Nambu-Jona-Lasinio Model in Curved Spacetime with Magnetic Field

We discuss the phase structure of the NJL model in curved spacetime with magnetic field using $1/N$-expansion and linear curvature approximation. The effective potential for composite fields $\bar\psi \psi$ is calculated using the proper-time cut-off in the following cases: a) at non-zero curvature, b) at non-zero curvature and non-zero magnetic field, and c) at non-zero curvature and non-zero covariantly constant gauge field. Chiral symmetry breaking is studied numerically. We show that the gravitational field may compensate the effect of the magnetic field what leads to restoration of chiral symmetry.Comment: LaTex file, 11 pages, 5 figures (not included) avaliable by request from first or third autho

Roundtable Discussion Examining Ritual, Technology, and Community in Urban Communication

Pervasive technologies that now exist in the urban setting have greatly improved the ability to connect on a macro-level, but have minimized the intimate shared experience of community on a micro level. This paper explores how technology has changed rituals within the global community and has contributed new methods to the process of human interaction. Technology’s influence on civic engagement, business meetings, shopping and socializing are examined to assess the impact technology has on human connections

Lattice congruences of the weak order

We study the congruence lattice of the poset of regions of a hyperplane arrangement, with particular emphasis on the weak order on a finite Coxeter group. Our starting point is a theorem from a previous paper which gives a geometric description of the poset of join-irreducibles of the congruence lattice of the poset of regions in terms of certain polyhedral decompositions of the hyperplanes. For a finite Coxeter system (W,S) and a subset K of S, let \eta_K:w \mapsto w_K be the projection onto the parabolic subgroup W_K. We show that the fibers of \eta_K constitute the smallest lattice congruence with 1\equiv s for every s\in(S-K). We give an algorithm for determining the congruence lattice of the weak order for any finite Coxeter group and for a finite Coxeter group of type A or B we define a directed graph on subsets or signed subsets such that the transitive closure of the directed graph is the poset of join-irreducibles of the congruence lattice of the weak order.Comment: 26 pages, 4 figure

A Robot Model of OC-Spectrum Disorders : Design Framework, Implementation and First Experiments

© 2019 Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyComputational psychiatry is increasingly establishing itself as valuable discipline for understanding human mental disorders. However, robot models and their potential for investigating embodied and contextual aspects of mental health have been, to date, largely unexplored. In this paper, we present an initial robot model of obsessive-compulsive (OC) spectrum disorders based on an embodied motivation-based control architecture for decision making in autonomous robots. The OC family of conditions is chiefly characterized by obsessions (recurrent, invasive thoughts) and/or compulsions (an urge to carry out certain repetitive or ritualized behaviors). The design of our robot model follows and illustrates a general design framework that we have proposed to ground research in robot models of mental disorders, and to link it with existing methodologies in psychiatry, and notably in the design of animal models. To test and validate our model, we present and discuss initial experiments, results and quantitative and qualitative analysis regarding the compulsive and obsessive elements of OC-spectrum disorders. While this initial stage of development only models basic elements of such disorders, our results already shed light on aspects of the underlying theoretical model that are not obvious simply from consideration of the model.Peer reviewe

Effects of phase transitions in devices actuated by the electromagnetic vacuum force

We study the influence of the electromagnetic vacuum force on the behaviour of a model device based on materials, like germanium tellurides, that undergo fast and reversible metal-insulator transitions on passing from the crystalline to the amorphous phase. The calculations are performed at finite temperature and fully accounting for the behaviour of the material dielectric functions. The results show that the transition can be exploited to extend the distance and energy ranges under which the device can be operated without undergoing stiction phenomena. We discuss the approximation involved in adopting the Casimir expression in simulating nano- and micro- devices at finite temperature

Multicritical Nishimori point in the phase diagram of the +- J Ising model on a square lattice

We investigate the critical behavior of the random-bond +- J Ising model on a square lattice at the multicritical Nishimori point in the T-p phase diagram, where T is the temperature and p is the disorder parameter (p=1 corresponds to the pure Ising model). We perform a finite-size scaling analysis of high-statistics Monte Carlo simulations along the Nishimori line defined by $2p-1={\rm Tanh}(1/T)$, along which the multicritical point lies. The multicritical Nishimori point is located at p^*=0.89081(7), T^*=0.9528(4), and the renormalization-group dimensions of the operators that control the multicritical behavior are y_1=0.655(15) and y_2 = 0.250(2); they correspond to the thermal exponent \nu= 1/y_2=4.00(3) and to the crossover exponent \phi= y_1/y_2=2.62(6).Comment: 23 page

Human Transportation System (HTS) study: Executive summary

Work completed under the Human Transportation System Study is summarized. This study was conducted by the New Initiatives Office at JSC with the technical support of Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed, McDonnell-Douglas, Martin Marietta, and Rockwell. The study was designed to generate information on determining the appropriate path to follow for new system development to meet the Nation's space transportation needs. The study evaluates 18 transportation architecture options using a parametric set of mission requirements. These options include use of current systems as well as proposed systems to assess the impact of various considerations, such as the cost of alternate access, or the benefit of separating people and cargo. The architecture options are compared to each other with six measurable evaluation criteria or attributes. They are the following: funding profile, human safety, probability of mission success, architecture cost risk, launch schedule confidence, and environmental impact. Values for these attributes are presented for the architecture options, with pertinent conclusions and recommendations

The Rotation of Sub-Populations in omega Centauri

We present the first result of the Ital-FLAMES survey of red giant branch (RGB) stars in omega Cen. Radial velocities with a precision of ~0.5 km/s are presented for 650 members of omega Cen observed with FLAMES-Giraffe at the Very Large Telescope. We found that stars belonging to the metal -poor (RGB-MP), metal-intemediate (RGB-MInt) and metal-rich (RGB-a) sub -populations of Omega Cen are all compatible with having the same rotational pattern. Our results appear to contradict past findings by Norris et al., who could not detect any rotational signature for metal -rich stars. The slightly higher precision of the present measurements and the much larger sample size, especially for the metal-richer stars, appear as the most likely explanation for this discrepancy. The result presented here weakens the body of evidence in favour of a merger event in the past history of omega Cen.Comment: 5 pages, 3 fiures, electronic table can be obtained from E. Pancino. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Human Transportation System (HTS) study, volume 1

Work completed under the Human Transportation System Study is summarized. This study was conducted by the New Initiatives Office at JSC with the technical support of Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed, McDonnell-Douglas, Martin Marietta, and Rockwell. The study was designed to generate information on determining the appropriate path to follow for new system development to meet the Nation's space transportation needs. The study evaluates 18 transportation architecture options using a parametric set of mission requirements. These options include use of current systems as well as proposed systems to assess the impact of various considerations, such as the cost of alternate access, or the benefit of separating people and cargo. The architecture options are compared to each other with six measurable evaluation criteria or attributes. They are the following: funding profile, human safety, probability of mission success, architecture cost risk, launch schedule confidence, and environmental impact. Values for these attributes are presented for the architecture options, with pertinent conclusions and recommendations