Higher-Derivative Two-Dimensional Massive Fermion Theories

We consider the canonical quantization of a generalized two-dimensional massive fermion theory containing higher odd-order derivatives. The requirements of Lorentz invariance, hermiticity of the Hamiltonian and absence of tachyon excitations suffice to fix the mass term, which contains a derivative coupling. We show that the basic quantum excitations of a higher-derivative theory of order 2N+1 consist of a physical usual massive fermion, quantized with positive metric, plus 2N unphysical massless fermions, quantized with opposite metrics. The positive metric Hilbert subspace, which is isomorphic to the space of states of a massive free fermion theory, is selected by a subsidiary-like condition. Employing the standard bosonization scheme, the equivalent boson theory is derived. The results obtained are used as a guideline to discuss the solution of a theory including a current-current interaction.Comment: 23 pages, Late

Directed Surfaces in Disordered Media

The critical exponents for a class of one-dimensional models of interface depinning in disordered media can be calculated through a mapping onto directed percolation (DP). In higher dimensions these models give rise to directed surfaces, which do not belong to the directed percolation universality class. We formulate a scaling theory of directed surfaces, and calculate critical exponents numerically, using a cellular automaton that locates the directed surfaces without making reference to the dynamics of the underlying interface growth models.Comment: 4 pages, REVTEX, 2 Postscript figures avaliable from [email protected]

On fermionic tilde conjugation rules and thermal bosonization. Hot and cold thermofields

A generalization of Ojima tilde conjugation rules is suggested, which reveals the coherent state properties of thermal vacuum state and is useful for the thermofield bosonization. The notion of hot and cold thermofields is introduced to distinguish different thermofield representations giving the correct normal form of thermofield solution for finite temperature Thirring model with correct renormalization and anticommutation properties.Comment: 13 page

Photometric stability analysis of the Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory

Photometric stability is a key requirement for time-resolved spectroscopic observations of transiting extrasolar planets. In the context of the Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory (EChO) mission design, we here present and investigate means of translating spacecraft pointing instabilities as well as temperature fluctuation of its optical chain into an overall error budget of the exoplanetary spectrum to be retrieved. Given the instrument specifications as of date, we investigate the magnitudes of these photometric instabilities in the context of simulated observations of the exoplanet HD189733b secondary eclipse.Comment: submitted to MNRA

Development of ferroelectric domains and topological defects in vacancy doped ceramics of h-LuMnO₃

Self-doping of the h-LuMnxO3±δ (0.92 ≤ x ≤ 1.12) phase and changes in the sintering time are applied to investigate the formation and annihilation of antiphase ferroelectric (FE) domains in bulk ceramics. The increase in the annealing time in sintering results in growth of FE domains, which depends on the type of vacancy, 6-fold vortices with dimensions of the order of 20 μm being observed. Interference of planar defects of the lattice with the growth of topological defects shows breaking of 6-fold symmetry in the self-doped ceramics. The role of grain boundaries in the development of topological defects has been studied. Dominance of the atypical FE domain network in very defective h-LuMnxO3±δ lattices saturated with Mn vacancies (x < 1) was also identified in the current study. After a long annealing time, scattered closed-loops of nano-dimensions are often observed isolated inside large FE domains with opposite polarization. Restoring of the polarization after alternative poling with opposite electrical fields is observed in FE domains. Stress/strain in the lattice driven by either planar defects or chemical inhomogeneity results in FE polarization switching on the nanoscale and further formation of nano-vortices, with detailed investigation being carried out by electron microscopy. Pinning of FE domains to planar defects is explored in the present microscopy analysis, and nano-scale observation of lattices is used to explain features of the ferroelectricity revealed in Piezo Force Microscopy images of the ceramics

Experimental determination of the non-extensive entropic parameter qq

We show how to extract the $q$ parameter from experimental data, considering an inhomogeneous magnetic system composed by many Maxwell-Boltzmann homogeneous parts, which after integration over the whole system recover the Tsallis non-extensivity. Analyzing the cluster distribution of La$_{0.7}$Sr$_{0.3}$MnO$_{3}$ manganite, obtained through scanning tunnelling spectroscopy, we measure the $q$ parameter and predict the bulk magnetization with good accuracy. The connection between the Griffiths phase and non-extensivity is also considered. We conclude that the entropic parameter embodies information about the dynamics, the key role to describe complex systems.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Scaling behavior in economics: II. Modeling of company growth

In the preceding paper we presented empirical results describing the growth of publicly-traded United States manufacturing firms within the years 1974--1993. Our results suggest that the data can be described by a scaling approach. Here, we propose models that may lead to some insight into these phenomena. First, we study a model in which the growth rate of a company is affected by a tendency to retain an ``optimal'' size. That model leads to an exponential distribution of the logarithm of the growth rate in agreement with the empirical results. Then, we study a hierarchical tree-like model of a company that enables us to relate the two parameters of the model to the exponent $\beta$, which describes the dependence of the standard deviation of the distribution of growth rates on size. We find that $\beta = -\ln \Pi / \ln z$, where $z$ defines the mean branching ratio of the hierarchical tree and $\Pi$ is the probability that the lower levels follow the policy of higher levels in the hierarchy. We also study the distribution of growth rates of this hierarchical model. We find that the distribution is consistent with the exponential form found empirically.Comment: 19 pages LateX, RevTeX 3, 6 figures, to appear J. Phys. I France (April 1997