Development and transfer of fuel fabrication and utilization technology for research reactors

Approximately 300 research reactors supplied with US-enriched uranium are currently in operation in about 40 countries, with a variety of types, sizes, experiment capabilities and applications. Despite the usefulness and popularity of research reactors, relatively few innovations in their core design have been made in the last fifteen years. The main reason can be better understood by reviewing briefly the history of research reactor fuel technology and enrichment levels. Stringent requirements on the enrichment of the uranium to be used in research reactors were considered and a program was launched to assist research reactors in continuing their operation with the new requirements and with minimum penalties. The goal of the new program, the Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactor (RERTR) Program, is to develop the technical means to utilize LEU instead of HEU in research reactors without significant penalties in experiment performance, operating costs, reactor modifications, and safety characteristics. This paper reviews briefly the RERTR Program activities with special emphasis on the technology transfer aspects of interest to this conference

Counting a black hole in Lorentzian product triangulations

We take a step toward a nonperturbative gravitational path integral for black-hole geometries by deriving an expression for the expansion rate of null geodesic congruences in the approach of causal dynamical triangulations. We propose to use the integrated expansion rate in building a quantum horizon finder in the sum over spacetime geometries. It takes the form of a counting formula for various types of discrete building blocks which differ in how they focus and defocus light rays. In the course of the derivation, we introduce the concept of a Lorentzian dynamical triangulation of product type, whose applicability goes beyond that of describing black-hole configurations.Comment: 42 pages, 11 figure

Entropy-Corrected Holographic Dark Energy

The holographic dark energy (HDE) is now an interesting candidate of dark energy, which has been studied extensively in the literature. In the derivation of HDE, the black hole entropy plays an important role. In fact, the entropy-area relation can be modified due to loop quantum gravity or other reasons. With the modified entropy-area relation, we propose the so-called ``entropy-corrected holographic dark energy'' (ECHDE) in the present work. We consider many aspects of ECHDE and find some interesting results. In addition, we briefly consider the so-called ``entropy-corrected agegraphic dark energy'' (ECADE).Comment: 11 pages, 2 tables, revtex4; v2: references adde

Phase-space and Black Hole Entropy of Higher Genus Horizons in Loop Quantum Gravity

In the context of loop quantum gravity, we construct the phase-space of isolated horizons with genus greater than 0. Within the loop quantum gravity framework, these horizons are described by genus g surfaces with N punctures and the dimension of the corresponding phase-space is calculated including the genus cycles as degrees of freedom. From this, the black hole entropy can be calculated by counting the microstates which correspond to a black hole of fixed area. We find that the leading term agrees with the A/4 law and that the sub-leading contribution is modified by the genus cycles.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures. References updated. Minor changes to match version to appear in Class. Quant. Gra

Effective State Metamorphosis in Semi-Classical Loop Quantum Cosmology

Modification to the behavior of geometrical density at short scales is a key result of loop quantum cosmology, responsible for an interesting phenomenology in the very early universe. We demonstrate the way matter with arbitrary scale factor dependence in Hamiltonian incorporates this change in its effective dynamics in the loop modified phase. For generic matter, the equation of state starts varying near a critical scale factor, becomes negative below it and violates strong energy condition. This opens a new avenue to generalize various phenomenological applications in loop quantum cosmology. We show that different ways to define energy density may yield radically different results, especially for the case corresponding to classical dust. We also discuss implications for frequency dispersion induced by modification to geometric density at small scales.Comment: Revised version; includes expanded discussion of natural trans-Planckian modifications to frequency dispersion and robustness to quantization ambiguities. To appear in Class. Quant. Gra

Quantized Black Holes, Their Spectrum and Radiation

Under quite natural general assumptions, the following results are obtained. The maximum entropy of a quantized surface is demonstrated to be proportional to the surface area in the classical limit. The general structure of the horizon spectrum is found. The discrete spectrum of thermal radiation of a black hole Under quite natural general assumptions, the following results are obtained. The maximum entropy of a quantized surface is demonstrated to be proportional to the surface area in the classical limit. The general structure of the horizon spectrum is found. The discrete spectrum of thermal radiation of a black hole fits the Wien profile. The natural widths of the lines are much smaller than the distances between them. The total intensity of the thermal radiation is estimated. In the special case of loop quantum gravity, the value of the Barbero -- Immirzi parameter is found. Different values for this parameter, obtained under additional assumption that the horizon is described by a U(1) Chern -- Simons theory, are demonstrated to be in conflict with the firmly established holographic bound.Comment: 15 pages, content of few talks given at conferences this summe

Inflation from non-minimally coupled scalar field in loop quantum cosmology

The FRW model with non-minimally coupled massive scalar field has been investigated in LQC framework. Considered form of the potential and coupling allows applications to Higgs driven inflation. Out of two frames used in the literature to describe such systems: Jordan and Einstein frame, the latter one is applied. Specifically, we explore the idea of the Einstein frame being the natural 'environment' for quantization and the Jordan picture having an emergent nature. The resulting dynamics qualitatively modifies the standard bounce paradigm in LQC in two ways: (i) the bounce point is no longer marked by critical matter energy density, (ii) the Planck scale physics features the 'mexican hat' trajectory with two consecutive bounces and rapid expansion and recollapse between them. Furthermore, for physically viable coupling strength and initial data the subsequent inflation exceeds 60 e-foldings.Comment: Clarity improved. Replaced with revised version accepted in JCA

Early Universe Dynamics in Semi-Classical Loop Quantum Cosmology

Within the framework of loop quantum cosmology, there exists a semi-classical regime where spacetime may be approximated in terms of a continuous manifold, but where the standard Friedmann equations of classical Einstein gravity receive non-perturbative quantum corrections. An approximate, analytical approach to studying cosmic dynamics in this regime is developed for both spatially flat and positively-curved isotropic universes sourced by a self-interacting scalar field. In the former case, a direct correspondence between the classical and semi-classical field equations can be established together with a scale factor duality that directly relates different expanding and contracting universes. Some examples of non-singular, bouncing cosmologies are presented together with a scaling, power-law solution.Comment: 14 pages, In Press, JCA

A comment on black hole entropy or does Nature abhor a logarithm?

There has been substantial interest, as of late, in the quantum-corrected form of the Bekenstein-Hawking black hole entropy. The consensus viewpoint is that the leading-order correction should be a logarithm of the horizon area; however, the value of the logarithmic prefactor remains a point of notable controversy. Very recently, Hod has employed statistical arguments that constrain this prefactor to be a non-negative integer. In the current paper, we invoke some independent considerations to argue that the "best guess" for the prefactor might simply be zero. Significantly, this value complies with the prior prediction and, moreover, seems suggestive of some fundamental symmetry.Comment: 10 pages and Revtex; (v2) imperative title change and added one reference; (v3) minor content and style changes throughout; 7 new citations; (v4) 8 new citations, an addendum and other minor changes; (v5) yet more references, some points clarified, and a recent criticism is addressed (addendum 2

Loop Quantum Gravity: An Inside View

This is a (relatively) non -- technical summary of the status of the quantum dynamics in Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG). We explain in detail the historical evolution of the subject and why the results obtained so far are non -- trivial. The present text can be viewed in part as a response to an article by Nicolai, Peeters and Zamaklar [hep-th/0501114]. We also explain why certain no go conclusions drawn from a mathematically correct calculation in a recent paper by Helling et al [hep-th/0409182] are physically incorrect.Comment: 58 pages, no figure