On decays of Z' into unparticle stuff

We study the decay of a Z' - boson into U -unparticle and a photon. The extended Landau-Yang theorem is used. The clear photon signal would make the decay Z' \rightarrow \gamma U as an additional contribution mode for study of unparticle physics.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, paper accepted for publication by Advances in High Energy Physics journa

Spin contribution to the ponderomotive force in a plasma

The concept of a ponderomotive force due to the intrinsic spin of electrons is developed. An expression containing both the classical as well as the spin-induced ponderomotive force is derived. The results are used to demonstrate that an electromagnetic pulse can induce a spin-polarized plasma. Furthermore, it is shown that for certain parameters, the nonlinear back-reaction on the electromagnetic pulse from the spin magnetization current can be larger than that from the classical free current. Suitable parameter values for a direct test of this effect are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, version accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Are R2R^2- and Higgs-inflations really unlikely?

We address the question of unlikeness of $R^2$- and Higgs inflations exhibiting exponentially flat potentials and hence apparently violating the inherent in a chaotic inflation initial condition when kinetic, gradient and potential terms are all of order one in Planck units. Placing the initial conditions in the Jourdan frame we find both models not worse than any other models with unbounded from above potentials: the terms in the Einstein frame are all of the same order, though appropriately smaller.Comment: 7 pages; replaced with the journal versio

SOME ASPECTS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SYSTEM OF CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Introduction. The system of continued professional education in modern Russia is aimed at raising the level of professional workers’ ability for competition at the global vocational market. Among the most required competences we put an emphasis on the ability for efficient communication in the native and foreign languages pursuing social, cultural and professional interaction. The practical experience proves that students of various courses of study within the system of continued professional education have difficulties while communicating in a foreign language because of a low level of their foreign language communication competence that is based on ability for decoding and producing a discourse. Aim. The article considers the factors to develop students’ ability for decoding and producing a discourse in the format of reflexive positional discussion. Methodology and research methods. Development of the advanced and high level of foreign language competence is possible via introduction of institutional discursive practices into the educational process. Development of foreign language competence in the system of continued professional education is being discussed from the point of synergy of pedagogical science and applied linguistics. System-synergetic, communicative-activity, discursive and technological approaches have been chosen as the methodological base to develop the system of criteria of students’ preparedness and ability to communicate in a foreign language. Methods of analysis and synthesis have been used during the work as well. Results and scientific novelty. The materials presented in the publication make a contribution to the theory and methodology of continued professional education regarding effective experts’ foreign language mastering, and skills acquisition for the most productive interpersonal and professional-oriented communication. Methodologically-based definition and description of the components of subject and structure of the concept of discursive foreign language competence are given. The educational technique that makes it possible to realize a wide range of discursive practices invariants has been developed. The algorithm for advanced and high level of discursive competence development has been described. The criteria of students’ preparedness and ability to communicate in a foreign language have been described as well as the marks related to the levels of developed discursive foreign language competence. Practical significance. The author's proposed technology enables to realize a wide range of invariants of the discursive practices and considerably increases the possibilities of effective foreign language training for specialists of various branches of economy and production, and pupils of different levels of training. The presented research results can be used when developing educational and methodical complexes in the systems of professional development and continued professional education. Введение. В условиях глобализации рынка труда российская система дополнительного профессионального образования призвана способствовать повышению уровня конкурентоспособности работников, уже закончивших высшие учебные учреждения. Одной из востребованных компетенций сегодня является способность к эффективной коммуникации на родном и иностранном языках, обеспечивающая продуктивное социокультурное и профессиональное взаимодействие и профессиональную мобильность специалистов. Однако существуют противоречия между требованиями Федерального государственного образовательного стандарта о необходимости формирования продвинутого и высокого уровней иноязычной компетентности у обучающихся на различных направлениях подготовки в высшей школе, с одной стороны, и недостаточно разработанным педагогическим и методическим инструментарием для успешного обучения иностранным языкам – с другой. Цель публикации – показать возможности формирования иноязычной компетентности у слушателей курсов системы дополнительного образования на основе дискурсивных практик решения коммуникативных задач. Методология и методы. Проблема совершенствования языковой подготовки в высшей школе обсуждается с позиций синергии педагогической науки и прикладной лингвистики. В качестве методологической базы разработки модели формирования способности к речевому взаимодействию на иностранном языке были избраны системно-синергетический, коммуникативно- деятельностный, дискурсивный и технологический подходы. В ходе исследования использовались методы анализа и синтеза. Результаты и научная новизна. Материалы, представленные в статье, вносят вклад в теорию и методику дополнительного профессионального образования в части эффективного освоения специалистами иностранного языка и обретения ими навыков межличностной и профессионально-ориентированной коммуникации. Расширено представление о дискурсивной иноязычной компетенции за счет методологически обоснованного ее определения и описания аспектов ее содержания и компонентов структуры. На материале обучения английскому языку спроектирована педагогическая технология и сконструирован алгоритм формирования дискурсивной иноязычной компетенции как базовой метапредметной составляющей иноязычной компетентности. Выявлены критерии готовности и способности обучающихся к коммуникации на иностранном языке; описаны показатели, характеризующие уровни сформированности дискурсивной иноязычной компетенции. Практическая значимость. Предлагаемая авторская технология позволяет реализовать широкий диапазон инвариантов дискурсивных практик, что значительно увеличивает возможности эффективного обучения иностранному языку специалистов различных отраслей экономики и производства и учащихся разных уровней подготовки. Представленные в статье результаты исследования могут быть полезны при разработке учебно-методических комплексов в системах повышения квалификации и дополнительного профессионального образования.

Evidence for a connection between the gamma-ray and the highest energy cosmic-ray emissions by BL Lacertae objects

A set of potentially gamma-ray--loud BL Lac objects is selected by intersecting the EGRET and BL Lac catalogs. Of the resulting 14 objects, eight are found to correlate with arrival directions of ultra--high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), with significance of the order of 5 sigma. This suggests that gamma-ray emission can be used as a distinctive feature of those BL Lac objects that are capable of producing UHECR.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, version published in APJ Letter

Field-induced transition from parallel to perpendicular parametric pumping for a microstrip transducer

Microstrip transducers used for the excitation of spin waves in magnetic films possess two characteristic properties: high spatial localization of the microwave magnetic field and the presence of field components parallel and perpendicular to the bias field. Here, the effects of these features on the process of parametric pumping are presented. By microwave measurements of the spin-wave instability threshold a transition from parallel pumping to perpendicular pumping at the critical field $H_{\rm c}$ with the minimal threshold is observed. This transition is accompanied by a sharp threshold increase above the critical field due to the spatial confinement of the pump region.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Laser beam coupling with capillary discharge plasma for laser wakefield acceleration applications

One of the most robust methods, demonstrated up to date, of accelerating electron beams by laser-plasma sources is the utilization of plasma channels generated by the capillary discharges. These channels, i.e., plasma columns with a minimum density along the laser pulse propagation axis, may optically guide short laser pulses, thereby increasing the acceleration length, leading to a more efficient electron acceleration. Although the spatial structure of the installation is simple in principle, there may be some important effects caused by the open ends of the capillary, by the supplying channels etc., which require a detailed 3D modeling of the processes taking place in order to get a detailed understanding and improve the operation. However, the discharge plasma, being one of the most crucial components of the laser-plasma accelerator, is not simulated with the accuracy and resolution required to advance this promising technology. In the present work, such simulations are performed using the code MARPLE. First, the process of the capillary filling with a cold hydrogen before the discharge is fired, through the side supply channels is simulated. The main goal of this simulation is to get a spatial distribution of the filling gas in the region near the open ends of the capillary. A realistic geometry is used for this and the next stage simulations, including the insulators, the supplying channels as well as the electrodes. Second, the simulation of the capillary discharge is performed with the goal to obtain a time-dependent spatial distribution of the electron density near the open ends of the capillary as well as inside the capillary. Finally, to evaluate effectiveness of the beam coupling with the channeling plasma wave guide and electron acceleration, modeling of laser-plasma interaction was performed with the code INF&RNOComment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Muon content of ultra-high-energy air showers: Yakutsk data versus simulations

We analyse a sample of 33 extensive air showers (EAS) with estimated primary energies above 2\cdot 10^{19} eV and high-quality muon data recorded by the Yakutsk EAS array. We compare, event-by-event, the observed muon density to that expected from CORSIKA simulations for primary protons and iron, using SIBYLL and EPOS hadronic interaction models. The study suggests the presence of two distinct hadronic components, ``light'' and ``heavy''. Simulations with EPOS are in a good agreement with the expected composition in which the light component corresponds to protons and the heavy component to iron-like nuclei. With SYBILL, simulated muon densities for iron primaries are a factor of \sim 1.5 less than those observed for the heavy component, for the same electromagnetic signal. Assuming two-component proton-iron composition and the EPOS model, the fraction of protons with energies E>10^{19} eV is 0.52^{+0.19}_{-0.20} at 95% confidence level.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures; v2: replaced with journal versio

A short review of "DGP Specteroscopy"

In this paper we provide a short review of the main results developed in hep-th/0604086. We focus on linearised vacuum perturbations about the self-accelerating branch of solutions in the DGP model. These are shown to contain a ghost in the spectrum for any value of the brane tension. We also comment on hep-th/0607099, where some counter arguments have been presented.Comment: Minor typos correcte