The Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) is a research institution that is part of the broader Smithsonian Institution and is affiliated with Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the CfA was established in 1973 to bring together astronomers and astrophysicists from both the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Harvard University.
Moiré deflectometry is an optical measurement technique used to measure surface deformations and profiles with high precision. It is based on the moiré effect, which occurs when two patterns (usually grids or stripes) are overlaid with a slight misalignment or difference in scale, resulting in an interference pattern that can reveal subtle variations in surface shapes or displacements.
A varifocal lens, often referred to as a zoom lens, is a type of lens that allows the user to change the focal length, enabling a variable field of view. This means that the lens can be adjusted to focus at different distances, allowing for a range of magnifications without the need to switch lenses. Varifocal lenses are commonly used in various applications, including photography, videography, and surveillance cameras.
Saturation fire is a military term that refers to the concentrated and overwhelming application of firepower against a specific target or area to achieve a particular objective. The goal of saturation fire is to suppress, neutralize, or destroy enemy forces by delivering a high volume of fire in a coordinated manner. This technique is commonly used in artillery, aerial bombardment, and ground troop engagements.
The term "clearing factor" can refer to different concepts depending on the context in which it is used. Here are a couple of definitions based on different fields: 1. **In Banking and Finance**: The "clearing factor" may refer to aspects of the clearing process in financial transactions. It could involve the efficiency and effectiveness of clearinghouses that facilitate the settlement of trades and the transfer of securities.
Homogeneous isotropic turbulence is a specific type of turbulence characterized by two key properties: homogeneity and isotropy. 1. **Homogeneity**: This means that the statistical properties of the turbulence are the same at all points in space. In a homogeneous turbulent flow, the turbulence does not vary from one location to another. For example, if you were to measure the velocity at different points in the flow, the statistical characteristics would be identical regardless of where you take the measurements.
Lagrangian particle tracking is a method used in fluid dynamics and various fields involving dynamical systems to study the movement of individual particles or tracer elements as they move through a flow field. The approach focuses on the trajectory of particles as they are carried by the flow, as opposed to taking a fixed viewpoint of the fluid (Eulerian perspective) where one describes the flow field at fixed locations over time.
The term "transition point" can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Here are a few interpretations: 1. **Mathematics and Physics**: In these fields, a transition point often refers to a point in a graph or a function where there is a sudden change in behavior, such as a phase transition in materials (e.g., solid to liquid).
A quantum critical point (QCP) is a theoretical concept in condensed matter physics that denotes a point at zero temperature where a continuous phase transition occurs due to quantum fluctuations. Unlike classical phase transitions that can be influenced by temperature and external parameters (like pressure or magnetic field), quantum critical points are affected primarily by quantum mechanical effects, specifically as they relate to changes in certain control parameters like magnetic field, doping level, or pressure.
A push switch, also known as a push button switch, is an electrical component that allows users to control the flow of electricity in a circuit with a simple press of a button. When the button is pressed, the circuit is closed, allowing current to flow, and when it is released, the circuit opens, stopping the current.
The Galvanic series is a list that ranks metals and alloys based on their electrochemical potential in a specific electrolyte, typically seawater or other electrolytic solutions. It serves as a reference for understanding how different materials will behave when exposed to corrosive environments, particularly with respect to galvanic corrosion.
A Luggin capillary, also known as a Luggin capillary tube or simply a Luggin tube, is a component used in electrochemical measurements, particularly in potentiometry and voltammetry. It consists of a small-diameter capillary that is used to bring a reference electrode (such as a Ag/AgCl electrode) very close to the working electrode without allowing the two to touch.
The Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites is a peer-reviewed academic journal that focuses on the science and technology of reinforced plastics and composite materials. It publishes research articles, reviews, and technical notes that cover various aspects of these materials, including their properties, processing techniques, applications, and performance in different environments. Topics commonly addressed in the journal include: - Material formulations and developments - Mechanical properties of composites - Applications of reinforced plastics in various industries (e.g.
A nanoprobe is a type of advanced imaging or analysis device that operates at the nanoscale, typically at dimensions below 100 nanometers. These devices are utilized in various scientific fields, including nanotechnology, biology, materials science, and electronics.
The Tomlinson model refers to a conceptual framework for analyzing the complexity and dynamics of organizational behavior and development, often associated with education and leadership. However, it is most notably recognized in the context of the "Tomlinson experience" in education, specifically regarding differentiated instruction. ### Key Features of the Tomlinson Model: 1. **Differentiated Instruction**: The model emphasizes the importance of tailoring education to meet the varied needs of students.
"Nuclear medicine stubs" generally refer to small pieces of material or samples used in nuclear medicine procedures, typically involving radiopharmaceuticals. These stubs could be related to various applications, such as: 1. **Calibration Sources**: Small radioactive sources used to calibrate radiation detection equipment in nuclear medicine to ensure accurate measurements during imaging or dosing procedures.
"Contesting the Future of Nuclear Power" is a book edited by Benjamin K. Sovacool and others, which focuses on the various disputes and debates surrounding the development, use, and future of nuclear energy. The book examines the political, social, and environmental dimensions of nuclear power, presenting a range of perspectives on its role in energy systems, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.
Neutron-induced swelling refers to the phenomenon that occurs in materials, particularly metals and alloys, when they are subjected to neutron radiation. This process primarily affects materials used in nuclear reactors and other environments where neutrons are prevalent. When neutrons collide with atomic nuclei in the material, they can cause displacement of atoms, leading to the creation of defects such as vacancies and interstitials.
The term "nuclear lightbulb" is often used to refer to a concept in nuclear fusion research, specifically relating to the idea of using nuclear fusion reactions to generate light and energy in a controlled manner, similar to how a conventional lightbulb generates light through electrical resistance. One of the most common references to a nuclear lightbulb is the concept of a fusion-based power generation device, as seen in proposals for fusion reactors.
In string theory and related theories of high energy physics, an **M2-brane** is a type of membrane that is a fundamental object in the context of M-theory, an 11-dimensional extension of string theory. Specifically, M2-branes are two-dimensional surfaces (or "membranes") that can exist in an 11-dimensional spacetime.

Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project

Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
We have two killer features:
  1. topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculus
    Articles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
    • a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
    • a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
    This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.
    Figure 1.
    Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page
    . View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivative
  2. local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:
    This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
    Figure 2.
    You can publish local OurBigBook lightweight markup files to either https://OurBigBook.com or as a static website
    .
    Figure 3.
    Visual Studio Code extension installation
    .
    Figure 4.
    Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation
    .
    Figure 5.
    Web editor
    . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.
    Video 3.
    Edit locally and publish demo
    . Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.
    Video 4.
    OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo
    . Source.
  3. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook-media/master/feature/x/hilbert-space-arrow.png
  4. Infinitely deep tables of contents:
    Figure 6.
    Dynamic article tree with infinitely deep table of contents
    .
    Descendant pages can also show up as toplevel e.g.: ourbigbook.com/cirosantilli/chordate-subclade
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact