1,193 research outputs found
On the infrared behaviour of 3d Chern-Simons theories in N=2 superspace
We discuss the problem of infrared divergences in the N=2 superspace approach
to classically marginal three-dimensional Chern-Simons-matter theories.
Considering the specific case of ABJM theory, we describe the origin of such
divergences and offer a prescription to eliminate them by introducing
non-trivial gauge-fixing terms in the action. We also comment on the extension
of our procedure to higher loop order and to general three-dimensional
Chern-Simons-matter models.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures, JHEP3; v2: minor corrections and references
added; v3: introduction expanded, presentation of section 3.3.1 improved,
references added, version to appear in JHE
Differential immunogenicity of homologous versus heterologous boost in Ad26.COV2.S vaccine recipients.
BACKGROUND: Protection offered by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines wanes over time, requiring an evaluation of different boosting strategies to revert such a trend and enhance the quantity and quality of Spike-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. These immunological parameters in homologous or heterologous vaccination boosts have thus far been studied for mRNA and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccines, but knowledge on individuals who received a single dose of Ad26.COV2.S is lacking. METHODS: We studied Spike-specific humoral and cellular immunity in Ad26.COV2.S-vaccinated individuals (n = 55) who were either primed with Ad26.COV2.S only (n = 13) or were boosted with a homologous (Ad26.COV2.S, n = 28) or heterologous (BNT162b2, n = 14) second dose. We compared our findings with the results found in individuals vaccinated with a single (n = 16) or double (n = 44) dose of BNT162b2. FINDINGS: We observed that a strategy of heterologous vaccination enhanced the quantity and breadth of both Spike-specific humoral and cellular immunity in Ad26.COV2.S-vaccinated individuals. In contrast, the impact of the homologous boost was quantitatively minimal in Ad26.COV2.S-vaccinated individuals, and Spike-specific antibodies and T cells were narrowly focused to the S1 region. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small sample size of the study and the lack of well-defined correlates of protection against COVID-19, the immunological features detected support the utilization of a heterologous vaccine boost in individuals who received Ad26.COV2.S vaccination. FUNDING: This study is partially supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health's National Medical Research Council under its COVID-19 Research Fund (COVID19RF3-0060, COVID19RF-001, and COVID19RF-008), The Medical College St. Bartholomew's Hospital Trustees - Pump Priming Fund for SMD COVID-19 Research
Differential immunogenicity of homologous versus heterologous boost in Ad26.COV2.S vaccine recipients
Two-Fermion Bound States within the Bethe-Salpeter Approach
To solve the spinor-spinor Bethe-Salpeter equation in Euclidean space we
propose a novel method related to the use of hyperspherical harmonics. We
suggest an appropriate extension to form a new basis of spin-angular harmonics
that is suitable for a representation of the vertex functions. We present a
numerical algorithm to solve the Bethe-Salpeter equation and investigate in
detail the properties of the solution for the scalar, pseudoscalar and vector
meson exchange kernels including the stability of bound states. We also compare
our results to the non relativistic ones and to the results given by light
front dynamics.Comment: 32 pages, XIII Tables, 8 figure
De Sitter ground state of scalar-tensor gravity and its primordial perturbation
Scalar-tensor gravity is one of the most competitive gravity theory to
Einstein's relativity. We reconstruct the exact de Sitter solution in
scalar-tensor gravity, in which the non-minimal coupling scalar is rolling
along the potential. This solution may have some relation to the early
inflation and present acceleration of the universe. We investigated its
primordial quantum perturbation around the adiabatic vacuum. We put forward for
the first time that exact de Sitter generates non-exactly scale invariant
perturbations. In the conformal coupling case, this model predicts that the
tensor mode of the perturbation (gravity wave) is strongly depressed.Comment: 9 page
Quantum nondemolition measurement of mechanical motion quanta
The fields of opto- and electromechanics have facilitated numerous advances
in the areas of precision measurement and sensing, ultimately driving the
studies of mechanical systems into the quantum regime. To date, however, the
quantization of the mechanical motion and the associated quantum jumps between
phonon states remains elusive. For optomechanical systems, the coupling to the
environment was shown to preclude the detection of the mechanical mode
occupation, unless strong single photon optomechanical coupling is achieved.
Here, we propose and analyse an electromechanical setup, which allows to
overcome this limitation and resolve the energy levels of a mechanical
oscillator. We find that the heating of the membrane, caused by the interaction
with the environment and unwanted couplings, can be suppressed for carefully
designed electromechanical systems. The results suggest that phonon number
measurement is within reach for modern electromechanical setups.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures plus 24 pages, 11 figures supplemental materia
Fundamental Concepts
This chapter briefly discusses the fundamental properties of black holes in
general relativity, the discovery of astrophysical black holes and their main
astronomical observations, how X-ray and -ray facilities can study
these objects, and ends with a list of open problems and future developments in
the field.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures. To appear in "Tutorial Guide to X-ray and
Gamma-ray Astronomy: Data Reduction and Analysis" (Ed. C. Bambi, Springer
Singapore, 2020). v2: fixed some typos and updated some parts. arXiv admin
note: text overlap with arXiv:1711.1025
Proposal for gravitational-wave detection beyond the standard quantum limit through EPRÂ entanglement
The deuteron: structure and form factors
A brief review of the history of the discovery of the deuteron in provided.
The current status of both experiment and theory for the elastic electron
scattering is then presented.Comment: 80 pages, 33 figures, submited to Advances in Nuclear Physic
Quantum Measurement Theory in Gravitational-Wave Detectors
The fast progress in improving the sensitivity of the gravitational-wave (GW)
detectors, we all have witnessed in the recent years, has propelled the
scientific community to the point, when quantum behaviour of such immense
measurement devices as kilometer-long interferometers starts to matter. The
time, when their sensitivity will be mainly limited by the quantum noise of
light is round the corner, and finding the ways to reduce it will become a
necessity. Therefore, the primary goal we pursued in this review was to
familiarize a broad spectrum of readers with the theory of quantum measurements
in the very form it finds application in the area of gravitational-wave
detection. We focus on how quantum noise arises in gravitational-wave
interferometers and what limitations it imposes on the achievable sensitivity.
We start from the very basic concepts and gradually advance to the general
linear quantum measurement theory and its application to the calculation of
quantum noise in the contemporary and planned interferometric detectors of
gravitational radiation of the first and second generation. Special attention
is paid to the concept of Standard Quantum Limit and the methods of its
surmounting.Comment: 147 pages, 46 figures, 1 table. Published in Living Reviews in
Relativit
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