2,714 research outputs found
Sketchy rendering for information visualization
We present and evaluate a framework for constructing sketchy style information visualizations that mimic data graphics drawn by hand. We provide an alternative renderer for the Processing graphics environment that redefines core drawing primitives including line, polygon and ellipse rendering. These primitives allow higher-level graphical features such as bar charts, line charts, treemaps and node-link diagrams to be drawn in a sketchy style with a specified degree of sketchiness. The framework is designed to be easily integrated into existing visualization implementations with minimal programming modification or design effort. We show examples of use for statistical graphics, conveying spatial imprecision and for enhancing aesthetic and narrative qualities of visual- ization. We evaluate user perception of sketchiness of areal features through a series of stimulus-response tests in order to assess users’ ability to place sketchiness on a ratio scale, and to estimate area. Results suggest relative area judgment is compromised by sketchy rendering and that its influence is dependent on the shape being rendered. They show that degree of sketchiness may be judged on an ordinal scale but that its judgement varies strongly between individuals. We evaluate higher-level impacts of sketchiness through user testing of scenarios that encourage user engagement with data visualization and willingness to critique visualization de- sign. Results suggest that where a visualization is clearly sketchy, engagement may be increased and that attitudes to participating in visualization annotation are more positive. The results of our work have implications for effective information visualization design that go beyond the traditional role of sketching as a tool for prototyping or its use for an indication of general uncertainty
Near-Constant Mean Curvature Solutions of the Einstein Constraint Equations with Non-Negative Yamabe Metrics
We show that sets of conformal data on closed manifolds with the metric in
the positive or zero Yamabe class, and with the gradient of the mean curvature
function sufficiently small, are mapped to solutions of the Einstein constraint
equations. This result extends previous work which required the conformal
metric to be in the negative Yamabe class, and required the mean curvature
function to be nonzero.Comment: 15 page
On the preferential acceleration and heating of solar wind heavy ions
The feasibility of producing the observed velocities and temperatures of solar wind heavy ions by the resonant cyclotron interaction with left-polarized hydromagnetic waves was investigated. A "most favorable case" scenario in which the waves are parallel-propagating and dispersionless and the energy for the wave acceleration and heating is taken from saturated low-frequency Alfven waves via a cascade to higher frequencies, is incorporated into a numerical solar wind code and agreement with observation is tested. The resonant cyclotron interaction is shown to fail on at least three points, even in this most favorable case
Asymptotically Hyperbolic Non Constant Mean Curvature Solutions of the Einstein Constraint Equations
We describe how the iterative technique used by Isenberg and Moncrief to
verify the existence of large sets of non constant mean curvature solutions of
the Einstein constraints on closed manifolds can be adapted to verify the
existence of large sets of asymptotically hyperbolic non constant mean
curvature solutions of the Einstein constraints.Comment: 19 pages, TeX, no figure
The constraint equations for the Einstein-scalar field system on compact manifolds
We study the constraint equations for the Einstein-scalar field system on
compact manifolds. Using the conformal method we reformulate these equations as
a determined system of nonlinear partial differential equations. By introducing
a new conformal invariant, which is sensitive to the presence of the initial
data for the scalar field, we are able to divide the set of free conformal data
into subclasses depending on the possible signs for the coefficients of terms
in the resulting Einstein-scalar field Lichnerowicz equation. For many of these
subclasses we determine whether or not a solution exists. In contrast to other
well studied field theories, there are certain cases, depending on the mean
curvature and the potential of the scalar field, for which we are unable to
resolve the question of existence of a solution. We consider this system in
such generality so as to include the vacuum constraint equations with an
arbitrary cosmological constant, the Yamabe equation and even (all cases of)
the prescribed scalar curvature problem as special cases.Comment: Minor changes, final version. To appear: Classical and Quantum
Gravit
Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS), Westinghouse phase 1. Volume 12: Fuel cells
A parametric assessment of four fuel cell power systems -- based on phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide, molten carbonate, and stabilized zirconia -- has shown that the most important parameters for electricity-cost reduction and/or efficiency improvement standpoints are fuel cell useful life and power density, use of a waste-heat recovery system, and fuel type. Typical capital costs, overall energy efficiencies (based on the heating value of the coal used to produce the power plant fuel), and electricity costs are: phosphoric acid 450-700/kWe, 26-31%, and 12.8 to 16.9 mills/MJ (46 to 61 mills/kWh); molten carbonate 420-950/kWe, 26-53%, and 9.7 to 16.9 mills/MJ (35 to 61 mills/kWh). Three types of fuel cell power plants -- solid electrolytic with steam bottoming, molten carbonate with steam bottoming, and solid electrolyte with an integrated coal gasifier -- are recommended for further study
A rigidity theorem for nonvacuum initial data
In this note we prove a theorem on non-vacuum initial data for general
relativity. The result presents a ``rigidity phenomenon'' for the extrinsic
curvature, caused by the non-positive scalar curvature.
More precisely, we state that in the case of asymptotically flat non-vacuum
initial data if the metric has everywhere non-positive scalar curvature then
the extrinsic curvature cannot be compactly supported.Comment: This is an extended and published version: LaTex, 10 pages, no
figure
A Self-Consistent Marginally Stable State for Parallel Ion Cyclotron Waves
We derive an equation whose solutions describe self-consistent states of
marginal stability for a proton-electron plasma interacting with
parallel-propagating ion cyclotron waves. Ion cyclotron waves propagating
through this marginally stable plasma will neither grow nor damp. The
dispersion relation of these waves, {\omega} (k), smoothly rises from the usual
MHD behavior at small |k| to reach {\omega} = {\Omega}p as k \rightarrow
\pm\infty. The proton distribution function has constant phase-space density
along the characteristic resonant surfaces defined by this dispersion relation.
Our equation contains a free function describing the variation of the proton
phase-space density across these surfaces. Taking this free function to be a
simple "box function", we obtain specific solutions of the marginally stable
state for a range of proton parallel betas. The phase speeds of these waves are
larger than those given by the cold plasma dispersion relation, and the
characteristic surfaces are more sharply peaked in the v\bot direction. The
threshold anisotropy for generation of ion cyclotron waves is also larger than
that given by estimates which assume bi-Maxwellian proton distributions.Comment: in press in Physics of Plasma
Resonant Interactions Between Protons and Oblique Alfv\'en/Ion-Cyclotron Waves
Resonant interactions between ions and Alfv\'en/ion-cyclotron (A/IC) waves
may play an important role in the heating and acceleration of the fast solar
wind. Although such interactions have been studied extensively for "parallel"
waves, whose wave vectors are aligned with the background magnetic
field , much less is known about interactions between ions and
oblique A/IC waves, for which the angle between and is nonzero. In this paper, we present new numerical results on resonant
cyclotron interactions between protons and oblique A/IC waves in collisionless
low-beta plasmas such as the solar corona. We find that if some mechanism
generates oblique high-frequency A/IC waves, then these waves initially modify
the proton distribution function in such a way that it becomes unstable to
parallel waves. Parallel waves are then amplified to the point that they
dominate the wave energy at the large parallel wave numbers at which the waves
resonate with the particles. Pitch-angle scattering by these waves then causes
the plasma to evolve towards a state in which the proton distribution is
constant along a particular set of nested "scattering surfaces" in velocity
space, whose shapes have been calculated previously. As the distribution
function approaches this state, the imaginary part of the frequency of parallel
A/IC waves drops continuously towards zero, but oblique waves continue to
undergo cyclotron damping while simultaneously causing protons to diffuse
across these kinetic shells to higher energies. We conclude that oblique A/IC
waves can be more effective at heating protons than parallel A/IC waves,
because for oblique waves the plasma does not relax towards a state in which
proton damping of oblique A/IC waves ceases
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