QCD at non-zero chemical potential and temperature from the lattice

A study of QCD at non-zero chemical potential, mu, and temperature, T, is performed using the lattice technique. The transition temperature (between the confined and deconfined phases) is determined as a function of mu and is found to be in agreement with other work. In addition the variation of the pressure and energy density with mu is obtained for small positive mu. These results are of particular relevance for heavy-ion collision experiments.Comment: Invited paper presented at the Joint Workshop on Physics at the Japanese Hadron Facility, March 2002, Adelaide. 10 pages, uses ws-procs9x6.cls style file (provided

The quark mass and μ\mu dependence of the QCD chiral critical point

In order to study the QCD chiral critical point we investigate Binder Cumulants of the chiral condensate. The results were obtained from simulations of 3 and 2+1 flavors of standard staggered fermions and 3 flavors of p4 improved staggered fermions. The quark masses used are close to the physical quark mass. To extract the dependence on quark mass and chemical potential we apply a new reweighting technique based on a Taylor expansion of the action. The reweighting accuracy is ${\cal O}(m)$ for the standard and ${\cal O}(m^2)$, ${\cal O}(\mu^2)$ for the p4 action.Comment: 3 pages, 6 figures, Lattice2002(nonzerot

The QCD phase transition at high temperature and low density

We study the thermal properties of QCD in the presence of a small quark chemical potential $\mu$. Derivatives of the phase transition point with respect to $\mu$ are computed at $\mu=0$ for 2 and 3 flavors of p-4 improved staggered fermions on a $16^3\times4$ lattice. Moreover we contrast the case of isoscalar and isovector chemical potentials, quantify the effect of $\mu\not=0$ on the equation of state, and comment on the screening effect by dynamical quarks and the complex phase of the fermion determinant in QCD with $\mu\not=0$.Comment: Lattice2002(nonzerot), 3 pages, 2 figure

QCD at non-zero temperature and density from the lattice

The study of systems as diverse as the cores of neutron stars and heavy-ion collision experiments requires the understanding of the phase structure of QCD at non-zero temperature, T, and chemical potential, mu_q. We review some of the difficulties of performing lattice simulations of QCD with non-zero mu_q, and outline the re-weighting method used to overcome this problem. This method is used to determine the critical endpoint of QCD in the (mu_q,T) plane. We study the pressure and quark number susceptibility at small mu_q.Comment: 5 pages, talk presented by C.R. Allton at the QCD Downunder Conference, Barossa Valley and Adelaide, March 200

The Equation of State for Two Flavor QCD at Non-zero Chemical Potential

We present results of a simulation of QCD on a 4x16^3 lattice with 2 continuum flavors of p4-improved staggered fermion with mass m/T=0.4. Derivatives of the thermodynamic grand potential with respect to quark chemical potential mu_q up to fourth order are calculated, enabling estimates of the pressure, quark number density and associated susceptibilities as functions of mu_q via Taylor series expansion. Discretisation effects associated with various staggered fermion formulations are discussed in some detail. In addition it is possible to estimate the radius of convergence of the expansion as a function of temperature. We also discuss the calculation of energy and entropy densities which are defined via mixed derivatives of the thermodynamic grand potential with respect to the bare couplings and quark masses.Comment: 30 pages, LaTeX2e File, 17 Postscript figure

The QCD thermal phase transition in the presence of a small chemical potential

We propose a new method to investigate the thermal properties of QCD with a small quark chemical potential $\mu$. Derivatives of the phase transition point with respect to $\mu$ are computed at $\mu=0$ for 2 flavors of p-4 improved staggered fermions with $ma=0.1,0.2$ on a $16^3\times4$ lattice. The resulting Taylor expansion is well behaved for the small values of $\mu_{\rm q}/T_c\sim0.1$ relevant for RHIC phenomenology, and predicts a critical curve $T_c(\mu)$ in reasonable agreement with estimates obtained using exact reweighting. In addition, we contrast the case of isoscalar and isovector chemical potentials, quantify the effect of $\mu\not=0$ on the equation of state, and comment on the complex phase of the fermion determinant in QCD with $\mu\not=0$.Comment: 26 pages, 25 figures, minor modificatio

Boron isotopes in foraminifera : systematics, biomineralisation, and CO2 reconstruction

Funding: Fellowship from University of St Andrews, $100 (pending) from Richard Zeebe, UK NERC grants NE/N003861/1 and NE/N011716/1.The boron isotope composition of foraminifera provides a powerful tracer for CO2 change over geological time. This proxy is based on the equilibrium of boron and its isotopes in seawater, which is a function of pH. However while the chemical principles underlying this proxy are well understood, its reliability has previously been questioned, due to the difficulty of boron isotope (δ11B) analysis on foraminferal samples and questions regarding calibrations between δ11B and pH. This chapter reviews the current state of the δ11B-pH proxy in foraminfera, including the pioneering studies that established this proxy’s potential, and the recent work that has improved understanding of boron isotope systematics in foraminifera and applied this tracer to the geological record. The theoretical background of the δ11B-pH proxy is introduced, including an accurate formulation of the boron isotope mass balance equations. Sample preparation and analysis procedures are then reviewed, with discussion of sample cleaning, the potential influence of diagenesis, and the strengths and weaknesses of boron purification by column chromatography versus microsublimation, and analysis by NTIMS versus MC-ICPMS. The systematics of boron isotopes in foraminifera are discussed in detail, including results from benthic and planktic taxa, and models of boron incorporation, fractionation, and biomineralisation. Benthic taxa from the deep ocean have δ11B within error of borate ion at seawater pH. This is most easily explained by simple incorporation of borate ion at the pH of seawater. Planktic foraminifera have δ11B close to borate ion, but with minor offsets. These may be driven by physiological influences on the foraminiferal microenvironment; a novel explanation is also suggested for the reduced δ11B-pH sensitivities observed in culture, based on variable calcification rates. Biomineralisation influences on boron isotopes are then explored, addressing the apparently contradictory observations that foraminifera manipulate pH during chamber formation yet their δ11B appears to record the pH of ambient seawater. Potential solutions include the influences of magnesium-removal and carbon concentration, and the possibility that pH elevation is most pronounced during initial chamber formation under favourable environmental conditions. The steps required to reconstruct pH and pCO2 from δ11B are then reviewed, including the influence of seawater chemistry on boron equilibrium, the evolution of seawater δ11B, and the influence of second carbonate system parameters on δ11B-based reconstructions of pCO2. Applications of foraminiferal δ11B to the geological record are highlighted, including studies that trace CO2 storage and release during recent ice ages, and reconstructions of pCO2 over the Cenozoic. Relevant computer codes and data associated with this article are made available online.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe