Surface waves in protoplanetary disks induced by outbursts: Concentric rings in scattered light

Context: Vertically hydrostatic protoplanetary disk models are based on the assumption that the main heating source, stellar irradiation, does not vary much with time. However, it is known that accreting young stars are variable sources of radiation. This is particularly evident for outbursting sources such as EX Lupi and FU Orionis stars. Aim: We investigate how such outbursts affect the vertical structure of the outer regions of the protoplanetary disk, in particular their appearance in scattered light at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. Methods: We employ the 3D FARGOCA radiation-hydrodynamics code, in polar coordinates, to compute the time-dependent behavior of the axisymmetric disk structure. The outbursting inner disk region is not included explicitly. Instead, its luminosity is added to the stellar luminosity and is thus included in the irradiation of the outer disk regions. For time snapshots of interest we insert the density structure into the RADMC-3D radiative transfer code and compute the appearance of the disk at optical/near-infrared wavelengths. Results: We find that, depending on the amplitude of the outbursts, the vertical structure of the disk can become highly dynamic, featuring circular surface waves of considerable amplitude. These "hills" and "valleys" on the disk's surface show up in the scattered light images as bright and dark concentric rings. Initially these rings are small and act as standing waves, but they subsequently lead to outward propagating waves, like the waves produced by a stone thrown into a pond. These waves continue long after the actual outburst has died out. Conclusions: We propose that some of the multi-ringed structures seen in optical/infrared images of several protoplanetary disks may have their origin in outbursts that occurred decades or centuries ago.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A Letter

Spectrum of the SU(3) Dirac operator on the lattice: Transition from random matrix theory to chiral perturbation theory

We calculate complete spectra of the Kogut-Susskind Dirac operator on the lattice in quenched SU(3) gauge theory for various values of coupling constant and lattice size. From these spectra we compute the connected and disconnected scalar susceptibilities and find agreement with chiral random matrix theory up to a certain energy scale, the Thouless energy. The dependence of this scale on the lattice volume is analyzed. In the case of the connected susceptibility this dependence is anomalous, and we explain the reason for this. We present a model of chiral perturbation theory that is capable of describing the data beyond the Thouless energy and that has a common range of applicability with chiral random matrix theory.Comment: 8 pages, RevTeX, 15 .eps figure

Humor in psychiatry: Lessons from neuroscience, psychopathology, and treatment research

Humor is a ubiquitous human characteristic that is socially motivated at its core and has a broad range of significant positive effects on emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships. Simultaneously, however, impairments in humor abilities have often been described in close association with the occurrence and course of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, social anxiety, or depression. In the past decade, research in the neuroimaging and psychiatric domain has substantially progressed to (i) characterize impaired humor as an element of psychopathology, and (ii) shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the role of humor in neuropsychiatric diseases. However, (iii) targeted interventions using concepts of positive psychology have revealed first evidence that a systematic training and/or a potential reactivation of humor-related skills can improve rehabilitative outcome in neuropsychiatric patient groups. Here, we sought to integrate evidence from neuroscience, as well as from psychopathology and treatment research to shed more light on the role of humor in psychiatry. Based on these considerations, we provide directions for future research and application in mental health services, focusing on the question of how our scientific understanding of humor can provide the basis for psychological interventions that foster positive attitudes and well-being

Random Matrix Theory, Chiral Perturbation Theory, and Lattice Data

Recently, the chiral logarithms predicted by quenched chiral perturbation theory have been extracted from lattice calculations of hadron masses. We argue that the deviations of lattice results from random matrix theory starting around the so-called Thouless energy can be understood in terms of chiral perturbation theory as well. Comparison of lattice data with chiral perturbation theory formulae allows us to compute the pion decay constant. We present results from a calculation for quenched SU(2) with Kogut-Susskind fermions at \beta=2.0 and 2.2.Comment: LaTeX, 12 pages, 7 .eps figure

Random Matrix Theory and Chiral Logarithms

Recently, the contributions of chiral logarithms predicted by quenched chiral perturbation theory have been extracted from lattice calculations of hadron masses. We argue that a detailed comparison of random matrix theory and lattice calculations allows for a precise determination of such corrections. We estimate the relative size of the m*log(m), m, and m^2 corrections to the chiral condensate for quenched SU(2).Comment: LaTeX (elsart.cls), 9 pages, 6 .eps figures, added reference, altered discussion of Eq.(9

Beyond the Thouless energy

The distribution and the correlations of the small eigenvalues of the Dirac operator are described by random matrix theory (RMT) up to the Thouless energy $E_c\propto 1/\sqrt{V}$, where $V$ is the physical volume. For somewhat larger energies, the same quantities can be described by chiral perturbation theory (chPT). For most quantities there is an intermediate energy regime, roughly $1/V<E<1/\sqrt{V}$, where the results of RMT and chPT agree with each other. We test these predictions by constructing the connected and disconnected scalar susceptibilities from Dirac spectra obtained in quenched SU(2) and SU(3) simulations with staggered fermions for a variety of lattice sizes and coupling constants. In deriving the predictions of chPT, it is important to take into account only those symmetries which are exactly realized on the lattice.Comment: LATTICE99(Theoretical Developments), 3 pages, 3 figures, typo in Ref. [10] correcte

Small eigenvalues of the SU(3) Dirac operator on the lattice and in Random Matrix Theory

We have calculated complete spectra of the staggered Dirac operator on the lattice in quenched SU(3) gauge theory for \beta = 5.4 and various lattice sizes. The microscopic spectral density, the distribution of the smallest eigenvalue, and the two-point spectral correlation function are analyzed. We find the expected agreement of the lattice data with universal predictions of the chiral unitary ensemble of random matrix theory up to a certain energy scale, the Thouless energy. The deviations from the universal predictions are determined using the disconnected scalar susceptibility. We find that the Thouless energy scales with the lattice size as expected from theoretical arguments making use of the Gell-Mann--Oakes--Renner relation.Comment: REVTeX, 5 pages, 4 figure

Antagonism between brain regions relevant for cognitive control and emotional memory facilitates the generation of humorous ideas

The ability to generate humor gives rise to positive emotions and thus facilitate the successful resolution of adversity. Although there is consensus that inhibitory processes might be related to broaden the way of thinking, the neural underpinnings of these mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we use functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a humorous alternative uses task and a stroop task, to investigate the brain mechanisms underlying the emergence of humorous ideas in 24 subjects. Neuroimaging results indicate that greater cognitive control abilities are associated with increased activation in the amygdala, the hippocampus and the superior and medial frontal gyrus during the generation of humorous ideas. Examining the neural mechanisms more closely shows that the hypoactivation of frontal brain regions is associated with an hyperactivation in the amygdala and vice versa. This antagonistic connectivity is concurrently linked with an increased number of humorous ideas and enhanced amygdala responses during the task. Our data therefore suggests that a neural antagonism previously related to the emergence and regulation of negative affective responses, is linked with the generation of emotionally positive ideas and may represent an important neural pathway supporting mental health

Finite-volume meson propagators in quenched chiral perturbation theory

We compute meson propagators in finite-volume quenched chiral perturbation theory.Comment: 3 pages, Lattice2001(chiral fermions

Microscopic universality with dynamical fermions

It has recently been demonstrated in quenched lattice simulations that the distribution of the low-lying eigenvalues of the QCD Dirac operator is universal and described by random-matrix theory. We present first evidence that this universality continues to hold in the presence of dynamical quarks. Data from a lattice simulation with gauge group SU(2) and dynamical staggered fermions are compared to the predictions of the chiral symplectic ensemble of random-matrix theory with massive dynamical quarks. Good agreement is found in this exploratory study. We also discuss implications of our results.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, minor modifications, to appear in Phys. Rev. D (Rapid Commun.