How Many Universes Do There Need To Be?

In the simplest cosmological models consistent with General Relativity, the total volume of the Universe is either finite or infinite, depending on whether or not the spatial curvature is positive. Current data suggest that the curvature is very close to flat, implying that one can place a lower limit on the total volume. In a Universe of finite age, the "particle horizon" defines the patch of the Universe which is observable to us. Based on today's best-fit cosmological parameters it is possible to constrain the number of observable Universe sized patches, N_U. Specifically, using the new WMAP data, we can say that there are at least 21 patches out there the same volume as ours, at 95% confidence. Moreover, even if the precision of our cosmological measurements continues to increase, density perturbations at the particle horizon size limit us to never knowing that there are more than about 10^5 patches out there.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure; received "honourable mention" in 2006 GRF essay contest; v2: improved analysis with newly available WMAP Monte Carlo Markov Chain; version published in IJMP

Space Charge Effects in Ferroelectric Thin Films

The effects of space charges on hysteresis loops and field distributions in ferroelectrics have been investigated numerically using the phenomenological Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory. Cases with the ferroelectric fully and partially depleted have been considered. In general, increasing the number of charged impurities results in a lowering of the polarization and coercive field values. Squarer loops were observed in the partially depleted cases and a method was proposed to identify fully depleted samples experimentally from dielectric and polarization measurements alone. Unusual field distributions found for higher dopant concentrations have some interesting implications for leakage mechanisms and limit the range of validity of usual semiconductor equations for carrier transport.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figure

Space applicable DOE photovoltaic technology: An update

Photovoltaic development projects applicable to space power are identified. When appropriate, the type of NASA support that would be necessary to implement these technologies for space use is indicated. It is conducted that the relatively small market and divergent operational requirements for space power are mainly responsible for the limited transfer of terrestrial technology to space applications. Information on the factors which control the cost and type of technology is provided. Terrestrial modules using semiconductor materials are investigated

The Zero Age Main Sequence of WIMP burners

We modify a stellar structure code to estimate the effect upon the main sequence of the accretion of weakly interacting dark matter onto stars and its subsequent annihilation. The effect upon the stars depends upon whether the energy generation rate from dark matter annihilation is large enough to shut off the nuclear burning in the star. Main sequence WIMP burners look much like protostars moving on the Hayashi track, although they are in principle completely stable. We make some brief comments about where such stars could be found, how they might be observed and more detailed simulations which are currently in progress. Finally we comment on whether or not it is possible to link the paradoxically young OB stars found at the galactic centre with WIMP burners.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figs. Matches published versio

Multipivotal models with applications to a shape fitting problem

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