2,558 research outputs found
Axial and Vector Correlator Mixing in Hot and Dense Hadronic Matter
We study the manifestations of chiral symmetry restoration which have a
significance for the parity mixing. Restricting to pions and nucleons we
establish a formalism for the expression of the vector correlator, which
displays the mixing of the axial correlator into the vector one and unifies the
cases of the heat bath and the dense medium. We give examples of mixing
cross-sections. We also establish a link between the energy integrated mixing
cross-sections and the pion scalar density which governs the quenching factors
of coupling constants, such as the pion decay one, as well as the quark
condensate evolution.Comment: 12 pages, Latex, 4 PostScript Figure
Pion Scalar Density and Chiral Symmetry Restoration at Finite Temperature and Density
This paper is devoted to the evaluation of the pionic scalar density at
finite temperature and baryonic density. We express the latter effect in terms
of the nuclear response evaluated in the random phase approxima- tion. We
discuss the density and temperature evolution of the pionic density which
governs the quark condensate evolution. Numerical evalua- tions are performed.Comment: 13 pages, Latex File, 10 eps Figure
Reynolds number and Shallow Depth Sloshing
The dependence on the Reynolds number of shallow depth sloshing ïŹows inside rectangular tanks subjected to forced harmonic motion is studied in this paper with weakly compressible SPH. We are interested in assessing the in ïŹuenceof viscous effects on the dynamics of shallow depth sloshing ïŹows by using an SPH solver and by comparing with a Navier-Stokes level-set solver results. The goal of trying to model these viscous ïŹows is compromised by the resolution requested due to their Reynolds number, if boundary layer effects are to be modeled. The convenience and feasibility of the implementation of free-slip and no-slip boundary conditions is also discusse
Focal plane wavefront sensor achromatization : The multireference self-coherent camera
High contrast imaging and spectroscopy provide unique constraints for
exoplanet formation models as well as for planetary atmosphere models. But this
can be challenging because of the planet-to-star small angular separation and
high flux ratio. Recently, optimized instruments like SPHERE and GPI were
installed on 8m-class telescopes. These will probe young gazeous exoplanets at
large separations (~1au) but, because of uncalibrated aberrations that induce
speckles in the coronagraphic images, they are not able to detect older and
fainter planets. There are always aberrations that are slowly evolving in time.
They create quasi-static speckles that cannot be calibrated a posteriori with
sufficient accuracy. An active correction of these speckles is thus needed to
reach very high contrast levels (>1e7). This requires a focal plane wavefront
sensor. Our team proposed the SCC, the performance of which was demonstrated in
the laboratory. As for all focal plane wavefront sensors, these are sensitive
to chromatism and we propose an upgrade that mitigates the chromatism effects.
First, we recall the principle of the SCC and we explain its limitations in
polychromatic light. Then, we present and numerically study two upgrades to
mitigate chromatism effects: the optical path difference method and the
multireference self-coherent camera. Finally, we present laboratory tests of
the latter solution.
We demonstrate in the laboratory that the MRSCC camera can be used as a focal
plane wavefront sensor in polychromatic light using an 80 nm bandwidth at 640
nm. We reach a performance that is close to the chromatic limitations of our
bench: contrast of 4.5e-8 between 5 and 17 lambda/D.
The performance of the MRSCC is promising for future high-contrast imaging
instruments that aim to actively minimize the speckle intensity so as to detect
and spectrally characterize faint old or light gaseous planets.Comment: 14 pages, 20 figure
The Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey: 1.2mm Observations
We report 250 GHz (1.2 mm) observations of a sample of 20 QSOs at redshifts
5.8<z<6.5 from the the Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey (CFHQS), using the
Max-Planck Millimeter Bolometer (MAMBO) array at the IRAM 30-metre telescope. A
rms sensitivity <~ 0.6 mJy was achieved for 65% of the sample, and <~ 1.0 mJy
for 90%. Only one QSO, CFHQS J142952+544717, was robustly detected with
S_250GHz = 3.46 +/-0.52 mJy. This indicates that one of the most powerful known
starbursts at z~6 is associated with this radio loud QSO. On average, the other
CFHQS QSOs, which have a mean optical magnitude fainter than previously studied
SDSS samples of z~6 QSOs, have a mean 1.2 mm flux density = 0.41
+/-0.14 mJy; such a 2.9-sigma average detection is hardly meaningful. It would
correspond to ~ 0.94+/-0.32 10^12 Lo, and an average star formation
rate of a few 100's Mo/yr, depending on the IMF and a possible AGN contribution
to . This is consistent with previous findings of Wang et al. (2011) on
the far-infrared emission of z~6 QSOs and extends them toward optically fainter
sources.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, A&A in pres
Ultrafast Acousto-Plasmonics in Gold Nanoparticles Superlattice
We report the investigation of the generation and detection of GHz coherent
acoustic phonons in plasmonic gold nanoparticles superlattices (NPS). The
experiments have been performed from an optical femtosecond pump-probe scheme
across the optical plasmon resonance of the superlattice. Our experiments allow
to estimate the collective elastic response (sound velocity) of the NPS as well
as an estimate of the nano-contact elastic stiffness. It appears that the
light-induced coherent acoustic phonon pulse has a typical in-depth spatial
extension of about 45 nm which is roughly 4 times the optical skin depth in
gold. The modeling of the transient optical reflectivity indicates that the
mechanism of phonon generation is achieved through ultrafast heating of the NPS
assisted by light excitation of the volume plasmon. These results demonstrate
how it is possible to map the photon-electron-phonon interaction in
subwavelength nanostructures
Chiral Symmetry Restoration and Parity Mixing
We derive the expressions of the vector and axial current from a chiral
Lagrangian restricted to nucleons and pions. They display mixing terms between
the axial and vector currents. We study the modifications in the nuclear medium
of the coupling constants of the axial current, namely the pion decay constant
and the nucleonic axial one due to the requirements of chiral symmetry. We
express the renormalizations in terms of the local scalar pion density. The
latter also governs the quark condensate evolu- tion and we discuss the link
between this evolution and the renormaliza- tions. In the case of the nucleon
axial coupling constant this renormali- zation corresponds to a new type of
exchange currents, with two exchanged pions. We give an estimate for the
resulting quenching. Although moderate it helps explaining the quenching
experimentally observed.Comment: Latex, 15 pages. Several references and one figure added. New
discussion of some points has been included. Treatment of the renormali-
zation of the nucleon axial coupling constant has been develope
High resolution imaging of young M-type stars of the solar neighborhood: Probing the existence of companions down to the mass of Jupiter
Context. High contrast imaging is a powerful technique to search for gas
giant planets and brown dwarfs orbiting at separation larger than several AU.
Around solar-type stars, giant planets are expected to form by core accretion
or by gravitational instability, but since core accretion is increasingly
difficult as the primary star becomes lighter, gravitational instability would
be the a probable formation scenario for yet-to-be-found distant giant planets
around a low-mass star. A systematic survey for such planets around M dwarfs
would therefore provide a direct test of the efficiency of gravitational
instability. Aims. We search for gas giant planets orbiting around late-type
stars and brown dwarfs of the solar neighborhood. Methods. We obtained deep
high resolution images of 16 targets with the adaptive optic system of VLT-NACO
in the Lp band, using direct imaging and angular differential imaging. This is
currently the largest and deepest survey for Jupiter-mass planets around
Mdwarfs. We developed and used an integrated reduction and analysis pipeline to
reduce the images and derive our 2D detection limits for each target. The
typical contrast achieved is about 9 magnitudes at 0.5" and 11 magnitudes
beyond 1". For each target we also determine the probability of detecting a
planet of a given mass at a given separation in our images. Results. We derived
accurate detection probabilities for planetary companions, taking into account
orbital projection effects, with in average more than 50% probability to detect
a 3MJup companion at 10AU and a 1.5MJup companion at 20AU, bringing strong
constraints on the existence of Jupiter-mass planets around this sample of
young M-dwarfs.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Chiral Lagrangians and Quark Condensate in Nuclei
We study the evolution with density of the quark condensate in the nuclear
medium with interacting nucleons and including the short range correlations. We
work with two chiral models, the linear sigma model and the non-linear one. For
the last one we use two versions, one which does not satisfy PCAC, and another
one which does. We show that the quark condensate, as other observables, is
independent on the variant selected. The application to physical pions excludes
the linear sigma model as a credible one. In the non-linear models our
conclusions are: first there is no systematic reaction imposed by chiral
symmetry against symmetry restoration, second, if one keeps only the s-wave
pion-nucleon interaction, the quark condensate evolves essentially linearly
with density, as if the nucleons were non interacting. The main correction
arises from the p-wave pion-nucleon interaction. Last, in the s-wave optical
potential, chiral symmetry tolerates but does not impose two body terms. On the
other hand the effect of correlations linked to the isospin symmetric amplitude
is negligible.Comment: 24 pages, LaTex, 7 PostScript Figures, a couple of misprints
corrected , 2 references added, a few modifications of the main text and
conclusion, to be published in Nucl. Phys.
Laboratory validation of the dual-zone phase mask coronagraph in broadband light at the high-contrast imaging THD-testbed
Specific high contrast imaging instruments are mandatory to characterize
circumstellar disks and exoplanets around nearby stars. Coronagraphs are
commonly used in these facilities to reject the diffracted light of an observed
star and enable the direct imaging and spectroscopy of its circumstellar
environment. One important property of the coronagraph is to be able to work in
broadband light.
Among several proposed coronagraphs, the dual-zone phase mask coronagraph is
a promising solution for starlight rejection in broadband light. In this paper,
we perform the first validation of this concept in laboratory.
First, we recall the principle of the dual-zone phase mask coronagraph. Then,
we describe the high-contrast imaging THD testbed, the manufacturing of the
components and the quality-control procedures. Finally, we study the
sensitivity of our coronagraph to low-order aberrations (inner working angle
and defocus) and estimate its contrast performance. Our experimental broadband
light results are compared with numerical simulations to check agreement with
the performance predictions.
With the manufactured prototype and using a dark hole technique based on the
self-coherent camera, we obtain contrast levels down to between 5
and 17 in monochromatic light (640 nm). We also reach contrast
levels of between 7 and 17 in broadband
( nm, nm and %), which demonstrates the excellent chromatic performance of the dual-zone
phase mask coronagraph.
The performance reached by the dual-zone phase mask coronagraph is promising
for future high-contrast imaging instruments that aim at detecting and
spectrally characterizing old or light gaseous planets.Comment: 9 pages, 16 figure
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