Commuting charges and symmetric spaces

Every classical sigma-model with target space a compact symmetric space $G/H$ (with $G$ classical) is shown to possess infinitely many local, commuting, conserved charges which can be written in closed form. The spins of these charges run over a characteristic set of values, playing the role of exponents of $G/H$, and repeating modulo an integer $h$ which plays the role of a Coxeter number.Comment: LaTeX, 16 pages; v2: footnote adde

Conserved Charges and Supersymmetry in Principal Chiral Models

We report on investigations of local (and non-local) charges in bosonic and supersymmetric principal chiral models in 1+1 dimensions. In the bosonic PCM there is a classically conserved local charge for each symmetric invariant tensor of the underlying group. These all commute with the non-local Yangian charges. The algebra of the local charges amongst themselves is rather more subtle. We give a universal formula for infinite sets of mutually commuting local charges with spins equal to the exponents of the underlying classical algebra modulo its Coxeter number. Many of these results extend to the supersymmetric PCM, but with local conserved charges associated with antisymmetric invariants in the Lie algebra. We comment briefly on the quantum conservation of local charges in both the bosonic and super PCMs.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX. Revised and up-dated version based on conference talks by JME and NJ

Invariant tensors and Casimir operators for simple compact Lie groups

The Casimir operators of a Lie algebra are in one-to-one correspondence with the symmetric invariant tensors of the algebra. There is an infinite family of Casimir operators whose members are expressible in terms of a number of primitive Casimirs equal to the rank of the underlying group. A systematic derivation is presented of a complete set of identities expressing non-primitive symmetric tensors in terms of primitive tensors. Several examples are given including an application to an exceptional Lie algebra.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX, minor changes, version in J. Math. Phy

Enhanced star formation: The importance of bars in spiral galaxies

It was found that among an IR luminous subset of nearby spiral galaxies, nearly all of the systems with IRAS colors and luminosities indicative of enhanced star formation are barred. Radio continuum and IR spectroscopic results support the hypothesis that this emission originates within the central 2 kpc; possibly in a circumnuclear ring. It was also found that outer rings are over represented among these barred systems and suggest possible reasons for this phenomena

High resolution sub-millimetre mapping of starburst galaxies: Comparison with CO emission

Researchers present first results from a program of submillimeter continuum mapping of starburst galaxies, and comparison of their dust and CO emission. This project was prompted by surprising results from the first target, the nearby starburst M82, which shows in the dust continuum a morphology quite unlike that of its CO emission, in contrast to what might be expected if both CO and dust are accurately tracing the molecular hydrogen. Possible explanations for this striking difference are discussed. In the light of these results, the program has been extended to include sub-mm mapping of the nearby, vigorously star forming spirals, M83 and Maffei 2. The latter were also observed extensively in CO, in order to study excitation conditions in its central regions. The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope was used in these studies

The Cleo III Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detector

The CLEO detector has been upgraded to include a state of the art particle identification system, based on the Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detector (RICH) technology, in order to take data at the upgraded CESR electron positron collider. The expected performance is reviewed, as well as the preliminary results from an engineering run during the first few months of operation of the CLEO III detector.Comment: 5 pages, 2 Figures Talk given by M. Artuso at 8th Pisa Meeting on Advanced Detectors, May 200

Optimum Monte Carlo Simulations: Some Exact Results

We obtain exact results for the acceptance ratio and mean squared displacement in Monte Carlo simulations of the simple harmonic oscillator in $D$ dimensions. When the trial displacement is made uniformly in the radius, we demonstrate that the results are independent of the dimensionality of the space. We also study the dynamics of the process via a spectral analysis and we obtain an accurate description for the relaxation time.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures. submitted to J. Phys.

Discovery of a High Proper Motion L Dwarf Binary: 2MASS J15200224-4422419AB

We report the discovery of the wide L1.5+L4.5 binary 2MASS J15200224-4422419AB, identified during spectroscopic followup of high proper motion sources selected from the Two Micron All Sky Survey. This source was independently identified by Kendall et al. in the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey. Resolved JHK photometry and low resolution near-infrared spectroscopy demonstrate that this system is composed of two well-separated (1"174+/-0"016) L dwarfs. Component classifications are derived using both spectral ratios and comparison to near-infrared spectra of previously classified field L dwarfs. Physical association for the pair is deduced from the large (mu = 0"73+/-0"03 /yr) common proper motion of the components and their similar spectrophotometric distances (19+/-2 pc). The projected separation of the binary, 22+/-2 AU, is consistent with maximum separation/total system mass trends for very low mass binaries. The 2MASS J1520-4422 system exhibits both large tangential (66+/-7 km/s) and radial velocities (-70+/-18 km/s), and its motion in the local standard of rest suggests that it is an old member of the Galactic disk population. This system joins a growing list of well-separated (>0"5), very low mass binaries, and is an excellent target for resolved optical spectroscopy to constrain its age as well as trace activity/rotation trends near the hydrogen-burning limit.Comment: 35 pages, 8 figures; accepted for publication to ApJ; see also Kendall et al. astro-ph/060939