Numerical residual perturbation solutions applied to the problem of a close satellite of the smaller body in the restricted three-body problem

Numerical residual perturbation solution for prediction of satellite position in restricted three-body proble

Non-Equilibrium Evolution of Scalar Fields in FRW Cosmologies I

We derive the effective equations for the out of equilibrium time evolution of the order parameter and the fluctuations of a scalar field theory in spatially flat FRW cosmologies.The calculation is performed both to one-loop and in a non-perturbative, self-consistent Hartree approximation.The method consists of evolving an initial functional thermal density matrix in time and is suitable for studying phase transitions out of equilibrium. The renormalization aspects are studied in detail and we find that the counterterms depend on the initial state. We investigate the high temperature expansion and show that it breaks down at long times. We also obtain the time evolution of the initial Boltzmann distribution functions, and argue that to one-loop order or in the Hartree approximation, the time evolved state is a ``squeezed'' state. We illustrate the departure from thermal equilibrium by numerically studying the case of a free massive scalar field in de Sitter and radiation dominated cosmologies. It is found that a suitably defined non-equilibrium entropy per mode increases linearly with comoving time in a de Sitter cosmology, whereas it is {\it not} a monotonically increasing function in the radiation dominated case.Comment: 29 pages, revtex 3.0, 11 figures available upon request, PITT-93-6; LPTHE-93-52; CMU-HEP-93-2

Assessment of the visibility impairment caused by the emissions from the proposed power plant at Boron, California

The current atmospheric conditions and visibility were modeled, and the effect of the power plant effluent was then added to determine its influence upon the prevailing visibility; the actual reduction in visibility being a function of meteorological conditions and observer-plume-target geometry. In the cases investigated, the perceptibility of a target was reduced by a minimum of 10 percent and a maximum of 100 percent. This significant visual impact would occur 40 days per year in the Edwards area with meteorological conditions such as to cause some visual impact 80 days per year

Renormalization of initial conditions and the trans-Planckian problem of inflation

Understanding how a field theory propagates the information contained in a given initial state is essential for quantifying the sensitivity of the cosmic microwave background to physics above the Hubble scale during inflation. Here we examine the renormalization of a scalar theory with nontrivial initial conditions in the simpler setting of flat space. The renormalization of the bulk theory proceeds exactly as for the standard vacuum state. However, the short distance features of the initial conditions can introduce new divergences which are confined to the surface on which the initial conditions are imposed. We show how the addition of boundary counterterms removes these divergences and induces a renormalization group flow in the space of initial conditions.Comment: 22 pages, 4 eps figures, uses RevTe

Detection of transit timing variations in excess of one hour in the Kepler multi-planet candidate system KOI 806 with the GTC

We report the detection of transit timing variations (TTVs) well in excess of one hour in the Kepler multi-planet candidate system KOI 806. This system exhibits transits consistent with three separate planets -- a Super-Earth, a Jupiter, and a Saturn -- lying very nearly in a 1:2:5 resonance, respectively. We used the Kepler public data archive and observations with the Gran Telescopio de Canarias to compile the necessary photometry. For the largest candidate planet (KOI 806.02) in this system, we detected a large transit timing variation of -103.5$\pm$6.9 minutes against previously published ephemeris. We did not obtain a strong detection of a transit color signature consistent with a planet-sized object; however, we did not detect a color difference in transit depth, either. The large TTV is consistent with theoretical predictions that exoplanets in resonance can produce large transit timing variations, particularly if the orbits are eccentric. The presence of large TTVs among the bodies in this systems indicates that KOI806 is very likely to be a planetary system. This is supported by the lack of a strong color dependence in the transit depth, which would suggest a blended eclipsing binary.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted into A&A Letter

Irreducible decomposition for tensor prodect representations of Jordanian quantum algebras

Tensor products of irreducible representations of the Jordanian quantum algebras U_h(sl(2)) and U_h(su(1,1)) are considered. For both the highest weight finite dimensional representations of U_h(sl(2)) and lowest weight infinite dimensional ones of U_h(su(1,1)), it is shown that tensor product representations are reducible and that the decomposition rules to irreducible representations are exactly the same as those of corresponding Lie algebras.Comment: LaTeX, 14pages, no figur

Constraints in the Context of Induced-gravity Inflation

Constraints on the required flatness of the scalar potential $V(\phi)$ for a cousin-model to extended inflation are studied. It is shown that, unlike earlier results, Induced-gravity Inflation can lead to successful inflation with a very simple lagrangian and $\lambda \sim 10^{-6}$, rather than $10^{-15}$ as previously reported. A second order phase transition further enables this model to escape the \lq big bubble' problem of extended inflation, while retaining the latter's motivations based on the low-energy effective lagrangians of supergravity, superstring, and Kaluza-Klein theories.Comment: 19 pp; 3 figures (not included -- available from author). Plain LaTeX. In press in Physical Review

The Orbit and Occultations of KH 15D

The unusual flux variations of the pre-main-sequence binary star KH 15D have been attributed to occultations by a circumbinary disk. We test whether or not this theory is compatible with newly available data, including recent radial velocity measurements, CCD photometry over the past decade, and photographic photometry over the past 50 years. We find the model to be successful, after two refinements: a more realistic motion of the occulting feature, and a halo around each star that probably represents scattering by the disk. The occulting feature is exceptionally sharp-edged, raising the possibility that the dust in the disk has settled into a thin layer, and providing a tool for fine-scale mapping of the immediate environment of a T Tauri star. However, the window of opportunity is closing, as the currently visible star may be hidden at all orbital phases by as early as 2008.Comment: To appear in ApJ [16 pages, 13 figures