Driven localized excitations in the acoustic spectrum of small nonlinear macroscopic and microscopic lattices

Both bright and dark traveling, locked, intrinsic localized modes (ILMs) have been generated with a spatially uniform driver at a frequency in the acoustic spectrum of a nonlinear micromechanical cantilever array. Complementary numerical simulations show that a minimum density of modes, hence array size, is required for the formation of such locked smoothly running excitations. Additional simulations on a small 1-D antiferromagnetic spin system are used to illustrate that such uniformly driven running ILMs should be a generic feature of a nanoscale atomic lattice.Comment: Physical Review Letters, accepte

Design of submerged flow wetlands for individual homes and small wastewater flows

Cover title.Includes bibliographical references (page 9)

The dust SED in the dwarf galaxy NGC 1569: Indications for an altered dust composition?

We discuss the interpretation of the dust SED from the mid-infrared to the millimeter range of NGC 1569. The model developed by D\'esert et al. (1990) including three dust components (Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons, Very Small Grains and big grains) can explain the data using a realistic interstellar radiation field and adopting an enhanced abundance of VSGs. A simple three-temperature model is also able to reproduce the data but requires a very low dust temperature which is considered to be unlikely in this low-metallicity starburst galaxy. The high abundance of Very Small Grains might be due to large grain destruction in supernova shocks. This possibility is supported by ISO data showing that the emission at 14.3 $\mu$m, tracing VSGs, is enhanced with respect to the emission at 6.7 $\mu$m and 850 $\mu$m in regions of high star formation.Comment: 4 pages, conference proceedings paper, "The Spectral Energy Distribution of Gas-Rich Galaxies: Confronting Models with Data", Heidelberg, 4-8 Oct. 2004, eds. C.C. Popescu & R.J. Tuffs, AIP Conf. Ser., in pres

Driven Intrinsic Localized Modes in a Coupled Pendulum Array

Intrinsic localized modes (ILMs), also called discrete breathers, are directly generated via modulational instability in an array of coupled pendulums. These ILMs can be stabilized over a range of driver frequencies and amplitudes. They are characterized by a pi-phase difference between their center and wings. At higher driver frequencies, these ILMs are observed to disintegrate via a pulsating instability, and the mechanism of this breather instability is investigated.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

A triple GEM detector with two dimensional readout

The triple GEM detector is a micropattern gas detector which consists of a primary ionisation gap and three consecutive gas electron multiplier (GEM) foils. A printed circuit board with readout strips detects the current induced by the drifting electron cloud originating from the last GEM stage. Thus the gas amplification and the signal readout are completely separated. Triple GEM detectors are being developed as a possible technology for the inner tracking in the LHCb experiment. In an earlier note we have reported first experience with such a detector in a test beam at PSI. Here we describe the construction of an improved version (thinner transfer gaps, segmented GEM foils, two dimensional readout). Results from performance measurements are presented using intense hadronic beams as well as cosmic ray data.Comment: 20 pages, 24 figure

Is the Pre-WMAP CMB Data Self-consistent?

Although individual observational groups vigorously test their data sets for systematic errors, the pre-WMAP CMB observational data set has not yet been collectively tested. Under the assumption that the concordance model is the correct model, we have explored residuals of the observational data with respect to this model to see if any patterns emerge that can be identified with systematic errors. We found no significant trends associated with frequency, frequency channels, calibration source, pointing uncertainty, instrument type, platform and altitude. We did find some evidence at the ~ 1 to ~ 2 sigma level for trends associated with angular scale (l range) and absolute galactic latitude. The slope of the trend in galactic latitude is consistent with low level galactic contamination. The residuals with respect to l may indicate that the concordance model used here needs slight modification. See Griffiths & Lineweaver (2003) for more detail.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to be published in the proceedings of "The Cosmic Microwave Background and its Polarization", New Astronomy Reviews, (eds. S. Hanany and K.A. Olive