Effective Field Theory Program for Conformal Quantum Anomalies

The emergence of conformal states is established for any problem involving a domain of scales where the long-range, SO(2,1) conformally invariant interaction is applicable. Whenever a clear-cut separation of ultraviolet and infrared cutoffs is in place, this renormalization mechanism produces binding in the strong-coupling regime. A realization of this phenomenon, in the form of dipole-bound anions, is discussed.Comment: 15 pages. Expanded, with additional calculational details. To be published in Phys. Rev.

Renormalization of the Inverse Square Potential

The quantum-mechanical D-dimensional inverse square potential is analyzed using field-theoretic renormalization techniques. A solution is presented for both the bound-state and scattering sectors of the theory using cutoff and dimensional regularization. In the renormalized version of the theory, there is a strong-coupling regime where quantum-mechanical breaking of scale symmetry takes place through dimensional transmutation, with the creation of a single bound state and of an energy-dependent s-wave scattering matrix element.Comment: 5 page

Quantum Anomaly in Molecular Physics

The interaction of an electron with a polar molecule is shown to be the simplest realization of a quantum anomaly in a physical system. The existence of a critical dipole moment for electron capture and formation of anions, which has been confirmed experimentally and numerically, is derived. This phenomenon is a manifestation of the anomaly associated with quantum symmetry breaking of the classical scale invariance exhibited by the point-dipole interaction. Finally, analysis of symmetry breaking for this system is implemented within two different models: point dipole subject to an anomaly and finite dipole subject to explicit symmetry breaking.Comment: 4 page

The CH2CN- molecule: Carrier of the lambda8037 diffuse interstellar band?

The hypothesis that the cyanomethyl anion CH2CN- is responsible for the relatively narrow diffuse interstellar band (DIB) at 8037.8 +- 0.15 Angstroms is examined with reference to new observational data. The 0_0^0 absorption band arising from the ^1B_1 - X ^1A' transition from the electronic ground state to the first dipole-bound state of the anion is calculated for a rotational temperature of 2.7 K using literature spectroscopic parameters and results in a rotational contour with a peak wavelength of 8037.78 Angstroms. By comparison with diffuse band and atomic line absorption spectra of eight heavily-reddened Galactic sightlines, CH2CN- is found to be a plausible carrier of the lambda8037 diffuse interstellar band provided the rotational contour is Doppler-broadened with a b parameter between 16 and 33 km/s that depends on the specific sightline. Convolution of the calculated CH2CN- transitions with the optical depth profile of interstellar Ti II results in a good match with the profile of the narrow lambda8037 DIB observed towards HD 183143, HD 168112 and Cyg OB2 8a. The rotational level populations may be influenced by nuclear spin statistics, resulting in the appearance of additional transitions from K_a = 1 of ortho CH2CN- near 8025 and 8050 Angstroms that are not seen in currently available interstellar spectra. For CH2CN- to be the carrier of the lambda8037 diffuse interstellar band, either a) there must be mechanisms that convert CH2CN- from the ortho to the para form, or b) the chemistry that forms CH2CN- must result in a population of K_a'' levels approaching a Boltzmann distribution near 3 K

Weakly Bound Clusters of Biological Interest

International audienc

INFLUENCE OF SOLVATION UPON ELECTRON AFFINITIES OF POLAR MOLECULES

International audienc

Gas-Phase Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Adenine, Imidazole, Pyrrole, and Water Non-Covalent Complexes

International audienc