Sedimentation processes on the Antarctic continental margin at Kapp Norvegia during the Late Pleistocene

Sedimentological analyses concerning ice rafted debris, grain size distribution, biogeneous components, and clay mineral composition of four sediment cores from the Antarctic continental margin off Kapp Norvegia reveal a cyclical pattern of three different sediment facies. These are classified into warm and cold types, representing warm and cold climatic periods and a short transition period from cold to warm events.The sedimentological parameters reflect the variations with the cryosphere and the hydrosphere, which are directly influenced by the climatic fluctuations. The unusually high content of carbonaceous planktonic and benthonic foraminifera in these polar sediments, as well as the interfingering of terrigeneous and biogeneous-rich sediments with increasing distance from the continent, might reflect the influence of the Weddell Sea Polynya and the oscillations of polynya, pack ice and ice shelf extent during the late Pleistocene

Electron-spin dynamics in elliptically polarized light waves

We investigate the coupling of the spin angular momentum of light beams with elliptical polarization to the spin degree of freedom of free electrons. It is shown that this coupling, which is of similar origin as the well-known spin-orbit coupling, can lead to spin precession. The spin-precession frequency is proportional to the product of the laser-field's intensity and its spin density. The electron-spin dynamics is analyzed by employing exact numerical methods as well as time-dependent perturbation theory based on the fully relativistic Dirac equation and on the nonrelativistic Pauli equation that is amended by a relativistic correction that accounts for the light's spin density

CONSUMER RISK PERCEPTION PROFILES FOR THE FOOD-RELATED BIOTECHNOLOGY, RECOMBINANT BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE (rbGH)

Consumer risk perception, biotechnology, bovine growth hormone, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Correlated non-perturbative electron dynamics with quantum trajectories

An approach to electron correlation effects in atoms that uses quantum trajectories is presented. A comparison with the exact quantum mechanical results for 1D Helium atom shows that the major features of the correlated ground state distribution and of the strong field ionization dynamics are reproduced with quantum trajectories. The intra-atomic resonant transitions are described accurately by a trajectory ensemble. The present approach reduces significantly the computational time and it can be used for both bound and ionizing electrons.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Internal structure and origin of the double reefs of North Bohol and the Olango reef flat (Philippines)

Nine holes were drilled with a submersible hydraulic drill into the slopes and reef flats of the Caubyna and Calituban reefs as well as of Olango Flat. The maximum depth of core penetration was 11 m. 14C ages showed that the Caubyan and Caltituban reefs were formed within the last 6,000 years. Corals settled on a pre-existing relief prallel to the island of Bohol, building a framework for other carbonate-producing organisms. The reef flat south of Olango has a different structure. Formation took place during a Pleistocene high sea level, e.g. 125,000 years ago

Spin dynamics in relativistic light-matter interaction

Various spin effects are expected to become observable in light-matter interaction at relativistic intensities. Relativistic quantum mechanics equipped with a suitable relativistic spin operator forms the theoretical foundation for describing these effects. Various proposals for relativistic spin operators have been offered by different authors, which are presented in a unified way. As a result of the operators' mathematical properties only the Foldy-Wouthuysen operator and the Pryce operator qualify as possible proper relativistic spin operators. The ground states of highly charged hydrogen-like ions can be utilized to identify a legitimate relativistic spin operator experimentally. Subsequently, the Foldy-Wothuysen spin operator is employed to study electron-spin precession in high-intensity standing light waves with elliptical polarization. For a correct theoretical description of the predicted electron-spin precession relativistic effects due to the spin angular momentum of the electromagnetic wave has to be taken into account even in the limit of low intensities