50 research outputs found
On the Microcanonical Entropy of a Black Hole
It has been suggested recently that the microcanonical entropy of a system
may be accurately reproduced by including a logarithmic correction to the
canonical entropy. In this paper we test this claim both analytically and
numerically by considering three simple thermodynamic models whose energy
spectrum may be defined in terms of one quantum number only, as in a
non-rotating black hole. The first two pertain to collections of noninteracting
bosons, with logarithmic and power-law spectra. The last is an area ensemble
for a black hole with equi-spaced area spectrum. In this case, the many-body
degeneracy factor can be obtained analytically in a closed form. We also show
that in this model, the leading term in the entropy is proportional to the
horizon area A, and the next term is ln A with a negative coefficient.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur
Recent developments in unconventional superconductivity theory
The review of recent developments in the unconventional superconductivity
theory is given. In the fist part I consider the physical origin of the Kerr
rotation polarization of light reflected from the surface of superconducting
. Then the comparison of magneto-optical responses in
superconductors with orbital and spin spontaneous magnetization is presented.
The latter result is applied to the estimation of the magneto-optical
properties of neutral superfluids with spontaneous magnetization. The second
part is devoted to the natural optical activity or gyrotropy properties of
noncentrosymmetric metals in their normal and superconducting states. The
temperature behavior of the gyrotropy coefficient is compared with the
temperature behavior of paramagnetic susceptibility determining the noticeable
increase of the paramagnetic limiting field in noncentrosymmetric
superconductors. In the last chapter I describe the order parameter and the
symmetry of superconducting state in the itinerant ferromagnet with
orthorhombic symmetry. Finally the Josephson coupling between two adjacent
ferromagnet superconducting domains is discussed.Comment: 15 page
The low-energy phase-only action in a superconductor: a comparison with the XY model
The derivation of the effective theory for the phase degrees of freedom in a
superconductor is still, to some extent, an open issue. It is commonly assumed
that the classical XY model and its quantum generalizations can be exploited as
effective phase-only models. In the quantum regime, however, this assumption
leads to spurious results, such as the violation of the Galilean invariance in
the continuum model. Starting from a general microscopic model, in this paper
we explicitly derive the effective low-energy theory for the phase, up to
fourth-order terms. This expansion allows us to properly take into account
dynamic effects beyond the Gaussian level, both in the continuum and in the
lattice model. After evaluating the one-loop correction to the superfluid
density we critically discuss the qualitative and quantitative differences
between the results obtained within the quantum XY model and within the correct
low-energy theory, both in the case of s-wave and d-wave symmetry of the
superconducting order parameter. Specifically, we find dynamic anharmonic
vertices, which are absent in the quantum XY model, and are crucial to restore
Galilean invariance in the continuum model. As far as the more realistic
lattice model is concerned, in the weak-to-intermediate-coupling regime we find
that the phase-fluctuation effects are quantitatively reduced with respect to
the XY model. On the other hand, in the strong-coupling regime we show that the
correspondence between the microscopically derived action and the quantum XY
model is recovered, except for the low-density regime.Comment: 29 pages, 11 figures. Slightly revised presentation, accepted for
publication in Phys. Rev.
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Energetic particle influence on the Earth's atmosphere
This manuscript gives an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the effects of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) onto the whole atmosphere, from the lower thermosphere/mesosphere through the stratosphere and troposphere, to the surface. The paper summarizes the different sources and energies of particles, principally
galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), solar energetic particles (SEPs) and energetic electron precipitation (EEP). All the proposed mechanisms by which EPP can affect the atmosphere
are discussed, including chemical changes in the upper atmosphere and lower thermosphere, chemistry-dynamics feedbacks, the global electric circuit and cloud formation. The role of energetic particles in Earth’s atmosphere is a multi-disciplinary problem that requires expertise from a range of scientific backgrounds. To assist with this synergy, summary tables are provided, which are intended to evaluate the level of current knowledge of the effects of energetic particles on processes in the entire atmosphere
A century of trends in adult human height
Being taller is associated with enhanced longevity, and higher education and earnings. We reanalysed 1472 population-based studies, with measurement of height on more than 18.6 million participants to estimate mean height for people born between 1896 and 1996 in 200 countries. The largest gain in adult height over the past century has occurred in South Korean women and Iranian men, who became 20.2 cm (95% credible interval 17.5-22.7) and 16.5 cm (13.3-19.7) taller, respectively. In contrast, there was little change in adult height in some sub-Saharan African countries and in South Asia over the century of analysis. The tallest people over these 100 years are men born in the Netherlands in the last quarter of 20th century, whose average heights surpassed 182.5 cm, and the shortest were women born in Guatemala in 1896 (140.3 cm; 135.8-144.8). The height differential between the tallest and shortest populations was 19-20 cm a century ago, and has remained the same for women and increased for men a century later despite substantial changes in the ranking of countries
Adolescent nutrition and physical activity in low-income suburbs of Abidjan, CĂ´te d'lvoire:the gap between knowledge, aspirations and possibilities
Adolescent nutrition and physical activity in low-income suburbs of Abidjan, Côte d’lvoire: the gap between knowledge, aspirations and possibilities
Objective: To explore adolescents’ perceptions, knowledge and behaviors regarding nutrition and physical activity in low-income districts of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, taking into consideration their caregivers’ perspectives.Design: Two investigators conducted six focus group discussions (FGDs).Setting: The study was carried out in two low-income suburbs, Yopougon and Port-Bouët in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.Subjects: Adolescents and their caregivers were recruited into the study via local head teachers and heads of settlement.Results: Overall, 72 participants, including 46 adolescents and 26 caregivers took part. Participants demonstrated good nutrition knowledge, relating nutritional health to a balanced diet and hygiene. Sustained physical activity was reported. However, adopting good practices was challenging due to participant’s economic circumstances. Their environment was a barrier to improving health due to dirtiness and violence, with a lack of space limiting the possibility to practice sport. Adolescents and their caregivers differed in their response to these constraints. Many caregivers felt powerless and suggested a political response was the solution. Alternatively, adolescents were more likely to suggest new creative solutions such as youth-friendly centers within their community.Conclusions: Participants were aware that their nutritional habits were not in line with what they had learnt to be good nutritional practices, due to socio-economic constraints. Physical activity was part of adolescent life but opportunities to exercise were restricted by their environment. Strategies for improving adolescent health in these settings need to be developed in collaboration with adolescents in a manner that accommodates their opinions and solutions. <br/