Computability of the causal boundary by using isocausality

Recently, a new viewpoint on the classical c-boundary in Mathematical Relativity has been developed, the relations of this boundary with the conformal one and other classical boundaries have been analyzed, and its computation in some classes of spacetimes, as the standard stationary ones, has been carried out. In the present paper, we consider the notion of isocausality given by Garc\'ia-Parrado and Senovilla, and introduce a framework to carry out isocausal comparisons with standard stationary spacetimes. As a consequence, the qualitative behavior of the c-boundary (at the three levels: point set, chronology and topology) of a wide class of spacetimes, is obtained.Comment: 44 pages, 5 Figures, latex. Version with minor changes and the inclusion of Figure

Isocausal spacetimes may have different causal boundaries

We construct an example which shows that two isocausal spacetimes, in the sense introduced by Garc\'ia-Parrado and Senovilla, may have c-boundaries which are not equal (more precisely, not equivalent, as no bijection between the completions can preserve all the binary relations induced by causality). This example also suggests that isocausality can be useful for the understanding and computation of the c-boundary.Comment: Minor modifications, including the title, which matches now with the published version. 12 pages, 3 figure

V_{us} from hyperon semileptonic decays

A model-independent determination of the CKM matrix element V_{us} from five measured strangeness-changing hyperon semileptonic decays is performed. Flavor SU(3) symmetry breaking effects in the leading vector and axial-vector form factors are analyzed in the framework of the 1/N_c expansion of QCD. A fit to experimental data allows one to extract the value V_{us}=0.2199\pm 0.0026, which is comparable to the one from K_{e3} decays. This reconciliation is achieved through second-order symmetry breaking effects of a few percent in the form factors f_1, which increase their magnitudes over their SU(3) predictions.Comment: 23 pages, Revtex4, 12 tables, no figure

Radiative corrections to all charge assignments of heavy quark baryon semileptonic decays

In semileptonic decays of spin-1/2 baryons containing heavy quarks up to six charge assignments for the baryons and lepton are possible. We show that the radiative corrections to four of these possibilities can be directly obtained from the final results of the two possibilities previously studied. There is no need to recalculate integrals over virtual or real photon momentum or any traces.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures, RevTex. Extended discussion. Final version to appear in Physical Review

Numerical precision radiative corrections to the Dalitz plot of baryon semileptonic decays including the spin-momentum correlation of the decaying and emitted baryons

We calculate the radiative corrections to the angular correlation between the polarization of the decaying and the direction of the emitted spin one-half baryons in the semileptonic decay mode. The final results are presented, first, with the triple integration of the bremsstrahlung photon ready to be performed numerically and, second, in an analytical form. A third presentation of our results in the form of numerical arrays of coefficients to be multiplied by the quadratic products of form factors is discussed. This latter may be the most practical one to use in Monte Carlo simulations. A series of crosschecks is performed. Previous results to order (alpha/pi)(q/M_1) for the decays of unpolarized baryons are reviewed, too, where q is the momentum transfer and M_1 is the mass of the decaying baryon. This paper is self-contained and organized to make it accessible and reliable in the analysis of the Dalitz plot of precision experiments involving heavy quarks and is not compromised to fixing the form factors at predetermined values. It is assumed that the real photons are kinematically discriminated. Otherwise, our results have a general model-independent applicability.Comment: 34 pages, 4 tables, no figures. Some sections have been shortened. Conclusions remain unchange

Patrones de diversidad alfa, beta y gama de la herpetofauna de las tierras bajas y valles adyacentes del Pacífico de México

The latitudinal distribution patterns of alpha, beta and gamma diversity of reptiles, amphibians and herpetofauna were analyzed using individual binary models of potential distribution for 301 species predicted by ecological modelling for a grid of 9,932 quadrants of ~25 km2 each. We arranged quadrants in 312 latitudinal bands in which alpha, beta and gamma values were determined. Latitudinal trends of all scales of diversity were similar in all groups. Alpha and gamma responded inversely to latitude whereas beta showed a high latitudinal fluctuation due to the high number of endemic species. Alpha and gamma showed a strong correlation in all groups. Beta diversity is an important component of the herpetofauna distribution patterns as a continuous source of species diversity throughout the region. Key words: Latitudinal distribution pattern, Diversity scales, Herpetofauna, Western Mexico.Se analizaron los patrones de distribución latitudinales de la diversidad alfa, beta y gama de los reptiles, anfibios y herpetofauna utilizando modelos binarios individuales de distribución potencial de 301 especies predichas mediante un modelo ecológico para una cuadrícula de 9.932 cuadrantes de aproximadamente 25 km2 cada uno. Se organizaron los cuadrantes en 312 bandas latitudinales para las cuales se determinaron los valores de alfa, beta y gama. Las tendencias latitudinales de todas las escalas de diversidad eran similares en todos los grupos. Alfa y gama respondieron inversamente a la latitud mientras que beta registró una gran fluctuación latitudinal debida al alto número de especies endémicas. Alfa y gama mostraron una fuerte correlación en todos los grupos. La diversidad beta es un componente importante de los patrones de distribución de la herpetofauna como una fuente constante de diversidad de especies a lo largo de la región. Palabras clave: Patrón latitudinal de distribución, Escalas de diversidad, Herpetofauna, Oeste de México

Determination of the Kobayashi-Maskawa-Cabibbo matrix element V_{us} under various flavor-symmetry-breaking models in hyperon semileptonic decays

We study the success to describe hyperon semileptonic decays of four models that incorporate second-order SU(3) symmetry breaking corrections. The criteria to assess their success is by determining V_{us} in each of the three relevant hyperon semileptonic decays and comparing the values obtained with one another and also with the one that comes from K_{l3} decays. A strong dependence on the particular symmetry breaking model is observed. Values of V_{us} which do not agree with the one of K_{l3} are generally obtained. However, in the context of chiral perturbation theory, only the model whose corrections are O(m_s) and O(m_s^{3/2}) is successful. Using its predictions for the f_1 form factors one can quote a value of V_{us} from this model, namely, V_{us}=0.2176\pm 0.0026, which is in excellent agreement with the K_{l3} one.Comment: Final versio