Nano-Hertz Gravitational Waves Searches with Interferometric Pulsar Timing Experiments

We estimate the sensitivity to nano-Hertz gravitational waves of pulsar timing experiments in which two highly-stable millisecond pulsars are tracked simultaneously with two neighboring radio telescopes that are referenced to the same time-keeping subsystem (i.e. "the clock"). By taking the difference of the two time-of-arrival residual data streams we can exactly cancel the clock noise in the combined data set, thereby enhancing the sensitivity to gravitational waves. We estimate that, in the band ($10^{-9} - 10^{-8}$) Hz, this "interferometric" pulsar timing technique can potentially improve the sensitivity to gravitational radiation by almost two orders of magnitude over that of single-telescopes. Interferometric pulsar timing experiments could be performed with neighboring pairs of antennas of the forthcoming large arraying projects.Comment: Paper submitted to Phys. Rev. Letters. It is 9 pages long, and includes 2 figure

From Equivalence Principles to Cosmology: Cosmic Polarization Rotation, CMB Observation, Neutrino Number Asymmetry, Lorentz Invariance and CPT

In this paper, we review the approach leading to cosmic polarization rotation observation and present the current status with an outlook. In the study of the relations among equivalence principles, we found that long-range pseudoscalar-photon interaction is allowed. Pseudoscalar-photon interaction would induce a rotation of linear polarization of electromagnetic wave propagating with cosmological/astrophysical distance. In 2002, DASI successfully observed the polarization of the cosmological microwave background radiation. In 2003, WMAP observed the correlation of polarization with temperature anisotropy at more than 10 sigma in the cosmological microwave background. From this high polarization-temperature correlation in WMAP observation, we put a limit of 0.1 rad on the rotation of linear polarization of cosmological microwave background (CMB) propagation. Pseudoscalar-photon interaction is proportional to the gradient of the pseudoscalar field. From phenomenological point of view, this gradient could be neutrino number asymmetry current, other density current, or a constant vector. In these situations, Lorentz invariance or CPT may or may not effectively be violated. In this paper, we review and compile various results. Better accuracy in CMB polarization observation is expected from PLANCK mission to be launched next year. A dedicated CMB polarization observer in the future would probe this fundamental issue more deeply.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, a few references with corresponding text change added in this version, invited talk given in VIII Asia-Pacific International Conference on Gravitation and Astophysics (ICGA8), August 29 - September 1, 2007, Nara Women's University, Japan, submitted to Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplemen

Plasmonic crystals for ultrafast nanophotonics: Optical switching of surface plasmon polaritons

We demonstrate that the dispersion of surface plasmon polaritons in a periodically perforated gold film can be efficiently manipulated by femtosecond laser pulses with the wavelengths far from the intrinsic resonances of gold. Using a time- and frequency- resolved pump-probe technique we observe shifting of the plasmon polariton resonances with response times from 200 to 800 fs depending on the probe photon energy, through which we obtain comprehensive insight into the electron dynamics in gold. We show that Wood anomalies in the optical spectra provide pronounced resonances in differential transmission and reflection with magnitudes up to 3% for moderate pump fluences of 0.5 mJ/cm^2.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Strong fields and neutral particle magnetic moment dynamics

Interaction of magnetic moment of point particles with external electromagnetic fields experiences unresolved theoretical and experimental discrepancies. In this work we point out several issues within the relativistic quantum mechanics and the QED and we describe effects related to a new covariant classical model of magnetic moment dynamics. Using this framework we explore the invariant acceleration experienced by neutral particles coupled to an external plane wave field through the magnetic moment: we study the case of ultra relativistic Dirac neutrinos with magnetic moment in the range of $10^{-11}$ to $10^{-20}$ $\mu_\mathrm{B}$; and we address the case of slowly moving neutrons. We explore how critical accelerations for neutrinos can be experimentally achieved in laser-pulse interactions. The radiation of accelerated neutrinos can serve as an important test distinguishing between Majorana and Dirac nature of neutrinos.Comment: 8 page

On generation of Crab giant pulses

We propose that Crab giant pulses are generated on closed magnetic field lines near the light cylinder via anomalous cyclotron resonance on the ordinary mode. Waves are generated in a set of fine, unequally spaced, narrow emission bands at frequencies much lower than a local cyclotron frequency. Location of emission bands is fitted to spectral structures seen by Eilek et al. (2006). To reproduce the data, the required density of plasma in the giant pulses emission region is much higher, by a factor $\sim 3 \times 10^5$, than the minimal Goldreich-Julian density. Emission is generated by a population of highly energetic particles with radiation-limited Lorentz factors $\gamma \sim 7 \times 10^7$, produced during occasional reconnection close to the Y point, where the last closed field lines approach the light cylinder.Comment: accepted by MNRAS; added estimate of simultaneous GLAST signa