Aneides hardii

Number of pages=23Geological SciencesIntegrative Biolog

Maximal Acceleration Limits on the Mass of the Higgs Boson

Caianiello's quantum geometrical model with maximal acceleration places the upper limit $\mu\leq 719.5$ GeV on the mass of the Higgs boson. The model also provides an equation linking the mass of the W boson to the Higgs mass $\mu$ and independent symmetry breaking and mass generating mechanisms. These may further restrict the value of $\mu$.Comment: LaTex file, 13 pages, to be published in Il Nuovo Cimento

Generalized Uncertainty Principle from Quantum Geometry

The generalized uncertainty principle of string theory is derived in the framework of Quantum Geometry by taking into account the existence of an upper limit on the acceleration of massive particles.Comment: 9 pages, LATEX file, to appear in Int. Jou. Theor. Phy

Microlensing Parallax for Observers in Heliocentric Motion

Motivated by the ongoing Spitzer observational campaign, and the forecoming K2 one, we revisit, working in an heliocentric reference frame, the geometrical foundation for the analysis of the microlensing parallax, as measured with the simultaneous observation of the same microlensing event from two observers with relative distance of order AU. For the case of observers at rest we discuss the well known fourfold microlensing parallax degeneracy and determine an equation for the degenerate directions of the lens trajectory. For the case of observers in motion, we write down an extension of the Gould (1994) relationship between the microlensing parallax and the observable quantities and, at the same time, we highlight the functional dependence of these same quantities from the timescale of the underlying microlensing event. Furthermore, through a series of examples, we show the importance of taking into account the motion of the observers to correctly recover the parameters of the underlying microlensing event. In particular we discuss the cases of the amplitude of the microlensing parallax and that of the difference of the timescales between the observed microlensing events, key to understand the breaking of the microlensing parallax degeneracy. Finally, we consider the case of the simultaneous observation of the same microlensing event from ground and two satellites, a case relevant for the expected joint K2 and Spitzer observational programs in 2016.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Neutrino optics and oscillations in gravitational fields

We study the propagation of neutrinos in gravitational fields using wave functions that are exact to first order in the metric deviation. For illustrative purposes, the geometrical background is represented by the Lense-Thirring metric. We derive explicit expressions for neutrino deflection, helicity transitions, flavor oscillations and oscillation Hamiltonian.Comment: 16 page

Casimir energy of a dilute dielectric ball at zero and finite temperature

The basic results in calculations of the thermodynamic functions of electromagnetic field in the background of a dilute dielectric ball at zero and finite temperature are presented. Summation over the angular momentum values is accomplished in a closed form by making use of the addition theorem for the relevant Bessel functions. The behavior of the thermodynamic characteristics in the low and high temperature limits is investigated. The $T^3$-term in the low temperature expansion of the free energy is recovered (this term has been lost in our previous calculations).Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX, no figures. Contribution to the Proceedings of the Fifth Workshop on Quantum Field Theory under the Influence of External Conditions, 10-14 Sept. 2001, Leipzig. Editor: M. Borda