1,807 research outputs found
Observational constraints on thawing quintessence models
We use a dynamical systems approach to study thawing quintessence models,
using a multi-parameter extension of the exponential potential which can
approximate the form of typical thawing potentials. We impose observational
constraints using a compilation of current data, and forecast the tightening of
constraints expected from future dark energy surveys, as well as discussing the
relation of our results to analytical constraints already in the literature.Comment: 6 pages MNRAS style with 8 figures included. Minor updates to match
MNRAS accepted versio
Realizing Higher-Level Gauge Symmetries in String Theory: New Embeddings for String GUTs
We consider the methods by which higher-level and non-simply laced gauge
symmetries can be realized in free-field heterotic string theory. We show that
all such realizations have a common underlying feature, namely a dimensional
truncation of the charge lattice, and we identify such dimensional truncations
with certain irregular embeddings of higher-level and non-simply laced gauge
groups within level-one simply-laced gauge groups. This identification allows
us to formulate a direct mapping between a given subgroup embedding, and the
sorts of GSO constraints that are necessary in order to realize the embedding
in string theory. This also allows us to determine a number of useful
constraints that generally affect string GUT model-building. For example, most
string GUT realizations of higher-level gauge symmetries G_k employ the
so-called diagonal embeddings G_k\subset G\times G \times...\times G. We find
that there exist interesting alternative embeddings by which such groups can be
realized at higher levels, and we derive a complete list of all possibilities
for the GUT groups SU(5), SU(6), SO(10), and E_6 at levels k=2,3,4 (and in some
cases up to k=7). We find that these new embeddings are always more efficient
and require less central charge than the diagonal embeddings which have
traditionally been employed. As a byproduct, we also prove that it is
impossible to realize SO(10) at levels k>4. This implies, in particular, that
free-field heterotic string models can never give a massless 126 representation
of SO(10).Comment: 69 pages, LaTeX, 5 figures (Encapsulated PostScript). Revised to
match published versio
Investigating potential planetary nebula/cluster pairs
Fundamental parameters characterizing the end-state of intermediate-mass
stars may be constrained by discovering planetary nebulae (PNe) in open
clusters (OCs). Cluster membership may be exploited to establish the distance,
luminosity, age, and physical size for PNe, and the intrinsic luminosity and
mass of its central star. Four potential PN-OC associations were investigated,
to assess the cluster membership for the PNe. Radial velocities were measured
from intermediate-resolution optical spectra, complemented with previous
estimates in the literature. When the radial velocity study supported the PN/OC
association, we analyzed if other parameters (e.g., age, distance, reddening,
central star brightness) were consistent with this conclusion. Our measurements
imply that the PNe VBe3 and HeFa1 are not members of the OCs NGC5999 and
NGC6067, respectively, and likely belong to the background bulge population.
Conversely, consistent radial velocities indicate that NGC2452/NGC2453 could be
associated, but our results are not conclusive and additional observations are
warranted. Finally, we demonstrate that all the available information point to
He2-86 being a young, highly internally obscured PN member of NGC4463. New
near-infrared photometry acquired via the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea ESO
public survey was used in tandem with existing UBV photometry to measure the
distance, reddening, and age of NGC4463, finding d=1.55+-0.10 kpc,
E(B-V)=0.41+-0.02, and tau=65+-10 Myr, respectively. The same values should be
adopted for the PN if the proposed cluster membership will be confirmed.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
QCD-like theories at nonzero temperature and density
We investigate the properties of hot and/or dense matter in QCD-like theories
with quarks in a (pseudo)real representation of the gauge group using the
Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. The gauge dynamics is modeled using a simple lattice
spin model with nearest-neighbor interactions. We first keep our discussion as
general as possible, and only later focus on theories with adjoint quarks of
two or three colors. Calculating the phase diagram in the plane of temperature
and quark chemical potential, it is qualitatively confirmed that the critical
temperature of the chiral phase transition is much higher than the
deconfinement transition temperature. At a chemical potential equal to half of
the diquark mass in the vacuum, a diquark Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC)
phase transition occurs. In the two-color case, a Ginzburg-Landau expansion is
used to study the tetracritical behavior around the intersection point of the
deconfinement and BEC transition lines, which are both of second order. We
obtain a compact expression for the expectation value of the Polyakov loop in
an arbitrary representation of the gauge group (for any number of colors),
which allows us to study Casimir scaling at both nonzero temperature and
chemical potential.Comment: JHEP class, 31 pages, 7 eps figures; v2: error in Eq. (3.11) fixed,
two references added; matches published versio
Mindful breath awareness meditation facilitates efficiency gains in brain networks: A steady-state visually evoked potentials study
The beneficial effects of mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions have stimulated a rapidly growing body of scientific research into underlying psychological processes. Resulting evidence indicates that engaging with mindfulness meditation is associated with increased performance on a range of cognitive tasks. However, the mechanisms promoting these improvements require further investigation. We studied changes in behavioural performance of 34 participants during a multiple object tracking (MOT) task that taps core cognitive processes, namely sustained selective visual attention and spatial working memory. Concurrently, we recorded the steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP), an EEG signal elicited by the continuously flickering moving objects, and indicator of attentional engagement. Participants were tested before and after practicing eight weeks of mindful breath awareness meditation or progressive muscle relaxation as active control condition. The meditation group improved their MOT-performance and exhibited a reduction of SSVEP amplitudes, whereas no such changes were observed in the relaxation group. Neither group changed in self-reported positive affect and mindfulness, while a marginal increase in negative affect was observed in the mindfulness group. This novel way of combining MOT and SSVEP provides the important insight that mindful breath awareness meditation may lead to refinements of attention networks, enabling more efficient use of attentional resources
Neutral and Charged Polymers at Interfaces
Chain-like macromolecules (polymers) show characteristic adsorption
properties due to their flexibility and internal degrees of freedom, when
attracted to surfaces and interfaces. In this review we discuss concepts and
features that are relevant to the adsorption of neutral and charged polymers at
equilibrium, including the type of polymer/surface interaction, the solvent
quality, the characteristics of the surface, and the polymer structure. We pay
special attention to the case of charged polymers (polyelectrolytes) that have
a special importance due to their water solubility. We present a summary of
recent progress in this rapidly evolving field. Because many experimental
studies are performed with rather stiff biopolymers, we discuss in detail the
case of semi-flexible polymers in addition to flexible ones. We first review
the behavior of neutral and charged chains in solution. Then, the adsorption of
a single polymer chain is considered. Next, the adsorption and depletion
processes in the many-chain case are reviewed. Profiles, changes in the surface
tension and polymer surface excess are presented. Mean-field and corrections
due to fluctuations and lateral correlations are discussed. The force of
interaction between two adsorbed layers, which is important in understanding
colloidal stability, is characterized. The behavior of grafted polymers is also
reviewed, both for neutral and charged polymer brushes.Comment: a review: 130 pages, 30 ps figures; final form, added reference
Disappearing Paradigms in Shareholder Protection: Leximetric Evidence for 30 Countries, 1990-2013
Measurement of the B0-anti-B0-Oscillation Frequency with Inclusive Dilepton Events
The - oscillation frequency has been measured with a sample of
23 million \B\bar B pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II
asymmetric B Factory at SLAC. In this sample, we select events in which both B
mesons decay semileptonically and use the charge of the leptons to identify the
flavor of each B meson. A simultaneous fit to the decay time difference
distributions for opposite- and same-sign dilepton events gives ps.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Physical Review Letter
Measurement of the Branching Fraction for B- --> D0 K*-
We present a measurement of the branching fraction for the decay B- --> D0
K*- using a sample of approximately 86 million BBbar pairs collected by the
BaBar detector from e+e- collisions near the Y(4S) resonance. The D0 is
detected through its decays to K- pi+, K- pi+ pi0 and K- pi+ pi- pi+, and the
K*- through its decay to K0S pi-. We measure the branching fraction to be
B.F.(B- --> D0 K*-)= (6.3 +/- 0.7(stat.) +/- 0.5(syst.)) x 10^{-4}.Comment: 7 pages, 1 postscript figure, submitted to Phys. Rev. D (Rapid
Communications
A Study of Time-Dependent CP-Violating Asymmetries and Flavor Oscillations in Neutral B Decays at the Upsilon(4S)
We present a measurement of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in
neutral B meson decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II
asymmetric-energy B Factory at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The data
sample consists of 29.7 recorded at the
resonance and 3.9 off-resonance. One of the neutral B mesons,
which are produced in pairs at the , is fully reconstructed in
the CP decay modes , , , () and , or in flavor-eigenstate
modes involving and (). The flavor of the other neutral B meson is tagged at the time of
its decay, mainly with the charge of identified leptons and kaons. The proper
time elapsed between the decays is determined by measuring the distance between
the decay vertices. A maximum-likelihood fit to this flavor eigenstate sample
finds . The value of the asymmetry amplitude is determined from
a simultaneous maximum-likelihood fit to the time-difference distribution of
the flavor-eigenstate sample and about 642 tagged decays in the
CP-eigenstate modes. We find , demonstrating that CP violation exists in the neutral B meson
system. (abridged)Comment: 58 pages, 35 figures, submitted to Physical Review
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