9,161 research outputs found
QED in strong, finite-flux magnetic fields
Lower bounds are placed on the fermionic determinants of Euclidean quantum
electrodynamics in two and four dimensions in the presence of a smooth,
finite-flux, static, unidirectional magnetic field , where
or , and is a point in the xy-plane.Comment: 10 pages, postscript (in uuencoded compressed tar file
Fermion Determinants
The current status of bounds on and limits of fermion determinants in two,
three and four dimensions in QED and QCD is reviewed. A new lower bound on the
two-dimensional QED determinant is derived. An outline of the demonstration of
the continuity of this determinant at zero mass when the background magnetic
field flux is zero is also given.Comment: 10 page
Near-IR photodissociation of peroxy acetyl nitrate
Measurements of the C-H overtone transition strengths combined with estimates of the photodissociation cross sections for these transitions suggest that near-IR photodissociation of peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN) is less significant (Jnear−IR ~3×10^−8 s^−1 at noon) in the lower atmosphere than competing sinks resulting from unimolecular decomposition and ultraviolet photolysis. This is in contrast to the photochemical behavior of a related peroxy nitrate, pernitric acid (PNA), that undergoes rapid near-IR photolysis in the atmosphere with Jnear−IR ~10^−5 s^−1 at noon (Roehl et al., 2002). This difference is attributed to the larger binding energy and larger number of vibrational degrees of 10 freedom in PAN, which make 4[Greek nu]CH the lowest overtone excitation with a high photodissociation yield (as opposed to 2[Greek nu]OH in PNA)
Baryogenesis via lepton number violating scalar interactions
We study baryogenesis through lepton number violation in left-right symmetric
models. In these models the lepton number and CP violating interactions of the
triplet higgs scalars can give rise to lepton number asymmetry through
non-equilibrium decays of the triplet higgs and the right handed
neutrinos. This in turn generates baryon asymmetry during the electroweak
anomalous processes.Comment: 14 pages, UTPT-93-1
Failure of the Standard Coupled-Channels Method in Describing the Inelastic Reaction Data: On the Use of a New Shape for the Coupling Potential
We present the failure of the standard coupled-channels method in explaining
the inelastic scattering together with other observables such as elastic
scattering, excitation function and fusion data. We use both microscopic
double-folding and phenomenological deep potentials with shallow imaginary
components. We argue that the solution of the problems for the inelastic
scattering data is not related to the central nuclear potential, but to the
coupling potential between excited states. We present that these problems can
be addressed in a systematic way by using a different shape for the coupling
potential instead of the usual one based on Taylor expansion.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Latex:RevTex4 published in J. Phys. G:
Nucl. Part. Phy
Mass zeros in the one-loop effective actions of QED in 1+1 and 3+1 dimensions
It is known that the one-loop effective action of is a quadratic in
the field strength when the fermion mass is zero: all potential higher order
contributions beyond second order vanish. For nonzero fermion mass it is shown
that this behavior persists for a general class of fields for at least one
value of the fermion mass when the external field's flux satisfies
. For the mass-shell renormalized one-loop effective
action vanishes for at least one value of the fermion mass for a class of
smooth, square integrable background gauge fields provided a plausible
zero-mass limit exists.Comment: Section IV has been amende
Is Asian ethnicity an independent risk factor for severe perineal trauma in childbirth? A systematic review of the literature
Objective: To undertake a systematic review of the literature to determine whether Asian ethnicity is an independent risk factor for severe perineal trauma in childbirth. Method: Ovid Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases published in English were used to identify appropriate research articles from 2000 to 2010, using relevant terms in a variety of combinations. All articles included in this systematic review were assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) 'making sense of evidence' tools. Findings: Asian ethnicity does not appear to be a risk factor for severe perineal trauma for women living in Asia. In contrast, studies conducted in some Western countries have identified Asian ethnicity as a risk factor for severe perineal trauma. It is unknown why (in some situations) Asian women are more vulnerable to this birth complication. The lack of an international standard definition for the term Asian further undermines clarification of this issue. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to explore why Asian women are reported to be significantly at risk for severe perineal trauma in some Western countries. Conclusion: Current research on this topic is confusing and conflicting. Further research is urgently required to explore why Asian women are at risk for severe perineal trauma in some birth settings. © 2011 Australian College of Midwives
An inquiry-based learning approach to teaching information retrieval
The study of information retrieval (IR) has increased in interest and importance with the explosive growth of online information in recent years. Learning about IR within formal courses of study enables users of search engines to use
them more knowledgeably and effectively, while providing the starting point for the explorations of new researchers into novel search technologies. Although IR can be taught in a traditional manner of formal classroom instruction with students being led through the details of the subject and expected to reproduce this in assessment, the nature of IR as a topic makes it an ideal subject for inquiry-based learning approaches to teaching. In an inquiry-based learning approach students are introduced to the principles of a subject and then encouraged to develop their understanding by solving structured or open problems. Working through solutions in subsequent class discussions enables students to appreciate the availability of alternative solutions as proposed by their classmates. Following this approach students not only learn the details of IR techniques, but significantly, naturally learn to apply them in solution of problems. In doing this they not only gain an appreciation of alternative solutions to a problem, but also how to assess their relative strengths and weaknesses. Developing confidence and skills in problem solving enables student assessment to be structured around solution of problems. Thus students can be assessed on the basis of their understanding and ability to apply techniques, rather simply their skill at reciting facts. This has the additional benefit of encouraging general problem solving skills which can be of benefit in other subjects. This approach to teaching IR was successfully implemented in an undergraduate module where students were
assessed in a written examination exploring their knowledge and understanding of the principles of IR and their ability to apply them to solving problems, and a written assignment based on developing an individual research proposal
Fermionic Determinant of the Massive Schwinger Model
A representation for the fermionic determinant of the massive Schwinger
model, or , is obtained that makes a clean separation between the
Schwinger model and its massive counterpart. From this it is shown that the
index theorem for follows from gauge invariance, that the Schwinger
model's contribution to the determinant is canceled in the weak field limit,
and that the determinant vanishes when the field strength is sufficiently
strong to form a zero-energy bound state
Culture change in a professional sports team: Shaping environmental contexts and regulating power
Although high performing cultures are crucial for the enduring success of professional sport performance teams, theoretical and practical understanding of how they are established and sustained is lacking. To develop knowledge in this area, a case study was undertaken to examine the key mechanisms and processes of a successful culture change programme at English Rugby Union’s Leeds Carnegie. Exploring the change process from a 360 degree perspective, semi-structured interviews were conducted with team management, one specialist coach, six players, and the CEO. Analysed and explained through decentred theory, results revealed that culture change was effectively facilitated by team management: a) subtly and covertly shaping the physical, structural, and psychosocial context in which support staff and players made performance-impacting choices, and b) regulating the ‘to and fro’ of power which characterises professional sport performance teams. Decentred theory is also supported as an effective framework for culture change study
- …