A Formal Model For Real-Time Parallel Computation

The imposition of real-time constraints on a parallel computing environment- specifically high-performance, cluster-computing systems- introduces a variety of challenges with respect to the formal verification of the system's timing properties. In this paper, we briefly motivate the need for such a system, and we introduce an automaton-based method for performing such formal verification. We define the concept of a consistent parallel timing system: a hybrid system consisting of a set of timed automata (specifically, timed Buchi automata as well as a timed variant of standard finite automata), intended to model the timing properties of a well-behaved real-time parallel system. Finally, we give a brief case study to demonstrate the concepts in the paper: a parallel matrix multiplication kernel which operates within provable upper time bounds. We give the algorithm used, a corresponding consistent parallel timing system, and empirical results showing that the system operates under the specified timing constraints.Comment: In Proceedings FTSCS 2012, arXiv:1212.657

ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF U.S. DAIRY PROGRAMS

Based on econometric analysis, this article estimates effects of terminating the milk order system and milk price support, singly and together, over the period 1966-90. Since 1980, milk orders have raised the national blend price by 1-2%; price support has raised the blend price to well above the market clearing price, by over 21% in 1983. Short- and long-run benefits and costs are estimated for various policy options under 1990 conditions.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Finite temperature phase diagram of a spin-polarized ultracold Fermi gas in a highly elongated harmonic trap

We investigate the finite temperature properties of an ultracold atomic Fermi gas with spin population imbalance in a highly elongated harmonic trap. Previous studies at zero temperature showed that the gas stays in an exotic spatially inhomogeneous Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) superfluid state at the trap center; while moving to the edge, the system changes into either a non-polarized Bardeen-Cooper-Schriffer superfluid ($P<P_c$) or a fully polarized normal gas ($P>P_c$), depending on the smallness of the spin polarization $P$, relative to a critical value $P_c$. In this work, we show how these two phase-separation phases evolve with increasing temperature, and thereby construct a finite temperature phase diagram. For typical interactions, we find that the exotic FFLO phase survives below one-tenth of Fermi degeneracy temperature, which seems to be accessible in the current experiment. The density profile, equation of state, and specific heat of the polarized system have been calculated and discussed in detail. Our results are useful for the on-going experiment at Rice University on the search for FFLO states in quasi-one-dimensional polarized Fermi gases.Comment: 9 pages and 8 figures; Published version in Phys. Rev.

Exact few-body results for strongly correlated quantum gases in two dimensions

The study of strongly correlated quantum gases in two dimensions has important ramifications for understanding many intriguing pheomena in solid materials, such as high-$T_{c}$ superconductivity and the fractional quantum Hall effect. However, theoretical methods are plagued by the existence of significant quantum fluctuations. Here, we present two- and three-body exact solutions for both fermions and bosons trapped in a two-dimensional harmonic potential, with an arbitrary $s$-wave scattering length. These few-particle solutions link in a natural way to the high-temperature properties of many-particle systems via a quantum virial expansion. As a concrete example, using the energy spectrum of few fermions, we calculate the second and third virial coefficients of a strongly interacting Fermi gas in two dimensions, and consequently investigate its high-temperature thermodynamics. Our thermodynamic results may be useful for ongoing experiments on two-dimensional Fermi gases. These exact results also provide an unbiased benchmark for quantum Monte Carlo simulations of two-dimensional Fermi gases at high temperatures.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

Exploring extra dimensions through inflationary tensor modes

Predictions of inflationary schemes can be influenced by the presence of extra dimensions. This could be of particular relevance for the spectrum of gravitational waves in models where the extra dimensions provide a brane-world solution to the hierarchy problem. Apart from models of large as well as exponentially warped extra dimensions, we analyze the size of tensor modes in the Linear Dilaton scheme recently revived in the discussion of the "clockwork mechanism". The results are model dependent, significantly enhanced tensor modes on one side and a suppression on the other. In some cases we are led to a scheme of "remote inflation", where the expansion is driven by energies at a hidden brane. In all cases where tensor modes are enhanced, the requirement of perturbativity of gravity leads to a stringent upper limit on the allowed Hubble rate during inflation.Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures; v2: added discussion on the emergence of curvature singularities and removed discussion on the NKKK case with horizon in the bulk, conclusions unaltered, matches the published versio

Static structure factor of a strongly correlated Fermi gas at large momenta

We theoretically investigate the static structure factor of an interacting Fermi gas near the BEC-BCS crossover at large momenta. Due to short-range two-body interactions, we predict that the structure factor of unlike spin correlations $S_{\uparrow\downarrow}(q)$ falls off as $1/q$ in a universal scaling region with large momentum $\hbar q$ and large scattering length. The scaling coefficient is determined by the celebrated Tan's contact parameter, which links the short-range behavior of many-body systems to their universal thermodynamic properties. By implementing this new Tan relation together with the random-phase approximation and the virial expansion theory in various limiting cases, we show how to calculate $S_{\uparrow\downarrow}(q)$ at zero and finite temperatures for arbitrary interaction strengths, at momentum transfer higher than the Fermi momentum. Our results provide a way to experimentally confirm a new Tan relation and to accurately measure the value of contact parameter.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures; revised according to the Referee's suggestions; publised versio

Investigating the Transition Region Explosive Events and Their Relationship to Network Jets

Recent imaging observations with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograp (IRIS) have revealed prevalent intermittent jets with apparent speeds of 80--250 km~s$^{-1}$ from the network lanes in the solar transition region (TR). On the other hand, spectroscopic observations of the TR lines have revealed the frequent presence of highly non-Gaussian line profiles with enhanced emission at the line wings, often referred as explosive events (EEs). Using simultaneous imaging and spectroscopic observations from IRIS, we investigate the relationship between EEs and network jets. We first identify EEs from the Si~{\sc{iv}}~1393.755 {\AA} line profiles in our observations, then examine related features in the 1330 {\AA} slit-jaw images. Our analysis suggests that EEs with double peaks or enhancements in both wings appear to be located at either the footpoints of network jets, or transient compact brightenings. These EEs are most likely produced by magnetic reconnection. We also find that EEs with enhancements only at the blue wing are mainly located on network jets, away from the footpoints. These EEs clearly result from the superposition of the high-speed network jets on the TR background. In addition, EEs showing enhancement only at the red wing of the line are often located around the jet footpoints, possibly caused by the superposition of reconnection downflows on the background emission. Moreover, we find some network jets that are not associated with any detectable EEs. Our analysis suggests that some EEs are related to the birth or propagation of network jets, and that others are not connected to network jets.Comment: 9 figures; to appear in Ap

Mean-field study of itinerant ferromagnetism in trapped ultracold Fermi gases: Beyond the local density approximation

We theoretically investigate the itinerant ferromagnetic transition of a spherically trapped ultracold Fermi gas with spin imbalance under strongly repulsive interatomic interactions. Our study is based on a self-consistent solution of the Hartree-Fock mean-field equations beyond the widely used local density approximation. We demonstrate that, while the local density approximation holds in the paramagnetic phase, after the ferromagnetic transition it leads to a quantitative discrepancy in various thermodynamic quantities even with large atom numbers. We determine the position of the phase transition by monitoring the shape change of the free energy curve with increasing the polarization at various interaction strengths.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures; published version in Phys. Rev.