K−K^--Nucleus Scattering at Low and Intermediate Energies

We calculate $K^-$-nucleus elastic differential, reaction and total cross sections for different nuclei ($^{12}$C,$^{40}$Ca and $^{208}$Pb) at several laboratory antikaon momenta, ranging from 127 MeV to 800 MeV. We use different antikaon-nucleus optical potentials, some of them fitted to kaonic atom data, and study the sensitivity of the cross sections to the considered antikaon-nucleus dynamics.Comment: Only 4 pages, Latex, 3 Figures. This version is much shorter than the previous one. Some details and references have been omitte

Bethe-Salpeter Approach for the P33P_{33} Elastic Pion-Nucleon Scattering in Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory

Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory (HBChPT) to leading order provides a kernel to solve the Bethe-Salpeter equation for the $P_{33}$ ($\Delta(1232)$-channel) $\pi-N$ system, in the infinite nucleon mass limit. Crossed Born terms include, when iterated within the Bethe-Salpeter equation, both {\it all} one- and {\it some} two-pion intermediate states, hence preserving elastic unitarity below the two-pion production threshold. This suggests searching for a solution with the help of dispersion relations and suitable subtraction constants, when all in-elasticities are explicitly neglected. The solution allows for a successful description of the experimental phase shift from threshold up to $\sqrt{s}=1500$ MeV in terms of four subtraction constants. Next-to-leading order HBChPT calculations are also used to estimate the unknown subtraction constants which appear in the solution. Large discrepancies are encountered which can be traced to the slow convergence rate of HBChPT.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

S=−1S=-1 Meson-Baryon Unitarized Coupled Channel Chiral Perturbation Theory and the S01−S_{01}- Λ\Lambda(1405) and −Λ- \Lambda(1670) Resonances

The $s-$wave meson-baryon scattering is analyzed for the strangeness $S=-1$ and isospin I=0 sector in a Bethe-Salpeter coupled channel formalism incorporating Chiral Symmetry. Four channels have been considered: $\pi \Sigma$, $\bar K N$, $\eta \Lambda$ and $K \Xi$. The required input to solve the Bethe-Salpeter equation is taken from lowest order Chiral Perturbation Theory in a relativistic formalism. There appear undetermined low energy constants, as a consequence of the renormalization of the amplitudes, which are obtained from fits to the $\pi\Sigma\to\pi\Sigma$ mass-spectrum, to the elastic $\bar K N \to \bar K N$ and $\bar K N\to \pi \Sigma$ $t$--matrices and to the $K^- p \to \eta \Lambda$ cross section data. The position and residues of the complex poles in the second Riemann Sheet of the scattering amplitude determine masses, widths and branching ratios of the $S_{01}-$ $\Lambda$(1405) and $-\Lambda$(1670) resonances, in reasonable agreement with experiment. A good overall description of data, from $\pi \Sigma$ threshold up to 1.75 GeV, is achieved despite the fact that three-body channels have not been explicitly included.Comment: 23 pages, Latex, 10 Figures. In this revised version a new subsection 3.6 on Heavy Baryon Expansion and new references have been adde

The S11−NS_{11}- N(1535) and −N-N(1650) Resonances in Meson-Baryon Unitarized Coupled Channel Chiral Perturbation Theory

The $s-$wave meson-baryon scattering is analyzed for the strangeness S=0 sector in a Bethe-Salpeter coupled channel formalism incorporating Chiral Symmetry. Four channels have been considered: $\pi N$, $\eta N$, $K \Lambda$, $K \Sigma$. The needed two particle irreducible matrix amplitude is taken from lowest order Chiral Perturbation Theory in a relativistic formalism and low energy constants are fitted to the elastic $\pi N$ phase-shifts and the $\pi^- p \to \eta n$ and $\pi^- p \to K^0 \Lambda$ cross section data. The position of the complex poles in the second Riemann sheet of the scattering amplitude determine masses and widths of the $S_{11}-$ $N$(1535) and $-N$(1650) resonances, in reasonable agreement with experiment. A good overall description of data, from $\pi N$ threshold up to 2 GeV, is achieved keeping in mind that the two pion production channel has not been included.Comment: 35 pages, LaTeX + 7 ps-figure files. Some minor mistakes have been corrected for and a new appendix discussing the matching to HBChPT has been also adde

Electromagnetic properties of a neutrino stream

In a medium that contains a neutrino background in addition to the matter particles, the neutrinos contribute to the photon self-energy as a result of the effective electromagnetic vertex that they acquire in the presence of matter. We calculate the contribution to the photon self-energy in a dense plasma, due to the presence of a gas of charged particles, or neutrinos, that moves as a whole relative to the plasma. General formulas for the transverse and longitudinal components of the photon polarization tensor are obtained in terms of the momentum distribution functions of the particles in the medium, and explicit results are given for various limiting cases of practical interest. The formulas are used to study the electromagnetic properties of a plasma that contains a beam of neutrinos. The transverse and longitudinal photon dispersion relations are studied in some detail. Our results do not support the idea that neutrino streaming instabilities can develop in such a system. We also indicate how the phenomenon of optical activity of the neutrino gas is modified due to the velocity of the neutrino background relative to the plasma. The general approach and results can be adapted to similar problems involving relativistic plasmas and high-temperature gauge theories in other environments.Comment: Revtex, 19 pages and 3 included ps file

Nucleon effects on the photon dispersion relations in matter

We calculate the nucleon contribution to the photon self-energy in a plasma, including the effect of the anomalous magnetic moment of the nucleons. General formulas for the transverse and longitudinal components of the self-energy are obtained and we give explicit results in various limits of physical interest. The formulas are relevant for the study of the photon dispersion relations and the dynamical susceptibility in a nuclear medium such as the core of a supernova, and has implications with regard to the recent suggestion that the Cerenkov process $\nu \to \nu\gamma$ can take place in such a system.Comment: RevTe

Demographic fitness of Belminus ferroae (Hemiptera: Triatominae) on three different hosts under laboratory conditions

Triatominae are widely recognised for their role as vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi. One of the main biological characteristics of this subfamily is their obligate haematophagous condition. However, previous studies on Belminus herreri and Belminus ferroae suggested that cockroaches are their principal hosts in domiciles. Due to this peculiar behaviour, the aim of this study was to analyse several demographic and reproductive parameters of B. ferroae fed on three different hosts (mice, cockroaches and Rhodnius prolixus) and relate B. ferroae fitness to these alternative hosts. The cohorts were reared under constant conditions. The egg hatching rate was similar for cohorts fed on cockroaches (69.4%) and R. prolixus (63.8%), but was much lower for the cohort fed on mice (16%). The development time from the nymph to adult stage and the average age of first reproduction (α) presented lower values in the cohort fed on cockroaches, which is consistent with the higher population growth rate associated with this host. Demographic parameters [intrinsic rate of natural increase, finite rate of population growth, net reproductive rate and damping ratio] showed statistically significant differences between the cohorts. Analysis of the life history of B. ferroae revealed a higher fitness related to the cockroach. The implications of these results for the origin of the subfamily are discussed.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Demographic fitness of Belminus ferroae (Hemiptera: Triatominae) on three different hosts under laboratory conditions

Triatominae are widely recognised for their role as vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi. One of the main biological characteristics of this subfamily is their obligate haematophagous condition. However, previous studies on Belminus herreri and Belminus ferroae suggested that cockroaches are their principal hosts in domiciles. Due to this peculiar behaviour, the aim of this study was to analyse several demographic and reproductive parameters of B. ferroae fed on three different hosts (mice, cockroaches and Rhodnius prolixus) and relate B. ferroae fitness to these alternative hosts. The cohorts were reared under constant conditions. The egg hatching rate was similar for cohorts fed on cockroaches (69.4%) and R. prolixus (63.8%), but was much lower for the cohort fed on mice (16%). The development time from the nymph to adult stage and the average age of first reproduction (α) presented lower values in the cohort fed on cockroaches, which is consistent with the higher population growth rate associated with this host. Demographic parameters [intrinsic rate of natural increase, finite rate of population growth, net reproductive rate and damping ratio] showed statistically significant differences between the cohorts. Analysis of the life history of B. ferroae revealed a higher fitness related to the cockroach. The implications of these results for the origin of the subfamily are discussed.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

QED symmetries in real-time thermal field theory

We study the discrete and gauge symmetries of Quantum Electrodynamics at finite temperature within the real-time formalism. The gauge invariance of the complete generating functional leads to the finite temperature Ward identities. These Ward identities relate the eight vertex functions to the elements of the self-energy matrix. Combining the relations obtained from the $Z_2$ and the gauge symmetries of the theory we find that only one out of eight longitudinal vertex functions is independent. As a consequence of the Ward identities it is shown that some elements of the vertex function are singular when the photon momentum goes to zero.Comment: New version as it will appear in Phys RevD 19 pages, RevTex, 1figur