23 research outputs found
Heat-kernels and functional determinants on the generalized cone
We consider zeta functions and heat-kernel expansions on the bounded,
generalized cone in arbitrary dimensions using an improved calculational
technique. The specific case of a global monopole is analysed in detail and
some restrictions thereby placed on the coefficient. The computation
of functional determinants is also addressed. General formulas are given and
known results are incidentally, and rapidly, reproduced.Comment: 26p,LaTeX.(Cosmetic changes and eqns (9.8),(11.2) corrected.
One-loop Quantum Corrections to the Entropy for an Extremal Reissner-Nordstr\"om Black Hole
The first quantum corrections to the entropy for an eternal 4-dimensional
extremal Reissner-Nordstr\"om black hole is investigated at one-loop level, in
the large mass limit of the black hole, making use of the conformal techniques
related to the optical metric. A leading cubic horizon divergence is found and
other divergences appear due to the singular nature of the optical manifold.
The area law is shown to be violated.Comment: 10 pages, LaTe
One loop photon-graviton mixing in an electromagnetic field: Part 2
In part 1 of this series compact integral representations had been obtained
for the one-loop photon-graviton amplitude involving a charged spin 0 or spin
1/2 particle in the loop and an arbitrary constant electromagnetic field. In
this sequel, we study the structure and magnitude of the various polarization
components of this amplitude on-shell. Explicit expressions are obtained for a
number of limiting cases.Comment: 31 pages, 3 figure
Heat Kernel Coefficients for Laplace Operators on the Spherical Suspension
In this paper we compute the coefficients of the heat kernel asymptotic
expansion for Laplace operators acting on scalar functions defined on the so
called spherical suspension (or Riemann cap) subjected to Dirichlet boundary
conditions. By utilizing a contour integral representation of the spectral zeta
function for the Laplacian on the spherical suspension we find its analytic
continuation in the complex plane and its associated meromorphic structure.
Thanks to the well known relation between the zeta function and the heat kernel
obtainable via Mellin transform we compute the coefficients of the asymptotic
expansion in arbitrary dimensions. The particular case of a -dimensional
sphere as the base manifold is studied as well and the first few heat kernel
coefficients are given explicitly.Comment: 26 Pages, 1 Figur
Wearable Biomonitoring Platform for the Assessment of Stress and its Impact on Cognitive Performance of Firefighters: An Experimental Study
Background: Stress is a complex process with an impact on health and performance. The use of wearable sensor-based monitoring systems offers interesting opportunities for advanced health care solutions for stress analysis. Considering the stressful nature of firefighting and its importance for the community’s safety, this study was conducted for firefighters. Objectives: A biomonitoring platform was designed, integrating different biomedical systems to enable the acquisition of real time Electrocardiogram (ECG), computation of linear Heart Rate Variability (HRV) features and collection of perceived stress levels. This platform was tested using an experimental protocol, designed to understand the effect of stress on firefighter’s cognitive performance, and whether this effect is related to the autonomic response to stress. Method: The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was used as a testing platform along with a 2-Choice Reaction Time Task. Linear HRV features from the participants were acquired using an wearable ECG. Self-reports were used to assess perceived stress levels. Results: The TSST produced significant changes in some HRV parameters (AVNN, SDNN and LF/HF) and subjective measures of stress, which recovered after the stress task. Although these short-term changes in HRV showed a tendency to normalize, an impairment on cognitive performance was found after performing the stress event. Conclusion: Current findings suggested that stress compromised cognitive performance and caused a measurable change in autonomic balance. Our wearable biomonitoring platform proved to be a useful tool for stress assessment and quantification. Future studies will implement this biomonitoring platform for the analysis of stress in ecological settings