Hyperon semileptonic decays and quark spin content of the proton

We investigate the hyperon semileptonic decays and the quark spin content of the proton $\Delta \Sigma$ taking into account flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking. Symmetry breaking is implemented with the help of the chiral quark-soliton model in an approach, in which the dynamical parameters are fixed by the experimental data for six hyperon semileptonic decay constants. As a result we predict the unmeasured decay constants, particularly for $\Xi^0 \to \Sigma^+$, which will be soon measured and examine the effect of the SU(3) symmetry breaking on the spin content $\Delta \Sigma$ of the proton. Unfortunately large experimental errors of $\Xi^-$ decays propagate in our analysis making $\Delta \Sigma$ and $\Delta s$ practically undetermined. We conclude that statements concerning the values of these two quantities, which are based on the exact SU(3) symmetry, are premature. We stress that the meaningful results can be obtained only if the experimental errors for the $\Xi$ decays are reduced.Comment: The final version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D. 18 pages, RevTex is used with 4 figures include

Ferromagnetic models for cooperative behavior: Revisiting Universality in complex phenomena

Ferromagnetic models are harmonic oscillators in statistical mechanics. Beyond their original scope in tackling phase transition and symmetry breaking in theoretical physics, they are nowadays experiencing a renewal applicative interest as they capture the main features of disparate complex phenomena, whose quantitative investigation in the past were forbidden due to data lacking. After a streamlined introduction to these models, suitably embedded on random graphs, aim of the present paper is to show their importance in a plethora of widespread research fields, so to highlight the unifying framework reached by using statistical mechanics as a tool for their investigation. Specifically we will deal with examples stemmed from sociology, chemistry, cybernetics (electronics) and biology (immunology).Comment: Contributing to the proceedings of the Conference "Mathematical models and methods for Planet Heart", INdAM, Rome 201

Squark-, Slepton- and Neutralino-Chargino coannihilation effects in the low-energy effective MSSM

Within the low-energy effective Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (effMSSM) we calculate the neutralino relic density taking into account slepton-neutralino, squark-neutralino and neutralino/chargino- neutralino coannihilation channels. By including squark (stop and sbottom) coannihilation channels we extend our comparative study to all allowed coannihilations and obtain the general result that all of them give sizable contributions to the reduction of the neutralino relic density. Due to these coannihilation processes some models (mostly with large neutralino masses) enter into the cosmologically interesting region for relic density, but other models leave this region. Nevertheless, in general, the predictions for direct and indirect dark matter detection rates are not strongly affected by these coannihilation channels in the effMSSM.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, corrected and to be published in Phys. Rev.

Indirect search for dark matter: prospects for GLAST

Possible indirect detection of neutralino, through its gamma-ray annihilation product, by the forthcoming GLAST satellite from our galactic halo, M31, M87 and the dwarf galaxies Draco and Sagittarius is studied. Gamma-ray fluxes are evaluated for the two representative energy thresholds, 0.1 GeV and 1.0 GeV, at which the spatial resolution of GLAST varies considerably. Apart from dwarfs which are described either by a modified Plummer profile or by a tidally-truncated King profiles, fluxes are compared for halos with central cusps and cores. It is demonstrated that substructures, irrespective of their profiles, enhance the gamma-ray emission only marginally. The expected gamma-ray intensity above 1 GeV at high galactic latitudes is consistent with the residual emission derived from EGRET data if the density profile has a central core and the neutralino mass is less than 50 GeV, whereas for a central cusp only a substantial enhancement would explain the observations. From M31, the flux can be detected above 0.1 GeV and 1.0 GeV by GLAST only if the neutralino mass is below 300 GeV and if the density profile has a central cusp, case in which a significant boost in the gamma-ray emission is produced by the central black hole. For Sagittarius, the flux above 0.1 GeV is detectable by GLAST provided the neutralino mass is below 50 GeV. From M87 and Draco the fluxes are always below the sensitivity limit of GLAST.Comment: 14 Pages, 7 Figures, 3 Tables, version to appear on Physical Review

Electromagnetic field correlations near a surface with a nonlocal optical response

The coherence length of the thermal electromagnetic field near a planar surface has a minimum value related to the nonlocal dielectric response of the material. We perform two model calculations of the electric energy density and the field's degree of spatial coherence. Above a polar crystal, the lattice constant gives the minimum coherence length. It also gives the upper limit to the near field energy density, cutting off its $1/z^3$ divergence. Near an electron plasma described by the semiclassical Lindhard dielectric function, the corresponding length scale is fixed by plasma screening to the Thomas-Fermi length. The electron mean free path, however, sets a larger scale where significant deviations from the local description are visible.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure files (.eps), \documentclass[global]{svjour}, accepted in special issue "Optics on the Nanoscale" (Applied Physics B, eds. V. Shalaev and F. Tr\"ager

Gamma rays from dark matter annihilation in the Draco and observability at ARGO

The CACTUS experiment recently observed a gamma ray excess above 50 GeV from the direction of the Draco dwarf spheroidal galaxy. Considering that Draco is dark matter dominated the gamma rays may be generated through dark matter annihilation in the Draco halo. In the framework of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model we explore the parameter space to account for the gamma ray signals at CACTUS. We find that the neutralino mass is constrained to be approximately in the range between 100 GeV ~ 400 GeV and a sharp central cuspy of the dark halo profile in Draco is necessary to explain the CACTUS results. We then discuss further constraints on the supersymmetric parameter space by observations at the ground based ARGO detector. It is found that the parameter space can be strongly constrained by ARGO if no excess from Draco is observed above 100 GeV.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure

UHECR as Decay Products of Heavy Relics? The Lifetime Problem

The essential features underlying the top-down scenarii for UHECR are discussed, namely, the stability (or lifetime) imposed to the heavy objects (particles) whatever they be: topological and non-topological solitons, X-particles, cosmic defects, microscopic black-holes, fundamental strings. We provide an unified formula for the quantum decay rate of all these objects as well as the particle decays in the standard model. The key point in the top-down scenarii is the necessity to adjust the lifetime of the heavy object to the age of the universe. This ad-hoc requirement needs a very high dimensional operator to govern its decay and/or an extremely small coupling constant. The natural lifetimes of such heavy objects are, however, microscopic times associated to the GUT energy scale (sim 10^{-28} sec. or shorter). It is at this energy scale (by the end of inflation) where they could have been abundantly formed in the early universe and it seems natural that they decayed shortly after being formed.Comment: 11 pages, LaTex, no figures, updated versio

Strange Hadronic Loops of the Proton: A Quark Model Calculation

Nontrivial $q \bar q$ sea effects have their origin in the low-$Q^2$ dynamics of strong QCD. We present here a quark model calculation of the contribution of $s \bar s$ pairs arising from a {\it complete} set of OZI-allowed strong $Y^*K^*$ hadronic loops to the net spin of the proton, to its charge radius, and to its magnetic moment. The calculation is performed in an ``unquenched quark model" which has been shown to preserve the spectroscopic successes of the naive quark model and to respect the OZI rule. We speculate that an extension of the calculation to the nonstrange sea will show that most of the ``missing spin" of the proton is in orbital angular momenta.Comment: revtex, 34 pages, 4 figure

Bounding CPT Violation in the Neutral-B System

The feasibility of placing bounds on CPT violation from experiments with neutral-$B$ mesons is examined. We consider situations with uncorrelated mesons and ones with either unboosted or boosted correlated mesons. Analytical expressions valid for small T- and CPT-violating parameters are presented for time-dependent and time-integrated decay rates, and various relevant asymmetries are derived. We use Monte-Carlo simulations to model experimental conditions for a plausible range of CPT-violating parameters. The treatment uses realistic data incorporating background effects, resolutions, and acceptances for typical detectors at LEP, CESR, and the future $B$ factories. Presently, there are no bounds on CPT violation in the $B$ system. We demonstrate that limits of order 10\% on CPT violation can be obtained from data already extant, and we determine the CPT reach attainable within the next few years.Comment: accepted for publication in Physical Review