Next--to--Leading Order QCD corrections for the B0B0ˉB^0 \bar{B^0}--mixing with an extended Higgs sector

We present a calculation of the B0-B0--mixing including Next--to--Leading Order (NLO) QCD corrections within the Two Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM). The QCD corrections at NLO are contained in the factor denoted by eta_2 which modifies the result obtained at the lowest order of perturbation theory. In the Standard Model case, we confirm the results for eta_2 obtained by Buras, Jamin and Weisz. The factor eta_2 is gauge and renormalization prescription invariant and it does not depend on the infrared behaviour of the theory, which constitutes an important test of the calculations. The NLO--calculations within the 2HDM enhance the LO--result up to 18%, which affects the correlation between M_H and V_{td}.Comment: 22 pages (LaTeX), 22 Postscript figures, version to appear in Nucl. Phys. B, corrected some typos and a sign in the program, which results in changes in Eqs. (71), (74) and (75). Due to these changes Eqs. (23) and (34) may be written in a more compact wa

Geometry and Destiny

The recognition that the cosmological constant may be non-zero forces us to re-evaluate standard notions about the connection between geometry and the fate of our Universe. An open Universe can recollapse, and a closed Universe can expand forever. As a corollary, we point out that there is no set of cosmological observations we can perform that will unambiguously allow us to determine what the ultimate destiny of the Universe will be.Comment: 7 pages, Gravity Research Foundation Essa

Constraints on discrete symmetries from anomaly cancellation in compactified superstring theories

Compactified string theories give rise to discrete symmetries which are essential if they are to provide a realistic low energy theory. We find that in a class of four dimensional string theories these symmetries are constrained by similar conditions to those discrete anomaly cancellation conditions found in the case the discrete symmetry is a residue of a spontaneously broken gauge symmetry. Such conditions strongly constrain the allowed form of the low energy effective theory.Comment: 8 pages, OUTP-93-14

Observation of Cosmic Acceleration and Determining the Fate of the Universe

Current observations of Type Ia supernovae provide evidence for cosmic acceleration out to a redshift of z \lsim 1, leading to the possibility that the universe is entering an inflationary epoch. However, inflation can take place only if vacuum-energy (or other sufficiently slowly redshifting source of energy density) dominates the energy density of a region of physical radius 1/H. We argue that for the best-fit values of $\Omega_\Lambda$ and $\Omega_m$ inferred from the supernovae data, one must confirm cosmic acceleration out to at least $z \simeq 1.8$ to infer that the universe is inflating.Comment: 4 pages;important changes in conclusion; published in Phys. Rev. Let

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

Alpha Clustering and the stellar nucleosynthesis of carbon

The astrophysical S--factor and reaction rates for the triple--alpha process are calculated in the direct--capture model. It is shown that the stellar carbon production is extremely sensitive to small variations in the N--N interaction.Comment: 2 pages LaTe