M-theory on pp-waves with a holomorphic superpotential and its membrane and matrix descriptions

We study a new class of inhomogeneous pp-wave solutions with 8 unbroken supersymmetries in D=11 supergravity. The 9 dimensional transverse space is Euclidean and split into 3 and 6 dimensional subspaces. The solutions have non-constant gauge flux, which are described in terms of an arbitrary holomorphic function of the complexified 6 dimensional space. The supermembrane and matrix theory descriptions are also provided and we identify the relevant supersymmetry transformation rules. The action also arises through a dimensional reduction of N=1, D=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory coupled to 3 gauge adjoint and chiral multiplets, whose interactions are determined by the holomorphic function of the supergravity solution now constituting the superpotential.Comment: 19 pages;v2 21p, added discussion and ref

Classification of the BPS states in Bagger-Lambert Theory

We classify, in a group theoretical manner, the BPS configurations in the multiple M2-brane theory recently proposed by Bagger and Lambert. We present three types of BPS equations preserving various fractions of supersymmetries: in the first type we have constant fields and the interactions are purely algebraic in nature; in the second type the equations are invariant under spatial rotation SO(2), and the fields can be time-dependent; in the third class the equations are invariant under boost SO(1,1) and provide the eleven-dimensional generalizations of the Nahm equations. The BPS equations for different number of supersymmetries exhibit the division algebra structures: octonion, quarternion or complex.Comment: 28+1 pages, No figure; v2 Sec.3.3 slightly expanded, typos fixed; v3 some comments added, to appear in JHE

The Solar-Type Contact Binary BX Pegasi Revisited

We present the results of new CCD photometry for the contact binary BX Peg, made during three successive months beginning on September 2008. As do historical light curves, our observations display an O'Connell effect and the November data by themselves indicate clear evidence for very short-time brightness disturbance. For these variations, model spots are applied separately to the two data set of Group I (Sep.--Oct.) and Group II (Nov.). The former is described by a single cool spot on the secondary photosphere and the latter by a two-spot model with a cool spot on the cool star and a hot one on either star. These are generalized manifestations of the magnetic activity of the binary system. Twenty light-curve timings calculated from Wilson-Devinney code were used for a period study, together with all other minimum epochs. The complex period changes of BX Peg can be sorted into a secular period decrease caused dominantly by angular momentum loss due to magnetic stellar wind braking, a light-travel-time (LTT) effect due to the orbit of a low-mass third companion, and a previously unknown short-term oscillation. This last period modulation could be produced either by a second LTT orbit with a period of about 16 yr due to the existence of a fourth body or by the effect of magnetic activity with a cycle length of about 12 yr.Comment: 23 pages, including 6 figures and 8 tables, accepted for publication in PAS

Distinguishable Cash, Bosonic Bitcoin, and Fermionic Non-fungible Token

Modern technology has brought novel types of wealth. In contrast to hard cashes, digital currencies do not have a physical form. They exist in electronic forms only. Yet, it has not been clear what impacts their ongoing growth will make, if any, on wealth distribution. Here we propose to identify all forms of contemporary wealth into two classes: 'distinguishable' or 'identical'. Traditional tangible moneys are all distinguishable. Financial assets and cryptocurrencies, such as bank deposits and Bitcoin, are boson-like, while non-fungible tokens are fermion-like. We derive their ownership-based distributions in a unified manner. Each class follows essentially the Poisson or the geometric distribution. We contrast their distinct features such as Gini coefficients. Further, aggregating different kinds of wealth corresponds to a weighted convolution where the number of banks matters and Bitcoin follows Bose-Einstein distribution. Our proposal opens a new avenue to understand the deepened inequality in modern economy, which is based on the statistical physics property of wealth rather than the individual ability of owners. We call for verifications with real data.Comment: 8 pages including 3 figures; v2) Eqns (46) and (47) added, minor changes, version to appear in Frontiers in Physic

Physical Properties of the Transiting Planetary System TrES-3

We present four new transits of the planetary system TrES-3 observed between 2009 May and 2010 June. Among these, the third transit by itself indicates possible evidence for brightness disturbance, which might be the result of the planet blocking a cool starspot on the stellar surface. A total of 109 transit times, including our measurements, were used to determine the improved ephemeris with a transit epoch of 2454185.910944$\pm$0.000072 HJED and an orbital period of 1.30618700$\pm$0.00000015 d. We analyzed the transit light curves using the JKTEBOP code and adopting the quadratic limb-darkening law. In order to derive the physical properties of the TrES-3 system, the transit parameters are combined with the empirical relations from eclipsing binary stars and stellar evolutionary models. The stellar mass and radius obtained from a calibration using $T_A$, log $\rho_{\rm A}$ and [Fe/H] are consistent with those from the isochrone analysis. We found that the exoplanet TrES-3b has a mass of 1.93$\pm$0.07 M$_{\rm Jup}$, a radius of 1.30$\pm$0.04 R$_{\rm Jup}$, a surface gravity of log $g_{\rm b}$=3.45$\pm$0.02, a density of 0.82$\pm$0.06 $\rho_{\rm Jup}$, and an equilibrium temperature of 1641$\pm$23 K. The results are in good agreement with theoretical models for gas giant planets.Comment: 15 pages, including 4 figures and 4 tables, accepted for publication in PAS