5,266 research outputs found
Quantum electrodynamics of relativistic bound states with cutoffs
We consider an Hamiltonian with ultraviolet and infrared cutoffs, describing
the interaction of relativistic electrons and positrons in the Coulomb
potential with photons in Coulomb gauge. The interaction includes both
interaction of the current density with transversal photons and the Coulomb
interaction of charge density with itself. We prove that the Hamiltonian is
self-adjoint and has a ground state for sufficiently small coupling constants.Comment: To appear in "Journal of Hyperbolic Differential Equation
Recommended from our members
Rhythm in the speech of a person with right hemisphere damage: Applying the pairwise variability index
Although several aspects of prosody have been studied in speakers with right hemisphere damage (RHD), rhythm remains largely uninvestigated. This study compares the rhythm of an Australian English speaker with right hemisphere damage (due to a stroke, but with no concomitant dysarthria) to that of a neurologically unimpaired individual. The speakers' rhythm is compared using the pairwise variability index (PVI) which allows for an acoustic characterization of rhythm by comparing the duration of successive vocalic and intervocalic intervals. A sample of speech from a structured interview between a speech and language therapist and each participant was analysed. Previous research has shown that speakers with RHD may have difficulties with intonation production, and therefore it was hypothesized that there may also be rhythmic disturbance. Results show that the neurologically normal control uses a similar rhythm to that reported for British English (there are no previous studies available for Australian English), whilst the speaker with RHD produces speech with a less strongly stress-timed rhythm. This finding was statistically significant for the intervocalic intervals measured (t(8) = 4.7, p < .01), and suggests that some aspects of prosody may be right lateralized for this speaker. The findings are discussed in relation to previous findings of dysprosody in RHD populations, and in relation to syllable-timed speech of people with other neurological conditions
Formation of Ejecta and Dust Pond Deposits on Asteroid Vesta
Dust and melt ponds have been studied on planetary bodies including Eros, Itokawa, and the Moon. However, depending on the nature of the regolith material properties and the location of the planetary body, the formation mechanism of the ponded features varies. On Eros and Itokawa, ponded features are formed from dry regolith materials whereas on the Moon similar features are thought to be produced by ejecta melt. On the surface of Vesta, we have identified type 1, ejecta ponds, and type 2, dust ponds. On Vesta type 1 pond are located in the vicinity of ejecta melt of large impact craters. The material is uniformly distributed across the crater floor producing smooth pond surfaces which have a constant slope and shallow depth. The hosting crater of melt-like ponds has a low raised rim and is located on relatively low elevated regions. Whereas, the type 2 ponds on Vesta reveal an undulating surface that is frequently displaced from the crater center or extends toward the crater wall with an abruptly changing slope. We suggested that for the production of the type 2 ponds, localized seismic diffusion and volatile-induced fluidization may be responsible for Vesta. Due to Vesta's large size (in comparison to Eros and Itokawa), the surface may have experienced local-scale rare high-amplitude seismic diffusion which was sufficient to drift fine material. Similarly, short-lived volatile activities were capable to transfer dusty material on to the surface. Segregation and smoothing of transferred material lack further surface activities, hindering the formation of smooth morphology
IL-33 expression in response to SARS-CoV-2 correlates with seropositivity in COVID-19 convalescent individuals
Our understanding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still developing. We perform an observational study to investigate seroprevalence and immune responses in subjects professionally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and their family members (155 individuals; ages 5-79 years). Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein aligns with PCR results that confirm the previous infection. Anti-Spike IgG/IgM titers remain high 60 days post-infection and do not strongly associate with symptoms, except for fever. We analyze PBMCs from a subset of seropositive and seronegative adults. TLR7 agonist-activation reveals an increased population of IL-6+TNF-IL-1β+ monocytes, while SARS-CoV-2 peptide stimulation elicits IL-33, IL-6, IFNa2, and IL-23 expression in seropositive individuals. IL-33 correlates with CD4+ T cell activation in PBMCs from convalescent subjects and is likely due to T cell-mediated effects on IL-33-producing cells. IL-33 is associated with pulmonary infection and chronic diseases like asthma and COPD, but its role in COVID-19 is unknown. Analysis of published scRNAseq data of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with mild to severe COVID-19 reveals a population of IL-33-producing cells that increases with the disease. Together these findings show that IL-33 production is linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection and warrant further investigation of IL-33 in COVID-19 pathogenesis and immunity
Mass wasting triggered by seasonal CO<sub>2</sub> sublimation under Martian atmospheric conditions: Laboratory experiments
Sublimation is a recognized process by which planetary landscapes can be modified. However, interpretation of whether sublimation is involved in downslope movements on Mars and other bodies is restricted by a lack of empirical data to constrain this mechanism of sediment transport and its influence on landform morphology. Here we present the first set of laboratory experiments under Martian atmospheric conditions which demonstrate that the sublimation of CO2 ice from within the sediment body can trigger failure of unconsolidated, regolith slopes and can measurably alter the landscape. Previous theoretical studies required CO2 slab ice for movements, but we find that only frost is required. Hence, sediment transport by CO2 sublimation could be more widely applicable (in space and time) on Mars than previously thought. This supports recent work suggesting CO2 sublimation could be responsible for recent modification in Martian gullies
Constraints on new interactions from neutron scattering experiments
Constraints for the constants of hypothetical Yukawa-type corrections to the
Newtonian gravitational potential are obtained from analysis of neutron
scattering experiments. Restrictions are obtained for the interaction range
between 10^{-12} and 10^{-7} cm, where Casimir force experiments and atomic
force microscopy are not sensitive. Experimental limits are obtained also for
non-electromagnetic inverse power law neutron-nucleus potential. Some
possibilities are discussed to strengthen these constraints.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure
UV friendly T-parity in the SU(6)/Sp(6) little Higgs model
Electroweak precision tests put stringent constraints on the parameter space
of little Higgs models. Tree-level exchange of TeV scale particles in a generic
little Higgs model produce higher dimensional operators that make contributions
to electroweak observables that are typically too large. To avoid this problem
a discrete symmetry dubbed T-parity can be introduced to forbid the dangerous
couplings. However, it was realized that in simple group models such as the
littlest Higgs model, the implementation of T-parity in a UV completion could
present some challenges. The situation is analogous to the one in QCD where the
pion can easily be defined as being odd under a new symmetry in the
chiral Lagrangian, but this is not a symmetry of the quark Lagrangian. In
this paper we examine the possibility of implementing a T-parity in the low
energy model that might be easier to realize in the UV. In our
model, the T-parity acts on the low energy non-linear sigma model field in way
which is different to what was originally proposed for the Littlest Higgs, and
lead to a different low energy theory. In particular, the Higgs sector of this
model is a inert two Higgs doublets model with an approximate custodial
symmetry. We examine the contributions of the various sectors of the model to
electroweak precision data, and to the dark matter abundance.Comment: 21 pages,4 figures. Clarifications added, typos corrected and
references added. Published in JHE
Multi-Photon Signals from Composite Models at LHC
We analyze the collider signals of composite scalars that emerge in certain
little Higgs models and models of vectorlike confinement. Similar to the decay
of the pion into photon pairs, these scalars mainly decay through
anomaly-induced interactions into electroweak gauge bosons, leading to a
distinct signal with three or more photons in the final state. We study the
standard model backgrounds for these signals, and find that the LHC can
discover these models over a large range of parameter space with 30 fb
at 14 TeV. An early discovery at the current 7 TeV run is possible in some
regions of parameter space. We also discuss possibilities to measure the spin
of the particles in the and decay channels.Comment: 18 pages, LaTe
Testbeam and Laboratory Characterization of CMS 3D Pixel Sensors
The pixel detector is the innermost tracking device in CMS, reconstructing
interaction vertices and charged particle trajectories. The sensors located in
the innermost layers of the pixel detector must be upgraded for the ten-fold
increase in luminosity expected with the High- Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) phase.
As a possible replacement for planar sensors, 3D silicon technology is under
consideration due to its good performance after high radiation fluence. In this
paper, we report on pre- and post- irradiation measurements for CMS 3D pixel
sensors with different electrode configurations. The effects of irradiation on
electrical properties, charge collection efficiency, and position resolution of
3D sensors are discussed. Measurements of various test structures for
monitoring the fabrication process and studying the bulk and surface
properties, such as MOS capacitors, planar and gate-controlled diodes are also
presented.Comment: 14 page
Electromagnetic Form Factors of the Nucleon in an Improved Quark Model
Nucleon electromagnetic form factors are studied in the cloudy bag model
(CBM) with center-of-mass and recoil corrections. This is the first
presentation of a full set of nucleon form factors using the CBM. The center of
mass motion is eliminated via several different momentum projection techniques
and the results are compared. It is found that the shapes of these form factors
are significantly improved with respect to the experimental data if the Lorentz
contraction of the internal structure of the baryon is also appropriately taken
into account.Comment: revtex, 28 pages, 8 ps figs include
- …