15,798 research outputs found
A terrestrial search for dark contents of the vacuum, such as dark energy, using atom interferometry
We describe the theory and first experimental work on our concept for
searching on earth for the presence of dark content of the vacuum (DCV) using
atom interferometry. Specifically, we have in mind any DCV that has not yet
been detected on a laboratory scale, but might manifest itself as dark energy
on the cosmological scale. The experimental method uses two atom
interferometers to cancel the effect of earth's gravity and diverse noise
sources. It depends upon two assumptions: first, that the DCV possesses some
space inhomogeneity in density, and second that it exerts a sufficiently strong
non-gravitational force on matter. The motion of the apparatus through the DCV
should then lead to an irregular variation in the detected matter-wave phase
shift. We discuss the nature of this signal and note the problem of
distinguishing it from instrumental noise. We also discuss the relation of our
experiment to what might be learned by studying the noise in gravitational wave
detectors such as LIGO.The paper concludes with a projection that a future
search of this nature might be carried out using an atom interferometer in an
orbiting satellite. The apparatus is now being constructed
High-power broadband laser source tunable from 3.0 um to 4.4 um based on a femtosecond Yb:fiber oscillator
We describe a tunable broadband mid-infrared laser source based on
difference-frequency mixing of a 100 MHz femtosecond Yb:fiber laser oscillator
and a Raman-shifted soliton generated with the same laser. The resulting light
is tunable over 3.0 um to 4.4 um, with a FWHM bandwidth of 170 nm and maximum
average output power up to 125 mW. The noise and coherence properties of this
source are also investigated and described.Comment: To appear in Optics Letter
On the Electromagnetic Properties of Matter in Collapse Models
We discuss the electromagnetic properties of both a charged free particle,
and a charged particle bounded by an harmonic potential, within collapse
models. By choosing a particularly simple, yet physically relevant, collapse
model, and under only the dipole approximation, we are able to solve the
equation of motion exactly. In this way, both the finite time and large time
behavior can be analyzed accurately. We discovered new features, which did not
appear in previous works on the same subject. Since, so far, the spontaneous
photon emission process places the strongest upper bounds on the collapse
parameters, our results call for a further analysis of this process for those
atomic systems which can be employed in experimental tests of collapse models,
as well as of quantum mechanics.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX, updated version with minor change
A Mathematical Theory of Stochastic Microlensing II. Random Images, Shear, and the Kac-Rice Formula
Continuing our development of a mathematical theory of stochastic
microlensing, we study the random shear and expected number of random lensed
images of different types. In particular, we characterize the first three
leading terms in the asymptotic expression of the joint probability density
function (p.d.f.) of the random shear tensor at a general point in the lens
plane due to point masses in the limit of an infinite number of stars. Up to
this order, the p.d.f. depends on the magnitude of the shear tensor, the
optical depth, and the mean number of stars through a combination of radial
position and the stars' masses. As a consequence, the p.d.f.s of the shear
components are seen to converge, in the limit of an infinite number of stars,
to shifted Cauchy distributions, which shows that the shear components have
heavy tails in that limit. The asymptotic p.d.f. of the shear magnitude in the
limit of an infinite number of stars is also presented. Extending to general
random distributions of the lenses, we employ the Kac-Rice formula and Morse
theory to deduce general formulas for the expected total number of images and
the expected number of saddle images. We further generalize these results by
considering random sources defined on a countable compact covering of the light
source plane. This is done to introduce the notion of {\it global} expected
number of positive parity images due to a general lensing map. Applying the
result to microlensing, we calculate the asymptotic global expected number of
minimum images in the limit of an infinite number of stars, where the stars are
uniformly distributed. This global expectation is bounded, while the global
expected number of images and the global expected number of saddle images
diverge as the order of the number of stars.Comment: To appear in JM
Development of a rotary instrumentation system, phase 2
A rotary instrumentation system which consists of ruggedized miniature telemetry transmitters installed on the rotating shaft of a gas turbine engine to telemeter the outputs of sensors (strain gages, thermocouples, etc.) on rotating engine components was designed. A small prototype system, which demonstrates the capabilities of performing in the intended environment and demonstrates that the system is expandable to handle about 100 data channels was developed
On a two-parameter extension of the lattice KdV system associated with an elliptic curve
A general structure is developed from which a system of integrable partial
difference equations is derived generalising the lattice KdV equation. The
construction is based on an infinite matrix scheme with as key ingredient a
(formal) elliptic Cauchy kernel. The consistency and integrability of the
lattice system is discussed as well as special solutions and associated
continuum equations.Comment: Submitted to the proceedings of the Oeresund PDE-symposium, 23-25 May
2002; 17 pages LaTeX, style-file include
Billiard algebra, integrable line congruences, and double reflection nets
The billiard systems within quadrics, playing the role of discrete analogues
of geodesics on ellipsoids, are incorporated into the theory of integrable
quad-graphs. An initial observation is that the Six-pointed star theorem, as
the operational consistency for the billiard algebra, is equivalent to an
integrabilty condition of a line congruence. A new notion of the
double-reflection nets as a subclass of dual Darboux nets associated with
pencils of quadrics is introduced, basic properies and several examples are
presented. Corresponding Yang-Baxter maps, associated with pencils of quadrics
are defined and discussed.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure
Describing transverse dynamics and space-time evolution at RHIC in a hydrodynamic model with statistical hadronization
A hydrodynamic model coupled to the statistical hadronization code
Therminator is used to study a set of observables in the soft sector at RHIC. A
satisfactory description of the pT-spectra and elliptic flow is obtained,
similarly to other hydrodynamic models. With the Gaussian initial conditions
the transverse femtoscopic radii are also reproduced, providing a possible
solution of the RHIC HBT puzzle.Comment: to appear in the conference proceedings for Quark Matter 2009, March
30 - April 4, Knoxville, Tennesse
Cluster variation - Pade` approximants method for the simple cubic Ising model
The cluster variation - Pade` approximant method is a recently proposed tool,
based on the extrapolation of low/high temperature results obtained with the
cluster variation method, for the determination of critical parameters in
Ising-like models. Here the method is applied to the three-dimensional simple
cubic Ising model, and new results, obtained with an 18-site basic cluster, are
reported. Other techniques for extracting non-classical critical exponents are
also applied and their results compared with those by the cluster variation -
Pade` approximant method.Comment: 8 RevTeX pages, 3 PostScript figure
Weyl geometry approach to describe planetary systems
In the present work we show that planetary mean distances can be calculated
through considering the Weyl geometry. We interpret the Weyl gauge field as a
vector field associated with the hypercharge of the particles and apply the
gauge concept of the Weyl geometry. The results obtained are shown to agree
with the observed orbits of all the planets and of the asteroid belt in the
solar system, with some empty states.Comment: 7 pages, no figure
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