Gauge Independence and Chiral Symmetry Breaking in a Strong Magnetic Field

The gauge independence of the dynamical fermion mass generated through chiral symmetry breaking in QED in a strong, constant external magnetic field is critically examined. We present a (first, to the best of our knowledge) consistent truncation of the Schwinger-Dyson equations in the lowest Landau level approximation. We demonstrate that the dynamical fermion mass, obtained as the solution of the truncated Schwinger-Dyson equations evaluated on the fermion mass shell, is manifestly gauge independent.Comment: 10 pages, 1 eps figure, version to appear in Annals of Physic

Multiwavelength properties of a new Geminga-like pulsar: PSR J2021+4026

In this paper, we report a detailed investigation of the multiwavelength properties of a newly detected gamma-ray pulsar, PSR J2021+4026, in both observational and theoretical aspects. We firstly identify an X-ray source in the XMM-Newton serendipitous source catalogue, 2XMM J202131.0+402645, located within the 95% confidence circle of PSR J2021+4026. With an archival Chandra observation, this identification provides an X-ray position with arcsecond accuracy which is helpful in facilitating further investigations. Searching for the pulsed radio emission at the position of 2XMM J202131.0+402645 with a 25-m telescope at Urumqi Astronomical Observatory resulted in null detection and places an upper-limit of 0.1~mJy for any pulsed signal at 18~cm. Together with the emission properties in X-ray and gamma-ray, the radio quietness suggests PSR J2021+4026 to be another member of Geminga-like pulsars. In the radio sky survey data, extended emission features have been identified in the gamma-ray error circle of PSR J2021+4026. We have also re-analyzed the gamma-ray data collected by FERMI's Large Area Telescope. We found that the X-ray position of 2XMM J202131.0+402645 is consistent with that of the optimal gamma-ray timing solution. We have further modeled the results in the context of outer gap model which provides us with constraints for the pulsar emission geometry such as magnetic inclination angle and the viewing angle. We have also discussed the possibility of whether PSR J2021+4026 has any physical association with the supernova remnant G78.2+2.1 (gamma-Cygni).Comment: 11 pages, 14 figure

Correlation Functions of Multisite Interaction Spin-S models on the Bethe-like Lattices

Multisite interaction spin-S models in an external magnetic field are studied recursively on the Bethe-like lattices. The transfer-matrix method is extended to calculate exactly the two-spin correlation functions. The exact expressions for the correlation length and magnetic susceptibility are derived for spin-1/2 models. The singularity of the correlation length with critical index $\nu =1$ and the proportionality of magnetic susceptibility to correlation length in the second order phase transition region of spin-1/2 ferromagnetic models on the Bethe-like lattices are established analytically.Comment: 13 pages, In Press Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Superfluidity of Λ\Lambda hyperons in neutron stars

We study the $^1S_0$ superfluidity of $\Lambda$ hyperons in neutron star matter and neutron stars. We use the relativistic mean field (RMF) theory to calculate the properties of neutron star matter. In the RMF approach, the meson-hyperon couplings are constrained by reasonable hyperon potentials that include the updated information from recent developments in hypernuclear physics. To examine the $^1S_0$ pairing gap of $\Lambda$ hyperons, we employ several $\Lambda\Lambda$ interactions based on the Nijmegen models and used in double-$\Lambda$ hypernuclei studies. It is found that the maximal pairing gap obtained is a few tenths of a MeV. The magnitude and the density region of the pairing gap are dependent on the $\Lambda\Lambda$ interaction and the treatment of neutron star matter. We calculate neutron star properties and find that whether the $^1S_0$ superfluidity of $\Lambda$ hyperons exists in the core of neutron stars mainly depends on the $\Lambda\Lambda$ interaction used.Comment: 22 pages, 2 Tables, 6 Figur