100 research outputs found
Feedback cooling of a nanomechanical resonator
Cooled, low-loss nanomechanical resonators offer the prospect of directly
observing the quantum dynamics of mesoscopic systems. However, the present
state of the art requires cooling down to the milliKelvin regime in order to
observe quantum effects. Here we present an active feedback strategy based on
continuous observation of the resonator position for the purpose of obtaining
these low temperatures. In addition, we apply this to an experimentally
realizable configuration, where the position monitoring is carried out by a
single-electron transistor. Our estimates indicate that with current technology
this technique is likely to bring the required low temperatures within reach.Comment: 10 pages, RevTex4, 4 color eps figure
Foreground removal from CMB temperature maps using an MLP neural network
One of the main obstacles in extracting the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)
signal from observations in the mm-submm range is the foreground contamination
by emission from galactic components: mainly synchrotron, free-free and thermal
dust emission. Due to the statistical nature of the intrinsic CMB signal it is
essential to minimize the systematic errors in the CMB temperature
determinations. Following the available knowledge of the spectral behavior of
the galactic foregrounds simple, power law-like spectra have been assumed. The
feasibility of using a simple neural network for extracting the CMB temperature
signal from the combined CMB and foreground signals has been investigated. As a
specific example, we have analysed simulated data, like that expected from the
ESA Planck Surveyor mission. A simple multilayer perceptron neural network with
2 hidden layers can provide temperature estimates, over more than 80 percent of
the sky, that are to a high degree uncorrelated with the foreground signals. A
single network will be able to cover the dynamic range of the Planck noise
level over the entire sky.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Scienc
Generalized Quantum Theory of Recollapsing Homogeneous Cosmologies
A sum-over-histories generalized quantum theory is developed for homogeneous
minisuperspace type A Bianchi cosmological models, focussing on the particular
example of the classically recollapsing Bianchi IX universe. The decoherence
functional for such universes is exhibited. We show how the probabilities of
decoherent sets of alternative, coarse-grained histories of these model
universes can be calculated. We consider in particular the probabilities for
classical evolution defined by a suitable coarse-graining. For a restricted
class of initial conditions and coarse grainings we exhibit the approximate
decoherence of alternative histories in which the universe behaves classically
and those in which it does not. For these situations we show that the
probability is near unity for the universe to recontract classically if it
expands classically. We also determine the relative probabilities of
quasi-classical trajectories for initial states of WKB form, recovering for
such states a precise form of the familiar heuristic "J d\Sigma" rule of
quantum cosmology, as well as a generalization of this rule to generic initial
states.Comment: 41 pages, 4 eps figures, revtex 4. Modest revisions throughout.
Physics unchanged. To appear in Phys. Rev.
Elliptic flow of charged particles at midrapidity relative to the spectator plane in PbâPb and XeâXe collisions
Measurements of the elliptic flow coefficient relative to the collision plane defined by the spectator neutrons v2{ SP} in collisions of Pb ions at center-of-mass energy per nucleonânucleon pair â 2.76 TeV and Xe ions at â sNN = sNN =5.44 TeV are reported. The results are presented for charged particles produced at midrapidity as a function of centrality and transverse momentum for the 5â70% and 0.2â6 GeV/c ranges, respectively. The ratio between v2{ SP} and the elliptic flow coefficient relative to the participant plane v2{4}, estimated using four-particle correlations, deviates by up to 20% from unity depending on centrality. This observation differs strongly from the magnitude of the corresponding eccentricity ratios predicted by the TRENTo and the elliptic power models of initial state fluctuations that are tuned to describe the participant plane anisotropies. The differences can be interpreted as a decorrelation of the neutron spectator plane and the reaction plane because of fragmentation of the remnants from the colliding nuclei, which points to an incompleteness of current models describing the initial state fluctuations. A significant transverse momentum dependence of the ratio v2{ SP}/v2{4} is observed in all but the most central collisions, which may help to understand whether momentum anisotropies at low and intermediate transverse momentum have a common origin in initial state f luctuations. The ratios of v2{ SP} and v2{4} to the corresponding initial state eccentricities for XeâXe and PbâPb collisions at similar initial entropy density show a difference of (7.0 ±0.9)%with an additional variation of +1.8% when including RHIC data in the TRENTo parameter extraction. These observations provide new experimental constraints for viscous effects in the hydrodynamic modeling of the expanding quarkâgluon plasma produced in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC
First measurement of Ωc0 production in pp collisions at s=13 TeV
The inclusive production of the charmâstrange baryon 0 c is measured for the first time via its hadronic â decay into âÏ+ at midrapidity (|y| <0.5) in protonâproton (pp) collisions at the centre-of-mass energy s =13 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The transverse momentum (pT) differential cross section multiplied by the branching ratio is presented in the interval 2 < pT < 12 GeV/c. The pT dependence of the 0 c-baryon production relative to the prompt D0-meson and to the prompt 0 c-baryon production is compared to various models that take different hadronisation mechanisms into consideration. In the measured pT interval, the ratio of the pT-integrated cross sections of 0 c and prompt + c baryons multiplied by the âÏ+ branching ratio is found to be larger by a factor of about 20 with a significance of about 4Ï when compared to e+eâ collisions
Tenue dâancrages LMS sur fonds coralliens indurĂ©s
Cet article rapporte une expĂ©rimentation en vraie grandeur dâun systĂšme dâancrage LMS Ă forte capacitĂ© de tenue dans un fond marin constituĂ© de calcaires coralliens indurĂ©s de la PolynĂ©sie française. Les rĂ©sultats ont mis en Ă©vidence la possibilitĂ© de reprise des efforts dans des zones oĂč la compacitĂ© du terrain exclut la mise en Ćuvre des ancres marines traditionnelles. La sĂ©curitĂ© de tenue ne dĂ©pend pratiquement pas de la couche superficielle souvent hĂ©tĂ©rogĂšne. La reprise des efforts verticaux rĂ©duit trĂšs sensiblement la longueur des lignes de mouillage. Le poids rĂ©duit de lâancrage, grĂące Ă une efficacitĂ© exceptionnelle (> 100), est un avantage technique et Ă©conomique de mise en Ćuvre, extrĂȘmement apprĂ©ciable par rapport aux ancres marines de type classique
A review of the public health challenges of Salmonella and turtles
Non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars are recognized as zoonotic pathogens. Although human salmonellosis is frequently associated with ingestion of contaminated foods of animal origin, contact with animals may also be a significant source of Salmonella infection, especially contact with turtles, which have shown to be an important reservoir of Salmonella, specifically through their intestinal tracts. Turtles are among the most common reptiles kept as house pets that may pose a public health risk associated with Salmonella exposure, especially among infants and young children. This review discusses the literature reporting the link between turtles and Salmonella as well as turtle-associated human salmonellosis in the last ten years. In most outbreaks, a high proportion of patients are children under five years of age, which indicates that children are at the greatest risk of turtle-associated salmonellosis. Therefore, turtles should not be preferred as recommended pets for children under five years of age. Reducing turtle stress to minimise Salmonella shedding as well as providing client education handouts at the points of sale of these animals may reduce the risk of transmitting such significant pathogen to humans. Further studies are required to investigate the role of both direct contact with turtles as well as indirect contact through cross-contamination in the transmission of turtles-associated Salmonella to humans
DĂ©termination de la longueur libre optimale dâun tirant dâancrage soutenant une paroi
La longueur libre optimale des tirants d'ancrage d'une paroi verticale soutenant un massif de sable sec Ă surface libre horizontale a Ă©tĂ© dĂ©terminĂ©e par des essais en modĂšles rĂ©duits avec des matĂ©riaux pulvĂ©rulents d'angle de frottement interne Ï1 = 31° ± 1° et Ï2 = 24° ± 1°. La similitude ne cherchait pas Ă reprĂ©senter les dĂ©formations Ă©lastiques. mais simplement la rupture plastique. Une rĂšgle simple a pu ĂȘtre dĂ©gagĂ©e pour la longueur libre d'un tirant isolĂ© ou pour celle des tirants dâune ligne horizontale unique d'ancrages
Geostatistical method for independent sampling in kiwifruit vine to estimate yield components.
International audienc
Geostatistical method for independent sampling in kiwifruit vine to estimate yield components.
International audienc
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