Strongly correlated fermions on a kagome lattice

We study a model of strongly correlated spinless fermions on a kagome lattice at 1/3 filling, with interactions described by an extended Hubbard Hamiltonian. An effective Hamiltonian in the desired strong correlation regime is derived, from which the spectral functions are calculated by means of exact diagonalization techniques. We present our numerical results with a view to discussion of possible signatures of confinement/deconfinement of fractional charges.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Towards a Coulomb gas of instantons in the SO(4)xU(1) Higgs model on R_4

The $SO(4)\times U(1)$ Higgs model on $\R_4$ is extended by a $F^3$ term so that the action receives a nonvanishing contribution from the interactions of 2-instantons and 3-instantons, and can be expressed as the inverse of the Laplacian on $\R_4$ in terms of the mutual distances of the instantons. The one-instanton solutions of both the basic and the extended models have been studied in detail numerically.Comment: 29 pages LaTeX, 4 Figures available from authors on reques

Systematic Errors in the Estimation of Black Hole Masses by Reverberation Mapping

The mass of the central black hole in many active galactic nuclei has been estimated on the basis of the assumption that the dynamics of the broad emission line gas are dominated by the gravity of the black hole. The most commonly-employed method is to estimate a characteristic size-scale $r_*$ from reverberation mapping experiments and combine it with a characteristic velocity $v_*$ taken from the line profiles; the inferred mass is then estimated by $r_* v_*^2/G$. We critically discuss the evidence supporting the assumption of gravitational dynamics and find that the arguments are still inconclusive. We then explore the range of possible systematic error if the assumption of gravitational dynamics is granted. Inclination relative to a flattened system may cause a systematic underestimate of the central mass by a factor $\sim (h/r)^2$, where $h/r$ is the aspect ratio of the flattening. The coupled effects of a broad radial emissivity distribution, an unknown angular radiation pattern of line emission, and sub-optimal sampling in the reverberation experiment can cause additional systematic errors as large as a factor of 3 or more in either direction.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures, AASLaTeX, accepted by Ap

Is turbulent mixing a self convolution process ?

Experimental results for the evolution of the probability distribution function (PDF) of a scalar mixed by a turbulence flow in a channel are presented. The sequence of PDF from an initial skewed distribution to a sharp Gaussian is found to be non universal. The route toward homogeneization depends on the ratio between the cross sections of the dye injector and the channel. In link with this observation, advantages, shortcomings and applicability of models for the PDF evolution based on a self-convolution mechanisms are discussed.Comment: 4 page

Dynamics of the Lyman alpha and C IV emitting gas in 3C 273

In this paper we study the variability properties of the Lyman alpha and C IV emission lines in 3C273 using archival IUE observations. Our data show for the first time the existence of variability on time scales of several years. We study the spatial distribution and the velocity field of the emitting gas by performing detailed analyses on the line variability using correlations, 1D and 2D response functions, and principal component analysis. In both lines we find evidence for two components, one which has the dynamic properties of gas in Keplerian motion around a black hole with a mass of the order of 10^9 Mo, and one which is characterized by high, blue-shifted velocities at large lag. There is no indication of the presence of optically thick emission medium neither in the Lya, nor in the Civ response functions. The component characterized by blue-shifted velocities, which is comparatively much stronger in Civ than in Lya, is more or less compatible with being the result of gas falling towards the central black hole with free-fall acceleration. We propose however that the line emission at high, blue-shifted velocities is better explained in terms of entrainment of gas clouds by the jet. This gas is therefore probably collisionally excited as a result of heating due to the intense infrared radiation from the jet, which would explain the strength of this component in Civ relative to Lya. This phenomenon might be a signature of disk-jet interaction.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Uses aaste

Finite energy/action solutions of p1p_1 Yang-Mills equations on p2p_2 Schwarzschild and deSitter backgrounds for dimension d≥4d \ge 4

Physically relevant gauge and gravitational theories can be seen as special members of hierarchies of more elaborate systems. The Yang-Mills (YM) system is the first member of a hierarchy of Lagrangians which we will index by $p_1$, and the Einstein-Hilbert (EH) system of general relativity is the first member of another hierarchy which we index by $p_2$. In this paper, we study the classical equations of the $p_1 = 1,2$ YM hierarchy considered in the background of special geometries (Schwarzschild, deSitter,anti-deSitter) of the $p_2=1,2,3$ EH hierarchy. Solutions are obtained in various dimensions and lead to several examples of non-self-dual YM fields. When $p_1=p_2$ self-dual solutions exist in addition. Their action is equal to the Chern-Pontryagin charge and can be compared with that of the non-self-dual solutions.Comment: LaTeX, 25 pages, 2 figures, new title, minor change

Unsolicited written narratives as a methodological genre in terminal illness: challenges and limitations

Stories about illness have proven invaluable in helping health professionals understand illness experiences. Such narratives have traditionally been solicited by researchers through interviews and the collection of personal writings, including diaries. These approaches are, however, researcher driven; the impetus for the creation of the story comes from the researcher and not the narrator. In recent years there has been exponential growth in illness narratives created by individuals, of their own volition, and made available for others to read in print or as Internet accounts. We sought to determine whether it was possible to identify such material for use as research data to explore the subject of living with the terminal illness amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease—the contention being that these accounts are narrator driven and therefore focus on issues of greatest importance to the affected person. We encountered and sought to overcome a number of methodological and ethical challenges, which is our focus here

XMM-Newton observations of Nova Sgr 1998

We report on X-ray observations of Nova Sagittarius 1998 (V4633 Sgr), performed with XMM-Newton at three different epochs, 934, 1083 and 1265 days after discovery. The nova was detected with the EPIC cameras at all three epochs, with emission spanning the whole energy range from 0.2 to 10 keV. The X-ray spectra do not change significantly at the different epochs, and are well fitted for the first and third observations with a multi-temperature optically thin thermal plasma, while lower statistics in the second observations lead to a poorer fit. The thermal plasma emission is most probably originated in the shock heated ejecta, with chemical composition similar to that of a CO nova. However, we can not completely rule out reestablished accretion as the origin of the emission. We also obtain upper limits for the temperature and luminosity of a potential white dwarf atmospheric component, and conclude that hydrogen burning had already turned-off by the time of our observations.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures. Accepted in Astrophysical Journa

The Use of Polarization Filters to Detect the Edge of the Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty(DSAEK) Graft

To report the technique of combining the two different polarization filters to detect the flap edge of the corneoscleral tissue before trephining the Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) tissue. A human DSAEK donor tissue was prepared with mechanical microkeratome and the tissue on the cutting block was brought under the microscope. The liner, circular, or the combination of these two polarization filters was placed between the tissue and the microscope. The tissue images were taken with digital camera under either of 3 settings. The combination of circular and linear polarization filters enabled us to recognize the edge of the flap more easily than others. This simple system with polarization filters was effective in clear visualization of the flap edge during DSAEK tissue preparation. These features may significantly enhance safety of various surgical procedures, in addition to DSAEK tissue preparation