Hyla multifasciata

Number of Pages: 4Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Extended 2d generalized dilaton gravity theories

We show that an anomaly-free description of matter in (1+1) dimensions requires a deformation of the 2d relativity principle, which introduces a non-trivial center in the 2d Poincare algebra. Then we work out the reduced phase-space of the anomaly-free 2d relativistic particle, in order to show that it lives in a noncommutative 2d Minkowski space. Moreover, we build a Gaussian wave packet to show that a Planck length is well-defined in two dimensions. In order to provide a gravitational interpretation for this noncommutativity, we propose to extend the usual 2d generalized dilaton gravity models by a specific Maxwell component, which gauges the extra symmetry associated with the center of the 2d Poincare algebra. In addition, we show that this extension is a high energy correction to the unextended dilaton theories that can affect the topology of space-time. Further, we couple a test particle to the general extended dilaton models with the purpose of showing that they predict a noncommutativity in curved space-time, which is locally described by a Moyal star product in the low energy limit. We also conjecture a probable generalization of this result, which provides a strong evidence that the noncommutativity is described by a certain star product which is not of the Moyal type at high energies. Finally, we prove that the extended dilaton theories can be formulated as Poisson-Sigma models based on a nonlinear deformation of the extended Poincare algebra.Comment: 21 pages, IOP LaTeX2e preprint classfile, Improved discussions, Minor corrections, More didactic, More self-contained, New results concerning noncommutativity in curved space-time, Accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity on 02 Jul 200

Estimating the birth period of pulsars through GLAST/LAT observations of their wind nebulae

In this paper we show that the high energy $\gamma$-ray flux in the GeV domain from mature pulsar wind nebulae (PWN) scales as the change in rotational kinetic energy $I(\Omega_0^2-\Omega^2)/2$ since birth, rather than the present day spindown power $I\Omega\dot{\Omega}$. This finding holds as long as the lifetime of inverse Compton emitting electrons exceeds the age of the system. For a typical $\gamma^{-2}$ electron spectrum, the predicted flux depends mostly on the pulsar birth period, conversion efficiency of spindown power to relativistic electrons and distance to the PWN, so that first order estimates of the birth period can be assessed from {\it GLAST/LAT} observations of PWN. For this purpose we derive an analytical expression. The associated (``uncooled'') photon spectral index in the GeV domain is expected to cluster around $\sim 1.5$, which is bounded at low energies by an intrinsic spectral break, and at higher energies by a second spectral break where the photon index steepens to $\sim 2$ due to radiation losses. Mature PWN are expected to have expanded to sizes larger than currently known PWN, resulting in relatively low magnetic energy densities and hence survival of GeV inverse Compton emitting electrons. Whereas such a PWN may be radio and X-ray quiet in synchrotron radiation, it may still be detectable as a {\it GLAST/LAT} source as a result of the relic electrons in the PWN.Comment: 10 pages, no figures. To appear in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Lead induced intergranular fracture in aluminum alloy AA6262

The influence of lead on the fracture behavior of aluminum alloy AA6262 is investigated. Under certain conditions, the mode of fracture changes from transgranular microvoid coalescence to an intergranular mechanism. Three different intergranular fracture mechanisms are observed: liquid metal embrittlement, dynamic embrittlement at temperatures below the melting temperature of lead, and intergranular microvoid coalescence. An attempt is made to examine the dependence of these three mechanisms on temperature, strain rate, and stress state using in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Liquid metal embrittlement occurs when the alloy is fractured at temperatures above the melting temperature of lead and at low strain rates. At lower temperatures, the occurrence of dynamic embrittlement depends largely on strain rate, stress state, and temperature. Intergranular microvoid coalescence is not often observed.

QCD phase diagram for small densities from simulations at imaginary mu

We present results on the QCD phase diagram for small densities without reweighting. Our simulations are performed with an imaginary chemical potential mu_I for which the fermion determinant is positive. On an 8^3x4 lattice with 2 flavors of staggered quarks, we map out the pseudo-critical temperature T_c(mu_I). For mu_I/T < pi/3, this is an analytic function whose Taylor expansion converges rapidly, with truncation errors smaller than statistical ones. The result is analytically continued to give the location of the pseudo-critical line for real mu_B<500 MeV.Comment: Lattice2002(nonzerot), 3 pp, 5 figure

The phase diagram of N_f=3 QCD for small baryon densities

We demonstrate how to locate the critical endpoint of the QCD phase transition by means of simulations at imaginary \mu. For the three flavor theory, we present numerical results for the pseudo-critical line as a function of chemical potential and bare quark mass, as well as the bare quark mass dependence of the endpoint.Comment: 3 pages, 5 eps-figs, Lattice2003(nonzero

Generation of Superposition States and Charge-Qubit Relaxation Probing in a Circuit

We demonstrate how a superposition of coherent states can be generated for a microwave field inside a coplanar transmission line coupled to a single superconducting charge qubit, with the addition of a single classical magnetic pulse for chirping of the qubit transition frequency. We show how the qubit dephasing induces decoherence on the field superposition state, and how it can be probed by the qubit charge detection. The character of the charge qubit relaxation process itself is imprinted in the field state decoherence profile.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Adjoint string breaking in 4d SU(2) Yang-Mills theory

We compute the static potential of adjoint sources in SU(2) Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions by numerical Monte Carlo simulations. Following a recent calculation in 2+1 dimensions, we employ a variational approach involving string and gluelump operators and obtain clear evidence for string breaking and the saturation of the potential at large distances. For the string breaking scale we find $r_b \approx 1.25{\rm fm}, 2.3 r_0$, or in units of the lightest glueball, $r_b m_{0++} \approx 9.7$. We furthermore resolve the first excitation of the flux-tube and observe its breaking as well. The result for $r_b$ is in remarkable quantitative agreement with the three-dimensional one.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures; increased statistics; gauge-fixing clarified; typos correcte