80 research outputs found
General Algorithm For Improved Lattice Actions on Parallel Computing Architectures
Quantum field theories underlie all of our understanding of the fundamental
forces of nature. The are relatively few first principles approaches to the
study of quantum field theories [such as quantum chromodynamics (QCD) relevant
to the strong interaction] away from the perturbative (i.e., weak-coupling)
regime. Currently the most common method is the use of Monte Carlo methods on a
hypercubic space-time lattice. These methods consume enormous computing power
for large lattices and it is essential that increasingly efficient algorithms
be developed to perform standard tasks in these lattice calculations. Here we
present a general algorithm for QCD that allows one to put any planar improved
gluonic lattice action onto a parallel computing architecture. High performance
masks for specific actions (including non-planar actions) are also presented.
These algorithms have been successfully employed by us in a variety of lattice
QCD calculations using improved lattice actions on a 128 node Thinking Machines
CM-5.
{\underline{Keywords}}: quantum field theory; quantum chromodynamics;
improved actions; parallel computing algorithms
Mesonic Form Factors
We have started a program to compute the electromagnetic form factors of
mesons. We discuss the techniques used to compute the pion form factor and
present preliminary results computed with domain wall valence fermions on MILC
asqtad lattices, as well as Wilson fermions on quenched lattices. These methods
can easily be extended to rho-to-gamma-pi transition form factors.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, Workshop on Lattice Hadron Physics 2003 (LHP2003
The Gribov-Zwanziger action in the presence of the gauge invariant, nonlocal mass operator in the Landau gauge
We prove that the nonlocal gauge invariant mass dimension two operator
can be consistently added to the
Gribov-Zwanziger action, which implements the restriction of the path
integral's domain of integration to the first Gribov region when the Landau
gauge is considered. We identify a local polynomial action and prove the
renormalizability to all orders of perturbation theory by employing the
algebraic renormalization formalism. Furthermore, we also pay attention to the
breaking of the BRST invariance, and to the consequences that this has for the
Slavnov-Taylor identity.Comment: 30 page
A High Statistics Search for Ultra-High Energy Gamma-Ray Emission from Cygnus X-3 and Hercules X-1
We have carried out a high statistics (2 Billion events) search for
ultra-high energy gamma-ray emission from the X-ray binary sources Cygnus X-3
and Hercules X-1. Using data taken with the CASA-MIA detector over a five year
period (1990-1995), we find no evidence for steady emission from either source
at energies above 115 TeV. The derived upper limits on such emission are more
than two orders of magnitude lower than earlier claimed detections. We also
find no evidence for neutral particle or gamma-ray emission from either source
on time scales of one day and 0.5 hr. For Cygnus X-3, there is no evidence for
emission correlated with the 4.8 hr X-ray periodicity or with the occurrence of
large radio flares. Unless one postulates that these sources were very active
earlier and are now dormant, the limits presented here put into question the
earlier results, and highlight the difficulties that possible future
experiments will have in detecting gamma-ray signals at ultra-high energies.Comment: 26 LaTeX pages, 16 PostScript figures, uses psfig.sty to be published
in Physical Review
Physics of Solar Prominences: I - Spectral Diagnostics and Non-LTE Modelling
This review paper outlines background information and covers recent advances
made via the analysis of spectra and images of prominence plasma and the
increased sophistication of non-LTE (ie when there is a departure from Local
Thermodynamic Equilibrium) radiative transfer models. We first describe the
spectral inversion techniques that have been used to infer the plasma
parameters important for the general properties of the prominence plasma in
both its cool core and the hotter prominence-corona transition region. We also
review studies devoted to the observation of bulk motions of the prominence
plasma and to the determination of prominence mass. However, a simple inversion
of spectroscopic data usually fails when the lines become optically thick at
certain wavelengths. Therefore, complex non-LTE models become necessary. We
thus present the basics of non-LTE radiative transfer theory and the associated
multi-level radiative transfer problems. The main results of one- and
two-dimensional models of the prominences and their fine-structures are
presented. We then discuss the energy balance in various prominence models.
Finally, we outline the outstanding observational and theoretical questions,
and the directions for future progress in our understanding of solar
prominences.Comment: 96 pages, 37 figures, Space Science Reviews. Some figures may have a
better resolution in the published version. New version reflects minor
changes brought after proof editin
The <i>Ectocarpus</i> genome and the independent evolution of multicellularity in brown algae
Brown algae (Phaeophyceae) are complex photosynthetic organisms with a very different evolutionary history to green plants, to which they are only distantly related1. These seaweeds are the dominant species in rocky coastal ecosystems and they exhibit many interesting adaptations to these, often harsh, environments. Brown algae are also one of only a small number of eukaryotic lineages that have evolved complex multicellularity (Fig. 1).We report the 214 million base pair (Mbp) genome sequence of the filamentous seaweed Ectocarpus siliculosus (Dillwyn) Lyngbye, a model organism for brown algae, closely related to the kelps (Fig. 1). Genome features such as the presence of an extended set of light-harvesting and pigment biosynthesis genes and new metabolic processes such as halide metabolism help explain the ability of this organism to cope with the highly variable tidal environment. The evolution of multicellularity in this lineage is correlated with the presence of a rich array of signal transduction genes. Of particular interest is the presence of a family of receptor kinases, as the independent evolution of related molecules has been linked with the emergence of multicellularity in both the animal and green plant lineages. The Ectocarpus genome sequence represents an important step towards developing this organism as a model species, providing the possibility to combine genomic and genetic2 approaches to explore these and other aspects of brown algal biology further
Emulating a trial of joint dynamic strategies: An application to monitoring and treatment of HIV-positive individuals
Decisions about when to start or switch a therapy often depend on the frequency with which individuals are monitored or tested. For example, the optimal time to switch antiretroviral therapy depends on the frequency with which HIV-positive individuals have HIV RNA measured. This paper describes an approach to use observational data for the comparison of joint monitoring and treatment strategies and applies the method to a clinically relevant question in HIV research: when can monitoring frequency be decreased and when should individuals switch from a first-line treatment regimen to a new regimen?. We outline the target trial that would compare the dynamic strategies of interest and then describe how to emulate it using data from HIV-positive individuals included in the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration and the Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems. When, as in our example, few individuals follow the dynamic strategies of interest over long periods of follow-up, we describe how to leverage an additional assumption: no direct effect of monitoring on the outcome of interest. We compare our results with and without the “no direct effect†assumption. We found little differences on survival and AIDS-free survival between strategies where monitoring frequency was decreased at a CD4 threshold of 350 cells/μl compared with 500 cells/μl and where treatment was switched at an HIV-RNA threshold of 1000 copies/ml compared with 200 copies/ml. The “no direct effect†assumption resulted in efficiency improvements for the risk difference estimates ranging from an 7- to 53-fold increase in the effective sample size
Tolerância de mamona a zinco avaliada por fluorescência de clorofila e nutrição das plantas
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