Flow Equation for Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics

We study supersymmetric quantum mechanics with the functional RG formulated in terms of an exact and manifestly off-shell supersymmetric flow equation for the effective action. We solve the flow equation nonperturbatively in a systematic super-covariant derivative expansion and concentrate on systems with unbroken supersymmetry. Already at next-to-leading order, the energy of the first excited state for convex potentials is accurately determined within a 1% error for a wide range of couplings including deeply nonperturbative regimes.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, references added, typos correcte

Validierung von Software-Komponenten zur Voraussage der strahleninduzierten Schädigung von RDB-Stahl

Die skalenübergreifende Modellierung der strahleninduzierten Schädigung von RDB-Stahl von den Primärschäden auf der atomaren Skala bis zu den Änderungen der mechanischen Eigenschaften auf der Makroskala trägt wesentlich zu einem ver¬besserten Verständnis des Phänomens der Neutronenversprödung bei. Sie kann sich zukünftig zu einem Bestandteil der Sicherheitsbewertung des RDB entwickeln. Der gewählte zweistufige Modellierungsansatz beruht auf der Kopplung eines ratentheoretischen Moduls zur Voraussage der Größenverteilung der strahlen¬induzierten Defekt-Fremdatom-Cluster mit einem Härtungs-Modul zur Voraussage der strahleninduzierten Streckgrenzenerhöhung. Gegenstand der Untersuchungen sind die Weiterentwicklung und Validierung entsprechender Software-Komponenten. Die Validierung erfolgt durch Gegenüberstellung der Berechnungsergebnisse mit Resultaten von Neutronenkleinwinkelstreumessungen und Zugversuchen an neutronenbestrahlten RDB-Stählen. Der entwickelte ratentheoretische Modul ermöglicht es, die Größe, Konzentration und Zusammensetzung gemischter Cu-Leerstellen-Cluster über die für RDB-Stähle relevanten Größenbereiche von bis zu 10000 Atomen und Zeitbereiche von bis zu mehreren 10 Jahren zu verfolgen. Die Verbindung der Ratentheorie zur Härtungs¬modellierung beruht auf der Übergabe von berechneten mittleren Hindernis¬abständen und -stärken. Die Validierung der numerischen Werkzeuge hat ergeben, dass wesentliche Tendenzen der strahleninduzierten Streckgrenzenerhöhung von Cu-haltigen und Cu-armen RDB-Stählen richtig wiedergegeben werden. Erste Ansätze zur Erfassung des Einflusses des Legierungselements Nickel im Rahmen der Ratentheorie und der Härtungsmodellierung wurden verwirklicht

Why Do secondary cracks preferentially form in hot-rolled ODS steels in comparison with hot-extruded ODS steels?

Secondary cracks are known to absorb energy, retard primary crack propagation and initiate at lower loads than primary cracks. They are observed more often in hot-rolled than in hot-extruded ODS steels. In this work, the microstructural factors responsible for this observation are investigated. Better understanding of these factors can lead to tailoring of improved ODS steels. Fracture toughness testing of two batches of 13Cr ODS steel, one hot-rolled and the other hot-extruded, was carried out. The fracture behaviour of secondary cracks was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Crystallographic texture and grain morphology play a predominant role in preventing secondary cracks in hot-extruded ODS steels. At lower temperatures, secondary cracks occur predominantly via transgranular cleavage. The fracture mode changes to ductile and intergranular at higher temperatures

Group actions on Segal operads

We give a Quillen equivalence between model structures for simplicial operads, described via the theory of operads, and Segal operads, thought of as certain reduced dendroidal spaces. We then extend this result to give an Quillen equivalence between the model structures for simplicial operads equipped with a group action and the corresponding Segal operads.Comment: Revised version. Accepted to Isr J Mat

Dressing Up the Kink

Many quantum field theoretical models possess non-trivial solutions which are stable for topological reasons. We construct a self-consistent example for a self-interacting scalar field--the quantum (or dressed) kink--using a two particle irreducible effective action in the Hartree approximation. This new solution includes quantum fluctuations determined self-consistently and nonperturbatively at the 1-loop resummed level and allowed to backreact on the classical mean-field profile. This dressed kink is static under the familiar Hartree equations for the time evolution of quantum fields. Because the quantum fluctuation spectrum is lower lying in the presence of the defect, the quantum kink has a lower rest energy than its classical counterpart. However its energy is higher than well-known strict 1-loop results, where backreaction and fluctuation self-interactions are omitted. We also show that the quantum kink exists at finite temperature and that its profile broadens as temperature is increased until it eventually disappears.Comment: 13 pages, latex, 3 eps figures; revised with yet additional references, minor rewordin

Simulation of the hot core mode of arc attachment at a thoriated tungsten cathode by an emitter spot model

Recently, a constricted attachment of an atmospheric pressure low-current argon arc in the centre of the flat end face of a thoriated tungsten cathode was observed and spectroscopically analysed. Its diameter of 0.6mm and its length of the free standing part of 10mm are the typical dimensions of electrodes for high-intensity discharge lamps. This paper gives a physical interpretation of the axially symmetric arc spot by a simulation of its properties with a cathodic sheath model which takes into account a reduction in the work function above a critical temperature of the cathode surface by a thorium ion current. At first the optical observation and spectroscopic investigations are recapitulated. Then, an overview is given on the essential elements which are needed to simulate the cathodic arc attachment on a hot electrode. A simulation of a central cathode spot with these elements gives results which are far away from the experimental findings if a constant work function φ is used. Therefore, a temperature-dependent work function φ(T ) is introduced. This φ(T ) transitions from 4.55 to 3 eV above temperatures of the order of 3000 K. With this emitter spot model a constricted arc attachment is obtained by simulation in the centre of the flat end face of the cathode in accordance with experiment. For currents below iarc,max ≈ 15.5A, two spot solutions with different cathode falls are found. They form a current–voltage–characteristic consisting of two branches which extend from a turning point at iarc,max to lower currents. For iarc > iarc,max, only a diffuse mode of cathodic arc attachment is obtained. It is shown by a comparison with measured data for iarc = 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15A that the solution with the lower cathode fall is observed experimentally

On the nature of XTE J0421+560/CI Cam

We present the results of the analysis of RXTE, BATSE and optical/infrared data of the 1998 outburst of the X-ray transient system XTE J0421+560 (CI Cam). The X-ray outburst shows a very fast decay (initial e-folding time ~0.5 days, slowing down to ~2.3 days). The X-ray spectrum in the 2-25 keV band is complex, softening considerably during decay and with strongly variable intrinsic absorption. A strong iron emission line is observed. No fast time variability is detected (<0.5 % rms in the 1-4096 Hz band at the outburst peak). The analysis of the optical/IR data suggests that the secondary is a B[e] star surrounded by cool dust and places the system at a distance of >~ 2 kpc. At this distance the peak 2-25 keV luminosity is ~4 x 10^37 erg/s. We compare the properties of this peculiar system with those of the Be/NS LMC transient A 0538-66 and suggest that CI Cam is of similar nature. The presence of strong radio emission during outburst indicates that the compact object is likely to be a black hole or a weakly magnetized neutron star.Comment: Accepted for publication on The Astrophysical Journal, July 199

Comparison of existing aneurysm models and their path forward

The two most important aneurysm types are cerebral aneurysms (CA) and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), accounting together for over 80\% of all fatal aneurysm incidences. To minimise aneurysm related deaths, clinicians require various tools to accurately estimate its rupture risk. For both aneurysm types, the current state-of-the-art tools to evaluate rupture risk are identified and evaluated in terms of clinical applicability. We perform a comprehensive literature review, using the Web of Science database. Identified records (3127) are clustered by modelling approach and aneurysm location in a meta-analysis to quantify scientific relevance and to extract modelling patterns and further assessed according to PRISMA guidelines (179 full text screens). Beside general differences and similarities of CA and AAA, we identify and systematically evaluate four major modelling approaches on aneurysm rupture risk: finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics as deterministic approaches and machine learning and assessment-tools and dimensionless parameters as stochastic approaches. The latter score highest in the evaluation for their potential as clinical applications for rupture prediction, due to readiness level and user friendliness. Deterministic approaches are less likely to be applied in a clinical environment because of their high model complexity. Because deterministic approaches consider underlying mechanism for aneurysm rupture, they have improved capability to account for unusual patient-specific characteristics, compared to stochastic approaches. We show that an increased interdisciplinary exchange between specialists can boost comprehension of this disease to design tools for a clinical environment. By combining deterministic and stochastic models, advantages of both approaches can improve accessibility for clinicians and prediction quality for rupture risk.Comment: 46 pages, 5 figure