Twistor theory of hyper-K{\"a}hler metrics with hidden symmetries

We briefly review the hierarchy for the hyper-K\"ahler equations and define a notion of symmetry for solutions of this hierarchy. A four-dimensional hyper-K\"ahler metric admits a hidden symmetry if it embeds into a hierarchy with a symmetry. It is shown that a hyper-K\"ahler metric admits a hidden symmetry if it admits a certain Killing spinor. We show that if the hidden symmetry is tri-holomorphic, then this is equivalent to requiring symmetry along a higher time and the hidden symmetry determines a `twistor group' action as introduced by Bielawski \cite{B00}. This leads to a construction for the solution to the hierarchy in terms of linear equations and variants of the generalised Legendre transform for the hyper-K\"ahler metric itself given by Ivanov & Rocek \cite{IR96}. We show that the ALE spaces are examples of hyper-K\"ahler metrics admitting three tri-holomorphic Killing spinors. These metrics are in this sense analogous to the 'finite gap' solutions in soliton theory. Finally we extend the concept of a hierarchy from that of \cite{DM00} for the four-dimensional hyper-K\"ahler equations to a generalisation of the conformal anti-self-duality equations and briefly discuss hidden symmetries for these equations.Comment: Final version. To appear in the August 2003 special issue of JMP on `Integrability, Topological Solitons, and Beyond

Scalar second order evolution equations possessing an irreducible sl2_2-valued zero curvature representation

We find all scalar second order evolution equations possessing an sl$_2$-valued zero curvature representation that is not reducible to a proper subalgebra of sl$_2$. None of these zero-curvature representations admits a parameter.Comment: 10 pages, requires nath.st

The dispersive self-dual Einstein equations and the Toda lattice

The Boyer-Finley equation, or $SU(\infty)$-Toda equation is both a reduction of the self-dual Einstein equations and the dispersionlesslimit of the $2d$-Toda lattice equation. This suggests that there should be a dispersive version of the self-dual Einstein equation which both contains the Toda lattice equation and whose dispersionless limit is the familiar self-dual Einstein equation. Such a system is studied in this paper. The results are achieved by using a deformation, based on an associative $\star$-product, of the algebra $sdiff(\Sigma^2)$ used in the study of the undeformed, or dispersionless, equations.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX. To appear: J. Phys.

Hydrodynamic reductions of the heavenly equation

We demonstrate that Pleba\'nski's first heavenly equation decouples in infinitely many ways into a triple of commuting (1+1)-dimensional systems of hydrodynamic type which satisfy the Egorov property. Solving these systems by the generalized hodograph method, one can construct exact solutions of the heavenly equation parametrized by arbitrary functions of a single variable. We discuss explicit examples of hydrodynamic reductions associated with the equations of one-dimensional nonlinear elasticity, linearly degenerate systems and the equations of associativity.Comment: 14 page

ASCA Detection of Pulsed X-ray Emission from PSR J0631+1036

ASCA's long look at the 288 millisecond radio pulsar, PSR J0631+1036, reveals coherent X-ray pulsation from this source for the first time. The source was first detected in the serendipitous Einstein observation and later identified as a radio pulsar. Possible pulsation in the gamma-ray band has been detected from the CGRO EGRET data (Zepka, et al. 1996). The X-ray spectrum in the ASCA band is characterized by a hard power-law type emission with a photon index of about 2.3, when fitted with a single power-law function modified with absorption. An additional blackbody component of about 0.14 keV increases the quality of the spectral fit. The observed X-ray flux is 2.1e-13 ergs/s/cm2 in the 1-10 keV band. We find that many characteristics of PSR J0631+1036 are similar to those of middle-aged gamma-ray pulsars such as PSR B1055-52, PSR B0633+17 (Geminga), and PSR B0656+14.Comment: To appear in ApJ Letter

Using the local density approximation and the LYP, BLYP, and B3LYP functionals within Reference--State One--Particle Density--Matrix Theory

For closed-shell systems, the local density approximation (LDA) and the LYP, BLYP, and B3LYP functionals are shown to be compatible with reference-state one-particle density-matrix theory, where this recently introduced formalism is based on Brueckner-orbital theory and an energy functional that includes exact exchange and a non-universal correlation-energy functional. The method is demonstrated to reduce to a density functional theory when the exchange-correlation energy-functional has a simplified form, i.e., its integrand contains only the coordinates of two electron, say r1 and r2, and it has a Dirac delta function -- delta(r1 - r2) -- as a factor. Since Brueckner and Hartree--Fock orbitals are often very similar, any local exchange functional that works well with Hartree--Fock theory is a reasonable approximation with reference-state one-particle density-matrix theory. The LDA approximation is also a reasonable approximation. However, the Colle--Salvetti correlation-energy functional, and the LYP variant, are not ideal for the method, since these are universal functionals. Nevertheless, they appear to provide reasonable approximations. The B3LYP functional is derived using a linear combination of two functionals: One is the BLYP functional; the other uses exact exchange and a correlation-energy functional from the LDA.Comment: 26 Pages, 0 figures, RevTeX 4, Submitted to Mol. Phy

Joint searches between gravitational-wave interferometers and high-energy neutrino telescopes: science reach and analysis strategies

Many of the astrophysical sources and violent phenomena observed in our Universe are potential emitters of gravitational waves (GWs) and high-energy neutrinos (HENs). A network of GW detectors such as LIGO and Virgo can determine the direction/time of GW bursts while the IceCube and ANTARES neutrino telescopes can also provide accurate directional information for HEN events. Requiring the consistency between both, totally independent, detection channels shall enable new searches for cosmic events arriving from potential common sources, of which many extra-galactic objects.Comment: 4 pages. To appear in the Proceedings of the 2d Heidelberg Workshop: "High-Energy Gamma-rays and Neutrinos from Extra-Galactic Sources", Heidelberg (Germany), January 13-16, 200

Possible Signatures of a Cold-Flow Disk from MUSE using a z=1 galaxy--quasar pair towards SDSSJ1422-0001

We use a background quasar to detect the presence of circum-galactic gas around a $z=0.91$ low-mass star forming galaxy. Data from the new Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the VLT show that the host galaxy has a dust-corrected star-formation rate (SFR) of 4.7$\pm$0.2 Msun/yr, with no companion down to 0.22 Msun/yr (5 $\sigma$) within 240 kpc (30"). Using a high-resolution spectrum (UVES) of the background quasar, which is fortuitously aligned with the galaxy major axis (with an azimuth angle $\alpha$ of only $15^\circ$), we find, in the gas kinematics traced by low-ionization lines, distinct signatures consistent with those expected for a "cold flow disk" extending at least 12 kpc ($3\times R_{1/2}$). We estimate the mass accretion rate $\dot M_{\rm in}$ to be at least two to three times larger than the SFR, using the geometric constraints from the IFU data and the HI column density of $\log N_{\rm HI} \simeq 20.4$ obtained from a {\it HST}/COS NUV spectrum. From a detailed analysis of the low-ionization lines (e.g. ZnII, CrII, TiII, MnII, SiII), the accreting material appears to be enriched to about 0.4 $Z_\odot$ (albeit with large uncertainties: $\log Z/Z_\odot=-0.4~\pm~0.4$), which is comparable to the galaxy metallicity ($12+\log \rm O/H=8.7\pm0.2$), implying a large recycling fraction from past outflows. Blue-shifted MgII and FeII absorptions in the galaxy spectrum from the MUSE data reveal the presence of an outflow. The MgII and FeII doublet ratios indicate emission infilling due to scattering processes, but the MUSE data do not show any signs of fluorescent FeII* emission.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, in press (ApJ), minor edits after the proofs. Data available at http://muse-vlt.eu/science/j1422

Acoustic Phonon-Assisted Resonant Tunneling via Single Impurities

We perform the investigations of the resonant tunneling via impurities embedded in the AlAs barrier of a single GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure. In the $I(V)$ characteristics measured at 30mK, the contribution of individual donors is resolved and the fingerprints of phonon assistance in the tunneling process are seen. The latter is confirmed by detailed analysis of the tunneling rates and the modeling of the resonant tunneling contribution to the current. Moreover, fluctuations of the local structure of the DOS (LDOS) and Fermi edge singularities are observed.Comment: accepted in Phys. Rev.

INTEGRAL long-term monitoring of the Supergiant Fast X-ray Transient XTE J1739-302

In the past few years, a new class of High Mass X-Ray Binaries (HMXRB) has been claimed to exist, the Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients (SFXT). These are X-ray binary systems with a compact companion orbiting a supergiant star which show very short and bright outbursts in a series of activity periods overimposed on longer quiescent periods. Only very recently the first attempts to model the behaviour of these sources have been published, some of them within the framework of accretion from clumpy stellar winds.Our goal is to analyze the properties of XTE J1739-302/IGR J17391-3021 within the context of the clumpy structure of the supergiant wind. We have used INTEGRAL and RXTE/PCA observations in order to obtain broad band (1-200 keV) spectra and light curves of XTE J1739-302 and investigate its X-ray spectrum and temporal variability. We have found that XTE J1739-302 follows a much more complex behaviour than expected. Far from presenting a regular variability pattern, XTE J1739-302 shows periods of high, intermediate, and low flaring activity.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&