Weak interactions and quasi-stable particle energy loss

We discuss the interplay between electromagnetic energy loss and weak interactions in the context of quasistable particle particle propagation through materials. As specific examples, we consider staus, where weak interactions may play a role, and taus, where they don't.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the Second Workshop on TeV Particle Astrophysics (August 2006, Madison, WI

Consequences of short range interactions between dark matter and protons in galaxy clusters

Protons gain energy in short range collisions with heavier dark matter particles (DMPs) of comparable velocity dispersion. We examine the conditions under which the heating of baryons by scattering off DMPs can offset radiative cooling in the cores of galaxy clusters. Collisions with a constant cross section independent of the relative velocity of the colliding particles, cannot produce stable thermal balance. In this case, avoiding an unrealistic increase of the central temperatures yields the upper bound on the cross-section, \sigma_xp<10^-25 cm^2 (m_x/m_p), where m_x and m_p are the DMP and proton mass, respectively. A stable balance, however, can be achieved for a power law dependence on the relative velocity, V, of the form \sigma_xp \propto V^a with a<-3. An advantage of this heating mechanism is that it preserves the metal gradients observed in clusters.Comment: 7 pages, new calculations include

On the characteristic connection of gwistor space

We give a brief presentation of gwistor space, which is a new concept from G_2 geometry. Then we compute the characteristic torsion T^c of the gwistor space of an oriented Riemannian 4-manifold with constant sectional curvature k and deduce the condition under which T^c is \nabla^c-parallel; this allows for the classification of the G_2 structure with torsion and the characteristic holonomy according to known references. The case with the Einstein base manifold is envisaged.Comment: Many changes since first version, including title; Central European Journal of Mathematics, 201

Neutrino Telescopes as a Direct Probe of Supersymmetry Breaking

We consider supersymmetric models where the scale of supersymmetry breaking lies between 5 $\times 10^6$ GeV and 5 $\times 10^8$ GeV. In this class of theories, which includes models of gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking, the lightest supersymmetric particle is the gravitino. The next to lightest supersymmetric particle is typically a long lived charged slepton with a lifetime between a microsecond and a second, depending on its mass. Collisions of high energy neutrinos with nucleons in the earth can result in the production of a pair of these sleptons. Their very high boost means they typically decay outside the earth. We investigate the production of these particles by the diffuse flux of high energy neutrinos, and the potential for their observation in large ice or water Cerenkov detectors. The relatively small cross-section for the production of supersymmetric particles is partially compensated for by the very long range of heavy particles. The signal in the detector consists of two parallel charged tracks emerging from the earth about 100 meters apart, with very little background. A detailed calculation using the Waxman-Bahcall limit on the neutrino flux and realistic spectra shows that km$^3$ experiments could see as many as 4 events a year. We conclude that neutrino telescopes will complement collider searches in the determination of the supersymmetry breaking scale, and may even give the first evidence for supersymmetry at the weak scale.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Bioclimatic modelling in the holocene and in future warming scenarios in Arbutus unedo L.

Growing forests wildfires in Portugal are an increasing concern since forests in the Mediterranean region are vulnerable to recent global warming. Long-term negative effects are expected on the vegetation with the coming increasing drought. The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) displays potential to be a successfully business-like cultured in several regions of Portugal and southern Europe, as it is well adapted to climate and soils. In Portugal, this species has been used by local populations particularly for spirit production and for fruit consumption, although it has different possible commercial uses, from processed and fresh fruit production to ornamental, pharmaceutical and chemical applications. In addition, due to its pioneer status, it is valuable for land recovery and desertification avoidance, besides being fire resistant. The available strawberry tree’s data is presence-only. For modelling purposes, a set of placements within the landscape of interest (Portugal) was applied. The species, observed in 318 plots, together with a vector of environmental covariates (7 bioclimatic attributes, slope and altitude) and a defined background were used for modeling purposes. Maxent 3.4.1 was the used software, where the estimated quantity is the probability of the presence of the species, conditioned on the environment. Maxent uses the environmental covariate data from the occurrence records and the background sample, to estimate the ratio between the conditional density of the covariates at the presence sites and the marginal (i.e., unconditional) density of covariates across the study area and so, estimating the relative suitability of one place vs. another. Three different climate scenarios (control run; 2050 and 2070) were tested for two emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, WorldClim), besides the past, 6,000 BP (Mid-Holocene). The reduction of habitat suitable for this species is very significant in the southern regions, even for the best warming scenario (RCP 4.5) in 2050. Central and Northern mountain regions are predicted refuge for this species. Forest policies and management should consider the impact of climate change on the usable areas for forestry, seeing a case-study species particularly adapted to the Mediterranean regions and wildfires, such as strawberry tree. The distribution of the species in the Middle Holocene agrees with previous genetic and fossils studies in the region, which supported two putative refuges for the species since the Last Glacial Maximum and a cryptic refugia in the East-Central mountain region.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio