Segregation during directional melting and its implications on seeded crystal growth: A theoretical analysis

Directional melting of binary systems, as encountered during seeding in melt growth, is analyzed for concurrent compositional changes at the crystal-melt interface. It is shown that steady state conditions cannot normally be reached during seeding and that the growth interface temperature at the initial stages of seeded growth is a function of backmelt conditions. The theoretical treatment is numerically applied to Hg1-xCdXTe and Ga-doped Ge

Magnification relations in gravitational lensing via multidimensional residue integrals

We investigate the so-called magnification relations of gravitational lensing models. We show that multidimensional residue integrals provide a simple explanation for the existence of these relations, and an effective method of computation. We illustrate the method with several examples, thereby deriving new magnification relations for galaxy lens models and microlensing (point mass lensing).Comment: 16 pages, uses revtex4, submitted to Journal of Mathematical Physic

Expansion of the Planet Detection Channels in Next-Generation Microlensing Surveys

We classify various types of planetary lensing signals and the channels of detecting them. We estimate the relative frequencies of planet detections through the individual channels with special emphasis on the new channels to be additionally provided by future lensing experiments that will survey wide fields continuously at high cadence by using very large-format imaging cameras. From this investigation, we find that the fraction of wide-separation planets that would be discovered through the new channels of detecting planetary signals as independent and repeating events would be substantial. We estimate that the fraction of planets detectable through the new channels would comprise ~15 -- 30% of all planets depending on the models of the planetary separation distribution and mass ratios of planets. Considering that a significant fraction of planets might exist in the form of free-floating planets, the frequency of planets to be detected through the new channel would be even higher. With the expansion of the channels of detecting planet, future lensing surveys will greatly expand the range of planets to be probed.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, one tabl

Probing the Atmospheres of Planets Orbiting Microlensed Stars via Polarization Variability

We present a new method to identify and probe planetary companions of stars in the Galactic Bulge and Magellanic Clouds using gravitational microlensing. While spectroscopic studies of these planets is well beyond current observational techniques, monitoring polarization fluctuations during high magnification events induced by binary microlensing events will probe the composition of the planetary atmospheres, an observation which otherwise is currently unattainable even for nearby planetary systems.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. To appear in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Gravitational Lenses With More Than Four Images: I. Classification of Caustics

We study the problem of gravitational lensing by an isothermal elliptical density galaxy in the presence of a tidal perturbation. When the perturbation is fairly strong and oriented near the galaxy's minor axis, the lens can produce image configurations with six or even eight highly magnified images lying approximately on a circle. We classify the caustic structures in the model and identify the range of models that can produce such lenses. Sextuple and octuple lenses are likely to be rare because they require special lens configurations, but a full calculation of the likelihood will have to include both the existence of lenses with multiple lens galaxies and the strong magnification bias that affects sextuple and octuple lenses. At optical wavelengths these lenses would probably appear as partial or complete Einstein rings, but at radio wavelengths the individual images could probably be resolved.Comment: 30 pages, including 12 postscript figures; accepted for publication in Ap

Exotic Statistics for Ordinary Particles in Quantum Gravity

Objects exhibiting statistics other than the familiar Bose and Fermi ones are natural in theories with topologically nontrivial objects including geons, strings, and black holes. It is argued here from several viewpoints that the statistics of ordinary particles with which we are already familiar are likely to be modified due to quantum gravity effects. In particular, such modifications are argued to be present in loop quantum gravity and in any theory which represents spacetime in a fundamentally piecewise-linear fashion. The appearance of unusual statistics may be a generic feature (such as the deformed position-momentum uncertainty relations and the appearance of a fundamental length scale) which are to be expected in any theory of quantum gravity, and which could be testable.Comment: Awarded an honourable mention in the 2008 Gravity Research Foundation Essay Competitio

Double precision trajectory program /DPTRAJ 2.2C/

Four part program computes trajectory of space probe moving in solar system and subject to variety of forces

Monte Carlo simulations of the screening potential of the Yukawa one-component plasma

A Monte Carlo scheme to sample the screening potential H(r) of Yukawa plasmas notably at short distances is presented. This scheme is based on an importance sampling technique. Comparisons with former results for the Coulombic one-component plasma are given. Our Monte Carlo simulations yield an accurate estimate of H(r) as well for short range and long range interparticle distances.Comment: to be published in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Genera