135,153 research outputs found
Workload reduction of a generalized Brownian network
We consider a dynamic control problem associated with a generalized Brownian
network, the objective being to minimize expected discounted cost over an
infinite planning horizon. In this Brownian control problem (BCP), both the
system manager's control and the associated cumulative cost process may be
locally of unbounded variation. Due to this aspect of the cost process, both
the precise statement of the problem and its analysis involve delicate
technical issues. We show that the BCP is equivalent, in a certain sense, to a
reduced Brownian control problem (RBCP) of lower dimension. The RBCP is a
singular stochastic control problem, in which both the controls and the
cumulative cost process are locally of bounded variation.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/105051605000000458 in the
Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute
of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
Quantum Kinetic Theory for a Condensed Bosonic Gas
We present a kinetic theory for Bose-Einstein condensation of a weakly
interacting atomic gas in a trap. Starting from first principles, we establish
a Markovian kinetic description for the evolution towards equilibrium. In
particular, we obtain a set of self-consistent master equations for mean
fields, normal densities, and anomalous fluctuations. These kinetic equations
generalize the Gross-Pitaevskii mean-field equations, and merge them
consistently with a quantum-Boltzmann equation approach.Comment: 15 pages, no figures; reviewed version; to be published in PR
Clumpy Ultracompact HII Regions I: Fully Supersonic Wind-blown Models
We propose that a significant fraction of the ultracompact HII regions found
in massive star-forming clouds are the result of the interaction of the wind
and ionizing radiation from a young massive star with the clumpy molecular
cloud gas in its neighbourhood. Distributed mass loading in the flow allows the
compact nebulae to be long-lived. In this paper, we discuss a particularly
simple case, in which the flow in the HII region is everywhere supersonic. The
line profiles predicted for this model are highly characteristic, for the case
of uniform mass loading. We discuss briefly other observational diagnostics of
these models.Comment: To appear in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 5
pages LaTeX (uses mn.sty and epsf.sty macros) + 4 PS figures. Also available
via http://axp2.ast.man.ac.uk:8000/Preprints.htm
Three-body recombination in a three-state Fermi gas with widely tunable interactions
We investigate the stability of a three spin state mixture of ultracold
fermionic Li atoms over a range of magnetic fields encompassing three
Feshbach resonances. For most field values, we attribute decay of the atomic
population to three-body processes involving one atom from each spin state and
find that the three-body loss coefficient varies by over four orders of
magnitude. We observe high stability when at least two of the three scattering
lengths are small, rapid loss near the Feshbach resonances, and two unexpected
resonant loss features. At our highest fields, where all pairwise scattering
lengths are approaching , we measure a three-body loss
coefficient and a trend
toward lower decay rates for higher fields indicating that future studies of
color superfluidity and trion formation in a SU(3) symmetric Fermi gas may be
feasible
Pattern formation in mixtures of ultracold atoms in optical lattices
Regular pattern formation is ubiquitous in nature; it occurs in biological,
physical, and materials science systems. Here we propose a set of experiments
with ultracold atoms that show how to examine different types of pattern
formation. In particular, we show how one can see the analog of labyrinthine
patterns (so-called quantum emulsions) in mixtures of light and heavy atoms
(that tend to phase separate) by tuning the trap potential and we show how
complex geometrically ordered patterns emerge (when the mixtures do not phase
separate), which could be employed for low-temperature thermometry. The complex
physical mechanisms for the pattern formation at zero temperature are
understood within a theoretical analysis called the local density
approximation.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, typeset in ReVTe
Vertical drop test of a transport fuselage center section including the wheel wells
A Boeing 707 fuselage section was drop tested to measure structural, seat, and anthropomorphic dummy response to vertical crash loads. The specimen had nominally zero pitch, roll and yaw at impact with a sink speed of 20 ft/sec. Results from this drop test and other drop tests of different transport sections will be used to prepare for a full-scale crash test of a B-720
A Remote Laser Mass Spectrometer for Lunar Resource Assessment
The use of lasers as a source of excitation for surface mass spectroscopy has been investigated for some time. Since the laser can be focused to a small spot with intensity, it can vaporize and accelerate atoms of material. Using this phenomenon with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer allows a surface elemental mass analysis of a small region with each laser pulse. While the technique has been well developed for Earth applications, space applications are less developed. NASA Langley recently began a research program to investigate the use of a laser to create ions from the lunar surface and to analyze the ions at an orbiting spacecraft. A multijoule, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser would be focused to a small spot on the lunar surface, creating a dense plasma. This plasma would eject high-energy ions, as well as neutrals, electrons, and photons. An experiment is being set up to determine the characteristics of such a laser mass spectrometer at long flight distances. This experiment will determine the character of a future flight instrument for lunar resource assessment
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