Vortical Effects for Free Fermions on Anti-De Sitter Space-Time

Here, we study a quantum fermion field in rigid rotation at finite temperature on anti-de Sitter space. We assume that the rotation rate Ω is smaller than the inverse radius of curvature ℓ−1, so that there is no speed of light surface and the static (maximally-symmetric) and rotating vacua coincide. This assumption enables us to follow a geometric approach employing a closed-form expression for the vacuum two-point function, which can then be used to compute thermal expectation values (t.e.v.s). In the high temperature regime, we find a perfect analogy with known results on Minkowski space-time, uncovering curvature effects in the form of extra terms involving the Ricci scalar R. The axial vortical effect is validated and the axial flux through two-dimensional slices is found to escape to infinity for massless fermions, while for massive fermions, it is completely converted into the pseudoscalar density −iψ¯γ5ψ. Finally, we discuss volumetric properties such as the total scalar condensate and the total energy within the space-time and show that they diverge as [1−ℓ2Ω2]−1 in the limit Ω→ℓ−1.

Measurement error using a SeeMaLab structured light 3D scanner against a Microscribe 3D digitizer

Background Geometric morphometrics is a powerful approach to capture and quantify morphological shape variation. Both 3D digitizer arms and structured light surface scanners are portable, easy to use, and relatively cheap, which makes these two capturing devices obvious choices for geometric morphometrics. While digitizer arms have been the “gold standard”, benefits of having full 3D models are manifold. We assessed the measurement error and investigate bias associated with the use of an open-source, high-resolution structured light scanner called SeeMaLab against the popular Microscribe 3D digitizer arm. Methodology The analyses were based on 22 grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) skulls. 31 fixed anatomical landmarks were annotated both directly using a Microscribe 3D digitizer and on reconstructed 3D digital models created from structured light surface scans. Each skull was scanned twice. Two operators annotated the landmarks, each twice on all the skulls and 3D models, allowing for the investigation of multiple sources of measurement error. We performed multiple Procrustes ANOVAs to compare the two devices in terms of within- and between-operator error, to quantify the measurement error induced by device, to compare between-device error with other sources of variation, and to assess the level of scanning-related error. We investigated the presence of general shape bias due to device and operator. Results Similar precision was obtained with both devices. If landmarks that were identified as less clearly defined and thus harder to place were omitted, the scanner pipeline would achieve higher precision than the digitizer. Between-operator error was biased and seemed to be smaller when using the scanner pipeline. There were systematic differences between devices, which was mainly driven by landmarks less clearly defined. The factors device, operator and landmark replica were all statistically significant and of similar size, but were minor sources of total shape variation, compared to the biological variation among grey seal skulls. The scanning-related error was small compared to all other error sources. Conclusions As the scanner showed precision similar to the digitizer, a scanner should be used if the advantages of obtaining detailed 3D models of a specimen are desired. To obtain high precision, a pre-study should be conducted to identify difficult landmarks. Due to the observed bias, data from different devices and/or operators should not be combined when the expected biological variation is small, without testing the landmarks for repeatability across platforms and operators. For any study necessitating the combination of landmark measurements from different operators, the scanner pipeline will be better suited. The small scanning-related error indicates that by following the same scanning protocol, different operators can be involved in the scanning process without introducing significant error.

Conical flower cells reduce surface gloss and improve colour signal integrity for free-flying bumblebees

Colour signals of flowers facilitate detection, spontaneous preference, discrimination and flower constancy by important bee pollinators. At short distances bees orient to floral colour patterns to find a landing platform and collect nutrition, potentially improving the plants’ reproductive success when multiple flowers are visited sequentially. In addition to pigments and backscattering structures within the petals’ internal layers, the epidermal micro-structure of the petals’ surface may also influence petal reflectance properties and thus influence overall colour patterns via optical effects. Gloss, i.e., shine caused by specular reflections of incident light from smooth surfaces, may for example alter the visual appearance of surfaces including flowers. We classify the epidermal surface properties of petals from 39 species of flowering plants from 19 families by means of a cell shape index, and measure the respective surface spectral reflectance from different angles. The spontaneous behavioural preferences of free flying bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) for surfaces with different micro-textures was then tested using specially prepared casts of selected flower petals. We specifically tested how the petal colour as function of the angle of incident light, surface structure and bee approach angle influences bumblebees’ spontaneous choices for artificial flowers. We observe that bumblebees spontaneously prefer artificial flowers with conical-papillate micro-structures under both multidirectional illumination and under spotlight conditions if approaching against the direction of spotlight, suggesting conical cells help promote constant signals by removing gloss that may confound the integrity of colour signalling.

Laser–Material Interactions of High-Quality Ultrashort Pulsed Vector Vortex Beams

Diffractive multi-beams based on 1 × 5 and 2 × 2 binary Dammann gratings applied to a spatial light modulator (SLM) combined with a nanostructured S-wave plate have been used to generate uniform multiple cylindrical vector beams with radial and azimuthal polarizations. The vector quality factor (concurrence) of the single vector vortex beam was found to be C = 0.95 ± 0.02, hence showing a high degree of vector purity. The multi-beams have been used to ablate polished metal samples (Ti-6Al-4V) with laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), which confirm the polarization states unambiguously. The measured ablation thresholds of the ring mode radial and azimuthal polarizations are close to those of a Gaussian mode when allowance is made for the expected absolute intensity distribution of a ring beam generated from a Gaussian. In addition, ring mode vortex beams with varying orbital angular momentum (OAM) exhibit the same ablation threshold on titanium alloy. Beam scanning with ring modes for surface LIPSS formation can increase micro-structuring throughput by optimizing fluence over a larger effective beam diameter. The comparison of each machined spot was analysed with a machine learning method—cosine similarity—which confirmed the degree of spatial uniformity achieved, reaching cosθ > 0.96 and 0.92 for the 1 × 5 and 2 × 2 arrays, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy and white light surface profiling were used to characterize and quantify the effects of surface modification.

Tests of Impregnation Speed of Electrotechnical Pressboard with Insulating Oil

The paper presents a new test stand for ivestigating the rate of penetration of transformer oil through electrotechnical pressboard. The stand consists of a pipe, to the lower end of which is glued a pressboard plate. The pipe is filled with insulating oil. A mirror is placed under the plate, which directs its image to the lens of the camera, which takes a series of photographs at a given time interval. After being saturated with the insulating oil, the pressboard changes colour from light to dark yellow. The absorbing time is defined as the time in which a dark yellow spot appears on the lower light surface of the pressboard after the pipe is filled with oil.A new way of determining capillary diameters has been developed when the number of capillaries is unknown and the volume of liquid flowing through them is not measurable. The distribution of the times of penetration of transformer oil through 2 mm thick electrotechnical pressboard was determined, the values of which range from about 220 min to about 550 min. It was found that the radii of capillaries through which the insulating oil penetrates are within the range from about 45 nm to about 70 nm. Due to the structure of the pressboard, which consists of cellulose fibres, arranged more or less tightly, there are capillaries in the structure of the board, each of which has sections of varying lengths of radii. This means that short sections of a single capillary can have radii both smaller than 45 nm and larger than 70 nm.The developed stand and the new analysis method can be used for testing various porous materials for penetration by various liquids.

Automated Device for Public Elevator Control Panel UVC Sanitization

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have shown that frequently-touched surfaces that are contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 can pose a risk to public health and safety. Considering elevators as a high-risk environment for the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases via surface transmission, common methods of manually applying liquid-form disinfectants are impractical for sanitizing the elevator panel after each use. Therefore, an automated UVC light surface sanitization device with integrated sensing components to avoid UVC light-human interaction and perform frequent sanitization was developed. Algorithmically, the system uses a motion sensor, an inertial measurement unit, and a door sensor to determine when the elevator is empty, stationary, and shut. Once these conditions are met, the UVC lamp is enabled to safely sanitize the elevator control panel. The device’s UVC irradiation capabilities were tested by applying UVC light to a mock control panel. A minimum power density of 0.31 mW/cm² was detected, which can deactivate SARS-CoV-2. The sensing and control system was tested in an elevator and it was demonstrated to be able to detect operating conditions and activate the UVC light at appropriate instances. Our device operates using inexpensive hardware and it can be easily integrated into existing elevator infrastructures.