Interacting vector fields in Relativity without Relativity

Barbour, Foster and \'{O} Murchadha have recently developed a new framework, called here {\it{the 3-space approach}}, for the formulation of classical bosonic dynamics. Neither time nor a locally Minkowskian structure of spacetime are presupposed. Both arise as emergent features of the world from geodesic-type dynamics on a space of 3-dimensional metric--matter configurations. In fact gravity, the universal light cone and Abelian gauge theory minimally coupled to gravity all arise naturally through a single common mechanism. It yields relativity -- and more -- without presupposing relativity. This paper completes the recovery of the presently known bosonic sector within the 3-space approach. We show, for a rather general ansatz, that 3-vector fields can interact among themselves only as Yang--Mills fields minimally coupled to gravity.Comment: Replaced with final version accepted by Classical and Quantum Gravity (14 pages, no figures

Quenched QCD at finite density

Simulations of quenched $QCD$ at relatively small but {\it nonzero} chemical potential $\mu$ on $32 \times 16^3$ lattices indicate that the nucleon screening mass decreases linearly as $\mu$ increases predicting a critical chemical potential of one third the nucleon mass, $m_N/3$, by extrapolation. The meson spectrum does not change as $\mu$ increases over the same range, from zero to $m_\pi/2$. Past studies of quenched lattice QCD have suggested that there is phase transition at $\mu = m_\pi/2$. We provide alternative explanations for these results, and find a number of technical reasons why standard lattice simulation techniques suffer from greatly enhanced fluctuations and finite size effects for $\mu$ ranging from $m_\pi/2$ to $m_N/3$. We find evidence for such problems in our simulations, and suggest that they can be surmounted by improved measurement techniques.Comment: 23 pages, Revte

Strongly coupled lattice gauge theory with dynamical fermion mass generation in three dimensions

We investigate the critical behaviour of a three-dimensional lattice \chiU\phi_3 model in the chiral limit. The model consists of a staggered fermion field, a U(1) gauge field (with coupling parameter $\beta$) and a complex scalar field (with hopping parameter $\kappa$). Two different methods are used: 1) fits of the chiral condensate and the mass of the neutral unconfined composite fermion to an equation of state and 2) finite size scaling investigations of the Lee-Yang zeros of the partition function in the complex fermion mass plane. For strong gauge coupling ($\beta < 1$) the critical exponents for the chiral phase transition are determined. We find strong indications that the chiral phase transition is in one universality class in this $\beta$ interval: that of the three-dimensional Gross-Neveu model with two fermions. Thus the continuum limit of the \chiU\phi_3 model defines here a nonperturbatively renormalizable gauge theory with dynamical mass generation. At weak gauge coupling and small $\kappa$, we explore a region in which the mass in the neutral fermion channel is large but the chiral condensate on finite lattices very small. If it does not vanish in the infinite volume limit, then a continuum limit with massive unconfined fermion might be possible in this region, too.Comment: 27 pages, 16 figure

The geometry of the Barbour-Bertotti theories I. The reduction process

The dynamics of $N\geq 3$ interacting particles is investigated in the non-relativistic context of the Barbour-Bertotti theories. The reduction process on this constrained system yields a Lagrangian in the form of a Riemannian line element. The involved metric, degenerate in the flat configuration space, is the first fundamental form of the space of orbits of translations and rotations (the Leibniz group). The Riemann tensor and the scalar curvature are computed by a generalized Gauss formula in terms of the vorticity tensors of generators of the rotations. The curvature scalar is further given in terms of the principal moments of inertia of the system. Line configurations are singular for $N\neq 3$. A comparison with similar methods in molecular dynamics is traced.Comment: 15 pages, to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit

The Definition of Mach's Principle

Two definitions of Mach's principle are proposed. Both are related to gauge theory, are universal in scope and amount to formulations of causality that take into account the relational nature of position, time, and size. One of them leads directly to general relativity and may have relevance to the problem of creating a quantum theory of gravity.Comment: To be published in Foundations of Physics as invited contribution to Peter Mittelstaedt's 80th Birthday Festschrift. 30 page

Imaginary chemical potential and finite fermion density on the lattice

Standard lattice fermion algorithms run into the well-known sign problem at real chemical potential. In this paper we investigate the possibility of using imaginary chemical potential, and argue that it has advantages over other methods, particularly for probing the physics at finite temperature as well as density. As a feasibility study, we present numerical results for the partition function of the two-dimensional Hubbard model with imaginary chemical potential. We also note that systems with a net imbalance of isospin may be simulated using a real chemical potential that couples to I_3 without suffering from the sign problem.Comment: 9 pages, LaTe

Antigenic variation in vector-borne pathogens.

Several pathogens of humans and domestic animals depend on hematophagous arthropods to transmit them from one vertebrate reservoir host to another and maintain them in an environment. These pathogens use antigenic variation to prolong their circulation in the blood and thus increase the likelihood of transmission. By convergent evolution, bacterial and protozoal vector-borne pathogens have acquired similar genetic mechanisms for successful antigenic variation. Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma marginale (among bacteria) and African trypanosomes, Plasmodium falciparum, and Babesia bovis (among parasites) are examples of pathogens using these mechanisms. Antigenic variation poses a challenge in the development of vaccines against vector-borne pathogens

Shades of Grey: Ethical Dilemmas

No abstract available

Random Matrices and the Convergence of Partition Function Zeros in Finite Density QCD

We apply the Glasgow method for lattice QCD at finite chemical potential to a schematic random matrix model (RMM). In this method the zeros of the partition function are obtained by averaging the coefficients of its expansion in powers of the chemical potential. In this paper we investigate the phase structure by means of Glasgow averaging and demonstrate that the method converges to the correct analytically known result. We conclude that the statistics needed for complete convergence grows exponentially with the size of the system, in our case, the dimension of the Dirac matrix. The use of an unquenched ensemble at $\mu=0$ does not give an improvement over a quenched ensemble. We elucidate the phenomenon of a faster convergence of certain zeros of the partition function. The imprecision affecting the coefficients of the polynomial in the chemical potential can be interpeted as the appearance of a spurious phase. This phase dominates in the regions where the exact partition function is exponentially small, introducing additional phase boundaries, and hiding part of the true ones. The zeros along the surviving parts of the true boundaries remain unaffected.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, typos correcte