Anisotropy probe of galactic and extra-galactic Dark Matter annihilations

We study the flux and the angular power spectrum of gamma-rays produced by Dark Matter (DM) annihilations in the Milky Way (MW) and in extra-galactic halos. The annihilation signal receives contributions from: a) the smooth MW halo, b) resolved and unresolved substructures in the MW, c) external DM halos at all redshifts, including d) their substructures. Adopting a self-consistent description of local and extra-galactic substructures, we show that the annihilation flux from substructures in the MW dominates over all the other components for angles larger than O(1) degrees from the Galactic Center, unless an extreme prescription is adopted for the substructures concentration. We also compute the angular power spectrum of gamma-ray anisotropies and find that, for an optimistic choice of the particle physics parameters, an interesting signature of DM annihilations could soon be discovered by the Fermi LAT satellite at low multipoles, l<100, where the dominant contribution comes from MW substructures with mass M>10^4 solar masses. For the substructures models we have adopted, we find that the contribution of extra-galactic annihilations is instead negligible at all scales.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Target Zones in History and Theory: Lessons from an Austro-Hungarian Experiment (1896-1914)

The first known experiment with an exchange rate band took place in Austria- Hungary between 1896 and 1914. The rationale for introducing this policy rested on precisely those intuitions that the modern literature has emphasized: the band was designed to secure both exchange rate stability and monetary policy autonomy. However, unlike more recent experiences, such as the ERM, this policy was not undermined by credibility problems. The episode provides an ideal testing ground for some important ideas in modern macroeconomics: specifically, can formal rules, when faithfully adhered to, provide policy makers with some advantages such as short term autonomy? First, we find that a credible band has a "microeconomic" influence on exchange rate stability. By reducing uncertainty, a credible fluctuation band improves the quality of expectations, a channel that has been neglected in the modern literature. Second, we show that the standard test of the basic target zone model is flawed and develop an alternative methodology. We believe that these findings shed a new light on the economics of exchange rate bands

Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling and the "cosmic" Josephson effect

We discuss the possible influence of a cosmic magnetic field on the macroscopic quantum tunneling process associated, in a cosmological context, to the decay of the "false vacuum." We find a close analogy with the effects of an external magnetic field applied to a Josephson junction in the context of low-temperature/high-temperature superconducting devices.Comment: 4 pages, 1 pdf figure. Added references and an inset in Fig. 1, results unchanged. To appear in Phys. Rev. D (Brief Report

The gamma-ray burst monitor for Lobster-ISS

Lobster-ISS is an X-ray all-sky monitor experiment selected by ESA two years ago for a Phase A study (now almost completed) for a future flight (2009) aboard the Columbus Exposed Payload Facility of the International Space Station. The main instrument, based on MCP optics with Lobster-eye geometry, has an energy passband from 0.1 to 3.5 keV, an unprecedented daily sensitivity of 2x10^{-12} erg cm^{-2}s$^{-1}, and it is capable to scan, during each orbit, the entire sky with an angular resolution of 4--6 arcmin. This X-ray telescope is flanked by a Gamma Ray Burst Monitor, with the minimum requirement of recognizing true GRBs from other transient events. In this paper we describe the GRBM. In addition to the minimum requirement, the instrument proposed is capable to roughly localize GRBs which occur in the Lobster FOV (162x22.5 degrees) and to significantly extend the scientific capabilities of the main instrument for the study of GRBs and X-ray transients. The combination of the two instruments will allow an unprecedented spectral coverage (from 0.1 up to 300/700 keV) for a sensitive study of the GRB prompt emission in the passband where GRBs and X-Ray Flashes emit most of their energy. The low-energy spectral band (0.1-10 keV) is of key importance for the study of the GRB environment and the search of transient absorption and emission features from GRBs, both goals being crucial for unveiling the GRB phenomenon. The entire energy band of Lobster-ISS is not covered by either the Swift satellite or other GRB missions foreseen in the next decade.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Paper presented at the COSPAR 2004 General Assembly (Paris), accepted for publication in Advances in Space Research in June 2005 and available on-line at the Journal site (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02731177), section "Articles in press

Chern-Simons Theory in the Temporal Gauge and Knot Invariants through the Universal Quantum R-Matrix

In temporal gauge A_{0}=0 the 3d Chern-Simons theory acquires quadratic action and an ultralocal propagator. This directly implies a 2d R-matrix representation for the correlators of Wilson lines (knot invariants), where only the crossing points of the contours projection on the xy plane contribute. Though the theory is quadratic, P-exponents remain non-trivial operators and R-factors are easier to guess then derive. We show that the topological invariants arise if additional flag structure (xy plane and an y line in it) is introduced, R is the universal quantum R-matrix and turning points contribute the "enhancement" factors q^{\rho}.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figure

Measurement of the multi-TeV neutrino cross section with IceCube using Earth absorption

Neutrinos interact only very weakly, so they are extremely penetrating. However, the theoretical neutrino-nucleon interaction cross section rises with energy such that, at energies above 40 TeV, neutrinos are expected to be absorbed as they pass through the Earth. Experimentally, the cross section has been measured only at the relatively low energies (below 400 GeV) available at neutrino beams from accelerators \cite{Agashe:2014kda, Formaggio:2013kya}. Here we report the first measurement of neutrino absorption in the Earth, using a sample of 10,784 energetic upward-going neutrino-induced muons observed with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The flux of high-energy neutrinos transiting long paths through the Earth is attenuated compared to a reference sample that follows shorter trajectories through the Earth. Using a fit to the two-dimensional distribution of muon energy and zenith angle, we determine the cross section for neutrino energies between 6.3 TeV and 980 TeV, more than an order of magnitude higher in energy than previous measurements. The measured cross section is $1.30^{+0.21}_{-0.19}$ (stat.) $^{+0.39}_{-0.43}$ (syst.) times the prediction of the Standard Model \cite{CooperSarkar:2011pa}, consistent with the expectation for charged and neutral current interactions. We do not observe a dramatic increase in the cross section, expected in some speculative models, including those invoking new compact dimensions \cite{AlvarezMuniz:2002ga} or the production of leptoquarks \cite{Romero:2009vu}.Comment: Preprint version of Nature paper 10.1038/nature2445

Boundary WZW, G/H, G/G and CS theories

We extend the analysis of the canonical structure of the Wess-Zumino-Witten theory to the bulk and boundary coset G/H models. The phase spaces of the coset theories in the closed and in the open geometry appear to coincide with those of a double Chern-Simons theory on two different 3-manifolds. In particular, we obtain an explicit description of the canonical structure of the boundary G/G coset theory. The latter may be easily quantized leading to an example of a two-dimensional topological boundary field theory.Comment: latex, 33 pages, 21 figure

Sorption Mechanism of Lead Ions From Aqueous Solution By Imperata Cylindrica Dried Leaf Particle: Effect of Temperatures

This study was conducted to investigate the sorption mechanism of Pb2+ ions from aqueous solution onto Imperata cylindrica (IC) dried leaf particles. The effect of temperatures (30, 35 and 40oC) was scrutinised from a batch adsorption system using a synthetic liquid waste containing Pb2+ ions. Adsorption of lead ions mechanism was investigated by intraparticle diffusion model. The results showed that higher adsorption rate occurred at higher temperature, and obeyed the pseudo second order adsorption model. The overall rate of lead uptake was found to be controlled by external mass transfer at the beginning of adsorption, then gradually changes to intraparticle diffusion controlled at a later stage. The intraparticle diffusion constant increased with increasing temperature. The values of effective diffusion coefficient (Di) increased at higher temperatures, which were 5.5466 × 10−9, 6.8215 × 10−9, and 7.3726 × 10−9 m2/s at 30, 35, and 40 ◦C, respectivel

qQCD2_2 and G/G model

The 2D lattice gauge theory with a quantum gauge group $SL_q(2)$ is considered. When $q=e^{i\frac{2\pi}{k+2}}$, its weak coupling partition function coincides with the one of the G/G coset model ({\em i.e.} equals the Verlinde numbers). However, despite such a remarkable coincidence, these models are not equivalent but, in some certain sense, dual to each other.Comment: 7pp, NBI-HE-93-27, revised. Small changes: several fixed inaccuracies + updated reference