17,499 research outputs found
Instabilities and propagation of neutrino magnetohydrodynamic waves in arbitrary direction
In a previous work [16], a new model was introduced, taking into account the
role of the Fermi weak force due to neutrinos coupled to magnetohydrodynamic
plasmas. The resulting neutrino-magnetohydrodynamics was investigated in a
particular geometry associated with the magnetosonic wave, where the ambient
magnetic field and the wavevector are perpendicular. The corresponding fast,
short wavelength neutrino beam instability was then obtained in the context of
supernova parameters. The present communication generalizes these results,
allowing for arbitrary direction of wave propagation, including fast and slow
magnetohydrodynamic waves and the intermediate cases of oblique angles. The
numerical estimates of the neutrino-plasma instabilities are derived in extreme
astrophysical environments where dense neutrino beams exist
Frobenius theorem and invariants for Hamiltonian systems
We apply Frobenius integrability theorem in the search of invariants for
one-dimensional Hamiltonian systems with a time-dependent potential. We obtain
several classes of potential functions for which Frobenius theorem assures the
existence of a two-dimensional foliation to which the motion is constrained. In
particular, we derive a new infinite class of potentials for which the motion
is assurately restricted to a two-dimensional foliation. In some cases,
Frobenius theorem allows the explicit construction of an associated invariant.
It is proven the inverse result that, if an invariant is known, then it always
can be furnished by Frobenius theorem
Manufacturing checkout of orbital operational stages Midterm report, period ending 24 Feb. 1965
Manufacturing checkout of orbital operational Saturn S-IVB stage and instrument unit for parking orbit operation
Organic small molecule field-effect transistors with Cytop(TM) gate dielectric: eliminating gate bias stress effects
We report on organic field-effect transistors with unprecedented resistance
against gate bias stress. The single crystal and thin-film transistors employ
the organic gate dielectric Cytop(TM). This fluoropolymer is highly water
repellent and shows a remarkable electrical breakdown strength. The single
crystal transistors are consistently of very high electrical quality: near zero
onset, very steep subthreshold swing (average: 1.3 nF V/(dec cm2)) and
negligible current hysteresis. Furthermore, extended gate bias stress only
leads to marginal changes in the transfer characteristics. It appears that
there is no conceptual limitation for the stability of organic semiconductors
in contrast to hydrogenated amorphous silicon.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Appl. Phys. Let
Adaptive Design of Excitonic Absorption in Broken-Symmetry Quantum Wells
Adaptive quantum design is used to identify broken-symmetry quantum well
potential profiles with optical response properties superior to previous ad-hoc
solutions. This technique performs an unbiased stochastic search of
configuration space. It allows us to engineer many-body excitonic wave
functions and thus provides a new methodology to efficiently develop optimized
quantum confined Stark effect device structures.Comment: 4 pages, 3 encapsulated postscript figure
On the Integrability and Chaos of an N=2 Maxwell-Chern-Simons-Higgs Mechanical Model
We apply different integrability analysis procedures to a reduced (spatially
homogeneous) mechanical system derived from an off-shell non-minimally coupled
N=2 Maxwell-Chern-Simons-Higgs model that presents BPS topological vortex
excitations, numerically obtained with an ansatz adopted in a special -
critical coupling - parametric regime. As a counterpart of the regularity
associated to the static soliton-like solution, we investigate the possibility
of chaotic dynamics in the evolution of the spatially homogeneous reduced
system, descendant from the full N=2 model under consideration. The originally
rich content of symmetries and interactions, N=2 susy and non-minimal coupling,
singles out the proposed model as an interesting framework for the
investigation of the role played by (super-)symmetries and parametric domains
in the triggering/control of chaotic behavior in gauge systems.
After writing down effective Lagrangian and Hamiltonian functions, and
establishing the corresponding canonical Hamilton equations, we apply global
integrability Noether point symmetries and Painleveproperty criteria to both
the general and the critical coupling regimes. As a non-integrable character is
detected by the pair of analytical criteria applied, we perform suitable
numerical simulations, as we seek for chaotic patterns in the system evolution.
Finally, we present some Comments on the results and perspectives for further
investigations and forthcoming communications.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure
Anisotropic Bose-Einstein condensates and completely integrable dynamical systems
A Gaussian ansatz for the wave function of two-dimensional harmonically
trapped anisotropic Bose-Einstein condensates is shown to lead, via a
variational procedure, to a coupled system of two second-order, nonlinear
ordinary differential equations. This dynamical system is shown to be in the
general class of Ermakov systems. Complete integrability of the resulting
Ermakov system is proven. Using the exact solution, collapse of the condensate
is analyzed in detail. Time-dependence of the trapping potential is allowed
Fluid moment hierarchy equations derived from gauge invariant quantum kinetic theory
The gauge invariant electromagnetic Wigner equation is taken as the basis for
a fluid-like system describing quantum plasmas, derived from the moments of the
gauge invariant Wigner function. The use of the standard, gauge dependent
Wigner function is shown to produce inconsistencies, if a direct correspondence
principle is applied. The propagation of linear transverse waves is considered
and shown to be in agreement with the kinetic theory in the long wavelength
approximation, provided an adequate closure is chosen for the macroscopic
equations. A general recipe to solve the closure problem is suggested.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figur
On the linearization of the generalized Ermakov systems
A linearization procedure is proposed for Ermakov systems with frequency
depending on dynamic variables. The procedure applies to a wide class of
generalized Ermakov systems which are linearizable in a manner similar to that
applicable to usual Ermakov systems. The Kepler--Ermakov systems belong into
this category but others, more generic, systems are also included
Market dynamics associated with credit ratings: a literature review.
Credit ratings produced by the major credit rating agencies (CRAs) aim to measure the creditworthiness, or more specifically the relative creditworthiness of companies, i.e. their ability to meet their debt servicing obligations. In principle, the rating process focuses on the fundamental long-term credit strength of a company. It is typically based on both public and private information, except for unsolicited ratings, which focus only on public information. The basic rationale for using ratings is to achieve information economies of scale and solve principal-agent problems. Partly for the same reasons, the role of credit ratings has expanded significantly over time. Regulators, banks and bondholders, pension fund trustees and other fiduciary agents have increasingly used ratings-based criteria to constrain behaviour. As a result, the influence of the opinions of CRAs on markets appears to have grown considerably in recent years. One aspect of this development is its potential impact on market dynamics (i.e. the timing and path of asset price adjustments, credit spreads, etc.), either directly, as a consequence of the information content of ratings themselves, or indirectly, as a consequence of the “hardwiring” of ratings into regulatory rules, fund management mandates, bond covenants, etc. When considering the impact of ratings and rating changes, two conclusions are worth highlighting. – First, ratings correlate moderately well with observed credit spreads, and rating changes with changes in spreads. However, other factors, such as liquidity, taxation and historical volatility clearly also enter into the determination of spreads. Recent research suggests that reactions to rating changes may also extend beyond the immediately-affected company to its peers, and from bond to equity prices. Furthermore, this price reaction to rating changes seems to be asymmetrical, i.e. more pronounced for downgrades than for upgrades, and may be more significant for equity prices than for bond prices. – Second, the hardwiring of regulatory and market rules, bond covenants, investment guidelines, etc., to ratings may influence market dynamics, and potentially lead to or magnify threshold effects. The more that different market participants adopt identical ratings-linked rules, or are subject to similar ratings-linked regulations, the more “spiky” the reaction to a credit event is likely to be. This reaction may include, in some cases, the emergence of severe liquidity pressures. Efforts have recently been made, notably with support from the rating agencies themselves, to encourage a more systematic disclosure of rating triggers and to renegotiate and smooth the possibly more destabilising forms of rating triggers. However, the lack of a clear disclosure regime makes it difficult to assess how far this process has evolved. Questions also remain as to the extent to which ratings-based criteria introduce a fundamentally new element into market behaviour, or, conversely, the extent to which they are simply a va riant of more traditional contractual covenants. Rating agencies strive to provide credit assessments that remain broadly stable through the course of the business cycle (rating “through the cycle”). Agencies and other analysts frequently contrast the fundamental credit analysis on which ratings are based with market sentiment — measured for example by bond spreads — which is arguably subject to more short-term influences. Agencies are adamant that they do not directly incorporate market sentiment into ratings (although they may use market prices as a diagnostic tool). On the contrary, they make every effort to exclude transient market sentiment. However, as reliance on ratings grows, CRAs are being increasingly expected to satisfy a widening range of constituencies, with different, and even sometimes conflicting, interests: issuers and “traditional” asset managers will look for more than a simple statement of near-term probability of loss, and will stress the need for ratings to exhibit some degree of stability over time. On the other hand, mark-to-market traders, active investors and risk managers may seek more frequent indications of credit changes. Hence, in the wake of major bankruptcies with heightened credit stress, rating agencies have been under considerable pressure to provide higher-frequency readings of credit status, without loss of quality. So far, they have responded to this challenge largely by adding more products to their traditional range, but also through modifications in the rating process. The rating process and the range of products offered by rating agencies have thus evolved over time, with, for instance, an increasing emphasis on the analysis of liquidity risks, a new focus on the hidden liabilities of companies and an increased use of market-based tools. It is too early, however, to judge whether these changes should simply be regarded as a refinement of the agencies’ traditional methodology or whether they suggest a more fundamental shift in the approach to credit risk measurement. For the same reason, it is not possible to draw any firm conclusions about changes in the effects of credit ratings on market dynamics.
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