LAPACK-Based Software for Subspace Identification

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The VLT-FLAMES survey of massive stars: Wind properties and evolution of hot massive stars in the LMC

[Abridged] We have studied the optical spectra of 28 O- and early B-type stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud, 22 of which are associated with the young star-forming region N11. Stellar parameters are determined using an automated fitting method, combining the stellar atmosphere code FASTWIND with the genetic-algorithm optimisation routine PIKAIA. Results for stars in the LH9 and LH10 associations of N11 are consistent with a sequential star formation scenario, in which activity in LH9 triggered the formation of LH10. Our sample contains four stars of spectral type O2, of which the hottest is found to be ~49-54 kK (cf. ~45-46 kK for O3 stars). The masses of helium-enriched dwarfs and giants are systematically lower than those implied by non-rotating evolutionary tracks. We interpret this as evidence for efficient rotationally-enhanced mixing, leading to the surfacing of primary helium and to an increase of the stellar luminosity. This result is consistent with findings for SMC stars by Mokiem et al. For bright giants and supergiants no such mass-discrepancy is found, implying that these stars follow tracks of modestly (or non-)rotating objects. Stellar mass-loss properties were found to be intermediate to those found in massive stars in the Galaxy and the SMC, and comparisons with theoretical predictions at LMC metallicity yielded good agreement over the luminosity range of our targets, i.e. 5.0 < log L/L(sun) < 6.1

Summing Radiative Corrections to the Effective Potential

When one uses the Coleman-Weinberg renormalization condition, the effective potential $V$ in the massless $\phi_4^4$ theory with O(N) symmetry is completely determined by the renormalization group functions. It has been shown how the $(p+1)$ order renormalization group function determine the sum of all the N^{\mbox{\scriptsize p}}LL order contribution to $V$ to all orders in the loop expansion. We discuss here how, in addition to fixing the N^{\mbox{\scriptsize p}}LL contribution to $V$, the $(p+1)$ order renormalization group functions also can be used to determine portions of the N^{\mbox{\scriptsize p+n}}LL contributions to $V$. When these contributions are summed to all orders, the singularity structure of \mcv is altered. An alternate rearrangement of the contributions to $V$ in powers of $\ln \phi$, when the extremum condition $V^\prime (\phi = v) = 0$ is combined with the renormalization group equation, show that either $v = 0$ or $V$ is independent of $\phi$. This conclusion is supported by showing the LL, $\cdots$, N$^4$LL contributions to $V$ become progressively less dependent on $\phi$.Comment: 16 pages; added 2 figures and 2 tables; references revise

New Loop Representations for 2+1 Gravity

Since the gauge group underlying 2+1-dimensional general relativity is non-compact, certain difficulties arise in the passage from the connection to the loop representations. It is shown that these problems can be handled by appropriately choosing the measure that features in the definition of the loop transform. Thus, ``old-fashioned'' loop representations - based on ordinary loops - do exist. In the case when the spatial topology is that of a two-torus, these can be constructed explicitly; {\it all} quantum states can be represented as functions of (homotopy classes of) loops and the scalar product and the action of the basic observables can be given directly in terms of loops.Comment: 28pp, 1 figure (postscript, compressed and uuencoded), TeX, Pennsylvania State University, CGPG-94/5-

Development of All-Wood Connections with Plywood Flitch Plate and Oak Pegs

This paper proposes a new method for beam-beam connections, which include plywood as slot-in plates connected by oak pegs. A total of 96 specimens were fabricated for tests to explore the minimum required end distances and spacing between pegs parallel to the grain. A new failure mode, termed shear wedge that is different from those found in previous research, was found. A spring model was also proposed in this study to investigate the stiffness of the connections, and feasibility of EC5 to be applied on the new proposed connections was also examined. The effective number was discussed in this study and modified in accordance to the experimental results. The result of this study shows the new connections proposed do not lead to brittle failure unless failure in plywood occurred