Fluctuations for the Ginzburg-Landau ∇ϕ\nabla \phi Interface Model on a Bounded Domain

We study the massless field on $D_n = D \cap \tfrac{1}{n} \Z^2$, where $D \subseteq \R^2$ is a bounded domain with smooth boundary, with Hamiltonian \CH(h) = \sum_{x \sim y} \CV(h(x) - h(y)). The interaction \CV is assumed to be symmetric and uniformly convex. This is a general model for a $(2+1)$-dimensional effective interface where $h$ represents the height. We take our boundary conditions to be a continuous perturbation of a macroscopic tilt: $h(x) = n x \cdot u + f(x)$ for $x \in \partial D_n$, $u \in \R^2$, and $f \colon \R^2 \to \R$ continuous. We prove that the fluctuations of linear functionals of $h(x)$ about the tilt converge in the limit to a Gaussian free field on $D$, the standard Gaussian with respect to the weighted Dirichlet inner product $(f,g)_\nabla^\beta = \int_D \sum_i \beta_i \partial_i f_i \partial_i g_i$ for some explicit $\beta = \beta(u)$. In a subsequent article, we will employ the tools developed here to resolve a conjecture of Sheffield that the zero contour lines of $h$ are asymptotically described by $SLE(4)$, a conformally invariant random curve.Comment: 58 page

Isoscalar monopole excitations in 16^{16}O: α\alpha-cluster states at low energy and mean-field-type states at higher energy

Isoscalar monopole strength function in $^{16}$O up to $E_{x}\simeq40$ MeV is discussed. We found that the fine structures at the low energy region up to $E_{x} \simeq 16$ MeV in the experimental monopole strength function obtained by the $^{16}$O$(\alpha,\alpha^{\prime})$ reaction can be rather satisfactorily reproduced within the framework of the $4\alpha$ cluster model, while the gross three bump structures observed at the higher energy region ($16 \lesssim E_{x} \lesssim 40$ MeV) look likely to be approximately reconciled by the mean-field calculations such as RPA and QRPA. In this paper, it is emphasized that two different types of monopole excitations exist in $^{16}$O; one is the monopole excitation to cluster states which is dominant in the lower energy part ($E_{x} \lesssim 16$ MeV), and the other is the monopole excitation of the mean-field type such as one-particle one-hole ($1p1h$) which {is attributed} mainly to the higher energy part ($16 \lesssim E_{x} \lesssim 40$ MeV). It is found that this character of the monopole excitations originates from the fact that the ground state of $^{16}$O with the dominant doubly closed shell structure has a duality of the mean-field-type {as well as} $\alpha$-clustering {character}. This dual nature of the ground state seems to be a common feature in light nuclei.Comment: 35 pages, 5 figure

Concepts of alpha-particle condensation

Certain aspects of the recently proposed antisymmetrised alpha particle product state wave function, or THSR alpha cluster wave function, for the description of the ground state in 8Be, the Hoyle state in 12C, and analogous states in heavier nuclei, are elaborated in detail. For instance, the influence of antisymmetrisation in the Hoyle state on the bosonic character of the alpha particles is studied carefully. It is shown to be weak, so that bosonic aspects are predominant. The de Broglie wave length of alpha particles in the Hoyle state is shown to be much larger than the inter-alpha distance. It is pointed out that the bosonic features of low density alpha gas states have measurable consequences, one of which, that is enhanced multi-alpha decay properties, likely already have been detected. Consistent with experiment, the width of the proposed analogue to the Hoyle state in 16O at the excitation energy of E_x=15.1 MeV is estimated to be very small (34 keV), lending credit to the existence of heavier Hoyle-like states. The intrinsic single boson density matrix of a self-bound Bose system can, under physically desirable boundary conditions, be defined unambiguously. One eigenvalue then separates out, being close to the number of alpha's in the system. Differences between Brink and THSR alpha cluster wave functions are worked out. No cluster model of the Brink type can describe the Hoyle state with a single configuration. On the contrary, many superpositions of the Brink type are necessary, implying delocalisation towards an alpha product state. It is shown that single alpha particle orbits in condensates of different nuclei are almost the same. It is thus argued that alpha particle antisymmetrised product states of the THSR type are a very promising novel and useful concept in nuclear physics.Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures, to appear in PR

Dilute Multi Alpha Cluster States in Nuclei

Dilute multi $\alpha$ cluster condensed states with spherical and axially deformed shapes are studied with the Gross-Pitaevskii equation and Hill-Wheeler equation, where the $\alpha$ cluster is treated as a structureless boson. Applications to self-conjugate $4N$ nuclei show that the dilute $N\alpha$ states of $^{12}$C to $^{40}$Ca with $J^\pi=0^+$ appear in the energy region from threshold up to about 20 MeV, and the critical number of $\alpha$ bosons that the dilute $N\alpha$ system can sustain as a self-bound nucleus is estimated roughly to be $N_{cr}\sim10$. We discuss the characteristics of the dilute $N\alpha$ states with emphasis on the $N$ dependence of their energies and rms radii.Comment: 44 pages, 8 figure

The Enskog Process

The existence of a weak solution to a McKean-Vlasov type stochastic differential system corresponding to the Enskog equation of the kinetic theory of gases is established under natural conditions. The distribution of any solution to the system at each fixed time is shown to be unique. The existence of a probability density for the time-marginals of the velocity is verified in the case where the initial condition is Gaussian, and is shown to be the density of an invariant measure.Comment: 38 page

On the Fibonacci universality classes in nonlinear fluctuating hydrodynamics

We present a lattice gas model that without fine tuning of parameters is expected to exhibit the so far elusive modified Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) universality class. To this end, we review briefly how non-linear fluctuating hydrodynamics in one dimension predicts that all dynamical universality classes in its range of applicability belong to an infinite discrete family which we call Fibonacci family since their dynamical exponents are the Kepler ratios $z_i = F_{i+1}/F_{i}$ of neighbouring Fibonacci numbers $F_i$, including diffusion ($z_2=2$), KPZ ($z_3=3/2$), and the limiting ratio which is the golden mean $z_\infty=(1+\sqrt{5})/2$. Then we revisit the case of two conservation laws to which the modified KPZ model belongs. We also derive criteria on the macroscopic currents to lead to other non-KPZ universality classes.Comment: 17 page

On the exclusion of intra-cluster plasma from AGN-blown bubbles

Simple arguments suggest that magnetic fields should be aligned tangentially to the surface of an AGN-blown bubble. If this is the case, charged particles from the fully ionised intra-cluster medium (ICM) will be prevented, ordinarily, from crossing the boundary by the Lorentz force. However, recent observations indicate that thermal material may occupy up to 50% of the volume of some bubbles. Given the effect of the Lorentz force, the thermal content must then be attributed to one, or a combination, of the following processes: i) the entrainment of thermal gas into the AGN outflow that inflated the bubble; ii) rapid diffusion across the magnetic field lines at the ICM/bubble interface; iii) magnetic reconnection events which transfer thermal material across the ICM/bubble boundary. Unless the AGN outflow behaves as a magnetic tower jet, entrainment may be significant and could explain the observed thermal content of bubbles. Alternatively, the cross-field diffusion coefficient required for the ICM to fill a typical bubble is roughly 10^16 cm^2 s^-1, which is anomalously high compared to predictions from turbulent diffusion models. Finally, the mass transfer rate due to magnetic reconnection is uncertain, but significant for plausible reconnection rates. We conclude that entrainment into the outflow and mass transfer due to magnetic reconnection events are probably the most significant sources of thermal content in AGN-blown bubbles.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 8 pages, 1 figur

Consistent alpha-cluster description of the 12C (0^+_2) resonance

The near-threshold 12C (0^+_2) resonance provides unique possibility for fast helium burning in stars, as predicted by Hoyle to explain the observed abundance of elements in the Universe. Properties of this resonance are calculated within the framework of the alpha-cluster model whose two-body and three-body effective potentials are tuned to describe the alpha - alpha scattering data, the energies of the 0^+_1 and 0^+_2 states, and the 0^+_1-state root-mean-square radius. The extremely small width of the 0^+_2 state, the 0_2^+ to 0_1^+ monopole transition matrix element, and transition radius are found in remarkable agreement with the experimental data. The 0^+_2-state structure is described as a system of three alpha-particles oscillating between the ground-state-like configuration and the elongated chain configuration whose probability exceeds 0.9

Rigorous Probabilistic Analysis of Equilibrium Crystal Shapes

The rigorous microscopic theory of equilibrium crystal shapes has made enormous progress during the last decade. We review here the main results which have been obtained, both in two and higher dimensions. In particular, we describe how the phenomenological Wulff and Winterbottom constructions can be derived from the microscopic description provided by the equilibrium statistical mechanics of lattice gases. We focus on the main conceptual issues and describe the central ideas of the existing approaches.Comment: To appear in the March 2000 special issue of Journal of Mathematical Physics on Probabilistic Methods in Statistical Physic