Mapping exchange in relativistic Hartree-Fock

We show that formally for the standard ansatz relativistic point-coupling mean-field (RMF-PC) model a lagrangian density L is not equivalent in Hartree and Hartree-Fock approximations. The equivalency can be achieved only if we use a ``complete'' ansatz at the cost of introducing new parameters in the model. An approximate treatment of the exchange terms from standard RMF-PC indicates that these effects cannot be easily, if at all, absorbed by a Dirac-Hartree approximation.Comment: 26 pages, accepted for publication in annals of physic

Stochastic interpretation of Kadanoff-Baym equations and their relation to Langevin processes

In this more pedagogical study we want to elucidate on stochastic aspects inherent to the (non-)equilibrium real time Green's function description (or `closed time path Green's function' -- CTPGF) of transport equations, the so called `Kadanoff-Baym equations'. As a toy model we couple a free scalar boson quantum field to an exemplaric heat bath with some given temperature T. It will be shown in detail that the emerging transport equations have to be understood as the ensemble average over stochastic equations of Langevin type. This corresponds to the equivalence of the influence functional approach by Feynman and Vernon and the CTP technique. The former, however, gives a more intuitive physical picture. In particular the physical role of (quantum) noise and the connection of its correlation kernel to the Kadanoff-Baym equations will be discussed. The inherent presence of noise and dissipation related by the fluctuation-dissipation theorem guarantees that the modes or particles become thermally populated on average in the long-time limit. For long wavelength modes with momenta much less than the temperature the emerging wave equation do behave nearly as classical. On the other hand, a kinetic transport description can be obtained in the semi-classical particle regime. Including fluctuations, its form resembles that of a phenomenological Boltzmann-Langevin description. However, we will point out some severe discrepancies in comparison to the Boltzmann- Langevin scheme. As a further byproduct we also note how the occurrence of so called pinch singularities is circumvented by a clear physical necessity of damping within the one-particle propagator.Comment: 57 pages, Revtex, 2 figure

Prospects for multiwavelength polarization observations of GRB afterglows and the case GRB 030329

We explore the prospects for simultaneous, broad-band, multiwavelength polarimetric observations of GRB afterglows. We focus on the role of cosmic dust in GRB host galaxies on the observed percentage polarization of afterglows in the optical/near-infrared bands as a function of redshift. Our driving point is the afterglow of GRB 030329, for which we obtained polarimetric data in the R band and K band simultaneously about 1.5 days after the burst. We argue that polarimetric observations can be very sensitive to dust in a GRB host, because dust can render the polarization of an afterglow wavelength-dependent. We discuss the consequences for the interpretation of observational data and emphasize the important role of very early polarimetric follow-up observations in all bands, when afterglows are still bright, to study the physical properties of dust and magnetic fields in high-z galaxies.Comment: accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Two-component Bose gas in an optical lattice at single-particle filling

The Bose-Hubbard model of a two-fold degenerate Bose gas is studied in an optical lattice with one particle per site and virtual tunneling to empty and doubly-occupied sites. An effective Hamiltonian for this system is derived within a continued-fraction approach. The ground state of the effective model is studied in mean-field approximation for a modulated optical lattice. A dimerized mean-field state gives a Mott insulator whereas the lattice without modulations develops long-range correlated phase fluctuations due to a Goldstone mode. This result is discussed in comparison with the superfluid and the Mott-insulating state of a single-component hard-core Bose.Comment: 11 page

Mott phases and quantum phase transitions of extended Bose-Hubbard models in 2+1 dimensions

We review the recent theoretical developments towards understanding the Mott phases and quantum phase transition of extended Bose-Hubbard models on lattices in two spatial dimensions . We focuss on the description of these systems using the dual vortex picture and point out the crucial role played by the geometry of underlying lattices in determining the nature of both the Mott phases and the quantum phase transitions. We also briefly compare the results of dual vortex theory with quantum Monte Carlo results.Comment: Mini review; conference proceeeding for STATPHYS - KOLKATA V; to be published in Physica A. v2: additional refs. adde

The symbiotic system AG Draconis. Soft X-ray bremsstrahlung from the nebulae

The modeling of UV and optical spectra emitted from the symbiotic system AG Draconis, adopting collision of the winds, predicts soft X-ray bremsstrahlung from nebulae downstream of the reverse shock with velocities > 150 km/s and intensities comparable to those of the white dwarf black body flux. At outbursts, the envelop of debris, which corresponds to the nebula downstream of the high velocity shocks (700-1000 km/s) accompanying the blast wave, absorbs the black body soft X-ray flux from the white dwarf, explains the broad component of the H and He lines, and leads to low optical-UV-X-ray continuum fluxes. The high optical-UV flux observed at the outbursts is explained by bremsstrahlung downstream of the reverse shock between the stars. The depletion of C, N, O, and Mg relative to H indicates that they are trapped into dust grains and/or into diatomic molecules, suggesting that the collision of the wind from the white dwarf with the dusty shells, ejected from the red giant with about 1 year periodicity, leads to the U-band fluctuations during the major bursts.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables. New Astronomy, in pres

The remarkable properties of the symbiotic star AE Circinus

We present new optical spectroscopy and photometry, 2MASS infrared observations and 24 years of combined AAVSO and AFOEV photometry of the symbiotic star candidate \ae. The long-term light curve is characterized by outbursts lasting several years and having a slow decline of $\sim 2 \times 10^{-4}$ mag/day. The whole range of variability of the star in the $V$ band is about 4 magnitudes. The periodogram of the photometric data reveals strong signals at $\sim$ 342 and 171 days. The presence of the emission feature at $\lambda$ 6830 \AA at minimum and the detection of absorption lines of a $\sim$ K5 type star confirm the symbiotic classification and suggest that AE Cir is a new member of the small group of s-type yellow symbiotic stars. We estimate a distance of 9.4 kpc. Our spectrum taken at the high state shows a much flatter spectral energy distribution, the disappearance of the $\lambda$ 6830 \AA emission feature and the weakness of the He II 4686 emission relative to the Balmer emission lines. Our observations indicate the presence of emission line flickering in time scales of minutes in 2001. The peculiar character of \ae is revealed in the visibility of the secondary star at the high and low state, the light curve resembling a dwarf nova superoutburst and the relatively short low states. The data are hard to reconciliate with standard models for symbiotic star outbursts.Comment: accepted for publication in MNRAS, 7 figure

Mott transition in lattice boson models

We use mathematically rigorous perturbation theory to study the transition between the Mott insulator and the conjectured Bose-Einstein condensate in a hard-core Bose-Hubbard model. The critical line is established to lowest order in the tunneling amplitude.Comment: 20 page

Connection between dynamics and thermodynamics of liquids on the melting line

The dynamics of a large number of liquids and polymers exhibit scaling properties characteristic of a simple repulsive inverse power law (IPL) potential, most notably the superpositioning of relaxation data as a function of the variable TV{\gamma}, where T is temperature, V the specific volume, and {\gamma} a material constant. A related scaling law, TmVm{\Gamma}, with the same exponent {\Gamma}={\gamma}, links the melting temperature Tm and volume Vm of the model IPL liquid; liquid dynamics is then invariant at the melting point. Motivated by a similar invariance of dynamics experimentally observed at transitions of liquid crystals, we determine dynamic and melting point scaling exponents {\gamma} and {\Gamma} for a large number of non-associating liquids. Rigid, spherical molecules containing no polar bonds have {\Gamma}={\gamma}; consequently, the reduced relaxation time, viscosity and diffusion coefficient are each constant along the melting line. For other liquids {\gamma}>{\Gamma} always; i.e., the dynamics is more sensitive to volume than is the melting point, and for these liquids the dynamics at the melting point slows down with increasing Tm (that is, increasing pressure).Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Evolution of the Polarization of the Optical Afterglow of the Gamma-ray Burst GRB 030329

The association of a supernova with GRB 0303291,2 strongly supports the collapsar model3 of -ray bursts (GRBs), where a relativistic jet4 forms after 1 the progenitor star collapses. Such jets cannot be spatially resolved because of their cosmological distances. Their existence is conjectured based on breaks in GRB afterglow light curves and the theoretical desire to reduce the GRB energy requirements. Temporal evolution of polarization5,6,7 may provide independent evidence for the jet structure of the relativistic outflow. Small-level polarization ( 1-3%)8−17 has been reported for a few bursts, but the temporal evolution of polarization properties could not be established. Here, we report polarimetric observations of the afterglow of GRB 030329 with high signal-to-noise and high sampling frequency. We establish the polarization light curve, detect sustained polarization at the percent level, and find significant variability. The data imply that the afterglow magnetic field has small coherence length and is mostly random, probably generated by turbulence, in contrast with the high polarization detected in the prompt -rays from GRB 02120618. Our results suggest a different structure and origin of the magnetic field in the prompt vs. afterglow emission regions