Anomalous Light Scattering by Topological PT{\mathcal{PT}}-symmetric Particle Arrays

Robust topological edge modes may evolve into complex-frequency modes when a physical system becomes non-Hermitian. We show that, while having negligible forward optical extinction cross section, a conjugate pair of such complex topological edge modes in a non-Hermitian $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric system can give rise to an anomalous sideway scattering when they are simultaneously excited by a plane wave. We propose a realization of such scattering state in a linear array of subwavelength resonators coated with gain media. The prediction is based on an analytical two-band model and verified by rigorous numerical simulation using multiple-multipole scattering theory. The result suggests an extreme situation where leakage of classical information is unnoticeable to the transmitter and the receiver when such a $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric unit is inserted into the communication channel.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

A momentum-space representation of Feynman propagator in Riemann-Cartan spacetime

We first construct generalized Riemann-normal coordinates by using autoparallels, instead of geodesics, in an arbitrary Riemann-Cartan spacetime. With the aid of generalized Riemann-normal coordinates and their associated orthonormal frames, we obtain a momentum-space representation of the Feynman propagator for scalar fields, which is a direct generalization of Bunch and Parker's works to curved spacetime with torsion. We further derive the proper-time representation in $n$ dimensional Riemann-Cartan spacetime from the momentum-space representation. It leads us to obtain the renormalization of one-loop effective Lagrangians of free scalar fields by using dimensional regularization. When torsion tensor vanishes, our resulting momentum-space representation returns to the standard Riemannian results.Comment: 12 page

Rhymes: a shared virtual memory system for non-coherent tiled many-core architectures

The rising core count per processor is pushing chip complexity to a level that hardware-based cache coherency protocols become too hard and costly to scale. We need new designs of many-core hardware and software other than traditional technologies to keep up with the ever-increasing scalability demands. The Intel Single-chip Cloud Computer (SCC) is a recent research processor exemplifying a new cluster-on-chip architecture which promotes a software-oriented approach instead of hardware support to implementing shared memory coherence. This paper presents a shared virtual memory (SVM) system, dubbed Rhymes, tailored to such a new processor kind of non-coherent and hybrid memory architectures. Rhymes features a two-way cache coherence protocol to enforce release consistency for pages allocated in shared physical memory (SPM) and scope consistency for pages in per-core private memory. It also supports page remapping on a per-core basis to boost data locality. We implement Rhymes on the SCC port of the Barrelfish OS. Experimental results show that our SVM outperforms the pure SPM approach used by Intel's software managed coherence (SMC) library by up to 12 times, with superlinear speedups (due to L2 cache effect) noted for applications with strong data reuse patterns.published_or_final_versio

Poincar\'e gauge theory with even and odd parity dynamic connection modes: isotropic Bianchi cosmological models

The Poincar\'e gauge theory of gravity has a metric compatible connection with independent dynamics that is reflected in the torsion and curvature. The theory allows two good propagating spin-0 modes. Dynamical investigations using a simple expanding cosmological model found that the oscillation of the 0$^+$ mode could account for an accelerating expansion similar to that presently observed. The model has been extended to include a $0^{-}$ mode and more recently cross parity couplings. We investigate the dynamics of this model in a situation which is simple, non-trivial, and yet may give physically interesting results that might be observable. We consider homogeneous cosmologies, more specifically, isotropic Bianchi class A models. We find an effective Lagrangian for our dynamical system, a system of first order equations, and present some typical dynamical evolution.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figures, submitted to IARD 2010 Conference Proceedings in {\em Journal of Physics: Conference Series}, eds. L. Horwitz and M. Land (2011

Retrograde semaphorin-plexin signalling drives homeostatic synaptic plasticity.

Homeostatic signalling systems ensure stable but flexible neural activity and animal behaviour. Presynaptic homeostatic plasticity is a conserved form of neuronal homeostatic signalling that is observed in organisms ranging from Drosophila to human. Defining the underlying molecular mechanisms of neuronal homeostatic signalling will be essential in order to establish clear connections to the causes and progression of neurological disease. During neural development, semaphorin-plexin signalling instructs axon guidance and neuronal morphogenesis. However, semaphorins and plexins are also expressed in the adult brain. Here we show that semaphorin 2b (Sema2b) is a target-derived signal that acts upon presynaptic plexin B (PlexB) receptors to mediate the retrograde, homeostatic control of presynaptic neurotransmitter release at the neuromuscular junction in Drosophila. Further, we show that Sema2b-PlexB signalling regulates presynaptic homeostatic plasticity through the cytoplasmic protein Mical and the oxoreductase-dependent control of presynaptic actin. We propose that semaphorin-plexin signalling is an essential platform for the stabilization of synaptic transmission throughout the developing and mature nervous system. These findings may be relevant to the aetiology and treatment of diverse neurological and psychiatric diseases that are characterized by altered or inappropriate neural function and behaviour

Minimal Mass Matrices for Dirac Neutrinos

We consider the possibility of neutrinos being Dirac particles and study minimal mass matrices with as much zero entries as possible. We find that up to 5 zero entries are allowed. Those matrices predict one vanishing mass state, CP conservation and U_{e3} either zero or proportional to R, where R is the ratio of the solar and atmospheric \Delta m^2. Matrices containing 4 zeros can be classified in categories predicting U_{e3} = 0, U_{e3} \neq 0 but no CP violation or |U_{e3}| \neq 0 and possible CP violation. Some cases allow to set constraints on the neutrino masses. The characteristic value of U_{e3} capable of distinguishing some of the cases with non-trivial phenomenological consequences is about R/2 \sin 2 \theta_{12}. Matrices containing 3 and less zero entries imply (with a few exceptions) no correlation for the observables. We outline models leading to the textures based on the Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism or the non-Abelian discrete symmetry D_4 \times Z_2.Comment: 32 pages, 3 figures. Comments and references added. To appear in JHE

Ultra-broadband Light Absorption by a Sawtooth Anisotropic Metamaterial Slab

We present an ultra broadband thin-film infrared absorber made of saw-toothed anisotropic metamaterial. Absorbtivity of higher than 95% at normal incidence is supported in a wide range of frequencies, where the full absorption width at half maximum is about 86%. Such property is retained well at a very wide range of incident angles too. Light of shorter wavelengths are harvested at upper parts of the sawteeth of smaller widths, while light of longer wavelengths are trapped at lower parts of larger tooth widths. This phenomenon is explained by the slowlight modes in anisotropic metamaterial waveguide. Our study can be applied in the field of designing photovoltaic devices and thermal emitters.Comment: 12 pages, 4 picture