1,167 research outputs found
Sterile neutrinos, lepton asymmetries, primordial elements: how much of each?
We investigate quantitatively the extent to which having a primordial
leptonic asymmetry (n_nu \neq n_nubar) relaxes the bounds on light sterile
neutrinos imposed by BBN and LSS. We adopt a few assumptions that allow us to
solve the neutrino evolution equations over a broad range of mixing parameters
and asymmetries. For the general cases of sterile mixing with the electron or
muon neutrino, we identify the regions that can be reopened. For the particular
case of a LSND-like sterile neutrino, soon to be rejected or confirmed by
MiniBooNE, we find that an asymmetry of the order of 10^-4 is needed to lift
the conflicts with cosmology.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures. v2: References and minor comments added. Matches
version published on PR
Probing the longitudinal momentum spread of the electron wave packet at the tunnel exit
We present an ellipticity resolved study of momentum distributions arising
from strong-field ionization of Helium at constant intensity. The influence of
the ion potential on the departing electron is considered within a
semi-classical model consisting of an initial tunneling step and subsequent
classical propagation. We find that the momentum distribution can be explained
by the presence of a longitudinal momentum spread of the electron at the exit
from the tunnel. Our combined experimental and theoretical study provides an
estimate of this momentum spread
On the geometry of Siegel-Jacobi domains
We study the holomorphic unitary representations of the Jacobi group based on
Siegel-Jacobi domains. Explicit polynomial orthonormal bases of the Fock spaces
based on the Siegel-Jacobi disk are obtained. The scalar holomorphic discrete
series of the Jacobi group for the Siegel-Jacobi disk is constructed and
polynomial orthonormal bases of the representation spaces are given.Comment: 15 pages, Latex, AMS fonts, paper presented at the the International
Conference "Differential Geometry and Dynamical Systems", August 25-28, 2010,
University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romani
Positrons in Cosmic Rays from Dark Matter Annihilations for Uplifted Higgs Regions in MSSM
We point out that there are regions in the MSSM parameter space which
successfully provide a dark matter (DM) annihilation explanation for observed
positron excess (e.g. PAMELA), while still remaining in agreement with all
other data sets. Such regions (e.g. the uplifted Higgs region) can realize an
enhanced neutralino DM annihilation dominantly into leptons via a Breit-Wigner
resonance through the CP-odd Higgs channel. Such regions can give the proper
thermal relic DM abundance, and the DM annihilation products are compatible
with current antiproton and gamma ray observations. This scenario can succeed
without introducing any additional degrees of freedom beyond those already in
the MSSM.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure
Avoiding BBN Constraints on Mirror Models for Sterile Neutrinos
We point out that in models that explain the LSND result for neutrino
oscillation using the mirror neutrinos, the big bang nucleosynthesis constraint
can be avoided by using the late time phase transition that only helps to mix
the active and the sterile neutrinos. We discuss the astrophysical as well as
cosmological implications of this proposal.Comment: 5 pages, latex; more discussion added; results unchange
The Casimir force on a surface with shallow nanoscale corrugations: Geometry and finite conductivity effects
We measure the Casimir force between a gold sphere and a silicon plate with
nanoscale, rectangular corrugations with depth comparable to the separation
between the surfaces. In the proximity force approximation (PFA), both the top
and bottom surfaces of the corrugations contribute to the force, leading to a
distance dependence that is distinct from a flat surface. The measured Casimir
force is found to deviate from the PFA by up to 15%, in good agreement with
calculations based on scattering theory that includes both geometry effects and
the optical properties of the material
Common gauge origin of discrete symmetries in observable sector and hidden sector
An extra Abelian gauge symmetry is motivated in many new physics models in
both supersymmetric and nonsupersymmetric cases. Such a new gauge symmetry may
interact with both the observable sector and the hidden sector. We
systematically investigate the most general residual discrete symmetries in
both sectors from a common Abelian gauge symmetry. Those discrete symmetries
can ensure the stability of the proton and the dark matter candidate. A hidden
sector dark matter candidate (lightest U-parity particle or LUP) interacts with
the standard model fields through the gauge boson Z', which may selectively
couple to quarks or leptons only. We make a comment on the implications of the
discrete symmetry and the leptonically coupling dark matter candidate, which
has been highlighted recently due to the possibility of the simultaneous
explanation of the DAMA and the PAMELA results. We also show how to construct
the most general U(1) charges for a given discrete symmetry, and discuss the
relation between the U(1) gauge symmetry and R-parity.Comment: Version to appear in JHE
Evapotranspiration from horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands planted with different perennial plant species
This paper presents the results of an experiment carried out in Southern Italy (Sicily) on the estimation evapotranspiration (ET) in pilot constructed wetlands planted with different species (Chrysopogon zizanioides, Myscanthus x giganteus, Arundo donax, Phragmites australis, and Cyperus papyrus). In the two monitored growing seasons, reference ET0 was calculated with the Penman-Monteith formula, while actual ET and crop coefficients were measured through a water balance and the FAO56 approach, respectively. The highest average seasonal ET value was observed in Phragmites australis (17.31mmd-1) followed by Arundo donax (11.23mmday-1) Chrysopogon zizanioides (8.56 mm day-1), Cyperus papyrus (7.86 mm day-1), and Myscanthus x giganteus (7.35 mm day-1). For all plants, crop coefficient values showed different patterns in relation to growth stages and were strongly correlated with phenological parameters. Myscanthus x giganteus and Arundo donax showed a water use efficiency values significantly higher than those observed for the other tested species. Results of this study may contribute to select appropriate plant species for constructed wetlands located in semi-arid regions, especially when the use of reclaimed water and/or the use of aboveground biomass are planned
- …