Two-loop electroweak contributions to Δr\Delta r

A review is given on the quantum correction $\Delta r$ in the $W$--$Z$ mass correlation at the electroweak two-loop level, as derived from the calculation of the muon lifetime in the Standard Model. Exact results for $\Delta r$ and the $W$-mass prediction including ${\mathcal{O}}(\alpha^2)$ corrections with fermion loops are presented and compared with previous results of a next-to-leading order expansion in the top-quark mass.Comment: 14 pages, including 4 figures. Presented at the 5th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections, (RADCOR-2000), Carmel CA, USA, 11-15 September 200

Determining Heavy Mass Parameters in Supersymmetric SO(10) Models

Extrapolations of soft scalar mass parameters in supersymmetric theories can be used to explore elements of the physics scenario near the grand unification scale. We investigate the potential of this method in the lepton sector of SO(10) which incorporates right-handed neutrino superfields. The method is exemplified in two models by exploring limits on the precision that can be expected from coherent LHC and e+e- collider analyses in the reconstruction of the fundamental scalar mass parameters at the unification scale and of the D-terms related to the breaking of grand unification symmetries. In addition, the mass of the third-generation right-handed neutrino can be estimated in seesaw scenarios. Even though the models are simplified and not intended to account for all aspects of a final comprehensive SO(10) theory, they provide nevertheless a valid base for identifying essential elements that can be inferred on the fundamental high-scale theory from high-energy experiments.Comment: 26 pp LaTeX; version published in Phys. Rev.

Statistical stability and limit laws for Rovella maps

We consider the family of one-dimensional maps arising from the contracting Lorenz attractors studied by Rovella. Benedicks-Carleson techniques were used by Rovella to prove that there is a one-parameter family of maps whose derivatives along their critical orbits increase exponentially fast and the critical orbits have slow recurrent to the critical point. Metzger proved that these maps have a unique absolutely continuous ergodic invariant probability measure (SRB measure). Here we use the technique developed by Freitas and show that the tail set (the set of points which at a given time have not achieved either the exponential growth of derivative or the slow recurrence) decays exponentially fast as time passes. As a consequence, we obtain the continuous variation of the densities of the SRB measures and associated metric entropies with the parameter. Our main result also implies some statistical properties for these maps.Comment: 1 figur

Testing the SUSY-QCD Yukawa coupling in a combined LHC/ILC analysis

In order to establish supersymmetry (SUSY) at future colliders, the identity of gauge couplings and the corresponding Yukawa couplings between gauginos, sfermions and fermions needs to be verified. Here a first phenomenological study for determining the Yukawa coupling of the SUSY-QCD sector is presented, using a method which combines information from LHC and ILC.Comment: 5pp, slightly expanded version of contributions to the Proc. of the Linear Collider Workshop (LCWS 06), Bangalore, India, 9-13 March 2006, and the Proc. of the 14th International Conference on Supersymmetry and the Unification of Fundamental Interactions (SUSY 06), Irvine, California, USA, 12-17 June 200

Electromigration in thin tunnel junctions with ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic: nanoconstrictions, local heating, and direct and wind forces

Current Induced Resistance Switching (CIS) was recently observed in thin tunnel junctions with ferromagnetic (FM) electrodes \emph{i.e} FM/I/FM. This effect was attributed to electromigration of metallic atoms in nanoconstrictions in the insulating barrier (I). Here we study how the CIS effect is influenced by a thin non-magnetic (NM) Ta layer, deposited just below the AlO$_x$ insulating barrier in tunnel junctions of the type FM/NM/I/FM (FM=CoFe). Enhanced resistance switching occurs with increasing maximum applied current (\Imax), until a plateau of constant CIS is reached for \Imax\sim65 mA (CIS$\sim$60%) and above. However, such high electrical currents also lead to a large ($\sim$9%) irreversible resistance decrease, indicating barrier degradation. Anomalous voltage-current characteristics with negative derivative were also observed near \pm\Imax and this effect is here attributed to heating in the tunnel junction. One observes that the current direction for which resistance switches in FM/NM/I/FM (clockwise) is opposite to that of FM/I/FM tunnel junctions (anti-clockwise). This effect will be discussed in terms of a competition between the electromigration contributions due to the so called direct and wind forces. It will be shown that the direct force is likely to dominate electromigration in the Ta (NM) layers, while the wind contribution likely dominates in the CoFe (FM) layers

Reconstruction of Fundamental SUSY Parameters

We summarize methods and expected accuracies in determining the basic low-energy SUSY parameters from experiments at future e$^+$e$^-$ linear colliders in the TeV energy range, combined with results from LHC. In a second step we demonstrate how, based on this set of parameters, the fundamental supersymmetric theory can be reconstructed at high scales near the grand unification or Planck scale. These analyses have been carried out for minimal supergravity [confronted with GMSB for comparison], and for a string effective theory.Comment: 8 pages, latex, 7 figures, expanded version of contributions to the proceedings of ICHEP.2002 (Amstersdam) and LCWS.2002 (Jeju Island