An Updated Numerical Analysis of eV Seesaw with Four Generations

We consider the so-called "eV seesaw" scenario, with right-handed Majorana mass $M_R$ at eV order, extended to four lepton generations. The fourth generation gives a heavy pseudo-Dirac neutral lepton, which largely decouples from other generations and is relatively stable. The framework naturally gives 3 active and 3 sterile neutrinos. We update a previous numerical analysis of a 3+3 study of the LSND anomaly, taking into account the more recent results from the MiniBooNE experiment. In particular, we study the implications for the third mixing angle $\mathrm{sin}^2\theta_{13}$, as well as CP violation. We find that current data do not seriously constrain more than one sterile neutrinos.Comment: References updated, and a Note Adde

Fourth Generation Leptons and Muon g−2g-2

We consider the contributions to $g_\mu-2$ from fourth generation heavy neutral and charged leptons, $N$ and $E$, at the one-loop level. Diagrammatically, there are two types of contributions: boson-boson-$N$, and $E$-$E$-boson in the loop diagram. In general, the effect from $N$ is suppressed by off-diagonal lepton mixing matrix elements. For $E$, we consider flavor changing neutral couplings arising from various New Physics models, which are stringently constrained by $\mu\to e\gamma$. We assess how the existence of a fourth generation would affect these New Physics models.Comment: Minor changes, with references update

Existence theorems for a crystal surface model involving the p-Laplace operator

The manufacturing of crystal films lies at the heart of modern nanotechnology. How to accurately predict the motion of a crystal surface is of fundamental importance. Many continuum models have been developed for this purpose, including a number of PDE models, which are often obtained as the continuum limit of a family of kinetic Monte Carlo models of crystal surface relaxation that includes both the solid-on-solid and discrete Gaussian models. In this paper we offer an analytical perspective into some of these models. To be specific, we study the existence of a weak solution to the boundary value problem for the equation - \Delta e^{-\mbox{div}\left(|\nabla u|^{p-2}\nabla u\right)}+au=f, where $p>1, a>0$ are given numbers and $f$ is a given function. This problem is derived from a crystal surface model proposed by J.L.~Marzuola and J.~Weare (2013 Physical Review, E 88, 032403). The mathematical challenge is due to the fact that the principal term in our equation is an exponential function of a p-Laplacian. Existence of a suitably-defined weak solution is established under the assumptions that $p\in(1,2], \ N\leq 4$, and $f\in W^{1,p}$. Our investigations reveal that the key to our existence assertion is how to control the set where -\mbox{div}\left(|\nabla u|^{p-2}\nabla u\right) is $\pm\infty$

Cosmological Constraints on the Modified Entropic Force Model

Very recently, Verlinde considered a theory in which space is emergent through a holographic scenario, and proposed that gravity can be explained as an entropic force caused by changes in the information associated with the positions of material bodies. Then, motivated by the Debye model in thermodynamics which is very successful in very low temperatures, Gao modified the entropic force scenario. The modified entropic force (MEF) model is in fact a modified gravity model, and the universe can be accelerated without dark energy. In the present work, we consider the cosmological constraints on the MEF model, and successfully constrain the model parameters to a narrow range. We also discuss many other issues of the MEF model. In particular, we clearly reveal the implicit root to accelerate the universe in the MEF model.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, revtex4; v2: discussions added, Phys. Lett. B in press; v3: published versio

A Programmably Compliant Origami Mechanism for Dynamically Dexterous Robots

We present an approach to overcoming challenges in dynamical dexterity for robots through programmably compliant origami mechanisms. Our work leverages a one-parameter family of flat sheet crease patterns that folds into origami bellows, whose axial compliance can be tuned to select desired stiffness. Concentrically arranged cylinder pairs reliably manifest additive stiffness, extending the programmable range by nearly an order of magnitude and achieving bulk axial stiffness spanning 200–1500 N/m using 8 mil thick polyester-coated paper. Accordingly, we design origami energy-storing springs with a stiffness of 1035 N/m each and incorporate them into a three degree-of-freedom (DOF) tendon-driven spatial pointing mechanism that exhibits trajectory tracking accuracy less than 15% rms error within a (2 cm)^3 volume. The origami springs can sustain high power throughput, enabling the robot to achieve asymptotically stable juggling for both highly elastic (1 kg resilient shotput ball) and highly damped (“medicine ball”) collisions in the vertical direction with apex heights approaching 10 cm. The results demonstrate that “soft” robotic mechanisms are able to perform a controlled, dynamically actuated task