CMB statistical anisotropy from noncommutative gravitational waves

Primordial statistical anisotropy is a key indicator to investigate early Universe models and has been probed by the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies. In this paper, we examine tensor-mode CMB fluctuations generated from anisotropic gravitational waves, parametrised by $P_h({\bf k}) = P_h^{(0)}(k) [ 1 + \sum_{LM} f_L(k) g_{LM} Y_{LM} (\hat{\bf k}) ]$, where $P_h^{(0)}(k)$ is the usual scale-invariant power spectrum. Such anisotropic tensor fluctuations may arise from an inflationary model with noncommutativity of fields. It is verified that in this model, an isotropic component and a quadrupole asymmetry with $f_0(k) = f_2(k) \propto k^{-2}$ are created and hence highly red-tilted off-diagonal components arise in the CMB power spectra, namely $\ell_2 = \ell_1 \pm 2$ in $TT$, $TE$, $EE$ and $BB$, and $\ell_2 = \ell_1 \pm 1$ in $TB$ and $EB$. We find that B-mode polarisation is more sensitive to such signals than temperature and E-mode polarisation due to the smallness of large-scale cosmic variance and we can potentially measure $g_{00} = 30$ and $g_{2M} = 58$ at 68% CL in a cosmic-variance-limited experiment. Such a level of signal may be measured in a PRISM like experiment, while the instrumental noise contaminates it in the $Planck$ experiment. These results imply that it is impossible to measure the noncommutative parameter if it is small enough for the perturbative treatment to be valid. Our formalism and methodology for dealing with the CMB tensor statistical anisotropy are general and straightforwardly applicable to other early Universe models.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in JCA

Observable non-gaussianity from gauge field production in slow roll inflation, and a challenging connection with magnetogenesis

In any realistic particle physics model of inflation, the inflaton can be expected to couple to other fields. We consider a model with a dilaton-like coupling between a U(1) gauge field and a scalar inflaton. We show that this coupling can result in observable non-gaussianity, even in the conventional regime where inflation is supported by a single scalar slowly rolling on a smooth potential: the time dependent inflaton condensate leads to amplification of the large-scale gauge field fluctuations, which can feed-back into the scalar/tensor cosmological perturbations. In the squeezed limit, the resulting bispectrum is close to the local one, but it shows a sizable and characteristic quadrupolar dependence on the angle between the shorter and the larger modes in the correlation. Observable non-gaussianity is obtained in a regime where perturbation theory is under control. If the gauge field is identified with the electromagnetic field, the model that we study is a realization of the magnetogenesis idea originally proposed by Ratra, and widely studied. This identification (which is not necessary for the non-gaussianity production) is however problematic in light of a strong coupling problem already noted in the literature.Comment: 28 pages, no figures. Final versio

A Quantum Deformation of the Virasoro Algebra and the Macdonald Symmetric Functions

A quantum deformation of the Virasoro algebra is defined. The Kac determinants at arbitrary levels are conjectured. We construct a bosonic realization of the quantum deformed Virasoro algebra. Singular vectors are expressed by the Macdonald symmetric functions. This is proved by constructing screening currents acting on the bosonic Fock space.Comment: 15 pages, latex fil

Noncommutative AdS3AdS^3 with Quantized Cosmological Constant

We examine a recent deformation of three-dimensional anti-deSitter gravity based on noncommutative Chern-Simons theory with gauge group $U(1,1)\times U(1,1)$. In addition to a noncommutative analogue of 3D gravity, the theory contains two addition gauge fields which decouple in the commutative limit. It is well known that the level is quantized in noncommutative Chern-Simons theory. Here it implies that the cosmological constant goes like minus one over an integer-squared. We construct the noncommutative $AdS^3$ vacuum by applying a Seiberg-Witten map from the commutative case. The procedure is repeated for the case of a conical space resulting from a massive spinning particle.Comment: 16 p

Statistical Mechanics of Charged Particles in Einstein-Maxwell-Scalar Theory

We consider an $N$-body system of charged particle coupled to gravitational, electromagnetic, and scalar fields. The metric on moduli space for the system can be considered if a relation among the charges and mass is satisfied, which includes the BPS relation for monopoles and the extreme condition for charged black holes. Using the metric on moduli space in the long distance approximation, we study the statistical mechanics of the charged particles at low velocities. The partition function is evaluated as the leading order of the large $d$ expansion, where $d$ is the spatial dimension of the system and will be substituted finally as $d=3$.Comment: 11 pages, RevTeX3.

Spin Nutation Induced by Atomic Motion in a Magnetic Lattice

An atom moving in a spatially periodic field experiences a temporary periodic perturbation and undergoes a resonance transition between atomic internal states when the transition frequency is equal to the atomic velocity divided by the field period. We demonstrated that spin nutation was induced by this resonant transition in a polarized rubidium (Rb) atomic beam passing through a magnetic lattice. The lattice was produced by current flowing through an array of parallel wires crossing the beam. This array structure, reminiscent of a multiwire chamber for particle detection, allowed the Rb beam to pass through the lattice at a variety of incident angles. The dephasing of spin nutation was reduced by varying the incident angle.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Metabolic microenvironmental control by photosynthetic biofilms under changing macroenvironmental temperature and pH conditions

Ex situ microelectrode experiments, using cyanobacterial biofilms from karst water creeks, were conducted under various pH, temperature, and constant-alkalinity conditions to investigate the effects of changing environmental parameters on cyanobacterial photosynthesis-induced calcification. Microenvironmental chemical conditions around calcifying sites were controlled by metabolic activity over a wide range of photosynthesis and respiration rates, with little influence from overlying water conditions. Regardless of overlying water pH levels (from 7.8 to 8.9), pH at the biofilm surface was approximately 9.4 in the light and 7.8 in the dark. The same trend was observed at various temperatures (4°C and 17°C). Biological processes control the calcium carbonate saturation state (Ω) in these and similar systems and are able to maintain Ω at approximately constant levels over relatively wide environmental fluctuations. Temperature did, however, have an effect on calcification rate. Calcium flux in this system is limited by its diffusion coefficient, resulting in a higher calcium flux (calcification and dissolution) at higher temperatures, despite the constant, biologically mediated pH. The ability of biological systems to mitigate the effects of environmental perturbation is an important factor that must be considered when attempting to predict the effects of increased atmospheric partial CO2 pressure on processes such as calcification and in interpreting microfossils in the fossil record

Numerical predictions for equilibrium profile on intertidal flat

Morphology of intertidal flat is dictated by the input of sediments from rivers and the subsequent redistribution by waves, currents, and gravity-driven flows. An analytical models is develop for dynamic equilibrium profile from Falcini et al (2012) and Yamada et al (2004) equations and numerical simulations are used to predict the long-term cross-shore morphology changes on intertidal flat adjacent of river mouth. By using these models, we explore the gravity flows and sea bottom slope in determining the critical conditions for bypass of gravity-driven sediment transport. The field site of this research is located on the center of the eastern coast of Ariake Bay at river mouth of Shirakawa River, Japan. Monthly bed level measurement from February 2001 to January 2013 with the distance between 100 to 1050 m and the interval of 10 m from seawall was analyzed. Oceanographic data such as tide level, significant wave height, wave period, and wind velocity measured at an observation tower of Kumamoto Port. Water debit of Shirakawa River is obtained from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan. Based on model predictions, we found that the dynamic equilibrium profile is spatially and temporally consistent with field observations and it predicted to be deeper and boarder associated with sediment

Long-term efficacy and safety of eculizumab in Japanese patients with generalized myasthenia gravis : a subgroup analysis of the REGAIN open-label extension study

The terminal complement inhibitor eculizumab was shown to improve myasthenia gravis-related symptoms in the 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled REGAIN study (NCT01997229). In this 52-week sub-analysis of the open-label extension of REGAIN (NCT02301624), eculizumab's efficacy and safety were assessed in 11 Japanese and 88 Caucasian patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive refractory generalized myasthenia gravis. For patients who had received placebo during REGAIN, treatment with open-label eculizumab resulted in generally similar outcomes in the Japanese and Caucasian populations. Rapid improvements were maintained for 52 weeks, assessed by change in score from open-label extension baseline to week 52 (mean [standard error]) using the following scales (in Japanese and Caucasian patients, respectively): Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (-2.4 [1.34] and - 3.3 [0.651); Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (-2.9 [1.98] and - 4.3 [0.79]); Myasthenia Gravis Composite (-4.5 [2.63] and - 4.9 [1.19]); and Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life 15-item questionnaire (-8.6 [5.68) and - 6.5 [1.93]). Overall, the safety of eculizumab was consistent with its known safety profile. In this interim sub-analysis, the efficacy and safety of eculizumab in Japanese and Caucasian patients were generally similar, and consistent with the overall REGAIN population