Chiral measurements with the Fixed-Point Dirac operator and construction of chiral currents

In this preliminary study, we examine the chiral properties of the parametrized Fixed-Point Dirac operator D^FP, see how to improve its chirality via the Overlap construction, measure the renormalized quark condensate Sigma and the topological susceptibility chi_t, and investigate local chirality of near zero modes of the Dirac operator. We also give a general construction of chiral currents and densities for chiral lattice actions.Comment: Lattice2001(chiral), based on a talk by T.J. and a poster by K.H., 6 page

Dimensional Reduction of the 5D Kaluza-Klein Geodesic Deviation Equation

In the work of Kerner et al. (2001) the problem of the geodesic deviation in a 5D Kaluza Klein background is faced. The 4D space-time projection of the resulting equation coincides with the usual geodesic deviation equation in the presence of the Lorenz force, provided that the fifth component of the deviation vector satisfies an extra constraint which takes into account the $q/m$ conservation along the path. The analysis was performed setting as a constant the scalar field which appears in Kaluza-Klein model. Here we focus on the extension of such a work to the model where the presence of the scalar field is considered. Our result coincides with that of Kerner et al. when the minimal case $\phi=1$ is considered, while it shows some departures in the general case. The novelty due to the presence of $\phi$ is that the variation of the $q/m$ between the two geodesic lines is not conserved during the motion; an exact law for such a behaviour has been derived.Comment: 9 page

Topological Charge and The Spectrum of Exactly Massless Fermions on the Lattice

The square root of the positive definite hermitian operator $D_w^{\dagger} D_w$ in Neuberger's proposal of exactly massless quarks on the lattice is implemented by the recursion formula $Y_{k+1} = {1/2} (Y_k + D_w^{\dagger} D_w Y_k^{-1})$ with Y_0 = \Id, where $Y_k^2$ converges to $D_w^{\dagger} D_w$ quadratically. The spectrum of the lattice Dirac operator for single massless fermion in two dimensional background U(1) gauge fields is investigated. For smooth background gauge fields with non-zero topological charge, the exact zero modes with definite chirality are reproduced to a very high precision on a finite lattice and the Index Theorem is satisfied exactly. The fermionic determinants are also computed and they are in good agreement with the continuum exact solution.Comment: 18 pages (LaTeX), 2 figures (EPS

Localizing gravity on a 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole in seven dimensions

We present regular solutions for a brane world scenario in the form of a 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole living in the three-dimensional spherical symmetric transverse space of a seven-dimensional spacetime. In contrast to the cases of a domain-wall in five dimensions and a string in six dimensions, there exist gravity-localizing solutions for both signs of the bulk cosmological constant. A detailed discussion of the parameter space that leads to localization of gravity is given. A point-like monopole limit is discussed.Comment: 29 pages, 17 figure

Influence of Flow Field Design on Zinc Deposition and Performance in a Zinc-Iodide Flow Battery

Among the aqueous redox flow battery systems, redox chemistries using a zinc negative electrode have a relatively high energy density, but the potential of achieving high power density and long cycle life is hindered by dendrite growth at the anode. In this study, a new cell design with a narrow gap between electrode and membrane was applied in a zinc-iodide flow battery. In this design, some of the electrolyte flows over the electrode surface and a fraction of the flow passes through the porous felt electrode in the direction of current flow. The flow battery was tested under constant current density over 40 cycles, and the efficiency, discharge energy density, and power density of the battery were significantly improved compared to conventional flow field designs. The power density obtained in this study is one of the highest power densities reported for the zinc-iodide battery. The morphology of the zinc deposition was studied using scanning electron microscopy and optical profilometry. It was found that the flow through the electrode led to a thinner zinc deposit with lower roughness on the surface of the electrode, in comparison to the case where there was no flow through the electrode. In addition, inhibition of dendrite formation enabled operation at a higher range of current density. Ex situ tomographic measurements were used to image the zinc deposited on the surface and inside the porous felt. Volume rendering of graphite felt from X-ray computed tomography images showed that in the presence of flow through the electrode, more zinc deposition occurred inside the porous felt, resulting in a compact and thinner surface deposit, which may enable higher battery capacity and improved performance

Manifestly Gauge Covariant Treatment of Lattice Chiral Fermions. II

We propose a new formulation of chiral fermions on a lattice, on the basis of a lattice extension of the covariant regularization scheme in continuum field theory. The species doublers do not emerge. The real part of the effective action is just one half of that of Dirac-Wilson fermion and is always gauge invariant even with a finite lattice spacing. The gauge invariance of the imaginary part, on the other hand, sets a severe constraint which is a lattice analogue of the gauge anomaly free condition. For real gauge representations, the imaginary part identically vanishes and the gauge invariance becomes exact.Comment: 15 pages, PHYZZX. The title is changed. The final version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Cosmology of codimension-two braneworlds

We present a comprehensive study of the cosmological solutions of 6D braneworld models with azimuthal symmetry in the extra dimensions, moduli stabilization by flux or a bulk scalar field, and which contain at least one 3-brane that could be identified with our world. We emphasize an unusual property of these models: their expansion rate depends on the 3-brane tension either not at all, or in a nonstandard way, at odds with the naive expected dimensional reduction of these systems to 4D general relativity at low energies. Unlike other braneworld attempts to find a self-tuning solution to the cosmological constant problem, the apparent failure of decoupling in these models is not associated with the presence of unstabilized moduli; rather it is due to automatic cancellation of the brane tension by the curvature induced by the brane. This provides some corroboration for the hope that these models provide a distinctive step toward understanding the smallness of the observed cosmological constant. However, we point out some challenges for obtaining realistic cosmology within this framework.Comment: 30 pages, 4 figures; generalized result for nonconventional Friedmann equation, added referenc

Low-energy effects in brane worlds: Liennard-Wiechert potentials and Hydrogen Lamb shift

Testing extra dimensions at low-energies may lead to interesting effects. In this work a test point charge is taken to move uniformly in the 3-dimensional subspace of a (3+$n$)-brane embedded in a (3+$n$+1)-space with $n$ compact and one warped infinite spatial extra dimensions. We found that the electromagnetic potentials of the point charge match standard Liennard-Wiechert's at large distances but differ from them close to it. These are finite at the position of the charge and produce finite self-energies. We also studied a localized Hydrogen atom and take the deviation from the standard Coulomb potential as a perturbation. This produces a Lamb shift that is compared with known experimental data to set bounds for the parameter of the model. This work provides details and extends results reported in a previous Letter.Comment: Manuscript (LaTeX) and 2 figure files (eps format) used by the manuscript LaTeX fil

Gauge theories as a geometrical issue of a Kaluza-Klein framework

We present a geometrical unification theory in a Kaluza-Klein approach that achieve the geometrization of a generic gauge theory bosonic component. We show how it is possible to derive the gauge charge conservation from the invariance of the model under extra-dimensional translations and to geometrize gauge connections for spinors, thus we can introduce the matter just by free spinorial fields. Then, we present the applications to i)a pentadimensional manifold $V^{4}\otimes S^{1}$, so reproducing the original Kaluza-Klein theory, unless some extensions related to the rule of the scalar field contained in the metric and the introduction of matter by spinors with a phase dependence from the fifth coordinate, ii)a seven-dimensional manifold $V^{4}\otimes S^{1}\otimes S^{2}$, in which we geometrize the electro-weak model by introducing two spinors for any leptonic family and quark generation and a scalar field with two components with opposite hypercharge, responsible of spontaneous symmetry breaking.Comment: 37 pages, no figure

Rapid Preparation of Geometrically Optimal Battery Electrode Samples for Nano Scale X-ray Characterisation

Rechargeable lithium-based batteries are one of the key enabling technologies driving the shift to renewable energy, and research into novel technologies has intensified to meet growing demands in applications requiring higher energy and power density. The mechanisms behind battery degradation can be investigated across multiple length-scales with X-ray imaging methods; at the nanoscale severe constraints are imposed on sample size in order to obtain adequate signal to noise. Here, we present a novel lasermilling technique to prepare geometrically optimal samples for X-ray nano-tomography. Advantages of this technique include significantly reduced sample preparation time, and a suitable geometry for mosaic acquisition, enabling a larger field of view to be captured at high spatial resolution, thus improving statistics. The geometry of the resulting electrode remains highly suitable for nano-tomography, and yet permits in situ and operando experiments to be carried out on standard electrode coatings, providing new insights into transient phenomena whilst closely mimicking standard electrochemical cells