63,202 research outputs found
Nflation: multi-field inflationary dynamics and perturbations
We carry out numerical investigations of the dynamics and perturbations in
the Nflation model of Dimopoulos et al. (2005). This model features large
numbers of scalar fields with different masses, which can cooperate to drive
inflation according to the assisted inflation mechanism. We extend previous
work to include random initial conditions for the scalar fields, and explore
the predictions for density perturbations and the tensor-to-scalar ratio. The
tensor-to-scalar ratio depends only on the number of e-foldings and is
independent of the number of fields, their masses, and their initial
conditions. It therefore always has the same value as for a single massive
field. By contrast, the scalar spectral index has significant dependence on
model parameters. While normally multi-field inflation models make predictions
for observable quantities which depend also on the unknown field initial
conditions, we find evidence of a `thermodynamic' regime whereby the predicted
spectral index becomes independent of initial conditions if there are enough
fields. Only in parts of parameter space where the mass spectrum of the fields
is extremely densely packed is the model capable of satisfying the tight
observational constraints from WMAP3 observations.Comment: 6 pages RevTeX4, 4 figures included. Updated to match PRD accepted
version. Analysis and conclusions unchanged. New references, especially
astro-ph/0510441 which was first to give the general r=8/N resul
Measuring the Rotation Speed of Giant Stars From Gravitational Microlensing
During some gravitational lensing events, the lens transits the face of the
star. This causes a shift in the apparent radial velocity of the star which is
proportional to its rotation speed. It also changes the magnification relative
to what would be expected for a point source. By measuring both effects, one
can determine the rotation parameter . The method is especially useful
for K giant stars because these have turbulent velocities that are typically
large compared with their rotation speed. By making a series of radial velocity
measurements, one can typically determine to the same accuracy as the
individual radial velocity measurements. There are approximately 10
microlensing transit events per year which would be suitable to make these
measurements.Comment: 11 pages including 1 embedded figur
N-flation: Non-Gaussianity in the horizon-crossing approximation
We analyze the cosmic non-gaussianity produced in inflation models with multiple uncoupled fields with monomial potentials, such as Nflation. Using the horizon-crossing approximation to compute the non-gaussianity, we show that when each field has the same form of potential, the prediction is independent the number of fields, their initial conditions, and the spectrum of masses/couplings. It depends only on the number of e-foldings after the horizon crossing of observable perturbations. We also provide a further generalization to the case where the fields can have monomial potentials with different powers. Unless the horizon-crossing approximation is substantially violated, the predicted non-gaussianity is too small to ever be observed
Current Status of Defensins and Their Role in Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Naturally occurring antimicrobial cationic polypeptides play a major role in innate and adaptive immunity. These polypeptides are found to be either linear and unstructured or structured through disulfide bonds. Among the structured antimicrobial polypeptides, defensins comprise a family of cysteine-rich cationic polypeptides that contribute significantly to host defense against the invasion of microorganisms in animals, humans, insects and plants. Their wide-spread occurrence in various tissues of these diverse organisms, and their importance in innate and adaptive immunity have led to their identification, isolation and characterization. A large volume of literature is available on defensins’ occurrence, structural characterization, gene expression and regulation under normal and pathological conditions. Much has also been published regarding their antimicrobial, antiviral and chemoattractive properties, and their molecular and cellular interactions. In this review, we describe the current status of our knowledge of defensins with respect to their molecular, cellular and structural biology, their role in host defense, future research paradigms and the possibility of their utilization as a new class of non-toxic antimicrobial agents and immuno-modulators
Nflation: observable predictions from the random matrix mass spectrum
We carry out numerical investigations of the perturbations in Nflation models
where the mass spectrum is generated by random matrix theory. The
tensor-to-scalar ratio and non-gaussianity are already known to take the
single-field values, and so the density perturbation spectral index is the main
parameter of interest. We study several types of random field initial
conditions, and compute the spectral index as a function of mass spectrum
parameters. Comparison with microwave anisotropy data from the Wilkinson
Microwave Anisotropy Probe shows that the model is currently viable in the
majority of its parameter space.Comment: 5 pages RevTeX with 4 figures. Minor corrections to match version to
appear in Physical Review
Stability of multi-field cosmological solutions
We explore the stability properties of multi-field solutions of assisted
inflation type, where several fields collectively evolve to the same
configuration. In the case of noninteracting fields, we show that the condition
for such solutions to be stable is less restrictive than that required for
tracking in quintessence models. Our results, which do not rely on the
slow-roll approximation, further indicate that to linear order in homogeneous
perturbations the fields are in fact unaware of each other's existence. We end
by generalizing our results to some cases of interacting fields and to other
background solutions and dynamics, including the high-energy braneworld.Comment: 6 pages; v2: typos corrected, version accepted by PR
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