1,718 research outputs found
Applications of a New Proposal for Solving the "Problem of Time" to Some Simple Quantum Cosmological Models
We apply a recent proposal for defining states and observables in quantum
gravity to simple models. First, we consider a Klein-Gordon particle in an ex-
ternal potential in Minkowski space and compare our proposal to the theory ob-
tained by deparametrizing with respect to a time slicing prior to quantiza-
tion. We show explicitly that the dynamics of the deparametrization approach
depends on the time slicing. Our proposal yields a dynamics independent of the
choice of time slicing at intermediate times but after the potential is turned
off, the dynamics does not return to the free particle dynamics. Next we apply
our proposal to the closed Robertson-Walker quantum cosmology with a massless
scalar field with the size of the universe as our time variable, so the only
dynamical variable is the scalar field. We show that the resulting theory has
the semi-classical behavior up to the classical turning point from expansion to
contraction, i.e., given a classical solution which expands for much longer
than the Planck time, there is a quantum state whose dynamical evolution
closely approximates this classical solution during the expansion. However,
when the "time" gets larger than the classical maximum, the scalar field be-
comes "frozen" at its value at the maximum expansion. We also obtain similar
results in the Taub model. In an Appendix we derive the form of the Wheeler-
DeWitt equation for the Bianchi models by performing a proper quantum reduc-
tion of the momentum constraints; this equation differs from the usual one ob-
tained by solving the momentum constraints classically, prior to quantization.Comment: 30 pages, LaTeX 3 figures (postscript file or hard copy) available
upon request, BUTP-94/1
The Tevatron Higgs exclusion limits and theoretical uncertainties: a critical appraisal
We examine the exclusion limits set by the CDF and D0 experiments on the
Standard Model Higgs boson mass from their searches at the Tevatron in the
light of large theoretical uncertainties on the signal and background cross
sections. We show that when these uncertainties are consistently taken into
account, the sensitivity of the experiments becomes significantly lower and the
currently excluded mass range -175 GeV would be entirely reopened. The
necessary luminosity required to recover the current sensitivity is found to be
a factor of two higher than the present one.Comment: 11 pages, 5 Figures. Version published in Physics Letter B, including
an erratu
Trapping in the random conductance model
We consider random walks on among nearest-neighbor random conductances
which are i.i.d., positive, bounded uniformly from above but whose support
extends all the way to zero. Our focus is on the detailed properties of the
paths of the random walk conditioned to return back to the starting point at
time . We show that in the situations when the heat kernel exhibits
subdiffusive decay --- which is known to occur in dimensions --- the
walk gets trapped for a time of order in a small spatial region. This shows
that the strategy used earlier to infer subdiffusive lower bounds on the heat
kernel in specific examples is in fact dominant. In addition, we settle a
conjecture concerning the worst possible subdiffusive decay in four dimensions.Comment: 21 pages, version to appear in J. Statist. Phy
Constraints on the Charged Higgs Sector from the Tevatron Collider Data on Top Quark Decay
The top quark data in the lepton plus channel offers a viable probe
for the charged Higgs boson signal. We analyse the recent Tevatron collider
data in this channel to obtain a significant limit on the mass in the
large region.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX file; 2 figures included (PS files
Quasi-Local Density Functional Theory and its Application within Extended Thomas-Fermi Approximation
A generalization of the Density Functional Theory is proposed. The theory
developed leads to single-particle equations of motion with a quasi-local
mean-field operator, which contains a quasi-particle position-dependent
effective mass and a spin-orbit potential. The energy density functional is
constructed using the Extended Thomas-Fermi approximation. Within the framework
of this approach the ground-state properties of the doubly magic nuclei are
considered. The calculations have been performed using the finite-range Gogny
D1S force. The results are compared with the exact Hartree-Fock calculations
Vortex states in superconducting rings
The superconducting state of a thin superconducting disk with a hole is
studied within the non-linear Ginzburg-Landau theory in which the
demagnetization effect is accurately taken into account. We find that the flux
through the hole is not quantized, the superconducting state is stabilized with
increasing size of the hole for fixed radius of the disk, and a transition to a
multi-vortex state is found if the disk is sufficiently large. Breaking the
circular summetry through a non central location of the hole in the disk
enhances the multi-vortex state.Comment: 11 pages, 23 figures (postscript). To appear in Physical Review B,
Vol. 61 (2000
Quasi-Isotropization of the Inhomogeneous Mixmaster Universe Induced by an Inflationary Process
We derive a ``generic'' inhomogeneous ``bridge'' solution for a cosmological
model in the presence of a real self-interacting scalar field. This solution
connects a Kasner-like regime to an inflationary stage of evolution and
therefore provides a dynamical mechanism for the quasi-isotropization of the
universe. In the framework of a standard Arnowitt-Deser-Misner Hamiltonian
formulation of the dynamics and by adopting Misner-Chitr\`e-like variables, we
integrate the Einstein-Hamilton-Jacobi equation corresponding to a ``generic''
inhomogeneous cosmological model whose evolution is influenced by the coupling
with a bosonic field, expected to be responsible for a spontaneous symmetry
breaking configuration. The dependence of the detailed evolution of the
universe on the initial conditions is then appropriately characterized.Comment: 17 pages, no figure, to appear on PR
Localized Random Lasing Modes and a New Path for Observing Localization
We demonstrate that a knowledge of the density-of-states and the eigenstates
of a random system without gain, in conjunction with the frequency profile of
the gain, can accurately predict the mode that will lase first. Its critical
pumping rate can be also obtained. It is found that the shape of the
wavefunction of the random system remains unchanged as gain is introduced.
These results were obtained by the time-independent transfer matrix method and
finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) methods. They can be also analytically
understood by generalizing the semi-classical Lamb theory of lasing in random
systems. These findings provide a new path for observing the localization of
light, such as looking for mobility edge and studying the localized states.
%inside the random systems..Comment: Sent to PRL. 3 figure
The Flare-energy Distributions Generated by Kink-unstable Ensembles of Zero-net-current Coronal Loops
It has been proposed that the million degree temperature of the corona is due
to the combined effect of barely-detectable energy releases, so called
nanoflares, that occur throughout the solar atmosphere. Alas, the nanoflare
density and brightness implied by this hypothesis means that conclusive
verification is beyond present observational abilities. Nevertheless, we
investigate the plausibility of the nanoflare hypothesis by constructing a
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model that can derive the energy of a nanoflare from
the nature of an ideal kink instability. The set of energy-releasing
instabilities is captured by an instability threshold for linear kink modes.
Each point on the threshold is associated with a unique energy release and so
we can predict a distribution of nanoflare energies. When the linear
instability threshold is crossed, the instability enters a nonlinear phase as
it is driven by current sheet reconnection. As the ensuing flare erupts and
declines, the field transitions to a lower energy state, which is modelled by
relaxation theory, i.e., helicity is conserved and the ratio of current to
field becomes invariant within the loop. We apply the model so that all the
loops within an ensemble achieve instability followed by energy-releasing
relaxation. The result is a nanoflare energy distribution. Furthermore, we
produce different distributions by varying the loop aspect ratio, the nature of
the path to instability taken by each loop and also the level of radial
expansion that may accompany loop relaxation. The heating rate obtained is just
sufficient for coronal heating. In addition, we also show that kink instability
cannot be associated with a critical magnetic twist value for every point along
the instability threshold
- …