Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell state in two-color quark matter

We explore the phase structure of two-color and two-flavor QCD in the space of the quark chemical potential \mu_q and the isospin chemical potential \mu_I. Using a mean-field model we calculate the chiral and diquark condensates, \sigma and \Delta, self-consistently. In weak coupling and in the chiral limit, we confirm the interval of the isospin chemical potential, 0.71\Delta_0<\mu_I<0.75\Delta_0, in which a single plane-wave Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell (LOFF) phase is favored over isotropic superfluidity and normal quark matter. The LOFF window becomes slightly wider at high density. For stronger coupling with nonzero quark mass, which is relevant to currently available numerical simulations in lattice two-color QCD, the single plane-wave LOFF phase appears only at sufficiently high density. The prediction obtained for the LOFF region could be tested with lattice since we can prove that the present system is free from the fermion sign problem. We draw the energy landscape on which local minima corresponding to the isotropic superfluid phase and the LOFF phase and a local maximum corresponding to the gapless phase are manifest. Our results clearly illustrate the path from the the unstable gapless phase down to the LOFF phase.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

On the formation of current sheets in response to the compression or expansion of a potential magnetic field

The compression or expansion of a magnetic field that is initially potential is considered. It was recently suggested by Janse & Low [2009, ApJ, 690, 1089] that, following the volumetric deformation, the relevant lowest energy state for the magnetic field is another potential magnetic field that in general contains tangential discontinuities (current sheets). Here we examine this scenario directly using a numerical relaxation method that exactly preserves the topology of the magnetic field. It is found that of the magnetic fields discussed by Janse & Low, only those containing magnetic null points develop current singularities during an ideal relaxation, while the magnetic fields without null points relax toward smooth force-free equilibria with finite non-zero current.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Unconventional superconducting pairing symmetry induced by phonons

The possibility of non-s-wave superconductivity induced by phonons is investigated using a simple model that is inspired by Sr$_2$RuO$_4$. The model assumes a two-dimensional electronic structure, a two-dimensional spin-fluctuation spectrum, and three-dimensional electron-phonon coupling. Taken separately, each interaction favors formation of spin-singlet pairs (of s symmetry for the phonon interaction and d$_{x^2-y^2}$ symmetry for the spin interaction), but in combination, a variety of more unusual singlet and triplet states are found, depending on the interaction parameters. This may have important implications for Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, providing a plausible explanation of how the observed spin fluctuations, which clearly favor d$_{x^2-y^2}$ pairing, may still be instrumental in creating a superconducting state with a different (e.g., p-wave) symmetry. It also suggests an interpretation of the large isotope effect observed in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$. These results indicate that phonons could play a key role in establishing the order-parameter symmetry in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, and possibly in other unconventional superconductors.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Microstructure control during twin roll casting of an AZ31 magnesium alloy

The existing twin roll casting technique for magnesium alloys suffers heterogeneity in both microstructure and chemistry and downstream processing is required to improve the strip quality, resulting in cost rise. In the present work, twin roll casting was carried out using an AZ31 magnesium alloy, with the application of intensive shearing melt conditioning prior to casting. The effect of process parameters such as pouring temperature and casting speed on microstructure control during casting and subsequent downstream processing was studied. Experimental results showed that the melt conditioning treatment allowed the production of AZ31 strips with uniform and refined microstructure free of centreline segregations. It was also shown that an optimized combination of pouring temperature and casting speed, in conjunction with a strip thickness control operation, resulted in uniformly distributed stored energies due to enhanced plastic deformation, which promoted recrystallization during casting and subsequent heat treatment. Strips prepared by twin roll casting and homogenization developed similar microstructural features to those prepared by twin roll casting followed by lengthy downstream processing by homogenization, hot rolling and annealing and displayed a weaker basal texture, exhibiting a potentially better formability.The EPSRC (UK

Weak interactions and quasi-stable particle energy loss

We discuss the interplay between electromagnetic energy loss and weak interactions in the context of quasistable particle particle propagation through materials. As specific examples, we consider staus, where weak interactions may play a role, and taus, where they don't.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the Second Workshop on TeV Particle Astrophysics (August 2006, Madison, WI

The tensor structure on the representation category of the Wp\mathcal{W}_p triplet algebra

We study the braided monoidal structure that the fusion product induces on the abelian category $\mathcal{W}_p$-mod, the category of representations of the triplet $W$-algebra $\mathcal{W}_p$. The $\mathcal{W}_p$-algebras are a family of vertex operator algebras that form the simplest known examples of symmetry algebras of logarithmic conformal field theories. We formalise the methods for computing fusion products, developed by Nahm, Gaberdiel and Kausch, that are widely used in the physics literature and illustrate a systematic approach to calculating fusion products in non-semi-simple representation categories. We apply these methods to the braided monoidal structure of $\mathcal{W}_p$-mod, previously constructed by Huang, Lepowsky and Zhang, to prove that this braided monoidal structure is rigid. The rigidity of $\mathcal{W}_p$-mod allows us to prove explicit formulae for the fusion product on the set of all simple and all projective $\mathcal{W}_p$-modules, which were first conjectured by Fuchs, Hwang, Semikhatov and Tipunin; and Gaberdiel and Runkel.Comment: 58 pages; edit: added references and revisions according to referee reports. Version to appear on J. Phys.

Improved approach to the heavy-to-light form factors in the light-cone QCD sum

A systematic analysis shows that the main uncertainties in the form factors are due to the twist-3 wave functions of the light mesons in the light-cone QCD sum rules. We propose an improved approach, in which the twist-3 wave functions doesn't make any contribution and therefore the possible pollution by them can be avoided, to re-examine $B \to \pi$ semileptonic form factors. Also, a comparison between the previous and our results from the light-cone QCD sum rules is made. Our method will be beneficial to the precise extracting of $\mid{V_{ub}}\mid$ from the experimental data on the processes $B \to \pi \ell \widetilde{\nu_\ell}$.Comment: New version to appear in PR

Matrix Formulation of Hamiltonian Structures of Constrained KP Hierarchy

We give a matrix formulation of the Hamiltonian structures of constrained KP hierarchy. First, we derive from the matrix formulation the Hamiltonian structure of the one-constraint KP hierarchy, which was originally obtained by Oevel and Strampp. We then generalize the derivation to the multi-constraint case and show that the resulting bracket is actually the second Gelfand-Dickey bracket associated with the corresponding Lax operator. The matrix formulation of the Hamiltonian structure of the one-constraint KP hierarchy in the form introduced in the study of matrix model is also discussedComment: 19 pages, Revtex, no figures. Minor changes, reference correcte

Asymmetric Fermi Superfluid With Two Types Of Pairings

We investigate the phase diagram in the plane of temperature and chemical potential mismatch for an asymmetric fermion superfluid with double- and single-species pairings. There is no mixing of these two types of pairings at fixed chemical potential, but the introduction of the single species pairing cures the magnetic instability at low temperature.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure. Proceedings of Poster Session, Quark Matter 2006, November 14-20, 2006, Shanghai, P.R.Chin