Low density expansion and isospin dependence of nuclear energy functional: comparison between relativistic and Skyrme models

In the present work we take the non relativistic limit of relativistic models and compare the obtained functionals with the usual Skyrme parametrization. Relativistic models with both constant couplings and with density dependent couplings are considered. While some models present very good results already at the lowest order in the density, models with non-linear terms only reproduce the energy functional if higher order terms are taken into account in the expansion.Comment: 16 pages,6 figures,5 table

Pentaquarks in the medium in the quark-meson coupling model

We calculate the properties of the pentaquarks $\Theta^+$ and $\Xi^{--,0}$ in symmetric nuclear matter using the quark meson coupling model (QMC). The stability of the $\Theta^+$ in the medium with respect to the channel $\Theta^+\to NK^+$ is discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, revte

Kaon condensation in the quark-meson coupling model and compact stars

The properties of neutron stars constituted of a crust of hadrons and an internal part of hadrons and kaon condensate are calculated within the quark-meson-coupling model. We have considered stars with nucleons only in the hadron phase and also stars with hyperons as well. The results are compared with the ones obtained from the non-linear Walecka model for the hadronic phase.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

New Global Defect Structures

We investigate the presence of defects in systems described by real scalar field in (D,1) spacetime dimensions. We show that when the potential assumes specific form, there are models which support stable global defects for D arbitrary. We also show how to find first-order differential equations that solve the equations of motion, and how to solve models in D dimensions via soluble problems in D=1. We illustrate the procedure examining specific models and finding explicit solutions.Comment: RevTex4, 4 pages, 3 eps figures; to be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Warm stellar matter with neutrino trapping

The properties of hybrid stars formed by hadronic and quark matter in beta-equilibrium at fixed entropies are described by appropriate equations of state (EOS) in the framework of relativistic mean-field theory. In this work we include the possibility of neutrino trapped EOS and compare the star properties with the ones obtained after deleptonization, when neutrinos have already diffused out. We use the nonlinear Walecka model for the hadron matter with two different sets for the hyperon couplings and the MIT Bag and the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio models for the quark matter. The phase transition to a deconfined quark phase is investigated. Depending on the model and the parameter set used, the mixed phase may or may not exist in the EOS at high densities. The star properties are calculated for each equation of state. The maximum mass stellar configurations obtained within the NJL have larger masses than the ones obtained within the Bag model. The Bag model predicts a mixed phase in the interior of the most massive stable stars while, depending on the hyperon couplings, the NJL model predicts a mixed phase or pure quark matter. Comparing with neutrino free stars, the maximum allowed baryonic masses for protoneutron stars are $\sim 0.4 M_\odot$ larger for the Bag model and $\sim 0.1 M_\odot$ larger for the NJL model when neutrino trapping is imposed.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Hamming distance and mobility behavior in generalized rock-paper-scissors models

This work reports on two related investigations of stochastic simulations which are widely used to study biodiversity and other related issues. We first deal with the behavior of the Hamming distance under the increase of the number of species and the size of the lattice, and then investigate how the mobility of the species contributes to jeopardize biodiversity. The investigations are based on the standard rules of reproduction, mobility and predation or competition, which are described by specific rules, guided by generalization of the rock-paper-scissors game, valid in the case of three species. The results on the Hamming distance indicate that it engenders universal behavior, independently of the number of species and the size of the square lattice. The results on the mobility confirm the prediction that it may destroy diversity, if it is increased to higher and higher values.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures. To appear in EP

Spatial patterns and biodiversity in off-lattice simulations of a cyclic three-species Lotka-Volterra model

Stochastic simulations of cyclic three-species spatial predator-prey models are usually performed in square lattices with nearest neighbor interactions starting from random initial conditions. In this Letter we describe the results of off-lattice Lotka-Volterra stochastic simulations, showing that the emergence of spiral patterns does occur for sufficiently high values of the (conserved) total density of individuals. We also investigate the dynamics in our simulations, finding an empirical relation characterizing the dependence of the characteristic peak frequency and amplitude on the total density. Finally, we study the impact of the total density on the extinction probability, showing how a low population density may jeopardize biodiversity.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures; new version, with new title and figure