Fermion Resonances on a Thick Brane with a Piecewise Warp Factor

In this paper, we mainly investigate the problems of resonances of massive KK fermions on a single scalar constructed thick brane with a piecewise warp factor matching smoothly. The distance between two boundaries and the other parameters are determined by one free parameter through three junction conditions. For the generalized Yukawa coupling $\eta\bar{\Psi}\phi^{k}\Psi$ with odd $k=1,3,5,...$, the mass eigenvalue $m$, width $\Gamma$, lifetime $\tau$, and maximal probability $P_{max}$ of fermion resonances are obtained. Our numerical calculations show that the brane without internal structure also favors the appearance of resonant states for both left- and right-handed fermions. The scalar-fermion coupling and the thickness of the brane influence the resonant behaviors of the massive KK fermions.Comment: V3: 15 pages, 7 figures, published versio

Magnetoresistance in the s-d Model with Arbitrary Impurity Spin

The magnetoresistance, the number of the localized electrons, and the s-wave scattering phase shift at the Fermi level for the s-d model with arbitrary impurity spin are obtained in the ground state. To obtain above results some known exact results of the Bethe ansatz method are used. As the impurity spin S = 1/2, our results coincide with those obtained by Ishii \textit{et al%}. The compairsion between the theoretical and experimental magneticresistence for impurity S = 1/2 is re-examined.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Thick branes with a nonminimally coupled bulk-scalar field

In this paper, we investigate thick branes with a nonminimally coupled background scalar field, whose solution is a single-kink or a double-kink. The effects of the nonminimal coupling constant $\xi$ on the structure of the thick branes and the localization of gravity, fermions, scalars and vectors are discussed. It is shown that each brane will split into two sub-branes as increasing the nonminimal coupling constant $\xi$. By investigating the tensor perturbation equations of gravity and the general covariant Dirac equation of fermions, we find that both the gravity zero mode and left-chiral fermion zero mode are localized at the center of the single-kink branes and localized between the two sub-branes generated by the double-kink, which indicates that the constant $\xi$ does not effect the localization of these zero modes. However, the zero mode of scalars is localized on each sub-brane (for both single-kink and double-kink branes) when $\xi$ is larger than its critical value $\xi_0$. The effects of the nonminimal coupling constant $\xi$ on the resonances of gravity and fermions with finite lifetime on the branes are also discussed.Comment: V2: 33 pages, 17 figures, 3 tables, published versio

Radiative Transfer for Exoplanet Atmospheres

Remote sensing of the atmospheres of distant worlds motivates a firm understanding of radiative transfer. In this review, we provide a pedagogical cookbook that describes the principal ingredients needed to perform a radiative transfer calculation and predict the spectrum of an exoplanet atmosphere, including solving the radiative transfer equation, calculating opacities (and chemistry), iterating for radiative equilibrium (or not), and adapting the output of the calculations to the astronomical observations. A review of the state of the art is performed, focusing on selected milestone papers. Outstanding issues, including the need to understand aerosols or clouds and elucidating the assumptions and caveats behind inversion methods, are discussed. A checklist is provided to assist referees/reviewers in their scrutiny of works involving radiative transfer. A table summarizing the methodology employed by past studies is provided.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, 1 table. Filled in missing information in references, main text unchange

Three-dimensional distribution of ejecta in Supernova 1987A at 10 000 days

Due to its proximity, SN 1987A offers a unique opportunity to directly observe the geometry of a stellar explosion as it unfolds. Here we present spectral and imaging observations of SN 1987A obtained ~10,000 days after the explosion with HST/STIS and VLT/SINFONI at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. These observations allow us to produce the most detailed 3D map of H-alpha to date, the first 3D maps for [Ca II] \lambda \lambda 7292, 7324, [O I] \lambda \lambda 6300, 6364 and Mg II \lambda \lambda 9218, 9244, as well as new maps for [Si I]+[Fe II] 1.644 \mu m and He I 2.058 \mu m. A comparison with previous observations shows that the [Si I]+[Fe II] flux and morphology have not changed significantly during the past ten years, providing evidence that it is powered by 44Ti. The time-evolution of H-alpha shows that it is predominantly powered by X-rays from the ring, in agreement with previous findings. All lines that have sufficient signal show a similar large-scale 3D structure, with a north-south asymmetry that resembles a broken dipole. This structure correlates with early observations of asymmetries, showing that there is a global asymmetry that extends from the inner core to the outer envelope. On smaller scales, the two brightest lines, H-alpha and [Si I]+[Fe II] 1.644 \mu m, show substructures at the level of ~ 200 - 1000 km/s and clear differences in their 3D geometries. We discuss these results in the context of explosion models and the properties of dust in the ejecta.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Localization of Bulk Matters on a Thick Anti-de Sitter Brane

In this paper, we investigate the localization and the mass spectra of gravity and various bulk matter fields on a thick anti-de Sitter (AdS) brane, by presenting the mass-independent potentials of the Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes in the corresponding Schr\"{o}dinger equations. For gravity, the potential of the KK modes tends to infinity at the boundaries of the extra dimension, which leads to an infinite number of the bound KK modes. Although the gravity zero mode cannot be localized on the AdS brane, the massive modes are trapped on the brane. The scalar perturbations of the thick AdS brane have been analyzed, and the brane is stable under the scalar perturbations. For spin-0 scalar fields and spin-1 vector fields, the potentials of the KK modes also tend to infinity at the boundaries of the extra dimension, and the characteristic of the localization is the same as the case of gravity. For spin-1/2 fermions, by introducing the usual Yukawa coupling $\eta\bar{\Psi}\phi\Psi$ with the positive coupling constant $\eta$, the four-dimensional massless left-chiral fermion and massive Dirac fermions are obtained on the AdS thick brane.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figure

The long egress of GJ~436b's giant exosphere

The M dwarf GJ 436 hosts a transiting warm Neptune known to experience atmospheric escape. Previous observations revealed the presence of a giant hydrogen exosphere transiting the star for more than 5 h, and absorbing up to 56% of the flux in the blue wing of the stellar Lyman-{\alpha} line of neutral hydrogen (H i Ly{\alpha}). The unexpected size of this comet-like exosphere prevented observing the full transit of its tail. In this Letter, we present new Ly{\alpha} observations of GJ 436 obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The stability of the Ly{\alpha} line over six years allowed us to combine these new observations with archival data sets, substantially expanding the coverage of the exospheric transit. Hydrogen atoms in the tail of the exospheric cloud keep occulting the star for 10-25 h after the transit of the planet, remarkably confirming a previous prediction based on 3D numerical simulations with the EVaporating Exoplanet code (EVE). This result strengthens the interpretation that the exosphere of GJ 436b is shaped by both radiative braking and charge exchanges with the stellar wind. We further report flux decreases of 15 +/- 2% and 47 +/- 10% in the red wing of the Ly{\alpha} line and in the line of ionised silicon (Si iii). Despite some temporal variability possibly linked with stellar activity, these two signals occur during the exospheric transit and could be of planetary origin. Follow-up observations will be required to assess the possibility that the redshifted Ly{\alpha} and Si iii absorption signatures arise from interactions between the exospheric flow and the magnetic field of the star.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, published in A&

Existence of black holes in Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe dominated by dark energy

We study the existence of black holes in a homogeneous and isotropic expanding Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) universe dominated by dark energy. We show that black holes can exist in such a universe by considering some specific McVittie solutions. Although these solutions violate all three energy conditions, the FRW background does satisfy the weak energy condition.Comment: revetex format, 2 figures adde

Observing Supernova 1987A with the Refurbished Hubble Space Telescope

Observations with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), conducted since 1990, now offer an unprecedented glimpse into fast astrophysical shocks in the young remnant of supernova 1987A. Comparing observations taken in 2010 using the refurbished instruments on HST with data taken in 2004, just before the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph failed, we find that the Ly-a and H-a lines from shock emission continue to brighten, while their maximum velocities continue to decrease. We observe broad blueshifted Ly-a, which we attribute to resonant scattering of photons emitted from hotspots on the equatorial ring. We also detect NV~\lambda\lambda 1239,1243 A line emission, but only to the red of Ly-A. The profiles of the NV lines differ markedly from that of H-a, suggesting that the N^{4+} ions are scattered and accelerated by turbulent electromagnetic fields that isotropize the ions in the collisionless shock.Comment: Science, accepted. Science Express, 02 Sept 2010. 5 figures. Supporting online material can be found at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sci;science.1192134/DC

Association Behavior of Biotinylated and Non-Biotinylated PolyEthylene Oxide-b-Poly(2-(Diethylamino)Ethyl Methacrylate)

Biotinylated and non-biotinylated copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) were synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization technique (ATRP). The chemical compositions of the copolymers as determined by NMR are represented by PEO₁₁₃PDEAEMA₇₀ and biotin-PEO₁₀₄PDEAEMA₉₃ respectively. The aggregation behavior of these polymers in aqueous solutions at different pHs and ionic strengths was studied using a combination of potentiometric titration, dynamic light scattering (DLS), static light scattering (SLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both PEO-b-PDEAEMA and biotin-PEO-b-PDEAEMA diblock copolymers form micelles at high pH with hydrodynamic radii (Rh) of about 19 and 23 nm, respectively. At low pH, the copolymers are dispersed as unimers in solution with Rh of about 6-7 nm. However, at a physiological salt concentration (cs) of about 0.16M NaCl and a pH of 7-8, the copolymers form large loosely packed Guassian chains, which were not present at the low cs of 0.001M NaCl. The critical micelle concentrations (CMC) and the cytotoxicity of the copolymers were investigated to determine a suitable polymer concentration range for future biological applications. Both PEO-b-PDEAEMA and biotin-PEO-b-PDEAEMA diblock copolymers possess identical CMC values of about 0.0023 mg/g, while the cytotoxicity test indicated that the copolymers are not toxic up to 0.05mg/g (> 83% cell survival at this concentration).Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA