Semiclassical Quantization of Effective String Theory and Regge Trajectories

We begin with an effective string theory for long distance QCD, and evaluate the semiclassical expansion of this theory about a classical rotating string solution, taking into account the the dynamics of the boundary of the string. We show that, after renormalization, the zero point energy of the string fluctuations remains finite when the masses of the quarks on the ends of the string approach zero. The theory is then conformally invariant in any spacetime dimension D. For D=26 the energy spectrum of the rotating string formally coincides with that of the open string in classical Bosonic string theory. However, its physical origin is different. It is a semiclassical spectrum of an effective string theory valid only for large values of the angular momentum. For D=4, the first semiclassical correction adds the constant 1/12 to the classical Regge formula.Comment: 65 pages, revtex, 3 figures, added 2 reference

Nonmonotonic dependence of the absolute entropy on temperature in supercooled Stillinger-Weber silicon

Using a recently developed thermodynamic integration method, we compute the precise values of the excess Gibbs free energy (G^e) of the high density liquid (HDL) phase with respect to the crystalline phase at different temperatures (T) in the supercooled region of the Stillinger-Weber (SW) silicon [F. H. Stillinger and T. A. Weber, Phys. Rev. B. 32, 5262 (1985)]. Based on the slope of G^e with respect to T, we find that the absolute entropy of the HDL phase increases as its enthalpy changes from the equilibrium value at T \ge 1065 K to the value corresponding to a non-equilibrium state at 1060 K. We find that the volume distribution in the equilibrium HDL phases become progressively broader as the temperature is reduced to 1060 K, exhibiting van-der-Waals (VDW) loop in the pressure-volume curves. Our results provides insight into the thermodynamic cause of the transition from the HDL phase to the low density phases in SW silicon, observed in earlier studies near 1060 K at zero pressure.Comment: This version is accepted for publication in Journal of Statistical Physics (11 figures, 1 table

The physical meaning of the de Sitter invariants

We study the Lie algebras of the covariant representations transforming the matter fields under the de Sitter isometries. We point out that the Casimir operators of these representations can be written in closed forms and we deduce how their eigenvalues depend on the field's rest energy and spin. For the scalar, vector and Dirac fields, which have well-defined field equations, we express these eigenvalues in terms of mass and spin obtaining thus the principal invariants of the theory of free fields on the de Sitter spacetime. We show that in the flat limit we recover the corresponding invariants of the Wigner irreducible representations of the Poincare group.Comment: 22 pages no figure

Vortices and extreme black holes: the question of flux expulsion

It has been claimed that extreme black holes exhibit a phenomenon of flux expulsion for abelian Higgs vortices, irrespective of the relative width of the vortex to the black hole. Recent work by two of the authors showed a subtlety in the treatment of the event horizon, which cast doubt on this claim. We analyse in detail the vortex/extreme black hole system, showing that while flux expulsion can occur, it does not do so in all cases. We give analytic proofs for both expulsion and penetration of flux, in each case deriving a bound for that behaviour. We also present extensive numerical work backing up, and refining, these claims, and showing in detail how a vortex can end on a black hole in all situations. We also calculate the backreaction of the vortex on the geometry, and comment on the more general vortex-black hole system.Comment: 28 pages revtex, 10 figures, minor changes, reference adde

Primordial gravitational waves in inflationary braneworld

We study primordial gravitational waves from inflation in Randall-Sundrum braneworld model. The effect of small change of the Hubble parameter during inflation is investigated using a toy model given by connecting two de Sitter branes. We analyze the power spectrum of final zero-mode gravitons, which is generated from the vacuum fluctuations of both initial Kaluza-Klein modes and zero-mode. The amplitude of fluctuations is confirmed to agree with the four-dimensional one at low energies, whereas it is enhanced due to the normalization factor of zero-mode at high energies. We show that the five-dimensional spectrum can be well approximated by applying a simple mapping to the four-dimensional fluctuation amplitude.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, typos correcte

Generalized Chaplygin gas model: Cosmological consequences and statefinder diagnosis

The generalized Chaplygin gas (GCG) model in spatially flat universe is investigated. The cosmological consequences led by GCG model including the evolution of EoS parameter, deceleration parameter and dimensionless Hubble parameter are calculated. We show that the GCG model behaves as a general quintessence model. The GCG model can also represent the pressureless CDM model at the early time and cosmological constant model at the late time. The dependency of transition from decelerated expansion to accelerated expansion on the parameters of model is investigated. The statefinder parameters $r$ and $s$ in this model are derived and the evolutionary trajectories in $s-r$ plane are plotted. Finally, based on current observational data, we plot the evolutionary trajectories in $s-r$ and $q-r$ planes for best fit values of the parameters of GCG model. It has been shown that although, there are similarities between GCG model and other forms of chaplygin gas in statefinder plane, but the distance of this model from the $\Lambda$CDM fixed point in $s-r$ diagram is shorter compare with standard chaplygin gas model.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, accepted in Astrophys Space Sci. (2011

Delocalization in harmonic chains with long-range correlated random masses

We study the nature of collective excitations in harmonic chains with masses exhibiting long-range correlated disorder with power spectrum proportional to $1/k^{\alpha}$, where $k$ is the wave-vector of the modulations on the random masses landscape. Using a transfer matrix method and exact diagonalization, we compute the localization length and participation ratio of eigenmodes within the band of allowed energies. We find extended vibrational modes in the low-energy region for $\alpha > 1$. In order to study the time evolution of an initially localized energy input, we calculate the second moment $M_2(t)$ of the energy spatial distribution. We show that $M_2(t)$, besides being dependent of the specific initial excitation and exhibiting an anomalous diffusion for weakly correlated disorder, assumes a ballistic spread in the regime $\alpha>1$ due to the presence of extended vibrational modes.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figure

A CsI(Tl) Scintillating Crystal Detector for the Studies of Low Energy Neutrino Interactions

Scintillating crystal detector may offer some potential advantages in the low-energy, low-background experiments. A 500 kg CsI(Tl) detector to be placed near the core of Nuclear Power Station II in Taiwan is being constructed for the studies of electron-neutrino scatterings and other keV-MeV range neutrino interactions. The motivations of this detector approach, the physics to be addressed, the basic experimental design, and the characteristic performance of prototype modules are described. The expected background channels and their experimental handles are discussed.Comment: 34 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Nucl. Instrum. Method