596 research outputs found
Synthesizing Finite-state Protocols from Scenarios and Requirements
Scenarios, or Message Sequence Charts, offer an intuitive way of describing
the desired behaviors of a distributed protocol. In this paper we propose a new
way of specifying finite-state protocols using scenarios: we show that it is
possible to automatically derive a distributed implementation from a set of
scenarios augmented with a set of safety and liveness requirements, provided
the given scenarios adequately \emph{cover} all the states of the desired
implementation. We first derive incomplete state machines from the given
scenarios, and then synthesis corresponds to completing the transition relation
of individual processes so that the global product meets the specified
requirements. This completion problem, in general, has the same complexity,
PSPACE, as the verification problem, but unlike the verification problem, is
NP-complete for a constant number of processes. We present two algorithms for
solving the completion problem, one based on a heuristic search in the space of
possible completions and one based on OBDD-based symbolic fixpoint computation.
We evaluate the proposed methodology for protocol specification and the
effectiveness of the synthesis algorithms using the classical alternating-bit
protocol.Comment: This is the working draft of a paper currently in submission.
(February 10, 2014
The Littlest Higgs
We present an economical theory of natural electroweak symmetry breaking,
generalizing an approach based on deconstruction. This theory is the smallest
extension of the Standard Model to date that stabilizes the electroweak scale
with a naturally light Higgs and weakly coupled new physics at TeV energies.
The Higgs is one of a set of pseudo Goldstone bosons in an
nonlinear sigma model. The symmetry breaking scale is around a TeV, with
the cutoff \Lambda \lsim 4\pi f \sim 10 TeV. A single electroweak doublet,
the ``little Higgs'', is automatically much lighter than the other pseudo
Goldstone bosons. The quartic self-coupling for the little Higgs is generated
by the gauge and Yukawa interactions with a natural size ,
while the top Yukawa coupling generates a negative mass squared triggering
electroweak symmetry breaking. Beneath the TeV scale the effective theory is
simply the minimal Standard Model. The new particle content at TeV energies
consists of one set of spin one bosons with the same quantum numbers as the
electroweak gauge bosons, an electroweak singlet quark with charge 2/3, and an
electroweak triplet scalar. One loop quadratically divergent corrections to the
Higgs mass are cancelled by interactions with these additional particles.Comment: 15 pages. References added. Corrected typos in the discussion of the
top Yukawa couplin
Tensor meson exchange at low energies
We complete the analysis of meson resonance contributions to chiral
low-energy constants of O(p^4) by including all quark-antiquark bound states
with orbital angular momentum less or equal to one. Different tensor meson
Lagrangians used in previous work are shown to produce the same final results
for the low-energy constants once QCD short-distance constraints are properly
implemented. We also discuss the possible relevance of axial-vector mesons with
odd C-parity.Comment: 20 pages, comparison with previous work updated, typos removed,
results unchanged, version to appear in EPJ
Conservative Constraints on Dark Matter from the Fermi-LAT Isotropic Diffuse Gamma-Ray Background Spectrum
We examine the constraints on final state radiation from Weakly Interacting
Massive Particle (WIMP) dark matter candidates annihilating into various
standard model final states, as imposed by the measurement of the isotropic
diffuse gamma-ray background by the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi
Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. The expected isotropic diffuse signal from dark
matter annihilation has contributions from the local Milky Way (MW) as well as
from extragalactic dark matter. The signal from the MW is very insensitive to
the adopted dark matter profile of the halos, and dominates the signal from
extragalactic halos, which is sensitive to the low mass cut-off of the halo
mass function. We adopt a conservative model for both the low halo mass
survival cut-off and the substructure boost factor of the Galactic and
extragalactic components, and only consider the primary final state radiation.
This provides robust constraints which reach the thermal production
cross-section for low mass WIMPs annihilating into hadronic modes. We also
reanalyze limits from HESS observations of the Galactic Ridge region using a
conservative model for the dark matter halo profile. When combined with the
HESS constraint, the isotropic diffuse spectrum rules out all interpretations
of the PAMELA positron excess based on dark matter annihilation into two lepton
final states. Annihilation into four leptons through new intermediate states,
although constrained by the data, is not excluded.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures. v3: minor revisions, matches version to appear
in JCA
Smoking-gun signatures of little Higgs models
Little Higgs models predict new gauge bosons, fermions and scalars at the TeV
scale that stabilize the Higgs mass against quadratically divergent one-loop
radiative corrections. We categorize the many little Higgs models into two
classes based on the structure of the extended electroweak gauge group and
examine the experimental signatures that identify the little Higgs mechanism in
addition to those that identify the particular little Higgs model. We find that
by examining the properties of the new heavy fermion(s) at the LHC, one can
distinguish the structure of the top quark mass generation mechanism and test
the little Higgs mechanism in the top sector. Similarly, by studying the
couplings of the new gauge bosons to the light Higgs boson and to the Standard
Model fermions, one can confirm the little Higgs mechanism and determine the
structure of the extended electroweak gauge group.Comment: 59 pages, 10 figures. v2: refs added, typos fixed, JHEP versio
Effect of halo modelling on WIMP exclusion limits
WIMP direct detection experiments are just reaching the sensitivity required
to detect galactic dark matter in the form of neutralinos. Data from these
experiments are usually analysed under the simplifying assumption that the
Milky Way halo is an isothermal sphere with maxwellian velocity distribution.
Observations and numerical simulations indicate that galaxy halos are in fact
triaxial and anisotropic. Furthermore, in the cold dark matter paradigm
galactic halos form via the merger of smaller subhalos, and at least some
residual substructure survives. We examine the effect of halo modelling on WIMP
exclusion limits, taking into account the detector response. Triaxial and
anisotropic halo models, with parameters motivated by observations and
numerical simulations, lead to significant changes which are different for
different experiments, while if the local WIMP distribution is dominated by
small scale clumps then the exclusion limits are changed dramatically.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, version to appear in Phys. Rev. D, minor change
Counting BPS states on the Enriques Calabi-Yau
We study topological string amplitudes for the FHSV model using various
techniques. This model has a type II realization involving a Calabi-Yau
threefold with Enriques fibres, which we call the Enriques Calabi-Yau. By
applying heterotic/type IIA duality, we compute the topological amplitudes in
the fibre to all genera. It turns out that there are two different ways to do
the computation that lead to topological couplings with different BPS content.
One of them leads to the standard D0-D2 counting amplitudes, and from the other
one we obtain information about bound states of D0-D4-D2 branes on the Enriques
fibre. We also study the model using mirror symmetry and the holomorphic
anomaly equations. We verify in this way the heterotic results for the D0-D2
generating functional for low genera and find closed expressions for the
topological amplitudes on the total space in terms of modular forms, and up to
genus four. This model turns out to be much simpler than the generic B-model
and might be exactly solvable.Comment: 62 pages, v3: some results at genus 3 corrected, more typos correcte
Relic neutrino masses and the highest energy cosmic rays
We consider the possibility that a large fraction of the ultrahigh energy
cosmic rays are decay products of Z bosons which were produced in the
scattering of ultrahigh energy cosmic neutrinos on cosmological relic
neutrinos. We compare the observed ultrahigh energy cosmic ray spectrum with
the one predicted in the above Z-burst scenario and determine the required mass
of the heaviest relic neutrino as well as the necessary ultrahigh energy cosmic
neutrino flux via a maximum likelihood analysis. We show that the value of the
neutrino mass obtained in this way is fairly robust against variations in
presently unknown quantities, like the amount of neutrino clustering, the
universal radio background, and the extragalactic magnetic field, within their
anticipated uncertainties. Much stronger systematics arises from different
possible assumptions about the diffuse background of ordinary cosmic rays from
unresolved astrophysical sources. In the most plausible case that these
ordinary cosmic rays are protons of extragalactic origin, one is lead to a
required neutrino mass in the range 0.08 eV - 1.3 eV at the 68 % confidence
level. This range narrows down considerably if a particular universal radio
background is assumed, e.g. to 0.08 eV - 0.40 eV for a large one. The required
flux of ultrahigh energy cosmic neutrinos near the resonant energy should be
detected in the near future by AMANDA, RICE, and the Pierre Auger Observatory,
otherwise the Z-burst scenario will be ruled out.Comment: 19 pages, 22 figures, REVTeX
Understanding Galaxy Formation and Evolution
The old dream of integrating into one the study of micro and macrocosmos is
now a reality. Cosmology, astrophysics, and particle physics intersect in a
scenario (but still not a theory) of cosmic structure formation and evolution
called Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM) model. This scenario emerged mainly to
explain the origin of galaxies. In these lecture notes, I first present a
review of the main galaxy properties, highlighting the questions that any
theory of galaxy formation should explain. Then, the cosmological framework and
the main aspects of primordial perturbation generation and evolution are
pedagogically detached. Next, I focus on the ``dark side'' of galaxy formation,
presenting a review on LCDM halo assembling and properties, and on the main
candidates for non-baryonic dark matter. It is shown how the nature of
elemental particles can influence on the features of galaxies and their
systems. Finally, the complex processes of baryon dissipation inside the
non-linearly evolving CDM halos, formation of disks and spheroids, and
transformation of gas into stars are briefly described, remarking on the
possibility of a few driving factors and parameters able to explain the main
body of galaxy properties. A summary and a discussion of some of the issues and
open problems of the LCDM paradigm are given in the final part of these notes.Comment: 50 pages, 10 low-resolution figures (for normal-resolution, DOWNLOAD
THE PAPER (PDF, 1.9 Mb) FROM http://www.astroscu.unam.mx/~avila/avila.pdf).
Lectures given at the IV Mexican School of Astrophysics, July 18-25, 2005
(submitted to the Editors on March 15, 2006
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