Investigation of the basic foundations of masers and lasers

Research work on the theory of lasers and masers is reported. Special attention is given to technological applications of laser theory

Masar Amplication of Incoherent Radiation by Interstellar OH

Molecular excitation model for maser amplification of emission lines of interstellar hydroxyl radica

The photoelectric effect without photons

Mathematical model of photoelectric effect without photon

Theory of collision effects on line shapes using a quantum mechanical description of the atomic center of mass motion - Application to lasers

Quantum mechanical treatment of atomic center of mass motion in theory of collision effects on line shape

Appearance of the canine meninges in subtraction magnetic resonance images

The canine meninges are not visible as discrete structures in noncontrast magnetic resonance (MR) images, and are incompletely visualized in T1‐weighted, postgadolinium images, reportedly appearing as short, thin curvilinear segments with minimal enhancement. Subtraction imaging facilitates detection of enhancement of tissues, hence may increase the conspicuity of meninges. The aim of the present study was to describe qualitatively the appearance of canine meninges in subtraction MR images obtained using a dynamic technique. Images were reviewed of 10 consecutive dogs that had dynamic pre‐ and postgadolinium T1W imaging of the brain that was interpreted as normal, and had normal cerebrospinal fluid. Image‐anatomic correlation was facilitated by dissection and histologic examination of two canine cadavers. Meningeal enhancement was relatively inconspicuous in postgadolinium T1‐weighted images, but was clearly visible in subtraction images of all dogs. Enhancement was visible as faint, small‐rounded foci compatible with vessels seen end on within the sulci, a series of larger rounded foci compatible with vessels of variable caliber on the dorsal aspect of the cerebral cortex, and a continuous thin zone of moderate enhancement around the brain. Superimposition of color‐encoded subtraction images on pregadolinium T1‐ and T2‐weighted images facilitated localization of the origin of enhancement, which appeared to be predominantly dural, with relatively few leptomeningeal structures visible. Dynamic subtraction MR imaging should be considered for inclusion in clinical brain MR protocols because of the possibility that its use may increase sensitivity for lesions affecting the meninges

Build-up of laser oscillations from quantum noise

Laser oscillation build up from quantum nois

A Sample of OB Stars That Formed in the Field

We present a sample of 14 OB stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud that meet strong criteria for having formed under extremely sparse star-forming conditions in the field. These stars are a minimum of 28 pc in projection from other OB stars, and they are centered within symmetric, round HII regions. They show no evidence of bow shocks, implying that the targets are not transverse runaway stars. Their radial velocities relative to local HI also indicate that they are not line-of-sight runaway stars. A friends-of-friends analysis shows that 9 of the objects present a few low-mass companion stars, with typical mass ratios for the two highest-mass stars of around 0.1. This further substantiates that these OB stars formed in place, and that they can and do form in extremely sparse conditions. This poses strong constraints on theories of star formation and challenges proposed relations between cluster mass and maximum stellar mass.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, 12 page

Growth and form of the mound in Gale Crater, Mars: Slope wind enhanced erosion and transport

Ancient sediments provide archives of climate and habitability on Mars. Gale Crater, the landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), hosts a 5-km-high sedimentary mound (Mount Sharp/Aeolis Mons). Hypotheses for mound formation include evaporitic, lacustrine, fluviodeltaic, and aeolian processes, but the origin and original extent of Gale’s mound is unknown. Here we show new measurements of sedimentary strata within the mound that indicate ∼3° outward dips oriented radially away from the mound center, inconsistent with the first three hypotheses. Moreover, although mounds are widely considered to be erosional remnants of a once crater-filling unit, we find that the Gale mound’s current form is close to its maximal extent. Instead we propose that the mound’s structure, stratigraphy, and current shape can be explained by growth in place near the center of the crater mediated by wind-topography feedbacks. Our model shows how sediment can initially accrete near the crater center far from crater-wall katabatic winds, until the increasing relief of the resulting mound generates mound-flank slope winds strong enough to erode the mound. The slope wind enhanced erosion and transport (SWEET) hypothesis indicates mound formation dominantly by aeolian deposition with limited organic carbon preservation potential, and a relatively limited role for lacustrine and fluvial activity. Morphodynamic feedbacks between wind and topography are widely applicable to a range of sedimentary and ice mounds across the Martian surface, and possibly other planets