5,086 research outputs found
Functional Determinants in Quantum Field Theory
Functional determinants of differential operators play a prominent role in
theoretical and mathematical physics, and in particular in quantum field
theory. They are, however, difficult to compute in non-trivial cases. For one
dimensional problems, a classical result of Gel'fand and Yaglom dramatically
simplifies the problem so that the functional determinant can be computed
without computing the spectrum of eigenvalues. Here I report recent progress in
extending this approach to higher dimensions (i.e., functional determinants of
partial differential operators), with applications in quantum field theory.Comment: Plenary talk at QTS5 (Quantum Theory and Symmetries); 16 pp, 2 fig
Simplified Vacuum Energy Expressions for Radial Backgrounds and Domain Walls
We extend our previous results of simplified expressions for functional
determinants for radial Schr\"odinger operators to the computation of vacuum
energy, or mass corrections, for static but spatially radial backgrounds, and
for domain wall configurations. Our method is based on the zeta function
approach to the Gel'fand-Yaglom theorem, suitably extended to higher
dimensional systems on separable manifolds. We find new expressions that are
easy to implement numerically, for both zero and nonzero temperature.Comment: 30 page
Self-DUal SU(3) Chern-Simons Higgs Systems
We explore self-dual Chern-Simons Higgs systems with the local and
global symmetries where the matter field lies in the adjoint
representation. We show that there are three degenerate vacua of different
symmetries and study the unbroken symmetry and particle spectrum in each
vacuum. We classify the self-dual configurations into three types and study
their properties.Comment: Columbia Preprint CU-TP-635, 19 page
Chern-Simons Solitons, Toda Theories and the Chiral Model
The two-dimensional self-dual Chern--Simons equations are equivalent to the
conditions for static, zero-energy solutions of the -dimensional gauged
nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation with Chern--Simons matter-gauge dynamics. In
this paper we classify all finite charge solutions by first
transforming the self-dual Chern--Simons equations into the two-dimensional
chiral model (or harmonic map) equations, and then using the Uhlenbeck--Wood
classification of harmonic maps into the unitary groups. This construction also
leads to a new relationship between the Toda and chiral model
solutions
Tunneling Ionization Rates from Arbitrary Potential Wells
We present a practical numerical technique for calculating tunneling
ionization rates from arbitrary 1-D potential wells in the presence of a linear
external potential by determining the widths of the resonances in the spectral
density, rho(E), adiabatically connected to the field-free bound states. While
this technique applies to more general external potentials, we focus on the
ionization of electrons from atoms and molecules by DC electric fields, as this
has an important and immediate impact on the understanding of the multiphoton
ionization of molecules in strong laser fields.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, LaTe
Supersymmetric quantum mechanics with nonlocal potentials
We consider supersymmetric quantum mechanical models with both local and
nonlocal potentials. We present a nonlocal deformation of exactly solvable
local models. Its energy eigenfunctions and eigenvalues are determined exactly.
We observe that both our model Hamiltonian and its supersymmetric partner may
have normalizable zero-energy ground states, in contrast to local models with
nonperiodic or periodic potentials.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, Minor revisions for clarificatio
Laughlin Wave Function and One-Dimensional Free Fermions
Making use of the well-known phase space reduction in the lowest Landau
level(LLL), we show that the Laughlin wave function for the
case can be obtained exactly as a coherent state representation of an one
dimensional wave function. The system consists of copies of
free fermions associated with each of the electrons, confined in a common
harmonic well potential. Interestingly, the condition for this exact
correspondence is found to incorporate Jain's parton picture. We argue that,
this correspondence between the free fermions and quantum Hall effect is due to
the mapping of the system under consideration, to the Gaussian unitary
ensemble in the random matrix theory.Comment: 7 pages, Latex , no figure
The Demand for Military Spending in Egypt
Egypt plays a pivotal role in the security of the Middle East as the doorway to Europe and its military expenditure reflects its involvement in the machinations of such an unstable region, showing considerable variation over the last 40 years. These characteristics make it a particularly interesting case study of the determinants of military spending. This paper specifies and estimates an econometric model of the Egyptian demand for military spending, taking into account important strategic and political factors. Both economic and strategic factors are found to play a role in determining military burden/spending, with clear positive effects of lagged military burden, suggesting some sort of institutional inertia, plus negative output and net exports effects. The strategic effect as a result of the impact of Israel's military burden is mostly positive and significant, though its impact is reduced when the impact of important strategic events are taken into account. The military spending of Egypt's allies Jordan and Syria generally seems to have had no effect on Egypt's spending. These results are consistent over a range of econometric techniques. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis
New HErschel Multi-wavelength Extragalactic Survey of Edge-on Spirals (NHEMESES)
Edge-on spiral galaxies offer a unique perspective on the vertical structure
of spiral disks, both stars and the iconic dark dustlanes. The thickness of
these dustlanes can now be resolved for the first time with Herschel in
far-infrared and sub-mm emission. We present NHEMESES, an ongoing project that
targets 12 edge-on spiral galaxies with the PACS and SPIRE instruments on
Herschel. These vertically resolved observations of edge-on spirals will impact
on several current topics.
First and foremost, these Herschel observations will settle whether or not
there is a phase change in the vertical structure of the ISM with disk mass.
Previously, a dramatic change in dustlane morphology was observed as in massive
disks the dust collapses into a thin lane. If this is the case, the vertical
balance between turbulence and gravity dictates the ISM structure and
consequently star-formation and related phenomena (spiral arms, bars etc.). We
specifically target lower mass nearby edge-ons to complement existing Herschel
observations of high-mass edge-on spirals (the HEROES project).
Secondly, the combined data-set, together with existing Spitzer observations,
will drive a new generation of spiral disk Spectral Energy Distribution models.
These model how dust reprocesses starlight to thermal emission but the dust
geometry remains the critical unknown.
And thirdly, the observations will provide an accurate and unbiased census of
the cold dusty structures occasionally seen extending out of the plane of the
disk, when backlit by the stellar disk. To illustrate the NHEMESES project, we
present early results on NGC 4244 and NGC 891, two well studies examples of a
low and high-mass edge-on spiral.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the proceedings of IAU 284, "The
Spectral Energy Distribution of Galaxies", (SED2011), 5-9 September 2011,
Preston, UK, editors, R.J. Tuffs & C.C.Popescu (v2 updated metadata
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