3,884 research outputs found
Voluntary Funding for Generic Advertising Using a Provision Point Mechanism: An Experimental Analysis of Option Assurance
The mandatory nature of generic advertising funding remains a contentious issue. Theoretically and in laboratory environments, a provision point mechanism with a money-back guarantee offers an attractive voluntary alternative to the standard voluntary contribution mechanisms, yet in practice, few examples of multiple-round provision point mechanisms exist. A practical concern with applying these mechanisms is that even a slight shortfall in contributions relative to the designated funding threshold in one period would engender an irreversible shutdown of administrative capacity with negative consequences for subsequent periods. This paper uses experimental economics to test new two-threshold provision point mechanisms in the context of check-off programs for funding commodity marketing programs that would separately fund the minimum administrative capacity and the more costly full marketing program. In these mechanisms, even if a funding shortfall occurs for the full marketing program, the low threshold can maintain the administrative capacity and retain the option for future funding of advertising. We demonstrate that providing such "option assurance" does not lead to a decrease in overall contributions and, in some settings, can increase producer surplus.Marketing,
Dissipation of mechanical energy in fused silica fibers
For thermal noise considerations of LIGO suspensions, the sources of
dissipation in the suspending fibers must be analyzed. To determine the
dissipation induced by the surface of fused silica fibers, we measured the
quality factor of fibers having various diameters. We measured a maximum
quality factor of 21 million and extrapolated to obtain an intrinsic quality
factor for fused silica of 30 million. Dissipation in the surface dominated at
diameters less than about 1 mm. We developed a method for characterizing
surface-induced dissipation that is independent of sample geometry or mode
shape.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, RevTeX. Minor Revisions. Accepted for
publication by Review of Scientific Instruments (29 June 1999). Projected
publication date: October 199
Photoluminescence-based measurements of the energy gap and diffusion length of Zn_3P_2
The steady-state photoluminescence spectra of zinc phosphide (Zn_3P_2) wafers have revealed a fundamental indirect band gap at 1.38 eV, in close proximity to the direct band gap at 1.50 eV. These values are consistent with the values for the indirect and direct band gaps obtained from analysis of the complex dielectric function deduced from spectroscopic ellipsometric measurements. Bulk minority carrier lifetimes of 20 ns were observed by time-resolved photoluminescence decay measurements, implying minority-carrier diffusion lengths of ≥ 7 µm
Laser interferometry for the Big Bang Observer
The Big Bang Observer is a proposed space-based gravitational-wave detector intended as a follow on mission to the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). It is designed to detect the stochastic background of gravitational waves from the early universe. We discuss how the interferometry can be arranged between three spacecraft for this mission and what research and development on key technologies are necessary to realize this scheme
Two stage superconducting quantum interference device amplifier in a high-Q gravitational wave transducer
We report on the total noise from an inductive motion transducer for a
gravitational-wave antenna. The transducer uses a two-stage SQUID amplifier and
has a noise temperature of 1.1 mK, of which 0.70 mK is due to back-action noise
from the SQUID chip. The total noise includes thermal noise from the transducer
mass, which has a measured Q of 2.60 X 10^6. The noise temperature exceeds the
expected value of 3.5 \mu K by a factor of 200, primarily due to voltage noise
at the input of the SQUID. Noise from flux trapped on the chip is found to be
the most likely cause.Comment: Accepted by Applied Physics Letters tentatively scheduled for March
13, 200
Frequency and surface dependence of the mechanical loss in fused silica
We have compiled measurements of the mechanical loss in fused silica from
samples spanning a wide range of geometries and resonant frequency in order to
model the known variation of the loss with frequency and surface-to-volume
ratio. This improved understanding of the mechanical loss has contributed
significantly to the design of advanced interferometric gravitational wave
detectors, which require ultra-low loss materials for their test mass mirrors.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure but 5 figure file
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