxies.
Based on these results, we suggest that the interstellar medium of the nuclear
starburst is a significant source of absorption. The majority of the sample are
located in groups or are interacting with other galaxies, which may trigger the
starburst or allow rapid mass infall to the central black hole, or both. We
conclude that starbursts are energetically important in a significant fraction
of active galaxies, and starbursts and active galactic nuclei may be part of a
common evolutionary sequence.Comment: 16 pages including 8 figures and 5 tables; to appear in the ApJ, Mar.
10, 200
Widespread expression of erythropoietin receptor in brain and its induction by injury
Erythropoietin (EPO) exerts potent neuroprotective, neuroregenerative and procognitive functions. However, unequivocal demonstration of erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) expression in brain cells has remained difficult since previously available anti-EPOR antibodies (EPOR-AB) were unspecific. We report here a new, highly specific, polyclonal rabbit EPOR-AB directed against different epitopes in the cytoplasmic tail of human and murine EPOR and its characterization by mass spectrometric analysis of immuno-precipitated endogenous EPOR, Western blotting, immunostaining and flow cytometry. Among others, we applied genetic strategies including overexpression, Lentivirus-mediated conditional knockout of EpoR and tagged proteins, both on cultured cells and tissue sections, as well as intracortical implantation of EPOR-transduced cells to verify specificity. We show examples of EPOR expression in neurons, oligodendroglia, astrocytes and microglia. Employing this new EPOR-AB with double-labeling strategies, we demonstrate membrane expression of EPOR as well as its localization in intracellular compartments such as the Golgi apparatus. Moreover, we show injury-induced expression of EPOR. In mice, a stereotactically applied stab wound to the motor cortex leads to distinct EpoR expression by reactive GFAP-expressing cells in the lesion vicinity. In a patient suffering from epilepsy, neurons and oligodendrocytes of the hippocampus strongly express EPOR. To conclude, this new analytical tool will allow neuroscientists to pinpoint EPOR expression in cells of the nervous system and to better understand its role in healthy conditions, including brain development, as well as under pathological circumstances, such as upregulation upon distress and injury
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