Limits on the AGN activities in X-ray underluminous galaxy groups

We have observed four X-ray underluminous groups of galaxies using the Giant Meterwave RadioTelescope. The groups NGC 524, 720, 3607, and 4697 are underluminous in relation to the extrapolation of the Lx - T relation from rich clusters and do not show any evidence of current AGN activities that can account for such a departure. The GMRT observations carried out at low frequencies (235 and 610 MHz) were aimed at detecting low surface brightness, steep-spectrum sources indicative of past AGN activities in these groups. No such radio emissions were detected in any of these four groups. The corresponding upper limits on the total energy in relativistic particles is about 3 X 10$^{57}$ erg. This value is more than a factor of 100 less than that required to account for the decreased X-ray luminosities (or, enhanced entropies) of these four groups in the AGN-heating scenario. Alternatively, the AGN activity must have ceased about 4 Gyr ago, allowing the relativistic particles to diffuse out to such a large extent (about 250 kpc) that their radio emission could have been undetected by the current observations. If the latter scenario is correct, the ICM was pre-heated before the assembly of galaxy clusters.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Magnetism and superconductivity in Eu0.2Sr0.8(Fe0.86Co0.14)2As2 probed by 75As NMR

We report bulk superconductivity (SC) in Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.8}$(Fe$_{0.86}$Co$_{0.14}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ single crystals by means of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat measurements with $T$$_{\mathrm{c}}$ $\simeq$ 20 K with an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of Eu$^{2+}$ moments at $T$$_{\mathrm{N}}$ $\simeq$ 2.0 K in zero field. $^{75}$As NMR experiments have been performed in the two external field directions (H$\|ab$) and (H$\|c$). $^{75}$As-NMR spectra are analyzed in terms of first order quadrupolar interaction. Spin-lattice relaxation rates (1/$T_{1}$) follow a $T^{3}$ law in the temperature range 4.2-15 K. There is no signature of Hebel-Slichter coherence peak just below the SC transition indicating a non s-wave or s$_{\pm}$ type of superconductivity. The increase of 1/$T_{1}T$ with lowering the temperature in the range 160-18 K following $\frac{C}{T+\theta}$ law reflecting 2D AFM spin fluctuations

Statistical Mechanics of DNA Rupture: Theory and Simulations

We study the effects of the shear force on the rupture mechanism on a double stranded DNA. Motivated by recent experiments, we perform the atomistic simulations with explicit solvent to obtain the distributions of extension in hydrogen and covalent bonds below the rupture force. We obtain a significant difference between the atomistic simulations and the existing results in the iterature based on the coarse-grained models (theory and simulations). We discuss the possible reasons and improve the coarse-grained model by incorporating the consequences of semi-microscopic details of the nucleotides in its description. The distributions obtained by the modified model (simulations and theoretical) are qualitatively similar to the one obtained using atomistic simulations.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures. Accepted in J. Chem. Phys. (2013). arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1104.305

Testing Supergravity Grand Unification at Future Accelerator and Underground Experiments

The full parameter space of supergravity grand unified theory with $SU(5)$ type $p \rightarrow \bar{\nu} K$ proton decay is analysed using renormalization group induced electroweak symmetry breaking under the restrictions that the universal scalar mass $m_o$ and gluino mass are $\leq 1$ TeV (no extreme fine tuning) and the Higgs triplet mass obeys $M_{H_3}/M_G < 10$. Future proton decay experiments at SuperKamiokande or ICARUS can reach a sensitivity for the $\bar{\nu} K$ mode of $(2-5) \times 10^{33}$ yr allowing a number of predictions concerning the SUSY mass spectrum. Thus either the $p \rightarrow\bar{\nu} K$ decay mode will be seen at these experiments or a chargino of mass $m_{\tilde{W}} < 100$ GeV will exist and hence be observable at LEP2. Further, if $(p \rightarrow \bar{\nu} K) > 1.5 \times 10^{33}$ yr, then either the light Higgs has mass $m_h \leq 95$ GeV or $m_{\tilde{W}} \leq 100$ GeV i.e. either the light Higgs or the light chargino (or both) would be observable at LEP2. Thus, the combination of future accelerator and future underground experiments allow for strong experimental tests of this theory.Comment: 7 figures available upon request, CTP-TAMU-32/93, NUB-TH-3066/93 and SSCL-Preprint-44