Online weighted flow time and deadline scheduling

In this paper we study some aspects of weighted flow time. We first show that the online algorithm Highest Density First is an O(1)-speed O(1)-approximation algorithm for P|r_i,pmtn|∑w_iF_i. We then consider a related Deadline Scheduling Problem that involves minimizing the weight of the jobs unfinished by some unknown deadline D on a uniprocessor. We show that any c-competitive online algorithm for weighted flow time must also be c-competitive for deadline scheduling. We then give an O(1)-competitive algorithm for deadline scheduling.     

Reaction dependence of nuclear decay linewidths

Various light- and heavy-ion reactions, 20 < E < 100 MeV, have been used to study the reaction dependence of α-decay widths for ⁸Be¹(2 ⁺ , 2.9 MeV) and ¹⁶O¹(1^?, 9.6 MeV). Although slight differences (< 20 %) are found for the observed line shapes (Γ), the resonance widths inferred (Γ_R) are self-consistent and indicate little if any reaction dependence (< 10 %). Near a decay threshold one may expect Γ < Γ_R by 20 % or more, however, and thus care must be taken in comparing decay widths inferred from nuclear reactions with those from scattering resonances. Reduced formal α-decay widths of γ_λ² = 680 ± 100 keV (s = 4.8 fm) and γ_λ² = 350 ± 50 keV(s = 5.4 fm), corresponding to θ_λ² = 0.50 and θ_λ² = 0.49 are deduced for ⁸Be¹(2 ⁺ , 2.9 MeV) and ¹⁶O¹(1^?, 9.6 MeV) using the nuclear-reaction Γ_R values and a particular set of α-nucleus potentials.     

The (d, 6Li) reaction on 24Mg, 26Mg and 28Si at 35 MeV

Data for the (d, ⁶Li) reaction on targets of ²⁴Mg, ²⁶Mg and ²⁸Si have been obtained at 35 MeV bombarding energy. Angular distributions were measured for low-lying states in the residual nuclei. Zero-range distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) calculations have been used to analyze the data. The DWBA calculations account for the shapes of the experimental distributions reasonably well. The observation of significant population of unnatural parity states implies, however, that other transfer mechanisms may be important. The experimental spectroscopic factors are in qualitative agreement with those obtained from SU(3) theory.     

Preconditioned iterative methods for coupled discretizations of fluid flow problems

Computational fluid dynamics, where simulations require largecomputation times, is one of the areas of application of highperformance computing. Schemes such as the SIMPLE (semi-implicitmethod for pressure-linked equations) algorithm are often usedto solve the discrete Navier-Stokes equations. Generally theseschemes take a short time per iteration but require a largenumber of iterations. For simple geometries (or coarser grids)the overall CPU time is small. However, for finer grids or morecomplex geometries the increase in the number of iterationsmay be a drawback and the decoupling of the differential equationsinvolved implies a slow convergence of rotationally dominatedproblems that can be very time consuming for realistic applications.So we analyze here another approach, DIRECTO, that solves theequations in a coupled way. With recent advances in hardwaretechnology and software design, it became possible to solvecoupled Navier-Stokes systems, which are more robust but implyincreasing computational requirements (both in terms of memoryand CPU time). Two approaches are described here (band blockLU factorization and preconditioned GMRES) for the linear solverrequired by the DIRECTO algorithm that solves the fluid flowequations as a coupled system. Comparisons of the effectivenessof incomplete factorization preconditioners applied to the GMRES(generalized minimum residual) method are shown. Some numericalresults are presented showing that it is possible to minimizeconsiderably the CPU time of the coupled approach so that itcan be faster than the decoupled one.     

Ambiguities in spectorscopic factors deduced from a DWBA analysis of the (16O, 15N) reaction 1172

The spectroscopic factors deduced from a finite-range DWBA analysis of the (¹⁶O, ¹⁵N) reaction show systematic discrepancies with those obtained from (τ,d), and (α,t) and (d,n) reactions depending on whether $\text{j = l +}\text{1}\text{2}$ or $\text{j = l ?}\text{1}\text{2}$. The results depend sensitively on the selection rules used, however.     

12C(6Li,d)16O and16O(6Li,d)20Ne at E(6Li) = 42 MeV

Spectra up to 25 MeV excitation in ¹⁶O have been obtained from ¹²C(⁶Li, d) at 42 MeV bombarding energy. Angular distributions have been measured for ten states, including two J^π = 1^? states of astrophysical interest, and appear to be mostly direct α-transfer. In addition, data for ¹⁶(⁶Li, d)²⁰Ne(g.s.) and ²⁰Ne¹(2⁺) have been obtained. Excitation energies and widths have been extracted for states in ¹⁶O, including several states at E_x > 15 MeV. Alpha spectroscopic factors, S_α, and reduced α-widths, γ²_α and θ²_α have been deduced for levels in ¹⁶O and ²⁰Ne and compared with theoretical predictions. The J^π = 1^? levels in ¹⁶O at 7.12 and 9.6 MeV excitation appear to have comparable S_α and γ²_α values, viz. $\text{γ}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{\alpha }}\text{(7.12 MeV)}\text{γ}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{\alpha }}\text{(9.6}\text{MeV}\text{) = 0.6}{}^{\mathrm{+1.7}}{}_{\mathrm{?0.3}}$. Both states have apparent S_α and γ²_α values smaller than that for the J^π = 2⁺ “α-cluster” state at 6.9 MeV however. Furthermore, the observed line shape for the J^α = 1^?, 9.6 MeV level indicates Γ_c.m. = 400 ± 50 keV, which is substantially less than the accepted width for this level Γ_c.m. = 510±60 keV). The possible implications of these results for stellar helium burning calculations are discussed.     

Near-barrier fusion of the ⁸B + ⁵⁸Ni proton-halo system

Fusion cross sections were measured for the exotic proton-halo nucleus ?B incident on a ??Ni target at several energies near the Coulomb barrier. This is the first experiment to report on the fusion of a proton-halo nucleus. The resulting excitation function shows a striking enhancement with respect to expectations for normal projectiles. Evidence is presented that the sum of the fusion and breakup yields saturates the total reaction cross section.