10,024 research outputs found
Consequences of the Factorization Hypothesis in pbar p, pp, gamma p and gamma gamma Collisions
Using an eikonal analysis, we examine the validity of the factorization
theorem for nucleon-nucleon, gamma p and gamma gamma collisions. As an example,
using the additive quark model and meson vector dominance, we directly show
that for all energies and values of the eikonal, that the factorization theorem
sigma_{nn}/sigma_{gamma p} = sigma_{gamma p}/sigma_{gamma gamma} holds. We can
also compute the survival probability of large rapidity gaps in high energy
pbar p and pp collisions. We show that the survival probabilities are identical
(at the same energy) for gamma p and gamma gamma collisions, as well as for
nucleon-nucleon collisions. We further show that neither the factorization
theorem nor the reaction-independence of the survival probabilities depends on
the assumption of an additive quark model, but, more generally, depends on the
opacity of the eikonal being independent of whether the reaction is n-n, gamma
p or gamma gamma.Comment: 8 pages, Revtex, no figures. Expanded discussion, minor correction
Artificial Brains and Hybrid Minds
The paper develops two related thought experiments exploring variations on an ‘animat’ theme. Animats are hybrid devices with both artificial and biological components. Traditionally, ‘components’ have been construed in concrete terms, as physical parts or constituent material structures. Many fascinating issues arise within this context of hybrid physical organization. However, within the context of functional/computational theories of mentality, demarcations based purely on material structure are unduly narrow. It is abstract functional structure which does the key work in characterizing the respective ‘components’ of thinking systems, while the ‘stuff’ of material implementation is of secondary importance. Thus the paper extends the received animat paradigm, and investigates some intriguing consequences of expanding the conception of bio-machine hybrids to include abstract functional and semantic structure. In particular, the thought experiments consider cases of mind-machine merger where there is no physical Brain-Machine Interface: indeed, the material human body and brain have been removed from the picture altogether. The first experiment illustrates some intrinsic theoretical difficulties in attempting to replicate the human mind in an alternative material medium, while the second reveals some deep conceptual problems in attempting to create a form of truly Artificial General Intelligence
Gravitational torques in spiral galaxies: gas accretion as a driving mechanism of galactic evolution
The distribution of gravitational torques and bar strengths in the local
Universe is derived from a detailed study of 163 galaxies observed in the
near-infrared. The results are compared with numerical models for spiral galaxy
evolution. It is found that the observed distribution of torques can be
accounted for only with external accretion of gas onto spiral disks. Accretion
is responsible for bar renewal - after the dissolution of primordial bars - as
well as the maintenance of spiral structures. Models of isolated, non-accreting
galaxies are ruled out. Moderate accretion rates do not explain the
observational results: it is shown that galactic disks should double their mass
in less than the Hubble time. The best fit is obtained if spiral galaxies are
open systems, still forming today by continuous gas accretion, doubling their
mass every 10 billion years.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters (accepted
New physics, the cosmic ray spectrum knee, and cross section measurements
We explore the possibility that a new physics interaction can provide an
explanation for the knee just above GeV in the cosmic ray spectrum. We
model the new physics modifications to the total proton-proton cross section
with an incoherent term that allows for missing energy above the scale of new
physics. We add the constraint that the new physics must also be consistent
with published cross section measurements, using cosmic ray observations,
an order of magnitude and more above the knee. We find that the rise in cross
section required at energies above the knee is radical. The increase in cross
section suggests that it may be more appropriate to treat the scattering
process in the black disc limit at such high energies. In this case there may
be no clean separation between the standard model and new physics contributions
to the total cross section. We model the missing energy in this limit and find
a good fit to the Tibet III cosmic ray flux data. We comment on testing the new
physics proposal for the cosmic ray knee at the Large Hadron Collider.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure
A Dust-Penetrated Classification Scheme for Bars as Inferred from their Gravitational Force Fields
The division of galaxies into ``barred'' (SB) and ``normal'' (S) spirals is a
fundamental aspect of the Hubble galaxy classification system. This ``tuning
fork'' view was revised by de Vaucouleurs, whose classification volume
recognized apparent ``bar strength'' (SA, SAB, SB) as a continuous property of
galaxies called the ``family''. However, the SA, SAB, and SB families are
purely visual judgments that can have little bearing on the actual bar strength
in a given galaxy. Until very recently, published bar judgments were based
exclusively on blue light images, where internal extinction or star formation
can either mask a bar completely or give the false impression of a bar in a
nonbarred galaxy. Near-infrared camera arrays, which principally trace the old
stellar populations in both normal and barred galaxies, now facilitate a
quantification of bar strength in terms of their gravitational potentials and
force fields. In this paper, we show that the maximum value, Qb, of the ratio
of the tangential force to the mean radial force is a quantitative measure of
the strength of a bar. Qb does not measure bar ellipticity or bar shape, but
rather depends on the actual forcing due to the bar embedded in its disk. We
show that a wide range of true bar strengths characterizes the category ``SB'',
while de Vaucouleurs category ``SAB'' corresponds to a much narrower range of
bar strengths. We present Qb values for 36 galaxies, and we incorporate our bar
classes into a dust-penetrated classification system for spiral galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal (LaTex, 30
pages + 3 figures); Figs. 1 and 3 are in color and are also available at
http://bama.ua.edu/~rbuta/bars
New limits on "odderon" amplitudes from analyticity constraints
In studies of high energy and scattering, the odd (under
crossing) forward scattering amplitude accounts for the difference between the
and cross sections. Typically, it is taken as
(),
which has as , where is the
ratio of the real to the imaginary portion of the forward scattering amplitude.
However, the odd-signatured amplitude can have in principle a strikingly
different behavior, ranging from having non-zero constant to
having as , the maximal behavior
allowed by analyticity and the Froissart bound. We reanalyze high energy
and scattering data, using new analyticity constraints, in order to
put new and precise limits on the magnitude of ``odderon'' amplitudes.Comment: 13 pages LaTex, 6 figure
Spin Bose-Metal and Valence Bond Solid phases in a spin-1/2 model with ring exchanges on a four-leg triangular ladder
We study a spin-1/2 system with Heisenberg plus ring exchanges on a four-leg
triangular ladder using the density matrix renormalization group and Gutzwiller
variational wave functions. Near an isotropic lattice regime, for moderate to
large ring exchanges we find a spin Bose-metal phase with a spinon Fermi sea
consisting of three partially filled bands. Going away from the triangular
towards the square lattice regime, we find a staggered dimer phase with dimers
in the transverse direction, while for small ring exchanges the system is in a
featureless rung phase. We also discuss parent states and a possible phase
diagram in two dimensions.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, v3 is the print versio
Dust-penetrated morphology in the high-redshift universe: clues from NGC 922
Results from the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) North and South show a large
percentage of high-redshift galaxies whose appearance falls outside traditional
classification systems. The nature of these objects is poorly understood, but
sub-mm observations indicate that at least some of these systems are heavily
obscured (Sanders 2000). This raises the intriguing possibility that a
physically meaningful classification system for high-redshift galaxies might be
more easily devised at rest-frame infrared wavelengths, rather than in the
optical regime. Practical realization of this idea will become possible with
the advent of the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST). In order to explore
the capability of NGST for undertaking such science, we present NASA-IRTF and
SCUBA observations of NGC 922, a chaotic system in our local Universe which
bears a striking resemblance to objects such as HDF 2-86 (z=0.749) in the HDF
North. If objects such as NGC 922 are common at high-redshifts, then this
galaxy may serve as a local morphological `Rosetta stone' bridging low and
high-redshift populations. In this paper we demonstrate that quantitative
measures of galactic structure are recoverable in the rest-frame infrared for
NGC 922 seen at high redshifts using NGST, by simulating the appearance of this
galaxy at redshifts z=0.7 and z=1.2 in rest-frame K'. Our results suggest that
the capability of efficiently exploring the rest-wavelength IR morphology of
high-z galaxies should probably be a key factor in deciding the final choice of
instruments for the NGST.Comment: 7 pages, 12 Figures. Accepted for publication in A&A. Better version
of the figures can be found at http://www.inaoep.mx/~puerari/ngs
Self-Consistent Response of a Galactic Disk to an Elliptical Perturbation Halo Potential
We calculate the self-consistent response of an axisymmetric galactic disk
perturbed by an elliptical halo potential of harmonic number m = 2, and obtain
the net disk ellipticity. Such a potential is commonly expected to arise due to
a galactic tidal encounter and also during the galaxy formation process. The
self-gravitational potential corresponding to the self-consistent,
non-axisymmetric density response of the disk is obtained by inversion of
Poisson equation for a thin disk. This response potential is shown to oppose
the perturbation potential, because physically the disk self-gravity resists
the imposed potential. This results in a reduction in the net ellipticity of
the perturbation halo potential in the disk plane. The reduction factor
denoting this decrease is independent of the strength of the perturbation
potential, and has a typical minimum value of 0.75 - 0.9 for a wide range of
galaxy parameters. The reduction is negligible at all radii for higher
harmonics (m > or = 3) of the halo potential. (abridged).Comment: 26 pages (LaTex- aastex style), 3 .eps figures. To appear in the
Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 542, Oct. 20, 200
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