An analytic interface dynamo over a shear layer of finite depth

Parker's analytic Cartesian interface dynamo is generalized to the case of a shear layer of finite thickness and low resistivity ("tachocline"), bounded by a perfect conductor ("radiative zone") on the one side, and by a highly diffusive medium ("convective zone") supporting an $\alpha$-effect on the other side. In the limit of high diffusivity contrast between the shear layer and the diffusive medium, thought to be relevant for the Sun, a pair of exact dispersion relations for the growth rate and frequency of dynamo modes is analytically derived. Graphic solution of the dispersion relations displays a somewhat unexpected, non-monotonic behaviour, the mathematical origin of which is elucidated. The dependence of the results on the parameter values (dynamo number and shear layer thickness) is investigated. The implications of this result for the solar dynamo problem are discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn., in pres

Black holes and Higgs stability

We study the effect of primordial black holes on the classical rate of nucleation of AdS regions within the standard electroweak vacuum. We find that the energy barrier for transitions to the new vacuum, which characterizes the exponential suppression of the nucleation rate, can be reduced significantly in the black-hole background. A precise analysis is required in order to determine whether the the existence of primordial black holes is compatible with the form of the Higgs potential at high temperature or density in the Standard Model or its extensions.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figures, conclusions expanded, to appear in JCA

Collective dynamics of molecular motors pulling on fluid membranes

The collective dynamics of $N$ weakly coupled processive molecular motors are considered theoretically. We show, using a discrete lattice model, that the velocity-force curves strongly depend on the effective dynamic interactions between motors and differ significantly from a simple mean field prediction. They become essentially independent of $N$ if it is large enough. For strongly biased motors such as kinesin this occurs if $N\gtrsim 5$. The study of a two-state model shows that the existence of internal states can induce effective interactions.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Transient Nucleation near the Mean-Field Spinodal

Nucleation is considered near the pseudospinodal in a one-dimensional $\phi^4$ model with a non-conserved order parameter and long-range interactions. For a sufficiently large system or a system with slow relaxation to metastable equilibrium, there is a non-negligible probability of nucleation occurring before reaching metastable equilibrium. This process is referred to as transient nucleation. The critical droplet is defined to be the configuration of maximum likelihood that is dynamically balanced between the metastable and stable wells. Time-dependent droplet profiles and nucleation rates are derived, and theoretical results are compared to computer simulation. The analysis reveals a distribution of nucleation times with a distinct peak characteristic of a nonstationary nucleation rate. Under the quench conditions employed, transient critical droplets are more compact than the droplets found in metastable equilibrium simulations and theoretical predictions.Comment: 7 Pages, 5 Figure

Two-meson cloud contribution to the baryon antidecuplet binding

We study the two-meson virtual cloud contribution to the self-energy of the SU(3) antidecuplet, to which the Theta+ pentaquark is assumed to belong. This is motivated by the large branching ratio of the N(1710) decay into two pions and one nucleon. We derive effective Lagrangians that describe the N(1710) decay into N-pi-pi with two pions in s or p wave. We obtain increased binding for all members of the antidecuplet and a contribution to the mass splitting between states with different strangeness which is at least 20 % of the empirical one. We also provide predictions for three-body decays of the pentaquark antidecuplet.Comment: 13 pages, To appear in Phys. Rev.

Strong Interactive Massive Particles from a Strong Coupled Theory

Minimal walking technicolor models can provide a nontrivial solution for cosmological dark matter, if the lightest technibaryon is doubly charged. Technibaryon asymmetry generated in the early Universe is related to baryon asymmetry and it is possible to create excess of techniparticles with charge (-2). These excessive techniparticles are all captured by $^4He$, creating \emph{techni-O-helium} $tOHe$ ``atoms'', as soon as $^4He$ is formed in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. The interaction of techni-O-helium with nuclei opens new paths to the creation of heavy nuclei in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. Due to the large mass of technibaryons, the $tOHe$ ``atomic'' gas decouples from the baryonic matter and plays the role of dark matter in large scale structure formation, while structures in small scales are suppressed. Nuclear interactions with matter slow down cosmic techni-O-helium in Earth below the threshold of underground dark matter detectors, thus escaping severe CDMS constraints. On the other hand, these nuclear interactions are not sufficiently strong to exclude this form of Strongly Interactive Massive Particles by constraints from the XQC experiment. Experimental tests of this hypothesis are possible in search for $tOHe$ in balloon-borne experiments (or on the ground) and for its charged techniparticle constituents in cosmic rays and accelerators. The $tOHe$ ``atoms'' can cause cold nuclear transformations in matter and might form anomalous isotopes, offering possible ways to exclude (or prove?) their existence.Comment: 41 pages, 4 figure

Distance-Redshift in Inhomogeneous Omega0=1Omega_0=1 Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker Cosmology

Distance--redshift relations are given in terms of associated Legendre functions for partially filled beam observations inspatially flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) cosmologies. These models are dynamically pressure-free, flat FLRW on large scales but, due to mass inhomogeneities, differ in their optical properties. The partially filled beam area-redshift equation is a Lame$^{\prime}$ equation for arbitrary FLRW and is shown to simplify to the associated Legendre equation for the spatially flat, i.e. $\Omega_0=1$ case. We fit these new analytic Hubble curves to recent supernovae (SNe) data in an attempt to determine both the mass parameter $\Omega_m$ and the beam filling parameter $\nu$. We find that current data are inadequate to limit $\nu$. However, we are able to estimate what limits are possible when the number of observed SNe is increased by factor of 10 or 100, sample sizes achievable in the near future with the proposed SuperNova Acceleration Probe satellite.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Chaplygin gas dominated anisotropic brane world cosmological models

We present exact solutions of the gravitational field equations in the generalized Randall-Sundrum model for an anisotropic brane with Bianchi type I geometry, with a generalized Chaplygin gas as matter source. The generalized Chaplygin gas, which interpolates between a high density relativistic era and a non-relativistic matter phase, is a popular dark energy candidate. For a Bianchi type I space-time brane filled with a cosmological fluid obeying the generalized Chaplygin equation of state the general solution of the gravitational field equations can be expressed in an exact parametric form, with the comoving volume taken as parameter. In the limiting cases of a stiff cosmological fluid, with pressure equal to the energy density, and for a pressureless fluid, the solution of the field equations can be expressed in an exact analytical form. The evolution of the scalar field associated to the Chaplygin fluid is also considered and the corresponding potential is obtained. The behavior of the observationally important parameters like shear, anisotropy and deceleration parameter is considered in detail.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in PR

Heterogeneous condensation of the Lennard-Jones vapor onto a nanoscale seed particle

The heterogeneous condensation of a Lennard-Jones vapor onto a nanoscale seed particle is studied using molecular dynamics simulations. Measuring the nucleation rate and the height of the free energy barrier using the mean first passage time method shows that the presence of a weakly interacting seed has little effect on the work of forming very small cluster embryos but accelerates the rate by lowering the barrier for larger clusters. We suggest that this results from a competition between the energetic and entropic features of cluster formation in the bulk and at the heterogeneity. As the interaction is increased, the free energy of formation is reduced for all cluster sizes. We also develop a simple phenomenological model of film formation on a small seed that captures the general features of the nucleation process for small heterogeneities. A comparison of our simulation results with the model shows that heterogeneous classical nucleation theory provides a good estimate of the critical size of the film but significantly over-estimates the size of the barrier.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, In Print J. Chem. Phy