The Weak Mixing Angle From TeV Scale Quark-Lepton Unification

Unified theories based on an extended left-right symmetric group, $SU(4) \times SU(2)^4$, are constructed in five dimensions. The compactification scale is assumed to be only a loop factor above the weak scale, so that the weak mixing angle is predicted to be close to its tree level value of 0.239. Boundary conditions in the 5th dimension break $SU(4) \to SU(3) \times U(1)_{B-L}$, removing powerful constraints from $K_L \to \mu e$ while allowing a reliable calculation of the leading logarithm corrections to $\sin^2 \theta$. The compactification scale is expected in the 1--5 TeV region, depending on how $SU(2)^4$ is broken. Two illustrative models are presented, and the experimental signal of the $Z'$ gauge boson is discussed.Comment: 15 page

Solvent fluctuations around solvophobic, solvophilic and patchy nanostructures and the accompanying solvent mediated interactions

Using classical density functional theory (DFT) we calculate the density profile $\rho({\mathbf r})$ and local compressibility $\chi({\mathbf r})$ of a simple liquid solvent in which a pair of blocks with (microscopic) rectangular cross-section are immersed. We consider blocks that are solvophobic, solvophilic and also ones that have both solvophobic and solvophilic patches. Large values of $\chi({\mathbf r})$ correspond to regions in space where the liquid density is fluctuating most strongly. We seek to elucidate how enhanced density fluctuations correlate with the solvent mediated force between the blocks, as the distance between the blocks and the chemical potential of the liquid reservoir vary. For sufficiently solvophobic blocks, at small block separations and small deviations from bulk gas-liquid coexistence, we observe a strongly attractive (near constant) force, stemming from capillary evaporation to form a low density gas-like intrusion between the blocks. The accompanying $\chi({\mathbf r})$ exhibits structure which reflects the incipient gas-liquid interfaces that develop. We argue that our model system provides a means to understanding the basic physics of solvent mediated interactions between nanostructures, and between objects such as proteins in water, that possess hydrophobic and hydrophilic patches.Comment: 19 pages, 21 figure

Late Time Neutrino Masses, the LSND Experiment and the Cosmic Microwave Background

Models with low-scale breaking of global symmetries in the neutrino sector provide an alternative to the seesaw mechanism for understanding why neutrinos are light. Such models can easily incorporate light sterile neutrinos required by the LSND experiment. Furthermore, the constraints on the sterile neutrino properties from nucleosynthesis and large scale structure can be removed due to the non-conventional cosmological evolution of neutrino masses and densities. We present explicit, fully realistic supersymmetric models, and discuss the characteristic signatures predicted in the angular distributions of the cosmic microwave background.Comment: 4 pages, revtex

Supersymmetry in Slow Motion

We construct new theories of electroweak symmetry breaking that employ a combination of supersymmetry and discrete symmetries to stabilize the weak scale up to and beyond the energies probed by the LHC. These models exhibit conventional supersymmetric spectra but the fermion-sfermion-gaugino vertices are absent. This closes many conventional decay channels, thereby allowing several superpartners to be stable on collider time scales. This opens the door to the possibility of directly observing R-hadrons and three flavors of sleptons inside the LHC detectors.Comment: A reference added. The discussion on the Higgs sector expanded. The version accepted for publication in JHE

Cosmology in Mirror Twin Higgs and Neutrino Masses

We explore a simple solution to the cosmological challenges of the original Mirror Twin Higgs (MTH) model that leads to interesting implications for experiment. We consider theories in which both the standard model and mirror neutrinos acquire masses through the familiar seesaw mechanism, but with a low right-handed neutrino mass scale of order a few GeV. In these $\nu$MTH models, the right-handed neutrinos leave the thermal bath while still relativistic. As the universe expands, these particles eventually become nonrelativistic, and come to dominate the energy density of the universe before decaying. Decays to standard model states are preferred, with the result that the visible sector is left at a higher temperature than the twin sector. Consequently the contribution of the twin sector to the radiation density in the early universe is suppressed, allowing the current bounds on this scenario to be satisfied. However, the energy density in twin radiation remains large enough to be discovered in future cosmic microwave background experiments. In addition, the twin neutrinos are significantly heavier than their standard model counterparts, resulting in a sizable contribution to the overall mass density in neutrinos that can be detected in upcoming experiments designed to probe the large scale structure of the universe.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure

The standard mean-field treatment of inter-particle attraction in classical DFT is better than one might expect

In classical density functional theory (DFT) the part of the Helmholtz free energy functional arising from attractive inter-particle interactions is often treated in a mean-field or van der Waals approximation. On the face of it, this is a somewhat crude treatment as the resulting functional generates the simple random phase approximation (RPA) for the bulk fluid pair direct correlation function. We explain why using standard mean-field DFT to describe inhomogeneous fluid structure and thermodynamics is more accurate than one might expect based on this observation. By considering the pair correlation function $g(x)$ and structure factor $S(k)$ of a one-dimensional model fluid, for which exact results are available, we show that the mean-field DFT, employed within the test-particle procedure, yields results much superior to those from the RPA closure of the bulk Ornstein-Zernike equation. We argue that one should not judge the quality of a DFT based solely on the approximation it generates for the bulk pair direct correlation function.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Recycle Efficiency of Selected Chelating Agents after Plant Nutrient Uptake

From the knowledge of Chelation Chemistry of plants we can predict the composition and function of metals in green plants. Hydroponic plant growth technologies are developed to accommodate the need for food production during long duration space missions. Controlled environment agricultural systems such as the hydroponic system provide out of season, top quality produce. The continued delivery of ions in hydroponic systems ensures that the leaves are supplied with the mineral nutrient essential to the growth and development of plants. The metals required for the growth of plants exists in cells and tissues as complexes and especially as chelates. Iron is an essential element for growth, metabolism and survival of plants. Low affinity chelators such as EDTA help keep iron soluble and available for cell growth in plants. Chelators added to the growth medium promote iron uptake. Severe iron deficiency can occur if pH is out of the 5 .8 to 6.5 range. The study of inorganic nutrient requirements of green plants is easier than that of other kinds of organisms. The reason is that green plants require very little in the way of organic growth factors so that growth media may be prepared in high state of purity. The uptake and translocation of inorganic solutes within the whole plant is an essential and major aspect of the process of plant nutrition. Iron is taken up and transported more readily when supplied as chelated complexes, such 1 2 chlorophyll synthesis, and many other enzymatic activities. In EDTA Fe chelate complex, the six donor atoms bond to the central atom. A ligand capable of binding Fe3+ and Fe2+ will bind the Fe3+ more tightly than it will bind with Fe2+. The Stock solution I was Prepared by dissolving 5.05g KN03, 0.012 g MnSO .H20, 0.OO2g CuSO .5H10, O.OOSg ZnSO .7H10, 1.36g KH2PO , 4.92g MgSO .7H20 and 0.58 g NaCI in DI water and the volume was made up to l00ml. Stock solution II was prepared by dissolving O.44g Na1EDTA and ll.8g of Ca(NOJ1.4H20 in SOml Deionized water. Excess FeCl3 (100 ppm) solution was added to stock solution II. The volume was adjusted to 100 mi. Working nutrient solution was prepared by adding 20 ml each of stock solutions I and II to 3000ml D I water and diluting to 4 liters. The pH was adjusted to 6.0. At 15 days the plants looked healthy. They were 5 tall. Halogen lamps were used as light source for photosynthesis. pH was maintained between 5.8 and 6.3. The ionic strength was measured regularly. Stock refill nutrient solution was prepared by dissolving 12.1g KN03, 2.04g KH1PO , 4.80g MgSO .7H10, 0.S8g NaCI, O.Olg MnSO .H10, 0.002g CuSO .5H10, and O.OOSg ZnSO .7H10 in DI water and the volume was adjusted to 100m}. The volume of nutrient solution was maintained at two liters. An air pump was used to circulate air through the medium. The plant roots were protected from light after observing algae growing in the medium. Forty five days after germination, the plants were 12 tall. At sixty days, flowering buds were observed. Small beans were seen on the plants on October 20, 1995. On November 6 1995, the beans were ready to be picked. The matured beans were picked. The beans ,...cighed 10.5 grams. On November 13, beans were picked again and the beans weighed 8.5 grams. All the reagents and chemicals used were of analytical grade. A stock standard solution was prepared by dissolving one gram NazEDTA in one liter deionized water. From this solution, calibration standards ranging 10 to 80 .umol/L EOTA were prepared. One milliliter FeCl3 solution (lOOppm) was added before the last dilution. The chelated EOTA in the standards were analyzed by HPLC using the BAS 200A analyzer and the calibration graph was obtained. The original concentration of EDTA in the sample was 60 .umol. Four samples were collected from the nutrient 3 concentration of EDTA in the sample was 60 Jmlol. Four samples were collected from the nutrient medium at two weeks interval. They were filtered using 0.02 Jml filter paper. To one ml of each sample, one ml FeCIJ solution (100 ppm) and three ml mobile phase solution were added. Twenty four hours after mixing the samples with FeCIJ solution, they were analyzed using the BAS 200A HPLC analyzer. The instrument was allowed to reach equilibrium prior to analysis. The injection volume was 20,ul and the detection wave length was 254 nm. The electro chemical cell temperature was 30\u27 C. The temperature of mobile phase in bottle A was set at SO\u27C and the temperature of mobile phase in bottle Band C were 3S·C. The pressure was monitored during analysis and was between 2310 and 2350. The recovery of EDTA from the sample ranged from 84.0S% to 91.879\u270. From these result it can be concluded that EDTA concentration does not decrease significantly during and after plant nutrient uptake. EDTA can be considered as an efficient chelating agent. The advantage of this method for analysis are the low cost, lower limit of detection and the good reproducibility

Water activities in the Kerala Khondalite Belt

The author and colleagues presented their determinations of water activities in various granulite-facies rocks of the Kerala Khondalite Belt. Using mineral equilibria, thermodynamic data, and assumed geopressure-geotemperature conditions of 5.5 kbar and 750 C, they calculated uniformly low a(H2O) values of about 0.27 over a large geographic region. They suggested that these conditions were produced by the presence of abundant CO2-rich fluids, derived either from deeper levels or from metamorphic reactions involving graphite

Meta-Stable Brane Configuration and Gauged Flavor Symmetry

Starting from an N=1 supersymmetric electric gauge theory with the gauge group Sp(N_c) x SO(2N_c') with fundamentals for the first gauge group factor and a bifundamental, we apply Seiberg dual to the symplectic gauge group only and arrive at the N=1 supersymmetric dual magnetic gauge theory with dual matters including the gauge singlets and superpotential. By analyzing the F-term equations of the dual magnetic superpotential, we describe the intersecting brane configuration of type IIA string theory corresponding to the meta-stable nonsupersymmetric vacua of this gauge theory.Comment: 16 pp, 3 figures; stability analysis in page 7 and 8 added and the presentation improved; reduced bytes of figures and to appear in MPL