Transitive X-ray spectrum and PeV gamma-ray cutoff in the M87 jet: Electron "Pevatron"

We propose a modified version of the X-ray spectral index and an intrinsic cutoff frequency of inverse Compton radiation from the brightest knot of the M87 jet, in conjunction with an application of the new conceptions of injection and diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) of electrons in magnetized filamentary plasma to the specified source. The drop of the X-ray flux density in a transitive frequency region is associated with the interplay of ordinary synchrotron cooling and weaker magnetic fields concomitant with the smaller scale filaments that allow the electron injection, while the radio-optical synchrotron continuum is dominantly established by the major electrons that are quasi-secularly bound to larger filaments. With reference to, particularly, the updated external Compton model, we demonstrate that in the Klein-Nishina regime fading inverse Comptonization, the injected electrons can be stochastically energized up to a Lorentz factor as high as $5\times 10^{10}$ in the temporal competition with diffuse synchrotron cooling; this value is larger than that attainable for a simple DSA scenario based on the resonant scattering diffusion of the gyrating electrons bound to a supposed magnetic field homogeneously pervading the entire knot. The upper limits of the photon frequency boosted via conceivable inverse Compton processes are predicted to be of the common order of $\sim 10^{30}$ Hz. The variability of the broadband spectrum is also discussed in comparison to the features of a blazar light curve. The present scenario of a peta-eV (PeV; $10^{15}$ eV) electron accelerator, the "Pevatron," might provide some guidance for exploring untrod hard X-ray and gamma-ray bands in forthcoming observations.Comment: 34 pages, 6 figures, matches version published in Ap

Massive triplet excitations in a magnetized anisotropic Haldane spin chain

Inelastic neutron scattering experiments on the Haldane-gap quantum antiferromagnet \nd are performed at mK temperatures in magnetic fields of almost twice the critical field $H_c$ applied perpendicular to the spin cahins. Above $H_c$ a re-opening of the spin gap is clearly observed. In the high-field N\'eel-ordered state the spectrum is dominated by three distinct long-lived excitation branches. Several field-theoretical models are tested in a quantitative comparison with the experimental data.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering in the high-field phase of a Haldane antiferromagnet

Inelastic neutron scattering experiments on the Haldane-gap quantum antiferromagnet NDMAP are performed in magnetic fields below and above the critical field Hc at which the gap closes. Quasi-elastic neutron scattering is found for H>Hc indicating topological excitations in the high field phase.Comment: Added to discussion section. v2: Updated figure

Super-Kamiokande atmospheric neutrinos: Status of subdominant oscillations

In the context of the recent (79.5 kTy) Super-Kamiokande atmospheric neutrino data, we concisely review the status of muonic-tauonic flavor oscillations and of the subdominant electron or sterile neutrino mixing, in schemes with three or four families and one dominant mass scale. In the three-family case, where we include the full CHOOZ spectral data, we also show, through a specific example, that ``maximal'' violations of the one-dominant mass scale approximation are not ruled out yet.Comment: 8 pages + 10 figure

Field-induced 3- and 2-dimensional freezing in a quantum spin liquid

Field-induced commensurate transverse magnetic ordering is observed in the Haldane-gap compound \nd by means of neutron diffraction. Depending on the direction of applied field, the high-field phase is shown to be either a 3-dimensional ordered N\'{e}el state or a short-range ordered state with dominant 2-dimensional spin correlations. The structure of the high-field phase is determined, and properties of the observed quantum phase transition are discussed.Comment: 4 pages 3 figure

Excitonic BCS-BEC crossover at finite temperature: Effects of repulsion and electron-hole mass difference

The BCS to Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover of electron-hole (e-h) pairs in optically excited semiconductors is studied using the two-band Hubbard model with both repulsive and attractive interactions. Applying the self-consistent t-matrix approximation combined with a local approximation, we examine the properties of a normal phase and an excitonic instability. The transition temperature from the normal phase to an e-h pair condensed one is studied to clarify the crossover from an e-h BCS-like state to an excitonic Bose-Einstein condensation, which takes place on increasing the e-h attraction strength. To investigate effects of the repulsive interaction and the e-h mass difference, we calculate the transition temperature for various parameters of the interaction strengths, the e-h particle density, and the mass difference. While the transition temperature in the e-h BCS regime is sufficiently suppressed by the repulsive interaction, that of the excitonic BEC is largely insensitive to it. We also show quantitatively that in the whole regime the mass difference leads to large suppression of the transition temperature.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Energy Spectra, Altitude Profiles and Charge Ratios of Atmospheric Muons

We present a new measurement of air shower muons made during atmospheric ascent of the High Energy Antimatter Telescope balloon experiment. The muon charge ratio mu+ / mu- is presented as a function of atmospheric depth in the momentum interval 0.3-0.9 GeV/c. The differential mu- momentum spectra are presented between 0.3 and about 50 GeV/c at atmospheric depths between 13 and 960 g/cm^2. We compare our measurements with other recent data and with Monte Carlo calculations of the same type as those used in predicting atmospheric neutrino fluxes. We find that our measured mu- fluxes are smaller than the predictions by as much as 70% at shallow atmospheric depths, by about 20% at the depth of shower maximum, and are in good agreement with the predictions at greater depths. We explore the consequences of this on the question of atmospheric neutrino production.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. D (2000

Particle Diffusion and Acceleration by Shock Wave in Magnetized Filamentary Turbulence

We expand the off-resonant scattering theory for particle diffusion in magnetized current filaments that can be typically compared to astrophysical jets, including active galactic nucleus jets. In a high plasma beta region where the directional bulk flow is a free-energy source for establishing turbulent magnetic fields via current filamentation instabilities, a novel version of quasi-linear theory to describe the diffusion of test particles is proposed. The theory relies on the proviso that the injected energetic particles are not trapped in the small-scale structure of magnetic fields wrapping around and permeating a filament but deflected by the filaments, to open a new regime of the energy hierarchy mediated by a transition compared to the particle injection. The diffusion coefficient derived from a quasi-linear type equation is applied to estimating the timescale for the stochastic acceleration of particles by the shock wave propagating through the jet. The generic scalings of the achievable highest energy of an accelerated ion and electron, as well as of the characteristic time for conceivable energy restrictions, are systematically presented. We also discuss a feasible method of verifying the theoretical predictions. The strong, anisotropic turbulence reflecting cosmic filaments might be the key to the problem of the acceleration mechanism of the highest energy cosmic rays exceeding 100 EeV (10^{20} eV), detected in recent air shower experiments.Comment: 39 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

High-field Electron Spin Resonance of Cu_{1-x}Zn_{x}GeO_{3}

High-Field Electron Spin Resonance measurements were made on powder samples of Cu_{1-x}Zn_{x}GeO_{3} (x=0.00, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.05) at different frequencies (95, 110, 190, 220, 330 and 440 GHz) at low temperatures. The spectra of the doped samples show resonances whose positions are dependent on Zn concentration, frequency and temperature. The analysis of intensity variation of these lines with temperature allows us to identify them as originating in transitions within states situated inside the Spin Peierls gap. A qualitative explanation of the details of the spectra is possible if we assume that these states in the gap are associated with "loose" spins created near the Zn impurities, as recently theoreticaly predicted. A new phenomenon of quenching of the ESR signal across the Dimerized to Incommensurate phase-boundary is observed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 ps figures in the text, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let