Making extreme computations possible with virtual machines

State-of-the-art algorithms generate scattering amplitudes for high-energy physics at leading order for high-multiplicity processes as compiled code (in Fortran, C or C++). For complicated processes the size of these libraries can become tremendous (many GiB). We show that amplitudes can be translated to byte-code instructions, which even reduce the size by one order of magnitude. The byte-code is interpreted by a Virtual Machine with runtimes comparable to compiled code and a better scaling with additional legs. We study the properties of this algorithm, as an extension of the Optimizing Matrix Element Generator (O'Mega). The bytecode matrix elements are available as alternative input for the event generator WHIZARD. The bytecode interpreter can be implemented very compactly, which will help with a future implementation on massively parallel GPUs.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1411.383

Probing the Noncommutative Standard Model at Hadron Colliders

We study collider signals for the noncommutative extension of the standard model using the Seiberg-Witten maps for SU(3)_C x SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y to first order in the noncommutativity parameters theta_munu. In particular, we investigate the ensitivity of Z-gamma-production at the Tevatron and the LHC to the components of theta_munu. We discuss the range of validity of this approximation and estimate exclusion limits from a Monte Carlo simulation.Comment: 18 pages LaTeX, 23 figures. Slightly expanded introduction and additional references. Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Clockwork SUSY: Supersymmetric Ward and Slavnov-Taylor Identities At Work in Green's Functions and Scattering Amplitudes

We study the cancellations among Feynman diagrams that implement the Ward and Slavnov-Taylor identities corresponding to the conserved supersymmetry current in supersymmetric quantum field theories. In particular, we show that the Faddeev-Popov ghosts of gauge- and supersymmetries never decouple from the physical fields, even for abelian gauge groups. The supersymmetric Slavnov-Taylor identities provide efficient consistency checks for automatized calculations and can verify the supersymmetry of Feynman rules and the numerical stability of phenomenological predictions simultaneously.Comment: 12 pages, feynmp.sty. References added, minor typos corrected and clarified the scope of the paper in the introduction, published versio

WHIZARD 2.2 for Linear Colliders

We review the current status of the WHIZARD event generator. We discuss, in particular, recent improvements and features that are relevant for simulating the physics program at a future Linear Collider.Comment: Talk presented at the International Workshop on Future Linear Colliders (LCWS13), Tokyo, Japan, 11-15 November 201

Beyond the iron group: heavy metals in hot subdwarfs

We report the discovery of strong photospheric resonance lines of Ga III, Ge IV, Sn IV and Pb IV in the UV spectra of more than two dozen sdB and sdOB stars at temperatures ranging from 22000 K to 40000 K. Lines of other heavy elements are also detected, however in these cases more atomic data are needed. Based on these discoveries, we present a hypothesis to explain the apparent lack of silicon in sdB stars hotter than ~32000 K. The existence of triply ionised Ge, Sn, and Pb suggests that rather than silicon sinking deep into the photosphere, it is removed from the star in a fractionated stellar wind. This hypothesis provides a challenge to diffusion models of sdB stars.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, to appear in A&A Letter

Modern Particle Physics Event Generation with WHIZARD

We describe the multi-purpose Monte-Carlo event generator WHIZARD for the simulation of high-energy particle physics experiments. Besides the presentation of the general features of the program like SM physics, BSM physics, and QCD effects, special emphasis will be given to the support of the most accurate simulation of the collider environments at hadron colliders and especially at future linear lepton colliders. On the more technical side, the very recent code refactoring towards a completely object-oriented software package to improve maintainability, flexibility and code development will be discussed. Finally, we present ongoing work and future plans regarding higher-order corrections, more general model support including the setup to search for new physics in vector boson scattering at the LHC, as well as several lines of performance improvements.Comment: 7 pages; contribution to the proceedings of the conference "ACAT 2014 (Advanced Computing and Analysis Techniques in physics)", Prague, Czech Republic, September 201

Testing the Noncommutative Standard Model at a Future Photon Collider

Extensions of the Standard Model of elementary particle physics to noncommutative geometries have been proposed as a low energy limit of string models. Independent of this motivation, one may consider such a model as an effective field theory with higher-dimensional operators containing an antisymmetric rank-two background field. We study the signals of such a Noncommutative Standard Model (NCSM) and analyze the discovery potential of a future photon collider, considering angular distributions in fermion pair production.Comment: 13 pages RevTeX, Feynman diagrams and figures included, references added, typographical errors in Feynman rules corrected (all results remain unchangend, since correct Feynman rules were used in the calculations), to appear in Phys. Rev.

Birth and growth of cavitation bubbles within water under tension confined in a simple synthetic tree

Water under tension, as can be found in several systems including tree vessels, is metastable. Cavitation can spontaneously occur, nucleating a bubble. We investigate the dynamics of spon- taneous or triggered cavitation inside water filled microcavities of a hydrogel. Results show that a stable bubble is created in only a microsecond timescale, after transient oscillations. Then, a diffusion driven expansion leads to filling of the cavity. Analysis reveals that the nucleation of a bubble releases a tension of several tens of MPa, and a simple model captures the different time scales of the expansion process

What are effective therapies for Clostridium difficile- associated diarrhea?

Oral metronidazole and oral vancomycin are equally effective treatments for Clostridium difficile- associated diarrhea (CDAD) (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on randomized trials). Oral vancomycin is considerably more expensive and may select for colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci, leading the American College of Gastroenterology to recommend oral metronidazole as preferred therapy (SOR: C, expert opinion). They recommend therapy with vancomycin for those who are pregnant, breast feeding, less than 10years old, nonresponders to metronidazole, critically ill, or allergic or intolerant to metronidazole (SOR: C, expert opinion)