Supersymmetry, the Cosmological Constant and a Theory of Quantum Gravity in Our Universe

There are many theories of quantum gravity, depending on asymptotic boundary conditions, and the amount of supersymmetry. The cosmological constant is one of the fundamental parameters that characterize different theories. If it is positive, supersymmetry must be broken. A heuristic calculation shows that a cosmological constant of the observed size predicts superpartners in the TeV range. This mechanism for SUSY breaking also puts important constraints on low energy particle physics models. This essay was submitted to the Gravity Research Foundation Competition and is based on a longer article, which will be submitted in the near future

A Note on Effective Lagrangians in Matrix Theory

We study the relation between the effective Lagrangian in Matrix Theory and eleven dimensional supergravity. In particular, we provide a relationship between supergravity operators and the corresponding terms in the post-Newtonian approximation of Matrix Theory.Comment: 7 pages, use harvmac. References adde

Regional similarities in the distributions of well yield from crystalline rocks in Fennoscandia

Well yields from Precambrian and Palaeozoic bedrock in Norway, Sweden and Finland exhibit very similar and approximately log-normal distributions: all three data sets exhibit a median yield of 600–700 L hr-1, despite the differences in climate and lithology. This similarity is tentatively reflected on a larger geographical scale by a meta-analysis of the international data sets on crystalline rock aquifers from other recently glaciated areas (i.e., without a thick regolith of weathered rock). An heuristic treatment of the Fennoscandian data sets suggests that this median yield is consistent with the following bulk properties of shallow (to c. 70–80 m depth) crystalline bedrock: transmissivity of 0.56 ± 0.30 m2 d-1 (6.4 ± 3.4 x 10-6 m2 s-1) and hydraulic conductivity of around 1.1 (± 0.6) x 10-7 m s-1

Inversely Unstable Solutions of Two-Dimensional Systems on Genus-p Surfaces and the Topology of Knotted Attractors

In this paper, we will show that a periodic nonlinear, time-varying dissipative system that is defined on a genus-p surface contains one or more invariant sets which act as attractors. Moreover, we shall generalize a result in [Martins, 2004] and give conditions under which these invariant sets are not homeomorphic to a circle individually, which implies the existence of chaotic behaviour. This is achieved by studying the appearance of inversely unstable solutions within each invariant set.Comment: 19 pages with 20 figures, AMS La-TeX, to be published in International Journal of Bifurcation and Chao

Investigation of trailing-edge-flap, spanwise-blowing concepts on an advanced fighter configuration

The aerodynamic effects of spanwise blowing on the trailing edge flap of an advanced fighter aircraft configuration were determined in the 4 by 7 Meter Tunnel. A series of tests were conducted with variations in spanwise-blowing vector angle, nozzle exit area, nozzle location, thrust coefficient, and flap deflection in order to determine a superior configuration for both an underwing cascade concept and an overwing port concept. This screening phase of the testing was conducted at a nominal approach angle of attack from 12 deg to 16 deg; and then the superior configurations were tested over a more complete angle of attack range from 0 deg to 20 deg at tunnel free stream dynamic pressures from 20 to 40 lbf/sq ft at thrust coefficients from 0 to 2

Nonsingular Lagrangians for Two Dimensional Black Holes

We introduce a large class of modifications of the standard lagrangian for two dimensional dilaton gravity, whose general solutions are nonsingular black holes. A subclass of these lagrangians have extremal solutions which are nonsingular analogues of the extremal Reissner-Nordstrom spacetime. It is possible that quantum deformations of these extremal solutions are the endpoint of Hawking evaporation when the models are coupled to matter, and that the resulting evolution may be studied entirely within the framework of the semiclassical approximation. Numerical work to verify this conjecture is in progress. We point out however that the solutions with non-negative mass always contain Cauchy horizons, and may be sensitive to small perturbations.Comment: 27 pages, three figures, RU-92-61. (Replaced version contains some corrections to incorrect equations. The zero temperature extremal geometry (the conjectured end-point of the Hawking evaporation) is not as stated in the previous version, but rather is a nonsingular analogue of the zero temperature $M^2 = Q^2$ Reissner-Nordstrom space-time.

Thrust-induced effects on low-speed aerodynamics of fighter aircraft

Results of NASA Langley has conducted wind-tunnel investigations of several fighter configurations conducted to determine the effects of both thrust vectoring and spanwise blowing are reviewed. A recent joint NASA/Grumman Aerospace Corporation/U.S. Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratory wind-tunnel investigation was conducted to examine the effects of spanwise blowing on the trailing-edge flap system. This application contrasts with the more familiar method of spanwise blowing near the wing leading edge. Another joint program among NASA/McDonnell Aircraft Company/U.S. Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratory investigated the effects of reverse thrust on the low-speed aerodynamics of an F-15 configuration. The F-15 model was fitted with a rotating van thrust reverser concept which could simulate both in-flight reversing for approach and landing or full reversing for ground roll reduction. The significant results of these two joint programs are reported

Nano-droplets deposited in microarrays by femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser-induced forward transfer

The authors present the deposition of nanoscale droplets of Cr using femtosecond Ti:Sapphire Laser-Induced Forward Transfer. Deposits around 300 nm in diameter, significantly smaller than any previously reported, are obtained from a 30 nm thick source film. Deposit size, morphology, and adhesion to a receiver substrate as functions of applied laser fluence are investigated. We show that deposits can be obtained from previously irradiated areas of the source material film with negligible loss of deposition quality, allowing sub-spot size period microarrays to be produced without the need to move the source film

The Cosmological Moduli Problem, Supersymmetry Breaking and Stability in Postinflationary Cosmology

A survey of solutions to the cosmological moduli problem in string theory. The only extant proposal which may work is Intermediate Scale Inflation as proposed by Randall and Thomas. Supersymmetry preserving dynamics which could give large masses to the moduli is strongly constrained by cosmology and requires the existence of string vacuum states possessing properties different from those of any known vacuuum. Such a mechanism cannot give mass to the dilaton unless there are cancellations between different exponentially small contributions to the superpotential. Our investigation also shows that stationary points of the effective potential with negative vacuum energy do not correspond to stationary solutions of the equations of postinflationary cosmology. This suggests that supersymmetry breaking is a requirement for a successful inflationary cosmology.Comment: harvma