212 research outputs found
Black Holes From Different Perspectives
In this paper we consider black holes from a non general relativistic
perspective as also from a microphysical point of view.Comment: 8 pages, Te
Revisiting Zitterbewegung
The Dirac wave equation for the electron soon lead to the recognition of the
Zitterbewegung. This was studied both by Schrodinger and Dirac. Later there
were further elegant and sometimes dissenting insights, from different authors.
We briefly review some of these developments. However in more recent times with
dark energy and noncommutative spacetime coming to centre stage, the earlier
studies of Zitterbewegung become questionable.Comment: 14 pages; late
How models can support ecosystem-based management of coral reefs
Despite the importance of coral reef ecosystems to the social and economic welfare of coastal communities, the condition of these marine ecosystems have generally degraded over the past decades. With an increased knowledge of coral reef ecosystem processes and a rise in computer power, dynamic models are useful tools in assessing the synergistic effects of local and global stressors on ecosystem functions. We review representative approaches for dynamically modeling coral reef ecosystems and categorize them as minimal, intermediate and complex models. The categorization was based on the leading principle for model development and their level of realism and process detail. This review aims to improve the knowledge of concurrent approaches in coral reef ecosystem modeling and highlights the importance of choosing an appropriate approach based on the type of question(s) to be answered. We contend that minimal and intermediate models are generally valuable tools to assess the response of key states to main stressors and, hence, contribute to understanding ecological surprises. As has been shown in freshwater resources management, insight into these conceptual relations profoundly influences how natural resource managers perceive their systems and how they manage ecosystem recovery. We argue that adaptive resource management requires integrated thinking and decision support, which demands a diversity of modeling approaches. Integration can be achieved through complimentary use of models or through integrated models that systemically combine all relevant aspects in one model. Such whole-of-system models can be useful tools for quantitatively evaluating scenarios. These models allow an assessment of the interactive effects of multiple stressors on various, potentially conflicting, management objectives. All models simplify reality and, as such, have their weaknesses. While minimal models lack multidimensionality, system models are likely difficult to interpret as they require many efforts to decipher the numerous interactions and feedback loops. Given the breadth of questions to be tackled when dealing with coral reefs, the best practice approach uses multiple model types and thus benefits from the strength of different models types
Tidal Dwarf Galaxies at Intermediate Redshifts
We present the first attempt at measuring the production rate of tidal dwarf
galaxies (TDGs) and estimating their contribution to the overall dwarf
population. Using HST/ACS deep imaging data from GOODS and GEMS surveys in
conjunction with photometric redshifts from COMBO-17 survey, we performed a
morphological analysis for a sample of merging/interacting galaxies in the
Extended Chandra Deep Field South and identified tidal dwarf candidates in the
rest-frame optical bands. We estimated a production rate about 1.4 {\times}
10^{-5} per Gyr per comoving volume for long-lived TDGs with stellar mass 3
{\times} 10^{8-9} solar mass at 0.5<z<1.1. Together with galaxy merger rates
and TDG survival rate from the literature, our results suggest that only a
marginal fraction (less than 10%) of dwarf galaxies in the local universe could
be tidally-originated. TDGs in our sample are on average bluer than their host
galaxies in the optical. Stellar population modelling of optical to
near-infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for two TDGs favors a burst
component with age 400/200 Myr and stellar mass 40%/26% of the total,
indicating that a young stellar population newly formed in TDGs. This is
consistent with the episodic star formation histories found for nearby TDGs.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space
Scienc
The effect of the spin-orbit interaction on the band gap of half-metals
The spin-orbit interaction can cause a nonvanishing density of states (DOS)
within the minority-spin band gap of half-metals around the Fermi level. We
examine the magnitude of the effect in Heusler alloys, zinc-blende half metals
and diluted magnetic semiconductors, using first-principles calculations. We
find that the ratio of spin-down to spin-up DOS at the Fermi level can range
from below 1% (e.g. 0.5% for NiMnSb) over several percents (4.2% for (Ga,Mn)As)
to 13% for MnBi.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Mechanics: non-classical, non-quantum
A non-classical, non-quantum theory, or NCQ, is any fully consistent theory
that differs fundamentally from both the corresponding classical and quantum
theories, while exhibiting certain features common to both. Such theories are
of interest for two primary reasons. Firstly, NCQs arise prominently in
semi-classical approximation schemes. Their formal study may yield improved
approximation techniques in the near-classical regime. More importantly for the
purposes of this note, it may be possible for NCQs to reproduce quantum results
over experimentally tested regimes while having a well defined classical limit,
and hence are viable alternative theories. We illustrate an NCQ by considering
an explicit class of NCQ mechanics. Here this class will be arrived at via a
natural generalization of classical mechanics formulated in terms of a
probability density functional
Parametric quantum spin pump
We investigate a non-adiabatic parametric quantum pump consists of a
nonmagnetic scattering region connected by two ferromagnetic leads. The
presence of ferromagnetic leads allows electrons with different spins to
experience different potential landscape. Using this effect we propose a
quantum spin pump that drives spin-up electrons to flow in one direction and
spin-down electrons to flow in opposite direction. As a result, the spin pump
can deliver a spin current with vanishing charge current
A probabilistic model for gene content evolution with duplication, loss, and horizontal transfer
We introduce a Markov model for the evolution of a gene family along a
phylogeny. The model includes parameters for the rates of horizontal gene
transfer, gene duplication, and gene loss, in addition to branch lengths in the
phylogeny. The likelihood for the changes in the size of a gene family across
different organisms can be calculated in O(N+hM^2) time and O(N+M^2) space,
where N is the number of organisms, is the height of the phylogeny, and M
is the sum of family sizes. We apply the model to the evolution of gene content
in Preoteobacteria using the gene families in the COG (Clusters of Orthologous
Groups) database
Alpha scattering and capture reactions in the A = 7 system at low energies
Differential cross sections for He- scattering were measured in
the energy range up to 3 MeV. These data together with other available
experimental results for He and H scattering were
analyzed in the framework of the optical model using double-folded potentials.
The optical potentials obtained were used to calculate the astrophysical
S-factors of the capture reactions HeBe and
HLi, and the branching ratios for the transitions into
the two final Be and Li bound states, respectively. For
HeBe excellent agreement between calculated and
experimental data is obtained. For HLi a value
has been found which is a factor of about 1.5 larger than the adopted value.
For both capture reactions a similar branching ratio of has been obtained.Comment: submitted to Phys.Rev.C, 34 pages, figures available from one of the
authors, LaTeX with RevTeX, IK-TUW-Preprint 930540
New paths for modelling freshwater nature futures
Freshwater ecosystems are exceptionally rich in biodiversity and provide essential benefits to people. Yet they are disproportionately threatened compared to terrestrial and marine systems and remain underrepresented in the scenarios and models used for global environmental assessments. The Nature Futures Framework (NFF) has recently been proposed to advance the contribution of scenarios and models for environmental assessments. This framework places the diverse relationships between people and nature at its core, identifying three value perspectives as points of departure: Nature for Nature, Nature for Society, and Nature as Culture. We explore how the NFF may be implemented for improved assessment of freshwater ecosystems. First, we outline how the NFF and its main value perspectives can be translated to freshwater systems and explore what desirable freshwater futures would look like from each of the above perspectives. Second, we review scenario strategies and current models to examine how freshwater modelling can be linked to the NFF in terms of its aims and outcomes. In doing so, we also identify which aspects of the NFF framework are not yet captured in current freshwater models and suggest possible ways to bridge them. Our analysis provides future directions for a more holistic freshwater model and scenario development and demonstrates how society can benefit from freshwater modelling efforts that are integrated with the value-perspectives of the NFF. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]</p
- …