633 research outputs found
The Unusual Spectrum of Comet 96P/Machholz
We report spectra from 3000-5900 A for comet 96P/Machholz, obtained on 2007
Apr 27 UT with the 3-m Shane telescope at Lick Observatory. The spectra are
extremely carbon poor, and show a prominent NH_2 series, but no CN emission.
NH, NH_2, and C_2 gas production rates are (8.36 +/- 2.18)x10^25, (29.88 +/-
3.66)x10^25, and (4.52 +/- 0.61)x10^23 molecules sec^-1, respectively, as
determined from Haser model fits to the data. Upper limits to the gas
production rates for CN and C_3 are 7.5x10^22 and 2.0x10^23, respectively.
Though 96P is depleted in C_2 and C_3 relative to NH, it is even more depleted
in CN than other so-called "carbon-chain depleted" comets.Comment: 14 pages, 4 tables, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
The classical capacity of quantum thermal noise channels to within 1.45 bits
We find a tight upper bound for the classical capacity of quantum thermal
noise channels that is within bits of Holevo's lower bound. This
lower bound is achievable using unentangled, classical signal states, namely
displaced coherent states. Thus, we find that while quantum tricks might offer
benefits, when it comes to classical communication they can only help a bit.Comment: Two pages plus a bi
A novel profluorescent dinitroxide for imaging polypropylene degradation
Free-radical processes underpin the thermo-oxidative degradation of polyolefins. Thus, to extend the lifetime of these polymers, stabilizers are generally added during processing to scavenge the free radicals formed as the polymer degrades. Nitroxide radical precursors, such as hindered amine stabilizers (HAS),1,2 are common polypropylene additives as the nitroxide moiety is a potent scavenger of polymer alkyl radicals (R¥). Oxidation of HAS by radicals formed during polypropylene degradation yields nitroxide radicals (RRNO¥), which rapidly trap the polymer degradation species to produce alkoxyamines, thus retarding oxidative polymer degradation. This increase in polymer stability is demonstrated by a lengthening of the “induction period” of the polymer (the time prior to a sharp rise in the oxidation of the polymer). Instrumental techniques such as chemiluminescence or infrared spectroscopy are somewhat limited in detecting changes in the polymer during the initial stages of degradation. Therefore, other methods for observing polymer degradation have been sought as the useful life of a polymer does not extend far beyond its “induction period
Entanglement can completely defeat quantum noise
We describe two quantum channels that individually cannot send any
information, even classical, without some chance of decoding error. But
together a single use of each channel can send quantum information perfectly
reliably. This proves that the zero-error classical capacity exhibits
superactivation, the extreme form of the superadditivity phenomenon in which
entangled inputs allow communication over zero capacity channels. But our
result is stronger still, as it even allows zero-error quantum communication
when the two channels are combined. Thus our result shows a new remarkable way
in which entanglement across two systems can be used to resist noise, in this
case perfectly. We also show a new form of superactivation by entanglement
shared between sender and receiver.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
Can non-private channels transmit quantum information?
We study the power of quantum channels with little or no capacity for private
communication. Because privacy is a necessary condition for quantum
communication, one might expect that such channels would be of little use for
transmitting quantum states. Nevertheless, we find strong evidence that there
are pairs of such channels that, when used together, can transmit far more
quantum information than the sum of their individual private capacities.
Because quantum transmissions are necessarily private, this would imply a large
violation of additivity for the private capacity. Specifically, we present
channels which display either (1) A large joint quantum capacity but very small
individual private capacities or (2) a severe violation of additivity for the
Holevo information.Comment: We both think so. 4 pages and 3 figures explain wh
Stellar Populations in the Phoenix Dwarf (dIrr/dSph) Galaxy as Observed by HST/WFPC2
We present HST/WFPC2 photometry of the central regions of the Phoenix dwarf.
Accurate photometry allows us to: 1) confirm the existence of the horizontal
branch previously detected by ground-based observations, and use it to
determine a distance to Phoenix, 2) clearly detect the existence of multiple
ages in the stellar population of Phoenix, 3) determine a mean metallicity of
the old red giant branch stars in Phoenix, and suggest that Phoenix has evolved
chemically over its lifetime, 4) extract a rough star formation history for the
central regions which suggests that Phoenix has been forming stars roughly
continuously over its entire lifetime.Comment: Accepted by AJ, 22 pages including 6 figures + 1 figure in JPEG
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