5,676 research outputs found
Improved Limit on theta_{13} and Implications for Neutrino Masses in Neutrino-less Double Beta Decay and Cosmology
We analyze the impact of a measurement, or of an improved bound, on
theta_{13} for the determination of the effective neutrino mass in
neutrino-less double beta decay and cosmology. In particular, we discuss how an
improved limit on (or a specific value of) theta_{13} can influence the
determination of the neutrino mass spectrum via neutrino-less double beta
decay. We also discuss the interplay with improved cosmological neutrino mass
searches.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures. Minor corrections, matches version in PR
Fresh inflation: a warm inflationary model from a zero temperature initial state
A two-components mixture fluid which complies with the gamma law is
considered in the framework of inflation with finite temperature. The model is
developed for a quartic scalar potential without symmetry breaking. The
radiation energy density is assumed to be zero when inflation starts and
remains below the GUT temperature during the inflationary stage. Furthermore,
provides the necessary number of e-folds and sufficient radiation energy
density to GUT baryogenesis can take place near the minimum energetic
configuration.Comment: 11 pages, no figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Optimized Multimode Interference Fiber Based Refractometer in A Reflective Interrogation Scheme
A fiber based refractometer in a reflective interrogation scheme is investigated and optimized. A thin gold film was deposited on the tip of a coreless fiber section, which is spliced with a single mode fiber. The coreless fiber is a multimode waveguide, and the observed effects are due to multimode interference. To investigate and optimize the structure, the multimode part of the sensor is built with 3 different lengths: 58 mm, 29 mm and 17 mm. We use a broadband light source ranging from 1475 nm to 1650 nm and we test the sensors with liquids of varying refractive indices, from 1.333 to 1.438. Our results show that for a fixed wavelength, the sensor sensitivity is independent of the multimode fiber length, but we observed a sensitivity increase of approximately 0.7 nm/RIU for a one-nanometer increase in wavelength
Absolute proper motion of the Galactic open cluster M67
We derived the absolute proper motion (PM) of the old, solar-metallicity
Galactic open cluster M67 using observations collected with CFHT (1997) and
with LBT (2007). About 50 galaxies with relatively sharp nuclei allow us to
determine the absolute PM of the cluster. We find (mu_alpha
cos(delta),mu_delta)_J2000.0 = (-9.6+/-1.1,-3.7+/-0.8) mas/yr. By adopting a
line-of-sight velocity of 33.8+/-0.2 km/s, and assuming a distance of 815+/-50
pc, we explore the influence of the Galactic potential, with and without the
bar and/or spiral arms, on the galactic orbit of the cluster.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, and 3 tables. Published in Astronomy and
Astrophysics, Volume 513, id.A51
The "UV-route" to search for Blue Straggler Stars in Globular Clusters: first results from the HST UV Legacy Survey
We used data from the HST UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters to
select the Blue Straggler Star (BSS) population in four intermediate/high
density systems (namely NGC 2808, NGC 6388, NGC 6541 and NGC 7078) through a
"UV-guided search". This procedure consists in using the F275W images in each
cluster to construct the master list of detected sources, and then force it to
the images acquired in the other filters. Such an approach optimizes the
detection of relatively hot stars and allows the detection of complete sample
of BSSs even in the central region of high-density clusters, because the light
from the bright cool giants, which dominates the optical emission in old
stellar systems, is sensibly reduced at UV wavelengths. Our UV-guided
selections of BSSs have been compared to the samples obtained in previous,
optical-driven surveys, clearly demonstrating the efficiency of the UV
approach. In each cluster we also measured the parameter A+, defined as the
area enclosed between the cumulative radial distribution of BSSs and that of a
reference population, which traces the level of BSS central segregation and the
level of dynamical evolution suffered by the system. The values measured for
the four clusters studied in this paper nicely fall along the dynamical
sequence recently presented for a sample of 25 clusters.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables; accepted for publication in Ap
Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay and Future Neutrino Oscillation Precision Experiments
We discuss to what extent future precision measurements of neutrino mixing
observables will influence the information we can draw from a measurement of
(or an improved limit on) neutrinoless double beta decay. Whereas the Delta m^2
corresponding to solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillations are expected to be
known with good precision, the parameter theta_{12} will govern large part of
the uncertainty. We focus in particular on the possibility of distinguishing
the neutrino mass hierarchies and on setting a limit on the neutrino mass. We
give the largest allowed values of the neutrino masses which allow to
distinguish the normal from the inverted hierarchy. All aspects are discussed
as a function of the uncertainty stemming from the involved nuclear matrix
elements. The implications of a vanishing, or extremely small, effective mass
are also investigated. By giving a large list of possible neutrino mass
matrices and their predictions for the observables, we finally explore how a
measurement of (or an improved limit on) neutrinoless double beta decay can
help to identify the neutrino mass matrix if more precise values of the
relevant parameters are known.Comment: 35 pages, 12 figures. Comments and references added. To appear in PR
Constraining Mass Spectra with Sterile Neutrinos from Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay, Tritium Beta Decay and Cosmology
We analyze the constraints on neutrino mass spectra with extra sterile
neutrinos as implied by the LSND experiment. The various mass related
observables in neutrinoless double beta decay, tritium beta decay and cosmology
are discussed. Both neutrino oscillation results as well as recent cosmological
neutrino mass bounds are taken into account. We find that some of the allowed
mass patterns are severely restricted by the current constraints, in particular
by the cosmological constraints on the total sum of neutrino masses and by the
non-maximality of the solar neutrino mixing angle. Furthermore, we estimate the
form of the four neutrino mass matrices and also comment on the situation in
scenarios with two additional sterile neutrinos.Comment: 40 pages, 9 figures. Minor changes, matches version in PR
Remaining inconsistencies with solar neutrinos: can spin flavour precession provide a clue?
A few inconsistencies remain after it has been ascertained that LMA is the
dominant solution to the solar neutrino problem: why is the SuperKamiokande
spectrum flat and why is the Chlorine rate prediction over two standard
deviations above the data. There also remains the ananswered and important
question of whether the active neutrino flux is constant or time varying. We
propose a scenario involving spin flavour precession to sterile neutrinos with
three active flavours that predicts a flat SuperK spectrum and a Chlorine rate
prediction more consistent with data. We also argue that running the Borexino
experiment during the next few years may provide a very important clue as to
the possible variability of the solar neutrino flux.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, contribution to TAUP 2009 (Rome
Proper motions in Terzan 5: membership of the multi-iron sub-populations and first constrain to the orbit
By exploiting two sets of high-resolution images obtained with HST ACS/WFC
over a baseline of ~10 years we have measured relative proper motions of
~70,000 stars in the stellar system Terzan 5. The results confirm the
membership of the three sub-populations with different iron abudances
discovered in the system. The orbit of the system has been derived from a first
estimate of its absolute proper motion, obtained by using bulge stars as
reference. The results of the integration of this orbit within an axisymmetric
Galactic model exclude any external accretion origin for this cluster. Terzan 5
is known to have chemistry similar to the Galactic bulge; our findings support
a kinematic link between the cluster and the bulge, further strengthening the
possibility that Terzan 5 is the fossil remnant of one of the pristine clumps
that originated the bulge.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication by Ap
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