Evolution of magnetic fields through cosmological perturbation theory

The origin of galactic and extra-galactic magnetic fields is an unsolved problem in modern cosmology. A possible scenario comes from the idea of these fields emerged from a small field, a seed, which was produced in the early universe (phase transitions, inflation, ...) and it evolves in time. Cosmological perturbation theory offers a natural way to study the evolution of primordial magnetic fields. The dynamics for this field in the cosmological context is described by a cosmic dynamo like equation, through the dynamo term. In this paper we get the perturbed Maxwell's equations and compute the energy momentum tensor to second order in perturbation theory in terms of gauge invariant quantities. Two possible scenarios are discussed, first we consider a FLRW background without magnetic field and we study the perturbation theory introducing the magnetic field as a perturbation. The second scenario, we consider a magnetized FLRW and build up the perturbation theory from this background. We compare the cosmological dynamo like equation in both scenarios

The AdS(5)xS(5) Semi-Symmetric Space Sine-Gordon Theory

The generalized symmetric space sine-Gordon theories are a series of 1+1-integrable field theories that are classically equivalent to superstrings on symmetric space spacetimes F/G. They are formulated in terms of a semi-symmetric space as a gauged WZW model with fermions and a potential term to deform it away from the conformal fixed point. We consider in particular the case of PSU(2,2|4)/Sp(2,2)xSp(4) which corresponds to AdS(5)xS(5). We argue that the infinite tower of conserved charges of these theories includes an exotic N=(8,8) supersymmetry that is realized in a mildy non-local way at the Lagrangian level. The supersymmetry is associated to a double central extension of the superalgebra psu(2|2)+psu(2|2) and includes a non-trivial R symmetry algebra corresponding to global gauge transformations, as well as 2-dimensional spacetime translations. We then explicitly construct soliton solutions and show that they carry an internal moduli superspace CP(2|1)xCP(2|1) with both bosonic and Grassmann collective coordinates. We show how to semi-classical quantize the solitons by writing an effective quantum mechanical system on the moduli space which takes the form of a co-adjoint orbit of SU(2|2)xSU(2|2). The spectrum consists of a tower of massive states in the short, or atypical, symmetric representations, just as the giant magnon states of the string world sheet theory, although here the tower is truncated.Comment: 39 pages, references adde

First-principles derivation of the AdS/CFT Y-systems

We provide a first-principles, perturbative derivation of the AdS5/CFT4 Y-system that has been proposed to solve the spectrum problem of N=4 SYM. The proof relies on the computation of quantum effects in the fusion of some loop operators, namely the transfer matrices. More precisely we show that the leading quantum corrections in the fusion of transfer matrices induce the correct shifts of the spectral parameter in the T-system. As intermediate steps we study UV divergences in line operators up to first order and compute the fusion of line operators up to second order for the pure spinor string in AdS5xS5. We also argue that the derivation can be easily extended to other integrable models, some of which describe string theory on AdS4, AdS3 and AdS2 spacetimes.Comment: 45 pages, 5 figures; v2: minor additions, JHEP versio

PAMELA results on the cosmic-ray antiproton flux from 60 MeV to 180 GeV in kinetic energy

The satellite-borne experiment PAMELA has been used to make a new measurement of the cosmic-ray antiproton flux and the antiproton-to-proton flux ratio which extends previously published measurements down to 60 MeV and up to 180 GeV in kinetic energy. During 850 days of data acquisition approximately 1500 antiprotons were observed. The measurements are consistent with purely secondary production of antiprotons in the galaxy. More precise secondary production models are required for a complete interpretation of the results.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Fusion of line operators in conformal sigma-models on supergroups, and the Hirota equation

We study line operators in the two-dimensional sigma-model on PSl(n|n) using the current-current OPEs. We regularize and renormalize these line operators, and compute their fusion up to second order in perturbation theory. In particular we show that the transfer matrix associated to a one-parameter family of flat connections is free of divergences. Moreover this transfer matrix satisfies the Hirota equation (which can be rewritten as a Y-system, or Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz equations) for all values of the two parameters defining the sigma-model. This provides a first-principles derivation of the Hirota equation which does not rely on the string hypothesis nor on the assumption of quantum integrability.Comment: 53 pages, 6 figures. Minor correction

Derivation of the action and symmetries of the q-deformed AdS5×S5 superstring

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits any use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.We recently proposed an integrable q-deformation of the AdS5 × S 5 superstring action. Here we give details on the hamiltonian origin and construction of this deformation. The procedure is a generalization of the one previously developed for deforming principal chiral and symmetric space σ-modelsPeer reviewedFinal Published versio

Properties of Graphene: A Theoretical Perspective

In this review, we provide an in-depth description of the physics of monolayer and bilayer graphene from a theorist's perspective. We discuss the physical properties of graphene in an external magnetic field, reflecting the chiral nature of the quasiparticles near the Dirac point with a Landau level at zero energy. We address the unique integer quantum Hall effects, the role of electron correlations, and the recent observation of the fractional quantum Hall effect in the monolayer graphene. The quantum Hall effect in bilayer graphene is fundamentally different from that of a monolayer, reflecting the unique band structure of this system. The theory of transport in the absence of an external magnetic field is discussed in detail, along with the role of disorder studied in various theoretical models. We highlight the differences and similarities between monolayer and bilayer graphene, and focus on thermodynamic properties such as the compressibility, the plasmon spectra, the weak localization correction, quantum Hall effect, and optical properties. Confinement of electrons in graphene is nontrivial due to Klein tunneling. We review various theoretical and experimental studies of quantum confined structures made from graphene. The band structure of graphene nanoribbons and the role of the sublattice symmetry, edge geometry and the size of the nanoribbon on the electronic and magnetic properties are very active areas of research, and a detailed review of these topics is presented. Also, the effects of substrate interactions, adsorbed atoms, lattice defects and doping on the band structure of finite-sized graphene systems are discussed. We also include a brief description of graphane -- gapped material obtained from graphene by attaching hydrogen atoms to each carbon atom in the lattice.Comment: 189 pages. submitted in Advances in Physic

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914

A gravitational-wave (GW) transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors on 2015 September 14. The event, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observers covering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities. In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the GW data and present the sky localization of the first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the GW sky localization coverage, the timeline, and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic (EM) signature. Nevertheless, this first broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the EM data and results of the EM follow-up campaign are being disseminated in papers by the individual teams