A Compilation Strategy for Numerical Programs Based on Partial Evaluation

This work demonstrates how partial evaluation can be put to practical use in the domain of high-performance numerical computation. I have developed a technique for performing partial evaluation by using placeholders to propagate intermediate results. For an important class of numerical programs, a compiler based on this technique improves performance by an order of magnitude over conventional compilation techniques. I show that by eliminating inherently sequential data-structure references, partial evaluation exposes the low-level parallelism inherent in a computation. I have implemented several parallel scheduling and analysis programs that study the tradeoffs involved in the design of an architecture that can effectively utilize this parallelism. I present these results using the 9- body gravitational attraction problem as an example.

Condições de energia de hawking e ellis e a equação de raychaudhuri

In the Einstein s theory of General Relativity the field equations relate the geometry of space-time with the content of matter and energy, sources of the gravitational field. This content is described by a second order tensor, known as energy-momentum tensor. On the other hand, the energy-momentum tensors that have physical meaning are not specified by this theory. In the 700s, Hawking and Ellis set a couple of conditions, considered feasible from a physical point of view, in order to limit the arbitrariness of these tensors. These conditions, which became known as Hawking-Ellis energy conditions, play important roles in the gravitation scenario. They are widely used as powerful tools for analysis; from the demonstration of important theorems concerning to the behavior of gravitational fields and geometries associated, the gravity quantum behavior, to the analysis of cosmological models. In this dissertation we present a rigorous deduction of the several energy conditions currently in vogue in the scientific literature, such as: the Null Energy Condition (NEC), Weak Energy Condition (WEC), the Strong Energy Condition (SEC), the Dominant Energy Condition (DEC) and Null Dominant Energy Condition (NDEC). Bearing in mind the most trivial applications in Cosmology and Gravitation, the deductions were initially made for an energy-momentum tensor of a generalized perfect fluid and then extended to scalar fields with minimal and non-minimal coupling to the gravitational field. We also present a study about the possible violations of some of these energy conditions. Aiming the study of the single nature of some exact solutions of Einstein s General Relativity, in 1955 the Indian physicist Raychaudhuri derived an equation that is today considered fundamental to the study of the gravitational attraction of matter, which became known as the Raychaudhuri equation. This famous equation is fundamental for to understanding of gravitational attraction in Astrophysics and Cosmology and for the comprehension of the singularity theorems, such as, the Hawking and Penrose theorem about the singularity of the gravitational collapse. In this dissertation we derive the Raychaudhuri equation, the Frobenius theorem and the Focusing theorem for congruences time-like and null congruences of a pseudo-riemannian manifold. We discuss the geometric and physical meaning of this equation, its connections with the energy conditions, and some of its several aplications.

FROZEN ORBITS AROUND EUROPA

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Low-altitude, near-polar and near-circular orbits around Europa

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A história da ciência na formação do professor de física: subsídios para um curso sobre o tema atração gravitacional visando às mudanças de postura na ação docente

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar como a evolução histórica dos modelos de atração entre corpos, tendo como pano de fundo a evolução dos modelos de mundo, pode auxiliar na formação inicial do docente de Física. Para tanto, sugerimos um planejamento de curso sobre o tema atração gravitacional, destinado principalmente a docentes de Física que atuam no ensino médio. O planejamento do curso foi baseado: em dados sobre a evolução dos modelos de mundo, buscando evidenciar como o conceito de atração gravitacional desenvolveu-se historicamente; nas concepções alternativas mais comuns encontradas na literatura, incluindo um breve esboço de noções diagnosticadas em uma amostra de docentes de Física de ensino médio; e em sugestões de leituras de resultados de pesquisas recentes sobre os processos de ensino e aprendizagem de ciências. Pretende-se fornecer aos docentes elementos de reflexão que lhes proporcionem mudanças de postura, através do questionamento da visão de ciência enquanto processo de construção e sobre sua própria prática de ensino. Partindo de resultados recentes da pesquisa em Ensino de Ciências, a metodologia sugerida privilegia o trabalho coletivo, com a realização de debates e sínteses. As atividades mencionadas são acompanhadas de justificativas sobre a escolha do tema e objetivos.

A história da ciência e as concepções alternativas de estudantes como subsídios para o planejamento de um curso sobre atração gravitacional

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Manobra orbital terra-lua-terra

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estabilidade de órbitas congeladas em torno de satélites planetários utilizando o sistema hamiltoniano na forma normal

Pós-graduação em Física - FEG

História da ciência no ensino de Física: um estudo sobre o ensino de atração gravitacional desenvolvido com futuros professores

We report here some outcomes of a research related to a didactical experience aiming to integrate the History of Science to the Physics Teaching, taking as background the historical development of the gravitational attraction. The research, of qualitative approach, is a case study and it was carried out in a sample of eleven students belonging to an undergraduate physics program (called licenciatura in Brazil) designed to from High School physics teachers in a São Paulo State Public University. We tried initially to reveal prospective teachers’ conceptions in order to provide a prepare that was used to guide the activities from the reality’s diagnosis. The aim was to promote discussions on the existence and persistence of alternative conceptions, on the historical evolution of the subject gravitational attraction, through readings and debates of texts contemplating recent subjects on the Science Education research, in order to generate dissatisfaction with traditional teaching models. The future High School physics teachers were asked to construct their own teaching proposal, through the development, in real situations, in a High School, of a minicourse based on: debates and synthesis developed in University classroom, the History of the Science and the student’s alternative conceptions. In this paper we will analyze future teachers’ alternative conceptions, the development of the course proposed, and details of the mini-courses taught by the prospective teachers in real situations, among High School students, its coherence and the posture changes observed in them.

Realistic fluids as source for dynamically accreting black holes in a cosmological background

We show that a single imperfect fluid can be used as a source to obtain a mass-varying black hole in an expanding universe. This approach generalizes the well-known McVittie spacetime, by allowing the mass to vary thanks to a novel mechanism based on the presence of a temperature gradient. This fully dynamical solution, which does not require phantom fields or fine-tuning, is a step forward in a new direction in the study of systems whose local gravitational attraction is coupled to the expansion of the universe. We present a simple but instructive example for the mass function and briefly discuss the structure of the apparent horizons and the past singularity.

Monte-Carlo simulation of Callisto's exosphere

We model Callisto's exosphere based on its ice as well as non-ice surface via the use of a Monte-Carlo exosphere model. For the ice component we implement two putative compositions that have been computed from two possible extreme formation scenarios of the satellite. One composition represents the oxidizing state and is based on the assumption that the building blocks of Callisto were formed in the protosolar nebula and the other represents the reducing state of the gas, based on the assumption that the satellite accreted from solids condensed in the jovian sub-nebula. For the non-ice component we implemented the compositions of typical CI as well as L type chondrites. Both chondrite types have been suggested to represent Callisto's non-ice composition best. As release processes we consider surface sublimation, ion sputtering and photon-stimulated desorption. Particles are followed on their individual trajectories until they either escape Callisto's gravitational attraction, return to the surface, are ionized, or are fragmented. Our density profiles show that whereas the sublimated species dominate close to the surface on the sun-lit side, their density profiles (with the exception of H and H-2) decrease much more rapidly than the sputtered particles. The Neutral gas and Ion Mass (NIM) spectrometer, which is part of the Particle Environment Package (PEP), will investigate Callisto's exosphere during the JUICE mission. Our simulations show that NIM will be able to detect sublimated and sputtered particles from both the ice and non-ice surface. NIM's measured chemical composition will allow us to distinguish between different formation scenarios. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cálculo de la atracción gravimétrica inducida por el Pabellón de Gravimetría del Centro de Desarrollos Tecnológicos de Yebes (Instituto Geográfico Nacional).

En el presente Trabajo Fin de Grado se modeliza la estructura del Pabellón de Gravimetría del Centro Astronómico de Yebes para así poder determinar su influencia sobre los valores de gravedad observados en el interior del Pabellón. El Pabellón de Gravimetría dispone en su interior de una sala dónde se realizan medidas de gravedad sobre siete pilares de hormigón situados a nivel del suelo. Para poder modelizar la sala de medida se ha realizado un levantamiento topográfico con las especificaciones técnicas de una escala 1:100. Tras la realización del levantamiento se han determinado las coordenadas geográficas del centro de los pilares de medida mediante el cálculo de una radiación, pues es necesario conocer éste dato al realizar medidas relativas de gravedad. Para el cálculo de la influencia que genera la estructura del Pabellón sobre las medidas de gravedad observadas en su interior se han creado una serie de programas en lenguaje Java empleando la fórmula de la atracción gravitatoria que genera un prisma (Nagy, 1969). Una vez se han llevado a cabo las observaciones y los cálculos necesarios se concluye que la influencia de la estructura sobre las medidas de la gravedad observadas en el interior del Pabellón no es de gran magnitud. No obstante esnecesario conocerla y así poder corregir los valores observados. Asimismo, se determina cierta desorientación de los pilares de medida con respecto al norte geográfico. El presente Trabajo Fin de Grado permitirá, entre otros, que el Centro de Desarrollos Tecnológicos de Yebes participe en proyectos de carácter internacional. Abstract: In the current Bachelor Thesis, the structure of the Pavellón de Gravimetría del Centro Astronómico de Yebes is moulded in order to determine its influence on the observed values of gravity inside the Pavilion. The Pabellón de Gravimetría holds in its interior a room where gravity measures are made on seven concrete pillars located on the ground level. In order to be able to mould the room, a topographical survey measurement was made on a 1:100 scale. After concluding the topographical survey measurement the geographical coordinates of the centre of the measurement pillars were determined, due to the necessity to know this data when making relative gravity measures. To calculate the influence that the pavilion structure has on the observed gravity measures in its interior generates, a series of programs in Java language have been created using the formula of the gravitational attraction that generates a prism (Nagy, 1969). Once the observations and the necessary calculations have been carried out, it is concluded that the influences of the structure of the Pavilion on the observed gravity measures inside it are not of a considerable magnitude. Despite that, it is necessary to know this to be able to correct the observed values. Also, certain disorientations of the pillars of measurement with respect to the geographical north is determined. The current Bachelor Thesis will allow, among others, the Centre of Technological Developments of Yebes to get involved in projects of international nature.

Singularities in DROMO formulation. Analysis of deep flybys

The singularities in Dromo are characterized in this paper, both from an analytical and a numerical perspective. When the angular momentum vanishes, Dromo may encounter a singularity in the evolution equations. The cancellation of the angular momentum occurs in very speci?c situations and may be caused by the action of strong perturbations. The gravitational attraction of a perturbing planet may lead to rapid changes in the angular momentum of the particle. In practice, this situation may be encountered during deep planetocentric ?ybys. The performance of Dromo is evaluated in di?erent scenarios. First, Dromo is validated for integrating the orbit of Near Earth Asteroids. Resulting errors are of the order of the diameter of the asteroid. Second, a set of theoretical ?ybys are designed for analyzing the performance of the formulation in the vicinity of the singularity. New sets of Dromo variables are proposed in order to minimize the dependency of Dromo on the angular momentum. A slower time scale is introduced, leading to a more stable description of the ?yby phase. Improvements in the overall performance of the algorithm are observed when integrating orbits close to the singularity.

Error, Bias, and Long-Branch Attraction in Data for Two Chloroplast Photosystem Genes in Seed Plants

Sequences of two chloroplast photosystem genes, psaA and psbB, together comprising about 3,500 bp, were obtained for all five major groups of extant seed plants and several outgroups among other vascular plants. Strongly supported, but significantly conflicting, phylogenetic signals were obtained in parsimony analyses from partitions of the data into first and second codon positions versus third positions. In the former, both genes agreed on a monophyletic gymnosperms, with Gnetales closely related to certain conifers. In the latter, Gnetales are inferred to be the sister group of all other seed plants, with gymnosperms paraphyletic. None of the data supported the modern ‘‘anthophyte hypothesis,’’ which places Gnetales as the sister group of flowering plants. A series of simulation studies were undertaken to examine the error rate for parsimony inference. Three kinds of errors were examined: random error, systematic bias (both properties of finite data sets), and statistical inconsistency owing to long-branch attraction (an asymptotic property). Parsimony reconstructions were extremely biased for third-position data for psbB. Regardless of the true underlying tree, a tree in which Gnetales are sister to all other seed plants was likely to be reconstructed for these data. None of the combinations of genes or partitions permits the anthophyte tree to be reconstructed with high probability. Simulations of progressively larger data sets indicate the existence of long-branch attraction (statistical inconsistency) for third-position psbB data if either the anthophyte tree or the gymnosperm tree is correct. This is also true for the anthophyte tree using either psaA third positions or psbB first and second positions. A factor contributing to bias and inconsistency is extremely short branches at the base of the seed plant radiation, coupled with extremely high rates in Gnetales and nonseed plant outgroups. M. J. Sanderson,* M. F. Wojciechowski,*† J.-M. Hu,* T. Sher Khan,* and S. G. Brady