16,739 research outputs found
Four-dimensional gravity on supersymmetric dilatonic domain walls
We investigate the localization of four-dimensional metastable gravity in
supersymmetric dilatonic domain walls through massive modes by considering
several scenarios in the model. We compute corrections to the Newtonian
potential for small and long distances compared with a crossover scale given in
terms of the dilatonic coupling. 4D gravity behavior is developed on the brane
for distance very much below the crossover scale, while for distance much
larger, the 5D gravity is recovered. Whereas in the former regime gravity is
always attractive, in the latter regime due to non-normalizable unstable
massive graviton modes present on the spectrum, in some special cases, gravity
appears to be repulsive and signalizes a gravitational confining phase which is
able to produce an inflationary phase of the Universe.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, Latex. Version to appear in PL
Controlled Shock Shells and Intracluster Fusion Reactions in the Explosion of Large Clusters
The ion phase-space dynamics in the Coulomb explosion of very large ( atoms) deuterium clusters can be tailored using two consecutive
laser pulses with different intensities and an appropriate time delay. For
suitable sets of laser parameters (intensities and delay), large-scale shock
shells form during the explosion, thus highly increasing the probability of
fusion reactions within the single exploding clusters. In order to analyze the
ion dynamics and evaluate the intracluster reaction rate, a one-dimensional
theory is used, which approximately accounts for the electron expulsion from
the clusters. It is found that, for very large clusters (initial radius
100 nm), and optimal laser parameters, the intracluster fusion yield becomes
comparable to the intercluster fusion yield. The validity of the results is
confirmed with three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures, to appear in Physical Review
The impact of kinetic effects on the properties of relativistic electron-positron shocks
We assess the impact of non-thermally shock-accelerated particles on the
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) jump conditions of relativistic shocks. The adiabatic
constant is calculated directly from first principle particle-in-cell
simulation data, enabling a semi-kinetic approach to improve the standard fluid
model and allowing for an identification of the key parameters that define the
shock structure. We find that the evolving upstream parameters have a stronger
impact than the corrections due to non-thermal particles. We find that the
decrease of the upstream bulk speed yields deviations from the standard MHD
model up to 10%. Furthermore, we obtain a quantitative definition of the shock
transition region from our analysis. For Weibel-mediated shocks the inclusion
of a magnetic field in the MHD conservation equations is addressed for the
first time
Cyclical Effects of Bank Capital Buffers with Imperfect Credit Markets: international evidence
This paper analyzes the cyclical effects of bank capital buffers using an international sample of 2,361 banks from 92 countries over the 1990-2007 period. We find that capital buffers reduce the bank credit supply but – through what could be “monitoring or signaling effects” – have also an expansionary effect on economic activity by reducing lending and deposit rate spreads. This influence on lending and deposit rate spreads is more pronunced in developing countries and during downturns. The results suggest that capital buffers have a counter-cyclical effect in these countries. Our data do not suggest differences in the cyclical effects of capital buffers between Basel I and Basel II.
Ion dynamics and acceleration in relativistic shocks
Ab-initio numerical study of collisionless shocks in electron-ion
unmagnetized plasmas is performed with fully relativistic particle in cell
simulations. The main properties of the shock are shown, focusing on the
implications for particle acceleration. Results from previous works with a
distinct numerical framework are recovered, including the shock structure and
the overall acceleration features. Particle tracking is then used to analyze in
detail the particle dynamics and the acceleration process. We observe an energy
growth in time that can be reproduced by a Fermi-like mechanism with a reduced
number of scatterings, in which the time between collisions increases as the
particle gains energy, and the average acceleration efficiency is not ideal.
The in depth analysis of the underlying physics is relevant to understand the
generation of high energy cosmic rays, the impact on the astrophysical shock
dynamics, and the consequent emission of radiation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Exploring the nature of collisionless shocks under laboratory conditions
Collisionless shocks are pervasive in astrophysics and they are critical to
understand cosmic ray acceleration. Laboratory experiments with intense lasers
are now opening the way to explore and characterise the underlying
microphysics, which determine the acceleration process of collisionless shocks.
We determine the shock character - electrostatic or electromagnetic - based on
the stability of electrostatic shocks to transverse electromagnetic
fluctuations as a function of the electron temperature and flow velocity of the
plasma components, and we compare the analytical model with particle-in-cell
simulations. By making the connection with the laser parameters driving the
plasma flows, we demonstrate that shocks with different and distinct underlying
microphysics can be explored in the laboratory with state-of-the-art laser
systems
Network-based approaches for studying migrations
Recently the United Nations released an updated version of its Global Migration
Dataset (UNHCR, 2017). We applied network science methods in order to uncover
structural patterns within global migration flows observed in these data. Results
revealed strong patterns in global migration, resulting from geographical and cultural
constraints. Specifically, the Louvain community detection algorithm aggregated
countries according with their linguistic, political, and economic affinities.
Additionally, the Infomap community detection algorithm explored the distance and
geography factors influencing migration flows. Both results weighted flow dynamics
over a migration dataset related to the period from 1995 to 2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Quantum Electrodynamics vacuum polarization solver
The self-consistent modeling of vacuum polarization due to virtual
electron-positron fluctuations is of relevance for many near term experiments
associated with high intensity radiation sources and represents a milestone in
describing scenarios of extreme energy density. We present a generalized
finite-difference time-domain solver that can incorporate the modifications to
Maxwell's equations due to vacuum polarization. Our multidimensional solver
reproduced in one dimensional configurations the results for which an analytic
treatment is possible, yielding vacuum harmonic generation and birefringence.
The solver has also been tested for two-dimensional scenarios where finite
laser beam spot sizes must be taken into account. We employ this solver to
explore different types of counter-propagating configurations that can be
relevant for future planned experiments aiming to detect quantum vacuum
dynamics at ultra-high electromagnetic field intensities
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