5,119 research outputs found
Problems with Using Evolutionary Theory in Philosophy
Does science move toward truths? Are present scientific theories (approximately) true? Should we invoke truths to explain the success of science? Do our cognitive faculties track truths? Some philosophers say yes, while others say no, to these questions. Interestingly, both groups use the same scientific theory, viz., evolutionary theory, to defend their positions. I argue that it begs the question for the former group to do so because their positive answers imply that evolutionary theory is warranted, whereas it is self-defeating for the latter group to do so because their negative answers imply that evolutionary theory is unwarranted
Chemically gated electronic structure of a superconducting doped topological insulator system
Angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy is used to observe changes in the
electronic structure of bulk-doped topological insulator CuBiSe as
additional copper atoms are deposited onto the cleaved crystal surface. Carrier
density and surface-normal electrical field strength near the crystal surface
are estimated to consider the effect of chemical surface gating on atypical
superconducting properties associated with topological insulator order, such as
the dynamics of theoretically predicted Majorana Fermion vortices
Single-Dirac-Cone topological surface states in TlBiSe2 class of Topological Insulators
We have investigated several strong spin-orbit coupling ternary chalcogenides
related to the (Pb,Sn)Te series of compounds. Our first-principles calculations
predict the low temperature rhombohedral ordered phase in TlBiTe2, TlBiSe2, and
TlSbX2 (X=Te, Se, S) to be topologically Kane-Mele Z2 = -1 nontrivial. We
identify the specific surface termination that realizes the single Dirac cone
through first-principles surface state computations. This termination minimizes
effects of dangling bonds making it favorable for photoemission (ARPES)
experiments. Our analysis predicts that thin films of these materials would
harbor novel 2D quantum spin Hall states, and support odd-parity topological
superconductivity. For a related work also see arXiv:1003.2615v1. Experimental
ARPES results will be published elsewhere.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett. (2010). Submitted March
201
Solar Activity Modeling: From Subgranular Dynamical Scales to the Solar Cycles
Dynamical effects of solar magnetoconvection span a wide range spatial and temporal scales that extends from the interior to the corona and from fast turbulent motions to the global-Sun magnetic activity. To study the solar activity on short temporal scales (from minutes to hours), we use 3D radiative MHD simulations that allow us to investigate complex turbulent interactions that drive various phenomena, such as plasma eruptions, spontaneous formation of magnetic structures, funnel-like structures and magnetic loops in the corona, and others. In particular, we focus on multi-scale processes of energy exchange across the different layers, which contribute to the corona heating and eruptive dynamics, as well as interlinks between different layers of the solar interior and atmosphere. For modeling the global-scale activity we use the data assimilation approach that has demonstrated great potential for building reliable long-term forecasts of solar activity. In particular, it has been shown that the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) method applied to the Parker-Kleeorin-Ruzmakin dynamo model is capable of predicting solar activity up to one sunspot cycle ahead in time, as well as estimating the properties of the next cycle a few years before it begins. In this presentation, using the available magnetogram data, we discuss development of the methodology and forecast quality criteria (including forecast uncertainties and sources of errors). We demonstrate the influence of observational limitation on the prediction accuracy. We present the EnKF predictions of the upcoming Solar Cycle 25 based on both the sunspot number series and observed magnetic fields, and discuss the uncertainties and potential of the data assimilation approach for modeling and forecasting the solar activity
Solar Activity Modeling: From Subgranular Dynamical Scales to the Solar Cycles
The dynamical effects of solar magnetoconvection span a wide range spatial and temporal scales that extend from the interior to the corona and from fast turbulent motions to global magnetic activity. To study the solar activity on short temporal scales (from minutes to hours), we use 3D radiative MHD simulations that allow us to investigate complex turbulent interactions that drive various phenomena, such as plasma eruptions, spontaneous formation of magnetic structures, funnel-like structures and magnetic loops in the corona, and others. In particular, we focus on multi-scale processes of energy exchange across layers of the solar interior and atmosphere, which contribute to coronal heating and eruptive dynamics. For modeling global-scale activity, we use a data assimilation approach that has demonstrated great potential for building reliable long-term forecasts of solar activity. In particular, it has been shown that the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) method applied to the Parker-Kleeorin-Ruzmakin dynamo model is capable of predicting solar activity up to one sunspot cycle ahead in time, as well as estimating the properties of the next cycle a few years before it begins. In this presentation, using the available magnetogram data, we discuss development of the methodology and forecast quality criteria (including forecast uncertainties and sources of errors). We demonstrate the influence of observational limitations on prediction accuracy, and we present the EnKF predictions of the upcoming Solar Cycle (25) based on both the sunspot number series and observed magnetic fields and discuss the uncertainties and potential of the data assimilation approach for modeling and forecasting solar activity
Charge collective modes in an incommensurately modulated cuprate
We report the first measurement of collective charge modes of insulating
Sr14Cu24O41 using inelastic resonant x-ray scattering over the complete
Brillouin zone. Our results show that the intense excitation modes at the
charge gap edge predominantly originate from the ladder-containing planar
substructures. The observed ladder modes (E vs. Q) are found to be dispersive
for momentum transfers along the "legs" but nearly localized along the "rungs".
Dispersion and peakwidth characteristics are similar to the charge spectrum of
1D Mott insulators, and we show that our results can be understood in the
strong coupling limit (U >> t_{ladder}> t_{chain}). The observed behavior is in
marked contrast to the charge spectrum seen in most two dimensional cuprates.
Quite generally, our results also show that momentum-tunability of inelastic
scattering can be used to resolve mode contributions in multi-component
incommensurate systems.Comment: 4+ pages, 5 figure
The Shape, Multiplicity, and Evolution of Superclusters in LambdaCDM Cosmology
We determine the shape, multiplicity, size, and radial structure of
superclusters in the LambdaCDM concordance cosmology from z = 0 to z = 2.
Superclusters are defined as clusters of clusters in our large-scale
cosmological simulation. We find that superclusters are triaxial in shape; many
have flattened since early times to become nearly two-dimensional structures at
present, with a small fraction of filamentary systems. The size and
multiplicity functions are presented at different redshifts. Supercluster sizes
extend to scales of ~ 100 - 200 Mpc/h. The supercluster multiplicity (richness)
increases linearly with supercluster size. The density profile in superclusters
is approximately isothermal (~ R^{-2}) and steepens on larger scales. These
results can be used as a new test of the current cosmology when compared with
upcoming observations of large-scale surveys.Comment: 33 pages, 15 figures, accepted to ApJ; minor content changes, some
figures removed to shorten pape
XMM observation of 1RXS J180431.1-273932: a new M-type X-ray binary with a 494 s-pulse period neutron star?
Low-mass X-ray binaries are binary systems composed of a compact object and a
low-mass star. Recently, a new class of these systems, known as symbiotic
-ray binaries (with a neutron star with a M-type giant companion), has been
discovered. Here, we present long-duration observations of the
source 1RXS J180431.1-273932. Temporal and spectral analysis of the source was
performed along with a search for an optical counterpart. We used a
Lomb-Scargle periodogram analysis for the period search and evaluated the
confidence level using Monte-Carlo simulations. The source is characterized by
regular pulses so that it is most likely a neutron star. A modulation of
s (3 error) was found with a confidence level of 99%.
Evidence of variability is also present, since the data show a rate of change
in the signal of counts s hr. A longer
observation will be necessary in order to determine if the source shows any
periodic behavior. The spectrum can be described by a power law with photon
index and a Gaussian line at 6.6 keV. The X-ray flux in the
0.2--10 keV energy band is erg s cm. The
identification of an optical counterpart (possibly an M6III red-giant star with
an apparent visual magnitude of ) allows a conservative distance
of kpc to be estimated. Other possibilities are also discussed. Once
the distance was estimated, we got an -ray luminosity of L_X\ut<6\times
10^{34} erg s, which is consistent with the typical -ray luminosity
of a symbiotic LMXB system.Comment: in press on A&
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