Domain structure of superconducting ferromagnets

In superconducting ferromagnets the equilibrium domain structure is absent in the Meissner state, but appears in the spontaneous vortex phase (the mixed state in zero external magnetic field), though with a period, which can essentially exceed that in normal ferromagnets. Metastable domain walls are possible even in the Meissner state. The domain walls create magnetostatic fields near the sample surface, which can be used for experimental detection of domain walls.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Noncommutative Scalar Field Coupled to Gravity

A model for a noncommutative scalar field coupled to gravity is proposed via an extension of the Moyal product. It is shown that there are solutions compatible with homogeneity and isotropy to first non-trivial order in the perturbation of the star-product, with the gravity sector described by a flat Robertson-Walker metric. We show that in the slow-roll regime of a typical chaotic inflationary scenario, noncommutativity has negligible impact.Comment: Revtex4, 6 pages. Final version to appear at Phys. Rev.

Kontsevich product and gauge invariance

We analyze the question of $U_{\star} (1)$ gauge invariance in a flat non-commutative space where the parameter of non-commutativity, $\theta^{\mu\nu} (x)$, is a local function satisfying Jacobi identity (and thereby leading to an associative Kontsevich product). We show that in this case, both gauge transformations as well as the definitions of covariant derivatives have to modify so as to have a gauge invariant action. We work out the gauge invariant actions for the matter fields in the fundamental and the adjoint representations up to order $\theta^{2}$ while we discuss the gauge invariant Maxwell theory up to order $\theta$. We show that despite the modifications in the gauge transformations, the covariant derivative and the field strength, Seiberg-Witten map continues to hold for this theory. In this theory, translations do not form a subgroup of the gauge transformations (unlike in the case when $\theta^{\mu\nu}$ is a constant) which is reflected in the stress tensor not being conserved.Comment: 7 page

In-Vitro Evaluation of Antagonistic Trichoderma Strains for Eradicating Phellinus Noxius In Colonised Wood

[EN] The aim of the present in vitro studies was to identify Trichoderma strains from Hong Kong with highly antagonistic potential against the basidiomycete Phellinus noxius (Corner) G. Cunn. Dual culture and interaction tests using samples of balsa wood (Ochroma lagopus Sw.), as well as studies on fungal growth at different temperatures and water activities, were conducted. The impact of Trichoderma strains on wood colonisation and decomposition by three P. noxius isolates were quantitatively analysed by measuring dry weight loss and the rate of eradication of the pathogen from the test wood. Most Trichoderma strains revealed antagonistic potential against P. noxius in these in vitro studies. In the wood blocks incubat-ed with P. noxius and then treated with Trichoderma T-TMS1 for 24 weeks, 100% eradica-tion of three P. noxius isolates was recorded. The results indicate that the application of Trichoderma strains may be a promising and environmentally benign method of eradicating P. noxius from wood debris in soils.We thank Muni Arborist Limited for assisting in the preparation of wood materials, use of facilities and support. Financial and technical support for project WQ/054/12 provided by The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Tree Management Office of the Development Bureau (Works Branch) of Hong Kong Government is gratefully acknowledged.Ribera Regal, J.; Tang, A.; Schubert, M.; Lam, R.; Chu, L.; Leung, M.; Kwan, H.... (2016). In-Vitro Evaluation of Antagonistic Trichoderma Strains for Eradicating Phellinus Noxius In Colonised Wood. Journal of Tropical Forest Science. 28(4):457-468. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/150303S45746828

π+π+\pi^+\pi^+ and π+π−\pi^+\pi^- colliding in noncommutative space

By studying the scattering process of scalar particle pion on the noncommutative scalar quantum electrodynamics, the non-commutative amendment of differential scattering cross-section is found, which is dependent of polar-angle and the results are significantly different from that in the commutative scalar quantum electrodynamics, particularly when $\cos\theta\sim \pm 1$. The non-commutativity of space is expected to be explored at around $\Lambda_{NC}\sim$TeV.Comment: Latex, 12 page

Time-Space Noncommutativity in Gravitational Quantum Well scenario

A novel approach to the analysis of the gravitational well problem from a second quantised description has been discussed. The second quantised formalism enables us to study the effect of time space noncommutativity in the gravitational well scenario which is hitherto unavailable in the literature. The corresponding first quantized theory reveals a leading order perturbation term of noncommutative origin. Latest experimental findings are used to estimate an upper bound on the time--space noncommutative parameter. Our results are found to be consistent with the order of magnitude estimations of other NC parameters reported earlier.Comment: 7 pages, revTe

Search for Invisible Decays of η\eta and η′\eta^\prime in J/ψ→ϕηJ/\psi \to \phi\eta and ϕη′\phi \eta^\prime

Using a data sample of $58\times 10^6$ $J/\psi$ decays collected with the BES II detector at the BEPC, searches for invisible decays of $\eta$ and $\eta^\prime$ in $J/\psi$ to $\phi\eta$ and $\phi\eta^\prime$ are performed. The $\phi$ signals, which are reconstructed in $K^+K^-$ final states, are used to tag the $\eta$ and $\eta^\prime$ decays. No signals are found for the invisible decays of either $\eta$ or $\eta^\prime$, and upper limits at the 90% confidence level are determined to be $1.65 \times 10^{-3}$ for the ratio $\frac{B(\eta\to \text{invisible})}{B(\eta\to\gamma\gamma)}$ and $6.69\times 10^{-2}$ for $\frac{B(\eta^\prime\to \text{invisible})}{B(\eta^\prime\to\gamma\gamma)}$. These are the first searches for $\eta$ and $\eta^\prime$ decays into invisible final states.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; Added references, Corrected typo

Noncommutative Electromagnetism As A Large N Gauge Theory

We map noncommutative (NC) U(1) gauge theory on R^d_C X R^{2n}_{NC} to U(N -> \infty) Yang-Mills theory on R^d_C, where R^d_C is a d-dimensional commutative spacetime while R^{2n}_{NC} is a 2n-dimensional NC space. The resulting U(N) Yang-Mills theory on R^d_C is equivalent to that obtained by the dimensional reduction of (d+2n)-dimensional U(N) Yang-Mills theory onto R^d_C. We show that the gauge-Higgs system (A_\mu,\Phi^a) in the U(N -> \infty) Yang-Mills theory on R^d_C leads to an emergent geometry in the (d+2n)-dimensional spacetime whose metric was determined by Ward a long time ago. In particular, the 10-dimensional gravity for d=4 and n=3 corresponds to the emergent geometry arising from the 4-dimensional N=4 vector multiplet in the AdS/CFT duality. We further elucidate the emergent gravity by showing that the gauge-Higgs system (A_\mu,\Phi^a) in half-BPS configurations describes self-dual Einstein gravity.Comment: 25 pages; More clarifications, to appear in Eur. Phys. J.

Observation of Two New N* Peaks in J/psi -> ppi−nˉp pi^- \bar n and pˉπ+n\bar p\pi^+n Decays

The $\pi N$ system in decays of $J/\psi\to\bar NN\pi$ is limited to be isospin 1/2 by isospin conservation. This provides a big advantage in studying $N^*\to \pi N$ compared with $\pi N$ and $\gamma N$ experiments which mix isospin 1/2 and 3/2 for the $\pi N$ system. Using 58 million $J/\psi$ decays collected with the Beijing Electron Positron Collider, more than 100 thousand $J/\psi \to p \pi^- \bar n + c.c.$ events are obtained. Besides two well known $N^*$ peaks at 1500 MeV and 1670 MeV, there are two new, clear $N^*$ peaks in the $p\pi$ invariant mass spectrum around 1360 MeV and 2030 MeV. They are the first direct observation of the $N^*(1440)$ peak and a long-sought "missing" $N^*$ peak above 2 GeV in the $\pi N$ invariant mass spectrum. A simple Breit-Wigner fit gives the mass and width for the $N^*(1440)$ peak as $1358\pm 6 \pm 16$ MeV and $179\pm 26\pm 50$ MeV, and for the new $N^*$ peak above 2 GeV as $2068\pm 3^{+15}_{-40}$ MeV and $165\pm 14\pm 40$ MeV, respectively

Heavy-light mesons with staggered light quarks

We demonstrate the viability of improved staggered light quarks in studies of heavy-light systems. Our method for constructing heavy-light operators exploits the close relation between naive and staggered fermions. The new approach is tested on quenched configurations using several staggered actionsn combined with nonrelativistic heavy quarks. The B_s meson kinetic mass, the hyperfine and 1P-1S splittings in B_s, and the decay constant f_{B_s} are calculated and compared to previous quenched lattice studies. An important technical detail, Bayesian curve-fitting, is discussed at length.Comment: 38 pages, figures included. v2: Entry in Table IX corrected and other minor changes, version appearing in Phys. Rev.