Dark Left-Right Model: CDMS, LHC, etc

The Standard Model of particle interactions is extended to include fermion doublets (n,e)_R transforming under the gauge group SU(2)_R such that n is a Dirac scotino (dark-matter fermion), with odd R parity. Based on recent CDMS data, it is shown how this new dark left-right model (DLRM2) favors a Z' gauge boson at around 1 or 2 TeV and be observable at the LHC. The new W_R gauge bosons may also contribute significantly to lepton-flavor-changing processes such as mu to e gamma and mu-e conversion in a nucleus or muonic atom.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, typo corrected, talk at Dark Side of Universe 2010, Leon, Mexic

Supersymmetric contributions to B --> K pi in the view of recent experimental result

Supersymmetric contributions to the branching ratios and CP asymmetries of B--> K pi decays are analyzed in the view of recent experimental measurements. We show that supersymmetry can still provide a natural solution to the apparent discrepancy between theses results and the standard model expectations. We emphasize that chargino contributions may enhance the electroweak penguin effects that can resolve to the B--> K pi puzzle. We also point out that a non-universal $A$-terms is an essential requirement for this solution.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

CP violation in supersymmetric theories

We review the present status of CP violating problem in supersymmetric extensions of the standard model. We analyze the constraints imposed by the experimental limits of the electron, neutron, and mercury electric dipole moments on the supersymmetric CP phases and show that only the scenarios with flavour-off- diagonal CP violation remain attractive. These scenarios require hermitian Yukawa matrices which naturally arise in models with left-right symmetry or a SU(3) flavour symmetry. In this case, epsilon_K and epsilon'/epsilon can be saturated by a small non-universality of the soft scalar masses through the gluino and chargino contributions respectively. The model also predicts a strong correlation between A_{CP}(b-> s gamma) and the neutron electric dipole moment. In this framework, the standard model gives a the leading contribution to the CP asymmetry in B ->psi K_S decay, while the dominant chargino contribution to this asymmetry is < 0.2. Thus, no constraint is set on the non-universality of this model by the recent BaBar and Belle measureets.Comment: 34 pages, 10 figures. Invited review article for International Journal of Modern Physics

Heat flux of a granular gas with homogeneous temperature

A steady state of a granular gas with homogeneous granular temperature, no mass flow, and nonzero heat flux is studied. The state is created by applying an external position--dependent force or by enclosing the grains inside a curved two--dimensional silo. At a macroscopic level, the state is identified with one solution to the inelastic Navier--Stokes equations, due to the coupling between the heat flux induced by the density gradient and the external force. On the contrary, at the mesoscopic level, by exactly solving a BGK model or the inelastic Boltzmann equation in an approximate way, a one--parametric family of solutions is found. Molecular dynamics simulations of the system in the quasi--elastic limit are in agreement with the theoretical results

Reconciling Religion and Philosophy: Nasir-i Khusraw's (d. 1088) Jami' al-hikmatayn

Nāṣir-i Khusraw (d. 481/1088), the renowned Ismāʿīlī philosopher, poet, travel writer, and missionary (dāʿī), took on the formidable challenge of showing the essential harmony between philosophy and Ismāʿīlī doctrine in his Jāmiʿ al-ḥikmatayn (The Reconciliation of Philosophy and Religion). After introducing his life and works, this chapter explores this text’s central themes and examines the manner in which Nāṣir attempts to achieve this reconciliation. Fundamental to Nāṣir’s method is a form of spiritual hermeneutics, or taʾwīl, through which he demonstrates that the truths of philosophy serve as iconic representations of the spiritual truths contained in the Ismāʿīlī interpretation of Islam, thereby restoring philosophy to its original state of union with revealed, prophetic wisdom