7,855 research outputs found
The faint-galaxy hosts of gamma-ray bursts
The observed redshifts and magnitudes of the host galaxies of gamma-ray
bursts (GRBs) are compared with the predictions of three basic GRB models, in
which the comoving rate density of GRBs is (1) proportional to the cosmic star
formation rate density, (2) proportional to the total integrated stellar
density and (3) constant. All three models make the assumption that at every
epoch the probability of a GRB occuring in a galaxy is proportional to that
galaxy's broad-band luminosity. No assumption is made that GRBs are standard
candles or even that their luminosity function is narrow. All three rate
density models are consistent with the observed GRB host galaxies to date,
although model (2) is slightly disfavored relative to the others. Models (1)
and (3) make very similar predictions for host galaxy magnitude and redshift
distributions; these models will be probably not be distinguished without
measurements of host-galaxy star-formation rates. The fraction of host galaxies
fainter than 28 mag may constrain the faint end of the galaxy luminosity
function at high redshift, or, if the fraction is observed to be low, may
suggest that the bursters are expelled from low-luminosity hosts. In all
models, the probability of finding a z<0.008 GRB among a sample of 11 GRBs is
less than 10^(-4), strongly suggesting that GRB 980425, if associated with
supernova 1998bw, represents a distinct class of GRBs.Comment: 7 pages, ApJ in press, revised to incorporate yet more new and
revised observational result
Private Database Queries Using Quantum States with Limited Coherence Times
We describe a method for private database queries using exchange of quantum
states with bits encoded in mutually incompatible bases. For technology with
limited coherence time, the database vendor can announce the encoding after a
suitable delay to allow the user to privately learn one of two items in the
database without the ability to also definitely infer the second item. This
quantum approach also allows the user to choose to learn other functions of the
items, such as the exclusive-or of their bits, but not to gain more information
than equivalent to learning one item, on average. This method is especially
useful for items consisting of a few bits by avoiding the substantial overhead
of conventional cryptographic approaches.Comment: extended to generalized (POVM) measurement
Phylogeography of New Zealand’s coastal benthos
During the past 30 years, 42 molecular studies have been undertaken in New Zealand to examine the phylogeography of coastal benthic invertebrates and plants. Here, we identify generalities and/or patterns that have emerged from this research and consider the processes implicated in generating genetic structure within populations. Studies have used various molecular markers and examined taxonomic groups with a range of life histories and dispersal strategies. Genetic disjunctions have been identified at multiple locations, with the most frequently observed division occurring between northern and southern populations at the top of the South Island. Although upwelling has been implicated as a cause of this disjunction, oceanographic evidence is lacking and alternative hypotheses exist. A significant negative correlation between larval duration and genetic differentiation (r2 = 0.39, P < 0.001, n = 29) across all studies suggests that larval duration might be used as a proxy for dispersal potential. However, among taxa with short larval durations (<10 days) there was greater variability in genetic differentiation than among taxa with longer pelagic periods. This variability implies that when larval duration is short, other factors may determine dispersal and connectivity among populations. Although there has been little congruence between the phylogeographic data and recognised biogeographic regions, recent research has resolved population subdivision at finer spatial scales corresponding more closely with existing biogeographic classifications. The use of fast-evolving and ecologically significant molecular markers in hypothesis-driven research could further improve our ability to detect population subdivision and identify the processes structuring marine ecosystems
Tidal modulation of two-layer hydraulic exchange flows
International audienceTime-dependent, two layer hydraulic exchange flow is studied using an idealised shallow water model. It is found that barotropic time-dependent perturbations, representing tidal forcing, increase the baroclinic exchange flux above the steady hydraulic limit, with flux increasing monotonically with tidal amplitude (measured either by height or flux amplitude over a tidal period). Exchange flux also depends on the non-dimensional tidal period, ?, which was introduced by by Helfrich (1995). When tidal amplitude is characterised by the barotropic flux amplitude, exchange flux is a monotonic function of ? as predicted by Helfrich (1995). However, the relationship between the (imposed) free surface amplitude and flux amplitude is complicated by reflections within the channel and by the baroclinic response of the two layer system, leading to a non-monotonic relationship between the height amplitude and ?
Single-shot single-gate RF spin readout in silicon
For solid-state spin qubits, single-gate RF readout can help minimise the
number of gates required for scale-up to many qubits since the readout sensor
can integrate into the existing gates required to manipulate the qubits
(Veldhorst 2017, Pakkiam 2018). However, a key requirement for a scalable
quantum computer is that we must be capable of resolving the qubit state within
single-shot, that is, a single measurement (DiVincenzo 2000). Here we
demonstrate single-gate, single-shot readout of a singlet-triplet spin state in
silicon, with an average readout fidelity of at a
measurement bandwidth. We use this technique to measure a triplet to
singlet relaxation time of in precision donor quantum
dots in silicon. We also show that the use of RF readout does not impact the
maximum readout time at zero detuning limited by the to decay,
which remained at approximately . This establishes single-gate
sensing as a viable readout method for spin qubits
Quantum Portfolios
Quantum computation holds promise for the solution of many intractable
problems. However, since many quantum algorithms are stochastic in nature they
can only find the solution of hard problems probabilistically. Thus the
efficiency of the algorithms has to be characterized both by the expected time
to completion {\it and} the associated variance. In order to minimize both the
running time and its uncertainty, we show that portfolios of quantum algorithms
analogous to those of finance can outperform single algorithms when applied to
the NP-complete problems such as 3-SAT.Comment: revision includes additional data and corrects minor typo
The critical current of YBa2Cu3O7-d Low Angle Grain Boundaries
Transport critical current measurements have been performed on 5 degree
[001]-tilt thin film YBa2Cu3O7-delta single grain boundaries with magnetic
field rotated in the plane of the film, phi. The variation of the critical
current has been determined as a function of the angle between the magnetic
field and the grain boundary plane. In applied fields above 1 T the critical
current, j_c, is found to be strongly suppressed only when the magnetic field
is within an angle phi_k of the grain boundary. Outside this angular range the
behavior of the artificial grain boundary is dominated by the critical current
of the grains. We show that the phi dependence of j_c in the suppressed region
is well described by a flux cutting model.Comment: To be published in PRL, new version with minor changes following
referees report
Steady-state simulations using weighted ensemble path sampling
We extend the weighted ensemble (WE) path sampling method to perform rigorous
statistical sampling for systems at steady state. The straightforward
steady-state implementation of WE is directly practical for simple landscapes,
but not when significant metastable intermediates states are present. We
therefore develop an enhanced WE scheme, building on existing ideas, which
accelerates attainment of steady state in complex systems. We apply both WE
approaches to several model systems confirming their correctness and efficiency
by comparison with brute-force results. The enhanced version is significantly
faster than the brute force and straightforward WE for systems with WE bins
that accurately reflect the reaction coordinate(s). The new WE methods can also
be applied to equilibrium sampling, since equilibrium is a steady state
On gravity currents driven by constant fluxes of saline and particle-laden fluid in the presence of a uniform flow
Experiments are reported on the sustained release of saline and particle-laden fluid\ud
into a long, but relatively narrow, flume, filled with fresh water. The dense fluid rapidly\ud
spread across the flume and flowed away from the source: the motion was then essentially\ud
two-dimensional. In the absence of a background flow in the flume, the motion\ud
was symmetric, away from the source. However, in the presence of a background\ud
flow the upstream speed of propagation was slowed and the downstream speed was\ud
increased. Measurements of this motion are reported and, when the excess density was\ud
due to the presence of suspended sediment, the distribution of the deposited particles\ud
was also determined. Alongside this experimental programme, new theoretical models\ud
of the motion were developed. These were based upon multi-layered depth-averaged\ud
shallow-water equations, in which the interfacial drag and mixing processes were\ud
explicitly modelled. While the early stages of the motion are independent of these\ud
interfacial phenomena to leading order, they play an increasingly important dynamical\ud
role as the the flow is slowed, or even arrested. In addition a new integral model is\ud
proposed. This does not resolve the interior dynamics of the flow, but may be readily\ud
integrated and obviates the need for more lengthy numerical calculations. It is shown\ud
that the predictions from both the shallow-layer and integral models are in close\ud
agreement with the experimental observations
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