An exact self-consistent gravitational shock wave in semiclassical gravity

We find a self-consistent pp-gravitational shock wave solution to the semiclassical Einstein equations resulting from the $1/N$ approach to the effective action. We model the renormalized matter stress-energy-momentum tensor by $N$ massless scalar fields in the Minkowski vacuum plus a classical particle. We show that quantum effects generate a milder singularity at the position of the particle than the classical solution, but the singularity does not disappear. At large distances from the particle, the quantum correction decreases slowly, as $1/\rho^2$ ($\rho$ being the distance to the particle in the shock wave plane). We argue that this large distance correction is a necessary consequence of quantum gravity.Comment: 13 pages, REVTEX, 4 PS figures. Revised version contains a derivation of the solution compatible with its distributional character. The final results, though, are the sam

Discovery and quantitative spectral analysis of an Ofpe/WN9 (WN11) star in the Sculptor spiral galaxy NGC 300

We have discovered an Ofpe/WN9 (WN11 following Smith et al.) star in the Sculptor spiral galaxy NGC 300, the first object of this class found outside the Local Group, during a recent spectroscopic survey of blue supergiant stars obtained at the ESO VLT. The light curve over a five-month period in late 1999 displays a variability at the 0.1 mag level. The intermediate resolution spectra (3800-7200 A) show a very close resemblance to the Galactic LBV AG Car during minimum. We have performed a detailed non-LTE analysis of the stellar spectrum, and have derived a chemical abundance pattern which includes H, He, C, N, O, Al, Si and Fe, in addition to the stellar and wind parameters. The derived stellar properties and the He and N surface enrichments are consistent with those of other Local Group WN11 stars in the literature, suggesting a similar quiescent or post-LBV evolutionary status.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

Aging in a Two-Dimensional Ising Model with Dipolar Interactions

Aging in a two-dimensional Ising spin model with both ferromagnetic exchange and antiferromagnetic dipolar interactions is established and investigated via Monte Carlo simulations. The behaviour of the autocorrelation function $C(t,t_w)$ is analyzed for different values of the temperature, the waiting time $t_w$ and the quotient $\delta=J_0/J_d$, $J_0$ and $J_d$ being the strength of exchange and dipolar interactions respectively. Different behaviours are encountered for $C(t,t_w)$ at low temperatures as $\delta$ is varied. Our results show that, depending on the value of $\delta$, the dynamics of this non-disordered model is consistent either with a slow domain dynamics characteristic of ferromagnets or with an activated scenario, like that proposed for spin glasses.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex, 5 postscript figures; acknowledgment added and some grammatical corrections in caption

Random-mass Dirac fermions in an imaginary vector potential: Delocalization transition and localization length

One dimensional system of Dirac fermions with a random-varying mass is studied by the transfer-matrix methods which we developed recently. We investigate the effects of nonlocal correlation of the spatial-varying Dirac mass on the delocalization transition. Especially we numerically calculate both the "typical" and "mean" localization lengths as a function of energy and the correlation length of the random mass. To this end we introduce an imaginary vector potential as suggested by Hatano and Nelson and solve the eigenvalue problem. Numerical calculations are in good agreement with the results of the analytical calculations.Comment: 4 page

Integrable deformations of oscillator chains from quantum algebras

A family of completely integrable nonlinear deformations of systems of N harmonic oscillators are constructed from the non-standard quantum deformation of the sl(2,R) algebra. Explicit expressions for all the associated integrals of motion are given, and the long-range nature of the interactions introduced by the deformation is shown to be linked to the underlying coalgebra structure. Separability and superintegrability properties of such systems are analysed, and their connection with classical angular momentum chains is used to construct a non-standard integrable deformation of the XXX hyperbolic Gaudin system.Comment: 15 pages, LaTe

Poly(Ethylene glycol) diacrylate iongel membranes reinforced with nanoclays for co2 separation

Despite the fact that iongels are very attractive materials for gas separation membranes, they often show mechanical stability issues mainly due to the high ionic liquid (IL) content (≥60 wt%) needed to achieve high gas separation performances. This work investigates a strategy to improve the mechanical properties of iongel membranes, which consists in the incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay, from 0.2 to 7.5 wt%, into a cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) network containing 60 wt% of the IL 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C2mim][TFSI]). The iongels were prepared by a simple one-pot method using ultraviolet (UV) initiated polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and characterized by several techniques to assess their physico-chemical properties. The thermal stability of the iongels was influenced by the addition of higher MMT contents (>5 wt%). It was possible to improve both puncture strength and elongation at break with MMT contents up to 1 wt%. Furthermore, the highest ideal gas selectivities were achieved for iongels containing 0.5 wt% MMT, while the highest CO2 permeability was observed at 7.5 wt% MMT content, due to an increase in diffusivity. Remarkably, this strategy allowed for the preparation and gas permeation of self-standing iongel containing 80 wt% IL, which had not been possible up until now.publishersversionpublishe

Dynamical System Analysis for Inflation with Dissipation

We examine the solutions of the equations of motion for an expanding Universe, taking into account the radiation of the inflaton field energy. We then analyze the question of the generality of inflationary solutions in this more general setting of a dissipative system. We find a surprisingly rich behavior for the solutions of the dynamical system of equations in the presence of dissipational effects. We also determine that a value of dissipation as small as $\sim 10^{-7} H$ can lead to a smooth exit from inflation to radiation.Comment: Plain LaTex, 21 pages, 8 eps figs (uses epsf), to be published in Phys. Rev.

Non-Oberbeck-Boussinesq effects in turbulent thermal convection in ethane close to the critical point

As shown in earlier work (Ahlers et al., J. Fluid Mech. 569, p.409 (2006)), non-Oberbeck Boussinesq (NOB) corrections to the center temperature in turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection in water and also in glycerol are governed by the temperature dependences of the kinematic viscosity and the thermal diffusion coefficient. If the working fluid is ethane close to the critical point the origin of non-Oberbeck-Boussinesq corrections is very different, as will be shown in the present paper. Namely, the main origin of NOB corrections then lies in the strong temperature dependence of the isobaric thermal expansion coefficient \beta(T). More precisely, it is the nonlinear T-dependence of the density \rho(T) in the buoyancy force which causes another type of NOB effect. We demonstrate that through a combination of experimental, numerical, and theoretical work, the latter in the framework of the extended Prandtl-Blasius boundary layer theory developed in Ahlers et al., J. Fluid Mech. 569, p.409 (2006). The latter comes to its limits, if the temperature dependence of the thermal expension coefficient \beta(T) is significant.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, 3 table

Critical wetting of a class of nonequilibrium interfaces: A mean-field picture

A self-consistent mean-field method is used to study critical wetting transitions under nonequilibrium conditions by analyzing Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) interfaces in the presence of a bounding substrate. In the case of positive KPZ nonlinearity a single (Gaussian) regime is found. On the contrary, interfaces corresponding to negative nonlinearities lead to three different regimes of critical behavior for the surface order-parameter: (i) a trivial Gaussian regime, (ii) a weak-fluctuation regime with a trivially located critical point and nontrivial exponents, and (iii) a highly non-trivial strong-fluctuation regime, for which we provide a full solution by finding the zeros of parabolic-cylinder functions. These analytical results are also verified by solving numerically the self-consistent equation in each case. Analogies with and differences from equilibrium critical wetting as well as nonequilibrium complete wetting are also discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure

Utilização de carboidratos difere marcadamente entre os onívoros de água doce jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) e tilápia-do-Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus).

Neste estudo, avaliou-se a capacidade de juvenis de jundiá em digerir ingredientes ricos em carboidratos, em comparação a um onívoro típico, com intestino longo: a tilápia-do-Nilo. Coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente do amido contido no farelo de trigo, farelo de mandioca, milho moído e quirera de arroz foram determinados para jundiá e tilápia-do-Nilo.Organizado por: Sílvio Ricardo Maurano; AQUACIÊNCIA 2012