801 research outputs found
Quark and Lepton Mass Patterns and the Absolute Neutrino Mass Scale
We investigate what could be learned about the absolute scale of neutrino
masses from comparisons among the patterns within quark and lepton mass
hierarchies. First, we observe that the existing information on neutrino masses
fits quite well to the unexplained, but apparently present regularities in the
quark and charged lepton sectors. Second, we discuss several possible mass
patterns, pointing out that this quite generally leads towards hierarchical
neutrino mass patterns especially disfavoring the vacuum solution.Comment: final version to be published in PRD, 5 pages, 2 figures, RevTe
Models of Neutrino Masses: Anarchy versus Hierarchy
We present a quantitative study of the ability of models with different
levels of hierarchy to reproduce the solar neutrino solutions, in particular
the LA solution. As a flexible testing ground we consider models based on
SU(5)xU(1)_F. In this context, we have made statistical simulations of models
with different patterns from anarchy to various types of hierachy: normal
hierarchical models with and without automatic suppression of the 23
(sub)determinant and inverse hierarchy models. We find that, not only for the
LOW or VO solutions, but even in the LA case, the hierarchical models have a
significantly better success rate than those based on anarchy. The normal
hierachy and the inverse hierarchy models have comparable performances in
models with see-saw dominance, while the inverse hierarchy models are
particularly good in the no see-saw versions. As a possible distinction between
these categories of models, the inverse hierarchy models favour a maximal solar
mixing angle and their rate of success drops dramatically as the mixing angle
decreases, while normal hierarchy models are far more stable in this respect.Comment: v1: 28 pages, 12 figures; v2: 34 pages, 14 figures, updated previous
analysis with the inclusion of recent SNO result
Energy Independent Solution to the Solar Neutrino Anomaly including the SNO data
The global data on solar neutrino rates and spectrum, including the SNO
charged current rate, can be explained by LMA, LOW or the energy independent
solution -- corresponding to near-maximal mixing. All the three favour a mild
upward renormalisation of the Cl rate. A mild downward shift of the
neutrino flux is favoured by the energy independent and to a lesser extent the
LOW solution, but not by LMA. Comparison with the ratio of SK elastic and SNO
charged current scattering rates favours the LMA over the other two solutions,
but by no more than .Comment: 18 pages, latex, 3 figure
A SUSY SU(5) Grand Unified Model of Tri-Bimaximal Mixing from A4
We discuss a grand unified model based on SUSY SU(5) in extra dimensions and
on the flavour group A4xU(1) which, besides reproducing tri-bimaximal mixing
for neutrinos with the accuracy required by the data, also leads to a natural
description of the observed pattern of quark masses and mixings.Comment: 19 page
Annular Breakthrough
This report investigates mechanisms for annular breakthrough in a single-bearing system. The model treats the bearing as a "canal lock" mechanism and it assumes the competing effects of large pressure gradients across the washer and friction are of the same order. The pressure gradient is assumed to vary sinusoidally in time. The bearing rapidly settles into periodic motion and no breakthrough instability is observed
Deviation of Atmospheric Mixing from Maximal and Structure in the Leptonic Flavor Sector
I attempt to quantify how far from maximal one should expect the atmospheric
mixing angle to be given a neutrino mass-matrix that leads, at zeroth order, to
a nu_3 mass-eigenstate that is 0% nu_e, 50% nu_mu, and 50% nu_tau. This is done
by assuming that the solar mass-squared difference is induced by an
"anarchical" first order perturbation, an approach than can naturally lead to
experimentally allowed values for all oscillation parameters. In particular,
both |cos 2theta_atm| (the measure for the deviation of atmospheric mixing from
maximal) and |U_e3| are of order sqrt(Delta m^2_sol/Delta m^2_atm) in the case
of a normal neutrino mass-hierarchy, or of order Delta m^2_sol/Delta m^2_atm in
the case of an inverted one. Hence, if any of the textures analyzed here has
anything to do with reality, next-generation neutrino experiments can see a
nonzero cos 2theta_atm in the case of a normal mass-hierarchy, while in the
case of an inverted mass-hierarchy only neutrino factories should be able to
see a deviation of sin^2 2theta_atm from 1.Comment: 12 pages, no figures, references and acknowledgments adde
Hierarchical Neutrino Mass Matrices, CP violation and Leptogenesis
In this work we study examples of hierarchical neutrino mass matrices
inspired by family symmetries, compatible with experiments on neutrino
oscillations, and for which there is a connection among the low energy CP
violation phase associated to neutrino oscillations, the phases appearing in
the amplitude of neutrinoless double beta decay, and the phases relevant for
leptogenesis. In particular, we determine the predictions from a texture based
on an underlying SU(3) family symmetry together with a GUT symmetry, and a
strong hierarchy for the masses of the heavy right handed Majorana masses. We
also give some examples of inverted hierarchies of neutrino masses, which may
be motivated in the context of U(1) family symmetries.Comment: 34 pages. Replaced with published version -typos, corrections and
references adde
Constraints on Natural MNS Parameters from |U_e3|
The MNS matrix structure emerging as a result of recent neutrino measurements
strongly suggests two large mixing angles (solar and atmospheric) and one small
angle (|U_e3| << 1). Especially when combined with the neutrino mass hierarchy,
these values turn out to impose rather stringent constraints on possible flavor
models connecting the three active fermion generations. Specifically, we show
that an extremely small value of |U_e3| would require fine tuning of Majorana
mass matrix parameters, particularly in the context of seesaw models.Comment: 21 pages, ReVTeX, 2 .eps figure files, updated references and
acknowledgment
Red Queen Coevolution on Fitness Landscapes
Species do not merely evolve, they also coevolve with other organisms.
Coevolution is a major force driving interacting species to continuously evolve
ex- ploring their fitness landscapes. Coevolution involves the coupling of
species fit- ness landscapes, linking species genetic changes with their
inter-specific ecological interactions. Here we first introduce the Red Queen
hypothesis of evolution com- menting on some theoretical aspects and empirical
evidences. As an introduction to the fitness landscape concept, we review key
issues on evolution on simple and rugged fitness landscapes. Then we present
key modeling examples of coevolution on different fitness landscapes at
different scales, from RNA viruses to complex ecosystems and macroevolution.Comment: 40 pages, 12 figures. To appear in "Recent Advances in the Theory and
Application of Fitness Landscapes" (H. Richter and A. Engelbrecht, eds.).
Springer Series in Emergence, Complexity, and Computation, 201
Constraining fundamental constants of physics with quasar absorption line systems
We summarize the attempts by our group and others to derive constraints on
variations of fundamental constants over cosmic time using quasar absorption
lines. Most upper limits reside in the range 0.5-1.5x10-5 at the 3sigma level
over a redshift range of approximately 0.5-2.5 for the fine-structure constant,
alpha, the proton-to-electron mass ratio, mu, and a combination of the proton
gyromagnetic factor and the two previous constants, gp(alpha^2/mu)^nu, for only
one claimed variation of alpha. It is therefore very important to perform new
measurements to improve the sensitivity of the numerous methods to at least
<0.1x10-5 which should be possible in the next few years. Future
instrumentations on ELTs in the optical and/or ALMA, EVLA and SKA pathfinders
in the radio will undoutedly boost this field by allowing to reach much better
signal-to-noise ratios at higher spectral resolution and to perform
measurements on molecules in the ISM of high redshift galaxies.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure
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