338 research outputs found
Particle-Number Restoration within the Energy Density Functional Formalism
We give a detailed analysis of the origin of spurious divergences and finite
steps that have been recently identified in particle-number restoration
calculations within the nuclear energy density functional framework. We isolate
two distinct levels of spurious contributions to the energy. The first one is
encoded in the definition of the basic energy density functional itself whereas
the second one relates to the canonical procedure followed to extend the use of
the energy density functional to multi-reference calculations. The first level
of spuriosity relates to the long-known self-interaction problem and to the
newly discussed self-pairing interaction process which might appear when
describing paired systems with energy functional methods using auxiliary
reference states of Bogoliubov or BCS type. A minimal correction to the second
level of spuriosity to the multi-reference nuclear energy density functional
proposed in [D. Lacroix, T. Duguet, M. Bender, arXiv:0809.2041] is shown to
remove completely the anomalies encountered in particle-number restored
calculations. In particular, it restores sum-rules over (positive) particle
numbers that are to be fulfilled by the particle-number-restored formalism. The
correction is found to be on the order of several hundreds of keVs up to about
1 MeV in realistic calculations, which is small compared to the total binding
energy, but often accounts for a substantial percentage of the energy gain from
particle-number restoration and is on the same energy scale as the excitations
one addresses with multi-reference energy density functional methods.Comment: 37 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in PR
Configuration Mixing within the Energy Density Functional Formalism: Removing Spurious Contributions from Non-Diagonal Energy Kernels
Multi-reference calculations along the lines of the Generator Coordinate
Method or the restoration of broken symmetries within the nuclear Energy
Density Functional (EDF) framework are becoming a standard tool in nuclear
structure physics. These calculations rely on the extension of a
single-reference energy functional, of the Gogny or the Skyrme types, to
non-diagonal energy kernels. There is no rigorous constructive framework for
this extension so far. The commonly accepted way proceeds by formal analogy
with the expressions obtained when applying the generalized Wick theorem to the
non-diagonal matrix element of a Hamilton operator between two product states.
It is pointed out that this procedure is ill-defined when extended to EDF
calculations as the generalized Wick theorem is taken outside of its range of
applicability. In particular, such a procedure is responsible for the
appearance of spurious divergences and steps in multi-reference EDF energies,
as was recently observed in calculations restoring particle number or angular
momentum. In the present work, we give a formal analysis of the origin of this
problem for calculations with and without pairing, i.e. constructing the
density matrices from either Slater determinants or quasi-particle vacua. We
propose a correction to energy kernels that removes the divergences and steps,
and which is applicable to calculations based on any symmetry restoration or
generator coordinate. The method is formally illustrated for particle number
restoration and is specified to configuration mixing calculations based on
Slater determinants.Comment: 27 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in PR
The Recent Stellar Archeology of M31 - The Nearest Red Disk Galaxy
We examine the star-forming history (SFH) of the M31 disk during the past few
hundred Myr. The luminosity functions (LFs) of main sequence stars at distances
R_GC > 21 kpc (i.e. > 4 disk scale lengths) are matched by models that assume a
constant star formation rate (SFR). However, at smaller R_GC the LFs suggest
that during the past ~10 Myr the SFR was 2 - 3 times higher than during the
preceding ~100 Myr. The rings of cool gas that harbor a significant fraction of
the current star-forming activity are traced by stars with ages ~100 Myr,
indicating that (1) these structures have ages of at least 100 Myr, and (2)
stars in these structures do not follow the same relation between age and
random velocity as their counterparts throughout the disks of other spiral
galaxies, probably due to the inherently narrow orbital angular momentum
distribution of the giant molecular clouds in these structures. The
distribution of evolved red stars is not azimuthally symmetric, in the sense
that their projected density along the north east segment of the major axis is
roughly twice that on the opposite side of the galaxy. The north east arm of
the major axis thus appears to be a fossil star-forming area that dates to
intermediate epochs. Such a structure may be the consequence of interactions
with a companion galaxy.Comment: To appear in The Astrophysical Journa
Combined neutron and x-ray tomography—a versatile and non-destructive tool in planetary geosciences
With several upcoming sample return missions, such as the Mars Sample Return Campaign, non-destructive methods will be key to maximizing their scientific output. In this study, we demonstrate that the combination of neutron and X-ray tomography provides an important tool for the characterization of such valuable samples. These methods allow quantitative analyses of internal sample features and also provide a guide for further destructive analyses with little to no sample treatment, which maintains sample integrity, including minimizing the risk of potential contamination. Here, we present and review the results from four case studies of terrestrial impactites and meteorites along with their analytical setup. Using combined X-ray and neutron tomography, a Ni-Fe silicide spherule, that is, projectile material, was located within a Libyan Desert Glass sample and the distribution of hydrous phases was pinpointed in selected impactite samples from the Chicxulub IODP-ICDP Expedition 364 drill core and the Luizi impact structure, as well as in the Miller Range 03346 Martian meteorite
Quantifying MRI frequency shifts due to structures with anisotropic magnetic susceptibility using pyrolytic graphite sheet
Magnetic susceptibility is an important source of contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with spatial variations in the susceptibility of tissue affecting both the magnitude and phase of the measured signals. This contrast has generally been interpreted by assuming that tissues have isotropic magnetic susceptibility, but recent work has shown that the anisotropic magnetic susceptibility of ordered biological tissues, such as myelinated nerves and cardiac muscle fibers, gives rise to unexpected image contrast. This behavior occurs because the pattern of field variation generated by microstructural elements formed from material of anisotropic susceptibility can be very different from that predicted by modelling the effects in terms of isotropic susceptibility. In MR images of tissue, such elements are manifested at a sub-voxel length-scale, so the patterns of field variation that they generate cannot be directly visualized. Here, we used pyrolytic graphite sheet which has a large magnetic susceptibility anisotropy to form structures of known geometry with sizes large enough that the pattern of field variation could be mapped directly using MRI. This allowed direct validation of theoretical expressions describing the pattern of field variation from anisotropic structures with biologically relevant shapes (slabs, spherical shells and cylindrical shells)
Resummation of the Divergent Perturbation Series for a Hydrogen Atom in an Electric Field
We consider the resummation of the perturbation series describing the energy
displacement of a hydrogenic bound state in an electric field (known as the
Stark effect or the LoSurdo-Stark effect), which constitutes a divergent formal
power series in the electric field strength. The perturbation series exhibits a
rich singularity structure in the Borel plane. Resummation methods are
presented which appear to lead to consistent results even in problematic cases
where isolated singularities or branch cuts are present on the positive and
negative real axis in the Borel plane. Two resummation prescriptions are
compared: (i) a variant of the Borel-Pade resummation method, with an
additional improvement due to utilization of the leading renormalon poles (for
a comprehensive discussion of renormalons see [M. Beneke, Phys. Rep. vol. 317,
p. 1 (1999)]), and (ii) a contour-improved combination of the Borel method with
an analytic continuation by conformal mapping, and Pade approximations in the
conformal variable. The singularity structure in the case of the LoSurdo-Stark
effect in the complex Borel plane is shown to be similar to (divergent)
perturbative expansions in quantum chromodynamics.Comment: 14 pages, RevTeX, 3 tables, 1 figure; numerical accuracy of results
enhanced; one section and one appendix added and some minor changes and
additions; to appear in phys. rev.
Local-Group tests of dark-matter Concordance Cosmology: Towards a new paradigm for structure formation
(abridged) Predictions of the Concordance Cosmological Model (CCM) of the
structures in the environment of large spiral galaxies are compared with
observed properties of Local Group galaxies. Five new most probably
irreconcilable problems are uncovered. However, the Local Group properties
provide hints that may lead to a solution of the above problems The DoS and
bulge--satellite correlation suggest that dissipational events forming bulges
are related to the processes forming phase-space correlated satellite
populations. Such events are well known to occur since in galaxy encounters
energy and angular momentum are expelled in the form of tidal tails, which can
fragment to form populations of tidal-dwarf galaxies (TDGs) and associated star
clusters. If Local Group satellite galaxies are to be interpreted as TDGs then
the sub-structure predictions of CCM are internally in conflict. All findings
thus suggest that the CCM does not account for the Local Group observations and
that therefore existing as well as new viable alternatives have to be further
explored. These are discussed and natural solutions for the above problems
emerge.Comment: A and A, in press, 25 pages, 9 figures; new version contains minor
text adjustments for conformity with the published version and additional
minor changes resulting from reader's feedback. The speculation on a dark
force has been added. Also, the Fritz Zwicky Paradox is now included to agree
with the published versio
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