Second sound spectroscopy of a nonequilibrium superfluid-normal interface

An experiment is proposed to test a previously developed theory of the hydrodynamics of a nonequilibrium heat current-induced superfluid-normal interface. It is shown that the interfacial ``trapped'' second sound mode predicted by the theory leads to a sharp resonant dip in the reflected signal from an external second sound pulse propagated towards the interface when its horizontal phase speed matches that of the interface mode. The influence of the interface on thermal fluctuations in the bulk superfluid is shown to lead to slow power dependence of the order parameter, and other quantities, on distance from it.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

TANF and Low-Income Family Support: Hearing Before the H. Subcomm. on Income Security and Family Support of the H. Comm. on Ways and Means, 111th Cong., Mar. 11, 2010 (Statement of Professor Peter B. Edelman, Geo. U. L. Center)

TANF should be a work-based safety net that strengthens families. The history of the past fourteen years shows the way to improving it for the future. It would be more successful in promoting work if it analyzed the individual needs and challenges of recipients and provided tailored education, training, support services, and other assistance to help people get and keep jobs. It would be more successful as a safety net if benefits were increased and if people in need could succeed in greater numbers in gaining access to the program

Comment on "Central limit behavior in deterministic dynamical systems"

We check claims for a generalized central limit theorem holding at the Feigenbaum (infinite bifurcation) point of the logistic map, made recently by U. Tirnakli, C. Beck, and C. Tsallis (Phys. Rev. {\bf 75}, 040106(R) (2007)). We show that there is no obvious way that these claims can be made consistent with high statistics simulations. We also refute more recent claims by the same authors that extend the claims made in the above reference.Comment: 3 pages, including 3 figure

Higgs bundles and the real symplectic group

We give an overview of the work of Corlette, Donaldson, Hitchin and Simpson leading to the non-abelian Hodge theory correspondence between representations of the fundamental group of a surface and the moduli space of Higgs bundles. We then explain how this can be generalized to a correspondence between character varieties for representations of surface groups in real Lie groups G and the moduli space of G-Higgs bundles. Finally we survey recent joint work with Bradlow, Garc\'ia-Prada and Mundet i Riera on the moduli space of maximal Sp(2n,R)-Higgs bundles.Comment: 12 page