406 research outputs found
Commencement address
Address to the graduating class of 1945 by Stanley Pargellis, librarian at the Newberry Library
A low-noise series-array Josephson junction parametric amplifier
We have obtained parametric gain at 19 GHz from a distributed Josephson junction parametric amplifier whose active gain medium consists of a series array of 1000 Josephson junctions embedded in a coplanar waveguide. When cooled to 1.7 K the amplifier provides 16 dB gain in a mode where the internally generated double sideband noise referred to input is 0.5 ± 0.1 K. This noise is consistent with Nyquist noise generated from the losses. An instantaneous bandwidth of 125 MHz has been observed with a peak gain of 12 dB. The 3 dB compression point with a peak gain of 14.6 dB is -90.5 dB and the dynamic range is 38 dB
Design and evaluation of acceleration strategies for speeding up the development of dialog applications
In this paper, we describe a complete development platform that features different innovative acceleration strategies, not included in any other current platform, that simplify and speed up the definition of the different elements required to design a spoken dialog service. The proposed accelerations are mainly based on using the information from the backend database schema and contents, as well as cumulative information produced throughout the different steps in the design. Thanks to these accelerations, the interaction between the designer and the platform is improved, and in most cases the design is reduced to simple confirmations of the âproposalsâ that the platform dynamically provides at each step.
In addition, the platform provides several other accelerations such as configurable templates that can be used to define the different tasks in the service or the dialogs to obtain or show information to the user, automatic proposals for the best way to request slot contents from the user (i.e. using mixed-initiative forms or directed forms), an assistant that offers the set of more probable actions required to complete the definition of the different tasks in the application, or another assistant for solving specific modality details such as confirmations of user answers or how to present them the lists of retrieved results after querying the backend database. Additionally, the platform also allows the creation of speech grammars and prompts, database access functions, and the possibility of using mixed initiative and over-answering dialogs. In the paper we also describe in detail each assistant in the platform, emphasizing the different kind of methodologies followed to facilitate the design process at each one.
Finally, we describe the results obtained in both a subjective and an objective evaluation with different designers that confirm the viability, usefulness, and functionality of the proposed accelerations. Thanks to the accelerations, the design time is reduced in more than 56% and the number of keystrokes by 84%
Experimental Measurement of the Persistence Exponent of the Planar Ising Model
Using a twisted nematic liquid crystal system exhibiting planar Ising model
dynamics, we have measured the scaling exponent which characterizes
the time evolution, , of the probability p(t) that the
local order parameter has not switched its state by the time t. For 0.4 seconds
to 200 seconds following the phase quench, the system exhibits scaling behavior
and, measured over this interval, , in good agreement
with theoretical analysis and numerical simulations.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX (multicol.sty and epsf.sty needed): 1 EPS figure.
Introduction and reference list modifie
Phase Ordering of 2D XY Systems Below T_{KT}
We consider quenches in non-conserved two-dimensional XY systems between any
two temperatures below the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. The evolving systems
are defect free at coarse-grained scales, and can be exactly treated.
Correlations scale with a characteristic length at late
times. The autocorrelation decay exponent, ,
depends on both the initial and the final state of the quench through the
respective decay exponents of equilibrium correlations, . We also discuss time-dependent quenches.Comment: LATeX 11 pages (REVTeX macros), no figure
Phase ordering in bulk uniaxial nematic liquid crystals
The phase-ordering kinetics of a bulk uniaxial nematic liquid crystal is
addressed using techniques that have been successfully applied to describe
ordering in the O(n) model. The method involves constructing an appropriate
mapping between the order-parameter tensor and a Gaussian auxiliary field. The
mapping accounts both for the geometry of the director about the dominant
charge 1/2 string defects and biaxiality near the string cores. At late-times t
following a quench, there exists a scaling regime where the bulk nematic liquid
crystal and the three-dimensional O(2) model are found to be isomorphic, within
the Gaussian approximation. As a consequence, the scaling function for
order-parameter correlations in the nematic liquid crystal is exactly that of
the O(2) model, and the length characteristic of the strings grows as
. These results are in accord with experiment and simulation. Related
models dealing with thin films and monopole defects in the bulk are presented
and discussed.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures, REVTeX, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Nonequilibrium Dynamics in the Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equation
We present results from a comprehensive analytical and numerical study of
nonequilibrium dynamics in the 2-dimensional complex Ginzburg-Landau (CGL)
equation. In particular, we use spiral defects to characterize the domain
growth law and the evolution morphology. An asymptotic analysis of the
single-spiral correlation function shows a sequence of singularities --
analogous to those seen for time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) models with
O(n) symmetry, where is even.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Hydrodynamics of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals
We show that back-flow, the coupling between the order parameter and the
velocity fields, has a significant effect on the motion of defects in nematic
liquid crystals. In particular the defect speed can depend strongly on the
topological strength in two dimensions and on the sense of rotation of the
director about the core in three dimensions.Comment: 4 pages including two figure
Investigation of International Space Station Major Constituent Analyzer Anomalous ORU 02 Performance
The Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) is a mass spectrometer based system that measures the major atmospheric constituents on the International Space Station. In 2011, two MCA ORU 02 analyzer assemblies experienced premature on-orbit failures. These failures were determined to be the result of off-nominal ion source filament performance. Recent product improvements to ORU 02 designed to improve the lifetime of the ion pump also constrained the allowable tuning criteria for the ion source filaments. This presentation describes the filament failures as well as the corrective actions implemented to preclude such failures in the future
How Efficient Is The Langacker-Pi Mechanism of Monopole Annihilation?
We investigate the dynamics of monopole annihilation by the Langacker-Pi
mechanism. We find taht considerations of causality, flux-tube energetics and
the friction from Aharonov-Bohm scatteering suggest that the monopole
annihilation is most efficient if electromagnetism is spontaneously broken at
the lowest temperature () consistent with not having
the monopoles dominate the energy density of the universe.Comment: 10 page
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