7,894 research outputs found
Particle on the Innermost Stable Circular Orbit of a Rapidly Spinning Black Hole
We compute the radiation emitted by a particle on the innermost stable
circular orbit of a rapidly spinning black hole both (a) analytically, working
to leading order in the deviation from extremality and (b) numerically, with a
new high-precision Teukolsky code. We find excellent agreement between the two
methods. We confirm previous estimates of the overall scaling of the power
radiated, but show that there are also small oscillations all the way to
extremality. Furthermore, we reveal an intricate mode-by-mode structure in the
flux to infinity, with only certain modes having the dominant scaling. The
scaling of each mode is controlled by its conformal weight, a quantity that
arises naturally in the representation theory of the enhanced near-horizon
symmetry group. We find relationships to previous work on particles orbiting in
precisely extreme Kerr, including detailed agreement of quantities computed
here with conformal field theory calculations performed in the context of the
Kerr/CFT correspondence.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, v2: reference added, minor changes, matches
published versio
Non-line-of-sight tracking of people at long range
A remote-sensing system that can determine the position of hidden objects has
applications in many critical real-life scenarios, such as search and rescue
missions and safe autonomous driving. Previous work has shown the ability to
range and image objects hidden from the direct line of sight, employing
advanced optical imaging technologies aimed at small objects at short range. In
this work we demonstrate a long-range tracking system based on single laser
illumination and single-pixel single-photon detection. This enables us to track
one or more people hidden from view at a stand-off distance of over 50~m. These
results pave the way towards next generation LiDAR systems that will
reconstruct not only the direct-view scene but also the main elements hidden
behind walls or corners
Interactions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, critical loads of nitrogen deposition, and shifts from native to invasive species in a southern California shrubland
Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition and invasive species are causing declines in global biodiversity, and both factors impact the diversity and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Shifts in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities can generate feedback to native plants and affect their success, as was observed in Californiaâs coastal sage scrub, which is a Mediterranean-type shrubland threatened by invasive grasses. As vegetation-type conversion from native shrubland to exotic annual grassland increased along a gradient of increasing N deposition, the richness of native plant species and of spore morphotypes decreased. Rapid declines in all plant and fungal values occurred at the critical load (CL) of 10â11 kgâN·haâ1·yearâ1, indicating that AM fungi respond to the same environmental signals as the plants, and can be used to assess CL. Shrub root colonization also decreased along the N gradient, but colonization of the invasive grass was dominated by a fine AMF endophyte that was unresponsive to elevated N. A greenhouse experiment to assess AMF functioning showed that the native shrub Artemisia californica Less. had a negative growth response to an inoculum from high-N but not low-N soils, whereas the invasive grass Bromus rubens L. had a positive response to both inocula. Differential functioning of AM fungi under N deposition may in part explain vegetation-type conversion and the decline of this native shrubland
Solid immersion lens applications for nanophotonic devices
Solid immersion lens (SIL) microscopy combines the advantages of conventional microscopy with those of near-field techniques, and is being increasingly adopted across a diverse range of technologies and applications. A comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in this rapidly expanding subject is therefore increasingly relevant. Important benefits are enabled by SIL-focusing, including an improved lateral and axial spatial profiling resolution when a SIL is used in laser-scanning microscopy or excitation, and an improved collection efficiency when a SIL is used in a light-collection mode, for example in fluorescence micro-spectroscopy. These advantages arise from the increase in numerical aperture (NA) that is provided by a SIL. Other SIL-enhanced improvements, for example spherical-aberration-free sub-surface imaging, are a fundamental consequence of the aplanatic imaging condition that results from the spherical geometry of the SIL. Beginning with an introduction to the theory of SIL imaging, the unique properties of SILs are exposed to provide advantages in applications involving the interrogation of photonic and electronic nanostructures. Such applications range from the sub-surface examination of the complex three-dimensional microstructures fabricated in silicon integrated circuits, to quantum photoluminescence and transmission measurements in semiconductor quantum dot nanostructures
A low-loss, broadband antenna for efficient photon collection from a coherent spin in diamond
We report the creation of a low-loss, broadband optical antenna giving highly
directed output from a coherent single spin in the solid-state. The device, the
first solid-state realization of a dielectric antenna, is engineered for
individual nitrogen vacancy (NV) electronic spins in diamond. We demonstrate a
directionality close to 10. The photonic structure preserves the high spin
coherence of single crystal diamond (T2>100us). The single photon count rate
approaches a MHz facilitating efficient spin readout. We thus demonstrate a key
enabling technology for quantum applications such as high-sensitivity
magnetometry and long-distance spin entanglement.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures and supplementary information (5 pages, 8
figures). Comments welcome. Further information under
http://www.quantum-sensing.physik.unibas.c
Extreme Flood Sediment Production and Export Controlled by ReachâScale Morphology
Rapid earth surface evolution is discrete in nature, with short-duration extreme events having a widespread impact on landscapes despite occurring relatively infrequently. Here, we exploit a unique opportunity to identify the broad, process-based, controls on sediment production and export during extreme rainfall-runoff events through a multi-catchment analysis. A 3 hr extreme rainfall event generated significantly different impacts across three catchments, ranging from (a) sediment export exceeding two orders of magnitude more than the typical long term average to (b) a minimal impact, with this variability primarily controlled by catchment steepness and the presence of reach-scale morphological transitions caused by postglacial landscape adjustment. In any catchment worldwide where populations are at risk, we highlight the importance of combining topographic analysis with detailed mapping of channel bed material (e.g., presence of transitions between process domains) and identification of sediment sources within morphological transition zones for accurately predicting the impact of extreme events
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