Scalar field phase dynamics in preheating

We study the model of a massive inflaton field $\phi$ coupled to another scalar filed $\chi$ with interaction term $g^2\phi^2\chi^2$ for the first stage of preheating. We obtain the the behavior of the phase in terms of the iteration of a simple family of circle maps. When expansion of the universe is taken into account the qualitative behavior of the phase and growth number evolution is reminiscent of the behavior found in the case without expansion.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, LaTeX; submitted to the Proceedings of Eleventh Marcel Grossmann Meetin

Large N WZW Field Theory Of N=2 Strings

We explore the quantum properties of self-dual gravity formulated as a large $N$ two-dimensional WZW sigma model. Using a non-trivial classical background, we show that a $(2,2)$ space-time is generated. The theory contains an infinite series of higher point vertices. At tree level we show that, in spite of the presence of higher than cubic vertices, the on-shell 4 and higher point functions vanish, indicating that this model is related with the field theory of closed N=2 strings. We examine the one-loop on-shell 3-point amplitude and show that it is ultra-violet finite.Comment: This is the final version. By editorial mistake at Phys.Lett.B an older version was published in prin

Probing dark energy beyond z=2z=2 with CODEX

Precision measurements of nature's fundamental couplings and a first measurement of the cosmological redshift drift are two of the key targets for future high-resolution ultra-stable spectrographs such as CODEX. Being able to do both gives CODEX a unique advantage, allowing it to probe dynamical dark energy models (by measuring the behavior of their equation of state) deep in the matter era and thereby testing classes of models that would otherwise be difficult to distinguish from the standard $\Lambda$CDM paradigm. We illustrate this point with two simple case studies.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.

Energy dependence of non-local potentials

Recently a variety of studies have shown the importance of including non-locality in the description of reactions. The goal of this work is to revisit the phenomenological approach to determining non-local optical potentials from elastic scattering. We perform a $\chi^2$ analysis of neutron elastic scattering data off $^{40}$Ca, $^{90}$Zr and $^{208}$Pb at energies $E \approx 5-40$ MeV, assuming a Perey and Buck or Tian, Pang, and Ma non-local form for the optical potential. We introduce energy and asymmetry dependencies in the imaginary part of the potential and refit the data to obtain a global parameterization. Independently of the starting point in the minimization procedure, an energy dependence in the imaginary depth is required for a good description of the data across the included energy range. We present two parameterizations, both of which represent an improvement over the original potentials for the fitted nuclei as well as for other nuclei not included in our fit. Our results show that, even when including the standard Gaussian non-locality in optical potentials, a significant energy dependence is required to describe elastic-scattering data.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev. C Rapid Communicatio

Nanoindentation of functionally graded hybrid polymer/metal thin films

Hybrid functionally graded coatings (2D-FGC) were deposited by magnetron co-sputtering from poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and AISI 316L stainless steel (316L) targets. The carbon and fluorine content varied from 7.3 to 23.7 at.% and from 0 to 57 at.%, respectively. The surface modification was developed to change the surface of 316L vascular stents in order to improve the biocompatibility of the outmost layer of the metallic biomaterial. In-depth XPS analysis revealed the presence of a graded chemical composition accompanied by the variation of the film structure. These results were complemented by those of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis that highlighted the nanocomposite nature of the coatings. The nanomechanical characterization of 2D-FGC was performed by nanoindentation at several loads on the thin films deposited onto two different steel substrates: 316L and AISI M2. The study allowed establishing 0.7 mN as the load that characterized the coatings without substrate influence. Both hardness and Young modulus decrease with the increase of fluorine content due to the evolution in chemical composition, chemical bonds and structure

Tilted boxes on inclined planes

We propose the study of a box placed on an inclined plane, with an initial tilt with respect to the plane. This is a paradigmatic example of the role played by friction as a link between translational and rotational motion. This example has two advantages over the usual example of a sphere (or cylinder) rolling down an inclined plane. First, it provides a good model for a much greater variety of "real-life" situations. Second, it exhibits a much richer structure in parameter space, even when the box starts from rest. (C) 2000 American Association of Physics Teachers