Bi-directional top hat D-Scan: single beam accurate characterization of nonlinear waveguides

The characterization of a third order nonlinear integrated waveguide is reported for the first time by means of a top-hat Dispersive-Scan (D-Scan) technique, a temporal analog of the top-hat Z-Scan. With a single laser beam, and by carrying two counter-directional nonlinear transmissions to assess the input and output coupling efficiencies, a novel procedure is described leading to an accurate measurement of the TPA figure of merit, the effective Two-Photon Absorption (TPA) and optical Kerr (including the sign) coefficients. The technique is validated in a silicon strip waveguide for which the effective nonlinear coefficients are measured with an accuracy of $\pm 10~\%$Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Randomized parallel approximations to max flow

The final publication is available at link.springer.comPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Parallel algorithms for two processors precedence constraint scheduling

The final publication is available at link.springer.comPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Upper limit to ΩB\Omega_B in scalar-tensor gravity theories

In a previous paper (Serna & Alimi 1996), we have pointed out the existence of some particular scalar-tensor gravity theories able to relax the nucleosynthesis constraint on the cosmic baryonic density. In this paper, we present an exhaustive study of primordial nucleosynthesis in the framework of such theories taking into account the currently adopted observational constraints. We show that a wide class of them allows for a baryonic density very close to that needed for the universe closure. This class of theories converges soon enough towards General Relativity and, hence, is compatible with all solar-system and binary pulsar gravitational tests. In other words, we show that primordial nucleosynthesis does not always impose a very stringent bound on the baryon contribution to the density parameter.Comment: uuencoded tar-file containing 16 pages, latex with 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal (Part 1

Written Testimonies and Memories of a Canon of Burgos Cathedral: a Methodological Approach

El presente trabajo ofrece una propuesta metodológica para el estudio de las últimas voluntades de cualquier personaje relevante de un cabildo catedralicio o monástico hispano en la Baja Edad Media, centrándose especialmente en las fundaciones destinadas a la salvación del alma del testador. Se ha tomado como modelo la persona de Pedro González de Manjarrés, racionero de la Catedral de Burgos y arciprestre de Lara, analizándose su testamento, su codicilo y el resto de fuentes escritas a partir de las cuales se puede reconstruir el cumplimiento en el tiempo de sus mandas piadosas. Así, los obituarios, libros litúrgicos que contienen anotaciones relacionadas con el fallecimiento de personas, además de las fundaciones de misas, responsos o aniversarios; los libros de memorias, códices que recogen las conmemoraciones en forma de misa instituidas a través de memorias; y, finalmente, otros documentos relacionados con la figura del canónigo, constituyen una valiosa fuente de información para analizar el cumplimiento a lo largo de los siglos de aquellas fundaciones “pro ánima” de los testamentosThe present paper describes a methodological approach for the study of the last wills of any prominent person of a cathedral or monastic hispanic chapter in the Late Middle Ages, especially focusing on those foundations devoted to the salvation of the deceased’s soul. The model used for this approach is Pedro González de Manjarrés, canon of Burgos Cathedral and archpriest of Lara: we analyze his testament, his codicil and other written sources, from which it is possible to reconstruct the fulfillment of his last will. In this context, the obituaries, liturgical books that commemorate the death of the members of a religious community with masses, prayers or anniversaries; the books of memories, codices that collect institutional commemorations set up as masses or memories; and, finally, other documents related with the priest, form an important source of information in order to study the fulfillment of the wills over the centuriesEste trabajo se enmarca dentro del proyecto financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (Proyecto de I+D, HUM2007-62368/HIS) “Cultura, poder y redes sociales en la Castilla medieval: el clero de la Catedral de Burgos (siglos XIV-XV)”, dirigido por Susana Guijarro González, de la Universidad de Cantabri