A Cosmological No-Hair Theorem

A generalisation of Price's theorem is given for application to Inflationary Cosmologies. Namely, we show that on a Schwarzschild--de Sitter background there are no static solutions to the wave or gravitational perturbation equations for modes with angular momentum greater than their intrinsic spin.Comment: 9 pages, NCL94 -TP4, (Revtex

Classical stability and quantum instability of black-hole Cauchy horizons

For a certain region of the parameter space $\{M,e,\Lambda\}$, the Cauchy horizon of a (charged) black hole residing in de Sitter space is classically stable to gravitational perturbations. This implies that, when left to its own devices, classical theory is unable to retain full predictive power: the evolution of physical fields beyond the Cauchy horizon is not uniquely determined by the initial conditions. In this paper we argue that the Cauchy horizon of a Reissner-Nordstr\"om-de Sitter black hole must always be unstable quantum mechanically.Comment: 4 pages; uses ReVTeX; figure available upon request to [email protected]

Supersoft X-rays reveal a classical nova in the M 31 globular cluster Bol 126

[Abridged] Classical novae (CNe) represent the main class of supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs) in the central region of our neighbouring galaxy M 31. Only three confirmed novae and three SSSs have been discovered in globular clusters (GCs) of any galaxy so far, of which one nova and two SSSs (including the nova) were found in M 31 GCs. To study the SSS state of CNe we carried out a high-cadence X-ray monitoring of the M 31 central area with XMM-Newton and Chandra. We analysed X-ray and optical data of a new transient X-ray source in the M 31 GC Bol 126, discovered serendipitously in Swift observations. Our optical data set was based on regular M 31 monitoring programmes from five different small telescopes. Additionally, we made use of Pan-STARRS 1 data obtained during the PAndromeda survey. Our observations reveal that the X-ray source in Bol 126 is the third SSS in an M 31 GC and can be confirmed as the second CN in the M 31 GC system. This nova is named M31N 2010-10f. Its properties in the X-ray and optical regimes agree with a massive white dwarf (M_WD >~ 1.3 M_sun) in the binary system. Incorporating the data on previously found (suspected) novae in M 31 GCs we used our high-cadence X-ray monitoring observations to estimate a tentative nova rate in the M 31 GC system of 0.05 /yr/GC. An optical estimate, based on the recent 10.5-year WeCAPP survey, gives a lower nova rate, which is compatible with the X-ray rate on the 95% confidence level. There is growing evidence that the nova rate in GCs is higher than expected from primordial binary formation and under conditions as in the field. Dynamical binary formation and/or additional accretion from the intracluster medium are possible scenarios for an increased nova rate, but observational confirmation for this enhancement has been absent, so far. Regular X-ray monitoring observations of M 31 provide a promising strategy to find these novae.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables; accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic

Gravitational quasinormal modes for Anti-de Sitter black holes

Quasinormal mode spectra for gravitational perturbations of black holes in four dimensional de Sitter and anti-de Sitter space are investigated. The anti-de Sitter case is relevant to the ADS-CFT correspondence in superstring theory. The ADS-CFT correspondence suggests a prefered set of boundary conditions.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures in ReVTe

Artifical intelligence techniques for tuning linear induction accelerators

We developed an expert system that acts as an intelligent assistant for tuning particle beam generators called MAESTRO, Model and Expert System Resource for Operators. MAESTRO maintains a knowledge base of the accelerator containing not only the interconnections of the beamline components, but also their physical attributes such as measured magnetic tilts, offsets, and field profiles. MAESTRO incorporates particle trajectory and beam envelope models which are coupled to the knowledge base permitting large numbers of real-time orbit and envelope calculations in the control-room environment. To date we have used this capability in three ways: First, to implement a tuning algorithm for minimizing transverse beam motion. Second, to produce a beam waist with arbitrary radius at the entrance to a brightness diagnostic. And finally, to measure beam energy along the accelerator by fitting orbits to focusing and steering sweeps

Cosmic Censorship: As Strong As Ever

Spacetimes which have been considered counter-examples to strong cosmic censorship are revisited. We demonstrate the classical instability of the Cauchy horizon inside charged black holes embedded in de Sitter spacetime for all values of the physical parameters. The relevant modes which maintain the instability, in the regime which was previously considered stable, originate as outgoing modes near to the black hole event horizon. This same mechanism is also relevant for the instability of Cauchy horizons in other proposed counter-examples of strong cosmic censorship.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX style, 1 figure included using epsfi