24,892 research outputs found
Kolmogorov-Burgers Model for Star Forming Turbulence
The process of star formation in interstellar molecular clouds is believed to
be controlled by driven supersonic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. We suggest
that in the inertial range such turbulence obeys the Kolmogorov law, while in
the dissipative range it behaves as Burgers turbulence developing shock
singularities. On the base of the She-Leveque analytical model we then predict
the velocity power spectrum in the inertial range to be E_k ~ k^{-1.74}. This
result reproduces the observational Larson law, ~ l^{0.74...0.76},
[Larson, MNRAS 194 (1981) 809] and agrees well with recent numerical findings
by Padoan and Nordlund [astro-ph/0011465]. The application of the model to more
general dissipative structures, with higher fractal dimensionality, leads to
better agreement with recent observational results.Comment: revised, new material added, 8 page
Evaluating Alternative Methods of Forecasting House Prices: A Post-Crisis Reassessment
This paper compares the performance of different forecasting models of California house prices. Multivariate, theory-driven models are able to outperform a theoretical time series models across a battery of forecast comparison measures. Error correction models were best able to predict the turning point in the housing market, whereas univariate models were not. Similarly, even after the turning point occurred, error correction models were still able to outperform univariate models based on MSFE, bias, and forecast encompassing statistics and tests. These results highlight the importance of incorporating theoretical economic relationships into empirical forecasting models.house prices, forecasting, forecast comparison, forecast encompassing
Coolidge solar powered irrigation pumping project
A 150 kW solar thermal electric power plant which includes over 2100 square meters of parabolic trough type collectors and an organic Rankine cycle turbine engine was constructed on an irrigated farm. The plant is interconnected with the electrical utility grid. Operation is providing an evaluation of equipment performance and operating and maintenance requirements as well as the desirability of an on farm location
Science Icebreaker Activities: An Example from Gravitational Wave Astronomy
At the beginning of a class or meeting an icebreaker activity is often used
to help loosen the group and get everyone talking. Our motivation is to develop
activities that serve the purpose of an icebreaker, but are designed to enhance
and supplement a science-oriented agenda. The subject of this article is an
icebreaker activity related to gravitational wave astronomy. We first describe
the unique gravitational wave signals from three distinct sources:
monochromatic binaries, merging compact objects, and extreme mass ratio
encounters. These signals form the basis of the activity where participants
work to match an ideal gravitational wave signal with noisy detector output for
each type of source.Comment: Accepted to The Physics Teacher. Original manuscript divided into two
papers at the request of the referee. For a related paper on gravitational
wave observatories see physics/050920
Effects of gravity reduction on phase equilibria. Part 2: Binary two-phase solids
Phase diagrams for two-phase solids and eutectic, monotectic, peritectic, and syntectic reactions in low gravity applications to processes and products are considered
Formation of the First Stars by Accretion
The process of star formation from metal-free gas is investigated by
following the evolution of accreting protostars with emphasis on the properties
of massive objects. The main aim is to establish the physical processes that
determine the upper mass limit of the first stars. Although the consensus is
that massive stars were commonly formed in the first cosmic structures, our
calculations show that their actual formation depends sensitively on the mass
accretion rate and its time variation. Even in the rather idealized case in
which star formation is mainly determined by dot{M}acc, the characteristic mass
scale of the first stars is rather uncertain. We find that there is a critical
mass accretion rate dot{M}crit = 4 10^{-3} Msun/yr that separates solutions
with dot{M}acc> 100 Msun can form,
provided there is sufficient matter in the parent clouds, from others
(dot{M}acc > dot{M}crit) where the maximum mass limit decreases as dot{M}acc
increases. In the latter case, the protostellar luminosity reaches the
Eddington limit before the onset of hydrogen burning at the center via the
CN-cycle. This phase is followed by a rapid and dramatic expansion of the
radius, possibly leading to reversal of the accretion flow when the stellar
mass is about 100Msun. (abridged)Comment: 34 pages, 12 figures. ApJ, in pres
Validity of adiabaticity in Cavity QED
This paper deals with the concept of adiabaticity for fully quantum
mechanically cavity QED models. The physically interesting cases of Gaussian
and standing wave shapes of the cavity mode are considered. An analytical
approximate measure for adiabaticity is given and compared with numerical wave
packet simulations. Good agreement is obtained where the approximations are
expected to be valid. Usually for cavity QED systems, the large atom-field
detuning case is considered as the adiabatic limit. We, however, show that
adiabaticity is also valid, for the Gaussian mode shape, in the opposite limit.
Effective semiclassical time dependent models, which do not take into account
the shape of the wave packet, are derived. Corrections to such an effective
theory, which are purely quantum mechanical, are discussed. It is shown that
many of the results presented can be applied to time dependent two-level
systems.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure
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