Interplay between parallel and diagonal electronic nematic phases in interacting systems

An electronic nematic phase can be classified by a spontaneously broken discrete rotational symmetry of a host lattice. In a square lattice, there are two distinct nematic phases. The parallel nematic phase breaks $x$ and $y$ symmetry, while the diagonal nematic phase breaks the diagonal $(x+y)$ and anti-diagonal $(x-y)$ symmetry. We investigate the interplay between the parallel and diagonal nematic orders using mean field theory. We found that the nematic phases compete with each other, while they coexist in a finite window of parameter space. The quantum critical point between the diagonal nematic and isotropic phases exists, and its location in a phase diagram depends on the topology of the Fermi surface. We discuss the implication of our results in the context of neutron scattering and Raman spectroscopy measurements on La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure

Exploring New Physics with CP Violation in Neutral D and B Decays

If New Physics contributes significantly to neutral meson mixing, then it is quite likely that it does so in a CP violating manner. In $D^0-\bar D^0$ mixing measured through $D^0\rightarrow K^+\pi^-$, CP violation induces a term $\propto te^{-\Gamma t}$ with important implications for experiments. For $B_s-\bar B_s$ mixing, a non-vanishing CP asymmetry (above a few percent) $a_{CP}(B_s \rightarrow D_s^+ D_s^-)$ is a clear signal of New Physics. Interestingly, this would test precisely the same Standard Model ingredients as the question of whether $\alpha+\beta+\gamma=\pi$.Comment: 11 pages, phyzzx, no figures, Talk given at the 6th International Symposium on Heavy Flavor Physics, Pisa, Ital

CP Violation in D0−D0‾D^0-\overline{D^0}Mixing

The existence of $D^0-\overline{D^0}$ mixing at a detectable level requires new physics, which effectively yields a $\Delta c = 2$ superweak interaction. In general this interaction may involve significant CP violation. For small values of the mixing it may be much easier to detect the CP-violating part of the mixing than the CP-conserving part.Comment: 3 pages, latex, no figure

Timing of hydrogen cyanamide application to grapevine buds

One major factor limiting the application of hydrogen cyanamide (H<sub>2</sub>CN<sub>2</sub>) is the difficulty in deciding when to apply, since mistiming may lead to bud and crop damage. Since an effective method for monitoring the developmental stage of dormant buds is not yet available, minimizing such a risk involves the regional evaluation of application timing. For three successive years, several H<sub>2</sub>CN<sub>2</sub> application dates were evaluated in cv. Perlette vineyards in the Jordan valley in Israel. The level and uniformity of bud break did not differ significantly among the application dates tested. However, major effects of the application date on cluster number, cluster size and yield were found. The sensitivity of the reproductive meristem to H<sub>2</sub>CN<sub>2</sub> is discussed

Detecting New Physics from CP-violating phase measurements in B decays

The standard CKM model can be tested and New Physics detected using only CP-violating phase measurements in B decays. This requires the measurement of a phase factor which is small in the Standard Model, in addition to the usual large phases $\beta$ and $\gamma$. We also point out that identifying violations of the unitarity of the CKM matrix is rather difficult, and cannot be done with phase measurements alone.Comment: 6 pages, Latex, no figure

Motional Broadening in Ensembles With Heavy-Tail Frequency Distribution

We show that the spectrum of an ensemble of two-level systems can be broadened through `resetting' discrete fluctuations, in contrast to the well-known motional-narrowing effect. We establish that the condition for the onset of motional broadening is that the ensemble frequency distribution has heavy tails with a diverging first moment. We find that the asymptotic motional-broadened lineshape is a Lorentzian, and derive an expression for its width. We explain why motional broadening persists up to some fluctuation rate, even when there is a physical upper cutoff to the frequency distribution.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Irrigation Induced Surface Cooling in the Context of Modern and Increased Greenhouse Gas Forcing

There is evidence that expected warming trends from increased greenhouse gas (GHG) forcing have been locally masked by irrigation induced cooling, and it is uncertain how the magnitude of this irrigation masking effect will change in the future. Using an irrigation dataset integrated into a global general circulation model, we investigate the equilibrium magnitude of irrigation induced cooling under modern (Year 2000) and increased (A1B Scenario, Year 2050) GHG forcing, using modern irrigation rates in both scenarios. For the modern scenario, the cooling is largest over North America, India, the Middle East, and East Asia. Under increased GHG forcing, this cooling effect largely disappears over North America, remains relatively unchanged over India, and intensifies over parts of China and the Middle East. For North America, irrigation significantly increases precipitation under modern GHG forcing; this precipitation enhancement largely disappears under A1B forcing, reducing total latent heat fluxes and the overall irrigation cooling effect. Over India, irrigation rates are high enough to keep pace with increased evaporative demand from the increased GHG forcing and the magnitude of the cooling is maintained. Over China, GHG forcing reduces precipitation and shifts the region to a drier evaporative regime, leading to a relatively increased impact of additional water from irrigation on the surface energy balance. Irrigation enhances precipitation in the Middle East under increased GHG forcing, increasing total latent heat fluxes and enhancing the irrigation cooling effect. Ultimately, the extent to which irrigation will continue to compensate for the warming from increased GHG forcing will primarily depend on changes in the background evaporative regime, secondary irrigation effects (e.g. clouds, precipitation), and the ability of societies to maintain (or increase) current irrigation rates