Search for R-hadrons at the ATLAS experiment at the LHC

The latest search for massive long-lived hadronising particles with the ATLAS detector is presented. The search is conducted with the inner detector and an integrated luminosity corresponding to 2.06 fb-1 at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV. For Split-SUSY scenarios gluino masses below 810 GeV have been excluded.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of the XLVII Rencontres de Moriond, International Conference on Electroweak Interactions and Unified Theories, La Thuile, Italy, Mar. 4-10, 201

Primordial tensor modes from quantum corrected inflation

We analyze quantum corrections on the naive $\phi^4$-Inflation. These typically lead to an inflaton potential which carries a non-integer power of the field. We consider both minimal and non-minimal couplings to gravity. For the latter case we also study unitarity of inflaton-inflaton scattering. Finally we confront these theories with the Planck and BICEP2 data. We demonstrate that the discovery of primordial tensor modes by BICEP2 require the presence of sizable quantum departures from the $\phi^4$-Inflaton model for the non-minimally coupled scenario which we parametrize and quantify. We compare the results with the minimally coupled case and elucidate the main distinctive features.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures We updated the paper to reflect the new constraints on tensor modes from the BICEP2 experiment. This is reflected in the modified title and throughout the paper by updating the constrains on the allowed quantum correction

Composite Inflation from Super Yang-Mills, Orientifold and One-Flavor QCD

Recent investigations have shown that inflation can be driven by four-dimensional strongly interacting theories non-minimally coupled to gravity. We explore this paradigm further by considering composite inflation driven by orientifold field theories. The advantage of using these theories resides in the fact that at large number of colors they feature certain super Yang-Mills properties. In particular we can use for inflation the bosonic part of the Veneziano-Yankielowicz effective theory. Furthermore, we include the 1/N as well as fermion mass corrections at the effective Lagrangian level allowing us to explore the effects of these corrections on the inflationary slow-roll parameters. Additionally the orientifold field theory with fermionic matter transforming according to the two-index antisymmetric representation for three colors is QCD. Therefore this model can be interpreted as a new non-minimally coupled QCD theory of inflation. The scale of composite inflation, for all the models presented here, is of the order of $10^{16}$ GeV. Unitarity studies of the inflaton scattering suggest that the cutoff of the model is at the Planck scale.Comment: 17 page

Marginally Deformed Starobinsky Gravity

We show that quantum-induced marginal deformations of the Starobinsky gravitational action of the form $R^{2(1 -\alpha)}$, with $R$ the Ricci scalar and $\alpha$ a positive parameter, smaller than one half, can account for the recent experimental observations by BICEP2 of primordial tensor modes. We also suggest natural microscopic (non) gravitational sources of these corrections and demonstrate that they lead generally to a nonzero and positive $\alpha$. Furthermore we argue, that within this framework, the tensor modes probe theories of grand unification with a large scalar field content.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, 2 column

Optimal investment, financing and dividends: A Stackelberg differential game

Financing

State-dependent Energy Allocation in Cod (Gadus Morhua)

Growth and maturation are processes that are tuned to the external environment an individual is likely to experience, where food availability, the mortality regime, and events necessary to complete the life cycle are of special importance. Understanding what influences life history strategies and how changes in life history in turn influence population dynamics and ecological interactions are crucial to our understanding of marine ecology and contemporary anthropogenic induced change. We present a state-dependent model that optimises life-long energy allocation in iteroparous fish. Energy can be allocated to growth or reproduction, and depends in the individuals age, body length, stored energy, and the state of the environment. Allocation and the physiological processes of growth, storing energy, and reproduction are modelled mechanistically. The model is parameterised for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua); more specifically for the Northeast Arctic cod stock. Growth and maturation predicted by the model fit well with field observations, and based on a further investigation of cod reproduction in the model we conclude that the model has the ability to recapture complex life history phenomena, e.g. indeterminate growth and skipped spawning, and therefore provides an important tool that can improve our understanding of life history strategies in fish

Carbon Dioxide Production in Animal Houses: A literature review

This article deals with carbon dioxide production from farm animals; more specifically, it addresses the possibilities of using the measured carbon dioxide concentration in animal houses as basis for estimation of ventilation flow (as the ventilation flow is a key parameter of aerial emissions from animal houses). The investigations include measurements in respiration chambers and in animal houses, mainly for growing pigs and broilers. Over the last decade a fixed carbon dioxide production of 185 litres per hour per heat production unit, hpu (i.e. 1000 W of the total animal heat production at 20 oC) has often been used. The article shows that the carbon dioxide production per hpu increases with increasing respiration quotient. As the respiration quotient increases with body mass for growing animals, the carbon dioxide production per heat production unit also increases with increased body mass. The carbon dioxide production is e.g. less than 185 litres per hour per hpu for weaners and broilers and higher for growing finishing pigs and cows. The analyses show that the measured carbon dioxide production is higher in full scale animal houses than measured in respiration chambers, due to differences in manure handling. In respiration chambers there is none or very limited carbon dioxide contribution from manure; unlike in animal houses, where a certain carbon dioxide contribution from manure handling may be foreseen. Therefore, it is necessary to make a correction of data from respiration chambers, when used in full scale animal buildings as basis for estimation of ventilation flow. Based on the data reviewed in this study, we recommend adding 10% carbon dioxide production to the laboratory based carbon dioxide production for animal houses with slatted or solid floors, provided that indoor manure cellars are emptied regularly in a four weeks interval. Due to a high and variable carbon dioxide production in deep straw litter houses and houses with indoor storage of manure longer than four weeks, we do not recommend to calculate the ventilation flow based on the carbon dioxide concentration for these houses