Radiation by a heavy quark in N=4 SYM at strong coupling

Using the AdS/CFT correspondence in the supergravity approximation, we compute the energy density radiated by a heavy quark undergoing some arbitrary motion in the vacuum of the strongly coupled N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. We find that this energy is fully generated via backreaction from the near-boundary endpoint of the dual string attached to the heavy quark. Because of that, the energy distribution shows the same space-time localization as the classical radiation that would be produced by the heavy quark at weak coupling. We believe that this and some other unnatural features of our result (like its anisotropy and the presence of regions with negative energy density) are artifacts of the supergravity approximation, which will be corrected after including string fluctuations. For the case where the quark trajectory is bounded, we also compute the radiated power, by integrating the energy density over the surface of a sphere at infinity. For sufficiently large times, we find agreement with a previous calculation by Mikhailov [hep-th/0305196].Comment: 22 page

The Factor Analysis of Ipsative Measures

This article deals with the problem of analyzing sets of ipsative variables using the common factor model. We demonstrate that the usual assumptions of the common factor model, especially the assumption of uncorrelated disturbances, are not appropriate for sets of ipsative variables. We develop a common factor model that takes into account the ipsative properties of such data and show how this model can be applied to any set of ipsative measures using the methods of confirmatory factor analysis. We then suggest that the application of this model may be useful in modeling the latent content of sets ofrankings and other measures that have the ipsative property as a result of the measurement procedure. Finally, we apply the model to Kohn's measures of parental values, using sample data from the General Social Surveys.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68736/2/10.1177_004912418000900206.pd

DFT calculation of the intermolecular exchange interaction in the magnetic Mn4_4 dimer

The dimeric form of the single-molecule magnet [Mn$_4$O$_3$Cl$_4$(O$_2$CEt)$_3$(py)$_3$]$_2$ recently revealed interesting phenomena: no quantum tunneling at zero field and tunneling before magnetic field reversal. This is attributed to substantial antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between different monomers. The intermolecular exchange interaction, electronic structure and magnetic properties of this molecular magnet are calculated using density-functional theory within generalized-gradient approximation. Calculations are in good agreement with experiment.Comment: 4 page

Many-body aspects of positron annihilation in the electron gas

We investigate positron annihilation in electron liquid as a case study for many-body theory, in particular the optimized Fermi Hypernetted Chain (FHNC-EL) method. We examine several approximation schemes and show that one has to go up to the most sophisticated implementation of the theory available at the moment in order to get annihilation rates that agree reasonably well with experimental data. Even though there is basically just one number to look at, the electron-positron pair distribution function at zero distance, it is exactly this number that dictates how the full pair distribution behaves: In most cases, it falls off monotonously towards unity as the distance increases. Cases where the electron-positron pair distribution exhibits a dip are precursors to the formation of bound electron--positron pairs. The formation of electron-positron pairs is indicated by a divergence of the FHNC-EL equations, from this we can estimate the density regime where positrons must be localized. This occurs in our calculations in the range 9.4 <= r_s <=10, where r_s is the dimensionless density parameter of the electron liquid.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. B (2003

Spin polarised nuclear matter and its application to neutron stars

An equation of state(EOS) of nuclear matter with explicit inclusion of a spin-isospin dependent force is constructed from a finite range, momentum and density dependent effective interaction. This EOS is found to be in good agreement with those obtained from more sophisticated models for unpolarised nuclear matter. Introducing spin degrees of freedom, it is found that at density about 2.5 times the density of normal nuclear matter the neutron matter undergoes a ferromagnetic transition. The maximum mass and the radius of the neutron star agree favourably with the observations. Since finding quark matter rather than spin polarised nuclear matter at the core of neutron stars is more probable, the proposed EOS is also applied to the study of hybrid stars. It is found using the bag model picture that one can in principle describe both the mass and size as well as the surface magnetic field of hybrid stars satisfactorily.Comment: 26 pages, 11 figures available on reques

de Sitter spacetime: effects of metric perturbations on geodesic motion

Gravitational perturbations of the de Sitter spacetime are investigated using the Regge--Wheeler formalism. The set of perturbation equations is reduced to a single second order differential equation of the Heun-type for both electric and magnetic multipoles. The solution so obtained is used to study the deviation from an initially radial geodesic due to the perturbation. The spectral properties of the perturbed metric are also analyzed. Finally, gauge- and tetrad-invariant first-order massless perturbations of any spin are explored following the approach of Teukolsky. The existence of closed-form, i.e. Liouvillian, solutions to the radial part of the Teukolsky master equation is discussed.Comment: IOP macros, 10 figure

Processes in model slopes made of mixtures of wettable and water repellent sand: Implications for the initiation of debris flows in dry slopes

Debris flows in slopes initially dry, such as post-wildfire debris flows, are initiated by surface runoff and sediment bulking due to reduced infiltration. Soil water repellency, extreme dry soils, and loose, cohesionless materials influence their initiation. The exact link between these features, the resulting infiltration processes and the initiation mechanism of a debris flow remains unclear. Here, we examine the relation between soil particle wettability and slope processes in physical models. Flume experiments were conducted in 10% increments of mass ratios of wettable to water repellent sand, subjected to artificial rainfall with monitoring of soil water content, pore water pressure, sediment and water discharge and failure mode. To date, wettability was considered only for the water repellent end, because it reduces infiltration, enhancing surface runoff. This study demonstrates that slight wettability changes, in the full wettable to water repellent range, impact a variety of slope processes. The two extremes, fully wettable and water repellent gave opposite responses, retrogressive slides for infiltration-initiated in wettable sand and erosion by surface runoff in water repellent sand. The transition was dominated by surface runoff and preferential flow, yielding a combination of erosion and slides. From the tests, a continuous capping effect generated by water repellency was a necessary condition for erosion and sand bulking i.e., the generation of runoff-initiated debris flows. The sensitivity of the model slope response to artificial rainfall was particularly acute at high ratios of wettable to water repellent sand. For mixtures above a critical ratio of wettable to water repellent sand, the measurements with an index test revealed a fully wettable material despite differences in the infiltration, saturation and pore water pressure built-up trends. Implications for post-wildfire debris flows and debris flows in slopes initially dry in general are discussed.postprin

Stability of curvature perturbation with new covariant form for energy-momentum transfer in dark sector

It was found that the model with interaction between cold dark matter (CDM) and dark energy (DE) proportional to the energy density of CDM $\rho_m$ and constant equation of state of DE $w_d$ suffered from instabilities of the density perturbations on the supper-Hubble scales. Here we suggest a new covariant model for the energy-momentum transfer between CDM and DE. Then using the covariant model, we analyze the evolution of density perturbations on the supper-Hubble scale. We find that the instabilities can be avoided in the model with constant $w_d$ and interaction proportional to $\rho_m$. Furthermore, we analyze the dominant non-adiabatic mode in the radiation era and find that the mode grows regularly.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure