The exotic fraction among unassociated Fermi sources

Revealing the nature of unassociated high-energy (> 100 MeV) gamma-ray sources remains a challenge 35 years after their discovery. Of the 934 gamma-ray sources at high Galactic latitude (|b| > 15 degrees) in the First Fermi-LAT catalogue (1FGL), 316 have no obvious associations at other wavelengths. In this paper, we apply the K-means unsupervised classification algorithm to isolate potential counterparts for 18 unassociated Fermi sources contained within a 3000 square degree `overlap region' of the sky intensively covered in radio and optical wavelengths. Combining our results with previous works, we reach potential associations for 119 out of the 128 Fermi sources within said region. If these associations are correct, we estimate that less than 20% of all remaining unassociated 1FGL sources at high Galactic latitude (|b| > 15 degrees) might host `exotic' counterparts distinct from known classes of gamma-ray emitters. Potentially even these outliers could be explained by high-redshift/dust-obscured analogues of the associated sample or by intrinsically faint radio objects. Although such estimate leaves some room for novel discoveries, it severely restricts the possibility of detecting dark matter subhaloes and other unconventional types of gamma-ray emitters in the 1FGL. In closing, we argue that the identification of Fermi sources at the low end of the flux density distribution will be a complex process that might only be achieved through a clever combination of refined classification algorithms, multi-wavelength efforts, and dedicated optical spectroscopy.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

Losses for microwave transmission in metamaterials for producing left-handed materials: The strip wires

This paper shows that the effective dielectric permitivity for the metamaterials used so far to obtain left-handed materials, with strip wires 0.003cm thick, is dominated by the imaginary part at 10.6- 11.5 GHz frequencies, where the band pass filter is, and therefore there is not propagation and the wave is inhomogeneous inside the medium. This is shown from finite-differences time-domain calculations using the real permitivity values for the Cu wires. For thicker wires the losses are reduced and the negative part of the permitivity dominates. As the thickness of the wires is critical for the realization of a good transparent left- handed material we propose that the strip wires should have thickness of 0.07-0.1cm and the split ring resonators 0.015-0.03c

Functional Forms for the Squeeze and the Time-Displacement Operators

Using Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff relations, the squeeze and harmonic-oscillator time-displacement operators are given in the form $\exp[\delta I] \exp[\alpha (x^2)]\exp[\beta(x\partial)] \exp[\gamma (\partial)^2]$, where $\alpha$, $\beta$, $\gamma$, and $\delta$ are explicitly determined. Applications are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, LaTe

Soldered Bundle Background for the De Sitter Top

We prove that the mathematical framework for the de Sitter top system is the de Sitter fiber bundle. In this context, the concept of soldering associated with a fiber bundle plays a central role. We comment on the possibility that our formalism may be of particular interest in different contexts including MacDowell-Mansouri theory, two time physics and oriented matroid theory.Comment: 12 pages, Latex; some improvements introduced, reference added, typos correcte

Equivalence between various versions of the self-dual action of the Ashtekar formalism

Different aspects of the self-dual (anti-self-dual) action of the Ashtekar canonical formalism are discussed. In particular, we study the equivalences and differences between the various versions of such an action. Our analysis may be useful for the development of an Ashtekar formalism in eight dimensions.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, minor correction

Theory of Electromagnetic Wave Transmission through Metallic Gratings of Subwavelength Slits

We present FDTD calculations for transmission of light and other electromagnetic waves through periodic arrays of slits in a metallic slab. The results show resonant, frequency dependent, transmittance peaks for subwavelength widths of the slits which can be up to a factor of ten with respect to those out of resonance. Although our conclusions agree with previous work by Lezec and Thio as regards both the magnitude of the enhancement and the lack of contribution of surface plasmon polaritons of the metal surface to this effect, we derive an interpretation from a theory that deals with emerging beam- Rayleigh anomalies of the grating, and with Fabry-Perot resonances of the perforated slab considered as an effective medium.Comment: 12 pages 3 figure

General Approach to Functional Forms for the Exponential Quadratic Operators in Coordinate-Momentum Space

In a recent paper [Nieto M M 1996 Quantum and Semiclassical Optics, 8 1061; quant-ph/9605032], the one dimensional squeezed and harmonic oscillator time-displacement operators were reordered in coordinate-momentum space. In this paper, we give a general approach for reordering multi-dimensional exponential quadratic operator(EQO) in coordinate-momentum space. An explicit computational formula is provided and applied to the single mode and double-mode EQO through the squeezed operator and the time displacement operator of the harmonic oscillator.Comment: To appear in J. Phys. A: Mathematics and Genera

The Changing Role of Global Financial Brands in the Underwriting of Foreign Government Debt (1815-2010)

This paper covers the long-term evolution of the primary market for foreign government debt. We discuss the role of financial intermediaries as underwriters and distributors of securities, providers of information, and lending of last resort services since the early 19th century, and the evolution of this role. We underscore the role of the prestige of global financial brands in sustaining early foreign debt markets and its weakening in the modern era.Sovereign debt, primary bond market, reputation, underwriting, certification, information asymmetries, investment banking, credit rating agencies, IMF