Covariant Light-Front Approach for BcB_c transition form factors

In the covariant light-front quark model, we investigate the form factors of $B_c$ decays into $D, D^*, D_s, D_s^*, \eta_c, J/\psi, B, B^*, B_s, B_s^*$ mesons. The form factors in the spacelike region $q^2<0$ are directly evaluated. To extrapolate the form factors to the full kinematic region, we fit the form factors by adopting a three-parameter form from the spacelike region. $b\to u,d,s$ transition form factors at maximally recoiling point ($q^2=0$) are smaller than $b\to c$ and $c\to d,s$ transition form factors, while the $b\to d,s,c$ form factors at zero recoiling point are close to each other. In the fitting procedure, we find the parameters for the form factors $A_2(B_c\to B^*)$ and $A_2(B_c\to B^*_s)$ strongly depend on the decay constants of $B^*$ and $B_s^*$ mesons. Fortunately, the semileptonic and nonleptonic $B_c$ decays are not sensitive to these form factors. With the form factors, we also investigate the branching fractions, polarizations of the semileptonic $B_c\to Ml\nu$ decays. Semileptonic $B_c\to (\eta_c,J/\psi)l\nu$ and $B_c\to (B_s,B_s^*)l\nu$ decays have much larger branching fractions than $B_c\to (D,D^*,B,B^*)l\nu$. In the three kinds of $B_c\to Vl\nu$ decays, contributions from the longitudinal polarized vector is comparable with those from the transversely polarized vector. These predictions will be tested at the ongoing and forthcoming hadron colliders.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, uncertainties reanalyzed, several parts reorganized, conclusions unchange

Holographic model for antiferromagnetic quantum phase transition induced by magnetic field

We propose a gravity dual of antiferromagnetic quantum phase transition (QPT) induced by magnetic field and study the critical behavior around the quantum critical point (QCP). It turns out that the boundary critical theory is a strong coupling theory with dynamic exponent $z=2$ and that the hyperscaling law is violated and logarithmic corrections appear near the QCP. Some novel scaling relations are predicated, which can be tested by experiment data in future. We also make some comparison with experimental data on low-dimensional magnets BiCoPO$_5$ and pyrochlores Er$_{2-2x}$Y$_{2x}$Ti$_2$O$_7$.Comment: published versions in PR

Vibrational modes and lattice distortion of a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond from first-principles calculations

We investigate vibrational properties and lattice distortion of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond. Using the first-principles electronic structure calculations, we show that the presence of NV center leads to appearance of a large number of quasilocalized vibrational modes (qLVMs) with different degree of localization. The vibration patterns and the symmetries of the qLVMs are presented and analyzed in detail for both ground and excited orbital states of the NV center. We find that in the high-symmetry ($C_{3v}$) excited orbital state a pair of degenerate qLVMs becomes unstable, and the stable excited state has lower ($C_{1h}$) symmetry. This is a direct indication of the Jahn-Teller effect, and our studies suggest that dynamical Jahn-Teller effect in the weak coupling regime takes place. We have also performed a detailed comparison of our results with the available experimental data on the vibrations involved in optical emission/absorption of the NV centers. We have directly demonstrated that, among other modes, the qLVMs crucially impact the optical properties of the NV centers in diamond, and identified the most important groups of qLVMs. Our results are important for deeper understanding of the optical properties and the orbital relaxation associated with lattice vibrations of the NV centers.Comment: 10 RevTeX pages, 10 EPS figure

Hawking Radiation as a Mechanism for Inflation

The Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) space-time exhibits particle creation similar to Hawking radiation of a black hole. In this essay we show that this FRW Hawking radiation leads to an effective negative pressure fluid which can drive an inflationary period of exponential expansion in the early Universe. Since the Hawking temperature of the FRW space-time decreases as the Universe expands this mechanism naturally turns off and the inflationary stage transitions to a power law expansion associated with an ordinary radiation dominated Universe.Comment: 6 pages. Published version -- Awarded "Honorable Mention" for the 2012 Gravity Research Foundation Essay Contes

Transition form factors of B decays into p-wave axial-vector mesons in the perturbative QCD approach

The $B_{u,d,s}\to V,A$ form factors are studied in perturbative QCD approach ($V,A$ denote a vector meson and two kinds of p-wave axial-vector mesons: $^3P_1$ and $^1P_1$ states, respectively.). The form factors are directly studied in the large recoiling region and extrapolated to the whole kinematic region within the dipole parametrization. Adopting decay constants with different signs for the two kinds of axial-vectors, we find that the two kinds of $B\to A$ form factors have the same sign. The two strange mesons $K_{1A}$ and $K_{1B}$ mix with each other via the SU(3) symmetry breaking effect. In order to reduce the ambiguities in the mixing angle between $K_{1A}$ and $K_{1B}$, we propose a model-independent way that utilizes the B decay data. Most of the branching fractions of the semilteptonic $B\to Al\bar \nu_l$ decays are of the order $10^{-4}$, which still need experimental tests in the on-going and forthcoming experiments.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figure