5,782 research outputs found
Constraints on Dimensional Warped Spaces
In order to investigate the phenomenological implications of allowing gauge
fields to propagate in warped spaces of more than five dimensions, we consider
a toy model of a space warped by the presence of a anisotropic bulk
cosmological constant. After solving the Einstein equation, three classes of
solutions are found, those in which the additional () dimensions are
growing, shrinking or remaining constant. It is found that gauge fields
propagating in these spaces have a significantly different Kaluza Klein (KK)
mass spectrum and couplings from that of the Randall and Sundrum model. This
leads to a greatly reduced lower bound on the KK scale, arising from
electroweak constraints, for spaces growing towards the IR brane.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures PASCOS2010 International Symposium proceedin
Structure, phase behavior and inhomogeneous fluid properties of binary dendrimer mixtures
The effective pair potentials between different kinds of dendrimers in
solution can be well approximated by appropriate Gaussian functions. We find
that in binary dendrimer mixtures the range and strength of the effective
interactions depend strongly upon the specific dendrimer architecture. We
consider two different types of dendrimer mixtures, employing the Gaussian
effective pair potentials, to determine the bulk fluid structure and phase
behavior. Using a simple mean field density functional theory (DFT) we find
good agreement between theory and simulation results for the bulk fluid
structure. Depending on the mixture, we find bulk fluid-fluid phase separation
(macro-phase separation) or micro-phase separation, i.e., a transition to a
state characterized by undamped periodic concentration fluctuations. We also
determine the inhomogeneous fluid structure for confinement in spherical
cavities. Again, we find good agreement between the DFT and simulation results.
For the dendrimer mixture exhibiting micro-phase separation, we observe rather
striking pattern formation under confinement.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure
Note on the hydrodynamic description of thin nematic films: strong anchoring model
We discuss the long-wave hydrodynamic model for a thin film of nematic liquid
crystal in the limit of strong anchoring at the free surface and at the
substrate. We rigorously clarify how the elastic energy enters the evolution
equation for the film thickness in order to provide a solid basis for further
investigation: several conflicting models exist in the literature that predict
qualitatively different behaviour. We consolidate the various approaches and
show that the long-wave model derived through an asymptotic expansion of the
full nemato-hydrodynamic equations with consistent boundary conditions agrees
with the model one obtains by employing a thermodynamically motivated gradient
dynamics formulation based on an underlying free energy functional. As a
result, we find that in the case of strong anchoring the elastic distortion
energy is always stabilising. To support the discussion in the main part of the
paper, an appendix gives the full derivation of the evolution equation for the
film thickness via asymptotic expansion
Calcutta Botanic Garden and the colonial re-ordering of the Indian environment
This article examines three hand-painted colour maps that accompanied the annual report of the Calcutta Botanic Garden for 1846 to illustrate how the Garden’s layout, uses and functions had changed over the previous 30 years. The evolution of the Calcutta Botanic Garden in the first half of the nineteenth-century reflects a wider shift in attitudes regarding the relationship between science, empire and the natural world. On a more human level the maps result from, and illustrate, the development of a vicious personal feud between the two eminent colonial botanists charged with superintending the garden in the 1840s
An evaluation of Skylab (EREP) remote sensing techniques applied to investigations of crustal structure
The author has identified the following significant results. Film positives (70mm) from all six S190A multispectral photographic camera stations for any one scene can be registered and analyzed in a color additive viewer. Using a multispectral viewer, S190A and B films can be projected directly onto published geologic and topographic maps at scales as large as 1:62,500 and 1:24,000 without significant loss of detail. S190A films and prints permit the detection of faults, fractures, and other linear features not visible in any other space imagery. S192 MSS imagery can be useful for rock-type discrimination studies and delineation of linear patterns and arcuate anomalies. Anomalous color reflectances and arcuate color patterns revealed mineralized zones, copper deposits, vegetation, and volcanic rocks in various locations such as Panamint Range (CA), Greenwater (Death Valley), Lava Mountains (CA), northwestern Arizona, and Coso Hot Springs (CA)
Revealing the nebular properties and Wolf-Rayet population of IC10 with Gemini/GMOS
We present a deep imaging and spectroscopic survey of the Local Group irregular galaxy IC10 using Gemini North and GMOS to unveil its global Wolf-Rayet (WR) population. We obtain a star formation rate (SFR) of 0.045 ± 0.023 M⊙yr−1, for IC10 from the nebular Hα luminosity, which is comparable to the SMC. We also present a revised nebular oxygen abundance of log(O/H) + 12 = 8.40 ± 0.04, comparable to the LMC. It has previously been suggested that for IC10 to follow the WR subtype-metallicity dependance seen in other Local Group galaxies, a large WN population awaits discovery. Our search revealed 3 new WN stars, and 6 candidates awaiting confirmation, providing little evidence to support this claim. The new global WR star total of 29 stars is consistent with the LMC population when scaled to the reduced SFR of IC10. For spectroscopically confirmed WR stars, the WC/WN ratio is lowered to 1.0, however including all potential candidates, and assuming those unconfirmed to be WN stars, would reduce the ratio to ∼0.7. We attribute the high WC/WN ratio to the high star formation surface density of IC10 relative to the Magellanic Clouds, which enhances the frequency of high mass stars capable of producing WC stars
Physicochemical Properties and Catalytic Behavior of the Molecular Sieve SSZ-70
SSZ-70 is synthesized using 1,3-bis(isobutyl)imidazolium, 1,3-bis(cyclohexyl)imidazolium, and 1,3-bis(cycloheptyl)imidazolium structure directing agents (SDAs), and the solids obtained are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), ^(29)Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), electron microscopy, nitrogen and hydrocarbon adsorption, and thermogravimetric analyses. The physicochemical properties of SSZ-70 show that it is a new molecular sieve that has similarities to MWW-type materials. The catalytic behavior of SSZ-70 is evaluated through the use of the constraint index (CI) test. Distinct differences in the reactivity between Al-SSZ-70 and SSZ-25 (MWW) are observed and are the consequences of the structural differences between these two molecular sieves
Tunable magnetic exchange interactions in manganese-doped inverted core/shell ZnSe/CdSe nanocrystals
Magnetic doping of semiconductor nanostructures is actively pursued for
applications in magnetic memory and spin-based electronics. Central to these
efforts is a drive to control the interaction strength between carriers
(electrons and holes) and the embedded magnetic atoms. In this respect,
colloidal nanocrystal heterostructures provide great flexibility via
growth-controlled `engineering' of electron and hole wavefunctions within
individual nanocrystals. Here we demonstrate a widely tunable magnetic sp-d
exchange interaction between electron-hole excitations (excitons) and
paramagnetic manganese ions using `inverted' core-shell nanocrystals composed
of Mn-doped ZnSe cores overcoated with undoped shells of narrower-gap CdSe.
Magnetic circular dichroism studies reveal giant Zeeman spin splittings of the
band-edge exciton that, surprisingly, are tunable in both magnitude and sign.
Effective exciton g-factors are controllably tuned from -200 to +30 solely by
increasing the CdSe shell thickness, demonstrating that strong quantum
confinement and wavefunction engineering in heterostructured nanocrystal
materials can be utilized to manipulate carrier-Mn wavefunction overlap and the
sp-d exchange parameters themselves.Comment: To appear in Nature Materials; 18 pages, 4 figures + Supp. Inf
A complementarity-based approach to phase in finite-dimensional quantum systems
We develop a comprehensive theory of phase for finite-dimensional quantum
systems. The only physical requirement we impose is that phase is complementary
to amplitude. To implement this complementarity we use the notion of mutually
unbiased bases, which exist for dimensions that are powers of a prime. For a
d-dimensional system (qudit) we explicitly construct d+1 classes of maximally
commuting operators, each one consisting of d-1 operators. One of this class
consists of diagonal operators that represent amplitudes (or inversions). By
the finite Fourier transform, it is mapped onto ladder operators that can be
appropriately interpreted as phase variables. We discuss the examples of qubits
and qutrits, and show how these results generalize previous approaches.Comment: 6 pages, no figure
Furthering alternative cultures of valuation in higher education research
The value of higher education is often implicit or assumed in educational research. The underlying and antecedent premises that shape and influence debates about value remain unchallenged which perpetuates the dominant, but limiting, terms of the debate and fosters reductionism. I proceed on the premise that analyses of value are not self–supporting or self-referential but are embedded within prevailing cultures of valuation. I contend that challenging, and providing alternatives to, dominant narratives of higher education requires an appreciation of those cultures. I therefore highlight some of the existing cultures of valuation and their influence. I then propose Sayer’s concept of lay normativity as a culture of valuation and discuss how it translates into the practices of research into higher education, specifically the practice of analysis. I animate the discussion by detecting the presence of lay normativity in the evaluative space of the capability approach
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