A three-loop check of the 'a - maximization' in SQCD with adjoint(s)

The 'a - maximization' was introduced by K. Inrtiligator and B. Wecht for finding anomalous dimensions of chiral superfields at the IR fixed points of the RG flow. Using known explicit calculations of anomalous dimensions in the perturbation theory of SQCD (with one or two additional adjoint fields), it is checked here at the three-loop level.Comment: 5 pages; the title changed, the text improved and expande

Connected sum at infinity and 4-manifolds

We study connected sum at infinity on smooth, open manifolds. This operation requires a choice of proper ray in each manifold summand. In favorable circumstances, the connected sum at infinity operation is independent of ray choices. For each m at least 3, we construct an infinite family of pairs of m-manifolds on which the connected sum at infinity operation yields distinct manifolds for certain ray choices. We use cohomology algebras at infinity to distinguish these manifolds.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figure

Terrestrial Planet Formation Surrounding Close Binary Stars

Disk material has been observed around both components of some young close binary star systems. It has been shown that if planets form at the right places within such disks, they can remain dynamically stable for very long times. Herein, we numerically simulate the late stages of terrestrial planet growth in circumbinary disks around 'close' binary star systems with stellar separations between 0.05 AU and 0.4 AU and binary eccentricities up to 0.8. In each simulation, the sum of the masses of the two stars is 1 solar mass, and giant planets are included. Our results are statistically compared to a set of planet formation simulations in the Sun-Jupiter-Saturn system that begin with essentially the same initial disk of protoplanets. The planetary systems formed around binaries with apastron distances less than ~ 0.2 AU are very similar to those around single stars, whereas those with larger maximum separations tend to be sparcer, with fewer planets, especially interior to 1 AU. We also provide formulae that can be used to scale results of planetary accretion simulations to various systems with different total stellar mass, disk sizes, and planetesimal masses and densities.Comment: 60 pages, 4 tables, and 11 low resolution eps figures. Article with high resolution figures is available at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~equintan/publications.html . Accepted for publication in Icaru

Vortex containment for the gaseous-fission rocket

The nuclear rocket is potentially capable of much higher specific impulse than any chemically fueled rocket, because of the high energy content per unit mass of the fissionable material. While a part of this potential can be realized by use of a low molecular weight propellant heated by solid fuel plates, it seems clear that the full potential can be realized only if the fissionable material can be retained in gaseous form, and its fission energy transferred directly to the propellant

The use of TOMS data for tropospheric ozone studies

Instances were identified where enhancements of tropical ozone are associated with sporadic widespread biomass burning. A strong positive correlation exists between total ozone and the distribution of carbon monoxide in the tropics, indicating that total ozone data can be used for tropospheric ozone studies. Using ozone profiles derived from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE), preliminary findings show enhanced tropospheric ozone concentrations over Africa and the eastern Atlantic at tropical latitudes. Other preliminary studies also suggest that Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data may provide a means of identifying widespread air pollution episodes over the United States during the summer