CMB map derived from the WMAP data through Harmonic Internal Linear Combination

We are presenting an Internal Linear Combination (ILC) CMB map, in which the foreground is reduced through harmonic variance minimization. We have derived our method by converting a general form of pixel-space approach into spherical harmonic space, maintaining full correspondence. By working in spherical harmonic space, spatial variability of linear weights is incorporated in a self-contained manner and our linear weights are continuous functions of position over the entire sky. The full correspondence to pixel-space approach enables straightforward physical interpretation on our approach. In variance minimization of a linear combination map, the existence of a cross term between residual foregrounds and CMB makes the linear combination of minimum variance differ from that of minimum foreground. We have developed an iterative foreground reduction method, where perturbative correction is made for the cross term. Our CMB map derived from the WMAP data is in better agreement with the WMAP best-fit $\Lambda$CDM model than the WMAP team's Internal Linear Combination map. We find that our method's capacity to clean foreground is limited by the availability of enough spherical harmonic coefficients of good Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR).Comment: The whole sky CMB map, which is derived from the WMAP 5 year data through our method, is available in HEALPix FITS format at http://www.nbi.dk/~jkim/hilc The paper with higher resolution images also available at http://www.nbi.dk/~jkim/hil

Thermodynamic curvature measures interactions

Thermodynamic fluctuation theory originated with Einstein who inverted the relation $S=k_B\ln\Omega$ to express the number of states in terms of entropy: $\Omega= \exp(S/k_B)$. The theory's Gaussian approximation is discussed in most statistical mechanics texts. I review work showing how to go beyond the Gaussian approximation by adding covariance, conservation, and consistency. This generalization leads to a fundamentally new object: the thermodynamic Riemannian curvature scalar $R$, a thermodynamic invariant. I argue that $|R|$ is related to the correlation length and suggest that the sign of $R$ corresponds to whether the interparticle interactions are effectively attractive or repulsive.Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures (added reference 27

Single-Particle Density of States of a Superconductor with a Spatially Varying Gap and Phase Fluctuations

Recent experiments have shown that the superconducting energy gap in some cuprates is spatially inhomogeneous. Motivated by these experiments, and using exact diagonalization of a model d-wave Hamiltonian, combined with Monte Carlo simulations of a Ginzburg-Landau free energy functional, we have calculated the single-particle density of states LDOS$(\omega,r)$ of a model high-T$_c$ superconductor as a function of temperature. Our calculations include both quenched disorder in the pairing potential and thermal fluctuations in both phase and amplitude of the superconducting gap. Most of our calculations assume two types of superconducting regions: $\alpha$, with a small gap and large superfluid density, and $\beta$, with the opposite. If the $\beta$ regions are randomly embedded in an $\alpha$ host, the LDOS on the $\alpha$ sites still has a sharp coherence peak at $T = 0$, but the $\beta$ component does not, in agreement with experiment. An ordered arrangement of $\beta$ regions leads to oscillations in the LDOS as a function of energy. The model leads to a superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ well below the pseudogap temperature $T_{c0}$, and has a spatially varying gap at very low $T$, both consistent with experiments in underdoped Bi2212. Our calculated LDOS$(\omega,r)$ shows coherence peaks for $T T_c$, in agreement with previous work considering phase but not amplitude fluctuations in a homogeneous superconductor. Well above $T_c$, the gap in the LDOS disappears.Comment: 37 pages, 12 figures. Accepted by Phys. Rev. B. Scheduled Issue: 01 Nov 200

Conformal Scalar Propagation on the Schwarzschild Black-Hole Geometry

The vacuum activity generated by the curvature of the Schwarzschild black-hole geometry close to the event horizon is studied for the case of a massless, conformal scalar field. The associated approximation to the unknown, exact propagator in the Hartle-Hawking vacuum state for small values of the radial coordinate above $r = 2M$ results in an analytic expression which manifestly features its dependence on the background space-time geometry. This approximation to the Hartle-Hawking scalar propagator on the Schwarzschild black-hole geometry is, for that matter, distinct from all other. It is shown that the stated approximation is valid for physical distances which range from the event horizon to values which are orders of magnitude above the scale within which quantum and backreaction effects are comparatively pronounced. An expression is obtained for the renormalised $$ in the Hartle-Hawking vacuum state which reproduces the established results on the event horizon and in that segment of the exterior geometry within which the approximation is valid. In contrast to previous results the stated expression has the superior feature of being entirely analytic. The effect of the manifold's causal structure to scalar propagation is also studied.Comment: 34 pages, 2 figures. Published on line on October 16, 2009 and due to appear in print in Gen.Rel.Gra

Precise bounds on the Higgs boson mass

We study the renormalization group evolution of the Higgs quartic coupling $\lambda_{H}$ and the Higgs mass $m_{H}$ in the Standard Model. The one loop equation for $\lambda_{H}$ is non linear and it is of the Riccati type which we numerically and analytically solve in the energy range $[m_{t},E_{GU}]$ where $m_{t}$ is the mass of the top quark and $E_{GU}=10^{14}$ GeV. We find that depending on the value of $\lambda_{H}(m_{t})$ the solution for $\lambda_{H}(E)$ may have singularities or zeros and become negative in the former energy range so the ultra violet cut off of the standard model should be below the energy where the zero or singularity of $\lambda_{H}$ occurs. We find that for $0.369\leq\lambda_{H}(m_{t})\leq0.613$ the Standard Model is valid in the whole range $[m_{t},E_{GU}]$. We consider two cases of the Higgs mass relation to the parameters of the standard model: (a) the effective potential method and (b) the tree level mass relations. The limits for $\lambda_{H}(m_{t})$ correspond to the following Higgs mass relation $150\leq m_{H}\lessapprox 193$ GeV. We also plot the dependence of the ultra violet cut off on the value of the Higgs mass. We analyze the evolution of the vacuum expectation value of the Higgs field and show that it depends on the value of the Higgs mass. The pattern of the energy behavior of the VEV is different for the cases (a) and (b). The behavior of $\lambda_{H}(E)$, $m_{H}(E)$ and $v(E)$ indicates the existence of a phase transition in the standard model. For the effective potential this phase transition occurs at the mass range $m_{H}\approx 180$ GeV and for the tree level mass relations at $m_{H}\approx 168$ GeV.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures. Expanded the discussion of the Higgs mass relation between the parameters of the Standard Model. Included the method of the Higgs effective potentia

Madelung Fluid Model for The Most Likely Wave Function of a Single Free Particle in Two Dimensional Space with a Given Average Energy

We consider spatially two dimensional Madelung fluid whose irrotational motion reduces into the Schr\"odinger equation for a single free particle. In this respect, we regard the former as a direct generalization of the latter, allowing a rotational quantum flow. We then ask for the most likely wave function possessing a given average energy by maximizing the Shannon information entropy over the quantum probability density. We show that there exists a class of solutions in which the wave function is self-trapped, rotationally symmetric, spatially localized with finite support, and spinning around its center, yet stationary. The stationarity comes from the balance between the attractive quantum force field of a trapping quantum potential generated by quantum probability density and the repulsive centrifugal force of a rotating velocity vector field. We further show that there is a limiting case where the wave function is non-spinning and yet still stationary. This special state turns out to be the lowest stationary state of the ordinary Schr\"odinger equation for a particle in a cylindrical tube classical potential.Comment: 19 page

General relativistic analysis of peculiar velocities

We give a careful general relativistic and (1+3)-covariant analysis of cosmological peculiar velocities induced by matter density perturbations in the presence of a cosmological constant. In our quasi-Newtonian approach, constraint equations arise to maintain zero shear of the non-comoving fundamental worldlines which define a Newtonian-like frame, and these lead to the (1+3)-covariant dynamical equations, including a generalized Poisson-type equation. We investigate the relation between peculiar velocity and peculiar acceleration, finding the conditions under which they are aligned. In this case we find (1+3)-covariant relativistic generalizations of well-known Newtonian results.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX2e (iopart); minor changes, matches version accepted for publication by Classical and Quantum Gravit

Three routes to the exact asymptotics for the one-dimensional quantum walk

We demonstrate an alternative method for calculating the asymptotic behaviour of the discrete one-coin quantum walk on the infinite line, via the Jacobi polynomials that arise in the path integral representation. This is significantly easier to use than the Darboux method. It also provides a single integral representation for the wavefunction that works over the full range of positions, $n,$ including throughout the transitional range where the behaviour changes from oscillatory to exponential. Previous analyses of this system have run into difficulties in the transitional range, because the approximations on which they were based break down here. The fact that there are two different kinds of approach to this problem (Path Integral vs. Schr\"{o}dinger wave mechanics) is ultimately a manifestation of the equivalence between the path-integral formulation of quantum mechanics and the original formulation developed in the 1920s. We discuss how and why our approach is related to the two methods that have already been used to analyse these systems.Comment: 25 pages, AMS preprint format, 4 figures as encapsulated postscript. Replaced because there were sign errors in equations (80) & (85) and Lemma 2 of the journal version (v3

Pure-state single-photon wave-packet generation by parametric down conversion in a distributed microcavity

We propose an optical parametric down conversion (PDC) scheme that does not suffer a trade-off between the state-purity of single-photon wave-packets and the rate of packet production. This is accomplished by modifying the PDC process by using a microcavity to engineer the density of states of the optical field at the PDC frequencies. The high-finesse cavity mode occupies a spectral interval much narrower than the bandwidth of the pulsed pump laser field, suppressing the spectral correlation, or entanglement, between signal and idler photons. Spectral filtering of the field occurs prior to photon creation rather than afterward as in most other schemes. Operator-Maxwell equations are solved to find the Schmidt-mode decomposition of the two-photon states produced. Greater than 99% pure-state packet production is predicted to be achievable.Comment: submitted for publicatio