1,796 research outputs found
Domain Size Dependence of Piezoelectric Properties of Ferroelectrics
The domain size dependence of piezoelectric properties of ferroelectrics is
investigated using a continuum Ginzburg-Landau model that incorporates the
long-range elastic and electrostatic interactions. Microstructures with desired
domain sizes are created by quenching from the paraelectric phase by biasing
the initial conditions. Three different two-dimensional microstructures with
different sizes of the domains are simulated. An electric field is
applied along the polar as well as non-polar directions and the piezoelectric
response is simulated as a function of domain size for both cases. The
simulations show that the piezoelectric coefficients are enhanced by reducing
the domain size, consistent with recent experimental results of Wada and
Tsurumi (Brit. Ceram. Trans. {\bf 103}, 93, 2004) on domain engineered
Comment: submitted to Physical Review
Neutrino oscillations with disentanglement of a neutrino from its partners
We bring attention to the fact that in order to understand existing data on
neutrino oscillations, and to design future experiments, it is imperative to
appreciate the role of quantum entanglement. Once this is accounted for, the
resulting energy-momentum conserving phenomenology requires a single new
parameter related to disentanglement of a neutrino from its partners. This
parameter may not be CP symmetric. We illustrate the new ideas, with
potentially measurable effects, in the context of a novel experiment recently
proposed by Gavrin, Gorbachev, Veretenkin, and Cleveland. The strongest impact
of our ideas is on the resolution of various anomalies in neutrino oscillations
and on neutrino propagation in astrophysical environments.Comment: 6 page
Phantom energy from graded algebras
We construct a model of phantom energy using the graded Lie algebra SU(2/1).
The negative kinetic energy of the phantom field emerges naturally from the
graded Lie algebra, resulting in an equation of state with w<-1. The model also
contains ordinary scalar fields and anti-commuting (Grassmann) vector fields
which can be taken as two component dark matter. A potential term is generated
for both the phantom fields and the ordinary scalar fields via a postulated
condensate of the Grassmann vector fields. Since the phantom energy and dark
matter arise from the same Lagrangian the phantom energy and dark matter of
this model are coupled via the Grassman vector fields. In the model presented
here phantom energy and dark matter come from a gauge principle rather than
being introduced in an ad hoc manner.Comment: 8 pages no figures; references added and discussion on condensate of
vector grassman fields added. To be published MPL
Hypothesis of path integral duality: Applications to QED
We use the modified propagator for quantum field based on a ``principle of
path integral duality" proposed earlier in a paper by Padmanabhan to
investigate several results in QED. This procedure modifies the Feynman
propagator by the introduction of a fundamental length scale. We use this
modified propagator for the Dirac particles to evaluate the first order
radiative corrections in QED. We find that the extra factor of the modified
propagator acts like a regulator at the Planck scales thereby removing the
divergences that otherwise appear in the conventional radiative correction
calculations of QED. We find that:(i) all the three renormalisation factors
, , and pick up finite corrections and (ii) the modified
propagator breaks the gauge invariance at a very small level of
. The implications of this result to generation of the
primordial seed magnetic fields are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, LaTeX2e (uses ijmpd.sty); To appear in IJMP-D; References
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Interplay of gravitation and linear superposition of different mass eigenstates
The interplay of gravitation and the quantum-mechanical principle of linear
superposition induces a new set of neutrino oscillation phases. These ensure
that the flavor-oscillation clocks, inherent in the phenomenon of neutrino
oscillations, redshift precisely as required by Einstein's theory of
gravitation. The physical observability of these phases in the context of the
solar neutrino anomaly, type-II supernovae, and certain atomic systems is
briefly discussed
Human miRNAs: an antiviral defense mechanism
Background
miRNAs are short 21-24 nt RNAs that mediate post transcriptional repression of target genes. Various reports have shown that miRNAs are capable of repressing the gene expression levels of different viruses, leading to the suggestion that miRNAs are key mediators of host-virus interaction [1]. HIV-1 is a retrovirus known to cause AIDS, one of the major diseases in humans. The nef gene of the HIV-1 has been shown to be important for virus repression of CD4+ cells and virus progression. It has also been shown earlier that patients infected with nef deleted HIV-1 do not progress from infected to diseased state for longer periods of time, resulting in the Long Term Non-Progressor phenotype [2].
Materials and methods
We computationally predicted five endogenously expressed human miRNAs to target the nef gene of HIV-1 retrovirus. On applying other stringency parameters we could focus on two of the five miRNAs viz. hsa-mir-29a and hsa-mir-29b as they were predicted to target the nef gene, at sites highly conserved amongst other clades of HIV-1 [3].
We then created reporter carrying the nef gene inserted downstream of a luciferase reporter. miRNA expression vectors were also made which would express the pri-miRNA when processed and thereby lead to high levels of the miRNA inside the cells. We then identified various cell lines for validating nef as a target for hsa-mir-29a and hsa-mir-29b.
Results and discussion
Gene reporter assays and ectopic over-expression of miRNAs conclusively showed that human cellular miRNAs hsa-mir-29a and hsa-mir-29b could bring down the nef protein levels and also affect viral replication [4]. These results would provide a better understanding of the mechanisms that could regulate the viral gene expression and human cellular antiviral defense mechanisms whereby miRNAs could serve as potential therapeutics to treat various viral diseases
Mass dependence of the gravitationally-induced wave-function phase
The leading mass dependence of the wave function phase is calculated in the
presence of gravitational interactions. The conditions under which this phase
contains terms depending on both the square of the mass and the gravitational
constant are determined. The observability of such terms is briefly discussed.Comment: 5 pages, no figures, requires Revtex. The discussion has been
extended and clarifie
Extra Dirac Equations
This paper has rather a pedagogical meaning. Surprising symmetries in the
Lorentz group representation space are analyzed. The aim is
to draw reader's attention to the possibility of describing the particle world
on the ground of the Dirac "doubles". Several tune points of the variational
principle for this kind of equations are briefly discussed.Comment: REVTeX 3.0, 14p
Spin half fermions with mass dimension one: theory, phenomenology, and dark matter
We provide the first details on the unexpected theoretical discovery of a
spin-one-half matter field with mass dimension one. It is based upon a complete
set of dual-helicity eigenspinors of the charge conjugation operator. Due to
its unusual properties with respect to charge conjugation and parity, it
belongs to a non-standard Wigner class. Consequently, the theory exhibits
non-locality with (CPT)^2 = - I. We briefly discuss its relevance to the
cosmological `horizon problem'. Because the introduced fermionic field is
endowed with mass dimension one, it can carry a quartic self-interaction. Its
dominant interaction with known forms of matter is via Higgs, and with gravity.
This aspect leads us to contemplate the new fermion as a prime dark matter
candidate. Taking this suggestion seriously we study a supernova-like explosion
of a galactic-mass dark matter cloud to set limits on the mass of the new
particle and present a calculation on relic abundance to constrain the relevant
cross-section. The analysis favours light mass (roughly 20 MeV) and relevant
cross-section of about 2 pb. Similarities and differences with the WIMP and
mirror matter proposals for dark matter are enumerated. In a critique of the
theory we bare a hint on non-commutative aspects of spacetime, and
energy-momentum space.Comment: 78 pages [Changes: referee-suggested improvements, additional
important references, and better readability
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