1,505 research outputs found
Self-similar accretion in thin disks around near-extremal black holes
Near-maximally spinning black holes display conformal symmetry in their
near-horizon region, which is therefore the locus of critical phenomena. In
this paper, we revisit the Novikov-Thorne accretion thin disk model and find a
new self-similar radiation-dominated solution in the extremely high spin
regime. Motivated by the self-consistency of the model, we require that matter
flows at the sound speed at the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO). We
observe that, when the disk pressure is dominated by radiation at the ISCO,
which occurs for the best-fitting Novikov-Thorne model of GRS 1915+105, the
Shakura-Sunyaev viscosity parameter can be expressed in terms of the spin, mass
accretion rate and radiative efficiency. We quantitatively describe how the
exact thin disk solution approaches the self-similar solution in the vicinity
of the ISCO and for increasing spins.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures; v2 matches published version in MNRAS; v3: typos
fixed, results unchange
Gravitational multipole moments from Noether charges
We define the mass and current multipole moments for an arbitrary theory of
gravity in terms of canonical Noether charges associated with specific residual
transformations in canonical harmonic gauge, which we call multipole
symmetries. We show that our definition exactly matches Thorne's mass and
current multipole moments in Einstein gravity, which are defined in terms of
metric components. For radiative configurations, the total multipole charges --
including the contributions from the source and the radiation -- are given by
surface charges at spatial infinity, while the source multipole moments are
naturally identified by surface integrals in the near-zone or, alternatively,
from a regularization of the Noether charges at null infinity. The conservation
of total multipole charges is used to derive the variation of source multipole
moments in the near-zone in terms of the flux of multipole charges at null
infinity.Comment: v1: 22 pages + 13 pages of appendices, 1 figure; v2: published
version in JHE
Mass of Kerr-Newman Black Holes in an external magnetic field
The explicit solution for a Kerr-Newman black hole immersed in an external
magnetic field, sometimes called the Melvin-Kerr-Newman black hole, has been
derived by Ernst and Wild in 1976. In this paper, we clarify the first law and
Smarr formula for black holes in a magnetic field. We then define the unique
mass which is integrable and reduces to the Kerr-Newman mass in the absence of
magnetic field. This defines the thermodynamic potentials of the black hole.
Quite strikingly, the mass coincides with the standard Christodoulou-Ruffini
mass of a black hole as a function of the entropy, angular momentum and
electric charge.Comment: 21 pages; v2 matches published versio
Alx1, a member of the Cart1/Alx3/Alx4 subfamily of Paired-class homeodomain proteins, is an essential component of the gene network controlling skeletogenic fate specification in the sea urchin embryo
In the sea urchin embryo, the large micromeres and their progeny function as a critical signaling center and execute a complex morphogenetic program. We have identified a new and essential component of the gene network that controls large micromere specification, the homeodomain protein Alx1. Alx1 is expressed exclusively by cells of the large micromere lineage beginning in the first interphase after the large micromeres are born. Morpholino studies demonstrate that Alx1 is essential at an early stage of specification and controls downstream genes required for epithelial-mesenchymal transition and biomineralization. Expression of Alx1 is cell autonomous and regulated maternally through ß-catenin and its downstream effector, Pmar1. Alx1 expression can be activated in other cell lineages at much later stages of development, however, through a regulative pathway of skeletogenesis that is responsive to cell signaling. The Alx1 protein is highly conserved among euechinoid sea urchins and is closely related to the Cart1/Alx3/Alx4 family of vertebrate homeodomain proteins. In vertebrates, these proteins regulate the formation of skeletal elements of the limbs, face and neck. Our findings suggest that the ancestral deuterostome had a population of biomineral-forming mesenchyme cells that expressed an Alx1-like protein
Neck orthosis design for 3D printing with user enhanced comfort features
An area of interest in orthopaedics is the development of efficient customized neck orthoses, considered that pathologies which affect the neck area are widespread. Advanced acquisition and modelling approaches combined with Additive Manufacturing (AM) can potentially provide customized orthoses with improved performance and complexity. However, in the design of these devices, besides functional and structural requirements, benefit and comfort of the patient should be a main concern, in particular, at the early stage of design during the acquisition of the body’s part, and while using the printed orthosis. In this paper, a scanning system with three sensors was developed which allows a fast, about 5 s, and accurate acquisition of the neck area with minimum discomfort for the patient. A neck orthosis with a ventilation pattern obtained by Topology Optimization (TO), lightened by about 35%, was also established. In fact, a main role for comfort is played by the ventilation pattern which contributes both to lightness and breathability. Its structural and comfort performance was evaluated in comparison with an orthosis with a ventilation pattern configured by Voronoi cells. Structural assessment was carried out by means of finite element analysis under main loading conditions. An evaluation of neck temperatures in relation to wearing 3D printed prototypes, manufactured with Hemp Bio-Plastic® filament, was finally conducted by means of a thermal imaging camera. TO orthosis prototype showed a better performance regarding thermal comfort, with a maximum increase of neck temperature less than 1 °C, which makes the proposed configuration very promising for user's comfort
Charge Transfer Properties Through Graphene Layers in Gas Detectors
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice
with remarkable mechanical, electrical and optical properties. For the first
time graphene layers suspended on copper meshes were installed into a gas
detector equipped with a gaseous electron multiplier. Measurements of low
energy electron and ion transfer through graphene were conducted. In this paper
we describe the sample preparation for suspended graphene layers, the testing
procedures and we discuss the preliminary results followed by a prospect of
further applications.Comment: 2014 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference
with the 21st Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor X-Ray and Gamma-Ray
Detectors, 4 pages, 8 figure
A NURBS-based solid modeling to enhance rapid prototyping in the restoration of decorative elements
In this research, we describe a computer-aided approach to improve the reconstruction method of decorum in architectural surfaces and sculpture. The effects of withdrawal caused by catalysis of mold in silicone was evaluated and simulated by a NURBS-based solid modelling. A tolerance analysis model was developed to predict manufacturing precision levels. In particular, differential increment along three dimensions was performed considering different volume distributions. The methodology was validated by experimental data obtained during the coffered ceiling restoration of Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele in Palermo. The proposed methodology allowed the reconstruction of decorations or fragments of decoration with high accuracy
Effects of High Charge Densities in Multi-GEM Detectors
A comprehensive study, supported by systematic measurements and numerical
computations, of the intrinsic limits of multi-GEM detectors when exposed to
very high particle fluxes or operated at very large gains is presented. The
observed variations of the gain, of the ion back-flow, and of the pulse height
spectra are explained in terms of the effects of the spatial distribution of
positive ions and their movement throughout the amplification structure. The
intrinsic dynamic character of the processes involved imposes the use of a
non-standard simulation tool for the interpretation of the measurements.
Computations done with a Finite Element Analysis software reproduce the
observed behaviour of the detector. The impact of this detailed description of
the detector in extreme conditions is multiple: it clarifies some detector
behaviours already observed, it helps in defining intrinsic limits of the GEM
technology, and it suggests ways to extend them.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposiu
Moving away from the Near-Horizon Attractor of the Extreme Kerr Force-Free Magnetosphere
We consider force-free magnetospheres around the extreme Kerr black hole. In
this case there is no known exact analytic solution to force free
electrodynamics which is stationary, axisymmetric and magnetically-dominated.
However, any stationary, axisymmetric and regular force-free magnetosphere in
extreme Kerr black hole approaches the same attractor solution in the
near-horizon extreme Kerr (NHEK) limit with null electromagnetic field. We show
that by moving away from the attractor solution in the NHEK region, one finds
magnetically-dominated solutions in the extreme Kerr black hole with finite
angular momentum outflow. This result is achieved using a perturbative analysis
up to the second order.Comment: 33 pages, 2 figures; v2: matches published version in JCA
Force-free magnetosphere attractors for near-horizon extreme and near-extreme limits of Kerr black hole
We propose a new approach to find magnetically-dominated force-free
magnetospheres around highly spinning black holes, relevant for models of
astrophysical jets. Employing the near-horizon extreme Kerr (NHEK) limit of the
Kerr black hole, any stationary, axisymmetric and regular force-free
magnetosphere reduces to the same attractor solution in the NHEK limit with
null electromagnetic field strength. We use this attractor solution as the
universal starting point for perturbing away from the NHEK region in the
extreme Kerr spacetime. We demonstrate that by going to second order in
perturbation theory, it is possible to find magnetically dominated
magnetospheres around the extreme Kerr black hole. Furthermore, we consider the
near-horizon near-extreme Kerr (near-NHEK) limit that provides access to a
different regime of highly spinning black holes. Also in this case we find a
novel force-free attractor, which can be used as the universal starting point
for a perturbative construction of force-free magnetospheres. Finally, we
discuss the relation between the NHEK and near-NHEK attractors.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur
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