5,196 research outputs found
The Scientific Reach of Multi-Ton Scale Dark Matter Direct Detection Experiments
The next generation of large scale WIMP direct detection experiments have the
potential to go beyond the discovery phase and reveal detailed information
about both the particle physics and astrophysics of dark matter. We report here
on early results arising from the development of a detailed numerical code
modeling the proposed DARWIN detector, involving both liquid argon and xenon
targets. We incorporate realistic detector physics, particle physics and
astrophysical uncertainties and demonstrate to what extent two targets with
similar sensitivities can remove various degeneracies and allow a determination
of dark matter cross sections and masses while also probing rough aspects of
the dark matter phase space distribution. We find that, even assuming dominance
of spin-independent scattering, multi-ton scale experiments still have
degeneracies that depend sensitively on the dark matter mass, and on the
possibility of isospin violation and inelasticity in interactions. We find that
these experiments are best able to discriminate dark matter properties for dark
matter masses less than around 200 GeV. In addition, and somewhat surprisingly,
the use of two targets gives only a small improvement (aside from the advantage
of different systematics associated with any claimed signal) in the ability to
pin down dark matter parameters when compared with one target of larger
exposure.Comment: 23 pages; updated to match PRD versio
Gravitational Lensing Signature of Long Cosmic Strings
The gravitational lensing by long, wiggly cosmic strings is shown to produce
a large number of lensed images of a background source. In addition to pairs of
images on either side of the string, a number of small images outline the
string due to small-scale structure on the string. This image pattern could
provide a highly distinctive signature of cosmic strings. Since the optical
depth for multiple imaging of distant quasar sources by long strings may be
comparable to that by galaxies, these image patterns should be clearly
observable in the next generation of redshift surveys such as the Sloan Digital
Sky Survey.Comment: 4 pages, revtex with 3 postscript figures include
Information-preserving black holes still do not preserve baryon number and other effective global quantum numbers
It has been claimed recently that the black hole information-loss paradox has
been resolved: the evolution of quantum states in the presence of a black hole
is unitary and information preserving. We point out that, contrary to some
claims in literature, information-preserving black holes still violate baryon
number and any other quantum number which follows from an effective (and thus
approximate) or anomalous symmetry.Comment: Honorable Mention on Gravity Essay Competition 2005; Published in the
special Essay issue of Int.J.Mod.Phy
The Cosmological Constant is Back
A diverse set of observations now compellingly suggest that Universe
possesses a nonzero cosmological constant. In the context of quantum-field
theory a cosmological constant corresponds to the energy density of the vacuum,
and the wanted value for the cosmological constant corresponds to a very tiny
vacuum energy density. We discuss future observational tests for a cosmological
constant as well as the fundamental theoretical challenges---and
opportunities---that this poses for particle physics and for extending our
understanding of the evolution of the Universe back to the earliest moments.Comment: latex, 8 pages plus one ps figure available as separate compressed
uuencoded fil
A study to define meteorological uses and performance requirements for the Synchronous Earth Observatory Satellite
The potential meteorological uses of the Synchronous Earth Observatory Satellite (SEOS) were studied for detecting and predicting hazards to life, property, or the quality of the environment. Mesoscale meteorological phenonmena, and the observations requirements for SEOS are discussed along with the sensor parameters
Synthesis and characterization of multifunctional nanovesicles composed of POPC lipid molecules for nuclear imaging
The integration of nuclear imaging analysis with nanomedicine has tremendously grown and represents a valid and powerful tool for the development and clinical translation of drug delivery systems. Among the various types of nanostructures used as drug carriers, nanovesicles represent intriguing platforms due to their capability to entrap both lipophilic and hydrophilic agents, and their well-known biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this respect, here we present the development of a labelling procedure of POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine)-based liposomes incorporating an ad hoc designed lipophilic NOTA (1, 4, 7- triazacyclononane-1, 4, 7-triacetic acid) analogue, derivatized with an oleic acid residue, able to bind the positron emitter gallium-68(III). Based on POPC features, the optimal conditions for liposome labelling were studied with the aim of optimizing the Ga(III) incorporation and obtaining a significant radiochemical yield. The data presented in this work demonstrate the feasibility of the labelling procedure on POPC liposomes co-formulated with the ad hoc designed NOTA analogue. We thus provided a critical insight into the practical aspects of the development of vesicles for theranostic approaches, which in principle can be extended to other nanosystems exploiting a variety of bioconjugation protocols
A New WIMP Population in the Solar System and New Signals for Dark-Matter Detectors
We describe in detail how perturbations due to the planets can cause a
sub-population of WIMPs captured by scattering in surface layers of the Sun to
evolve to have orbits which no longer intersect the Sun. We argue that such
WIMPs, if their orbit has a semi-major axis less than 1/2 of Jupiter's, can
persist in the solar system for cosmological timescales. This leads to a new,
previously unanticipated WIMP population intersecting the Earth's orbit. The
WIMP-nucleon cross sections required for this population to be significant are
precisely those in the range predicted for SUSY dark matter, lying near the
present limits obtained by direct underground dark matter searches using
cyrogenic detectors. Thus, if a WIMP signal is observed in the next generation
of detectors, a potentially measurable signal due to this new population must
exist. This signal, lying in the keV range for Germanium detectors, would be
complementary to that of galactic halo WIMPs. A comparison of event rates,
anisotropies, and annual modulations would not only yield additional
confirmation that any claimed signal is indeed WIMP-based, but would also allow
one to gain information on the nature of the underlying dark matter model.Comment: Revtex, 37 pages including 6 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev D.
(version to be published, including changes made in response to referees
reports
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