Axion and Right-handed Neutrino in the Minimal SUSY SO(10) Model

The connection between the axion and right-handed neutrinos is explored in the framework of the minimal SUSY SO(10) model. The former is related to the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) solution to the strong CP problem and the latter is to the light Majorana neutrinos through the see-saw mechanism. In this model, a relative phase between $({\bf 10,1,3}) (\equiv {\bf \bar{\Delta}}_R) \subset {\bf \bar{126}}$ and $({\bf \bar{10},1,3}) (\equiv {\bf \Delta}_R) \subset {\bf 126}$ multiplets of ${\rm SU}(4) \times {\rm SU}(2)_L \times {\rm SU}(2)_R \subset {\rm SO}(10)$ becomes a physical degree of freedom identified with the axion. Then, the PQ symmetry breaking scale ($\Lambda_{\rm PQ}$) and the $B-L$ symmetry breaking scale ($\Lambda_{\rm B-L}$) coincide through the VEV of ${\bf \bar{\Delta}}_R$. The scalar partner of the lightest right-handed neutrino is regarded as the inflaton, which gives a consistent density fluctuation for the CMB.Comment: 8 pages, no figure; the version to appear in JHE

Non-thermal Leptogenesis and a Prediction of Inflaton Mass in a Supersymmetric SO(10) Model

The gravitino problem gives a severe constraint on the thermal leptogenesis scenario. This problem leads us to consider some alternatives to it if we try to keep the gravitino mass around the weak scale $m_{3/2} \sim 100$ GeV. We consider, in this paper, the non-thermal leptogenesis scenario in the framework of a minimal supersymmetric SO(10) model. Even if we start with the same minimal SO(10) model, we have different predictions for low-energy phenomenologies dependent on the types of seesaw mechanism. This is the case for leptogenesis: it is shown that the type-I see-saw model gives a consistent scenario for the non-thermal leptogenesis but not for type-II. The predicted inflaton mass needed to produce the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe is found to be $M_I \sim 5 \times 10^{11}$ GeV for the reheating temperature $T_R = 10^6$ GeV.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures; the version to appear in JCA

Impurity Effects on Quantum Depinning of Commensurate Charge Density Waves

We investigate quantum depinning of the one-dimensional (1D) commensurate charge-density wave (CDW) in the presence of one impurity theoretically. Quantum tunneling rate below but close to the threshold field is calculated at absolute zero temperature by use of the phase Hamiltonian within the WKB approximation. We show that the impurity can induce localized fluctuation and enhance the quantum depinning. The electric field dependence of the tunneling rate in the presence of the impurity is different from that in its absence.Comment: 14 pages with 13 figures. Submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Theoretical Study of Friction: A Case of One-Dimensional Clean Surfaces

A new method has been proposed to evaluate the frictional force in the stationary state. This method is applied to the 1-dimensional model of clean surfaces. The kinetic frictional force is seen to depend on velocity in general, but the dependence becomes weaker as the maximum static frictional force increases and in the limiting case the kinetic friction gets only weakly dependent on velocity as described by one of the laws of friction. It is also shown that there is a phase transition between state with vanishing maximum static frictional force and that with finite one. The role of randomness at the interface and the relation to the impurity pinning of the sliding Charge-Density-Wave are discussed. to appear in Phys.Rev.B. abstract only. Full text is available upon request. E-mail: [email protected]: 2 pages, Plain TEX, OUCMT-94-

Effect of Local Inhomogeneity on Nucleation; Case of Charge Density Wave Depinning

The spatial inhomogeneities are expected to affect nucleation process in an essential way. These effects are studied theoretically by considering the case of the depinning of the charge density wave as a typical example. The threshold field of the depinning of the one-dimensional commensurate charge density wave with one impurity has been examined classically based on the phase Hamiltonian at absolute zero. It is found that the threshold field is lowered by a finite amount compared to that in the absence of an impurity.Comment: pages 12, LaTeX, 9 figures, uses jpsj.sty, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Superconducting quantum phase transitions tuned by magnetic impurity and magnetic field in ultrathin a-Pb films

Superconducting quantum phase transitions tuned by disorder (d), paramagnetic impurity (MI) and perpendicular magnetic field (B) have been studied in homogeneously disordered ultrathin a-Pb films. The MI-tuned transition is characterized by progressive suppression of the critical temperature to zero and a continuous transition to a weakly insulating normal state with increasing MI density. In all important aspects, the d-tuned transition closely resembles the MI-tuned transition and both appear to be fermionic in nature. The B-tuned transition is qualitatively different and probably bosonic. In the critical region it exhibits transport behavior that suggests a B-induced mesoscale phase separation and presence of Cooper pairing in the insulating state.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure