Fisher matrix forecasts for astrophysical tests of the stability of the fine-structure constant

We use Fisher Matrix analysis techniques to forecast the cosmological impact of astrophysical tests of the stability of the fine-structure constant to be carried out by the forthcoming ESPRESSO spectrograph at the VLT (due for commissioning in late 2017), as well by the planned high-resolution spectrograph (currently in Phase A) for the European Extremely Large Telescope. Assuming a fiducial model without $\alpha$ variations, we show that ESPRESSO can improve current bounds on the E\"{o}tv\"{o}s parameter---which quantifies Weak Equivalence Principle violations---by up to two orders of magnitude, leading to stronger bounds than those expected from the ongoing tests with the MICROSCOPE satellite, while constraints from the E-ELT should be competitive with those of the proposed STEP satellite. Should an $\alpha$ variation be detected, these measurements will further constrain cosmological parameters, being particularly sensitive to the dynamics of dark energy.Comment: Phys. Lett. B (in press

Specific heat amplitude ratios for anisotropic Lifshitz critical behaviors

We determine the specific heat amplitude ratio near a $m$-axial Lifshitz point and show its universal character. Using a recent renormalization group picture along with new field-theoretical $\epsilon_{L}$-expansion techniques, we established this amplitude ratio at one-loop order. We estimate the numerical value of this amplitude ratio for $m=1$ and $d=3$. The result is in very good agreement with its experimental measurement on the magnetic material $MnP$. It is shown that in the limit $m \to 0$ it trivially reduces to the Ising-like amplitude ratio.Comment: 8 pages, RevTex, accepted as a Brief Report in Physical Review

The concept of territorial frugality, how to identify, quantify and apply: The study of Lisbon Metropolitan Area

“In behavioral science, frugality has been defined as the tendency to acquire goods and services in a contained manner, and use of the economic goods, resources and services themselves, to achieve a long-term goal” [1] The present project intends to study the introduction of the concept of territorial frugality, characterizing its applicability to the territory, specifically to the urban space, as a tool in the parsimonious use of available resources, as well as studying its measurement through a mixed methodology. An interventionist, either using the opinion of a group of experts, using the DELPHI technique, as well as the establishment of conceptual models or using other methods in order to identify, select and define the applicability of indicators that allow the evaluation or establishment of parameters correlated with the concept of frugality, within the scope of spatial planning and urbanism, within the case of Lisbon Metropolitan Area.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio