Probing Lorentz Invariance at EeV Energy

Pierre Auger experiment has detected at least a couple of ray events above energy 60 EeV from the direction of the radio-galaxy Centaurus A. Assuming those events are from Centaurus A, we have calculated the number of neutral cosmic ray events from this source for small values of the degree of violation in Lorentz invariance. Our results show that a comparison of our calculated numbers of events with the observed number of events at EeV energy from the direction of the source can probe extremely low value of the degree of this violation.Comment: 8 pages,4 figure

Particle Acceleration in Cosmic Sites - Astrophysics Issues in our Understanding of Cosmic Rays

Laboratory experiments to explore plasma conditions and stimulated particle acceleration can illuminate aspects of the cosmic particle acceleration process. Here we discuss the cosmic-ray candidate source object variety, and what has been learned about their particle-acceleration characteristics. We identify open issues as discussed among astrophysicists. -- The cosmic ray differential intensity spectrum is a rather smooth power-law spectrum, with two kinks at the "knee" (~10^15 eV) and at the "ankle" (~3 10^18 eV). It is unclear if these kinks are related to boundaries between different dominating sources, or rather related to characteristics of cosmic-ray propagation. We believe that Galactic sources dominate up to 10^17 eV or even above, and the extragalactic origin of cosmic rays at highest energies merges rather smoothly with Galactic contributions throughout the 10^15--10^18 eV range. Pulsars and supernova remnants are among the prime candidates for Galactic cosmic-ray production, while nuclei of active galaxies are considered best candidates to produce ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays of extragalactic origin. Acceleration processes are related to shocks from violent ejections of matter from energetic sources such as supernova explosions or matter accretion onto black holes. Details of such acceleration are difficult, as relativistic particles modify the structure of the shock, and simple approximations or perturbation calculations are unsatisfactory. This is where laboratory plasma experiments are expected to contribute, to enlighten the non-linear processes which occur under such conditions.Comment: accepted for publication in EPJD, topical issue on Fundamental physics and ultra-high laser fields. From review talk at "Extreme Light Infrastructure" workshop, Sep 2008. Version-2 May 2009: adjust some wordings and references at EPJD proofs stag

Charge exchange ρ0π+\rho^0 \pi^+ photoproduction and implications for searches of exotic meson

We analyze the process $\vec \gamma +p\to \rho^0 \pi^{+}n$ at low momentum transfer focusing on a possibility of production of an exotic $J^{PC}=1^{-+}$ meson state. In particular we discuss polarization observables and conclude that linear photon polarization is instrumental for separating of the exotic wave.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figure

Micrometer size polarisation independent depletion-type photonic modulator in silicon on insulator

The trend in silicon photonics, in the last few years has been to reduce waveguide size to obtain maximum gain in the real estate of devices as well as to increase the performance of active devices. Using different methods for the modulation, optical modulators in silicon have seen their bandwidth increased to reach multi GHz frequencies. In order to simplify fabrication, one requirement for a waveguide, as well as for a modulator, is to retain polarisation independence in any state of operation and to be as small as possible. In this paper we provide a way to obtain polarisation independence and improve the efficiency of an optical modulator using a V-shaped pn junction base on the natural etch angle of silicon, 54.7 deg. This modulator is compared to a flat junction depletion type modulator of the same size and doping concentration