Calculation of nuclear spin-dependent parity-nonconserving amplitude for (7s,F=4) --> (7s,F=5) transition in Fr

Many-body calculation of nuclear spin-dependent parity-nonconserving amplitude for (7s,F=4) --> (7s,F=5) transition between hyperfine sublevels of the ground state of $^{211}$Fr is carried out. The final result is <7s,F=5 ||d_PNC|| 7s,F=4> = -0.49 10^{-10} i kappa a.u., where kappa is the dimensionless coupling constant. This is approximately an order of magnitude larger than similar amplitude in Cs. The dominant contribution to kappa is associated with the anapole moment of the nucleus.Comment: 4 pages, submitted to Phys.Rev.

Gauge-Invariant Resummation Formalism and Unitarity in Non-Commutative QED

We re-examine the perturbative properties of four-dimensional non-commutative QED by extending the pinch techniques to the theta-deformed case. The explicit independence of the pinched gluon self-energy from gauge-fixing parameters, and the absence of unphysical thresholds in the resummed propagators permits a complete check of the optical theorem for the off-shell two-point function. The known anomalous (tachyonic) dispersion relations are recovered within this framework, as well as their improved version in the (softly broken) SUSY case. These applications should be considered as a first step in constructing gauge-invariant truncations of the Schwinger-Dyson equations in the non-commutative case. An interesting result of our formalism appears when considering the theory in two dimensions: we observe a finite gauge-invariant contribution to the photon mass because of a novel incarnation of IR/UV mixing, which survives the commutative limit when matter is present.Comment: 30 pages, 2 eps figure, uses axodraw. Citations adde

Quadrupole Moments of Neutron-Deficient 20,21^{20, 21}Na

The electric-quadrupole coupling constant of the ground states of the proton drip line nucleus $^{20}$Na($I^{\pi}$ = 2$^{+}$, $T_{1/2}$ = 447.9 ms) and the neutron-deficient nucleus $^{21}$Na($I^{\pi}$ = 3/2$^{+}$, $T_{1/2}$ = 22.49 s) in a hexagonal ZnO single crystal were precisely measured to be $|eqQ/h| = 690 \pm 12$ kHz and 939 $\pm$ 14 kHz, respectively, using the multi-frequency $\beta$-ray detecting nuclear magnetic resonance technique under presence of an electric-quadrupole interaction. A electric-quadrupole coupling constant of $^{27}$Na in the ZnO crystal was also measured to be $|eqQ/h| = 48.4 \pm 3.8$ kHz. The electric-quadrupole moments were extracted as $|Q(^{20}$Na)$|$ = 10.3 $\pm$ 0.8 $e$ fm$^2$ and $|Q(^{21}$Na)$|$ = 14.0 $\pm$ 1.1 $e$ fm$^2$, using the electric-coupling constant of $^{27}$Na and the known quadrupole moment of this nucleus as references. The present results are well explained by shell-model calculations in the full $sd$-shell model space.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physics Letters

Gauge Theory on Fuzzy S^2 x S^2 and Regularization on Noncommutative R^4

We define U(n) gauge theory on fuzzy S^2_N x S^2_N as a multi-matrix model, which reduces to ordinary Yang-Mills theory on S^2 x S^2 in the commutative limit N -> infinity. The model can be used as a regularization of gauge theory on noncommutative R^4_\theta in a particular scaling limit, which is studied in detail. We also find topologically non-trivial U(1) solutions, which reduce to the known "fluxon" solutions in the limit of R^4_\theta, reproducing their full moduli space. Other solutions which can be interpreted as 2-dimensional branes are also found. The quantization of the model is defined non-perturbatively in terms of a path integral which is finite. A gauge-fixed BRST-invariant action is given as well. Fermions in the fundamental representation of the gauge group are included using a formulation based on SO(6), by defining a fuzzy Dirac operator which reduces to the standard Dirac operator on S^2 x S^2 in the commutative limit. The chirality operator and Weyl spinors are also introduced.Comment: 39 pages. V2-4: References added, typos fixe

Localization for Yang-Mills Theory on the Fuzzy Sphere

We present a new model for Yang-Mills theory on the fuzzy sphere in which the configuration space of gauge fields is given by a coadjoint orbit. In the classical limit it reduces to ordinary Yang-Mills theory on the sphere. We find all classical solutions of the gauge theory and use nonabelian localization techniques to write the partition function entirely as a sum over local contributions from critical points of the action, which are evaluated explicitly. The partition function of ordinary Yang-Mills theory on the sphere is recovered in the classical limit as a sum over instantons. We also apply abelian localization techniques and the geometry of symmetric spaces to derive an explicit combinatorial expression for the partition function, and compare the two approaches. These extend the standard techniques for solving gauge theory on the sphere to the fuzzy case in a rigorous framework.Comment: 55 pages. V2: references added; V3: minor corrections, reference added; Final version to be published in Communications in Mathematical Physic

D0-D4 brane tachyon condensation to a BPS state and its excitation spectrum in noncommutative super Yang-Mills theory

We investigate the D0-D4-brane system for different B-field backgrounds including the small instanton singularity in noncommutative SYM theory. We discuss the excitation spectrum of the unstable state as well as for the BPS D0-D4 bound state. We compute the tachyon potential which reproduces the complete mass defect. The relevant degrees of freedom are the massless (4,4) strings. Both results are in contrast with existing string field theory calculations. The excitation spectrum of the small instanton is found to be equal to the excitation spectrum of the fluxon solution on R^2_theta x R which we trace back to T-duality. For the effective theory of the (0,0) string excitations we obtain a BFSS matrix model. The number of states in the instanton background changes significantly when the B-field becomes self-dual. This leads us to the proposal of the existence of a phase transition or cross over at self-dual B-field.Comment: a4 11pt Latex2e 40 pages; v2: typos fixed, refined comments on renormalisation, refs added, v3: ref added, version publishe

Horizontal Branch Stars: The Interplay between Observations and Theory, and Insights into the Formation of the Galaxy

We review HB stars in a broad astrophysical context, including both variable and non-variable stars. A reassessment of the Oosterhoff dichotomy is presented, which provides unprecedented detail regarding its origin and systematics. We show that the Oosterhoff dichotomy and the distribution of globular clusters (GCs) in the HB morphology-metallicity plane both exclude, with high statistical significance, the possibility that the Galactic halo may have formed from the accretion of dwarf galaxies resembling present-day Milky Way satellites such as Fornax, Sagittarius, and the LMC. A rediscussion of the second-parameter problem is presented. A technique is proposed to estimate the HB types of extragalactic GCs on the basis of integrated far-UV photometry. The relationship between the absolute V magnitude of the HB at the RR Lyrae level and metallicity, as obtained on the basis of trigonometric parallax measurements for the star RR Lyrae, is also revisited, giving a distance modulus to the LMC of (m-M)_0 = 18.44+/-0.11. RR Lyrae period change rates are studied. Finally, the conductive opacities used in evolutionary calculations of low-mass stars are investigated. [ABRIDGED]Comment: 56 pages, 22 figures. Invited review, to appear in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Search for a W' boson decaying to a bottom quark and a top quark in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

Results are presented from a search for a W' boson using a dataset corresponding to 5.0 inverse femtobarns of integrated luminosity collected during 2011 by the CMS experiment at the LHC in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV. The W' boson is modeled as a heavy W boson, but different scenarios for the couplings to fermions are considered, involving both left-handed and right-handed chiral projections of the fermions, as well as an arbitrary mixture of the two. The search is performed in the decay channel W' to t b, leading to a final state signature with a single lepton (e, mu), missing transverse energy, and jets, at least one of which is tagged as a b-jet. A W' boson that couples to fermions with the same coupling constant as the W, but to the right-handed rather than left-handed chiral projections, is excluded for masses below 1.85 TeV at the 95% confidence level. For the first time using LHC data, constraints on the W' gauge coupling for a set of left- and right-handed coupling combinations have been placed. These results represent a significant improvement over previously published limits.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters B. Replaced with version publishe

Measurement of the Lambda(b) cross section and the anti-Lambda(b) to Lambda(b) ratio with Lambda(b) to J/Psi Lambda decays in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

The Lambda(b) differential production cross section and the cross section ratio anti-Lambda(b)/Lambda(b) are measured as functions of transverse momentum pt(Lambda(b)) and rapidity abs(y(Lambda(b))) in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurements are based on Lambda(b) decays reconstructed in the exclusive final state J/Psi Lambda, with the subsequent decays J/Psi to an opposite-sign muon pair and Lambda to proton pion, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.9 inverse femtobarns. The product of the cross section times the branching ratio for Lambda(b) to J/Psi Lambda versus pt(Lambda(b)) falls faster than that of b mesons. The measured value of the cross section times the branching ratio for pt(Lambda(b)) > 10 GeV and abs(y(Lambda(b))) < 2.0 is 1.06 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.12 nb, and the integrated cross section ratio for anti-Lambda(b)/Lambda(b) is 1.02 +/- 0.07 +/- 0.09, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters

Search for new physics in events with opposite-sign leptons, jets, and missing transverse energy in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search is presented for physics beyond the standard model (BSM) in final states with a pair of opposite-sign isolated leptons accompanied by jets and missing transverse energy. The search uses LHC data recorded at a center-of-mass energy sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 5 inverse femtobarns. Two complementary search strategies are employed. The first probes models with a specific dilepton production mechanism that leads to a characteristic kinematic edge in the dilepton mass distribution. The second strategy probes models of dilepton production with heavy, colored objects that decay to final states including invisible particles, leading to very large hadronic activity and missing transverse energy. No evidence for an event yield in excess of the standard model expectations is found. Upper limits on the BSM contributions to the signal regions are deduced from the results, which are used to exclude a region of the parameter space of the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. Additional information related to detector efficiencies and response is provided to allow testing specific models of BSM physics not considered in this paper.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO