Supersymmetric SO(10)SO(10)-inspired leptogenesis and a new N2N_2-dominated scenario

We study the supersymmetric extension of $SO(10)$-inspired thermal leptogenesis showing the constraints on neutrino parameters and on the reheat temperature $T_{\rm RH}$ that derive from the condition of successful leptogenesis from next-to-lightest right handed (RH) neutrinos ($N_2$) decays and the more stringent ones when independence of the initial conditions (strong thermal leptogenesis) is superimposed. In the latter case, the increase of the lightest right-handed neutrino ($N_1$) decay parameters helps the wash-out of a pre-existing asymmetry and constraints relax compared to the non-supersymmetric case. We find significant changes especially in the case of large $\tan\beta$ values $(\gtrsim 15)$. In particular, for normal ordering, the atmospheric mixing angle can now be also maximal. The lightest (ordinary) neutrino mass is still constrained within the range $10 \lesssim m_1/{\rm meV} \lesssim 30$ (corresponding to $75\lesssim \sum_i m_i/{\rm meV} \lesssim 120$). Inverted ordering is still disfavoured, but an allowed region satisfying strong thermal leptogenesis opens up at large $\tan\beta$ values. We also study in detail the lower bound on $T_{\rm RH}$ finding $T_{\rm RH}\gtrsim 1 \times 10^{10}\,{\rm GeV}$ independently of the initial $N_2$ abundance. Finally, we propose a new $N_2$-dominated scenario where the $N_1$ mass is lower than the sphaleron freeze-out temperature. In this case there is no $N_1$ wash-out and we find $T_{\rm RH} \gtrsim 1\times 10^{9}\,{\rm GeV}$. These results indicate that $SO(10)$-inspired thermal leptogenesis can be made compatible with the upper bound from the gravitino problem, an important result in light of the role often played by supersymmetry in the quest of a realistic model of fermion masses.Comment: 35 pages, 10 figures; v3: matches JCAP versio

Judicial dialogue and fundamental freedoms: The main features of an established judicial trend

This article analyses the phenomenon commonly referred to as \u2018judicial dialogue\u2019 with the aim of describing its relevant aspects and its importance in the definition and protection of fundamental freedoms, in particular when minority rights are at stake. This contribution offers an overview of those factors influencing judges\u2019 attitude toward the use of foreign case law in the elaboration of their decision. A reference to the European system of protection of human rights is made in order to demonstrate how judicial dialogue is framed in terms of plurality of approaches rather than be characterized by hierarchy. The analysis also examines the issue of legitimacy elaborating on constitutionalism and the role of supreme, supranational and international Courts in democratic States. The final part considers the issue of appropriateness, i.e., it emphasizes the need for a comprehensive \u2018theory of rules of relevance\u2019 in relation to judicial dialogue

Freedom of peaceful assembly and (un)constitutional limitations in South Africa

This South African case is a landmark case concerning the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. A fundamental right, which is frequently ideally \uabmerged\ubb \u2013or \uabconfused into\ubb \u2013freedom of speech and association, though it represents a human right on its own. In Mlungwana, the ZACC has secured this fundamental freedom from possible abuses by State\u2019s authorities. Indeed, as it will be discussed, this case follows a path that has been already drawn by the constitutional Court its previous case law. It represents a further development of the meaning of one of the most crucial constitutional guarantees in a constitutional democrac

Strong thermal leptogenesis and the absolute neutrino mass scale

We show that successful strong thermal leptogenesis, where the final asymmetry is independent of the initial conditions and in particular a large pre-existing asymmetry is efficiently washed-out, favours values of the lightest neutrino mass $m_1 \gtrsim 10\,{\rm meV}$ for normal ordering (NO) and $m_1 \gtrsim 3\,{\rm meV}$ for inverted ordering (IO) for models with orthogonal matrix entries respecting $|\Omega_{ij}^2| \lesssim 2$. . We show analytically why lower values of $m_1$ require a high level of fine tuning in the seesaw formula and/or in the flavoured decay parameters (in the electronic for NO, in the muonic for IO). We also show how this constraint exists thanks to the measured values of the neutrino mixing angles and can be tighten by a future determination of the Dirac phase. Our analysis also allows to place more stringent constraint for a specific model or class of models, such as $SO(10)$-inspired models, and shows that some models cannot realise strong thermal leptogenesis for any value of $m_1$. A scatter plot analysis fully supports the analytical results. We also briefly discuss the interplay with absolute neutrino mass scale experiments concluding that they will be able in the coming years to either corner strong thermal leptogenesis or find positive signals pointing to a non-vanishing $m_1$. Since the constraint is much stronger for NO than for IO, it is very important that new data from planned neutrino oscillation experiments will be able to solve the ambiguity.Comment: 22 pages; 7 figures; v2: matches JCAP versio

Effective fire extinguishing systems for lithium-ion battery

Lithium-ion batteries are a popular choice of power source for a variety of energy and power demanding applications for both stationary applications and electromobility. Among electrochemical storage systems, Lithium-ion batteries were found to be promising candidate, due to their high power and high energy density. In order to assemble high power batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and pure electric vehicles, several hundreds of large-format Lithium-ion cells will be required, and even more cells for power/energy demanding stationary applications. However, safety remains a significant concern, as battery failure leads to ejection of hazardous materials and rapid heat release. The failure of a single cell can generate a large amount of heat which can then initiate, in the worst case, the thermal runaway of neighbouring cells, leading to failure throughout the battery pack. The heat accumulation can also run into the venting of a cell, with the emission of flammable organic solvent inside the battery pack. Battery failure can be initiated via a number of different abuse scenarios, such as overheating, overcharging, puncture/crushing, water immersion, or external short circuit. Development of effective mitigation strategies necessitates a study on battery failure events and a better understanding of important characteristics relating to safety, such as heat release, hazardous materials ejection, and thermal propagation. On the other hand, when a fire event is initiated, proper intervention strategies have to be defined in order to avoid it becoming catastrophic. In this paper are reported the results of thermal abuse tests on single Lithium-ion cells and a battery pack. The tests were performed with the technical equipment and resources of National Fire Corps. Screening tests for battery fire extinguishing agents were also performed. The effectiveness of an agent was evaluated through experiments on the cooling effect of fire extinguishing agents. Among the various agents, water and foam were found to be the most effective

Direct Democracy and the Rights of Sexual Minorities

Direct democracy is now being regarded as both an alternative of and an adjustment for representative constitutional democracy. Nevertheless, as is discussed in this article, direct democracy devices, particularly in those legal systems where no quorum is provided for validating referendums, can harm minorities. The analysis of “same-sex marriage referendums” can provide an emblematic example of how a minority groups can be easily outnumbered, when decisions are taken using direct popular voting

Representing seesaw neutrino models and their motion in lepton flavour space

We discuss how seesaw neutrino models can be graphically represented in lepton flavour space. We examine various popular models and show how this representation helps understanding their properties and connection with experimental data showing in particular how certain texture zero models are ruled out. We also introduce a new matrix, the bridging matrix, that brings from the light to the heavy neutrino mass flavour basis, showing how this is related to the orthogonal matrix and how different quantities are easily expressed through it. We then show how one can randomly generate orthogonal and leptonic mixing matrices uniformly covering all flavour space in an unbiased way (Haar-distributed matrices). Using the isomorphism between the group of complex rotations and the Lorentz group, we also introduce the conceptof Lorentz boost in flavour space for a seesaw model and how this has an insightful physical interpretation. Finally, as a significant application, we consider $N_2$-leptogenesis. Using current experimental values of low energy neutrino parameters, we show that the probability that at least one flavoured decay parameter of the lightest right-handed neutrino is smaller than unity is about $49\%$ (to be compared with the tiny probability that the total decay parameter is smaller than unity, $P(K_{\rm I}< 1)\sim 0.1 \%$, confirming the crucial role played by flavour effects). On the other hand when $m_1 \gtrsim 0.1\,{\rm eV}$ this probability reduces to less than $5\%$, showing how also $N_2$-leptogenesis disfavours degenerate light neutrinos.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures; v3 matching JHEP versio

Photophysics of indole upon x-ray absorption

A photofragmentation study of gas-phase indole (C$_8$H$_7$N) upon single-photon ionization at a photon energy of 420 eV is presented. Indole was primarily inner-shell ionized at its nitrogen and carbon $1s$ orbitals. Electrons and ions were measured in coincidence by means of velocity map imaging. The angular relationship between ionic fragments is discussed along with the possibility to use the angle-resolved coincidence detection to perform experiments on molecules that are strongly oriented in their recoil-frame. The coincident measurement of electrons and ions revealed fragmentation-pathway-dependent electron spectra, linking the structural fragmentation dynamics to different electronic excitations. Evidence for photoelectron-impact self-ionization was observed.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure