10,933 research outputs found
Higher Order Stability of a Radiatively Induced 220 GeV Higgs Mass
The effective potential for radiatively broken electroweak symmetry in the
single Higgs doublet Standard Model is explored to four sequentially subleading
logarithm-summation levels (5-loops) in the dominant Higgs self-interaction
couplant . We augment these results with all contributing leading
logarithms in the remaining large but sub-dominant Standard Model couplants
(t-quark, QCD and gauge couplants) as well as next to
leading logarithm contributions from the largest of these, the t-quark and QCD
couplants. Order-by-order stability is demonstrated for earlier leading
logarithm predictions of an order 220 GeV Higgs boson mass in conjunction with
fivefold enhancement of the value for over that anticipated from
conventional spontaneous symmetry breaking.Comment: revtex, 6 pages. Analysis and text is expanded in revised versio
Oseledets' Splitting of Standard-like Maps
For the class of differentiable maps of the plane and, in particular, for
standard-like maps (McMillan form), a simple relation is shown between the
directions of the local invariant manifolds of a generic point and its
contribution to the finite-time Lyapunov exponents (FTLE) of the associated
orbit. By computing also the point-wise curvature of the manifolds, we produce
a comparative study between local Lyapunov exponent, manifold's curvature and
splitting angle between stable/unstable manifolds. Interestingly, the analysis
of the Chirikov-Taylor standard map suggests that the positive contributions to
the FTLE average mostly come from points of the orbit where the structure of
the manifolds is locally hyperbolic: where the manifolds are flat and
transversal, the one-step exponent is predominantly positive and large; this
behaviour is intended in a purely statistical sense, since it exhibits large
deviations. Such phenomenon can be understood by analytic arguments which, as a
by-product, also suggest an explicit way to point-wise approximate the
splitting.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figure
Widespread abiotic methane in chromitites
Recurring discoveries of abiotic methane in gas seeps and springs in ophiolites and peridotite massifs worldwide raised the question of where, in which rocks, methane was generated. Answers will impact the theories on life origin related to serpentinization of ultramafic rocks, and the origin of methane on rocky planets. Here we document, through molecular and isotopic analyses of gas liberated by rock crushing, that among the several mafic and ultramafic rocks composing classic ophiolites in Greece, i.e., serpentinite, peridotite, chromitite, gabbro, rodingite and basalt, only chromitites, characterized by high concentrations of chromium and ruthenium, host considerable amounts of 13C-enriched methane, hydrogen and heavier hydrocarbons with inverse isotopic trend, which is typical of abiotic gas origin. Raman analyses are consistent with methane being occluded in widespread microfractures and porous serpentine- or chlorite-filled veins. Chromium and ruthenium may be key metal catalysts for methane production via Sabatier reaction. Chromitites may represent source rocks of abiotic methane on Earth and, potentially, on Mars
High-Pressure Synthesis of a Pentazolate Salt
The pentazolates, the last all-nitrogen members of the azole series, have
been notoriously elusive for the last hundred years despite enormous efforts to
make these compounds in either gas or condensed phases. Here we report a
successful synthesis of a solid state compound consisting of isolated
pentazolate anions N5-, which is achieved by compressing and laser heating
cesium azide (CsN3) mixed with N2 cryogenic liquid in a diamond anvil cell. The
experiment was guided by theory, which predicted the transformation of the
mixture at high pressures to a new compound, cesium pentazolate salt (CsN5).
Electron transfer from Cs atoms to N5 rings enables both aromaticity in the
pentazolates as well as ionic bonding in the CsN5 crystal. This work provides a
critical insight into the role of extreme conditions in exploring unusual
bonding routes that ultimately lead to the formation of novel high nitrogen
content species
Effects of Defects on Friction for a Xe Film Sliding on Ag(111)
The effects of a step defect and a random array of point defects (such as
vacancies or substitutional impurities) on the force of friction acting on a
xenon monolayer film as it slides on a silver (111) substrate are studied by
molecular dynamic simulations and compared with the results of lowest order
perturbation theory in the substrate corrugation potential. For the case of a
step, the magnitude and velocity dependence of the friction force are strongly
dependent on the direction of sliding respect to the step and the corrugation
strength. When the applied force F is perpendicular to the step, the film is
pinned forF less than a critical force Fc. Motion of the film along the step,
however, is not pinned. Fluctuations in the sliding velocity in time provide
evidence of both stick-slip motion and thermally activated creep. Simulations
done with a substrate containing a 5 percent concentration of random point
defects for various directions of the applied force show that the film is
pinned for the force below a critical value. The critical force, however, is
still much lower than the effective inertial force exerted on the film by the
oscillations of the substrate in experiments done with a quartz crystal
microbalance (QCM). Lowest order perturbation theory in the substrate potential
is shown to give results consistent with the simulations, and it is used to
give a physical picture of what could be expected for real surfaces which
contain many defects.Comment: 13 pages, 17 figures, latex plus postscript files for figure
Halite as a Methane Sequestration Host: A Possible Explanation for Periodic Methane Release on Mars, and a Surface-accessible Source of Ancient Martian Carbon
We present the hypothesis that halite may play a role in methane sequestration on the martian surface. In terrestrial examples, halite deposits sequester large volumes of methane and chloromethane. Also, examples of chloromethane-bearing, approximately 4.5 Ga old halite from the Monahans meteorite show that this system is very stable unless the halite is damaged. On Mars, methane may be generated from carbonaceous material trapped in ancient halite deposits and sequestered. The methane may be released by damaging its halite host; either by aqueous alteration, aeolian abrasion, heating, or impact shock. Such a scenario may help to explain the appearance of short-lived releases of methane on the martian surface. The methane may be of either biogenic or abiogenic origin. If this scenario plays a significant role on Mars, then martian halite deposits may contain samples of organic compounds dating to the ancient desiccation of the planet, accessible at the surface for future sample return missions
Malignancy within a tail gut cyst:a case of retrorectal carcinoid tumour
Purpose. Tailgut cysts with malignant transformation are rare entities. We discuss the diagnostic strategy and treatment of a malignancy within a tailgut cyst. Methods. In this study we report on the case of a 61-year-old man with a malignant neuroendocrine tumour arising within a tailgut cyst and an overview of the literature emphasising the histopathological characteristics and differential diagnosis. Results. Our patient presented with lower back pain, rectal pain, and increased urgency of defecation. MRI scan and CT-guided biopsy on histological analysis revealed a diagnosis of carcinoid tumour of the presacral space. The patient subsequently underwent an abdominoperineal excision of the rectum. Conclusions. This case highlights the importance of tailgut cysts as a differential diagnosis of presacral masses. It is a rare congenital lesion developing from remnants of the embryonic postanal gut and is predominantly benign in nature. Approximately half of cases remain asymptomatic; therefore, diagnosis is often delayed. Magnetic resonance imaging is the investigation of choice and an awareness of the possibility of malignant potential is critical to avoiding missed diagnosis and subsequent morbidity. Complete surgical excision allows accurate diagnosis, confirmation of oncological clearance, and prevention of mortality
Discovery of extended radio emission in the young cluster Wd1
We present 10 micron, ISO-SWS and Australia Telescope Compact Array
observations of the region in the cluster Wd1 in Ara centred on the B[e] star
Ara C. An ISO-SWS spectrum reveals emission from highly ionised species in the
vicinity of the star, suggesting a secondary source of excitation in the
region. We find strong radio emission at both 3.5cm and 6.3cm, with a total
spatial extent of over 20 arcsec. The emission is found to be concentrated in
two discrete structures, separated by 14''. The westerly source is resolved,
with a spectral index indicative of thermal emission. The easterly source is
clearly extended and nonthermal (synchrotron) in nature. Positionally, the B[e]
star is found to coincide with the more compact radio source, while the
southerly lobe of the extended source is coincident with Ara A, an M2 I star.
Observation of the region at 10micron reveals strong emission with an almost
identical spatial distribution to the radio emission. Ara C is found to have an
extreme radio luminosity in comparison to prior radio observations of hot stars
such as O and B supergiants and Wolf-Rayet stars, given the estimated distance
to the cluster. An origin in a detatched shell of material around the central
star is therefore suggested; however given the spatial extent of the emission,
such a shell must be relatively young (10^3 yrs). The extended non thermal
emission associated with the M star Ara A is unexpected; to the best of our
knowledge this is a unique phenomenon. SAX (2-10keV) observations show no
evidence of X-ray emission, which might be expected if a compact companion were
present.Comment: 5 pages including encapsulated figures, figure 3 separate. Accepted
for MNRAS pink page
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