An intuitive approach to inertial forces and the centrifugal force paradox in general relativity

As the velocity of a rocket in a circular orbit near a black hole increases, the outwardly directed rocket thrust must increase to keep the rocket in its orbit. This feature might appear paradoxical from a Newtonian viewpoint, but we show that it follows naturally from the equivalence principle together with special relativity and a few general features of black holes. We also derive a general relativistic formalism of inertial forces for reference frames with acceleration and rotation. The resulting equation relates the real experienced forces to the time derivative of the speed and the spatial curvature of the particle trajectory relative to the reference frame. We show that an observer who follows the path taken by a free (geodesic) photon will experience a force perpendicular to the direction of motion that is independent of the observers velocity. We apply our approach to resolve the submarine paradox, which regards whether a submerged submarine in a balanced state of rest will sink or float when given a horizontal velocity if we take relativistic effects into account. We extend earlier treatments of this topic to include spherical oceans and show that for the case of the Earth the submarine floats upward if we take the curvature of the ocean into account.Comment: 14 pages, 21 figure

Constraining Bilinear R-Parity Violation from Neutrino Masses

We confront the R-parity violating MSSM model with the neutrino oscillation data. Investigating the 1-loop particle-sparticle diagrams with additional bilinear insertions on the external neutrino lines we construct the relevant contributions to the neutrino mass matrix. A comparison of the so-obtained matrices with the experimental ones assuming normal or inverted hierarchy and taking into account possible CP violating phases, allows to set constraints on the values of the bilinear coupling constants. A similar calculation is presented with the input from the Heidelberg-Moscow neutrinoless double beta decay experiment. We base our analysis on the renormalization group evolution of the MSSM parameters which are unified at the GUT scale. Using the obtained bounds we calculate the contributions to the Majorana neutrino transition magnetic moments.Comment: I've decided to move the collection of my papers to arXiv for easier acces

Measurement of π\pi, K, p transverse momentum spectra with ALICE in proton-proton collisions at s=\sqrt{s} = 0.9 and 7 TeV

Results of the measurement of the $\pi$, K, p transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm{t}}$) spectra at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV are presented. Particle identification was performed using the energy loss signal in the Inner Tracking System (ITS) and the Time Projection Chamber (TPC), while information from the Time-of-Flight (TOF) detector was used to identify particles at higher transverse momentum. From the spectra at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV the mean transverse momentum ($$) and particle ratios were extracted and compared to results obtained for collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$ TeV and lower energies.Comment: Quark Matter 2011 proceeding

Nonlinear stability of the Taub-NUT soliton in 6+1 dimensions

Using mixed numerical and analytical methods we give evidence that the 6+1 dimensional Taub-NUT soliton is asymptotically nonlinearly stable against small perturbations preserving biaxial Bianchi IX symmetry. We also show that for sufficiently strong perturbations the soliton collapses to a warped black hole. Since this black hole solution is not known in closed form, for completeness of the exposition we prove its existence and determine its properties. In particular, the mass of the black hole is computed.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure

Deterministic implementation of weak quantum cubic nonlinearity

We propose a deterministic implementation of weak cubic nonlinearity, which is a basic building block of a full scale CV quantum computation. Our proposal relies on preparation of a specific ancillary state and transferring its nonlinear properties onto the desired target by means of deterministic Gaussian operations and feed-forward. We show that, despite the imperfections arising from the deterministic nature of the operation, the weak quantum nonlinearity can be implemented and verified with the current level of technology.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Stratospheric cruise emission reduction program

A recently implemented NASA effort specifically aimed at reducing cruise oxides of nitrogen from high-altitude aircraft is discussed. The desired emission levels and the combustor technology required to achieve them are discussed. A brief overview of the SCERP operating plan is given. Lean premixed-prevaporized combustion and some of the potential difficulties that are associated with applying this technique to gas turbine combustors are examined. Base technology was developed in several key areas. These fundamental studies are viewed as a requirement for successful implementation of the lean premixed combustion technique

Extra Dimensions and Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay Experiments

The neutrinoless double beta decay is one of the few phenomena, belonging to the non-standard physics, which is extensively being sought for in experiments. In the present paper the link between the half-life of the neutrinoless double beta decay and theories with large extra dimensions is explored. The use of the sensitivities of currently planned $0\nu2\beta$ experiments: DAMA, CANDLES, COBRA, DCBA, CAMEO, GENIUS, GEM, MAJORANA, MOON, CUORE, EXO, and XMASS, gives the possibility for a non-direct `experimental' verification of various extra dimensional scenarios. We discuss also the results of the Heidelberg--Moscow Collaboration. The calculations are based on the Majorana neutrino mass generation mechanism in the Arkani-Hamed--Dimopoulos--Dvali model.Comment: I've decided to move the collection of my papers to arXiv for easier acces

Quantum fidelity in the thermodynamic limit

We study quantum fidelity, the overlap between two ground states of a many-body system, focusing on the thermodynamic regime. We show how drop of fidelity near a critical point encodes universal information about a quantum phase transition. Our general scaling results are illustrated in the quantum Ising chain for which a remarkably simple expression for fidelity is found.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, rearranged a bit to improve presentatio

Concurrence of mixed bipartite quantum states in arbitrary dimensions

We derive a lower bound for the concurrence of mixed bipartite quantum states, valid in arbitrary dimensions. As a corollary, a weaker, purely algebraic estimate is found, which detects mixed entangled states with positive partial transpose.Comment: accepted py PR

The Aschenbach effect: unexpected topology changes in motion of particles and fluids orbiting rapidly rotating Kerr black holes

Newton's theory predicts that the velocity $V$ of free test particles on circular orbits around a spherical gravity center is a decreasing function of the orbital radius $r$, $dV/dr < 0$. Only very recently, Aschenbach (A&A 425, p. 1075 (2004)) has shown that, unexpectedly, the same is not true for particles orbiting black holes: for Kerr black holes with the spin parameter $a>0.9953$, the velocity has a positive radial gradient for geodesic, stable, circular orbits in a small radial range close to the black hole horizon. We show here that the {\em Aschenbach effect} occurs also for non-geodesic circular orbits with constant specific angular momentum $\ell = \ell_0 = const$. In Newton's theory it is $V = \ell_0/R$, with $R$ being the cylindrical radius. The equivelocity surfaces coincide with the $R = const$ surfaces which, of course, are just co-axial cylinders. It was previously known that in the black hole case this simple topology changes because one of the ``cylinders'' self-crosses. We show here that the Aschenbach effect is connected to a second topology change that for the $\ell = const$ tori occurs only for very highly spinning black holes, $a>0.99979$.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure