Green's function approach to Chern-Simons extended electrodynamics: an effective theory describing topological insulators

Boundary effects produced by a Chern-Simons (CS) extension to electrodynamics are analyzed exploiting the Green's function (GF) method. We consider the electromagnetic field coupled to a $\theta$-term in a way that has been proposed to provide the correct low energy effective action for topological insulators (TI). We take the $\theta$-term to be piecewise constant in different regions of space separated by a common interface $\Sigma$, to be called the $\theta$-boundary. Features arising due to the presence of the boundary, such as magnetoelectric effects, are already known in CS extended electrodynamics and solutions for some experimental setups have been found with specific configuration of sources. In this work we illustrate a method to construct the GF that allows to solve the CS modified field equations for a given $\theta$-boundary with otherwise arbitrary configuration of sources. The method is illustrated by solving the case of a planar $\theta$-boundary but can also be applied for cylindrical and spherical geometries for which the $\theta$-boundary can be characterized by a surface where a given coordinate remains constant. The static fields of a point-like charge interacting with a planar TI, as described by a planar discontinuity in $\theta$, are calculated and successfully compared with previously reported results. We also compute the force between the charge and the $\theta$-boundary by two different methods, using the energy momentum tensor approach and the interaction energy calculated via the GF. The infinitely straight current-carrying wire is also analyzed

Photoionization models for extreme Lyα\alpha λ\lambda1216 and HeII λ\lambda1640 ratios in quasar halos, and PopIII vs AGN diagnostics

We explore mechanisms to produce extremely high Ly-alpha/HeII flux ratios, or to enhance the observed number of Ly-alpha photons per incident ionizing photon, in extended AGN-photoionized nebulae at high-redshift. Using photoionization models, we explore the impact of ionization parameter, gas metallicity, ionizing spectrum, electron energy distribution, and cloud viewing angle on the relative fluxes of Ly-alpha, HeII and other lines, and on the observed number of Ly-alpha photons per incident ionizing photon. We find that low ionization parameter, a relatively soft or filtered ionizing spectrum, low gas metallicity, kappa-distributed electron energies, or reflection of Ly-alpha photons by HI can all result in significantly enhanced Ly-alpha relative to other lines (>10%), with log Ly-alpha/HeII reaching values up to 4.6. In the cases of low gas metallicity, reflection by HI, or a hard or filtered ionizing spectrum, the observed number of Ly-alpha photons per incident ionizing photon is itself significantly enhanced above the nominal Case B value of 0.66 due to collisional excitation, reaching values up to 5.3 in our 'extreme case' model. At low gas metallicity (e.g. 0.1 x Solar), the production of Ly-alpha is predominantly via collisional excitation rather than recombination. In addition, we find that collisional excitation of Ly-alpha becomes more efficient if the ionizing continuum is pre-filtered through an optically thin screen of gas closer to the AGN. We also show that Ly-alpha / HeII ratios of the z~3.5 quasars studied by Borisova et al. (2016) are consistent with AGN-photoionization of gas with moderate to low metallicity and/or low ionization parameter, without requiring exotic ionization/excitation mechanisms such as strong line-transfer effects. We also present UV-optical diagnostic diagrams to distinguish between photoionization by Pop III stars and AGN photoionization.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. 14 pages, 9 figures. Abstract slightly shortened to meet arxiv character limi

A complete gauge-invariant formalism for arbitrary second-order perturbations of a Schwarzschild black hole

Using recently developed efficient symbolic manipulations tools, we present a general gauge-invariant formalism to study arbitrary radiative $(l\geq 2)$ second-order perturbations of a Schwarzschild black hole. In particular, we construct the second order Zerilli and Regge-Wheeler equations under the presence of any two first-order modes, reconstruct the perturbed metric in terms of the master scalars, and compute the radiated energy at null infinity. The results of this paper enable systematic studies of generic second order perturbations of the Schwarzschild spacetime. In particular, studies of mode-mode coupling and non-linear effects in gravitational radiation, the second-order stability of the Schwarzschild spacetime, or the geometry of the black hole horizon.Comment: 14 page

Influence of general convective motions on the exterior of isolated rotating bodies in equilibrium

The problem of describing isolated rotating bodies in equilibrium in General Relativity has so far been treated under the assumption of the circularity condition in the interior of the body. For a fluid without energy flux, this condition implies that the fluid flow moves only along the angular direction, i.e. there is no convection. Using this simplification, some recent studies have provided us with uniqueness and existence results for asymptotically flat vacuum exterior fields given the interior sources. Here, the generalisation of the problem to include general sources is studied. It is proven that the convective motions have no direct influence on the exterior field, and hence, that the aforementioned results on uniqueness and existence of exterior fields apply equally in the general case.Comment: 8 pages, LaTex, uses iopart style files. To appear in Class. Quatum Gra

Hokupa'a-Gemini Discovery of Two Ultracool Companions to the Young Star HD 130948

We report the discovery of two faint ultracool companions to the nearby (d~17.9 pc) young G2V star HD 130948 (HR 5534, HIP 72567) using the Hokupa'a adaptive optics instrument mounted on the Gemini North 8-meter telescope. Both objects have the same common proper motion as the primary star as seen over a 7 month baseline and have near-IR photometric colors that are consistent with an early-L classification. Near-IR spectra taken with the NIRSPEC AO instrument on the Keck II telescope reveal K I lines, FeH, and water bandheads. Based on these spectra, we determine that both objects have spectral type dL2 with an uncertainty of 2 spectral subclasses. The position of the new companions on the H-R diagram in comparison with theoretical models is consistent with the young age of the primary star (<0.8 Gyr) estimated on the basis of X-ray activity, lithium abundance and fast rotation. HD 130948 B and C likely constitute a pair of young contracting brown dwarfs with an orbital period of about 10 years, and will yield dynamical masses for L dwarfs in the near future.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, (13 total pages

Yukawa terms in noncommutative SO(10) and E6 GUTs

We propose a method for constructing Yukawa terms for noncommutative SO(10) and E6 GUTs, when these GUTs are formulated within the enveloping-algebra formalism. The most general noncommutative Yukawa term that we propose contains, at first order in thetamunu, the most general BRS invariant Yukawa contribution whose only dimensionful parameter is the noncommutativity parameter. This noncommutative Yukawa interaction is thus renormalisable at first order in thetamunu.Comment: 14 pages, no figure

Scanning Electron Microscopy to Establish the Marble Weathering Mechanism in the Alhambra of Granada (Spain)

The weathering processes of the white marble from Macael quarries (Almeria, Spain) used in the Alhambra of Granada have been studied with the aim of establishing the weathering factors and mechanism. Unaltered quarry samples have been submitted to diverse accelerated weathering experiments and their morphology compared to the altered materials from the monument. The weathering process stages have been established and the degree of weathering in some monumental dependencies evaluated