Quintessence Cosmology and the Cosmic Coincidence

Within present constraints on the observed smooth energy and its equation of state parameter, it is important to find out whether the smooth energy is static (cosmological constant) or dynamic (quintessence). The most dynamical quintessence fields observationally allowed are now still fast-rolling and no longer satisfy the tracker approximation if the equation of state parameter varies moderately with cosmic scale. We are optimistic about distinguishing between a cosmological constant and appreciably dynamic quintessence, by measuring average values for the effective equation of state parameter. However, reconstructing the quintessence potential from observations of any scale dependence appears problematic in the near future. For our flat universe, at present dominated by smooth energy in the form of either a cosmological constant (LCDM) or quintessence (QCDM), we calculate the asymptotic collapsed mass fraction to be maximal at the observed smooth energy/matter ratio. Identifying this collapsed fraction as a conditional probability for habitable galaxies, we infer that the prior distribution is flat. Interpreting this prior as a distribution over theories, rather than as a distribution over unobservable subuniverses, leads us to heuristic predictions about the class of future quantum cosmology theories and the static or quasi-static nature of the smooth energy.Comment: Typos corrected, as presented at Cosmo-01 Workshop, Rovaniemi, Finland and accepted for publication in Physical Review D. 9 pages, 4 figure

Confusing the extragalactic neutrino flux limit with a neutrino propagation limit

We study the possible suppression of the extragalactic neutrino flux due to a nonstandard interaction during its propagation. In particular, we study neutrino interaction with an ultra-light scalar field dark matter. It is shown that the extragalactic neutrino flux may be suppressed by such an interaction, leading to a new mechanism to reduce the ultra-high energy neutrino flux. We study both the cases of non-self-conjugate as well as self-conjugate dark matter. In the first case, the suppression is independent of the neutrino and dark matter masses. We conclude that care must be taken when explaining limits on the neutrino flux through source acceleration mechanisms only, since there could be other mechanisms for the reduction of the neutrino flux.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Important changes implemented. Abstract modified. Conclusions remain. To be published in JCA

Entropic Upper Bound on Gravitational Binding Energy

We prove that the gravitational binding energy {\Omega} of a self gravitating system described by a mass density distribution {\rho}(x) admits an upper bound B[{\rho}(x)] given by a simple function of an appropriate, non-additive Tsallis' power-law entropic functional Sq evaluated on the density {\rho}. The density distributions that saturate the entropic bound have the form of isotropic q-Gaussian distributions. These maximizer distributions correspond to the Plummer density profile, well known in astrophysics. A heuristic scaling argument is advanced suggesting that the entropic bound B[{\rho}(x)] is unique, in the sense that it is unlikely that exhaustive entropic upper bounds not based on the alluded Sq entropic measure exit. The present findings provide a new link between the physics of self gravitating systems, on the one hand, and the statistical formalism associated with non-additive, power-law entropic measures, on the other hand

Decomposition and nutrient release of leguminous plants in coffee agroforestry systems.

Leguminous plants used as green manure are an important nutrient source for coffee plantations, especially for soils with low nutrient levels. Field experiments were conducted in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais State, Brazil to evaluate the decomposition and nutrient release rates of four leguminous species used as green manures (Arachis pintoi, Calopogonium mucunoides, Stizolobium aterrimum and Stylosanthes guianensis) in a coffee agroforestry system under two different climate conditions. The initial N contents in plant residues varied from 25.7 to 37.0 g kg-1 and P from 2.4 to 3.0 g kg-1. The lignin/N, lignin/polyphenol and(lignin+polyphenol)/N ratios were low in all residues studied. Mass loss rates were highest in the first 15 days, when 25 % of the residues were decomposed. From 15 to 30 days, the decomposition rate decreased on both farms. On the farm in Pedra Dourada (PD), the decomposition constant k increased in the order C. mucunoides < S. aterrimum < S. guianensis < A. pintoi. On the farm in Araponga (ARA), there was no difference in the decomposition rate among leguminous plants. The N release rates varied from 0.0036 to 0.0096 d-1. Around 32 % of the total N content in the plant material was released in the first 15 days. In ARA, the N concentration in the S. aterrimum residues was always significantly higher than in the other residues. At the end of 360 days, the N released was 78 % in ARA and 89 % in PD of the initial content. Phosphorus was the most rapidly released nutrient (k values from 0.0165 to 0.0394 d-1). Residue decomposition and nutrient release did not correlate with initial residue chemistry and biochemistry, but differences in climatic conditions between the two study sites modified the decomposition rate constants

Quintessence arising from exponential potentials

We demonstrate how exponential potentials that could arise in the early Universe as a result of Kaluza-Klein type compactifications of string theory, can lead to cosmological solutions which correspond to the currently observed accelerating Universe. The idea is simple, relying solely on the known scaling properties associated with exponential potentials. In particular we show that the existence of stable attractor solutions implies that the results hold for a wide range of coupling constants and initial conditions.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, published versio

Planck-scale quintessence and the physics of structure formation

In a recent paper we considered the possibility of a scalar field providing an explanation for the cosmic acceleration. Our model had the interesting properties of attractor-like behavior and having its parameters of O(1) in Planck units. Here we discuss the effect of the field on large scale structure and CMB anisotropies. We show how some versions of our model inspired by "brane" physics have novel features due to the fact that the scalar field has a significant role over a wider range of redshifts than for typical "dark energy" models. One of these features is the additional suppression of the formation of large scale structure, as compared with cosmological constant models. In light of the new pressures being placed on cosmological parameters (in particular H_0) by CMB data, this added suppression allows our "brane" models to give excellent fits to both CMB and large scale structure data.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, submitted to PR

Adsorption Of Cadmium And Copper In Representative Soils Of Eastern Amazonia, Brazil

Studies of heavy metals adsorption in soil play a key role in predicting environmental susceptibility to contamination by toxic elements. The objective of this study was to evaluate cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) adsorption in surface and subsurface soil. Samples of six soils: Xanthic Hapludox (XH1 and XH2), Typic Hapludox (TH), Typic Rhodudalf (TR), Typic Fluvaquent (TF), and Amazonian dark earths (ADE) from Eastern Amazonian, Brazil. The soils were selected for chemical, physical and mineralogical characterization and to determine the adsorption by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. All soils characterized as kaolinitic, and among them, XH1 and XH2 showed the lowest fertility. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms revealed a higher Cu (H curve) than Cd (L curve) adsorption. Parameters of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms indicate that soils TR, TF and ADE has the greatest capacity and affinity for metal adsorption. Correlation between the curve adsorption parameters and the soil attributes indicates that the pH, CEC, OM and MnO variables had the best influence on metal retention. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms satisfactorily described Cu and Cd soil adsorption, where TR, TF and ADE has a lower vulnerability to metal input to the environment. Besides the pH, CEC and OM the MnO had a significant effect on Cu and Cd adsorption in Amazon soils.3753005301

Search for black holes and other new phenomena in high-multiplicity final states in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

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Search for heavy resonances decaying into a vector boson and a Higgs boson in final states with charged leptons, neutrinos, and b quarks

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Search for high-mass diphoton resonances in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV and combination with 8 TeV search

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