5,766 research outputs found
Centralizers of maximal regular subgroups in simple Lie groups and relative congruence classes of representations
In the paper we present a new, uniform and comprehensive description of
centralizers of the maximal regular subgroups in compact simple Lie groups of
all types and ranks. The centralizer is either a direct product of finite
cyclic groups, a continuous group of rank 1, or a product, not necessarily
direct, of a continuous group of rank 1 with a finite cyclic group. Explicit
formulas for the action of such centralizers on irreducible representations of
the simple Lie algebras are given.Comment: 27 page
Multi-parameter approach to R-parity violating SUSY couplings
We introduce and implement a new, extended approach to placing bounds on
trilinear R-parity violating couplings. We focus on a limited set of leptonic
and semi-leptonic processes involving neutrinos, combining multidimensional
plotting and cross-checking constraints from different experiments. This allows
us to explore new regions of parameter space and to relax a number of bounds
given in the literature. We look for qualitatively different results compared
to those obtained previously using the assumption that a single coupling
dominates the R-parity violating contributions to a process (SCD). By combining
results from several experiments, we identify regions in parameter space where
two or more parameters approach their maximally allowed values. In the same
vein, we show a circumstance where consistency between independent bounds on
the same combinations of trilinear coupling parameters implies mass constraints
among slepton or squark masses. Though our new bounds are in most cases weaker
than the SCD bounds, the largest deviations we find on individual parameters
are factors of two, thus indicating that a conservative, order of magnitude
bound on an individual coupling is reliably estimated by making the SCD
assumption.Comment: 30 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. Typos fixed, two references added and
references updated. Eq. (41) removed, Eq. (40) and text modified. Published
versio
Intramuscular Immunisation with Chlamydial Proteins Induces Chlamydia trachomatis Specific Ocular Antibodies.
BACKGROUND: Ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis can cause trachoma, which is the leading cause of blindness due to infection worldwide. Despite the large-scale implementation of trachoma control programmes in the majority of countries where trachoma is endemic, there remains a need for a vaccine. Since C. trachomatis infects the conjunctival epithelium and stimulates an immune response in the associated lymphoid tissue, vaccine regimens that enhance local antibody responses could be advantageous. In experimental infections of non-human primates (NHPs), antibody specificity to C. trachomatis antigens was found to change over the course of ocular infection. The appearance of major outer membrane protein (MOMP) specific antibodies correlated with a reduction in ocular chlamydial burden, while subsequent generation of antibodies specific for PmpD and Pgp3 correlated with C. trachomatis eradication. METHODS: We used a range of heterologous prime-boost vaccinations with DNA, Adenovirus, modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) and protein vaccines based on the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) as an antigen, and investigated the effect of vaccine route, antigen and regimen on the induction of anti-chlamydial antibodies detectable in the ocular lavage fluid of mice. RESULTS: Three intramuscular vaccinations with recombinant protein adjuvanted with MF59 induced significantly greater levels of anti-MOMP ocular antibodies than the other regimens tested. Intranasal delivery of vaccines induced less IgG antibody in the eye than intramuscular delivery. The inclusion of the antigens PmpD and Pgp3, singly or in combination, induced ocular antigen-specific IgG antibodies, although the anti-PmpD antibody response was consistently lower and attenuated by combination with other antigens. CONCLUSIONS: If translatable to NHPs and/or humans, this investigation of the murine C. trachomatis specific ocular antibody response following vaccination provides a potential mouse model for the rapid and high throughput evaluation of future trachoma vaccines
Sampling Distributions of Random Electromagnetic Fields in Mesoscopic or Dynamical Systems
We derive the sampling probability density function (pdf) of an ideal
localized random electromagnetic field, its amplitude and intensity in an
electromagnetic environment that is quasi-statically time-varying statistically
homogeneous or static statistically inhomogeneous. The results allow for the
estimation of field statistics and confidence intervals when a single spatial
or temporal stochastic process produces randomization of the field. Results for
both coherent and incoherent detection techniques are derived, for Cartesian,
planar and full-vectorial fields. We show that the functional form of the
sampling pdf depends on whether the random variable is dimensioned (e.g., the
sampled electric field proper) or is expressed in dimensionless standardized or
normalized form (e.g., the sampled electric field divided by its sampled
standard deviation). For dimensioned quantities, the electric field, its
amplitude and intensity exhibit different types of
Bessel sampling pdfs, which differ significantly from the asymptotic
Gauss normal and ensemble pdfs when is relatively
small. By contrast, for the corresponding standardized quantities, Student ,
Fisher-Snedecor and root- sampling pdfs are obtained that exhibit
heavier tails than comparable Bessel pdfs. Statistical uncertainties
obtained from classical small-sample theory for dimensionless quantities are
shown to be overestimated compared to dimensioned quantities. Differences in
the sampling pdfs arising from de-normalization versus de-standardization are
obtained.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. E, minor
typos correcte
The Exceptionally Luminous Type Ia Supernova 2007If
SN 2007if was the third over-luminous Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) detected after 2003fg and 2006gz. We present the photometric and spectroscopic observations of the SN and its host by ROTSE-III, HET, and Keck. From the H a line identified in the host spectra, we determine a redshift of 0.0736. At this distance, the SN reached an absolute magnitude of -20.4, brighter than any other SNe Ia ever observed. If the source of luminosity is radioactive decay, a large amount of radioactive nickel (similar to 1.5 M(circle dot)) is required to power the peak luminosity, more than can be produced realistically in a Chandrasekhar mass progenitor. Low expansion velocity, similar to that of 2003fg, is also measured around the maximum light. The observations may suggest that SN 2007if was from a massive white dwarf progenitor, plausibly exploding with mass well beyond 1.4 M(circle dot). Alternatively, we investigate circumstellar interaction that may contribute to the excess luminosity.NASA NNX-08AN25G, NNX-08AV63GNSF AST-0707769, PHY-0801007Australian Research CouncilUniversity of New South WalesUniversity of TexasUniversity of MichiganAstronom
Spanning Trees on Graphs and Lattices in d Dimensions
The problem of enumerating spanning trees on graphs and lattices is
considered. We obtain bounds on the number of spanning trees and
establish inequalities relating the numbers of spanning trees of different
graphs or lattices. A general formulation is presented for the enumeration of
spanning trees on lattices in dimensions, and is applied to the
hypercubic, body-centered cubic, face-centered cubic, and specific planar
lattices including the kagom\'e, diced, 4-8-8 (bathroom-tile), Union Jack, and
3-12-12 lattices. This leads to closed-form expressions for for these
lattices of finite sizes. We prove a theorem concerning the classes of graphs
and lattices with the property that
as the number of vertices , where is a finite
nonzero constant. This includes the bulk limit of lattices in any spatial
dimension, and also sections of lattices whose lengths in some dimensions go to
infinity while others are finite. We evaluate exactly for the
lattices we considered, and discuss the dependence of on d and the
lattice coordination number. We also establish a relation connecting to the free energy of the critical Ising model for planar lattices .Comment: 28 pages, latex, 1 postscript figure, J. Phys. A, in pres
Dilute Bose gas with correlated disorder: A Path Integral Monte Carlo study
We investigate the thermodynamic properties of a dilute Bose gas in a
correlated random potential using exact path integral Monte Carlo methods. The
study is carried out in continuous space and disorder is produced in the
simulations by a 3D speckle pattern with tunable intensity and correlation
length. We calculate the shift of the superfluid transition temperature due to
disorder and we highlight the role of quantum localization by comparing the
critical chemical potential with the classical percolation threshold. The
equation of state of the gas is determined in the regime of strong disorder,
where superfluidity is suppressed and the normal phase exists down to very low
temperatures. We find a dependence of the energy in agreement with the
expected behavior in the Bose glass phase. We also discuss the major role
played by the disorder correlation length and we make contact with a
Hartree-Fock mean-field approach that holds valid if the correlation length is
very large. The density profiles are analyzed as a function of temperature and
interaction strength. Effects of localization and the depletion of the order
parameter are emphasized in the comparison between local condensate and total
density. At very low temperature we find that the energy and the particle
distribution of the gas are very well described by the T=0 Gross-Pitaevskii
theory even in the regime of very strong disorder.Comment: 27 pages, 20 figure
APS Neutrino Study: Report of the Neutrino Astrophysics and Cosmology Working Group
In 2002, Ray Davis and Masatoshi Koshiba were awarded the Nobel Prize in
Physics ``for pioneering contributions to astrophysics, in particular for the
detection of cosmic neutrinos.'' However, while astronomy has undergone a
revolution in understanding by synthesizing data taken at many wavelengths, the
universe has only barely been glimpsed in neutrinos, just the Sun and the
nearby SN 1987A. An entire universe awaits, and since neutrinos can probe
astrophysical objects at densities, energies, and distances that are otherwise
inaccessible, the results are expected to be particularly exciting. Similarly,
the revolution in quantitative cosmology has heightened the need for very
precise tests that depend on the effects of neutrinos, and prominent among them
is the search for the effects of neutrino mass, since neutrinos are a small but
known component of the dark matter. In this report, we highlight some of the
key opportunties for progress in neutrino astrophysics and cosmology, and the
implications for other areas of physics
- …