Radiation-Dominated Quantum Friedmann Models

Radiation-filled Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universes are quantized according to the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formalism in the conformal-time gauge. Unlike previous treatments of this problem, here both closed and open models are studied, only square-integrable wave functions are allowed, and the boundary conditions to ensure self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian operator are consistent with the space of admissible wave functions. It turns out that the tunneling boundary condition on the universal wave function is in conflict with self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian. The evolution of wave packets obeying different boundary conditions is studied and it is generally proven that all models are nonsingular. Given an initial condition on the probability density under which the classical regime prevails, it is found that a closed universe is certain to have an infinite radius, a density parameter $\Omega = 1$ becoming a prediction of the theory. Quantum stationary geometries are shown to exist for the closed universe model, but oscillating coherent states are forbidden by the boundary conditions that enforce self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian operator.Comment: 18 pages, LaTex, to appear in J. Math. Phy

Nonholonomic Constraints and Voronec's Equations

Is it allowed, in the context of the Lagrange multiplier formalism, to assume that nonholonomic constraints are already in effect while setting up Lagrange's function? This procedure is successfully applied in a recent book [L. N. Hand and J. D Finch, {\it Analytical Mechanics}] to the problem of the rolling penny, but it does not work in general, as we show by means of a counterexample. It turns out that in many cases the use of nonholonomic constraints in the process of construction of the Lagrangian is allowed, but the correct equations of motion are the little known Voronec's equations.Comment: Translation of the paper "Vinculos Nao-Holonomos e Equacoes de Voronec", to be published in Portuguese in Revista Brasileira de Ensino de Fisic

Is the proton radius puzzle evidence of extra dimensions?

The proton charge radius inferred from muonic hydrogen spectroscopy is not compatible with the previous value given by CODATA-2010, which, on its turn, essentially relies on measurements of the electron-proton interaction. The proton's new size was extracted from the 2S-2P Lamb shift in the muonic hydrogen, which showed an energy excess of 0.3 meV in comparison to the theoretical prediction, evaluated with the CODATA radius. Higher-dimensional gravity is a candidate to explain this discrepancy, since the muon-proton gravitational interaction is stronger than the electron-proton interaction and, in the context of braneworld models, the gravitational potential can be hugely amplified in short distances when compared to the Newtonian potential. Motivated by these ideas, we study a muonic hydrogen confined in a thick brane. We show that the muon-proton gravitational interaction modified by extra dimensions can provide the additional separation of 0.3 meV between 2S and 2P states. In this scenario, the gravitational energy depends on the higher-dimensional Planck mass and indirectly on the brane thickness. Studying the behavior of the gravitational energy with respect to the brane thickness in a realistic range, we find constraints for the fundamental Planck mass that solve the proton radius puzzle and are consistent with previous experimental bounds.Comment: Updated with new dat

Failure of intuition in elementary rigid body dynamics

Suppose a projectile collides perpendicularly with a stationary rigid rod on a smooth horizontal table. We show that, contrary to what one naturally expects, it is not always the case that the rod acquires maximum angular velocity when struck at an extremity. The treatment is intended for first year university students of Physics or Engineering, and could form the basis of a tutorial discussion of conservation laws in rigid body dynamics.Comment: Four pages; to appear in European Journal of Physic