1,940 research outputs found

    Bilarge neutrino mixing in R-parity violating supersymmetry: the role of right-chiral neutrino superfields

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    We consider the possibility of neutrino mass generation in a supersymmetric model where lepton number can be violated by odd units. The different patterns of mixing in the quark and lepton sectors are attributed to the persence of right-chiral neutrino superfields which (a) enter into Yukawa couplings via non-renormalizable interaction with hidden sector fields, and (b) can violate lepton number by odd units. Both of these features are shown to be the result of some global quantum number which is violated when SUSY is broken in the hidden sector. It is shown how such a scenario, together with all known R-parity violating effects, can lead to neutrino masses and bilarge mixing via seesaw as well as radiative mechanisms. Some sample values of the various parameters involved, consistent with electroweak symmetry breaking constraints, are presented as illustrations.Comment: 19 pages. Minor modificaitons are made in the text. This version is to appear in Physical Review

    Tetrazolium reduction by guard cells in abaxial epidermis of Vicia faba: blue light stimulation of a plasmalemma redox system

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    The stomata in the abaxial epidermis of Vicia faba were examined for the location of redox systems using tetrazolium salts. Three distinct redox systems could be demonstrated: chloroplast, mitochondrial, and plasmalemma. The chloroplast activity required light and NADP. Mitochondnal activity required added NADH and was suppressed by preincubation with KCN. The plasmalemma redox system in guard cells also required NADH, but was insensitive to KCN and was stimulated by blue light. The involvement of an NADH dehydrogenase in the blue light stimulated redox system in guard cells was suggested by the sensitivity to plantanetin, an inhibitor of NADH dehydrogenase. The redox system of mitochondria was the most active followed by that of plasmalemma. The activity of chloroplasts was the least among the three redox systems. The plasmalemma mediated tetrazolium reduction was stimulated by exogenous flavins and suppressed by KI or phenylacetate, inhibitors of flavin excitation. We therefore conclude that an NADH-dependent, flavin mediated electron transport system, sensitive to blue light, operates in the plasmalemma of guard cells

    Breakdown of ITCZ-like PV Patterns

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    The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a zonal belt of intense convection, responsible for the genesis of over 80% of all tropical cyclones. This region of intense diabatic heating and shear results in a maximum of Ertel\u27s potential vorticity (PV) meeting Rayleigh\u27s necessary condition for barotropic instability. A fundamental issue is understanding the necessary precursor events leading to the breakdown of the ITCZ and subsequent formation of tropical cyclones. Our research examines the non-linear PV dynamics of the breakdown of both finite-length and infinite-length vorticity strips of varying widths and shapes, simulating the ITCZ found near the tropical eastern Pacific region. We have also introduced regularly and irregularly-spaced mass sinks embedded in the strips to simulate pockets of enhanced diabatic heating. To study the evolution, we have developed a shallow-water, normal-mode spectral model in Cartesian coordinates on the f-plane. Since the absolute vorticity divided by the fluid depth is materially conserved in the shallow water framework, we can draw an analogy to the evolution of Ertel\u27s PV in a stratified fluid. While the analogy is not exact, it does offer insight into to the fundamental dynamics of PV rearrangement. Comparisons with linear stability theory and observed cases are made to determine the extent to which linear theory captures the non-linear dynamics

    Supergravity can reconcile dark matter with lepton number violating neutrino masses

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    Supersymmetry offers a cold dark matter candidate, provided that lepton number is {\em not violated by an odd number of units}. On the other hand, lepton number violation by even (two) units gives us an attractive mechanism of neutrino mass generation. Here we offer an explanation of this, in a supergravity framework underlying a supersymmetric scenario, the essential feature being particles carrying lepton numbers, which interact only gravitationally with all other known particles. It is shown that one can have the right amount of ΔL=2\Delta L = 2 effect giving rise to neutrino masses, whereas the lifetime for ΔL=1\Delta L = 1 decays of the lightest supersymmetric particle can be prolonged beyond the present age of the universe.Comment: 8 pages, significant changes in the conceptual ideas and presentation of the paper, minor chages in the title and abstract, added few references. This is to appear in Physical Review

    Bilarge neutrino mixing from supersymmetry with high-scale nonrenormalizable interactions

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    We suggest a supersymmetric (SUSY) explanation of neutrino masses and mixing, where nonrenormalizable interactions in the hidden sector generate lepton number violating Majorana mass terms for both right-chiral sneutrinos and neutrinos. It is found necessary to start with a superpotential including an array of gauge singlet chiral superfields. This leads to nondiagonal ΔL=2\Delta L = 2 mass terms and almost diagonal SUSY breaking AA-terms. As a result, the observed pattern of bilarge mixing can be naturally explained by the simultaneous existence of the seesaw mechanism and radiatively induced masses. Allowed ranges of parameters in the gauge singlet sector are delineated, corresponding to each of the cases of normal hierarchy, inverted hierarchy and degenerate neutrinos.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures. Minor modifications are made in the title and the text, some new references are added. To appear in this form in Physical Review

    A screening of the dicotyledonous weed flora for the occurrence of C<SUB>4</SUB> dicarboxylic acid pathway of photosynthesis

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    Using the criteria of leaf anatomy, carbon dioxide compensation point and photosynthetic rate under reduced oxygen tension, a number of the local herbaceous and dicotyledonous weeds were screened for the occurrence of the C4 pathway of photosynthesis. Of the thirty-two species, belonging to nine families seventeen species revealed the characteristics of the C4 plants. All of the plants surveyed here were hitherto not tested and therefore the present results extend the number of plants already known to possess the Hatch-Slack pathway of photosynthesis. Another noteworthy feature of the investigation was the finding of interspecific differences within the generaHeliotropium, Alternanthera, Mollugo andEuphorbia in the presence or absence of the C4 pathway
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