631 research outputs found
On D-branes in the Nappi-Witten and GMM gauged WZW models
We construct D-branes in the Nappi-Witten (NW) and
Guadagnini-Martellini-Mintchev (GMM) gauged WZW models. For the NW and GMM models we present
the explicit equations describing the D-brane hypersurfaces in their target
spaces. In the latter case we show that the D-branes are classified according
to the Cardy theorem. We also present the semiclassical mass computation and
find its agreement with the CFT predictions.Comment: 16 pages, harvma
Tyre profiling : development and evolution of forensic methodology
University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Science.The chemical analysis of tyres is not a routine part of forensic investigation. The use of tyres as evidence has been limited to comparison of the tread pattern. However, the tread pattern is not the only evidence that may be left behind by a tyre. When a tyre skids across a hard road surface such as bitumen or concrete, residue from the tyre may be left behind.
It was the aim of this research to develop a method for the analysis of tyres and their residues, understand the amount of chemical variation in tyres, identify suitable methods for the collection of tyre residues from different road surfaces, and to classify tyre samples and identify the source of tyre residues.
A suitable method for analysis was successfully developed using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. It was found that pyrolysis was best completed at 450 °C using a furnace type pyrolyser.
Chemical variation was investigated in a single tyre, in tyres over time, in production batches, and between different models and sizes of tyres from the same manufacturer. Small variations were found within a single tyre and in tyres over time. Greater variation was observed in both the same and different production batches, and between different model tyres and different size tyres.
Three different collection techniques were investigated - picking, adhesive tape, and swabbing. Picking was found to be the most suitable technique to use on a concrete road with gravel aggregate, while a fingerprint lift was found to be the most suitable technique on a bitumen road surface. Swabbing was found to be an unsuitable technique.
Six replicate analyses were used to catalogue changes in the chemical composition between the tyre and the residue. Numerous changes were observed such that only a limited number of signals from the chromatogram could be used for identification purposes. Three different techniques were used for classification and identification - relative polymer content (RPC), target compound identification (TCI), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). LDA was found to be the most successful technique, correctly classifying 31 of 36 tyre residues.
PyGCMS allows for simple analysis of tyre samples and residues without pre-treatment. A tyre sample was found to have 5-10% variation in the relative polymer content, regardless of when during the life of the tyre the sample was taken. Variation was found between tyres from the same manufacturer. Both similarities and differences were found between tyres from the same production batch and different production batches, suggesting that homogeneity in a single production batch not guaranteed and that manufacturers will also change the composition of a tyre between different production batches. The collection of tyre residues (like the collection of any forensic evidence) may or may not be successful depending specifically on the type of road surface. Collection of tyre residues from a concrete road with gravel aggregate was successfully achieved through picking. Collection of tyre residues from a bitumen road was successfully achieved; however adhesive contamination from both the fingerprint lift and clear adhesive tape interfered with the PyGCMS analysis. Tyre residues were successfully correlated to the source tyre, but the process of collecting sample information from numerous replicate analyses of both the tyre sample and residue for data analysis was a time-consuming one
Peculiar Spin Frequency and Radio Profile Evolution of PSR J11196127 Following Magnetar-like X-ray Bursts
We present the spin frequency and profile evolution of the radio pulsar
J11196127 following magnetar-like X-ray bursts from the system in 2016 July.
Using data from the Parkes radio telescope, we observe a smooth and fast
spin-down process subsequent to the X-ray bursts resulting in a net change in
the pulsar rotational frequency of \,Hz.
During the transition, a net spin-down rate increase of
\,Hz\,s is observed, followed by a
return of to its original value. In addition, the radio pulsations
disappeared after the X-ray bursts and reappeared about two weeks later with
the flux density at 1.4\,GHz increased by a factor of five. The flux density
then decreased and undershot the normal flux density followed by a slow
recovery back to normal. The pulsar's integrated profile underwent dramatic and
short-term changes in total intensity, polarization and position angle. Despite
the complex evolution, we observe correlations between the spin-down rate,
pulse profile shape and radio flux density. Strong single pulses have been
detected after the X-ray bursts with their energy distributions evolving with
time. The peculiar but smooth spin frequency evolution of PSR~J11196127
accompanied by systematic pulse profile and flux density changes are most
likely to be a result of either reconfiguration of the surface magnetic fields
or particle winds triggered by the X-ray bursts. The recovery of spin-down rate
and pulse profile to normal provides us the best case to study the connection
between high magnetic-field pulsars and magnetars.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS on 2018 July 2
DBI analysis of generalised permutation branes
We investigate D-branes on the product GxG of two group manifolds described
as Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten models. When the levels of the two groups
coincide, it is well known that there exist permutation D-branes which are
twisted by the automorphism exchanging the two factors. When the levels are
different, the D-brane charge group demands that there should be
generalisations of these permutation D-branes, and a geometric construction for
them was proposed in hep-th/0509153. We give further evidence for this proposal
by showing that the generalised permutation D-branes satisfy the
Dirac-Born-Infeld equations of motion for arbitrary compact, simply connected
and simple Lie groups G.Comment: 19 pages, computation in section 3.5.1 corrected, conclusions
unchange
A Shapiro delay detection in the binary system hosting the millisecond pulsar PSR J1910-5959A
PSR J1910-5959A is a binary pulsar with a helium white dwarf companion
located about 6 arcmin from the center of the globular cluster NGC6752. Based
on 12 years of observations at the Parkes radio telescope, the relativistic
Shapiro delay has been detected in this system. We obtain a companion mass Mc =
0.180+/-0.018Msun (1sigma) implying that the pulsar mass lies in the range
1.1Msun <= Mp <= 1.5Msun. We compare our results with previous optical
determinations of the companion mass, and examine prospects for using this new
measurement for calibrating the mass-radius relation for helium white dwarfs
and for investigating their evolution in a pulsar binary system. Finally we
examine the set of binary systems hosting a millisecond pulsar and a low mass
helium white dwarf for which the mass of both stars has been measured. We
confirm that the correlation between the companion mass and the orbital period
predicted by Tauris & Savonije reproduces the observed values but find that the
predicted Mp - Pb correlation over-estimates the neutron star mass by about
0.5Msun in the orbital period range covered by the observations. Moreover, a
few systems do not obey the observed Mp - Pb correlation. We discuss these
results in the framework of the mechanisms that inhibit the accretion of matter
by a neutron star during its evolution in a low-mass X-ray binary.Comment: 4 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Timing of Millisecond Pulsars in NGC 6752: Evidence for a High Mass-to-Light Ratio in the Cluster Core
Using pulse timing observations we have obtained precise parameters,
including positions with about 20 mas accuracy, of five millisecond pulsars in
NGC 6752. Three of them, located relatively close to the cluster center, have
line-of-sight accelerations larger than the maximum value predicted by the
central mass density derived from optical observation, providing dynamical
evidence for a central mass-to-light ratio >~ 10, much higher than for any
other globular cluster. It is likely that the other two millisecond pulsars
have been ejected out of the core to their present locations at 1.4 and 3.3
half-mass radii, respectively, suggesting unusual non-thermal dynamics in the
cluster core.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letter. 5 pages, 2 figures, 1 tabl
Long-term observations of the pulsars in 47 Tucanae - II. Proper motions, accelerations and jerks
This paper is the second in a series where we report the results of the
long-term timing of the millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in 47 Tucanae with the
Parkes 64-m radio telescope. We obtain improved timing parameters that provide
additional information for studies of the cluster dynamics: a) the pulsar
proper motions yield an estimate of the proper motion of the cluster as a whole
(, ) and the motion of the pulsars
relative to each other. b) We measure the second spin-period derivatives caused
by the change of the pulsar line-of-sight accelerations; 47 Tuc H, U and
possibly J are being affected by nearby objects. c) For ten binary systems we
now measure changes in the orbital period caused by their acceleration in the
gravitational field of the cluster. From all these measurements, we derive a
cluster distance no smaller than 4.69 kpc and show that the
characteristics of these MSPs are very similar to their counterparts in the
Galactic disk. We find no evidence in favour of an intermediate mass black hole
at the centre of the cluster. Finally, we describe the orbital behaviour of the
four "black widow" systems. Two of them, 47 Tuc J and O, exhibit orbital
variability similar to that observed in other such systems, while for 47 Tuc I
and R the orbits seem to be remarkably stable. It appears, therefore, that not
all "black widows" have unpredictable orbital behaviour.Comment: 21 pages in journal format, 9 figures, 4 tables, accepted for
publication in MNRAS, several clarifications made and typos fixe
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